Sunset sighed as the elevator arrived at Ozpin's office. Last night had gone surprisingly well and Sonata had quickly rooted out the virus. It was designed so that someone, with the press of a button, could take full control of all Atlas Military devices in Vale. "Miss Shimmer?" Right now what worried her was the fact that someone, the person who had broken into the CCT, could have caused a massacre with the push of a button had Sonata not rooted out the virus. And why had Ironwood ignored her when she asked about the Black Queen? "Miss Shimmer, are you alright?"

"Hmm?" Sunset snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Ozpin's voice. "Yeah?"

"I asked if you were alright." Sunset nodded.

"I'd feel better if I had listened to my gut and hadn't let the General's arrival distract me and Ruby. If I hadn't allowed my curiosity to get the better of me the criminal wouldn't have gotten the chance to get away." Sunset looked at the ground. "I screwed up..."

Ironwood took a step towards them. "Ruby, Sunset, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what the two of you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat, you took action, and you did the very best you could."

"Thank you sir."

"Yeah..."

"Now, the General here has already informed us of the events that, transpired last night. But now that you've rested we were wondering if you had anything to add." Glynda took a step forward, lowering her crop as she did so.

"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" Sunset looked back at her and the Sirens' time on the road. "What about you Miss Shimmer?" Sunset opened her jacket and pulled out a piece of paper before handing it to Glynda. "What's this?"

"She had a tattoo on her upper back. She also said something about two operations in the north and the southeast. Just outside the kingdom. My team and I were thinking about heading to the north and shadowing a Huntsman or Huntress out there, see if we could maybe take it down, ya know?"

Ozpin stood up. "Interesting. Thank you for your cooperation. Go and spend some time with your teams. You have a big day ahead of you."

"Anytime." Sunset just nodded in response before turning around and walking toward the elevator.

"And please, do try to be discreet about this matter." Sunset stopped and turned around, looking at the three adults. "Is there something wrong Miss Shimmer?"

"General Ironwood never answered my question last night. So could you?"

"I can try."

"When I checked the receptionist's desk at the CCT, there was a chess piece on the screen. The Black Queen. That mean anything to any of you?"

"I'm afraid not Miss Shimmer." Sunset looked at Beacon's headmaster for a second before nodding.

"Right, well, I'll keep this quiet unless you say not too. Ciao!" Sunset walked into the elevator and as the door closed, let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in.

The auditorium.

"Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin."

Ozpin walked up to the microphone and Sunset looked at Aria, who looked like she was already mad for some reason. Sunset smirked and looked at the stage. "Give him a chance Aria. It won't be as bad as the first one."

Ozpin remained silent for a moment. "Today we stand together, united. Mistral, Atlas, Vacuo, Vale. The four kingdoms of Remnant. On this day nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom. But about the very idea of individualism itself."

"We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self expression. And as you are aware that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself. Color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither would the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day."

"We encourage individuality, expressionism and unity. Through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond can not exist without effort. Which is why today while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it." Holographic screens began to appear around the room. "As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress, on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best."

Sunset and the Sirens, including Aria, burst into applause with the rest of the first years. After a minute they calmed down and headed towards a screen of Search and Destroy missions, and ended up choosing one that required them to head out to the north. A small town called Elm had seen a major influx of Grimm and desperately needed help. The only problem was that it was already taken. "Damn it... Anyone else see a mission in that area?"

"That won't be necessary Miss Shimmer." The girl glanced over her shoulder. Standing there was none other than Glynda Goodwitch. "The Headmaster asked me to inform you that your mission has already been decided."

"Wait what?! But we-"

"Were going north to eradicate a sudden influx of Grimm in a town you once performed in? I know. You'll be shadowing me. Come along." Before anyone could say anything else, the woman walked away.

The girls stood there for a second. "Hey, at least it's not Port or Oobleck..." Aria took off after the Witch of Beacon, quickly followed by the others.

What the students and teacher didn't know, was that the sudden influx of Grimm around Elm had been caused by something specific.

Or rather someone specific.

On the outskirts of Elm.

April didn't know why she had to suffer, she was a good person! What did she do to make the town hate her? All she did was help the plants grow, so why did they hate her so much? "I never hurt them..." The girl walked over to the little garden she had made outside of the farmhouse she had made her home. She got on her knees and began to focus on her plants, smiling as they began to grow.

"That is a very useful talent you have there child." The girl turned around and stared at the black clad woman who had seemingly just came out of thin air. "You look like you haven't eaten in days... Here follow me, I have some food back at my camp." The woman held out a hand to the girl, who shied away, a look of panic on her face. "I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. What's your name sweetie?"

"April...."

"April is it? That's a nice name... My name is Nightmare, but if that's too scary you can call me Night if you want. What's a little girl like you doing out here, all by yourself?"

The girl looked away, back at her garden. "I live here. The people in town don't like me... They say I'm not normal..."

"I would think not. What I saw you do just now isn't normal." The girl glared at the woman. "What you did isn't normal April, it's extraordinary."

"Umm....."

"I mean to say it is impressive." The girl's blank stare made the woman chuckle. "It means good April..."

"Oh...." The woman held out her hand again and April looked at it with weary eyes. "You really have food?" The woman nodded. "And you won't hurt me?"

"You have my word." Nightmare braced herself and held back a hiss at the burning sensation that flared throughout her body when the child took her hand. 'I knew it.' Nightmare looked down at the girl and gave a sincere smile. "See, that wasn't too hard, now was it?" The child shook her head. "Come along April, let's get you something to eat."

"Ok Miss Nightmare..." Nightmare led the girl into the forest, laughing to herself all the way to the camp she had made.

At the same moment in time, a certain young woman in the city of Vale felt a shiver go down her spine.*

Author's Note

*
When a cold wind blows it chills you, chills you to the bone.

Yes, Team SASA is going on this mission so that they can encounter Nightmare, not that anyone knows it...