Two weeks later..

Team CTNE had finally passed the Crucible against all odds. The ceremony was today. They were all thrilled to receive their weapons at last.

Ozpin stood at the front of an ancient room. This place had always been used for Crucible ceremony, in cases such as this.

Team CTNE stood at the center of the room, beaming with pride.

"Caught, step forth," Ozpin ordered. Caught stepped forth.

"From the forge your weapon awakes," Ozpin breathed.

"May my heart be tempered when my weapon's soul cascades forth into battle." Caught recited from memory.

And with no time wasted, Ozpin gently handed Caught an ebony and gold crossbow.

It continued like this. Tim received a silver dueling rapier that gleamed in the dim candlelight. Noah was given a blackened silver blade that looked beautiful and terrible to behold. And Evan was handed steel claws.

Once this happened, they were ordered to sit upon the four cushions at the back of the room and close their eyes.

They all closed their eyes in unison. As the scent of incense hit their noses, they were suddenly whisked away, into a place deep in their minds..

Caught awoke in what seemed like a void. He stood there in contemplation for a bit. Then he heard a very familiar voice from behind him.

"Hello again, Caught." a distorted version of his voice snarled.

Caught turned around and saw himself. A distinctly pale-skinned and void-eyed version of himself wearing the same dark sweatshirt he often wore. He recognized this figure from the television monitors at that abandoned Cranbrook apartment. That creepy grin it wore still haunted him to this day.

"You're one of those creepy Puppet clones of me." Caught commented. The Puppet nodded.

"I know where Natalie is.." it taunted, creepy grin still on display. Caught's expression shifted from one of mild annoyance to barely restrained fury. "DON'T YOU DARE HARM HER! I SAW THE AFTERMATH VIDEO! I KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO HER!" he roared, his voice darker than before.

Its grin changed to a smirk. "I'm not here for that. You'll be glad to know I have no intentions of harming Natalie." it informed.

Caught's face lightened up considerably. "Yet." it added, its voice now matching Caught's in creepiness.

Caught had to restrain himself from choking the pale bastard. He knew what he had to do. "What is your name?" he asked, turning his tone into a sharp blade to be pointed in the Puppet's direction.

The Puppet's smile grew wider. "Amnesiac." it replied.

Tim awoke in a dark wood. He sat in front of a roaring campfire. The night wrapped itself around him. Standing just across from him was.. him. His alternate self wore a Grimm mask and an Hunting outfit. His alternate self felt so familiar..

"Have we met before?" Tim asked. The figure's appearance shifted briefly to that of the Mask he used to wear, during the events of Marble Hornets. He recognized that black and white mask. Then the figure shifted back to its 'normal' appearance. Its speech flowed into Tim's head, and he was shocked at what it said.

give in. it thought.

embrace it. you've always been so strict, haven't you? you've always locked away your animal impulses. well, guess what? they're coming out now, and nothing can lock them away again. think of it as punishment. punishment for failing to save Jay, punishment for killing Alex, punishment for letting Brian die. this is going to be fun. seeing you try to fight it off, and failing badly enough that suddenly the thought of ripping your new 'friends' throats out becomes more and more appetizing by the minute? now THAT WILL BE FUN, WON'T IT? OH, NOW THAT WILL BE FUN. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"What is your name?" he asked as commanded by Ozpin, his voice full of fear.

Then it all stopped. The sound of crazed laughter stopped.

"Masquerade." his alternate self breathed.

Noah awoke in a black and white version of the Boardwalk. Firebrand stood in front of him, wearing a familiar but still really fucking creepy version of his smile. "Good to see you, Noah." Firebrand said.

"Let's get down to business. Yes, I know what you came here for, but goddamnit, I am not letting you go until I tell you some shit you have to watch out for in the future." Firebrand began. Noah mentally cursed. He wanted this to be easy and short.

"First of all, you've gotta watch out for the others. They're struggling with the same shit you are. Especially Evan. I mean.. fuck, I almost feel sorry for what's gonna happen to the little dorito." Firebrand mused.

Noah's eyes widened. "What happens to him?" Noah queried.

Firebrand shook his head. "Can't tell you much. All I can tell you is that he won't be dead by the end of it, but for a little while he'll wish he was." Firebrand replied.

"Secondly… HABIT's old friend is coming over to Beacon. You have to make sure he doesn't get to Evan. You have to. That's gonna be the only way you avoid this." Firebrand added.

"Finally, please can I have your permission to use your body in the future, just in case shit hits the fan?" he finished.

Noah looked agast. "Fuck no! You've already used it without having to ask me before, why're you doing it now?" Noah refused.

Firebrand shook his head. "I know you don't trust me. Fuck, considering some of my behavior, I wouldn't trust me either. But right now, I'm doing this as a safeguard against the horrible stuff I've seen for Evan. We'll have to team up, you and I. After all.. I am you, in the end. Whatever you feel, I feel. Including your never-ending affection for your friends. Just.. please. Do this, if not for you, then for Evan. For all your friends." Firebrand explained.

Noah nodded. "Fine." he agreed.

As Firebrand turned to walk away, he stopped mid-turn. "Almost forgot. Your weapon's name is Firebrand as well. Fate's a bitch, isn't it?" Firebrand finished.

Evan awoke on a familiar Bridge to Nowhere.

A figure looked down upon him.

HABIT. For some reason, HABIT still looked exactly the same as him.

"WELL, WELL, WELL. YOUR WEAPON'S NAME IS A GOOD ONE."

Evan held his breath in fear.

"MERCILESS." HABIT growled, a grin on his face.

Images flashed into Evan's head.

A tortured, broken man.

A bystander girl with blue hair.

And a name.

"Patrick Andersen."

Author's Note: :D

Remember to review the story, helps get the creative juices flowing!