The day after Emerald's failed escape, Weiss decided to not train. With faceless assassins and doubtful allies all around, it was wiser to stay within the castle walls, particularly her room, where Ruby could protect her more easily.

For the same reason, Ruby insisted that Blake stay home, at least until things calmed downed somewhat. She wasn't a common sight in the castle, which might lead to questions better left unanswered.

Thankfully, being alone with the princess was not as uncomfortable as it had once been. Even though Weiss would never admit it, Ruby was fairly sure she was thought of as a friend now, or at least a companion. Orders and reprimands were still thrown around often, but there was a softer edge to them.

"If you don't stop pacing around this moment," the princess spoke, lifting her eyes from the book she was reading on her bed. "I will personally throw over my balcony."

"Sorry," Ruby gulped, halting in the middle of the room at once. "I'm just nervous."

"Nervous about what?" Weiss scoffed. "It's not like any assassin are going to invade this room, now, of all times. And if that happens, you're armed… And my rapier is right here."

The princess nodded slightly to the side of the bed, where her sword was resting, an arm's length away. Ruby nodded hesitantly, her eyes filled with guilt. Weiss looked at her intensely, figuring that assassins were indeed not the reason for her frenzied state of being.

"Ruby," she said slowly. "Do you have something to tell me?"

"I…" the redhead looked down. Her heart seemed to have risen to her throat, beating loud and fast. She wasn't sure talking was the best course of action, but she couldn't deny her liege's request – not only because of obligation, but also because Weiss was too perceptive to let the matter go. "I… actually saw who was with Emerald last night. I-I didn't tell everyone else because… I'm pretty sure something weird is going on."

Weiss took the revelation calmly. She was sure Ruby was being honest… Her bodyguard wasn't the kind of person to withheld information for malicious intents.

"Alright," Weiss nodded. "You can tell me. I promise to not share this information… Unless it's of dire importance, that is."

Ruby faced away from the princess, her face filled with worry. The High General being a potential suspect of treason should classify as information of dire importance.

"W-well…" She stuttered. "It looked like general Ozpin."

A moment of silence passed.

"…Are you sure?" Weiss asked, deadly serious.

"Y-yes! Wait, no!" Ruby turned around, hands up in the air. "Princess, you know how strange this is. We both saw him when Emerald and her crew tried to kill you, but he was gone the next moment, and then he knew nothing once we got back to the castle!" She edged closer to the bed. "A-and the same thing happened yesterday. Things happened too fast for him to be involved in the escape."

"So you think it's a trick?" The princess's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps. But he has acted much too strangely recently. He goes to interrogate the prisoner so frequently, but never comes out with concrete answers. It's possible it's not a trick… Or it's meant to be seen as a trick, so that less suspicion is cast on him once it's disproven."

Ruby stared at the princess helplessly. She followed that logic easily, but she couldn't force herself to put faith in it. She couldn't believe her mentor of ten years, the man who had taught her how to wield a sword and rescued her from certain death… Was a traitor and a murderer.

"Don't fret, Ruby," Weiss said, gesturing dismissively with her hand. "As I promised, I won't share this with anyone else… Even the queen. But if Ozpin does anything suspicious, no matter how insignificant it might seem, then I won't hesitate to put his loyalties into question."

"I understand," Ruby nodded heavily. "If that happens… I will be by your side, princess. I swear it."

Weiss's lips parted into a smile, but she lifted her book to conceal it.

"What I'm saying is," Summer's voice echoed firmly in the strategy room, keeping the attention of everyone at the table fixed on her. "We need results, and that is something you've failed to produce. It's been a week since the princess's heir life was put at risk by an unknown band of assassins, one of which almost escaped our custody, and yet we know nothing about them!"

Ozpin's expression didn't reflect any emotion, but she could tell he was affected by her accusation. Whether he was unhappy or amused was up in the air, though.

"Forgive me if I'm making unseemly assumptions, Lady Rose, but," he said calmly. "In your… earlier years, didn't you ever stumble into a situation where you had to get information out of an unwilling individual? I thought you would understand, more than anyone else, how difficult that is," he smiled lightly. "Then again, rebels and generals have different approaches to an interrogation, don't they?"

"If you mean torture," Summer's voice dropped to a steady, yet somehow more threating level. "Then you're right. I had the decency to never resort to that. It was often the enemy who did it."

The room was filled by a wave of uneasy murmurs and gasps. Summer flinched, realizing she had made a costly error. Accusing nobles of torture, even as subtly as she had, while she was in the presence of a dozen or so, wasn't the wisest move she had ever pulled.

And all the while, she was very aware of Ozpin's widening smile. The usually serious general seemed to take an almost perverse joy out of her blunders.

"I suggest we go back to a more… appropriate discussion." Another noble said tensely.

Summer turned to look. The woman had light blond hair and equally bright green eyes. Her pale expression carried a sense of seriousness and finality. Of all nobles, except for Ozpin, Summer had always had most trouble with Glynda Goodwitch.

"While I'm sure we could spend the entirety of the afternoon throwing accusations at our General – who has proved himself in more than enough situations – and Lady Rose – who has done the same, perhaps with even less motivation to…" Glynda spoke calmly, eyes flickering between the two nobles. "I believe it's more important to focus on our current predicaments… The more treatable ones, that is."

"Well spoken, Lady Goodwitch," the queen joined in, casting a disapproving look at both Summer and Ozpin. "The season has proven itself harsher than expected. Crops are…"

Summer crossed her arms, blocking Winter's voice as she simmered in silence. Glynda angered her a great deal. While Ozpin was objectively a bigger problem, he was a much easier target, for he often responded to her taunts – almost as if he was comfortable with them. Glynda, however, was just to a fault, reprehending both her and the General. It was hard to clash against such a lawful individual and not be treated as a joke.

The meeting went on for two more hours. They discussed the state of their food supplies, communication with the other kingdoms – Atlas had grown threateningly silent – and other topics. Ozpin announced Grimm at the walls were becoming more dangerous, as reported by the Lady Nikos, and that he had posted more soldiers there in response.

When they were done, the nobles shuffled out of the room, tired and dreading the rest of the long winter. Summer stared intently at Ozpin, still seated, and as he started to get up, she raised a hand.

"General," she spoke innocently. "Might I ask you a question?"

Winter's eyes rose from the papers she had been examining. The three were all that remained from the meeting. Ozpin leaned on his cane slightly, then nodded consentingly.

"Why did you not reunite me with my daughter?" Summer asked.

The room was heavy with silence. Ozpin's eyes wandered briefly to the queen, then back to Summer.

"You knew who she was. How many Roses exist in this world, general?" Summer pressed. "How many have red hair and silver eyes? How many have a sister from another mother?"

"I understand your point," Ozpin sighed. At first, Summer thought he was regretful, even ashamed… But soon she saw what he truly felt. Anger. Frustration. "It's true. I could have reunited you, and maybe I should have done so as soon as I knew. The truth is…" he turned and walked towards the door. "I thought Ruby was better off without you influencing her."

Summer's knuckles turned white as she gripped the table. She started to rise, but Winter halted her with one hand on her shoulder. The queen's eyes bore into her general's back, and soon he was gone from the room.

"I can't believe…" Summer's voice trembled with rage. "That bastard…"

"Ozpin is a peculiar man. He only wanted the best for your daughter," Winter said, unusually gentle. "Not that I agree with him. Children belong with their parents, no matter the circumstances."

"You are far too forgiving of his actions." The redhead stated firmly.

"He has proven himself valuable and trustworthy."

"Once upon a time," Summer interjected, staring at the queen intensely. "People change. More often than not, it can't be noticed until it's too late."

She rose from her seat and marched through the doorway. Winter shook her head slowly, a glint of sadness in her eyes.

"Man… What a shitty job."

Fox looked to the side, a little smirk on his lips. He didn't mind obeying the General's orders to watch the outer walls, but his partner… He hadn't seen Coco this unhappy since she had been denied a promotion… Three times.

Her frustration had been understandable, then.

"We've got assassins loose on the city, threatening the lives of our most graceful rulers," Coco rolled her eyes. "And somehow we're stuck looking at a snowstorm."

"Hmm," Fox grunted, crossing his arms. "It sounds like you would rather do nothing at all. You got a bone to pick with the royals?"

"Nah," Coco chuckled. "I just thought something might actually happen if we're at the castle."

Fox opened his mouth to reply, but stopped as he heard something behind him – feet clanging fast to the walls, along with the familiar slash of steel in the air. He turned his head to look, but found nothing.

Coco put a hand on her hips and looked at her companion, a concerned frown appearing on her forehead.

"You doing all right, Fox?" She asked softly.

"…Yes. Thought I'd heard something." He shrugged.

"Must be the cold rattling your brain," Coco said. "How about you go inside and warm yourself up for a while? I promise to scream if I see any scary Grimm."

"Right, because you're such a damsel."

Coco grinned and slapped his behind as he walked past her towards the guard tower to the left. He opened the door and entered, delving into darkness and leaving her sight.

Coco gripped her shotgun distractedly as she turned to look at the horizon again. For some reason, she had been having a weird, disturbing feeling since the two of them had arrived at their new posts… As if danger might strike at any second – and not because of Grimm, necessarily.

Well, at least with Fox inside, he would be safe. She liked being alive, but better to die alone than to watch her best friend suffer the same fate…

Coco sighed. She should definitely tell him these things. In the middle of winter, with the cold piercing flesh and bone, when the dearest thing one could have was a homely fireplace, it was easy to forget what truly mattered. Friendship, happiness, lo-

There was a loud crunch behind her, and suddenly she was plummeting down to the floor, the back of her head stinging like hell and her ears buzzing deafeningly. Her nose smashed against stone, spraying blood everywhere, and then her eyes lolled up, consciousness slipping away…

Blake sat on her bed, one leg crossed over the other as she leaned against the wall behind her. Her eyes were fixed intently on her lap, where she held her twin daggers with a dirty rag. Ruby had made very clear that if she didn't take care of her weapons, they were one touch another from useless. One unfortunate clash, and they could break… Unless they were in good condition.

As she drenched the rag in oil and swiped the first blade, it struck her how strange of a road her life had taken. From slave to homeless to friend of the royal bodyguard to sparring partner of the princess herself… All in the span of a month – and that was putting it mildly.

She still held many fears from her past life, but she felt like she could move past them, with time. She wasn't the same defenseless, scared nobody she had once been. She might have always had a name, but only now did she feel like Blake Belladonna.

And she could even read now. Such an intricate activity which she'd never even thought of before… If only Ruby and Yang had more books at home. She was fairly sure the sisters weren't such fond of reading as herself. The castle very likely had a library with hundreds, thousands of books. She should ask the princess about it… As soon as she gathered the courage to.

"Hey, Blakey," Yang entered the house nonchalantly, tossing a small sack full of coins at a nearby table. "Getting greasy?"

"Hello," Blake looked up, vaguely amused. "What's that over there?"

"What? That?" The blonde looked at the sack, feeling a bit flustered at the situation. "That's… my pay. You know, because I… work at the bakery?"

"That's a lot of money." The faunus noted quietly.

"Well. Yes," Yang looked away. "I do work five days a week, from dawn to dusk."

Blake raised an eyebrow. She used to work seven days a week… Sometimes with no breaks. But that was hardly an appropriate topic, and she didn't mean to make Yang feel guilty.

"Maybe I should find a job for myself," she said. "Got any ideas?"

"Oh. If you want to…" Yang frowned. "I could talk to my boss. He might want a waitress…? That way I can keep an eye on you too."

Blake nodded slightly, not meeting her friend's eyes. She would prefer to work somewhere far from known people, but she understood Yang's worry.

She lifted her dagger up to her eye, inspecting it carefully for any scratches. Once she was satisfied, she put it down and started to clean the remaining one. Yang watched quietly, taking in how much Blake had changed.

"Aren't you a little early?" The faunus asked, interrupting her train of thought.

"A little," Yang sighed. "It's the week. I like to come home earlier these times, you know?"

"Oh," Blake stopped scrubbing. "That's sensible. Will Ruby be here to… lock you up?"

"Yeah," the blonde smirked. "Unless you want to do it. I don't mind – it's not like we're strangers or anything."

Blake returned to her work, staying silent. Yang watched for a few more minutes, her smile gaining a mischievous quality.

"You know, Blake," she said teasingly. "I don't know about Summer, but you have my blessing."

"What?" Blake asked, not looking up.

"You can be with Ruby if you want."

The dagger flew from the faunus's hands and went bouncing on the floor. Blake got up and walked to pick it up, all the while keeping her eyes trained forward, as if somehow she could pretend she hadn't heard what Yang had just said.

"Oh, that's so precious," the blonde gushed. "You're totally in love. There's no going back."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Blake said indifferently, sitting down on her bed and focusing on the dagger again.

"Sure," Yang laughed. "As you say, Lady Rose."

Blake scrubbed furiously, trying to hide her burning cheeks behind her dark hair.

Coco opened her eyes to a blurry mess of colors. She could feel something liquid and warm running down the back of her neck, and hard restraints on both of her wrists. She didn't know how, but now she was seated on a steel chair against a cold stone wall…

She blinked several times to clear her vision, then looked to the side. The faint light of a candle illuminated Fox, who was in a predicament exactly like hers. He was awake, and apparently had been for a long time, judging by the look of wariness he gave her.

"Where are we?" Coco whispered, trying to break the leather around her wrists. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Got knocked out, didn't even see by whom," Fox shook his head slowly, making her stop her struggling. "We're on the watchtower. I haven't seen anyone else, but I heard screams."

"Damn," she closed her eyes. "Just when we get more people here, a massacre happens. How many were we? Twenty?"

"Yeah." Fox's voice was barely above a whisper, but it was heavy with sorrow.

A scream pierced through the air, followed by a low, drawn-out giggle. Coco tried to break free again, but halted her efforts as a door in front of them opened. A small feminine figure entered the tower, her hair a mixture of brown and… pink? She looked at the two helpless guards with similarly-colored eyes and a gleeful smile on her lips.

"You bastard!" Coco shouted. "What did you do to them?!"

"Who are you?" Fox asked gravely.

The murderous girl pointed at Coco, shook her finger playfully, then nodded vigorously to Fox. She retrieved a small notepad from her jacket and turned it to the first page, then showed it proudly to them.

"Neo?" Fox read, trying to maintain his composure despite the terrible situation. "Is that your name?"

The girl's smile widened and she nodded again.

"How nice of you," Coco said sarcastically. "I'm sure we can all be friends. You just have to free us from these restraints, and I'll personally give you a pat on the head."

Neo rolled her eyes, igniting Coco's rage even more. The female guard was suddenly taken aback, though, as a knife went flying through the air, burying itself on her chair, just above her right shoulder. Neo smiled at her, then waved another knife at her warningly.

"You don't have to do this," Fox said calmly. "I don't know what your motivations are, but surely you could let us go… Look the other way. Everyone who was posted here is already dead. What difference would two more soldiers make?"

Neo giggled, as if she were dealing with an adorable pet, and not two humans beings. A cold shiver ran down Coco's spine. The fact that their captor was mute, or just refused to speak a word, only added to the terror she felt.

"Look," Fox spoke again. "Do whatever you want to me. Tear my limbs from by body, one by one. I don't care. Just let her go."

"Fox!" Coco exclaimed. "Stop fucking talking like that! I would never allow you to sacrifice yourself!"

"I don't need your permission, Lady," he said, a humorless smile on his lips. "You just said you're not a damsel, and you're right. You've saved my ass more times than I can count. This is just repayment… And it's long due…"

"No! That's bull-"

Neo flickered her hand unceremoniously. Her knife crossed the air between her and the prisoners and pierced Fox right in the temple. His eyes dulled as blood trickled down his face… Despite the brutality of his death, there was a serenity engraved on that sight, as if he were content, somehow.

"No… No…" Coco muttered, her head hanging low. "You… You MONSTER!"

She threw herself forward, putting all her rage and strength in the effort of freeing herself, but all that happened was she went crashing to the ground, still stuck to the chair by her wrists and ankles.

"I'm going to kill you!" Coco roared, looking up at Neo's amused eyes. "Don't you grin at me! I'm gonna tear that smile right off your face!"

The small girl pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, as if she approved her victim's threats. Coco tried to wiggle closer to her, desperate for any king of vengeance, but Neo simply stuck a foot out and held her in place by her shoulder.

"Just…" Coco whispered. "Just kill me too."

Neo walked away from her and to the lone candle in the room. She bent slightly and blew, immersing the tower in darkness. Another giggle rang in Coco's ears.

"I don't want to kill you."

Neo slipped out the door, leaving Coco alone in the darkness.

The lone guard gritted her teeth, tears running down her cheeks, and smashed her forehead on the ground. Anger and sorrow overwhelmed her, leaving no room for reason. She could only try to find a way out, whether it meant breaking free from the chair… or ending her own life.

But before she could reach either of these goals, a low rumble shook her. Coco froze, feeling the tower reverberate… And then a hundreds roars and screeches rang through the air.

Her blood ran cold, and as she tried to get up, something struck the wall behind her. Fox went plummeting out the tower, strapped to his chair… And in came the face of a giant, elephant-like Grimm…

Ruby stayed a little overtime after the sun set down, just to make sure the princess was safe for as long as possible. She knew there were always guards near her at night, but that was… different. Ruby, for her part, knew she would feel safer under the protection of someone she knew than of strangers in armor.

When she exited Weiss's room, she noticed an influx of soldiers running through the hallways, as if something big was happening. The princess, still inside, looked over her bodyguard's shoulder and frowned.

"What on Remnant is happening this time?" She asked.

"I don't know," Ruby said worriedly. "It can't be another escape or assassination. Too many soldiers."

"Maybe an invasion? The White Fang?" Weiss's hand instinctively shot towards Ruby's arm, but she stopped and composed herself before finishing the action.

"We should find out," the redhead muttered. "Let's go to the throne room. Stick close to me, alright?"

Weiss raced back into the room, grabbed her rapier, then rejoined her bodyguard. Ruby nodded approvingly and started to their destination, the princess following close behind.

As they made it to the front of the throne room, they saw the queen and Summer discussing something in whispers. When they noticed their approaching visitors, both women turned to look.

"Is something happening? Why are so many soldiers leaving the castle?" Weiss asked, casting a glance at their busy surroundings.

"I sent someone to inform you," Winter sighed. "The east wall was broken down. Grimm are invading, wave after wave. General Ozpin has left already with the best of the guard… The rest will follow soon."

"Dragon's blood," the princess cursed quietly, then assumed a posture of determination. "I should go too. I can-"

"No!"

Winter's voice rang through the halls of the castle, briefly disruption the flow of passing soldiers as they stopped to look at her. Weiss's shoulders dropped and she looked down, as if she'd been hit by a whip.

"It's out of the question," the queen said in a softer tone of voice. "You're too important to the kingdom… and to me. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Weiss looked up, moved by her sister's uncharacteristic show of emotion. After a moment, she turned her head to look at Ruby.

"I want you to go help the soldiers." She said resolutely.

"But, princess…" Ruby started to object.

"That's an order."

The redhead bodyguard hesitated for a moment, then nodded her understanding.

"I wish to join the fight too," Summer spoke. "I've had more than my fair share of experience with Grimm."

"Then go," Winter looked briefly at Ruby. "May the Moon watch over both of you."

Mother and daughter shared a knowing look, then strut off, already drawing their respective weapons.

Weiss looked at her sister doubtfully.

"You're wrong," she muttered. "We could turn the tide of battle… And you know that."

"Yes," Winter agreed seriously. "You and I know. Nobody else. And that is how it shall stay."

Things had gone bad fast. Once the east wall fell, the Grimm came pouring in, quickly making their way closer to the poorer sections of the city, where people had hardly any defense. The first soldiers to arrive could do little else than stop the monster from advancing further inside… That was their first priority, which meant people either had to run past them before danger found them. It wasn't the brightest of rescues, and everyone knew it.

After an hour, bigger Grimm started to appear. King Taijitus, giant snakes with steel-like scales. Death Stalkers, scorpions with stingers that could reach distances three times their width. One or two Goliaths, mammoths the size of the walls…

The soldiers had to fall back, and in that action, they lost formation. The Grimm spread out into the city. The only hope for the population was to race to the castle, but that was as farfetched a goal as they came.

Ruby and her mother took this chaos in stunned silence, standing on top of a house that had yet to be target by the Grimm. The younger redhead could only watch, tears flooding her eyes as she thought of defenseless citizens caught below.

"We're hardly any help here, dear," Summer said firmly. "Any Grimm that get to this point, the Guard can take care of. We should delve closer to the swarm… Take out the most dangerous specimens, and their force becomes not so overwhelming as it appears to be."

"A-alright," Ruby gulped. "What about the people?"

Summer hesitated for a moment, her eyes refusing to meet with her daughter's. Without another word, the Reaper gripped her scythe firmly and jumped to the ground, immediately breaking into a run towards the walls.

Ruby followed her, firing her pistol at any Grimm she sighted. Summer left some behind for her to take care of, while dealing with the ones directly in her path. After a while, the older redhead spun, intending to use her momentum to slash a Beowolf in two, but she lost her balance and crashed to the ground helplessly.

"Mother!" Ruby dashed in and stabbed the wolf in the head right as it went for the kill. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Summer muttered darkly, getting back on her feet. "I just took a tumble, that's all."

"Are you sure?" Her daughter frowned. "You're not tired or anything?"

"No!" Summer turned briefly to glare at her, then spoke again, softer. "I lost my balance. That is all."

Ruby watched her warily. The sudden shift in her mother's disposition was shocking, but she supposed it was understandable. They were in the middle of a Grimm invasion… And nobody was so perfect as to keep their cool every breathing minute.

"I think we should check on Yang and Blake," Ruby suggested. "They could help."

"Yes. They're probably fighting already, though. They wouldn't run from this," Summer noted. "If we see them, we'll join forces."

Summer looked at her scythe for a brief moment, and Ruby thought she saw something in eyes then – frustration, or annoyance. Then the Reaper turned and ran, once again swinging her weapon.

The royal bodyguard went after her, still keeping tabs on the Grimm, but she was becoming more unnerved by the second. As they came closer to the walls, the destruction caused by the monsters grew more apparent and terrifying. Houses had crumbled, fire was spreading, and the blizzard was making its way in from the breach in the walls.

As they ran, Ruby looked to the side and halted, her eyes widening. A dozen bear-like creatures with sharp claws and fangs – Ursai – were converging around a building, climbing onto the roof and clashing against the walls. Two soldiers were at the door, trying to repel the creatures with all their might, while a multitude of people cowered in the darkness behind them.

"Mom!" Ruby shouted. "We've got to help!"

Summer whirled and looked at her, then the building that was under attack. She closed her eyes for a moment, seemingly considering her options, then cast a strong look at her daughter.

"You can take care of it," she said. "I believe in you."

Ruby's protests died in her mouth as her mother ran away, leaving her line of sight in a matter of second. The bodyguard cursed under her breath and raced towards the building, lifting her pistol in preparation.

Her first shot found the back of an Ursa's neck, killing it instantly. Four of them turned and dashed at her, making for more dangerous foes. Ruby shot once again, slowing one of them down by injuring its right leg, then withdrew her pistol and took her sword in both hands.

She ducked under the swing of a claw and jumped, burying her blade on the underside of the attacker's head. The girl used her speedy movement to spin in the air, kicking another Ursa in the back with both her legs. Retrieving her sword, she brought it down on the fallen monster's head, killing it too.

One of the two remaining Ursai, the one had stayed untouched, was now right upon her. Ruby dived to the side, narrowly dodging a vicious bite, and stabbed the creature in the chest. Not taking any risks, she immediately drew her sword back and swung it at the last Ursa, chopping its head off.

She took a deep breath and looked at the state of the building. One of the soldiers had fallen, blood guzzling out of his slashed neck. The remaining one was poking desperately with his sword, but he refused to give ground, knowing that he was all that stood between the Grimm and the civilians.

Ruby ran to his side, tackling an Ursa down to the ground and slashing at its torso. She got up and looked at her unlikely companion, and he looked right back in surprise.

"Jaune?"

"Ruby?"

The two shuddered as a massive piece of the ceiling fell behind them, accompanied by a dozen Ursai and Beowolves.

"Shit!" Jaune swore. "How do we deal with this? They're going to devour those people!"

"Keep these off the building!" Ruby ordered rashly. "I'll kill the others."

"You can't take them by yourself!"

She didn't listen, racing to stand between the murderous mob and the people, who had huddled themselves in a corner. Ruby brought her pistol up, shooting as fast as possible before the distance became too narrow. Three Beowolves and a Ursa fell, but the rest kept coming.

She tossed her pistol back and swung her sword desperately as the Grimm fell upon her. Dark blood poured over her, and she fell on her back. Something bit her in the leg, but she couldn't see what in the unruly mess she had delved into.

She rolled, ignoring the searing pain from the fangs tearing on her leg. Ruby swung again, slashing a Beowolf in two, then crashed to the ground as an Ursa tackled her. The people's shrieks pierced her ears, but she heard them as if they were far, far away…

A loud explosion echoed in the building, and then another, and another… Half of the Grimm parted from the group and converged on someone else, giving her breathing room to struggle once more. She rolled to face upward and stabbed blindly, and more blood fell right at her face.

Suddenly, she was brought up by a human hand and dragged off to the outside. Ruby coughed and swiped the blood away from her eyes. General Ozpin stood in front of her, smoking pistol in one hand, a concerned frown on his eyes. Jaune watched for a moment, making sure Ruby was fine, then went back inside to check on the civilians.

"Good work, Ruby," Ozpin said. "I'm afraid you reopened your wound."

The redhead looked down at her bleeding shoulder, where Emerald had stabbed her the previous night.

"And your leg… You're lucky it wasn't torn off." He added.

"I'm fine, sir," she mumbled. "Just got to keep fighting."

"You're too stubborn for your own good," Ozpin said. "I won't try to convince you to go, but you're staying near me. Have you seen your mother in this mess?"

"She went to drive the Grimm back," Ruby looked down at her feet. "Left me to save these people alone."

"Hmm."

Jaune exited the building, wiping his forehead tiredly.

"Nobody was hurt," he said. "You're a real lifesaver, Ruby. A-and you too, General."

"Of course. It's a big part of my job," Ozpin smiled amusedly. "You're staying with us, Jaune Arc. I could use your help."

"Y-you know my name, sir?"

"I know everyone's names," the general drew his sword. "Alright. My men are already doing all they can. Our objective is to save as many people as we can. Understood?"

Ruby and Jaune looked at each other, then nodded, ready to defend their kingdom.

"Alright, one thing to keep in mind," Yang said, examining the chaotic streets in front of her. "Grimm are… Uh, wait a moment…"

She turned her head to the side, her face scrunching slightly. Her eyes shifted from violet to red and back to violet, and then she looked back at Blake, who was holding her daggers apprehensively.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" The faunus asked.

"Are you serious? This is a golden opportunity. I can go wild all I want, and nobody will bat an eye… probably," Yang shrugged. "Anyway. You gotta keep in mind that fighting Grimm is very different from fighting other people. You don't circle around them, you don't try to predict their next moves… You just go for the kill, because that's what they will do."

"That sounds… unwise." Blake noted, trying to voice her opinion in a way that wouldn't offend her friend.

"You can think whatever you want. Did you survive out there in the middle of Grimm for weeks without end?"

Blake nodded slightly, deciding to let the matter go and indulge the blonde.

"Alright, time for some fun." Yang grinned.

"Wait," Blake said. "Aren't you going to get a sword? Any kind of weapon?"

"Oh, Blake, I'm always carrying the only two weapons I need."

Yang closed her eyes for an instant, and when she opened them again, they were a vibrant shade of red. With a shout that almost resembled a roar, she dashed forward and leaped at a mass of Grimm. Her fists collided with the first target she found, an unknowing Ursa whose head went flying off its torso and smashed against a wall. The blonde landed and shouted again, delivering a flurry of punches, only barely recognizing her targets.

Blake waited for a moment, watching in both awe and terror as the kind woman who had taken her in tore effortlessly through a crowd of deadly monsters. The faunus looked around, trying to identify a target suitable for her.

A trio of Beowolves ran through a nearby alley, headed to a street right beside the one the girls were standing in. Blake ran to a house and jumped, kicking against it to gain more height, then landed on its roof. She lowered herself carefully as she walked toward the edge, her eyes trained on the oblivious Grimm below, like a cat hunting mice.

As the wolves passed right beneath her, she jumped, landing on one's back and burying both dagger on its head. Without hesitation, she slid to the nearest one and slashed its throat, then spun to face the last one…

Its eyes stared right into hers, two red orbs in the night, spreading a sense of terror through her. Blake took a step back and threw a dagger back, intending to toss it at the beast, when suddenly it fell to the ground, lifeless.

Sun tore his staff off the Beowolf's back, shaking its gore off, and smiled charmingly at her.

"No, no, milady," he said. "No need to thank me."

"I wasn't planning to." Blake noted amusedly.

Sun lifted an eyebrow slowly. He definitely hadn't expected such an answer from the shy girl he had met just a week ago. Apparently, she had grown a sense of humor.

"I see. You're a tough case," Sun sighed. "Seen Yang around?"

"Yeah," Blake pointed behind her. "She's right over there, at the other street."

The brunette entered an alley, Sun following close behind. They poked their head out to watch as their mutual friend continued to slaughter wave after wave of Grimm.

"Damn," Sun muttered. "Never seen someone take on so many at once. She seems… really angry. She okay?"

"Don't worry," Blake said. "It's just that time of the month."
"Oh," the monkey faunus cleared his throat. "You sure have a weird sense of humor, Blake."

Blake looked at him dubiously. Did he not know about Yang's power?

As if on cue, a fiery spire spun around Yang's body, incinerating the last Grimm around her. The blonde sighed happily and walked back to her friend, acknowledging Sun with a nod.

"Is that therapeutic for you or something?" Sun asked.

"I can't lie," Yang smiled. "It is pretty relaxing."

The ground shook beneath their feet, as if a massive being was stomping on the ground rhythmically. Blake looked up worriedly, but found no source for the tremor.

"Do you think Ruby is out here?" She asked quietly.

"Of course she is," Yang said. "She's certainly running around saving people. There's no doubt in my mind about that. Me, I don't really work that way. People get scared when they see a red-eyed lunatic tear Grimm apart with her bare hands."

"Shit, I was scared of you before I knew you could do that." Sun pointed out.

Yang grinned.

"And that's how I like it," she said, cracking her knuckles. "Who's up for another round?"

Summer's eyes scanned the streets, her lips pressed together tightly. It should be hard to concentrate amidst the chaos, but she felt right at home. Any Grimm that came close to her, she dispatched in one fell swoop, as she waited for her opportunity…

Finally, her target came into sight, walking through the ruins of the east wall. A quadruped monster the size of a castle, with tusks that could pierce through any material and feet which reduced anything it stomped to dust.

"Excellent," she muttered, a little smile forming between her lips. "Time to end this, boy."

She ran towards the beast, jumping to the top of a building, waiting for it to come closer. The ground shook at it approached, eyes wandering over the city as if it were indifferent to everything, even the prey it supposedly hunted. Summer took a deep breath and leaped, grabbing onto the Grimm's trunk.

The Goliath's eyes flared with rage, and he snapped his head up. Summer held on tight to both the creature and her scythe, until she reached the apex of the trunk's ascent… and let go, falling fast and landing on the Grimm's head with a graceful roll.

She lifted her scythe and brought it down, burying it on the Goliath's head, but it continued to walk, unfazed. The woman cursed and repeated her attack, once more obtaining no response. Her silver eyes shimmered with fury as she persisted, losing herself as she futilely struck the monster.

After a while, the Goliath grew tired of her antics and raised itself on its hind legs. Summer kept her scythe buried and held on to it, hanging by the arms, her legs swinging free in the air. Still, she showed nothing but rage.

"Why won't you go down?!" She screamed. "Die!"

She pulled on the scythe, bringing it out of the creature just enough so that the weapon began sliding down the Grimm, making a bloody trail on its skin. The Goliath settled onto its feet again, but immediately began to shake its entire body in an effort to remove her from it.

An explosion rang through the air, and when Summer looked up, she was surprised to see another person had climbed atop the Grimm. Pyrrha Nikos stood on the creature's very face, point her rifle point blank at its right eye.

"Wait!" Summer yelled. "Don't!"

The Reaper cursed quietly. Everything was too loud. There was no chance she would be heard.

Pyrrha pulled the trigger, and the eye popped like a balloon. She gritted her teeth, disgusted by the fluids that flooded the ruined socket, and aimed at the remaining eye. She shot again, turning the Grimm completely blind.

The Goliath stumbled to the side, losing his balance both because of his sudden lack of vision and the overwhelming pain on his system. Pyrrha Nikos looked at Summer warily as the creature started to fall, but the Reaper only glared at her.

After the Goliath fell, driving back the Grimm became a much easier task. The reinforcement from the castle outnumbered even the monstrous horde, killing most of it, and driving the rest back into the freezing plains.

Ozpin acted quickly, assigning more than half of the guard to stand on the breach, preventing a follow-up invasion. Among the wreckage of the walls, they made a terrible discovery: everyone who had been standing watch was dead, and by human hands. Only one survivor was found.

As the sun came up, the General returned to the castle with dark rings around his eyes, his hands shaking from the tiresome night. Ruby accompanied him sullenly, her shoulder and leg covered in makeshift bandaging.

The two entered the throne room unceremoniously, where they found the queen and her sister waiting. Apparently, the two hadn't slept too. Nobles crowded both sides of the room, eager to learn news of the invasion.

"Has the breach been contained?" Winter asked.

"…Yes," Ozpin sighed. "Yes, it has."

The nobles voiced their relief as one, but before they got carried away, the queen raised a hand, asking for silence.

"What are the casualties?" She questioned somberly.

"As of this moment… Too many to count," Ozpin informed. "But I can confirm that everyone who stood watch at the east wall is dead, except for one Coco Adel. She claims a girl by the name of Neo infiltrated their midst and assassinated them one by one."

A gasp spread through the crowd. Before any more statements could be made, the doors swung open again, and Summer strode inside the room, her cape billowing behind her, teary and stained with blood.

"A common, yet terrible tactic," she voiced loudly. "Find a susceptible defensive spot. Wait for Grimm activity to rise. Then draw negative emotions near that spot," she paused. "There. A recipe for disaster."

"You're saying someone planned this breach?" Ozpin rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"I'm saying you planned this breach."

The room was taken by silence as the two glared at each other intensely. Ruby took a step back, her exhausted mind shutting down at the sight of the two most reliable adults in her life coming into conflict.

"Lady Rose," Winter spoke up icily. "Explain yourself. General Ozpin is a trusted servant of the kingdom. This is a very serious accusation."

"Oh, please," Summer clenched her fists. "He can't get a word out of the prisoner. She looks at him as if they were the dearest of friends. She almost escapes under his men's watch… And then he puts an absurd amount of people in the walls, practically begging for a Grimm attack," her eyes narrowed. "He's behind this. Everything. Can't you see he's a traitor?"

Ozpin stared at her, his collected exterior breaking and giving way to helplessness. He stumbled forward and looked around the crowd. Half the nobles were shaking their heads dismissively, but more and more started to look at Summer and murmur their agreement. His eyes wandered over to Winter, defeated and hollowed of emotion. The queen's expression trembled, as if were trying to find an escape route for him.

"She's right." Weiss spoke suddenly.

Every other voice in the room died out. Ruby looked at her liege and shook her head vigorously, while Summer's eyes lit up with victory.

"When I was in town, he lured me into a false sense of safety," Weiss stated firmly. "It gave his allies the opportunity to strike at my bodyguard while she was distracted. And last night…"

"Princess…" Ruby muttered, but nobody heard her.

"He was Emerald Sustrai's shadowy assistant," the princess finished. "I did not speak sooner, afraid of making a mistake that could cost an honorable man's life. Now I see that I should not have hesitated at all."

Furious shouts and venomous curses filled the room, all directed at Ozpin, who seemed to have become a shell of a man. The Grimm blood that splattered his clothes did not help in shedding him into a friendly light.

Winter steeled herself, then stood, drawing her rapier.

"Ozpin," she said. "I hereby strip you of your rank as High General of Vale, and sentence you to prison until proper judgement is held," she closed her eyes. "Guards. Escort him to the dungeons."

Ruby watched helplessly as her mentor was taken away. She waited for him to make a statement, to protest, do anything, but he just shook his head and accompanied the guards, his eyes glued to the ground.

"Mother," she muttered. "How could you do this?"

"Ruby… Dear," Summer leaned her forehead onto her daughter's. "I'm sorry. But I couldn't stand by and let this go on any longer," she paused. "I don't blame you for not speaking before. But I expect you to learn something from this, alright?"

"No," Ruby stepped back. "You're wrong. Everyone's wrong."

She turned and exited the throne room, her steps echoing in the halls of the castle. The doors opened behind her moments after, and she turned to tell her mother to go away, but was surprised to see Weiss standing there, a guilty look on her face.

"I'm sorry, Ruby," the princess said. "I didn't want this either. But it was the right thing to do."

"No. It's not," Ruby shook her head, her eyes losing their focus, as if she were sick. "It's… not…"

"Ruby, I think you're not well," Weiss stated. "You're injured. You need to see Doctor-"

"NO!"

The princess stumbled back, startled by the tone of Ruby's voice. The redhead stood still for a moment, uttered an apology, then walked to the exit of the castle. Weiss stayed behind, feeling small and lost in a world without answers.

Man, this is some classic Zeroan shit right there. People dying. Grimm skirmishes. Redhead heroines climbing on top of Goliaths and shooting their eyeballs. Brings back memories.

And, yeah, it didn't escape my notice that I introduced Fox in one scene and killed him in the next. I think that's taking Zeroan-shit to the next level.

I was actually planning to have Neo be completely mute here, but... I really liked the thought of her saying a single, terrifying line to Coco to make her realize what was going to happen. Maybe someone who doesn't talk willingly is even creepier than someone mute. (I hope I'm not triggering someone right now. Everyone can be creepy, mute or not! GO NEO!)

-Zeroan