Ruby's grip on Master Defender grew tight, eyes narrowing as she waited for the attack. Suddenly, her instincts screamed at her and she threw the Keyblade up to block the attack as a blur burst from the shadows. At the last second, it burst to the side and launched a blast of blue fire at Ruby. The young Keyblade Master grit her teeth, a glassy barrier forming around her side as the flames washed over it.

"Haste," the black haired ninja said, magic glowing around her. The blades slashed across the barrier in a blur of black and blue, and Ruby teeth ground so loudly she was sure Blake could hear it.

"Burst!" Ruby ordered with a snap, the glass shattering and sending Blake flipping back. Gold met sliver for a second, before Blake vanished in a blur of motion. Activating her Semblance, Ruby rushed forward, feeling with whirl of blades barely miss her spine and the flames in their wake go wide. Ruby span once she put twenty feet between her and her opponent, her right combat boot scraping along the ground around the centrifuge of her left and threw out a hand, "Gravija!"

There's a long moment of silence, or at least, what feels like silence compared to what comes after. Time ground to a halt, Blake approaching Ruby with Gambol Shroud thrown ahead as a whirling tempest of fire… and then the black and purple energy bursts from her hand, throwing Blake back and sending Gambol shroud wide as the ground exploded. The force alone is enough to warp the barriers around the sparring ring, the fragments of accelerated concrete ripped through it like paper. Blake's aura flashes as she smashed against the wall, before the buildup of air being forced forward hits it like the hammer blow of a god.

A loud buzzer breaks through the almighty roar of the spell, and Ruby immediately drops it, letting Blake fall to the ground from where she was practically embedded in the wall. Ruby leaned forward, sucking in a breath as her body screamed for oxygen, "You alright?"

"Fine," Blake coughed, standing up and pulling back Gambol Shroud with a tug, "Still didn't get you."

"I'm more experienced with magic," Ruby said, shrugging and smiling, "but you're doin' great for someone who started a few months ago. You've gotta have tons of reserves to do something so magically extensive."

"Thanks," Blake said, "but it's thanks to Gaius and Lucia I'm doing so well. I wouldn't know where to start without their journals.

"I don't think either of them dual wielded though," Ruby said, "so you're making it into something your own."

"Yeah," Blake said with a grin, "I guess-"

"Hey!" Yang poked her head in, before raising her eyebrows, "What're ya doin'!? We got end of semesters today, don't blow it all this early!"

"We'll be fine," Blake said, cracking her back, "let's go eat."

"Yeah," Ruby nodded, "I'm gonna kill it with Crescent Rose."

-X Weiss X-

Weiss sat in the corner of the cafeteria, eyes silently scanning her notes for Oobleck's test. Suddenly, someone sat down across from her, distracting the white haired heiress.

"What's up?" Ruby Rose asked, eyes flicking around the cafeteria, "Where's your team?"

"Back at the dorm," Weiss said, "Ren's making Nora pancakes."

"Again?" Blake drawled, sitting down and putting down her plate full of fish. Team RNBY each sat down, beginning to eat.

"I'm half convinced she doesn't eat anything else," Weiss said, putting down her binder for a minute. It couldn't hurt to talk to them, "are you ready for Oobleck's exam?"

"No," Ruby said, as blunt as a hammer, "I'm not. I don't really know much about history, it wasn't really important with Master Eraqus…"

Weiss hummed, crossing her arms, "History wasn't important?"

"Master Eraqus was… old fashioned," Ruby said, "lf we weren't learning to fight, we were learning to draw or paint. Something peaceful."

That still sounded negligent. History was important, from the Great War to the founding of Atlas.

"It's complicated," Ruby said with a sigh, reaching up to rub the back of her neck, "Really complicated. Don't worry about it."

"Ok…?" Weiss said, before carefully picking up her notes and letting her mind wander.

Things had been… calm, since Jaune's removal. Peaceful, even. Team WRN had… existed, she supposed was the only word for it. Not interacting unless necessary.

"But we'll crush Port and Goodwitch's exams," Ruby said, punching her hand with a grin on her face, "Right, girls?"

"Yeah!" Yang said, throwing an arm around Pyrrha's shoulder, "We got this!"

"Yes," Pyrrha nodded.

"Good luck," Weiss said. She didn't know what else she could say.

-X Pyrrha X-

Pyrrha adjusted Akoúo̱ as the Bullhead flew towards their destination, Professor Goodwitch's voice echoing through the vehicle, "Today's exam is as simple as it is different. Each of you is being flown to an outpost or building. Inside each is a group of Atlesian 130s and 135s to simulate a bandit tribe alongside a proctor who has agreed to simulate a leader. Your job is to, through whatever means necessary, eliminate both proctor and droids within the allotted time. Once you land, you will have ten minutes to do some preliminary scouting of the area. Am I understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Team RNBY said, hoping Goodwitch could hear them. It took a minute for her to respond.

"Good. There's earpieces in the drawer next to the left exit. Sync them to your Scrolls so you can speak with each other."

Yang pulled open the drawer, tossing them to each of the four Huntresses in training. Pyrrha carefully hooked it around her ear before brushing her hair over it as the Bullhead landed and the door swung open. Team RNBY hopped out of the vehicle, looking up at the faux-decrepit building before them.

It was seven stories tall, with heavy vines running forward and back across the dark grey cement. A rusted fire escape was built into the right hand wall, visible over the cement fence that ran along the perimeter.

"How're we doin' this?" Yang asked Ruby as the leader of Team RNBY silently scanned the area. Ruby's hand came up to rest on her armored shoulder.

"We'll split up," Ruby said, "Me and Blake will start at the top and work our way down, you and Pyrrha start at the bottom and work your way up. The minute we find the proctor, we radio to the other team and I'll open a Corridor."

"Sounds good," Yang said, looking to Pyrrha, "Ready?"

"Yes," Pyrrha nodded, "I'm ready."

"Good," Ruby said, armor forming around her in a flash, she planted a hand on Blake's arm, "Ready?"

"Yeah," Blake said, and then the duo vanished, appearing on top of the flat room of the building. Pyrrha shared a look with Yang, and then took off across the space at a full run, activating the more… passive element of her Semblance.

"Two by the door," Pyrrha warned her partner, flicking Milò into sword form as they went. Yang shouldered open the door, smashing the droid on the left against the wall while Pyrrha quickly cleaved the head off the other, "Which way?"

"Right," Yang said without missing a beat.

"Why?"

"Because Ruby's gonna go left," Yang said, "trust me, I know her."

"Does it really matter? We're on the-"

A loud rumble came from above them, cutting her off.

"I'm just trying to avoid being under her whenever we can, so if I have to switch to blast charges, we don't accidentally bust down the building."

Pyrrha nodded, "I see. Good idea."

"Yeah," Yang said with a grin, "I know."

-X Blake X-

Blake landed on the roof and immediately launched forward, blue flames igniting along Gambol Shroud. The five droids turned, guns raised. Space distorted around them, and suddenly Blake was in the center of the group, their backs exposed. For just a second, Blake let a grin split her face before spinning in place, the blue flames trailing in the wake as she cut into the droids. The flames hovered in the air unnaturally, before launching forward and bisecting the droids in a spatter of burning slag.

Terminus Est: Vertex.

"Good job!" Ruby said, stepping forward and looking around, "Crud… there's no way down."

"Then how'd the droids get up here?" Blake said, eyes scanning the roof, "It must be hidden."

"I don't want to waste time looking for it," Ruby said, crouching down and resting an armored hand on the roof, "We're on a limit, remember?"

"Yeah," Blake said, "So what do we do?"

"Step back," Ruby said, before the ground below her exploded downwards, opening a path onto the floor. The Keyblade wielder surfed on one larger piece of rubble as the ground gave way, before kicking it into the air and blasting it towards something the minute she reached the bottom. A loud clanging told Blake it hit home, and Blake jumped down after Ruby.

Three AK-135s stared at them, riot shields bared as guns poked over them. A fourth was collapsed on the ground, the glaring design defect of the robots showing through.

Their weapons were built into the arms, so it couldn't stand up quickly, something Ruby had just taken full advantage of. Blake's grip on Gambol Shroud tightened as Ruby threw up a barrier spell to block the bullets from the other three AKs, "On three?"

"Sure," Ruby said, "One."

"Haste," Blake muttered, her natural speed moving into overdrive as she coiled her legs below her body. She watched a bullet ricochet off the barrier.

"Two," Ruby continued, stepping in front of Blake, "Three!"

Both Huntresses took off, charging towards the Knights. Crescent Rose appeared in a familiar tide of fire as they approached the droids, bullets glancing off Ruby's armor as she punched through the shield without pausing. Blake threw her sheath in the air, using the freed hand to grab the riot shield and throw herself over it and catch the sheath.

Before the droid had time to move, Blake rammed the sheath into its chest. Shifting forms with her other hand, Blake leveled the pistol at the other droid's slowly turning head and shot it, the droids fell unmoving and Blake aimed her gun at the one that was rising. A loud report sounded around the hall and the droid fell in a clattering of metal.

"This seems too easy," Ruby said, "bandits can't be this weak, can they?"

"Lotta chieftains don't like the idea of having more than a few enforcers with Aura," Blake said, "They're harder to control, if there's the chance they can survive away from the clan. Drowning a Huntsman in bodies is easier, but we're also taking them out in small groups."

"True," Ruby said, before her head swiveled to the side and she tackled Blake out of the way. Seconds later, Burn Dust rounds hit where they had been standing, four more droids marching, these with a gun on one hand and a blade extending from the other, "Sneakin' up on us, eh?"

"Let's deal with them," Blake said, "We still have to find the proctor."

"Yep," Ruby said, lowering herself in a familiar pose, Crescent Rose scraping into the ground. Then, in a burst of speed too fast for Blake to follow, even enchanted with a Haste spell, Ruby appeared on the other side of the Knights, a large trench gouged into the cement and letting the sunlight through ended with Crescent Rose at an angle with her body. Then, the droids split in two in a shower of sparks and metal, "There we go!"

-X Yang X-

Yang grinned into the room on the third floor, eyes red and Aura glowing, "Hi there, boys!"

The droids turned in time to get a faceful of Burn Dust. A long gout of fire burst from Ember Celica, looking like someone had crammed a firecracker down the barrel. After a second, the droids fell back, heads melted slag and Yang shook her hand with a wince.

"Hot?" Pyrrha asked.

"Nah. Recoil was a bitch," Yang said, "I get why people don't use these on wrist mounted normally, they're killer."

"Do you have another type?"

"Don't need it," Yang said, grinning at Pyrrha, "it makes my Semblance activate quicker. What's wrong with tha-?"

"I don't know," a familiar voice said from behind them. Yang whirled in time to catch the haymaker sent her way, arm protesting as she was thrown back and a familiar heatwave burst down the hall, baking the cement, "What is wrong with that?"

"You're the proctor?" Yang asked in befuddlement, staring at the stretching form of Tai-Yang Xiao Long.

"Yep," Tai said with a smile, before lunging forward. Pyrrha threw herself between Tai and Yang, Akoúo̱ raised. Yang didn't have time to warn her partner about how bad an idea that was before Tai's fist hit the front of the shield, steam rising from it and causing Pyrrha to give a surprised yelp and stumble back, "Glynda asked me to help her, and how could I say no?"

"What's-?" Pyrrha said, throwing Akoúo̱ at him and exposing a reddening hand, "What's his Semblance?"

"As if," Tai said, rushing towards them and batting the shield aside, "I'd let her tell you that easi-"

"Ruby," Yang barked, hitting her earpiece, "Get to us now! It's Da-"

"What did I just say!?" Tai said, batting Pyrrha aside and driving a heated fist into Yang's gut. Bile rose in Yang's mouth as she curled around the blow. Yang growled, glaring up at her dad… and wrapped an arm around his fist, kicking his feet out from under him.

"It's who?" Ruby said.

"It's Dad!" Yang said as Tai easily got back to his feet and swung a foot for her head. Yang ducked under the attack, barely, and felt the ends of her hair singe, "The proctor is dad!"

"Seriously?" Ruby asked, stepping outside of a portal with Blake, "Dad!"

"Hey, Rosebud," Tai said, cracking a smile, "Blake. Hope you four are ready for this!"

"Is no an answer?" Blake asked, weapons barred.

"If you want to fail," Tai said, "And trust me, you don't want to go through remedial with Glynda, one of my interns did and he hated every second of it."

"What's his Semblance?" Pyrrha asked again, Akoúo̱ hovering off the ground before launching towards the back of Tai's head. He ducked under it, letting her catch the shield, "Now!"

"Heat manipulation!" Yang barked, switching shells to Earth Dust, "He can-!"

"Nope!" Tai said, charging at them, "I'm not letting you get that information out, Little Dragon!"

"Heat manipulation," Blake said, "then fire's useless?"

"And-" Yang was cut off by the palm thrust from Tai, blinking the dry air out of her eyes, "GAH! Sonova-"

"Look out," Ruby said, swinging Crescent Rose between their dad and Yang. The blow hit home with enough force to dislodge the blade and send Ruby crashing into Yang.

"Little bit of advice," Tai said, raising his fists and lowering his body, "Don't hold back if you want to win."

"There's a hole in Menagerie saying you really don't want that," Blake snarked as the Rose-Xiao Long sisters stood up.

"Oh yeah?" Tai said, "We'll see if you're saying that at the end of this."

"Trust me," Blake said, "Even if you thrash us, that's still true."

-X Tai X-

Tai watched Team RNBY with a small smile on his face. Ruby shifted, eyes probably scanning the field under the helmet, "Where are Howl and Roar?"

"Didn't bring them with me, Rosebud," Tai said, "I want some chance you'd win."

"That's," Ruby said, her grip on Crescent Rose tightening, "disappoin-"

The word was cut off as Tai dodged under the attack and slammed a hand into the armor over her solar plexus. A pained hiss came out of the helm as the armor heated rapidly, and Tai wrapped a hand around Ruby's armored right hand, driving Crescent Rose into the weakspot in of her-

Left!

Tai swung an arm up, barely blocking the strike from Eraqus's Keyblade. Ruby's grip on it grew tighter, sending flashes of his aura down his arm, "What gave it away?"

"You're ambidextrous," Tai said, "but you favor your left hand Rosebud. Did you actually think I'd forget something like that? If you wanted to get the jump on me, you should have attacked with your left hand and then attacked from-"

"-behind?" Blake asked, rolling over Ruby's shoulders and stabbing for him. Tai wrenched Crescent Rose from Ruby's hand, only to growl as it immediately vanished from his hand. Immediately turning with the force of the abandoned attack, Tai moved to sweep Blake off her feet. Seconds before impact, the cat Faunus was replaced with a clone that vanished like dust in the wind as Tai's leg passed through it.

"Don't call out your attacks!" Tai chided, "it gives your opponent the opportunity to counter them! I might have fallen for that if you hadn't told me where you would be, Blake!"

"I don't know," Blake said, "Four against one, in a small corridor? I think we've got the better odds."

"You're right," Tai said, reversing his Semblance as a puff of cold air came out of his mouth, "Maybe I should mix things up?"

"What the-?" Blake started, the grip on her weapon growing stiffer, "I thought you said his Semblance was Heat-"

Tai launched forward, planting a hand on her arm and grinning as she jumped backwards just as surely as if it was still hot, "Manipulation, Blake, not Generation. Always pay attention to your opponents Semblance, whether on file or otherwise. Semantics can, and will, save your life. If-"

Tai turned in time to soak up several shots from Yang, her eyes red and hair blazing to counteract the chill. Gravity Dust blasted him backwards with each blow. Tai grunted, grabbing her by the face and hiding the flinch that inevitably came as Yang screamed in pain.

Great side of this, he got an up-close and personal experience of how much his daughters had advanced. Downside, well, that meant he really couldn't afford to hold back lest they be accused of preferential treatment. And hurting them was, well, it was probably almost as painful for him as it was the-

"Demi! Demi! Demi!" Tai flew back, dodging the shots from Ruby as Yang rolled onto her knees.

-X Ruby X-

Ruby threw the weak gravity spells at her dad, forcing him away from Yang and Blake as chilled air came out with each breath, fogging up the inside of her helm. Once he was far enough away, Ruby threw a barrier spell between them, "He's holding back."

"What?" Blake said, rubbing the spot where Tai had grabbed her. Her Aura was rapidly healing the burned skin, "How?"

"Dad doesn't use his Semblance for flashy stuff like this," Ruby said, "Heating or freezing an entire area."

"Then how is he holding back?" Blake asked as Tai hammered into the barrier, frost building along it.

"Because he's burning his Aura fast," Ruby said, "It's a battle of attrit-"

Before Ruby could finish, the temperature suddenly reversed itself again. Tai punched the barrier, shattering it with literally explosive force. Ruby immediately swung Crescent Rose up in a wide arc, space magic warbling across the gap and hitting Tai full on. The teacher skidded back, Aura flickering against the attack. Pyrrha immediately followed it up with several shots from Milò.

Hey, Lux?

Oh no.

When you're done with this, uh… game, I guess, we got some stuff to do.

Really, REALLY!?

Ruby ground her teeth, what the heck did he want now!?

Training. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.

Well, at least she'd be able to try and get answers on why Braig knew the name Luxu. Assuming the Master would tell her the truth.

Yeah, and Ruby was capable of flying.

The Keyblade Master pushing the thoughts aside as Blake hissed suddenly, "We don't have time for an attrition fight. We still need to take out the droids before the time limit runs out!"

"Right," Ruby nodded with a sigh. She raised a hand, "Sorry, Dad… Gravija!"

For the third time in the day, a wave of force ripped from Ruby's hand, shattering the walls, ceiling and floor in an almighty blast. Tai's feet struggled against the force, Aura flickering. He was almost out, he had to be!

"Shoot him!" Ruby ordered with a snarl, Crescent Rose shifting as she raised the gun to fire. Next to her, Pyrrha took a kneeling position and began to fire, Yang and Blake joining in a second later. Tai staggered, his Aura blazing and then guttering. He gave a tired sigh.

"Well," Tai said, raising his hands, "Looks like you won-"

"Tie him up," Ruby ordered Blake, "I don't want to risk it."

"Right,'" Blake said, pulling out a ribbon and moving towards Tai. She minute she got close enough, he went for a punch to the jaw, Akoúo̱ sailing through the air and diverting the strike. Blake looped the ribbon around Tai, hogtying the older Xiao Long.

"Let's split back up," Ruby said, "We have droids to destroy."

-X AN X-

So yeah, a bit of a timeskip at the start of this chapter. We'd been stuck in a single week for so long I felt it was desperate for the pacing of the story to move things forward (ironically the exact opposite of my plan for the sequel). With this, The Lock to Key, Pact to Gods arc officially begins. Certain plot points for Ruby that have been on the backburner for a long time (Read: NieR) come back to importance, while the other girls officially begin to evolve their fighting styles.

Other than that, this story now has a TV Tropes page in need of some Wiki Magic Love, so if people would be willing to help with that, it'd leave me grinning.

Thoughts, questions and opinions? Good? Bad? Meh?