According to the last chapter, I last updated around the Game of Thrones premiere. So this chapter should come out around the finale, right? :P Sorry about the wait, got distracted by important things. Like school. And Fire Emblem Fates. And Game of Thrones.

Also this chapter is pretty short, but I'm expecting the next one to be much longer.

He was just imagining things. He had to be, right? There was no way that Raven Branwen would ever sit near him like that – much less hold his hand and close her eyes and lean on his should and

Taiyang swallowed, wishing that Raven didn't feel his heart racing underneath her touch. He had liked her ever since he met her in the Emerald Forest, accompanied by their respective partners. And yet, she had never returned his feelings.

Until now.

Was it because of Yang? It had to be, right? Taiyang smiled, thinking back to his future daughter. She was the link between him and Raven, evidence that they must have a relationship in the future. Maybe he and Raven got married. His mind wandered as he stared down at her, picturing the girl before him in a white dress.

Of course, Raven would wear black or red. There was no way that she would wear something so bright.

Raven suddenly shifted her eyes up, locking onto Taiyang's own. Taiyang grinned down at her. "Something wrong?"

She pushed herself off him, adjusting her collar. "N-nothing," she coughed, averting his gaze.

His grin grew wider as the lights dimmed.

Ozpin stands at the edge of a cliff, over-looking the Emerald Forest with his cane in one hand and a scroll in the other. Glynda walks up to him from behind, examining her own scroll. "Our last pair has been formed, sir," she says, standing beside him and showing him the screen. She presses the scroll, bringing up footage of Nora and Ren. "Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren." She frowns. "Poor boy. I can't possibly imagine those two getting along."

"Wow, Glynda, way to judge," Qrow remarked.

The teacher in questioned sighed. "I wouldn't have known that –" she paused, processing Qrow's comment. Glynda turned slowly, tilting her head and glaring at the student with her mouth agape. "Did you just call me Glynda?"

"Still, he's probably better off than Ms Nikos," Glynda continues, pressing her scroll again. Ozpin hums in agreement, glancing at the screen. "I don't care what his transcripts say, that Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat."

Taiyang had to agree. He liked the kid – a lot, actually – but he wasn't built to be a huntsman. He was too clumsy, too weak. It must have been a miracle for him to enter Beacon.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," she says, walking back. "At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes. Speaking of which – what did you use as relics this year?"

Ozpin remains silent.

"Professor Ozpin?"

He furrows his brow, humming once more. The footage on his scroll shows Weiss and Ruby in the Emerald Forest, Ruby cross-legged on the forest floor and Weiss pacing behind her. "It's definitely this way," Weiss calls, her voice distorted by the camera.

"Why are you so interested in those two?" Summer asked, frowning.

Ozpin didn't say a word, much like his onscreen counterpart. Taiyang studied him. The more they watched, it seemed like the more questions they had, especially concerning Ozpin himself.

The scene cuts to Ruby and Weiss in the forest, Ruby glaring at the grass. "I mean, this way!" Weiss declares, walking past Ruby once again. "It's definitely this way."

"Jeez, she's worse at directions than Tai," Qrow said.

"And Summer," Raven added.

Taiyang and Summer glanced at each other, shocked. "Well, excuse us for not being birds that can fly anywhere we want!" he snapped, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, bird… brains!" Summer yelled. She held out her palm. Taiyang slapped it, smirking victoriously.

"That was a good one," he muttered.

"Thank you."

Weiss stops near Ruby, who stands up. "Alright, it's official – we've passed it."

"Why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?" Ruby asks.

"Because I know exactly where we're going," Weiss snaps. The younger girl folds her arms, scowling. "We're going to… the Forest Temple!"

"I thought they were going to the Water Temple," Taiyang joked.

Ruby groans.

"Oh, stop it! You don't know where we are either!"

Summer sighed. "Are they fighting again?"

"Yep," Qrow answered, popping the 'p'. Summer leaned her head on her hands, groaning.

Ruby turns to Weiss. "Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything!"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're a big stupid jerk and I hate you!" Ruby shouts, stomping her foot and jabbing a finger at her partner.

"That sure showed Weiss," Raven quipped sarcastically. "No doubt that insult will scar her for life."

Weiss rolled her eyes, groaning. "Just keep moving." She stormed away from Ruby.

"Just keeping moving, hurry up, watch where you're going – why are you so bossy?" Ruby demands, placing her hands on her hips angrily.

"It's cause she's a Schnee," Qrow answered. "Damn the Schnees."

Taiyang rolled his eyes. It looked like his partner would never let the incident go.

"I'm not bossy!" Weiss protests, marching towards her partner. "Don't say things like that!"

"Stop treating me like a kid!"

"Stop acting like a kid!"

"Well stop acting like you're perfect!"

"I'm not perfect!" Weiss shouts, narrowing her eyes.

"Well, she's taking a step forward," Taiyang pointed out, smiling uncertainly.

"Not yet," she adds. "But I'm still leagues better than you." Weiss struts away from Ruby.

"And she took five steps back," he finished.

"You don't even know me," Ruby mumbles, watching her partner with unhappy eyes.

The scene cuts to Yang and Blake, overlooking ruins in the forest. Small objects are placed on stone pillars, too far away to make out properly.

Yang nods at the ruins. "Think this is it?" she asks. Blake gives her a blank stare before walking down to the relics, the blonde joining her.

Taiyang grinned at the sight of Yang. Everything about her was perfect. His perfect little dragon.

He couldn't wait to raise her with Raven.

As the pair reach closer to the ruins, the relics become more distinct and easier to see. Black and golden chess pieces lie on top of the pillars.

"Chess pieces?" Blake asks, examining a black bishop.

"Some of them are missing," Yang points out. "Looks like we weren't the first ones here."

"Well, I guess we should pick one."

The scene changes once more, to Pyrrha and Jaune standing together in front of a dark cave. Carvings on the rock depict a large scorpion being attacking by smaller stick-figures. "…Think this it it?" Jaune asks.

"Oh no," Raven groaned. "Please, look at the sign."

The pair walk through the cave, Jaune holding up a torch. "I'm not sure this is it," Pyrrha says.

Jaune sighs. "Pyrrha, I made the torch," he gestures at the item in question, "could you at least humour me for maybe five more feet?" He trips on the floor, the fire extinguishing when it reaches a puddle of water. Jaune grunts in pain, standing upright.

"Well, they're dead," Qrow commented.

"Do you have to say it like that, man?" Taiyang said, wincing.

Two pairs of eyes remain in the darkness.

"Do you feel that?" Pyrrha asks, glancing around them.

"Soul-crushing regret?"

"No, it's… warm."

The scene cuts back to Yang, who stares at a golden knight on the pillar. She picks it up, turning to Blake. "How about a cute little pony?"

Blake rolls her eyes. "Sure." She smiles.

The pair met each other in the middle on the ruins. "That wasn't too hard," Yang says.

Taiyang snorted. Yang seemed to have it easy compared to his other daughter.

"Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find."

"Blake, you would not even believe," Summer said.

Jaune and Pyrrha walk through the dark cave, searching for the exit. A glowing yellow light hangs in front on them, halting them in their tracks.

"That's the relic!" Jaune announces with excitement. He slowly reaches for the 'relic', which flinches back.

"That's not the relic," Taiyang cringed.

"Hey! Bad… relic," Jaune jumped onto the glowing object. "Gotcha!"

"Jaune… " Pyrrha began.

Bright orange eyes and markings lit up in front of Jaune.

The scene cuts back to the ruins, as Jaune's scream echoes throughout the forest.

"Some girl's in trouble!" Yang cried out.

Team STRQ howled with laughter, Taiyang himself falling off his chair.

"Not quite, honey," he said, wiping tears from his eye.

"Blake, did you hear that?"

Pyrrha sprints out of the cave as Jaune continues to scream. The Deathstalker follows a moment later, breaking apart the rocks in the entrance. Jaune hangs on for dear life, gripping its sting.

"Pyrrha, it's not the relic, it's not!" he cries out. "Do something!"

"Jaune, whatever you do, don't let-"

The Grimm flings Jaune off into the distance. Jaune screams in terror.

"…Go," Pyrrha finishes, turning back to the Deathstalker. She smiles, scratching the back of her neck before bolting away.

Blake stares up at the sky, mouth open. "Blake, did you hear that?" Yang repeats. "What should we do?"

"HEADS UUUUUP!" Ruby screams, falling from the sky.

"WHAT?" Taiyang yelled. "What's happening?" He shot up from his seat, eyes darting between the others in the room as if one of them had an explanation. To his dismay, everyone else seemed to be staring at the screen with wide eyes and gaping mouths. It would have been comical had Taiyang not been utterly at loss for words himself.

The screen cuts to black.

"That can't be it!" Summer exclaimed, being the first to speak up after Taiyang.

Qrow lowered himself, lifting his hands up and scrunching his face. "C'mon, what happens next? Don't leave us hanging!"

"They just – that was a cliff-hanger!" Taiyang whined, falling to his knees. Salty drops fell onto the floor below him.

"You do realize that we'll see what happens next in about five minutes, right?" Raven pointed out. Taiyang turned his head to be met by her irritated, albeit slightly amused, gaze. He jumped up onto his feet, leaning closer to her with his arm leaning over her backrest.

"Hey, don't cramp my style," Taiyang whispered, grinning. "I gotta bring the comedy somehow."

"Really? You bring the comedy?" Raven raised her brow. "Could you bring it here then?"

"Come on, you thought that was a little funny, right?"

Her lips twisted into a half-smile before fading behind a straight face once more. Taiyang flashed his teeth before pecking her cheek with a quick kiss, then dashing straight for his own seat. To his surprise, she didn't hit him after. He glanced at her. Her cheeks flushed as she looked straight ahead, face blank.

Taiyang bit back his own smile before staring straight ahead too, ignoring the eyes of every other person in the room. Little by little, he was winning over Raven Branwen.

Nothing could make him happier.

NEVERMOREBOWL HYPE! WHAT IS HYPE MAY NEVER DIE!

So, for those who watched Game of Thrones this season, what did you think of it? Personally, I thought it was the best season so far. That Bastardbowl tho. Also, Yara/Dany. The ship I never expected to sail.