Lord of Gifts in the Forgotten Realm

by Djoklecjan

After his defeat, as the last act of defiance, Sauron strikes a deal with his former Master, and finds himself in the Forsaken World, which is set for a downfall. Will Annatar change Remnant's future for the better? Or Sauron will make it even worse? Or, perhaps, Mairon will change some of his views?

25. Chapter 17: Truthseekers

Truthseekers

Little polishing here, slight adjustment there…

With a precision of the surgeon, Annatar remade what once was a quite an ordinary grey motorbike into something more… bestial.

The front fork took shape of the upper jaw of the wolf, motorbike's frame from the side looked the body of the said wolf, so from afar, the motorcycle would look like a sprinting wolf. But aside from aesthetics, he also wanted to make sure that the vehicle will efficiently use its pros. For that, he remade the engine, giving it more power, replaced the oil tank and the exhaust pipes to ensure that the combustion dust will be spent efficiently, no matter if it drives as fast as possible or if the driver leave the engine on for a prolonged period of time.

He did all of that under the watchful eye of the biker group – tall and though men and women watched his every move with great interest, while Junior's men stayed away from them, to not accidently get their attention, but ready to jump into action if necessary, but usually rowdy bikers felt obliged to behave in the Forge.

"Can I see it now?" Slightly shorter man tried to peek under the arm of one of the bikers, his face looked like it was about to burst due all of this excitement.

"Have some godsdamn patience Matt." Leader of the biker gang, a tall man built like truck, with long red beard, chastised Matt, and then gave Annatar an apologetic look. "Forgive the boy, he just turned eighteen and dreamt of getting his first motor since he was nine."

"Then I shall do everything in my abilities to ensure that his dream is fulfilled." Annatar replied as he put pieces together.

"You rarely have requests like this?" Biker leader tried to start a conversation after a while.

"Until today, I didn't have a pleasure working on a such fine machinery." Annatar admitted without even paying the leader a glance.

"It's your first attempt?" Another biker said in disbelief as Annatar's hands worked around the vehicle with such swiftness that human eye couldn't track them, and the Smith chuckled.

"That's why the engine and all of the internal machinery took me so long to finish." He calmly stated before finishing. "But I think it's ready now."

Leader looked at the motorbike and whistled. " Looks metal, but can it drive fast?" Annatar pulled out the keys and looked past the gang members, at their youngest comrade.

"Let the owner find out." With that said, the shorter man run from behind his colleagues and quickly approached the Smith, gently took the keys from Annatar's hand and went to his new motorbike.

"Wow." He said when he sat on it. "The seat is really comfortable."

"Indeed, I made sure that your seat is made only from the finest materials, so you won't feel fatigue, even after days of travelling." Annatar remarked as the man put in the keys and ignited the motor.

The engine roared like a mighty beast, ready to chase after its prey, the blue fires left through the exhausts, and excitement on the young man's face reached the boiling point.

"One lap Matt…" Leader wanted to say, and the motorbike drove away with astonishing speed.

"OH YEAAHH AHAHA!" They could hear the driver scream on top of his lungs while the motorbike drove faster and faster, reaching the end of the street in no time, then they saw how it made a really tight turn while somehow maintaining the speed, came back in matter of seconds and stopped right before the forge.

"Pops." The man spoke, his eyes wide open and hair standing up like lightning. "I think I fell in love."

Bikers started to laugh and the whole group walked towards Matt, patting him on the back and joking around, while the leader looked at Annatar, who observed the bike with pride.

"A bloody well job." Leader said in a friendly manner. "I only saw him acting like that when he got his bicycle as a kiddo." He said, then looked at the youngest member of his gang, who smiled from ear to ear while hugging his new motorbike. Annatar only left a chuckle.

"It's only natural that you wish to make your offspring happy."

"Aye." Leader nodded. "Do you have a kid?" Annatar scoffed.

"No." Smith answered bluntly. Such thoughts never even crossed his mind, for he dedicated his life to matters far beyond such simplicities, repairing the broken world for example. He didn't have time for nonsense like Meliana.

Biker leader nodded with understanding. "Too busy, aren't ya?"

"Indeed."

"Never thought about settling down?" Annatar laughed a little at this remark and looked the biker deep in the eyes.

"Maybe after my task is complete." Smith's eyes shined with light born from the depths of the earth, fueled by will and determination. "But I do not see the end of it yet."

Biker looked away, not capable of maintaining the eye contact. He wasn't a weak man, in fact, the Leader of the Furious Riders rarely run from a fight, not backing down against the Xiong's, Black wolves, Red Lions, Police and many others. But he found himself unable to stare into Smith's eyes.

"Before you pay, I have one last gift for you." With that said, Annatar walked into the forge, and then returned after a while with jacket made of black leather with metal accessories, on its back, the Smith sewed in the image of what looked like the large, horned beast with wings made of fire and the body made of metal. In one hand holding a giant black axe, in the other a fiery whip. From the 'flames' above the beast, a large title was engraved in red.

"Gothmog" Biker read out loud, then smiled. "That's a metal nickname if I ever heard one."

"With it, I am sure you shall be a road devil." Smith said as he handed over the jacket to his guest. "It will suit you well."

After their leader paid, bikers drove away, and the Smith waved after them as they left.

"Are there any guests left for today?" Annatar wondered out loud, truly surprised by lack of visitors.

"Oh they will come later Chief, but most left to help in other parts of the city." Annatar raised his eyebrow as his Mouth quickly explained. "Junior launched a campaign to help those who suffered the most during the Fang's raid. Clothes, food, all of the necessities, and aid in rebuilding shops."

Annatar smirked. "So Junior is doing something useful on his own initiative?"

"I guess so Chief."

"Then why are you standing here? Go there and contribute!" Yowwick waved for some of his men to join him, and left with half of the Forge's staff. Annatar looked at the remaining few.

"Keep the fires lit and inform me if any guests arrive, I have something to do." They saluted in acknowledgement, and Annatar left them.

After the Fang's raid, people in the industrial part of the Capital, in the act of solidarity, went to work, removing debris, broken vehicles and repairing the roads, which made many roads impassable for traffic. A shame really – most of guests traveled by cars or bus, rarely on foot. But that meant that he could focus on another project.

He went downstairs, and with a snap of his fingers he turned the lights on.

For few days from his talk with Penny he ordered all tables to be carried to the storage to make space for a five meters tall and wide marble cube, soon to be… something.

Annatar picked up his tools – a hammer and a burin and approached the cube.

When he picks up his tools, he usually already has a vision of what he wants to create and built, but this piece of marble had another purpose. A self-discovery.

He aimed the burin at the stone, and took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Why I was unable to say her my name?" He asked himself and the burin dug deep into the stone. He has to search for the answer, and during work, his inner self laid bare and could think with clarity.

When was the last time someone called me by my given name?

Soon he feel into this trance as the pieces of rock fell under his feet…

Callahan's national park, Vale.

First year students from the Beacon Academy walked through the forest, avoiding branches and watching their steps, carrying backpacks, following behind Professor Casim, who walked confidently, not looking under his feet, his attention focused on students following him.

" – The reason White Fang gained an upperhand in the fight was because they held the initiative." Professor spoke. "They fought you on the environment they prepared beforehand, which gave them considerable advantage in a fights that followed. But not only White Fang can use the environment." They heard a snapping branch and quiet curse. "Student Winchester, can you think of a creature of Grimm using terrain to its advantage?"

"Creep." Cardin said while Lark massaged his face after getting hit by a branch, and Casim raised his eyebrow, expecting elaboration. "Because it hides in caves and burrows in the ground."

"A good answer!" Casim praised. "Student Rose, could you think of another creature?"

"Centinel! Because it also burrows in the ground and attacks in large groups in the Dust mines!"

"Splendid answer!" William nodded his head and Ruby couldn't help but smile. "So you see, even creature of the Grimm, as mindless at they seem, are capable of using the terrain to prepare an ambush. Bewolves, Ursai, Desathstalkers – many great Huntsman fell because they underestimated their foe."

"But isn't planning ahead a solution?" Weiss inquired. "Careful preparation before each hunt will save you from getting ambushed, right?"

"That's true, but often, Huntsmen have very little time to watch their surroundings or planning their approach before engaging their enemies." They walked out the forest and climbed up the hill, curiously looking over sets of easels with white canvases for each student, sets of colors on a side of each. "Huntsman's eyes and mind must be as sharp as a sword. Which is why we have arrived here."

Students came on top of the hill, and before them a marvelous sigh unraveled.

The gigantic waterfall surrounded by white-stone cliffs, their tops covered by lush full oaks and birches. Under the waterfall there was a pure river with flowers on its banks. It almost felt like a painter lost his…

Suddenly, Purple light glowed around all of the students feet, and they were submontanely turned and pushed to the empty canvases.

"Now paint what you just saw." Casim said. "I advise you to focus on what you deem the most important details."

Most of the students warily picked up the paintbrushes, not sure what to paint, some even tried to turn back to get another look, only to realize that they can't turn their heads back.

"No peeking." Professor sat on the grass and started to meditate.

Ruby tried to focus on the fleeting memory, grasped it and started to bring her vision onto the white canva with quick and erratic movements, Weiss and Blake worked in a similar pattern - their movements were long and precise.

"Screw that!" Yang angrily tossed away the paintbrush, put her hand in the paint bucket and started to paint with her hands, much to Professor's amusement.

Pyrrha peeked over to Jaune and noticed how fast and accurate his painting is, already finishing the waterfall, but before she could ask, he noticed her curious stare.

"One of many skills you have to pick up growing up with seven sisters." He said.

"I still don't know how you survive that!" Nora spoke up.

"Barely."

All students tried their best, until, with a single move of his hand's, Casim used his semblance to stop them from painting any further.

"Time's up." He raised up on his feet and started walking between the students, examining each painting individually, and given that students had little to no time to actually paint anything, most just marked various points of interest, while some quick enough managed to add few details…

Casim raised his eyebrow, watching Ruby's painting while she looked proudly at her work.

"You added a smiley face to the Sun." He noted.

"Yeah!" Ruby happily nodded her head, making Weiss sigh while Yang covered her mouth and giggled, too late realizing that her hands are still covered in white paint, which Ruby noticed really quickly.

"Weiss, you changed your hairstyle?" Ruby asked Yang, her face covered by white paint, and both girls looked at each other.

"I am NOT that pale!" Weiss angrily remarked, and Yang just rolled her eyes.

"And I am far better looking." Xiao Long retorted, what made Weiss blink few times.

"What did you just say!?" Both girls came face to face, Weiss trying to stand on her toes so Yang would not look down on her. "You really try to anger me, do you!?"

"Only because I know you don't have guts to take a punch!" Yang provoked further, not backing from Schnee.

"Hey hey hey! That's enough!" Ruby jumped between her teammates while Professor Lee observed, ready to intervene if necessary. "It was just a joke!"

"Rubes, You know our tomato over here has an ice-cold sense of humor." Yang commented.

"Insults are not jokes Anger Issue, see the difference." Weiss and Yang looked away from each other, and Ruby tried to mediate the situation, while Blake remained in the background, not wanting to get involved.

Professor Lee tap his leg to get everyone's attention. "Before we get going, one hour break. You must be hungry and tired after the hours of walking. You can consider today's lesson as your preparation for your trip to the Forever Fall."

Students left a sigh of relief and gathered in small groups, opening their backpacks and retrieving all kinds of food, except team CRDL, who walked away to train in a meantime.

"Water – check! Sandwiches – check!" Ruby pulled everything out of her backpack while Yang put a blanket on the grass. "And cookies – check!"

"Did you seriously took cookies too?" Weiss asked as she opened a bean can.

"It was a necessity!" Ruby offered some to Weiss. "There is enough for everybody!"

Weiss looked at the cookie, then at the can full of beans and took two without a second thought. Ruby then offered some to Yang while, and her older sister gladly took one, then gave one to Blake.

"Thanks." Belladonna said, and when everyone was sitting on the blanket, Ruby couldn't help but leave a happy laugh.

"If our trip to Forever Fall is going to look like this, then it will be so much fun!" Ruby rest on the blanket and reached to the sky. "Having a picnic under the sun, singing songs around campfire…"

"Collecting sap as an assignment…" Weiss clarified.

"Punching a Grimm or two in the face…" Yang wondered out loud, imagining beating up a beowolf with her bare hands.

"And what about you Blake? What would you like to do the most?" Blake was about to take a bite from her sandwich when she felt the rest of her team curiously staring at her, and thanks to only partially focusing on the conversation, she thought about something on the fly.

"…Tell spooky stories before going to sleep." Ruby's mood brightened.

"We can do this today!" Rose clapped her hands with excitement. "I have a really scary story…"

"Rubes, Cookie Monster is not that scary." Yang said, then took another bite from the cookie.

"I wasn't scared of Omle!" Yang tilted her head to the side, her eyes giving her a 'Funny you say that, because I am bout to tell them.' "ItwasonlyonceandIwassix!"Ruby shook her hands frantically while Yang giggled, then Rose recomposed herself. "How about tonight each one of us will share a scary story? A team building through scaring!"

"Pass." Weiss said as opened a bottle of water.

"Ohh, don't tell me Weiss Cube is scared?" Yang teased in turn, much to the Schnee's annoyance.

"No, it's because I have to wake up early, and I don't have time for some 'spooky stories'." Weiss answered, not playing Yang's game. "No Ruby, I won't 'just this once' again." Ruby's mood visibly fell and she returned to munching her cookie.

While nearly everyone organized themselves a picnic, Team CRDL continued their training – while Cardin made more pushups with one hand, Sky Lark and Russel circled around Dove who was holding his sword. Sky facing Bronzewing from the front, Russel stalking from behind.

Dove parried the Feather's edge, then with a quick pirouette blocked Russel's daggers, but before he could turn back Lark smacked him in the head.

"Dammnit!" Dove cursed.

"You okay?" Lark asked, afraid that he hit his partner too hard.

"Of course not!" Dove snapped back, but upon seeing Lark's concerned face he took a deep breath to calm down. "Let's do it once more."

"I don't want to be that guy, but it's either me or Sky who hits you in the back." Russel twisted Shortwings, his signature daggers, in his hands. "If you ask me, it is a dead end Dove."

"May I inquire what is a purpose of your training?" Before Dove could respond to his teammate, Professor Lee approached them with curious look.

"Professor." Dove nodded his head with respect. "I recently lost a fight because I was attacked from behind. I want to prepare so I will be able to defend myself in the future."

"I see." Professor's stare shifted from Dove to Sky, then to Russel. "I should have assumed you took notes from your recent battle, and your efforts are commendable. However, there is one critical flaw in your mindset, student Bronzewing."

"Which is?"

"When you assume a defensive stance when fighting two opponents at once, you are giving up the initiative, which allows them to dictate the rules of the fight, just like I saw it before. On a sidenote, I see you are trying to improve your teamwork, student Thrush and student Lark." Two members of the tea CRDL nodded their heads while Cardin just rolled his eyes. "In the next fight, try to go on the offensive."

"I should attack?" Dove frowned his brows. "That's counterintuitive and…" He bit his tongue to not accidently mention his instructor.

Professor left a quiet chuckle in his throat. "It took my years to understand it too." His hand glowed with purple. "Assume combat positions."

Lark and Thrush looked at one another before they turned to Dove while he lifted his blade, the Hallshott, above his head.

"This time, you will have a slight advantage." Lee said. "Student Thrush will be unable to walk for the first two seconds."

"Huh?" Russel looked at his legs and watched how a purple glow entangle them, and he felt like his feet weigh a ton each.

"Use this time to the best of your abilities student Bronzewing. BEGIN!"

Dove charged at Sky, struck high, Lark parried but his teammate pressed forward, his blade trying to push Sky off-balance, but blue haired student used Feather's Edge length advantage to keep Dove away, giving Russel enough time to join the fray.

"Stop." Casim ordered, and all three students stopped fighting. "Student Bronzewing, you didn't use your advantage well."

"But… I did everything like I was taught!"

"If you have dueled someone using a sword it would be enough, but your opponent is quite capable with a halberd. Good footwork on your part student Lark." Sky nodded his head and smiled a little hearing the praise. "Student Thrush, would you fight beowolf the same way as you fight ursai?"

"Of course not!" Russel answered immediately.

"And why is that? Both beowolves and ursai use their jaws and claws to fight." Professor encouraged him to elaborate.

"Well yeah, but Ursai are tougher, larger and fight in pairs, while beolwoves fight in packs."

"Good answer student Thrush. Now, student Bronzewing, try to be more flexible in your next approach, take your opponent's weaknesses and strengths into consideration. Now, assume combat positions."

Students watched the spectacle from afar, slightly baffled how Professor turned CRDL's practice into yet another lesson.

"They really took their loss to the heart huh?" Nora remarked as she watched how Dove shortened distance, swept Sky's halberd to the side and shoulder-bashed Sky, finally throwing him off balance.

"Good for them." Ren added as he peeled an apple. "At least they try to improve."

"Maybe they will hopefully, focus on themselves and stop bullying everyone?" Pyrrha added, only for Nora and Jaune to scoff simultaneously.

"No chance." Nora said while Jaune looked at Cardin, who stopped doing push-ups and now begrudgingly watched his teammates training. He could feel Cardin's embarrassment, that his team needs some outside help.

How the turn tables. And even though Jaune disliked Winchester and his cronies, part of him still felt bad for their defeat, and no matter how the Everpresent tried to make him feel satisfaction for their loss, it only managed to make Arc unknowingly smile a little, and sensing that it won't achieve more with Arc for a while, the Everpresent now focused on Cardin.

For It could see that underneath the shame Winchester endures, something more positive grows – a self-reflection, contemplation about his behavior, both the current and in the past. The Presence knew that if undisturbed, this warrior will finally learn humility, abandon his self-destructive obsessions, and take a predestined path of the Defender.

Something he would not allow.

A half-rotten leaf fell on Cardin's shoulder.

"Ugh, disgusting…" He muttered after the leaf brought him out of his thoughts, and in a corner of his eye Winchester noticed Arc giving him a little, cocky smile.

He clenched fists and gnarled his teeth. Arc got one win and now he feels like a center of the world huh? Oh just wait Arcy-boy. Just wait.

He seemingly returned to watching his teammates fight, but now he boiled inside with anger, spite and jealousy burying the positive change, steering him into the path of self-destruction. The Presence cackled, already planning on how to hone this bile further, let it fester like a rotting wound, and use his emotions to further his own goals, all the while Dove, Russel and Sky continued their fight, steel clashing with steel.

Commercial District, Vale

Glass door to the shopping center opened slowly before two Hunters.

"I am still baffled that he went here first of all places." Professor Port said to Glynda Goodwitch as they were bombarded by commercials.

"Yet everything we got points here as the first place people have noticed him." Glynda remarked to her friend. "Now we just have to find what exactly he learnt here."

"Assuming he was searching for information, why he didn't go to library, or visited the CCTS tower?" Port scratched his grey beard as they walked down the crowd, people subconsciously walking out of their way. "Maybe he doesn't comprehend modern technology…?

"Or maybe because the CCTS is built on the Beacon grounds and he didn't want to get too close to the Academy?" Glynda pointed out.

"Yeah, that makes sense, even in remote villages people heard stories about huntsmen." Port nodded his head. "You think he is afraid?"

"Cautious most likely…" She wanted to answer before she suddenly came to a halt.

"What is that smell?" Peter wondered, his nostrils filled with sweet aroma, smoothing his brain, which urged him to follow it.

"Peter, stand beside me." Glynda said and Professor Port did so without further questions as Goodwitch expanded her semblance to push the cloud back.

From her perspective, the entire area was covered in a pink mist, lingering high enough to reach her nose, invisible for a human eye.

She once had a displeasure of seeing how Salem's influence manifests in the lands under her control, or how the Maiden shines like beacons of light. This mist was some sort of… She can't jump to such conclusions yet.

"With me." She started to follow the cloud, Peter right behind her, and the mist split open before her, then closed behind her, trying to get in, but stopped by some sort of invisible bubble around Goodwitch.

"I assume there is something at play here." Peter looked around, unable to see what Glynda sees, and she only gave him a nod of her head. "Do you think it's a semblance?"

"I am not sure yet." She replied then pointed her finger forward. "There."

The source of this mist was wide, luxurious restaurant in the middle of the shopping mall, before which a long queue of people awaited their turn to enter, while three bouncers stood outside.

"Reservations?" Tall bouncer wanted to bark, but as he felt Goodwitch's judgmental stare that terrified even the fifth year Beacon students, he immediately stood straight, fixed his hair and cleared his throat. "I meant "May I ask for your invitations?" His two compatriots wanted to snicker, but didn't want to attract Huntress's attention.

"We wish to talk with the owner, where we could find him?" Glynda asked, and faunus bouncer found it hard to refuse her, but managed to briefly recompose himself.

"I'm sorry, but without a reservation…" When Peter Port showed his license, bouncer relented. "Mister Barns is behind the counter."

"Thank you young man." Peter said as bouncer stepped aside, and pat his back as both he and Glynda walked into the establishment.

The restaurant was clearly re-designed few months ago. – High tables made of expensive wood, couches made of soft fabric, replicas of famous paintings hanging on the walls and a soothing song playing from the speakers to add to the atmosphere.

"Now that's too much." Peter said, preferring more classic designs, but Glynda barely heard him, for at least fifty people inside talked and laughed.

They soon approached the counter where a tall bear faunus awaited them with a large smile on his face.

"Welcome to Cornucopia!" He greeted them with a clap of his hands. Despite apparent wealth, he still wore modest clothes and a white chief's hat. "How may I serve you?"

"Are you Thadeus Barns?" Lynda questioned, and Bear faunus raised his eyebrow in surprise.

"Well I am… is there any problem?" He asked little fearful, recognizing the Hunters.

"We look for information regarding certain individual." Peter walked up to the counter and put his arm on it. "And maybe for a sandwich…" Feeling Glynda's stare, he shut up.

"I hope it's not involving the White Fang, because a: Me being a faunus does not mean I am associated and insinuating such a thing would be racist and b:.."

"It's not about the Fang." Glynda stopped bear faunus's speech before it could reach it's crescendo. "In your advertisement you claim that Annatar the Dream Smith dined in here, is that true?" Faunus's mood visibly brightened.

"You look for Annatar!? Then why don't you go talk to him directly, if you can't find an address…" He started to search his pockets.

"Could you answer us a few questions?" Glynda interrupted again, and Faunus thought about it.

"I see, it's some Huntsmen related stuff. Alright, follow me." He gestured to them to come and he went through the door behind him, and both Professor's followed.

"So he was here few months ago?" Port decided to continue the conversation while Glynda looked around for a source of the pink mist.

"It's thanks to him that I am where I am now!" Faunus left a belly laugh as he pulled out his pocket set of keys. "It was a strange encounter, but I am grateful for it." He put one key into a locker, and opened it. "Right here."

They went in, and much to professor's surprise, behind the door was an unassuming room with a single green plastic chair, a wooden desk and an old tv-screen. Owner grabbed two chairs for Professor's to sit, then one for himself and sat.

"So, what do you want to know?" Faunus asked as Professor's took their seats.

"Could you first tell us how you met with Annatar?" Port asked while Glynda suspiciously looked around the corner, like she was searching for something, while Faunus pondered about that day.

"So, If my memory is not wrong here, he came right after I tossed out some punks trying to spew paint all over the place, causing ruckus and all that. He just sat here…" He pointed at the chair. "…And waited, watching the TV…"

"Sorry to interrupt, but do you remember what was he watching?" Glynda inquired, and Faunus shrugged.

"Probably something about the White Fang, news were all about them and Roman Torchwick, but I don't remember the details." Glynda took that info into the account, then nodded her head.

"Thank you. Please, continue."

"Where was I… Ah, right! So, he just sat there and was watching the news and at first I was kinda surprised that he is not calling for someone, but then I thought that maybe he is one of those who you have to approach first, and to sound too obnoxious I decided to chat a little first."

"And what was he like? The way he spoke and looked." Glynda asked.

"Honestly, he was a really odd dude." Faunus admitted. "He looked like he just got here from the pre-great war Mantle, and he spoke was a member of Atlasian aristocracy, but he was pretty chill, even though our chat was pretty short, it felt like I could talk to him about everything."

"But about what were you talking exactly? Please, it might be important." Peter encouraged the faunus.

"Okay, okay… We talked about the Fang a little, then the police appeared on screen and did a classic 'police is on the case and will catch the criminals bullshit' which I laughed at and compared to Xiong…" He realized that he is basically speaking to the authorities. "Ehm, what I meant to say is…"

"What did you tell him about the Xiong?" Glynda asked and faunus shrugged his arms.

"What else I could say? That time he got wrecked by some kid and became a joke of the week, which interested him for some reason." Professors shared a look with one another. "And after that the strangest part happened, for he got up and decided to leave, saying that I 'served him well' or something like that, and I was like 'wait, hold on, you didn't order anything' and he was like… give a minute."

"No pressure." Said Glynda, which, frankly, had an opposite effect. Faunus thought about that day, trying to recall the exact words.

"Alright, so, he asked me how many people visit me, and back in the day, it wasn't much. You know, I was just a migrant with a dream and some talent, but nothing special. And then he said something under his nose, and suddenly, people started coming in numbers I have never seen before."

"He used his semblance?" Peter thought while Glynda's stare was focused on the table and a chair. "Did he said something after that?"

"Actually, yeah, I asked him who he was, and he said: "My name is Annatar" Faunus giggled. "Oh, If only I knew…"

"May I ask, why you left this setup unchanged and behind a lock?" Glynda pointed at the table and a chair.

"Well, it might sound strange, but after a month when my business was growing, right when I brought my family from Mistral I decided to redesign the interior, and, believe it or not, each time I moved the chair or the table, people seemed to be less interested. Don't get me wrong here, I personally ensure the quality of my food and I use the finest ingredients and original recipes, that's why many people return for more, but…"

"But when you change this particular setup, there are less new customers?" Glynda finished his thought, seeing how the pink mist floats from this corner through the vents.

"Exactly!" He said with a smile. "It's strange I know, but that's a truth! And when people ask me about my success, I tell them honestly – Annatar helped me, and when they ask 'who is Annatar?' I simply…"

"Give them his address?" Port realized, and Faunus nodded his head.

"Yeah! That's a least I can do for him. And fun fact – a month or two ago, city opened a new bus lane and Limestone is it's last stop! What a coincidence, right?" He laughed, but two veteran huntsmen weren't as amused. "Anyway, is that all? I have quite a lot of customers today…"

"Yes, that's everything." Glynda said and got up from the chair. "Thank you for your time mister Barns."

"One more question please." Peter suddenly spoke up. "Do you remember the date he came to your restaurant."

Faunus tapped his foot few times, thinking about it.

"I don't quite remember the date…"

"Was it after the Initiation, it was heavily observed this year?" Glynda added, and Peter could almost see a lightbulb appearing above faunus's head.

"Oh yeah, that's right! It was a day after it! I remember that I read about that Pyrrha Nikos was, obviously, accepted to Beacon and passed the initiation!" Faunus laughed once again. "Man, what the time to be living right?"

But Huntsmen were not laughing.

A minute later

"Pick it up, pick it up!" Glynda called Oobleck as she and Peter were leaving the restaurant, and, much to her relief, He picked up after a while, his voice barely audible through the loud music.

"Hi Glynda, did you find…!"

"Barthy, don't come near this thing!" Peter shouted to the scroll, and Oobleck raised his eyebrow.

"So you learnt something, that's good to know…" Someone bumped into him. "Oh, excuse me kind sir! That's why I don't like places like this one…"

"Have you talked with Junior?" Glynda asked after Bartholomew found a more quiet place.

"Not yet but…"

"Then stay where you are, we will join you soon and talk with Xiong together."

"But Junior is not in his bar."

"He is not there?" Peter looked at his friend in disbelief.

"Yeah, I asked to speak with him, but his staff told me that he is out there, and well… participates in public works."

Glynda blinked few times, processing the information.

"Junior Xiong?"

"Doing public work?" Peter added, equally confused.

"Yeah, apparently he started donating his fortune to charities and helps in repairing the damage caused by the White Fang." Oobleck read from his list. "Oh, and he candidates to become the next governor of Industrial District.

For some reason, what Oobleck said shocked Glynda more than the pink mist left by Annatar.

Limestone

When was the last time someone referred to me differently? Without deceit? Sauron's mind wondered and it traveled back the memory lane, to a different land under the different stars…

Orc tried to stand back up, but Gwindor ended its miserable existence with a swift slash to the neck.

„Into the fortress! Press on, in Felagund's name!" He roared command to his warriors, then run at the line of orcs and goblins, who tried to scramble some defense.

"For Finrod!" Noldors charged forth alongside their prince, their armors reflecting the sunlight and their spears tearing through the orcs and goblins, while Morgoth's thralls fiercely hurled themselves against the elves.

Firstborn children of Illuvatar were like a beam of sunlight blazing through darkness, hacking and slashing through Morgoth's hordes, charging directly towards the open gates of Angband.

Trolls and other amalgamations amassed on the Elven flanks, the Slavemasters wanting to unleash the beasts and squash the Elven tip of a spear with dull, brutish force. But Elves didn't fight alone today

"Show them the Fury of Hador!" Humans covered the Eldar flanks, Secondborn children of Illuvatar fought with such fury and strength that even mighty beasts of Angband trembled in fear at their sight, trolls and vile amalgamations of twisted steel and iron fell to their hammers, each strike like a small thunder.

As the fight took place, Sauron shook his head in disappointment. Not even a start of a proper battle and Morgoth is already fumbling.

„What a waste…" He muttered. He already saw a way Angband's host could turn Elven reckless charge and slay them all, but it required steel nerves and patience, something Morgoth lacked when dealing with those he considered inferior.

He watched how Elves and Humans break the counterattacking trolls and are almost at the Angaband's gates. Many would think that it meant the battle may be concluded even before Meadhros's host arrive, but both Glaurung and Gothmog didn't enter the fray.

„Where is the Angaband's Black Captain?" Both Elves and Orcs probably ask themselves this question, while Sauron already know the answer as he felt the familiar presence approaching him.

„I came Sauron." Gothmog said. „I hope you don't draw me away from the battle for a needless speech?"

„I wouldn't dare." Sauron turned to the Black Captain as the battle raged before the Gate „For I have an offer for you."

„Than better be quick, Lord ordered his vermin to prepare a counterattack and I am meant to lead it…"

„Counterattack now? Foolish idea." Sauron remarked, not surprised by Morgoth's rash orders. „Lure the Elves deeper, into the fortress…"

„If I do that, they might be able to reach the throne room." Gothmog denied his plan. „I can't allow our foes to threaten our Lord."

"And that is exactly what I want to talk with you about." At first Gothmog looked confused before the realization struck him.

"Bold of you to suggest such a thing. Especially to me." Gothmog bellowed, but grip on his Black Axe did not tighten, much to Sauron's relief, and slight surprise. Millennia ago, he would surely attack him without a second thought for saying something like this, and, he wants to listen? That gave him a little hope.

"Think about it. – When it was only you and me, we warred against the Sindar uninterrupted, conquered lands east to Beleriand and ruled over uncountable legions, and now, Morgoth wastes this potential, keeps you within the fortress like some attack dog." Sauron came closer to Balrog, showing both of his hands. "Let the Elves finish him, drag him out of the fortress or kill him, while we will take control over what remains."

Fire left Gothmog's nostrils, but he gave no response, while the Elves reached the gates of Angband and started to break into the infernal forges

"We can rule Angband together again, just like during the time of the Trees." Sauron continued, feeling Balrog's hesitance. "You would no longer be bounded to the confines of this fortress, you would once more venture to the world and fight worthy opponents instead of overwatching malnourished slaves…"

"I can't." Gothmog said, and Sauron nodded, expecting a response such as this. Gothmog was known for his loyalty after all.

"If you seriously need to save him because of honor and duty, then do so, abandon him afterwards and join me." Sauron offered once again. "Leave him to fight his wars with mindless beasts and dragons while we will built a new seat of power elsewhere."

"Where? His reach on Arda is…" Gothmog wanted to argue, but Sauron just laughed out loud.

"Don't tell me you still believe his boastful words! Morgoth only claims he has domain over the entirety of Arda, but in reality there are places where his gaze won't reach. And the place I found will be a great start!" Sauron moved his hand like he wanted to show the Balrog a vision. "Vast amount of metal ore. mountain ranges so high that no army can pass through, volcanos which spew magma from the very heart of the world…"

"I can't do that either." Gothmog took a step back, and turned his head away, which made Sauron clench his fist.

Very well, time for a final try.

"Face it Gothmog, Morgoth does not deserve your loyalty." Sauron spoke once more, and Gothmog growled in anger, but did not attack. "He is weak, keeps you here because he is afraid that you won't be here to protect him. He is no longer the one, who shattered the lamps, who fought against other Vala and nearly won! You don't owe him anything…"

"I KNOW!" Gothmog roared with fury, and Sauron quickly backed off. "I watched it firsthand! His fall from grace!"

Sauron blinked few times as Gothmog spoke, the Elves breached the gates, slaughtering their way towards the throne room.

"Melkor of old would not need armies to fight the sons of Feanor. Melkor would not hide deep in his fortress. But he is gone now, only Morgoth remains, pathetic husk of the one, who challenged the Creator and reshaped the Great Music." Balrog growled deep in his fiery throat, flames in his open mouth like an infernal furnace. "He is barely worthy of his title as the Lord.

"That's…" Sauron smiled in triumph. "Then leave him to his fate now!" But Gothmog shook his head.

"I told you, I can't do that, for if he dies, I will stop being who I am." Sauron looked at him flabbergasted.

"He does not have such control over you! I would know it." Fallen maia couldn't believe what Gothmog was saying. Or maybe all this time Gothmog was a spy, meant to control him? No, It was not possible…

"Not that." Gothmog finally looked at him with his coal-black orbs. "When Eru created me, I was meant to be a defender, a guardian standing on the houses doorstep and keep the Unnamed away, but I always felt like it was not something I wanted to do. I wanted challenge, to fight the greatest warriors Arda had to offer, but Eru forbade us from waging war. But Melkor changed me…"

"He corrupted you." Sauron interrupted to clarify. "Changed your form into this, fueled your fea with rage." Gothmog grinned.

"And that's exactly what I wanted." He said, and Sauron looked at him with disbelief.

"What?"

"My form was changed because I wanted it." Gothmog repeated, and Sauron could not find delusion behind his eyes. The brute speaks honestly!?. "During the first war, when Melkor fought alongside us, I finally felt like I was something more than what Father designed me to be – I was Melkor's Iron Fist, Lord Commander of Utumno, the Slayer! They trembled when they heard my wings, run when they heard my roar! I am the Greatest warrior in Arda's history, now and forever! Even mighty Tulkas showed me respect!"

Sauron remained silent, even though he could counter his points.

"Morgoth is no longer as powerful but as long as he lives, my legacy lives on. Without him, I will lose who I am, I will be a beast without a master, a broken fist…"

"Legacy can be remade, like a broken sword can be reforged." Sauron finally spoke up.

"Not everyone can assume a new face after losing or changing it Sauron."

"I was able to do so Gothmog, and you can too." Gothmog shook his head in response.

"Both you and I know I can't do that." He stated. "Nor I want to. My strength lies in that I have only one identity." Balrog looked at Sauron and, for the first time in eons, he gave him a friendly smile. "Your strength on the other hand, lies in the multitude of faces– the Craftsman and Destroyer, Ruler and a Warlord, Schemer and Friend." Sauron raised his eyebrow at this remark. "Know this, Mairon – Your downfall will begin only when you assume a single one."

"You know where your path leads to, right?"

"Perhaps." Gothmog admitted. "And when my end comes, I will make sure for it be legendary."

They stood in silence as Elves broke deeper into the fortress, shouts of battle echoing in the deep tunnels.

"So I assume that's a goodbye, right?" Gothmog nodded his head in response.

"I have a battle to win." Gothmog confirmed and turned on his heel, walking to the exit. "But one thing before I go Mairon – Morgoth ordered me to find you and bring you in chains for your failure." He looked back at the Fallen Maia. "And that's the only order from him I refused to comply with."

His steps echoed in Mairon's head as he approached the exit, and his lips spoke one word which made Gothmog halt for a moment.

"Modig." He said, and Gothmog looked back again, shocked after hearing his real name for the first time in ages. "There is secret path in the barracks leading directly before the Throne room, large enough for you and your warriors. And when you save this fool, demand that he won't keep you in Angaband's confines any longer. And then, once your end comes…" For some reason Mairon felt his throat trying to stop him from saying that. "…I will make sure you will be remembered."

And, for the second time this day, Gothmog gave him a friendly smile.

"Farewell Mairon. I hope our paths will not cross ever again." And with that said, Gothmog walked out from the tower, leaving Sauron alone, and for some reason, his head at first felt… empty.

Pieces of stone fell to the floor as Annatar worked with his eyes closed. That was the last time someone called him Mairon, and the last time he spoke with Modig. Who was Modig for him anyway? He always considered Gothmog to be his rival, his nemesis. Their ideas constantly clashed, his mind against his brawn. But when he looks back, there was a mutual respect, at first born of fear, since Gothmog was far more powerful fighter than him while he was far more cunning, but then again, their interactions were… varied.

"Just like my views clash with hers"

"Your strength on the other hand, lies in the multitude of faces you bear, and your downfall will begin only when you assume a single one." Gothmog's words rung in his head as he struck the marble with a hammer. He disregarded them that day, considering that warning to be delusion of a fool, but now, when he thinks of it more, he lost because he assumed only one face.

Sauron. The second Dark Lord.

He was no longer a craftsman, for his creations were only meant to dominate all, he ruled to dominate all, he warred to dominate all, he schemed to dominate...

Domination for domination's sake, just like Morgoth's destruction for the destruction's sake.

"That's not true." He tried to argue with himself. "I wanted to conquer Arda to make it flourish."

"But that's not the point. The point is that I took a single route, a path of terror, while I previously would have multiple approaches, many of them working at the same time. What's worse, I took actions that directly contradicted my ultimate goal just to satisfy my…"

All those invasions of Gondor, on the one hand depleted their resources, pushed them out from Minas Ithil and the Black Gate, dwindled their numbers, but in turn it made them wary, resilient, unyielding in face of superior numbers. He could have waited until they destroy each other in yet another civil war like they always used to, or sow discord within the population. Instead, he launched his minions again and again, just because he wanted to destroy Elendil's heritage, which in the end ensured that his primary foe stood united against him.

And why? For what purpose? Because Elendil and Gil-Galad defeated him on the fields of Gorgoroth, and he wanted revenge, and chased after it like…

A grim realization struck Sauron, forcing him to stop for a moment to recompose himself.

"I committed Morgoth's mistake without even realizing it."

After some time, he struck the marble once more.

"Gothmog, all this time, were you something more than a brute?"

He continued his work, thinking about his time with the Black Captain and wondered how many times Gothmog just played his role, how many times he pestered him to simply… spare time, or talk, argue…

"Was he…" He shook his head, vehemently denying this conclusion. "If Morgoth gave him an order, he would have killed me without a second thought. We were enemies, nothing more."

He brushed Gothmog's line about denying his Master's order aside, it was an obvious lie. Gothmog would do every command Morgoth gave him without a second thought.

But on the other hand, Gothmog was not known for deceit and lies…

"It doesn't matter anyway, he is gone now." For some reason, this thought stung him deeply. "He is gone…" He muttered, and continued in silence as his hands moved with precision, giving part of the marble a familiar shape…

Vale, Undisclosed location

Penny stepped onto the arena, single light illuminating her.

"Considering the recent events, we will conduct standard training scenario." Ciel spoke from the command center above the arena. "You are not allowed to use the Floating Array." Penny nodded and prepared herself.

In the control room, atleasian scientists activated the first batch of combat droids, their bulky bodies coming online while the rest run check-ups on Penny's systems.

"Everything operational."

"Commence."

Penny dashed to the side as three Atleasian squires fired from three directions, and quickly slid towards the one on the far left.

It tried to slash at her with its singular arm blade while the attached gun tracked her, but she was too fast, she dodged the blade, jumped up and with a single punch broke squire's shell, making it inoperational.

"Penny's strength amplifiers are at 100% effectiveness." One of the scientist said while Ciel watched the fight unfold.

Penny grabbed the arm of the broken squire, used it's broken shell to cover herself from the incoming fire, then spun the its wreckage and hurled it at one of the robots and charged at the other.

Second robot tried to brace for impact, but broken shell slammed into it with such force that both were flung against the wall and cracked like eggs.

Last remaining robot tried to get Penny in its crosshairs but she was a blur of movement, right, left, up, then right again, forcing the internal computer to constantly recalculate to predict her path, but being unable to make a decision, it didn't fire even once Penny got close.

She lunged herself into the air, both her feet like an arrow aimed at the oval machine's torso, and she pierced through it like a missile, leaving a giant hole behind, full of tore down wires and circuits, electric sparks dropping from their tips.

"Penny, what were you told about showing off?" Ciel reprimanded, and Penny tilted her head.

"I wasn't showing off! I made slight miscalculation." She replied without a hiccup, she just wanted to dropkick the last squire, but she didn't took lack of wind into the account.

Squire fell on its back with a loud thud.

Ciel looked at another scientist in a blue lab coat and she gave her a thumbs up.

"That concludes the first part of the test." Ciel announced through the speaker. "Second part will commence soon." Penny nodded while cleaning drones, some large and some small, flew into the arena and started to pick up the broken squires, and among them was the tiny robot she made with Annatar searching for the tiny parts and storing them inside itself.

After the White Fang attack, she was basically locked inside the building, not able to communicate with the outside world until Ciel "assess everything for the report considering her shutdown", which meant day after day off various tests, and during the time in between, the tiny robot (For who she still had to come with a name) was the only one who kept her company, and tried to cheer her up every time she felt sad.

Tiny robot shook, compressing the stored material, then it's front plate opened and a small metal cube fell on the floor. It raised its arms in joy and waved to Penny, proudly pointing at the cube, and she waved back with a smile on her face.

The personnel of the facility was at first wary of this robot, but after examining it through and through, they found nothing suspicious, so they just let him stay. It quickly became friends with the building's janitor, who started to treat it like a cat.

As soon as the arena was cleaned from squires remains, Ciel spoke up again.

"Now we will check your reflexes." With that said, few dozens of small drones started to buzz around Penny. "You are only allowed to dodge."

In response to the command, Penny lowered sharpness of her eyes to both amplify her audio and shorten the response time.

She waited as the drones circled around her while she stood still, tracking each and every one of them through the hoovering sounds they made.

She heard the crackling noise of laser from the eighteen drone, and immediately moved to the side, her movement not too long, just enough to avoid the laser.

Drones unleashed their weapons on her, each having a different pattern of firing – some fired at her legs, others intended to fire close so when she moved she would get hit, some tracked her and fired again and again. But she dodged all of that, jumped away from danger, backflipped and stood on her hands to confuse the targeting systems, all the while the scientist increased the volume of fire, forcing Penny to get more creative with her movements.

Ciel watched with quiet amusement how Penny briefly stood on her pointing finger, then propelled herself towards the ceiling, started to run on it, like the ceiling became the floor for her, and the drones had to recalibrate...

"Everything is in top shape." One of the Scientist finally concluded, and Ciel nodded.

"That's enough Penny." She ordered and drones stopped firing on her. "Please, come back to the floor."

Penny floated back down using gravity dust components installed in her legs.

"Did I did good?" She looked at the command center.

"You do really well Penny." Ciel praised her. "But the test is not over."

In some places walls opened, and the newest generation of Atlasian knights walked out, some holding singlehanded blades or greatswords, others held used guns, while the leader, noticeably larger Atleasian champion mark 6, held a large shield in its left hand, and a flail in its right.

"Now, you are allowed to use Floating Array." Ciel commanded and Penny nodded her head, but nothing happened.

Ciel raised her eyebrow. "Penny, you are allowed to use the Floating Array." Ciel repeated.

"Okay!" Penny replied cheerfully and assumed the combat stance while Ciel looked at the scientist in the back monitoring Penny.

"Floating Array is active but…" One of them muttered in confusion, and Soleil spoke to the intercom for the third time.

"Penny, use the Floating Array." She commanded, and hearing the command, Penny's back opened, but the blades didn't come out, much to Penny's surprise.

She felt something holding the blades back, an itchy feeling in her head and in the stomach area. She run a quick scan but there was nothing that should stop her from using her weapon. And yet, she was unable to use her swords, this itch holding her back.

"I think the Floating Array malfunctions." Penny said, and Ciel looked at the scientists, and they only shrugged in response.

"All of your systems are online, so stop playing around, otherwise we will have to restart the whole process tomorrow, which will prolong your stay." Penny reluctantly turned her head away and stared at the Atleasian knights, their programming holding them in place.

She focused on her weapon and finally, the set of blades danced around her, their mechanical buzzing, the one she was familiar since the day she was created, now made her uneasy, and the itch in the back of her head grew worse, which prompted her to scan herself again, but her systems found nothing once again.

"Begin."

Two Atleasian knights rushed forward with their swords while two in the back quickly raised their guns and fired.

With a quick spin of her blades Penny deflected the bullets, took a step back as nearest knight swung it's greatsword, two blades of the Array crosse before it like a scissors, stopping the blow while Penny focused the rest to attack the second one.

Knight tried to deflect, but one sword against ten flying blades was no match, and like knife through butter, Floating array proceeded to cut the robot into pieces.

Her eyes widened as she saw her blades so easily cutting one of the battle-droids in half, the cracking of metal sounded like cracking of bones.

Knight with the greatsword tried to push his blade through, but Penny's internal systems reacted quicker, and her body jumped away.

The two blades of the array allowed the greatsword through, which made the knight lose its balance, and before it could recover, flying swords came back and like a pair of scissors, severed its head, which made Penny even more unwell as she watched it slowly fly towards the ground, and then bounce once, twice, thrice…

Each bounce rung in her ears…

"Floating array is fully operational." One of the technicians said, but new data appearing on his screen made him raise an eyebrow. "Strange, temperature of the core seems to increase." Hearing it, Ciel didn't waste time.

"Penny, is something wrong?" She asked, but Penny was unresponsive.

"She turned off her audio Sir." One of the technicians reported, much to Soleil disbelief as she watched Penny cover her ears.

"Run the scan now!" Ciel ordered while Atlasian champion swung it's flail.

Despite turning off the audio, just like in the forge, the sound of breaking metal didn't silenced, arguably, it got worse, as the sound of the spine breaking was added to the mix.

These robots are meant for combat, they are made from hardened alloys and amplified with top to date components. And she cuts through them with no effort. In comparison, humans are paper-thin…

"HELP ME!" She heard the faunus's voice coming from the front, and before she could react, she was struck by the flail of the champion.

She tumbled on the floor, then quick jumped back on her feet and summoned the blades back and fired lasers at the machine.

Atleasian champion retracted it's flail, covered itself with its shield, deflecting the incoming green beams, and two atleasian knights with rifles quickly stepped forth and started firing at Penny once again.

Floating array started to circle before Penny, deflecting bullets to the sides, then right back at the machines, and while the one of the knights swiftly covered it's head, the second one of was too slow.

Cascade of bullets tore the machine's forehead and exited through it's back, sending chunks of metal and electronics all over the floor.

Penny took a step back just when the robot collapsed onto the floor while the previous ones arm exploded into pieces. The result it would have on humans…

"HELP ME!" In Penny's mind champion assumed the white fanger's mask and swung it's flail once again, it's long chain spiring towards her, but she remained still, like she was frozen in ice.

"What is going on with her!?" Ciel jumped to the nearest console.

"All systems are online, but her core is overheating!"

"Is it mechanical failure!?"

"Negative Sir!" Ciel looked at the data on the control panel and nothing on it indicated that something should go wrong in the first place, but…

"End the test now!" She ordered, and within seconds, a command was transferred to the remaining robots.

Atlassian champion stopped the flail before it reached frozen Penny, quickly retracted it while the remaining knight put the gun back on its back, but Penny didn't react to it, instead she looked at the blades flying before her, and the anxious itch grew more and more.

From the holes in the wall the tiny robot looked at her with worry as Penny tried to again think logically, but a new feeling overwhelmed her senses like a heavy rain, and whenever she looked, she found a pair of a terrified eyes staring at her with accusation, with one word, barely audible:

"Monster."

Stonewall prison

"Please, let me out!" Prisoner wrapped his hands around the cell bars and violently shook it. "I am innocent!"

"Shut up!" One of the guards ordered while his colleague, a bear faunus, tried to take a nap.

"At least move me to another cell!" Prisoner desperately pleaded. "I am an honest thief, you can't keep me with politicals!" He gestured at the group of faunus sitting behind him, trying to ignore his yapping.

"By the Brothers Frank, why is he yelling!?" A bear faunus who tried to take a nap got up with an angered grimace.

"Some of the inmates don't know when to shut up!" Frank spat as he drank a cup of coffee, and the awakened guard grabbed his police baton and walked up to the cell.

"Shut your mouth!" He roared and bashed the prison bars with the baton, and faunus behind in the cell covered their ears as the sound echoed inside the cell, and when the guard finished, thoughts of everyone inside turned from complaining to the upcoming spitting into the bearded prisoner soup during lunchtime.

Larian just shook his head as the guard gave them an angry look and left. Getting imprisoned wasn't on his bingo card, especially getting locked under the tons of solid bedrock, in claustrophobic chambers dug years ago, with total lack of privacy thanks to the guards constant lookout, they couldn't even take a pee in peace. At least, it wasn't Atlassian prison colony or Mistrealian lumber camp, but Stonewall was close third. And of course, he couldn't forget about the Stonewall's "Natives".

"Wof wof animal freaks!"

"Shut your mouth human trash!"

"Bark more furred fuck!"

"Silence!" Guard commander roared. "Or again you will clean toilets!" And the whole prison block went quiet.

The only solace fangers found in here was each other's company, however, slowly but surely guards split them up more and more often making interracial cells. Despite Fangs and Natives blatant hatred to one another, constant theft and "accidental" tripping, there was no fighting.

Stonewall had many rules, and one of the most prominent was an absolute prohibition of violence. Whoever is found guilty of assaulting another prisoner or worse – a guard, would win a ticket directly to the Special Security Section for a week at least, and seven days spent surrounded by psychos that required huntsmen intervention to lock down… No thank you.

The only worse place could be the dreaded 2137 cell. Nobody knows what is happening there, nobody, not even the guards, talks about this cell, and those who went through it would not share what they saw inside, only that they would gladly spend a night in Special Security Section.

As Larian pondered on how he would kill for a proper meal, or even for Laszlo's mushroom stew, for anything would be better than what they serve in the prison's "cafeteria", lock to his cell clicked and opened.

"Larian Marconi, step out from your cell." Heavily armed guard ordered, and the fanger went out without complaint, and, as he stepped out, two more guards quickly searched him from head to toe, then cuffed his hands behind his back.

"Follow me." Guard ordered and Larian started to follow after the guard, keeping his head high.

"No funny business." One of the two guards behind him pushed him to pick up the pace, while prisoners from multiple levels of the cellblock watched and pointed at him.

"They took another!"

"Freak of nature!"

"Hey Big Bastard! Was your mother a cat or your father? Genuine question!"

"Silence!"

Larian tried to ignore all the insults and mockeries casted in his way, but in the corner of his eyes noticed his brothers and sisters making the three-clawed gesture from behind bars, showing their solidarity.

Soon, He and his escort left the cellblock and now walked through the claustrophobic tunnels, some dug decades, maybe even centuries ago by the prisoners searching for dust and silver, marks left by the pickaxes, shovels and even bare hands still visible on the walls and the ceiling despite the passage of time.

After going through the spiral tunnels, which for the unaccustomed Lion Faunus felt like circling around the same exact point, they arrived to the grey interrogation room.

"Welcome, welcome!" Prosecutor greeted him with a dry smile, and gestured at the chair on the other side of the table. "Please, take a seat. We have so much to discuss."

Larian eyed the prosecutor, and he had to begrudgingly admit, he looked surprisingly human – A well-made, yet not too fancy black suit, a long blue tie, his long face carefully shaven, and the skin was clearly under a good care of expensive creams. A pair of blue eyes behind the glasses read through the files he held in his hands. Beside him stood a another man in a suit, wearing white gloves and a green tie.

"Move." Guard pushed him forward, and Larian walked up to the chair and sat down.

"So, Mister Marconi…" Prosecutor finally looked at him. "In adherence to the article 57 dash 7 section a, I will now recite your rights." Prosecutor lifted the documents. "You have a right to remain silent, to make a single call, which you used to contact your lawyer, and to know that this whole conversation is registered and all you say might be used against you, or in your favor during the trial." He looked back at the lion faunus. "Are there any questions?"

Larian nodded his head and quickly gestured with his hands.

"He asks if his lawyer has arrived." Man with the green tie said, and prosecutor checked his notes.

"Did mister…" Prosecutor looked startled, fixed his glasses and mumbled something under his nose. "Did Mister Ra-ci…Did mister Pochodnioknot arrive?"

"He currently awaits in the guest room."

"Please, invite him in." Prosecutor said, and while guard quickly left the room, he shifted his stare to the faunus. "But, if you don't want to wait mister Marconi, we can talk a little now."

Larian shook his head and gestured again.

"I won't say anything without my lawyer." Translator spoke, and prosecutor nodded his head.

"As expected."

They waited in silence, and after few minutes, door wide opened.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting, all these security checkpoints really take a time, ain't that right?" A tall attorney walked in, his white suit and red tie contrasting with the interrogator's black suit and blue tie, his green eyes sparking with energy. "But I shouldn't expect less from such well-secure facility!" He said and quickly approached the table and leant on it, much to prosecutor's dismay. "Would you mind my assistant to sit in the corner and watch the interrogation Steve?" He gestured at the short woman with a black hair, holding a clip of papers in her hands, wearing clothes similar to Racimir, but while the tall attorney wore primarily white with an accents of red, she wore a mix of white, pink and black. "She might pick up necessary experience."

Prosecutor's gaze narrowed. "Have we met before, mister…" Before he could finish his sentence, Racimir wrapped his arm around his shoulder and laughed.

"Steve, buddy, what are you saying!? We studied together, and you were sitting right in the front, carefully noting each and every word Professor had said during our lectures! You don't remember?"

"I…" Prosecutor tried to reply, but was taken aback by his apparent colleague friendliness, but Pochodnioknot pulled him closer.

"Yeah I know, you were an introverted guy who didn't pay much attention to everyone around you, but on a plus side, you got rid of those nerdy glasses!"

"Hey!"

"So, how is Maria huh? Did you guys finally hook up?" Guards snickered a little while Racimir's assistant covered her mouth to hide her wide smile.

"…I think we should get started." Prosecutor finally gave up after attorney mentioned his college crush. Clearly, his mind just forgot the guy, after all, there are thousands of lawyers in Vale, you can't remember them all.

"Of course, chitty-chat later." Racimir took the chair and nonchalantly sat down. "Of what offenses is my client accused of?"

Prosecutor cleared his throat and opened the ten page document.

"Active participation in an terrorist organization, Organization of a mass theft, mass destruction of property, Conspiring against peace, Conspiring to remove the legitimately elected government of the Kingdom of Vale, Violation of Treaty of Vytal…" Prosecutor looked at Larian. "These charges alone may mean a life sentence, and there are many more. Truth to be told, if Vale didn't abolish the Capital punishments in the thirty amendment to the Treaty of Vytal, as well as in the fifth amendment to the Constitution, you would get a Death penalty."

Racimir clicked his tongue. "A lot of charges, that's true, but, have you ever considered that my client wasn't in a right state of mind?" Prosecutor left a sigh hearing this.

"All the evidence is still being gathered, and the trial is scheduled for a next year. But one thing is strange for me." Blue-eyed man spoke, his voice monotone, then he drew a picture from his documents. "Please, take a look at this."

He put the picture on the table, and both Larian, and Racimir looked at it.

On the picture they could see what appeared to be a band of five people, both faunus and humans, in a rock band called "The Flying Tigers", and in the middle stood none other than Larian.

"You and your band were successful years ago." Prosecutor said while Larian stared at the picture with nostalgia. "You had fans both in Vale, and in Mistral, and thousands of people came to see your concerts. Some say you were the best guitarist with a powerful voice." Steve leant forward. "It's not a profile of a criminal, isn't it? I wonder what made you join such group as a White Fang."

"You are asking my client a really personal question." Pochodnioknot interrupted. "He doesn't have to answer that question."

"It's fine." Larian gestured to him. "I can talk about this one, may you translate it for me? I don't trust the green tie over there."

"Sure." After confirmation, Larian started to gesture quickly, and attorney translated it.

"You are right, it's not a profile of a criminal, but of a victim." Prosecutor frowned his brows hearing that. "When I got cancer..." Larian pointed at his neck. "..It all started with a small coughs and dry throat. I visited the hospitals and each time, doctors said that there is nothing, I just use my voice too often on stage. But as it grew worse, I became desperate and searched for answers, but every doctor I met, even the finest specialist in Atlas, said to me that everything is fine, and, by the time when finally one of them diagnosed, it was too late." He eyed the prosecutor with anger. "I later found out that doctors just didn't want to "waste" their time with me because I have an additional set of ears, because no matter how successful I was, or how much money I made, they just didn't want to treat a faunus."

"If mister felt dissatisfied with healthcare, you could always sue for negligence." Larian left a dry chuckle, and started gesturing again.

"Like any amount of money could return what I lost." Racimir translated. "But being thrown into the gutter of society opened my eyes." Everyone could see his face turning red. "How, even in Vale, despite supposed 'equal rights', even the successful faunus are treated with prejudice, like they are worse in some way. Not to mention that Vale happily trades with the Schnee's, even though their Dust is covered in blood of children."

Prosecutor raised his stop the translation.

"Investigations launched against the Company, and in Vale's institutions found no proof of your claims, so let's not stary too far from our discussion today." Lion Faunus just shook his head and gestured again.

"Of course, system patting each other's backs. Then what do you want me to say?"

"Like I said at the start, Your charges are serious and you will end up in imprisoned for life mister Marconi." Prosecutor pulled a sheet of paper and pushed it across the table.

"Testimony?" Racimir asked, quickly understanding what is going on while Prosecutor stared at lion Faunus.

"You can become a witness in an upcoming trail." Prosecutor cleared his glasses. "Get a new life, maybe even return to your music career after the operation. All that for the list of associates – leaders, contacts, suppliers." Man with a green tie put a pen before the faunus.

"Remember, you don't have to sign or agree to anything." Pochodnioknot said as Larian picked up the pen and eyed it carefully.

It tempted him, he longed to return to the times when he was just playing a guitar and signing for fans. He loved that life, and a chance to return to it…

But in this moment he thought about the special someone who gave him a hand when he was at his lowest. Gave him a new purpose, a new family. A friend with whom he shared joys and sadness. The one he have to still write a song about.

In his position, Blake would not take such an offer. Never.

He quickly wrote on the paper two words: FUCK YOU.

Two men shared a disappointed look while Racimir breathed a sigh of relief.

"I understand you are still a little bit emotional after what occurred, but the offer is on a table until the trial. After that…" He leant forward. "I can't promise anything."

"Aside of a fair trial of course!" Racimir interrupted. "Unless you are threatening my client, in that case…"

"I am not threatening, just stating facts." Prosecutor stood up. "Take him back to his cell."

"Uh uh uh!" Racimir stood up as the guards grabbed Larian's shoulders. "I wish to talk with my client in private."

"What?"

"Article seventy paragraph six dash seven – Attorney has a right to speak with his client in private for no longer than five minutes to ask about his conditions and plan the defense in an upcoming trial." Pochodnioknot spoke. "So, gives us five minutes."

Guards looked at each other, then at the Prosecutor, who nodded his head in disgruntled approval, and everyone aside of Attorney, White Fang Lieutenant and the asistant.

"Keep tabs on them Neo, they might try something dirty." Neo nodded and leant against the door while Racimir, now pulling out a cigar, took a seat. "Can you imagine they disallow smoking in here?! Ridiculous!" Roman lighted up his cigar.

"You really met him in college?" Larian gestured.

"What? Of course not! It just so happens that I like to come prepared." Roman exclaimed while pulling the cigar out of his mouth. "Look, if I want to stay ahead of the police, I have to have the same knowledge as them, right?" Larian nodded his head in understanding. "Okay, enough chitty-chat, we only have four minutes."

"I hope you are going to bust us out?"

"That's right, each and every single one of you, but there are complications." Roman leant to him. "We have to release Hazel Reinart too."

"Hazel Reinart?!"

"That's what I said!"

"But he is in a Special Security…" Larian stopped gesturing when he noticed Neo stare. "Shit."

"I know, I am asking for a lot, but you have to get to Reinart and inform him about the plan. Once the action start, prison will enter total lockdown, and we won't be able to reach him, but amidst the chaos they won't be able to send reinforcements down there."

"Why me?"

"Because a – Sending someone from the outside without rising suspicion is near impossible and b – you just proved yourself to be reliable and won't spill the beans." Roman leant closer. "If you don't want to, I will find another way…"

"I will do it." Faunus gestured. "But what should I say to him? If I start yapping about the plan to escape, he will take me for some idiot or worse." Roman nodded his head, and thought for a moment, and he recalled one of the talks with Cinder Fall.

"Say this." Roman gestured with hands: A friend of Gretchen wants to speak with you. Larian raised his brows and Roman just shrugged. "At least I hope it will work." He checked the watch on his wrist "Alright, one minute left, so real quick – relay to some of your brothers and sisters to prepare for a riot of a lifetime, and that we are coming for them, just hang on for few more days. Understood?"

One confirming nod.

"Good, do you want to know something or for me to relay a message?" Larain quickly gestured.

"How is the Elder?" Roman was silent for a moment.

"He is still recovering, can't sleep without a nightlight, but he is getting better. At least I hope he is." Roman answered, not telling Larain that they had to hide Elder from the general view of the White Fang, for his state of mind could drop Fang's morale.

Doors opened and two guards stepped inside.

"Five minutes past Mister Pochodnioknot." Guards picked up Larian and pushed him towards the door.

"I will escort you out mister." Another guard offered, and Disguised Roman and Neo followed after him, Neo managed to share one last look after the faunus.

The pair followed the guard through the tunnels until they reached the main section of the prison, and in that moment Neo raised her hand and quickly gestured to Roman.

"Excuse me, my assistant urgently needs to use a bathroom." Neo frantically nodded as guard looked at her. "Where is it exactly?" Guard pointed the direction and Neo didn't waste any time and run into the bathroom, while Roman leant against the wall.

After a minute or two of waiting, the assistant left the bathroom alongside the female guard.

"Good, we can leave now, thank you!" Guard frowned for a moment as the two went for the security checkpoint, and looked after the assistant, something not adding up.

"Is something wrong?" He heard beside him a new voice, and turned to face another female guard eyeing him curiously with her red eyes.

"Wasn't she… smaller?" Guard asked while green-haired girl narrowed her eyes on him.

"No, everything is fine, you are just tired." She said, and when guard looked after the pair, and she was indeed small for her age, just like he remembered, and also felt little dizzy.

"Yeah, I guess tunnels can make people a little tired." Guard said and yawned. "I think I will take a nap after this shift."

"I can take it from here, go and rest for a bit." Girl offered, and guard walked away towards the quarters.

Meanwhile Roman took one last look at Neo who disappeared in the tunnels still in her guard disguise.

"Good luck Neo." He said softly under his nose, both he and the hired help walked towards the exit.

First part of the plan complete, now is time for the second.

Callahan's national park, Vale.

Ruby backed off from the canvas, wiped few drops of sweat from her forehead and put the paintbrush away, then looked at her painting with a proud smile.

The next assignment for the first year students was less exciting than the previous one – Professor Lee led to the cave and gave the same task as before, except this time he allowed them to take a longer look, and as much time as they needed.

And most of the students, guided by experience that Professor accepted basically a few lines on the white, relaxed and didn't even try to make it good. But right after nearly half of the group "finished" their paintings, Professor came up, looked over the paintings and told them that they failed and that they had to try again. So now everyone focused to paint even the tiniest pebble, every crack in the wall, every mushroom growing in the corner.

And Ruby was more than sure she got it this time, and she looked around to see how the rest of the group is doing.

Weiss left the cave a long time ago, Yang was still adding details to her work, Blake was about to finish and leave the cave as well, somehow lightly illuminated cave giving her no issues in completing her painting, while the others…

Ren felt a pat on his shoulder but didn't turn around, and when someone tapped his right arm, his hand burst with movement and caught a tail.

"It isn't even that funny." He commented while Sun Wukong, who was hanging from the cave's ceiling, just chuckled.

"Oh well, there is always a next time!" Sun said with a playful smile, holding up to the ceiling while his tail wiggled right above Ren's shoulder, and Lie left an annoyed huff, already tired by yet another of Vacuan students antics.

Since Sun arrived to Beacon, 'pranking every student and teacher' became his personal goal, like he wanted to prove something. He already pranked Team CRDL with fake scroll calls, Team SABER with 'ghost in the wardrobe', he even managed to pull out the trick on Professor Port (For which he got detention, but he still claimed that it was worth it), and now, Team JNPR became his 'target', with surprisingly poor results.

And yet, somehow, he tried to act really gentle and 'cool' around team RWBY, especially with Weiss and Blake.

As team JNPR started to argue with the playful faunus Ruby finally decided that she needs a breath of a fresh air, so she walked back to the cave's entrance, careful not to accidentally trip on the way up, and after a short while, she was greeted by slowly falling sun and soft breeze.

"Have you finished your task student Rose?" She looked to the side at the Professor, who was sitting on a large rock just outside the entrance.

"Umm… I think I painted everything. Hopefully?" She added sheepishly while Professor just nodded his head.

"Then may I ask what are you going to do now?"

"Well, I wanted to talk with Weiss in private." She answered honestly, and Professor looked at her with genuine curiosity.

"Are you troubled?"

"No no no, its…" She took a deep breath. "I think something bugs her, but whenever I try to ask her about what is going on, she…" Ruby sat on the ground and crossed her hands before her knees. "I am just worried that something bad happened."

"Even though you were at odds with one another?" Professor inquired as he peeled an apple.

"Yes, we argued… a lot actually. But she is still my teammate, and… I should at least try to help if I can, both as her team leader, and as her friend." Ruby added, and Professor tapped the smaller rock beside him.

"I think you should meet someone." He encouraged her to come and sit, and when she did, he started to meditate.

"So we are waiting for…?" Ruby inquired, only for Casim to raise his finger.

"Patience, Student Rose." He said.

"Right." She tried to stay quiet and still, but after first two minutes of waiting with absolutely nothing happening, she started to fidget on her seat out of boredom. She then tried to meditate like Professor, but she quickly abandoned that idea, resorting to count leaves on the nearby trees.

And after few minutes of waiting in complete silence, when Ruby counted to at least five hundred, something a nearby bush moved, immediately catching her attention.

A white fox emerged from the cover and warily approached the pair.

"Ohhh!" Ruby wanted to stand up and pet the fox, but Professor put his hand on her shoulder.

"Be careful, he is really shy." Casim warned and fox backed off due to the sudden movement. "He is quite puzzling animal, for I encountered him both on the Academy grounds, and now here."

"Maybe there are just two of them?" Ruby whispered as the fox got closer, sniffing the ground curiously.

"Two unusual animals behaving exactly the same way? I don't think so." He whispered back as an arctic fox now eyed them curiously. "But from encounters with him I learnt two important things."

Ruby looked at him curiously as the fox tilted his head to the side.

"He has a really soft fur right behind ears and really like to be scratched there." Casim said with a smile, and the animal seemed to smile back. "And he won't let me or you approach him."

Ruby thought about it, puzzled by Professor's words.

"If Professor can't approach him, then how do you know he has a soft fur?" Casim chuckled.

"Simple, one day, after many meetings from afar, he approached me." He opened his hand to the animal, but the fox didn't approach, eyeing Ruby with suspicion. "If you show patience and restrain, even the most anxious of hearts open." Ruby looked at Professor, then at the animal, and slowly reached with her right hand and opened it.

"Hi" She tried to greet the animal, and fox at first backed off, but then slowly walked forward while Casim observed.

"People often push too much, in conversations, relationships, during work or training, but a friend should know that sometimes the only thing you need to do is to sit and let the other open up." Casim spoke as the fox now sniffed Ruby's hand. "Many people today seemingly lost the ability to listen, chasing after the concept of 'being heard', and if more just stopped and allowed the others to speak, world would be a much better place."

Finally fox leant is head forward and Ruby rubbed the animal after it's right ear.

"He really has a soft fur." She thought as fox closed its eyes, visibly relaxed. "So, when I talk with Weiss, I should let her speak?" She asked to reassure, and Casim nodded his head.

"I'm sure just giving her a choice of sharing her troubles will mean a lot." And upon hearing that, fox pulled its head and backed a little, staring intently at Ruby and wiggling it's long tail, like it urged her to follow.

When Ruby got up from the rock, fox run to the nearest bush, poked it's head out, waiting for Rose as she looked back the Professor.

"Thank you Professor." Casim nodded his head.

"That's my purpose as a teacher." He remarked as Ruby followed after the arctic fox.

Ruby made way through the forest, pushing away the branches while the fox lead her through the thick forest, making her wonder how Weiss got here with her high boots and way too large dress. Then fox jumped into a bush and when Ruby pushed the branches aside, the animal was gone, and she found herself beside the stream falling from the waterfall.

And right beside the river stood Weiss, aiming Myrtenaster at the glowing white glyph, her stare focused, and Ruby watched for a moment as something inside the glyph tried to take form, only dissipate into nothing.

"Ugh, so close!" Weiss left an annoyed groan as the glyph disappeared.

"So, what are you doing?" Ruby decided to make her presence known, and Weiss looked at her with surprise.

"How did you find me?!"

"Would you believe that a white fox lead me here?"

"…No?"

"Then Professor told me." Ruby walked over to her partner as Weiss left a annoyed sigh.

"Ruby, I wish to be alone."

"That's fine." Ruby sat down by the stream bank. "We can be alone together." Weiss briefly stared at Rose dumbfounded.

"Have anyone ever told that you are really obnoxious?" Weiss remarked as she sat down too.

"Umm, well…" She noticed Wiess's stare. "Nevermind." For some time both watched the flowing, crystal clear water reflecting them like a giant mirror. "So, what were you doing before I…?"

"I tried to summon… something." Weiss answered, still not sure what she wanted to pull out of the glyph, to be frank, anything would make her happy.

"Wait, but aren't your semblance glyphs?" Weiss shook her head.

"My semblance is different from others, everyone from Schnee bloodline can summon grimm they defeated in battle. For granddad for example could summon two Deathstalkers at once!" She said and Ruby's eyes widened and sparkled, her imagination now running wild. "You can think of it as an extension of my glyphs."

"That's so awesome!" Ruby started to get excited. "So you will one day summon beringels and Deathstalkers too?"

"So far, I didn't summon even a beowolf." Weiss tossed a pebble to the water, and it disappeared. "Or anything that matter."

"Maybe, if it's like semblance evolution, it will come with time?" Ruby drew this comparison, remembering one of Professor's Goodwitch lesson's about semblances, and the idea that her semblance would get even more awesome one day… But Weiss just shook her head in denial.

"My sister unlocked her summons after years of intense training, so if I do the same, I should be able too." Weiss wrapped her hands before her knees. "But so far, no success."

"But you don't have to rush it, you know?"

"Of course I have!" Weiss snapped, before she recomposed herself. "Sorry, I didn't…"

"No no, it's fine!" Ruby said. "If you want to talk about it, I am all ears." Weiss scoffed.

"Only one person listened to me my whole life, why would you do that?"

"Because… I don't want you to be my Mim." Ruby answered, and Weiss gave her a puzzled look.

"Your who?"

"A character from a story." Ruby said and Weiss at first tried to make a comment about, but quickly decided to let Rose say her thoughts first. "In a story there were different circumstances, but the point was that his friend abandoned him when he needed him the most, and it then led to something really bad happening. And I mean reeeally bad." She looked at Weiss. "I know that you struggle with something, and I don't want to leave you alone. And I understand that you may not want to talk with me about it…" Ruby gave her partner a smile. "But at a very least I want you to know that I will be with you, no matter how hard things will get, I want to be here for you."

Weiss fell silent, staring at the flowing river.

"My father wants me back in Atlas." Weiss finally spoke up, much Ruby's disbelief.

"But, we are in the middle of semester?"

"He said that it's because of the White Fang." She scratched her nails against the rocky river side. "And that I didn't do enough to stop them."

"Maybe he is just worried?" Ruby said little sheepishly and for a moment Weiss wanted to ridicule that sentence, but she quickly realized that Ruby can't possibly know how awful her dad is.

"If you spent even a day with him Ruby, you wouldn't say that. The only think he cares about is prestige and wealth, and me, my sister and my brother are only means to earn more money or get a leverage."

"Wait, you have a brother?" Ruby frowned in surprise.

"I am pretty sure I told you about Whitley?" Ruby shook her head. "No, of course I spoke about him!"

"But I never saw you calling him or…" Ruby tried to remember anything regarding Weiss's brother, but nothing came to mind. "You are not keeping contact with him?" Weiss turned away, a hint of guilt in her eyes.

"I left a lot when I enrolled into Beacon." She said with heavy heart, and Ruby looked away.

"Then, there are bright sides, right?" Ruby inquired and Weiss looked back at her. "You will go, spent some time with them and then come back, right?"

"I know my father well enough to know that's not the case." Weiss finally decided to share her fear. "Once I return, he won't let me go back that easily, maybe he will even pressure me to join Atlas Academy or…" Words stuck in her throat as Ruby lowered her head, her eyes no longer visible as Weiss's voice shook slightly. "I don't want to go back, not when I feel I am this close too…"

"Then, you won't go back." Ruby stood up, and it was the first time Weiss saw Ruby Rose genuinely angry. " He can't force you If you don't want to go."

For a moment Weiss wanted to believe Rose's words, but she quickly dispelled this believe. "Ruby, I appreciate it but he…"

"I don't care who he is!" Ruby interrupted. "If he comes here I will stand right before him and tell him 'she won't go anywhere with you', and he will be like 'what? Of course she will!' and I…"

"But why would you do that?" Weiss pulled Ruby out from her fantasizing about the encounter. "We are not even...!" She bit her tongue as Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "Ah forget it." Schnee threw another pebble to the water, and it bounced five times.

"Nice throw."

"Thank you."

"But if you refer to me being a team leader and a kid… I don't mind that." Ruby said softly as Weiss slowly turned her head back to her. "You didn't say all of that out of spite."

"…Some were out of frustration." Weiss admitted, and Ruby nodded her head.

"Point is, I have a lot to learn about both being a team good leader and a friend, and this is something I won't be taught about in Beacon." Weiss gave her a look. "It's true, I slept at Professor's Oobleck class, I didn't listen to Professor Lovas, I often ignore professor Goodwitch…" She counted on her fingers while Weiss fought with urge to point out more. "But a someone recently showed me that being a good team leader is not about being on top of the class or being the best in a fight, it's about standing with your team, and listening to them, even if they criticize you."

"He really told you that?" Weiss questioned, genuinely curious.

"Weeell, he talk about what does it mean to be the king and a commander, but that's how I understood it." Ruby scratched back of her head while Weiss giggled a little. "I still need you Weiss, and I can't promise I will be the best leader at all times, but I will try." She reached with her hand for a fist bump. "So, how about we start over again?"

Weiss looked at Rose's hand, and after a moment she fist bumped it.

"That's fine with me."

Now with improved moods, Ruby looked at the Myrtenaster, and gave Weiss a hopeful look.

"Sooo, may I take a look?" Weiss raised her eyebrow as Rose asked, and Ruby left a sigh seeing it. "I understand, too soon…"

Suddenly, Weiss sat right beside Ruby and opened Myrtenaster's chamber.

"While designing Myrtenaster I wanted to have access to multiple types of dust without caring too much pouches on me, so before a fight I load a vial like this…"

As two girls started their conversation about the weapon, Ruby asking multiple questions and even offering some advice, the river now coursed slower, reflections of both Rose and Schnee now whole without cracks, a White Fox looked at them with a happy grimace.

After watching them for a while, fox quietly backed away.

The ruins of Gondolin

Few goblins gorged themselves on the fallen dragon, tearing chunks of scaly flesh from it's belly, fighting for the fattest meat, two in particular fought with fists over a right to take a liver.

Suddenly, goblins ceased their activity as they felt a dreadful presence closing in, and they quickly hid under the dragon.

Rats and goblins stared in fear as the tall, armored figure walked down the street of the fallen Kingdom, passing under the gate made of Silver and stepped over the bodies of orcs and elves that fell in battle. Goblins made everything to be as quiet as possible to not attract it's attention, hiding some of their spoils in vain hope of keeping them. But Sauron didn't care for vermin and their treasures, he came with entirely different purpose in mind.

He usually preferred to not wear armor, but his encounter with Huan, and the fact that he currently ventured deep into the enemy territory made wearing it a viable option. He knew the risk that comes with coming into place claimed by Morgoth, but he had to, he needed this closure.

He passed through the last gate, bypassing the fallen drake blocking half of it, and went straight towards the King's Courtyard, towards the Great fountain, around which countless orcs and elves laid dead, their blood have already thickened, exposed to flame and water.

He approached the edge of the broken fountain, muddy water still flowing in it, obstructing the view of how deep it is.

"There you are." Sauron slowly removed his helmet and put it aside, his stare focused on Gothmog's body deep under water.

Gothmog, Angband's Black Captain, Melkor's Iron Fist, Slayer of Feanor and Fingon, was no more, his black flames, once brimming with fury capable of setting the world ablaze, were now extinguished, leaving a charred corpse behind.

"I warned you this will happen." Sauron remarked, staring at the body of the Balrog. "Yet you still chose this path. Was it worth it?"

"Chief."

He noticed that Gothmog still held the Black Axe given to him years ago in his steel-like grip, not letting it go even after death.

"You could have ruled with me." Sauron continued, leaning against the fountain. "Yet you decided to serve master, who didn't even give you enough dignity to recover your body."

Sauron stared at balrog's now empty eyes, the noticed that Gothmog, in his last moments, smiled with joy, knowing that he went down on his own terms.

"Chief."

"Farewell Mo… Gothmog." Mairon took back his helmet and turned back. "I only hope you got what you wanted."

He took few steps away from the fountain, but he felt something stopping him from leaving. He looked back at the fountain and left a sad sigh.

"I promised, didn't I?" Mairon took a hammer and a burin. "The last favor."

"Chief!" Sauron blinked few times after one of his men called to him from above, drawing him out of trance.

"This better be important." He thought, hiding the emotional turmoil within. "Is something wrong."

"Apparently, huntsmen are looking for you."

This is important

"Are they heading this way?" He asked, and his subordinate shook his head.

"They are apparently searching for Junior, and should be arriving soon to the Brodytown." Sauron scratched his chin.

"So they want to gather as much information as they can before confronting me directly." He smiled. "Their master is no fool." He looked up. "Tell the others and Yowwick to keep an eye on them, and if they decide to go here, inform me at once."

"Yes Chief." Man went back to relay the order while Sauron allowed himself to look at his work.

From one-third of the cube he carved none other but an image of the Black Captain of Angabnd, however, there were some inconsistencies in comparison to the original.

This image of Gothmog didn't have as much rough edges or spikes like the original, his form being more… He lacked a word to describe that, but this statue was not of some crazed monster, nor a stereotypical noble warrior, it was something in between, taking from both the monster, and the warrior.

Both qualities Gothmog had, and only now Sauron have realized it.

Sauron stared at the statue for quite a while and looked at the remaining marble. This part of his work helped him discover that once he stopped being more than a scheming dominator, he was basically set to lose like Morgoth before, and to further unravel this mystery, he has to ask himself another question.

"When I took only one face?"

The easy answer, and preferable for him would be when Numenor fell, Illuvatar's intervention stripping his fair form, but once he started working on marble, in a very moment his burin struck into the stone he knew.

It was the day, when he ripped his own heart.

Industrial district: Brodytown, Vale

Glynda Goodwitch and Peter Port walked out of the public bus, and were quickly approached by Professor Oobleck.

"Hello!" He greeted them, and Glynda gave him a nod, but she remained focused on the task ahead.

"Junior is really helping with the reconstruction here?" She asked, and Oobleck pointed at the end of the street.

"I saw him helping with the chocolate factory over there, since a whole truck slammed into it." Three Professor's made their way.

"They are watching us." Peter whispered to Glynda, and she slightly nodded her head, feeling dozen of watchful stares following their every step. "You think that Barns informed him?"

"Or they grew suspicious because of my visit in the club." Oobleck added.

"Either way, he knows we are here. Pretend like we are unaware." Glynda commanded them while they got closer to the factory, few dozen public workers removing the debris and broken tires from the building. And among them was none other than Junior Xiong, carrying a metal beam alongside few other public workers.

"Steady, steady, watch your steps…" They lifted the metal beam and dropped it on the back of the truck, and Junior wiped out sweat from his forehead. "Phew, little more and we will be done here!" Men around him chuckled, someone even pat his back while pulled out a cigar. "Anyone has a light?"

"Junior Xiong?" He heard behind and turned to face three huntsmen.

"Ah, Huntsmen, I expected you little sooner, but I guess you probably got caught in a traffic jam." Someone handed over a lighter and he started to puff his cigar. "What brings you here?"

"We wanted to ask you a few questions, but after what your men told us, we had to come and see for ourselves. – Junior Xiong helping people in need." Peter said, eyeing Xiong with suspicion and Junior chuckled.

"Why so surprised? I live nearby! As a businessman I should look after my community, right?"

"Considering your past, a term 'businessman' does not apply here." Oobleck pointed out, and Junior's smile vanished, replaced by an angry snarl.

"Okay first off, I was never convicted so stop spreading rumors, and second, everyone at some point did something they are not proud of, so maybe stop digging through someone's past and look into towards the future huh?" He put out the cigar. "Now, I am really busy so if you just came here to make fun of me…"

"We wanted to ask few questions first." Glynda finally spoke up. "Regarding Annatar."

She noticed a quick shift in Junior's body language, it stiffened, like he was preparing to not show anything.

Unsuccessfully.

"What about him?"

"Few months ago he came to your club, and you made a deal." Glynda continued, staring deep into the Xiong's eyes, but he didn't run from her stare.

"He wanted some of my men and a place to start his business, and I got part of a revenue." Junior replied.

"That's really all?"

"Yeah, that's all." She could tell the obvious lie, but there was something in Junior's eyes, something akin to confidence, he wasn't intimidated by her at all, which was surprising for her, for even James often relented in verbal confrontations like this.

"You also met few more times, right?" Oobleck tried to jump into discussion, and Junior scoffed.

"Of course we met quite often, we are in a business partnership!" Junior looked at them with anger. "What are you trying to insinuate here huh?"

"Nothing, just want to know about the Dream Smith." Peter said.

"Look, if you have some problem with him, you can go talk to him instead of trying to be sneaky." He gesticulated widely, and something flashed on his right hand. "Right now, I have a lot…"

Glynda's hand became a blur as she grabbed mobster's hand and brought it closer while Junior left a surprised yelp, and the men around him at first backed off, then looked angrily at Glynda.

"What is that?" She asked, staring at the symbol of the Lidless Eye on his hand, sensing something within it.

"A tattoo! Don't tell me you never heard of it!?" He snaped his hand out her grip. "I'm sorry but I have to get back to work, so if that's all, then we may talk in my club, later."

"No, that's all, at least for now." Glynda stared for a bit longer, but Junior didn't even twitch. "Thank you for your cooperation." She turned on her heel, both Professor's paid Junior a glance and went behind her, feeling the stares on their backs.

"I don't like this." Peter said as they got far enough. "My nose is itching due to all this."

"We should expect as much from Xiong." Oobleck commented. "But that mark on his hand…"

"Something changed within him, that's for sure." Glynda said her thoughts out loud. "He was never that confident. Arrogant yes, but not confident."

"And now him doing a charity work? I don't know how, but it must be Shape… Annatar's doing." Peter said as he took out his scroll. "We need to confront him now."

"What?" Oobleck looked at his friend with surprise. "Pete, now you are overreacting."

"Barthy, don't make me started." Peter typed on his scroll, ready to call his weapon. "If he is a Shapeshifter…"

"Than what?" Professor Oobleck interrupted. "Run at him with an axe?"

"He might be dangerous!"

"He has been here for months Pete, and nothing happened, no, even better, he somehow started Junior's redemption arc!"

"Don't make me argue in the middle of the street…!"

"Bartholomew is right." Glynda interrupted their talk. "Headmaster told us to gather as much as we can, and we did just that. He also told us to not directly confront him, and I hope we can clearly see the reason why." Oobleck nodded his head in agreement but Peter's hand twitched.

"But Glynda, he is a monster we are looking for!" He protested.

"And if we go to him, it would be like walking into a Deathstalker den completely blind, with it knowing that we are coming." Glynda retorted, her gaze enough to put Port back in line. "Like Headmaster said, we are probably dealing with something beyond our capabilities, we can't act rashly." Her eyes darted to the side, two men following them pretended that they are reading a newspaper. "We are going back to Beacon and consult our findings with the Headmaster."

Peter grumbled under his nose but ultimately submitted to Glynda's decision.

Truth to be told, a large part of her wanted to go the Forge and confront the Smith, just to get a glimpse into his eyes, and the she would be certain of who Annatar truly was.

The wolf staring into her very soul returned to her at night many times, each time she managed to hold herself together, because the wolf in her dreams was nothing like what she saw during the initiation, not even close.

But she was first and foremost, a Huntress. She had her responsibilities, and going back on Ozpin's command was not one of them.

As they walked away, she could feel dozen of gazes staring down at her, and in the back of her head she knew that through them, Annatar watched them.

Somehow here, in this part of Vale, he was the Hunter.

Authors Note

Happy New Year! I managed to finish this one accompanied by the fireworks!

For the second time a row.

I hope you had a fun Christmas, and I wish for everyone to have a good 2025! As for this story, I think I will soon take you back to the Middle-Earth, maybe for a bit.

Now, to your reviews:

In response to Dhestrya:

I wish you a nice year!

In response to Marine:

Pfft, perhaps she was banned. Was it worth it? Absolutely! (According to her)

Happy New Year!

In response to WitnessofFate

Little Match Girl is a classic, especially during the winter season, or in this case, in Mantle. But at least this one had a more hopeful ending.

As for Code Lyoko – I love it, still rewatch from time to time, and Konsilio still remembers the whole plot

Konsilio: It's just there, it never left.

Happy New Year!

That's all for today, take care and Happy New Year!

'

'

'

Or maybe it's not the end quite yet?

Konsilio: You know the drill.

'

A White ship with characteristic white sails traversed through the open sea towards Uttermost west, it's crew looking for the Undying lands appearing on the Horizon with desire to see their home at long last, while most the passengers slept under the deck.

But then, Elven captain noticed something unusual.

"Land!" He pointed and the crew followed the his finger in confusion, for between the Grey Heavens and the lands of Aman, there shouldn't be any land, whole continent sunk deep underwater. For a moment their eyes suspected deceit, but they didn't feel any kind of foul play.

Curious, captain ordered to change course and investigate, and Gildor decided that he should tell other passengers about the change of course, but before he could go down the deck, he was met with Elrond.

"Lord Elrond." Gildor bowed his head, and Lord of Rivendell nodded his head with respect.

"I felt the change of course." Elrond said. "Is there a storm approaching us?"

"No my lord, Captain spotted an island in the middle of the sea."

"I don't think there should an islands between us and the Aman." Galadriel walked in, and all Elves on board bowed their heads.

"That's why Captain decided to investigate." A friendly chuckle answered him.

"It's seems Middle-Earth decided to give us one last mystery before our departure." Gandalf the White walked out the deck and he, Lady Galadriel and Lord Elrond approached the side of the ship to get a better look.

Like Captain said, the spotted land was a small island, however there were countless of blades and spears stuck in ground with plants and flowers wrapped around them, which created an illusion that it is a small patch of grass in the middle of the sea. Elves looked at one another, not sure what to think about this sight.

"Gandalf?" Frodo Baggins walked over to the wizard. "Where are we?"

"That's a question I don't have an answer for you yet dear Frodo." Gandalf replied as the ship stopped right near the island.

"Then, we should find out, right?" Bilbo Baggins said and tried to jumped at the small patch of ground, but he nearly fell down.

"Let me help you" Said Frodo, and just few seconds later their hairy feet touched the unknown land, and soon, the rest of the crew followed hobbits lead, cautiously stepping on the island

Or at least, they thought it was unfamiliar.

When one of the Elves touched the ground, his eyes widened in shock.

"Gondolin…" He muttered in disbelief, and shed a tear, not believing that he somehow found himself in the Hidden Kingdom, or rather, what remained of it.

Gandalf touched one of the blades, still sharp after the ages.

"Someone gathered these weapons and placed them like this, but for what purpose?"

"And who?" Galadriel wondered as she walked around the island. "None visited Gondolin after its fall…"

"Gandalf, over here!" Gandalf heard Frodo, who followed after his uncle deeper into the island, and Gandalf walked up to them.

In the middle of the island, surrounded by blades and spears, was a Giant Axe made of Black Iron, underneath which was a large Marble tablet, which Frodo and Bilbo tried to decipher.

"I think It's written in Elvish…" Bilbo wondered, trying to translate it. "I know some of the words, but not everything."

"Can you translate it Gandalf?" Frodo asked, and Gandalf knelt beside them to take a better look, as he raised his eyebrow in confusion.

"It's a Farewell." He said in clear surprise, then looked at the Black Axe. "So this island is a Burrow…"

"Dedicated to who?" Frodo wondered, and Bilbo snickered.

"Probably a warrior, all those sharp blades indicate that." Frodo looked at Gandalf who now just blankly stared at the tablet.

Here lies Gothmog Modig,

Cursed was his second name, Forgotten his first,

A Warrior who knew no fear,

A Keeper of Oaths,

His might forever unparalleled,

He died as he lived – With blade in hand, facing his foes head on,

Let the memory of who he was never fade.

"What kind of being could wield such a weapon?" Frodo touched the Black axe, then looked at the wizard. "What do you think Gandalf?"

Gandalf didn't respond, deep in his thoughts, and at first Frodo wanted to ask what's wrong, but Bilbo put his hand on Frodo's shoulder.

"Let an old friend think in peace for a minute." Bilbo whispered, and both Hobbits sat little in the back.

"Someone dedicated this burrow to Gothmog?" Gandalf wondered in disbelief. "But there was no one who would do such a thing, not Morgoth, not the Vala, not…"

He paused for a moment, then looked at words engraved in the stone. But this isn't possible, he would never do something like this. Or would he?

Soon, Elrond and Galadriel walked in, and Galadriel eyed the Axe in surprise.

"That belonged to Gothmog." Elrond immediately reached for his sword.

"Another of the enemy's mockeries?" Elves standing behind them reached for theirs too.

"If it was risen by Morgoth's hands, we should destroy it." One of the Elves declared. "So he won't desecrate the memory of…"

"Graves shouldn't be disturbed, even if they belonged to the enemy!" Bilbo protested, and elf looked at him, tears in his eyes.

"You don't know what happened here, you weren't even born when this beast destroyed my home! I won't let it's monument stand on Gondolin's soil."

"It's not a monument to Darkness friend." Gandalf finally stood up.

"Mithrandir?" Galadriel noticed Gandalf's stare, full of sadness, and… compassion.

"This monument is a sign, that even in the darkest of hearts, there is a glimmer of light."