Dark lands

Salem sat in her throne room accompanied by boredom, with Emerald away the Grimm Queen found the time she had sat aside to train her new apprentice filled with nothing but studying old tomes for new spells for the girl to study. The child has proven a prodigy in the Arcane arts and as such the current book Salem skimmed through should be more suited for Emerald's current level, suddenly the book began flipping through pages by itself and coming to rest on a suspiciously blank page. Salem's brow knitted together as a gold illuminating ink filled the left page but the right page is what truly drew her attention.

A golden silhouette matching that of a beringel with green tribal markings fighting the brother of Darkness. The image began to move with Dark shifting into his dragon form before grabbing the gold and emerald gorilla and literally throwing the creature off the page. The gorilla grew in size sailing through the air, blinking her eyes Salem now found herself in a desolate mountain land before watching the Beringel create a canyon with its body as it fell. The Queen watched calmly as the beast picked itself back up before banging on it's chest and roaring to the sky, allowing Salem to see indeed the creature is another unique type of Grimm with the golden flesh and emerald armor plating.

A roar from behind the dark clouds answered the Grimm as lightening danced to the ground. Dark descended from to the ground before shifting his form once more to grow bigger, stockier, even stronger as large spines grew from head to tail as wings disappeared and becoming a god of a giant reptile.

"You're the first one to get rid of before the Cultivator is defenseless." Dark pointlessly explained as his magic can be seen charging from the base of his tail and traveling towards the opening maw. "Now, PERISH!"

Dark's magical beam slammed into the gorilla's chest pushing the beringel into the side of a mountain. Darkzilla stomped a reptilian foot down making, sending magic into the mountain to take hold of the Grimm and drag it down into the dead and cracked soil as it rampaged to free itself with futile effort. Dark took his leave when the last of the Grimm was submerged and time began to lapse

Salem watched as the ground knitted together and healed before a wave of grass grew, followed by young saplings sprouting from the ground and growing into a mighty forest not long after a castle was built only to crumble seconds later, glancing into the distance another castle stood unmoving to time, a castle all to familiar to the once human princess.

Blinking, Salem sat in her throne room once more with the book in hand still displaying the story she just watched. Rising to her feet Salem summoned a seer to connect to one of Emerald's Grimm, while also recalling how to make transportation circles for later use.

Temporary Gas Station

"I regret to inform several construction droids are missing as well as several containers from the Schnee dust company." Winter reported to Ironwood after the dockyard took inventory of missing items.

"What of the gps trackers in the Paladins?" Ironwood surprisingly calm asked.

"…Unresponsive, until a unit is activated." Winter informed hesitantly.

"Whose dumb idea was that!?" Ironwood exclaimed as his hologram flipped over his desk.

"To be fair, we did buy them from Magnanimous…" Jaune through in before looking thoughtful. "…and we did get a good deal on them, three bags of burnt out dust is just a garbage anywhere on Remnant."

"No one asked you Arc!"

"I'm just say'in." Jaune weakly defended himself going back to working on Mrgas right arm engine compartment, White lion sitting and watching the human work and struggle to tighten a bolt as large as Jaune's head, going as far as to jump on the handle of the wrench; only to slip and crash onto Lion's nose.

"He does have a point, sir. Maybe Magnanimous will have a way to track the robots."

"I will try to to contact him, until then you and Arc are to find any leads to find those robots, We need them for the latest project."

"Consider them found General." Winter closed her scroll before reaching up and tightening the bolt with one hand before leaning over railing to look down on Jaune still lying prone on the Zorps nose. "Anywhere we can start our search?"

"We could head to Beacon and see if Blake found out anything." Jaune picked himself backup before White Lion gently tossed Jaune back onto the catwalk.

"And if she claims not to know anything?" Winter retorted picking up chicken nugget off Jaune's plate before he pulled it out of her reach. Jaune tipped the plate back into his open mouth stuffing the remaining nuggets in his cheeks.

"…Then we find the blonde that was with her and ask him." Jaune finally answered after swallowing.

Vale

Emerald walked the streets of Vale, her scepter hidden inside guitar case strapped to her back, collecting funds for the White Fang from the unsuspecting people A black cat with electric yellow eyes wrapped itself around the Sorceress in training shoulders. Looking up Emerald watched as Shopkeep almost finished hanging his sign welcoming visitors from outside the kingdom. The Sabertooth Grimm disguised as a cat glanced at the human atop the ladder, soon the unassuming monster leapt onto the awning and slowly started stalking to the man's hand. Even in her current weakened form, it would be next to nothing to pull the old man over the corner and out of the sight of any witnesses as she ran her claws through flesh and really prove her namesake, Slash…but the the Green Sorceress plans.

Shopkeep looked up sensing something watching him, smiling briefly at the black cat he spotted Shopkeep reached and out to pet the kitten only for the animal to roar like a tiger and jaws snapping powerfully at the the appendage, sending the old man toppling back in fright. Thankfully someone caught his person before he could collide painfully with the concrete and throw his hip out again.

"Careful." Emerald cooly warned catching the old man. Setting him down the young enchantress subtly removed his wallet before asking for directions and waving goodbye when pointed to go up the street, rounding a corner Emerald found a waiting Banesaw in his civilian clothes of sweatpants, hoody, and hockey mask.

"You really don't like people seeing your face, do you?" Emerald commented hading over more funds for the Fang after taking her cut, Slash dropped down onto her shoulder a moment later.

"People will know me by a different name if they see my face."Banesaw retorted, keeping his eyes on the Grimm as Emerald lead the two over to a nearby air traffic station.

Emerald had new orders from Salem, with the bonus of a bag lunch sent to through the Grimm Queen's magic to find the Grimm from the tome.

"Where is that thing leading us to?" Banesaw finally asked after boarding the air shuttle to Beacon.

Emerald sat next to the faunus before removing her staff from the case, after removing the scepter the young witch held the crescent for Bane to gaze through. He watched as a pair of red eyes glared back as a beast roared and thrashed in a cave, limbs shackled by stalactites and stalagmites and piercing into flesh causing the Grimm to thrash even more.

"What the hell is that thing?"

"Another one of the weapons I promised." Emerald's irises began to glow an ominous red much like Salem's own as she used her magic to open her lunch bag and levitate her dessert, Bane never knew a person could be slightly intimidating while eating a cookie.

Beacon

Students of Beacon went unbothered by the sight of Mrgas landing near the school but the students from Mistral and Vacuo watched awe struck as Jaune and Winter exited out of an elevator in Mrgas heel as Mrgas release White Lion from his grasp, the Zorp yawned and stretched as his mane-barrels spun before clicking into place.

Jaune and White Lion followed after Winter as she lead the way to the cafeteria, hearing the commotion going on. A loud thump from the window they were passing caused Jaune and Winter to look at the source and seeing a random student smooshed against the glass before sliding down out of site. The two pilots shared a look before rushing through the doors, only to be greeted with a tower of tables on the far side of the cafeteria.

"I'm the Queen of the castle~, I'm the Queen of the castle~." Chanted a vaguely familiar ginger girl, both specialists slammed the doors closed as water melons began to arc through the air.

"New plan, we explore Beacon until this blows over. I hear Beacon has launch-pads, let's check those out." Jaune said as he and Winter sprinted away from the battlefield.

Emerald Forest

Banesaw closely followed behind Emerald as a restored to normal Slash lead the two aura users through the forest. Beowolves followed the group never taking an aggressive stance unless Banesaw began to lag a little too far behind, picking up his Banesaw walked in step with Emerald before the young which held up her staff to stop his advancing when they came to a cave entrance, raising it higher Emerald summoned her helmet.

"When do I get one of those?" Bane asked in slight awe.

"With any luck after this mission." Emerald replied as her helmet's eyes lit up to illuminate the dark cave, Banes eye's sparkled at the extra function of the helmet until he heard a faint sound growing louder and louder. It almost sounds like a screaming child was hurled into their general direction.

"HEADS UP!" I voice exclaimed before something tore through the ground behind the two mask wearers. Turning around they spotted Jaune lifting himself from a deep trench shakily.

"Watch that first step, it's a doozy." Jaune babbled as his eyes spun in his head before falling unconscious.

Beowolves began to slink from the shadows of the forest surrounding the unconscious Hunter preparing to tear into flesh, a loud roar and portions of the ground exploding are the patch scatter as White Lion entered the clearing with Winter on his nose. Glancing around briefly Winter proceeded to jump down as White Lion scared the weaker Grimm away with another powerful roar.

"Wake up Arc, Verde is here." Winter commanded lifting Jaune back to his feet before giving two solid slaps on his cheeks.

"I'm awake!" Jaune yelped before a third was delivered and drawing his sword and deploying his shield. "White Fang? Don't you guys ever take a break?"

"Only when all the Schnees are dead." Bane threatened pulling his weapon out of thin air and take a stance only for Emerald to place a hand on his shoulder.

"The Grimm can handle them you're coming with me." Emerald commanded dragging Bane away into the cave as Slash roared regrouping the fleeing Beowolves before shrinking down and entering the cave as well.

An alpha pounced at the hunters only to be stomped into the ground by Lion before Jaune sprinted around the front leg leading with his shield and a pack of white Beowolves and meeting the dark hoard.

Emerald lead the way through the caves with the lesser Grimm distracting the Hunters but slowed when seeing a Death-stalker's stinger glowing in the dark. Slash slunk forward practically shoving Banesaw into the stone wall before growling and letting the electricity dance across the crystals on her back, a few stray arc met the wall lighting Dust flakes left in the wall revealing a hole in the ground, where the sounds of heavy breathing can be heard from the depths making the hairs on Bane's neck stand on end; another growl from Slash sent the scorpion Grimm out to face the Hunters as well.

"Ladies first." Emerald joked jumping down the into the hole.

Outside, Jaune jumped off the back of a Winter-Grimm bringing his sword down on the neck of one of the few Beowolves left as Winter stabbed another through the spine and Lion chomping another three into Grimm-smoke.

"That was easy." Jaune commented putting his shield and sword away before he and Winter snapped their attention to a screeching wail coming from the entrance before it exploded in a rain of pelting pebbles and rocks. The Death-Stalker snapped it's pincers wanting to stoke the fires of fear. "Oh, come on!"

Lion roared again jumping in-front of the Hunters and firing several shots as the Grimm skittered across the clearing towards the Zorp, the bolts of energy smacked the exoskeleton but left no sign of damage aside from a few scorch marks. Lion stooped to let the humans jump on before running to meet the scorpion head on. With a howling shriek the Death-Stalker struck out with its agile venomous tail only to strike the ground as Lion jumped over the Grimm. A pincer clasped Lion by it's tail before throwing the Gas team near the cave.

"Atlas Hunter-training doesn't cover Death-Stalkers!" Jaune complained hitting a button on Crocea Mors handle as Lion moved to dodge a hammer claw, leaving a crater in the ground. Lion moved further away from the Grimm only making the scorpion narrow it's eyes in annoyance, sparks of electricity danced across the stinger before lancing out hitting Lion in the face making the Zorp short circuit and go offline.

"E.T.A. JAUNE!" Winter yelped jumping off Lion and drawing her weapons.

"3..2..1.."

BOOM!

Mrgas heel grind the big bug to dust as he landed on the Grimm but before the the two could celebrate a gold beam of light blasted what was left of the cave to oblivion, burrowing Jaune and Winter and a thin coating of rocks and small boulders as it traveled out of sight and knocking Mrgas over. Under a mound of dirt an engines revved as Jaune punched a large rock of him and Winter allowing the them to crawl out.

"Did we win?"

White Fang HQ

Adam covered his as a bright light flooded the room he and several Fang members stood in. Uncovering his eyes he was shocked to see Banesaw starring at a a gold helmet in his hands, made to look similar Emerald's but based on a roaring gorilla.

"I got one?" Bane spoke disbelievingly As he ran a hand over the sleek visor. " I GOT ONE!" He cheered excitedly as a Beringel with green Dust armor dropped down from the ceiling behind him, Banesaw whirled around to see the new monster.

"How does it feel finally being free?" Emerald asked as the other Dino-Grimm showed themselves to the Beringel.

White Fang drew their weapons and took aim at the Grimm standing calmly face to face with the Lieutenant as it's body shifted to stand like a person. "Just…Prime."

"You need a name." Banesaw is practically dancing in excitement for having a Grimm matching his animal trait before putting the helmet on after a few moments of thinking. "Primal, Terrorize!"

Primal flexed it's arms as it tried to transform but a sheet of green light flashed over the Grimm like aura shattering "Too…weak."

Emerald used her magic to set a crate of green Dust next to Banesaw before Roman grabbed her by the arm and drug her to a more secluded area.

"Kid, this has got to stop. I'm running out of space to keep these buggers out of the public eye..." Roman started to complain before peeking over his own shoulders for anyone listening in. "…and I fear Neo is starting to bond with some of them."

The piercing sound of breaking glass was his only warning as he found the container both humans hiding behind crumble away to show Slag in Grimm form breathing into side of Romans face, with Neo on the Grimm back silently laughing as the Grimm licked the thief and covering him in Dino saliva.

"NEO!"

"What the human is failing to say…" Adam spoke up revealing himself leaning on a different crate. "Is that faunus attending the White Fang recruiting rally won't be to thrilled when they see your monsters."

"Just worry about getting the patches distributed to the recruits." Emerald replied as she transmogrify her Grimm into normal everyday animals. Slash reverting back into a cat, Neo jumped off Slag as he began to shrink down and becoming a three-horned chameleon that climbed onto the shoulder of the multi-colored girl and flashing Neo's three main colors, Sludge shed his Grimm form as he shrank to the size and appearance of an elephant, Swoop became an even more terrifying monster than her Grimm form; an unholy abomination forged from the Dark God's worst fear and given a body; Swoop had become a pissed off goose attacking Roman's ankles and Grimmlock shrunk down and transformed into warrior mode and using his cape to hide everything below the neck.

"Good luck hiding your Grimm." Emerald walked off to check on Cinder.

Adam turned his attention back to the now named Primal and seeing Banesaw offer the Dust for the Grimm to eat like a banana, Primal burped releasing a flash of green light into the concrete making the ground crack as a rosebush sprouted.

Beacon

After being chewed out by Ironwood for loosing Verde and the only lead to finding the droids Winter had summoned her team to discuss a new plan but the constant screams of anguish and petty whining distracted the usual culprits. A stray board-game piece hitting her head was the last straw before she and the rest of Gas stood to see what is going on.

"Bleiss?" Jaune questioned seeing an interesting sight, sister cuddled up next to a shocked Sun as Ruby and Yang held each other in defeat. "Did you play War for Remnant without me?"

"We have a few questions for you two." Winter interrupted before signaling for Jaune and Oscar to grab Sun as Ceil and Penny picked up Blake by her arms and leading the faunus out of the library with the rest of RBY following while voicing objections over the abduction or at least lead them to RBBY's dorm room.

Arriving everyone took a spot around the room as best they could with so many people.

"I'll cut to the chase, we know the White Fang are planning something and we know at least two of you might have more information." Winter started before locking eyes with Blake.

"…and you think Sun or I would know something because we're faunus?" Blake asked scathingly prompting Jaune to speak next.

"No. It because we know you and Sun were illegals staking out the dockyards and that Sun is a stowaway."

"Okay, yeah that's fair." Sun spoke up scratching the back of his head. "The White Fang are having a rally tonight that Blake and me are supposed sit in on..."

"Sun!" Blake yelped and pouncing to shut him up only for a black glyph to act as a wall she crashed into. Bleiss isn't letting another let another woman touch her new himbo, especially not one that will piss her dad off to no end. That and it will be better to have Team Gas as back up than having Winter arrest Bleiss…again.

"…Yang and Bleiss have a friend on shady side of town, that may or may not be a mob boss, that might know something so Yang is going there, while Bleiss and Ruby are going to check the shipping records." Sun sold out while smiling. Winter held up her scroll showing the records Bleiss was going to retrieve.

"We saved you one part of this mission, now we are going to discuss who is splitting with who." Winter informed.

Night

Hours later with a new plan in palace everyone split off to their assigned role. Bleiss, Yang, Neptune, and Ceil going to the Club. As Jaune, Sun, Blake, and Winter made their way to find the rally leaving Ruby, Oscar, and Penny behind. Walking down the street Blake was the first to notice the claw mark on one of the buildings.

"This is the place." She stated running her hands over the mark.

"You sure?" Winter asked as she fiddled with the holo-projection on her scroll, a moment later spots began showing up on her fair skin, as her clothes changed into a sleeveless shirt to show off more spots and a pair of jeans; also letting her hair flow loosely down her back. "Anyone asks I'm a snow leopard."

"And I'm a Panda!" Jaune cheered wiggling the two bear ears on his and sporting black rings around his eyes and his clothes becoming black or white.

Blake honestly did not know how to feel about humans posing as faunus, on one hand she herself is a faunus pretending to be a human while in Beacon. On the other…well she couldn't think of a bad reason but she knows somehow this is morally wrong.

Before entering into the building each new recruit is handed a mask and a small square skin patch and asked stand in the designated area with a clear view of the whole stage. Banesaw paced the stage in-front of the White Fang as he addressed the gathered faunus, his new helmet gleaming in the spotlight.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming. For those of you joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours." Verde stepped out from behind the banner to stand next Banesaw. "She has been an invaluable asset in acquiring the supplies we need to fight back against humans."

"Each of you were given a mask and patch, you all know what the mask is supposed to symbolize but you might be asking yourself "what do the patches do?" Verde began her speech and making room for another person on stage.

"Adam Taurus has been kind enough to give a demonstration of the new power The Fang holds."

Adam was next to step onto the stage and taking center, if you look close enough a small red patch can be seen on the side his neck as he faced the crowd. Being a person of few words unless Blake is involved, he ran his hand over the patch while applying a small amount of aura. Immediately a transformation can be seen by the crowd as Adam's horns and body grew larger to stand a head above Banesaw, shirt and suit jacket ripped apart as muscle mass expanded and short red fur grew along his arms and chest. The faunus leader breathed heavily when the transformation stopped as his mask fell to the floor, the other faunus stood stunned as they looked at the now Minotaur standing in front of everyone before they all began to cheer at for him.

""Oh, that can't be good."" Sun and Jaune commented in slight fear before their respective partners started dragging them subtly towards the exit.

Adam's head snapped to the blip of fear before his one glowing orange eye locked onto the cat faunus.

"BLAKE!" The Grimm bull bellowed flexing his arms and knocking both Bane and Emerald from the stage before slamming the ground with his fists and jumping into the crowd of screaming innocents. The Hunters made a mad dash for the door as the Minotaur mindless swatted people out of his way.

"Do you know that guy!?" Jaune yelped thanking Momma Arc's godly cooking he left the top down as everyone jumped in and peeled out, just in time as a larger Minotaur broke through the wall of the building, chasing after the car.

Emerald and Banesaw watched as those not crushed by Adam ran away as the Dino-Grimm and Primal drug away their left overs, oh wow that got dark; but let's be honest, did you expect anything less from a building not marked as conveniently empty.

"We better go get him." Banesaw finally broke awkward tension.

"YOU can go get him, I'm getting the hell out of here. Go to Mt. Glenn with or without him and check on the excavation teams." Emerald slammed her staff down activating the magic to beam away herself and her Grimm.

Jaune drifted around the corner before flooring the gas, Adam charged through another building and picking up any large chunks and using the debris to try and slow the car down.

"Not the car! Not the car!" Jaune yelped swerving around the obstacles.

"Activate the weapons system." Winter commanded standing in her seat to face Adam before creating a swarm of Nevermore to blind the mad bull, making the monster stumble off course into a park.

"…I can't." Jaune mumbled after a brief pause.

"What did you just say?"

"I said…"

"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID! Why is the real question."

"Oh, excuse me for only installing a giant spike for a weapon in a car with deep space life support!" Jaune sarcastically complained noticing the Red Minotaur jump over the bushes separating the park from the road and running along the driver's side on all fours.

"Let me get the door for you!" The mechanic exclaimed revving his aura as he used the door to hit Adam in the side of the head and making him tumble behind before righting himself and continuing the chase.

"Can you to please save you lover's spat for when we are safe!?" Sun yelled sending two clones to grab the bull by the horns, The Minotaur was ready for an attack this time as he slammed the clones into the ground and using his head to pivot back to his hooves without breaking pace. "Faster, Faster or this ends in disaster!"

"If you don't calm down, we are turning this car around. Swerve left." Winter warned both Sun and Jaune respectively as Blake's scroll pinged with a message from Ruby.

"Take this right and head to the highway!" The cat yelped making Jaune slam the brake from the shock of having her yell in his ear, Adam wasn't expecting the harsh stop either tripping over the Plymouth. Jaune hit two buttons, one to put the roof up and the other deployed the giant spike before slamming the gas and slicing Adam's arm as he drove past. Winter stuck her arm out the window summoning Beowolves to attack the wounded bull.

"BLAKE!" Adam bellowed again as his horns began to glow before swiping his arm out releasing his flowing blood into a wave of slicing energy, making the Winter wolves disappear.

"Oh c'mon! Does nothing stop this guy!?" Jaune ranted seeing Adam start catching up with the car again on the highway. The Minotaur bashed against the passenger side door knocking the car off the highway and into a gorge meant for draining floods during the monsoon season.

Jaune's car hit the ground grill first before flipping onto it's side and continuing to tumbles across the ground, Adam jumped down after the Hunters when spotting the group crawling out from under the car and groaning as they as Adam's heavy hoof steps shook the ground as he neared. Jaune having the most aura pulled hiself free from the car as he marched towards the Crimson Grimm.

"Alright you over grown t-bone; you stole Atlas tech, stole MY tech, and worst of all you trashed my ride. I'M TAKING YOU DOWN!" Jaune ducked down into a full sprint revving his aura and tackling Adam.

Jaune rolled to his feet and grabbing the Red Bull by the horns before spinning in place, throwing Adam away from the car and under the highway. Adam stood to his, catching Jaune before he could use tackle again. Futilely, Arc punched the wrist of the massive hand enveloping his chest before the Minotaur lifted him higher and slamming him into the ground.

Winter cleared the blurring from her vision as the sound of two powerhouses thundered outside the car, peeking out she watched as Adam picked Jaune up before throwing him through a pillar holding up the highway.

"Jaune!" Winter yelped summoning a Manticore to distract the Minotaur as she ran over to her partner, Blake and Sun close behind.

"I'm okay..." Jaune grunted standing up and showing his wounds closing with his aura before his stomach started to growl lightly. "We need to do something before I'm out of commission."

"How are we supposed to stop that!?" Sun stressed while indicating the Minotaur grappling with the Winter-Grimm. A bit of rubble fell onto the monkey faunus head, giving Jaune and idea as he looked at the other three pillars still standing.

"Blake, what was your semblance again?"

Adam just snapped the neck of the Manticore before bellowing his victory.

"Hey, Adam!" Blake yelled getting his attention the monster's attention. Looking over, Adam spotted his love waving him over with a red cloth. "Toro, Toro."

She even used his old pet name! That was he needed to start running to her only for the cat to vanish leaving him to barrel through a pillar and tumble into the center

"Hey, assbutt! Look what I got." Sun jeered now holding Blake as a bride. The Minotaur stood up with an enraged huff and wiping blood onto his palm before winding up like a pitcher and tossing a red red slicing wave. "Ole'!"

The clone Sun yelled as both substitute blinked out of existence as another pillar crumbled. Winter summoned her new Death-stalker to bash it's claws against the last pillar making the road above come crashing down putting the demon bull under a mountain of rubble. Everyone waited with bated breath from something to happen, surprisingly nothing more happened letting the four breath a collective sigh of relief.

Jaune looked at his car before releasing a huff of air and calling Oscar for a tow.


Okay folks, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Let me know if you spotted any or all the references I used and I'll let you know the one you all likely missed.