R.W.B.Y.

A bleak end

Chapter 9

It kills me.

Disclaimer I do not own R.W.B.Y.

Ruby

"OWWW!"

I collapsed to the floor of my team dorm in pain. I howled out clutching my pinky toe in anguish and regret.

"Ruby, are you alright?" Blake looked down at me quizzically from Yang's bunk.

"I'm fine." I gasp out.

"I just rammed my pinky toe into the dresser."

Blake smiled sympathetically at me.

"Oh. I see, I suggest you wear slippers or flip-flops around the dorm. It might save you some pain."

"I guess." I grumbled.

But I was too anxious to stay in the dorm any more. I had been forced to wait for six days before Professor Ozpin finally gave Blake, Ren and me the news. Rem Europa was finally ready to return to Vale. Domino squad will be ordered into the field in two or three days' time.

"I'm going out." I said mildly to Blake. At first I was afraid she would want to come with me, but she waved and said "OK". I slipped on a pair of my favorite jeans instead of the holey pajama pants I had been wearing since I woke up, and then pulled on an old pair of boots. The leather was soft and cool.

"Hmmm so nice…" I mumbled. I didn't bother to change tops. I had on a dull red t-shirt, a little big for me, but still cozy enough for the new fall weather outside. Instead of carrying Crescent rose out with me I strapped a gun belt on over my jeans, and holstered two side-arms I had never used before, a suggestion by Ren. He said a few extra guns could never hurt.

"Blake I'll be back…. Well whenever."

"Alright, but try to keep out of trouble… Captain."

I rolled my eyes at the title. I had already told Blake and Ren that they didn't need to call me Captain.

I set out.

Ruby, Vale

I blinked in surprise. I had intended to walk the length of campus then go back for lunch. I was in a part of Vale I had never been to before. It looked like a bad place to be in when the sun goes down. I looked left then right back up the street. Then sighed in relief, Scarlet's shop was within eyesight. I had just overshot it by a little. I turned and started walking. Then a pleasant smell drifted under my nose from farther down the street. I turned back around and began looking for the source... A pub, its sign read "Terry Finnegan's Public house." The smell was no doubt delicious. I walked up to the building. Its door was somewhat intimidating, heavy oaken wood with a dark stained glass window; the handle was a twisted branch directly from a tree. I reached out to pull open the door, the handle was very smooth. I opened the door and stepped inside. I saw a small crowd inside, to my left stood stout round tables. A group of men sat around then talking a bit and enjoying a basket of chips with their drinks. To my right stretched a bar with stools. Each one looked like it had been beaten with a bat. But when I approached one and sat down it felt soft, in a homey sort of way. The room itself was rather dim, despite the sun being directly overhead. A man with dark hair stood behind the bar. He seemed pleasant enough.

"What can I do for you today miss? Oh but I'll need some ID if you're wantin' a drink."

"Oh no its fine I'll stick with water, but can I see a menu?"

"Corse you can, here ya go."

I lifted the menu to my face, the first thing on the "Starters" list was the Pickle plate, then Fresh cut chips, and Fried pickles and then Poutine (potato wedges topped with melted cheese curds.) and lastly a cheese plate. But I'm not the kind of girl who needs a starter; I've been known to eat cookies three meals a day. I skimmed the rest of the menu until I found what I was looking for. Midway down the page there was a "Full Irish breakfast" (Banger rasher, black and white pudding, two fried eggs, house baked beans, roasted tomato and soda bread.) I asked the barman if I could place my order, he took it down with a look of mild shock on his face. I don't blame him after all I'm a pretty small girl. I paid and waited for about fifteen minutes for my food. I don't mind the wait at all.

When my meal did arrive I ate in silence, as the sun began to descend, It was a big meal, but was made so hot that even though it was taking serious time to eat, it stayed nice and warm. Finally the sun had begun to descend as I finished the meal. I had felt no reason to rush. I just ate at a steady pace.

Then I sat back on my stool and drank deep of my water. It was cool and smooth. I watched as people walked by the pub. Few came in, and few departed. Then quite suddenly I felt alone, despite the presence of people I felt alone. No impulse to talk to one of the friendly strangers arose. No desire to return to Blake came. Even with Velvet and her shop were so near I decided to stay at the Pub. As I continue to stare out of the window into the ruddy glow of the dying sun. I ponder. I think.

I'm the Captain of a military unit. I am a Huntress of Vale, but I won't be asked to operate as one. I'm a soldier, a warrior, a weapon… That makes me feel sick.

I stand up and leave, putting a tip on the bar in my wake. I take off towards Beacon. I want this day to end. For it to be over and done. I want to do my duty as fast as possible. I will not live a life of war, I refuse. The sooner I get out into the field the better. The faster I kill all of my enemies, the faster I can get back to my life. No one would ever have to wait for anything more stressful ever!

I race for home.

Wreakers, Yang, Somewhere in the high mountains

My long coat flaps wildly in the wind that howls like a wounded heart.

The Wreakers had been at this mission for almost a week now. The "Ironclad" dropped us off only an hour after we departed Vale. At first I thought it was going to be a pointless desk job when we landed at the relay station. I was wrong, we needed to get the relay station (called "Relay-Heavy") back online and to then sync-up our scrolls to the primary-blah-blah, technical stuff. It took us all of three hours then it was out into the ice and snow. The cold didn't bother me at all; indeed it bothered no-one on my squad. The four of us trekked over hill and mountain and stone and rock. We followed the coordinates given to us by C.F.V.Y. Our scouts marched ahead of us by two hours. They would engage any hostiles that they could alone, as quickly and quietly as they could, if not? They would fall back and wait for our arrival. If the dangers that mount before us are too great for one team alone, then the eight of us would stand in bloody battle together. To my utter annoyance that has yet to happen for us, in any form. Every several hours Velvets voice would float into our ear pieces and inform us "Threats detected" And then Silas would respond "Wreakers on standby" But each and every time for six days Velvets voice would drift back over the link, "Threats neutralized, Wreakers hold position." And my commander would do the damn honors and reply "Understood" and the cycle would resume.

A vicious cycle I felt. And I was ready for the most tedious tedium of my life to end. I want to just go at it! To swing my fist into Grimm until only black smoke is left behind.

I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Whoa! Oh, it's just you. What's up Nora?"

Nora has to shout over the now wailing wind.

"Do you smell that?"

"What? Should I smell something?"

Silas jerks to a halt and places a single hand over Nina's tiny shoulders. He points his free hand to the west. I stagger through the snow up onto a large rock and look down. Below me I can just barely make out the shape of a valley extending out into the distance. Fumbling with the pouches on my belt I rummage about for my binoculars, a flat smooth object that can see strait through mist and snow. I look down into the valley and get the sensation of walking into a nightmare.

"C.F.V.Y!" I choke into my wrist-com. "C.F.V.Y. to my coordinates, now!"

Coco's voice snaps over the channel. "We're en-route, five minutes tops." For a split second her channel remained open, in that second I could hear her accelerate so quickly that the winds wail turned into a banshee's shriek.

"Captain, what's wrong?" asked Silas as I slid quickly down from my granite vantage point.

"Shut up and don't move until the scouts get here." I reached out for Nora and Nina pressing them firmly onto the ground. Silas unbuckles his hammer from his belt and quickly jabs the handle into its head.

We wait. Six minutes. Seven…

"Yang!, we're hear what's wrong?" I grab Coco's wrist and press my binoculars into her hands, then point into the Valley.

Her face was flushed from the cold of the mountain tops, but as she took in the nightmare below us Coco began to grow pale. By the time she lowered the scopes and handed them back to me, she looked ill.

"So…. So many? I don't….. HOW?"

"I don't know "C" but all that matters is that we get a transmission through to Vale ASAP."

Coco nodded fervently in agreement as she pulled out her scroll and dialed the relay station.

"…..-Beeeep- This is Relay-Heavy we are receiving you, begin your transmission."

"This is acting-chief scout Coco Adel and," I press my cheek against Coco's, "And Wreaker Captain Yang Xiao-long,"

"We are reporting extreme Grimm activity in our immediate vicinity, numbers are beyond our ability to measure, requesting immediate assistance from the 199th legion."

We waited.

"We regret to inform you that the 199th legion is currently engaged defending Fresh-Wind retreat from an assault."

I could taste blood in my mouth from anger.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? Aren't the 88th and the 105th AND the Reapers currently fortifying that location?"

"Yes Captain they are however Major Nikos is currently on life support and Lieutenant Commander Penny has been cut in half. Captain Phire also died in the fighting and his reincarnation has assumed command of the 88th legion. I will however be dispatching the 73rd legion to your location in addition to team C.R.D.L."

"Huff, fine its better than nothing isn't I, how long till they get here?"

"It will be five twelve hours before the 73rd and Team C.R.D.L. will arrive."

"Fine whatever, just give us an hour's heads up so we can keep the element of surprise."

"Understood Captain Xiao-Long."

The line went dead.

I looked around at the group. Then decided that they would need something to do to stop themselves from freaking out.

"Alright let's get an igloo up over our heads to preserve warmth. It's been a long day so once that's done let's get some shut eye capiche? We'll play rock paper scissors for first watch then we'll take it in hour shifts." I turn to Coco. "Is that alright with you?"

"It's fine."

"Alright then. Get to it."

I was sure that no one would ever have to wait for anything more stressful ever.

Penny, fresh-Wind retreat infirmary

The walls shook as our new cannons rained down artillery fire into the invading army's ranks. The lamps above me swayed slightly back and forth. The fortress had been under attack for three hours, but neither Pyrra nor I could do anything to influence the battle. We and a handful of other soldiers lay in various states of disrepair in the Castle hospital helpless as children. The doors to the long room opened, and in strode General Ironwood.

"General?"

"Penny, lie still I need to get to work on you." He raised a data chip up to his eyes and squinted at it. I didn't need to squint to see it. It was not something I was happy to see.

"Mr. Ironwood sir! Why do you have that?" The General seemed to have only half heard me. He responded to me as if it was only vaguely necessary to speak to me directly.

"I have it because I intend to make up for your poor performance in the field. Your operations and calculations are obviously flawed." An Atlesian Scientist wheeled in a large silver crate. "I will need to reboot you primary information processing matrix and recalibrate for more desirable response time in the feild."

"NO!"

The General looked down at me as if trying to tell if I was serious.

""No" what? Hold still Penny." He reached for me; I grabbed his wrist and pushed him back.

Sighing as if his television just wouldn't tune properly he reached absently for a destabilizer. Which he then smartly prodded me with. I screamed in agony as each and every part of my body that was connected to my brain. I.E. all of it, overloaded.

As I was too weak to resist the general, I realized that it was over. A complete reboot of my primary information processing matrix would also wipe my entire memory core. Any information I have ever absorbed would be deleted. I would effectively die, and start back at square one.

"No…..please." I murmured as he turned my head to the right so that he could access the correct port, just behind my left ear.

I could hear a crunch, the sound of several delicate instruments falling to the ground and saw Mr. Ironwood fly across the room. I looked up to see a heavily bandaged and still bleeding Pyrra looming over me. Arched in a way that was protective, but also suggested that anything that touched her caused her great pain. She had punched the general in the chest and had taken the data chip from him. Pyrra was trying to break it in half, but lacked the dexterity for such a specific motion. I reached up and took the chip and snapped it quick as a flash.

"What is wrong with you soldier? Get back in that bed and stay there." Pyrra didn't move an inch. "And You! Penny that chip cost over eighty thousand Lien to produce and is one of a kind! You will give me an internal diagnostic of ALL of you cognitive functions right now!"

"NO Mr. Ironwood! I won't be ordered around by you like this! You know that that procedure would destroy everything I am!"

"You stupid thing, of course I know that, I've done it once before already!"

"You…. What? Why, when!" I was terrified, how old am I? How long have I been alive! Who did I forget?

"It was three years ago. You developed a 'pseudo emotional subroutine"' the program made you think you were in love with someone. Of course it was impossible for you to feel anything especially as you had developed feelings for a girl. So I had your memory wiped. But now I don't have the chip and I'll need to move you all the way back to Atlas for the full procedure."

The doors that Ironwoods scientist had closed behind them burst open. And Aideen stormed into the room, covered in blood and staring daggers at General Ironwood. She looked up at Pyrra.

"Thank you Major." I looked over to Pyrra to see that she had my scroll in her hand. It had an image of Grayson on the screen. She had called for help. Aideen then rounded on Mr. Ironwood.

"What is your problem? Just stick her new legs on and go back to Vale. Wiping her memory is out of the question, especially if she says no. She is a sentient being and will be treated with as much respeact as any Human or Faunus! Am I clear?"

"Are you mad? This is ridiculous, Penny is an inanimate object."

"Oh? 'Inanimate''' is synonyms with 'Lifeless''' would you really say that Penny is devoid of life?"

"I would absolutely!" Aidden smacked him, and then drew herself up to her full hight.

"I Commodore Aideen Phire of the still very much sea-worthy if a little outdated USS-Equinox hereby declare my desire to marry Penny of Atlas." She turned to me. "If you agree then you will be taken into my house and have no obligation to obey an order that may violate your religious beliefs, and I will gladly teach my religious beliefs to you my dear." She smiled bemusedly at me.

The general glowered at Aideen. "You may be the Captain of you own ship, but you can't marry her without at least being on it, those are the Atliesian traditions anyway."

"Well I'm not from Atlas, I'm from Avia."

"Where?"

"Never you mind Ironwood."

"Yes well as I am Pennys' caretaker I will not permit the match unless custom is followed." He smirked in a victorious sort of way.

"Hmm I'm not giving you the chance to sink my ship, it is an historical artifact and rather important to me, so-"

Smiling mutinously at the General she tugged off her boots and pulled out the shoals. They were made of wood. She picked me up and held me as she stepped back onto the two pieces of her ship's deck, then smirked at Mr. Ironwood.

"Ridiculous. Absolutely absurd."

"Oh I do agree but I've been in this boat before" The general rolled his eyes at the very poor pun. "You can see the part of the deck I cut these from if you want Daddy J." The General was steaming with anger. "So Penny wanna make this thing official or what? Remember, divorces happen."

I couldn't believe how fast she had come up with this solution; it was so automatic for her.

"How? I mean like, how did you come up with this idea so fast?"

Aideen looked at me gravely, tucking her chin in slightly. It gave her an aged apperance. "I'm really old Penny. My actual birth predates history. I've had to think on my feet like this for millennia. It becomes second nature." She seemed to brood over something for several seconds. "But enough chit-chat wddaya say baby? Wanna get hitched?"

"Um, I do, ye-" She cut me off with a kiss.

I had never been kissed before. I wasn't sure what to do with myself. It was a nice feeling; a good fee-It was exhilarating! I tried kissing back, and I guess I did ok. I tried to turn a little but our noses got in the way. Then she backed off. My mind was very blank. I registered a line of saliva between our lips. I hurriedly kissed it off. Aideen thought it was hilarious. She threw her head back and laughed.

"HA! Hahaha! Penny baby was that your first kiss? Well don't you look bemused! Hehehe."

I looked up to see that Mr. Ironwood was gone. I guess he had stormed out when he lost direct control of me.

Aideen placed me gently back on the bed, and turned to pick up Pyrra who had collapsed. After making certain Major Nikos was stable she sat down next to me.

"Well basically the only part of my religious beliefs that you need to remember are that you may not undergo major medical changes of any nature without your spouse's approval. And I'll approve anything that you want me to. But gosh I might be the last person on Remnent who follows the faith. She frowned again looking older than ever. I've got you back sweetie. But remember I can only play this card while I'm you wife. If I blow up again you'll need to marry me or someone else quickly. Or else ironwood will sweep in and snatch you up lickity split."

"Yes captain."

"Oh my gawd Penny I really am you wife, you can call me Aideen if you want."

"Um, OK Mrs. Aideen."

Aideen stared blankly at me in mild disbelief for several seconds. Then face planted herself into my bed.

"Whats Avia?"

"Hm? Oh! Well it's not anything anymore, I was born there but in the turning of the sun and moon and the rise and fall of empires, the always flowing ocean consumed my home. Avia has been hidden beneath the waves for several thousand years. I'm the only person in the world who can still find it, actually my ship the Equinox was built there once upon a time. It is filled with artifacts of my people, though some are in museums throughout the world, surviving the flow of time just like I am. "

"I see, that's fascinating… I need to tell you something. It's about Ruby, you see I-"

"Yea yea I know you like her and its fine. I can just say the banishment words when you decide to leave my House, but you don't need to worry about me kicking you out. I don't care to see your memory wiped. You have all the same right as me or Ruby. I'll always fight for equality."

"Thank you Captain Phire."

She smiled then sat up in a businesslike way.

"Well we won the fight. The Grimm got thrown back." She slid her smile up evilly as she giggled over some piece of information that had just animated her face.

"Domino squad will be arriving tomorrow night."

I looked down at her in terror. "RUBY IS COMING?"

"Hehehehe. Yep."

"Aideen you can't be serious can you?"

"Of course I am…. Mrs. Penny Phire." It annoyed me greatly how she put emphasis on her last name. MY last name.

"I just want to be a Rose!" I cried.

"I'm telling Ruby you said that." Aideen declared resolutely.

If ever I felt afraid it would have been right then and there. No one would have to wait for anything more stressful ever.

Odin

The cold wind howled around me. My armies stood restless in the snow, they could sense something nearby, but it was of little concern. No mortal army could match this gathering. A messenger walked over to me and bowed.

"Master, the Emperor has called you forth."

"Of course he has. You are dismissed."

I waited several minutes before standing and walking at a mortals pace to the old watchtower that our new Emperor had taken residence in. I was shortly joined by an old acquaintance. He joined me in my stride.

"Odin."

"Thoth." He looked as much the librarian as ever, his mask in the shape of an Ibis. His armor was pale and slightly gray. Indeed he himself looked like an old scroll, rolled up and slipped onto a dusty shelf.

"I imagine our new Emperor summoned you as well O All father?"

"Hmph. Yes, he does enjoy calling us like servants."

"Indeed, but let us remember that our own banners we call upon as we call our servants do we not?"

"I neither need nor want a lesson on patience from you Wise One. I will conduct myself as I always did before the Great Sleep took us."

Thoth lapsed into peaceable silence. Once we arrived at the tower the guards outside addressed us.

"You are late, his majesties ordered tha-"

"Shut up Alexiares, don't think that your position at that door puts you above us, you're a guard, not a god."

"Hmm yes O young ones we are you betters, this has always been and will always be. Now stand aside."

The guards parted with tense shoulders at their chastisement. We entered the tower and began to ascend.

"Curious stonework is it not Odin? It can only be mortal work."

"Yes. It may prove annoying if we have to deal with this level of ingenuity later."

"It is likely that we will have to deal with worse and at greater heights. I have received distressing news as of late concerning the strength of mortal walls."

"Oh yea your family has still not surfaced?"

"Alas they have not, but as you have already deduced it is due to my extensive search for the chambers of Amun-Ra and Mut and Osiris that have afforded me greater knowledge of our pestilent foes strengths."

"I'd forgotten how long-winded you are."

"Ah and I had forgotten how um, to the point you are."

"If only everyone was like me, things would actually get done."

"I wouldn't let the Emperor hear that if I wear you 'Borrson'."

I looked down the stairs for the source of the familiar female voice.

"Xi Wangmu? I thought you were dead!"

"The tale of my alleged demise was greatly exaggerated 'Borrson'."

Thoth turned to look at the goddess of longevity.

She was beautiful as always, her mask was entirely smooth and oval in shape, her armor was pale as cloud made solid. He arms hang languidly at her sides. She was the very embodiment of grave, and was well renowned for her lightning-fast reflexes.

"That is just it O Mother of the West, we have heard no tales of or about you at all. Your chambers and the isle upon which they were located have disappeared beneath the waves. Avia is no more."

"I see, well I am glad that I have found you, but what is this talk of Mortals dominating the globe, and an Emperor as well? This thing has not happened since the world was young."

"It is too long a tale to tell of now, our Emperor has, well 'summoned"' us to his place in this tower."

"I see." She quickened her pace as the three of us began to ascend faster.

Once we reached the summit of the tower it was to see that we had arrived last. I stepped forward and announced Xi Wangmu's return.

"Look here my brethren, The Mother of the West is returned to us, Xi Wangmu has survived the sleep!"

A great murmuring broke out among the guest, who were many in number and deed.

Zeus, with a mask of bone that seemed to crown him in blank lightning bolts.

Poseidon, whose mask took the shape of a Squid.

Hera, who wore a mask shaped as a woman's face.

Aries, his mask shaped as a helm for war.

Hephaestus, he wore a mask and armor that had the look and consistency of raw marble.

Athena, she like Aries was clad in a mask shaped as a war helm, she carried her fabled shield Aegis.

Thor, his winged mask had a great crack in it, his hands rested on Mjolnir's pommel as its head rested on the floor.

Loki, his horned mask was missing a horn. He stood with a great book open in his hands, it smelled of mortals.

My own father, Borr, his mask, mine and Thor's all looked the same, with minor details difference.

And lastly all standing on a low dais above as all the chief family of the Emperor and his wife.

Eligos, a Duke in title his mask was of a wolf and carried a spear.

Botis, his mask's teeth were pointed and overlarge, two horns stood atop his head. He wore a sword.

Sallos, with the mask of a crocodile.

Purson, a disgraced king his mask was as a lions, he wore an axe.

And lastly, our new rulers, Windigo and his wife Medusa. They stood proudly above us all, and even if we betrayed them right in this instant they would die sound in the knowledge that they well and truly had ruled us and would laugh at us even in death.

Windigo had a sullen starved appearance; his mask even had a hungry look to it. In his right hand he carried a sword that was not his and in his left a shield equally stolen. I recognized the sword, or cutlass as belonging to the king Davy Jones who was destroyed by the demon Phoenix in the years before the sleep that imprisoned us all within our own halls. The shield was obviously of Olympian origin, though I did not know who its rightful owner was.

Medusa's mask was sleek and smooth; her hair was bound in carven bone shaped like snakes. She wore a whip, I felt I had seen it in Apollo's possession once but could not be sure. Windigo raised his head and spoke. His voice was level and sure, calculating.

"Welcome back to the waking world Xi Wangmu, I am your Emperor Windigo. This is your Empress Medusa. You may take your place beside Hera."

Xi Wangmu paused for a moment without speaking then strode carefully to Hera's side.

"Now that you are here I must inform you that Hades has left us, his vendetta towards the Phoenix has driven him to act alone. He failed. It is likely that the Phoenix has recovered the sword that was taken from it in the twilit war. And even more than that the fortress that Hades was to garrison has been taken by the enemy. Charon is attempting to take it back but I do not believe that he can reclaim it alone, I have already dispatched Phobos, demos and Atalanta to bolster Charon's efforts. I believe that the mortals will break under this force, most likely in utter terror of the size of the army. Of course it is upsetting that we have lost the resorce of Hades unique sight, but we will still prevail over the foolish mortals, if not quickly then at a more moderate pace. Borr, Odin, Thor, Zeus and Athena I want you to take the tunnel at the base of this mountain into the settlement known as Vale, you will have to do digging at the end of the tunnel as it has both collapsed and been sealed more securely by the mortals.

Loki, Hephaestus, Poseidon I want you to take our entire armada to the swirling strait, a cave system opened up in the cliffs as my army passed it during a storm, I observed obvious signs of stonework and some of it looks like ours that has been repaired by mortal kind. Its upper levels bore inscriptions of a volcano in the sky; I want you to determine if that volcano exists and if so where it is. If it is found and made operational return to me here, I could make use of a flying fortress. Until then I will remain in this place. My army will cover the entrance into the tunnels so that no force can take our forces inside buy surprise."

He stood.

"You are dismissed."

Ozpin

I sat in my office listening to the gears above my click, clang and rattle. I watched out over the cliffs of my school and waited. The doors to my lift opened. I turn around. My guest was quite shapely; her mask was shaped as a skull crossed with a helmet. She carried a spear in her left hand and a gladius in her right.

"Artemis, I'm glad you came. Is there anything I can offer you?"

"No Lord Ozpin."

"Oh no I'm not a lord, I'm a Headmaster."

"What is the distinction?"

"Well you see I am a head teacher, I preside over this school and am its chief authority."

"Ah… I am still not sure how that is any different but, as you say." She shrugged.

"Well now when I got the message from Aideen I was quite surprised. Please explain in your own words you reason for being here."

She sheathed her sword and lay down her spear.

"I wish to die. But I wish for your kind to live. I wish to die either fighting alongside you, or at your hand once the fighting is over. I believe that the Immortals are wrong to take domination as our birthright. We are blights upon the world. We take, but do not create. Our names come from you mortals, all of our culture comes from you, and once eons ago, we protected you, nurtured you. But when you no longer needed us, we punished you for it. When you began to rise from infancy into manhood we grew angry. It was wrong of us. We gave the order for the lesser ones, 'Grimm''' as you call them to eat your kinds flesh when it became apparent that the twilit war was lost to us. You do not need us, but we need you. But I am the only one of my kind to feel this way, and so I will help you destroy my kin. So that you, who I still view even now as my precious children, can rise and create and flourish as you were meant to.

If you will have me."

She dropped to her knees. I stood and walked around my desk to her. And for the first time in my life I extended my hand down to a Grimm to help. Tenderly, as if she viewed me as fragile, she took my hand as I pulled her upright.

"Welcome to Beacon Academy Artemis. I have a place for you hear on campus if you would take it. I am in need of an expert on Monarch class Grimm, and you fit the bill rather well."

"I trust your judgment on this Headmaster. I will do as you feel is best."

"Thank you."

The sun shone through the corridors of Beacon as I lead Artemis to her new classroom. The students looked shocked and many drew their weapons in response to Artemis's presence. But she did not seemed troubled by the hostile display. Indeed she took it all in stride.

This world is changing and rapidly so. The war to come may yet be called the Dawning war. Because if I am right in trusting Artemis then it is likely that remnant will be able to rid itself of Grimm forever. I cannot possibly have awaited any future more anxiously than this one.

The wait positively kills me.

A.N.

So sorry for the wildly long wait(It is so ironic that you had to wait for this one. Look at the last sentence yo!), this has been finished for weeks, but I had THOUGHT I updated the chapter on the 5th (My birthday) And when I went back to look I was SOOOOO wrong! It didn't I donno "Click" or something, well either way it's here now and I hope you enjoy, I wrote an extra-long chapter this time, for my birthday. Well I really just split chapter 10 in half and put it on the end of 9 but details don't matter. Also please do comment I would very much like to know what you think.