Given that people seem to have missed that I've had the sequel to ER posted on this site for over a year. I'm just going to add future chapters here. As always I can be reached on Ao3 under the same user name, as well as uncensored versions of all my stories, sooner updates and many Ao3 exclusives. Not to mention a much fuller tag listing.

Ozpin headed out almost as soon as his arm wasn't threatening to fall off. The faunus had taken over the dorms of Haven and had settled for the night. Though he only got ten steps out of the door before a blur of red turned into his lover on one arm and a crow landed on his shoulder. Oz chuckled reaching up and rubbing the crows head with his palm. "Shouldn't you both rest?"

"Probably, as should you. But you had this look on your face as you went out and we didn't think we could convince whatever is bothering you that it could wait." Ruby said weaving her fingers through his. "So where are we going?"

"Back to Haven." Ozpin said and started walking.

"Why?" Ruby asked.

"Leo."

"Ahhh, you know I could just fly ahead and check it out for you."

Qrow voice was clear in their minds, Ozpin shook his head. "No, you've seen more than enough on my behalf. I need to resolve this one."

The crow shifted on Oz's shoulder and took off… only for Ozpin's hand to close around his middle. "I said no Qrow." Ozpin opened his coat and tucked the crow against his breast. "Honestly why are you acting like this?"

"Honestly I find being a bird relaxing. I took a few hits while you are Ruby were busy, plus it's cold out and I get free snuggles this way." Qrow hunkered down against Oz's warm chest.

Oz chuckled. "Well when you put it like that."

Ruby giggled and took Oz's free hand again. "Come on, let's go find Leo."

Ozpin and Ruby had to find a back way into the school as the main halls mess was a task for another day. Not to say Oz didn't think about snapping his fingers and mending it but it didn't feel right. Haven needed to grow from this not return to the same as before. Oz found walking down the hall to Leo's office… uncomfortable. His magic was back in a fourth of it's power but something felt different.

Dante lunged forward, wind batting at him from every angle. The Summer Maiden flew on high, she blasted a wave of pure heat down at him. The glyphs rose up and poured out over his skin cloaking him in black protecting him. He lunged forward Rebellion in hand, Summer twisted her hands and rock smashed up from the ground sending him flying out of control through the air.

"A little help here." Dante aimed his thoughts at the ever present Sentients in his head.

"This is your battle not ours."

Dante spun around in time to see the piercing ray of light strike through his chest. Pain racked him and fell to the ground with a thump. "Had you helped you wouldn't have to wait for me to take over Ozpin again."

"Perhaps but the world is quiet right now."

Darkness overtook Dante's vision.

Ozpin stumbled the crow flying out from under his coat and transforming. Qrow caught Oz as the bigger man fell against a wall. "Oz?!"

He was running through a world of purple and green, hunger gnawed at his belly. Vague shapes of men and woman ran in terror from him. Excitement poured through him, his massive jaws closed around the tiny humans, he ripped and tore gobbling up the purple light of their bodies. Hungry so hungry. His massive paws batted the souls to the ground and he consumed them one by one. They screamed as his jaws sliced them apart.

Hungry so hungry.

He ran again the world passing him by in a blurr, the In-Between was a place he knew well. A panther a third his size came into view, it ran at the sight of him but was too consumed.

Hungry always so hungry.

Ruby and Qrow were pulling at him, shouting his name. They were blurry in his vision, he slumped to the ground.

He reached out a hand and conjured fire, he could see the face of a soul SCREAM in agony as it's energy the fibre of it's being was used.

"Oz, Oz, OZ!" Qrow as shaking him as Ozpin looked up to him.

Oz blinked once and tears gathered in his eyes. He understood, oh Gods he understood. Magic it was… he wanted to be sick. Oz's covered his face with his hands, his eyes blown wide. He felt Ruby prod him through the bond but he shook his head and shielded it.

Ruby hugged him, drawing him to her so his head resting on her chest. Qrow pulled his hands away and cleared the tear tracks. "Oz talk to us please?"

Ozpin shook his head. "No no, I can't." The muscles of his neck strained as he choked around 'can't'. Ozpin shoved himself to his feet and away from them. Magic, just how many souls had he destroyed? How many had the Maidens destroyed since he gave the power up? Cinder's frivolous use came to mind instantly. Why was he remembering this now? Did he get more memories back connected to the Fall Maiden magic? How many had been lost?

He shoved the doors to Leo's office open and stopped with a lurch. He scrunched up his nose at the smell. "Oh charming."

Ruby looked in then promptly dived for a nearby trash can. Qrow held her hair back as she vomited, he was no stranger to dead bodies.

"Oh Leo." Ozpin walked towards the body laying in a pool of blood. He knelt and studied the ground, the long nail groves. He probably begged, begged Salem to spare his life.

Qrow and Ruby came over the latter leaning on her lover. "That is just messed up." Qrow said.

"Agreed." Ozpin stood and walked around Leo's desk opening up all the windows before returning to the body and kneeling. He reached out and hesitated, now understand just what magic was did he dare use it so casually? He looked at poor Leo. "He didn't deserve this. A reckoning for sure, but not this." Oz set a hand on Leo's head and turned him to dust, a little summoned wind carried Leo out into the sky to settle someplace peaceful. "We have to check the vault then we can go home."

Qrow's head spun as he tired to take in the vault. "It's so barren." He pulled out his Scroll and turned the flashlight function on.

"I did take all the magic out of the place." Ozpin said walking over to the edge of the bridge and stripping down.

"What are you doing?" Ruby asked.

"There is water at the bottom, this the fastest way down." He looked over to his partners and found them staring slack jawed at him. "Oh right, the tattoos are all gone." He looked away and then jumped off the edge, crossing his arms in an X over his chest.

The water was freezing when he hit it, with a little magic he opened his palm and created a clear white light that filled the darkness to the cave walls. His heart sank when he didn't see Cinder's body. Oz kicked out to the surface he looked around his long hair plastered to his skull and light filtered through the wall. Ozpin swam over and hauled himself out of the water, it was bit of a squeeze to get through the wall but the sight that greeted him left no doubt in his mind. He walked back to the hole and shouted up. "Qrow I need you down here! Bring your Scroll and my clothes!"

Sure enough a minute later, a crow flew through the hole followed by a stream of petals. Ruby materialized first and turned green. Qrow snapped into existence beside her and shoved Oz's clothes at him and pulled out his Scroll and started talking pictures. "You two go home. I'll report this."

Ozpin dressed quickly and pulled Ruby away from the body. "Thank you. Come on Ruby take us back up."

Ruby drew Oz into her Semblance and blasted them back up into the school. Qrow looked at the body of the poor woman and wished he had something to cover her with. However this confirmed Ozpin's fears. Cinder was alive.

Yang came out of the washroom with her hair wrapped up and a towel tight around her breasts. She heard giggling and then the door beside her opened. Nora poked her head out. "Yang~ Blake is out with Sun. So Ren and I were wondering if you'd like to join us."

The Xaio Long blinked once then grinned. "Sure I'd love that."

Meanwhile Ren pounced on Jaune a few doors down. "You my friend, need to relax."

Jaune stared at the hands that had found their way into his lap and blushed. "Ren want are you doing?"

"Nora is snagging Yang as we speak. My job is to collect you for a night of sensual pleasure." Ren purred. "You need to move on Jaune, not forget but move on. We love you, you're our friend. So it's high time you let us in."

"You want me to have sex with you?" Jaune asked in disbelief.

"Well Nora or Yang or both. I figured you were more into girls." Ren said moving his hand to massage Jaune's shoulders.

Jaune had to admit that felt really good, after screaming at Cinder he did feel a bit better. "Okay."

Qrow returned shortly after Ruby and Ozpin got home. Ozpin went straight for a shower while Ruby set about undressing. When her back was revealed Qrow dropped his sword only just catching it before it hit the ground. He set it on the dresser and walked over reaching out to touch her back without thought.

As soon as his fingers touched her she shrieked and spun lashing out blindly while scrambling back putting her back to the wall. Qrow jumped away as she if she had burned him. Ruby slid down the wall and curled up into a ball crying in deep sobs. "Ruby I-."

The bathroom opened with a jerk so harsh it creaked on the hinges. Ozpin had his arms around her in an instant petting her hair down. Qrow backed away and Oz said. "Don't you dare leave."

Qrow stopped and then did the next thing that came to mind. He sat down so that no one was above another. Ozpin rubbed up and down Ruby's back. "Shh deep breaths you're safe. I'm here. As is Qrow. Your baby is safe, deep breathes you're safe."

Ruby's hands went to her belly, her baby girl was safe she was far away from Tyrian. They were home, it had just been Qrow. She looked up to him and burst into tears for a different reason. "I'm sorry!" She reached out to him.

Qrow moved to her instantly drawing her into a hug, burying his face against her neck. "It's not your fault."

The little woman just cried. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Ozpin moved to wrap both of them up in his embrace, he kissed both of their heads. "It's alright. It hasn't been that long and we've all been busy. Let me dry and we'll go to bed."

Ruby's tears slowed and she nodded her head. "I'm okay now."

"Good." Ozpin kissed her temple and stood he returned to the bathroom but left the door open this time.

"Can I see it please?" Qrow asked looking down at his lover.

"Sure and I'm sorry." Ruby turned and shuffled away letting him see her back.

"You've nothing to apologize for, I should have said something rather than surprising you." Qrow reached out and touched the ink of a lantern on her skin. "Is this the Relic?"

"Yeah Ozpin wanted to hid it, he thought under my skin was the best place." Ruby looked over her shoulder and watched him.

"It's very pretty, plus I don't think anyone would think to look here." Qrow withdrew and stood offering her a hand.

Ruby took it and he pulled her up, her hand went to her belly again. "At least I can still move around."

"Enjoy it while it lasts." They went to bed and when Oz was dry he found them already snuggled up together. He slid in behind Ruby and cuddled them both tight.