"Hey Ruby... you doing alright." Jaune walked up to her, and while she may not have been looking she could feel his hand on hers. She pushed it off, not daring to look as he pulled her in. "It's not your fault."

"Don't lie to me, please." Her voice was broken, her view nothing more than a muddied blur as she curled in on herself. "I made the decision Jaune; so yes, it is my fault."

"You couldn't have known-"

"That doesn't matter." She interrupted with a ferocious intensity, and yet her volume only lowered. "I could have at least taken more time to think it over. If I had just kept Blake from running off, if I had just told her to wait on that lead until I could confirm it, then she might still be here." Ruby wilted even more as she recounted. "We found the hideout... and the videos. They ate her Jaune, they ate her!"

"I know..." He sighed as she looked up. "Yang's... shook up too. But still, you didn't know. If you did you would have rushed to put a stop to them period."

"But that's it though. If I hadn't announced it to the wor-" His hand stopped her.

"No, do not go into this again. We told the world that Salem was a Grimm, a monster. Only a few idiots tried to label her a Faunus."

"That didn't stop them though." She countered. "People get scared, and when they're scared they look for something to blame; something to fight to feel brave again." Ruby cracked a tiny broken smile. "Hey... you think that's what happened to her parents? I mean, they were the ones mentioned in the note."

"Don't think like that Ruby." Jaune stated as he held her at arms width. "Stay with me Ruby."

"Why? What's keeping me here? Salem's immortal, Blake and Weiss are gone, cannibals and renegades rule the last remaining settlements, and nearly all our Dust reserves are smashed."

"Come on Ruby, Ruby Ruby! Ruby!"

.

.

Ruby felt her whole body shaken as her eyes struggled to get rid of the fuzz clouding her sight.

"Wake up! We nee-" The shouting was cut off as everything shook; that woke her up.

"Pyrrha?" She tried, her body stiff from the dream, yeah... a dream, that's what it was; just a simple dream. However said dream had been a total nightmare, and one she hoped to never think of again. Just what could have stressed her out so much that she had such a vivid fright forced out of the deepest recesses of her mind?

"Grimm!" Though she still couldn't fully see Ruby knew that her pondering would need to wait.

She tried to stand, but was pulled away from her seat. At that very moment several Nevermore crashed through the windows, and from the sounds of the screaming nobody was all that happy about it. Ruby managed to stand up again as Pyrrha let her go and presumably went to fend off the creatures, but at the same time and while still in her half-awoken state Ruby felt something change; but she couldn't quite tell what. Rubbing her eyes Ruby finally managed to brush away the embers of sleep, and while she may have left one nightmare it seemed that the dazed girl had stumbled into another.

Yang and Nora were heading the forefront of the defence, keeping the larger Nevermore at bay while Jaune, Ren, and Blake were directing the civilians down a few cars. The sight of Blake helped to ease her internal stress a little, but she couldn't quite dote on that at the moment as she heard something land on the cabin above. Her head shot up, and before she could speak she heard Yang swear.

"Damnit! Now they're on the train!" She crushed a Nevermore skull in her grip as Nora called from behind.

"Inside or out, I'll crush them all!" The ginger yelled, and with a furious swing pulled several of the Grimm into a crushing swipe, and subsequently flung them out another window, shattering even more glass. Ruby doubted the Grimm would remain intact long enough to hit the ground.

"Ruby, are you awake!" Pyrrha called, and Ruby focused on the girl as her blade pierced two Nevermore to a seat, her shield bashing another away as the dead began to fade.

"I am now!" She prepped herself, Crescent Rose at the ready.

"We need to get out." Pyrrha called heading for the door between cabins. "They're culminating on top of the train."

Ruby chased after, knowing just how dangerous of a situation that made things. With so many Grimm there was bound to be a panic throughout the cars, and to the creatures of darkness it may as well have been blood in the water for their ravenous appetites. Chasing after the monsters Pyrrha and Ruby quickly situated themselves atop the train.

It was not a pretty sight.

"Why are there so many?" Ruby couldn't fathom it. Sure they were out in the open Grimm infested wilderness, but that didn't explain the creatures sudden desire to attack.

Most of the passengers aboard were fairly happy as far as she'd seen, which threw the idea of negative emotions out the window. Usually Grimm would ignore loud noises unless they actively detected negativity, or saw someone, but with transport moving so fast that was almost never the case. Something had to be attracting them, otherwise it would imply that Grimm as a whole were getting more violent, and Ruby didn't like that idea.

Someone on the train must have been suffering unimaginably for their negativity to be drawing this many Grimm.

"Really, we're dealing with this?!" Ruby turned back to see Yang and Weiss, the former looking significantly angrier than before.

"We can complain later. Focus on the Grimm." Weiss readied herself, as well as several glyphs in the surrounding air.

"Fine." Yang cracked her knuckles with a scowl. "Got to take it out on something, so it might as well be these creeps."

With the crew seemingly ready they set to work. Weiss focused on air control, with her Glyphs providing several copied summons to keep most of the regular Nevermore at bay, with her own taking a brighter blue as opposed to the stark black of the originals. Yang was busy bashing through any that got cheeky enough to fly in close, shoveling out explosive punches to those that thought her easy pickings, even so cheeky as to grab a few and tear them apart. Pyrrha continued to slice them up, her blade taking no less than three with every swing, and her shield crushing many more, acting less as a defensive tool and more like a club.

While the others were ripping their own frustrations across the battlefield Ruby made sure to contribute as well, although she was focused more on finding where the Grimm were gathering most. If they were attracted to a source of negativity then most of them should be headed towards it. If she could figure out which car they were going after then they could possibly find whoever was suffering, and see if they could help. For so many Grimm to show she couldn't help but imagine just what evils were hidden on the train.

Kidnapping; torture; murder; just what was hidden on the train?

"No way..." Yang let out, just loud enough to draw everyone's attention. Pyrrha was the first to look up, and she froze up. Weiss followed soon after, and only had one thing to say.

"Sphinx!"

Ruby recalled learning a little about this particular Grimm back at Beacon, during one of the Grimm studies classes she actually paid attention too. It was sort of like a big cat with wings, with a serpentine tail which could wrap opponents who got behind. Throw some fire-breath in for good measure and you know you have a Sphinx, and looking at the jagged crown of a mask over it's face Ruby couldn't deny it was an imposing figure. However unlike the ones she learned about in class this one was much larger than the norm, implying it was an alpha.

"We're dead." Yang threw out, only for Weiss to cast her a second glance as she continued. "It was nice while it lasted. Wish I could have gotten laid, but hey, fighting is fun too."

"Not helping." Weiss spat through clenched teeth.

Nobody really got a chance to do anything before it roared, and with it came a blast of fire. Not the largest fireball she'd seen by far, but it was still enough for Ruby to feel the heat just as it passed by only centimetres from her face as she dodged out of the way. She landed next to Yang, who had a curious look across her face.

"Think it likes you?" She asked, to which Ruby prepped her scythe at her side.

"I don't think dad would let us keep it even if it did; Zwei is better anyway."

"True." The two sisters split apart again as another flaming rush of fury passed between them. Yang was angry again. "Why does it keep going for you?"

"No idea." Ruby made to dodge another fireball, and caught sight of the beast keeping everyone else at bay. Pyrrha couldn't make it past its claws, and Weiss's summons kept getting flung from the air by the tail. "But I wish I knew."

Why was the Sphinx so focused on her? Sure it was fighting the others, but they were attacking directly, while Ruby herself was a good distance away. It should have focused on her friends, but instead it seemed to have it's eyes locked on her. Once more it shot another fireball, and she in response dodged yet again.

That's when it changed.

The Grimm burst forward, ramming through the others which flung them away and nearly off the train; although they managed to remain on top, with Yang having come closest as she gripped the edge of the car and dangled. Ruby found herself pinned to the cabin below by a claw. The swipe had been powerful, strong enough to not only knock the wind from her lungs, but to completely annihilate her aura as well.

She saw how it stared her down, and despite her struggling she couldn't break free. Ruby put her hopes in the others, that one of them would blast it away. No such hope came, and she watched as it's jaws opened. As the beast leaned in to bite Ruby shut her eyes, hoping to not have to watch as she was eaten. She felt it's breath on her; cold and rotted, and nearly making her gag. Ruby refused to look, even as her last shimmer of hope began to die.

She felt herself pulled.

Her eyes shot open, but there was no savior. Instead she was greeted with the shut maw of the Sphinx; it's teeth pierced through her shirt. She could feel it's teeth rested against her chest, but no skin was broken. It rose it's head, and with it she was lifted from the ground. Before she could even begin to understand what was happening she saw its wings extend and flap, and soon enough they were in the air.

"WHAT!" She screamed, both in confusion and fear.

Grimm killed people; they were murder machines of darkness. She wasn't being killed, she was being taken.

Since when do Grimm collect people?! Where was it going to take her; what would happen when they arrived. Was this going to be like one of Blakes books where the woman was whisked away by the beast to become its lover; not that she enjoyed reading those books. Blake had weird kinks, and Ruby just so happened to be curious that day; big mistake that invaded her dreams for weeks afterwards. Ruby shook her head. No way! I don't want to know where it's taking me!

Ruby struggled and flailed her arms, doing her best to break free. But it was no use, and it began to fly higher.

"LET ME GO!" Ruby yelled, and despite how impossible it seemed the Sphinx did just that, and she began to fall. Instantly she tried her semblance... and it didn't work.

Right, no aura. Crap baskets.

Despite the rush of falling to her doom she found little surprise when she was caught by someone; her friends wouldn't let her fall to her doom that easily. Looking up she saw Yang, and together they hit the ground. Yang's worry turned to relief.

"No blood, so I'm guessing the jerk didn't cause too much damage." Her sister spoke, and Ruby released a sigh.

"Only my pride." At that Yang turned around and called out.

"Nice save V! Now mess him up!"

"No Time! In the train now!" He returned as he hopped down between the cars, to which both Ruby and Yang were greeted with the quickly approaching tunnel in the mountain, and the latter gave a quick whistle.

"And that's our que to leave."

They did just that.

.

.

Salem cut her vision off from the Grimm, and with a soft breath stood from her seat.

Her Sphinx nearly had the girl, but it mattered little in the end. She would have the young Rose in due time, as for now the woman had seen all she needed. Vermillion was still alive, and had Cinder been around Salem would have taken the time to use this revelation as a way of teaching the dense girl to not underestimate her opponents.

Alas the excitable child was not with them at the moment.

There was no worry in her mind though, as Salem could still feel her connection to the girl, and knew she was alive out there somewhere. However the ancient queen found herself more intrigued now that Vermillion had shown himself again. Back when Cinder hosted her little scheme within the Vytal Festival Salem had witnessed her knight's first appearance thanks to Watts, and for once she was thankful he kept up to date with Human television. Vale had labelled the boy a monster and criminal, and as she suspected he took it in stride; never daring to fight against them.

He held his honor and responsibility towards the people in high regard, and Salem couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in that little tidbit of personality, after all she had been the one to bestow that task to him.

Ancient memories. How I wish I held more of you in positive regard. She allowed her hands to link in contemplation, and her thumb whisked over the small bracelet on her wrist. Maybe, if she could still feel regularly, she might have cared when thousands lost their lives. Yet since her war on the world began she found that she couldn't feel much of anything anymore.

That was until now.

Salem wandered from the throne room; it's twisted stone structures linked in black fleshy bindings. Her throne room had been remodeled from it's original design over the centuries. Once it was proud and noble, with only the finest stone and marble to carve it's walls, as rugs and tapestries of pure fabrics decorated and celebrated the throne. Now it was littered with the decerped corpses of failed experiments.

So many times she tried to recreate her lost children in the forms of Grimm, and so many times they had perished before even a breath was taken. Her fury drove her, and soon she structured beasts solely to die, and used their bones as décor. Her early experiments didn't fade, as they were more born from bodies tainted by Grimm; infected with darkness. But soon she would master pure darkness, and the bodies of animal and person alike were no longer required. She had learned to control how much of the Grimm's corpse faded away after death, but soon abandoned that skill as she saw little use for it.

The dead could not serve.

Passing through the much less vile but still uncomfortably dark halls she came upon a massive door. It's face was smooth without a knob, and it arched near the top. It was a deep violet, nearing black even, and had several pale orbs lined around it, with each held in place by a set of skeletal claws. Each of the orbs framing the door had a dull red flame inside, most nearly extinguished. However a few flames burned strong; something Salem noticed began to occur before the universally celebrated Vytal Festival. Salem laid a hand against the door, and looked upon it as she spoke.

"It is just as you said. He's returned, and with it the seals are being restored; I've no doubt this is his doing as well." Had one been watching they would have seen the tired look stretched across her face, and the desperation which filled her eyes. "He will free us, won't he?"

Silence was the answer she received, and much like many times before Salem was left alone in the surrounding darkness.

.

.

"That was way too close for comfort." Yang tossed out as she caught her breath. "Just where the heck did those Grimm come from anyway?"

"I believe I may have an answer." I looked over, catching sight of Oscar, once more adorned in the headmaster's voice. "The relics draw in Grimm, which may be the reason we are being hunted so ferociously. This mountain side is teeming with them, and they know the relic is here, which is why we need to get it to another Vault."

Yang's face flared up in rage. "And you didn't think to tell us beforehand?!"

"There wasn't a need. Grimm are drawn yes, but they need time to process that the relic is near. They shouldn't have been able to sense it with the train moving at this speed." Oscar's brow fumbled in though as he spoke in a voice not fitting. "Which begs the question as to why there were so many?"

"That's not the point!" Yang yelled. "We just spoke about not keeping secrets; about laying out everything on the table between us! How many other dangerous facts are you keeping till they bite us?!"

"Easy Yang." I interrupted, coming between both her and Oscar in an attempt to keep things from escalating. "Let's just calm down a bit."

"Calm down?!" She got up in my face with a snarl. "My sister almost died because of this! So excuse me for giving a damn about shit we should know!"

"Now now, there's no need to fight." The headmaster spoke. "Yang is right, I should have told you this, and for that I apologise. It has been so long since a relic has left the vault that it slipped my mind. Even so we still need to move, we just have to be on our guard more often from now on."

Yang didn't seem to buy it, and part of me couldn't blame her. Her sister was almost captured, and that scared me more than the newly revealed fact about the relic. Grimm kill people, that's natural, but kidnapping? Such an act was unheard of for Grimm, meaning that it wasn't natural, it was an order. For some reason, though manipulated and in a frail state of mind, Salem wanted Ruby, but I didn't know why.

"I... I think he's being honest." It was Oscars voice now.

"Really, you think?" Yang still wasn't convinced, but sounded less spiteful now that Oscar was back.

"Well, it's weird, but I can sometimes see his memories and hear his voice. When the Grimm first attacked the only thing I heard from him was "The relic" shouted real loud in my head."

"So he just remembered something super important right as we were getting attacked?" Yang huffed. "Yeah, that's helpful."

Qrow sighed from behind. "Calm it fire-flower."

"So what?" Yang whipped her sights to him. "We just let it slide?!"

"No." Qrow's statement was heavy. "But getting a swelled head isn't going to help. Right now we should focus on Atlas, and then later we can all have a sit down to discuss any more dangerous secrets we need to know. Deal?"

"Whatever." Yang was about to stomp away when a familiar roar echoed outside. "And here we go again!"

I grabbed Yang before she could storm out, and she sent me a glare as I spoke.

"Let me, you're too worked up."

"I'm dangerous when worked up." She challenged.

"And you're reckless too." I countered. "I can end this in an instant, so stay inside and leave this to me, okay?"

Rather than respond she pulled away, and wandered over to Ruby. I watched for a moment as Yang checked over her sister, and while clearing my mind I left for the roof of the train once more. However I froze for a second and looked back as an idea came to mind.

"Pyrrha." I said, which pulled her attention to me.

"Yes?"

"Can you take the rest of your team ahead a few cars. I had everyone rush towards the front when I first noticed the attack. We need someone to look after them should any of the Grimm get past us. They might be drawn to the relic, but I'm certain there's no shortage of fear up front now."

"Right, I understand." She was about to head off but then stopped and walked over to me. "Before I go there's something I need to give you." She pulled the black rose from her shoulder and handed it over. For a second I was confused, until I got a closer look at it.

"My pauldron."

"It was all I had left of you back when you saved me. Sorry I didn't give it back sooner."

"It's alright." I held it to my empty shoulder, and sure enough it sprouted its vines which wrapped around and locked it in place. "Thanks for keeping it safe, you don't know how much it means to me-"

A dull pain filled my head, and instantly a memory sunk itself into my mind. It showed the moment of my rebirth into Grimm, and I saw from outside how my pauldron survived the dip.

"V?!" I heard Pyrrha speak in hushed worry, and I raised my hands.

"I... I'm fine, just... just a rush of memories."

"What did you see?" She asked with a mix of worried curiosity in her voice.

"The moment of my promotion into, well, this." I stretched my arms out a bit, making it clear I was referring to my Grimm state.

"Your dip into the darkness?" She asked, which hit me with a bit of confusion myself.

"How did you-"

"Would you believe me if I said a solid black pillar tore at me with tentacles?"

"So you found an obelisk."

"Is that what it's called?" She asked, and I gave a nod.

"That's what I call them. Every one I've found has added to my skillset, and displayed a memory from outside my body. They seem like they're mine, but I see things I never saw." I explained as Pyrrha's eyes widened.

"Like someone else was watching?"

"Maybe." I said, only for the roar to echo again as the train shook. A window burst apart as flames coated it's rim. Qrow was the first to respond.

"Chat later kids, if you're going to do something V then now is the time." I nodded and headed out, and as I reached the door I turned back to see Pyrrha had done the same. Whatever she saw, there was one thing for certain.

It wasn't my memories.

The obelisk showed her something, and part of me wondered if it was due to the change I gave her, or the presence of my pauldron. The obelisks never interacted with normal people before, so it must have had something to do with me. I brushed those thoughts aside as I headed out, and when I climbed to the roof of the train I leveled a glare towards the Sphinx.

"Let me show you what happens when you cross me." I whispered silently, calling up all the magic I could muster. My arm burned, and yet I didn't care as I kept my sights on the beast. Something about seeing Ruby hurt pissed me right off, and yet for some reason I couldn't figure out exactly why. She was my friend for sure, but the level of hate I felt only ever graced me once before. Right as the last ounce of power found it's place in my hand I saw the Grimm stumble midair as a shot was fired.

By sound alone I knew it was Yang's doing, confirmed by her cry of victory, and with the opportunity presented I followed up with the most powerful fireball I ever felt. I was fighting fire with fire, but there was one detail that drew the odds into my favor.

My fire was black.

It should have frightened me to see those flames again, but the pained squeal of the Sphinx drowned out any worries I might have had and replaced them with arrogant satisfaction. Very quickly that satisfaction morphed into panic as I saw the monster fall. The fact that I killed it wasn't all that startling, no, what was frightening was the fact that it deliberately angled itself towards me. It wasn't quite dead, but in a few moments it would be, however it seemed that in those last few instances of it's life the Sphinx wanted to get the last laugh.

It wasn't fast enough to catch me, but it was certainly large enough to be a problem for the train.

In a burst of speed I high tailed it back, catching a slightly tense Yang as she dove back into the car. Gripping the edge I redirected the leap and flew in the open door. I slid to a stop, and before anyone could respond I yelled.

"Hang on to something!"

The others acted accordingly, not bothering to question as Yang pressed herself against a wall as she gripped one of the nearby seats mounted to the floor. Everyone was about to scramble when Weiss stabbed her rapier into the carpet, and most certainly caused the least amount of collateral damage this whole ride. A black glyph surrounded her, and soon enough appeared under all of us. It was strange, but I felt as though my feet were glued to where I was standing, and not bothering to question it I ducked low.

Everyone braced for the inevitable. The left ceiling and wall bent inwards. Gravity twisted rapidly. The train had left the rails. I felt every rough obstruction crushed and torn as the cabin tore off path. We slowed before the car stopped, and although we were alive nobody dared to move... until a familiar voice called from the the back of the car, and I whipped my head up.

"That was a doozy. Haven't had this much excitement in years." As she pulled herself from under a table I watched as she wandered past everyone, and at the same time drew all eyes as she hopped out the door behind me and looked back; her goggles giving a half-lidded gaze. "You kids going to sit there all day? It'll get cold you know." She turned away. "Come now, let's go find somewhere warm to bunk for the day."

As she looked to walk off I heard Qrow ask the question on everyone else's mind.

"Who was that?"

I felt the glyph below break, and with it I stood and started after the woman, offering the answer on my way.

"Maria."

...

Author's note

...

Here we are once more, with chaos and confusion; as per the usual.

Everything sure went off the rails this time - not sorry - things have gotten wild once again. We've gotten another quick moment with Salem, and once again she's up to something. Aside from the questions our queen of darkness may have brought up we've also sped along quite a bit. Many of you know what's coming next, and I'm certain there are plenty of you excited to see how it plays out.

Be careful what you wish for.

Anyhow, that's all I have for now. Buckle up everybody, we're approaching one of those moments now, and I guarantee you won't want to miss it.

Catch you later.