August 19th

Amity Colosseum

7:34 PM

"As our last fight in the doubles round," Oobleck began in his typical fashion. "We will have Ivy Ironwood and Devin Katt of Team IGDG versus Lysithea Ciel-Schnee and Matthew Mar-Ciel of Team SAML in order to break their tie to decide which of those two Beacon teams will send a member to the finals!"

"That's right," Port continued, winking at his partner who winked back through the large glasses that dominated his face. "Team IGDG, while a Beacon Academy team, has a particularly notable member from Atlas and, no, it's not General Ironwood's daughter. I'm talking about Devin Katt, the son of the current president of the United Kingdom of Atlas! I believe he is here tonight, as well, to witness his son's fight! Funnily enough, President Ciel's daughter, Neon Katt, is one of the finalists in this tournament!"

Oobleck started laughing. "As for Team SAML, well, they've got some notable members too! While she may not be competing, Annetta Schnee is the daughter of Beacon Academy's own headmaster – Ozpin – and a well-respected Atlesian prosecutor – Cristal Schnee! There are also Samara and Lysithea Ciel-Schnee, the daughters of an Atlesian general and the beloved Atlas Academy professor: Emmett Schnee! And, of course, Matthew Mar-Ciel, the son of another beloved Atlas Academy professor: Spencer Ciel!"

Down in the stands and as close to the grounds as he could be, Emmett turned pink and reached for his wife's hand while awkwardly adjusting his glasses and pushing his hair over his shoulder with the other. Beside them were Karissa, Spencer, and three of their other kids. Thirteen year old Luna Mar-Ciel and ten year old Jasper Mar-Ciel were bouncing excitedly while, next to them, Percival kept adjusting the baseball cap on his head. He had been thrilled to be able to see his twin brother compete, but he still felt lathargic. He sighed, not because he was upset he there while Natalie had remained at university in Atlas but because he was scared. He felt constantly targeted whether or not that was the case and he was still upset that he had missed his high school graduation due to needing another round of chemotherapy. He felt almost like his disease defined him, and it pissed him off.

"This'll be fun," Spencer remarked, seeing his son's tension and gently squeezing his shoulder. "Excited, Percy?"

Percival smiled weakly and nodded, leaning forward slightly to see.

"Oh, this will be an interesting battle," Port commented as the terrain rose up against the two teams. "The terrain for this last round in the doubles is cyber, urban, forest, and mountain! Let's see how these teams do against that…"

On the ground, Lysithea had her hand at the ready to fire her shotgun if necessary but her other hand was tightly around her sword. Beside her, Matt had one hand on his own gun although, as soon as he saw the mountains rise behind them as well as the urban terrain, he shared a look with his cousin that decided that he would disappear into the urban landscape - ready to catch Ivy or Devin off guard - and Lily would go at them head on, strengthening herself with her semblance as a (Ciel)-Schnee. At the same time, Devin bit his lip so heavily that it started to bleed a tiny bit and he and Ivy readied their own weapons. The second the match began, Matt began to run into the damaged urban landscape while Lily took both of them head on, sparring with her sword hand to hand against Ivy's knives until Devin fired a shot that barely missed her and Lily ran into the forest landscape due to the temporary distraction that she had been afforded.

Deciding to try and find his cousin while Ivy suddenly tore into the woods, presumably in pursuit of Lily, Devin headed towards the mountain top before remembering Matt's hatred of heights. Because of that, he changed direction into the urban landscape. On the other hand, his other opponent, Lily, was slowly wandering through the woods before she saw Ivy who was perched atop a tree. The shifter shot her, yet the bullet did not damage her because of her aura. Shooting up at the tree while Ivy continued to fire some of her rounds in Marfil, Lysithea continued to jump out of the way until Ivy spent all of her bullets and cursed, hopping down from the tree and glaring at the small, white-haired girl before throwing a knife her way that barely missed her.

The few seconds she spent watching the blade allowed Ivy to get away before shifting her appearance to that of Devin. She had intentionally dressed in the same way that her teammate had. She was in dark washed jeans, black sneakers, and a grey and silver plaid shirt. Knowing that now she had a form of an upper-hand, Ivy ran through the woods and back towards the main area and the urban landscape before she ran out of the urban landscape as if she were Devin and distracted Lysithea long enough to knock her near unconscious by depleting her aura to the 15% that was the cut off and she was taken out of the match.

Shifting back, Ivy haughtily flipped one of her knives in her hand before sauntering into the urban landscape but, when Matt saw her and began to charge at her, Ivy met one of her knives against his gauntlets and he reminded himself that his semblance would be no use on her as a result of her psychic abilities. Drawing her aura down even further than she had already depleted it by shifting into his form, he had her even when Devin almost managed to shoot him. One final punch with a shot fired at her with his gauntlets, Ivy's aura broke and she was thrown out of the match. It remained only him and Devin. Pushing himself up from where he had fallen when Ivy had crashed into him, Devin channeled the rest of his strength into an attack on her but she Matt managed to shoot him thrice and Devin looked up and saw that his aura was depleted while the buzzer rang out. He finished sliding across the center floor while Matt reached down to help him up and he smirked before embracing his cousin.

"Well that concludes the doubles round!" Port exclaimed as Matt stood victorious and kept posing towards the cameras with a devilish grin. "Team SAML is victorious!"

"You're going on," Matt told Lily as she stepped back out. "I mean that: you're going on."

Lily shook her head. "I fell halfway –"

"Doesn't matter," Matt replied. "You're stronger than me."

"No, you're continuing because there is no way I'll win," Lily replied, crossing her arms defiantly. "Your chances are higher."

The landscape finished changing back slowly and the others who were set to compete in the finals were brought to the center stage while Matt sent his cousin a pointed look and Lily relented, however grudgingly. Yet, far too soon, Lysithea Ciel-Schnee knew she felt someone touch her shoulder, though she couldn't see them for a brief moment while a nasty black haze overtook her vision, and, even as it slowly cleared, a nasty spike headache was left behind. The all too familiar feeling of falling coupled with the feeling of being sick rose in her for not the first time and only rose when she saw the girl who was holding out her hand to her to help her up. Her vintage inspired outfit would have been a dead giveaway if she hadn't recognized the curly red hair with the large pink bow in the back. Glancing at Pyrrha in the periphery of her vision who was smiling, the sinking feeling continued to increase and she tried to shake it off before taking Penny's hand and smiling weakly at her as she stood up and tried to steady herself on her feet.

"Salutations, Lysithea Ciel!" Penny exclaimed with a bright smile that she thought was adorable.

"Hello, Penny," Lily said, lightly embracing the android politely before sighing. "How have you been? I haven't seen you around much."

Penny giggled before she waved at Ruby who was in the audience with her teammates, Team IGDG, and the rest of Team SAML. "I have spent some time with my friend, Ruby, and my teammate. I've also had to speak with your mother – General Ciel – and General Ironwood, as well Ruby's step mother, Elizabeth Morell."

Lysithea smiled tightly. "You're not in trouble, are you?"

"Oh, quite the opposite!" Penny said as they got in the line. "It's simply just checking up on me, you know, normal Atlas Academy stuff."

Unable to stop, Lily raised an eyebrow. "That's not normal for Atlas Academy, Penny," She bit off. "And I know it can't be simply a result of your proficiency as a fighter."

Penny's eyes went wide before dragging her off to the side as soon as it was declared that Yang would fight that Mercury Black. From what she had seen and what Caitlin had said, Lily knew he was on Cinder's team. "Lysithea…" Penny whispered, clearly nervous. "General Ciel didn't tell you, did she?"

Lysithea glanced around awkwardly and quickly waved Caitlin over, who had been wandering around the stadium. She was never more relieved to see her.

"What is it?" The pale-haired girl asked her, nervously fidgeting with her glasses.

"Salutations, Caitlin Ironwood!" Penny exclaimed. "It is a pleasure to see you!"

Caitlin sent Lily a somewhat mutinous look and then sighed.

"Oh, hi, Penny," She said slowly. "How are you?"

Penny glanced around and lowered her voice so as not to be overheard.

"Did General Ironwood or General Ciel tell the two of you about…" Penny trailed off uncomfortably. "About how…"

"You're not human," Caitlin said bluntly. "If that's what you were referring to, although it would do us all a lot of good if you kept that quiet."

Penny nodded furiously. "Of course. You two were sworn to secrecy by the Atlesian Council and are some of my observers."

Caitlin didn't respond immediately and gave her an odd look before nodding hesitantly. "Uh...yes!" She said, stepping on Lysithea's foot to stop her from objecting. "I am... sworn to secrecy…by the...the Atlesian Council's Department Of Foreign Affairs...And Military Action and...and...and...the Department Of Scientific Advancement And...Eth...Ethical Oversight!"

"This is so great!" Penny exclaimed, pulling Lily into a bone crushing hug that she didn't expect. "I am so excited to know someone else who knows and isn't bothered by it!"

"Who else knows?" Caitlin asked before recalling how close Ruby and Penny were. "Ruby, of course."

"Caitlin?" Glynda said, as Penny released Lysithea and went back to her team. As soon as she was gone, she pulled her daughter into her tightly before sighing. "Are you doing alright? You look -"

"I'm okay," Caitlin said, however unconvincingly.

Glynda probed her daughter's aura for just a moment and that was all it took to convince her that something was very wrong. Based on Lysithea's look, it seemed she felt the same way. There was silence between the three of them for a few seconds, but it was not long before Glynda shook her head and motioned for them to follow her. Emmeline and Emmett had returned back to their room after the event, she told them, and it sounded to Lily that they were relieved that she hadn't been the first solo combatant to fight. The late-summer air seemed to have taken on an almost clinging atmosphere, and it was eerie at the very best. When she pushed open the door, Emmeline and Emmett immediately stopped talking and Emmett looked up at them in surprise.

"Glynda?" Emmett said, setting down his mug. "Okay, I swear this time it actually is cocoa. I'm honoring the rule, I swear it. My wife is my witness!"

"I wouldn't doubt it," Glynda said as she looked at her daughter sharply to sit down while Emmett and Emmeline looked at their daughter in concern. "Caity," Glynda started gently. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Caitlin shook her head, rubbing her forehead. "I have a headache but I'm...I had a…"

"Psychic experience?" Emmett suggested, and she nodded. "Vision or just a feeling?"

"Just a feeling...though I had a moment of black haze," Caitlin admitted, looking at her mother who was almost twitchy. "I'm probably just overstimulated by everyone's auras…and so many people just feel wrong."

"I had that too," Lily admitted softly, and Emmeline paled. "When someone touched me from behind. I lost my balance and fell over."

Emmett shook his head. "That's not a good sign."

"Wait," Caitlin said, looking suddenly to her mother. "Has something…happened?"

Glynda didn't respond and instead shared a look with Emmett who shrugged.

"Caity -" Emmeline slowly started.

"She already knows most of it," Emmett reminded them and Glynda sighed. "Well, you don't have to tell her if you don't want to -"

"You remember the maidens," Glynda said to her daughter, cutting across Emmett. "Specifically the Fall Maiden?"

"Amber didn't die, did she?" Seeing the look on her mother's face, Caitlin groaned. "No, now Cinder's going to get the -"

"We did the transfer," Emmett corrected and she snapped her head to face him and he sighed. "And we transferred it to, well…"

"I took on the powers," Glynda told her and Caitlin stared at her in shock before using the powers to cause her eyes to spark, then stopping them and adjusting her glasses. "And, if you had needed proof, that was it."

"You're half a maiden now?" Caitlin asked and Glynda nodded.

"Mostly," She admitted. "Considering that it was just over half the power that was left."

"She's going to target us now, isn't she?" Caitlin said while Glynda sighed. "Salem and Cinder."

"Yes," Glynda told her, but pulled her close and stroked her daughter's long, white ponytail before shifting her wavy side bangs away from her face. "But we're going to fine, I promise."

Emmett snorted. "Yeah, even if Beacon falls, which it might."

"It won't," Emmeline said, crossing her arms. "Honestly, with Atlas –"

"My vision –" Emmett argued.

"Your vision could be wrong," Emmeline reminded him, and he fell silent, not speaking even when she gently set a hand to his arm. "You said it told you she would be in Vale…and that we already know. I doubt she'd go after Beacon…for all of her faults, she isn't stupid."

"Now," Glynda said, looking worriedly at her eldest. "What's bothering you?"

Caitlin bit her lip and stared at her feet. "I want to…if the truth ain't pretty will you all stay with me? Did you all honestly still love me at my worst?"

"Of course we did," Glynda hesitated for a moment, not wanting to consider what she knew her daughter was thinking of. "It was a difficult time for all of us, but that didn't mean that –"

"It's just…" Caitlin shook her head. "I just can't help but think that everyone will…that everyone eventually lets you down and that –"

"Don't think like that," Emmett told her, perhaps more sharply than he had intended. "At least between this small group, that won't ever become the case."

August 28th

Amity Colosseum

8:02 PM

"Yang!" Blake called out one last time before her partner began to walk into the arena. "You'll do great, I promise."

Smirking, Yang grabbed both of her hands before hugging the small cat faunus tightly and kissing her. "Aww," She said, ruffling her hair. "Thanks, Blake!"

Shifting away while Yang went to the center of the battlefield's stage, Blake sighed when the broadcasting system began and Port began to speak.

"Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for!" He exclaimed. "The one on one finals! Barty, why don't you explain the rules?"

"Ah, it's quite simple, Peter!" Oobleck began in his erratically fast speech. "Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes place!"

"And let's go through the contestants!" Port began. "Now, there are a few new faces but we all recognize Lysithea Ciel-Schnee, Yang Xiao Long, Penny Polendina, Pyrrha Nikos, Sun Wukong, Neon Katt, and Mercury Black. Of all of the contestants, they were the ones with the highest scores in the previous parts of the tournament. And as Barty said, it is much like any good hunt! There will be zero time to prepare!"

"Ah, yes, yes!" The highly energetic doctor said, pointing to the screens while the roulette on them started spinning for the selection of competitors instead of biomes. "Let's see who our first match will be!"

The roulette stopped spinning and the faces of the two competitors were shown as Port announced them. "Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black! Would all other combatants please leave the stage?"

Below, the others all did as he requested, and Yang sassily walked towards Mercury in the middle of the floor while the lights fixed on them and she smiled.

"You better not go easy on me," She joked.

Laughing darkly, his plan in mind, Mercury replied. "You wish."

Port spoke as they faced the crowd one last time as the slowly advanced with their arms raised defensively. "There! Two! One! Begin!"

Throwing a sharp punch as soon as she was able, Yang inadvertently created a shockwave between Ember Celica and his boot. Firing a shot from Ember Celica, Yang stopped him from shooting her feet though he rotated out of the way. A moment of hand to hand fighting followed though he landed a heavy blow on her, causing her to fall backwards while he shot himself upwards, getting further away from her, and smiling devilishly. Refusing to relent, Yang began to shoot though he managed out of them while she blocked him from dropping down on her leg. Kicking her, she landed in a crouch and grimaced heavily from the jolts of pain shooting through her but still stronger than him though he attempted to hit her with his heel by way of a roundhouse kick. Jumping out of the way, he barely missed her and he leaped out of the way, hitting her as she attempted to get him by a punch to the ground.

Continuing to fight as he knocked her to the ground again, Mercury ran forward after sending her backwards once again though she punched his chin and torso, knocking him down to the ground on his stomach. Getting back up, he found himself being shot at again and rolling backwards though one of her explosions nearly sent him off the stage. Firing his boots downward, he flew back towards her and attempted to kick her sequentially once again though she deflected them with her arms. Barely escaping one of her following attacks, he still managed to knock her back before shooting her though she manages to evade this with no effort. Still, not realizing he was still behind her, Mercury began to shoot at his entire periphery while kicking though only a few of them were actually aimed at her. Dodging out of the way of all of them, Yang fought fist to fist with him again for several minutes until he kicked her hard enough to have her fall to the ground.

With his opponent on the ground, Mercury began to shoot at her directly with all of his shots aimed for her weak spots. As soon as they stopped, he slowly pushed himself up from his crouching position and grins evilly while from the corner of his eye he could see President Ciel of Atlas and the chair of the Atlesian National Security Council, Elizabeth Morell, watching him suspiciously with Ruby. His gaze met Emerald's for a moment, nodding his head to remind her of the plan though she didn't need it. Dusting himself off, he groaned upon seeing the faint wisps of smoke behind him turn into flames while Yang, her eyes red and screaming, emerged. Punching him hard, she knocked him back and avoided his following kicks except for one and instead used it to empower herself and she continued beat him with each fist. He groaned in pain while she hit him in the stomach and his aura attempted to prevent him from injury. Yet her punches were hard enough in the face that she depleted his aura down and he fell to his back while the buzzer went off to call the match and audience roared wildly.

Looking over to her step-mother, sister, and teammates, Yang let her hands fall to her side as she closed her eyes gently and breathed deeply, opening her eyes to their normal lilac as Port continued his commentary with Oobleck. "What a way to kick off the finals!"

Oobleck nodded, watching the stage reconvene with the floor of the stadium. "Yang Xiao Long wins!"

Tightly wrapping her arms around Elizabeth who pulled her in equally tight, Ruby screamed in excitement for Yang. "Yeah! You did it, Yang!"

Back on the floor while they were all cheering for her, Yang looked over to Mercury who was still hunched over.

"Better luck next time," She said, half-teasingly.

As she began to leave, Mercury stood up behind her before growing in anger. "There's not going to be a next time, Blondie!"

A heavy gunshot rung out through the stadium and silence suddenly overtook everyone as Elizabeth let go of Ruby and ran down to the stage in time to see Mercury leap forward to kick her while her guard was down though, when Yang scowled and shot his leg before he could hit her, several gasps of shock were heard and the boy seemingly reeled backwards in pain. Shaking as she leaned against the wall, Elizabeth was sure that he had attacked her though she wasn't sure why. Looking upwards, she tried to steady her breathing as she stopped herself from moving any further with one hand reaching for her gun before remembering that pulling it out would be a horrible idea. It wasn't until she saw the screens that were showing the footage of what seemingly happened that she doubted what she had seen despite trusting her own eyes more than the footage in which Yang was circling the boy before shooting him in the leg while a breaking sound was heard and he screamed, falling over heavily in pain.

"My word!" Oobleck exclaimed as he got up from his chair and Port turned to someone near them before giving orders.

"Cut the cameras!"

"My leg!" Mercury screamed as he held it and rocked on the ground. "My leg!"

Glaring at him for attacking her, Yang chastised him. "That's what you get, you little son of a bitch, for…" Looking at the Atlesian Soldiers and Special Operatives circling her with guns raised and one AK-200, Yang felt the faintest bit of fear rise in her. "Huh?"

"Yang Xiao Long," One of the soldiers said. "Stand down!"

Confused and shaking, Yang looked at them in horror. "What? Why? He attacked me! Do you even know who I am? My mother, Elizabeth Morell -"

"Why'd she do that?" Mercury exclaimed as he cried hysterically and his partner comforted him while also scowling at Yang in disgust. "Why'd she attack me?"

September 1st

Beacon Academy CCTS Tower

Beacon Academy

City Of Vale

Vale

Downtown

7:34 PM

"Awful, simply awful," Elizabeth said, glaring at Ozpin as the man sighed heavily behind his desk. "I haven't the slightest clue as to whether or not that was your doing but even if it wasn't I am more than simply appalled. I…" Angrily groaning as she fought back tears, she and Ronnie shared a look before Ronnie angrily beat his fingers against the man's desk, forcing him to look up. "Do you have any idea what it's like to not even be convinced of your own daughter's innocence?"

"Madame Morell," Ozpin said, choosing his words carefully. "I for one don't think Yang is guilty. Yes, I know what we saw, what the world saw, but that's completely out of character for Yang. The girl would never attack anyone unless they were doing so to her -"

"Then explain why we all saw differently in the footage," Elizabeth told him, her voice shaking with one hand on her gun to steady herself. "Because if I find out that you had even a fingernail of involvement in this, you will be coming down hard."

"That won't be necessary," Cristal told her. "I can almost guarantee you there was foul play involved…there was something about what happened that seemed too convenient and I suspect there was manipulation involved – whether it was magic or otherwise – in this."

Ronnie sighed in exasperation. "Ozpin," The Atlesian president said, starting to pace and throwing his hands up for a moment in irritation. "Even if this had nothing to do with you, people are in fact blaming you for the attack. The VNS, the ANS, hell even the MNS, and Atlesian RINSE Network – hell, even the Vytal International Network are all collectively blaming you for Yang's actions. Personally, I am inclined to believe she is innocent because, like her and Elizabeth, I saw him attack her rather than the other way around but...but the world, and frankly the footage and media, insists."

"I know," Ozpin admitted, glancing at the ever growing reports. "And I am more than ready to -"

"Resign your position and take up the consequences of your actions?" Elizabeth suggested angrily. "I don't much like the idea, but, regardless –"

"You don't understand," Ozpin said, shaking his head and knowing the damage that could happen to the group if that happened. "Eliza, there are other reasons that -"

"Then would either of you care to explain them to me?" Elizabeth challenged, looking at Ozpin than with contempt while the man sighed, and eventually motioned for her to sit down, which she did. "Ozpin -"

"This is incredibly complicated, Elizabeth, if I may address you as such," Ozpin began, continuing when the chair of the Atlesian National Security Council did not correct him. "Elizabeth, how familiar are you with the legends and fairytales of our world?"

Elizabeth grimaced, remembering how Cinder had described Salem to her as a tactic to scare her into submission that had worked. "What do you know about Salem?"

"Salem?" Ozpin repeated, shocked by her knowledge of, at the very least, the name. "Elizabeth, where did you hear that name?"

Hesitating, Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair before she exposed the same scar she had shown Qrow the other day. "From the same woman who did this, amongst other things, to me."

"Cinder?" Ronnie guessed, shaking his head, having already forced the information out of his brother-in-law. "Eliza, that isn't the worst of it, is it?"

Elizabeth nodded weakly, tears finally escaping her. "Well, of course, and you all well know it" She sighed heavily, picking at her nails. "Did you really think that she managed to keep me silent for almost a year by being nurturing to me? I was terrified of her. I was living in constant fear and that…no, you are all more than aware of what happened, if only based on my testimony to the DOJ. After that I had to take a polygraph which...which proved that what I had been saying was true...and…"

"You don't have to go on," Cristal and Ozpin told her simultaneously before he looked at her seriously and waited for a moment before going on.

"Elizabeth, and I'm not sure how much you know already, Salem is the creator and master of the creatures of grimm," Ozpin watched as she shifted to look at him in shock while Ronnie tried to keep her steady. "Do you recall The Story Of The Seasons?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I hate that story...it reminds me of my childhood, but, yes, I know the story."

Ozpin hesitated. "The four maidens of the story are real...although currently there are five."

"What?" Elizabeth said, more shocked than anything else. "That story is real?"

"Elizabeth, let me ask you this," Ozpin began slowly. "Is this story any less crazy as Salem?"

She considered that before shaking her head. "No, but if there are four maidens -"

"There was a split in the powers of the Fall Maiden," Ozpin told her. "We believe that the woman who possessed the powers before the split, Amber who, regretfully, is dead, was attacked by Cinder Fall -"

"No!" Elizabeth screamed, suddenly trying to stand up and swaying on the spot. "She killed her?"

"Not quite," Ozpin said, eyeing her anxiously. "She almost did and stole a little less than half of her powers as the Fall Maiden. We kept Amber sustained by Atlesian Technology related to aura in the vault under the Academy for months until, a little while back, when the rest of the power was transferred to Glynda."

"Glynda's a maiden?" Elizabeth asked, trying to comprehend the situation and Ozpin hesitated again.

"Mostly...but, until Cinder dies, she won't be fully. We had to transfer the powers into someone because if we didn't then the chances were that the power would have sought out its other half and that would not have boded well for anyone if Cinder really does have that other half. So, until she dies, the power won't go entirely to her and, as a precaution, when and if Cinder gets killed, it will almost certainly have to be by Glynda."

"So," Elizabeth started. "You forced -"

"We would have found someone else," Ozpin told her. "But Glynda wanted to take on the powers because my next option was her daughter, followed by Miss Nikos."

Elizabeth stared at him incredulously. "So then -"

"The last thing is that I was cursed by the gods," Ozpin informed her, his hand tightening around Cristal's, startling her for a moment. "Since I failed to defeat Salem in the past, I am cursed to reincarnate into a like-minded person that will become me until the time in which I defeat her. Once I defeat her, I will live a normal life and die like everyone else."

"So…" Elizabeth started, biting back her fears. "Does this -"

"Welcome to our clandestine group of protectors," Ronnie said dryly. "Better known as Ozpin, Cristal, Emmett, Emmeline, myself, Glynda, James, Qrow, and, regrettably, Rosalinde Varna and Leonardo Lionheart."

Elizabeth looked up and sent Cristal a pointed look, causing the prosecutor to take a small step back in surprise.

"I am going to kill that bitch," Elizabeth finally said, between her bitter weeps. "With my own bare hands, damn it."

September 2nd

Beacon Academy

City of Vale

Vale

Downtown

9:29 PM

"Let me in there!" Ivy shouted at the soldiers guarding the door to Team RWBY's dormitory before finally deciding to play her least favorite card. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

One of the soldiers sighed and dismissed one of the AK-200s that was there. "I have orders not to let anyone in there -"

Anger taking her over, Ivy ignored the soldier's words and kicked the door open with all of her strength channeled into her foot. Turning around in shock, James watched as his daughter glared at him and clenched her fists while Blake wrapped an arm around Yang. Ivy sent her a look of relief but then forced herself to meet her father's gaze, Ivy found herself speaking quicker than she had even thought she was capable of doing so.

"Yang would never do what she did unprovoked!" She snapped. "Ever, that's not who she is and even Elizabeth thinks so and she's -"

"Ivy," James said, forcing himself to be patient. "Elizabeth isn't even sure of what to think, she said so and, however admirable it is that you are vouching for your friend -"

"That's only because dozens of reporters were asking her that question!" Ivy insisted, forcing herself not break the nearest thing to her. "She had to be impartial because that's her fucking job. Publicly, she isn't sure what to believe but she told me that she doesn't think Yang -"

"Ivory Glynda Ironwood-Goodwitch!" James snapped, looking at her seriously. "I know that you don't want to believe this but…"

"Fine," Ivy said, scowling. "Trust the idiots in the world who weren't present to see what really happened and not your own daughter."

When no one answered right away at the door to her sister's or the Ciel's room just down the hall, Ivy collapsed against the wall and began curling into herself, hugging her knees to her chest and crying. She didn't even know why she was so upset. She and Yang didn't always get along as well as they could, and the two of them had always had such polarizing personalities that they didn't spend too much time together. It didn't matter, especially since she had Blake. She thought there might be a part of her that wanted Yang to be with her instead of Blake, but she suddenly realized that she was jealous of them. She wanted Adam to be like that with her. Several minutes passed and, by the time she was sobbing, she didn't even hear Emmett open the door and sit down next to her on the ground until she felt him tap her shoulder. Looking up, the forty four year old Schnee smiled weakly at her and pulled her into a hug before helping her onto her feet and bringing her into the room where Caitlin and Sam were having a drink with Emmeline before Caitlin saw her sister and stared at her in shock.

"Ivy…" Caitlin began gently as her sister sat down and Emmett sighed, wrapping an arm around his wife. "Did something -"

"No one believes Yang's innocent, not even daddy!" Ivy exclaimed, too bitter and feeling too damn sick to start crying again. All that seemed to remain was anger at the injustice. "I mean -"

"No, James thinks Yang's innocent," Emmett told her and she stared at him surprise. "Ivy, he doesn't have a choice in the matter of disqualifying her or not because this is an incredibly sensitive subject and, think about it pragmatically, do you really think that now is a good time to make Atlas a target for claims of corruption and nepotism by not disqualifying Yang?"

Ivy scowled. "It's not right, and he's not acting like he believes –"

"Of course James thinks she's innocent," Emmeline sharply cut across her. "Besides knowing her, he knows that Cinder has been placing her pawns in place and we all know that this Mercury bastard has spent at least some time around her in the past, more if you agree with me and Sam in saying that he's on the same team as her since he's on 'Cecily Ashlynn's' team."

Emmett nodded, squeezing her hand. "And consider Elizabeth's reasons for this…Ronnie's, too. Elizabeth, however much she wants to believe her step daughter, knows that, like James and Ronnie, she can't change what the world saw and in many ways she's in a worse place for this matter since she's Yang's step mother. If she came out and denied that Yang was capable of doing what she did unprovoked, then people would immediately accuse her of nepotism no matter how valid her reasoning for Yang's innocence was. Not only that, but you have to consider that she and Ronnie need to be as impartial and analytical as possible, like James, but it's even more critical in the positions they hold."

Ivy sighed. "I mean, I know that but it's still...for all her faults, Yang doesn't deserve this."

"No, she doesn't," Caitlin said, getting off the floor and tugging on her dark brown leather jacket. "And I'm going to do something about it...even if I can't change what's happening, I'll do something."

Ignoring their protests, Caitlin began to walk hastily towards Team RWBY's dormitory though she stopped when she heard voices from inside the room. Pressing herself against the wall and listening, her glasses pushing into the side of her face, Caitlin tried to steady her breathing as she rolled her ankle as best she could in her three inch heels. They were black leather and almost stiletto heels and were open toed with bands going across her foot and connecting at small gold posts. Her leather pants were form fitting and also black with silver zippers for her pockets on the front while her white keyhole blouse was tight with billowing sleeves and, especially the key hole with the sparking pink broach above it, exposed some of her curves like her pants did. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to listen though her nerves were growing as she could feel some of the rising tension in the room.

"...I'm sorry," James said. "...But you've left us with no choice."

Yang's voice rose slightly in her ire as she responded. "...But he attacked me!"

Presumably, the footsteps were indicative of James beginning to pace. "...Video footage and millions of viewers say otherwise."

"...But Yang would never do that!" Weiss insisted, her voice a little more irritable than usual.

Ruby agreed. "...Yeah!"

James was silent for a moment before responding. "...Weiss, I know you wouldn't believe Yang without good reason to and I understand that Ruby wouldn't either. As for Blake, you seem like a good student and by all accounts I can imagine you aren't the same girl you were six years ago. Yang, I know you well enough to say that I don't honestly believe you would do what you did unprovoked or the majority of the time, and the staff her at Beacon are fully aware that you would never lash out the way you did… under normal circumstances. What I believe and hope this to be is nothing more than the result of stress and adrenaline. When you're out on the battlefield, your judgement can become clouded in an instant. Sometimes you see things that simply aren't there. Even after the fight is past…" Through the slight opening of the door, Caitlin could see him glancing to the right while rolling his right shoulder and she had a feeling that he was referring to the accident just over twenty years ago that Emmett had told her cost him his right arm and leg.

Yang looked up, apparently with tears in her eyes. "But I wasn't -"

"That's enough!" James told him, angrily stern and continuing as the room fell silent. "The sad truth is, whether it was an accident or an assault, it doesn't matter. The world saw you attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions...and it's my job to inform you that...you are disqualified."

As Yang's shock shifted into understanding while she miserably glanced to the ground, James sighed as they all looked up when the door hesitantly opened and his eldest daughter stormed into the room. By the way she was breathing and trying to steady herself, she seemed damn near hyperventilation and stared at all of them seriously, though there was some anger behind her eyes. Caitlin waited for him to speak and crossed her arms while straightening herself in her artificial 5'6'' instead of her natural 5'3''. Blake and Yang looked at her in surprise for a brief moment before finding themselves unable to look at her while Weiss smiled weakly in encouragement and Ruby shook nervously while they all waited, watching father and daughter in a stalemate as they both waited for the other to speak until James finally looked at her in slight exasperation.

"Caitlin Marianne," James began sternly while she only hardened her expression with her arms crossed still. "What are you doing here? Apart from that -"

"That's not a serious question, is it?" Caitlin asked with a slight smirk. "I'm doing what has to be done."

"Caitlin," James said, shaking his head as she bit her upper lip nervously. "You cannot do things like this."

Incensed, despite knowing he didn't have a choice, Caitlin began to shout in a way that reminded him sharply of Glynda when she was angry. "Daddy, you can't disqualify her, she didn't do it unprovoked, I swear to -"

"Caitlin -" James began tiredly though she continued regardless.

"Whether she's a bit of a bitch or not sometimes doesn't matter! Neither does the fact that she acts like she doesn't give a damn! Her aura isn't the one that's wrong! She had nothing to do with this!" Slight tears of anger laced the corners of her eyes. "Please listen to me!"

"Even if that's true, the world has already drawn its own conclusions!" James told her, returning the sharp gaze and tone despite not wanting to. Turning back to Yang as she looked ready to protest again, he sighed. "As I said before, you are disqualified."

"But General Ironwood -" Weiss began to protest.

"Miss Schnee, I have no choice!" James said irritably. "I don't want to do this, but -"

"We all have a choice," Caitlin snapped, and he turned to her suddenly. "Whether we're at our best or worst, we have a fucking choice!"

"God damn it, Cate!" James exclaimed, matching her scowl. "You are demanding that the world forgive and forget when they are convinced –"

"That…Mercury should be held accountable!" Caitlin took in a deep breath although it did little to calm her nerves. "You have the wrong person here, and –"

"I am doing what is responsible!" James sharply informed her. "What is necessary and proper –"

"Necessary and proper?" Caitlin snorted. "That would imply an investigation, not –"

"This is out of our hands!" James shook his head, regaining his composure. "Whatever the truth is, it –"

The door slammed suddenly behind the young woman, who stormed off back towards the stadium to give Mercury Black a piece of her mind. Yet she wasn't quick enough and ran into her mother, who was rather startled, but no more than she was when she realized that Caitlin had been transfixed, at that very moment, by a woman with amber eyes and ashy hair. She was standing at the end of the hall, just before the entrance to Amity Coliseum, and she suddenly disappeared in a flash of smoke. Glynda quickly pulled her daughter aside and drew her crop, ready for a fight, although none came. It was no more than a minute later that Elizabeth crossed paths with them and she almost fainted when she realized what had startled them so much. The chair of the Atlesian National Security Council glanced back at the footage that had been replaying since the infamous day. It was then she knew that worse had yet to come for all of them.

Yet, as the footage cut to black, what she didn't know was that the so-called Cecily Ashlynn was watching the entire thing as Mercury confirmed to her and Emerald that he was unhurt. Her eyes flaring, Cinder Fall felt an involuntary flash of fear wash over her as she realized that the girl knew just as well as Emmett, Emmeline, Glynda, Elizabeth, and Sam that she was there. What made it worse, was that she knew exactly who she was while she had serious doubts that the others did. While she hadn't said it, it was beyond clear what she was implying to the world and as Elizabeth Morell watched the end of the girl's speech, she immediately looked over to Tai and Violet before sighing and showing him the footage herself before making her way back to Beacon Tower so that she could inform Ozpin of the threat and identity of Cinder Fall. Even if she had masked it well, that mask was slowly being tattered before their very eyes.