The Vytal Festival

They had prepared as much as they could. The end of the training time period came and it came fast. The last day came and Neo finished it off by evaluating all of their progress. She went hard in their training, since, of course she didn't want them to die. They all significantly increased their combat power until the final day. Neo was satisfied with the progress and let everyone play at the last few hours before they had to board the bullhead and leave.

On the trip back, she had stared out the window in a slight fit of anxiety. It felt like she was forgetting something. She didn't forget their stuff or Jaune. Everything from the quest was collected. She still couldn't put her finger on it and it was driving her crazy. The others, saw it differently.

"She must be worried about us.. the Vytal Festival has started" Qrow said with a small sigh as the teams, Jaune and Neopolitan looked at her.

"Neo.. okay guys! We can't fail our trainer and get ourselves killed when the bad guys attack! We're gonna defend the city, right!?" Ruby stood up and announced with all the conviction she could muster.

~Fuuuuuuuuuck.. what am I forgetting? This is gonna bother me all day..~ Neo sighed wistfully.

Neopolitan just observed Neo's face and could spot exactly what kind of mood she was in though. She bit down the urge to giggle and watched as the teens rallied before Pyrrha touched Neo's shoulder.

"Hm...? What's up, Pyr?" Neo shook her head and looked at her partner, weirded out when she noticed everyone was looking at her.

"Don't worry about us, Neo. We're going to be all right. All of us.. So don't let fear hold you back, okay?" Pyrrha said with such confidence that Neo blanked.

~Wait what? What'd I miss?~ Neo looked at Neopolitan, who was really trying not to laugh and gave her a thumbs up.

"..O..kay?" Neo gave them a stiff smile and a thumbs up.

They all nodded at Qrow, who smugly grinned, thinking he was right. They all returned to Beacon at night. The festival would begin the next day. When they landed, Ozpin was waiting at the landing pad for them.

"Hello team RWBY, JNPR. I need to discuss a few things with Miss Jasmine. The rest of you should be heading to bed. You have a big day tomorrow. Now please follow me, Miss Jasmine, Qrow, Raven" Ozpin gestured at them to follow but saw Neopolitan step up with an expectant gaze.

"Oh she's asking about Roman. You've been treating him well right? She wants him released on the final day" Neo stood beside her and pat her shoulder.

"Treating him well? Well.. he has been eating only five star meals, he's gotten a television, a new scroll, games, free reign of the Beacon basement.. I've spared no expense in making sure he's comfortable" Ozpin seemed a bit irritated as he recounted everything Roman requested.

"He's gonna help a lot during the attack, don't worry!" Neo assured him with a placating smile.

"Good. Now come along, we have some plans to go over" Ozpin walked off, followed by Neo, Raven and Qrow.

"See you guys in a bit! Gotta go over some boring details" Neo waved to them and followed the group.

"Ozpin treats her.. sorta weird, don't you think?" Yang asks the group, most nodding.

"Uh.. well she does have that lance and that strange form.. annnd lightning" Blake retorted, earning a hum from Nora.

"I bet Tiny Leader is secretly A LIGHTNING HERO QUEEN!" Nora raised a finger and exclaimed.

"Woaaaaah..." Jaune gasped.

"You don't believe that, right..?" Ren slid his hand down his face.

"Uh.. maybe?" Jaune sheepishly laughed before Pyrrha cut in.

"Okay guys let's get some deserved shut eye.. We can grill her later on"

"Okaaaay MOM!" Nora snickered and ran into the dorms, followed by both teams.

-Grimm Whale, moving across the Grimmlands, next day-

Salem had begun to mobilize her forces. The Grimm army within her Whale numbered in the tens of thousands. Tyrian, Hazel, Watts were all on board. Each having been given their own assigned tasks and targets. Salem was guiding the beast forward and everyone aboard anxiously awaited the battle at Vytal. One more than the others.

The Wendigo was walking the interiors, lost in thought. He had gotten prepared, double and triple checked everything he needed to. Now he just needed to wait two days. He stopped by a cell and looked at it mutely, remembering what happened a long time ago.

-XXXX years earlier-

A boy of fifteen years old was floating in a dark expanse, seemingly asleep. He felt a light touch and the sight of light through his eyelids after an indeterminate amount of time. Groaning, he opened his eyes to a soft light. A man was there. He was sure it was a man but he had no definite form. It was like looking at an optical illusion. One second he looked like one shape, next second he looked like another. It was giving the boy a headache to look right at him.

"Urgh.. what is this..? Who are you..? What are you? Where am I..?" The boy asked in confusion, seeing pity in the man's eyes.

He became further annoyed seeing this, if there was one thing he hated, it was pity. He hated the way people treated him like some victim. Something to look down on and toss sympathy at to make themselves look better. He scoffed at the man and looked at him, despite how the light stung his eyes.

"I'm sorry. You have been called here with a purpose.. One which I don't think you'll enjoy. But it will be good for you. Both of you. As you exist right now, you are incomplete.. I'd even go as far to say I made you into some kind of cursed existence. Again, I apologize for that. But things had to be this way" The man said sympathetically.

"What are you talking about!? You talk about me like I'm some sort of.. mistake.." The boy gritted his teeth and spoke angrily.

"No. You came out exactly as intended. I have a mission for you. It will be hard and there will be sorrows ahead for you. But I need someone to take the wheel on this.. To guide the world in its intended path. Let me show you" The man tapped the boy's forehead and a look of realization, horror and anger hit him all at once.

"You cannot be serious.. All that..? It's so unreasonable!" The boy angrily pointed at the man.

"I'm afraid so.. if that fails, I have no idea what to do" He shakes his head in exasperation.

"I.. No.. I.. Will I really be able to find happiness at the end..? I can't get it out of my mind.." The boy sorrowfully clutched his head and said.

"You will live a long life. At the very end, you'll find what I showed you. Will you brave these uncertain times and come out on top at the very end?" He offers his hand and asks.

"As long as it eventually ends. Haha.. you really screwed me here you know?" The boy said wistfully and takes his hand.

"It's far better than repression.. It gets better for you but.. you had nobody and nothing. At least this way, you can finally find some happiness. You just have to put up with a long wait.. Those people will mess everything up. Their patron Gods have been openly rebelling against me for quite some time. Some of them have clairvoyance and will send some of them back in time. Kill them all. Good luck" And then the man touched the boy's forehead and he was ejected from that space.

The next thing the boy noticed, he was crawling out of an inky black substance that clung to him. He saw a western black dragon and a blonde woman. He received knowledge about the world and when the main events happen. This was far before that time. He looked down at his hands. He was tiny. About the size of a piglet. He was an amorphous mass of black substance with no definite form. Then he heard it while the God of Light appeared.

[Ding! Survive the apocalypse!

Reward: Uchiha bloodline!]

"Fuck" He cursed, though the brothers and Salem hadn't heard him.

-Ages later-

Salem had captured a Silver Eyes. Another one. This one was of plot significance. The only plot significant people he'd met so far was Salem, Ozma, God of Darkness and the Grimm Reaper woman. He was inclined to meet her. He skulked over to her cell and poked his snout between the bars. That earned him a kick in the faceplate. Though it only seemed to hurt the woman.

"Y'OWWW!! My foot! Psh.. dumb Grimm.." She started to sulk immediately upon failure to injure him.

"Ksh.. You're fun.." He said, making her gape in awe.

"YOU CAN TALK!?" She changed tune so fast and grabbed the bars of her cell, looking at the once-boy.

"I can talk, dance.. I can do a lot, really. Who are you?" He asked, letting her inspect him.

"Ya know it's rude not to tell your own name first when you ask, Grimmy guy" She snarked.

"I don't go by my old name anymore. Too.. eh.. human sounding" He shrugged.

"Just call me Wendigo" He said, showing off his impressive teeth.

"Oh.. gotcha. Wendy it is!" She said, bumping her fist on her hand, making him almost faceplant the bars of the cell.

"No.. NO. Ugh.. if Wendigo's too long just.. call me Wen" He sighed, though she giggled.

"Well nice to meetcha, Wen. I'm Summer" She gestured at herself with a smile.

-Whale Grimm, present-

"She was too positive for her own good.. Didn't even consider the possibility of being hostile... Kinda miss her now.." He whispered before hearing footsteps.

Turning around, he saw Salem walk over with a scroll and a frown.

"They're stronger than I expected.. Even with the magic in the air" Salem showed him a video of team RWBY decimating in their four versus four match

Ruby was splitting up into different rose petal objects and shooting while using her semblance. Yang was using flames to enhance her semblance so getting close to her was a nightmare. Weiss had summoned creatures made of ice that never ceased attacking the enemy team. Blake had essentially created shadow clones and had been hitting with strength comparable to Yang in close quarters. Scary.

He thought silently before noticing Neo up in the stands, smirking with pride. She absolutely turned them into monsters, he knew it. Instead of worry or sighing, however he smiled. His jaw curved up in amusement even further when team RWBY posed upon winning.

Salem was not happy though.

"What are you smiling for? Ozpin's pawns are stronger than we thought. Last time I checked.. that wasn't good for you either" She frowned at him.

"They're not as strong as us. Besides, I like the challenge. Come on now, embrace your inner ego.. You know it wouldn't be as satisfying to kill Ozpin if he was weak" He shrugged both arms as Salem paused.

"I see.. my victory does not mean yours, does it?" Salem questioned.

"No. But I'll still be helping, of course" He looked in her eyes before she turned away and left wordlessly.

"Might've soured the relationship.. Oh well. Won't matter much in two days" He said to himself before looking back at the cell with a melancholic gaze.

"It'll be over soon, Summer. No more.." He walked away, leaving the empty cell alone.

-Vytal festival, after RWBY's match-

"You guys beat them like redheaded stepchildren.." Neo told them as soon as they came back up to the stands.

"Hey!" Nora objected.

"Uh.. we.. were good then?" Blake awkwardly asked, scratching behind her ear.

"Yup! I'm proud. Just don't go showing everything off. Just like the first date, you don't show too much.. A little flash of leg? Sure. But when the last day comes.. flash em the goods" Neo winked.

"Pff! Good innuendo!" Yang smirked but the others just groaned.

"Well you know what I mean.." Neo snickered at the appropriate reactions and pressed her fingers together.

"They won't see us coming.."