Snippet 20

Part 3 to Snippet 9(Cinder's Fall From Grace) and Snippet 16 (Things Fell Apart and Nothing's the Same Anymore)

Genre: Angst/Hurt and Comfort/Friendship/Tragedy

Pairs: Jaded (Emerald/Mercury), Arkos (Jaune/Pyrrha), Pink Lotus (Ren/Nora), Bitch and Bastard (Ozpin/Salem), former Iceberg (Weiss/Neptune), former Black Sun (Sun/Blake), former Green Knight (Emerald/Jaune)

Parody: RWBY/Ninja Dependence Vol 2.5 (Naruto Doujin)

AU-Type: Canon-eqsue AU (Divergence-Fall from Grace!AU)

Tags: AccidentialHero!Ruby/Cinder, BadEnding!Cinder, MagnificentBastard!Ozpin, Underlying Bad End, Deconstruction, Woobie!Cinder

Shattered Dreams and Teams

Jaune Arc lived quite the life as a huntsman. No one expected him to graduate top of his class with high honors of his year. He was not supposed to, but with the fall apart with Team RWBY caused that. The near fall of Beacon caused plenty change for him and his team. Despite having the degree that could take him all over, he returned to Vale with his team in tow. All four of them were jaded from the Grimm, Salem, and Ozpin. They had enough of all three of them especially learning seeing what they did to team RWBY. So, Jaune opened a small café, The Coeur Al'Aran, as a place where weary people can grab a bite to eat as he did always like cooking. However, even he was thrown a loop to see three old faces dash into his store fearing their lives. Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury had escaped the mob right into the fire.

"So, you three are finally out of jail?" Jaune said twirling his knife. "It's been a long time since I've seen your face, Fall."

Cinder paled.

"Oh…hey Jaune….it's been a long time." Emerald said sheepishly.

Jaune would have been glad to see his ex, but he had an eye roll for her. Their relationship would have gone further had Emerald had turned on Cinder earlier. As if Cinder couldn't catch a break, Pyrrha walked out from the kitchen with a butcher's knife. The sight of Cinder got her blood pumping and her hands reaching for her weapons. A near manic grin on her face as the person who nearly killed her was in arm's reach.

"Welcome to the Coeur!" chirped a new voice.

A little boy wearing a server's uniform with a mop of strawberry blonde hair and innocent blue eyes had a roll of paper towels. He offered it to the tree to dry off.

"Oh, thank Oum she's a mom!" Cinder thought as Pyrrha relaxed.

"Friase, that's nice of you." Jaune said glad he came up. "Show them to a table…and Nora will take the orders."

"No, I insist I do it." Pyrrha said slamming the knife into the counter.

Friase showed them to a table before scurrying off. The young Arc had a feeling his mother was going to explode. The three-year old could feel something in him telling him to go hide under a rock. He settled for near the arcade machines. Pyrrha came up to the shaking trio.

"Look, I know you have every right to be royally pissed at us. But I…we served our time and we're ready to move on. Mercury and I are even married now." Emerald said nervously raising her ring clad hand. "I see you and Jaune have that adorable scamp of yours."

Pyrrha wanted to get madder, but the sight of these three had her deflate. They were not the cocky jackasses of three years ago.

"If it's any consolation, we were chased here by an angry mob of faunus. Though, I'm surprised they said Belladonna was to blame along with Adam." Cinder said.

"That's because the moment the day was saved, there was heavy repercussions." Nora said coming out of the kitchen sounding weary.

Nora looked the same as Cinder remembered, but her hair grew out and had a small scar on her cheek. Her aqua eyes hardened at the sight of the three and, for Cinder, she appeared a lot more terrifying. Maybe it was because she immediately summoned Magnhild to her arm and sparked electricity over her body.

"It's not even worth it, Nora. They don't even have Salem to string them along anymore." Ren said from the back.

Nora put down the hammer and got out a small flask with hidden vodka within much to Jaune's displeasure. She took a swig glaring at Cinder.

[Cues: Black Lagoon Ost 06 - A Cold Wind in My Mind]

"After Ruby handed you your ass, after the dust settled, Team RWBY broke up and all four would end up leaving Beacon. I don't blame you for it happening because it was only a matter of time. Team RWBY was a team that only worked when the world was danger or had a common threat. Without that, they fell apart especially with what happened." Nora said bitterly taking another swig before continuing. "Adam had attacked Yang, and Blake's cowardly ass fled to save herself. The chickenshit had the nerve to leave Yang to nearly bleed out from her injuries. After Adam was taken down, Blake had returned to cripple him before he was put in prison in an attempt to save face with Yang, but it didn't work. The whole team was split on it, Weiss took Yang's side and Ruby took Blake's. I can't exactly go into much detail, but from the end of it, they all left Beacon within the week. Ruby ended up famous after beating Pyrrha becoming the rich bitch she is today. Weiss runs her dad's company. Blake's M.I.A., and, from what I heard on the rumor mill, she isn't welcome back in Menagerie. Yang ran off to chase after her mother…haven't seen her in years."

The door flew open and in walked Ruby with four reporters clung to her like flies to a bulb.

"Ah yes, hello Jaune. I'll have my usual order." Ruby said tossing a roll of a thousand lien on the counter.

Jaune rolled his eyes thinking she would not see him do that through those expensive sunglasses Ruby always wear.

"Miss, why are you wearing sunglasses inside?" Friase asked.

"Kid, I'm wearing them because my future's bright that I need them to see." Ruby said smugly as Nora groaned.

Even Mercury groaned, getting Cinder flashbacks. Ren and Jaune had her order ready, a case of cookies of all flavors. Both hated to admit that despite Ruby being a complete asshole, that she was the reason that they had holiday bonuses.

"Cinder, I keep running into you." Ruby said rolling her eyes. "Trying to get your bearings together after realized that you've been knocked off your high horse and into the dirt."

Cinder would have retorted, but she knew she had that coming.

"Seeing you wallow brings great joy, but I'm no monster. Jaune, treat this trio to a meal and put it on my tab or at least use the change from what I just paid you." Ruby said before turning and leaving with a huff.

[Music Ends]

Of course, Jaune had no problem letting Cinder and her friend order a buffet course. A bit of payback was always on the knight's mind. Cinder would walk out with a full stomach and a few deserts in to-go plates. Now, came the next issue, where to stay?

[Cues: Naruto OST - Evening]

The night sky over Vale brought a sense of quiet and gentle breeze over the air. To Emerald, this was a mere comfort in itself. She had always lived on polluted air back in the days before.

"So, where exactly are we heading Cinder?" Emerald asked.

"One of Torchwick's old warehouses. I hope it's still there because that redheaded prick isn't going notice us hiding us there while we make a plan for our next move." Cinder said. "Plus, I rather not risk a hotel room for the staff to try and poison us in our sleep."

Mercury was feeling nostalgic seeing the warehouse where Torchwick said he clashed with Blake and Sun long ago. Emerald had picked the lock, and they entered the warehouse where there was an odor of tuna, milk, and sweat.

"It smells like someone's been rubbing one out while eating tuna and drinking milk with their cat." Cinder said as they looked about.

The warehouse had an area that hid barracks for hiding the White Fang members in Vale. Within the dark warehouse, Cinder fumbled around before finding and flipping on the light switch. On the floor were a few empty tuna cans among the crates.

"Gross." Cinder muttered to herself punting one of the cans away from her feet.

However, it hit someone.

"Fuck!" A familiar voice spat. "Who's there?"

Jumping up to the top of the crates was Blake Belladonna looking worse for wear. She wore a tattered and slightly dirty long white tailcoat with dark gray lining, an orange studded collar, and a black tube top. Additionally, she wears a white belt over black fitted hot pants. She also had a pair of pistols on her sides, Gambol Shroud on her back, and a hidden knife within her boat. The tailcoat's sleeves were slashed up, as she still had that scar on her left abdomen. She wears thigh-high black heeled boots with gold-colored edging around the top. Blake had a more weary and shifty look on her.

"Well this is a laugh." Cinder said with a chuckle.

"Cinder." Blake said nervously. "What brings you here? Roman didn't send you, did he?"

"No." Emerald remarked.

Blake relaxed.

"Oh, whatever then." Blake said jumping down from those crates.

"So, how's team RWBY?" Cinder said coldly getting a rise from Blake.

"How was prison?" Blake jeered.

"Look, we're all pretty much homeless. Let's just share this place for now." Emerald said trying to keep the peace.

Cinder sighed, and Blake led them to the barracks only because she was not in the mood for fighting three people tonight.

"Ugh, good Oum. It smells like our old cell." Cinder said getting flashbacks to her holding in Ozpin's prison.

"Well I'm sorry that I can't afford a maid!" Blake snapped plopping down on her bed. "Booze and books are expensive."

"Then why does it smell like sex?" Mercury asked.

Blake did not want to say why or how she's been getting away with hiding here for years after everything went down. She did not want to admit to being Roman and Neo's…bitch. Blake hated herself for letting her cowardice and hypocrisy leading her down to ruining a team she considered family, getting the White Fang remnants to want her head, being considered a coward by all of Vale, the drinking, the stress eating, getting disowned by her parents, the things she had to just to get by, and her thievery leading to getting in debt to Roman and Neo. As Cinder laid on that bed, a haunting question had come to her. One she feared for so long while in that prison. Now what? She looked over at Mercury and Emerald who were already asleep in each other's arms.

"Damn it…" Cinder cursed.

If only she knew that she was doomed to be fail, she would have betrayed Salem years ago. Unknown to her, a camera was watching them all. Roman did have his old warehouse wired and was watching this new development.

"Interesting." Roman said before turning to Neo. "Neo, we have a chance to have Cinder Fall under our heel for once."

Neo could only manically grin. Cinder Fall was in for it once again.

Ut Autem Perseverabat

(Bonus Scene)

All around Beacon Academy that night, all was quiet except Goodwitch's office where her desk shook.

"GRIMMM PUSSY FEELS GOODDDD!" Ozpin said thrusting deeper into Salem.

Both were in the heat of a tryst with it being Salem's idea to have her fucked on every single desk on this school. The two were in the heat of the moments with clothes scattered all over Goodwitch's office. As for Goodwitch herself, she sat on her office chair watching this affair with a cup of brandy. Now she understood why Qrow drinks more now than ever.

"I want a new desk and a pay rise." Glynda said blankly. "Because I don't paid enough for this shit."

"Acceptable." Ozpin said mid-thrust.

"Care for a turn, Glynda? I'm fairly close." Salem said between her moans.

Glynda would accept that offer after a couple more glasses of brandy. She wanted to be good and drunk to forget what happened that night.

(A/N: And we found out what happened to Team RWBY. I was inspired by Naruto fics that point out that Team 7 really has the same problem in that they don't really work as a team. This segment was my longest one to make mostly due to personal reasons, but I hope you enjoyed. Next time, more RWBY/TFS! Here's to 20 Snippets and here's to 20 more!)