It was they that Cinder told us her endgame would begin, and I ran into Penny one last time. The girl smiled brightly.

"Sal-u-tations!" She gave a coy little salute. I rolled my eyes and grinned. She never changed... We walked down the street, and I asked a question that had been eating away at me since I'd found Penny again.

"Penny... How were you crying, back in the alleyway?"

"Pardon?"

"How were you crying?"

"Oh." Penny nodded. "I have built-in synthetic tear-ducts."

"They must be new. You never cried back when I was little."

"You could say I got them right after we were separated."

"Ah."

"Or maybe..." Penny looked down. "I got them because we got separated." I looked at her, eyebrow raised.

"What?"

"I'd never felt less human than when I couldn't cry." Penny admitted. "When I had to leave, it was too much. I asked Father to give me the ability, and I nearly shorted out my systems on day one... But, I felt a little better."

"I can't see you crying."

"I remember seeing you cry once, tough guy."

"Don't."

"I felt so bad for thinking you looked adorable!"

"Penny, I'm warning you. I will seriously consider ending you."

"You wouldn't hurt me... Besides, we both know I'd kick your sorry butt any day. I'm combat-ready!"

"Is that a challenge?"

"Might be..."

"You're saying that you could beat me in a fight? Not likely."

"Oh, really?" The look on Penny's face was an attempt at intimidating, but just made me smirk.

"Yep."

"Very funny." Penny pouted. I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"Can't take you seriously when you look like that." I stated. Penny crossed her arms, scowling slightly. "Hey, I was wondering... What's your semblance, Penny?"

"Huh?"

"Your semblance. You have an aura, so you must have a semblance."

"I don't know what it is, yet."

"Oh..." I nodded. "So, how did old Ironwood take you dropping out of the tournament?"

"Um... Okay." Penny hiccuped. My eyes narrowed.

"Penny?"

"He was a bit... Disappointed." Penny tapped her two index fingers together, then hiccuped. I grabbed Penny's wrists, glaring.

"You dropped out of the tournament. Tell me you dropped out of the tournament, Penny."

"I..." Penny looked down. "He wouldn't let me." I slowly grew angry. "Adam, please. I didn't want you to worry-"

"Worry? Worry?! Penny, you're going to get yourself killed!"

"I don't have a choice, Adam! If I don't fight, they'll think there's something wrong with me! And when they find out it's me rebelling, I'll be reprogrammed or shut down! ... I'd rather die with my memories on the battlefield then die on a lab table, another Penny waltzing around after I'm gone."

"Penny, come with me. You don't have to do this."

"Adam... I look human." Penny sighed, smiling. "I don't think the White Fang would appreciate my arrival... It's okay, Adam. It's not like I'm a real girl." I didn't know what to say.

"Penny..." I looked down. The girl slowly pulled her wrists from my slackened hands, then hugged me. It wasn't a bone-crushing hug like usual. This one felt normal... I hugged back. "You're real, Penny."

"I know... I just wanted to hear someone else say it one last time." Penny pulled away. "So, I'm fighting tonight?" I sighed and nodded. "Then... I'm going out having a good time, no matter what." A tear raced down Penny's face. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be okay... I'm still combat-ready." I let out a small chuckle, and Penny raised a hand to my face. "Don't be sad. It's not you, and I refuse to let my last image of my best friend be sad... Smile for me?" I didn't feel like it, but I managed a small smile for her. "Perfect."

"Penny, I won't let you-" I didn't finish that sentence. Penny slowly pulled away, surprised by her actions as much as I was. Then, she smiled sadly, backing away.

"Goodbye, Adam." With that, Penny turned and ran off. I stared after her, still unable to speak from the shock. Penny had just kissed me... Then, I punched a wall, yelling in frustration.

"Damn it!" I shouted. Then, I leaned against the wall and slid down, looking up at the sky.

/\/\/\/\

That night, I watched the fight from the airship, holding my breath for my friend.

It looked like Penny was going to beat Pyrrha Nikos, but then the Amazon used her polarity semblance. Penny's blades flew back, the silver wires that connected them glinting.

My red eyes widened behind my mask, my heart stopping. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!

Then, Penny ducked, barely managing to dodge the cords. A piece of orange hair hit the arena floor, but that was it. Penny looked around, relieved as the match was called off.

I tried to hide my smile. As usual, my friend was combat-ready.

Then, a beaten girl in a red hood was tossed into the center of the arena like a rag-doll. Penny immediately ran to her side, Pyrrha following.

"Ruby!" Penny cried, the cameras showing Mercury leaving.

Was this Cinder's backup/improvised plan? Beat a little girl within an inch of her life? Cinder got on the comms, claiming things about violence and that the schools had too much power. She exposed Penny's secret...

Penny helped the unconscious Ruby onto a cot, wiping away the tears as people stared at her in shock. Then, the feed was cut as Grimm attacked.

Penny was okay. That's it, then. We landed the airships, and I smirked at the sight of a mostly-empty Beacon.

"Bring them to their knees."