So apparently I deleted this chapter before I was done writing it and was driving myself crazy trying to find the file on my devices, but had no such luck. That's why this chapter took longer than anticipated as I had to rewrite the whole thing. I hope you guys like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

"Speech"

Thoughts

Chapter Twelve: Dishonesty

Ruby scours through the train wreckage and picks up Dust bullets, before looking to see the Relic of Knowledge slightly buried in the snow nearby. Yang can be heard complaining as she struggles to get Bumblebee out of the snow.

"Great! This is just great! We're stranded, we lost a third of our party, there's still no sign of Slade, and we've gained a defenseless old lady!" With one final heave, Yang manages to extricate Bumblebee, but falls over to the ground, with her motorcycle following suit as she's partially covered in snow.

"My name is Maria Calavera, and I am not defenseless! I'm just a little hard of hearing. And blind without my eyes, that are in desperate need of repair" she taps on her prosthetics, which open wide and close, before opening narrowly again "Okay, I'm starting to see your point"

Qrow grunts "Yang, knock it off, will ya? If we lose our cool now, we'll just be inviting even more Grimm"

"Does that even matter? Apparently, we've been attracting Grimm ever since we left Haven" Blake offered disappointed.

"Oh, and how could I forget about that?" she turns to Oscar "What happened to "no more lies and half truths"?

Oscar agreed "Yeah, I think it's time we got an explanation" Oscar's eyes glow as control of his body is switched to Ozpin, who furrows his brow at Yang's accusations

"I did not lie to you"

"Well you certainly didn't tell us everything about the Relic" Weiss pointed out.

"Please, now is not the time"

"No, we're past that! I wanna know why you're still not telling us everything!" Yang yelled as she closed the distance between herself and Ozpin.

Slade's hand suddenly broke through the snow between them causing the group to jump slightly preparing to attack as he sat up brushing the snow off his shoulders "You're all so loud I can't even stay unconscious around you guys" he groaned standing up.

"Slade" Yang sighed in relief "I'm glad to see you're alright"

"Me too, that was one hell of a crash"

"As important as your well being is to us, this doesn't get Ozpin out of explaining why he didn't tell us the Relic attracts the Grimm" Blake interjected.

"Huh?" Slade cocked his eyebrow in confusion.

"It is true that the Grimm are attracted to the Relics. It's faint, but undeniable. I believe it has to do with their origin, but I'm not entirely sure. Regardless, I feared that making you all aware would only add anxiety and negativity. It seemed like the safer option"

"You know, I'm getting real tired of people choosing what's best for me" Weiss growled.

"Is that why you chose to lie to everyone about Lionheart too?" Yang asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I believed the Kingdom of Mistral deserved better than the truth. And I believed Leonardo deserved to be remembered for his lifetime of service, and not for the unfortunate missteps he made in his final years"

"Missteps?!" Yang shouted in disbelief.

"What Professor Lionheart did was reprehensible. I am not here to argue differently, but does one lapse in judgment truly negate all of his good? Do we not all have regrets? You may have met Professor Lionheart, but you never met the man he was before Salem found him"

"He's right" Slade agreed "Leonardo was a great man once, despite his mistakes I believe he deserved to be remembered for all the good he did"

"Thank you, Slade. I appreciate that" Ozpin smiled lightly, surprised Slade had decided to side with him in this.

"It wasn't for your benefit" Slade deadpanned "But I remember what Leonardo used to be like... the kindness he showed my team and I..." Slade let the sentence hang, not wishing to speak of it further.

Yang shook her head "Look, we're supposed to be in this together. You can trust us! We're not gonna turn our backs on you" Yang assured Ozpin.

Ozpin raised his voice "Do you really think Leo was the first?!" everyone stops suddenly.

Slade looked away slightly, understanding his reasoning all too well Did I betray you too? he wondered feeling a small amount of guilt.

"That he didn't say those exact same words to me? I'm sorry, but you have to understand that my behaviors are backed by experience. I'm not saying that I have reason to think you will betray me. I'm saying that I have reasons for the things that I do, the secrets I keep, the reason I-" he suddenly stops and realizes something "Where's the Relic?"

"Right here" Ruby held it in her hands "It got scattered in the crash"

"Please, hand it over" Ozpin reaches his hand out, but Ruby hesitates.

"So all those times you talked about having faith in humanity, that was just for everyone else?"

Ozpin sighed "That's not what I meant to suggest. Ms. Rose, the Relic is a powerful item and I simply feel as though it is my burden to bear"

"But, you said it couldn't do anything right now" Ruby pointed out.

"Why does it matter who carries it?" Blake asked.

"I need you to listen to me-" Ozpin reaches his hand out, but suddenly is stopped, stuck in his position.

"Oz?" Qrow asked concerned.

"Hurry... he's... trying to stop you!" Oscar replied.

"Stop her from what?" Yang asked suspiciously.

"He's afraid... you'll find out what he's... hiding!" Oscar suddenly collapses, Yang, Weiss and Blake glare at the boy with intense looks while Ruby holds the Relic of Knowledge defensively "Her name is Jinn. Say her name to summon her"

"Her name?" Ruby asked, the wind picks up much more gradually, blowing snow even harder. The Relic starts to glow in Ruby's hands "Jinn?"

Suddenly, the snow stops, floating in midair. The wind stops blowing too "What?" Qrow asked in shock.

Ruby then lets go of the Relic as it floats a short distance away, cyan smoke emanates from it. Suddenly, the lamp is enveloped in the smoke, and from it, a giant, semi-nude feminine figure emerges. He skin and hair colored blue, and decorated with gold jewelry and ornaments. The figure stretches and moans as she has been awakened once again.

"Wonderful" Jinn says turning to the group Everyone stares in awe at Jinn "Tell me, what knowledge do you seek?"

"Amazing" Slade said in shock.

"I am Jinn, a being created by the God of Light to aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. I've been graced with the ability to answer three questions every one hundred years. You're in luck, as I am still able to answer-"

"That's enough!" everyone looks to Ozpin, who managed to regain control over Oscar's body.

"...two questions this era" she finished.

Everyone is shocked, despite Ozpin telling them that the Relic won't work for them beforehand.

Jinn chuckled "It's a pleasure to see you again, old man"

"Ruby, please... Don't" he pleaded.

Qrow glances to Ozpin, and steps forward "Hey" suddenly, Yang, Weiss, and Blake get defensive at Qrow. Ruby stares in disbelief. Qrow relented "Do whatever you think is right, kiddo"

Ruby pondered her question "Jinn?" Ruby turns around to face Jinn, who has a curious look on her face, while Ozpin grits his teeth in anger "What is Ozpin hiding from us?" she asked with determination.

"NOOOOOOO!" Ruby gasps and looks behind her. Ozpin lunges forward as Slade slides between them defensively before he found himself in a blank white space.

"What the hell?" Slade asked confused.

"Allow me to tell you a story about Salem and Ozma" Jinn's voice echoed.

"Ozma?" Slade asked "Do you mean Ozpin?"

"Ozma was his original name" Jinn answered "Ozpin is a more modern incarnation of the same brave soul that fought against injustice until his untimely death" she explained "Of course I'm getting ahead of myself" the white space was suddenly replaced by a large green field with a large stone castle in the distance, a small stone pathway leading away from it ending where he stood. Slade's view was shifted to the tower highest on the castle with a blonde woman humming to herself as she fixed her hair in the mirror.

"Our story begins long ago with a beautiful young woman locked away in a tower by her tyrant of a father... her name was..."

"Salem" Slade said as her face came into view.

One week after leaving Beacon

It was just after sunset a couple of miles out from the city of Vale. There was a fuel station there with a motorbike just outside, having recently been refueled as the owner stood inside buying a bottle of alcohol. The bike was Indian fire red with black flames embroidered on the side and chrome handlebars. Several men were outside the station messing around with the motorbike struggling with tools to take parts off starting with the tire.

The owner stepped outside with his bottle in hand as he approached them unnoticed "Uh, guys" he called drunkenly getting their attention, causing them all to jump in surprise grabbing for their guns or weapons. Slade stood drunkenly with the bottle nearly slipping from his fingertips "Those are chrome plated, you're gonna strip em" he gestured to the tire "Look, I'm not really in the mood for this, so why don't we-" the man with a shotgun fired it into Slade's shoulder, knocking him onto his back from the impact as the men laughed.

"Dumbass" he spat gesturing for his men to get back to it. The man at the register looked out and saw their weapons, quickly ducking back inside to avoid being involved.

Slade sat on his back groaning in annoyance as his Semblance didn't work quite right on account of him being drunk. The bullets were lodged in his shoulder but didn't make it very far instead of passing right through him as he intended. Struggling to his feet he stood, hunched over in pain as a few bullets dropped to the ground from his shoulder "Guys" he called scaring them tremendously "Guys, seriously... you don't want to do this" he warned as his wrist blades shot out.

The first man swung the wrench toward his head, smashing into his face as the second did the same with a lead pipe and a third smashing a crowbar into his back. Slade dropped onto his knees before getting kneed in the face, bringing him right back up onto his feet. Turning around he grabbed the man with the crowbar, throwing him toward the group, causing them to stumble. One of the men fell toward the bike swinging the lead pipe toward it. Slade pierced the man's hand with his blade stopping him in place as he screamed in agony.

Throwing the man by his impaled arm back into the group, the leader swung the wrench for his head only to miss by merely an inch. Slade slashed his abdomen with his blade causing him to stumble backward, firing a pistol as he did "No! Not the bike!" Slade yelled getting in front of his bike as the bullet pierced his shoulder instead of hitting the bike.

Slade was tackled to the ground as the group began slamming their weapons into his arms and chest painfully. Kicking Slade in the abdomen, turned him onto his stomach as they continued to strike him "Kill this fool!" yelled the leader as one of them pointed the shotgun to the back of his head. Slade roared in anger as he twisted around the gun, using his blade to sever his arm. The shotgun fired in the severed hand's grip hitting the side of his bike and igniting the fuel line causing it to burst into flames. Slade stared in shock as he knew the bike was completely trashed now as he used his Semblance to keep the incoming explosion for expelling outward until it dissipated. Slade was completely sobered up now as rage coursed through his body.

"Mother fu-" Slade yelled turning slashing one of the men across the chest before turning on another. Slashing his blade across his shoulder, he then pierced his skull from the bottom with his opposite blade. Throwing the dead man back in the group, he began stabbing his next target in the chest several times before slicing across his face. Turning toward a man charging after him, he stabbed his blade through the mans skull in anger before twisting toward the leader. Stabbing his left blade through his arm, he then slit the man's throat with his right blade, letting out an angry growl as he did.

"Run man!" yelled one of the final two as they tried to escape. Suddenly, their skulls were both pierced by a single blade as a girl with an umbrella in hand flipped overhead, landing effortlessly on her feet as they dropped dead. Cleaning her blade with a small cloth, she then placed her blade into the end of her umbrella before swinging it over her shoulder. She had a brown left eye and a bright pink right eye, her hair was brown on the left side and pink on the right perfectly split down the middle. The pink side of her hair had a white streak through it, she had a pale complexion. The girl wore a a whitetail jacket with a pink interior and one wide broad tail, brown pants, black gloves, and black and white boots with very high heels and multiple buttons on each side. Under her jacket is a brown corset, curved in the middle and at the bottom, exposing her hips. She also wore a multitude of necklaces, which hang haphazardly around her neck.

"My, my, my, you're quite the fighter" a male voice spoke from behind him. Slade turned around to see a man with dark-green eyes and bright, long, orange hair, with long bangs covering his right eye. Black eyeliner traced his visible left eye. He wore a red-lined white suit with long black pants and black shoes. His accessories included a small gray scarf, black gloves with buckled sleeves, and a black bowler hat with a small feather tucked into its red band and a cigar in his mouth "I haven't seen a good fight like that in some time now, thank you for the entertainment" he chuckled as the girl joined him.

"Who are you?" Slade slurred.

"I cannot tell if you sound like that because you just got the shit kicked out of you or because you're drunk" he laughed.

"Maybe a bit of both" Slade replied struggling to keep his words coherent.

"I like you" he took a few steps toward him "Roman Torchwick at your service" he offered his hand toward him.

Slade accepted it, giving a firm shake "Slade Stroud" he looked to the girl behind him "You are?" he asked, his words still only barely understandable as he painfully set his jaw back into place with a groan.

"That's my lovely associate Neopolitan, but just call her Neo" Roman answered.

"She doesn't talk much does she?" he asked, his words much more coherent now.

"At all, actually. She's mute" Roman answered offering Slade a cigar.

"Oh... thank you" he took it reluctantly, sticking it into his mouth, wincing from the pain. Roman removed a small zippo lighter from his pocket and lit the cigar for him.

"Don't mention it" he placed his arm around his shoulder pulling Slade close to him "Say, what do you do exactly? You don't happen to be for hire do you?" he asked curiously as they walked away with Neo following close behind.

"I don't do anything anymore" he answered.

"Just get laid off? You're far too young to be retired by now-"

"No, I suppose you could say I quit"

"What did you do exactly?"

"I was a student at Beacon Academy, I became disillusioned and left. Now I don't know what I am doing, spending money until it's gone I suppose"

"You were training to be a Huntsman then? How long?" he asked curiously.

"Four years, in fact I was slated to graduate the day I quit. Before that my parents had been training me for a couple of years until they were killed in the field. My sister took over my training for the next year until I started at Beacon and she died"

"Sounds rough, kid" he sighed "I'm sorry to hear about your family. However if you're looking for employment, I'm looking for someone with your skillset to do a job for me"

"My skillset? You hardly know me"

"From what I just saw, you more than qualify for this job. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to kick someone's ass but it does take combat training and experience" he laughed "You can be a new partner of ours to do jobs we don't have time for"

"Like a thug?" Slade asked.

"More like a Bounty Hunter. I give you a job and a price, you take care of my problem. I don't care if their dead or in prison, so long as they aren't taking my business"

"I don't work with criminals, bud" Slade warned.

"Currently you don't have much choice. Unless you see a wanted sign for someone with a bounty, you don't really have any real targets yet. You need to build a reputation among the underworld, then people will know who you are on both sides of the law. I will help you build that reputation so long as you help me build my business"

Slade pondered his words as they walked "That seems like a fair deal, what's the catch?" Slade asked knowingly.

"Despite possibly hating your first few jobs? Nothing. Once your reputation is established you can decide on what jobs you do take and what you don't. That's how you bring in the money, turning down the small payday for the big one"

"I think I understand... when do we start?" Slade asked.

"I knew I liked you for a reason"

Neo made some hand signals toward Roman "He's cute, we should keep him around" she winked.

"Ugh, Neo, please" Roman groaned.

"Thank you, Neo. You're not bad yourself" Slade replied shocking them both.

"You speak sign language?" Neo asked with her hands.

"Not fluently" he answered in sign language back to her with a small smile "My Brother taught me a little when I was younger" he said told them both using his words once again.

Neo smiled back at him "I think we're gonna be good friends"

"I hope so" Slade laughed "I'll warn you though, I don't take very well to betrayal. Better keep on my good side"

"I've seen what your bad side looks like" Roman noted with a small shiver "I rather like my face the way it is thank you"

Present Day

"As the centuries went on, Ozma began to learn the importance of living with the souls with which he had been paired" Jinn explained.

Ozma then hears screaming outside. He opens the door and sees villagers running around in panic as Grimm attack "But no matter where or how he lived, her presence was always felt" Ozma looks back to his wife, who nods in understanding, before going out with a mechanized cane into battle "If humanity were ever to stand a chance at being united, one thing was clear..."

"He had to destroy Salem" Slade spoke already knowing the answer. Blue smoke then transitions showing Ozma's reincarnation many years older now, tinkering with his cane in his workshop.

"Knowing he could never rid the world of her through any mortal means, Ozma sought out the power of the Relics" The elderly tinkerer then places his cane inside a metal cabinet, closing the door on it. The door opens again showing Ozma's newest reincarnation, a well-dressed man, picking up the cane where he last left it in his previous life "Armed with my knowledge, he believed he could fulfill his promise to the God of Light"

Ozma holds the Relic of Knowledge, summoning Jinn for the first time "Where are the other Relics?" he asked.

"He asked me his questions"

"What powers do they possess?"

"And though I gave him my answers"

"How do I destroy Salem?"

"Not all of them were to his liking"

"You can't" Jinn answered. Upon hearing this, Ozma falls to his knees in despair.

The world returned to normal with the snow covered forest around Slade, he found himself back with RWBY, Qrow and Ozpin. The group remained silent as Jinn disappeared, the snow continued to fall and the wind began blowing once again.

"Salem can't be killed... you all heard her too, right?" Yang asked.

Team RWBY all angrily glare at Ozpin, whose head is still down. He looks up, with tears streaming down his face. Qrow Branwen just looks away. Slade looked down at Ozpin sympathetically, knowing all he did now, he couldn't remain angry with him.

"I-" Ozpin began.

"There was so much you hadn't told us! How could you think that was okay?!" Yang yelled enraged.

Oz doesn't say anything, he just hangs his head back down in shame.

"Professor" Ruby called. Oz looks up at her "What is your plan to defeat Salem?" she asked hesitantly.

"I... don't have one" Ozpin answered honestly. Suddenly, Qrow punches Ozpin in the face, sending him into a nearby tree trunk. Going back for a second he found Slade standing between the two of them, both of them stared at Slade in surprise.

"Move" Qrow warned.

"That's not just Ozpin in there Qrow, Oscar is just as much a part of him as he is of Oscar. I won't stand by while you hurt him"

Qrow sighed knowing he was right "No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good" he explained solemnly.

"But, you are!" Ozpin insisted tearfully.

"Meeting you... was the worst luck of my life" Qrow added never lookin at him.

Oz stares back in disbelief upon hearing Qrow say that, before looking down dejected "Maybe you're right" Ozpin's eyes glow as control is transferred back to Oscar Pine. He holds his cheek in pain from the effects of Qrow's punch.

"What happened?" Ruby asked.

"He's... gone" Oscar answered.

"That bastard! Tell him we're not done yet!" Yang yelled angrily.

"No, this is different. He's gone. It- It's like he's locked himself deep inside my head. Our head?" Oscar grunts as he holds his head in pain "I hate this! I want it to stop!"

Slade placed his hand onto Oscar's shoulder "Breathe, kid. I know it hurts but you've got to breathe" he instructed, knowing all too well what that kind of pain felt like "If it helps, there's plenty of snow around for you to hit, it always helps me" he offered.

Oscar looked up at Slade as the pain subsided "Thanks... I think it's done for now" Slade smiled lightly and nodded, standing up straight he offered his hand to the boy. Oscar quickly accepted it, standing up straight with his help.

"He just left us?" Weiss asked.

"What are we gonna do now?" Blake asked unsure. Yang growls in anger.

"Enough! We need to get move on. It'll be dark before we know it, and every one of you is spewing negativity! There's a trail over there, trails usually lead somewhere" Maria lectured.

"Lady, I don't know who you think you are but-"

Maria slammed her cane into the ground "No buts! I understand that you're upset. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is humanity's second time around. But, if we don't move, we die. And I'll be damned if I've lived this long just to die out here in the cold!"

"She's right. Come on" Ruby agreed.

"Unless someone has any better ideas?" Slade asked looking to an angry Yang, she looks away in annoyance "Thought not"

Everyone grabs their belongings and whatever Dust they can carry with them. Maria sits on Bumblebee as Yang walks her bike. Ruby walks over to Oscar and hands over the handle of his cane. Slade used his Semblance to keep the bike steady without taking all the weight of Yang, knowing it would just upset her more.

Oscar accepted the cane from her "I'm just going to be another one of his lives, aren't I?

Ruby placed her hand over his "Of course not. You're your own person"

"Don't lie to him, Ruby" Qrow drinks from his flask "We're better than that" Ruby and Oscar look down sadly before walking to join the others.

"Qrow, that's enough" Slade glared back at him "We have enough negativity among us as it is without you adding to it"

"Why're you still even here?" Qrow asked angrily "You're only ever in it for the money anyway, you know Salem cannot be killed now. Why don't you just run off back to her and get all the money you-"

"Do you really think so little of me that you believe I would just abandon you all for money?" Slade asked.

"It's what you've been telling everyone since you started being a Bounty Hunter, why change now?" he asked getting in Slade's face.

"Qrow-" Yang tried.

"You know me better than that, Qrow. Yang knows me better than to believe that and she only met me a day beforehand. You've known me for years, you should know better... well... at least I thought you did" Slade turned away from him walking past the rest of the group.

Qrow looked away in shame, staring down at the snow below him "Slade-" he tried looking back up at him.

"C'mon" Slade motioned for the group to follow "There should be some farms not far from here. We can wait the storm out there"

"Storm?" Blake asked.

"He's right" Weiss sighed "If we don't move quick, we're gonna get stuck out here in a blizzard. We'll never get anywhere if we cant' see and freeze to death out here"

"Alright then" Yang sighed "Forward it is"

In the Land of Darkness, five Nevermores are perched on a rocky outcropping with large purple crystals. They fly away when an airship flies by them heading towards a large purple structure in the distance. The airship lowers down to an outcropping that serves as a dock, and Hazel, Mercury, and Emerald hop out. As they proceed forward, they notice Tyrian leaning against the entrance at the bottom of the stairs. His scorpion tail now has a spiked, metal tip covering it from where it was cut off.

Tyrian laughs "Welcome back, welcome back! I do hope you missed us as much as we missed you" Emerald and Mercury glare at Tyrian.

"Let's go" Hazel urged, the three proceed forward past Tyrian.

"Speaking of which, where is our Fall Maiden?" Tyrian asked. Emerald stops upon hearing this, prompting Tyrian to giggle, causing Emerald to growl.

"Emerald, come on" Mercury said turning back to her.

Tyrian adds in a mocking tone "Don't tell me something happened to her?" he laughs once again.

Emerald turns around and draws her weapons at Tyrian "I will cut off more than just your tail"

Tyrian chuckles as he slowly walks toward Emerald "Careful, little girl. Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore"

Tyrian gets close to Emerald's face, causing her to back away. Tyrian intentionally cuts his cheek with the blade of Emerald's weapon. Emerald has a disturbed expression on her face upon seeing this, and Mercury steps up to hold Emerald's shoulder and scare Tyrian away from her.

"Back off, freak" Mercury glared.

"Oh, don't misunderstand, I am in mourning just as you. Because it appears you've failed our Queen, and that is a tragedy" A moment later, Tyrian drops his sympathetic façade and starts to laugh maniacally. Mercury looks back at him in disgust while Emerald has a fearful expression on her face. The two of them and Hazel turn around to proceed up the stairs as Tyrian continues laughing.

In the meeting room, Salem opens her eyes and glares at her subordinates. Tyrian and Watts are seen fearfully sitting at the table while Hazel, Emerald and Mercury are kneeling at the other end of the room.

"I would like you to explain to me... how it is you failed so spectacularly?" Salem asked.

"The Faunus Militia split our forces-" Hazel began.

"Stop" Salem ordered. Hazel remains silent with a fearful expression on his face "Let me rephrase the question. who is responsible for your defeat?"

Emerald and Mercury stay kneeling as Hazel stands up to give his answer. Salem listens intently.

"I take full responsibility"

Suddenly, Salem flips the table over, knocking Tyrian off his chair. Watts hastily stands up from his seat and backs away.

Salem yelled angrily "But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?! We all know who's truly to blame" Salem walks forward and menacingly holds her hand out in front of her.

"I don't-" Hazel tried. Salem motions her hand, and a glyph with her symbol appears underneath Hazel. Multiple Geist hands come out from it and grab Hazel, forcing him down on all fours and suffocating him.

"Emerald" Salem called looking over to Emerald, who is still staring down with a fearful expression "I want you to tell me whose fault this was" Salem slowly walks over to Emerald as she breathes heavily "Now"

Emerald closed her eyes in fear "Cinder! We failed because of... Cinder" she answered quickly.

"That's right" she placed her hand on Emerald's shoulder "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself" Salem walks away from Emerald. Both her and Mercury look up in surprise.

"You mean-" Mercury starts.

"She's alive?" Emerald finished.

"You're joking, how could you know that?" Watts asked skeptically.

"Are you questioning our divine savior?!" Tyrian asked accusingly.

Watts reels back "I-" Salem looks over to Watts and glares at him. Watts chuckles nervously "Of course not, forgive me"

Salem proceeds to address her subordinates "It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence... but the moment you put your desires before my own... they will be lost to you" Salem releases Hazel from her grasp and walks back to the other side of the room. Hazel catches his breath.

"This isn't a threat, this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found... through me" she turns her head to glare back at them.

Hazel stands back up, Tyrian lets out a small chuckles, and Watts straigtens his coat. Salem looks outside the window and watches the Nevermores fly before looking down.

"And so we must press on" Salem turns around to face her subjects "The sword under Vacuo's academy, Shade-"

"Ma'am" interrupts, causing everyone to look at him "I have... more to report" Salem glares at Hazel for interrupting her, and has the Grimm arms ready under him. Hazel looks down at them in fear before explaining himself "Qrow and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas"

Tyrian laughs "Not if I can help it"

"Slade Stroud is now joined with them... and... they're being led... by Ozpin" Hazel finished.

At this, everyone slowly looks toward Salem with fearful expressions on their faces and Mercury notices the windows starting to crack.

"So soon?" Tyrian asked.

"He's the only man with a chance of getting through to Ironwood. If that happens-" Watts suddenly stops as he and everyone else notice the windows cracking. They then look to Salem, and dark smoke emanates from her.

"Leave" Salem ordered furiously.

"Your Grace, I can-" Salem glares at Tyrian, causing him to reel back. Emerald looks on in fear before Hazel puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on"

Everyone quickly proceeds to exit the room as the windows start to crack even more. Emerald takes one last look behind her as the doors close. Salem, left alone, seethes with anger before calming herself down. Everything is seemingly quiet, but then all of a sudden, Salem yells out in rage and the windows shatter violently. Salem began calming herself down "Okay, okay, okay, calm down. Everything is fine. All the pieces are in place, so I've had a minor setback with Haven, I'll just ensure we win at Atlas and Shade and there'll be no problem"

Salem's attention was suddenly attracted away from keeping herself calm by a soft clapping coming from behind her. Turning around she found Slade leaning against the nearby wall "Bravo, you really showed those windows who's in charge"

"I... am not... in the mood" she warned as the dark smoke begins to emanate from her again.

"My, don't we have a temper" he chuckled rising up from his place on the wall, passing her on the right "You know you'd probably have been better off not sending Cinder to recruit me again in Mistral. It showed me that you're not only desperate, but you're also going to force me into this one way or another... so I decided to choose a side for myself"

"Yet you chose the side without any clear profit, how exactly does that work for you?" she asked calming herself down slightly.

"I've been convinced to help out Ozpin with his mission to stop you once again. No amount of money matters when the world isn't around to spend it if you win"

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked confused.

"I've caught onto why you want the relics so badly" Slade smirked looking back toward her "Ozpin really has had his work cut out for him"

"Augh!" she growled enraged "He drives me crazy! I throw everything I've got at him, kill him several times, and he still-" Salem stopped upon seeing the relic of Knowledge on Slade's belt "What... is... that?" she asked seething.

"Oh, this?" Slade asked looking down at it "I've just been carrying this around for a bit, keeping it safe and all"

"Ozpin trusts you to hold onto the relic after all you've done?" she asked with a low growl.

"I suppose not everything you've told me is true, Salem. Funny that, Ozpin hasn't been lying to me at all recently"

"I've got less than seventy-two hours to get rid of those bozos you're traveling with, or the entire scheme I have been setting up for TWENTY YEARS... goes up in smoke..." she walked toward him menacingly "And you... are carrying... MY... RELIC!?" she screamed in his face, no more than a couple of inches as the Geist hands erupted from the symbol on the floor beneath him attempting to grab him. They soon found Slade wasn't present, having nothing to grab onto.

Slade smirked up at her "Forgetting something?" Slade asked placing his finger onto the side of his head, Salem figured out he was using their connection to make her see him when he wasn't really there.

"AAAUUUUGH!" she screeched in pure rage, everything in the room exploding outward, the walls cracking from the tremendous power she just expelled.

"You've really got to work on that rage" Slade chuckled "It's bad for your heart, and yours is already black enough as it is"

"You've had... six years... to use our... connection... and you choose... now... of all times... to use it!?" she asked enraged.

"You could always do what I do Salem, shut me out. Block the connection so you cannot see or hear me... you know you wouldn't have to go through my relentless taunting if you did"

"I have left my connection open to your for six years, so you knew I was never hiding anything from you. Not like Ozpin-"

"Don't you mean Ozma?" Slade asked with a smirk.

Salem's rage suddenly vanished, replaced by pure shock "He... told you?" she asked almost meekly.

"I know everything, Salem. I know about him rescuing you from your tyrant of a father, you both fell in love and then he died. You tried to convince the God of Light to resurrect him but he refused and then you tricked the God of Darkness to do it for you. Until the truth came out in which Ozma was taken away from you, and you were cursed to be immortal, nothing you tried, not even a dunk into the pools here in the Land of Darkness could destroy you. That's how you ended up with your skin, hair, and eyes all looking like that" Slade explained "The God of Light resurrected Ozma into a curse of reincarnation and he went to find you, once he did you both lived together once more and even went on to have four daughters... but Ozma knew what you were both doing, playing god... was wrong. He tried to leave you but you killed him instead, so now he's fighting against you with everything he has because he doesn't know how to kill you and doesn't want the Gods of Light and Darkness to end humanity because of your mistakes"

"I cannot believe he would trust you with all of that..." she dropped onto her knees in shock "He's never told anyone about his connection to me... I thought he was ashamed of me, disgusted even"

"He's disappointed in what you've become, Salem. But I know he doesn't hate you like you might think he does. I imagine he probably still loves you just as much as the day he died... but now it's either having you or doing what's right, and he chose what's right"

"You don't know what he chose-"

"I know he wasn't the one who decided you should rule over humanity, that was your decision and he fought you on it with everything he had, but he loved you and didn't want to have to choose"

"He abandoned me!"

"You had already forsaken yourself when he made his choice" Slade shook his head at her "I've made my own choice, it's time you thought on your actions and take responsibility for your mistakes just like everyone else does... if you don't, you may never get what you truly desire" Slade disappeared as he finished his statement.

Salem slammed her fists into the ground, cracking the flooring around her as she screamed in anguish, tears flowing from her eyes "Ozma... my love..." she sobbed.

Back in the snow, Team RWBY, Qrow, Slade, Oscar and Maria proceed on the trail. The snow starts to pick up even more.

"Doesn't look like this is gonna let up" Qrow pointed out with a sigh.

"Just wanna get this stupid Relic to Atlas" Blake groaned.

"Let's hope we don't have to walk all the way there" Weiss added.

"I thought trails led somewhere" Yang called back to Maria sarcastically.

"Do you have nothing better to do than to harass a defenseless old lady?" Maria asked.

"Enough" Slade called back in annoyance silencing the group "All paths have an end, just because you cannot see the end doesn't mean it's not there"

"Everyone, quiet. Do you hear that?" Ruby asked.

Everyone stops in their tracks. A metallic squeaking can be heard. A large farm can be seen, one of the front gates swings back and forth with the wind. A large sign above the entrance reads "Brunswick Farms". Everyone arrives at the gate.

"As I said, all paths have an end" Slade said looking up at the sign.

"Well, at least one good thing happened today" Blake offered hopefully.

"It looks abandoned" Weiss pointed out.

"It's still better than this" Ruby gestured to the snow around them.

"Come on, I think we could all use some rest" Qrow offered as they entered through the gate. Slade held his hand up, signaling for them to stop "Slade? You sense something?"

"No" Slade answered "I don't sense anything" he looked around, trying to find a trace of any life whatsoever.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Blake asked confused.

"Have you ever seen a place abandoned for no good reason? No red flags are raising for any of you?" Slade asked.

"Maybe the Grimm attacked it, or they decided to leave and go to Argus like we were" Yang offered.

"Can't be" Slade shook his head "Grimm would cause damage and leave a trace that they've been here. A mass exodus of a small town like this would've left something, anything to show they left in a hurry, or at all for that matter"

"What do you mean? How can you tell they haven't left?" Ruby asked.

"He's right" Maria pointed out "How many farmers do you know that would just leave their crops so easily. Anyone I've ever met worthy of the title wouldn't run at the first sign of trouble, Grimm are common out in the sticks like this"

"Not to mention I spot at least one hunting rifle just lying out in the open" Slade pointed to it sitting on the porch. Something's not right here"

"We need to get out of this storm, Slade. Freezing to death can't be better than whatever is inside" Qrow sighed walking past him.

"You're telling me nothing about this feels off to you?" Slade asked "You and I both know our Aura's should be able to sense a trace of something here like anywhere else... but I can't feel anything"

"We'll deal with anything that gets in our way" Qrow growled "Now, c'mon. We need to get some sleep" The rest of the group slowly began following behind Qrow, Slade rubbed his forehead with his thumb and index finger in annoyance.

"Fine. Don't come crying to me when we all end up dead" Slade sighed as he followed behind them.

That's all for now, next chapter will be coming soon. Thanks for reading!