I really want to apologize for this chapter. I've done so many edits and it till doesn't feel nearly as good as some of the others. (At least the battle scene.) Still, I have improved it a lot from its original state and I hope you enjoy regardless.

Also, I want to thank a reviewer for informing me of a misspelling and for telling me that Ozpin drinks Hot Chocolate. NOT Coffee. :) I will make sure Toby finds out this fact later on. Once again thank you.

Chapter Five

Teamwork

We sprint out of the forest and into what looks like a series of abandoned structures. The Nevermore fly's close above us before perching on a structure ahead of us. To avoid being seen, we all hide in different spots in the area, me being behind a collapsing wall next to Arnold.

"Well, that's great!", Yang say's in an annoyed tone.

We all look behind us and see the Death Stalker and Mother Widow charging at us from behind.

"RUN!" I scream, and we all sprint out from our hiding place. The Nevermore sees us and rises back up into the air.

I see the Nevermore shooting it's feathery projectiles at us and I draw and fire Ebony at it. The bullet's catch fire, but the Nevermore seems unfazed. "FLOCK OFF FEATHERFACE!" Despite the chaos, I think I hear Yang laugh. 'Oh good. Devil May Cry reference for the win.'

"Nora! Help him!" I hear Ren shout. I continue to fire at the Nevermore and soon I see several heart shaped projectiles hit and electrocute the giant bird. It squawks in pain and retreats.

'Well, that worked significantly better. Maybe I should have used Kira's sawed off form.'

"Thanks Nora!"

She gives me a wide grin and gives me a thumbs up. We are pulled out of the moment when the Death Stalker swipes at Nora. She is knocked into Ren who catches her and I am relieved they both seem fine.

Then I am suddenly tackled to the side by Blake. I'm confused until I see the Mother Widow stabbing where I had just been with its legs.

"You alright?", she asks.

I feel my face heat up and I feel my heart begin to beat faster. "Y-Yeah. Thanks." She nods with a "Hmm" and helps me up and soon we are all running again; the Deathstalker and Mother Widow hot on our tails.

"How ever are we going to get to Ozpin at this rate!?" Arnold shouts from my left side.

"Fuck if I know!" I respond.

Our retreat leads us to an ancient stone bridge and as we approach said bridge, I am suddenly struck with a sense of deja vu.

'Why does this look so familiar?'

"Go, go!" Pyrrha shouts to us as she switches Milo to what looks like a Rifle and begins to shoot at the two incoming Grimm behind us. Seeing this, Ren and I begin to fire at the monsters in an attempt to slow them down as our allies flee across the bridge. Soon, I hear the sound of an SMG going off to my left and turn my head to see, much to my surprise, a very faint looking Arnold.

'What the hell is he doing?!'

Before I am able to shout at Arnold to stop, we are all forced to retreat back further towards the bridge when the Deathstalker and Mother Widow get too close to comfort. In a last ditch effort I holster my pistols before unsheathing Kira and switching to it's sawed-off form.

"FUCK OFF!" I shout as I fire towards both Grimm.

The resulting explosion causes the Deathstalker to falter and I see the Mother Widow flee.

'At least that's one gone for now...'

Turning back to my allies, I run with Arnold towards the bridge.

And then I remember.

'The Nevermore!'

I put my hand out to prevent Arnold from crossing as I call out to my allies already on their way across the bridge as the Nevermore closes in on them.

"EVERYONE GET OFF THE BRIDGE!", I scream.

'How the fuck did I forget about the bridge?!'

My allies are unable to react in time before the Nevermore uses its giant wings to shatter the bridge right down the middle. I watch in horror as the destruction forces Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Nora and Jaune to the other side. I am at least relieved to see that Blake, Ren and Pyrrha using their weapons and abilities to work their way up and back to my side.

Unfortunately we still have a Deathstalker to deal with as well as a Nevermore circling overhead... and fuck knows where the Mother Widow is.

'This is bad...'

The Deathstalker charges at the five of us and we all react accordingly. Blake and Ren dive under the Scorpion slashing at its underside as Pyrrha switches Milo into a spear and tries to stab under it's armor.

Keeping one arm in front of Arnold, I fire Ivory at the Deathstalker's legs in hopes of freezing it to the ground as I back us away from the Grimm.

Suddenly Arnold shouts. "LOOK OUT!"

The next thing I know, a web is launched and sticks itself to my legs. Faster than I can react, I feel myself pulled to the ground and I scream as the Mother Widow drags me away from my allies. A familiar voice also screams to my left and I see Arnold in a familiar situation just like my own.

I hear my allies shouting, though am unable to make out their words due to my own and Arnold's screaming and I am pleasantly surprised to see bullets coming from their direction. It is useless however and soon Arnold and I are dragged back into the forest where the Relics once sat.

Trying to calm my fear, I unsheathe Kira and slash at the webs dragging me. Luckily, one slash is all that was needed and my legs are freed. Standing up, I see the Mother Widow is attempting to drag Arnold in further and I watch as he tries helplessly to slash at his webbing with his knives.

'Gotta hurry...'

Calming myself, I sprint towards my friend as fast as I can and when I finally catch up, we are at the very edge of the clearing. Slashing downward, I manage to free Arnold without much trouble.

The Mother Widow, seemingly none the wiser continues to flee into the forest.

"T-thank you... my friend." Arnold huffs out.

Breathing hard I offer him a hand up. "No... problem."

As I help Arnold up, I take note of his appearance. I see that his skin appears clammy and he seems to be sweating from over-exertion. He is bruised in several spots and I can see many cuts all over his body. The web dragging him really took a toll on him.

'The dumb-ass stunt he pulled earlier despite his low Aura probably didn't help matters.'

Feeling myself becoming angry, I am getting ready to scold Arnold when I am interrupted by a loud screech from the forest and I turn my head back in alarm.

'Looks like she just figured out she lost her passengers...'

Turning back to look at Arnold, I can see him staring into the forest in fear as he grips his knives so hard that his knuckles become white.

'Those knives aren't gonna help him much here... and I can't send him back to our friends without slowing them down...'

Momentarily sheathing Kira; I draw Ebony and Ivory and hold them up to Arnold, who is still staring into the forest.

"Put away your knives." I command.

Arnold looks to me in surprise before he sees my guns. Nodding in understanding, he sheathes his knives before grabbing my pistols. Grabbing what little pistol ammo I have remaining, I shove them in Arnold's arms as he tries to not drop everything I just gave him.

"Get further back in the clearing." I command. "Don't shoot unless she or another Grimm gets close."

Arnold gives me a worrying look. "What are you going to do?"

'Don't ask me smart questions right now...'

I give Arnold what I hope is a reassuring smile and unsheathe Kira before shifting it to sawed-off. "I'm gonna try to blow up a fucker." Switching my face back to serious, I point back into the clearing. "Now go!"

Nodding in response, Arnold runs back with my guns in tow. Turning back to the forest, I take several steps back as I hear the sounds of the Mother Widow's many legs stomping their way towards me.

Feeling a fear rising inside me I try to keep my breathing steady as I pray to whatever will listen.

'Hey god, or writer or whatever is listening... I'm in a lot of trouble right now and I don't know how I'm gonna get out of it. I need some help here...'

Taking one final calming breath, I glare as the form of the Mother Widow emerges from the forest.

'I don't know why I'm here. I don't even know where I'm getting the courage to stand up to Grimm when, logically, I should be running in fear. I don't even know why I can fight as well as I can...'

Pointing Kira at my foe, I prepare to pull the trigger.

'But I am NOT gonna die here without a fight. Not when there's so much I need to do. Not when I have a friend I need to save.'

Wordlessly, I fire Kira at the charging Widow who screeches as yet even more bone armor is blown off her body. Reloading quickly, I walk backwards as I fire again. The Mother Widow screeches as she tries to flee but I am able to reload and fire again.

By now, the Mother Widow is almost completely devoid of armor; what little armor remaining only covering very small areas.

I move to grab more ammo and am horrified to discover that I'm out of ammo. Most of it used by Arnold and I on our Ice sliding adventure from earlier.

'Well fuck me running...'

Switching Kira back into a short sword; I grip it tightly in my right hand as I back away from the Mother Widow, who is currently shaking it's body in an attempt to get it's bearings. Very soon however, she stops shaking and turns to me and no doubt notices that I'm no longer holding the thing that makes things go boom. With another shriek, she charges straight for me.

Jumping out of the way, I try to slash at a passing leg and miss completely as well as fall to the ground. Getting up, I see that the Widow is continuing her charge towards Arnold who manages to not only jump out of the way, but also burn and freeze several parts of her with my guns and I hear her squeal in pain.

'Maybe we can actually do this...'

Sprinting to my friend, I see that one of the Mother Willows legs is frozen to the ground and am then struck with an idea as she struggles.

"Hey..." I say tiredly as I approach. "If I can keep her in one place long enough... will you be able to freeze her to the ground?"

Arnold gives me a tired look. "I can certainly try... but you will have to be quick. The ice will not hold for long."

Nodding, I turn to leave before I am stopped by Arnold who shoves Ebony into my free hand.

"You are going to need more than a blade."

'Yeah, this is a bad idea...'

Nodding to my friend for what is probably the last time, I sprint right in front of the Widow who is still trying to get free.

"HEY BITCH! OVER HERE!"

At the sound of my voice, the Widow stops trying to get free and immediately stabs towards me with a free leg. Moving out of the way, I fire Ebony into her eyes before dodging another leg. Once again, my world becomes filled with spider legs and fangs as I duck and weave while slashing and shooting. I hear Arnold firing only when I think that he's sure he'll make the shot and almost every shot freezes a leg in place.

"NOW!" Arnold screams after a final shot and I am pleased to see the Widow's many legs frozen to the ground.

However, in one last act of defiance, the Widow manages to maneuver what I think is it's abdomen and fire a web directly onto my chest.

'Fuck...'

Immediately, I am pulled toward the Widow who opens her fangs with glee and I hear Arnold shooting at her in vain.

Despite my fear... I feel something click as images of all my friends appears in my mind as if my short life on Remnant was flashing before my eyes. Then a deep voice speaks in my mind.

'Are you going to let yourself die here? After everything she did for you?'

'The fuck? Who's she?'

Despite my confusion, something else shifts in my subconscious and I feel my Aura draining as the world slows around me.

'I shall accelerate your growth one last time human. Behold, your Semblance! Use it to destroy all who dare oppose you! Now... finish it!

Focusing my attention once again on the Mother Widow, I stab Kira into the Widows mouth with as much force as I can muster; and as I hear the Mother begin to screech, I point Ebony directly at the Widows many eyes and I fire.

I fire until I have no more bullets.

I hear the voice laughing with glee as my Aura drains to almost nothing and the world returns to normal. The forward momentum continues and I find myself painfully colliding with the face of the blinded and dying Widow. Her piercing screeches assault my ears as I lie upon her bleeding head, unable to move.

'Whatever the fuck that was... just drained the shit out of me...'

Suddenly, I am dragged off the Widow by someone and I am happy to see Arnold as he cuts me free of the web, helps me stand and moves me away from the screeching monstrosity.

Once we are at a safe distance, Arnold and I watch wordlessly as the final screams of the Widow become gurgles and her body finally falls to the ground dead.

'Nowhere near as flashy or as competent as team RWBY or JNPR but I'll take it.'

"Are you alright my friend?"

'My body is sore, I'm tired, I'm covered in Widow blood, I've got a voice in my head that pretty much screams 'crazy' and I somehow managed to slow time for about 5 seconds at the cost of most of my aura.'

"Just peachy." I say with a grimace. "Can we go get my weapons and get the hell out of here before the deity that hates me finally succeeds in fucking killing me today?"

Arnold laughs before giving me a tired smile. "Indeed." Arnold hands me Ivory. "Let us retrieve your things then meet up with our allies."

'A bunch of people who can kick more ass than me is certainly sounding good right now. Hopefully they'll be willing to give me a short break. Surely Ruby's decapitated the Nevermore by now?'

Taking a step towards the dead Grimm, I suddenly feel my legs saying 'no' and I painfully fall on my face.

"Shit!... Okay, I'm not peachy... My legs just said 'fuck no'..."

I hear Arnold laughing before he kneels down to my side. "Very well. You may rest and I will retrieve your weapons."

"That would be nice..." I say tiredly.

Arnold stands back up and I hear him walk away and I feel my eyes growing heavy.

'God am I tired...'

…

'Am I really cut out for this?'

Forcing myself to stay awake, I push myself over on my back to stare at the clear blue sky. It is strangely peaceful... almost like there are no Grimm. No Salem...

Just a beautiful clear blue sky...

Feeling myself smile I stared wordlessly into the sky and just reveled in the fact that I was alive.

Despite everything that happened today, I was alive.

Hearing footsteps approaching, I look to see Arnold who gently places my sword and pistol next to Ivory; which I guess I dropped when I fell on my face. Afterwords, Arnold moves to my left before sitting down on the forest floor.

Looking back into the sky, I let my smile grow. "We did it..."

"That we did..."

Raising my left fist, I hold it until I feel Arnold give me a fist bump and I allow my arm to fall. We sit in comfortable silence as we allow ourselves to finally rest.

'We fucking did it...'

LINEBREAK

"Our allies are coming, they sound distressed" Arnold says as he begins to stand.

'I don't hear shit... Damn faunus hearing.'

"No shit, the last time they saw us we were being dragged by an oversized spider." I feel myself grimace. "They're probably worried sick."

'And because I recognize a misunderstanding cliché when I see one...'

"Hey, can you tell them I'm fine and that the blood covering my entire body is not in fact mine? I'd rather not worry Ruby and Yang more than I already have."

Arnold gives me an understanding smile before heading back in the direction of the collapsed bridge. Forcing myself to sit up, I grab Ivory and, after checking for ammo, begin to watch the forest around me.

'Just because that thing is dead doesn't mean the Grimm are all gone.'

Once again fighting off my fatigue I remain vigilant until I finally hear the voices of my friends. They seem anxious though not panicky; so thankfully I guess that means Arnold explained the situation.

As my friends voices enter the clearing I turn my head and feel myself relax at their very presence. Unlike Arnold and I, they all look relatively clean and unharmed. Raising my free hand into the air, I call out to my allies.

"Hey guys! How ya doing?"

Everyone but Arnold looks at me in surprise as I smile tiredly. I am soon painfully knocked over however, by a very concerned looking Ruby as rose petals fall around us.

'Does she really need to use her Semblance? Fuckin hell...'

Ruby gives me a hug while she talks quickly. 'Areyoualright?WesawyougetdraggedawaybytheWidowandwecouldn'thelpandthenweweredestractedandthenwe-

'Fuck I'm not even gonna try to understand any of that.'

Giving Ruby a reassuring pat on the back I interrupt her. "I'm fine Little Red, just a bit tired." Letting go, Ruby looks at me with a relieved look on her face. Unfortunately it looks like I got some Grimm blood on her clothes. "And it looks like I'm in extreme need for a shower, sorry Ruby."

Ruby shakes her head furiously before giving me a kind smile. "It's fine!"

"Nora get down from there!" says a very exasperated Ren.

Turning my head, I see Nora standing at the top of the dead Mother Widow. Standing upon it heroically with a mock look of seriousness as if she herself had killed it.

"Very impressive." Says Pyrrha with a smile as she looks between Arnold and I. "Defeating a Widow is not an easy feat."

Arnold looks he could die right now and not care one bit. Inwardly I feel about the same. Giving Pyrrha a friendly smile I jab a finger towards the dead Grimm.

"It really wasn't, though I wish it had been a little easier." I glare down at my messy clothes as I continue. "Fuck, I'm gonna have to find a washer for all this."

"It... It is dead right?" asks Jaune who is staring at the Widow like a deer in headlights.

"We froze it's legs to the ground, shoved a sword down it's throat and then riddled it's eyes with bullets. It fucking better be dead." I said with a grimace.

'Writer I swear to god if that thing is somehow not dead I will find a way to kick your ass.'

"That seems... excessive." Weiss says as she gives me a curious look.

I shrug my shoulder. "It wouldn't fucking die. I'd rather it be overkill than still trying to kill us."

"Nora come on."

"No! This is mine now! I am it's queen!"

Turning my head to the commotion, I begin to laugh as I see Ren and Arnold struggling to pull Nora off oh the dead Widows head. Nora is not moving at all, so essentially Ren and Arnold look ridiculous.

"You guys do know that the Widows fangs are still poisonous right." Blake says while staring at the three like they're idiots. Arnold immediately yelps and lets go. Unfortunately since he was pulling on Nora, he falls off the spider with an 'oomph'.

Before I'm able to laugh, I'm suddenly pulled into an uncomfortable headlock by Yang, who has somehow managed to approach without my knowing.

"I guess I worried for nothing!" she says with a wide smile.

"Yang, could you let me go? I'm still really sore here."

Yang's face becomes for several seconds before she smiles widely. "Nope!"

"Yaaaanngggg..." I hear Ruby whine.

"Not to break up the childish behavior, but shouldn't we be getting back to Ozpin?" I hear Weiss ask. She sounds irritable.

'Oh no, the Weiss bomb! Everyone hit the deck!'

Yang seems to have a realization and shouts "Oh yeah!" before letting me go and dropping me headfirst into the ground.

"Ow..." Turning to glare at Yang, she at least to her credit gives me a sheepish smile. Standing up and mentally cheering that my legs seem to be able to support me just fine now, I nod at Weiss.

"Yeah, I'd rather not stay in a forest full of Grimm any longer then I have to. Plus, I really want to get off all this blood."

Finally Nora jumps off the spider, causing Ren to fall to the ground as well, and points towards the forest. "To the cliffs my subjects!" she calls before she begins to skip to the forest.

'How does Ren have enough stamina to deal with her?'

LINEBREAK

Finally the day was over and I was standing with my friends in Beacon's auditorium. Ozpin had once again helped me and gave me directions to Beacon's really large Laundry Room. So currently as my clothes washed, I was dressed in Beacon's uniform. Not exactly comfortable, but it was clean.

I watch Ozpin as he announces each new team, we only go through several I don't recognize until Ozpin's announcements goes into familiar territory for me.

"Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark." I see the images of the four named students appear on the auditoriums screen and clap politely along with the cheering crowd. "The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester!"

The Audience continues to cheer as I watch the future team JNPR faces appear on screen. I smile happily as I watch them walk on stage.

"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."

I clap happily with the audience and I laugh as I watch Nora hugs Ren.

'I ship it.'

"Led by... Jaune Arc!"

The audience and I continue to cheer, though I know exactly what is being said on stage.

"Huh? L-Led by...?"

"Congratulations, young man."

I watch Pyrrha smile as she give Jaune a friendly shoulder bump, but laugh as I see him knocked over before landing on his ass.

Next, I see Team RWBY's faces appear on the screen and my smile doesn't falter a bit.

Blake Belladonna. Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby Rose!"

Weiss looks towards Ruby in surprise as Yang goes over to hug her sister. As the audience and I clap, I stare at Weiss and feel myself frown.

'Despite everything else, I guess she's still gonna be pissed that she's not the team leader.'

As Team RWBY leaves the stage. The audience finishes clapping as Ozpin clears his throat.

"Normally that would be our final team of the night. However, there have been two last minute entries to our prestigious Academy. Because of that, there are now two students with no team. However, sending them away would be a waste of potential.

I curiously watch as my face as well as Arnold appears on screen. Looking at Arnold in confusion, he gives me a confident smile before heading to the stage and I follow him despite my confusion.

'What does he know that I don't?'

Arriving on stage, Arnold and I stand in our spots as we look at Ozpin.

"In response to the increase in potential students, I placed only two of a certain piece. Arnold Campbell. Toby Lawliet. The two of you retrieved the white pawn pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as equal members of Team AT. Lead each other to victory and help each other as a true leader would."

The audience cheers and I smile as I hear Yang giving a wolf-whistle. Turning to my new partner, we give each other a fist bump as we smile as wide as possible.

'A two man team with no leader huh? Well... I guess I did say not to break up the canon teams.'

As the audience cheers. I see Ozpin looking at all the newly formed teams before speaking to himself.

"It looks like things are shaping up to be an... interesting year."

'You've got that right Ozpin. Let's just hope I can make it less of a shit-show this time around.'

LINEBREAK

After the ceremony, the teams all headed to the Cafeteria for dinner. Shortly upon arriving and getting my food, Ruby grabbed Arnold and I before rushing us over to the same table that I was expecting. The table for Teams RWBY and JNPR.

And now the Table for Team AT as well.

This was really happening.

Sitting between the two teams. I see Arnold sit across from me.

'Did they leave a spot for us?'

"So how does it feel to be the only two-man team in Beacon's history?" Pyrrha asks with a smile.

Arnold who has already shoved something steak- like in his mouth, gives Pyrrha a very happy thumbs up. Laughing quickly, I look back at Pyrrha.

"Well, I imagine the lack of two member's means we're gonna have to work harder but... I'm happy with the way things turned out. Nothing like a giant spider trying to kill you to help you bond you know"

Pyrrha gives me a friendly smile. "I'd imagine so."

'Oh yeah, I haven't really introduced myself to three fourths of Team JNPR yet.'

"My name is Toby Lawliet. What's yours?"

Pyrrha seems surprised and I hear Arnold speaking through his food.

"Hwe hash hamnesia."

I grab my spoon a lightly bop Arnold on the head. "Dude, it's rude to talk with your mouth full."

Arnold gives me an apologetic smile before swallowing his food and speaking more clearly. "He has amnesia. He said his memory only goes back... two weeks?"

Forcing myself to look down I try to sound bitter. "Yep that sounds about right."

Pyrrha gives me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, I can't imagine what that feels like. My name is Pyrrha Nikos."

'God I hate lying.'

Making myself smile. "Well, so far it hasn't been so bad. I'm making a life here, just in case there's nothing to find." Looking towards Ren and Nora I give a friendly smile. "And to finish introductions... I'm still Toby Lawliet. Can I know you guy's names?"

Ren smiles and bows his head slightly. "My name is Ren."

"NORA!" No points if you guess who said that.

Smiling, I point to Arnold... Who is currently got the other half of his steak in his mouth. I sigh to myself before speaking to the whole table.

"The guy with no table manners is Arnold. I promise his manners are usually much better."

"I don't think he's the only one with bad table manners." Blake sounds annoyed.

Turning my head, I can see Yang demolishing a steak in much of the same way while Ruby shovel's various foods and cookie's down her throat.

'Well... alright then.'

"Behave you two!" Weiss barks at her teammates with a scowl on her face.

"I'm shorry!" Ruby says with a mouthful of food. Yang just smiles at Weiss before continuing to murder her steak.

Sighing at the sight, I pick up and apple from my plate and take a bite.

'… How is that so fresh?'

I don't know why, but this apple tastes better than any I ever had on Earth. Staring at the apple in wonder, I saver every single bite as I enjoy an evening with my new friends.

END OF CHAPTER FIVE