I went and did another stupid thing, promising all of you that I could have this done before the New Year. Heh, clearly not.

So here we have part 1 of 2 in this finale. Next up we'll have a big brawl between forces. For now, though, enjoy the preparation and the diaglogue, and tomorrow I should have part 2 up.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Thanks for reading my work and being as loyal and understanding as you all were! One of my resolutions is to be more consistent with my work. Once this story is completed to its entirety, I'll have a massive update going all out, so be ready for that.

Stay safe out there, and Enjoy!

The group began to examine the snowy environment. Despite the clear night sky, snow still fell from clouds just beyond the horizon, drifting along for who knows how long? Just as well, the snow covered ground seemed brighter than it should be for the nighttime.

They appeared in a clearing in a forest, but Ruby and Yang both recognized it well. Many a time would the duo ambush Grimm foolish enough to approach the serene landscape. The area was beautiful in the winter, but even more so in the spring, and the siblings wanted to preserve that beauty as best as they can.

"Where are we?" Weiss asked as she slowly admired the glistening forest around her. "This seems so... So..."

"A memory." Ruby answered easily as she turned to her instructor, "If I'm not mistaken, we're in a memory." Goodwitch nodded, agreeing with the leaders assessment. "This is the forest where my mother was buried, just on the outskirts of Patch. The island, not the city."

Glynda nodded as Ruby explained the surroundings a bit, "It's a memory, or a dream. Whichever you prefer."

"So... Where's the Spore?" Blake inquired. Soft footsteps behind the group alerted her, her ears twitching under her bow. Blake turned around quickly, her gun drawn and primed to fire.

"Blake, stop!" Yang cried, tackling her partner to the ground as a shot rang out, the bullet flying into the forest far from its intended target, "It's okay, it's Summer!"

"What?"

"Who?" Weiss asked curiously.

"Summer Rose...?" Glynda asked, her eyes wide with surprise, "You're...? You... Aren't you-?"

The specter's soothing voice overtook all, silencing the group questioning her current existence. "I'm here to help, Goodwitch. And it's nice to see you, too."

"Yes, well..." The instructor straightened her outfit as she examined Summer, "It's... Nice to see you here."

"Well I couldn't leave you all to do this alone, now could I?" The response left a small smile on Glynda's face, but deep down the instructor wasn't sure what she was seeing. She knew that Summer was gone, so how was she here now? Was she really a ghost? Or something else?

Summer noted the skeptical look on her old friend, but knew that there wasn't much that she could do to prove anything, nor did she want to cause a scene. They had a mission to do, after all. Still, there was one way that she could prove her authenticity to the team. She glanced over towards her daughter's, calmly staring them down.

Weiss had to do a double take, as did Blake once she got back to her feet. Summer Rose was almost an exact mirror of their leader. The only difference was the color of their outfits and Summer was just a few inches taller than her daughter. "I... I don't believe it..." Weiss whispered to herself. She was dumbfounded and amazed that her leader just wasn't dreaming. What she saw was right in front of the whole team, shear proof!

"Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company." Summer began, "Youngest daughter of two and Huntress in Training, rather than a Military Personnel in training. Pleasure to meet you." The older woman extended a hand to the shorter girl, her icy-blue eyes showing the disbelief and possible fear that her body wouldn't. Summer was impressed that she was able to stay so composed for so long, normally somebody would have freaked out by now.

"The pleasure is mine... Um..."

"You may call me Summer."

"Summer." Weiss repeated with a nod, meeting the handshake firmly. Ruby nodded from afar, happy that her mother and her partner were able to get off on the right foot, unlike the way she and Weiss first met...

She shuddered at the memory, happy it didn't take over for the whole group to see.

Summer turned around and faced Blake, smiling lightly at the faunus. "Blake Belladonna. Former White Fang member, idealist, abandoned the group when she realized that it no longer stood for what she believes in." Blake blushed as the legendary mother of both her partner and leader went on, "Turned her skills for the sake of all, fighting the Grimm threat. Very nice to meet you."

Once again, she extended her hand, but it wasn't immediately met. This shocked Blake, as she was sure that anyone would be the most excited to meet Summer, it would be Blake.

"Sorry." The faunus choked with a smile, "It's just... I can't believe I'm meeting you! I never thought I would..."

"Neither did I." Glynda said, finally rejoining the group. "Summer, it has been a while, hasn't it?" Her question almost seemed like an accusing statement, but Summer took no notice to it. Rather, she didn't care.

"Glynda." She replied with a curtsy, "I'm here to help these girls to their objective. Now, I'd love to stay and chat, reminisce on old times, but perhaps we can do that later, Hm?" She turned to the team, but eyed Yang instantly. "You... My, have you grown..." The sight of the oldest of her two girls, she almost envisioned this look for her... It was a good one. She embraced the oldest sibling tightly, finally seeing in person the young woman she has become. "I'm so proud of you... For everything you've done in my absence..." She whispered. The group could hear the two say something, but... They didn't know what was being said... "You had to grow up so fast and I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Yang assured, "It's all a part of the job..."

The last thing Summer said to both girls before she left one last time...

A long minute went by, one that nobody wanted to end. However, they knew they had a mission to complete...

"Ahem..." Ruby coughed, "I really, really don't want to ruin this moment, but... I'm not sure how much time we have here..." She looked at her instructor quizzically, and Glynda knew the unspoken question's answer already.

"We have less than forty minutes, now. I'd suggest you get going, now..."

Summer and Yang broke the embrace and both nodded in agreement. "I'll lead." Summer announced, "I know where this thing is. Follow me." She began to march ahead, the team quickly following. "I suppose you're staying back to keep the door open, Glynda?" The instructor nodded easily and folded her arms in front of her chest, examining her long-lost friend a bit more thoroughly. "Very well. Kids, stay close."

Summer led on, the team following close behind her as they disappeared in the dense snow covered forest. Trees sprawled about, leafless and bare with their branches beautifully frozen with a thin layer of ice. To Yang and Ruby, this was not only familiar but actually pretty common. To Blake and Weiss, their surroundings were rather beautiful.

Summer stopped and turned around, causing the team to stop and face her. "I should warn you all," She began, "As we make our way deeper into the forest, the Spore will try everything in its power to throw us off our track. It can already sense the presence of all of you and will use whatever it can to move us away. It will be up to you all to avoid these distractions at all costs."

The team nodded slowly as they began to understand, but one thing just didn't sit right with Blake. Summer turned and walked on before she could be questioned. Blake didn't take a chance and quickly caught up with the spirit. "Summer, wait one second!" Summer slowed, allowing the faunus to catch up with her. "I just have one question. Why would it be up to us? Couldn't you help?"

Stopping in her tracks, Summer closed her eyes and took a deep breath, knowing they wouldn't be happy with her explanation. But, then again, it had to be told eventually. "Well, being that I am dead, I can't fight." The team stared at her, silently asking for more information. Summer walked on, beckoning for the team to follow. If she's going to explain something, they might as well get some traveling done, "I have no physical body that I can return to, nor do I have a body to draw Aura from. Because of this, I am unable to fight anything. I can, however, make a physical presence within a subconscious mind, which is really neat."

Yang tilted her head as she followed her mother, "Did you... Not know that you can do that?" She asked, "That seems like, the most ghostly thing... You know?"

"Let's just say when you're dead, you can't tell fact from fiction anymore." Summer shrugged playfully, much to the teams chagrin. "We can't take over bodies, but we can see dreams. Remember that." She smiled as she pointed at Yang, who raised her eyebrows in shock.

Summer, Weiss and Blake walked on while Yang stood back, unsure of the implications of her mother's comment. Had Summer really seen all of... That...!? A nudge on her arm followed by a short, red-cloaked figure walking by brought her from her stupor. "Come on," Ruby said, hiding a smile under her hood, "You can worry about those dreams later." The cryptic comment was followed by a small giggle. Needless to say Yang really had the tables turned on her this time.

"So you can't fight, mom?" Ruby asked, trying to be sure of what she heard. Summer nodded in response, easily answering her child's question. "Hm... Well, that just means you can sit back and enjoy the fight."

"I just hope it's not too much of a fight." The spirit said to herself. Deep down she wanted this to be quick and clean, but she knew that wouldn't be the case at all.

Summer stopped instantly as the sky darkened around them, clouds forming and thunder rolling. In an instant the group felt a presence far darker than any Grimm they have faced, one that made the air colder around them, chilling the very marrow of their bones. Everyone looked around, trying to find the source of this being, but Summer kept her gaze straight ahead. She knew what was coming... She knew of the darkness ahead...

Tree's fell into the earth as a dark orb appeared, drawing the attention of the team behind the spirit. "Stay back!" Summer declared, her steely eyes never once blinking as the wind picked up with the intensity of near hurricane force winds. "This is it..."

"The spore?" Ruby called, but her words fell on deaf ears as the wind grew louder and stronger.

A Deep, dark laughter overtook their surroundings as the wind slowly died. From the orb, a figure appeared; A dark cloak covered its face, but it took a rather... Familiar shape... "That's it!" Ruby cried, "That's the thing from my nightmares!" The team turned, their weapons drawn, ready for the final fight.

The dark creature laughed as it removed its hood, revealing a face much like their leaders. The cloak it wore was a pure black while the corset was a deep Blood Red. The skirt, as well as the loose sleeves, lay limp around its body. The eyes this creature held, the usual whites were as black as the night sky while the irises we as Red as a rose... This was what the Spore had created to combat Ruby... This was the Nightmare...

"So, this is what you've sent to fight me?" Its voice was Ruby's, but corrupted, surrounded by deeper, raspy voices... It was like something out of a Death Metal song... "Hahaha! You must be desperate, woman."

Summer clinched her fists in rage, "You beast! Get out of my daughter's head!"

"Mm, no. I like it here. It's nice and warm." The Nightmare joked, causing Summer to grit her teeth, "Oh, I'm sorry, did I hurt your feelings? Aw, how sad... What are you going to do about it?" The question was as cryptic as it was threatening. The Nightmare kept its eyes trained on Summer, but that wasn't where the next attack would come from...

"This is what we'll do!" Ruby called as a shot rang out. The Nightmare turned and saw furious silver eyes lunging towards it, a scythe at full extension behind the assailant. Before Ruby could make contact, however, the Nightmare raised a lone right hand and exhaled sharply. Immense pressure, followed by a gust of wind met the reaper, causing her to fly back, her scythe landing a few feet away as she rolled backwards towards the spirit.

Yang and Blake didn't wait as Weiss readied a glyph. Each one launched their own attack. Each one was met by the same result. Yang was blown back after going in for a Superman-style punch, landing next to Summer, opposite from her sister. Blake's attack was a quick slice, but her blade was caught by the Nightmare as Weiss' glyph launched a ranged attack. Icy-stars slammed around the creature, enveloping both it and Blake.

When the dust settled, the only thing that stood was a very angry looking thing that barely resembled their leader. Blake's throat in its right hand, the Nightmare threw the faunus at Weiss, who had no time to react. The two girls slammed into each other, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

The Nightmare chuckled as it stared Summer down, "You honestly thought that they could save your daughter? How cute..."

"Hey!" Yang called, finding her way to her feet, "We're not even close to being done, yet! I've got about fifteen more rounds me, and if your body is anything like Ruby's- and I've got a feeling it is- then you'll be down soon enough... Sorry, sis." Ruby held up a hand, as it was a fact that she couldn't last long in a boxing match.

Summer met the Nightmare's gaze, never letting up. "These girls will find a way. You're through!"

"You think you will have any control, woman!?" The Nightmare taunted, "When I'm done with them, they'll be mere shells of the girls they are. Then, I will infect them and the Witch! You CANNOT stop it!" The voice declared cryptically, "Their own souls, their true emotions, will swallow them whole and from the ashes of their defeat, the embodiment of themselves shall rise and corrupt the bodies of which they originate!" Darkness surrounded the Nightmare as it smiled cryptically, "Face your inner demons and despair!"

The Nightmare disappeared in a dark cloud, leaving the group in an open field. Fallen tree's riddled the ground as the group stood, confused and angry. Yang looked to Summer, her red eyes turning back to lilac after a moment or two, "So... That's what we're up against?" She asked. Summer nodded slowly, making a face of dislike. "Well, at least we're in for a fight..."

"I don't think this fight will be your average one, though..." The spirit said, pondering what she had just heard. Ruby examined her mother's face with worry. "Face your inner demons... And despair?"

"What could it mean?" The younger rose asked.

Blake and Weiss rejoined the group, the faunus being the first to speak. "Maybe it's like a test? Like, that thing was challenging us. Summer, you said it yourself, the moment we stepped in here, that Spore read us like a book. So, what if it knows more about us than we think?"

Summer nodded as she scrunched her forehead, "Could be... Whatever happens, you all need to know something..." The team listened intently on the spirit's words, "If we lose here, and you're all sent back to your bodies... You will be corrupted with a Seed... And I'm afraid your fates will be sealed."

Yang kicked at the snow disparagingly, knowing precisely what the Nightmare meant earlier. Weiss and Blake shook their heads and sighed, Weiss grabbing her blade and sheathing it. "At least..." The heiress started, "At least we can get an idea of what to do... Right?"

"It's not knowing that scares me." Blake muttered.

"Enough!" Summer declared, "You can't fear, you can't hate, that's only going to make the Nightmare stronger! I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know that no matter what it is, you can't-"

"Uh, mom?!" A distressed voice came from behind the cloaked woman. Summer turned and faced her blonde daughter, fear riddled in her lilac eyes. A dark smoke emanated from the ground as a black shadow crept up Yang's body. "What's going on?!"

Summer kept as calm as she could, "Yang, don't move! You need to-" A shriek from her left called her attention. Turning around, she saw the same thing happening to Yang happen to Weiss. A dark shadow crept up the heiress with smoke arising from the ground. "Weiss, no!" Blake was the next to feel it, being immobilized by the shadow beneath her. "Oh... Crap!"

This was it... This is what the Spore meant. Turning around, Summer met her daughter's silver eyes and glanced downward, seeing the same shadow take Ruby as well. When the team was overwhelmed by the darkness, they knelt down, their facial expressions were those of pain and misery, sorrow and anguish. Summer knelt down with them, trying anything and everything she could. But it was hopeless... They were on their own.

She stood up, her eyes full of rage, then sorrow. She began to examine the four shadowy teenagers before her, not knowing what to do first. Each girl would have to face their own demon within their minds. Each girl would have to face their own Negative Embodiment...

When she opened her eyes, Yang saw nothing but darkness at first. Then, like a fog diminishing in the sunlight, the air around her became clearer, revealing a darkened room. It looked like a bedroom, a single lamp on next to the bed and the curtains closed blocking the window. Next to the bed, Yang saw a figure, short with familiar blonde hair and brown, leather clothes. She could make out two fists clenched tightly enough to make the knuckles white.

"H-hello?" She called, hoping to gain the figures attention, "Can you hear me?"

"Why won't they listen?" The figure said, its head moving with every word. By the tone of the voice, Yang could tell that this figure was young and female. "They all just ignore me..."

"What do you mean? Who won't listen to you?" Yang asked as she walked into the room, "I'll listen to you. What do you need help with?" As she walked deeper and deeper, Yang could faintly recognize the room around her, making out certain features that would normally go unnoticed. The room was still dark, almost as if it were nighttime.

"You can't help." The child responded. "If they can't, you can't."

"Well that's no way of looking at it!" Her response was cheery, trying to improve the child's mood, "Come on, whatever the problem is I'm sure-" As she turned and faced the child, she saw the resemblance.

She was staring into the eyes of her younger self...

The horror on her face was only matched by the feeling in her gut. "Dad and Ruby are too sad to listen to me, and Uncle Qrow isn't around anymore..."

Yang slowly nodded, her heart racing a mile a minute, "Well... They just lost someone close..."

"I lost someone close too! Why won't they listen to me!?" The child yelled, her hands balled into fists, "I'm sad too, but I have to be the grown up out of everyone when I just want someone to listen!"

Yang recoiled as her younger self unleashed a flurry of emotions in a single rant. She, too, knew what the child was saying. She also knew the answer. "It's... Not so bad. You just haven't had time to grieve is all!"

"No, that's not it! I just haven't had anyone actually listen!" The lilac eyes within the child turned red with rage, "I just want someone to talk to me!"

Time slowed as a dark voice rang through her mind, "You are a very interesting one..." It was The Nightmare... "You try so hard to hide your emotions... You want to help people, but you yourself want help. You hid away your rage and aggression at everyone and everything after Summer's passing, worrying more about your dear father and sister."

"I did what I had to do! For them!" Yang rose to her feet and took a combat stance as she angrily replied, "It doesn't matter now, everything's better!"

"Is it?" The cryptic reply only increased Yang's curiosity, but deep down she didn't like where this was going, "You are the very embodiment of Anger. Your rage increases the power of your strikes, and the pain you take you dish back. Your childhood was all about hiding away your feelings and making sure everyone else was happy, neglecting yourself at times. Your anger grew and slowly became you."

"Shut up!" Fire erupted from her body as she grew agitated with the Nightmare's... Rather accurate assumption. "Face me and I'll show you exactly what I embody!"

"And what do you think that is? What do you embody other than an angry, miserable little girl?" Yang could make out the eyes of the Nightmare on the far wall, behind her younger self, though couldn't do anything. She was stuck in her place, "You, as well as your sister, are broken, wearing the mask for all to think that you're both okay."

"What are you-?"

"I can read your very soul, girl. I can see what you're about! You are angry about it all! Face your anger, now! Bring your rage to bare!"

The little girl before her soon became encased in a shadowy smoke as a scream of terror and pain cried out. Yang tried to jump in and take her younger self out but was unable to do so, being knocked back by a burst of energy. She hit the wall with enough force to make her vision blurry for a moment, but when she came to, she saw something... Terrible.

Out of the smoke, came what could only be explained as a negative photo of her. Her hair was black as night and her eyes were stone silver, her skin was pale and her clothes seemed worn and tattered. Her usual brown leather attire was now a black leather, her insignia was torn away from its usual place.

"This is you, Yang Xiao Long," The Nightmare cryptically said, its voice fading away, "This is what you must face if you want your sister back. Let alone if you want to live." It laughed wickedly as the dark eyes of the Embodiment stared Yang down, slowly balling its hand into a fist.

Yang stood up and took a combat stance, ready to face her own Anger.

It was an all too familiar sight for Weiss; sitting at a desk with a pen and paper in front of her, the only sound in the room being that of a ticking clock. There was no words on the paper, yet she knew this was a test of some kind...

In front of her was another desk, occupied by a young child with long white hair, and wrapped neatly into a ponytail. Weiss could tell that the child was working hard, judging on the pencil movements. She looked around and realized that there wasn't a clock in the bright, naturally lit room... There wasn't even any instructors...

This didn't seem right. Per her father's orders, a tutor had to accompany her at all times, save for the night. So where was everyone?

The door slammed open, calling the attention of both occupants, and an all too recognizable face walked in the door. It was Winter, only younger... It was at this point where Weiss realized that she was watching a memory of her childhood, one of her favorites at that.

"Tisk, tisk, tisk," Winter said, shaking her head, "Now why would you be inside, fidling with that when we have a beautiful day outside?"

"Dad said that I-"

Before the child could finish her reply, Winter snatched the paper off of the desk and crumpled it into a ball, much to the horror of both Weiss'. "'Dad said this, dad said that'," Winter mocked, "If dad told you to jump off of a bridge, would you?" The child sat back tiredly, not knowing what to say, "Fine, don't answer that. What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't be cooped up in here all day! School can wait! Now, you're coming outside with me, right now."

"But we'll get in trouble!"

"And? I'm not afraid of him."

Winter's bold declaration didn't seem to faze Weiss, but that still didn't stop her from standing her ground. "Winter, please! I need to finish my school work now!" She pleaded, reaching for the ball of paper in her sister's hand. Winter, having the height advantage, simply smiled and rose her hand high above her head, taunting her younger sister. "Let it go!"

"What? This? Hm, no." She kept her arm high in the air as Weiss desperately jumped at it, flailing her arms with each jump. "You know where the problem is here, right?"

"Let go!"

"Weiss, I'm five years older than you, which means I know some things that can help." Winter threw the paper behind her and closed her eyes while Weiss went after the crumpled sheet of notes, "This is not what an eight year old should be doing."

From her seat, Weiss watched the memory play out. Her younger self easily unwrapped the balled up mess that her sister so lovingly created and went to go sit back down. Her eight year old self had been working on her school work for the past week straight with little break, as she could recall. Now, Weiss knew what her older sister was trying to say. Then... Not so much.

"Dad wants me to do this, Winter." She said, sitting back at her desk, "I'm resigned to my fate."

Wait... "I never said that..." Weiss stood up quickly and stared down at both children before her, "This isn't right. Where am I?"

The light in the room dimmed until all was black, except for Weiss and her younger self, who was still seated before her. Deep, dark laughter overtook the room, causing Weiss to shift into a defensive combat stance. "You're right, Weiss." The voice that was once laughing now spoke to her, eyes where the chalkboard used to be, "You never said that, but you did think it."

"What are you saying?"

"You knew of your fate years ago. No matter what, you'll always be Daddy's Little girl, and Daddy will always have to step in to make sure that you don't louse it all up!"

"Shut up!"

"Accept the truth! You resent everything he's done for you because you can't accept that his help made you who you are!"

"I didn't need his help!" Weiss snarled as she reached for her blade. Even when she did, she could feel her muscles go stiff, stopping her in her tracks.

"All work and no play made Weiss a dull girl, and when you wanted to be a Huntress, he tried to make sure you were ready." The eyes grew sympathetic for a moment, then back to angry, "And how do you repay his effort?"

"His effort made a permanent trophy on my face!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have challenged him." The child before her began to be surrounded by smoke and shadow, until being encased wholly before her very eyes, "You resented everyone for trying to help because you wanted to prove something, and the moment when everybody turned their backs to let you be you resented them more!"

"That's not true!" Weiss tried desperately to defend herself, but even she knew that it wouldn't work. "I love my sister and my mother very much!"

"And what of your father? The man who did his best to prepare you?! What have you shown him in return for his effort!?" The voice grew angrier and angrier as a shriek rose from the smoking shadow that had encased the child. "Do you think he wanted to watch his daughter die!?"

"Well... No, but he-"

"He did nothing! You did! And now you will face your own Resentment incarnate! Feel the pain that you have caused Him!"

The shadow slowly stood as Weiss could feel her strength return. She drew Myrtenaster and took a stance as the smoke cleared itself away. Before her, the child turned into a near mirror image of Weiss, only her hair wasn't snow white- It was blood red. Her eyes were no longer icy blue, they were as black as night. Her clothes were tattered and worn, showing a faded grey. Her pale skin seemed almost a sickly grey, but her face was... Unscarred.

"This before you, Weiss Schnee, is perfection." The Nightmare taunted, "Something you could never amount to."

The cold eyes of her counterpart did manage to pierce right through her soul. Weiss never showed her fear, but she felt it. Then... The Embodiment began to sing.

"Mirror..." It started, "Tell me something." Weiss gripped her blade harder, causing her knuckles to go white as she slowly slid her feet back in preparation of a strike, "Tell me who..." The singing stopped suddenly as the Embodiment's look deepened, "Tell me who this imposter before me is..."

Blake's eyes slowly fluttered open as she felt the cold surface of her makeshift mattress take its toll on her back. Slowly rising to a sitting position, she examined the room around her and sighed. Was everything that she just saw... Just a dream?

"Belladonna!" A young man's voice called, "Let's go! They're going to show us the new prisoners!"

'New prisoners?' She thought. 'Now? Who, and how?' She rose to her feet and sighed in pain, grasping her lower back. 'I need a new bed...'

"Sleep well?" A deep, almost too familiar voice rose throughout the silent room. Blake met the masked eyes of the voices owner, her partner Adam stood at the door. "You know, you don't have to sleep on a stone tab?"

"It's the only way for me to understand what it was like for my ancestors." She replied easily, almost having that response recorded in her mind. "If I understand what they felt, I can understand what I'm fighting for."

Adam shook his head and sighed, raising an eyebrow to his former underling's comment. "That phase of your training is done. You know what you're fighting for, now you can sleep well." He turned and gestured for Blake to join, "Now come with me. We've got some... New arrivals."

She nodded slowly and walked forward, but was stopped by a firm arm to her stomach. Adam's voice went low as he came in close, "You do know what you're fighting for, right?" Blake nodded slowly, which caused her partner to release her and walk forward. "Very good. Let's go." She followed, obeying his commands.

As they walked through the caverns which had been dug beneath a mountain outside of Vale, Blake began to examine her surroundings. Years ago, she admired what they had here. It was free, though a little smelly from the gas and what not, but that can be overlooked. As time went on, however, her ideals shifted. She knew what she was fighting for, but she was afraid that the rest of the Organization didn't.

Yet, she couldn't speak against it in any way, else they'd come after her. Regardless of how powerful Adam was, he couldn't protect her from the wrath of the Higher Ups. They hated dissenters of all kinds...

The walked out to a ledge which connected two flights of stairs. Looking down at what was commonly referred to as 'The Courtyard'- which was only a clear surface for Vehicles to park, be it Aircraft, trucks, anything that they had. It also was home to a play area, Grifball courts, benches and a small area for Operatives to prep for missions- The duo glanced around and noticed that everyone had gathered in a clearing on the Courtyard. Adam nodded to his student and led the way down.

A makeshift stage had been made and behind it was a Bullhead, its doors closed. There was a surprise inside, that much was clear. As the duo joined the group, Adam nudged Blake softly and whispered "I'll be on stage." The Organization's head would want him there.

The gathering grew larger and larger as they all bunched together, trucks lined the outside of the group ceremoniously, marking the border for where they would all be held. Generally prisoner receiving's went with an introduction, if said prisoner was worthy enough of the recognition. Whoever they got, it had to be a bigger deal than most.

A smaller, masked faunus turned to Blake- She knew him as Perry- and came in close so that the black-clad teen could hear, "I heard that they brought in another Schnee!" A smile grew on his face as he continued, "I think they got some of her bodyguards, too! We might have an execution tonight!"

Blake sighed disparagingly. She always thought that executions were stupid, especially if it's Schnee family or associates. They could be used as fodder in negotiations after all! Alas, she had no control, regardless of her own personal feelings.

The Courtyard filled more and more as moments passed. Blake realized that she was surrounded, smack in the middle of the crowd. All she could hope for was for this to begin soon, as she wasn't very fond of crowds.

Or was she?

She rubbed her temple as her thoughts swirled around her mind, emotions ranging from curiosity to fear, familiarity to confinement. Something didn't seem right, yet everything felt just. Strange...

A roaring applause erupted from the crowd as Blake drew her attention forward towards the stage where an older man had taken a stance, smiling and waving to the crowd before him. After another moment, he called for silence with a single gesture; the crowd obeyed.

"Thank you all, brothers and sisters!" His deep voice called throughout the mountain's audio system, "Today, we have achieved a great victory! We struck at the heart of our enemy, the Schnee's-!" A wave of boo's rang out, but that did not sway the leader to stop. "The Daughter of the CEO made herself vulnerable to us, and we took the advantage as we saw fit!"

Blake's expression shrunk to morbid curiosity as her leader mentioned Weiss. Had they actually captured her? How? When?

"Within Beacon she hid, but her foolish desires led her away from the safety of the Academy! I am proud to announce that her, and her guard, have been captured and are in our custody!" The cheers grew louder and louder, threatening to bring the whole mountain on top of the group. Blake's eyes filled with horror as she listened closely. "Behold!"

The doors of the Bullhead opened as three figures were dragged out, each with black bags over their heads. All three were clearly female; One, clad in red with a tattered hood, the second clad in brown leather with long, blonde hair flowing out of the bag. Finally, was the evident jewel of the capture, a short figure clad in white... That had to be Weiss.

Blake recognized all three, but... Something still felt... Off.

"Reveal!" The leader declared. All three bags flew off, revealing Blake's worst fear. Ruby, Yang and Weiss lined the stage, clearly worn and beaten.

'Oh no...'

"I think we all know what must happen here..." The old man gestured to a small group below. Blake knew what was going to happen...

They always execute Schnee's. And their associates... No matter the relation.

The small, armed group took the stage behind each girl and raised their rifles to their targets' heads. "Ready!"

"Stop!" Blake cried hurriedly, desperate to end the massacre before it began. A silent moment passed and every eye within the room slowly turned to her. Each harsh and confused gaze personified her greatest fear of them all... "We can't kill them, not like this!" her exasperated breaths did nothing to calm the mood.

"Why not?" The old man on the stage asked curiously. "They have done nothing but enslave our people. Their kind are scum!"

"They themselves haven't done anything that you know of!" Blake's defense was a solo act as the mob slowly stepped away from her. "They might want to help us as much as any other faunus!"

Adam shook his head and walked away, not able to tolerate his student any longer. The old man smirked as shook his head as well. "And this is how you feel? Humans and Faunus being able to help each other?" He scoffed, "You of all people should know what humans can do. They only hurt and kill us. They are a plague that needs to be purged."

The crowd roared with his bold declaration, each pair of eyes growing deep red and angry. Blake examined her friends on the stage, each one with a pleading look on their face. Gulping, the cat faunus knew she had no other choice but to continue. One way or another, this act of defiance would be her last.

"We can't be violent in response to violence, it won't solve anything! And killing the daughter of the SDC CEO will only bring more suffering to us then to them!" The mountain went dark as smoke rose from the red-eyed crowd, "If we can't rise above the hate, then what are we?"

The old man sneered as her gestured to the armed group, "We are the true claimers of this world."

Time slowed as Blake watched each of her teammates die, one quick bullet. She had failed, just like before...

A dark, deep voice grew over the angry crowd as the vision faded away, leaving Blake on her knees on a rocky floor, "They never would listen..." The voice cooed, "Their thirst for blood and vengeance was far too great."

"They could never see past their own hate."

"And where did they leave you?" Almost sympathetic red eyes appeared before her, but she wouldn't look up. She couldn't look up. "You devoted your life to them... Where did they leave you once they strayed from their path?"

"Alone..."

"As you always have been." Blake closed her eyes in solemn realization, know understanding her place. She was destined to be alone. "You have never had anyone..."

"No, that's not true..." She whispered, her mind cloudy with the memory of her team. "There's Yang and Ruby, Weiss too." She finally looked up to see the now angry eyes of the Nightmare before her, "Team JNPR, Velvet and her team, too! I have Sun and his friends and so much more!"

"You can have them, but that still will make no difference!" Before her, a spotlight shone from the sky and landed on a young girl in tattered clothes, holding a sigh high above her cat ears. "How adorable, you little fighter, you!"

"Shut up!"

"You felt betrayed and abandoned after you realized that the Fang had swayed from their ideals, and so you left! Look in the eyes of the child before you and tell her that her efforts are in vain, just as you told yourself that day on the train!"

Blake's expression grew weary and worried as she looked down at the child, one she recognized as herself. The eyes, soft and glassy almost tore Blake's heart apart... Would she lie and keep the child's innocence? Could the innocence be saved?

No... No she had to know the truth... It would save them both the pain.

Blake knelt down to the child's level and looked her in the eyes, undoing the bow on her head and smiled softly. "I'm sorry." She said, "But the White Fang... They aren't what we want them to be."

"No." The child whispered, horrified and appalled, "You're lying!"

"I'm sorry. I'm not."

"No!"

The Nightmare returned, "The truth hurts, doesn't it?"

"NO!" The voice of the child grew shrill, almost like she was in pain. A force of energy knocked Blake back to the ground, and when she looked back up, she saw the child become surrounded by a familiar shadow.

"That pain from long ago has followed you, haunting your every step." The Nightmare said, "It has caused your Despair, it has caused your suffering. Now, face your fear!"

The child suddenly disappeared, then reappeared in a plume of smoke. When she jumped to her feet, Blake examined her new foe thoroughly. There was no bow covering its ears, and the weapons were white instead of black. Its attire was completely reversed, and the usual Amber eyes were replaced by horrifying black ones.

"What's wrong, Blake? Too much black for you?" Deep laughter overtook the room as Blake stared the creature down, which was returning the favor in kind. "Your despair and wallowing over the lost and corrupt group has made this girl before you. Now, face it's undeniable wrath!"

Ruby awoke and saw a familiar setting: Her bedroom on Patch. She stood in the doorway and glanced around the room, easily able to tell that it was nighttime, due to the lack of like emanating from the window above her bed. She took a step in, and the room turned smoky.

Ruby reached back for her scythe, but was met with a stiffness in her muscles, almost like she had been frozen solid. She tried to move but every muscle, every fiber of her being, resisted her.

"Why do you fight on?" The Nightmare asked, though it was present within the room. "You, your friends, you all resist what I'm trying to do. Why?"

Ruby blinked, her expression was one of nervousness and anger, with a hint of despair as well, "Needless to say..." She started, picking her words wisely, "I don't want to die."

"Really, now?" The Nightmare began to manifest itself before Ruby, appearing with its arms crossed in front of its chest and its eyes closed. "You don't want to die, yet whenever you fight, you do so without fear. Why is this so different than when you fight Grimm?"

Ruby raised her eyebrows quizzically, confused as to what her Mirror was asking. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you must know that I am a Grimm Spore, right?" Ruby nodded, keeping up a stern glare, "And you fear death? During the Breach you fought with fervor and furious might..." Their surroundings changed as they were taken outside to the very park where the Train had collided into, resulting in the Breach. Around them, Grimm poured out, and a familiar scythe cut them down every step of the way. "You showed the same on the train..." Once again, their environment changed, going backwards in time to only a few moments prior in the tunnels. Crescent Rose cut through multiple waves of foes with ease, all before the present duo's very eyes. "There are multiple instances of this... You don't fear death, yet you fear me... Why?"

"I'm not afraid of you!" Ruby harshly declared, her eyes showing a ferocious intensity that matched Yang's, "Let me go and I'll prove it!"

"Now, now." The Nightmare tisked shamefully, "I have yet to prove my point."

"Which is? You're obviously doing this for a reason and it isn't because you're trying to help!"

Pausing for a moment, the Nightmare sighed and closed its eyes, shaking its head along the way. "Oh, my dear sweet vessel, allow me to explain. I'm a girl who enjoys watching her prey squirm. I want to watch your friends see what they have become, what their own inner turmoil can do to them. They've seen what can happen, but they do not know."

"Wait... What?"

"I want your friends to suffer. When they have suffered enough, then their Spores can form."

Ruby's eyes went wide with the terrible revelation. They were being played the entire time. "There are other ways to combat Dark Spore's, but your teacher had to do this, falling right into my trap."

"You monster!" Ruby shouted, recklessly flailing her body in a futile attempt to break free. Alas, she had no luck. "I'll kill you before you hurt them!"

"Am I the monster?" Its tone was deep and profound, seeking to not only incite thought into its counterpart, but also to bring a rise out of her as well. "Look at all that you have done since Summer's death!" The Nightmare began to walk around her captured counterpart, "You have killed with reckless abandon and for what?"

"I've killed Grimm! Pure incarnations of Evil!"

"You're an adrenaline junkie whose arrogance has cost people their lives!" This statement caused Ruby to pause and stare blankly at the Nightmare, "You don't fear death and will blindly walk into it, just like your dear sweet mother!"

"She died a hero!"

"You don't know how she died!"

"And she never will."

Both occupants turned their attention to the owner of the new voice, which was accompanied by a bright light, one brighter than the very sun. The Nightmare hissed as Summer quickly approached. "I died from my own mistakes and I made my children suffer for them. No longer!" Placing a hand on her shoulder, Ruby was freed almost instantly. "I don't know what you're planning but it won't work!"

The Nightmare chuckled and slowly opened its eyes, staring into the blinding eyes of Summer Rose. "Your friends have already met their Embodiments, you know? You are too late." Summer's stern gaze grew grave as she now knew that her rescue mission had failed. "You've broken more promises than you can count Summer, so how do you expect to keep this one?"

"Easy." Ruby stomped, "We'll fight."

"So be it."

With a snap of the fingers, The Nightmare exited the... Whatever they were just in, dragging Ruby and Summer with it.

Yeah... That's a thing...

So, a big thing that I know I'm going to get flak for is that Summer and Yang didn't have much time to talk. Yeah, sorry but since the team is so constrained on time, they kinda have to set that aside for later. Priorities. I'll be sure to give them some more dialogue, don't worry.

Other than that, we see the Embodiment's show themselves. I want everyone to pay attention to them because they play an absolutely massive role in the next fight. Also, this is the last we see of Glynda for a while... Sorry. Keep a special note on her reaction to Summer, too.

So, what was your favorite part? Personally, I'd have to say Blake's vision was especially brutal. Other than that, I'd like to hear what you all have to say. I know not much happened, but still, let me hear it!

Thanks for reading and once again, Happy New Years to all!

Until Next Time.

Stay Safe!