Chapter Four

The First Step For Us All

I follow Yang and Ruby as they get their equipment ready in one of Beacon's many locker rooms, though I do not need to get ready since I slept with all my equipment on me last night. The only thing I had to do was put my backpack in a locker for safe keeping. As we walk, I see Ren and Nora pass by us and I nod politely. Ren responds with a similar nod and Nora waves enthusiastically as they pass.

"So, you seem awfully chipper this morning!"

Ruby responds to her sister excitedly. "Yep! No more awkward small talk or "getting-to-know-you" stuff. Today, I get to let my sweetheart do the talking." She then sigh's and then starts to stroke Crescent Rose in a creepy way.

'She looks like she's about to seduce the damn scythe... God I'm glad Arnold isn't here right now...'

"Well, remember, Ruby, you're not the only one going through initiation. If you wanna grow up, you're gonna have to meet new people and learn to work together.", Yang lectures.

Ruby groans in frustration. "You sound like Dad! Okay first of all: What does meeting new people have to do with fighting? And secondly: I don't need people to help me grow up! I drink milk!"

Yang folds her arms. "But what about when we form teams?"

"Um, I don't know, I...I 'll just be on your team or something..."

Yang starts to pet her hair for some reason. "Maybe you should try being on someone else's team?... Like Toby's!"

The girls both look at me and I shrug with a smile. "I'm cool with it. It'd be nice to see that huge scythe in action."

Yang seems satisfied. "See!"

Ruby smiles at me, but the slowly turn to look at Yang and she frowns, her eyes narrowed. 'Damn, that is one scary fucking look.'

"My dear sister Yang, are you implying that you do not wish to be on the same team as me?"

Yang tries to salvage the situation and shakes her arms frantically. "What? No! Of course I do! I just thought... I don't know, maybe it would help you... break out of your shell!"

"What the-!? I don't need to 'break out of my shell'! That's absolutely-"

"Ridiculous!" Jaune finishes Ruby's sentence as he walks by us with Pyrrah. In his hands, Jaune is holding a map and his face is confused. "There is no way I put my gear in locker 636 yesterday! I would've remembered having to count that high!"

Pyrrah laughs. "Do not worry so much Jaune. We will find your gear before time."

'S.S. Arkos is going strong. Good to know.'

Returning to the conversation, I speak to Ruby. "She's just worried about you Ruby. It's one of her jobs as a big sis."

Yang gives me a grateful smile and Ruby sighs. "Yeah... I know."

Suddenly I hear Jaune scream and I turn and see Pyrrah looking horrified. Just beyond her is an extremely pissed off Weiss who had pinned Jaune to the wall. I am about to comment, but am stopped when an announcement comes on over the intercom.

"Would all first year students please report to Beacon Cliff for initiation? Again, all first year-students report to Beacon Cliff immediately."

My thoughts go numb. 'Oh FUCK! Landing strategy! Fucking Heights! FUCK!'

"Toby? You alright? You're shaking and you look like you're about to scream."

'No. I'm not fucking okay at all Ruby. But thanks for asking, I appreciate it.'

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'Oh, Emerald Forest cliffs we meet again. I liked it fucking better when I was at the bottom of you. Fuck this height shit!'

So... here we are. All lined up on the launching pads like lambs to the slaughter. I am set up between Ruby and Jaune. On Ruby's side is Yang and on Jaune's side is Arnold. From my spot, I remember the animation for these launch pads and I think I'm shaking. Ruby, being the sweet girl she is, squeezes my hand and gives me an encouraging smile. Meanwhile both Yang and Arnold watch me with similar looks of worry on there faces.

'Fuck! I can't believe I forgot this shit! Damn it!'

From their spot ahead of us stands Ozpin and Glynda, him holding his damn coffee and her holding a small scroll tablet thing. Finally Ozpin speaks.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors, and today, your abilities will be evaluated in the Emerald Forest."

Glynda clears her throat. "Now, I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of "teams." Well, allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates...today."

I hear Ruby murmur. "What? Oh..."

Ozpin continues where professor Goodwitch left off. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone whom you can work well"

I hear Ruby groan as Ozpin continues. "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

Ruby screeches and I think I feel my ears pop. "WHAAAT!"

Ozpin smirks, cocky shit seems to be enjoying this. "After you've partnered up, make your way to the northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way. Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path... or you will die."

I hear Jaune laugh nervously then gulp. Anthony smirks and I see him pull out Dual Knives before he morphs them together, creating an SMG.

Ozpin continues after taking a sip of his coffee. "You will be monitored and graded through the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple at the end of the path containing several relics. Each pair must be must choose must choose one and return to the top of the cliff. You will guard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately. Any question?"

Jaune raises his hand. "Yeah, um, sir?"

Ozpin ignores him. "Good, now take your positions. And Mr. Lawliet?"

Weiss is fired into the air.

Though I continue to shake, I give Ozpin a questioning eyebrow. "S-sir?"

Ozpin gives me a kind smile. "I am aware you harbor a deep hatred of heights. I do hope you won't hold this against me."

I chuckle slightly. "Only if you forgive any curse words that leave my mouth when this thing fires me."

Ozpin smirks. "Agreed."

Jaune speaks to my right. "So, like, did you hand out parachutes for us?"

"No. You will be using your own "landing strategy"

I turn my head and see Yang wink at Ruby and then me before she puts on her sunglasses and is fired into the air. Next is Ruby and then...

I feel myself launched into the air and I am unable to reel in my mouth.

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK!"

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I continue to scream as I fall closer and closer to the forest floor. Acting on instinct, I draw Ebony and begin to fire at any branches in my way, the Flame Dust Bullets burning away at the wood. Holstering Ebony, I draw Ivory and shoot at as much ground as possible below me, before finally shooting up a fallen branch in my way. The Ice Infused Dust bullets freeze the ground and create a slide for me. I holster Ivory as I land, but am unable to stop myself as I slide, while still screaming, directly into a tree.

"Ow..."

'Okay Author... On one hand, fuck you! On the other hand, that was cool as shit! Creating a fucking slide made of Ice!'

Eventually, I manage to stand and I look around and see that everything around me is on fire or frozen.'I may have gone a little overkill though... Now... Which way is North?'

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I'd only been walking for about twenty minuets when suddenly, I find myself surrounded by four Beowolves. I draw my pistols with a smirk. "I was wondering when the Grimm would come out and play!"

'Since when did I get so cocky?'

"Come On!", I challenge. "If I can kill ten Ursai, then you'll be nothing!"

The Beowolves snarl and circle me. I make the first move and shoot one in the face with Ebony, killing it instantly. In reaction, the others charge and I fire both Ebony and Ivory. Killing one and freezing another to the ground by it's feet. The last one slashes at me, in response, I flip over it and as I flip, I fire Ebony directly into it's forehead. Another dead Beowolf.

Walking over to the frozen Beowolf, I smile as I put Ebony to it's head execution style. "I think I'm getting the hang of this!"

Last Beowolf dead.

'Damn, I should've used a one-liner there! Friggin missed opportunity.'

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Eventually, I am attacked by an Ursa, before I can fight however, it is suddenly riddled with bullets as Gunshots ring through the air. And, as the Ursa falls, I turn to see the one who killed it.

A smiling Arnold Campbell. Who holds up his fist.

"Oh hell yes!", I shout before I run up to him and fist bump him. "Glad to see you dude!"

Arnold chuckles. "I am glad to see you as well my friend. Tell me, how did your landing strategy turn out? Mine was...", he winces. "Less than ideal."

"I made a slide out of Ice and slid down it.", I said proudly before faltering. "Still hit a tree though... What did you do."

Arnold winces again and shuts his eyes. "I... landed with a branch between my legs at approximately one hundred miles per hour..."

'Oh...'

…

'Ow...'

"That... sounds like it hurt. Are you okay to move?"

Arnold gives me a cocky smirk before heading off and I follow. "I killed the Ursa did I not."

"Very true! Though I don't know how you're doing it. If that had been me, I'd still be lying down screaming 'my precious!' as loud as possible"

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We had been walking for several minutes and the only sounds you could hear were the sounds of the forest, the occasional Grimm and our lively conversation. Currently, we were talking about Beacon's headmaster.

"So what is your theory? He cannot simply walk around with one singular cup of coffee with the rate in which he drinks."

I'd actually wondered about that. "Hm... do you think Beacon has staff who's only job is to fill his coffee cup?"

A Beowolf appears but Arnold dispatches it easily and we continue on as if nothing had happened. In our path North in the distance, I can see a clearing. "I do not believe that is correct. I think we would have seen them at some point."

"Maybe he carries a flask of coffee?", I suggested.

Arnold hums thoughtfully. "Perhaps... However, his coffee always seems to be warm... Perhaps, if he does have a flask, it is much like your Ebony."

"What, like... uses Flame Dust? To what? Warm the coffee?"

Arnold nods. "That is my theory." The clearing is almost upon us now, though I continue to look at my friend.

"You realize.", I say. "As someone indebted to Ozpin, if he doesn't already own a flask that does that... I'm gonna have to buy him one."

Arnold chuckles as we step into the clearing. "I do not believe that 'Dust Infused Flask' is a thing you will find in quantity my friend, though-", he stops suddenly and his eyes widen. "This is unfortunate."

I turn to look at what he calls 'unfortunate' and see, to my horror, that every tree in or around the clearing is covered in what look like giant spider webs. "The fuck?!". I look down and see that the ground under our feet is also covered in webs, though it does not seem overly sticky. Then I noticed something...

'Isn't this the same clearing I woke up in when I first came to this world? Where did all these webs come from?'

"What the hell caused all this?"

I hear Arnold sigh in resignation. "These webs are created by Widows, an arachnid type Grimm. They can weave a web such as this within only a few short hours, though usually they keep their nests further from the cliffs. The real question is... why are they here?

'No. Fuck you. I refuse. No giant spiders and no giant Black Widows! You already have shown an attachment to making me fly! No spiders!'

I laugh nervously. "Um...They don't... They aren't poisonous are they?"

Arnold nods glumly. "They are. So much so that a full grown Widow can kill you with one poisonous strike. An Alpha's bite can kill within seconds, Aura or no."

I give another nervous laugh and back up a bit. 'Yeah, no. I ain't fucking doing this.'

"Shouldn't we... I don't fucking know... run? Before they find us?"

Arnold's face is grim. "It would not help... See these webs on the floor?" I nod and he continues. "They send vibrations throughout the area. To all connected webs in the vicinity..."

The sound of loud scuttling from several directions makes me look away from my friend and I see a horrifying sight. From all areas of the clearing, from webs and trees, emerges a large amount of Widows. I can see the telltale hourglass on the closet one to me and each spider has their limbs outlined by bone. Each single one had eight eyes colored blood red and I can see a sort of... glee coming off them in waves. They all vary in sizes, the smallest being the size of a small dog and the tallest being the size of a person. I count about thirty of them and they are now surrounding us.

"...They knew we were here the minute we stepped foot here." Arnold finishes. "We are lucky that the Alpha is not here..."

"How big is it? The Alpha?", I ask quietly. I can feel myself shaking as I draw Ebony and Ivory. 'Why did it have to be giant spiders?'

"She is big,", Arnold responds as he draws his SMG/ Dual Knife weapon thing. "At least half the size of a Death Stalker. And she would not appreciate us coming to her nest."

The Widows make clicking noises at one another as they slowly approach. 'Are they talking?' These clicking noises continue even after the Widows stop moving and remain for several seconds.

Then they stop clicking. And they explode into action, crawling at us from all directions. "Fire!" Arnold screams as he begins to shoot his SMG.

I fire at the Widows with my pistols as they charge. Arnold and I are back to back, shooting as many as we can. I aim for the head, catching some aflame and freezing others. I am able to kill five with this method before the Widows are too close. The nearest Widow lunges at my throat and I spin out of its path, screaming as I holster my pistols. I unsheathe Kira and hold it two handed as I watch the Widows around me carefully. One of the Widows, a rather small one, jumps toward my face and I slash downward, easily cutting it in half.

But then the rest spring into action. I lose track of Arnold as my world becomes filled with spider legs, fading Grimm, fangs and my own fear. I hack off limbs and weave and duck under striking limbs when I can. As the battle continues, I can feel fatigue setting in and my moves become slower.

'I guess this body... my body... still has its limits. This whole situation fucking sucks...'

I count how many are still around me and sigh in frustration when I see that I still have ten. I switch Kira to its sawed-off form and fire at two Widows. The bullets explode as expected, killing them instantly. I switch Kira back into a sword and draw Ivory with my other hand, as an idea comes to my head.

I am attacked at once by the remaining ten Widows, I block as many strikes with Kira as I can and I use Ivory to freeze the faces of any Widows that try to bite me. Eventually, I manage to shoot the Widows in a way to trap them all together in a large clump of Ice. I smirk and holster Ivory. Switching Kira into the sawed-off, I jump above the mass of frozen bodies and fire.

The shot explodes on impact. Killing all Widows involved, throwing limbs, guts and ice everywhere. And I land with a relieved smile on my face. I turn and see that Arnold has also finished of his group of Widows.

...Until I am suddenly pulled to the right by my leg. I shout, dropping Kira way from me as I fall, and watch in fear as I'm dragged by a large string of web from the largest Widow of the pack. 'Fuck! I forgot about you! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'

I draw both my pistols and fire at the large Widow, but in my screaming panic I am unable to get in a good shot. Now above me, the Widow knocks Ebony and Ivory from my hands and lunges to bite at my throat. I shut my eyes in fear.

But nothing happens. I open my eyes and see that the Widow is stopped in it's tracks trembling. As if it is trying to move but is unable to. Then I hear Arnold shout. "SHOOT IT! I CANNOT HOLD IT FOR MUCH LONGER!" I turn my head and see Arnold holding his hands out like a Jedi and his face shows that he's about to collapse. 'Is he... stopping it somehow?'

'HURRY!", Arnold shouts and I break into movement. I pick up Ebony and shove it into the Widows mouth. I pull the trigger and keep firing until the Widow finally fades. I hear Arnold collapse and, breathing heavily, I retrieve and holster my pistols before I drag my feet over to him. I pick up Kira on the way and sheathe it before I collapse on the ground next to him.

I can hear Arnold breathing as hard as me. "You...alright?"

I nod tiredly. "Y...Yeah. That...sucked."

"I agree..."

Several moments pass before I speak again, my breathing now under control. "How'd you do that? Freeze it I mean?"

"It is my Semblance. I am able to stun my target for several moments. However, the stronger my target, the harder it is for me to hold it."

"That sounds friggin awesome!", I chuckle tiredly. "I wish I could do that."

Arnold begins to stand and I follow suit. "If you do not mind me asking, what is your Semblance? I have not seen you use it." We brush ourselves off of any webs we can as we talk.

'Oh! I forgot I could even have one! Do I have one? Or is it not unlocked yet?'

"I don't know. If I have one I don't know how to use it."

Arnold gains a thoughtful look. "It is possible you have not yet encountered the necessary...'trigger' that is required for you to activate it."

I am about to ask what the trigger is, when suddenly I hear another sound of scuttling. Arnold and I look at the source and we see, to our absolute horror, another Widow. Unlike the others, this one is about half the size of a Death Stalker and is covered, and I mean COVERED, in bone.

The Alpha...

'Wait...'

What Arnold said rushes back to me...

"She is big,", Arnold responds as he draws his SMG/ Dual Knife weapon thing. "At least half the size of a Death Stalker. And she would not appreciate us coming to her nest."

'Oh no...'

The Alpha Widow was not just the Alpha...

'She was the mother...'

The Mother Widow enters the clearing, clicking as she drags several bodies of Grimm behind her. I can see what looks like three Ursa tied up and struggling in their webs. The Mother Widow enters the clearing and stops. She looks around and tests the vibrations of the webs on the ground. Suddenly she tenses and begins to scuttle throughout the clearing and the clicking becomes frantic. Then she sees blood on the ground. Grimm blood. Widow blood.

The blood of her children...

The Mother Widow releases her hold on the Ursa, who completely ignore us and run away. The Mother Widow clicks several more times quietly before she finally let's out a loud piercing shriek. The Mother Widow continues to shriek as she shrinks in on herself and after awhile, she stops shrieking all together. It continues to click but quietly this time. I see what looks like...tears?

'Grimm's can...cry? Or is this specific to Widow's?'

Arnold's whispered voice pierces the silence. "We must run! Even if we were not tired, this foe is beyond either of us!"

"O-okay.", I whisper in response. "I'll follow your lead."

We take a step away from the Mother Widow and we watch, to our horror, the webs on the ground vibrates it's way to the grieving Mother Grimm.

"Shit! The Webs!", I say as I draw Ebony and Ivory

"We are in trouble...", Arnold replies as he draws his Dual Knives.

The Mother Widow stops clicking and freezes as the tremor in the webs reaches her. She slowly turns her head and eight eyes set its sight upon us. The Mother Widow gets up slowly and it sees something that makes it freeze. Me an Arnold are covered in webs and Widow Blood...

Sorrow becomes Wraith and the Mother Widow shrieks again.

Arnold is the first to act. "RUN! BULLETS CANNOT PIERCE THIS FOE!" He runs and I follow him. Running North of the Widows home, it is not long until trees are knocked over by the Wrathful Mother Widow behind us. As we run, I use Ivory to shoot at her legs in an attempt to freeze her and slow her down. But, the Ice is unable to hold her for long.

"ANY IDEAS!", I shout as I fire Ivory again.

"KEEP RUNNING!", Arnold responds.

"FUCK!"

We keep running as the Mother Widow gains ground. I continue to fire Ivory and soon I hear Anthony again. "BULLETS DO NOT WORK! YOU ARE WAISTING AMMO!"

"I'M TRYING TO FREEZE HER! CAN'T YOU USE YOU SEMBLANCE TO STUN HER OR SOMETHING!"

"I DID SAY THAT THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER IT IS!"

"FUCK!"

The Mother Widow snaps at me, and I roll out of the way. The Mother Widow turns and puts herself between Arnold and me.

"SHIT!"

"TOBY!"

The Mother Widow lunges at me and I jump back and draw Ebony as I fire Ivory into one of the Widows eyes. It freezes and the Mother Widow shrieks and backs away.

'Her eyes are her weak point.'

"ARNOLD! HER EYES ARENT SHIELDED! AIM FOR HER EYES!" Arnold nods in understanding before rushing over to where I stand.

And we do. The sound of gunshots rules the area as we fire at her eyes. Not all bullets make it, but they are close enough to drive away the Mother Widow and she backs up a bit. I holster my pistols and draw Kira before switching it to sawed-off mode. I point at the Widow Mother and scream.

"ARNOLD! GET AWAY! FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

Arnold stops firing and gets as far away as possible. I jump back and fire, the bullet explodes on impact and the Mother Widow screams in pain as parts of her outer bone shatters and flies off. A leg is also blown off and the Mother Widow seems surprised we've managed to hurt it. She let's out another shriek before scuttling away.

I let out a sigh of relief and sheathe Kira as I struggle to breath. "Correct...my earlier...statement, THAT sucked..."

Arnold responds as he too tries to breath. "We... need to... move... an Alpha Widow... will not suffer... the deaths of her... pack."

"But how?... I don't think... we can outrun her... forever."

Once we have our breathing under control Arnold looks at the fallen pieces of bone before speaking. "My friend... I believe I have an idea..."

"Okay, shoot."

Arnold smiles. "If I theoretically used one of these large shards of bone as a board... could you use your pistol to freeze us a path?"

Checking my pockets for ammo I curse. "Yeah, but I don't have enough ammo for that kind of travel. I should be fine on Ice Dust though."

Arnold sighs before he switches his weapon into an SMG. He pulls out the magazine before tossing it to me. "Here, this magazine is designed to work for both my SMG and standard pistols. I've designed it as such."

"How much ammo?", I ask as I examine the magazine. 'He's right, this thing should fit in Ivory just fine. But aren't the bullets different? Fuck, this is Remnant, not Earth. Maybe the bullets are all the same? I don't know, I'm in a hurry but I'm so asking later.'

Arnold gives me a smile. "I made that myself. The bullets are created by my Aura." His face then becomes grim. "You have as much bullets as I have Aura."

'This sounds like a fucking horrible idea...'

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Arnold and I are standing on top of a piece of Widow bone, large enough for both of us to stand on. The Widow bone itself is already on a layer of ice so we stand carefully, our feet frozen to the bone. Arnold is holding Kira in its sawed-off form and my ammo for it. The idea being that the explosions it causes with propel us forward quickly. I of course am holding Ivory.

I give an uneasy chuckle. "You ready for this crazy ass shit?"

We hear the sounds of scuttling. Far away, but still headed our way.

"I believe it does not matter. Let us go! She is approaching!"

We nod to each other and I fire at the ground in front of us. Arnold fires behind us and the resulting explosion causes us to fly forward. We continue to do this, changing where we aim and where the explosions will propel us. Occasionally, I create ice ramps where needed, to avoid any fallen branches.

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Eventually, our ride reaches another clearing and we steer into it and I see a familiar sight. The abandoned temple... in front of the structure stand an extremely shocked Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long watching us approach. I fire Ivory in a scattered pattern, as to slow us down but not throw us off. When we've stopped, I hand Arnold back his magazine and place mine back in. I holster Ivory and he gives me back Kira, which I switch back into a sword and sheathe. I draw Ebony and fire around our frozen feet, the ice melts and we finally get off. I holster Ebony before looking at Arnold, who is panting and wheezing.

"You alright?"

Arnold nods. "I will be, though I am low on Aura."

I give him a worried look. "How low?"

"I believe that if you were to shoot me, I would die. My Aura would not save me."

I look him over and nod. "Okay. Stay behind me until your Aura's fine again."

Arnold, still out of breath, nods at me thankfully.

'If my memory of the next hour or so are correct... then he's gonna need to save his strength.'

I turn to look at the girls and smile. "Hiya! Sorry to just slide in without warning but we were in a hurry.

Yang starts snickering and Blake looks like she can't even. "Did you just ice-skate all the way here on a Grimm bone?"

"Well-", I try to respond only for the sound of a large bird screeching fills the air. This is soon followed by the sounds of what I remember is a falling Ruby.

Yang turns her confused gaze on Blake, Arnold and Me. "Did you guy's hear that? What should we do?"

I look up and see Ruby falling right for me at a speed so fast I am unable to move. "HEEEEAAAADDDDSSSS UUUUUUPPPPP!"

Despite her warning she collides into me and I fall over in pain. At least it looks like I broke Ruby's fall. Ruby soon gets off me and I stand up as well with a groan. I look and see that Ruby is stumbling and her eyes are going everywhere.

"Oohhhh... What was that?" Ruby shakes away her dizziness, then seems to remember that she fell on me and she gives me a worried look. "Toby! I'm SO sorry! I didn't mean to land on you!"

Despite the pain, I chuckle. 'God this day is beating the crap out of me.'

"That's okay little red, I'm fine see?", I gesture to myself.

I see Blake looking over to Yang. "Did your sister just fall from the sky?"

"I-", Yang is interrupted by the sound of crashing noises from the forest ahead of us. We all look at an Ursa comes out swiping its claws. "YEEEE-HAAAAW!" The rider, whom I know is Nora blasts it in the back with some pink energy thing and it topples over dead. Nora rolls of the Ursa's back as it begins to fade before she groans and looks at it with a sad face. "Awwww... It's broken." She then dashes onto the fading Ursa's neck for some reason and I see Ren come out of the forest and stop behind her out of breath.

He leans on the fading Ursa as he speaks. "Nora! Please... Don't ever do that again." He looks up to Nora only to see that she has run over to the temple.

She picks up one of the many relics, the golden rook, and begins to sing and dance. "I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"

I hear Ren scream from behind me as I watch Nora with a smile on my face. "Nora!"

Nora stops dancing and salutes Ren with a smile. "Coming, Ren!" She then begins skipping on her way to Ren. Soon after they walk back over to us, Ren looking worn out and Nora shaking with excitement for some reason.

Blake still can't even. "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?"

"I-", this time it's Arnold that is interrupted when we hear a loud screech to our right. We all turn our heads and see Pyrrha Nikos sprinting into the clearing. Then, the trees behind her uproot as a Death Stalker chases after her. Pyrrha dodges an attacking pincer narrowly by jumping over it and rolling back into a run. For some reason, I see Jaune run in from behind me and he, to my shock and confusion, runs towards the commotion.

'How much shit did Arkos change?'

Pyrrha sees Jaune and looks relieved, "Jaune!"

Jaune looks alarmed and I see why. The Death Stalker uses its pincer and smacks Pyrrha though the air. She screams as she fly's but then something I in no way saw coming occurs. Jaune runs in her path and jumps. He manages to catch her bridal style and lands on his feet. "Just... dropping in? he quips. And I hear Pyrrha laugh.

'Holy shit... That was smooth as fuck."

I notice that the Death Stalker is still charging at them and I draw Ebony. I fire into the creature repeatedly, the Flame Dust catching the grass on it on fire. The Death Stalker starts screeching and runs in a tight circle trying to put it out.

'Oh my god... That is fucking hilarious.'

Blake's can't even grows stronger. "Did she just run all the way here with a Death Stalker on her tail?

Yang starts to growl and I cautiously back away several steps. Finally she screeches and fire erupts around her for a second and her eyes turn red. "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! CAN EVERYONE JUST CHILL OUT FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS AGAIN!"

Yang huffs as she tries to calm down, but looks defeated when Ruby pulls on her sleeve and points up. "Um... Yang?"

I look up as others do as well and see a giant Nevermore. Holding on to its talon for dear life is a terrified Weiss. Weiss calls down to Ruby. "HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME!?"

Ruby shouts to the sky. "I SAID 'JUMP'!"

Blake. "She's gonna fall.

Ruby. "She'll be fine."

Ren. "She's falling."

We all watch her fall and, just as I'm about to do something, Ruby runs under Weiss and catches her. Both fall to the ground in pain.

Weiss speaks mockingly, but it comes out as a pained statement. "My... hero..."

Ruby, who is still under her groans. "My Back..."

They remain there for several seconds staring at each other before Weiss suddenly stands up blushing. Ruby also jumps up and she pokes her pointer fingers together as she blushes.

'Did... Did you just White Rose me?'

My thoughts are halted when the Death Stalker, no longer on fire, starts to charge at us.

I hear Yang deadpan way to happily. "Great! The gang's all here! Now we can die together!"

Ruby smirks and says, "Not if I can help it!" and charges at the Death Stalker.

Yang and me both shout. "Ruby!" I miss Yang's shocked look as I sprint after her and draw Ebony. I am unable to keep up with her, but I do shoot at the Death Stalker and hope it catches fire again. Unfortunately, the Death Stalker is no longer flammable, all grass burned off its shell.

Ruby fires Crescent Rose to gain speed and tries to slice into the Death Stalker. It simply swats her into the air and as she falls, I jump into the air to catch her while holstering Ebony. I catch her and the force of her falling tosses us both into a tree trunk. I get the worse of the two of us and I hit my head on the trunk hard...

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When I finally wake up I groan as I feel my massive headache. Looking at my surroundings, I see that I am surrounded by the relics in front of the abandoned temple. I see everyone gathered in the general area and as I groan, I gain the attention of Yang who seems relieved I'm awake. She rushes up to me and, to my surprise, picks me up and hugs me. At this moment, I can see everyone's relieved faces.

'Were they worried about me?'

"I'm so happy you're okay!" She hugs me for several seconds before letting go and smacking me upside my head, increasing my headache. "Never do that again! I have enough to worry about with Ruby!"

'Yang was that worried? Is this the "long lost brother' thing again?'

I groan in pain. "Understood... please stop hitting me..." Yang nods and gives me a thumbs up.

'Fuck, I wish this day would just end...'

Jaune shouts in fear. "Guys? That things circling back! What are we gonna do?

Before anyone can respond, the sound of scuttling joins the sounds of the other Grimm and a loud piercing screech fills the air. All of us cover our ears and Arnold and me look in fear, soon the others see our worried looks and watch to see what we're so afraid of.

Into the clearing, charges in the extremely angry pissed off Alpha Mother Widow. She quickly spots Arnold and I and charges. She is damaged from our earlier battles, but not enough to weaken her.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?", I shout.

Blake seems surprised and I can see she knows the gravity of the situation. "How on Remnant did an Alpha Widow get here!?"

Arnold glares at the oncoming Widow. "I believe it must have tracked Toby and I here!"

Blake's amber eyes widen and Weiss exclaims next. "It was following you!?"

"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN!", I shout. "EVERYONE GRAB A RELIC AND RUN!"

"Run and live- that's an idea I can get behind!" Jaune quips.

Everyone gets their destined pieces and Arnold grabs two white pawns before tossing one to me. At my questioning look he shouts. "Trust me!" I nod and shove the pawn in my zipper pocket.

"Time we left!", Ren shouts and we all flee away from the charging Death Stalker, Mother Widow and flying Nevermore.

Chapter Four End