Weiss wasn't sure if she was squealing or dying on the inside but it might have been a mixture of both to be honest.

Dinner was going well, fantastically even. The food was delicious, the service amazing and Winter actually seemed to be getting along well with Ruby. It probably helped that apparently Ruby had some connections… somehow and now the older Schnee was interested to see how that had occurred by getting to know the younger girl.

"I will admit I was slightly worried at first when I heard from Weiss that someone so young was appointed team leader, but from the mission list I have seen you have had an excellent success rate."

"Well," Ruby laughed. "We've only been on two missions, not much to compare really."

"Oh?" Winter raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So your spat at the docks with Roman Torchwick, your fight at a White Fang rally as well as an Atlesian paladin prototype isn't to be considered?"

"E-eh heh…" Weiss flushed. "How did you… how did you know about that?"

"I've said it before Weiss, as a soldier, these things are bound to get back to me, especially when they involve you."

Right… that… made sense. Uh, thank goodness it hadn't gotten back to her father. There would be a ship waiting to take her home instantly.

"So," Winter said again. "I would like to apologise Miss Rose for that assumption. I know it is not fair to judge people on just first impression."

Her partner scratched the back of her head, cheeks red with embarrassment. "I-It's fine. You can call me Ruby by the way, and uh, I know I wasn't what people expected. I didn't think I'd be leader of my team. I kind of thought it would be Weiss."

The heiress in question shook her head. "I've said it before Ruby, you are an excellent reason. In fact it was you who took control during initiation when combating that horde of Grimm. Without you I'm sure it would have been a disaster. No doubt that is why Ozpin picked you as a leader."

"I'm not so sure." She mumbled.

"Well, despite that you have done well for yourself." Winter said. "Especially in catching up with subject matter no doubt at your age. Fifteen is it?"

"Well, Sixteen next month." She laughed. "but yeah, I guess so. Weiss had been helping me study all this time though, so she's as much to thank, right Weiss?"

"A-ah! Yes, of course."

"Is something wrong sister?"

The heiress flushed. "It's nothing, I just didn't know your um, that your birthday was coming up soon."

"Is that valuable information for you Weiss?"" her sister asked.

The Heiress' eyes narrowed. She could hear the smile in her voice. Bah! What did winter know? She just cared because Ruby was her friend, her partner! What was so suspicious about that?

Nothing, that was what! Nothing at all! Winter was just confused, completely confused about the situation, and she'd made it weird. So what if Ruby was having a birthday and Weiss would probably be there? So what if it meant they had a chance to talk alone together and get closer and-

"Weiss?"

"Wh-uh-what?" she blinked.

Ruby tilted her head and gave her a concerned look. "You were muttering to yourself. Are you okay?"

This time, a blush came in full force, and she glared at Winter as she hid her laugh behind a hand.

"I-I'm fine Ruby, ahem, it's nothing. Why don't we talk about something else?"

So they did, Winter was interested in much about their team, such as Blake and Yang, what friends they had outside their team, their studies, classes in general and how they were enjoying Beacon. Weiss thought it was fun, just having the chance to talk to her sister like this, to have Ruby there filling the gaps of silence that might have been there otherwise. It made the whole thing a comfortable experience, and by the time they were finished their meal, an hour later, but what felt a time that flew by all too fast, Weiss had a definite smile on her face, one she was happy to show off.

Winter eventually bid them goodbye for the night, saying she had to get back to her work, a few more documents to go through in regards to the festival. Ruby and Weiss wished her a nice night.

"So," Ruby grinned. "Do you think we'd have the time to track down the others and party with them?"

"Eh." Weiss shrugged. "I'm not overly bothered. Personally with all this food in me I'd like nothing more than a lie-down."

"Yeah, me too I guess." She laughed. "Back to Beacon then?"

"Lead the way team leader."

"Hah!"

…

…

Yang leaned back against the bar counter and took a long sip of her drink. Strawberry sunrise. Not as great as the ones in juniors place but a drink was a drink. She didn't really like beer. She had at first, but now it… interfered with her senses. Made her feel groggy, bloated.

She'd been noticing that a lot recently, things changing for her. Physically obviously. Her vision was sharper, her hearing clearer and her sense of smell was crazy.

It was why she hadn't visited the Club recently too. Too many flashing lights, thumping music and bodies.

This place on the other hand was a little less of all that. It was still a club, but Coco had picked out her favourite place. It was as good as Junior's place, but less well known, more obscure, which meant fewer people.

Perfect for a group of Huntsmen that wanted to have fun.

Yang could see Coco now, dancing in a pile of bodies like she owned the place, she was a good dancer too; not in any classy way, but she was cool and confident enough that she could have done the chicken and it woulda' looked cool.

It might of also help that she was hot. Yang had a girlfriend obviously, so she wasn't having any naughty thoughts, but she could still appreciate the other girl for it. Coco looked good. So did Velvet, Yatsuhashi and Fox in this mature, steely kind of way. Was that just a thing that happened? Did second years automatically just become better looking because they'd been in Beacon longer?

The blonde didn't really have any way of testing that, seeing as there weren't any other second-year teams to compare them to. Come to think of it, there weren't any third or fourth-year teams either. What happened to them?

The answer was obvious, not that she liked it.

The Grimm had been getting stronger recently, and if Yang's own mission was any indication of what the older years got on with it didn't come as a surprise.

She took another sip. No, no bad thoughts like that. This was a time to enjoy herself. the others were doing it;

Cardin was dancing with Velvet (Aw cute~) Nora had dragged Ren into a dance-off (Damn Ren was a good dancer) Sun, Neptune and Sage were all busting out some moves to varying success while Scarlet chatted up some girl by the wall and Jaune was busy showing Russel, Sky and Dove how it was done.

And she could smell them. Was that weird? it felt like it should be weird but she wasn't sure.

And speaking of things she wasn't sure of, Blake let out a long sigh as she leaned against the counter beside her, drink in hand and hood up even indoors.

Was there something different with her face? Yang wasn't quite sure at this angle, but the black lines looked like they'd… grown?

She might have asked, were it not for the dark scowl on her girlfriend's face. Yeah, bringing that up would have probably been a bad idea, so instead she went with the easier method.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" came the sharp reply. Yang winced. So her partner was in a bad mood, noted. Blake obviously noted her reaction too, letting out a sigh, this time frustrated.

"Sorry," she said. "That was… nevermind, I don't know."

The blonde frowned. More than that then… there was something upsetting her that was for sure, though she didn't know what it could be for the life of her. She still had to ask though.

"Is there something upsetting you? Did I do something?"

"What?" Blake whirled, eyes wide as she stared at her. "No, no that's not it Yang."

"Then tell me what it is?" she pressed. "I can't help if you won't tell me what's going on."

"There's nothing going on!" the Faunus hissed, and upon realizing she had, looked away, shoulders slumped. That was a point for Yang. "I just… I don't know what it is today, somethings been… upsetting me. I feel a lot… just a lot. Like… I don't know, angrier? It's stupid."

Anger… that was one way of putting it. She'd seen the playbacks of Blake's fight with Neon. It had been brutal. The other girl had to be carried out of the ring when it was over…but…"Hey?" Yang grinned. "Don't be like that, anger issues are my thing, you take that from me I'll lose some of my charm."

Blake's mouth twitched upward. Barely noticeable, but it was there, so she kept pushing.

"I mean, not all of my charm obviously, I got plenty of that, spades of it. Like my amazing puns for example."

"Uh-huh."

"I'm serious!"

"I don't know whether you are or not, but if you really believe it that might be scarier."

"Boo!"

And then, suddenly, the smile was gone, like it hadn't been there at all, replaced by a scowl.

No… that wasn't right. Something was messing with Blake… but what?

On a whim, Yang let her eyes flash red, and was met with a- what the hel was that?!

Blake's entire left side was... it was supposed to be a white light, but now it looked like she was on fire! No, more than that the light was flickered sporadically! What was-

"What?" Yang blinked, taken out of her thoughts as the Faunus stared at her challengingly. She'd caught her looking, though had no idea why and had assumed the worst. "What ate you looking at?"

"Tell me what it was like for you before Beacon." Yang said suddenly, though not for no reason.

Her Grimoire was many things, but above all it was a teacher, and it taught her that Undead were volatile, dangerous to themselves if they lost control of their emotions.

Blake was half Undead, right?

She needed to distract her, from whatever was bothering her so much.

Which made it even more interesting, when Blake suddenly became guarded. "Okay… what do you want to know?"

"Anything," Yang shrugged. "Where were you born? What was it like growing up? Who were your friends?"

"Personal questions don't you think?"

The blonde's eyebrows furrowed. "Well… yeah, you're my girlfriend. I want to know more about you, and you're always quiet about what it was like before all this. I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

And just like that, Blake deflated.

"Sorry." She muttered and after a brief beat of silence she sighed.

"I… grew up in a village… somewhere off the coast of Mistral I guess you could say."

A raised eyebrow. "That's pretty vague."

"The place doesn't really matter," she dismissed. "I haven't been there in a long time, it's probably changed a lot since then."

Well Yang knew there was something more to that, but it sounded like a touchy subject, so she didn't press.

"It was hot," the Faunus went on. "Nearly all the time. Most people had some kind of dark tan, I didn't though, since I like reading more than talking with people. I stayed indoors a lot."

"Oh yeah?" Yang hummed, taking another sip of her drink. "You part of some book club then?"

Blake shrugged. "I… didn't really have any friends. Because of what my mom and dad… were, people treated them a lot different from other people."

The brawler winced. "Sorry, guess being a Faunus is hard in places like Mistral."

"…Yeah, sure, lets' go with that."

"So you had no friends?"

"none," Blake sighed. "Not until… not until I joined the White Fang, and even then, my first real friend was Ilia."

"The Chameleon Faunus? What was she like back then?"

A shrug. "Shy I guess. She was from Atlas, so things were harder for her, being near so many other Faunus proud to show themselves was new for her… and, well, she was on the front lines a lot sooner than me, she grew up faster." A little laugh that Blake failed to suppress slipped through. "I couldn't tell early on because she was so short, but she was a few years older than me. She was fifteen when I met her, and she acted – as I was told – that it was the first time she'd been a part of the White Fang. But that was… a lie. She'd been fighting since she was fourteen, alongside the leaders. Why she told that lie… I don't really know even today."

"Sounds… complicated, but I guess don't let it bother you is all I can say."

This time, the laugh was bitter. "Oh don't worry, I have plenty of things bothering me already, like this!" she growled, gesturing to herself. Yang knew what she was talking about no, after a proper look. It was definitely spreading, as to why, and what that meant… she didn't know.

"Blake," Yang sighed. "You can't let that bother you, it's not healthy-"

"Well what about you then?" the Faunus hissed, spinning to face her. "Correct me if I'm wrong Yang, but you lost an arm and a leg, you were torn up by Grimm and dragged down into a dark hole to die. A normal person would be damaged by one of those things, but for months now you've acted like it's no big deal, like you're fine with losing a part of yourself! How?! How can you do that?!"

"How?" Yang mused, looking down at her obsidian hand, opening it, closing it, feeling how it rolled and tensed like real muscle. "I dunno. I guess… yeah, I lost a limb or two, but at the time I was just happy to be alive, and so much was going on that I didn't think about it… and then when it was over…" she'd gained things, it was crude and twisted, but if the laws of exchange were used, she'd lost an arm and a leg, and in return gotten her sister back, for real this time, she'd had the weight of her mental fight taken off her mind, told that she wasn't crazy, but special and in the end?

"I guess now… something's different. Before Glenn I had a go-with-the-flow kind of attitude, but now things have changed, I have a purpose, a goal."

"And, that is?"

Yang smiled confidently. "To find the truth, about this world, and the people in it. I want to learn everything I can."

Some complicated range of emotion passed over Blake's face. "Well," she said at last. "I hope you find it."

Immediately Yang felt the insincerity and blinked in surprise, but before she could call out, to ask what she'd meant, Blake turned and stalked away, into the crowd as Yang lost sight of her. What was that about? The blonde was about to go after her, when a head of red hair passed the corner of her vision.

She stopped, there, looking confused, thoughtful and alone, was Pyrrha.

Yang bit her lip. Blake had been upset… but Ruby had asked for her help on this… and it was important.

So, pushing away her worry for Blake, Yang made her way over to the champion, grinning as she did so.

"Hey Pyr, enjoying yourself?"

The girl practically jumped out of her skin at the greeting, she hadn't been paying attention to her surrounding at all, which was telling enough, Yang thought, considering she was supposed to be a Huntress-in-training.

Still, the redhead managed a smile. "Oh, I'm… fine. I'm just…. Thinking about things, the tournament and all."

Yang hummed, getting more comfortable beside her and leaning against the wall. "You know, this might sound a little rude, but you don't look like you're enjoying yourself here. You could be up there dancing with Jaune or something but you're here. Is something bothering you?"

"What? No," Pyrrha shot her another smile. What could possibly be bothering me?"

Alright then, looks like subtlety wasn't going to work, what did she expect, the girl had a thing for Jaune. So, Yang went with the next best thing; a battering ram of blunt honesty.

"I dunno, I was thinking something along the lines of being roped into something you didn't sign up for… something that changes how you look at the whole world, something about being asked to guard someone with crazy magic?"

And just like that, Pyrrha froze.

"You're…" she gasped quietly. "With them too?"

"Nope." The blonde answered quickly, firmly. "Apart from Ruby, nobody else knows that I know… that's the way my sis wants to keep it for now, she has some… issues with how the headmaster does things. She's probably worrying even more now that he dragged you into it."

Pyrrha's head fell into her hands as she let out a breath. "This is really happening isn't it?" she moaned. "Magic and Maidens. I… I didn't know about all of this, I didn't even want to know and then that woman attacked us and-"

"raven."

"H-huh?" The champion blinked.

"Raven. That's the name of the woman who attacked you."

"That's…" Pyrrha's brow creased in thoughts pulling on a memory. "That's your mother's name."

"Yep."

"Then, she's the one that attacked me? Why?"

Yang shrugged. "Again, I don't know. She used to work for Ozpin, but something happened and she left. It's complicated."

"Complicated," Pyrrha echoed bitterly. "It feels like everything's complicated nowadays."

"Yeah," the blonde laughed. "Don't I know the feeling?" a pause, and a sigh. "Listen Pyrrha… I know I'm not a part of your team, I know we aren't super close like them, but we're friends so… if you want to talk about this, anything like this, just come to me. You're not alone in this, Ruby's there too for you but I guess with what she's involved with is… you know."

"I guess." The girl mumbled.

"Uh, hey Pyrrha?" both girls turned to the new voice, and their faces clearly showed their surprise as Amber sent them a nervous wave.

The Mistrilian's eye widened. "Amber!? What are you doing here?"

The older girl grinned. "I uh, snuck out of Beacon. Listen I… I need to talk to you, if that's okay." She added, nodding to Yang. "I can come back later though if you want though. I don't want to intrude."

Yang shook her head and rested a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder.

"I'll leave you alone, but try to have some fun tonight, okay? And if you need me I'll be there."

"I- Thank you, really Yang. It's… it's good to hear."

The brawler nodded, and with her part said left the girl to her thoughts and whatever conversation those two would have. It was bound to be heavy. Now, where was Blake?

"Yang!" the girl in question called out, from across the floor. Despite the loud music, her voice was as clear as day. "Yang come quick!"

Yang frowned. Blake sounded worried. There she was, by the door leading out of the club waving frantically.

"I need your help hurry!"

Panic, there was panic in her voice like Yang hadn't heard before. It was all it took to have the brawler sprinting towards her, weaving through the crowds of bodies and out the door as Blake ran ahead, around a corner. "Blake!" she called out, "Wait up!"

"Yang hurry!"

…

…

Blake gasped, practically falling against the alley wall. Her stomach rolled, writhing, like it was on about to explode, her skin was on fire, it was burning up!

Her legs wobbled and she fell to her knees. She was in such a blurred state the Faunus didn't notice how her left hand cleaved through the stone wall she was gripping, crumbling beneath her blackened fingers.

Her whole body felt clammy, outside hot and bones freezing cold.

Her lungs! She couldn't breathe!

"Agh-urk!"

Blake's hands flew to her head, pressing against it as it felt like something was crushing her brain. Her ears were ringing, thumping and her fingers were growing wet with something.

"A-aah!"

What was going on? Why was this happening!?

Someone called out her name, someone familiar. They… they were…

The black ichor that had until that moment been growing slowly, shot up her face, as if it were alive and branched out in back tendrils away from her face.

Before shooting back into Blake's eyes.

There was a squelching sound.

And Blake screamed.

…

…

Cinder took a breath.

In, out, in, out.

It was time. This was it, the moment she'd been waiting for, planning for meticulously, agonizingly over every detail.

Things had changed now, she was no longer in control, but that didn't matter. The result would be the same. She would acquire the power, she would achieve her goals and be victorious.

All her work, all her sacrifices and doubts would come to fruition now.

The others were already prepared, already out there about to carry out their parts. Everything was in place. They would be successful.

Cinder knew, there was no going back now.

…

…

Where was Blake leading her? She'd gone through three or four alleyways without stopping, the Faunus just in front of her each time as she turned a corner. She wasn't responding to the blondes calls for her though, which made sense if she was focused on getting somewhere yeah, but Yang didn't even know where she was going in the first place.

Something gnawed at the back of her mind, something quiet but insistent. No, she could think about it later, this was more important, she quickened her pace a little in an effort to catch up to her partner.

Blake just got faster, just out of reach.

The brawler growled in annoyance, what could be so bad that she-

Yang turned another corner, and stopped dead in her tracks. Not by choice, but because there was a wall, dead-end in front of her.

And Blake was nowhere to be seen.

"What?"

Yang's eyes widened as a sudden scream cut through the air. It had come from behind her, the way she'd come. That had been Blake's voice, it was unmistakable but, how? She'd only lost sight of her for a second, what was going on? Was she missing something.

The obvious answer was to find out, so Yang let her eyes turn red.

Just in time to see a boot flying towards her face.

Instincts reacted before her mind could and she threw herself to the side as it raced past and the crack of gunshot whizzed by.

A flash of silver passed by next, but before she could react she realized the movement had left her unbalanced, her foot slipped and she fell, rolling as her back hit the wall.

"Tch." Her attacker spat. "You messed up Em, she was supposed to not see me coming. You can drop the illusion after she's dead, not before."

"I didn't drop the illusion jackass." The second voice came, and Yang's eyes flickered back the way she'd came.

Emerald and Mercury, her classmates, the students from Haven.

"What the hel is this?" she growled. "What are you doing?"

Mercury raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was obvious, don't tell me the stereotypes true is it?"

"Stop talking idiot." The other girl snapped. "Just hurry up and kill her."

"Yikes, someone's techy today. What's gotten you in a mood?"

The green haired girl scowled. "If you're seriously enjoying what's about to happen then you're sick in the head Mercury. Did your dad beat you hard enough that it fucked up your sense of right and wrong?"

Suddenly Mercury was frowning. "Low blow there Em, and no, I don't like it, but orders are orders right? What's with you anyway? You always listen to what you're told."

"Not when it comes to this! I think I have the right to hate it even if I'm going to go through with it."

"Mind telling me what it is?" Emerald leapt back as a fist sailed by her face, and stumbled when another came from the other direction. Yang growled as she pressed on the advance, elbowing the other girl's weapon away as she tried to bring it up.

A click was all she got as a warning as a boot flew towards her head from behind. She brought up her right arm fast enough to block it, but Mercury spun on his heel, hooting Yang's arm and twisting. The brawler gasped as she was flung past him and into the dead-end again, this time harder. The stone cracked a little and she winced.

"Sorry about that." The teen said. "We forgot you were here for a second. Little bit of technical difficulties going on you know? Don't worry, we'll make it quick."

Yang grit her teeth and glared at them. It was two on one, and she'd never really seen these two fight before they hadn't even participated in the tournament. She'd brushed it off then, but now?

But Yang wasn't clueless, and with what Ruby had said about a certain someone who'd been masquerading as a student… she could put two and two together.

"What does Cinder want?"

They stilled. Emeralds eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

She grinned. "Yeah, I know all about Cindy, kind of a given really since her and my sis used to be friends." She smirked when they shared a look. "Looks like you two didn't, that must suck for you guys, but hey, if you two are here, that means she is too." There was another click, and Yang primed Ember Celica for combat. "I'll ask this once, where is Cinder Fall?"

The response she received was a kick flying towards her face. She ducked to the right as Mercury's foot smashed into the wall behind her and through it. Damn, she couldn't let a hit like that land on her head or she'd be done Aura or no Aura.

Yang jabbed with her left twice, the first landed, pushing the teen back, but the second was blocked with his shin. He didn't even flinch at the hit, using her arm as an anchor and twisting around it. His other leg crashed into her shoulder.

The brawler winced as she was sent stumbling, but before she could even begin to right herself she had to throw herself to the ground as a green blade sliced towards her face.

Shit, they weren't going to fight fair, why did she even expect them to? The thought was left unanswered as Yang rolled on the ground away from another low cut that might have taken out her eye if it had hit.

She grit her teeth and kicked out hard, catching Emerald in the chest and launching her back as Mercury brought down an axe kick towards the head. She brought up her arms and braced for the hit as it impacted against Ember Celica.

Pain rocked through her body in a flash of sparks, the bones rattled by the kick. She roared, pushing through it and reaching out with her obsidian hand. Her fingers clasped around his ankle and pulled.

Mercury cried out as he was dragged forward. Yang didn't let go as she scrambled up and lifted him off the ground, swinging as hard as she could and slamming him against a wall.

His aura flared up and he kicked out with his other foot. It caught her shoulder and she felt her own rise up as a dust round was unloaded into it. It nearly dislocated her shoulder, but she refused to let go, pushing magic through her body and into her hand. Her palm heated up and erupted in a small fireball that engulfed Mercury's ankle.

The guy yelled in shock as clothes and flesh were burned awa-

Yang's head snapped back and Emerald's weapon shot out. She hadn't realised the other girl's weapons were connected by chains, but she hadn't seen it coming.

It pushed her back, and the second blade arced around her body and sliced at her back. Yang's fingers slipped and she lost her grip on her silver-haired attacker.

He kicked out, sending her flying back and to the ground again as he made it to a safe distance.

How? He should have been writhing in pain from the fire?

"The fuck?" Yang stared. Mercury's pant leg had been turned to ask, but instead of the burnt skin she'd expected was metal. A clunky looking robotic leg. He saw her look and smirked, pulling up the other on and revealing the same thing.

"What, surprised? I actually thought it was funny when you came back from your little mission with a leg missing really felt some kinship there, to bad you're too much of a 'good person' to stay out of the way."

"What are you even talking about?!" she snarled. "Get in the way of what?"

Mercury shrugged, lifting up his scroll for her to see a clock counting down and before her eyes hit zero.

An alarm wailed, not from the scroll, but throughout the city.

"This."

"Citywide breach in progress," speakers throughout the city explained for all to hear. "All civilians most report to the Plaza for further instruction. Please move in a calm and orderly fashion of your own safety."

They were alerting people to an attack? Where was the sense in that?

Emerald snarled at the confusion that showed on her face. "You don't get it do you bimbo? Use your brain while it's not splattered on the pavement! How do you create as many casualties as possible quickly?"

The answer came to mind instantly, as sick as it was.

"You put as many targets in a space as possible… like fish in a fucking barrel."

"Or like stepping on a bug." The male muttered.

"Exactly." Emerald spat. "and when they're dead…" she growled, muttering profanities.

"But then," Yang tried. "Why are you doing it? I can tell you find that sick as well!"

Mercury frowned. "This isn't the part where you get us monologuing idiot, orders are orders, and ours are to get rid of you."

"What? You think I'm just gonna roll over and-"

She didn't get to finish that sentence as Emerald fired rapidly at Yang's centre mass. The brawler brought up her arms to shield her face but bullets still pinged off her Aura, worst was that it blocked out her vision and the next thing she felt was a metal kick to the side of the head that sent her world spinning.

"S-shit." She slurred, barely managing to stand as the world tilted on its axis. She was on the defensive again as Mercury unleashed a flurry of kicks, and for every one she managed to stop two more made her bones rattle.

Damnit. This was bad. She was faster than this guy, way, way stronger than him, but the fact was he was just better. She couldn't deal with his kicks as well as Emeralds range, who was still firing and forcing Yang to take the hits unless she wanted to leave herself open to Mercury's kicks.

The ally was too small for her to manoeuvre, her back was against the wall and she couldn't see straight.

Finally, Mercury's boot caught her in the stomach, winding her and sending her to the ground. The other metal foot pressed her head into the ground, and loaded a shot at her temple.

Shit shit shit!

"Hey!"

Yang couldn't see it, but she heard Emerald gasp as gunshots and flashing lights went off in every direction. Mercury looked back for just a split second, but she took the chance. Her hair lit up in a blaze and she launched herself upwards, above him and slammed down with a hammering blow to his shoulder that sent him careening back.

Right into Sun's staff, which he used to catch the silver-haired assassin in the back and fling him over-head to land painfully on the ground. Emerald was to busy trying to create distance between herself and Neptune to help, and leapt out of his reach before she lost the advantage.

And just like that, it was three on two.

Sun twirled his staff in one hand. Yang swallowed. She'd only ever see the other blonde with a smile on his face, bright and practically nonplussed by everything around him.

Now, he looked angry.

"You know," he mused aloud as he and Neptune moved in from both sides. "I lived in Vacuo when I was growing up and I saw a lot of things, but the thing I hated the most was when punks like you two try and take somebody out is an ally. Maybe I should return the favour?"

The two attackers shared a look.

They moved together, charging Neptune, who readied his glave, ready for them.

Which was why Yang's eyes widened when he swung;

And completely missed.

They ran passed him and out the ally before any of them could react, just like that.

"What the hel was that man?!" Sun cried, throwing his hands in the air.

Neptune looked confused, staring at here he's attacked the air. "But… I could of sworn I hit. How did I miss?"

"I know," the blonde sighed. Yang had figured it out with that last display, but it ad explained why she'd seen Blake when she wasn't even here to begin with, and how she'd only managed to dodge the first attack when she'd used her sight. "One of their semblance's; it's illusions. They must have used them to get past you."

The blue haired teen looked down at his hands. "Sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You two got here in time to save my ass. Thanks." She then added. "How did you even know I was here?"

"We didn't," Sun shrugged. "We saw you run out of the club by yourself and wondered where you were going. Then the sirens went off and heard the gunshots from here. What was this even about anyway?"

Suddenly her eyes widened. "The Plaza! We need to go, now!"

"W-wait a minute," he squawked as Yang barreled past him and he hurried to keep up. "What's happening at the plaza?"

"I don't know, but the two of them mentioned something was going to happen to the people in the plaza."

"They told you? How do you know it's not a trap to lead us there?"

"So what if it is?" she shot back. "Civilians are still going to be there and so will the others so we need to warn them!"

The Faunus let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine, come on Nep let's pick up the pace."

"On it!"

The trio speed down the streets which were being filled with people hurrying towards the same place as them, looks of worry and fear written on their faces. Questions raced through yang's mind as she ran through. How did these guys even get access to the city-wide alarm system in the first place? What were they planning to do with the people there? Why now?

She didn't get her answer, but what she did get was the sight of Jaune waving them over as they burst into the scene. People looked their way for a moment but ignored them a second later in favour of getting into a comfortable space instead.

Yang ran over to Jaune and the rest of team JNPR, as well as CFVY, CRDL. They… looked okay. Nora looked like the sirens were affecting her a little but other than that everybody looked more annoyed and confused than in any danger. It leat her slow down a little

"Hey guys," Jaune greeted them. "Where were y- wait a second Yang is that blood?"

The brawler blinked, hand raising to the side of her head and coming away wet. She was bleeding from the side of her forehead. One of Mercury's kicks must have opened it up earlier.

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter guys this is a trap."

"Say what?" Coco frowned, overhearing her warning.

"I was attacked," she explained as the other students crowded around her. "By Mercury and Emerald. Whoever they're working for set off the alarms. There's going to be an attack."

"Are you sure?" Amber pressed. "With all of us here that would be a bad idea for anybody."

Ren frowned. "Unless they had a way of taking us all out here and now."

"how?"

The Mistrilian made to speak again when Yang frowned.

"Wait a minute," she said. "Where's Blake?"

There was a pause as everybody looked around to find she wasn't with them and Ren made to speak again when a sudden bang silenced everything.

It was almost surreal, and everyone, Huntsmen, law enforcement and Civilian alike looked around for the source of the noise, low mutters escaping the-

Another one went off, louder this time and sent a shockwave that had the glass rattling. Yang swallowed. It had come from above.

"Oh my god." Velvet whispered.

The Amity Colosseum was on fire, and it was falling from the sky.

It was falling right towards them.

Mercury's voice echoed through her head. "Or like stepping on a bug."

People screamed. All around terrified cries could be hard as people ran for their lives.

"Go!" Cardin barked. "Go, go, go."

None of them needed to be told twice, and were already sprinting back the way they'd came.

Except now there was the obstacle of terrified people getting in their way, and risk of running them over in their own attempts to escape.

They weren't going to make it, Yang realised. The shadow of the Colosseum was looming over them now, growing larger and larger, blocking out the sky.

She felt Sun's tail wrap around her waist and wrenched her to the side inside a coffee shop, Neptune crashed down beside her, having been yanked to the side by Sun as well.

"Get some cover!" The Faunus yelled.

Yang looked up at them, to Sun, desperately trying looking for someplace safe to hide, and Neptune, trying to call others over, others that wouldn't make it in time.

This building wouldn't make it. It was too weak.

But it didn't have to be.

"You know what, fuck the secrecy."

"Ahierdan."

And then everything came crashing down around them.

And Yang's world went dark.

...

...

Here we go. The beginning of this I feel is the hardest to write, just having to create scenes for later to set up the characters. Anyway, it's all about to go off right now.

I always wondered why they didn't do more to the arena. it's a massive metal building in the sky, they could have blown it up with the spectators in it or dropped it from the sky.

Eh, it doesn't matter. you'll see how that works here. get ready for some fights, so meetings and a lot of casualties. Who'd going to die?!

Well, I know, but you'll have to wait to find out.

Until then, be sure to follow, Favourite and Review.

Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter.

Bye!

P a treon (slash) WSpectre . com