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Act I

Birthright

And so we see upon the tower, a light. A light that casts back the shadow, a light that bring hope, courage, and salvation. This is the light that has been kept sacred for eons. It has been the power, the jurisdiction of the Vale, that proves above all things that we are truly blessed… that light… has not been seen for some time. I fear I may not live to see it reignite. But, I know that when it does, we will have found our saviour. Of that, I can promise you. For who could truly lead us but one hand picked by the gods themselves?

High priest Sermons to his disciples within the cathedrals of Vale

We've been waiting for hours.

The three of us kept to the insane plan I'd concocted and stayed in the throne room all through the night. We were tense, ready for something to go wrong, for people to burst through those doors and kill us.

Nothing.

The whole night, and not even a peep.

They've left the three of us to stew, so here I am, sitting on the throne, Weiss and Yang leaning against it in boredom.

Imagine, being bored when there was a nearly guaranteed threat on your life.

I don't like this.

It's far too calm.

Something should have happened by now, even if it's just a commotion or something outside.

But there isn't

There's not even a sound.

It's as if the entire palace is suddenly empty. Abandoned even.

Gods.

Please don't tell me they plan on burning it down.

That would put a dent or two in my plans for sure.

I'm doing my best not to let my nervousness show, for as much as they said they were with me, looking like a scared little girl in front of them was bound to do more than just demoralise Weiss and my sister.

I'm not entirely sure what I can do. I haven't asked Rose. I haven't even slept since the other say. Ozpin hasn't gotten back to me either. As far as I know, he's tried to pull out of the ordeal. It's unlikely, but if he thinks this is going to fail spectacularly then I might decide to just cut his losses and deal with the backlash he'll receive another way.

The thought is terrifying, because of what it would mean for me.

"So," I say, licking my lips. "What do you think?"

"Huh?" My sister grunts tiredly. She hadn't slept either. "You meant about this whole situation or…"

"Yeah… how do you think this is going to go?"

"Dunno," she shrugs. "I mean, what's even supposed to happen anyway? Are they really going to stop whenever you light the Beacon?"

"They have to." Weiss yawns.

"Oh yeah? How do you know?"

"Because I read." Weiss drawled. "I studied The Vale's laws as much as I could before coming here. While I'm still not familiar with all of it, how the Monarchy is chosen is something I was interested in. once the Beacon is let, it's irrefutable proof that a King or Queen has been chosen."

"How would that even work? It's just a fire. Would it really proof that Ruby's here?"

"No," she explains. "Because as far as I know, only the Rose Monarchy as ever lit the Beacon. Remember, it went dark after Ruby's mother passed."

"So…" yang leaned forward. "You're saying only a Rose can lit the fire?"

"I am… why?"

"Well don't that sound pretty magical to you?"

Weiss scowled. "I highly doubt that is the case. It could just be as simple as there being a law that none but the crown may use it."

"Uh-huh." Yang smirks. "You stick with that. It sounds to me like they haven't because they can't. If they could, somebody would have definitely done it, at least to pretend."

"Pretend?"

"Sure. I mean, you've heard of a Puppet monarch right? How would anybody be able to tell the difference if they just sat some servant girl on the throne and said she was Ruby? Who'd be able to disprove it?"

Weiss sighs loudly. "Are you forgetting her proof of lineage? Her Majesty's silver eyes would be enough to convince others she is the real thing. It's even what Ruby did yesterday."

"I guess…" Yang allows reluctantly, crossing her arms. The show was recognition makes Weiss raise her head triumphantly.

"Exactly. Honestly Yang, there's a reason Atlas and Vale have been such close allies in the past. If magic was involved I highly doubt such a thing would have been possible. The Rose Monarchy of all things possessing such a thing would be near blasphemous "

Yeah… about that.

I'm really lucky neither of them are looking my way because if they were they'd see how I begin to sweat.

Yep. Definitely no magic here.

None at all.

Yikes.

Now that I think about it, is that going to be a problem in the future?

If I'm going to be making conversations with other kingdoms like Atlas, how would they react to magic?

Or was it just Atlas that thought like that?

'Perhaps they won't bring any problems, especially if they're not told. Ozpin referenced it, but it didn't sound like he was aware of what mother could do. Come to think of it…. If that's the case, then she'd kept it a secret all that time before her death.'

I frown at the thought.

'If she could see things like me then… how had she-'

My train of thought is severed as something crashes outside the door.

My head shoots up, as do Weiss' and my sisters.

"It sounded far off." Yang mutters. "Sounds to me like it's starting. Is it time yet?"

"The sun is about to rise." Weiss tells us. "It would perhaps be practical to do it right before it does. Commoners at least will be waking up at this time, and if they aren't, I'm sure they'll see The Beacon anyway. Now would be a good time to make your way up to the tower your Majesty."

"I can't." I say. "Not until the ones wanting to kill me have shown themselves."

She winces. "This is dangerous.

Don't I know it?

There isn't another crash, but there's some kind of commotion building. Loud enough that I can hear it even from here, but I can't really place where it is at the moment. It could be outside the palace altogether for all I know.

So we wait.

And wait.

And wait.

As we do, Yang decides that she's tired of sitting down and pulls herself up, checking her bracers to see if they're tight enough.

Weiss is doing the same, her hand rests atop her sabre. Ready to draw it at even the slightest provocation. She's rolling on the balls of her feet, nearly bouncing in place.

Al I can do is remain solid.

My nails don't do much to dent the silver, buy my knuckles go white as I grip the sides of it.

The doors creak open in front of us suddenly, and the pair look ready to jump.

They don't however, when six men are all that enter, none of them armed, and each with scrolls in their hands.

Messengers.

Weiss steps in front of me, tilted sideways almost, ready to attack despite their appearance. The men come to a stop a good twenty paces from me.

"You step unannounced before her Majesty. State your business."

All at once they kneel and one of the men in the centre speaks.

"We come with pledges of loyalty my lady, for her majesty. An offering of men to defend her."

Yang's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "They really did it?"

I lean forward. "Approach and show me."

They do so for a moment, before Yang moves to intercept them. She extends a hand, and her message is clear.

After a moment, the messengers hand them over and Yang in turn hands them to me.

I swallow, and unfurl them.

When I see their contents, I let out a breath.

"Well?" Yang hedges. "What's it say?"

"Names." I mutter. I look up to the messengers suddenly. "Leave us. Tell them that their loyalty is appreciated and to be ready at their own will."

The men bow deeply, rushing out of the room to give us the privacy I needed.

As soon as they do, I ran a hand through my hair.

"Exactly what they said. They're pledges. Six in total but… none from Ozpin or Glynda."

"So six separate ones?" Weiss hums, a hand rising to her chin. "Who do they belong to?"

My eyes can over the signals of heraldry. I don't… think I recognize any of them…. But there's something… familiar about them.

I feel my eyebrows furrow, my eyes narrow. "Stone, Coppersmith, Blanche, Torchwick, Grey and Rivers."

"Rivers?" Yang parrots.

I shake my head. "Different as far as I can tell. No relation. I'd think the Rivers we knew would have mentioned it otherwise."

"Intriguing." Weiss says. "From how they acted, I would have thought Lord Stone and Lady Coppersmith would have been against you."

So had I honestly, and yet here it was, proof of their alliance. This couldn't be retracted now. If people found it, it could be used against them.

"There were a lot of people at that meeting though," Yang bit her lip. "Do you think six is enough?"

"On their own? Probably not, but take a look at this." I hand her one of the scrolls and let her run her eyes over them. She looks up in surprise. "They're promising other people's support too?"

I nod. "These people are Dukes and Duchesses, that gives them powerful connections and dealings. From the look of it, lesser nobles threw their lot in with them."

"May I?" Weiss asks moving to peek over Yang's shoulder. My sister nods, tilting slightly to give her a better look.

The lieutenant's lips twist into a smirk. "Sixteen Marquess and Marchioness, fourteen Count's, eight Countesses, nine Earls, twenty Viscounts and forty-two Baron's and Baronesses. One hundred and nine in total. A far more generous number than I would have expected."

I agree. That was nearly a third of the entire court. I'd thought I'd get at most, half of that. These six nobles had sway, a lot of it.

How insane had the power vacuum been for them to gain this much influence?

"If they all do as promised, and take action combined with whatever sway Ozpin and Glynda hold then defending the palace from an assault should be all but guaranteed."

Yang turns to the doors at the other end of the hall. "So… does that mean we're safe? We don't have to worry about anything else do we?"

"I wouldn't bet on it." Weiss crosses her arms behind her back, packing before me as I lean back on the throne. "If a blatant attack won't work then it means they will simply have to be far more unmanageable. The likelihood of assassin is high, or they may attempt a fast and brutal move."

I gnaw at my lips. "If we could find a passageway into the palace, who's to say there aren't more for them to use themselves. They might be able to slip in a unit or two… maybe more."

"How many would that be?"

"No idea, but more than I'd like anyhow."

"Well can't we just-"

Yang cuts herself off as a massive crash echoes through the door, followed by another, and another.

And in the next moment, the clear sound of steel on steel.

Weiss' hand falls to her sabre. "It's started then…"

I make to ask what she means when right before my eyes-

There's a sudden explosion.

The wall to my left caves in somehow, and the gears of the balcony whirl as it collapses.

There's a hiss of steel as soldiers spill out over the balcony.

Yang springs up. "They're here already?!"

Her response is a battle cry from our attackers as they land on the floor and charge us.

Weiss finally frees her blade, and is quick to cut a man down as soon as he's within her range.

Yang ducks under a swipe at her head and slams her fist into a soldiers ribs. It must have splintered something because he falls quickly. She catches another man's sword on her braces right as he steps over his companion's fallen form. Her vambraces spark as she takes the hit, weaving inside his guard and smashing her fist through his jaw.

Yang can handle herself against these people. They're simple soldiers and she knows how to fight.

Weiss on the other hand.

It's something else.

She's absurdly fast. Sidestepping thrusts and slashes so quickly it's almost like she's snapping into place. Every single time she does so, she counterattacks. Even to me, someone with no real clue how to fight, I can see how perfect her form is.

Her sabre travels down their blades like she'd one it a thousand times, catching on their hilts and knocking them out of their hands and cutting them down in the same movement.

She flicks her writs, stopping a man's sword aimed for her exposed back like it was a paperweight and throws him into two of his companions

She lunges forward and stabs at them on the ground, ending their lives before they can even get up.

Pulling her sabre free she spins and caught a man who's tried to capitalize on her defenceless back yet again.

The tip of her blade sliced open his throat in a shower of blood and she kicks his body back with her heel. She disregards him as he lays dying and hops back as one soldier brings down a mace where her head had been.

My eyes narrow as I watch.

She's surrounded by four of them at once.

Two with swords, one before her with a mace, and on her right with a spear.

There's a heavy clang as she brings up her Sabre, catching the sword swords with her out, but the two on one offers enough force to make her stumble a bit, and she just barely reacts in tome as the man of her right thrusts forward with his polearm.

She reaches out with her free hand before it can pierce her and catches the haft.

It scrapes against her breastplate, and Weiss' eyes widen slightly from the impact it manages to make before her face twist into a scowl and she forces it back.

Her arm shakes from the three-pronged attack.

She eyes flicker forward at the sound of the man in front of her makes however, and she grits her teeth as he raises his mace to cave in her skull.

Her knees bend as she gets ready to leap back, possibly capable of avoiding it like she had before even with the added pressure.

The movement isn't needed though when a hand reaches around the man's throat and yanks him back. He tried to scream as a flash emanated from the hand, but is silenced by the flames that sizzle his wide pipe.

Yang throws the corpse to the side and lunges at the men on Weiss' right, dragging on of them off and practically throwing him into the other.

Weiss is already moving again. With a growl she wrenches the spear past her into the gut of one of the swordsmen and uses her now free sword to lop off the spearman's head. She takes the spear in hand and hurls it like a javelin at someone on the other side of the room.

She turns to Yang as the blonde finishes snapping the last neck of the man near them.

"I had that handled." She told my sister, who in turn just grinned back.

"Sure you did Snow angel, nothing wrong with a little help though right?"

Weiss makes to respond before another group of men suddenly pool through the same opening.

"Tch, more?" she grouses.

"Better armed too by the looks of it." Yang nods, eyes on the shields the men wore. She lowers herself and flexes her fingers. "Back me up on this?"

"Believe me," Weiss huffs, flicking her sabre forward. "It'll be the other way around."

They're moving again, dashing forward together to meet our attacks.

Yang is like a battering ram, crashing into their shields, knocking them aside for Weiss to deliver deadly blow after deadly blow.

The bodies fall one after another, and Yang not wanting to be outdone, opens up the palms of her hands and lets flames spew from them in waves.

The men scream out in agony as they're flesh is cooked inside their armour.

Some try to run at the sight of their companions burning alive and turn their backs.

Weiss punishes them for it mercilessly, driving her blade through their backs before they can make it even to the door.

In doing so however, they miss two of them.

Two that were either brave enough to push past it or too stupid to realise they would die for it.

Weiss' eyes widen as they charge at me.

"Your Majesty!"

I haven't moved from the throne, and now they're too close for me to do so.

With a triumphant cry, one of them raises his swords up and stabs forward.

The funny thing is; isn't slow.

I'd seen faster, far faster, from Weiss, Yang, Rivers, Rose and even those that had attacked me on the road.

This isn't even on the scale of speed compared to them.

Truthfully, I'm sure this man expects me to fear in terror, who wouldn't? A sword coming at your face is a sure way to end your life.

I'd seen far more terrifying already.

I tilt my head to the side.

And his blade shaves right past and clangs against the silver throne.

It shatters.

I see the confusion in his eyes, he blinks like he doesn't realise what's happened yet.

I elect to help him with that, by lashing out with the heel of my boot and cracking it against his kneecap, he cries out in pain as his leg bends in a way it was never meant to and he goes crashing off to the side. I catch him in the stomach as he does and kick him back into his partner, who doesn't see it coming until it's too late and he tumbles to the ground.

Weiss and Yang are on them in the next instant, faces twisted with rage Weiss slits the throat of one as Yang drives her fist through the other man's head.

My sister turns to me, ignorant of the blood that's splashed onto her face. "Ruby are you-"

"You're not done!" I snap, glaring past her as yet again, more spill in.

These ones, again, are armed with something different.

Weiss' eyes widen as half a dozen javelins are hurled through the air right at us.

Two miss completely, but the lieutenant doesn't take a chance with others. She bats one out the air with her free and slices another down with her sword.

Yang throws out a hand and fire streams into the air, burning the last two to ash before they can reach us.

These men it seems are smarter than the others however, because they've already cleared the distance between us.

Weiss cleaves one man's arm off as he makes a move for her and engages with two more that take his place.

There's less room next to the thorn, enough to impact her performance. She backsteps, but not far enough, and a gauntleted fist crashes into the side of her face.

The hit nearly makes her lose her footing entirely and she ducks down to avoid the follow-up strike that would have gouged out her eyes. She thrusts her sabre upwards in recompense, stabbing through the man's jaw and out the top of his head.

She kicks him away and he slides off her sword, painting the already bloody sword red.

Yang grabs hold of another and lifts him off his feet before bringing him back down against the side of the throne. He's spine snaps loudly and she used his useless body as a club to smash into another soldier. It knocks him sideways and he stumbles.

Where I am.

The Xiao-Long dagger slips out of my sleeve and I plunge it into the side of his neck, tearing the wicked knife free brutally as he chokes.

The battle still rages outside, however it's going, but in the throne room, everything goes quiet.

Weiss breathes heavily, and my eyes fall on her arm, which she clutches hard.

"Weiss are you alright?"

She lets out a breath. "I'm fine your Majesty. One of them just managed to cut me. It's nothing serious. I'll ride out the pain."

I force back a hiss. The fact that she's been hurt at all is as much my fault as it is these attackers.

They've paid for it with their lives, but that's not enough.

My eyes scan over the bodies.

"How many?" I ask. "How many are here I mean, that you killed?"

Yang leans herself against the throne. "Including the ones I burned? About twenty-seven. It's not a lot on its own, but from the sounds of it, I'm guessing the rest of them are out there."

Weiss shakes her head. "How did they even manage to get in here so quickly? Right onto the balcony no less."

"I'm thinking you already know." I mutter, lifting my foot and nudging one of the dead men, rolling him over onto his back.

His armour reveals his heraldry and my eyes flicker to the rest. "I'm thinking we might have at least three culprits to deal with when this is over at least."

Weiss peers at them. "I don't recognise any of them… wait… that one I do."

"Really?"

"Indeed." She nods. "They're banner is displayed high in the northern districts of Vale of all things. Lord Malachite."

"Well then," Yang smirks. "I guess we have a name to start with then."

'That we do'

My head snaps up abruptly as the door this time shakes, as if rattled by something.

I lips form a grim line. "Looks like a few more have made it here already."

"…Your Majesty," Weiss says. "Now would be about the time to see this through, wouldn't you think?"

…she's right. I've got names, and I'll probably have more outside. I've upheld my promise I made to the nobility in waiting, but even I know the longer we keep this up the more likely it is to fail.

"You're right. It's about time we get up to the tower, Come on, Ozpin told me which way I need to go."

I stand, stepping off the raised platform to one of the smaller doors to the back of the hall.

It's a small door, leading up from what I'd been told, a spiral staircase up to The Beacon. I hadn't seen what that was exactly yet, but, well, now was a good time to find out.

But… something's missing.

I stop, turning. Yang is behind me, and shoots me a confused look.

The lieutenant hasn't moved.

"Weiss?"

Her face is unreadable to me.

Yang frowns. "What are ya' doing Snow Angel? Come on. Didn't you just we shouldn't waste any more time?"

"…I am aware." She says, wincing as the door rattles again. "But… they will be in soon, and when they see you are not here, they will likely realise just where you have gone… if that happens, then they will likely follow you up and you'll be trapped."

My stomach drops. Not from her words, I'd already realised that was a danger, one that would be nearly unavoidable either way. My hope was that if I lit the fire before they reached me, then they wouldn't be able to do anything.

The odds of that actually being the case however…

Were not entirely on my side.

I knew that already though.

No, what was worst, was that I know what it is Weiss is saying.

"Weiss." I swallow. "You can't."

"If they breach before you get up then it may not be an option. Here is better than in the tower."

"You can't stay behind!"

"Come on Weiss," Yang steps forwards, dropping the pretences of her nickname. "You can't seriously think you can take on however many come through there, can you?"

"Probably not." She admits. "But if I can buy you even a minute, I think I'll have done enough, though I'll do my best to extend that time."

I shake my head. "Weiss you can't-"

"Ruby," she interrupts calmly. "The longer we speak the less time you will have. I have made up my mind, you should hurry up and go."

And leave me here, were the words left unspoken.

My hands clench into fists and I want to say more, but before I can, Yang's hand clamps down on my shoulder. She's giving Weiss a hard look, and after a moment, she nods. "Good luck."

Despite herself, Weiss manages a proud smirk. "How insulting. I don't need luck."

I grit my teeth and turn away. I'm afraid of what will happen if I look at her. "Disobeying your queen is treason." I say.

"Technically… you're not my queen. I'm Atlesian, remember."

"When this is over, you will be." I say. "And then, when I come back, I'll make you pay for it. You better stay alive long enough for me to punish you."

"… I will do my best not to disappoint."

I swallow and nod, as Yang makes a break for the tower. In my weakness, I turn back, to see Weiss facing away from me, picking up a second sword from a fallen foe and giving it a few test swings. She stands facing the door, ready to fight back the assault alone.

I break into a run myself, slamming the door behind me and running up the stairs behind Yang.

I pray to the gods, to Weiss' gods, for her sake, that she may live.



The tower, I realise, is much taller than I expected.

We run, and run and run as fast as we can, for I-don't-know how long, enough that I'm beginning to feel out of breath.

Ahead of me, Yang is furiously dragging herself up the steps. "Why," she growls. "Did they make this thing so fucking high up?!"

I didn't know, but right now it's working against us. The longer we take, the longer Weiss is down there alone, the more reality can crash down on us and make us see how futile this really is.

I know Yang feels the same. She'd tried to hide it but I'd seen. I'd seen how pissed off she was when we left Weiss alone.

We had to keep moving, he had to make it now!

Step after step and step, I lose track of time. It could have been seconds, minutes or hours before we reached the top, but we do, mercifully, we do.

There's a simple wooden door at the top, and Yang barges through it roughly. Stumping slightly as she makes it to flat ground.

We've made it to the top.

Despite what's going on, despite the need for speed, I can't help how I still, how my eyes widen as I look around.

The top of the tower is…

Open!

There are pillars all around the edge holding up a roof, but the gaps in between are straight up empty. I could set over the edge and plummet all the way down.

It's bigger than I'd thought it would be too.

It's like a full floor of a home, enough space to so pretty much anything. I could run from one end to the other if I wanted and still have plenty of room.

And, in the centre it dips, carved out of the stone floor it looks like… a basin.

Smooth and round its well over ten meters wide from the centre.

Ridiculously big.

It looks as if it were made for giants.

Or the gods.

"So," Yang whispers beside me, affected by the same feeling as me. "What are you supposed to do now?"

"I can explain that."

Our heads whip to the side and Yang raises her fists for a fight. She stops however when out of the shadows is not an attacker, but Ozpin.

My eyes narrow. "What are you doing here?"

He stops, no doubt catching how hostile my tone is. I don't care. With what's at stake now, there's no way I could ever care about niceties. He bows deeply. "Your Majesty. Throughout your time here, I understand that I have come off as… enigmatic, but you must know that I am here to serve."

I do, but not because of anything he's done.

If Rose hadn't' said otherwise, I'd see you as an enemy.

I shake my head. No time. No time for this at all.

"Well then?" I ask. "How does this work? What even is this?"

He lets out a breath. Whatever he feels at my words, he reigns back on it and turns to the basin "This is where The Beacon's fire comes from. An incredible flame that illuminated humanities way through the darkness many millennia ago. It is a kiln or sorts, though, your mother once dubbed it 'The God Vessel' for reasons I was not made privy to."

"God Vessel." I repeat, tasting the word on my tongue. It… it feels…. It feels like I know that word. Like I've… heard it my entire life.

But I haven't… have I?

What is this…. This churning in my stomach, like something waking up.

'As if I'm finally fully awake'

"What do I do then? I have to light it, right?"

"It…" he hesitates. "It is more compacted than that."

Yang crosses her arms and scowls. "Hurry up and spit it out. We're on a time limit and we need to do this before- before someone gets hurt. If you're stalling then-"

"It's not that!" He rushes out. "But the act of lighting the fire is… abnormal."

"Abnormal how?"

"her majesty… must step into the Vessel. And remain there while the basin is lit."

"What?!"

Yang lunges forward, gripping Ozpin by his collar and lifting him close.

"What the hell are you playing at bastard?" she growls furiously. "You want her to be burned alive?!

"No, I do not." He responds. "I do not understand how it works, but I witnesses as Summer Rose did the same. She will not burn where all others would."

"Do you expect us to believe that?"

"Do you have any other choice?"

I grimace.

No.

We don't.

If we don't do it, the tower will be stormed and we'll be killed.

This is a ritual, plain and simple.

It what Ozpin's saying is true then.

"Do it. We need to do it'

We do. Like he said. There's no other option.

Yang's growls fill my ears, but… something drowns it out.

A thumping sound.

It's my own heartbeat.

I step forward.

"Ruby what are you-"

"We both know he's right Yang." I murmur. "It doesn't make sense for him to lie, not when all the others acted the way they did."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it, if this was a fire that was supposed to kill me then why would the noble's act the way they are now? Why send people after me if I'd just burn alive? He must be telling the truth if they were so worried about me doing this right?"

Yang's scowl grows dark as she releases Lord Ozpin. "That's a pretty big fuckin' leap sis. They might just not know how this works in the first place. As far as we know Ozpin's the only one who knows even the littlest about this. He could still be lying, shit, he could just be wrong."

I'd think so too. I do think so.

'But Rose never mentioned this. She never said it would be dangerous. That means it's safe, right? Right? We need to see for ourselves. We need to try."

…we?

A crash from below that echoes up the tower lifts my head.

Then, a cry, as whoever was trying to climb the stairs was brought low.

That's my cue. No more time. We're out of it. Yang outstretches a hand as I make my way deeper down into the basin, standing right in the centre.

"So?" I look back. "What now?"

"Now," he says, stepping up to the edge. "Now we need something to light it. Miss Xiao-Long, I believe you can wield flames, can you not?"

My sister pales. "Y-yeah but-" she stares at me desperately. "Rubes you can't… I mean I can't… if this is wrong then…"

Then she'll have killed me. If Ozpin's words are false then Yang herself will be the one who burns me alive.

…strangely enough, it doesn't scare me. How could it? It's Yang. My sister.

She wouldn't hurt me.

That's just fact.

Like a law of reality.

Nothing Yang did would never hurt me.

I believe in that completely.

But she doesn't. She's afraid it'll kill me. Perhaps like any normal person should. She's scared of what she might do.

Right now.

We can't have that.

"Yang." I smile at her, as she freezes in place. "I trust you. Do you trust me?"

The question is a plea, for permission, for belief, for support.

The answer, for what it's worth, has already been predetermined.

"Of course I do." Yang murmurs. "I… shit… yeah I do. I trust you Ruby."

"Then let's do it."

"…Right." She whispers to herself. "So… I… just pour in some fire?"

"Indeed." Ozpin says. "Just a small amount, the basin will do the rest itself."

She takes a breath. "Okay… okay…. Then… I need to…"

Slowly, embers drift from her palms, falling gently like leaves in the fall.

They scatter, flaking in the wind, so close to the ground now, one scathes the edges of the ba-

A scorching inferno roars to life.

It overwhelms my sight in an instant, shooting into the air and encircling me before I can even realise what's going on.

Yang cries out my name, and then she's cut off.

I can't see her, nor can I hear her. The light from the flames in blinding, forcing my eyes shut.

It's… it's as if my heads being…

Filled.

Filled.

Filled.

No.

No that's not it.

Something's waking up.

Something that's always been there.

It's coming to life inside of me.

'It's completing us!'

I gasp, the voice, once my own, once my most inner thoughts, comes to the forefront.

It's different.

Different than they have been before.

Like another voice.

It's strange, foreign but not. The sound, the taste, the texture of it is so different from my own but it feels- it feels like it's always been there. Something swells in my chest, like a hand gripping my heart. I can feel the heat of the flames, seeping through my skin.

That's…. that's what this is.

It's as if a hand of fire had closed around my heart, its fingers, made of flames hold fast.

It burns, but it doesn't hurt.

It engulfs me, but it doesn't consume.

In the darkness of my vision, as I block out the light I'm greeted with darkness, all around me, my eye are closed yet I can see a world, empty, within my mind.

But it's not empty.

Within my head, I can see a silhouette.

I… I can't make them out. It's almost like they're shapeless. They haven't formed yet.

But I… I can see something. Two orbs, eyes like wildfires burning brilliantly in the void.

"What is this?" I gasp.

Something ripples over my skin. I'd opened my mouth to speak but when I'd taken a breath it wasn't air that flowed into my lungs, but embers.

It should burn but it doesn't.

It's not possible.

Fire should burn.

But it doesn't. It…

It's doing something else.

'We can feel it… our wounds are…'

The voice.

The voice trails off as if feel the heat wash over my shoulder and I gasp as I feel something impossible happen.

The wound in my shoulder is filled! My flesh warps, grows, knits itself together.

My eyes snap open in shock as my hand fly's to my shoulder.

My injuries are gone.

I'm healed!?

'Fascinating'

"Who are you? Rose?" I hiss out fiercely, even as I say it though, I know it's not my future self. "What's going on? Where did you come from? Are you- are you another part of my visions?"

Something whistles softy by my ear, as if someone is breathing.

There's nothing there, but I can feel it like there is.

'I… don't know. Everything's….strange. Or is it? I don't have a body but… if I never had does that not make it normal? I can't tell. I've always been here, haven't I? I'm not sure, but I feel alive, awake like I never have before. It as if I was stuck in the act of just opening my eyes but now… the flames have cleared the fog'

The basin starts to rattle, as if the power whirling around me is too much for it to handle. The fires are spinning along the edges, threatening to spill out.

Has The Beacon been seen by enough people? Is it done?

It must be, because abruptly the flams begin to flicker and retract, pulling back towards the centre, towards me. My eyes drift shut again as they build around me, and start… flowing…

Into my skin.

But the feelings that have awakened still remain. They're here to stay it feels like, whatever they are. That presence. That voice. Whatever it was.

I… feel tired.

The flames lower just enough that I can see Yang again, a look of shock on her face, but relief that I'm alright.

My knees feel weak.

I… I think I might be losing… consciousness.

'Not quite yet,' the voice tells me softly, as a heat floods my core. Even as I fall to one knee, and I hear Yang break into a run towards me, I know that now, I won't fall asleep somehow. Something is keeping me going 'There are still things we must do. The day is not over, far from it.'

This voice. It's doing more than just speaking. It's not mine. It's too different, and yet I feel like it's been mine my whole life.

I don't… I don't know what it is.

'Neither do I… but… it seems we will need something to separate us. No. Something to bring us closer. Something you can call us, like you do all of those around you. Yes… we need a name. I need a name. Something appropriate. Something to mark this day that I've truly been born.'

A smile spreads across my lip. I can feel it.

It's not by my own actions.

'Yes, I have it. I was awakened by the Beacon, a light in the darkness, a hope to the people and even as it fades it still remains within us. My name…

Is Cinder.



I'm not sure how long has passed.

The flames have died out, Yang now kneeling down at my side with her hands on my back. I lean into them for support.

Feel… drained.

But oddly, complete.

It was as if The Beacon had taken something out of me to inspect, and once it had been satisfied, gave it back, gifting me with something more.

It's a surreal experience.

Yang can't tell whether I'm really okay or not, and a worried look stretches across her face. "Ruby are you okay? You were… there was fire all around you."

I swallow, trying to wet my suddenly dry throat and nod weakly. "I'm alright." I murmur. "I feel… different. I don't know how though but… but I'm okay."

At that, my sister's shoulders slump.

"Thank the gods for that. She turns her head Ozpins way. "So? Now what?"

I raise my head, turning in the same direction and blinking in surprise as I take in Ozpin.

He looks inordinately pleased. "Now? There is no need to do anything. At least for the moment. All of Vale will have seen the light, perhaps even further, but either way the news will spread of your return, of your position now. With this new status, the nobility will be unable to touch you."

That's…

That's right.

I… this means I'm the queen now, doesn't?

There'll probably become sort of, I don't know, official ceremony, but right now at this moment, I'm no longer the princess, I'm the queen, and everybody in Vale knows it.

They'll have had to have stopped fighting now because of this. Killing me now would destroy them. People would riot.

My eyes widen.

"Weiss!" I hiss, spinning to Yang. "We have to get back down there now!"

My sister looks nearly grief-stricken at my words. "Ruby… the fighting stopped a few minutes ago… while you were in there."

No. No that- that doesn't mean anything! Weiss is fine. She has to be fine!

I grunt, dragging myself to my feet and cursing how much I struggle. My sister sees this and helps, and even with the remorse on her face, she understands we have to go back down there. To see it for ourselves.

She turns to Ozpin.

"Go do whatever it is you're going to do… we need to tie something up… and I need to make whoever's left down there pay.

The man holds her gaze for a long moment, before breaking off and bowing deeply to both of us. "I will do as you command. Whatever it is you see… I wish you luck your grace."

I nod and turn away.

And together Yang and I make out way back down the spiral tower.

The way down is even longer than it had going up. It's the feeling. The trepidation of what we might see.

Unwillingly, my mind flashes back… or forward, to the future, to Weiss, crucified atop a wall.

Have my choices killed her sooner?

Have I made a mistake?

Have I ruined everything already?

So long later, and yet sooner than I want, we come to the door leading back to the throne room.

I look to Yang.

She swallows and nods.

I do the same, and take a breath.

We open the door, and see what awaits us there.

And whatever we might have said is silence by the sight before us.

"That's…" My sister whispers in disbelief. "By the gods!"

I'm not even listening. My eyes are fixated on the centre of the room. There are bodies, bodies everywhere. More than there had been when we left. It… I count them. There are thirty more than there had been before. Over twice as many as the three of us had dealt with alone.

Weiss isn't one of them.

The lieutenant has her backs to us, on one knee, using both of her swords as crutches and breathing laboriously.

But she's alive.

"Weiss!" I cry, stumbling forward and rushing her way.

At the sound of my voice, the lieutenant turns and I gasp.

"Gods!" I breathe, coming to kneel down beside her. "How did this- are you alright?"

She manages a tired some, actually looking somewhat bemused. "Of course Ruby. I… I'm just tired. Nothing to worry about."

What?

No she-

"Weiss." I speak worriedly. "You're bleeding."

"I'm sorry?"

"Your eye…" I murmur, raising my hand to the left side of her face, gently wiping away the blood. When I do, air whistles through her teeth, and at the sigh of what's underneath, I do the same.

There's a gnarly, gagged slash straight down her face, right over her eye. I can't even tell how bad it is, more blood's already started rushing down her face.

"It ah, seems I didn't notice." She laughs weakly. "It must be the rush. Ah… I think… I think it's starting to hurt now."

This is my fault.

If I'd been firmer, If I hadn't provoked the nobility into acting then Wiess wouldn't be hurt like this. How stupid was I? to pull something like this all because of-

"Don't." Weiss orders firmly.

"W-what?"

"I can see it on your face your Majesty. Stop. In case you have forgotten this was a decision of my own making, and as such, a result of the same. Please, do not insult both of us by regretting it."

I swallow. What can I say in repose to that of all things?

Nothing. The answer is nothing. Right now, there's no time for it.

"Yang," I say, turning to my sister. "I need you to go see what's going on outside, and if it's safe I need you to find a doctor of Weiss."

She nods. "You got it."

She sprints past, hesitating only for a moment before Weiss.

It doesn't last, and whatever she wants to say, she decided to hold off in favour of doing what I asked.

It leaves the two of us alone.

The lieutenant.

My lieutenant, is left to catch her breath, leaning against me as I hold her up.

I manage a laugh. What must the two of us look like? Both exhausted and on the cusp of fainting… Tch, what am I saying? My body has been healed of anything that might have hurt me by some strange magic, while Weiss might lose an eye.

In the silence, the snow-haired woman speaks. "So," she pants. "What now? What will you do your Majesty?"

I take a breath.

A good question. A hand rises to my chest, to a warmth in my heart that wasn't there before.

To something.

Someone

Who now is.

"Now… it's time to finish this. I'm taking back my crown."



Well everybody's alive for now. Thank goodness. Well, as long as Weiss gets her eye looked at. I mean, gee, infection is a killer.

Some weird things with the Beacon and say hello to everyone's favourite pyromaniac.

Or is she everyone's most hated?

Next one will be the coronation itself, and a big leap forwards in somethings, so stay tuned.

Anyway, I wanted to bring up something that was brought to my attention recently, that being, the RWBY Shonen Manga that's been released recently. I just got around to reading it myself, and I have to say… wow. It looks gorgeous. Everything from the characters to the world and monsters to the presentation is stunning. It's a little lighter on the action side than say, Shirow Miaw's version, but this one is a proper adaptation of the story and even though there's only four chapters so, I have to say I'm loving it.

I'll come out and say that personally out of all six Volumes, V1 is my least liked. ( LeGasp I know) I just found it's tone and characterisation very… poor, and I feel like most of the problems with characters and the story itself come from this Volume. And WoR but we don't talk about those.

But I like this, forgetting about how beautiful everything looks the way they portray the character so far, especially Ruby, Weiss, Jaune and Pyrrha is fantastic to me. It still has comedic moments but it takes itself far more serious, I feel like it has more understanding of what tone it should take. You know the way most Anime adapted from the Manga so they have a baseline to work off of and improve upon? Well the show never had that, and as much as I love it, it shows. The Manga seems to be the improved version so far, and as long as it sticks to the direction it's going I'm looking forward to how they'll handle the rest. We might get some proper moments between Weiss and Blake that we should have gotten in the finale.

From how well they've been writing it, they might actually get me to like the Jaundice arc!

Sorcery I tell you!

Also can I harp on again about how beautiful it looks? It's like straight out of a fable, the way it should be!

And it's free on Viz, so I'm showing my support and hoping you will too for its continued release.

And uh…. Once you see how they drew Beacon just like… pretend that's what Beacon in this story looks like okay?

No, onto the last thing, that being the Question!

So I've already asked you who your favourite RWBY girl is, and you're most anticipated character so far, so here, I'm long forward to hearing what your most hated character is.

Not the kind where they're on screen, you think they're horrible, evil and you want them to die, that's a good villain.

I'm talking about the one that when they appear on screen or on a page you think 'ugh! I have to sit through them again?'

That's what I'll looking for. Maybe if I can get a general consensus, I can do my best to make them a fun read.

Until then, see ya!