As the screen was black, a calm, yet almost triumphant and mystical fanfare played throughout the theater.

Slowly, the screen began to show a darkened and barren landscape, covered with stormy clouds; thunder cracking down. But, at the center of this landscape was a sinister, black castle of some kind; one that stood tall like a tower, yet was carved with large crests and spiraling pillars. What made the castle even more striking was that at its base, a dark electricity surged through veins that led into the castle; the only form of movement any could spot.

____________________________

The moment the viewing opened up to the desolate visage of the land, and the imposing castle that stood at its center, many in the audience were immediately put off by it. The image had instilled a sense of dread and unease which varied throughout all who laid their eyes upon the screen.

"Well..." Roman began; being the first to speak. "This isn't bleak and eerie at all."

"And I thought Vacuo was barren." Qrow remarked.

"This looks like one of those vacation spots they advertise to you as beautiful and serene in brochures, only for it to end up looking the exact opposite when you get there." Tai gave his two cents.

"This land almost reminds me of the Dark Brother's former domain." Ozpin thought to himself as grim memories of the Land of Darkness resurfaced within his mind. "All it's missing is the Grimm pools and the crystals spouting out from the ground."

"Hey, what gives?" Yang asked, furrowing her eyes as she turned to Vortech. "I thought you said this universe takes place in an "age of wonder". What part of this is wonderful?"

"Wonder is a subjective term." Vortech replied with an air of haughtiness. "Where you find wonder in rainbows and sunshine, another finds wonder in the darker parts of the world that very few wish to know about."

"I'm pretty sure Blake is the only one here who's interested in stuff like that." Yang said in return, pointing her thumb back at her partner.

"I take mild offense to that." Blake responded to Yang. "Just because there are certain books I read does not mean I find joy out of everything dark in the world."

"Enjoyment is a strong word. I'd say you're more Interested in everything dark." Yang said.

Blake narrowed her eyes towards her partner and was about to speak something back to her. However, Yang let out a small, mirthful chuckle in response to Blake's look.

"Oh, relax, Blake. You know I'm just messing with you." Yang playfully waved the cat Faunus off.

"I know. That's what makes it irritating." Blake responded with a deadpan.

It was then that Ruby cleared her throat, making it evident she wanted to speak as she looked back at Vortech. "Anyways... uh, you said this was a story about good against evil. ...I'm guessing that castle is where the bad guys live, right?"

Vortech raised his brow at Ruby before replying to her in a belittling tone. "Is that a rhetorical question? I'd almost hate to assume you couldn't acknowledge the obvious."

"I was just making sure." Ruby frowned at Vortech before she faced the screen again. "You don't gotta be rude about it."

"To be fair, Ruby, this is the most evil place I believe any of us have ever laid eyes upon." Weiss pointed out as she motioned to the dark castle. "At least for now, at any rate. I do not think anything nice lives in that castle."

"I know that... I just wanted to make sure it wasn't too obvious, that's all." Ruby slightly poured as she crossed her arms.

"Well, I can safely say that throughout my years of service, I've never seen a building or landscape quite like this." Ironwood admitted. "Though I'd imagine the closest thing we'd have to this nightmare on Remnant would be what little we know about the Dragon Continent."

"The land where no human or Faunus ever return alive from." Port summarized. "Except I don't see any Grimm roaming this hellscape. Though that doesn't mean we probably won't see something similar in this world."

"Hmm. Besides that, I can tell that this land has quite the history to it." Oobleck said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "No land is born dead, from my understanding. At least not naturally, anyways. This is the result of many varying effects. None of which I can narrow down at the moment."

"Perhaps we'll learn more about it as the viewing goes on." Glynda suggested. "Or Vortech will inform us later on, whichever comes first."

"Agreed." Oobleck nodded to the combat instructor.

____________________________

Though as the audience saw this seemingly dead and eerie land, a narrating voice spoke from the viewing.

"Another world... another time... in the age of wonder. A thousand years ago, this land was green and good until the Crystal cracked. For a single piece was lost, a shard of the Crystal. Then strife began. And two new races appeared. The cruel Skeksis. The gentle Mystics."

____________________________

"A crystal?" Penny questioned with a curious gaze. "What does a crystal have to do with the current state of the land?"

"I would wager that given how this... narrator refers to the crystal in a singular manner, it may be important to this world." Ren theorized. "After all, when this crystal cracked it somehow caused a strife of some sorts."

"Not to mention that it sounds like the event caused the creation of two new species to appear on the planet." Pyrrha added. "Whatever or whoever these Skeksis and Mystics may be."

"Well, when I hear Mystics, I think wizards." Nora gave her honest thoughts. "Wouldn't have a clue what the Skeksis are, but they sound bad."

"Maybe the Mystics and Skeksis are the battle between good and evil that Vortech talked about." Jaune said. "Though if the Skeksis live in a castle like that, they must be pretty bad."

____________________________

The viewing soon shifted closer towards the imposing castle as crashing lightning showed against it, illuminating more of the castle's grisly details before the audience.

"Here in the Castle of Crystal, the Skeksis took control."

The viewing then shifted into a large, mildly lit chamber of the castle. At its center was a large crystal that glowed with an ominous, purple hue. But the crystal was not alone in the large chamber. Several tall and hunched creatures were shown circling the crystal as they were situated on a large, ornate floor dial. Above these creatures were other, much smaller creatures who watched on at the sight from above; peering out through the openings of a hallway just outside the chamber.

____________________________

"That's a pretty big crystal." Yang whistled in remark.

"I wonder how much money you could get off of this baby?" Roman thought to himself as he rubbed his chin. "It's definitely an alluring piece, I'll give it that."

"Hey, how is it floating like that?" Ruby asked as she blinked in confusion. "Is it like... like gravity Dust, or something?"

"Gravity Dust shards do not float on their own." Winter said as she examined the Crystal. "Whatever this crystal is, it is far from ordinary; of that much I can say."

"Maybe it's magic." Qrow shrugged in suggestion.

"That would explain how a cracked crystal could cause strife throughout the land." Ozpin said. "Though I can not see where this crystal is exactly cracked at."

"Well, what we can see is who I undoubtedly believe to be the Skeksis standing around the Crystal." Ironwood stated.

"With hunches like those, these Skeksis must be pretty old." Pietro theorized. "Or their species always looks like that."

"Indeed." Oobleck nodded before tapping his chin. "Though now I must question what it is the Skeksis are doing around the Crystal? Is it a ritual of some sorts? And if so, what is the ritual's purpose, I wonder?"

____________________________

"Now the Skeksis gather in the sacred chamber where the Crystal hangs above a shaft of air and fire."

The more the narrator spoke, the closer the audience were shown of the Skeksis. Each of them wielded scepters whilst being draped in ornate garbs that were unique to every individual Skeksis. From what the audience could gather at the moment, the Skeksis had almost reptilian-like appearances with heads and beaks shaped like a vulture's.

"The Skeksis with their hard and twisted bodies, their harsh and twisted wills. For a thousand years they have ruled... yet now, there are only ten. A dying race ruled by a dying emperor, imprisoned within themselves in a dying land. Today, once more, they gather at the Crystal as the first sun climbs to its peak, for this is the way of the Skeksis. As they ravage the land so too, they learn to draw new life from the sun. Today, once more, they will replenish themselves, cheat death again, through the power of their source, their treasure, their fate... the Dark Crystal."

THE
DARK
CRYSTAL

____________________________

"A thousand years." Pietro repeated. "I could never imagine such a creature living for so long."

"There was a race that lived much longer than that in the universe we saw before you, Penny, and Winter first arrived here." Ironwood told the elderly scientist. "I'm certain you'll be greatly intrigued by them, the next time we view it."

"Except it sounds as though these Skeksis are living well past their death dates." Glynda observed with a wary analysis. "Using this crystal as a conduit between their sun so that they may live longer... it is not natural."

"And it suddenly doesn't sound like the land became so dead and barren because of the Crystal." Tai added with a frown. "It's whatever the Skeksis did that caused all of that."

"Based on their description, they certainly sound like the wicked sorts to drain the life out of anything lush and green." Port spoke with a sour mood. "From what I can see from here, the Skeksis also have the bodies to match their foul nature. They appear like vultures with the skin of lizards. Except these vultures are doing more than scavenging."

"I mean, who wouldn't want to rejuvenate themselves?" Roman questioned. "What's wrong with postponing the reaper for a few more years?"

"Many beings fear death. It would be a lie to say there are those who would wish for a longer life." Ozpin said as he stared at the screen. "But adding on to your life at the expense of the world around you is vile, to put it lightly."

"Well it doesn't sound like the Skeksis are still doing all that good." Ruby pointed out. "The narrator did say they're still dying."

"With a dying emperor. Along with how many other Skeksis there may have been before." Weiss added. "These Skeksis won't be able to cheat death for much longer."

"But how much is "longer" in this instance?" Blake questioned with a knowing look. "As long the Skeksis still live, they'll ruin as much land as they can spread to."

"Then let's hope those Mystics will be able to stop them." Yang said. "I'd hate to imagine the entire planet becoming dead just so the Skeksis can live forever."

____________________________

Now, closer than ever to seeing the Skeksis, the audience could now see, in full, their wrinkled and twisted forms; covered with what lavishness they could drape over their old and cruel bodies, along with ornate hoods that sat upon their backs.

"But today, the ceremony of the sun gives no comfort. Today, an emperor lies dying. Today, a new emperor must seize the throne."

One of the Skeksis, who was draped in gold, regal attire with red robes and a helm that sat upon his head in the shape of a broken circle, spread his arms out wide as a triangular opening in the roof of the chamber revealed the sun as the storming clouds shifted away.

From the opening, the sun's rays shot down onto the top of the Crystal, causing the Crystal to refract several purple rays into the eyes of every Skeksis that surrounded it.

One by one, the audience was shown each individual Skeksis; each varying in their grim visages.

The first was dressed in pale clothing with a prosthetic, mechanical eye. Though if one looked close enough, they could see that this Skeksis also had a mechanical hand as well.

The second was feminine in appearance with red hair that had been curved upwards. This Skeksis was dressed in crimson, orange, and purple robes heavily made up with jewels and equipment of mascara.

The third was more hunched in his posture, bearing an eyepatch over his right eye, and a mechanical, claw-like hand on his left arm. He was dressed in cream-orange garbs with a brown, leather vest.

The fourth Skeksis was far stubbier and far fatter than the others. His clothing was more brown and beige in color with a white frilled collar; said garbs wrapped as tightly as possible to hold back the obese Skeksis's potbelly.

The fifth Skeksis was more rugged in appearance with a fierce expression. His hair was greyed and receding; his clothing black and armored.

The sixth Skeksis had a purplish tint to his skin; his expression that of an almost conniving smile. He was dressed in black and red robes.

The seventh Skeksis was far thinner than the rest. He bore a red wrapping that covered the back of his head all the way to his neck. He sported an abacus collar and robes decked in weights, locks, measures, and purses.

And then there was the eighth Skeksis. His head was the most narrow out of his kind with three sets of reading glasses set before his beak, along with a monocle on his right eye. His robes were designed more like the clothing of a librarian and scholar, created with pleated fabric resembling pages with bookmarks jutting out.

____________________________

Once the audience had been given a full view of each of the Skeksis, they all grew perturbed expressions of how horrid and twisted each of these beings appeared. Whether it be by their wrinkled skin, their hardened disposition, or the way the rays from the Crystal reflected into the Skeksis' eyes, everyone went into a state of unease.

"Oh... those guys are really messed up to look at." Jaune said with a squeamish tone.

"They're abominable." Weiss spoke in revulsion.

"They make Grimm look pretty." Nora remarked with a cringe.

"These Skeksis look very unfriendly." Penny frowned in concern.

"By God... Bleugh! I think I just found a group of creatures more ugly than rats." Port spat out.

"They-they don't look rejuvenated at all." Roman said as his jaw became agape in disgust.

"Extending one's life does not equate to looking young and beautiful." Ozpin said as a grim expression dawned upon his face. "This is what happens when you try to cheat death, even when you're still dying."

'I think I just found my new sleep paralysis demons.' Neo signed as her eyes were dilated from a sense of dread that swelled up within her.

"I've never had many nightmares before." Glynda said as she cast the Skeksis a wary look. "But these Skeksis... they might just keep me awake at night."

"They're just adding more onto the pile for me." Ironwood said.

"It is as if I am staring at a corpse that continues to live on." Winter with a grimace.

"They may just haunt me for what remains of my life." Pietro commented as a cold shiver ran down his spine.

Qrow, who had been silently staring at the visages of the Skeksis, soon glanced back and forth between the screen and his flask. "...Ah, hell. Ain't no way I'm drunk enough for this."

"Drinking might actually make them look worse to you." Tai said to Qrow with his own disturbed expression.

"Yeah..." Qrow slowly trailed off before putting his flask away. "You're probably right."

"I, um... I think I actually prefer the Librarian ghost over these guys." Ruby said with a nervous gulp of fear.

"I don't think ever seen anything more fugly than the Skeksis." Yang said as she balked at the sight of wretched creatures. "Is... is one of them meant to be a girl? That red hair with the wrinkles is really throwing me off."

"Ah. I see you've spotted SkekEkt, the Ornamentalist." Vortech replied to Yang. "As for your question, it requires some more explanation than a simple "yes" or "no". You see, the Skeksis, to put things softly, do not have any of the organs that would biologically identify them as either male or female. However, they do have the concept of gender of which they identify themselves with. In SkekEkt's case, while one can assume they are female based on appearances and their voice, the Ornamentalist is in fact male. A very very effeminate male."

"Huh..." Yang responded with a raised brow.

"Hmm. Very interesting." Oobleck said as he began writing down in his notebook. "However, you referred to this SkekEkt as the Ornamentalist. Am I to assume the other Skeksis have their own specific roles as well?"

"Indeed. Each Skeksis is defined by what they specialize in. Or they are defined by their position in power, such as with the role of the Skeksis Emperor." Vortech stated.

"I see. Could you then, perhaps, inform us about the rest of the Skeksis?" Oobleck asked Vortech.

"Oh... very well." Vortech groaned a bit in annoyance. "But this is going to take a few minutes, so you all better follow along. I shall not be repeating myself, no matter how much any of you whine."

"Trust me. I don't think any of us will be able to forget anything about the Skeksis." Blake said to Vortech as she cast a wary, sideways glance at the screen.

"As much as we'd like to." Ren added.

"Alright then. Mmm... from the top." Vortech said as he prepared himself for the long winded explanation he was about to give. "The Skeksis dressed in gold, with the broken circle helmet, is SkekZok the Ritual Master. The Skeksis with the mechanical augmentations is SkekTek the Scientist. The Skeksis with the eye patch and claw-hooked hand is SkekNa the Slave Master. The Skeksis that is both physically and mentally a glutton is SkekAyuk the Gourmand. The rugged Skeksis with dark armor is SkekUng the General. The Skeksis dressed in red is SkekSil the Chamberlain. The Skeksis with the wrapping on his head, and the garbes adorned with locks and purses, is SkekShod the Treasurer. And lastly is the Skeksis with multiple glasses and a monocle, SkekOk the Scroll Keeper."

"Yeesh. And I thought we learned a lot of names from the Cybertronians." Qrow muttered between himself and Tai.

"Do all their names truly start with Skek?" Pyrrha questioned.

"Yes. It is how the Skeksis present themselves." Vortech said. "Though there is a bit more to the way their names are constructed, which will be discussed at a later date."

"Well... I think I can remember all of their names." Ruby said with a half-sure tone. "I can definitely remember their titles, though. And I won't forget the faces each title belongs to. You can count on that."

"Horrifying creatures will have that sort of effect on people." Blake said to her team leader. "No matter how much we wish to forget frightful monsters, they'll always have an engrained image in the back of our minds."

Meanwhile, Oobleck was deep into his notes as he speedily wrote down every name and function of each of the Skeksis. He did it so fast that one could almost see smoke rising from the pencil he used.

"Did you get all that down, Barty?" Port asked his friend.

"Why yes. It was all very easy to jot down." Oobleck answered back. "Hopefully we can continue to get some more good looks at these Skeksis, so that I may work on some sketches of them."

"I must say, Dr. Oobleck, I'm a little jealous at how you don't seem to show much reaction to these Skeksis." Ironwood said to the history teacher.

"Oh, no. I am very much unsettled by the Skeksis." Oobleck evenly stated. "I'm just a bit better at steadying my fears."

"We've all had our reactions to how unsavory these Skeksis are for their appearances alone." Ozpin spoke up. "Though the quicker we overcome as much as we can, the better. After all, we'll be stuck having to watch the Skeksis for as long as we view them in this universe of the Dark Crystal."

"Oh, I can't wait." Glynda sarcastically spoke with a dreary expression.

____________________________

All nine Skeksis, bare their emperor, continued to replenish themselves from the rays refracted by the Crystal for as long as they could; their ceremony only ceasing once the sun had moved away from the opening in the roof.

The viewing then changed to later in the day in a far off canyon. The sky was in its dusk position, and the audience could see that the world of Thra was host to three suns. One large and yellow. One smaller and red. And the third, dwarf and purple.

"A thousand years ago, the Crystal cracked. And here, far from the castle, the race of Mystics came to live in a dream of peace."

____________________________

"Huh. Didn't take us that long to get to the Mystics." Ruby said as she blinked a bit in mild surprise.

"I just hope they don't look as creepy and ugly as the Skeksis do." Jaune spoke with a praying look. "That's enough visual nightmare fuel for me."

"The description used for the Mystics, alone, is by far better than the Skeksis' appearances." Weiss stated. "However, I am more focused on how this planet has three suns."

"Oh, yeah..." Ruby said after realizing the fact. "I was so distracted by the Skeksis that I almost missed it."

"A planet with three suns." Pietro said in amazement. "While I'm not too much of an astronomer, this is still truly remarkable to see."

"I agree, father." Penny said with a smile. "Though I would estimate that in order for Thra to function on the levels of life that Remnant has, it would have to be more distant from its three suns so that its temperatures do not rise so high."

"I wonder what summers on Thra are like, though." Yang spoke as she tapped her chin in thought. "Would it be like ours, or would it be hotter because of the extra two suns?"

"Given what the Skeksis have done to some of the planet, I'd imagine summer time has been skewered in some regions." Blake said.

"You're probably right about that one." Yang said as she pointed to her partner.

____________________________

Soon the audience was shown a beautiful and well crafted sand painting that showed stars aligning with one another.

"Their ways were the gentle ways of natural wizards. Yet now, there are only ten. A dying race numbly rehearsing the ancient ways in a blur of forgetfulness."

The audience was then shown just what one of these Mystics looked like. This Mystic was hunched over in a crouching position. He bore a mammalian physiology with wrinkled runic patterns on his face. His hair was long and greying. He sported a long tail behind his body and two sets of arms. This Mystic was dressed in a light cream robe with light blue swirled cuffs and back.

____________________________

"Well this guy doesn't look so bad." Nora commented with a small smile. "He kind of looks like sloth mixed with someone's grandpa."

"He's much more friendly, that's for certain." Ruby said with a relieved look.

"I will say that this Mystic has crafted quite a beautiful sand painting." Weiss complimented. "I do have to wonder what the painting means, however."

"Hmm... judging off of the positions of the circles, which I assume are meant to resemble stars, this sand painting could represent some form of ritual or prediction." Oobleck theorized as he analyzed the screen. "I once met an old tribe of nomads from Vacuo who used sand paintings in a similar manner."

"The narrator did say the ways of the Mystics were that of natural wizards." Ozpin added to Oobleck's assessment. "I believe your theory would be correct."

____________________________

Using a wooden spoon with an elongated handle, this Mystic gently circled it around the painting before pouring the orange sand it held down onto one of the planets in the painting. After gently setting the spoon down, the Mystic then tossed a handful of sand across the painting as it scattered about.

"But today, the ritual gives no comfort. Today the wisest of the Mystics lies dying. Today they must summon the one who must save them."

____________________________

"Wait a minute..." Ironwood said as he furrowed his eyes at the screen. "Both the Skeksis and Mystics only have ten members remaining in their species, and they both have a prominent figure who lies dying? That's one pretty damn good coincidence. Maybe a little too good."

"The current events for both species are similar, of that I agree with." Glynda nodded. "However, it all very well could be just a rare coincidence."

"Perhaps." Ozpin said with a hum. "But I do agree a bit with James' line of thought. The Skeksis and Mystics both arrived upon Thra when the Crystal cracked. It's been clear that they've had a connection from the start. The question is how deep of a connection do they have?"

____________________________

The Mystic then raised his head into the air before bellowing out a deep chant. "AAUURRRHHMM!"

____________________________

"Woah!" Roman exclaimed a bit as he shifted back in surprise. "That fossil's got a real set of pipes on him."

'Has he ever considered opera?' Neo signed.

"That's the kind of bellow that comes deep from the guts." Port declared. "It's not as daring as war cry, but you can hear the emotion all the same."

"Ooh! Ooh! Ren! This should be our new signal to each other." Nora eagerly said to her partner.

"I don't think I have the right lungs to give out such a chant, Nora." Ren calmly replied.

"But it'd be easier than figuring out what a sloth sounds like." Nora said with a cheeky grin, nudging Ren's arm a bit. "You've gotta admit that, right?"

Ren sighed for a moment before answering Nora. "Yes. It would be easier than using a sloth call."

____________________________

Further within the village of the Mystics, more of the Mystics were shown attending to their own daily attributes such as stone carvings, pottery, medicine, and many other practicians. One by one, they all joined in on the deep chant.

"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"
"AAUURRRHHMM!"

____________________________

"That's one heck of a choir." Qrow remarked.

"I don't think I can forget this sound anytime soon." Tai said.

"I'd hate to have that as a ringtone." Glynda commented as she crossed her arms.

"I think there's somewhat of a... serene charm to their chanting." Oobleck gave his opinion. "Perhaps if it was lowered by a few decibels, it could provide for some relaxational white noise."

"I would not exactly call this chanting as musical as a whale's call." Winter added in.

In the meantime, Ruby held an inquisitive look as the Mystics began their chant. "I wonder just who the Mystics are trying to call?"

"Whoever it is, it has to be a person from our universe that we'll be seeing in this one." Blake stated. "I know we haven't seen too many universes so far, while only have seen previews for three others, but we haven't had anything to tell us we won't see anyone from Remnant in a viewing."

"Sounds logical enough for me." Yang shrugged.

"Hmm... You know what? I think I should start practicing the Mystics' call." Nora stated as she slammed her fist down into the palm of her hand. "And I'll start right now!"

"Um, Nora, I don't think that's going to be a good idea in an enclosed space such as this." Pyrrha advised her teammate. "You'll probably end up getting on some peoples' nerves."

"Oh, relax, Pyrrha. If we can all handle the Mystics chanting from a screen, I'm sure everyone will be fine if I do it here and now." Nora waved the red head off before she began clearing her throat. "Mghmm... AAU—!"

However, before Nora could fully practice her Mystic chant, Ren swiftly clamped his hand over her mouth.

"Nora... don't." Ren calmly yet sternly chided his partner. "You can practice on your alone time."

Nora glared a bit at Ren as she crossed her arms and mumbled something from under Ren's hand. Once he removed it, Nora made her mumbling more clear to him. "...You're no fun, sometimes. You know that?"

____________________________

The viewing then transitioned to a more green environment; filled with moss covered rocks, green bushes, healthy tree branches, and a small pond which rested below a small waterfall. But through the sound of water falling from stone to stone, into the pond, a flute was being played with a harmonious tune.

____________________________

"Oh, this is much more lovely than the land the Skeksis live in." Penny said as she brightly smiled at the sight.

"The serenity of it almost reminds me a bit of Mistral." Pyrrha said.

"And to think that once upon a time ago, the Skeksis' land might have looked something like this." Blake stated before solemnly shaking her head. "It's still hard to believe the Skeksis could use the Crystal to damage so much around them."

"All the more reason for the Mystics to send out someone to stop the Skeksis." Yang said as she cracked her knuckles. "Whoever that might be."

"I would wager the Mystics' savior is the one playing the flute." Weiss told Yang. "It is quite a lovely tune."

"Then I guess all that's left to wonder is which one of us will be the savior." Ruby added.

____________________________

"In the valley of the Mystics, there lives a Gelfling, Oscar."

Sitting beside the pond, and playing his flute, was the young man named Oscar, who was currently without any clothing. His body was somewhat tan with his long, black hair flowing down to his back; his eyes that of a bright hazel color. However, he was shown to only have four fingers on each of his hands. Not only that, but his face was not a human's face. Human-like, perhaps, but not entirely. His face was more wide and triangular; tapering to a pointed chin. He had large, wide eyes, from which a flattish nose sat in between; a patch of blue covering his forehead. Lastly, through his hair, Oscar was shown to have large, pointed ears.

____________________________

"Whoops!" Ruby exclaimed at the naked form of the Gelfling, quickly covering her eyes with a small blush tinting her cheeks. "Wasn't expecting that..."

"This feels inappropriate." Weiss frowned as she turned her head away from the screen. "It is one thing to see nudity in films. It is another to peer into another universe and watch someone naked. Surely there are boundaries to what we should be seeing."

"I don't control what parts of an alternate universe we get to view. I merely show them to you lot." Vortech bluntly stated. "If you don't like it, find your own way to deal with it."

Weiss cast an icy glance back at Vortech, but gave no further response.

"Eh. Look at the bright side, Weiss. His legs are covering his important bits, so most of us should be fine." Yang pointed out.

"It's not exactly the first time I've seen a guy naked." Nora shrugged.

"Wait, what?" Jaune asked as he and Pyrrha immediately turned to Nora.

"Well, yeah. Me and Ren used to take baths with each other when we were younger." Nora replied to her team leader.

"When you have no choice but to travel a lot, there's not much discretion you can afford in terms of privacy." Ren further elaborated. "Nora and I got over most of our bashfulness with each other fairly quickly."

"Oh, okay." Pyrrha replied with relieved understanding; though Jaune was still left blinking a bit in surprise. "That makes sense."

"So... I'm sure all this talk about naked people and bathing has been riveting. However, part of me is more intrigued by the species this Oscar guy is." Blake said, bringing her fellow students' attention back to the Gelfling. "A Gelfling, as the narrator called him."

"I wonder why he's called a Gelfling." Nora spoke with a raised brow.

"I would imagine because he has an elf-like appearance." Weiss replied to the ginger bomber with a blank stare.

"No, no. I get that. But why is he not just called an elf?" Nora questioned.

"This is an alien planet, Nora." Ren reminds his partner. "Perhaps Gelfling is the word for elf on Thra. Or it may be that Oscar is only elf-like, instead of being a complete elf. The structure of his face is not exactly the way we associate elves to look like."

"Yeah, he does kind of look a little funny." Jaune agreed with Ren as he analyzed Oscar. "Though with how the Mystics and Skeksis look, he's definitely not the oddest guy around."

"Though he still kind of has an uncanny valley effect to him." Yang said as she cast Oscar an odd look. "He doesn't look ugly, by any means, he actually kind of looks slightly majestic. But, I don't know, Oscar's face just feels... off."

"Then I guess that kind of leads me to the other part I'm more focused on." Blake then said. "Does anyone here know who Oscar is? Because I don't."

"Hmm... can't say he's anyone me and Ruby ever knew." Yang said as she placed her hand to her chin in thought. "What about you, sis?"

Ruby gave a quick peek through her fingers before answering. "Nope. Never seen him."

"The amount of people I knew of as a child was very limited." Weiss stated. "And the name Oscar did not belong to any of those people."

"I got nothing on my end." Jaune shrugged.

"Not have I." Pyrrha added.

Nora and Ren responded by both shaking their heads.

"I have yet to acquire a friend by the name of Oscar." Penny said.

"He's no student I ever taught." Glynda said as she crossed her arms.

"Our assessment is the same as Glynda's." Oobleck said as he spoke for himself and Port.

"If I ever met a guy named Oscar, I clearly never remember him." Qrow said.

"He's no one from Signal or from Patch." Tai gave his input.

"I don't recall having a student by the name of Oscar in Atlas Academy." Ironwood said as he analyzed the Gelfling as best as he could.

"Nor is Oscar any soldier or fellow specialist." Winter stated.

"I've met a few men named Oscar throughout my life." Pietro said as he squinted his eyes at the screen. "None of them match the color of this Oscar. At least from what I can remember."

"He's certainly ain't no one I ever worked with." Roman said with a light scoff.

'He looks kind of cute, though.' Neo signed as she cast the Gelfling an inquisitive look.

"Then it seems we've come to a crossroads." Ozpin spoke up. "Either Oscar is someone from Remnant that none of us know of, or he is exclusive to The Dark Crystal dimension."

"Why don't we just ask Vortech?" Nora suggested. "There's no way he doesn't know."

Vortech then lazily watched as many eyes fell upon his direction. With his head resting on his hand, the Vortonian responded to his audience. "All I'll say for now is that there are definitely people from your universe that exist in this one. I can't spoil everything for you all, now can I?"

"Well that wasn't much help." Blake deadpanned as many in the audience shared similar thoughts to the cat Faunus.

"I've got to have rules within my theater. Spoilers are one of them." Vortech replied with an apathetic shrug. However, the interdimensional being then began to converse to himself within his mind. "Hmm... I forgot Oscar Pine was the protagonist within this part of the Dark Crystal story... oh well. I'm not scheduled to bring him in until a much later date, so everyone is just going to have to guess about him for the time being. Though the surprised faces some of them may have when he finally arrives may just be ever so slightly amusing for myself."

____________________________

"The Skeksis killed his family, destroyed his clan. Only Oscar survived to be raised by the wisest of the Mystics."

____________________________

"Sounds like it's not just the land that the Skeksis are destroying." Qrow bitterly commented.

"Acts of ethnocide? These Skeksis truly are deplorable." Winter shook her head with a scowl.

"What the Skeksis did to the Gelfling was far grander and far more worse than the destruction of just one clan." Vortech stated, with a small scoff.

"How much worse?" Ren asked with a look of calmed concern.

"Simple. What is a greater range of culling than ethnocide?" Vortech answered Ren's question with one of his own.

"Do you mean genocide?" Blake asked with wide eyes.

Vortech's answer to the Faunus was but a knowing glance before he laid back onto his throne.

"Hmph! Never before have I seen a creature whose outside matches their inside other than the Grimm." Glynda spat out. "What perhaps makes the Skeksis worse than the Grimm is that they have full consciousness over their actions."

"For what reason would the Skeksis have to commit such a horrendous act?" Pyrrha asked in shock and revulsion.

"Does anything evil really need an excuse to do evil stuff?" Yang retorted with her own scowl.

"A part of me wants to agree with you Yang, but I feel as though there may be more to this ordeal than simple evil." Weiss replied to Yang. "I have told you all about how much I despise the White Fang for everything they have done that has affected my family. But it would be ignorant of myself to say that the White Fang were not being reactionary to things my father has done. While I am not defending the Skeksis, there has to be more to what happened to the Gelfling other than the sake of being evil. However... I cannot deny that I wish it was merely because the Skeksis have an evil nature."

"Why would you wish that?" Ruby turned to her partner with a confused frown.

Weiss had met Ruby's frown with a frown of her own as she replied. "Because that would mean the Skeksis had an actual excuse in their minds as a reason to wipe out the Gelfling."

"Oh..." Ruby uttered as she began to follow Weiss's train of thought; her frown becoming deeper. "Yeah... I guess you're right about that. Still doesn't mean I prefer either outcome."

"Nor should you." Blake added in as she too thought upon the situation.

____________________________

As Oscar continued to play his pipe by the side of the pond, the chanting of the Mystics slowly grew louder and louder throughout the valley.

"But there is a prophecy. A thousand years have passed, and now, once more, the world must undergo a time of testing. Now it must be healed or pass forever into the rule of evil. At this time, Oscar is the chosen one."

Soon, thunder began to rumble in the distance as the Mystics' chanting grew closer and closer to Oscar's ears.

____________________________

"The chosen one?" Ironwood questioned. "Chosen to do what?"

"Chosen to race against the clock, I would assume." Ozpin said as he mulled over the narrator's words. "If Oscar does not stop the Skeksis before this "time of testing" is finished, then there will be no saving Thra from their corruption."

"The question now is how is he gonna do that?" Tai asked with an expression of worry. "What's Oscar gonna be able to do against the Skeksis and the Dark Crystal?"

"A question that will be answered as we go further on into the viewing, no doubt." Oobleck replied. "Though I too share my concerns for Oscar's success."

____________________________

"Today, Oscar's pipe gives no comfort, for today his master lies dying and a journey must begin. The journey of Oscar."

As the chanting continued, creatures in the valley looked up to the sky to see the dark, stormy clouds rolling in. One such creature was a furry caterpillar with a puppy-like face.

____________________________

"That's gonna be one hell of a journey." Yang commented as she crossed her arms.

"Hopefully the Mystics will be able to help him along the way." Ruby said; her eyes still covered with her hand.

Seeing this, Yang bemusingly shook her head before speaking to Ruby. "Sis, you can uncover your eyes now. The naked boy's not on the screen anymore."

"Oh. Phew." Ruby sighed in relief as she uncovered her eyes, just in time to see the puppy-faced caterpillar. "I wasn't sure when I should have peeked to see if Oscar was still nak—OhMyGosh! LookAtThatCaterpillar, It'sSoCute!"

"Aw. That is the most adorable bug I have ever laid my eyes on." Penny swooned with a warm smile. "He's absolutely sensational!"

Weiss found herself staring at the caterpillar with wide eyes. The heiress was doing everything she could to hold back the urge to coo and swoon over the cute caterpillar.

"That caterpillar almost looks like it has the face of a chubby dog..." Blake said as she grew a frown at the sight of it. "That does not look right to me, whatsoever."

"Oh, come on, Blake. What's wrong with a puppy caterpillar?" Ruby asked her teammate.

"The mere fact it looks like a puppy." Blake muttered in reply.

____________________________

Soon enough, Oscar, now fully clothed in olive-green and red garments with spiraling decals, began to run along back to the Mystics. He ran through the green grass of the valley, passing by a nest of chirping chicks and rocky walls. As the stormy wind blew across his face, Oscar made sure to bring his garments closer together, so that they would not flow recklessly in the wind.

____________________________

"Just look at how alive the Mystics' valley is when compared to the land where the Skeksis live." Blake remarked with a small sense of awe. "The contrast between both species is the same as a contrast between a dream and a nightmare."

"It almost makes you wonder what's happening with the land between the Valley of the Mystics and the Castle of Crystal." Pyrrha said with a wary and uncertain glance. "How much still lives and thrives like the valley, and how much is being corrupted by the Skeksis?"

"All that can be done now is for Oscar to succeed in whatever it takes to heal Thra." Ruby confidently stated. "...I just hope he does succeed."

____________________________

Soon, Oscar had made it back to the Mystics. Through the wind and growing rain, the Mystics watched as Oscar made his way into a cavern room, decorated with Mystic artifacts, and lit by candlelight.

Gasping for air, after his long run, Oscar spoke to the individual to lay in this room. "Master?"

"At the time when three suns meet..." Gasped the old and dying Mystic, who laid his head on a stone slab. His hair was white and his robes beige. His body, far more frail in appearance, compared to the other Mystics.

____________________________

"Why does Oscar refer to the Mystic as his master?" Blake asked with a hidden look of unease.

"Because they have a student—teacher relationship. Though there is a hint of a more familial stance between the two of them." Vortech answered before setting his sights on Blake. "Oscar's definitely not a slave, if that's what you're implying."

"It's just... I don't have the best view on the word "master"." Blake replied. "But why does Oscar not call the Mystic his father, or something similar?"

"I did say there was a hint of a familial bond that Oscar and his master have." Vortech said. "I didn't say it was anywhere near a full on father—son relationship. Though urSu is the closest thing Oscar has to a father figure."

"urSu?" Oobleck questioned with interest.

"It's the name of Oscar's master. And if you're going to write it down, then you should know that the "u" is lower case." Vortech informed the history teacher. "All Mystic names started with "ur", and the letter right after ur is upper case."

"Wait, all of the Mystics' names start with ur?" Weiss asked as Oobleck began writing down in his notes. "Then what was the name of the Mystic who created the sand painting?"

"urZah the Ritual Guardian." Vortech answered.

"urSu, urZah..." Ozpin muttered as he began putting things together within his head. "And given the latter's title, are we to assume all Mystics have titles as well?"

"Correct." Vortech simply spoke before looking over at Blake again. "Another reason why Oscar refers to urSu as his master is because Master is the title urSu uses."

"So they have a social hierarchy similar to the Skeksis." Ozpin concluded. "Is their naming the same as the Skeksis also?"

"Also correct." Vortech replied. "The true name of the Mystics are the urRu."

"urRu, Skeksis, similar social orders." Ironwood listed off. "The more and more we learn about each species, the more apparent their parallels become."

"If that's the case, then what are the names of the rest of Mystics?" Glynda asked as she turned to Vortech.

Vortech let out a quiet groan in response to this question before he did his best to evade answering. "Are you sure you want to know that now? The Mystics won't have as much of a presence as the Skeksis do, in this viewing. Besides, it will be tricky enough for some of you as it is to remember all of the Skeksis names. It will be trickier to remember the Mystics' names."

"Is that truly the case? Or are you just trying to procrastinate in informing us more about the Mystics?" Winter asked Vortech with a knowing, steely glance.

"You dare to assume I'm being lazy?" Vortech slowly asked Winter as he narrowed his white-blue eyes at her.

"She wouldn't if you'd just tell us." Qrow jumped into the conversation.

This time Vortech let out an angry grumble beneath his breath before eventually complying to his audience's wishes. "Fine then. But just know that the more you demand of me, the more demeaning I find you all to be."

"Well, you don't gotta be so crabby about it." Yang said to Vortech with a blank look, accompanied by a raised brow. "I mean, do you not know how to be social with anyone?"

Vortech gave no reply to Yang as he cleared his throat, preparing to list off the names of the Mystics. "Their names are as follows. urTih the Alchemist. urIm the Healer. urAmaj the Cook. urUtt the Weaver. urYod the Numerologist. urNol the Herbalist. urAc the Scribe. And urSol the Chanter."

"Huh... you know, some of those names aren't really as striking as the Skeksis'." Nora admitted after hearing the Mystics' names listed out.

"I told you wouldn't remember them as well." Vortech muttered off to the side in annoyance.

"Hey, wait a minute. Some of the Mystics' titles sound similar to some of the Skeksis' titles." Jaune noticed. "Like, SkekZok and urZah both have titles relating to rituals. SkekOk and urAc have something to do with reading and writing. SkekEkt and urUtt both have something to do with fashion and clothing. And SkekAyuk and urAmaj both have something to do with food."

"Oh, yeah... you're right, Jaune." Ruby said as she saw the same similarities her fellow leader did. "That's kind of weird. Almost freaky weird."

"But then some of their titles are opposite of each other." Ren pointed out. "Such as SkekUng being a general and urIm being a healer."

"The weirdness just gets freakier." Ruby commented.

"I think we can all agree the Skeksis and Mystics have a lot more in common than meets the eye, at this rate." Blake said before she furrowed her brows in thought. "But is that as far as the similarities go? Or is there even more?"

____________________________

"Master, what's wrong?" Oscar asked urSu with a worried face.

"You are in danger, Gelfling." urSu warned Oscar with his dying, raspy voice. "And I must leave you."

"Leave me?" Oscar questioned, crouching down onto his knees to look into urSu's eyes. "Master... no."

____________________________

"Man... I can't imagine what it's like to watch the person who raised you slowly die right before your eyes." Yang frowned as she cast Oscar a sympathetic look.

"Oscar can at least find solace in that urSu is moving on to the next world peacefully." Ren calmly spoke before slightly lowering his head. "On Remnant, the life of a huntsman and huntress rarely ends by means of natural aging."

"It still won't change that Oscar has to watch him die." Yang replied. "I get that he's with urSu, in his final moments, but... this sort of thing is gonna leave a lasting impression on Oscar."

"Death's just a natural factor of life, sweetie." Tai spoke to Yang. "We can't ever really control when or how it happens. The most we can ever do is be there for our loved ones when their time is up. Trust me. It's far better seeing the face of someone you love as they pass on, than to never get that chance at all."

____________________________

"Gelfling, I have... told you of the Skeksis." urSu said.

Oscar's eyes had furrowed at the name of the cruel beings as he ruefully spoke about them. "The Skeksis killed my mother... and father."

"The story runs deeper than you know, and you are part of it." urSu said to Oscar.

Oscar looked confused by his master's words. "I don't understand."

____________________________

"Sounds like we're getting closer to knowing why the Skeksis killed the Gelfling." Ruby said as a wary look grew upon her face.

"And the same can be said for Oscar." Jaune pointed out. "He apparently doesn't know the reason either."

"I wonder if he ever had questions about why they were killed." Yang said with a frown. "I know I would have."

"Well, if he ever did, then Oscar's finally about to get his answers." Blake replied.

____________________________

Slowly, urSu moved his hand over a larger bowl filled with a green liquid. "The Skeksis will vow to destroy you, for the prophecy says you must find the Shard, the Crystal Shard."

Soon, a pale, white crystal formed out from the green liquid. It was shaped much like the Dark Crystal.

____________________________

"Wait... so the Skeksis destroyed the Gelfling because of some prophecy?" Weiss questioned, both out of disgust and further confusion. "Wh-why? What does this crystal shard do?"

"I think we're about to find out." Pyrrha said as she stared intently at the screen.

____________________________

"The Crystal Shard?" Oscar asked.

"To save our world, Gelfling... you must find the Shard... before the three suns meet." urSu said before the image of the Crystal Shard disappeared from the bowl.

urSu then reached his hand out to Oscar, who reached his own hand out in return. urSu held Oscar's hand for a moment, before receding his own. "If not, Skeksis rule forever."

____________________________

"So that is why the Skeksis destroyed the Gelfling." Ozpin surmised. "Whatever Oscar must do with the crystal shard will bring about the end of the Skeksis' rule. The Skeksis were afraid of losing their power."

"I knew I would despise the reasoning the Skeksis had." Weiss bitterly spoke. "They killed off the Gelfling so that they would not be able to stand in the Skeksis' way of world domination."

"The same as any dictator would do so that they may hold firm on what power they have gained." Winter said with narrowed eyes.

"But what is it that the crystal shard can do in order to defeat the Skeksis?" Penny questioned as she placed her finger to her chin.

"Hmm... Well, the narrator said the Dark Crystal was cracked, right?" Ruby spoke up after thinking upon the matter. "And because of that, the Skeksis and the Mystics came to Thra. Maybe the shard is a lost fragment of the Crystal."

"Yes. I do believe that Ruby is onto something." Oobleck immediately nodded in agreement. "Perhaps restoring this shard with the rest of the Crystal is how the Skeksis are defeated."

"Okay... how the hell is that actually supposed to work, though?" Roman questioned in confusion. "Does fixing the Crystal kill the Skeksis, somehow? Does it send them back to where they came from? And wouldn't that have the same effect on these Mystics guys as well?"

"...Yeah, I can't figure out what exactly is going to happen if Oscar fixes the Crystal." Ruby said with uncertainty in her tone. "I guess we'll just have to hope that he completes his journey."

"But before he can do that, Oscar has to find the shard first." Jaune reminded.

"Yeah, that part is probably gonna be tricky too." Ruby replied as she deepened her frown in thought.

____________________________

"Where is it?" Oscar asked urSu.

Through his tired breath, urSu moved his hand over the bowl once more. "Glynda holds the Shard. Follow the greater sun for a day, to the home of Glynda."

Out from the bowl, the peak of a mountain formed with a large, oval, shell-like building rested atop it. "There she knows all the secrets."

____________________________

"...Or maybe it won't be so tricky after all." Ruby said as she blinked at the screen.

"Hey! We finally got someone from Remnant in this universe." Yang cheered a bit. "And it's none other than Miss Goodwitch."

"Huh. I can't say I was expecting that I would be the one to appear in this universe." Glynda spoke in a surprised tone.

"I doubt any of us will ever truly expect who will appear in each of these universes." Ozpin replied to his right hand woman. "Unless Vortech is able to inform us beforehand. If he's willing, that is."

"At least we know that you have an important role within this universe." Ironwood said to Glynda. "Your counterpart holds the key to the Skeksis' defeat."

"Indeed. Though I now have to beg the question of what kind of species my counterpart will be." Glynda then said. "After all, the Skeksis killed the Gelfling because of the prophecy that foretold Oscar bringing about their end. But since it doesn't sound like my counterpart has tried to restore the Crystal herself, she might not be a Gelfling."

"Maybe your counterpart is a Mystic then?" Tai suggested.

"Oh, wouldn't that be lovely." Glynda sarcastically remarked. "I have nothing against the Mystics, but I do hope I don't appear the same as a hairless sloth."

"You just might regret those words, once you get a good look at how your counterpart truly appears." Vortech thought to himself with an inward glance, glancing down at Glynda.

____________________________

"Glynda?" Oscar questioned his master as the image of Glynda's home vanished from the bowl. "Follow the greater sun? But, Master, I'm only a Gelfling."

"I should've told you these things long ago... Now it is up to you." urSu said before letting out another, tired groan. "Remember me, Oscar. We may meet in another life... but not again in this one."

With his peace said, urSu placed his head back onto the stone slab, falling into his sleep, awaiting his inevitable death.

"Master..." Oscar solemnly spoke to urSu with a saddened expression. "Don't leave me."

____________________________

"It would seem urSu is now in his final moments." Port spoke, somberly.

"And with one last goodbye sentiment along with it." Qrow said before he raised his flask at the screen. "We barely knew the guy, but I'm sure urSu was as great and wise as they come."

"Indeed." Ozpin nodded. "And I can sympathize with urSu's words. Sometimes, there are important things that we should tell to those closest to us... and sometimes we do so when it's too late."

"Oh, that was quite the lovely self-personal jab. Just brilliant." Vortech sardonically complimented within his head, in regards to Ozpin. "I give that an easy seven out of ten."

"So much weight has been placed upon Oscar in such a short amount of time." Pyrrha said as she sighed through her nose. "I hope he will be able to overcome this in time for his journey."

"Oscar's going to have to if he's to stop the Skeksis." Blake stated. "Sometimes we just don't have the luxury of time to mourn those we've lost."

"Which I think is complete bull." Yang said with a shake of her head. "But sometimes the world ain't the happiest of places, so there's not much you can do about it."

"Well... it's like Dad said before. At least Oscar will be with urSu when he passes away." Ruby said with a small, saddened smile. "One last memory to make before everything starts changing for Oscar."

____________________________

Back at the Castle of the Crystal, the stormy night had returned to cover the desolate land; thunder lightning raining down.

Within one of the halls of the castle, the Skeksis General, SkekUng, walked with a grunting breath. For the time, he was alone in the hall. However, SkekUng gasped in surprise when the Skeksis Chamberlain, SkekSil, suddenly appeared beside SkekUng with a whimpering hum.

SkekUng hissed at SkekSil as the two circled each other. After SkekSil let out another hum, SkekUng turned away from him before the two continued down the hall.

"I hate your whimper!" SkekUng berated SkekSil as they walked.

____________________________

"Looks like we're back with these schmucks." Roman remarked as he began to blow a puff from his bubble cigar. "And they're already having a bit of infighting, to boot."

"I wonder what the Skeksis are up to now." Ironwood said as he cupped his hand onto his chin. "We wouldn't be seeing more of them if it wasn't important."

"And given the personalities of the Skeksis, I dread for what the importance may be." Glynda replied as she frowned in concern.

____________________________

Soon enough, SkekUng and SkekSil made their way towards a large, lavish chamber where the rest of the Skeksis had gathered; all of them chattering amongst each, indistinctly.

However, as SkekUng and SkekSil made their way into the chamber, the latter continued with his whimpering hum, causing the General to grow irate with the Chamberlain.

"Quiet!" SkekUng shouted at SkekSil.

____________________________

"Man. The General does not like The Chamberlain, does he?" Yang asked with a slightly raised brow.

"To be fair, I don't much like SkekSil's hum either." Weiss added with a frown. "There is  just something about the tone of it that sounds underhanded, in a way."

"That's probably because SkekSil is underhanded." Blake replied to Weiss.

"What does a chamberlain even do?" Ruby asked.

"A chamberlain, Ruby, is a senior royal official who superintends the arrangement of domestic affairs." Weiss explained to her partner. "Though sometimes a chamberlain can be used by a government, in which they would usually be in charge of finances. However, without much of a public to interact with, I wonder what point SkekSil has to keep his title. Maybe he is some form of intermediary between his fellow Skeksis."

"So what I'm getting from all of that... SkekSil basically just talks to a lot of people?" Ruby tried to summarize.

"Loosely." Weiss replied.

"Eh. I'll take that." Ruby shrugged in response.

____________________________

However, SkekSil paid SkekUng no mind as they gathered with the other Skeksis. What the Skeksis had gathered around in the chamber was a large bed with red sheets and curtains upon the bed's roof. The one who presumably laid in this bed was undoubtedly the Skeksis dying emperor.

Upon the arrival of the General and Chamberlain, SkekZok turned to face the two. While SkekSil held the same composure he had throughout the entire time, SkekUng gave out a grunting sigh as he placed his arms to his hips.

With a grunt of his own, SkekZok turned back to face the dying emperor as SkekSil and SkekUng walked towards the bed as well; the former of whom made his way over to SkekTek.

"He is not dead yet, my Lord Chamberlain." SkekTek said to SkekSil as he motioned to the dying emperor.

As SkekSil gave another hum, he looked unto the form of the dying emperor. His body was haggard and brittle as he lay his head on many pillows; his body covered with a larger blanket. His jaw was open, gasping for what air he could continue to take in. His face gave the impression that he held a strong and firm disposition long ago, but now he was pale and shriveled; a husk of his former youth.

____________________________

"I... take it that is their dying emperor." Winter said as she cast a disturbed expression towards the screen.

"He looks worse than the other Skeksis." Qrow remarked. "With a body like that, I'm surprised he's still breathing."

"Can't say I blame the Skeksis for trying to cheat death, now that I got a good look at what one of them dying looks like." Roman commented with a disgruntled look. "If that's how I'd look like when I was going to die of old age, I'd try to keep myself as alive and young as possible too."

"The guy's practically a corpse at this rate." Yang said as she balked at the screen.

"He kind of looks more like a mummy." Nora said.

"Yes. The state of the emperor's current health is very unpleasant." Penny nodded in agreement.

"I have to wonder why it is that the Skeksis emperor is dying of old age when the other Skeksis are able to draw life from the sun." Pyrrha spoke with an unsettled expression. "Did something go wrong for the emperor at some point in his life? Or is this what inevitably awaits all of the Skeksis, regardless of how long they try to replenish their lives?"

"If it's the second one, I'd say that I almost pity them." Blake commented. "But there is no pity for those who destroy innocent lives for their own satisfaction."

"The situation is quite ironic. After trying to expand their lives, the Skeksis still die in the end." Weiss said as she shook her head. "And yet, they still try to defy death."

"When someone is desperate enough, they rarely ever learn from the consequences of their actions." Ren stated. "They'll continue and continue until they destroy themselves."

"The Skeksis are both evil and sad at the same time." Ruby added as she stared at the barely living emperor. "...But they're definitely more evil."

____________________________

"Kneel! Bow!" SkekUng stated to the other Skeksis, ensuring they would give their respect for the dying SkekSo.

Several of the Skeksis began to follow suit of SkekUng as they bowed before the emperor.

____________________________

"Hmm. Despite how cruel these Skeksis are, it seems they still have enough respect for each other to be with their emperor when he too is upon his death bed." Ozpin observed.

"You know, I almost forgot that both the Mystics and the Skeksis have dying leaders." Tai said before he grimaced at the sight of the emperor. "Though urSu looks a lot more peaceful than this guy."

"You would be correct on that account. It's an understatement to say that SkekSo is now a shriveled shell of his former glory." Vortech spoke. "Once he was regarded as the mightiest of the Skeksis. Now he is nothing more than a sad state of existence."

"He's still able to hold onto his life, so this SkekSo still has some strength left in him." Ironwood commented.

"Is this what befell the Skeksis who are no longer among the world of the living?" Oobleck questioned.

"Not entirely." Vortech replied. "The Skeksis that are no more died by other means. Most in battle. The same could be said about the Mystics who had died as well."

"Just how many Skeksis and Mystics were there when they first came to Thra?" Port asked.

"Eighteen each." Vortech answered.

"Huh. I wonder what caused all their deaths." Qrow said. "Think you can fill us in?"

"No. What more you learn about the personal history of the Skeksis and Mystics is another tale for another time." Vortech stated, back to Qrow. "Better to focus on the present of their history, for the time being."

____________________________

However, as SkekSo lay with gasping breaths, SkekSil shifted his gaze down towards the emperor's scepter. Slowly, SkekSil moved his hand to grab the scepter, but was quickly met with retaliation from the emperor.

"Mine! Mine!" SkekSo shouted at SkekSil with his scratchy, high-pitched tone, slamming his hand down onto the scepter.

____________________________

"Son of a bitch!" Yang exclaimed as she shot back into her chair.

"Jeez!" Ruby exclaimed as well as her heartbeat rapidly increased. "I was not expecting that..."

"God, that was creepy." Jaune said with a squeamish look.

"Someone's still kicking enough to caw like a seagull." Qrow remarked.

"His voice is absolutely horrendous." Glynda stated, with a cringe. "I've never heard anything more hoarse and scratchy in my life."

"I'm surprised SkekSo's lungs still function enough for him to speak." Port said. "Not that it's much to begin with."

'It's better than what I can do.' Neo signed.

____________________________

SkekSil receded back from the bed as he put on his best smile for SkekSo, attempting to show he posed the dying emperor no ill will.

SkekSo growled at SkekSil before turning his attention to the other gathering Skeksis.

"Back!" SkekSo ordered his kin, causing them all to gasp a bit in surprise at the sudden command; though nevertheless heading it.

____________________________

"Looks like the Skeksis still adhere to SkekSo's commands." Blake observed.

"I wonder how much of that adherement is out of respect for SkekSo... or fear out of fear of him." Ironwood said with a steely gaze.

"Why not both?" Roman remarked.

"SkekSo is still trying to put on a strong appearance before his subordinates." Winter analyzed the scene. "Perhaps he wishes to deny the fact that these are his last moments?"

"Regardless, it will not do much for SkekSo." Oobleck stated. "In the end, there is no escaping death."

____________________________

"I... I... I... I..." SkekSo stuttered as he tried to keep his eyes awake and focused. "I... am... still Emperor. I... ah... AAGH!"

However, in his stuttering speech, SkekSo suddenly groaned and gasped in pain. The emperor did his best to hold on to life, but it was all for not. With one final gasp, SkekSo's head fell back against the pillows; his arm falling to the side as his body went limp.

____________________________

"Not anymore, you're not." Glynda commented as stated upon the now lifeless form of SkekSo with an even gaze.

'Someone better move the body before rigor sets in.' Neo signed her remark. 'Otherwise that's gonna be one nasty mess.'

"Even in his own death, the emperor of the Skeksis still tries to cling to what power he has." Ozpin spoke as she shook his head. "It's truly pitiful."

"And there goes the emperor of the Skeksis." Ruby spoke.

"Good riddance." Weiss stated with crossed arms.

"After everything the Skeksis have done to Thra, I'd say SkekSo's death came too late." Blake gave her opinion.

"Yeah... well at least that's one less Skeksis to worry about." Yang remarked. "Now Oscar just has to deal with the remaining nine."

"Which will still be no easy feat." Ren added.

"Indeed. Who knows how long of a journey Oscar will have." Port said. "And how much time will be left before Thra enters its stage of testing."

____________________________

All the Skeksis gathered closer to SkekSo's bed to see if their emperor was now gone; with SkekSil humming at the sight. The Skeksis then watched as SkekSo's corpse turned grey. A creaking sound could be heard from the corpse before it began to crack and crumble away. From head to toe, SkekSo's dead body had broken down into dust; a grisly sight for all the Skeksis to see.

Still taken aback by the emperor's gruesome death, the Skeksis shared shocked expressions with one another as they tried to figure out how to proceed.

____________________________

It was not just the Skeksis who stared in shock at how SkekSo's corpse cracked and crumbled away into dust. The audience all held perturbed expressions, and agape jaws at the dark and grisly death.

"By all that's holy..." Pietro muttered before gesturing the sign of the cross upon himself.

"I... I do not believe I have ever been so petrified by the way someone has died before." Winter spoke with a quiet tone, her face calm yet her eyes filled with dread.

"How does such an occurrence happen?" Port uttered in shock.

"You're far better at biology than myself, Peter. I was hoping you could tell me that." Oobleck replied to his friend as he beheld his own haunted expression.

"Well... at least the Skeksis don't have to cremate the emperor." Roman said, trying to make light of the situation. Though it was mainly to alleviate his own nerves.

'This was not the mess I thought was gonna happen.' Neo signed as her pupils were dilated with terror.

"Man. At this rate I don't know if drinking's gonna make this viewing worse for me, or it might actually make it easier to watch." Qrow remarked as he stared down upon his flask.

"Hey, Dad...?" Ruby shakingly called out to her father.

"Yeah, Ruby?" Tai asked back as his eyes were glued to the screen.

"...I don't feel so good, all of a sudden." Ruby told Tai her face had been frozen in horror.

"Me neither, sweetie... me neither." Tai slowly replied back.

Yang, who held a disturbed expression of her own, said nothing as she carefully wrapped her arm around Ruby's shoulder before bringing her in, allowing her little sister to rest her head upon her chest.

"Oh... that was just... so messed up." Jaune said with his face down, trying to steady his breathing.

"That was... that was just terrible." Pyrrha said as she had clasped her hands over her mouth out of shock and fear.

"I... I do not believe I can find the right words to describe how I very much did not like the way SkekSo died." Penny said, glancing around with a frown upon her face.

"So this is what it feels like to be scarred for life." Nora spoke with an emotionless posture; her eyes wide and frozen.

"I could really use my semblance right about now." Ren said with a small, disgruntled look.

"Oh, I really wish I hadn't seen that. I really, really, really wish I didn't." Weiss repeatedly spoke as she buried her face into her open hands, trying everything she could to block out her newly acquired memory.

"That was... disturbing, to put it lightly." Blake said as she too held a shocked expression. "And yet... it doesn't seem to affect me as much as the others. I guess I'm kind of desensitized to some of the more atrocious things in the world, by now."

"Dear God. I can't believe I'm regretting watching a villain die." Glynda shook her head whilst pinching the bridge of her nose; her eyes closed as she tried to ensteel her nerves.

"Just as much as the Skeksis lead a cruel and twisted life, so too are their own deaths the same way." Ironwood spoke with calmed horror. "SkekSo's demise won't be an image I'll be able to get out of head, any time soon."

"Perhaps we now know the greatest reason why the Skeksis wish to cheat death." Ozpin said, grimly. "...They turn to dust when they die."

____________________________

Meanwhile, back in the valley of the Mystics, Oscar looked upon the still and lifeless form of urSu.

"Oh, Master, I'll go where you send me... though I barely understand." Oscar thought to himself as he watched the form of urSu fade away in bright and shimmering sparkles; his robes slowly caving in as there was no body which remained for them to take shape around.

____________________________

"Now, you see, that death was a lot more peaceful." Yang motioned her hand to the screen as she still allowed Ruby to rest her head upon her. "I'm sure a lot of people would love to go out like that."

"I would..." Ruby muttered as she still held her frozen look from before.

"It's quite the stark contrast." Blake commented. "The Skeksis live twisted lives, so they die a twisted death. But since the Mystics live peaceful lives, they die an almost majestic death."

"Yes. It is much more beautiful to witness than SkekSo's death." Penny eagerly nodded in agreement.

"Though I can hardly say it erases the memory of that nightmarish scene." Weiss commented as she rubbed her forehead, still trying to forget what she had seen.

"Turning into sparkles and glitter is definitely a far better way to go than to crumble into dust." Roman stated his thoughts as he still tried to get over the sight of SkekSo dying. However, it was then that a new thought entered into his mind. "Hey, hold on a sec... did this guy and the Skeksis emperor both die at the same time?"

"It... does appear that way, yes." Oobleck responded.

"Uh-huh... anybody else find it pretty convenient how that works out?" Roman questioned anyone who would answer.

"It wouldn't be the first coincidence we've seen involving the Skeksis and the Mystics." Ironwood said to Roman as he too began to think on the matter. "Vortech, are you willing to give us an answer to this one?"

Vortech responded by slowly leaning forward in his throne, repeating some of his earlier words in an almost sneering tone. "Another tale. Another time."

"Why do you gotta be so damn cryptic?" Roman asked Vortech with a slightly annoyed look.

"Why do you all want to keep asking for spoilers?" Vortech shot back. "You'll find the answers you seek when we get there. Being impatient about it isn't going to bring them to you sooner."

"As if you're not glad to shoot us down every time we ask something important." Roman muttered with an eye roll.

Having heard the criminal's mutter, Vortech smirked to himself as he sat back within his throne. "Well now, I would be lying to myself if I denied that."

____________________________

Later on, one of the Mystics, of whom was garbed in red clothing, played a soothing melody with his harp as the other Mystics hummed in tune. Soon, the remaining nine Mystics gathered in a circle around the belongings of urSu and the rocks that formed his funeral sight.

"Dear friend, be well." Spoke urZah, the Ritual Guardian, as all of the Mystics raised their arms up. "Receive your belongings. Receive them serenely."

One by one, urSu's belongings vanished in a calming flash of blue. The Mystics then lowered their heads in respect before the rocks of the burial sight.

____________________________

"Interesting." Oobleck spoke as he began to write down in his notes. "The Mystics are able to cast a ritual that sends one's belongings to the afterlife."

"It's much more effective than leaving items upon one's tombstone for symbolism, that's for sure." Port stated.

"Hmph. I probably wouldn't mind being buried by these Mystic guys." Roman said as a sly smile grew upon his face. "Especially if they can send me all of my belongings."

"Ignoring that half of all of your belongings were most likely stolen from someone else, what value do you think money would have in the afterlife?" Glynda asked as she turned her head back at the criminal. "There's nothing to purchase, and no one who'd care for what bribes you may offer them. And even at that, I doubt there would be anyone in the afterlife who'd be impressed by all of the money you've stolen."

"It's the principal of the matter." Roman easily replied. "I worked hard for my loot. Why should I just let it rust and dust away when I die? Far better for me to have it than for all of my work to go to waste."

'Just as long as I get half of it in the will.' Neo signed to her boss.

"Well... that might take some negotiating there, Neo." Roman gave a small chuckle in response.

Neo then grew a bland look as she raised her brow at Roman, placing her hand upon her hip before using the other to hold up the sign. 'Those better be some short negotiations.'

____________________________

"Now, we send forth Oscar." urZah said. "Watch over his dangerous quest."

Several of the Mystics looked up to see Oscar, who had already begun his journey out of the Mystics' valley. Standing before spiraling rocks, Oscar turned back to the home of the Mystics; his thoughts still lingering upon urSu. "Dear, dear Master, I'll find the Shard."

____________________________

"Wait..." Ruby said with a sniffle as she finally rose up after resting her head upon Yang's chest. "None of the Mystics are going with him?"

"There never exactly was any indication that Oscar would have the Mystics' company along on his journey." Pyrrha said.

"But why not?" Ruby questioned. "Wouldn't the Mystics being with Oscar make his journey easier?"

"It's because the Mystics' ways are opposite of the Skeksis'." Vortech stated, to Ruby. "Where the Skeksis are active and seek to conquer and control, the Mystics all agreed not to intervene with the daily life of Thra. It's why they went into hiding until the day they are needed."

"But doesn't Thra need them now?" Yang asked in confusion.

"Not just yet." Vortech replied. "But their time will come. However, Oscar must secure the Crystal Shard before that can happen."

"Then I guess Oscar needs to get to Miss Goodwitch's counterpart right quick." Jaune commented.

____________________________

The viewing changed to later in the day as Oscar now found himself standing at the exit of the Mystics' valley. Before him was a vastly lush and green land with long rivers and scattered mountains; all of which stood before a mighty canyon.

____________________________

"What a view." Tai remarked with an impressed whistle.

"No kidding." Qrow said in agreement with his old friend's sentiment.

"Huh. I wouldn't mind a journey across a nice place like that." Yang said with a small smile. "The issue with trying to travel on Remnant is having to worry about the Grimm. But it doesn't look like Oscar has anything like that to worry about. At least for now."

"Not unless you count the Skeksis." Blake pointed out.

"Eh. The Skeksis don't know Oscar's on his way to Miss Goodwitch." Yang shrugged. "He's only gonna have trouble if the Skeksis find out about him earlier than later."

"Unless the Skeksis already predicted that Oscar was on his way to Miss Goodwitch." Ruby then said.

"Nah. They don't strike me as being that much prepared." Yang waved her sister off. "Their emperor thought he could still live when he was on his deathbed. The Skeksis probably think they killed all of the Gelfling."

"Let's hope that's the case." Ren said. "Otherwise the Skeksis will do everything in their power to hunt Oscar down."

____________________________

Oscar looked out to the green land before him, the wind blowing his hair back as he held an unsure and melancholy expression.

"I'm not ready to go alone." Oscar thought to himself.

____________________________

"Getting cold feet already?" Roman asked towards the screen.

"Oscar has probably been with the Mystics all of his life; never once far away from them." Ren surmised with a sympathetic look. "Now he has to leave them to go upon a quest to save Thra, just after his master died."

"Can't be easy for him." Nora said with a more calm and understanding tone. "I don't know how I would react if I lost Ren."

"But Oscar will have to overcome his insecurities if he's to reach my counterpart within the day." Glynda stated. "It won't be easy for him, but saving the world never is. All Oscar needs is to put one foot right out of the door to truly be on his way."

____________________________

But, after staring at the lush valley before him for another moment, the Gelfling steeled his nerves with as much determination he could muster. "All right. Alone, then."

____________________________

"Attaboy, Oscar." Yang lightly cheered for the Gelfling. "Nothing like determination to get you going in the morning."

"And now the journey to the Crystal Shard begins." Blake said. "All we can do now is pray that the Skeksis don't get to Oscar before the time of testing."

____________________________

From then on, Oscar continued with the beginning of his journey. As he made his way through the green valley, Oscar had passed through many beautiful and breathtaking landmarks.

He traipsed his way between the crevice of two stone peaks, from which a rushing, cascading waterfall ran through; collecting along a great many rocks and boulders at its bottom, which flowed into the river.

Oscar then found himself running down a great, green hill side, being careful not to lose his balance and tumble off.

Yet, throughout the changing locations, it was made obvious how it was not the beautiful landscape that stood out the most at the beginning of Oscar's journey. Rather, it was how the land seemed so much larger in comparison to the Gelfling. Or, more likely, how much smaller Oscar was to the rest of the world.

____________________________

"Oh, how sensational!" Penny spoke in awe and excitement. "I've never seen such beautiful landmarks before."

"Indeed. I never saw any view close to this back in Atlas." Weiss said as she too marveled at the sight. "And it's good to see that the Skeksis have yet to have corrupted everything within the world of Thra."

"Everything just seems so big from this perspective." Jaune said. "This must be what we look like from afar when walking around in Remnant."

"More or less." Port replied to Jaune before furrowing his eyes at the screen. "Though I feel as though something is off with the size scaling around young Oscar, here. It's as if everything feels a bit too big compared to him."

"You wouldn't be far off in your assumption." Vortech said to the Grimm studies professor. "Gelfling are not known to be the largest or tallest of creatures."

"By what do you mean by that?" Port asked in curiosity. "How tall is a Gelfling?"

"Around three feet, at their fullest height."  Vortech simply responded.

"Three feet?!" Pyrrha exclaimed in shock. "That's the size of a child!"

"Well no wonder why the land seems so much bigger than Oscar." Port remarked with a scoffing chuckle. "He's smaller than the size of humans and Faunus."

"Suddenly this puts Oscar's journey into an entirely new perspective." Blake said as she thought upon how large Oscar must have considered the world around him.

"Then what is the average height of the Skeksis?" Oobleck then asked.

"Around six feet tall. Though each Skeksis does have slightly varying heights." Vortech explained.

"There's no way Oscar could survive a full frontal confrontation with the Skeksis." Ironwood said in response to Vortech's statement about the Skeksis. "He'll have to use a great deal of stealth if he ever reaches the Castle of the Crystal."

"No kidding. With someone as small as Oscar going up against the Skeksis, it'd be like someone from Remnant going up against nine Ursa Majors." Qrow stated.

"Hey, Oscar's only about two feet smaller than me, and I can handle myself fine with Grimm." Ruby spoke in defense of the Gelfling.

"That's because you have combat training, Ruby." Tai reminded his daughter. "I don't think that's the same case with Oscar."

"Oh... yeah, I guess you got a point there." Ruby conceded with a small frown. "This is gonna be really difficult for Oscar, isn't it?"

"If Oscar is strong enough to brave the challenges ahead, I believe he will be able to restore the shard with the Dark Crystal." Ozpin gave his thoughts. "But time will tell how true that may be."

____________________________

The viewing then went back to the Skeksis, who all moved about in the throne room of the castle. The room itself was not the most lavish thing in the castle; bearing a stone stairwell at its right wing with some ornate architecture along the walls. However, the biggest draw in the room was the throne of the Skeksis emperor, which stood in front of tall, red velvet curtains. It was made with an ivory-like material with rims of gold strewn about it. At its base were two large and curving tusks with runic decals engraved into them. Resting above the seat of the throne was a hooded cover shaped like a jagged umbrella; above which was a towering stalk that spiraled into the shape of a flower that was beginning to open, only to appear as if it was wilting at the same time.

____________________________

"Now what are these buzzards doing?" Nora questioned as she frowned at the Skeksis.

"It looks as if they're all talking about something." Blake said as she squinted her eyes at the screen. "I can't tell what their talk is about, though."

"Given how they are talking in what I can only assume is the throne room, the Skeksis must be talking about SkekSo's death, to some capacity." Weiss surmised.

"And I thought Vortech had a big throne." Yang remarked. "But the Skeksis have an even bigger one. Bigger and busier. Probably too busy."

"It fits with the Skeksis style. Of that much I will say." Weiss replied to Yang as she too cast the Skeksis throne an odd look.

____________________________

The Skeksis all murmured to one another as they discussed what to do next.

"The Emperor is dead." SkekUng quietly said to SkekTek, who walked by him.

"Which one of us will be the new emperor?" SkekOk questioned beside SkekSil and SkekEkt.

____________________________

"Ah. They're talking about who'll be next in line for the throne." Qrow lazily commented.

"I suppose the Skeksis will now vote for who they decide to be their new leader." Glynda assumed. "If that's how their politics work."

"Given the nature of the Skeksis, I'd be willing to bet they'd all just vote for themselves, if that were the case." Ironwood said. "I believe there's more to the ascension of the emperor than just a simple election."

"Well, basing the Skeksis' monarchy with Remnant's own, SkekSil holds the constitutional claim to the throne, given his position as chamberlain." Oobleck stated. "And the only one who could possibly challenge that claim is SkekUng, given his position as general."

"So perhaps the Skeksis will have to choose between the chamberlain and the general." Ozpin said as he cast the screen a thoughtful glance. "Or there may be a different means for how an emperor is chosen for the Skeksis. Let us find out, shall we?."

____________________________

"Oh, yes, my Lord Chamberlain, time to choose an emperor." SkekEkt said to SkekSil.

"Yes." SkekSil agreed. "It should be me."

Soon, SkekUng and SkekTek were joined by SkekNa, just as the former two talked about who the next emperor should be.

"Yes." SkekTek eagerly spoke as he had agreed upon something with SkekUng.

SkekUng then whispered into SkekNa's ear as he spoke in opposition of SkekSil as emperor. "Not him. I must rule."

Meanwhile, SkekZok was joined in a group by SkekAyuk and SkekShod.

SkekShod had seen the other two Skeksis groups speak of who the next emperor should be. He then turned towards SkekZok, pointing to the Ritual Master and speaking in a horse tone to him. "You-you should be the emperor."

____________________________

"Hmm. I guess even the Skeksis can recognize when one of their own is better suited for a specific role other than their own selves." Ironwood remarked with a mildly surprised look.

"So it seems we have a three-way competition between the highest ranking members of the Skeksis." Ozpin observed. "The chamberlain, the general, and the ritual master."

"The question now is what will be the deciding factor for either of them to become the new emperor?" Glynda said as she shared a look with Ozpin.

"Yeah, they've each got their own groups." Tai pointed out. "So if it came down to a vote, I'm pretty sure they'd end up tying."

"Perhaps it will then come down to a trial of wits or strength." Port suggested.

"If it's wits, then SkekSil and SkekZok should have the upper hand." Oobleck stated. "If it's strength, however, then I'm certain SkekUng would take the win and the throne."

____________________________

"There's going to be a fight." SkekEkt whispered to SkekOk, quick to notice the rising mood in the room.

SkekOk nodded to SkekEkt before the two turned to look at SkekSil.

SkekSil gave a hum, a determined look in his eyes as he made his decision. "It's time to make... my move."

____________________________

"And we're off to the races." Jaune commented.

"The conniving one's always do find an opening to strike." Weiss stated. "SkekSil's only issue will be if SkekZok or SkekUng challenge him."

"Given how the general didn't seem too friendly with the chamberlain, earlier, I doubt he's gonna let SkekSil become the emperor." Yang said. "I know how to spot a bad temper, and SkekUng has a really bad temper."

____________________________

"It's me." SkekUng whispered to SkekNa before looking over at the SkekSil.

Glancing over at SkekUng, SkekSil then began his approach towards the throne.

"Oh, yes. We're all with you." SkekEkt whispered out to Chamberlain in support of him.

Seeing SkekSil make his way to the throne, SkekUng was quick to follow after him. SkekZok was next to follow as he let out a thinking hum, raising his brow at Chamberlain and the General.

Just as SkekSil was about to grab the staff of the deceased SkekSo, SkekZok attempted to stop the conniving SkekSil.

"Chamberlain, no! Wait! Stop! You can't!" SkekZok ordered SkekSil.

"Get back, spithead!" SkekSil yelled in return to the Ritual Master, fully intending to take the scepter for himself.

"Huh?!" SkekZok exclaimed in response.

____________________________

"Spithead?" Roman repeated in bewilderment. "What kind of insult is spithead?"

'One that sounds real close to sh*thead.' Neo signed.

"It must be a swear found in either Skeksis culture or from the Thra culture." Oobleck surmised. "Either way, it's taken aback SkekZok."

"But will SkekZok stand there and take the insult?" Pietro questioned. "I personally wouldn't know what to do if someone called me a spithead. I'd probably be too baffled by the meaning of the insult to properly counteract."

"Well, if nothing else, we can at least take away that the ol' chamberlain here ain't cowardly." Qrow remarked. "He definitely knows when to assert dominance."

"Hmph. Almost reminds me of my rotten excuse of a father." Winter scoffed with a small glare. "A swindler with a hidden iron fist."

____________________________

Just as SkekSil began to pick up the scepter, the General roared out to his rival.

"Chamberlain!" SkekUng shouted with a bellowing tone. "Lay down that scepter!"

SkekUng grabbed SkekSil's shoulder, yanking him away from the scepter and the throne. The two Skeksis then roared and growled at one another, both trying to intimidate the other.

____________________________

"Called it." Yang said as she raised her hand.

"These two really hate each other, don't they?" Ruby rhetorically questioned.

"It's because they're rivals." Vortech explained. "When the Skeksis first began their war against the Gelfling, SkekSil and SkekUng were the closest advisors of SkekSo. Other than petty reasons for disliking each other, these two have always had a differing opinion of how to handle certain situations."

"I can see why." Blake commented. "SkekSil is more underhanded and patient. SkekUng is upfront and demanding."

"In layman's terms, it's the age-old feud of military and politics." Ironwood stated. "And speaking as someone who's had to try and balance both, neither side has much respect for the other."

"And then you have the clergyman sitting things out, as per usual." Roman said in regards to SkekZok.

"Oh, yeah. Why is it that SkekZok isn't fighting more for the throne?" Ruby questioned in confusion. "He was about to stop SkekSil, but just quit after he was insulted."

"I would take an educated guess and say it is because he's outclassed." Weiss began to explain to her partner. "SkekUng has superior strength. And SkekSil is politically next in line to be the emperor. As the ritual master, SkekZok has no further tactical or political leverage. At least, not without his own brand of behind the scenes scheming."

"So for now, it's down to the chamberlain against the general for the title of emperor." Blake said as she stared intently at the screen.

____________________________

Then, SkekUng took one step back and pointed at SkekSil as he gave Chamberlain his declaration. "I challenge!"

"HmMm?" SkekSil questioned with a slightly surprised expression. However, an idea formed in his head as he sneered at his rival. "HmHmm... Trial by stone."

Accepting this, SkekUng raised his fists in the air and roared out to the other Skeksis. "Trial by stone!"

____________________________

Upon hearing this, all in the audience grew confused and befuddled expressions as they shared their looks with one another.

"Trail by stone?" Pyrrha questioned.

"The heck do you do in a trial by stone?" Yang asked as she blinked in bewilderment.

____________________________

"Trial by stone!" SkekNa yelled out before turning around to several, much smaller creatures who began to enter the room. "Slaves, raise the stone!"

One by one these small and shackled slowly popped into the throne room. Their faces were round and pudgy, but they held a soulless aura to themselves. They were slow and tired; their skin wrinkled and greying, along with their receding hair. But the most eye catching thing to these enslaved creatures was how their eyes were a hollow white; dead and seemingly devoid of all life.

____________________________

Staring at the Skeksis's slaves, Blake found herself horrified by their ghastly appearances. "What... What happened to them? What did the Skeksis do to these... these creatures?"

"Firstly, they're called Podlings." Vortech told Blake. "Barring the Skeksis and Mystics, they're the second most sentient creatures on Thra behind the Gelfling. Their general intelligence is low, but they're smart enough to create a civilization of their own."

"Okay... then what did the Skeksis do to make these Podlings look so... lifeless?" Blake asked as she felt a chill of fear run down her spine at the sight of the Podling slaves.

"This resulted from experimentation that SkekTek implemented upon the Dark Crystal." Vortech explained.

"What sort of mad science could do that to a sentient creature?" Pietro questioned as he too was horrified by what he saw. "To any creature, for that matter?"

"The kind that practically drains one's soul from their body, sapping away all of their life force until only motorary functions remain." Vortech stated. "Their bodies can still move, as you all can see, but other than being able to recognize commands, these Podlings no longer have any free will of their own."

"In other words, the perfect slave." Glynda bitterly spoke.

"Are there no lows these deviants will not reach?" Winter angrily questioned.

"I've never had much of an opinion on forced labor, but... man... this is a whole new level of "sick" and "twisted"." Roman said as he held a perturbed expression. "Even I wouldn't condone something like this."

'I prefer the old method bosses use to deal with workers on strike.' Neo signed with terrified eyes.

"Those poor Podlings." Penny said with a saddened expression.

"It's downright inhumane, it is." Port stated, with a scowl.

"It's monstrous." Pyrrha said as she glared at the screen.

"It's pure evil." Ruby spoke with a dread-filled tone.

The horror-filled look Blake once had soon shifted into a rueful scowl as she balled up her hands into tight fists. "...It's Skeksis."

"I can't wait till these bastards get what's coming to them." Yang said as she crossed her arms, scowling at the screen.

"And I believed my father was one of the most cruel individuals I would ever meet." Weiss said as she too glared at the Skeksis. "I was so inconceivably wrong."

____________________________

"Get out there! Move!" SkekNa ordered as he pushed forward one of the slaves.

""Trial by stone!"" All of the Skeksis yelled out in cheer.

"Let's pull that rope! Come on!" SkekNa further ordered the Podling slaves as they reached to the center of the room. "Come on, slaves! Pull! Slaves, pull!"

____________________________

"They can only move so fast, you dickhead." Qrow bitterly said to SkekNa. "That's what happens when you drain the life out of something."

"SkekNa is the slave master. I can only surmise that he keeps yelling out orders for sadistic pleasure." Oobleck said with a frown. "As many slavers did in the past to the Faunus."

"What I wouldn't give to fire a round into each of these Skeksis." Ironwood said with a glare.

"They certainly warrant much hatred in response to their despicable actions." Ozpin spoke with a cold look in his eyes. "I can only imagine that if Salem had the power to do so, she would have done the same as the Skeksis have with the Podling to those who defied her will. I believe she still would."

____________________________

Each of the slaves began to pull on a rope which opened up a circular hole in the throne room. Soon, from out of that hole, came a large and tall stone with two large and curved swords resting upon it in a crossed position.

____________________________

"Hmm. What's this, now?" Oobleck muttered as he adjusted his glasses.

"It's definitely whatever this trial by stone thing is, but I'm a little too pissed right now to try and guess what the Skeksis are gonna do with it." Tai replied to Oobleck as he held a similar look that his eldest daughter had.

____________________________

"Pull! Pull!" SkekNa commanded the Podling slaves more and more. "Harder! Pull!"

Once the stone had been risen completely, SkekUng and SkekSil both walked over to it; the General on the right, and Chamberlain on the left. The two Skeksis proceeded to grab the swords that rested upon the stone; raising them to the air as they each gave out a war cry.

"UuAaaRrrGggHhhh!!"
"EieieAaaaRrrrHhhh!!"

____________________________

Many in the audience shirked or winced upon hearing the war cries of SkekUng and SkekSil. Some had even covered their ears to block out the shrill noise.

"Yep... that's a bird cry alright." Qrow said with a cringing look. "Anybody got a spare shoe to throw?"

"As great as that sounds to watch, you'd only hit the screen, Qrow." Glynda said with a small sigh.

"It'd help take off some of the edge I have against these walking buzzards." Qrow replied.

"I'll say this much. These Skeksis know how to give out one hell of a war cry." Ironwood said.

"Probably too hellish." Winter remarked with a grimace.

"And here I thought roosters were annoying." Blake said with a slightly pained look as she covered both sets of her ears.

"It's far more pleasant to listen to a Nevermore screech." Weiss scowled a bit.

"These guys are sound alarms I'd be more than happy to smash with my hammer." Nora stated as she slammed her fist into her palm.

"For once, Nora, I agree with your more destructive tendencies." Ren replied to his partner.

____________________________

SkekUng and SkekSil then two a few steps back from each other before they slammed the faces of their sword against their opponent's, causing the loud clanging of metal to ring out.

Immediately all of the onlooking Skeksis cheered in support of their respective candidate.

"Uuaarrgghh!" SkekUng growled at SkekSil, who hissed at him in return.

"I'm taking it!" SkekSil declared as he and SkekUng began to circle around the stone, neither taking their eyes off one another.

"Take the first blow, Chamberlain!" SkekEkt cheered on.

"Yeerraagh!" SkekUng growled before poking the top of his blade at SkekSil's stomach. "You whimpering worm. Yeraaghh!"

"HmMm." SkekSil hummed as he rested his blade on his shoulder, allowing SkekUng to have the first go.

____________________________

"Welp... time to see what this trial by stone is all about." Ruby spoke in a hushed tone.

"Anybody up for making wagers on who's gonna win?" Roman asked as he glanced around his fellow audience members.

"Why would anyone entrust their money to a criminal like you?" Winter asked as she cast Roman a sideways glare.

"Hey, I'm a fair betting man. Especially when I play the role of the house." Roman replied in his own defense. "I don't cheat unless someone cheats me first."

"As tempting as a wager sounds, I don't think anyone here wants to bet on any of the Skeksis." Qrow said. "Not now, anyway."

Waiting to see if anyone else would take up his offer, Roman eventually shrugged as he relaxed in his seat. "Suite yourselves. I just wanted to try and lighten the mood, that's all."

"The mood's still too dark to do anything like that just yet." Tai replied to Roman.

____________________________

With a grunt, SkekUng reeled his arms back before swinging his sword at the rock. The impact not only resulted in a clanging sound to ring out, but the impact had lit a small spark and resulted in a bit of smoke rising from the side of the stone.

"He can't beat that! Hahahaha!" SkekTek laughed as the other Skeksis cheered; pointing in support of SkekUng.

____________________________

"I see now. The trial is a challenge to see who can strike against the stone the hardest." Oobleck observed. "A trial of strength."

"Then this challenge is probably going to SkekUng." Ozpin theorized with a neutral expression. "Unless SkekSil has something under his sleeve that we don't know about."

"I'd say that's a safe assumption. The General hit that stone so hard that smoke arose from where it was struck." Pietro said with a surprised face.

"...You know, I really shouldn't care that much, but this trial by stone isn't as interesting as the Skeksis made it out to be." Yang said with an unimpressed look.

"Not to mention the trial seems slightly more boorish compared to the regalia the Skeksis uphold themselves in." Weiss pointed out. "I would have expected a duel of sorts, but I suppose SkekSil saw this trail as his best chance at beating SkekUng."

"I actually can't tell who'll make for a more evil emperor." Blake blandly remarked. "The underhanded and plotting snake or the loud and rageful bull?"

"Oscar might have a better chance if SkekSil becomes the emperor. Just so long as he doesn't fall for any tricks." Pyrrha theorized. "If SkekUng wins this trial, he'll undoubtedly attack Oscar with full force if he finds out about him."

"The lesser of two evils is still evil. I just hope that whoever wins, Oscar will be able to beat them." Ruby spoke her opinion.

____________________________

SkekUng chuckled triumphantly as he nodded his head at his supporters.

"Let's see what you can do!" SkekNa sneered at SkekSil.

"You can do it!" SkekOk cheered in favor of SkekSil.

SkekUng then smugly pointed at SkekSil, who held a surprised look as a result of the General's great swing. However, as SkekShod and SkekAyuk laughed and cheered behind him, SkekSil readied himself as centered on where he would strike the stone.

"AaaEeeAaaaARrrAaaAaaGgH!" SkekSil screeched out as he swung his sword back before swinging it at the stone.

As SkekSil's sword clanged against the stone, the SkekSis all cheered once more.

"Good hit, Lord Chamberlain!" SkekOk cheered for SkekSil again. "Bravo, Chamberlain!"

____________________________

"God, I hate the chamberlain's screech." Blake scowled in annoyance as she covered her ears once more.

"Indeed. It is very grating." Weiss agreed with her teammate.

"Huh. That wasn't that bad of a swing from SkekSil." Tai admitted with a slightly impressed look. "I can see where he lacked in strength for the hit, but it still left an impression."

"Even the wimpy ones have their moments." Qrow remarked to his friend.

____________________________

"Weak blow! Weak blow!" SkekTek yelled as he dismissed SkekSil's sword strike. "Weakling!"

SkekUng bared his teeth at SkekSil in anger as he went to wipe away some drool that began to fall from his beaked maw.

"General!" SkekOk yelled. "The General's really mad now."

____________________________

"The General's so raving mad that he's actually drooling like a pit bull." Glynda commented on SkekUng.

"Oh, I know that look from anywhere." Port stated as he pointed his finger at SkekUng. "SkekUng's about to give it his all in this next swing."

"It better be the sword strike of a lifetime, for his sake." Winter commented with her arms crossed. "Otherwise who knows how long this trial will go on for."

____________________________

SkekSil watched with an agape jaw as SkekUng raised his blade to his shoulder, preparing to strike.

"Come on, General!" SkekShod cheered.

"Watch out!" SkekAyuk warned.

"Here he goes!" SkekShod yelled.

"RrAaAaAaAaaHhh!" SkekUng screamed as he swung his blade at the stone with all his strength and might.

The result was that the top of the stone had been cut off from the rest of its body. Not only that, but the decapitated "head" of the stone had been heated orange from the terrifying blow as smoke emanated from where it had been sliced off.

All of the other eight Skeksis were stunned into silence by SkekUng's mighty feat. Even SkekSil was beyond words as he dropped his sword in absolute shock.

____________________________

Once more, the shock that the Skeksis had was mirrored by the members of the audience; their mouths agape in astonishment.

"Long live the emperor, I suppose." Ozpin thought to himself as he was stunned silent.

He wasn't the only one, as Tai and Qrow stared at the screen in dumbfounded shock. Oobleck and Port shared wide-eyed looks with each other, whilst Pietro was completely frozen.

"Hot damn..." Roman quietly spoke with widened eyes. He had been smoking from his bubble cigar during the entire trial. But when he was stunned by SkekUng cleaving off the head of the rock, his cigar fell to the floor when his mouth became ajar.

'Literally.' Neo signed in addition as she shared in Roman's expression.

"He... he cut right through it." Weiss stated in terrified amazement. "Like... as if he was chopping wood."

"That kind of strength almost reminds me of Sienna Khan." Blake thought to herself with dilated pupils of terror. "And while SkekUng doesn't have her wits, he most certainly has her wrath."

"The speed and strength of SkekUng's strike challenged the friction of the stone so hard that it caused the portion sliced off to heat up like burning coal." Penny analyzed in surprise.

"If I'm angry enough, I can do something like that with just my fists." Yang said with a baffled expression. "But for The General to do that with a sword is... well I hate to compliment a Skeksis, but that was kind of awesome."

"Even when someone is crooked, you have to give them credit when they pull off a feat such as this." Glynda spoke as she was begrudgingly impressed by SkekUng's strike.

"The cut is so clean too." Ruby said as she held a somewhat awed face.

"Man... I can only wish to do something like that with Crocea Mors." Jaune said as he now felt greatly intimidated by SkekUng.

"Looks like you were right, Pyrrha." Nora said as she turned to the invincible girl in frozen shock. "Oscar's gonna have a lot of trouble with this guy as the new emperor."

"With that kind of raw strength, Oscar will be lucky if he's able to restore the crystal shard." Pyrrha spoke in worry.

"He'll be lucky to even make it inside of the castle." Ren added.

"And thus, a new and terrifying dynasty emerges for the Skeksis." Ironwood stated, with a stoney expression. "Oscar will be ripped apart if SkekUng gets his hands on him."

"And for SkekUng, that would be as easy as smashing butter." Winter grimly spoke.

____________________________

SkekUng then broke the silence as he cheered for himself, along with SkekTek and SkekNa. "Me, the Emperor!"

Soon all of the other Skeksis, save SkekSil and SkekZok, cheered for SkekUng's victory in becoming the new Skeksis Emperor.

"The Emperor lives!" SkekAyuk declared.

As SkekSil looked around to see all of the other Skeksis cheer for his rival, SkekUng looked over to SkekZok.

In response, SkekZok raised his hand to air as he declared what would result from SkekSil's loss. "Now, by the law, he must pay!"

____________________________

"Ooh, I don't like the way he said that." Ruby spoke with a wince of dread.

"Just what kind of punishment would the Skeksis commit against their own kind?" Blake questioned with wary concern.

____________________________

SkekSil whimpered as his fellow Skeksis began to back him towards the edge of the throne room; all of them snarling and growling at him with devious intent, with SkekTek being the most eager out of them. Even his supporters, SkekEkt and SkekOk, had turned against him.

____________________________

"Even his own political allies are eager to punish SkekSil after his loss." Ironwood said with a distasteful tone.

"Sounds like politicians in a nutshell." Qrow remarked. "Everyone turns against someone in the end. These two just so happened to turn on a dime against SkekSil."

____________________________

"Stop. Stop him!" SkekTek laughed as the Skeksis neared closer and closer to SkekSil.

"Take the Chamberlain!" SkekAyuk yelled. "Grab him!"

Smiling at this, SkekUng pointed at SkekSil, giving the order for the other Skeksis to move upon him.

"AaAaaAaaaGgGgHhH!" SkekSil screeched as the other Skeksis attacked him.

"Take him now!" SkekNa yelled as he and the others began to tear away SkekSil's clothing, tossing it behind them.

"Get him!" SkekTek shouted as SkekSil continued to screech in pain and fear.

"Strip him!" SkekEkt yelled.

Seeing enough, SkekUng raised his hand to the air as he ordered the other Skeksis. "Now, let him go! The chamberlain is banished!"

SkekZok and SkekUng watched as the other Skeksis backed away from the shamed SkekSil, hissing and jeering at him. For Skeksil, he was left clutching to the side of the wall, completely naked as his scrawny, wrinkly, mildly fat and malformed body was shown to all; a sad and quivering wreck.

____________________________

Once more the audience felt disturbed by the Skeksis. Not just for their ruthless act against one of their own, but how deformed and scraggly The Chamberlain looked like without his regalia.

"That is... that is a sad sight to look upon." Weiss said as she tried to find the proper words to match the perturbed feeling she held for the scene.

"That just ain't right." Ruby said with a grimacing expression.

"This is officially the closest I will get to watching something akin to a horror film." Ren said with the best straight face he could muster.

"Anybody got a bucket?" Roman questioned with an almost queasy look.

'This takes being a freak in the sheets to an entirely new meaning.' Neo signed.

"It wasn't so much for the Skeksis to banish SkekSil, but they had to shame him as well." Glynda spoke with a disgusted look.

"But now we see what a Skeksis truly is behind their robes." Oobleck stated. "A twisted form to match their twisted wills."

"SkekSil is not as fat as his robes made him out to be. That is the least I am willing to say about this." Winter said as she narrowed her eyes in revulsion.

"He's so... scraggly." Port said with a shivering, disturbed tone. "Almost like a hairless rat."

"No. This is what it looks like when you defeather a bird completely." Qrow spoke with a cringe. "...I think it's a good time for me to bring the flask back out."

"Except the Skeksis have the added, unnerving fact that they are all old and shriveled." Ironwood added to Qrow's comment. "Well... every Skeksis, probably save for the gourmand, is shriveled."

"Just look at how mangled and malformed SkekSil is." Penny said as she frowned at the sight of him. "His feathers are molted. You can see his bones poking from his dry skin. He even has two protruding bumps above his shoulders."

"Actually, those are not bumps." Vortech began to correct Penny. "Two thousand years ago, those were once a second set of arms."

"Excuse me?" Nora questioned in bewilderment as she stared at the stumps which were meant to be SkekSil's second set of "arms". "You're joking, right?"

"Hmm. I think I can actually make out a small hand on the right bump." Pietro said after adjusting his glasses, doing his best to analyze the stumps. "But it seems so... shriveled. Are the extra arms a mutation?"

"No. All Skeksis have four arms. However, so many centuries of not using their second set of arms has caused said limbs deteriorate vastly over time." Vortech explained.

"That is lazily unhealthy." Yang stated, with furrowed eyes and a frown. "If I had four arms, I'd be making sure to use them whenever I could. You can't let your body go to waste like that."

"Try telling the Skeksis that." Blake replied as she nodded her head at the screen. "They must have had such cushioned lives that they haven't even bothered to keep themselves in shape."

"It isn't any wonder the Skeksis still die off after trying to extend their lives." Tai said as he shook his head. "The healthier you keep your body, the better you're able to live."

"That's part of the reason why I always find time in my day to train." Pyrrha said. "One must always keep their body strong if they don't wish to rot away."

"I might just train more with you after seeing The Chamberlain like this." Jaune replied to his partner as he winced at the sight of SkekSil.

"Let this be a lesson to you, students. Evil corrupts everything it touches." Ozpin stated. "Even to those who commit evil."

____________________________

"Away!"
"Away!"
"Away!"

All of the Skeksis yelled at SkekSil, who whimpered in response.

"Now, bow down to me!" SkekUng declared, bringing the other Skeksis' attention to him as he now held the scepter of the Emperor. "I am Emperor!"

""Hail to the new emperor!"" All of the Skeksis, save SkekZok who stood off to the side, bowed before SkekUng. ""Hail! Hail! Hail to the new emperor! Hail! Hail to the new emperor! Hail to the new emperor!""

Soon enough, even SkekZok gave a small bow before SkekUng as SkekSil watched on in shock.

As the Skeksis continued to cheer for their new emperor, SkekSil grabbed what rags of clothing he could as he began walking towards an exit, whimpering as he did so.

____________________________

"And thus SkekSil has been ostracized by his own kind as they flock to the new emperor." Blake summarized. "Despite all of the cruel acts the Skeksis have committed, this universe loves to show that they too are their own victims."

"Crooked people flock to other crooked people." Weiss stated in agreement with Blake's sentiment. "But their similarities do not stop them from being crooked with one another."

"I know I shouldn't, but I wonder what's gonna happen to The Chamberlain now that he's been banished." Ruby admitted.

"With a creep like him, I don't think he's gonna be out of the picture just yet." Yang replied to her sister. "Chamberlain's gonna think of something to put up his sleeve. I can feel it."

____________________________

Suddenly, however, a high-pitched signal began to sound throughout the Castle of the Crystal, causing all of the Skeksis to stop in surprise and confusion.

____________________________

"The Skeksis have an alarm system?" Yang questioned in bewilderment.

"It... would seem that way..." Blake groaned as the ringing affected her ears far more than the Skeksis' screeching had done before.

"Curious. I did not think this kind of technology was available to the Skeksis, given the more mythical state of Thra." Penny said as she tilted her head at the screen.

"But is it technology... or magic?" Ruby questioned as she shared a look with her android friend.

"Ooh. I had considered that, friend Ruby." Penny replied with a more intrigued expression.

"So... if this is an alarm for the Skeksis, then what's the alarm for?" Tai asked with furrowed brows. "It's gotta be something important. At least for the Skeksis."

"Hmm. There might be one reason, that alarm is ringing." Ozpin spoke as a dark thought entered his mind. "But I do not wish to be right about it."

"What do you mean?" Ironwood asked Ozpin, only to receive a wary expression from his old friend.

In the meantime, Vortech rested the side of his head against his enclosed hand. He held a neutral, if not slightly bored look in his eyes as she scanned around the audience. And as he did, he couldn't help but focus on the many empty chairs that still remained in his theater.

"You know... this first group is missing a bit of spice to shake things up. Roman's provided a bit of flavor, but I need someone who can truly bring in an opposing view to the table." Vortech mused within his mind. "...Actually, I think I know just the woman who can do that. But I'll need to go over it with my "employers" before I can bring her in."

Vortech then straightened his posture before standing up from his seat. Using his staff, he activated a vortex to open up before; its whirring sound quickly reached the audience's ears like the sound of a heavy wind.

"Where are you going?" Glynda questioned Vortech as she and everyone else turned to watch their host prepare to walk through his vortex.

"Needn't worry. I shan't be gone for long. I need to go... discuss something with some people I know." Vortech explained, trying to hurry things along.

"And what is it that you are seeking to discuss?" Winter questioned Vortech with a raised brow.

"Ugh. Must you be nosy?" Vortech irritably asked back.

"We're human. It's our most defining trait." Qrow shot back. "So what are you gonna rap about?"

Vortech grumbled beneath his breath for a few seconds, but upon cooling himself off a bit, he gave his reply. "I merely wish to bring in another audience member. That is all."

"Who?" Ironwood asked. "Is it anyone we know?"

"You could say that..." Vortech muttered half aloud. "And that is the last question I will be answering on this matter. The viewing shall continue on as normal in my absence; don't try and kill each other while I'm gone."

"But, wait a minute—!" Ruby tried to call out to Vortech.

"Good bye!" Vortech swiftly yelled out, ignoring Ruby's call to him as he stepped through the vortex.

The audience watched as the vortex closed once Vortech entered it. They were silent for a moment before they all began to mutter and share looks with each other.

"Seems the Big V's left the building." Roman remarked. "So this is what it feels like when the teacher leaves class for a couple of minutes."

'I suddenly have the urge to throw paper airships.' Neo signed to her boss.

"Well that was... weird, to say the least." Jaune commented with an unsure look.

"It kind of feels weird to have Vortech gone for the moment." Pyrrha said with an odd expression. "He hasn't spoken as much as any of us, but we still knew that he was watching all the way behind us."

"I know what you mean. There's a strange hole in the atmosphere of the room now it lacks Vortech's presence." Ren said as he glanced around the theater.

"So... do we really just continue without him?" Nora questioned.

"I do not see much choice in the matter. It is either we continue with the viewing or we talk about whatever comes to mind until Vortech returns." Weiss said.

"Well... then I guess let's get back to it." Ruby responded with a shrug.

Once everyone was done speaking to one another, they all continued with the viewing as they awaited for their host's return.

____________________________

There was silence as the high-pitched signal continued to ring out. Most of the Skeksis wondered what the ringing was about, but SkekUng was quick to recognize its meaning.

"Listen. The Crystal!" SkekUng declared, raising his scepter to the air. "The Crystal calls!"

"The Crystal!" SkekTek stated.

"To the Crystal chamber!" SkekUng ordered as each of the Skeksis began to walk out of the throne room.

"Hurry!" SkekOk exclaimed as all of the Skeksis moved their way down the hall of the Crystal chamber, all of them murmuring as to what the issue could be.

____________________________

"The Crystal is warning the Skeksis?" Oobleck questioned out of curiosity. "How odd. Does it have some form of sentience, or is this another result of SkekTek's experiments?"

"It could also be a result of something SkekZok had done to the Crystal. He is the Ritual Master, after all." Glynda suggested. "Or this is something that occurred through the Skeksis' continued use of the Crystal."

"Perhaps it's a question we will learn through the rest of this viewing." Port then said. "Or when Vortech comes back. Whichever may come first."

____________________________

Soon, the eight Skeksis had gathered in front of the Dark Crystal. SkekUng had pushed his way forward to personally see why it was signaling them.

It was then that an image appeared within the surface of the Crystal; an image that caused all of the Skeksis to gasp in shock. Within this image was none other than Oscar as he was shown on his journey to Glynda's home.

____________________________

"Oh, son of a bitch..." Qrow slowly spoke as most of the audience took on surprised and dread-filled expressions.

"Dammit!" Ironwood swore. "Oscar's been found out."

"I feared this would be why an alarm was sounded." Ozpin sighed as he lowered his head.

"That is just really unlucky." Roman winced a bit. "What were the odds the Skeksis could use their jewel as a crystal ball?"

'The odds were apparently high.' Neo signed to boss as her remark.

"No, no, no. You've gotta be kidding me." Ruby dreadfully spoke with widened eyes.

"So what was that comment about how the Skeksis won't learn about Oscar so soon?" Blake rhetorically questioned as she turned to her partner.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Yang grumpily responded. "I'll keep my big trap shut next time."

"Why and how is it that The Crystal is able to locate Oscar?" Pyrrha questioned with a concerned look.

"Yeah, why?!" Nora yelled out as she looked at the Dark Crystal. "Oscar's trying to restore you, you know? Why are you selling him out?!"

"It may not be The Crystal's fault." Ren advised Nora. "This could be another result of the Skeksis experimenting on it."

"But if this is a result of the Skeksis' machnications, why is it now that The Crystal warns the Skeksis of Oscar's presence?" Weiss questioned in confusion.

"Maybe it... sensed Oscar getting closer to the Shard?" Jaune suggested. "Or... something else. I-I can't be too certain."

"What you can be certain of, Mister Arc, is that Oscar will be in danger far sooner than any of us would have estimated." Glynda stated as she frowned at the screen.

____________________________

"Huh? A Gelfling... alive?!" SkekZok exclaimed.

"A Gelfling!" SkekAyuk exclaimed.

"A Gelfling?!" SkekOk questioned in fear as the other Skeksis began to clamor at the sight of Oscar. "The prophecy!"

"The prophecy." SkekNa spat out.

"The prophecy says Gelfling will destroy us!" SkekOk stated.

____________________________

"Look at those ninnies." Port spat out. "They think themselves high and mighty. But when faced with a true challenge to their power, they cower in fear."

"And yet we've learned of what kind of retaliation the Skeksis will bring upon when they are afraid." Oobleck spoke with a sour tone. "With just one Gelfling remaining who has a chance of ending their rule, I have no doubt in my mind that the Skeksis will go overkill in trying to stop Oscar. Especially with SkekUng as their new emperor."

____________________________

"No." SkekUng denied in anger before he turned around. "Garthim! Attack!"

Suddenly, the visage of a large, crustacean-like creature was shown in a resting position. Its armor was as black as night with multiple crab-like legs. Its right hand was that of a large claw, while its left hand bore clawed fingers. The eyes of this Garthim glowed a light purple as it awoke with a clicking sound coming from its pincer mouth.

____________________________

"What the hell is that...?" Roman questioned with terrified eyes.

"That is... a very nightmarish creature." Weiss said as she felt as though she was shrinking at the sight of the Garthim.

"Its eyes almost feel... soulless." Penny frowned. "Much like with the Podling slaves, but somehow different."

"Just look at that thing. It looks like a living tank!" Jaune exclaimed.

"If anything upon Thra could be considered a Grimm, this... Garthim just might take the cake." Blake commented with a wary expression.

"This is certainly quite the beast. As if it is some arachnid-crustacean hybrid." Port analyzed. "Heavy armored and ready to fight."

"What on Remnant could this Garthim creature be? It certainly can't be natural. A creature is not just born with clawed fingers for one hand and a pincer claw on the other." Pietro stated with dread. "That's not how asymmetry works in the animal kingdom!"

"How is Oscar going to be able to evade such a monstrous creature?" Pyrrha questioned as her concern only doubled by the second.

____________________________

"Garthim soldiers, find the Gelfling!" SkekUng ordered his brutish soldiers. "Garthim! The Gelfling! Bring him to the castle! Garthim!"

One by one, all of the Garthim within the vicinity awakened and quickly scuttled into the Crystal Chamber; all looking towards the Emperor.

"Garthim, death to Gelfling!" SkekUng declared as the other Skeksis cheered on the Garthim.

"Go kill the Gelfling!" SkekEkt yelled out.

With their order received, the Garthim began to flood out from the Castle of the Crystal. From every hallway, from every hole, from every room, the Garthim scuttled out as they marched on their way to capture Oscar for their Skeksis master.

____________________________

"Correction. How is Oscar going to be able to evade all of them?" Yang reiterated to Pyrrha as her eyes widened in fear.

"Look at the number of these guys!" Nora exclaimed in shock.

"And they're all flooding out of the castle to hunt down Oscar." Ren spoke with dread.

'It's an infestation made into an army.' Neo signed as she tried to hold back the fear she felt upon seeing so many Garthim.

"There's no way Oscar could have survived just one of these guys. Now the Skeksis are sending out their entire army?!" Ruby asked in fear for the Gelfling.

"An entire legion of nightmares sent out in response to a single creature who is the size of a child..." Winter uttered out in terror.

"Undoubtedly, these Garthim are what allowed the Skeksis to bring the Gelfling to the edge of extinction." Ozpin stated, with a grim look.

"Man, Bart, you weren't wrong about the Skeksis going overboard in trying to hunt Oscar." Tai said to Oobleck as he stared at the screen in shock.

"But I couldn't have imagined the Skeksis would be this drastic." Oobleck replied.

"These Garthim aren't a hunting party. They're an extermination squad." Ironwood darkly spoke.

"Oscar will need every prayer possible in order to fulfill his journey." Glynda said as she shook her head in worry.

"If he didn't have mine already, he sure does now." Qrow said as he raised his flask in the air.

____________________________

However, as the Garthim all began to leave the castle, SkekSil snuck up behind him; now dressed in the rags he had gathered. SkekSil narrowed his eyes at the Garthim in curiosity as he gave out his signature whimpering hum.

"HmMmm..."

And with that, SkekSil slowly followed behind the Garthim soldiers.

____________________________

"I knew The Chamberlain wasn't out for the count just yet." Yang muttered as she locked her eyes upon the banished Skeksis.

"What's this slimy son of a gun up to now?" Tai asked.

"Whatever it is, it has something to do with the Garthim being sent after Oscar." Glynda said after observing SkekSil. "In which the outcome may be far worse than the one we already dread."

____________________________

Back in the Crystal Chamber, the Skeksis continued to sneer at the image of Oscar within the Crystal.

"Ugly." SkekShod remarked.

"Hideous Gelfling!" SkekOk shouted in disgust.

____________________________

"Have you looked into a mirror lately?!" Roman hollered out to the screen.

"It seems we can add narcissism to the many negative traits of the Skeksis." Winter remarked.

____________________________

The viewing then changed to show just how Oscar was being spied upon by the Skeksis. From behind Oscar's notice, a black, spherical glass ball with enclosed bat-like wings was shown hanging from a nearby thin branch; watching Oscar with its "eye".

____________________________

"What is that thing?" Weiss questioned as she furrowed her eyes at the screen.

"Is... is that how the Skeksis were alerted to Oscar?" Ruby asked. "It was because of... whatever that thing is?"

"Well, if that is how the Skeksis are able to see Oscar through The Crystal, then this is some form of sentry." Penny stated. "And a very well hidden sentry, at that."

However, at that moment, the audience heard the sound of a vortex opening up once more. They turned to see Vortech returning, stretching his arms and cracking his fingers as he moved towards his throne.

"Hey, you're back!" Jaune called out to the Vortonian.

"You were gone a lot shorter than I expected." Blake commented to Vortech.

"I did say I wouldn't be long, did I not?" Vortech questioned back as the vortex closed.

Raising his brow at this, Ironwood was next to speak to Vortech. "Didn't you also say you went to see about adding someone new to the audience? Yet you were the only one who came out of the portal."

"Oh, they're here in the theater." Vortech waved the General off. "I... merely left them in another room until the next viewing begins."

"Probably a good idea." Tai shrugged. "We've already gotten so far into the viewing already."

"Of course it was a good idea. It was my own." Vortech stated as he sat upon his throne. "Now, where are we...? Ah! I see you've all been acquainted with one of the Skeksis' many Crystal Bats."

"Crystal Bats?" Glynda repeated in question.

"That thing's a bat?" Yang asked in bewilderment, pointing to said creature on the screen.

"Now that Vortech mentions it, I can make out a pair of folded wings." Ren said, cupping his hand to his chin as he analyzed the Crystal Bat.

"I take it that these Crystal Bats are connected to the Dark Crystal." Ozpin commented.

"Another result of the Skeksis' experiments." Vortech explained. "At first they were primarily nocturnal creatures, much akin to regular bats. But the more the Skeksis selectively bred them, the bolder the new batches of Crystal Bats became. By this time, there was no corner of Thra from which the Crystal Bats couldn't get to."

"So that at least explains the alarm from The Crystal." Pyrrha said. "It wasn't The Crystal warning the Skeksis, it was the Crystal Bat."

"And because of it, Oscar is now being hunted by those... Garthim beasts." Weiss said as a chill ran down her spine at the thought of the armored nightmares.

"Ah, that's right. You all would have been properly introduced to the Garthim by now." Vortech mused as he nodded to himself.

"What exactly are those things, anyways? The Garthim." Ruby inquisitively asked Vortech.

"One of SkekTek's most dangerous inventions, if not his most dangerous." Vortech stated. "They are golem-like creatures created from the cadavers of two separate species. SkekSo commissioned SkekTek to create an army for the Skeksis to control, and he delivered. It was with the Garthim that the Skeksis were able to wipe out the Gelfling."

"We gathered that much." Oobleck replied. "Though now we know more about their background."

"So the Garthim are akin to... organic androids, then?" Penny questioned.

"If that's how you want to look at things." Vortech shrugged in response.

"Hmph. While the Skeksis haven't corrupted every place in Thra just yet, they've certainly extended their reach to every corner they can find." Blake bitterly scoffed. "Their way of asserting their dominance, no doubt."

"Yeah... I know we've said this a bunch of times by now, but it just seems that the long road Oscar has to travel on his journey keeps getting longer and longer the more we learn about the Skeksis' hold on Thra." Ruby sighed a bit.

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As for Oscar himself, he was currently climbing through a rocky terrain as he neared closer to Glynda's home. As he climbed up several rocks to go through an opening that led further through the terrain, Oscar had caused a few pebbles to fall down behind him. The Gelfling turned around when the rocks fell, having been slightly startled.

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"Oh, hey! It's Miss Goodwitch's home!" Ruby called out in glee. "Oscar's almost to the Crystal Shard!"

"Heh. Seems like that long road you talked about just got a bit shorter." Yang smirked to her sister.

"Well it's good to see that Oscar made it to my counterpart's home before the end of the day." Glynda sighed in relief. "His journey is almost halfway complete. Though the most difficult part of Oscar's quest begins when he must then journey to the Castle of the Crystal."

"Sometimes, it's best to look at things one step of the time." Tai replied to the combat professor. "We can't always worry about the future. Otherwise we don't keep our attention in the present, where it's needed."

"Too true." Oobleck nodded in agreement.

"Oh, Taiyang... if only I had more of your calm optimism." Ozpin inwardly sighed with a sad smile. "Instead I must stress myself by calculating present decisions that will impact the future, while being haunted by the past. Oh, how I do miss the days where I never needed to worry about the safety of Remnant. But much like this universe, that was another world in another time."

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However as Oscar turned around, he failed to notice the Crystal Bat that stalked him. Feeling no cause for alarm, Oscar continued on his way towards Glynda's home.

And with that, the viewing faded to black.

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"And there you all have your first glimpse into the world of The Dark Crystal." Vortech stated to the audience.

"I gotta say; some of that felt like a fever dream." Qrow spoke his opinion.

"A fever dream that was drug induced." Winter added.

"It has certainly made itself unique, much like the previous universes we have witnessed." Oobleck said.

"If by "unique" you mean that we all just got a few doses of nightmare fuel, then yeah, it was unique." Roman offhandedly remarked in reply to Oobleck.

"Yes. There were quite a few... imaginative scenes in this universe." Pietro agreed with some of Roman's sentiment. "Some of which I doubt any of us will ever truly forget."

"That could be said for all of the universes we have seen so far. At least, all that most of us have seen." Ozpin said. "But there is a certain... charm to this universe that does pull you into it."

"And I'm sure we'll be dragged away by that "charm" the next time we view this universe." Glynda replied.

"Well, despite the universe's most distasteful elements, I cannot say I hold no excitement for when we next view it." Port commented. "I do enjoy a hood hero's journey."

"A hero's journey that will either end with Thra's salvation, or its eternal subjugation under Skeksis rule." Ironwood grimly spoke as clasped his hand together, resting his chin upon them.

"You know, despite everything bad that we saw and learned about in this universe, I kind of had a fun time with it." Yang admitted.

"The world of Thra has quite the contrast between creatures and settings that are both good and evil." Ren commented.

"And we were all able to witness some fantastical new creatures. Even if half of them were darker or more cruel than the others." Pyrrha pointed out.

"Those Skeksis were easily the creepiest things I've ever seen." Ruby firmly stated.

"I would argue that the Garthim are more off putting." Weiss replied to her partner. "At least the Skeksis have emotion in them. The Garthim lack all of that, with the addition of being nightmarish golems."

"I'm still gonna try and practice that Mystic chant call." Nora proclaimed with crossed arms.

"Oh I'm... sure that's gonna be fun." Jaune nervously replied with a sweat drop.

"I am still hung up, as you say, on what happened to those poor Podlings." Penny said as she sported a sorrowful frown. "No living creature should be put through such an ordeal."

"You've got that right." Blake nodded. "The universe of The Dark Crystal has been the most dark dimension we have seen throughout these viewings."

"And you'll all see an even darker one for the next viewing." Vortech replied to Blake. "But before that, I must go and fetch the addition to our audience. Of which, Blake, I will require your assistance."

Blake blinked in surprise at this as she turned around to look at Vortech. "Me? What for?"

"Because you know them." Vortech said as he got up from his throne and walked towards the theater's left doors. "And I for one believe you can settle them in much faster than if it were just myself."

"Um... o-okay then." Blake said with a suspicious glance as she got up from her seat.

"Ooh. If Blake knows this person, does it mean it might be Sun?" Ruby guessed.

"Vortech said it was someone I know. That doesn't necessarily mean they're a friend of mine." Blake clarified as she got up and followed Vortech.

"Oh... well that's kind of concerning." Ruby frowned a bit in response.

Vortech and Blake were now standing side by side. The two of them were just about to leave the theater room, when Ironwood called out to the former.

"Before you go, are you willing to inform us of this darker universe you have planned for us to view next?" Ironwood asked with his hand slightly raised.

Vortech turned to look at Ironwood; soon glancing around the audience. He then craned his head forward as he spoke with an ominous tone. "Here's what you shall know. Dare to say his name. Dare to say it five times, and he shall appear before you... The Candyman."

With that, Vortech proceeded to swiftly walk out of the theater, leaving his audience with stupored expressions of confusion and bewilderment.

"The Candyman?" Blake muttered with furrowed eyes as she stood still; befuddled by the name.

"Come along, Blake!" Vortech called back to the cat Faunus.

Hearing this, Blake blinked as she realized that Vortech was now well on his way to his intended destination. "Oh, right."

Leaving the still confused audience, Blake ran to catch up to Vortech. For several minutes, the two of them walked down several halls and corridors, passing by a few closed doorways that led to unknown rooms. But on their walk, Blake had a question in the back of her mind that caused her to silently grow anxious with each step that drew her closer and closer to the new audience member that Vortech claimed she knew. And soon enough, Blake couldn't hide this question any long.

"So... am I allowed to ask you who this new audience member is?" Blake questioned Vortech.

"You can always ask me anything you desire. It's whether or not I'll answer them that is the true question." Vortech stated, with a stoic expression.

"Okay then. Will you answer my question?" Blake then asked.

"All I'll say is that our two new guests are people from your past." Vortech answered.

"W-wait, two guests?" Blake blinked in confusion. "You said you were leaving to get one guest."

"That was my intent. But when I grabbed my person of interest, I was followed by another who just so happened to be in the same room." Vortech replied with a slightly annoyed tone. "The two are quite the feisty pair of women, that I can tell you."

"Two... women?" Blake repeated as she began to think ok what Vortech said.

But as she did so, she and the Vortonian arrived at a closed door, from which sounds of commotion emanated from within.

"Here's where I left them." Vortech said as he stood before the door. "Now I do advise you brace yourself, Blake. I know for a fact these two will bring a shock to your system."

"What do you mean by—?" Blake tried to question. But before she could, Vortech opened the door and walked into the room.

The moment the room's door was open, Blake immediately began to hear two familiar female voices as they began shouting at Vortech. The cat Faunus felt herself go stiff as she stood directly behind her host. But peaking past him, Blake could see for certain of just who these two familiar voices belonged to.

Locked away in two separate cells was none other than the High Leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan... and Blake's old friend, Ilia Amitola.

To be continued...

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Casting:

Jen: —Oscar Pine
Aughra (mentioned): —Glynda
SkekSo: —Himself
SkekSil: —Himself
SkekUng: —Himself
SkekZok: —Himself
SkekTek: —Himself
SkekOk: —Himself
SkekEkt: —Himself/Herself
SkekAyuk: —Himself
SkekNa: —Himself
SkekShod: —Himself
urSu: —Himself
urSol: —Himself
urIm: —Himself
urZah: —Himself
urTih: —Himself
urAc: —Himself
urUtt: —Himself
urAmaj: —Himself
urNol: —Himself
urYod: —Himself

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Author's notes:

So here's the revision for the first Dark Crystal chapter. If any of you remember (or to those who are new to the chapter) I originally had Ren as Jen. But after thinking on it more, I felt that Oscar fit Jen much better compared to Ren, so I changed the roles during the making of the revision.

But with that short bit said, I hope you all enjoyed this revision.

Farewell, Rule Breakers.