Jinn stretched as she left her lamp again, it was always cramped in there. She looked around her surroundings, she didn't see anyone that summoned her.

???: Well done... little lamp.

Jinn turned, still floating in place, towards the voice she heard. She squinted not seeing anybody there.

Jinn: Who is speaking?

???: That would be me...

Jinn blinked, now seeing who was speaking to her. She gasped in surprise, standing there was The Being himself.

Jinn: Y-Your majesty!

Jinn tried bowing but found it difficult since she was still floating. The Being chuckled at this and waved his hand, she slowly floated to the ground before standing again.

The Being: Please... Disperse with the pleasantries, I do not care for such frivolous things.

Jinn: W-Where am I?

The Being: What you said to the group was... partially correct, you said your own interpretations on my reasons for bringing Vader and other warriors to this world.

The Being: I do not care about being represented in this world... I could do that easily... (The Being summons his cube and stares at it for a second) Tell me Little Lamp, do you know why I came to this world?

Jinn: Y-You saw potential...Something beautiful that could be made out of something discarded... Am I wrong?

The Being: ...You are. I did not do any of those things, I am simply an observer, that may intervene.

The Being waves his hand, a string of light forming.

The Being: Let me tell you something, Little Lamp. In this world, there is a flow of time, yes? In each reality, there is a main flow of time, the main reality if you will. For each choice, a character makes, keeps the flow of the stream straight. But for each time something changes...

A smaller thread broke off from the main one, going in its own direction.

The Being: A new timeline is formed... While some may be parallel to the original one, with only a few minor changes... like a new variable being added, for instance, a character. While it may go the same route as the prime one, it will never be the same.

Jinn: Are we in the main flow, the main timeline?

The Being: ...No. Due to the things I have done, we are in a separate one. I can only observe the main one, due to the fact if I intervene it will only create a separate timeline.

The Being walked away, sitting down in a newly formed chair.

The Being: So I watch... And I intervene when I deem it necessary.

Maul slowly stirred awake, with a blade pointed at his face. Maul slowly looked up to see Blake and Yang standing over him.

Maul: Good morning.

Blake: When were you going to tell us?

Maul: Tell you what?

Yang: Don't act dumb! We all saw what Jinn showed us!

Maul: I will admit... I regret the things I have done in my past, but I am here now. You say you saw what Jinn showed us? If he did the same things to Vader he did to me, will that make you trust me? You trust Vader, yet he has done far worse things than me.

Yang: Well... Alright fine... Not that we have much choice in the matter anyway.

Blake put her sword back in her sheath as Yang walked away, Maul stood up when they walked away, seeing everyone else had already awoken.

Weiss: Anyone else still feel tired?

Yang: Yeah... for some odd reason yeah.

Maul watched Ruby walk into another room, following, he saw Qrow sitting in a chair several alcohol bottles surrounding him.

Ruby: Uncle Qrow, come on, get up.

Ruby shakes her uncle's shoulder in an attempt to wake him, making him groan in seeming annoyance.

Maul: He must have awoken sooner and come to this room because we all passed out from the Lamps magic.

Ruby: Uncle Qrow, come on, get up.

Ruby shook her uncle's shoulder in an attempt to wake him, making him groan in seeming annoyance.

Qrow: Leave me alone...

Ruby: (sigh) We overslept.

Maul walked over to the window and opened the curtains, as a matter of fact, they did it was now noon. He sighed, remembering his brother's death.

Qrow pushed Ruby off of him, sighing, she picked up an empty bottle. Frustrated, she threw it against the wall, waking Qrow up.

Qrow: Uh...What?

Qrow looked up at Ruby, who was staring at him and looked at Maul who had picked up his own bottle and began drinking.

Ruby: Oh, come on! Not you too!

Maul: I was reminded of my brother's death... I...I need a drink.

Maul took another swig, before noticing he had emptied the bottle. Sighing, he placed it back on the counter, it was probably for the best he didn't get drunk.

Sighing, Ruby turned back to Qrow, giving him a hug.

Ruby: You know, you can talk to me about stuff. Yang too...

Qrow doesn't say anything, instead, he pars her on the back as he suggests they just leave.

Qrow: Let's just get outta here.

-Outside-

Qrow attempted pushing the flatbed trailer towards bumblebee, he slipped and fell to the ground, angrily glaring at Maul.

Qrow: You could help, you know!

Maul chuckled and extended his hand, pushing the flatbed with the force with ease. Dusting the snow off it, Maul glanced over to Oscar, who was sitting on the porch next to Blake. He sighed out of tiredness and almost slipped on some ice, Qrow catching his arm in time.

Maul: Thank you...

Qrow: Don't what just happened wasn't the ice that caused it.

Maul exhaled sadly, feeling pity for Qrow about his semblance.

Ruby: You guys got the bike ready?

Yang simply responds with a murmur, motioning to the bike with her robotic arm.

Qrow: Well, not that's done lets -

Qrow placed a foot on the tire, it popped, he stared at it before clenching his fists and shouting in rage.

Maria: You people are just beacons of bad luck aren't you.

Maul: Apparently.

Qrow growls once again, walking away before plopping on the ground and taking out his flask again. Yang sighed and fell to the ground as well. Maul sighed before rubbing his forehead, he felt a migraine forming.

Maul: (What is this? I was feeling fine yesterday, I doubt it was me being reminded about my brother, that happened a long time ago.)

Yang: It feels like the universe is trying to stop us from getting to Atlas.

Ruby: It's just a tire, I'm sure there's a spare.

Yang: It's not just that... Its everything. Storms, crashes, monsters.

Yang pauses, looking up at Maul who looked away in shame.

Yang: Secrets...

Weiss: You know... I kept thinking, why are we even going to Atlas?

Ruby turns to look at her teammate in suprise.

Ruby: Weiss, we have to!

Yang: Why? Ozpin hid the relics behind giant doors under enormous schools. But, how long would it take Salem to find a lamp in the middle of nowhere?

Ruby: B-But the Grimm!

Yang: They'd find it eventually, sure, but bury it or just throw it down the well, it would take years. It might not even happen in our lifetime. But we could be done with it now.

Yang inches closer to her sister, Ruby takes a step back as she looks down at the lamp strapped to her waist.

Blake: W-What about the third god? If we bring the relic to him, do you think he would help us?

Yang: He was able to stay hidden from both Salem and Ozpin when they were together and continued hiding since then, he's probably not much of a fighter and even if we could find him, I would doubt he would help us. I just want this to be over.

Ruby began walking towards the well, every step she took aligning with her voice.

Ruby: I am... really... tired...

Ruby slowly stumbles as she reaches the well, she holds the relic over it as her hand slowly begins to tremble. Ruby had a tired look on her face as she exhaled, she looked down the well seeing two red eyes look back, she screamed out of fright and dropped the Lamp.

Ruby: No, no, no! I didn't mean to!

Maul and the others sigh as Ruby has a visible panicked expression.

Weiss: Well, it's over...

Blake: Finally...

Weiss: Now we pack it up and head ba-

Ruby: No! No, listen! There's something down there! I saw it! It was looking at me!

Ruby stares back down at the pitch-black hole, Maul walks over to her and looks down as well.

Maul: Are you sure you are feeling alright Ruby?

Yang: Ruby, it's okay. You just said you're tired. It probably was just your imagination. Now let's go.

Ruby: What's wrong with you?! We can't just leave! We have to go down there! We have to get the lamp back! Ah, what was I thinking?!

Qrow: All we have to do is fix this trailer. Hey farm boy, check the shed for a spare.

Ruby: I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT THE LAMP!

The red head's voice echoes throughout the area, Maul sighs as he rubs his eyes in annoyance.

Blake: (sighs) I'll go down with you.

Maul: I can sense the relic, I may be of use.

Weiss: We'll go down together...

Qrow: Fine. Get the stupid lamp. Oscar, fix the stupid tire,

Maria: Where are you going?

Qrow: Where do you think?

The drunken Huntsman says as he waved his flask in the air, entering back into the house.

Maria: (clicks tongue) Stupid...

Maria sits down on the porch opens up her book while Maul and the others all go their way to retrieve the lamp. Maul lands last, igniting one blade of his lightsaber as a light.

The light from the saber allows Ruby and the others to see clearly, with no luck however as the lamp is nowhere to be seen.

Yang: Maybe the current carried it away.

Maul and the others walk along the shallow water, letting out brief yawns as they waddle behind Ruby with their heads hung low, Maul beginning to have trouble moving his legs.

Ruby: Oh come on, where is it?

Blake: Maybe have Maul turn off his saber and look for the glow?

Maul complied, shutting off his lightsaber and reaching out with the force, looking for the relic.

Maul: I sense... it is close.

Blake: There.

Blake points forward weakly, seeing the faint glow of the lamp. Ruby looks back at her teammates, Maul still concentrated in the force-sensing a great disturbance nearby, he weakly tried to warn Ruby before she ran forward.

Maul: Ruby...wait...

Maul fell forward, he found he couldn't move his legs anymore, they felt incredibly heavy, but that was odd to him, due to the fact he had them for so long.

Maul heard a distant scream as Yang tried helping Maul up, they heard a scream making them bolt awake.

Yang: Ruby?!

The group wastes no time as they rush towards the source of the screaming, Ruby rushes forward crashing into them visibly afraid.

Yang: What is it?

Maul: ...We need to run.

Maul said, his eyes wide with terror as he pointed ahead of them, seeing shapes move in the darkness. The group froze with fear.

The monstrosities slowly revealed themselves as more crept around the corner Ruby had come from. Their long, grotesque bodies twitched as they made their way slowly closer. Ruby opened fire, but the Grimm dismissed it as nothing at all. The Grimm unleashed a scream, making everybody fall to their knees.

Maul: What... is this?

Blake: My weapon...feels heavy.

Maria: Come on!

The group turned to see Maria behind them, she motioned for them to follow, Maul tried but found he was still unable to move his legs, they were too heavy.

Quickly thinking, he detached his robotic legs as Yang pulled, making her pick him up.

Maria: Run, you fools!

They rounded a corner, running back to the well they saw the Grimm not far from them.

Ruby: Quickly! This way!

They continued to run down the tunnels, a legless Maul still being carried by Yang. They saw more Grimm emerge from other tunnels.

The group stopped, when they heard another scream making them grab their ears in pain as they stumbled forward, Yang almost dropping Maul.

Yang: God...damn it...!

Ruby leans against a wall as she informs everyone to head in another direction.

Ruby: This way!

As the group ran through the small, claustrophobic tunnels, they notice small cracks in the walls that more of the creatures began pouring out of, their hands attempting to sweep at their feet. They soon run into one of the large openings, Ruby stops and looks over in horror to see a large group of the Grimm waiting there for them, Ruby and the group quickly turn around only to fall to their knees as the high pitched noise ring in their ears once more, this one much louder and violent than the last. Maul dropped out of Yang's arms as she falls over onto the floor.

Yang: I can't...do this. I can't...

Maul: We... must keep... moving!

Maria weakly assists herself up with her cane as she hobbles over to a staircase, almost falling face-first onto it.

Maria: An exit! An exit!

Ruby looks up to see where the staircase led, she musters the strength to crawl over next to Weiss, attempting to help her get on her feet. Maul weekly pulls himself forward, only to hear Blake collapse to the floor behind him, he extends his hand to push them back with the force, barely fazing the Grimm at all.

Blake: This is fine...

Maul watches in horror, powerless as a Grimm nears the vulnerable Faunus, the Grimm extends a hand, its fingers almost coming in contact with her face.

Ruby: BLAAAKE!

Suddenly, a bright light flashes across the entire area. The monsters screech in horror as the light forces them back, as they are pushed back Blake gasps for air as she feels her energy come back to her. Ruby ran forward helping Blake to her feet, as they ran past Ruby grabbed Maul's hand dragging him along.

Maria: What just happened?

Weiss pushes past everyone as she rushes up the stairs and pushes against the cellar doors only to find out that they were locked from the other end.

Weiss: They're locked!

Yang: Outta my way!

Yang follows up the stairs only for the creatures to regain composure, making them scream once more, making the group fall over again, Ruby releasing Maul from her grasp. Maul tries crawling forward but found it impossible.

Yang: No! No...!

Yang weakly holds her hand out at the cellar doors, her vision becoming blurry. Maul slowly turns his head around to see the Grimm rapidly approaching him, extending a hand as his breathing slowed. Maria making her way over to a weakened Ruby.

Maria: Ruby... what color are your eyes?

Ruby: They're...silver.

Maria gasps as she places her hands on Ruby's head.

Maria: You have a family? Friends?

Ruby: What...?

Maul looks in horror as the Grimm in front of him opens its mouth wide, MAul stares into the mouth only to see bright lights staring back at him. Maul's body becomes entirely stiff as he begins to have whatever will is left in him be completely consumed. Maria gasps again as she notices this before looking back down at the redhead.

Maria: Don't think about them. Think about the people who love you. Focus on the thought of them, the way they make you feel. Focus.

Ruby slowly closes her eyes as the others struggle to break free from the prison the Grimm had made for them.

Maria: Life is beutifal.

Weiss: Continues to weakly shake the cellar doos as Yang's arm slowly goes limp, her lilac eyes going almost completely dim as she weakens.

Maria: Life is precious.

Blake stares in horror as the Grimm slowly approached. Maul extends his arm weakly before it collapsing to the ground, his eyes becoming grey - indicating that he was near his end.

Maria: And it must. Be. Protected.

Maria's words echo through Ruby's head, her eyes suddenly burst open as she gasps, an angry expression visible on her face as she sits up, her eyes glow a bright light that flashes through the area again, pushing the monsters back. They scream in pain once more as the light travels through their bodies, turning them to ash.

Yang wastes no time, rushing forward she punches the door open, looking back she sees more Grimm approaching. The group tries escaping but collapses again as they scream.

???: Go. I will deal with them.

They all blink, The Being appearing before them with his hand extended, Blake grabs Maul's hand dragging him up the stairs behind her.

Maul: Ow, ow, ow.

Blake: We're back in the house?

The group sees Qrow seated on a stool, his head resting on the bar. Ruby quickly wakes him, to which he seems angry.

Ruby: Uncle Qrow, get up!

Qrow: Hey, get off me! What are you doing here...?

Maria: We're leaving you, idiot!

Ruby and Weiss grab Qrow dragging him backward, he looks in the cellar and see's The Being slowly backing out of the cellar, beams of fire launching from his hand, incinerating the Grimm before him.

The group rushes out the door, Oscar turning in surprise as he closed the tire.

Yang: Go! Go! Go!

Yang hops on the bike, Maul is tossed onto the trailer as everybody else hops on, Yang reves her motorcycle before driving away quickly. The group breathing a sigh of relief.

Oscar: M-Maul... What happened to your legs?

Maul: I had to leave them behind...

Maria: The Apathy. They aren't strong or ferocious, they drain your will to go on. Bartelby's estate was hemorrhaging money towards the end. He wanted to cut costs on Huntsman protection. But, in order to do that, he needed everyone calm. Always.

Oscar looked down at the book in his hands, reading a passage from it.

Oscar: "Managed to get two away from their pack, hike back was miserable, but got the bastards in the cellar. Wife thinks I was out sealing the waterway entrance. I'll do it tomorrow, and tell her the truth once these things take the edge off of everyone. I'm tired.

Maria: The next page proves he did, but not before the rest of the pack followed their missing pair all the way home. My guess is through the water tunnels that Bartelby sealed up the next morning. Bartelby's plan worked.

Maul: That explains the corpses that we found, their life-force was sucked out of them... I did not know Grimm could do that.

Maria took the book out of Oscar's hands.

Maria: No one was angry, or sad, or scarred. No one was anything. And then, no one was left.

Maria finishes by closing the book and tossing it into the snow, Maul shuddred at the though of turning into one of those corpses.