DENO

by JediPrime

Beacon Academy one of four institutions charged with the task of training the next generation of Huntsman to defend the four kingdoms from the creatures of Grimm but when a strange new threat appears will their latest class be enough or will a simple soul alone not be enough and require the aid of one more uniquely suited to face this threat. From start to finish their at a CLIMAX!

9. Players and Pieces

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Kamen Rider or RWBY. Kamen Rider is owned by Toei and Ishinomori Productions. RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum (RIP)

---

Ruby and Weiss were lost in the forest and the heiress wouldn't stop switching between which direction they were supposed to go and started complaining about her not doing anything to help. Then Ruby recommended climbing up a tree on the off chance they might be able to see the temple though Weiss didn't exactly jump at the idea the lack of a better idea made her reluctantly agree though she kept complaining about as they went, shocker. And so they climbed the tallest tree they could find Ruby using Crescent Rose's recoil and Weiss using her Glyphs when they reached highest branches that could support them they looked over the forest and saw...trees.

"Well that was huge waste of time" Weiss complained.

Ruby glared at her partner her patience at its limit "Well its better then going back and forward saying 'its this way. Not its THIS way."

"We might have found the temple by now if your weren't such a dolt!"

"Hey at least I'm trying to figure a way to the temple" she held her chin in thought "Maybe if we got higher..."

"Oh and how to your purpose we do that?!"

"What's your problem with me?!"

"My problem is that we have seen no sign of our destination and I sincerely doubt there's enough relics for all the initiates!"

"How is that my fault!"

"I'm just saying maybe I would have found it by now if I wasn't stuck with a useless girl who snuck her way into this school-"

"I didn't sneak in!" Ruby had had enough "I was moved ahead a few years!"

Weiss blinked in surprise but it quickly faded "Well so far I've seen no sign that your ready for this!"

Ruby stomped her foot "Well at least I can take care of myself out here!"

"And what is that supposed to meaaaaaaaaaaaan?!" Weiss took a step forward and slipped loosing her balance and fell of the branch after grabbing Ruby's cloak in a vain attempt to stop her fall but only managed to drag the red Scythe wielder along with her. They crashed through several branches before Ruby grabbed Weiss' hand and brought out Crescent Rose and stabbed its blade into the trunk of the tree slowing the pair's descent until they came to a complete stop.

"Phew" Ruby looked down at her partner "You okay?"

"OF COURSE I'M OKAY!" Weiss snapped back "I don't need your help!"

"Oh so I shouldn't have stopped you from falling to the ground" Ruby replied.

"Well I..." Weiss paused and took a calming breath "Just...just put me down."

Ruby looked below Weiss and her eyes widened "Uh...you might want to rethink that."

"Huh?" Weiss looked up at the cloaked girl then looked beneath her and reacted similar.

Right beneath them was a giant Nevermore. The beast was perched on a boulder beneath them with its head tucked beneath its wing showing it was asleep but the odd twitch on occasion showed it was getting restless most likely from the gunfire and their yelling thankfully it seemed to be in a very deep sleep if it hadn't awoken already.

Weiss gulped at the size of the avian Grimm and whispered "R-Ruby...pull us up" The hooded girl didn't reply. Weiss guessed the girl hadn't heard her and looked up at her and spoke slightly louder "Did you hear me?! I said pull us up." But the scythe wielder stared down at the slumbering monster eyes narrowed, Weiss could almost see the gears turning in her head which did nothing to put her at ease "Ruby?"

The younger girl gave no sign that she heard her gazed focused on the Nevermore "Hmm. Maybe..."

"Ruby!"

Silver eyes looked from the Nevermore to the dangling icy girl "Get ready."

"Ready? Ready for WHAT?!" Weiss was no longer whispering.

"You'll see soon" Ruby replied with a smirk that made the fencer somehow even more concerned.

Weiss' stare turned puzzled as she look at the speedy girl then down at the Nevermore. The heiress' eyes widen further as she realized what the girl had in mind and she looked back up "You can NOT be serious!"

Ruby just rolled her eyes "Relax."

"Relax?!" Weiss demanded "This is a terrible idea!"

"On three. One."

"Did you hear what I said?!"

"Two."

"Ruby!"

"Three!"

Ruby unfolded the blade of her scythe and it slide out of the tree trunk sending falling towards the slumbering monster.

"RUUUUUUUUUUUUUBEEEEEEEEE-OUPH!"

The two landed on its back causing the Nevermore to wake up with a loud caw. Its four eyes wide with shock as it looked round for what disturbed it. It soon looked behind itself and saw the pair, Ruby holding Crescent Rose defensively and Weiss picking herself off the ground. The Grimm's four eyes narrowed and it screeched in anger of having been woken up.

"When I say jump jump" Ruby muttered to Weiss as she just stood up.

"What?!"

"Just do it!"

The Grimm jumped from its perch down to the girls and tried to crush them with its beak.

"Get closer!" Ruby rolled out of the way with Weiss just behind her and when then when they were standing she shouted "Jump!" She jumped on the Nevermore and grabbed onto its feathers Weiss following soon after then blinked realizing she did so. The Nevermore screeched and shook itself to try and throw them off but the girls held firm. "Hold on!" The Nevermore then flapped its mighty wings and took off with the girls still holding on.

Soon they were flying over the forest with the wind roaring in their ears and thy clung for dear life. It was more difficult then Ruby expected but somehow they managed to stay on. At least if there was one positive to this it was that Weiss had FINALLY stopped talking.

"RUBY!" scratch that. Ruby turned her head to look at her partner who was somewhere behind her "I told you this was a terrible idea!"

"We're fine!" Ruby called back "Stop worrying!"

"Oh I am SO beyond worrying!"

The little red reaper blinked "In a good way?!"

"IN A BAD WAY!" The white haired girl shouted back "In a VERY bad way!"

Ruby rolled her eyes and looked a head and saw a small ruined structure, "That's got to be the temple" she thought with a smile the called back to Weiss "Well why don't we just jump!"

"What are you insane?!" but Ruby had already jumped before she had even finished asking "Oh you insufferable little red..."

---

"Blake did you hear that?" Yang asked as she waved her hand in front of her partner's face to try and get her attention "What do you think we should..."

She stopped herself with a blink. She could have sworn she just saw Blake's bow...twitch. The brawler stared at the accessory unsure if just saw that then snapped out of her second long trance when Blake pointed upwards Yang looked up and saw...Ruby falling from the sky.

"HEADS UUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!"

Suddenly a familiar looking blur flew into the girl and they both went flying into another familiar blur, a red one, and crashed into a nearby tree. Ruby sat up her head rolling in a daze while corgis and stars danced through her mind.

"Urrgh what happened" the dazed girl asked.

"Ahem" Ruby shook her head snapping back to reality and saw Jaune hanging upside down from the branch right above her "Hey Ruby, Momotaros."

Rub quirked up a brow when he mentioned the red swordsman then heard a pained groan behind her.

"Ow" Momotaros was on his side with Ruby sitting up against his back as he hung from the tree "My back."

Meanwhile back on the ground Blake and Yang were making sure they just saw what they saw.

"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake asked then looked upwards.

Yang trying to comprehend what just happened simply said "I..."

Growl coming from the tree line across from them caught their attention. They saw a few trees fall over as an Ursa stomped out into the open on its hind legs. But something was odd it swung its body around like it was trying to shake something off its back then there was a sound like thunder and what looked like a flash of what looked like lightning. The Grimm then fell on the ground dead with the sound of someone yelling "YEEEEEHHAAAW!"

A familiar orange haired girl rolled of the dead Ursa then stood up with a disappointed look on her face "Aw" She turned back to her steed "Its broken" She then zipped onto the Grimm's back as it started to decay and let out a fascinated "Eeeeew."

A familiar boy in green then emerged from the trees and rested a hand on one of the beast's bony growths as he bent of to try and catch his breath "Nora! Please...don't ever do that again" But when he looked back to his partner she had vanished causing him to look around in desperation before she got herself in even more trouble.

His gaze then rested on Blake and Yang or more specifically the temple behind them. The girls looked back at the ruins and did a double take then they saw the overly energetic girl admiring a gold coloured rook. "Ooooh!" She then snatched up the rook and proceeded to strike various poses first with her hands beneath her chin while the relic was balanced on the heel of her boot then with her arms out stretched while it was balanced on her head all while singing "~I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!~"

"NORA!" A very rare frustrated shout from Ren snapped her out of her little victory party.

"Hehehe" Nora then stood at attention in a salute then tilted her head causing the rook to drop into her unoccupied left hand "Coming Ren."

Blake folded her arms and asked "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?"

"I..."

At the sound of gunfire the duo's heads whipped round to their right just in time to see a gold blur fly out of the forest and land right behind them. Said blur was none other then a familiar axe wielding Faunus who was currently laying on his back snoring.

"Did that guy just fall asleep before he landed?"

"Um..."

Several more shots were fired and a Kaliger jumped out of the trees and snarled at something back in the trees. Said something soon rolled out into the clearing revealing it to be an another familiar face, a head phone wearing boy in purple with a long dyed ponytail carrying an oversized gun. He was in a crouch with his weapon aimed at the snarling Grimm then two more jumped out from the bushes. Ryutaros looked at them from the corner of his eyes and smirked the first Kaliger swiped a paw at him but he jumped up in the air over the Grimm and when he was behind it ,upside down, he fired at the beast's back sending it flying towards the other two Kaligers. But the two creatures jumped out the way and ran round to pin him from both sides. The kid landed on his hands and just as the monsters were about to pounce on him he pushed himself up from the ground, kicked his legs out and spun around striking the Kaligers on their cheeks. He landed on his feet then waked the one on the right using his gun like and club then sun around and kicked the other on the chin.

The first Kaliger then ran over and let out a roar. Ryutaros chuckled and pointed the Ryurevolver II down the monster's throat and fired. This caused the monster's stomach to inflate like a balloon and several points around its body burst open and it laid on the ground like a deflated balloon. The other two Grimm shook their heads to snap out of their daze. The kid smirked then opened up the canister of his gun and let the last green Dust round drop out, a waste of a good round that still could be used but he didn't care, he pulled out four red Dust rounds then quickly inserted them into his gun. The Kaliger on his left pounced but Ryutaros twirled out the way the fired at the Grimm striking it on right hind thigh it then snapped its head round to the boy and snarled then ran back at the boy and roared. Ryutaros just fired his weapon again sending a fire ball right down its throat. The Kaliger shook its head before coming to a stop in front of the boy and fell on its side dead.

The last Kaliger stood up on its hindlegs and tried to swat the boy with its paw but Ryutaros just ducked beneath the swing then jumped out of the way other another swing. The beast gave an annoyed snarl then tried again to kill the pest with its claws but again he dodged out the way somehow his head phones turned off allowing the others to hear his music. The Kaliger sent swipe after swipe with its blade like claws but Ryutaros kept ducking, sidestepping, and twirling to avoid the attacks.

Then as the creature went in for its eighth attempt the young gunmen went "Bored now" He pointed the gun into the mouth of the beast and fired causing the Grimm to meet the same face as its comrades and it soon fell on its left dead Just in time for the song to come to an end and he lifted up his gun as she struck a pose with a smirk "Heh."

(Get down!)

The girls stared at the kid in shock then Blake asked "Did...that kid just beat three Kaligers...by dancing?"

"Umm..."

"Hey!" Ryutaros shouted when he noticed them then ran up and pointed at Blake "Your the bow girl. I was looking for you."

The girls exchanged a raised brow then Yang asked "You were?"

"Yeah! I saw her land!" He looked back to the black haired girl "The way you landed on your feet was so COOL! Its almost like you were cat!" Yang noticed the black haired girl tensed at the boys words "Can you teach how to do that?"

Blake blinked at the boy "Umm..."

"Please!" He placed the Ryurevolver II on his back and put his hands together like he was praying "Please! Please! Pleeeaaaase Onee-chan!"

"What did...?"

"Urgh" They looked over to the gold clad Faunus as he sat up and shook his head "What's going on?"

"Oh hey Kuma" He waved at his partner then skipped up to him "Why are you on the ground?"

"I'm on the ground" Kintaros stood up and folded his arms "Because you sent me flying."

The girls heads went from Kintaros to Ryutaros "No I didn't."

"Yes...you did" Back to Kintaros.

"When?" Back to Ryutaros.

"Back in with the Kaligers" Kintaros "You shot me in the back with a round of green dust. I was sent flying over the Grimm."

"Hey! Your the one who jumped in front of my shot!"

"And how was I supposed to know you were about to fire?"

The gunmen pointed at his eyes "That what these are for Kuma-chan."

Kintaros just placed his hand on his forehead and shook his head knowing this argument was pointless.

Blake and Yang exchanged a confused look "Umm..."

Suddenly a monstrous roar caused the girls to look back to the side of the clearing that Nora and Ren had appeared from and to the left of where the hyperactive girl had emerged from none other then Pyrrha ran out as a Deathstalker burst from the trees which it knocked over with ease. The Grimm's mandibles snapped then it swung its pincer at the red haired champion but she just jumped between it like and hoop the monster then tried again with its left limb but she just rolled under it then got up and kept running with the beast right on her tail hissing then a certain upside down blonde boy in a nearby tree caught her eye "Jaune!"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune called back to his partner while Ruby helped Momotaros stand up on the branch, the spikey haired boy rubbing his stomach as he did so.

The red cloaked girl then turned in the direction of the roaring and her silver eyes widened at the sight of the giant scorpion "Whoa!"

"Ruby!" Said girl just jumped past Jaune and landed in a single roll with Momotaros following soon after in a crouch with his right hand on the ground and his left stretched behind him.

Ruby?" When the young huntress in training stood up she turned and saw...

"Yang!"

The two sisters went to try and give each other a big hug. Only for Nora and Ryutaros to suddenly appear right between them.

"Nora!"

"Ryuta!"

"Senpai!" The seven of them turned and saw Urataros running over to them then stopped out of breath in front of Momotaros who wasn't too pleased to see his partner.

"Oi! Kame where have you been?"

"I've been looking for you obviously" the staff wielder replied as he adjusted his glasses.

"Well ya wouldn't have had to look for me if you had my back like your supposed too!"

"Well its not my fault you need to pay more attention during a battle" Urataros replied with a smirk as he for some reason decided to examine his hand.

"I NEED TO PAY MORE ATTNETION-?!" Momotaros exclaimed while pointing at himself then looked from his partner to Ruby behind him then back to his partner and proceeded to wrap his hands around his neck "You smug Kame-yaro!"

"Ack! Senpai...I can't breath!" the Casanova choked out.

The ancient Grimm let out a loud hiss reminding the eight of its presence. Blake turned to her fellow initiates and asked "Did she just run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?"

None of them answered her as Nora bounced on her feet with a large grin, Ryutaros had his hands on his headphones as his head bobbed along to the music, Yang had her eyes closed and fists clenched as she tried to keep her frustration in check while Ruby tried to pull Momotaros off Urataros and Kintaros ,who was standing behind Nora and Ryutaros, looked like he was about to fall asleep again.

"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Yang roared as her temper reached its limit. Her eyes were red and flames seemed to fly off her hair "Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?!"

Yang panted as her eyes faded back to their usual lilac while Momotaros and Urataros, the former's hands now away from the latter's neck, glanced at each other then took a step away from the blonde, Kintaros' head jolted up fully awake, while Nora and Ryutaros just kept doing what they were doing. Ren then ran over to join the group taking the spot between Blake and Nora, the latter turning to her friend with a grin, then hunched over out of breath. Kintaros offered the green clad gunslinger a piece of tissue paper which he accepted and used to wipe his forehead. Nora then made binoculars with her hands and looked around with Ryutaros soon coping her.

Blake and Ruby meanwhile were looking upwards and after a few second Ruby patted her sister on the arm to get her attention "Um...Yang?"

Yang hung her head then she and the other looked straight up in the direction Ruby was pointing and saw Weiss gripping the end of a Nevermore's talon for dear life and heard her faintly cry "How could you leave me?!"

" I said jump!" Ruby defended as the others looked up at the strange sight, Nora and Ryutaros' mouth in awed O shapes while Yang's hang in amazement.

"Who in their right mind rides a Nevermore?" Urataros asked.

Ruby scratched the back of her head will Ryutaros looked between Urataros and Kintaros then pointed at the avian Grimm "Hey! Can I try that?"

"Only if you want to fall" Blake said.

Ruby waved of the bow wearing girl's concern "She'll be fine."

"She's falling" Ren simply stated as Weiss' hand slipped of the Nevermore and she fell towards the ground.

Jaune meanwhile had managed to climb up onto the branch he was caught on and saw the white haired plummeting towards the ground. Seeing this as a chance to impress the girl he jumped out of the tree arms out stretched and caught her in mid air.

"Just dropping in?" He asked with his attempt at a charming smile. Weiss looked down then back to the young Arc who also looked down and realized they were still in the air. "Oh God..." Two clung to each other in fear as a gravity reclaimed control and they fell to the ground Jaune landing face first on the ground and Weiss landing on top of him.

The heiress just examined her nails nonchalantly and said "My hero."

Jaune just groaned out "My back."

Meanwhile Pyrrha was still being chased around by the Deathstalker and while she was a prime athlete she was beginning to slow down from running for so long. The ancient Grimm noticed this and tried once more to catch her with its pincer but the champion fighter jumped through it in a roll but then with lightning fast speed she was caught it the other pincer. But before the beast to snap her in two Ren whipped out his Stormflower pistols and fired several shots at the Grimm's eyes. None of them hit the main eyes but the green gunslinger wasn't aiming for them but roughly above the mouth where the secondary eyes were located. The Grimm let out a roar as two of the bullets hit their marks and threw its captured target across the clearly before she landed in a roll and came to a stop at the feet of the others.

"Great the gang's all here now we can die together" Yang remarked.

"Not if I can help it" Ruby said with a determined look in her eye before she charged at the Deathstalker with a battle cry.

Yang did a quick double take at her sister's action "Ruby, Wait!"

Ruby showed no sign that she heard her and whipped out Crescent Rose and fired it propelling her towards the ancient Grimm. But the beast just swatted her away like she was an annoying fly.

Ruby recovered quickly and called out "D-Don't worry! Totally fine!"

The sound of the Deathstalker snapping its pincers caught her attention and she turned round to see the monster's eyes locked on her. Ruby fired a shot into the beast's face then ran for dear life back to the temple. She folded up her scythe and replaced it on her back so she could focus all of her energy on running from the Deathstalker which was quickly catching up to her a fact noticed by a certain protective big sister who ran out of the ruins to help her younger "Ruby!"

The little red reaper ran towards her sibling as fast as she could without Aura, she had used up more then she thought by that point, then she tripped over something landing face first on the ground. She picked herself up and turned to see the giant scorpion Grimm standing over her with its mandibles snapping.

"Its going to kill her!" Blake shouted and was about to follow Yang's lead and charged towards the Red girl but suddenly Momotaros' body glowed with a fiery red aura and he leaped over the clearing like something from a comic book. He flipped in mid air over Yang and delivered a kick straight to the middle of the monster's face the force of the impact making it skid back slightly he then jumped off the monster and did a flip before landing before it and stabbed his sword into one of its secondary eyes. The Grimm let out a loud screech of pain and froze at the sensation of the blade in its eye socket. The spiky haired boy smirked then quickly pulled his sword out of the monster's face then kicked it on the bottom of the head. The beast then covered its face with its forelimbs and thrashed around in pain.

The red swordsman hefted his weapon his shoulder and walked over to Ruby "You okay kid?" she nodded then looked over his shoulder and her eyes widened. "Hmm?" He followed her silver gaze and saw the Deathstalker had recovered , impressively fast,, and its remaining eyes now blazed with new found fury directed at the red wearing two. "Heh" Momotaros stood up with a smirk and removed the Momotarosword II from his shoulder and gave it a quick twirl Ruby stood up soon after him and was a bout to bring Crescent Rose out again when they saw the Nevermore flying low over the forest right at them.

"Uh oh" Ruby simply commented as she and Momotaros' eyes widened at the sight of the air born monster.

"Move!" Momotaros grabbed Ruby by her upper left arm and pulled her into a run letting her go when she was at the same pace at him. Behind them the Deathstalker let out a screech and Momotaros looked over his shoulder and saw that while it was moving slower it was still forcing itself at a decent pace but slower, fortunately, he then looked up and at the Nevermore that was closing in fast "Crap! IKUZE!"

The red pair doubled their pace at the word the Nevermore let out a cry and threw its wings down at the two sending its feathers flying like deadly spears. Soon a line of the projectiles leading right in front of Yang who just managed to jump back in time to avoid being impaled and Momotaros did a similar move as one landed right in front of him as he was running. Ruby wasn't so lucky as her beloved hooded cape got caught by a feather and pinned her to the spot.

The scythe wielder tried to pull her cape out but the feather was planted to firmly in the ground and she knew the Deathstalker was closing in.

She heard Yang shout from the other side of the clearing "Ruby get out of there!"

"I'm trying!" She called back as Momotaros got up and ran over to her.

"You've got to be kidding me right now!" He groaned as looked from the silver eyed girl to the ruins then to the closing Grimm then back to Ruby before he went over to the Nevermore feather and tried to pull it out of the ground but couldn't. He looked back to the temple and shouted "OI! KUMA! GET OVER HERE!"

"Right!" The gold clad Faunus popped his neck and was about to charge over when Urataros placed his hand on his shoulder stopping him "Hmm?"

"Don't bother you're not fast enough."

Kintaros looked back to Momotaros then to Urataros and gestured to the latter's staff "What about your line?"

Urataros lifted up his staff over his shoulder in his shooting position and squinted his eyes to better his aim but quickly lowered his weapon if an frustrated sigh "I can't get a shot past all those feathers."

Meanwhile Momotaros had managed to make the feather pinning down Ruby to start to come loose "It's starting to budge!" He groaned out through grit teeth while Ruby kept tugging at her cape but stopped when she looked up and her eyes widened at what she saw. "There got it!" Momotaros shouted as he pulled the feather out and dropped to his side. He then turned back to Ruby and saw her frozen to the spot and followed her gaze and his own eyes widened as he saw the Deathstalker standing before them rearing its stinger back to strike.

As the stinger rapidly approached Momotaros jumped between it and Ruby and they both closed their and braced themselves for the first. They heard Yang shout her sister's name the suddenly the sound of something quickly freezing and a familiar voice. "You are SO childish."

The red duo each opened one eye and noticed, with great relief they were still breathing. Momotaros looked over his shoulder and saw the stinger was trapped by a wall of ice stopping JUST before its point made contact with his back. He let out relieved sigh and dropped to ground with his legs crossed. Ruby then noticed a familiar white snowflake rune on the ground beneath them she then turned saw a certain white themed girl standing at the centre of the snowflake next to the ice wall with her sabre planted on the ground. "Weiss?"

"And dim-witted and hyperactive" The heiress then stood up and removed Myrtenaster from the ground causing the Glyph to vanish and turned to the scythe wielder with the expected frustrated face "And don't even get me start on your fighting style. I suppose...I can be bit..." Her tone became uncomfortable as she had never had to admit to her flaws before and the twos faces didn't help Ruby's expression was nervous at the girl's comments while Momotaros was giving her an annoyed look from the corner of his eye then Weiss continued "Difficult. But if we're going to do this..." She bent over so she was closer to Ruby's eye level "We're going to do this together. So if you quit trying to show off I'll be..." She stood up straight again "Nicer."

Momotaros' annoyed look was replaced with his brows raising in surprise at the prideful heiress' admittance. He then turned to Ruby whose nervous expression lessened by a great degree "I'm not trying to show off I want you to know I can do this."

"Your fine" Weiss reassured then made her way back to the others.

Ruby closed her eyes let out a relived breath and put her hands together as if she was thanking some unseen spirit or deity and whispered "Normal knees."

"Eh normal is overrated" She opened her eyes and turned to Momotaros who now had one knee up and was resting his right arm on it. The red eyed boy nodded his head back at the ice wall in the direction they ran from "If you've got the guts to do THAT without a second guess" He placed his hand on her shoulder and smirked "Then you're alright in my book kid."

He then stood up, and side stepped away from the stinger as he did so, and offered her a hand which she took. Ruby then noticed the Deathstalker behind the ice wall and peek round the corner to see it trying to pull its tail free. Awed that her partner was able to do that she breathed out a "Woah" while behind her Momotaros whistled. They then heard someone running up to them and turned, Momotaros jumping out of way just in time to avoid colliding with Yang as she enveloped her little sister in a tight hug. The red swordsman gave a small smile at the scene before running back up to the temple.

Yang loosened her hold on Ruby and said "I'm so happy your okay."

Ruby gave her sister a small smile then they both looked up as they heard the Nevermore caw from above and saw it turning around and making its way back to the clearing. The sister looked each other in the eye before they turned round and ran back to the temple. The others crowed around in a circle and voiced their relief that they were okay with exception of Nora who wined "Awww you didn't smash the bug."

They all gave small smile at the orange haired girl some let out a small chuckle save for Momotaros who muttered "Don't remind me" and turned his head away.

Ruby gave a nervous chuckle at the orange haired girl "Well...your more then welcome to take the next one."

Nora beamed while Jaune pointed at the Nevermore "Uh guys. I hate to break up the chat but that thing is circling back. What are we going to do?"

"Look there's no sense in dilly-dallying" Weiss spoke up while Ryutaros quietly asked Kintaros 'Dilly-Dallying?' only to get shushed as she continued while looking at the chess pieces "Our objective is right in front of us."

"She right. Our mission is to grab an artefact and make our way back to the cliffs" Weiss gave an thankful nod at being agreed with which Ruby returned and added "There's no point in fighting these things."

"Run and live now that is an idea I can get behind" Jaune nodded while others didn't agree as much.

"Aaaaaow but I wanted to fight some more Grimm" Ryutaros moaned.

"For once I agree with Gaki" Momotaros pointed at the purple clad gunmen then punched his empty hand and grinned "I was looking forward to taking those two bastards out."

The others, except from a certain blue, gold and purple trio, stared at Momotaros wondering how he hoped to deal with the two giant Grimm alone when a trumpet like cry gave from the trees in the direction Yang and Blake recognized as where Momotaros had flown in from.

"Make that three it sounds like our playmate is closing in Senpai" Urataros spoke up then turned to his partner "Think you can handle those big bad Grimm alone?"

After a beat Momotaros let out a frustrated growl and dropped his hands to his sides "Ya know Kame-ko you're really starting to get on my nerves today."

"Talking is time wasted on completing our task!" said Kintaros and the group, save for Yang and Blake, made their way to the podiums.

Ruby's eyes went over the remaining relics before they came to rest on a white knight her mind flashed back to the countless stories of heroes she had read and she went over and picked it up. To her right she saw Jaune pick up and a rook and they exchanged a smile then looked to their left and saw Momotaros four podiums up from them standing before a white king. He picked it up and tossed in the air and caught he then noticed them from them looking at him and he held out his arm showing his relic to them with a tooth showing smile.

After they all acquired a relic the Grimm reminded them on their presence with the Deathstalker growling with effort as the ice trapping its tail started to crack and the sound of trees falling over signalled the Goliath closing in.

"Time we left!"

"Right" Ruby turned to others and gestured to follow her "Let's go."

She starting running with the others following close behind her except for two. The first was Yang who stood on the spot with a smile as the others ran past with Blake noticing as she ran past then walked up to her partner ""What is it?"

Lilac eyes turned back to Ruby as she stood up on a rock and looked back at the group with her cloak blowing in the wind before she went back to running. Yang turned back to her partner and shrugged "Nothing."

The blonde departed but Blake noticed the sisterly pride in her voice and soon followed after. The last to go was Momotaros who stared at where Ruby had been standing his brow frown in thought until a hand was placed on his right shoulder snapping him out of it. "Hmm?" He turned and saw Urataros.

"You alright Senpai?"

Momotaros looked from his partner to the spot the scythe wielder had been standing then brushed the hand off and started running "Nothing just...nothing."

The staff wielder watched his comrade's back then tilted his head wondering what was going through his mind. He quickly shrugged it off then ran after the others Momotaros had been acting strange lately then again most of them, including himself, hadn't been the quite the same since what happened.

---

After a good amount of time spent running the group of twelve left the trees into a wide area the group, save for two or three, did a quick survey of the area and noted the down the factors that they could use to their advantage. The place was covered with tall ruins the tallest being a large ancient fortress set above a gigantic cavern filled with fog that hid the bottom. Behind the structure was a large cliff that stood over it and they saw a stone bridge leading off into the clouds. Large fortress such as this weren't uncommon in the wilds of Remnant, many cultures from before the four kingdoms had built them as early attempts to protect themselves from the Creatures of Grimm and it was more then common to find them in such locations.

Speaking of Grimm the Nevermore flew over head and the group separated into their respective pairs, save for Ruby and Yang while their respective partners went opposite of them, each heading for the nearby stone columns. The Nevermore circled round the tower at the top of the old fortress and perched on top with its wings spread and let out a screech and while they all knew it couldn't see them it knew they were there somewhere.

"Well that's just great" Yang commented.

And things got better as the Deathstalker, now free of the ice, burst out of the trees and fog and more then egger to resume its hunt of them.

"Oh man run!" Jaune shouted before he and Pyrrha abandoned their hiding spot, far from looking forward to dealing with the ancient Grimm again, with the others soon following their example with Momotaros shouting "Does this bastard ever give up?!".

The giant avian let out another cry as its fellow Grimm forced out the prey.

"Nora distract it!" Ren ordered before he joined the other knowing full well that not only could his friend turned partner handle the task she'd enjoy it.

And he was right while the others made a dash for the fortress staying as close to columns as they could for cover Nora charged right for the middle of the path, leaping and rolling through another shower of spear like plumage, then drew out her weapon, Magnhild, in its grenade launcher form and fired at the aerial hunter while laughing like the maniac she was. The rounds fired were custom grenades each topped with a pink heart and contained explosive pink dust. She fired round after round at the Nevermore but the only effect it had on the beast was increasing it anger. Nora's eyes narrowed and her grin grew, she loved a tough opponent, she was about to pull the trigger again but more shots it the beast but unlike her pretty pink explosions they were purple.

Nora tilted her head and turned to her right where she heard gunfire and saw a certain purple clad boy with head phones, and a long died and braided ponytail and held a large custom gun. Ryutaros turned his mischievous purple eyes to her and smiled "Mind if fight with you?" He then pointed at her a finished "I can't hear you!"

The hyper girl's maniac grin returned and they resumed firing at the Nevermore then the both of them aimed at the head and fired at the same time hitting it with enough combined force to throw it back. The Grimm then flew to the left behind the ruins hiding itself from their aim in the fog.

Ryutaros turned and smiled while holding up a peace sign "I win!"

"What? No way!" Nora pointed at herself with her thumb "My shot's the one that scared if off!"

"Nuh uh! It was mine!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Uh huh!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Uh huh!"

The Deathstalker let out a screech interrupting their little debate with a loud screech. The two turned and saw it rushing up to them both pincers raised and ready to snap them both in two. But before it could Blake and Ren jumped in front of it and slashed it across the face with their blades then while it was distracted Weiss jumped down next to Nora and summoned a Glyph that boosted her jumps and carried the girl in the direction of the bridge the others were heading for with Blake and Ren following up close behind with the Deathstalker on their heels. Meanwhile Urataros fired the grappling line of his staff and swung in and grabbed Ryutaros, who let out a grunt, and landed on top of one of stone structure.

However to make matters worse the Goliath burst out of the forest with a trumpeting cry and charged forward. Momotaros and Kintaros stopped running just before they left the shelter of the ruins and turned to the noise. The spikey haired swordsman looked between the Goliath, the Deathstalker and the other initiates then let out a loud frustrated sigh "Do ANY of these guys know when to give up!" He then turned to Urataros and Ryutaros on top of the structure on the other side of the path "Oi! Kuma! Gaki!" When got they attention he pointed at the Goliath "Get that Zou-yaro's attention!"

"Why?" Urataros shouted back.

"So we can lure it over there!" Momotaros pointed at the ruins the two were currently standing on causing them to exchange a confused look until Momotaros added "Behind you ya idiots!"

They looked and what he was talking about behind the structure was a space wide enough to battle the Goliath and keep it out of the othes hair while they fought the Deathstalker. Urataros surprised at his partner's tactic let out a "Ooooh."

Ryutaros however turned back to Momotaros and called "And why should we listen to you old man?!"

Momotaros clenched his teeth and shook his fist at the purple clad gunmen "Damnit Hanatare Kozo! Just do what I say for once!"

He ran off to the area he pointed out with Kintaros following soon after adding "Ryuta just shoot the Grimm!"

"Best do as they say Ryuta" Urataros said "Its the only plan we have."

"But Momotaros came up with it" He pointed out.

"Be that as it may" Urataros configured his staff into its fire arm form then braced on his shoulder to fire at the closing Grimm "Its a gamble we'll have to take."

Urataros fired aiming for the beast's eyes and the gaps in its armour he knew it was futile but his intent was to annoy it into chasing them. After a few seconds of quiet pouting Ryutaros joined him in firing at the Grimm but unlike his comerade his shots were wild and loud hitting the Goliath in any old place, the trunk, the armour, the legs, the sides and the ground at its feet. The Goliath let out a loud below at the mix of subtle and wild shots hitting the it then looked at the two and its eyes narrowed at the sight of Urataros then let our another cry and charged at pair.

Ryutaros turned to Urataros "I think it recognizes you Kame-chan."

"You know Ryuta I think you might be right" The bespectacled Casanova replied as he adjusted class and held up his up straight and tapped it returned it to its standard form. He then turned to his younger friend "Sadly I don't think now is the best time for a reunion."

He jumped off the structure and landed in a crouch Ryutaros following close behind they then stood up and ran away from the Grimm and dashed round the corner of the ruins to the area their partners were at waiting for their foe. But before he followed the staff wielder around the corner Ryutatos stopped and turned back to the creature then put his thumb against his nose and wiggled his fingers while blowing a raspberry at the Goliath then lowered his hand and called "You can't catch us! You can't catch us!" He then followed his blue dressed friend around the corner giggling. Right past the structure they saw their partners waiting in the middle area with their respective weapons drawn.

"Bought time you should up Kame" Momotaros said "What took ya so long?"

"Now's not the time for jokes Senpai" Urataros ran up to Momotaros and planted his staff on the ground "We got its attention now what?"

They spun round to the sight of the Goliath exploding out of the walls with a mighty bellow as the century old stones toppled over.

Momotaros walked forward until he was standing at the front of the group. He gave his usual toothy smirk and gave his sword a twirl with a chuckle "We take this jerk off those guys hands while they deal with the bug."

"Actually scorpions are arachnids Senpai."

"D'oh!" Momotaros lost his composure for second and almost fell over he then stood up red eyes flashing with annoyance and pointed his partner "I don't care about trivia Kame!" He then moved the hand in front of his chest and made several motions like he was checking of a list "Bug! Arachnid! Grimm! I don't care!" He made a motion like he just slapped away said list then pointed at the Goliath "We ain't fighting that we're fighting this bastard!" He then pointed at each of them "So all of you just shut up and do it!" He turned back to the Grimm and pointed his thumb at himself the struck his signature pose "Ore SANJOU!"

"Well I can't argue with that" Urataros commented to Kintaros who nodded in agreement.

Their opponent evidently agreed as well as it let out another bellow and charged at them...FAST. Momotaros' brows rose and his eyes widened "Wa oh!"

The four managed to jump out of the way just in time to avoid being flattened. The Goliath turned around to look at them as they roughly formed a circle around it each in a crouching stance. Urataros pointed his staff like a spear, Kintaros popped his neck and raised his axe and Ryutaros raised his gun a the monster. As it regarded the purple hyperactive dancer it heard a chuckle from the opposite direction. It turned leftwardly and stopped when was facing the gold clad Faunus and looked to its left and saw the spiky haired swordsman standing with his sword hefted up on his right shoulder and his head bowed.

When he was standing up he raised his head showing he was smiling he then opened his glowing red eyes and his smile grew to tooth showing smile. He took fours steps closer to Grimm "Hey I didn't get a chance to say this when I gave you your little hair cut" He pointed at the broken spines on the Goliath's back it may have been his imagination but it looked like the Grimm looked more aggressive when its back was pointed out "So now I'll make up for it" He placed his sword back on his shoulder "From start to finish I'm at a climax!" The Goliath let out a snort at the proclamation "Yosh!" He gave his sword another twirl "Ikzue! Ikzue! Ikzue!" And he charged at the Grimm.

---

For the second time that day Pyrrha Nikos was glad she was a top level athlete as she kept pace with Jaune head of the Grimm she could have gone faster but she wasn't about to leave her partner behind. The sound of gunfire made her look over her right shoulder and she saw Urataros and Ryutaros on top the stone structure and they seemed to be aiming a something but not the Deathstalker but she decided against seeing what it was but the cry gave her a fair idea.

"Where are they going?" She heard Jaune shout and turned to him and saw he was looking to his left at a moving target.

Glancing over her shoulder she saw Momotaros and Kintaros running across the path and past the ruins. In doing so the red haired champion got a good look at what the two boys were shooting at. "I think it may have something to do with that!"

The young Arc glanced over his shoulder and his eyes widened at the sight of the gigantic Grimm as it gave another trumpet cry. Needless to say the sight of an even bigger Grimm did wonders for encouraging Jaune to move faster not that Pyrrha could blame him. As they neared the bridge she looked over her shoulder again and saw Weiss, Nora, Blake and Ren catching up to them the downside was the Deathstalker was right on their heels.

When she and Jaune reached the bridged she ordered him ahead with a cry of "Go! Go!" She drew out Milo and which it into its rifle form while Akouo went from her back to her arm guard and she dropped into a sniper crouch and fired at the ancient Grimm just as Weiss and Nora made their way onto the bridge with Ren following soon after landing in a roll then quickly standing up and whipping out Stormflower and joined her in firing at the beast. Blake was the last onto the bridge just leaping out of the way of the Grimm's embrace.

They turned and went to join the others running to the other side of the bridge which thankfully was too narrow for the Deathstalker. Things were looking up but it proved to soon for comfort as the Nevermore returned and rammed straight through the bridge destroying it. Ruby, Yang, Nora and Jaune made it to the fortress with Jaune landing face first on the old stones while the others were on their feet. He pick himself up and followed the Nevermore as it flew away no doubt circling back for another attack.

He turned to his left at the sound of gunfire and saw Ruby with her pride and joy in it gun form and firing at their avian foe. The sound of battle drew his attention back to the other side of the chasm and he saw Momotaros' group fighting the Goliath. The beast was standing on its hind legs and the four colourful initiates jumped and rolled away from it just in time to avoid being crushed but resulting shockwave made them loose their balance, heck Jaune could feel it from here. He then turned to the other side of the destroyed bridge and saw Pyrrha, Ren and Blake were pinned by the Deathstalker and well within reach of its pincers.

Pyrrha and Ren resumed firing at the monster while Blake leapt up and swung around her weapon in its throwing scythe form but was swatted back onto the bridge by a pincer with charging to take her place of dealing with the beast at close range. Jaune ran up to the edge of the bridge "Man we've got to get over their. They need help."

"Let's do this!" Nora ran up to his side.

"Yeah but...uh" Jaune looked down at the chasm the bottom of which was hidden by the fog, a thought ran through his head that maybe it didn't have a bottom, and gulped when he saw a large piece of rubble fall into the white void "I can't make that jump."

Nora turned to him with a grin and giggle that did not help his fears then swung her grenade launcher into him making him fall back on to his back then fire arms unfolded and she swung it around revealing it to be a very big silver hammer. She then charged forward jumped up and turned round to the blonde with her hammer held high above her head. Jaune picked himself up and instantly put together what the girl was up to "NO WAIT!" But his request fell on deaf ears and Nora slammed Magnhild onto the bridge further destroying and turning it into a catapult of sorts as Jaune was thrown right at the other side of the chasm with a cry of "NO! NO! NO!"

The pink demolisher then jumped on the head of her hammer put her right hand over her eyes like she was admiring the view then pulled the trigger on the shaft causing it to propel her forward with a "Whoooo!" then in mid air she drew it back behind her and flew over Ren and brought her hammer down on the Grimm's head "NORA SMASH!"

The beast let out a pained sound then reared back its tail. Nora noticed this and fired her weapon again catapulting her back and making the beasts jaw strike the ground resulting in another pained sound and avoid the stinger which harmlessly stabbed the stone bridge. What she didn't avoid however was sliding back into the Blake sending the bow wearing girl flying off the edge.

Staying calm she looked up and saw the Nevermore flying over head with several explosions following it. She then took Gambol Shroud and change it into its chain scythe form and threw it at the old fortress where its blade dug into the stone firmly allowing her to swing around in its ribbon and then used her semblance to create a shadow and used the motion fly straight at the Nevermore head. When she was close enough she slashed the side of the beasts head with her weapon, back in its katana form, then seemingly suspending herself in front of the Grimm's face she delivered strike after strike after strike then created another shadow and landed on its back which she then proceeded to run down while slashing at it with Gambol Shroud and its cleaver like sheath. When she ran out of back to run on she leapt from the Nevermore to the ruined upper wall of the fortress which Ruby, Yang and Weiss were standing on to try and get a better shot at their aerial foe.

After replacing her weapon on her back she jumped over Ruby to stand beside her blonde partner and reported "Its tougher then it looks."

"The lets hit it with everything we've got" the brawler responded reading her gauntlets for another round with a loud 'cha-chak!'.

The four stood as the Nevermore circled back to them with another cry. Ruby looked to the older girls for a second then aimed Crescent Rose at the Grimm transforming it to Scythe form to use as a sniper rifle. Blake drew Gambol shroud and folded down the blade turning it into a pistol which she then cocked, Weiss held up Myrtenaster and spun around the Dust canister to the type she wanted then spun around and pointed her the sabre at their foe firing off several Dust bolts at it. Yang threw her fists forwards the motion firing fiery blasts that burst out of the Ember Celia. Blake and Ruby simply aimed and fired their respective fire arms at the nearing Grimm but all their attacks seemed to do nothing as the they either missed or seemed to not bother it at all but a few did managed to make the Nevermore loose control slightly as it neared the building and it flew straight through causing the ruins to jump up in countless pieces and fall.

Not wasting time the four ran along the falling wall and manoeuvred through the shower of stone jumping from one piece of debris to another to avoid following them. Blake jumped from one ruinded rock to another then ran straight up the side of a column while her partner delivered a punch up on one piece of debris then delivered a second one downwards propelling her upwards. Weiss slid up the side of a large chunk of a stone wall like she skating on ice then jumped into the air with a spin and summoned a Glyph throwing her upwards while Ruby jumped on the debris she was just on and fired Crescent Rose downwards using the recoil to propel herself upwards.

Ruby and Weiss landed on a walkway with the latter doing a flip. The icy heiress then looked over to see Yang land on a different part of the fortress then run off no doubt to try and get a good shot at their foe.

"None of this is working" Ruby had to admit Weiss wasn't wrong so far all of their attacks had seemed to annoy the Nevermore more then damage it.

Something form the corner of her eye grabbed her attention she turned and saw Blake swing up from under the walkway they were standing on with her weapon's ribbon then landed in a roll and stood up ready for more. She turned to the sound of Yang's gauntlets firing and saw her sister on top of a broken column firing at the Nevermore as it circled them. Suddenly an idea formed in the little red reaper's head causing her to smile it may not work out quite how she planned like her other ideas today but she decided it was worth a shot. She turned to her partner "I have a plan. Cover me!"

She turned in Blake's direction and fired Crescent Rose to boost her jump. Weiss was hesitant for a second after all she had seen first hand Ruby's other ideas so far but at this point she decided to take what she could get and moved to give her partner some cover fire.

Meanwhile on top of the walkway above Blake a purple blur rushed out of the fog running along the stone bridge then came to a stop at the very edge.

"WOOOOAAH!" Kotaro stood on the tips of his toes as he bent over the edge with his arms waving in an attempt to regain some balance. Fortunately he had the Machteddy drawn in his right hand and when the point of the weapon was aimed downwards it fired and the recoil causing its wielder to fall onto his back. Sitting up He looked down at the ruined fortress "What the-?" He then noticed the giant Nevermore let out an exhausted sigh "You have got to be kidding me."

"Kotaro!" He looked over his shoulder and saw Yuuto, Hana and Deneb running along the walkway towards him with the first having his sword drawn. Kotaro stood up just as they came to the edge Hana's eyes widened then she turned to him with her brows narrowed "What happened?"

"Hey! Don't look at me" Kotaro replied with his hands up.

"Will you two stop bickering" Yuuto ordered and turned to the way they came and raised his sword. Hana turned to him and blinked owlishly at being told off for squabbling ironic considering she usually told off the others a fact that didn't go unnoticed by her partner who chuckled as he picked up the Machteddy. Yuuto turned to Deneb "Think we lost it."

As Deneb opened his mouth to reply a the sound of something heavy running along the structure came from the fog. The four turned to the noise and their pursuer pounced out of the veil and let out a roar. It was a juvenile Griffin unlike most Grimm this beast had no animal look alike as it possessed the traits of two different types of animals. Its body was similar to that of a large feline with a long tail but in place of paws on the ends of its forelegs it possessed bird like talons. From its shoulder blades were a pair of large wings and its head resembled an avian skull with four red eyes. it had spikes at the end of its tail and along the top of its wings and had several bony growths on its neck and back thighs.

Yuuto clenched his teeth "I hate these guys."

Deneb aimed his fingers at the Grimm while Hana removed the cylinder from her back and unfolded a handle. Said handle then extended into a long shaft and the cylinder itself folded into a more compact form revealing the melee form of her weapon, a hammer. The head of the hammer was coloured black with octagon shaped ends that were coloured silver on the sides. The head was separated into four small sections separated by silver lines. Covering the black sections were small white flowers with what looked like silver stems linking them.

Once her weapon was out she turned to her partner and muttered "We wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for someone's 'shortcuts'."

"Hey it was a cave that went up hill" Kotaro gestured at the Griffin "How was I supposed to know it was a Griffin's den?!"

Hana opened her mouth to speak but Deneb interrupted her "Now isn't the time for arguing. We should be cooperating."

While they were all talking Yuuto shook his head and focused his attention on his weapon. He twisted the Zerogasher's handle so the hand guard was between the edges of the blade he then pushed the handle down so it resembled a gun handle then moved his other hand on the blade and pulled it back causing the edges to open up so it resembled a crossbow. After Deneb spoke the green swordsman spoke up "All of you be quiet and focus on the Griffin!"

Yuuto fired shot from the Zerogasher as the Griffin pounced forward at them again. The Grimm flapped it wings and screeched at the attack and stood up on its hind legs in front of them and tried to swipe at the group but Yuuto, Deneb and Kotaro kept it at bay with shots from their weapons while Hana swung her hammer to keep the Griffin at bay.

---

Back on what was left of the bridge the Deathstalker had managed to pull its stinger out of the stone. This caused the already destroyed walkway to break up and start to fall which caused a problem for the four young Huntsmen and Huntresses in training because they were still on the bridge and their opponent was still blocking their only way off.

"We gotta move!" Jaune said to the other with Pyrrha raising a brow for second as she noticed he sounded more confident.

The four charged at the Grimm with Jaune whipping out his sword and shield as he ran. The beast's pincer reached out to grab Pyrrha on the far left of the group but she blocked it with her shield then used her javelin to strike where the pincer met the limb where its armour overlapped. The Deathstalker twitched then sent its other pincer to strike the amazon but Jaune jumped between them and blocked the pincer with his shield Pyrrha then jumped over him and jabbed at it with Milo. The two shield users each stood in front of a pincer leaving it clear for the last two of their group to charge at the body.

Ren did show and ran straight at the Deathstalker firing Stormflower at it. In retaliation the creature struck with its stinger but the green gunslinger avoid the attack then grabbed onto the tail and hung on as it was withdrawn. He then proceeded to fire at the base of the stinger at close range causing the ancient Grimm to let out a screech of pain.

Back on the bridge Nora who was taking up the rear of the group spun round and converted Magnhild back into a grenade launcher and proceed to open fire at the Grimm. But like all old Grimm the Deathstalker was clever and used its armoured pincers to act as a shield to protect itself from the blasts. The motion also forced Jaune and Pyrrha back as they raised the shields and the pincer struck them sending them skidding back. When Nora had finished her assault the Grimm opened its guard and Pyrrha quick as lighting threw her javelin at the beast. Milo flew right through the gap in the right pincer and hit its mark the Deathstalkers eye, right above the one Momotaros had stabbed earlier. The beast thrashed around in pain and whipped its tail around and Ren along with it.

"Ren!" Nora shouted in concern when her partner lost his gripp and was sent hurdling through the air and struck a still standing part of the wall the Goliath had crashed through and fell to the ground out of the battle.

Meanwhile Jaune was recovered from the blow against his shield and turned to the beast and saw the stinger was barely still attached to the tail. Seeing that they had a chance to end this fight Jaune turned to his partner "Pyrrha!"

"Done!" She threw Akouo like a discus and it hit its mark cutting straight through the base of the stinger and making it drop point first onto the base of Deathstalker's head causing another pained screech. The shield turned projectile then bounced of the column to the Grimm's left and made and arch in the air and returned to its owner's hand who quickly replaced it on her arm guard.

Jaune then turned the orange hammer wielder "Nora nail it!"

"Heads up!" Nora jumped into the air and Pyrrha held up Akouo as a platform as the girl landed on it. She sat of Magnhild's shaft and pulled the trigger as Pyrrha jumped adding to the jump as she went up into the air.

Nora let out a laugh when she stopped ascending then as she started to descend she aimed her hammer' skyward and held her left hand over her eyes with a maniac grin. When she got her aim she rolled into a ball and brought her hammer down on the stinger wedged in the Grimm's body with enough force to cause the bridge to catapult Jaune and Pyrrha up over the beast with the former giving an alarmed cry and the latter retrieving her javalin. Nora, currently supporting herself upside down, pulled the trigger again and soon followed the two.

Jaune landed on his back, Nora landed on her rear with jolly "Oh!" and Pyrrha pulled of a perfect landing, right knee and hand on the ground and her left held out behind her. They quickly stood up and heard the sounds of a nearby fight and saw Momotaros, Urataros, Kintaros, and Ryutaros battling the Goliath through what was left of the columns.

"Come on!" Jaune said to Pyrrha and Nora and ran towards them between the structure and the cliff with the two girls close behind him.

---

Momotaros ran at the Goliath's leg and struck with his sword before he jumped back to avoid said leg crushing or kicking him then while the beast's attention was on him Kintaros leapt in and struck the hind legs with a mighty blow from his axe and while it did just through the Grimm's flesh it didn't deter it in fact while it acknowledged the blow it didn't slow it down. The Grimm turned to the gold clad Faunus its eyes blazing with fury.

"Kuma-chan move!" Kintaros looked over his shoulder and saw his purple clad partner standing behind him with his weapon aimed at their colossal foe. Taking his cue he jumped out of the way to the right fired several shots aimed right at the Goliath's face. The beast paused as the powerful blast struck but quickly shook it off and its gaze returned to the gunmen.

But before it could take a step Urataros jumped onto its back and gave his staff a twirl before stabbing into the back of the Grimm's neck. The Goliath gave a pained bellow but its skin was too thick for the action to be fatal. Urataros' eyes widened at this before the Goliath began thrashing about to try and dislodge the weapon from its neck. Urataros held on for dear life as he was swung all over the place as Momotaros charged in to try and take the beast down while it was occupied but at that moment the Uratarod II's blade slide out of the Goliath's neck and sent its wielder flying right into his partner sending them back where they landed with a shared "OOMPH!"

"MOMONOJI!"

KUMA-CHAN!"

The Goliath let out another trumpet cry of fury turning the last two's attention from their fallen comrade back to the Grimm just in time to see it raise its trunk to its right then swing it at Kintaros. The axe wielder crossed his arms and focused his aura's defence just in time to block the hit but was sent flying back and did a double roll upon landing on the ground.

"KUMA-CHAN!" Ryutaros cried out before the Goliath swung its trunk back to do the same to him. Like his partner he just managed to raise his defence just in time to block the trunks assault but was also sent flying back bouncing off the ground and landing on his stomach.

"Get off me Kame!" Momotaros pushed his partner off him and sat up.

"Sorry Senpai" Urataros groaned out in reply as he lightly shook his head with his hand on his forehead then picked up his glasses which had landed at his side.

Momotaros then looked to Kintaros and saw him sitting up as well and rubbing head then turned to Ryutaros who pushed himself off the ground and shook his head. He then looked at the Goliath, which seemed to be taking a moment to catch its breath, and glared with anger at it.

"Damn that bastard is tough!" Momotaros growled and struck the ground in anger.

"Hai my bruises can testify to that" Urataros agreed as he rubbed the space between his chest armour and belt on his left. Thankfully his protective aura was still up and was quickly dealing with it. He then placed his glasses back on his face "Well since you such a tactician all of a sudden Senpai do you have any ideas on how to deal with this brute?"

"Tch!" Momotaros looked away from his partner in annoyance then he noticed something "Hmm?" during the fight somehow the battle had moved from the cliffs to the other side of the open area. This realization got the gears in the red swordsman's head turning. "Maybe I do..."

"What?"

(Insert Double Action Sword Form)

Momotaros jumped to his feat "Oi! Kuma! Gaki! Snap out of it!" The two in question turned to their spiky haired comrade who turned down at his partner, grabbed his arm and lifted him up onto his feet then looked back to the others "Kuma when I give the signal you and Kame are gonna keep that bastard busy until I can get to the cliff!"

Urataros did a double take at his partner "Huh?"

"What are you babbling about Momonoji?"

He turned to Urataros "Kame when I give the second signal you throw your staff at the thing and freeze it!" He looked over to Kintaros "Then you and Kuma make it harder for it to see!" He then looked to Ryutaros "And finally Gaki you get it to charge!"

Ryutaros titled his head "Huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Senpai we don't understand."

"Just do it!" Momotaros said to the confused staff wielder.

"Well...what's the signal?"

"Heh heh" Momotaros smirked then started running towards the cliff.

"Senpai?!" Urataros shouted after him. Momotaros' aura then flared and he leaped across the space much like how he did back at the forest temple.

"I'm guessing that's the signal!" Kintaros called over.

Urataros sighed "Still as hot headed as ever" Urataros tapped the point of the down facing blade of his staff against the toe of his boot causing the top to split into its gun form and then placed it on his shoulder and fired at the Goliath's rear. The Grimm let out a bellow and turned to the blue staff wielder. Urataros ran across the open space firing at the Goliath striking it on the armoured face and trunk. The Goliath shook its head and snorted then Urataros stopped right in the middle of the space between the trees and ruins and continued firing.

The Goliath charged at the staff wielder who remained root to the spot he was on. The Grimm was soon upon him but he just kept firing and didn't move. The Goliath stood on its hind legs ready to stomp on the tiny being before it but as it went to crush him something stopped it just before its feet made contact. Kintaros had jumped in between Urataros and the Grimms feet and was currently holding both of the beast's forefeet each with one had.

"Domo for the save Kin-chan."

The gold clad Faunus nodded and grunted "Don't mention it!"

Behind the Goliath Ryutaros raised his Ryurevolver II and prepared to fire "Hold him still Kuma-chan."

"Ryuta don't!" Urataros called as he resumed firing at the trapped Goliath.

Ryutaros reluctantly lowered his weapon and whined "But whhhyyy?"

"Momonoji told you your job" Kintaros answered "Just be patient!"

"Since when is he in charge?" Ryutaros asked.

"JUST DO IT!" was they replied in sync.

Ryutaros puffed out his cheeks and pouted.

Meanwhile Momotaros had made it to the edge of the cliff. He peeked over the side and looked down at the white void below and smirked 'Yeah this'll do.'

He turned back to the battle and was about to give the second signal when he heard running. "Hmm?" He turned and saw Jaune, Pyrrha and Nora running towards him weapons drawn "Oi! Hakumasu-ko! What are you guys doing?!"

Jaune's group stopped and he exchanged a confused look with Pyrrha at Momotaros' tone. He then turned back to red swordsman and said "Um...coming to help?"

"Thanks but no."

Another confused look was exchange "Huh?"

Momotaros closed his eyes and chuckled "You guys already took done a Grimm" He hefted is sword on his shoulder opened them again with a crazed smile "So sit back" Jaune and Pyrrha's were surprised to see his red eyes were glowing brighter "and take a look" he turned back to his battle his outline glowing a faint fiery red "AT OUR CLIMAX!" Momotaros' aura burst out like an explosion.

Jaune jumped back with a surprised 'WOAH!' Pyrrha told him aura could do amazing things but he didn't expect that. Nora 'ooooh'ed at the sight while Pyrrha's attention was focused on Momotaros' face it was strange it was almost like his form was flickering between his current face and one that Pyrrha couldn't really make out but she see the faint sight of a pair of curved horns emerging from his forehead. Momotaros didn't noticed their varied reactions as his focus was on his comrade's battle "OI KAME!"

At the sound of his name being shouted from behind Urataros ceased firing at the Goliath and looked over his shoulder at the sight of his partner's flaring aura. He didn't have to be a hardboiled detective to figure out what that went in the current context. He turned to Kintaros "Kin-chan the signal!"

"Rodger!" Kintaros pushed the Goliath's feet away then jumped to the beast's right while Urataros did the same to its left. The axe wielder then turned to his partner, who was still behind the Grimm but had sat down crossed legged his head resting in his left hand while his right drew circles in the dirt with a used Dust bullet "Ryuta get ready!"

The purple clad boy dropped the useless shell then jumped to his feet and whipped out his weapon once more with a big smile "Bout time!"

All three closed their eyes and concentrated while Goliath regained its balance and got back on all fours. It turned and glared at Kintaros then Urataros as if debating which of them to retaliate against first. Then all three sets of eyes opened each glowing brighter followed soon after by their auras flaring out from them. The Goliath's eyes went from Urataros to Kintaros and back again trying to comprehend what it was witnessing.

Urataros' smirk returned and he held his staff behind him in his right hand and held his left held up his signature gesture. His aura vanished seemed to be absorbed into his weapon the blades of which glowed the same blue at the edges. "Mind if I reel you?" He then threw his staff like a spear at the Grimm where it struck it right in the eye and seemed to actually enter it as a glowing blue hexagon appeared over the Grimm's face and its body twitched as it tried to move but couldn't. His task halfway done the Casanova dusted off his hands then called over to his comrade "Ready Kin-chan?"

"Almost..." Kintaros replied as his aura too vanished and seemed to absorbed into his weapon which glowed gold. He then popped his neck "Now!" The he then charged at the captive giant while Urataros jumped into the air and aimed a kick at the hexagon symbol. As Kintaros neared the beast he jumped up and spun round the blade of his axe striking the Golitah's eye with a cry of "Dynamic chop!" at the same time Urataros' kick landed. Kintaros dropped in a crouch with his back to the Goliath and his axe held before him while Urataros landed on the opposite side of the beast's head with his staff balanced on his shoulder held by his left hand while his right was in his signature gesture with the thumb running over the tips of his fingers.

Both sides of it head being struck at the same time stunned the young Goliath for a moment its vision now blurred by the attacks. It shook its head and let out an angered.

"My turn!" Ryutaros cheered as he held his weapon up skywards. His aura vanished and some of it could be seen entering the canister of his weapon then a computerized voice announced "Full charge!" "Mind if I defeat you?" He lowered the Ryurevolver II and aim it again at the beast' rear. Energy gathered at the end of the gun's barrel in the form of an orb ready to fire "I can't hear you?" The hyper young gunman pulled the trigger and the orb flew right at the Goliath and hit bang on target.

The Grimm let out a startled cry and charged forward in a panic still shaking its head in a vain attempt to regain its vision. As it charged Ryutaros kept firing ,I'll be it, weaker shots at the beast to push it on with Urataros soon joining in. The when it was halfway to the cliff Kintaros ran up to it, jumped and delivered palm strike to the back of its right leg. The affect was similar to doing it to a cow and the Golaith's pace increased towards the cliff while Kintaros who was standing with his knees bent proclaimed "My strength has made you cry!"

Momotaros smirked as his foe grew closer then held up his sword right in front of him and his fiery aura vanished with some absorbed by the blade which started glowing same red. The blade then spilt off from the hilt and flew up into the air while spinning then stopped a good height above Momotaros' head. As the Goliath closed in it vision still blurred he announce "Hissatsu! Ore wa Hissatsu waza!" just when the creature was about to run him down he jumped up over the beast and in midair facing downwards swiped his sword over across the beasts back with the blade soon following slashing right through the stab wound Urataros left earlier but this time it did the deed. Momotaros then landed in a crouch his sword pointed at the Goliath who let out a final trumpeting cry of pain then began to tilt on its side and fell of the edge of the cliff and vanished into the white void below. Momotaros raised his head and finished with "Part two jump."

(End song)

Momotaros then stood up with a satisfied sgih and smile with his sword heft on his shoulder. He then turned round on his heel to see Urataros, Kintaros and Ryutaros running up to him. "How's that for a tactic Kame-ko?"

"I must admit it worked out better then you last plan" Urataros commented.

"Hrrrm" Kintaros nodded in agreement "Nice work Momonoji."

"Heh heh" Momotaros chuckled then ran his finger under his noise.

"I don't buy it!"

"Hmmm?" The three turned to the shortest member of their group who stepped up to Momotaros and pointed his finger right in the swordsman's face "When did you get smart enough to come up with stuff like that?"

"That's it Gaki! When this is over I'm kicking your ass from Beacon to Patch!" Momotaros promised as he shook his fist at the gunman while their partners chuckled at their antics.

Meanwhile their three spectators watched on with wide eyes at what they just saw with Jaune's mouth hanging open in awe while Nora's was in a big grin.

Breaking the silence not taking his eyes off the four Jaune said to his partner, with his voice noticeably higher "Conduits..." He cleared his throat then spoke in his normal voice "Conduits for aura. Got it."

"That's...not quite what I meant" The red haired amazon replied her eyes still focused on Momotaros' face. Was she the only one who saw what happened when his aura flared. She lightly shook her head and placed a hand on her forehead. "Maybe it was just the adrenaline making me see things...?" She thought then looked back at the four "Right?"

At that moment Ren walked over to them and was welcomed by a still beaming Nora who waved at him. The green clad young man gasped for breath then fell face first onto the ground in front of the three.

A screech quiet different from the Nevermore's drew the attention of those still standing to the ruins and they saw four new arrivals, very familiar to Momotaros and co, on the end of one of the ruined walk ways battling a Griffin.

---

Yuuto and company's situation hadn't improved in the slightest. The Griffin swiping its talons at them and flapping its wings and so far all their shots just seemed to bounce of its skin. Yuuto let out a frustrated groan "Nothing we're doing is making a difference!"

"Something is not right" Yuuto turned to his partner who kept firing at the Grimm "Why doesn't ijust fly around and get us from behind or from our sides or even from above?"

Yuuto frowned Deneb had a point the Griffin could have taken them out by now. He turned back their foe just as Hana swatted away another swipe from its paw with her hammer and for a second got a look at how its eyes which seemed to shine with...amusement?. He bit back a curse "The bastard is playing with us!"

"Any bright ideas?" Kotaro shouted.

"Stand back!" Yuuto shouted then closed his eyes.

Deneb quickly caught onto what he was doing "Yuuto don't!"

Yuuto groaned and turned to him and gestured at the Griffin "Deneb we have to kill this thing now!"

"But you already used your semblance today and you know how much it drains you!" he resumed firing.

"Yeah but I-"

"Watch out!" Hana pushed Yuuto aside and swung her hammer just in time to swat away another swipe from the beast's talons.

"Just because you don't feel the after effect now doesn't mean it won't happen. Using your semblance again would only speed it up!"

Yuuto lowered his head and grit his teeth while clenching his fists. He knew Deneb had a point but they needed to finish this now.

"Another other ideas?" Kotaro asked.

Then something caught Yuuto's eye the Griffin's hind feet namely how it jumped from up from the walkway and hovered out of reach when they tried close range. If they could somehow pin it to the ground then maybe. Yuuto jumped forward and fired several more shots at the Griffin's stomach only for it to hop backwards. Just like he wanted. He kept firing eyes locked on their foe and shouted "Do any of you have any fire and ice Dust?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

"Answer the question!" He demanded over his shoulder.

After a beat Kotaro patted his right ammo pouch then his left and pulled out a custom cartridge of red Dust "I've got fire."

"And I have ice" Deneb said as he held up two of his own unique cartridges one in each hand.

"Alright" Yuuto nodded and turned his attention back to the Grimm "Hana and I will keep the Griffin busy. Load those rounds into you weapons and wait for my order!"

"Rodger!" Deneb replied with a salute then held his arms up and made a motion of punching the air with both arms making the back of his gauntlets pop up revealing a slot for ammunition. He then inserted the cartridges and closed the gauntlets. Their was a slight hum and a white glow from underneath the back of the weapons.

Kotaro put hand on the forehead of the face on the Machteddy then pushed it up opening the mouth up just enough for him to insert the Dust cartridge then close the mouth. The eyes on the sword flashed the same shade of red as the Dust and a voice announced "SPICY!"

Yuuto and Hana meanwhile kept the Griffin busy, Yuuto having changed Zerogasher back into its sword form, and kept swinging at the Griffin's exposed stomach and hind legs but the Grimm kept hopping out of the way. After Kotaro and Deneb had inserted their ammo the purple swordsman called "Okay now what?"

Yuuto's head snapped round to the two "Kotaro! Blind it!"

"On it!" Kotaro pointed the Machteddy at the Griffin's head, his left hand holding the blade like a riffle. A trio of small fireballs shot out of the swords tip and hit the Griffin right in the face burst out in a small fiery explosion.

The beast let out pained screech then landed on its hind legs and shook its head. Yuuto tuned to his partner "Deneb! Freeze it to the ground!"

"Rodger!" Deneb fired several white Dust shots at the Griffin's feet which upon impact froze the Griffin's feet to the ground trapping it.

The Griffin let out a cry and flapped its wings with all its strength but the ice was too strong.

"Alright! Deneb keep it on its hind legs!" Deneb nodded in response and took several steps closer to the Grimm and returned to firing at it. Meanwhile Yuuto turned to other swordsman of the group "Kotaro you and me are going to take out its wings."

"And how do we do that?" Kotaro asked still holding the Machteddy ready to fire it.

Yuuto turned to the hammer wielder "Hana give us a boost."

"Eh?!" Hana and Kotaros asked at once.

"Do it!" Yuuto lifted up his right knee.

After a second Hana rolled her head back, let out a sigh and agreed "Fine!"

She got on one knee and placed her hand under the sole of Yuuto's foot. The two then turned to Kotaro who shook his head in disbelief when he figured out what Yuuto was up to but mirrored his actions with his partner placing her left hand under his boot.

"On my mark toss us up over the Griffin. You ready?" The two nodded in response "Okay one...two...Now!"

Hana threw the two up into the air and over the head of the monster where they did a quick flip and straightened out and descended between the wings. Yuuto descended first and did a twirl and slashed the wing with his Zerogasher and jumped against the Grimm back landing in a roll and stopping in a crouch with Kotaro mirroring him by two seconds. The Griffin thrashed around crying out in agony at the lose of the use of its wings which fell behind it began to decay. Yuuto stood up and spun round to Griffin and switched his sword into its blow gun form and fired a couple of shots at the monster's back right between where its wings used to be.

"Kotaro melt the ice!" Kotoro held the Machteddy in his gun stance and fired a stream of flames at the ice. Between heat and the Griffin thrashing about the ice crack and shattered. Now free the Griffin spun round to the two swordsman and got on all fours and screeched at the two. Yuuto kept firing at the Grimm while Kotaro let out several small fire blasts at the beast but there was no obvious effect as the Grimm was lost in its fury with what little cunning it had vanished. "Deneb! Lay down on your back!"

The other three turned to him "What?!"

"JUST DO IT!" Deneb did as he was told though he was still confused getting on his back on the stone walkway. Looking up he exchanged a puzzled look with Hana before Yuuto grabbed the girl's attention "Hana! Get him over to this side! Make sure he goes between the Grimm's legs!" Hana got his meaning and twisted her torso round and raised her hammer "Deneb!" Yuuto leaned his head back to look at Yuuto "When you get out from under its head freeze its front feet!"

"Rodger!"

"You sure about this?" Hana asked Deneb still not entirely on board with the plan.

"No but I trust Yuuto and we don't have any better Ideas" Was the reply.

"Okay then" She tightened her grip on her weapon "Ready?"

"HAI!" Hana swung the hammer down to Deneb's feet like a golfer sending her cloaked ally flying along the walkway between the Grimm's legs. As he passed under its head he called "Excuse me!" Yuuto and Kotaro jumped over him as he slid along and fired half a dozen shots at the Griffin's feet trapping it again.

The two swordsmen landed back down as the Griffin tried to free itself. Yuuto then shouted "Hana! Get over here and finish it!"

"On my way!" Hana folded the shaft of her weapon back up but kept a death grip on it ran straight and the Griffin and dove between its legs skidding underneath it. As she came to a stop right in front of Yuuto and Kotaro the Griffin let out a raged filled roar at the three then in a split second Hana turned round to Grimm in a crouch and hefted her weapon on her right shoulder. The cylinder then extended out and increased in size. The silver rings separated the black sections extended to reveal small silver section between. A scope popped out of the side of her weapon now in its bazooka form and she took aim at the beats open mouth and pulled the trigger with a shout of "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

The weapon fired a round right down Griffin's throat silencing its roar with and explosion. The recoil sent Hana flying back into Yuuto and Kotaro behind her and they landed on their backs.

"Urgh!" Kotaro groaned and he try to sit up after Hana got off him and Yuuto "Did we get it?"

"We got it alright" Hana said as she shook her head.

The three looked at where the Griffin was as the smoke cleared. The ice remained though now very crack and the Griffin's feet remained standing but they cut off just below the join as the Grimm was gone with only the fore mentioned feet and a few stray falling feathers being its only trace.

"Phew!" The unlucky swordsman breathed in relief. Then patted Yuuto on the shoulder "Nice plan Yuuto."

"Thanks" He nodded back.

"Everyone!" The looked behind to see Deneb running to them with a concerned expression "Are you all alright?"

"Yeah Deneb we're fine" Hana reassured with a smile.

"Thank goodness" Deneb breathed in relief as he leaned his head back then bent down to help them up.

"Well that takes care of that" Yuuto commented to which Deneb nodded in agreement with until they heard another cry.

(Insert Red Like Roses Part 2)

They looked in the direction of the noise and saw the Nevermore circle round the what was left of the centre of the fortress and several shots being fired at it.

---

Yang stood fired shot after shot at the circling Nevermore while standing on what was left of one of the structures support columns. So far none of her shots had seemed to gain the Grimm's attention until one hit it right between its right eyes. It let out a screech of pain and dropped in the air for second until it regained control then circled back to the blonde brawler and flew straight at her. Yang readied her gauntlets then when the Grimm was almost upon her she jumped right into its open beak and flew off with it. She held the Nevermore' mouth open with her left fist and feet then proceeded to fire her right gauntlet down the beast's throat again and again. "I! Hope! Your! Hungry!"

She did a quick look over her shoulder and saw the Nevermore was flying straight for the cliff either with the intent to finisher or it had lost control. Never mattered to Yang as she back flipped out of her foe's mouth and landed on a surviving bridge below in a crouch. The Nevermore didn't have such a graceful landing as it crashed into the cliff then stood on the roof of the structure built into it and turned in the direction of Yang let out a furious cry.

Yang looked up and smirked when at what she saw. Blake was standing on top of a pillar while Ruby was on a smaller one right next to the bridge and Weiss was on said bridge and flying straight towards her. Yang broke into a run as Weiss flew right past her egger to see what plan was cooking.

The Nevermore flapped its thing and took off but Weiss jumped into the air, did a single twirl and landed Myrtenaster's tip on the roof causing a thick wall of ice to form on the roof trapping the Nevermore's tail and keeping it on the roof. Giving a satisfied nod she then back flipped over the edge and summon a Glyph and jumped back in an arc to the bridge then proceeded to run to join the others.

Blake drew Gambol Shroud from its sheath and converted into its throwing scythe form then threw it at the pillar across from her. Yang caught it and planted the blade in the side of the pillar while Blake dropped down to the same level on the her own pillar and firmly held the ribbon so it was perfect secured between the two pillars.

Ruby then fired Crescent Rose and used the recoil to jump up at the ribbon. She then performed a spin then landed the heel of the scythe against the strap with her feet against the blade. On the other side of the strap Weiss summoned and Glyph while holding out her right arm and making a gesture with her right hand with her index and ring fingers together while she pointed Myrtenaster in the same direction in her left hand. She then turned her hand around and the Glyph turned black as the heel of Crescent Rose came to rest on it and was held with Ruby ready for launch and Weiss posed like are archer ready to fire both their eyes locked on the Nevermore.

"Of course you would come up with this idea!"

"Think you can make the shot?"

Weiss gave a small smile "Can I?"

Ruby blinked at the question then turned to her partner "Can you?"

"Of course I can!"

Ruby turned back to the Nevermore and ditched a empty shell while Weiss held her sabre raised before her then spun around and the Glyph vanished sending Ruby flying at her target. She fired several shots from her scythe to help propel her forward while leaving a trail of rose petal behind her. She flew past the Grimm's head catching it by the neck with Crescent Rose's blade and pulling it along as she landed against the side of the cliff. Weiss then summoned a Glyph allowing her to stand against the side of the cliff then summoned a trail of the glowing symbols up the surface allowing Ruby to run straight up it which she did with a mix of her semblance and several shots from her weapon allowing her to drag the Nevermore right up the side of the cliff to the top with a loud cry of effort.

Weiss then doubled over from exhaustion from summoning so many Glyphs in such a short amount of time as the others all watched the sight. When Ruby reached the top she went flying straight up and sliced right through the giant Grimm's neck. She did a flip in the air then landed knees bent with Crescent Rose over her shoulders with the point of its blade planted in the ground as a rose petals rained around her. The Nevermore's head landed to her right while its lifeless body fell and vanished into the white void below.

Quiet filled the area as the astonishing feat each group contemplating it. On the other side of the chasm Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha and Ren looked on in quiet awe at the sight only broken by the blonde voicing the thought that ran through all their minds "Wow."

On the walkway Yuuto's were in a similar state. Kotaro with the Machteddy held up in his right hand with his left on his hip let out and impressed whistle at the spectacle while Deneb quietly proclaimed "Ishinomori's pen."

"You can say that again" Hana said without taking her eyes of girl on top of the cliff.

"Well let me say this" Yuuto said to her as he replaced the Zerogasher on his back then took two steps forward with his arms spread out "They are fairly strong!" He finished by holding right arm in front of him with his bicep curled and left hand placed on it. Hana just rolled her eyes and shook her head at the action.

Momotaros' group were a little more...vocal about their opinions.

"That...was...so...COOL!" Ryutaros proclaimed throwing his hands up in the air.

Kintaros stood with arms folded over his chest with his axe in hand then held up his right hand while holding a tissue and clenched it into a fist. With his eyes closed and lip quivering he stated "Their strength makes me cry!"

Urataros turned to his partner "It looks like we have some completion for the most climatic team Senpai."

"Oi don't count us out yet Kame" Momotaros shoved him lightly on shoulder with a chuckle while his left hand held his sword against his shoulder.

"Yeah!" Ryutaros cheered while Kintaros nodded in agreement.

As Ruby walked back to the edge of the cliff and looked down at Weiss, Blake and Yang with her cape blowing in the wind and a flurry of rose petals flew off form it. Weiss looked up at her realizing how much she had miss judged the scythe wielder from their first meeting the previous day and how wrong she had been when she stated she was far more skilled then her.

Yang walked up to the heiress right looking up at her sister proudly while Blake jumped down next to her and looked up at the hooded girl in admiration and respect for her creative strategy. Four a moment they all looked in silence still Yang broke it "Well...that was a thing."

Back with Momotaros he took a step forward with his red eyes locked on the girl at the top of the cliff. 'Rose petals. A hood. Silver eyes.' He thought then clenched his fist 'Why does it feel like those things should...mean something?'

On top of the cliff Ruby looked down at the fifteen below her and gave a small smile.

Meanwhile in the shadow of a tree off to Ruby's right an unnoticed figure watched as the second ticked by on his pocket watch from beneath the rim of his cap. He tore his gaze from the time piece to the girl then closed the watch and withdrew his hand beneath his trench coat and took his leave.

---

"Russell Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark" Ozpin called off the fours names as they stepped onto the stage as the their pictures were shown on to holographic screens projected above the amphitheatre's stage while the faculty and students applauded. It was late in the evening and almost everyone in the school had gathered to welcome those who had passed their initiation.

The group currently joining the headmaster in the spotlight consisted of a tall young man with brown hair who stood well above the other three boys dress in grey and gold armour with gold bird with its wings spread on the chest with a red belt and black collar sticking out. Next to him was his partner the punk from the cliff and the shortest of the group. The other two were around the same height with one on dark brown armour with dark blonde hair while his partner was in greyish blue with shoulder length hair of a similar shade.

"The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces" Ozpin continued. "From this day forward you will work together as Team CRDL (Cardinal)" Each member of the newly formed team appeared beneath their photo "Lead by...Cardin Winchester."

The audience clapped as the four left the stage and past Jaune, Pyrhha, Ren and Nora on their way down as they made their way up to Ozpin and stood at attention before him with their hands behind their backs. "Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos and Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward you will work together as...Team JNPR (Juniper)" a giggling Nora wrapped her arms around Ren's neck at the announcement "Lead by...Jaune Arc."

"Huh?" Jaune head whipped round to the headmaster, he must have misheard him "L-Lead by?"

"Congratulations young man" apparently not.

Pyrrha beamed at her partner then gave him a punch on the shoulder that was meant as friendly but sent him to the ground "Whoa! Ooph!"

The crowd gathered laughed at the act while Pyrrha gave him an apologetic smile then help him to his feet and the newly formed JNPR left the stage. They walked past Yuuto's group as they went with the fore mentioned nodding at them as they past, Hana smiled at them, Denebe bowed his head to with a smile to Jaune "Congratulations" and finally Kotaro gave the young Arc pat on the shoulder.

"Next" The emerald clad headmaster began as they made their way up the stage "Hana Egami, Yuuto Zakurai, Deneb Rook and Kotaro Ogami. You each retreaved a white pawn piece and shall work together as Team ZERO. Lead by...Yuuto Zakurai."

Yuuto blinked in surprise with his mouth open slightly. He then turned to his new team to see Hana smiling, Deneb proudly beaming at him and looked like he was on the verge of tears and Kotaro giving him a thumbs up "Good going Yuuto."

Yuuto gave them a small smile then turned to Ozpin with a nod which the Headmaster returned then turned and led his team off the stage. As they reached the steps Deneb couldn't contain himself any more and jumped at his partner and enveloped him in a hug. "Ack! Deneb get off!" Yuuto pushed his partner off.

"But Yuuto I'm just so proud of you!"

"Well knock it off baka!"

As they got of the stage Momotaros led his group before Ozpin "Momotaros Dered, Ryutaros O'Violet, Urataros Ezure and Kintaros Nakuo. The four of you retrieved the white king pieces and from now on be know as Team DENO. Lead by...Momotaros Dered."

"YOSH!" Momotaros did a fist pump.

"EH?!" Ryutaros stepped forward and pointed at Momotaros "I've got to listen to him?!"

"Told ya I'm the boss of you Gaki!" Momotaros smirked.

"Nuh uh!" The purple gunmen folded his arms and shook his head and walked forward closer to the edge of the stage "I'm not following you!"

"Well you have to now!" Momotaros countered and pointed at himself "I'm your leader!"

"Well...I'm sure about that" Kintaors walked over to the red swordsman with his arms folded then when he was at his side he looked away "I don't think a good leader only tells his team half of the plan before doing it."

Ryutaros spun around and pointed at his partner and walked closer "Yeah! What Kuma-chan said!"

"You..." Momotaros growled as he looked between the two then wrapped his arm around Ryutaros' neck and did the same to Kintaros "PUNKS!"

He held them tight as they slapped his arms but he didn't let go meanwhile Urataors just walked behind his partner examining the nails of his right hand. Suddenly glowling purple circle materlized infront of the fore whose eyes shot at it all wide set the same expression. The circle then quickly expanded and vanished throwing the four off the stage and into the wall where they landed in a groaning pile with Kintaros on top and Urataros at the bottom with thier partners wedge between them. Several audiance member laughing at the sight while a certain combat instructor lowered her riding crop and pushed up her glasses with a sound of annoyance. The blue casanova lifted his head and groaned out "Why was I thrown too?" His head then dropped back onto the floor as Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang made their way to the stage.

Ozpin gave an almost unheard chuckle then turned to the girls "And finally Blake Belladona, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee and Yang Xio Long. The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward you will work togethor as Team RWBY" The headmaster placed his hands behind his back "Lead by...Ruby Rose."

Weiss turned and blinked at her partner in shock then looked back at the headmaster. Ruby was pretty suprised herself and blinked several times as she looked around the applouding aphitheatre. Behind her she saw Teams JNPR, ZERO and DENO cherring, clapping and crying.

"Good going Ruby!" Jaune called.

"Congrates!" Kotaro added while clapping.

"Way to go Buki Otaku!" Momotaros shouted.

Ruby wondered if she was dreaming but that theory quickly went out the window as Yang wrapped her arms around her neck "I'm so proud of you!"

"Yang! Can't...breathe!" The little red reaper chocked out and her sister complied bet kept a grip on her arms and beamed at her proudly. Ruby looked past her at their new teammates Blake turned and gave the girl a small smile while Weiss' eyes kept switching between her and Ozpin before she gave a nod. Ruby smiled and turned back to her sister 'Maybe coming to Beacon wasn't such a mistake after all.'

"Looks like things are shaping up to be an...interesting year" Ozpin commented as the cheering continued while outside the Moon began to emerge in the even sky.

---

The moon shining seeping in through a window served as the only thing to illumiante the dark warehouse Roman was currentlu occuping, they couldn't turn on the lights in cased they'd alert someone and the last thing they needed was to let the police or better yet some goodie good Huntsmen know their location. Not that that really mattered as the master crimenal listened to the telling off he was getting over his scroll. He had tried giving his reasons but they weren't taking any of it and frankly he wasn't willing to push them. The conversation ending with the other end saying "You will continue to work with them and make up for the hold up on your side of the plan without and a complaint. I must say I expect more from someone with your reputation Roman."

They hung up and Roman placed his scroll down on the table loudly then rested his hands against it and let out a groan. He looked up at the map of the City of Vale hung above it which was covered with notes about the law enfourcement of the different districts. He then pulled out a cigar and placed in his mouth and light it. He then heard the sound of a trolly rolling up to him with a heavy load he turned and saw the one pushing it dress in white and black with a hood ober his head and a mask bearing a likeness to the face of a Grimm. Roman pulled out five Lien cards and placed them on the table the transporter picked up.

"Open it" The transporter picked up a crowbar and popped open the top crate revealing numerous Dust crystals of various shapes and sized safely secrued. Roman walked up to the crate and examined a large blue crystal. He frowned if they weren't going to meet their deadline at this rate "We're gonna need more men."

---

Ozpin looked out at the glowing lights of the city across the lake as he sat in his office from the top of Beacon Tower where the great gears above him turned keep silence at bay. A truely beautiful view and most nights Ozpin took comfort that such a sight for all the shadows it concleed meant that the people of Vale had survived another day. A comfort he rarely managed to keep as those formentioned shadows seemed to be moving to be readying for something he just wasn't sure what. Ozpin then turned to his desk and pulled out a scroll he then opened up the short list of contacts and scrolled down until he found the number he saught.

The answer was almost immidiate "Moshi moshi."

"Hello sorry to disturb you."

"Nonsense Ozpin! I was expecting your call."

"Quite. Anyway I called to inform you their initiation was a success. All eight of them are now offically students of Beacon."

"Wonderful!" the speaker on the other end replied "I'll organize a small celebration. I do hope you'll look after them during their time at your school."

"Of course I'll aid them to the best of my abilities."

"Glad to hear it" Their was a brief pause before he continued "That's not the only reason for you call I take it."

The headmaster sighed "Yes. Its just...you are sure about their present course of action?"

"It seems most likely" Was the reply "And recent circumstances only bring us closer to confirmation."

"I know its but..." He gave a sigh "I just wish we weren't following this presnet course of action."

"Ozpin. Need I remind you that-DOH!"

"Are you alright?" Ozpin asked concerned.

---

He quickly recovered and looked down at the guilty party that almost caused him to fall over, a stuff dog.

"Yes yes! Fine" He reassured as he looked up at the flickering light above him "I'm afraid the dining car took a hit in a prevous battle" he then looked at the rest of the car covered in darkness with the fucntionly lights being the flickering one above the doorway he just entered and the one above his favourite seat which he walked towards "We still haven't managed to repair the lights and your more then aware of the difficulty we are currently having."

"Yes I am" Ozpin sighed as he sat down "Well I won't keep you. Goodbye."

"Goodbye and thank you for the update" He hung up his scroll and returned the device to it place in his jacket's inner pocket. He placed his cain at his side the picked up his fork. But as he was about to dig it into his usual plate of rice the door on the other side of the car opened and four shadowed figures walked in. The first went up to the counter then all four briefly seemed to shimmer, each a different colour, as they forms changed but in the darkness he could only see their outline. The first shimmered red and had a pair of horns emerging from its forehead and rested its right elbow against the counter. The second who was blue stood by the door way its left hand held up in an odd gesture with three short horns and a pair of orange eyes that shone with cunning. The third had been gold and had its arms folded then sat down on a seat, the side profile of its head showing a single long horn emerging from its forehead head, then turned its head to him showing a single V shaped eye that glowed gold. And the final figure had been purple and was the shortest of them its eyes were red and glowed with mischivous energy as it held up a peach sigh. He was familar with these figures and he had only one question for them which he asked with a raised brow "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

---

Next Time on DENO

"Good morning team RWBY!"

"What is wrong with you?!"

"Alright! Weiss, Blake, Yang and their fearless leader Ruby have begun their first mission!"

"Its eight fifty-five you dunce!"

"A true Huntsmen must be honourable, dependable, strategic, well educated and wise!"

"I thought you believed in working as a team."

"Not a team led by you."

"Would someone please tell me why we have to do this?!"

"It will all be come clear in time Momotaros-kun."

"We have bigger concerns like what is the cause behind this."

"I've been pretty stressed lately and I think you might just the guy to help me out."

"I just think if she wants to be treated as my teammate she has to stop acting like a foolish child."

"The perhaps you should follow your own advice."

"Don't mock me!"

"Henshin!"

"SWORD FORM"

"Ore SANJOU!"

---

And done. Damn more words then chapter five din't expect that. Surprisingly for being less then a quarter of an hour long the actual episode makes up for it quanty. I'm honestly really pleased with the surnames I came up with for Team DENO I thought they sounded right and yeah I changed Yuuto and Kotaro's names for the teams but there is an in story reason for that which will see real soon and yeah they don't follow the colour rule I just couldn't think of anything that could work for them. Next we have the teams settling into Beacon. Anyway thanks for reading and feel free to review. Oh and also Hana's bazooka/hammer I tried coming up with a name but I've got nothing. Any suggestions?