The viewing lightened up to reveal a large, lush, green forest with tall trees, accompanied by the sound of birds chirping.

"Didn't I say it? Waste of time." Nori spoke up.

"That's true enough!" Gloin hollered in agreement.

The dwarves and Ozpin were shown moving between the trees of the forest, the wizard of the group riding on a horse while the others rode upon ponies—whom some of their packs and bags were saddled on.

They were quite on their way out of Shire, having already left the  homestead of Roman Torchwick. As they continued to campy ride along their path, a few of the dwarves bantered with each other on how the plan to get Roman to join them had seemingly failed.

"Use a hobbit." Nori quoted. "Whose idea was it anyway?"

____________________________

"Looks like most of the dwarves are a little cross that Torchwick didn't join up with them." James pointed out.

"It's hard to say that it isn't warranted." Glynda added in her own two cents. "They're all on a quest to take back their home, and they travelled all the way to get some more help, only to be turned down. Not to mention that they don't have any advanced form of travel, meaning that their trip to the Hobbiton set them back a bit."

"I just find it funny that all the dwarves are on ponies." Nora said as she giggled a bit at the sight.

"Well, given their stature, it does make sense." Pyrrha said, though even she found the sight to be a little amusing. In a cute fashion.

"So... we obviously missed quite a bit, here." Emerald spoke up, clearly wanting to know what was going on.

"Talk about an understatement. The General of Atlas is a dwarf with long hair, and Headmaster Ozpin is wearing a pointy hat with a long beard, robes, and a staff." Mercury pointed out. "I mean, what is he, a wizard?"

"Mhmm." Blake hummed in response to Mercury's question, nodding her head.

"And this universe has something to do with... Roman Torchwick?" Cinder spoke carefully with a raised brow.

"Believe me, we were just as confused as you when he saw it." Yang told Cinder.

"I see." Cinder said with a hum. "Do you mind divulging on what we missed?"

"Oh, sure." Ruby said with her ever so sweet smile, something that inwardly irked Cinder. "Let's see... uh, Torchwick is about to go on a quest with a bunch of dwarves, and a wizard Ozpin, to take back a mountain that the dwarves lost to large dragon named Smaug. There was a dinner party, and singing, and Torchwick running from his home like an excited kid so that he could join up with Ozpin and the dwarves."

"Huh." Mercury uttered out his reply with a more even look.

"Did you really just compare me to a kid?" Roman called out to Ruby, though she gave no reply to him.

Cinder, who had listened in on the whole of Ruby's summary, tilted her head in intrigue towards one particular detail from the explanation. "A dragon, you say? An actual dragon?"

"Mhmm." This time Yang replied to Cinder. "And he was a mean one too. We saw Smaug destroy an entire city with his fire breath alone. He was even covered in a bunch of red scales that would give Grimm armor a run for their lien."

"Well that sounds a little terrifying." Emerald said with a disturbed look.

"Indeed." Cinder said in agreement, though her look was not one of terror. Within her mind, she secretly wanted to see this... Smaug, and everything that he could do with her own eyes. She was certain it would be quite the spectacle.

____________________________

Just then, the sound of Roman's voice rang out behind the group.

"Wait! Wait!" Roman yelled while panting. He was shown running, bare foot and with the contract flying in his hand.

____________________________

Upon seeing the hobbit form of Roman, Emerald and Mercury couldn't help but erupt into a small fit of laughter and giggles.

"That's... what Torchwick looks like in this universe?" Emerald questioned as she tittered through her inquiry.

"Look at his feet." Mercury pointed out with a chuckle. "Those are some of the hairiest feet I have ever seen."

From his seat towards the back, Roman rolled his eyes at Mercury and Emerald while muttering to himself. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

"What is Torchwick in this universe?" Cinder asked with a small and amused smile.

"He's a hobbit." Weiss said. "From what we have seen and heard of so far, they are shorter than dwarves and live in well-kept, underground homes. They are quite peaceful and farmer-like by their nature. And, of course, they all have big, hairy feet."

"Wait. Underground as in, like a bunker?" Mercury asked.

"No. Most of them have built homes inside hills. They are actual pretty homely to live in, from we've seen." Weiss told the silver-themed young man.

"I'd hope they'd be livable." Emerald said, her face contorting a bit in disdain as she continued to speak. "It'd be disgusting to live in a dirt-filled home."

____________________________

"Whoa!" Dwalin shouted as he halted his pony.

"Whoa, Whoa!" Fili shouted as well as everyone halted their equestrian mounts, everyone looking behind to see Roman running up to them.

James Ironwood was the last to halt his mount as he looked back towards the oncoming hobbit. An almost surprised look plastered on his face.

"I signed it." Roman stated aloud as he finally caught up with the dwarves and Ozpin, holding the contract up for all to see.

Still panting a bit, Roman walked up towards Balin, handing the white-haired dwarf the contract. Balin held the contract his gloved hands, casting Roman a raised brow before pulling out a dwarish spectacle as he began to carefully look over the contract.

Roman nodded as Ozpin's horse snorted. The hobbit looked towards the grey-bearded wizard, who looked back at Roman with an expect smile.

"Everything appears to be in order." Balin said as he finished his inspection, rolling up the contract. "Welcome, Master Torchwick... To the company of James Ironwood."

After Balin announced this, a few of the dwarves muttered amongst themselves as Balin gave a wink towards Roman as he lightly laughed.

____________________________

"Yeah. Not sure on how I feel in regards to working the General." Roman drawled out with a not so pleased expression.

"Well it's not like you were forced into it." Ruby said, trying to show Roman the bright side to a situation he wasn't a fan of. "Your counterpart did this of his own free will."

Roman glanced up as he gave some thought to Ruby's words before replying. "That has a pro-con thing to it there, Red. Sure, it was of my own volition, but I'm still essentially working for Ironwood—who already doesn't have a vote of confidence in my counterpart."

"I suppose I can relent to him on that." James said with a small shrug. "My counterpart does appear to be far more stern and rude."

"Frankly I'm surprised by Torchwick's determination just to go along on this quest." Sienna spoke out. "He doesn't strike me as the type to willing throw himself into danger."

"Hey, being a renowned criminal mastermind isn't easy work. It takes skill and gumption to do what I do." Roman replied to Sienna with a hint of pride in his voice. However, on the inside, he had different thoughts. "Though the gig I've got now isn't what I'd exactly call easy and worth it. Not that I have much room to complain though."

____________________________

James, on the other hand, wasn't as quite amused. Simply turning his head back towards the path ahead, the dwarf prince spoke. "Give him a pony."

In response to this, Roman raised his hand in protest, nervously smiling a bit. "No, no. That won't be necessary. Thank you. I'm sure I can keep up on foot. I-I've had my fair share of walking holidays, you know?"

____________________________

"You afraid of equids?" Ilia asked Roman with a raised brow.

"Afraid? No. Allergic to horse hair? Yes." Roman replied with crossed arms.

____________________________

As Roman continued to stammer on, the dwarves and Ozpin got back on the move, with Roman walking in between the ponies.

"Even got as far as Frogmorton once." Roman continued to speak before Fili and Kili grabbed the red-headed hobbit by the shoulders. They lifted him up, prompting Roman to yell in a bit in surprise. "Aah!"

Roman was then shown riding atop one of the ponies, the reigns in his hands as he clearly held a displeased look. The pony whined some, whipping it's head back and causing Roman lean back a bit in return, as to avoid the pony's hair.

____________________________

A few of the audience members couldn't help but laugh a bit at hobbit-Roman's situation.

"So much for not wanting to ride a pony." Blake said with a tittering giggle.

"Ain't no arguing with dwarves." Nora said before giggling. "You work with them, you do the same as them."

"Yeah. Fili and Kili really just man-handled Torchwick onto a pony." Yang chuckled. "There's something I didn't know I needed to see."

"God, my counterpart is weak." Roman said with lowered eyes of annoyance.

____________________________

The company of thirteen continued to travel for a bit more before Oin spoke up.

"Come on, Nori! Pay up!" Oin called out to the star shaped-haired dwarf.

Promptly after, Nori tossed back a small pouch of coins towards Oin's way, the elderly dwarf laughing in appreciation. "Thanks, lad."

____________________________

"What's the story behind that?" Jaune questioned.

"Looks someone might have won a bet." Mercury analyzed as he ate some popcorn.

"Huh. I wonder what it is that they bet on." Jaune said as he looked back at the screen.

____________________________

Roman, who was now riding alongside Ozpin, noticed as a few other dwarves passed coin pouches to others. With a questioning look, Roman looked to the wizard at his side. "What's that about?"

"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not you'd turn up." Ozpin explained to the hobbit. "Most of them bet that you wouldn't."

____________________________

"Guess that means more money for those that had a little more faith in me." Roman said with a smirk.

"It must have been unexpected for the dwarves that bet against Torchwick." Port stated. "They must have thought it would be some of the easiest cash to win."

"It should be expected. Torchwick didn't exactly prove interest in their quest, upon their first meeting." Oobleck pointed out. "Not to mention his mannerisms helped to reinforce the idea that he wouldn't show—until he did, of course."

"Well, now I'm kind of taking offense to the bet." Roman said with a deadpan, his arms slumped down.

____________________________

At this, Roman looked back at Ozpin as he asked the wizard another question. "And what did you think?"

"Well..." Ozpin trailed off as he glanced at Roman, seemingly hesitant to give his answer.

____________________________

"Wow. Really?" Roman asked in a shocked and almost betrayed tone. What he really feeling this about Ozpin of all people? "The guy who wanted me onboard in the first place bet against me showing?"

Ozpin, on the other hand, had a knowing smile to his face as he glanced back at the criminal. "Just wait for it."

____________________________

Just then, Ozpin readily caught a coin pouch that was thrown his way, tossing it in his hand a bit while lightly chuckling before pocketing the money. "My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second."

____________________________

"I always have the upmost faith in those I place my trust into, Mr. Torchwick." Ozpin stated, his smile still present.

"Ain't that the truth." Qrow said as he took a swing from his flask. However, for a brief moment, his thought drifted to his twin sister, prompting the seasoned huntsman to think to himself. "Well, I guess not always."

Glancing over to the Headmaster of Beacon, Cinder inwardly smirked as she inwardly voiced her thoughts. "Oh, if only that fool knew."

"Yeah. How else would I have gotten into Beacon if Ozpin didn't have faith in me?" Ruby rhetorical questioned with a bright smile.

"Well, I'm just saying that his pause didn't really give me much faith." Roman replied.

'I always have faith in you.' Neo signed to Roman with a small smile.

"Thank you, Neo." Roman returned the gesture before looking back at the screen.

While Roman was facing away from Neo, she turned her sign around, revealing there was more to her comment which read: 'Most of the time.'

____________________________

After Ozpin explained himself to the hobbit, Roman found himself giving a nightly sneeze, grunting in disgust. "Ah, it's horse hair. Having a reaction."

____________________________

"See?" Roman pointed his hand out towards the screen, proving his point to Ilia.

____________________________

"Oh." Roman muttered as he looked throughout his jacket and pockets for something to help blow his nose with. "No, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around."

The company promptly halted their mounts once agains as they looked towards the commotion Roman was causing.

"What on earth is the matter?" Ozpin asked Roman.

"I forgot my handkerchief." Roman answered as he continued to try and search his pockets.

____________________________

"Seriously? You want them to stop because you forgot your handkerchief?" Sienna asked with a dull and disbelieving look.

"Yeah, that's just sad." Emerald threw in with a snide smirk.

"Not to mention counterproductive." Ironwood added into the conversation. "You can't expect to survive off the luxuries of home when you're out in the field. You only need the bare essentials."

"Well, sorry if I care more for my health and personal hygiene." Roman said with an annoyed look.

"Dude, it's just a few cases of the sniffles. You'll live." Yang told Roman.

"At least you're counterpart is lucky, and doesn't have motion sickness." Jaune said with a shiver down his spine.

"Now, you see, that's sad." Roman pointed towards Jaune, getting narrowed eyes from Pyrrha and Nora in response.

____________________________

"Here." Bofur offered a solution as he tore some cloth from his coat, tossing it over to the hobbit. "Use this."

"Ah." Roman uttered as he caught the torn fabric in his fingers, holding up as he gave it a look of slight apprehension.

____________________________

"Heh." Tai spoke with a chuckle. "Sometimes you gotta use what's available."

"Though I can't say for certain if that's the most sanitary option." Winter said with slight repulsion as her younger sister balked in disgust towards the scene.

"Wow. I am definitely having some mixed feelings on Bofur, right now." Roman said as he narrowed his eyes at the miner hat-wearing dwarf.

____________________________

Some of the dwarves laughed a bit at Roman before James ordered for the group to continue on their path. "Move on."

The company of thirteen were shown having walked further across the land, passing a bending stream and rock formations.

"You will have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Roman Torchwick, before we reach our journey's end." Ozpin started to speak.

"You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire." Ozpin said as the group was shown riding their mounts down a zigzagged pathway along a large hill side. "But home is now behind you."

The company was then shown traveling through moss-covered woods as the daylight that shown through was misty. "The world is ahead."

A lush, green valley with sparse trees and streams was shown to the audience with the point of view zooming out to show a larger frame of image.

____________________________

"Woah." Ruby said with awe. "This world is even more lush and green than Thra in the Dark Crystal universe."

"I take it that's another of the first universes you guys watched?" Ilia questioned Ruby.

"We saw it before you and Sienna were brought in." Blake told her old friend.

Ilia nodded in understanding. "So right before the... Candyman viewing."

"Yeah." Blake said with a grimace.

"Wise words, as always, from Ozpin." Port complimented the headmaster of Beacon with a hearty chuckle.

"Well, I'd wager my counterpart has some more wisdom than I do." Ozpin said with his own chuckle. "But he is right. Just like my counterpart and James have both said, you won't always have the comfort of home with you. Words to take to heart for any up and coming huntsman and huntress."

____________________________

What was shown next was the sleeping form of Bombur. It was now night, and the audience watched as the overweight dwarf snored loudly, breathing in a small swarm of mouthed that hovered over his head. Bombur's breath hitched a bit before he breathed out, allowing the moths to fly out of his mouth.

____________________________

"Gross." Was all Emerald needed to say to show her stance on what the audience saw of Bombur.

"That dwarf has some obvious health issues." Winter stated with a deadpanned look.

"While his eating habits are undoubtedly questionable—not to mention what we're seeing right now—it doesn't seem the others in the company have any personal problems with him, so to each their own I suppose." Glynda said, though that did not stop her from balking a bit at Bombur inhaling and exhaling moths.

"God, I can't believe I'm sleeping with him around." Roman sighed as he shook his head.

____________________________

Bombur's snoring had caused Roman to get up from his spot on the ground, shaking his head ever slightly as he watched Bombur breath the moths back into his mouth. The hobbit got up from his spot, stretching his arms as Ozpin was shown laying beside a tree without his hat, smoking from his pipe.

Deciding to walk for a bit, Roman moved over to where the ponies were left at. The hobbit glanced back at the rest of his group before he reached into his pocket while walking over to one of the ponies.

"Hello, girl... Who's a good girl?" Roman pet the pony's head with a smile.

Roman looked back towards where Ozpin and the dwarves were before pulling out an apple from his pocket, handing it towards the pony for her to eat.

"There's our little secret, Myrtle." Roman whispered to the pony, who was now named Myrtle. The horse began to eat the apple as Roman shushed the short equestrian. "You must tell no one. Shh, shh."

____________________________

"Well that's sweet of Torchwick to do." Penny swooned with a smile. "Even though he has allergic reactions with equid hair, he still cares for them."

"I can safely say, now, that this universe is going to show us a more kind and caring version of Mr. Torchwick." Ozpin said with a small smile.

"Don't get used to it." Roman stated. However, seeing his hobbit counterpart, Roman couldn't help but inwardly smile a bit.

____________________________

Roman smiled as Myrtle ate the apple. However, his attentions as immediately drawn to the sound of a screech in the distance.

____________________________

"What the hell?" Mercury asked with a raised brow.

Everyone in the audience was immediately drawn the screech. Everyone had their own questions as to what it was, though not everyone spoke.

"Well... that didn't sound concerning at all." Blake sarcastically spoke with a mild expression of concern. Given how both she and Sienna had two sets of ears, they were able to hear the outlandish screech much better than anyone else in the audience. It was safe to say that neither of them boded well to the sound.

"That screech has the same irritation as chalk being scrapped against a board." Sienna said with a grimace.

"Why do I get the feeling something bad is going to accompany that screech." Roman said with a hint of worry as even Neo was unnerved by the sound.

"I'd wager that almost sounded like a Grimm." Pietro said as he adjusted his glasses. "It definitely didn't sound like anything natural."

"But Vortech said there aren't any Grimm in this universe. Or most universe for that matter." Ironwood said before looking back at the theater's host. "Correct?"

"Don't worry. That was not a Grimm." Vortech stated. "Though... I can definitely say the creatures behind that particular screech are just as feared."

"So this universes own form of Grimm, in an sense." Qrow said. "Just not the same thing."

"Eh." Vortech replied by whip giving a so-so motion with his hand.

____________________________

The screeching had also caught the attention of Fili and Kili, whom were seated alongside a walk wall. A campfire in front of them. Looking towards the two brothers, Roman pointed back to the direction where the screech came from. "What was that?"

Kili glanced around a bit before answering the hobbit. "Orcs."

Upon this being said, Roman tip-toed over to Fili and Kili with a worried expression. "Orcs?"

____________________________

"So I guess that means we can add orcs to the list of mythical creatures in this universe." Ruby said.

"Though that now begs the question on what type of orc exists in this universe." Blake pointed out with a raised finger.

"Hold on. There are types?" Yang asked.

"Well in Valish culture, orcs are depicted as large, green-skinned goblins with more muscular tones. In Mistrali culture, orcs are depicted as large pig men." Blake answered her partner's question.

At this, Emerald furrowed her eyes as she spoke. "Wait, doesn't Mistral use pig orcs in their—?"

"Yes." Came Blake's quick reply.

With that said, Blake and Emerald dropped the subject while Yang and Mercury looked towards their respective partners.

"Is there... something you two want to talk about?" Yang asked Blake and Emerald.

"Nope." Blake said.

"You sure?" Mercury asked this time.

"Drop it, Merc." Emerald answered him.

Ruby looked over at their conversation before she decided to look over to Ilia. "What's that about?"

Ilia, who had heard the conversation as well, looked over to Ruby in return. She looked at the fifteen-year-old girl for a moment, thinking on what to say, before giving her reply. "You, uh... you probably won't like the answer."

____________________________

James heard Roman's commotion, having awoken from his resting spot beside a rock as he looked over to the conversation the hobbit was having with his nephews.

"Throatcutters." Fili clarified with a more claimed expression, a smoking pipe in his hand. "There'll be dozens of them out there."

____________________________

"Well, there's a friendly thought." Ren deadpanned with sarcasm in his tone.

"Yeah. I can't say I'd want to be near any creature that's nicknamed "Throatcutter." Jaune said with a shake of his head. "That's just asking for trouble."

____________________________

Roman held his mouth agape in worry as he glanced over to Ozpin, who soon looked over to the conversation as well.

"The Lone-lands are crawling with them." Fili continued to explain.

"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone is asleep. No screams." Kili added on as Roman looked to him. "Just lots of blood."

After hearing this, Roman looked back to the direction the orc screech came from. Seeing this, Fili and Kili started to lightly chuckle in regards to Roman's fear.

____________________________

"Dicks." Roman swore as he narrowed his eyes at Fili and Kili.

'Let's be honest. We'd probably do the same.' Neo signed towards Roman.

At this, her boss couldn't help but concede to her point with a shrug.

____________________________

"You think that's funny?" The stern voice of James cut in, prompting Roman to turn back around towards Fili and Kili.

Jame stood up, his long hair lightly flowing in the wind as he looked at his nephews. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"

Kili stuttered a bit with his with his words, glancing his eyes about in shame. "We didn't mean anything by it."

"No, you didn't." James darkly spoke as he walked away from the two, Roman nodding a bit as he did so. "You know nothing of the world."

____________________________

"A little harsh, there." Ironwood chastised his dwarven counterpart.

"In his defense, sir, Fili and Kili are making light of what seems to be a serious matter." Winter told her commanding officer.

"And while I wouldn't simply allow them to do as such, there could have been a calmer way to reprimand the two." Ironwood replied to his top specialist. "I mean, Fili and Kili are supposed be my nephews. My counterpart's, anyways."

"Regardless, now, it does seem that the subject of orcs is a bit nerve racking for your counterpart." Glynda picked up from the little situation.

"On that, I wholeheartedly agree." Ironwood said to the blonde-haired professor.

____________________________

Ozpin stopped smoking as he watched James walk off a bit. As he did so, Balin walked over to Fili and Kili, resting his arm on the rock wall.

"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin tried to reassure Kili. "James has more cause than most to hate orcs."

Kili merely looked off to the side while Fili looked to where their uncle was walked off to, watching as James stood among the ponies with his hands behind his back.

"After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria." Balin began to tell his tale as James looked off into the night sky.

"But our enemy had got there first."

Amidst the slopes of a rocky, and mountainous region, legions of orcs fought against Thror's dwarven armies. The two hateful enemies fought a bloody battle between each other. The dwarves, whom wore dwarvish armor, battled their all against their ancient enemy, the orcs, whom bore leathery clothing, varying with bones and metal armor.

The younger dwarvish James was shown fiercely cutting down orcs, wielding a dwarvish blade and shield as he grunted and roared in the face of battle. His face was bloodied, and his attire dirtied. In the fight, he was joined by Thror and a younger Dwalin, whom had a mohawk atop his head. Each and every dwarf giving it their all to overtake the orc horde.

____________________________

"Holy smokes..." Yang trailed off with wide eyes.

"That's... a lot of orcs." Weiss said in equal shock.

"And a lot of death." Ruby said with an unnerved look. Killing Grimm was one thing, but the death, murder, and killing of sentient beings was still something the young huntress-in-training was not accustomed to.

"I agree with your sentiment, friend Ruby." Penny said as she too was not entirely prepared for this.

"Definitely more based on Valish culture." Blake said with a nod, though she too was shocked at the large battle.

"Why, I can't say there's ever been such a large-scale battle such as this since the Great War." Oobleck said with an agape jaw, his glasses tilting down a bit as he looked upon the scene with his own eyes.

Ozpin solemnly nodded in agreement with Oobleck, remembering quite well in his earlier life of what kind of battles the Great War had wrought.

"Not even Grimm have ever been recorded to attack in numbers these large." Ironwood said as he watched the large-scale battle, a serious look upon his face.

"Finally, some action." Mercury muttered as he leaned forward a bit in his seat.

"It's an absolute bloodbath." Emerald said with her own eyes widened in shock. She may have killed people before, and she knew about Cinder's plans, but she had never actually seen any battle this large in scale before.

"These orcs seem to be quite formidable." Cinder commented as she paid close attention to the battle.

"At least the dwarves are just as formidable to counteract the orcs." Pyrrha said with a more hopeful yet schooled look. While she was far from fine in watching orcs and dwarves battle to the death, she also knew that war could lead to something this bloody.

Nora, on the other hand, was cheering for the dwarves all the way. "Dwarves for the win! Kick those orcs' ugly butts!"

____________________________

"Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, led by the most vile of their race."

A large, muscular, pale orc wearing an ornate loincloth that reached up to his stomach, and patterned scars littering his body and face was shown swinging his bladed mace against the oncoming dwarves. The orc roared as he sent dwarf after dwarf flying back. The pale orc then set his eyes upon a battle-weary Thror, whom looked back upon the him.

The orc spoke in Black Speech as he moved towards Thror with the intent to kill.

"Azog the Defiler."

____________________________

"Talk about tall and brooding." Tai commented.

"I guess my our terms, this Azog guy is the Alpha Grimm." Qrow said as he narrowed his eyes at the pale orc.

"You know, I gotta wonder if those scars on him are self-inflicted." Roman said with a schooled expression. Though on the inside, he was not a fan of the presence Azog exuded.

"I'd wager the scars might be a form of fear-tactic. So that he exude more dominance and intimidation among his followers and enemies." Sienna spoke out her thoughts. "Though it's definitely more of an extreme tactic if I've ever seen one."

____________________________

Azog slammed his mace against Thror with thunderous growls. The dwarf king did his best to block the blows with his shield as the two fought.

Balin was shown again, speaking to Fili, Kili, and Roman as he continued the tale. "The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin."

Roman, who was sitting down at this point, glanced intently at Balin before turning his head over to James.

"He began..." Balin spoke in a voice filled with dread and harrow. "By beheading the king."

Azog was shown once more at the battle of Moria, roaring in triumph as he held the decapitated head of Thror, raising it to the air with his arm.

The young James had to looked upon the sight with eyes filled with shock and horror. Then, to add insult to the injury, Azog tossed Thror's head towards James, the young prince watching it roll along the rocky ground.

Looking towards the decapitated head of his grandfather, James let out an echoing yell as he looked up at Azog. "NO!!"

It was present day again as Ozpin looked towards James, all the while Balin continued to speak.

____________________________

"That would definitely incite a deep hatred for the orcs." Ozpin said with a narrowed and dread-baring expression.

"To watch your own family member killed in a gruesome way like that..." Ruby trailed off with a horrified look. It had prompted Yang to place a reassuring hand onto her sister's shoulder.

"Poor dwarf-General Ironwood." Penny sadly spoke.

"I can see now why my counterpart is far more stern and harsh." Ironwood said with a shake of his head, balling his hand into a fist as the image of Azog popped into his head. "An experience like that would be difficult for anyone to get over."

In response, Glynda placed her hand on the one Ironwood had tightened, doing her best to silently console the cyberntically-enhanced man. In doing so, Ironwood's grip softened quite a bit.

"That would definitely put a dent in the dwarves' morale." Cinder commented between herself and her lackies. "Cut off the head of the snake, and the body will wither."

"It would definitely send a message, that's for sure." Mercury muttered as he ate some more popcorn. "Azog for sure seems like the relentless type."

"And brutal." Emerald added in with a disdainful look. "There's killing someone, and then there's this."

"It's a fear tactic, Emerald. And a way for Azog to ensure his triumph." Cinder spoke to her with a schooled smile. "Everyone has their own interpretation of victory."

____________________________

"Thrain, James's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed. We did not know." Balin shook his head as he stared into the fire. "We were leaderless."

____________________________

"And just to make matters worse." Roman added in to what Balin said.

"This battle may very well have been more taxing to dwarves than when they lost Erebor to Smaug." Oobleck said with a grim look.

"Can't say I blame Thrain." Yang muttered before she glanced at Taiyang. "I don't know what I'd do if I ever saw dad get killed in front of my eyes."

"Well, it's good thing we'd make sure something like that would never happen." Ruby said in a rare moment of sternness, sharing a nod with her older sister.

____________________________

The battle was shown again as the orcs drove the dwarves back, some even tossing them off the cliffs.

"Defeat... and death were upon us."

____________________________

Ironwood shook his head with an angered look. While these weren't technically his people he was watching die, it was still his counterpart's. Not to mention that he could see Atlas troops in the stead of the dwarves.

"As terrible as this is, there's nothing you could now that would change these events." Glynda did her best to comfort Ironwood once more.

"I know, but... that doesn't change how I feel about it." Ironwood replied the combat teacher.

"And I agree with your thoughts. However, like I said, there isn't much we can do." Glynda told him.

The Atlesian General gave out a sigh before relenting to Goodwitch's advice with a nod of his head. Nevertheless, that didn't complete null his inward thoughts.

"These orcs truly are this universe's Grimm." Weiss said with a scowl.

"If anything, they might even be slightly worse than the Grimm." Winter said as she shared her little sister's sentiment. "Grimm are soulless and not entirely bright, but these orcs have shown both strength and a sense of cruelty and sadistic pleasure."

"Just imagine if we had to deal with both the Grimm and orcs." Qrow with a gruff expression. "It'd be hell."

____________________________

Roman looked towards Balin as the tale continued. The elderly, white-haired dwarf looking up with a proud smile. "That is when I saw him."

Balin then looked over to James as he spoke. "A young dwarf prince facing down the pale orc."

The young dwarvish variant of James Ironwood was shown staring in anger towards Azog, the large pale orc coming towards him. Azog swung his mace around with a roar as James roared back at the pale orc, readying to block the strike.

The strike from the mace sent James's shield flying as Azog then knocked the sword from James's hand, sending him tumbling backwards.

"He stood alone against this terrible foe."

As James stopped in his tumble, he watched as Azog raised his mace, leaping over to the dwarven prince. Looking to his side, James spotted a sturdy and thick branch, grabbing it by a thick twig before he rolled over to evade the powerful strike of Azog's mace. James then stood his ground as Azog swung his mace against James's wooden shield, sending splinters flying off, yet not breaking the branch.

"His armor rent, wielding nothing but an ironwood branch as a shield."

____________________________

"Even with after losing his grandfather, the General is still giving it his all." Jaune said with awe.

"He's been given a stronger motivation." Pyrrha said with a sad, yet hopeful expression. "If he uses his anger right, he might have a chance to defeat Azog."

"It's like when Bee destroyed Blitzwing after losing his voice." Yang added in as she gave the viewing screen a determined look, hoping the young, dwarven Ironwood would show Azog what for.

While the good guys in the audience smiled and cheered for dwarven James Ironwood's newfound fighting spirit, Qrow found himself furrowing his eyes in confusion at what Balin said James used as a shield.

"Ironwood branch?" Qrow asked

"It's how this version of the General got his last name." Vortech answered.

"Wait, so Ironwood isn't my family name in this universe?" Ironwood asked the Vortonian.

"Dwarves have different surnames than most other species, in this universe." Vortech explained. "Dwarves gain their surnames through mighty feats. Such as how James, in this universe, gained the name of Ironwood."

____________________________

Strike after strike, Azog continued to beat down upon the branch James used to defend himself. Eventually, James fell backwards in slight exhaustion from the blows, landing upon the ground. Going for the kill, Azog roared as he raised his hand again, ready to bring his mace down upon James.

However, steeling himself back to the battle, James grit his teeth in rage as he picked up a dwarvish sword that lay by his side. He arose to his feet and, with a mighty yell, swung the blade out in an arc. "AAH!"

Metal slicing through flesh rang out. James Ironwood had cut off Azog's hand, standing up to stare down his hated enemy. The pale orc looked towards the bleeding stump that was once his hand, yelling in pain as black blood gushed out from the wound. Azog fell to his knees, clutching his severed stump of an arm as he looked towards James.

"Azog the Defiler learned that day... that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken."

____________________________

A triumphant smile graced Ironwood's lips upon seeing his counterpart knock Azog down a peg.

"Yeah! That's how you do it!" Yang cheered with her fist raised to the air.

"That'll teach that big, ugly orc who's boss!" Nora cheered as well.

"It will definitely weaken Azog's pride, if nothing else." Ren stated.

"The good news is that abomination is going to be out of the fight." Weiss said with a smile. "With a wound that large, he won't be able to focus on the battle."

"It's good to see that the dwarves finally got a win." Ruby said with a sigh of relief.

____________________________

Fili and Kili looked towards Balin as James looked up to the sky with a hidden sense of pride, having heard Balin's tale of their past.

Azog groaned in pain as his fellow orcs helped to carry him back into the doors of Moria.

As they did so, wielding his ironwood branch while raising his sword to the sky, James shouted in dwarvish, rallying his kin to battle.

From there, the dwarves of Erebor charged against the oncoming orcs. Two waves of strong-willed and ferocious enemies going at each other as they clashed.

"AAAAH!" James roared as he led the charge against the orcs, Dwalin by his side as the two armies smashed against one another.

James ducked under the swinging blade of an orc before cutting that same orc at the back of the leg. The orc fell, allowing for James to twirl his sword and swung down upon the orc.

"Our forces rallied... and drove the orcs back."

The younger form of Balin was shown knocking back an orc with a metal mace before the young Dwalin was shown using his duel axes to direct a blow from an orc away from him, soon promptly burying his axes into the back of the orc. James and Dwalin were shown killing several other orcs amidst the battle as Balin continued to speak.

"Our enemy had been defeated."

____________________________

"Even in another universe, General Ironwood is as ever inspiring to his troops." Winter said with a smile.

"I can give Ironwood this. He knows how to bring up the morale of his soldiers." Sienna relented her compliment to the General.

"Now with the orc's leadership out of the way, the dwarves can get back to kicking some ass." Port cheered with a hearty chuckle.

"Hell yeah!" Nora shouted in agreement with her portly teacher. "Dwarves will never not be awesome."

'Viva la revolution for the short!' Neo found herself signing out.

____________________________

Balin looked into the fire with a sorrow appearance as he spoke on. "But there was no feast... nor song that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief."

The surviving dwarves of the battle were shown wearily walking among the corpses of their fallen kin. A crying Balin was shown hugging Dwalin before the latter eventually moved from his brother.

"We few had survived."

____________________________

And just as quickly as members in the audience smiled at the dwarves triumph, they all shifted to looks of melancholy.

"So many good soldiers, dead." Pyrrha shook her head with closed eyes.

"May they find peace in the next life." Ren bowed his head as he gave a silent pray to the dwarves that had died in the battle of Moria.

"Was it ever this bad during the Great War?" Ruby asked, looking towards her teachers.

"On an overall scale, yes. But for just one battle?" Oobleck spoke before shaking his head towards Ruby. "Nothing like this had ever been recorded."

"Sadly, this is always the price of war." Ozpin said as he started to think to himself. "One I hope none of you children will ever have to pay."

Cinder heard Ozpin's words and slightly glanced over to the headmaster, carefully reading his expressions before inwardly scoffing. "Whatever price your students pay, it will be on your head."

____________________________

But as tears streamed down Balin's face, he looked up upon James Ironwood, staring at him in awe as the dwarf prince showed no signs of faltering as he stood stern and proud.

"And I thought to myself then... there is one I could follow."

It was back to present day once more as Balin looked over towards James. "There is one... I could call king."

James then turned back around, meeting the looks of his dwarven comrades, whom all had awoken as they looked to their leader with awe and admiration.

____________________________

This had brought another smile to Ironwood's face. A leader was always doing right by their men if they were shown true respect and admiration. The bonds of brotherhood.

"It's always tales like these that make me proud to be a huntress. A hero that saves the day." Ruby said with a soft smile. "Well, a huntress-in-training, anyways."

"And that's why I know you're going to be one of the best huntresses out there." Taiyang told his daughter with an encouraging smile.

"You can say that again." Yang shared in her dad's statement as she gave Ruby a light punch on the shoulder.

"God, they so sweet it's sickening." Emerald thought to herself with slight disgust. Encouragement was one thing, but doting was another.

Mercury shared similar thoughts to Emerald, though unlike her, he had more to think on. "That family may be so sweet to each other that it feels like they're giving me diabetes by just watching them, but at the same time, I can't help but a feel a little envious. Oh well. What can you do?"

____________________________

James calmly nodded to them as he walked back over to the campfire. Balin watched James's movements, before looking down. Roman looked to James as well before looking back at Balin.

"And the pale orc?" Roman questioned out of curiosity. "What happened to him?"

As James walked back over to the campfire, he answered Roman's question with a hate-filled tone. "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."

As James said this, Balin and Ozpin glanced to him before they each shared a look with each other.

____________________________

"Sorry to say this, pal, but Azog only lost a hand." Roman pointed out with a look that said he did not agree with dwarf-James's declaration.

"I can agree with you on that as well." Ironwood told the ginger-haired thief. "Unless these orcs were cruel enough to let their chieftain die of blood loss, I doubt he's completely out of the picture."

____________________________

Meanwhile, a good distance away from the mountain top where the company camped, two orcs astride brown wargs were shown spying at them, hatred deep in their eyes as they barred their jagged teeth.

"Send word to the Master..." a pale orc named Yazneg, whom wore a coat over his back that was rimmed with jagged bones, spoke in Black Speech to his lieutenant, Fimbul, a brown orc with a large and jagged red collar over blue clothing. "...we have found the Dwarf-scum."

____________________________

"Speaking of the orcs." Jaune said while sporting a grimace.

"Talk about bad timing." Blake said with a wince. "Seems that the orcs aren't done with the dwarves yet."

"I guess we can add vindictive to the list as to why these orcs are worse than Grimm." Ilia commented.

"So, I gotta ask. Are these random grunts, or are they in a commanding position of some king?" Qrow asked as he looked back at Vortech.

"Well, I'll only tell you since their names are never spoke throughout the entirety of the viewing." Vortech said before he began his explanation. "The paler of the two is Yazneg, and orc captain of warg riders. At his side is his lieutenant, Fimbul."

"I take it these wargs are the wolvish beasts they are currently sat upon." Port spoke to Vortech as if he was more so making a statement rather than asking a question.

"Correct. These are much more vicious, larger, and faster than wolves." Vortech said with what sounded to be a hint of excitement in his tone. "They're perfect for hunting parties."

"They almost look like Beowulves. If Beowulves weren't Grimm." Penny pointed out.

"The shaping of the jaw and skull is definitely there." Nora said in agreement.

"Oh, great. It looks like now we have orcs to worry about as well." Roman said with eye roll before giving an exasperated sigh. "Barely at the beginning of the quest, and already things are getting messy."

____________________________

The company of thirteen was shown on the move once more, this trotting through the rain and the muddy ground. Thunder rumbled as everyone was sailed wet, some of the dwarves wearing hoods to help cover themselves. Roman especially was shown to be the missy soaked out of everyone.

"Here, Mr. Ozpin, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori called out to the wizard, the grey-haired dwarf wearing a hood over his head.

Ozpin glanced back at Dori before giving his reply. "It is raining, Master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done."

Roman glanced around a bit as the downpour continued to become heavier, all the while Ozpin continued to speak with Dori.

"If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard."

At this, Dori gave no reply to Ozpin other than looking off to the side.

____________________________

"Wait, wizard-Ozpin can't change the weather?" Nora asked with a disappointed look. "That's lame."

"Well, he is still a wizard, so I'm very certain that he does have magic that he can use." Ren calmly told his partner.

"It would seem my counterpart is limited in what he can do with magic." Ozpin said, though on the inside he was frowning a bit at the possible limitation he had in Middle-Earth, especially given the magic he was able to conjure up in his first life.

"The realm of magic definitely works much differently than how it does in other worlds." Vortech stated. "The magic in this universe requires one to work alongside nature in order for it to properly work."

"That doesn't seem all that practical." Cinder spoke up with her disappointed tone.

"Well, that's not to say you have to follow that rule—though it's more of a guideline." Vortech admitted as he rambled on. "There is the option of working against or contorting nature to one's will in this universe, though you're a spirit of nature, that goes alongside more with dark magic."

"I see..." Cinder muttered with a hint of interest. "Are there any particular examples?"

"None that I'll divulge at the moment. Though I can say that you will find out about one in particular later in this viewing." Vortech replied to villainous femme fatale.

While many in the audience had heard Cinder's conversation with Vortech, not many were too focused on it to question it. There were the select few that knew why Cinder was intrigued on the subject of dark magic, though knew not to talk about it. However, Ozpin had paid more attention to the conversation. He had been able to pick up the subtle interest Cinder had in the topic, which prompted him to furrow his eyes.

"How odd." Ozpin thought to himself. "What purpose would a student have in wanting to know about the dark arts? Strange."

____________________________

"Are there any?" Roman asked Ozpin.

"What?" Ozpin questioned the hobbit.

"Other wizards." Roman clarified.

"There are five of us." Ozpin answered as he looked to Roman. "The greatest of order is Arthur the White. Then there are the two blue wizards... do you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

____________________________

"Given how seeing alternate versions of ourselves in these universes are meant to be a common thing, I take it he's referring to Arthur Watts?" Pietro questioned Vortech.

"A variant, but the same." Vortech said with a nod of his head.

"It's hard to believe that a disgraced Atlas scientist could be the greatest in an order of wizards in another universe." Ironwood proclaimed, still having trouble believing that a version of Ozpin not only worked alongside one Arthur Watts, but considered him his superior.

"Now there's a subject I can't help to agree on with the tin man." Cinder thought herself as she even scowled at the thought of Watts being a powerful wizard.

____________________________

Roman nodded in understanding. "And who is the fifth?" 

"Well, that would be Bartholomew the Brown." Ozpin told the rain-drenched hobbit.

____________________________

"Well, by my mustache, Barty. It would seem you're in this universe as well." Port told his friend with a smirk. "And a wizard at that. Bravo."

"Hmm. It's hard to say which position I would be more comfortable with. A doctor, or a magician." Oobleck spoke in regards to himself. "Being a doctor in world history is my cherished job position, though being a wizard undoubtedly has its perks as well."

"I wonder how a wizard form of Oobleck is going to act like." Tai started a conversation with Qrow. "We know that this version of Ozpin is more cryptic."

"Eh. Wizard-Oobleck might be more zany." Qrow suggested with a shrug. "Won't know for sure until we see him."

____________________________

"Is he a great wizard?" Roman asked with an inquisitive look. "Or is he more like you?"

Ozpin seemed to stiffen a bit as he chose his next words before answering Roman again. "I think he's a very great wizard... in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East. And a good thing too, for always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

____________________________

"I see. So my counterpart is more a naturalist." Oobleck nodded in understanding.

"I think it's nice that the wizard variant of Doctor Oobleck cares for the forests and animals." Penny said with a sweet smile. "I find that people always tend to place nature and the environment before everything else."

"Not to mention that Ozpin's counterpart speaks true about evil wanting to seep into any place in the world." Glynda said. "The Grimm are proof enough of that."

"Though that begs the question on how this wizardly variant of Doctor Oobleck watches over the green of their world." Winter said as she placed a hand to her chin.

"Well, however he does it, I'm sure he's doing it with the upmost care." Ruby crossed her arms as she nodded with a smile.

____________________________

After Ozpin spoke, the viewing quickly shifted to a vast forest, under a bright, sunny day. Birds chirped about as the viewing panned down beneath the trees, revealing a figure walking through them with a hint of urgency. The individual stopped in his tracks, inspecting a patch of dead and rotted leaves amongst an otherwise lively bush.

"Oh." The figure spoke, tearing away one of the dead leaves and bringing it to his face. The individual was revealed to be none other than Bartholomew Oobleck, whom was dressed in brown robes while wearing a brown, ornate and felted hat with flaps on it. He was much older than the variant of himself within the audience, sporting a long and graying green beard to accompany his hair. Though the oddest thing about this Bartholomew was the streak of dried bird poop on the side of his face. "Not good. Not good at all."

____________________________

It was safe to say that the overall opinion the audience had as to how this wizardly form of Oobleck would appear and behave had quickly turned into that of bewilderment.

"Um... what?" Blake blinked in confusion.

"Huh." Ruby uttered out with a wide eyed, blank look. "I mean... I was expecting the beard, but, uh, not all of this."

"I was... I was not prepared this." Weiss said with dumbfounded look. "Not one bit."

"Well my counterpart definitely seems... manic." Oobleck said in an unsure tone. "And also very unkempt."

"I think we can add crazy for wizard-Oobleck." Qrow told Tai as they both shared blank looks and muddled thoughts.

"I can safely say that this a new one." Ozpin said as he quietly smacked his lips a bit, though his features more schooled than the rest in the audience.

"Well, he's definitely a strange looking fellow." Pietro said with wide eyes as he readjusted his glasses.

"I have... I don't have any words." Glynda said as he mind gave up on what she was seeing.

"He has bird shit on the side of his face. What is wrong with him?" Roman asked in repulsion.

"I think the question here is what isn't wrong with him." Cinder said as she gave the brown-themed wizard a disgusted look.

____________________________

With his staff in hand, the wizardly Bartholomew ran through the forest, passing rotted mushroom and dead foxes and rabbits along his path.

Bartholomew went to pick up one of the mushrooms, sniffing it before balking a bit in disgust. He then placed the rotted mushroom in his satchel before going over to inspect a large and slinky black rot that had grown in a nearby tree. Bartholomew dug his finger into the rot in order to inspect it, reeling it back as his groaned in small disgust before wiping the substance from his fingers.

____________________________

"Ew." Emerald said in revulsion. "Why?"

"I guess Bartholomew is very thorough in his job." Sienna said with a small grimace of disgust.

"What even is that stuff he sticking his finger into?" Yang balked at what Bartholomew the Brown was inspecting on the tree. First he looked like a disheveled mess, and now he was sticking his hands in some sickly rot. Safe to say that Yang was not a fan of it.

"Well, sometimes in order to understand the route cause of problems, one must get their hands dirtier than they'd want them to be." Oobleck stated before writing down in his notes, recording the actions of his counterpart. "And it seems my counterpart is analyzing some form of rot in the area."

____________________________

Bartholomew then whistled over to a nearby robin who hovered over to the wizard. Bartholomew then took off his hat for the bird, revealing the top of his hair to be in the shape of a bird's nest. The bird chirped before it flew down onto the nest, quickly accompanied by another robin before the green-bearded wizard placed the hat back over his head.

____________________________

"His hair is a literal bird's nest." Mercury deadpanned. "Don't know what else to say here."

"Well, I think it's fascinating." Penny said with a smile, one of the very few people—if not the only person—to have no problem with the wizardly Oobleck. "I think it's also sweet of him to give those birds a home."

"It's... definitely a life choice." Ilia said with a schooled, yet perturbed look.

"This is definitely taking the term "naturalist" to the extreme." Ironwood said with a nod of his head, not willing to give his opinion as to the brown-themed wizard's appearance and actions.

____________________________

Looking around, Bartholomew's eyes widened in worry and fear as he spotted a lone hedgehog who was writhing in pain.

"Oh, no. Sebastian." Bartholomew spoke to the hedgehog in worry, moving his staff aside in order to pick up the small creature.

The hedgehog moaned in pain as Bartholomew cradled him in his arms. "Good gracious."

____________________________

"No, hedgehog!" Ruby shouted in worry for the small creature.

"He even gave it a name too." Nora said with a saddened expression towards the sickly hedgehog. Like Penny, she didn't really have a problem with wizard-Oobleck's appearance, and actual thought he was cool looking.

"Poor, Sebastian." Weiss sadly spoke as she found herself smitten with yet another cute animal.

"Wizard-Ozpin did say that this world's Oobleck cared for animals." Ren spoke. However, unlike Nora, he couldn't help but give the wizardly variant of Oobleck an odd look the entire time.

"As much as his appearance is... peculiar, it does seem he has a good heart." Pyrrha nodded her head, making sure to use her words carefully.

____________________________

Bartholomew then started to run through his woods, hopping over logs and plants, passing more dead animals along the way before he eventually made his way to a hand-crafted wooden house built beside a tree, the roofs being covered in straw.

____________________________

"So many innocent and cute animals." Weiss said with a horrified look.

"Even the bunnies." Jaune said in equal sadness.

"It looks like rotting trees and mushrooms aren't the only issue in Doctor Oobleck's woods." Penny said with a frown.

"He even lives in a wooden shack. Built around a tree." Winter said with a bland look, disregarding the dead animals for more of the strangeness of Bartholomew the Brown. "He really does have a deep care for nature."

"Definitely a lot more hand-made than my house. That's for sure." Tai commented. "Though the dead animals are more concerning to me."

"Yes. Just like my counterpart, I do wonder what is inflicting this forest." Oobleck said with a nod as he focused his sights on the viewing screen.

____________________________

Within his tree-embedded, wooden home, Bartholomew was shown trying to cure Sebastian of his pain.

"Shh. Shh." Bartholomew tried to calm down Sebastian, smooching his lips at him as he tried to use a wooden ladle with herbs in it.

Seeing as that didn't work, Bartholomew promptly threw the ladle to the side before rushing over to one of his shelves, scrambling about to get any supplies that may cure his animal friend.

A commotion was happening as Bartholomew looked for a cure, prompting the wizard to turn around and see other hedgehogs going up to Sebastian. "Move back! Give him some air, for goodness sake!"

Bartholomew then leaned down to Sebastian with an herb-covered stick in his hand. He chittered so as to try and get Sebastian to take the herbs, but it did not help.

Bartholomew was then shown knocking a wooden pestle against the edge of a wooden mortar before bringing said mortar to his ear. Bartholomew then gave the mortar a strange look before looking back up.

The wizard was then shown a strange, straw and wood contrasted pipe that whistled out smoke towards Sebastian from different exit ways.

____________________________

"What has this man been smoking?" Roman asked, straight-faced.

Choosing to ignore Roman's comment, Oobleck spoke up about the remedies his counterpart was using to help heal Sebastian. "Those are some... unique ways to try and cure a creature."

"Unique is definitely a word to describe this situation." Port said with befuddled look.

"Bart's literally using a bong to try and cure a dying animal." Qrow spoke with a deadpan. "I think unique is an understatement here."

"Well, given what time period this universe exists in, it would make sense that they wouldn't have the proper medical tools to cure sick animals." Blake said in defense of Bartholomew the Brown, no matter how weird he seemed. "I'd probably be more surprised if he didn't use this kind of stuff to try and cure Sebastian."

"Whatever he's using, I just hopes it cures Sebastian." Ruby said with a worried expression.

Emerald couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ruby's concern while Mercury gave his comment about the situation.

"All this for a hedgehog." Mercury muttered as he blinked a bit. "That's... that's definitely something, alright."

____________________________

Bartholomew then grabbed something from a nearby windowsill before mixing it in a beaker of red liquid. He then tipped a bit of the liquid onto his finger and brought it over to Sebastian, rubbing it on the hedgehog's head. However, it was for not.

"I don't understand why it's not working!" Bartholomew shouted in frustration as he stood up. "It's not as if it's Witchcraft!"

And just like that, Bartholomew's eyes froze in realization. "Witchcraft."

The wizard then looked down over to Sebastian as he spoke in a foreboding tone. "Oh, but it is. A dark and powerful magic."

____________________________

"The hedgehog has been affected by Witchcraft?" Cinder slowly spoke.

"One of the darkest forms of black magic in this universe." Vortech stated with an even look.

"Okay, so we know what's inflicting Sebastian, but now I want to know how he got ill from Witchcraft." Ruby said with a raised brow. "I mean, is there a witch lurking in those woods?"

"Well... I wouldn't say a witch." Vortech said with knowing, if slightly mischievous, tone.

"To what knowledge I know of, I'm certain one doesn't have to necessarily be a witch to practice Witchcraft" Ozpin said as memories of his first life popped into his head.

"So... warlock?" Ruby hazarded a guess.

"It wasn't any person that is responsible for it, that's for certain." Vortech said with a chuckle. "But don't worry. You're all about to find out what's going on in these woods."

____________________________

Bartholomew then slowly looked out towards his window, noticing the sound of a creature coming towards his house from outside. Through the window, he spotted the obscured shape of a large, arachnid-like creature, it started to climb up Bartholomew's homestead. The green-neared wizard looked around with wide eyes to see the large arachnid was not alone as other started to climes along his house, one of which was clawing at the door.

____________________________

There was a disturbed silence within the theater. None said a word as they took in what they were seeing. However, that silence was broken by the shout of mint-haired young woman.

"Oh, hell no!" Emerald yelled out as she tried to scoot back into her seat.

"Spiders. Giant spiders." Weiss said with fear and revulsion. "Why did it have to be giant spiders?"

"Seems we know how all those woodland creatures died." Port said with a grimace.

"Those spiders must be caring quite the bite with them to poison animals through Witchcraft." Glynda said as she narrowed her eyes at the large arachnids.

"Looks like this universe took a turn for horror." Yang commented as Ruby nodded in agreement.

"I can't say that there's ever been a recording of spiders that have grown this large." Penny said with as she tapped her chin with her finger.

"It's because there isn't." Ironwood said as he stared at the viewing screen. "Those spiders must be as about as unnatural as Grimm."

"Giant spiders." Roman muttered with a straight look of fear on his face. "You know, the multiverse really likes showing both the craziest and scariest stuff. I don't like it."

____________________________

Grabbing a chair, Bartholomew placed it against the door, barring the large spider entry way as the other continued to climb his house. Bartholomew then looked over to see Sebastian giving out a muffled chitter before finally succumbing to his illness, laying down flat and motionless.

____________________________

""Sebastian, no!"" Both Ruby and Penny shouted in worry.

"There's gotta be something that can cure him." Weiss said with a distressed look.

Oobleck narrowed his eyes at the screen with a determined look as he muttered to himself. "Come on. You're a wizard for a reason. You can save this hedgehog's life."

____________________________

Looking upon Sebastian with a saddened expression, Bartholomew looked around as the large spiders climbed his rooftop. Going over to his staff, Bartholomew plucked the blue gem embedded within the top. Mice squeaked and scattered in fear from all over the house as they scurried over to Bartholomew, who now sat against the base of the tree in his home.

____________________________

"Rats!" Port shouted in fear.

"Peter, those are mice." Oobleck deadpanned towards his colleague.

"Same difference!" Port shouted back.

"I think there are more pressing matters at hand, other than your fear of rats and mice." Glynda told Port with narrowed eyes, getting the portly man to quiet down.

____________________________

Bartholomew held the unconscious Sebastian in his arms, the tip of the blue gem against the hedgehog's mouth as the wizard started to chant in a foreign language. Bartholomew cradled Sebastian with care as he continued to chant, the large spiders using their legs to poke holes within his roof, the sun's rays peeking through the new cracks and crevices. As the wizard continued to chant, his voice became echoed, his eyes becoming cross as a black substance poured out of Sebastian and into the blue gem.

____________________________

"Now that's the kind of wizardry I was looking for." Nora said an interested look.

"Is he using the gem to suck out all the Witchcarfty-magic?" Ruby asked.

"Like drawing venom from a wound." Pyrrha stated the clear analogy.

"I hope Doctor Oobleck heals him fast, cause those spiders are getting closer." Jaune said with a worried and fearful look.

____________________________

Soon enough, Bartholomew finished his chant, and Sebastian's eyes opened, moving his head back from the blue gem. Bartholomew blinked as he regained his regular sight before looking down upon the chittering Sebastian. Bartholomew smiled upon the hedgehog before looking through his windows to see that the spiders were now retreating from his home.

____________________________

Ruby, Weiss, Nora, and Penny all let out an immediate sigh of relief at Bartholomew being able to cure Sebastian.

"Oh, thank god." Emerald said as her heart rate slowed down.

"Yeah, you're telling me. I was really worried for Sebastian there." Ruby agreed with Emerald's sentiment.

Emerald blinked in confusion before realization hit her. "O-of course. I was... completely worried for the little guy."

In all truth, Emerald had sighed in relief that the giant spiders were gone. She didn't give a damn for the dying hedgehog whatsoever.

"Nice save." Mercury muttered to his partner.

____________________________

Soon exiting his homestead, Bartholomew walked through now web-infested trees, a robin squawking over to him as the wizard watched the large spiders retreat through the bushes and tall grass.

"Where on this good earth did those foul creatures come from?" Bartholomew questioned as he looked upon the retreating arachnids with a calm look of horror.

____________________________

"Don't know, and don't care." Roman as he crossed his arms in and out. "They're gone, and that's all I need to know."

"You can say that again." Emerald said in a hushed tone.

"Well, if my counterpart is like myself, then I'll undoubtedly try and figure where those spiders originated from." Oobleck stated as he pushed up his glasses.

"As horrific as the size of those spiders are, I'd agree that reconnaissance on them would be needed." Sienna found herself agreeing with the bespectacled, green-haired history teacher.

"Yep. Even if he doesn't really want to do it, Bart the Brown is going to need to scout out those spiders to try and absolve the problem." Qrow spoke after taking a swing of his flask. "No problem was ever solved with people sitting on their asses."

"Let him go on a suicide mission all he wants, just as long as I don't have to see the home of those oversized bugs." Roman said with furrowed eyes.

"Spiders aren't bugs." Oobleck quickly corrected the criminal.

"Don't care." Roman swiftly replied.

____________________________

The robin from earlier hovered over to Bartholomew, chirping at him as the wizard looked towards his avian friend.

"The old fortress?" Bartholomew asked as the bird chirped in response. "Show me."

The viewing cut to the robin flying through the trees before a series of large rabbits were shown quickly following the bird. They were all attached to a wooden slay that Bartholomew rode upon.

____________________________

"He's sledding with rabbits?" Nora asked with stars in her eyes. "That's so awesome!"

"I can safely say that I have never seen a mode of transportation like that." Pietro said with blinking eyes of surprise.

"Those are also some very large rabbits." Port pointed out. "And they're fast at that."

"If Velvet could get a look at these guys." Ruby said with her own awed expression.

"These are rhosgobel rabbits. One of the largest and fastest rabbits in Middle-Earth." Vortech stated. "At their best, they can go up to thirty-five miles per hour."

"And given how these rabbits are all in a group, leading a slay, they would undoubtedly be able to double or triple that speed." Ironwood concluded as he had a small form on interest in the rhosgobel rabbits. They weren't as fast as any cars or Atlesian airship, but in a world without modern day technology, they seemed to be quite the commodity.

____________________________

The rhosgobel rabbits carried Bartholomew through the forest with great speed. Branches and leaves blew smacked against the wizard's face, but he gave it no mind, for soon enough, they had neared their destination. The sky had darkened with clouds, the tree tops covered in webs. And off to the distance stood a seemingly abandoned, old, and run down stone fortress upon a tall, rocky, and barren hill, littered with broken pillars and towers reaching to the air.

____________________________

"Oh, I do not like the look of that place." Roman said with deadpan while shaking his head, though on the inside he was sweating. "Not one bit."

"Well, that place just screams evil." Ruby spoke with a bland look.

"Evernight Castle looks better." Cinder though to herself, not really intimidated by the run-down, stone fortress. "Though I can see the appeal."

"If there's any place those spiders came from, it'd be that fortress." Blake confidently spoke with a nod of her head.

"That place is literally straight out of a board game." Jaune stated before looking back at Vortech. "What is it, anyway?"

"That is the Hill of Sorcery." Vortech explained with an almost sinister tone. "Dol Guldur."

If there was anything that had struck a cord throughout the audience during this particular viewing, the name of Dol Guldur would do it.

"Looks evil, and sounds evil." Tai commented. "Two for two."

"There's a place of significance if I've ever seen one." Ozpin stated. On the outside, his expression was schooled, but on the inside he a particularly displeasing feeling from this Dol Guldur.

____________________________

The viewing cut back to the company of thirteen. It was a bright day. The group was currently riding towards a rocky and forested area where an abandoned, destroyed, and worn down farm house was shown.

____________________________

Roman gave a sigh of relief as he wiped off some sweat from his head—which he didn't know he had. "At least we don't have to see what's in the haunted fortress."

"Back to the dwarves, wizard-Ozpin, and Torchwick." Ruby said.

"And not a moment too soon." Emerald muttered to herself. She may not be the best person in the world, but that didn't mean she was okay with something so blatantly wicked and evil like Dol Guldur appeared to be.

____________________________

James turned his pony around, halting the others behind him as he spoke aloud. "We'll camp here for the night."

After this, Ozpin was shown slowly walking towards the broken down farm house, inspecting it as James continued to speak. "Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Ozpin spoke as he looked around the destroyed house, a feeling of dread arising his gut.

____________________________

Yang gave a whistle at the sight of the farm house before speaking. "Talk about a wreck."

"I wonder how it fell into such disrepair." Pyrrha voiced her thoughts.

"Well, what's for certain is that Ozpin's counterpart doesn't have a good feeling about it." Winter said as she gave the wrecked house and analyzing look. "And frankly, neither do I."

"Something always goes down when Ozpin gets a look like that." Qrow said. "They all might run into some trouble soon."

____________________________

"Oin, Gloin." James spoke to the two dwarven brothers.

"Aye." Gloin replied to James.

"Get a fire going." James ordered.

"Right ya are." Gloin nodded in agreement.

While still looking towards the farm house, Ozpin spoke aloud to James. "I think it would be wiser to move on."

____________________________

"Yeah... that might be the best choice here." Ruby nodded, concurring to Ozpin the Grey's suggestion. "I am getting some bad vibes from that farm house."

"The fact that the house isn't completely destroyed or toppled over tells that whatever happened wasn't naturally occurring." Cinder decided to pitch in, thinking that some more communication would help to keep her cover. "The remains might suggest an attack of some kind."

"Well, if that's the case, then what's the chance that what, or whoever, attacked the house is still lurking around?" Jaune asked as she shared a look with Ruby.

____________________________

Hearing this, James walked over to Ozpin as the wizard walked towards him, continuing to speak to the dwarven prince. "We could make for the Hidden Valley."

At this, James gave a scowled look as he walked by. "I have told you already: I will not go near that place."

"Why not?" Ozpin questioned as he watched James pass by. "The elves could help us. We could get food, rest advice."

____________________________

"Yeah, the elves didn't exactly help them last time." Yang said with her arms crossed. While she was sure that the elves were not all bad, the fact that the left the dwarves out to dry when Smaug attacked still irked her.

Sienna felt a small flinch from her eye at Yang's statement. While her features were schooled, she would admit that her counterpart could have done something to help the dwarves, even if she was angered with Thror.

"Perhaps Ozpin's counterpart is speaking of a different group of elves." Weiss suggested. "I doubt they would all be under the rule of Sienna Khan. There are most likely other settlements of elves, such as this "Hidden Valley" Ozpin spoke of."

"Even if that is the case, the General's counterpart doesn't strike me as the type to easily forgive and forget." Ilia pointed out with a small scowl. "Something no one should do."

"Ilia does have a point. The elves may not have any ill will towards the company, but Ironwood doesn't seem like he wants to be near any elves, any time soon." Blake reluctantly concurred with his old friend.

"Something I hope my counterpart can try to set aside if we do end up needing the elves' help." Ironwood said as he watched the viewing screen with intent.

____________________________

"I do not need their advice." James spoke sternly as he turned towards Ozpin.

"We have a map that we cannot read." Ozpin said while pointing his thumb behind him. "Lord Nicholas could help us."

____________________________

"Nicholas?" Weiss asked with wide eyes. "As in my grandfather?"

"Correct." Vortech answered the SDC Heiress with a nod. "He is an elf-lord in this universe. One who is held in respect."

"Certainly my grandfather would be more willing to help the General and his company, as opposed to a certain someone." Winter stated as she and Sienna crossed each other with dirty looks.

"I do hope that's the case." Ironwood spoke with a nod before he began thinking to himself. "While I never personally met Nicholas when I was younger, I'm more than certain he'd more easier to negotiate with than Jacques. Even if this is a different Nicholas."

"Well, Weiss, looks like we'll get to see your grandpa with pointy ears." Ruby joked a bit with her partner, giving out a small laugh.

"Yeah. Who knows. Maybe we'll even see Weiss with pointy ears too." Yang joined in the joke with her sister.

"Ha. Ha." Weiss drawled out a reply, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms.

____________________________

"Help?" James asked with an unamused look. "A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the elves?"

Ozpin looked at James as the dwarven prince continued to rant on. "Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls. The elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather. Who betrayed my father."

____________________________

"Yep." Ironwood spoke with a sigh. "My counterpart still unforgiving of the elves. I can't say I blame him, but certainly if getting the elves' help would mean they would all be one step closer to taking back Erebor, getting their advice should be a small price to pay."

"Your counterpart has a strong sense of pride." Ozpin spoke as he looked towards his old friend. "He lets the past dictate the future. Something that will bring more harm than good."

"A lesson I think most people in the world would benefit from learning." Glynda said in agreement to Ozpin, casting a sideways glance at Sienna Khan.

Sienna merely scoffed while rolling her eyes, resting her cheek into bawled up hand as she looked back towards the screen as she spoke. "Can't be rid of the past if it still seeps into the present."

"But continually fighting the past won't make a difference." Glynda chided back at the White Fang High Leader.

The two women stated at each other with stern eyes, seeming as if they were about to have a heated argument.

"I wonder if I should declare a cat fight?" Vortech quietly pondered to himself. "Then again, Sienna might call me a racist because of it."

____________________________

"You are neither of them." Ozpin calmly told James, the dwarf prince looking down to the side. "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past."

"I did not know they were yours to keep." James rudely replied as he looked up at Ozpin.

Ozpin sighed as he gave a dirty look towards James. The wizard then turn around, shook his head in annoyance, and walked off.

____________________________

"Ouch." Qrow said with a small cringe.

"I don't think fighting with the person trying to help you is going to solve your situation." Ruby said as she did not like tone dwarven James gave Ozpin.

"Biting the hand that feeds you is never a sound idea." Ren sagely spoke with a shake of his head.

"And yet, this situation isn't all that too inaccurate with how things can go sometimes." Glynda stated as she gave Ironwood a knowing glance, having gotten over her silent feud with Sienna.

"I've told you all, there's nothing wrong making sure the Vytal Festival is safe and secure." Ironwood rebuked back.

"We can agree on that, James. But an Atlas fleet doesn't send the right message." Ozpin told Ironwood once more.

"It's the right call." Ironwood stood his ground as he crossed his arms.

Cinder, who had listened on the Headmasters' little debate, gave an inwardly cruel smirk. "Oh, how wrong you are, General."

____________________________

"Everything all right?" Roman asked Ozpin as he and Balin tended to one of the ponies. However, the hobbit got no reply as Ozpin continued to walk off. "Ozpin, where are you going?"

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Ozpin spoke in a frustrated tone as the dwarves watched him storm off.

"And who's that?" Roman asked.

"Myself, Mr. Torchwick!" Ozpin snapped back continuing on his trek. "I've had enough of dwarves for one day."

____________________________

"Oh, you've done it now." Roman snidely remarked to Ironwood with a straight face.

"Hmm, I don't think driving away the only wizard of the group is such a good idea." Pietro said as he scratched his head under his hat.

"Wow. I don't think I've ever seen Ozpin that mad before." Jaune said with a surprised look.

"I don't think anyone has." Blake replied to his comment.

"So... wizard-Ozpin's going to be back, right?" Ruby asked with a concerned look.

"I'm sure he will." Weiss tried to reassure Ruby. "Sometimes, even the most mindfully collected of people need some space."

Both Ozpin and Glynda promptly glanced over to Ironwood, who didn't need to even look back at them to know they were looking at him. He gave out a sigh before speaking to them.

"Okay. I guess I can see the point you make." Ironwood told Glynda and Ozpin before promptly raising his finger. "But I still stand with my decision about my fleet."

____________________________

James watched as Ozpin stormed off, his face appeared uncaring as he spoke up. "Come on, Bombur, we're hungry."

Roman looked towards James before looking at Balin. "Is he coming back?"

Balin had no reply as the two looked over to where Ozpin had left to.

The viewing changed to night. The dwarves poured themselves bowls of stew over a campfire while Roman stare off into the distance, wondering about Ozpin.

"He's been a long time." Roman said as he walked towards the campfire.

____________________________

"Okay. Him being gone that long is not a good sign." Ruby shook her head in worry. "I'm starting to get Blake flashbacks."

"Hey, we found Blake, didn't we?" Yang asked her sister. "I'm sure Ozpin will be back."

Ilia raised her eyebrow as she glanced over to the said cat faunus, whom promptly sighed with feint blush.

"It's, uh, it's a long story." Blake told Ilia.

Back with Qrow, he gave a dry chuckle as he glanced back at the resident criminal. "Wow, Torchwick. I didn't know you cared for Ozpin."

"I don't." Roman denied back.

"Well, the fact that your short counterpart is acting worried might say something else." Qrow commented before looking back at the screen.

Roman rolled his eyes before glancing at Neo. "The only people I care about is number one and Neo. Ain't no one else has given me a reason to trust them."

____________________________

"Who?" Bofur asked he poured the stew into two bowls, Bombur coming up to him with an empty bowl.

"Ozpin." Roman clarified as he looked out into the forest.

"He's a wizard. He does as he chooses." Bofur tried to reassure Roman. "Here, do us a favor. Take this to the lads."

Bofur handed Roman the two hot bowls of stew while Bombur started to get himself another filling of dinner.

Seeing this, Bofur smacked his brother's hand. "Stop it. You've had plenty."'

____________________________

"Good to see Bofur is watching out for his brother's health." Glynda muttered to herself. "At least what's left of it."

____________________________

As Roman started to walk away from the group, being careful in his steps as to not spill the stew, the dwarves continued to talk amongst themselves.

"Aye, it's not a bad stew, Bombur." Gloin complimented the large-weighted dwarf. "I've had worse."

"Dori could have cooked it." Nori joked about his brother as the others laughed.

"Hilarious." Dori dryly replied.

Walking past Ozpin's horse and one of the ponies, Roman had eventually made his way up to Fili and Kili, both of whom looked ahead of themselves with confused looks.

Roman walked up in between them, holding the bowls out for them to get. He looked at the two brothers in confusion as they made no movement to get their bowls. "What's the matter?"

"We're supposed to be looking after the ponies." Kili started off.

"Only we've encountered a slight problem." Fili said as he glanced at Roman.

"We had sixteen." Kili stated.

"Now there's fourteen." Fili added on they looked towards the ponies' pen, revealing that there were less ponies then there once was.

____________________________

"First the wizard, and now the ponies." Roman commented. "Wandering off is starting to become a common theme, right now."

"How did they even lose two ponies?" Winter asked. "That's a rookie mistake, and Fili and Kili don't strike me as the rookie types."

"I wouldn't call them the most mature dwarves in the group." Sienna said. "It's clear they weren't around when the two ponies were lost."

"They probably only just got there." Ironwood spoke in defense for his counterpart's nephews. "They couldn't have been up there the entire time, otherwise they would have known what happened to the ponies."

____________________________

Roman and the two brothers looked throughout the pen as Kili spoke. "Daisy and Bungo are missing."

"Well, that's not good." Roman said before nervously chuckling, still holding the two bowls of stew. "And that is not good at all. Shouldn't we tell James?"

"Uh, no. Let's not worry him." Fili told Roman as he walked up to an uprooted tree. "As our official burglar,we thought you might like to look into it."

____________________________

"That does not sound like a good idea." Jaune said with an unsure look. "Wouldn't it be better to have everyone else in on this? That way it might lead to less of a mess later down the line."

The entirety of team RWBY were a bit silent at Jaune's words. They did their best to pay the comment no mind, as they looked off in different directions. The situation was starting to remind them of their off-the-books mission to see what Torchwick and the White Fang were up to, which led to the highway chase.

"You're not wrong, Mister Arc." Glynda said as she gave a stern glance over to team RWBY. She, Ozpin, and eventually Ironwood, found out about team RWBY escapades in Vale. Ozpin let the girls off, but not without Glynda giving the team a very stern talking to.

____________________________

"Well, uh... it's looks as like something big uprooted these trees." Roman pointed out as he walked over to one of said trees.

"That was our thinking." Kili said as he kneeled down to inspect the roots.

"It's something very big and possibly quite dangerous." Roman said with a hint of worry as he walked over to Fili.

Just then the sound of branch breaking caught Fili's attention, prompting him to look where the noise came from. "Hey. There's a light."

Looking to his younger brother, Fili motioned him and Roman to follow. "Over here."

____________________________

"Yeah, maybe getting everyone else isn't such a bad idea." Roman concurred with his counterpart.

"What? You scared?" Mercury called over to Roman.

"No... but I definitely don't want to know what uprooted those trees, without any backup." Roman replied back.

"It looks like a Grimm uprooted that tree." Ruby said as she analyzed the screen.

"Or Nora on lighting dust." Ren added.

Nora merely giggled a bit in an innocent tone, remembering a few times when she destroyed some trees when she was hit with a lighting blast.

"It might have been some large animal, in the least." Pyrrha suggested. Though in doing so, she frowned a bit. "Though I suppose that doesn't bode well for the ponies."

____________________________

The three walked over to what Fili saw, which Kili ducking under a branch, before Fili told them all to hide behind a log. "Stay down."

The sound of grunting and hoarse laughing was heard as the three looked to the direction where the light was coming from.

"What is it?" Roman asked, glancing over to Fili.

However, it was Kili who answer him, all the while looking towards the light with a serious face. "Trolls."

____________________________

Roman widened his eyes upon hearing this, blinking a bit in surprise. He distinctly remembered something about his counterpart's older self speaking about a treasure chest being related to the smell of troll.

"Oh... we're at the part where the encounter trolls." Ruby said in realization.

"Wait, how did you already know they'd run into trolls?" Emerald Rose her brow at Ruby.

"Oh, there was a part when we first saw this universe where hobbit-Roman was old and he told my counterpart that a treasure chest he had still smelled of troll." Ruby replied to the mint-haired young woman.

"You're in this universe too?" Emerald asked.

"Yeah... um, I'm apparently his adopted niece in this universe." Ruby said with an uncomfortable look.

"Don't remind me." Yang shook her head.

"Yikes." Mercury commented at what Ruby said.

"You poor thing." Cinder told Ruby while shaking her head. Her comment being less of a ruse and more of actual pity.

"Well, it didn't look like my hobbit counterpart had issues with it, so I guess that's a plus." Ruby said. "It's still weird though."

____________________________

Fili and Kili then promptly, and quietly, hopped over the log. With a confused look, Roman started to chase after them, however he stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to do. Finally deciding, Roman walked back over to the log, picking up the two bowls of stew and proceeded to follow Fili and Kili, brushing through the plants upon the ground.

Fili and Kili continued to sneakily move through the plants and trees before they hid behind another log. Roman was just right behind the two when he spotted something moving through the trees beside him, prompting the hobbit to widen his eyes. Roman had seen a large, pale troll wearing nothing but a loincloth as he carried two ponies under his arms.

"Oh." Roman quietly exclaimed before hiding behind a tree beside Fili and Kili's log, waiting for the troll to walk past him, all the while the ponies neighed in fear.

____________________________

"Damn that guy's huge." Yang stated, taken aback.

"He's the size of an Ursai." Nora said in equal astonishment.

"That troll is going to be a hassle to fight. I just know it." Weiss stated.

"Pretty sure now would be a good time to go get the cranky dwarf." Roman said in frozen alarm.

____________________________

"He's got Myrtle and Minty." Roman quietly exclaimed with a groan to Fili and Kili as they watched the troll walk off. "I think they're going to eat them. We have to do something."

____________________________

"Hey, get your hands off my pony!" Roman found himself shouting, his mood changing a bit.

Immediately the criminal mastermind blinked in realization of what he said. Roman found that a majority of the audience was looking back at him, if not everyone. Some gave him odd looks, while others couldn't help but chuckle and laugh at him.

"Are you seriously whining about a pony?" Emerald asked with a stifled chuckle. The same couldn't be said for Mercury, who let loose his laughter.

"That is the least manliest thing I have ever heard." Yang said as she too found herself chuckling.

"Oh, shut up. All of you." Roman frowned as he leaned into his seat, arms crossed.

Neo was giving Roman a comforting pat on the shoulder, though she too couldn't help but give a small giggle to what her boss just blurted out.

"There's nothing to get mad about, Torchwick." Ruby told the criminal with a small laugh and a sincere smile. "I think it's nice that you care about Myrtle."

"You are not the person I need talking to me right now, Little Red." Roman deadpanned while looking at the screen, as soon did everyone else.

____________________________

Fili and Kili looked at Roman before Kili arose to his feet and quietly spoke to the hobbit. "Yes. You should."

____________________________

There was a short silence as Roman was still calming down from his embarrassing display. However, as Kili's words started to register in his mind, Roman sat up a bit with blinking eyes.

"I'm sorry. What?"

____________________________

Kili then traded places with Roman, grabbing one of the bowls of stew as the red-headed hobbit held a baffled expression as to what was happening. "Mountain trolls are slow and stupid, and you're so small, they'll never see you."

____________________________

"Let me rephrase in a higher decibel." Roman calmly said before shouting with flailing hands. "What?!"

____________________________

"No. No." Roman tried to go against what Kili was suggesting.

"It's perfectly safe. We'll be right behind you." Kili assured Roman.

____________________________

"No good, stinking dwarves." Roman muttered as he got louder. "You're not sending me alone near a bunch of trolls!"

"Oh, come on, Torchwick. They said they'd be right behind you." Ruby tried to reassure the criminal. "Your counterpart is covered."

"Yes. I don't see why would not watch your counterpart's back." Penny said to Roman. "After all, they need to not only ensure your safety, your counterpart being a member of their company, but they also need to make sure retrieval of the ponies goes off without a hitch."

"A little faith goes a long way." Yang added in.

Roman said nothing back to them. Their reasoning was sensible, but he wasn't going to believe them until he saw otherwise. Still sat up in his seat, Roman looked back towards the viewing screen with a bland, and expectant look.

____________________________

Grabbing the other bowl of stew, Fili moved Roman past the log as he spoke. "If you run into trouble, hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl."

"Twice like a barn owl. No, twice like a brown—Once like a barn... are you sure this a good idea?" Roman questioned after immediately forgetting what Fili told him. However, the moment he had turned around, Fili and Kili were nowhere to be seen.

____________________________

"Ah—." Ruby's jaw hung agape, shocked at what just happened.

"Well, look at that." Roman drawled out as he looked down over to Ruby. "Now, if you excuse me, Red, I need to yell out a swear. Ehrm... Dickheads!"

"That wasn't nice of Fili and Kili to do." Penny said with frowning pout.

"They really did him dirty." Mercury said with a small chuckle.

"I am shocked. Shocked I say." Yang said as she looked at the screen with wide eyes.

"Unless there's some ulterior plan here, Fili and Kili need to learn how to be better compatriots." Pyrrha shook her head in disappointment at the two dwarven brothers' actions.

"Never leave a man behind." Ironwood muttered to himself as he shook his head, sighing. Perhaps his counterpart wasn't too much in the wrong for his sternness to his nephews earlier.

____________________________

Roman looked on in annoyance, only to quickly stumble in his steps as he was surprised the voice of one the trolls, turning back to where the large monsters resided.

"Mutton yesterday. Mutton today..." one of the trolls said aloud in annoyance with a cockney accent, a troll named Bert whom had one good eye and wore a leathery apron connected to his loincloth. "And, blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrow."

Pulling himself together, Roman straightened out his jacket and heavily breathed in as he looked towards the trolls.

"Quit your griping." The troll carrying the ponies shouted back at Bert. This troll being named William. "These ain't sheep. These is fresh nags."

William was shown walked past the large campfire and placing the two ponies in the pen, along with the other ponies that were stolen.

"Oh, I don't like horse. I never have." The third troll, Tom, spoke. He wore both a loincloth and an leathery vest. "Not enough fat on them."

____________________________

"These guys have a very similar accent to Velvet's." Blake pointed out.

"And with what appears to be all the functionality of team CRDL." Weiss analyzed from the trolls' conversation.

"Well, out with it." Roman sighed as he spoke to Vortech. "These guys are talking a lot, so what are the names of the trolls that I gotta sneak around?"

"William, Bert, and Tom Huggins." Vortech introduced to the audience. "They're hill trolls to be precise."

"How dangerous?" Roman asked.

"Well, besides the size difference, they're slightly smarter than average trolls. Though not by much." Vortech stated. "They really don't have much skill."

"Well these guys shouldn't be too much of a problem to deal with then." Qrow opted to say.

"Torchwick's counterpart is still going to have to be stealthy." Glynda reminded Qrow.

"Not to mention that his counterpart has little to no combat experience." Winter added on. "If he's found out, Torchwick's hobbit counterpart will have to run as fast as he can."

"Odds aren't entirely in my favor, but I already know that I come out of this alive, so I shouldn't have too much of a problem." Roman muttered to himself, trying to stir up some confidence for his counterpart.

"...Of course, these trolls are only lacking in skill compared to other trolls." Vortech decided to say. "They're still quite dangerous to smaller creatures."

Roman slowly turned his head to face Vortech as he pointed his finger at him. "You chose to say that after I psyched myself up."

"You're right. I did." Vortech looked back at Roman before giving a taunting chuckle.

____________________________

"Well, it's better than leathery old farmer." Bert told Tom as he stirred the stew in a pot over the fire. "All skin and bone, he was. I'm still picking bits of 'im out of me teef."

____________________________

"Looks like these are guys responsible for what happened to the farm." Ruby said.

"And the farmer." Jaune added with a gulp.

"And they're cannibals. That's swell." Nora said with a deadpan in her tone.

"They would only be cannibals if they ate other trolls." Ren told his childhood friend. "Though the very fact of sentient creatures eating other sentient creatures is a bit unnerving."

"Law of the jungle." Cinder added to the conversation. "Bigger things have bigger appetites. Even if the trolls are sentient, I'd be more surprised if they didn't eat other people."

____________________________

Roman watched the conversing trolls from afar before quietly moving between the trees that surrounded their camp.

Once William had sat down beside Tom, his narrow-headed brother promptly sneezed into the stew pot. "Ah-choo!"

As William groaned in annoyance, Bert stood up to point out the snot in the stew. "Well, that's lovely, that is. A floater."

"Oh, might improve the flavor." Tom sarcastically remarked.

____________________________

"Wasteful." Port shook his head.

"You got that right." Nora crossed her arms in agreement with Port.

"Disgusting." Weiss said while sticking out her tongue.

"Gross, gross, gross." Yang as she winced in disgust.

Emerald grimaced with furrowed eyes as she watched Tom sneeze into the stew. Moving her eyes to her popcorn bucket, she slowly placed it onto the floor. "Yeah, I'm done eating for now."

"What is it with people and sneezing on food?" Ruby asked as she groaned in disgust. "Use a napkin or your elbow. It's not that hard!"

"What's worse is that it's floating." Ilia said as she balked in displeasure.

"Oh, I hate these guys more." Roman seethed in disgust and annoyance as he narrowed his eyes at the trolls.

____________________________

"Ah, there's more where that came from." Tom dumbly said, not understanding the sarcasm in Bert's voice as the vest-wearing troll started to snort up some more snot.

Immediately Bert grabbed Tom by his nose and dragged him to his feet, causing Tom to scream in pain. "Aah!"

"Oh, no, you don't!" Bert sternly told Tom as his brother continued to squeal.

"No!" Tom was able to shout out.

"Sit down!" Bert snapped as he threw Tom back on to his seat.

____________________________

"Someone doesn't know sarcasm." Tai commented in regards to Tom.

"I'm surprised he didn't hit him when he sneezed in the stew." Glynda said as she gave a disproving look at Tom.

"Just to check, which troll has which name?" Qrow asked Vortech.

"William is the shirtless one. Bert has the blind eye. And Tom is the idiot." Vortech answered with a straight face.

"Got it." Qrow accepted the answer with a nod.

____________________________

"Ah-ah-choo!" Tom sneezed again, this time into his handkerchief.

Still being sneaky, Roman walked up to the pen where the ponies were being held. The gate was held shut by a thick rope. Though before he could start to figure out a way to undo the rope, Tom looked over the pen, causing Roman to hide again.

____________________________

"It's one thing with the trolls nearby, but how is Torchwick going to free the ponies?" Blake asked. "That rope is too big and thick for him to try and untie by himself."

"Yeah, this was poorly planned." Jaune shook his head in disappointment.

Roman shook his head as well, though his eyes were kept on the screen. "Fili and Kili are really moving up on my shit-list."

"Well, there's gotta be something around there he cut the rope with." Ruby suggested, optimistic as always. "Bert's obviously the chef, and every chef needs a knife. If not him, then maybe one of the other trolls."

____________________________

"Well, I hope you're gonna gut these nags." Tom said, walking over to them. "I don't like the stinky parts."

In response to this, Bert hit Tom over the head with his ladle. "Ow!"

"I said sit down." Bert told Tom again as the younger troll whined and sat back down.

"I'm starving!" William shouted with his knife in hand. "Are we having horse tonight or wot?!"

"Shut your cakehole." Bert told William. "You'll eat what I give ya."

Roman went back to trying to find a way to cut through the rope that held the pen door shut before he noticed that Tom had a sickled blade attacked to his loincloth. Roman looked at the knife before looking back at the rope as William spoke.

____________________________

Roman, Ruby, and Jaune all blinked before they shared looks with each other. As they all looked back at the screen, they shared one sentence in unison.

"""That'll work."""

"You're all still forgetting as to how Torchwick is going to get the knife from Tom." Weiss reminded the three.

"If I can evade the cops, I can evade three trolls." Roman pointed a thumb at himself, his confidence returning in regards to the situation.

Neo looked down at Weiss while giving her a so-so motion of her hand.

____________________________

"How come he's the cook?" William asked in regards to Bert. "Everything tastes the same. Everything tastes like chicken."

"Except the chicken." Tom added.

"What tastes like fish!" William exclaimed.

"I'm just sayin'. A little appreciation would be nice." Bert said as he stirred the stew pot. He paused for a moment, as if he heard something. However, since the only noise he was currently hearing was that of one of the ponies neighing lightly, the troll with one good eye resisted his cooking. "Thank you very much, Bert. Lovely stew, Bert!" How hard is that?"

As the trolls conversed with each other, Roman went about trying to quiet the ponies, shushing them as he moved towards Tom's knife. "Shh! Shh, shh! Shh!"

____________________________

"Do those ponies want me to rescue them, or not?" Roman asked with an annoyed tone.

"Hey, they're just scared." Ruby spoke in the ponies' defense. "They don't know any better."

"They should if they've got any survival instincts." Roman retorted to his young nemesis.

"Well, the good news for your counterpart is that the trolls are distracting themselves at the moment." Sienna pointed out to Roman. "So long as they argue, you should be able to slip by."

____________________________

Roman then paused in his movements as he noticed Bert's large hand hovering over him. Luckily for the hobbit, Bert wasn't paying attention, allowing for Roman to merely lower his head to avoid being caught.

"Just needs a sprinkle of squirrel dung." Bert said as he looked for the ingredient.

____________________________

"Squirrel dung?" Emerald asked, disgusted once again. "Who would think squirrel dung would make a stew taste good?"

"If there's one thing I didn't need to know, it's how trolls make their food." Weiss stated as she shared Emerald's sentiment.

"Some people do have... strange appetites." Ren hazarded a defense. "Given the trolls' sizes, they probably don't register too much of what the dung would take like, and therefore they think of it more as a spice than anything else."

"You can defend weird all you want. It's not going to change the fact that it's weird." Emerald told Ren with crossed arms. "I should know. My partner is Mercury."

"Oh, Emerald, you wound me so." Mercury feigned offense to the jab in a frantic fashion, putting the back of his hand on his head.

"My point's been made." Emerald shot back at her forced acquaintance before looking back at the screen.

____________________________

In the meantime time, Tom went moved his hand to grab a large mug, going to take a sip of it. However, this immediately angered Bert as the troll called out his dim witted kin on it. "Here, that's my grog!"

Hearing this, Tom looked ver to Bert, nervously chuckling. "Sorry."

Bert responded by hitting Tom in the face with his ladle, sending the troll backwards as Tom yelped in pain. "Ow!"

Sitting back down, Bert dipped his ladle into the stew, bringing it up to his mouth and slurping on it. "Ooh. That is beautifully balanced, that is."

"Wrap your loganbie around that, mate." Bert told Tom, moving the ladle over to him.

____________________________

"That had snot in it." Yang loudly spoke with wide eyes. "Why would you eat it?"

"These trolls are truly repulsive creatures." Cinder said with a grimace. First they were shown to be rowdy, and now they were shown to have disturbing eating habits. She was interested in their strength, but definitely not their personal attributes.

"These trolls did eat the farmer. I suppose their appetite shouldn't be that surprising, as equally unappetizing as it is." Pyrrha said as she nearly blanched from the sight.

____________________________

Sniffing the green stew, Tom then began to slurp it up from the ladle. As he did this, Roman had successfully snuck up behind Tom, trying to remove the troll's knife from his loincloth. Tom moved around a bit, causing Roma to hesitate a bit as he moved his hands and fingers about, pointing at the knife as he tried to figure out the best way to remove the sickled blade.

"Good ain't it?" Bert asked Tom with a chuckle. "That's why I'm the cook."

Roman went to grab the large knife, only for Tom to stand up and scratch his rear end, prompting Roman to crouch back down. Once Tom was done, Roman gave a disgusted look to the troll as the behemoth sat back down.

____________________________

Jaune winced at the sight as he spoke. "That's gotta suck."

"And those trolls don't strike me as the bathing type." Blake shook her head.

"He is not having the best luck here." Qrow said with a half-hearted chuckle. "I know the feeling."

"The things I do for the people I work with." Roman shook his head with a tired and annoyed sigh. "For, in some cases."

"Well, look on the bright side, Torchwick. Aside from being caught, what's the worst that could happen next?" Ruby asked the criminal.

____________________________

"Oh, me guts are grumbling." William complained as Roman slowly got back up. "I got to snaffle somtheing! Flesh, I need flesh."

Just as Roman rose back to his feet, inching for the knife, he caught off guard as Tom immediately reached his hand back, grabbing the hobbit. Roman groaning in surprise.

Just as William had gotten up to get one of the ponies, Tom brought Roman to his face, violently blowing his nose into the hobbit, thinking it was his handkerchief. When Tom removed Roman from his nose, he looked on with surprise to see he was not holding his handkerchief, but instead being Roman who was covered in Tom's snot.

____________________________

There were no words. None said any. Everyone stared at the screen with wide eyes of both surprise and disgust, save for a few stray chuckles from Vortech.

"Ew... sorry." Ruby quietly apologized to Roman for jinxing the situation.

"We can scratch that to being caught and used a handkerchief." Yang said as she felt a hint of sympathy towards the hobbit. "I kind of feel sorry for him."

"That image is going to be burned in my eyes for some time." Ilia stated.

"That's not getting washed out any time soon." Tai winced at the scene.

"That poor hobbit." Glynda shook her head as her eyes were glued to the screen.

"I can't say I've ever had that kind of bad luck." Qrow blinked in surprise.

"Well, there's something that would scar just about anyone." Ozpin plainly stated before taking a sip of his drink.

Back with the criminal duo, Neo currently held a hand to her mouth in surprise before looking over to her boss. Roman just stared at the screen, wide-eyed as everyone else. However, it seemed as if he was frozen stiff. Unmoving.

A few people noticed how frozen Roman appeared, with Ruby speaking up again. "Is... is he going to be okay?"

In response to this, Neo starting waving her hand in Roman's face for a few moments. When that didn't work, she started snapping her fingers. Finally, she opted for plan C, in which she swung her arm out in a large arc, and swiftly smacked Roman across the face.

This seemed to do the trick as Roman started to blink for a moment before looking back at the screen. He soon uttered out the only thing he could think of at the moment.

"I really, really hate those trolls."

____________________________

"Aah! Blimey!" Tom exclaimed in shock as he stood up, holding the snot covered Roman—whom had a look of frozen fear and disgust—as Bert looked towards the hobbit with interest. "Bert! Bert! Look what's come out of me hooter."

This had also drawn the attention of William as well, all three trolls looking at Roman in curiosity with Tom's left eye moving every which way for a moment. "It's got arms and legs and everything."

"What is it?" Bert asked as the snot covered Roman tried to move about.

"I don't know. But I don't like the way it wriggles around." Tom said in revulsion as he tossed Roman to the dirt.

Roman grunted as he hit the ground before he immediately got up to his feet, trying to see if there was a way for him to escape. Instead, the hobbit was met with William pointing his knife at him.

"What are you, then? An oversized squirrel?" William questioned.

____________________________

"Do I look like an oversized squirrel to you?" Roman asked with a rude and challenging tone.

"Do you want someone to answer that?" Sienna asked the criminal with a bland look.

"I'm being rhetorical." Roman seethed back at the White Fang High Leader.

____________________________

"I'm a burglar—." Roman immediately said in fear before correcting himself. "A hobbit!"

"A burglarhobbit?" Tom asked Roman in confusion.

____________________________

"Dumbass!" Roman called out to Tom before sighing. "At least my counterpart is starting to learn his proper role."

____________________________

"Can we cook him?" William asked as he looked towards Bert.

"We can try!" Tom shouted with a smile and growl before moving over to Roman, attempting to grab him.

____________________________

"Can't say I didn't see that one coming." Roman blandly spoke.

"These trolls really are dumb if all they think about is food." Blake said. "Barely met Torchwick for five minutes and they want to cool him."

"It's like Cinder said. Bigger creatures means bigger appetites." Weiss reiterated Cinder's comment to Blake.

____________________________

Roman ducked under the first swing of Tom's hand, going to the right as to try and flee, but found his path blocked by Bert.

"Hey." Bert said as he stalked up to Roman, observing him. "He wouldn't make more than a mouthful... not when he's skinned and boned!"

Bert pushed back Roman with his ladle, causing the hobbit to stumble away in fear, turning around as to try and flee. However, his path was blocked again. This time in the form of William holding his knife to Roman's chest.

"Perhaps there's more burglarhobbits around these parts." William suggested. "Might be enough for a pie!"

____________________________

"That would be one big pie." Nora said as she found herself drooling at the thought.

"A giant pie would be great, but not one filled with elven dwarves and a hobbit." Ruby told Nora, reminding the ginger bomber of what the trolls' pie would be made with.

"Oh. Right." Nora replied in realization as she wiped the drool from her mouth.

"What would a pie made by the trolls even look like?" Jaune asked. "It doesn't look like they have any dough."

"They use squirrel dung in their stew. I don't think we want to know what they would use to make a pie." Yang spoke with a deadpan while shaking her head at the thought.

____________________________

William then shoved Roman back, prompting the hobbit to try and flee again as the trolls tried to grab at him.

"Grab him!" William shouted.

"It's too quick!" Tom complained as he and Bert both missed at grabbing Roman.

Roman ran and ducked under Tom's legs, running over to the ponies' pen, only to grabbed by William.

"Aw, come here you little..." William swore as he grabbed Roman by his legs, dangling him upside down as the hobbit squirmed and grunted. "Gotcha!"

____________________________

"Oh, come on!" Roman complained.

'You always were the slower of the two of us.' Neo signed to her boss.

"Not now, Neo." Roman told his spout henchwoman. "I'm angry that I got caught while trying to escape."

"If it was actually you up there, I'd say it was just deserved." Ironwood told Roman. "But since this your counterpart, who is obviously a better person than you are, I'm actually concerned."

"You should be. Your nephews left me out to dry here." Roman retorted back to the General. "This is technically their mess."

"Yeah... I know." Ironwood replied with another sigh.

____________________________

William pointed his knife at Roman as Bert walked up behind him. "Are there any more of you little fellas hiding where you shouldn't?"

"No." Roman quickly denied as he controlled to dangle in William's grip.

"He's lying." Tom snarled as he walked up to the dangling hobbit, licking his lips.

"No, I'm not!" Roman quickly denied again.

Looking over to William, an idea came into Tom's head. "Hold his toes over the fire. Make him squeal!"

____________________________

"Huh. He actually isn't trying rat the others out." Winter said with a mildly surprised look. "Another leg up that this Torchwick has over the one from our universe."

"Think again, Ice Queen senior. That's pure, one-hundred percent me." Roman said while putting his hand on his chest. "I'm never going to willingly rat out my employers or partners."

"Unless someone pays you better, you mean." Blake added in as more of a statement.

"I've yet to here any complaints about such a thing." Roman replied back. "Though ain't no money I can get that'll get me to accept a death wish by ratting out someone like Cinder."

"Speaking of the others, are Fili and Kili going to show up any time soon?" Ruby asked with concern. "Because I can't see anyway for hobbit-Roman to get out of this mess."

Roman paused in his thoughts, taking in Ruby's words for a moment before speaking. "You got a point there, Red. Where are those backstabbers?"

____________________________

As Roman continued to struggle in William's group, Kili came out from the bushes, behind Tom. With a yell, Kili sliced repeatedly at Tom's foot, prompting the troll to squeal in pain, hopping on one foot before leaning over some shrubbery to grasp his pained appendage.

"Drop him!" Kili shouted up at William.

____________________________

"Looks like Kili is first on the scene." Jaune said with a smile.

"My question is if he was there the entire time, or not." Ilia spoke with an analytical look.

"Well if it's the former, Kili is great at sneaking around." Blake commented.

"I don't care if either of those options happened. This was his idea, ergo it's his fault I was snot on." Roman said with a vindictive look.

"I think you should at least be glad that Kili hadn't abandoned your counterpart." Ironwood told the criminal.

"That would have been before the snot-era." Roman replied to Ironwood. "At this point, my mood is soured."

____________________________

"You wot?" William questioned Kili and his and Bert looked at the young dwarf.

Twirling his blade around, Kili spoke in a more stern tone. "I said: drop him."

Scowling and growling at Kili, William obliged the dwarf by throwing Roman at him.

"Woah!" The hobbit yelled through the air as he landed against Kili, sending them both tumbling back.

Just as the two tumble to the ground, however, the rest of dwarves charged out from the bushes, each of them yelling their battle cries and wielding their weapons.

____________________________

"Looks like they went to go get backup." Ironwood said with a proud smile. "Though they should have had better communication with Torchwick over the matter."

"The dwarvish Calvary is here!" Nora cheered with her fist raised.

"A bunch of little guys fighting trolls. This outta be something." Mercury said as he ate some popcorn in anticipation.

"The trolls definitely have the size advantage, but the dwarves have the numbers and weapons." Ruby analyzed from the fight-to-come. "Hmm. I don't know. I want to say the dwarves, but I feel like that's leaning towards personal preference."

"I suppose we'll just have to watch and see." Ozpin opted to speak up. "Though if my counterpart shows up sometime during the fight, which hopefully he will, I'm certain the tide will turn more towards their favor."

____________________________

James sliced his sword at Bert's hand before the other charges in behind them. Each dwarf poking, prodding, and slicing at the trolls' legs and feet. In response, the trolls tried to fit back, with William kicking Nori off into the air, the dwarf yelling before he hit the ground. Dwalin repeatedly slammed the butt of his hammer against Tom's stomach, sending the troll back.

"Ow!" Tom yelled as James cut at the back of his leg.

Bombur slammed his rounded mace against William's back, sending the troll stumbling back a bit. Bofur then slammed down his hammer against Bert's toes with a mighty yell, Bert roaring out in pain.

Amid the commotion, Roman tried to find a way away from the fight, ducking between the dwarves and trolls.

"Get the sacks!" William yelled out. "Stick 'em in the sacks!"

As Roman hid behind a small barrel, he looked over to the ponies, who neighed out in fear.

Meanwhile, as Bert slammed the ground, trying to shoo off the attacking dwarves, Kili ran away from him with Tom attempting to grab at him. Kili responded by sliding underneath the leaping figure of Tom, slicing at his hand in the process. Tom turned around to try and grab Kili again, only for the young black-haired dwarf to stab Tom in the gut.

____________________________

"The dwarves are good. I'll give them that." Cinder complimented the company.

"But it doesn't seem they're doing any permanent damage to the trolls." Pyrrha said as she watched closer at the fight. "Given their stature, they can only really attack them near their feet and legs. Their hands if they go to grab them."

"Kili does have a bow and some arrows, but he's going to need to get to a distance in order to properly get them set up without being caught." Jaune gave his suggestion.

"If they use some team moves, that could work too." Ruby added in.

____________________________

"Ow!" Tom screamed in pain, clutching his stomach before trying to grab Kili again.

As this was happening, Roman had finally gotten Tom's sickled knife, hefting it up in his arms before making his way over to the ponies, being careful to avoid the stumbling trolls. Roman then started to carefully cut away at the rope holding the pen door closed as everyone continued to fight.

____________________________

"It's good that Torchwick is still concerned about the ponies, but given the current situation, that may not be the best move." Weiss said with an unsure look.

"That could either help to distract the trolls, given that Torchwick is able to free the ponies quick enough, or that will draw the trolls' attention to him before he could even do as such." Winter gave her thoughts on the matter.

"Well, when in Mistral." Roman shrugged in response to his hobbit counterpart still trying to free the ponies. "I was there to free the ponies in the first place, so I might as well continue on that."

____________________________

Tom picked up Nori by grabbing onto his staff, which the dwarf held onto. Nori promptly kicked Tom square in the jaw before Ori used his slingshot to shoot a stone into Tom's eye.

"Ohh!" Tom screamed, letting Nori go as he clutched his eye. Regaining some of his senses, the troll then started to charge at Ori with a growl.

Ori ran away in fear, only for William to grab him by the head. Acting quickly, Dwalin rolled over Bert's swinging arm, landing onto the ground on his hands and knees, allowing James to jump up from his back and towards William. The dwarven prince then sliced the troll's hand, causing him to drop the youngest of their group.

William was about to charge back at James, only for Dwalin to yell out, swinging his hammer against the troll's head while James sliced at his leg.

From behind Bert, Dori swung his flail up and under the troll's crotch, causing Bert to squeal in pain as he fell to his knees. After which, Dwalin swung his hammer against Bert's face, causing teeth to fly out of his mouth.

____________________________

"Ooh! Double whammy!" Yang shouted while chuckling.

"Crotch shot and a right hook with a hammer." Nora said with a manic smile. "I approve."

"I hope Bert didn't plan on having kids." Qrow said with a small laugh.

"He's going to be feeling all that for a long time." Tai added in agreement.

____________________________

As the fighting went on, Roman was finally able to cut loose the rope, allowing the ponies to run free. However, the neighing of the ponies caught William's attention, the troll gritting his expression as he moved over to Roman.

____________________________

"Uh-oh." Roman uttered with dilated pupils.

"This does not bode well for Mr. Torchwick." Penny said with a frown.

"The good news is he was able to free the ponies." Mercury said with an even look. "Bad news is that the troll caught him in the act."

____________________________

Rolling under Tom's legs, Fili sliced at the troll's hand, causing Tom to scream in pain as he tossed away Ori, whom was just in his clutches. "Ahh!"

Eventually, the fighting seemed to simmer down. The dwarves all muttering amongst each other and looking back at the trolls with wide eyes, quick to notice who they had captured.

"Roman!" Kili shouted as he tried to run towards the trolls.

"No!" James stopped his nephew with his hand as all the dwarves stayed back.

Billie was currently being held by William and Bert, both trolls slowly pulling at his arms and legs as Tom walked up beside them.

"Lay down your arms... or we'll rip his off!" William threatened.

____________________________

Neo placed both her hands on her mouth in worry, her eyes wide with fear. This may not be her Roman, but it still was a version of him.

Seeing this, Roman did his best to console his partner. "It's okay, Neo. Remember, I make it out this alive and grow old... even if this is concerning."

"Oh, this is really bad." Ruby spoke with a worried edge, stating the obvious.

"It's just like I feared." Winter said with a grim look. "Now the trolls have Torchwick as a hostage."

"Damn." Ironwood swore.

"They hit the weak point of the company, and now have Torchwick at their mercy." Cinder analyzed with an almost cold expression. "If the dwarves value his life, they'll have to heed to the trolls."

Hearing Cinder's comment, both Roman and Neo have a glare towards her, though Neo did so the most.

"Man she is such a bitch." Roman quietly muttered between himself and Neo.

____________________________

Roman had a look of fear plastered on his face, breathing heavily as he stared back at the dwarves. James looked up at Roman, staring at him for a moment before he made his decision. With a rueful look, James slammed his sword against the ground, causing it to clank.

Following their princes's lead, the rest of the dwarves dropped their weapons as well, all while sending the trolls dirty looks.

____________________________

"Huh." Roman muttered. "Didn't expect that."

"What do you mean?" Ironwood asked the criminal.

"Well, given how you act in this universe, I was expecting you to charge in at the risk of my life." Roman admitted as his expression was still one of surprise. "Guess I was wrong."

"I don't leave a man behind, Torchwick." Ironwood told the ginger-haired crook before looking back at the screen. "Even if it's a hired burglar."

Roman quietly took in his words for a moment before shaking them off, looking back at the screen. "Probably just saying that to soften me up. Like I'd fall for that."

____________________________

The viewing cut to more wood being added to the troll's fire, causing to road. Just above the flame, several of the dwarves were tied up against a spit, slowly being roasted over the fire.

"Ooh, that's hot, that's hot, that's hot!" Nori shouted as he felt the flames rise.

____________________________

"They got them all on a spit roast." Emerald said.

"On the one hand, I'm glad they haven't killed any of the dwarves." Ruby spoke with a disturbed look. "But on the other, I think this tells us that they cook people when they're alive."

"I can see how that's not a pleasing thought." Ilia nodded her head in agreement.

"Ever had any stories like this, Port?" Qrow asked the Grimm biology professor. "And please, just answer with yes or no."

"No. I can't say I ever have." Port said, far from a fan of what the trolls were doing to dwarves. He then looked over to Qrow. "How about you?"

"Trolls? Definitely not. But I think I might have encountered a deranged cannibal once or twice." Qrow answered as he thought back to his recon missions.

"I think I remember you telling me about that one." Glynda told her colleague. "If I'm correct, they were two sisters from a bandit tribe that wanted to be like Grimm."

"Yep. That's it." Qrow snapped his finger in Glynda's direction, confirming what she said.

____________________________

"Don't bother cooking 'em." Tom told Bert and William. "Let's just sit on 'em and squash 'em into jelly."

As the dwarves struggled in their bindings over the fire, Bert gave his input as to how the dwarves should cooked. "They should be sautéed and grilled with a sprinkle of sage."

"Is this really necessary?" Balin called out.

____________________________

"They're really talking about to season them." Yang said in astonishment.

"I know. It's a bit dark." Blake told her partner.

"At this rate I have to wonder if the trolls are taunting the dwarves, or if they don't view them as important now that they're about to eat them." Ilia voiced her thoughts.

"Why not both." Yang opted for as she crossed her arms while shaking her head. "This just blows."

"I really hope none of the dwarves die." Nora said with an anxious look. "They're all so funny and cool."

"I hope so too." Ruby agreed with Nora. "I especially hope none of them get eaten. That is such a bad way to die."

"Achoo!" Roman gave out a small sneeze before shaking his head a bit. "Ugh. My nose is being itchy right now, and I don't know why."

Neo gave a shrug to her boss as she looked back at the viewing screen while taking a sip of her soda.

____________________________

"Ooh. That does sound quite nice." Tom said as he agreed with what Bert suggested.

"Untie me, mister." Bombur called out as he, James, Kili, Oin, Balin, Gloin, and Roman were all wrapped up in sacks, wriggling around in a fleeting attempt to escape.

"Why don't you eat someone your own size?" Gloin taunted the trolls.

"Never mind the seasoning." William said as Tom poked a few of the dwarves with his fork. "We ain't got all night. Dawn ain't far away. Let's get a move on. I don't fancy being turned to stone."

Hearing the trolls' conversation, Roman glanced around as an idea popped into his head.

____________________________

"Wait, how does that work?" Nora asked with furrowed eyes.

"I can't say for sure, Miss Valkyrie... but mythology has stated trolls petrify into stone when they come into contact with sunlight." Ozpin told Nora. However, in reality, Ozpin was actually speaking from personal experience. He could remember fighting a troll or two in his first life. One of which he lured out into the Sun's rays.

"Who cares how it works? Now we know how the company can defeat the trolls." Ruby said with a bright smile.

"I kind of want to know how." Penny innocently spoke as she rose her hand up.

"I agree." Pietro said, concurring with his android daughter.

"Well, I'm sure Vortech can answer all that." Ruby waved them off, prompting the two Polendinas to look back at said Vortonian.

"Hey, don't pin them on me." Vortech complained to Ruby.

"It does seem that Roman's hobbit counterpart is quick to understand this as well." Cinder said. "He may yet save their hides."

Outwardly cracking his fingers, Roman held a sly and confident smirk as he spoke. "Welp, I guess I'll just have to be the hero today."

"Oh, brother." Sienna rolled her eyes the criminal's way.

"Careful with your ego, Torchwick." Winter fully warned Roman. "You might pop a blood vessel with it."

"Oh, please. You're just cranky that it's me, of all people, that's going to save your boss." Roman smirked Winter's way, causing the specialist to narrow her eyes at him. "Now sit back and watch as I pull out the old Torchwick charm."

Emerald scoffed as she looked over to Mercury. "Is that what he calls it?"

"I heard that!" Roman called out to her as the viewing continued.

____________________________

"Wait!"

Immediately, all three trolls looked over to Roman, with Bert and William stopping from turning the dwarves on the spit.

"You are making a terrible mistake." Roman dramatically warned the trolls.

"You can't reason with 'em. They're half-wits!" Dori called out to Roman before being spun around the spit with the other dwarves.

Roman then started to try and stand up within the sack he was wrapped in as Bofur spoke. "Half-wits? What does that make us?"

____________________________

"I dunno. Take your pick. Quarter or Third-wits?" Yang cracked a small joke in order to lighten up the mood of the situation.

"You leave math out of your jokes, Xiao Long." Weiss sternly told Yang.

"Hey. I'm just continuing what Bofur started." Yang replied to her icy teammate with a shrug and smile.

____________________________

Finding his footing as he stood up in the sack, Roman hopped over towards the trolls, making sure to keep his distance. "I meant with the, uh, with the seasoning."

"What about the seasoning?" Bert asked Roman as he kneeled towards him.

"Well, have you smelt them?" Roman rhetorically asked, prompting Bert to sniff the air. "You're gonna need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up."

At this, all the dwarves started a commotion towards Roman's actions.

"Traitor!" Gloin called out to Roman.

____________________________

Roman smacked his lips with a sigh upon seeing the dwarves' reactions. "Well, some people don't know a distraction when they see one."

"Suddenly Bofur's half-wit comment makes more sense." Ironwood said with a deadpan.

"He's not betraying you! He's trying to save you!" Ruby shouted to the dwarves on-screen.

"Maybe dial done your voice a bit when you get mad at the screen." Blake told Ruby as she pointed to her ears. "Sensitive hearing, remember?"

"Oh. Right." Ruby meekly said with a small blush of embarrassment. "My bad."

____________________________

"What do you know about cooking dwarf ?" William asked, unbelieving in what Roman was saying.

"Shut up." Bert waved William off as he looked at Roman. "Let the, uh, flurgaburburhobbit talk."

____________________________

"Looks like William isn't buying Torchwick's bluff." Jaune said with concerned look.

"While William does seem to have the better leveled head among the three, it seems Bert has more say as to what goes on." Glynda analyzed. "So long as the majority of the trolls are distracted, Torchwick's plan should work."

"Well, Bert doesn't too bright either. So carrot-top should be good here." Qrow commented.

"Again with carrot-top?" Roman questioned the usually-drunk huntsman, but got no reply.

____________________________

Trying to come up with a reply, Roman started to speak as he thought of what to say. "Uh, the secret to cooking dwarf is, um..."

"Yes? Come on." Bert ushered Roman.

"It's, uh..." Roman continued to stutter

"Tell us the secret." Bert continued to tell the hobbit.

"Yes, I'm telling you. The secret is..." Roman trailed off. Meanwhile, the dwarves in the sacks continued to struggle.

Looking to his right with a long-ward glance, pursing his lips out as he tried to think of an answer. And just like that, the answer came to him. "To skin them first."

Upon Roman's words, the dwarves all clamored at the hobbit, clearly not able to understand what he was trying to do.

"Tom, get me filleting knife." Bert told the dull-minded troll as he looked over at the other dwarves.

"I'll skin you, ya little—!" Gloin swore at Roman.

As the spit friend around, Dwalin was able to look at the hobbit, casting him a glare, pointing his way. "I won't forget that. I won't forget it!"

____________________________

"That's gonna turn some heads." Mercury said with a mock wince.

"Being threatened with the prospect of being skinned alive would do that to people." Cinder said, the not-so welcomed image of Tyrian Callows popping into her head, knowing that he wouldn't be above skinning people.

"All of sudden I'm more scared of Dwalin then the trolls." Roman found himself saying.

"I don't blame you." Jaune said. "Dwalin is one intimidating dwarf."

"I'm sure he'll forgive Torchwick once the trolls are all turned to stone." Ruby said with a confident smile, her hands on her hips. "...Maybe."

____________________________

"What a load of rubbish." William rudely dismissed Roman as he continued to turn the spit. "I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scarf 'em, I say, boots and all."

Roman started to become worried at this. However, upon glancing to his left, he could see that dwarf was slowly rising. Not only that, but Roman also spotted Ozpin quickly and quietly rushing through the bushes.

____________________________

"Ozpin's back!" Ruby called out with glee.

"A little late, if you ask me." Roman crossed his arms. "But I guess that's not entirely his fault."

"I'm mainly just glad that my counterpart hadn't completely driven Ozpin away." Ironwood said with a sigh of relief.

"Now there's more assurance to Torchwick's plan working out." Glynda said with a nod of confidence.

____________________________

Slowly peeling his eyes from where Ozpin just was, Roman brought his attention back towards the trolls, just as Tom started to agree with William.

"He's right." Tom said as he walked over to the sacked dwarves. "Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf."

Everyone watched as Tom picked up Bombur from the bottom of his sack, razing him over his head. Bombur struggling in his grip during the whole time.

"Nice and crunchy." Tom said with glee as he opened his mouth wide open, flicking his tongue out towards Bombur's looped beard—which hung upside down—the large dwarf squirming in fear.

____________________________

"No!" Ruby shouted.

"Oh, crap." Yang said with wide eyes.

"You better put Bombur down, you giant in-bread, son of—!" Nora began to shout before Ren cut her off.

"Nora!"

"This isn't going to be pretty to watch." Emerald said as she winced a bit at was what to come.

"Looks like Torchwick wasn't able to distract most of the trolls." Cinder calmly commented with a schooled, yet uncaring look.

____________________________

"Oh, no-not that one!" Roman quickly objected to Tom trying to eat Bombur. "He's infected."

"Huh?" Tom asked in surprise as he looked over to Roman.

"You wot?" William asked the hobbit.

Looking over to the shirtless troll, Roman gave his explanation, though even Roman found himself confused at the explanation his gave. "Yeah, he's got worms in his... tubes."

____________________________

Roman blinked a bit before he eventually spoke. "Is... is that going to work?"

"If they're dim-witted enough, hopefully." Pyrrha said with a worried look for Bombur's fate.

Nora crossed her fingers, silently praying and pleading that Bombur wasn't about to be eaten.

____________________________

Immediately Tom squealed in disgust upon hearing this, tossing Bombur back over to the sacked dwarves, causing all those that now lay under him to groan in slight pain.

____________________________

Immediately people across the audience gave out sighs of relief. Most were glad that they wouldn't see Bombur eaten alive. The few were just glad that they wouldn't have to see the mess that would come of it.

"Nice, quick thinking." Ironwood complimented Roman.

"Thanks. I do my best." Roman tipped his hat with a light bow as he held his smirk once more.

____________________________

"In fact, they all have." Roman reiterated. "They're infested with parasites. It's a terrible business. I wouldn't risk it. I really wouldn't."

____________________________

"And now I think I might be overselling it." Roman said with an unsure look to what his counterpart fibbed to the trolls.

"Well, the trolls are meant to be idiots. Tricking them into thinking every dwarf is infected shouldn't be that bad." Jaune told Roman.

"It's not just that, kid, it's how quickly I went to saying they were all infected." Roman replied to Jaune. "Telling a lie doesn't also take finesse, but it also takes timing. Tell too early or too late, and your story ends up falling apart."

"I guess I can see your point, but as long as the trolls are distracted long enough to Ozpin to get into position, it's shouldn't be too bad." Ruby said as she gave some thought to the situation.

____________________________

While William gave Roman a disbelieving look, the dwarves all started to roar up in commotion.

"Parasites? Did he say parasites?" Oin asked Kili as the other dwarves looked at Roman.

Nodding at this, Kili and the other dwarves started to yell back at Roman. "We don't have parasites! You have parasites!"

"What are you talking about, laddie?!" Oin called out in confusion.

Roman responded by rolling his eyes at the dwarves' stubborn incompetent as to what he was aiming to accomplish. Luckily for him, though, James was able to recognize what the hobbit was playing at.

____________________________

"Ooh, they didn't take kindly to that." Nora winced at the dwarves all yelling at hobbit-Roman.

"Have they really not figured out yet that he's trying to help them?" Emerald asked with a befuddled look. "How thick-headed do you have to be in order to not recognize that?"

"The dwarves stubbornness are good for battle, but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case when thinking of their own survival." Weiss shook her head in slight disappointment towards the dwarves.

Roman's facial features mimicked that of his counterpart's. "There's also the issue if no one on your side can get the hint of the lie."

" I wouldn't worry too much. It seems my counterpart is catching on as well." James told Roman with his own smirk.

____________________________

Looking up at Roman, James proceeded to kick Kili's back, causing the other dwarves to quiet down and stop in their arguing, looking towards the leader. Noticing that James was looking at Roman, they soon realized what was going on. With Oin being the first to speak.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm!"

"Mine are the biggest parasites!" Kili then added in. "I've got huge parasites."

The captive dwarves then all started to yell about how they all had parasites. Roman looked at his compatriots before looking back at the trolls and nodding to them, his point seemingly been made clear now.

Bert snorted a bit in surprise as he looked over to William, who held a look of confusion as well.

"We're riddled." Nori said from his toes up spot on the spit.

"Yes, I'm riddled." Ori said in agreement.

"Yes, we are. Exactly." Dori added on as the spit continued to turn.

____________________________

"Finally, we're all on the same page." Roman gave out an exasperated sigh.

"Here's to hoping the trolls fall for it." Tai said as the viewing went on.

____________________________

"What would you have us do, then?" William asked Roman, walking up towards him. "Let them all go?"

"Well..." Roman cheekily trailed off with a tilt of his head.

"Do you think I don't know what you're up to?" William narrowed his eyes at Roman, poking him—and subsequently pushing him back a bit—with his finger.

____________________________

"Uh oh." Ruby said with wide eyes.

"William's figured it out." Blake said as he bow fell flat against her head.

"I fibbed too early!" Roman shouted before putting his face in his hands.

"Now what are they going to do?" Penny asked with a concerned look.

"Here's to hoping Roman bought enough time for my counterpart to step into the fray." Ozpin said as he he stated towards the screen.

____________________________

Roman glanced about, trying to act as if he hadn't been caught; doing his best to hold a look of confusion as William walked back to his end of the spit handles. "This little ferret is taking us for fools."

"Ferret?" Roman squawked, taken a back as he looked up at William.

____________________________

"Ferret?!" Roman yelled aloud in outrage.

"I'm sure people have called you worse." Sirens rolled her eyes at Roman, though not without an amused smirk.

"I mean, the situation's bad, but I can kind of see if it." Yang said with a small laugh.

"I'd call Torchwick more of a weasel, but I suppose ferret would do." Weiss said with a contemplative look.

"Probably couldn't find a more accurate description for him." Emerald said while chuckling.

"I can see it now. A little orange and white ferret with a cane and a bowler hat." Mercury added in as he laughed a bit.

"Don't forget the cigar." Yang told Mercury.

"I hate all of you." Roman slowly uttered out with narrowed eyes.

Neo's faced had mimicked her boss's for a time, perhaps even more angry than him. However, when Mercury and Yang gave the description of the Roman-esc ferret, she couldn't help but silently giggle at how cute the image was.

____________________________

"Fools?" Bert asked.

Suddenly, from above a large rock—where the sun's light started to show—came up Ozpin, his voice bellowing out for all to hear.

"The dawn will take you all!"

As Roman and the dwarves looked to Ozpin with looks of hope and relief, the trolls looked up to the wizard with looks of confusion.

____________________________

"Yes!" Ruby cheered.

"Wizard-Ozpin to the rescue!" Nora shared in Ruby's sentiment.

"Oh, how sensational!" Penny cheered whilst clapping her hands.

"It would seem Ozpin is going to deliver the final blow to these miscreant trolls." Winter said with a smirk.

"I still get credit for the distraction." Roman said with a raised finger.

____________________________

"Who's that?" William asked as he and Bert continued to turn the spit.

"No idea." Bert plainly said.

"Can we eat him too?" Tom asked, pointing at Ozpin.

Then, with all his might, Ozpin took his staff in both hands, and slammed it against the large rock he stood upon. The boulder split, cleanly, in two. As the severed end fell to the ground, the light of dawn shown brightly through.

____________________________

"I'm afraid your dinner reservations have been cancelled." Ozpin said with a small smile before taking a sip of his drink. Oh, how this reminded him so much of his first life.

"I didn't think a stick would be able to split a boulder in two." Qrow blinked a bit before shrugging. "But then again, this is magic we're talking about, so who knows."

"Even for what seems to be a small feat, it is a bit impressive." Ironwood said as he looked towards Qrow.

"See you all in hell, you overgrown toads." Roman smirked as took a few puffs from his bubble cigar, waving by to the three trolls.

____________________________

The Sun's rays hit the trolls' skin, causing them all to scream and groan in pain as their skin started to turn to stone. They tried to escape. Tried to block the Sun's rays with their hands. It was no use. Soon enough, the three trolls were completely turned to stone.

Roman looked towards the sight in astonishment before looking back up at Ozpin. Meanwhile the majority of the dwarves all laughed and cheered upon Ozpin saving them. James, especially, cast the wizard a most grateful smile.

____________________________

"Oof. That looked painful." Mercury commented with a small smirk.

"The plan worked!" Ruby cheered. "Yes it was a bit rocky, but it worked!"

"Never thought I'd actually see a real troll turn to stone, but here we are." Jaune said while chuckling.

"Even if it was a bit crude, it just goes to show that a little teamwork can get anyone out of a bind." Pyrrha said with a smile.

"Now, those trolls aren't gonna de-petrify when it gets dark, right?" Yang asked while looking around for someone to answer her.

"Unless this universe has different laws, once a troll is turned to stone, it can't be undone." Ozpin said.

"They're effectively deceased." Ironwood added with a nod.

"And a good riddance to them too." Roman said with a satisfied smile, resting his arms on the back of his head.

____________________________

"Oh, get your foot out of my back." Dwalin angrily said to whatever dwarf had ended up digging his foot into him.

The viewing cut to show the dwarves helping each other up and out of their bondings, with Bofur and Bombur grunting as they tried to help Bifur out of his sack.

As they helped each out, Ozpin walked amongst the petrified trolls, observing them as he knocked the head of his staff against the stone form of Tom. "Ah."

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" James asked Ozpin as he walked up to him, his armor and fur-collared coat back upon him.

"To look ahead." Ozpin simply answered.

"What brought you back?" James questioned further.

"Looking behind." Ozpin said, prompting James to nod with a small smile. "Nasty business. Still, they're all in one piece."

____________________________

"I'm glad to see that he came back right towards the end." Yang said with a smile.

"It was calling it a bit close, but I guess you can't really blame him for the situation the dwarves ended up in." Blake said as she shared a look with her partner.

"Let that also be a lesson to you, students." Glynda spoke with her ever teacher-like tone. "Keep an eye on your surroundings and stick together in a widespread fight. Unless you have all hatched a plan where one of you needs to separate from the others, you'll have a better chance for success with numbers."

"I'm other words, always watch your flank." Tai reiterated his fellow blonde's words.

____________________________

"No thanks to your burglar." James added in an almost contemptuous tone.

Ozpin replied to this by giving James a steady, yet stern look. "He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that."

James looked at Ozpin before lowering his head, glancing to his left as he silently conceded to the wizard's point.

____________________________

"What the heck? Torchwick helped save their lives." Ruby said as she cast a frown towards the dwarven Ironwood.

"Some people are just ungrateful." Yang shook her head while crossing her arms.

"I swear with this guy." Roman ruefully shook his head. "Nothing I do is ever going to get him to happy."

"I'd rather my counterpart treat yours like a fellow compatriot." Ironwood said with a sigh. "He currently sees you as more of a liability."

"If it was the Torchwick we knew, I'd agree with him—to an extent." Winter said as she looked at the General's counterpart with a frown. "But his attitude isn't just, in this case."

"Well, luckily for him, Ozpin's there to knock some sense into prince James." Qrow commented.

____________________________

Looking back at the trolls, Ozpin started to voice what else was on his mind. "They must have come down from the Ettenmoors."

Getting over his initial stupor, James looked at the petrified trolls with Ozpin. "Since when do mountain trolls venture this far south?"

"Not for an age." Ozpin shook his head before his features gained a more dreadful expression. His tone of voice matching his look. "Not since a darker power ruled these lands."

James slowly glanced back at Ozpin, sharing in his concern as the wizard looked out over the stone-turned trolls.

____________________________

There was a small silence between Ozpin and Ironwood as they shared similar looks to their on-screen counterparts, sharing glances between each other as well as Glynda, Qrow, and Tai.

Cinder brought more of her attention to the viewing screen. The mention of this "darker age" Ozpin's counterpart spoke of tickled her interest.

"Well that's foreboding." Nora commented with a dull look.

"Darker age?" Weiss repeated the words with a feeling of dread washing over her.

"Does this gave to do with that "War of the Jewels" you spoke to us about?" Pyrrha asked as she looked at Vortech, and prompting Cinder to glance her way.

"Eh. A little bit." Vortech said with a small shrug. He then leaned forward in his throne as looked around the audience. "What Ozpin the Grey speaks of has to do more with a second war. The War of Ring."

"Okay, what is it with this universe and having wars over jewelry?" Ruby asked with furrowed eyes.

"What happened in the War of the Ring?" Jaune opted to ask, though he had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.

Vortech merely leaned back in his throne, casting the audience one last look. "I won't say. But I won't need to. You'll find out as this universe progresses on."

"Has anyone told you how much of a bad habit your cryptic shtick is?" Roman asked Vortech with an annoyed look.

"On numerous occasions, but I don't really care." Vortech quickly replied as he waved the criminal off.

____________________________

"They could not have moved in daylight." The wizard concluded.

Glancing to his left again, James quickly turned around as he looked behind himself. "There must be a cave nearby."

The dwarven prince started to walk off, with Ozpin's eyes following him. Eventually, Ozpin—who had his hat back on—and James came upon a large, burrowed hole under part of the rocky landscape—insects buzzing about. They were tailed by Dwalin, Bofur, Gloin, and Nori as they started to delve deep into the trolls' cave.

"Oh, what's that stench?" Nori complained as a foul air plagued the cave.

"It's a troll-hoard." Ozpin stated as everyone further went in. "Be careful what you touch."

____________________________

"Never have I seen a place so unsanitary." Weiss shook her as she looked at the screen with narrowed eyes. "I can practically imagine the smell just by looking at it."

"You could probably get a disease from something in there." Ilia found herself sharing in Weiss's sentiment as she too scowled at the troll-hoard.

"It's strange how the trolls were not found of worms in their food, yet they're very uncleanly." Penny said as she loved some thought into the matter.

____________________________

As they went in further, several of the dwarves started to cough and gag at the stench of the troll-hoard. James, who held a torch, walked over to a corner of the cave, lighting it up to reveal a pile of gold coins.

____________________________

"Hello, what have we here?" Emerald muttered to herself, eyes glinting at the pile of gold.

"Not as much as what we saw in Erebor." Roman told Neo with a sigh. Eventually he shrugged. "Ah, well. Gold is still gold. Unless it's fool's gold."

____________________________

Bofur quickly walked up to the gold, taking interest in it as he moved some of the coins with his foot. "Seems a shame just to leave it lyin' around. Anyone could take it."

As Bofur said with a suggestive tone, Gloin had opened up a small, wooden chest, revealing gold hidden inside. The large-bearded, ginger-haired dwarf then looked over to Bofur. "Agreed. Nori."

"Yeah." Nori, who was also peering at the objects in the cave, said as he looked up at Gloin.

"Get a shovel." Gloin replied with his own suggestive tone.

____________________________

"Hehehe. Stubborn they may be, but there are definitely some aspects of these dwarves that I like." Roman chuckled with a smirk.

"What are they going to do with that gold?" Penny questioned. "It doesn't seem they'd be able to carry all that with them."

"Well Gloin did want Nori to get a shovel..." Ruby trailed off as tried to think of what exactly they might do with the gold.

"They might bury it for later use." Nora suggested.

"That might be it." Ruby pointed a finger Nora's way.

____________________________

In the meantime, Ozpin was looking through another section of the cave, moving objects around with the butt of his staff. James was not far behind him; holding up the torch as he too searched through the troll-hoard. He eventually came upon several sheaved swords, all covered in comb webs. The dwarf prince picked up one to observe it, before putting back, his eyes having been captured by the sight of two broadswords.

Grabbing the larger of two first, James then placed his torch off to the side so that he could grab the other sword—just as Ozpin walked up to him.

Observing the cob web-covered blades, James spoke his mind. "These swords were not made by any troll."

Hearing this, Ozpin looked to James before walking up to him. James then handed Ozpin the larger of the two swords for him to try and analyze it as he went back to looking at the other sword.

Bringing the handle of the blade up to his eyes, Ozpin observed it's craftsmanship. "Nor were they made by any smith among men."

Blowing away some of the dust and cobwebs webs near the hilt of the blade, Ozpin slowly pulled it out from its scabbard. As James continued to observed the blade in his hands, which had a one-sided hilt to it, Ozpin grew a look of realization on his face upon peering at his blade.

"These were forged in Gondolin by the high elves of the First Age." Ozpin informed James, just as the dwarven prince was about to his blade out of its scabbard.

____________________________

"They look to be in good shape, despite being in such a filthy place." Winter observed the swords. "When was this First Age?"

"Well, given that they're in the Third Age now..." Vortech trailed off as he did the math in his head. "I'd wager around four-thousand years ago."

"Four thousand years?" Ruby found herself asking with wide eyes of bewilderment. "And the swords still look that good? No rust at all?"

"Hmm. These High elves must have been vastly excellent in their craft." Pyrrha said as she found herself impressed by the blades' integrity.

"All those years, and no damage? What kind of metal did they use?" Mercury asked.

"One that's undoubtedly sturdy against the winds of time." Cinder spoke as she too found herself impressed by the blades, even if no one was yet able to get a good look at the blades' craftsmanship.

"What my dad and grandpa would think of those swords." Jaune whistled in appreciation.

"As undoubtedly useful and magnificent as these blades may be, my counterpart definitely will not be pleased that elves made them." Ironwood said with a knowing look.

____________________________

Hearing that the swords were made by elves, James gave a disdainful look to Ozpin. However, just as the black and grey-haired dwarf was starting to place the blade back, Ozpin was quick to persuade him otherwise with his words. "You could not wish for a finer blade."

James paused and looked at Ozpin. Deciding to heed the wizard's words, James started to remove his blade from its scabbard, turning it around in order to better analyze it. For the most part, it was a curved blade with a curved, ornate handle and a one-sided hilt that curved upwards.

____________________________

"Once again, Ozpin comes in to direct my counterpart on a different path." Ironwood said with a sigh of relief before casting a smile towards the screen. "And a good thing too. Judging by Ozpin's tone, it would be a waste not use that blade."

"It definitely has a unique design at the hilt." Sienna pondered aloud with her hand on her chin.

"I think that sword is built to be more artistic in look." Ruby observed from what she could see of the elven blade in dwarven Jame's hands. "I've never seen a sword that's both curved and has a one sided hilt."

____________________________

Sheathing the sword his had, Ozpin then looked behind himself, back towards the others. The three dwarves were placing the gold coins and some other valuable items into a chest before lowering said chest into a dug-out hole.

"All right, come on." Bofur said as he, Gloin, and Nori started to shove dug-up dirt over the chest—though there were still plenty of gold coins that remained unburied.

Walking over to them, though heading no mind, James held his torch as he continued to observe the ornate blade in his hands—now having been sheathed. Dwalin, who stood behind James with the top of his hammer in his hands, slowly glanced over as to what Bofur, Gloin, and Nori were doing.

"We're makin' a long-term deposit." Gloin told Dwalin as Nori started to shovel in dirt.

____________________________

"Nice." Roman said while chuckling at Gloin's little joke.

"That's one way to describe it." Nora said with a little giggle. She then glanced over to her partner. "I don't what it is, Ren, but I really like Gloin for some reason."

"He does share you more rambunctious tendencies." Ren told Nora.

"So do some of the other dwarves. I just got this feeling with Gloin that I can't describe." Nora said as she squinted her eyes, pondering at the thought.

____________________________

Dwalin lightly shook his head as he looked back towards the entrance of the cave.

"Let's get out of this foul place." James commanded as he and Dwalin started to walk out. "Come on, let's go. Bofur, Gloin, Nori."

Ozpin was on his way to follow the others out of the troll-hoard. However, he paused in his tracks when he heard a clanging sound. Looking down to his feet, the wizard used the bottom of his staff to move away the dead leaves and twigs that littered the floor. What Ozpin had found was a small shortsword in its scabbard, almost the size of a dagger. Using his staff to unsheath the blade a bit, Ozpin saw that it was of evlish make as well. He stared intently at it before tilting his head, an idea forming in his head.

____________________________

Upon seeing the buried blade his counterpart found, Ozpin rose his brow at the elvish shortsword. "Now, what have we here?"

____________________________

Ozpin soon made his way out of the cave. Everyone else was off to the side, watching the perimeter.

"Roman." Ozpin called out to the hobbit.

"Hmm?" Roman hummed as he turned towards the oncoming wizard.

"Here." Ozpin said as he showed Roman the small blade he had found, the ginger-haired hobbit looking at him and the sword in confusion. "This is about your size."

____________________________

"Is that short joke, or just stating a fact?" Roman asked. "Cause I can't tell."

"Why not both?" Ilia deadpanned out her snide remark.

"Oh, don't be like that, Ilia. I doubt Ozpin of all people would make fun of someone's height." Ruby waved off her would-be friend.

____________________________

Taking the small sword into his hands, Roman looked at with uncertainty before looking back up at Ozpin. "I can't take this."

____________________________

"Of course you can. It's right there." Roman told his counterpart.

"I think he meant that he can't take it because of a moral dilemma." Pietro told the criminal. "Or he may not want it. Fighting isn't for everyone."

"Uh, if I even remotely survive this adventure, it's because I needed a sword or some kind of weapon to survive." Roman retorted to the elderly scientist. "We all saw those trolls and orcs."

"Hmm. I guess you've got a point there." Pietro conceded to Roman as he stroked his head in thought.

____________________________

"The blade is of elvish make, which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby." Ozpin explained to Roman as he kneeled down to him.

____________________________

"They glow blue?" Jaune asked with a bit on intrigue. "That's kind of cool."

"Imagine if we could do something like that for our weapons." Ruby said with more excitement in her tone than Jaune. "We could have early warnings to nearby Grimm."

"I can see how that would work." Blake said as she gave some thought into the idea. "Especially on stealth missions."

"Ooh, father. Do you think such a thing could be feasible for our weaponry?" Penny asked Pietro with the same amount of intrigue as Ruby.

"Well... maybe. But I'd have to try and break down and analyze a Grimm's structure in order to find something commonly specific among them, and then find some form of reactant to place into a weapon in order for it to glow." Pietro said as he gave some much thought into the idea. "It would definitely take a lot of trial and error, but it's definitely quite the idea."

"If possible, it could reduce casualties caused by Grimm." Winter said. "It could perhaps  even be implemented into street lights for villages and cities."

"It's a shame you all won't have the time to implement such an idea." Cinder thought to herself as she kept her eyes on the viewing screen. "Not whilst my Mistress's plans are in motion."

____________________________

Trying to find the right words, Roman looked to the side before turning back to whisper to Ozpin. "I have never used a sword in my life."

"And I hope you never have to." Ozpin replied, Roman staring up at him, intently. "But if you do, remember this: True courage is about knowing not when to take a life... but when to spare one."

Roman stared up at Ozpin with a slightly agape mouth, taking in his words as he looked down at the blade.

____________________________

A chord was struck throughout every Beacon student in the audience, including Penny and even Ilia as each and every one of them thought heavily on wizard-Ozpin's words.

"Wow..." Ruby uttered out the only thing she could think of. She was completely awestruck by Ozpin the Grey's words.

"I'm at a loss for words." Yang muttered to herself as she looked at the screen in awe.

"True courage..." Jaune trailed off as he began to think within his head.

"It's a truly wise saying." Ren stated, sharing the sentiment of his fellow students. "It's always easier to kill someone, as opposed to not doing so."

"They're definitely food for thought." Weiss said with a nod.

"Adam could have benefited from these words a long time ago. So could Ilia." Blake thought to herself before she slightly winced. "And so could I."

"It's quite awe-inspiring." Pyrrha said in agreement.

"I'd argue that in the world we live in, there are more people deserve to die than to be spared." Sienna said with a cold attitude, the wizard's words having not gotten through to her.

"You speak out of rage and ruefulness, Ms Khan, but if more people end up killing themselves, the less good can come from our civilization as a whole." Ozpin told the White Fang High Leader.

"Please. Weeding out the corrupt is the only way to bring true peace to Remnant. It'd actually be a good thing." Sienna replied to the headmaster with narrowed eyes.

"One could see as that, but try looking at it this way." Oobleck decided to pitch in, pushing up his glasses as he looked over to the tiger faunus. "You can always use the excuse that you're doing society a favor by executing certain people, but can you honestly say that every one of them deserved it?"

"Excuse me?" Sienna asked the doctor with a raised brow.

"Take Roman Torchwick for example." Oobleck said as he motioned his hand towards the criminal's way, prompting Roman to blink a bit in surprise and confusion. "He's a criminal. A crook. A thief. He steals from others for a living."

"Well, I do try my best." Roman said with a pleased smile, taking it as a compliment.

"But if you were able to end his life, here and now, can you say he deserved it? Personal opinions aside." Oobleck continued on his lecture. "He is corrupt and crooked, but in the grand scheme of things, his crimes are more petty in nature."

"Words hurt." Roman told Oobleck, this time taking offense.

"Better yet, there are those in Atlas who'd seek you and every other member of the White Fang with your heads on silver platters. They do not see you as liberators for the faunus, but terrorists who should be put down. Would say that any member in your organization deserves to die?"

"Well, no, but—." Sienna started to reply before Oobleck cut her off.

"There will always be people and creatures in our world that need to be truly stopped in order for good to come. But on both sides of the spectrum, good or bad, not everyone truly deserves to be put to the blade." Oobleck finished his statement.

Sienna found her mouth closed shut. She wanted to rebuttal Oobleck. She wanted to tell him otherwise to his claims. And yet... she found that she couldn't. The only thing she could do was furrow her eyes and turn her attention away from the green-haired teacher.

"Jolly good, Barty." Port patted his friend on the back.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Ozpin complimented Oobleck as Glynda nodded to him with a small smile.

Meanwhile, Cinder and her cronies had heard the entire conversation about who deserves to die or not.

Mercury merely ate from his popcorn bucket, not really caring about the lecture.

Cinder rolled her before resting her cheek into her balled up hand.

As for Emerald, much like Sienna, she was stuck on the matter. Not just from Oobleck's words, but those of Ozpin the Grey as well. She made sure to keep to subtlety from Cinder and Mercury as she thought on the matter. She thought for a few moments more before shaking said thoughts away and focusing back towards the screen.

____________________________

"Something's coming!" James shouted, getting everyone's attention.

"Ozpin." Roman tried to speak to the wizard.

"Stay together!" Ozpin called out to the dwarves before he shared a look with Roman. Casting aside whatever thought he had, Ozpin started to move out along with the other dwarves. "Hurry now! Arm yourselves!"

____________________________

"Oh, great. We just got done with the trolls." Roman rolled in his eyes in exasperation.

"Maybe it's the orcs from earlier." Ruby said in realization.

"Is Mr. Torchwick's sword glowing blue?" Penny asked.

"Uh... I can't see it all that well." Jaune said as he squinted his eyes. "How about you Blake?"

"Can't see it either." Blake shook her head.

____________________________

As Ozpin and the dwarves all ran towards where the potential trouble was, Roman stood in place as he looked upon his blade. Pulling it out from its scabbard and holding it up high, Roman looked upon it, observing its double-edged curves. It was the sword that the older version of hobbit Roman had back at Torch-End.

____________________________

"Hey, that's the sword old-Torchwick had in his chest back at Torch-End." Ruby said as she pointed her finger at the screen.

"Huh. So that's how he got it." Weiss said.

"Well, the good news is that his sword isn't glowing blue. So it's not orcs." Blake said as she observed Roman's sword.

"Then what did dwarf-Ironwood see?" Nora asked.

"...Oh, please tell me it's not those spiders." Emerald said with a grimace.

____________________________

Releasing that the others had gone off, Roman quickly went after them.

A figure was shown moving quickly through the leaves and branches of the forest. The company of thirteen prepared themselves for whatever came their way. However, they all looked on in confusion when it was shown that the figure coming towards them was none other than Bartholomew upon his rabbit-driven slay.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" Bartholomew shouted as his slay stopped, his face showing a form of fear and shell shock.

The others all looked at him with confusion and surprise while Ozpin merely sighed upon seeing his old friend. "Bartholomew."

____________________________

Emerald sighed in relief that it was only the crazy wizard variant of Oobleck.

"Oh, it's just my counterpart." Oobleck stated plainly.

"He must have come back from that Dol Guldur place." Qrow observed. "He seems pretty shook up... you know, besides what we've already seen from him."

"Man, I do not want to know what was in that place." Roman shook his head. "No, sir."

"Whatever he saw, it can't be good. There are very few things that scare Bartholomew." Glynda stated, noting that one of those said few things were Goliath Grimm.

____________________________

Putting away his new sword, Ozpin introduced his old friend to Roman and the dwarves. "It's Bartholomew the Brown!"

Walking up to the green-neared wizard, Ozpin calmly spoke to Bartholomew with a questioning look. "Well... what on earth are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you, Ozpin." Bartholomew quickly said with his hands moving about. "Something's wrong. Something's terrible wrong."

"Yes?" Ozpin asked, wanting Bartholomew to get on with what he was saying.

Bartholomew raised his finger as he inhaled sharply. However, the moment he tried to explain, he found himself without anything to say. Everyone else looked at him in continued confusion.

"Just give me a minute." Bartholomew said as he did his best to remember what he was going to say. "Oh. I had a thought and now I've lost it. It was right there on the tip of my tongue."

Ozpin looked at Bartholomew in confusion as he green-haired friend gasped in realization.

"Oh, it's not a thought at all. It's a silly old..." Bartholomew said as he stuck his tongue out, allowing for Ozpin to pull out a small plasmid from out of his friend's mouth. "Stick insect."

____________________________

"Why does he have a bug crawling in his mouth?" Emerald asked with perturbed look.

"How did it even get there?" Weiss asked in equal disgust.

"How did he not release it was there in the first place?" Yang asked as she too was disturbed by the image.

"Well there's an image I'm not getting out of my head, any time soon." Winter placed her hand on her forehead.

"I think your counterpart spends a little too much time with nature." Glynda told Oobleck, her features schooled yet she was far from a fan of what she was seeing.

"I agree. But it's not as if I can anything about." Oobleck replied with a shrug before taking a sip from his mug.

____________________________

Bartholomew held out his hand for Ozpin to place the stick insect down upon. Roman glanced left and right in silent confusion upon seeing this, while a few of the dwarves grunted behind him.

"The Greenwood is sick, Ozpin." Bartholomew told his friend as the grey-themed wizard smoked with his pipe. "A darkness has fallen over it. Nothing grows anymore. At least, nothing good. The air is foul with decay. But worse are the webs."

Throughout Bartholomew expressing his concerns, Ozpin had paced around a bit, taking in his friend's words. But upon hearing the word "web," the grey wizard looked back at Bartholomew. "Webs? What do you mean?"

"Spiders, Ozpin." Bartholomew clarified with dread in his tone. "Giant ones. Some kind of spawn of Ungoliant or I am not a wizard."

____________________________

Emerald and Roman shivered at the thought of the large spiders.

"Ungoliant?" Cinder questioned.

"Am evil spirit that once existed in Middle-Earth. A spider who consumed all she could and grew ever larger and darker." Vortech informed the audience. "She grew to such a size that humans were the insects to her."

"Oh... that's not a pretty thought." Yang quietly spoke as she winced at thinking just how large and ugly Ungoliant was.

"That sounds like one big spider." Qrow commented with a whistle.

"You said once existed." Ozpin told Vortech. "What happened to her?"

"Well, she grew so large and hungry that she eventually devoted herself." Vortech simply stated. "But her brood remained."

"God, I hope none of those spiders get that big." Emerald said with a fearful look.

____________________________

"I followed their trail." Bartholomew told Ozpin—the rest of the company being shown some distance away from the wizards' conversation. "They came from... Dol Guldur."

Grunting upon hearing this, Ozpin turned back to look at Bartholomew. "Dol Guldur? But the old fortress is abandoned."

"No, Ozpin." Bartholomew stared at the other wizard, giving a short shake of his head. "'Tis not."

____________________________

"Looks like we are going to see what's in that fortress." Ironwood said as he leaned forward a bit in his seat.

"God dammit." Roman swore with a lower/eyed look of annoyance.

____________________________

The viewing changed to show when Bartholomew visited the abandoned ruins of Dol Guldur. The green-bearded wizard steadily walked across a large stone bridge that led to the series of towers and stairwells—thunder rumbling in the distance.

Bartholomew was then shown inside the fortress, which was shown to have been covered in dead trees, darkened vines, and rusted metal spikes and thorns—stairs in every direction.

"A dark power swells in there such as I have never felt before."

____________________________

"Top ten places in the multiverse you don't ever want to visit much?" Yang commented at what everyone was seeing.

"That place is giving off so many bad signs." Jaune said as he looked on in concern.

Ozpin silently nodded in agreement with his students. However, given his experience with magic, both light and dark, he felt something eerily familiar within Dol Guldur. It caused him to frown and narrow his eyes at the abandoned fortress.

"This Dol Guldur appears more run down and abandoned than the Mountain Glenn expansion." Oobleck commented with a more serious look. "Yet it feels all the more dark."

"You got that right." Roman quietly muttered as he received a really bad feeling from Dol Guldur.

"Jaune's right. That place so obviously evil." Ruby shook her head.

"I would say that it doesn't subtract from how disturbing it appears to be." Penny said her own worried look.

"Oh, definitely." Ruby nodded in agreement with her friend.

____________________________

Bartholomew then looked down a darkened hallway, rimmed vines and thorns upon its entrance. Turning towards the hallway, the brown-themed wizard readied his staff as he walked forward.

"It is the shadow of an ancient horror."

Unbeknownst to Bartholomew was that behind him, built upon a pedestal, was stone statue, cracked and covered in vines. The shape of the statue was humanoid, a cloaked figure holding the handle of a sword in both hands, it's face hollow, showing nothing but darkness. Suddenly, the hands statue tightened upon the handle of its sword, making a clinking sound as it did so.

Bartholomew stopped in his tracks upon hearing the clicking. He slowly turned around to look at the statue.

____________________________

"Oh dear..." Penny trailed off with wide eyes.

"Well, this seems to be quite the predicament." Oobleck stated with a straight face.

"He's in danger." Ruby said with audible gulp of fear.

"I knew I wasn't going I wasn't going to like this place." Roman spoke with a scowl.

____________________________

"One that can summon the spirits... of the dead."

While Bartholomew's attention was drawn by the statue, a ghostly white specter flowed up and out from a broken pillar behind the wizard. The wraith was immensely pale with white, regal clothing. He face was scrunched and wrinkled. His hair white, flowing, and spindly. Atop his head sat a tall, jagged, four-pronged crown that circled around his scalp—made of a darkened metal.

____________________________

"Where's the Ghostbusters when you need them?" Yang asked with wide eyes.

"What king of ghost is that?" Emerald asked with a shiver of fear.

"An wicked one, no doubt." Pyrrha said as she looked at the specter with apprehension.

"That is a wraith." Vortech stated. "An ancient and powerful foe."

"His face is so wrinkled and scrunched up." Ruby said as she felt cold. "I think that thing's creepier than any ghost we've seen."

"Its definitely the most disturbing in appearance." Glynda agreed with her young student's sentiment.

Even Ozpin felt a small twinge of fear down his back. This wraith creature... he could tell it was something not to be easily trifled with.

____________________________

The wraith pulled out an ornate and dark dagger, readying to strike down the wizard from above. Luckily, Bartholomew had looked up just in time to watch the evil spirit try and strike him. The wraith gave out a haunting and ear piercing screech as he thrusted his dagger down upon the wizard, only for Bartholomew to block the blow with his staff.

Moving away from the foul spirit, Bartholomew continued to block its strikes with his staff, before using it to toss the spirit to the side. The wraith dissipated and disappeared as it hit the ground, leaving nothing but it's dark and sharp dagger and it's haunting shriek.

____________________________

This time, everyone felt a chill. The haunting shriek of the wraith passed through everyone's souls.

Sienna and Blake had flattened their ears as their pupils turned to slits. They clutched to the arms of their respective chairs, the shriek having sent a fight or flight response through both of them. Ilia's skin was rapidly changing colors out of fear of the wraith.

"I hope I never hear something like that ever again." Pietro said with a frozen look.

"You're preaching to the choir." Roman agreed in Pietro's sentiment as he too was frozen. Even Neo was affected by the shriek, causing her dilate her pupils and cling to Roman's arm.

"That wraith just gets scarier and scarier." Ruby said as she found herself clinging to her sister, who nodded in agreement with her.

"Who could summon such a thing to the living world?" Glynda asked, her face filled with worry. Her stern attitude faltering.

____________________________

"I saw him, Ozpin. From out of the darkness..."

Bartholomew slowly turned his head back towards the darkened hallway where a dark figure slowly formed from the other end. It was male in shape, ragged in posture. An eerie whisper fell upon the air that surrounded the being.

"A Necromancer has come."

Bartholomew looked upon the figure with wide eyes. The audience saw as the figure drew closer, eerily whispering as it did. A face could almost be made out from the shadow that surrounded the figure's masculine structure as it widened its mouth at an unnatural length, just as the viewing fell into darkness.

____________________________

If the wraith had frightened the audience, this Necromancer had tripled that fear.

"My God..." Oobleck trailed off as he shared the same look his counterpart held.

"By all that his holy." Port uttered with wide eyes.

Even the likes of Glynda, Sienna, Pyrrha, Ren, and Winter were stunned into shock out of fear and apprehension.

"I take it back. That thing is worse than the wraith." Ruby said as she clung to Yang more.

"What level of hell did that thing crawl out of?" Tai asked with a frozen look.

"I have no doubt in my mind that it came from one of the darkest." Ironwood said as he shared in the father of two's sentiment.

Ozpin stared at the screen with wide eyes, the eerie feeling he had felt earlier become more and more uncanny. Dread surrounded his figure as he clutched the arm of his chair. "That power... that sense of dread. It feels worse than anything I ever felt from Salem."

Cinder had felt a similar feeling such as Ozpin. Even she was effected by this Necromancer. A familiar sense of fear washed over her, one that felt ten times as worse than what she usually felt out of that fear. "This thing... This Necromancer. It's more unnatural than my Mistress."

____________________________

Bartholomew was shown once more, running as fast as he could, away from Dol Guldur. There was another foul screech in the air as the brown/themed wizard was chased away by large and wicked bats.

"Quick! Quick! Quick! Quick! Quick!" Bartholomew shouted to his rabbits, getting their attention.

They all started to run off without Bartholomew, causing the wizard to do his best to keep up with them while trying to avoid the bats.

"Wait for me!" Bartholomew shouted as he did his best to run closely with the rabbit-driven slay. He reached out his hand, inching closer and closer to grabbing the handle of the slay as the bats still chased him.

____________________________

"They even have giant bats?!" Weiss shouted with a fearful look.

"This world is more messed up than I thought it was." Yang commented. "And I thought Smaug was bad enough."

"I don't think he would want to go back there any time soon." Nora said with a dread-filled look.

"I doubt anyone would." Blake said as she tried to get over her initial fear.

____________________________

Luckily, Bartholomew was able to grab onto the handle of his slay and hopped on it, though not before having to grab his hat as he ducked down underneath a fallen tree. "Oh!"

The bats continued to chase Bartholomew and his rabbits. The wizard was able to knock one away with his staff, but not before one of them flew up to him and gave a terrible screech.

The viewing went back to the present time as Bartholomew ended his tale, giving a spooked whimper before looking at Ozpin. "Sorry."

"Try a little old toby." Ozpin suggested to his friend, rubbing off the smoking end of his pipe with his long beard before moving it over to Bartholomew. "It'll help settle your nerves."

Accepting the pipe, Bartholomew sucked in a large amount of smoke, almost going cross-eyes in the process. Ozpin brought the smoking pipe away from Bartholomew as he advised his friend to release the smoke. "And out."

"Mm." Bartholomew hummed with eyes rolled up in a trance, smoke exiting his nostrils and ears. An overall pleased expression on his face.

____________________________

Roman, who still held a bit of fear after the scene with Dol Guldur and the Necromancer, gave an odd look to Bartholomew the Brown. "Okay, how does that even work."

"I don't know and I don't care. It's the exact silly thing I need to get over that whole Necromancer thing." Ruby said as she started to calm down.

"I agree with you there." Ilia told Ruby as her skin reverted back to its regular complexion.

"I have never seen nor heard of anything so foul before." Penny said with a disturbed frown. "And I hope I never have to again."

"You said it, sister." Jaune said in agreement.

Hearing this, Penny turned to Jaune, giving him a strange expression. "No... I do not believe I am related to you, friend Jaune."

"What? Oh, wait, no. Uh, Penny it's just an expression." Jaune stumbled a bit as he tried to explain to the secret android girl. "It just means I agree with you."

"Oh. I see." Penny acknowledged with a smile. "You said it, sister."

"Eh. Something like that." Jaune told Penny with a so-so motion of his hand.

____________________________

"Now... a Necromancer." Ozpin said to Bartholomew, getting back on track of the conversation. "Are you sure?"

Bartholomew looked at Ozpin, a serious look etched into his face. He pulled out an object from within the pockets of his robes, wrapped and tied up in parchment paper—thunder rumbling in the distance. The green-bearded wizard handed the object over to Ozpin, whom unwrapped it a bit to see what it was. A shriek was heard on the wind as Ozpin looked back at Bartholomew with his own dreadful look.

"That is not... from the world of the living." Bartholomew told Ozpin in a low tone.

____________________________

"There's that god damn shriek again." Roman said with a shiver down his spine.

"That must be the blade the wraith dropped when Oobleck repelled him." Ozpin said as he observed the shape of the wrapped item.

"It must be covered in a powerful magic if something used by a spirit became corporeal." Glynda said after calming down from the initial Dol Guldur encounter.

"With what we saw at Dol Guldur, there's definitely a more sinister power at play." Qrow said with a confident nod.

____________________________

Ozpin held a look of concern upon his face, but his and everyone else's attention was soon drawn by some thing else. A roar had rang out through the forest, grabbing concerned looks from the dwarves, and a slight whimper from Bartholomew.

With an alarmed look, Roman spoke. "Was that a wolf? Are-are there wolves out there?"

____________________________

"Oh, now what?!" Roman shouted while throwing his hands out.

"We really can't catch a break, can we?" Ironwood asked while dragging his hands down in face in exasperation.

____________________________

"Wolves?" Bofur questioned with a worried look as he and the others all looked for the source of the animalistic call. "No, that is not a wolf."

Creeping up behind the dwarves was a snarling, brown warg. The warg growled, gaining everyone's attention as it leapt forth with its jaws open. It lunged towards Oin, roaring as it pinned him down. Luckily for the elderly dwarf, James was there to swiftly put an end to the beast by bearing his newfound blade into its skull. Quickly enough, another warg appeared, this one aiming for James. With a swift release of his bow, Kili shot an arrow into the oncoming warg's skull, disorienting it as it tumbled down. The warg was not down yet, as it thrashed a growled. Dwalin swiftly came up on it, slamming his hammer against the warg so hard that it cracked its skull, killing it. Everyone walked up to the two dead wargs, looking upon James.

"Warg scouts!" James shouted as he tore out his sword from the first dead warg's head, looking off to the distance. "Which means an orc pack is not far behind."

"Orc pack?" Roman repeated with a shocked look.

____________________________

"Yazneg." Penny concluded.

"They must have been following them the entire time." Ruby said with wide eyes.

"How many orcs do you guys think Yazneg brought with him?" Nora asked as she looked to her fellow students.

"If he was smart, he probably brought enough to overrun them." Jaune said with a gulp.

"The dwarves' quest just got a lot more difficult." Pyrrha said with a weary look as everyone watched the screen.

____________________________

"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Ozpin ordered as he walked up to the dwarf prince.

"No one." James replied with a heavy breath.

"Who did you tell?!" Ozpin shouted.

"No one, I swear." James stated with a firm tone, stepping up to Ozpin.

Ozpin breathed out a sigh of exasperation as James looked up to him. "What in Durin's name is going on?"

"You are being hunted." Ozpin told James, causing Roman to grow concerned.

____________________________

"Now this begs the question of who the orcs serve." Ironwood said as he gave a thoughtful look towards the screen.

"If wager those orcs must be remnants of the ones the dwarves fought at Moria." Winter suggested.

"Meaning Azog might still be alive." Ironwood concluded with a dark look. "And he wants revenge on my counterpart."

____________________________

"We have to get out of here." Dwalin said with urgency.

"We can't!" Ori shouted as he and Bifur ran up to the group. "We have no ponies. They bolted!"

Roman turned around as his concern ever grew.

____________________________

"You have got to be kidding me." Roman muttered with a disbelieving look.

"The wargs must have spooked them." Sienna concluded.

"Now how the dwarves gonna get out of this one?" Nora asked in worry. "They've got no mounts to outrun the wargs."

"They've got Ozpin, Doctor Oobleck, General Ironwood, and Torchwick among them. I'm sure they'll think of something." Ruby said with an assuring look.

"Awe. Thanks, Red. You actually included me among the strategists." Roman gave a sincere smile towards Ruby, something he thought he would never do.

"Well, you are good at getting away, so..." Ruby trailed off with a shrug.

Roman lowered his eyes at Ruby, staring at her before speaking. "I am going to take that as a compliment."

____________________________

"I'll draw them off." Bartholomew said with a fist raised to his chest.

"These are Gundabad wargs. They will outrun you." Ozpin sternly told his old friend.

"These are rhosgobel rabbits." Bartholomew walked up to Ozpin with a confident tone. "I'd like to see them try."

____________________________

"Ooh. Fast rabbits versus wargs." Nora said with an excited smile.

"A distraction could work." Ruby said as she thought the idea in her head.

"So long as Bart can lead the orcs away from our group, we can sneak our way out." Ironwood said.

"If there's one thing I know how to do, it's getting people's attention." Oobleck stated as he sat straight in his seat.

____________________________

The viewing gave an overview look of the rocky forest as the warg pack howled in unison. Leading the pack of orcs and their warg mounts was Yazneg, whom rode his mount atop a rock and gave out orders to his fellow orcs in Black Speech. The orc pack and their wargs charged into the trees, only for Bartholomew to yell as he came rushing out of the forest aboard his rabbit-driven slay.

"Come and get me! Ha ha!" Bartholomew challenged the orcs with a laugh as the wind blew past his face.

Yazneg pointed his sword forward, shouting in Black Speech as he and his brethren chased after Bartholomew, the brown-themed wizard laughing the entire time as he led the orc pack into the rock-littered, open plains.

____________________________

"Look at them go!" Yang shouted with a smile.

"Those are really fast rabbits." Weiss said with an impressed look. "Especially out in the open."

"Those rabbits could probably even outrun Beowulves." Port said with a chuckle. "Now would that be a sight to see?"

____________________________

From out behind one of the large rocks, Ozpin peered out, watching ad Bartholomew led the orcs away from the company.

"Come on!" Ozpin quietly shouted as he ran, leading Roman and the dwarves across the plain in secret, all of them in a hurry.

Meanwhile, the orcs were still on Bartholomew's tail. One orc upon his warg pulled out his weapon, coming at Bartholomew from the side so that he could strike down the wizard. However, Bartholomew evaded the attack by ducking down and swerving hard to the left, causing the orc to miss as he tumbled down, harshly, with his warg mount.

Bartholomew continued to have the orcs chase him as the company of thirteen ran across the plain, hiding behind the tall rocks. However, the company soon found themselves about to intersect with Bartholomew and the orc pack. To prevent this, James, who was in the lead, halted the other others as they watched the brown-themed wizard drive by with the orcs continuing to chase him.

"Stay together." Ozpin quietly said as he motioned the others away from where the orcs were.

"Move!" James shouted as they ran once more.

As the company was back on the move, Bartholomew continued to lead the orcs on. He had gotten to one rock formation that was concaved near the bottom. Bartholomew swiftly ducked under the large rock, save for the orc behind him, whom ran face first into the rock, knocking him off his warg mount. Though the orcs and wargs were not deterred as the fanged beasts growled and continued in their chase.

____________________________

"Oobleck'a distracting the orcs and taking them out." Tai said with a laugh. "Even if they're actually taking themselves out."

"The orcs are vicious creatures to be sure, but like Grimm, they don't have much direction without an alpha." Glynda observed from the orc's behavior.

"It's doesn't seem Yazneg is the best captain either." Qrow pointed out. "Otherwise he'd direct them to try and out-maneuver Barty."

____________________________

The comapny continued to run until they were close to intersecting with the orcs again. Ori was late to stopping, however, as he continued to run.

"Ori, no!" James shouted as he grabbed onto the youngest of the group, pulling him back and evading any potential orcs noticing them.

Seeing that the cost was clear once more, Ozpin ushered the company to move again. "All of you, come on! Come on. Quick."

____________________________

"Hmm. My counterpart could try to do better in leading the orc pack away from the company." Oobleck said as he frowned at the more 'plan as I go along' option his counterpart was taking.

"Just as long as the company gets away, I'm sure it shouldn't be too bad." Jaune said.

____________________________

While Roman and the other dwarves all ran to where Ozpin directed them, James did not initially do so as he looked towards the grey-themed wizard.

"Where are you leading us?" James asked him.

Ozpin stared at James for a moment before following after the others, giving the prince no reply. James rolled his head in annoyance before following after Ozpin.

____________________________

"There also appears to be the fact that Ozpin is wanting the company to follow him without everyone else knowing where he's leading them." Ilia said with a frown.

"While that can be an issue, we've seen how the General's dwarven counterpart acts." Pyrrha reminded the chameleon faunus. "He might argue about Ozpin's idea, and it would halt their escape."

"Yet telling them truth right away would prevent any future problems that may occur down the line." Cinder said, choosing her words in order to take a subtle jab at Ozpin. "They are all meant to trust Ozpin, after all."

Like Cinder had wanted, Ozpin delved deep on her words. Memories of his past lives coming up again. Those who he let down, and those who betrayed him. All because he hid the truth. He furrowed his eyes at the thought before he calmed down. He swept his eyes around the room, taking in the faces of his colleagues, friends, and students. He frowned at the thought of what may happen to them should his secret continue.

"I can't let them know... not yet." Ozpin thought to himself. "But... if that Necromancer is who I think it is... I may have no choice but to tell the students of our shadow war."

____________________________

Bartholomew continued to lead the orc pack away from the company. However, one orc had halted in his movements, his warg snarling as the orc sniffed the air.

Ozpin led the company further on, before they all stopped once again as the orc pack neared. They swerved back, all of them hiding behind a rock as they waited for the orcs to pass by. However, the orc from earlier led his warg upon the rock the company hid behind. The warg snarled and sniffed as the orc pulled out his blade.

____________________________

"Oh, crap." Jaune squealed out.

"That's not good." Yang as she flinched in response.

"Looks like one of the orcs caught their scent." Mercury commented as he continued to eat popcorn.

"Things are about to go FUBAR." Ironwood said with a wincing grimace.

____________________________

Spotting this, James slowly turned his head back to his company, giving a slight nod to Kili. In response, Kili slowly pulled out one of his arrows, knocking it against his bow before quickly running forward and shooting the warg. The warg growled in pain, jerking his orc rider. The orc then pulled out his ear horn, attempting to call for his brethren before he was shot down by Kili. The orc and warg tumbled down, causing the warg to give out a loud shriek.

The warg's shriek had caused the other wargs to immediately stop on their tracks as they listened for the direction where the shriek came from. Yazneg growled as he too looked for it's source.

Back with the company, the orc was not dead yet as he charged towards the dwarves in a crazed manner. In retaliation, Dwalin and Bifur went in to attack the orc, the former screaming as they beat him and stabbed him to death. The orc's screams could be heard across the plains, causing Yazneg and his orc pack to look over to the rock where the company hid behind.

"The Dwarf-scum are over there!" Yazneg shouted in Black Speech.

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Everyone in the audience either cringed, flinched, or winced at the noise the dwarves were all making by killing the orc warg, thereby drawing the attention of the rest of the pack.

"That... that could have gone better." Winter said as she winced.

"You think?" Sienna deadpanned at the specialist.

"Well, there goes stealth." Blake said with a sigh.

'I think they were going for loud stealth.' Neo signed, though her face read that she was being sarcastic, finding the situation to be pitiful and unprofessional.

"Time to book it." Roman commented with an alarmed look.

____________________________

As the dwarves continued to hack away at the orc, Ozpin turned to see if they had been noticed.

"After them!" Yazneg yelled as he and his pack charges towards the company.

Hearing the howls of the wargs getting closer to them, Ozpin yelled to his companions as they all looked to where his eyes were. "Move! Run!"

Immediately the company of thirteen ran across the plains, trekking past rocks and trees as the wargs barked and howled upon their trail.

"There they are!" Gloin shouted as he pointed to the horizon.

Roman and the others, all gasping for breath, stopped to see that the orc pack and their wargs had headed them off from the initial direction they were running in, quickly making their way down to the company.

"This way!" Ozpin shouted as he motioned for the others to follow. "Quickly!"

The company continued to run, doing their best to evade the orc pack. However, they soon found themselves in the face of Yazneg. James and his compatriots all took notice that the orc pack was starting to surround them.

"There's more coming!" Kili shouted as he ran.

____________________________

"They're boxing them in!" Ruby shouted with a worried look.

"Oh, now they function better in their attacks?" Qrow incredulously asked.

"Classic hunters' tactic. Especially in groups." Mercury commented. "Box the animal in and they have nowhere to run."

"Except the orc's are the hunters, and the company are the animals." Cinder elaborated on what the assassin's son said.

____________________________

Looking around at the oncoming orc pack, James shouted to his youngest nephew. "Kili! Shoot them!"

During the commotion, Ozpin hurriedly looked around the area, trying to find a way out before his eyes landed upon a large rock. Widening his eyes, the wizard ran towards it.

____________________________

"Wait, what does he see?" Glynda asked.

"A way out?" Tai opted to say.

"That better be some boulder." Winter said.

"This is Ozpin we're talking about here. He always has a plan." Qrow said in defense of Beacon's headmaster.

Ozpin smiled a bit at Qrow's loyalty, but on the inside he winced with a sigh. "I truly wish that was always the case."

____________________________

"We're surrounded!" Fili shouted as Kili took aim with his bow before firing into an orc, knocking him off his warg.

The dwarves and Roman started to box themselves in as they readied for a fight.

"Where Ozpin?!" Dori shouted as he ran towards the others.

"He's abandoned us." Dwalin shouted.

____________________________

"He didn't abandon you! He ran towards a big rock!" Ruby yelled at the screen.

"Seriously how do they lose a guy that tall?" Yang asked with furrowed eyes. "He ought to be sticking out like a sore thumb."

"He's tall and knows how to hide well." Blake told her partner. "This version of Ozpin does seem to be pretty good at stealth."

____________________________

Yazneg looked down upon the dwarves, snarling as he slowly rose his warg down towards them. Ori fired a pellet from his slingshot at Yazneg's warg, yet it had no effect on it. With a twisted and toothy smile, Yazneg continued to stalk towards the dwarves.

"Hold your ground!" James shouted as he readied his sword, the blade glowing blue.

All the dwarves had their weapons out and ready for the inevitable battle. Even Roman was readied to fight, his blade drawn as it glowed blue as well.

Just as the company was getting ready to fight for their lives, Ozpin popped up from behind some of the rocks near the large boulder he ran towards. With his staff raised, he shouted to his compatriots. "This way, you fools!"

Seeing where Ozpin was directing them towards, James ordered for everyone to follow. "Come on, move!"

Standing atop one of the rocks, James saw that beneath the boulder was a cave entrance. Looking behind him, he ushered for everyone to go down into the cave. "Quickly! All of you!"

____________________________

"It's a cave entrance." Jaune said with an awed look. "Wait, what's a cave doing all the way out in a plain?"

"Well, geology of the world tends to take to strange forms." Ren calmly reasoned. "That same logic would most undoubtedly work for other worlds."

"Who cares? They now have a way to escape the orcs!" Nora said with a giggling cheer.

____________________________

"Go, go, go!" James shouted as each member slide down into the cave. First was Bofur, followed by Roman, then Balin and Gloin.

Seeing that the dwarves were starting to escape, beneath the rocks, Yazneg looked on in confusion as wargs rushed towards the company.

James yelled as he cut down an attacking warg, the beast shrieking in pain while Bombur tumbled down into the cave.

"Nine, ten..." Ozpin counted as each member slide down into the cave.

In the meantime, Kili was keeping some of the orcs at bay by firing arrows into any he could.

"Kili! Run!" James shouted to his nephew.

Hearing James's orders, Kili started to run towards the boulder as the wargs and orcs chased him. Fili was next to go down into the cave before he was followed by his brother. With everyone else inside, James hopped into the cave as well, sliding down the rock.

____________________________

"Okay. Everyone's in..." Ruby trailed off with a sigh of relief. "Now what?"

"Well they can't wait out the orcs... maybe there's more to the cave." Jaune theorized.

"But that still leaves the orcs, who know where they went to." Weiss reminded the leader of JNPR.

"Then maybe... they try and take out the orcs as they follow them in?" Jaune said as more a question.

"Even that has some flaws, given the wargs." Pyrrha said.

"Well whatever they plan to do, they better do it quick." Yang said. "Those orcs won't be long."

____________________________

The entire company was now in the cave as James looked out through the entrance of the cave to see if the orcs were close to them. However the blaring of blown horn was heard across the plains, gaining everyone's attention.

As the orc pack ran towards the boulder, several of them were swiftly killed with arrows shot through their head. Turning around, the orcs saw as warriors in shining armor—each astride upon a horse—rode up to the pack.

The company of thirteen stood their ground as they heard the orcs screech in pain. The pack was either being brought down by arrows, or killed with glaives. Yazneg roared as he and a few other orcs started fo back away from the attackers, whom rode alongside the fleeing orcs as they expertly killed them with their arrows.

____________________________

"Or... someone else comes in and deals with the orcs for them." Ruby said as she blinked in surprise.

"Who are these guys?" Nora asked.

"Whoever they are, they have much skill with the bow." Pyrrha said as she took interest in the new warriors.

"They definitely have an elegant and swift fighting style." Winter said as she too found herself drawn to the newcomers.

"Hey. They saved our buts, so they're good in my book." Roman said with a chuckle. "For the time being, anyways."

____________________________

One orc was shot off from his mount as he sent flying over towards the boulder. He tumbled down into the cave, causing the company to back up—each with their weapons ready. Ozpin pointed his staff at the orc's corpse, in case it was still alive, as one of the dwarves poked it with a sword.

As the orcs became overrun by the horse-riders, Yazneg was able to lead a small group of survivors away from the fighting, grunting in displeasure and anger.

____________________________

"Yeah! You better run!" Nora jeered at Yazneg.

"Well that deals with the orcs." Ren said.

"For now." Ilia added. "They'll undoubtedly come back."

"True. But now they will have lost most of the company's trail." Penny stated. "They won't have much to go on."

____________________________

Kneeling down to the dead orc in the cave, James pulled out the arrow from the corpse, analyzing the black block-tipped arrow.

"Elves." James said with disdain as he tossed the arrow to the ground.

James, his breath still heavy, looked over to Ozpin as the wizard met his look. It seemed as if the dwarf prince was about to have words with Ozpin, but before anything could be said, Dwalin shouted to the others.

____________________________

"Elves?" Sienna asked.

"There must be a settlement around there, where the elves reside." Ren suggested.

"Whatever the case is, it looks like Ozpin knew about it." Ruby pointed out.

"My counterpart does seem quite knowledgeable of the world they live in." Ozpin said. "He must have known there would be elves about."

"And he didn't tell my counterpart due the history the dwarves have with elves." Ironwood nodded in conclusion. "That would have lead to some issues along the way that would have halted their progress."

"Well, they're all safe now. That's all that matters." Glynda said with a small smile.

"Awe. Even me?" Roman cheekily asked the combat professor.

Glynda rolled her eyes at Roman's snide question. "Your counterpart."

____________________________

"I cannot see where the pathway leads!" Dwalin shouted as he had gone further into the alight cave. "Do we follow it or no?!"

"Follow it, of course!" Bofur yelled back as he and the others started to move forward.

"I think that would be wise." Ozpin calmly said as he watched his compatriots move through the cave before he shared a look with Roman.

____________________________

"Oh, hey. There is more to the cave." Jaune popped his head up with a smile.

"And it seems my counterpart knows about it too." Ozpin said as he gave his counterpart an analytical look.

____________________________

The company of thirteen made their way through the cave's pathway, moving through more narrow paths and twisted turns—some of which were a little difficult for Bombur to move through. As they continued to move onward, James peered to the cave's high ceiling, seeing the Sun's light shining through an ongoing, thin crevice.

____________________________

"Wait a minute. It didn't look like there anything like that behind the boulder." Roman said as he raised his brow at the scene.

"Maybe it's further down from the boulder and the light was able to fill out the cave." Ruby suggested.

"Either way, it's a secret cave path, and I for one love it." Nora said with a smile as she placed her head in her hands.

____________________________

As they continued to walk, Roman looked around with a questioning expression before he spoke to the resident wizard. "Ozpin. Where are we?"

"You can feel it?" Ozpin asked as they walked.

"Yes." Roman said as he turned around to face the wizard. "Uh, it feels like... well, like magic."

"That's exactly what it is." Ozpin told Roman. "A very powerful magic."

____________________________

"That might explain how all of that was hidden above, on the plains." Glynda said as she put her hand to chin.

"It also makes sense on how Ozpin's counterpart knew how to get there." Ironwood said. "Being a wizard and all, he'd be able to sense something like that."

____________________________

Roman looked up at Ozpin for a moment before Dwalin spoke up.

"There's light ahead." Called out the bald and bearded dwarf.

Taking grasp of his walking stick, Roman gave Ozpin one last glance before following the others.

Eventually, the company found their way towards a rocky opening, which was accompanied by a small waterfall beside them. Everyone stopped upon a rocky platform as they all looked out to what laid before them. James looked upon the sight with narrowed eyes, while Roman looked on with awe and shock.

Before the company laid a valley, surrounded by waterfalls and floral-covered mountains. Built upon the side of one of the mountains was a serene and beautiful city with many bridges and ornate buildings—some larger than others—with tiled roofs.

____________________________

"It's so... serene." Pyrrha said with an awed look. "It's almost like something you'd see in Mistral, and yet... it seems so peaceful."

"I can understand that sentiment." Weiss nodded in agreement. "It's elegant, yet it's not too fancy."

"And it's surrounded by so many waterfalls." Ruby said as she looked at the scenery with stars in her eyes.

"There's a place I'd definitely like to try and visit." Yang said in agreement with the previous sentiments.

"It seems to be quite the peaceful place." Glynda said, finding herself drawn to the city before her. "Like a peace of heaven on Remnant... or Middle-Earth, in this case."

"Eh. Not exactly my cup of tea, but it does seem like a nice retirement home." Roman said with a shrug. Though even he couldn't deny the serenity of the valley.

____________________________

"The valley of Imladris!" Ozpin introduced as he walked upon the platform with the others. "In the common tongue, it's known by another name."

"Rivendell." Roman said with awestruck and distant tone, finding himself lost by the view he saw, smiling ever so slightly.

____________________________

"Well, for a retirement home, your counterpart seems quite smitten with it." Ozpin said as he looked towards the ginger-haired criminal.

"Given his tone, it's also a place he's heard of before." Ironwood analyzed. "Perhaps somewhere he wished to go when he was a child."

"Maybe..." Roman allowed as he gave some thought to the subject of this Rivendell place.

"I can't say I blame him. Even the name sounds serene." Blake said.

"It... does seem nice." Ilia said as she looked over the beautiful valley.

Emerald merely inwardly scoffed at how most of the audience seemed to gush at this Rivendell place. "Oh, please. No place is that perfect. There's bound to be issues there."

____________________________

As the dwarves all looked upon the city and quietly conversed, Ozpin continued to speak. "Here lies the last homely house east of the sea."

James turned around, axe in hand as he looked at Ozpin with displeasure. "This was your plan all along. To seek refuge with our enemy."

"You have no enemies here, James Ironwood." Calmly, yet sternly spoke Ozpin. "The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself."

____________________________

"So this must be where the elves that we saw live." Ren concluded.

"I can see it." Sienna said as the image of Rivendell stuck within her mind.

"And yet again, another good reason not to inform my counterpart of where they were heading." Ironwood stated. "This issue he has with the elves will only continue to derail the common goal."

"Hopefully, with time, he'll come to realize not all elves are the same." Ozpin told his old friend.

"Wait a minute, if Ozpin's counterpart was trying to get the company to go to Rivendell all along... does that mean this is the same place my grandfather resides?" Weiss asked.

"Who knows? Except me, of course." Vortech said with a small chuckle. "I suppose you'll just have to find out."

____________________________

Roman had a knowing look as he gave a sidewards glance to Ozpin and James's conversation.

"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing?" James asked Ozpin with a shake of his head. "They will try to stop us."

"Of course they will." Ozpin plainly replied. "But we have questions that need to be answered."

James sighed as he looked down, Ozpin continuing to speak. "If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact. And respect. And no small degree charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."

And with that, the viewing ended.

____________________________

"Oh, what?" Nora complained before turning her head towards Vortech. "You're cutting it off there?"

"We were just getting to the good stuff." Weiss found herself in agreement with Nora. She did very much want to see how her grandfather appeared in this universe.

"Sorry." Vortech said in a tone that was for from apologetic. "But I have schedules to keep up with, and many other universes to show."

"Well, nevertheless, as horrific as some of that was, I quite liked this viewing." Roman said with a pleased smile. "Showed just how smart I can be."

"And how clumsy." Sienna muttered to the side with an eye roll.

"This universe is definitely delving deeper into what's going on in it." Glynda said. "I never thought we'd encounter that dreadful Necromancer. Whoever she is."

"It was quite interesting to see that I am a wizard in this universe." Oobleck voiced his thoughts.

"A looney one, at that." Qrow added before taking a swing from his flask.

"I definitely can't wait to see more." Ruby said with a smile. "So what up next?"

"One you all most certainly quite enjoy." Vortech stated as began to set up the next viewing. "We now return to Transformers, and Bumblebee."

A spark was lit up within the eyes of every person who was there for the first viewing of the Transformers universe. And there was a glint of interest in the eyes of those who had yet to witness it.

But none shined so bright as the joy and excitement in Yang's eyes.

Jumping up from her seat and throwing her arms to the air, Yang widely grinned as she let out a shout. "Yes!!"

Unfortunately, the shout had caused Blake and Sienna to cover their ears again, with Blake's bow flattening against her head. As Yang stood there, she suddenly became a bit sheepish when the two feline-based faunus gave her glaring looks.

"Excited much?" Ilia deadpanned at the blonde brawler.

Rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment, Yang gave a sheepish smile.

"Uh... oops?"

End chapter_

____________________________

Cast:

Bilbo Baggins: Roman Torchwick
Gandalf the Grey: Ozpin
Thorin Oakenshield: James Ironwood
Dwalin: Himself
Balin: Himself
Fili: Himself
Kili: Himself
Dori: Himself
Nori: Himself
Ori: Himself
Oin: Himself
Gloin: Himself
Bifur: Himself
Bofur: Himself
Bombur: Himself
Thror: Himself
Azog the Defiler: Himself
Yazneg: Himself
Fimbul: Himself
Elrond: Nicholas Schnee
Radagast the Brown: Bartholonew Oobleck
Saruman the White: Arthur Watts
Bert Huggins: Himself
Tom Huggins: Himself
William(Bill) Huggins: Himself
The Witch-King(Twilight): Himself

Author's notes:

So, here we are at last. The next part of the Hobbit, and the newest chapter to this story.

I would also like to start out by saying Happy Fourth of July 🇺🇸 to each and every one of you. It's been fireworks the entire week down in Tennessee, where I'll be at for the summer, and I have no doubt I'll hear more tonight.

Anyways, it's been a good many weeks since I last uploaded for this story, and I have an explanation.

As of this past June 9th, I am a graduate of John I Leonard Highschool. During the week of my graduation, most of my family was there to see it, and it was perhaps the one time where most of my family—on both sides—were in the same place.

In celebration for the graduation, we went to Universal Orlando. We visited Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Now, I've never been one for roller coasters—and I definitely was not up fro trying the new Velocicoaster—but I did have my fair share of fun. I went on the Jurassic Park river adventure—which is always a classic—and we did a majority of the Dr.Seuss stuff for my kid sister. We ate at the Three Broomsticks inn—I tried an iced butter bear, and we went on the Spider-Man ride. We even checked out the chocolate factory. Though when we went to the Universal Studios part, I definitely had the more fun there. I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the 3-d rides there. In total, I went on Minions Mayhem, The Simpsons ride, and Transformers: The Ride. And boy, let me tell you about Transformers: The Ride.

It. Was. Awesome.
It had a lengthy wait, and there was a bunch of zig-zags to go through just to get to the carts, but man was it action-packed. Safe to say I enjoyed that over every Michael Bay Transformers movie.

But anyways, it was during that week that I had decided to take a break and enjoy myself.

After that week, I started back on working on my stories. All I needed to do first was update Transformers: War for Selenus—though it did sadly take me about two weeks since I was spending some of that time on working out the direction—and then I would start my summer-long focus on RWBY watches alternate dimensions, which you now have read. However, it took some time since I was helping my mother move out of her apartment, so I wasn't entirely in the mood for writing.

Speaking of Transformers, we now have confirmation about the next movie—which will be a sequel to Bumblebee. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, coming out June, 2022. I already talked about it a bit in Transformers: War for Selenus, but to sum it up, we got Autobots and Decepticons, alongside Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons. On the one hand, there's a lot going on with this movie and I'm interested to see where it leads. On the other, there's so much going on that if things aren't directed well, it could lead to a potential disaster. We'll just have to wait and see. And pending on how well the movie does, I'll use it for my story. Ron Perlman has been announced as Optimus Primal for the movie, and while we would all love Gary Chalk to reprise his role, I am willing to give Ron a shot. I just hope Hasbro didn't do what they do to Gary as like they did to Peter Cullen in Bumblebee. And yes, it does say Peter Cullen will be back as Optimus.

Anyways, so next chapter we get back to Transformers: Bumblebee. However, before I do that, I am going to put out another voting chapter to not only announce the winners of the previous vote, but also for you guys to vote on stuff regarding the VanossGaming chapter that's coming up, and to vote in regards to a few of our favorite mercenaries from Team Fortress 2.

So until then, I will see you all next time.
Farewell Rule Breakers.