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“Watch out you dolt!” Weiss Schnee shrieks as a girl in a red cloak runs into her luggage, scattering it about. But she is most concerned about the briefcase full of the dust she needs for her rapier. It had taken weeks of begging her father to even be able to bring enough to fill the chambers of her beloved Myrtenaster. And if it hadn’t been for Klein sneaking the briefcase in with her personal effects, she wouldn’t even had that much.Her father enjoys watching her beg for everything. His widely known hatred of the faunus extending even to his own wolf faunus daughters.This isn’t the time! She needs to retrieve the precious dust containers before they break or get lost. There is no telling when she’ll be able to get more. She knows she can call Klein or Whitley, and they will send her Lien or more dust as quickly as they can. But it takes them time. And she doesn’t have that luxury. Retrieving the last vial full of volatile red dust, she spins around and glares at the….the….the…..Dust, but she looks like the most adorable puppy in history right now, what with her midnight black and fire red tinted tail that is currently tucked between her legs, while her same colored wolf’s ears lay flat on her head while she pokes her forefingers together in the most adorable way. But her eyes, dust it’s like looking into twin pools of the purest silver. Eyes that she can’t help but get lost in. She is so intent on those two perfect orbs that she doesn’t realize that the red dust vile’s stopper has come loose, leaking it’s contents into the slight breeze. Not until….“Ahh ahhh ahhhh.” The silver eyed girl begins first, but Weiss’s own sensitive nose quickly catches up as well.“ACHOO!” Both young faunus women sneeze at once, the fireball that rises from it clearly visible from the other side of Beacon’s campus.Laying on the ground stunned, Weiss yelps in surprise as the red cloaked faunus girl flops down next to her with a giggle. “That was actually pretty awesome!”“That was all the red dust I had left! What am I supposed to do now?!” Weiss begins to panic until she sees a brand new vial suddenly being waved in her face.“Relax Snowflake, I gotcha. Sorry about that by the way.”“It’s alright. My sister, brother and butler just wanted to make sure I would have everything I would need.”The red cloaked girl giggles as they lock eyes together again. “My name’s Ruby, Ruby Rose!”“Weiss. Do you know you smell like strawberries and cookies?”Ruby just giggles as she moves closer to the suddenly blushing heiress. “And you smell like blueberries and coffee.”Weiss can’t help but feel like her life has suddenly changed for the better.

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Ruby sighs as Yang keeps going on and on and on about this person or that person or how she’ll make friends and how she needs to put herself out there. All she can think of is Weiss. How beautiful her eyes are, how perfectly her wolf ears are shaped, how perfect the girl is. She even has the most adorable sneeze she has ever heard! Ruby was even distracted when Yang dragged her over to introduce her to the cat faunus who is doing a pretty good job of hiding her feline nature. But when they had devolved into one of their usual fistfights, she catches a whiff of blueberries and coffee.“Some people are trying to sleep around here!”Yang suddenly screams out. “Not you again!”Ruby just grins as her tail wags. “Hello again!”Weiss tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks at Ruby with a blush. “Hi. Sorry for yelling, just this brute is noisy and she was hurting my ears.”Ruby's grin gets wider as she points her thumb at Yang, who is glaring at them both. “Yeah, my sister can be a loudmouth sometimes. Weird though, aren't you used to filtering out noises?”Weiss’s blush deepens as she looks down at the ground. “I’ve mostly been indoors my whole life. My father has always treated me as an embarrassment.”“Well then, come on and I’ll show you how my mom taught me to do it.” Ruby holds a hand out to the beautiful wolf girl, who takes it shyly. Maybe starting at Beacon two years early won't be such a bad thing after all.

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Neither girl say a word as they lock eyes with each other. They are both well aware of what Ozpin said. Weiss smiles shyly as her tail begins to wag gently, as Ruby grins happily. Neither of them could explain why they had this instant attraction to the other from the moment they met, but neither of them were about to argue. Weiss holds a hand out, which Ruby takes firmly with her grin still in place. In unison, the Red Reaper and the White Princess set out together, both young women now believing firmly that no matter what life throws at them they will be facing it together.Including a giant Nevermore and a giant Deathstalker.Weiss saved Ruby from the Deathstalker, earning one of those brilliant grins she is coming to adore and cherish. For her it is like basking in a light so pure it has no equal.

Ruby saved them all from the Nevermore, especially the white haired wolf faunus who’s sky blue eyes remind her of the skies she dreams of being able to touch one day.Ruby was pleasantly surprised when Weiss was the first to reach her, laughing happily as she launches herself into her new partner’s waiting embrace. Both of them noting to themselves that the hug simply felt right, as if they belonged in each other’s arms. Sky blue meets Quicksilver as they share a smile.Somehow, they both feel as if they have come home at last.

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Ruby wants to jump up and down in joy as Headmaster Ozpin announces that she is the leader of the newly formed team RWBY. But her joy is short lived as she looks over and sees Weiss looking downward at the floor, tears in her eyes. Scooting over to her partner, she nudges her gently. “Are you ok, Weiss?”“No, no I am not Ruby.” She can see her hesitate, as if she can't come to a decision.“Want to go and talk about it?” Ruby is surprised when she feels Weiss’s hand slip into hers, as the white wolf faunus simply nods. The two of them slip off once Ozpin is done with the last of his speeches, and simply walk for a bit, stopping in front of the fountain. Before Ruby can say a word, Weiss simply starts to talk, her words a jumble.“I am frightened Ruby. My father will be extremely angry with me because I was not made the leader of our team.”“You were still amazing out there today Weiss! I mean, I was about to get skewered and then you were all like woosh! Weiss to the rescue!” Ruby raves with a wide smile on her face.Weiss finally giggles as she looks at the Reaper. “Thank you Ruby. I needed a good laugh.”“What are partners for Snowflake?” Ruby's smile gets wider as the other girl blushes. But all the good humor in the air vanishes quickly as the white haired faunus girl's scroll begins to ring.Ruby begins to growl in rage as the tears begin to flow down her partner’s face as she continues her litany of 'Yes Fathers’ 'No Fathers’ and the one that angers her the most is the 'I’m sorry Father, please forgive me’. That one pisses her off royally. But before she can snatch the phone away, Weiss finally hangs up just before bursting into tears. Ruby doesn't hesitate for a moment, but pulls the crying young woman into her arms and comforts her as she sobs into her chest.Ruby doesn't know why, but she wants to protect her partner from the pain she is obviously in.

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Weiss pants as her gaze flickers between the Boarbatusk and Myrtenaster. She had allowed her father’s words from the night before to influence her far more than she thought they would, and now she finds herself staring at the business end of a furious Grimm.“Weiss! Aim for the stomach! The stomach!” She suddenly hears Ruby cry out. But how can she? She is disarmed, the damned pig was between her and her weapon, and…She’s scared. She is so scared she can feel feel tail tucked between her legs even as she struggles to at least keep her ears up. To pretend she isn’t as terrified as she feels right now. She almost screams in terror as the Boarbatusk charges her once more, and throws herself to the side. Hearing the Grimm smash into the wall, she darts forward and grabs the hilt of her weapon, spinning around just in time for the damned thing to free itself from the wall.“You can do it Weiss! I believe in you!” Ruby calls out. She smiles a bit as she hears those words, and she can feel her tail finally start rising up once more. She can do this! She won’t let her partner down! She won’t be a burden to her!Spinning her dust chamber to black, she forms a gravity glyph on the floor just as the beast roars and charges again. But this time she is ready. She can hear Ruby still cheering her on as she leaps back and smiles as the Grimm gets launched into the air. Forming another gravity glyph under her feet, she launches herself at the unarmored belly of the beast and almost howls in triumph as she connects solidly with Myrtenaster, defeating the Boarbatusk. Landing lightly on her feet, she gives a bit of a flourish to her curtsy as she turns to face the crowd, only then realizing the uproar in the classroom. That is when she heard it clearly.“Hey! I just said not bad for a beast! What’s so wrong about that?” She knows the voice, everyone has already learned the voice of that pompous ass Cardin Winchester. But to her it sounded just like her Father’s voice after she defeated his Armored Giant and earned her freedom. It is too much! She escaped to Beacon to get away from people like him! Not to still be tormented by them too!Spinning on her heels, she runs out of the classroom crying, ignoring Ruby’s cries asking her to stop. She just wants to get away from there. She wants to be anywhere but near that same voice that has tormented and tortured her for the past ten years. Ever since her mother died a Huntress’s death….

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Ruby growls in rage as Yang, Nora and Yatsuhashi all struggle to hold the younger girl back, while Pyrrha uses her semblance to remove Crescent Rose and all of her ammunition from her back and various pouches. “Let me go! I’ll show him with a beast can do!”“No way sis! Calm down!” Yang answers as calmly as possible as she keeps struggling with the enraged wolf faunus. “Miss Rose, that is enough! Mr. Winchester, you shall see me after class!” Professor Port bellows out, instantly calming down the assembled students. Ruby settles back into her seat with a grumble, even as all the faunus students including her continue to glare at the prick. The rest of the class passes fairly uneventfully until the very end, when Professor Ozpin himself enters.“Miss Rose, a word?” He asks as he beckons back into the hall. With a sigh, she stands up and walks to the headmaster of Beacon, her tail tucked firmly between her legs as her ears flop down on her head. She growls a bit when she hears the guffaw coming from Cardin, but quickly calms herself before Professor Ozpin himself says anything to her. Suddenly, her blood runs cold as she imagines being sent back to Signal. No! She wouldn’t be Weiss’s partner anymore! Weiss needs her! She begins to whimper as she looks around the hallways, trying to catch Weiss’s scent. But all she can smell is Ozpin’s coffee. Before she can escape, she feels his hand on her shoulder, and looks up to his smiling face.“Relax Miss Rose. I am not here to chastise you for wishing harm upon Mr. Winchester. I am curious as to what happened, and I wish to hear it in your own words since it was your partner that ran off.”Ruby takes a breath and begins to explain everything that happened, from Weiss accepting Port’s challenge, to Cardin making the comment of not bad for a beast. Taking another deep breath, she looks up at the Professor. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a leader.”“Miss Rose, I beg to differ. You have proven time and again already your dedication to your team, as well as to your partner. Both qualities that make a good leader. I plan on enjoying watching you grow and mature into a role that your mother also excelled in once.” Ozpin replies as he sips at his mug.“Then why did I let Weiss run off while I was ready to rip Cardin to shreds?” Ruby protests as she looks at him. “Why didn’t I follow her instead?”Ozpin looks at her and smiles. “For the same reason you consoled your partner the other night after I announced the teams. You sought to protect her from a threat, as is your nature. Just give her some time to herself to sort out her feelings, Ruby. She needs to discover for herself the strength that once made her mother one of the greatest huntresses on Remnant, just as the daughter of Summer Rose needs to as well.”Ruby can’t help but stare as Ozpin walks off. Hardly anyone will speak to her about her mother, and to find out that Weiss’s mother is held in just as high regard is a surprise to her. Perhaps it’s time to learn more about the petite heiress that is beginning to occupy more and more of her thoughts.

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Weiss sighs as she watches the sunset. She can’t believe that here at Beacon of all the Huntsmen schools, there would be people like her father. Just like she cannot believe that she had been so terrified of that Boarbatusk. What would her mother had done? Before she can think of it any further, a voice suddenly breaks the silence.“Ah, such a lovely sunset indeed! Why, it reminds me of a story from my youth!” Professor Port declares as he comes to stand next to the bench where she is sitting. Weiss groans as she looks up the professor, who is looking down at her kindly. “I’ve had a bit of a hard day Professor.”“I can understand that Miss Schnee. Your mother also had a rough first day when she came to Beacon as well.” This gets her attention. Her mother rarely spoke of her days training to be a huntress, normally only stating that it was four of the best years of her life.Curious, Weiss takes the bait. “Go on Professor, I’m listening.”To her surprise, the Professor looks to the horizon thoughtfully. “I remember when she arrived here, almost thirty years ago now. I had been an active huntsman for several years by then, when I was asked to fill in for old Professor Magenta, who had fallen ill. Just a little slip of a thing, like you.”This gives Weiss a bit of pause. “Father told me mama attended Atlas Academy, not Beacon.”Port roars with laughter as he looks at Weiss. “Your mother proudly studied here for four years, and made many friends. Most especially with Summer Rose and Raven Branwen. The three of them were as thick as thieves for years.” Port smiles as he looks back at the darkening sky. “Especially Summer and Adaliz. They were quite close.”Weiss looks into the darkening sky as well, amazed at this new revelation. But one thing was bothering her. “Then why say she went to Atlas?”Port sighs as he looks back down at her. “That is something I honestly do not know Weiss. What I do know is when I look at you, I see your mother staring back at me. And that is a wonderful thing. But a word of advice: Do not get lost in her shadow as you seek to cast one of your own.” With a pat on the shoulder, the older professor walks off, leaving Weiss to her own thoughts.Weiss sighs as she leans her head back and looks up at the stars. Why would her father lie to her? And why does everyone hold her mother on the same level as Summer Rose? These are questions she needs to figure out. But for now, she needs to go check on Ruby. Standing up, she walks towards the door, all other thoughts gone from her mind save those of her adorable partner.

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Weiss smiles as she looks at the sleeping figure of her reddish black wolf faunus partner as she drools on a blank piece of paper, her various books opened around her. Although if the brute and her partner wake up, she will never hear the end of it, since she is having to use a glyph to stand on in order to check on Ruby.“Ruby…” She whispers lightly as she reaches over and shakes her gently. “Ruby, wake up.”“Huh? I’m not asleep! I swear the cookies are mine!” Ruby cries out, causing a giggle to escape her lips. Pressing a finger gently to her lips, she smiles shyly as she feels her tail wagging happily.“Calm down, Ruby. I just wanted to bring you some coffee and see if you needed any help. How do you take your coffee?”Ruby's grin has the normal effect of making her weak in the knees as, to her shock, the younger girl kisses the tip of her finger before moving it away. “A cream and five sugars Snowflake, and I could use the help. I don't understand half of this!”“Then move down to my bed, and we shall work on it together Ruby.” Weiss’s tail wags even faster as she hops down from her glyph and moves to the door. Stopping once more, she watches as Ruby gathers her things together and starts to moving them to the side of her bed.Weiss can't help but feel happy that someone in her life actually needs her for something other than ridicule or as a verbal punching bag. Just like she can't help but just feel happy around Ruby. Like her life is complete.

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Everyone is talking excitedly about the upcoming Vytal Festival of course. Everyone except Weiss and Ruby. They were huddled together with their notebooks and their textbook open for Professor Peach and taking copious amounts of notes. Weiss is the more focused of the two, as Peach’s class was her worse subject, being basic field survival tactics, while Ruby is already at the top of the class.

But they both look up at the squeal of pain, and growl in unison as they see Cardin Winchester holding a rabbit faunus named Velvet Scarlatina by one of her ears.

“Last chance Winchester! Let go of my ear!” The smaller faunus girl growls out, causing a loud guffaw from the taller boy.

“Or what? You’re gonna nuzzle me to death?”

Her scream of rage is barely drowned out by the sound of her full lunch tray connecting solidly with his face. Ruby and Weiss look on in shock and growing admiration as Velvet demolishes team CDNL in short order, and to their delight, has the bully held by his own ears and is slamming his face into a table with them when Professors Goodwitch and Oobleck suddenly show up and break them apart.

Ruby and Weiss both join the scattered cheers as Velvet is escorted out of the cafeteria via Professor Goodwitch's semblance as their tails wag in delight. They both agree later on that Velvet Scarlatina is their new hero.

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Ruby sighs as she gets up in the early predawn hours. Today is her first leadership class with Professor Scarlatina-Garibaldi, and even though the senior Huntress was gone on a high priority hunt with her aura mates, she still has to attend. Shivering a bit at how cold the dorm room is, she dresses quickly as she spares more than a few glances at her sleeping partner.

The normal lines of worry and strain are gone from her face, and she actually looks a bit like a black and white burrito as she sleeps on while wrapped tightly in the surprisingly thick blanket.

“You like her don’t you?” She hears the mumbled question from Yang. She smiles as she turns to look at the taller woman and reaches up to squeeze her hand. She can hear the soft chuckle coming from the blonde even as she growls softly.

“Don't get ill with me Rubes. You’ve been treating her way different than how you treated that one girl back in Signal.” Yang points out. She's right of course, her last girlfriend had developed a pretty big problem with her after her last big heat. It hadn't been exactly what she had been expecting, and their breakup had been rather public, loud, and beyond embarrassing. Nothing she ever wanted to repeat ever again. But her train of thought is interrupted by the older girl once more. “She's damaged goods, Rubes. Even Goodwitch’s noticed.”

Ruby smiles up at Yang. “So was I when Uncle Tai and Auntie Raven took me in. And look how I turned out in the end.” She whispers softly as she looks at Weiss again. “Besides, there's something about her that I can't help but….” Her voice trails off.

Yang chuckles again as she squeezes Ruby's hand. “Hey, far be it for me to judge. And if you think she's worth it, then you know I’m going to support you all the way.”

The Reaper can't help but squeeze her sister's hand. More than once, she has always been grateful that she and her younger siblings had been taken in by their wonderful and caring family. Raven Branwen-Xiao Long never hesitated when she arrived in Mistral to take custody of six year old Ruby, and the three year old twins Jay and Robin. She quickly bullied the social worker into handing over all the legal documents needed as Taiyang and eight year old Yang had gone to the Branwen-Rose household to pack it up to ship back to Patch. Even now, they treat the three of them as their own children, with Yang being their obnoxious older sister.

But just as she will never give up Weiss as her partner, she will never give up the Rose last name. She is proud of her parent's legacy and sacrifice….

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Weiss smiles as she flips her omelette expertly in the pan she is cooking it in. Her entire team would no doubt be shocked at the fact that she can cook for herself, but whatever. Another side effect of being the daughter of Jacques Schnee. She learned at an early age to fend for herself with a lot of things, cooking being one of them.

“Something smells good in here!” She hears the voice of the obnoxious brute and sighs. She forgot that the blonde doesn’t have any classes this morning either, as the forging teacher and his aura mates were still out on a high level emergency hunt. Deciding that it isn’t worth answering her, she simply turns the music up on her scroll and starts singing along with Seether’s Careless Whisper.

“Hey! I love this song!” Yang declares as she begins to sing along in a surprisingly pleasant contralto. Weiss’s ears flicker in surprise, even as she starts cooking up a few pieces of bacon she had managed to scrape together from the tray in the fridge. She really needs to put a grocery list together soon, and bug her team and JNPR to pitch in.

“My sister really likes you, you know.” There is no way in hell that Yang didn’t hear the trainwreck that just happened in her head. And it was a big one too, the kind that would be on the news in all four kingdoms for sure. “Like really likes you.” She adds.

Weiss waits long enough to fish her bacon out of the pan before turning slowly towards the brutish blonde. “I’m not anyone to like, Yang. I come with too much baggage. Too many technicalities.” Being named Heiress was nothing more than a ploy for her father. A way to keep the faunus calmed enough to hopefully keep the White Fang from their continued attacks. His real heir was already chosen, the ink on the contracts still so fresh that they could smear.

Yang shrugs as steals a piece of the bacon and munches on it. “So? Doesn’t matter to my hard headed cookie snarfing sister. Rubes is about to be sixteen, she’s old enough for her heart to guide her now.” Wow. That is so odd to hear from the brute who’s already chased several boys and even a few girls away from the petite scythe wielder. Weiss has been seriously debating asking her to deal with Jaune for her, as the blockhead won’t take the hint that she just wants to be left alone.

“I’m not worthy of being loved.” She mutters as she grabs her plate and her cup of coffee before moving to the counter to sit down. Which is true. Especially if people knew all the truths of her life as a Schnee. Even her Uncle and Aunt are still in the dark, and her Uncle would would rip Jacques apart limb by limb if he knew what really happens behind closed doors. Even Winter, who is far braver and stronger than her is terrified of Jacques Schnee, and she would never breathe a word to anyone.

None of the remaining Schnee siblings wanted to end up like their mother Adaliz or even worse, Willow.

“Bah, everyone deserves to be loved Weissy. Even an Ice Queen like you.” Yang chuckles as she steals a second piece of bacon. Enough. She can’t handle anything more today, especially from the brute. Sliding her plate to her, she calmly walks out the door as Yang digs into the food. She needs her quiet space, especially since they all have Oobleck this afternoon. Sipping her coffee, she ignores the fact that she is still in her nightgown as she makes her way to the roof of the dorm. Sitting in a corner, she keeps sipping her coffee as she watches the clouds float by, her tears falling unchecked down her cheeks….

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Ruby smiles as she steals a peak at the leader of team MADM before going back to her sketch pad. As she has come to learn in a short time, Melody Garibaldi is a really sweet girl with an unhealthy fascination for tattoos, but that just makes her more fun to sketch during the most boring class in history! So far, the entire Leadership Class has consisted of Professor Ozpin simply handing them their syllabus for the class before telling them to read over them carefully and going back to his own paperwork.

And of course Cardin Winchester is playing with fire right now, as he has chosen Melody as his new target for the day. Both his eyes are still swollen, and his ears look like he’s an elf, but nothing can cure what is obviously his suicidal tendencies. Especially since she’s a second year exchange student from Haven Academy, and not an actual Beacon student. She is doing her best to ignore him, even as she taps frantically on her scroll. But when he grabs her wolf ears and twist them almost savagely causing her to scream in pain, even Ruby stands and prepares to jump over her desk to get to the racist prick.

But none of them expect the other Haven exchange student, Kore Eclectus, to suddenly grab Cardin by the back of the head and smash his face into a desk with a green hand that looks like a Beringel’s. Everyone, including Melody, winces as Cardin’s head goes through the desk and collides with the floor, where he lays in a small puddle of blood.

“Oops.” Kore shrugs as he goes back to his scroll.

“Seriously Kore?! You could have killed him!” Melody yells back at him.

“He had his aura to protect him from the worst of it.” Kore says dismissively. “Besides, Gracie’s pissed. Her team wasn’t chosen for Vytal, and I’m trying to calm her down.”

Ruby finally sits back down and returns to sketching in her pad. She ignores the medics who finally arrive to scrape a groaning Cardin off the floor, but she smiles as she hears a scream of rage out in the hallway, follow by a whack.

“Leave my best friend alone, you piece of shit!”

“Oh good, Nix got him.” Melody declares with a grin.

“I still say you two are dating.” Kore tells her with a small smile on his lips.

“No we aren’t!” Melody shrieks at him. Ruby just starts giggling as she hears several more whacks and Cardin scream. Today was getting better and better by the second, all she has to do is survive Oobleck’s class next….

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Weiss smiles as she chats with Ruby, who met her at the front of the building housing Doctor Oobleck’s class and walked in with her. And thankfully, Ruby was sitting between her and the blonde brute who somehow understands her heart better than she herself does. Which is distressing, but not something she can afford to worry about for now. Right now, she has to bring her grade up in Oobleck’s class, so she cannot afford any more distractions.

Distractions like a pair of quicksilver eyes that can see into her soul. So long as they can’t see the ugliness and hideousness hidden there, she can afford to bask occasionally.

But her poolgazing comes to an end as Oobleck zooms into the classroom in his usual over caffeinated state, getting more than one groan from the students as he plunges into today’s lesson about the Faunus War. She works diligently of course, as expected of a proper Schnee as her father expects her to be of course. But why?

Her ears twitch as Oobleck catches her attention. "Yes! Yes, prior to the Faunus Rights Revolution, more popularly known as the Faunus War." Weiss watches dispassionately as he zooms behind his desk and uses a pointer on his map of the world, not flinching as it makes an audible smack on the laminated paper loud enough to make Ruby and the other faunus present flinch.

But all Weiss can hear is her father’s voice in another one of his rages.

A Schnee does not flinch! A Schnee never allows themselves to show surprise!

"Humankind was quite, quite adamant about centralizing the Faunus population in Menagerie." He continues as he drags the pointer downward on the laminate, causing all the faunus to whimper and squirm in their seats, as well as finally waking Diane Brunneis from team MADM up from a rather impressive nap. The tall Squirrel faunus girl grumbles as her partner and teammate Aqua Burrell shushes her quickly. She absentmindedly listens to Oobleck apologize to all of them even as he also gives the brutal tank a detention for sleeping in his class. But Weiss’s thoughts aren’t even there anymore. They are far away in her Father’s study back in Atlas.

Animals like you and your siblings need to learn your places! I shall not tolerate your insolence like I tolerated Willow’s for so long!

Jacques Schnee’s voice continues to haunt her despite her best efforts to focus.

She may have been a brilliant summoner and a better fighter than you, but in the end, I dealt with your twin like the mongrel that she was! And she learned her place after the beating she took!

"Now! While this must feel like ancient history to many of you, it is imperative to remember that these are relatively recent events! Why, the repercussions of the uprising can still be seen to this day!" Weiss barely follows him as he zooms around the class, waking sleeping students up with pokes and prods between sips from his prodigious cup of coffee. She barely makes out Jaune’s muffled curses, or Dove Bronzewing’s indignant cry when his feet are shoved to the floor. All she can think of the second worse day of her life. The day her twin sister Willow ran away.

“Willow! Please! You can’t leave me here alone with him!”

Weiss yells at her twin, who is making her way slowly out of the manor. But she gasps as she sees the black ribbon tied around her eyes.

“I can’t Weiss. I can’t do this anymore!”

Willow cries out to her.

“He blinded me Weiss! All because he could no longer stand to see the truth within my eyes! The truth that he is a pretender to the throne! A fraud! And I cannot pay too many more prices!”

Weiss sobs as she reaches for a sister that seems to be moving steadily farther and farther away from her. But her final words still ring in her wolf’s ears as if they were freshly spoken.

“I am always but a thought away sister. We are still two sides of the same coin. And that is something that man cannot ever take from us.”

"Now!” Oobleck declares as he finishes his sweep of the classroom. “Have any among you been subjugated or discriminated because of your Faunus heritage?"

Have I been discriminated against?

Diane and Aqua both raise their hands in the back….

Have I been subjugated?

First Velvet, then Ruby slowly raise their hands as the brute growls softly and mutters angrily about narrow minded idiots.

Dr. Oobleck sighs. "Dreadful, simply dreadful! Remember, students, it is precisely this kind of ignorance that breeds violence!" He comments as he takes yet another sip of his coffee.

Violence? Does abuse count as violence? Do all these things mean….

The silence in the classroom is so complete, so total as everyone stares at Weiss Schnee, the Heiress of the world’s most powerful corporation and arguably the richest person to ever step foot in Beacon, as she slowly raises her hand.

“My twin sister and I have suffered greatly because we are faunus….”

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Ruby ears flicker as Weiss keeps leading her up the stairs. She’s been quiet, really quiet since Oobleck’s class, and Ruby has been worried. Especially since her tail has stayed firmly tucked between her legs since they left the classroom, even as the other students started gossiping the moment class was dismissed.

“Weiss Schnee has suffered? Bullshit!”

She heard Blake mumble that clear as day as she scooted her chair even farther away from the petite heiress.

“What does she know about suffering?’

She knows there’s something a bit off about Blake, but she can’t put her finger on it. But still, Weiss is so quiet and withdrawn when the cat faunus in hiding is nearby. And besides, who is she to question what someone else says something? Ruby is starting get suspicious of her, but now isn’t the time. Especially since they have finally reached the roof. She smiles and takes a deep breath, always happy to be outside in the fresh air.

“Ruby, what do you know about the SDC, or even the Schnees?” Weiss suddenly asks her as she slips out of her uniform jacket and lays it on the edge of the roof before sitting down in a corner as if it was a normal thing for her to sit there. Looking closer, Ruby can make out a small nook between two bricks, as if someone pried one out to hide a box.

Taking a deep breath, Ruby comes to stand next to Weiss, ignoring her as she opens the box. “Not much really. I know he’s rich, and well connected. But he hates the faunus, dunno why.” She answers honestly. “My birth parents and a family friend of theirs used to take a lot of work from them when the last CEO was in power, I remember that too.”

Blood. She can smell it now. It smells old, but not that old. She can feel her ears raising up slowly as she does her best to ignore what Weiss is doing. She knows what she is doing, she has her own scars that she hides really well. Yang forced her to stop a few years ago, but she still does it from time to time to calm down, to silence the doubts she has constantly.

“Trust me, that isn’t that far from the truth.” Weiss replies. “I learned to fend for myself at an early age. I can cook, because he wouldn’t allow the cooks to make anything for us animals, we would never appreciate their hard work. I learned to sew because he didn’t see the need in wasting money on clothes animals would ruin.” She stops and sighs. “It only got worse as we got older.”

Ruby nods as she finally turns to look at Weiss. The knife is old and poorly maintained, and no doubt the reason why Weiss got so sick the day after initiation. Sighing, she slides down to sit next to her, both of them staring at the still sharp blade.

“I’m heiress in name only Ruby.” She finally admits. “My father expects me to marry his chosen heir once I graduate from Beacon as a Huntress. It will satisfy the conditions set by my Grandfather. He was a proud Alpha who built the company with his own two hands.”

“I’m an orphan.” Ruby tells her. “My parents died during a high priority hunt in Atlas. My Uncle and Aunt took me and my siblings in afterwords. Yang’s been our big sister ever since.” Reaching out, she takes the knife gently from the white wolf, who whimpers softly. “No more scars Snowflake. We both have more than enough, even on our souls.”

Standing back up, Ruby rears back and throws the knife out as far as she can, watching in satisfaction as it flies deeply into the woods before sitting back down. Her mouth moves into a gentle smile as she reaches out and takes her now empty hand in her own. “I promise I’m always here for you Weiss, no matter what life may send our way.”

To Ruby’s surprise, Weiss shifts slightly so she can lay her head on her shoulder as she takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “And I promise I will be the best partner and friend you could ever hope for Ruby. Even if I am a failure of a faunus.”

Ruby snorts as she squeezes the white princess’s hand. “You’re getting better, slowly. Now.” Ruby flicks one of her wolf’s ears with one of her own. “Who’s your supposive fiance?” But to her surprise, instead of an answer, all she gets is a gentle snore instead. Smiling, Ruby Rose decides this corner is a perfect spot to take a nap in, and soon the red and white duo are fast asleep.

Side by side, hands still clasped together tightly...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Remember students! Stay close! The Emerald Forest is full of Grimm, some of which are quite old and very dangerous!” Professor Peach calls out to the assembled students. But Jaune Arc just snorts as he moves off from the group, Cardin and his team trailing behind him.

“Hey Jauney Boy! How about going and gathering up all our sap for us?” Cardin calls out with a laugh. “After all, we're buddies, aren't we?”

Not even close

. He thinks to himself as he keeps walking. Not for the first time, he wishes he had just been honest from the get go. But his parents insisted on him laying low and keeping a low profile, but that's never been his style. After all, he is the Heir to Arc Industries, and richer than Cardin and all the other students at Beacon combined. All except one.

“Hey! I'm talking to you Arc!” Cardin yells as he grabs at Jaune's shoulder. “Don't ignore your betters!”

Jaune stops in his tracks, a smirk starting to form on his face. “That's funny coming someone who keeps getting his ass kicked on a regular basis.” He can feel the hand tightening on his shoulder and takes a firmer grip on the handle of Crocea Mors.

Wait for it…

His moment comes mere seconds later when Cardin spins him around, one fist already cocked back to throw a punch. Instead, he caught the blunt end of Jaune's sheathed sword across the side of his face strongly enough to send him flying.

Pushing a hidden button, he snaps the shield into place and forms a broadsword out the combined weapon. “Now, let's discuss a few things, Winchester.” His smirk is in full effect now as he walks forward. “After your little cronies gather my sap of course.”

Jaune Arc is tired of being everyone's joke. As Heir to his family's company, as well as heir apparent to another, this is his time now. Something that Weiss Schnee needs to accept whether she likes it or not...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Nora, should you really be drinking that?” Weiss asks the over exuberant ginger. She can't help but wince as she downs the last of her jar of sap with a satisfied sigh.

“Tastes great Weiss! You should try some!” Nora tells the white wolf as they sit together at the edge of the clearing in the Forever Fall Forest. Her own partner, a quiet young man named Lie Ren, stands nearby silently, using a tap to fill his own jar of the strange pink sap. But, Ruby and Weiss haven't missed the looks that pass between the two.

They aren't the looks of close friends. They're the looks of two people in love.

“So, how long have you and Ren been together Nora?” Ruby finally asks, causing Weiss to smack the red wolf gently on the arm.

“Ruby, that's rude!” Weiss chastises the red wolf gently, even as she blushes. “I'm sorry for that. Ruby can be a bit uncouth.”

Ren holds up a hand. “Please, there is no need to apologize. Nora and I have been traveling together and watching out for each other since we were children.”

Nora nods as she looks at Ren, a fond smile on her lips and a look that speaks volumes in her eyes. “We've been together together for a couple of years now. And without a single regret.” Weiss and Ruby smile at the admission from the young couple, even as Nora steals Ruby's sap and begins to drink it.

“So how long have you two been together?” Ren asks as he slowly refills Nora's empty container.

Weiss blinks as she blushes. “Oh we aren't together. We are just friends and partners.”

Ruby nods. “Best friends and the greatest partners ever!” She declares as she holds up Weiss's hand, their fingers laced together even now.

Ren nods as he smiles. “Forgive my assumption, Ruby and Weiss. I was simply curious is all. Other than when gathering your sap, the two of you have held hands constantly and had eyes only for each other.”

Before either the Reaper or the Princess can say another word, Nora grins as she sets the empty container on the ground next to Ren as she wipes her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket. “I told Rennie the other night I bet you two are mates!”

Ruby and Weiss both begin to sputter and blush as they offer several arguments about how they are just partners and friends when a jet black airship with three swords set on a field of red, brown, and gold stripes painted on the belly passes overhead slowly.

“Who's airship is that?!” Ruby asks as she watches the heavily armed customized airship pass by with wide eyes.

“The Garibaldis.” Weiss replies to all their surprise. “They're finally back!” She cries out in delight.

Ren, Nora and Ruby all look at Weiss, who blushes a bit at her outburst. “How do you know three of the most legendary Hunters in modern history?” Ren finally asks.

Weiss's genuine smile quickly outshines her blush. “Alexander is my uncle! He's my mama's step brother!” Weiss doesn't notice the looks of shock and surprise on their faces as she leaps to her feet and waves excitedly at the airship, her tail wagging as quickly as her moving arm. She even starts laughing brightly as she gets an answer from the airship in the form of a quick waggle of its wings.

The Mountain, the Burning Queen, and the Warrior Rabbit are living legends, and Weiss is related to them? Ruby can't help but wonder why they never intervened on Weiss's behalf all those years….

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Blake Belladonna sighs as she focuses on the book in front of her. Ever since Oobleck’s class, Weiss has been quiet. Well more quiet than usual. Even Ruby, her partner’s obnoxious and hyperactive little sister has been strangely quiet, and she is not going to complain a single bit there. How Ozpin ever thought she would make a good leader is beyond her. She’s seen excellent leadership within the White Fang, as well as pitiful, and frankly Ruby does have some potential. But not enough to justify making her a leader now.

Besides, she has her own problems. Specifically one really big problem. Siena Khan has sent the Black Snow after her and Adam both. And that isn’t good. No one can escape the Assassin once she’s been set on their trail, no one. And if the rumors are true, she’s also joined forces with Roman’s twisted little midget. And what the Black Snow lacks in empathy, Neopolitan makes up for in sheer insanity.

Senpuku is beginning to look like a very real option. Better than being a guest in Khan’s dungeons in Mistral. And maybe, just maybe Siena Khan will forgive her her betrayal. Maybe. Better than being a living practice dummy for a pair of psychopaths and their employer.

But for now, she can relax just a little bit. She’s in the middle of the Forever Fall forest, surrounded by all her fellow students, as well as Professors Goodwitch and Peach, the latter who is currently lecturing them on all the various uses of the sap they have been gathering for the last half hour or so. Even the legendary Garibaldis are due to return soon, having finally completed their emergency hunt deep within the wilds of Mistral. Neither of the assassins would dare attack her now.

“You look rather comfortable kitten.” It takes everything she has inside of her not to jump through the tree she is leaning against. The Black Snow found her already?! Oh sweet merciful goddesses! Why her?! All she wants to do is go home to her parents and Ilia! She was tired of Adam’s brutal and underhanded methods! She’s tired of being used for a cause she still believes in, but can’t support the methods being used anymore.

“You should calm down kitten. You may have a heart attack.” Glancing around, she can see the razor sharp tip of her sword sheath, along with the grey trimmed hem of her midnight black dress. She can even see the bottoms of her heels, no doubt reinforced with dust and rare metals to make them more efficient for combat. Too close, she’s firmly within her zone and she wouldn’t have time to even reach for Gambol Shroud before she would be dead. Patience, the assassin isn’t a fool. She wouldn’t escape from a group this large unscathed.

“What do you want?” Did she just croak that out? Dust, but she’s really making herself look good now! The witch is no doubt laughing at her as she herself is ready to piss everywhere in fear. Wait, is she giggling?! Doomed! She is so doomed! Hopefully they find her last will and testament hidden in the first volume of Ninjas of Love!

“Calm down kitten. I’m not here for you. Yet.” Breathe! Remember to breathe Belladonna! “You may yet prove to be useful to me.” Fuck! Shit! Damn it all! Why?!

“Where is Adam Taurus?” Think! Think fast! The docks!

“He maintains a hideout in the dock area of Vale. It’s an old warehouse that’s right on the water.” She answers quickly. If the Black Snow considers her useful, then by the Goddesses she is going to be useful! She just wants to go home! But her eyes widen in shock as a can of tuna drops next to her, a scroll number written on the top.

“I’ll be in touch. And for the love of the Dusk Goddess, don’t send me text messages!” She grumbles. “Everyone knows I can’t see the damned things, yet they insist on sending them to me!”

Blake trembles in fear as she sits with her back to the tree, the can of tuna held tightly in her hand. She knows the Black Snow all too well, having been the one to encounter her at her favorite cafe in Mistral City. But now, knowing what she is more than capable of? Blake Belladonna really wishes she had never even caught her scent of blueberries, coffee and steel that fateful winter’s day...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The jet black airship flies slowly over Beacon, the pilot smiling as people wave from the grounds and on the tops of the various buildings. Banking slowly, she approaches an airship dock separate from the school's docks. Bringing the heavily modified airship down gently onto the pad, she smiles as she looks at the auburn hair girl beside her.

“Excited to be home, kitten?” The pilot asks. She is older than the co-pilot. Her burning red hair matches the red panels of her white and red combat dress, while her brilliant amber eyes have a fondness to them as she looks at her oldest child. The cat faunus's tail begins to wave in delight as her daughter returns her smile with one of her own.

“Indeed mother. A delightfully droll ending to our return home considering the urgency of our departure.” The auburn haired younger woman replies with a fond smile on her face. “Wouldn't you agree sister?” She asks as she looks to the younger woman sitting at the navigation console.

“Yes, although you guys didn't have to snatch me and my partner out of Haven like you did.” The charcoal black haired woman replies, her amber colored eyes seeming to smolder with an intense heat all their own.

Standing, the older woman looks at her two oldest daughters fondly. “Come along, Siena, Cinder. It's been a long four months. And no doubt, your father is ready to get off of this flying tin can as he calls it.” She adds the last part with a smile.

The sisters look at each other and grin at the mention of their overly dramatic huntsman father. “Coming Mama!” Siena and Cinder Brandstelle-Garibaldi reply in unison as they stand from their own seats and follow arm in arm.

The two of them couldn't more different in looks and style. Siena was the taller of the two at six feet, her shoulder length hair brushing the shoulders of her deep brown combat duster. She wore a simple blouse of some green material, while her forest brown pants were tucked into matching hiking boots. Her cat's ears were currently free of the normal military style beret she tends to favor, while her tail was carefully wrapped around her slender waist.

Cinder herself couldn't be more different. Barely five feet tall like her mother, her charcoal black hair was carefully styled to sit on her shoulder, an accent to her rune covered dress the color of deep fire. The only other real adornment was the anklet she wore on her right leg, a sweet sixteen present from all three of her parents. Unlike her older sister though, she flaunted her wolf's ears and tail, which was poking out from a hole in her dress right below the cartridges she uses to hold the dust she manipulates as a dust mage.

But no one could mistake the fact that they are sisters, and the oldest daughters of the Burning Queen. Well, no one who enjoyed living anyway….

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

At seven feet tall, and three hundred and twenty pounds of muscle, sarcasm, and beer, Alexander Garibaldi is an imposing sight. Or he would be if he wasn't currently laying on the ground groaning. Beside him, a tall rabbit faunus with chocolate brown hair and eyes lays on her back, staring into the sky.

“Have ah ever mentioned I hate that damned airship?” The Mountain comments idly, getting a groan from the other woman.

“Yeah, once or twice.” She groans as her rabbit ears wiggle in the grass. “Ah swear Kate did tha barrel roll on purpose.”

Alex just nods as he chuckles. “Could be worse, Carol. And hey, we brought Cinny and her partner back.”

Carol Scarlatina-Garibaldi just smiles. “An Mel an Lissa are here too. Finally got tha family back together.”

“Yep.” The giant pops the P. “Velvet's almost here, so's Weiss. And hello!” He suddenly grins. “Willow's around here too!”

Carol snorts. “She done got here quick. We just left her at the Mistral airship docks couple ah days ago.”

The Mountain just sighs as he hears his other auramate and his daughters exit the airship, along with the green haired red eyed girl that is Cinder's partner and best friend. “If she's here, that means trouble. Sienna Khan doesn't let her leave for no good reason.” Which is a huge concern for him. His niece is unstable on a good day, and the Khan isn't a good influence on her. At all. But if she's here, perhaps now is a good time for an intervention.

After all, it's never too late to save a person's soul...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Headmaster Ozpin sighs as he looks at the two young women sitting in front of him. “Cinder, Emerald, why did you allow Professor Garibaldi to virtually kidnap the two of you and bring you here?” He asks as he sits forward in his chair, his fingers lacing together easily.

Emerald Sustrai shrugs as she looks around at the office. “Not sure really. He showed up and just said to pack our bags.”

Cinder nods in agreement. “You have met my father right? Seven feet tall, built like a mountain, kinda hard to argue with because he thinks he's right all the time?” She counters. “He said to pack, we packed. We got on the airship, and here we are.”

Ozpin sighs. “Miss Sustrai, Miss Garibaldi, Headmaster Lionheart is raising hell over the fact that one of my instructors barged into his academy, called him an idiot, and pulled his best students out and brought them to Beacon.” He explains calmly. “I simply wish to be sure that neither of you had anything to do with this.”

Emerald and Cinder look at each other and simply grin before turning to look at Ozpin.

“If the shoe fits…” Emerald begins.

“He should wear it.” Cinder finishes with a giggle, while Ozpin simply snorts.

“One last thing, are you certain you wish to use a false surname, Miss Garibaldi? It will be no secret as to who your parents are.”

Cinder nods as a serious look comes across her face. “My younger sisters use our family name proudly. Hell, they're almost as big of daddy's girls as Velvet and I are. But I want to stand on my own feet, Headmaster. I want to make my own name apart from theirs. And to do that, I have to be willing to make my own way in the world without depending on my parents and their fame.”

Ozpin nods as a look of respect comes across his features. “Well then, Miss Sustrai, Miss Fall, welcome to Beacon Academy. I hope that the two of you distinguish yourselves during your final year.”

“Thank you sir.” Both young women respond in unison as they climb to their feet and bow slightly before leaving the office. But once the door closes, they both breath a deep sigh of relief.

“Your dad is playing with fire, Cinny.” Emerald comments as they walk towards the elevators.

Cinder nods as she looks at her scroll. “Daddy's worried about something is all. Worried enough to pull strings and piss people off to bring us all here.” She replies absentmindedly as she checks her messages. “And your my partner and best friend, so your in his circle of trust.”

Emerald nods as she pushes the summon button for the elevator. “Why? I'm just a former con artist and wanna be huntress.”

Cinder looks at her partner and smiles. “Because you cleaned up your act. Your marks are as strong as mine, and Melly and Lissa vouch for you.” she replies as the doors open. “Besides, you haven't gotten a good chance to meet my cousin yet. And I think that's the real reason why he brought us all home to Vale.”

“Who, that white haired girl?” Emerald asks curiously as she watches Cinder push the button for the ground floor. “She does look familiar.”

“She should.” Cinder says with a growing grin. “She's the SDC heiress, Weiss Schnee.”

“WHAT?!”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“Cinder!” Weiss calls out as she waves her arm. “Over here!”

Cinder smiles as she turns towards her cousin's voice, even though her nose stays buried in her scroll. Finally looking up, she giggles at the look of joy on her normally taciturn cousin's face. “Hey Weiss! What's up?”

Weiss dashes over and takes her arm, her tail wagging a mile a minute. “Come on, I want you to meet my partner and my friends!”

Cinder raises an eyebrow. “Wait, you have friends?” She asks in surprise. “And Uncle Jacques doesn't have a problem with that?”

Weiss looks around before answering in a whisper. “Hopefully he doesn't know about them yet. I mean, he knows about my partner, and he already hates her. But now that Uncle Alex is home…” her voice drifts off as a taller, blonde haired young man appears. “Fuck.”

Cinder looks at Weiss in surprise. She rarely uses salty language at all, so to see the boy and utter her father's and Mama Carol's favorite swear word must mean…

“Miss Schnee, you're a very hard person to track down.” He calls out a bit too smoothly for Cinder's tastes. Her ears swiveling, she can smell the confidence oozing from him, along with his expensive cologne. Putting herself between him and Weiss, she puts on her best smile.

“And why are you looking for my cousin?” She asks as she slowly flares her aura, activating her dust chambers.

The young man bows slightly. “Jaune Arc, at your service. And Weiss is my fiance of course.”

Cinder growls gently as Weiss hides behind her. But her legendary temper ignites when she hears her cousin begin to whimper gently into her back.

Patience, Cinder. You can cook him later.

“Well I'm afraid your going to have to wait your turn to see her. She's catching up with me and my family right now.”

To her surprise, Jaune nods. “Fair enough, Miss Fall. I'm a patient man, and we have all our lives to get to know each other better.” He states calmly as he bows once more. “Good day to you both.”

Cinder waits until he is well out of hearing range before turning around and hugging the younger girl. “So that's him?” She asks gently.

Weiss nods as she holds Cinder tightly. “It's not fair Cinny. I don't want to be with him!”

Cinder nods as she gently strokes her fluffy ears. “Still not admitting to the world you're a lesbian, are you?” She can't help but smile as Weiss shakes her head slightly in response. “You can't stay in the closet forever you know.”

“Yes I can. I've done it this long.” She mutters. “What's another fifty or sixty years?”

“Weiss, you have to be true to yourself. Don't be like Auntie Ada and live in denial.” Cinder mumbles as she keeps rubbing Weiss's wolf ears to keep her calm. “She died with regrets, daddy said so.”

“I can't. I won't do that to my partner, to my friends.” She whines. “Ruby deserves so much better than me!”

Cinder sighs. It was always so easy to get Weiss to admit things, a side effect of being her older cousin. But a crush on her partner?

Cinder really needs to meet this Ruby now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Cinder smiles as she shakes hand with quite possibly the most adorable wolf faunus she has ever met in her life. And she can also see what Weiss sees in her. Ruby Rose is kind-hearted, supportive, and obviously enjoys Weiss's company. Her other two friends, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie are also fairly impressive, and the four of them seem like a solid group of friends. Which is good for Weiss. She has so few friends of her own.

“So you are Weiss's cousin?” Lie Ren asks as he gives her a short bow instead of shaking hands.

Cinder nods as she returns the bow with one of her own, proper etiquette having been hammered into her by her Altesian born and raised mother. “I am. My name is Cinder. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Before Ren can say another word, he is roughly shoved to the side by a short ginger haired girl with a wide grin on her face. “Hi! I'm Nora! And Ren's mine! Got it?!”

Cinder giggles as her tail begins to wag in amusement. “You don't have to worry about anything, Nora. I'm a lesbian.” She reassures the younger woman.

“Wow! Really?! But you're really pretty! I bet all the boys fight over you constantly!” Nora exclaims in shock as she stares wide eyed.

Cinder giggles. “Well I'm not interested I'm afraid. They would be barking up the wrong tree with me.” She grins as she hears Weiss giggle, along with the last girl she has yet to meet. But she gets startled a bit as Nora throws her head back and laughs heartily.

“That's a good one! Not too many faunus willing to make a good pun!”

Cinder just shakes her head. So far this Nora girl seems like a solid friend for Weiss as well.

“Hey Nora! There's a sloth in the tree over there!” The mysterious Ruby calls out as she points to a nearby group of trees. To Cinder's surprise, the ginger woops loudly as she dashes off, Ren and Weiss in hot pursuit. She watches in shock as she begins to climb the first tree she comes to, until she feels a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Turning around, she blinks as a pair of silver eyes meet her own burning amber. “Hi, I'm Ruby Rose.” She introduces herself again as she offers her hand.

Cinder smiles as she shakes the offered hand. “Cinder Fall. You must be Weiss's partner?” She asks. Of course, she catches the slight blush that runs quickly across her face as she turns to look at the white haired girl, who is doing her best to help Ren drag Nora out of a second tree.

“Uh huh! Her partner and best friend!” She declares as she pumps her fist into the air.

Cinder shakes her head. She's heard of Ruby of course. All of Haven is abuzz with rumors of Ozpin's prodigy, who started two years early and is already a team leader. But Cinder isn't one to simply listen to rumors. She likes the facts. And who better to ask then the girl herself.

“So, you started two years early?” Cinder asks curiously as she and Ruby walk away a bit to speak privately.

Ruby nods. “Weiss has been helping me catch up on what I need to learn since I came two years early, and I'm helping her with Field Studies and Survival Tactics.” She replies.

“Goddess but I hope you can help her improve there. We took her camping a few years ago when we managed to sneak her and her sisters out of the Schnee Manor. Weiss was a walking disaster!”

Ruby sighs. “She's getting a lot better at filtering noise and tracking by scent, but she’s clueless when it comes to telling directions.” She looks around for a moment before whispering. “But it's fine, cause I never get lost.”

Cinder raises an eyebrow. “Never? I find that hard to believe.”

Ruby shakes her head as she smiles. “My dad never got lost either. He and my mom would finish hunts in record time.” She brags as she sits on a nearby bench and pats the seat next to her.

Cinder nods as she sits next to her and kicks her short heels off with a smile. “Who are your parents? Do they come visit often?”

Ruby’s smile turns sad as she takes her own shoes off and wiggles her toes. “My parents are dead. I live with my Uncle, Aunt and cousin along with my little brother and sister.”

“Oh.” Cinder feels awful, no horrible. She didn't mean to bring up such painful memories with just an innocent question. But she jumps a bit when Ruby takes her hand and squeezes it gently. Looking up, Ruby gives her a wide smile.

“My parents were Huntsmen. And they never hid that fact from me once I was old enough to understand.” Ruby explains to her. “Besides, Uncle Tai and Auntie Raven are awesome, and Yang is a pretty cool older cousin and sister wanna be!” She adds the last with a giggle.

“Do you mind if I ask who your parents were?” Cinder asks calmly. Her large family knows everyone in the Huntsmen world at large, and her father had even been the head of Vale's headquarters for several years before accepting Ozpin's request to teach. Hell, she and Velvet grew up around stories of heroes, villains, powerful weapons, and the like.

“The Branwens.” Ruby answers to Cinder's growing shock and surprise. “Summer and Qrow Branwen.”

Cinder is speechless. Of all the many Huntsmen and Huntresses her parents worked with over the years, none of them left quite the impression as those two. Her father still refuses to speak of them after all these years, as they had been two of his closest and dearest friends. “Do you know what happened to them?” She finally asks once the initial shock is past.

Ruby shakes her head. “Sure don't. Even my Uncle and Aunt have no clue. They said once I get older, I need to find a huntsman known as the Mountain. He was there when they died.”

Cinder nods slowly. She knows who that is. She worships her daddy, and knows he rarely talks about the Branwens. He blames himself for their deaths. But before she can say anything, Ruby smiles at her.

“I'm not ready to know yet, Cinder. I don't want to really know. They died as heroes, that much I do know. So!” Ruby gives her a conspiratory smile. “What can you tell me about Weiss?”

Cinder relaxes at that, and returns the grin with one of her own. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything!”

“Then sit back, cause I know plenty!” Cinder likes this girl. She's perfect for Weiss….

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ruby smiles as she steps off the bullhead on Patch. Weiss wanted to spend the long weekend with her family, and Ren and Nora had made plans themselves, all of them involving being in a locked in a hotel room.

That's as far as she dared asked. There's some things she doesn't want to know about.

But a genuine smile comes across her lips as a robin lands on her shoulder and chirps happily. “Hey little sister!” She giggles as the robin rubs her face gently across hers. “Where's Jay?”

She watches as the robin takes wing and transforms in front of her into a young woman who could almost pass for Raven Branwen, but slimmer. Her long raven black hair hangs to midback length while her blood red eyes glimmer in mirth as she runs back up and hugs her tightly. “Being lazy like always.” Robin Rose-Branwen responds as Ruby hugs her back just as tightly.

Ruby giggles as she keeps holding the shorter girl. “Let me guess, still trying to beat Ultimo in Legend of Fantasy?”

Robin huffs as she looks back up. “Ever since you left. He still can't believe you beat him so easily.”

Ruby just rolls her eyes as she finally releases her little sister and offers her her arm, which she takes with a grin. “That's cause I'm awesome!” She can't help but brag.

Robin nods. “Well yeah, you're special Wubby. Like window licking special.” She teases with a smirk. “Uncle Tai even has a new helmet all ready for you!”

“Oi! Low blow! That was one time on a dare!” Ruby whines as the two of them start walking away from the docks and towards Patch proper. “I still can't believe Uncle Tai and Auntie Raven recorded it!”

Robin smirks, looking so much like Raven with that one facial expression that Ruby smiles. “Then you shouldn't have made that bet with Yangy.”

“I knoooooooow!” She whines. “I have regrets!”

“And we have blackmail material for your next girlfriend.”

“Noooooooooooo!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Weiss!” A multitude of voices greet the white wolf as she enters the living area of the spacious Beacon Forge. Weiss can't help but smile as she is pulled into hug after hug by her large extended family. From her gentle giant Uncle Alex to even Velvet and once again Cinder, she feels loved once again for the first time in years.“Let me get a good look at you Weiss.” Her aunt Kate calls out, prompting her to walk over for inspection. “Still as petite as ever. Are you eating properly Weiss? Resting as you should?”“Yes Aunt Katie.” She replies with a small smile as she blushes from all the attention. She constantly forgets how different this side of her family is from the other side. The Schnee side. Jacques would already be railing on her over her five pounds weight gain, Whitley would be calling her a fatty, and Winter would be silent as always. They would always apologize later on in the night, once father retires for the evening with his latest conquest. But it still stings. It still bother her. But they all have parts to play as the faunus children of Jacques Schnee.But she is drawn out of her musing by the snapping of fingers in her face. Blinking, she smiles as she looks into her cousin Melody's hazel and green flecked eyes. “So! What's the story behind you and Ruby Rose?”“Huh?!” She asks in surprise as she rears back a bit. “W-what are you talking about?! W-we're n-nothing but p-partners a-and friends!”Melody's twin sister Melissa walks up and smirks. “That's not what we've heard. Or seen.”Melody nods. “You two are damned near inseparable. I'm amazed you didn't drag her along with you.”Weiss shakes her head almost violently as her blush extends to her entire body. “No no no no no! It's nothing like that! Really! She's just my partner and best friend! It can't be anything but that!”Everyone freezes as they hear a loud whistle. “That's enough. We all know she's full of shit, so leave it be until I go have a long overdue talk with my piece of shit brother in law.” Alexander Garibaldi calls out as he enters carrying a tray packed full of barbeque. Weiss can't help but start drooling as the smell of the grilled meats hit her like a ton of bricks. It's been years since she's had her Uncle's legendary grilling. But she can't! She's already gained five pounds since she arrived at Beacon. And she still can't lose them!With a chuckle, Alex shoves a rib into Weiss's mouth, making her hum in joy. “Need to put some weight on ya. Your nothing but skin, bones and hair. Ain't right for a girl your age.”Weiss's response is taking a hunk of meat off the bone and chewing happily. To hell with five pounds! I'm starving!Of course, Weiss misses the laughter as her family laughs at her rapidly wagging tail, the look of bliss on her face, and her half closed eyes as she quickly picks the bone clean. And the laughter gains in strength as Weiss rushes a laughing Alex demanding more, while he holds the tray well above his own head.But Weiss could care less. She's finally home with family that cares about her. The only thing that could make it perfect would be if a Red Reaper had come with her.../\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\Willow Schnee sighs as she sits outside the forge, listening to the merriment inside. But her sharp hearing catches the soft footsteps, as her nose easily catches the scent of her Aunt Carol.“She misses ya. She wants her sister back.” Carol tells her quietly as she sits beside the younger woman.Willow shakes her head. “She's better off without me. My hands are red now, and I won't surrender until I see Jacques pay for his sins.” She replies softly, denying her heart yet again. “Besides, my business is with Adam Taurus. He goes too far.”Carol nods as she takes Willow's free hand and holds it in both of hers. “Sugar, that won't make no nevermind with Weiss. All she cares bout is you and this Ruby girl they keep teasing her with.”Willow nods as her right hand grips the sheath of her straight blade katana tighter. “Please Auntie. Please, let me go. Tell Weiss to let me go. I do this for her. So she can take our Mother's company back and set things right.” Carol shakes her head as she raises Willow's eye wrapping gently. “Wut yur owed is a pair ah beautiful red eyes. An ah told ya, come work for meh. Ah'll have ya pardoned, set ya right as rain again. We kin make ah'll this right. But please, come back ta tha family.”Willow shakes her head as she tries to re-cover her eyes. “No! Please stop! I don't deserve this! You should hate me!”“I would never hate you, Willow.” Weiss calls out softly as she kneels in front of her missing twin. “I love you, miss you, and want you to come home. To a family that loves us both and want what's best for us. Even Winter and Whitley are worried sick about you.”“I'm not worthy of being worried about.” Willow groans. “He destroyed me! Took my sight!”“And there are ways to restore your sight.” Weiss tells her gently. “Please. Please stop fighting me and link with me again. Please?”Willow stares at Weiss as their auras mingle together, signalling the re-establishment of their link. “Oh goddess, does my hair really look that bad?!”Weiss giggles as she nods. “It does. Hungry?”Her twin nods. “Starving.”“Come along, dolt. I'm still hungry myself.” Weiss replies as she helps her up. “And tomorrow we are doing the transferal.”“Absolutely not!” Willow protests as she tries and fails to break free. “Weiss! Leggo you twit!”“As my partner would say, nope!” She pops the “p” with a smile. “I have my other half back. And you are never running away again.” Weiss Schnee tells Willow Schnee firmly as they walk into the house with their Aunt Carol following quietly behind.“Willow!” The Garibaldis cheer, causing the young woman to burst into tears. “Welcome home!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ruby smiles as she opens the door to the Xiao Long-Rose-Branwen home. “I'm home!”

Her uncle Tai is the first to look up. “Hey there Ruby! Looking good!” He greets her as he walks up and gives her a bear hug.

“Can't…. Breathe…. Robin…. Halp!”

“Don't kill her, Uncle Tai. She's still a tax deduction for you and Auntie.” Robin tells him.

Tai chuckles as he puts her down. “Where's Yang? I figured she would come back with you.”

Ruby shrugs as she takes her cloak off while taking deep breaths. “I dunno. She said something about twins and strawberry sunrises.”

Tai chuckles. “Uh huh. I bet she did.” He shakes his head as he sits back down in the living room. “She probably still thinks your a virgin too.”

Ruby groans. “That's me, innocent little Ruby.” She grumbles as she flops down on the couch next to her uncle. “She doesn't even acknowledge my heats, even though it was what broke me and my last girlfriend up.”

“She just worries about you, Ruby.” Tai replies as he returns to his task of maintaining his fighting gauntlets. “Especially since apparently you're really crushing on a certain white haired partner?” He asks slyly.

Ruby groans. “Her and her big mouth!”

“Not just her sis. Mr. Ozpin himself called to talk to Uncle and Auntie about it.” Robin chimes in. Ruby just come her now tomato red face with her hands as her ears flop down.

Tai nods. “He wants to be sure that you aren't going to have the same issues like you did in Signal.” He admits. “He's a bit concerned about it.”

Ruby growls as she raises her head, her embarrassment quickly being replaced by anger. “I can't help how I was born, now can I?” She declares angrily. “I can't help it makes my heats even worse than normal!”

Tai holds up his hands. “Easy, Ruby. We're just talking here, ok? No need to explode.”

But Ruby is well and truly furious now as she stands. “Well I'm just so sorry I came out with so many extra pieces! At least Robin and Jay are normal, unlike little freakish Ruby.”

Tai rises up angrily. “No one is saying anything like that in this household, Ruby Michelle. And you better can that attitude and quickly. You're still a minor, and if you're going to act like this, then I am going to agree with Raven and pull you out of Beacon.” He threatens.

Ruby just looks at him before activating her semblance and vanishing upstairs and into her room, slamming the door behind her. But it doesn't take faunus hearing to hear the sobs echoing throughout the suddenly quiet living room.

Robin sighs. “Looks like she came home just in time. Looks like her next heat's about to kick in.”

Tai just sighs miserably as he throws himself back onto the couch. “Yep. But it proves Ozpin's right. Fuck.”

Robin tilts her head. “What do you mean?” She asks curiously.

Tai looks at Robin sadly. “We really can't handle her anymore. She really is Summer made over. Only your dad and an old friend of ours could handle her at her worst.”

Robin just nods as she looks at her sister's door.

Ruby's had it rougher than anyone.

She thinks to herself.

Goddess I hope this Weiss girl doesn't break her heart too.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Raven hates locked doors. Especially with four teenagers living in one house. Well, two teens and two preteens. Close enough to make her want to gag. Truth be told, she doesn't regret taking Summer and Qrow's three children in. Ruby is adorable, Robin is mischievous, and Jay is just lazy.

But Ruby is starting to give her a good run for her money, which she doesn't like one bit. But Raven has also come a long way from her bandit roots. Like now, she knocks politely instead of just kicking the door down. Summer broke her of that bad habit when she did that and almost lost her head. Literally.

“Leave me alone!” Ruby yells. Raven sighs, it really is like dealing with Summer all over again, and it sucks.

“Open the door Ruby. I just want to talk.” She replies softly. “And it's dinner time. You need to eat.”

“Don wanna! I got plenty of cookies and snacks hidden in here! I'm good!”

Raven growls as she beats on the door. “I will break it down!”

“No you won't! Uncle Tai already told you not to break down the door! I heard it!” Ruby retorts, causing the older woman to scream in frustration. “It pays to be a faunus sometimes.” She adds almost sadly.

Raven pauses. Summer had had a rough childhood being an orphaned wolf faunus. Tai and herself did the very best they could to shelter and shield Ruby as well, especially since Qrow passed his unique ability on to the twins, thus ensuring they would look mostly human.

It made Ruby's life so much more difficult than it ever needs to be. Especially since wolf faunus like her are sociable people. They need a pack to protect…..

She suddenly grins as the thought occurs to her. “Ruby, tell me about Beacon? And about your team?”

The door finally opens to reveal Ruby standing there, cookie in mouth as she stares. “Really? Like really really?”

Raven nods as she smiles. “Really really. Especially about this Weiss girl Tai and I have been hearing so much about.”

There we go. There's that sparkle back in her eyes!

Raven thinks to herself as she gets dragged into the cluttered room full of half finished inventions, dirty clothes, junk food wrappers, and Ruby's excited voice as her tail wags dangerously fast. And through the next several hours of Ruby declaring all of Weiss's virtues, Raven can't help but smile.

Just like Summer…. Goddess I wish you could see her now, Sum….

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Weiss doesn't move at the familiar weight against her back. It's been forever since she slept back to back with Willow, and by the sounds of her gentle snores, she is deeply asleep right now. Like she hasn't had a good night's sleep in some time now.

But that's also if she had even gotten any sleep herself. She's lain as still as possible most of the night, while staring at pictures she's taken of Ruby when the wolf girl wasn't looking, while listening to some of her favorite songs that remind her of the Reaper.

She wasn't expecting to miss her scent of strawberries and cookies, or her gentle snoring as she sneaks into her bed at night and cuddles into her back. She even misses the damned whistle! She misses the smell of her perfume, the smell of her daily cup of hot chocolate. She especially misses listening to her sing softly in the shower while she gets ready for her day.

And she pauses at her favorite picture of them together. Nora snapped it and sent it to them both during the school trip to Forever Fall. And it certainly gives her argument merit on everyone's opinion of if she and Ruby are dating or not. They are holding hands of course, while looking into each other's eyes and smiling softly.

Damn it, but how can she miss Ruby so much?! How can she mean so much to her already?! Why did she have to go to Patch?! It's not fair! Why did she have to fall in love with Ruby?! She deserves so much better than her!

But she almost jumps out of her skin and fur when her scroll dings, signalling a text message. Checking to see if anyone else heard it, she almost starts to cry when she sees it's from Ruby. Opening it, tears do start to fall slowly as she reads it over and over again.

Hey, it's 4:03, and I can't sleep without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea…..

Weiss can't help herself. She begins to type back slowly, as she sings softly…..

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ruby sighs as she flips over to her stomach again. Ever since Aunt Raven cheered her back up and she finally ate, she's been her normal, energetic self. But something's been missing. More like someone.

It was Robin who finally voiced it quietly to Uncle Tai: Weiss is missing. And she's right, Ruby's not used to her not being at least close by. Weiss is still at Beacon, visiting with her family there. And she's on Patch, over an hour away by ferry boat. Weiss is normally at most, only a building or two away, not over an hour away. And Ruby's hating this huge amount of distance between them a lot.

So between tossing and turning from a lack of Weiss's scent of blueberries and coffee, her expensive perfumes, and her comfy blanket and reassuring presence at night, all she can do is stare at the picture Nora took of them at Forever Fall and do her best not to cry.

But in the middle of turning over for the hundredth time, inspiration strikes her. No one, not even her Uncle and Aunt or siblings know her as well as Weiss. Opening a text message, Ruby bites her lip nervously as she types quickly and pushes send, hoping the white wolf she's come to adore more than even her precious cookies is awake. But she yelps in surprise as her scroll dings with a message. Seeing it's from Weiss, she whimpers as she imagines the horrible reaction she no doubt got.

If I drown tonight, bring me back to life, breathe your breath in me…

Ruby's tail tucks between her legs as she whimpers more at the fact that Weiss can't sleep either. But a second message surprises her yet again.

The only thing I still believe in is you, if you only knew…..

Ruby finally smiles as she types again.

I think we need to talk about us when we get back, Snowflake. Because I'm kinda wanting there to be an us.

Waiting nervously, she covers her head with her pillow, not believing that she had sent that message! What is wrong with her?! She's never been so forward, not even with her last girlfriend! The poor girl had to chase her, not the other way around! So what makes Weiss any different?! But her fear turned into joy as she spots Weiss's response.

I would like that a lot, My Little Rose. I'll be at the Forge at Beacon all day tomorrow if you want to go ahead and come talk.

"Yes!" Ruby cheers as she jumps out of bed, pumping her fists into the air in triumph. But, it was a short lived triumph as she slips on a stray can and tumbles onto the floor with a thud.

"Owie!"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The sound of clanking fills the quiet of the penthouse of Arc Industries' Vale headquarters. Normally empty, the current heir, Jaune, has taken it over as his own fortress of solitude on the weekends and holidays since the start of the semester at Beacon. And it works perfectly for him, as it gives him easy access to Veteran's Park for jogging as well as a full gym to work out in. And of course, privacy for him as well as his real love interest, who is currently still in Atlas.

Of course, he could have the penthouse filled with the sounds of classical music, but he enjoys the moment of brief quiet away from Nora, who is a chatterbox, as well as Ruby, who talks about nothing but weapons and Weiss. That is definitely the last person he wants to think about right now. Especially after spending the last hour reassuring his girlfriend that he was still thinking of some way to get out of this contract.

So now he's doing his favorite form of stress relief: Training himself until he collapses from exhaustion. But tonight it isn't working at all. All he can hear is her tear filled voice as she begs him to not leave her alone. That she's been so alone all her life. That she loves him so much.

And he loves her too, despite the fact that they have a rather unconventional relationship. But it's one he cherishes nonetheless. It makes him happy, amidst a virtual ocean of sisters, a demanding mother, and a spineless father.

Movement out of the corner of his eye was the only warning he had. Shoving up, he still doesn't have enough strength of his own to stop the two Arc Industries goons from shoving the weight filled bar back down onto his chest. He lays there growling as he realizes what, or rather who is coming next.

"Jaune. I do not recall giving you permission to use the penthouse." Jeanne Arc declares as she leans against the arms of the exercise machine where the barbell normally sits. "This would be considered trespassing."

Jaune smirks as he wiggles a bit, proud of the fact that once again, he's openly defied his mother, one of the most powerful business women in the world. "Being heir has its perks, Mother." He reminds her.

The older woman simply smiles at her only son. "Jaune, do you know how tired I am of indulging your petty rebellions?" She asks calmly as she looks down at him. "I would punish you, but I'm fairly certain you have Crocea Mors hidden away somewhere. And I did not think to bring Fleur de Licé with me."

"Too bad. Been a while since we crossed blades, Mother." Jaune smirks as he continues to struggle to free himself. "It might even be an even match now."

"Perhaps." Jeanne admits as a young blue haired woman wearing a business skirt and jacket appears and presents her with a chair to sit in. "Jaune, why do we keep doing this?" She suddenly asks him, her voice heavy with emotion. "Why can you not simply accept my decision for your future?"

Jaune growls. "Because it isn't my decision!" He roars angrily as he doubles his efforts to free himself. "I'm not your puppet, like Jessa! We all saw how her marriage ruined her!"

Jeanne looks away, shame on her face. "Jaune, don't bring her into this. Please."

"I can and I will!" He roars as he finally manages to bring the bar up into the crotch of one of the black suited goons, causing him to squeal. But before he can capitalize on it, the girl is on him in an instant, the barrel of a pistol rammed into the bottom of his jaw.

"Make me shoot. It's full of anti aura rounds." She hisses dangerously.

"Enough, Kaya." Jeanne orders as she stands, her face an emotionless mask. "As always, you don't know how to control your tongue, my son. Nor follow my orders." She glares at him. "Woo Weiss Schnee, accept the fact that you will be marrying her. And get your things out of my penthouse. Do not let me catch you here again."

The girl follows quietly, waving at him with a smile on her face. "So long handsome."

Jaune ignores her as he sits down on the bench and looks at the floor, torn as to what to do next, carry on his quiet rebellion or concede to his mother's demands. To still try to live his own life, or to become a puppet just like his oldest sister…..

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Hey Ruby!" Jay Rose-Branwen calls out to his older sister as she enters the kitchen. "What happened to your cloak?" He asks her as he holds it up to reveal the long gash on it from the Nevermore's feather she barely avoided getting impaled by during initiation.

Ruby yawns as she sets her scroll down on the counter. A long night that ended with her and Weiss texting each other until sleep finally claimed her at least has left her rather lethargic. Looking at her brother, she realizes that he is almost taller than her now, but still pudgy from his preference of playing video games than training. But the red eyes staring at her are still full of intelligence, and more importantly pride in his brave older sister. But cookies he's looking more and more like Qrow Branwen every day.

"My partner fixed it for me after initiation." She replies before yawning again, smacking her lips a bit for emphasis. "Why? Are you wanting it again?"

"Nah, not all mangled up like this." He replies as he lets the hem go, the fabric vanishing back around the corner of the wall. "Besides, the huntsman life isn't for me anyway." He adds as he sits down at the table.

"Awwww, why not? Fresh air, plenty of exercise, and lots of pretty girls with interesting scars!" Ruby teases him as she starts making herself a fresh bowl of strawberry oatmeal on the stove.

"No thanks. I'm allergic to fresh air, sweating makes me break out in hives, and scars are overrated." He snarkily replies.

"Oi! Low blows!" She replies as she looks mock offended, a hand over her heart. "My heart hurts now."

Jay smirks. "Didn't know you had one of those sis? Whose chest did you rip it out of?" He squeals as he barely avoids getting hit by the still hot pot of oatmeal that is suddenly sent flying in his direction. But both Ruby and Jay wince as Tai screams in pain as the pot and it's contents hit him instead.

"Jay did it!" Ruby declares with a wicked grin as she starts triggering her semblance. Before vanishing completely, she flips her brother off while blowing him a kiss before leaving a trail of rose petals going back upstairs before the front door flies open and she escapes.

"JAY!" Tai roars as he stands, covered in strawberry oatmeal and taking his belt off.

"DAMN IT RUBY!" Jay screams as he tries to run for it.

Robin and Raven watch from the top of the stairs.

"Should we save him?" Robin asks quietly.

Raven smirks as she shakes her head. "Nah, he needs the exercise."

"UNCLE TAI! NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

THWAP!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Weiss…."

Go away….

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiissssss….."

I just want to sleep!

"I have coffee."

Weiss grumbles as she opens one eye carefully, so as not to wake Willow. A side effect of their odd mental link is the fact that they can share eyesight. Handy when stealing food from the kitchens or making sure the coast is clear before venturing out. But not so convenient when trying to wake up without waking the other. Especially since Willow is still apparently a night owl, while she is still more of a day person.

Looking around, she spots Velvet smiling at her as she stands over her, a cup of coffee in hand and still dressed in her normal sleeping outfit of an old school shirt and a pair of short shorts. "Is it fully leaded?" She asks quietly as she slowly sits up and stretches.

Velvet nods as she hands the cup to her. "Yep. Made you a cup of Mum's and Daddy's stuff." She informs her quietly as Willow grabs for Weiss and misses. "You might wanna get up before she actually grabs you."

Weiss nods as she stands and adjusts her light blue nightgown to keep her modesty intact before finishing her stretching. Lifting her cup to her lips, she finally takes a sip of coffee, smiling as she feels the scalding hot liquid reinvigorate her body and senses. "Oooooo, this is the expensive stuff." She murmurs happily as she slowly begins moving towards the bathroom, her bladder demanding relief.

Velvet laughs. "Like Daddy and Mum would buy the cheap crap. They'd never get up in time to do anything."

Weiss nods as she reaches the bathroom door. "Excuse me a moment, please?" Closing the door, she soon sighs in relief, not believing for a second that she drank that much sweet tea. She and Willow both ate most of the food, drank most of the tea, and even demolished several containers of leftovers like a pair of starving…

Like a pair of starving wolves.

Sighing as she finishes, she can't help but to look at herself in the mirror as she washes her hands. Other than her still slightly distended stomach, she still is showing no real evidence of her recent weight gain. She is still slender, with more of a dancer's build than a fencer's. Even her workout routine that she still follows despite no longer being in Atlas keeps her strictly in line with the ideal Atlesian figure. Skinny, and not very curvy.

Turning to look at herself in the mirror from a different angle, she sighs as she looks at her bum.

At least it's curvy.

She thinks to herself as she raises her tail and wags it for a moment.

I need to give Willow's a good brushing. It's full of knots.

She sighs as she turns again while grabbing her cup. She needs to fast again before the upcoming Fall Break, hopefully she can lose all this extra weight by then.

Opening the door, she smiles slightly when she sees Velvet waiting patiently for her. "Sorry for the wait."

The older girl shrugs. "It's fine. Your not as bad as Sienna. She would still be in there fixing every last strand of hair." She guffaws. "Miss Perfect would already be lecturing it for not cooperating!"

"Shhhh. Don't wake Willow. She's exhausted." Weiss hisses at her as she looks at her sleeping twin, who is now wrapped tightly in the blanket she herself brought from the dorm room, and cuddled up to the pillow she borrowed from Aunt Katie. Even sleep hasn't rid her of the stress lines across her face, or the fact that one hand rests on the sheath of her new sword, Fate. With a sigh, Weiss turns to look at Velvet. "What's up?"

Velvet smiles softly. "Been worried bout you is all. I know you and Ruby have been avoiding me since I made Winchester an elf. Why?"

Weiss blinks before groaning.

She did notice! Damn!

She thinks to herself as she takes a breath. "Velvet, I have to be very careful. Father has eyes everywhere."

"Not here at Beacon." Cinder declares as she yawns and stretches while walking towards the kitchen while still wearing an oversized t-shirt that just has to be one of her father's. "Velv, Sienna and I took care of all of them already." She reports.

Velvet nods. "Specially sis. She was so mad her tail unwrapped from her waist." The rabbit faunus reports.

Cinder smirks as she pours herself a cup of coffee, obviously pleased with herself by the way her tail has taken to wagging. "Yeah. I made two of em piss themselves. Emmy couldn't stop laughing!"

Weiss giggles at the mental image of grown men and women pissing themselves in the face of all of her cousin's obvious rage fueled house cleaning. But she sobers at the thought of the fact that her Father no longer has any viable spies here at Beacon. So much so that a small whimper escapes her throat.

Velvet suddenly hugs her. "Calm down. Daddy's taking them all back to Atlas now, along with a message." She informs Weiss calmly as she maintains the hug to keep the white wolf calm.

Cinder nods as she sits down on a barstool set up on the pub height counter top. "Him and Sienna both. She's still pissed."

Weiss sighs. If her uncle and oldest cousin, who is normally a very level headed and logically thinking woman are

returning

the spies, then her evil and cruel father is in for a nasty shock. No doubt, they will use those poor souls as lawn darts or something to that effect, up to and including oversized anal plugs. Shaking her head with a sigh, she groans as she raises her coffee cup only to discover that she's already drained the contents.

Cinder, the Goddess bless her, pats the barstool next to her with a smile. "So!" She declares. "Let's talk about a midnight confession to a certain Rose!"

Weiss blushes as she stares at her cousin. "B-but h-how did you k-know?!" Damn it! As always, Cinder threw her off and her damned stutter's back! Ugh!

Velvet grins as she pushes Weiss to the proper chair and physically sits her down like a child before boxing her in by sitting next to her. "We broke into your phone after you finally fell asleep." She informs her with a smirk. "By the way, interesting passcode."

Weiss's blush intensifies as she watches Cinder refill both their cups of coffee. "I-it's R-Ruby's birthday." She admits as her tail tries to tuck, but gets held by the high backed barstool. Her ears however have no issues, and flop down on her head, causing Cinder to giggle.

"I bet her's is your's, isn't it?" The other wolf faunus asks as she grins while passing Weiss her cup back.

Weiss simply nods as she continues to burn a bright red in her embarrassment, her fresh cup of coffee sitting untouched in front of her.

"Wow, Weissy's in love." Willow snickers as she joins them at the counter, Cinder moving over to let her sit next to her twin so she would have a better view of her surroundings. Her already messy hair is now sticking out at very odd angles as she takes the offered stool as well as Weiss's cup of coffee, while she tugs at the borrowed nightgown to get it to settle down a bit.

"Sorry, Noiry. We weren't trying to wake you." Velvet apologizes as she sips at her own cup.

"It's fine. When Weissy's mental train derailed, it exploded like something out of a Mistrali action movie." She replies while shrugging before taking a sip of the black liquid. "Bleh, just two sugars?!" She protests as she clumsily reaches for the creamer bowl, which Velvet helpfully pushes in front of her. "Thanks Velv."

"No problem, Willow." The rabbit faunus replies as she keeps looking at Weiss, waiting for a reply of some kind.

"Ruby l-loves those. T-the cheesier t-the b-better." Weiss admits quietly as she stares at the counter. To her surprise, a fresh cup of coffee is suddenly pushed into her view, along with a familiar scent. Looking up, she stares into her Aunt Katie's knowing smile.

"Then tell us all about her, Weiss." Kate requests in her quiet, yet commanding voice. "After all, we have to make sure she's worthy of a Garibaldi woman."

"B-but I'm a S-Schnee!" She protests.

"Not for long." All four women reply gravely as they share glances.

Weiss can't help but worry about what her Uncle and cousin are planning now. Certainly nothing good, that's for sure…..

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Carolina Scarlatina-Garibaldi sighs as she walks through the halls of the Valian Defense Force headquarters quickly while adjusting the low collar of her stark white uniform. As the ranking General in charge of the Defense of Vale proper, she has a lot of responsibilities to tend to on a day to day basis. From monitoring troop movements along Vale's expansive defense walls, to monitoring the entry into Mountain Glen for possible Grimm incursions or White Fang activity, her work day is normally filled from the moment she reports for duty to the moment she either falls asleep at her desk or gets dragged home by Kate. All in all, she desperately needs an adjutant to hand a lot of her day to day business. Or the occasional ruffled feathers like today.
Accepting the return of her auramate and honor daughter in anti aura manacles and full restraints is definitely one of those feathers ruffled situations.

But then again, she couldn't help but burst into laughter when she received the call from a furious James Ironwood, commanding officer of Atlas's own forces as well as Headmaster of the nation's huntsman academy to notify her that Alex and Sienna had been arrested for a multitude of crimes, including multiple counts of assault, trespassing, a few attempted murder charges, loads of destruction of private property charges, and the illegal use of a living being in the attempt to sodomize another. That one had been the kicker, and gotten her laughing so hard that Ironwood hung up on her in disgust. A horrible decision in hindsight, but she has no regrets.

And so, she now finds herself walking outside to sign for them, all the while grinning like an idiot as she spots Ironwood as well as his two prisoners, and to her surprise Whitley and Winter Schnee.
"Jimmy!" Carol calls out as Whitley rushes to her and hugs her tightly. "Heard mah old man Mountain gave y'all ah fit!" She finishes her greeting as she hugs her nephew back just as tightly, grateful to see his tail wagging a mile a minute in joy.
For his part, James Ironwood stands ramrod straight, as if a board is nailed to his back as he returns her smile with a look of disdain. "General Scarlatina, your husband had best be grateful that all of Atlas still owes him a great debt. Otherwise, he as well as your honor daughter would be languishing under my coldest and most remote prison."
"Now now, Jimmy. Ain't no need ta be all formal like. Call meh Carol. Carolina iffin yur feelin that fancy like." She replies as she keeps a loose hold on Whitley, who still has her in a virtual deathgrip. "Besides, no real harm done, iffin ah understood ya correctly." She adds with a smirk as Whitley nods into her ample chest, and Winter smirks and nods behind the General's back.
Ironwood however begins to sputter as his eyes widen in rage. "No harm done?! He and his daughter destroyed a large section of the Schnee Manor, demolished almost all the security guards, and caused major bodily harm to the owner of the single largest corporation in the world! And you claim that there was no harm done?!"
Carol nods as she reaches up and begins to scratch behind one of Whitley's ears, causing his tail to wag even faster. "Sounds ta me like old Jacques got wut was comin to em for ah while now." She replies casually, getting a trio of snickers from Alex, Sienna, and Winter. "Besides Jimmy, ah know you heard that tha Valian Council voted ta terminate all ah his contracts just this mornin. Come ta find out, they don't take too kindly to ah man that purposely blinded one of his own daughters." She points out in silent glee, thrilled that she had gotten them roused so quickly with just a snapshot of her face, her milky white orbs more proof of Jacques' cruelty to both the faunus as well as his own daughter. And all in just a few short hours, because she will be damned if her nieces and nephew suffer any longer at his hands.
For a moment, his facade vanishes as he looks in shock. "Th-that was true?! He really blinded Willow?!" He asks, his composure cracking almost visibly.
Alex nods as his face turns grim, as does Sienna's, while Winter snorts. "Did you truly believe I would lie to you General? My father is guilty of so much more. And once my siblings, family and myself gather more proof, we shall crucify him over his precious money that he covets more than us, his own children!" She declares angrily, more than a few of her troops giving her a rousing ooorah in reply.
Carol nods in agreement as she takes an offered datapad and signs for her auramate and honor daughter. "Maybe you need ta go speak ta her personally. She's at the house with most of tha girls." She informs him. "Best hurry though, ain't no tellin iffin Willow's still thair or not. Ah pulled her travel permits, but she's downright resourceful."
Ironwood nods as he looks downward. "Perhaps that is an excellent idea, Carol." He agrees as he finally drops his stern facade to reveal a man who's responsibilities have begun to wear him down. "Yes, I believe a side trip to Beacon is in order. Provided of course, he remains behind." He adds, motioning to a grinning Alex, who winks and blows her a kiss.
Carol nods as she keeps comforting Whitley. "Ah'll hold em here for ah spell." She agrees as she motions for her troops to gather up the two prisoners as well as Whitley's few effects. "Who's are those?" She asks as she looks at a second set of bags.
"Mine, Aunt Carol." Winter replies as she steps forward. "I've tendered my resignation from the Atlesian Military and find myself needing new employment." She explains as Ironwood quietly boards his bullhead and departs, the vessel already pointed directly at Beacon as it accelerates.
"Yur hired. Been needin an adjutant ah kin trust." Carol immediately replies as her own troops release Alex and Sienna, the latter immediately beginning to laugh as she hugs Winter, while the former stretches. "Now, wut in tha ten hells did ya do?!" She demands as she glares up at her massive auramate, who grins back as he gives a squealing Winter a one armed hug.
"Well, what had happened was….." Alex begins as the biggest shit eating grin in history appears on his face. Carol just rolls her eyes, knowing that this particular story is about to be ridiculous, overdramatic, and completely and totally true…...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Alex sighs as he pushes the call button again, while his daughter Sienna hauls the last of the two dozen Schnee spies out of the rented Bullhead. "Anything yet, Father?" She asks as she adds the paralyzed cook to the pile of his similarly paralyzed comrades.

"Nah, bein ignored like usual." He sighs. "An for tha love of tha Goddesses, will ya stop bein so damned formal?!"

"Never." She replies calmly as she moves to join him before the massive dust reinforced gates. Loading a magazine into her long rifle, Wandering Nomad, she looks up at him. "Shall we proceed?"

"Yeah, I guess. Hurts to know ah gotta do this." He sighs as he pushes the call button one last time. "Hey, Jacky? Last chance to let me in so we can settle this peaceful like. Ah really ain't wantin much, just for ya ta sign some papers is all. Oh, and to get outta mah house."

To both their surprises, they get a response from a surprise voice.

"Welcome home, Sir Alex. Unfortunately, Mr. Schnee is hiding in his office, and has taken control of all the Manor's defense systems. He has also ordered Security to detain you while General Ironwood arrives to escort you back to Vale.

Alex snorts as Sienna shakes her head and chuckles. "He does realize I got the Manor when Daddy died, right? Technically, Jimmy can't do shit to me."

"As I am aware sir. He has taken over Miss Snowy's office on the second floor of the North Wing. Good hunting, Sir."

"Thanks Klein. Make sure everybody's clear, will ya?" He replies calmly as he nods to Sienna. The young woman moves up quickly to the gate and takes a covering position as Alex strides up to them confidently. With a wide grin, he attaches a heavy looking brown satchel in the center of the snowflake and raises a small antenna up under one corner of the flap.

"Sir!" A guard calls out nervously while approaching cautiously, his assault rifle still at sling arms. "I have to insist that you remove that object and leave." He orders in a voice so full of terror it makes Alex and Sienna both grin.

Alex's grin turns wolfish. "An who's gonna make me? You?" He counters as he steps back and takes cover opposite the massive stonework column holding the right gate, while Sienna ducks behind the left.

"Sir! Sir, you forgot your…." The rest of what the guard was saying was lost in the massive explosion that rips the gates to shreds, with the unfortunate side effect of the guard getting virtually decapitated by a flying piece of shrapnel.

Tossing a small remote to the side, he whistles as Sienna joins him back in front of the now twisted and ruined once white gates. The Mountain looks at them sadly as his eldest child smirks.

"Grandmother Snowy is going to kill you in the afterlife." She comments idly as she looks around for anyone brave enough to try to approach them after that massive explosion.

"Yeah, Momma loved them damned gates. Took Daddy over ah year to have em made." He looks at the destruction he caused. "But she was right bout one thing."

"And that is, Father?" She asks as they begin to stride forward towards the Manor proper, Wandering Nomad already raised to a firing position.

Alexander Garibaldi sighs sadly as he draws a pair of bastard swords from under his long black drover's coat. "She always said Jacky's gonna be ah pain to get outta the house."

Sienna nods as she uses her overcharge semblance to fire an aura charged bullet at the front doors, blowing them open at the lock. "Then it is fortunate I came. Today is eviction day, and I shall be damned if he defiles Grandmother and Grandfather's home any further."

"Amen darlin. Ah got the left." He calls out as he suddenly dashes away with a speed that defies a man of his size's stature and build and engages a group of security guards coming down the stairs from the ballroom, the swords in his hands already flashing in the mid-afternoon light.

"Come, let us take out the garbage!" She calls back as she moves to engage several bots emerging from a sitting chamber directly to her right. Wandering Nomad is now in a spin as a bayonet emerges from the thick forward stock and locks into position, it's own silvery metal gleaming as well.

The halls are soon full of screaming guards, the sounds of breaking mechs, and the screams of Sienna Garibaldi telling them all to get the hell out of her grandparent's home before they really make her angry, as well as Alexander Garibaldi calling out for Jacques Schnee to show himself, and to take his ass kicking like the man he wishes he could be, then to get the fuck out of his house!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Klein Seiben smirks as he steps over a fallen security guard, his pockets turned inside out and his face looking like an abused punching bag. Looking over his shoulder, he notes that the single maid accompanying him is still present before he moves to stand next to Sienna Garibaldi, who lowers her weapon to give him a long overdue hug. "My but you have grown Miss Sienna." He whispers quietly, mindful of any remaining guards that could possibly be left.

"It has been far too long." Sienna whispers back as her auburn colored cat tail waves in her excitement at seeing the older man and longtime family friend.

Klein chuckles as he returns the hug, even as he looks at the ruins of what was once the Northwest Wing. Not a single door, picture, object of art, or even the carpeting was spared the young woman's vicious assault. But what Klein finds truly amazing is the guard who is dangling from the ceiling, his head trapped within. "I see the apple has truly not fallen far from the tree."

Sienna giggles. "I will never admit to anyone that this was the most fun I've had in some time. It's been forever since I got to cut loose like this."

"Indeed Miss. I must admit that Leigh and I also enjoyed clearing out the Southwest Wing to get to security." He chuckles as he hefts a massive halberd type polearm to one shoulder. "Although I am a bit rusty. Fortunately, Leigh had no such issues thanks to her rather brutal daily training regimen."

Sienna nods as she begins to dig into the pockets of another fallen guard, this one looking like the flight of stairs he was thrown down fell on him afterwords. "Good. I trust she has been watching your back then, ever since that horrid man took the Manor?" She stops and looks up at him. "And who is this Leigh?"

"Indeed she has. She is a new feline faunus maid I hired to assist me with the day to day chores. And I assume you are searching for the card key to Miss Snowy's office?" He asks.

"No, to access Whitley's quarters. Father is quite insistent that he return with us. That is my assigned task." She replies as she begins searching another downed guard, this one looking like a Beringel had slammed him repeatedly on the ground by his feet. "And a faunus readily agreed to work here?" She asks curiously as she looks up at him.

Klein chuckles. "You have not met Leigh. She graduated third in her class from Haven Academy, carries her main weapon constantly, and only answers to me." He informs her. "The only true fault I find with her is that she has accumulated a monstrous amount of debt for a woman her age."

Sienna nods as she moves to search the final guard, head hanger, who swats feebly at her and earning a solid punch to the testicles for his efforts. "Damn! None of the have the damned keycard!" She declares angrily before punching the guard once more, getting a muffled scream of pain out of him.

Klein nods as he takes a pen light out of his pocket and clicks it on and off three times, getting two flashes in return a moment later. "Then we need Leigh. She can hack the door panels with ease." He informs her as he puts the light away. "It's how we managed to get into the panic room before your father collapsed the Southeast Wing."

Sienna winces at the news. "So much for getting Weiss's things, along with Willow's." She mutters as she moves back to Klein's side to wait.

"Fear not. I removed anything of sentimental value after Miss Weiss left for Beacon. I shall admit, I saw this coming." Klein informs her as he pats her shoulder reassuringly.

Sienna nods as she leans against the wall next to the door. "As did we all. Especially after Daddy and Mum saw Willow's eyes. How in the hell did he even manage it?"

"A dust concoction of his own making. Sadly, none of us have been able to discover the formula as of yet." He replies as he checks his scroll and sighs. "Leigh, will you please stop dilly dallying and come along? We do not have much time left." He calls down the hall.

Sienna nods as she looks at him, her eyes flashing. "Daddy'll beat the tar out of him until he talks." She bristles angrily as her formal speech drops.

"Good!" A new voice calls out as a Raven haired, purpled eyed cat faunus in a maid's outfit skips past them, an odd metal whip on a custom holster on her back. But Sienna can't help but smile softly at the tender look the older man gives the short faunus girl. "Can he tell Jacqass I quit while he's at it?" She adds as she comes to a stop in front of the door panel.

"Ah Leigh, excellent timing as always." Klein chuckles. "And no, your debts are still far too significant to overlook." He reminds her, getting a chuckle out of Sienna and a groan from the maid.

"Fiiiiiiiiiiine." She whines as she looks over the sealed door, it's various defenders cast away like broken toys. Taking her scroll out of her pocket, she attaches a small cable to a data port on the door's security panel and pushes a series of buttons. "Ok, give it a sec."

Sienna raises an eyebrow. "And here I thought you would be some kind of genius hacker or something?"

"Nah, just something I picked up from Roman in Vale before coming here." She replies as she pushes several buttons. "Been spying on Jacqass for the better part of a year for him."

This time, it's Klein's turn to look surprised. "Then the sob story of being broke is a lie?" He asks her quietly.

"Oh no, I owe so much money my future kids may have to finish paying it all off." She replies as the doors unlock. "But Byte was worth every penny." She adds as she joins them, while laying a gentle hand on his chest. "Along with meeting you. That's been the best part of all."

Sienna nods as she opens the door slowly, giving them a quiet moment. "We'll talk later. Whitley?" She calls out softly as she enters, moving her rifle slowly, while pulling the bayonet back into its storage position. "Whitley?"

Leigh enters next, her whip in hand, but still coiled. "Whit? Come on out."

Klein keeps watch on the hallway, trusting the two faunus women to be able to find him. He hears a sudden squeal followed by a crashing sound. Looking for himself, he smiles as he spots young Whitley hugging a downed but smiling Sienna, his tail wagging a mile a minute as Leigh moves away, no doubt to quickly gather his things. Nodding in satisfaction, he sets his halberd down and sends a text message to Alex.

Whitley is secured. Do as you will.

Klein Seiben smirks as he puts his scroll away. Perhaps a change of scenery would be advised for him and Leigh both. He's heard that Vale is quite breathtaking this time of year…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

SMACK

Winter Schnee winces as she hears the echoing slap from the corner leading into the western wing of the once beautiful Schnee Manor. Well, more like the Schnee prison camp for the reeducation of the upper class faunus youth. She can't help but shudder at that thought, even as the memories of her upbringing rise up like ghosts of years past, to both haunt as well as comfort the young.

Things had been wonderful growing up while Snowy and Garrett Garibaldi-Schnee had been alive. Snowy, who had mourned her first husband Nicolas for several years before meeting the former Valian general and Senior Huntsman, was impressed with the windower and quite taken with his then eight year old son, impressed enough to invite them both along on an extended hunt with her and her own eight year old daughter. Theirs ended up being a whirlwind romance that lasted the whole six months of the hunt, and ended with a proposal over the half dissolved carcass of a defeated Ursa Prime the size of a school bus. A proposal that Snowy accepted with glee.

Winter and Sienna's, then later on Cinder and Velvet's early childhoods had been filled with countless camping trips with their giant of a wolf faunus grandpa, plenty of business days with their petite, red eyed wolf faunus grandma which included impromptu long lunches that included the playground of the McWulfy's near the SDC building which was back then only a third of its current size, and loads of fun with both Uncle Alex and Auntie Katie as well as Miss Summer and Mr. Qrow whenever they could make time to visit with their busy hunting schedules.

But then things started to go horribly wrong. Shortly after her twin sisters were born, Garrett and Snowy were killed in a freak airship accident while traveling to Vale to visit Uncle Alex and Auntie Kate, who had just found out they were having twins of their own.

Their bodies as well as the airship mysteriously crashed into the ocean between Mistral and Vale. Not even the first piece of wreckage was ever discovered, nor the giant SDC branded vessel was ever found. She can still remember Mama and Uncle Alex both sobbing brokenly at the memorial service for them, the loss of their parents a wound that would never completely heal.

Then five years later, her mother and the Branwens had been killed in a hunt, and Uncle Alex badly injured and left in a coma for over a year. And that is when her own once meek and quiet father made his move. Before there were even proper burials done for the fallen huntresses and huntsman, he seized full control of the SDC in a hostile takeover so brutal, so ruthless, that both the board of directors as well as the Altesian courts were caught completely off guard by the swiftness of it. And to this day, Mama's will still goes disputed in the Atlesian courts no thanks to Jacques and his high priced independent lawyer, Hazel. It will no doubt be a legal battle that he will draw out as long as possible, just to spite his own children and Mama's rightful heirs.

SMACK

The echoing blow brings her back to her senses and the present as well. Looking around, she sighs as she sees the almost complete and utter destruction of the north wing. Grandma would already be screaming in a rage if she saw this, Grandpa would be impressed, and she, Sienna, Cinder and Velvet would be marveling at the scene itself, while oooooing and all agreeing that Uncle Alex would be in deep trouble.

SMACK

Enough, she has to stop her uncle from killing Father. Well, not yet anyway. She as well as Willow and Siena Khan have been slowly gathering all the evidence they need to hang Jacques Schnee by his toes over an Ursa's den naked and covered in honey. She has been covering all the legal angles as a member of the Atlas Military, as well as helping Weiss as much as possible at Beacon. Willow has been handling all the not so legal angles with the help of an old family friend, and the Khan has been aiding with eyewitness testimonies of escaped slaves from the mines in Mistral.

But it's still not enough. Because Winter and Willow Schnee firmly believe that Jacques had something to do with the deaths of their grandparents, their mother, and two dear people as close to them as family, leaving behind a father and uncle who can't remember the day they died, and twelve children with more questions than answers. Questions that the three women are determined to find answers for. And then Jacques will pay with his life. If she can stop Uncle Alex from killing him first.

SMACK

"Just sign the goddamned papers, Jacky! Ah ain't got all damned day!"

"Go to hell, you foul, despicable beast!"

SMACK

Winter winces at that one as she hurries onward. That last one definitely didn't sound like the love taps she has heard until now. Uncle Alex is getting angry now, and he's going to be much harder to stop if he loses his temper now. Rushing in, she slides to a stop at the sight of Grandma's once elegant study and home office, which now looks like nothing less than a class eight blast dust infused bomb exploded. Pieces of priceless books lie in burning piles, along with shattered pieces of bookcases, flaming chairs, and thankfully the real Jacques currently wearing the absolutely horrid self portrait of himself over his head, while Uncle Alex glares at him hatefully, his right hand raised to strike once more.

SMACK

Winter can't help but wince as she covers her human ears while her wolf ones flop down at the loud, echoing blow. But despite all of this, she can clearly hear the continued verbal argument between them.

"Ah said sign em, you son of a bitch!" Alex roars as he holds a stack of papers in what is now clearly identifiable as robotic hand, a few shreds of deeply tanned skin left on it.

"Never, you inbred piece of animal trash!" Jacques roars back. However, Winter can see the damage the heavy blows have already caused. Both of Father's lips are swollen and bleeding, as well as his nose and one eyebrow, the eye underneath swelling shut.

SMACK

"You're done ruining Mama's good name, you hear me you bastard son of ah moose! You ruined thousands of lives, including your own children's, and for what? Power? Respect? Glory?" Alex growls out as he glares hatefully at the battered, yet defiant CEO.

"Like an animal like you would truly understand." Jacques sneers before spitting out a broken tooth. "I took a pathetic faunus owned company and proved it's worth to the world under more appropriate leadership. Tell me dog man, could you have done any better?"

Smack

Alex stares in shock as Winter strikes the next blow, a snarl on her lips and her eyes full of her own barely contained rage. "Don't you ever insult a better man than yourself, you coward!" She screams into his face as she strikes him again, this time with a balled up fist instead of her palm. "You blinded my sister! You bullied and mentally abused us all you sick pathetic fuck! And for what?!" She shrieks as she tries to hit him again, only to be restrained by her mountain of an uncle. "Answer me you fucking monster!"

Jacques never loses his sneer, even as he spits out another tooth. "To show you animals your proper place, and that is under my heel. Your precious red eyed sister was the only one of you to show even the slightest bit of courage and truly stand up to me, and she paid for her insolence with her sight. And once I am free, you shall pay dearly for striking me, you misbegotten welp!" He snarls. "I should have drowned you all the moment you came howling from your mother's cursed womb!"

Winter squeals as Alex tosses her away along with the papers before descending upon Jacques like the personification of fury itself. His first heavy punch connects solidly with Jacques' face, knocking him backwards out of the ruined portrait and slamming him bodily to the floor. Ripping his way through canvas, wood and horrible paint, he grabs the CEO by the ruined collar of his once expensive suit with his mechanical arm and slams him heavily onto the top of the solid oak desk that once belonged to Snowy Schnee before punching him repeatedly with heavy blows that soon have the wood underneath cracking and splintering.

Winter can only watch with an almost detached horror as her gentle giant Uncle Alex is rapidly and savagely beating her father, no her sperm donor to death. Her main thought is not to stop him, but a deep regret that Willow isn't here to see this for herself. Long have the two of them struggled to see themselves free from his influence and torture, but sought to free Weiss and Whitley even more. And now, their freedom is at hand.

"DADDY STOP!" Sienna screams as she hammers the back of his head with the butt of her rifle, a look of terror in her eyes. Winter blinks at the sudden interruption before looking down at the bloody, mangled mess that was once Jacques Schnee. But try as she might, she could not muster even a moment's pity for the tyrant who she is unfortunately part of.

For his part, Alex spits on the barely breathing mound of flesh and broken bones while still growling. "Your lucky Sienna knocked some fuckin sense into me, you cocksucker. Else I'd finish the fuckin job!"

Sienna blocks him as she looks up at him. "Enough, Daddy! Auntie wouldn't want this! Neither would Grandma and Grandpa!" She pauses for a brief moment. "Well maybe Grandma and Grandpa, but that's not the point!"

Winter nods as she stands next to her cousin and takes her hand. "Willow and I will burn him at the stake, Uncle Alex, I promise. But Mama wouldn't want you staining your hands with his death." She sighs. "We need to cure Willow. So we can see Grandma's eyes again. And we can't do that without him." She adds firmly.

Sienna nods as she squeezes Winter's hand. "We need to put Weiss, Willow and Whitley before your need for revenge, Daddy. Your need to make him pay for what he's done to this family and this company."

Klein nods as he joins the three of them, a growling Leigh moving to actually stand guard over Jacques, who is still breathing despite the beating he took at Alex's hands. "Sir Alex, Miss Ada would be disappointed in you. We both know that she would want you to help your nieces and nephews than avenge the hell he has put them through." He reminds him calmly as he stands shoulder to shoulder with Sienna.

Alex takes a deep breath, then another before wiping his mouth and forehead with the back of his sleeve, leaving small streaks of blood across both. "Get the formula outta him. And his signature." He growls out, his eyes still filled with rage. "Gotta find Justice and Mercy. Didn't wanna dirty em on him." He mutters angrily as he storms off.

Winter, Sienna and Klein watch him go before turning towards Jacques. But all three of them smirk as they hear Alex yell out one last command.

"AND TELL THAT COCKSUCKER TO GET HIS SHIT AND HIS BROKEN ASS OUTTA MAH HOUSE!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"By the time I found my swords, Jimmy was there arresting all of us and swarming the place with his stupid droids." Alex finishes his part of the joint story with a smirk as he sits on the couch in Carol's spacious office.

The rabbit faunus nods as she looks thoughtful. "So where's the sodomy come in?" She finally asks, getting a pair of giggles from her niece and honor daughter.

"The sperm donor was less than willing to give me this." She declares as she holds up a piece of paper, formulas written all over it in a sloppy scrawl.

"Or sign these." Sienna adds as she holds up the aforementioned papers.

Winter nods. "All it took was a not so well lubricated fist." She finishes with a firm shake of her head.

Carol chuckles as she takes the papers from both of them before sitting in Alex's lap to study them. "Ah kin work wit Katie on this part here. We'll have Willow seein straight again." She declares before going through the rest. "Wait ah sec, he didn't sign one of em."

Sienna and Winter suddenly look away as Alex sighs. "Yeah, I better let them explain that one."

Carol looks at them as she clears her throat, her foot tapping against Alex's armor plated shins. "Well?"

Sienna sighs. "We tried everything. And I do mean everything." She begins.

"We even had that poor guy's arm in his ass up to his elbow." Winter continues. "We even threatened to finish the job Uncle Alex started."

"But he wouldn't sign the disownment papers for Weiss. Even after…."

"Even after what?" Carol asks too calmly, causing the two eldest members of the Garibaldi-Schnee family to gulp. "What did you two do?"

Winter's tail tucks firmly between her legs as she begins to toe the carpet behind her with the toe of her boot. "I gelded him. It's why I'm here. It was either resign and come here as well, or face severe penalties as well as a court martial."

Carolina Scarlatina-Garibaldi blinks for a second as she stares at her niece in shock. Of all the things she expected to come out of her mouth, that was the last thing she expected to hear. Torture perhaps, she is her niece after all and Ada had a well known temper and a vicious vindictive streak that could make even grown men cower, including the normally fearless Alex.

Sienna sighs. "Sorry Mum."

Winter nods as she looks down. "General Ironwood stopped me before I could ram them down his throat."

"Dumbass got past me when he broke out the Paladins." Alex grumbles.

Carol just sighs as she stares at the paperwork to disown Weiss, his signature missing. "This ain't good." She finally declares. "She's tha main one we needed cut loose. She's betrothed ta Jaune Arc, an Jeanne Arc's come ta town ta make sure tha wedding goes off without ah hitch."

"How long we got?" Alex asks quietly.

"Spring Solstice." Carol replies as she brushes her fingers gently through Whitley's hair, the young man having slept through the entire telling of the long tale. "Good thing Fall Solstice is soon, so we still got some time."

Sienna giggles. "And I'm pretty sure Mama's grilling Weiss to find out just how much she really likes Ruby Rose." She comments idly.

"Wait, little Ruby Rose? Miss Summer and Mr. Qrow's oldest?" Winter asks curiously as she sits up straight in seat, her ears showing her alertness. "When did Weiss meet her?"

Carol smirks. "Ruby's attendin Beacon now, an she's Weiss team leader."

"Just like Sum, ah natural huntress." Alex rumbles sadly, his voice heavy with emotion. "Still can't remember much about that damned mission either."

Carol sighs as she pats his leg. "Might be fir tha best, sugar wolf."

"Maybe." Alex agrees as he looks out the window, a haunted look on his face as he rubs his mechanical forefinger and thumb together. Carol wishes sometimes that she could read his mind as easily as she could read his emotions. But sadly, she didn't inherit that particular gift from her own momma. But judging by his facial expression and his mood, his thoughts were dark enough for her to almost not want to know.

Almost…..

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ruby can't help but stretch as she steps off the ferry from Patch. She's always hated the almost two hours long ride from the small independent island to Vale proper. The boat always smells like rotten fish, the passengers were always gloomy, and they always avoided her like she has some kind of plague.
Well, if love is a plague, then she's happily sick!
But she blinks as the familiar scent of an expensive coffee hits her sensitive nose. A scent that seems to fill her senses and block every other scent out, no matter how strong it could be. Looking around, she sighs as she spots Headmaster Ozpin apparently waiting for her, who is looking directly at her while sipping at that massive mug he has constantly in hand.
Lifting her duffel bag, she walks calmly over smiling. Reaching him, she salutes. "Headmaster, I'm guessing my Aunt asked you to turn me around?" She asks bluntly as she keeps her duffel bag on her shoulder, fully expecting to be directed back onto the stinky boat.
To her surprise, he smiles softly. "Actually Miss Branwen, I need a word with you over some recent occurrences." He replies calmly as he turns to walk. "Hungry?" He asks over his shoulder as he sets a steady pace into the city proper.
Ruby nods as she follows him, still a bit on alert at the fact that once again, he found her effortlessly and at the perfect time. "Starving. My little brother kinda ruined my breakfast." She admits while smirking at the memory of throwing the pot full of oatmeal at him, only to get him in trouble with them instead of hitting him.
"Ah yes, the time honored tradition of torturing younger siblings." He agrees, his normal soft smile present. "Unfortunately, I am an only child, so I must content myself with torturing my students instead. Well, the ones I don't like." He corrects himself as he begins to lead them deeper into downtown Vale, passing several restaurants as well as a couple of food stands.
"Ummm, Headmaster? Where are we going?" Ruby asks curiously as her stomach protests audibly at being denied food from all these delicious smelling places they keep passing. Patting her pockets, she audibly groans as she remembers she didn't bring her lien card with her from the dorm room, just to avoid doing exactly what she was planning to do, and that's buy more snacks that she can't really afford on a student's allowance.
"To my home for some lunch." He informs Ruby calmly before taking a sip of coffee. Swallowing it, he looks back at her. "My wife is wanting to meet you, seeing as how she and your mother were classmates. Granted, they were anything but friends, but she wishes to see how her rival's eldest daughter compares."
Ruby audibly groans once more. Auntie Raven warned her this may happen when she started attending Bacon… Beacon! Beacon Academy! Mmmmm, bacon. Weiss makes the best bacon! So tender, yet perfectly crispy…. Goddess but she's starving! Weiss would have already dragged her back to the dorm room and made her one of those tasty meat filled sandwiches she can whip up in no time flat, then smile as she wolfs it down (pun intended) before she uses her own semblance to rush them to their next class.
"Miss Branwen?" The Headmaster calls out. "Welcome to my home." He announces in pride as he stands in front of a modest brownstone townhouse that overlooks Veteran's Park.
Ruby blinks as she realizes that she spaced out thinking about Weiss and food. Weiss's food? Weiss covered in food? Shaking her head to clear it of that sudden erotic thought, she looks at the Headmaster then the townhouse they are standing in front of. But then her eyes focus on the woman standing on the front steps.

The first thought that comes to mind is the fact that she is gorgeous! Long blonde hair, creamy white skin, to die for blue eyes…. But she kind of looks like…..
"Ruby, my wife Salem Arc-Ozpin. Salem, this is Ruby Rose-Branwen." The Headmaster introduces them with a smile, nodding in satisfaction as both women's eyes widen in understanding, then narrow in immediate suspicion.
"Rose-Branwen? So, Summer and Qrow's oldest has already arrived? And has already claimed Weiss Schnee's heart? Impressive." Salem states calmly, a growing smile on her face. "Good, Jaune and Weiss both deserve to be happy."
Ruby blinks in surprise, even as she already moves her hand away from Crescent Rose, while dropping the defensive stance she had taken out of habit. "Wait, what?!" She declares in confusion. She was ready to start growling, threatening, and maybe even commit a crime! What kind of oatmeal cookie madness is this?! Looking at Ozpin himself, her shock grows as he too nods.

"Please, come inside Ruby. All I ask is to not start a battle with my nephew. At least, not until you hear his, as well as our side of the story." He asks as he motions for her to follow Salem, who has already entered the brownstone, leaving the door open. With a nod, she squares her shoulders and strides confidently into the building. She's determined to get the rest of the story, and if necessary, go to plan B.
She isn't above kidnapping Weiss and running away with her. Whatever it takes to save Weiss from marrying Jaune….

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Stop yanking my tail!""It's all knotted up!""It hurts! Stahp!" Willow shrieks as Weiss pulls hard on a wire bristle brush through the tangled, knotted disaster that is her twin's tail. Stopping for a moment to wipe her brow, she glares at Willow, who winces."Why?! Why have you not been at least going to a faunus salon?!" She demands as she grabs at a bottle of detangler, spraying it liberally before continuing with the brushing."I was afraid Father would find me that way." She admits quietly as she stays sitting as still as possible. "I did my very best to avoid his gaze as much as I could while I sought evidence against him in less than savory social circles."Weiss pauses for a moment as she catches glimpses of some of those activities. Not visually of course, but she can hear them, smell them, feel them. The smell and taste of blood is so strong, so overwhelming that she can't help but gasp in horror at the overwhelming sensation.And through it all, she can feel the grim determination of her twin sister driving her onward."What have you become, Noiry?" She whispers as the brush falls from suddenly nerveless fingers and onto the floor. "This isn't you. This has never been you. You were always the most gentle of us, the kindest and most caring."Turning around to take her hands gently into her own, she smiles sadly. "Sometimes a good person isn't enough to fight an evil one, Weissy. Sometimes, it takes evil to fight evil." She sighs as once red orbs lock onto sky blue ones. "My hands are red now. My soul stained by my crimes, my sins, the people I killed in my quest to bring that monster low." She finally breaks the eye contact and looks away sadly. "I don't deserve a single kindness all of you have shown me. Not anymore."Weiss slaps her as she glares daggers at her now cowering twin, feeling an unfamiliar anger filling her. "Why?! Why do such things, sister?!" She asks demandingly as she now seemingly towers over the raven haired wolf girl. "Mama would be ashamed of you!""For you." Willow answers calmly as she rubs her cheek, but looks back at her unflinchingly. "So you could take back our mother's company and return it to being the honorable and noble institution it once was." "I never asked for this!" Weiss replies hotly, her fury still rolling through her veins and making her blood boil. "I don't want the fucking company! I never did! Your dream was to take the SDC back!""My dreams died when I lost my sight, Weiss." Willow counters as she stands to face her twin directly, the two standing toe to toe. "So instead I took it upon myself to depose that monster. I bloodied my hands, darkened my soul, so you wouldn't have to. So that when you turned of age and met Grandpa Garrett's terms, you would have no issue with assuming control.""I didn't want this!" Weiss repeats as she growls, her tail standing aggressively. "All I ever wanted was for you to come home to us. To stop running away!""We were never meant to meet again." Willow admits bluntly. "Sooner or later, I must pay for everything I've done, yet the Khan saw fit to send me here to hunt down Adam Taurus, but I don't know why.""Because your work is done." Kate declares firmly as she enters the bedroom the two of them have been closeted in since the inqusition ended earlier. "Because Siena recognized the precipice your soul dangled over, and did not want you to fall any further into the darkness you already travel through." The older woman adds as she moves between them, separating the two before a fight could erupt. Pushing Willow back down onto the chair she's been sitting on, she herself sits next to the raven haired girl and hugs her tightly before looking directly at Weiss, her Amber eyes smoldering softly. "Willow and Weiss, we promised Ada to care for you all, help guide you correctly and to insure your future. All of you.""No offense, but you guys sucked at it." Weiss deadpans as she looks at her aunt, while using one of Ruby's favorite words absentmindedly. "Winter ran off as soon as she was seventeen, Willow was blinded, and I'm betrothed to an idiot." She grumbles bitterly as she herself sits back down heavily. "Who knows what kind of shape Whitley is in without me there."Kate nods as she keeps holding Willow, who is now clinging to her tightly. "Blame Jacques. He has effectively kept us away via all sorts of legal and not so legal actions. But don't worry, your uncle has already made him pay dearly." She adds with a smirk. Both young women look up at her curiously. "What do you mean?" They ask in unison as their link slams in, both of them already alert and wary as Willow releases Kate and grabs Fate from its resting place by her side, while Weiss takes note that Myrtenaster is by its place by the door.Kate's smile stays in place as she stands and smoothes out her white and red dress. "James Ironwood is here to speak to you, little Snowy." She informs Willow. "He wishes to hear the truth from your own mouth."Willow blinks at that news. "Me?!" She squeaks out in surprise as she points at herself, making her sister and aunt both giggle. "Why me?!""You were the one blinded, dolt." Weiss replies as she walks over and takes her arm. "Come along, this would be another excellent opportunity to sink Father's ship even further."Willow smirks as she pats the offered arm before straightening her shoulders. "I will accept the consequences of my actions, Twit. You can't stop me there."Kate smiles as she walks ahead of them and opens the door. "Consequences? Willow Noir Schnee, you know better than that. If he tries to arrest you, he'll be sent back to Atlas in an urn. A very small one." She adds as she begins to smolder from an internal fire, leaving neither of them to wonder if it was a hollow threat or a legitimate promise.Weiss nods in agreement as the air around them begins to cool rapidly. "I have you back, we all do. I will be damned if I lose you again, dolt.""Fine twit. Lead the way. Besides, it's nice having a seeing eye heiress. It makes me feel special." Willow giggles as she leaves Fate next to Myrtenaster before being led down the hall."Oh shut up, dolt!""Make me twit!"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"So let me get this straight." Ruby begins as she pushes her plate away and looks at Jaune Arc directly. "You're being forced to marry Weiss?"

To his credit, Jaune doesn't flinch at Ruby's eyes, but locks his own brilliant blue orbs on hers. "I am, by my mother. She covets the Schnee dust mines, as well as the research and development areas of the company. She is especially interested in the research of Dr. Hephaestus Polendina when it concerns artificial constructs."

Ruby blinks at the freely given information from her perceived rival, before her face falls into it's well practiced mask of indifference. Yang would know this look all too well, the Reaper having developed it into an artform.

Yang loves to tell people to leave her alone, because the mechanical hamster that runs the virtual computer in her brain is on full blast, and already demanding more cookies.

"What else?" She asks as she stands and begins to pace, not realizing that she's begun to shed both red as well as white rose petals as she walks back and forth.

"That's all I know." Jaune replies earnestly. "Mom doesn't trust me enough to tell me all of her plans. Hell, to be completely honest, I only know as much as I do thanks to my older sister Saphron."

Salem nods. "Saphron is the nosiest of my nieces, Ruby. She has an odd talent for ferreting out information from my sister without too many problems, thanks to having one of the few grandchildren in her side of the family." She adds quietly.

Ozpin sighs. "Jeanne runs the Arc Corporation with a velvet glove hiding an iron fist, Miss Branwen. Even Jacques Schnee and Azura Adel, her two closest rivals, tread carefully around her."

"But why Weiss? Why not her older sister Winter?" Ruby stops and asks, not noticing that she is still shedding petals at a constant rate.

"Because Winter abdicated the throne, as it were." Salem informs her. "And the next oldest, Willow, is still missing and wanted for a variety of crimes in Mistral and Vacuo." Jaune and Ruby both blink at that unexpected revelation.

"Weiss has another sister?!" Ruby cries out.

"And she's a wanted criminal?!" Jaune adds, his voice rising nervously. "Wanted for what?!"

David Ozpin looks at his wife of over twenty years now, who smiles and nods her assent to the comical reply the two of them are about to receive. Looking at them, he schools his face carefully. "We aren't sure exactly. When we asked her Uncle, he informed us that she was simply looking for a good time."

"What kind of good time?" Ruby asks, taking the bait.

"The kind that has earned her enough arrest warrants to keep her tied up in litigation for several hundred years." He replies calmly.

Salem nods. "Apparently, she had a very good time."

Ruby and Jaune both look at each other nervously as they realize that they may both have a common problem. Especially if she doesn't actually like either of them.

But Jaune, who is normally fearless despite the consequences is the one to ask the obvious. "I'm guessing murder is one of the charges?"

Salem looks at her nephew and simply smiles. "None they can prove. They still can't find the bodies."

Ruby gulps as she looks at them both, while squaring her shoulders. “She won’t stop me from getting Weiss out of this. I’ll even fight her if I have to.” She declares as she stands and moves to the door, grabbing her bag along the way.

“I do not believe that will be necessary Miss Branwen.” Ozpin calls out behind her, all three of them watching as Ruby takes her scythe next and sets it on her lower back.

“Can you guarantee it?” She shoots back as she opens the door. “Because I’m not risking everything over an I think or a maybe.” She declares calmly. “Not when I know how I feel about her now.”

Standing to her feet, Salem walks over smiling and suddenly offers her a hand. “Stay in touch with Jaune and David, Ruby. They will help you claim Weiss for your own.”

Ruby takes the offered hand with a smile. “Thank you ma’am. And I will. By the way, why didn’t you and my mom get along?” She asks curiously.

“In order to answer that question, you will have to wait until winter break, Ruby.” She replies calmly. “Return then, and I will be more than happy to explain.”

“Yes ma’am. Oh, and thanks for lunch.” She adds almost absentmindedly before dashing away, exploding into a swarm of rose petals as soon as she is clear of the steps.

Salem sighs as she watches the white and red petals fall and dissolve into nothingness, memories of Summer Rose swirling in her mind, along with her husband Qrow.

Especially memories of Qrow Branwen, her first love…..

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

James Ironwood sets down his cup of coffee and begins to think of everything Willow Schnee has just told him. Her story had been anything but what he expected to hear from her, and the fact that she willingly confessed to all her crimes committed in the effort to bring down her hated father meant he needed to consider his options carefully. So, he decided to focus on the facts.
Fact One: Jacques Schnee willfully and successfully blinded his own daughter with a mixture of dust types that is still relatively unknown. He isn't surprised by this fact. It has been a well known rumor that he has been physically abusive with his own children in the past, rumors that Winter herself confirmed when she came to work under him in the military. Jacques has also been a thorn in the side of the Atlesian government since the day he took control of the SDC. And as the longtime head of said government's military, he especially hates dealing with the haughty and arrogant businessman.

Fact Two: Willow has admitted that she is an assassin for the White Fang, and that she is responsible for several recent high profile assassinations within the governments of Mistral, Atlas, and Vacuo. Again, he isn't surprised by this fact. He knew her mother personally, and unfortunately still knows her Uncle as well. Both of them are still well respected in Atlas, and Alex is, especially now considering his recent actions, still feared there. He already knows several allies of Jacques that are most likely hiding in terror right now, fears of the Black Snow and now the Mountain knocking on their doors a very real possibility.

However, Willow did also provide proof that those she assassinated were not just in league with the powerful businessman, but were some of the ones responsible for allowing the rumored conditions at the many dust mines owned by the SDC. If all she showed him is to be believed, these men and women had committed crimes akin to high treason in Atlas alone, nevermind the rest of the world at large. She gave him every last piece of evidence willingly, keeping copies for herself as well. He gives her credit for that, she is most definitely Snowy Schnee's granddaughter in that respect, as well as Ada's daughter.
Fact three: If he tries to leave with the assassin in chains, he will no doubt return to Atlas inside a very, very small box. Weiss is hovering protectively over her twin, the glare she is leveling upon him speaking volumes. And even a blind wolf faunus like Willow can feel the heat radiating from Kate as she stands just outside the living quarters door, the forge a much safer place to contain the heat generated by her fire based hereditary semblance.
Contrary to Alex's and David's personal beliefs, he isn't a fool. Willow has handed him more than enough proof to destroy much of her father's influence in Atlas alone, not to mention Mistral as well. Vacuo however is a different story. No doubt the government there is more firmly in his pocket than outside of it, and no amount of proof there could change their minds.
But he also knows exactly who to send the information to, and just how she'll use it as well.
Conclusion: For his own personal safety, offer her the same bargain he offered his former officer and her older sister Winter. Then…
"General? Will this take much longer?" Weiss asks, disrupting his train of thought. "I wish to do something with my doltish sister, and it takes time as well as a good bit of aura to do."
He raises an eyebrow in curiosity, but decides to move forward. "Then I will make your twin the same offer I recently made to your older sister. And that is exile from Atlas in exchange for the information she has given me, as well as no fear of a trip to the gallows for her as well." He states clearly, privately relieved that Kate's semblance begins to cool down.
Willow nods. "We have a bargain then, General. I… I've taken enough lives in the past three years. I only have one more to take before my tasks are completed." She informs him quietly. "And it is one that I owe as repayment for a debt."
This does get his attention, and he opens his mouth to speak when Kate's semblance flares almost dangerously, causing several nearby students to squeal in alarm. Realizing that he is about to cross a point of no return, he wisely closes it back and simply nods.
Weiss smiles as she offers her hand, her right eye changing from her normal sky blue to a brilliant ruby red. "We thank you, General." She declares in a voice that seems like an odd echo of itself. "We are glad to see that you are indeed a man of honor, as we were raised by Mama to believe."
James Ironwood nods as he stands and takes her hand firmly, giving it the traditional three shakes of acknowledgement recognized in Atlas. "You have my word, Miss Schnee and Miss Schnee. Your father will pay a heavy price for his crimes in Atlas. All you have given me will not be wasted."
Kate giggles as she walks up and takes his arm. "Come, I'll escort you out." She declares as she smiles. "After all, it's been some time since we've been able to talk, James."
He nods as he raises his arm to support hers in a courtly fashion. Deciding to change the subject, considering her extremely close proximity as well as the fact that her temper is every bit as volatile as her deceased sister in law's, the two of them chat as they leave the forge and walk the short distance to the school's airship docks.

But, his heart stops as he spots a face he hasn't seen in over a decade now. The face of a woman who died to save his country as well as the entire world, hopping down from an arriving bullhead and dashing away quickly in the direction of the forge he just left.
"Ah, I see you spotted Ruby." Kate chuckles as she also spots the Reaper, a trail of rose petals in her wake. "I believe she and Weiss are discussing the possibilities of entering into a relationship."
"Wait." James Ironwood stops in his tracks and looks in the direction Ruby vanished into. "She's Summer and Qrow's child? The eldest?"
Kate nods as she smiles. "Yes. And we are all excited to see her here and following in their footsteps. Ruby has already begun to cast a shadow of her own, Weiss willingly at her side."
He stays silent for several moments, digesting this new information and comparing it to what he already knows through rumors, the tabloids, as well as his own information sources in the less than savory parts of every nation. "Kate, you know Weiss is betrothed to Jaune Arc, correct?" He asks cautiously, paying close attention to the shorter woman to gauge her reaction.
"I am aware." She replies as her eyes narrow. "Salem and I are more than prepared to go and have a word with her, if no other options are left to us before we pass any kind of point of no return." She explains carefully. "We do not believe that Weiss and Jaune should be forced into something they themselves do not desire."
Thinking quickly, he comes to a decision. One he knows he may regret in the short term, but if it works, then will both aid two young couples in love, as well as spite Jacques Schnee. "Then I'll go ahead and send my students chosen for Vytal early." He looks down and smiles. "Penny has been furious that I haven't allowed them to leave yet, and is getting harder to control."
Kate tilts her head, confusion on her facial features. "Penny?"
James Ironwood smiles, a small part of him enjoying the fact that he knows something the Burning Queen doesn't know. "Persephone Polendina, the daughter of Hephaestus and Antonia Polendina and perhaps one of my favorite students." He replies as his smile grows wider. "And the woman who Jaune truly loves."
"WHAT?!"
"Heh heh heh." It's not every day he gets to surprise his well informed former professor, and he plans to enjoy every last second of it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ruby pauses as she reaches the door of the forge, her hand raised in the air to knock. Normally, the forge is open all day for students to come and do a surprisingly wide variety of work to their weapons and gear. The Forgemaster of Beacon is a far seeing man who acknowledges the fact that electronics and mechashift both are becoming the norm, and so has plenty of areas dedicated to those as well.

But none of that matters right now. Ruby's here to talk to Weiss, and that's more important than the to do list she's been putting off on Crescent Rose.

"Ruby?"

Turning around, she sees the white wolf faunus that has taken over her dreams, infiltrated her hopes, and most importantly to her, she can't live without anymore. And as always, she's rendered speechless at Weiss's amazing beauty. She's dressed simply in a pair of shorts and a tank top, her long white hair flowing freely in the slight breeze while her tail wags idly, but Ruby's heart is pounding nonetheless.

She can see her future in those sky blue eyes, and it looks glorious.

"I can't." She murmurs as she walks a step closer.

"You can't what?" Weiss asks as she blushes, tucking a strand of hair behind one of her human ears.

"I can't live without you." She admits as she takes a second step. "I was miserable last night, Weiss. I couldn't even fall asleep until I text you."

"I know me either." The other wolf girl admits as she takes her own step closer. "It wasn't right, not hearing you sleeping near me or against me." She adds slyly.

"You noticed huh?" Ruby admits as she rubs the back of her head. "I thought I was being sneaky."

"Not that sneaky." Weiss giggles as she steps close enough to reach for one of the Reaper's hands.

Ruby's hand rises to meet her's, their fingers lacing together, a smile on her face. "Weiss, will you be my girlfriend?" The Red Reaper asks shyly, a blush creeping across her face.

"Ruby, I would love to be your girlfriend." The White Princess replies just as shyly, her own blush now reaching the rest of her body.

"Ummm, now what?" Ruby asks quietly, her hand firmly in Weiss's.

"Come meet my twin sister!" Weiss replies in excitement as she begins to pull her towards a surprisingly large patio off to the side. "She's here to stay! I'm trying to sell her on joining us here at Beacon!"

Ruby nods as she bites her lower lip, her tail tucking a bit in her nervousness as she gets pulled along. "Ummm, sure?" She replies.

But both women stop in surprise at the open sliding door at the sight of Willow sobbing as she hugs a multicolored cat faunus in her arms.

"Weiss!" The raven haired girl calls out happily. "Come meet my girlfriend! And I want to meet yours now!"

"Willow, who is this?" Weiss asks as she enters while pulling Ruby along, the red wolf faunus suddenly digging her heels in at the confirmation that this is indeed her new girlfriend's scary twin sister.

"Weiss, meet Neo. Neo, this is my twin sister Weiss!"

The cat faunus with strawberry and chocolate colored hair smiles as she types on a scroll before pushing a button.

Hi! I'm Neopolitan!

The Red Reaper and her White Princess look at each other and sigh. They both catch Neo's scent of ice cream, coffee, and steel. Definitely steel. And they both know deep down that the pending sharing session between both couples is about to become interesting to say the least...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

In the three years Neo has known Willow, she lives with her text to speech app always ready to use. She's anal to the point of OCD levels about keeping it updated, and even paid extra for the realistic voice option. All to communicate with the surprisingly chatty woman she's grown to love over a three year long mission she originally was hired to simply assist with. She firmly believes that she knows Willow better than anyone.

Roman and his girlfriend both even told her to come back to her, to be happy. And Willow makes her so much more than just happy. She makes her feel loved, and that's something that until now only Roman has ever managed to do.

But she's completely stumped as to why the black wolf she loves more than anything is staring at her, tears falling down her cheeks. And she is doubly surprised when she goes to use her scroll only to have it taken from her hands and placed to the side. "You can sign, I can see it." She whispers to the cat faunus, who stares in surprise.

"Willow can see through my eyes, Neo." Weiss explains as she sits in Ruby's lap smiling, while looking at the two of them. "We share a soul."

"You share a soul?

She signs curiously as she looks between sisters, who both nod.

"Handy when growing up with a racist bastard of a father." Willow declares sadly. "Especially when we needed to avoid him."

Weiss sighs. "The cook, the Goddess bless him, never informed our father of when we snuck in to cook for ourselves."

"And Klein always helped us with materials, thread and clothes when he could afford them." Willow adds as she hugs the cat faunus tightly, Neo having moved into her own lap with a purr.

"Winter all but indentured herself to the military as soon as she turned seventeen and joined the academy."

"Whitley…"

"Stop." Ruby declares as she hugs Weiss tighter. "Just stop. Why? Why treat your own children like this? My Aunt and Uncle took charge of me and my siblings in the second they hit the ground in Mistral. Auntie Raven almost got arrested for making all sorts of terroristic threats cause she didn't think the social worker was going fast enough to hand us over!"

"Roman calls me his little sister. If it hadn't been for him, I would probably still be living on the streets, or even worse."

Neo adds.

"And he never once treated me poorly."

"He considers our kind nothing but animals." They reply in unison. "Beasts not worthy of eating what Chef Zeff cooked because we couldn't appreciate it. Animals who would never appreciate the fine clothes we were never even given. Lower beings who aren't even worthy of sharing his blood."

Ruby and Neo look at one another. There is anger in the Red Reaper's eyes, and pure rage in the Silent Ballerina's. They know all too well the discrimination they have already been subjected to in their own lives. The harsh words, the racist acts, and especially the hate.

The look between them is one of understanding.

"I'm not going to pretend to understand how your father can do that to his own daughters." Ruby begins slowly, choosing her words very carefully. "But I know that I won't let you keep suffering for his evil ways, Weiss."

Neo nods as she takes her scroll up and types furiously before pushing talk.

"I'll be damned if he lays another finger on you, Noiry. I'll kill him for sure!"

Ruby nods. "So it sounds to me like the two of you have a pair of knights ready to protect you." She adds firmly. "Because I'm with Neo. I know my oaths as a Huntress won't protect him from catching Crescent Rose between his eyes."

"Or Iris."

Neo adds as she holds up a parasol.

"Neo, don't you need to reforge the blade?" Willow reminds her gently. "I would do it myself, but I'm a bit too blind."

Neo grimaces as she nods before drawing the sword from the center, showing that it is snapped in the center.

"I can help with that." Ruby declares with a smile. "Besides, I need to do some stuff with my own scythe. The blade's still cracked from initiation."

"Ruby!" Weiss declares as she turns to glare at her girlfriend, who winces at the look. "You told me you fixed it already!"

"I've been meaning to! Ow ow ow ow ow! Not my ear! Not my ear!" Ruby shrieks as Weiss grabs her by one of her wolf ears and tugs as she stands.

"Oh no! You are going straight into the forge this instant!" The white wolf declares angrily as she starts to drag her away. "I refuse to believe my own partner would be foolish enough to think there wouldn't be any repercussions over this!"

"Oh Goddess I'm so sorry Weiss! Please let me go! I'm begging you!" Ruby whines. "This hurts!"

"Not as much as I plan on hurting you!" She snarls. "No cookies for a week!"

"Nooooooooooooo!"

"And there goes any way to see you." Willow sighs as they listen to Ruby yelping in pain, Weiss still berating her loudly as they move into the main forge area.

"It's fine, Noiry. I'm used to having to type my words instead of signing them."

Neo puts her scroll down and moves herself to be able to put her forehead against the black wolf's.

"You're more beautiful than I ever imagined." The blind girl admits softly. "I'm so glad you came."

Neo's answer is in the form of a tender kiss, then a smile against her lips as she begins to purr softly. One that reassures the Black Princess that she truly is home, with people she loves and trusts and that love and trust her as well.

"Are you serious right now?! It just fell apart as soon as you engaged the mechashift!"

"I didn't know it was this bad! It must have finished breaking after that spar with Nora!"

"No cookies for a month!"

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Both faunus girls begin to laugh after that, one silently, the other loudly enough for them both as they hold one another tightly still, A Black Princess and her Silent Ballerina…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jeanne Arc is not an intelligent woman by normal standards. She barely graduated from Sanctum Academy in her youth, only her natural abilities with a sword as well as her semblance powering her through. She struggled through her studies at Haven, which puts more of a priority on preparing their students for life after fighting the Grimm instead of fighting them. But each and every last one of her instructors also acknowledged that she would still go far in life, for what she lacked in book learning, she made up for in common sense, street smarts, and a ruthless pragmatism. Now, sitting in her office in Vale, she mulls over the simplified report she received concerning Jacques Schnee's many injuries. 68 broken bones, massive internal bleeding, and emergency surgery to remove a man's arm from his arse. It had been less a beating and more along the lines of torture, something she privately approves of. But, she's also far from stupid. The psychopath in her acknowledges that Jacques survived despite all of this, meaning he will be far more dangerous to control once he's released from the hospital. And Jeanne Arc knows better than to ignore her inner psycho."Ahem." She looks up at the person trying to get her attention and smiles. Roman Torchwich had been the only member of her team to not be sacrificed on her climb to bigger and better things, the red haired man being of like mind as her, and by the gleam in his eye, she knows he knows she already has a plan. "Roman, I think we need to make some changes to the plan." She announces as she looks from him to the young feline faunus woman sitting beside him. Neopolitan Torchwick had been a young cat faunus girl Roman had found living on the streets of Mistral in their youth, and he had taken her in much like Jeanne's family had taken him in during their days at Haven. He trained her to become his eyes and ears in the more shadowy areas of Mistral, and helped Jeanne to hone her natural combat abilities to a deadly edge. The Silent Ballerina even scares her, and she is scared of very few people. But, Willow Schnee brought Neo's humanity back out of her during their three year quest for answers, and even she has to admit the deadly feline faunus and equally deadly wolf faunus make for a wonderful couple. "You're dismissed, Neo." She informs the assassin with a smile. "You did marvelously at the Black Snow's side. Go and rejoin your lover." She adds. "With mine and your brother's blessings."Roman smiles at the assassin's questioning look and nods. "Go. Keep in touch. Send me pictures of the wedding." Both of them watch as a gleeful Neo shatters into thousands of pieces of glass shards, which dissipate before landing on the floor. Roman intentionally kept her in the dark of the overall plan itself, not wanting the cat girl he raised from childhood involved were it to fail. A possibility that is now looking less and less likely. "So what's the plan?" He then asks as he takes one of his cigars from his pocket and lights it, while Jeanne takes a beer from a small mini fridge under her desk. "Still think we should keep backing Adam and the Vale White Fang?""Yes. Adam's already dealt with that fool Arsenic, and Rouge and Junior both know who's lien is in their pockets now. Let Adam continue his stupid quest to punish this Blake Belladonna. I have a much bigger fish to fry.""Old Jacky boy? Jeannie, no offense, but you're still not at his level." Roman points out as he flicks his ashes away. "I don't need to be. The dumbass went and fucked with the wrong person, and got handed his ass." Jeanne points out with a grin as she tosses Roman the report. "It's gonna be months at least before he can even move his jaw to talk, much less be able to bark orders."The Torch simply nods as he reads the report for himself, a growing look of glee on his face. "Jeannie, this isn't just our chance, but one hell of a chance to sweep the entire SDC out from under him!" He declares in delight. "But can we move up the wedding?"Jeanne sighs as she sips at her beer. "Nope. Weiss has to be eighteen. Otherwise, she doesn't get shit even after the ink dries.""Damn." He mutters as he tosses the now read report onto the desk. "So what's the plan?""Simple. We need to get rid of this Ruby Rose first. We make it look like Jacques still did it, make Weiss too scared to even step a toe out of line."Roman nods. "Neo won't do it. You know how she gets when it concerns someone related to Willow. We'll need another professional."Jeanne nods as she tosses him a second file, labeled Aura Transfer to Vessel Version 1.8. "This is gonna be a bigger problem. Polendina finally succeeded. Atlas is about to move heaven and earth to find the current Winter Maiden now.""Aw hell." Roman declares as he flips through the heavily annotated report. "So Penny's got a brand new body, huh? No more Vrolik's holding her back.""Exactly. But I caught that the body they stuffed her in is just a prototype. One that still can't handle the Winter Maiden's full power." Jeanne points out. "And they don't have a backup ready yet either.""Huh, so they don't." He agrees. "So we get rid of nuts and dolts, track down the Winter Maiden and offer her as a sacrifice to make the big wigs in Atlas turn a blind eye, and Weiss and Jaune run out of excuses, is that it?""Training accidents happen." Jeanne replies with a growing grin. "And she's there two years early? It's only a matter of time."Roman's grin rivals her own. "I happen to know a guy with a really big war cleaver. Pretty sure even a robot can't stop something built to cut through farm animals, small buildings, and dinosaurs." His grin turns wider. "I know a really bored mercenary too. Finding a maiden should be easy for him.""It's almost over, babe." Jeanne declares as she comes around the desk to sit in his lap. "All we have to do is get rid of two more pests, then keep the unhappy couple walking towards the isle. Once the ink is on the paper, we get rid of Jacky, hand over the maiden, and the SDC is ours all ours."Roman chuckles as he wraps his arms around her. "What about your husband?" He teases before nibbling at her neck."Kaya already has a bullet with his name on it and ready for him." She manages to moan out. "And you better finish what you're starting.""Oh I am." Roman replies huskily as he sweeps her desk clear, needing the space for things other than their plot to take over the world...Jeanne's instructors to a man and woman all agreed she would go far in life, but they also warned anyone who would listen that she would stop at nothing, and sacrifice anyone she would need to in order to achieve her lofty goals. She sacrificed her team, her children, her very soul to reach this point. And a Red Reaper, a Mechanical Knight, and a missing seasonal maiden won't stop her ambitions either...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Look at it all! Isn't it amazing?!" Weiss cheers as she spins on her heels, her tail a blur, while trying to take in all the decorations, banners, and even the sight of all the new people walking the streets of Vale, which is playing host to the Vytal Tournament."Sure is, Ice Queen!" Yang guffaws as she walks between the diminutive white princess and her red reaper, who is also taking in all the sights with wide eyed wonder."Not like last time, that's for sure." Ruby admits as she watches a banner get hoisted into the air by a pair of city workers. "What's making this one so special?""Why Miss Rose, that is an excellent question!" Doctor Oobleck declares as he zooms up to them, Weiss screaming and leaping into Ruby's arms, while Blake hisses in her own surprise as she all but climbs Yang like a tall, busty tree."Hey! Ow! Watch it Blakey! Your… do you have claws?!""Really sharp nails." The woman grumbles as she glares at Oobleck."You were saying, Doctor?" Ruby asks, trying to defuse the situation. She and Weiss had already figured out that Blake is a panther faunus weeks ago, but have said nothing to Yang due to her unique ability to turn absolutely everything into a pun. "Yes, this Vytal festival marks the fortieth anniversary of the signing of the Vytal accords." He informs them, Blake looking even less amused by the second. "Unfortunately, not everyone will see the joy or merriment in this particular anniversary." He adds. Weiss nods as she clings to Ruby. "I can name one organization off the top of my head." She murmurs.Ruby sighs. "The White Fang." She answers."Of course, you two would assume that." Blake huffs as she climbs down from Yang's shoulders. "Especially you, Schnee.""What's that supposed to mean, Blake?" Weiss demands as she glares at the hidden panther while Ruby sets her down gently onto her feet."It is not an assumption, Miss Belladonna, but a verifiable fact." Dr. Oobleck declares in an attempt to head off a potential argument. "There have already been several threats made by the White Fang to disrupt Vytal this year. So much so that the Atlesian military has been asked to assist with security." He continues to inform them. "But please, keep that to yourselves.""Of course, Doctor." Ruby replies as Weiss and Yang nod in agreement. Blake stays silent, however, as she glares daggers at Weiss, who has taken Ruby's arm."Excellent! Carry on, students! There is plenty more preparations to see! More history to be a witness to as well!" He declares before dashing off quickly, joining Professor Goodwitch who smiles as she takes his arm, while two little girls stand with them chatting and smiling up at them both.Ruby's jaw drops as she puts two and two together. "Are Professor Goodwitch and Doctor Oobleck together?!"Weiss nods as she stares. "And it looks like they have children together as well.""Awwwwww! Their girls are so cute!" They squeal in unison, loudly enough for the older couple to hear."Ah yes! Thank you!" Dr. Oobleck calls back with pride as Glynda blushes and the girls grin. "Silentia and Serenity are our pride and joy!""Awwwwww!"Yang smiles fondly at the Reaper and her Princess. In the two weeks they've been together, she's been impressed by how close they've gotten. She's especially been impressed with how far Weiss has come since they became a team. The once bitchy and secretive wolf faunus girl has slowly become more open and friendly, if a bit cool towards Jaune still. No big surprise there, since Ruby filled them both in on her talk with Ozpin and his wife their first night back in the dorms after the long weekend."Hey, Yangarang? Weiss and I wanna go grab a snack." Ruby declares as she runs over. "Wanna meet back up by the docks in like an hour?""Sure, Rubaloo." The brawler agrees as she sees the eagerness in her wolf sister's eyes. "Me and Blakey can find something to do. Maybe split a can of tuna or something." She adds with a wink."Oh. Ok then." Ruby replies as she nods in understanding. "Try not to go blow up Junior's again? You still haven't gone to court yet for that.""What fun is that? Go, shoo pup! Go spend some of that quality time." She declares with a grin as she turns the younger girl around and pushes her bodily towards Weiss. "No funny business either, Princess. You don't want to see me yangry!"Weiss smiles as Ruby returns to her side and offers her her arm. "Never, Yang. Not until we're both sure we're ready for that step.""Aye! Good answer Ice Queen!" The brawler grins as she shoots the heiress a pair of finger guns. Watching them walk off arm in arm, the white wolf's head already laying on her sister's shoulder, the blonde has to admit that even she's rooting for them now, although she may need to have a chat with Blake soon. The Golden Dragon of Patch has already caught more than a few of the hateful glances she's directed at Weiss and isn't amused. Ruby's had a hard enough life, and her cousin turned older sister won't tolerate even the Panther in hiding meddling with the burgeoning relationship. Yang Xiao Long already has a bone to pick with Jaune over Weiss. She just hopes she doesn't have to have the same talk with her mysterious partner as well…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Penny Polendina smirks as she simply walks off from the staging area where the various Huntsmen teams from Atlas and Vacuo both are still assembled. She has gotten bored of listening to Winter Schnee, who does look quite dashing in her new Valian military uniform, read off a list of do's and don'ts to the assembly, and decided to begin her sightseeing a bit early.

Neon Katt giggles as she gives the android a sneaky wave as she goes, while Flynt Coal just shakes his head while chuckling. They have become excellent friends in the short time she has attended Atlas Academy, and she really hopes Weiss will like them when she meets them.

Now, where oh where could her boyfriend be?

Checking her internal scroll, she groans as she sees that Jaune has once again gotten into another fight with Cardin Winchester, getting himself thrown in detention yet again. With a sigh, she continues into the main thoroughfare of Vale City, amazed at the sheer beauty of the city widely regarded as the center of the arts of Remnant...

Why does that pizzaria look like a mushroom biting the building next to it?!

She doesn't notice the white haired wolf faunus sneaking up on her, all her various processes struggle to understand the physics of how the artist achieved such a realistic effect. And then her eyes get covered.

"Guess who?" A voice declares enthusiastically. Her processors go into overdrive as her combat systems process if she is in fact in danger, or the subject of a serious inquiry. Then her memories catch up to all her fancy new computer systems and reminds them that this is simply a familiar greeting between herself and…

"Friend Weiss!" Penny declares happily as she turns to hug the faunus girl, who is no less enthusiastic with her own hug.

"Penny! How are you back on your feet?!" Weiss asks as her tail wags joyfully. "I thought your Vrolik's syndrome had gotten too bad?"

"Do you remember my father's super secret, never talk about it to anyone but I still told you and Willow anyway project for me?" Penny asks calmly as she smiles joyfully.

"It worked!" Weiss cheers, understanding almost immediately what she meant. "It worked it worked it worked!"

Penny smiles as her friend cheers. "Yes, it did indeed work, Weiss. But shhhh." She puts a finger to her lips. "It's top secret."

"Come on!" Weiss declares as she takes the Android's hand. "You have to meet Ruby! She's waiting by the corner, cause I spotted you!"

"Ruby?" She asks curiously as she allows herself to get pulled along, amused at her friend's enthusiasm.

"My girlfriend!" She calls back as she smiles happily. "Penny, winning my freedom was worth it! I can finally be myself!"

"That's wonderful!" She replies, happy her friend is finally happy for the first time in years. "I'm so happy for you!"

"There she is! Ruby!" She calls out as she waves to another wolf faunus girl, who grins as she munches on a cookie while waving back. Reaching her, she grins as she pushes Penny forward. "Ruby, meet my friend Persephone Polendina!"

"Please, call me Penny." The android adds as she holds out a hand, her memory banks already pulling everything up she can find on this Ruby…

She's the daughter of Qrow and Summer Branwen… She is the daughter of heroes, just like Weiss and Willow… And she can't even tell her…

"Miss Branwen, it is an honor to meet you." Penny greets her, not caring that she may in fact be giving herself away. "All of Atlas owes your family a debt that can never be repaid."

Ruby tilts her head curiously. "Ummm, ok?"

Weiss too looks curiously at the android. "What do you mean Pen?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot speak of it. It's classified due to a current legal injunction." She explains. "It locks up my systems if I try."

"Systems?" Ruby asks, her curiosity visible in those big, bright silver eyes.

"Maybe we should get to the diner?" Weiss offers quietly. "Cause I really want you two to get along, and Willow's stuck in detention for beating the crap out of Cardin Winchester. Again."

"That's an interesting coincidence. Jaune is also stuck in detention for the exact same thing." Penny offers as she finds herself being directed by the two women holding her arms like proper ladies.

"Jaune?" Weiss asks curiously as Ruby's jaw drops.

"Yes, Jaune Arc. He's my boyfriend."

"Penny, I do believe we need to talk. And there's a few things you need to know." Ruby informs her.

"Ummmm, ok?" She asks in confusion as they approach a diner named A Taste of Heaven. She is worried now as her mind runs an almost infinite number of scenarios concerning whatever it is they could possibly have to tell her…

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"Allow me a moment to consider all this information." Penny is furious at the current moment. Ruby and Weiss have informed her of the arranged marriage between Weiss and HER Jaune, as well as what Ruby was told during her lunch with Beacon's Headmaster and his wife, who is also Jaune's aunt. Furious enough to where she has shattered her coffee cup in her hands.

She is so furious that she is already plotting Jeanne Arc's soon to be untimely demise.

"Penny, if it makes you feel any better, Jaune definitely doesn't want to marry me." Weiss reminds her.

Ruby nods. "He talks about you all the time, calls you the greatest woman in his life, even if he never actually mentions your name."

"Is it because I was suffering from Vrolik's?" She asks through gritted teeth even as she downloads schematics for the Arc Industries building here in Vale. "Did she consider me too imperfect for him?"

"Absolutely not." Ruby reassures her as she gently brings her hands over to cover the android's, while Weiss gently picks pieces of ceramic out of her now torn synth flesh. "She's greedy, she thinks she's smarter than us, and we all have another thing coming to her."

Penny looks the reaper in the eyes, amazed at the clarity of those quicksilver orbs, along with the way she calms down so quickly in her presence. "Ruby, are you a trained silver eyed warrior?" She asks quietly, getting an odd look from Weiss. "If you are, then perhaps I won't worry as much. You would be more than capable of defending Weiss while I stand shoulder to shoulder with Jaune against his mother's manipulations."

Ruby smiles as her eyes glow for the briefest of moments. "Lady Maria came from Mistral personally when I was ten. She actually just left to return home right before I got accepted to Beacon."

Penny nods. "I am a combat Android designed to be the vessel that stores the powers of the Winter Maiden." She admits to the Reaper quietly. "But, I am still not ready for such a responsibility. I was sent here to both calm me down, and to test this current version's combat abilities."

Ruby smiles. "Well then friend Penny, I know I can keep a secret."

"I too can keep one as well, friend Ruby!" She replies cheerfully.

"Then it's settled." Weiss declares with a smile as she leans her head against Ruby's shoulder. "And look at that, Penny, you even made a new friend."

"I am beyond excited!" She replies cheerfully as the door dings as it opens.

"There you are Penny! It took me forever to find you." A young dark skinned woman calls out as she walks up to the table and smiles. "You know you're not supposed to be wandering about."

"She has been with me this whole time Ceil." Weiss declares cooly, her Ice Queen persona emerging quickly. "And seeing as how I am still a legal resident of Atlas, she is allowed to escort me."

Ceil Soliel looks at Weiss and pales. "Miss Schnee, forgive my interruption! I genuinely didn't see…" Her voice trails off as she spots Ruby and stares.

"I guess I had best depart, Weiss and Ruby." Penny declares as she stands. "I have both your scroll numbers, and I'll text the both of you later?"

"Sure thing!" Ruby replies happily as she checks her own scroll. "Oh oatmeal raisin cookies! We gotta meet Yang and Blake!"

"Yang certainly." Weiss replies as she and Ruby stand. "Blake not so much." She adds as she and Penny hug one last time. "Text me later, and I'll make sure to give Willow your new number."

"Thank you. It has been wonderful to see you again, Weiss. And I'm so happy for you!" Penny declares softly. "I can tell she makes you happy."

"I feel complete, Penny." Weiss informs her. "And that is an absolutely wonderful feeling to have."

Penny smiles as she releases the white princess and moves to Ceil's side, the other woman still staring at Ruby, who is staring back at her curiously. "Come along Ceil. General Ironwood is no doubt waiting for us?"

"Uh huh." The girl mutters as she gets dragged away by the android, who stops and waves before departing.

"That wasn't creepy at all." Ruby mutters as she gives the waitress her debit card to pay the tab.

"Between us? All I know is my mother died in some kind of huge battle when I was younger. But no one will tell me what or why." Weiss explains. "All I know is that it makes me and all my siblings some kind of big deal back home."

"I guess." Ruby replies with a shrug as she takes her debit card back. "Ready to go?"

Weiss smiles as she nods. "At least we aren't far." She points out as she takes Ruby's arm, the Reaper nodding in agreement.

"Let's go snowflake, before Yang gets bored."

"I'm right beside you, my dolt."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Deep within the hold of a cargo ship arriving in Vale from Mistral, a young blonde haired man begins to pack what few belongings he brought with him from Haven Academy. He had decided to stow away on the freighter as a test of his abilities, and has been successful as always.

For he, Sun WuKong is the king of the stowaways!

"Hey! Who the hell are you?!" A crewmember yells as the crate he has been using to cover his hidey-hole is moved, exposing him.

"Nobody! Thanks for the lift buddy!" He yells back as he grabs a red and gold trimmed staff and hightails it as the man starts roaring for him to stop. Twisting, tucking, and once sliding between the legs of a guy who had to be the ship's cook while cutting through the kitchen to grab a snack, he smirks as he makes it to the top deck and sits on the rail for a moment to enjoy his purloined banana.

"Hey! Hey you! Get down from there!" A guy dressed like some kind of detective from a cheesy B movie calls out, his partner next to him and nodding.

Does he seriously have a pornstache?

"No thanks! Just passing through is all!" Sun calls back before leaping free and bouncing up to a light post, where he hangs upside down by his tail to finish his snack.

"Hey! Stop in the name of the law!" Pornstache yells, earning the peel to his face.

"No thanks! I've seen enough bad porn to see where this is going, pornstache!" Sun calls back as he spins on the light several times before launching himself to land on his feet. Taking off at a sprint, he passes several young women standing at the end of the docks and staring in surprise.

"Reddish black hair looks a little too young."

He thinks to himself as he passes Ruby.

"But her ears are really cute!"

"Oooo, white hair looks like a Schnee! Danger Sun WuKong, danger!"

Is the next thought as he passes Weiss.

"Damn she's stacked and racked! Gotta find her later to get them digits!"

He grins as he passes Yang with a wink, getting a blush in response.

"Wait, is this…"

Sliding to a quick stop, he stares at Blake for a moment before smiling. "Dude! Call your parents! They think you're in Mistral!" He informs the panther faunus, who turns as pale as a ghost. "Later Bellabootie!" He adds as he charges around a corner and vanishes.

"Hey! Get back here!" Weiss roars as she finally shakes her surprise off and takes off in pursuit.

"Yeah! Stop in the name of the law!" Ruby adds as she follows Weiss.

"Hey! That's our line!" The cops yell as they try to keep up with the Reaper and her Princess.

"Hey, did that guy really know you?" Yang asks Blake, who blinks as she looks up at the brawler.

"He used to be my best friend before his family moved to Vacuo." She admits quietly. "I haven't seen him since we were eight."

"Used to be?"

Blake nods. "It's nothing I want to talk about. Come on, before Weiss catches him and tries to force him into the mines." She declares darkly.

"Blake, you're starting to push a line, partner." Yang declares warningly as the two of them begin to follow.

"Whatever. Hurry up!" She yells as she turns the same corner, only to find Weiss and Ruby talking to a ginger haired human girl.

"Oh hey guys! Come and meet my new friend!" Ruby calls out as she waves. "But Weiss knew her first!"

Weiss nods in agreement as she smiles. "Everyone, Persephone Polendina from Atlas. She's been friends with my sister Willow and I for years!"

"Salutations!" The ginger hair girl calls out happily as she waves. "Please, call me Penny. I start searching for my mother whenever I hear Persephone!"

"Nice to meetcha! Any friend of Ruby's and the Ice Queen's is mine too!" Yang declares heartily as she offers her hand, which Penny takes with a surprisingly firm grip.

Blake keeps her distance as she looks up at the rooftops in search of Sun. He can't tell her parents where she is! She's staying as far from them as possible to keep them and Ilia safe!

"Hey Blake! You ok?" Yang asks as she shakes her gently. "You still look like you're seeing ghosts."

"Bye Penny!" Ruby waves as Weiss shares one more hug with the girl.

"Goodbye new friend Ruby! It was a pleasure to meet you all!" She calls back as she and Weiss release one another and she moves off.

"It's wonderful to see her on her feet again." Weiss mumbles as she wipes tears from her eyes. "Now, where did that monkey faunus go."

"Why? Gonna turn him in for a reward?" Blake asks with a sneer as she turns to face the white wolf faunus fully. "Or are you gonna ship him off to the mines to help support your lavish lifestyle at the price of his own freedom?"

"Blake, that's enough!" Ruby calls out as Yang nods in agreement.

Weiss holds up a hand. "Blake, have you ever considered that his actions make law abiding faunus like us and Ruby continue to look bad?" She asks calmly.

"Why do you even care about his actions, heiress?" Blake sneers as she squares off firmly against the white wolf faunus. "How is he bothering you?"

Ruby and Yang both blink as Weiss turns to face the not quite so hidden panther fully, a look of resignation on her face as pain and deep sorrow fill her sky blue eyes…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Why do I care so much about his actions Blake Belladonna? It is because of faunus like him that faunus like us have such a hard time being accepted into society!” Weiss shrieks at Blake, who is standing wide eyed in shock at the sudden outburst from the normally quiet white wolf faunus. All of team RWBY had just witnessed the monkey faunus
running away from the two Vale police detectives, and had given chase, only to lose him quickly. But Yang and Ruby both had been unprepared for the verbal onslaught that was now coming from the petite heiress. But to her credit, Blake recovered quickly and tried to take the verbal offensive.

“How would you know what it’s like for a faunus to struggle? Hmm? You’re one of the rare rich ones!”

Weiss snorts as she pulls her bolero jacket off and shakes it at her. “This was my mother’s! This entire outfit was my mother’s from her time as a huntress! As is my sword! My FATHER could not be bothered to see me properly outfitted with anything newer!” Moving the bolero around, she reveals a series of stitched up holes. “I had to fix the holes from the day my mother was almost killed performing her duties as a huntress! Duties she later died performing without a single moment's hesitation!”

Yang and Ruby both look at each other, then back at the furious white wolf faunus and the now scared panther faunus. To their shock Weiss has tears in her eyes as she throws the bolero at Blake.

“Take it if you need it! My mother would not mind! More than once she gave freely of the Schnee funds and the Schnee dust for the common folk! Especially the faunus that live in Atlas! Of course, that was before she was killed defending the entire nation from some sort of invasion by the Grimm! And I am proud to call myself the daughter of Adaliz Schnee! She died with honor and dignity, and I can only hope and pray I can live up to her legacy!”

Blake can only stare in horror at Weiss's arms as she clutches the bolero to her chest. She sees all the mismatched, lingering scars that run from her wrists to her elbows, a visible sign that she may in fact be wrong…

Yang stares at the scars running across the exposed section of the white wolf's back for a moment, before looking at Ruby. But her horror is compounded by the look of sadness on Ruby's face, making the brawler realize that her little sister knows the story as to why Weiss looks like she was beaten like…

Like a faunus slave...

Ruby finally moves forward, placing a hand on her Snowflake’s shoulder. “Weiss, that’s enough. Calm down, please?”

This only has the opposite effect, as Weiss shrugs Ruby’s hand off and moves to stand toe to toe with the now terrified cat faunus. “I fight for every last thing I have Blake Belladonna! Until my Uncle and Aunts returned from their hunt, it was my brother and my butler who were the ones that managed to send me what little bit of dust and Lien I had! My sister was the one helping with my uniforms and my textbooks, and until recently she was forced to indenture herself further with the Atlesian Military to do so! My father’s contribution? It is ten Lien a month, and a warning over my dead mother’s scroll to make sure it lasts!” Weiss pulls out a debit card from the pocket of her skirt and shoves it at Blake. “Here! There should still be thirty Lien on it! Use it for whatever you may need! But never dare call me rich, or wealthy, or spoiled ever again, Blake! Never! My life has been a living hell since the day my mother died, and has only finally improved since coming to Beacon! Since I met Ruby! Since I finally met someone who does not judge me for having a wolf’s ears and tail or for being the heiress of a company that enslaves our kind, or worst of all, being the daughter of a monster who took pride in being an evil, horrible bastard to me and my siblings for being born faunus!”

Shoving her way past Blake, she takes off running at top speed, the sounds of her sobs filling the street. Ruby is after her like a bolt, crying out her name and begging her to stop.

Blake Belladonna can only stand there in shock as she holds the bolero jacket and the debit card close to her chest. All she can see are the scars upon the white wolf's arms, the genuine tears of sorrow and deeply held pain in her sky blue eyes. All she can hear are Weiss's words repeating in her mind over and over again, along with the same bitter, hate filled words she herself has spoken and heard for most of her young life.

And the only thought that keeps repeating over and over in her shocked and numbed mind is that she and Weiss aren't as different as she once thought, and that Weiss's oppression may in fact have been far more horrible and traumatic than even her own.

Yang wraps an arm gently around her shoulders and starts pulling her along. “Come on kitty cat. Let’s go get some tea and wait for Ruby to calm her down.”

“I used to be in the White Fang.” Blake suddenly blurts out, much to Yang’s surprise. “We hated the Schnees. We hated their wealth, their opulence, we hated them so much. But I swear I never knew." The panther looks at the dragon as tears well up in her golden eyes. "We always imagined that Weiss and her siblings were living lives of luxury while we slaved day and night to keep them in their White Palace." The panther faunus stops for a moment to release a deep, wracking sob as she sinks to her knees. "I honestly didn’t believe her that day in Oobleck's class Yang. I...I feel like an even more horrible monster than her father! At least… at least my parents love me! At least I know my father would die to save me, to bring me home! Her mother died to save the world, and it made her life a living hell!”

Yang watches as Blake pulls the white bolero closer to her chest as she releases another long boneshaking sob. And for once in her seventeen years of life, she truly has nothing to say.

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"Did you catch all that, Mr. and Mrs. B?" Sun asks sadly as he watches the hotbody blonde help Blake back to her feet and away from the gathered crowd.

"We did Sun. Thank you for informing us of our daughter's whereabouts."

Ghira Belladonna rumbles as he comforts his sobbing wife.

"This isn't my daughter! My daughter would never be so cruel to Weiss!"

Kali Belladonna declares between sobs.

"What has that bastard done to her?!"

"I dunno Mrs. B." Sun replies as he turns his scroll back around to look at Blake's parents. "Want me to keep an eye on her?"

"Please."

Ghira replies

"It's obvious we must come and deal with Blake personally. Perhaps even bring her home to get her as far as possible from any more of Adam's influence."

"I'll kill him! I'll see his corpse at my feet before I leave Vale!"

Kali shrieks in fury, her molten gold eyes filled with pain and anger.

"Stay by Blake's side, Sun. But find out what rock Adam Taurus is hiding under."

"Kali…"

Ghira rumbles warningly.

"We do not take the law in our hands. That isn't our way."

"To hell with that! He twisted my daughter's mind! Poisoned it with his lies and his own hate!

" Kali looks at Sun, who pales at the sight of her unleashed fury.

"Keep my daughter safe, Sun. Adam Taurus is mine!"

"We will arrive in two week's time, Sun. Be vigilant."

Ghira adds as Kali vanishes from sight, her voice raising in her fury as she demands her war fans be brought to her.

"Thank you again for calling us."

"You bet, Mr. B. See you soon." He sighs as he breaks the connection with far off Menagerie. A part of him is glad to see Blake alive and safe, but another now regrets selling her out to her parents. He remembers when they broke away from the White Fang, and the ensuing chaos afterwards until Sienna Khan took firm control of the paramilitary organization. His own parents had been just as torn as Kali Belladonna, until the woman had chosen to follow her husband into virtual exile instead of continuing the fight.

The Shadow Dancer of the White Fang had finally sheathed her claws, and until the arrival of the Black Snow, the world had breathed a sigh of relief. But now that Adam Taurus has earned her ire? Sun has a terrible feeling that the retired White Fang assassin will stop at nothing to see him pay...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Doing a bit better, Blake?" Yang asks in genuine concern as they sit at a local tea and coffee shop named Apollo's. It's popular with the various workers in and around the government and business districts for their fast service, excellent drink selection, and delicious pastries.

The panther Faunus nods as she puts her cup down. "Yes, thank you." She replies quietly as she stares at the table. "But I still feel guilty."

"You should, Bellabootie." Sun agrees as he sends a text message before sitting down next to her. "Your mom said if you dare leave Beacon or Vale, she's going to hunt you down."

She just nods. "I stayed away to keep them and Ilia safe, Sun." She begins to sniffle again as she tears up. "Adam…"

"Adam Taurus is living on borrowed time, kitten." Willow declares as she joins them while wearing her full combat gear of an ankle length black and grey trimmed battle dress that has a pair of frontal straps that lead up to a long sleeved coat that holds the straps for the front of her dress by a clasp shaped like a black snowflake, as well as matching three inch dust reinforced heels, while her almost ankle length hair is held back by a length of simple black lace cloth. She sighs as she leans Fate against the table while getting comfortable in the remaining chair. "He will die by my hand, as repayment for all the Khan did for me after my blinding and banishment."

Yang and Sun both notice how the already nervous panther faunus stares at the black wolf faunus in abject terror as she turns to look at her with…

With a ruby red eye.

"Wait, I thought you were blind?" Yang asks calmly as she and Sun both move to more defensive positions around the frozen in terror panther girl.

"Blinded." She corrects them as she orders a coffee from a nearby waitress. "So far, Aunt Kate, Aunt Carol, as well as Weiss contributing her aura to assist have restored my sight in one eye. But the dust mixture necessary to complete my other eye is both costly as well extremely difficult to prepare." She explains as she takes her scroll out and smiles. "So many things I once took for granted are a source of great joy again."

Sun nods as he slowly disconnects his staff behind him. "What do you want with Bellabootie? Revenge for the argument with your sister?"

Willow looks at him and smiles softly. "I think Weiss settled that dispute rather well actually, if a bit overdramatically. No, what I want is for my sister's teammates to accompany me to find her and bring her back to Beacon. You can come along as well, Mister?"

"Sun. Sun WuKong." He answers as he pulls the first section apart to form a pair of shotgun nunchucks in his lap. But before he can pull the chains on the second one, a smiling feline faunus snatches them both from him and tsks as she holds them just out of arms and tail reach.

"Thank you Neo. I despise being shot." Willow smiles as she looks fondly at the multicolored feline faunus. She then sighs as she turns to look at the brawler. "Yang, my primary concern is the safety of both our siblings. Currently, nothing else matters except making sure that those two adorkable lesbians are safe. Will you at least trust me long enough to help me reach them and bring them back to safety?"

"Why?" Blake suddenly asks as she looks down in shame. "Why do you still want my help out of everyone's?"

Willow moves to sit next to Blake, Sun almost leaping out of his seat to make room for her. "Look at me, please?" She whispers softly.

Blake does so, gasping at the look of pain and sorrow in Willow's good eye. "I…"

"Oppression comes in all forms, Blake Belladonna. But the one thing I know for a fact is that for the first eight years of our lives, my sister and I would walk among our people and humans both. We had many good friends among them, and my mother and Uncle fought with everything they had to make things change in Atlas. So that we, the children of the next generation, would have a better future." The assassin explains. "But then she fell, along with Ruby's parents during a battle even I am forbidden from ever speaking of by the Khan for whom my eldest cousin is named after. Blake, when my sister confessed to our lives being a living hell in Professor Oobleck's class, she still barely scratched the surface."

The panther faunus looks at her, along with Yang and Sun as she stands and removes her long sleeved jacket to uncover her back, revealing the scars hidden beneath them. "One of the many prices I paid to protect those I love. I drew that bastard's rage and hate unto myself to protect Weiss and Whitley. To keep them as safe as I could manage from the age of eight until I was fourteen, when he blinded me for spitting in his face and reminding him that he is in fact naught but a false Schnee, and that sooner or later I would take the throne from him and set things back to right. And I would do it all again if I must."

Blake watches as Neo walks over and lifts Willow's jacket back up to cover the marks of the lash back up in pure, unadulterated shame. She was wrong, oh Goddess but she was so wrong about so many different things.

"Blake, let's go." Yang declares as she stands and holds a hand out to her. "We're wasting time."

"Yang, I…" Looking from the brawler to the assassin, who is in the process of receiving a tight hug from the multicolored cat faunus in her own arms, she realizes once and for all that she is wrong. That she is wrong, and that she needs to make amends to a woman who has tried so hard and ultimately failed to be her friend. A white wolf who could be in great danger because of her own bitterness and hate.

Blake Belladonna finally realizes that she is guilty of many, if not all of everything she has come to hate about many of the humans of Remnant. No, it's more than that, she has become the one person she loathes more than even Jacques Schnee. She has become Adam Taurus, and she isn't sure if she could live with herself if anything happens to Weiss or Ruby because of her actions.

With a nod, she takes her partner's hand. "Let's go. Vale's huge, so we have a hell of a lot of ground to cover." She declares as she stands, determined to make amends with the white wolf she drove away out of bitterness and misplaced hatred...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Two days. It's been a long, agonizing two days of searching for Weiss. Even Willow, who has tried to stay calm is now panicking, Weiss having broken the tactile contact the two of them have constantly maintained since their joyful reunion. But for Ruby, whose panic has reached a fever pitch, it's been nothing but two nights of terrible nightmares as she cuddles her missing
girlfriend's pillow while missing her soothing presence. Her dreams had turned so terrible just last night alone that Yang had had to crawl into bed with her and rock her as she sobs into her sister's chest in fear.

Blake hasn't been able to look any of them in the eyes for two days now, her own guilt beginning to eat her alive as well as her growing fear of her parents and the punishment she may receive from them if anything happens to Weiss…

No one wants to consider the worst case scenarios right now. Especially not around Ruby or Willow, the two of them driving themselves to the point of exhaustion for these last two days now scouring every inch of Vale they can gain access to, legally and illegally.

Deciding that sleep is going to be impossible, the Reaper pulls herself away from Yang and dresses quickly, leaving the dorm room as quietly as possible and taking the first bullhead to Vale. All she can do is stare out the window sadly as she watches the miles pass away beneath them, her tail seemingly permanently tucked between her legs as her ears stay pinned to her head and covered by her hood.

She doesn't realize the effect she has on the female bullhead pilot, as well as her all female faunus crew. They all want to rush over to just hug her and reassure her that whatever's wrong will be ok. That things would get better for her, no matter what.

Ruby sits up a bit as she spots a figure wearing a familiar white mask standing at the landing area in Vale, the case to her weapon in hand and a look of determination in her red eyes that is echoed when she raises the mask to reveal herself fully. Rushing off the bullhead, she sobs as she slams into Raven Branwen, who easily catches her in her powerful arms and hugs her tightly.

"You should have called me, Ruby." The older woman chastises her niece turned daughter gently as she stands her weapon case up to hug her better. "I would have helped you tear Vale apart to find her, and I can get you into places you can't go by yourself."

"I'm so sorry! I've been so scared the last two days!" The Reaper whines between heavy sobs. "All I can think about is finding her!"

"Shhh. We're finding her today, Ruby. That's a promise." The veteran huntress declares firmly. "And she's getting the rough end of my ass when we do."

"Please don't." Ruby whimpers as she looks up at her beloved mother figure. "Please just help me get her back, Mum. Please? I can't keep doing this alone…"

Raven nods as she releases her and picks up her weapon. "Let's go. I want to start at the center of town and work outwards towards anyplace you haven't been to yet from there, ok?"

The Reaper nods as she pulls her hood down lower to cover her bloodshot eyes. "Ok." She murmurs as she follows behind the older woman, while finally feeling hopeful for the first time since Weiss ran away crying from them all. Raven has never let her or her siblings down since bringing them home from Mistral, and by the set of her jaw and the determination in her step, the experienced Senior Huntress is determined to help her second child find her mate, or destroy Vale trying…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Is that one seriously flexing?" Jaune Arc asks in amusement as he leans against a light pole, Penny Polendina securely in his arms and smiling as her hands lay on top of his. The two of them are watching the demonstration for the latest models of Atlesian Knights while under the watchful eye of Ceil, all while making their own observations of the mechs, which are still making ridiculous poses for the small gathered crowd.

"Oh look, they're posing around the Paladin now." Penny comments dryly as the audience laughs and points, while Ceil sighs.

"This is such a waste of my time." The dark skinned girl grumbles as she looks at the couple. "And you two look disgustingly cute."

"Jealous much?" Jaune smirks as he squeezes Penny gently with his arms, getting a giggle out of her.

Ceil opens her mouth to retort when she spots Raven and Ruby walking up together. "Goddess but she looks like shit."

"Ruby?!" Penny squeals as she breaks free of Jaune's arms and rushes over to the sad eyed wolf girl. "What's wrong?!"

"Weiss is missing, Penny." The Reaper replies quietly. "She ran off after arguing with Blake and we haven't been able to find her."

"What?! And you haven't found her yet?!" The android declares as she looks at her boyfriend, who's staring at the younger girl in shock and surprise. "And you didn't know!?"

"Of course not!" He replies as he takes his scroll out of the pocket of his jeans, a far cry from the suits he normally wears. "Nora! Get the others and get to Vale! Weiss is missing!" He orders her firmly. "Bring Crocea Mors with you too, I'm going to unlock my locker for you."

"Where all have you looked, Ruby?" Penny asks as Raven turns her attention away from the ridiculous posing the Knights are still performing to pay attention.

"Everywhere but the docks, the warehouse district, and the VDF base." She informs them quietly. "I doubt her aunt has her at the base, her uncle would have told me by now just to keep me from worrying."

Raven nods as she takes her own scroll out while dialing. "Carol? It's Raven. Is Weiss with you?" She grimaces as the rabbit faunus replies. "She's been missing for two days, Bun. Time to sound the alarm."

Ruby blinks at her Mum's statement as she begins to tremble. "Mum?"

"Yeah, we can't ignore the possibility of it. Odds are the Fang caught her while she was alone." She continues, the Reaper's blood suddenly freezing in her veins at the one thing she, Willow, even Blake have all been hoping against.

But fear begins to turn into a burning rage, the Reaper beginning to growl while listening. "The warehouse district's under lock and key? Then yeah, I'll send Ruby back to Beacon and meet you there." Then it has to be the docks, the sole place left to search for the wolf faunus love of her life. Her rage begins to swell to the point of bursting as her eyes begin to glow.

"I'll kill them if they have her." She declares through teeth clenched so tightly they are ready to shatter. "I'll kill them all if they so much as laid a single finger on her!" She shrieks in a rage as she explodes into a whirlwind of rose petals, leaving behind a trail of both flowers as well as a silver stream of light.

"Ruby wait!" Penny screams as she takes off behind the enraged faunus girl, easily taking a pace even Raven would be hard pressed to follow.

"Shit! Get back to Beacon, Arc. That's an order!"

"Fuck off, you're not my mother." He replies bluntly before too he dashes away, Ceil on his heels.

"Aw fuck! Alex said Willow and Neo just tore outta tha forge like the Dark Goddess herself just took 'em over!"

Carol informs Raven.

"Haul ass Birdie, an keep 'em all from gettin killed till ah get there!"

"Yeah." Is Raven Branwen's only response as she hangs up and closes her eyes. She still hates the transformation forced upon her and her long dead brother by their uncaring parents, unlike Robin who embraces it fully. Soon, a raven caws as it flies above the city, arrowing towards the docks and her beloved niece turned daughter, all while hoping the poor girl doesn't give into the bloodlust that fills her veins as a cursed Branwen child…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Blake stares at Pyrrha Nikos, who is standing in the doorway to their dorm room, an uncharacteristically hard look in her eyes as she trembles in barely contained rage. The Mistrali woman had almost beaten a hole in their door with her knocking, and she is far too scared to call her out on it.

"Why did none of you inform us that Weiss is missing?" She asks demandingly. "We thought we were your friends!"

"It's… but… we…" The panther stammers as Yang pushes her gently to the side.

"Rubes asked us to keep it quiet. We didn't want to cause a panic." The brawler informs the redhead, who nods in understanding.

"Be that as it may, Jaune has ordered us to Vale to assist in the search." The Mistrali woman informs them both. "We are leaving right now if you wish to accompany us."

"How the fuck are you guys ready so fast?!" Yang declares in surprise as she grabs at her street clothes.

"Despite looking like a dandy, Jaune and Pyrrha keep us to tight, disciplined schedules." Ren explains as he moves past them. "And Nora is always ready to go quickly."

Pyrrha nods in agreement, before turning to look back into her own room. "Cinny, are you ready yet?"

"You bet your sweet ass I'm about ready to go look for my cousin!" Cinder bellows as she appears in the background, pulling her rune covered dress on as she holds one of her scimitars in one hand by the hilt. "And where's my scroll?!"

"Let's go, Yang!" Nora roars as she snatches Magnhild off the wall where it sat so violently it rips the brackets completely free. "I gotta go get Crocea Mors for Jaune while Ren warms up the bullhead!"

"Wait, you guys have a bullhead?!" Blake squeals out in surprise as she hurriedly dresses.

"Yeah, got a pilot's license for it too. And I'm teaching Ruby how to fly as well." Nora admits as she grabs a satchel no doubt full of grenades for her hammer. "Just cause me and Rennie were orphans doesn't mean we're poor. We just had to work our asses off for everything we have now."

The Mistrali Champion nods in agreement as Cinder grabs her wrist and starts pulling her along. "Nora and I had some grand battles in many tournaments! Now hurry up, we need to go!"

"Yeah yeah, we're coming!" Yang yells back as she grabs her jacket. "You coming Blaaaa- and she's already gone." She declares as she looks at the now open window, one of the panther's spare ribbons tied to the leg of her bed. Scooping up Celica, she slams it onto her wrist as she dives through the window herself, landing at a run as she heads for the airship docks, where a now uncovered green and purple bullhead sits, Nora and Ren's Huntsmen's symbols emblazoned proudly on the sides.

Yang Xiao Long growls as she picks up her pace, determined to meet up with Ruby and Jaune in Vale and find her missing teammate. And considering Willow and Neo are also running towards the bullhead, half dressed and carrying their weapons as well?

The Goddesses help anyone who has Weiss Schnee...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Weiss is used to being held captive in a small, enclosed area. Her room back in Atlas was equal parts cell, sleeping area, and one roomed academy, especially after Willow was driven away. She spent many a day doing her schoolwork under the strict supervision of her tutors, even her training with Myrtenaster continued within the four walls of her forced isolation from Whitley, who was and still is in the middle of an identity crisis.

She can't help but smirk through the gag in her mouth at the whispers her still uncovered wolf ears can make out. They are words full of shock, of surprise, and of a growing movement to simply release her back to the proud faunus side of her family, that she's suffered enough by being the daughter of that monster. She couldn't agree more, and personally still wishes Uncle Alex had killed him.

Even being stripped naked and hanging by her wrists by a chain attached to aura manacles is nothing new to her. After Willow was forced to flee, Jacques needed a new outlet for his rage whenever the White Fang attacked another shipment, or killed another ally, or ruined more of his carefully laid plans.

Oh yes, Weiss willingly took Willow's place to protect Whitley. He would not touch her younger sibling as long as there was a breath left in her body.

No one save her family and Ruby have ever seen the scars of the lash on her back until she was captured, her own volumnus hair pushed roughly away for the beating promised to her by Adam, who could not bring himself to make the first swing of his own lash. He saw for himself the White Fang's most hated enemy did not spare even his own child his wrath. That there is nothing he could or would do that would equal or even surpass what she has already suffered.

There were limits to what lines he himself would cross, and all the men under his command have been forbidden under penalty of immediate death from coming to her cell.

Goddess, but she could use some water. And bacon, a metric ton of bacon. But she needs Ruby the most. She needs to finally break down and cry at the fact that for two days she has been viewed with growing pity, with growing concern as she dangles like a pale skinned fish from a makeshift hook. Being exposed doesn't bother her. She personally has very few body taboos and secretly enjoys indulging in being nude when she is alone in the dorm room, as well as always sleeping in the buff as well. But she cannot stand being pitied for something she took willingly to spare another. She cannot stand anymore of the growing sympathy for her either. It was a devil who treated her with cruelty as he destroyed her self worth and pride with every single strike. But it was a silver eyed wolf who has helped her reclaim it one marvelous day at a time.

"Weiss?" Her head moves to face her speaker as the door opens and closes, despite a blindfold covering her eyes. "Weiss, my name is Ilia Amitola. Do you know a Blake Belladonna?" There's hope in her voice, as well as a touch of longing. And considering the familiarity of the way she spoke Blake's name, this person must not just know her, but care for her greatly.

The heiress nods slowly as a lump forms in her parched throat. She still cannot believe she lost her composure finally at the panther faunus's harsh words and constant judgemental personality. She tried, Goddess knows she tried to be her friend, but the panther in hiding constantly slapped her hand away while saying such horrible things.

"Do you know how to contact her?" She whispers quietly as the white wolf feels a pair of gentle hands taking the gag out of her mouth, allowing her to finally open and close it fully.

"My scroll." She rasps out. "May I have some water please, Ilia? I find myself a bit parched."

"Yes, hold on." Weiss soon feels the touch of a cool liquid on her lips, which she laps at desperately as she finally strains against the chains that hold her still. "Weiss, what's your password? I can't unlock your scroll to call for help."

"Why? What's going on?" She asks as calmly as she can manage, even as she continues to struggle, desperate to escape, to get back to Ruby and never ever leave her side ever again.

"Adam's going to execute you tonight. He's calling it a mercy killing considering…" Her voice trails off.

"1031." She informs her as she finally surrenders and returns to hanging limply, the little bit of energy she had spent in the futile effort gone. "Speed dial one." She adds.

"Hello? Who is this? Please stop yelling, my hearing is… my name is Ilia, and you need to hurry to dock 34. It's the base the Black Snow has been seeking since she arrived. I can't free her myself, I don't have the keys to her manacles. Yes, please hurry, Adam's going to kill her soon."

"What's going on?" She asks as she keeps the small bit of hope she is feeling from swelling in her chest quite yet. Vale's docks are numerous, and all of them are as large as several city blocks. Even with her semblance, it will still take her Dolt time to find this one particular one out of dozens.

"Ruby answered. She's on her way." Ilia replies as she finally removes the cloth covering her eyes. "She sounded scary." She admits quietly.

Weiss can't help but smile at the comment while she blinks to help her eyes adjust to the low light. "If our roles were reversed, I wouldn't hesitate to destroy the entire world to rescue her."

Ilia nods as she walks over and bars the door from their side, sealing them in. "I can believe that." She admits quietly. "We were wrong about you, weren't we?"

Weiss sighs before she begins to tell Ilia the story of her life since the day her mother died, leaving nothing out and leaving nothing to the imagination. The faunus girl is soon in tears as she listens, while Weiss herself hopes Ruby will arrive soon. She desperately needs more to drink, two metric tons of bacon, and the safety of her Reaper's arms…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The Red Reaper dashes along, rose petals and silver light the only indication she has passed by. She's keeping the normal winds that occur naturally focused, needing them to push her even faster.

All thoughts of mercy, of worry, of any speck of caring are missing. Ruby Rose has gone to sleep, the Red Reaper is awake and hunting for the ones who stole her mate to make them pay!

She spots the White Fang soldier as she approaches. The bird faunus man is laughing as he kicks a human dock worker, all of it moving in slow motion to her semblance enhanced senses. But she still sees his leg raising, she still sees the dock worker's arm raising slowly as his lips move at a crawl, no doubt begging for mercy. The Red Reaper raises her scythe, the now repaired and reinforced blade shining in the light of the shattered moon.

Weiss helped her turn her already beautiful Crescent Rose into a true work of art, and she has no qualms of staining it's beauty in blood to get her white wolf back. She has become the calming voice she has been seeking all her life, and makes the nightmares, the terrible voices, the pain of her dysphoria go away. Weiss has become her world, and it has come to a stop for two days now.

The White Fang member never finishes his kick, his feathered head going flying as it separates from his body. She passed too quickly to see the look of horror in the worker's eyes, or to see him reaching for a scroll kicked out of his hands earlier to summon assistance from the authorities.

"31, 32, 33, 34!"

She thinks to herself as she slides to a stop, her now red tinted blade slamming into the ground to both stop her as well as take aim. She sees the lookout standing before the gates keeping her from her White Princess, and growls in rage. The White Fang took her Snowflake from her, and they will pay in blood. And if they hurt her?

They better pray the Goddesses Three themselves come to save them, for she will have no mercy for them at all. For her beloved White Princess, she will become Death herself, and no one will save them.

The sentry's eyes widen in surprise at the scythe wielding wolf faunus that appears before him, her scythe pointed directly at him as well as the gate behind him. He can see the aura of bloodlust surrounding her, even as he draws his weapon. "Incoming!" Is the last word that leaves his lips before a fifty caliber blast dust round rips through his body, leaving a fist sized hole in the middle of his chest. He is unaware of his body lifting into the air, thrown clear from the explosion of the high yield round impacting the chain linked fence behind him.

His last moments on Remnant were full of fear, his last sight filled with rage filled eyes that constantly flicked between quicksilver and red…

Eyes that flickered between cold steel and fresh blood…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"There!" Ren points to Jaune, who is waving from a nearby rooftop.

"I see him. Coming around." Nora replies as she expertly maneuvers the bullhead closer to him, bringing it to a hover. "Somebody toss him Crocea Mors!"

"I got it!" Yang calls out as she jumps out to join him and the android, his sword and shield in hand. "Any luck?" She asks calmly.

"I just intercepted a scroll call. Dock 34 is apparently crawling in masked faunus." Penny informs her.

"Nora, find someplace to land and catch up with the others." Jaune orders as he holds his scroll to his ear, while taking his sword and folded shield from the blonde. "We're going ahead."

Penny nods in agreement as eight swords unfold from her back. "We need to hurry." She declares just as they all see the distant explosion.

"Time to go!" Yang declares as she takes off at a sprint, leaping down onto the ground without losing a step.

"We must hurry. That was an extremely high yield blast." The android calls out as she keeps pace easily, Jaune bringing up the rear.

"That's not good then." The brawler admits as she pushes herself harder. "She only has one magazine of blast dust rounds, and she rarely uses them. She saves them for really tough Grimm."

Jaune huffs as they approach the blasted apart gates. "Focus! Blasted gate straight ahead!"

The three of them don't hesitate as they rush forward. But Yang alone is afraid. Ruby's temper is worse than even her own, and she struggles to keep it under control. Weiss has been a miracle in that regard, and Ruby hasn't been so happy in years. And if anything has happened to the white wolf?

It may take the Goddesses themselves to stop the Red Reaper, because she will have nothing to lose anymore...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Are you insane?!" Roman glares at Adam, who is glaring back at him through his mask. "Our deal was simple: You get all the help you require to capture Blake Belladonna, and you don't lay a finger on Weiss Schnee or Jaune Arc! How difficult of a concept is that to understand?!" He is still furious at being woken up by an anonymous call, warning him that Adam was about to execute the white wolf. That will not only ruin three years worth of planning, but incur the wrath of her family. And once Alexander Garibaldi is on your trail, you're better off killing yourself. At least The Mountain does have a code of honor that won't allow him to defile your corpse, which is preferable to Willow Schnee. The entirety of the criminal underworld in Mistral has yet to touch the body of the last black market dust dealer she turned inside out in her rage, the fool refusing to cooperate. The Black Snow has no qualms of making sure her message is heard, clearly and dramatically.

The bull faunus growls as his grip tightens on Blush, while he struggles to not draw Wilt and end this cocky, arrogant human's life. "My agents caught her while fleeing through the streets of Vale. They brought her to me, and I am choosing to end her life tonight!" He spits out angrily. "I will show her mercy."

"Mercy? Mercy for what? Being a stubborn, stuck up little princess?" Roman counters with a sneer.

Adam holds out a hand, a picture placed in it a moment later. A picture he then offers to Roman as he trembles in a barely contained rage. "Our war is with her father. No proper faunus deserves to suffer like this. Even the Khan herself has sent word through the ranks declaring the children of the Monster innocents, and this is obviously why!"

Roman's breath catches in his throat as he stares at the picture taken of the heiress's back in horror. None of the spies he and Jeanne had placed in the Schnee household had reported anything like this happening before. He himself has never raised a hand to Neo, even when she herself admitted she deserved it. It's no wonder the Mountain almost beat the black hearted businessman to death in a justified rage. "Goddess bless that poor girl." He whispers as he tucks the picture away to show Jeanne later on. Despite her own lack of most maternal instincts, this will piss her off royally. Even she has never once raised her hand to any of her daughters and Jaune. She has other ways to punish them.

Adam nods, his fists trembling. "I will give her mercy, and end her obvious suffering. Then once I bring my love back into the fold, it will be Jacques' turn to suffer before I end him."

"That isn't part of the plan!" Roman roars as he gathers himself to possibly come to blows with the White Fang leader to stop him.

"Incoming!" A sentry calls out right before the gates to the dock area explode from a blast dust infused bullet. Adam and Roman both shield their eyes from the dust and debris until they die down. Looking back, the information broker and mercenary blinks as he sees Ruby standing there, scythe in hand and her rage manifesting in her glowing silver eyes.

"Where is she?" Roman shudders at the coldness of her voice, a coldness he recognizes from the times when he himself is forced to go to more drastic lengths in his business dealings. Even Adam takes an involuntary step back as he grasps Wilt in his hand.

"Fancy meeting you here, Little Red." Roman calls out as he turns to face the enraged red wolf, the first tendrils of fear wrapping around his heart. "And I'm afraid you need to be a little more specific. There are several ladies here at the moment, yourself included."

"Where is Weiss? I won't ask again." No one fails to notice the blade of the scythe extending upwards to lock into a new deadlier looking position, while the darksteel weapon itself begins to glow as the Reaper begins to fuel it's deadly edge with her aura, her growling growing loud enough to cow even some of Adam's more aggressive troops.

But it's the runes that suddenly spring to life as Crescent Rose glows brightly that convinces him that this is not a fight to pick. He was a rather excellent student during his own days at Haven due to having to counterbalance Jeanne's terrible scholastic abilities, and remembers that runes can only be used by those few blessed with magical abilities as well as highly trained dust mages. And considering Ruby's glowing silver eyes, he knows damned well they are all facing a Silver Eyed Warrior and the fully harnessed ability of her soul's ignition. He even recognizes the runes, meant to sharpen the blade even more wickedly than it already was, reinforce its durability greatly, and channel the magic of Ruby's silver eyes much more efficiently. Whoever inscribed the Reaper's scythe… They handed an already dangerous wolf faunus a weapon capable of destroying entire battlefields combined with her semblance and the power of her very soul...

"Go free the girl." Roman orders quietly as he steps forward, Melodic Cudgel already being flooded with all the aura he can spare. "This won't end until she's back in Little Red's arms."

"No!" Adam snarls as he too steps forward. "Her fate is sealed. Weiss Schnee dies tonight, by my hand!"

"NEVER! YOU'LL NEVER LAY A SINGLE FILTHY FINGER ON HER!" Neither man witnesses Ruby move. One moment, she is still standing at the wreckage of the gates, the next Adam has been sent flying, screaming in pain from a deep slashing wound across his chest. Roman barely has enough time to get his own weapon up to block her second vicious strike, a snarl on her lips to match the look of rage and hate in her eyes.

Her glowing blood red eyes...

For the first time he can remember, Roman is in actual fear for his life. Both of her attacks haven't been aimed to injure or knock either of them away. She was aiming to kill as quickly and as efficiently as possible to get to her Princess. And he knows that if he doesn't stay on the move and trust his own well honed instincts and semblance, he will be her next victim.

He still has too much to do to die here, at the hands and war scythe of the Red Reaper.

Melodic Cudgel meets Crescent Rose in a blur, the two weapons spinning almost too fast to be tracked with the naked eye as Roman's semblance struggles to stay ahead of the Red Reaper, who is just as determined to end him. He can hear the commotion as other fights begin to break out around them, but he cannot spare them even a second's thought.

Little Red's gotten too close too many times for his tastes, and not all the blood on her scythe is Adam's.

But a familiar scream gets his attention just as he finally manages to fire a blast dust round from his cane into the ground, forcing the two of them apart, the enraged wolf faunus girl coughing and gagging at all the dust and debris flying in the air in her direction. Turning, he blanches as he sees Neo staring at him in horror, Willow behind her and fending off a White Fang fighter with her sword still in its sheath while Little Red's big sister roars in rage as she takes down one of Adam's best tanks. He hears the crack of the man's neck, his head twisting in an unnatural angle, while Willow finally draws her blade and virtually cuts her own opponent in half before unleashing an entire pack of summoned beowolves on an approaching group of fighters. The Belladonna girl is conspicuously absent of course, and Roman suspects that the growing group of fighters are the distraction while she infiltrates the base and frees Weiss.

He finally has to turn away, Neo's tears may be his undoing if Ruby recovers faster than he expects.

This was not part of the plan either. The girl he raised as his sister was never to know about any of this. She was to go and finally live a happy life with the no longer blind Schnee. They both were to go live long happy lives in peace, yet here they are, in the thick of the fighting. Hearing an explosion, he catches a White Fang labeled bullhead explode in midair from a blast of energy fired by Penny, who immediately returns to fighting back to back with Jaune, who is wielding Crocea Mors with all the skill Jeanne beat into him against three more White Fang fighters.

Jeanne was wrong about one thing. He sees for himself as Jaune's sword crosses one of their throats just as the White Fang member tries to attack Penny from behind, his shield blocking a second blow aimed at him, while the Ginger deals with the third terminally, that her heir has the stomach to defend his love with lethal intent and purpose. The young man doesn't even spare a glance for the faunus clutching his throat as he drowns in his own blood, but moves to continue to protect the android he loves.

Jaune has the same look in his eyes his grandfather too had all those years ago: the look of a warrior.

He watches as Pyrrha Nikos, along with a ginger haired hammer wielder and a young man with a streak of pink in his hair join the two and form up into a loose star formation. His horror is compounded as the new Ginger viciously slams a warhammer into another White Fang warrior, the woman folding like an accordion before being swatted away by Pyrrha's shield. The Mistrali Champion's green eyes are as hard as any seasoned warrior's as she drives her spear into another faunus man's chest. Meanwhile, pink stripe uses the blades on his pistols to cut an X across another man's throat before kicking him away and opening fire on another approaching fighter, riddling him with bullets.

Jeanne was dead wrong: Jaune's entire team will fight to kill, as well as Weiss's, and that makes them infinitely more dangerous.

"Move you idiot!" A woman in a white mask and wielding a lightning yellow katana bellows while shoving him roughly aside. She barely blocks the Reaper's incoming attack, the faunus girl snarling in a rage as she's denied her kill. "Ruby! Calm down! Stop letting the rage consume you!"

"GIVE ME BACK MY WEISS! GIVE ME BACK MY LIFE!" She shrieks in return, darksteel war scythe and lightning dust bladed katana beginning to clash. "GIVE ME BACK MY EVERYTHING!"

"Blake's looking for her now! Please, sweet girl!" Raven begs as she keeps her daughter occupied, even as she visibly struggles to keep her at bay. "Ruby, get ahold of yourself!"

Catching himself before he falls to the ground, he watches as the battle becomes a full rout of the Fang when Cinder appears, wreathed in white hot flames and demanding the return of her cousin. The first one foolish enough to dare challenge the wolf faunus daughter of the Burning Queen and the Mountain is soon screaming in pain as the
faunus woman melts his weapons into his own hands, a look of rage twisting her normally beautiful features. Roman and several others continue to stare in growing horror as a second woman tries to strike, the enraged faunus woman grabbing her by her face and… melting it… Before driving one of her white hot scimitars through her throat.

He's never heard a scream like that poor woman's before. He knows he's doomed to hear it in his nightmares tonight, and for many more nights to come. And he, Roman Torchwick, comes to the realization that he may actually die tonight.

"RUBY STOP!" Weiss shrieks as she leans against Blake Belladonna and that Ilia girl who joined Adam after the panther's defection. "ALL OF YOU, STOP! NO MORE!"

"WEISS!" The Reaper shrieks as she rushes to her princess's side, while the other gathered fighters who came to her rescue all pause, giving Roman and the remaining uninjured and still mobile members of the White Fang time to escape. But he knows that tonight, all he will see is Neo's pain filled eyes staring at him. All he will feel is guilt that she saw him tonight at the docks fighting against Ruby. All he will hear is her scream of disbelief, as well as that other woman's scream of pure unadulterated agony.

He knows his sister will never forgive him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Weiss clings to Ruby as the wolf girl sobs, not caring that her clothes are disheveled and barely on her slim figure, or that her hair is a mess, or that she's still thirsty and desperately craving three metric tons of bacon. She's back in Ruby's arms, and doing her best to calm the sobbing love of her life as she clings to her tightly.

"Shhhh, I'm ok now, Ruby. Please calm down, for me?" She whispers into the wolf girl's ear.

"Oh goddess, Weiss…" Blake mutters as she stares. Ruby's hug is displacing her hair, revealing the scars on her back that match her twin's. "Oh goddess I'm so sorry. I'm so so so sorry."

Taking an arm off of Ruby, she grabs at the panther faunus's vest and pulls her into the hug as well. "Just start listening, Blake. That's all I ask for." She replies quietly. The panther faunus nods as she bursts into her own tears, her arms wrapping around the two of them.

"Guys, not to interrupt, but the cops and the VDF are here." Yang calls out as the soldiers and police begin fanning out, disarming and arresting the left behind injured White Fang agents as well as disarming the students who all rushed to Weiss's aid. Only Willow and Neo are missing, the two of them knowing this would happen and not wanting to be there in case of repercussions.

She could feel her twin's heart breaking for her mate, the cat faunus crying bitter tears at seeing her brother here. But Willow will no doubt have Neo well in hand, and she must focus on calming her beloved Reaper. But first, she must reassure Yang that all is well.

Weiss nods as she smiles at Ruby's beloved sister, whom she now considers a close friend. "It's fine, Yang. We're fine here. Go make sure Nora doesn't knock anyone out."

Before Yang can do so however, her mother appears as she looks worriedly at Ruby. "Is she ok?" The older woman asks quietly.

Weiss nods. "She was frightened is all, Mrs. Xiao Long. It's no doubt been a long two days for us all."

"Yeah, it has been." The Huntress replies as they all hear Nora scream indignantly from Magnhild being taken from her. "Go stop your friend from committing murder, Yang. I need to talk to Weiss."

"Yes ma'am." The blonde replies before rushing off to restrain the Mistrali girl, Penny as well as the rest of her team already struggling to keep her from charging the soldier to get her weapon back.

"Weiss, I don't doubt anymore that Ruby does love you." Raven begins as she looks into the white wolf's eyes. "But her life has been complicated, and she deserves to be happy. I see now that you do that, and I'm grateful."

Weiss smiles as she keeps hugging Ruby, while Blake allows herself to be led away by Ilia. "I love her for HER." She declares firmly. "ALL of her." She adds, Raven nodding in approval as she smiles.

"You sound like my brother. He said almost the same exact thing to Sum a long time ago. And just like him, I believe you too." The elder woman informs her with a sad smile. "But no marrying her until she's at least nineteen, got it? Give her a few years to really grow into herself."

"Yes ma'am of course." The wolf faunus agrees as her arms stay wrapped protectively around her girlfriend. "Oh, a favor?"

Raven raises an eyebrow. "Already? I just approved of you two."

"It's not that. Can someone please find Myrtenaster? I would hate to bother my uncle with needing him to forge me a new rapier, especially to replace that one."

Raven Branwen nods as she smiles sadly. "Myrtenaster, huh? Good to hear it's still being used. Don't worry, I'll find it and bring it to you. For now, all of you need to get back to Beacon."

"Yes ma'am. Come along, Ruby. It's time to get back. I desperately need something to drink, at least four metric tons of bacon to devour, and non stop cuddles with you until we absolutely have to return to class." Weiss pulls back a bit and wipes a small streak of blood from the Reaper's cheek with her thumb. "And you're a mess."

"Weiss, I think I killed that one guy. I was so mad I just saw red and I…" Ruby is silenced by a finger being pressed gently to her lips.

"I would make the world burn if it meant keeping you safe, my beloved dolt. I shall never judge you, you have my word on that."

"I… Weiss…"

"Shhh. Let's go home, Ruby. Together as it is meant to be. I love you for now until forever, you know that right?"

"I love you too, for forever and after, Weiss."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Imma be honest, Ozzy." Carol Scarlatina-Garibaldi sighs as she stands in his office along with Glynda, Ironwood, as well as Raven. "Y'all don't teach 'em ta disarm here. Not gonna lie either, kinda scary how good they're all at it."

James nods as he stays next to Carol, a look of concern on his own features. "They shouldn't already be as good as they are, David. By the time Weiss was rescued and the fighting stopped by her, the assault group gathered by Jaune had killed a dozen at least, and badly injured several more."

Raven smirks as she looks up from where she is leaning against the wall. "I taught Ruby and Yang to never hesitate, Jimmy. Hesitate, and they're gonna kill you first. I don't want to outlive either of them."

Glynda frowns at Raven. "Don't you think that was a bit much, Raven?"

"No Glynda, it's not." Ozpin turns from looking out the window to look at her. "Carolina is right, we do not teach them to pull their punches during your class. One of the many reasons why yours is the single most dangerous one we teach here. We are training them to be warriors, defenders of the people. And as we all know from personal experience, not all the enemies of the people are the Grimm."

Raven, Carol, and Ironwood all nod in agreement as Glynda looks at them in defeat. "I simply think they're still too young." She mutters.

"Glynda, sugar ah was Ruby's age when ah killed a human trying to kill me. It was him or me, an ah sure as hell wasn't ready to die." Carol informs the professor as she turns to look at Ozpin. "Ah do want em all checked out by ah therapist. That's tha only concession ahm makin for their age."

"James?" The Headmaster looks at the Atlesian military commander and headmaster.

"I agree with Carolina. Have them cleared by a professional before they return to combat class. We don't need any accidents." He agrees with a nod. "But personally, I commend them for their bravery. They risked their lives and futures here to rescue Weiss. But to prevent such an occurrence in the future, I'm ordering Penny to keep an eye on her."

"No need." Raven chuckles. "Ruby isn't going to let Weiss out of her sight ever again. She was genuinely terrified, Ozzy." The senior huntress informs the Headmaster, who nods.

"An incident like this must be prevented from occuring again." He declares to nods of agreement. "James, thank you again for bringing reinforcements, and thank you for working with him Carolina. That said, we must tighten up security. No doubt, Adam Taurus, if he survived, will be seeking revenge. We must deny him that."

Carol sighs. "Then ah gotta fuck your night ah bit more Oz. Kali's on 'er way. An iffin Ghira's bein honest, she wants his balls for ah trophy."

Glynda blinks. "Oh this certainly complicates things."

Ironwood looks at them in confusion. "Forgive my ignorance, but why?"

Raven looks at the Atlesian Headmaster with a smirk. "Because she was one of the White Fang's best assassins for years. Her and Kate both."

"Alex an I never supported 'em. But we didn't do nothin to stop 'em either." The Valian General adds quietly.

Ozpin sighs. "Then we must prepare for the worse. Kate is already furious, and if Kali arrives with nothing but death in her heart, Vale may yet become a warzone. We cannot allow this." He declares firmly. "It is far too late to move Vytal to Atlas, so we must do everything in our power to keep it from failing."

"And if we can't?" Glynda asks.

Raven looks the blonde in the eyes. "Then all hell's gonna break loose. And you're gonna have a lot more students who are gonna get some real world experience in what it's like to take lives…"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Yang, you ok?" Weiss calls out to the brawler, who's staring absentmindedly at the predawn sky. The eleven of them have chosen to watch the sun rise, none of them getting any sleep.

They all, even Ilia, Blake, and Weiss, had been forced to kill. To end another person's life to save their own as well as others. None of them slept that night, their guilt leaking into their dreams and turning them into nightmares.

"Yeah, I'm good Ice Queen." Yang mutters as she shakes her head. "Not gonna be able to hear anything snap for a while though."

The white wolf nods. Only Ilia and Blake witnessed her rage once the panther had freed her from the aura manacles, her link to her twin slamming back in almost instantly. She had impaled the guards trying to recapture her into the walls with spears of ice, while several borrowed summons had cleared the way for them. No one survived her rampage until her weakened aura finally gave out, forcing Blake and Ilia to continue onward while taking turns carrying her and fighting.

"Willow?" Pyrrha calls out from her place next to Cinder, who is finally asleep with her head in the Mistrali girl's lap. "How do you and Neo do it?"

"We don't." She replies bluntly, Neo nodding in agreement. "I still have terrible nightmares, just like I did last night and probably will again tonight."

"I see." She sighs as she strokes the older wolf girl's hair gently, Cinder whimpering softly in her sleep. "Does it get better?"

"Nope." Ruby pops the 'p' from her position behind Weiss, her princess securely in her arms. "Still have nightmares of when I accidentally killed two of Roman's goons the night I stopped him." She looks fondly at Weiss, who is chewing on her lower lip as she looks to the horizon. "But they don't get as bad, especially if you have someone there to support you."

"So that's why you sneak into my bed at night." The white wolf mutters. "Not like I ever cared, you're a good cuddler."

"Jaune, are you ok?" Penny asks the young man, who smiles at her.

"Pen, I'll put anyone to the sword if they threaten you. Any of you." He looks over to Ruby and Weiss, who are looking at him. "I told Ruby, and I'm telling you now, Weiss. I am not interested, nor am I faking this idiotic game anymore. I have who I want."

Weiss nods. "I believe you Jaune."

"Hey Blakey? Who's she?" Nora asks from her place in Ren's arms, the young man asleep with his head on her shoulder.

"Everyone, this is Ilia." Blake introduces her with a smile. "She's…"

"I'm technically her fiance, even though I'm still waiting for a ring." The chameleon faunus huffs.

"Ilia!"

Ruby chuckles. "Guys, how are we gonna do this?" She asks as she looks at them all, Cinder included. "Cause Pyrrha, you and Cinder aren't going to fool anyone anymore."

"I've made her wait too long." The Invincible Girl admits. "But she has to wait a little longer, my father is adamant about that. I must be eighteen before we can finally date openly."

"Wait, what do you mean Rubaloo?" Yang calls out.

"Well, Weiss and I share our bed. Obviously Ren and Nora do too, but what about all the rest of you?"

Blake smiles as she takes Ilia's hand. "We'll fit just fine on mine."

Yang smirks. "You know me, Rubaloo. I like to date around too much to commit. Call it the curse of being a bi poly."

Willow giggles. "Neo and I officially begin after the fall break. I guess we need someplace to hang her Hush and my Fate."

"Our room, Dolt. We have a spare bed." Weiss declares firmly, Ruby nodding in agreement.

Jaune looks at Penny. "My place?"

"Your place." The Android agrees with a smile.

"Guys, does this mean we're gonna be those kind of people who become like a huge family now?" Nora asks quietly. "Cause speaking for Rennie, we would both love it."

"Sure, why not?" Ruby agrees without hesitation. "After last night, I guess we can call it our baptism by fire."

"No, she's finally asleep." Pyrrha giggles as she keeps stroking Cinder's hair.

Weiss smiles. "Jaune, let's work together to find a way out of that cursed marriage."

"Aye." He agrees as Penny settles into his arms. "We got who we both love."

"Guys, look at all the colors!" Ilia declares as she points.

Teams RWBY, JNPR, as well as the others all watch with wide eyes wonder as the sun rises in an explosion of colors. All of them sit in amazement as a thought runs through all their heads, that there is no challenge they cannot overcome together.

Together as the family they are becoming...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"My my my, this is a surprise. I was honestly betting you would be hamburger meat right now." Adam Taurus freezes at the voice, as does the medic tending to his wound as well as his bodyguards. Anyone who dives deeply into Vale's surprising robust criminal underworld knows who that voice belongs to, and the bull faunus is already dreading having any more of the voice's attention.

"What do you want, sir?" He calls back politely, well aware that the voice is human, but he's in no condition to even attempt to argue. He barely survived Ruby's slash, which cut him all the way to the bone. He has no want or need to test his luck any further.

"Oh, well there's plenty I want. A harem of beautiful, highly skilled women, a mountain of money to sleep on, and a nice, medium rare steak." The voice replies in amusement. "But considering you almost fucked the plan, please enlighten me on how you plan to fix it? Hmmm?"

"I… I may have enough men to continue the mission." Adam replies while trying to settle his growing panic. "And anti human sentiment here in Vale is still high enough to allow me to do some aggressive recruitment as well."

"Ah well then, I'll leave you to it!" The voice declares as a titanic Komodo Dragon faunus steps forward out of the shadows, a massive two handed war cleaver in his hands and a look of disgust on his face. The man is dressed in a leather vest, tight black pants that end at his clawed feet, with plates of armor at his thighs and ankles. His long black hair is kept in a braid that goes down his back, and his green scales show off the many scars and cracked scales accumulated during a lifetime of fighting. "Oh, I'm going to leave Abe here to keep an eye on things. Can't have you running about, making all the same mistakes again and all."

"Yes sir." Adam replies softly as he looks at the legendary mercenary standing before him. He grew up listening to stories of Abeghat Gren, and knows just how deadly he is, as well as the fact that the Mountain is the one opponent he has yet to best in battle. "H-how do I get ahold of you?"

"You don't." The voice replies firmly. "Abe here is going to make sure you succeed, or die trying. He should be more than enough motivation to keep you moving along in the proper direction."

"Yes sir." The bull faunus replies as the faunus man begins to chuckle, before bursting into laughter. He's doomed now, he knows it. Roman has to have some kind of bottomless pocketed benefactor to be able to afford the dreaded mercenary leader.

"Oh and Adam? If I have to come back, I'm going to cut myself a nice thick steak. No need to reply, just making myself clear." The voice declares as footsteps are heard walking away, while the Komodo Dragon faunus simply laughs harder.

Cyrus Swiftshade is no one's fool, no one's pushover. And with him involved, Beacon will fall, more than likely Vale as well, and the Mercenary King will indeed be sleeping on an even larger bed made of money, alongside his harem of skilled beauties, while Adam Taurus ends up in a shallow grave…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Yes, I understand." Weiss replies to the voice on the other line of her scroll calmly. "Yes, thank you. I love you too." She hangs up her scroll and returns to watching the Adventures of Wolfy and Grimby on the trivid at Ruby's family's home on Patch.

"Everything ok, Weiss?" Robin asks as the white wolf returns to watching the children's show she still adores.

"My father's slipped into a full coma." She replies quietly as she gently scratches behind one of Ruby's ears, the love of her life having woken up screaming in the early hours of the morning. She and Raven both had sat with her until she calmed down, and they moved to the living room until her Reaper had fallen asleep again.

She hasn't slept in three days now herself. Every time she closes her eyes, she sees the guards she killed during her own escape. She hears their voices accusing her of being a murderer and a monster, the latter something she doesn't need help with. Goddess but she needs some sleep...

"Weiss." Tai calls out as he shakes her gently, a sad smile on her face. To her chagrin, she realizes she had dozed off before she even answered her. "Hey, you and Ruby go back to bed, ok?"

She already adores the blonde haired man who Ruby calls her Da. He's the complete opposite of her own father, and has made sure the white wolf has been comfortable since she and Ruby arrived. Granted, he stripped them of all their weapons when they arrived, but that's to be expected considering the circumstances.

"No, I'm fine Sir." She mumbles as she struggles to stay awake. She can't sleep, they'll return to torment her…

"Hey Dad? Just leave her." Robin calls out as the two of them watch her drift off again, her exhaustion no longer leaving her any choice in the matter. "I'll keep an eye on her and Ruby."

The older blonde nods as they both hear Yang scream upstairs. "I knew this day would come, little bird. I was just hoping it wouldn't have been this soon." He nods as he watches Raven rush into their eldest's room, a look of concern on her face. "Goddesses, but I prayed they would be spared this just a little longer."

"This is why I don't want to be a huntsman anymore." Jay admits as he steps into the living room, handing his twin a mug of coffee. "I know I can't handle it. Any of it."

"Definitely giving me plenty to think about." Robin agrees as she watches the white haired wolf faunus slowly get pulled down by Ruby, who wraps her arms around her protectively. She herself sets the children's show on a loop, before taking a sip of her coffee. "Besides, Weiss got a call earlier."

"Oh?" Tai asks as he covers his daughter and her mate in a blanket.

The younger girl nods. "Something about her Dad's in a coma. She fell asleep before she said anything else."

The older man looks thoughtful as he strokes his chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Maybe…" He mutters as he moves to the door, where a duffle bag sits. "I'll make some calls on my way to the wilds."

"Do you have to go, Dad?" Robin calls out as someone knocks on the door.

"I guess I will be in a minute." He replies as he opens it, blinking in surprise at Kate Garibaldi standing there with a woman dressed all in red.

"How are they, Tai?" She asks quietly as he moves aside instinctively to let them in.

"Been a long weekend." He admits as he looks at the young woman. "And you are?"

"Miltia." She replies as she looks around. "I came to help with Yang. I… know what it's like." She admits. "I was lost in the village when Mrs. Garibaldi found me."

He nods as he smiles softly. "Upstairs, second door down. Raven's with her."

"Thank you." She rushes up the stairs and into the room, Yang greeting her tearfully.

"Isn't she…" Tai shakes his head. "Whatever. So why are you here, Kate? Checking up on Weiss?"

"Among other things." She replies as she looks at the sleeping pair on the couch, smiling at the children's show playing on the trivid. "Alex received an interesting phone call last night. And we made a decision on something as well."

"And that is?" He asks as one eyebrow raises.

"May we host Ruby's sweet sixteen?" She asks politely. "Alex feels Ruby is ready to claim a major part of her past."

"A what?" He replies in confusion. "What are you talking about, Kate?"

"He has them, doesn't he?" Raven calls out from the top of the stairs. The older woman looks exhausted, as if she's been the main one dealing with the screaming and nightmares.

"He wants them to go to Ruby first, Rave." The cat faunus replies quietly. "Especially her mother's Retribution. And you look like shit."

"Gee thanks kitty." She deadpans.

"Kate, those belong to all of them." Tai declares firmly as he folds his arms across his muscular chest. "That's not his call."

"No." Jay declares quietly as he joins the adults. "They belong to Ruby. She's the silver eyed warrior, not us."

Robin nods in agreement as she joins her brother. "Ruby lies all the time, but she's desperate for answers, Mrs. Kate. She's desperate to find out the truth of why Mom and Dad died."

Kate looks at the other two adults, her face betraying her emotions. "Robin, Jay…" She begins as she looks back at them. "Ruby… She isn't ready, little bird. It is a terrible, horrible story. One that took us all years to piece together ourselves from what little Alex remembers as well as what Peter is willing to reveal."

Robin Branwen looks her godmother in the eyes, tears forming in her own. "I want the truth too. I want to know what was so important that my parents had to die. Why people treat us like we're special. Why no one fought Ruby when she demanded her name be changed when she was ten."

Jay nods. "We deserve the truth too. Even more than Ruby deserves Retribution and Rebellion. We want to know why our parents left us."

Raven sighs as she looks at the twins, pride in her eyes. "Then it's time, Kate. I'll go talk to Peter and Bart. They've been preparing for this for years now, Salem too."

Tai nods in agreement. "You guys can host the party. I had to take an emergency hunt in Vacuo, so I'm going to be gone for a couple of weeks."

Robin looks at the two people who took them in while smiling sadly. "Thanks, Mom and Dad. This means a lot."

Kate shakes her head. "Don't thank us, little birds. Willow's admitted to knowing the truth of the Great Sacrifice, and has kept her silence for two years. The knowledge of it drove her forward to see her own father punished for his sins, and she stained her hands in blood to see Adaliz, Summer, and Qrow's names return to the honor they deserve, as well as pave Weiss's way into the role of CEO."

Raven nods in agreement. "Soon, you two. Let me get things rolling after Weiss and your sisters return to Beacon. Then the three of us will talk, ok?"

Robin nods as she looks at her sister and her girlfriend… "You know…" She murmurs as she smiles.

"Know what, sis?" Jay asks.

"The Red Reaper's found her mate." She declares firmly as she looks at them all. "Ruby's at peace now, with herself at least. And the truth will finally set us all free."

Tai nods as he looks at the red wolf, whose arms are wrapped protectively around her white wolf. "Robin's right. I can't remember the last time she's slept so deeply."

"When Mom was alive." Jay chimes in as he looks at his sister. "When Mom would call her her little huntress, and let her dress as she saw herself."

Raven smiles sadly. "Qrow was so damned proud. He was who started to call her Ruby."

Kate nods. "They would have already gotten Weiss out of the marriage. Probably by killing Jacques and Jeanne themselves."

"And be signing all the papers the next day to let them get married as soon as they asked." Robin sighs as she looks at the cat faunus. "Ruby admitted to me she let the Reaper out. She knew she would hesitate, and Weiss is too important to her. To them both."

"Kate, plan for next Saturday." Raven declares quietly. "I'll bring Jay and Robin."

She nods. "I'll let Alex know. He wants to test them out one last time. He wants them to be perfect, and we need Weiss."

"Why Weiss?" Tai asks in confusion.

"She's the only one Ada taught to inscribe runes on metal." She pauses and looks at them. "The proper way to inscribe runes onto metal." She adds.

Raven is the first to realize what the red haired cat is referring to in a roundabout fashion. "She… Ada did pass it on?" She whispers in surprise as she stares at the white wolf.

"As long as a true blood Schnee woman lives, it will always pass from mother to daughter." Kate Garibaldi declares with a smile as she opens the door. "Myrtenaster is still so beautiful when unshackled, and Alex, Carol, and I couldn't be prouder."

Tai nods as he looks at the Reaper and her Princess with a smile. "I'm starting to think there's a lot of destiny involved here."

Kate nods in agreement. "Good luck to you Taiyang Xiao Long. May Summer and Qrow watch over you."

Taiyang Xiao Long bows deeply in return. "And may Adaliz continue to bless your family. Your reunited family." He replies with pride as Katharina Brandstelle-Garibaldi takes her leave to return home. She has much to prepare for this week, not realizing just how eventful the coming six days will truly be…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Ruby? I need you to get up." Weiss whispers as she shakes the other wolf faunus gently. Huffing at the fact that her girlfriend simply tightens her grip, she prepares to bite her arm when someone clears their throat.

"Let her sleep, Weiss." Robin calls out softly. "It's been years since we've seen her sleep this deeply."

"Really?" The white wolf raises an eyebrow. "She's always been a light sleeper. This is new to me."

The younger girl nods as she smiles. "I don't know what you told her when she rescued you, but she's at peace with herself again. That alone is a miracle."

"Just that I would never judge her, and to go home together, as it was meant to be." The white wolf informs her quietly as she lays in the Reaper's arms.

"That did it then." She replies with a grin. "She really does love you, you know."

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for her, Robin." Weiss replies as she smiles softly. "I do love her as well, with all my heart and soul."

"Cool beans. Oh, who called you earlier?"

"Klein. He's sending Leigh and Chef Zeff to Beacon to assist me as well as the school at large." The heiress shakes her head. "Poor Leigh has no idea what she's getting into here. Yang and Ruby are slobs."

"Sounds like my sisters alright." The younger girl giggles. "But did he say why?"

The white wolf nods. "The Manor is done for. The damage is too extensive, and Uncle Alex has ordered it to be emptied and torn down." She sighs. "He said no true blood member of the family needs to be reminded of what Father has done whenever we return to Atlas."

"And your father is in a coma?"

"Yes." Weiss looks the youngest Rose-Branwen child in the eyes. "If he remains in the coma through my birthday, the marriage to Jaune cannot happen. Father's lawyer was also on the call. As it stands, if he cannot appear in court soon to continue to contest my mother's will, his lawsuits will be dismissed."

"My parents would have killed him already." She mutters.

"Uncle Alex cannot know, nor Willow. They may go finish the job." Weiss smiles sadly as she shakes her head. "On the bright side, apparently I am to finally receive a proper debit card, and have access to the family funds. He can no longer block that."

"So you're rich now?" Robin asks, making Weiss smile as she looks at the still sleeping Reaper.

"We're rich now." She corrects her as Ruby opens one brilliant quicksilver eye. "And you get to do your big brilliant idea for tomorrow."

"REALLY?!" The red wolf cries out happily as she sits up, her white wolf still in her arms.

"But first, hear me out." She wiggles around until she is straddling the younger woman's lap. "Ruby Michelle Rose, I am yours. I am only yours, do you understand me? I meant it when I told your aunt that I love you for all of you. Your little imperfections, your cookie snarfing ways, and the joy with which you approach life."

"Weiss, I-" Ruby's eyes widen in surprise, while her wolf's ears shoot straight up into the air as her white wolf suddenly kisses her deeply, her own eyes closed as her arms wrap around the Reaper's own deceptively muscular shoulders. Ruby's arms wrap tenderly around her white wolf's waist as she returns the kiss wholeheartedly, her tail wagging in time to her Princess's, albeit thumping against the couch.

Breaking the kiss, Weiss blushes. "Wow... I could get used to that." She whispers softly.

"A lifetime, if that's what you want, Weiss Elizabeth." The Reaper whispers back, a blush on her own cheeks.

"I want an eternity, Ruby Michelle. A lifetime will never ever be enough." The Princess replies quietly before kissing her again gently. "And even eternity may still be lacking."

Robin smiles as she secretly records the two of them on a livestream linked to her Valebook page, her friends all commenting on how beautiful of a moment it is while cheering her beloved older sister onwards towards a happily ever after of her own…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ruby grins as she slams a massive binder down onto the table in the cafeteria, making Yang and Blake both jump, while Weiss simply rolls her eyes. After they finally woke up and had their moment that included their first kiss, Ruby had commenced with her brilliant idea, one Weiss went along with with a smile as she showed her beloved girlfriend where she hid all her extra school supplies once they returned to Beacon last night, now having the finances to afford more. Clearing her throat to get their attention, she opens the binder to the first page. "Friends, sisters, wife!" She declares as she motions from a surprised Blake, to a grinning Yang, then to a madly blushing Weiss.

"A bit early, dontcha think Rubes?" Yang asks before catching a tossed piece of fruit from Nora in her mouth.

"Simply planning for a glorious future is all, Yangarang!" The Reaper replies as she looks fondly at her girlfriend, who looks ready to melt. "And speaking of the future, this binder has been personally prepared by me using only the finest of materials gifted to me by my beautiful future wife, and is full of training strategies, team trust exercises, as well as bonding nights for the foreseeable future!"

"I think Ilia's waiting for me." Blake declares nervously as she tries to stand up, only to be pushed roughly back into her seat by both Cinder and Velvet.

"She'll find you here, kitty." Cinder informs her firmly as she sits next to her.

"Mhmm. And by the way, you're not fooling anyone with that ribbon anymore." Velvet informs her as she stays standing behind the nervously mewing panther while looking for her own team, grinning when she sees Coco walk up to join her, Yatsu and Fox both still piling food onto their plates. But a sudden commotion by the taco stand catches her attention, and she growls in displeasure. "Oh hell, when did Cardin get out of medical?"

"The better question is who was fucking stupid enough to even let him out?" Coco Adel growls as she glares at the younger man, who stupidly glares back.

Yang, who caught the Cardin comment, is opening her mouth to no doubt add fuel to the fire when she takes a pie to the face from Nora, who immediately points at Pyrrha Nikos. Pyrrha, who's been a bit of a mystery to everyone since she arrived until this past weekend, simply blushes a deep red as she rubs the back of her head. "Sorry!"

Turning, Cinder smiles fondly at the Invincible Girl of Mistral as she swipes at the pie topping on Yang's face. "Hey. Been looking for you all morning." She calls out before trying the stolen treat. "Mmmm, lemon meringue!"

"I ummm I've been busy?" Pyrrha offers weakly before getting knocked off her seat by a well aimed watermelon thrown by Yang.

"Food fight!" Nora declares as she leaps to the top of the table, two more pies in hand and a look of savage glee on her face.

"No Nora!" Ren calls out, only to get knocked away by another thrown watermelon, this time thrown by a cackling Coco, Velvet already armed with a pair of rather large turkey legs.

"Yes Nora!" Weiss calls back with a laugh before launching a tomato at her own cousin, who laughs as she catches it and smashes it into Blake's hair, the faunus woman in hiding screaming bloody murder.

Not to be outdone, Ruby is soon a blur, food flying in several different directions as the battle begins in earnest…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Have all of you lost your minds?!" Deputy Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch yells at the food covered combatants, even as she uses her semblance to clean up and repair the mess that is the dining hall. She does however leave Cardin Winchester hanging from the rafters, considering a soda and cherry pie drenched Velvet is still glaring up at him and growling. To everyone's surprise, Jaune is also glaring at him as he cracks his knuckles while muttering something about keeping his hands off of other people's girlfriends.

"Glynda, leave them be." Ozpin declares with a small chuckle as he enters, passing by a food covered young man with blue hair and a laughing Sun. "If I recall correctly, the food fight between you, Summer, Salem, and Ada was much more destructive than this.

Glynda blushes a bit at the reminder, while the whole of teams RWBY, JNPR, CFVY, as well as Cinder all grin and laugh at the revelation. "But David! We-"

"Also went unpunished, as old Headmaster Pruett simply laughed and said that we are only young once, and that we would all need to grow up more quickly than expected." He declares before looking at the gathered students. "However, to put it in terms all of you will understand, this is your only freebie. The next time, there will be consequences. And Miss Schnee?"

"Yes Headmaster?" Weiss asks from her position on Ruby's lap, both their tails wagging in their mutual amusement.

"An excellent use of a swordfish as a dueling weapon. Ineffective against a watermelon on a stick, but still rather interesting to watch."

"Thank you, Headmaster." She replies with a giggle as she leans into her Reaper.

"Also, Miss Rose may I go ahead and wish you a very happy sixteenth birthday this weekend? I unfortunately will be trapped in meetings all weekend and will be forced to miss your upcoming party on Saturday."

Ruby blushes as Nora and Yang launch into an excited conversation over her upcoming birthday party being held here at the forge and hosted by Weiss's family at their insistence. "Thank you, Headmaster. But really, it's not that big of a deal."

"Quite on the contrary, Miss Rose. You only turn sixteen once." The Headmaster smiles softly. "And it is a momentous occasion, especially considering the upcoming events here at Beacon." He adds cryptically. "And Miss Scarlatina, no maiming Mr. Winchester. I need not remind you that you are still under academic probation for your last assault on him, as well as yourself, Mr. Arc."

"Yes sir." Both young people reply grudgingly as they stop staring in wait.

"Excellent, all of you are dismissed to go clean up." He declares. "Oh, one more thing." He stops and smiles. "Teams RWBY and JNPR, both teams have been moved to Blue dorm at the request of Forgemaster Garibaldi and Lord Proctor Augustus Nikos, as well as keeping in line with the final wishes of Summer and Qrow Branwen." He informs them before walking off, Glynda at his side and already badgering him for details.

"Why would Uncle Alex insist on us being moved?" Weiss asks Cinder, who shrugs.

"You know Daddy. Emmy and I aren't even staying at the dorms. We're sharing my room at the forge." The other wolf faunus replies. "Which kinda sucks cause Emmy's a slob."

Pyrrha blushes as her team looks at her. "Dad wasn't too happy about me being in our dorm room."

Ruby looks lost in thought, her mind struggling to process just what Headmaster Ozpin meant by her parent's final wishes. Thinking back to the conversation she and Ozpin had after he signed her out of the police station and escorted her to Junior's, where he somehow knew Yang would be, she recalls one thing that had stood out at the time, but that she had promptly forgotten about as she started yelling at her sister for all the destruction she caused.

Ozpin had told her that if she managed to get through to her sixteenth birthday, her life would change greatly. That Maria already spoke highly of her, and that her own parents had had great hopes for her. But considering the upswing her life has been on, she can't help but worry about what will happen when the other shoe inevitably drops…

"Oh hell no! I am not finishing cleaning this up!" Everyone turns to stare at the cat faunus standing at the doorway and dressed like a maid, a tall, muscular dark skinned human next to her and wearing a finely tailored grey suit with matching fedora, while she herself stands next to the blue haired young man who is still covered from head to toe in food, a laughing Sun WuKong still hiding behind him.

The man chuckles as he looks down at her. "Calm down, Leigh. It is part of our duties to Miss Weiss."

Weiss herself is already moving, leaping into the dark skinned man's arms with a laugh. "Chef Zeff! You and Leigh made it!" She cheers.

The man she called Zeff smiles as he returns the hug. "Klein needed to only give me leave to come, Miss Weiss. I already had my bags packed and ready to journey to Vale." He declares firmly, Leigh nodding as she stands beside him.

"Not gonna miss Atlas, that's for sure." The maid adds as she accepts the next hug from the heiress. "Watch out for Byte, Miss Weiss. She's razor sharp."

"I assume you will be assisting with the cooking?" She asks the man, who nods.

"I will be, yes. If Headmaster Ozpin doesn't mind of course."

"I do not." Ozpin smiles. "Even I've heard of the legendary fighting chef of Atlas, and am honored that you have come to work here."

"Bah, my fighting days are behind me." He grumbles as he looks around. "Heh, a taco stand."

"Oh, here!" Leigh declares as she holds a black card out to Weiss, who takes it with a nod. "Now, where will I be working?"

Glynda tilts her head, a look of growing recognition on her face. "You're Amber Atreides! You graduated third in your class at Haven, and are a two time Vytal champion! Why are you working for the Schnee's?!"

"First, it's Leigh. Second, I'm broke and up to my purple eyeballs in debt." She admits with a smile. "But I will serve Miss Weiss as long as she wishes it."

"Leigh, there's no real need for that." The white wolf begins, only to be cut off by a smile from the cat faunus and a chuckle from the massive chef.

"Miss Weiss, I am still proud to be serving a third generation of Schnee women. The Goddesses willing, I will live long enough to serve a fourth." Zeff declared firmly, a look of pride in his teal colored eyes.

Leigh nods. "I have my own reasons. But my loyalty is absolute, Miss Weiss. I guarantee it."

"Thank you. Both of you." Weiss replies with a sniffle, Ruby moving to put an arm around her waist. The White Princess instinctively leans into her Red Reaper, the two loyal servants nodding in their approval.

No one notices Ozpin checking his scroll, or abruptly leaving from a side door quietly. If they had, they would have been disturbed by the fact that his face has become a mask, only his eyes revealing a sudden inner turmoil within…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

James Ironwood looks at Bartholomew Oobleck and Peter Port both as he stands next to David Ozpin, who's own face is a mask. "The two of you are certain of this?" Despite Jacques being in a coma, the injunctions are still in effect." He reminds them both.

"I will no longer be silent, Jim." Port replies, his normal jovial features twisted into an uncharacteristic look of anger. "The children of Summer and Qrow Branwen, as well as Adaliz Schnee deserve the truth! I will no longer hide that truth!"

Oobleck nods in agreement. "We once taught these very things before Jacques Schnee twisted his wife's death to his advantage. For ten years now, we have denied our students the truth, despite one of the twelve being defeated! It can be done!"

"It took two Master level Huntresses to bring it down!" Ironwood protests. "And it killed them both as well as the army they brought with them!"

"Ruby and Weiss must know!" Peter roars back angrily. "They deserve nothing but the truth of why their parents died! The whole truth!"

"When will the children, the parents, the siblings of all the fallen finally be allowed to mourn openly, James?" Oobleck asks quietly. "Salem lost almost her entire family, and many children were orphaned as well. When will they finally be allowed to speak of their fallen with pride?" The green haired historian looks at the General sadly. "When will you finally allow yourself to grieve for Sarah properly, old friend?"

"Bart… I…" Ironwood goes silent himself, a look of deep pain and loss in his own eyes.

"Peter." Ozpin calls out, his facial features set firmly. "Prepare for the class, both of you. I will back you in this."

"David!" Ironwood protests as the two Professors nod and take their leave, knowing Ozpin will not change his mind now.

"Jim, they were my friends. Qrow and Alex are my best friends, and I still mourn Qrow deeply." The Headmaster of Beacon reminds him quietly. "I miss Summer's laughter at another one of Tai's terrible jokes. I miss Qrow and Raven bickering, yet forgiving each other in the end. I miss Ada's brilliant smile and the beauty of her voice when she sang." He pauses, a look of deep sorrow in his eyes. "The joy we all felt when Sienna and Winter were born, and we all had a hand in raising them that last wonderful year. I would give anything for one more day in the old Brown Dorms with the three of them." He pauses for a moment to wipe a tear away. "I would willingly give my own life to bring them back, so they can see how their sons and daughters grew up to become fine young men and women." His look darkens. "Or to allow them a chance to deal with Jacques personally before he dies for his many sins."

Ironwood nods as he moves to sit down across from Ozpin, his own face betraying his sorrow. "I would too my friend. I still wish I had stood with them that day. I still wish I could have fought and died with them. This world has been far darker without them, and has only begun to brighten once more with Weiss and Ruby."

"Their love is beginning to shine like a beacon in the darkness, and more and more are being drawn to them." David smiles softly. "They have been touched by destiny, Jim, and a great one."

The Atlesian Headmaster nods in agreement. "All of you are right. They must be told the truth. That the parents who should be here to celebrate their growing love instead gave their lives to stop a great evil. They must be told the truth of Atlas's Great Sacrifice."

"And there is no one better than Peter Port, my friend." Ozpin sighs. "And perhaps, he too will finally find some peace."

"What do you mean?"

David Ozpin looks James Ironwood in the eyes. "Summer Rose-Branwen died in his arms, Jim. And that guilt, that overwhelming sense of failure destroyed one of the greatest huntsmen in the world…"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Interlude One: A Family's New Home

Yang whistles as she walks in first, carrying several boxes in her powerful arms, along with an overfilled duffle bag on her back. "This place is huge!"

"Indeed it is, Brute." Weiss agrees as she enters next, carrying another box while pulling one of her suitcases behind her, an overloaded box balanced on the handle.

"Welcome to Blue Dorm." Alex chuckles as he appears in the middle of the empty common room. "Ah mighta overheard y'all talkin on the cliffs the other morning. Decided this would work better for y'all."

"Weiss!" Ruby calls out as she enters and dashes over to a wide bay window, another one of the heiress's suitcases bouncing around behind her and the box settled on it flying off in her haste. "Look at the view!"

Blake smiles as she joins the Reaper before Weiss can. "It certainly is a beautiful view." She agrees as she sets the last of the white wolf's luggage to the side, as well as her own battered suitcase.

"Uncle Alex, why?" Weiss asks as JNPR appears next, carrying their own things.

"Cause y'all need the space." He replies with a smile. "Hard to be a family when you're in ah itty bitty living space."

Pyrrha nods right before she squeals as Cinder grabs her from behind. "Cinny!"

"Hey babe!" The wolf faunus replies happily as her tail wags.

"Hey Rubes, Ice Queen, Kitty?" Yang calls out as she motions for them to join her as she stands in front of a framed picture. "Isn't this?"

"Teams STRQ and AAKK." Alex declares as they all gather around the picture. "This was taken outside Brown dorm our fourth year I think." He smiles as he taps the picture. "Ada was already pregnant with Win, and Kate with Sienna. They had a whole heap ah babysitters all the time."

Weiss walks over first and gasps. "Mama…" she whispers as Willow comes over and wraps an arm around her waist.

"She looks so happy, Uncle Alex." The red eyed wolf girl adds, tears in her now fully restored eyes.

He smiles. "Four best damned years of our lives. We made a hell of a lot of lifelong friends here, couple ah rivals too." He chuckles. "Ada almost moved the company here to Vale, she loved it so much. Hell, Katey, Carol, and I did stay. Dunno why all my younguns decided to go to easier academies like Haven and Shade." He adds teasingly, Cinder blowing a raspberry at him.

Ruby finds herself in her girlfriend's arms as she stares at Summer, who is arm in arm with both Raven and Ada, Qrow behind her while Tai stands next to Raven. "They all look really happy."

Yang nods as she wipes tears from her eyes. "Goddess but I wish she and Uncle Qrow were still around. She would be so proud of you, Rubaloo. Auntie Ada would be proud of you two too." She points out to the twins, who nod sadly.

"Mum." Blake breathes out as she finally appears. "Her stories were true?" She asks the Mountain, who nods.

"She was my partner, and Ada was Kate's." He confirms quietly. "Your daddy was partners with Falco Winchester, an Carol was partners with Glynda on Ozzy's team."

"Was this your dorm room, Sir?" Jaune asks after setting a stack of boxes down by the wall.

"Nah, just figured y'all could use the picture. Make it a bit more homey in here and shit." He chuckles. "And a reminder too."

"Of what?" Nora asks as she sets a still loaded barbell down on the floor with ease.

"The benefits of family." He replies as he motions to the picture. "Summer and Qrow were some of my best friends, so was so many others. And we ended up turning the old brown dorm into something like this. Someplace where we could all hang out and just be ourselves. And honestly? Ahm proud of all of y'all. Takes maturity to admit when you need help, and more of it to help without being asked. And after what y'all had ta do the other night? I know." He sighs. "And being here for each other is gonna help alot with the nightmares and the guilt."

Ruby nods as Weiss turns to settle into her arms, Neo purring in Willow's arms. "Thank you sir. But what did Ozpin mean by my parent's wishes?"

"This is part of it. Being part of something bigger than yourself, and growing from it." He replies. "The rest? I'll give it to you Saturday."

"Party!" Yang and Nora declare happily, making the others smile.

"Yes sir." Ruby replies quietly, looking lost in thought once more. "Would Mom and Dad really be proud of me though?"

The Mountain moves to stand in front of her and his niece, leaning down to look her in her quicksilver eyes. "Without ah single doubt. You didn't do it to make people suffer, to watch em die. You did it to save Weiss, and trust me, Qrow would ah been right next to ya trying to tear Roman ah new asshole. No offense Neo." He apologizes to the tabby cat.

"My brother chose his path. I'm glad Ruby didn't kill him, but he needs to stop doing what he's doing before it does get him killed. Me and Willow aren't there to watch his back anymore."

She signs slowly, to be sure everyone who understands ASL can keep up.

"And I know I can't stop her."

"Oh yeah! That reminds me!" Alex chuckles as he grabs something from behind the counter and holds it up, revealing it to be a brand new copy of Remnant: The Board Game. "Told you I'd pick ya up a new one."

Cinder's scream is simply not human as she releases Pyrrha and grabs the game. "Oooooo it's the special Vytal edition! Thank you thank you thank you!" She squeals as she hugs the Forgemaster, who chuckles.

"Try not to let your sisters play this one. You know Mel and Lissa are both sore damned losers, especially when your playing as Vale." He reminds her before looking at all of em. "Don't let her play Vacuo either. She loves holdin a sandstorm as ah counter."

"Daddy!"

They all begin to laugh and talk as they start to unpack and set up their things in the much larger common room they only have to share with each other. And things get even louder when Coco and the rest of CFVY as well as Mel and her team MADM show up, their own belongings in hand as they call out their own enthusiastic greetings. Soon enough, a rampaging game of Remnant is being played between Cinder, Weiss, Jaune, and Coco, everyone else cheering their chosen player along.

None of them notice Ilia and Blake slip off and go up to the roof, the two of them agreeing that they needed to talk…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Interlude Two: A Panther and the Chameleon who Loves Her

Blake smiles as she opens the door to the roof with a wave of her scroll, then pulls Ilia behind her and onto the roof. "Ilia…"

"I love you." The chameleon faunus declares instantly as she works her way into the panther's arms. "I missed you."

Blake sighs. "Ilia, you shouldn't have come. You shouldn't have taken that risk." She tries to chastise the faunus girl even as she wraps her arms around her. "Ozpin only took me as a student here because I begged him too. To keep myself safe while keeping you all safe."

"I said I love you." The chameleon faunus declares with a glare.

The panther faunus smiles down at her. "I love you too. Goddess, but I've missed you."

"I missed you too. Now, I never asked you to do that for me." The chameleon replies as she keeps holding her panther. "I've loved you since we were fourteen, and I cried for weeks after you left. And when I saw a chance to find you, I took it. And I'm glad I did because I helped to save your friend."

"You mean the friend I was unnecessarily cruel too and almost got killed?" She points out quietly. "The friend who had no reason to forgive me, and did?"

"That sounds like a friend to me, Blake." Ilia smiles up at her. "A good friend who you need to make amends with."

"I know, Ilia. I need to make amends with you, mum, and da too. Cause I was wrong. I was so wrong about so many things, and I don't know how to fix any of it." The panther complains bitterly.

"Well I know how you can fix things with me." She smiles softly at the taller woman.

Blake nods as her head lowers. "How about page 119 right here under the stars?" She whispers before kissing the shorter woman tenderly, the two of them holding the kiss until both their lungs scream for air.

Ilia smiles after they separate slightly. "I thought you'd never ask." She whispers back before they kiss again, much more passionately than before…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Interlude Three: Past Regrets

Kate Garibaldi is the most hot tempered and quickest to draw her weapon at the slightest perceived insult or threat to her family. A youth spent in Atlas, along with an early adulthood spent fighting alongside Kali Belladonna in the White Fang made her bitter and cynical. But, she is grateful that she did not pass her hatred of humans on to her own children and honor children. That would have been a worse crime than any she has ever committed. Yet, her own sins, as well as a bottle of wine have led her thoughts to wander on a sleepless fall night, her family heavy within them.

Sitting in a chair, a photo album on her lap, and a box of tissues near at hand, the former Burning Queen of the White Fang is lost to her thoughts, to her memories, as well as still reeling from her own nightmares. Nightmares of a past life in which she failed her family once, when she failed her children, especially her eldest. She knows the nightmares for what they are: A warning from the Goddesses Three to not allow the same mistakes to occur again. A warning she took to heart, after bearing witness to the evils committed by her child in her own rage, self hate, and self loathing.

She will be damned if any of her children follow in those dark footsteps once more. Her children, who have grown and prospered...

Automne Ombre and Eve Howlette adore Sienna deeply, and he has proven time and again he will defend her oldest violently if necessary. After the circumstances of their own sole year at Beacon Academy, and the aftermath when she, Carol, and Alex finally found her, she is grateful her daughter has mostly returned to them all.

Sienna has become her own person, and she couldn't be prouder of her. She conquered her own demons, her own dark past, and is a woman of herself.

Pyrrha Nikos treats Cinder like a Goddess on Remnant. The Invincible Girl of Mistral dotes on her second born to the point that Augustus, the redhead's father, had to step in and put his foot down on their relationship. But, she is almost eighteen, and she herself knows for a fact her beloved child and her longtime girlfriend are quietly planning their wedding.

She left the Fang for Cinder's sake. Her second born inherited her temperment, and she would not see her walk a road to the Ten Hells for a second time.

Coco Adel is the perfect counter to her hot-blooded oldest honor daughter, Velvet. The rabbit faunus inherited Alex's deep sense of justice, as well as his skill in battle, and is Cardin Winchester's worse nightmare along with Nora Valkyrie. She is of course worried that her oldest honor daughter will go too far, and can't help but consider the consequences before doing so. Coco and her own partner Yatsuhashi normally have their hands full keeping the quick tempered warrior under control, and her nickname of the Killer Bunny is well earned.

She's concerned Velvet would have joined the White Fang had it not been for Coco, her own distaste for humans clearly and widely known.

Then there are her own twin daughters, Melody and Melissa. The two of them are contradictions to one another, Mel being a laid back, easy going individual like her own father, while Lissa inherited her caustic attitude and sharp tongue. Even their shared semblance is a reflection of their own attitudes and personalities, as Mel is the more easily controlled Beast, while Lissa is the controlling Beauty.

Yet life has certainly surprised her with them as well.

Melody is quietly dating a human, Nix Oriole from a fellow third year team. It's a slowly growing relationship that took the two of them almost two years to get to, the two of them dealing with their own chaotic feelings and confusion. She however sees it for what it is: a platonic relationship that soothes them both as they continue to discover themselves.

Lissa on the other hand, pursued Nix's wolf faunus teammate Gorri Tanager from the moment they met after Haven's initiation. The young man had no interest in the caustic mouthed, temperamental wolf faunus woman until the day his own adopted son, Oliver, appeared at Haven looking for him. For her daughter, it was love at first sight with the little boy, and she instantly claimed him as her own. It was a situation that angered Gorri at first, as well as enraged his mother Sapphire until they both realized that the young woman was ready to go to war to stay as Oliver's much needed mother figure. It made the young wolf faunus man realize that she wasn't after him for his looks, she herself is quite beautiful and never lacked for suitors herself. She wasn't after him for his money, or the fact that he is the heir of a major corporation. Alex and Carol have been wise with their money over the years, and have amassed a fortune. Alex himself, despite not being a true born Schnee, was formally adopted by Snowy and is still one of the wealthiest men in the world even now. And Carol is the current leader of the Scarlatina Clan of Menagerie, one of the largest and most powerful faunus clans in the entire world, so money is nothing to her. She chased after him because she saw her future in his eyes, a future by his side.

He finally listened to his heart, and he and Lissa have been auramates for the better part of a year now. Alex especially adores Oliver, calling him his little buddy. The two of them can spend hours upon hours in the forges, the little human boy listening eagerly to the Mountain as he teaches his classes. Even she adores him, and spoils him rotten. And she is suspicious that Lissa is pregnant, and keeping it a secret.

"Hey, ah lien for your thoughts." She smiles as Carol sits next to her, leaning against her to reach for the wine carafe.

"Just wondering about things is all." She replies quietly as she turns another page, tears forming in her eyes as she looks upon a tall, powerfully built young man who's resemblance to Alex is uncanny. From his build, to the stern look in his chocolate brown eyes, to even the way he stands ramrod straight as he holds the haft to a massive axe in his hands, he has the look and bearing of a warrior. "And missing our son." She adds sadly.

"Me too. Ah wish our boy would come home soon." The rabbit faunus woman agrees as she looks at the picture. "But, ah heard ah rumor from Ozzy. Apparently, Shade's claiming they're gonna win Vytal already, cause their best team's on the way."

"AJ's team qualified?" Kate asks with growing hope.

"We sure did Mama." The young man himself declares proudly as he appears in the living room, a beautiful young blonde woman with vivid blonde hair and brilliant purple eyes smiling as she is held in his powerful arms.

"To me thinkin, Aym thinkin you've been missed, Love." The woman declares as she looks up at him.

Both faunus women get swept into his broad arms as he hugs them both eagerly, the young woman moving aside for them. But to all their surprises, Alex appears next, a blank look on his face.

"Son."

"Daddy." The young man replies seriously, his own facial features a mask as well. But father and son both begin to smile before they embrace tightly. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Ain't no need to be sorry, Son." The older wolf faunus replies as he breaks the embrace and puts his hands on the younger man's shoulders. "You're home, and that's what matters to me. All that was nothing but words."

"They're home, right? Salome's dying to see Willow." AJ smiles down at the human woman who accompanied him, getting a smile in return. "And I am too."

"Then gather your team, son. There's some things that all of you need to know." Kate informs him quietly, while Carol moves next to Salome.

"Aym a bit curious." The young woman admits quietly. "But suren it can't be bad?"

Carol smiles brilliantly. "Ada passed it on."

Alex nods. "And this family is honored bound to protect her."

"Then that's all we need to know." The young man replies firmly as a pair of rabbit ears rise up from his head. "Call Kylie, babe. We're coming to Beacon after Vytal."

Salome nods firmly as she takes her scroll out of a small purse at her side. "Aye. Ay'll make sure my Mam knows as well. She'll be sending me enough dust to destroy Beacon a hundred times over to keep her safe."

Katherina Garibaldi gave her life once to stop her daughter, to save all the lives she could from Cinder's rampage. But now? Now, she has her entire family home at last, and she is prepared to once again sacrifice everything to keep them all safe.

Especially Weiss, who is more special than anyone here at Beacon realizes...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Six Days: Tuesday

Sun WuKong is desperate. Not only did his moment of caring for Blake set certain things in motion with her parents, but somehow Kali Belladonna once again proves her resourcefulness. Somehow she and her husband found a private bullhead pilot willing to go to Menagerie and bring them to Vale, thus trading a two week voyage by ship for a sixteen hour flight.

There are already whispers in Vale's unofficial faunus district that the Shadow Dancer is already searching for Adam, and there is no rock, no shadow, no hole that is safe from the retired assassin.

Of course, as he exits the elevator to teams RWBY, JNPR, CFVY, and MADM's floor in Blue Dorms to warn Blake, his worry becomes a full blown panic attack as he sees Ghira Belladonna standing at the door to the common room, Headmaster Ozpin himself barring his way.

Shit.

"Ghira, I will not permit you to enter their dorm without their permission." Ozpin declares firmly as he stands his ground. "Especially since it is entirely too early for this."

"Move aside, David." Ghira growls back as he glares down at the shorter man. "It took some convincing, but Kali's agreed to return to Menagerie peacefully if Blake returns with us."

"Blake is already eighteen, Ghira. You cannot force her to leave." The Headmaster of Beacon reminds the taller faunus man, mindful of the claws that are already beginning to flex in and out of his fingertips. "Have you even taken a moment to speak to Alex? Or even Carolina?"

"I feel no need to." He replies back mockingly. "They have already proven their ineptitude with the incident at the docks. My daughter and my goddaughters all were forced to kill to survive! Blake, Willow, and Weiss should never have been put into that position in the first place, and that is my own failing as a parent. A failing I will not make again!"

Sun is terrified now. Ghira may be a legend for his choice in taking more peaceful approaches towards equality, but he's still a powerful and deadly opponent once provoked. Of course he himself screams in terror when someone pushes him to the side, trembling as he watches Alex Garibaldi approach.

"Ghira, you sure do got ah big mouth." The wolf faunus grumbles as he stops at a safe distance, a cup of coffee in one hand and his other hand resting on the hilt of one of his bastard swords. "I could hear ya all the way back at the forge."

"What in the ten hells do you want?" The massive panther snarls angrily as he turns to glare at his most hated rival.

"For ya ta shut your big fucking mouth, that's what." The Mountain replies before taking a sip of his coffee. "And for ya to calm the fuck down. You're worse than Kali and Katie combined, and we're having ah hard enough time sitting on her."

Ghira smirks as he looks at the man he is still convinced seduced his wife during their years here at Beacon. "And if I don't?"

"Then you answer to us." Weiss and Willow declare as they stand in the doorway to the dorm's common area. Both of them are wrapped in sheets, clutching their weapons and with identical looks of irritation on their faces. "And we are not amused at being woken up at this ungoddessly early hour of the morning to deal with this, especially since we have classes in three hours…"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

-Fifteen Minutes Ago-

"What is that infernal racket?!" Weiss shrieks as she sits up in her bed, a look of irritation on her features.

"It sounds like two people arguing..." Ruby replies sleepily as she tries to pull the white wolf back down into the bed and her arms. "Something about Blake…"

"My, what good hearing you have Rubaloo!" Yang chuckles as she peeks out the window in curiosity. "Ummmm, hey Blakey?" The Brawler calls out next, a look of confusion on her own features.

"Where is Blake?" Weiss asks as she looks around, her look of irritation slowly being replaced by one of concern. "Blake Amaya Belladonna, where in the Ten Hells did you go?!"

"She died!" The panther's voice declares from underneath her bed. "A Beringel is eating her as an appetizer!"

"Say, where's Ilia?" Ruby asks as she sits up next, a concealing arm all that is covering her breasts.

"Blake, leggo! I don't want to hide under your bed!" The chameleon faunus screams in terror. "It's not far enough away!"

"Far enough away?" The red wolf asks in confusion. "Why wouldn't it be far enough away?"

"Ummm, does it have anything to do with the two panther faunuses by the bullhead pads? Especially the one who looks just like an older Blakey?" The blonde asks curiously as she points in the mentioned direction.

Standing, Weiss peeks next, a look of understanding coming across her features. "I haven't seen them in years. Wow, Aunt Kali has aged so gracefully!"

"Aunt who?" The Reaper asks, her confusion growing worse.

"Kali Belladonna, my mother…" It is the ominous tone in the panther's voice that gets the team's attention. It's one none of them have ever heard before, save during the search for Weiss.

"Oh dear." The white wolf murmurs. "I can hear them now. They're arguing over some kind of agreement." Pausing, she looks at her girlfriend. "They're here to take Blake back to Menagerie, today!"

"Not happening!" Ruby declares angrily as she grabs at a t-shirt. "Yang, text Penny and Pyrrha. Tell 'em both to come to our room!"

"You bet!" The Brawler replies as she reaches under her blanket.

"Hey! Not your scroll!" A new voice squeals.

"Oops! Sorry, not sorry!" The blonde replies with a grin as a second squeal is heard.

"YANG!"

"I can't help it! Jeez!" She declares smugly as she pulls her scroll out from under the blanket and starts typing.

"Good morning Miltia." Ilia calls out from under the bed she shares with her own girlfriend.

"Miltia, you really don't have to sneak in." Weiss reminds her as she pulls the sheet for her bed free, getting a squeal of her own from the Reaper, who blushes a deep red as she pulls the shirt as low as she can. Wrapping it around herself, she peeks at the remaining bunk and frowns. "Where the hell are they now?"

"Sorry! I just always feel like I'm intruding on… stuff." The woman replies as she pokes her head out from under Yang's blanket. "And is it always so cold in here?!"

"You get used to it." The panther replies. "You just cuddle up to someone at night, and you'll be fine."

"I got a dragon to cuddle. I'm good!"

To none of their surprises, Penny simply walks in while rubbing her eyes sleepily and yawning. "This better be important. Jaune and I were up entirely too late last night."

"Good morning!" Pyrrha declares chipperly as she follows the Android in next, a bounce in her step and a smile on her own face.

"Oh Goddesses save us all, she's a morning person!" Weiss declares in mock horror, getting a giggle out of the redhead.

"I'm always up this early. Cinny and I go jogging and work out." She informs the white wolf.

"Yes, then have loud, almost obscene sex in the shower afterwords." Penny grumbles.

"Hey, get a workout, then get worked out!" The Brawler declares with a thumbs up. "That's my kind of morning!"

"Wow, Pyrrha. You're not as innocent as we thought, huh?" Miltia grins mischievously.

"Compare sex lives later!" The Android huffs. "What is it?"

"You two wanna help me take a bullhead apart in record time?" Ruby asks as she finishes getting a pair of shorts on, a wicked grin on her face.

"And why would we want to do this?" The Mistrali champion asks calmly.

"Because my parents are here to take me back to Menagerie!" Blake informs them, still under the bed. "Ilia and I don't want to go back!"

"I bet if we used all three of our semblances, we could take it completely apart in less than ten minutes." Penny declares with a smug look of her own.

"Then you three better hurry." Willow declares as she enters the room, wrapped in a sheet of her own and carrying Fate. "Uncle Ghira is heading this way."

"We'll stall him at the door." Weiss adds as she grips her own sheet firmly.

"Don't dawdle. We may have more aura, but he's much stronger and faster than we are." They both add before leaving the room.

"So, wanna commit a felony with me?" Ruby asks as she takes a toolbox out of the closet she shares with her Princess.

"Lead the way, Ruby." Pyrrha replies with a grin.

"Indeed!" Penny adds as she opens the window and leaps out, inadvertently flashing everyone present.

"Huh, she does have a nice ass. I can see why Jaune likes it."

"YANG!"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Weiss, Willow, fetch Blake please. She is returning to Menagerie today." Ghira asks them politely as he turns to face them.

"No."

"Excuse me?" The older faunus asks in surprise.

"We said no. It's a single syllable word with a universal meaning no matter what language you speak. Also, as wolf faunuses we are offended at the use of fetch. We are no one's pets." They reply in unison. "We have classes in two hours, fifty seven minutes, and all of you are violating several school as well as personal rules by disturbing us at six in the morning. Now leave, before we have you escorted out by Coco and Diane."

Alex grimaces at the mention of the fashionista and the ruthlessly brutal tank of his own twin daughters' team. "Yeah, I gotta get the forges up anyway. See ya girls." He declares before vanishing.

"Bye Uncle Alex."

Ozpin nods as well. "I have a meeting at seven with the council. I trust the two of you will remember that discretion is a must in these troubling times?"

"Yes sir, Headmaster." They reply. The Headmaster of Beacon stops to look at the chief of Menagerie and his former classmate.

"This isn't Kuo Kuana, my old friend. I suggest withdrawing before they use a summon to chase you around the campus with, much like Ada used to." He reminds the massive panther faunus. "And Willow has some very large summons."

"Inform my daughter that she is leaving, today." Ghira informs the twins firmly. "Either voluntarily, or by one of us dragging her back to the bullhead we hired."

"You mean the bullhead Penny, Pyrrha, and Ruby are currently disassembling?" They reply with a smirk. "Uncle Ghira, we do not respond to threats in a non threatening manner. And this? We consider it a threat. Now, have a nice day." They smile before Weiss slams the door, leaving the chief staring blankly at it.

Of course, he can hear the distant laughter, and he knows exactly who is laughing and why. Goddesses above, but he hates Alexander Garibaldi even more now.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Wow, that was intense." Miltia declares as she sits at the table, a cup of coffee already in her hands and wearing one of Yang's uniform shirts. "Junior wasn't kidding when he said not to mess with you two."

Yang nods sleepily, her eyelids struggling to stay up now that the moment of excitement is over. "Yeah. It's why we didn't argue with it being them instead of one of us. They know how to be nice."

"We're going back to bed. It's too early for this bullshit." The twins declare in unison as they put their weapons back on their individual racks near the door. "You too, you nosy, overprotective dragon. You're barely awake now as it is."

The brawler nods as she stands. "Coming with?" She asks the red themed girl, who shakes her head.

"Junior's blowing up my scroll. I better get back before he decides to fire me. Again."

"Again?" The twins ask curiously.

She blushes. "Melanie and I got into a huge fight over Yang. She lost." She admits with a shrug as her scroll rings again. Picking it up, she grimaces. "Check that, I just got fired again. Perfect." She sighs.

Willow smiles as she suddenly sits across from her. "Then are you willing to hear me out? I need a fourth for my own team here at Beacon. You'd be a first year, but it's better than wasting your life working as a glorified bouncer at a crappy bar."

"But I'm already nineteen, I'll be twenty in January." She protests. "And I have a criminal record."

"Me too, babe. But here I am." Yang points out with a grin.

The red themed woman turns to look at the brawler. "You already said you're getting bored. Where would I go then?"

The dragon sits beside her and takes one of her hands. "I was getting bored with Melanie, not you. I'm thinking you and I could have a hell of a lot more fun around here."

"Miltia, the choice is yours of course." Willow adds. "But if there is a part of you that seeks something better for yourself than what you are now, then this is your chance."

Miltiades Malachite looks thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Fine, sign me up." She grins as she looks at the raven haired Schnee. "Besides, I stole Melanie's claws before I left last night. I can fight with them as well as she can."

"Might be why you got fired, babe." Yang points out.

"Who cares?" Willow declares as she stands. "I'm going to go get dressed, then we'll go inform Ozpin and get you set up."

The older woman nods as she stands. "Looks like I'm going legit." She declares as she smiles. "And I'm going to be on the Black Snow's team. This should be interesting."

"Just her team?" Yang asks her with a wink.

She winks back. "I think you and I are going to have a lot more fun too." She adds with a saucy grin…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"For the love of the Goddesses, STAHP!"

"But we're not done yet!" Ruby calls back to the all but sobbing pilot, who is standing next to an amused Professor Peach.

"Why aren't you trying to stop them?!" He yells at her next, wincing at the look she gives him.

"Because it's already too late to stop them." She points out matter of factly as she waves a hand at the almost stripped frame. "At least Beacon will cover the damages."

"We actually haven't damaged anything." Penny points out as she uses her semblance to keep every nut, bolt, screw, and fastener floating just out of the pilot's desperate reach. "We have actually repaired several worn pieces of the frame, and discovered a severe oil leak in his engines."

"And then we took them apart." Pyrrha adds as she uses her own semblance to carefully organize the remaining parts by section and assembly.

"Miss Rose, you three do realize you will have to be punished for this, correct?" The Professor calls out, the Reaper using a cordless impact to take apart the cockpit.

"Nobody's taking Blake! Nobody!" She shrieks back angrily as a piece of glass falls, shattering on the tarmac. "Oops."

"AHHHHHHHH!" The pilot screams as he points to the shattered glass. Professor Peach of course facepalms as the three young women return to their task, while hearing the distant laughter as well. Not for the first time, she regrets taking Kate's shift for her last night, the cat faunus wanting to celebrate her Honor Son's return home...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Kali Belladonna smirks as she watches Ruby, Pyrrha, and Penny dismantle the bullhead they rented by luck in a growing pile of pieces, the unfortunate owner and pilot begging them to stop. She knew her daughter's new friends would rise to the occasion to prevent her from leaving, thus buying her time for her own task.

Adam Taurus is a dead bull.

Unfortunately, Kate has already informed her that she cannot give her any physical assistance, while still providing her with a plethora of valuable intelligence. From suspected meeting sights, to the fact that the VDF had to lock down the docks as a whole now with assistance from Atlas's military, Kate is as thorough as always.

But the top level security pass she slipped her is worth more than any of the information she gave the former assassin, and she plans to use it fully. Turning on her heels as she pulls the hem of her cowl lower, the Shadow Dancer walks into the shadow of a nearby bullhead and vanishes without a trace, determined to find the Mad Bull and cure his obvious allergy to oxygen permanently...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Weiss and Ruby have a closely guarded secret. One they take great pains in keeping one. They love the thrill of a spar between them. To them, there's no better way to start their day than with the clashing of rapier against scythe, Glyphs versus Speed, Weiss's agility versus Ruby's strength.

They especially love the thrill of power against power, of which they both have plenty to spare.

And today is no exception. They've snuck out nice and early as always, uniforms still on hangars and weapons in hand. Their destination as always is the center of the old hedge maze, which is only really used by students looking to hide from professors, bullies, and bullies hiding from Nora. They chat idly as they walk, the two of them dressed in close fitting tank tops and shorts, despite the growing cooler weather signalling fall is finally coming to Vale.

But neither of them were expecting Taiyang Xiao Long to be waiting for them in their normal spot, Weiss blinking in surprise as Ruby dashes forward with a smile.

"Da!" The Reaper calls out joyfully as he catches her in a bone crushing hug, a smile on his own face. "You're back early!"

"Hey there, Ruby. Long time no see." He chuckles as he looks at the white princess, his smile still on his face. "Hey there, Weiss."

"Hello, Mr. Xiao Long." She replies fondly, smiling as he comes over and gives her a hug next, while also taking note of his much different appearance with a critical eye. He's not wearing his normal t-shirt and sweatpants, and his vest and tank top as well as cargo shorts are showing his powerfully built frame. A pair of golden bracers on his arms indicates a fighting style most likely similar to Yang's, but considering his look of amusement, she doubts he's a hothead like his oldest.

"Please, call me Tai. My dad was Mr. Xiao Long, and I'm not as old as him yet." He replies as he ruffles Ruby's hair between her ears. "And you have an appointment today with Eve, kiddo."

Ruby grimaces. "Is it today?! I thought it was tomorrow!"

Weiss giggles. "Dolt, this is why I keep telling you to make sure you give me your appointment cards. You're terrible with dates and times."

The elder dragon raises an eyebrow as he looks at the white wolf. "So you're really ok with Ruby?" He asks calmly, getting a nod of confirmation in return.

"I am." She replies with a smile as the red reaper dashes back into her arms. "And I don't care. She is who she is, and I love her for all of her, sir."

Tai winces. "Oof! Sir's even worse. I get that enough all day at Signal. Please call me Tai, especially since it looks like you're definitely family now." He adds the last with a wide smile. "Which means I gotta see what you got!"

Weiss nods. "Ruby, may I?" She asks her reaper, who nods in response.

"Don't go easy on him, snowflake. He sure as hell won't." She replies warningly as she releases her princess. "He'd actually be a bit insulted if you do."

"I sure would." The older man replies as he flicks his wrists, his bracers extending outwards to form a pair of shotgun gauntlets like Yang's. But unlike the brawler, who only uses blast dust filled slugs, his are a variety of colors and set to specific patterns. But the white wolf breaks into a smile as he takes a much different stance than his oldest, and uses one hand to motion to her. "Time to show this dear old dad you got what it takes to be with his little girl."

Weiss nods as she takes Myrtenaster off her hip, then taking her normal stance, left foot set perfectly in front of the other. Sparring with Ruby has been a huge help in improving her own hard learned techniques, seeing as how she had to rely on a cleverly programmed droid to learn her family's fighting style in lieu of a proper teacher. But to her surprise, Tai abandons his stance and stares at her.

"Weiss, how do you know that stance? She died before she would have had a chance to teach it to you." He asks quietly.

"Mama programmed a droid." She admits. "I learned all she left behind to teach us, and I'm the only one of her children to master it as well as her final gift to me alone."

He nods as he resumes his stance. "Then yeah, show me what you got, Maiden. Let's see how well you learned the unlearnable." He declares as his eyes gleam in understanding.

Weiss nods as she suddenly curtseys, a growing glow in her eyes to match a soft shimmer coming from her rapier. "Indeed, Tai. Ruby, stand back." She asks as she twists the rapier's handle, the dust chamber splitting apart to allow the short metal prongs set as handguards to move forward and lock into their new positions. Her dust chambers actually release themselves from the rapier, Weiss sliding them down from their normal placement and setting them aside.

Tai stares at the unshackled Myrtenaster, her runes now flaring to full life from the base of the hilt all the way up to the tip of the blade as well as all four of the prongs. "You really are her, aren't you? Only her true successor knows how to unshackle that rapier." He asks quietly, getting a proud, yet sad smile in return.

"I take pride in who I am, Tai. And Ruby has been instrumental in assisting me in training to harness it fully, while training to master her own unique skills." She replies quietly.

Ruby meanwhile does as asked, while taking note of Weiss's fluffy tail wagging eagerly, her ears open wide and taking in every sound they can pick up. She's proud of the progress her snowflake's made since they met at training her instincts, instincts she'll need to even stand a chance against her Da. Her own tail begins to wag as the heiress once again takes her stance, while the temperature around her begins to drop.

Nevermind, she's going all out.

She had a suspicion for some time, considering how cold to the touch she is, how her girlfriend all but wraps herself around her late at night, when the red wolf herself thinks it's safe to move down to the white wolf's bed to cuddle and sleep. How attuned she is to anything to do with ice and the cold. And, Ruby's a surprisingly good history student, mostly because she's fascinated by her own family's legacy and origins. But the one thing that always stands out to her is how intricately linked the power of the silver eyes is to the power of the maidens.

Especially the Winter Maiden.

She watches as Weiss darts forward almost impossibly fast, her Da caught completely off guard by her sudden boost of speed, while also trying to fend off the sudden spike of ice formed from Myrtenaster, one of the last true runic blades left in the world. Ruby can't help but to let her own eyes flare to life as she witnesses her Da fend off Weiss and the dueling style she drove herself to master with the Reaper's more than willing help, a dueling style passed down from Mother to Daughter.

From Winter Maiden to her successor.

Ruby knows Weiss is the Winter Maiden, and has kept her secret willingly for the wolf woman she loves. And their spars would be truly breathtaking to witness, as the power of winter personified clashes with the power of soul ignition. But they do not allow anyone to witness them as they battle, laugh, and kiss during every clench of weapons, during every moment they slow themselves for a brief moment to touch lips before clashing again. Those same early morning battles tend to get extremely destructive, and what was once a small courtyard has grown into a battlefield. The clashing of magically enhanced rune reinforced mithril against aura forged and rune enhanced darksteel leaves very little left standing in its wake. And Ruby isn't surprised when Tai is soon calling for Weiss to stop, his eyes wide in amazement at how powerful her white wolf is.

But what her Da doesn't realize is that every single morning they can manage it, they come here to train, to grow ever stronger, to grow ever closer, to grow ever fonder of one another, to fall in love even more deeply than the day before. They hold nothing back, nor expect the other to do so either, both in battle, and especially in love…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Jaune steps off the elevator to his mother's office, one hand on Crocea Mors' hilt while the other grips the handle of a wickedly powerful Adel Industrial Works 1911. If Kaya, his little bitch of a sister tries anything, she's going to be eating a full clip of his own illegally gained anti aura rounds.

He'll lose sleep over killing her, just like the sleep he's still losing over the two White Fang warriors slain defending himself and Penny. But ever since the incident at the penthouse, he's had a score to settle with his half sister, while also having every intention of finally putting her in her place in the sibling pecking order.

Walking into his mother's surprisingly spartan office, he stops a moment to check his surroundings, nodding in satisfaction that it's only the two of them before walking forward to stand before her desk. But he recognizes a picture on it, more like he recognizes the head of long white hair and faunus features of Weiss. But he stares in growing horror at the scars on her back, as if…

"Did you know of this?" Jeanne asks quietly as she stares at the photograph as well.

"No." He replies firmly as he tears his gaze away. It's not proper for him to stare at Weiss as she hangs exposed. She's Ruby's girlfriend, not his, and this is more than he ever wanted to see. "We may be friends, Mother, but we do respect one another's privacy."

"Jaune, why do you insist on fighting me?" She looks directly at him, a growing anger rising in her own crystal blue orbs. "The marriage is inevitable."

"Spare me the lecture, Mother." He snarls back, his grip on his weapon tightening. "I told you once before, I'm not your puppet! I am a free man, and I will do as I will!"

He spots the movement and reacts a split second before it actually registers in his conscious mind. Crocea Mors flashes in the light of the office as it slashes at Kaya, who grunts in irritation as she dances back to avoid getting beheaded. But her grunts turn to screams a moment later as Jaune fires his gun, hitting her in both legs with disturbing accuracy, the weapon balanced on the forearm holding his sword. "Hello little sister." He greets her grimly.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" Jeanne shrieks as she leaps over her desk, her own narrow bladed greatsword, Fleur di Licé flashing as she brings it down in a vicious overhead arc. One he blocks with his own blade as he brings the 1911 to bear in her own face.

"Because I do." He answers grimly as he pulls the hammer back with an ominous clack. "I am done with your games, Mother. I am done tolerating your ambitions for me. Ambitions I do not share."

Jeanne's anger is fading rapidly at the sight of the Adel manufactured weapon's barrel staying steady, as well as the firm set of her only son's jaw. But it is the look in his eyes that is quickly bringing fear into her own.

It is the look of a man who has killed and has no fear of staining his hands with more blood for his cause. Roman was right, Jaune is far more dangerous than she ever gave him proper credit for. The battle at the docks finally unlocked the most dangerous instincts of all in her beloved seventeen year old son. The instincts of a true born Arc. The fact that he stopped her strike so quickly and efficiently is a testament to both the training he received from her as well as those awakened instincts.

Her son is indeed worthy of Crocea Mors, the sword of Kings, which once belonged to her own father.

"The marriage will happen, Jaune." She repeats herself as calmly as she can manage. "Accept it. It's obvious Jacques is a far greater monster than even I realized." She shakes her head as she frowns. "Weiss and perhaps her sister Willow require all the protection our family can afford to supply them both."

Jaune shakes his head as the two of them finally separate, both their blades still held at the ready. "Weiss is under the protection of Ruby Rose herself. Even I won't dare to try my luck against her, Mom." He admits as he drops his formal speech. "She's dangerous to a level even I couldn't believe possible."

"Jaune, you do know Ruby-" She is silenced by a harsh glare from him.

"We've all figured it out. And that's none of our business. Ruby identifies as a female, just like Joanna, and we support her by respecting her privacy." He declares firmly as he turns to leave. "She's a good friend Mom. A good enough friend to me that I won't start a war I have no interest in, nor one I would win. Even Pyrrha is scared of her since the docks, and Nora's desperate to test herself against a Silver Eyed Warrior."

"Jaune…" Jeanne rumbles as her anger begins to rise once more. "This is no game!"

"You're right." He agrees as he stops and looks down at Kaya, who's still whimpering in pain. "I have nine rounds left, Kaya. Next time, all of them are going in your head, my half sister or not, got it?"

"Yes Jaune." She whimpers through gritted teeth as she stares up at him in real terror. And the Arc matriarch is shocked at the look of fear in the oldest of her illegitimate daughter's eyes. No one has ever hurt her so badly before, and Kaya is no doubt looking at months of painful recovery.

"Jaune, as much as I love you, this changes nothing." She calls out as he reaches the elevator, the doors opening silently.

"Do anything to Penny, and I will bring hell with me when I seek my vengeance, Mom. But I do love you too, even if you're a bitch." He replies as he steps into the elevator and turns, vanishing with a nod as the doors close.

"I tried to warn you, Jeannie." Roman declares as he emerges from a different armored panelled hiding spot, Melodic Cudgel in hand and bandages still visible on his hands and face. "Your boy became a man, and a dangerous one. That's an unleashed lion you got on your hands."

"The plan continues." She declares as she looks at Kaya once more, the young woman struggling to move, to stand despite her shattered bones. "Kaya, stop. Just stop before you hurt yourself even more, baby." She declares as she pushes a button to summon medics from her small in building clinic.

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I promise it won't happen again." She whimpers as she lays still.

"Nope it won't. Cause next time he's gonna blow that cute little head of yours off, Kaya my girl. So no, you let me or Jeanne deal with him from now on." Roman deadpans as he looks at Jeanne, who is kneeling down to sit next to their oldest daughter. "Cyrus wants to take over Mountain Glenn. Said he has plenty of his own men to get it taken care of."

"I hired Cyrus to find the Winter Maiden and to keep the White Fang in check, Rome! Not to destroy Vale!" She protests as she begins to channel her own aura to restart the younger girl's, the girl whimpering as her mother takes one of her hands.

"And I warned you not to hire him after I asked some questions." He retorts with regret in his voice as he kneels down on Kaya's other side, taking her other hand and adding his own aura. "Apparently, he's been dying for revenge ever since Zarya died at Summer Rose's side, and he's finally got his chance. And if anyone can beat a Silver Eyed Warrior, it's him. He's got the experience to pull it off."

"Goddesses Roman, even I know how important Ruby is to the world! She's the last of them! If she dies, then the world's doomed!" Jeanne begins to panic as she realizes that the dreaded mercenary leader is already out of her control.

"It's already too late, Jeannie. And we fucked up." Roman declares firmly. "All we can do is ride things out and hope he still does what we paid him to do."

Jeanne Arc hangs her head. Roman had argued with her for hours about her decision to hire the mercenary leader and his small, but deadly army. And to find out that not only were his concerns warranted, but she honestly shouldn't have dismissed them so readily is a bitter pill to swallow. She knew Cyrus Swiftshade wanted revenge on Summer Rose for leading his only wife to her death, and now she can only hope that Ruby Rose is indeed as good as Jaune and Roman both insist she is.

Otherwise, she may not live long enough to finish the process of becoming the woman she already portrays herself to be…

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"I can't believe that jerk Automne paint bombed us!" Ruby shrieks in rage as Weiss closes the bathroom door and locks it behind them.

"Calm down, my Dolt." The white Wolf reassures her with a smile as she turns to face her. "Eve reassured us that it will wash out easily."

The Reaper simply sighs as she removed her cloak, globs of lurid purple paint simply falling off with wet splats onto the floor. "Gonna ruin the washer getting our clothes clean."

"Ruby, we can afford to send them off to be dry cleaned." Weiss reminds her as she strips carefully out of her once white bolero jacket, frowning at the fact that part of her hair is stuck to the material. "A bit of help, please?"

"Oh yeah, sure." She replies as she begins to slowly and gently pull the now purple and white hair free. "Gotta admit Snowflake, you look kind of cute with purple hair."

The white Wolf giggles. "I was considering getting a tattoo. Noiry and I are considering matching wings on our backs." She declares as she shrugs herself free of her now purple stained clothes, not realizing the blush that is slowly creeping across her girlfriend's face. "What do you think?" She asks as she turns to face the Reaper, sighing at the fact that red wolf faunus is standing frozen in place, a small bit of blood starting to emerge from her nose.

"Guh…" Is the only noise that emerges from her throat as she stands as still as any statue. But she blinks a moment later as Weiss kisses her gently to reset her.

"Ruby, have you never had a heat before?" Weiss asks quietly as she begins to unlace the younger girl's corset, her long, slender fingers moving skillfully.

"Just one." She admits with embarrassment. "Eve said they'll start happening more often now that I'm at that point with my hormone treatments. You?"

"Like clockwork." Weiss admits as she finishes with the corset and lays it to one side. "Since I was twelve that is."

"What's it like, Snowflake? To be who you know you were meant to be?" Ruby asks quietly as she grabs her girlfriend's hands and holds them, her silver eyes looking at the floor in embarrassment.

"Ruby…" The white wolf sighs as she kisses the hands holding her own. "I am who I am. I have never felt out of place or as if I am in the wrong body. And it makes my heart ache to hear that you have struggled all your life with these thoughts, these feelings." She pauses to use one jointly held hand to raise her girlfriend's face gently. "But to me, you are Ruby Michelle Rose and no one else. And to me, you are perfect no matter what."

"Weiss, I… I don't feel perfect. I don't feel right. I have this body that's never ever felt right, that makes me uncomfortable in my own skin." Tears form in Ruby's quicksilver orbs as she looks into Weiss's sky blue eyes. "You're the first person to ever make the doubts, the terrors, the worries go away. You're so important to me, and I'm terrified of you deciding this isn't worth it anymore."

"I would never!" The heiress declares angrily as she pulls her hands free to place them on her still panty covered hips. "You're my mate! I would accept no one else as my mate, nor would I ever want anyone else as one!"

Ruby turns an even brighter shade of red as she turns her head away. But she suddenly squeals as one of the parts of her anatomy she dislikes the most is suddenly grabbed and held firmly, but not painfully. "WEISS!"

"Ruby, do you think I give a damn about this?" The white wolf asks as she maintains her grip. "About the things behind them? They are nothing to be ashamed of. And do you know why?" She sighs as her Dolt shakes her head so vigorously globs of paint go flying. "Because how else will we go about making a family?"

"Qweh?!"

Weiss smiles softly as she releases it to return to taking her beloved's blouse off button by button. "Ruby, I love you. And yes, I know all about pink dust and purple dust and what they are capable of doing. The SDC does manufacturer it for same sex couples by a long standing order left by my Grandmother. But, they are simply a substitute for the real thing." She pauses to remove the blouse slowly, a blush of her own slowly creeping across her face. "It's not fair, they're bigger and nicer than mine." She grumbles.

"Snowflake, you have really nice breasts." The Reaper declares softly, even as she looks ready to melt in embarrassment. "I ummm... I really…"

"Yes, I know you hold them when we spoon. You have no idea the amount of self control I have to exert to not ravage you some nights." The white wolf shakes her head as she unhooks and removes the younger girl's bra, tossing it onto the pile next. "But what stops me is that I am still not ready for that next step. Not yet. It's why I'm eternally grateful that you have never taken advantage of my obvious nudity after we are in bed."

"How are you so ok with all of this?!"

"Because it is simply skin, hair, and fur, my Dolt." She replies matter of factly as she turns and takes the few steps necessary to reach the tub. Leaning over, she turns the water on and lets it run until it gets hot before stoppering it and allowing it to fill. Hooking her thumbs around the elastic of her panties, she slips them off and throws them to the side. "Now, are you going to finish yourself, or do I have to finish undressing you like a child?"

"I ummm… Can't." The red wolf admits as she crosses her legs. "It might be skin, but it's the most beautiful skin on the most beautifully naked woman I've ever met, and ummm…"

"I've provoked a reaction from your enhanced womanhood?" The white wolf giggles as she sits on the edge of the tub and beckons to her. "Come here, Dolt."

"Hey, wait! I thought you said you weren't ready!" Ruby protests, even as she approaches hesitantly. She knows the white wolf will drag her over if she doesn't, and doesn't need to be grabbed again, not in its current condition.

"Not for that, no. Especially since I'm not on any form of birth control or heat control." She replies as she expertly unzips the skirt and gently removes it, blinking at the part of her girlfriend's anatomy now staring back at her. "Oh my…"

For her part, Ruby now looks ready to die of embarrassment as she covers her face with her hands, her blush now even covering her chest and breasts. But she almost screams in both surprise and sudden pleasure as Weiss initiates something she never once expected out of her beloved white wolf.

There is screaming…

There is moaning…

There is pleasure…

And when Weiss finishes, Ruby reciprocates in kind, leaving her girlfriend a panting, quivering mess herself...

"Ruby?"

"Weiss?" She replies as she pants heavily.

"I love you. For now until forever."

"I love you too, Weiss. For forever and after."

The white wolf smiles down at her, her knees now visibly shaking. "Ruby, either do it again, or let me down. I can't stand much longer."

With a weak chuckle, she shakes her head. "Lemme empty the tub then. I kinda made a mess of my own."

"I don't care right now, Dolt. Please, please let me down before I fall over."

The red wolf nods as she slowly eases the white wolf down while she leans against the back of the tub to support them both. She soon has Weiss settled into her arms, the older woman still panting.

"That was amazing, Ruby." The heiress finally admits once she catches her breath, while looking at her with a smile. "I want more, yet I have to admit we need to stop as well."

The Reaper nods in agreement before kissing her lover's forehead gently. "Yeah, we do. Especially if you're not on birth control. I ummm, don't have any condoms either."

"We need to fix that." The white wolf replies quietly. "Because I want more. I want so much more. Goddesses, but no wonder my sister blocks me out when she and Neo are intimate."

Ruby sighs as she squeezes her lover gently. "All in good time, Weiss. When you're ready."

"I know Ruby." She replies quietly. "Can we just sit here for a while? Just us?"

"As long as you want, Weiss." The red wolf replies lovingly, before moving her head down for a kiss. A kiss returned eagerly by the faunus woman she loves…

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"Think they're done yet?" Blake asks Yang as they sit at the small table Jaune and Penny supposedly scavenged from another building.

"I hope so. I'm beat." The Brawler admits with a grin. "Gotta admit, I figured they were already doing it."

The panther shakes her head as she smiles. "Weiss is still a virgin, and a nervous wreck about losing it. And I told her that reading Ninjas of Love isn't very realistic."

"Yeah, definitely not good examples there." The blonde agrees as she shakes her head.

"Hey!" Willow calls out from the couch, where she and Neo have joined Nora, Pyrrha, Cinder, and Coco in watching the latest romance comedy from Brew Cherrymore. "They're done. My useless lesbian sister is basking in the afterglow."

"Awesome, I'm going to bed. I gotta be up way too early in the morning for medic's classes." The Brawler declares as she stands.

"Goodnight Yang. Get some rest." Her partner replies as she opens her book and returns to reading.

"Yep." Blake shakes her head at the way the Brawler opens the door slowly, listening out before stealing away into the room as quietly as she can manage. Granted, a charging Rhinox is slightly louder, but hopefully the couple locked in the bathroom and enjoying the high that comes with the natural evolution of their relationship won't notice...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

9:00 am. First Period.
“Good morning students.”
Katharina Brandstelle-Garibaldi declares as she enters her last Dust Studies class of the day. "As always, please pass your homework down to the center aisle to be collected." She states calmly as she comes to stand in the front of the class, her fire red cat ears flicking as her same colored tail waves gently behind her.

Weiss raises her hand, her wolf’s ears standing straight up. “Professor, I have a question about the theory behind question three."

The Professor sighs as she looks at Weiss. “We will be discussing that in full shortly, future Mrs. Ruby Rose.” She replies impishly, delighted at the blush she gets in return as well as the look of pride on Ruby's own features.

Blake raises her hand, her ears betraying her own irritation. “Excuse me Professor Brandstelle, according to page 76, it was my mother along with Adaliz Schnee who discovered several new uses for weaponized ice dust. However, the last time I checked, my mother doesn't know how to handle dust.” She informs her calmly. "The writer and publisher shouldn't make claims that are untrue."

Kate looks at the panther faunus, not realizing that her entire team as well as several others are suddenly paying much closer attention. "Kali Natsume. Huntress ID KN-077-03. Mine is KB-077-04. Check the school's records if you wish, I have four years to teach all of you."

Blake makes a show of checking for the records on her scroll, while the rest of the class busies themselves with opening books, readying papers and vials of dust, while ignoring the two wolf faunus women who only have eyes for each other, their tails wagging gently. "Oh, well look at that. You're correct professor."

Katharina smiles as she looks at the panther faunus, her tail beginning to wave in her amusement. “Indeed so, Miss Belladonna. Kali was and is still one of my finest friends, and I wish she and Ghira would visit more often. And I am quite proud to be teaching her daughter alongside my niece and her mate.” This has the effect of finally getting the rest of the class’s attention.

“I just find it odd that my own mother never once said that she was ever a huntress.” Blake replies firmly, her ears laying flat and her tail waving aggressively. "She never ever told me she even came here! All of this is nothing more than a lie! A blatant lie you're making up to fool us all into thinking you just so happen to know one of the leaders of the White Fang!"

The older woman takes a picture down from the wall near her desk with a sad smile and hands it to Blake. “Your mother and my husband were partners, just as I was partnered with Adaliz Schnee. And we were great friends with the members of team STRQ as well as so many others.” She informs the angry faunus woman. "For four years, we used to tease your mother about Ghira, and we all came together to celebrate your birth in Mistral, as well as again when Weiss and Willow were born here in Vale during one of Ada's business trips." She pauses to wipe away a tear. "Not a day goes by that I don't miss my best friend, Blake. No, she is more than my friend, she is my sister in arms, and a wonderful person."

Blake sets the picture aside to look at the professor. "Then why did she lie to me? To Ilia? We both idolized her, we both considered her our hero. Why would she lie to us?"

“Because she focused all her efforts on the White Fang when she learned of Ada's death.” Katharina states coldly, despite the rising heat wave coming from her. "Because she knew just as we did that Jacques had a hand in covering up her death, along with the deaths of so damned many others. But we lacked proof, and still do. Three of my closest, dearest friends died saving Atlas, and sooner or later I will make Jacques pay for what he did!" She hisses as the temperature rises along with her fury. "I will make him pay for what he did to my family! To my people! He will pay in blood!"

"Then tell me why she's hunting again?" Blake hisses, not backing down an inch. "Why is my mother here in Vale? Why are my parents fighting?! Why is my father actually consulting with your husband, instead of being his hated rival?!"

"Because she's here to kill Adam Taurus!" The older cat faunus hisses back, her own ears flat on her head as her tail bristles threateningly. "And I would help her if I could, but I have my own responsibilities to my students and my family!" She roars as her semblance flares along with her fury. "The only thing keeping me from joining the hunt is the fact that his life is no longer mine to take! It is only Ruby's, but I do not wish the hell of more blood staining her hands, so Kali hunts him for the both of us! To make him pay for his sins against you and Weiss both!"

Blake turns and looks at Ruby. "That's not good. If Mom is hunting Adam, she won't stop until she finds him."

The Reaper nods as she and Weiss stand, Yang standing with them. "Then we need to find her first, and convince her you're safe with us." She declares firmly as she looks at Weiss. "Agreed?"

"We need to move fast, then." The white wolf agrees as she looks at Jaune. "We would be best to handle this, Jaune. We may need to go into the Faunus district for clues and answers."

"We're only a scroll call away." He agrees with a nod of his head. "And we'll be ready."

"Yang, we need to find your ears." Ruby declares with a grin, getting a groan from the blonde.

"I hate those things. I tell you what, me and Miltia'll go ask around at Junior's. He always keeps his ear to the ground too." The Brawler replies.

"Wait guys, let's take this back to the dorm. We may need help from my cousins as well." Weiss declares as she smiles at her Aunt. "Thank you, Auntie Katie. You can count us absent for today, and more than likely tomorrow as well."

Blake nods. "Ma'am, I can't allow my mother to return to the darkness. Adam isn't worth her war fans being stained in blood again. I won't let her stain her soul again, not after all she's done to move away from her dark past."

Kate Brandstelle-Garibaldi blinks as she realizes that her niece's teammate just played her. And not to make a fool of her, but to go save Kali from returning to a life she willingly left behind to spare her own daughter from. "Go." She sighs as she calms down, her semblance extinguishing itself. "You may be the one person that can stop her, Blake. She isn't even listening to Ghira anymore."

Blake Belladonna nods as Weiss walks over and takes her arm. "We'll stop her, Mrs. Garibaldi. Before she does something she'll regret…"

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10:18 am Somewhere in Vale

"Pathetic." Kali declares as she looks at the massive bear faunus laying on the ground. "You're nothing but a disgrace, Edward."

Her current prey, Adam's top lieutenant, pants as he grips the handle of what is left of his weapon, a massive chainsaw. "You call me a disgrace?" He counters weakly between his panting. "You walked away. You and Lady Katharina both."

The older woman levels a glare at him, even as a blade emerges from one of the metal partitions of Jade Dreams, her green and black tinted warfan. "I chose to raise my child, to watch her, Ilia, and Diane grow up safe and loved, while Ada tried and failed to change the world." She reminds him coldly as the tip of the blade levels itself with his throat. "Once I'm done with Adam, it's Jacques's turn. He will suffer for the hell he inflicted on my goddaughters." She declares through gritted teeth, rage filling her eyes. "I will flay the skin from his bones, like he tried to do to Weiss and Willow."

The bear faunus man named Edward chuckles as he looks at her with one brown eye, that part of his mask shattered. "There." He declares weakly. "There's the Shadow Dancer. The woman I once respected and begged to take my daughter back to Menagerie with you and Lord Ghira." He snorts. "Yet Diane chose to follow your example instead of mine. She chose a Huntress's life alongside the Burning Queen's twin daughters instead of fighting for our people. Instead of seeking vengeance for her mother at my side." His eye closes as he takes a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "Kill me. I'll never tell you where Adam is."

"No." The older faunus declares as the blade snaps back. "Live with the fact that your own daughter chose to walk in the light instead of following you into hell, Edward Brunneis. My quarrel is with Adam, not his foolish brainwashed minions."

"I'm looking forward to watching him execute Weiss Schnee." He replies with a smirk. "Unlike him, I don't believe for a second they have suffered like we have. Unlike him, I will see her, her traitorous sisters, her weakling brother, and her bastard father die by my weapon, no matter the cost." His uncovered eye focuses on her own. "I will see your daughter executed for her betrayal."

Kali Belladonna's eyes turn hard as the blade snaps out once more. "Then you are a threat to my family, and must be dealt with accordingly." She declares coldly as her arm moves in one swift motion, a trail of blood rising up a nearby wall from the action. "Don't worry, Edward, your beloved leader will join you soon enough in the Ten Hells." She adds as she uses a length of cloth ripped from his tunic to wipe her blade clean before retracting it. Stepping away from the corpse after dropping the now bloody rag, she vanishes into the shadows once more, her mission continuing unhindered...

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2:15 pm. Blue Dorm, Team RWBY's dorm room

"Ok team, let's go over the plan one last time!" Ruby declares enthusiastically as she looks around at the gathered group.

"Miltia and I are heading to Junior's to ask a few questions." Yang declares as she stands next to the red themed woman, her arm over one pale shoulder.

"Hopefully without either of us causing more property damage." The woman adds.

"Ilia and I are going to go talk to a former White Fang spy we know about, and hope Mom hasn't gotten to him first." Blake declares next, Ilia nodding as she checks her own weapon. "With any luck, he can point us in the right direction."

"Don't get in over your heads." Ruby reminds her as she turns to look at Weiss, a silly grin on her face. "And we'll…"

"Be contacting someone within the SDC to get any information my Father's spies may have reported to him." Weiss finishes as she adjusts the collar of her white peacoat. "Winter will meet us there once she goes off duty for the evening, along with Willow and Neo. They too have something they wish to check on."

"Meanwhile, I'll be cleaning this pigsty you four call a dorm room." Leigh declares in disgust from her place by the door. "How can you lot live like this?!"

Yang and Ruby simply shrug as Blake looks embarrassed and Weiss sighs.

"You unfortunately get used to it." The heiress informs her, getting a nod of agreement from the panther.

"At least we got them to start putting their underwear and clothes in the hampers." Blake adds. "They just don't do laundry unless we have them at weapon point."

"Or Ruby has to risk running around naked." The white wolf adds with a grumble.

"Ok! Time to go team!" The Reaper declares as she starts pushing her mate in front of her with a blush. "We have a lot of ground to cover, and not a whole lot of time left!"

"Remember to meet back up at the SDC-V by nightfall!" Weiss calls over her shoulder. "Stop pushing me, Dolt!"

"What was that?!" Ruby replies before both girls scream as they accidentally fall down the stairs, of which they missed the first step down in the red wolf's haste.

Yang facepalms, Blake shakes her head in amusement, and Ilia simply rolls her eyes as they hear a "We're ok!" a moment later.

"How can she be such a good fighter, when she's so damned clumsy?!" The chameleon faunus asks demandingly as she and the others leave as well.

"We quit questioning it after she fell out of the shower for the eighth time." Yang chuckles as she shuts the door, leaving the maid alone in the dorm room.

Leigh smiles as she busies herself with cleaning. She remembers Weiss before she left the Manor for Beacon, and how much clumsier she was there. "At least there's no suits of armor to fall on her here…"

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6:09 pm Tukson's Books

"I'm disappointed in you, Tukson." Kali declares as she looks at her fellow panther faunus in amusement, her blue and white war fan, Azure Tides open and covering her mouth and most of her face. "I was expecting a pot of tea ready."

The man chuckles as he moves to the door and locks it, before flipping his sign to closed. "For my sister, I always keep tea at the ready."

Closing the fan, she smiles brightly as they hug tightly. "Goddesses, but I've missed you. I wish you would finally return to Menagerie."

"In due time, Kali." He replies as he releases her and sighs sadly. "You smell of blood and violence again, little sister."

"Edward Brunneis became a threat to your niece, big brother." She informs him quietly as they walk into the back of his shop, where his modest kitchen is located. "One that could not be ignored."

"I see." He murmurs as he fills a kettle with water before setting it to boil. "He was always too arrogant, too determined to see all of humanity pay for Lexi's death." He pauses to look at his younger sibling, who has settled down at his kotetsu. "As loathe as I am to admit it, you did the world a favor there."

"I only wish to keep my family safe, Tuk." She replies firmly. "When Adam Taurus is dead, and his skull left as a proper warning to any who wish harm on all of you, will I return home and my quiet life."

"Adam certainly has many people who wish him dead right now." He chuckles as the kettle whistles. "And only the Red Reaper has come the closest to accomplishing it."

"She's only fifteen, Tuk. She isn't old enough for a name such as that." Kali protests as he sits down, placing the kettle between them.

"Yet it is well earned, Kali. She was the finest fighter at Signal during her time there, and has felled any who threaten her." He pauses to look at his sister, who is pouring the water. "Kali, if the rumors are true and she has taken Weiss Schnee as her mate, that girl will never need a bodyguard. Even the Fang now fear her rage since the docks."

"Qrow and Summer would be proud of her. She is growing to become a fine woman of herself, and she will be a truly great huntress." The panther declares. "She will lead my daughter and goddaughters into the history books."

"Hopefully for a better reason than constant bloodshed and war." He points out to her before taking a drink of his tea. "Now, how can I help my favorite sister?"

"I'm your only sister." She reminds him. "Where is he?"

"He's gone to ground, where I cannot say." He admits to her. "But there is a meeting tomorrow night. A recruitment drive for new members to replenish the ranks after the Reaper's assault." He pauses to look his sister in the eyes. "And they are dishonoring Ada's memory by holding it at the old SDC hospital deeper into the district."

"Bastards!" She declares angrily as her tail bristles. "No one would be foolish enough, would they? Not after the incident at the docks!"

"Vale may be progressive, Kali. But, progress is still slow. Falco Winchester may be our greatest voice here since old Isaac Rose, but he does not have the support of the full council like Isaac once did, thanks to his own wife's constant efforts to undermine him." Tukson looks her in the eyes. "Much has changed here in Vale since Isaac, Elizabeth, and now Summer have died. Vale has lost her champions, and in that regard, Ruby is not ready."

Kali nods as she looks at her brother. "Then all the more reason to find Adam. To end him before he brings Vale low with his hate." She shakes her head. "A pity. He had so much potential."

"I trust you'll be staying the night?" Tukson asks as he stands and turns the lights off to the main shop before closing the door. "I can make a few calls, see if any of his remaining soldiers are willing to reveal the rock he himself hides under."

"Please do. And yes, I could do with a proper bath and a hot meal." She admits. "I forgot how much of a pain it is to be on the hunt."

Tukson Natsume chuckles as he sits back down. "Then it's a good thing I've had the guest room ready since I heard you were coming…" He informs her as they proceed to talk late into the night, catching up on each other's lives. Neither of them take note of the two pairs of eyes watching them through a window, or the way not a single word is missed by the cat faunus woman who has learned to read lips as a way to communicate with her once blind lover.

The Black Snow and the Silent Ballerina are patient. Sooner or later, one of them will reveal the information they need, and they will see Adam Taurus on his way to his long overdue meeting with the Goddess of Darkness…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Interlude: Reclaiming her Birthright

Weiss is silent as the express elevator opens to reveal the darkened penthouse at the top of the SDC-V. She hasn't set foot in this place in almost a decade now, the top floor having been sealed since her mother's death by the former director of operations for Vale, who refused to allow Jacques access.

Access he gave her willingly, a look of pride in his features as he welcomed her back.

She can feel Ruby's reassuring presence next to her as she takes that first hesitant step, her memories coming to her gently as she looks at the place that for a short time, she and her siblings called home.

Tears begin to fall as she spots the pictures first. They line the walls carefully, lovingly, and with obvious pride. She feels Ruby pull her into her strong arms as she looks at them all. Pictures of the day of her birth, her Uncle Alex holding Willow with a wide smile on his face as her mother holds her, a proud smile of her own. She sees a picture of Winter holding Willow next, Sienna holding her and both of them with looks of delight on their features as Cinder looks over her sister's shoulder in wide eyed wonder.

There are no pictures of Jacques, as if even back then things were already doomed.

"Mom?" Ruby whispers, getting her attention. Looking over, she freezes at the sight of…

"Ruby… that's us…" The white wolf whispers as they stare at a picture of a nearly two year old Weiss staring at a newborn Ruby, the infant red wolf staring back at her. Ruby is being held by a smiling Summer, while Ada holds Weiss in her arms.

"Mom and Auntie Summer knew even back then there was something special between the two of you." Winter declares as she walks in quietly, her arms wrapping around both their shoulders. "Destiny chose well with you both."

"Win, I don't understand." Weiss admits quietly. "Does this have to do with Mom's biggest regret?"

"I don't know." The older woman admits as Ruby keeps staring at the picture. "Mom took many things to her grave, Weiss."

"I know." She murmurs as they keep looking at the many pictures, which now include Headmaster Ozpin, the Belladonnas, even a much younger General Ironwood, a beautiful grey haired, violet eyed arctic fox faunus beside him. "I wonder who this is?" She asks quietly, drawing her sister's attention.

"Her name was Commander Sarah Ironwood, and she was Jim's childhood sweetheart." A quiet voice replies. The three of them turn around and stare in surprise at David Ozpin, who is standing behind them. "Forgive me. When my scroll alerted me that the top floor had been accessed, I rushed over with Salem to see who would dare."

His wife nods as she appears from behind him, looking at all the various pictures. "I had forgotten about many of these." She admits quietly as she turns back to look at them. "Your mother preserved many wonderful memories for all of you here. She always intended to move the company here, but died before she could."

"Summer and Qrow were to return as well." Ozpin adds as he looks at a duplicate copy of the joint team picture that is hanging in their dorm room back at Beacon. "Summer was preparing to take over as leader of the Huntsmen's Guild here in Vale, and Qrow had accepted a position with Ada to work for the SDC as an in house Huntsmen."

"But then they died, along with Sarah and so many others." Salem informs them sadly. "James was devastated."

"She was important to him?" Winter asks quietly, getting a nod in reply from the Headmaster of Beacon.

"She was his wife, and his auramate." Ozpin informs them. "And there is a part of his soul that is broken. That will never heal, that will never know life again."

"How did they die?" Ruby asks as she looks at the older couple, who have returned to staring at the pictures.

"That is a story that will be told soon, Miss Rose." He replies calmly as he tears his tear filled gaze away from a picture of himself, Qrow, and Alex standing triumphantly over a defeated Rhinox. "By a man who has been forced to stay silent for too long."

"Please be patient, all of you." Salem adds as she wipes tears of her own away. "I wasted so many years, so many opportunities to become friends with two brilliant women. All over my own jealousy."

"Weiss, Ruby, Winter, your parents were among my closest of friends. I miss them terribly." David Ozpin looks at them with such sadness that Ruby walks over and hugs him tightly, the man returning it as his shoulders slump. "There isn't a day that goes by when I wish I could speak to them, ask them for their advice, or just to chat with them about their lives. They brought so many people together with their passion for life, and the lives they all touched are so much emptier for their absence."

"I miss Mama." Weiss admits quietly. "Willow and I worshiped her. We both wanted to be her. She was so elegant, so refined, so caring."

"I miss Grandma and Grandpa." Winter adds sadly as she takes a picture of Snowy and Garrett off the wall, the giant wolf faunus holding a laughing Winter and Sienna in his arms, while Snowy held Cinder in her own. No one could mistake the looks on their faces for anything other than pride. "Goddesses, but I wish you and Willow could have gotten to know them, Weiss. They would have killed him for his sins. For the evils that he committed while destroying our family name. Sienna is still pushing her husband to name their next child after her."

"We will change things, Win." Weiss declares as she waves a hand at the pictures. "Mama, she and Ruby's parents left behind a grand legacy. One Ruby and I have embraced willingly. And as the Goddesses Three as my witnesses, we will make things right."

"Wow, I was expecting this place to be packed full of art and shit." Yang declares as she and Miltia arrive next, Blake and Ilia stepping out with them.

"It's very homey." Ilia admits as she looks around. "Very comfortable."

Winter smiles as she shakes her head. "Mama didn't care for objects of art, or priceless artifacts." She informs them as she waves a hand to all the pictures. "These were her real treasures."

"Kept here safely by the former director of operations for the SDC-V." Ozpin adds as he and his wife make their way towards the elevators. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, Ladies. Oh!" He turns to look at Ruby. "If the Red Reaper of Vale were to go into the Faunus district tomorrow and ask to know where a White Fang meeting were to be taking place, I'm certain she would be told, while changing many minds as well."

Ruby looks thoughtful as she taps her chin with her finger. "I bet if I found that ass Automne, he would tell me."

Yang snickers. "Ran into Tara and Petunia at the club. They said to come back tomorrow, Junior was out." She adds, Miltia scowling darkly.

"Wait!" Winter holds up a hand. "How do you know Automne Ombre?"

Ozpin chuckles. "Team TAPE have made new names for themselves after being thrown out of Beacon, Miss Schnee. As horrid as they were as Huntsmen in training, they have found their true calling in being mercenaries alongside your cousin, Sienna."

Miltia nods as she looks at the eldest Schnee daughter. "Eve Howlette's the only one who doesn't do Merc work. She runs a clinic in the Faunus district, and Sienna's the only one with a Huntress license."

"And they are the only ones who stand in direct opposition to Cyrus Swiftshade." Salem shakes her head. "Unlike the Mercenary King, they do have a code of honor they follow."

Ruby grins at Weiss and Winter, her tail wagging. "We call him an ass because he is one, but nobody messes with the faunus district on his watch."

Yang nods, a grin on her own face. "I still remember when he beat the shit out of Cardin Winchester last year just for looking at Sienna the wrong way. It was epic!"

The two sisters look at each other and sigh. "That does sound like him." Weiss admits.

"Uncle Alex respects him." Winter adds quietly. "He can't stand him, but he does respect him."

"So… About whatever the SDC knows?" Ruby calls out, deftly changing the subject.

"Oh, yes!" The white wolf declares as she moves down the hall and into a room. "Oh good, Mama's personal computer is still here." She declares as she sits down before it, turning it on. She has to struggle to control a sob when she sees the picture of herself and her siblings set up as the screensaver, the four of them surrounded by all their various cousins as well as many of their friends, including Penny and Salome. To her relief, Winter reaches over and pushes the minimize button.

"We need to focus, Weiss. I'll go downstairs and ask about in security." Her sister informs her.

"Wait, what's this?" She asks as she spies a flashing icon on the screen.

"I don't know." The older white wolf admits quietly. She watches as Weiss pushes it, nothing happening for a moment.

But both their hearts stop for a moment when they see Adaliz Schnee's smiling face looking back at them.

"Hello little Snowy."

The recording begins, the older woman's smile turning sad.

"If you are watching this, then I have fallen in battle, and the terms and conditions of my will have been carried out. As you now know, the SDC-V and all of our Valian contracts are yours. I chose you to run Vale, because I know out of all your siblings, you will willingly join in the Valian Council's fight for our people. You will take up the banner my brother and I have carried for years now, and champion it with all the passion you have in your heart."

"Ada, what are you doing?"

A woman asks as she appears on the screen. She has brilliant silver eyes, and a bright smile on her own face. One that fades into a frown as she sees the white haired wolf Faunus sitting before her personal computer.

"Are you seriously bumming yourself out?! Oh come on!"

"Because this is serious, Summer!"

The long fallen Schnee Matriarch replies firmly.

"They need to know why I chose to break the company apart! They need to know I love them, and that I did not make the decision lightly to join you. This battle, this threat, this is bigger than you or I. It is bigger than this company, and I cannot in good conscience leave them alone in this world without them knowing what my hopes, my own dreams for them are."

"I know, Ada. Qrow and I left messages for Ruby, Robin, and Jay as well."

The Master Huntress replies quietly as she sits next to the taller woman.

"Raven and Tai are already preparing to go to Mistral to go get them."

"Sum, I am prepared to die."

Adaliz declares sadly.

"I am trapped in a loveless marriage, I run a company I never wanted, and I am genuinely worried for the future. Yet, I have accepted my fate as well. Weiss will make a fine Winter Maiden, Willow will become the greatest summoner my family has ever seen, Winter will guide them, and Whit will be a kind and gentle soul, and the anchor for their souls."

"Ada, do you really think Maria was right? That Weiss and Ruby are meant to be? They're so young still, and they will have the weight of the world on their shoulders."

"Sum, even I can hear their souls calling out for one another."

The Schnee Matriarch smiles as she pulls her best friend into a side hug.

"They too have a grand destiny before them, and if we survive this, we must do all we can to prepare them for their futures. Once before, the Rose Clan and the Noble House of Schnee came together, and we saved the world. It is time to do so again, alongside the Arcs and all the others who gather by our sides."

"I want the best for them, Ada."

Summer whimpers as she leans her head against the taller woman's shoulder.

"I want them to grow up happy, to become who and what they were meant to be."

"Sum, even I've heard the legends of the Red Reaper and his White Princess."

Qrow reminds his wife as he appears behind the two women and lays his hands lovingly on his wife's shoulders.

"And I grew up in a bandit clan in Mistral."

"Yeah. Two warriors who died to save the world."

Alex rumbles as he appears next to his sister, smiling down at her fondly.

"And considering what we're goin up against, I almost wish they were still alive. We could use all the help we can get."

Qrow nods.

"Pete just got here with all the volunteers from Vale. Give em credit, he brought almost five thousand himself."

"That puts us at thirty thousand."

Summer declares firmly.

"What with the volunteers the Atreides, Athena Nikos, The Scarlatina Clan and the WuKongs brought with them from Mistral, Menagerie, and Vacuo, as well as all the troops Jimmy and Sarah could spare without leaving Atlas defenseless."

Adaliz nods as she looks at the screen once more.

"Willow, live well. Find someone who loves you and never let them go. Work with your siblings to bring real equality to our people, and always remember that I love you."

She smiles.

"And Weiss, I know you're watching considering how nosey you are, I pray you and Ruby find all the happiness in the world. I pray all of you do, and know that you will all be in my thoughts and prayers."

Placing her hands to her mouth, she blows a kiss towards the screen.

"Goddesses, but I love you all so very much."

The screen goes dark, but no one notices. Weiss is sobbing in Ruby's arms, the woman herself with tears streaming down her face. Winter had long ago run off crying, a concerned Yang and Miltia following her.

And somewhere in Vale, near a certain bookstore, Willow is struggling to keep herself under control as well, despite the tears that won't stop falling in her own sorrow…

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Morning

The Faunus District

Ruby and Blake move swiftly through the Faunus district, having left Weiss and Ilia behind to continue to do research on the White Fang's activities at the SDC-V. No one's heard from Willow yet, and Ruby is doubly concerned now. She and Blake both agree that Weiss's twin is determined to beat them all to Adam Taurus, and she cannot allow that to happen.

Willow has enough blood on her hands.

Everyone in the district pointedly ignore the two of them, even though they both hear the whispers, sense the pointing fingers, and especially feel the stares. Everyone knows who Ruby is, who Blake is, and no one is willing to stand in their way.

Sometimes it pays to have a nickname, and the Red Reaper of Vale and the Darkest Shadow of Menagerie have well earned ones.

"Here it is." Ruby declares quietly as they come to stand outside a small clinic, a pair of obvious guards standing outside and wearing the symbols of a particular mercenary group.

"Why is everyone wondering where Yang is, Ruby?" Blake asks curiously as they stand outside.

"They know me here, and know Yang usually isn't too far away." The wolf faunus admits quietly as she points to a nearby building. "I spent the first two years of my life in that building. I was actually born right here in this very clinic, back when it was run by a sympathizer named Ara Ebony."

"And your siblings?" She asks quietly, even as she notices several more mercenaries quietly gathering around them, the panther trying not to reach for Gambol's handle.

"Born in Mistral." She replies as she looks at the door. "Eve, I promise I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need to talk to Automne, and not to get even for the other day." She calls out as she lowers her hood. "I'll even leave Crescent Rose outside, if it makes you feel better."

"It would." A woman declares quietly as the door opens. She is short, but thin, with long straight raven black hair and wearing glasses. She is wearing an all white medic's uniform, and matching white gloves.

Ruby nods as she takes her scythe off her back and hands it to one of the guards, who hands her a slip in return before placing the weapon in a safe behind him. "You too, Blake. Eve doesn't allow any weapons in her clinic. Even her own husband and wife have to leave them outside."

The panther nods as she does so, taking her own slip in return. She watches as the woman steps to one side, Ruby walking in surprisingly calmly. Following her, her sensitive nose wrinkles at the smell of antiseptic and medical supplies. Looking around, she's impressed by how clean and orderly the clinic is, as well as how efficiently the small group of Faunus nurses bustle about.

"Automne is on his way, Ruby." Eve informs them, getting her attention. "He knew you would want to meet here."

"Thanks Eve. I'm sorry for the trouble." The Reaper apologizes.

"Just no fighting, and no profanity please. This is a place of healing." She informs them both firmly. "You can wait in my office."

Ruby nods as she leads the way, moving surprisingly quietly for a change. Blake follows her, while still examining the clinic with a critical eye. "I have to admit, this place is well supplied and well stocked."

"I keep it that way." A man's voice declares as he appears in front of them, leaning against the wall next to an open door. "Evie's a saint to put up with me, Tara, Tyra, Petunia, and Sienna's bullshit."

"No cursing!"

"Yeah yeah." He grumbles as he motions for them to enter the office. Once the three of them enter, he closes the door and grins wickedly. "Sup, Red? Heard you almost cut yourself a steak last week."

"He fucked with Weiss." Is her only response as she sits down in a chair. Blake notices the change in Ruby's demeanor, in her speech patterns, and blinks as she realizes that this isn't Ruby. Not the one she's gotten to know and respect. "Where can I find him?"

"Word is out that the Fang has a recruitment drive going on tonight. Dunno if he'll be there though, you fucked him up pretty good." He informs her. "Some of his little bitch boys showed up here and tried to steal some supplies. Tunia and Tara sent them packing."

"I need to finish what I started." The Reaper declares as her eyes glow angrily. "For him, I'll deal with the nightmares some more."

"Meeting's tonight, at the old SDC-V hospital old Jack Ass shut down after Lady Adaliz's death." He informs them, a tone of anger in his voice. "Sienna and Tara are planning on crashing it too, and me and the boys are gonna be waiting to back them up when they go after Adam's head."

The Reaper nods as she stands. "This won't be a problem will it?"

He shakes his head. "Already told them both, you show up, they back the fuck off. You get first dibs on bull boy's skull."

"Why are you doing this?" Blake suddenly asks, having stayed quiet.

"Me? I'm married to a Faunus, so's Petunia and Tyra. When old man Ozzy kicked us out of Beacon, it was the Faunus who took a pack of losers in and helped us find our way in the world." He informs her with a cocky smirk. "The district's under my protection, and I don't put up with anybody's shit around here."

Ruby nods as she looks at Blake. "Told you. He's an asshole, but a good one."

"Get going. I'll let Sienna know you're coming." He declares as he opens the door, motioning for them to leave ahead of him. "I'll be there later, I gotta find a sitter for Rust and Garrett."

Ruby and Blake both nod as they walk out, the Reaper pausing as they pass Eve. "Two fucks, a bitch, and an ass."

"Automne!" She shrieks as she grabs at a naginata hanging behind the counter.

"Ruby you little bitch!" He screams as he takes off running down the hall.

"Now we're even for the last time I was here!" She calls back with a smirk as she pushes Blake out the front door.

"What was that for?!" The panther yells as her weapon gets tossed to her by the now nervous looking guard.

"Last time I was here for my medicine refills, he caught me and Weiss with a paint bomb." She informs the panther. "It took us hours to get all the paint out of her hair."

"So that's why you two were purple when you got back from Vale?!"

"Yup." She suddenly blushes a bright red. "She saw me naked and didn't run away screaming."

Blake pauses to look at her. "Ruby." The panther sighs as she takes both of the younger girl's hands. "We all know, you know."

"Qweh?!"

"And we all support you." She adds as she smiles brilliantly at the Reaper, who is red-faced. "And don't think for two seconds we didn't hear all the noises coming out of the bathroom."

"Kill me now." She groans.

"No, Ruby Rose. Because we are all firmly behind you and Weiss both." She smiles down at her, getting a blink in response. "Even we're cheering you both on."

"I…" Ruby looks at the ground, sniffling as she digs the toe of her boot into the pavement behind her.

"Come on, Tukson's isn't too far from here. Mom would have stopped by to see him by now." The panther lifts the Reaper's chin gently with one finger. "Let's go."

Ruby nods as she adjusts her cloak. "Yeah. Let's hurry, we're already running out of time, and I need to stop and pick something up."

"What's that?" Blake calls out as the two young women get on the move, blinking in surprise when the younger woman takes a white mask out from under her cloak. One she puts on her face, giving her the appearance of wearing a beowolf's face.

"Another mask for Weiss." She replies firmly. "Mum said the clan accepted her as my mate."

"I keep forgetting you're a Branwen."

"Yup. And now, so is Weiss." Blake shakes her head at that declaration, even as she begins to hear the talking and whispers as they rush past. Ruby's appearance in the district, and the fact that she has donned a mask even the Fang respects is getting the effect Ozpin predicted.

More and more of them want nothing to do with tonight's meeting, for fear that they may run afoul of the Red Reaper of Vale…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Late Morning

The SDC-V

Weiss looks up from her mother's desk, a curious look on her face at the fact that Raven Branwen hasn't moved from the picture she has been staring at for over an hour now. Removing her glasses, which she only uses to read with, she walks over and joins the older woman, offering her a tissue which she takes with a sad smile.

"Thanks." She wipes her eyes with a tissue as she keeps looking at the picture of Summer Rose standing next to Adaliz Schnee, the two of them laughing at something not caught in the picture itself. "Your mom loved her."

"Excuse me?" The white wolf asks in surprise, her eyes widening at the nod.

"Your mom loved Sum. But Sum only had eyes for my brother, and it broke her heart." The older huntress continues quietly. "She was ready to even throw the company away at one point, just to try to win Summer's heart. She was willing to be a full time huntress just to be with her, to stay by her side."

"None of us knew." Weiss admits quietly. "We knew Mama died with regrets. We knew she hid the truth of her homosexuality her entire life, but we never once thought this."

"Ada was a damned good woman, and she would have treated Sum like a goddess. And I think that's why she never considered it." Raven informs her as she shakes her head. "Summer wanted an equal. Someone who saw her as a person, and not as a leader of a dying clan, or a Silver Eyed Warrior. She saw Ada as someone who let her wealth control her and her brother both."

"So she never stood a chance?"

Raven chuckles as she finally moves away from the picture, moving towards the small kitchen. "More like Sum fucked it up herself. She sucked at reading people, and fucked herself out of what could have been a hell of a relationship for herself." She declares with a smirk as she sits down in a chair. "Don't get me wrong, my brother adored her, adored the kids, and died willingly at her side, but the kind of love you and Ruby have? I still think it's the same kind of love they would have had. But like I said, she fucked it up herself, cause Ada hid her real self again by our third year, and was with that asshat."

"So, because she misread my mother…"

"Sum left me a message. One just for me, cause I was her partner and one of her best friends." Raven admits as she looks at the white wolf. "Ada was her greatest regret too, kiddo. She died with one hell of a what if."

"I… this explains so much." The white wolf admits quietly as she fixes a fresh pot of coffee, sitting across from the older human woman while they wait. "She had a broken heart for most of her life."

"Weiss, your mom avoided Summer for six years. It took Summer begging her to come see Ruby to get her to even come back to Vale, and she never completely left after that." Raven explains to her. "She loved Vale, she loved Summer, and she died willingly beside her in the end."

"I… what?!"

Reaching over, Raven takes both of Weiss's hands in her own. "Weiss, your mother was one of the strongest, most independent, most stubborn women I ever met. She fought Jacques tooth and nail to keep the company moving in the direction old Nic and Snowy wanted it to go, and I know for a fact that she was quietly divorcing him when she died."

"She was?"

"She was. Vale was going to be your family's fresh start, and she was going to throw the might of the entire SDC's legal department behind the fight for equality." The older woman informs her. "She wanted the best for you four, and her fury over what happened to all of you would be biblical."

"I think she had her revenge through Uncle Alex and Winter." Weiss comments dryly.

"Nope! Ada would have done far worse to him. She definitely got her mother's temper and not her father's." Raven chuckles as she stands and fixes them both a cup of coffee. "She wouldn't have stopped at gelding him, she would have cut it all off and forced his balls down his throat and his cock up his ass!" Handing one to the white wolf, she sits back down with a wide smile. "Ask me anything, kiddo. It's been way too long, and I'm tired of staying quiet to spare people's feelings." Pausing, she sighs. "I'm tired of not being able to talk about two of my best damned friends."

Standing, Weiss moves to sit next to Raven and sits down. Folding her legs underneath her, she leans against her girlfriend's mother figure and smiles, laughs, and cries along with her as they share memories of the long deceased, never forgotten, and still deeply loved and missed Adaliz Schnee...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Early Afternoon

Tukson's Books

The walk to Tukson's hadn't taken long at all, the panther and the wolf faunus having chatted quietly the entire way there. They both were expecting at least a token of resistance from Blake's uncle. Instead, he welcomed them both warmly, ushered them in, and made them tea and offered Blake a new book to read, while Ruby drooled over his personal weapons, a pair of bladed tonfa.

"Are they guns?!" The Reaper asks in her excitement as she examines them closely.

"When I attended Beacon, oh almost thirty years ago now, mechashift was still a growing craze, and not the norm." The older panther informs her with a smile. "Like many others, I simply chose to carry a firearm instead of giving into the craze like Summer Rose and Qrow Branwen did."

"You knew my parents?" She asks quietly as she gently sets the razor sharp weapon down.

"I did. Team STRQ began their rise to fame during my own fourth year, and I followed their exploits with great personal interest." He replies as he motions for the wolf faunus girl to join him at the kotetsu, Ruby sitting with surprising grace. "Many are the stories I can tell you of their first year, and many more are the ones my sister can regale you with after I graduated."

"Please?" He blinks in surprise at the request, and feels his heart ache a bit for her tears. "No one ever really talks about them. No one wants to talk about them, because it hurts them to."

"Miss Rose, you have to understand, Summer never met a stranger. She was open, honest, and loyal to a fault to her friends and especially her growing family. Yet, she was not without her own faults, chief of which is that she turned someone away. Someone who loved her as deeply as I have heard you love Weiss Schnee." Pausing, he sighs. "Yet, perhaps it was meant to be as well."

"Who?"

The panther faunus sighs. "I cannot and will not say. It is not my place, as I was told in the strictest of confidences. But, what I can say is that she did not allow the pain to define her, but fuel her to stand even taller, and become the woman who the entire world respected." Clapping his hands together, he smiles brightly at her. "Now, let me go awaken the Black Snow and her beloved ballerina, and I will be more than happy to share stories of your parents while we make a late lunch."

Blake looks up from her book curiously. "Did they manage to stop Mom?"

Tukson laughs heartily. "Of course not! Kali helped me bring them in after they fell asleep at the Apollo's Café across the street!"

Ruby and Blake both begin to laugh at that bit of news, even as they helped prepare lunch, speak of Summer and Qrow fondly, and prepare for the confrontation between themselves, Kali Belladonna, and Adam Taurus...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Late Afternoon - Tukson's Books

Tukson Natsume sighs as he listens to the growing disagreement between Willow Schnee and Ruby Rose. He personally thinks that both of them are in the right in wanting to defend Weiss, but for vastly different reasons.

Willow wishes to kill Adam to fulfill Siena Khan's dark desires, while Ruby wishes to simply stop him.

"Enough, I am wasting no more time on this discussion!" The black wolf declares hotly as she stands from his well worn kotetsu. "He will die by my hand and no other." Of course, no one is surprised when Ruby stands along with her and grabs her gently by one shoulder.

"No more, Willow." Ruby tells the dark haired woman firmly, while pushing her back down to sit at the kotetsu. "No more blood. No more violence in the name of the Khan or to avenge your family's lost honor."

"But…" She tries to protest, only to be silenced as the Red Reaper looks at her.

"This is my mission now. Adam Taurus is mine, and the Goddesses willing he will throw down his weapons and surrender to me." She declares firmly, to everyone's surprise. "But if not, then his life is mine to take for threatening my mate. A life I will take to keep her safe, and for no other reason."

"Then go." Willow declares quietly as Tukson takes Fate gently from her unprotesting hands, Neo replacing the weapon with her own hands as she purrs softly. Turning, she smiles at the cat faunus she loves. "Together then, let us find a new life for each other."

Neo nods as she leans over and places her forehead gently against the black wolf's, her purring growing louder in response.

"What about you, Ruby Rose?" Blake asks quietly. "What will you do after Adam is defeated?"

"I will return to my mate and my dreams for us both." She replies with no preamble as she lifts the hem of her cloak. "I will return to preparing for a righteous life as a huntress with Weiss at my side. I will continue to be her unyielding shield against the evils of the world as she seeks to undo the harms committed by her bastard father." Pausing, she places the Beowolf mask over her face, her silver eyes still visible and gleaming in the light of the room. "The Goddesses willing, we shall guide our future family upon the same noble causes we too champion, alongside your own children."

"Rather poetically put, Miss Rose." Tukson admits as Neo claps and Willow nods in her approval.

Ruby grins as she flashes a V sign with her fingers. "Weiss's helping me through English Lit."

"Then let's go, Red Reaper of Vale." Blake declares as she rises and sets her book to the side, taking up her Gambol Shroud in the same smooth movement. "With luck, we can find and stop my mother before she reaches Adam and stains her own soul even more in needless bloodshed."

Tukson Natsume watches with pride as his niece and her leader depart before turning to look at Willow Schnee curiously. "Willow, do you know the truth of the Great Sacrifice of Atlas?" He asks calmly, not surprised when the woman bursts into tears as she nods.

"Mommy died to save us all, Sir Tukson." She manages to get out between sobs, Neo holding her tightly and purring so loudly she is even shaking the kotetsu they all sit at. "And now Ruby is going to stop Adam, and I am useless!" She wails at the top of her lungs.

"Ruby and Weiss have shown us both a better way, Sir Tukson."

The tabby cat admits as she signs one handed.

"And if Ruby wishes it, we would follow her into the Ten Hells in repayment."

The older panther faunus nods as he muses to himself, while Willow continues to cry tears of deep sorrow. Once, many years ago, he almost answered a call from a different Reaper of Vale and an Ice Queen of Atlas, and to his eternal regrets he still wishes he had.

Instead, he and his sister both cried in this same fashion as two of her finest and closest friends were interred on Patch with full honors, while a third's legacy was destroyed by one man's greed and thirst for power…

Junior's Club

Yang and Miltia weren't surprised to be greeted at the door by a group of armed guards. Yang had been brutally efficient at decimating them before the beginning of Beacon's school year, and Miltia was already feared from her time there as a bouncer.

"Awww, did you guys miss us?" The Brawler declares with a smirk as hands tighten on weapons held in trembling grips.

"What do you want, Blondie?" Junior chimes in from behind the bar, his own weapon in hand and a look of fear in his eyes.

"Information, Junior." Miltia replies firmly as she pushes past the armed guards and to the counter, sitting as if she still belonged.

Yang joins her, a smirk still on her face. "Where's Adam Taurus?" She asks bluntly as she levels her own gaze on the information broker.

Junior stays silent as he mixes the two women drinks, a mojito for Miltia and a strawberry sunrise for Yang, before finally clearing his throat as he passes them their drinks. "Nobody knows. Rumor has it he got the attention of someone even nastier to deal with than your sister or the Black Snow."

This gets the brawler's attention. She's even heard of how her sibling's exploits at the docks have had the criminal underworld of Vale talking in whispers. And, she'll never admit that Willow scares her. "Who, Junior?"

"Nobody you want to fuck with, Blondie." The information broker informs her firmly. "My advice? Call in some heavies like Ozpin and Alex Garibaldi. Hell, maybe even the whole army."

"This isn't telling us who, Junior!" Miltia chimes in, while glaring at several of the nervous guards and her angry twin.

"The Mercenary King." He finally admits quietly. "Word on the street is he's taken over the White Gang's recruitment meeting for tonight, and turned it into a trap for your sister."

"What?!"

Junior nods. "He has a huge bone to pick with the last remaining silver eyed warrior. Something over his dead wife and Atlas."

"I need to warn my sister!" Yang declares as she stands so quickly she sends her barstool flying. "She's looking for that meeting now!"

"Blondie, call in the Marines!" Junior advises her as she turns to leave, actually grabbing her arm to keep her from leaving. "Cyrus Swiftshade is no joke. He makes the Fang look like beginners playing with BB guns and foam weapons!"

Yang pulls her arm free and glares at him. "My sister's walking into a trap, Junior! She needs to know before she gets to wherever it is!"

"It's at the old SDC medical center in the faunus district." Melanie informs her with a snort. "Why don't you do me a favor and get there first, so you can get your head blown off."

"Fuck off, Melanie!" Miltia growls as she matches glares with her twin.

"Enough! Let 'em both go." Junior orders, his men parting to create a corridor for the two young women. "Try not to get killed, Blondie."

"Thanks Junior. C'mon, babe, we need to hurry!" The two women rush out hand in hand, the Brawler already trying to contact her younger sister before she plunges headfirst into a situation even the Reaper cannot hope to handle…

Evening

No one tried to stop them as they entered the long abandoned hospital. In fact, people quickly got out of their way as they strode confidently through the darkened hallways. The Red Reaper smirks as she hears more and more of the gathered faunus leave as quickly as their legs can carry them, all of them deciding there are far better ways to fight for equality than with violence.

"Mum!" She blinks as she hears Blake call out, while staring in surprise at the woman who lowers her midnight black cloak to smile at them both. Raising her mask, she smiles softly as Blake surges forward in her excitement.

"You look so much like Summer." Kali Belladonna declares as she catches her daughter, who rushes into her arms to hug her. "But I see much of Qrow in you as well. They would be proud of you."

"Thank you, ma'am." Ruby replies with a small blush.

"Shhhh, I'm fine kitten." The older panther turns her attention to her daughter, stroking her hair gently as she hugs her tightly.

"Please, Mum. Please stop this. Adam isn't worth this." The younger woman begs her quietly. "Please, leave with us."

"Blake, I can no sooner leave than Ruby can." She replies as she looks at the red wolf, nodding in satisfaction at the stern look in the girl's eyes as she nods in agreement. "Many years ago, your father and I made a mistake. It is time I correct that mistake by removing one of the cancers that now infect the White Fang."

"Oh really?" A new voice asks with a tone of amusement. "Ladies, will the Shadow Dancer of Mistral, the Darkest Shadow of Menagerie, and the Red Reaper of Vale join us in the auditorium? I would hate for the three of you to miss the meeting. After all, it's going to be a scream."

"Who is that?" Ruby whispers to Kali, surprised at the shrug of the older woman's shoulders.

"I don't know." The panther admits just as quietly. "I have been retired for too long."

"Why Kali, you don't remember me? I would say I'm hurt, but it's going to make this all the more satisfying." The voice declares smugly. "After all, I blame you just as much as I blame your precious bestie Summer for my wife's death. Now!" The three of them blink as they realize they are suddenly surrounded by heavily armed men wearing cloaks, full combat gear with face masks, and each of them holding a variety of weapons in what are obviously skilled and steady hands.

"I insist."

To her surprise, Kali nods as she keeps an arm looped with her daughter's, while Ruby pulls the edges of her cloak closer together. "Gentlemen, I trust you'll be escorting us?" She asks, one of the masked men nodding as he motions with a over and under barrel shotgun.

"I think we may have bit off more than we can chew." Blake admits quietly, getting a nod of agreement from Ruby and Kali both.

"I think we should have brought everyone with us, Blake." The Reaper comments idly.

"To be frank, I think we should have brought the army with us as well." Kali adds as the three women are escorted down the hall towards the auditorium and what may end up being a very enlightening meeting…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"You're playing with fire, Cyrus." Roman comments idly as he looks at the man sitting behind the desk. "Especially with Ruby."

"Roman, Roman, Roman, do you really think I would be doing all of this without having a firm plan in place?" The man replies as he stands. He is of average height, with a slender, but muscular build. He is wearing a matching uniform to the troops he has escorting Ruby and the others, save with a full face mask on that resembles a mirrored surface. But what stands out is the heavy revolver on his right hip, and the hilt of a sword poking over his left shoulder.

"I think you're letting your hatred of Summer Rose cloud your judgement, Cyrus." Roman shakes his head. "Ruby's the last of the silver eyes warriors. Her death would spell Remnant's doom. Even the Goddesses Three would not be amused."

The masked face tilts. "Summer? Oh, you mean Ruby's mother, right? Name dropping her is just a means to an end." He admits as he comes around the desk and begins to move towards the door proper. "I'm being paid more money than I could ever hope to count to kill her, her mate, and the rest of the Schneeblings."

Roman stares at Cyrus in shock over his casual admittance to his real hired task. So much so that he lets his guard down, a moment of carelessness that the mercenary takes advantage of as he quickly draws his sidearm and fires, the other man screaming as his now injured left leg fails, dropping him to the floor.

"Roman, the only thing keeping you alive is the fact that I'm also under contract to you and Jeanne." Cyrus declares as he holsters his weapon. "Abe has the Fang well in hand, and I've already located the Winter Maiden." He chuckles as he shakes his head. "Stay put, I have a trio of pests to deal with, and a city to burn to the ground, along with a defunct Huntsman's academy. Oh, and no refunds." He adds the last before leaving.

Gritting his teeth, Roman begins to pull himself towards the still open door as he clutches Melodic Cudgel. He has to get up, he has to stop Swiftshade before he kills Ruby Rose. He has to, before the Mercenary King dooms the entire world…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the faunus persuasion." Looking up, Ruby takes note of the masked man on the stage and standing between two heavily armed men.

"What's with people and masks around here?" A tall, statuesque, chocolate haired, green eyed rabbit faunus calls out. Unlike the rest of the gathered faunus save Weiss's cousin Sienna, Blake, and Kali, she is not wearing a White Fang mask. Instead, Tara Scarlatina is wearing a long forest green combat skirt, dust reinforced matching heels to make herself even taller, and a lighter green leather jacket over a black tank top. She has an odd double barrelled pistol grip shotgun with a straight bladed sword on her left hip, and a look of disdain on her features.

"Tara, Tara, Tara, you know good and well that I wear a mask to hide my roguish good looks from the world. A man of my position can't afford to be distracted by beating all the people attracted to me away constantly." The Mercenary King replies as he wags a finger. "Besides, I don't recall inviting you to this occasion."

"We are here for Adam Taurus." Kali calls out next, one of her warfans open and covering the lower half of her face. "Hand him over, and we will leave peacefully."

"And have you miss all the fun?" He counters as his men make a show of brandishing their weapons in a more threatening manner. "Why Kali, the fun has only just begun tonight!" He stops midstage and looks directly at Ruby, who looks back at him. "Especially since tonight is all about you, Miss Rose."

"No thanks." She replies as she draws Crescent Rose and unfolds it, settling the scythe across her shoulders. "Just give us Adam, and I'll be more than happy to leave you to recruiting more idiots to the Fang."

"I'm afraid young Mr. Taurus won't be joining us this evening. I have him quite busy at Mountain Glenn." Swiftshade replies as he draws his sword off his back, while the curtains behind him fall to reveal a pair of Atlesian Paladins, both of which have been repainted in a silver and black color scheme.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa! What did I do?!"

"Not you, but your mother." He replies evenly as he points the blade at the Reaper. "Zarya listened to her, and got killed by something she had no business fighting. And besides." Pausing, he begins to chuckle. "Killing you isn't just for pleasure, but for profit as well. A nice tidy profit I might add."

"Yeah, no." Ruby replies as she places Crescent Rose defensively before her. "Blake, time to go!" She suddenly declares before exploding into rose petals, which sweep over and to the panther, causing her to vanish within them as well. The swirl of now black and red rose petals then moves towards a window and through it, the sound of shattering glass lost in the sounds of the fight that breaks out between the two rival mercenary groups.

"Not so fast Rose!" Swiftshade roars before ducking to one side as Sienna fires at him.

"Go! We got this!" Tara roars as she opens fire at one of the Paladins, getting the pilot's attention. Before the Mercenary King can rise from his prone position, he is beset by Kali Belladonna, who is striking from a nearby shadow cast by the second Paladin.

"Don't just stand there! Get after the Rose!" He orders as he works his own sword furiously to fend the older faunus woman off. Forgoing subtlety for speed, the pilot simply goes through a wall and in pursuit of the two fleeing students, it's weapons roaring as the pilot tries to stop the two faunus women with brute force...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"We need to hurry!" Weiss declares as she sits behind the wheel of an unmarked SDC vehicle she took from the garage underneath the building, Ilia in the seat next to her and as white as her hair. Raven and Winter are currently in the back seat and checking over their own weapons as they rush towards the faunus district and the once abandoned hospital that Miltia informed them is a trap for Ruby.

"Weiss, slow down!" The chameleon shrieks as they narrowly avoid hitting a semi laden with vehicles.

"No, go faster!" Raven roars as she changes blades on her katana case. "Ruby's moving too fast for me to ping her. I can't open a portal to her!"

The white wolf nods as she shifts gears, while also using the emergency lane to avoid several more vehicles. "How dare this Mercenary King desecrate My mother's legacy like this?!"

"Complain later, Weiss." Winter admonishes her younger sibling as she looks out the window, her eyes widening in surprise. "Impossible!"

Looking in the same direction, Raven and Ilia both look on as the Paladin bashes its way through traffic, while chasing a particular blur of rose petals. And all while aiming straight into their general direction.

"Winter!" Weiss shouts at the Valian specialist, who nods before climbing out the window.

"What the hell can she do?!" Raven squawks in alarm as more vehicles go flying, the blur getting closer.

"Hopefully she can stop that thing. It is Atlesian after all." The heiress replies calmly as she exits the vehicle and draws her sword. Raven follows suit, a red katana drawn from her case and a frown on her features.

"I hope you're right, Weiss."

"So do I."

"I'll… call for help!" Ilia declares as she takes her scroll out and begins dialing frantically. But she winces as she watches Winter, who had charged forward on the back of one of her larger boarbatusk summons get knocked back and into a screaming Raven, the two women sent flying over the side of the overpass. But to her amazement, she then watches the White Wolf send the Paladin over a different section using a sheet of ice spread out across the ground.

"Wait here. We will finish this." Weiss declares before leaping down after the Mech, the black and red blur following closely behind.

"I don't think I'm cut out for this…" The chameleon faunus admits quietly as she hears the sounds of battle erupt from below. Getting out of the car, she bears witness to team RWBY defeating the Paladin, her own Blake quickly taking the pilot into custody before the military arrives, save this time taking the four young women into custody as well.

"Crap."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

-Afterword: My Treat-

Winter Schnee sighs as she sits next to Raven Branwen, who is looking at a menu for the noodle stand that they almost landed on top of. She is disheveled, covered in trash, and looking on in amazement that the older woman is so calm.

"Want some noodles? My treat." Raven suddenly declares as she places an order, the cook nodding as he writes it on a notepad.

"How can you be so calm?! They could be dead or dying!"

"Because I know my girls." She replies calmly as she looks at the younger one. "If they think they bit off more than they can chew, they'll fall back and call for more help."

Winter sighs as she looks at the menu. "I never realized how strong they've grown together. Perhaps they are ready for the truth after all."

"They are." Raven smirks as she looks at Winter. "And besides, this worked out cause I'm getting too old for this shit. I'm good being an instructor at Signal these days."

"And I am content being my Aunt's aid as well." Winter admits quietly before ordering. Staying quiet for a moment, she smiles softly. "Thank you for the meal."

"Thanks for breaking my fall. Sorry you got covered in trash though."

"I'll be fine after a shower…"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Aftermath

It has been a long night full of questions, while avoiding giving direct answers, and finally team RWBY's release from custody under the understanding that Headmaster Ozpin will decide an appropriate punishment for them come first thing Monday, after a special class being taught by Professor Port. And of course, all of them are exhausted and ready for sleep as they trudge towards the blue dorm and their comfortable beds.

"So when do you think they'll give us back our weapons?" Yang asks as they approach the doors to Blue Dorm.

"Soon I hope." Ruby replies quietly as she walks hand in hand with Weiss. "I feel kinda naked without Crescent Rose."

Weiss just smirks as she looks at her Reaper. "Don't worry, you at least won't be disarmed for long." She declares confidently.

"Oh, why's that?" Blake asks as they reach the elevator and step inside.

"Because I know what Ruby is getting for her birthday!" The white wolf singsongs with a smile on her face.

"Please tell me! You've been teasing me about it for days now!" The Reaper whines as she leans tiredly against the wall of the elevator. "I mean, it is my birthday now and all, and I really want to know!"

"You just have to wait until tonight, my Dolt."

"It's not fair." She grumbles as the doors open to an explosion of noise from the gathered people on the other side.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Teams JNPR, CFVY, MADM, and WIMN all cry out together, getting a smile and a laugh from the Reaper and the rest of her team.

"Thanks guys." Ruby replies as her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

"Don't thank us yet, Ruby." Jaune declares confidently as he grins. "Because the fun hasn't even begun yet."

"Exactly!" Melody, one of Weiss's cousins and one of two people who are actually shorter than the heiress declares in her excitement as she grins. "It's not every day a girl turns sixteen, and you're partying with us tonight at the forge!"

"A party we have to miss." Coco admits next as she stands next to Velvet. "So we gotta make up for it now, before we have to report to Professor Port for Saturday detention."

"What?! Why?!" Ruby cries out in surprise.

"Fox got into a fight with Cardin. Again." Velvet explains with a grimace as she rubs one footlong ear tenderly. "He got me at an angle, and I couldn't get to him."

"And Coco and I did nothing to stop Fox." Yatsuhashi rumbles apologetically.

"Come on, Ruby!" Nora declares excitedly as she grabs the Reaper's arm and pulls her out of the elevator and into the common area. "Renny made you guys all pancakes, and you have to tell us about that fight with the Paladin! Ilia wouldn't tell us shit!"

"Not much to tell." Yang admits as she follows along with the rest of the team, Weiss giggling at the fact that Ruby is doing her best to free herself from Nora's apparently vise like grip, and is still getting dragged along by the excited ginger. "And where's Penny?"

"She got a call to report in from Ironwood." Jaune grumbles. "Apparently her and Ceil have to train for Vytal starting today so that they're ready to go."

"Awww, poor Jaune. Away from his beloved for just an hour now, and already miserable." Willow teases the blonde haired young man, who flips her off with a huff, getting a laugh from the gathered students.

Finally reaching the table in the common area, Nora pushes Ruby into a seat with a bright smile, Weiss moving to sit next to her girlfriend. "Now, first for CFVY's presents, then you guys can eat and tell us all about the asskicking you gave the Paladin!"

Taking their cue, Coco walks up with Velvet, a trio of small rectangular boxes in her hands. "From me and Bun Bun here!" She declares proudly as they both step back beaming.

Taking a moment to make a show of opening the first present, Ruby squeals in delight when she removes a black dress with red trim along the skirt and the holes of the sleeveless garment. "It's beautiful Coco!"

"Made it myself!" The fashionista declares proudly as she puffs her chest out. "Figured with the dance coming up, you would want to look good for Weiss." She adds, getting a blush from the Reaper and her Princess both.

Velvet nods. "And we got chosen to plan the dance, so expect it to be awesome!" She adds excitedly.

Opening the next box, she smiles brightly as she takes a pair of matching heels out next. "Making sure, huh?"

"Damned right they are." Fox agrees with a chuckle as he sets a box of his own down in front of the wolf girl, whose tail is wagging a mile a minute in her delight. "A new copy of Ultimate Fantasy 4 for you, since I accidentally got yours confiscated by Goodwitch for the rest of the year and all."

"And from me." Yatsu adds as he sets a small bonsai tree in front of Ruby with a small smile. "Velvet has gifted you everything you will need to take care of it in the last box you haven't opened yet."

Ruby sniffles as she looks at the little tree and the rest of the presents from the older team. "Thanks guys. I love it all!" She declares as she suddenly rushes to each of them and hugs them one at a time, her tail a blur.

"Your welcome, Ruby." Velvet whispers as she clings to the wolf faunus girl when her turn comes around for hugs. "Thank you for taking care of my cousin. You have no idea how much it means to us to see her so happy."

"She's my partner, my teammate, and my girlfriend. I would do anything for her." She replies confidently as they break apart from the embrace.

"Alright team." Coco declares as she adjusts her sunglasses. "Let's let them eat and get some sleep for tonight. We have a detention to serve."

"Fox, do us a favor and beat Cardin to within an inch of his life AFTER class." Yatsu rumbles as team CFVY moves towards the elevator, Weiss and Velvet sharing one more hug before the rabbit faunus joins them inside the device.

"Yeah yeah." The fox faunus grumbles as the doors close. "Next time, I'm gonna rip him a new-" The rest of his sentence is cut off by the doors closing, everyone on the common area side laughing at their own interpretation of the ending.

"Well, that was an excellent way to continue our day." Blake comments idly as she moves to sit down next, Yang joining them a moment later.

"And you were worried no one here would care, sis." Yang adds with a smirk as she looks at Ruby, who is blushing as Ren sets a plate of chocolate chip pancakes down in front of her.

"I guess I was wrong." She admits quietly.

"Indeed you were, Ruby." Ren agrees as he looks at her, a small smile on his own face. "We are your friends as well, and care for you greatly. We would be remiss to not celebrate the day with you."

"Well as much as we can." Pyrrha adds with a smile of her own, Cinder emerging from JNPR's room and yawning. "You all do need some sleep as well."

"Nah! Sleep is for the weak!" Yang declares loudly before she digs into her own pancakes.

"Yeah! Now tell us all about that fight!" Nora adds eagerly.

"Yeah, tell us all about the big fight you four had with a Paladin. One you couldn't call for help for." Cinder adds dryly as she glares at them.

"Well… what had happened was…" Ruby begins in between bites of her pancakes, Weiss, Blake, and Yang adding their own input here and there. Yang of course was already beginning to add her own embellishments to her parts of the story, while Weiss and Blake had to correct her constantly. Meanwhile, no one misses the fact that Ruby has slowly begun to drift off, her head on her girlfriend's shoulder.

"Is she asleep?" Diane, the tank of team MADM, asks with a grin.

"Weiss is almost out too." Melissa, the other M of team MADM and Melody's twin sister replies with a smile of her own.

"Guys, let's let them go to bed. Yang now swears the Paladin was thirty feet tall and was engulfed in flames." Pyrrha points out with a shake of her head.

"Please?" Blake asks as she rubs at her eyes, before stifling a yawn. "We've been up and moving for over thirty hours now at least." She explains in her normal monotone voice. "And considering we all have to be in costume for tonight, we all need time to prepare as well."

"True. Let's help them to bed, guys." Jaune orders as he moves forward and towards the table. Pyrrha and Nora easily lift Yang and Ruby, while Jaune picks Weiss up and Ren opens their own door for them. Once everyone has been settled into their bunks, Ruby and Weiss a tangle of limbs within seconds of each other, the other three teams disperse themselves to prepare for tonight's festivities at the forge.

Festivities that Ruby as well as her own siblings will never forget…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Happy Birthday Ruby!

After a good long nap, followed by several chaotic hours of getting ready for the night ahead of them, team RWBY is making their way to the forge alongside team JNPR, Ilia, Miltia, and Penny. Their moods are jubilant, considering the coming festivities at the Forge.

"Tonight is going to be so awesome!" Ruby, who is dressed as a witch complete with a stuffed cat on her shoulder and a homemade broom, declared excitedly as her tail wags.

"Indeed so, My Dolt." Weiss agrees as she walks arm in arm with her Reaper replies. She is dressed as a medieval knight, complete with an empty scabbard on her hip and a surprisingly well decorated cardboard shield on her back. "I must remember to borrow a practice blade from my Uncle when we arrive, considering Myrtenaster is still in the care of the headmaster."

"Why your uncle?" Jaune asks as he walks next to Penny, who is dressed as a green and white themed queen, while he himself is dressed like a rather regal king in his own colors of gold and blue. "I would have let you borrow Crocea Mors for that."

"My Uncle has plenty of practice swords, Jaune. He has trained all his own children to fight, and he still trains with them when they ask." The white wolf replies with a small smile. "Besides, you need it for your own costume."

"Touché."

Yang grins as she adjusts her own costume a bit, the blonde going dressed as a female Bear Grillz. "Well I went simple this year. Last year Rubaloo and I went all out on matching dragon costumes. They breathed fire and everything!"

"Really?" Blake asks curiously, the cat faunus dressed as the daring kunoichi Kuromi from her favorite book series, Ninjas of Love. "How did you two manage that?"

"A lot of luck." Ruby admits sheepishly as she rubs the back of her head. "We couldn't exactly control how far the flames shot out, and we accidentally burned down old Mrs. Zimmerman's bushes."

"It was so awesome!" The Brawler declares excitedly. "She was so pissed she almost came off her porch!"

"That would have been really bad." Ruby adds.

"How bad is bad?" Penny asks curiously.

"She's a Master level huntress. One of the few living ones that is." Yang corrects herself. "And she's one of the few people Mom's genuinely scared of."

"It took us days to replant her bushes." The Reaper whines as her tail tucks between her legs. "And she made us redo them over and over again until we had them exactly how she wanted them!"

"It was so worth it!" Yang cackles.

"It sounds like it was not to me." Pyrrha counters as she walks with them. The Mistrali woman is the only one not in costume, having admitted earlier that she does not celebrate the occasion. And to everyone's surprise, Ruby didn't push the issue after speaking privately to the redhead. However, she did concede to wearing a t-shirt with a pumpkin on it for the occasion along with jeans and sneakers.

"Anywho! How much longer till we can go trick or treating?!" Nora, who is dressed like a pink and purple vampire, asks. "I need candy!"

"After my party, Nora." Ruby drones out as she rolls her eyes. "But I hear you there. That and Dr. Merlot's Halloween Scare-A-Minute movie marathon are the best parts of my birthday!"

"Just wait Ruby, my family does amazing parties for birthdays." Weiss reassures the Reaper, who grins in her excitement. "My Aunt Kate and my cousin AJ especially love Halloween, and will take this as a challenge to outdo themselves this year for the decorations."

"Holy Schneet! Weiss isn't kidding, look at the forge!" Yang declares as she points to the building, which has been decorated thoroughly. From a real life cauldron being stirred by a cackling Melody, to a zombiefied Cinder and Emerald handing out candy to students who come by to marvel at all the decorations, the forge has been turned into a giant haunted house by the Garibaldis. They can even hear screams of terror emanating from inside the building itself, no doubt another student running in terror from another scare hidden within.

"Hey guys!" Cinder calls out as she waves. "Come on in! We're just getting started!"

"I am certainly impressed." Ren admits, the young man dressed as a chef, complete with an apron that says 'Only Nora May Kiss the Chef.'

"This is way better than anything Junior ever managed." Miltia adds, the young woman dressed up as a lounge singer, admits. "Cheap bastard would literally hang a few bats from the ceiling and tell me and Melanie to do what we wanted, but we had to pay for it."

"That's stupid." Ilia declares in disgust, her own costume of a gladiator standing out. "Why do something like that?"

"Who cares?! I'm going through that haunted house!" Ruby declares eagerly as she dashes ahead, while pulling a laughing Weiss behind her. "Come on!"

Everyone begins to laugh as they follow the Reaper, that same laughter turning into screaming as the Garibaldis prove to even them just how seriously they take Halloween. Even Ruby and Nora are soon running in terror as Weiss's Aunt Kate chases them, dressed as a Lich Queen and cackling madly while promising an eternity of torment if she catches them. It takes Alex several minutes to calm them all down, and almost an hour to coax a terrified Ilia down from the rafters of the main forge itself.

All in all, it is a beginning to a birthday party Ruby talks about for years on end, the Reaper calling it the greatest sweet sixteen ever in the history of ever…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Inheritance

The mood in the forge is jubilant as teams RWBY and JNPR, along with Ilia and Miltia celebrate the Reaper's long awaited sixteenth birthday. Nora and Yang of course are constantly singing Happy Birthday, while Ren and Miltia have finally given up on keeping them under control. All of Weiss's cousins, team JNPR, her own team, as well as her aunts have given her presents ranging from a new cleaning kit for her Crescent Rose (Pyrrha), new books to read (Blake and Ren), a rose pendant (Cinder), new clothes (Yang), the promise of sparring with her on demand (Nora and Penny), and finally more dust for her ammunition (Weiss's extended family).

Weiss has promised her a quiet evening of just the two of them in the dorm tonight, one that if she is lucky, will be a repeat of the bathroom fun they had. She can't wait!

Even Willow and Neo, via scroll call, both have promised to give her her presents when they return to Beacon in the morning. So far, tonight has been amazing with all the love and affection she has been shown by Weiss's family, and it only gets better when Raven finally arrives via a portal with Robin and Jay.

"Hey guys!" She calls out happily as she rises from the couch she has been sitting in with Weiss curled into her side while she plays another round of Ultimate Ninja Warriors 7 with Yang.

"Hey Ruby!" Raven greets her with a smile as Jay and Robin both rush into her with smiles on their faces.

"Hey big sister!" Jay declares as he huffs. "I'm gonna be the tallest, just you wait!"

"Keep dreaming, Jay." Robin declares with a huff of her own as she looks at her older sibling. "My friends have been telling me to tell you happy birthday all day. So did Professors Ivory and Cid." She adds with a grin.

"Your friends?" Weiss asks curiously, getting a grin and a nod from the birthday girl, whose tail is wagging happily.

"Yeah, I was everyone's big sister to Robin's friends. Kinda like how Yang is our big sister." She explains. "I don't know why they all like me so much, I was way more into Crescent Rose and training than I was being a good role model for them."

"That's why sis." Robin grins at her. "Everyone wants to be a huntress at Beacon like you and Yang, cause you two are awesome!"

"Damned straight!" Yang declares as she lifts Jay into a bone crushing hug, the younger man gasping for air. "I'm an awesome role model!"

"Yeah, when you aren't blowing Junior's up cause he pissed you off again." Ruby points out, getting a wide eyed look from the twins, Weiss, and Blake, while Raven glares at the Brawler.

"You better not have again! You still haven't gone to court for the last time!" Their mother growls out angrily.

"I didn't! I swear!" The blonde replies nervously as she sets a panting Jay down.

"Thought… I was… a goner!" He gets out between gasps of air as he glares at the statuesque blonde who is looking nervously at her mother. "You could have killed me!"

"You need to toughen up, Jay." Ruby declares as she punches him in the arm, getting a squeal of pain from her younger sibling.

"Ruby!" Turning to find the source of the voice, she stares at the wrapped object in Alex's arms as he approaches her with a look of…

A look of pure loss in his hazel colored eyes.

"It's time these come to ya." He continues as he comes to stand before her, offering her the white wrapped bundle. "You… you'll know em when you see em. I kept 'em both safe, put 'em back together for ya, and Weiss helped to make 'em better than before." He continues in a rush of words as his eyes glance to his niece, who smiles supportingly at him in return.

Moving towards a nearby table and setting the object down, Ruby unwraps her gift from Mr. Garibaldi and tilts her head. "Weapons?" She asks as she looks at the sword and the second object, which is folded much like her beloved Crescent Rose. "No wait…"

"Rebellion and Retribution." He declares as he looks at them sadly. "They belonged to your momma and daddy. Figured I might as well get 'em all fixed for ya, seeing as how it's your sweet sixteen and all."

Ruby begins to tremble as she picks Retribution up first, the jet black scythe springing forth as if eager for her touch. As if it had been waiting for Summer's daughter to claim it for her own. Meanwhile Robin hoists Rebellion, triggering the mechashift inside of it unconsciously, the scythe emerging in its own eagerness to gleam in the fires of the forge.

"I'm sorry sis, but this one's mine." Robin whispers as she stares at the wickedly edged weapon.

Ruby can only nod in agreement as she keeps staring at Retribution. "I remember this…" she whispers as tears begin to fall silently down her cheeks. "I remember them both…" She gasps however at the runes which blaze to life on the edges of both weapons. She and Robin both look at Weiss, who smiles.

"Happy birthday, Ruby. I hope Retribution serves you as well as Crescent Rose has." The white wolf declares as she joins her girlfriend, her hand touching the haft of the weapon gently. "They took the runes easily, almost as if they were eager for them."

Alex nods. "They probably were." He admits quietly as he looks at Ruby once more. "Been keeping em safe. The guild here wanted to put em in some stupid shrine, but I wouldn't let em. Told them all that their kids would want them when they're older. I'm thinkin I was right."

Ruby and Robin Rose-Branwen nod in agreement as they hold their parent's weapons in hands that are unconsciously gripping them tighter.

"Alex." Raven calls out from her place next to Kate at the bar. "It's time. They need to know what happened that day in Atlas."

Kate nods in agreement. "No more lying, you insufferable Mountain. They need to know what happened to their parents." She pauses and looks at Weiss, who has joined Ruby and is now drying her face with a handkerchief, then at a stoic Pyrrha who is arm in arm with Cinder. "All of them do."

Alexander Garibaldi shakes his head. "Not today. I won't ruin Ruby's birthday. But soon." He agrees. "Soon as Port and Oobleck both reach them points. That way they can understand my story better."

Kate sighs even as she nods in agreement. "Fair enough, my Insurmountable Mountain. But I plan to personally hold you to it."

"Fair enough, my Queen." He rumbles sadly as Whitley appears next to him and wraps him in a silent hug, the young man not having spoken a word since arriving in Vale. "Go to school Monday, Ruby. Listen to Port and Bart, then come back to me. I got a story to tell, one that ain't gonna be easy for me to tell."

"Why not sir?" The Reaper asks quietly as she folds Retribution into its storage mode and places it on her back.

"Cause it's about the day I failed you, your siblings, my sister's kids, and even Pyrrha." He replies in a tone so heartbreaking it even brings her to tears. "It's about the day I didn't bring any of your parents home to ya." He pauses as he wipes tears away, Whitley whimpering quietly in his arms as he looks from Pyrrha, to Weiss, then to Ruby.

"It's the story of the day they died…"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Ruby sighs as she sits outside the forge, Retribution on her lap and a look of sadness on her face as she looks up at the shattered moon.

"Ruby?" Robin calls out as she approaches, Rebellion on her back thanks to a spare magnetic holster that the Garibaldis had. "Ruby, do you remember Mom and Dad?"

This causes the Reaper to blink in surprise. "O-of course I do." She replies quietly as she stores Retribution on her back and stands. "Don't you?"

"Not really." The younger sibling admits quietly. "I mean, I remember a few things, like Mom's cooking and Dad playing with us, but not really too much else."

Ruby nods as she takes her sister into her arms. "They loved us so much, Robin. We were their world, and I don't doubt if they could have been, they would still be here with us."

"Am I a bad daughter for not really remembering them?" She asks quietly as she looks up at her sister.

"No!" Ruby declares with a quiet growl. "You were barely four when Mr. Nikos watched us so they could leave with Mrs. Nikos to Atlas." She reminds Robin. But she pauses at the memory of the last time she saw their parents alive, at Pyrrha's side as they waved goodbye. "Mom was crying. So was Mrs. Nikos. I remember Mom giving us all so many kisses and hugs. Dad had to pull her and Mrs. Nikos away so they could leave."

"I don't want their weapons, Ruby! I want them back!" Robin suddenly whines as she bursts into tears. "I want Mommy and Daddy back!"

"So do I, Robin." Ruby admits quietly as Yang and Jay approach. "Hey guys."

"Is she ok?" Jay asks with concern as Yang joins the hug, the younger girl crying even harder as she clings to the Reaper.

"Just missing mom and dad is all, Jay. Don't worry."

"Shhhh, it's ok, Robin. Shhhhhh." Yang comforts her younger cousin turned sibling as she keeps hugging her.

Ruby however notices Jay hesitating and motions for him to come closer, which he does as he too bursts into tears of his own. "Why Ruby? Why did they have to die?" He suddenly wails as he clings to his older sisters.

"We're going to find out soon, Jay. I promise. You heard Mr. Alex, he promised to tell us. To tell us all the truth." Ruby reminds him quietly. "And I know Pyrrha wants to know too. Her mom died along with Mom and Dad, and she's just as hurt as we are."

Yang sighs as she looks at Ruby sadly. "I don't think they're listening anymore Rubaloo." She points out as she motions to a Robin who has cried herself to sleep on her feet, while Jay is still sniffling and mumbling to himself while clinging to them both.

"Monday is the day, Yangarang. Monday we get our answers, and for better or for worse, the truth will finally set us all free." She replies as sadness filled silver meet lilac orbs full of pain. "Even you need that closure, Yang. I know you miss them too."

"Yeah, yeah I do." She agrees quietly as she gently lifts Robin into her powerful arms with ease. "I miss Aunt Summer and Uncle Qrow. I want to know what happened too, and what this Great Sacrifice stuff everyone from Atlas keeps talking about is."

Ruby nods as she turns Jay with her arm, leading him back inside and to Raven. "Da should be home tomorrow, right? Him and Mum said something about messages for them." She pauses and sighs. "Along with one for me."

"It can't be any worse than the one Aunt Ada left for Willow and Weiss." Yang points out.

"Weiss cried for hours after she watched it." Ruby admits as they stop at the door of the forge proper. "Yang?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. Thanks for being there for us. For being an awesome big sister."

"Hey, what else could I do?" Yang Xiao Long replies as she grins back. "I couldn't leave you guys out in the cold and whimpering."

"No puns! You promised when we came to Beacon there wouldn't be any more bad puns!" Ruby groans.

"Now now, no need to get howling mad, sis!" Yang cackles as they enter the forge.

"Please, no more!"

"Never Rubaloo! I'll never stop until I drive you barking mad!"

"Hey! That's not funny, Blondie!" AJ calls out with a smirk. "Someone around here might get cattie about it!"

"Hey! What have we told you about puns, AJ?" Kate calls out next, a look of anger on her face as her feline tail waves angrily as well.

"Sorry, Mum. I didn't mean to make you hopping mad!" He counters before ducking from a book thrown at him by Melissa.

Ruby Rose is once again grateful that her family has grown and evolved with the addition of Weiss's unusual and unique family, but why?! Why is she so doomed to be around punsters?! But she is broken out of her thoughts a moment later as Weiss shakes her gently.

"Ruby? Are you ready to go trick or treating?" She asks with a soft smile, while motioning to the door.

"I sure am Snowflake!" She replies excitedly as she offers her white wolf an arm, which she takes as her smile brightens. "This is the best part of my birthday being on Halloween!"

"Well good my Dolt." Weiss declares as they begin to walk towards the door, Nora and the others trailing along behind them. Of course, all of them are expecting a nice, relaxing evening of simple trick or treating…

But all of them badly underestimated how seriously Ruby Rose takes her trick or treating.

For the next several hours, Ruby and a rapidly sugared up Nora ran them all ragged as they trick or treated all through Vale proper, and it took Ren and Weiss both to keep them from taking the ferry to Patch to continue on their sugar fueled whirlwind of collecting more and more candy. It unfortunately reached the point where both young women finally crashed just as they all returned to Beacon, thus missing Dr. Merlot's Scare-A-Minute movie marathon.

But Ruby and Weiss both for years afterwards will always consider this the greatest Halloween ever...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Good morning class!" Professor Port calls out cheerily to his class, not surprised in the least that he barely gets a single good morning back. The older professor knows of only one student that actually enjoys his class, and she's in the afternoon block.

Ahem, back on track. "Now, I will give you all five minutes to fetch something caffeinated, even a cigarette or two if you need them, for today's class will be the most important one I will ever teach." He declares as he looks around at them, noting that he has gotten some of their attention.

"Today, you will finally be told the origins of the Grimm. The real origins as we know of it, and not what has been heard from a fairy tail." He declares with a look of seriousness that finally garner's all their attention. "And no, this will not be one of my tales from my youth, but the story of my final hunt."

Turning his back to them, he begins to move all his various boards covered in Grimm diagrams into their storage areas, leaving a massive map of Remnant in their stead, a dozen areas marked on it in bold red ink. He listens as they whisper amongst themselves while pop tabs are opened, cups of coffee and other beverages are passed around, as well as the flicking of lighters.

Checking his clock, he nods as he sees that five minutes have passed, and turns back around, smiling when he sees Cinder Fall and her partner standing in the back of the classroom. He personally invited the young woman, and is grateful that she accepted. Focus, he needs to begin.

"Well over two thousand years ago, there was a prevalent force of energy that took the place of aura, and that is magic." He begins, getting skeptical looks in response. To his surprise, Weiss Schnee isn't one of them. She actually sinks a bit in her seat at that declaration, prompting her now girlfriend to check on her.

Interesting.

"Among the strongest of the practitioners of Magic during its golden age was a man named Juda of Ezrek. Ezrek was once the capital of what we now call the Dark Continent, but at that time, it was the largest, strongest, and wealthiest of all the various kingdoms of the ancient world." He pauses as he sees Miss Belladonna's hand rise. "Yes?"

"I've never heard of any of this, Professor. And I'm an avid reader." She declares, getting scattered nods to her statement. "No offense, but this does sound like another one of your stories."

Port sighs. Blake has been one of his more difficult students to attempt to teach this year, the young woman indeed being a well read individual, as well as one who refuses to suspend her belief in tangible evidence. "Dr. Oobleck and Senior Huntress Salem Arc will be explaining that part to you all tomorrow." He replies curtly. "Now, Juda was the most powerful mage to have ever been born, and many of what we consider to be miracles were in fact created by him. Four of those miracles are still known as the Seasonal Maidens, and we have the great fortune of having one of them attending Beacon Academy now." He declares as Cinder smiles and waves before returning to whatever is keeping her attention on her scroll.

"Wait, the Maidens actually exist?" Pyrrha asks as she stares at the older woman.

"Yeah, we exist." Cinder replies as she closes her scroll. Holding her hand out palm out, she forms a ball of electrified fire to form in her hand that she then begins to spin idly between them both. "I became the Fall Maiden three years ago, after the last one was killed. We still don't know by who though." She adds as she tosses the orb gently into the air with a smile. "Took me a while to get used to this."

Port notices Weiss sinking even deeper into her seat, her eyes closed tightly. Very interesting.

"Unfortunately, that is not the only thing that Juda left behind as his legacy. For you see, he was not satisfied with harnessing the powers of the elements, no he instead continued to delve into the very power of the world itself. He sought a way to control the very fabric of life, in order to discover a way to claim immortality."

Pausing for dramatic effect, he looks around his class before continuing. "What he created next was nothing but death instead. You see, Juda delved too deeply into the darkness looking for answers. He delved so deeply that he created what we now refer to as a spawning pit. Believing that immortality was at hand, he cast himself into this pit, releasing all of his considerable magical energies into it once he was fully submerged."

"What emerged next was not a man, but a monster. A monster of terrible purpose and the darkest of desires. One that was no longer interested in eternal life, for he found that within the darkness. Instead, what he now craved was to have the entire world join him in his darkness." Port pauses once again, using a remote control to bring down a diagram of an absolutely gargantuan Grimm. It was covered from head to toe in armor plating, with a pair of enormous horns jutting from either side of its head. The diagram however is surprisingly sparse on details on how to defeat the creature, and there was a symbol not many of them had ever seen before on the bottom right hand corner as well.

It is a pair of crossed weapons, a scythe and a rapier, both with broken blades.

"It's name is Behemoth." Port declares as he pockets the remote. "The first Grimm. The father of the beasts you are now here to train to fight. And the only Grimm that we still have yet to defeat. And this is despite many of the best efforts made over the past two eons. Despite even our advanced technology and superior weapons, Behemoth still rules his lands uncontested, his creations having spread to the four corners of our world."

Port notices that Ruby Rose is staring at the symbol in the corner, the poor wolf girl trembling unconsciously. But he has to continue, he has no choice.

"Now, before any of you try to remind me that there are pits all over the world, stop." Port admonishes them firmly. "Behemoth may be a Grimm, but he is still at his core the man he once was. He discovered a way to spread his taint to other parts of the world, and used his twelve most magically gifted students to do so. He taught them the rituals needed, imparted upon them what they would need to sacrifice in order to attain immortality at his side. And in their own greed, in their own lust to stave off death just as he himself did, they successfully created twelve more of these pits, while they in turn became the precursors for the Grimm we are now accustomed to."

He stops to look at them all, his face set into an unusually serious look for the normally jovial and talkative man. "Twelve incredibly powerful Grimm, with the knowledge of man, and the ruthless power of darkness fueling them and their own cursed spawn."

"Have any of them been defeated?" Nora Valkyrie asks quietly as Penny Polendina holds Jaune's hand in her's, her face turning away in shame along with many other of the students of Atlas, many of whom also lost parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to the battle. All of them grew up hearing stories of the Great Sacrifice as the battle is quietly known as in their home country, despite one man's best efforts to silence them all.

"Only one. In almost two thousand years, only one has been defeated. And it's defeat came at a great price." He replies heavily. "The Great Saber of Atlas was defeated ten years ago when it decided to make Atlas it's own personal kingdom, like it's father did with the dark continent as a whole. And it was at great cost."

He looks at Ruby again. The Reaper's tears flow freely down her face now as her eyes stay fixed on Behemoth and the brilliant red symbol. He's not surprised that the clever wolf faunus girl has already put all the pieces together, despite her poor attention span she's one of his top students. But he must continue, he is committed upon this course of action. His students, the next generation of huntsmen and huntresses must be aware of the danger the remaining eleven pose.

Ruby, Weiss, Willow, and Pyrrha
MUST
know the truth of why their loving mothers were forced to leave them and their siblings alone in this world. Why Qrow Branwen And Athena Nikos died with their weapons in hand and roars of defiance on their lips as they managed to blind the beast before taking a blow that broke them both. Why despite Alexander Garibaldi sacrificing one of his sword arms to stop a death blow aimed at her, his sister still eventually fell as she stood over him in his defense, her faithful summons roaring in challenge as Myrtenaster gleamed brightly in her hand. Why despite the two master huntresses working in concert, Ada's two Grand Drakes finally pinning the Great Saber down while Summer delivered the killing blow with her mighty Retribution, they still died from the massive explosion of dark magical energy that ripped them both apart cruelly and fatally.

He has no choice but to tell the Red Reaper and her White Princess the truth, the latter finally looking at him again in growing horror.

"The Great Saber of Atlas was defeated by Summer Rose and Adaliz Schnee, but it cost them as well as many, many others their lives. Including Summer's husband Qrow, Pyrrha's mother Athena, as well as many of the remaining silver eyed warriors. Only two people escaped with their lives, and one of them was left in a coma for a year."

"No! You're lying!" Ruby screams at him as she leaps to her feet, Yang and Blake both trying to restrain her while Weiss sits in silent shock, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

He walks to her with measured steps, and takes her hands in his gently as he looks the red wolf in her silver eyes, eyes full of pain, of tears, and growing loss. "Miss Rose, if I could trade places with your mother or father, Miss Nikos' mother or Miss Schnee's mother, I would without a single moment's hesitation." He replies firmly. "Their deaths were a loss that all of Remnant, not just Atlas alone, should still be mourning." He isn't surprised at her last minute denial. It's difficult to accept a truth as terrible as this one, especially if you are the eldest of three siblings that according to Raven are still looking for answers.

The truth, as terrible as it is, will finally set them all free, Rose-Branwen, Nikos, and Schnee alike.

"Who was the other one, Professor?" Lie Ren asks quietly as Ruby starts sobbing, Weiss holding her closely, with tears in her own eyes.

"Me." He admits heavily as he looks at them all. "I held Summer Rose as she died, the shattered remains of Retribution still clutched in her hand. Her last words were of the children she, Qrow, Adaliz, and Athena were leaving behind, and how much she regrets not watching them grow up."

The silence is deafening. No one speaks. Several even forget to breathe for a moment, and then Ruby howls. It is a howl full of pain and loss that echoes throughout the classroom before she runs out, Weiss on her heels and sobbing. But, he nods in approval as Nora, Ren, Jaune, and Penny follow them without hesitation.

"I retired after that battle." He continues finally. "I survived an encounter with a being of ultimate darkness, and decided to devote myself to preparing the next generation. As did Alex once he recovered. Because we survived a battle that killed two of the finest women I personally ever knew. Two women who should be celebrated, yet no thanks to one who has manipulated it to suit himself, that history have been all but forgotten instead."

Port's fists begin to tremble in his barely controlled anger. "That same person prevented even the Atlesian military to seek out and destroy the pit, despite their best efforts, thus leaving Atlas in danger even now." He informs them. "But I cannot name names, I'm sworn not to."

He begins to pace slowly, occasionally glancing up at Behemoth. "And as to this symbol, it was adopted by all the Huntsmen's Guilds and Academies all over Remnant." He pauses as he looks at them all. "It now stands for certain death."

He ignores their whispers and murmurs as he paces again, struggling to forcefully shove the memories of the terror and horror he felt during the battle back into the darkest recesses of his memories, along with the sorrow. And especially the memory of watching the light leave Summer's eyes forever.

"Tomorrow, Professor Oobleck shall discuss the repercussions of Behemoth's actions, and what the original Maidens as well as others countered with in order to still stand against him." He finally declares, the memory of Summer dying haunting him too badly now to continue. "For now, you are all dismissed."

He doesn't watch them leave as he returns to staring at Behemoth. But this time, he has a look of pure hate on his face. Summer and Ada had begged the older huntsman into joining them in the battle, his vast experiences at hunting the Grimm in some rather unique situations and circumstances being an asset. Summer Rose, seeing the imminent explosion as he tried desperately to tend to Alexander's injuries while Ada struggled to stay on her feet, shielded them all with her own body, her eyes in full soul ignition and a sad smile on her face. It was still almost too much until Adaliz Schnee added what was left of her own formidable aura to the shining silver shield, this costing her her freely given life to protect the brother whom she adored.

Both women died smiling, their lives given freely to save his and Alex's. To save Atlas. To save their children.

But everyone stops when they hear the trio of mournful howls in the distance. Howls that even the most racist of humans would stop and lower their head to despite their feelings towards the faunus. Howls that cause several young women, including Cinder, who has stood by stoically during the class only to finally break down into heavy sobs that lead into a howl of her own, Pyrrha Nikos rushing to the Maiden's side and wrapping her powerful arms around her. They are howls of deep overwhelming pain and pure loss. The loss of loving parents and a loving aunt who gave their lives freely to insure their children and their nieces would have a tomorrow.

A howl that has been long overdue.

And he, Peter Port, has never forgiven himself for failing the two women who proudly led the defense against the Great Saber, Qrow at Summer's side and Alex acting as his sister's shield. And when he saw Ruby and Weiss's names on the roll for initiation, he came to a decision.

Even if it meant career suicide, he will prepare them for their future as huntresses. And he will be damned if they as well as Willow and her partner Neo suffer their mother's fates...

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The Wall of The Honored is a sacred place on Beacon's expansive campus, a place none dare desecrate with unnecessary noise, mess, or or ill intent. The many names etched upon its marble surface are those of huntsmen and huntresses who gave their lives to the cause of protecting the world from the Grimm. And every year, on Veteran's Day, a new section of wall is erected, with more fallen huntsmen and huntresses who have given all.

It is here that Jaune Arc and Persephone Polendina find Ruby Rose, by following her bitter sobbing and heart wrenching howls.

Her hands are hanging loosely at her sides, while she stares at a pair of names engraved for all eternity on the otherwise smooth marble surface. They both know that Ruby is in mourning once more for parents she has missed for so many years now. Parents who gave their lives to save a nation not their own, so that the children of that nation as well as their own would have a future.

Qrow and Summer Branwen gave all, so the children would live.

"Ruby?" Penny calls out hesitantly, while worried for the girl she is quickly beginning to consider just as close of a friend as Weiss and Willow. And her concerns worsen when Ruby turns her tear streaked face towards her.

"They died to save you. They died to save all of Atlas." Ruby's voice is a whisper as her tears continue to fall down her cheeks. "They died as heroes, and I feel horrible because I still want them back."

"Oh Ruby." Penny moves forward and pulls the sobbing Reaper into her arms, the younger woman clinging to the back of her blouse as she begins to sob once more. "I'm so sorry."

Jaune sighs as he walks forward, laying a gentle hand on the Reaper's shoulder. "My grandparents fought in the battle too." He informs her as his own gaze focuses on their own names:

Eugene Arc and Kaya Arc.

"Along with my Uncle and his own wife. They died there too, and I'll never forget my mother's and my aunt's screams as they were all buried together. I'll never forget being barely six years old and being handed my grandfather's sword and shield and being told that I will be the new head of the Arc family when I come of age. I'll never forget staring at my grandfather's grave while wondering why? Why did they have to die? Why did they have to make me responsible for so much when I was still just a child?"

"Did you ever get any answers?" Ruby asks him as she stays within Penny's embrace, her quicksilver eyes staying focused on him.

Taking a deep breath, he releases it slowly as he turns away from the names of his own fallen family to look at the grieving young woman. "Honestly? It took me seeing how far my mother has fallen. It took me realizing that I do have friends I can rely on. It took the love of a woman who loves me for who I really am and not the family company or the fact that I am the heir to it to make me realize that my family joined your parents because it was honestly the right thing to do." He declares firmly and with pride as he looks back at the names and smiles. "They fought with courage, with distinction, and died to save Atlas, all because they were huntsmen and huntresses. They answered your mother's call to arms, and never hesitated. And for that, I am proud to call myself their grandson and nephew, Ruby."

"Daddy is who gave me my new name. Mommy was helping me embrace myself." Pausing, she slowly pulls herself free of Penny's embrace and touches another name gently:

Athena Nikos.

"It was Auntie Athena who told me to be who I really am, no matter what anyone else thought about it." Stopping to take a deep breath, she releases it slowly as she closes her eyes. She takes several deep cleansing breathes, in and out slowly, before opening them before, her silver eyes glowing as bright as the sun itself.

“And hearing the truth has finally set me free.”

“Ruby?” Penny steps forward and clasps her shoulder gently, a soft smile on her face. “Jaune and I are with you. You have our loyalty and our support.”

Jaune nods in agreement. “To Hell or Victory, Ruby Rose, we’ll follow you to both.”

Ruby nods as she wipes her tears away, standing tall once more as her eyes remain glowing in a visible show of her newfound freedom. “Thanks, both of you.”

Penny looks around, confused for a brief moment. “Ruby, where are the twins?”

“They went home, Penny. On the back of Willow’s Nevermore.” She points in the direction of Vale, a sad smile on her face. “They went home, so they can finally say goodbye to their mother. It's the one thing they've never been able to do.”

Jaune nods as he moves beside the Reaper, draping a gentle arm across her shoulders. “What about you, Red? Need to head home yourself?” He asks as Penny moves to her other side, one arm similarly wrapped across her shoulders.

“No. I see my Mom in the mirror every day.” Pausing, she taps her chest over her heart next. “My Dad's right here. I'm their daughter, one of the many children they gave their lives to save, and I'm so proud of them.”

One hand touches

Summer and Qrow Branwen

gently. “I love you Mom and Dad.”

One trembling hand reaches out to touch

Eugene and Kaya Arc.

“I hope I'm making you both proud.”

One final hand reaches up, tears in jade green eyes as they stare at

Antonia Polendina.

“I will make you proud, Mutter.”

They lost those close to them, but have been reminded that they live on in their hearts, and especially in their souls…

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The point of view appears to be one from a camera, the one holding it currently pointing it at a pair of twin wolf faunus girls who are wearing a pair of women's combat dresses over their properly sized clothes that are obviously too large for them, both of them struggling to pick up a beautiful multifunction dust rapier, the revolver chambers filled with the appropriate colors of crayons instead of the high grade dust their huntress mother loads them with.

“Mama! Mama look! We gonna be huntwesses too!”

The adorable twins cry out in unison as they smile brightly at the camera lens pointed at them.

“Oh you are, are you?”

A woman's voice replies. It is a voice filled with pride.

“But you two are still so little! You have to grow up to be beautiful dancers, not little huntresses.”

“Nuh uh! We can dance like you, Mama!”

A gasp is heard as the twin girls set the weapon down and take identical stances, the two of them beginning to move like mirror images of each other as they move through routines they shouldn't know but do. Movements they learned from watching the mother they idolize, that they spend every waking moment beside, that they adore more than even their beloved uncle and his huge family.

Weiss and Willow Schnee watch the last home video ever taken of them by their mother, Adaliz. They have tears streaming down their cheeks, whimpering as the camera is set down at an appropriate level to keep recording.

“Mama?”

The twins stop and stare at the older version of themselves that appears in the camera next. Picking up the rapier, she sets it safely to the side before moving between her twin daughters.

“Dance with me, babies.”

The woman asks with her smile of absolute pride on her face.

“Let us show the world that our dance will never die, nor our Schnee pride.”

They begin to sob as the three memories move in unison on the huge holo screen projecting a long recorded memory on the bare wall. As she and her twin rise to their own bare feet, and begin to move in perfect synchronicity to the old home movie.

“Ours is a dance that is older than Atlas. Older than Mantle. Older than Solitas itself.”

Adaliz explains as she moves with a grace born from years of practice and training. Movements honed to a deadly edge that can defeat any foe, but that also brings her closer to the twin daughters she adores.

“Created by the very first Schnee, a proud Alpha who led her pack and her clan with grace, dignity, and wisdom.”

Alex and Kate rush into the large living room and freeze at the sight of their nieces moving in perfect harmony to the video playing behind them. Alex bursts into tears as he looks at his beloved sister, his right hand moving to grip at his left. As Kate watches in growing pride and her own deep sorrow at the woman who died too soon, and never got to see the fine adults her children would grow up to be.

“It is our pride to continue to defend the pack. To fight for those who cannot defend themselves. To defend home and hearth, and all that we love.”

Weiss and Willow are lost to their dance, their movements in perfect sync. Their feet move in perfect time with one another, their hands hold imaginary weapons that dance in time with their feet. As they duel imaginary enemies while lost to their memories of the last time they danced with their mother, who they loved most of all.

Adaliz Schnee was their hero, the sun around which the two of them revolved around. And for their mother, the Winter Maiden and the Grand Summoner have remembered how to dance in unison once more.

“Well done!”

Adaliz declares joyfully as she claps her hands, the twins looking at her adoringly before rushing to her and knocking her down while they all laugh, their little tails wagging in unison with their mother's.

“You both make me so proud!”

“We love you, Mama!”

“I love you both too, my beautiful little dancers.”

Weiss and Willow Schnee hold one another as they stare at their mother in their waning sorrow. As they stand taller in their returning pride. They remember how to dance together once more, an irreplaceable gift given by the mother they still love and idolize, and wish to make proud.

“We still love you, Mama. We miss you so much.” Turning, they move without hesitation into their Uncle Alex’s arms, the massive wolf faunus holding them both as he sobs. “It's time to forgive yourself, Uncle Alex. She died as she lived. With honor, with courage, and to protect the pack.”

“I can't…”

The twins look up at him, the two of them fully in sync, each with one blue eye and one red eye. “She died a huntress’ death. Please stop dishonoring her sacrifice to save the brother she loved.”

Alexander Garibaldi looks down at his nieces, a sad smile on his face. “You look just like her. Sound just like her too. And she’d be proud of ya both.” He rumbles before turning them around to watch as the twin girls now sit on their mother's lap and chatter away excitedly about all the adventures they will have when they are older, his sister reacting appropriately while she smiles and laughs. “That's my sister. The one who loved all her children, and who was ready to die to keep y'all safe.”

The twins smile as Winter joins them, Whitley in her arms and a bright smile on her face as the twins move so she can sit on her mother's lap next, while the two girls steal their brother away. They look on as Adaliz begins to talk to her oldest with the same pride and enthusiasm that she had for her twins, while the twins begin to tickle a giggling Whitley.

“We miss you, Mama. But the truth has finally been told.” They declare in unison. “But just like Ruby, the truth has finally set us free as well, and we will fight to protect all that we love. Just like you did, and will continue to do…”

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Her’s is a primal scream full of rage no one would ever expect from her. A roar full of fury, of hate, of overwhelming loss as she struggles against her best friends and the woman she loves to reach the bullhead docks. Pyrrha Nikos has wondered for years what happened to her beloved mother. Why she never came home, and why speaking of her was forbidden. Why her father mourns her, her uncle distances himself, why she is constantly denied any access to the information concerning her final hunt.

All her hate is focused on one man: Jacques Schnee. And in her grief, in her fury, she is determined to find whatever hospital he is hidden in, and end him.

“Pyrrha! Pyrrha calm down!” Nora begs, the muscular tank refusing to let her go.

“I WANT HIM DEAD!”

“Pyrrha, you cannot do this! You must calm down and think rationally.” Ren adds while trying and constantly failing to use his semblance against her. But her emotions are too far out of control, and she isn't listening to any of them.

“I WILL KILL HIM! HE HAS DENIED MY MOTHER HER HONOR!” The redhead snarls in her continued fury.

Cinder stays quiet, clinging to her girlfriend as tightly as she possibly can, while praying for a miracle. Her heels are dug in firmly, yet all three of them are losing ground against the Invincible Girl, whose fury is adding to her considerable strength.

“Let her go.” Winter Schnee calls out as she stands between them and the bullhead docks, where a single Military bullhead sits waiting. She has her sword drawn, a dead look in her sky blue eyes. “If she wants to leave, she has to get through me.” She adds coldly.

Pyrrha shakes them off, her teeth bared as she snarls at the older huntress. “Why do you stop me?! Why do you deny me my vengeance?!” She snarls out as her weapon and shield come to her hands. Miló and Akuóu however are trembling, the Mistrali so lost to her rage that she is on the verge of losing the last remaining bits of her control. “Why do you deny my mother her lost honor, Schnee?!”

Winter raises her weapons in a threatening manner, her eyes narrowing as her ears and tail take on a blatantly threatening position. “I had my dagger to his throat, and I was denied my kill by Ironwood himself. My Uncle nearly beat him to death, my cousin and I tortured him to gain our freedom, and I was about to end him, and I was denied MY KILL!” She roars in her own fury, her aura visible.

Pyrrha takes an aggressive stance of her own, her spear and shield at the ready. “Then allow me by. Let me avenge my mother.” She hisses out.

“He is mine. He is my kill. Sooner or later, Ironwood shall let his guard down, and I will have my vengeance for the hell he put me and my siblings through. I shall have my mother's vengeance for ruining our name. I shall be the instrument of my grandparents’ vengeance for their murders at his blood stained hands.” Glyphs spring to life around Winter, whose hands tighten on her weapons.

“He’s denied my mother her honor.” Pyrrha hisses out. “I shall restore her honor with his death at my hands.”

“He killed my Papa and Grammy.” Winter growls out. “I found the proof while we searched his office, and have been planning my revenge. He will die by my hand alone.”

Both women roar as they charge at one another, weapons drawn back in positions meant to kill. There is hatred in both their eyes, bloodlust in both their auras. They are two proud daughters of their respective families, and their pride will not allow the other to deny them their vengeance for those that they lost.

They never reach one another.

Winter’s cousins are suddenly among them, along with a virtual army of students, the professors, and even many of the visiting teams already present for the coming Vytal festival. Mel, Lissa, even AJ and Velvet now struggle against a roaring Winter, while Cinder, Ren, Nora, have returned to struggling against a screaming Pyrrha. Dozens of armed students have placed themselves between the two combatants before a single blow can be struck, both enraged women still attempting to free themselves.

“That is enough, Miss Schnee and Miss Nikos.” Professor Port declares sadly as he appears in the center. “Both your mothers would be ashamed of you for fighting like this.” Pausing, he looks at Winter first, a deep sorrow in his eyes. “Garrett and Snowy would never want this, Winter. Not from their oldest granddaughter.”

“He killed them. He took them from us.”

Port nods, everyone taking note that Ironwood has appeared beside him, carrying a sack at his side. “My old partner and his wife would never want their beloved Win to lose herself to her grief, to her hatred. They would want her to walk tall with pride, while being the best big sister she can possibly be to all of her cousins and siblings.” Turning, he looks at Pyrrha next, his shoulders slumping. “This will not restore your mother's honor, Pyrrha. This will only bring more shame to your family.”

“He stole her honor.” Pyrrha whispers, no longer struggling against those holding her, her tears flowing once more. “He stole our pride.”

Port shakes his head. “Jacques Schnee stole more than your mother's honor, Pyrrha Althenia Nikos. He stole what should have been our greatest achievement. And he did it out of greed. He did it to spread his own dark influence upon the kingdoms of Remnant, to increase their reliance upon Schnee dust and Schnee branded weapons because despite our victory, our losses were nearly complete and total.”

Without a word, James Ironwood tilts the bag in his hand, Jacques Schnee’s head tumbling free. Everyone present looks on in surprise, Flynt Coal and Neon Katt rushing to his side and glaring hatefully at the now confirmed dead man. “My wife, Flynt and Neon’s families, all your families are avenged. And we, the children of Solitas, are free to thank all those who gave their lives to save ours, and honor them properly.”

Winter slowly falls to her knees as she stares at her father's decapitated head, her saber and dagger falling from her hands. She spits on his face, her hatred quickly giving way to her sorrow. Her head rears back as she howls, her tears falling freely as she finally mourns. She is joined by her cousins, by the many faunus around them, all of whom have lost so many they too loved.

Pyrrha too falls to one knee, her spear held properly with the tip pointing to the heavens, while her shield stays at her side. She begins the final prayer for the fallen, joined by her fellow Mistralis around her. A long overdue prayer.

James Ironwood and Peter Port look at each other and nod, knowing their part in all of this is done. The rest is up to Salem and Bart, along with Alex, who has finally agreed to tell them the story of his greatest failure. One that consumes him.

…. Klein Seiben stands alone on the frozen tundra south of Atlas, his hands still stained in blood, the knife he used to remove Jacques Schnee’s head from his corpse suddenly thrown into the flames consuming his headless corpse. “It is done. You will never trouble Sir Garrett's and Lady Sophia's babies again.” He declares, his eyes the color of fresh blood. “They are free, and my duty is done…”

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-Afterwards: Choosing a Side-

A slender, tanned hand reaches up with a remote and turns off the various trivid monitors before them one by one. Each monitor is focused on a specific person, each individual unaware that they are being spied upon through the various CCTV systems that exist around the world. A system hacked years ago by a certain Mercenary King for his own purposes, along with the Transcontinental Communications System that allows scrolls and other devices like them to function even in the most remote of locations.

A feminine figure stands from the sofa they have been sitting in while watching the various cameras, her own curiosity aroused when she heard through one of the many spies in her father's employ that Peter Port himself was finally breaking his silence on the battle that occurred years ago in far off Atlas. A battle that cost over thirty thousand warriors their freely given lives, that made orphans of so many children that the many orphanages were filled to overflowing in some areas, and that cost her own mother and those that also followed her their lives.

She honors her mother every single day, along with those that chose to follow her instead of obeying her father's orders to stand down. She and the others left behind lay fresh flowers on their graves every week without fail, while training to become the next generation of warriors, huntsmen, and mercenaries that inhabit the regions of Remnant the four great kingdoms no longer control, and have not controlled in years, sometimes decades, and in one particularly instance, for well over a century now.

Anya Siren was born in one such free territory, ran wild and free alongside her friends, and she too stood and watched as her mother and those willing to follow her and not her father departed. They too acknowledged the threat the Grand Saber proposed, and knew it would not stop with just destroying Atlas and Mantle. It would spread its darkness throughout the entire world, including their own secluded home.

Zarya Siren left her only child and stubborn husband behind to join Summer and Qrow Branwen, and died at their sides. She was brought home by a group of volunteer huntsmen, her body wrapped properly, and her great bow laying across her chest.

Anya watched as Peter Port spoke the truth, tears in her eyes as she clung to her best friend, Moon, a wolf faunus girl with an addiction to energy drinks and a gift for electronics and computers, whose parents were beside her mother as they disobeyed her father for the very first and the very last time. They stood together and waved goodbye, while calling out to them all for their success.

They stood together and cried as her mother and Moon’s parents were laid to rest side by side, and have suffered in silence as her father became a tyrant. One who grew to be called the Mercenary King. A tyrant that both seventeen year old girls are now determined to stop at any cost, before he kills the last of the Silver Eyed Warriors and the Winter Maiden.

Moon has long left to gather her things, while she stayed and watched the aftermath. She was still undecided of their course until she paused the feed, using the remote to zoom in on the obelisk that contains the many names of the fallen from the Great Sacrifice. Her eyes stayed focused on the name next to Summer Rose’s, her hand over her mouth as she sobbed at the great honor they showed her mother.

Zarya Siren

Her mother was never a formal huntress. She was a simple archer with a talent for hunting the Grimm with her trusted war bow and dust infused arrows. A talent she inherited from her, and she is widely regarded as the best archer in the free lands, with her mother's talent for hunting the Grimm, but her father's brilliant and cunning mind.

But she is not her father's daughter today, she is her mother's. And her sense of honor will no longer allow him his way.

She hurries to her room, stripping out of her oversized shirt and shorts as she enters. She's quick to pull on a sports bra, compression shorts, and then her forest green and brown combat dress. She then dons her specialized armor, which allows her to wield her bow without restrictions while giving her an excellent amount of protection. Her boots are made of a blend of different leathers, supple, and are easy to move in, and she makes sure they are laced properly. She straps her belt on next, a pair of slender bladed knives now on her hips, along with a sealable case where she keeps three particularly deadly arrows whose tips are laced with the particular formula that restricts aura at the point of penetration.

They were her mother's, and hopefully she won't need them.

She takes a moment to sit at her vanity, her long golden blonde hair shining in the bright sunlight flooding her room. It's never been cut, reaches her ankles easily, and she normally keeps it in a tight braid while out training and on a hunt. She refuses to cut it now, and instead busies herself with braiding it like always, throwing it over her shoulder once she's done to hang down her back. Her hair is her sole vanity, her closest link to her beloved mother, who had the same golden hair, and she will never surrender it.

Her quiver finds its way to her left shoulder, and she takes a moment to run her sensitive fingers across the feathers, nodding in satisfaction that she has her normal variety, before she dons a forest green cloak with a deep hood. Taking another look around her room, she grabs at a satchel and begins to fill it quickly with necessities, like clothes, undergarments, and the like. She leaves her books, her keepsakes, even her pictures save one. One of her and her parents in happier times, when her father's heart was still filled with love and not hatred. When he was just a simple mercenary content with earning enough to support his family, while his wife stayed home and hunted to help put food on the table.

She hesitates just as she reaches for her bow. It is finely made, but it isn't a bow meant to be carried into or used in battle. There's only one she knows of in the entire village that is made for battle, and it hangs in her father's bedroom in a place of great honor, above a quiver specially designed for combat, and still filled with her mother's preferred load out of deadly dust forged arrows.

Her bow and quiver are good enough to get her and Moon to Vale.

Her mother's bow and quiver will help her stop her father.

She moves like a ghost down the hall to his room, slips through the open door silently, and freezes at the sight of her father holding Windchaser in both his strong hands. His cursed mask is on like always, and he is looking directly at her as he holds the object she needs to succeed.

“Planning on taking this?” He asks as he hefts the heavy war bow in his gloved hands, his anger evident through his flaring aura.

“Yes.” She replies without hesitation, standing tall in the face of his obvious anger. “I'm seventeen now, and want more out of my life than living in the middle of nowhere.”

“No, you're going to do exactly the same thing your mother did, and run straight to your death.” Cyrus Swiftshade counters as his hands tighten around the war bow’s wooden surface.

“Better to die with my honor intact, than to cower in fear as

you

place our entire world in jeopardy.” She won't be swayed by her father's fear. She won't be cowed by her father's anger.

“What the Silver Eyed Warriors can do is a myth!” Cyrus counters as he releases one hand from the weapon, moving to hold it by his side. “Summer Branwen was part of a whole army full of silver eyed warriors, and they all died!”

“As did their enemies, Father. Not a single Grimm escaped the battle, and it was Summer Branwen and Adaliz Schnee who struck the death blow on the Grand Saber.” Anya reminds him. “The Silver Eyed Warrior and the Winter Maiden gave their lives, left their own children behind,

just like my mother.”

She hisses the last out between gritted teeth.

“She died on a fool’s quest!”

“SHE DIED A HERO! HER NAME IS NEXT TO SUMMER BRANWEN’S!” Anya shrieks at him, her hands balled into fists. “ZARYA SIREN LIVES ON IN HONOR, WHILE CYRUS SWIFTSHADE’S WILL BE CURSED FOREVER IF HE CONTINUES ON HIS ROAD TO HELL!”

Swiftshade remains silent, his head bowed as Windchaser stays in his hand. “If you leave, you will

never

be welcomed back.” He finally declares as he looks directly at her.

“Tell me that as my father, not as the bitter, angry man he has become.” Anya counters as she folds her arms across her chest. “Face me as my father, and not the shadow of a man he has become.”

Turning around, he mounts the bow back on the wall, before turning and striding towards her. He stops by her side, neither looking at the other.

“Leave, and you will be my enemy. And I’ll crush you just as I'm going to crush the warrior and her maiden.”

“Then we are enemies.” Anya replies without hesitation, despite her heart breaking into pieces. “I will make it my mission in life to stop you, Cyrus Swiftshade, no matter what it takes.”

“You have twenty four hours to get as far away as possible. After that, my daughter is as dead to me as my wife.” He informs her before leaving, never once looking back.

She has no time to cry over the fact that her father is truly lost to her. She rushes to the wall and claims Windchaser, the war bow going across her back. She grabs at the quiver, pulling an arrow free to be sure that the arrows contained within are correct, before simply carrying it in her hand. She scoops up her field pack by the door, pausing as a note falls from the flap. Picking it up, she does allow herself a moment filled with her pent up emotions as she holds both the letter as well as a single key.

Your mother would be proud of you.

The words are short and simple, written in her father's handwriting. Grabbing her keys, she rushed out and towards the small truck that has been her’s since she was tall enough to see over the steering wheel, smiling as Moon lays across the hood, an energy drink in hand and her tail wagging idly.

“Anya’s Dad looked pissed.” The wolf faunus comments idly as she rushes to the truck, her things finding their way into the back. “Moon already grabbed the tent and all the camping supplies. Moon put them in the back of Anya’s truck.”

“Hurry up and get in.” She replies as she climbs into the back next, pulling Windchaser off her back and knocking an arrow into place. “I may have been a bit too blunt.”

Moon rolls her eyes as she climbs into the driver's seat, cranking the truck up quickly before putting it gear. “Let's go to Vale, Anya said. It will be fun, Anya said. We can save the world, Anya said.” The wolf faunus mutters as she moves down the dirt driveway and onto what passes for a road. “You owe Moon for this!” She yells out the open window.

“You already own my soul! What else do you want?!” Anya yells back as they pass more and more of her father's soldiers, who are all watching them pass.

“Moon wants a ring, dammit! And a new supercomputer!”

The two teens go silent until they reach a point where the road is blocked by one of the many assault vehicles they use on missions. But they both blink in surprise as first one, then several bags, satchels, and even an ammunition box find their way into the back of the truck whenever they are forced to stop, both girls staring in surprise as the crowds begin to disperse until only a sole woman is left. One who places one final box packed full of food and medical supplies in the back before looking at her.

“Convince Abe that your cause is just, Anya.” The woman informs her quietly. “He will never betray his goddaughter for his best friend’s need for misplaced vengeance.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” She mutters as the woman walks away quickly, Moon putting the truck in gear and getting them moving once the assault vehicle moves away.

Anya Siren sits down slowly, her back to the cab of the truck as her arrow is placed back in its quiver. She presses the cool wood of her mother's weapon to her forehead as a sob finally frees itself from her chest. She loses herself to her sorrow as she and her best friend arrow towards Vale in the hopes of stopping her father.

No, her father is dead. He died when he buried her mother, and a monster took his place.

She will kill the monster personally, free her father's soul, and bury him next to her mother, where he may finally be at peace again…