I wasn't dreaming when they told me you were gone,

I was wide awake and feeling that they had to be wrong.


"Jaune."

"Yeah, I'm coming." Jaune said breathlessly. He caught up with the R of team JNPR and stood beside him, staring at the locked administration office. The room was dark and empty as well. Computers and file cabinets lined the walls and sides of the room. There were papers, files and post-it-notes scattered everywhere, but no signs of the teachers either.

"Drats." Jaune said. "Nobody's here, either."

"I suppose that's to be expected." Ren said.

"Yeah.." Jaune said. "But I couldn't help but hope, y'know?"

Jaune leaned against the doorframe of the administration office, taking a breather after running over half of Beacon in less than five minutes. He didn't realize how big the place actually was. For a relatively small student population, Beacon certainly is a pretty big place. Moreover, not having aura had drastically reduced his perseverance. His muscles ached like never before, not used to not having access to the ample pool of energy that is his aura.

"You should put more time into stamina training." Ren said, noticing his partner's exhaustion. "Your stamina is fine for duels in combat class, but if we are to encounter a prolonged engagement, you wouldn't be able to maintain that peak for long. It can also help you keep going even if you run out of aura during a fight."

"Yeah, you're right." Jaune admitted. "I'll ask Pyrrha next time we train. But for now, we need to find a new objective."

Would there be a next time? Jaune thought darkly. He shook those thoughts aside - it won't help him now.

"Where do you suggest we go?" Ren asked.

Jaune scratched his chin, trying to look contemplative.

"Let's check in on team CFVY in the communications centre." Jaune said after a moment. "Maybe they've got something."

"Alright." Ren said. "Lead the way."

When Jaune shuffled his feet and looked away, Ren sighed.

"You don't know where it is, do you?" Ren guessed.

"I've never had to go there, okay!" Jaune protested. "There's like, two hundred buildings in here!"

"Forty-seven. But okay." Ren smiled. He looked at the city of Vale, shrouded in darkness, then the central school buildings. The image of a certain energetic girl came into mind and he frowned.

"I hope they're okay, too.' Jaune guessed, placing a comforting hand on Ren's shoulder.

"I don't understand why we worry." Ren admitted. "It is such an unreasonable emotion. It does not help anyone, but I still do even though we are far more likely to get into trouble that those two."

"We worry 'cause we care. I'd be more concerned if you weren't worried." Jaune said. "Simple as that. Besides, why are you worrying about them at all? Pyrrha's the best student in our year and Nora is.. well, Nora. "

Ren chuckled at that.

"I suppose you're right." he sighed, then brightened with renewed resolve. "Let's go."


.. When we've lost all hope and succumb to fear

As the skies rain blood and the end draws near..


Stepping off of Weiss's personal Dustship, Ruby bounded through the empty shipyard with a look of distress on her face. Normally she'd be glad that she could do whatever she wanted like this, but all she wants right now was a friendly face to greet. The ride to Vale had been sobering, and Weiss looked as if she was thinking so hard her head might pop off.

Ew. Ruby thought. Bad thought. Think happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

Weiss scowled at the empty scene and Ruby felt another twinge of sadness. The entire day her partner seems to have such horrid expressions etched to her normally pristine and calm face. Her hair was a mess her usual self would never stand for, but she doesn't seem to care.

Don't frown like that, Weiss. Ruby thought. That's not fun. That's not you. Your smiles are a million times better.

"Where is everybody?" Weiss complained out of frustration.

"Is there a party we weren't invited to? Ruby suggested, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I don't think professors go to parties, Ruby, and they're gone." Weiss said, taking her partner literally. "Besides, if there's a festival that size we'd hear it from miles away."

"Then what do you think is going on?"

"I originally thought that most of the adults are gone and they're simply giving us a test of some sort." Weiss said. "But they can't possibly have the entire city going in it, so I'll say it now - I have no clue what's happening."

"I'm sure Professor Ozpin knows!" Ruby brightened, pulling her scroll out and calling the wisest and most knowledgeable person she knew. This is it! He wouldn't fail her, or anyone else for that matter.

"Ruby, the global ne-" Weiss started.

"Shhh!" Ruby shushed. A vein in Weiss's forehead twitched in indignation.

It's so like you, though. Weiss thought, sighing. Always hopeful, never giving up.

Ruby frowned. Two words passed by her scroll display - No Connection.

"I tried to tell you, but the global net just went offline an hour ago." Weiss said, putting her hands on her hips as she chastised the younger girl. "The orbital satellites are probably cut off by the black clouds."

"Sorry." Ruby apologized.

"Don't be." Weiss said.

"What are we gonna do now?" Ruby thought out loud.

"Ruby." There was tension and anticipation in the heiress's voice.

"What?" Ruby asked.

"Grimm." Weiss said, placing a hand on Myrtenaster's sheath.

Ruby followed her gaze and felt horror grip her mind.

They were everywhere. On the streets, on the rooftops; crawling by the walls, slithering around empty vehicles. They were coming everywhere like silent wraiths, red eyes shining behind their masks. Their claws dug into the gravel, the concrete, the bricks - they were practically crawling through the entire district. Up on the skyline, the Grimm were barely distinguishable against the pitch black background of the sky. If they didn't have their white masks, Ruby would never have noticed them there in the first place.

She took an involuntary step back. The entire city was infested with Grimm.

How?

It shouldn't be possible. Vale was capital of one of the four great Cities of Remnant. There were multiple walls, barricades and armaments lined up all around the city. Even if there were nobody around, they always had an army of Atlasian automatons ready to repel the Grimm at any moment.

The cloud. It must be the cloud. Ruby thought.

She didn't have time to ponder that train of thought. There were more pressing concerns she must attend to.

"I don't know how you got past the barriers, but I'll stop you!" Ruby swore. Crescent Rose extended, she charged into battle.

"Ruby, wait!" Weiss shouted in alarm. "You don't have your aura!"

"It's our job to protect the city, aura or not!" Ruby said, glancing back with a smile.

You dunce. Weiss said, finding herself admiring her idealistic leader even more. Drawing Myrtenaster, Weiss set her rapier to fire dust mode. I can't do much without my semblance, but maybe I can scare them off with.. huh?

Ruby had stopped halfway in her dash. Her hands grew limp and the tip of Crescent Rose buried itself on the concrete ground.

"Ruby!" Weiss shouted. "What's wrong?"

"The Grimm.." Ruby whispered. "They.."

Weiss looked at humanity's mortal enemies and her mouth hung open.

They were whimpering. The Demons of the Night, Werebeasts of Old, Abominations of Creation - their heads hung low and they ran away the moment they saw Ruby. Weiss saw others walking around in a submissive manner she'd never seen Grimm exhibit, ever. Ursa were trying to burrow their way inside buildings. Nevermores were perched on the rooftops, pitch black feathers falling on the ground without care. Beowolves ran around in packs, howling at the sky with distress.

They didn't look like an invading force; they looked like scared animals seeking shelter.

"We have to go back." Weiss said. "We can't deal with this many Grimm by ourselves."

"The townspeople.." Ruby said.

"Are... fine." Weiss said. Ruby noticed the pause between both words. Weiss didn't really know what happened in the city, either, but she was trying to reassure Ruby anyway. That's just like her.

"There's nobody here, but there are people we should worry about back in Beacon. Okay?" Weiss continued.

Ruby looked down, saddened. Weiss took the initiative and walked up to her leader. Ruby's woeful visage gave way to a warm smile as the heiress's thin arms embraced her. They seem so fragile, yet Ruby had seen their strength in combat. Those pale arms of hers were undeniably strong, capable of summoning incredibly complex Dust runes and tuning the might of Nature's Wrath to her will. Those hands, which used to be so called, felt like the warmest thing Ruby had ever touched with.

"It'll be fine, Ruby." Weiss said, for Ruby's sakes and her own. She was confused and.. she'll admit it - afraid, but she can't afford to let it show. She is a Huntress, in line for the largest commercial company in the entirety of Remnant, and putting on a brave front is something she'll have to learn sooner or later.

"Thanks, Weiss." Ruby sniffed. "You're the best teammate ever."

"I know." Weiss said. "Let's go."

Both girls were comforted in the thought that no matter what happens, they'll always have each other. The goofy yet determined team leader and the

A shadow of a doubt slipped inside Ruby's heart.

Right?


It doesn't matter now.

The petals scatter now.

Every nightmare just discloses, it's your blood that's red like roses,

And no matter what I do, nothing ever takes the place.. of you.


"The hell is going on here, Junior!?" Yang said.

"I don't know! I swear!" the mobster said, raising his hands in fear of the raging blonde. In the few times they've met, he's never seen her so angry. "All my boys are gone, too! Nobody's coming to the club and it's supposed to be the busiest night of the year!"

Yang let him go and he scrambled away, cursing his luck. He left the club through the backdoor, leaving Yang and Blake alone in the mob club. The club was loud with pre-set music. Yang walked around and nonchalantly plucked a succulent brownie from the dessert table.

"Yum" Yang said appreciatively.

"He doesn't seem to know anything, either." Blake said, summing up their encounter.

"Junior's my contact. He's supposed to know everything that's going on in the city." Yang said, putting down the brownie and picking up a bottle of tequila. She ignored Blake's disapproving look and poured some on a fancy glass. She downed it in one go, belching afterwards. Then she looked annoyed. "I don't know who else to go to for information."

"If he is clueless as to how this event came to be, doesn't it imply that everybody else is just as confused?" Blake reasoned.

"I guess." Yang said. "Hey, wanna dance?"

"What?" Blake said, unsure of where Yang was going with the suggestion.

"Dance." Yang reaffirmed. "You know, crazy moves, club music, undulating hips.." she moved her own to demonstrate it. Blake merely raised an eyebrow and replied, "I'm merely surprised you're able to use the word 'undulating' in a sentence."

"Ouchie, Blakey!" Yang laughed. "You're so tense! C'mere." she extended a welcoming hand.

"Wait-" but the word wait doesn't exist in the blonde brawler's dictionary as she pulled her partner onto the glass dance floor, which still retained several crack marks from when she smashed it apart almost a year ago.

Oops. Yang thought. No wonder Junior's always pissed when he sees me.

Yang closed her eyes and felt the music, trying to get used to the rhythm. When she found a reasonable pace, she opened her eyes and smiled at her shy partner, who merely stood there with her arms crossed timidly across her chest. Yang pried Blake's arms apart and spun her around. Blake squealed in surprise and fell, only to be caught by Yang's steady hands. Yang pulled her up and she was once again sent flying across the dance floor.

"I don't know about this." Blake said.

"Come on, just do it! Like, feel the music. Let the beat flow through you.." Yang swayed from side to side, following the rhythm, until the beat dropped, at which she somersaulted once, twice, thrice until she reached the very edge of the dance floor. The music grew into a lull and the carefree girl pointed a challenging finger at her partner.

Might as well try. Blake said. She followed Yang's lead - she closed her eyes and tried to attune herself to the rhythm. The compelling beats, the plethora of electronic sounds, the distorted voice.. it was not different from the meditations she did during training. But instead of becoming one with the silence, she found herself aligning herself with the various array of pulsating sounds that make up the whole.

She began to move. Her arms moved here and there as if she was evading the enemy, holding an imaginary Gambol Shroud and taking down Ursa and thugs alike. She moved faster and faster and started to find the music fu- tolerable.

"Yeah!" Yang cheered at her partner's progress. "You'll be a clubbin' like a pro in no time!"

"Shut up." Blake smiled. They closed the distance between each other. Yang took the lead, whirling around Blake. Strobe lights and a dazzling array of colorful explosions dotted their world, and Blake found herself entranced by Yang's flowing hair, its golden luminescence shining brightly through every other color in the room. She smiled. Yang was always the one to bring out this side of her, a carefree side who wanted to live, to shine, to be whatever she wants to be. Yang was the only person she was truly comfortable being herself, and Blake thought of how she could make Yang know how much she meant to her.

Yang found herself falling for the cat faunus even harder. Her figure, elegant in both dancing and battle, was more alluring than anything she had ever seen. She remembered the past her partner had left, the traumatic battles and friends she had lost along the way. She had come far from the unstable shell she was in the beginning of the year. Blake had become the most important person in her life alongside her sister Ruby - she could not think of a better person as her partner.

The music intensified, escalating to its climax.

It doesn't have to be this way,

They drew closer, circling each other with panting breaths and messy hair.

Let's kiss and make up, then you'll learn

Blake could smell her scent. It was beautiful ferocity; golden joy.

You can fight your life away

Yang's heart beat like a drum, faster and faster until it was even with the frantic pace of the music.

I get what I want so don't bother and just watch me

Burn.

Their noses touch, their lips parted, and they-

The lights went dark.


Red emergency lights kicked in, showering the room with crimson illumination. The music died, and with it their dancing. They separated, looking away in embarassment and disappointment.

"Huh." Yang said. She looked down, disappointed. "I guess there's that."

"I guess." Blake said. She looked up to her partner and said, "and then there's this."

Tender arms brought Yang close and warm lips met hers. Yang gasped in surprise, but quickly melted against Blake's touch. Their kiss intensified as Blake strengthened her embrace, a move Yang was quick to reciprocate. They kissed their confusion away, their sorrow, their regrets. Their hands ran through each others' hair, embracing the silky feeling and the joy of realizing their feelings.

They broke away, gasping for air.

"Holy shit, Blake." Yang grinned brightly. "I didn't know you had it in you."

"Only because a certain idiot wasn't picking up the hints." Blake said, looking bashful.

Yang leaned forward. Their foreheads touched and they closed their eyes, cherishing the moment.

"I love you." Blake said, surprisingly straightfoward.

"I love me, too." Yang joked. Blake pouted, something Yang found criminally adorable, until she repeated the words as well. "I love you, too."

Blake's purring was music to Yang's ears.

They stood side by side in thought until Blake broke the silence.

"Yang, how do we leave?"

"Through the front door, silly!" Yang said. "Where else?"

She turned around to leave, but felt firm hands yanking her back.

"Ouch!" she said. "What was that for, Blake?"

'You should look where you're going." Blake said, pointing at the door.

"What?" Yang looked.. and gasped.

Instead of a door, the entrance of junior's club was wrapped in a sphere of utter darkness.


"Weiss, over here!" Ruby whispered.

"I'm coming." She looked around to make sure there were no Grimm close behind and joined her partner in the alleyway.

Even though the Grimm looked fearful and submissive, Weiss wasn't taking any chances. There's few things less dangerous than a cornered animal with nothing to lose. She opted to return to the shipyards the long way around. Ruby led her through a series of shortcuts until they arrived at the Commercial District, where it's an easy mile or two to the docks.

They arrived on an empty street. Ruby went out first to make sure it was truly deserted before gesturing for Weiss to follow. Weiss nodded, then set Myrtenaster to Ice Dust. She proceeded to summon a barrier of ice on the alleyway behind her. If anyone, or anything, was following them, it should buy them some time.

They were halfway through the district when Weiss heard a stall door open.

"Missy! Missy!"

Weiss glanced to see a distraught old man with a (literally) dusty apron go out of a shop. He came up to Ruby, breathing hard. Weiss read the sign hanging above his shop. It read "From Dust 'Till Dawn".

A dust shop, huh?

"Old man!" Ruby exclaimed happily. "Are you okay? Do you know what happened to the city?"

"I don't! But I saw something horrible happen to my customers!"

Ruby felt goosebumps erupt throughout her body.

"W.. What?" she said uncertainly.

"They.. faded." The old man said. "Agh! I can't find a better explanation, but they faded, alright!"

"Calm down." Weiss said, placing both her hands on his shoulders. "Look at me."

He did. The distress in his eyes were palpable.

"Can you elaborate?" Weiss continued.

"Y-Yes." the old man said. "It was just another morning, and customers were starting to go enter. I open early, you see. They were browsing through my wares when I realized something unusual was going on."

"What is it?" Weiss asked softly.

"Like I said. They were.. fading. I can't describe it better than that; for some reason I was able to see past their bodies and straight at the dust shelves! I walked up to them and asked them if they needed to go to a hospital, but.."

"What is it?" Ruby asked, upset.

"They acted as if I wasn't there." The old man said in horror. "And when I tried to touch them.. my hand passed through them like smoke. Soon enough, they were all gone. Just like that."

"By Dust." Weiss swore softly.

"Did.. did that happen to the teachers, too?" Ruby whimpered, tearing up.

Weiss gathered the young girl in her arms as she began to cry.

"You should join us in Beacon, sir." Weiss said, running her hand through Ruby's hair comfortingly. "The city is overrun by Grimm, and I'm sure we can protect and house you for the time being.."

".. Sir?"

He wasn't responding. His eyes were empty, and they stared straight ahead.

"I said, would you like to come with-" Weiss reached for the shopkeeper.

And her hand passed through his body.

Weiss screamed and flinched back. She and Ruby toppled to the ground and looked just as the old man's apparition faded away.


an empty husk, a hollow shell

Part Two of Five