A/N

So. Eighteen days. That is the longest I have gone, on any story I've written, in between releasing chapters. I guess you could call it a unannounced break though, seeing as it gave me plenty of time to figure out the specifics of the story's finale, which I admit I had no real idea about writing.

But anyway, here it is. This is essentially the start of the closing events to the story, with the previous chapter as the set up. Two more chapters to go.

Oh, and there is quite the doozy of a cliffhanger at the end, as a general warning. It'll be immediately resolved, but I think you'll love it.

The Centerkeep, Beacon Academy.

Yang looked down, pinching the top of her dress's bodice and shifting it a bit. She smoothed it back down, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that most of the crowd were currently milling towards the central space cleared out for the evening's closing events.

Soft music floated through the air as violinists and cello players started up the beginning of a deliberate routine. The shrill whines of the violins against the deeper more sonorous hums plucked from the longer strings of the cellos melded together to create a melody like no other.

A sigh of bliss escaped Yang as she found herself slowly swaying her head to the rises and falls in the music, still unable to remember where or how she ever got a taste for the very old music. A memory of the D3AD B3AR club loud music appeared, crashing through the melodious soft tunes with violent beats and drops. Yang frowned as she noticed a small old man coming out of the crowd, making a beeline straight for her.

Even though she towered over him and he was still quite a distance away she noticed the beer stains and wine splashes on his dress shirt. The old man came closer with a spring in his step, staring right at her.

"Would you quit leering?"

The old man rubbed a bald spot on the top of his head, around which a ring of cropped white hair grew. "Your immense beauty distracts me. Would you care to share a drink with me?"

"No." Yang's answer was instant and immediately she stopped paying attention to him, noticing a very tall and broad-shouldered man pushing his way through the crowd from the grand staircase's direction, a look of relief in his eyes as he spotted the old man.

The old man's face grew livid, almost purple, as he chuckled and lifted a hand past her shoulder. Yang narrowed her eyes at him.

"But you have such beautiful golden locks-"

Quick as a flash Yang's hand shifted, gripping the old man's wrist like a vice. A red flash sparked in the blonde's eyes. "I'm not into older guys. Sorry." She steered the old man around, pushing him back into the crowd over the sounds of his very loud protesting.

The tall and broad-shouldered man from before glanced at her with a apologetic expression, before turning to the old man with a look of frustration. The two of them disappeared into the crowd.

Yang shook her head, wondering if she should move somewhere else.

Weiss came back with a silver platter of cheeses balanced on her palm. The girl popped one of the carefully carved wedges into her mouth with a look of curiosity. Yang shrugged and sighed. "I get that kind of attention a lot. Unfortunately not from the type I want."

The Schnee Heiress smirked with a muffled chuckle as she swallowed the mouthful. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'm not really surprised. That's Bishop Winchester."

Yang turned to Weiss, staring at her for a few seconds until she covered her mouth with a giggle at the thought of comparing the thin and weedy old man with the - admittedly well-endowed but still totally a jerk- leader of team Cardinal. "As in... Cardin Winchester's..."

"Family member. Very old?"

"So... His grandma?"

Weiss snorted with a smirk. "Yes."

The two teammates stifled their wicked giggles as the crowd began to change, with many pairs sweeping out into central floor amidst a subtle change in the music. There were couples of all kinds and all genders dancing around each arched a eyebrow at some of the pairs noticing that a few were both women. "Huh."

Yang elbowed her in the side. "Bet you'd like Ruby to sweep you off your feet, huh?"

At first Weiss reddened before staring at Yang in shock. "I... no! I'm just interested in the fact that those women are dancing together!"Yang rested her arm in the short girl's shoulder. "Because its just a party, Weiss. People are having fun. " She looked at the dancers, squinting as she recognised Professor Ozpin and Professor goodwitch dancing together. Her mouth opened in shock. "Even Professor Goodwitch and Professor Ozpin."

Weiss glanced at her with a annoyed look, before squinting. "Your father's having some 'fun' as well."Yang followed her finger, sure enough seeing her father amid the dancers, dancing with a blonde woman in a slim red dress. She folded her arms, satisfied, before noticing the amused smile on Yang. "You're not bothered?"

Yang shrugged. "I love my dad but sometimes he forgets how to have fun."

"He seems like a great father." Weiss murmured, getting a look of concern from Yang.

She slowly nodded, feeling that this was starting to get touchy for her. "Yeah. He's the best." Yang looked around, blowing a golden bang out of her eyes and hoping for a change in the conversation, something she was pretty bad at. Something which Ruby wasn't."

"Wasn't Ruby with you and your grandpa?"

Weiss sighed and shook her head. "Your sister just can't sit still. She got bored and walked outside." The girl sighed. "That was at least half a hour ago."

"Weiss? Yang?" Pyrrha made her way out of the crowd, with Lie Ren and Nora trailing behind her

"Jaune doesn't seem to be with you guys." Weiss rolled her eyes at Yang's blank statement.

"What's wrong, Pyrrha?"

"Jaune was talking with his parents, but that was a while ago and I didn't see him come back in." Pyrrha hanged her head. "I shouldn't worry, but it is a little strange that he hasn't come back in."

"There's something else"

"Cardin and his team aren't in the hall."

Yang blinked and folded her arms with a glance at Lie Ren. "So? They probably snuck off with a few girls. I haven't seen Blake since she went looking for Sun. What's the big deal?" Weiss turned to her. Nora giggled. Lie Ren rolled his eyes with a sigh, while Pyrrha glanced away and scratched her cheek.

Yang blinked. "None of you caught the signals?"

Lie Ren shook his head. "That's not the problem. The problem is that Cardin has been acting pretty suspiciously since the gala started."

"Do you think he might be trying to cause trouble with Jaune again?" Weiss asked.

Nora slammed her fists together, with fire in her eyes. "Can I finally break his legs?"

Lie Ren glanced at the short girl with more than a little surprise, before shaking his head. "I'm not... so sure that would be appropriate right now, Nora." He looked at everyone else. "But we need to look around just to make sure that-"

The great ebony doors to the old hall screeched on their iron hinges as they swung open, a low groan reverberating through the old and gnarled wood that cut through the air like a knife. The general buzz of the crowd's laughter and chatter soon changed, as everyone focused on the newcomers to the gala.

Lie Ren stopped and peered over his shoulder at the interruption, as everyone else did.

"Why, what a wonderful party!"

The crowd shifted, allowing Weiss to catch a fleeting glimpse of both Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch. Their eyes instantly turned towards the owner of the voice.

Her heels rang loud and sharp across the hall, cutting above the happy chatting and laughter of the crowd. Slowly, more and more people noticed the new arrival. Some with undisguised suspicion, others with leers at her immaculate ivory skin and long raven hair, their eyes running over the form-hugging crimson dress she wore with the utmost confidence, getting lost in the dancing patterns of fiery golden thread tracing their way across the finest silk material.

By Cinder's side Roman Torchwick twirled his cane as he walked, dressed in a midnight black suitcoat. "What a party."

"Glynda. You're looking gorgeous tonight. I've always loved how you dress, but I'm glad that horrid cape of yours isn't in attendance."

Glynda just glared, her hand dropping from Ozpin's and hovering near her waist.

"And Headmaster Ozpin. A pleasure." Cinder placed a hand on her hip as she stopped in the center of the hall, now being stared at by the dancers and the rest of the crowd."

"You're looking well, Cinder."

"Never would have figured the lowest of the class for headmaster, but there you go." Roman tipped his bowler hat forwards, leaving only one eye showing as he glared at Ozpin.

Weiss and Yang both started moving through the crowd, their eyes locked on Roman Torchwick. Lie Ren and Nora followed them, as well as Pyrrha, who kept a nervous eye on her parents, both of which now stared at Cinder.

Ozpin's gloved fingers drummed on the crook of his cane. ""Cardinal Winchester used his Aura to build the original grounds. I suspect you used most of the dust from those robberies to suppress the security of the academy?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out."

Cinder shrugged, glancing at the broad-shouldered man with a definite sway in her hips. The man grimaced and stared down at his feet, his teeth gritted in shame. "Mr Winchester was very... forthcoming... for a man of the clergy."

A few gasps rang out in the room, all the while Mr Winchester's father stumbled about, sloshing his drink all over himself.

As the crowd digested this news the sounds of heavy footsteps unsettled them and confused them. White masked warriors, some dressed in thick black longcoats hefting bulky rifles and shotguns marched in a double line through the main doors, with some among them sporting a assortment of swords, axes and spears.

A few in the crowd started to visibly whimper or panic at the sight of the White Fang warriors. Yang glanced at Weiss with a worried look. "Uh oh."

Ozpin raised a eyebrow, a mask of calm on him as the White Fang moved around, forming in a circle around the now empty central section of the hall, except for Cinder and Torchwick.

"Hmm. I'm a little intrigued as the why you've been using the White Fang, though. Hiring notorious fanatics is very high profile. And resorting to a common street thief? Very tacky."

"Our faunus friends here are actually here for a little thieves by the name of Sun Wukong and Blake Belladonna. They will depart of our company shortly."

At a unseen signal some of them began to move through the crowd. Ozpin tapped his cane as a few of them approached him and Professor Goodwitch, rifles hefted. He glanced at the King and Queen of Mistral, watching as more riflemen surrounded them as well.

With a glare directed at the smirking criminal Queen Athel drew a slender brass-colored rapier in a flash, a sharp ringing echoing over the voices of the bewildered and rapidly panicking crowd. Alongside her, Pyrrha's father reached a gigantic hand over his shoulder, drawing the huge crimson longsword with a dull hum. He narrowed his eyes.

The White Fang hefted their rifles in a instant, taking up positions as their sword and spear wielding counterparts noticed the commotion and made their way over. They acted too slow as she slashed their rifles to ribbons, knocking them to the ground. Another group came from behind, only to come face-face with the mountainous King of Mistral. He was silent as he slammed the flat of his longsword into all five of them, sending most of them flying or skidding across the floor.

Pyrrha was already moving, already making her way through the crowd even as the White Fang began to spread out further and further, until some of them sighted her. Just as she spotted some of the moving in her direction she spotted a riflemen settling their sights on her mother with another targetting her father's back, where the nape of his neck showed.

She ran faster, as fast she could in the damn dress, before she registered a dark blur phasing out of the air in between her mother and father as they backed towards each other. A shock of flame-red hair appeared, followed by a bone white mask with red markings.

Adam's black sword rang as it slid out of his sheath, snaking it around Queen Athel and pressing it against her throat with barely a sound.

Pyrrha stopped in her tracks. "Mother!"

Her father whirled around with a roar, the crimson longsword bearing down on the White Fang member's shoulders. Quick as a flash Adam flicked his other wrist and grabbed his sheath. The black sheath shifted and moved, forming into a rectangular barreled shotgun with a pistol grip.

The King of Mistral barely froze until Adam pressed the blade further against his wife, taking another step before Adam's finger began to squeeze the trigger pressing against his own chest.

In the absolute silence of the hall, Cinder's eyes flashed as she stared right at Pyrrha. "I hear you are one of Jaune's best friends. A true comrade. Why don't you come closer?"

Nora and Lie Ren both caught up to her, facing down the White Fang warriors now closing in on Pyrrha. Elsewhere in the crowd their parents watched with mix of worry and pride.

"You really think she'll do what you say?!"

Cinder placed a hand on her hips, glancing at Nora. "Well, seeing as her family is currently at the mercy of a very dangerous rogue and my accomplices and I are the only ones with weapons in this hall... I'd say yes."

Nora growled in response, taking a step despite the White Fang warriors drawing their swords and aiming pistols at her. Lie Ren quickly dragged her back, a dark look on him.

Pyrrha looked at them both, giving them a nod before looking straight at Cinder. The woman smiled back as Pyrrha walked forwards, glancing over her shoulder to see White Fang warriors still surrounded Nora and Lie Ren, dashing her hopes that they would follow her and leave them alone. She frowned when she noticed that both Yang and Weiss were missing from where they were standing before.

Cinder smiled as Pyrrha came out of the crowd, her head bowed as she stopped. "What do you want?"

Roman chuckled and tipped his hat to her. "The superstar athlete. The jewel of Mistral. How do you do, ms Nikos?"

Pyrrha ignored him, focusing on Cinder.

A smirk answered her. "Hostages."

She stared up at the darkened rafters, spying the reddish glow at the end of a long shaft of gnarled blackwood, resting on the unfolded 'tripod' of a pair of wickedly shaped scythe blades, embedded in the thick wooden beams and angled down at her.

"I wouldn't fire that big old scythe in here, Qrow!" She made a signal towards Adam. A growl appeared on him for a second before he took his sword away from Queen Athel and moved away, letting the White Fang cover them in his place.

He moved through the crowd, grabbing Carmine and dragging him out in the open at sword point. He pushed Carmine towards Cinder, who caught him. "You might hit your dear departed sister's husband." She winked at Carmine, keeping the flaming black-bladed knife against his throat. "By the way. It's been a while, Carmine."

At that moment the crowd gasped as Yang rushed out from them with a growl and a furious fire in her eyes. Her hair had a golden sheen to it, like the sun itself as sparks flashed around her.

Cinder watched as the girl sprinted towards her, bowling over some of the White Fang as flames gathered around her closed fist. "Hands off my dad!"

Leaning forwards, almost presenting her chin with a chuckle, Cinder lifted her hand just as Yang's fist neared. Quick as a snake her hand clamped around the girl's wrist, wrenching her up and over her head and down onto the floor.

Yang gasped in surprise as she hit the floor, the flames disappearing from her eyes and hair.

"And you've grown up quite nicely, Ms Xiao Long. I know someone who'd be very interested in hearing about you."

The man glared at her, despite being completely at her mercy. "You touch my daughter and you'll regret it!"

Cinder chuckled. "Your daughter? Don't make me laugh."

Pyrrha glanced behind her as more members of the White Fang appeared, their rifles trained on Weiss in between them.

"Looks like we have another to add to the prize pot."

Pyrrha glared at the both of them while she went over grapples and headlock techniques in her thoughts to break free from the White Fang members flanking her and Weiss. "You will let him go."

Roman sighed. "All in due time, ms Nikos. We still haven't gotten to the negotiating large sums of money part. Let's see... Contained in this hall, we have a superstar athlete and the heiress of the Schnee dynasty up for grabs. So, my dear huntsmans and huntresses, unless some of you are willing to make bids for them, we will be departing shortly, leaving you to enjoy the rest of this evening."

"You won't get away with this."

Roman rolled his eyes at Weiss's words.

Meanwhile Ozpin narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Cinder. "You must have made some very powerful friends to even attempt something like this, Cinder." A little smirk appeared as he looked at Roman. "And I guess it helps you have a scapegoat."

"The world's most famous family of warriors, the King and Queen of Mistral, and a roomful of highly trained huntsman and huntresses. And all you have on your side is a petty criminal who couldn't even stop a group of trainee huntresses from ruining his operation." Ozpin tilted his head. "You miscalculated."

Cinder grinned, golden eyes flicking up to the rafters and noting the absence of the dull crimson glow. "Did I?"

Roman grinned. "Lock the hall."

Outside the Centerkeep.

A reverberating dull roar jumped his thoughts.

Jaune groaned, opening his eyes. Immediately he noticed the Centerkeep looming high in the sky, it's windows still blazing with a firm warmth. The light barely reached wherever he was, and continued to recede as he realized that he was being dragged by someone.

He nearly moved his head up to look at them only to resist the urge, keeping his face hidden and body as relaxed as possible. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Ruby, her eyes closed and cheeks smudged with dirt.

Without moving noticeably he could see the bone-white mask the black clothed man dragging her wore, along with a bushy tail swishing back and forth. He quickly glanced down as the White Fang warrior dragging him stopped and looked down at him.

After a few seconds of panic inside Jaune's head the man grunted and continued dragging him. A huge roar completely filled Jaune's ears and wind started to whip his hair about, getting him to discreetly steal a glance upwards to see a Bullhead hovering overhead, facing the high walls and tall windows of the Centerkeep.

"What the?!"

Jaune froze, keeping still as the White Fang members scattered around the area turned their attention to the two dragging him and Ruby.

"The Huntress disappeared!"

A frown passed over Jaune before he remember Ruby's semblance, keeping his face neutral and body limp as possible as the White Fang gathered around him as well, their guns raised while a group of them split off and searched the area for Ruby, ignoring the swears and curses of her former captor.

"Keep a eye on this one, there's no telling what his semblance is- urk!" A black blur whistled through the air, catching two of the White Fang members on the chest, taking them to the ground in one hit with Gambol Shroud still in its sheath.

His captor shouted in alarm as Jaune caught another glimpse of a monkey-tail for a instant, belonging to a blonde-haired boy taking out the other gathered White Fang one by one.

Jaune glanced upwards to check if the White Fang warrior was watching before he wrenched his arms forwards, shrugging off his suit jacket and scrambling to his feet, tackling the masked man to the ground.

The boy didn't stick around, instead immediately getting some distance between him and the burly man, catching his breath.

The man got to his feet with a metallic growl behind the mask, stalking towards the boy when Qrow appeared behind him and tapped his shoulder. The man turned around with a snarl, getting a haymaker on the chin in return, knocking him out for the count.

Something tapped on his head, making Jaune turn around and stare at the end of a long red staff with gold trim.

Sun winked with a smile. "Did you miss me?"

Jaune wordlessly stared at him as Sun pulled him to his feet, taking a moment to realise the cold breeze now being felt on his arms.

"My suit jacket! I just paid for that too..." Jaune said, staring at the ragged strips of black fabric still attached to the shoulders of his tuxedo. He frowned at Qrow, only for the man to look away with a dismissive glance, just as the armory house began to rumble and shake in the distance behind the gated walls.

Jaune raised a eyebrow and glanced at Blake, who shrugged as they both stood next to Qrow, watching as the entire roof suddenly ripped upwards in a shower of splinters, from which several burning jets of blue fire spiraled upwards, proppelling several long grey lockers into the night sky.

Ruby clambered back over the wall, landing with a grunt on the other side and running over to them in no time flat, with Crescent Rose now sitting proudly on her shoulder.

She skipped over with a grin, tossing him Crocea Mors and his shield. With a blank frown he caught them. "I pushed a button!"

"How's that going to-"

Some of the armored lockers veered course, spiralling sideways straight into the Bullhead covering the Centerkeep. The giant aircraft bucked and swayed under the concussive impacts, before veering too much and nearly nosediving into the Centerkeep's walls. The pilot managed to right the aircraft, immediately flying upwards to avoid the rest of the lockers as they haphazardly made impact around the entire academy.

Qrow stared at the destruction with a open mouth, glancing at Ruby as she winced with each locker's crash. "Those guys in the Bullhead are going to hurl."

Ruby blinked twice, before turning on a dime to him.

"Uncle Qrow! I went out for a walk because I don't like parties that much, and then I bumped into Jaune who was moping about near that statue he stares longingly at, then we noticed Cardin Winchester and his team doing something weird at the armory..." She trailed off, peering over at the destroyed ruin, still smoldering. "...Which is now... I'm gonna be in so much-"

"Ruby. Focus. What was that about Cardin?"

She shook her head and nodded at Blake. "Right. Sorry. Then that weird skinny guy on his team with the hatchets took us by surprise, and that's when Cardin knocked us both out!" Ruby took a deep breath, before rubbing her head. "Ow. That still stings."

"So, let's go back to the hall and tell that Professor Ozpin guy, or Professor Goodwitch..." Sun stopped speaking with a dopey grin, getting a look from Blake.

"You're completely missing the fact that the White Fang are on the grounds, Monkey-boy." He blinked and glanced at her.

Jaune looked at Qrow. "So what are they doing here? Do you know?"

"The hall's been taken over. By a woman named Cinder, and Roman Torchwick. They're working with one of the White Fang's lieutenants and his men."

"Oh, perfect!" Sun threw up his hands.

Blake's eyes widened, as she stared at the ground. She looked back up at Qrow. "You mean Adam."

Qrow raised a eyebrow and nodded.

"If the hall's taken over, than that means that everyone inside-" Ruby closed her eyes. "Is Yang okay? And Weiss - what about dad?"

"And Pyrrha... My parents too..."

The deep hum of far-off engines stopped him. Everyone looked up, spotting several pairs of winged silhouettes as dark shapes against the night sky, coming over the cliffs overlooking the lake between Vale and Beacon.

"More Bullheads are coming. It won't be long before they land. And we need to get into the Centerkeep before they do." Qrow said, hefting Crow's Eye.

Blake looked to the side, nodding to herself and turning to Ruby. "I'll lead them away so the three of you can get inside the hall."

Ruby shook her head. "No way, we need to stick together on this!"

"If we let those warriors get to the hall, there's no way we can stop them or Cinder and Torchwick." Blake took a step closer to Ruby, glancing at Sun Wukong. "And I have a feeling the White Fang are only here because of me and Sun." Sun opened his mouth to protest when she stopped him with a curt glance. "We'll be fine, Ruby. Go with your uncle."

"But-" Ruby stopped herself with a sharp breath. She sighed and shot forwards, wrapping Blake in a quick hug. "Good luck."

For the barest moment a anxious expression appeared on Blake, and it disappeared just as quickly as she smiled and nodded. "You too, Ruby."

She turned, leaving in the direction of the Academy's inner terraces, leaving Sun Wukong with a annoyed look. He sighed with a shrug, waving goodbye to them before following her. "Really? We're doing this? For real?"

Blake only said one word before they both disappeared into the shadowy trees surrounding the wrecked armory. "Yes."

Ruby watched her disappear into the night with a unsure expression, before

"I met your friend a couple days ago." Qrow stopped and glanced to the side. "In a back alley."

Ruby raised a eyebrow and stopped as well, placing her hands on her hips. "Really? Why? What were you two doing in a back alley?"

Jaune rubbed his elbow, looking around a moment before answering. "This weird woman showed up and then he showed up, and then she used some fire and he used this really huge scythe and-"

"Wait - fire?"

Jaune nodded.

"Fire. Just like that woman from the Dust shop robbery, Ruby."

She glanced at Qrow. "How do you-" Ruby smacked herself in the head at the smirk he answered with. "- Right. You always know."

Qrow nodded. "I always do." He walked forwards, twirling the huge double-bladed scythe on his shoulder as he glanced up at the vaulted roof of the Centerkeep. "But I guess it helps that I have access to Beacon's network of Cam-Eyes."

Jaune chewed his lip, unable to stop staring at the golden eyed woman standing in the center of the checkered black and white floor below, exuding a arrogant and powerful air as she slowly and deliberately walked among the cluster of people kneeling around her.

His gaze settled on Pyrrha first and foremost, before he spotted his parents standing among the crowd, eyes narrowing only for a second before he shook his head and refocused, tightening his hold on Crocea Mors at the same time.

Below the huge doors to the hall opened, and Jaune scowled at the sight of Cardin and his team striding across the hall, with the crowd being parted for them by the White Fang as they stopped in front of Cinder and Torchwick.

Lying flat on the thick black support beam, he glanced over at Ruby.

Ruby tensed, hiding her worry at how quiet it was compared to when she left it only a hour before. She scanned the White Fang Warriors below, in particular noticing one among them who was unarmored, his mask only covering his eyes, leaving a shock of flame-red hair exposed.

Ozpin and Glynda both stood together as they did, with a constant but soft beep coming from his cane. Amid the panicked murmurs of the crowd echoing in the hall, no one but him could hear it.

Her fingers tightened on Crescent Rose's grip, just waiting for the moment to act when next to her Qrow shook his head. "No."

Jaune scowled and looked at him. "But we need to get down there and-"

He glanced at Jaune. "You two stay up here."

Ruby nodded instantly, turning to her uncle. "But-"

He stopped her with a look."Ruby. You father would kill me if something happened to you. Besides I need you two up here and you're faster than me."

"You trained me, you know I'm good in a fight-" She began to hiss.

"I definitely know." Qrow's calm words stopped her cold. She frowned and looked away. "You know by now that being a team leader is about much more than fighting. And right now we aren't prepared for a fight."

"I..." Ruby's words died in her throat as her own thoughts turned from them. She slowly nodded, while Jaune did as well, even with a visible glare. "Okay." Ruby took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. She opened them. "What do you need us to do?"

He gave a little smile before jerking his chin over at the open roof hatch behind them.

"Once I'm gone, I want you two to head back outside and call the police-"

"You can all come down from there now." Cinder's voice floated up to them, with the hints of a chuckle amid a mounting roar. The shadows melted away around them as a firestorm rushed up to greet them amid screams of terror below.

Qrow pushed Ruby and Jaune off the beam and into the open air below, before rolling off himself. Qrow's Eye gleaming blade sliced through the air, leaving a pale red glow behind that deflected most of the flames away from them and up into the ceiling, scorching and cracking the network of thick wooden beams baove.

He slinged Crow's Eye on his back before reaching for Ruby and Jaune, only seconds before they were going to hit the floor. A scream instinctively tore out of Ruby and Jaune before Qrow managed to grab them both. Extending a palm downwards, a small burst of pale reddish energy slowed their fall, flickering as it kept its strength.

Ruby and Jaune both tucked into a roll as the floor rushed up to meet them, quickly popping up and readying their weapons. Jaune brandished Crocea Mors, the silvery blade flashing as he flicked it out of his sheath while it unfolded into a white and gold shield.

Crescent Rose's tip buried into the thick marble floor as Ruby slammed it down, dragging a clip out from her red hood and slotting it into the magazine. She pulled back on the bolt, keeping her finger curled around the trigger as she stared straight at Roman Torchwick and Cinder, standing in the midst of the hostages.

"And look who finally comes out into the light."

Qrow narrowed his eyes as he swept the huge black shaft of Crow's Eye over the White Fang warriors slowly gathering to converge on them, forming a semi-circle line between them and the hostages. A dull crimson glow flared in the open hole boring into his scythe's shaft, and his eyes scanned for targets.

Torchwick moved into view, stopping between them with a tip of his hat. "Hello Jaune. Hello Ruby. Qrow."

"Torchwick!" Jaune hissed, getting a strange glance from Ruby before she refocused.

Torchwick focused on the glowering boy with a grin, ignoring the weapons Ruby and Qrow trained on him. "Well, this day just keeps getting better. How are you, Mr Arc?" He glanced at Pyrrha and the surrounding crowd before sighing. "So, my transcript worked like a charm, didn't it?"

At this, Jaune's mother and father both frowned, before glaring at the criminal from their places in the crowd.

Jaune didn't reply, only making sure the tip of Crocea Mors was pointed right at the smirking criminal's heart.

"Aren't any of you surprised to know how the runt of the Arc family knows a lowly street criminal such as myself?"

In that moment Jaune's eyes left Torchwick, locking with Cardin's as the tall boy and the rest of his team stood behind Cinder.

Cardin immediately looked down at the floor.

"Quiet, Torchwick! We're ending this right now!" Roman raised a eyebrow at Ruby's words.

"Really?"

"Ah, I recognise that red hood anywhere." Cinder's words echoed in the room, silencing Roman and Ruby and getting everyone's attention as she gave a wry smile to Ruby. "Ruby Rose. I've been very interested in what you've been doing since we met on that roof. You were being a very big bully to Roman that night."

Ozpin's hand dropped to his side, brushing near a indistinguishable rectangular slot on the side of his cane. He gave a tiny nod to Glynda. She returned it, gently shaking the sleeve of her dress so that the tip of her wand just barely showed.

Cinder placed a hand on her hip and indicated Carmine and Yang with a smirk. "Aren't you going to say anything, dear?"

Ruby responded by swinging Crescent Rose towards Cinder, aiming the end of the barrel right between her eyes. "I won't miss." she hissed.

Cinder just chuckled and glanced at Jaune, folding her arms. "I'm afraid that won't be a wise decision. And as much as I want to talk to you, I'm infinitely more interested in your aura-using friend here."

Jaune frowned as she begin to lift her hand, taking a step forward and ignoring just how fast his heart was pounding. "If you want me, than you can have me. Just let everyone else go. I won't put up a fight."

"That's remarkable generous of you, handsome. But I'm afraid what I want from you is a demonstration of your skills." Cinder grinned at the look of delicious confusion on the boy. She splayed her palm out wide as she reached towards the ceiling.

The crowd around them began to murmur and whisper at the appearance of little bright sparks in the air of the hall, flickering into life for a brief instant before disappearing in another, over and over, until they all began to throw off a audible low cracking noise.

Ruby gritted her teeth as the White Fang and Adam began to glance around them at the sparks as well, before turning towards Cinder with a growl, pointing his blade at her and advancing. "What are you playing at, witch?!"

Cinder sighed and glanced over her shoulder at the faunus. "Nothing you need to worry about now."

Adam growled as she chuckled. "You've done your part."

She snapped her finger, and the sparks flashed as bright as the sun, just as a equally brilliant green and purple flash emanated from Ozpin's cane and Glynda's wand.

In the midst of shocked screams, of Ruby's gasp, Qrow's swears and Adam's growls as his sword sang through the air at Cinder's neck, Jaune glowed a pure white.