Special Thanks to nytemarezero300 for their magnificent cover art.


Pyrrha and Jaune raced out of Beacon Tower as fast as they could.

They stopped to catch their breath amidst the rubble right outside. An open locker rested to the side on a cracked stone wall.

Pyrrha shook her head as she reeled. How did it all go so wrong? Ozpin had come to get her and Jaune had followed them down to the vault. The headmaster had reluctantly ordered him to watch the door and then asked her one last time if she was willing to take up the maiden's power.

She realized that even with her fears, there was only one thing left she could to do to protect her friends. She would gain the power to help them, and as Mrs. Arc had said, they would fight the darkness together. And they would win.

She had gotten into the pod and Ozpin began the process of transferring Amber's aura to her. It was pain the likes of which she had never felt before. She screamed.

That was her mistake.

Jaune, wonderful, kind, caring Jaune, abandoned his post and immediately ran to her side. His eyes were on her instead of the door.

And then she came through it.

Cinder Fall strutted out of the elevator and fired an arrow into Amber's heart. Pyrrha immediately felt the power abandon her and rush to the murderess. Her eyes glowed with a demonic light and she rose into the air in a burst of flames.

Pyrrha blasted the door of her containment pod at the woman. Cinder batted it aside like it was nothing.

Ozpin thrust out his hand to prevent her from charging. "Take Jaune and get out of here! Find Glynda, Ironwood, Qrow! The tower cannot fall."

"But I can help" she protested, her failure taking root in her mind.

Ozpin gave her a pitying look. "You'll only get in the way."

Pyrrha had come from Mistral, but all of Remnant knew of Professor Ozpin's prowess. He was thought by most to be the most preeminent huntsman in the world. If he didn't think she could help, then she couldn't help.

She had nodded reluctantly and grabbed her partner. Cinder let them pass. She was too focused on the headmaster.

Now here they were. Safe outside the tower while Ozpin battled for his life.

And Pyrrha could do nothing to help.

"Okay, I think I have Glynda's number" Jaune said frantically. He searched through his scroll's contacts as he walked off. "Come on, where is it?"

Pyrrha didn't follow him, her eyes focused solely on the tower.

"Pyrrha?" She turned to Jaune. His eyes were wet with stress. Not that she could blame him. "What was that?"

Pyrrha looked to the ground, unsure if the secrecy she had been trusted with was still to be maintained. "I—"

The sound of an explosion from the tower interrupted her. Both huntsmen in training heard a rush of flames as Cinder rocketed to the top floor.

Which could only mean one thing.

Jaune looked to the ground. "Ozpin…"

Pyrrha shook her head regretfully. There was only one thing to do. "There's no time. Go, get to Vale and call for help."

"Huh? What are you going to do?"

Pyrrha took a step towards the tower. Jaune followed her gaze and his eyes widened.

"No. Pyrrha, you can't. You saw how powerful she is. Pyrrha, I won't let you—"

Pyrrha shut him up with a kiss. Jaune was stunned for a moment, but in the end rested his arms at her waist.

She kept it going longer than she should have. She knew this would hurt him. But she had dreamed about kissing since they first met, and the reality was even better than she had imagined.

Besides, she didn't think she'd get another chance.

Pyrrha broke the kiss, her eyes closed. "I'm sorry."

She used her powers to shove Jaune into the abandoned locker and slammed the door behind him. She programmed the rocket system to take him as far away as it could manage on its compromised fuel. He pleaded with her the entire time.

She blocked it out, and watched him fly away.

Pyrrha took a breath to calm herself. She knew this was a terrible idea. Cinder had the power of the Fall Maiden and had nearly killed the previous wielder without it. With it, she had defeated Ozpin, a huntsman with more experience than she could imagine. Whatever meager talent Pyrrha had would be nothing to her.

And yet, if Pyrrha did nothing, the world itself would be in danger.

Arturia had told her that the burden was her choice.

But there was no choice.

The champion charged into Beacon Tower.

She made her way to the elevator bank, but came up short when she spotted a man standing in front of them. He put away a scroll and turned to face her.

Pyrrha hissed as she recognized him and readied her weapons.

Kirei raised an eyebrow in curiosity, but he didn't assume a combat stance.

"Get out of my way" Pyrrha demanded. She didn't have the time to deal with him too

Surprisingly though, Kirei obeyed her command, stepping aside from the elevator door.

Pyrrha couldn't keep the shock from her face. She approached cautiously.

Kirei chuckled. "If I may, Ms. Nikos, a question before you pass?"

Pyrrha made her way up the steps of the door, never turning her back on the unsettling man. "What is it?"

"You know what she has become?" Kirei asked. The 'she' in question was obvious.

Pyrrha nodded.

Kirei smirked. "And yet you still choose to face her." He began to laugh.

Pyrrha scowled and entered the elevator. Cinder had destroyed the electronics on her way up, but that was an obstacle easily surmounted.

Pyrrha focused her power and took command of the carriage.

Kirei stopped laughing. "Best of luck, Pyrrha Nikos."

She sensed the wish was genuine. That made it even more disturbing.

Pyrrha shot herself upward towards her greatest foe. She did not see the circle of gold that appeared behind Kirei when she left.


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Everything blurred in Ruby's memory.

Arriving on Ironwood's ship.

Fighting Neo and Torchwick.

Knocking Neo off the ship.

Torchwick getting eaten by a Griffon.

Using said Griffon to crash the ship.

Falling back to Beacon.

And then that light. That brilliant light erupted in the east. When Ruby saw it, hope surged through her body.

They would survive this. Everything would be alright.

No one else would die.

She made her way to the ground and rushed to the docks. She saw a familiar white figure standing guard.

"Weiss!"

Her partner turned and smiled. "Ruby!"

The two embraced.

"Thank goodness you're okay" Ruby said. She looked around aimlessly. "Where are Blake and Yang?"

Weiss gripped her shoulder comfortingly. "They're fine. Blake went and got Yang from the infirmary. They both got out on the first bullhead."

Ruby sighed, relived that her sister was safe. But the explanation left a serious question. "Why didn't you go with them?"

Weiss looked at her like she was the thickest idiot on the planet. "Do you really think I would leave you behind, you dolt? Besides, if I did, Yang would kill me the moment she woke up."

Ruby didn't smile at the joke. She gazed around the area.

Ren and Nora were on ground, each nursing wounds that kept them there. Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck were corralling people into shuttles. Sun and Neptune were going around patching people up. And Neptune was doing it for guys.

Beacon was getting more dangerous by the second. Weiss was already a major target for the White Fang. She shouldn't be risking herself for Ruby.

Weiss noticed Ruby's dower mood, but didn't understand the reason behind it. "Ruby" she began hesitantly, "I'm sorry about Penny."

Ruby nodded, keeping the tears from her eyes. She could cry later. There was no time for that now.

"Everyone! Your attention, please!" Port shouted to everyone around. "Everyone must get on the shuttles now!"

"No dawdling" Doctor Oobleck supported him. "This is a mandatory evacuation!"

"Wait" Nora yelled, her voice strained. "Jaune and Pyrrha are still out there!"

She tried to stand, but collapsed the moment she got to her feet. Sun grabbed her to keep her from crashing to the ground. "Easy Nora. You guys aren't in any shape to fight. None of us are. We have to go."

"We're not leaving!" Ren roared. He tried to rise but had no more success than his partner.

"Guys, listen" Sun demanded. "That huge Grimm is still circling the school. Even the White Fang are pulling out. There's nothing more we can do."

Ruby's eyes hardened.

"I'll find them" she declared. "I'll find them and bring them back."

"No, we will" Weiss told her. When Ruby looked ready to protest, the heiress held up a hand. "I'm not leaving you behind."

Ruby paused for a moment.

She couldn't let Weiss get hurt. But could she save Jaune and Pyrrha on her own?

She reluctantly nodded to her partner and the two raced off into the school.


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Jaune collapsed out of the locker and fell to the ground.

He panted heavily, desperately trying not to cry. Tears wouldn't help Pyrrha.

He couldn't be useless.

He ripped his scroll out of his pocket and called the contact he had specially put at the top of the list.

The call went through.

"Jaune?" Weiss' voice rang through the speaker.

"Weiss!" he screeched. "You have to help Pyrrha! She's at the tower! She's going to fight that woman, she doesn't stand a chance!"

"What? Jaune, you're not making any sense. Just tell us where you are and—"

"AAAAHH!" Jaune roared wordlessly, his emotions giving out. He threw his scroll to the ground. He fell onto his hands and knees. "Save Pyrrha. Just save Pyrrha."

Because he couldn't.

He was useless. The weakest idiot who shouldn't even be there. He should have watched the door like Ozpin told him to, but he got distracted and now Ozpin was dead.

Pyrrha and his mom had believed in him. They had trusted him and assured him that he could be a great leader, that he could save people.

But they were wrong. He was pathetic. He couldn't save anyone. Pyrrha had shot him away the first chance she got because he would be a liability in her fight.

And she was right. For all his mom was unstoppable, he was weak. Powerless.

Wait…

Jaune scrambled across the ground and snagged his scroll. He dug through the contacts and nearly jumped for joy when he spotted what he needed. He would run back to the tower to help, but someone else could get there faster.

"Jaune? Is that you? Where are you? Are you safe?"

Jaune smiled. "Mom, Pyrrha's in trouble."


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Cinder sauntered around Ozpin's office.

It felt good, just as it should. No less than she deserved.

Her mistress had told her of the maiden's power and she had had half of it within her for months now, but nothing could have prepared her for having the full force at her command. It was more than mere fire, it was as if the sun itself had taken residence within her and she had become it. All creation revolved around her and feared her wrath.

It was glorious.

The draconic Grimm flew to outside of the office and hovered in front of the window. The beast growled but Cinder had no fear for it to feed on. Why would a god need fear a lowly dragon?

The shushed the monster like it was an impudent child. "This is your home now" she ordered it. She would unleash it upon all of Vale and drive the pathetic, worthless huntsmen from her realm. The beast would guard her new kingdom, and when the time came, it would be her mount in her mistress' final war.

She lit a flame in her hand, unable to contain her excitement. Everything was coming to a head.

A ding from the elevator drew her attention. The doors opened, and a sword came flying out.

Cinder smirked and leisurely dodged the blade. Soon after, a shield followed out with an irate Pyrrha Nikos on its back.

Cinder repelled the assault and watched as the Mistral champion summoned her weapons. She smirked and propelled herself upward on a jet of flame.

She had beaten Amber without her power.

With it, she'd crushed Ozpin.

Pyrrha Nikos was not a threat.

Nonetheless, the Invincible Girl charged.

Cinder was casual about the battle. Time and again, she knocked Pyrrha down. Each time the girl got up and tried some new way to fight her better.

Her sword was destroyed? She put Cinder in a chokehold.

The chokehold was broken by the Dragon Grimm destroying the tower? Use her powers to bury Cinder in rubble.

That didn't work? Throw her shield.

Cinder battered the shield aside and broke the girl's aura with a blast of fire. Pyrrha smashed into the wall and slumped to the ground.

Cinder sighed and turned her back.

Pyrrha's eyes shot open and the girl lunged for her shield. She rolled, picked it up, and threw at Cinder's back.

Hearing the movement, Cinder formed her weapons, notched an arrow in her bow, whirled, and fired. The arrow broke upon Nikos' shield, but then reformed and shot her in the heel. The shield went over Cinder's head.

Cinder shook her head mockingly as Nikos crawled. The young huntress, for there was no other word for her foolish tenacity, was impressive. If Cinder was still a mere mortal, the girl might have actually stood a chance. Sadly for her, Cinder had become more powerful than she could possibly imagine.

She circled around the beaten girl and lifted her chin up. "It's unfortunate that you were promised a power that was never truly yours."

She nocked another arrow into her bow and aimed at Pyrrha's heart. "But take comfort in knowing that I will use it in ways you could never have imagined."

Pyrrha stared back at her. "Do you believe in destiny?"

Cinder narrowed her eyes. What did she—

She sensed the danger before she saw it and leaped to the side. Three long blades flew past her body, destroying her bow as they went.

She whirled on the door and came face to face with her attacker. She snarled.

"Kirei! You dare attack me?" she shouted.

The infernal man had the nerve to smirk at her outrage. Three more Black Keys were drawn in his left hand.

"I don't know what you mean, Cinder" he protested. "I am only doing as I promised."

"What?" Cinder hissed. An aura of flames erupted all around Cinder, forcing Pyrrha to dive away from her and crawl to the wall. Cinder didn't even notice. She only had eyes for one insolent fool. "And what promise would that be?"

Kirei raised an eyebrow. "You requested a warning the next time my plans would inconvenience you. Consider it given."

Six golden portals opened around Cinder's feet. Out of each shot an enormous golden chain, glimmering like a second sun even in the dark of the night. They wrapped around her and dragged her to the ground. The fire around her was extinguished in an instant.

Cinder roared. She called upon the maiden's power, but the chains seemed to hold it back somehow. Her physical strength was just as useless. She was trapped.

"What is this, bastard?" she yelled.

Kirei stalked behind her, blades in hand. "I told you that you would have the Fall Maiden's power. Now, I require the use of it."

Cinder spotted something on horizon. Even restrained, she smirked. "I believe someone will take issue with that.

The dragon circled in sky. With a flap of its mighty wings, it barreled towards the tower, lesser Grimm falling to the ground below.

Cinder couldn't wait for the beast to take Kirei in its jaws and snap him in two. She wondered if the corpse would still have that damn smile. He should have known better that to get in the way of her power.

Suddenly, golden portals like the ones the chains came from appeared above the dragon. A barrage of gleaming swords shot out of them like machine gun fire and impaled the beast a dozen times over.

The creature howled in agony, and then plummeted from the sky.

Nikos' jaw dropped in shock. Cinder would have mocked her for it if she wasn't sure that her own visage was very much the same.

One of the most powerful Grimm that she had ever seen, defeated like some common Nevermore.

Just like herself, she soon realized.

From the moment she brought Kirei into her fold, she knew she was playing a dangerous game with the man. She had just never dreamed she'd lose.

Another golden portal appeared on the tower and shot out another chain to bind Nikos to the remnants of the wall. It did not shine like the ones that held Cinder, but after the beating she took, it was probably all that was necessary.

One final portal appeared. This one was larger than the others, tall enough for a person to fit through. Indeed, a blonde man with red eyes and magnificent golden armor stepped out of it. His gaze was like stone, unmoved by the horror around him as if he just accepted it. His posture was straight and unwavering, demanding the entire world bow before him. His very presence invoked demanded respect and unequaled dread.

He reminded Cinder of Salem.

The man scoffed at the falling dragon.

"A pity to waste my swords on such a disgusting monstrosity" he commented.

"A true shame, my king" Kirei concurred. "If you would?"

The golden man acknowledged him with a look and several portals deposited various staffs in a pentagram around Cinder.

"This had better go faster than last time, Kirei. I refuse to allow this ruin to stain my glorious visage any longer than necessary."

"It shall be done, my king" Kirei assured him. "Last time took some experimentation, but I believe that the ritual should proceed quite rapidly now."

Cinder's eyes narrowed. "What are you—"

Whatever she was about to say disappeared in an unholy scream.

Kirei had stabbed her in the back with all three Black Keys and begun chanting in a language she did not recognize. She didn't know why her aura didn't stop it, but her body blazed with agony. Her entire vision vanished in a storm of blinding flames.

For the first time she could remember, Cinder Fall burned.


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Pyrrha didn't know if she should be grateful for the startling turn of events or not.

On one hand, she was fairly certain Cinder had been about to kill her, and Kirei and the strange golden man's arrival had prevented that. Plus, the flying Grimm that had threatening the school was dead.

On the other, she was now chained to a slab of stone she was sure used to be a wall and watching as the two tortured Cinder in some archaic ritual. Orange light glowed out of the vile woman's eyes and mouth, with no sound rising because her throat had already been incinerated.

Pyrrha pitied her would be murderer. No one deserved… whatever this was.

Kirei closed his eyes and began chanting in some strange language. The light from Cinder shot into one of the staffs that encircled them.

"It's disgusting, is it not?"

Pyrrha turned her to the golden man, unsure if he had spoken to her. She didn't know if she wanted him to.

But sure enough, he tilted his head toward her. "To think I would need to use the Chain of Heaven to bind such a vulgar mongrel. She isn't even worthy gaze upon on its shadow."

Pyrrha flinched at the bile in the man's voice. "I suppose not" she spoke carefully, "but with her power, what else could restrain her?" Truthfully, she had no idea how the chain was restraining Cinder, but seeing how it had appeared out of thin air, she was going to guess magic.

The man closed his eyes and gave a disgruntled sigh. When he opened them again there was a dangerous glint in them. He faced Pyrrha fully.

"Mongrel, do you know in whose presence you stand?"

'Not at all'.

Pyrrha doubted things would end well if she said that. "I am sorry to say I do not, your majesty. Please forgive my insolence."

The man smirked contently. "Well at least you admit your folly. Alas, it seems that my legend has still not yet spread since my arrival in this world."

'He still didn't introduce himself. And what does he mean this world?'

"You subdued Cinder" Pyrrha pointed out. "With your defeat of this vile villain, word of your heroism will surely spread, your grace."

Gods, it felt weird to talk like that. Maybe Remnant really got rid of their kings because the titles were just too annoying.

The light cascading from Cinder expanded its reach to another staff.

The blonde man raised an eyebrow at Pyrrha. "Is that why you challenged this one, mongrel? For the glory victory would bring you?"

"NO!" Pyrrha responded more quickly and fiercely than she should have. The king's eyes flared with dangerous fire. Pyrrha immediately pulled herself back, bowing her head as much as she could given her restraints. "I did not seek glory, your grace. If anything, I would rather have none of that."

"Then why do it?"

"Because it needed to be done." Pyrrha declared without doubt. "And I was the only one who could do it."

"If I had not intervened, she would have killed you."

"I still needed to try."

She wouldn't have been able to live with herself if she didn't.

The king studied her for a moment, trying to detect any hint of deceit. After finding none, he threw back his head and laughed. It was an unsettling sound, yet also somehow pleasant. Once again, Pyrrha didn't know what to think.

The man settled down and wiped a tear from his eye. "You are quite foolish, mongrel. But your foolishness is that of a conqueror." He smiled, this one far kinder than before. He looked to Kirei and Cinder. "Ever since I arrived in this world, I cannot decide whether that brand's commonality is something to be praised for its worthiness, or bemoaned for its loss of rarity."

Suddenly, Ruby shot up into the sky and came down on the tower. Her silver eyes widened at the sight of Kirei's ritual. Another two staffs were connected.

"Ru—"

"You!" the king roared. Pyrrha swung her head back at him. His smile was gone, his teeth now barred like fangs. His eyes raged with crimson fury.

Ruby turned to look at them. The blonde man wilted under her silver gaze, but he quickly recovered. Pyrrha wondered what that was about.

"Pyrrha!" Ruby shouted, drawing Crescent Rose. She dashed towards her friend, her scythe reaching out to cut Pyrrha's chains.

A dozen golden portals appeared behind the king and fired a volley of swords at the red hooded girl. Ruby dodged and weaved as best she could, managing to make it to Pyrrha.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"No" Pyrrha told her. Even with her restraints broken, Cinder's final arrow had cut a crucial tendon. "Ruby, I can't walk."

Her silver eyes hardened. "Then I'll carry you."

The slight girl wrapped her free arm around Pyrrha and jetted away with her semblance. They were almost away when an explosion went off right next to them. Both girls tumbled to the edge of the tower.

Pyrrha struggled to her knees. Her aura still wasn't coming back. She was powerless.

Ruby stood up and drew Crescent Rose. "Stay back!" she yelled.

The king narrowed his eyes. A dozen more portals opened behind him. Each one slowly produced a weapon aimed at Ruby.

"I don't know how you switched yourself with another of your damned clones, thief," the golden man snarled. "But your execution shall not be stayed any further. Your judgement is at hand!"

The weapons fired.

A blast of air struck Pyrrha and Ruby from behind. Both girls were driven to the ground. Pyrrha heard the distinctive clang of steel on steel. She looked around to see the golden man's blades strewn across the tower roof.

"Arturia!" Ruby shouted with glee.

Pyrrha smiled, her joy the same as her friend's. The Arc matriarch stood before them, one arm held out protectively in front of Ruby. The other held the woman's sword, a brilliant blade with a gleaming golden cross guard. Pyrrha wasn't a weapon nut like Ruby, but that sword might have been the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

However, she noticed Arturia's arm shake ever so slightly.

"Ruby, Pyrrha, stay behind me" she commanded, a hint of fear in her voice.

The golden man smirked. "It is improper to ignore the presence of your sovereign, Saber. Has your time in this world truly decimated your manners so? It has only been thirty years."

"Gilgamesh" Arturia hissed. Pyrrha didn't think she'd ever heard such vitriol. "How are you here? The grail, the mud, it should have destroyed you."

"Destroyed me? All the world's evils?" the king, Gilgamesh, took on a haughty look. "Bah! It would have needed three times as much just to scratch me. Even taking all of its focus off you didn't help. Which is quite fortunate, really. To think how it would have stained you, Saber. I would never allow such a thing to corrupt my treasure."

Pyrrha noted Arturia's grip on her sword tightening. She stepped directly in front of Ruby and held both hands on her blade. She glanced at Kirei. "Why are you here? I would think such machinations beneath you, King of Heroes."

King of what? Pyrrha had known the man for two minutes and even she could tell he was no hero.

Gilgamesh frowned. "Normally you would be correct. But one of my greatest treasures has been stolen from me. For over a decade and a half, it has had to languish in the possession of the unworthy. I will find it. In fact…"

He glared at Ruby. "I was just going to pass judgement on one of the thieves when you arrived."

That was impossible. Ruby was only fifteen years old. If this treasure had been missing that long there was no way she could have taken it, even if she was the kind of person who would. Which Pyrrha knew she wasn't.

"I'm not a thief!" Ruby shouted, peeking out from behind Arturia's back. "And I didn't do anything to your treasure, whatever that is."

"Silence mongrel!" Gilgamesh yelled. "You are not fit to breath this world's air, let alone speak with it."

The light of the ritual passed to the fifth staff. Kirei opened his eyes, pausing in his chant for a moment. "My king, there seems to have been some confusion. That is not the thief, it is her daughter Ruby. Summer Rose died where you killed her."

He returned to his work, but the damage had been done.

"What?" Ruby whispered, her eyes wide in shock. Pyrrha watched as her gaze locked on to Gilgamesh and just seemed to…stop.

The golden man paid it no heed. He gave Ruby a second glance and sneered. "So it would seem. How fortuitous for her."

The light of the ritual passed through the final staff and jumped back into Cinder. It magnified a thousand-fold. Pyrrha had to cover her eyes to hide from the glare.

Kirei's chanting became louder.

"You didn't answer my question!" Arturia screamed holding her sword before the light. "Why are you here? Why did all these people need to die?"

"Because I now have a wish that needs granting" Gilgamesh replied simply, unfazed by Cinder's harsh glow. "And these maidens are one of the few things in this world with the magic to begin it again."

"I call upon the elements, silver and iron, and the work of foundation of the great master Schweinorg!" Kirei shouted. "I bind the Throne and contract the greatest of servants!"

The light died down all of a sudden and it seemed to all be over.

But Pyrrha saw that Cinder's eyes still glowed.

A portal opened and a chain bound Gilgamesh's feet to the floor.

"I invoke thee, Heaven's Feel!"

Cinder's entire body lit up like a firework and a wave of force blasted Pyrrha, Ruby, and Arturia off the tower.


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Arturia's mind reeled as she tumbled through the air.

When she had received Jaune's frantic call, she had cursed Merlin's foolishness. She had thought that her old mentor had put her son's partner in the crosshairs of a madwoman and rushed off to Beacon Tower, Qrow desperately following behind. Given she had been going full speed, rapid prana bursts included, it was incredible he managed to keep up for as long as he did.

Which was only six and a half seconds but still very impressive.

She'd found Weiss at the base of the tower, who informed her of Ruby's ascent. Knowing the girl would need assistance, she spent even more of her power to jet to the top of the tower. Fortunately, she was just in time to save Ruby and Pyrrha, but not from who she had anticipated.

The King of Heroes was as arrogant and heartless as she remembered. To think he would use the Gate of Babylon on children!

Nonetheless, having been drained by Excalibur and her many prana bursts, Arturia had been hesitant about entering combat. Gilgamesh was a near unstoppable foe at the best of times. Weakened as she was, she would stand no chance.

Kotomine's spell prevented that from being necessary, but it put them in no less danger.

Especially if he had done what she thought he had.

Arturia took stock of the situation in an instant. She, Pyrrha, and Ruby were falling through the sky. While she was confident that she could survive the impact, neither of the girls had the aura remaining to do so, if they ever had to begin with. The two had been blown farther apart than she could reach at once.

She only had enough prana remaining for one more burst.

She had two options. Use the prana burst to reach the tower and then jump off it to grab one of them. It would leave her a slim chance of then maneuvering in the air to save the other one, but she could definitely protect the one she initially got a hold off.

Or she could use that burst to blast herself into the open air, trying to grab both as she soared. It would leave both girls' chances of survival up in the air, but it would give her a better shot at getting both of them than the first option.

Arturia knew which one she would do. Both Ruby and Pyrrha were fine young woman, huntresses and heroes to be. They were both kind, and loving, and caring.

They both meant a great deal to Jaune, his first friend and his partner.

Arturia would save them both. She had to. For Jaune.

She was his mother.

At least, until she saw a flash of red on the back of Ruby's hand.

Then, the situation changed, and the mantle Arturia had reclaimed mere minutes ago came crashing down upon her.

She was the King of Knights.

She had to serve the good of all.

And the fact was, for the good of all, Ruby Rose could not die.

"Prana Burst!"

Arturia flew towards the tower, flipping herself in mid-air to plant her feet on the structure. She bended them tightly and shot off like a spring at Ruby. She caught the red hooded girl and draped her over her shoulders. Then, she dived for Pyrrha.

Arturia plummeted faster than the champion, Ruby's extra weight increasing gravity's hold on her. She reached out her hand. It mere inches from Pyrrha's.

The King of Knights smiled. She could do it! She could save them both! She saw her son's relief as he cried tears of joy into her arms upon the sight of his friends.

And then she saw him in the courtyard. Along with Weiss. And Qrow.

And the ground.

Arturia threw Ruby above her at the last second, breaking the silver-eyed girl's fall just as her armor and remaining prana broke hers.

But there was nothing to break Pyrrha's.

Jaune's wails of grief broke the night sky as easily as the shattered moon.

Arturia wept. Once again, she had done what she'd had to do. With Gilgamesh in the fray, the marks on Ruby's hand made her too valuable to lose.

But Pyrrha Nikos was dead, and if Arturia could give the poor girl nothing else, then she would grant her tears.

Tears of a king who could never save anyone.


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Kirei grinned at Cinder's burnt out husk. He glanced down at his right arm. Three crimson markings had joined the eight he had left over from the Fourth War.

"Well, I would say that was a spectacular success" he observed.

"It had better be" Gilgamesh remarked. The chain that had held him down to the tower during the release of power dissolved into golden particles. "I will not have sacrificed six treasures for nothing."

Indeed, the staffs Kirei had used to compound the magical energy had been torched to a crisp. He could sense that their mystical forms were as ravaged as their physical ones. They were now as useless to a mage as any other lump of wood.

The Chains of Heaven of course, were completely unblemished. That which was powerful enough to contain a god could not be damaged by mere magecraft, even of this high level. A portal to the Gate of Babylon promptly swallowed the treasure back into its holds. Another took in Cinder's remains.

"Are sure you that the girl's husk will serve as an adequate vessel when the time comes, Kirei."

"It should, my liege. Previous events have given us no reason to doubt so."

Gilgamesh smiled. "Wonderful."

The King of Heroes walked over to the edge of the tower and peered at the courtyard below. A agonized scream of loss echoed up to the tower roof.

It made Kirei's heart sing.

"Should we go, my liege?"

"Not yet" Gilgamesh informed him. "I have business with Saber that has too long been postponed."

A portal materialized in front of him. "Coming, Kirei?"

Kirei gave his new Command Seals another loving gaze.

He smirked.

"And so begins the Sixth Holy Grail War."


RWBYRWBYRWBYRWBYFATEFATEFATEFATE

Ruby awoke to the sound of crying.

"Easy kiddo" Uncle Qrow whispered. "I got you."

Her uncle kneeled over her, his face unusually open with concern. And fear.

Ruby knew then that something was very wrong. She couldn't remember the last time she saw Uncle Qrow afraid.

Her eyes followed the weeping to its source and there she saw something much worse.

Pyrrha, her head split open like a watermelon, lying on the ground in a crumpled heap. Her body… her corpse seemed like an insult to a girl who had always been so full of life.

Jaune kneeled next to her, cradling his partner's fallen form as he wailed tears of agony. Weiss stood nearby, her body frozen and her eyes wide, uncomprehending of the horror in front of her.

Arturia crawled over to Jaune, taking her son in her arms and holding him to her chest as he cried

It took Ruby a moment to realize what she was seeing meant. She and Pyrrha had both fallen off the tower. The only one who could have saved them was Arturia, which meant…

'No. No, no one else was supposed to…'

But they did. Arturia chose to save her.

Pyrrha was dead because she was alive.

Her friend was dead because of her.

Jaune was crying because of her.

Arturia noticed something on Jaune's right hand and lifted it to her face. Her eyes went wide.

A golden portal opened at the base of the tower. Kirei and that mean Gilgamesh guy walked out.

They looked at the scene before them and smiled.

"Saber, I believe we have some business to conclude from our last encounter" Gilgamesh announced. "By my decree, you are to be my wife." Dozens of portals appeared behind the golden man. "Rest assured, this time there will be no interruptions."

'No.'

"Mom, what's going on?" Jaune whimpered.

Arturia rose to her feet, her wobbling body shielding her son from Gilgamesh's sight.

Nonetheless, the man's red eyes flared at Jaune's words. The number of golden portals tripled, each slowly releasing a weapon that Ruby would normally be drooling over.

"It seems that you have betrayed me, my adorable King of Knights" he spat. "No matter. The bastard shall be cleansed and then you shall beg my forgiveness."

"Jaune, run!"

'No.'

Weiss raised Myrtenaster. "You're not cleansing anyone."

"Kirei."

In a flash, Kirei appeared before Weiss. He pulled back his fist, his arm glowing with blue lines.

Weiss' eyes widened.

Qrow appeared in front of her, taking the punch on his sword. Unfortunately, the force of Kirei's assault still sent him hurtling back, knocking both him and Weiss to the ground.

Kirei smiled.

"NO!" Ruby roared, her vision going white.

Arturia dove back to Jaune.

"What is this?" Gilgamesh yelled.

"By the power of my Command Seal…"

Then, Ruby saw nothing.


So... that happened.

This where I would like to point out that my Chapter 5 Author's Note never said Pyrrha wouldn't die. Just that she wouldn't die the same way.

Will I eventually write a story where Pyrrha survives the tower? Maybe, but that's a Fairy Tail crossover. This is FATE! Everybody Dies!

Anyways, the big stuff.

The Sixth Holy Grail War, the thing that a great deal (but not all) of my vague foreshadowing has been leading up to. This is the primary thing that was causing me to debate splitting this into two stories, with this being the buildup and the second story being the war.

Also, just reminding y'all before its asked, no. Fate Stay/Night never happened in this timeline.

Poll on whether to split the story will remain up until the next chapter comes out, whenever that is.

Hope you all enjoyed this and as always please leave your thoughts and reaction in a review (or PM, if you want to enter a more in depth discussion).