The Grimm Rider

by Dolphinheart99

Remnant, a mysterious yet dangerous world full of soulless creatures called Grimms. They say Grimms are evil beings that feel no emotions, they're only purpose was to kill. But, what if they're wrong, a girl that can tamed them. Follow her and her friends as they embark on a dangerous journey, meeting new friends and enemies and stopping a great evil that was coming.

12. Mysterious Events

I was given an Oc that was given to me by Yugure no shiryo. His Oc is a Grimm/Fox Faunus hybrid named Kurama and his voice actor is Nils Allen "Booboo" Stewart, Jr. and the deep voice is like how Aang (from Avatar: The Last Airbender) is in his Avatar mode.

---

Ozpin releases a sigh as he rests his hands on the table. Last night was stressful, someone broke into the CCT during the party. Ruby was lucky that she was there to stop the unknown criminal until Ironwood came and witnessed the whole thing. They send a whole search party to CCT and find anything stolen. So far, the school was on high alert. Ozpin placed his hands on his face, trying to calm his mind. With him in his office were General James Ironwood and Glynda Goodwitch, keeping the headmaster company...sort of.

"They were here…" Ironwood said in a low and angry tone before raising his voice. "Ozpin, they were here!" Ironwood exclaims angrily as he slams his fist against Ozpin's desk.

Glynda glared at him as her arms were crossed as she held her weapon called the Disciplinarian. She was angry at how immature Ironwood's temper was. "We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James." She said in a mix of anger and sarcasm in her voice.

"Fantastic! You're aware!" Ironwood said sarcastically and looked at Glynda and Ozpin. "Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!"

Suddenly, they were alerted when they heard a sound coming from the elevator, signifying that someone had arrived. Ozpin stood from his seat and looked at the elevator along with the two adults.

"Come in." Ozpin said.

The elevator's doors opened, revealing Ruby Rose, stepping out and into the room. She was nervous and was looking at the three adults. Though she wasn't alone, Voltaria was hidden in Ruby's shadow, speaking to her telepathically. The adults didn't know, which is good, since Voltaria can help Ruby secretly. Plus, she also helped Ruby to get here before the red-caped girl could press random buttons.

"Thank you for coming, Ruby. How are you feeling?" Ozpin asked Ruby.

"Tell him that you're fine and no sidecomments or stupid puns." Voltaria said to Ruby in her mind.

"Got it." Ruby saids to Voltaria before looking at the adults. "I'm fine...just still shaken up from last night, that's all."

Ironwood went over to Ruby and placed a hand on her shoulder as he began to praise her. "Ruby, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could."

Ruby nodded in understanding. "Thank you, sir."

"Ugh, I hate this guy." Wraith mumbled in Ruby's mind.

"Why is that?" Ruby dared to ask Wraith.

"Red, I have many reasons to hate this guy, but not now, for once." Wraith mumbles out.

Voltaria's entities were with Ruby while Vision was watching Amaryllis and Ripper until they got back.

"Now, the general here has already informed us of the events that…" Ozpin hesitated before he continued, "...transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add."

"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" Glynda asked further questions to Ruby.

Truth be told, Ruby has no memory of the event because Regina, Wraith, Tabitha, and Hannibal took control over her and fought the mysterious woman. Luckily, Regina was there to help the poor girl since she and the others witnessed it. Ruby followed Regina's words carefully, making sure not to add about her being possessed with four entities.

"I...I don't know. She was wearing a mask, and she never said anything to me. But I know she fought with glass. I don't think that was her Semblance, though. Her clothing lit up whenever she attacked." Ruby explains to the adults.

Glynda taps her crop with her hand as she listens to Ruby's explanation. "Save for the glass...that sounds like the woman I fought the night we met Ruby." She said to Ozpin.

"Embedding Dust into clothing is an age-old technique. It could have been anyone." Ironwood added.

"Wait." Ruby suddenly spoke, getting the adults' attention. "You think this girl is connected to Torchwick and the White Fang?"

"It's possible. But we still lack the required evidence to link the two together." Ozpin explains to her.

That's when Ruby got an idea, she knew that Voltaria was gonna hate it, which she will, but Ruby decided to add something to help them with their search.

"Actually, I...I think I remember her saying something about a hideout, or something, in the southeast. Just outside the Kingdom." Ruby quickly added.

"Ruby…" Voltaria warned Ruby in her mind.

Ozpin smiles at this. "Interesting…"

However, Glynda was suspicious upon Ruby's sudden answer. "I thought you said the intruder never-"

Ozpin quickly cuts her off. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you." He said.

"Anytime!" Ruby said happily as she was about to leave, but stopped by Ozpin's voice.

"And Miss Rose, please try and be...discreet about this matter." Ozpin said to her.

Ruby lowered her head sadly and nodded. "Yes sir." She said softly before leaving.

As she did, Glynda watches her leave before noticing her shadow. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion to see that Ruby's shadow was different. But when she blinked, Ruby's shadow was normal. Glynda was getting suspicious about Ruby since she heard from Wade Cross that she's spending time with Voltaria, wondering what they are up to. Glynda thought that Voltaria was finally opening up to someone, but instead, she and Ruby are keeping secrets that she nor anyone knows about.

And she's gonna get to the bottom of it.

---

"You just had to add that part of your story, didn't you?" Voltaria said blankly and annoyed as they walked through the hall towards team RWBY's dorm room.

Ruby sighs gloomy, slumping her shoulders. "I know...I'm sorry, but they have to know, otherwise. They won't be able to stop what trouble is coming." She said honestly.

Voltaria sighs a bit. "They wouldn't be able to if they didn't realize that the perpetrators are students in disguise." She said quietly.

Ruby looks at her in confusion. "What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

Voltaria looks at her seriously. "Ruby, they're adults, they believe that the perpetrator working with Torchwick and the White Fang is one them, an adult. But in reality, they are posing as students to get the information they need." She explained as they walked through the hall of the Academy.

"You already know but you don't want to tell Professor Ozpin or the others." Ruby said with worry, making Voltaria silent. "Volty, you can't hide this information, it can save the school."

Voltaria stopped at her tracks, causing Ruby to stop as well. Voltaria releases a small sigh of annoyance and turns to her.

"Ruby, I know you want to help them, but they won't understand." Voltaria said to Ruby.

"What do you mean they won't understand?" Ruby asked her in confusion.

"They won't understand how my gift works. They'll think it's nothing but superstition or nonsense." Voltaria explained the reason as she crossed her arms with her head turned away from Ruby. "I doubt they would believe me."

Ruby was silent by this information of Voltaria. Ruby heard rumors from her classmates, saying how dangerous Voltaria can be. She barely joins her team, and she doesn't come to the cafeteria with them. But she's not that bad. I mean, she has a heart...somewhere. Ruby did see Voltaria's caring side, she cares for the two hybrid dinosaurs, Amaryllis and Ripper. And Voltaria made Ruby her friend...sort of. The point is, Voltaria trusts her. She even told and showed Ruby her entities and Vision. Proving the point that Voltaria cares.

"...I believe you." Ruby suddenly said softly while rubbing her arm.

Voltaria simply turns her head towards Ruby. The girl with the red cape gave the girl a small smile, no lies were hidden in her eyes. Voltaria then turns away from Ruby and starts to walk away from her and towards the courtyard.

"You should go and check on your teammates. We'll meet up later." Voltaria said before disappearing to the corner.

Ruby watches her leave before sighing as she goes to another hall to go to her team's dorm room. But when she opened the door of the room, her sister and two teammates were inside, waiting for her. And when they see her, the three girls zoom over to the person in the door with curious and excited grins on their faces.

"What happened?" Yang asked excitedly to her nervous sister.

Ruby lets out a nervous laugh as she tries to explain to them-without adding Voltaria in it. "Uh...well, um…"

---

Voltaria sits under a tree that was outside of her team's dorm room. She was reading a book peacefully, it was calm, nothing bad was happening, not yet. Though as she reads, she felt someone sitting beside her on the other side of the tree. She didn't turn around as she already guessed who it was.

"Hello, Hebi." Voltaria greeted blankly as she continued reading her book.

Evo Hebi, one of Voltaria's teammates and a snake Faunus, was sitting on the other side of the tree. He was resting his arms behind his head as he leaned on the tree, enjoying the breeze. Evo soon lets out a sigh as he leans on the tree while looking at the clouds above.

"Voltaria." Evo greets back, not taking his eyes off the clouds.

"What brings you here?" Voltaria asked blankly, reading through her book.

"Trying to have peace and quiet. You?"

"I was having a peaceful reading." She mutters out her answer before releasing a sigh.

Evo simply humms. "I can see that."

"Why snake boy here?" Wraith questioned.

"I believe he wants to start a conversation with our mistress." Regina answered to Wraith. "After all she's been spending her time with Ruby, she's getting used to the whole conversation without any problems."

"Again, we should've erased Red's memory." Wraith grumbles.

"Quiet you." Regina scolded, only to earn a raspberry from Wraith.

"I heard that you and Ruby became friends." Evo suddenly said, getting Voltaria to stop reading. "What were you two doing together?"

"Why are you asking?" She asked him, shutting her book.

Evo shrugs and places his hands on his lap. "You've been spending time with Ruby a lot...me and others are happy that you finally made a friend." He said.

Voltaria looks down at her book, clenching her fist tightly at the cover. "I'm helping Ruby with her studies." She answered softly.

"It doesn't seem like it." Evo said to her.

"Why does this interest you?" Voltaria asked.

"The fact that you are changing and being someone closer to your age." Evo said, slightly turning his head as a small smile spread on his face. "It suits you."

Voltaria didn't say anything. It is true that she spends her time with Ruby now as she helps her take care of Amaryllis and Ripper at the Emerald Forest with her entities. Ruby didn't seem to be bothered by taking care of strange and mysterious, hybrid dinosaurs. She secretly admits that Ruby takes good care of them. She gives them treats whenever they do a good job and feeds them tuna. Which was a surprise for Voltaria and her entities that Ruby brought many cans of tuna fish for the hybrids, which later revealed that she...borrowed from Blake (figures since she's a cat Faunus). And yet, she still shows great responsibility that Voltaria somewhat admired, even though Ruby can be childish sometimes, she's doing her best. Suddenly, they heard Glynda's voice over the intercom.

"Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater?"

"Guess we should go and see what's going on." Evo said, getting up from his spot and looked over to Voltaria. "You coming?"

"If I must." She said before getting up as well before she and Evo walked back inside the school and towards the amphitheater.

They reached the amphitheater and saw two of their teammates there. AJ waves at them with a smile and Wade gives a simple salute. Evo waves back as he and Voltaria walk over to them. Though Voltaria slowly stopped when she spotted Ruby from a distance and was wearing a large backpack when she entered the auditorium with other students. Voltaria was suspicious of the backpack, wondering what she was hiding. As Ruby puts her bag down next to other students' luggage, she happily rejoins her team, who are standing in front of Team JNPR. There were other students from different schools. Glynda was on stage as she settled down the chattering students of different schools. Those were Haven Academy, Shade Academy, Atlas Academy, and Beacon Academy.

"Quiet! Quiet please. Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin." Glynda said to them before walking away, allowing Ozpin to take the stage and spoke through the microphone.

"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression." Ozpin explains towards the different students.

"Which was an awesome war." Wraith said through Voltaria and Ruby's minds.

"Quiet, Wraith." Voltaria ordered blankly while Ruby shook her head at Wraith's words.

"A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for." Ozpin continues his speech.

The students listened to his words of wisdom while Ruby smiled through the whole thing. Voltaria stood beside Evo as her teammates were beside Team RWBY. She listens to his speech as well as planning to figure out his secrets.

"As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: Color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it."

With that said, a screen shows three tasks assigned for the first year students. Those were Search and Rescue, Escort, and Perimeter Defense. Wraith began to get excited, knowing that they were going to leave this school to go on a mission. It may be a rookie level, but it will be better than being here.

"As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best."

And with that, Ozpin steps away as the students all begin to file out of the amphitheater and select types of missions for them to choose. Team RWBY, WAVE, and JNPR were picking their missions but on different screens. Wade, AJ, Evo, and Voltaria were picking what mission they should take.

"Pick search and destroy." Wraith begged in Voltaria's mind. "Pick search and destroy!"

"Hey, let's pick Escort." AJ suggested, pointing at the screen. "It's said a scientist in Vale wants to study a strange object in a town."

"Hmm...sounds interesting." Wade said, rubbing his chin, before looking at the group. "What do you guys think?"

"I'm game." Evo agrees before looking at Voltaria. "You?"

Voltaria looks at her teammates for a second before shrugging her shoulders. "Fine by me." She said softly, ignoring the groan of disappointment from Wraith.

"It settles then, Escort it is." Wade said as he types in his team's name and was approved. "We set off early, so let's get ready."

"Right!" Evo and AJ agreed while Voltaria shrugged.

"Sure." Voltaria mutters out blankly.

As Team WAVE left, Voltaria saw Team RWBY exiting as well, indicating they received their mission to the South-East with the help of Ozpin. Voltaria has her suspicions about this man, he's hiding something inside of the school, but only he, Glynda, and Ironwood know about it. So, as they left the auditorium and were on their way to the airships, a student ran past the two teams.

"Hey! Team CFVY is back!"

Beacon students gather around to witness the return of Team CFVY. The members are Coco Adel (the leader), Fox Alistair, Velvet Scarlatina, and Yatsuhashi Daichi. They just came back from their away mission, though it took longer than expected. Team RWBY went over to Team CFVY as Blake went up to Velvet with concern.

"Velvet? Are you okay?" Blake asked her fellow Faunus.

Velvet nodded. "I'm fine. I had Yatsuhashi to look out for me." She said, gesturing the tall and athletic-looking young man, who walked past her and the others.

"Your mission was supposed to end a week ago! What happened?" Weiss asked with concern.

Velvet looks down and remembers their long and somewhat traumatizing mission. "Nothing happened. It was just ...there were just so many…" She answers with hesitation before looking up and notices Team RWBY's worried expressions. "Oh, but don't worry. You first-years are just shadowing Huntsmen, so you should be fine."

"Right…" Yang said almost sarcastically.

"I should go. Be safe, okay?" Velvet said as she went back to her teammates.

As they waved at her, Ruby decided to cheer her teammates up. "We can do this. We've never backed down before, and we're not going to start now."

"Right." Blake agrees with her.

"Besides, it won't only be us out there! We'll be fighting alongside a genuine Huntsman!" Ruby said happily.

"Yeah!" Yang agrees with her sister.

Ruby smiles at her before she notices Voltaria at the distance, watching her. Voltaria stood from the crowd before walking away, silently signaling Ruby to follow. Understanding this, Ruby decided to go after her and told her teammates that she will meet at the airship after she checks on Zwei first to see if he was okay. Ruby runs off in full speed, thanks to her Speed Semblance, before she finds Voltaria at the dark corners of the school.

"Hey, Volty. What do you need to talk about?" Ruby asked her happily, with her backpack on.

Voltaria ignored her happy going attitude and got to the point. "We need to inform Amaryllis and Ripper that we'll be gone for a few days, we wouldn't want them to worry, right?" She said to Ruby.

"Good idea." Ruby said as Voltaria's entities teleported them to Emerald Forest.

---

Speaking of which, at the Emerald Forest's meadow, a herd of deer. They were grazing upon the grass, enjoying their meal. It was a calm morning in the forest, even though it was peaceful, there's danger beyond the forest. One of the deer's ears flicked and it quickly raised its head when it heard something. There was silence, nothing was there but undergrowth and trees. But as the deer was about to put its guard down, something exploded out from the undergrowth, charging at the herd with a mighty roar.

It was Ripper and he's grown up, literally.

He's about 11 feet tall. He's now faster and stronger since he's fully grown. He chases the herd off the clearing towards the undergrowth, snapping his powerful jaws, trying to get a bite on them. But as two deers passed the undergrowth, Amaryllis appeared out of thin air and grabbed two of the herd, crushing them within her jaw, killing them instantly. As the herd ran away, Amaryllis placed the two carcasses onto the ground, so she and her brother could feast.

Amaryllis has grown 21 feet tall, bigger than her younger brother, much to Ripper's annoyance. She was like a giant to this forest, though she can be a gentle giant towards her brother, caretakers, and mothers. Speaking of their mothers, Voltaria and Ruby appeared from the shadows and saw them finishing their hunt. And upon seeing their mothers, Ripper lets out a happy roar and charges at Ruby at full speed. However, due to his sudden speed and size, he looks like a charging train.

"W-Wait! Ripper, stop!" Ruby tries to stop the youngest hybrid.

But it was too late, Ripper collided Ruby, who yelped by the sudden tackle, as they both fell onto the ground. Voltaria was able to avoid the collision while Ruby was knocked out from the ground and was lying there with a dizzy expression on her face while Ripper was lying on her stomach, a happy grin on his face. Ripper can somehow smile and grin, thanks to him copying Ruby a lot, he can show his expression while his older sister remains stoic like Voltaria.

"Good to see you too, Rippy." Ruby said dizzily.

"Oh, boy." Voltaria mutters out before seeing Amaryllis carrying two deer carcasses. "Ah, I see you two were practicing your hunting skills, correct?"

Amaryllis nodded and set down the two carcasses for her and Ripper to eat. Ripper got off Ruby, allowing his Momma Red (That's his nickname for her) to sit up and rubbed her dizzy head.

"Wow, you've grown very strong, Rippy." Ruby said dizzily before shaking her head.

"What do you expect? He and Amaryllis are hybrids and they are meant to be strong." Voltaria explains, making Amaryllis and Ripper happy with pride.

"Yeah...they grow up so fast." Ruby said with almost teary eyes.

Soon, Voltaria's entities came to their mistress's side, and Wraith gave a blank look towards Ruby. "Sheesh, don't get too emotional about this, Red."

"But they were so cute when they were babies!" Ruby said as she opened her scroll that it had pictures of Amaryllis and Ripper when they were hatchlings. Amaryllis and Ripper were doing silly faces in front of the scroll's camera, it was funny and adorable at the same time. Ruby always takes memorial pictures of Amaryllis and Ripper growing up and video records them. She even sometimes dressed them up to make them look adorable, which it did. While Voltaria would study them and make a journal about them. They even did some hand signal training, that way, Ruby and Voltaria can send silent signals for them or use telepathy, just in case.

Wraith stared at the picture blankly before sending a private telepathic message to Voltaria and the other entities. "We should've erased her memories when we got the chance."

"Enough, Wraith." Voltaria ordered him to stop before resuming towards Ruby. But notices something moving on her bag. "What's in the bag?"

To answer her question, something popped out of Ruby's bag. It revealed a black-headed tricolor Pembroke Welsh Corgi with gray eyes. And it wears a red collar with a gold pendant bearing a vertical black bone and two black dots on either side. Voltaria stared at the dog blankly while her entities and the two hybrids looked at it curiously.

"...You brought a dog to school, why?" Voltaria questions Ruby blankly.

"Sorry! My dad had to leave the Island of Patch for a few days, so he mailed Zwei to us to take care of him." Ruby explained to Voltaria.

"I'm sorry, your dad mailed your dog?" Voltaria repeated, sounding weird when she said it.

"Oh, he does stuff like this all the time." Ruby assured.

"Your father or your dog?" Voltaria questions her blankly.

"I'm guessing both." Tabitha suggested.

Wraith snickers at this. "Whoever her dad is, he has some imagination, he-he-he."

Voltaria sighs as Ripper and Amaryllis were sniffing at Zwei, who was barking at them happily. "I can't deal with this right now. We have to get ready before we leave."

Hearing this, Amaryllis and Ripper stopped sniffing Zweii and began to wonder what they meant. Are they leaving somewhere? Should they come along? Ripper nudges his Momma Red with concern croon. Ruby gently pats his snout with her hand.

"Sorry, Ripper, but me and Voltaria have missions today, and we'll be gone for a few days." Ruby said to Ripper in an apologetic tone.

Gone for a few days?! It means Momma Red and Mother won't be here to visit them! Why?!

Ripper made a whimpering sound, lying his head on his Momma Red's lap, begging her not to leave as well as their Mother. They didn't want them to go, they just got here and they didn't have time playing with each other or meeting that strange furry little creature. Better yet, they should bring him and Amaryllis with them. Ripper made crooning sounds, begging her and Voltaria to let him and Amaryllis come with them. However, his attempts were proven futile as his serious Mother wouldn't allow it.

"Ripper, we can't bring you nor Amaryllis with us." Voltaria said sternly.

"Volty's right." Ruby agrees with Voltaria. "We can't risk anyone to know you and Amaryllis are real. Who knows what they would do to you two!"

"Probably dissect them or do torturable experiments on them to see how they operate or whatever." Wraith said dully, earning annoyed looks from Voltaria and the rest of her entities. "What? It could happen."

"Which is why, you two should stay here until we get back." Voltaria said to them before looking at the two hybrids. "I know you two are concerned with us, but we're going separately. We can't have you both getting caught. You two are safer here, understand?"

Ripper grumbled in annoyance, he and Amaryllis can take care of themselves. No puny humans (minus their mothers) can take them down. But upon seeing his Mother's stern face under her mask, he and Amaryllis knew that they shouldn't disobey her. With a grunt, Ripper agrees to stay here along with Amaryllis.

"Good, now while we're gone, Amaryllis, you're in charge." Voltaria said to the oldest hybrid.

Ripper looked between his sister and then Mother in disbelief as he released a roar of shock, like he was exclaiming: WHAT?!

His sister, on the other claw, was delighted to hear this as she gave her brother a smug looking sideway glance, like she was saying: You heard her.

Ripper grumbled in annoyance, his older sister getting to be in charge, why can't he be in charge for a change? Ripper wanted to complain, but Momma Red gave him a gentle pat on the head and her gentle smile.

"Don't worry, Rippy, when we get back, we're going to have a fun time together, exploring through the forest with Zwei and fighting off Grimm!"

"Ahem…" Voltaria spoke in a blank tone, reminding her she can tame Grimm.

Ruby rubbed the back of her neck with a sheepish smile. "I mean, rogue Grimm. Yeah, that's right. He-he-he…"

"...Fair enough." Voltaria said with a sigh. "Just make sure to behave while we're gone? Vision will be here to keep an eye on you two, understood?"

The two hybrids nodded in understanding, obeying their stern Mother. Ruby gave them both gentle pats on the head. "Be good when we get back! I'll bring something for you guys after my mission!" Ruby said.

Afterwards, Ruby and Voltaria returned back to the academy while Vision stayed behind to watch over the two hybrids. That way, the Crystal Ball would send messages to Voltaria, even if she was in a far distance. The two girls were heading their separate ways to meet up their teammates, so they could get ready to leave for their first mission. Ruby was excited to go out on her first mission.

"You seem excited." Voltaria said to her.

Ruby nodded with a smile. "I am! And the best part, we'll be fighting alongside a genuine Huntsman!" She said happily.

Voltaria shook her head with her arms crossed. "Don't jinx your luck, Ruby."

"Oh, come on. What's the worst that could happen?" Ruby asked.

---

Team RWBY was staring with various stunned expressions, shock, confusion, and disappointment, having just discovered who they will be shadowing on their mission. And it was none other than their history teacher, Bartholomew Oobleck. He wears a long brown great coat, a khaki buttoned safari shirt and a pith helmet. He also carries a rather large backpack.

"Why, hello girls! Who's ready to fight for their lives?" Oobleck asked with excitement.

"Now I know why Voltaria told me not to jinx it." Ruby mutters into her mind of disappointment when Oobleck will be their guide for the week.

"Professor Oobleck?" Weiss spoke in shock and awkwardness.

Oobleck started talking fast, per the norm, as he paces in front of Team RWBY. "Yes, I'm afraid those bags won't be necessary, girls, seeing as you've opted to shadow a Huntsman on what is now essentially a reconnaissance mission." He said, pacing back and forth and the three girls. "I can assure you, we will not be establishing a single base of operations; rather, we will be traversing several miles of hazardous wasteland and making camp in any defendable locations we may stumble upon. I packed all of our essentials myself, plotted our air course, and readied the airship. And…"

Oobleck zooms up right to Weiss's face, which made her uncomfortable. "It's Doctor Oobleck. I didn't earn the PhD for fun, thank you very much!" He said to her sternly before he quickly backs away from her.

Weiss looks over at Blake Belladonna, who is equally disturbed. "Uh…" Was all Weiss could say.

"Come now, children; according to my schedule, we are already three minutes behind!...Schedule!" Oobleck zips off to the airship docked farther ahead in a second, in a speed that could rival Ruby's Speed Semblance.

Ruby tried to bring back the positive and upbeat for her teammates. "Well, alright, then! Looks like we're going to save the world with Doctor Oooobleck-'' She suddenly becomes as depressed as her team halfway through. "-Okay yeah when you say it out loud it sounds worse."

Suddenly, they heard Nora's voice. "Save the world?!"

Team RWBY turns around to see Nora and the rest of Team JNPR approaching them. Nora, being dramatic of the group, said to the group about their mission. "You're going on world-saving missions without us? I'm hurt...sad!" Then her stomach rumbles, making her stop her dramaticness. "Maybe a little hungry? That last one's not your fault, though, Ren…" She said, glaring at Ren, who simply crosses his arms and turns away.

"Sounds exciting. Where ya going?" Jaune asked them curiously.

"Oh, just outside the kingdom…" Ruby answered.

"Hey! So are we!" Nora said extingly.

"Ren and Nora wanted to shadow the sheriff of a nearby village." Pyrrha explained their mission.

"We set out tomorrow." Ren explained.

"Then you can party with us tonight!" Came Neptune's voice.

They turned around and saw Neptune and Sun approaching the two groups. "We're shadowing a crime specialist. All inner-city detective stuff. We get junior badges."

Jaune's sparkle with awestruck at the two Haven Students. "We normally go to the city with you guys, which means stuff's always exploding and junk, so we thought this might be a better way to check out the kingdom when it's, you know... normal." Sun said to them. "By the way, do you know about Team WAVE's mission? We didn't get a chance to know after they left."

"Oh, Volty told me that they're going to escort a scientist to a town." Ruby said.

"That was...offly nice of her." Yang said.

"Why's that?" Neptune asked in confusion.

"Because Voltaria rarely talks to others, but she's been spending a lot of time with Ruby." Blake answered, eyeing on Ruby, who was avoiding eye contact.

"Sis, is there something that you're not telling us?" Yang asked her younger sister.

"Well-" Ruby was cut off when Oobleck appears from the airship to call Team RWBY, who are embarrassed by this, about their curfew. "Four minutes, ladies!"

He goes back inside the airship as their friends smile awkwardly at the girls. Though Ruby was glad that Oobleck did that, she can avoid the question. She promised Voltaria she would tell anyone because she's a good friend.

"Well, uh…" Ruby throws a thumbs-up. "Wish us luck!" Was all Ruby said.

With that, the friends disband, either back to Beacon Academy or towards their own mission. While Team RWBY headed out to Quadrant 5.

---

Team WAVE was at the Airship with Glynda Goodwitch as their guide for this mission. It will be thrilling and exciting at the same time. Though, Voltaria shows no signs of enthusiasm like her teammates. Glynda was pleased that Team WAVE came just on time, especially Voltaria. She's finally opening up to her teammates and joining on the mission.

"So, who's the scientist that we are escorting?" Evo asked.

"Dr. Turquoise Jewel." Glynda said to the group.

"That's me." Came a woman's voice.

AJ gasped in realization as she saw Turquoise coming out of the flight deck. She appears to be a slender woman with blue/green hair that was tied into a fancy bun and ocean blue eyes. She wears a blue/green romper-jumpsuit, a black choker with a turquoise gem on the center, sandy brown low-Gladiator heels, a lab coat, and blue rectangle glasses. And she appears to be carrying a brown messenger bag.

"Turquoise!" AJ said happily as she hugged the scientist named Turquoise.

Turquoise hugs AJ back with a smile. "Hey, little sis!"

"Sis?" Wade and Evo both said unison, shock by this information.

Voltaria rolled her eyes at this, already figuring out that Turquoise is one of AJ's older sisters. As the Jewel sisters let go of the hug, Glynda cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"I see that you two already know each other." Glynda said sternly. "Perhaps you should introduce your teammates to her?"

AJ nodded her head with a smile. "Yes, Professor Goodwitch." She said before looking at her teammates and made the introduction. "Guys, this is my older sister, Turquoise Jewel. Turquoise, these are my teammates, Wade Cross, Evo Hebi, and Voltaria Eclipse."

"Nice to meet ya, Miss." Wade said, tipping his hat.

"Hi." Evo greeted her.

"Hey…" Voltaria mutters out, not making eye contact at Turquoise.

Turquoise looked at Voltaria curiously. "So, you're the mysterious Grimm Girl everyone's talking about." She said with a smile.

"Is that a problem?" Voltaria asked, still not looking at her.

Turquoise shook her head. "No, just curious that you can talk to the Creatures of Grimm, it's fascinating."

"Most people found it terrifying to see a girl talking to the soulless beasts and would try and kill me." Voltaria said blankly, causing Turquoise to look at her shock and surprise.

Glynda sighs at her behavior. "My apologies towards Ms. Eclipse, she can be…cold to others but I can assure you that she is a skilled huntress." She said, giving Voltaria a scolding sideway glance, which she ignored.

"It's okay, I'm just surprised by her that's all." Turquoise said, looking at Voltaria curiously.

"So, Dr. Jewel?" Wade began.

"Just call Turquoise."

"Right, I'm curious about what your job is." Wade said to AJ's older sister.

Turquoise smiled and answered. "Well, I'm a Geologist and a Mineralogist, studying different types of Dusts and how they are grown through the soils or caves." She explains.

"Huh, interestin' job." Wade complimented.

Turquoise smiles and thanked him before leaning over to her sister and whispers to her teasingly. "You're right, he is cute and nice."

AJ blushes and shushes her older sister. "Turquoise!" AJ whispers to Turquoise embarrassingly.

Turquoise chuckles a bit before looking at the others. "Anyways, one of my colleagues called out to me during his travels. He found a town that has a huge Dust Crystal in the center of the town." She explained to them.

"Wait, a huge Dust Crystal?" Wade asked in surprise.

Turquoise nodded her head. "Yes, this Dust Crystal is huge and is in the center of the town square. It has been there for six years, Grimm free."

"A Grimm free town? That is not true...can it?" Evo questions her.

"It's true, the people there haven't seen any Grimm near their town for miles, as if they didn't want to set foot there." Turquoise explains to them.

"Quiet town, giant crystal, Grimm free…" Wade whispers out while rubbing his chin, thinking the town that Turquoise is talking about is the same one that he was researching about. "By any chance is this town called Mineral Town?"

Voltaria stiffens by this information, luckily no one notices it, she didn't want them to get suspicious. Turquoise looked at him in surprise. "Yes, how'd you know?"

"I was researchin' through some articles about Mineral Town. And apparently it had been invaded before, but was saved by an unknown creature and then a giant black crystal appeared out of nowhere, and the town lived in peace with no problems." Wade explained.

"Hmm...you did your research." Turquoise said with impress.

"Gotta keep my head on the game I guess." Wade said.

"Well then, you should keep your head on because we're here." Turquoise said as the airship hovered above a cliffside. The group got off the ship as it took off, leaving them on a forest landscape.

"Are we in the right place?" AJ asked her older sister.

"Yeah, Mineral Town is thirty minutes away, we can reach there before nightfall." She answered them.

"Great…" Voltaria mutters in mind sarcastically before they start walking.

"Why didn't the airship just land near the town?" Evo asked Turquoise.

"It doesn't have any landing platforms at the town and this will give you huntsmans a chance to see what you are made of." Turquoise said with a wink.

"Remember, stay together, and don't wander off." Glynda said sternly, looking towards Voltaria's direction when she said the last part. "As huntsmen and huntresses, you four must learn to work together in facing off unexpected Grimm."

"Remind me again how are we dragged into this?" Voltaria asked her entities in annoyance.

"I don't know, as long as we're fighting in this mission that's all I care about." Wraith said.

"Voltaria? Are you bothered that this mission is at Mineral Town?" Regina asked with concern.

Voltaria mentally sighs and shakes her head. "It's more than that." She mutters into her mind.

Before Voltaria could say anything else, she suddenly, she felt something wrong. Stopping her tracks, she looks around the forest, she could feel something coming. The others noticed her sudden stop and began to suspect something.

"V? Is there something out there?" Wade asked her.

"Grimm." Was all Voltaria said.

Soon enough, Wade, AJ, Evo, and Glynda readied their weapons while Turquoise stayed alert. Soon enough, they were all silent, they kept their emotions in bay. Everyone was keeping an eye out for any signs of Grimm. Voltaria, being able to feel or sense Grimm, could find them with ease. Soon, her eyes narrowed in alert as she turned towards Wade.

"Cross, on your right!" She ordered.

Wade quickly took out his magnum pistol, Justiceshot, and fired an incoming Beowolf that was almost sneaked and attacked him at the undergrowth.

"Jewel, two Beowolf are coming towards you! Hebi, behind you!" Voltaria warns them.

AJ took out her guns and turned them into mini-scythes before killing two incoming Beowolves coming to her while Evo uses his Musicshocker to slam an electrical wave at the Beowolf. Voltaria then warns Glynda that more pack members were coming towards her and Turquoise. Glynda uses her Semblance to toss them away from her while Turquoise takes out two small round bombs and throws them at the incoming Grimm. They exploded on contact, turning the Grimms into ice.

"We have to go." Voltaria said as she sensed more of the pack coming.

She took out a card and threw it on the ground, creating a shadow smoke bomb, giving the group a chance to escape from danger and reach town, just in time before the whole pack showed up. They rushed out of danger and continued their way to town.

"Wow! That was...that was intense!" Turquoise said in amazement with an excited smile.

Glynda looked at Voltaria with suspicion. "I didn't know you could do that." She said, referring to the card trick she did.

Voltaria simply shrugs. "I only use it for emergency escapes...and it appears that we are here."

They followed Voltaria's gaze and saw an arch that has the words Mineral Town on top, indicating they were here. In relief, they walked towards the arch but they noticed two black crystals on both sides of the arch's poles. Turquoise came closer to it and studied the coloration of the dark crystals.

"Aren't those Gravity Dust Crystals?" Evo questioned.

"No...they're not, their coloriation is different." Turquoise explained, observing the crystal. "There's a steak of white and red inside of it."

"I don't see it." Wade said.

"That's because you're not wearing high-tech glasses like me." Turquoise said as she pressed a hidden button on her glasses, causing a digital light to scan the crystal and giving Turquoise's valuable information.

"Huh, now that's an interestin' toy, ya got there." Wade complimented.

"Dr. Jewel." Glynda began, watching Turquoise finish scanning the crystal. "What can you tell about the crystal?"

"Hmmm...it appears to have a high concentrated energy that is not familiar to any of the data." Turquoise explained to them.

"Hello, there." Came an old man's voice.

They turned towards the other side of the arch to see an old farmer with a big basket, filled with radishes. He wears a white sleeveless shirt, brown shorts, a straw hat, and sandals. He was holding a walking stick since he was hunching a bit. The old man was looking at them with old, kind brown eyes.

"Oh, hello there." Turquoise greeted, standing up from her spot.

"What brings kind people like you here?" The old man asked curiously.

"I'm Dr. Turquoise Jewel. I came here to study Mineral Town's mysterious crystal."

"Ah, yes. Your friend Dr. Sanchez, I believe. Informed us about your arrival. He's waiting for you at Town Square." The old man said to her. "I'll take you there if you want."

"That would be nice, thank you." Turquoise said in appreciation.

"Follow me." The old man said as he guided the group through the path. "By the way, I'm Carl Peterson, and who is the group with you, Dr. Jewel?"

"Oh, this is Professor Glynda Goodwitch and her students, Wade Cross, Ammolite Jewel, Evo Hebi, and Voltaria Eclipse." Turquoise explained.

"Ah, they're shadowing a huntsman, I see?" Carl asked with a chuckle. "I'm sure you four will become a great huntsman when you graduate."

"Thank you, Mr. Peterson." Wade said.

Carl chuckled. "Just call me Carl." He said to them kindly.

"So, Carl? Can I ask you something?" AJ asked.

"Of course, ask a way."

"Why are you here by yourself? Aren't you worried about the Grimm?" AJ asked Carl.

Carl simply shook his head. "Not really, Grimms never bother coming to our town for years." He answered.

"Why?" Turquoise asked curiously, wanting to know as well.

"It all began six years ago when our town was raided by bandits." Carl began with a sad tone. "They attack our town at night, killing so many lives, and capturing those to make them slaves."

"I'm so sorry." AJ apologized, feeling pity towards the people of Mineral Town that were killed.

"It was a terrible day for the people of Mineral Town, until something came and attacked the bandits."

"The mysterious creature that only attacks the bandits and not the locals, correct?" Wade asked him.

"I see you read the old article." Carl said, earning a nod from Wade. "And it is true, a creature just appeared and attacked the bandits, and spared the people of Mineral Town. But it was not drawn by negativity, it was drawn by a horrifying scream."

"A scream?" Glynda asked in confusion.

"It was like something was calling the creature, but I don't know, it was six years ago and my memory can be a little rusty." Carl said in an apologetic tone.

"It's okay, Carl, thank you for telling us this." Turquoise said kindly.

"You are very welcome." Carl said.

Voltaria didn't say a word as they continued following Carl through the forest path. Glynda looked at her with worry and suspicion, wondering what was wrong. However, she didn't get a chance to ask the young girl as Carl brought them to a big farm field. There were many crops being harvested by farmers and being carted back to town. The group, minus Voltaria, admired the farm work of the people as they were greeted by the kind farmers. They now know the reason why airships couldn't land here, it's because they might ruin the crops and the field. And the town was far from the farm fields, they got a ride on a cart being pulled by a horse, so they could get there faster. They saw many cottages, a bake shop, a mini clinic, a blacksmith shop, and many markets. Children were running about, playing games and what not. AJ and Turquoise found it adorable to see before they reached the center of town.

And in the center of town was a huge black crystal. It was decorated on a flowerbed and was shining by the light. They got off the cart as Turquoise, Glynda, and the Team WAVE, minus Voltaria, admired the giant crystal. It was the size of an Oak Tree and it looked like it was untouched.

Wade lets out a whistle as he flips his hat. "Dang, ain't that a beauty."

"That must be the biggest crystal in Remnant history!" AJ gasped.

"You can say that again." Evo said as he looked at the giant crystal before them.

"Turquoise!" A male came.

Turning around, they saw a young man with tan skin, dark brown-messy hair, and eyes. He wears a sandy brown safari shirt, hiking pants, and boots. Beside him was a man about his early forties. He wears a white, long sleeve, dress shirt, brown pants, black shoes and slight brown coat. His black hair had some gray strands and he had a goatee. And his eyes are chocolate brown.

"Miguel!" Turquoise called out to him happily.

Miguel went over to Turquoise. "You made it!"

"Yeah, sorry for the delay, we had to fight our way through a pack of Beowolf." Turquoise explained.

"I hear you. When I was coming here, my group and I were attacked by an Ursa!" Miguel explains to them.

"Hate to be a bother." Voltaria began, causing everyone to look at her. "But who is this?"

"Oh! Right, everyone, this is Miguel Sanchez, he's one of my colleagues that contacted me about this giant crystal."

"Nice to meet you all." Miguel waved at them with a kind smile before gesturing to the man beside him. "And this is the leader of the town, Liam."

"Nice to meet you all and welcome to Mineral Town." Liam greeted them kindly.

"Thank you for letting us study your town's crystal, Mr. Liam." Turquoise said with a smile.

"It's my pleasure, everyone is curious about this crystal." Liam said.

"What do you mean?" Evo asked in confusion.

Liam and Carl looked at each other and then to the group. "We'll tell you the whole story, but first we have to let you all settle in. You must be tired from your long journey here." Liam suggested.

The group looked at each other, thinking they should find a place to stay before they continue, and agreed to settle in first for the night. They followed Carl and Liam through the town's path, seeing many people walking about. Greeting each other, selling items and equipment, and children were playing around. Voltaria didn't bother to speak nor do anything but followed the group, however; she sometimes glanced around the town, feeling a small pain in her heart as she remembered her town before she left.

"Here we are, this is where you all will be staying for the week." Carl said.

Voltaria looked up and froze at her spot. Her eyes widen underneath her mask to see where they will be staying for the week.

It was her old house.

It hasn't changed. The house was a second story structure. It was still sturdy and traditional looking. flower vines were decorated on the white brick walls to dark brown wooden roof, each window sills had their own flower boxes. The door's small window gleams through the light. Simple, but nice. Voltaria looked at the flower bed that her mother made didn't wilt and the birdbath that her father built was still there with few birds taking a bath.

"Wow! This place is beautiful!" AJ awed at it.

"It is indeed." Liam said proudly.

"Who lives here?" Evo asked.

"Our town's healer, Mallow Florez." Carl said as they went to the house before he knocked at the door. "Mal? Mal, are you home?"

"Coming!" They heard a young woman's voice.

The door opens to reveal a young woman, about the same age as Turquoise, was inside of the cottage. She has pink pixie cut-hairstyle, mauve color eyes, and an attire that matches them. She was very pretty.

"Oh! You must be the ones that I will be hosting for, right?" Mallow asked.

Wade nodded his yes. "That's right."

Mallow moved to the side. "Come in, you're just in time, I made tea and some sweets for you to enjoy."

They entered the nice cottage while Carl said his farewells since he has work to do at the farm. The group saw the inside was traditional like. Glynda notices that Voltaria seems hesitant to come inside the house, which made the professor suspicious about her action, wondering why she stopped. But Glynda notices that Voltaria was looking at the house as if it was a valuable artwork. Of course, Glynda knew that Voltaria hasn't been in any nice home since she lived all her life traveling, surviving, and living in the forest.

"Ms. Eclipse?" Glynda called out to her, snapping Voltarai from her gaze of the house. "Are you coming?"

Voltaria's only response was a nod as she walked past Glynda before they entered the nice cottage. Everyone got their own seats and waited for Mallow for the tea. AJ and Turquoise sat on the nice couch while Glynda, Liam, and Miguel, sat on the wing-chairs. Evo sits on the armrest of the couch while Wade stood beside the couch, where AJ is, and Voltaria was sitting sideways on the window seat, looking outside of the window. Mallow came with a tray of tea and sweet snacks for them. They said their thanks and enjoyed their delicious treats.

"Thanks for letting us stay in your lovely home, Ms. Florez." Turquoise said kindly.

"Please, call Mal." Mallow said with a smile.

"So…" Wade began, looking at Liam. "Your town...it says that it didn't have any Grimm attack for six years, correct?"

Liam nodded his head. "That is true, no Grimm has ever come into a town for years nor bandits." He explained. "I believe Mr. Peterson told you half the story of our little town, I presume?"

Evo nodded. "He did."

"What do you mean?" Miguel asked the group in confusion.

"The crystal in the center of our town was not always there." Liam explained to them. "It appeared after a creature left our town when it heard a loud scream that didn't sound human."

The group, minus Voltaria, listens to his story carefully, curious and anxious about what will happen next. Liam stared down at his team to look at his reflection. A dark reminder of the event that happened six years ago.

"The scream sounded like a demon, calling out to the creature. It came and slathered the bandits, sparing us as it leaves." Liam explains his story.

"It spared you and your people?" Glynda asked him softly.

Liam nodded. "Yes, and after it left, that crystal appeared from the ground on the town square." He points at the window where they could see the giant crystal from outside. "And it wasn't the only one, more like it came and surrounded the town for twenty miles, we didn't know what they were until one of the farmers saw a Grimm coming towards our town but…"

"But what?" Evo asked, his eyes widened under his shades.

"The Grimm couldn't get in. It tried but it couldn't. Like there was an invisible wall preventing it from coming into our town." Liam explained as he recalled the event that happened.

"An invisible wall?" Turquoise asked curiously.

Mallow nodded. "Liam's right, we all witness it. But it was more like an invisible field." She explained. "When those black crystals appeared for a year, a Nevermore came, trying to attack our town, it scared everyone as we tried to take shelter, but then...the Nevermore couldn't enter. It keeps slamming on an invisible field, no matter how it tried, it couldn't get in."

"It happened to me and my team." Miguel said, recalling how they got here. "We were being chased by an Ursa before we entered Mineral's town's borders. It couldn't get it, no matter how hard it tried."

"Amazing." Turquoise said in awe.

"True to Miguel's words, and like the Ursa, the Nevermore didn't stop in trying to break the barrier. We were both relieved and scared at the same time. We thought it might somehow come in. But then as if the crystal knew that we were scared-"

"What? What happened?" Wade asked, wanting to know what happens next.

"The crystals were creating a red light and shot a powerful energy beam onto the Nevermore and...incinerate it, turning it to ash." Liam explains with shakiness in his voice.

"Fascinating, and these crystals...they've been protecting you and your people for years?" Miguel asked in awe.

"Yes, when Grimm comes, the crystals will protect us, but we don't know why." Liam said.

"Huh?" AJ asked in confusion.

"Why was our town blessed with such protection while other towns and villages were destroyed by bandits and Grimm?" Liam questions, almost to himself.

The group didn't know how to answer that, they wondered why Mineral Town has these crystals, and why they were only here and not in other towns or villages. Voltaria didn't bother to listen to Liam's story, she was busy looking outside of the window to see the town's people enjoying their lives. After having tea, Turquoise and Miguel decided to study about crystals. Miguel brought a team with him, to help them study further about the crystals. They wanted to know how it was protecting the town with no problem. Since they escaped from an Ursa chasing them and the crystals' protective field saved them from Ursa. They set up some equipment and computers to study the crystal's energy and signature. They placed some wires on the big crystal, getting strange readings from it.

"Hmm…" Turquoise hummed as she observed the energy waves on the screen.

"What did you find in the crystal, Dr. Jewel?" Glynda asked.

"It appears that this big crystal is connected with the other crystals that surround the town." Turquoise explains, taking down notes. "It's like a hive-mind."

"Hive-mind? Like ants and bees?" Evo suggested.

"That's right, but stronger." Turquoise explained.

"Turquoise! Take a look at this!" Miguel said, showing her his scroll tab. "There's the same reading but on the ground."

"What?" Turquoise looked at the scroll and saw that the ground had the same readings as the crystals. "Unbelievable!"

"What is?" AJ asked her sister.

"Not only the crystals are protecting the town from the surface, but also from the underground!" Turquoise explained to them.

"Preventing subterranean Grimm from coming up to the surface." Glynda theorized in realization.

"Or dig through." Turquoise added, observing the crystal. "These crystals are serious to keep this town safe from any known Grimm."

Wade rubbed his chin. "I wonder how come Grimm's can't enter the border. V, do ya know?...V?" Wade looks around and notices that Voltaria was gone. "Aw, dang it. Where did she go this time?"

AJ looked at Wade and noticed something on his back. "Hey, there's something on your back." She pointed out. She removed it and revealed it to be a piece of paper that says. "I'm off scouting the perimeter of the town, checking for any Grimm's that might try and get in. Voltaria." AJ reads out as a smile spreads on her face. "Aww, that's cute."

"What is?" Turquoise asked.

"Usually, Voltaria would leave without telling us where she's going." Evo began.

AJ gives the note to Wade, who looked at it with suspicion. "And now she's leavin' notes...I guess Ruby has given her a good influence."

Glynda looked at him suspiciously. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Cross?"

"Well...V always spends her time with Ruby like everyday after classes. And on the weekends, they both disappeared. We don't know where they went, not even the others." Wade explains to Glynda.

"And her tutoring with Mr. Arc?" Glynda questioned.

"She tutors him on some occasions, but she asked Pyrrha to Jaune's tutoring now." AJ answered.

Glynda processes this information while Miguel was taking a small hammer and a chisel, he was going to get a sample to bring it back to the lab. But when he tried to get a piece, the crystal glowed white and released a white electrical wave that sent a screaming Miguel flying towards a cart full of hay, causing everyone, even the town's people, to gasp in shock.

"Miguel!" Turquoise yelled in shock as she and others rushed to his side. Wade and Evo helped Miguel up his shakened feet. His hair became spiky after the electrical shock that the crystal gave him.

"Are you alright?" Glynda asked him with concern.

Miguel nodded his head with a dizzy expression. "Yeeeaaahhh...apparently these crystals pack a punch." He said before passing out in Evo and Wades arms.

Turquoise looked at the crystal and noticed that it stopped glowing and returned back to normal. Turquoise has some theories, that this crystal and the others have their own version of security, preventing anyone from getting a piece. But the question is why? Turquoise doesn't have the answer for that nor the others, but she is determined to find out.

However, she doesn't know that these crystals were made by someone that used to live in this town years ago.

---

Voltaria was walking through the forest, outside of Mineral Town's barrier. She needed to go somewhere, far from the down, the people, and her teammates. Her reason for going far is simple, she is meeting someone that she met a long time ago. Voltaria walked up a steep slope and was at the top of a cliff that could see Mineral Town from above. She sat down on a fallen log and looked down at the town with a blank expression. It's been six years since she set foot in her old town, six years since left and traveled all of Remnant, just to escape her past.

Voltaria looked up towards the horizon and spoke in a calm tone. "You came."

Voltaria turns her head slightly to see a young male fox Faunus about 10'5 feet tall. He has broad shoulders with a body built for combat. Pale white skin, long red and black hair. Has heterochromia eyes (right iris: red and he left iris: grey) both eyes have white outlines of an inverted pentagram. He wears a traditional Grimm mask that is a fox. Two fox ears on his head and two long fox tails. His attire is red/black jeans and a long black sleeve hoodie with a white fox symbol that covers the whole back of the hoodie. Arm and leg bracers made with indestructible materials and components. And strapped to his side was a long Katana that looked like it was infused with Superheated Fire dust.

The mysterious Faunus bowed at her. "Greetings, Mistress."

He spoke telepathically like Voltaria's entities. Speaking of which, the four entities appeared out of the shadows and greeted the stranger.

"Hey, Kurama, long time no see." Wraith greeted casually.

Kurama is a rare sight to behold. He is mysterious and many secrets were hidden inside of him like Voltaria's. They both trust each other and their secrets. He knows Voltaria's and she knows his. Kurama has both Faunus and Grimm blood in his veins. He was like this since the day he was born. Like everyone, his life was tragic. Many years ago, before Kurama was born, his parents were a secret married couple. His father, a human, and his mother, a Fox Faunus. Back then, Humana and Faunus' relationship was not allowed, but they deeply loved each other and had their relationship a secret. They tried to find a home where they could live together in peace and raise Kurama together, but they were attacked by Grimm. His father was killed after trying to save his mother but somehow, the Grimm's esense somehow got to his mother, who bore Kurama in her womb. And in the process, that Grimm esense turned Kurama into a hybrid of Grimm and Faunus. After he was born, his mother kept him hidden after she saw his features. She raised him in secret, providing and teaching him the best way she could, even though her job was only Faunus Labor, she did her best. Kurama educated himself with the books from a small library that his mother would bring him. And sometimes, when his mother was away or asleep, Kurama trained himself in combat, that way, he can protect his mother and himself. But when he turned seventeen, his mother died of an illness, leaving him an orphan.

Kurama was soon found by a kind huntsman, who did not see him as a monster, and he trained Kurama in the ancient arts of combat. He taught Kurama to be a great huntsman and become more skilled than his own master. But over the years, his master died in old age while Kurama remained youthful and in his prime. As it turns out, due to his Grimm blood, he became immortal, never aging nor dying. And because of this, Kurama never made any friends or made contact with other humans and Faunuses. He soon turned himself into a mercenary, working hard to earn money while hiding his true identity.

Kurama did have some friends back then, but he left them all behind. Because knowing future governments or other people will use him for evil purposes. So all Kurama's life was to hide, run, and fight to survive. He can no longer have friends or live a normal life because of what he is. He lived an everlasting life, traveling, exploring, and discovering hidden secrets. Growing stronger as he did so, but he did it alone with no one else.

Until he met Voltaria.

"Was there any raids happening on Mineral Town?" Voltaria suddenly asked Kurama, looking at the town from the horizon.

Kurama walked over to her and sat besides on the log. "Some bandits tried, but I stopped before they could reach the borders of the town. I didn't leave any survivors."

"Good, I don't want any bandits to go near Mineral Town." Voltaria said venomously.

Kurama looked at Voltaria, he could tell that she was angry under her mask, he knew that she had a deep hatred towards bandits, after all, they were the ones that ruined her life when she was only a little girl.

"May I ask, Mistress." Kurama began. "What brings you back to Mineral Town? Surely there was a reason."

Voltaria sighs a bit. "It's...complicated."

Wraith then butts in. "Complicated? You mean crazy! We were dragged to this boring boarding school called Beacon by the headmaster known as Ozpin, had to join a team, had to make a friend-who knows our secrets-, and now are raising two hybrid dinosaurs!"

There was silence, Kurama was staring at them calmly while Regina shook her head at Wraith's attitude. It's true that they had a crazy ride. Ozpin somehow manages to find Voltaria and convince her to join Beacon Academy, she has her own team, made a friend that promises to keep her secret, and both are working together to raise two hybrid dinosaurs with her. Kurama was mentally surprised how Voltaria made a friend and trust. He always knew that one day she would make a friend. Voltaria never made any contact with the humans nor Faunus for years, after the death of her mother. But deep down, she always wanted to have company.

"Remember how we first met?" Kurama suddenly asked, looking at the horizon.

Voltaria nodded her head. "Yes, I was only five when I met you." She said softly. "I wandered off when my mother was collecting herbs and met you here in the forest alone."

"Back then you were a bundle of energy." Kurama stated to Voltaria.

Voltaria clenches her fists on her lap. "Back then I was weak…"

Kurama placed a gentle hand on Voltaria's shoulder. "You were just a child, you didn't know what was happening." He said to her gently.

"But I should have." Voltaria said angrily as she glared at her fists. "If I wasn't such a naive child...my mother would've lived."

True to her words, Voltaria was once the little girl known as Virgo Twilight, a happy going child that loves to play and help others in need. But when she witnessed her mother's death, she became cold and distant, believing that everyone was against her...well, not everyone. Kurama was there for her when she ran away from her home. He came rushing to the town and to get Voltaria out of the village while the bandits were being slaughtered by an unknown creature that the whole town was talking about, but they didn't know that the creature was actually a Grimm.

And that Grimm was the Indominus Grimm Rex aka Gladstone.

Gladstone was called by a demonic scream that came from the town. And that scream actually belongs to Voltaria, for she called out to Gladstone and ordered Grimm to kill those bandits while Kurama rescues Voltaria and takes her away from the town, while Gladstone finishes off the last of the bandits.

"Voltaria, you didn't know, you were still young." Kurama said to her, letting go of her shoulder. "You cannot blame yourself for the death of your mother."

Ever since Kurama saved Voltaria, he took care of her and trained her in combat, and she took it seriously for she lost all her emotions of happiness, love, and care. Kurama raised her as if he was his own child. They and Voltaria's entities traveled to a few parts of Remnant to train before Voltaria decided to go alone while Kurama stayed at Mineral Town to protect the people from bandits as the protector of town by the request of Voltaria since she still needed someone to watch over it while she's gone. But she sometimes visits Kurama from time to time.

"Only if it was that easy." Voltaria mutters out coldly.

Regina and Tabitha looked at Voltaria worriedly, feeling her anger and disappointment in herself. Wraith, even though being a total annoyance, decided to do the right thing and changed the subject, for once.

"So how's Mineral Town's defenses? Still holding on?" Wraith suddenly asked.

Kurama heard this and nodded. "Not a single Grimm had succeeded in entering the border." He informs them.

"Were there any casualties?" Voltaria asked Kurama.

"None, the people did not do anything to the crystals other than decorating the center crystal with flowers. Although, recently, a human tried to get a sample of the crystal, he accidentally triggered the crystals defenses and was sent flying to a haystack, but he's fine." Kurama informs her.

Wraith laughed at this information. "Your crystals sure know how to protect themselves."

When Gladstone left the town to go with Kurama and Voltaria, the crystals sprouted from the ground and surrounded the town, creating a protective barrier. These crystals were made by Voltaria, another talent she had kept secret. She didn't know how she did it, but she did. She created these crystals when she was young, wanting to keep her town safe from Grimm while Kurama fights off any bandits that dares raid the peaceful town. And for safety measures, Voltaria made sure that the crystals have their own defenses. If anyone tries to get a sample, they'll get a bit of a shock. Only she, Kurama, and her entities can get a piece from the crystals.

"I see the crystals are doing well in keeping the town safe." Voltaria said calmly.

Kurama nodded and looked at her curiously. "May I ask? Did you really make a friend at Beacon I presume?" He asked curiously.

Voltaria simply looked away, like she was somewhat embarrassed. "You can say that…"

"Mind telling me who's your new friend and his or her name?" Kurama questions her curiously.

Voltaria took a deep breath and sigh, as if she was going to explain Kurama about Ruby. "Her name is Ruby Rose, she's a few years older than me. Her semblance is speed, she can be annoying sometimes, but...strong-wielded."

Voltaria continues on explaining Kurama about Ruby. The Faunus/Grimm hybrid was fascinated by her tale on how she and Ruby were raising two hybrid dinosaurs (that Hannibal found as eggs) and raising them safely, far from human's reach. Voltaria shows some respect towards Ruby. She may be childish, but shows great determination in reaching her goal to become a huntsman. Kurama found it nice that Voltaria finally made a friend that understood her and kept her promise to Voltaria. Soon afterwards, Voltaria began explaining her teammates and how they are called Team WAVE. The leader is Wade Cross, he's a born leader. Next was Ammolite Jewel nicknamed AJ, she's a rich yet strong girl. And lastly, Evo Hebi, a mysterious snake Fanus. They didn't betray her nor threatened to hurt her, they were worried and concerned about Voltaria, like she was a little sister to them.

"They sound interesting." Kurama complimented.

Voltaria nodded her head a bit. "They are…" She said softly.

Hannibal suddenly looks at the town, getting everyone's attention. Voltaria could tell that Hannibal was signaling them that they should go back to town before the others will become worried. So standing up, Voltaria dusted her dress and looked over to Kurama.

"I have to go, my teammates are probably waiting for me." Voltaria said before turning away. "I'll see you soon."

Kurama bowed at her. "I'll be waiting."

Voltaria headed off, back to Mineral Town. But upon her arrival, she notices Miguel wasn't with the group, who were observing the crystal. She went over to her teammates and Glynda notices her coming over to them.

"Ah, welcome back, Ms. Eclipse." Glynda said sternly.

The others looked at her as she stood beside Glynda. "I was scouting the area and found no signs of Grimm activity for miles." She said blankly.

Glynda adjusted her glasses. "I see…"

"I'm guessing that the Grimm knows not to mess with the crystals' force field." Wade suggested.

"By the way, where's Dr. Sanchez?" Voltaria asked blankly.

"He's back at Mallow's home being treated." Turquoise explains to her. "Apparently, he tried to get a sample of the crystal but didn't know that the crystal had a...defense system, and ended up being shocked in the process."

"But he's fine now, it's cute that you care though." AJ said with a smile at Voltaria.

Voltaria rolled her eyes under her mask. "Yeah, yeah…"

"We should probably check on 'im to see if he's okay." Wade said.

They agreed and went to check on Miguel. He was lying on the couch with a blanket covering half his body and a nice soft pillow for his head. Mallow was making him some tea to drink, he was still shaken up from the blast that the crystal gave him.

"How are you feeling Miguel?" Turquoise asked her colleague in concern.

"Doing well...though I wish we could get one, who knows what it can do." Miguel said with a sigh as Mallow gave him a nice cup of tea.

"Why is that?" Voltaria asked blankly.

Turquoise was the one to explain. "What he means is that with these crystals, it could probably save hundreds of lives. They can have great protection from Grimm and make all the kingdom's defenses stronger and expand the cities, much better than Mountain Glenn."

"Mountain Glenn?" Mallow asked her, wondering what it was. "Isn't that an abandoned city?"

"It is indeed. It's the southeast quadrant outside of Vale." Turquoise explained to Mallow. "It is home to wild forests and deep caves, and the location of one of the kingdom's greatest failures."

Then Glynda added. "It was supposed to be an expansion of Vale...but sadly, it was overrun by Grimm and had to be fenced off from the rest of the city."

"And it stands abandoned till this day." Miguel said with a sigh as he took a small sip from his tea.

"It's a dark reminder to all." Voltaria said to group with her arms crossed. "Creatures of Grimm populated that area. They are lured to its negativity."

"Really?" Mallow asked nervously.

"Yes." Voltaria simply answered.

"And that is why WE need to discover the secret of these crystals." Turquoise said to Voltaria. "Lives can be saved if we know how to use these new type of Dust crystals. It can change everything."

Voltaria looked at her under her mask, Turquoise was determined to find a way to use the crystals to save lives and wanting to bring a better future for Remnant. Voltaria knew about Mountain Glenn. Many Grimm go to that abandoned city because of the negativity of death and fear was there. Turquoise wants to change that, she wants to give people hope so they can live in peace with no fear about Grimm coming to their borders like Mineral Town, it lived in peace with no Grimm attacks for six years. Voltaria had both her hands in her long-wide sleeves.

"If you really wanted a sample." Voltaria began before taking out a small shard which belonged to the crystals and showed it to the group, shocking and surprising them in the process. "You could've just asked."

Turquoise gasped as Voltaria walked over to her and gave AJ's sister the shard. Turquoise held it as if it was a priceless treasure. She looked at the shard and then to Voltaria with a shock expression.

"Where did you get this?" She asked in a whisper.

Voltaria shrugged and made up a well made explanation. "I found it lying on the ground near the border that belonged to one of those crystals. I don't know why it was on the ground but I knew you guys needed a sample, so I took it." She said.

"Voltaria, do you know what you've just done?" Turquoise asked with a shaken voice.

"...I picked up a shard?"

Turquoise held both Voltaria's shoulders, making her uncomfortable, and gave her the biggest smile that she ever made. "You just gave us a chance for a better future!" She squealed.

Turquoise gave Voltaria a bone crushing hug, literally crushing her bones (seriously, she and her entities could hear her bones breaking), and then Turquoise let Voltaria go. "We have to study this right now!"

Turquoise got on her feet and rushed out to show the other team. Miguel tried to get out of bed but he fell due to his legs being temporarily paralyzed. "A little help?" Miguel begged.

Wade and Evo helped Miguel up and take him to Turquoise and the rest of the scientists, leaving Voltaria with AJ, Glynda, and Mallow. AJ was smiling towards Voltaria happily, causing the young girl to glance at the youngest Jewel sister under her mask.

"What?" Voltaria asked blankly.

"You did good, you know that right?" AJ said with a smile.

"I knew we shouldn't give her a piece." Wraith said in Voltaria's mind, which she ignored.

Sighing, Voltaria simply went out with AJ following her. Mallow said that she'll prepare dinner for them when they get back. But as Mallow went to the kitchen, Glynda was having suspicion towards Voltaria. For some reason, she was uncomfortable coming here, like she didn't want to enter the town nor Mallow's house. Glynda knew that Voltaria is a secretive girl, not a single piece of data or information about her. She has no family or any relatives whatsoever. But maybe...just maybe, Voltaria might come from this town.

Whatever the reason, she's going to find out soon.

---

Later that night, Mallow prepared a delicious meal for the group to eat. They, including Voltaria, sat down on the table as they enjoyed their meal. They said their thanks for Mallow, which she didn't mind, she enjoys cooking. Voltaria eats silently while the others are enjoying a conversation. Turquoise and Miguel said that with the shard that Voltaria found, they can understand how it works and how they'll continue their research back at Vale.

"Thanks again for the delicious meal, Mallow." Turquoise thanks her kindly. "This chicken carrot stew is delicious."

Mallow smiled in gratitude. "I'm glad you like it. Though the recipe wasn't mine, it belonged to someone else."

The group, minus Voltaria, looked at her confusion. "It's not yours?" Wade questions her.

Mallow nodded her head sadly. "It actually belongs to a good friend of mine."

"Your friend?" Miguel asked.

"Yes, she was one of the victims that were killed by those bandits six years ago."

Voltaria stiffened by this, holding her fork tightly, almost breaking it half. No one notices her reaction as Turquoise asked Mallow this question.

"What was your friend's name?"

"Her name was Pandora Twilight." Mallow answered sadly.

Wade almost choked at his drink. "Pandora Twilight?"

Mallow nodded her head. "Yes, do you know her as well?"

"Not personally, but we have two friends named Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie."

Mallow gasped in shock. "Ren and Nora? Oh my, it's been years." She said with a soft smile.

"You met Mr. Ren and Ms. Valkyrie?" Glynda asked.

"Yes, they used to live with Pandora, her fiancé, Toren Venus, and their newborn daughter, Virgo Twilight." Mallow explained.

"What happened to them?" Turquoise asked.

"They...died." Mallow answered solemnly.

Miguel, Turquoise, and Glynda were shocked by this while Team WAVE knew about this story, especially Voltaria. Mallow sighs sadly and remembers the events that happened years ago.

"They were good people." Mallow began sadly. "Toren used to work as a miner at the Schnee Dust Company and Pandora was the town's doctor and healer. I was her apprentice, I admire her so much. They lived in this house with their daughter, Virgo Twilight. They loved to help others. Until...the accident."

"Accident?" Glynda asked.

"When Ren and Nora lived with Pandora, Toren was killed in a mining accident when Virgo was only one. And Pandora...Pandora was one of the victims that was killed by the raid." Mallow explained sadly.

"And Virgo?" Miguel asked worriedly.

"What Ren and Nora told us." Wade began sadly. "They couldn't find her, correct?"

Mallow nodded. "Yes, they tried to find her but couldn't, no one know what happened to her." She said sadly.

Everyone, minus Voltaria, looked at her sadly, guessing that they were close. "I am so sorry for your loss, we didn't know." Turquoise apologized.

"It's fine...I'm fine." Mallow said with a sigh. "I should show you all your rooms, it's getting late."

They decided to change the subject and agreed as Mallow showed them the guest rooms. The boys shared the same room that has a bunk bed and couch. Wade will sleep on the couch while Evo sleeps on the top bed and Miguel sleeps at the bottom. AJ and Turquoise shared another room that has two beds. Glynda stayed in a single room which consisted of a single bed. And Voltaria will be staying in a different room. A room that she will never forget.

"Here, Voltaria, you'll be staying in this room." Mallow said, opening a white door.

Voltaria stared at the room blankly, old feelings started to return into her heart. Her room hasn't changed over the years. Her old room has midnight blue color on the calls and ceiling with glow in the dark stickers, making it look like the night sky. Her wooden canopy bed-that has white silk curtains-was still there next to the french window, which has a window seat. Her desk, closet, and toy chest were still here, even her bookshelf with her favorite storybooks. The crescent moon rug was clean and still on her wooden floor and her drawings were still on the wall. She steps in the room, feeling like it has been forever since she has been in her old room.

"This room looks...nice." Voltaria said. In truth, Voltaria believes that her room was still perfect but she can't show any suspicion.

"Yes, this room used to belong to Virgo. I make sure to keep this room nice and tidy always." Mallow said with a sad smile on her face.

Virgo looked at her. "You miss her, don't you?" She questions her.

"Everyday." Mallow answered, looking at the room sadly. "I missed her little smile and how she greets everyone happily...she was everyone's little star."

Voltaria was silent by this, knowing that Mallow really missed her very much. Clearing her throat, Mallow decided to check on the others. "Well, I should go now, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ms. Florez." Voltaria said quietly.

As Mallow closes the door, Voltaria takes a deep breath of her old room, feeling old memories returning of her old life. Voltaria walks around her old room. Her belongings were still here, nothing was removed from its spot. When she made her way to her old bed, she saw something on the white sheets. It was a small stuffed black cat doll. It has yellow button eyes and pink nose. And a pink tongue was sticking out of the doll. Voltaria picks up the doll gently and observes it.

"Mr. Shade!" A little girl's voice echoed through her mind.

Voltaria turned and saw the image of her five-years-old self was playing with the cat doll happily. The cat doll that she named Mr. Shade. Little Virgo was playing princess and Mr. Shade is the prince. Voltaria watched her little self dancing with Mr. Shade. The image played like a haunting memory that she wishes to forget. Soon afterwards, her mother came in with a smile on her face and little Virgo stopped playing with Mr. Shade. She runs up to her mother and hugs her, who hugs little Virgo back.

"Mommy! Mommy! Prince Shade saved me from the monster!" Little Virgo giggled happily.

"He did?" Her mother, Pandora, said playfully with a gasp. "Then he deserved some ice cream! Will you allow it?"

Little Virgo giggled. "Yes! Princess Virgo allows Prince Shade some ice cream!"

Pandora laughs at her daughter's antics and picks her up. "Okay then, Princess Virgo, we shall have ice cream!"

"Tally-ho!" Little Virgo laughs with her mother as they leave her room while Pandora closes the door, allowing the image to fade away.

Voltaria clenches her hands into fists, her mother was always there for her no matter what. She always makes her happy when she's sad or scared. Voltaria loved her mother very much, she idolizes her, wanting to BE like her. But sadly, fate had other plans. Instead of being with her mother, she was taken away from her, like if it was some cruel joke. It hurt Voltaria when she lost her mother. It broke her heart and soul. And all she could think about was revenge. She wanted those bandits to feel the pain that she felt when they took her mother's life. She wanted them to suffer, and suffer. But it wasn't enough to heal her. Voltaria left her town, she couldn't bear the pain of the death of her mother. Yet she still loves her hometown and left a power shield to protect them from Grimm while Kurama stayed and fought off any bandits as a secret guardian.

Voltaria turned away and walked over to the window seat with Mr. Shade in hand. She sits at the window seat and opens the window to bring the cold night air inside her old room. When she was young, she would look at the stars with her mother through her window as Pandora sings Voltaria her favorite lullaby before tucking her to bed. It was only her and her mother, she was fine with that.

"Mistress? Are you alright?" Regina asked as she and others communicated with her through the mind.

"It's been so long since I've been here." Voltaria whispers out.

"Volta...sad?" Hannibal asked worriedly.

"..." Voltaria didn't speak as she looked at the starless sky and the shattered moon.

Voltaria promised herself to never show any emotions after her mother's death, for she believes emotions were a weakness. She never laughs or cries, she locks her emotions away, and moves on. She cuts all ties of being with humans or Faunus, for they see her as a monster after she could control Grimm. People always make myths and rumors about her. Like she was created in a laboratory and broke out or she was a child raised by Grimm. None of them were true. She was the only little girl that was lost and alone in the world. Her only friends and the ones she could trust were her entities, Kurama, and...Ruby. For years, she always believed that everyone was against her. But Ruby trusted her and kept her secret from both her teammates and Voltaria's. Ruby was doing her best to be a 'Good Best Friend'. Then she remembers her mother's words, she would always say that Voltaria will make many friends because of her kind heart. Voltaria never did make friends after the incident. She thought they were a distraction.

"I never thought I would ever show my emotions again." Voltaria began softly, using telepathy, making sure that no one could hear her.

"Voltaria?" Tabitha questions her.

"But I guess old wounds can open." Voltaria continues as she looks at the moon. "I always believed that making friends was nothing but a childish demeanor...I guess I've been denying it for years."

"Kid...what are you talking about?" Wraith asked, not liking what's going on.

Voltaria closes her eyes briefly under her mask before opening them as she makes her decision. "I have to tell them the truth."

Her entities were shocked by this, especially Wraith. The whole point was to be kept a secret, not supposed to be known by anyone. I mean. Hello? That's what keeping a secret was supposed to mean. Wraith didn't want anyone to know their secrets, that way, they will not exploit her weakness. See, this is why Wraith didn't want Voltaria to go to school, it changed her, big time.

"I knew this was going to happen." Wraith said through her mind before he and the others formed out of the shadow and into the room. "Kid's gone soft."

"I mean it Wraith." Voltaria said seriously as she looked at her entities. "I'm done hiding. They need to know."

"Are you sure?" Regina asked. "I mean no offense, but I doubt they would listen to you."

"I'm not talking about Ozpin or Ironwood." Voltaria said to her sternly with narrowed eyes.

Her entities eyes widen by this. "You mean…you're going to tell your teammates?" Regina asked in surprise.

"Not just them. Team RWBY and JNPR." Voltaria said, looking out the window.

"Are you kidding me!?" Wraith suddenly exclaims in her mind. "Why do you need to tell them?!"

"We need more members if we want to win this deadly game." Voltaria said to him, facing her entities. "Torchwick isn't the only pawn, the real enemy is out there. And I know that we can't do this alone."

"She is right, Wraith." Regina said to him. "Even if we have Grimm and Kurama on our side, chances of defeating this mysterious enemy is futile"

Wraith looked at Regina blankly, wanting to make a comeback. However, part of him believes that she's...right. (Ugh it hurts when he said that) If this enemy is proven to be strong, then they need an army for this which means they need the help of Kid's teammates and Red's. So, with an annoyed groan, Wraith had no choice but to agree with this situation.

"Fine, let's do this shit." Wraith said in annoyance.

Voltaria looked at Tabitha and Hannibal. "Do you two agree with this?"

"Of course." Tabitha said. "We will always help you."

"Me...help too!" Hannibal agreed.

Voltaria nodded. "We are all in an agreement then. We will tell Ruby about this after our mission is ove-"

Suddenly, Voltaria froze and her eyes widened under her mask. Her entities knew that she's having a vision. These visions can appear out of nowhere without her crystal ball, Vision (that what Voltaria named him for) to balance these unexpected visions. But this particular vision shows Ruby was endangered.

"Ruby's in trouble." Voltaria said seriously as she looked at her entities. "Send a message to Vision, so he can teleport Amaryllis and Ripper to Ruby's location."

"Are sure it's a good idea?" Tabitha asked worriedly. "We were supposed to keep them in a low profile."

"They were, but Ripper will eventually sense Ruby is in trouble. And he will storm into that abandoned city with great force." Voltaria said and looked at her entities. "And you know how he is protective to Ruby."

Her entities looked at each other and then Voltaria, silently agreeing with her statement. "Very well, we will send a message to Vision now." Regina said.

"You better hurry then." She said to them telepathically as she looked out her window and to the night sky. "Ripper knows Ruby's in trouble."

---

True to her words, Ripper woke up late at night after he sensed his Momma Red in trouble. He got up swiftly, waking up her older sister, and started barking out roars, as he was trying to call out his Momma Red. But sadly she was too far away and he knew that he needed her help. He got up on his feet and was sprinting out of their den but quickly halted when Vision appeared. Amaryllis went over to her brother as he growled at Vision, wanting to get past him and save Momma Red. But instead of stopping him, Vision made soft glows that both Amaryllis and Ripper could feel. The two hybrids understand that Vision was telling them that he will take them to Ruby, for she was in trouble. Ripper started roaring, telling Vision to take them to Ruby. Vision glowed bright blue and suddenly both Ripper and Amaryllis were teleported into a different area, far from the forest and appeared to be in an underground tunnel.

Vision guides them as he shines his light for the two hybrids. Though they didn't need it. They have perfectly good night vision. Ripper uses it to hunt some midnight snacks without his mothers' knowledge. Though Amaryllis would scold him for spoiling his appetite and sneaking out of their den. Suddenly, they came to a halt when they saw the entrance to what appears to be an underground city. Amaryllis and Ripper heard about cities from Momma Red, she would tell them how big Vale is and how she wished that she could take them, but Strict Mother wouldn't allow them because it would be dangerous and they might scare the people. However, this underground city looked abandoned, but there were people here. With their high sense of smell, Amaryllis and Ripper sniffed out their Momma Red, trying to find her scent. And once they did, they followed the scent fatefully. But as they did, they heard voices.

Suddenly, Amaryllis's scales started to change, making her blend through her surroundings while Ripper hides behind her. Amaryllis has an ability to camouflage, able to blend into her surroundings with ease. She discovered it when she was hatchlings, when she and Ripper were playing hide and seek. Amaryllis blends with the undergrowth and wins the game, which surprises both their mothers in the process. Though Ripper won't admit it, he was kind of jealous that his sister can camouflage and he couldn't. He seems to lack his sister's camouflaging abilities, indicating that he didn't inherit like his sister did. But has amazing stealth, he can move with silence even in pitch black conditions, which made him like a ninja (His Momma Red gave him that nickname which he loves since she told him ninjas are cool and super stealthy).

From a far distance, they could see Momma Red being 'hurt' by a human known as Roman Torchwick and members of the White Fangs. Strict Mother told them that the White Fangs are a Faunus organization that fights for equal rights instead of being treated like animals. And they lead to drastic measurements like terrorism and stealing a train filled with Dust that belongs to Schnee Dust Company.

Ripper glared at Torchwick angrily, he was messing with his Momma Red. When Ruby uses her Semblance to escape Roman and run for an exit. Torchwick smiles amusingly before he spins his weapon, Melodic Cudgel, in his hands and aims the handle at Ruby. He fires the handle, which doubles as a grappling hook, at Ruby and catching her by her hood, allowing Roman to pull her back.

"I see you've got some tricks up your sleeve! Let me make this clear: We're not through here yet." Torchwick said threateningly towards Ruby.

Ripper glared at Torchwick, thinking that he will try and kill his Momma Red, he has to go there and save her! He didn't care if he got spotted by the Faunus or Torchwick. If it means saving his Momma Red, so be it! Leaving his sister's camouflage form, Ripper stalks over them while tapping his raised toe-claws on the ground as if he was sending out some sort of signal.

The Faunus, Torchwick, and Ruby heard the strange tapping noise. Ruby frozen as she recognized that tapping sound. Ripper makes those sounds to intimidate his prey, she sees him do it whenever he hunts with his sister.

"D-Do you hear that?" Asked one of the White Fang members. He sounded scared and nervous by the rhythmic tapping.

"It's probably nothing." Torchwick said, waving it off. He turns to Perry, who wears glasses on top of his Grimm Mask, and said. "Perry, go check and see-Perry?"

Torchwick notices Perry's petrified state. He was like a statue, a scared statue. Torchwick and the others looked at him in confusion, what's wrong with him. As if he saw a ghost. Torchwick snaps his fingers in front to unfazed Perry.

"What's the matter with you? It's like you saw a gghhoossttt..." Torchwick suddenly said as he followed Perry's gaze.

He and the others saw what Perry was looking at. Standing from a distance was a nightmarish creature. It was a raptor-like dinosaur, has black scales with a golden-yellow streak running from the base of the neck to its tail. And its eyes were like hellfire which brings chills on Torchwick's and Faunus' spins when it glared at them angrily.

"Oh no." Ruby mutters out quietly, already knowing the consequences that will happen to Torchwick and the White Fangs.

"W-What is that thing?" Deery, a young girl with orange-brown hair and small deer antlers growing from her head, asked fearfully. Her heart was pounding at the sight of Ripper.

"It doesn't look like a Grimm." A male White Fang member said in fear, backing up at the sight of a growling Ripper.

Torchwick backed up a bit when Ripper turned his glare towards him, growling savagely that it can terrify a full grown man. Torchwick could've sworn that Ripper was giving him a death stare. He thought that he was hungry and soon got a sick idea. Grabbing Ruby from her hood, he tosses her towards Ripper's direction as a distraction.

"Here you go, big guy! It's dinnertime!" Torchwick exclaims, pushing Ruby on the ground hard.

Ruby yelps as she makes contact with the hard ground. Upon seeing this, Ripper's pupils turned into silts, eyes filled with rage. When Torchwick pushed his Momma Red onto the ground, that crossed the line. HE IS GOING TO RIP HIS HEAD OFF!

Ripper lets out a mighty roar that scares Torchwick and whole White Fang members. He charged past Ruby and towards Torchwick with blazing fury. Terrified, Torchwick dodged Ripper's attack, but some White Fang members weren't lucky as Ripper body-slammed them to a train car, making them fall unconscious. Ripper turned towards Torchwick, who was recovering this, and roared at him in rage. Torchwick quickly brought up his Melodic Cudgel and fired many rounds at Ripper. But sadly, bullets had no effect on the hybrid's tough hide, only deflect bullets. Torchwick became pale by this as he watched as the bullets fell off Ripper's tough hide. But the scary part is when Ripper looks at the fallen bullets and then to Torchwick with a sly smirk on his face, which made Torchwick to back up from the hybrid.

"Point for you." Torchwick said fearfully.

Ripper growled at him savagely before he was turned away from him when White Fang members started shooting at him with guns. They had no effect on Ripper, but it did irritate him. He turned his attention away from Torchwick and towards the White Fangs before roaring at them in rage as they continued firing bullets at him with no effects. This gave Torchwick enough time to run, but he suddenly hit something hard and fell on his back.

"OW! What the he-oh shit…"

Torchwick saw what he ran into. It was another hellish creature, but bigger and more terrifying. It was white and has hellfire eyes like the black one, sharper claws and teeth. Ruby got on her knees and saw Amaryllis was there as well. Ripper turned and saw his sister and smirked at her while the White Fangs, who stopped shooting at Ripper, gasped in horror at the sight before them. She glared down at Torchwick with the same rage that Ripper before releasing a powerful and terrifying roar that shook the whole underground cavern.

"This is so not my day." Torchwick said in annoyance as he covered his ears while Amaryllis continuously roared loudly that it made everyone's ears, minus Ripper, ring. Once she stops, she swings her massive tail at Torchwick, sending him flying to the train car. He yells in pain as he falls on his stomach. Ripper followed his sister's move and swung his tail at the White Fang members, sending them flying and crashing onto the ground or debris. Amaryllis and Ripper quickly went over to Ruby as Ripper helped her up, making worried croons at his Momma Red, asking if she was alright.

"I'm fine, guys. Really." Ruby assured them.

Then a massive explosion sounds, causing them to look up. They could hear yelling of White Fang members before a second explosion happened. Amaryllis and Ripper were in a defensive stance as a third explosion came and multiple White Fang members came running around the corner and some were firing at an unknown enemy. But before the two hybrids could charge, Ruby saw who were attacking the White Fangs. It was her teammates, Zwei, and Oobleck. They run around the corner while fighting off some White Fang members. Ruby smiles at them coming to her rescue and quickly stops the two hybrids from their attack.

"Ama! Rippy! Stop! It's my friends!" Ruby told them, causing the two hybrids to look at her in understatement. "Go hide, I'll meet you back-AH!"

A bullet almost hit Ruby and she plus the hybrid saw some White Fang members were on top of a rundown building, shooting at her and the hybrids. But it's useless due to their strong hides. Enraged by this, Amaryllis and Ripper charged at the building with a powerful roar that shook the cavern. Amaryllis charged at the building before doing a body slam, causing some Faunus to lose their fall while Ripper climbs the building like it was nothing and attacks the poor souls that were in the building. His roar mixed with blood curdling screams of his prey sent chills to everyone's spins. Ruby didn't have time to stop them as she fled towards her friends. As she ran, Torchwick slowly woke up from his unconscious state and got up while shaking his head from the impact. He saw Ruby running over to her friends, that somehow found the hideout, while Amaryllis and Ripper were fighting off the White Fang members that were foolish enough to try and fight them.

Torchwick angrily turned towards a White Fang member-who came rushing out of the train car to see what's the commotion was about-and ordered. "Attach this cart and spread the word: We're starting the train."

"But we're not finished!"

Torchwick pins the White Fang member up against the wall angrily as he points his Melodic Cudgel at the Faunus. "Do it or you're finished!" He said threateningly.

Soon afterwards, Ruby was running towards her friends but screeches to a halt as she realizes she's running towards a group of White Fang members. Until a huge explosion appears behind them, sending them flying and revealing Yang to be one that causes the explosion. Relief and happiness, Ruby jumps into her older sister's arms, who hugged her happily.

"Ruby!" Yang said in relief as she put her down while the others came.

"Are you okay?" Weiss asked her with concern.

"I'm fine, I'm fine! But listen! Torchwick got all kinds of weapons and robots down there." Ruby told them.

"What?!" Blake exclaims in shock as she hands Ruby her weapon that she dropped.

"Androids, mechs, they're all loaded up on the train cars!" Ruby listed out when she saw the train.

"Ahhhh, that's ridiculous! These tunnels are sealed, the tracks lead to a dead-end!" Oobleck said to her.

Suddenly, they heard Amaryllis ear-piercing roar. They along with Zwei turned towards the direction to see Amaryllis knocking down some buildings to get rid of the shooting White Fang members while Ripper chased some of them around the cavern.

"What are those things?!" Weiss asked in shock, readying her Myrtenaster.

"Are they Grimm?" Blake points her Gambol Shroud's gun form at the two hybrids.

"They don't look Grimm...ish." Ruby tried to act all shocked, but she was worried about what her friends, sister, and teacher would do to Amaryllis and Ripper.

Oobleck was shocked to see Amaryllis and Ripper. "Unbelievable! But can it be? How can it be possible!?"

"Doc, what are you talking about?" Yang asked while she readies her Ember Celica.

"Those two creature are not Grimm!" Oobleck pointed out to them as Ripper grabbed a White Fang member by his arm and tossed him away, causing him to do a Wilhelm Scream. "They are dinosaurs!" Oobleck stated while unfazed when a White Fang member came crashing down beside him.

"Doc, you can't be serious." Yang said to him. "Dinosaurs went extinct millions of years ago."

"I am serious!" Oobleck before pointing to his Antiquity's Roast-extended form-at the two hybrids that were fighting off the White Fang members. "Those dinosaurs have features of the prehistoric beast of the forgotten. But those two I do not recognize in fossil records, so in conclusion, they must be a new species."

Ruby was getting worried, wanting to protect Amaryllis and Ripper's secret. "Yeah, but…"

Ruby was cut off when Torchwhick's voice came through the speaker system. "Get to your places, we are leaving now!"

Soon, the train starts moving towards the tunnels. Which made everyone panic. Oobleck reminded them these tunnels are all sealed and the tracks lead only to dead-ends. However, if the train was leaving, indicating that it leads to somewhere.

"Well, it sounds like they're going somewhere." Yang said.

"We need backup. Let me call Jaune." Ruby said, getting her scroll. But it flashes a "Low Signal", indicating she can't call backup. "I can't get through!"

"So, what do we do?" Weiss asked Oobleck.

"And more importantly, what are we going to do with them?" Yang points to Amaryllis and Ripper, who were chasing off some remaining White Fang members.

"They seem more interested in chasing the White Fang than us." Ruby said, hoping they could take the bait and go after the train. Luckily, Oobleck was on her side.

"She is right! And I believe we only have one option left…" Oobleck said.

Ruby turns around towards the moving train. "We're stopping that train!" She said.

With a nod, they chased after the train. Amaryllis seized her attacks at the White Fangs and saw Ruby and the others chasing after the train. She turns towards her brother and lets out a short roar, getting her brother's attention-who stopped chasing a terrified White Fang member. She points her snout in the direction. Understanding this, Ripper nodded and soon the hybrids chased after the train. They're speed was so great that they were able to catch up the train better than Team RWBY, Oobleck, and Zwei.

"We got company!" Weiss exclaims, seeing Amaryllis and Ripper coming towards them.

At first, they-minus Ruby-thought that they were going to attack them, but they did something surprising. They swiftly ducked under them and brought them on their backs. Ruby, Zwei, and Oobleck were on Ripper's back while Yang, Weiss, and Blake were on Amaryllis.

"What are they doing!?" Blake asked in shock as the two hybrids raced after the train at full speed.

"I think they're helping us!" Yang said in amazement.

"Brilliant!" Oobleck exclaims as Ripper raced after the train. "With this speed, we'll be able to get to train! Faster, you overgrown reptile! Faster!"

Ripper would've been offended by this, however; he and Amaryllis must help them stop the train. With a mighty leap, Ripper jumps on the train's rearmost wagon. Yang, Weiss, and Blake jumped off Amaryllis and got on top of it as well. This caught a White Fang member that was standing on the train hears the noise from above. He looked outside the train to see what the commotion was about, but sadly for him, a black claw came from above and grabbed the White Fang member-who yelped in fear- before being brought up to the train car. And to his horror, Ripper was the one who grabbed him.

Ruby, Zwei, and Oobleck were off his back as Ripper roared at the White Fang member's face before the hybrid tossed him out of the train, causing the Faunus to do a Wilhelm Scream. The others watched as the White Fang was thrown off the train while Ripper grins at his work.

"Wow." Yang suddenly said before looking at her teammates. "Guess they're on our side." Yang said, referring to Ripper and Amaryllis.

"Awesome!" Ruby tried to sound amazed and pretended that she didn't know about Ripper and Amaryllis.

"Hurry, children! We must get to the front and stop this train!" Oobleck ordered.

Weiss opens the hatch of the train car and notices something that made her pale. "Err...Professor?" She asked nervously.

Oobleck came to her swiftly and corrected her. "Doctor…"

Ignoring that, Weiss points down at the opened hatch of the train. "What's that?"

Oobleck kneels down to take a look to what Weiss was pointing out. With an unfazed look, Oobleck explains to the girls clearly and calmly points out what it was inside the hatch. "That my dear...appears to be a bomb."

Team RWBY all cringe away from the hatch along with Ripper. He knows what a bomb is. Both his mothers told them it's a device that creates a loud and deadly explosion. Which was bad and painful. Then Ruby saw something up ahead and pointed forward to the train.

"We've got baddies!" Ruby pointed out.

They followed her gaze and saw dozens of White Fang members coming climbing onto the top of the train. They were going towards Team RWBY, Zwei, and Oobleck. Though Ripper was there, which terrified them, they had to do everything they could to stop them, even if it meant getting ripped into pieces by Ripper.

"Well, I didn't expect them to go-" Oobleck was cut off when the bomb underneath them charges up and starts beeping. "-easy on us." He said in annoyance before he stands up quickly. "Time to go!"

They didn't have to be told twice. They all started to run away and jumped on the next train car. Ripper helped Zwei cross by using his tail as a bridge. Oobleck stops Blake and quickly says to her.

"Blake! Detach the caboose! It will kill us all!"

"On it!"

Blake quickly jumps down onto the connectors and gets ready to cut the connection, but before she could do anything, the connection comes loose on its own. This shocked Blake as she looked up on the train car and yelled out.

"It decoupled itself!"

Oobleck came to the edge and was shocked by this. "What?!"

Yang came next to him worriedly. "I guess he REALLY doesn't want us on this train."

As Oobleck looked back at the detached cart, Amaryllis was running after them from behind as she dodged the detached cart just in time before it exploded in the tunnel. Luckily, Amaryllis was fine, much to Ruby and Ripper's relief, but Oobleck wasn't pleased by this.

"That's not good…"

"Err, neither is this!" Ruby exclaims as she, Zwei, Weiss, and Ripper stand next to another open hatch.

"Another bomb?!" Blake exclaims in shock.

Oobleck looks around and runs to the next train car, fearing the worst, as he mutters out. "No. No. No." When he reaches the other car, he opens the hatch and looks in, then yells back to Team RWBY, Zwei, and Ripper. "They ALL have bombs!"

The bomb under Team RWBY charges up and starts beeping, causing the cart they're on detaches itself, forcing Team RWBY, Zwei, and Ripper to run to the next cart.

"This doesn't make sense!" Yang yelled out.

Soon, the White Fang members were climbing on the train. Deery came up from the open hatched and pointed at them, yelling out. "Get the humans!"

Instantly, Team RWBY and Ripper jumped forward to attack the incoming White Fang members. Ripper razors and charged with incredible speed, knocking all incoming White Fang members off the train. Team RWBY did the same, fighting them off and finding a way to stop this train. Then Oobleck turns around and watches the detached train car explode. Only this time it creates a huge hole, causing multiple types of Grimm to fall above the opening. Realizing this, Oobleck became shocked by this sudden information as the horde of Grimm began advancing quickly toward the runaway train.

"Oh...dear…" Oobleck turns towards Team RWBY in panic. "He's leading Grimm to the city!"

"What?" Weiss exclaims in shock.

"It's the cars! They detach and explode, creating openings for the Grimm!" Oobleck exclaims his explanation.

"That's insane!" Blake said, finding out Torchwhick's plan was evil.

Soon, another train car detaches itself. And Oobleck knows that they have to stop this train. "We have to hurry!" He said and then he looked towards Weiss, Blake, and Yang. "You three, go below and try to stop those bombs!"

"What about us?" Ruby asked him.

Oobleck stood all heroically. "We're going to stop this train.

"Yeah, I know. I said that earlier." Ruby said, making Oobleck frown in realization.

As Weiss, Blake, and Yang went in the train cart, Ruby, Oobleck, Zwei, Ripper moved forward in order to stop the train. Amaryllis was chasing after them since she had to dodge some exploding train carts and a horde of Grimm coming their way. Suddenly, some White Fang members start to pilot multiple Atlesian Paladin-290s, and jump to the top of the train to fight off Ruby, Zwei, Ripper, and Oobleck.

"Up ahead!" Oobleck yelled out as they ran towards the Paladin, who was charging towards them at full speed, before it stood far away from them, causing the group to stop. "We got a problem!"

As the Paladin was going to attack, Oobleck took quickly a sip from his thermos before transforming it into its weapon mode, a small flame burning at its tip. He looks down towards Zwei. The dog barks at him, as if he's ready for an attack. Ripper's eyes widened in realization as a thought came to his mind, like was saying: He wouldn't.

Zwei jumps and flips in the air while Oobleck bats him, turning him into a small fireball of fluffiness. The Paladin was shooting at them, only for it to get knocked off the train by the combination attack. As it tumbles on the train tracks and explodes when it hits a barricade, another Paladin appears in front of Zwei and guns aimed at him. But before it could fire, Ripper tackles it, sending it flying in the air before multiple fire attacks hit it, and Oobleck swiftly knocks it off the train as well.

They worked together to stop more Paladin coming their way. Ripper rips those Paladins like if they were paper or knocks them out of the train where Amaryllis would finish the job. Ruby twirls her Crescent Rose around a few times and then she and Oobleck fire simultaneously at the Paladin's feet, knocking it off the train. Ripper looks at the back to see incoming Paladin. He lets out a warning roar, causing Oobleck and Ruby to look behind to see the incoming Paladins.

"Ruby! You go on ahead!" Oobleck ordered.

"But-"

Oobleck cut her off and gave her an assuring smile. "Don't worry, Ruby. It's time…" He glares towards the incoming Paladins. "I teach them a lesson."

Soon, Oobleck goes to take on the two incoming Paladins. But before Ruby leaves, she notices the saddened Zwei looking up at her. Like he didn't want to leave Oobleck behind. Ruby saw how Zwei became attached to Oobleck and she couldn't help but smile at him before motioning him to go help Oobleck.

"Go." She said.

With that, Zwei's expression changes dramatically and barks happily at Ruby before running off to fight alongside Oobleck. Ruby looks over to Ripper, who looked at his Momma Red with a serious expression.

"Ripper, help Zwei and Oobleck." Ruby ordered, earning a small and worried growl from Ripper. Ruby gave her Indoraptor an assuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go!"

With a slight hesitation, Ripper runs off to help Zwei and Oobleck to fight off the Paladins. Ruby hurries to the front of the train and soon her teammates reemerge from the train cars to rejoin her. Ruby looks up ahead worriedly as she realizes the train was going to collide with a thick concrete wall.

"What do we do?" Blake asked worriedly.

Ruby and Weiss soon smile at each other, as if they already know what to do, and then the Scheen girl forms an ice shield to protect her teammates, bracing themselves for the impending crash. As the train crashes into the wall, the explosion.

And everything went white

---

Back in Mineral Town, Voltaria was inside a makeshift research facility aka a big tent that was at the town's park, where Turquoise, Miguel, and a team of scientists studied the crystal sample that Voltaria gave them. Wraith thinks that it was a bad idea of giving them a crystal. But it was Voltaria's choice after all. Soon afterwards, Glynda came and sat beside her without a word. Wade, AJ, and Evo went on patrol and helped Turquoise to get some samples that grew around crystals like dirt, flowers, and so on. Voltaria stayed behind to observe the town, learning how they were able to adapt to their new protective field.

"How are you experiencing this?" Glynda suddenly asked.

Voltaria simply looks at the park calmly, watching children running about. "It's...nice."

"You seem unsure." Glynda said to her.

Voltaria simply shrugged her shoulders. "Honestly. I don't know either. I always stay away from towns, villages, and big cities since I am known as the Grimm Girl." She answered truthfully. Glynda glanced at her worriedly as Voltaria continued on. "People get scared easily, thinking I would try and invade their home...so I steered cleared away from them."

Glynda always knew that Voltaria was a problematic child. She never understood people, believing that they were all against her. But now, she's slowly getting used to having friends and learning to trust people. It gave her a sense of relief, knowing that Voltaria was getting along with her friends. No one, besides Ozpin, that Glynda shows great care towards Voltaria, as she was her own. She always denies it, since she's a teacher, she always keeps an eye on her students. Making sure they didn't do anything reckless, mostly Team CRDL. But Voltaria, she stays away from her team and group of people. She may be the youngest student of Beacon, but she acts all grown up, never complaining or whining if things are hard or boring, she just listens and pushes forward. And she always blocks off her emotions, never showing weakness.

"But you're getting used to it now." Glynda pointed out.

"I guess…" Voltaria said softly.

Glynda looked at her with concern. "Back at Ms. Florez's home...you seem hesitant to enter."

"I've never been inside a household that nice before, let alone being invited by one." Voltaria said blankly. "I always camp out in the forest."

"Were you always alone?" Glynda asked almost worriedly.

"The Grimm keeps me company since I was young." She said softly. "So I was never alone."

"I see…" Glynda said before looking at her in the eye. "Speaking of Grimm, you carry some on your Grimm Holder, I believe?"

"Yes, it protected them from being incinerated by the town's crystals." Voltaria explains dully.

Glynda simply nodded at her before saying. "Your teammates are saying that you're spending a lot of time with Ms. Rose."

"I have, haven't I?" Voltaria said as she watched the birds fly away from the ground.

"What have you two girls been doing all this time?" Glynda asked.

Before Voltaria could answer, she froze and swiftly looked at the sky. She quickly stood up from her seat and looked above the sky with alarm.

"Ms. Eclipse? What's wrong?" Glynda asked worriedly.

"Grimm…" Voltaria said coldly.

"What? Where?" Glynda asked, getting up as well.

Voltaria shook her head. "Not here."

"What's not here?" AJ asked as she and the others finished their patrol.

Voltaria looked at them seriously under her mask. "There is a massive horde of Grimm at Vale." She said.

"What?!" Team WAVE and Glynda exclaims in shock.

"Are you sure?!" Glynda asked in alarm.

"I can sense Grimm even if they are in far distances." Voltaria explains to them seriously. "Vale is under attack by Grimm as we speak. We have to leave, now."

Suddenly, Glynda's scroll started to make an alarm, indicating that Vale was in trouble. "We have to go, now." Glynda ordered.

"But what about-" AJ stopped mid sentence when someone touched her shoulder. Turning around, Turquoise was holding her sister's shoulder and giving AJ an assuring smile.

"Go, me and Miguel we'll be fine. Don't worry." Turquoise said.

AJ hesitated but nodded in understanding. As a huntress, she must protect the people. Team WAVE and Glynda run out of Mineral Town, far from the protection of the crystals. Glynda couldn't call an airship since they didn't have time. Luckily, Voltaria has another plan. As they were in a good distance, Voltaria quickly summoned her Nevermore. And without any hesitation, Glynda and the rest of Team WAVE gets on the Nevermore as it flies in full speed towards Vale. Upon their arrival, they were shocked to see a horde of Grimm attacking Vale. People's fear and panic were getting all the Grimm to come to Vale. Team RWBY was fighting them off the best way they could with the help of Team JNPR.

"Let's move!" Glynda ordered.

Team WAVE nodded before they jumped off of the Nevermore, which Voltaria returned into her Grimm Holder, summoned their weapons, except Voltaria. They landed with ease as they attacked nearby Grimms. Voltaria closes her eyes before activating her semblance. Her skin turned pale white, her sclera turned black as night, her pupils turned into silts, and her teeth turned into fangs.

"Stop." Voltaria sends a telepathic message to any tamable Grimm. Half a dozen tamable Grimm looked at her direction, seizes their attacks and focused at her direction. "Leave this place and never come back."

Obediently, the tamable Grimm started walking away like ants and went to the opening that brought them here. Everyone was shocked to see this and looked at Voltaria, who quickly deactivated her semblance, and turned towards them with a glare under her mask.

"Don't just stand there, fight off those rouge Grimm!" She ordered before she did a roundhouse kick from an incoming rogue Beowolf.

They didn't tell twice as they fought off the Grimm that didn't return to the hole. Voltaria did amazing kicks and punches for a girl her age. She knocks and Ursa down and Evo uses his battle axe to slice it half. Wade and AJ shoot incoming Grimm while Glynda swats them away with her semblance. Team RWBY and JNPR did their best to fight off the horde, especially Jaune. As he was able to slash an Ursa several times before it died. Much to Pyrrha's happiness as she notices Jaune's improvement. Then Sun and Neptune arrive, flashing their badges.

"Nobody move! Junior detectives!" Sun declared.

"We have badges so you know it's official!" Neptune added with a smirk as they fist-bumbed.

"Oh, boy." Voltaria and her entities said in annoyance.

Suddenly, a fleet of the Atlesian Military came, consisting of dropships deploying Atlesian Knight-200 units and the flagship of James Ironwood. Sun and Neptune saw this and were in awe at the fleet. They were so in awe that Sun dropped his badge to the ground. Dropships' machine guns started firing at the Grimm as the robotic Knights deployed and started gunning down any Grimm. As more Knights subdue Grimm, something came out from the opening. And it shocked everyone, except Voltaria and Ruby, as Amaryllis and Ripper emerged from the opening with mighty roars.

"What the hell are those things!?" Wade exclaims in shock.

"Oobleck said they're dinosaurs!" Yang yelled out, punching an Ursa away.

"I thought they were extinct!" Evo yelled through the horde, slicing a Boarbatusk in half.

"Well, they're not-extinct anymore!" Nora yelled before slamming her hammer at a Beowolf.

As Amaryllis and Ripper got out the opening, the first thing they did was attacking the Grimm. Ripper saved a man that was being chased by a Beowolf and ripped that Grimm into pieces with his claws. Amaryllis charged at a group of Creeps that were chasing a mother and her child and tore them down with teeth and claws.

"Are they...helping us!?" Jaune exclaims in shock.

"It sure looks like it." Pyrrha said before shooting another Grimm.

As Amaryllis and Ripper helped fight off the Grimm, a half damaged Atlesian Paladin-290 came up from the opening and piloting it was none other than Zwei the Dog as he jumped off the robot with his tongue out before headbutting a Beowolf with incredible strength. Soon afterwards, an airship arrives, revealing Team CFVY and Peter Port. The professor nodded at them as the team jumped off the airship and landed on the ground and fought off incoming Grimm. Yatsuhashi Daichi was surrounded by a pack of Grimm that were ready to kill him. Smirking, he unlimbers Fulcrum, showing its massive size, before smashing it on the ground, unleashing a shockwave that sends them flying and creating a huge crater. Velvet Scarlatina and Fox Alistair respectively kick and punch any Grimm that were coming their way. Fox impales a Creep before he senses a large spiked Ursa nearby as it releases a roar. The massive Grimm bear charges them with brute force. However, it was intercepted by Fox as he kicked it with incredible force and then unleashed a combo of slashes and punches with his weapon, Sharp Retribution. Fox then knocks the Ursa skyward with an uppercut, and delivers a blow to the head with both hands that sends it flying. After landing to a charging horde of Grimm, it swells up and explodes, impaling the nearby Grimm with its spikes. Coco swatted a few spikes away with her stylish designer handbag which is her weapon called Gianduja while Yatsuhashi shields Velvet before Coco walks forward casually.

Coco gives Fox a light pat on the butt while complimenting. "Nice hustle, Fox. Good job."

Fox jumps back before Coco is approached by a large Beowolf. It growled at her savagely but Coco was unfazed by this, she brought her sunglasses down a bit to look at the Beowolf in the eye. There was a hidden fury in her dark brown eyes.

"You just destroyed my favorite clothing store." She said with a hint of anger as she puts her sunglasses with a spit. "Prepare to die."

Roaring, the Beowolf was about to impale Coco, but the fashionista was quick as she swatted its right claw away with her Gianduja, before kicking the Beowolf in the crotch. As it falls to the ground and looks at her, she leans down with a smirk and slams her Gianduja onto its head, killing it instantly. Coco effortlessly swats away three more Beowolves with ease using her Gianduja or boots. She then leaps back to avoid a Death Stalker's stinger from impaling her. As she landed, Velvet steps forward and moves a hand to open her weapon box. But Velvet was held back by Coco.

"Hey, come on, you just spent all the semester building that up." Coco said to Velvet before walking towards the incoming Grimm. "Don't waste it here."

And suddenly, Coco transforms her handbag into a giant minigun and starts firing multiple bullets, slaughtering the advancing horde of Grimm, including a Death Stalker and three Nevermores off the sky, causing them to crash land. Zwei went over to Oobleck, barking at him happily before Oobleck regrouped with Port at the opening. The two teachers nodded their heads at each other before they fired their weapons at the approaching Grimm, killing them instantly. Meanwhile, Voltaria grabs the tusks of a Boarbatusk and then tosses it like a bowling ball with incredible strength, knocking down some Grimm like bowling pins, creating a path for Glynda. The strict teacher stomps her way towards the opening, swatting away approaching Grimm that were coming her way. Raising her Disciplinarian, she focuses her telekinesis at the debris, lifting them up from the ground and immediately closes the opening. Voltaria kicked a Creep away from Glynda and stood next to her teacher. She looked back at the close opening and was somewhat impressed by this.

"Nice work." She complimented blankly.

Glynda glanced at her before she quickly ducks down when a Creep was sent flying and crashed to a lamp-pole. Glynda and Voltaria turned towards the direction of Amaryllis and Ripper. They were tearing through the remaining horde of Grimm with ease, helping the other students to fend them off. Glynda was shocked by this while Voltaria narrowed her eyes, she needed to get them out of here. Glancing to her back, she saw Vision hidden in the shadows. She ordered her crystal orb to get Amaryllis and Ripper to get out of here.

"Ruby, we have to make Amaryllis and Ripper leave, now." Voltaria said telepathically towards Ruby.

"Okay!" Ruby replied as she quickly hid behind a fallen car that was near Amaryllis and Ripper.

The two hybrids finished the last remaining horde before they saw Ruby hiding behind a fallen vehicle. She was giving them a hand signal to run, knowing that they have to leave since they've been seen. They quickly made a break for it before anyone could stop them. The others, minus Voltaria and Ruby, could catch up to them, the two hybrids suddenly vanished through a dark alley, as if they weren't there. Everyone was shocked to see this, minus Ruby and Voltaria. Ruby was relieved that they were safely gone and Voltaria assured her that Vision had brought them back to Emerald Forest.

As all the Grimm were killed, everyone met in the pavilion while Torchwick was arrested and escorted by Mercury and Emerald towards an Atlesian airship. He was fake whining about his loss.

"Oh, I can't believe that you caught me, you've really taught me the error of my ways." Soon an Atlesian Knight grabs him by the arm hard. "He-hey, watch the hat!"

As Torchwick is escorted away, Emerald and Mercury then approach Ruby and they smile at each other. Though Ruby knows not to trust them, she had to play along with Voltaria's plan. Team JNPR was also exchanging smiles with one another. Sun and Neptune bump fists together for a job well done and Team CFVY likewise smile at each other. AJ and Wade shared a short hug before Evo and Wade high-fived. Port and Oobleck did the same while Glynda watched from a distance with Voltaria by her side.

"You did well, Ms. Eclipse." Glynda complimented the young girl.

Voltaria glanced at Glynda under her mask before looking towards the happy group, knowing they did a job well done. She puts her hands under her sleeves and simply nodded at Glynda.

"Thank you, Professor Goodwitch." She said softly.

---

Meanwhile, Ironwood was walking through the hall of Vale's security prison. He was going to interrogate Torchwick upon the attack of Vale. He made his way towards a heavily guarded holding cell that belongs to Torchwick. As the door slides open, Torchwick is sitting in his cell calmly without his signature hat.

"Leave us." Ironwood ordered the two guards.

As the two guards leave, Ironwood is alone with Torchwick, so that he can talk to Torchwick privately. Ironwood glared at the criminal, his expression serious and calm, but it didn't faze Torchwick. Ironwood wanted to know Torchwick's motives and his plan.

"I've been informed that so far you've refused to co-operate with the authorities." Ironwood said seriously.

"I know this might be hard to believe, General, but uh... I'm not the biggest fan of local law enforcement." Torchwick mocked, unfazed by this.

"How about the world's strongest military power?" Ironwood suggested calmly with a small smirk.

Torchwick thinks about it but isn't impressed. "Hmm..first impressions...not great." He said casually.

Ironwood's face hardens and soon glares at him. "I'm going to give you one chance. Who's really behind all this?" He asked seriously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Torchwick spoke mockingly. Ironwood leans his ear toward him to hear his answer before the crime boss gestured at himself. "You're looking at him."

As if it's enough to satisfy him, Ironwood simply scoffs. "Hm...Very well then." He said as Ironwood started walking away from Torchwick's cell.

"What's the matter, General? I thought you wanted to talk." Torchwick mocked.

Ironwood slightly turned his head at Torchwick's cell while walking. "The council's given me custody over you for as long as I see fit. So you can make yourself comfortable. I can be sure that you'll have plenty of time to talk."

As Ironwood leaves, Torchwick leans at his cell with an evil smirk on his face. "Oh, wonderful. Hehehe…" Torchwick laughs as his holding cell door's closed. But as Torchwick was left alone, he noticed something...off. Like someone was out there. Torchwick puts his hands down when he feels something on his right hand. Looking down, he saw a card that was resting at his hand. Confused, Torchwick grabbed the card and held it up and observed it. It shows an image of a man before the image changed to reveal a crystal statue.

"What the-" He was cut off when he saw Voltaria in front of his now opened cell. He jumps in surprise when he sees her as he still held the card. "Who the hell are you?!" Roman demanded.

Voltaria stood there at the entrance with her mask on and her expression blank. She observed Torchwick for a few seconds and then she spoke in her cold voice.

"You are lying." She said coldly. "You know who the REAL mastermind is."

Torchwick snorts at her, finding her a nuisance like Little Red. "I am the real mastermind, kid." He said.

"Are you then?" Voltaria mocked. "Then who were those three teens with you on this plan."

Torchwick froze when she said that. "I don't know what you're talking about." Torchwick lied.

"You're not fooling anyone, Torchwick." Voltaria said with a growl, activating her semblance, and her voice deep deep and dark. "I know what you are hiding. You won't win this battle."

Before Torchwick could do anything, the card in his hand vanished by a black light and Torchwick's hand sprouted back crystals that were spreading through his arm. Panicked, Torchwick tried to claw the black crystals off his arm, but to no avail, as it spread through his body.

"What's happening?!" Torchwick yelled in fear before looking at Voltaria. "What are you doing to me?!"

Voltaria's response was removing her Grimm mask, to reveal her semblance form. She gave him a wicked look and a grin so evil that it can scare an entire army.

"Getting rid of a pawn." Voltaria answered in a demonic tone.

Soon, the black crystals spread through his body, Torchwick tried to call for help but his voice was gone as the crystals went all the way to his throat and then through his scream face, turning him into a pure black crystal statue. Once it was done, a shadowy portal appeared behind Voltaria as she deactivated her semblance before putting her mask on. She turns towards the portal and enters it.

"One pawn down, time for the next one." Voltaria said to herself before the shadow portal disappeared behind her, leaving a black crystal statue of a screaming face Torchwick was left in the cell room. No one will know how he turned into that. But he won't try and escape anymore.

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