I have risen from the dead and I'm ready to put this story to bed once and for all!

During my chaotic hiatus, I saw several comments asking to make the story longer. The story (as it is right now) will not be extended since I already have everything laid out from start to finish.

HOWEVER, if enough people show interest in me creating a rewrite (aka a longer and slightly more planned story) I will consider it. There are certain plotlines I wanted to explore but couldn't/had to water down given the chapter limit.

I think rewriting the story will also give me a chance to expand upon certain plot points in this current version of the tale and fix some pacing issues.

Let me know what you think of this idea :)

This isn't a promise that a rewrite will 100% happen, it's just an idea I'm no longer opposed to. This is the first fanfic that has made me feel super attached to the characters I wrote about. I'm happy to keep writing about them knowing so many people also seem interested.

I have more thoughts on this subject but we can discuss this in more detail in the final author's note titled "The End?"

Thank you so much for 100+ followers! Let's finally finish this madness!

It felt like a calm before the storm.

They arrived at their final big checkpoint early in the evening, with the sky blazing with orange light. The main road leading up to the sleepy town was deserted, the only other signs of life she saw were a couple of squirrels chasing each other down the trail.

Though she was used to the peace from their past week of travelling together, the stillness tonight left her restless.

"It's really quiet," Weiss noted nervously.

"Better quiet than busy," Adam said, despite keeping one hand on the hilt of his sword.

"You don't think we're walking into a trap, right?"

"The White Fang doesn't come here often. Too much security running about to cause problems." He explained with an irked expression.

She did relax a little at the prospect of heightened security. If there was law enforcement it would at least give them a better advantage if something went wrong.

"That hasn't stopped them from attacking before." She said pointedly.

"It'd be a waste of manpower to try and cause trouble in a useless town. There are other places to focus our efforts on."

They slowed to a stop when the first hint of civilization began to reveal itself in the sound of cars passing to and fro. He quietly signalled her into the thicker growth of foliage on the side. Unlike the previous town, the forest was not fenced in from the urban space, making it easier for them and locals to access the wilderness.

They purposefully stayed far away from the thin boundary separating them and the town, crouching behind trees and bushes whenever they spotted someone walking by the treelines.

From the glimpses she saw through thick foliage, Weiss could tell the town was unlike the other settlements she'd been to in terms of first impressions. It was clean, with seemingly ordinary people going about their business as opposed to hardened criminals.

Though it looked perfectly peaceful, she couldn't stop fidgeting with her sword. Almost every town or village she walked into nearly got her captured or killed, she had no doubt this one had some awful fate waiting for her on the inside—especially now that they were so close to their destination.

"What are we going to do about disguises?" She whispered.

While he was less noticeable without that awful mask, she didn't think it was any better to allow him to walk through the streets without anything to conceal his identity.

"I'll steal something from one of the locals." He answered.

"Adam!"

"It's not like I can bargain with any passing travellers."

"Didn't you just say this place is running with security?"

"It's not a problem if we cover our tracks properly."

Weiss shook her head in disbelief. She refused to let their mission get foiled by a burglary attempt gone wrong.

"Or I could go in there and buy something for you." She suggested instead. It would be fitting considering he had gotten her such a nice gift previously.

"That's more trouble than it's worth."

"So is trying to rob some stranger on the street. At least my idea won't get us arrested." She argued. "If there's tightened security out there I think I'll be fine by myself, and if you're worried you can always contact me through my Scroll."

He still didn't seem too happy with the idea, but he nodded regardless. "Be careful. If you think something is off, trust your gut instinct and get the hell out. If you're not back in an hour I'll come looking for you."

After hiding her messy bun with the red scarf, she hurried into town using her Scroll as a guide to the nearest boutique for Huntsmen and Huntresses. The streets were quiet, locals didn't even blink an eye at her as she hurried past them.

It was almost unnerving how normal the town felt. She was half-expecting someone to suddenly pull out a gun and declare their undying loyalty to the White Fang. All she heard was passing conversations and cars zooming by.

The number of officers patrolling in cars and on foot helped soothe the anxiety constricting her chest. It reminded her a bit of Atlas. Where she grew up the streets were always patrolled heavily by Atlas Military. There was never a moment she felt unsafe going out alone.

'I wonder how Winter is doing.' She couldn't help but think. With so much going on, it was so easy for her to forget the people she left behind back in Atlas.

Weiss felt bad for leaving home the way she did without letting her sister know. It probably didn't help that she'd broken her previous Scroll and cut all communication with her.

'I should try and contact her.' Though she wondered if it would be smart to tell her who exactly she was travelling with all this time.

While her sister didn't seem to mind her befriending Adam as a kid, she wasn't sure she'd react as kindly if she knew what he'd done since joining the White Fang.

She sidelined her train of thought when she finally arrived at the boutique. Weiss knew exactly what to get the moment she saw it. It was a black travelling cloak that was dyed a beautiful rose-red on the inside. The fabric, while being thick, was lightweight to accommodate combat. It was perfect for cool nights.

After completing her purchase, she hurried back to the forest. He was pacing impatiently back and forth by the time she found him again.

"Took you long enough." He quickly scanned over her for signs of injury.

"You can't rush shopping." She eagerly took the new cloak out from the bag and pushed it into his arms. "Go on, try it! I think it'll be perfect for you."

"You didn't have to buy something so expensive." He said, frowning at the price tag he'd just ripped off.

"If we're going to buy something, we might as well get the best quality product we can get our hands on." She reasoned.

"But to spend this much on a cloak?"

"It's a nice cloak. Why would I buy a cloak that's made of an inferior material when I can get this? Now hurry up and try it on already."

"I'll never understand rich people."

She knew she'd made the right purchase when he finally donned the cloak. It fit his frame perfectly and complemented his current colour scheme.

'He looks really nice with it.' She admired him internally. While his usual outfit was classy, the added cloak left a touch of mystery.

"What? Does it look bad?" He asked when he caught her staring.

"I think we should've bought you a cloak earlier. You look great with it." She told him honestly. He seemed taken aback by her response, but it earned her a small grin nonetheless.

"And you need to get your priorities straight." He joked, throwing the hood over his head. "Come on, we should get moving before it gets too late."

They entered town together. Adam's dark cloak did earn him a few curious glances from passing locals, but no one made the move to try and confront him about it. They all went about their business without missing a beat.

Weiss noticed him tensing when they walked past a couple of uniformed officers. Their curious gaze lingered on them longer than the passing locals, and Adam didn't relax until they had completely disappeared from sight.

"Are you alright?" She whispered to him.

"Just fine." He answered curtly.

"You don't sound fine."

He lowered his head when they passed by a busy al fresco. Weiss noted the only Faunus she saw amongst the crowd was the lone server taking all the orders.

"We can talk later. Now isn't the time." He finally answered her.

The sky was quickly darkening by the time they arrived at the train station. Weiss felt her gut twist into knots at the sheer number of people waiting on the inside. If even half of the crowd was sent to ambush them, they would be in a world of trouble.

She made her purchase quickly, with Adam standing protectively behind her as she bought their tickets for the last possible train to Mistral City. If he heard that she bought them both first-class tickets he didn't comment on it.

They sat down at the bench furthest from the rest of the bustling crowd. The only other person sitting near them was a small girl dressed completely in pink, even her monkey tail was decorated with a cute rosy ribbon. She had her attention fully locked onto the Scroll in her hands, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.

Weiss wasn't sure how long they were sitting there for when two patrolling guards made rounds through the busy train station, from the bored looks on their faces it seemed they'd been patrolling for a while.

One of the guards locked his eyes onto the small Faunus girl and whispered something to his partner. They quickly changed their path and made a beeline towards her.

At first, Weiss thought they'd identified her as a lost child, but when both guards unsheathed their swords she felt her blood go cold.

"Where's your ticket?"

The small girl nearly dropped her phone in surprise when the guards interrogated her.

"Umm…m-my brother has it." The girl answered softly.

"Loitering isn't allowed. Show us your ticket or get out." The guard ordered, completely ignoring what the girl had said earlier.

Weiss' initial shock melted into anger. The guards didn't seem to care much about their jobs until they spotted her playing on her Scroll alone.

"S-Sage will be back soon. H-he went to the washroom with—"

"I said loitering isn't allowed! Now you either show us your ticket or get out of the station!" The guard cut her off sharply.

The poor girl burst into tears. Several curious eyes turned to see what the noise was all about, but no one seemed bothered by what they were seeing. It wasn't until then that Weiss noticed almost everyone in the station was a human.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, you filthy ape!" The second guard snapped, raising his sword. The little girl screamed and immediately held her hands up to shield her face.

Weiss didn't realize Adam had moved until he was in front of her. He pulled out his train ticket and practically shoved it into the girl's hand.

"There, she can have mine." He spoke to the guards coldly. "Now leave her alone."

The guards looked at Adam like he'd just spat in their faces.

"That's not how this works, sir." The guards seemed to take a keen interest in the dark hood covering his head.

"You told her she couldn't stay unless she has a ticket. Well now she does, so back off."

"You will address me with respect!" The guard who responded swung at him. Just as his sword was about to make contact, Adam's own blade emerged from within the cloak and blocked it with a sharp clang.

That seemed to elicit a bigger response from the crowd. Parents quickly ushered their children to the crowded platform outside while those sitting nearby hurried out of their seats to find a different bench to occupy.

'They tried to hurt him.' Weiss could barely register the thought without feeling nauseous. 'He didn't even have his weapon out and they tried to hurt him.'

The guards cursed and took a cautious step back. By now the little girl had taken to hiding behind Adam, clinging tightly onto the back of his cloak like a lifeline.

"What's wrong? Expecting to hit an easy target?" Adam taunted with a dangerous smirk.

For a terrifying moment, Weiss thought they would try and attack him again. It was a subtle shift in their stance and position of their blades that gave their intentions away. She had no doubt Adam was ready to retaliate whatever they could throw at him despite his deceptively calm demeanour.

Neither of them made the first strike as if they were silently challenging the other to initiate the attack.

"You better show us your own ticket or we'll have to kindly escort you out, sir." The guard spoke through clenched teeth.

"We were just about to buy one!" Weiss quickly rushed to his side.

She felt strangely out of place when the uniformed men glared at her. She was used to being around guards and other forms of authority figures, but this was the first she'd ever been facing them with such hostility.

"And you have the money to buy one?" One of the guards seemed to lock onto the crimson scarf on her head like it'd personally offended him.

"Of course I do." She frowned, confused why he was questioning her ability to purchase her own train ticket.

"Prove it."

"What kind of question is that?" She blurted, genuinely taken aback by the strange interrogation.

"Don't pretend like we don't know how your kind works." The man sneered. Weiss immediately rested her hand on her sword as the man inched closer to her. Adam positioned his blade protectively in front of her, stopping the man from drawing any closer.

"Daisy!" A sharp yell caught all their attention.

A teenager dressed completely in black rushed towards them, followed shortly by an older gentleman dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. As far as Weiss could tell, both of them were human.

"Sage!" The young girl leapt out from behind Adam and ran into the older teen's arms. Though the teen was a head shorter than the men, he still scowled furiously at them. "What did you do to my sister?!"

"I would also like to know what's going on here." The older gentleman looked between the guards and the kids. The guards seemed to recognize the older man as they both exchanged shocked looks with each other.

"You know that kid?" One of the guards asked, addressing the man in a much more meek voice.

"She's my granddaughter!"

The guards visibly paled from his response. The change of behaviour was almost immediate. They quickly sheathed their swords and profusely apologized to the man. One of the men eyed Adam and Weiss suspiciously, but his partner quietly discouraged him from staying any longer and they both hurried away.

Adam finally sheathed his sword when they disappeared into the crowd.

"Are you okay, Daisy?" Sage asked his sister the moment the guards were gone.

"Yeah. These nice people helped me out!" Daisy ran back to Adam and held out his ticket. "Here you go, mister. Thank you for helping me!"

"Don't mention it." He accepted the ticket, bowing his head when her grandfather approached him.

"Thank you two so much for the help. I didn't think there would be a problem if we left her alone for a little bit." He said to them as he ruffled the younger girl's hair. "I'm terribly sorry you had to go through that, Daisy."

"It wasn't your fault, grandpa." As if to prove her point, she hugged her grandpa as hard as she could manage.

"Yeah…well…you can't be too careful around...security. Be more careful next time." Adam's response left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Was it normal for the Faunus to constantly keep their guards up around authority figures? Maybe it was only a Mistral problem. Or maybe it was something she never thought about before, much like the judging looks the Faunus received by simply going out.

She wasn't sure which possibility was worse

The soft chime of the announcer informing them of the incoming train snapped her out of her thoughts.

"The train's here!" Daisy excitedly pulled at her grandfather's sleeves. "Come on, you promised we would get a super nice sleeping cart!"

"Now, now, there's no need to rush. No one's going to steal our seats." Despite his reassurance, Daisy didn't look the slightest bit more patient.

"I hope you two have a safe journey." The older man turned his attention back on them, eyeing Weiss' crimson scarf and Adam's dark hood just as the guards did. Except this time, he showed no signs of contempt for their outfits.

"It's a shame not everyone can travel without drawing unwanted attention." He added with a knowing smile.

'He thinks I'm a Faunus-they all think I'm a Faunus.' The realization only made her brief encounter with the guards even more bitter.

"O-oh, I'm not–"

"Safe travels." The older man turned his back to them and ushered his grandkids into the bustling crowd. Daisy eagerly waved goodbye to them while her brother simply nodded in thanks for what they did.

While the crowd was eager to board the incoming train, Weiss felt completely frozen in place as that horrible encounter with the guards continued to repeat in her head. Each time she revisited that short moment, it left her feeling sicker than the last.

'Is this normal?' The unanswered question haunted her like ghosts.

"Come on," Adam's hand on her shoulder barely brought her back to the present. "Let's get out of here."

She couldn't have agreed more.

The first-class private sleeping carts consisted of two bunk beds, their own private bathroom, and a large dining table in between two cushioned seats beneath a large window. After weeks out in the wilderness, Weiss wanted to ensure the final stretch of their journey was spent in comfort, though her initial excitement over their luxurious travel arrangements dampened from their earlier encounter with the guards.

It seemed Adam shared the same sentiment.

When Weiss was finished drying her hair, she found him sitting by the window in the dark, staring idly as the forest outside rushed past them. He didn't speak much after they settled down on the train.

"Can a sulk with you?" She asked, slipping into the seat beside him.

"I'm not sulking." He looked over at her, annoyed.

"Then why are you staring out the window when there's a perfectly good bed waiting for you?"

"It's a good night to think." He turned his head away from her.

"Mhmm." She rested her head on the table, staring up at the dark shapes rushing past their window. Though it'd been hours since they witnessed the guards bully that poor Faunus girl, the weight on her chest didn't get any lighter.

"Adam, can I ask a…touchy question?" She asked shyly.

"Shoot." He didn't hesitate to answer.

"The way those guards treated that girl…is that normal for you guys?"

"You catch on quickly." He smiled grimly at her. "It's not as bad as Atlas, though. This is nothing."

"What do they do in Atlas?" She asked hesitantly.

"They attack first and ask questions later." He answered. "I could go on but we don't have all night."

"Oh." She murmured. His reply felt like a slap to the face.

How was she going to succeed in her mission when the very people who swore to protect the innocent were actively contributing to the problem?

Weiss looked over at the bunk beds where her sword rested against the wall with Adam's. It felt inevitable that she'd one day have to draw her blade against the people she once trusted to protect her-who would needlessly hurt people like him.

"Still think you can help us using peaceful means?" He asked gently as if sensing her internal conflict.

"I have to try." She leaned back into her seat with a sigh. "I'll fight if they force my hand."

"Even if it means fighting Atlas Military?"

Weiss shivered as she immediately thought of Winter and the soldiers that protected her home since childhood. She'd have no chance of returning home if she actively opposed the military. Her family would no doubt disown her if they hadn't already, and she had a feeling Winter wouldn't take her rebellion too kindly either.

'It isn't just about me anymore.' Weiss reminded herself.

"I'll do it. Even if it means fighting them." She responded heavily.

Was Winter aware of this problem when she joined Atlas Military? Did she ever treat the Faunus the way that those men did today?

Weiss became distinctly aware of the weight of her Scroll sitting in her pocket. Though a part of her wanted to send a message to her sister demanding answers, another part of her felt too scared to see what she'd find.

Would she have to face Winter on the battlefield someday?

'Winter would want to listen to me first.' She tried to reason with herself. 'She'd believe me over what they tell her in the military.'

But what if she doesn't? Almost everything she'd once believed has already been proven wrong. What if Winter reacted similarly to the guards who assumed the worst out of Daisy for how she looked?

She took her Scroll out of her pocket and threw it haphazardly on the table. The idea of catching up with her sister didn't sound all that appealing anymore.

"My sister's part of Atlas Military." She confessed. "I want to believe she's not like those guards, but I don't know anymore."

"I've never had any personal encounters with her, but from what I've heard she's a formidable opponent." He said.

Weiss was a bit relieved to hear Adam didn't have any horror stories regarding her sister, but that also meant the only way she could ever find the truth was by asking Winter herself.

"If there comes a time that you need to face her in combat, I can fight in your place." His offer helped to calm her restless anxiety just a bit.

"I'll fight if that happens, it wouldn't be right for me to make you deal with my mess. Thank you, though." She smiled. " I'm glad I have you by my side."

Weiss was tempted to reach out and grab his hand, but it felt too soon to be getting so close to him again. They were on good terms, but it wasn't like back then.

"You other friends would've offered the same thing. There's no need for theatrics." He shrugged.

'It hits different coming from you.'

"So what's up with you tonight? You look like you have a lot on your mind." She decided to ask instead.

"Who says there's anything wrong?"

"Come on, you already heard what's on my mind." She urged gently. "You know you can tell me anything."

The dark wall of trees outside opened suddenly up to a beautiful river, with white specks of moonlight dancing on the water's surface.

"That man from earlier…he really cared about both his grandkids." He spoke up so softly she nearly missed it.

"So?"

"Back in the White Fang, all we heard were stories of Faunus kids being hurt by their human families. That's where most of our youngest recruits come from actually, from families who don't want them. Sienna is opposed to mixed couples because of that, she's tired of taking in abused and abandoned kids. That's not to mention the dozens of abused spouses showing up at our door.

"I never thought a family like theirs was a possibility until I saw it today." He breathed. "But maybe they're just the exception."

The train entered a tunnel. Plunging them in complete darkness for a minute before re-emerging back outside.

"Have I told you about the couple that took care of me in that Faunus village?" She asked him.

"Couple? You mean that human was actually her lover?" He looked at her in utter shock.

"How did you not know? I thought you were stalking us."

"I thought he was just a roommate. And it's not stalking."

"A roommate who kisses her whenever he comes home? Really?"

"You make it sound like I was standing right in front of the windows. I wouldn't be that reckless with my surveillance—unlike someone I know."

Weiss laughed and proceeded to tell him about the couple's story, detailing the love she saw between them despite their backgrounds.

"I don't think the family we saw today was the exception, I definitely believe mixed families can flourish." She concluded.

"I'm still sceptical. If so many mixed families can thrive then why do we keep taking in abused kids?" He challenged lightly.

"I doubt the kids who grow up happy are likely to join the White Fang." She speculated. "It's another reason why we can't lose this fight. Kids deserve to grow up in a safe world."

'Unlike us.'

"Irrationally optimistic as usual." He shook his head. "Your fairy tale sounds nice, though."

"I prefer the term hopeful." She let out another loud yawn. "And it doesn't have to be just a fairy tale."

"You should sleep."

"Not yet. I want to stay up for just a bit longer." She protested despite her own fatigue getting the better of her. The allure of a nice soft bed was sounding more and more appealing.

"You look half-awake." He observed. "We can talk again in the morning."

"But it'll be our last full night travelling together. I don't want to spend it asleep." She argued.

"My point still stands, it's not like I'm going anywhere."

"It's not the same, Adam. Conversations in the morning don't hit the same as those at night. I want to make this night memorable."

"You're impossibly sentimental." He glanced over at her with a smile—a real smile that reached his eye. For a second she forgot just how exhausted she was.

Maybe it was the moonlight playing tricks with her eyes, but it was like looking at a completely different person. She was so used to seeing him with his guard up it completely threw her off to see him like this—like he did all those years ago. The temptation of inching closer to him was drawing her in like a magnet.

"You're staring, Weiss"

"No I'm not." She took a keen interest in staring at her discarded Scroll.

"Spit it out already."

"I-I don't know what you're–"

"It's written all over your face. I can tell you want to say something."

She internally cursed him and his stupidly good night vision.

"I was just wondering if I can umm…" she felt herself blushing at how silly her question sounded.

"We haven't got all night." He pressed on impatiently.

"Do you mind if I rest my head on your shoulder?" She looked down at her lap, cheeks burning. "M-maybe I'm being too sentimental since it's late and all, a-and we used to do this as kids! I just figured—never mind. It's fine, I know things aren't the same as back then and—"

"I said I was willing to try and make it work, right?" He cut her off.

She shyly looked up at him. That wonderful smile was still there.

"We're friends." He met her gaze for a second longer before looking back out the window. "You don't need to ask next time. I don't mind if it's you."

She nodded and slid closer to him, their legs just barely touching. When he made no move to push her away or change his mind, she gently rested her head on his shoulder.

It reminded her of the moments they shared in the cave, just without the ice and threats of adults catching them together. It was everything her younger self would've asked for and more.

She almost wanted to cry at how familiar it all felt, with just the two of them being together in the dead of night without anyone knowing what they were doing.

"Well, you're awfully quiet all of a sudden." He noted after a stretch of silence.

"I'm just taking in the moment. This really brings me back." She replied.

"I think you're just feeling abnormally sentimental. This can't be healthy for you."

"Maybe." She smiled, closing her eyes and snuggling closer to him. For a blissful moment, she forgot the horrors of their world, losing herself in his warmth. "You should smile more. I like seeing you happy."

"I think you're delusional right now." He rested his head against her's.

They didn't speak much after that, listening to the rhythmic sounds of the train running down the tracks. She must've fallen asleep at some point as she suddenly found being tucked into one of the beds.

"You should let your hair down more." She felt him brush the strands of loose hair off her face. "I like seeing you this relaxed."

Seeing as they were stuck on the train until later that evening, they spent most of their time talking about whatever was on their mind.

Weiss tried to memorize every little detail of that day. From way he laughed at her stupid antics back at Beacon to the comfortable silences that fell between them when they searched for another topic to discuss.

Sunset came much sooner than she would've liked. Though she admired the beautiful splashes of orange and magenta painting the skies, it was also a reminder of their dwindling time together.

They arrived at their station once darkness had taken reign of the heavens once more. After Adam pulled up his hood, they left the train together. Weiss didn't bother with her disguise when she was about to be reunited with the rest of her team anyways, though she kept his scarf around her neck.

"I'll walk you halfway." He offered once they left the station. Weiss happily agreed.

The city was bustling with activity even in the later hours, Faunus and humans filled the busy night market leaving just barely enough space for them to walk side by side. Weiss couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the citizen body gave off unusually tense energy. The number of armed Hunters and Huntresses didn't help to ease the tension.

At first, she thought she was just trying to adjust to the urban space, but when Adam pointed it out to her she couldn't stop noticing it.

"Maybe they're all anxious after the whole Beacon mess." She speculated softly.

"It's been months. They would've been over the worst of it by now." He disagreed. "I think something happened."

"You don't think this has to do with Sienna, right?" Weiss would never forgive herself if she got all her friends involved with Sienna's wrath.

"I don't know. I'll ask around and update you."

They paused just at the heart of the bustling market. Hundreds of locals walked to and fro around them, blissfully ignorant of the heavyweight on her chest.

"It's not forever." He said as if reading her mind. "You can always message me using your Scroll. I'll respond whenever I can."

"I know. It's just hard after everything." She played with the end of her scarf.

"You've survived fine without me. You can do it again." He tried to reassure her. "Just be careful if you get into a fight with Sienna without me. Her Semblance amplifies all her attacks the moment she shatters your Aura. It's what makes her a deadly opponent."

'Another reason why you shouldn't be facing her alone.' She bit back the response she wanted to say to him.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back with me?" Weiss asked instead.

"Not now. I'm not ready for that yet." He replied.

"You're always welcome to join us if you change your mind. Stay safe, I know you're strong but you're not immortal." She placed a firm hand on his shoulder as if to assure herself he was still here. "Thanks for saving my life so many times. I owe you."

"You can thank me by not jumping out of moving vehicles from now on. You got lucky this time, but I won't always be there to look after you."

She crushed him with the tightest hug she could manage, and he happily returned the favour. Weiss closed her eyes and tried to engrave that moment forever into her head.

She memorized the citrus shampoo still lingering in his hair, the feeling of his strong arms around her, and his warmth. Weiss held onto him for as long as she possibly could, but she knew they couldn't stay forever. Finally, they reluctantly let each other go.

"Good luck." He told her firmly.

"You too."

Weiss knew something was wrong when the instant Haven Academy came into view. She quickly spotted a group of young Hunters and Huntresses fighting hooded White Fang members just outside the school gates.

She cursed and quickly rushed towards them, sword drawn and ready.

It didn't take long for Weiss to take down the small group of intruders. Her summons distracted them well enough for her to swoop in with the finishing blow. After ensuring the group of students was okay, she immediately asked them what happened.

"We don't know! T-the school was covered in a fog one minute and the next thing we knew our teachers were telling us to arm ourselves!" One of the girls answered her.

"O-one of the visiting Hunters offered to help lead the fight!" Another student added.

That's all Weiss needed to hear.

"If you don't feel safe facing the White Fang leave and call for help. It's not cowardly to save your life." She noticed three of the young teens meekly backing away from the larger group. "You three go and try to get more hands in the school to help! The rest of you, come with me!"

The school was nothing like Beacon. It was smaller, its courtyard was surrounded by walls, severely limiting their already limited battlefield. As far as she could tell, the entire school was at war. Injured students lay amongst the bodies of their peers and enemies. Older fighters, whom she assumed were Haven's teachers were even struggling to fight off the overwhelming crowd of invaders.

A thin white fog lingered in the air, no doubt from the smoke bombs Sienna had used during Weiss' first encounter with her.

Weiss quickly spotted a familiar blond knight fighting amid the chaos alongside a decently sized group of students. Even from a distance, she could still recognize the familiar chained weapon flying through the air.

"Listen!" She turned to address the younger Hunters and Huntresses. It was only then she realized just how young they all looked. "Go as a team and help the injured outside! Don't fight unless you absolutely need to, understand?"

The kids nodded. Though they looked mere seconds away from fainting, their courage showed through their frightened faces.

"Go! Hurry!"

With her command, they hurried together to the nearest injured student. Once Weiss was sure they could fend themselves off an attacking intruder, she made a mad dash towards Jaune who was struggling to hold off Sienna's group.

With the help of her glyphs and a pinch of Light Blue Dust, she inserted herself into the fight with an icy flurry, sending the inexperienced fighters flying. Sienna, however, dodged her storm flawlessly.

"Weiss!" She heard Jaune cry out in relief.

"Sorry I'm late." She answered shortly. It was only when she was by his side that she noticed the students helping him looked a bit older. "Why are you out here alone?!"

"I didn't want to see another school fall to Cinder's hands, these kids needed as much help as they can get." His answer sprung more questions than answers, but she put them on hold as Sienna's chained weapon clashed with her sword.

"You!" Sienna growled.

"You know this lady?!" Jaune exclaimed.

"It's a long story." She had no idea how she would explain this to him later, but that would be a problem for her to deal with after she survived the fight.

"I'm going to kill you for what you did to him!" Sienna howled.

Weiss didn't even get a chance to respond as Sienna lunged right into her. Even with Jaune helping her to deflect some of the hits, she found it nearly impossible to keep up with the woman. It was only more complicated when White Fang grunts tried to jump in and help her despite the students' best efforts to fend them off.

When Jaune was taken down by a surprise attack from a hooded grunt, Weiss made the first mistake of taking her eyes off Sienna. She paid for it dearly when she felt the chained weapon knock the wind out of her.

Sienna didn't let her go after that. Blow after blow she took until she felt her Aura beginning to run out. Weiss laid painfully on her side after Sienna kicked her down onto the ground.

"I'm going to enjoy hearing you scream." Sienna approached her slowly with her weapon twirling around her finger.

Weiss hastily switched over to her White Dust, hoping she could conjure a strong enough wind current to buy her some extra time.

"No!" Jaune suddenly threw himself in front of Weiss, but his efforts proved futile as Sienna was able to throw him aside with a single flick of her whip. Weiss was surprised his Aura had stayed intact with the close hit.

"You want to protect scum, boy?" She taunted him as he was recovering on the ground. "Then let me teach you what happens when you side with a Schnee."

Weiss watched in horror as Sienna dislodged a sharp blade directly at his neck, even Jaune seemed completely frozen as he watched her weapon draw closer and closer.

Her blade would never meet its target as a well-aimed bullet knocked it off to the side. A curtain of black swept in between them and Sienna.

"So the rumours were right." Adam quickly positioned himself in front of Jaune, making it impossible for Sienna to lay a finger on him.

'You came back!' Weiss found it difficult to hold back a smile despite their circumstances.

By now Sienna looked nothing less than murderous.

"I wasn't surprised when Blake defected. She always had the blood of a coward." Sienna jerked her weapon back into her hand. "But you? How could you spit on your parents' graves like this?!"

"Don't talk like you knew them." He pointed his sword at her.

"Oh, I know plenty!" She snarled, unfazed by the sight of his blade. "And I know they won't rest easy knowing you'll fight for a Schnee."

"I'll back down if you leave her alone."

Sienna glared hatefully at him before redirecting her gaze towards Weiss. Adam saw her intentions immediately, lunging towards her before she had the chance to even attack. He was keeping a wider distance between himself and Sienna this time around, utilizing his bullets to keep a healthy space between them.

Flashes of his previous fight sent her heart racing. She attempted to get up and help, only to crumble back down on the ground when a sharp pain shot up her side.

"That was way too close." Jaune breathed shakily beside her. Physically he looked fine, but the horror on his face was reflective of his emotional state. "W-who is that?"

"An old friend of mine." She winced as her side flared with pain again.

That seemed to jerk Jaune out of his daze. "Oh crap, let me heal you!"

Weiss wasn't sure what he meant until she felt his Aura merge with her own.

"You never told me you had such a strong friend!" He exclaimed, looking back at the heated fight between Adam and Sienna.

"It's complicated." Weiss spotted two White Fang grunts sneaking up behind Jaune.

Without warning, she called forth two Grimm summons to intercept them before they could land a hit.

"We need to move!" Weiss told him hastily.

Jaune nodded and helped her back up to her feet. They both jerked down when Sienna's chained blade flew right overhead, nearly hitting one of the students fighting alongside them in the back.

"She's crazy with that thing!" Jaune screamed. "Is there a way we can cut it off?!"

Weiss hadn't thought about that. She looked down at her Dust compartments and frowned at her quickly diminishing stock. With how quickly Sienna threw around her chained blade, it would be impossible to break it cleanly in half.

Unless she found a way to freeze it in place.

'I'll only have one chance.' She noted when she examined her Light Blue Dust compartment in particular.

"I have an idea." She told Jaune. "Can you and the students cover me?"

"You bet." He grinned proudly.

She nodded in thanks and carefully inched closer to Adam and Sienna's fight. The most difficult part would be to draw Sienna's attention without Adam jumping in to intercept her.

Weiss made sure to pivot herself just opposite of where Adam was positioned before switching to her Blue Dust and firing a blue crescent wave at Sienna's back.

As expected, Sienna was able to hear the incoming and intercepted them with a single wave of her whip. She sneered at Weiss while Adam looked livid she was throwing herself into the fight.

"You want me so badly?" Weiss lowered her sword and smirked despite her racing heart. "Come and get me."

Adam charged at Sienna as she lunged at Weiss. She summoned her white glyphs and bolted away from Sienna, jumping right over White Fang grunts who were quickly intercepted by Jaune and the other student fighters.

She winced when she felt one of Sienna's dislodged blades skim past her leg. Despite the pain, she refused to look back nor slow down.

Weiss summoned more glyphs than she ever had before. She was practically flying around the battlefield with the speed she was going.

She was working on autopilot as soon as she heard Sienna throw her weapon towards her. Weiss threw herself to the side at the very last minute. While her shoulder screamed out in pain from her abrupt impact into the ground, she grinned smugly when she saw Sienna's blade embed itself deeply into the concrete.

"Frostbite!" Weiss exclaimed as loudly as she could.

She dispatched her Light Blue Dust compartment from her sword and threw it at Sienna's blade. The moment the Dust compartment broke, it completely encased the wet weapon in an icy cloud, leaving the chained blade completely frozen and attached to the ground.

Sienna immediately tried to pull the blade back, only to manage to leave a small crack in the ice imprisoning her weapon. Adam quickly jumped in and severed the ice-coated chain with his glowing red sword.

'It worked!' She thought in awe. 'It actually worked!'

"Never try to do that again!" He snapped angrily at her.

"I told you the cute nicknames were helpful." She scrambled to her feet and stepped up beside him, readying her own sword.

"You fucking bitch!" Sienna threw her handle onto the ground. "I'm going to rip you limb from limb!"

"I'd like to see you try." He challenged coolly.

"You want to lay your life down for a worthless human?" Sienna cracked her knuckles. "Fine. We're better off without a traitor anyway."

A blinding white light made a hush fall on the courtyard. Helicopters filled with Faunus hovered over the battlefield. From the way they dressed, it looked like they'd just been picked up from a tropical vacation.

"It's over, Sienna!" Blake's voice ripped into the battlefield like a razor blade.

Weiss saw Blake and Sun drop from one of the airships alongside a man and woman that had a striking resemblance to Blake. Adam quietly cursed, hiding his blade beneath his cloak and checking to ensure the dark hood was still concealing his head.

"We're taking back the White Fang!" Blake unsheathed her sword.

Weaponless and completely surrounded, Weiss could see Sienna registering her defeat. Weiss shivered when the woman looked at her again.

"It's not over." Sienna mouthed to her. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a tiny black box. The instant she pressed down on the box, the battlefield erupted in chaos. Quite literally.

Weiss shielded her ears when the surrounding buildings blew up in flames. White Fang grunts made a mad dash to the crude exits created by the explosions.

When she heard Adam curse a second time, she looked back at where Sienna was standing and found her completely gone.

"I'm going to look for her," Adam whispered to Weiss. She was about to protest but he had disappeared into the chaos before she could speak up.

Lol yeah I made it so Haven was filled with students. I refuse to have that final showdown in Haven Academy to be a barren wasteland.

Apologies for the massive word count. The pacing in this one needed some extra massaging. I may have massaged it too much