James ran to his dad's office as usual, eager to give him the good news. As he approached the door to his dad's office, Adam walked out holding his father's mask.

"Adam, is my father in there?" James asked.

"James, I'm so sorry… your dad… your dad is dead," Adam replies. James runs in, devastated by the news. He sees his dad slumped back in his chair, and is surprised to see his dad motion him over.

"James… I love you… Don't trust Adam… and remember your dut…" His dad trails off.

"DAD, dad, I'm here. Can't you see me, don't leave me! DAD!" James yells as Blake enters cautiously. She walks up behind him and hugs him gently, as she starts stroking his head as James completely breaks down and starts sobbing uncontrollably. Adam observes it all from the hallway with a satisfied smirk on his face, and wearing Alexander's mask. James turns and hugs Blake, thankful that she was here when he needed her the most. "Thanks Blake, I knew I could count on you." She kisses him gently and leads him out of his dad's office.

WEEKS LATER AT THE MEMORIAL

"My father strove for one purpose, one goal… a goal he never saw completed. During his time as the leader and father to us all, the White Fang, he made it a personal mission to create faunus equality in a not so accepting world. And so, as his son, I would like to make today a day of remembrance in his honor." James conclude as he steps down and stands next to Blake while the crowd applauds his speech with tears in their eyes. The rest of the memorial goes by slowly, everyone wishing condolences to James as Blake stays near him.

THREE DAYS LATER

"And Alexander Oran's last request was that his son, James Greenwood, inherit Raycaster, his weapon," the man says. Blake picks it up and walks over to James and hands it to him. He takes it with a look of awe and reverence on his face, unable to believe that he got his father's cane-sword. Blake hugs him before going outside to wait for him. Adam waltzes in unusually late and orders the guests to leave. James glares at his late guest as all the other guests leave. Adam turns and looks at James.

"Your time in the White Fang is done." Adam says rudely.

"No it's not, I still have to finish the Atlas negotiations." James retorts.

"They have been canceled, and the White Fang Civil War is over." Adam replies. "The loyalists have lost, so new leadership is needed… me."

"You'll never get away with this." James warns.

"I already did, it all started when I murdered your father. Now leave, and maybe I won't kill you, too. I've worked too hard getting close to Blake for you to screw things up for me." Adam says. James charges, but quickly finds himself looking at Adam's sword. "Time to leave, brat." As James turns and leaves, he hears Adam say over the White Fang communication line that he, James Greenwood, is running away. As he leaves the building, Blake confronts him.

"Why James? Why are you leaving me? Blake asks, tears threating to spill.

"You can always come with me you know." He responds, hugging her.

"I can't, there's just too much at stake for me to leave." Blake becomes angry and pulls out Gambol Shroud. "Leave now, before I kill you as a deserting Revolutionist."

"Blake… I was a Loyalist; I also hope you chose the right side." James says as he runs off.

"Very good my darling, but act faster next time," Adam says as he slaps her, hard. "No hesitation." James looks back and sees Blake kiss Adam tenderly. He turns away while running, tears threating to pour out. His scroll vibrates, indicating an incoming transmission.

"This is professor Ozpin, is James there?"

"This is he, what do you need, professor?"

"I have been following your situation and have a spot for you at Signal Academy, are you interested?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued. " I've sent my associate, Qrow Branwen, to pick you up. I hope that you enjoy your new life as a hunter-in-training. Ozpin out." The call abruptly ends. James turns and looks behind him.

"I'll come back for you Blake, I'll come back."

"James, are you alright?" Blake asks.

"Yeah, just got lost in some memories." He responds. James gets up and heads down to the sparring arena, knowing that he's going to lose. He turns and faces his opponent, Pyrrha Nikos. Unsheathing his weapon, he points it at her, preparing himself. She initiates combat by starting with a jab feint leading into a left diagonal slash. James parries, and sends twenty strikes at her in rapid succesion. Blocking, Pyrrha jabs forward with her spear. He jumps over her and slashes at her exposed back. Team JJVN and Blake cheer him on, and Yang shoots Jon a look. By this pint Pyrrha has gained the upper hand. She quickly jams her shield into his stomach, causing him to stumble and fall. Finding her foot on his chest and Milo' in his face, he does a leg sweep, and trips her up. Pyrrha combat rolls towards him and sends a vicious roundhouse kick to his chest. James flies into a wall and his aura flickers out.

"Good work both of you, it seems like these two are our most skilled fighters in this class." Glynda says. "Now, per James' request, he will take on team CRDL." Pyrrha and James grin at each other, both knowing he threw the match, and also knowing he has something in store for that team of bullies. Ten minutes later team CRDL limps out, completely annihilated. Afterwards Blake and James head out to a date, blissfully unaware that James is going to have another flashback.