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Fox walked out of the mine with the others, mind flashing back and forth between the thought of Wendigo coming back for him and her warning about who else would be coming after him. Fox knew he'd end up having to face all five. Probably soon. He could feel it, like a dark cloud on the horizon or like an icy hand squeezing his chest slowly, growing tighter with every breath he took, counting down the minutes until he could no longer take any.

"Are you afraid?" Blake asked.

"Terrified," Fox said. "I don't want you anywhere near any of them."

"That's too bad," Blake said. "Because I'm not letting you fight them alone."

"I know," Fox smiled. "You're the one person I can count on for literally anything, because you're the one person who will never leave me, even if I tell you to."

Blake smiled, slipping her hand into his. "Exactly."

Just as they reached the others, Ironwood took a call on his communicator.

"What!?" Ironwood growled. "Already?" he sighed heavily. "No, it's fine. Just let him land. I'll deal with him myself."

"More Mantle problems?" Qrow asked.

"Mantle problems?" Fox asked.

"Someone's been killing people who speak out against Ironwood," Jaune said. "Like that guy that got arrested with us."

Fox nodded.

"This one's an Atlas problem," Ironwood said.

A plane flew down to land in front of them, the Schnee Dust Company logo in several places on the ship. Fox growled, reaching into the backpack he'd brought with him and pulling out the helmet he'd kept since the train, the black one from one of the three suits of armor that had attacked him.

"What luck," Fox said. "I get to have a discussion with Weiss's father after all."

"So let me get this straight James," Mr. Schnee spat as he stormed off of his plane, "in addition to this nonsensical embargo of yours crippling my business, you've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property!?" He jabbed a finger in Ironwood's face, Ironwood standing tall and unfazed. "When the council hears about this, you will never-"

"Actually, I've already informed them," Ironwood interrupted. "As this is now the site of a classified military operation, it didn't even require a vote."

"Didn't require a vote!?" Mr. Schnee gaped.

"You might want to brush up on council law before you lose this upcoming election Jacques," Ironwood said. "Now, I've allowed you to land here once as a courtesy. The next time it won't be a friendly reception."

Jacques glared at him. "Lately you seem to forget who your friends really are. I'm going to get that council seat, and maybe then, you'll..." he stopped, staring at Weiss. "You." He glared at Ironwood as he walked past him. "You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours too!? How long has she been back in Atlas!? Did Winter know about this!?"

"It was my decision to come here, just like it was my decision to leave!" Weiss said firmly. "Or have you forgotten all about that?"

"If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, then you've misjudged the man your father is," Jacques said.

"Believe me, I know exactly the kind of man you are," Weiss said flatly.

"How dare you speak to me that way!?" Jacques spat. "I have half a mind to-"

"Half a mind to what, Jacques?" Fox asked, walking forward, tossing the helmet into the air and catching it with his right hand. "Half a mind to explain this?" he hurled the helmet into Jacques's gut, the man grunting, then holding the helmet up, fury blooming on his face.

"Where did you get this!?" Jacques demanded. "This is a priceless family heirloom!"

"Obviously it's not that priceless, since I got it after killing the Grimm possessing it when it attacked me and my friends," Fox said. "Immediately after Weiss informed me that your family had previously made a Grimm possessed suit of armor that you forced Weiss to fight. And that helmet was one of three that attacked me. Care to explain why?"

Jacques stared at Fox for a long while before inhaling slowly, straightening his suit jacket. "I have nothing to say to a filthy Faunus like you."

"You son of a bitch!" Fox spat. "You're creating Grimm and you have nothing to say for yourself!?"

"What proof do you have that I'm doing that?" Jacques asked. "Because the word of a filthy Faunus, as I'm sure even you must be able to comprehend, is not worth the dirt on my shoe."

Fox clenched his fists but said nothing. He couldn't speak. If he tried, it'd be a string of swears, and he'd likely attack the man as well.

"Your mother was devastated when you left," Jacques said, turning to Weiss. "You know how she gets when she's upset." he turned back to Ironwood. "I knew one day you would over-extend your reach. I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you for personally handing me the noose to hang you!"

Fox glanced at Weiss, seeing Blake holding her hand supportively, Weiss having taken the bit about her mother hard, apparently.

"You'll regret this," Jacques said arrogantly, then turned back to Weiss, only to stop, seeing Blake holding her hand and the rest of Team RWBY, along with Fox, standing in a line beside her. Fury blossomed in his face immediately, but he kept himself restrained. "So these are the little friends you threw everything away for."

"Not friends," Weiss said. "Family."

Jacques glared at him, then turned to walk back to his plane only to stop, seeing Fox leaning against it, a wide grin on his face and green spray paint covering the back doors of the jet. It spelled out the words, "Racist Grimm Lover" over the SDC logo.

"You filthy Faunus!" Jacques spat. "That is private property! I'll have you arrested for this!"

"For what?" Fox asked. "I didn't do anything. Did any of you see me do anything?"

"Nothing," Blake grinned.

"Nope," Yang smirked.

"Nada," Ruby agreed.

"Not a thing," Weiss smiled.

Jacques was fuming, but stormed onto his plane in silence and Fox walked over to the rest of them.

"Wait until he sees what I did to his spare suits," Fox smirked, holding up a black and red spray paint can as well.

"You work fast," Blake said.

"One of my lives was an artist," Fox shrugged.

Just then, a truck drove over as Jacques's plane flew away, Winter climbing out of it.

"Oh now you show up, Winter," Weiss smirked. "You just missed father."

"I wouldn't say I missed him," Winter said.

The moment she got done talking, Penny exploded into the ground in front of Team Ruby, throwing all four of them away as she shouted, "Surprise!" She had her hands over her head, the word Congratulations hovering above her in a green hologram. "Oh, did we not start yet?"

"Apparently, we haven't," Winter said.

"Start what?" Ruby asked.

"Come up to the coliseum," Ironwood said. "We have something for you all."

They all followed him up to Amity and stood in a line as instructed. Fox quickly figured out what was going on, especially when he saw Ava and Wolf waiting at the doorway behind Ironwood. He frowned slightly. They hadn't been on the mission, and he hadn't thought much about it. But now that they were standing over there when, if Fox was correct in his guess, he and the others were about to receive their huntsman licenses, he was a bit confused.

Sure enough, one fairly short ceremony later, they had all received their licenses and ironwood excused himself, telling them to enjoy their cake. Fox walked over to Ava and Wulfe immediately.

"You guys already got yours?" Fox asked.

"Yeah," Ava said as they both held up their scrolls, the holographic screens showing their licenses. "We got hem when we...well...transferred."

"Transferred?" Fox asked.

Wulfe sighed. "It's nothing personal. It's just...with your condition, you've basically become a part of Team RWBY. So...we decided to join Ironwood. You guys definitely don't need us, but Ironwood could use the extra help."

"We're still going to be your friends!" Ava said hurriedly. "We just-"

"It's alright," Fox smiled. "I understand. I wish you two luck."

"Thank you," Ava smiled. "I hope you find a cure for your condition soon. Before it gets any worse."

Fox nodded, glancing at Blake. "I'm not sure how long I have."

"Wait, you're getting worse?" Wulfe asked, startled.

Fox nodded. "Having an anchor...it helps. But it's not a permanent solution."

"Does she know?" Wulfe asked.

"Yeah," Fox said. "She's scared. We both are."

"You'll think of something," Ava said. "You always do."

Fox nodded. "I should get back before it starts to act up."

Ava and Wulfe nodded and both hugged him before turning and leaving. Fox sighed, walking back over to Blake, who gave him a questioning look.

"They've decided to work for Ironwood," Fox said.

"I'm sorry," Blake said.

"It's not your fault," Fox said. "Come on. Let's enjoy this cake before Nora enjoys it all for us."

Blake smiled and nodded, both moving to get a slice before she could steal the entire thing.

Fox sighed, bringing up the computer generated images of the Grimm Generals he had spent most of the night creating. Everyone stared.

"How do you know what they all look like?" Ironwood asked.

"From what I've seen, they all kept their appearance, except for adopting Grimm colors, so I more or less guessed for all but two," Fox said. "It should be close enough to figure out who's who, though."

They all nodded.

"This is Wendigo," Fox said, starting with her. "She used to be a Huntress who could turn herself into a shadow to move with stealth, avoid attacks, seemingly teleport, and a few other things. She's fast, strong, and a borderline genius tactician."

"She's the one from the mine," Clover said.

"Yes," Fox said. "She's also the second least dangerous physically."

"Which is least dangerous overall?" Qrow asked. "Let's work our way up that way."

"Alright," Fox nodded. "On a scale of overall danger, it will look something like this." He rearranged the Generals, each changing a shade from blue meaning least dangerous to red meaning most dangerous. "This one is powerful, fast, and annoying to try to hit since he had limited intangibility as a Semblance, but he's over all the least dangerous. His moniker was Moryo."

The Grimm was a bipedal one with its legs being jagged black spikes, then a bulky, muscled torso with white rib-like armor plating, a white plate over its head with its eyes glowing yellow, and white claws.

"Next is this one," Fox said, bringing up the same armored, sword-wielding Grimm that had interrupted the fight against Adam. "We called him Jug. Short for Juggernaut. His Semblance was super strength. Physically he's the second most deadly, but the other three have abilities that surpass his. After him is Wendigo. As I said before, she's a genius strategist, making her extremely dangerous. Then, there's the tie."

"The tie?" Ruby asked.

"These two are arguable for who's more dangerous and why," Fox said. "We'll start with this one."

He brought up the hologram of a Grimm with a scythe, a white skull with red cracks, and white bone plating forming the shape of a skeleton on the outside of his otherwise black body. His scythe blade was made up of segmented bone chunks with a jagged, saw-toothed edge inside, and the outer side also sharpened.

"Maria was the Grimm Reaper," Fox said. "This, is Death."

"Death is one of our enemies?" Maria asked. "We're finished."

"You know him?" Fox asked.

"He was the person that inspired me to use scythes," Maria said. "And use the name the Grimm Reaper."

"Who is Death?" Qrow asked.

"He's a true monster," Fox said. "Even before becoming a Grimm. His Semblance is in several parts. First is death precognition. He can sense someone's death before it happens, including his own, and therefore knows how to avoid it. Secondly, he has enhanced speed, reaction time, and agility."

"Aren't speed and agility the same thing?" Nora asked.

"Speed is moving from point A to point B," Fox said. "Agility is the ability to change directions quickly, whether to dodge an attack, throw your own, or run around obstacles. In his case, I only ever say him actually get hit by myself at full power, and then by Salem."

Nora nodded slowly, eyes widening a bit as that sunk in.

"The last part of his Semblance is the most dangerous," Fox said. "Any injury from his scythe, even a scratch, will kill you by severing your soul from your body. As such, his Semblance is known as Death Sentence."

"I think that would probably warrant him as the top spot," Qrow said.

"I'm of the mind that he's second most dangerous," Fox said, everyone staring at him. "The last General is name Nero Shade."

"Wait, the Nero Shade?" Maria asked. "The Moon Wraith!?"

"That's right," Fox nodded.

"Shit," Maria said. "I'll have to agree with your assessment then."

"Who's Nero Shade?" Jaune asked.

"He's a legend," Qrow said. "He's one of the ancestors of the founder of Shade Academy. His Moniker, the Moon Wraith, comes from the legend that his Semblance makes him an invincible force of pure destruction at night, under the light of the moon."

"The legend is wrong," Fox said, everyone staring at him. "His Semblance is easily the most dangerous that's ever existed, and it's one that he hated himself for every day."

"What was it?" Qrow asked.

"Firstly, he drew power from darkness, allowing for his invincibility at night legend, since it enhanced his abilities, speed, strength, agility, reflexes, even his actual Aura, to the point that he could even beat me. Death was the only one who could fight on level with him. But the other side of his Semblance was terrible. Nero was able to control the moon."

"The moon?" Weiss asked. "That's impossible."

"I wish it was," Fox said. "He could control it to change its phase at will."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Jaune said. "I mean, does it really matter what side of the moon is facing us?"

"Yes," Fox, Maria, Qrow, and Ironwood all said together.

"Why?" Yang asked.

"You all didn't get the chance to learn this at Beacon, for obvious reasons," Fox said. "But the Grimm grow stronger or weaker according to the phase the moon is in. A full moon is their weakest. A new moon they're exceptionally dangerous."

"The Eclipse is coming," Blake gasped. "Don't tell me..."

"That's right," Fox nodded. "During a Lunar eclipse, Grimm become powerful beyond imagination."

"How strong?" Ruby asked.

"A Beowulf would be comparable to a Beringel," Fox said, everyone staring at him. "So, with that in mind, something like a Grimm General, such as Death, under the effects of an Eclipse..."

"Would be capable of wiping out an entire army alone," Qrow said.

"No," Fox said. "Not an army. A nation."

"So...one of the generals is able to make all of the others essentially invincible?" Winter asked.

"Yes," Fox nodded. "And as a Grimm himself, he'll undoubtedly have no qualms with doing so."

"What do we do?" Ruby asked. "I've never even heard of a Lunar Eclipse."

"That's because the last time one happened was...three hundred years ago, I think," Fox said.

"That long?" Blake asked. "But, if that was when Nero Shade was alive, I assume, how did Death inspire you to be the Grimm Reaper?"

"Books and legends," Maria said.

"So...What do we do about them?" Ren asked.

"Prepare for a worst-case scenario," Fox said. "An all out war against the Grimm, with these five in the lead."

"We're not ready for a war," Ironwood said. "We're too divided."

"I know," Fox said. "And with these five in the lead of her army, if we send the world into the kind of chaos telling them about Salem will cause these five will probably be let loose and will slaughter everyone. I agree about creating a new communications tower, but we cannot tell the world about Salem until we're absolutely ready."

"I agree," Ironwood nodded. "This changes everything."

"You don't know the half of it," Fox snorted.

"What do you mean?" Ironwood asked.

"I fought Salem once, with these five helping me," Fox said. "We couldn't make a scratch on her. Even Death."

"I see," Ironwood nodded. "We'll think of something. For now, though, the tower needs to be our main priority."

Fox nodded. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to use the bathroom."

Everyone nodded and Fox left, Blake going with him to wait outside the bathroom, just in case he needed her.

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