Makai Knight Huntress

Kali yawned as she stretched out, the sunlight shining through the windows above her, before she also felt something poking her cheek. Opening her eyes, Kali looked to who was poking her cheek, and saw the silver eyed Ruby, fully dressed poking her cheek, with Yang behind her.

"Kali, you're such a heavy sleeper." Ruby said. "You almost woke up too late for the exams."

"I'll be fine." Kali said with a yawn, swatting Ruby's finger away.

"How the hell can you sleep like that? Doesn't your back hurt from your chest being so heavy?" Yang questioned. "I know mine does."

"Not really. Sleeping like this actually helps to strengthen my back. Not to mention the wall provides support to the muscles in my back, when I lean against it." Kali explained, picking herself up.

"Yeah but, you missed breakfast. Yang and I were gonna be on our way to the locker room if we hadn't found you still sleeping." Ruby stated as Kali picked up her bag.

"So? I've got military provisions in my bag, no biggie." Kali said, before looking to the men's side, noticing Verda's sleeping bag, was still there. "Why don't you both head out? I'll catch up once I'm ready."

"Alright, if you say so." Yang said, before taking Ruby's arm and dragging her off. Once she was alone in the room, Kali continued to look at the cold sleeping bag.

"Zaruba, you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kali questioned.

"I'm afraid so. If Verda's sleeping bag is still here, it means he didn't return last night after he went to deal with the Horror." Zaruba said.

"Which means, it's one of two things, either the Ruby Knight wasn't strong enough, or skilled enough to handle." Kali sighed, rolling Verda's bag up, and taking it to her locker.

"It's sad to say, but that doesn't really come as a surprise." Zaruba stated. "He was never one to take his Makai Knight training seriously. Unlike you, you've gone above and beyond in your training."

"What do you mean?" Kali asked, getting dressed, switching out her halter top for an open back, sleeveless mesh top connected to a choker around her throat, with a matching open back red lined lace-up the back corset, that hugged her figure, and made her chest pop against the mesh fabric, stopping right above her belly button.

"Well, your strength is greater than Swords was at your age by twice as much. You take pride in what you do, and use that feeling to motivate you in your training as a Makai Knight, because you wanna help people. If I'm being honest, Verda was always like your father. He'd mimic his life style, and even picked up on the mans lecherous habits."

"Aunt Gina wasn't too thrilled about that." Kali chuckled, before grabbing her mini jacket with a pause. "What am I gonna do, if I have to tell her, Verda's no longer with us?"

"This is the hardest part of the job. I'm sorry Kali." Zaruba said. "Unfortunately, we've got bigger problems than telling Verda's mother, her son is no longer with us."

"The Horror, right. It's daytime so it should be at its weakest." Kali said, putting her jacket on.

"Unfortunately not." Zaruba said.

"What do you mean?" Athena asked.

"It would appear, the Horror's just as strong as it was last night. Perhaps, even stronger." Zaruba stated.

"How is that possible? Horrors are supposed to be much weaker during the day." Kali questioned.

"I haven't the foggiest idea. But I do know, it is a danger to the students, taking the exams today."

"Would all first year students please report to the cliffside, facing the Emerald Forest?" Glynda Goodwitch's voice came over the intercom.

"Well… if it requires the Golden Knight to destroy this Horror, then I guess whether Verda liked it or not, I'm gonna have to dawn the armor." Kali sighed, closing her locker.

Out on the cliffside, facing the Emerald Forest, everyone was gathered, and standing on platforms, facing Professor Ozpin, and Ms. Goodwitch.

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

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

"What… oh." Ruby exclaimed, a bit scared.

"These teammates will be here with you for the rest of your stay here at Beacon. So it is within your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you can work well." Ozpin added. Ruby gave off some more scared noises, not wanting to be paired with someone she didn't get along with. "That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing, will be your partner for the next four years."

Ruby's world shattered around her, hearing the Headmaster say those things.

"What?" Ruby asked extremely scared.

"See, I told you." an orange haired girl, stated to her friend cheerfully.

"After you've partnered up, make your way to the Northern end of the forest. You will meet opposition along the way, do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path, or you will die." Ozpin stated.

"My kind of day." Yang smiled.

The blonde boy Verda ran into yesterday, Jaune, gave a nervous laugh and gulped in fear, as he didn't seem all that ready for this entrance exam.

"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation, but our instructors will not intervene. You will find an abandoned temple, at the end of the path, containing several relics. Each pair must choose one, and return to the top of the cliff. We will regard that item, as well as your standing, and grade you appropriately." Ozpin explained. "Are there any questions?"

"Yeah, um sir-" Jaune started.

"Good, now take your positions." Ozpin instructed, ignoring Jaune's inquiry.

"Um sir? I've got, um, a question." Jaune stated. "So this, landing strategy thing, uh, w-what is it, you're like dropping us off or something?"

"No, you will be falling."

"Oh, I see. So like, did you hand out parachutes for us?" Jaune asked, his face going pale.

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

"Oh, so what is a landing stratgiIIEEEAAAAHHH!" Jaune cried out as he was launched, mid question, while Ozpin just turned to the flying students, drinking his coffee with a smile.

The last student to be sent flying was Kali. She wasn't expecting this, but already had a landing strategy in mind, as she's already had to use it several times when leading Grimm over a Cliff. Throwing her arms forward as she began to descend, Kali sent the chained sickles forward, and hooked their edges into a branch, causing Kali to swing forward, before she released the blades of their grip, and flipped through the air, sticking the landing.

"Okay Zaruba, which way?"

"North. If I had to guess, the Horror is hiding in the ruins Ozpin spoke of." Zaruba said.

"Great, now I gotta worry about witnesses and people getting involved." Kali sighed, before whistling for Gōten.

The revving of the motor coming from the Makai Steed, resonated through the Emerald forest, as it literally drove through trees, before stopping right in front of Kali.

"What about grabbing your partner for your Beacon team?" Zaruba questioned as Kali mounted the Makai Motorbike.

"There isn't time for that. If I fail, I'll just try again next year. The lives of these students are far more important then getting into Beavon." Kali said, putting the Makai Ring in the ignition. Revving Gōten's engine, Kali drove through the forest, a determined look on her face. "I swear Verda, I'll avenge your demise."

"Just be on your guard, you're still unable to dawn the Golden Armor." Zaruba stated.

"Right. If we're to defeat this Horror, then we've gotta push past our limits." Kali glared into the darkness of the forest, her silver eyes shimmering with light.

~Emerald Forest Cave~

"I can sense it." A dark raspy voice said as a creature, black as Grimm, but voraciously hungry, stepped out of the cave of the forest, stepping into the daylight. "The Golden Armor of Garo, it's close, and it's coming this way."

As the Horror stepped into the daylight of the forest, it dragged a large bladed weapon behind it, creating a groove in the ground, wearing a crucifix with a skull in the center around its neck.

"The Golden Armor, Garo, will be mine."

~Ruby Rose~

"It's this way." Weiss said, walking in one direction, before turning around and walking back. "No, it's this." As the heiress was in denial of being lost, Ruby, the unfortunate soul who got partnered with the white haired teen, and had to deal with her, Holier then Thou, complex, for the next four years. "Alright, it's official, we passed it."

"Weiss, why can't you just admit we're lost, and you have no idea where we're going?" Ruby questioned.

"I know exactly where we're going. We're going… this way." Weiss said, leading Ruby deeper into the forest.

"Ugh…" Ruby groaned.

"Oh stop it, you don't know where we are either."

"Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything." Ruby stated.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's means that you're a big stupid jerk, and I hate you."

"Ugh, jut keep moving."

"Oh, just keep moving, I'm Weiss Schnee, hurry up, whaa watch where you're going." Ruby mocked. "Why are you so bossy?"

"I'm not bossy! Don't say things like that." Weiss said, turning around and getting in Ruby's face.

"Stop treating me like a kid."

"Stop acting like a kid."

"Well, stop acting like you're perfect."

"I'm not perfect. Not yet." Weiss said. "But I'm still leagues better then you."

That remark earned Weiss a punch to the face, which knocked her to the ground, before Ruby planted her foot on Weiss's throat. Looking up at Ruby, Weiss saw that the silver eyed girl, was more than pissed.

"You don't even fucking know me." She stated, removing her foot before kicking Weiss in the face.

Weiss wasn't knocked out, but she was missing a couple teeth.

"The hell was that for?" Weiss questioned. "What's with the nasty behavior all of a sudden? Don't you know who I am? What I could do to you with a snap of my fingers?"

"It was to let you know, I don't care about your title or status. I'll push back if you push me to the edge, and I push hard." Ruby stated. "I'm tired of playing the nice girl. You push me over the edge one more time, and I'll make sure you're missing more than just a couple of teeth."

~Glynda and Ozpin~

"Our last pair has been formed sir, Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren." Glynda said, scrolling through her screen. "Poor boy, I can't possibly imagine those two getting along. Still he's probably better off then Ms. Nikos. I don't care what his transcripts say, that Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat."

"How about our last minute entry student? How is she fairing?" Ozpin questioned, looking at his own screen.

"Ms. Rose is paired with Ms. Schnee and it seems they're…"

"That's not who I was talking about Glynda, and you know it." Ozpin said.

"Sir, are you sure it was wise to let a Makai Alchemist into Beacon?" Glynda questioned, looking through her Scroll Pad, and landing on footage of Kali stopping her bike in front of a cave under the northern cliffside. "What could someone like her, possibly have to gain from attending the Academy?"

"More than you'd know Glynda. Qrow's report said she's skilled with her weapons, and she's twice as strong as her father." Ozpin said.

"But she's unable to don the armor."

"Maybe something like this, could be the trigger needed, to change that." Ozpin said. "As one student, never returned from his late night excursion into the Emerald Forest."

"Ozpin, you can't mean…"

"I'm not a 100% Glynda. But it is a possibility that Young Verda, didn't exactly perish last night, and just… allowed his greed and envy to consume him." Ozpin stated mournfully.

~Yang and Blake~

Yang and Blake came walking out of the forest, to the crest of a hill overlooking the ruins, with some of the damage looking fresh.

"Think this is it?" Yang asked.

"Seems like it." Blake exclaimed as they traveled down the path.

Stepping into the stone ruins, they found the relics, with some of them already missing.

"Chess pieces?" Blake asked.

"Some of them are missing." Yang said.

"We definitely weren't the first ones here if some are already missing." Blake said. "Well, I guess we should pick one and head out."

"Hmm…" Yang hummed looking at the White Knight piece. "How about a cute little pony?" Yang questioned, grabbing the piece and holding it up in the air.

"Sure." Blake said, rolling her eyes with a smile on her face.

"That wasn't too hard." Yang said, as they met up in the middle.

"Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find." Blake said.

"Unless you're my sister." Yang chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, my sister Ruby is terrible with directions. Tell her to go North, she goes South, tell her to go East, she goes West, tell her to go to the corner market down the street, she winds up in the middle of a pack of aggravated Beowolves." Yang explained.

"She's that bad at directions?" Blake asked.

"She's getting better, but I have a feeling she's not the one leading the way this time." Yang said.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH." The echoing scream of what sounded like a girl, resonated through the forest.

"Some girl's in trouble." Yang said, as Blake looked up. "Blake did you hear that? Blake did you hear that? What should we do?" Yang questioned, turning around to look at her partner, finding her starring up into the sky. "Blake?"

"HEADS UP!" Ruby shouted as she came falling out of the sky.

"Ruby?" Yang questioned.

As Ruby was about fifty feet from falling to the ground, Jaune came flying through the air, and slammed into the hooded reaper, knocking them both into a tree.

"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake questioned.

The trees in the forest began to part as an Ursa came rushing through, swinging its arms wildly, before an explosion on its back detonated, and it fell over, knocking Nora off its back, and tumbling forward.

"Aw, it's broken." Nora said, sounding disappointed, while her friend Ren, came out of the forest, out of breath, and bent over trying to catch it. "Ew."

"Nora." Ren said. "Please, don't ever do that again." Ren looked up at the head of the Ursa to find Nora was gone. He looked behind himself, but couldn't find her, until he looked towards the temple ruins.

"Oooh." Nora said in fascination as she looked at a White Rook piece, before taking it and she began singing while taking on various different poses. "I'm queen of the castle, I'm queen of the castle."

"NORA." Ren called out.

"Coming Ren." Nora said with a fake salute, allowing the chess piece to fall from her head to her hand.

"Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?" Blake questioned.

"I…"

The sound of a monster screaming caught their attention, as Pyrrha came running in with a giant Deathstalker chasing after her.

"Jaune." Pyrrha called out.

"Pyrrha." Jaune called to her as Ruby jumped down from the tree.

"Whoa." Ruby said, wanting a piece of the action.

"Ruby."

"Ruby?" Yang questioned.

"Yang." Ruby cheered as they went in for a hug, but were interrupted when a certain orange haired ginger popped up between them.

"Nora."

The situation involving the Deathstalker brought them all back to reality.

"Did she just run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?" Blake asked, as Yang was now at the breaking point.

"GRRRR. I can't take it anymore. Could everybody just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?" Yang shouted, her eyes turning red, with her hair igniting into flames.

Yang got her wish, as two seconds later, Ruby spoke up, tugging on her sleeve.

"Um Yang?" Ruby said, pointing upwards, causing the blonde to slump in defeat.

Looking up, they all saw a giant Nevermore circling around them, and on one of its talons, was a speck of white, flailing about.

"How could you leave me?" Weiss's voice called from the sky.

"I said jump." Ruby replied as they were all looking upwards.

"She's gonna fall." Blake said.

"She'll be fine." Ruby said.

"She's falling." Ren said.

As Weiss fell from high in the air, Jaune stood on the branch, and seeing the Schnee Heiress falling, he jumped from the branch, and caught her in his arms, before realization hit them both, and he found himself falling to the ground with Weiss, landing on the ground first, with Weiss landing in his back, causing a loud crack to echo around them.

"My hero." Weiss said sarcastically.

"My spine." Jaune said, in actual pain.

Weiss picked herself up from Jaune, allowing for the blonde to painfully get to his feet, right before Pyrrha was knocked away by the Deathstalker, and landed in front of the group.

"Great, the gang's all here. Now we can die together." Yang said.

"Not if I can help it." Ruby said, as she went running at the Deathstalker.

Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose as she continued her collision course with the Deathstalker, firing off a couple shots before she was knocked away, by one of its giant pincers.

"D-Do-Don't worry. Totally fine." Ruby stated steadily getting back up.

Ruby turned around to become face to face with the Death-Stalker, before firing off a round and using the recoil to jump back, before running away from it.

"Ruby, get out of there, now." Yang cried out.

Ruby folded Crescent Rose back up and placed it on its holder under her cape and hood, as she kept running.

"Ruby." Yang shouted as she went running out to help her sister.

The Nevermore from earlier came circling back and used its blade like feathers to block Yang's progress, and pin Ruby down.

"Ruby, get out of there." Yang shouted.

"I'm trying." Ruby shouted back, pulling on her cape.

The Death-Stalker came running up at Ruby from behind, its stinger ready to strike her down.

"Ruby." Yang shouted.

Just before Ruby could be skewered by the Grimm, Kali came flying out of the forest, and was slammed, back first into the Deathstalker, crushing its skull, reducing it to dust, before she crashed into some stone pillars, and dug a groove into the ground.

"Damn that hurt." Kali groaned. "Did I hit someone?"

"Kali?" Ruby questioned, freeing her cloak from the giant feather, and running towards the canine Faunus.

"Holy shit, how did you survive that?" Yang questioned, running to where Kali landed.

"Well shit. I was hoping all the students would have made it back to the campus by now." Kali sighed.

"Why would you be hoping for that?" Weiss questioned, crossing her arms.

"Because of that." Kali said, pointing in the direction she came flying from.

From out of the shadows, stepped a large black furred monster, wearing ruby red armor, and a giant pole arm glaive. No one in the group had ever seen such a monster, and they were shocked Kali had survived so long against it.

"What is that thing? An unknown species of Grimm?" Weiss questioned.

"Nope, it's a Horror." Kali explained, cracking her back. "It's similar to Grimm, but I'll explain the differences if we survive."

"Whatever it is, it looks like it's coming for an attack." Yang said, getting on the defensive.

"No, don't." Kali said, putting her arm in front of Yang as she stepped forward. "None of you, are capable of taking on a Horror. You don't have the training."

"Excuse me? I've been trained to take on Grimm. I think I can take on whatever a Horror is." Weiss said. "It doesn't even look that strong."

"You'd be wrong about that." Kali said drawing her sword. "Besides, this is personal."

"The Golden Armor." The Horror said. "The Golden Armor, will be mine. It belongs to me."

"Golden armor?" Blake questioned.

Before anyone else could question what the Horror was talking about, Kali and the Horror charged at each other, neither of them seeming to notice as the Nevermore came circling back.

When the Horror and Kali clashed, they created a shockwave, that released waves upon waves of energy, which killed the Nevermore, and caused the ground around their feet to crater and crack.

"Uh guys, they just killed that Nevermore just from their colliding attacks." Nora said.

Kali and the Horror pushed against each other, before they were pushed back, and jumped at one another, blades clashing, causing sparks to fly and the ground to tremble.

"Kali, look around the Horror's neck." Zaruba said.

Kali took her eyes off the Horror's face to look down at it's neck, before they widened, when she spotted Sazura embedded in its flesh.

"Sazura?"

"This Horror didn't kill Verda…" Zaruba stated.

"It is Verda." Kali said looking back up at the Horror, now noticing the bits of Makai Armor visible through its body.

"You were so blinded by mourning rage, you didn't even notice the armor, or the weapon." Zaruba said. "He must have allowed it to possess him somehow."

"Verda?" Kali questioned. "Verda it's me, Kali. Can you hear me?"

"Did she just say Verda?" Yang asked.

"Wait, Verda." Ruby said recognizing that name. "That's the guy she was with yesterday."

"So she knows this monster?" Weiss questioned.

"Verda please, I know you're still in there." Kali said, as the fight between them continued. "What happened to you that caused this? What made you so vulnerable that you allowed yourself to become possessed by a Horror."

"Kali this isn't just any Horror. It's the Horror of Greed and Envy, Gilgamesh." Zaruba stated.

"Greed and Envy?" Kali questioned as they got some distance from the Horror Verda.

"The Golden Armor, Garo belongs to me." Verda stated angrily.

"I think we found the cause of such anger and resentment." Zaruba said. "Kali, you must kill the Horror."

"No, I can't. I can't hurt Verda." Kali said, her body shaking in anger and fear. "I can't do that to someone I've known since childhood."

"She won't do it?" Weiss questioned. "Why won't she kill that thing?"

"She can't." Yang stated. "It's a burden, her heart isn't ready to bear."

"Killing, her childhood friend." Nora said, grabbing Ren's shoulder.

"That's not a fate I'd wish upon anyone." Ren said.

Kali looked up from the ground, but instantly ducked down, to avoid Verda's blade, before Verda slammed his knee into her stomach, and sent her flying through the forest, towards the cliff wall, leading up to Beacon Academy. Falling to the ground, Kali was desperate for breath as she tried and failed to breathe, her sword at her side, with blood trailing down her face.

"Kali, get up." Zaruba stated.

Verda was instantly in front of Kali, as he reached down to grab her by the throat, and pulled her up to his snarling face.

"I told you, a woman can't don the Golden Armor. You're weak, pathetic, and most of all, useless." Verda declared, before opening his mouth to bite her head off. "Now give me the armor."

"Hands off."

Before Verda could bite down on Kali, a bullet pierced his shoulder, and he turned around to find all eight students of Beacon prepared to fight, with smoke rising from the barrel of Ruby's gun, revealing she was the one who fired that shot at him.

"That's our friend you're trying to kill." Ruby stated.

Verda dropped Kali to the ground as he turned back to face them.

"A little appetizer, before the main course." Verda smirked as he took Kali's sword in his hand.

Lying there, struggling to stay conscious, Kali felt the pain wracking her body, before she passed out. In the darkness of her mind, Kali opened her eyes to find Zaruba in his full monstrous form, looking right at her.

"Zaruba?" She questioned.

"Don't look so surprised Kali. You of all people should know that I was once a Horror. But I was pacified, and agreed to become the ring that now aids the Golden Knight Garo." Zaruba said.

"No, I'm not surprised about that, I'm just surprised that your body looks like a manifestation of the Grim Reaper." Kali said.

"Kali, do you know why I brought you here?" Zaruba asked.

"Because I'm worthless like Verda said."

"No, because you're special Kali." Zaruba stated. "Your heart is pure, and untainted by the evils of horrors. You've suffered loss, but kept your smile, you've suffered pain and betrayal, but you've still put your trust in others. You're a naive child, but you're also stronger than you know. Those eight students who call themselves your friends, are out there, fighting Verda as best they can. Now it's up to you, to finish the job. I know taking Verda's life will be painful for you, which is why I want you to lay the sins of that task upon my shoulders, and mine alone." Zaruba said before he began to fade. "Now wake up."

Just as Zaruba faded into shadows, a golden light began to shine behind Kali, and she didn't have to turn around to realize who, or what it was.

"I know, a woman has never been able to don you before Garo. I know that I may not be worthy of it. But I don't care. With or without you, I'm gonna protect my friends, and I'm gonna prove myself worthy of your power."

"There's no need for that." A gentle voice said, as a hand gripped her shoulder.

Turning around, Kali was stunned silent, when she saw someone, she'd only heard about in stories Sword would tell her. Standing in front of her, was a much older Leon Luis, with a stern yet proud look on his face.

"You've shown your resolve, now lets show that Horror, why you're the Golden Knight."

Back in reality, the others were doing poorly against the Horror Verda, as he was able to take them down easily, even Pyrrha wasn't able to do anything to the armor connected to him. The only thing she seemed to be able to control, was Kali's sword, but even that didn't prove efficient against the Horror's inhuman strength.

"This all ends now. The King and Queen shall have their Golden Knight." Verda said, swinging Kali's sword at Ruby.

The young reaper held up Crescent Rose to block the blow, but all that hit her weapon, was the Horror's armored fist. Despite that being more than enough to push her back, Ruby was shocked that the blade hadn't made contact. Looking up, she looked behind the Horror and gasped.

The sword was flying, hilt first towards Kali, and as she caught it, she allowed the momentum to carry her into spinning in a circle, leaving behind a trail of light before the light connected in a ring, and Kali was enveloped in a cylinder of light. When the light died down, Kali looked very different.

She was now clad in a black sleeveless bodysuit with ornate gold armor and a valkyrie styled circlet in the likeness of long wolf ears replacing the wings, and a red gem on the forehead. A gorget around the neck attached to gold chest plate armor surrounding her upper body and she had some gold shoulder guards and a red gem was on the center. Her forearms and upper arms were covered in gold armor with guards on top of the bracers on the forearms, while her fingers and elbows were exposed. A skull themed emblem was on the back of the right hand. On her legs were gold leg armor and gold armored combat heels and around her waist was a gold belt with a red triangle with gold outlines. Attached to the back was a black cape with two extra strips of cloth tied to golden sickle blades on the ends. In her right hand was a golden broadsword with a red triangle.

Her canines were elongated somewhat, and her eyes were more canine in nature, while glowing with a bright energy and power. The blood dripping down her face was gone, and she looked more then pissed at the Horror.

(Cue Music… I'd come for you: Nickelback)

"Verda. I know you can hear me in there." Kali said making the Horror turn around and look at her in shock. "I'm not gonna say this twice so listen up."

"Kali?" Blake questioned.

"You were my best friend Verda." She said, walking towards the Horror. "I was hesitant about killing you because of that. Every time you'd drive me up the wall, that was your way of showing you cared. Everything you did. Which is why it hurts me so much to do this. But I will end your suffering, even if it's the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

"Hahaha." Verda laughed. "What suffering are you talking about Kali? I'm finally free, and no longer held back by the limitations of the Armor's restrictions." He stated charging at Kali. "Now give me, what's rightfully mine."

A tear fell from Kali's cheek, and before it could hit the ground, Kali pulled up her sword, and used it to deflect Verda's attack. The energy of the redirected attack was sent behind Kali, sliced through the ground, and the rock wall of the cliffside, creating a new cavern in the stone.

"The armor was never yours Verda." Kali said, sticking her hand into Verda's chest and pulled Sazura out from the flesh she was embedded in. Opening her palm, Sazura was enveloped in a silver light, and was instantly purified before Kali placed the crucifix around her neck.

"Your father promised me that armor. He told me that I'd be the one to inherit it from him. I'd become the next Garo." Verda said. "But all that changed, after you ran away, and stole the sword, and Zaruba."

"I chose, to be taken by Kali you brute." Zaruba stated.

"No one, could have forcefully taken Zaruba, or myself, without triggering the security measures your mother placed around us." Sazura said.

"Did those two pieces of jewelry just talk?" Yang questioned.

"I wonder how much Kali would part with them for?" Weiss inquired.

"I'd had enough of Swords insufferable, lecherous ways." Zaruba exclaimed. "His behavior was so disgusting, it was almost enough to make me go mad."

Kali pressed back against Verda, before she brought her knee up, and slammed it into his elbow, breaking the horror's arm, while knocking him down.

"Face it Kali. You were jealous that I was to inherit the Garo Armor, instead of you. You were jealous that your father cared more about making me his successor, then you. That's why you ran away with the stolen Makai gear, that's why I became a Horror, that's why I'm like this. It's all your fault."

"Verda, I never wanted this." Kali stated. "All I wanted, was to prove that despite not being a man, I am still capable of donning the Golden Armor, just like my father."

Kali's grip on the glaive tightened, and it was washed in a silver light, becoming purified, as Kali walked closer to him.

"But you're right. It is my fault you became like this. That's why I will carry that burden with me until the day I die. But please, allow me to make this right." She cried out, cutting Verda with both his weapon, and her own, leaving an X shaped gash on his chest, before she skewered him him, running Verda through with both weapons, in the center of his chest.

(End Song…)

All was quiet as the only sound to be heard was the wind, as storm clouds rolled in, before the armor left Kali's body, and her arms began to shake from the weight of the weapons, and the task they just completed.

"Kali…" Verda wheezed, as it began to rain.

Kali looked up, and saw Verda was looking down at her, his eyes looking human again.

"Thank you." He said, before he vanished into dust.

Kali just looked at the empty air, before falling to her knees, her hands reaching up, and gripping Sazura, as tears fell down her cheeks, and she let out a silent cry of pain and sorrow.

Ruby wanted to go comfort her, but she was stopped when Yang put a hand on her shoulder. Looking to her sister, she saw Yang had a sympathetic look on her face, and lowered her head, as Kali's cries became audible.

"Let it all out Kali." Zaruba said as she became drenched in the rain. "I know it hurts, but be strong. For Verda is still with you, in your heart. He'll always be with you."

~Beacon Ozpins Office~

"Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as… Team CRDL [Cardinal]. Lead by, Cardin Winchester." Ozpin announced, before the newly named Team CRDL left the stage, leaving it ready for the next four. "Jaune Arc. Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos. Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as… Team JNPR [Juniper]. Lead by, Jaune Arc."

"Huh? L-Lead by…?" Jaune questioned in shock.

"Congratulations, young man." Ozpin smiled.

Pyrrha playfully punched Jaune in the shoulder, and whether he was just that weak, or Pyrrha hit him too hard, Jaune fell to the ground, causing everyone in the auditorium to laugh.

"Finally, Blake Belladonna. Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long." Ozpin said, as the four members came out, all of them having several bandages around their bodies where they'd been injured, in the fight against Verda. "The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as… Team RWBY [Ruby}. Lead by… Ruby Rose."

Weiss was shocked to hear someone two years younger than her, would be leading the team instead of her. Something she did not agree with.

"Oh I'm so proud of you sis." Yang smiled, giving her sister a hug. "Just like mom. She was the leader of Team STRQ."

As the ceremony was going on, Kali was sitting in Ozpin's office, awaiting her possible punishment for what had happened out in the Emerald Forest. She was looking at the blade of Verda's weapon, and Sazura, in her hands.

"Kali, are you feeling any better?" Zaruba questioned.

"I'm fine Zaruba." Kali said.

"I know it's hard to say goodbye to a friend. I know how that feels." Zaruba stated.

"How do you deal with it?" Kali asked.

"At first, I'd just shut myself away, but eventually, I became more open, and I accepted the fact I was gonna outlive them all. Finally, I just became numb to the feeling of mourning, and just accepted their deaths as part of the natural cycle of Makai." Zaruba said.

"Guess being a Horror Soul trapped in a ring helps." Kali said.

"Actually, it doesn't, but I do what I can to show those watching over the next Garo, that I'm alright, and that I'm here for them, for you." Zaruba said.

Kali smiled at that, and looked down at Zaruba before the elevator doors opened.

"Apologies for the wait. The ceremony took longer than it normally would have." Ozpin said, coming into his office. "First off, I'd like to give you my condolences on Mr. Evans passing. I understand he was a dear friend of yours."

"It's never easy saying goodbye to someone you care about." Glynda said.

"With that being said, you are a very capable young woman, who was able to don the Golden Armor." Ozpin said, shocking Kali as she looked up at him. "Yes I am aware of the Makai Knights. An' I'm a personal associate of your fathers."

"Given your lack of a feminine figure, I doubt it." Kali said.

"Yes, Sword's habits were a bit, inconvenient for some of the female staff when he was here some years ago. No I was an employer of his, and he taught students here for me as a professor." Ozpin said. "That being said, I'm wanting to offer you a similar position."

"An' that position would be?"

"As the Golden Knight Garo, how would you, like to be personally responsible for training the next generation, of Makai Knights?" Ozpin questions.

"Huh?" Ozpin broke Kali and Glynda.