Grimm voice to human ears

Rage

Thoughts

Speech

WARNING THIS CHAPTER IS EXTREMELY F***** UP

Setting Neil's Dreamscape.

"Damn it, Ironwood no, I can't do this. I don't care about the money or any of my research being discredited. I will not and cannot do this."

I woke up with a jolt. What I thought was breath entering my lungs was instead the nothingness I expected from my dreamscape. Nothing and yet something. I opened my eyes to find myself looking up at the green swirling sky that my dreamscape has become. "What was that?" I said to myself in a voice that, while it did sound familiar, was definitely not my own. I looked down at my clothing, I was once again wearing my huntsman garb and I WAS STANDING. Right, I need to remember that in my dreams I can walk. I mentally slapped myself in the face shaking me out of my thoughts. Suddenly I heard something groaning and whimpering to my left before it went right beside my head faster than I could react. I flopped down into a prone position, trying to see what went past me but it was gone. I couldn't even see anything, only the outline of something with 4 legs and two big humps on its back. What am I thinking? Of course it is a Grimm, but I can't remember any Grimm on record have that distinct appearance. I racked my brain for any form of reference. An Ursa Minor, no that would still be bigger than that thing, it was about the size of me. Maybe a baby Beowulf, but then, what were those protrusion coming out of its back? I shook my head and slowly stood up, listening to the sounds around me while staying alert, which was completely silent. There was no…sound?

I tried to track any form of movement from the foliage around me, but everything was completely still, eerily so. The only sound was from my own heartbeat and of my breathing. I stood up fully after 2 minutes of being cautious. Ok what am I going to do now. I thought to myself. Suddenly the forest I was in seemed to warp and when it was done there was a dirt path in front of me. "Whelp, thanks dream, I guess?" I stepped onto the trail and started to walk down the path. After about 5 minutes of walking I eventually came to the same cave from before.

"You came back? What do you want human?" I heard the voice before I registered what was in front of me as the form of the one who opened my eyes walked out of the cave with those same glowing green eyes. "Well speak your purpose here and I will point you in the right direction but then leave immediately, am I clear." Spoke the Phantom Grimm as it laid down in front of me, its green eyes projecting an uncontrollable rage but also a pitying gaze. Holding a sentient scowl, that one would prefer I 'be somewhere else', it gently lifted its head. Its maw filled with sharp teeth held a snarl, but not an animalistic one. Its arms were laid down in front of it while its feet were curled at the side, as well as its tail poised to strike at the slightest provocation. Its front claws were glowing with that same green aura and the ground started smoking as it dragged one claw through the grass in front of it.

Now that I am seeing it again, I can truly see what it really looked like. Its back was slightly hunched at the upper torso and the tail segmented in bone plates, yet, I could see the battle scars on the bones and the scarred flesh that was cleaved. There were also signs of broken bones that healed the wrong way, including the fractures that splintered and healed in fragments. I gazed with understanding one last time at its eyes seeing something different, it not only projected power and authority but also…sadness, a deep grief that makes you depressed, a sadness that makes you want to help them. I need to know more before I go, this much is for sure. "Before I ask you where I go, can I ask you a few questions?" I gazed into its eyes, despite now sweating bullets I stood my ground and I saw…understanding and…boredom?

"As you wish, I have nothing better to be doing while I am here. You get 5 questions, after that, you will leave me alone and never bother me again. That sound like a fair deal, Monster?" He growled the last word and I remembered what it yelled at Otis when he was blown to ribbons. Monsters, the same exact word.

Flashback

"20 Minutes till we reach the dropzone, all huntsmen prepare for recon." said the pilot as we were flying towards the battleground and the last place I saw half of my (former) team. Hearing the tapping of a boot impatiently in front of my chair. I stopped staring out the window and looked towards my temporary partner for this mission. "Neil, you heard the pilot, so stop wasting time." Said Winter as she looked pretty angry although it didn't seem to be intentionally aimed at me. "Whatever you say Winter." I responded with my dead emotionless voice. Why? Why can't I be angry at the Grimm? Why has my former rage disappeared? I just stared straight ahead as I wheeled myself to the loading dock.

Feeling the stares of those around me, I used my peripheral vision to see the faces of the doctors and especially the Coroner. I grew angry for unknown reasons. I physically tensed up and gripped my chair hard as I tried to ignore the looks of sympathy and pity they all were giving me. My eyes became watery and I shivered as cold surrounded me, despite the heat I felt from the blood pumping through my veins. The adrenaline surged me forward. Clenching my teeth, trying to calm myself by listening to my heartbeat. It didn't work. My heart was beating rapidly as I physically struggled breaking down from just a single look of pity. Stop looking at me, just stop, it wasn't my fault stop, stop, STOP! I just wanted the looks to stop, to stop feeling the guilt at failing to save my best friend, to stop the looks of sympathy as people try to understand what I am going through. I just want to mourn in peace. Why can't any of you simply give me that one simple thing. JUST PLEASE, STOP LOOKING AT ME! Why should I?

I jolted, my eyes opened as I felt us land and the doors started opening. Looking around for the voice that startled me out of my daze. I then felt something kick my chair and I had to hold the wheels to prevent myself from rolling down the ramp. Despite not looking back I knew who did that. "Get going Neil, lead us to the battleground, lead us to the place where you abandoned my love for death." She said to me with words full of malice. She has been blaming me for the death of Otis since I got out of the Hospital. I thought to myself as I carefully wheeled myself down to the ground.

Gazing around I saw that we actually were really close, as the trees that Yurin burned down were still here. Looking at the impact craters in the ground I determined we are south of the...cave. Suddenly images of that day started flashing before my eyes, the fear of that howl, the image of Otis impaled on its tail. The eyes so green with fury and rage, the sounds of blood splashing. The flashes constantly switched until I was the one impaled. Then all of a sudden it stopped.

"-wake up!" I jolted awake and was surrounded by paramedics that were on board the ship when we disembarked. "Sir, are you ok?" the head doctor (I think) asked me as I tracked his finger back and forth as with the procedure. "What happened?" I asked still not fully conscious, a voice that I knew all too well answered in a cold but sympathetic tone. "You were hyperventilating and then passed out when you were about to lead us to the cave." replied Winter who was standing behind me.

"Right the cave, I will lead you guys there now." When I was about to start rolling the doctor stopped me by placing his hand on my shoulder. "I think you should probably rest Neil, from the way you passed out and from a glimpse at your face, it seems your PTSD might be too much for you to stomach the sight of your friends." Maybe he's right. I thought as I looked to the ground. Maybe if I stay behind I could lead them to the cave by drone or remote, might be for the best. I then was about to be content when out of the corner of my eye, I SAW IT. The Glowing Green eyes, the malevolent gaze. It is here, ITS WAITING FOR ME! I then did a double take and instead of the beast, instead of the Phantom Grimm (as we have decided to call it based on the roar it produced sounding like thousands of wailing souls) it was a shutdown console inside the Bullhead that had a green boot up screen on it. I can't go back inside I just can't it will get me, it is staying out of view it must be. It-it-it-it.

I shook my head rapidly and twisted my face into a scowl. I looked back at the paramedic and spoke with determination and just a tiny bit of fear. "I'm not leaving, I need to do this." And the paramedic relented, moving out of my and I started leading to the battle ground.

It was really peaceful except the nagging feeling in the back of my mind, that I shouldn't be here. My mouth felt dry and my arms seemed to tense at random. I grew cold despite wearing my riding gear. I felt pins and needles go through my body as we came nearer and nearer to the battleground. That was until suddenly it stopped. We came upon a clearing and saw something repulsive. It was a rotting skeleton of a human, it's bones had been cracked and abused, its flesh looked like it was torn apart from fangs and teeth but the most striking thing was that their arms seemed to be bonded to crystals that were embedded into the ground. The scientists seemed to keel over and vomit but after I started turning green for a moment, my blood went cold.

I saw a wallet on the ground slightly concealed under the rib cage which still had foul smelling flesh and rotting meat on it. Half concerned by the clothing which was a suspicious dark green and camo colored wallet, and using a grabber that came with my wheelchair I was able to grab it before the doctors started to try and load the mostly intact skeleton onto a stretcher for an autopsy and identification later. Opening the wallet confirmed my fears. As in the wallet it showed Team ONYX in front of Graduation along with a note on the back that simply said, "Screw You Neil for making me carry this!"

Yurin was eaten alive, by the teeth marks and the rips and cleaning of bones it seemed like wolves, specifically grey wolves. I thought to myself. Why, why can't I feel sad at this, why can't I feel angry. I looked to the sky, trying to make my eyes tear. I need to cry at a time like this, I just found my teammate dead and I don't feel anything. Looking back down I felt fear towards a new feeling. Sucking air in a silently gasped at the feeling welling up in my chest. WHY THE HELL DO I FEEL HAPPY AT HER DEATH! Finally after what felt like forever I was able to let tears fall but they were fake. Fake...my tears were fake...I need to go away...I need to…

"OTIS!" I heard a scream from in front of me and fearful of what I heard, I wheeled myself towards the clearing. What I saw should have sickened me to the core, but instead I was feeling relief towards the sight. It was of Winter holding the rotting severed head of Otis in her arms, the clean shaven face and rag head cowl were all that shielded us from the sight of his skeletal appearance. Flesh had fallen off the bones, one of his eyes were missing while the other looked pecked out. His body was nowhere to be seen...at first glance. I heard a loud *Squelsh* as my chair rolled over something. Looking down at the ground in horror I saw that I had run over what remained of Otis's large intestine. I finally understood. Otis's head was the only thing left intact, the rest of his body had been blown to bloody bits.

MONSTER! Echoed in my head. Clenching my eyes shut as I tried in vain to get rid of that sound. Of that wailing, demoralizing howl, that scream of power that the Phantom Grimm produced that completely combusted Otis from the inside out. And the worst part, was that all I could feel towards Team ONYX, all I could feel for my teammates, all I could feel towards the memories we had all shared.

Was simply nothing.

End of Flashback

The visceral destruction was too much for a proper burial, you couldn't even identify him anymore. What made things worse is that parts of his body that maybe were partially intact, were eaten by the animals in the forest. Only a few splinted bones and the caved-in, gutted remains of his chest covered in shredded clothing was left.

"First question, why do you call us, monsters?" I know it was a simple question but I don't need detailed answers for this one. "Why do you call us beasts?" Wait I was the one that asked first? Oh wait it is a rhetorical question, ok that makes more sense. It stood up and started walking into the cave, gesturing with its head as it looked back at me, for me to follow, and that I did. "It is the same exact question you asked me."

"God damned beasts, go back to the hell you came from!" I heard my voice to the left of me and I saw a window on the cave with a video of me mowing down hordes of... "Baby Beowulf's." I whispered, full of regret as I watched bullets being fired from my Mini-gun go through then and shredding them to pieces. I now saw the full picture, I looked to the side of the window and saw 2 bloody and wounded Beowulfs in the corner, I could hear them whimpering. "Mommy, daddy, where are you, I can't see anything. It hurts, I can't feel my leg." A female child's voice spoke, full of pain and fear. I saw them closer as it zoomed in. One Beowulf had both of its eyes leaking blood and its bone plates were fractured into its body. Its fur was full of dirt and grime. The other one was acting like it was dead, and trying to block the sounds of the girl. "Be still sister, if we play dead it might go away. Just stay silent and bite your cheek, we must not make a sound." Spoke another older female voice, maybe that of a teenager, but more likely just 2 months. Sadly, I knew how this was going to end. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I struggled, I couldn't look away from the screen as I heard the Minigun rev and looking to the right, I saw myself walking towards them.

My hand went to the machete on my hip, pulling it out of its sheath. I slowly walked over to the two pups and saw the twitch of the body. I saw myself smirk and like a horror movie kill, I stabbed my machete through the back of the Beowulf on top which went through its heart. It tried to struggle but I just continued stabbing, blood spraying out onto everything, staining my face in the memory. Finally, the Grimm stopped struggling, laying down limply onto its sister dead. I saw how I went to look away before hearing whimpering, from the Beowulf concealed below. "Sister!? Sister!? What happened? What is running down my back? Please, I can't see. Oh no, the smell! Sister, please stay with me. please, I'm scared please, I don't want to die."

I saw how I smiled and went back to the corner and pulled the Beowulf carcass off of the smaller one. I looked on in horror as I started butchering her. I felt the screams and the blood splashing against my hands and face as I saw myself chop off the arms and legs slowly, causing as much pain as possible. Until only silence remained but I didn't stop, I watched, feeling disgusted and queasy; as I mutilated the corpse; as I dismembered it, and as I desecrated the corpse. The screen then disappeared and I could only vomit onto the floor. I did that. I can remember the sick joy I felt of killing any and all Grimm I could find. A puddle of vomit changed into a puddle of water was underneath me (or was it blood? The cavern was too dark for me to tell).

In it, I saw the true monster I was all along. My face had the crazy grin that I wore in the windows. I touched my face and felt my mouth. I wasn't smiling. The reflection then spoke, using my voice but distorted. "Remember all of the Grimm we killed at our pleasure. We felt so happy, so satisfied right? Every time we bathed in Grimm blood, we laughed and shouted in joy!" I punched the puddle but didn't say anything and the reflection changed to my current face, one of horror, disgust, and fear.

I am a monster, why do I deserve to live? How do I make up for the acts of murder, acts not even condoned on the Faunus, during the Faunus Rights Revolution. When, they were sent to the camps. I thought to myself as I heard footsteps drawing near with a shadow before a green light of power lit up the ground underneath me until a glowing claw appeared in front of me.

I look up to the Phantom Grimm, giving me a look of disgust and anger, as is justified. Turn around and start walking away. So, I stood back up and continued to follow. After a couple moments of silence, the Phantom Grimm spoke once again, "You monsters have hunted us for generations, killed the elderly, children, fathers, mothers, that only wanted to protect their children. Mutilating us, dismembering, not even showing a single drop of respect for your enemy." I knew, he was right but I felt the nausea again, thankfully, I was able to force it down alongside the suicidal thoughts. I looked down and saw my machete, dripping with Grimm blood. Horrified, I threw it away into a dark corner of the cavern. We continued walking through the tunnel, until, he continued in that same tone of disappointment, "Why wouldn't we call you monsters? It is all you have ever been towards us. Now what is your next question, Monster?" I went silent when he then stopped and turned around, his eyes level with mine and glaring. "What could I possibly do, to earn any form of redemption? Anything at all, to atone for what I have done? I need to make a change, to save the Grimm. Please, what do I do?" I pleaded with him, as I propped myself up against the wall. He just looked at me, it seemed like he was pondering what to say. After 3 minutes he spoke with conviction. "The Grimm constantly are fighting for survival but they need; a home, a place to live in peace, without the slaughter, and, without the pain. A place to rebuild, to remake our lives. Start with that, then we will see about your crimes. Especially dealing with your torturous ways." Another window opened up and I hesitantly looked over.

I saw that I was in Team ONYX's own personal base, in the lower training area. Wait, no, no, no-no-no-no-no. Not this, I don't want to remember this, please god please I... The thought died in my head just as it started.

I saw myself standing in the training area, where we used live Grimm to train. I was holding a pistol and had just finished loading a cartridge of hollow point rounds with a sharp click. "Stupid soulless beast, you shouldn't be in this world. There is nothing for you here, you don't deserve any form of your sick 'Happiness'." In front of 'past' me, was a scarred, bloody, and bruised Beowulf. Its mask was shattered over the left eye and right paw was dislocated. "I didn't do anything to you, please let me go. I just want my pack, my family, my big brother!" It said in a scared and weak male voice. "Shut up beast!" I watched myself kick the Beowulf while it was on the ground, multiple times, and increasing degrees of strength. I looked on as I had a mad-gleeful-joy expression on my face as the kicks *thump* turned into a wet *squelch*. My foot was becoming painted bloody and the chest of the Beowulf was being bluntly beaten open by the steel toe boots. The Beowulf sounded like it was gurgling on its blood, as I started to unload the pistol into its face. I continued at point black range, until the window closed. I felt a sick feeling in my chest and head as, it was as if my brain was trying to commit suicide.

But as soon as it started, it stopped. I watched as Phantom rose up again and continued walking into the tunnel. I then heard a scream "PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME." Came the hollowing screech. "What was that?" Despite not being descriptive, those words had the most pain in them than anything I have heard before.

Silence persisted for a long time until Phantom looked me in the eyes and spoke, "The other's memories you heard earlier, I believe his name was Reginald Volatile." The room around us expanded and started turning white. It became more militarized around us with machinery and scientists appeared around us. I looked around confused, going to ask Phantom what was happening but he wasn't there, instead it was Reginald Volatile with his red hair youthful appearance, however he looked even younger. I listened to him talk to another scientist. "Timmy, you add the mixture after it has been purified with sulfur, not after. How many times do I have to say this before you will listen?" Reginald said with a disapproving glare and arms crossed and looking him straight in the eye, while the other scientist 'Timmy' looked at the ground with embarrassment and shame.

"I don't have time for this, Commander Ironwood will be here any second, just get the mixture right by tomorrow or you are out of a job, got it." Reginald yelled at 'Timmy' and the researcher ran away to the door as another researcher brought a scroll to him. He looked it over with wide eyes and murmured "Crap." He then took out his own scroll and pressed a link on the screen and turned 90* to the left.

I heard the sound of metal shrieking and saw that the far wall was opening up to a Vol Type bullhead and the outside was extremely windy. We are on top of Mount Decay; the facility I am going to with Dr. Volatile and the woman that drugged us both. Thinking of that angered me. I let down my guard, never assume you are safe, first rule of being a huntsman. I was pulled out of my musing as the bottom of the Vol type, opened up and revealed someone that slightly calmed me on a subconscious level.

"Dr. Volatile, thank you for responding to my call so quickly." He walked out, shoulders and arms behind his straight back. He walked out into the hanger/lab with some sort of cart behind him. It was being pushed by Atlestian androids that he was known for. "Please, my head hurts, why won't any of you answer me, where am I?" Said the voice of a small child but the cage was as big as I am, something from inside it smashed into the side towards me and the androids pulled out cattle prods and stuck them under the curtain that was over it. "AHHHH." Wait, the thing from before. I remembered the size and it would be the best fit for that cage

Reginald looked at the cart with interest at least until he realized what the sound that came from it was. "Commander what did you do?" Ironwood then looked at the floor and took a deep breath before speaking. "Reginald you remember the attack on Westrune 1 year ago?" Westrune, that is my home village!? Ironwood what did you hide from me? I thought in suspicion.

Reginald was also suspicious it seemed as his inquisitive expression turned into a glare. "Yes I was one of the first responders as well as in the process of transferring to the research facility there, what about it?" He crossed his arms and everyone else there had stopped what they were doing and turned to face towards the two important figureheads in the Atleastian Military.

"Well the truth is that the attack and destruction of Westrune was not unprovoked on the part of the Pride Dragon in fact it was because we had captured an asset of it." He stated calmly. "WHAT!" I chorused with Reginald as I was overcome with rage. Ironwood told me for years that the Pride Dragon had destroyed my village out of malice and glee, he told me that was the prime example of what is normal for the Grimm! I clenched my hands into fists and calmed myself down as he continued.

"During an expedition into its territory we found this." He said as he pulled the curtain off the cage and what I saw was horrifying. It was a baby dragon Grimm with burn marks all over its scales, its wings were chained to the walls and its jaw was muzzled. Its 4 limbs were scratching and clawing at the bars of the cage but every single hit resulted in it getting electrocuted by the robots. "The child of the Pride Dragon itself, which was held at the Westrune research center before being shipped out to a different location for containment the day before Westrune was destroyed." Reginald was appalled and yelled at Ironwood. "YOU TOLD ME AND NEIL, THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF THAT MASSACRE THAT THE PRIDE DRAGON DESTROYED BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GRIMM DO, AND NOW YOU ADMIT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY DOING ITS JOB AS A PARENT!" Ironwood though just remained stoic and actually gained an annoyed look on his face and calmly stated.

"What are you talking about, the Grimm only have feelings to destroy and kill, it doesn't have any sort of emotions or emotional attachment to anything. Beowolves hunt in packs because that allows them to kill more of us, Nevermores fly in flocks because they can carpet bomb humanity that way."

Reginald grew even more angry, until I suddenly saw that the woman that drugged us appeared behind Reginald and put a pistol to the back of his head. "Reginald you aren't a sympathizer are you?" Ironwood asked with a look of amusement on his face. "If you are, it is Atleastian policy to imprison or execute those that are sympathetic to the creatures of darkness. How would your wife feel knowing that you were imprisoned and could no longer provide for your comatose daughter. It would be a shame, if the Doctors had to take her off life support, because the expenses could not be paid. She would blame you forever.. if something bad would happen to Pricilla. Amelia loves her more than anything else because you are never there for them, only ever sending your 80% of your paycheck to pay for the hospital bills alone. Living the way she does in poverty, this would probably be the last straw and she would file for a divorce. Leaving you to rot in a cell for the rest of your life, with no one to care about you even if you do get out." Ironwood finished with a smirk as Reginald gained a look of horror, his eyes showing defeat and submission, his once angry righteous persona had been shattered.

WHAT THE HELL! This isn't the Ironwood I know, no this IS the ironwood I have always known, under the surface of this fatherly figure sits a monster, it sits a tyrant that is hell bent at destroying all Grimm, and he nearly brainwashed me into joining his genocidal plot. I internally sighed in defeat though. No I was brainwashed; I was duped into killing over 500 Grimm on my own within my first year under his tutelage. Reginald seemingly realizing the situation he was in, unclenched his fists and looked around. Our eyes locked for a second and despite me not being there I still felt that we shared the pain of finding out this betrayal.

Reginald's breathing slowed and he looked back towards Ironwood who was still standing still.

"I'm sorry James, I just had a heat of the moment reaction." He said and Ironwood's gaze softened and he motioned for the woman to lower the gun. "That is perfectly understandable my friend, I know I hid this from you and Neil but it was for a good cause." Reginald looked at him inquisitively and Ironwood continued. "The Grimm have always been our greatest enemy, the constant war has increased our military might so we could protect our people, but what if we could 'tame' the Grimm, control them, use them against their own kind."

I was appalled and angry. Using Grimm against each other, how do you intend to do that I wonder. The Grimm are intelligent and conscious, completely loyal to each other. Ironwood motioned to follow and we both (Me and Reginald) followed in kind. Throughout all of this I could still hear the struggling and cries of pain that emitted from the young Grimm. As we walked down the corridor the voices became distorted and warped until the entire scene changed around me.

I was once again in the corridor but only following Reginald, an older version of him. So a time skip must have occurred, but how long. It didn't take much time at all for me to figure that out. "12 years since that day…" I heard Reginald mumble as he looked at the scroll in his hand and I ran up to look as well. I gazed over the hard light screen revealing that it was schematics of some sort of robot chassis, strange enough it looked like armor fit for a...Beowulf? Ironwood what the fuck have you done!?

Reginald then continued with his mumbling. "10 years since the day I took up Ironwood this project, 8 years since Ironwood took Neil under his wing." He sighed before continuing with a pained whimper in his voice. "...6 years since my little angel passed away," It was all for naught, dang it, I couldn't help him. He finally reached the door and I followed him inside. What I saw was horrifying. There was this creature covered in black scales and white armor as well as an underbelly. It was chained up to what seemed to be a reinforced steel wall. 6 wings that were each connected to the wall by rings and chains. The wings were in paired lengths of each other. The first wingspan seemed to be 10 feet, the next approximately 23, and finally 35. It stood on two legs that were chained to the ground as it layed down on the ground. I saw it also had 2 tails that were linked near the start. Near the tips of the tails were steel weights that seemed to weigh an upwards of 3 tons preventing it from moving. But most striking of all were its eyes. They were organic, 3 eyeballs on its draconian skull that were each a different color. The left eye was red and the right blue. The third eye was in the middle of its forehead and vertically aligned, its iris was purple. "And 10 years, since we ruined your life." Wait that THING is the young Dragon Grimm. I fell flat on my but but even more so at what happened next. I got up and decided to test something. Can I fly? I rose into the air. It appears I can. I flew high above the draconic creature and watched the events play out.

All three eyes were on Reginald but the glare wasn't filled with hatred. Instead they were filled with, if possible, forgiveness? "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen," The dragonlike being raised its head until it was level with Reginald. It's maw seemed to be big enough to widen enough to swallow Reginald whole with sword length teeth lining it's jaws. "Please forgive me, even if I will be damned, even if I need to be killed by you please forgive me." Reginald's eyes began to water and he began crying as he lowered his head to face the ground. The Dragon then pushed its head against Reginald and closed its eyes. Reginald at first was scared but seemed to slowly and surely wrap his arms around the dragon and the dragon spoke "I forgive you, Reginald, you are the only one to show me kindness, the only one to show me that humans can be good. No matter what happens to me, just know that I forgive you, my friend."

Reginald, despite not hearing the Grimm seemed to understand. "Don't worry, I will be back with help, I will be back to save you, you will escape from here. I swear to you, that no matter what happens, you will get out of this prison." He said, determined.

Reginald then grabbed his scroll from his pocket as he walked out of the chamber, and whispered. "Nathaniel Steel let's see if Ironwood is correct about you being manipulated by the Phantom Grimm instead of Salem?" This is the reason he wanted me to join this project, to new friends indeed. He then pressed a couple buttons on his scroll before putting it up to his ear. "Janet, prepare the Vol unit Bullhead for a trip to Atlas, I will be down there in a minute." He reached into his other pocket and grabbed a vial filled with green liquid that seemed to glow. Before walking away

Wait a minute, who is Salem? I thought as I started following him away.

Suddenly the entire area melted away to black followed by a blinding flash that turned crimson before a clear open sky appeared in front of me.

Perspective Change: James Ironwood 1 day later

"Finally done." I said to myself as I finished signing the permissions statement to get the factory for the Grimm Armor model 17 for the tamable Grimm. Neil should have arrived at Mt. Decay by now. Although it's strange he nor Reginald hasn't contacted me yet. It's probably nothing anyway, they are probably putting the finishing touches on the Grimm armor. I thought to myself as I stood up and stretched. My back was so sore from sitting the entire day in my office at the Academy. My mechanical arm clinked in a couple places as the bones in my body cracked and popped. However. My thoughts darkened as I gazed at the floor. If Neil is being controlled or subtly influenced by the Phantom Grimm then we might have an even bigger problem that I had thought before. I then walked to the elevator at my office when I got a notification on my scroll. Pulling it out I felt my world stop. My palms became sweaty, and my mouth was dry. The notification simply read 'Mt. Decay is gone' I turned around and went immediately back to my computer. I opened up my email while I panicked internally. What could this mean, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!?

The page finally loaded and I opened the Video Call invite for the Atlaslistian Militaries operations center. The screen loaded and I saw Captain Jacob, a young man about age 20, a good friend of mine and person in charge of communications. "Jacob what happened?" I asked him.

"Sir we don't know. The Facility is just a crater and the Wyvern Grimm is gone." He then looked down at the ground and said the words I was dreading. "There is no sign of any survivors. But we found ID tags and scrolls." He stopped.

The elevator opened and I walked out but afterwards didn't move from my spot. "What do you mean ID's and Scrolls. What about the bodies?" He then sent an image and everything just went numb. Neil's wheelchair was destroyed and a few feet away was a body that was like it was crawling away. The Body was crushed beneath a slab of concrete that crushed both of the person's legs. Its hands clutching a scroll with a picture of team ONYX on the screen. However the most horrifying thing was that a sword was stabbed through its head with a note on it. Another picture was sent through and it was what the note said.

It was simply a single sentence.

"Glory to Paradise, Death to the Huntsmen."

My mind went blank but the last thing I remember from the conversation before i found myself back in my office was. "FIND ANYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THIS PARADISE! WHOEVER THIS GROUP IS THEY WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS ATTACK ON THE ATLESTIAN MILITARY!"

I could only look at my desk. Specifically only a single photo, It was of me standing next to Neil. No he wasn't just Neil, This was the day after we finished his bike, the day my son was accepted into the academy. The last day I said. "I love you son…"

When Xera eventually entered my office what she saw wasn't the sight of the prodigy of Atlas. The Mighty General Ironwood, no what she saw was a Grieving father crying at his desk at the fact that he had let his son down. At the fact that he caused his son's death. And the fact that because of his actions so long ago to get a promotion.

He has lost something more important to him than his rank. He has lost his family.

And it's all his own Fault.

Ok people that is a wrap. I am so very sorry that I have not updated this story in so long. I know that this chapter is subpar at best and horrible at worst but that is because I have been out of writing for quite some time due to mainly Life and Depression. I also realize that I need an additional co writer to add to the story and to help me write in general. The punctuation in this is horrible and I could use an extra hand with writing the scenes to be more of, I guess, everything. I just didn't want to see my story rot away anymore.

So yeah please PM me if you would be able to help me write the next couple chapters. I have outlines of what will happen but the execution I could really use a little help. Especially with writing the characters to be in character. It's kind of why I haven't been using Ozpin or any of the other main characters at the moment. Only using small cameos with not alot of impact on the story. I don't want this to be an OC showcase so please I wont be able to write the next chapter within a good timeframe that isn't a few months without A co writer that can write the main characters as not OOC especially with Blake in the next chapter. Speaking of the next chapter, we will be back with the Phantom Grimm and his first interaction with Faunus.

See all of you later and please review how you thought of this chapter. If you enjoy the side story of Neil and his descent into insanity. And especially if you have any questions that absolutely need answering. Please Pm me or review them and i will reply back as soon as possible.

I will be editing this chapter in the next couple days to fix mistakes and try to make it flow better but genuinely do need help with writing.