If there was ever a competition for Sweetest Sixteenth Birthday of the Decade, then Ruby's would automatically be at the top of the voting list. The whole day was dedicated the little rose, and it was more than she could have ever asked for. After all of her presents were torn open (her favorite was the new white hood and cape from Yang, which looked just like her mother's), Velvet had connected her laptop to Coco's back at Beacon where the rest of her team and their other friends back at school crowded into the camera to wish her the best. Of course they had to throw another pool party, this time with less of Merc being perverted and Adam spitting toothpaste in the water, and they ended the fading day with an outdoor barbecue on the front lawn.

Things got turned up to eleven once they Yang introduced Ruby to the freshly renovated theater room. The crew who had worked on turning it into a dance floor really did their best to make it look like a club: flashing spotlights on the ceiling, a somewhat-professional DJ system (consisting of a computer and stacks of old records for that musical-aesthetic), and surround sound speakers blaring bass-filled tunes.

And when I say blaring, I mean BLARING.

"This is awesome!" Ruby shouted into her sister's ear, jumping up and down with her and Nora to the beat of the song.

"I'm glad you like it!" Yang grinned. She spotted Blake and Sun dancing behind Ruby, the former acting surprisingly free-spirited with her moves. "Yeah! Peel that banana Blake!"

Blake rolled her eyes at the lewd joke, twirling around to meet Wukong face to face. "This is much different than the dance at school!"

"WHAT?" Sun yelled; he could barely hear his own thoughts let alone her over the music.

"I said-

"WHAT?"

"…Never mind!"

Not everyone was into dancing, however. Whereas Weiss wasn't of health to bust a move, her fellow wallflowers Mercury and Emerald had no excuse. Even Adam was trying his best to get into the groove, even if it was the most awkward looking Macarena of all time. It honestly looked like he trying to do all the steps at once.

"I hope Miltia gives him dance lessons," Mercury commented to himself before leaning into Emerald's ear, "What's the deal with your girl? She's been acting weird for a while now."

He and Emerald looked across the room at Fall, who came into vision just as Roman and Neo danced out of the way. She was standing by the food table drinking her fifth-going on sixth- cup of punch, chatting with Ren (the acting DJ) about something. Emerald knew that Cinder's nerves were finally getting to her; she'd be doing her act in about ten minutes. Stage fright always kicked in around this time. "I'll be back," Emerald said, "But you better be off this wall by then."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"That's what I mean," Sustrai pointed beside Mercury at Velvet, who had just twirled over to see him.

"Care for a dance? I think a slow song is coming up next!"

"…No thanks."

"But Mercury! You said-!"

"Velvet, I-

Those big, stupid, pretty doe eyes got to him again. She held her hands clasped at her chest, praying that he would take up her offer. If he said no, what kind of a man would he be?

Okay, he'd still be an asshole to an extent. But he had to try and be a kind asshole right now.

"One song. That's it.

"Eee!" Velvet squeed, abruptly taking hold of his arm and pulling him to the dance floor, "Come on! Let's make it a song and a half!"

"W-Wait! My arm doesn't bend that way!"

Across the dance floor, Jaune and Pyrrha were making the best of things and trying their hand at a more sophisticated dance. Living with five sisters who loved to dance was really paying off for Jaune lately. First the dance at Beacon, and now here where he could try and teach Pyrrha some saucier moves that teachers couldn't condemn. He figured some salsa moves would light a fire in Pyrrha's heart.

"Oh my!" Pyrrha blushed as Jaune leaned his face into hers, both of them matching their swaying hip movements with each other, "I can't believe your sisters taught you something like this!"

"Not exactly! I watched them do this with their boyfriends! It'd be weird if they practiced it with their little bro!"

The moment Pyrrha felt Arc's hands slide up her back and brush the underneath of her shoulders, she felt a hot shudder go through her veins. Jaune spinning her out and around back into his arms only made her feel much more excited. She could tell he was trying to impress her with his skill, so she figured she would have some fun with it too. Pyrrha hooked her ponytail with one finger and undid it with one quick swipe, running her hands through her lose hair as she attempted to hypnotize him with her hips. In any other circumstance, she wouldn't be acting so uninhibited and - dare she say it – lewd. But it was the combination of Jaune's own moves and the exotic beat of this song that was taking over her. Not that she minded it at all; it was only making it easier for her to ask Jaune that question.

"Oh sweet… Man. Uh…" Jaune's tongue could barely form words. His eyes were glued on Pyrrha, his body unable to dance and compete with her flow. She giggled at his gawking as she draped her arms around his neck, pecking him on the lips before moving to his neck. "Uh, Pyrrha… Nora and Ruby are riiight over there!"

Blushing intensely, Pyrrha went for it. She leaned into his ear and whispered, thinking of the best way to word it. "Would you… like to take this elsewhere?"

"You mean on the other side of the dance floor?"

Then she remembered this was Jaune Arc she was speaking with. Pyrrha had no choice but to be direct. Looking around very quickly, she leaned in even closer and whispered exactly what it was she had been implying to him.

To say Jaune's face turned as red as Pyrrha's hair was an understatement.

"P-P-Pyrrha! W-what did you just say?!"

"I-I'm sorry! If you don't want to, then you can decline! I'd never force you!"

He looked into her eyes, green as always and wanting him. She really had meant what she had said. But was he ready for this? Kissing and cuddling was one thing, but this was a whole other ball game! Which base was this again?! And why wouldn't his heart stop pounding like crazy?!

"Jaune…?"

He snapped out of his stupor and back to her. There was only one word in his head, and it surely wasn't any form of the word no.

"…Are you sure?"

Pyrrah nodded, fixated on him, her eyes begging him to say the one thing she wanted to hear.

When the song faded out, Jaune had made his choice. As the other dancers cheered and clapped, he gently took Pyrrha's hand in his. "Stay to the back wall. No one will see us go up the stairs that way."

When he smiled back at her, Pyrrha's heart stopped. That was a yes. He said yes.

This was it. This was happening. Right now. Tonight.

"…O-okay," Pyrrha breathed, her eyes locked on him as he led her the way. She shortened the distance between their grasp instantly, gripping his arm as they ascended the staircase. No one seemed to notice them, since someone was now standing by the karaoke machine garbed in a sequin tank top and tight white spandex. It was literally impossible to take your eyes away from the campiness of the man taking the role of Cinder's opening act.

"God, kill me now," Adam said as his stomach churned upon seeing his right-hand man take hold of the microphone. The Lieutenant pointed right at him, only making it worse.

"I'd like to dedicate this song to a very special someone here tonight," the big guy said, winking at Adam, "He knows who he is. Ren, hit my music!"

Full of regret for what he was about to bring upon his friends, Ren hesitated as he hit play on the requested track.

"Now I've… Had… The time of my life… No I've never felt like this before~!"

"I refuse to dace to this," Merc muttered to Velvet, who couldn't help but agree.'

"Weiss…" Ruby winced, "What is happening?"

"Nothing – cough! – is happening right now, Ruby. Just let me repress this memory…"

Jaune and Pyrrha's lips met the moment they hit the second floor of the house. They couldn't contain their drive anymore as urges took utter control of their bodies. Pyrrha pinned Jaune to the door to their room, tugging at the buttons of his shirt as he clawed at her lower back. Oh, this was too long in the making.

Pulling back to breathe, Pyrrha put her forehead on Jaune's and placed a finger on his lips. "You get ready in there. I'll be right back."

"You're killing me, you know."

Kissing him once more, Pyrrha raced down the hall to the bathroom to freshen up. Upon entering she left the door open, in too much of a hurry to even consider shutting it. She looked at herself in the mirror, making sure her makeup and hair was alright (even though it was about to get messed up anyways). Noticing a tube of red lipstick on the sink, she decided to pretty herself up just a bit more.

"Oops!" she said, her shaky hand knocking it to the floor. Bending down to pick it up, she didn't notice that she wasn't alone until she saw their reflection in the mirror.

"Oh, Penny!" Pyrrha blushed, "What are-

The mirror shattered the second Virulet slammed Pyrrha's head into it. It was quick, like a bullet in motion. He grasped her by her hair, casting a cold gaze over her quivering body. When she tried to push herself up with her arms, he yanked her back and shoved her head into the fractured mirror again with the same force as before. Once she ceased moving, he let her fall to the floor, her hair covering the red seeping from her head.

"Don't die yet, girl," Virulet grinned, stroking Nikos' hair, "I don't want you going out before you watch me eviscerate your lover." The A.I stood upright, looking at Penny Polendina's reflection in the mirror.

Such a useful host body but like all children it was time to set her free.

He had a new body to make his own.

"AH- AAAAAAGGHHH!"

The moment Penny's senses and drives came online, all she felt was pain. Something was crawling out of her, tendrils of wires and blades pouring out of her backpack, taking a spindly form with a strange purple pulse emanating from in between the sharp bits of metal holding it together. She tried to get a good look at the demented presence, but only caught sight of its hands - her blades its fingers - as she felt herself shut down into sleep mode. Only two words came from her lips, the only two she could muster the power to call out in useless desperation.

"Ru-Ruby… Run."

"You sit tight, my dear little Penny," Virulet soothed, stroking her hair before leaving, "I'll be back for you. And don't worry: they will suffer. You can bet on that."