The trees in the plateaux cast dark shadows on the uneven ground under them. The sun had slowly begun to set under the mountainside, the orange sky warning the Huntsman and Huntresses that night and the inevitability of sleep was approaching. However, despite the unfortunate circumstances one team seemed rather happy about the situation. Or more accurately their personal situation.

"So, you were really spying on us the whole time?" Blake looked to her side to see her three teammates walking beside her.

"Well not so much spying on you as looking for you. And not the whole time, just the part where you got all sappy talking to Ruby." Yang cheekily answered.

Blake looked away towards the ground, masking her embarrassment of others seeing so vulnerable. "I wouldn't say I was sappy."

"Aw come on Blake don't be so embarrassed. Honestly, I like seeing this sweeter side of you, you should try to stay this upbeat all the time like me."

Weiss narrowed her eyes at her teammates. "I sincerely hope not."

Ruby pumped her fist and stepped in front of her team, turning around and walking backwards to talk to them while heading forward. "Come on team cheer up! Blake's finally talking to us again! We collected a bunch of items on Miss Goodwitch's list! We're finally all back in sync and things are looking bright! Nothing is gonna trip up Team RWBY no-!" Ruby suddenly felt something cold get in the way of her heel. Not slowing down beforehand Ruby suddenly felt herself trip up, falling flat on her back with a thud. "Ow."

"Honestly Ruby, you need to watch where you're going." Weiss chided.

"Um Weiss, I wouldn't talk to Ruby about paying attention when you missed all of…this!" Yang gestured her arms forward in dramatic fashion to point out something in front of her.

Weiss looked ahead, Blake brought her head up and Ruby pushed the back of her head against the ground to look ahead to see an upside-down view of what was in front of her. And even when it was flipped, the sight was enough to make Ruby and the rest of her team gape. Their once boring and safe campsite was suddenly ripped apart in front of them. Chunks of the ground broken up as though bombs detonated on top of them. Chunks of rocks ranging from stones to pebbles and even pulverised dust lay scattered in a wide amount of debris. And perhaps more insane of all was that several areas were cold, and wet with either water or melting icicles and frost.

"What happened here?!" Blake cried out rushing over to get a better look, kneeling in front of a think sheet of ice. "Ice in this heat. Do you think someone may have found a deposit of Dust?"

"If they did it wouldn't have anything to do with that." Weiss pointed at the melting icicles stabbed into the ground. "Ice Dust is able to remain frozen even over 100° Centigrade."

"Huh?" Ruby murmured in confusion.

"212° Fahrenheit."

"Ohhh~. Why didn't you just say that?"

Weiss shook her head in annoyance at Ruby's preference at her choice of temperature measuring method. "The point is, as hot as it is out here. It shouldn't be enough to even begin to melt Ice Dust. Let alone turn it to a puddle."

"I overheard people say that Goodwitch mentioned people going crazy because of their nightmares in previous years. Do you think that someone snapped?" Yang asked in concern.

Ruby finally got to her feet and put her hands on her back to stretch the discomfort away. "Isn't Kai's tent around here? You don't think he did this do you?"

"Kai may worry a lot but even at his worst I doubt he'd do something like this." Blake reasoned, standing back up.

"Okay. But what about Robin? Isn't she a little, y'know…sensitive?" Yang suggested.

"Sensitive hearing at least."

Yang looked behind her to see Robin standing impatiently with a frown on her face. "Now what were you doing talking about me behind my back?"

Yang awkwardly stepped back, rubbing the back of her head through her long, thick blonde hair. "Oh nothing. Just wondering what happened here with all of this destruction." Yang gestured again at the ravaged site. "Do you know anything about it?"

"That? That was just a quick sparring session my Beartic had with Kai's Lucario. It's nothing to worry yourselves over." Robin bluntly explained.

Team RWBY looked back at Robin's response with comically wide-eyed surprise. Thinking about it further it did make sense, they did witness her and Kai's battle on the Main Avenue and the destruction that caused. But the way Robin made tearing up the ground so casually. It was enough to raise a few concerns.

"So, even when you're just training, Pokémon can do this much damage." Blake muttered.

"Normally we can control it better, but me and Kai needed to let of some pressure. Kai especially seemed to need it."

"Why? Is something wrong with Kai?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"He's fine now, but earlier he just seemed out of it. For some reason Pokémon battling seemed to put him back to normal. But even so, something tells me the nightmare he had last night it did more damage to him than he's letting on." Realising her sudden softness Robin quickly turned and looked away, heading off on her own. "Not that I care or anything. Just an observation. Now if you want to see Kai, he's in our tent. If you'll excuse me there's someplace, I need to be. Hopefully I'll be far enough away for you to continue talking about me out of earshot."

Yang sighed, placing her hand on her hip. "You know it wouldn't kill you to open up once in a while."

Robin didn't seem to hear Yang's comment, or more accurately she probably chose to ignore it. Regardless, with Robin walking away there was nothing to keep Team RWBY waiting prompting Ruby to look towards the airships.

"Alright, all we need to do is drop these items off and check in with Miss Goodwitch and then we can start making up for lost time together. Oh, if only I brought my board game, then Blake could join us for real this time!"

"I was playing with you last time." Blake argued as the team began walking.

"Sure Blake. You were trying just as hard as I was when I totally kicked Weiss' butt." Yang proudly bragged.

Weiss dramatically posed in front of Yang, her pride bubbling over from Yang's comment. "Laugh while you can Miss Xiao Long. Because I have studied your tactics of war previously, and when next our kingdoms do battle, I will destroy you with the full force of whichever kingdom falls under my command!"

Ruby awkwardly appeared behind Weiss, breaking the tension she had set up. "Weiss. You did hear me when I said I didn't bring the game right?"

Weiss turned to face Ruby. "I know that! But I when this ruffian mocks my board gaming skills, I need to defend my honour even if the game in question is dozens of miles away."

"Wait you have skills? Then why didn't you bust them out when I was kicking your butt." Yang interrupted, bragging once again.

Weiss promptly turned to the other sister around her. "Why are even being smug. You didn't even win, Jaune did!"

"So. Just because I didn't win doesn't mean I kicked yours and Ruby's butts along the way. Which I totally did."

Yang continued her playful teasing much to the annoyance of the Schnee heiress and the confusion of her younger sister, who didn't quite understand how she had created such a suddenly heated conflict. All the while the three were being watched by Blake who couldn't help but feel her heart lighten at their familial like squabbling's with one another.

Blake showed a subtle smile. "I've missed this…but…" Blake clenched her fist. "If I don't want to hurt them…I'm going to need to make sure the White Fang are stopped. Now more than ever."

Noticing Blake was falling behind, Ruby turned her head toward her teammate. "Blake! Are you coming?!"

Blake saw Weiss and Yang also looking behind, giving her inviting stares. An invitation that made her unclench her fist and take in the calm air. "Sure, I'll be right there."

Blake began to pick up her pace and joined up with her team of friends. For now, at least the White Fang could wait an extra day or two. She had something much more vital to keep hold of at the moment.


Before any of the training Huntsman or Huntress' knew it, nightfall had fallen upon them. What used to be the calm, tranquil peace of the night, was now filled with an eerie tension that no one could really escape. Some had tried resting their eyes earlier in the day but no one had even been able to nap, whether by restlessness or fear of the sub-conscious turning against them. And perhaps one of the most affected by this inevitability was sitting just outside his tent staring at the starry sky in search of home.

Kai sat in his regular trainer attire; the reflection of the stars encapsulated in his eyes. "Where are you Kalos?" He whispered in an exhausted breath.

To his side, away from his view Robin slowly walked up to him. "Stargazing, again are you? You do realise all that's going to happen from doing that is you're going to get a sore neck."

Kai turned his head slightly towards Robin. "I take it that Goodwitch said no to us leaving. Again."

"Of course she is. Despite another day passing we're still the only ones who have collected all those items." Robin explained, looking at Kai. "If you are going to leave on your Talonflame now's probably your best chance. Who knows, if you wake up early enough back at Beacon you could fly back here and she'd never have known that you left."

Kai looked away from Robin, back at the sky. "Yeah, but if people can't wake up out of their nightmares, they'll need Slurpuff's Sweet Veil ability. It doesn't help that you're practically all out of Chesto Berries, unless you want to also use all of your Lum Berries too. Besides considering all that stuff about us supporting each other, it'd be jerk move to just leave you all alone tonight."

"Oh, so you're just staying here to look after me as though I was just a little kid climbing into a parent's bed after a bad dream."

"Did you just forget the part about me saying everyone else will need me to wake them up. Or are you so desperate to make this all about you?"

Robin huffed, crossing her legs to sit down next to Kai. "Fine. Stay. Hope you enjoy your nightmares."

"About that…" Kai slowly lowered his head until he looked at the ground. "I'm not falling asleep tonight."

Robin looked at Kai sceptically. "Don't try and deny it, you have to Kai. You can't stay awake all night after waking up so early today."

"I don't care. Even if I need to use Slurpuff, or my other Pokémon, even if I have to practically torture myself, I'm not going to sleep. I'm not going through that again. I can't go through it again." Kai explained in the same serious tone he had this morning.

"Your nightmare was that bad?" Robin intrigued.

"It was…" Kai thought back at the nightmare before wincing and shaking his head. "Something I don't want to talk about."

Robin saw Kai's posture, eying him up and down before gazing up at the stars as he once did. "So, what do you want to talk about?

Kai looked at Robin, noticing her point of view and chose to look up as well. "Um…why do you want to know? You've never really liked talking to me unless it was as a middleman to your Pokémon."

"Well the fact is, I don't want to sleep either. And one of the best ways to stop us from dozing off is to think, to do something. Talking just seems the most convenient thing right now."

Kai managed to smile briefly. "Well there is one thing that's been on my mind for a while." Kai lowered his head so that it was eyes level with Robin's. "What's with all the berries?"

Robin heard Kai's question and turned her head so that the two's eyes finally met each other. "I suppose I should have guessed you'd ask that sooner or later." Robin took a quick breath. "You know the berry fields south of Route 7."

Kai nodded his head. "Of course, I have. It's the biggest source of natural grown berries in the region. I even hear that the owners let some trainers breed their own berries on spare plots. Do you have a plot there?"

"In a manner of speaking. My family…runs the place."

Kai stared at Robin processing the sudden family history, blinking a few times. When it finally sunk in Kai suddenly lurched back. "Seriously! You own all that land?!"

Robin scoffed and looked away. "It's not a big deal. It's not like my family's exceptionally rich or influential like Weiss'."

Kai pulled himself back up woken up and filled with intrigue. "Still, you hardly seem like a country bumpkin farm girl type of person."

Robin looked back at Kai with a glare. "Is that a problem?"

Kai gulped and nervously chuckled. "No. No problem at all. In fact, it's great! You're great!"

Kai nervously smiled, showing his teeth. Robin just gave a smug smile in response. "Well at least you're finally acting like yourself again. All your moping around was so annoying."

"Yeah well, you haven't exactly been sunshine and rainbows either." Kai relaxed his jaw, his smile becoming more natural. "So, what was it like growing on a farm?"

"Dull mostly. Just a lot of watering, and berry picking, and waiting and heavy lifting and more waiting. It was such a pain at times." Robin's own smile softened as well as she began to recollect. "Though I suppose it did help me appreciate Pokémon from a young age. Taking care of the family Gogoat and Lotad. Dealing with wild Bug types that would come and steal our berries. And one day when I was helping Gogoat plough the fields, I discovered this weird looking rock. It was smooth and bumpy and when my brother took a look at it, he told me it was a Pokémon fossil. Fast forward to today, that fossil became Tyrantrum. I still remember the feeling of wonder when I first saw him walk up to me with those puppy dog like eyes of his as a Tyrunt. Until he rammed into my chest and starting licking my face. Then the wonder stopped."

Kai continued looking at Robin with an increasing feeling of comfort. "Wow, you really are just a big softie aren't you."

"Hey!" Robin suddenly punched Kai in his arm, making him yelp and rub the area struck. "I am not soft."

"Yep…my mistake…" Kai groaned in discomfort before deciding to look back up at the stars. "So, you grew up near Camphrier Town, I grew up in Vaniville myself. You want to talk about dull, try living in a town where the only place of interest was your own house."

"I can only imagine. I bet you were dying to go on a Pokémon journey right." Robin asked.

"Yeah, I practically had my mind set on it until…Until I didn't." The energy drained from Kai's face his disposition returning to what it was previously. "You know I don't know why but ever since coming here I keep thinking about home. About Kalos and Earth and Pokémon and everything really. Do you feel something like that?"

Robin continued looking at Kai. His change in behaviour not going unnoticed as her smile turned into a cautious frown. "Can't say that I do. You're probably just seeing things that aren't there."

"Yeah…You're probably right. I'm just being an idiot…"

Robin's frown turned more hostile, when she pulled her arm back once again. "Quit moping!"

Robin thrust her fist forward punching Kai again more intensely in the same spot. "OWW! That one actually hurt that time!"

"Are you still feeling mopey?"

"I'm a little confused. A little tired. A little sore." Kai groaned.

"So you're not mopey anymore? Good. I've already had to deal with you being mopey once today, and not dealing with it all night."

Kai rubbed his arm with a discomforted look on his face. "Did you have to punch me though?"

Robin raised her hand, clenching it into a fist. "You want me to do it again."

Kai pulled his arm away defensively and went back to looking at the stars. "Preferably not." As Kai continued methodically rubbing his arm, he slowly felt his smile return as his thoughts began to drift away. "Thanks again Robin."

"You're thanking me for punching you in the arm?" Robin scoffed. "You really are a wimp."

"Actually, I'm thanking you for staying up with me." Kai's shoulders relaxed and he placed both his open palms on the ground. "And for getting my mind off things today."

"Oh…Well, you're welcome." Robin felt an odd feeling arise in her at Kai's gratitude, making her follow his lead and leaning on her hands while looking up at the sky with him.

The two continued looking up at the stars in silence. Though unlike before they had set out on this trip, this silence only brought them closer instead of keeping them apart.


Time pressed on in the night and one by one, Huntsmen and Huntresses fell to sleep. Some out of exhaustion, others out of boredom, some believing the nightmares this time wouldn't be so bad. However, there were some like Kai and Robin who were able to keep each other active thanks to their companionship and mind distracting activities.

"Alright, truth or dare?!" Nora ambitiously asked her teammates huddled around each other.

"Do we have to continue doing this Nora? Can't we at least rest our eyes?" Ren sceptically asked.

Nora jumped forward, booping Ren on the nose. "Hey! You picked dare and I dared you not to complain tonight so shut your yaps!"

Nora zoomed back to her place in the tent, resulting in Ren sighing in defeat. Nora clapped her hands, rubbing them back and forth in gleeful anticipation. "So, any volunteers?"

Jaune and Pyrrha nervously looked at Nora's enthusiastic glare, the two gulping in concern. Neither of them knew whether it would be safer to ask for truth or dare, perhaps Nora wouldn't even give them a choice.

Jaune cleared his throat and cautiously edged his way closer to the edge of the tent. "Oh, gee Nora I would love to play right now but I kind of gotta go to the bathroom really bad. You go first Pyrrha!"

Jaune suddenly zoomed out of the tent, making the sides flap from the sudden force. Looking the same way, Pyrrha suddenly hatched an idea, crawling over and grabbing her scroll. "Wait Jaune it's dark outside, you might need some light."

Following her partners lead, Pyrrha left the tent with her scroll in hand as a flashlight, leaving the remaining pair alone. With Ren at Nora's mercy.

"So, Ren. Truth…or dare?" Nora repeated.

This time it was Ren's turn to gulp.

Outside the tent Pyrrha got up her feet and shone a beam of light from her scroll towards the surrounding area. "Phew, good thinking Jaune. I'm starting to think all of this nightmare anxiety is starting to make Nora a little too paranoid."

Pyrrha scanned the area with her scroll light, starting at the ground before angling the mobile device upwards, aiming the beam of light when it made contact with Jaune's back. Feeling the light, he turned his head over his shoulder to see Pyrrha in surprise.

"Huh Pyrrha?!" Jaune alarmingly called out, his attention being diverted away as he struggled with pulling up the zipper on the front of his jeans.

"Jaune what are you-?" Immediately it dawned on Pyrrha that Jaune may not have be completely lying, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "Oh…I'm sorry. I'll just look away-"

"No! No! Wait! Just-a-moment…!" Jaune finally managed to zip up his fly, sighing in relief. "Sorry you had to see that."

"Oh no, no it was all my fault. You see I just thought that, you were just trying to get away from Nora's game."

Jaune turned around to face Pyrrha. "Well funny thing is, it kind of was. But when I got out…well nature called and…I answered."

"Well that's certainly convenient…" Pyrrha awkwardly responded to the unnecessary information. Then her attitude changed and her Huntress instincts kicked in.

At the edge of her vision low at the ground where her beam of light shone, she noticed a dark patch. A shadow that's position wasn't cast by any surface, and existed solely as a patch of darkness within the light.

Jaune noticed the change in Pyrrha's demeanour and showed immediate signs of concern. "Pyrrha? What is it?"

Pyrrha cautiously walked ahead of her, the light cast from her scroll becoming more intense as it concentrated closer on one spot. "Jaune, do you see that?"

Jaune turned around to see the black patch of isolated shadow and took a step closer to get a better look. "Are you sure you're not being a little paranoid from waking up so early? It's just a shadow."

"Maybe. But I just have this feeling…" Pyrrha approached the edge of the light, her hand hovering through the light to cast its own shadow. However, when it appeared over the black patch no shadow was cast over it or her arm, increasing her doubts. Slowly and cautiously Pyrrha extended her arm forwards until her fingertips were withing touching range of the darkness. Calming her nerves, Pyrrha stretched her fingers out touching the patch. It felt…just like the ground, albeit a little colder.

"See Pyrrha it's nothing. Now come on, leaving Ren alone with Nora for this long. It just seems cruel." Jaune reasoned.

Hearing Jaune's words and seeing no response from the black shadow, Pyrrha calmed down and smiled. "You're right Jaune. I guess my nightmare from last night must still be racking on my nerves."

"Don't take it personally, we're all a little anxious. Now come on, if it'll make you feel better, I'll go next in truth or dare. Seeing me embarrass myself will probably lift your mood."

Jaune began walking back to his team's tent, turning his back on his partner. Pyrrha bent her legs and began to stand up when she suddenly flinched. Her body went cold and stiff when something tightly snagged itself on Pyrrha's wrist. Looking down she saw a black clawed hand tightly grasping her black gloved hand.

"What is-?"

A glowing blue eye opened wide from the shadow making Pyrrha gasp in shock. A black blur erupted out of the ground sending her flying back. Her aura briefly flashed orange, a sign that she had managed to activate it in time and that this blow was especially strong.

Pyrrha couldn't think. Whatever had just attacked her was so fast, so swift that she was completely blind sighted. The force leaving her senses dulled until a sudden shock flooded her system, the shock of her body falling against the ground.

"PYRRHA!"

Pyrrha rolled her neck over to see Jaune rushing towards her. "Jaune…?"

Jaune came to a stop in front of Pyrrha's body, bringing out Crocea Mors' sword and shield. "Are you alright Pyrrha? Can you move?"

Pyrrha placed her palms on the ground, pushing her body up to her knees. Slowly managing to get up onto her feet. "I think so…but what-?" Pyrrha's eyes widened in shock at the sight in front of her. "What is that…?"

Standing across from the two students lay the creature of their nightmares. Facing off against them was a pitch-black figure bathed in the surrounding night. It stood tall on pointed stilt-like appendages that joined to its hourglass figure of a body. Going further up was what appeared to be its neck was covered by a spiky growth in the visage of a razor-sharp set of teeth. And finally, its small head stared deep into their souls with a piercing gaze from its glowing blue eyes, as a fog like wispy plume blew in the wind along with similar tatters coming from the shoulders of its skinny arms.

"" The black figure gave a low growl, one that sent a shiver down the Huntsman in training's spines.

"Is that…a Grimm?" Jaune nervously asked, his voice slightly quivering as his breath began to mist in his face.

"It has to be but something about it…doesn't seem right." Pyrrha answered, as she drew her own weapons, Miló and Akoúo̱.

At the sight of weapons being drawn the figure's eyes narrowed. Suddenly its entire body vanished from view, disappearing as though it never existed to begin with.

The sudden action made Jaune drop his guard, lowering his weapons to his sides. "It fled?"

"No Jaune don't-!" But Pyrrha's warnings came too late.

The figure re-appeared, charging shoulder first into Jaune's chest. His armour plate preventing him from being winded but the attack still dealing a crushing blow. The figure shoved Jaune into the air, gliding under him as it made its way deeper into the camp. By the time Jaune landed on his butt, the figure had already put some distance between the two of them.

Twirling her xiphos into a shotgun, Pyrrha cocked her weapon and charged forward. "I'm going after it! Jaune, get Miss Goodwitch or General Ironwood."

Jaune got up rubbing his behind. "Sure…good plan…"

Out in the camp the black figure's thin appendages suddenly went back up into its body, suddenly levitating off the ground. Stretching itself out and putting its arms to the side it began to accelerate as it scanned each of the tents looking for something. As its shadow cast itself over each tent pained murmurs and movements could be heard from inside signalling that the nightmares had begun.

Passing by each of the tents Pyrrha scrunched her eyes trying to make out the figure. With its black body using the dark of night as a cover, even a faunus with natural night vision would have a tough time spotting the camouflaged monster. Raising the rifle so her eyes could focus through the crosshairs of the scope, Pyrrha tightened her grip and began pulling the trigger sending concussive round after concussive round from its barrel in the direction of the figure.

Patches of the earth began blowing up into small explosions of dust and debris in the areas around the black figure. Noticing the strange sight, it turned its head just in time to see Pyrrha's shield spinning towards it at a rapid velocity. Reacting quickly the figure spun its floating body using the momentum to effortlessly backhand Akoúo̱ to the side. The shield flipped upwards like a tossed coin when it suddenly became coated in a black aura, that made it spin back towards the tents.

Pyrrha appeared over the top of one of the tents, landing on it as though it were a stepping stone to jump into the air where she used her Polarity to direct her shield to her where her bronze boots landed on its surface. Tilting it towards the direction of the figure, Pyrrha leaped off it while reconfiguring Miló into its javelin form. Pulling her arm back she used her thumb and finger to aim before pulling the trigger and throwing the weapon at bullet like speeds.

Pyrrha watched her weapon fly towards the black figure ready to pierce its body, however instead of guarding or making an attempt to escape it instead watched the weapon that was aimed to kill it. The javelin closed in on its mark as it casually raised it skinny right arm, its clawed hand suddenly tightening to catch the weapon and halt its attack, the tip of the blade not even an inch away from the figure's head. Pyrrha gasped in surprised horror as she continued to fall defenceless and weapon less towards the black figure. It raised its other arm, extending it towards her as dark energy built up in its palm that suddenly pulsed outwards. Pyrrha was left helpless when the negativity consumed her in a violent explosion that blew her down to the ground.

Despite receiving only two blows her aura was critically low, the pain too much for her to move or make an attempt to get up. Her eyes slowly opened, her vision blurry and the world too dark to make anything properly out. With the exception of a blue eye.

The mysterious black figure floated over Pyrrha's body, its leg appendages coming out from under its body to let it stand firmly above her. ""

Putting its clawed hands close together with a small gap between them, a black sphere of pure darkness began to form. Gravity intensified as any light seemed to disappear into the dark void within its grasp as the orb grew in size, gaining a sinister purple outline.

As the darkness grew Pyrrha could only keep her eyes open as she was forced to accept the final blow. "Jaune…Hopefully I bought you…enough time…"

The figure raised on of its claws up, holding the entire orb of darkness. Its gaze dead set on the human that refused to leave it alone. Pyrrha looked up one more time to see the intense darkness emanating from the black figure…as well as a faint light coming from its side. An intense heat followed it causing the figure to turn its head, its eye widening as it witnessed a spiral of flame jettisoning towards it. With its concentration gone the void in its palm disintegrated before the figure leaped up into the air, jumping over the fire that struck the ground behind it, scorching the ground in the shape of a ring.

"I can't believe you missed a stationary target. Even if that move doesn't have perfect aim."

The familiar voice called to Pyrrha who regained enough strength to raise her head up and look behind her. "Robin?"

Sure, enough Robin stood a distance away from her along with her Flareon on all fours, showing a certain amount of disdain for her trainer's criticism.

"Pyrrha! Are you okay?!"

Pyrrha turning her head to see Kai rush to her side and inspect her injuries, his Perception making extra sure of that. "Kai? But how are you…?"

Kai smiled in relief. "Still up. Let's just say right now it's the one good thing that came from having that nightmare. Now come on, I need to get you to safety."

"Forgive me Master but I doubt that thing will give you the chance to move Miss Nikos." Kai's Lucario walked up next to him. "I can sense its hostility rising."

Kai turned to his Lucario in surprise. "You can sense its feelings? But I thought you couldn't sense the Grimm because they don't have aura."

"This creature does. Which means only one thing." Lucario turned his head to the figure while closing his eyes and making his aura sensing appendages rise behind his head. In his aura vision, the black figure emanated a deep and powerful red aura, showcasing its hostility and the level of its threat. "What we are facing…is no Grimm."

"It's not a Grimm." Kai looked at the figure, his Perception giving it a clear view showcasing more than just the colour black on its body through the blue tinted vision. "Then what is it?"

Robin stepped forward with an intense look. "I don't care what it is. If this thing is attacking us, then all that matters is that we take it down first." Robin stretched her arm out. "Flareon use Fire Spin!"

Flareon puffed up her cheeks before expelling another stream of fire that spiralled towards the figure. The flames closed in ready to encircle the figure when it suddenly vanished, making the attack miss its mark and burn up another section of the ground again.

"It disappeared. No considering how it went after Pyrrha its probably going for a sneak attack." Robin strategized. "Flareon keep your guard up!"

The hair on Flareon's ears and tail stiffened up, her eyes shifting left and right. Behind her Robin was doing the same, scanning the battlefield to identify the most likely place it would strike. Kai meanwhile helped Pyrrha up to her feet with Lucario's help, until she was standing on her own.

"Are you good?" Kai asked.

Pyrrha weakly nodded. "I should be able to move on my own. As long as the remainder of my aura can support me."

"Good. Now try and wake the others up. Try and contact your team. Our friends. Anyone."

Pyrrha got out her scroll when her attention quickly went back to Kai. "But what about you Kai? I know you have Robin and your Pokémon but that thing-"

Kai raised his hand to stop Pyrrha. "I know that it's tough. But believe me, in this world and mine I've had to go up against some serious odds. I may not be on your level physically but when it counts my team always-" Kai looked to the fight to see Robin and Flareon looking around, when something appeared in Kai's Perception empowered vision. "That's not its target!"

Kai suddenly raced off towards Robin. "Robin move!"

Robin heard Kai's call and looked towards him. "What do you mean move?!"

"It's not going after Flareon! It's going after-!"

The black figure suddenly materialised above Robin's head; its claw pulled back ready to slash. Robin realised what Kai meant too late and looked over her head to see it coming down on top of her, but with no way to dodge in time. The sight of the glowing blue eye made her nightmare flash back to her in an instant, the way its black claw was raised reminding her of its grizzly end. The sight enough to paralyze Robin in fear.

A sudden sensation brushed past Robin's sides bringing her out of her painful memory. Moving across Robin's hips was Kai's arms. His chest pushing up against Robin's back to move her out of the way as the two fell forward past the figure. Its posture seemed to adjust accordingly striking down where Robin would be, only for Kai's body to shield her from the attack. He opened his mouth wide in pain as the two were sent tumbling across the ground, ending with the two lying on top of each other.

Robin looked up, seeing Kai on top of her. "What were you thinking?! Do you have any idea how stupid that was?!"

Kai groaned opening his eyes to see Robin's face under his. "If it makes you feel better, I doubt I'd do it again anytime soon."

The black figures retracted its pointed appendages, as it put its claws back together to form another dark orb. It brought its claws apart separating the large orb into two separate orbs that it prepared to throw at the two.

"Back. Off."

The sudden serious voice from behind the figure made them look over their hazy shoulder to see Lucario, with an Aura Sphere prepared at point blank range. The fighting type move suddenly flashed, engulfing the figure's head in a blue light. The figure was sent flying back, crashing into the ground in a blue aura explosion.

Lucario turned away to look at the two trainers. "Master, are you alright?"

Kai leaned up. "Yeah, we're good."

"I would be, if you would get off my chest." Robin grunted.

Kai looked back down realising his close proximity with his roommate, his face going quite red. "Aah! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"

Kai quickly got to his feet, seemingly unfazed by recently getting attacked in the back and sent skidding across the earth. "Just so you know all I was doing was trying to move you out of the way. In no way was I-"

"Just shut up and help me fight this thing." Robin got to her feet narrowly looking at the black figure get back up.

"Right but again I am so sorry that I was that close to you without-!" Kai tried to apologise.

"I thought I told you to shut up!" Robin repeated.

Flareon ran up and stood beside Lucario, her sights set on Kai and her expression being one of amusement. "Flare. Flareon Flareon Flare. Flareon Flareon Flare. (Honestly. The fact that boy has the gall to touch my trainer and then babble on in forgiveness at his actions. There's being a gentleman and then there's being embarrassing.)"

"I must admit, it is one of my Master's less…flattering characteristics." Lucario grievously admitted. "But right now, our trainer's proximity to one another is the least of our problems."

The mysterious floated back up, straightening its hunched over posture. The Aura Sphere was definitely a powerful blow, but not nearly enough to keep it down for good. ""

Recovering from before Kai lightly brushed himself down to remove and dirt and dust, before focusing his attention on the figure. "From what I've seen so far, this thing focuses on stealth and controlling distance. So, let's get in its face! Lucario use Bone Rush!"

Robin gestured her arm forward. "Flareon attack it from above! Use Iron Tail!"

Lucario put his paws together, pulling them out to form an aura construct in the shape of a bone. Standing on his toes, Lucario swiftly ran forward closing the distance between himself and the figure, thrusting the end of the bone forward. The figure darted to the left in a blur, avoiding the initial strike. Lucario's eyes shifted to its new position followed by him swinging the bone to the side, forcing the figure to jump into the air to dodge.

The figure looked down to check Lucario's position before looking in front of itself to see Flareon leaping through the air with her tail shining, becoming as shiny and hard as iron. Flareon lifted its rear upwards to aim her tail above the figure, swinging it down against the figure's narrow chest. The swing slammed the figure out of the sky sending it crashing to the ground, its back skidding across the ground before it stretched out its arms to grip the earth with its claws. Tearing through the terrain, the black figure managed to slow itself down to a stop, levitating itself just over the ground as it put its claws together to create a powerful dark aura.

Kai narrowed his Perception empowered eyes. "It looks like it's preparing an attack! Lucario attack quick with Aura Sphere!"

Robin stretched out her hand. "Flareon, assist with Fire Spin!"

"Right!" Lucario put his paws together building up aura energy.

"Flare. Flareon Flareon. (Hmph. Time to put this gravel back in the dirt where it belongs.)" Flareon's body temperature began to rise as flames began to ignite inside her internal flame sac.

The mysterious black figure rose its darkness filled claws into the air before slamming them against the ground, sending out a distorted pulse of negative energy. Lucario's threw his paws forward, tossing the Aura Sphere with impressive might in time with Flareon expelling another Fire Spin that trailed behind the previous move, boosting both attacks speed and power. The three attacks blitzed towards each other before colliding in the middle, breaking apart and generating a massive explosion of light and dark that awakened the night.

From the trainer's perspective Lucario raised his arm up to brace the shockwaves, while Flareon stood strong on all fours trying to maintain her ground, her fluffy coat being brushed over like a grassy field in high winds. Kai instinctively put his hand on top of his fedora to keep it securely in place while Robin took the winds head on without any signs of backing down. The shockwaves from their impact subsided and dispersed revealing a large amount of destroyed terrain in the spot they hit, and neither the figure or the Pokémon suffering any damage.

"They cancelled each other out?" Robin murmured.

"No." Kai responded seriously; his gaze focused in on the figure. "Unlike Lucario and Flareon, this thing isn't going all out. At least not yet. I doubt it was even trying when Pyrrha was pursuing it."

"How can you be so sure?"

Kai pointed at his glowing eyes. "Perception. I know you think I don't take things seriously all the time, but if my semblance is active then I'm more focused than you can imagine. So, when I say it's holding back, I mean it's holding back."

The serious look from Kai's glowing blue eyes matched the look in the figure's own glowing blue pair. Each eye focusing on one of the two trainers it was facing, hardly showing interest in the actual fighters in front of them. The hazy wisps trailing from its shoulders and its plume waved in the wind during a rare moment of peace, each side contemplating the best move to make next.

The figure suddenly perked up, as though an imminent pressure was suddenly approaching. Myriads of purple bolts glinted in mid-air before suddenly shooting down from the sky. The black figure was bombarded with wave of wave of attacks, creating massive eruptions of dust that obscured the figure from view.

Robin saw the attack with widened eyes. "Where did that come from?"

Kai showed less surprise as he turned his head to the side. "My guess. Her."

Kai pointed outwards directing Robin and the Pokémon to the cause of the sudden attack. Glynda Goodwitch stood firm with her weapon pointed outwards, sending telekinetic blast after telekinetic blast in one spot. Behind her was Jaune as well as a multitude of other first year huntsman who had all woken up by the commotion.

Goodwitch eventually pulled her riding crop back, before adjusting her glasses. "Forgive me students for the unnecessary display of force. But in a case like this, it is better to be safe than sorry."

Robin stared at Goodwitch with a surprised expression. "I knew Huntsman were good with weapons. But I had no idea that they're aura and semblances could be so strong."

Kai relaxed momentarily when suddenly a sensation went through his semblance making him look back at the site of the attack with an even more shocked look. "No way…"

Robin heard Kai's whispers and looked back at him. "What is it?"

She didn't have to wait long for an answer. A sudden gust of air blew through the night, blowing away all the dust that was covering the area to reveal a large number of craters, and destroyed land several feet lower than previously…And yet the black figure stood completely unharmed.

Goodwitch felt her composure fall for a brief moment. "It took no damage…But that's impossible."

The mysterious black figure looked at Goodwitch with a look not of rage, or concern. Not fear or disappointment. Rather a complete and utter feeling of indifference, that her attack was so inconsequential that it might as well treat her as though she wasn't even standing there. What concerned this figure more were the large number of people standing beside her, and not only there but its apparent actions had started alerting others nearby who were gaining the attention of even more people from further away. There was no doubt that in a couple of minutes the entire camp would be awake and alerted to its presence.

"Master. What is our next move?" Lucario asked his trainer.

At the sound of the question the figure looked towards Lucario and by extension Kai giving the two one last sinister look. Its body began to lower closer and closer to the ground until it made contact. However, when it did instead of stopping in place the figure went lower, its form sinking into its own shadow and becoming one with darkness.

Robin stepped forward to give another command to stop it, when Kai suddenly stretched his arm out wide to keep her back. She turned her head to yell but instead saw Kai's serious, focused expression. This one much different from the kind-hearted awkward person she lived with, or the confident Pokémon Trainer she sparred against. The look on this Kai's face showed someone ready to do what needed to be done with no sign of weakness or hesitation. It was a look that made her back down.

The figure had sunk so deep that only its head was the only thing left above ground. A head that looked down before it vanished into shadow. Shadow that very quickly faded away. And like that the night had returned to complete quiet, one more unsettling than before as no one was really sure what to say or do next. Until one of the Huntsman behind Goodwitch decided to take it upon themselves to break it.

"Well what the hell was that?!" They cried out.

And with that utterance the entire camp began to panic. They may have had years studying and training to fight Grimm in some of the lower schools before being accepted into Beacon, but what they just witnessed was nothing compared to what they had expected. Not even Goodwitch was able to get them to calm down, she was still stunned at how her Semblance seemingly had no effect. Sure, she was trained to not rely on it and she had Dust on hand to use as a secondary measure, but for it to have done nothing. Through the panic and confusion only one person was able to step forward with a sense of calm, conciseness. Reaching towards their hip they pulled out a white revolver from a holster, aiming it upwards and pulling the trigger. The sound of the gun being fired cut through the panic and confusion like a blade, silencing everyone and directing the attention to the one who fired it.

"That's enough." Ironwood declared, making sure everyone knew he was heard. "The Grimm is gone, for now at least. All students are to return to their tents, and will try to continue resting. Glynda and I will keep watch and learn just what came here, I can assure you that as long as we're keeping watch no one here will be harmed for the rest of the night." Ironwood began marching forward, looking left and right as he did to look as many of the students in the eye as possible. "Anyone not returned to their tents in the next two minutes, will receive a fail on this exploration assignment. For every extra minute after that, a progressively greater and more severe punishment will be administered. Do I make myself clear?"

Cardin and the rest of Team CRDL were ready to say argue with the general when he stopped in place and turned his head to look directly at them. His gaze one of someone who had prepared for war overpowering the spirit of the fledging Huntsman in training.

Ironwood looked back outwards, gesturing people away with the wave of a hand. "Then you are all dismissed."

With Ironwood's order made clear, the students made their way back to their tents. None of them felt comforted or safe about the situation, but none of them were willing to argue back against the general of Atlas. The only ones who remained where they were standing were Kai and Robin, the latter's semblance finally wearing off giving them a chance to breathe out a long exhale.

"Sorry about cutting you off just now, given how I just charged blindly earlier to get you out of the way. That was probably hypocritical of me to do." Kai solemnly apologised, a certain amount of exhaustion in his voice.

"No, it was the right call. I just didn't want one to get away this time." Robin tightened her fist, the similarities to the figure disappearing and Team Flare too close to not get annoyed by.

Flareon saw her trainer's stress rising, her ears drooping at the sight. Lucario maintained a more thoughtful appearance, placing his pawn under his chin in thought. "That aura…"

Kai stood taking a couple of breaths. "On the bright side, at least that really woke us up."

Robin scoffed. "Always the optimist, aren't you?"

"Right now, it's less about being the optimist and more balancing out all this negativity." Kai went into thought putting his fist under his chin. "That thing. It's sneak attacks, that dark energy. It felt familiar somehow…just like the rest of this place…"

"Mr Emblem. Miss Navy."

Kai and Robin looked to see Goodwitch walking towards them. "You two need to come with me immediately."


The inside of Ironwood's tent was much more expansive and advanced then what you'd expect from the outside. Unlike most students that slept in sleeping bags, Ironwood had an inflated mattress to sleep on complete with covers on top to tuck him in. Close to one of the tent's walls was what looked like a home office comprised of an unfolded table with multiple screens set up allowing Ironwood to monitor and communicate with his fleet back in Vale. And inside the tent right now was not only Ironwood but an acquaintance of Kai as well.

"You wish for me to perform reconnaissance on the entire reserve?" Penny asked Ironwood for confirmation.

"I need you to. You're the only one here that won't become fatigued from exhaustion. And the only one here with the tools and abilities to search the area as quickly as possible." Ironwood briefed.

"But sir, based on the estimated size of plateaux from the maps you have provided. In order to thoroughly and effectively search the area, it will not only take all night but a good majority of tomorrow morning as well."

Ironwood groaned. "If that is how long it will take then so be it. But you are not to take any unnecessary brakes or detours while you are out there. You will continue your mission until you have located that monster."

The tone of the last word Ironwood's spoke made Penny flinch. "I-I understand General Ironwood. I will do my best."

Ironwood regained composure as he proudly stood tall. "It doesn't matter if it's your best. What's most important is that you give me results."

Penny slowly nodded, saluting to signify that she understood the order before turning around and walking out of the tent. She exited just as Goodwitch came with Kai, Robin and their Pokémon. Kai in particular seemed quite interested in her appearance.

"Penny? Why are you here?" Kai asked.

"Oh, I am just leaving. I wish to talk more but I have been ordered to avoid any unnecessary breaks and detours such as our conversation. I will be on my way now Kai Emblem, please inform Ruby that I am sorry I will not be seeing much of her for the rest of the time here." Penny brought out her Floating Array, and immediately had them all fire beams of green energy that shot her hight into the sky like a rocket, using them to readjust her position and fly off into the distance.

Kai just blinked at the sight in awe, before walking alongside Goodwitch and Robin into the tent. "Huh. Every time I meet her, she just whips out another surprise."

The group entered to see Ironwood waiting for them. "I apologise for the lack of seating arrangements."

"It's fine." Robin answered. "But considering the night so far I would prefer we get this over with as soon as possible. I assume you want to speak with me and Kai because we were the ones who fought that thing."

"That would be correct." Ironwood confirmed, his gaze shifting to Lucario and Flareon. "Do you two plan on keeping them out throughout all of this?"

"Well considering how they were the ones who did all the actual fighting I think it would be best if they did. Is that a problem?" Kai explained.

"No, it isn't. Just make sure they don't leave any fur in here." Ironwood sighed.

"Flareon?! Flareon Flare! (Leaving my fur?! How dare he act as though I were a mongrel!)" Flareon barked aggressively.

"For the record General, I do not shed my fur." Lucario stated bitterly.

"Regardless let's get back on track." Ironwood walked closer to the two trainers. "Please if you could describe to me just how you encountered this Grimm and what it was capable of."

Kai and Robin looked at each other before telling Ironwood and Goodwitch what happened. How they decided to stay up the whole night rather than go to sleep. How they heard it going after Pyrrha and followed the noise. To their confrontation and the battle, it had.

When it was done Ironwood spoke first. "So, it has immense speed, minimum floating capabilities, the ability to temporarily disappear from view, and it can manipulate some form of dark energy?" Ironwood put his hand to his head. "Based on its appearance and how it sunk into the ground…A Geist maybe. If it came into contact with Dust that could explain the energy is produced."

Kai stepped forward. "Sir, about that? I don't believe it is a Grimm."

"Don't be daft. What else could it have been?" Goodwitch dismissed. "What would make you say that?"

"The fact it had aura." Lucario answered.

Goodwitch and Ironwood struggled to contain their surprise. "What did you say?"

"I said, that what we fought had an aura. Which eliminates the possibility of it being a Grimm." Lucario looked toward Goodwitch. "Unless of course you can recall a time in your days as an official Huntress in the field where you encountered one that did."

Goodwitch shook her head. "No, It…It shouldn't be possible."

"Unless this is a new kind of Grimm one that…has a life force." Ironwood hesitated as he said the last part. "Perhaps the reason is linked to the sudden life growing here?"

Kai tilted his head down, deep in thought. "Maybe but I'm not so sure…something unfamiliar to people. Something that's giving them nightmares. All in a place with an eco-system thar can't be explained. Why does this feel so familiar? Why?"

Goodwitch looked down at Kai. "Do you have anything more you wish to add Kai?"

Kai snapped out of his thoughts and looked back up to see Goodwitch. "Oh? No, no I don't. I'm just thinking out loud."

Ironwood looked away, pulling out his pocket watch and staring at the time. "It's late or rather early I suppose. If you really have shared all that you know, then you two can return to your tents."

Robin stepped forward. "But what about finding that thing? About-"

"That will be left to the grown-ups. Even if you can't sleep, there's no point in over-exerting yourselves." Goodwitch informed.

With neither the energy or the drive to continue arguing, Robin turned away and began walking out with her Flareon walking close behind her. Lucario turned to face the exit, looking in the corner of his eye to see Kai staying in place.

"Master? Are you coming?" He asked his trainer.

Kai took a moment to respond, slowly turning to Lucario and walking past him. Patting him on the head. "Yeah, I'm going. Thanks for your work tonight."

"It was my pleasure."

Kai pulled his hand back and walked outside the tent, still very much in thought. That black figure making his brain bang against his head on all sides, so close to putting together everything that was going on. Asking one question over and over again.

"Why…?"

The rocky cliffside of the plateaux seemed still, unmoving as though the darkness had preserved the insurmountable walls frozen in place. On the ground in front of a dark cave's entrance a circular shadow appeared, soon taking form into a more ghostly silhouette that glowed with a blue eye. The black mysterious figure slowly emerged from its shadow, until it stood tall on its thin leg appendages.

It turned its head in time to the sound of rustling in the tree-tops before looking over its wispy shoulder to hear the sound of rocks cracking and rolling from inside the cave. "So be it..."

The mysterious black figure looked up at Remnant's broken moon, glowing in its new moon phase. "Tomorrow they will be dealt with. One way…" The figure looked straight ahead, raising its clawed hand that emanated a vicious negative power. "Or another!"


Managed to post another chapter, and it only took more than a month. Sorry, about that. Life drains the creative process sometimes.

Fun little tidbit, Trainer to Huntsman turned two years old last month so this story is a toddler now. Thanks to everyone who has given this story a look and have decided to stick around for the ride, it means a lot. And as an anniversary present I posted a fact journal about the story on my DeviantArt account for people who are interested about the behind the scenes.

So the characters have come fact to face with the mysterious figure that wants them gone. How will they face up to this new threat?

Until next time this is Kallerston signing out!