Hey. I'm back. When I deleted this fic I won't lie, I was planning on just walking away. In the end I realized that that wasn't really fair. There are people that really enjoyed this fic. This time around, I'm going to keep my fic up no matter what. This will be the final, definitive version. I liked what I was going for last time, but I didn't like the execution. This time around I'll be adding one old part and one whole new part. I think the 2nd version was 90k something words. So with a whole new part, this time around it's definitely going to be over 100k words. Who knows? Maybe I'll reignite that fire I once had that let me upload once a week. Okay maybe not that, but at the very least maybe it'll motivate me to write a prequel and possibly a sequel. Until next time, have a good one and stay safe.

Umbra Hart

Standing face to face, father and son stared each other down. Both had their weapons readied and neither looked wiling to back down. Tightening the grip on his weapon, Umbra charged forward and swung at his father with all his might. Much to Umbra's annoyance his father was easily able to parry the attack as well as each and every one that came after. Putting even more power behind each of his swings Umbra was hoping to break through his father's defenses with pure strength. What Umbra didn't realize is that he was now over swinging and leaving himself wide open for a counter attack. His father took advantage of one of the opening that he left for him and swung low, taking Umbra's footing out from underneath him. Crashing to the ground Umbra lost his grip on his weapon and it fell out of his hands. Kicking Umbra's sword away from him, Umbra's father pointed his own sword down at Umbra.

"Is that all you've got Umbra? C'mon, I know you can do better than that." Standing up with a groan, Umbra rubbed his back.

"That really hurt ya know! I thought you said we were just doing some sparring!?" Laughing, Umbra's father rested his wooden sword over his shoulder.

"We are sparring. If you're gonna be a proper Huntsman someday, you've gotta be ready for anything. You think the Grimm are gonna fight fair?" Knowing that his father was right, Umbra grumbled as he walked over to where his weapon landed and picked it back up. "Like I told you Umbra, you've gotta remember to keep your stance. I know it's easy to just throw it out the window and swing like wild, but that's not gonna end well in a real fight. Let me show it to you one more time." Sliding his right foot back, Umbra's father pointed his sword forward while holding it parallel to the ground. Resting the sword on his upper left arm, he looked down his sword at Umbra. "Alright Umbra, now you do it." Copying his fathers movements, Umbra stood in the same stance his father was in.

"Like this?" Not only was it an awkward stance to hold, but Umbra also didn't see much use in it. He found it hard to believe that this was the stance his father had used all throughout his career as a Huntsman.

Dropping his stance Umbra's father scratched his stubble as he judged his son. Happy with how his son held the stance, he nodded. "Yup, just like that." Reaching into his jacket Umbra's father pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "Now I already know what you're thinking, the stance is lame. But let me tell you something…" Umbra's father took out a cigarette from the pack and lit it. After taking a puff, he continued speaking. "The sharpest part of your sword is the tip. While you can still swing your sword around with this stance, I recommend thrusting attacks with it. Since Grimm wear all that bone armor, you'll probably want to stab at them rather than swing at them. I'm just goin' off what worked for me. In the future if you find something that works for you, then stick with that." After taking a few more puffs from his cigarette Umbra's father dropped it to the ground and snuffed it out. Getting back into his stance Umbra's father smiled. "Alright, with that all figured out, why don't we try sparring again? I'll even be generous this time. If you can hit me just once, I'll consider training for today a success." Giving his father a smile of his own, Umbra prepared himself.

"Yeah! Just… don't go all out. I can barely keep up with you even when you make mistakes!" Umbra's father laughed and loosened his stance a little.

"You got it bud, I'll make sure to go extra easy on you. Remember though, Pharos is just around the corner." Once more, father and son faced each other down. Moving in slowly, Umbra did as his father told him and looked for the best point of attack. Only having a few weeks worth of training however, Umbra still wasn't entirely sure where that would be. Since he didn't want to disappoint his father though, Umbra refused to let that stop him. Where there was a will, there was a way.

Rushing forward Umbra thrust his sword towards his father when he was in range. Blocking the attack, Umbra's father shoved him away. When Umbra swept his leg just like his father had swung his sword earlier, his father jumped over the leg sweep and swung at Umbra with his wooden sword. Umbra blocked his fathers attack and was sent skidding back. "Whoa!" Umbra nearly fell onto his back, but he was able to steady himself and managed to stay standing.

Barely having any time to ready himself after catching his footing, Umbra's father charged Umbra with another attack. Ducking under his fathers sword, Umbra thrust his own sword forward. Umbra's attack almost landed, but it was almost as if this was what his father had planned from the start. Umbra's father dodged the stab and elbowed Umbra to the ground. Feeling his Aura shatter, Umbra stayed on the ground. Sensing that the fight was over, Umbra's father rested his sword on his shoulder.

"I think we outta call it a day, don't you?" Reaching down with his free hand, Umbra's father went to help his son up. While his father may have been ready to call it quits, Umbra wasn't. Taking advantage of the fact that his father had dropped his guard, Umbra quickly spun around and landed a hit on his father.

"First rule, never drop your guard!" Dropping his sword Umbra's father grabbed at where he was hit.

"Agh! You got me!" Stumbling forward a bit, Umbra's father collapsed on his back next to his son. Once he landed, he started laughing. "I'm glad to know you're actually remembering some of the stuff I've been teaching you Umbra." Letting go of his sword, Umbra hugged his father.

"I want to be just like you and mom when I grow up, of course I remember the stuff you teach me!" Patting his son on the back, Umbra's father sighed. Turning his gaze towards the sky, Umbra watched as the clouds passed them by. "I might not be as strong, fast, or smart as you guys right now, but I'll get there one day. I'll make you guys proud."

For awhile Umbra and his father just watched the clouds in silence. While they were doing so, Umbra couldn't help but think about what the future had in store for him. Once he was done studying at Pharos he was going to attend Beacon just like his parents did. His father had already told him all about how… unique Beacon's Headmaster was and the way he went about doing things. Like how he tested first year students and formed teams. Because of this, Umbra felt as though he had plenty of time to form a landing strategy of his own.

Disrupting the silence and Umbra's train of thought, a loud hum could be heard in the distance. Whatever was making the noise seemed to be getting closer as it only got louder. Once it was close enough Umbra knew exactly what, or who, it was. Jumping to his feet Umbra looked down at his father.

"It's Eliza dad!" Only three people ever came out to visit Umbra and his father. Of those three, only one ever took an airship due to how far away they lived. "I'll put the wood swords away, I'll be right back!" Grabbing both his and his father's practice swords, Umbra almost dropped them with how fast he was moving. His fast pace payed off in the end though, as by the time he was exiting the house Eliza was stepping off of her airship. Seeing that she was carrying something behind her back, Umbra chose not to launch at her with a hug. "Eliza I'm glad you could visit!" Giving Umbra a smile, Eliza laughed.

"I'm glad I could visit too Umbra. Though I would have liked to be able to visit on your actual birthday instead of a week before." Taking the item she was holding from out behind her back, Eliza presented it to Umbra. "Speaking of your birthday, here's your present. I thought I might as well give it to you myself while I was here. Why don't you open it up and see what it is?" Doing as he was told, Umbra opened his early present. When he saw what it was, Umbra gasped.

"This is an up to date encyclopedia about all the known Grimm on Remnant!" For most kids Umbras age, it would be disappointing to receive such a book as a birthday present. Since knowing about your enemy was half the battle as his father said, a book that went over each and every known Grimm's weakness was anything but disappointing to Umbra. "Thank you Eliza!" Opening the book Umbra started flipping through the pages. Patting Umbra on his head, Umbra's father looked at Eliza.

"Do you have time to come inside for awhile? Or is Ironwood gonna throw a fit if you aren't back the very second he demands?" Eliza smiled at the joke and shook her head.

"No, I can stay for awhile. So long as I leave before nightfall I'll have enough time to return to Atlas. Lead the way Hector." Turning towards their house, Umbra and his father led Eliza inside.

Hector Hart

Once they were inside Umbra went straight up to his room in order to read the book he was given. Something told Hector that it would be difficult to tear Umbra away from it in order to continue his training. Sighing as he made his way over to his collection of alcohol, Hector turned to face Eliza. "Do you want something to drink?" Declining the offer Eliza shook her head.

"No thank you. I haven't touched the stuff in five years, as trying as it's been." Shrugging his shoulders, Hector started pouring a drink for himself. As he did so he couldn't help but notice that something had Eliza feeling stressed. With how many years they had spent fighting Grimm together, it wasn't that hard to pick up on the little things that each member of his team did when they were feeling a certain way.

"They must really be working you to the bone now that you're a Lieutenant." Eliza gave Hector a quizzical look. Pointing at her with his now filled glass, Hector made his way over to his favorite chair. "You're all tensed up and you're looking through me, not at me. So…" Sitting down, Hector took a drink from his glass before continuing. "…what's got you feeling so stressed?" Looking over at the stairs and then back over to Hector, Eliza sighed.

"You're not really going to let Umbra become a Huntsman, are you Hector? I… I just don't think it's a good idea." Setting down his drink on the coffee table, Hector already knew where things were heading. "I think what you two have going on now is for the best. If he really wants to become a Huntsman later in life that's fine. I just think that he needs more time before he's exposed to-" Standing up and interrupting Eliza, Hector crossed his arms.

"Listen Eliza, I get what you're trying to say. Really, I do. I just think that it's better to rip the band aid off now instead of later, you get me? At some point in his life he's gonna be exposed to that shit, so better now then later." Avoiding Hector's gaze, Eliza focused her attention to the ground.

"I suppose you're right. At the very least, promise me something Hector. Promise me that… he won't end up like us. Whatever happens Hector, Umbra can't end up like the members of Team Shade." Finding her courage again, Eliza looked back at Hector. When their eyes met, Hector gave her a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to worry about that, I already made a similar promise to Sera'." Responding with a smile of her own, Eliza walked up to Hector and hugged him.

"I'm sorry if I ever come across as overbearing. It's just that I view Umbra as a part of my own family, just like I do everyone on our team." Breaking away from the hug, Hector pat Eliza on the head.

"You're fine Eliza. After all the years we spent together as a team, we practically are family. It only makes sense that you would worry about Umbra like Sera' would." Freezing up, Eliza quickly took her scroll out. "Whoa there, everything alright?" Without answering the question Eliza tapped away at her scroll. After landing on what she was looking for, she put her scroll back.

"Shoot, talking about the past reminded me about an issue I had to deal with down in Mantle. I still have to write a report on what happened." Laughing, Hector went back to his drink.

"Well it's a good thing you remembered then. You head on back, once I finish with my drink I'll let Umbra know that you had to leave." Before she left Eliza had one more thing to say.

"When you see Danial tell him I said hello and that I couldn't make it to Umbra's birthday. As nice as it would be to get everyone together again, there always seems to be some situation that needs my attention. Until next time Hector." With that, Eliza made her way towards the airship she arrived on.

Once he had finished moving his chair so that he could watch his friend leave, Hector sat down to finish his drink. As the airship started climbing towards the sky, Hector couldn't help but think on what Eliza had said. Part of him thought that maybe what Eliza had said was true. Maybe it would be best to just train Umbra himself out here in the wild. In the end, Umbra would probably learn to fight better than he would at some stupid school.

At the same time, Hector knew that there were things he just couldn't teach Umbra. If it wasn't for Eliza's and Serafanda's help, he would have most likely flunked out of Beacon. So, seeing as how Umbra was dead set on becoming a Huntsman, it was for the best that he attended Pharos Academy.

Watching Eliza's airship disappear over the treetops, Hector felt as though he needed another smoke. Pulling one out and lighting it, he drank as he smoked. Hector knew they were both bad habits, and he hoped to whatever Gods were out there that his son didn't pick them up as well one day. Everyone had their own way of dealing with stress and Hector's main way of doing so just so happened to be a bad one.

While he was drinking Hector thought if maybe he should have a talk with Umbra. If he couldn't talk him out of becoming a Huntsman, maybe he could at least warn his son of the life that awaited him. Sighing, Hector looked down into his drink. As much as he wanted to have that conversation with Umbra, he was… too scared to. He didn't want to seem as though he was controlling Umbra, telling him what he could and couldn't do. Tapping his foot, Hector went back and forth on the issue. Before he knew it, his glass was empty and all that was left of his cigarette was the butt. Snuffing out the cigarette in his ashtray, Hector got up to clean and put his empty glass away. There was still time before they had to sign Umbra up, Hector could use the week until Umbra's birthday to decide. Whatever happens Umbra, I just hope you know that I'll always be on your side…