What is it about you that does this to me?

Ruby and the others were currently talking about something up ahead, but I wasn't paying attention to what it was. Rather, my eyes were on the woman who seemed to be capable of pulling up these fleeting instances of emotion, or what I believed was emotion.

A wildcard.

There was no more perfect description, and yet, something about it just clicked with me. What was I, if not an outsider who didn't belong? I'd told them everything, the story of my life, and somehow they still had the will to look me in the eyes. I saw no anger or rage, but instead the light puffs of pity blown my way. Did they not care about the evils I had committed, or the innocent people I'd hurt?

No, they weren't so dense: something else had to be keeping their anger at bay, it just had to be. Yet the question still stood as to what this outside force was that granted them mercy. Yang especially had been a surprise, as I'd fully expected an outburst from her, or at the very least the hateful glare she'd stabbed me with upon our first interactions. However it too was absent. Yang bore, at best, that same look of gently flowing pity, no different than anyone else. However her presence and words had never instilled such a state upon me as her younger sister had; none of them did.

Even now, just being near Ruby put this tickling in the back of my head, like there was something I needed and was forgetting. What about her had brought out that feeling? It was just another question to add to the list; the ever growing expanse that continued to prick at me. A slight shock bit into my neck, and I knew then this line of thinking had to calm down.

It wasn't quite painful as it was irritating.

My head silently roared within, and I was greeted with a sense of deja vu. Being with the others and walking down these halls had given me such a weird pressure in the back of my skull, pumping rhythmic beats throughout my body in a melody of false recollection. I'd been here so little that I couldn't possibly feel such a strong familiarity… and yet I did.

But the idea of me erased such feelings.

The second I considered myself within these moments, that buzz of remembering would leave; the tick that I may have done this before would vanish.

"So what do you think?"

"Hmm?" I looked ahead to see Ruby herself staring curiously. She slowed her walk, and I sped up mine to set my path beside her. Weiss passed only a glance before shooting her eyes ahead, and Yang just kept on walking ahead alongside Blake up front. Seeing Ruby waiting patiently I apologized. "Sorry, I wasn't listening. What was it you needed?"

"We're thinking of hitting up the training room for a bit of practice, at least until we figure out what to do now that we're here in Atlas: I was asking if you wanted to join us. We don't think the general would mind us getting a little bit of practice in."

"I see..." Looking at her again, I was able to see that the silver from before had calmed down.

So that's what it was.

This was new… Back before I'd been blessed by Salem, I once wielded those same eyes. However I'd never once had to use them, not completely that is, and so seeing them on the edge of activity was more than a little interesting. Ruby had been the only one able to reach me on an emotional level beyond a simple touch; perhaps her silver light had something to do with it.

That would explain the tingle within my own.

I'd never considered the silver eyes before, and it brought out an interesting thought. Had my transformation made me susceptible to the light like that of the other Grimm, or had my previous possession of silver eyes made this new body immune? I felt the spark burn to life while looking into her eyes, and yet I would not call that feeling 'dangerous'. Rather, it was almost comforting looking into Ruby's eyes, like I was safe with her.

Not even Salem gave me such sanctuary.

"Well... will you?" Ruby raised one of her brows, and I realized then I hadn't answered her. "It's fine if you don't want to; it's just a little practice to flex our muscles. Besides, I have something to take care of later in our room anyway, so this is just a little early practice before I deal with some… things."

I didn't suppose she'd tell me what those things were, but that was none of my business.

"I shall."

"Alright." She turned ahead again. "With you, we'll be able to try out a few extra moves we've been working on!"

"You've been working on other techniques?" It sounded like they'd gotten stronger while I was gone. Developing new skills alone wasn't surprising, but to formulate all new strategies over such a short time; that took skill.

"Well... no. But I have some ideas!" Or they'd done nothing; this was fine as well - at least Ruby had the determination to try out other ideas.

"Calm down a little, will ya?" Yang piped up, laying her arms crossed behind her head as she walked. "We haven't even got there yet."

The woman was poked in the side by her raven haired partner.

"You're just as excited as she is."

"Duh." Yang chuckled afterwards. "But I'd rather keep my excitement for when we get there - use that energy for kicking ass."

"Overconfidence leads to mistakes." Weiss threw in. "Don't go assuming you'll win yet. This is Atlas; along with having some of the greatest technology in the world and pioneering some of the most convenient and widespread uses of Dust, it also provides all the students in its huntsmen academy with military grade training." A small smirk etched into the sides of her face. "Compared to Beacon; Atlas accepts nothing less than excellence."

"And who's being overconfident?" Yang threw a sly look. "We'll just have to wait and see, little miss hypocrite. I'll show you the difference between confidence and skill."

"Here we go." Blake spoke on the down low, and based on her tone I'd come to the conclusion she decided on not involving herself in the little spat started by the two.

Something about the way Yang and Weiss continued on their back and forth caused this kind of shift in the atmosphere, and it was here I started to see the change that apparently eluded me. Yang being spicy with words and her apparent need to get into action; Weiss's cool steadiness as she provided a seemingly endless stream of information on her homeland; Blake shadowing the group, never getting directly involved and yet sticking close; even Ruby fit in, as she walked with an unbreakable pace. I saw flickers of happiness in them, and it was here I realized what they'd gained from arriving here in Atlas, and accomplishing one of their goals.

A steady wave of peace.

My story from before should have panicked them, worried them and brought out their lingering doubts, and yet they carried on as if we were back at Beacon, right before the dance. I couldn't quite comprehend why it was that in this particular instance of peace, with no immediate goal, that they could reach such a calm state; not with the dangers surrounding everyone and everything seemingly at all times. Still though I had to admit, it was nice seeing this new atmosphere in action, even if the best I could garner from it was a dulled acceptance of relaxation. The goddess and her army of Grimm seemed to have slipped their minds in this instance, and while I could have reminded them of it, I chose not to. While overconfidence could lead to mistakes in the heat of the moment, just as Weiss clarified...

So too could dread.

.

.

"I see what you mean." General Ironwood was a man who'd been beholden to many great secrets, and yet, to hear one that even Ozpin had never discovered brought about this darker feeling in the pit of his gut. "Qrow never mentioned any of that."

"He never considered the old stories valuable; this is just one of the many places where my brother and I differ: I would never forego the old tales."

"Honestly, had the boy not shown up in person, I probably wouldn't have either." The general bit back a sigh. "But, seeing as it has brought you here to stand with us against Salem, I suppose I shouldn't be too upset."

"The Black Knight is crucial to putting an end to her, this I am certain of."

"I understand that."

"Do you, do you really?" Raven made her way around his desk, passing by him and gazing out the window. "Qrow may be willing to buy what you're selling, but you'll find I'm not so cheap."

"And how would I prove it to you?"

"Prove it to me?" Raven twisted her head back. "I never knew you thought so much of me. Are you certain you care about what I have to offer?"

"Ozpin has always repelled Salem, and even then it failed the moment Beacon was felled. While the damage was mitigated due to an early warning from him to bring only a small portion of my forces, it was still immense." Ironwood hardened his jaw as he delivered the next part. "We stopped the destruction of a city at the cost of a school, and that was when we were at our strongest. We have no time to be picky with our allies; at this point I'll just about take anyone with even an itch to fight."

"Ozpin you are not." Raven was grinning cheekily. "Coming from me, you might as well consider it a compliment."

"I'm not asking for your compliments; I'm asking for your blade."

Raven practically laughed at that.

"Nothing like him at all." Settling down a little, she approached, stopping just before him and meeting his glare. "He'd have sooner fled and ordered you to play the shield; you on the other hand draw your sword at even the chance of danger."

"A shield defends, but if all you do is run then what good is that defense? Once your stamina fails, what then? Running can only carry you so far, and at the point where you fall, you'll have no strength left to bear that shield anymore." Something dark collected at the back of his gaze, and his form became rigid. Raven felt this light fluttering in her stomach, and her grin stretched wide as he laid his intent bare. "My shield is not for retreat: it is a blockade to force my opponents back as I run them through with my sword."

"Bold words for a man locking himself in a tower." Raven scoffed, making her way past him only to stop in the center of the room. "But how do they fare when forced onto the battlefield?"

"You only need to look back at Vale to see."

"Yes..." Raven finally let some of her snark drop. "I think I'm beginning to respect your way of doing things, that is of course, if what you're saying is true. But I suppose we'll be seeing that soon enough, now won't we?"

"And just what is it you're implying?" Ironwood greatly disliked how many implications were in that one question, and yet, Raven chose to yield an answer.

"Two relics in close company, and the knowledge of how to open the vaults: Salem won't pass this up." Setting a hand on her hip, the bandit queen spoke. "You're land's a skip away from war, general: on the tip of the knife, just teetering on the edge and ready to fall towards the violent side."

"We'll be ready." This he was certain, and yet the woman ahead hummed.

"You will, that I have no doubts over, but as for your soldiers; your allies; your people..." Lifting up a single hand, she snapped her fingers, and the sound echoed throughout the large empty office. "Gone, as if they were dust in the winds. Your people aren't ready: they've grown weak from their safety in the skies. Mantle may face more dangers and strife, but even they are nothing compared to the chaos Salem will lay upon your doorstep."

"I'll defend them."

"You will, and yet one man alone cannot halt the river's rush." Raven carried with her this sort of shadow, hovering over her words as if the darkness would swallow everything whole. Ironwood was not fazed, and spoke accordingly.

"Maybe so, but one man alone can shift the current with a dam. Tedious and long it might be, but it can be done by one alone. Add more men, and a day's work becomes an hour's." Ironwood knew what she was getting at, however he'd heard it all before; Ozpin always had been quite the quickster when it came to elaborate metaphors concerning companionship and teamwork.

"And still, you pay for it with time." Her voice faded, and she shook her head lowly. "A fleeting resource to men of all types. Limited time means faster work: rushed work born from the desire to see it done, or to still an enemy's advance. Rushed work leads to mistakes and faults, and if analyzed long enough, the cracks can be crushed in, causing the whole structure to topple. Men limited by time may miss those cracks, but Salem has no such need to rush, and will scan and scan until she finds such a fault, knowing of your limits and that such a fault is there. When the time limit is infinite, probability turns to guarantee. It no longer becomes about 'if', but rather 'when'."

"What is it you're trying to tell me?" He knew already that Salem would continue to live until she was stopped; she never aged, which was why their only chance was to kill her directly.

"That we can't fight a timeless being with strategies that use time. Salem will find any and all faults in our guard, no matter how small, and exploit them. Ozpin might have given you a solid defense to last many years, however it will ultimately be broken." From here, Raven's plain tone was juxtaposed with a darker grin. "However, thanks to that, she's come to rely on said time. Ozpin created a pattern, one which even Salem seems to have attuned herself too. Seeing as she relies on this pattern out of habit alone, we can potentially catch her off guard by breaking it."

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Qrow often talked about his sister being a coward, and yet even cowards had their uses. Those used to fleeing tended to know their enemies the best; if there was anyone capable of pointing out the Grimm queen's flaws, it was the one woman running from her twenty-four seven.

"Salem has only ever pressed the attack in slow waves, always relying on henchmen to topple the mark from the inside before coming in herself. Ozpin prevented this time and time again, even while Qrow and I were still students, and once I left I began looking into it, watching as Ozpin reacted to her multiple attempts to insert a scout or trickster. She rarely ever gives genuine effort in an attack, and the coup de grâce upon the mark's defenses is usually her signal to move."

"But if we cut away that signal..."

"She'll continue to wait." Raven smirked hard. "And seeing as she doesn't take time into consideration..."

"She'll remain patient for a vastly longer time than any other leader." A small fire began to crackle within his chest. "Giving us room to flip the process on its head. It won't be her who inserts the toxin within the system... it will be us."

"Ozpin would have never considered such risky tactics." Raven crossed her arms. "And that is why he failed."

"He considered the lives of everyone else. Risks without the prize to show for it are just a waste. He was right to be defensive, as much as it stings to admit, and had everything remained steady this idea of ours wouldn't have a justification to exist." Gritting his teeth, Ironwood steadied his resolve. "But desperate times require desperate actions."

Raven chuckled, only this time it was free of any malicious intent or mysterious riddling.

"Now that is something none can deny."

.

.

Stepping into the very same room where they'd arrived in Atlas had Ruby a little bit uneasy, but then again, what was anyone to expect when you were essentially held at gunpoint? Now however, it was less about being shot unwillingly, and more being shot on purpose, although it didn't exactly sound so good either way.

"Basic rules apply for this session: once your aura is in the red, you're out. Any questions?" The announcer called, and seeing as nobody said anything, Ruby just assumed everyone was on the same page. "Good, now begin."

Before anyone had a chance to even move, sections of the floor and walls looked to lift. This never really scared anyone, although it was a little startling. Upon their arrival at the combat simulation center - not the name Ruby would have picked, but whatever - they'd been informed that the combat environments were made up of solidified holograms. The room was built upon a series of tiles which would project hard-light in a set of randomized shapes and layouts. This allowed for an adaptive arena where you really couldn't predict the layout, and was probably the best way to train students to adapt to new situations.

Beacon never had anything so advanced as this, and yet it remained the highest quality huntsmen academy regardless: Ruby often wondered why. She'd naturally asked that question to Weiss, assuming she might have more info on the subject due to Atlas being her home, and her partner informed her that while Atlas was number one in technology, Beacon was top tier in everything else, which was why she'd traveled all the way to Vale solely to attend.

It was interesting to learn, but Ruby never quite understood what that meant. She wasn't about to press the subject though, mainly because the instructor already had a team ready for them to oppose. However, while they were all set for the battle, the instructor looked at V, and tied a knot in the thread of the fight: V would act as the enemy of all, which was a fancy way of saying it was him against everyone. He subscribed to no side, meaning that while they were trying to tackle the other team, they also had to defeat him as well, and the same was true for the Ace-Ops - at least those who remained, because apparently their leader was out on some sort of assignment.

For V to win in this fight, he needed to be the last one standing.

"You with me, Ruby?" Weiss's voice called from the other side of the wall, and despite knowing it would probably give away her location, she used her semblance to zip on over it, swiping up Weiss and dashing on some distance before reforming in a different spot.

"Yeah, I was just a little surprised by the sudden change."

"You're lucky you weren't lifted into the air: the arena's failsafe wouldn't put you in any danger of being crushed, but you would be easily seen by everyone; hopefully nobody saw you shooting over." Weiss took a few steps over to the edge of the wall, ignoring the pulsing blue veins sectioning off each tile as she ducked low and peeked around the corner. "We're clear for now by the looks of it, but I can't say for sure." Her tone dropped a bit. "There are two dips in the space ahead: two potential blind spots."

"We could be ambushed."

Weiss nodded back, scoffing slightly and allowing a small smile of relief form.

"But only if we move ahead. Lucky for us we've claimed ourselves one of the end pieces. If we were caught in the middle we'd be cornered."

"Yeah... hey, if we have the end, don't you think we can wrap around and try to get behind whoever might be down on the other side?"

"Maybe, but we'd be risking ourselves to do it." Weiss nodded in the direction towards her, and as Ruby turned to look back she saw what her partner was insinuating. "That dead end means our only shot at such is to take the top route, and seeing as you already flew over to meet me, there's a chance they already saw us, and if they're as good as I believe…"

"They're already on their way towards us, aren't they?" Weiss nodded, and Ruby grumbled a little. "Sorry, I should have just come around normally: at least then I wouldn't have outed us."

"No, but you might have crossed one of them anyway. They're Atlas elite; I doubt we can take any of them on our lonesome. If we want any chance at winning this, then we need to stick together. Sure, we've been found, but at least we can cover each other's backs, and besides..." Ruby felt a tingle in her chest as Weiss plastered a dastardly grin across her lips. "They don't know our semblances."

"They know mine." Ruby didn't want to, but she kind of had to burst the bubble on that one. "And your family semblance is pretty much public knowledge at this point."

"I..." She deflated a little. "Okay, I see your point, but they don't know the limits of either." Once again a smirk was present, and there was something else Ruby caught also.

Her neck slash was burning black again.

"It's not just Grimm our family can summon copies of: any of our past opponents are fair game. I wonder how they'd do against my knight?"

Had Weiss summoned creatures before? Ruby couldn't exactly recall her doing so, and yet there was that itching in the back of her head that said she could, and did. Ruby decided to accept it, believing she'd just forgotten the first time Weiss did it. However these thoughts were stilled as she saw the light glow from underneath her glove. It appeared that her own mark was glowing as well, and it was here she became worried.

Last time it glowed, she saw things: things she wasn't comfortable with.

"Weiss, I-"

"Shh." Being shushed wasn't something that made her feel better, but Weiss appeared to have spotted something, or perhaps heard would be a more accurate answer, as Ruby herself could now hear it. "Someone's coming."

Wandering over to her partner, Ruby peeked over the corner. Everything seemed quiet out there, and nobody had arrived. And yet Ruby could hear something; she wasn't sure what it was, only that it was there. In truth, it was becoming a little agitating not being able to see or tell what it was, and so she strained her ears more in the hopes of better gauging whatever the miniscule sound was.

The slam afterwards made her regret that choice.

Ruby didn't exactly need to cover her ears or anything, but the sound still made them ring. That didn't exactly matter though, as seeing V smash into the ground and tumble a little towards their end of the hall probably wasn't a good thing. He wasn't wearing his armor, which was a little confusing, but Ruby assumed the choice was made to try and be somewhat fair with the rules; his armor negated his aura while acting the same as it, meaning he'd never fall in the red if he used it, essentially making it doubly hard to defeat him. However it was a seven-on-one for him, so Ruby herself wouldn't have blamed him if he chose to use it.

Watching V stand, Ruby immediately recognised something was wrong, and voiced her concerns aloud in whisper.

"Doesn't he usually stand with both hands holding his sword?"

"Yes... he normally does." Weiss seemed to see it now as well, the way V stood back up with one hand grasping the hilt, lazily allowing the tip of his sword to rest on the floor.

Not only had his manner of speech seem dead, but the way he stood reminded Ruby of those comic book heroes she often read about, featuring the hero just barely standing in the final battle with only one good arm remaining, and so little energy they could barely stay on their feet. However, unlike those heroes, V wasn't covered in wounds and struggling to breathe. He appeared more careless than breathless, as if he were about to just fling his body around like a doll.

And yet the subtle black smoke seeping from the spider-web of veins told differently.

"What's he doing?" Ruby wanted to know also, and yet she couldn't wrap her head around it. In a way, it kind of looked like he was about to bring out his armor, and yet it never came; he just stared ahead, as if waiting.

Watching the monk-looking guy land proved their assumption true.

"You're quite skilled." He said, and while his voice was calm, Ruby could feel the caution behind it. She wasn't quite sure who he was, but he seemed to look at V in the way her uncle Qrow used to look at her dad when they sparred in the yard. "Although I would appreciate it if you gave our battle a little more effort; holding back can be seen as disrespectful in some eyes."

"Holding back?" V moved a little, tilting his body to the side with his head trailing down to his empty hand. He held it up, seemingly observing it. "No... I'm just... thinking..."

"Pardon the question, but are you certain you're of the right standing for our match." The monk guy took a stance, and Ruby saw how his arms slightly glowed. "If you're not feeling one hundred percent capable, you may excuse yourself; there is no shame in allowing yourself time to heal and saving a duel for another day. None can truly appreciate a proper battle when one of the challengers is disadvantaged."

"I'm capable… I'm just..." He crushed his hand closed. "Considering..."

Ruby expected his smoke to flare, as if affected by him letting his aura out or something. Rather, quite the opposite occurred: not only did his smoke slow with its waves, but it evaporated slower too. And then he moved, and she saw what seemed to be after-images, formed from the smoke itself leaving the body. It almost appeared as though he was in slow motion, and yet he moved just as well as he ever had, even while retaining his fatigued posture.

He raised his free hand, and flicked his fingers, motioning his opponent to approach.

"Face me..."

There was just something so haunting about the way he said that, and Ruby was certain she wasn't the only one who heard it. Weiss visibly shivered from her place, nevertheless she watched on, and Ruby turned her gaze back to the fight just in time to see the man shoot towards V.

V in response just stood there, watching as his foe closed in. The man was quick, fast, and very agile. While not on the level of Ruby herself, he was fairly similar to Ren with his technique, even going so far as to suddenly shift directions at the last second. V just stood, and Ruby saw how the man shifted a flat hand forwards. So quick it was, rather than a chop, it stabbed as a spear would, right towards the lower left side of the abdomen.

It pierced through, spraying deep violet blood all across the floor.

Ruby felt her heart still, hearing nothing but the innate beating in her chest as her vision periodically blurred. Why V had suddenly dropped his aura evaded her for all of a couple seconds, before she saw the deep smog around him still, moving only with his limbs as he raised his free hand, and locked a claw-like grip on the side of the shocked monk's face.

"I have you now..."

It was so calm, so carefree that Ruby couldn't even make out if V felt any pain at all, or even cared that the guys now bloodied hand was sticking fully out of his back. In perfect contrast though, the reserved seeming monk shot towards the other end of the spectrum. V seemed cold, careless even towards the massive wound he let rip into his body, whereas the monk...

His silent, soundless scream made her insides twist in terror.

Author's note

…

A particularly brutal ending, yes, but nothing you're not all used to.

Bet you thought you were getting Summer's journal this chapter huh, but no, we get a partial battle scene. Obviously this isn't all of it, as we'll get the other side and after effects next time.

The real kicker was with Ironwood and Raven, who's scheming seems to be set in place. What will this lead to? You'll see, soon enough that is.

Until next time.