An Arc to the Past

Chapter 12: Trip into Fall… Forever

In an area of the Emerald Forest, close to Beacon, there was a rushing stream near a small waterfall. In it was a blonde swimming against the current of it.

Jaune was busy training by swimming up a downstream. It was difficult and could be dangerous considering there is a chance for a person to drown if not careful, but luckily Jaune was bulky and experienced enough to endure the current of the water. Every time his head raised up he took a deep breath every time it rose out of the water and held one in, until rising to the surface where he would exhale it out his nose. Each happening within a moment's notice.

After some time, Jaune swam over to the edge to relax. He exhaled with relief.

He looked to his arms to see silver bracelets wrapped tightly around his forearms, with red shiny decal on them.

He sighed as a memory flashed in his head.

!

!

In Reebok's workshop.

"Put these on." Reebok ordered, handing the silver with red decal bracelets.

"Uh… this is what you called me here for?" Jaune asked, pointing down to them.

"Just put them on." Reebok said, pushing them into Jaune's hands.

"Alright." Jaune shrugged. He found a button on the side of them and pressed them, opening them up. He was about to put them around his wrists.

"No. Around the forearms." Reebok said.

"What do these do?" Jaune asked, getting suspicious.

"They're supposed to help make Arc Light more manageable." Reebok explained with his arms crossed.

"Really?" Jaune asked with wide eyes, earning a nod from Reebok. "Well alright!" Jaune cheered with a grin as he proceeded to put them on. When he did, he felt the sensation of painful needles inserting deep into the skin and muscles of his arms. "Ow! What the hell?!"

"Seymour?" Reebok turned to his robotic flying assistant.

"Online." Seymour said as he showed a hologram of what looked to be an outline of Jaune's body with numerous gold dots and tubes within it looking an awful lot like a circulatory system. "I am now able to manage Jaune's circulatory aura system."

"What?!" Jaune shouted with shock.

"There, now things will be simpler." Reebok said.

"What the hell did you do to me?!" Jaune questioned, knowing things weren't how he expected them to be.

"Jaune, you've proven that you're not responsible in your self-health, but not because you don't care. In fact it is usually quite the opposite, in the fact that you care more about others that you'd put your body in major harm. However you've proven even more that you rely on Arc Light too much since you returned to class."

"That's not true!" Jaune shouted with a glare, but he got a dull look from Reebok, causing him to blink his eyes with surprise. "Have I?"

"Truth be told, I don't blame you. It is a perfect ability for huntsman, but I think it has gotten to the point where you use it in extreme situations that give off the impression that you believe you are invincible, at least so long as you can access it." Reebok pointed out.

"Okay, when looking back on things I see your point." Jaune said rubbing his chin. "So you're restricting my use of it." Jaune asked with an annoyed look with half lidded eyes.

"Jaune, the more you use it, the more strain you're putting on your body. Semblances are like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets, but if it gets to a certain limit or is hindered like yours is, then continued use of it could cause more harm when it is already damaged or fatigued. You could get it to a point where it will weaken when you use it after being properly healed, your control of it will be forever hindered or it will forever be shot. I know that's something you definitely you don't want… especially since it's your best bet to going toe to toe with Vlad." Reebok added with a serious expression, causing a flash of anger to come across Jaune's expression at the mere mention of his arch-foe's name. "So… for now on Seymour here will monitor your aura circulation, semblance use and life signs. If he sees that your body and aura is showing signs of distress he will manage your output so your body will not be harmed and/or put in critical condition."

"What if I need Arc Light for a really powerful Grimm? Also, how would you know how extreme the situation will be just from life signs? You can't tell what my opponent is just from how my body works." Jaune pointed out.

"Well thankfully that's why Seymour has some control over the CCT network and some of their satellites." Reebok answered, gesturing to his hovering robotic companion.

Jaune stared at the two with wide eyes and a puckered mouth.

"What?"

"Yes, well, remember out little investigation that we, along with sirs Cardin and Russel had done some time ago? Well ever since I connected to the CCT, I've actually gained a permanent connection to it from connecting with its electrical circuitry. A piece of my electrical input resides in its system and its own within me. I believe this permanent connection was possible thanks to a piece of sir Alexander's aura resides within myself. Now I have access to all the CCT system's information, functions and even their satellites. In fact I've been getting constant access to the scrolls of everyone in the four kingdoms and their public and private messages." Seymour explained. "On that note, did you know there is a certain someone at Beacon who believes they are developing a crush on sir Cardin?"

"… Wow… really? Huh… I am both curious yet also a bit creeped out to ask any further." Jaune said with a look of surprise.

"The point is, Seymour now has access to the CCT satellite cameras, so whenever he needs to see your situation he can just use one of the satellite cameras to view your location." Reebok added.

"Yes, but it would have to be very brief. I may have a bit of a special firewall to prevent detection, but only for a limited time. I go over the limit, I will be detected and Atlas will have to ask young master Alexander and I some questions." Seymour explained.

"Seeing as what we can do is considered highly illegal." Reebok added with a bit of anxiety on his face.

"Whoa. Look at you two. A pair of rebels." Jaune said with a smile.

"Don't say that." Reebok said with a frown and annoyance.

Jaune looked to his new silver armlets around his forearms.

"So no Arc Light for a while. It's gonna suck in battle." Jaune complained a bit.

"Calm yourself, Jaune. You still have access to your Aura Amplification abilities and you still utilize them well. I mean you took a missile for Pyrrha and managed to stand your ground longer than anyone against Reagan with it, so there's really no problem with being powerless in the semblance department." Reebok comforted his friend the best he could.

"Yeah… but what if it won't be enough?" Jaune asked.

"Dude… you're Jaune Arc. You're the biggest survivor the world does not know yet. You're harder to kill than a cockroach and those things can survive several weeks without their heads and being trapped underwater for half an hour." Reebok said.

Jaune let out a small chuckle with a smile.

"Guess that lifts my- wow, really?" Jaune looked to Reebok with another surprised look. "Huh… I guess what Salem said to me wasn't so bad after all." Jaune said rubbing the back of his head.

"So… we're cool?" Reebok asked.

Jaune looked to the armlets, then his hands that flashed white for a second.

"Yeah. We're cool. I know you're always looking out for me. Thanks, Alex." Jaune said, looking to Reebok for a moment before turning and heading for the door. When he exited the room, after the door closed behind him, he looked to the armlets and sighed.

"Do you think I was too hard on him?" Jaune heard Reebok ask.

"Master Alexander, you're just looking out for his best interest. Arc Light may be very powerful, but it is still limited, unlike Jaune's heart. His heart radiates with limitless strength of nobility and heroism, but so much so that he pushes the limits of his own limited abilities to the point that he could destroy himself physically. Something that has no limits is incredibly powerful… however it can also be one of the most dangerous things in anyone's possession, be it for good or evil. A perfect double edged sword." Seymour explained.

Jaune looked to his hands and armlets with somber eyes. He took in a breath through his nose and let out a sigh. Staring at them for a bit, he then walked away with his hands to the side, clenched.

!

!

Jaune looked to his armlets for a bit.

'Thanks for caring.' Jaune thought. He then looked up to the sky. To think Seymour could view him at any time with a CCT network satellite. "Still kind of a scary thought."

"What is?" A female voice asked.

"Oh you know, that… what?" Jaune looked ahead to see Nora in front of him with her fists against her hips. "Hello Nora. What're you doing here?"

"Leading us to you." Jaune looked pass Nora to see Pyrrha and Ren. "Sorry to interrupt your training." Pyrrha apologized as she and Ren stopped next to Nora.

"No it's okay." Jaune said with a bit of a wave gesture. "So what's up?"

"Class." Ren answered.

"Excuse me? It's Saturday!" Jaune complained.

"That's What I Said!" Nora shouted.

"Well Professor Peach said she wanted to give us one more assignment before the break. Something about "How assignments in the life of a huntsman are unexpected and could come at any moment, even on what you declare a day off"." Pyrrha explained.

"Ugh! She is so~ like a female Oobleck." Jaune groaned with annoyance as he hung his head back.

"I know, right? I wonder what a kid from them would be like." Nora wondered, rubbing her chin as she looked up to the sky.

"Don't… even… say that." Jaune said with a stern expression.

"I'm just saying." Nora said with a shrug.

"Don't say." Jaune said.

Ren looked around to see various training equipment around the area, with the one catching his eye being a very large sword like tool made of a large slab of stone and an iron rod as a handle.

"So you come out here, where Grimm could lay, even if it's near Beacon, to train with primitive training equipment that Nora helps carries with you." Ren stated more than asked.

"Well it's not really… that primitive… but it does get results." Jaune said.

"As we can see." Ren said, looking back to Jaune. "Although isn't it a little dangerous to swim against a current within a river bank."

"How do you know that I'm swimming against the current?" Jaune asked, but his response was a trio of dull looks. "… Okay, maybe it is a bit obvious." Jaune admitted.

"Knowing you, yes." Ren responded.

Pyrrha walked over to a stone that held Jaune's clothing and took his new Pumpkin Pete hoodie tee.

"Well… time to get back to Beacon. Shall we?" Pyrrha suggested with a smile as she walked over, holding up Jaune's hoodie tee.

Jaune sighed as he hung his head for a moment.

"Yeah, sure. I can train any day." Jaune said with a shrug.

"Oh~, what's with the accessories?" Nora asked pointing to Jaune's new silver armlets with a smile.

"They're not accessories." Jaune said with a stern look.

"Jewelry?"

"Nora, are you trying to aggravate me?" Jaune questioned as he lifted himself out of the river bank.

"No." Nora said calmly with a head shake, oblivious to her leader's annoyance.

As Jaune rose from the river bank, Pyrrha stiffened with wide eyes. There she saw Jaune in just trunks, revealing the fruits of his labor. He managed to get the tight six pack and his pectorals were not too shabby. He definitely developed a body akin to a swimmer's, but a bit thicker in the bicep department by a little.

Nonetheless in her eyes… it was perfect.

So perfect in fact that her whole face brightened up and steamed a bit, before she promptly fainted.

Nora gasped.

"Champion Down!" Nora shouted with urgency. "I know nothing anymore!" Nora screamed as she started to bawl.

"Nora, this isn't the first time we've seen Pyrrha fallen to the floor. In fact, we've been seeing it a lot recently." Ren pointed out.

"But this was self-inflicted! With help from the air!" Nora exclaimed as she waved a hand in the air, as if trying to smack it.

Jaune and Ren looked to the ginger girl with dull looks. They glanced to one another, before looking back at her.

They didn't get her sometimes… but in this case she is kind of right.

Jaune went over to Pyrrha, knelt down and tried to help her up.

"Pyrrha… you okay?" Jaune asked, but no response. "Pyrrha." Jaune shook her a bit.

"Mm… huh?" Pyrrha fluttered her eyes open. Her vision was a bit blurred, but she managed to gain it back, but when she did she noticed the position she was in. A wet, shirtless Jaune over her with her own body in his arms. Her eyes were bulged, mouth shrunk and cheeks burning red hot that they sizzled. It was no surprise that she fainted again with her head hung back and body limp.

Her teammates blinked their eyes as they looked to her.

"Guess she did it to herself again… but this time with your help, Lover Boy." Nora teased to Jaune with a grin.

Jaune looked to Nora with a confused expression, before his eyes widened in realization. After all, one look to his own body and Pyrrha in his arms and even dummy like him can get the gist.

"Okay. Figures." Jaune said with a frown as he gently placed Pyrrha down. "You two watch over her while I get changed." Jaune told his two conscious teammates before standing up, taking his clothes and walking out of sight to change back into dry clothes.

"You know Ren, you could get a body like that." Nora said with a smirk as she gestured a pointed finger to Jaune.

"I'm more of a person who would rather flow with the river than fight against it." Ren stated with a stoic look.

!

!

Team JNPR made it back to the dorm housing where the resided.

Pyrrha had a hard time looking Jaune's way without blushing, while the blonde paid no mind.

"You sure leaving all that equipment in the woods is fine?" Ren asked.

"I texted Reebok to get some of his bots to get them for me and keep them in his workshop." Jaune answered.

"Tch. Not a real substitute for Nora Express." Nora said as she held her head high and flexed her biceps.

"Nothing is." Jaune said, causing Nora to smile with pride. "So what's the assignment anyway?"

"We're supposed to collect dust samples growing from specific trees and areas in the Forever Falls." Ren explained.

"That sounds like a mission where we don't need uniforms." Jaune said with a raised eyebrow.

"It isn't." Ren responded.

"Then why are we heading towards our dorm?" Jaune questioned as he stopped in place with his team.

"I don't know. We're just following you." Nora said with a shrug.

"Don't you need your weapons, which you always keep near your bed?" Ren questioned/pointed out.

"Oh yeah."

"Hello~." They looked over to see team RWBY walking their way with Yang waving to them. "Haven't seen you this morning Vomit Boy. Oh, sorry, I mean Man."

"Thank you." Jaune said with a nod and proud smile.

"Old Jaune here was just training in the woods today swimming against a river current." Nora said as she appeared beside Jaune, nudging his side a bit.

"I find that hard to believe." Yang said.

"I don't. Not with his questionable mental health." Weiss said with dull eyes and her arms crossed.

"See? Weiss gets it. And I have the trunks to prove it!" Nora shouted as she showed off Jaune's wet green trunks with yellow streaks on the sides. Which she somehow took out from nowhere.

"Nora!" Jaune shouted with embarrassment as he stole his trunks back.

Yang and Ruby laughed while Blake giggled and Weiss rolled her eyes.

Jaune groaned with annoyance.

"You guys know you're heading the wrong way, right?" Yang rhetorically asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I just need Excalibur and my trusty firearms, Silver Eye and Arc Gold in our dorm." Jaune answered.

"Why don't you just keep it in your locker like everybody else? It's better than forgetting it and having no way to quickly get it to your location in time." Blake pointed out.

"Because I don't trust people." Jaune said with a stoic look, shocking his friends. "If I leave it in there, then Vlad will have quick access to it; taking it from me and leaving a weak fake, no doubt. Better left with Saber and Liversnap, and to a lesser extent, Zwei, than a locker that can be easily hacked into." Jaune explained.

"Why Vlad specifically?" Weiss questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"And what's so lesser about Zwei?" Ruby questioned with narrowed eyes and fists against hips.

Jaune's eye widened a bit for a moment as he realized his slip of the tongue, but he knew just what to say.

"First off, not hating on Zwei. He's a trooper and can get the job done, but he doesn't bunk with us. And second, do you know anyone else at this school who knows me and is actually brave enough to mess with me now?" Jaune questioned. Yang opened her mouth. "Besides you." Jaune said to Yang, causing her mouth to shut.

"Well, if you're going that way then I'll come to. I got something I wanted to give you anyway." Ruby said with a smile.

"A present? Well that's unexpected." Jaune smiled with a tinge of pink on his cheeks.

"Aw~, look who's blushing~." Yang said with a big, cheeky grin as she leaned over and pulled Jaune's cheek.

"And here I thought I was safe from sister related teasing." Jaune said with an annoyed expression before smacking Yang's hand away as she giggled.

!

!

Within Team RWBY's dorm, Ruby scavenged in the closet, throwing aside her roommates' clothes, a beach ball, a broom, a red buttoned winter jacket, a onesie that looked to be in the design of that of a corgi, hey wait a second when did she get that? … Oh and… Zwei? What was he doing in the closet?

"Found it!" Ruby cheered as she stood up straight with something blue and square tied by rope held in her hands, which were raised high up. Jaune raised an eyebrow, but they widened as Ruby appeared before him thanks to her semblance. "Here." Ruby extended her gift to Jaune.

Jaune took it in his hands and got a clear look at it.

It was… a cereal box… split in two, coated in a thick mass of ice, rope tied to them, keeping them attached, yet still separated and… a rough carving of Pumpkin Pete on the… front part of it? Is it the front?

"What is this?" Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's armor. I made it myself." Ruby answered with a smile as Jaune looked to her with wide eyes. "Well, actually I had help from Weiss. I asked her to freeze it for me. I did the carving." Ruby said looking to the side with a nervous grin and cheeks red. "Do you like it?"

"Nope." Jaune said looking to it, causing Ruby to look at him with shock. Jaune smiled. "I love it." Jaune said, looking to Ruby with a loving smile.

"Really?" Ruby questioned with a surprised look and wide eyes.

"Well yeah. You made it." Jaune said, still smiling.

"And that's great, right?" Ruby asked with an embarrassed smile and blushing cheeks as she rubbed her arm.

"It's what makes it perfect." Jaune said as he took a step forward, making Ruby's cheeks burn brighter. "Thank you, Ruby." Jaune said as he leaned forward and kiss Ruby's lips, causing her eyes to widen greatly. Once Jaune pulled back, smiling, Ruby remained frozen with wide eyes and lips still puckered, but a moment later she sighed with a dreamy look on her face before fainting; hitting the floor hard. "Whoops." Jaune knelt down, placing his new armor to the side and picked Ruby up in his arms.

The door opened causing Jaune to turn his head to see the rest of teams RWBY and JNPR.

"You kissed her on the lips, didn't you?" Yang asked with a smirk.

"Is it that obvious?" Jaune asked.

Nora zipped by them and appeared next to her leader and his girlfriend as she looked down to Jaune's new armor.

"Hey, what's this?" Nora asked as she picked up the makeshift ice armor.

"My new armor. Ruby made it." Jaune answered.

"With some help." Weiss added.

"Oh~, that bunny does not look good." Nora said, but then she noticed the look of anger on Jaune's face, directed at her. "On anyone else, but you, of course, Fearless Leader." Nora quickly said with a very nervous grin.

!

!

Teams RWBY and JNPR were making their way to the designated location near the Forever Falls near Beacon.

Yang was snickering and Nora was giggling as Jaune walked ahead, marching forward with pride as he wore his new ice armor.

Jaune had a proud smile on his face as he was a bit ahead of the group.

"You're remarkably accepting this with no shame." Weiss said.

"What's so shameful about this?" Jaune questioned as he turned to show off his armor plate with Pumpkin Pete carving.

Yang and Nora had a hard time containing their laughter, but Yang was suddenly punched in the ribs by her little sister.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Ruby said with a smile.

Jaune smiled back before turning back to marching forward.

Ruby's smile widened a bit, but then she puckered her lips and glared at her sister with a growl, causing the blonde femme fatale to lean back in surprise.

When they all made it to the designated spot, they saw their entire class.

They saw Cardin shadow boxing while Sun was doing handstand push-ups. Their partners Russel and Neptune were just standing by, relaxing before class could start, which they considered the smarter option since knowing Professor Peach, this could get intense.

Near them, Velvet and Coco were standing by, with Velvet watching the two males working out, while Coco just filed her nails beside her. Coco turned her head to Velvet for a moment, but then shook her head lightly as she returned her attention back to her nails.

Cardin noticed Teams JNPR and RWBY arriving. His eyes landed on… whatever the hell is on Jaune's chest. He couldn't help, but laugh as he pointed to it.

"What? What so funny?" Sun asked as he moved his hands a bit to face where Cardin was pointing at, only to notice Jaune's new ice chest plate with the funny bad carving of a cartoon bunny on the top of it. Sun couldn't help, but laugh as he pointed at the ice chest plate with Cardin.

"What's got you guys giggling?" Jaune asked as they all stopped.

"Dude! You should see what you're wearing!" Sun shouted as he continued to laugh, but he lost concentration and fell forward against the ground, but he managed to roll over and continue laughing as he pointed. Neptune and Russel joined in as well.

Could you blame them? Jaune's wearing an armor of ice with a carving of a cartoon bunny on it.

Jaune just looked to them with a raised eyebrow.

"Seriously, Jauney Boy, where did you get such a dumb thing to put on your chest?!" Cardin exclaimed as he, Sun, Neptune and Russel continued laughing.

"From my girlfriend." Jaune answered with a calm expression and arms crossed.

And just like that, the laughter started to die down and become nervous laughter as they all had scared, nervous grins on their faces; all of them now standing up straight. They were all sweating a bit because Jaune remained staring at them.

"Seriously dude, you should look yourself in the mirror with that thing! It looks great!" Sun said with a grin and two thumbs up. "I bet Neptune agrees too, even though he's afraid of anything that's made of water."

"Yeah, totally. I'd kill for… hey wait a minute!" Neptune glared at Sun, realizing what he just said at the end.

"It looks great man. It suits you." Cardin said with a grin and thumbs up.

"Hn." Jaune just smirked at the quartet of his frightened classmates.

Jaune teammates and team RWBY just stared at the sight before them.

"I still don't believe it." Weiss said, shaking her head as she had her hands on her hips. "Months ago he struggled with taking his sword out-"

"Which stalled the start of a fight for a long~ time." Nora added.

"And now he's got Cardin, his former aggressor, sweating bullets for something that anyone would laugh at."

"Well that's what happens when my uncle takes you under his wing. Heh." Yang chuckled at that. "You become a badass." Yang said with a grin and fist pump.

"And a reckless idiot. I've already come across three examples to know that to be accurate." Weiss said with half lidded eyes.

Ruby and Yang rightfully glared at the ice princess with raised eyebrows.

"By the way Jauney Boy, the other day I opened that big ass Grimm encyclopedia book Port gives and found out there are more than a thousand out there. You lied to me!" Cardin complained with narrowed eyes, pointing his finger at Jaune.

"Well yeah, you looked ready to shit your britches then so I thought a fib would help." Jaune answered, causing Coco, Neptune and Sun to laugh, while Velvet giggled and Russel tried to stifle laughter.

Cardin growled while glaring at Jaune.

"Enough talk about soiled britches people." Professor Peach said as she appeared walking by Cardin, causing him to wail in surprise and flinch. "Now is the time for action!" Professor Peach said as she stopped and turned to her class. "By learning."

"Boo~." Yang said in a low tone.

"I have ears greater than any animal in the world, Ms. Xiao Long." Professor Peach said, appearing before and leaning close to a now startled Yang. "Speaking of ears, I hope all of yours are fine-tuned because today you will be out there with Grimm a bit more advanced than what you were used to facing during initiation. Hearing their movements and the disturbance they create in the environment is imperative." Professor Peach said as she stood up straight and walked over to be a bit in front of her class. She then suddenly took out a fedora from nowhere. "Anyone know what this is?"

"Uh… a hat." Ruby pointed out.

"Yes Miss Rose, that is obvious, but a hat is only a hat when there is nothing in it." Professor Peach said, confusing Ruby a bit. Jaune raised a hand. "Mr. Arc?"

"I'm guessing it's a hat filled with slips of paper with names or numbers on it." Jaune said with a shrug.

"Correct!" Professor Peach said as she took out a slip of paper with the number 10 on it. "These slips have numbers labeled on them. Each student will come up and take one. Just one. Your number determines who will be your partner. There are two that are the same number, so whichever two students have the same number are partners. I was going to do regular numbers with prime numbers being partnered with the following even number, for example number 1 would be partnered with number 2, but I concluded that such a thing would get a bit confusing. So this will work better." Professor Peach explained.

"I'm guessing this is all about how unpredictable life is." Jaune guessed with his arms crossed.

"Raise your hand next time Mr. Arc!" Professor Peach exclaimed, pointing at Jaune with the slip still in hand. "And yes, that is correct." Peach answered, putting the number 10 slip back into the hat. "Life, even when things are planned out, can be an unpredictable mess. If separated, any danger can happen. You may find others on your journey, but as expected it can't always be a familiar face. Today, by chance, you will either be partnered with your actual partner, even if it is very rare in this situation, or you could be partnered with a friend, an acquaintance, a stranger or even an enemy. You can never tell who you will be paired with, but actions you take with them are your choice. Sadly for you in this situation you cannot choose to walk away from them like any other huntsman could in certain situations. The partner you have is yours for the remainder of the exercise. Understand?" Peach finished explaining, earning a nod from everyone. "Excellent. Now it is time for you to pick. Stand in a straight line and I will walk by you all, allowing you to take a single slip." Peach ordered.

Everyone moved to do so.

Nora pouted with her arms crossed as she let out a disappointed moan.

"What's with you?" Yang asked, standing next to the Valkyrie.

"This means I might not be with Ren. I don't like that. I like being with Ren. We're always together." Nora complained to Yang.

"Yeah~, I'm still surprised that with how much you're around each other that you aren't glued to the hip." Yang said.

"I did think about that once, but I thought it was a bad idea since, well… the bathroom situation and all." Nora said, remembering an old hair brained scheme of her own.

Yang rubbed her chin as she looked to the class. After a moment of scanning the crowd, her eyes landed upon Vlad's stoic team member, Edgar. Yang developed a smirk as the gears in her head were turning. She had an idea.

"Hey, Nora, old buddy old pal." Yang spoke up with a grin as she wrapped an arm around Nora.

"Oh~, you got the eye. I get that one a lot." Nora said with a grin as she pointed to Yang's face. "Ren doesn't like that look though."

"Oh he will if I pair you two together." Yang said checking her nails, acting all cool.

"Oh! Tell me, tell me! How are we going to do it?" Nora asked as she hopped up and down a bit.

"Well I got this idea, but I need your help with it."

"What do you want in return?" Nora asked as she stopped hopping.

"Help me get access to the numbers so I can get that hunk over there-" Yang pointed to Edgar, who was lined up next to Gavrilo. "To be my partner." Yang finished with a grin.

"Easy peasy. I know what to do." Nora said with a calm smile and 'it's nothing' hand wave gesture.

"I trust you." Yang said with a smile as she patted Nora's shoulder before they lined up at the end with the others.

Professor Peach was already nearing them as she allowed Weiss to take a number.

When Weiss looked at her number, she gained a wide smile.

'Yes! Number 7! My lucky number! Whoever I get no doubt will be the best there is!' Weiss thought, beaming with a bright smile as she stared down at her number.

When Professor Peach was in front of the student beside Yang, the blonde turned to Nora, who turned to the side and put her hands hovering a bit over her mouth as she then release a noise that echoed sounded like a bear roaring.

Everyone perked up their heads from the sound.

"What was that?" Neptune questioned.

"It sounded like… a mother bear calling to her cub." Peach said rubbing her chin.

They all then heard the sound of rumbling making them all turn, except Yang who took a step back just as the entire line up of students were sent flying up like bowling pins by being smashed by a super powerful bowling bowl… that was apparently fuzzy.

Nora was the last person to be charged into, but when she was she was laughing as Liversnap, now disguised as a bear, licked her face.

"Liversnap! Good boy!" Nora cheered as she continued laughing as he pet disguised Ursa licked her face with joy.

Yang quickly got to work. She was on the floor, pretending to be disorientated on the ground like the rest, but she was scanning the slips of paper on the floor to find two matching numbers. When she found a pair of twos, she grinned, but she noticed black leather high heels pressed upon the ground in front of her. Yang looked up to see Professor Peach looking down at her with a stoic look. The Professor leaned down to Yang.

"Very sneaky maneuver. Partnering with Miss Valkyrie to put things in your favor." Peach said as Yang grinned nervously at her. Last thing the blonde expected was a smile from the peach haired professor. "I'm actually quite proud. However it was as simple as an open book." Professor Peach said, still smiling as she took one of the two slips from Yang's hand. Peach walked over to Nora and Liversnap, causing the two to stop and look to her to find her extending the numbered paper slip Nora. "Seeing as you both decided to work together and so well I might add, I feel it is only appropriate that you both become partnered up for this assignment."

"Aw~." Nora whined with a frown as she took the slip.

"Wait, I thought you said this was supposed to be by chance." Yang spoke up, still on her belly on the floor.

"Yes, and you took one by working together. So now I assign you two together." Peach answered as she gathered the rest of the slips.

"But that doesn't-"

"It does so long as I say so. The day you become a teacher, then your words can become law." Peach said as she stood straight while everyone else was getting back to their feet. Nora and Yang looked to one another with raised eyebrows with the orange haired of the two shrugging. "Everyone line back up, and anymore tricks will result in a demerit." Peach said.

"Ugh. Ow." Weiss complained as she tried getting to her feet.

"Oh Ms. Schnee, you still retain your slip in hand. Excellent work." Peach said, smiling to Weiss.

Weiss looked to her hand holding the slip and smiled.

'Lucky number 7.' Weiss thought with joy.

Everyone collected their slips once more, this time keeping them.

"Yay! I'm number one!" Ruby cheered with joy.

"So am I." Pyrrha said sticking up her slip. Ruby cheered again as she appeared next to Pyrrha.

"I'm with Pyrrha again!" Ruby cheered as she hopped up and down.

"Drat." Weiss cursed. Sort of.

"I had number four before. What was your number before Pyrrha?" Ruby asked.

"I originally had seven." Pyrrha said with a smile.

Weiss snapped her head to the two red heads as her jaw dropped and a storm cloud, booming with lightning surrounded her.

She had it. She actually had it. The chance she had been wanting for so long. She finally had the opportunity to be partnered with Pyrrha Nikos… and it was stolen from her, all thanks to a pair of punch happy, mischief makers; one of them from her own team no less!

Weiss fell to her knees and started punching the ground.

"Whoa, you okay there Weiss-cream?" Yang asked, noticing the heiress' behavior.

Weiss gritted her teeth, growling as she panted angrily through her nose with fire in her eyes. The moment she looked at Yang, the blonde flinched as she saw what could be her downfall of all things.

"I'm Gonna Kill You, Yang!" Weiss screamed as she summoned a glyph under herself that rocketed her towards the blonde, tackling her down and giving her a beat with her small, yet somehow super hard fists.

"Ow! Ow! Weiss! Stop! I'm sorry!" Yang cried as she tried to defend herself from the heiress.

"Hey! Leave my partner alone!" Nora shouted, jumping to her feet, before pouncing at the two, making it a two on one cat fight, with the heiress somehow still managing to give the two heavy hitters of RWBY and JNPR a run for their money.

"Hey! That's enough! Now is the time for class! If you aim to kill each other, do it afterwards!" Peach shouted as she marched over to the three after giving Cardin the last slip of paper.

"Uh, I got four. Anyone have a four?" Cardin called out. He heard a sigh, causing him to turn to see Coco, raising a slip with a four on it. She turned her head as her sunglasses dipped a bit to reveal a heated glare, causing Cardin to stiff up with a look of anxiety. "Uh… you sure we can't switch?" Cardin asked, looking to Professor Peach, who effortlessly tossed Weiss and Nora away, ending the three way cat fight.

"Positive." Peach said with her hands on her hips.

"Great." Cardin said with slumped shoulders.

"Anyone got eighteen?" Neptune called out.

"I do." Chary responded in her usually calm tone.

"Yes." Neptune fist pumped at getting a girl as his partner. A pretty one at that too.

"Um… five? Anyone have a five?" Velvet asked. She noticed someone extended their slip of five to her. She looked to the holder to see it was the ever so stoic Edgar. "Oh! Uh… hope we work well together." Velvet said as she stood up straight, but her ears drooped a bit in his presence.

"That would be most preferable." Edgar said with a nod.

"Aw man. Lucky Velvet." Yang complained with a pout as she slumped over.

"Must be in the feet." Nora said, causing Yang to perk up a bit with a raised eyebrow.

"You know Nora… sometimes I wish my mind worked as fast yours… sometimes." Yang said.

"I'd ask Reebok to help with that, but I want my brain to forever be unique." Nora responded.

"Good call." Yang acknowledged with a hand on her hip.

"Anyone have a six?" Blake asked with her slip up.

"I do." Ren said with his own up.

He and Blake looked one another in the eyes. Ren looked deeply into her eyes to find what he was looking for… and he found it. A look of knowing, yet it seemed that they yearned to speak out. Ren decided then and there to confront her about a matter that he and Jaune have been suspicious of.

Does Blake Belladonna know the truth behind Jaune and Vlad?

Weiss was on the floor sulking. She didn't bothering getting up.

"Hey Jaune, what number did you get?" Ruby asked.

"The same number of how many sisters I have. Seven." Jaune said.

"What?! No~!" Weiss cried as she picked up her head.

"I'm guessing Weiss is my partner today." Jaune said, knowing seeing he himself is fluent 'whine-ese'.

"Look at that. Guess you and I are switching partners today." Ruby said with a small smile.

"No! We can switch again." Weiss said as she rushed over, grabbing Jaune's arm as she leaned forward to Ruby.

"Aw, Weiss. I knew you loved being with me." Ruby said with a bright smile.

"No, not me and you together. I meant-"

"No switching!" Peach shouted, getting irritated with the idea now.

"Oh~ drat." Weiss whined as she hung her head and leaned against Jaune.

"… Well it's nice to see you're so caring Weiss." Jaune said with a frown.

Reebok kept staring at his own slip with a look of anxiety. How could he not? He got (un)lucky number 13.

Reebok gulped as he stared at the number.

'Situations are always what you make of it Alex. That's what your mother and grandfather always said.' Reebok thought to himself. Looking around he saw people were already pairing up, so he had to as well right now. "Uh… th-th-thirt-t-teen? A-A-Anyone got *gulp*… thirteen?" Reebok asked, looking around.

From a bit away the slip with the number thirteen was raised.

When Reebok noticed it… he turned completely pale as his jaw dropped and iris shrunk. His voice squeaked in fear and legs were shaking as his partner for the day was none other… than Vlad Alucard.

Vlad just smirked as he looked Reebok's way.

"Guess I'm with the shrimp today." Vlad said as he brought his arm down, while Reebok broke into a cold sweat as his teeth chattered.

"What?!" Jaune screamed with shock and fury as he then pushed Weiss away and marched over. No way in hell was he letting this happen. When he got close, he noticed Cardin already over to Reebok with his slip extended to the green haired genius.

"A-man, take my number." Cardin said, causing a shaking Reebok to turn his head to his old brief tormentor. "Come on man, take it." Cardin said with a serious look, before saying in a low tone. "Better someone expendable like me is stuck with him then someone like you."

Reebok's eyes widened at Cardin's words.

'Cardin…'

"No switching! I cannot stress that enough! But I can't say the same for my patience." Peach said with a stern expression.

"If Cardin can't switch then I will." Jaune said as he walked over and extended his slip. "Take it, Alex."

"I said no switching!" Peach shouted.

"And I'm telling you I don't give a damn." Jaune said with a glare.

"Enough!" Peach yelled as she slammed a hard stomp against the ground, unleashing a shockwave of peach colored aura, causing everyone to skid backwards, some a bit like Jaune and only one, Vlad, not being moved at all, but just blinked. "Let me make this perfectly clear! No one is switching under any circumstances and anyone who dares defy that order one more time not only fails this class, but will also face me right here, right now! And unless you want a thousand cuts along your bodies, I suggest you not even say the S word!" Peach shouted with a glared as she now wielded a pair of glowing dust scissors, one orange and flaming and the other blue and coursing with lightning.

Everyone stared at her with wide eyes, except Vlad's team, VAGE.

"Do you mean Scissors or Switch?" Jaune questioned, only to get smacked in the back of the head by Weiss. "Ow! Sorry! It was a reflex."

'That line didn't even make sense.' Weiss thought with her arms crossed.

"Anyone else wants to commit the S word?" Peach asked, looking around to her class, who were too frightened to even speak. "Good." Peach said as she put her scissors away. "Now gather around. I need to explain your assignment."

Jaune growled with gritted teeth.

"Sorry man." Cardin said with his hand on Reebok's shoulder.

Jaune grinded his teeth as his form shook with rage.

Weiss looked concerned. She knew Jaune was prone to anger nowadays and she definitely knew that he despised Vlad, but just from the look of him. She never had seen such anger… such hatred… Weiss didn't know it at that moment as she wasn't looking deeper into Jaune's eyes, but Jaune's anger and hatred was like a black sea that her own father would drown in like a tiny puppy with muscular dystrophy.

"Jaune…" Weiss softly spoke the blonde's name. She gently brought her hand over to rest upon the Jaune's shoulder, but he moved away to march over to Vlad.

Vlad didn't move as he knew Jaune would come to him, and low and behold here he comes, bringing a smirk to the dark haired young man's face.

Jaune stopped in front of the taller teen.

The two stared down at one another. One with grit teeth and a glare, the other with a smirk and calm eyes. Both pairs of eyes hiding fires deep within of rage, hatred and bloodlust for one another.

"You dare do anything to him, I don't care if they lock me up and throw away the key… I will murder you where you stand." Jaune said in a low tone and pointing up to Vlad.

"Don't tempt me." Vlad said leaning over a bit with a toothy grin.

"You two, over here, now." Peach called out.

Jaune let out a growl before walking away.

Vlad let out a chuckle as he continued to grin at the retreating Jaune.

Everyone gathered together, Reebok in the group still shaking like he was in a blizzard right now, as Peach took out her Scroll Pad (RWBY-verse iPad). She pressed on it to reveal a hologram of a mahogany colored dust crystal.

"This little specimen is a recent discovery. First found in Argus and later harvested by Atlas, this dust is known as Keg Dust." Peach said.

"Keg dust?" Jaune questioned.

"I've heard of this one. It's a dust crystal said to amplify the effects of other dust crystals, like powder kegs due for fire." Weiss explained.

"Well that explains the name." Sun said with a shrug. "So it's a… some sort of dark brown or… maroon color?"

"Mahogany. It is mahogany." Peach answered.

"Like the wood? That's a color?" Sun questioned.

"You ever heard of mahogany hair?" Neptune rhetorically questioned.

"Attention." Peach spoke up as she then brought up an open vial of mahogany colored dust. "This is a sample of the dust." Peach put her Scroll Pad… somewhere, as she then put a bit of aura to it, causing it to burst into a small smoke cloud, expanding over to her students. "Inhale just a tiny bit. Don't want to affect your lungs and sense of smell too much. You'll need them for the task."

Everyone took in a bit to detect the scent.

Some, mainly the Faunus, flinched at the smell and covered their noses, despite taking in a tiny bit. It was very potent despite the size.

"Are we supposed to sniff this stuff out?" Sun asked pinching his nostrils tight, while Blake, standing next to him, rubbed her nose as she shook her head a bit.

"Not primarily, but you never know. The scent of something familiar can be very beneficial. It is best to familiarize yourself with what you are scavenging for than not to know one iota of its detail at all." Peach said with a smile.

Liversnap walked over and took a sniff at the dust vial in Peach's hand, only to flinch before rearing his head back as his nose twitched.

"Uh oh." Nora said, earning everyone's attention, only for their eyes to widen as Liversnap let out sounds of discomfort as his nose crinkled up more and more.

"Hit the Deck!" Jaune yelled as everyone ran and dived away, right before Liversnap let out a huge sneeze, causing the dust vial to burst into a small mushroom cloud of mahogany colored dust.

After a while, the smoke cleared a bit and if someone really looked into the center of it, they could see Professor Peach with a gas mask on that she took from… wherever she takes out her many science defying items from. At least from wherever they come from.

"Well that's one way to get familiarized with your objective." Peach said behind her gas mask.

"Almost getting blown up because of a child minded someone with a sensitive nose. Why does that sound familiar?" Weiss rhetorically questioned with an eye roll and her now dull eyes looked to Ruby, who grinned and chuckled with embarrassment at the memory of their first meeting.

Liversnap shook his head and rubbed his little nose with the back of his paw. Peach suddenly brought what looked to be a capsule to Liversnap's nose and broke it in half, causing steam to exit out of it and enter Liversnap's nose.

"Breathing in steam will clear up his sinuses." Peach answered, as she then handed the open capsule and a spare to Nora, who stood right beside her baby bear the whole time.

"Thanks Doc." Nora said with a smile and teary eyes caused by the Keg Dust, and then coughed, also caused by the Keg Dust.

"Professor, and your welcome." Peach said.

"So~, does this mean we can take the bear?" Yang asked.

"Well he is tamed, and seems to be well trained by Miss Valkyrie, and who wouldn't want a powerful animal with an excellent sense for tracking on their side?" Peach responded with a smile.

"I'll take that as a yes. Nora, we're taking the bear." Yang said smiling as she turned her head to Nora.

"Pfft, duh. Why wouldn't we?" Nora responded.

"So you at least know where our targets most likely are, right?" Jaune asked.

"Yes I do." Peach said as took out her Scroll Pad out and pressed more button on it to reveal a hologram of the area. "As you can see this is a map of the nearby area. The grey area is considered off limits. While this is an assignment I have come up with to prepare you as huntsman, you are all still students and, dare I say, green across the gills. So you are restricted from reaching this point. The green area is where you are allowed to traverse, obviously." Cardin raised his hand. "Please hold questions for afterwards Mr. Winchester."

"But-"

"Let me guess. Your question is 'If we have this much freedom, what is stopping us from just collecting the nearest sample to this spot', correct?"

"Yeah. Exactly that." Cardin said with a nod.

"Well that's what I am about to explain." Peach pressed more buttons to then reveal red dots and spots of varying sizes around the area. "As you can guess the red dots and spots are the Keg Dust samples. The larger the spot the higher the quantity of Keg Dust you will find. The quality and mass on the other hand are undocumented, so you'll have to either persevere or get lucky. Your grade for today will depend on not just the quantity of Keg Dust, but its quality. You all will have two hours for this assignment."

"And I'm going to guess we're allowed this amount of time because of-"

"The Grimm, yes." Peach answered, interrupting Jaune.

"Fantastic." Jaune said sarcastically with a frown and arms crossed. "How bad?"

"Depends on what you encounter." Peach said as she pressed a few buttons and slid her finger against the Scroll Pad screen to reveal black dots of varying size on the map, a number of them near the red dots and spots, with some surrounding the Keg Dust and within spots of the targets. "There are a number of Grimm in the area. Now the dots do not indicate their exact location, but instead where they most likely reside since the last area scanning. What Grimm species they are, I'm afraid we could not determine so accurately. There will be Beowolves and Ursai, that much we know, obviously, but there also seem to be Insectators and Harbingers in the area as well. I'm afraid Beacon's Grimm infestation is still a bit unchecked that you'll have to face Grimm out of the norm in these parts. However thanks to young Alexander here." Peach gestured to Reebok. "There will be robots keeping an eye on you and saving you from impending danger if you cannot continue any further and are in a near death situation. The bonus also being that their recorded memories will assist me in seeing your progress and battle tactics, which is a big part of being a huntsman and huntress. In short everything you do from here on out when it comes to physical effort, you will be judged and then graded."

"Whoopee~." Cardin sarcastically chimed as he looked to the side.

They all heard impact behind them, causing all the students to turn to see orange backpacks with brown metallic latches attached to them.

"These backpacks have been modified with a cooling agent inside them to keep the dust you pick out in its prime. A form of dust is more potent when kept in a concealed and slightly cooled environment. Makes them better for study that way." Peach explained.

"Dust sounds so complicated." Nora said.

"Well what did you expect?" Weiss questioned rhetorically with dull eyes and arms crossed.

"I don't know. I just always thought that something that explodes doesn't really need much explanation." Nora said with a shrug.

"Thank You!" Yang and Ruby cheered with their hands up, much to Weiss' chagrin.

"Alright, alright. First off, everything needs explaining, second, the time for work is now. Collect your backpacks, one per person, and gather with your partner. You will officially start upon my command." Peach ordered.

Everyone did as they were told.

"These things feel as light as air." Sun said, as he hopped in place with his backpack on.

"Well thanks to Alexander here, they-"

"We understand." Teams JNPR, RWBY, Sun, Neptune, Cardin and Russel said.

"Hmm… shows what reputation the young lad has." Peach said to herself. "Anyway, line up. Your task officially begins on my mark. Once the assignment starts, I will send the map I showed earlier to your scrolls." Peach announced.

Everyone lined up, standing close to their partners. Except Reebok. He tried his best to keep… an acceptable distance from Vlad. Peach would reprimand him if he didn't stay close enough. So he stayed a good distance, but sadly still pretty close, but in his opinion, still very close. In Reebok's opinion and in agreement with Jaune and the few people who knew the truth, the only actual good distance away from Vlad Alucard is off the planet.

Maybe~ even farther that. Even being on the moon still felt a little too close to the bastard.

"Oh your mark." Peach spoke, standing on the side with her hands behind her back. "Get set..." Peach suddenly took out a pistol and fired a bullet into the air, causing most of the students to flinch, except for Team VAGE, who started walking forward. "That's a go." Peach said.

"Let's go!" Nora cheered as she suddenly grabbed Yang by the arms and threw her high into the air. The rest of the class looked up to see Yang rising into the air, screaming, until she stopped and started to descend. Nora hopped atop of Liversnap with a grin as then Yang landed in a perfect sitting position atop of Liversnap, now being right behind Nora. "Onward, Liversnap!" Nora cheered with a huge grin and pointing forward.

Liversnap stood upon his hind legs, roaring. Yang, not wanting to fall upon the ground, wrapped her arms around Nora. Liversnap then sprinted forward at high speed with Yang yelling at the intense speed they were traveling.

The students blinked their eyes at the sight, but got to work.

Everyone quickly got moving, with Neptune and Velvet catching up with their partners for the assignment, Chary and Edgar.

However as expected, Reebok didn't bother catching up that much to Vlad. Same with Russel, who unfortunately got partnered with Gavrilo. The two tried to inch as carefully as possible, but sadly upon reflex, they sprinted when a claxon was blasted behind them, courtesy of their teacher, startling the heck out of them.

"Honestly, those two are acting like their partners are carrying viruses." Peach said shaking her head, but then she puckered her lips and raised a brow at the thought. "Are they?" She pondered as she rubbed her chin. "Hmm… I might have to prepare some vaccines, just in case."

!

!

"WAHOO~!" Nora cheered as she and Yang rode upon a charging Liversnap. Yang was holding onto Nora for dear life as she felt her whole body jump up and down, especially in the chest area. The heart to be more specific.

And you have to be specific when it comes to that certain phrase.

"How do you get used to this?" Yang questioned as her voice sounded like it was shaking just like her.

"Took some getting used to, but don't worry. I'm getting a saddle soon." Nora said with a smile.

"Can we please stop for a second?" Yang asked.

"Mm~… I suppose. We can't collect things at this speed. Liversnap, heel." Nora ordered, causing Liversnap to skid to a halt.

Yang moaned as she still felt her whole body shaking, despite the large disguised Ursa stopping, as she then slid off the side of Liversnap and fell onto the floor with a grunt.

Nora landed upon the ground on her feet with a bright smile on her face.

"Alright! We have the speed advantage, the head start advantage and most importantly the tracking advantage. All three thanks to Liversnap! Isn't that right sweetheart?" Nora said, cooing at the end as she rubbed the hidden Ursa atop his head, earning a small roar in response. "That's right~. Who's a good Ursa? You are! Yes you are!" Nora cooed as she hugged her beloved Liversnap, who nuzzled his head closer to Nora.

Yang moan as she managed to get to her feet.

"Bear runs almost as fast as Bumblebee." Yang said as she held her head.

"Please. Liversnap can run way faster than your bike ever can." Nora said with half lidded eyes.

"Prove me wrong later than." Yang said with a small glare. "Either way we need to find those Keg Dusts before I make you eat those words."

"You're gonna be the one eating your own words for underestimating Liversnap." Nora said with a finger point and confident smile. "Okay Liversnap, do you remember the smell?" Nora asked. Liversnap gave a small roar and nod in return. "Then go find it! And stay close."

Liversnap pressed his nose against the ground and started sniffing around.

Yang and Nora watched as Liversnap travelled around the area to find the scent.

"He's more like a big furry dog than a bear." Yang said.

"Nah~. Dogs wish they were as cool as Liversnap." Nora responded with a smile. Liversnap suddenly picked his head, alerting the two heavy hitters, as he rushed over to a spot. "He's got something!" Nora cheered with a grin.

Liversnap slowed down to trot up to a tree. He sniffed it a bit, before turning and raising his leg.

Yang and Nora's eyes widened at the sight.

"Aw man, I don't want to see that." Yang said with distaste as she turned her head away with her eyes closed and hand hovering over her peripheral vision line of sight. "I didn't even know Grimm could use the bathroom."

"Well they can't. They can't even go. Liversnap is the only one who tries, and that's because I taught him to always try and never give up!" Nora exclaimed with pride and fist pump at the fact that she inspired her Ursa to defy the odds of nature.

"Can't he do that later? We're on a schedule here."

"Yeah, true." Nora had to concede there. "Liversnap, honey! Try that another time, we need at least one of those dust thingies first!" Nora called out to Liversnap, causing him to cease his actions.

They all heard a ping.

"Oh, that must be the map." Yang said as she took out her scroll to open up the e-mail to reveal the map from before. "Oh! It actually says that there is one here."

"See~? Liversnap knows what he's doing." Nora said as Liversnap stood atop his hind legs.

"Alright, then how about he shows us-" Liversnap roared as he slashed the tree he was using in half to reveal a single yet hefty Keg Dust crystal. "Where it… is." Yang finished with a look of surprise.

"Yes! Good Liversnap! Good boy!" Nora cheered with a big grin. Liversnap took the dust crystal in his mouth and then tossed it to Nora, who easily caught it. "The first of many, and it's all thanks to Liversnap." Nora said as she turned to Yang with a big smile.

"Huh. Looks like the bear really knows how to get things done." Yang said with a smile as she took the dust crystal and put it in Nora's backpack. "Good job, Snappy Bear."

Liversnap sniffed the tree again, now a stump, and raised his leg up once more.

"Go ahead Liversnap, you earned it." Nora said with a smile.

"I still don't want to see that." Yang said with a frown as she looked away again.

!

!

Cardin was just staring ahead, trying to keep a calm visage, but that was difficult to do since his partner for the day was Coco Adel.

Since the assignment began, Coco has been glaring at Cardin behind her shades.

Cardin was feeling much anxiety, which is understandable. Same with Coco's aura of animosity towards him.

After all the two were on shaky grounds because of the Winchester's past treatment of Coco's teammate, Velvet.

Ever since the Forever Fall incident, Cardin has been trying his best to change for the better, and so far he was doing pretty well. He stopped bullying people, although he still had inklings of antagonistic behavior, like wet willies and noogies, he still had a bit of an attitude and a temper, but he was really trying to be better by helping people up after a battle, helping people with some trouble here and there, mainly when it comes to physical labor, and he was actually learning the value of empathy. Isn't that enough to say he's a better man now?

Well… not to Coco Adel.

Granted even though Cardin's change isn't just completely sudden, it was taking time for him, so you couldn't say it was a complete load of horse shit, but Coco always felt that whatever core aspects people started out with in their life will always remain.

Like Jaune. Sure he's grown to be as many would say a badass… and a bit of a reckless fool, but he's still a bit of a dork. Being a dork was part of Jaune's core aspects, maybe even one of his biggest, and despite how much he has changed he still has his moments of dorkery. He can't change it.

So to Coco, the same can be said for Cardin.

In short, to Coco, once a bully… always a bully.

Cardin has been showing forms of patience and even kindness to Velvet, but every time he is near her the times where she learned how he bothered her for the day popped into her head and she couldn't help, but feel anger as her skin crawled whenever he was in close proximity to her best friend.

If it was up to Coco, Cardin would have been out of this school a long time ago. Sure many would say Jaune should have been since he sucked, but Coco always believed even someone as weak as Jaune was could always get stronger. No… no, she believed that Jaune deserved to stay because he always had the heart of a huntsman. A person ready to lay their lives on the line to protect others.

Cardin was nowhere near that in the beginning. He bullied everyone that was an easy target, he was way too smug of a person, he took delight in other people's misery, he was pretty sadistic and brutal in spars and he enjoyed every minute of it.

With someone that vile now claiming to have changed… would anyone believe it?

Coco wasn't going to until she herself saw undeniable proof that Cardin Winchester actually meant what he said.

Until then, she wasn't going to hold her breath, but she will drill holes in the back of his head with a glare.

Cardin was actually perspiring a bit. He knew Coco's reputation. Sure he had a temper, but that is nothing compared to Coco's. She's considered the Yang Xiao Long of second years. You know, except she was a born leader who had some sense of control.

It didn't take a genius to know that Coco did not like Cardin one bit… he's also pretty sure Fox and Yatsuhashi don't like him either. Even if they are more cool-headed and understanding than Coco.

Although truth be told, he could never blame any of them for that.

Cardin was… pretty rotten to the Faunus, with Velvet being his favorite target of them all.

After a while, when looking back on it, Cardin… actually started to feel remorse. He actually regrets doing what he did before. Especially the ear pulling. Thinking about it, when he got his own pulled by Goodwitch for causing trouble a few times, and once from Jaune, it hurt like heck considering their huntsman level strength. He could only imagine the level of pain a pair of long bunny ears could be. The best he could think of is that the pain is the same level as… oh… or perhaps ripping a large clump of skin off of an open wound.

… Okay, now he just feels terrible.

Terrible! That shows that he's changed for the better, right?

… No… even Cardin can now tell that just because you feel that way doesn't mean anything. You have to back up those words and feelings with actions. Never one or the other.

Cardin could just now feel the aura of wrath that Coco was exuberating upon him.

Cardin's lip quivered as he had a look of fear with his body breaking into a big sweat.

'Man this is torture. Although no matter how scared I am, I bet the pipsqueak is having a worse experience than I am. After all, he's stuck with him… stay strong, buddy. I hope your nerves are stronger than mine right now. Oum help him.' Cardin thought as he prayed for Reebok.

!

!

Reebok needed all the praying for all the safety he could get.

He was keeping a distance behind Vlad, carefully timing his steps to keep the right amount of distance while Vlad continued to walk casually.

Reebok knew Vlad had his eye on him. I mean what person aiming for the goal of genocide for… God knows what personal reasons, would not keep an eye on his mortal enemy's allies. Especially the one essentially building an army for him.

I mean granted Vlad doesn't know about the Order of Arc… hopefully.

However if that creepy shiver down his spine from time to time and Russel's warning during class some time ago was any indication, he just might have caught Vlad's eye… and no one wants to catch Vlad's eye.

Reebok's lip quivered, but he tried his best to keep a brave face on as he stared at Vlad's form.

He had to stay strong. The best he could.

It's a little hard, but… for his friends… for what he loves… he will be brave.

A beep was sounded causing Reebok to scream with a high pitched volume, while Vlad just halted.

Vlad took out his scroll and looked down at it.

"Looks like the map has been sent." Vlad said before pocketing the scroll in his pocket. Reebok sighed, holding the left side of his chest. "Brat." Vlad spoke, causing Reebok to stiffen up with new fear. "I think at this point it's pretty obvious that I have had my eye on you." Vlad said, making Reebok gulped. "I don't need to know if you know who I really am. That is answered by your behavior." Reebok's eyes widened. "You look at me as if I am the man who has destroyed the world… and that is because I have. Not your world, but you already know this."

Reebok was shaking with his legs shaking side to side.

"I-I… I won't lie… I do know. Jaune told me e-everything." Reebok said.

"Did he now? Everything? Even the details of… who died and how?" Vlad asked. Reebok bit his bottom lip. "Did he tell you who died first? Or… how I killed his family?"

Reebok tightened his fists that were shaking.

"No… I don't think anyone who actually gives a damn would say that." Reebok said with a glare.

"Hmm?" Vlad perked up a bit at surprise at Reebok's statement.

'WHY THE HELL DID I SAY THAT TO HIM?!' Reebok thought as he was freaking out, holding the sides of his head with gritted teeth.

"Pretty brave comment for someone who is socially challenged. You definitely got more guts than Sever… or perhaps I'm jumping the gun there." Vlad said. Reebok shook as he tried to put on a brave face again. "Tell me young blood… does that bark of yours… match that bite?" Vlad turned his head to the side as his eyes were black with purple shining pupils staring at Reebok, causing the green haired genius to freeze in place with wide eyes.

He could feel it. The terror those eyes possess and the fear they project upon people.

Reebok's heart raced with pure fear. He tried to brave the sight as best as he could. However his body was failing him. He was perspiring profusely, his hair on edge and his skin turning pale. He was shivering like a man out in the middle of a blizzard wearing nothing, but a speedo.

Reebok tried to stay brave, but he… he…

… He fainted.

Vlad's eye returned to normal as he looked to Reebok's downed form.

"Huh… he lasted better than I expected." Vlad said as he walked over to Reebok's fallen form. Vlad stared down at Reebok's unconscious form. 'What good can you give to Jaune? What plan does he have you assisting him with?' Vlad thought with a stoic expression. "Oh well…" Vlad grabbed Reebok by the left leg and started to drag him away. "I'm sure I'll learn soon. Not like it will defeat my true purpose for that day soon enough."

!

!

Jaune was walking forward with a serious expression and hands in his pockets. He was moving faster than normal all because his thoughts were fueled by intense emotions from the thought of his best friend and most reliable ally was stuck with his arch-nemesis/living apocalypse of his world, otherwise known as Vlad Alucard.

Weiss was trying to keep pace with the blonde knight the best she could, but he proved to be real quick on his feet, even when he's not even trying.

"Would you slow down? I'm actually having trouble keeping up!" Weiss called out.

"Then don't wear heels." Jaune said.

"How rude!" Weiss shouted with annoyance and offense.

Despite her aggravation towards Jaune, Weiss could tell that he was very bothered and she understood why. From what her sister told her, being emotional can be a detriment to the mission. Even if Jaune isn't really outwardly acting emotional, that doesn't mean he isn't filled with unstable feelings from within. She needed to help alleviate the situation or else Jaune's emotions will reach a breaking point that will jeopardize the assignment or worse, finally get him killed.

When thinking about Jaune finally kicking the bucket… Weiss' heart almost froze with fear and dread. She still had confidence that he would survive anything that is thrown at him, but seeing as he is technically handicapped, just like everyone else, one good hit and it's over.

Ruby… she might never speak to her again.

Even though Weiss always denies it… it actually is true… Ruby might be… she is…

Weiss' best friend.

So… it's only obvious that a best friend must help their best friend in any way, shape or form. Even though they themselves don't notice it. That's what a best friend should do, right?

Alright… time to help someone with their emotional struggle.

'Okay… to make sure Jaune doesn't get himself killed by obvious overwhelming emotions, I need to… what is it that people do in this situation? I mean talk it out is obvious, but… hmm… I hate to resort to this, but… maybe Yang might be right about starting with a joke.' Weiss thought to herself as she rubbed her chin.

At this moment, Jaune pushed a flexible branch too far and got smacked right in the face.

"Ah! You son of-" Jaune gritted his teeth as he took out Excalibur, revved it back and with a mighty roar, sliced the tree in half, and from the force behind the swing, sliced several more around and behind it.

The trees all fell in unison with one of them possessing a Keg Dust crystal within the one in front of him.

Jaune glared down at the dust crystal for a moment, before grabbing it.

Weiss looked to the several down tree with shocked, wide eyes and a thin mouth. She then noticed Jaune extending the Keg Dust to her. Her eyes looked over Jaune to see a stoic yet serious look on his face. After a moment, she carefully took the dust crystal from Jaune's grasp.

Jaune put Excalibur back onto his back before turning and walking away with his hands in his pockets again.

'At this point, a joke might be required.' Weiss thought before quickly hurrying over to catch up with Jaune again. Weiss strolled along side Jaune, thinking on what joke to say. "So~… you ever heard about the one with the fish?"

"What?" Jaune questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No, that might not fit here." Weiss said rubbing her chin.

"What?" Jaune questioned as he stopped and turned to Weiss with a very confused expression.

"Um… you sure 'leafed' those trees in the dust." Weiss said with a somewhat nervous expression. Also pondering if that joke eased anything seeing as she knew it was clearly… underwhelming.

"Are you… making a joke?" Jaune questioned, being clearly very confused.

I mean this was Weiss Schnee, not Yang Xiao Long. No need for two people on the same team to constantly tell bad jokes and puns.

"I'm trying to ease the tension. You should be happy I'm at least trying." Weiss countered.

"Am I really showing that much aggravation?" Jaune questioned.

"I direct you to the trees you assaulted just a moment ago." Weiss said, pointing to the several chopped trees.

"… They assaulted me first." Jaune muttered with a pout, causing Weiss to sigh.

"No wonder Ruby fell for you. You're two peas in a pod." Weiss said to herself with a hand over her eyes as she shook her head.

"I'm sure you meant that as an insult, but I take it as a compliment of the highest regards." Jaune said with his head held high.

Weiss just stared at the blonde with narrowed eyes, small gaped mouth and hands on her hips.

"You are the most die-hard boyfriend I have ever met in my life." Weiss said, shaking her head.

"Don't feel too jealous of Ruby, Snow Angel." Jaune said with a smirk.

"Quit it! And I thought you were through with calling me that!" Weiss shouted, stomping her foot.

"I did. I just wanted to see the look on your face when I spoke it again." Jaune said with a smug smile, causing Weiss to burn red with anger as it looked like steam was bursting out of her ears. 'No wonder Qrow messes with Winter so much. It's so dang fun to mess with a serious Schnee.' Jaune thought with a smirk, while Weiss shook with anger, her teeth grit and eyes almost turning white with anger.

Weiss was so aggravated at Jaune's behavior, but after a moment she took a deep breath in through her nose and then exhaled out her mouth.

"At least you're not moping." Weiss said with a stoic expression and crossed arms.

"Do I mope?" Jaune asked, earning a raised eyebrow from Weiss. "Yeah, I know. Stupid thing to ask."

"Well… not really that stupid." Weiss admitted.

"You sure about that?" Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well…" Weiss looked down to the side. "What do you have to mope about anyway? A family name?" Weiss questioned, but it was more of a justification in a sense as she felt she probably had more of a reason to mope than a lot of other students.

"… Partly." Jaune answered, causing Weiss' eyes to widen.

Weiss looked to Jaune, who was looking ahead as they walked.

"Really?" Weiss questioned. "Let me guess… you have to live up by certain standards."

"An Arc must noble, diligent, intelligent and most importantly, stronger and more powerful than many in this world. If they cannot accomplish any of that… then they might as well die on the battlefield."

"Goodness." Weiss said with utter shock.

"Arcs have high standards when it comes to strength, especially when it comes to becoming a huntsman." Jaune said.

Weiss sighed.

"Same with mine." Weiss admitted, hanging her head a bit. "My father always says Schnees must be fierce and not let anything get in their way. Even if it's an ally… we have to do whatever to stay on top."

"Sounds like a truly lonely life." Jaune commented, causing Weiss to flinch with her hands gripping her arms tightly.

"Yes… yes it is." Weiss confessed with a low, somber tone.

Jaune looked to Weiss, now feeling sorry for her. He knew her lifestyle. Hell, he knew her father.

Obviously as one can tell, Jaune and Jacques would in no way connect in a friendly manner, especially before the whole cynical, emotional and quite temperamental stage of Jaune's life that he had evolved into.

Now it looks like it was Jaune's turn to say something to help his partner of the day.

And no, he's not going to start with a joke.

"Okay, so stop me if I'm wrong, but Qrow actually once told me that your father isn't-"

"A Schnee? Well your mentor is correct." Weiss confirmed with a glare.

"Then if he wasn't born as a Schnee and was never raised by your grandfather, then what gives him the right to believe he knows what makes a Schnee?" Jaune questioned.

Weiss' eyes widened a bit. She turned her head to the side and looked down with a smile.

"None… from the sounds of it." Weiss said as her cheeks had a tint of pink on them.

She already knew this fact, but… it did feel good for her to hear it from someone else. Especially what she considers a friend.

"So listen to your head. It most likely knows more than your old man does." Jaune said.

"What do you mean 'most likely'?" Weiss questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Well when kids are young they adopt a lot from their parental figures. Happened with me with my parents." Jaune said.

"And what makes you think that I-" The moment Jaune looked to her with a frown and half lidded eyes made Weiss go quiet with wide eyes. "Right… sorry."

"Eh. We all have our dumb moments." Jaune said with a shrug.

"Hey!" Weiss shouted, but she wasn't really annoyed. In fact she was smiling. She sighed with her eyes closed. "You know… not many people know this, but… my grandfather studied at Beacon."

"Did he? So that's why you came here."

"Precisely." Weiss said with a nod. "Well… actually… it's to understand him." Weiss looked up to the sky. "My grandfather is my idol. He was strong, courageous, kind and to this day is still the greatest Schnee to ever live." Weiss' eyes grew somber as then looked down. "My family is nothing like that. All except Winter."

'Yeah, but she's only kind when she wants to be.' Jaune thought with a pout.

"When… when I was younger… my mother and grandfather told me stories of his many adventures. Mother said he used to brag about his accomplishments and victories on his countless missions to her, but to me he seemed humble."

"Well age does bring maturity."

"Nearing your end can do the same." Weiss muttered to herself as her eyes grew somber. "His stories, they… inspired me. They made me want to be a huntress. Same with Winter. I wanted to be as strong, courageous and kind as my grandfather, and maybe one day I would be lucky to tell my children and then my grandchildren." Weiss said with a bright smile, but Jaune couldn't help, but look at her with sad eyes as he remembered his original Weiss… was not so fortunate. "Although… I fear that sounds rather foolish to most."

"Yeah to dumbasses." Jaune straight up said with a stern expression, shocking Weiss. "Don't take those stories lightly. You and I wouldn't be here right now without those stories. They gave us the courage to come to these schools, to step foot here. They're what make people like me, you, Ruby, Pyrrha… everyone. Without any stories, legends or mythology we'll have nothing to live our lives by. Our existence would be truly pointless without them, because they are the spark of what inspires us to be who we want to be… to be who we are." Jaune said, looking straight ahead with a serious expression.

Weiss stared at him with wide eyes and a minor gaped mouth. She had never heard such… inspiring words, and all about children's fairytales and stories from younger days. Who would have ever thought such a thing was possible?

Definitely not anyone of the Schnee family… and yet here Weiss is listening to the once… well still kind of is the dorky leader of Team JNPR, and actually believing in his words.

Oh how Winter would say she was foolish for taking such dialogue seriously, but she couldn't help it.

Sometimes Jaune sounds like a wise sage or, dare she say it, an actual huntsman.

Despite his new sense of rudeness… Jaune truly was a keeper. He probably knew more than people twice their age, and she appreciated that. He's a… pretty great man.

"Hmm." Weiss looked to the ground with soft eyes.

"Weiss…" Jaune spoke.

"Hmm?" Weiss looked to Jaune.

"I know this may sound sudden, but…" Jaune tightened his fists more. "I'll make sure you live long enough to tell your stories to your kids." Jaune said, causing Weiss' eyes to widen greatly. "A-Along with the others helping me. After all this is a group effort to survive in this world." Jaune said, looking to the side.

"Oh." Weiss look away as her cheek grew hot. "That would be nice." Weiss spoke softly as she felt warm.

Jaune had a stern look on his face. He closed his eyes only to see glass break as white jaws clamped down upon a woman in white as everything then turned red.

Jaune tightened his fists so tightly, he actually drew some blood from his palms.

'I won't let it happen. I won't let everything fall apart again.' Jaune thought as he opened his eyes with a glare.

"Jaune." Weiss spoke, earning Jaune's attention. "I know your relationship with Vlad is very personal… but from how you treat him, as if he were some sort of tyrannical super villain-"

'Right on the money there, Weiss.' Jaune thought with a frown.

"So tell me… since you view him as a mastermind with countless plans within his skull-"

'Two for two.' Jaune thought with a deeper frown.

"With his female member partnered with Neptune… he has nothing planned for him does he?"

"No." Jaune immediately answered.

"That was a very fast answer." Weiss said with a surprised expression.

"Neptune's an alright guy who knows how to defend himself, but Vlad doesn't spare a glance to those he considers flies. Something harmless to his plans. Neptune hasn't showed any signs of being a threat. He doesn't dig his nose deep into serious situations, he isn't tenacious and he isn't willing to risk so much on one move that can decide the outcome between victory and defeat. In short, to Vlad, Neptune is just a background character. Vlad only keeps an eye on major players." Jaune explained.

"… Like Alex?" Weiss asked, but it was rhetorical. She knew the answer, but Jaune's narrowed eyes and clenched fists presented zero doubt to the idea.

"Sometimes I wish I didn't involve him into this thanks to that fact… but I need him." Jaune said.

"Need him?" Weiss questioned, tilting her head a bit.

"… It's nothing. Just a personal thing." Jaune said, turning his head away.

"What is your history with Vlad anyway?" Weiss questioned.

"That's private… at least for now." Jaune said. "I don't feel ready to tell the whole story. Not now. Another day."

Weiss stared at Jaune for a bit.

"I understand." Weiss said, closing her eyes.

The two walked in silence for a few moments.

"So… Neptune will be fine for now, yes?"

"The only trouble he'd have with Chary Corday is if she decides not to help him when something bad comes along." Jaune answered.

"Corday? I thought her last name was Angel." Weiss said with confusion.

Jaune blinked his eyes.

"Oh. So she changed her name again." Jaune said, causing Weiss to blink and look to him with surprise and wide eyes. "Although she is far from an angel."

.

.

Neptune screamed as he was hanging off the edge of a cliff.

Chary just stood in front of his hanging body, hands behind her back as she stared down at Neptune's form with a stoic demeanor.

"For the love of Oum! Help me lady!" Neptune screamed with tears in his eyes.

"You're only a few inches from the ground." Chary said in a monotone.

"I'll drown!"

"It's one of the most insignificant creeks in existence."

"No water! No water!"

"Water is everywhere. It is what makes up most of the world. You must grow a backbone to it." Chary said. Neptune just cried with tears running down his eyes. Chary sighed as she shook her head. Chary grabbed Neptune by the collar and easily lifted him up and placed him onto the ground next to her.

Neptune was shocked by the strength this girl was packing. To be able to lift him up with one hand is no small feat. Even though he doesn't weigh that much.

"Uh… thanks." Neptune said as he got up to his feet. "You know, you're one strong lady there. You must work out a lot to be in such good shape." Neptune said with a flirtatious grin, putting on the charm. Chary just blinked her eyes as she looked to Neptune. "What I mean is, you're super fit to lift me up like that."

"It wasn't that hard. You're a featherweight." Chary responded simply.

"… Ouch." Neptune frowned with slumped shoulders, feeling very offended.

"We must move." Chary said as she walked pass Neptune.

"Right." Neptune said, still feeling down. He turned only for his eyes to widen as he saw Chary taking out a Keg Dust crystal from a shrub. "Whoa. How did you know that was there?" Neptune asked.

"Simple. From a look on the map it was identified that there was one or perhaps several in the area. The leaves on this shrub have some discoloration from both having dust grown within it and from powder shavings that came off the crystal over time, meaning this one has deteriorated from it's prime. Also, the crystal is giving off a feint, yet noticeable scent exactly like the dust compounds that Nora Valkyrie's bear sneezed before, which is also a sign that it has deteriorated from it's prime." Chary explained.

"Uh… wow. I mean it doesn't sound that simple, but it was understandable." Neptune said.

"It is simple for those reaching huntsman rank. You need to absorb every detail in both your mission details and environment in order to do a successful job. Must be keen, must be alert, must never let your guard down, even when you're asleep. When you accept not just a mission, but your role in a particular lifestyle, you must never let yourself be open for even a fraction of a second… or you will set yourself up for lost." Chary said looking to Neptune, who just stared at her wide eyes.

'Dude, this chick is hardcore.' Neptune thought. Suddenly a booming roar was heard, causing Neptune to let out a high pitched scream as he jumped back, only to fall off the cliff and hit the tiny creek below. "Ah! Help!" Neptune screamed.

"Again, one of the tiniest creeks in existence." Chary said.

"I'm drowning!"

Chary let out air from her nostril, similar to a sigh.

"I cannot say he will not go far… but he will never grow into a legend."

.

.

Gavrilo was walking with his hands in his pockets and bored look on his face.

Russel was keeping his distance. He didn't care if he looked suspicious, there was no way in hell he was staying anywhere close to Vlad and his cronies. Gavrilo didn't bother paying attention to Russel, no doubt not seeing his existence as something worth noticing, and in all respects… Russel preferred it that way.

Russel didn't give a shit about anyone noticing him if they would ever consider murdering him.

The least attention on him the better.

Gavrilo just minded his own business. When it came down to jobs, the only person he would be okay with by his side Would Be Chary. Also Vlad, but he'd prefer Chary any day. She was blunt, straightforward and wasn't a blabbermouth. Sure her direct nature could get annoying sometimes, but she was a pretty good partner.

Everyone else just has a habit of annoying him, especially anyone from Atlas.

This guy he's stuck with just seems like the run of the mill cowardly fighter who only feels confident around other muscle that isn't against him.

At least he's better than Jaune or even that stupid 'together, but not together-together' couple, Ren and Nora. Gods, how he hates those two polar opposites. Just one meeting and he already wishes for them to just die in a fire.

Well, those can be saved for now in his dreams.

A howl was heard causing Russel to flinch and shake, while Gavrilo stayed calm.

"Not a fan of normal wolves?" Gavrilo rhetorically questioned.

"How do you know it was normal?" Russel questioned.

"Experience in the field." Gavrilo answered with a shrug.

Gavrilo stopped next to a tree. He took out one of his two scimitars attached to his back, used as a replacement to not arouse suspicion with his original weapons, and effortlessly sliced the tree beside him in half, faster than Russel could see. In fact, Russel only saw Gavrilo grab the hilt of his scimitar then the next second his arm was back to his side. Gavrilo then delivered a side kick, knocking the tree over.

Russel looked to the down tree with very wide eyes. His 'partner' just took it down effortlessly. No way is he someone to mess with.

Gavrilo whistled, alerting Russel.

"There's one of those dust crystals attached to the branches. I took the tree down, so you fetch. You need to do some kind of work to earn that grade." Gavrilo said.

Russel just obeyed without a word uttered.

Gavrilo waited as Russel rustled around the branch leaves until he found the Keg dust crystal with a smile on his face. They both heard howling once more.

"Guess that wolf's pretty energetic today." Russel said.

"Nah, that wasn't it. That last howl was a final one from a creature that stood up to the wrong crowd. This one from a creature that wants blood for fun." Gavrilo said, causing Russel to gulp with very wide eyes.

Suddenly more howls were heard and they sounded like they were getting closer.

Russel was shaking like a leaf as fear took hold of him.

"Mommy."

!

!

In another part of the woods, a bullet shot was heard, and then another.

These bullet were being fired by Ruby Rose, who was firing shots from Crescent Rose to get from tree to tree. She scavenged each tree for keg dust.

"Found another one!" Ruby called out, showing off a Keg dust crystal.

"Excellent work!" Pyrrha called out, looking up to Ruby with a smile.

In the shadows, a Grimm lurked and watched the pair. With the short one in the tree, now was the time to strike. The Grimm rushed over at a high speed, but all happened was Pyrrha sidestepped and sliced the Grimm in half with her Xiphos one handed effortlessly.

It was a Harbinger, the dinosaur bird Grimm of fast speeds and devastating head-butt and clawing attacks.

Pyrrha effortlessly ended the life of one, but unfortunately it was not alone.

More Harbingers rushed out of the shadows and bushes to charge towards Pyrrha. However they were easily dispatched by sniper bullets straight into the skull of them, causing them all to fall before even reaching close quarters distance to Pyrrha.

"Not even close." Ruby said with a smile on her face.

She then heard the slightest sound of wind change behind herself. She flipped Crescent Rose around and fired three, nailing three Sand Flyers in the head, killing them instantly. Ruby smirked at her handiwork as the Sand Flyers hit the ground below, bursting into ash.

Pyrrha smiled at her partner's accomplishment.

Ruby hopped down from the tree and landed next to Pyrrha.

"Wow. All that training really is paying off." Ruby said, looking up to Pyrrha, with a smile.

"Yes. My striking speed has increased along with my agility." Pyrrha said as she flexed her bicep. "And of course you've progress quite efficiently as well." Pyrrha said, smiling down to Ruby.

"Oh please, stop~. Shut your stupid face hole, you flatterer." Ruby said feeling bashful and flattered as her cheeks burned red and she swayed side to side at being complemented.

Pyrrha couldn't help, but smile wider at Ruby's cute display of embarrassment.

"You know, I'm surprised with how well your sniping skills are that you don't use them more often in Combat Class." Pyrrha said, causing Ruby to flinch with wide eyes. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but… are you afraid to use Crescent Rose's ammunition on people?" Pyrrha asked.

Ruby twiddled her fingers as she looked to her boots.

"Was it that obvious?" Ruby asked, glancing to Pyrrha.

Pyrrha had a feeling that was her problem. She knew this for a while after that conversation on the first day of VCC (Virtual Combat Class). Pyrrha looked around before she walked over to something.

Ruby looked over to Pyrrha to see her sitting on a convenient large stone. Pyrrha patted the space next to her, gesturing for the petite reaper to sit next to the champion. Ruby complied and walked over to her current partner and sat down next to her.

"So when did this start?" Pyrrha asked.

"Um… well…" Ruby looked to the ground. She didn't like to recall this certain memory... but she knew she needed to talk about this. She didn't think the person she'd be talking to about this was her boyfriend's partner of all people.

"Take your time. I know something this personal isn't easy. We'll take up the rest of time if you need to."

"No! I don't want you to fail because of me!" Ruby exclaimed with fear.

"Ruby its fine. This assignment is not as important as you. Any troubles you have can mean trouble for any mission, and even if it isn't, your mental health is still a big concern. Especially to me." Pyrrha assured.

"Really?" Ruby questioned, looking up to the elder red head.

"Of course. You're my friend, Ruby. No matter what." Pyrrha said with a soft smile.

Ruby stared up at Pyrrha. Her lips started to quiver as her eyes became teary. She suddenly hugged Pyrrha, surprising the Mistral Champion.

"Thank you, Pyrrha." Ruby said as she started to shed tears.

Pyrrha blinked her eyes in surprise. They softened as she returned the hug.

The remained silent for a few moments before a word was uttered.

"I can't stop seeing it." Ruby said.

"Seeing what?" Pyrrha asked.

"Them. Those people… the humans and the Faunus that they… how can they do that without feeling anything?" Ruby sobbed.

"You mean the Breach."

Pyrrha was unconscious when those innocent people were shot off the roofs by the new threat known as the Black Arms. She learned this event from the news. The ones who saw it were too shaken up by the event to speak of it… and sadly Ruby was one of them.

The poor girl had seen what humanity was truly capable of.

However hearing that they not only unleashed much higher ranking Grimm upon the city of Vale, but also able to create and control one… that was beyond anything of belief.

"Yeah… I can't stop seeing it. Every time I'm ready to fire, I just freeze up and remember that moment and I get scared… I get scared that I'm going to do that! That I'm going to kill someone!" Ruby sobbed harder onto Pyrrha's chest plate. "I know my dad and uncle Qrow said the world is harsher than I or even Yang thinks… but I didn't think it would be this bad. I didn't think there would be people out here in this world that would do such a thing… and be so proud of it like winning a baseball game. They took human lives and they're proud of it like it was the accomplishment of the century. How could they do that?! How can someone be so proud of that?! Anyone?!" Ruby continued to cry into Pyrrha, digging her head deeper.

Pyrrha held Ruby a bit tighter, but was still gentle.

"Ruby… I won't lie. There are people like that. I don't know how they became what they became, but they have grown into people who now believe that lives aren't the most important thing anymore, but how they can make the world we live on now as they see fit."

"But it's still not right!" Ruby cried.

"I know… but that's not how they see it anymore." Pyrrha said with sad eyes. Ruby continued to sob, while Pyrrha rubbed the back of her head gently. "Ruby… how do you see the world?"

Ruby stopped sobbing.

"I… I just thought that… that even though there are some bad people out there… they still have some moral in them. Even if they did do some terrible things… they would at least feel something. Feel at least a little bad… but these guys… they felt nothing, but pride. Proud of the job they did. Like they were just numbers instead of lives. I just can't believe there are people like that out there." Ruby said as she sobbed some more.

'And the depressing part is… the Black Arms aren't the only ones. Even people who aren't criminals and work inside the law are like this.' Pyrrha thought.

"Blake was right. Life isn't a fairytale." Ruby said. Pyrrha gently stroke her hand along the back of Ruby's head. "That's why we're here. That's… that's what I told her."

"And you are right." Pyrrha said. "Like in a fairytale, things don't get better until someone takes a stand to defend what is good and innocent. They also don't give up on their dreams… what is yours Ruby?"

Ruby stopped sobbing.

The two stayed silent for a while.

"I… I want to be a huntress and help as many people as I can… just like my mom." Ruby confessed.

"Good. Now tell me… does that sound like anything a horrible person would do?" Pyrrha asked with a smile.

"No. Not at all."

"Exactly." Pyrrha said with a nod. "Ruby… look at me." It took a moment, but Ruby did so. "You are without a doubt the sweetest, most innocent girl I have ever met. No matter what happens, no matter what you see, so long as you keep that idea… that dream that you care about so much… then you will be nothing like those 'people' who have given up on theirs."

"But what if I-"

"If it does happen… will you be proud of it? Even if it is an enemy? Your worst enemy even?" Pyrrha asked.

Ruby sniffed.

"No~." Ruby said shaking her head.

"Then you don't need to worry about being like them." Pyrrha then gained a somber frown. "Even heroes in story books who have done the deed are not proud of the life they had taken, but instead the lives they saved. The feeling of saving lives and taking them are just as opposite as the concept of the action. It's what separates the heroes from the villains… and I know for a fact that you Ruby Rose are far from anything related to a villain." Pyrrha said as she gently stroked the back of Ruby's hair.

"… Pyrrha… I'm still scared." Ruby said as her voice cracked a bit.

"I know… I am too. I don't want to take a life as well… but if it's to protect a life, even if it's, the Brothers forbid, your life… I will do so." Pyrrha said with a serious determined look.

Ruby's eyes widened a bit.

"But…" Ruby sniffed a bit. "It's not worth it."

"Hold your tongue!" Pyrrha shouted with a glare, causing Ruby to flinch with a sense of fear. "I know you meant that in the best way, but never prioritize your own life as something less than worrying about dirtying my own hands with blood. Any trauma I get from taking a life is nothing compared to the horror I'd feel if your life was lost." Pyrrha said in a stern manner, making Ruby squeak with fear as Pyrrha's aggravation. "Ruby…" Pyrrha's expression softened. "Don't consider your life as not worth so much. It's the same as saying their lives weren't worth saving at any cost as well."

"But why does it have to cost that? Why does saving a life have to cost another sometimes?" Ruby questioned, feeling horrible.

Pyrrha's eye grew somber at this.

"I know it's a hard thing to talk about and even harder to experience… but that's part of the life we live in. Without any choice, we live in a world where such decisions exist… but as a huntress, we choose to prevent such a thing. We choose to save a life, but in order to save a life worth saving we must push away our feelings on sensitive manners. Our fears, desires on the matter and even at times our own morality… must come last. It's a hard thing to do, but it's what we chose to do. Saving lives is what you're here to do, isn't it?"

Ruby sobbed a bit.

"Yeah, but-"

"Ruby, I know it will take time... perhaps a long time… but you should not be afraid to pull the trigger on a person. What would you do if one of them was about to harm another on the battlefield? Or even one of your friends?"

Ruby's little hands tightened a bit.

"I… I'd have to…" Ruby's lip quivered. "It's gonna happen someday."

"Yes… sadly." Pyrrha frowned.

"How can I? I don't want to hurt anyone like that." Ruby said.

"I don't either. In fact… I don't like hurting people in battle." Pyrrha confessed.

"Wait… really? You?" Ruby questioned looking to Pyrrha with wide eyes. "But you're the three time Mistral Champion."

"Doesn't mean I enjoy hurting people so much." Pyrrha said.

"Then… then… why did you sign up to fight to begin with?" Ruby asked.

"Because like you, I wanted to help people. It's as simple as that." Pyrrha said with a soft smile.

Ruby looked to the ground.

"You make it sound so easy." Ruby said as she pulled away and looked to the ground with her hands on her lap.

"Well… I'd be lying if I said it was at first. I had trouble harming even my grandfather, a seasoned veteran and the man who trained me. Even when I knew my tiny fists wouldn't do any real harm to him." Pyrrha looked to her hands. "He told me that even though he adored my heart of gold, I needed to let my worries go. If I wanted to do good like him and like my ancestors… I needed to get over my feelings of pacifism, because soon enough it wasn't going to be about what I wanted. It was going to be about what others needed. So I had to prepare for it as early as possible, or else I'd risk the greater chance of freezing up and failing in the future."

"… That's a lot to put on a child." Ruby said looking to her feet with a frown and somber eyes.

"Yes." Pyrrha said with a small frown. "I had big dreams and my grandfather wanted what was best for me, so he wanted to toughen me up so that I could have a better chance to achieve those dreams. It helped though. It took a long time, but I managed to learn to toughen up so I can achieve what really matters."

"And that's how you became the best." Ruby said.

"I wouldn't say that. I'm not the best. I'm just someone who toughened up to get to where she is, and it wasn't easy."

"It never is… is it?" Ruby looked to Pyrrha.

"No… but that's why first steps matter." Pyrrha said with a comforting smile as she placed her hand on Ruby's shoulder.

Ruby took in a deep breath in through her nose and gently exhaled out her mouth.

"This was… pretty heavy." Ruby said as she twiddled her thumbs. "But… it did kind of help. Thank you, Pyrrha." Ruby said as she gave the Mistral Champion a soft smile.

"Anything for a friend." Pyrrha said returning the smile as she place a comforting hand on Ruby's shoulder.

Unknown to the two, they were being watched. In the shadows, eyes narrowed their way.

.

.

Blake and Ren had come across some Grimm. Just a few Beowolves and Harbingers. Nothing too worrisome.

There was only one thing worrisome.

Did the other know what they were hiding?

Blake took her katana out of the skull of a Beowolf before it dispersed into a mist of darkness.

Ren sliced the throat of a Beowolf before, causing it to stumble back before he sent a hard ball kick into its solar plexus, sending it slamming into a tree as it then went limp before disappearing into black smoke.

Ren looked to his weapon Storm Flower and then grinded his leg against the ground, before putting his dual Uzi/dagger. He closed his eyes and calmed his breathing. Strapped against his back was his new Jian. In one swift movement her grabbed the strap, turned and sliced an Alpha Beowolf that rushed at him from the shadows in half.

As it dispersed to ash, Ren spun his sword in a swift motion before placing it back onto the strap tied to his back.

"You've really gotten better." Blake said.

"I suppose we all have. The advanced lessons really are improving everyone's physical abilities." Ren said with Blake nodding in agreement. Ren stared at Blake for a moment before taking in a breath through his nose and exhaling out his mouth. "Blake… I need to discuss an important matter with you."

Blake eyes widened a bit. She managed to restrain herself from flinch, but not enough to restrain her fingers from fidgeting a bit, which was something Ren noticed and was enough of a sign for him to know that she knew something important herself.

"Alright. What would you like to discuss, Ren?" Blake asked, trying to be calm with the situation.

"What do you know about Jaune?" Ren asked as he took a few steps forward.

"Admittedly not much. At least not personally. I know he has seven sisters and despite his less than decent combat abilities when he first arrived, he has exceeded all expectations rather quickly-"

"What I mean is what is it you know of the man he really is… down to his relationship with Vlad?" Ren specified.

Blake was silent for just a moment before giving a sigh.

"Of course that's what you meant." Blake said, essentially confirming Ren's suspicion.

"How long?" Ren asked.

"Pretty much the same day you were told." Blake confessed.

"You spied on us." Ren deduced.

"You would have too." Blake said. Ren's eyes softened as he looked to the ground with a bit of a deeper frown, knowing what she said was true. "Like you, I was suspicious of Jaune's sudden transformation. His sudden jump in physical capabilities was too tremendous. He couldn't hold a candlestick to Cardin and then a few days later he was able to take him on one on one while holding back. He even managed a win against Pyrrha in a spar. Granted that was thanks to an element of surprise, but that's still impossible for someone like Jaune to accomplish in a few days. Matching Cardin could have been considered a probability, but actually achieving what someone like Yang could not accomplish? That is beyond the fathoms of belief." Blake sighed. "I don't think I also have to mention his major personality shift."

"I knew you were curious as well. I always wondered why you never pursued the truth like I did." Ren said.

Blake looked to the side with somber eyes, before crossing her arms.

"It's… been a while since I had friends that I was comfortable with. I was worried that if I pried, it could have caused problems with everyone; not just with Jaune. So I stayed silent." Blake said. "But after what… happened some time ago, my interest was piqued again."

Ren looked to the side with scrunched up eyes that were filled with regret, remembering the incident he caused back in the Emerald Forest.

Ren took out his Jian and transformed it into shotgun mode and fired at a tree, causing some blood to spurt as a distorted animalistic cry was heard.

Blake turned her head to see a now visible Furcifer head and legs on the ground before they dispersed into ash.

"Nice shot." Blake said.

Ren put his Jian back onto his back and took a firm step onto the ground with a tinge of red violet at the bottom of it. He pulled out Storm Flower and fired it around at certain tree, causing screeches to be heard all around with each shot. After a few moments, Furcifer bodies became visible around the area before disappearing like their prior fallen.

"So you know as much as I do." Ren said, concealing Storm Flower. "Why did you not come forward earlier?"

"I… didn't know how. Learning the truth was extreme and I'm not sure how you can just walk up to a man you barely interacted with before and just tell him that 'I know the truth about you and your adversary.' It doesn't help that you discovered this by eavesdropping on a private conversation with his teammate." Blake explained with soft, somber eyes.

"Mm." Ren nodded, understandingly.

"So will you tell him now?" Blake asked.

"No." Ren said, causing Blake's head to perk up in surprise as she looked to him. "It's not my place to tell him." Blake stared at Ren for a few moment, before nodding. "Shall we continue?"

"Yes." Blake said with another nod.

The two walked away, side by side.

"You know… I honestly think Jaune will be relieved to hear about another friend knowing the truth." Ren said.

Blake looked to her fellow silent companion, who just continued to stare ahead. Blake looked ahead as well.

"Mm." She uttered with a nod.

.

.

Jaune and Weiss continued their walk until they made it to a more open area.

The area was simple with a creek that had a mini waterfall and a large stone with moss covering it.

Jaune checked his scroll for a moment before nodding and gesturing towards the creek.

Weiss nodded in response.

The two went towards the creek, knelt down and found clusters of small Keg Dust crystals and one larger one. Jaune reached his hands in and amplified the strength of his grip to help rip the crystals out carefully. He kept handing them to Weiss, who put them in her backpack.

Before they were finished, Weiss noticed something on the large stone; specific the algae portion.

"Jaune."

"Hmm?"

"Look at that." Weiss said, gesturing to the moss on the large stone of the area.

Jaune looked to notice there were scuffs on it. Scars made by something sharp. Jaune stared to stand up with a feeling of worry. His instincts were screaming. He focused his energy to his ears to sense any noise near the area.

Unfortunately he did hear something.

The snap of a stick caused by a stomp caused Jaune to silently gasp. He quickly grabbed Weiss' arm and hurried over to behind the stone just in time as something stomped into the area.

Jaune covered Weiss' mouth as they heard something give off a loud snort. Jaune carefully inched closer to the edge and tried his best to discreetly take a peek.

'Oh great.' Jaune thought with narrowed eyes.

There in the area with them was a Grimm. A rhino Grimm.

It was shaped just like a rhino, but it had bone plates at the shoulders of its legs along with scattered near the bottom of them, curved back spikes down along the spine of the creature, exposed ribs along the sides of its torso, exposed humanoid teeth sticking out along the lips of the beast as if it possessed a second set outside its mouth and a skull covering the top of its head with a pair of straight sharp horns sticking out the top of its skull casing and directly over its eyes and, of course, one large horn of a rhinoceros.

'A Triceros. Just what we needed.' Jaune thought with narrowed eyes.

Weiss managed to pull Jaune's hand away from her mouth and moved some to look over the side of the large stone as well. When she saw the rhinoceros Grimm, she gave a gasp as she had a look of shock and fear.

The Triceros' eyes widened as it picked up its head.

Jaune quickly, yet carefully pushed himself and Weiss against the stone. Jaune quickly leaned in and whispered into Weiss' ear.

"Stay calm. Close your eyes, breathe in through your nose then breathe out of your mouth. Control your emotions." Jaune whispered.

Weiss was silent, but after a moment, she obeyed and closed her eyes. She breathed in through her nose, then exhaled out her mouth. The Triceros was drawing closer, stomping its way over to the large stone, yet despite this, Weiss was still managing to calm herself. The sounds of the Grimm exhaling out its nostrils was heard with steam coming out of them. Weiss had managed to steady her breathing and calm her heart, but she flinched when she heard the sound of scraping against stone.

The Triceros was scraping its horn against the moss of the large stone.

Weiss' lip quivered, but she managed to stay calm. When she opened her eyes, she looked up at Jaune to see him glaring ahead with a stern expression. The way he looked was rather… enthralling.

He was so calm, yet so prepared for battle. He was nothing like this the first time around. His metamorphosis, though abrupt, is strangely captivating. Even when he can be a real smart mouth at time, there was still this odd charm to it all.

Is the light around him different? Bright, but not too much, and… inviting? Is this what's making her feel so… warm?

Jaune himself was keeping his emotions in check. Luckily this was one of the biggest fundamentals you learn as an Atlas cadet. The best way to face off against a Grimm is to keep your emotions in check. While for Jaune that's extremely difficult as he can get easily empowered with fury and even anger for the vile beasts of darkness and death, but when not swinging his sword and in straight up battle mode, Jaune manages to keep his own emotions in check. It really helps with stealth.

Especially when you got another member in your party.

Although still a difficult exercise considering you'll be in the vicinity of a murder crazed demon of the dark, but he was pretty sure with Weiss, who lived most of her life behind a mask and having Winter Schnee as an elder sister, that she would be able to quickly accomplish this exercise.

Speaking of the young Schnee, he felt her shift a bit, making him look down, only for his eyes to widen in surprise and body flinch as he saw her leaning in towards him with her eyes closed and lips puckered.

Before he could do anything else, Weiss pressed her lips against his own, causing Jaune's eyes to bulge with shock and his blood to run cold.

It was at this moment, a flooding torrent of emotions burst through the carefully created damn he put up to keep them in check.

They resonated off of him.

Shock. Hysteria. Despair. Guilt. Anger. Sadness. Rage.

And the most powerful of all… Fear.

The Triceros' eyes widened as it sensed a juggernaut of emotional turmoil behind the stone it was sharpening its horn against.

Jaune quickly wrapped his arms around Weiss' form and leaped away with an aura amplified jump right before the roaring Triceros backed up and charged right through the stone, breaking it to pieces.

Once Jaune landed, Weiss gasped and pulled back.

"Jaune, I'm-"

"Shut Up!" Jaune shouted before tossing Weiss atop his shoulder, carrying her as her turned and sprinted off.

The Triceros roared before charging after the two.

Jaune ran as fast as he could to keep as far a distance between them and the Triceros as possible, but just because he was focused on the physical act of running doesn't mean he wasn't going to talk about a very serious matter.

"Why Did You Kiss Me?!" Jaune yelled.

"I Don't Know!" Weiss yelled back.

"That's Not a Proper Answer!" Jaune yelled with anger.

"I Know! I'm Sorry!" Weiss cried. She then covered her face with her hands and moaned with self-disappointment. "I'm a terrible friend." Weiss said with a sense of self-loathing.

Jaune groaned with annoyance as he glared ahead with a deep frown on his face. His acute senses heard the sound of rustling and hard steps on both sides. He glanced to both sides to see the visages of Beowolves, growling and no doubt trying accomplish a pincer maneuver.

Jaune wasn't born yesterday though. Beowolves hunt in packs, especially when there are more powerful Grimm around.

Maybe that's exactly what he needed.

The two Beowolves quickly rushed out, performing a pincer maneuver on the blonde and carried Schnee.

"Look Out!" Weiss called out.

Jaune quickly pulled out Arc Gold and shot the Beowulf on his left, causing its head to explode upon impact.

The Beowulf on the right pounced at Jaune, but he easily hopped over it and slammed his right foot against the top of its skull, giving him an extra leap as it fell against the ground.

Once Jaune landed, he sent aura to his legs and sprinted away.

After a moment to shake off the dizziness, the Beowulf got up and held its head. Its prey got away, but now its instinct of fear sky rocketed. It heard stomping coming it's way, but right when it turn around, he it was immediately struck by a charging Triceros with the rhinoceros Grimm's horn impaled right through its body.

The Beowulf was only able to let out a canine whimper before it met its untimely end.

The Triceros continued to charge as the Beowulf dispersed into black mist. The rhinoceros Grimm gave a loud snort; steam coming out its nostril that blew the black mist away. It narrowed its eyes as it was getting hungry… for death.

Jaune continued his mad aura sprint. He managed to see an opening up ahead, which was what he was hoping for. Spinning Arc Gold in hand, Jaune aimed it forward just as three Beowolves appeared in front of him and Weiss. He delivered three shots, nailing them in their skulls, causing each of their heads to explode.

Jaune increased his speed to brush pass a pair of Beowolves that tried to block his way again. He skidded to a halt in the center of the open grassy area.

"Weiss, you still with me?" Jaune asked. Weiss moaned with a deep frown. "Weiss, I want words."

"I'm alive." Weiss admitted.

"Good. There's no way in hell I'm losing a friend. Not today. Not ever." Jaune said, ending with a growl and gritted teeth. Weiss looked to Jaune with soft eyes. Once again he's proving how impressive he is by his own emotions and convictions. Jaune pocketed Arc Gold as he stood up straight. "Alright fidos! Come out!" Jaune shouted. He then whistled to call the Beowolves over, like he was calling a pack of regular canines.

Weiss' head picked up when she heard growling. Looking around she saw red glowing eyes before large, bony claws of lycanthrope-like creatures crawl out of the bushes surrounding the area.

"Um… Jaune…" Weiss spoke up as the growling Beowolves now surrounded them in a ring. "Put me down."

"Okay poochies, where's the Alpha?" Jaune questioned. The Beowolves let out small roars with narrowed eyes. A few of them started to part to make way for a much larger growling beast. Walking down the open path made by the Beowolves was an Alpha Beowulf. "There he is~." Jaune said with a grin.

"Jaune, put me down, now!" Weiss exclaimed as she kicked a bit.

"Hey little guy? How are you?" Jaune said with a big toothy as he knelt down a bit with a hand on his knee.

"What?!" Weiss shouted.

"Would you like a bone?" Jaune asked as he stood up.

"The only bone he wants is one of ours ripped from our bodies!" Weiss shouted with gritted teeth. The Alpha Beowulf let out a minor roar before starting to circle around Jaune and Weiss. "Jaune, seriously, put me down. You need my help for this!" Weiss said.

"Oh~, you looking to play little guy? Wanna treat?"

"For once in your damn life, stop being an asshole!" Weiss cried as she kicked and started pounding her fists against Jaune's back.

The Alpha Beowulf pounced with a roar. Jaune quickly hopped away, dodging a claw strike. The Alpha Beowulf roared at the blonde.

"Hmm… you look kind of ornery." Jaune said with a pondering expression and rubbing his chin with his finger. He then snapped his fingers. "Would you like a walk?" Jaune asked with a smile and pointing his fingers.

"WHAT?!" Weiss screamed with near bulging eyes.

"That's it! You want to go walkies don't you~? Come on lil' puppy, I'll take you out for a walk. Let's go." Jaune whistled as he clapped his hand against his knee.

"YOU'RE GONNA GET US KILLED!" Weiss screamed.

"Come here, lil' guy." Jaune goaded on with a whistle and continuing to slap his knee.

The Alpha growled with its teeth bare and claws digging deep into the ground. Its eyes narrowed with them glowing neon red.

"Jaune!" Weiss shouted.

The Alpha creeped a little closer.

Jaune place a firm step against the ground with Jaune's showing a bit of a grin.

The Alpha's saliva drip from its mouth. It let out steam from its mouth as it creeped a little closer. It got in a ready position to pounce.

Jaune dug his foot against the ground and bent his knees.

"Jaune!" Weiss yelled.

At that moment, the Alpha leaped at the two with a roar and claws spread out, ready to cut deep into human skin.

Jaune quickly leaped away to the side, just as something rushed from the forest and charged into the center of the wide open area, colliding with the Alpha Beowulf while Jaune and Weiss barely managed to avoid without a scratch.

Skidding to a halt was none other than the Triceros, with the Alpha attached to it. The tip of the Triceros was pierced into the chest cavity of the Alpha Beowulf.

The Alpha let out a small moan as it felt the pain of being pierced. Although luckily for it, it was not deep enough to be fatal.

The Triceros snorted out some steam as it and the Alpha narrowed their eyes at one another.

Jaune watched the scene before him, while Weiss shook a bit. She tried moving her head to see what was going on. She adjusted her body a bit and placed a hand atop of Jaune's head, to the blonde's slight annoyance, to give her some elevation. When she turned to see what was happening, Jaune quickly, yet quietly shushed her before she could even make a sound.

The Alpha let out a low growled as its claws held onto the Triceros' twin horns atop its head. It tightened its hold some.

When the Triceros sensed the tighter grip of the Alpha, it let out a bellowing mooing sound as it shook its head to get the Alpha off. It then stood on its hind legs, then stomped onto the ground, causing a shockwave, before thrusting forward as it shot its head up; finally ridding itself of the Alpha.

The Alpha Beowulf flipped into the air, but managed to land safely on its hind legs. It let out a small roar as it held its chest cavity.

The surrounding Beowolves came in closer to make their circle even tighter.

A pair of Beowolves crawled right by the Alpha's sides.

The Alpha turned its head to its left to look down at the Beowulf beside it. The Alpha then suddenly grabbed hold of the Beowulf, lifted it up and bit into its neck, which caused the Beowulf to whimper from pain.

Weiss gasped in horror as she instinctively covered her mouth.

Jaune just narrowed his eyes at the sudden brutality.

The Alpha was actually eating some of its own kin.

After a few bites, it released the now dead lesser. Wiping away some left over, if anyone could see any that is, and drool, it took a few steps forward as it stood up straight, as if it had not been hurt moments ago.

The Alpha got on all fours and let out a great howl, which was followed by the rest of the pack howling.

The Triceros shook a bit with minor intensity as it let out a bit of a bellowing moan.

The Alpha shot up to stand on its hind legs as it then roared with its arms snapped out to the sides and thrust its body forward a bit.

The rest of the Beowolves roared with its Alpha before rushing forward towards the Triceros.

Jaune turned and ran off. He took out Arc Gold and shot a pair of Beowolves right between the eyes when they tried to attack him and Weiss first.

In the center of the area, the Triceros thrust its head to the side to send a Beowulf flying, then delivered a dual back kick to another, followed by standing on its hind legs to avoid its head being pounced by another before finishing it off with a dual stomp its skull and spinal area.

As Jaune sprinted forward to get as far away as possible, Weiss watched with wide eyes of curiosity and horror as she witnessed the Triceros fend off against the pack of Beowolves.

"They'll be busy for a while, so we won't have to worry about the winner following us for now." Jaune said.

Weiss continued to stare towards the direction of the fighting Grimm until they faded from sight.

.

.

In a different section of the forest, an innocent little blue bird flew down towards a large tree where its nest laid. It fluttered above it, before resting atop it. It closed its eyes to rest as it nestled in.

Things were peaceful for the moment, but sadly the next moment it felt some movement. It turned its head around to find a big hand gripping the bark of the branch its nest laid on, before another one appeared and gripped the branch with it being a little too close to its nest.

Cardin was hanging from the branch of a big tree. Ahead at the end of the brand was a cluster of Keg Dust gems; with one large one surrounded in a ring of a smaller ones.

Cardin continued to climb forward, but when he did, he accidently grasped the bird's nest, causing the blue bird to flutter up before suddenly attacking Cardin's face.

"Ow! Ow! Quit it, you stupid bird!" Cardin shouted.

"Careful now. Birds have feelings too." Coco called out as she looked up at Cardin, who was having his face pecked at by the blue bird.

"So do I! I'm feeling annoyed!" Cardin shouted as he then tried waving the bird away. "Go away, dammit!"

"Just ignore it and keep moving!" Coco called out.

"Easy for you to say! You're not the one getting pecked in the face!" Cardin shouted followed by an 'ow', but he managed to persevere and keep climbing forward. "I'm almost there."

"Take your time." Coco said with a feint smirk.

"My ass I will." Cardin muttered with a frown. He managed to get in reaching distance of it. "I think I got it!" Cardin shouted, but then the blue bird came back and resumed pecking at him. "Ow! Hey, what's the deal?! I'm nowhere near your nest anymore!" Cardin shouted as he tried smacking the bird away. Sadly for the Winchester, misfortune continued as the branch started to break. "Oh crap."

The branch broke apart causing Cardin to fall with it. Cardin hit the ground hard. He moaned with some pain, before the blue bird returned and pecked his face a couple more times, causing Cardin to scream with pain and annoyance before trying to swat away the feathery assailant.

The blue bird flew away and then rested on Coco's shoulder.

Coco looked to the blue bird gently petted it with her finger, which the bird was calm enough with to accept.

"How come he likes you all of a sudden?" Cardin questioned.

"I have a way with animals." Coco said with a smirk, before the blue bird flew away.

Cardin sat up rubbing the back of his head. He then felt something hit his chest plate. Looking down, he saw that the blue bird left one last surprise for him.

"Nice. Just what I needed." Cardin said sarcastically with a deep frown. He then looked to the fallen branch only to find no trace of the Keg Dust crystals. "Wait, where's-" Coco whistled, catching his attention, to see her pull out cluster of Keg Dust from behind her back. "What the-? How did you-"

"Don't underestimate second years. We can do things faster than your little eye could see." Coco said.

"When did you grab it?" Cardin asked as he got up to his feet.

"Just before you hit the ground." Coco said as she pocketed the Keg Dust cluster into her backpack. "If Velvet was here she would have grabbed it the moment the branch broke." Coco said as she walked pass Cardin.

Cardin looked to the side with a pout.

"So, uh… I've noticed that my bag is pretty much empty." Cardin pointed out as he followed Coco.

'Pretty much like your head.' Coco thought with half lidded eyes and pursed lips.

"While your bag has all that we've collected inside it."

"Your point being?"

"You don't trust me, do you?" Carin questioned, but he already knew the answer.

Coco stopped in place, causing Cardin to cease as well, but also flinch in fear.

"Hmm." Coco put her right fist on her hip and rubbed her chin with her left hand. "Now that I think about it… I don't. I guess that's to be expected when you bully a girl's best friend just for your own amusement."

Cardin sighed. He saw that coming a mile away.

"Look… you don't have to forgive me."

"That goes without saying, because I don't intend to." Coco said as she turned to Cardin.

"But you have to trust me." Cardin finished.

"Trust you?" Coco questioned with surprise at the notion of actually trusting Cardin of all people.

"Just for this class." Cardin specified. "We're stuck together for now, and like Professor Peach said, huntsman don't have a choice in the matter of who is our partner every time. So for now, even if you feel like it would better to tie me to a tree and hope that no Grimm eats me, we should try to trust one another to help accomplish the same goal."

Coco pulled her sunglasses down a bit and stared at Cardin with half lidded eyes. Despite not radiating with anger, uh, this time, her gaze still managed to put Cardin on edge. After moment of silence, Coco finally responded.

"You're right. It would be easier to tie you to a tree." Coco said, adjusting her sunglasses back on. Her response made Cardin gulp with fear. ""But… you're also right that I have to trust you. 'Have To' being the key words. Just for this class at least." Coco admitted with her hands on her hips.

"So we're in agreement." Cardin said with a small smile as he extended his hand towards Coco. Coco just looked down to his hand for a moment, before looking back at Cardin. "Uh… how about this?" Cardin said a bit nervously as he turned his hand into a fist, expecting a bump. Coco just continued to silently stare at him. Cardin blinked his eyes before substituting his fist into a high five, only to get a head shake from Coco. "Oh come on. How else can this become official?" Cardin questioned bring his hand down, only for his forehead to get smacked. "Ow!"

"There. Now it's official." Coco said with a smirk before turning away. "Let's go." She ordered while Cardin rubbed his forehead.

"Why does everybody got to be so physical with me?" Cardin muttered to himself.

"Well ever since Arc stopped being a scrawny weakling, the punching bag title had to go to somebody." Coco said with a shrug as retained her smirk.

"… Ouch. That hurt way more than the smack." Cardin said with a frown and shoulders slumped.

"Heh." Coco chuckled a bit as she pushed up her sunglasses. Coco looked to the sky as her thoughts then went to her teammate. "I hope Velvet's doing fine." Coco said to herself.

"I'm sure she'll be fine. You keep saying she's pretty talented." Cardin said. Coco mentally berated herself for thinking out loud. "But if that emo guy does try something, we'll kill him." Cardin said with a serious expression, causing Coco to come to a halt turn to him with surprised eyes and shades pushed a bit down. "I mean, we don't know him. For all we know he could be as psycho as his bastard leader. That jerk-off Vlad." Cardin said as he tightened his fist and glared at the ground.

"You mean the tall guy from earlier you and Arc were willing to be stuck with? You really despise him, don't you?" Coco rhetorically questioned.

"Yeah well… guess that's to be expected when the chump likes to bully your friend for fun." Cardin said walking pass with a shrug. Coco blinked her eyes in surprise as the taller teen walked by. "Plus the bastard kicked me into a wall when we first met. That'll definitely rub someone the wrong way." Cardin added.

"Hmm." Coco smirked as she adjusted her sunglasses proper once more before following. "I'm surprised you actually called Arc your friend."

"Yeah, well… don't tell him." Cardin said, causing Coco to chuckle with her arms crossed.

.

.

In a different section of the forest, Edgar was walking at a calm pace with his hands in his pockets. He checked his scroll from time to time to see if he was near any Keg Dust.

Up above, Velvet was happily and effortlessly hopping from tree top to tree top.

Their plan was that seeing as there was Keg Dust above the trees as well as down the ground below, Velvet, with her natural high jumps, would check above while Edgar scanned below.

"Found one!" Velvet called out as she found a piece of Keg Dust crystal attached to the branch of a tree. She grabbed it and hopped down with a smile, seeing Edgar looking at his scroll.

"Found one too." Edgar said as he pocketed his scroll and walked over to a giant boulder. He knelt down, grasped the bottom of it with his left and effortlessly lifted it up to reveal small clusters of Keg Dust crystals and Keg Dust powder all over the bottom, shocking Velvet. She couldn't believe such a man who at first glance seemed scrawny was actually so physically strong. "A small cluster of crystals. They deteriorated over time into the powder surrounding the entire bottom below."

"I-I got it." Velvet said as she moved over.

She collected all of the crystals and put them along with the one she retrieved from the tree into Edgar's backpack. She then checked the side pockets and retrieved a lidded beaker and scraper, which also came with the backpacks along with several other various shaped beakers and vials. Screwing off the lid, Velvet started to scrape off the powder from the bottom of the boulder.

"You're very strong." Velvet commented.

"Thank you." Edgar responded.

"The only other people I know who are strong like that are my teammate Yatsuhashi and Yang from Team RWBY." Velvet said. "But I think they would need both their hands to do what you're doing."

"Yang… I actually danced with her." Edgar said, remaining calm with a monotone voice.

"I know! I actually saw you two." Velvet said looking up to him. Edgar just blinked his eyes. "I mean, I wasn't watching you two the whole night. I saw other people dance. Like Jaune and Ruby. I also saw them kiss." Velvet sighed dreamily. "It was so romantic. Almost something out of a fairytale."

"Fairytale… hmm." Edgar looked ahead.

"You know I think Yang likes you." Velvet said, causing Edgar to look to her. "I actually heard her and Nora talking earlier. You know… with ears like these it's kind of hard not to hearing anything."

"Mm." Edgar responded with a small nod.

"You don't… talk much do you?"

"Not really." Edgar answered.

"I guess that makes sense. People like Yang always like the silent ones."

"Like her friend."

"Blake? Yeah, but I'm not sure if they're like that."

"You never know." Edgar said, causing Velvet's eyes to widen as she paused.

"I-I guess." Velvet said with a minor blush before continuing. After a moment or two she finished up. "Although I think that monkey Faunus likes her too." Velvet as she stood up.

"Sun Wukong." Edgar said as he put the boulder back down. "From Vacuo."

"My friend Fox is from there too." Velvet said.

"Is he a Faunus as well?" Edgar asked.

"No. I understand seeing how the name and all." Velvet said with her ears drooped a bit.

"I'm sorry." Edgar apologized, causing Velvet to look to him in surprise. "I didn't mean to sound racist."

"Oh, no, it's alright. Sorry. It's just… I'm used to hearing stuff like that. Can't control myself. I mean, I know there's actual good people out there in the world, but I… my mind keeps going back to those thoughts." Velvet said looking to the ground.

"It happens." Edgar said.

"Yeah, but… it's no excuse." Velvet said with somber eyes.

"No. It's a fact." Edgar said, surprising Velvet, before she regained a somber expression. "You're pretty." Edgar said, shocking Velvet. "Feel better now?" Edgar asked.

Velvet stared at him for a moment before the corner of her mouth twitched. She then chuckled with a smile.

"You're not used to talking to girls are you?" Velvet asked with a smile.

"The only one I ever really interact with doesn't even act like one. More like a robot." Edgar said, referring to Chary.

"Well… I can tell you that… yes. What you said made me feel better." Velvet said with a bright smile.

"… Good." Edgar said with a small smile before he and Velvet started heading out.

"You know, you should tell Yang that. She might like it." Velvet said with a smirk.

"One dance doesn't always confirm a spark." Edgar said. "Did you dance with anyone?"

"Oh, um… just Yatsuhashi, Fox and… even Cardin." Velvet answered with a small blush.

"Why him? Isn't he the resident bully?" Edgar asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well… yeah, he was. A-At the start at least." Velvet said as she subconsciously rubbed her bunny ears. "But that night, he actually apologized to me. I never thought I'd see the day. I mean… do you know how many people were mean to me? A lot. Do you know how many apologized for what they did? None. At least not without someone forcing them. So… it was a real surprise that someone actually apologized to me all on their own. When I saw him just standing by with no one interacting with him… I just felt he deserved a dance you know. Heh… I can't believe he actually smiled at me." Velvet said with a soft smile.

Edgar blinked his eyes with an eyebrow raised.

Suddenly they all heard a loud roar that echoed throughout the forest, causing Velvet to jump with a sudden jolt of fear.

"What was that?" Velvet questioned.

"Lycan." Edgar answered.

"A what?" Velvet looked to him with a sense of fear.

.

.

Neptune was shaking in place while Chary remained calm.

"What was that?" Neptune asked.

"Lycan." Chary answered.

"Lycan? Wait, I think I heard that before. Sun mentioned it."

"Considered it a more advanced species of the Beowulf." Chary answered.

"Wait, that-that's it! He called it a Super Beowulf!" Neptune exclaimed, he then went 'eep.' "One of those are here?" Neptune questioned with rising fear.

Chary knelt down and placed her hand against the ground. She waited a few moments until she felt something.

"Yes. And it's heading our way." Chary answered, causing Neptune to give a shrill scream that immediately went silent after a moment's tune. "The best move would be to stand our ground with you behind me." Chary said.

"Uh, right! Because I'm more long range!" Neptune exclaimed, showing off his rifle Tri-Hard as he tried his best to show bravado. "We're going into lockdown!" Neptune said proudly with a grin and activating his rifle.

"In a sense." Chary said as she stood up, erect with her hands behind her back.

Neptune put on a brave grin as he aimed forward, but he couldn't help, but notice Chary was very still.

"Uh… aren't you going to take your weapon out?" Neptune asked.

"Not yet." Chary answered as she remained stoic and still.

Neptune raised an eyebrow, but then his ear's twitched as he heard rumbling of sorts in the distance. Neptune moaned a bit with fear as he readied his weapon. Aiming forward he heard the rumbling coming closer. His eyes were wide with sweat coming down his brow as his finger was fidgeting against the trigger, before he reaffirmed his pressure against it. As the rumbling was getting closer, his sweat became more profound. He started to pant with fear. His pants also got more intense as the rumbling got louder, coming closer along with sounds of growls and small roars. Neptune tried to maintain himself by digging his feet more into the ground and furrowing his brows.

He could finally hear them.

The sounds of footsteps charging forward.

His muscles tensed as he readied to pull the trigger, but he was suddenly grasped by the back of his collar as he was then quickly up in the air just as a giant boulder flew right by right where he once stood.

'What the-?! I didn't even notice any of that! How am I up here?! How strong is this thing?!' Neptune thought with fear written all over his face with gritted teeth. His mind didn't register yet that he was saved by Chary, not even when they landed upon the ground. Neptune was on his hands and knees, shivering with fear.

Suddenly something landed hard in front of them, causing a grand shockwave with intense wind picked up that almost sent Neptune flying away if it wasn't for Chary still hanging on to him.

Once done, Neptune felt like he could throw up as it felt like his stomach did flips thanks to the shockwave. When he managed to get his mind back in order, he looked ahead only to freeze in terror with wide eyes and grit teeth.

There stood a towering Grimm of nine feet tall with a very muscular humanoid torso, arms and hands, with long claws, large bulky wolf hind legs, a long fluffy tail, a thick neck, long fluffy mane down its back, a Grimm mask as the top half of its head, a flat wolf-like snout and a strong angular jaw with sharp teeth.

The Grimm stared at the pair with a low growl.

Neptune stared at it with enough fear that it could almost rival his pure fear of water.

The Lycan narrowed its eyes at the pair. Its claws moved a bit as it leaned forward a bit. It let out a deep growl before it shot its body back and snapped its arms out wide as it let out a ginormous roar.

"We're gonna die!" Neptune screamed.

"Calm yourself. You're just enticing his bloodlust." Chary said as she released her hold on Neptune and placed her hands behind herself.

The Lycan was about to charge forward, but it froze in place after taking a single step.

It let out a deep and long exhale as it stared at Chary.

Its mind was screaming at it to be wary of her, as if a siren was alerting it to proceed with caution. It felt it… the sensation of apprehension. The trepidation of its own death. The thought that the tables have turned in which the thought of what was predator and what was prey was now skewed.

Its instinct to survive kicked in.

It got on all fours, prepared for anything.

"It would be best if you allow me to handle the creature." Chary said. Her only response was teeth chattering as Neptune was too scared to respond, as well as move.

Chary moved her hands out to the side to reveal a pair of long daggers with gold long and thick grip/handle. One dagger was straight and the other had a curve to it. The guard was a chamber with black substance within it and there were lines of black substances in the center of the blades of the daggers.

The Lycan glared at Chary. It knew she was inviting it to make the first move. Sadly for it, it had to be the one to initiate combat. It could sense that the human female would not. However it had to not just charge in for she looked prepared to deliver a counter if it did.

After a moment of glaring at the human female, and taking some steps to the side, as it was using caution.

Chary kept her eyes on the Lycan the whole time, but she kept keen to her other senses in case anything else was out there, ready to strike. Normally she wouldn't worry too much, but she did have a weak partner at the moment whose death could insight a major backlash to her team. Something she could not afford for Vlad's sake.

The Lycan finally made a move by gripping a large clump of dirt in its large claw and threw it at Chary, but just as it was in the air in front of Chary, ready to blind her, the Lycan unleashed a giant roar that had so much power behind it that it increased the speed and force of the dirt clump towards Chary.

Chary easily dispersed the clump of dirt with a swift swing of her arm and curved dagger.

Neptune almost flew away from the shockwave of the Lycan's roar, but Chary easily kept him in place by stabbing her straight dagger right through his pants, keeping him attached to the ground.

The Lycan quickly grabbed a tree while its distraction was in play, but Chary saw its ploy a thousand miles away. The Lycan ripped the tree right from out of the ground, turned, and when it saw Chary in its range, it swung the tree at her, but Chary effortlessly ducked under it, slid forward and as she rose up, she sliced one of the Grimm's arms off.

The right arm to be precise.

The Lycan's eyes were wide as it registered that one of its arms were severed just as the tree slammed into the ground. Its mind was then overtaking with full blown rage. It quickly swiped its remaining arm at Chary, but she once more effortlessly ducked under it with her curved dagger stabbed into the ground below the Lycan.

Chary twisted her hand against the surface of the dagger's grip, causing a clicking sound right before black ink oozed from the guard and blade of her curved dagger, creating a pool of ink under the Grimm in an instant.

Just as the Grimm noticed and was ready to leap away, Chary furrowed her brow just as long spikes made of ink shot from the pool below, stabbing the Lycan in several places all around its body.

All vital.

The Lycan's eyes were wide as it felt it. Its end has come.

It let out a bellowing trumpet-like moaning roar as its final breath as it dispersed into ashes.

Chary pulled out her curved dagger, stood up and swiftly slashed the air in front of her, swiping away the last bit of ash before taking her backpack off and re-sheathing her weapon behind her back.

Neptune stared ahead with wide eyes and gaped mouth. He blinked his eyes as he finally register what happened. Kind of.

"Wha-… What just happened?" Neptune questioned. He was so in shock that his mind didn't pay attention to the fight. It couldn't even keep up with what was going on.

Chary walked over, pulled out her straight dagger and put it away behind her back. She offered her hand to Neptune. After a moment of looking to her in surprise, he grabbed her hand and allowed her to help him up.

Neptune looked to his feet for a moment, still processing the turn of events until clarity finally dawned on him.

"You… you killed it… in like-"

"Seven seconds." Chary finished.

"Something that big… that powerful… you killed it just… like that." Neptune was still in shock at how there was a student, a first year from Haven no less, that is so powerful!

Chary released his hand and started walking away.

"It would have been quicker if I wasn't more considerate of the cargo on my person." Chary said, referring to the backpack she put back on.

"How… how come I've never seen you around Mistral?" Neptune asked.

"Some people prefer to stay in solitude. Whether they want to or they are just too used to it. I fall into the second category." Chary said as she made sure her backpack was securely fit upon her.

"Uh huh… hey didn't you have different weapons?" Neptune asked. "I think my friends said you had a pair of swords instead of daggers."

"Scimitars. I do wield a pair and hold them on my person now, but they are my less lethal weapons. When I desire to end things quickly and efficiently, I use my daggers. They are my true choice of weaponry, but I conceal them as a way to hide my true potential from my opponents. I only wield them when absolutely necessary." Chary explained.

"Like… protecting me?" Neptune asked.

"Yes." Chary immediately answered with a light turn of the head and nod.

"Well… I'm flattered their warrior queen." Neptune said with a flirtatious grin and point.

"Mm." Chary nodded before she started moving forward. "Stay close."

"Right!" Neptune exclaimed as he hurried over to Chary's side. "So~… how'd you get so strong?" Neptune asked with a small grin.

"I gave up my emotions." Chary said, causing Neptune to stop in place.

Neptune stared at Chary's retreating form with wide eyes and a gaped mouth.

"Whoa…"

.

.

In a distant part of the forest, Ruby and Pyrrha were looking towards the direction where they heard the roar. Both had their weapons out and ready.

"What… do you think was that?" Ruby asked.

"I don't know… but something tells me that whatever made such a noise is far more powerful than many of what we had faced before." Pyrrha said with a serious expression on her face. Suddenly her eyes widened.

Something rushed towards the two red heads and when for a dual slash, but Pyrrha and Ruby quickly leaped into the air.

Pyrrha leaped over the attack in a back flip motion, while Ruby used her semblance to rise into the air. Pyrrha landed on a knee before standing on both feet just as Ruby's own landed onto the grass below and cocked her weapon, ready to fire.

The two looked ahead with narrowed eyes.

"Of course." Pyrrha said.

Before the two was once again a Razor. The Grimm turned to the two giving a small exhaling roar with steam coming out of its mouth.

"These things are becoming way too common around here." Ruby said as she tightened her grip on Crescent Rose once more.

"I suppose it's just our luck that one always finds us." Pyrrha said.

"That sounds a lot like something Jaune would say." Ruby said with a smirk, causing Pyrrha to have one of her own before the two took off and tossed away their backpacks.

.

.

Meanwhile, Cardin and Coco were treading lightly; being on their toes for anything that could come their way.

"What thing made that noise?" Cardin questioned.

"Can't tell ya. All I know is that it was something big." Coco responded as she readied her mini-gun, Gianduja, for anything that could pop out. "All I want to know is how close it is."

"It sounded far away." Cardin said as he took out his mace, The Executioner.

"A moment ago, yeah, but even something big can rush as fast as lightning. For all we know it could be closing in." Coco said.

"Great." Cardin said with an eye roll. A thought then came to mind. "Hey, I remember trying something before."

"Trying what?" Coco asked, turning her head to Cardin.

"Back in Tracking Class I used something I read in a book called Aura Radar." Cardin said.

"I know that. You send your aura to a limb against the ground and send a pulse of it. Since aura is a part of life it'll travel throughout the ground until it spots another source of aura or possibly in this case the magnetic field emitted from a Grimm." Coco said.

"I still don't get the whole gist, but luckily I did get the part where my own aura shoots off from some electro-magnet babble and spreads out back to my own. Can't believe how complicated this stuff can get." Cardin said with a grinning smirk as he lifted his foot up, covered it in aura and delivered a hard stomp against the ground, causing a giant pulse of aura to travel throughout the area.

'Good. He did learn. The bigger the aura sent out the farther the range. I guess he isn't worthless at all.' Coco thought with a smirk.

Cardin had his eyes closed as he was now focusing on aura he sent patrolling the area. He was willing to give a good amount since he was with Coco, a skilled 2nd year student, but luckily you don't have to sacrifice that much aura to use Aura Radar. As he felt his aura travel throughout the area, he sensed other forms of life like the plants and animal life. However things changed as after some travelling, his aura detected something.

Something big and rushing this way.

Cardin's eyes widened as he felt the presence of a great beast. He decided to do the act one more time, but with a little less aura.

"You found something?" Coco asked, noticing Cardin firmly placing his foot down again with aura surrounding it for a moment.

Cardin gasp, alerting Coco, as he sensed the big thing was way too close.

Cardin turned and push Coco away in time before a large beast rushed into the area and swatted Cardin away with what looked to be its tail.

Coco fell on her back, but looked on with wide eyes as she saw Cardin go flying and smash right into a tree, breaking into it to become lopsided.

Coco looked to the Winchester with shock and worry, but her attention immediately went to the beast that attacked the first year. It growled a bit as steam exited its nostrils.

The Grimm was ten feet tall and looked like a lizard type Grimm. It has bone armor all over its entire back along with the back of its forearms, and top of its head which is flat. Its jaw is pointed forward and slimmed down towards the front like a triangle, its head and neck are hunched forward as well, hocked dinosaur-like legs, a long tail with a spiked mace at the end and big fat hands with long sharp claws. It has spikes protruding all throughout its bone armor, with the ones atop its flat point more towards the back. Its posture was similar to that of a gorilla with its back more raised up and its fists pressed against the ground.

(Its posture is inspired by the Scorporilla from Crash of the Titans and Crash: Mind Over Mutant.)

Coco stared up at the Grimm with shock. Its chest expanded and receded as it was breathing at a calm slow pace. Coco's instincts were telling her that despite its calm composure, it was itching to strike. Looking deeper she noticed the Grimm's almost invisible yellow orange pupil. It was staring ahead, but its eyes looked to her.

Coco gasped before quickly getting to her feet just as the large Grimm disappeared from her line of sight. Thanks to her instincts, she dashed forward in time as the Grimm was actually atop of her ready to deliver a hard stomp. When the Grimm landed upon the ground it created a shockwave that sent Coco flying away.

Coco managed to roll against the ground and got to her feet. After a few running steps she turned towards the Grimm as it looked towards her. Coco glanced behind herself to notice Cardin sitting against the damaged tree, moaning in pain.

Coco knew she couldn't be in front of him or else the Grimm will probably charge or throw something over and if she dodges, she doubts Cardin is going to make it… not after taking that hit for her.

Coco narrowed her eyes ahead as the Grimm adjusted itself to face the fashionista.

The Grimm then let out a roar that caused the grass and trees around it to move and shake from the minor shockwave.

Coco skidded a bit, but she then went on the offensive. She sprinted forward towards the Grimm.

The Grimm swung an uppercut, but Coco dashed to the left then quickly rolled forward away from a downward slamming punch.

Coco quickly hurried forward before spinning around as she changed Gianduja into mini-gun mode and fired at the Grimm, nailing it in the face.

The Grimm pulled its face back a bit with its eyes squinted, but then it shot its head forward and angry roar. It charged forward at Coco. It lifted its arms up and slammed them down, but Coco turned her weapon back into a handbag and leaped away to the side before leaping back with her arms up in a block as the Grimm sent a right back fist.

Coco skidded to a halt. She growled with anger as although she managed to avoid a critical strike, her sleeves got torn into from being grazed by a spike with blood from her new wound now staining the cloth around her forearms.

"You ruined my shirt." Coco said with gritted teeth.

The Grimm was already on her and sent a hard hammer fist, but it noticed there was no squish. Hearing a whistle, it looked up to see an angry Coco in the air with her mini-gun ready as she then fired at the Grimm with fire dust ammo amplified by her semblance, Hype, doing real damage to the Grimm, causing it to roar in pain before covering its face with its right hand to lessen the damage.

The Grimm tightened its left hand into a fist as spikes protruded out of its knuckles. It raised its left fist up high and shot four giant spikes at Coco, but the brunette quickly morphed Gianduja into its handbag mode and quickly swung it, managing to parry the spikes away from her.

Once she landed, she grunted as she held her right arm, which she used to bat away the spikes.

Coco and the Grimm turned to one another with a glare.

The Grimm narrowed its eyes at Coco.

Coco furrowed her brow as her eyes, a bit revealed as her sunglasses were slightly down, glared at the Grimm.

"That all you got? You fucking Brute."

.

.

In a separate part of the Forever Falls, a loud scream was heard.

It came from none other than Russel of team CRDL. He was shaking like a leaf as before him was a pack of twenty Beowolves and an Alpha.

The all growled and let out small roars as they closed in on him and his partner.

"Oh come on, they're just Beowolves. They are bottom of barrel Grimm!" Gavrilo said with annoyance at his partner's cowardice.

"Not when there's this many!" Russel shouted.

"Yes! Even when they are this many! This is nothing!" Gavrilo shouted with more aggravation.

"O-Oh yeah? Well then you handle them!" Russel shot back.

"Tch. Fine. I don't need your help anyway." Gavrilo said as he faced the pack of Grimm with his hands in his pockets. "Oh and by the by, you'd might want to cover your ears." Gavrilo said with a small smirking grin.

The Alpha let out a roar before pointing ahead, commanding its lesser breed to charge forward.

As the Beowolves rushed forward, Gavrilo gave a toothy grin before breathing in deep through his nose then let out a deep whistle that quickly higher pitched.

The pack of Beowolves' eyes widened as they then skidded to a halt and covered their ears as they howled in pain.

Russel fell upon a knee as he covered his ears and had his eyes shut tight. He looked forward towards the Beowolves to see them all howling and writhing in pain.

A Beowulf hunched over before it couldn't take anymore. The Beowulf stood straight up as it then ripped its ears off, shocking Russel. The Grimm slammed its tightened fist atop its head as it could still hear the noise; the horrendous noise! The Beowulf let out a tormented screeching howl as it started clawing the sides of its head where its ears once were, tearing off pieces of its skin off with trickles of blood splashing down onto the grass below, which one could not tell since it was red as well, but they the dissolved into black traces of mist once making impact.

The rest weren't fairing any better.

Some were twisting around in pain, some squirming against the ground, some were smashing their fists against the heads to the point that blood was spluttering out and one even grabbed a rock from the ground and started bashing it against its head creating a deep wound.

The all howled in so much pain the whole forest could hear them.

After a moment, the whistling suddenly stopped.

The Beowolves moaned and whined in pain. They could still feel their skulls shaking from the vibrations of the dreadful sound.

The all uncovered their ears to still hear some white noise. They all looked around to one another. Their ears then started to pick up the sound of flesh being squished.

All the Beowolves looked to find one of their own still bashing its head in with a rock. It was so out of it that it never noticed the high frequency sound was gone. It just continued to bash its head in with a rock. The rest of its pack continued to watch.

The Alpha decided to roar at it to stop, but it did not listen. It could not listen. Not anymore. It just continued to smash the rock against its head over and over again.

The Beowulf's eyes were wide and blank as it continued to bash its head in. Its arm started to slow down, losing the rhythm of its bashing. After another whack or two, it stopped… dropping the rock as its arm went limp. The Beowulf continued to stare ahead as blood leaked from the side of its head, which was caved in deep that it looked to be missing part of its cranium. The Beowulf wobbled side to side for a bit.

As it slowed to a halt, it then fell forward.

Blood leaked from its head, staining the already red grass below.

All the Beowolves and Russel stared at the down Grimm in horror.

After a few moments it dispersed into ash.

"Oh my God, dude." Russel said as he slowly brought his hands to his mouth. He never thought he'd ever see a Grimm do such a thing in its life. It was almost like seeing a human do it. He never thought Grimm could act in such a way similar to his own species.

He felt… uneasy watching it die in such a way. Even though it was just a murder obsessed creature… the sight of what transpired just made his stomach churn.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Well… that's the way things go." Gavrilo said lightly shaking his head.

The Beowolves panted, still feeling pain in their ears.

The Alpha of the group panted with a bit of a growl as it looked to Gavrilo.

"Sorry." Gavrilo said with a smirk as he looked to the Beowolves. "But this is where you all have to end."

The Alpha's eyes widened as its instincts kicked into high gear. With all the strength is had left it rushed forward. It roared as it reached its claw forward to tear apart Gavrilo's grinning face, but it was too late.

After building up a deep breath as quickly as a second, Gavrilo let out an extremely loud whistle.

Russel shouted with pain as he covered his ears.

The Alpha roared bloody murder as it and the rest of its kin were in agonizing pain.

The pack of Beowolves covered their ears as they roared, but their efforts were useless. The cried for mercy, but none would be delivered. Blood started to leak from their ears as they couldn't even hear themselves roar.

All they could hear is that noise. That Damn Awful Noise!

Their eyes bulged as the blood trailed down from their ears. Their hearts raced as all they knew in these moments was pain.

Pure pain. Nothing, but pain was their lives.

The Beowolves shook as they all started foaming at the mouths.

The Alpha hunched over with its claws over its ears as blood continued to pour from its ears, but then it shot up and roared in pain that went silent from the noise.

After a moment, the Alpha felt forward with some blood sprinkling out its ears. The rest dropped as well as their leader vanished into ash.

One by one the Beowolves hit the ground and dispersed into black mists of ash.

Once the deed was done, Gavrilo stopped whistling.

Russel's face was twisted in minor pain, but once he felt the noise was gone he uncovered his ears and looked ahead to find mists of black ash spread out through the area before vanishing completely. His eyes were wide with disbelief. A pack of twenty one, twenty Beowolves and an Alpha, killed by a one person whistling.

It almost sounds like the punchline to a bad joke, but it happened.

It really happened!

… And… it was from one of his men.

Gavrilo cough a bit as he gently rubbed his throat.

"Mm… I need to start bringing some water with me." Gavrilo said in a hoarse voice.

Russel blinked as he continued to look to Gavrilo.

'Holy crap dude…one of that guy's people can do that?' Russel thought as he sweated with fear.

"Hey." Gavrilo spoke, causing Russel to flinch. Gavrilo had his back faced to him. "We're moving out. So don't fall behind, got it?" Gavrilo said before walking forward.

Russel let out a small worried moan.

'Guys, I don't know how you're all doing, but I hope it's better than me.' Russel thought before he followed, at a reasonable distance.

.

.

Pyrrha and Ruby continued to stare ahead at the Razor that remained still, but was snarling some.

The two redheads were waiting for the Razor to make a move. After their experiences with this species of Grimm, they weren't taking any chances. They learned from their previous battles, and they will show what they learned into this battle.

The Razor let out a small growl under its breath. It kicked up some dirt with its left foot. It got itself into horse stance with its body hunched forward and its arms spread out with its claws and blades ready to attack.

Ruby and Pyrrha tightened their stances as they were prepared for the Razor to attack.

The Razor shot forward and went for a dual slash, but Ruby and Pyrrha leaped away into the air, dodging the double slash. The Razor quickly changed directions and rushed towards Pyrrha who was still in the air to slice her before her feet touch the ground.

Ruby noticed and quickly fired several rounds of ammo at the Razor, forcing it to dodge side to side, losing enough momentum for Pyrrha to safely land upon the ground without meeting any trouble.

As the Razor dashed over to the amazon warrior, they both clashed their blades against one another, with Pyrrha's shield, Akoúo̱, pressed against the other Grimm's thick blade.

The two glared at one another with narrowed eyes.

Ruby rushed over with her semblance.

The Razor's instincts kicked in. It pushed away from Pyrrha and leaped high into the air before Ruby could slice it in half with Crescent Rose. The two redheads looked up to see the Razor above them in the air.

Ruby quickly spun her scythe in hand before aiming it and firing her sniper dust ammo at the Grimm.

The Razor managed to parry away several of the sniper dust bullets, but one managed to nail it in the right shoulder, causing it to let out a small screech of pain before it fell down towards the ground. The Razor hit the ground with an audible thud.

Ruby and Pyrrha remained where they were, making sure their fighting stances were proper. They were not going to let their guard down at any moment. Not with this thing as their opponent.

The Razor groaned holding its new wound as it turned over and got on a hand and knees. It started to get up, but its hearing picked up the sound of a gun cocking. Quickly moving to the side, the Grimm managed to avoid shots from Ruby's Crescent Rose.

The Grimm leaped to the side before quickly getting to its feet and hopped to the side some more to avoid sniper shots before turning to notice the taller of the red heads charging towards it.

Pyrrha slashed at the Razor, forcing it to block with one of its blades, then she spun it in hand before sending and upward slash that moved its arm a bit before she slammed Akoúo̱ into its abdomen, sending it a bit back and causing it pain.

The Razor held its stomach with its left hand. It managed to pick up an attack; Pyrrha dashing forward with a stabbing strike. The Razor managed to dodge to the side, but Pyrrha threw Akoúo̱ towards it, nailing it in the head.

The Razor grunted, but it managed to sense trouble and compose itself enough to notice Pyrrha, with Akoúo̱ returning to her hand, hurried over and send a strong downward slash to the Grimm's head, but it managed to block the young warrior's xiphos with its left blade.

The two stared at the other's eyes as they tried to fight for dominance with their blades.

The Razor managed to push Pyrrha away before charging at her quickly and sent a pair of slashes at the warrior only for them to be blocked by both Miló and Akoúo̱. The two glared at one another, but suddenly the Razor spit something out its mouth, nailing Pyrrha a centimeter under the collar bone, feeling like some sort of bullet, causing her to lose focus.

Enough time for a counter.

The Razor pushed Pyrrha's arms away before grabbing her shoulders, digging its thumb into her wound, making her groan in pain with gritted teeth, before it slammed a head-butt into her face. The Razor grabbed Pyrrha by the arm, then raised her high up in the air before it started to slam her into the ground repeatedly.

"Pyrrha!" Ruby screamed before she got serious and aimed her sniper scythe at the Grimm, however she couldn't find the strength to pull the trigger. She was afraid that she'd miss and hit Pyrrha. She was… too afraid. The thought of missing and piercing Pyrrha through the chest flashed in her mind, causing the petite reaper to gasp in fear before pulling her finger away from the trigger.

The Razor brought up a damaged and barely conscious Pyrrha to its face. It roar in Pyrrha's face, getting some droplets of its own salvia to splash onto her face. The Razor then threw Pyrrha away, causing her to hit the ground and bounce off it before rolling against the ground a bit before stopping and lying face first.

Ruby gave another gasp as she saw her friend beaten up, but trying to get to on her hands and knees. Ruby quickly used her semblance to rush over, but the Grimm anticipated her maneuver.

The Razor managed to catch up and intercept by delivering a backhanded slash, sending flying into a tree.

Ruby grunted upon impact and then groaned as she was now sitting against it. The young reaper tried to get up, but she groaned loud as she held her side, feeling a gash on her right that was currently bleeding. Ruby pulled her hand back and looked to it to see it covered in blood. It's going to take her a moment or two to heal such a wound. However it seemed she wasn't going to have the time as she noticed a shadow surrounding her. Looking up, she found the Razor standing over her.

The Razor rolled its right arm, groaning a bit from the pain, but it felt that it could still get the job done.

Over towards Pyrrha, she dug her fingers it the wound under her collar bone, groaning in pain as she managed to grab hold of something and then was forced to bite her tongue to keep herself from screaming as she ripped it out. She looked to the object to find it was a sniper bullet. A silver one with floral carvings all over it.

It was one of Ruby's! The same one that struck the Razor in the shoulder. It must have taken the hit and pulled the bullet out of its own body then into its mouth to fire it at her to gain an opportunity.

Pyrrha growled as she tightened her hold around the bullet. With gritted teeth and a serious expression, she looked up only to gasp noticing the Razor ready to deliver a dual cross slash to Ruby. Her brow furrowed and eyes glared heatedly at the beast in front of her friend.

Ruby stared up at the Grimm with fear. Fear of meeting the end before becoming a huntress, just like her. Her eyes glanced to her left to notice Crescent Rose. Ruby tried to move towards it, but her gash caused her pain, which led to her pausing.

The Razor let out a roar, but before it could deliver an attack it was forced to move its head away in time to avoid a bullet that now sped pass it and struck a tree. The Razor turned towards the direction it was fired at, only to quickly duck as Akoúo̱ whizzed pass, almost cutting its head off before it got indented into the tree Ruby was against.

The Razor glanced over to see an angry Pyrrha. It narrowed its eyes at her before looking to Ruby, who grabbed the snath of Crescent Rose. Quickly bringing its attention back to Ruby, it was ready to deliver its dual cross slash again.

However it did not notice that Pyrrha's outstretched hand, the same that threw Akoúo̱, glowed black before she was sent flying towards the direction of her shield.

When Ruby tried to pull Crescent Rose up towards her to fight back, she groaned in pain with gritted teeth, unable to use it thanks to the pain from her gash.

The Razor unleashed a roar as it delivered its dual cross slash attack, causing blood to go flying.

Ruby's eye were closed, thinking the worst, but when she didn't feel any new pain or bodily liquid leak out, she opened her eyes only to gasp in shock.

In front of her was Pyrrha, who took the dual slash for her. Blood leaked from her torso, with droplets of it hitting the red grass below. The dual slash had reopened her the X shaped scars on her torso that two separate Razors had given in the past.

Pyrrha's head was hanging as blood continued to flow from her reopened scars.

The Razor let out a deep growling exhale as it stared at the tall, wounded redhead.

Ruby's iris shined with a bit of light as she continued to stare.

Pyrrha remained still for a moment, but then her right hand tightened into a fist before she stepped forward and slammed her right fist into the stomach of the Razor, causing its eyes to bulge a bit with its mouth gaped wide open from the pain.

The Razor was sent flying back before rolling against the ground for a bit and lying on its back now.

Ruby stared up at Pyrrha, seeing her panting as her head with still hanging a bit.

The young champion picked up her head and glared ahead at the down Grimm.

"An attack like that… will not work on me anymore." Pyrrha said with a serious ad determined glare.

Ruby blinked her eyes as she looked up to Pyrrha with amazement and admiration.

Pyrrha turned to Ruby with a small smile. She offer the young reaper her hand, which she gladly took with a small smile of her own. Pyrrha helped Ruby to her feet before asking.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah. Just need a moment, and after what you just did, I think I'll managed to get enough time to feel good enough to fight through the pain." Ruby said as she used Crescent Rose as sort of crutch.

Pyrrha nodded before turn back towards the Grimm that was groaning with pain as it held its stomach while on the ground. Pyrrha lift her left hand up as then Miló flew towards her hand. Once it reached over, she gripped the handle before spinning the xiphos in hand as it then was gripped into her right hand. Pyrrha turned back behind her, only to look surprised when she saw Ruby extending Akoúo̱ over to her, still smiling. Pyrrha smiled in return before taking Akoúo̱ back.

"Thank you." Pyrrha thanked her fellow redhead.

"I should be thanking you. How did you get over so fast?"

"Well, as I said to you before, my semblance is polarity. Although now I've learned a little trick. Now not only can I attract my weapons to my hand, I can attract my own self towards my weaponry wherever they lay." Pyrrha explained with a smile.

"So cool~. Your semblance actually evolved!" Ruby said with starry eyes.

Pyrrha let out a minor chuckle as she continued to smile towards Ruby. She then noticed the Grimm move causing the champion to face it and get serious.

The Razor sat up as it got its bearings back. It glared ahead at the two redheads, mainly Pyrrha.

"Ruby, get behind me." Pyrrha said.

"I'm not some girl who needs to hide behind someone." Ruby said before pulling Crescent Rose out of the ground and then cocking its sniper piece. "I'm your partner, and I'm giving you support." Ruby said with a smirk as she readied herself.

"If you're up to it. I'd greatly appreciate it." Pyrrha said with a smile.

The Razor got to its feet as it panted hard out of pain and anger. It let out a roar, enraged at the pain the two, mainly the tall one, had brought it.

The two reds readied themselves for the final round.

They will prevail… together!

The Razor roared with fury with Pyrrha and Ruby giving battle cries of the same intensity.

Pyrrha charged forward with the Razor doing the same. The two got ready with their blades, but right before they met, Ruby rushed to the side, aimed and fired a shot at the Grimm, forcing it to parry the bullet away with its blade, giving Pyrrha the opportunity to strike, but it managed to block her xiphos with its other blade, but the strike was strong enough to chip off some of its blade's marrow.

Pyrrha deliver more powerful strikes, forcing the Grimm to block them, but it was then shot in the shoulder, causing it to lose focus and allowing Pyrrha the opportunity to deliver two slashes, downward then upward. She followed by changing Miló into its javelin mode, spun it in hand to then delivered a strong upward strike that caused the Razor to fly back from the force and blood to shoot out from its new diagonal scar across its torso.

The Razor bounced off its hands and landed on its feet, it glared at Pyrrha, but it heard an almost windy and fluttering sound. It turned its head only to be delivered a kick to the face from Ruby who sped over with her semblance, Petal Burst.

The Razor flew away and then skidded against the ground until came to a halt.

Pyrrha quickly sped over with as much strength as she can muster.

The Razor managed to get up to its knees and rubbed its face, but its eyes widened to see Pyrrha sprint up to the Grimm and with a battle cry she delivered a powerful uppercut to the Grimm's jaw, sending it up into the air.

Quickly Pyrrha took her javelin and threw it at the Razor, striking it through its body, sending it higher, but then it suddenly stopped in midair.

"Ruby!" Pyrrha cried as she had her hands raised up, using her polarity to hold the Grimm in place. Ruby nodded in response as she readied herself. Pyrrha gave one last cry before moving her arms down towards her friend's direction, causing the Razor to fly towards Ruby.

Ruby squatted down before shooting up towards the Grimm thanks to the Petal Burst.

The Razor roared as it tried to the struggle.

Ruby gave a battle cry as she swiftly sliced the Razor in half.

The Razor's eye widened with its mouth open wide as it felt its existence fleeting. It turned to ash that was blown away with the wind, leaving only the javelin that was used to bring about its final moments.

Ruby grinned at their success. She couldn't contain herself.

"We Did It!" Ruby cheered thrusting her fists into the air. A moment later the Miló struck the ground before Ruby did with an 'oof'. Ruby moaned with pain as she sat up, rubbing the back of her head while she pouted. She then rubbed the right side of her body, still feeling some stinging pain from the gash earlier. "Man I'm going to be sore tomorrow." She turned towards Pyrrha to see her panting and on one knee. "Pyrrha!" Ruby quickly rushed over.

Pyrrha wiped some sweat from her brow. This battle took some effort and took a toll on her physically. She noticed Ruby kneel down next to her.

"Good work on finishing it." Pyrrha said to Ruby with a smile.

"You weakened it for me. I just gave it a kick to the teeth and landed the final blow. Not much compared to you." Ruby said.

"Don't be so modest. You did more than that." Pyrrha said, gently placing her hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Yeah, I did also shoot it, but not much else. You were still the champ out there." Ruby said with a small bashful smile, causing Pyrrha's own smile to widen. Ruby became a little somber as she looked to Pyrrha bleeding scars. Ruby gently placed her hands onto them, causing Pyrrha to flinch a bit. Ruby's hand glowed red with her aura which connected to Pyrrha's own red aura. Pyrrha looked down in surprise. "It's not Jaune's aura amplifying powers, but at least it'll help a bit." Ruby said with a soft smile.

"Ruby, no-"

"Look, it doesn't matter if I lose some aura. You need some and right now I'm your partner, so it's my job to keep you up and running. Besides, you're not the only tough girl around here." Ruby said with a grin.

Pyrrha blinked her eyes before smiling once more.

After some time, Ruby stopped giving her own aura to Pyrrha. The young reaper helped the bronze champion up to her feet with Pyrrha's arm placed around the back of her neck.

Pyrrha raised her hand towards the direction of Miló and summoned it back to her hand with her semblance. After placing Miló and Akoúo̱ back onto her person, the two made their ways to their backpacks and put them back on.

Ruby groaned when she did.

"Is it just me or are these heavier now?" Ruby grunted.

"It's you. After all, we did just put in some effort and took just as much damage to defeat one Razor." Pyrrha said as she and Ruby started to head out.

As they walked, Ruby looked to Pyrrha.

"So, um… how do you feel now?" Ruby asked.

Pyrrha knew that her questioned referred to more than just her physical state. The champion smiled and replied.

"Stronger."

.

.

Pain. That's what was felt. Pain in the cranium.

Cardin groaned as he placed his hand on his head. He heard distant sounds of impact along with the feint noise of a woman's voice. He started to open his eyes to see his vision was hazy.

His vision started to come to return to him. He saw blurs of brown, black and some white, but the color most prominent was red. As it finally came back, he saw Coco fighting something big.

Blinking his eyes, he watched Coco leaped away from large arms swinging at her.

Coco managed to jump away from a fist slamming into the ground, creating a minor shockwave. Coco fired rounds from Gianduja that the giant Grimm was forced to block with the empowered dust rounds with its armored arms.

The Grimm's right fist created more spikes from its knuckles before aiming it at Coco and firing at her.

Coco quickly changed Gianduja to handbag mode and dodged the large spikes.

The Grimm rushed over and went for a dual strike of back fist and side punch by spinning around.

Coco managed to leap away, but was forced to duck as the Grimm also swung its tail at her when it spun around. It followed by leaping up into the air to body slam her with its spike ridden back. Coco quickly leaped back and bounced of her hands before the Grimm smashed into the ground, but it immediately brought its fists up aiming at her with spikes already sticking out the knuckles before firing.

Coco only noticed at the last second to dodge, but one of the large spikes grazed her across the stomach, tearing into her clothes and skin with a trail of blood following. She screamed in agony as she fell upon one knee and held her wounded abdomen. She gritted her teeth as her face scrunched up from the intense pain of having her whole abdomen shredded from being grazed by a large spike.

'So this is how it goes.' Coco thought to herself as her whole form was overshadowed. The large Grimm looked down at her as traces of saliva dripped from its mouth. "For a year too young to handle this… I think I did alright." Coco said with a small smile right as the Grimm lifted both its arms up, ready to deliver the final blow.

Coco had already accept this as her fate, but the thing about fate is that you never know when it truly ends.

The Grimm was struck in the side of the face by a ball of fire causing to lose momentum.

Coco looked up with shock to the Grimm taking a step to the side as it held its now injured and steaming face. She looked over to where the attack had come from to see none other than Cardin standing up with his mace gripped in both his hands with steam coming from the center of his mace's head.

"Nobody is killing my partner." Cardin said as he panted. He fell on one knee, groaning in pain as he held his ribs.

Coco was surprised that Cardin managed to get back up and even saved her life. Not wasting any time, Coco ran over towards Cardin. The Grimm tried to grab her, but she managed to get away from its grasp. She held her stomach the whole way, grunting and groaning in pain as blood soaked her glove, but she fought through the pain to get to her current partner's side.

Coco got to Cardin's side and helped him up to his feet.

"Glad to see you still in one piece." Cardin said with a smirk.

"Yeah, well… thanks for the assist." Coco said.

The Grimm roared at the two with rage.

"So got a plan?" Cardin asked.

"Yeah, survive." Coco said.

The Grimm roared as it charged forward, but after two steps it rolled into a ball to grind them into paste.

"Holy Shit!" Cardin shouted with shock before Coco threw him away and jumped away, managing to get them both out of the way of the spiked bowling ball of a Grimm which continued forward leading to destruction of the red forest's trees. Coco let out a pain filled yell as she held her bleeding stomach that was taking time to heal. "What the hell is that thing?!" Cardin called out as he saw the destruction the Grimm created.

"A Brute! A Spiker Brute to be specific!" Coco called out as she tried to pick herself up, but was feeling so much pain.

"You okay?" Cardin called out.

"Hell No! What the damn makes you think I would be?!" Coco shouted. She quickly got to her feet and rushed over towards Cardin.

The Spiker Brute came back, rushed over to Coco and swung its claw at her, but she leaped forward and rolled against the ground, avoiding the attack, but when she was now on her back she wailed in pain as she held her stomach.

Cardin hurried to get to his feet to try and help. He saw the Grimm slowly turn its head towards them, giving a clear view of its now damaged face which had fissures all over the bone parts of its head, while the flesh was a bit melted.

The Spiker Brute looked down to the down Coco, still holding her stomach in pain. The Grimm narrowed its eyes as it started to make its way towards her, but before it could make a third step, another ball of fire shot towards it, but it managed to duck under the attack, letting it fly pass it and into the sky.

The Spiker Brute slowly rose back up as it stared at Cardin, who was aiming his mace at the Grimm.

Cardin started to bring his mace down. He reached underneath his sash and pulled out fire and lightning dust vials.

The Spike Brute bared its fangs as saliva dripped from them.

Cardin started taking a step away to the side. After some steps, the Spiker Brute moved as well towards the side; moving along its claws and feet. Cardin and the Brute glared towards one another in the other's eyes. Cardin loaded the dust into the slot within his mace as he started to pick up the pace. As Cardin started to move faster, the Grimm picked up its pace a bit as well.

Cardin held the button on the shaft of The Executioner, causing a ball of plasma energy to form from the tip of its head. As he hurried into the best sprint her could, being injured and all, he aimed The Executioner at the rapid moving Spiker Brute and fired the ball of plasma at it, but the Grimm ducked under easy and rushed forward at him.

Cardin quickly tried leaping away, but as he was in midair the Spiker Brute smacked him with the palm of its claws, sending him flying and striking the ground face first then two times in an almost roll-like fashion until he skidded against the ground, lying on his front. Cardin's fingers twitched as he felt his whole body in pain, with his tangerine colored aura flashes all over his body.

Cardin tried to steady his breathing. He heard the large steps of the Grimm getting closer. Cardin tightened his hands into fists as he then tried to get back up.

'Fight though the pain.' Cardin thought with gritting teeth as he shakenly got to his fists and knees. 'Fight through the pain!' Cardin slammed his left hand into the ground; palm against the red grass below.

The Spiker Brute calmly made its way towards the human on the ground.

Cardin felt pain all throughout his body. He couldn't believe he was able to at least move this much. His eyes looked up to see the arms of the Spiker Brute come closer with every step it took. He raised his head up the best he could to look up at the Grimm.

The Spiker Brute stopped in front of Cardin. It stared down at Cardin's nearly broken body. It felt calm at the sight of Cardin struggling to look up let alone getting up. The Grimm let a small yet deep growl escape from its throat.

Cardin slowly panted as he looked up at the Grimm.

The Spiker Brute started to slowly bring its right arm up.

Cardin watched as the Grimm raised its arm over its head. Its claw tightened into a fist, ready to smash down upon Cardin. The young Winchester gave one final glare up at the Grimm before he suddenly grinned.

The grass under the Spiker Brute started to sizzle and produced smoke, which the Spiker Brute noticed, but it was too slow as suddenly a raging plume of fire blasted from beneath the Brute and strike it right in the stomach.

The Spiker Brute roared in pain as it felt its abdomen start to melt.

"Never Play With Your Food, Stupid!" Cardin shouted with a huge grin.

The Spiker Brute roared one more time before delivering a back fist to Cardin, sending him flying before striking into a tree with a cracking sound made upon impact… and it wasn't from the tree.

Cardin hit the ground. Now he laid there on the red grass. Not a single muscle moved.

The Spiker Brute made its way towards Cardin's unmoving body. The beast suddenly paused to hold its abdomen. The skin had melted and steam came from its new wound given to it by this damn human. It looked ahead to the human's body and growled baring its fangs. It continued to make its way over towards the human's body. Once making it in front of the young man's body it started to move its right arm up once more. It growled from the pain sensation coming from its stomach, but it tolerated the feeling thanks to its anger for this human trash. It raised its arm high with its claw tightened into a fist once more, ready to strike. As it was prepared to finish the deed, something rushed over, surprising the Grimm.

Coco stood in front of the Spiker Brute, shifted Gianduja into its mini-gun mode and aimed it at the Grimm's stomach.

"Karma." Coco uttered before unleashing hell.

Coco fired dust rounds into the Spiker Brute's stomach with her semblance, Hype, intensifying her ammos power.

The Spiker Brute unleashed a loud cry of pain as the bullets dug deeper into its stomach, until it was split apart by the raging storm of bullets.

The Grimm felt time slow down as its upper and lower body started to fall separately towards the ground. It let out one final sound, a moaning roar of pain as death took it with its body vanishing into ash.

Coco panted as she lowered Gianduja. She couldn't believe that she had just destroyed a Spiker Brute of all Grimm, and was still in her second year. She did have help though. Speaking of her assistance. She turned to see Cardin still lying still against the ground.

"Shit." Coco cursed under her breath as she rushed over to Cardin's still form.

Shifting her weapon back into its handbag form, she knelt down next to the first year's body. She gently pressed her fingers against his neck. She found a pulse… but it was dropping. Coco gently started to turn Cardin on his back. She placed a hand on her still wounded stomach. It healed a bit, but still very injured. She sighed as she looked down to Cardin. Him, of all people, had saved her from being killed twice now from the same Grimm.

Placing her hands on his body, they glowed of her bronze colored aura. Her own aura connected to Cardin's causing his own tangerine colored one to react to it. Coco was giving Cardin her own aura to give him a chance at survival. After a few moments there was still no response.

"Don't you dare die on me, got it?" Coco said as she continued to focus. She started groaning in pain with sweat started to trace down her brow. 'My aura's not much. Hell I don't have a real plan on how we get out of this accursed forest… but I would never forgive myself if someone died on my watch. Especially after risking their life for mine.' Coco thought to herself as her brow started to sweat more.

Her body started to shake as she started to feel more pain from her wounds again. Sacrificing her own aura was costing her greatly, like getting closer to being fully succumbed to her wounds. Coco started to pant with her teeth grit. She grunted with pain. She scrunched up some from the pain. It was becoming excruciating. She… she couldn't handle it anymore.

Coco took her hands away and gripped her stomach and hunched over holding her stomach.

"D… Damn." Coco cursed as she continued to pant from the pain.

Coco remained there for what felt like the longest of time, but was just for moments. Despite her victory over such a powerhouse Grimm for a second year, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth and it wasn't from any blood that probably was a result from her injuries in battle.

The end of a Grimm at the cost of your partner's life.

In Remnant that's known as a draw.

Coco was losing focus. No… no she can't lose consciousness. If that happens, all that happened would have been for nothing. She bit down hard on her tongue to keep herself conscious. It didn't really help. All it did was draw blood from her mouth. Her eyes started to get heavy. The world hazy. She felt… numb.

…

…

… But… now she was feeling… something.

She was feeling… invigorated?

Coco gasped as she felt herself become revitalized. When feeling returned to her, she felt some pressure pressed into her neck. It felt like… some sort of…

That's when she felt the pressure leave her and some sort of tiny prod exit from her neck.

Looking to her right, Coco saw a small hovering robot. It was spherical, but with a quarter of its bottom was actually flat, it had three gold colored lenses for eyes, or cameras, a pair of cylindrical appendages sticking out the sides and it had a short nozzle sticking out the middle of it where a now empty ebi-pen was sticking out of.

Coco blinked her eyes in confusion, until she remembered what Peach said.

There were bots monitoring their progress and meant to help them if need be.

The bot hovering in front of her let out some steam from its flat bottom only to then eject out a little tray filled with ebi-pens that had a golden liquid inside it.

Coco realized that it was these ebi-pens that had gave her back some energy.

Without giving it a second thought, she took some of the ebi-pens and stuck one in Cardin's neck. Once she gave him one, she gave herself one, then him, then repeated the process.

After sticking four in each of themselves, Coco let out a deep exhale. She looked to her stomach to see her aura at work, healing flesh of her stomach at a quick rate, which as amazing as it is, her mind was focused on something else. The lying lug in front of her.

Coco snapped her fingers over Cardin's face.

"Come on, show signs of life. I'd slap you if you weren't almost dead a second ago, but the best I can do is this. Now wake up!" Coco shouted as she continued to snap in front of Cardin's face.

"Mm, mm, uh…" Cardin opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, but as his headache got better his mind cleared up enough to see Coco. "Huh?"

"Oh good. You're alive." Coco said as she now eased up a bit, but when she looked to the bot floating next to her, she tensed back up with anger. "Where the Hell Were You When Were In Danger?!" Coco shouted as she grabbed the bot and shook it with rage. "Where Are the Rest?!" Coco demanded answers as Cardin sat up, rubbing the top of his head.

The bot's gold lenses glowed each one at a time. Coco and Cardin's scrolls let out beeps, but only Coco noticed since Cardin was still getting his mind in order. She took out her scroll to find a new message.

"We alerted the school board and Professor Peach, however we were tied up with making sure the parent didn't join in. Sadly the battle costed many of us to hold it off. I and another were ordered to assist by the rest. The original plan was for myself to assist in your health while FB-81 was meant to distract the Grimm. He is now on point." Coco read aloud, but in the middle of read the message her heart felt like it dropped into her stomach when she read the word… "Parent? Wait you mean… that… that- oh… shit…" Coco turned pale with fear as her sunglass dipped down a bit to reveal her wide frightened eyes.

"Uh… okay, what? I didn't get much of that." Cardin said as he tried standing up. He stumbled a bit, but he managed to stay on her feet.

"A child." Coco said with shock.

"Huh?" Cardin looked to her with a surprised yet slightly confused expression.

"We killed a child." Coco said as she stood up.

"That was some Grimm's kid?! It was huge!" Cardin shouted.

"We have to get out of here!" Coco exclaimed as she suddenly grabbed Cardin's arm and started to run.

"Wait, that was a child?! Where's the parent?!" Cardin shouted as Coco dragged him away.

"Shut up and run!" Coco shouted.

Suddenly something sped pass them and struck right into a tree.

"What the hell was that?!" Cardin screamed.

"Don't bother with it!" Coco shouted, but suddenly the bot from before sped by them and slammed Coco in the side, causing her, and subsequently Cardin, to fall to the floor. "What the hell?!" Coco shouted, but a giant piece of the earth fell from the sky and slammed a bit away from them.

"The fuck?!" Cardin screamed.

"That almost crushed us." Coco said with wide eyes.

"Look!" Cardin shouted pointing to the tree that was struck. When Coco looked she found that it was another bot like the one that had the ebi-pens.

"That must be the other one." Coco said.

"The other what? This thing?" Cardin said, pointing towards the still active bot, showing signs of fear from both his behavior and expression.

"It was the other one that's… supposed to be… on point." Coco slowly turned her head until it stopped to face the direction they were running from.

Cardin followed her line of sight, only for his heart to stop and eyes to widen in horror at what he saw.

Across the area was another Spiker Brute. However this one was larger in both mass and height. Its height was now fifteen feet tall with larger and longer spikes protruding out its back, arms, shoulders, down its tail and sticking out all over the tip of the mace shaped tip along with some short ones sticking out its legs, and it has long sharp teeth protruding from out its mouth to be bare for all the world to see.

The Spiker Brute let out a growl from within its throat that was somehow audible enough to be heard throughout the area. It stared at the pair of humans and the hovering metal thingy. It blinked its eyes which revealed it had nictitating membrane as its vision zoomed in closer to the humans.

Cardin had a look of pure fear with his jaw dropped wide and eyes bulging with pupils shrunk, while Coco had a similar expression, but to a much less degree of minor gaped mouth and normal wide eyes.

"We are so fucked." Coco admitted.

.

.

Ruby and Pyrrha continued through the Forever Falls.

"So~, where are we heading?" Ruby asked as she spun around with her arms out, getting a 360 view of the place.

"Well, personally, I'm looking for a way out of this forest." Pyrrha said as she was looking to her scroll, trying to read the map. "It doesn't matter how much Keg dust we have. We have dealt with enough conflict today."

"Yeah~, not going to lie. If another Razor pops up, I'm going to lose it, and nobody wants to see me lose it." Ruby said with an aggravated expression.

Suddenly something landed hard against the ground, causing the two red heads to quickly jump back and ready their weapons the best they could.

"Ain't that the truth?!" Yang shouted with a grin as she stood up straight with her fists against her hips.

"I've heard stories!" Nora exclaimed, sitting on Liversnap as she spun Magnhild in hand and resting it on her shoulders. "And they actually scare me." Nora said with a big smile as Liversnap agreed with a small roar.

"Oh. Hey sis." Ruby said as she and Pyrrha relaxed and put their weapons away. "Wait, have you been telling people about that time you and dad-"

"Nah~. Just Nora here." Yang said gesturing to the ginger haired girl who hopped off her disguised Ursa.

"We're super pals!" Nora said with a grin as she and a grinning Yang wrapped and arm around the other's neck.

Pyrrha and Ruby looked the pair over to find their clothes scuffed up and torn in several places.

"Well what baddies did the super pals come across to look like that?" Ruby asked, gesturing to their damaged clothing.

"The proper wording should have been 'vanquished'." Nora said as she and Yang unwrapped their arms.

"And what we vanquished?" Yang started. "Well~…"

.

.

Yang sent an Insectator flying with a punch, sending it through a tree. She shot some shotgun shots three more, sending them flying.

Another tried to pounce her, but it got body checked by Nora. She gave another battle cry as she lifted Magnhild high and slammed it hard into the skull of another.

Yang leaped high over Nora and fired her shotgun blasts at some more Insectators.

Liversnap head-butted several away from the two powerhouses.

"Liversnap, fall back!" Nora cried out to her pet. Although Liversnap didn't like the idea of leaving Nora's side in a battle, he listened without question. "Hailstorm!" Nora cried.

"What?" Yang questioned, but then Nora grabbed her by the arm, spun her around followed by tossing her high into the air then leaped up high with her before the Insectators pounced forward and slammed against one another into a dog pile.

"Blast 'em!" Nora shouted as she rocketed pass Yang.

Yang managed to spin in the air a bit as she reloaded Ember Celica.

"Eat My Bullet Storm!" Yang cried as she cocked both her arms into chamber before unleashing a roar as she unleashed shots down towards the ground, nailing Insectators down below.

"Here comes hell from above!" Nora cried.

Yang turned her head to see Nora aiming Magnhild downward in grenade launcher mode. Yang grinned before firing a shot to the side to give Nora a clear shot.

Nora pulled the trigger, sending a heart shape pink mist of ammo straight down towards the Insectators, causing a giant mushroom cloud that evaporated most of them and sent some flying into the air.

.

.

Both Yang and Nora were beating a large pack of Beowolves that tried to ambush them. After taking down the Alpha, the rest either became a disorganized mess just trying to get a bite or the only smart ones, which were still so few, ran off to kill another day.

Nora and Yang were having fun taking down what they now consider small fries, or better yet practice dummies, with big grins on their faces.

Nora hopped onto Liversnap, who had a Beowulf in his teeth and shaking his head side to side his teeth dug deeper into the werewolf Grimm's body. After the Beowulf disintegrated, Liversnap roared as he stood on his hind legs while Nora laughed with Magnhild held up high into the air.

Liversnap charged towards a number of Beowolves with Nora slamming them away with her Warhammer, however after a few moments, Liversnap skidded to a halt and looked to the side with his head picked up and eyes wide.

Nora looked to Liversnap with a raised eyebrow, but then she noticed the Beowolves looking towards the same direction as her disguised Ursa.

Yang just kept beating on a few, but the fact that they didn't fight back made her stop a moment later. She was confused on what was up. However her answer was coming in the form of stomping.

"Uh oh~." Yang said as she picked up her head and looked towards the direction she was hearing the booming steps coming from.

Entering the area came a giant Rampage with a pair of fire dust crystals sticking out its unique skull, acting as a pair of horns. The Grimm roared with a stream of fire coming from its mouth.

Yang, Nora and Liversnap blinked their eyes at the sight of the Grimm.

Yang then smirked as she got an idea. Just as the Rampage kicked its frontal leg against the dirt, indication of the Grimm ready to charge.

"Hey Nora!" Yang called out, getting her current partner's attention. Yang suddenly grabbed a Beowulf by the snout and torso and raised it up high into the air. "Batter up!" Yang shouted with a grin.

Nora grinned as well, getting the picture, as she then hopped off of Liversnap and revved Magnhild back as she got in a batter's position.

Yang spun around fast in place, before throwing the Beowulf Nora's way, who swung Magnhild to slam the Beowulf away towards the now charging Rampage with the smaller Grimm crying out in howling pain all the way as it then slammed right through the skull of the Rampage, shattering it's entire to pieces from the force, effectively killing both Grimm in the process.

The Rampage's now headless body skidded to halt, before dispersing into ash.

"Homerun!" Nora cheered with a hop and arms and weapon into the air, before slamming Magnhild onto an unsuspecting Beowulf.

.

.

Yang skidded against the ground, but managed to flip off of it and land on her feet just as Nora slid on her belly away from a thrown boulder and now hopped to her feet next to the blonde with Magnhild gripped tightly in her hands.

Yang groaned as she buckled over a bit, holding her stomach.

"What was this thing called again?" Yang asked.

"A Brute. A Bone Brute! To be specific." Nora answered.

The Grimm was fifteen feet tall with a posture similar to a gorilla with its back more raised up and its fists pressed against the ground. Its body was littered in bone armor. The bone armor around its arms were smooth with the forearms having bigger pieces of bone armor with a long bone spike protruding out its elbows, bone studs on its knuckles, bone plates covering the joints of its fingers with sharp bone claws at the tips of them, large stone shaped pieces of bone armor surrounding its shoulders, hocked legs with bone armor surrounding them with extra bone plating down its dinosaur-like feet, long spinal bones protruding out its back and down it to the end of its dinosaur-like tail which was the only part of it that wasn't covered in bone armor, but instead scattered pieces of bone plating. Its head was covered in bone armor with it being shaped like an emerald, but with one hole in it exposing a blood red slit pupil eye.

The Bone Brute let out a moaning roar as it lift a large boulder in hand and tossed it at the Yang and Nora, forcing the two to leap away.

After Yang rolled against the ground, she quickly stood up, but noticed the Bone Brute had its arms raised before slamming its fists into the ground, as suddenly bone spikes shot from the ground as a path of them headed towards Yang.

Yang quickly leaped into the air while firing from her gauntlets to get some more air, but the second she was in the air, she was completely surrounding in a shadow. Looking up, her eyes went wide as she saw the Bone Brute above her and with one hard downward slap, it sent Yang rocketing down towards the spikes below, but Nora managed to catch Yang before her body got impaled.

The two rolled against the ground, but Nora managed to get to her feet as she skid back with Yang bridal style in her arms, just as the Bone Brute slammed into the bones below, immediately shattering them apart as it also picked up a dust cloud.

"Thanks." Yang managed to grunt out with pain, but then her eyes went wide when she noticed Nora's eyes were glowing gold. "Whoa, what the heck?"

"I sipped a little bit of lightning dust." Nora said as she helped Yang back onto her feet.

"Nora, that's dangerous." Yang said.

"Yeah, and what we're fighting isn't?" Nora retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"Good point." Yang admitted as the two tried getting back into their fighting pose as the Bone Brute moved a bit to face them. Yang grunted with aggravation and pain. "Damn thing hits like a truck." Yang said.

"Yeah… you must of felt a lot of pain, huh buddy~?" Nora 'asked' as she smirked to Yang.

Yang immediately smirked backing, catching Nora's drift. Yang then roared as she slammed her foot hard into the ground and was now in a hoarse stance with her arms in chamber and flame-like aura surrounding her form. Eyes were now blood red.

"Give me an opening!" Yang shouted with gritted teeth.

"Way ahead of you." Nora said with a devilish smirk. She then brought her fingers to her mouth and let out a loud whistle.

Something then rushed out of the bushes.

The Bone Brute stood up on its legs and pounded its armored chest with its fists, but it failed to notice whatever rushed out of the bushes which then slammed into its leg, causing it to lose its posture and drop its guard.

The assailant was none other than Liversnap!

"Fastball Special! Batter Up!" Nora shouted as she reared Magnhild back with her in a batter's pose.

Noticing Nora's pose, Yang prepared herself and hunched over a bit, right before Nora slammed the head of Magnhild against her rear end, sending Yang flying towards the Brute Grimm.

Yang let out a battle cry as she managed to cock her fist back. With expert timing, Yang slammed her fiery fist straight into the Bone Brute's stomach, breaking clean right through its armor and striking it's now exposed stomach, breaking right through the flesh with her flaming aura bursting within, causing a burst of fire to explode from its abdomen.

The Bone Brute skidded back with its sole exposed eye wide with pain as then blood squirted from the bottom of it before it started to evaporate.

Yang grinned and her eyes shined red and glared at the Grimm.

The Bone Brute shook as it then looked down and tried to reach its now shaking and slow arms at the blonde below it, but then it heard another battle cry above making it look up to see the other female up above rocking down with a trail of pink smoke following her and lightning sparking around her body.

Yang managed to jump away to gain some distance with some help from shots fire from Ember Celica, just before Nora brought down Magnhild having it meet head-to-head with the Bone Brute's skull, slamming it into the ground below where it shattered into pieces as a shockwave erupted upon impact, sending clouds of dirt throughout the area.

.

.

"And that's just to name a few." Yang said as she, Nora and even Liversnap grinned.

Pyrrha and Ruby looked to the two with wide eyes.

"Uh~… what was that last one called again? A Brute?" Ruby asked.

"A Bone Brute. They're a certain species of the Brute family." Nora answered with her head held high as she smiled with pride.

"Brute family?" Pyrrha questioned.

"Yeah. Brutes are their own separate class of Grimm. They're really big guys that move like gorillas, or Beringels if you're looking for a Grimm comparison. They're a bunch of separate species of them. There's the Quill Brute, Shadow Brute, Elephant Brute, Venom Drip Brute, Venom 'Scoop' Brute, Octo-Brute, Brute Leach, yuck, Arachni-Brute, Croc Brute, Gator Brute, Boom Horn Brute-"

"Yeah there's a lot apparently, and Nora knows them all." Yang said.

"Yep, and it's all thanks to that big book of everything that is Grimm! I read the whole thing; cover to cover!" Nora said proudly as her grin widened.

"Wait, really?" Yang questioned as she, Pyrrha and Ruby looked at the ginger haired girl with shocked expressions. "Huh… look at that girls. Nora's a nerd now."

"Hey! Just because I'm super smart now doesn't mean I'm not cool anymore." Nora said with her head held up high and fists on her hips.

"Well anyway, I guess after all that you girls are rearing to get out of here too, huh?" Ruby asked as she gently swung back and forth on the balls of her feet.

"Are you kidding? I'm on top of my game! I feel like I could take on anything in this whole dang forest!" Yang cheered with a grin as she flexed her biceps.

"Yeah!" Nora cheered as well with Magnhild raised high. However she then grew a pondering expression. "But on second thought, I think we should head back."

"Seriously?" Yang questioned with a surprised expression at Nora's new sense of caution.

"Trust me, I like to kill more Grimm too, but it's not every day girls like us fight a Brute and win. I mean veteran huntsman are so badass they can kill them in a snap, but we got a ways to go before we reach their level. I'm just saying if another Brute comes our way, we might not be so lucky, even with Ruby and Pyrrha with us now." Nora said.

"… Yeah, I guess you're right… but if any Grimm gets in between us and home base, don't expect me to turn tail!" Yang said with a fist pump.

"Yeah! We'll destroy all Grimm we see!" Nora exclaimed with a mad grin and Magnhild raised up high with both hands, but then she brought it down as she moved towards Liversnap and hugged him. "All except dear little Liversnap here. Momma's wittle baby~." Nora said with a baby voice at the end and a look of love and affection.

However, surprisingly, instead of returning the affection as usual, Liversnap pulled away from Nora, shocking her and surprising the other girls, as he then walked towards a different direction.

"Liversnap?" Nora spoke her pet Ursa's name with surprise and confusion.

"Huh… guess he has better things to do." Yang said.

"No way. Liversnap never walks away when I'm showing him love." Nora countered. She then narrowed her eyes. "Something's up." Nora hurried after her pet with Yang, Pyrrha and Ruby following.

The four young maidens followed the disguised Ursa as he travelled towards something. Something that caught his senses.

Something dark.

"Where is he going?" Ruby asked.

"Sh." Nora shushed her friend.

After some time, Liversnap stopped in his tracks. The girls walked around him to come across a bush. They noticed Liversnap growling with a peeved expression.

The girls decided to go into the bush and look to see what was behind it. When they pushed some branches away to get a clear view they caught sight of something, or more accurately, someone important.

It was Reebok. He was sitting against a tree with his head hanging.

"Reebok?" Ruby spoke their friend's name.

"Is he unconscious?" Yang asked.

"That's not good. We better hurry over." Pyrrha said.

"Wait. Liversnap is still growling." Nora pointed out as Liversnap creeped over, growling with his teeth bare and brow furrowed. "Something's not right here."

Ruby gasped, catching the other's attention, only for them to gasp as well as they saw a Beowulf creeping over towards the unconscious genius.

"Crap." Yang said.

The four got ready to rush over to help, but something suddenly caused them to halt.

A voice.

"Halt!"

The Beowulf stopped in its tracks and turned its head towards the new voice.

The girls blinked their eyes. They all turned to see who spoke up. They were surprised to see who it was.

Vladimir Alucard.

Vlad made his way towards the Beowulf, alerting the girls as they got ready for anything.

When Vlad got in close to the Grimm, he suddenly brought his hand up and brought it closer to the Beowulf. The girls were ready to jump in, but they were shocked to see the Beowulf actually allowed Vlad to place his hand against his head.

"Sorry… but I need him alive." Vlad said.

The girls' eyes were wide. Was he… talking to it?

The Beowulf looked to Reebok. It growled with its teeth bare and eyes glaring. However after a moment it just turned back, sat in place and hung its head, shocking the girls beyond belief.

"Oh, I know. It's difficult to be forced to restrain your nature. All you live for is destruction and the desire to conquer all with darkness. To snuff out anything with a gleam of light in it… but I'm afraid his continued existence is important for me at the moment. Understand?" Vlad spoke with a calm smile.

The Beowulf looked a bit to the side with a glare as it growled, but after a moment it turned its head back and nodded.

They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

He was… actually communicating with the Grimm. The Beowulf understood him and obeyed his command!

Ruby cowered back a bit with wide fearful eyes, Yang and Nora stared with wide eyes and gaped mouths, and Pyrrha had her hands over her mouth.

They all were feeling a sense of rising fear.

Liversnap on the other hand remained aggressive. He let out a low growl as his teeth were bare and brows furrowed.

"I know it's hard, but please be patient. Your time of merriment will come. Soon." Vlad's smile suddenly widened, becoming wicked. "How about I make it up to you?"

The girls blinked and silently gasped at what he just said.

The Beowulf looked to Vlad, curious of his words. Suddenly its eyes widened as it felt a sensation coming from the touch of the young man. From the palm of the hand black mist leaked out.

Vlad developed a pearly white grin as his eyes glowed purple. His fingers stabbed into the skull of the Beowulf as black aura burst from the area.

The Beowulf unleashed a moaning howl as its body started to shake. It hunched over some with its arms raised up a bit.

Suddenly bone spikes shot out from within its back, its claws and fangs grew longer and thicker, armor plates made of bone started to grow all throughout its body, and whatever fur it had left became wilder, sharper, part of its skull broke a bit to reveal a second pair of eyes being spawned and more of the color red appeared around its body.

Vlad started to laugh as the Grimm started to grow in size, while the girls stared in horror. Vlad pulled his hand back as the Grimm's transformation was close to completion.

The Beowulf felt its body mutate. Its innards churned, but it never felt pain. Quite the opposite. It was feeling… powerful. Bloodlust intensified. Intelligence heightened to new degrees. A sense of euphoria! A Pure Feeling of Exhilaration! A Strength That Almost Feels Indomitable!

SUPERIORITY!

The Grimm unleashed a booming roar that echoed throughout the forest.

The girls quickly covered their ears from the pain of intense volume and had their eyes tightly closed upon instinct. After it passed, they opened their eyes and uncovered their ears, which were still ringing.

They all gained looks of horror at what they saw.

The Beowulf had changed drastically in appearance. For one it was almost eight feet tall. All throughout its body were armored plating made of bones covering its thighs, calves and shins, front of its feet, its forearms, biceps, triceps, shoulders, back of its hands and sides of its neck. It had gained an extra pair of eyes within its skull, a ring made of bone wrapped around its ankles with a pair spikes sticking out the sides of it and pointed downwards, rows of spikes, long and short, sticking out of its back, fangs grown larger in size that it goes pass its lips and its claws were longer and thicker with a red tint at the bottom of them where they met the flesh of its paws.

The mutated Beowulf looked to its left claw. It opened them up wider before clenching them a few times. It let out a small roar as steam came from its mouth and Grimm essence smoking out the sides of it.

It hunched forward a bit and started to shake, before it unleashed another high volume roar.

Vlad laughed as the evolved Beowulf's roar came to an end.

"Makes up for not devouring the little spud, doesn't it?" Vlad spoke with a grin.

The evolved Beowulf turned its head towards the unconscious Reebok. It let out a small growl as saliva dripped from its jaws.

"Calm yourself." Vlad reminded the beast.

It growled as it looked to the side with annoyance. It really wanted to kill something with a soul right now. The beast felt a hand on its armored shoulder.

"Be patient. Trust me. Until then, I believe you have some territory to conquer, right?" Vlad said with a smirk. The evolved Grimm let out a small growl with a minor nod of its head. "Before you leave, do me a favor."

After a moment of silence, the evolved Grimm made its way over to Reebok and slammed its claws in front of his feet. It started to drag its claw around the boy genius and the tree, creating a ring around them. Once done, the Grimm stood up straight. It turned its head towards Vlad. It let out a calm growl, before it turned away from him and then in the next instance it vanished from sight.

The girls' hearts stopped for a moment.

Vlad's smirk slowly formed into a smile and then into a grin that display all the malice and wickedness the young man was feeling.

They had enough. Or more precise, Pyrrha had enough.

The champion gently grasped Ruby's shoulder, causing her to flinch from contact.

"Go. Go. We got to go." Pyrrha whispered as she gently pushed Yang towards a direction and drag Ruby along with her to follow.

Nora followed their lead and took Liversnap by the collar and started dragging him away.

Vlad continued to grin for a few moments, before smirking.

"Hmph."

"Vladimir… why the careless action?" Crystal Salem, still attached Vlad's necklace, asked.

"Because it does not matter to reveal my power to them. I could have done things a little differently, but I just wanted to feel their fear. The fear of those who witness my power. It has been so long." Vlad said as his smirk widened. "Besides, no one will believe it. The world would rather be ignorant than actually acknowledge a person like me can exist. Some might even go to war to keep any further investigation. Even they, despite witnessing it for themselves, will have a hard time believing in what I can do. In what I am."

Vlad's smirk became a smirking grin, revealing his teeth.

.

.

The girls ran through the forest, focusing on getting away from that area as far as possible.

After what felt like hours, but was close to five minutes, they finally stopped in a clearing.

They were all panting, more out of fear than exhaustion. Beads of sweat went down their brows, eyes were wide and hearts racing. They were afraid. What they were feeling was true fear.

After moments of silence, Yang was the one who finally broke the silence.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Yang yelled, causing birds in the trees to fly away from the volume. The rest didn't respond. They were too shell shocked to at the moment. "Seriously, What the Fuck Was That?! What He Did! That shouldn't…" the blonde looked around to see her comrades staying silent, making little to no movement. "Hello~! What the hell is wrong with you guys?! Say something!" Yang called out.

"… Supreme." Nora uttered.

"What?" Yang questioned.

"That thing back there. What happened was… it became an Alpha Supreme." Nora responded.

"What? It's some sort of next form or something?!" Yang shouted.

"Yes. That's what I read and if I were you I'd stop yelling before it finds us. Their senses are super powerful." Nora said with a serious expression.

"What? I…" Yang sighed. Her brow furrowed as she stared at the ground and her fists tightening. "What the hell… did we just see?"

"I… I don't know." Ruby said as she calmed down a bit, but was still shaken with fear.

"What do you mean you don't know? It was right there!" Yang retorted.

"Then there's no need to ask." Nora said, annoying Yang.

"What… what we saw… that couldn't have been real." Pyrrha said as she had her hand over her mouth.

"But we saw it! We saw what he did!" Yang retorted. "What even is he?!"

"I don't know." Ruby said as she tightened her fists.

"How did he even do that? Was that even his doing?!" Yang continued to question.

"Of course it was. There is no way in hell that a Beowulf can evolve into an Alpha Supreme like that… not without a lot of Grimm essence to mutate it." Nora said.

"So… that guy… that freak! He's filled with that crap?!" Yang shouted. Everyone stayed silent for some time. The impact this had on them was great. Yet again, Yang was the one to break the silence. "We have to tell someone." Yang said with a serious tone and expression.

"Who?" Nora asked.

"Who? What the hell do you mean who? Anyone who can help us!" Yang retorted.

"Yeah, I know, but when I meant 'who' I meant 'who would believe us?'" Nora countered.

Yang bit back her tongue as she had an indecisive look. She was mad, scared and confused. She didn't know what to do, but she knew Nora was right.

Who would believe them?

"Ozpin." Ruby spoke, getting the powerhouse pair's attention. Ruby turned to them with a new serious yet determined expression. "We're going to tell Headmaster Ozpin. He's the only one we can trust. Even if what we tell him sounds crazy-"

"Bonkers is more like it." Nora interjected.

"He won't turn a blind eye to it. If there's something up, he'll do something about it." Ruby said.

"But what can he do about?" Yang questioned.

"I don't know, but he won't be able to do anything if he doesn't know about it in the first place." Ruby responded with a more determined tone.

"… Does… Jaune know?" Nora asked.

Like that everyone's blood froze and eyes were widened to a great degree.

The idea didn't come to their heads before. Or perhaps it did, but they weren't thinking about it because they were too engulfed in what transpired to really think about it.

"… I mean… he's always butting heads with so…" Nora couldn't continue out of fear of the thought that her leader knew a dark secret that everyone needed to know.

"No, he'd tell. He wouldn't keep something like this a secret." Yang said with a serious expression.

"Yeah, Jaune's not that kind of man!" Ruby spoke up with a serious expression as well, believing in her boyfriend. "Yang's right. Isn't she Pyrrha?" Ruby looked to her fellow red head. Pyrrha, however, remained silent. Ruby blinked her eyes as she expected some sort of response, but had gain none. "Pyrrha?" Ruby spoke her friend's name once more.

"I don't know." Pyrrha whispered. Both hands over her mouth, causing her words to be more silent than they already are.

"Pyrrha?" Ruby spoke the champion's name once more.

Pyrrha started to shed tears.

"I don't know." Pyrrha spoke up louder as she covered her entire face with her hands.

"What do you mean?" Ruby questioned as she walked over to Pyrrha, extending her hand towards her as she got close.

"I Mean I Don't Know Anymore!" Pyrrha shouted as she instantly spun towards Ruby with a look of frustration and hurt as the tears started to flood out from her eyes. "Ruby, don't be blind! He's not the same person anymore!" Pyrrha shouted, causing Ruby to flinch and back away with a hint of fear. "I mean my God! He's not the same person we met when we first entered Beacon! He's not the Jaune we know!"

"Uh, Pyrrha, maybe you should calm down." Nora said as she and Yang started to get wary of Pyrrha's sudden mood.

"How the hell are we just not bringing this up?! He's changed! All too much! I mean look at him! I'm happy he can stand his ground now, but why are we neglecting the logic?! He's strong! Yes! But he's almost gotten himself killed more often than not! That's not Jaune! He would never be so reckless!"

"Uh, Pyrrha…" Yang spoke up.

"I mean he jumped into the mouth of a giant dinosaur Grimm and sliced his way out of its belly! Does that sound like Jaune Arc to you?!" Pyrrha screamed as she started to get increasingly angrier.

"Pyrrha!" Nora raised her voice as she suddenly tried to hold back Liversnap, who was getting more hyper from the negativity Pyrrha was exerting.

"Nothing against your uncle, but what has he done to Jaune?! Is this really him or is it not?! I just don't know anymore!" Pyrrha shouted as she held the sides of her head.

"Pyrrha!" Yang and Nora shouted.

"I…" Pyrrha sobbed. "I just thought that… that one of these days… he'd wake up. That after he got a bit too reckless with his strength that… that the Jaune I knew would come back. That he was so enthralled by his newfound strength that he was acting all too confident, seeing himself as a real warrior. I always thought that it was this new strength that was occupying his thoughts, making him act this way, but every time… every time! Every time he goes far, acting reckless and almost getting himself killed, he remains the same! Not the one we know! He's Just a Stranger to Me!" Pyrrha fell to her knees. "How can no one see this?! Am I the only one? Am I the only one… who wants the man I fell in love with back?!" Pyrrha covered her face as she let it all out.

The three other maidens looked to her with somber expression that almost pitied her.

Pyrrha had let out all the frustrations she had been feeling for her partner this whole time. Things she kept secret, deep within herself so as not hurt anyone with her words, but all it did was hurt her more and more as every day passed.

Yang and Nora looked away, feeling bad for their friend. They had never knew that Pyrrha, this whole time, kept such pain locked within herself.

Ruby stared at Pyrrha with sad eyes. She wished she had knew how the champion felt this whole time. It hurt to know that this whole time, behind this smile, even directed towards the person they love, was actually a hidden layer of pain.

Pyrrha continued to sob, not caring who was watching or how they felt. She just wanted to cry. Let out all this unearthed pain. She was so immersed in her emotions that she did not sense an approaching being.

She then felt something.

Something wrapped around her.

Something warm.

She remembered this feeling… from her mother… it was a hug.

Ruby hugged Pyrrha tight with her eyes shut tight and tears of her own ready to pour.

"Pyrrha… I'm sorry. I wish I knew about this." Ruby said as she tightened her embrace a bit as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Pyrrha stopped sobbing. She uncovered her face to reveal a somber expression, and her eyes being red from crying.

After a few moments, Ruby pulled back, but she was then immediately pulled back into a hug from Pyrrha. Pyrrha's eyes were shut tight as more tears were shed. Ruby returned the hug.

Nora walked over and joined in. Yang, seeing how important this was, walked over and joined them.

The all hugged one another close.

Liversnap made his way over and rested his head against them. The Ursa rubbed his head to comfort his master and their friends.

It was like this for a while.

Nora, Yang and Liversnap backed off, allowing the red heads a few more moments.

After a few more moments, the two pulled away. Ruby stood up first and offered to help Pyrrha up. Pyrrha took her friend's hand and allowed her to help her up. Pyrrha looked to the ground as she expressed a bit of shame for her actions.

"I'm sorry…" Pyrrha said with a feeling of self-disappointment. She felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up to see an empathetic smile on Ruby's face.

"It's okay. It happens to all of us." Ruby said with a sympathetic tone and expression.

Pyrrha remained silent for a moment, before she smiled.

"Thank you… Ruby." Pyrrha said with a smile and nod.

"So~… we're all good now?" Nora asked, only to get nudged in the side a bit by Yang. Her way of saying probably not the words to say right now.

"Yes." Pyrrha said with her eyes closed. After she composed herself she gained a serious expression. "Once we return to Beacon, we'll do as Ruby said. Professor Ozpin needs to know of what we discovered." Pyrrha said with a new form of determination in her expression and tone.

"Right!" Ruby said with a smile and nod.

"Okay, we got that, but what about the others? Our friends?" Yang asked.

They were all puzzled a bit on the subject.

"Admittedly this is a difficult thing to speak about." Pyrrha said as she looked to the ground with narrowed eyes. "I don't know about you and Ruby, but perhaps Nora and I should tell Jaune and Ren. However I will admit that when thinking about it, telling Jaune that the man that he has come to despise, his arch-nemesis in a way, has this power… it makes me anxious."

"Yeah~, he can get a bit… emotional when it comes to this guy." Nora said.

"Well Yang and I are going to tell Blake and Weiss. They're our friends and they deserve to know this." Ruby said with a determined and serious expression.

"Yeah. Better all of us know, then just a few." Yang said with an expression just like her sister's and her fist brought up and tightened.

"Yeah… it's better that way." Nora said with a serious and determined expression as well.

Pyrrha stayed silent for a moment, before her expression turned into one just like her comrades and looked to them all.

"The truth is important. Especially to those you trust."

They all nodded in agreement.

They were going to tell their friends the truth.

It's what's best.

It's what they feel is best.

No secrets.

Liversnap growled, causing the young huntresses-in-training to pick up their heads.

They all suddenly heard growling all around them. The all readied their weapons and got into their battle stances. They all saw blood red eyes shine from within the shadows of the trees surrounding them.

Out came a large pack of Beowolves with two Alphas. They surrounded the five, growling and barking as drool dripped from their mouths.

"Looks like we amassed a crowd." Pyrrha said as she changed Miló into javelin mode.

"Yeah~… guess getting all worked up really did paint a target on our backs." Yang said as she cocked Ember Celica.

"I told you~." Nora said as tightened her grip on Magnhild, while Liversnap growled, showing his bare teeth.

"At least it's only these guys." Ruby said.

They all suddenly heard a new roar. Within the red woods rushed a Grimm on its hands and feet. It suddenly leaped high into the air and landed hard into the area near the Beowolves.

It was a Beringel.

"Huh… so this is how Jaune feels." Ruby said, thinking about how talking too soon was such the luck for her boyfriend.

The gorilla Grimm roared as it pounded its chest.

An Alpha took a step forward and roared at the primate Grimm, but it was forced to back away from a backhand from the dark ape.

The Beringel roared, showing its dominance, causing the Alpha to back away. The Beringel then turned towards the four maidens.

"Guess the big guy's getting first dibs." Yang said.

"That's fine." Pyrrha said, surprising her friends. "To tell the truth, I'm still very frustrated and I think this is a perfect opportunity for me to let out some steam." Pyrrha said with narrowed eyes as she readied her weapon.

The Beringel roared, pounding its chest before charging forward.

"Let's Go!" Pyrrha yelled out, raising Miló up high before charging forward.

"Pyrrha!" Ruby called out the champions name with a sense of worry.

Pyrrha ignored her and gave a battle cry as she and the Beringel met each other halfway and clashed.

.

.

Meanwhile in another part of the forest in an open area with several stones and boulders around, we find Jaune and Weiss.

Weiss was leaning back against a boulder. She was looking to the ground with a timid and remorseful expression while she rubbed her arm.

Jaune was pacing back and forward in front of her with a serious and even agitated expression on his face.

The two had been silent for a time. It was killing Weiss. The feelings of guilt were growing more and more with every passing second of silence. She was even frightened. Frightened of Jaune. At least what he would do next. What will he say? Will he yell at her?

That was a stupid question. Of course he is going to yell at her! After what she had done what self-respecting man wouldn't?! Especially one so deeply infatuated and loyal to his girlfriend, who, let us not forget, is the guilty party's partner, leader and possibly, with perhaps no iota of doubt, best friend!

Weiss felt sick. She was sick. Sick of herself.

She felt she had done a move as bad as her father.

Oh Goodness! Was the Gelé coming out of her?! Heaven Forbid!

Weiss' lip quivered as she felt ready to cry. She felt so sorry for what she did. She just wanted to cry and run to Ruby, begging for forgiveness. She wasn't sure if Jaune would forgive her, but if he didn't she would understand, but Ruby… she is a different story!

She never wanted to hurt her. I mean at first when they arrived at Beacon she wanted to beat her in her foolish little cranium, but after going through so much together, along with the others of Team RWBY, she would never want to hurt the young reaper.

She just hopes that perhaps by some miracle, she'd be forgiven and her partner would talk about something foolish, yet sweet or talking about doing fun activities tomorrow with her or something! Something that didn't garner malice.

Jaune suddenly stopped in place, catching Weiss' attention and causing the heiress to gulp.

Jaune closed his eyes, held his head high as he took a deep breath and pressed his hands together as he gathered his thoughts together. He stayed like that for a moment, causing Weiss to stare at him with a sense on anxiety.

After another moment, Jaune resumed his pacing, causing Weiss to look back to the ground.

"WHY DID YOU KISS ME?!" Jaune screamed, pointing at the Schnee.

Well that jolted her back into the meat of things.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Weiss yelled back with uncertainty, jolting off of the stone she was leaning against. Weiss sighed as she covered her face with her hands. "I don't know okay."

"Bullshit. Weiss, you are the last person who is ever uncertain of her actions. At least when it comes to ones like this." Jaune said. Weiss groaned in response. "Weiss… please… just be honest with me. What were you thinking at the time before you… did that?" Jaune questioned with a serious expression, but had a tint of pink on his cheeks from just mentioning the moment.

"I… I was thinking how different you are. I never thought much of you before, because you were, well… a dork! You had no tact with women, you were a foolish, weak klutz and you were more stubborn than to my liking." Weiss said.

"Okay, nothing new there. Please continue." Jaune said with a stoic expression and a hand on his hip.

"I always thought you only cared for my name like everyone else."

"Did I really come off like that?" Jaune asked.

"Well… maybe… not. I don't know anymore." Weiss said as she leaned back against the surface stone. "Maybe I was wrong… I was wrong." Weiss said with remorse and self-disappointment as her shoulders slumped. "I guess I finally realized that when not only did you start to pine after Ruby, but also from how you treated me afterwards. You still considered me a friend for some reason, goodness knows why, but you weren't afraid to speak back and address when I was being…"

"Bratty?"

"Hey!" Weiss exclaimed with a glare. Jaune just raised an eyebrow as he looked to her with a calm, stoic expression. "… Yes." Weiss confessed looking to the ground with some shame. "I realized I was wrong… and then when you said my first name was what mattered before I went to Neptune… I actually thought… perhaps I made a mistake." Weiss said, causing Jaune's eyes to widen a bit. "As I started to look over things… as I saw how you acted, especially with Ruby… a part of me… felt regret." Weiss said with a light blush. She then looked to Jaune. "I made a mistake… on who I liked more." Weiss confessed.

Jaune started at her with shocked, wide eyes. He grunted as he turned to the side. He coughed into his fist, feeling a sense of nervousness.

"Uh… continued…" Jaune gestured for her to continue with a hand wave.

Weiss was silent for a moment, before looking to the side.

"Lately… I've been noticing the faults in who I believed I liked… and the merits in who I pushed away. I found merits in those I had low opinions on and faults in those I had high opinions of during my time here at Beacon. Out of all of them, the two who I have realized have much merits to them were Ruby… and you. Especially you." Weiss said. Jaune looked to her with calm, yet surprised look. "You're brave, almost fearless even, passionate, daring, loyal, determined, mature-"

"Weiss, I've always been those things… m-most of those things… I just never expressed them well." Jaune said, looking to the side.

"And honest." Weiss finished, causing Jaune's eyes to grow somber, filled with hidden guilt. "Those are qualities my sister says you should look for in a man. Neptune is nice and is a good companion, but… he still has much growing up to do. I honestly don't know what I fell for in the first place. If anything, I fell for exactly what I mistook you for."

'Ouch.' Jaune thought with wince and frown. He didn't know what was more saddening, the fact that Weiss thought that Neptune was the type of person she expected him to be or the fact that when thinking about it Neptune was the kind of guy Jaune was aiming to be when he was actually a freshman at Beacon.

He made a mental note to throw up later when he found the chance to be alone.

"But you… I realized that what I actually liked in a man was actually in the person who had been throwing themselves at my feet this whole time. The saying is accurate after all. What you've been looking for after so long can be right in front of your face the whole time." Weiss said looking to the side with a blush, all the while Jaune was getting uncomfortable with an expression matching his uneasiness. "I suppose what I'm saying is… Ruby is a lucky girl… and I wish I was her right now." Weiss confessed as she looked Jaune in the eyes and a blush adorning her cheeks.

Jaune looked to Weiss with extremely wide and a deep, nervous frown.

"Well… there it is, I'm guessing." Jaune said as he continued to stare at Weiss. He turned around and sighed as he rubbed his eyes in some frustration. "I can't believe I'm going through this again." Jaune muttered to himself.

"Excuse me?" Weiss questioned with a look of confusion and tilt of the head.

"Weiss… I'm not going to leave Ruby… not unless she tells me to." Jaune said as he looked back to the heiress.

"I know." Weiss said looking to the ground. "You just love her that much."

Jaune sighed with a soft smile.

"More than you know." Jaune closed his eyes for moment before he reopened them as his expression back serious. "Weiss… you deserve a guy who only thinks about you when you're together. That's not me." Jaune said.

Weiss remained silent for a moment with a bit of a somber expression. She then sighed.

"No, I suppose not anymore." Weiss said with a light sad smile. "Well… I knew it would never happen. I just felt that I needed to get that off my chest. I'm still trying to understand my feelings to be honest. To be frank, you're not the only one I am attracted to."

"Really? Who's the other?" Jaune asked.

"I'll be keeping that to myself." Weiss said with her head held high as she put on a proud smile.

"Right~, of course." Jaune said with a smirk.

"I supposed when getting down to it, I kissed you more out of attraction then actual feelings. To be honest you can also be rude, overly stubborn, temperamental, cocky, doesn't know when to keep silent-"

"Uh, Weiss, if you're going list all my faults we're going to be here pass midnight." Jaune said, causing Weiss to laugh with him joining in with a grin.

After a moment of laughter, the two smiled at one another. Weiss then looked to the side with a sad smile and remorseful eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jaune." Weiss said looking the back at the blonde.

"Hey it's alright. Impulse gets the better of us." Jaune said with a smile and shrug.

"You should know best of all."

"Yeah, ain't that the truth." Jaune said looking to the side rubbing the back of his neck, causing Weiss to giggle. "Looks like all that's left is to tell Ruby." Jaune said, causing Weiss to flinch with wide eyes. "I'll take care of it."

"No." Weiss said with her eyes closed for a moment, before she opened them and gained a serious expression. "I will be the one to handle it."

"You sure?" Jaune asked.

"I was the one who kissed you, I was the one who offended you and betrayed the trust of my friends. It is my responsibility to come clean." Weiss said with conviction.

Jaune blinked his eyes before smiling again.

"I'm proud of you, Weiss." Jaune said.

"Yes, yes. It's only fair after all." Weiss said with her hands on her hips.

"And you really care for Ruby more than you let on." Jaune said with a smirk.

"Don't push it." Weiss said with narrowed eyes.

Jaune chuckled in response with a small smile.

"So we're done here?" Jaune asked.

"I believe we are." Weiss said.

"Actually I should clarify, I mean, all of this. This event entirely; assignment and all."

"Oh. Well… personally I believe we need to collect more dust before heading back." Weiss answered.

Jaune lightly shrugged.

"Alright. We'll stick around… but no more seducing." Jaune said with a mock stern expression and pointing his finger to Weiss.

"I did not seduce you! A spontaneous kiss is nowhere near levels of seduction!" Weiss shouted with annoyance, pointing back at Jaune.

"Okay~, whatever you say~. Just use that mouth for speaking and nothing else." Jaune said with a smirk and hands up as he turned away.

Weiss groaned with much annoyance.

"You are impossible sometimes! Worse than Yang! I can't believe I kissed you!" Weiss exclaimed as she followed in a march.

"I don't. Like you said I am an attractive man." Jaune said with a wider smirk as he slicked his hair back only for it to return to its shaggy glory.

"With a lot of problems, like your smart mouth." Weiss said with narrowed eyes before crossing her arms. "Wisecracking dolt."

"Love you too, Weiss." Jaune said wrapping his arm around the heiress and patting her shoulder. A growl was suddenly heard causing both their eyes to widen. "Jeez, you are more worked up than I thought." Jaune said as he pulled his arm back and stepped away from his friend.

"That was not me." Weiss clarified.

"Could you just say it was and we can go on like we're not in danger?" Jaune said with a hint of fear.

They heard stomping near the area, causing the two to look to see their old friend, the Triceros… who had changed.

Now the rhinoceros Grimm had spikes sticking out of the bone armor of its shoulders, the spikes along its back were long and there were two separate smaller rows, rows of spikes sticking out the sides of its torso, one on each side of the main one, two new sharp claws sticking out the sides of its ankles, a much sharp and longer horn sticking out of its snout and two new rows of horns down its cranium. It also now possessed sharp teeth instead of humanoid along the lips and a spike sticking out of its chin.

"Wha… is that?" Weiss questioned with a look of fear.

"Yup. I think that's our old friend." Jaune said with a small nod.

The newly evolved Grimm let out a small, long growl as steam came out of its mouth.

"What happened to it?!" Weiss questioned as it started taking small steps forward.

"It evolved into its next evolution. A Top Triceros." Jaune answered.

"How?! It wasn't like that before!" Weiss shouted as the Grimm stopped with narrowed eyes and let out another growl as drool dripped from its open mouth.

"In order for a Grimm to evolve it either needs to live long enough to grow or it needs to absorb Grimm essence from another source." Jaune explained.

"How? There wasn't any near where we left it, was there?" Weiss asked looking to Jaune.

"Oh there was. We left it with a whole bunch surrounding it." Jaune said with a serious expression, causing Weiss' eyes to widen with a look of surprise. "What probably happened was after taking down the small fry, he incapacitated the Alpha and when it was on the ground, most likely trying to scurry away, it went over towards it and… well…"

Weiss then suddenly gained a look of horror.

"It… it ate…" Weiss covered her mouth in disgust and gagged a bit, almost like she was prepared to throw up. "THAT'S DISGUSTING!" Weiss suddenly screamed.

The Top Triceros snorted out steam from its nostrils as it shook its head.

"Yeah tell me about it. Grimm have their own circle of life. Kind of weird." Jaune said with a thin lip.

"And Disgusting!" Weiss screamed.

The Top Triceros let out a small roar.

"Weiss, get ready." Jaune said as he gripped Excalibur with his left and gripped the grip of Silver Eye.

Weiss immediately gripped the handle of Myrtenaster and aimed it forward as she got into her fighting stance.

"Any knowledge you'd like to share?" Weiss asked.

"Every spike on its body is a missile."

"… Anything else?" Weiss asked with an uneasy expression.

The Top Triceros picked itself up to balance on its hind feet as it let out a bellowing roar, then stomped them back onto the ground, sending a shockwave that rustled the ground, causing Weiss to look her balance a bit just as it fired all of the horns from its skull towards them with fire following.

Jaune quickly grabbed Weiss and leaped away while firing shots at them horn missiles, destroying a few before the rest exploded upon impact where the two once stood a moment ago.

"It likes to shake the ground with each step." Jaune said.

"Clearly!" Weiss shouted with annoyance.

The Top Triceros roared as it kicked up again before charging towards the two Beacon students.

.

.

In a different part of the forest, back where Coco and Cardin were there seemed to be now a scar upon the land.

Make that scars as the whole area was littered with gashes of all sizes, trees uprooted and fallen, and the earth beneath crumbled and broken with pieces of itself unearthed and scattered.

The parent Spiker Brute took a few steps before looking around. It sniffed for anything.

Behind a broken tree, surrounded by debris and other fallen oak, Cardin and Coco were trying to stay out of sight.

Coco was forced to rip off her long coca-colored shirt, or at least what's left of it. Her waist cincher was no longer with her. Now all she wore for a top was black tube top with straps. He grabbed some dirt from the ground and started spreading it upon her skin and even top. She panted as she did so, but grunted as placed her right arm against her back which had blood on it with a wound still trying to be closed with her aura. In its place however will be a large scar across her back.

Cardin was next to her. He had dirt covering his face and some scattered throughout his form. His chest plate armor now gone, the armor around his arms and shoulder were chipped and cracked and there now was a scorched hole in the back of his shirt with a large burnt bruise on his back that was slowly being healed with what little aura he had left. He panted with sweat down his dirty brow. He looked down to his hands to find the small bot from earlier, now dented with pieces of its form cracked and char marks covering it. The lenses that were its eyes blinked repeatedly with a golden light.

He looked to Coco, seeing her flinching from pain.

He frowned with a look of guilt, recalling what had happened moments ago.

.

.

Cardin and Coco stared at the much larger Spiker Brute, no doubt the parent, staring them down from across the open area.

Coco gritted her teeth with her eyes wide and brow furrowed, while Cardin shook with fear with a look that matched to boot.

The adult Spiker Brute let out a minor growl as it continued to stare at the two.

"W… W… We're dead… we're dead, aren't we?" Cardin questioned.

"Shut the hell up. We're not dead yet, so don't go throwing your balls away yet." Coco said with gritted teeth as she glared ahead at the monster.

The Grimm continued to let out minor growls as it stared ahead at the two humans and the flying metal creature.

"Why the hell isn't it moving? Is it trying to freak us out?" Cardin questioned.

"From how you're acting I think it's doing a bang up job." Coco responded, getting tired of Cardin's fearful words.

"Do we move or do we stay still?" Cardin asked.

"I'm not sure. I've never faced Brutes until today. The baby was a too much of a rough-houser, but an adult Brute is a different story. They're more intelligent, which means more deadly, and of course more powerful. If we run, it'll catch up, if we stay we might react too slowly when it makes a move." Coco narrowed her eyes. "I think we need a distraction."

Suddenly a rock was tossed to the side and slammed against a tree, causing Coco and the Spiker Brute to look towards the rock and tree it struck. Coco looked with wide eyes while the Spiker Brute blinked its eyes, confused on what had just happened.

Coco looked to Cardin to see his arm was still in the thrown position.

"What… the hell… was that?" Coco questioned through gritted teeth.

Cardin blinked his eyes as he now was more anxious.

"The distraction?"

Suddenly darkness surrounded them. The two looked up with wide eyes and open mouths as the Brute was already above them, ready to slam its weight upon the two.

Before it could crush the pair, the small bot glowed gold before launching a shockwave forward that sent the two flying away in time from being crushed to death.

Coco and Cardin rolled against the ground until they came to a halt, lying on their sides. The two looked up to see a cloud of dust created from the shockwave of the Spiker Brute's body slam.

The Spiker Brute stood on its legs with its arms snapped open to the side as it unleashed a giant roar that released another shockwave that cleared the area of the dust cloud. It then suddenly rolled into a ball and sped in place, before it started to circle around the area creating a trench in the shape of a ring around the area, scarring the land along with destroying and uprooting trees.

Coco and Cardin struggled to get their up on their feet.

"What's it doing?" Cardin asked as the two watched the Grimm circle around the area in a spiked ball form.

"It's either intimidating us, making an obstacle to keep us from running out of here or both." Coco said as the two were on edge.

They watched the Grimm continued to dig deep into the earth, until it came to a stop, alerting the pair.

The Spiker Brute unfurled from its ball form and faced the pair. After a momentary glare, it leaped high into the air.

Cardin and Coco looked up to see the Brute in the air, rolling into a ball before rocketing down towards them.

Coco quickly kicked Cardin away before leaping away in time before the beast slammed into the ground, creating a crater and minor dust cloud.

The Spiker Brute poked its right arm out and slammed it into the ground, causing its form to hop back into the air before coming back down. The Grimm started hopping around the area, leaving craters and dust clouds.

"Move!" Coco shouted.

Cardin didn't need to be told twice. The pair tried to get away from the area, but the Grimm almost crushed them a couple of times in the process and caused shockwaves that sent them flying here and there.

Cardin was freaking out! He never knew the life of a huntsman would be this insane! He knew it was dangerous, but he never knew how dangerous the world really was! Not until that day… when he learned the truth about Jaune and that monster, Vlad. He wanted to be a huntsman for glory! But to see that obtain such glory would come with such high risk!

… Why did he come?

Suddenly the Spiker Brute slammed a little too close to his liking.

Cardin was now on his back, groaning in pain. His eyes opened wide with fear. He quickly tried crawling back away as the Spiker Brute unfurled from its ball form. It turned its head towards Cardin with narrowed eyes. Cardin had a look of pure fear as he stared at the Grimm with wide eyes. He tried to get back to his feet, but the moment he did the Spiker Brute's eyes widen.

It let out a roar as it swung it's a back hand at Cardin.

Cardin felt time slow down. His eyes suddenly flashing before his eyes.

He was about to die.

That was the thought, until Coco managed to tackle him away, but she herself wasn't clear of the danger. As she tackled Cardin away, the tip of the spike on the back of the Grimm's arm slashed her back, leaving a deep gash, no doubt soon to leave a nasty scar and tearing off her cincher and into her cocoa-colored long sleeved shirt and tube top.

The two rolled against the ground for a moment until a halt.

Cardin gasped with wide eyes. He sat up, only to hear the pained grunt of Coco who was rested against him. He looked up to her back, only to gasp again as he saw the large bleeding scar. A scar she earned because of him.

Coco Adel, the person who hated Cardin the most, risked her own life to save his own. A life that was worth far less than her own. At least in his eyes. How he sees his life compared to others.

Cardin gritted his teeth as he actually got a bit teary eyed. He head snapped up as he glared at the large spikey Grimm.

The Spiker Brute glared at the two. It opened its mouth a bit, letting drool fall drip from its mouth.

Cardin carefully hugged Coco close to his body with one arm and clenched his fist in the other. He unclenched his fist and reached the now open, shaking hand towards the Griff of his mace.

The Spiker Brute started making its way over towards the two humans, but suddenly it was struck in the face by golden bullets of light, causing it to roar in pain as it covered its face with its hand. It peeked its left eye out to find a small flying semi-spherical bot with miniature turrets firing at the Spiker Brute, with its next rounds nailing it in the eye, causing it to roar in pain as it tried swatting at the machine blindly.

The mini-bot maneuvered around the swings of the Grimm's large arms.

Cardin took the opportunity, taking out his mace, The Executioner, and slammed the head of it straight into the ground as he unleashed a roar. The ground beneath heated up and made a large trail towards the flailing Spiker Brute. Right as it was under it, a geyser of pure heat and fire struck the head of the monster, causing it to unleash a greater roar of agony.

Cardin quickly took his mace back, and re-clipped it back to his belt before picking Coco up into his arms bridal style and running off.

The bot noticed that pair of humans hurrying away, so it did its job and protected them by providing a distraction. It continued firing at the Spiker Brute to irritate it, keeping its attention on it and away from the Beacon students.

The Grimm growled with its teeth bare. Fire engulfed its face, melting its flesh. The fires however did not compare to its new flames of hatred. It's now sole eye opened with pure rage burning inside it as it shined like a fiery red star.

Cardin pushed his body into overdrive to gain more speed. He needed it to leap over this now large trench around the area. With all the might he could muster, he leaped over the trench. Right before impact, he turned his body in midair to make sure Coco did get hurt. His back skidded against the ground. He quickly hurried off to get as far away from the area and especially that Grimm as possible.

However all of a sudden he was struck in his back by something roundish. Not a stone, but still dense enough to break through the back of his armor and leave a deep bruise onto his back. The object also had so much force behind it that it was burnt up, leaving burning wounds on his back as well.

Cardin fell forward, causing Coco to scream in pain as he rolled off of her.

The two laid there in pain, broken from their fight.

Cardin groaned as he lift his head; pain etched all over his face. He slowly turned his head to the side to see what object had struck him. It was the little robot from before. It had char marks, cracks and was dented all over its body. It jittered against the ground, short circuiting. It suddenly opened its hidden compartment to release more ebi-pens, before it finally shut down. Cardin let out a minor gasp.

This little bot fought so hard to protect them. Although it was small, it gave it's all to protect him. To protect them.

Cardin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

He refused… to let this little bot's sacrifice go in vain!

Quickly grabbing an ebi-pen he stabbed it into his neck and released the serum into his blood stream.

Cardin's eyes flash golden for a moment before he unleashed a battle cry. He grabbed the rest of the ebi-pens and hurried his way over to Coco the best he could, given he was still very injured. He stumbled his way over as he heard stomping getting closer. He quickly slid on his knees next to Coco. He lifted her up a bit and started injecting her with the rejuvenating serum inside the ebi-pens.

The Spiker Brute was drawing closer.

Cardin focused on giving Coco as much energy as she needed.

The large Grimm pushed away trees as it got closer.

Cardin gritted his teeth as he injected another ebi-pen.

The Spiker Brute pushed away a pair of trees as the humans were in its sights once more.

Cardin looked up with wide eyes to see the Spiker Brute had returned with its face now melted. Flesh oozed over its ruined eye and melted flesh strands were over its mouth, fused with its bottom and upper jaw.

It opened its mouth letting out a deep growl before gritting its teeth.

Cardin's eyes widen some more. His heart stopped for a moment out of fear, but he quickly regained his senses and attempted to inject another ebi-pen into Coco's neck, but suddenly his wrist was grabbed by said girl, surprising him.

Coco's eyes suddenly shot open. She unleashed an intense battle cry as she quickly got to her feet and transformed Gianduja into its mini-gun form and started unleashing hell around her. She was firing at both the Grimm and the trees around herself.

Cardin quickly ducked under fire as Coco was shooting in a 360 degree angle. He quickly crawled over towards the damaged bot and took it into his arms. He didn't notice that the lenses of the poor little machine were blinking gold.

The Spiker Brute brought its arms up to block the shots from the female's weapon, which caused the surrounding trees to fall to the ground with a loud slam.

After what felt like so long, the bullets stopped firing.

The Spiker Brute brought down its arms, which were covering its face, to see the aftermath. The trees in the area were among the ground, but with all the fallen bark around, it could not spot the humans.

They seemed to have given it the slip.

Now it was furious.

It shook with rage, barring its teeth with its eye shining blood red! It opened its sharp claws as they somehow grew sharper. It unleashed a ginormous booming roar before it started clawing at the trees and ground. It then rolled up into a ball and started shredding around like a runaway sawblade then it leaped high into the air with its arms raised high before slamming down into the ground below, creating a booming shockwave that sent the trees and debris flying.

.

.

Cardin felt guilty for not being strong enough. If he was just stronger…

He tightened his hold on the bot in his hands a bit as his eyes were somber and he had a frown on his face.

"Adel… I'm so-"

"Shut up." Coco said to Cardin as she smeared dirt upon his face. "You got to smear dirt all over you. This thing can pick up our scents. Sweat, blood and tears. We need to cover them." Coco said as she continued to smear dirt all over Cardin.

"How's your back?" Cardin asked.

"Still painful." Coco said. "How are my shades?" Coco asked.

Cardin looked a bit closer.

"There's a minor crack on the upper side. Right lens." Cardin said.

Coco froze in place with wide eyes.

"I'm gonna kill that thing." She said with a furious expression.

"Believe me I want payback too, but the way we are, one strike and it is over. It's better if we just sneak away." Cardin suggested.

"You're actually okay with running away?" Coco questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"If it means we both live then yes. I don't like the idea of running from a fight, but we're outmatched here. There's no need to stay and fight to prove something when nobody is even around."

"We're around."

"We proved enough today, okay? We still managed to kill a Brute, even if it was a baby, we managed to make sure the other didn't die. Isn't that more than enough?" Cardin said with a stern expression.

Coco stared at him for a moment. She sighed with a small smile on her face.

"Look at you acting all reasonable. One hell of a day today." Coco said as she hung her head a bit and adjusted her shades. Suddenly Cardin smeared her face with mud. "What the hell?!" Coco harshly whispered.

"Like you said, we need to cover our scent." Cardin said as he continued to carefully smear dirt upon Coco's face. "Just think of it as a mud mask."

"I can apply it on my own." Coco said as she pushed Cardin's hand away and started putting the dirt on her face herself. "Thanks though."

"Is your wound closed up yet?" Cardin asked.

"No. Not yet." Coco said.

"Here, there's still one of these left." Cardin said, extending the last ebi-pen to Coco.

"Hold on to it. Oum knows when we might need it… or which might need it."

"Better you than me." Cardin said as he put the busted bot down onto the ground, took Coco's hand and placed the ebi-pen in her hand, before closing it.

Coco stared at her enclosed hand. Her eyes then looked to Cardin.

Was this really the guy who bullied her best friend months ago?

Coco suddenly felt her aura picked up a bit. She noticed that Cardin's tangerine colored aura was flowing into her own bronze colored one.

"What are you doing?!" Coco whispered in shock.

"We need to close up that wound of yours." Cardin said with a smirk.

It was doing the job as the wound closed more, but a moment later Cardin flinched, alerting Coco. The taller teen almost fell forward, but Coco grabbed him. He was panting with sweat down his brow.

Coco was shocked that this punk actually was going pretty far for her.

Maybe… he really has changed… just a bit.

The Spiker Brute roared, alerting the two. It started tossing trees around to find the humans.

Coco quickly wrapped Cardin's around her shoulders and helped him up a bit so they could sneak away.

"Wait." Cardin said. He reached his hand over and picked up the small damaged bot. "Leave no man behind. Or machine."

"You can't be serious." Coco said.

Suddenly the tree next to them was tossed up, which pushed them towards the ground.

The two groaned with pain.

Coco gasped as she looked up to see the Spiker Brute had finally found them. It stared down at its prey, licking the parts of its lips that weren't melted down.

Coco panted as she glared up at the Grimm with wide fearful and angry eyes.

"Go." Cardin spoke. "You can make in without me."

"Shut up!" Coco shouted as she released Cardin, stood up and readied Gianduja. "Stop being some noble macho man and let a woman fight to protect you!" Coco shouted with gritted teeth as she glared up at the Grimm.

Cardin looked up at Coco with tired eyes.

"Tch." He closed his eyes with a small grin on his face. 'Guess this is it. Lying on the floor being protected by a woman. My father would spit in my face for this. Ah well… can't do nothing about it. That's life.'

Coco kept a brave face on, but on the inside she was afraid. Afraid of death, yet more afraid of letting someone on her charge die once again.

The Spiker Brute started to lift its arms up.

Coco gritted her teeth harder. Her eyes widened greater. Her shaking finger pressed against the trigger. Her legs shook with pain, but she refused to fall from her stance. Gianduja heavier than normal, but she remained strong.

If this be her final moments, then she will die unleashing a blaze of glory with her voice screaming towards the heavens!

The Spiker Brute lifted its arms high above its head and it was prepared to deliver the final blow. Just as its eye widened and it was about to slam its fists down upon the bugs, it was suddenly pelted with a multiple barrage of golden bullets, causing it lose focus.

Coco's eyes widened in surprise.

From out of the sky came a battalion of flying semi-spherical bots, firing golden rounds from their miniature turrets.

The Spiker Brute roared as it tried to block the barrage with its arms.

Coco wasted no time. She quickly grabbed Cardin by the arm and quickly started dragging him away.

The Spiker Brute roared into the sky and tried swatting away the mechanical pests, but they maneuvers around its blow.

Cardin opened his eyes and looked back noticing more bots fire rounds upon rounds at the Spiker Brute. He looked to the bot in his arm to finally notice its lenses blinking gold. It must have called its fellow bots to help. Cardin gave a tired smile to the small bot.

It may have been down, but it wasn't out!

The Spiker Brute roared as it swung at the bots, nailing a few.

Coco fell to knees. They finally gave out. She panted as sweat poured down her brow and droplet fell from the tip of her nose. She turned her head back to see more bots attacking the Grimm, putting up a decent fight. She gritted her teeth. She tried getting to her feet, fighting through the pain!

Once making it to her feet, Coco unleash a battle cry as she assisted by firing Gianduja at the Grimm.

She nailed it in the face, causing it to roar in pain and cover it with its claw as it took a few steps back.

Coco gritted her teeth as she slowly walked forward, unleashing all her rounds at the large beast.

The Spiker Brute roared with rage as it started firing spikes from out of its body, striking the area, nailing some bots.

Coco managed to destroy the ones coming at her with her rounds, but some of the bone pieces struck her body. Though she stumbled a bit, she fought through the pain and continued marching forward. When she was a good distance, she continued unleashing bullet hell upon the Grimm with the leftover bots aiding with their own rounds.

The Spiker Brute roared as parts of its bone armor were finally falling to the floor along with pieces of its flesh. The rounds were finally getting to it.

Just as Coco was finally doing some real damage to this thing, her ammunition ran out on her. She continued to hold the trigger, but despite her gun's chamber spiraling, no bullets came out.

Coco finally fell to her feet. She panted. Her chest rising and receding. Bits and pieces of bone scattered around her body, stabbed into her with new wounds bleeding. She gave her all in this final clusterfuck. If she dies, at least she didn't go out like a chump.

The bots continued firing, but they were forced to scatter as the Brute swung its arms at them.

The Spiker Brute, now with forty percent of its armor and spikes shot off and bleeding innards exposed around several places on its body, turned its head to Coco. Its eye were wide with pure fury, screaming for blood with a single glare, baring what little teeth could be shown.

Coco no longer felt fear. She felt nothing, but pride. She may die, but she'll die like a true huntress would.

Staring into the darkness with courage and soul that though defeated never surrendered.

The Spiker Brute growled with its ravenous teeth exposed and drooling. Its eyes widened to a grand degree with bloodlust radiating off of them. It unleashed a roar as it started charging, albeit slower than before since it was greatly damaged now.

Cardin looked over with wide eyes. He tried to hurry over, but he was reduced to being on his belly from all the punishment he has taken.

Coco took off her shades continuing to glare ahead at the Grimm with no trace of fear in her eyes. Nothing shown, but a boldness that radiated pure strength.

The Brute Hated It!

The Grimm roared as it had its arms raised and claws open, ready to dig into the young female.

Out from nowhere, a figure rushed into the area, leaping into the air and delivered a hard dual stomp upon the head of Spiker Brute slamming it into the ground.

Coco and Cardin's eyes widened in shock and mouths were gaped at what had happened.

The figure flipped in the air before landing next to Coco.

It was none other than her dear friend, Velvet Scarlatina!

"Velvet!" Coco spoke her teammate's name with surprise and relief.

Velvet quickly grabbed her leader and hopped away, landing next to Cardin.

Cardin looked to the bunny Faunus with wide eyes. He chuckled a bit with relief as he had an open mouth smile.

"H-Hey, Hops!" Cardin greeted Velvet with a smile as she knelt down to place Coco down on her knees.

"You two… I'm sorry I didn't make it here earlier." Velvet said with a look of remorse.

"Hey don't worry about. Your timing could not have been better." Cardin said still smiling. "I mean it could have, but well, what I mean is-"

"I think what he means is, we're happy to see you. Regardless of how beat up we are." Coco said with a smile as well.

Velvet smiled at the too. Still sorry she didn't arrive early, but happy they were still alive. She suddenly looked ahead with a stern look as the Grimm started to pick itself up.

The Spiker Brute got up to its hands and feet. It growled as it looked up to the rabbit Faunus.

Velvet got up to her feet as she glared at the dark demon ahead of her.

"Hops?" Cardin looked to Velvet with surprise. He had never seen that expression on her face, ever. He didn't even know she could get mad.

"You two rest here. I'll handle this." Velvet said with narrowed eyes.

"What?! Are You Insane?! That Thing Wiped The Floor With Us! You Can't-" Cardin's mouth was shut by Coco's hand over it.

"Got get 'em, Bun Bun." Coco said with a smirk.

Velvet nodded before she started to march forward.

Coco smiled as she watched her friend walked forward to fight the grand beast. Once she took her hand back, Cardin spoke.

"What the Hell?! You're Really Going to Let Her Fight That Thing?! After All It's Done?!" Cardin yelled with an outraged expression.

"You remember back when you used to pull on her ears?" Coco rhetorically asked, causing Cardin's eyes widen before he looked down with remorse and shame. "No matter how many times you messed with her, not once did she ever retaliate. Haven't you ever asked yourself why no matter what others did to her, she never fought back? Why she'd rather be a pacifist, unless absolutely necessary?"

Cardin blinked his eyes. He never really thought about it, mainly because he used to have so much fun pushing around others to even care about questioning things like logic. He looked ahead to see Velvet stop in front of the Spiker Brute.

The Grimm stood on its two feet and roared down at Velvet with its claws open, but she remained unflinching.

The Spiker Brute swung its claw at her, but she had vanished, surprising it, and Cardin. The Grimm blinked its eyes and scratched the top of its head with its finger, but then it felt a hand pressed against its finger alerting it.

Velvet was atop the Grimm's head with her hands pressed against its finger to alert it of her presence.

'Holy crap, how did she do that?!' Cardin thought with shock.

The Spiker Brute tried to grab her, but she vanished again and appeared back in front of it. The Grimm looked down to her with a surprised look.

Velvet just brought up a finger and gestured for the Brute to 'bring it'.

The Spiker Brute roared as it slammed both its fists down atop of her, but she moved away from it faster than the eye could see. The Brute swung a backhand, but she flipped over, then bounced off the ground and delivered a dual kick to the Brute's face, sending it stumbling back.

Once Velvet landed on the ground she rushed forward at a fast speed and sped between its legs, causing the Grimm to look back to find her, but she already hopped onto its back and rushed up to the top of its head.

This time the Brute felt her and tried to grab her with its left claw, but she flipped to the side and grasped the right side of its head, hanging off it. It tried to grab her with its right claw, but she bounced off once more, however once she landed upon the ground, faster than the eye could see she dashed forward, leaped and dual kicked the clenched claw with enough force that it caused the Spiker Brute to punch itself away to the side.

Cardin's jaw dropped and eyes bulged as he finally witnessed Velvet's true power.

Safe to say, if she wasn't so well-reserved, even in the face of oppressors, he would have had his block knocked off and flying through a wall.

The Grimm sat up after being knocked back, rubbing the side of its damaged face. Suddenly the bunny girl appeared before it again, leaped up and started delivering a barrage of kicks to jaw, followed by bouncing off of it, flipping over and landing upon the ground. The Spiker Brute tried slamming its fist down atop of her, but she dashed forward, avoiding it, leaped and delivered a hard dual ball kick to its knee cap, causing it break with a sickening cracking noise heard.

The Brute roared with agony. It glared down at the bunny girl, trying to smash her with its fists, but she dashed and leaped away from the attacks. She leaped away from a swing from its right, bounced off of its left bicep, flew over its head and landed on the other side of it where she moved both her arms in a specific circular wave motion before bringing her fist close together near her right chamber, then when the Grimm sent a right swing, she thrust her fists forward, slamming into the back of its claw, causing another cracking sound to be heard, followed by the leftover bones on the back of it to shatter and its claw open up from the strike.

The Spiker Brute roared as it held its right claw. It suddenly was kicked across the face by a leaping Velvet. She repeated the process several times, until the Grimm was dazed, then she landed under it with her hands pressed against the ground.

Velvet's muscles tightened, prepared for the next attack. She pushed off of her hands and slammed a dual hard kick into the gut of the Grimm, causing it to rise up off the ground a foot. Velvet gritted her teeth as she then delivered kick after kick into the Spiker Brute's abdomen.

Cardin and Coco watched as with each kick Velvet delivered, the higher the Brute's body was rising into the air.

The pupils of Cardin's eyes shook as he stared in pure shock and amazement at how strong Velvet really was this whole time, while Coco just smirked, enjoying the sight of her friend giving this thing what it deserved.

Once high enough, Velvet brought both legs back into chamber as suddenly her camera/camera box, Anesidora, flashed a light that caused a hard-light image of a pair of boots to surround her feet. She then roared as she kicked them both forward, slamming them into the Brute's abdomen as a pair of blue flames fired out from the soles of the hard-light boots, causing a fiery blue shockwave that sent the Brute flying away with a bright burning orang abdomen.

Cardin stared with wide eyes as it seemed time slowed down once more.

The Grimm was sent flying and Velvet gracefully flipped into the air with her hard-light boots vanishing before her feet touched the ground. She turned away with her back to the beast just as it hit the ground and had her eyes closed. Once she opened them, she revealed a pair of bold, stern eyes.

The eyes of a true warrior.

Cardin had never seen this in her before.

She looked… rather badass.

Coco remained smirking as she looked to Cardin who still had his eyes widen and jaw dropped.

"Remember, Birdie Boy~, that could have been you." Coco said as she pushed Cardin's jaw back up.

The Spiker Brute moaned with agony. Its body twitching with pain. Its abdomen sizzling with steam coming off of it.

Cardin gulped. He thanked any deity out there for having him be fortunate enough that the bunny girl decided to never resort to violence on him. He suddenly felt his neck pierced, making him look to see it was one of the bots.

The small robots that remained assisted the damaged pair with recuperation.

Velvet hurried her pace to make it towards the two.

Cardin finally had enough strength to get on his knees, while Coco finally managed to get to her feet.

Coco moaned as she rolled her neck.

"Man, am I going to be sore tomorrow. Thank goodness we'll finally be on vacation." Coco said as she rubbed her neck.

"Are you two okay?" Velvet asked as she got in front of the two.

"We'll live." Coco said with her hands on her hips. "Nice job out there, Vel." Coco said with a smile and thumbs up, making Velvet smile.

"Yeah. Thanks. You… you were amazing. A real badass!" Cardin said with a big smile as he looked up to Velvet.

Velvet looked to her ex-tormentor with surprise and a blush across her cheeks.

"Oh, um… thank you." Velvet said with a bashful grin and scratching the back of her head while she twisted her foot side to side.

Away from them, the Spiker Brute laid with its arms stretched out and eyes closed. It let out a small pained growl from its throat. A moment later, its eyes widened.

Cardin and Coco noticed the Spiker Brute getting back up.

"Oh shit." Cardin said.

"Looks like our 'friend' is back up for round two with you." Coco said.

"Don't worry you guys. It's over." Velvet said with a calm smile, confusing the two.

The Spiker Brute roared as it was ready to charge once more into battle, but as it started to move forward, a blue tentacle suddenly wrapped itself within its mouth with more wrapping around other body parts of the beast.

Cardin and Coco gained looks of surprise to see blue tentacles wrapped around the large Grimm.

The Spiker Brute tried to let out noises, but it was being gagged by the tentacle around its mouth. The tentacles pulled on the Grimm, causing its arms to go behind itself and its back to arch. Its eyes were wide as it felt pure agony from its body being pulled and broken, until it couldn't take it anymore and the Spiker Brute was torn apart piece by piece, instantly turning to ash before the pieces touched the ground.

Walking through the ash of where the large beast once stood came Edgar Raven.

The shaggy haired member of Team VAGE walked by unaffected by the ash of Grimm essence, all with a stoic expression on his face.

Coco and Cardin stared at the dark haired teen with wide, shocked eyes.

Though weakened from being heavily damaged the Spiker Brute was still a deadly Grimm to face and all it took was one move from one person who was only a first year from Haven to completely tear a giant to shreds.

"Hot damn. Xiao Long knows how to pick 'em." Coco said, impressed by Edgar's strength. Talk about appearances being deceiving.

"Yeah. He sure is impressive. Definitely on his way to becoming a great huntsman." Velvet said with a smile and her hands behind her back.

Cardin on the other hand stared ahead with wide fearful eyes. Though these two didn't know it, he knew that this man was an enemy, and after what he just witnessed, a very powerful one. To think that this is one of the enemies that assisted in the destruction of all life on Remnant.

To think in the future, Jaune and the rest would have to face opponents like this guy.

What frightened him even worse is that Vlad, the bastard behind it all, is supposed to be much stronger.

Cardin knew that despite his feelings of always wanting to punch the guy in the face and put him in his place, he knew he could never come close to even laying a hand on him in battle, but after seeing this revelation on how powerful one of his subordinates was… if he didn't believe he wouldn't be a match for him one day before, safe to say those feelings of inadequacy were solidified this day.

"Nice work there." Coco said as Edgar made it to them.

"Thank you." Edgar said. He suddenly stopped in front of Cardin, causing the young Winchester to flinch with a look of fear as he looked up to the dark haired teen with wide eyes, while Edgar stared down at him with his usual stoic look. Cardin was actually shaking like a leaf under Edgar's gaze. Edgar knelt down in front of Cardin, continuing to look at him with his emotionless eyes. Edgar brought his hand over to him, causing Cardin to flinch at the action. "Here. Allow me to help you up." Edgar said, offering Cardin his assistance.

"Hell no! I can get up on my own!" Cardin shouted.

"Whoa, hey! He just offered you some help! Don't treat him like that!" Coco reprimanded Cardin as he then tried getting up, but was having a bit of a hard time.

"I don't need his help." Cardin said, but then Coco pushed him back to the ground with her high heel pressed against his back.

"Looks like you do." Coco said.

"Only because your foot's on me!" Cardin shouted up at the leader of CFVY.

"As for his help, properly." Coco ordered.

"Hell no!" Cardin yelled.

"Do it! Even if my foot wasn't on you, you still wouldn't be able to get to your feet properly. So just accept his help." Coco said leaning a bit down to him.

Cardin looked up to Coco and had a serious glare on his face.

"No." He said with a serious tone, surprising Coco and Velvet.

Coco glared back with her brow furrowed.

"Idiot." Coco said as she took her foot off of his back.

"Please, don't blame him. I understand where he's coming from." Edgar said, surprising Coco and Velvet. "I am a member of Team VAGE. I work under Vlad Alucard, who I believe is well known by all for continuously antagonizing Jaune Arc. A person involved with him would give anyone feelings of doubt. He's just being defensive because of my affiliation with the man who constantly tries to harm his friend."

"H-He Is Not My Friend!" Cardin shouted with a blush.

"Well look at that. He does have a softer side to him." Coco said with a smirk.

"Tch. What pains. At this point I'd rather take Hops' help. She's the only nice one I trust to actually help me get on my feet." Cardin said turning his head away with an annoyed look.

Velvet blinked her eyes in surprise with a tint of pink on her cheeks.

"Well you heard him Vel. Help the dope back up to his feet." Coco said to her teammate, still adorning a smirk on her face.

"R-right!" Velvet knelt down, grabbed Cardin's arm and wrapped it over her shoulders so as to help him up. Cardin groaned with pain as Velvet gently helped him up. "Sorry. If I hurt you I didn't mean to." Velvet said to Cardin.

"Nah, I know. I just saw what it is like when you mean to." Cardin said to the bunny Faunus with a smile.

"Um… right." Velvet looked away with an embarrassed look and flushed cheeks.

"Better sticking together for the rest of the assignment." Edgar stated.

"Not like we'd get far alone anyway." Coco said.

Most of the remaining bots flew over to their downed comrades and suddenly projected a tractor beam from the bottom of their bodies to pick up the fallen.

Cardin knelt down with Velvet's help and picked up the bot that helped him and Coco earlier. He looked to the beaten robot with sad eyes. Another bot floated over towards him. Cardin looked up at the active bot for a moment before extending the damaged one towards it, allowing the working bot to pick up its fellow bot with its tractor beam.

"Take care of him, okay?" Cardin said with the active bot giving a response of beeps with its lenses flashing gold, separately. As the bot flew away, Cardin looked to the broken one, one last time with somber eyes. "Thank you."

Velvet stared at Cardin with surprised eyes throughout the exchange. She then smiled with soft eyes, happy to see the change in the Winchester as clear as day.

Another bot flew over to Coco and opened up its hatch to reveal more ebi-pens, allowing Coco to take them.

"I'll be fine… him on the other hand." Coco looked over to Cardin and Velvet. She tossed the ebi-pens to Velvet. "Vel, give him some bit by bit. Stuff gives you too much of a rush when take more than one all at once." Coco said as she rubbed the side of her neck.

"We best move. More Grimm will come by eventually." Edgar said.

"Yep. I'll lead the way while you cover the rear, handsome. Got to make sure these two are safe in the middle." Coco said as she prepared Gianduja.

"Agreed." Edgar said with a nod.

"Dammit. I hate being deadweight." Cardin said with annoyance.

"I hear ya. Thank Oum it's not me though." Coco said with a smirk as she turned and walked away with the others following. "Oh and uh… thanks. For watching my back." Coco said glancing to Cardin.

"We are partners for now." Cardin said. "By the way Hops, where the hell did you learn to kick ass like that?" Cardin asked looking to Velvet with a smile.

"Oh, that, um… kind of a history there. I, uh… kind of got into trouble when I was younger." Velvet said looking to the side with an embarrassed blush.

"You got picked on when you were younger and learned to kick rear?"

"Actually she was the one who kicked rear. Velvet used to have a bit of a short fuse back in the day." Coco said with a smirk.

"No~." Cardin said with shock.

"I was out of line. So many people I hurt before I took up meditation." Velvet said with a look of shame.

"Whoa! Awesome!" Cardin exclaimed with an impressed smile.

"No! It's Not Awesome! I Broke Bones! I Made People Bleed!" Velvet shouted back with guilt.

"… Cool!" Cardin said with a bigger smile.

"Change really does happen at a snail's pace." Coco commented.

"You know Hops, you're cooler than I thought." Cardin complimented.

"Um… thank you… I think." Velvet said, not sure how to take a compliment about how amazingly violent you were when you were a child.

"Hmm." Edgar closed his eyes.

.

.

Meanwhile, back with our knight and heiress, things were looking a bit… hectic.

"Find Cover!" Jaune screamed as he rushed away.

The Top Triceros roared as it charged forward at the still heiress.

Jaune noticed and turned back to help.

"Weiss!" Jaune screamed the Schnee's name, but Weiss had a serious expression.

Weiss used Myrtenaster to form a wall of ice in front of her before the rhino Grimm made contact.

When the Top Triceros made impact it shattered the ice wall apart, but the heiress had vanished.

Weiss had used her glyphs to get high up in the air. With a wave of her rapier she formed several glyphs that fired shards of ice at the Grimm, managing to make impact and create a mist of ice surrounding the Top Triceros Grimm.

Unfortunately a moment later, numerous spike missiles fired at Weiss causing her to gasp with a look of shock. Luckily before they made contact with her, they were shattered by separate oncoming fire, exploding into small bursts away from her.

Jaune shot bullets from Silver Eye and Arc Gold to strike the spike missiles from hurting his friend. His senses kicked in as well as after ridding the missiles, he rolled to the side to avoid the charge attack of the Top Triceros. Jaune fired shots at the spikes on the Grimm, shattering the spikes that regrew on its body, causing small explosions on the Grimm, but all it did was roar with annoyance.

The Top Triceros turned towards the knight and roared as it fired its horn missiles at the blonde.

After nailing the horns missiles with bullets, Jaune put them away and covered his right fist in amped aura as the Grimm charged its way over and thrust it forward, colliding with the Grimm's horn, causing it to explode.

"Jaune!" Weiss cried as she landed upon the ground.

She watched as Jaune rolled away from the explosion, followed by skidding on his hands and feet.

"Yep. That's going to tingling for a while." Jaune said as he lifted his twitching right hand, which was a bit scuffed up.

The Top Triceros stomped out of the smoke, snorting with a growl as it revealed its cracked bone covered face. The Grimm roared, standing on its hind legs and was ready to charge again, but suddenly its feet were covered in ice, courtesy of Weiss.

The Top Triceros roared as it started firing all of its regrown spike and horn missiles from all throughout its body.

Weiss gasped as missiles were firing everywhere, with a number of them coming towards her. Quickly she formed another wall of ice to take the hit, but she was forced to move back a bit as the explosions were still strong enough to melt through the ice a bit, causing heat to radiate, forcing her to cover her face a bit.

Sadly things only got worse as the wall was shattered by the Grimm that managed to break from the ice trap a moment ago.

Weiss' eyes widened in horror as everything seemed to slow down. It seemed like her life was about to flash before her eyes any moment now, but she was suddenly pushed away in time from the attack by none other than Jaune.

However the blonde did not have time to avoid the attack himself.

Weiss landed upon the ground, only to look with wide horrified eyes as the Top Triceros struck Jaune in the makeshift chest plate, shattering it upon impact.

Jaune skidded against the ground on his back. He groaned in pain as he put a hand on his chest, only to feel cardboard. He looked down to his chest to see the ice completely shattered to reveal a normal cover of a box of Pumpkin Pete's cereal with Pyrrha on the front.

"Oh man." Jaune whined with annoyance. He heard stomping him look only to gasp with horror as the Top Triceros was nearly upon him.

Weiss quickly tried to rush over, but the Grimm was already upon Jaune with its front legs up, ready to delivering a finishing blow.

Weiss' eyes widened more as she pictured blood splashing everywhere, only to hear sobbing as that red coloring took the form of a cloak covering a crying girl.

Weiss' heart stopped from seeing the image. Her brain went into overdrive. She was so consumed by fear, horror and guilt that she failed to notice a large glyph forming beside her.

The Top Triceros glared down at the helpless blonde warrior, ready to crush him beneath its feet, but suddenly its eyes widened as it felt something. Something painful, but that pain subsided along with all feeling in its form.

Jaune blinked his eyes as he saw a large pale white sword with ice blue lining surrounding it and some carved into the blade.

Jaune watched as the evolved Grimm went limp as dispersed into black ash. Jaune's eyes followed down the sword's blade towards the handle to find a hand gripping it followed by the arm, which was all covered in pale white sky blue lined armor that ended with a glyph.

Weiss had stopped in her tracks the moment the Top Triceros was stabbed into. She blinked her eyes as she turned her head to the right to see what she had down. She had finally done what had been so difficult to do for her for so long.

She had finally summoned an entity!

Well, partly…

The glyph gave out and dispersed along with the summoning.

Weiss stared at where her summoning once was for a moment before turning back towards Jaune. Rushing over she knelt down and hugged him, surprising the knight for a moment.

Once pulling back she saw Jaune look towards the ground.

"Huh… haven't felt like that in a while. Thanks, Weiss." Jaune said with a frown. Weiss developed a frown as well, knowing what Jaune meant, as she placed a hand on his shoulder. The knight brushed his hand against the surface of the cardboard cereal box cover. "Tch. That son of a bitch ruined my armor!" Jaune shouted with anger as he stood up from the ground followed by Weiss. "If Grimm didn't disappear after they expired, I would have shot more holes into that thing!"

"Dear goodness, Jaune." Weiss said in surprise.

"What? They're just Grimm, Weiss. Who gives a damn about what they feel?" Jaune said with a serious expression.

"Well… yes, but you shouldn't sound so cruel. Even though they do deserve worse, you shouldn't sound like a cold blooded killer. You're supposed to be a knight after all." Weiss said.

"I'm only chivalrous to things that matter. Like friends, not monsters." Jaune said looking to Weiss.

Weiss sighed.

"You are definitely not the dork I remember on day one." Weiss said shaking her head.

Jaune looked away with a somber expression.

"Let's keep moving." Jaune said as he started walking away. "By the way, are you okay?" Jaune asked, stopping for a moment to look to Weiss.

"Me? Me?! You're the one who got struck by an evolved cannibalistic monster!" Weiss shouted.

"Weiss, I've been eaten, beaten and have exploded several times and much, much more before today. You really think getting hit by a rhino could keep me, the Ultimate Punching Bag, down for the count?" Jaune countered with a raised eyebrow.

Weiss stared at him with wide eyes.

"I really cannot argue with that logic." Weiss said with half lidded eyes and a shake of the head. She started to follow Jaune away from the now damaged area. "The Ultimate Punching Bag? You're really okay with that?"

"Eh. No matter how many times I get hit, I'm still hard to take down. I think it fits nicely." Jaune said with a shrug.

"You were just down on the ground a few moments ago.

"Don't ruin this for me, Weiss."

.

.

Back in a certain part of the forest, our young green haired genius was finally stirring from his 'nap'.

Reebok brushed his hands against his hair. He looked around to find he was still within the Forever Falls. He took in his surroundings more only to flinch with a look of fear as he noticed Vlad kneeling away from him, back facing, as he counted the Keg Dust he collected.

Reebok shifted his body a bit as he was trying to slowly get up.

"Master, he is awake." Reebok flinched from the sudden voice. He looked up to find a small bat Grimm sitting atop the branch of a tree.

It had a round body, similar to an oval or capsule shape or even an odd combination between the two, that doubled as its head with a mouth filled with sharp teeth and a pair of red eyes. It had a pair of bat wings and stout legs with sharp claws, three out the front and one out the heel of its foot. It also had a pair of ears pointed upward from top of its head. It has bone plates attached to its back, forming a line all the way from the bridge of what could be its nose all the way down towards the tip of its tail, several scattered along its wings and some on its feet. The top half of its teeth was attached to a bone mask that covered its face around the eyes and the forehead, but the facial area under the bottom row of teeth was just plain black flesh.

'A Mouthpiece?!' Reebok thought with shock.

The Grimm known as a Mouthpiece leaped off the branch and fluttered away.

Vlad stood up as the Mouthpiece landed on his left shoulder.

"Thank you." Vlad said turning his head a bit to the Grimm.

The Mouthpiece gave a small bow with its eyes closed and left wing over its mouth. It then leaped off Vlad's shoulder and flew up towards the sky.

"So long, Deadman. Mwahahahaha!" The Mouthpiece said as it flew away into the sky.

Reebok stared at the retreating bat Grimm with wide, frightened eyes. He turned his head towards Vlad who still had his back towards him. Reebok stood up from the ground and stared at Vlad. He did not dare run for three reasons.

One: It was pointless. Vlad can easily catch up to him.

Two: He knew he wasn't going to harm him, or at least to the point of death, because that would result in him being outed for being the psychotic genocidal monster that he is.

Three: The most important one at this moment… he was too scared to move.

"I'm not going to kill you." Vlad said.

"I-I know that. At least not yet until your undercover scheme isn't required any longer." Reebok responded back.

"Smart man. Too smart. Jaune was lucky to find you or at least know of you." Vlad said. The area was silent for a moment. Reebok gulped with fear and anticipation for Vlad to continue. "You know, you won't have to worry about me killing you, at least not until my endgame move." Vlad said.

"Yeah, right. Excuse me if I don't find your words the most credible." Reebok said.

"I'm being serious. If you're working so closely with Jaune, you know who I am. You know my main goal. So when I say I won't kill you yet, you know there will be some truth to it." Vlad said.

"Yeah, I'm sure that Tyrian guy that Jaune told me about would say the same thing." Reebok said with narrowed eyes.

"Of course he would. Maniacs aren't liars, sociopaths are." Vlad said turning his head towards Reebok with a smirk.

Reebok just glared at Vlad, trying to be brave.

Vlad gave a small grin before turning back towards his hefty backpack, kneeling down to finish putting away the Keg Dust.

"I'm offering you a deal, kid. Stop what you're doing. I haven't seen what you're doing, but I know that they are powerful. Your genius surpassing my own specialist, which of course can turn you into a great threat. Greater than Jaune." Reebok gulped and was surprised by the claim. "However you don't possess the same amount of courage he does. I'm guessing your heart's not into going to war with someone like me. So I'm offering you this deal." Vlad stood up as he gripped the strap of the backpack in hand. "Forget about me, Willard. Forget about me… and I'll forget about you." Vlad turned towards Reebok. "What do you say, boy?" Vlad asked with a serious expression.

Reebok stared at Vlad with wide eyes.

The most evil person he has known of is giving him a way out.

Granted he did not ensure his life would be spared anytime in the future, but he would get a chance to live life for a while. Knowing of impending doom he might have to push forward to live life to the fullest. Get a chance to try and revolutionize the world, maybe create tech that could help defend the world a little… no… he'd be killed for that. Murdered for creating new life.

Murdered for being… himself.

Reebok tightened his fist and narrowed his eyes.

"No. I can't do that." Reebok said glaring at Vlad. Vlad glared back at Reebok. "I can't forget about you. Forgetting about you is the same as forgetting about the sake of humanity. The sake of the world. I cannot afford that. Not just as a human being, but as a Willard- no… as a Stein… I cannot walk away from any of this. Not from my friends, not from my family, not from humanity." Reebok said as he put on a brave face.

Vlad narrowed his eyes at Reebok with his iris glowing dark purple.

Reebok remained strong this time. He had to. No more fear.

After a brief standoff, Vlad closed his eyes.

"Your spirit may be a bit strong, but it is still weak compared to the rest. Even now you're too afraid of standing in my presence." Vlad turned away. "Your genius may be a problem in the future, but to me, so long as I am standing, you're just going to be deadweight to Jaune. All he needs is your genius, but he'll never truly need you. Just what you can provide for him. Not you yourself."

Reebok's eyes were wide as he had a shocked and heartbroken expression on his face.

Vlad grabbed a second backpack, Reebok's backpack, and threw it back to Reebok's feet without facing him.

"Come along, deadweight. The time is almost up." Vlad said as he strapped on his backpack and headed off.

Reebok looked towards the backpack. His lips quivered and tears started to form in his eyes. He tightened his fists so hard that his nails stabbed into the palms of his hand, causing wounds that bled. His teeth gritted as his body shook.

He suddenly grabbed the straps of his backpack and with all his might, heaved it up and strapped it on. He grunted as he felt the weight of all the Keg Dust inside, weighing him down. He tried taking steps, but that was difficult considering how much was inside the pack.

Reebok let out a growl. His belt suddenly glowed blue and shifted into new form of technology, revealing it was none other than the C.I.C. (Commander In Chief).

Vlad continued to move forward with a stoic expression on his face. He sent an aura pulse from his foot to detect the position of his current 'partner', only to be surprised that he was nowhere on the ground.

"Hmm?" Vlad stopped in his tracks with a brow raised. As he was about to turn back, something moved pass him. Perking his head up in surprise he looked forward only to see Reebok floating away with a pair of mechanized anti-gravity boots.

Reebok continued to glare ahead with a deep frown as his whole composure was purely serious.

.

.

Jaune and Weiss were heading back towards the home point as the two hours were almost up.

Jaune had been looking at his hand for a while, clenching it from time to time.

Weiss just stared at him for a while, but of course after some time she just had to ask what was his problem.

"Something on your mind?" Weiss asked.

"I haven't been this weak in ages." Jaune said, continuing to stare at his clenching hand.

"If months are ages to you, I'd hate to know what years equates to." Weiss said with her arms crossed.

Jaune just narrowed his eyes.

"I just hate having being the one to be saved again. I train so hard to reach my high point and now after one action I barely thought over, I'm back to having my tail saved by someone instead of standing my ground." Jaune clenched his fist tight.

Weiss' eyes softened as she stared at her friend.

"No one likes being the one to be saved Jaune." Weiss said, looking to the side.

"Yeah… but it hits harder for me. I started as weak. You started strong. If you were in my position, you'd still have some mental fortitude. Me… it's a different story."

Weiss now felt sorry for Jaune. He indeed was right. If she would have been temporarily handicapped, she would stay positive and remember that after some rest and proper treatment and care for her body, she'd be back in the game. However that's because she was always strong and never truly doubted her skills before.

Jaune on the other hand, worked hard to stand with the 'giants'. He was constantly beaten, humiliated, ostracized for his weakness… all things Weiss had never really experienced for herself. At least not to Jaune's degree. She felt the sting of those pains from time to time, but Jaune's been feeling the full brunt of it since day one.

To have power to stand strong like those around you, only to have it taken away and be back to square one… no matter how brief of a handicap it was, is a hard blow to someone mentally and emotionally.

Weiss brought her hand over and placed it on Jaune's shoulder, causing him to stop and looked to the white haired beauty.

"Jaune… you shouldn't sell yourself short. Granted if you had your prior abilities you could have defeated that Grimm much easier, but you still did far better than even I. I may have dealt the killing blow, but you saved me from massive harm twice and actually harmed it. Granted in a brutish style that would make Yang proud, but that was more than I did! In fact, I didn't even mean to kill it like that! It just happened all of a sudden thanks to my emotions. You kept a calm head and stood on equal footing with the thing." Weiss then developed a frown as she looked a bit downwards. "In fact… perhaps if I was not there… you would have defeated it without any problems." Weiss confessed with a new form of shame.

"Or I could have died. Better to live and wonder than finding out if you'll live or die." Jaune said with a shrug.

"True. However I still feel like I was more of a hindrance than an aid." Weiss said.

"Take it from someone who's had that feeling for almost an entire lifetime. It gets easier when you learn from it, and better when you succeed in practice." Jaune said with a smirk. "Plus, a Top Triceros isn't really something easy for an early first year to handle. For your first confrontation with one, you did a lot better than most."

"And how would you know?" Weiss questioned.

"Experience. This wasn't the first one I ever went toe-to-toe with."

"And I'm guessing your ever reliable mentor stepped in before it could turn you into some sort of cabob?" Weiss questioned.

"How else would I have survived?" Jaune rhetorically questioned with a smirk and shrug. Suddenly Jaune took Silver Eye out with his left hand and aimed it towards his left. "Friend or foe?"

"Friend." A voice spoke.

Coming out in open were Blake and Ren, who looked a bit scuffed up with their clothes torn into a bit.

"Blake! Ren!" Weiss exclaimed with surprise and delight in their friends' presence, but was shocked and worried by their current appearance condition.

"What the heck chewed you both up and spat you out?" Jaune asked with a raised eyebrow as he put away Silver Eye.

The quiet pair glanced to one another.

"Something I'm sure you're familiar with." Ren said.

.

.

Ren rolled back against the ground, but managed to skid on a hand and knee.

Blake back hopped next to him.

The two were panting. Sweat covered their faces, clothes scuffed up and torn. Wounds gained were being sealed by their aura, but too much of their own reserves were being used up.

They were surrounded by a ring of Beowolves, but they weren't the cause of their current appearance. It was the much larger super wolf being in front of them that was responsible.

Standing at a tall eight foot two inches was a Lycan.

It stared at the pair with a calm composure.

"It hasn't even been a minute since this thing showed up and I think I'm in the red." Blake said as she panted.

"Same." Ren said as he stared at the Grimm. "Just playing with us like this… we have to strike while it's in its state of ignorance."

"Agreed. One serious move and it's over." Blake concurred as she started to rise to her feet. "Only one shot. We screw this up and it is over."

"Yes. We have to end it. There's no other way to survive." Ren said. "I have a way to make us completely invisible to it, but it won't last long thanks to my current state. We'll only have a few moments to make contact." Ren's hand was suddenly grabbed by Blake, surprising him.

"I'll get you close." Blake said with a serious expression.

Ren nodded to her.

The two glared at the Lycan, which just narrowed its eyes at them in disinterest.

Ren closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose and once he exhaled, all the color started to leave his being.

Blake watched with slightly wide eyes as from head to toe his complexion become gray, literally.

Once it did, the Lycan and the Beowulf pack's heads perked up in surprise. The male human was gone and only they could sense the Faunus.

The Lycan, not one to take chance, rushed towards them and appeared before Blake, causing her to gasp in shock and fear. As it raised its arm, it was ready to strike, but Ren suddenly moved away and brought Blake into a surprise embrace.

Blake and the Lycan's eyes widened, but while the former was surprised by the sudden contact, the latter was shocked because it could no longer sense the Faunus either.

"Whatever is your plan, please hurry! I'm going to lose control any moment now." Ren pleaded.

Blake nodded as she knelt down and skipped a stone, catching the Lycan's attention, making the large beast turn towards them. Blake took out her katana and moved forward to stab into the Grimm, but all the color had suddenly returned to her being.

The Lycan acted quickly and slammed its fist hard into Blake, tearing right through her. However it suddenly felt a very cold sensation after doing so.

Blake had created a shadow clone at the last moment infused with ice dust properties. She narrowed her eyes at the Lycan that had its arm frozen into the ground.

The Grimm roared as it moved forward to kill the real Faunus, but it suddenly heard the sound of a yell from nowhere, or at least what it assumed was nowhere, right before its head was stabbed into by a thick blade.

Ren stood atop the back of the Lycan with his new Jian stabbed right the cranium of the Grimm.

After a moment of silence, it dispersed into dust right when it started to fall over.

Ren landed on the ground on his hand and feet as he extended his Jian out to the side. The color just as he let out a fatigued exhale from his mouth. Ren stabbed the tip of his Jian into the ground, forced to lean against it as he had used up so much energy.

Blake quickly went to his side to help him up.

The Beowulf pack howled and roared with shock and anger from the death of its superior kin.

"That takes care of one. Now thirty seven to go." Blake said helping Ren to his feet as she looked around to the Beowolves that were creeping towards them.

"Any exit strategies?" Ren asked.

"None I can think of without leaving a man behind." Blake said.

"If these are our final moments… then I'm sorry we won't be there to help Jaune when he needs us." Ren said causing Blake to look to him with sad eyes.

A Beowulf let out a growl with its eyes narrowed, but it was suddenly pelted with golden bullets, causing it to let out a roar of pain as steam was starting to come off its body.

The rest of pack picked up their heads with shock before they too were suddenly bombarded with golden bullets.

Ren and Blake had wide eyes in surprise.

What was firing at the Grimm?

Blake's ears perked a bit causing her to look up to see small spherical bots with mini-turrets dive bombing down, firing golden bullets the Beowolves, which were so powerful they were actually melting them into piles of black fleshy goo with bones sticking out, all disappearing into mists of black.

A bot appeared next to Blake, opening its secret compartment to reveal ebi-pens with golden fluid.

Immediately getting the message, Blake took the ebi-pens and injected one into Ren's neck then one into her own.

The two regained some energy enough to stand up straight.

The bot gave some beeping sounds before heading off to help its fellow bots to finish the Beowolves.

"Let's move." Blake said, earning a nod from Ren.

The two hurried off to get out of the area.

Blake had to slice a Beowulf that tried to ambush her with another trying the same on Ren, but the magenta eyes teen leaped over its pounced and delivered a hard double kick to the back of its head.

The two managed to get out of the area while the bots finished off the remaining Beowolves.

.

.

"You guys fought a Lycan?!" Jaune exclaimed with shock. "I don't even know whether to be relieved or annoyed that I didn't get to go head-to-head with one yet."

"Relieved. You should feel relieved." Weiss said glaring at Jaune with her fists pressed against her hips.

"They weren't any joke. I've never seen a Grimm move so fast. The whole experience felt like a blur." Blake said shaking her head.

"I honestly think even you would have problems with it if you were at full strength." Ren said.

"Yeah, I'll have to admit that. Those things are tough, even for me." Jaune said scratching the back of his head.

"We were just lucky that Ren's semblance is so affective on the Grimm." Blake said, earning a nod from Ren. "If not for that, I'm not sure if we'd still be alive right now."

"Yeah, I mean given that Lycan's are high A-rank to S-rank Grimm and you actually managed to kill you, well… I'm not going to sugar coat it, you guys were lucky." Jaune said.

"As were we." Weiss said with her arms crossed.

"What did you two face?" Ren asked.

"A Triceros that evolved into a Top Triceros." Jaune said with a shrug.

"Evolved? How?" Blake asked, confused how a Grimm can instantly evolve into their more deadly form.

Weiss shivered in disgust.

"The science is disturbing." Weiss said with a disgusted frown.

"When a Grimm needs to get stronger, evolve or even needs to heal their wounds, they can resort to eating their own kind. Since they're all made from the same source that gives them power, they can decide to eat one another to gain more power. It's like if an organic species devours one of their own kind to rise higher in the hierarchy instead of to satisfy a hunger." Jaune explained.

Ren and Blake stared at Jaune with wide eyes while Weiss stuck her tongue out with a gagging noise as she felt extremely disgusted by the practice.

"That makes sense." Blake said.

"Doesn't make it easier to know about." Weiss said with her face scrunched up from feeling very disgusted.

"So this Triceros-"

"Top Triceros, as it was before death." Weiss corrected.

"Right. I'm guessing it was responsible for damaging the armor Ruby and Weiss made for you." Blake said, referring to the unfrozen cereal box cover over the front of Jaune's body.

"That was… more my fault." Weiss said with a sad expression. "I wasn't fast enough to react."

"Yes you were." Jaune spoke up looking to her. "Maybe not when it broke through your ice wall, but you still saved my ass with your summoning."

"Summoning?" Ren asked as he and Blake looked surprised.

"It's an ability the Schnee family can utilize with our glyphs. Any enemy we have vanquished in the past we can summon a copy of them made of aura from our own glyphs." Weiss explained.

"You should have seen it! She summoned the arm of a giant knight with a sword that stabbed right through the damn thing! It was amazing!" Jaune said with a grin.

"What did you fight to create that?" Ren asked as they all looked to Weiss.

"Um… I…" Weiss subconsciously touched the scar over her left eye.

Picking up on the situation instantly, Jaune intervened.

"I'm sure we can talk about this when we're safe." Jaune said.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. Perhaps another time, okay Weiss?" Blake looked to the heiress with a soft smile.

Weiss blinked her eyes before smiling.

"Yes. I think that is best." Weiss said with a nod.

The four headed out, following in the direction that their scrolls showed on the map.

Jaune gently placed his hand on Ren's shoulder to pull him back a bit from the girls.

"Did you find out anything?" Jaune asked.

"Be patient. Trust me." Ren responded.

Jaune was silent for a moment, but he nodded understandingly.

.

.

Jaune, Weiss, Ren and Blake made it back to the safe zone where the rest of their class were back safe and… well, safe anyway.

All the students were pretty scuffed up. Some worse than others.

He scanned over the group for his friends.

Sun was talking to Neptune, or more accurately complaining as apparently he came across something with pyrokinetic abilities as his tail was singed with most of it being bald now.

Poor bastard.

A bald monkey tail did not look appealing.

Coco and Cardin, whoa… they have seen better days.

Velvet was making sure Cardin could stand up fine, which was sweet given their history.

He noticed that Vlad's team was fine,

Oh and speak of the devil, he's still alive, obviously. Like any Grimm would ever hurt what is most likely considered their one true master after the God of Darkness.

He saw that Reebok was alright. No injuries, no nothing, but a serious look on his face. He was glaring down at the ground. He'll have to ask about that in a moment.

Right now he needed to talk to his girlfriend.

Low and behold, there she was with Pyrrha, Nora, Yang and Liversnap. All scuffed up, but still okay.

Jaune started to make his way over when Ruby noticed him.

"Jaune!" Ruby called out as she hurried over to him. "I need to talk to you about something." Ruby said, but once she made it over, Jaune grabbed her and dipped her as he laid the biggest kiss upon her lips.

Everyone looked with wide eyes at the bold move.

However Team VAGE did really react that much, except Vlad who had a look of disgust. Jaune being happy tends to have that effect on him.

Ruby's eyes were widened in shock, but then she closed them as she enjoyed the feeling of being kissed again.

After a moment, Jaune pulled back and stood up straight with Ruby.

"I love you, Ruby." Jaune said with pure sincerity and love being the only emotion in his eyes.

Ruby sighed dreamily was a happily daze expression as she almost slipped out of Jaune's grasp from losing all feeling in her body out of bliss.

"Whoa. He's good." Yang said with a look of surprise. "Don't know if I'm proud, jealous or pissed." She said to herself.

Pyrrha's eye suddenly twitched from the action. Not from jealousy, but from how non-Jaune that move was.

"Pyrrha… are you okay?" Nora asked with concern.

"I'm fine." Pyrrha said rubbing her eyes.

"Well now that the last group is here, the class is officially over." Professor Peach announced.

"What? We're the last?!" Jaune exclaimed with shock.

"Yeah, I know, serious bullshit! You guys look fine compared to Coco and I! What were you slacking off?!" Cardin shouted with annoyance.

"Forgive him. I gave him too much of this yellow liquid stuff from these ebi-pens." Velvet said showing the several ebi-pens in her hand, most of which were empty.

"It really gets the blood flowing a bit too much if you use a lot at a time." Coco clarified.

"Well for your information Cardin, Jaune Arc never slacks off! I went through my fair share of trouble! I mean look what happened to my armor!" Jaune shouted showing off the cardboard box cover over his chest. "Stupid fucking Top Triceros ruined Ruby's gift to me." Jaune complained.

"Aw man~, I worked so hard on that." Ruby whined, but then heard her partner clear her throat. "And Weiss too, I guess."

"Well I bet whatever the hell you faced still wasn't anything like a Brute!" Cardin shouted back.

Jaune's eyes widened greatly.

"A Brute? You fought a Brute in the Forever Falls?! And Survived?!" Jaune shouted with pre disbelief.

"In truth the big lug and I were staring at death's door until Velvet and Xiao Long's crush came by and killed it for us." Coco said.

"H-Hey! Shut Up!" Yang shouted with a blush.

"I knew you liked him!" Ruby shouted, pointing at her sister.

Edgar just blinked his eyes in surprise.

"We fought a Brute too." Nora spoke up. "Ours was a Bone Brute. What was yours?"

"Spiker." Coco said.

"Oh, those are tough. They aren't versatile like Bone Brutes, but they are faster and know how to cut things deeper." Nora said.

"Well that settles it. As of today, affective immediately venturing into the Forever Falls is absolutely prohibited." Professor Peach said.

"No complaints here." Sun said with a frown.

"Aw~, but there's so many Grimm to fight in there. What a waste." Nora complained with a pout and arms crossed.

"No. A waste would be your potential of being huntsman wasted by letting you venture off into dangerous territory to prove some unnecessary bravo." Peach said. "Anyway…" Peach clapped her hands twice as new bots came down from the sky, this time with pairs of mechanical humanoid arms with them. "Hand your bags over to these assistance bots. They'll bring what you've collected to my office and I will provide you all your grade first thing tomorrow morning." Peach explained.

Everyone did as they were told, allowing the robots to take the backpacks and fly off.

"Please tell me Atlas professionals are going to purge these Grimm bastards out of existence." Jaune said with a frown.

"Language Mr. Arc. You may be close to adulthood, but you will respect the laws a respectable educational administration provides… but yes. Once I file my report to the Headmaster, General Ironwood will send in a battalion of soldiers to exterminate the horde residing inside." Peach said.

"Professor Peach, I have question." Nora said with her hand raised.

"You do?" Yang questioned, surprised by Nora's actions.

"If both the Forever Falls and Emerald Forest are flooded with super strong and dangerous Grimm, how come they haven't invaded Beacon yet?" Nora asked, surprising everyone on the matter.

"An excellent question, Ms. Valkyrie. You see thanks to friends in Atlas and a local genius in our establishment, we have the proper security measures to draw them away. For one, our little bot friends that you've no doubt seen around given your current appearances have been modified with this extraordinary serum." Professor Peach then took out a vial filled with golden liquid. "This unique concoction works as both as a quick healing agent that restores aura, stamina and the body's nutrients while also able to double as ammunition that actually vaporizes and melts Grimm essence away. A mass quantity of this will result in not just one, but a multitude of Grimm's destruction."

"Wait, can I see that?" Jaune asked as he walked over towards Professor Peach. Once being handed the vial he noticed a familiar warmth from the golden serum. He opened the top of the vial and placed a drop upon his finger only to absorb it through the skin, feeling an all too familiar sensation. "This is Arc Light!" Jaune exclaimed with shock, before turning to Reebok. "You actually turned my semblance into a healing agent?"

"You're acting as if you're surprised my mental abilities are skilled enough to achieve such a task." Reebok said with a stern expression.

"Uh… I'm just saying I'm impressed." Jaune said with a shrug, surprised by Reebok's sudden change in attitude.

"You must be proud." Peach said as she took the vial back. "A piece of you is now helping everyone Jaune, and if things continue to go well with this, your power might be able to benefit mankind and even provide it a better future." Peach said to Jaune with a smile.

Jaune stared at her with wide eyes.

"That's all I hope for, ma'am." Jaune said with soft eyes. He almost shed a tear hearing those word.

"Hmph." Vlad looked away with a stoic expression.

"Well that's all for today. Thank you all for participating, and enjoy you brief vacation. Remember, the Vytal Tournament is just around the corner. Be prepared, but remember to relax from time to time. I'll see you all then." Peach said with a smile before she turned and left.

Everyone sighed and groaned with relief and fatigue.

"I don't plan on moving a muscle for the next two weeks." Cardin said.

"I don't know if I need a shower first or sleep." Coco said as she started to leave, but first faced Cardin. "Not bad work out there, Winchester. Guess you did learn something these past few months."

"You're actually giving me a compliment? Guess I did come far then." Cardin said with a grin and chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Just don't let it get to your head." Coco said with a smile before heading out. "Come on, Velvet."

Velvet nodded, but first turned to Cardin.

"You did great out there. Feel better, okay?" Velvet said with a smile.

"Uh, thanks. For saving my ass and everything too by the way." Cardin said with an embarrassed blush and rubbing the back of his head.

"See ya later." Velvet said still smiling as she left, waving goodbye.

Cardin waved bye back to her. He actually smiled as he watched Velvet walk away.

"Is there something going on between you and the bunny girl?" Russel asked his partner.

"What the?! Where the hell did you come from?!" Cardin shouted, feeling startled.

Jaune turned towards his friends, only to notice Reebok staring at the ground with a stern expression.

"Hey Alex, are you alright?" Jaune asked his friend, only to see his expression harden as he gritted his hands into tight fists.

Surprised by the suddenly intense look, Jaune got an idea what caused this mood. Directing his glare towards Vlad, Jaune marched over to his arch-nemesis as he and his team started walking away.

"Vlad!" Jaune exclaimed, causing Vlad and his team to stop in place, with all but Vlad turning to him. "What did you do?"

"Be specific. I do a lot of things you have no knowledge about." Vlad said.

"What did you do to my best friend?" Jaune questioned with a glare.

"Nothing. As you can see, no physical harm was made. All I did was share a bit of truth with him." Vlad said with a smirk and eyes closed.

"What did you tell him?" Jaune narrowed his eyes.

"Like I said. The truth." Vlad said turning his head to Jaune, still smirking.

Jaune growled with rage as he clenched his fists.

"Jaune, don't bother." Reebok spoke up, getting their attention. "Instead of making a scene, just wait to settle things at tournament." Reebok said with a serious expression.

"A man full of excellent ideas. He's a keeper, Jaune. Best to keep an eye on him. Very closely." Vlad said walking away with his team as his smirk widened.

Jaune directed a narrow glare at Vlad for a moment before looking to Reebok with a look of sympathy.

Jaune walked over to Reebok to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, but the green haired genius walked away, surprising Jaune.

"The tournament." Pyrrha said to herself as she started to feel a new sense of dread.

"I need your weapons!" Reebok shouted, catching everyone's attention.

"What?" Ruby questioned.

"I need your weapons. I need to upgrade them." Reebok said with a serious expression.

This caused Yang and Nora to gasp with looks of joy and excitement.

"Really?" Weiss asked with wide eyes.

"Russel, go get Coco and Velvet." Cardin ordered his teammate.

"Why me?" Russel asked.

"Because you're faster than a lot of us." Cardin said, but then suddenly a blur of red sped pass them and a moment later, it came back with a bit of brown to it, only for it to stop to reveal it was Ruby who actually managed to grab Coco and Velvet to bring them back here.

"But not all of us!" Ruby cheered with a proud big smile.

"What just happened?" Velvet asked. Her mind was still in the process of understanding how she was suddenly became as fast as a bullet train without a second to blink or even think.

"Why did you bring us back here?" Coco asked.

"And how long have you been able to do that with other people?" Velvet added.

"Reebok's offering to give us upgrades!" Ruby cheered.

"Sweet!" Sun cheered with a grin.

"Really? Well considering who we're talking about, I wouldn't mind it." Coco said.

"Maybe we should call Yatsuhashi and Fox for-" Ruby suddenly blurred away before coming back with the rest of Team CFVY. "This?" Velvet finished with wide eyes.

"Ugh, I'm so tired." Ruby said as she fell face first against the ground.

"Listen and listen good… after today, we all need to be more serious. So I'm offering you all the chance for an upgrade. I'm not forcing any of you. The choice is yours." Reebok said with a serious expression.

"You know we'd have to be crazy to say 'no'. Especially after all those near death experiences we all experienced today." Nora said as she then took out Magnhild and extended it to Reebok. "Here you go." Nora said with a smile, but then her Warhammer floated into the air, thanks to one of the little bots that protected the students earlier using a tractor beam. "Oh~."

"I call these little guys Light Flights." Reebok said as more showed up.

"Hey, that's actually a pretty good name." Jaune said with a smile.

"Thanks." Reebok said, finally showing a smile.

"Is that my… is that my family's symbol on these guys?" Jaune asked, noticing the Arc symbol printed on the shell of the bots.

"Hey, they use your power. I just figured." Reebok said with a shrug.

Jaune thought it over until he got the real idea.

'A new member of the Order of Arc. Not bad.' Jaune thought with a small smile.

Everyone started offering their weapons up, allowing the bots to take them via tractor beams.

Jaune had walked over to Ruby and helped her up.

"You okay?" Jaune asked.

"I used up too much energy. I need cookies. STAT." Ruby said.

"Um, Ruby…" Reebok walked over to the petite reaper and her knight. "I know how attached you are with Crescent Rose, but perhaps if you-"

"No. No one works on my baby, but me." Ruby said as she moved a bit away from Reebok.

"Actually maybe it'll be best if Reebok helped out a bit." Jaune intervened.

"But Jaune~, it's my baby~." Ruby whined with teary eyes.

"I know, but just consider this a form of babysitting that doubles as a physical activity to help improvement for her. Nothing's more important than one's physical improvement." Jaune reasoned.

"It's just a scythe, you two." Weiss said with her arms crossed.

"Butt Out, Weiss!" Ruby and Jaune shouted, causing the heiress to flinch in surprise.

"Ruby, I know how much Crescent Rose means to you, but sometimes a parent needs to trust others for the betterment of their child." Jaune said, speaking from the heart.

Ruby blinked her eyes. She sighed with a pout.

"Okay~. You win." Ruby admitted as she took out Crescent Rose and extended it to Reebok. "If you do wrong to her, I'll do wrong to you." Ruby warned the green haired genius with narrowed eyes.

"Um… right." Reebok said as he tried to take Crescent Rose, but instinctively pulled her away and embraced the scythe.

"It's so hard." Ruby said with a pout and her eyes closed.

Jaune placed his hands on Ruby's shoulders.

Ruby let out a little whine, before finally finding the strength to hand her weapon over to the resident genius.

Once Reebok took the scythe, he allowed one of his Light Flight bots to take it via tractor beam.

"What about you?" Ruby asked Jaune.

"Me? I mean, Excalibur was already made by Reebok so I don't know if it could get anymore perfe-" Jaune's eyes widened as he noticed the glare his girlfriend was giving him. "Then again there's always room for improvement. Even if you don't see it." Jaune said with a nervous smile as he took Excalibur from his back and handed it to a Light Flight. "But Silver Eye and Arc Gold are a different story. They're already small nuke blasters, I don't need them to have the ability to destroy the world." Jaune said as he took out and spun his pistols in hand.

"That's fair." Ruby said with a shrug.

"And accurate." Reebok added.

"So do we just give you modification ideas or are you just going to do your own genius thing?" Nora asked.

"I have data on all you guys when it comes to combat, personality, flaws, etc. I think I know just the type of modifications that'll be most useful to all of you. I'll call you all when I finish." Reebok said as he started to head out. "See you all then." Reebok said with a wave goodbye without turning back to his friends.

Jaune was still feeling concern for his friend. He didn't know what happened back in the Forever Falls, but he knew that Reebok took it seriously.

The young green haired genius stared ahead with a glare as he was completely serious.

'I am not deadweight.' Reebok thought with narrowed eyes as he bit the inside of his cheek. 'I guarantee you are going to regret those words, Vlad Alucard!'

.

.

When heading back to the dorm rooms, Ruby, Yang, Nora and Pyrrha said they were going to talk to Headmaster Ozpin about something important. They said they saw something that they 'forgot' to tell Professor Peach, so as students of Beacon, it was their duty to inform him. Of course since Nora was going, Liversnap came along as well.

That means only Jaune, Weiss, Ren and Blake were left to head to the dorms.

Blake said to Weiss that she needed to discuss something with Jaune on the matter of the Grimm they saw. Since he was so knowledgeable she wanted to get some pointers on how to effectively kill the Grimm they had encounter throughout the past few months.

Weiss was okay with it since she needed time to herself. She needed to think over what she had done and what to tell Ruby.

Right now, Blake was sitting on a bed across from Jaune and Ren, telling them what she had discover from that day.

"So you spied on us." Jaune said with his arms crossed. Blake nodded in response. Jaune sighed. "So how are handling it?" Jaune asked, surprising Blake that he was more concerned of her psyche.

In hindsight it should be the other way around. Lord knows how damaged his own is after everything he's gone through.

"I'm… still shocked by it all to be honest… and I do feel scared by it all." Blake said looking to the ground with a somber expression and her ears drooped down a bit. "The world… everyone on the planet… gone… in just fifteen years no less. The idea is just… daunting." Blake said as she picked up her legs and hugged her knees.

"Yeah, that'll happen." Jaune said looking to the side.

"And you had to watch it all happen." Blake said looking to Jaune with sad eyes.

Jaune's eyes dulled a bit, losing some light.

"Yep."

"How are you feeling?" Blake asked.

"I'm going to be honest with you Blake… I am pissed off 24/7." Jaune said looking to her with a stern expression.

Blake's eyes looked downward.

"You don't look that way with Ruby." Blake said.

"Of course. She's the only one who makes me happy." Jaune said with a frown.

"Even though she's-"

"Not the same… but she's still Ruby. I fell in love with who she is. Be it from here or where I came from. I still love what makes her, her. Okay?" Jaune answered, showing a sense of irritation in his voice.

"Right." Blake said looking to the side as her ears drooped. Jaune can actually get pretty intimidating sometimes. A complete shock given who he was when… his original self, or more accurately the one she knew, first came to Beacon.

"Blake… if there's anything on your mind, just ask it now." Jaune said.

"… This guy, Vlad, do you know where he came from?" Blake asked.

"Never did. Never care. All I know is that he is an evil tyrant who has the ability of Grimm. Feeds off of negative energy, uses it as his own strength, buffs himself and even others up and of course creates Grimm. He's a genius in human manipulation which helps him in increasing his power. Bastard likes making huge epidemics to fuel his strength and get closer to his insane goal." Jaune explained.

"His goal can't simply be genocide alone." Blake said, but Jaune stayed silent. "The reason I ask is because there might be a clue to where he came from." Blake said, surprising both Jaune and Ren. "When I was younger, there was this band of mercenaries. Their leader was powerful and fear. He made sure to not just leave his mercenary band's symbol, but he wrote his name on walls in his victims' blood. He was known as Abel Lucard, but when he spelled his name all he wrote was the initial of his first name then his entire last name. A. Lucard." Blake explained.

"So there must be a connection." Ren said.

"Too much of a coincidence." Blake said.

"Well either way I don't give a crap. Vlad is a man who aims to destroy all life on the planet. Unless it's anything he is capable of or on how to get rid of him for good, I don't give a damn about anything else when it comes to him." Jaune said with a serious expression and glare.

"… You're sounding like him." Blake said to herself, looking to the side.

"Who?" Jaune asked. Blake stayed silent, but Jaune realized who she meant. "You mean Adam, don't you?"

Blake flinched upon hearing his name as a look of sadness was on her face with an equaling energy around herself to boot.

"What happened to him?" Blake asked.

"Well, um… a lot of stuff." Jaune said looking to this side, rubbing the back of his neck. After a moment he sighed. "From what I remember, Adam became head of the White Fang and tried to destroy Mistral, but thanks to… my Blake, the one from my world, she inspired other Faunus to stop the carnage. He managed to escape thanks to a few White Fang who did not surrender. Since he failed as a leader he left the White Fang and aimed to kill her, the other you. He followed us all the way to Argus, screwing up an old plan of mine that was… questionable, but luckily after his defeat that time around we kind of used him for negotiation. We… gave him to the Atlas military in exchange for being pardoned and getting a ride to Atlas. All of us. We were given a tight leash thanks to what we did before, but we made it to Atlas and succeeded on our objective. Adam was locked away until… well, everything went to shit. He confronted Blake for the last time and…" Jaune stopped explaining for a moment knowing this part was kind of… much to take in. He looked to Blake. "Blake… this part is pretty sensitive and not for the faint of heart." Jaune said with a calm, yet serious tone.

Blake looked into his eyes and understood the gravity of Adam's fate just from the look of concern and empathy for her in his eyes. Her eyes looked to the ground for a moment. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath in through her nose. She opened them, looking to Jaune and nodded.

"Okay. After a while Atlas was invaded by a dangerous force which caused massive chaos. The prisons were crippled which led to convicts breaking free and rioting throughout the prisons and even Mantle. Adam, of course, was one of them and left a 'trail'. He had only one objective: Kill Blake Belladonna and bathe the streets of the kingdom with human blood on the way. From what Yang told us about the situation… he went mad."

.

.

Atop the roof of a damaged building, two Faunus were locked in a battle of blades.

Blake skidded back after blocking a strike.

She was dressed in a black, collared cat suit with a zipper on the chest and thigh-high black boots with zippers on the fronts and two kneecaps. A long white tailcoat that has dark gray detailing on the chest, sleeves, sides and collar and wide white belt loosely secured around the waist through the coat's belt loops. The belt around her waist has a white pouch attached. The tails of the coat end in points and the inside lining is vivid purple. The front zipper of the coat is upside down and extends to the very bottom of the coat, and there are additional zippers along the sleeves. Around each wrist she wears a black belted wristband and she appears to have something gray strapped to her back like a backpack. She also had her hair cut to shoulder length like it was when she was a child.

She panted with sweat down her brow. Her expression serious as she stared at her foe across from her.

Adam glared at her with an angered expression, panting lightly with his blade held tightly in his left hand.

He wore a gray prison jumpsuit with the right sleeve rolled up to reveal his right arm had red tattoos covering it almost like a tribal tattoo, but had red chain designs around the forearm and elbow area with a letter and numbers on them that matched the one on the patch over the left breast of the prisoner attire: B-1740. Other than his prisoner attire he had no other clothing, unless you counted the cuffs around his wrists that had severed chains hanging off of them. He had a black cloth diagonally wrapped around his head that covered his left eyes. His hair was a bit messy with bangs covering the left side of his forward and more locks covering the left side of his head. The right side of his head had his hair still a bit spiked up and to the side, but not by much.

His katana, once lost, had apparently been retrieved as evidence which was the first thing he retrieved before tracking Blake

"Adam… why can't you let things be?" Blake spoke.

"Hold your tongue. You have no right to say that. Let things be? You're saying I should have accepted what happened to me? I should have accepted you letting your human friends offer me up as an item to trade for their own benefit?!" Adam shouted, causing Blake to flinch. "You condemned me to be put under the heel of the people we had been fighting against for so long! You let them put the shackles on me! You let your friends offer up my freedom just to hitch a ride here! Where the oppression of are people are at its worse! Do you know what they did to me?! They scarred me! They treated me more like a servant than a prisoner! I had someone's boot against the top of my head and when I fought back, they made sure to teach me a lesson that I'd remember until the day I die! A reminder that will never go away!" Adam yelled with pure rage.

"Adam… if I had known-"

"No! No more of your talk! Your wretched words of trying to attain equality… I am proof that they are garbage!" Adam shouted.

"It is not garbage! If I had known they would have done this to you I wouldn't have stood by! I would have fought to make sure you wouldn't have been put in a place where all they would have done was make you suffer so wretchedly!" Blake shouted back.

"Fought? You? How? Certainly not where it matters!"

"Spilling blood is not always the answer and it should never be the best answer!" Blake shouted.

"I worked for me." Adam said with narrowed eyes.

"Did it?! Look where it has gotten you! You decided to work with a group that aimed for the fall of not just humanity, but Faunus as well, you got your own men, our own people, killed under your lead to destroy a kingdom and you were detained and incarcerated in the first place all because you decided to kill me in Argus! What happened to you was wrong, but I'm willing to bet some of those people did terrible things to you because you killed their own kind. People they cared about!" Blake yelled.

"And yet there were still those who harmed me because it was fun. No other reason, but to quench their boredom." Adam countered. "All I did, everything I did was for our people."

"You did it for yourself." Blake said with narrowed eyes.

"Is that what 'she' convinced you to believe?" Adam questioned. Blake's grip on the handle of her katana tightened. "I did tell you how it was for me when I was young, right?" Adam asked, causing Blake's eyes to widen. "How I saw humanity's treatment to… who I loved. Someone so kind, so sweet… like no other. I stood by and did nothing. Nothing, but watch and where is she now? Worm food. I experienced what happens when you do nothing. I saw what happens when all you do is try to do things 'peacefully'. More pain, more torture, more abuse to levels that'll make you barf. Blood spilt, cries heard, innocence taken. Especially… innocence." Adam bared his fangs as his fist tightened along with the grip around the handle of his blade. "That pain… that'll never be erased. Not as long as you live." Adam raised his sword. "When I took my blade and drew blood… their blood… it didn't satisfy me that I caused harm… I was satisfied by the looks on their faces. Both humans and Faunus. Humans felt the pain and fear they gave us, while the Faunus actually had a look thought to be lost… or faked… they had a look of hope. They felt hope… when I fought back." Adam then pointed the tip of his katana towards Blake's direction. "Did you give them that same hope?" Adam asked. "Did your words bring hope to their faces… or fear? Fear of the idea of fighting our own kind to help humans. Did it work, Blake? Did harming and killing our own people really make things better? Or did it bring about guilt and a false hope that the humans might finally change their minds?"

Blake stayed silent for a moment, before she sighed with somber eyes.

"You make it sound like it's so easy." Blake said. "Nothing worth having is easy."

"What?" Adam questioned with a glare.

"Maybe your actions brought hope, but did you ever think it was the right kind of hope? Did you ever think that your actions really changed things for the better? Maybe the Faunus weren't pushed around like before, but the moment any of them relented what do you think would have happened?" Blake asked. Adam stayed silent, but continued to glare at Blake. "It wouldn't have turned out like things were before you decided to hurt them… things would have gotten worse. After seeing the lengths our people would go to and all the damage we caused during all that time, did you really believe that if the opportunity was there they wouldn't take it? You didn't solve anything through violence, you just justified their terrible actions against us! You not only proved to them that hurting us was 'the right thing to do', you also convinced them that they had to do far worse! The pain would come back and become far greater the moment we stopped fighting! We'd have to fight for the rest of our lives to keep that pain away! Something that is impossible! We'd all be tired of it all sooner or later and when that happened it will be all over for us! Your only solution Adam, the only kind that would work to make sure the humans no longer hurt Faunus, would only succeed when you accomplished genocide!" Blake argued.

Adam narrowed his eyes. He pressed the tip of his katana against the granite below then charged forward, creating sparks from the tip of his sword.

Adam started sending slashes from his blade towards Blake, who continued to stay on the defensive by blocking and parrying; never once trying to land a fatal blow on Adam.

After a few moments the two clashed their blades against one another in a power struggle.

"So what? You're saying that when they come at us ready to attack, we should do nothing, but try easing things with words while they started swinging?!" Adam questioned with gritted teeth.

"I'm not saying that at all!" Blake shouted as she managed to push Adam off of her. "If the situation calls for a fight then so be it, but it should never end it in bloodshed. Our people should be above that. We should be above being called animals." Blake said with a glare.

Adam's eyes widened as he gave a silent gasp. His teeth then gritted hard as his sole visible eye was shadowed more by fallen bangs.

"Animals? An animal… is what you think I am?!" Adam shouted.

"No! I never said that!"

"You just did!" Adam screamed before he charged forward, unleashing a roar.

The two re-engaged in a sword battle.

Blake was having a hard time trying to keep up. Though she managed to block the strikes, they were all so powerful and fast, creating sparks in the process, that she was being pushed back further and further.

"My means were to look after our people! Is that what an animal does?!" Adam shouted as he continued to attack Blake. Blake was trying to stand her ground, but she was failing. Adam delivered a strike that forced Blake to be on one knee. "Is there an animal who would care about their fellow kin's wellbeing?!" Adam shouted as he pressed his katana against Blake's. Blake grunted with a stressed expression, trying to stay strong. She suddenly felt less pressure, which caught her attention. "There is…" Blake looked up to see Adam with wide eyes as he was lost in thought. Blake pushed his blade away and leaped back. "There is one who does that…" Adam said with eyes so wide.

"What?" Blake questioned in surprise.

"The Alpha." Adam said. He looked to the reflection of his red blade. "The Alpha looks out for their pack. They kill what threatens them. Though blood is drawn they make their pack feel safe and it is fine if it happens again. If their life is nothing, but a fight, it's okay because life is a never ending fight. That Alpha lives for it. Not the fight, but protection of their own… no matter the cost. If the Alpha fails in their efforts… the duty will fall to the Beta... but if the Beta fails in their efforts… then…"

Suddenly Adam was struck in the side of his face, causing blood to fly out of his mouth as he was sent flying away towards the edge of the roof.

Blake's eyes widened as she saw it was none other than Yang.

Yang sported khaki overalls with golden zippers. One down the middle of her torso which is unzipped just below her breasts to reveal a white low-cut shirt and one around each thigh of the coveralls which allows the pants leg to be detached as well as a belt strap that connects to the leg. The right leg is unzipped but still strapped to the coveralls. Over the top of the coveralls, she wears a baggy, black crop jacket with fur trim around the neck and black-and-orange straps along the sleeves. Around her waist is a black-and-orange belt with black-and-yellow folded fabric on the sides and a golden buckle of her emblem. She wore tall black boots with black laces. Around her left thigh is a wide black belt with a pouch attached. She also wore an orange scarf around her neck and a purple scarf around her right leg.

She panted as her robotic right fist released steam. She brought it up as she glared at Adam.

"You just never learn, do you?" Yang rhetorically asked.

"Yang!" Blake called out her partner's name as she ran over towards her to stand by her side.

Adam got on his hand and knee with his other hand supported by his katana which was stabbed into the ground. He spat out blood before he started to pant.

"I'll give your ex this, he sure is tenacious." Yang said.

"He's not my ex!" Blake shouted.

"But I thought you two-" suddenly the two heard Adam starting to chuckle, which then turned to laughter. "What's so damn funny?! You like having your ass handed to you by a pair of huntresses?!" Yang shouted.

"You failed Blake!" Adam shouted, confusing the two huntresses. "Tell me what the plan was, Blake. Your father watches over our brethren then you take over when this crap's all over?" Adam laughed again. "Do you really believe you could do any better? That you're the best? That you're the one to lead them better?"

"What are you getting at?" Yang questioned with narrowed eyes.

"You constantly spout that my path of blood was wrong, but does that mean your way of doing things was right?" Adam questioned. "I killed for our people, but I've never seen slain our people, unless they abandon us and help our enemies. What have you done, but become what I was ordered to finish!"

"What?!" Yang shouted with sudden anger while Blake's eyes widened.

"What have you done ever since you fled Blake? I understand fighting our militia, but forcing our own people to fight amongst themselves? Dragging them to a place they knew they would lose their lives in? And then what? Ran off to be with your friends instead of helping guide our people the right way?" Adam questioned with a grin. "You put them on that path, but instead of guiding them proper for a bit like you should have you took the first opportunity you had to abandon them to be with a bunch of humans you only knew for a few months?!"

"Blake, don't listen to him. You did nothing wrong." Yang said looking to Blake, who was gaining a conflicted expression.

"No, but what really was the clincher was what you did to me. You sold me off to get what you wanted. To help your human pals you condemned me to this! You knew full well what Atlas does to their Faunus. Especially their prisoners! You used one of your own kind as a trading token, giving him up to be tortured for the rest of his days! Though I have tried to take your life in the past, I never would have condemned any one of our kind like you did. An act that we Faunus silently agreed to never do, and yet you are considered the one in the right? Your actions and words should be what inspires our kind to take this path of 'peace' in the future?" Adam laughed once more before revealing his crazed expression and grin as more bangs hung over his forehead and eye. "It's hysterical!" Adam yelled as he continued to laugh.

Blake looked to him with a surprised and saddened look.

"Adam…"

Ada stood up on his bare feet and pointed the tip of his katana towards Blake and Yang's direction.

"You constantly stood against my views and shared yours with distaste on my methods, and yet you had committed more taboo than I! I slaughtered humans in the name and safety of our people, while you forced them to fight one another and traded away one of their own freedom for your own gain! Death would have been a mercy compared to what you did! This is what's so great about it!" Adam slashed at the air. "You proved that I and my actions were worth more than anything you've ever shared! Our people are now going to look to you and that's what hilarious! Your road to peace led to brothers and sisters fighting their own and even somehow justified suffering so long as it is for the greater good, while my road protected our people, those worth protecting, from the pain humanity can cause! All you did, was prove that even wounded with no one supporting him I am still the better Alpha than you would ever be!" Adam exclaimed with a mad toothy grin.

"… Alpha?" Blake questioned.

Adam resumed laughing as he started walking backwards.

"I am still greater. Wounded am I, yet I stand taller than this generation. Now is your time Beta… your time to lead with the only road available for you… is extinction." Adam said with a wider grin and eyes as his hair and the iris of his eyes glowed blood red.

Adam then walked over the edge, shocking Blake and Yang with the cat Faunus rushing over to him, trying to grab him, but he retaliated with a slash to her palm, causing her to stop herself from saving him.

Blake held her bleeding hand as Yang ran by her side to see if she was okay. Thankfully her aura fixed her hand up.

Adam headed towards the ground fast, but when he was close to impact, he flipped in the air and landed hard on his hand and feet with red aura bursting into a shockwave. A clear indication that he used his aura to take most of the impact for him.

Adam slowly stood up and started walking away. After a few steps he heard the sounds of guns cocking. He looked up to see a group of Atlas soldiers aiming their weapons at him.

"We found another." An Atlas soldier with a white military coat that had armor around the arms said into a walkie-talkie. No doubt the leader

"Have you identified it?" A voice spoke through the walkie-talkie.

"Yes… Adam Taurus." The leader said.

"Do you need back-up to retrieve him?" The voice asked.

"No need. Status: Deceased." The leader said before ending the call.

Adam heard the sound of machinery and something heavy moving along the ground. Looking around he noticed a tank coming over with more Atlas guards with various fire arms from rifles to even weapons like rocket launchers. Adam suddenly let out a minor chuckle as he grinned.

"Just as I expected." Adam said to himself with a grin. He let out another chuckle as the soldiers and tank closed in. Adam's chuckle turned to laughter as he started to raise his sword and pointed it forward. "Instead of helping your own kind you aim to end one life! Just as expected!" Adam shouted with a grin.

"You're too dangerous to continue living. You killed countless before, you'll continue again somehow." The leader said as he took out a shotgun/grenade launcher combo. "You inspired the White Fang to go too far. No need for another group who only exists to kill to be born."

"Heh. I like your style." Adam said, causing the leader to glare at him with anger and disgust. "Alright then!" Adam shouted as he slashed at the air with his katana posed back. "Surrounded by all ends and wounded… if this is it ends… then I shall gladly die as I lived. Like a true Alpha!" Adam shouted with a made grin as his eyes, hair, and the blade of his katana with even tattoos glowing red.

He rocketed forward faster than the eye could see, slicing up the Atlas soldiers in front of him, except the leader who managed to block the red blade with the barrel of his firearm.

The squad leader glared at Adam with gritted teeth while the fallen Faunus stared at him with mad eyes and an equally mad grin. The squad leader managed to push him off and tried shooting him with his shotgun, but Adam side hopped to the side and went for an iaijutsu strike, but the squad leader leaped away in time.

The tank fire a blast at Adam, blowing up the spot he once stood.

There was smoke covering the spot.

The Atlas soldiers carefully moved closer while keeping their weapons aimed at the spot.

Suddenly red light radiated from within the smoke, causing all the soldiers to fire.

Adam ran out the smoke and parried away bullets from him. He sliced through the torso of a soldier, then stabbed right through the side of another one. He leaped up to dodge a grenade blast from a launcher, followed by bisecting another soldier in half from the head down to below the gut, then decapitating another.

The tank tried shooting him again but he dodged.

More soldier tried firing at him, but he just continued to slice them down.

However one managed nail him in the leg, causing him to trip and roll against the ground. He looked up to see Atlas soldier carefully creeping closer, but still maintain a distance as the tank aimed its sights on him.

With a burst of energy, Adam roar as he sent a quick and small blade of red energy known as his moonslice to an Atlas soldier, then leaped far forward, tackling the same soldier, rolled against the ground before use the momentum to toss the soldier where his body got blasted to pieces by the tank.

Adam dashed forward towards the tank as he parried more bullets his way. He laughed maniacally as he got closer.

When the tank was ready to fire at him head on, Adam re-sheathed his katana, then delivered a large moonslice to the end of the main gun of the tank just as it was ready to fire, where the blade met it right as it sent a blast, causing a big explosion that damaged the main gun.

Adam then continued to slice up more Atlas soldiers, spraying their blood everywhere.

The gunner within the tank got out through the hatch and aimed the turret atop the tank at Adam, but when he fired, Adam grabbed another soldier and used him as a shield, taking the hits then taking the soldiers rifle to shoot the tank gunner in the head.

Once the gunner was dealt with, Adam sliced the neck of his hostage, letting his blood spray out from his neck for a moment before tossing him to the ground.

Blake from atop watched with her hands over her mouth as she watched all the carnage.

Adam sliced more soldiers up. He even sliced the legs off of soldiers with a moonslice, causing them to fall and scream in agony.

An Atlas soldier was whimpering with fear as he watched his comrades being butchered by a red blur.

Just as Adam unleashed a 360 degree slice, the scared soldier took a small window of opportunity and fired at Adam, only for the bull Faunus to block the bullet with a quick single windmill spin of his katana, ending with the tip of the blade faced down.

Adam glared at the soldier with a sole red glowing eye and frown, scaring the Atlesian who tried to run for cover. Adam slid the tip of the blade against the ground to reveal the bullet a moment ago that he had actually caught with his sword, then he swung his katana fast into the bullet, sending it rocketing towards the soldier, nailing him in the back of the knee, which led to the soldier falling onto the ground.

The soldier turned his body around, only to see Adam already upon him.

The soldier screamed 'No!' as Adam raised his katana high, only for his right arm to suddenly get blast by a grenade, sending his katana flying and arm to be incredibly charred.

Adam glanced to see the squad leader from earlier had shot him with his weapon's grenade launcher mode.

The frightened soldier on the ground quickly fired all his rounds into Adam's torso until he was all out.

Adam's body bled from wounds upon his torso and from the pores within his now charred arm.

Despite the pain, Adam suddenly grinned as his left hand suddenly glowed red, before he slashed it across the neck of the frightened soldier, spraying his blood out as he died.

Adam laughed afterwards, but then he was blasted again in the right side with a flying grenade attack, but despite the raging pain, Adam continued to laugh, confusing, angering and even scaring the Atlas soldiers.

Adam brought his left hand up with it still glowing red. His katana flew towards him with a red tint surrounding it before the hilt of blade was grasped by its wielder.

As the smoke from the grenade attack cleared it revealed that Adam's arm from the elbow down was blown to bits, leaving a gaping, heavily bleeding wound.

"There they go… the chains…" Adam said, referring to the tattoo that once covered his obliterated arm. Adam's whole body started to glow red. Red steam even escaped from the hole in his arm. "I AM NO LONGER CHAINED DOWN!" Adam cried with a large, mad grin as his eyes, even the one covered by a cloth, shined through behind the fallen bangs of Adam's hair.

All the Atlas soldiers aimed their weapons at Adam, who just continued to laugh before charging towards them all.

Blake's eyes shed tears at sight before her.

Yang, seeing it all, couldn't believe how unhinged Adam has become. Seeing her partner crying over the situation hurt her heart.

"Blake." Yang extended a hand towards the cat Faunus, but she turned and walked away. "Blake! Everything he said… I don't know what you think, but it isn't-"

"I know, Yang!" Blake yelled, silencing her partner. "I know what the ravings of a mad man sounds like." Blake said, causing Yang's eyes to go somber. "We don't have time for any of this." Blake said hanging her head a bit.

Suddenly a Teryx dived down and tried to crush Blake, but when it did its feet froze over, revealing it to be an ice dust clone, before the winged dinosaur Grimm's head was suddenly sliced off by the real Blake from above. Once the Grimm disappeared into ash, Blake landed upon the ground of the roof and stood up straight.

"We don't have time to contemplate on delicate matters of the past. Right now, we need to focus on what's happening now." Blake said in a serious tone with her back to Yang.

Yang stayed silent for a moment before nodding.

"Right." Yang walked forward to head out to the exit of the roof with Blake, but she noticed Blake was not moving. She turned to her partner, only to be surprised by the tears in her eyes. "Blake?" Yang spoke her partner's name in concern.

Blake had a sad expression as she heard more of the chaos down below. The sounds of bullets, explosions, cries of pain and of course… his laughter, resonated from below.

The sounds of carnage and madness brought a pang to her chest, but only because it came from him.

This would be the last thing she heard from him.

It broke her heart and now scarred her soul.

This was the last time.

"Goodbye, Adam." Blake said with a melancholic tone before she decided to move forward.

Down below Adam was scarred from the oncoming fire, but he continued to laugh and murder all while his body was bleeding out.

"This is it! This is the proper end… TO A TRUE ALPHA!" Adam screamed with made pride as he charged forward with a roar as a barrage of bullets came his way.

.

.

"So Adam went mad and died by the hands of Atlas soldiers looking to avenge their fallen and Blake… she was silent about it. She just focused on killing Grimm, and even when it was over, she wanted to be alone. Not speaking a single word to anybody. Not even Yang for a while." Jaune said with somber eyes as he remembered the hurt his old friend experienced in the past. "I still don't understand why she'd feel ever feel that way."

"… I believe I do." Blake said with sad expression as she looked to the side.

Jaune knew that look anywhere. A look all too familiar when he thought about his family. The family he made.

"You know… it always does feel good to tell the truth to another person. The right kind of person. I may be the time traveler here… but I'm not the only one who's being granted a second chance now." Jaune said with a soft smile.

Blake looked to him with slight surprise, but then smiled in return.

"Indeed. Already a lot has change for so many people." Ren said. "Alexander for example."

"Yeah. Better him showing his true colors then keeping them hidden until he owned a gas station." Jaune said.

"A gas station? Reebok?" Blake questioned.

"Yeah. Not the place I ever wanted him to be in." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck as he showed signs of regret.

"Second chances, right?" Blake said with a small smile and shrug.

"Yeah." Jaune said returning a smile with a nod.

'Maybe even Adam might get a chance.' Blake thought looking to the side. She closed her eyes for a moment before standing up and looking back to Jaune. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Jaune."

"I'm just happy to tell someone I care about. It always feels like I'm a bit lighter every time I do." Jaune said standing up with a smile.

Blake smiled with a nod.

"When the time comes, I'll make sure I'll be prepared when it comes." Blake said.

"I hope so, because shit is gonna hit the fan in two weeks." Jaune said, surprising Blake.

"The Vytal Tournament… right…" Blake looked to the floor with narrowed eyes and clenched fists. "That would explain why so many dangerous Grimm are surrounding the Kingdom."

"The smug bastard made beacons of his own to attract them here from all over the damn world. We took them down, but he gathered enough for his invasion." Jaune then narrowed his eyes as he looked to the side. "Um… I don't want to scare you guys, but… remember the Scourges from the Breach Incident? Hate to say it, but I think there are Grimm much larger surrounding the kingdom."

Ren and Blake's eyes widened with fear and dread.

"You mean… titan sized?" Ren questioned.

"You have a plan for such a situation, right?" Blake asked.

"I made a decision with Reebok. In the original timeline, general Ironwood wanted to weaponize Arc Light. Since things are getting a bit too much, especially when our 'lovely' genocidal bringer of doom popped up, I decided to put the general's idea to use." Jaune said.

"How?" Blake asked.

"I'm going to keep that to myself. You never know when someone else is listening." Jaune said, causing Blake to look away with some embarrassment. "Speaking of listening, anything else you need to hear?" Jaune asked Blake.

"No. I believe enough has been said." Blake said. Her eyes looked to the ground with somber eyes. "Actually… I can't believe we have to deal with an entire invasion. Are you sure trying to stop Vlad before then is out of the question?"

"I talked with Ozpin. Sadly taking Vlad in would play into his hands. I know how the guy thinks. He'll find a way to screw over all of Beacon whether he's detained or not." Jaune answered. "Oh, but I also got to tell you since you're here… Adam's going to show up with the White Fang. His involvement was planned out in the original." Jaune shared.

Blake flinched at this.

"Is that true?" Blake questioned. "Working with humans doesn't sound like something Adam would do."

"Well something compelled him to join up." Jaune said.

"What did he do?" Blake asked with a serious expression.

Jaune was silent for a moment.

"If you see him… just run. Not just for yourself." Jaune said, causing Blake to flinch.

"Who was it?" Blake asked.

"… Yang." Jaune answered. "She didn't die that day, but she did lose-"

"I get it." Blake said looking to the side.

"Blake… whatever happens, remember that running away-"

"I get it." Blake said with her eyes closed and brow furrowed causing Jaune to frown. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Jaune." Blake said with a small bow before heading towards the door.

Jaune just sighed. He never really interacted with Blake that much before, but from what he can tell so far in the interactions he's had with her in this timeline, she is a rather difficult person to talk to. More ways than one sometimes.

Blake headed out the door, luckily no sign of anywhere nearby which, hopefully, meant that no one listened in on the secret this time. She walked over to her own dorm room, opened the door and entered to see Weiss pacing back and forth, biting the joint of her index finger.

She seemed very worried.

"Is something wrong?" Blake asked as she closed the door behind her.

"Is something wrong? Oh, not much, minus the fact that I did something very stupid back in the Forever Falls! A completely idiotic move!" Weiss shouted, causing Blake to flinch with her ears drooped a bit from the volume. "I'm a disgrace to this team and the Schnee name!" Weiss exclaimed as she walked over to her bed and sat on it with her face now covered in her hands, moaning with disappointment.

Blake looked at Weiss with a surprised expression. She walked over to the heiress and sat down next to her to then place a hand on her shoulder.

"At least you're acknowledging the mistake." Blake said.

"True, but how is that supposed to make me feel better?" Weiss questioned, looking to Blake.

"Because that's the last thing people expect from a Schnee." Blake said.

"… Yeah… I suppose so." Weiss said looking to Blake with wide eyes as she felt a bit better… but then annoyed. "Ugh. I can't believe how low so many people's opinion on the Schnee name is, but then again I have gotten to know the patriarch for most of my entire life now." Weiss said cupping her cheeks into her hands as she leaned forward.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that when your time comes, you'll fix the sins of the past and make the Schnee name better than ever before."

"How would you know? Can you see the future?" Weiss rhetorically questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Blake blinked her eyes at the concept of knowing the future.

"No."

The door then opened to reveal Ruby and Yang.

"Hey guys." Ruby greeted Weiss and Blake.

Weiss stood up straight with a deep, nervous frown and eyes wide as her blood ran cold. Colder than usual, at least.

"Hello." Blake greeted the two. "Where have you two be-"

"Ruby, I'm Sorry!" Weiss shouted, causing the rest of the team to look to her with wide eyes.

"Huh?" Ruby tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"I betrayed you! I'm so sorry!" Weiss cried.

"Wait, how did you betray me?" Ruby asked, then she gasped. "Were you the one who fed Zwei one of my cookies?!" Ruby shouted.

Yang beside her glanced to the side as Zwei barked and walked over as he heard his name.

"No! I kissed Jaune!" Weiss shouted.

Everyone stared at her with almost bulging eyes.

"What?" Yang questioned.

Blake scooted away from the Schnee as she felt it would be safer to keep a distance.

"I… I don't know what came over me!" Weiss exclaimed as she stood up and started to pace again. "We were hiding from a Triceros and he looked so calm, but serious. He looked like a real huntsman, especially with the light surrounding him."

"Are… you in love with Jaune?" Ruby asked.

"No! Absolutely Not! He was just attractive at the time! I'm not good with the concept of love!" Weiss retorted.

"That goes without saying. Neptune's cute, but-"

"I know! I don't know why I was so entranced to begin with!" Weiss shouted turning to the sisters. "Out of nowhere I just kissed him out of attraction and that almost got us killed. It almost got him killed. I not only fractured the trust between us, but I almost got your own boyfriend killed because of it." Weiss then fell to her knees. "I don't deserve to be your friend." Weiss said hanging her head in shame. She had a look to equal it, complete with teary eyes.

The whole room was silent for a few moments.

"Did you call me your friend?" Ruby asked, causing the rest of her team to look to her in surprise. "You're okay with us being friends?"

"Wha-? Of Course, You're My Friend! You're My Best Friend, You Dunce!" Weiss shouted, but then she immediately covered her mouth as she and the rest of her team were in shock that Weiss had just confessed that Ruby Rose, the girl she had despise on day one, was actually her best friend.

Ruby walked over to Weiss, knelt down and hugged her.

"You're my best friend too. Apology accepted." Ruby said, shocking Weiss even further.

"I… I don't… how could you actually say that… after what I had done?" Weiss questioned, not understanding how Ruby could not only accept her apology, but call themselves best friends after what she had done during the assignment.

Ruby pulled back and looked Weiss in the eyes.

"Because you came and told me. No matter how scared you were, you still cared enough to tell me the truth. That makes you a true friend, Bestie." Ruby said with a smile.

Weiss stared at her with wide eyes. She then looked to the ground with teary eyes and a quivering lip.

"I don't deserve to be your best friend." Weiss said. She wiped away a tear. "Thank you, Ruby."

"No problem." Ruby said with a bright smile. Weiss smiled back, but suddenly Ruby glared at her with a threatening look. "But if you ever kiss my boyfriend again or even think about stealing him from me, you'll find yourself sleeping in the hallways for a month." Ruby said with a miffed tone.

"I-I understand." Weiss said with new fear.

"Great!" Ruby said with a bright smile as she hugged Weiss again, who still had a look of fear.

She really needed to be a bit nicer to Ruby.

"Well it's great that things are good between you two, but what about Jaune?" Yang asked with her arms crossed.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked as she pulled back from Weiss and looked to her sister.

"Why did he come forward?"

"Believe me he was dead set on it, but I told him that I should do it. I made the mistake, so it was my responsibility to come clean." Weiss answered. "He really does love you, Ruby. A bit more than I think anyone could fathom." Weiss said, causing Ruby to blush at the thought of how much Jaune loves her.

"Well lucky you then, little sister." Yang said with her hands on her hips. "And here I am with no guy. Who would have thought?" Yang mumbled with a pout.

"Yang, you're a flirt. They don't get the committed ones." Weiss said with a dull look.

Yang just simple blew a raspberry in response.

They all suddenly heard their scrolls 'ping'. The team took them out to see the message:

They're ready.

Reebok

"Looks like Jaune's pal got our hook-up." Yang said as she pocketed her scroll.

"Knowing him, they'll be very powerful." Weiss said as she and Ruby got to their feet and pocketed their scrolls.

"We'll no doubt have to train with them throughout our time off to properly adjust to them." Blake said as she stood up from Weiss' bed.

"Let's move, Team RWBY!" Ruby cheered with a fist thrust into the air. She then rushed towards the door, pushing her sister out the way.

"Hey!"

"Sorry! But I need my baby!" Ruby cried as she opened the door and rushed out only to bump into someone. With an 'oof', she almost fell to the floor, but luckily she was caught by none other than Jaune.

"Too excited to be away from Crescent Rose any longer?" Jaune asked with a smile.

"Is it that obvious?" Ruby asked with a timid look and embarrassed blush.

"Hey~, Vomit Boy. How are you this fine day?" Yang greeted Jaune with a grin.

"What is it, Yang?" Jaune asked with a dull look as he and Ruby stood straight up.

"Just wondering… did you do anything 'intriguing' in during your outing today in the forest?" Yang asked, keeping her grin as Weiss and Blake walked of the room.

Jaune looked to his fellow blonde with a dull look before looking to Weiss.

"You told her, right?" Jaune asked, gesturing to Ruby.

"I told you that I would." Weiss said with her arms crossed.

"Good." Jaune said with a nod.

"Told what?" Nora asked as she, Ren and Pyrrha walked out of their dorm room.

Ren had to lock the door behind them so as to make sure Liversnap didn't walk out the room after them.

Jaune looked to Weiss once more, who sighed and nodded in response.

"Weiss kissed me back at the Falls." Jaune said nonchalantly.

"What?!" Nora shouted as she and Ren had wide eyes while Pyrrha's left eye twitched. "Who started it?"

"The Ice Queen." Jaune said pointing his thumb at Weiss.

"Hey! Well, it is true, but it was only from a sense of attraction! No love at all!" Weiss exclaimed.

"Our little Weissy-kins here is just growing up, trying to figure out what love is." Yang said patting Weiss on the head.

"Yang, I told you love had nothing to do with it." Weiss said with a glare, swatting the blonde girl's hand away.

"Exactly. You're learning so much. I just want to cry." Yang said with a mock crying look as she wiped away an invisible tear.

Weiss let out a groan of annoyance.

"So~, what? Is everything resolves or do Ruby and Weiss have to fight over this? Because I'm Team Ruby all the way! By that I mean Ruby herself and-"

"We know Nora." Weiss said.

"Everything's fine now. I forgave her." Ruby said waving things off.

"Then threatened her." Yang added.

"Ruby can threaten people?" Nora questioned.

"Believe me, she can." Weiss said looking to the side, rubbing her arm.

"Well, no more waiting around. Let's get our weapons back." Jaune said as they all started to head out.

.

.

Teams JNPR and RWBY were walking through the courtyard, heading to Reebok's workshop.

"Yo!" They all turned to see Cardin waving to them with Russel and Team CFVY with. "Guess you guys got the message too." Cardin said.

"Course we did." Jaune said with a smile.

"Jaune's BFF promises and he'll always deliver." Nora said.

"I hope he delivers big." Sun said, suddenly popping out from a tree; hanging by a branch with his now bandaged tail.

"It's Reebok. He never disappoints." Jaune said with a shrug.

"Cool." Sun said as he hopped out of the tree with a flip just as Neptune arrived.

They all continued on and made it to the door of Reebok's workshop, where the robot eye used for security popped out from above the door and scanned the group, before its needle appendage popped out.

"I hate this part. Pricked fingers hurt." Russel complained, as Jaune went first.

After the rest gave their DNA, they were all allowed in to see Reebok inside with a helmet over his head with a glowing green visor over the eyes. Reebok was actually doing some martial arts moves at a calm pace. Blocks, grabs, strikes, etc.

It seems the helmet he had on was one assisting in training through virtual reality.

"Sir Alexander, our comrades have arrived for their weapons." Seymour announced as he flew beside Reebok.

"Oh, good." Reebok said as he pressed a button on the side of his helmet where the ear was, turning it off along with the green glow from the visor part. "I was just practicing… for the tournament." Reebok said as he took off his helmet, revealing something different about him.

"You cut your hair?" Jaune asked with surprise.

"Kind of looks like Sage's." Sun said.

"But if it was only spiked up at the front." Neptune added.

'Kind of looks like my old one that I had back in Atlas.' Jaune thought as he rubbed the locks of his hair. 'Stupid gum incident.'

"Yeah, I thought it might have been time for a change, you know?" Reebok said with a shy smile and embarrassed blush as he brushed his hands through his new haircut.

"So this is where you work, huh?" Coco said as she and others who have never been looked around.

"I've never seen so much equipment before." Neptune said.

"Cool~, there's enough stuff here to make Atlas jealous." Sun said as he walked around.

"No truer statement has ever been spoken." Jaune said.

"Quite." Weiss said with arms crossed.

"Hey, what's in this box?" Sun asked bending down as he took out a box from under a desk.

"Oh, those are actually some of my failed inventions." Reebok admitted.

"You failed at making stuff?" Jaune questioned with shock as he started walking over to Sun and the box in his hands.

"Yeah. It happens. Everyone's bound to make a minor miscalculation here and there. Even the smartest minds." Reebok said looking to the side with a shrug.

"Hey, what are these?" Sun asked as he took out a pair of glasses with green tinted lenses and red detail on the sides. Jaune stopped right next to him and took out another pair.

"Those are my X-ray Specs." Reebok said glancing to the side.

"X-ray Specs? Those things don't actually work, do they?" Yang asked.

"They do… kind of. Their original purpose was to benefit the medical world by seeing through the skin of human beings to detect abnormalities in them, like a clogged vein, an abnormally beating heart, muscle tear, even diseases. The only problem is… they don't see deep enough." Reebok said with a nervous look and slightly gritted teeth, just as Jaune and Sun put them on. "At least not pass the skin." Reebok finished just as Sun and Jaune's mouths gaped.

All the girls' eyes widened as they turned to the two blondes.

Weiss gasped as she and the other females blushed and covered arms over themselves, with Ruby, Pyrrha and Velvet having looks of shock and embarrassment while the rest glared. Except for Nora, but she still covered herself.

"Oh! Not again." Jaune said as he immediately took off his specs and rubbed his eyes of shame.

"Cool! How come I couldn't get these from cereal boxes?" Sun said as he took off his specs and looked at them with a smile.

"Can I borrow one?" Cardin and Neptune asked with wide eyes and hands up, only for Coco and Weiss to slap them in the face.

"Ow! Damn!" Cardin cursed as he held his stinging cheek, slapped by Coco a moment before.

Neptune just whined from the pain on his cheek. Who knew such a small hand could deliver so much pain?

Blake walked over to Sun and Jaune with a miffed expression.

"I didn't like it! I swear!" Jaune cried as he flinched and turned away with his hand over his face in defense while his other extended the X-ray Specs forward.

Blake just took Jaune's specs, before slapping Sun across the face and taking his specs. She then dropped the two pairs of eyewear to the ground and stomped on them.

Reebok flinched at the sight of his failed invention being crushed under the cat Faunus' heel.

"That was… for the best." Reebok said looking to the side.

"You should have done that a long time ago." Weiss said with a dull glare directed to Reebok.

"I know, but it's kind of hard destroying you made yourself. I mean, my inventions are my babies." Reebok said.

"Speaking of babies, where's mine?!" Ruby shouted as she slammed her hands onto the desk between her and Reebok.

Reebok snapped his fingers as worker bots arrived carrying cases of varying sizes with each one carrying the symbol of each individual in the room, minus Reebok of course.

"Oh~, gimme, gimme, gimme!" Nora cheered with a huge grin.

"I'm going to give these out one at a time. They're highly dangerous weapons now and knowing you people, you wanna try it out on the spot. Last thing I need for everyone to unleash devastating power all at the same time and ruining this place." Reebok said, causing everyone to raise an eyebrow at this. "Of course, your lives matter first, but I just felt that went without saying."

A worker bot went over to Cardin and handed him his case.

Cardin opened his up to reveal his Executioner and took it in hand.

"It… looks the same." Cardin said with a frown.

"Press the button right below the head." Reebok said.

Cardin did so, causing the purple ball of energy to appear in the opened center of the head, which caused the ten flanges to detach and separate as they now hovered and spiraled around the purple sphere at a fast pace.

"Whoa!" Cardin exclaimed as he stared at his weapon with shock and amazement, and he wasn't the only one.

"I used gravity dust this time. This increases the mace's attack power and is able to tear into whatever it hits. It also works like a drill, so you can dig into anything so long as this mode is activated. I also added the courtesy to have every strike made by your weapon to produce shockwaves, even when this mode is not active. Although this mode does amplify the shockwave effects with each strike. In order to keep this mode up you'll need to have gravity dust constantly put in as this mode can burn out quickly the more striking power you deliver. So you'll need to carry a large quantity of gravity dust, but that's my suggestion since you're gamed for striking things head first. The gravity dust can even be fired like your plasma shots, even amplifying your plasma attacks." Reebok explained.

"Little dude, this is so amazing! I could kiss you! No homo." Cardin said with a big happy grin.

"What about me?" Russel asked. A worker bot flew towards him and handed the Mohawk teen his weapon case. When he opened it he took out his large daggers, Shortwings. "So what can they do?"

"Look back in the case." Reebok said.

Russel looked back to see that what was under the daggers were a pair of gray gloves with metal rings around the joints of the fingers and a metal strip over the knuckles. The metal had small purple dust crystals embedded into them, meaning they used dust.

Reebok walked over to him, took out the gloves and put them on himself. After clenching his fists, pressing something within the palm of the gloves, the dust crystals glowed purple. Reebok took the daggers and tossed one, only for it to stop in midair, causing everyone to gasp.

"What~?!" Russel exclaimed with bulging eyes and jaw dropped.

"I utilized gravity dust for these things as well." Reebok said as he looped his finger upward once, causing the dagger to spin to its side, then he spun his finger in a windmill fashion causing the dagger to spin the same. "These gravity gauntlets connect to the daggers, so now you can use them at a distance, but it is limited. These dust crystals will lose their power eventually so you'll need to replace the ones already used up. The less the number of dust crystals in these gauntlets, the less the power they'll possesses and the distance will be more limited." Reebok waved his hand back, causing the dagger to fly back to him where he grabbed the hilt of them. Reebok then squeezed the hilts of both daggers, causing them to burst with fire. "I also added dust within your daggers." Reebok showed off dust crystals in the pommel of the blades. "They increase damage and power, and with a strong enough swing you can unleash a blade of dust energy."

"Rockin'!" Russel cheered with a big open mouth grin as Reebok handed him back his weapons and new gauntlets.

"I'll text you the instruction to these weapons in a bit. Oh I also made Dove and Stark new weapons. I figured better all of your team be upgraded." Reebok said as two worker bots handed Cardin and Russel their teammate's new weapons.

"Now we're really gonna kick ass at the tournament!" Russel cheered.

"Don't feel too bad if any of you gets a whooping from us." Cardin said with a smirk.

"Real humble." Coco said with her arms crossed.

A worker bot then flew to Fox and handed him his case.

Fox opened up his case and took out his bladed arm weapons, Sharp Retribution. He noticed a new attachment at the handles. Squeezing them, his blades suddenly emitted a surge of electricity before they glowed baby blue with electricity surging around them.

"As you felt there are four buttons at the grip. Each a separate element. Obviously they increase damage and with each element you'll have several uses for any situation that calls for any one of them." Reebok said as he walked over and took out a small circular patch that had needles sticking out one side. "Now this is where the magic happens. You see if you attach this to the back of your neck, where the brain stem is, you can actually gain a much stronger control of the elements that you can actually send blades of elemental energy from your blades. In short, it enhances your telepathy's powers to gain a form of telekinesis that allows you to manipulate the elements in your blades, and with enough practice you can also manipulate nearby elements in the area, but that will require a lot of work and a lot more energy than you normally use for your semblance, understand?" Reebok explained.

"Wait, are you saying… you made something that even enhances Fox's semblance to become something more?!" Coco questioned with her glasses tilted as she and everyone stared at him with wide eyes.

"Yep. Not that hard, but the more powerful a semblance becomes the power needs to be put in, so I suggest a lot of training for this bad boy. You might even need to advance your training itself to increase your stamina and even aura levels." Reebok said to Fox as he put the patch into his case.

All Fox could do was nod with wide eyes and a gaped mouth. To think that Jaune's friend was such a genius that not only he was able to make his weapon more powerful, but even his own semblance, making it something greater.

A worker bot then handed Yatsuhashi his case, allowing the tall teen to take out his large greatsword, Falcrum. He noticed that the hilt was upgraded a bit to be more like a traditional grip instead of metal with bandages wrapped around it. He found a gravity dust crystal within the new pommel.

"This bad boy also uses element as well. You can put up to two dust elements into it, crystals or vials, but its best elements in my opinion is gravity and wind. You see, after reviewing your footage, you like using fast yet powerful strikes, that are so powerful they can create shockwaves from once swing to the ground. With the gravity dust you can increase the power of your shockwaves which will not only increase the damage, but even your range with each swing. When another element is used like fire or wind, it unleashes a shockwave of element with your signature strike. You can even send blades of element with a strong enough strike, but to be honest that's where I suggested wind as a strong enough strike can slice both a Grimm and a building apart. So long as you swing strong enough. Squeeze the hilt to activate the element in the first slot inside. Twist it use both at the same time. I don't have to tell you how devastating the effects can be, but of course you have to choose the correct dust that corresponds with one another well enough." Reebok explained.

Yatsuhashi looked to his sword with wide eyes of amazement. He put it on his back and closed the case before turning to Reebok.

"Thank you for this, Alex-san." Yatsuhashi said with a bow.

"Anytime, Yatsuhashi-senpai." Reebok said with a bow.

"Sen-what?" Nora questioned.

"It's title used for upperclassman." Blake explained.

A worker bot then flew over to Velvet and handed her case over to her.

"Now yours was something I had to work the most on." Reebok said.

"It… looks the same." Velvet said as she took out her camera, Anesidora. "Aside from a single button." She looked it over more. "It… works the same as well."

"It was already amazing to begin with, but there was something extra I added as well." Reebok said as he walked over and took the camera from Velvet. "Ruby, do me a favor and use your semblance." Reebok said with a smile, causing everyone's eyes to go wide.

"No… way…" Yang said with pure shock.

"You… you mean…" Velvet was so shell-shocked she couldn't even finish her sentence.

"Everyone make some room." Reebok said.

Everyone did as he said.

Reebok nodded for Ruby to go ahead.

Ruby nodded back, still surprised by his suggestion, and then started to use her Petal Burst to circle around.

Reebok took a photo of the semblance then handed it to Velvet.

"Now just connect your own semblance with it as you usually do." Reebok said.

Velvet looked to her camera. After a moment, she pressed the new button, which caused a minor spark. Velvet's mind was suddenly given new information. Her whole body glowed neon baby blue, surprising the others, before she suddenly rocketed forward and was actually using a Hard-Light version of Petal Burst with Hard-Light Dust surrounding her in the form of petals. After a three loops, she stopped on one knee and panted with small beads of sweat upon her brow.

Ruby and Nora squealed with looks of amazement and starry eyes.

"No Way! That was my semblance! She used it!" Ruby exclaimed with pure amazement.

"It was honestly the only thing I could think of to improve. Like I said, it was already amazing to begin with, so I just added the one thing it did not have. Since it had the ability to replicate other weapons using Hard-Light Dust, the only thing I could do that was better was replicate Hard-Light versions of people's semblances. However the downside is that doing so requires a lot of aura, so if not careful Velvet can burn herself out. I wish I could have done more." Reebok explained.

"You did… more than enough." Velvet said as she panted. She managed to get to her feet and walk over to Reebok. "Thank you." Velvet said with a smile as she kissed Reebok on the cheek, causing him to stiffen up and freeze with wide eyes.

"Uh oh~, I think you froze him." Nora said.

"I got this." Cardin said with a furrowed brow. He stuck his finger in his mouth and put it in Reebok's ear, causing him to scream.

"AH! Why That?!" Reebok shouted as he held his ear.

"It works, doesn't it?" Cardin said with his hands on his hip.

"So wait, you are able to make weapons that can change and amplify a person's semblance, but you weren't able to make a pair of glasses that can see innards of peoples' bodies?" Russel questioned.

"Well yeah. I didn't need to use radiation for the weapons like I did with the specs. Use too much and you make a pair of glasses that give the people you look at radiation poisoning or cancer. Still safe for the user, but not who it's used on" Reebok said as he tried to take the spit out of his ears.

Russel and the others looked at him with wide eyes.

"Uh~-"

"Alright, alright, my turn." Coco said, starting to get impatient. A worker bot flew to her and gave her the case concealing her weapon. She opened it up and took her bag out. It was now larger. "So what did you do to my weapon?" Coco asked a raised eyebrow.

"Activate Gianduja's mini-gun gun mode." Reebok said.

Coco did what he said and when it transformed her jaw dropped.

"No way." Coco said with shock.

Gianduja now had four gun barrels and four new chambers, making it larger with more firepower given.

"Quadruple the firepower with four special slots for each chamber that takes dust, which means you can now also fire four separate dust ammunition at the same time. Perfect considering your semblance." Reebok said with his arms crossed.

"How is it so light?" Coco asked.

"There are two separate chambers at top of the gun that takes gravity dust. The more it has the lighter it is." Reebok said.

"Why two?"

"I'll show you. Put your hands in those two extra grips at the sides." Reebok said. Coco did so. "Now squeeze pull them apart!" Reebok exclaimed.

Coco's eyes widen for a moment before doing so, only for Gianduja to split apart and transform around Coco's arms. Gianduja formed into a pair of mechanized gauntlets with two mini-gun barrels on each of them at the wrist area.

"Separated, but now can not only fire in two separate directions, but grants the added benefit of devastation melee power." Reebok said with a smile.

"Arc, it is official… your friend is cool." Coco said with a big smirk.

"Okay, I have stood by long enough! Gimme mine now!" Yang said with a big grin on her face. A worker bot flew over and gave Yang her case. When she opened it she looked surprised. "Are these-?"

"Greaves. Although punching has been your thing, it never hurts to add some kicks to those combos." Reebok said as Yang took out and put on Ember Celica and her new golden greaves which looked like anklets when inactive that were able to be clipped on around her legs and they looked to be in the same design of Ember Celica. "Click them together." Reebok said.

Once Yang did so the extended to armor up her legs up to the bottom of her knees and the entire top of her feet.

"Okay, looks good so far." Yang said checking out her new greaves. "Definitely fits my style." Yang said with a smirk, but then Reebok suddenly put a helmet atop her head. "Hey! Watch the hair!" Yang shouted with red eyes. "What's with this anyway?"

"You'll see. Just send a little aura to your greaves. Just a little." Reebok said.

Yang blinked her eyes. She looked down to her greaves and did what the genius said. When she did send aura to her feet, her new greaves suddenly glowed gold before bursting with fire, causing Yang to rocket up into the air.

Everyone looked up with shock as Yang tried to balance herself in the air.

She could not believe what was happening! She was flying! She was actually flying!

"Whoa! Holy crap!" Yang shouted as she tried to fly properly, but she was having a bit of trouble. She was moving all around the workshop, wobbling a bit here and there, almost like she was relearning how to walk again.

"I did the same with you Ember Celica. You remember that superhero movie with the man with armor? Send a small amount of aura to the palms of your Ember Celica. I made a new grip there for this situation. Remember, a small amount." Reebok said.

"Small amount, small amount, small amount." Yang said to herself, trying to remain calm. She sent a small amount to the new metallic grip around the palm of her hands and when she did, flames came out of them as well. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." Yang tried to balance herself with both hands and feet. Luckily after a moment, she finally managed to get the right rhythm and was flying properly. "Yes! Oh my God, Yes!" Yang cheered.

"Yang! You're flying!" Ruby exclaimed with amazed starry eyes.

"She can fly!" Nora added with equal amazement.

"Hell yes! I am now Queen of the Skies!" Yang exclaimed with a grin, but then she accidentally banged against a wall. "Ow."

"It'll take you a while to get used to it, but knowing you you'll get flying down as if it was second nature." Reebok said.

"So is that all they can do? Fly?" Coco asked.

"I highly doubt it." Weiss said with her arms crossed.

"Your doubts are correct." Reebok said. "Since Yang is as one would describe a fiery ball of energy with her plentiful reserves of aura and given the nature of her semblance, I altered Ember Celica to incorporate her power output while utilizing her aura naturally. With a bit of aura added to her gauntlets and greaves she can emit a burst of energy and fire power that can instantly double bother her strength and even her speed through her weapons. She'll punch and kick much harder and faster with bursts of fire to back them up, so in a way, they'll use the same power as her semblance without her having to use it at all. You can only imagine the strength they'll have when she does actually activate her semblance." Reebok explained with a smile and arms crossed.

"So in short, you gave her a set of weapons that make her stronger, faster and deadlier with just even a little bit amount of aura put into them." Jaune summarized.

"Basically." Reebok said with a shrug.

Yang suddenly landed next to Reebok and gave him a bone crushing hug.

"Thank you so much! I'm gonna rock so hard thanks to you!" Yang cheered with a grin as she hugged Reebok tightly.

"No problem… but can you let go of me before my lungs collapse?" Reebok grunted out. Thankfully Yang did so.

"You guys better watch out when the tournament comes around! Because this Sunny Dragon can now fly!" Yang cheered as she sent a burst of aura to her gauntlets and greaves, sending her rocketing straight up into the air, only for her head to slam into the ceiling and fall down to hit the ground hard. "Ow."

"And that's where the helmet came in handy." Jaune said.

A worker bot then flew towards Blake and handed her the case containing Gambol Shroud.

She opened it and took out her weapon.

"Yours I made to also use dust for melee attacks, sort of like Yatsuhashi's, but instead of using it to be a powerhouse of a weapon like his, for obvious reasons of course, I gave it more of usage for stealth. For one, the katana can now fire out of the hilt with a wire connecting to it, making it excellent for piercing an opponent from far away and even help bring you closer to them and vice versa. Knowing you this would help with you incorporating your clones with elemental properties into them to make sort of clone kamikaze techniques." Reebok explained. "Speaking of which, you know how your clones are simply made with a thought and some aura? Well I made something that will build on that." Reebok walked over and took out another patch like Fox's.

"What will this do?" Blake ask.

"It'll build upon your semblance as well, but I think it would be better if it were demonstrated. May I?"

"Hmm… okay." Blake said as she grabbed her long hair and lifted it up to reveal her neck. Reebok then implanted the patch, causing Blake to grunt from a slight sting.

"Okay, think of an attack with your weapon, but instead of performing it, just create a clone afterwards." Reebok said.

Blake's eyes widened at what he was implying. She did as he said. She thought of a quickly iaijutsu diagonal slash, then quickly created a shadow clone and hopped back, only to see the clone perform the technique for her before disappearing.

"What?" Blake's eyes widened in shock.

"I've been noticing that lately you've been using your clones offensively almost as much as you normally used them defensively. So I made this patch that will increase your clone technique more efficiently. Now before they disperse they will do a single action, which means you can create ones to attack for you while you keep moving. Hopefully with some aura training you can create more than one clone at a time so as to leave a trail of them performing techniques while you manage to keep away from your enemies' range of attack." Reebok explained.

"I… I don't believe it." Blake said with surprise.

"Oh and I also made this." Reebok reached into Blake's case and pulled out a rectangular pouch.

"What is that?" Ruby asked.

"Well, after examining Velvet's Anesidora, I pretty much utilized the technology for this." Reebok said.

"What?" Coco questioned as she got a little miffed that Reebok used Velvet's technology for another who wasn't a part of Team CFVY.

"Don't get mad. It doesn't work as efficiently." Reebok quickly said with a hand up in defense. "You see this pouch is used to make projectile weapons with Hard-Light Dust. I made these for Blake and Ren since they use shinobi style combat. They are able to make projectile weapons like shuriken and kunai, which can burst into a small explosion upon contact or just remain as simple projectiles, which can either be determined on the setting of a dial right here on the side." Reebok explained as he pointed to a dial on the side of the pouch.

He then turned it to the side that had the word 'silent' on it, hovered his hand above the top of the pouch, which then created a hard-light kunai and then he gave it to Blake who looked at it with surprised eyes.

"Wow. Thank you, Alex." Blake said.

"No problem. Just letting you know there is a time limit to those things." Reebok said just as the kunai then vanish. "See? They're more used for instantaneous attacks instead of used to be held on for a period of time."

"Understood." Blake said as she took the pouch from Reebok.

A worker bot then flew towards Weiss and handed her the case containing her weapon.

When Weiss opened it, her eyes widened as she noticed inside were not just Myrtenaster, but a pair of twin ice blue sabres and even a sabre blade with only a grip, but no hilt, yet the blade was a bit thicker than the twin sabres'. However what caught her attention on them were these symbols on the sides of the blades.

"These ones I felt were more appropriate." Reebok said. "The two sabres work just like Myrtenaster with a revolver of dust slots as well acting as the guards. They're fast and can deliver deadly slashes that can even cut through the strongest of stones, and with enough training you might be able to swing with enough force that you can cut through metal. I suggest using wind dust if you want their cutting power amplified."

Weiss took out the twin sabres first.

"What are these symbols carved on the sides of the blades?" Weiss asked.

"Allow me to demonstrate." Reebok said as he took Weiss' twin sabres from her grasp.

Reebok walked a bit away from the ground, before stabbing the tip of one of the sabres against the ground. He sent his aura into the sabre, causing the markings to glow as a glyph formed from the tip and expanded to surround Reebok, shocking everyone. He then raised the other sabre into the air while sending aura into them as well, causing the symbols on them to glow as he then spun it in hand in a windmill fashion, leading to the glyph under Reebok to expand more with each spin of the sabre up top. After it expanded four times than its original size, Reebok brought down the raised sabre, stabbing it into the glyph, causing a plume of wind to shoot from the glyph, causing a fierce wind that sent the others skidding back and toppling some objects in the workshop.

"You… those… they…" Weiss was too in shock to form a proper sentence.

"Back in ancient times it was said that magic was used by certain individuals. They are considered extinct now, but what they left behind is a different story." Reebok stood up. "They created ancient symbols called Runes, which over time people have actually studied them enough to make their own that work with aura. Thanks to a book a good friend had delivered to me overseas I studied these myself and noticed that there were specific runes that translated to the creation of glyphs. I carved them into these blades. In the hands of a normal person with aura, they can form glyphs depending on their own aura reserves and strength. So just think…" Reebok walked over to Weiss and extended the sabres with a smile on his face. "How powerful they can be when in the hands of a Schnee."

Weiss stared down at the sword with wide eyes. She looked up to Reebok, who just extended them to her more. She took them in hand and placed them back into her case.

"And this sole blade with a grip, but no hilt?" Weiss asked.

"It's supposed to be for Myrtenaster. It's a mod. When Myrtenaster's rapier blade is stabbed into it, it forms into a sabre as well, but one stronger with its strikes than the twin sabres, granted its speed is reduced by ten percent, but power behind a single strike is able to scar through even the toughest of metals, even those from Atlas. Of course with enough training, it'd be more deadly. It also can use glyphs as well, but then runes on them actually create much stronger and greater glyphs. So essentially, the twin sabres are for quick and versatile combat, while the mod for Myrtenaster is for more power that can even cut through the air itself." Reebok explained.

"Alex… thank you." Weiss thanked the genius as she stared at the swords.

"Any time Weiss." Reebok said with a smile.

"No… I mean it." Weiss said as she turned to him and hugged him. "Thank you so much." Weiss said with sincere gratitude.

Reebok body stiffened up again with wide eyes. Once Weiss pulled back, Reebok blinked his eyes, before rubbing the back of his head and looked to the side with a blush.

"Okay, okay, I can't wait any longer~!" Ruby whined. "Where is my-? Oh." Ruby noticed a worker bot extending her case over to her. Ruby took it and quickly opened it up. Her eyes widened at what she saw. "Is this…"

"Yep, that's Crescent Rose." Reebok said.

Crescent Rose was now in the form of a sword with the scythe blade folded against the staff that now had a guard at the lower half with the staff part below it being the hilt now. The scythe blade had its inner part pressed against the staff with the outer top part now acting as the edge of the blade with an extra new black blade sticking out the red mechanized top and the bladed tip of the scythe now was the bladed tip of the sword.

(Think the sword of Sparda (Devil Arm) from the DMC series.)

"I figured this would work on not just a practical level, but I just figured since you look up to your uncle so much, you'd like to have a weapon similar to his." Reebok said.

"Whoa. Wait until he finds out, huh Ruby?" Yang said to her sister. The helmet from before she tossed away.

Ruby took Crescent Rose in hand. She then found a new button in the staff, which changed it back into its scythe form, but that's when she noticed something… different.

"Wait… is that a second blade?" Ruby questioned. "And the staff is thicker… is this… is she now two scythes in one?!"

"Like always you are perceptive when it comes to weaponry, Ruby. Yes, I'll admit I had to tinker a bit more with Crescent Rose than expected, but now it can split into two bladed weapons that though splits the power, it makes them lighter and faster. I thought such a function would be perfect for a speed fighter such as yourself. I also took into account how they would work when you are using your semblance, so now you can become a bullet of rose petals that shreds right through your adversaries." Reebok said.

Ruby noticed two switches that when she slid one up and the other downward with her thumbs, her scythe split into two with a small spark of energy flashes the instant they split apart. She looked at both the scythes.

"So you did complicated surgery on Crescent Rose." Ruby said.

"Well… yeah…"

"Apart of me wants to hurt you." Ruby said, making Reebok gulp. "But a huge part of me says 'Thank You!'" Ruby cheered as she hopped into the air with joy. "I can't believe how great she is now!" Ruby cheered with a big grin.

"Okay, me next, me next!" Sun cheered with a grin just as Ruby reattached her two scythes into one. The worker bot holding Sun's weapon handed the case to him. He immediately opened the case and took out his Ruyi-Bang and Jingu-Bang. "Okay, so what did you do with- wait what's this?" Sun squeezed the new grips of nunchaku, causing them to burst with an icy blue energy that released an icy mist. "No~ way! Cool!"

"Form them into their staff mode." Reebok said.

Sun did so which caused his staff to burn with red hot energy with flames surrounding it.

"Hot!" Sun cheered with a grin.

"Now press those two buttons." Reebok said pointing to buttons near Sun's thumbs.

When he did his staff turned into a three-section staff, otherwise known as a sansetsukon, which then lit up with an electric purple energy that released purple electricity.

"Shocking!" Sun exclaimed with the biggest grin.

"This thing is basically what you see is what you get. Freeze things with your nunchaku, burn and send projectiles of fire with each swing of the staff and electrify and fire bolts of lightning with the sansetsukon. The bullets within the chamber will have the same effect." Reebok explained.

"Oh yeah. Hail to the king, baby!" Sun said with a grin as he slammed his weapon, which was in staff mode, causing a burst of fire to blow from the bottom of the staff.

"King of what?" Yang questioned with a chuckle and arms crossed.

A worker bot flew over to Neptune and gave him his weapon case.

"Looks like it's my turn." Neptune said as he opened his case to reveal Tri-Hard in its compact mode, but he noticed it being a bit thicker in mass. He took it out and activated it only to notice that he now had three extra barrels forming a plus formation for his gun. Plus there was a lever on the side that led to several different slots that had several different symbols for each slot. "Quadruple the firepower?" Neptune questioned in surprise.

"Not just that." Reebok walked over and gestured to the symbols and slots on the side with the new levers. "It has new settings on which type of firepower you want. For example, a stream of plasma, all four barrels firing into a one massive blast, each barrel blasting a laser that scorches upon contact, or even have them all spiral around while rapid firing thanks to the front half of the gun now able to spiral like a mini-gun barrel, essentially working like a plasma chain gun. That's not even all the settings." Reebok said causing Neptune's eyes to widen. "When transformed into you guandao or trident you can sent strikes of plasma energy with each swing and jab, or even send blades of energy with enough force. It even has slots for dust so you can use any element, such as lightning. In fact I actually made it that you can use up to three slots. If you use the elements of fire, ice and lightning, you'll be able to use a special function with them that grants you the ability to create storm clouds."

"Uh… cool, but wouldn't storm clouds mean there'd be-"

"Yes, but that's why I also made these." Reebok reached into Neptune's case and took out a belt with a round light blue button acting as the buckle and had an oxygen mask with a pair cylindrical tubes, one for each side of the mask, clipped onto the belt. "Put these on." Reebok said. Not questioning a thing, Neptune put on the belt, then the rebreather. "Press the button." Reebok said, and as Neptune did so, the belt glowed with outlines of light blue before it suddenly generated a force field that encompass his entire body, perfectly taking the same shaper as him, making it look like a second layer to his body made of energy. "The belt, when activated, generates a force field that covers your entire body. You'll still be able to move freely as it doesn't hinder your movement, but keeps out any form of element from making contact with your body except the air we breathe, but in case you are in an environment where there is no safe air to breathe or just no air at all, this rebreather is filled with my Refresher Pills. Each one used and properly ventilated, each giving you ten minutes of air with twenty of the pills in total, ten inside each canister, which in total grants you three hours and twenty minutes of oxygen. In short, if you're ever stuck in the ocean, this force field will keep the water off of you and burn away any droplets on your person, even drying you, while the rebreather supplies hours' worth of oxygen. If you need me to make bigger canisters in the future just ask." Reebok explained.

Neptune took of the mask then turned off the belt. He suddenly turned to Reebok, then all of a sudden he had him wrapped around his arms.

"Thank You, Man! So Much! You're My Hero!" Neptune exclaimed as he shed tears of happiness.

"Uh, no problem, Neptune." Reebok said patting the aqua haired teen's back. "By the by, if Sage and Scarlet ever need an upgrade, I'm always available."

"Okay! Now it's time for the best team to get their weapons!" Nora cheered with a grin, which had some, mainly Cardin and Coco, look at Team JNPR with half lidded eyes at her bold statement.

A worker bot flew over to Ren and handed him his weapon case. Ren opened it up to find both of his weapons along with a pouch; the same given to Blake. However this pouch had runes written on them.

"I changed the dagger blades of StormFlower to emit a layer of plasma energy that constantly moves with enough speed to cut deep into any surface be it wood, stone or metal. Helps slicing deeper into things easier, and the SMGs now have more 'oomph' to their firepower, able to cause the bullets to burst upon impact with enough power to stun a target with one and even push them back with a barrage. At least for those big Grimm, ya know? Small fries will definitely meet their end after a barrage." Reebok said as he tried getting Neptune off of him, but the guy was a strong hugger.

"And what about Ren's Jian?" Jaune asked.

"Well I made the blade of it have the same ability as the dagger blades of StormFlower, but if you look to the sides of the blade you'll see I put runes on them as well." Reebok said pointing to the rune symbols on the green of the blade, but none on the gold parts. The green haired genius was still trying to pry Neptune off of him.

"Oh~, what do they do?" Nora asked with intrigue as Ren examined his Jian.

"You see I discovered from the same book my friend delivered that runes not only were able to create spells on a physical level, but even on a mental and emotional level. You all know how semblances can be similar to another. Well there are separate categories to define them. Like how Ruby's would be categorized as Speed or even Bodily Manipulation-"

"What?" Ruby questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Or how Blake and Sun's can categorize as Duplication? Well Ren falls into the category of Empath. A person who has the ability to incorporate their own emotional state into a form of ability that affects things on a physical level. The runes on his Jian can not only connect to his semblance, but to use it in ways he would not be able to do without it. At least until his semblance evolves to use such abilities in the future." Reebok explained.

"Evolve?" Ruby questioned with surprise.

"What do you mean by 'ways I would not'?" Ren asked.

"Well you see I've been studying runes and their affects for a while now to help with advancement in technology in the future. I got them down enough to know what works with what and how they work. Yours I managed to make with notes from the book and lots of practice, not to forget trial and error of course, so now you'll be able to send strikes powered by your semblance." Reebok said as he managed to get Neptune off of him, thanks to a little help from a worker bot.

"How does that work?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You see while using your semblance it amplifies the affects. You can stab it into the ground and pour your semblance into it, affecting small area around you depending on how much energy you put into it, which also affects its duration. Helps to hide people around you as well as the area would be hidden from the Grimm until the affects wear off. However you also can send blades of energy of your semblance. They do not harm anything upon impact, but whatever they strike, be it organic or inorganic, it becomes engulfed in your semblance, hiding whatever it touches from the Grimm, but I also made another ability you can use with those runes. Seeing as you are an empath that concentrates to hide your emotions from the world, those runes can actually absorb the effects of your negative emotions, allowing you to send strikes that can emit pure negativity upon whatever it makes contact with via strike or from a blade of energy. Great for distractions. The pouch also given to you can make Hard-Light projectiles that utilize the same abilities." Reebok explained, causing everyone, especially Ren, to look to him with wide eyes. "Uh, did I explain that in a clear manner? I know the idea is something to really wrap your head around."

"I understand as clear as day. This… will really help." Ren said as he put away his Jian and bowed to Reebok. "Thank you, Alex."

"Eh. It was no problem." Reebok said with a bow of his own. "By the way, did you finally come up with a name for your Jian?"

"Yes. Dragon Lily." Ren said as he looked to his Jian, now named Dragon Lily.

"Sounds perfect." Reebok said with a thumbs up.

"Yeah, but you know what sounds more perfect? The badass weapon I'm gonna get! Gimme!" Nora exclaimed with a big smile and her hands out with her fingers clenching in and out in a grabby motion. The worker bot holding her cased handed it to her, allowing her to quickly open it and take out Magnhild, only to notice something else inside. "A second head?" Nora questioned as she noticed a head just like Magnhild's inside the case.

"Yeah, you see I figured you'd like this." Reebok walked over and pressed a button on the shaft of Magnhild, causing an axe blade to protrude out of the face of War Hammer's head.

"What~?! You Didn't!" Nora exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

"Yep. Congrats. You now have a battle axe. See the second head is used with the same functions, but it's not only a replacement in case this one ever breaks, though I think that'll be near impossible, but it can attach to the other end of the shaft. You see if you press the two buttons at the middle of the shaft you can split the weapon apart, allowing you to use dual war hammers, battle axes or one of each." Reebok explained.

"You mean now I can 'Smash and Slice' without having to choose between the two?!" Nora exclaimed with a big~, big, big grin.

"Yep. Plus there's one more function that I know you'll love. You see those new elastic grips where you usually hold onto Magnhild?" Reebok gestured to the dual rubber grips on the shaft of Magnhild. Nora nodded in response. "Twist the- hold on. Everyone stand back!" Reebok exclaimed. Everyone's eyes widened as they knew what this meant. Once everyone took a safe distance, Reebok continued. "Twist them."

Nora looked to her weapon. Once she twisted the grips, Magnhild suddenly erupted with electricity, electrocuting Nora. Nora's eyes widened as she felt her whole body erupt with new energy. She suddenly laughed with manic joy as she felt the increase in strength.

"I. HAVE. THE. POWER!" Nora screamed with extreme vigor as she thrust her war hammer up high, causing a lightning bolt to fire out of the head of Magnhild and striking the ceiling, affecting the lights, causing them to flash on and off for a few moments, but luckily the worked proper a moment afterwards.

Everyone stared at Nora with shocked expressions and wide eyes as her body sparked with electricity.

"Whoa, boy." Yang said with shock.

"Well this feels like it's going to be a thing." Jaune said with wide eyes.

"I felt that this was proper. Since Nora's semblance utilizes electricity to empower herself with new found strength, it made sense to make her a weapon that can emit electricity into her system. This is caused by increased sudden friction within the mechanisms. Also I tweaked it a bit to make it more possible. Even one twist can make it highly conductive." Reebok explained.

"I Love It!" Nora cheered as she suddenly started hopping everywhere around the room faster than the eye could see. Even more than usual. "I love it! I love it! I love it! I~ Love It!" Nora cheered before she appeared between her team.

"Easy girl." Jaune said with both his hands raised slightly.

A worker bot flew over to Pyrrha and handed her case over.

"Thank you." Pyrrha thanked the machine before she opened up her case to reveal Miló and Akoúo̱. Miló was in xiphos mode.

"Your weapon was a no brainer as well. I made both your shield and weapon to generate dust that it is loaded in within slots, but I also gave them a strong magnetic affinity. With aura pumped into them, they can drag in anything with a metallic and magnetic field closer to you and even repel them. In fact if you focus enough aura into Akoúo̱ and let it all out in a burst, you'll send a magnetic pulse of energy that can send your foe and object away, and even make them temporarily magnetic after the strike. Also if you press the button on the shaft near your thumb there while putting aura into Miló, well..." Reebok gestured for Pyrrha to do so and when she did, the blade of her weapon suddenly burst with purple electricity, encasing it. "It generates a natural electrical flow caused by friction within the mechanisms. It encases the blades in electricity and even fire electrical bullets when in rifle mode. This not only amplifies the damage given, but also amplifies the magnetic force. You can even fire bolts of lightning and even fire shots of electricity which can create a magnetic pull upon contact with another surface." Reebok finished explaining.

"This is incredible." Pyrrha said as she stared at her weapon with wide eyes as Miló stopped emitting electricity. "I don't know what to say, but… thank you, Alexander." Pyrrha said with a smile and bow.

"Anytime." Reebok said with a smile.

"Guess it's my turn." Jaune said as the worker bot holding his case handed it to him. When Jaune did, his eyes widened, but not from the sight of Excalibur as it was the same. No, it was what was with it that caught his attention. "Crocea Mors." Jaune said as he took out the sheathed sword. "You fixed it."

"I told you I would." Reebok said.

Jaune unsheathed the sword to find something on the blade.

"More runes?" Jaune questioned.

"Both Crocea Mors and Excalibur now work the same way, but since the former is old fashion I had to carve those into the blade after I reformed it. Since you can't use Arc Light for now, I had made a new improvement to your weapons to make up for that. Now you can send your own aura into the swords which causes them to amplify their own strength and also with a strong enough swing you'll send blades of energy. Luckily even if you use a little, they can amplify it tenfold, so you won't have to worry about burning out so quickly." Reebok explained.

"Whoa, wait, from the looks of it, can Crocea Mors…" Before Jaune could try anything, Reebok took the sword and re-sheathed it as he then caused the sheath to transform into a new large blade, forming Crocea Mors into a greatsword.

"Not bad, huh?" Reebok said with a smirk.

'Just like the old days. He actually made it like how I described it.' Jaune thought with a smile as Reebok changed the scabbard piece back to normal and handed the weapon back to Jaune.

"By the way, two things. One: The runes don't just incorporate your semblance, but other people's and after you're all healed up the same can be said with your Arc Light abilities. And two: Every time you pour your aura into the swords, they will take a small amount of aura and build it up inside of them over time. You'll know the amount and limit with your aura as it's what will connect you and sword together. Once enough power is stored into the blade, you can unleash a giant blade of energy that leads to devastating damage to even some of the largest of Grimm. However to use it properly you'll need to focus your energy along with the sword's own. It can leave you open, but if done right, almost nothing will be able to stand in your way." Reebok finished explaining.

"This is perfect! Let's see Vlad defend himself against this." Jaune said with a grin.

"Yeah. Let's see." Reebok whispered to himself.

"What was that?" Nora asked.

"Nothing, nothing." Reebok said as he walked around the work desk in front of the group.

"Reebok, can I ask something?" Ruby spoke up.

"Um, sure. What?"

"Why did you suddenly wanted to upgrade our weapons so badly?" Ruby asked.

Reebok sighed as he put his hands against the surface of the work desk.

"After today… I just couldn't stand by and not." Reebok said with a frown. "Grimm from around the four corners of the world have been showing up to this kingdom. Rampages, Timberwolves, Lycans, Brutes, Blaze Serpents-"

"Blaze Serpents?" Jaune questioned.

"Sun came across a den of them in the Forever Falls." Reebok said.

"Stupid flying snake bastards burnt up my tail." Sun complained as he held his bandaged tail.

"And that's only to name a few. Lord knows what else is out there. I didn't make these weapons for you guys to use in the tournament. I made these for all of you because the future isn't looking too bright. I'd rather be safe than sorry knowing the actual dangers out there in the world." Reebok said with a serious expression.

Though not the actual reason he did this upon impulse, Reebok did not lie either. He was preparing his friends for the dangers in the world, but the dangerous he was thinking about weren't just the Grimm.

"We understand." Ruby said with a nod.

"Yeah. With these weapons, we'll be able to take on anything that comes our way." Coco said.

"Maybe even everything!" Nora exclaimed.

"I'm not sure about that. The weapons are powerful, but they are only as efficient as the ones who wield them." Ren said.

"True. So in order to make sure they don't go to waste, we will train to be able to use them to the fullest." Weiss said.

"Thank you, Alex. You helped us so much, I don't think any of us know how to repay you." Pyrrha said.

"Just use them to the fullest of your abilities and show them to rest of the world." Reebok said.

"Given that the tournament's coming up, that last part goes without saying." Cardin said with a smirk.

"Good." Reebok said with a nod and smile.

"Well, if that's it, we'll let you get back to your work." Coco said.

"Oh there is one more thing. Ruby, Nora, I got somethings you'll be interested in." Reebok said, earning the two's attention.

"First Nora. I wanted to show you this." Reebok took out what looked to be a plate of armor. "Jaune, I'm gonna need your help with this." Reebok looked to Seymour and nodded, which the bot did so with a tilt in return. Seymour glowed a bit as the armlets around Jaune's forearms flashed a bit. "I'm allowing you to use Arc Light for a small shot of power, but after that I'm restraining it again. Now I need you to send a small blast of energy at this." Reebok held up the armor plate.

Jaune just shrugged and aimed his finger at the armor plate. He gathered golden energy to the tip of his finger and shot it out like a laser at the armor plate, but the laser beam bounced off of the armor plating, causing it to ricochet into a wall.

"What the what?!" Jaune exclaimed as his armlets flashed again.

"Ta-da! Like it? It's for Liversnap! Since his real biggest threat is your energy, Jaune, I made this special armor that will bounce Arc Light right off of it." Reebok said with a smile.

"Oh shit." Jaune said with wide eyes.

"Awesome!" Nora cheered. "When will it be ready?"

"Definitely before the Vytal Tournament." Reebok said as he put away the armor plate.

"I can't wait!" Nora cheered as she hopped into the air.

"Reebok, you are making sure to keep this on the down low, right?" Jaune asked.

"Don't worry Jaune, I'm making sure I keep this project a secret. Just make sure none of you speak about it outside this room." Reebok said.

Everyone nodded in response.

"I get ya. Make it a secret weapon until the tournament where Liversnap and I will take the world by storm!" Nora exclaimed.

"Nora, you can't have Liversnap fight with us in the tournament. It's against the rules." Jaune said.

"You don't know that!" Nora shouted.

"Yes I do! It's common sense!" Jaune shouted back.

"I won't believe a thing until I see it in writing." Nora turned away with her head held high and arms crossed.

"So what do you have for me?" Ruby asked.

"This." Reebok showed off an oval shaped piece of tech with a flat end on one side.

"What's that?" Ruby asked.

"A special device I made for Zwei. Watch this." Reebok placed the device on his back, which instantly attached to it, and then when he sent aura into it a pair of golden wings came out the sides of the device. "Voila! Meet my newest invention! Arc Wing Pack!" Reebok exclaimed with a grin and fist to his hips as Ruby and Nora gasped while everyone looked in shock. Jaune's mouth was gaped. They look like his Arc Wings, but were smaller. "Now listen, they're a prototype. As you can see they are a bit small. I figured these would be perfect for a canine and you're the only one I know who owns a dog, so I'm handing it to you. Zwei will be the first to test how efficient they are." Reebok said as he stopped pouring in aura to the pack, causing the wings to disperse before he pressed a button on the back of it, causing the device to detach from his back as he then handed it to Ruby.

"No way!" Ruby exclaimed with a big grin as she stared at the device with wide starry eyes.

"This is amazing!" Weiss exclaimed with wide eyes.

"This is great!" Yang cheered with a grin.

"This is a nightmare." Blake said with wide, fearful eyes.

"Zwei's going to be the first dog to ever fly!" Yang exclaimed with a fist pump.

"No~." Blake whined as she felt herself shrinking out of fear from the idea of flying dogs.

"Well that's pretty much everything." Reebok said with a shrug.

"Thanks Reebok!" Ruby exclaimed as she rushed away, eager to give Zwei his new wings.

"Thanks again, Brain Boy." Coco said as she and her team turned to leave.

"Bye." Velvet waved goodbye with a smile on her face.

"Later, Short-stack." Cardin said with a smile and nod as he and Russel left with their weapons and their teammates' as well.

Sun grinned at Reebok with a wink and finger point along with a 'tsk, tsk' sound before he and Neptune left as well.

"Thank you again, Alexander." Pyrrha said with a smile.

"I can't wait for the armor!" Nora cheered before running out the room. "Oh! I might need some for myself too!"

"Oh boy." Ren said as he turned and headed out the room after Nora with Pyrrha following.

Now it was just Jaune and Reebok left.

"Thanks Alex." Jaune said.

"Uh, no problem, buddy." Reebok said, surprised that Jaune used his actual name.

"I mean it. Thank you, for everything. I honestly wouldn't have made it this far without you. Hell I'd probably be freaking out on what to do if you weren't around. Thanks for being there to help me, Alex. Helping all of us." Jaune said.

Reebok blinked his eyes with slight surprise, before smiling.

"What are friends for?"

Jaune smiled back.

"Yeah."

The two nodded at one another before Jaune turned and left the room.

"Now where was I?" Reebok took his helmet from earlier and put it back atop his head.

Unbeknownst to him, attached to the ceiling was a little device. A circular camera with a six mechanized spider legs. It viewed Alex, but then it looked around the room to find all of his device, but it did not care for them. However, one things peaked its interest.

On one table were stacks of blue prints with labels on each of them.

The one that caught its attention was the one labeled:

Silver Eye and Arc Gold.

.

.

Teams JNPR and RWBY made it to their dorms where Ruby opened the door to her team's dorm.

"Zwei~!" Ruby called out to her family's faithful canine. Zwei rushed out with a happy grin as he barked. "Hold still. You're gonna love this." Ruby said as she put the device on his back with Blake keeping her distance as she did so. When it was on, Zwei was confused, but when Ruby turned it on, out sprouted wings, surprising the canine. "Now you're a flying dog! A Super Corgi!" Ruby cheered.

"I was thinking more a Wonder Zwei." Jaune said with his hands in his pockets.

Zwei's canine mind decide to try using his aura to control them through the weird device. When he did the wings started to flap. He suddenly started to rise in the air. He was flying now! He was a flying loveable ball of fuzz now. Watch Out World!

"Look at that. He's got the hang of it." Yang said with a smile while Blake hid behind her.

Zwei then flew back into the room, barking with joy, but accidentally hitting things off of shelves and desks.

"He needs more practice." Blake said.

"We best get in there before he really hurts himself." Weiss said.

"He'll be fine. Although I can't say the same for our stuff." Yang said as she and the rest of her team headed into the room.

"Hey Ruby." Jaune spoke up catching the red reaper's attention.

"Hmm?" Ruby looked to Jaune who started rubbing the back of his head.

"Uh, well um, you know, after today with all the excitement and all, well um… would you... like to go out on a picnic with me?" Jaune asked with a blush, as the rest of Teams RWBY and JNPR's heads popped out from the dorms. "You know, since it might be a nice way calm our nerves from today."

Ruby's cheeks were red as she looked surprised, while both teams strangely had mirroring reactions to a member from the other team with Nora and Yang gasping with big open mouth grins, Pyrrha and Weiss' eyes were simply widened and Ren and Blake just blinked their eyes and kept a stoic expression as they weren't really that effected by a common occurrence in a romantic relationship.

"Oh, yeah, sure! I mean, um… well actually Yang and I plan on going to Patch during the vacation, but I'll definitely have time for a picnic in the morning before we leave!" Ruby exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement and nervousness.

"What?! You're leaving us for the next two weeks?!" Nora screamed as she suddenly appeared in front of Ruby, grabbing the girl by her shoulders and shaking her back and forth. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?! We could have done so much together before that!"

"Nora, please stop shaking my girlfriend." Jaune said with a dull look as he grabbed Nora's arms to stop her from shaking Ruby.

"Yeah, easy there Hammer Queen. From how it's looking I don't need my sister to suddenly gain the nickname 'Vomit Girl'." Yang said helping to stop Nora as Ruby's face was turning green.

"Please no." Ruby groaned out as Nora finally stopped shaking her.

"Man, this stinks. With you guys gone, only Weiss and Blake will be here with us. We'll be stuck with the WBs." Nora complained with her arms slumped and head pulled back.

"Hey! We're not so bad." Weiss complained with her brow furrowed and hands on her hips.

"I never said you were, but knowing you two, instead of having fun with us you'll just be locked in your room reading and studying all day long." Nora said with a frown and tilting her head side to side.

"That's not… I mean, yes, but… um…" Weiss looked to Blake to help her out her.

"She's not wrong." Blake said shaking her head.

A lot of help she was.

"We have to celebrate tonight!" Nora said.

"Nope. Ruby and I need our sleep for tomorrow morning. Celebrate another time." Jaune said.

"But Jaune~-"

"No." Jaune said with a stoic expression, causing Nora to whine even more with a quivering frown.

"Um, actually we could do something right now. The day's not over yet. How about a movie?" Ruby suggested.

"Yes! I can always count on you, Ruby!" Nora cheered with a huge grin.

"I'll go get the movie!" Ruby cheered as she rushed back into her team's dorm.

"… She's gonna pick horror, isn't she?" Jaune rhetorically asked.

"Not even dating for an entire month and you already know her so well." Yang said with a smirk.

"Well I have known since day one here." Jaune retorted.

"Sometimes it feels like you've known her longer." Nora said with her hands on her hips, causing Jaune's body to faintly flinch.

"I'll just go start making the popcorn." Ren said.

"Weiss, order pizza!" Nora exclaimed, pointing at the heiress.

"What? Why me?!" Weiss shouted.

"Because you're the one with the big bucks!"

"Nora." Ren said his partner's name with disapproval.

"Ugh." Weiss groaned with annoyance, but then she took out her scroll. "The things I do for you people."

"Weiss, please allow me to pay for it." Pyrrha said.

"No Pyrrha, that wouldn't be fair." Weiss said, acting dignified and being kind to the Mistral Champion.

"Yeah, it'd only be fair if Nora paid." Yang said.

"I don't have the big bucks for the big cheese." Nora retorted.

"Just how many pizzas do you expect us to order?" Jaune questioned.

"What's the largest size? Because I need more than five."

"What?!" Weiss screamed.

"I found a good one!" Ruby cheered as she raised a DVD up high in the air.

"I am not ordering more than five pizzas." Weiss argued.

"You're right. We need to think about feeding the others." Nora said, making Weiss glare at her with a growl.

"Maybe we should discuss things inside. We're no doubt disturbing other students with all this yelling." Blake said.

"I agree." Ren said as he walked over into Team RWBY's dorm room with bags of popcorn in one hand and several bowls in the other.

"I'll melt some butter for those." Yang said as she entered the dorm room as well. "Weiss order ten large pies."

"Wha-? You over-gluttonous…" Weiss growled, but then she breathed in through her nose and exhaled. "Fine… but this is loan. Not an offering." Weiss said with a stern glare as she walked into the dorm room.

"Weiss, I insist, allow me to assist with the pay." Pyrrha said.

"Hey if we're just going to pig out, I know this great ice cream place that makes the most perfect strawberry sundaes. They deliver." Jaune said with his hands in his pockets as he and Nora followed into the room.

"Stuff it, Arc!" Weiss shouted as Jaune closed the door behind him. Suddenly Liversnap burst out of JNPR's dorm room and knocked down RWBY's door to get in. "Oh Gosh-Darn It!" Weiss shouted as Saber even strolled in at a calm pace.

.

.

Within Headmaster Ozpin's office, Ozpin had read through the reports Professor Peach had delivered.

Though a risky move to have the students explore the Forever Falls for this, he needed to find out not just what type of Grimm were hiding out in the forest, but how they were behaving.

From the reports and even footage taken by the Light Flight bots made by Beacon's resident genius, they were actually acting out of the norm of Grimm.

They were actually being organized.

He had an idea how.

Earlier Ruby, Yang, Pyrrha and Nora arrived, along with Nora's pet Ursa, had told him that they had actually witnessed Vlad's 'special ability' in action. He told them he'd look into the matter.

He always hated to lie to people. It was such an irony on how well he is at doing so.

Ironwood, Qrow and Goodwitch were in the office with them. He read the report aloud to them. Safe to say none of them were happy with what they've learned.

"Well on the bright side I could get a good warm up if I head in there myself." Qrow said.

"This is no time for jokes, Qrow!" Ironwood shouted.

"Who's joking? Someone needs to go in there and clear out the mess. Just give me an afternoon." Qrow said before drinking from his flask.

"That won't be necessary. I'm having my men purge both the Forever Falls and Emerald Forest." Ironwood said.

"Oh sure, send in the tin soldiers who haven't been at it as long as the veteran who can decapitate a titan's head off. My way would have been cleaner. At least in regards to less blood being on the trees." Qrow said with a stoic expression.

"I have faith that my men can handle this. They may not be at your level, but with their numbers they'll be able to handle the job much quicker with the more ground they can cover as a unit."

"Wanna bet?" Qrow questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Enough, Qrow. I'm going to put my trust in the general here." Ozpin said, earning a groan and eye roll from the Branwen. "However I will admit I am concern. From the reports, seeing as Lycans and Brutes are active within the forests, I do feel worried that their might be more 'advanced' Grimm hiding somewhere out of sight."

"Granted, but what truly is worrisome is that we have legions of Grimm with so far high A ranked ones dominating the area and yet none have attempted to breach the school." Glynda said with her arms crossed.

Everyone was silent for a moment.

"Yes… that is worrisome." Ironwood said with a furrowed brow. "I've never seen Grimm act this way. Patience when possessing great numbers and strength is not something any Grimm, especially the ones in the reports, would ever consider. It's supposed to be impossible. There's only one answer for this… it's her doing."

Momentary silence enveloped the area once more.

"For now we need to focus on thinning the numbers and maintaining a strong defense around the school. James, we'll need some backup from Atlas. Especially with what's coming up in two weeks." Ozpin said.

"Yes. I understand… but there is something that I believe needs to be discussed." Ironwood said, earning everyone's attention. "Have you chosen a candidate?" Ironwood asked, causing the others' blood to run cold, but they maintain their composure.

"I have been keeping my eye on this one… but I believe we should hold off for the meantime-"

"Hold off? You're joking, right?!" Ironwood questioned with shock. "Ozpin, there's no time for that! Looks what's in front of you! They're here! Grimm from the four corners have arrived in Vale and are now surrounding the kingdom! And you want to hold off on what could potentially save the people?!" Ironwood raised his voice.

"James… I know it may sound foolish… but this matter… it's different than what it seems. Choosing a maiden now might not be the best-"

"Choosing a maiden is always the best option when it is necessary!" Ironwood shouted.

"Calm down, Jimmy. Oz isn't saying it isn't necessary. He's just saying now may not be the best time." Qrow said.

"How is it not?" Ironwood questioned.

"Our enemy is here, and from what it looks like they're not fooling around. Acting so rash would probably play into their hands."

"How? How would it play into their hands?" Ironwood asked with narrowed eyes, but all he got was silence. Ironwood closed his eyes and let out an exhale. "I made a promise. A promise to protect these people from danger. From them. From her. I plan on following through. Whatever it takes."

"James…"

"The maiden is needed." Ironwood said, interrupting Glynda. "We do nothing and they could find what we're hiding, ruining everything. We need a new Fall Maiden before they strike. If you have a candidate then bring her in. You must bring her in."

"You know there's something in your tone that I don't like." Qrow said with a frown and furrowed brow. "What if we do hold off instead?" Qrow asked with his arms crossed.

"Then you'll leave me no choice… but to tell the truth to the counsel." Ironwood said with a serious tone and expression.

Qrow narrowed his eyes while Glynda's became wide.

"See? There you go again. Stabbing Oz in the back." Qrow said with a glare.

"I'm looking out for everyone. I played along when you said hide the truth from the council, I even understood your reasons, but I am telling you that if you hold off on creating 'our' new Fall Maiden, I will tell the council everything so as to make plans to protect the people here." Ironwood said with a stern expression.

Qrow growled as he uncrossed his arms, looking ready to give a good thrashing, but he stopped when Ozpin raised his hand up.

Ozpin brought his hands back together as he had his eyes closed. He took in a deep breath through his nose then after a moment he exhaled through his nostrils.

"Alright." Ozpin said, shocking Qrow and Glynda. "If you're serious, and I know you are, then… I will bring her in… but remember, it is her choice."

"Understood." Ironwood said with a nod. "My men will start the extermination effective immediately. Goodbye, Ozpin."

Ironwood turned and headed out, using the elevator to exit the office.

Once the Atlas general was gone, Qrow sighed.

"You know if you do go through with it, you're really going to piss 'him' off." Qrow said.

"I know… but we know James. When he sets out on something he follows through, no matter the cost. I cannot afford the council knowing any of this." Ozpin said.

"Still no high opinion of them, huh?" Qrow questioned.

"It's not just that. I've noticed something when I last met with them. Something seemed… off." Ozpin said, causing a new sense of worry within Qrow and Glynda. "Glynda. Keep an eye on our candidate." Ozpin said to the vice headmistress.

"Yes, Headmaster." Glynda said with a somber expression. She looked to her scroll pad and brought up a picture of Pyrrha Nikos.

.

.

It was now nighttime.

After watching a horror movie that actually got Jaune and even Pyrrha screaming in horror, despite the gore being cheesy at times, and of course engorging themselves with junk food, Nora eating the most of it all, everyone retired to their beds for slumber.

Everyone was now sleeping in their beds, resting through the tummy-aches caused by over eating of pizza and ice cream.

All except for Blake.

She had a small lamp on the book shelf next to her bed as she read a book. Or at least she tried to. She was having difficulty relaxing all thanks to what she learned.

She knew of what was really going on and what was going to happen thanks to her eavesdropping from last time. It was what she learned earlier that kept her uneased.

What she learned about Adam.

Knowing that in another timeline he would meet such a fate.

The same fate she was always scared he would end up in. And it turns out, she was right to be afraid.

Her mind went back to when she first met Adam. He was so much different. He still had anger issues, but he had more… humility.

…

Maybe it was time to sleep now.

Blake closed her book and placed it atop the bookshelf beside her bed and turned off the lamp. She stared at her lap where her hands laid. Her expression was somber. After a few moments, she looked out the window and stared up at the moon.

Something that radiated with an energy hard to ignore, but had part of itself shattered from something in the past.

"Adam."

.

.

Within a warehouse filled with Atlas technology, the whole area was painted red.

Dead Atlas soldiers littered the area, along with parts from their bodies. There were even corpses of Atlas soldiers hanging from the ceiling and railing of the upper floor, tied by rope and wire with their blood dripping from their bodies and dropping onto the floor.

An Atlas soldier tried to crawl away, leaving a trail of blood behind from his underbelly sliding against the pavement. He let out pained grunts and moans as he tried to crawl away to safety, despite the obvious futility.

The sounds of footsteps were heard.

A pair of legs walked by the crawling soldier before stopping beside it.

Though it was obvious that death was looming over him, the soldier continued to try and crawl away, despite hope all, but have been slipped through his fingers.

The soldier let out a low, pained groan as he stuck a hand out to continue crawling, but a red bladed katana stabbed right through the back of his neck. The soldier gagged as he now choked from his injuries; tasting his own blood.

After a few moments of pain, it then left, followed by the rest of any feeling throughout his body and then the final embrace of death. His hand fell upon the ground as his body went limp.

The katana blade pulled out of the person's neck, only for after a moment of silence did it then sliced off the head of the soldier.

After tossing away traces of blood off the blade via a slash to the side, the katana was re-sheathed before a hand reached down and picked up the severed head.

It was none other than Adam.

He took off the helmet of the soldier.

"Tch." Adam tossed away the head of the deceased soldier. "All this work… better be worth the trouble." Adam said as he tossed away the Atlas soldier helmet only for a black gloved hand to grab it in midair.

End of Chapter 12

Grimm-dex Entries:

Furcifer – Humanoid chameleon Grimm that can turn invisible and like to attack with their tongues to drag their target in and kill them, mainly with a strong grip from their claws and crushing their skulls with one good bite of their admittedly powerful jaws.

Physical Description: They are scaly Grimm that a nearly as tall as an average human being's height. Their torso is humanoid with humanoid arms that have reptilian claws, legs like a chameleon, a long curled tail, bone studs along its back and a head in the shape similar to a furcifer chameleon's covered in a bone mask, but with a bony frill and a pair of horns, similar to that of a triceratops.

Razor – Large muscular Grimm with spikes protruding out their bodies, like their arms, knuckles (which can range from one giant one to 2-3 long ones), legs, back and even from their heads. They are highly aggressive Grimm that live for one thing: Ripping and Tearing… with their claws. As one could tell they love making things bloody with their protrusions. Everything for them is cutting, slicing, tearing and ripping with their claws. They even will cut up the area around them, with the part they designate as their 'den' being littered with claw marks everywhere. However because of this mentality of focusing on only aggressively cutting this apart, it makes them predictable and simple-minded. They are essentially muscle heads who'd rather use their brawns instead of brains. Although that's basically all Grimm, so it's not too bad. To Grimm standards at least. Despite their focus on brawn over brain, that does not make them any less dangerous. If not prepared, a Razor can slice into a person's body and shatter their aura all in one strike. Being fast on your feet and outthinking them is the key to success. Remember that, or else you'll be next on the chopping block.

Physical Description: A Grimm with a large muscular humanoid build with razor sharp spikes coming out the back of its wrists, which can be either one large, long and thick spike or 2-3 long, thinner spikes. The latter can protrude out the knuckles as well. It can also have spikes sticking out of other body parts, like from out its back, elbows, arms, legs and heels of its feet, but the ones that protrude out the backs and elbows are long, while ones sticking out its arms, legs and heel are much shorter. Their masks cover the front of the top half of their head with two long spikes coming off the back of it, usually in a V-formation, and of course it has sharp teeth.

Insectator – Latin for "Pursuer". Aggressive and stubborn. Those are the best words to describe the Insectator. They will constantly pursue a target no matter what until either its chosen prey or itself dies. One must fall for the chase to end. This is how it earned its name. Even when it is obvious they will lose and that death is staring them in the face, they do not care. These are the epitome of Grimm who only care about destruction. However it is this carelessness that makes them so easy to deal with. They will never use their heads. They are like mindless drones that only know to travel around and kill. That's it. However, despite their lack of thinking skills, they do at least comprehend that they are stronger in a group, so when you see one Insectator, expect more just around the corner. Also since their bodies are so small with their feet being unable to touch the ground they use their overly large and extremely muscular arms for travel, and believe it or not, they are very fast despite the physics of their physical form.

Physical Description: They have an alligator head with long floppy ears sticking out the sides, small reptilian bodies that are only a foot long with small legs comparable to those of a baby alligator's, a stubby tail and overly large and extremely muscular arms with equally large hands.

Rampage – Large dinosaur-like Grimm that usually enjoys napping, especially under the ground. When awake they act like raging bulls or rhinos, charging at the closest being with a soul, aiming to crush and trample them. The force behind its charge attack, coupled with its steel hard cranium, they can break through several buildings in a row, and its bite is strong enough to crush a boulder into pieces and tear right through metal. Once it gets going, it's hard to stop it, at least if you're meeting it head on. This charge head first mentality makes them easy to handle, despite their durability. However despite how mundane it might come off as, it possesses unique properties within its body, its tail can absorb the rays of the Sun (something the majority of Grimm cannot do without harm) and in the process creates a Nova Dust Crystal; the rarest and one of the most, if not the most powerful dust crystal of all time. However this process takes a very long time to complete. It usually takes a year for a Nova Dust crystal to form and much, much longer for it to form completely.

Physical Description: A giant Grimm with a large, vertically long rectangular plated skull with a triceratops-like body that has plates all over its entire body and a long tail with a tri-tip on the end of it, but also a very special dust crystal at the end of it at times. (Appearance wise it's based on Bastiodon from Pokémon.)

Triceros – A rhino Grimm with an extra pair of horns over its eyes. These extra horns are actually weapons that act like missiles, firing out of the skull of the Grimm and explode upon impact of anything, but the next second they regrow their horns to replace the previous and fire them again if they wanted to. They actually like to devour anything with calcium or a calcium based component to them to strengthen their horns and body. This especially means the bones of a human, which is their favorite part of the human body.

Physical Description: It is shaped just like a rhino, but it had bone plates at the shoulders of its legs along with scattered near the bottom of them, curved back spikes down along the spine of the creature, exposed ribs along the sides of its torso, exposed humanoid teeth sticking out along the lips of the beast as if it possessed a second set outside its mouth and a skull covering the top of its head with a pair of straight sharp horns sticking out the top of its skull casing and directly over its eyes and, of course, one large horn of a rhinoceros.

Next Evolution: Top Triceros.

Lycan – ferocious Grimm that are best avoided for those who aren't professional huntsman and huntresses; well, when dealing with more than one of them. Even then still very dangerous for trainees. They stand at being between 9-12 feet tall, possess large four fingered claws and they have massive amounts of fur coming off of their backs. Lycans are extremely aggressive, but also have a level of intelligence and can come up with strategies of their own on the fly. They use their large and bulky frame to their advantage as they like to charge at their targets at a high speed, usually on all fours with their large claws ready to tear into anything in its path. Their speed is incredible, along with a vast amount of stamina and can build a heck of an amount of momentum. Enough to knock down a Paladin and even a tank and continue on. These things are usually regarded as Super-Beowolves, which is very understandable, seeing as when a Lycan comes across a pack of Beowolves, they instantly become the Alpha, and if there are any competitors, it will snuff them out with no mercy. In the Grimm kingdom, power and strength is everything. Since they are more level-headed and intelligent than it's less than respected kin, it can come up with plans of attack with the numbers of Beowolves under its charge, making it sort of a skilled tactician, but seeing as it is still a Grimm, it's main goal is bloody murder at any means necessary.

Physical Description: It can stand between 9-12 feet tall with a very muscular frame complete with a humanoid torso, arms and hands, with long claws, large bulky wolf hind legs, a long fluffy tail, a thick neck, long fluffy mane down its back, a Grimm mask as the top half of its head, a flat wolf-like snout and a strong angular jaw with sharp teeth.

Brute – Brutes are their own class of Grimm. They are large beasts that can range between 12-20 feet tall for adults, with newborns starting off as 6 feet tall when spawned. There are various different species of these large Grimm, but what they all have in common is their body structure is built similar to a gorillas. There are numerous different Brutes out in the world. All very dangerous if you are not one of the big dogs.

Spiker Brute – A Grimm that is both about hard hitting brawn and fast deadly strikes that can cut deep into anything. Thanks to their size they can hit hard with a wide range, but as one would expect it can use its blades to cut deep into anything, be it human, stone, metal, etc. They are able to crunch up into balls and spin rapidly in place and travel as a spiked wrecking ball or wheel depending on its velocity. It can also hop around an area in this spiked ball form, but it enjoys running living things over much more. Same with piercing and clawing its victims with its bladed appendages and claws. It'll even just rush and bash living beings with its spiky armored hide. So long as it pierces and cut up anything with a soul, nothing else matters. That's all that matters.

Physical Description: A Grimm that looks to be a lizard type. It has bone armor all over its entire back along with the back of its forearms, and top of its head which is flat. Its jaw is pointed forward and slimmed down towards the front like a triangle with long sharp teeth protruding from out its mouth to be bare for all the world to see, its head and neck are hunched forward as well, hocked dinosaur-like legs, a long tail with a spiked mace at the end and big fat hands with long sharp claws. It has spikes protruding all throughout its bone armor (back, arms, shoulders, down its tail and sticking out all over the mace shaped tip of its tail and short ones sticking out its legs), with the ones atop its flat point more towards the back. Its posture was similar to that of a gorilla with its back more raised up and its fists pressed against the ground.

Bone Brute – A Brute covered almost completely in armor made of bone. Like any other Brute it is large between 12-20 feet tall and moves like a gorilla. As one would expect given both its size and the fact that it has bone armor covering its entire form, it is a very tough Grimm, able to take all kinds of hits so long as its armor is not pierced or broken to expose the flesh underneath. It has Osteokinesis, otherwise known as Bone Manipulation, which allows it to generate more bone from the Grimm essence within its body and manipulate their form. For example, they can grow a large mass of bone from its arm and form it in the shape of a shield. Not only can it form bone from its body, but also from within the environment, but only if it has enough Grimm essence to spare. For example, it can create a patch of spikes from out the ground by pouring its Grimm essence into the ground, but a part of its body needs to be making contact with the ground for that to happen. It also can fire bone projectiles from its body. This Grimm is also quick and limber despite its size, able to leap high into the air around 10-15 feet. Believe it or not this Grimm, though a heavy hitter, compared to other Brutes is more versatile than being considered as much of a powerhouse like most of its kin. Still makes it one hell of a deadly Grimm to face in battle.

Physical Description: Posture similar to a gorilla, like all Brutes, with its back more raised up and its fists pressed against the ground. Its body was littered in bone armor. The bone armor around its arms were smooth with the forearms having bigger pieces of bone armor with a long bone spike protruding out its elbows, bone studs on its knuckles, bone plates covering the joints of its fingers with sharp bone claws at the tips of them, large stone shaped pieces of bone armor surrounding its shoulders, hocked legs with bone armor surrounding them with extra bone plating down its dinosaur-like feet, long spinal bones protruding out its back and down it to the end of its dinosaur-like tail which was the only part of it that wasn't covered in bone armor, but instead scattered pieces of bone plating. Its head was covered in bone armor with it being shaped like an emerald, but with one hole in it exposing a blood red slit pupil eye.

Mouthpiece – a small bat Grimm that actually possesses both intelligence and the ability to speak. It is said that the Grimm is able to understand different forms of speech and language just from hearing it once. It also is stealthy; able to hide in the shadows and hide in places away from the line of sights of its enemies, especially in high places. Though a weak Grimm, with its knowledge and understanding of human speech and even culture it learns while in the shadows, they become highly reliable to other Grimm to the point where even the very strong will listen to them and not resort to swatting them away or even thrashing them. With its bilingual ability to understand both humans and Grimm, or multilingual if it comes across several different other languages, it can convey the feelings and knowledge of one to the other species. These Grimm also respect power and stay near powerful Grimm so as to assure their existence remains continuous. They also kind of act like parrots, staying on a powerful being of darkness' shoulder, or other body part if they have none, and translating their speech. Though it swears loyalty to its fellow beings of darkness, it is hell-bent on self-preservation to the point that it will cooperate with humans and assist them in return that their life is spared. They are little backstabbers though, as expected. Though they will sell out their own kind, once they have the opportunity they will backstab its captors and leave them to other, more capable Grimm. They also possess a sonic screech that can disorientate humans and animals while also attract Grimm to the location the screech originated from. What terrible, terrible little sly bastards.

Physical Description: It has a round body, similar to an oval or capsule shape or even an odd combination between the two, that doubled as its head with a mouth filled with sharp teeth and a pair of red eyes. It had a pair of bat wings and stout legs with sharp claws, three out the front and one out the heel of its foot. It also had a pair of ears pointed upward from top of its head. It has bone plates attached to its back, forming a line all the way from the bridge of what could be its nose all the way down towards the tip of its tail, several scattered along its wings and some on its feet. The top half of its teeth was attached to a bone mask that covered its face around the eyes and the forehead, but the facial area under the bottom row of teeth was just plain black flesh. (Design based on Golbat from Pokémon.)

Author's words:

Did any of you know there's such a thing as plant dust? Why the hell hasn't that ever been shown in the series yet?

Anyway, first off, sorry for the long ass wait! I also want to apologize for the length. I would have split this apart into two chapters, but I couldn't think of a perfect spot to do so as I felt it would have disrupt the flow of the adventure taken place in this part.

At least, despite the length, now that you have the chapter, it'll hopefully be worth a read given the length and no doubt everyone following and have favorited this story have been dying for a new chapter that hopefully was worth the wait.

I want to thank you all for being so patient and understanding.

As one would notice in this chapter I changed Adam's storyline making it different from the original storyline in the canon series. I won't say Adam deserved better, but I will say you could have done so much more with his character that honestly would lead to very interesting things in a story, and not just for development of a single or pair of characters.

The upgrades in these I have been thinking of for a long time. Which would work with who. My best friend, who I will just call Hero, and I had this discussion years ago before this and last chapter. The one we focused on the most was Ruby's weapon and well he was the one with the bright idea. Can thank him for Ruby's weapon upgrade here. If it wasn't obvious before two of the upgraded weapons, Ruby's and Sun's, are inspired and based on two Devil Arms of Dante's from the Devil May Cry series.

I also like to thank paradoxReader for his review and mention how crucial the need for upgrades were. Thank you for that faithful reader! (Thumbs Up!)

Well not much else to tell now… except one thing…

PRAISE ME! FOR I HAVE DONE WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR JUST ONE PERSON AND HAVE CREATED NOT 1000 BUT OVER 2000 ORIGINAL GRIMM!

HA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Okay you don't need to praise me, unless you think I do deserve it. That's your call.

Since last chapter I've been coming up with new Grimm. Luckily since the list is on my phone I can jot them down while I'm at work. Currently I have created 2,357 Grimm, and last time I published a chapter I had made a total of 831 at the time, which means, using a calculator, I have made a total of 1,526 original Grimm in nearly one year's time.

And I Ain't Stopping Any Time Soon, Baby! HAHAHA!

But seriously, I don't think I can stop. I've unleashed the flood gates.

Although in a strange way that's good, because it's thanks to making all these Grimm, even the insanely powered that forced me to make the characters of my RWBY stories, any of them, go beyond the limits of the canon characters to match them.

Silver lining I suppose… or is it?

Plus as you all have probably read above all these personal notes, I have decided that since I obviously am a Grimm creating addict, instead of listing them all together in a chapter, and fuck no would I ever try doing so alphabetically now, I'll just list the ones that make an appearance in a chapter and put down their data at the end of a chapter. Makes things easier for all of us.

Either way, that's all I wanted to say.

Thanks for reading as always!

Takeshi1225, Out!