Nightmare sat lounging on the captains seat of the atlas ship he and his crew had just commandeered. To the left and right of him were 2 other atlas ships, both completely oblivious to the man piloting the ship next to them. A red light began to beep, signifying an incoming transmission. Neo jumped over to answer it, a recorder in her hand. She clicks e answer button and waits for the person on the other side to speak

Atlas captain: Hello, Aurora  please come in, this is the sunbeam  captain speaking.

Neo played one of the pre-recorded messages from the recorder

'Captain': Hello, this is the captain of the Aurora speaking, how can I be of assistance?

The captain on the other side of the com cleared his throat before continuing to speak

Sunbeam captain: I just noticed you were straying a bit off course, wanted to make sure you were good. General ironwood wants us in perfect formation for his speech at the beginning of the tournament.

Nightmare from his seat, smiled, and neo played the next message

'Captain': well all is fine here, thanks for checking in. Aurora out

Neo disconnected the channel and silently chuckled to herself. Horror looked out the window at the other ships flying by them

Horror: So many powerful people in one place, the leaders of each kingdom, and we were able to get in this easily. Isn't it a bit too easy?

Nightmare stood from his chair and moved to stand next to and look out the window

Nightmare: Ozpin and his allies have been triffled by tradition. They have been blinded by past victory's and their own strength, they can't even fathom the thought that someone would attempt a direct attack on them.

Nightmare turned to face Horror

Nightmare: Let's just say, the kingdoms fell long before we came around.

———————————-

General ironwood of the Kingdom of atlas, sat in his captains chair overlooking his fleet of warheads that were headed towards beacon for the tournament. Some may say it was overkill, but ironwood called it a show of force. A light appeared in ironwoods table and a Voice spoke from it

S-1: Si-I-I-I-Ir, should I ready the troops? We are approaching beacon within the hour

Ironwood shook his head

Ironwood: No need S-1, who would be insane enough to attack us?

Ironwood slouched in his chair and chuckled, no one would be crazy enough to attack them. They were the greatest military force in all the kingdoms!

———————

The ships all came to a stop above the city of vale, as nightmare handed Horror and Neo each an ear piece

Nightmare: this is how we will stay in contact with another, just in case things go south. We will wait for ironwoods speech to strike, which will occur after the stadium fills, make sure you are near the front and are not spotted. Am I clear?

Both neo and horror nodded

Nightmare: Good, now make your way to the stands and wait for my signal, I have some thing to finish up here.

The duo left the ship, leaving nightmare alone to do his plans. He made his way to the reactor, enter ring he went to interact with one of the panels, only for a voice to call out to him.

???: this isn't right.

Nightmare looks over to see his host, Jaune, standing there

Nightmare: I am not afraid of your illusions Arc.

Jaune leaned against the wall closest to nightmare, who was attempting to make the reactor overheat using the panel.

Jaune: I am not here to threaten you, I am here to attempt to convince you.

Nightmare raised an eyebrow

Nightmare: I thought you weren't going to, 'fight a pointless battle'

Jaune: My eyes have opened once again to what will really happen today, nightmare this isn't right. You don't actually want any of this, and I know that. All you want is the slight chance at revenge against Dream, and his champion Ozpin.

Nightmare scoffed

Nightmare: and how would you know that?

Jaune: I know you! I've been in your head, I've seen your thoughts! Ironwood, the kingdoms, none of it matters to you and I know that!

Nightmare gave up on the terminal, and slashed it with his tentacle, causing the desired effect.

Nightmare: I want this, and you cannot convince me otherwise. Beacon will fall, Ozpin will die. And dreams legacy along with him.

Nightmare made his way to exit the ship, as the reactor began to overheat

Jaune: you'll never make it out of the blast zone.

Nightmare chuckled

Nightmare: it won't overheat for some time, I have plenty of time to escape the blast zone and make it to beacon.

Nightmare walked into the shadows, disappearing off the ship and into the city below.

—————————

Opzin, Qrow, and goodwitch all sat in their booth overlooking the stands and main battle arena. The stands were filled, with people standing and sitting shoulder to shoulder. Ozpin gazed up at all of ironwoods ships, orbiting the city of vale, and the outskirts of the tournaments grounds. The man himself walked up the stairs to greet Opzin and company

Ironwood: Opzin! How are you doing?

Ironwood and Opzin both shook hands, and Ozpin offered ironwood a seat, who happily took it.

Ozpin: I am fine James, how about you?

Ironwood smiled

Ironwood: I am doing alright. How is the festival going so far?

Ozpin: well, as you've seen, it's been going rather well. But I do feel as if I should address the elephant in the room, that being your fleet stationed above vale.

Ironwood nodded

Ironwood; Yes, what about it?

Ozpin: well, it's, how do I say this.....

Qrow interrupted Ozpin

Qrow: it's a bit much, don't ya think? I mean, overcompensating for something general?

A scoff is heard from the entrance to the booth, where winter is stationed. Qrow smiled and stuck his toung at winter, who rolled her eyes.

Ironwood: Nonsense Brawen, it's simply a show of force. Now I must go, my speech isn't going to give itself.

Opzin frowned as ironwood left the booth, goodwitch noticed this and questioned it

Goodwitch: Is there something wrong Ozpin?

Ozpin shook his head

Ozpin: no, but I've got a feeling, an awful one. Something is going to happen as the festival

Goodwitch chuckled

Goodwitch: Ozpin, your just being paranoid. We've got huntsman teams at every entrance to the festival, there is no possible way for someone to get in if we didn't want them in.

Ozpin smiled

Ozpin: I guess your right

————————————

Horror made his way through the crowd, careful to keep his hood up so no one could recognize him. He sat in on of the front row seats, waiting for the crowds attention to divert to Ironwood making his way to the arena. As the crowd all looked and cheered towards ironwood, horror slipped over the banaster and right next to the shield keeping people out of the arena. He looked over to the other side of the shield to see neo, in the same position as him. As ironwood prepared to enter the arena, the shield went down, and Horror and Neo slipped in undetected. The crowd and guards were too focused on ironwood to notice the two of them hiding in the bushes of the arena. Horror smiled at Neo

Horror: all too easy.

————————-

Ironwood tapped on the mic sitting infront of him, gathering everyone's attention.

Ironwood: Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Vytal festival tournament! The festival has for generations stood for, peace, and prosperity for the four kingdoms, and today is no different. To-

Ironwood is cut off by a black substance materializing infront of him. The substance slept formed a person, more accurately, it formed Nightmare. His smile wide and his eye glowing a harsh blue. Ironwoods eyes widened in fear

Ironwood: what? Who are you!?

Nightmare smiled and slowly approached ironwood, who attempted to punch nightmare, only for another arm to catch his punch. Horror was seen standing behind nightmare, his large head wound and red eyes on full display. Neo soon appeared next to nightmare, her hate filled eyes narrowing on ironwood.

Opzin from the sidelines stood up from his booth and ran down to the arena shield, banging his hands on it. Most of the guards attempted to enter, only to find the shield stood strong.

Nightmare shoved ironwood aside, who attempted to get back up, only to find an axe by his neck Courtesy of horror. Nightmare tapped the mic a few times, then smiling cruelly

Nightmare: Hello people of remnant, wether your watching from home or here with us tonight. I would like to welcome you to the Vytal festival! The Vytal festival has stood as a symbol of peace and prosperity for generations.

Nightmare read his speech, clearly mocking ironwoods

Nightmare: But today we interrupt your scheduled program to bring you something a little more fun, shall we begin?

Nightmare brought his hands up

Nightmare: As I speak, the largest army of Grimm ever emmased in the history of remnant, is approaching the walls now. Soon, the walls will crumble and the Grimm will pour into the city. I wonder how many people they will kill before they're stopped by the huntsman? 100? 1000? 10,000? But that's besides the point

Nightmare pointed behind him as the atlas ship they were previously on exploded from the inside, it's debris falling down and onto the wall separating vale from the Grimm wasteland

Nightmare: let the invasion begin!