War is hell. Power had corrupted the light, and the loss of power has driven the darkness to desperate measures. Once upon a time, both sides kept each other in check, but now the light goes unchecked. The darkness, rallied by the people is kept in check by the people. One the first war had ended, the base the Noctus inhabited was abandoned. The only thing left was an inscription on the walls. A question, that the light could not answer. One that some refused to answer.

The question? - ¿Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

"You have no idea what will happen if you don't stand down."

Mercury ignored Ironwood's threat, "I don't care. All you're fighting for is a world where you point a gun to everyone's head and call it 'protection.'"

Ironwood twitched, Qrow had basically said the same thing.

"Better than letting everyone roam free without supervision." Ironwood countered.

"How so?" Bullets dodged.

"Criminals in the streets! Chaos and destruction everywhere!"

Mercury rolled his eyes, "And your 'peace through tyranny' isn't chaotic at all" he retorted after having his flying kick dodged.

"Better than yours!" Punch dodged.

If there was one part of the plan that Ruby didn't like, it was the fact that she had to help Neo break Roman out of his cell. CRDL had been assigned to mountain Glenn, and by some stroke of luck, they actually managed to capture him.

Then again, it was part of the plan.

Eh, whatever.

"Hey! Let us out! You have no idea what's going to happen if you let Torchwick out!"

Neo and Ruby ignored the pleas of the former crew. The two of them wished that they could shut them up, but the plan required that any bloodspill would be on hold until the signal.

"Cell fifty five, cell fifty six, ah! Here we go." Ruby walked up to the cell doors and used the security card she had obtained earlier to open it.

"Well, it's about time."

Pyrrha couldn't concentrate. The number of blades kept fluctuating between several dozen blades and four blades throughout the fight. "What the hell is going on?"

She dodged another set of blades coming right at her.

She saw a large barrage of blades aiming at her. Penny swung her arm and her opponent kept jumping and weaving to evade the oncoming weapons.

Pyrrha saw a massive barrage of blades aiming right at her. She raised her hands and activated her semblance, 'So much for keeping that a secret…'

The illusion dropped, and Pyrrha's eyes widened. She tried to retract the blades before the wires hit Penny and-

SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

She was too late. The wires had sliced off Penny's limbs.

"What the hell?"

"An android?"

"Why the hell would Atlas build an android that looks like a human being?"

These questions fell on Pyrrha's deaf ears. "I… I just killed…"

"Pyrrha! We have incoming!"

Pyrrha turned her head towards Jaune, he was running towards her. She looked up, and saw a nevermore pecking at the barrier.

"What a shame…"

"What in the world?"

Mercury smirked, "Looks like you and your precious robot lost."

Ironwood scowled at the gray-haired fighter in front of him, "Like you?"

"Tch, I haven't lost yet. You on the other hand, have." Mercury sneered back.

"Oh, and what of your friend?" Ironwood responded with confidence as he saw Rockman's figure heading towards him.

It dropped, and Yang's figure was standing.

"Interesting move you pulled." The spectre noted, "Giving this thing an aura was a smart move, and it would've worked against a lot of different opponents. Unfortunately," She cocked Ember Celica, "Hellfire burns aura."

Both Yang and Mercury's hand shot towards their ears. Mercury paused for a moment before scowling along with Yang, "It's your lucky day Flimsy Wood. You don't die today." He threw down a smoke pellet to disappear with Yang.

"It's Ironwood, you terrorists!"

The barrier shattered and the Nevermore broke through.

"Everyone who can't fight head to the ships! If you are unable or unwilling to fight, get out of here! Those who can fight, FIGHT!"

JNPR took out their scrolls and dialed a number.

The capsules imbedded themselves into the back of the Nevermore, and revealed their power suits. Pyrrha equipped the M.E.T.A while Jaune got into his capsule and equipped his exo-suit that allowed him to channel his aura into concussive bolts of energy.

The Science heads had taken it to calling it the Strafe Suit.

Ren's armor had the affectionate name of Lamun suit.

Nora, got into her capsule, and pressed a button and a motorcycle launched out of the capsule. She righted herself on and flipped a switch. The vehicle's parts started to shift until it became a suit of armor that Nora had dubbed The Axil.

"Alright, team JNPR," Jaune announced, "let's stop Noctus… From doing what they're… Doing…"

"That wasn't a very good quip." Nora interjected.

"We don't have time for this," Pyrrha snorted, "Let's go!"

Chaos was raining down upon the city. Atlas robots swarming in.

"C'mon, BRCK! We have a job to do!"

"Hell Yeah!"

"Sorry boys," Coco walked in the way of their path with her team, "But we can't let you pass."

Disyerto frowned, "What the hell are you doing? You're defending the Noctus and White Fang?"

"You got that right, buddy." Coco smirked, "Now then," All of the weapons became active, "Let's see if you can keep up with this!"

"And this guy makes four!"

Team SSSN had just dispatched the fourth group of Atlas robots, and were heading towards the Noctis airships. They were on the way to stop the Lucidem's forces. Civilians got a free pass, anyone who was fighting the White Fang, or other Noctis, were fair game.

"Sun! We have incoming!"

Sun turned to where Neptune was pointing.

"Great…"

A Heavy Zepol mech.

"Well," They all activated their weapons, "Let's see what they're made of…"

"Alright ladies, let's take down the light. Let's see if The Lucidum are really as strong as they say they are-"

"Team RWBY?"

The four girls turned to see Team JNPR, outfitted in power armor, blocking the entrance to Ozpin's office.

"What are you doing conspiring with those terrorists?" Pyrrha asked, flabbergasted.

"The Noctis?" Ruby asked, "Your guys are the malevolent dictators!"

"No, they're trying to keep the peace!" Nora responded.

"Peace through tyranny!" Weiss retaliated, readying her weapons. 'I lost my sister to those damn bastards. Why are you defending them?'

"Tch, clearly you aren't thinking straight. But don't worry, we can help you." Ren said.

"Don't play peacekeeper with us Lie! Your side's done things. Things that history would call an atrocity if historians knew what really happened!" Yang growled, "Like that damn butchered excuse of a story that those myths made about what happened to the Tartarus!"

"Yang… You aren't making any sense." Pyrrha said, blinking away tears. 'We were such close friends. Was it all a lie?'

Blake snarled, "What about the faunus? The police attack them on a daily basis, and nobody does anything!"

"Society is working on fixing that! We can achieve peace! Just stand down, and we can fix-"

"Shut it Arc! I'd need a team of experts to count the number of people they threw under the bus!" Yang snarled.

"Well, it looks like you guys just won't listen to reason," Pyrrha readied her weapons, "So it looks like if you want to get to professor Ozpin, you're going to have to get through us!"

"Very well." Weiss responded.

"Looks like we have no choice," Yang readied her weapons.

"Shame," Ruby solemnly said, "Out of all the teams not on our side," She readied her weapon, "I hated you guys the least."

"What are you even looking for?" Jensen asked.

"I'm looking for my sister, and maybe my team leader-"

"HIYA!" a sword nearly sliced off Qrow's leg as he jumped back several feet.

"Raven…"

"… Qrow." She finally replied.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you on their side?" He asked.

"Those heroes," She spat, "Are nothing more than a bunch of liars and corrupt people. They stabbed who-knows how many people in the back! What I can't believe is that you'd actually side with them."

"They help people, Raven. I don't understand what you're talking about." He replied.

"Tch, should've figured you wouldn't understand." The ravenette simply said.

"Jensen, run. This is probably going to get ugly." Qrow said under his breath.

Raven nodded, "At least you have enough sense to keep innocents out of this."

"Raven, I have to ask one more question."

Raven raised an eyebrow, "What is it, brother?"

Qrow allowed himself to smile a bit at the fact that Raven still recognized him as family, "Why are you here? Why is everyone fighting?"

"That was two questions." Raven deadpanned. "But I'll answer the first one with my own: Why are you here?"

Qrow had to pause for a moment, "Because I believe in my side."

"Tch, and who makes sure your side won't go too far?"

"I guess we'll just have to find out."

Well, chapter 20 is now complete. Up next: RWBY vs. JNPR, and Qrow vs. Raven. Who knows? Maybe Summer will make an appearance.

Stay tuned.

RWBY and all associated characters belong to their respective owners.