AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter. We head to final group as they start to wake up. Of all the duos, this one was a pleasant surprise to write and expand upon. This chapter will have a bit of a cliffhanger, but I hope to have the next one out as soon as I can. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.

Chapter 5 – Best Wishes

"…Uh…" Weiss groaned as she started to regain consciousness, "Huh!?" She said before her eyes shot open, "W-where am I?" she asked before hearing another person just waking up.

"Uh…" Blake said as she slowly opened her eyes, "What?" She said before examining the forest she and the white heiress were in, "This isn't the ruins." She then turned to Weiss, "What happened?"

"I-I don't know," Weiss said as held her head in pain, "That thing ate Yang, then it used some type of aura on us and-" She said before gasping, "Wait, where's Ruby?"

"I think she was launched out of the way," Blake commented, a look of sorrow in her eyes, "But I don't know if she made it out alive." She then realized something, "But if we're here, then we didn't die. It means Yang could be still alive."

"Right," Weiss said before standing up, extending her left hand as if to channel something, "We have to find her fast, then look for Ruby. I'll use my Glyphs platforms to survey the area and-" She said before gasping, "Eh…I can't make my Glyphs." She then looked back to her left hand, seeing it trembling, "My semblance, is it gone?" The white heiress frantically turned back to the black cat faunus, "Blake, see if you can make a clone? Right now!"

"Weiss, calm down." Blake offered before focusing, but nothing happened, "It's no good, I'm not able to make one."

Weiss then started to hyperventilate, turning back to her left hand, "Come on, I have to be able to make something!" She said while concentrating, but nothing came out, "Damnit! Work already!" Weiss shouted before biting her own hand.

"Weiss!" Blake said in shock, seeing blood form in the corner of her teammate's mouth, "Y-your aura, it must be fully depleted. You have to-" Blake said as she walked over to her teammate.

"Get away from me!" Weiss said as she pushed Blake away, causing the black cat faunus to fall onto the ground. Weiss scowled back for a second, then gasped as the ribbon was undone, "B-Blake…" she said while pointing at her teammate's head, "Where are your ears?"

Blake looked back at Weiss in confusion, taking her right hand and placing it against the side of her head. She felt her ears but then realized what her teammate really meant. As the hand went to the top of her head, the cat ears were no longer there. Blake's eyes widened in distress as she had both hands on her head, trying to find her faunus trait, "AAAAHHH!" She screamed as she continued to find nothing, tears forming in her eyes, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" the echoed whales of the black-haired lady rang threw the forest.

Hours later into dusk.

Before a fire, Blake sat while hugging her legs. Her eyes were dry and tired, and her gaze seemed almost lifeless. Weiss walked over, carrying some fruit with her jacket, "I found these nearby, they look like edible berries." She awkwardly said before putting then on the ground next to the black-haired lady.

"…" Blake did not say a word at first, but glanced over to see Weiss had used part of her dress as a banging for her hand, "Your aura hasn't come back yet?"

"No, it hasn't," Weiss said as she sat down, looking at her hand, "I tried waiting a bit to make my glyphs, but nothing worked." She then sighed, "I looked around for our weapon, but no luck again. Not even a sign that Yang or Ruby are close by."

"…" Blake did not say a word, just looking at the fire.

"…" Weiss sighed, "Look, I know you're Yang's partner and I'm Ruby's." She said before having a serious gaze, "But we've always been on the same team, even if not all our members are here now. So, talk to me."

"…This is my punishment." Blake spoke up, but still looked at the fires, "I went to Beacon hiding my faunus trait from everyone, hoping I wouldn't be judged for it." She said before feeling the top of her forehead, "But now, I'm not a faunus." She said as tears formed in her eyes, "I don't know who I am anymore, or who I wanted to be."

"Blake…" Weiss responded, "You're still a person who wants to fight for equality and faunus rights. That is who you are at your core, cat ears or no cat ears." She said before looking at the fire, "Between the two of us, I'm the one who doesn't know who they are anymore." She said before Blake turned towards her teammate, "I spent my whole life mastering all those Glyphs, as they were the part of my family's heritage my father didn't ruin. While I didn't have summoning mastered yet, I knew if I worked hard, I could do it someday." The white heiress said before having a slight chuckle, but a tear rolling down her right eye, "All of that's gone now. The only thing I have that makes me a Schnee, is the last name." She said before wiping the tears away.

"…" Blake closed her eyes, "You're more than just your family's name." She said before opening her eyes, looking up at the stary sky, "While we didn't get off on the right foot, I could tell you were someone who worked hard for a better future for us all. You never let any obstacle stand in the way of something you set your mind on." She said with Weiss looking back with a slight smile, "No matter what, you're a great person because you're always striving to be better."

"Heh, you have a way with words." Weiss said with a giggle, "It makes me wish the others were here to say something stupid." She said before looking down at the fire, her smile slighting fading into a focused gaze, "We're gonna find them, I know it."

"Yeah," Blake responded before looking back down, grabbing one of the blue berries, "I don't know this type of berry, my mother never showed me anything like this before." She said before a wave of sadness fell over her, looking back at the sky, "I wonder if she would even recognize me now-" the black-haired lady said before gasping, "Weiss, look up there!"

"What!?" Weiss responded before looking at the sky, "All I see is the mo-" She said before her eyes widened, "The moon, it's in one piece!"

"W-why?" Blake asked, "When did that happen?"

"I don't know," Weiss responded, "Unless." She said before turning back to Blake, "That mountain we went to, those ruins. Do you know what they meant?"

"Not entirely, I didn't have much time to research it before we decided to stop Roman's plan." Blake said as she tried to remember, "They was something about a type of creature that took people to another world. Some calling it a passageway for the dead to have a new beginning."

"So, if they were right," Weiss responded, "That monster killed us and dropped us into this world?"

"I would assume so, and by this world's rules, we could not exist with our abilities like before." Blake said before touching her chin, "But, something does not add up. The creature was described as the escort, not the arbitrator of death. It was said to be the gatekeeper for those who met a terrible end and unfulfilled life in Remnant. They would be reborn in a new world for a second chance at life."

"If that's the case, why did it eat us?" Weiss responded in rage, "We on the path to becoming huntresses, the only thing in our way was Roman and his quiet bodyguard."

"Again, I didn't have time to read the whole thing." Blake responded, "I remember skimming some related repots. Things about people having visions of odd Grimm, seeing themselves years in the future, and other things that didn't make any sense to me."

Weiss sighed, "Anything about people traveling between worlds?"

"None that I could recall," Blake spoke up, "But that doesn't mean it's impossible."

"Right, if we were sent to this world, we can find our way back." Weiss said before a nod, "As soon as we find the others, we all can work together to get back home."

"Agreed, but…" Blake said before looking up at the moon, "Where do we start looking if we're in an entirely different world?"

"That's…a good question." Weiss said with a sigh, then had a look of focus, "The first thing we need to do is find a town. Somewhere with people that can tell us where we are. Then…uh…damnit!" She said before crossing her arms, "How does Ruby do all this leader planning stuff so easily?"

"I don't think she does a lot of planning," Blake said with a small smile, "She likes to wing it as much as her big sister does."

"Yeah, right," Weiss said with a giggle, then looked at the dense forest. "We'll start searching in the morning. I'll take the first watch for any Grimm. Without weapons, we'll need to move away as soon as one is spotted."

"I can take the first watch, you're already tired from searcher already," Blake said as Weiss yawn.

"Thank you," Weiss said with a smile, "As soon as you're tired, wake me up so we can switch shifts." She said with Blake nodding, causing the white heiress to rest on her left side. After just a few seconds, she already felt her eyelids get heavy. However, she noticed a small patch of flowers in the distance, "Ruby…" She said before closing her eyes, "You better not do anything stupid." She muttered before falling asleep.

Blake smiled as she looked at Weiss, "You do push yourself a lot, but have to remember when to rest. That's something Yang had to warn me about myself." She said before looking back to the fire, causing her smile to fade, "Please, be safe."

Hours later.

Time passed as Blake ate some of the berries. She sighed, but was slightly relieved at the same time. Without any Grimm in the area, they were safe from harm. However, in resurveying the land, the black-haired lady saw something. Next to one of the bushes, a bipedal feline had an unbroken gaze on Blake. It had greyish fur, but the paws were white. The eyes were a mix of pink and purple, as well and being perfectly circular in their stare.

"W-Weiss, wake up," Blake said as she nudged her teammate, not losing eye contact with this keen-eyed feline.

"What is it?" Weiss said as she awake, "Did you see a Gri-" She said before seeing the odd cat look at them, "What is that thing?"

"I don't know, it's not any Grimm I've ever seen before." Blake said as the odd cat still focused on her, "It's creeping me out."

"Me too," Weiss said before taking one of the berries, "Hey, go away!" She said before throwing the berry at the cat. However, the cat's eyes glowed blue, causing a similar aura to encase the berry. It floated down and into the odd cat's front paws. With its gaze still fixated on Blake, it bit into the berry and started to eat. "…." Weiss responded as a line of sweat ran down her face, "Okay, that's even more unsettling." She said before looking back to Blake, "What does it want with you?"

"I don't know," Blake responded before looking back to the odd cat, "Please, go away." She asked, but the odd cat only continued to eat and stare, "…Do we just leave it? It's not doing anything and it's not a Grimm."

"Then what is it?" Weiss asked.

Suddenly, a third voice spoke up, "That would be an Espurr, the restraint Pokemon." Weiss and Blake turned to see a young man sitting next to them, eating one of the other berries. He wore a white color shirt over a black long-sleeved turtleneck, as well as having on khaki pants. On his head was a black and white cap, which contained his long mint green hair that ran down his back. Chained at his hip was a cubic toy of some sort, "I can tell from here that he seems to like you." The odd young man spoke to Blake, "He's just nervous."

"What? How? When did you?" Weiss panicked before standing up and pointing at the odd young man, "Who are you?"

"My name is N." he responded, "and I mean you no harm."

"N?" Blake responded, "That can't be your real name."

"It's an abbreviation." He said before smirking, "May I ask your names?"

"Blake," The black-haired lady responded with a slight scowl.

"Weiss." The white heiress added on with a cold glare.

"My, what lovely names," N responded with a smile, despite the two girl's judging eyes

However, Blake looked back to the Espurr, who had finished the berry, but was still staring, "What did you call him?" She asked N.

"It's an Espurr," N responded as he looked to the restraint Pokemon, "He doesn't want to get any closer, as it is afraid of releasing its psychic power and potentially harming you."

"…" Blake looked over to Espurr, seeing its ears slightly twitch. The black-haired lady then crawled towards the restraint Pokemon. Weiss had a look of slight panic, while N softly smiled. Espurr did not move as Blake got closer, only adjusting his gaze into her eyes. Upon getting close enough, Blake stopped as she reached out her right hand. With it, she gently pets the Espurr on his head between the ears.

"…Es." Espurr cried as it closed its eyes with a smile, causing Blake to smile back.

Weiss sighed before turning back to N, "You called it a Pokemon, what is that?"

"Huh, you don't know?" N said before tilting his head, "And I thought I lived in isolation from the world." He said before looking up at the night sky. "They are the creatures that inhabit the world. They exist as we do and feel the same wondrous emotions we feel." He said before smiling at the stars, "To this day, I still wonder how many Pokemon are in the world."

"…Okay…" Weiss responded, "So, does the word Grimm mean anything to you?"

"No, why would it?" N asked as he turned back to her.

"No reason." Weiss said with a sigh, "Look, my friend and I are trying to find our teammates. Do you know if you've see a red-" She was saying until N covered her mouth with his right hand.

Blake turned around as she heard the muffled screams of her teammate. While her anger focused on N, he focused on her with a serious gaze, "Shh." He hushed as Blake gasped. In focusing her hearing, the rolling of tires was heard. Weiss heard them as well as N pulled back his man, "Apologies, but I have to go." He said before standing up, "Do take care of each other." N then ran through the forest and into the dark.

"Wait!' Weiss called out before looking back to Blake, "That was a car I just heard, it might be leading to somewhere with other people."

"Yeah, we have to follow it," Blake said as Weiss nodded. The white heiress put on her jacket as the black-haired lady put out the fire with a few kicks of dirt. Weiss and Blake nodded to each other before the white heiress ran off. However, the black-haired lady looked back to see Espurr staring, but the eyes slightly sadder as they glowed in the night. "It's okay, I'll be fine." Blake responded with a smile, "You take care now." She said before turning around and following Weiss, leaving Espurr alone.

Blake caught up with Weiss as they ran through the woods, "Can you still see in the dark?" he white heiress asked the former faunus.

"No, only about as much as you can." Blake responded before the two saw a set of headlights, "Over there!" Blake pointed out as the two ran towards the vehicle. However, they stopped to remain hidden in the bushes.

N was standing in front of a recently stopped jeep, where the driver was honking his horn. However, N remained unmoving. Suddenly, the diver opened his door and exited the vehicle. He wore a red collar shirt, grey khaki pants, and brown gloves. His short hair was a dark green, the bangs not hiding his irritated gaze, "What's your problem? I have an important delivery to make." he asked N. "Move before I throw you out of the way. Or would you rather I run you over?"

"…" N responded with a scowl, then looked to the back of the jeep, "And what you're delivering wouldn't happen to be Pokemon?" He said as he noticed all the cages and iron bars, "Ones that will fetch a high price to bidder? Am I right, Poacher?"

"A poacher?" Blake whispered to Weiss, but remember the Espurr, "People are hunting those Pokemon?"

"Different world, but this one still has scumbags in it." Weiss commented before looking at the poacher, noticing a whip on his right side, "He has a weapon, but N's defenseless."

Blake then looked to the back of the jeep, "N probably doesn't want to hurt or scare the Pokemon in cages." She then turned back to Weiss, "We need to help. I can sneak up on the poacher, you set free the Pokemon."

"Okay," Weiss responded before making it to the back of the jeep. Upon, reaching her destination, the white heiress gasped at the sight to a creature she had never seen before. Weiss saw what looked like a white fox laying on the flat metal of the cage. Its blue eyes were barely opened as it hardly breathed. Weiss grit her teeth in frustration, "How could someone do this?"

Blake stuck to the shadows as she moved in on the poacher, listening to him talk, "Heh, you got me." The poacher sarcastically responded with a smirk, "Yeah, I'm delivering a rare Alolan Pokemon to a black-market auction." He said before reaching into his back right pocket, "If you go away and forget what you see, I'll give you a nice cut. How's ten percent sound?" Suddenly, Blake made her move. While subduing his left hand, she grabbed the whip at this his side, "What in the world!?"

"Blake!?" N responded in shock, "What are you doing, this is too dangerous?"

"I'm not as weak as you assume." Blake responded before glaring at the poacher, "And I am not going to let this criminal get away with hurting people, or Pokemon."

"Hehehe," The poacher chuckled, "If you wanted to stop me," He said before pulling out a metal ball with, "You should have grabbed my other hand?" he said before pressing the button, "Go, Toxicroak!" The poacher called out as energy released from the ball.

Blake gasped as a large bipedal frog emerged, one with the body shape of martial arts fighter. Its skin was blue, but the throat sack and arms stingers were red. The Toxicroak seemed to chuckle before trying to jab towards Blake's head.

Blake let go the poacher to dodge, but he kicked her to the ground. "What was that about you not being weak?" the poacher said as he looked down on the black-haired lady, "You look pretty pathetic to me. Toxicroak, Sludge Wave!" He said before the poison frog vomited a purple sludge at Blake.

At the last second, N pulled Blake out of the way of the toxic blast. The two retreated into the forest as the poacher gritted his teeth. He was about to give chase before hearing something in the back of the jeep, then turned to his Toxicroak, "Follow those two and take care of them." He said with the poison frog Pokemon nodding, then giving chase. The poacher then picked up his whip.

Weiss tried to pick the lock of the cage with a hairpin, but was struggling, "Come on, unlock already." Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her back with the sound of a whip cracking, "AAAAAAAA!" She screamed before turning around, seeing the poacher with a grin.

"You shouldn't be slicking your nose where it doesn't belong." The poacher commented.

"You shouldn't be abusing these creatures like this, it's practically torture," Weiss said as she glared at the poacher.

"Not all of us can be the ideal Pokemon trainer." He said as the white heiress assumed a weaponless stance, "What? You're going to fight me a dress!?" the poacher said before cracking his whip again.

However, Weiss caught the end of the whip, causing the poacher to gasp. She then pulled him in while rotating her body in a circle, landing a spin kick into his face. The poacher was launched onto his back as Weiss held the whip, "It's a combat skirt." She corrected before tossing the whip away, "I don't need anything special to beat you."

"You think so?" The poacher said with a chuckle before reaching into the left pocket, "Fine then, go Tyranitar!" He said before throwing out another ball, this one emerged with a monstrous creature with a green-plated body and purple gem-like center. "Let's see how you deal with this one." The poacher taunted as monstrous Pokemon roar.

Weiss gasped at this foe but readied herself for the next battle. In its cage, the snow fox Pokemon opened its eyes more as it looked to the white heiress, "Vul?"

AN: There you go, things are heating up for the Black and White duo. Their reaction and comradery to the situation was defiantly fun to write. As well, we get the introduction the man with the most obnoxious name in the Pokemon world. N is almost too perfect of a character for Weiss and Blake to meet. When you think about it, his backstory shares a lot of traits to what those girls went through in life. We also see the unnamed poacher, but some anime fans my recognize the inspiration for the design. The next chapter will see the conclusion of this battle, but who will be the ones to walk away? That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.