She had forgotten how it felt to truly be outside the walls. She had forgotten the way the biting cold fought to penetrate her skin in a fierce competition with her fiery aura. She had forgotten the shadows that kept circling around her, demonic beasts eager to catch a rare prey. She had forgotten the disorientation that came with being enveloped in eternal blizzard.

She had forgotten how it made her feel alive.

Drudging through the snow, fighting off Grimm after Grimm, Yang had no time to spare for thoughts. For now, she had no regrets, no tears – only the will to survive and get to her destination.

A whole week after she had left Vale, she at last saw the great stone house in the distance, high upon a snowy hill. A chimney released a dense trail of smoke that dispersed on the snowstorm, serving as a most helpful beacon.

"Hah," she emptied her lungs, realizing she had been holding her breath for a long time now. "There we go. Just a little more."

Yang tugged on her cloak and clenched her fists as dozens of Grimm gathered in front of her, as if they intended to block her passage to the house. Her eyes turned red and, with a fierce yell, she ran at the monsters.

"The Breach has been thoroughly secured, although actual restoration won't be possible until winter's end," Summer Rose reported dutifully to the Council, displaying a seriousness the other nobles were slowly growing accustomed to. "Temporary fortifications have been put in place. With that in mind, I have halved the number of soldiers stationed there and distributed them more evenly across the city."

"Excellent job, General Rose," Weiss tilted her head slightly. "And how fares our prisoner? Have you interrogated her yet?"

"I will do so as soon as this meeting is finished, my queen."

Lady Glynda cleared her throat and raised her head, politely drawing everyone's attention.

"In relation to that matter – bad news reached my ears this morning. Lord Olivius' estate was raided during the night," she informed gravely. "There were no survivors, and all of his slaves were freed."

"The White Fang," Weiss said icily. "This can't keep happening. It's the third attack this week only. They are growing more dangerous fast. Measures must be taken."

"I will take care of them," Summer assured. "The town Guard is far too lenient when it comes to faunus. That will change, and so the White Fang will understand their actions have real consequences."

The queen nodded firmly, a glint of hatred in her eyes.

"This is all for today," she said, getting up from her seat. "Attend to your duties and report again tomorrow."

The council was slow to react, but Weiss pretended to not notice it. She knew what was happening in these meetings. She was being measured, and found wanting.

It wasn't fair. She had lost her sister and her trusted General just a week before, and they expected her to lead them flawlessly? All she could do was listen to their reports. She didn't know how to rule.

"Don't be saddened, my queen," Summer stopped behind her, caressing her shoulder lightly. "Things will get better. Have patience."

"Thank you, Summer," Weiss replied immediately, dropping all formality in her solemn mood. "I will retire to my quarters, now. Blake."

She gestured briefly to her bodyguard and left the room. Blake emerged from a shadowy corner and followed quietly, her amber eyes constantly examining their surroundings. She looked back briefly, only to make eye contact with Summer, who watched her with an undecipherable expression on her face.

Weiss hadn't been lying about her intentions. In a matter of minutes, they arrived at her room, and she went to her balcony, resting her arms against the rails. Blake tried not to stare, but she could see how tired the newly declared queen was. It was as if all of her spirit had been drained away when her sister died.

But the faunus didn't say anything. She wanted to, but at the same time, she couldn't find the appropriate words to say. For all she knew, speaking might only upset Weiss further. No, it was best to stay silent.

Fate had other plans in hand, however.

"I can't do this."

Blake's ears perked inside her bow. It had been nothing but a whisper, but she had heard it perfectly. Hesitantly, she approached the downcast girl.

"Pardon me, Your Highness?"

"Nothing. It was nothing, Blake," Weiss refused to show her face to her bodyguard. "I was but speaking to myself. Don't waste your time worrying over me."

"All due respect… My job is to worry over you."

Weiss raised her hands in a show of frustration, then pointed at the city below.

"The White Fang," she spat. "I wish they were gone. That's it, that's what I want. I would execute them all with my own hand."

"I…" Blake gulped. This was easily the worst possible conversation they could be having. "Perhaps you should leave that to Summer and her men."

"They killed my parents, but that wasn't enough for them!" Weiss had lost all composure, her whole body shaking with rage. "They'll keep going until there's no one left. Filth. There's no doubt in my mind my own faunus would join their ranks in a heartbeat."

"Your Highness…" Blake's voice had been reduced to almost a whimper. "They can't all be bad. They aren't all bad."

Weiss turned towards her abruptly, her face contorting with furious disbelief. Blake paled and took a step back, fearing she had made an incorrigible mistake.

Thankfully, she was saved from the queen's wrath by a faint knock on the door. Weiss' gaze softened somewhat as she called for the visitor to enter. Velvet, the faunus slave, stepped inside with her head bowed low. She brought a sizzling teapot and cups on a plate, much to Weiss' surprise.

"I didn't order anything." The queen said accusingly.

"L-Lady – Forgive me, General Rose ordered me to bring Your Highness tea," Velvet whispered in a panicked tone of voice. "S-she said y-you des-served something to soothe your nerves…"

"Oh," Weiss smiled lightly. "How thoughtful of her."

Velvet hurriedly poured the tea on a cup and offered it to the queen, who took it on her hands and brought it to her lips. It was warm and soothing indeed, making her release a sigh of satisfaction.

Blake watched it all in silence, feeling uncomfortable, as she always did when Weiss' slaves appeared around her. She had been training herself to behave normally in their presence, but it was difficult. In the back of her head, she did not want to succeed – if she started to feel at complete ease in the face of her kin's slavery, what would she become? A monster, just as evil as the slaver lords she hated?

For that reason, it took her a long time to notice Velvet had turned towards her, shaking slightly. The slave kept throwing her nervous glances, as if she was unnerved by the bodyguard.

"L-l-lady Belladonna?" She whimpered. "W-would you like some tea…?"

"Oh. S-sure," Blake replied, trying to keep her cool. When Velvet started to pour the tea, though, a guilt struck her like a tidal wave. "N-no, you don't need to do it. I can pour the tea myself."

"W-what?" Velvet's eyes widened. The tea kept flowing into the cup, as she was too startled to stop. "I-it's no matter-"

"No, I insist-"

Blake gripped the plate and pulled it, intending to take it from Velvet's hands, but the slave, caught off guard by the unusual situation, did not let go. The rabbit-eared girl lost her balance and tumbled to the floor, bringing along the pot and cups, which shattered beside her head. Tea spilled everywhere, falling off the edge of the balcony and down below.

"I-I-I'm s-so, so s-sorry-"

"Animal!"

Weiss grabbed her arm and shoved her back into her room. Blake watched helplessly as the queen brought Velvet to her feet and gave her a hard slap that sent her down again. Velvet sobbed and hugged her own legs miserably.

"Don't wallow and cry!" Weiss exclaimed. "Fetch your friends and get to cleaning this mess!"

Velvet nodded fervently and struggled to her feet, then hurried out the room, still sobbing loudly.

Blake stepped into the room, feeling sick to her stomach.

"It wasn't her fault," she muttered. "I did it. It was me."

"Not another word," Weiss whirled around to stare at her. "Unless you want to be disciplined too."

Blake flinched and looked away. For all intents and purposes, Weiss had slapped her too.

Had this ever happened to Ruby? She had never told of any such incidents to her. Perhaps Ruby had kept them hidden in an effort to preserve a good image of her liege?

Or perhaps this was the first time something like this happened, spurred solely by Blake's presence. And she knew Weiss was stressed, prone to violent outbursts. She had lost so much over so little time.

Blake had lost Ruby, yet she wasn't taking her anger out on the queen.

"Forgive me, Your Highness," she said, doing her best to hide her bitterness. "If it would make you feel better, I could clean the mess myself."

"Are you out of your mind?" Weiss frowned. She wasn't angry, she just couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her bodyguard's mouth. "You will do no such thing. I wouldn't have even a commoner fix a faunus' disaster, and you have risen from that position. Or should people stop calling you Lady?"

A hundred rebuttals rose to Blake's tongue, but she clenched her fists behind her back and kept a submissive expression.

"I thought so," Weiss glared at the messy balcony. "Where is she? I swear, if that bunny didn't do exactly as I ordered…"

Blake shut her liege's words out and went to sit in a corner of the room, trying to blend into the shadows, where she could be alone with her mental storm.

When she finally cut through all the Grimm, Yang felt like a human-sized oven. Even in the middle of the blizzard, the air around her shimmered from the heat she gave off, and the snow melted around her feet.

She looked up determinedly and started the arduous climb to the top of the hill. Without her natural abilities, the endeavor would have been impossible, as she had to go to her limits to find footing and not fall.

It felt like hours, but she eventually made it there. Yang huffed soundly, releasing some smoke from her nostrils, and drudged towards the house. She jumped onto the porch and relinquished in the sensation of not being buffeted by the snowstorm anymore. Then, she took a deep, calming breath and knocked heavily on the door.

A minute passed before it opened, but Yang's relief was denied her as she didn't recognize the person in front of her. It was a small girl – even smaller than Ruby – with unnaturally pale skin dotted with freckles. Her hair was a faint shade of orange with a pink bow at the back of it. Bright green eyes looked up at Yang inquisitively.

"Hello, stranger." she greeted in a weird, disjointed pace.

"Uh, hello," Yang blinked. "Do I know you…?"

"No. That's why we are strangers!" The girl declared as if she had had the most wonderful realization in recorded history. "My name is Penny! Nice to meet you, stranger!"

"Yang. Yang Xiao-"

"Oh! Yang Xiao Long! Mother and father told me all about you! Come, I will take you to them!"

Penny gestured agitatedly and took several steps back, giving her space to enter. Yang did so hesitantly. Either she had somehow gotten to the wrong house, or things had become very weird since the last time she had visited.

But everything looked the same. A cozy interior filled with comfortable sofas, a huge fireplace, the stairs to the upper floor… The maze-like hallways that lead to the kitchen and the bedrooms… And, if she wasn't mistaken, the trapdoor that led to the underground laboratory.

"Father!" Penny called sweetly. "I made a new friend!"

Yang would have protested the statement, if she didn't find the little girl so adorable.

After a while, her father appeared, and to Yang's surprise, she knew him. Lie Ren had grown a lot since they'd last met. He might be taller than her. He still had the same weird black hair with pink streaks, and the eternally calm nature to his eyes and face.

"Ah. Yang," he said, a smile gracing his lips. He extended a hand cordially. "What a pleasant surprise."

"It's nice to see you too, Ren," Yang shook his hand enthusiastically, then tilted her head in Penny's direction. "So, uh… you have a daughter now…?"

"Oh, I'm not her biological father, of course," Ren chuckled. "Perhaps it would be best if her mother explained. How about it, Yang?"

"That star-brained lunatic? Hell yes, take me to her!"

Ren nodded happily, then looked behind her, as if in search of something. Yang's enthusiasm withered.

Ruby.

"Come, friend!" Penny called, standing near the trapdoor. "Mother is in her laboratory!"

"Of course she is," Yang tried to recapture her cheerfulness with a forced smile. "You go first, Penny."

The little girl opened the door and dropped down. Yang followed suit, landing on a cold stone floor. She recognized this place, and it was still as creepy and fascinating as well.

Once Ren descended too, they started walking through the laboratory. Of course, that was not what it actually was, but they couldn't find a better term for it. It was a naturally-formed underground cave, filled with waterfalls and glowing green crystals on the walls. Inventions were on display everywhere, from simple things like miniature catapults and multicolored potions, to things Yang could not even wrap her mind around.

And, at the very end, was the work table. A woman stood there, sweat running down the back of her neck as she brought a hammer down repeatedly on something. She had orange hair and green eyes, though these had yet to notice her visitors.

"Mother!" Penny shouted. "I made a new friend!"

"Did you now?" Nora looked to the side distractedly and finally saw them. Her hammer went flying into the distance, plopping down into the depths of the water around them, as she jumped to hug Yang. "Oh by the fairies and dragons and orcs and everything it's so nice to see you Yang this is so exciting I can't believe-" She took a deep breath. "Welcome!"

Yang laughed and hugged her in return, then took a step back.

"Ren promised me you would explain this adorable thing right here." She pointed at Penny.

"Ah! That's our daughter, of course!" Nora exclaimed joyfully, moving to hugging the little girl from behind.

"…Nora, that's impossible. You are eighteen years old; Penny looks to be twelve," Yang's eyes narrowed. "And, if nothing's changed, you and Ren aren't intimate enough to-"

"Not in front of her!" Nora shrieked, then looked at Ren, some seriousness appearing on her face. "Ren, I made Penny a new toy. How about you show it to her? It's in the Wonderful Display of New Toys for Penny."

Ren nodded and laid his hands on Penny's shoulders, then started guiding her away. She seemed more than happy to comply, probably because of the concept of a new toy.

Once they were out of earshot, Nora turned to Yang again.

"We don't like to talk about this in front of her if it's not necessary," she explained briefly. "Penny is a construct. It took me many long years, but I managed to build a human body made of metal and animate it."

"What?!" Yang exclaimed. "You… built a person? That's impossible! I mean… does she have a soul?"

"Yes, sir!" Nora crossed her arms proudly. "A better soul than most people's, even," she tapped her chin absently-minded. "And she's also got some super weird powers. Like floating stuff and generating and discharging electricity."

"Electricity?" The blond frowned. "What's that?"

"Eh, nothing important. Discovered it last week. Don't even bother asking about it."

Yang shrugged, accepting Nora's response easily. She wasn't the mad inventor in the laboratory, after all.

"So, what drove you to come here?" Nora asked cheerfully, turning back to her current piece of work. She had to spent some time searching for a hammer, seeing as she had thrown the previous one in the water. "It's pretty much the peak of winter. I get you're hot as hell, but shouldn't it be a little uncomfortable? And where's Ruby?"

Nora finally found a hammer and started beating away. After a whole minute, she noticed she had received no answer and looked at Yang once more.

She had never seen her friend wearing that face before.

"Oh," Nora put her hammer down worriedly. "Uh… How about we go upstairs and get you some hot coffee to drink? Then we can talk."

"Sure," Yang muttered darkly. "Thank you, Nora."

The orange-haired inventor led the blond away, pushing her in the back. On the way to the exit, they passed by Ren and Penny. The construct was gasping in wonder at her new toy, a little bird made of metal that actually flew around in short loops in the air.

Yang almost teared up at the sight.

Summer Rose's steps echoed through the castle's hallways sonorously, a faint smirk on her lips. When she passed by her soldiers, they bowed their heads; when she encountered another noble, they greeted her with a degree of respect they'd never displayed before. She saw her influence grow stronger every day, and she couldn't remember ever feeling this good before in her life.

When she arrived at the queen's chambers, she knocked only once before going inside. Weiss was sat in front of her vanity table, brushing her hair. She was clad in her sleepwear, much to Summer's pleasure.

"My queen." She greeted calmly, closing the door behind her.

"General Rose," Weiss looked at her briefly. "I wasn't expecting a visit from you, especially at such a late hour."

"Forgive me. I only wanted to make sure you are well, dear," Summer approached her from behind, laying her hands on her shoulders. "It has been a stressful week for you. I can help you relax a bit."

"Hmm," the heiress blinked drowsily. "I shouldn't waste your time on me, General. You have suffered as much as I have recently."

Summer leaned down to whisper at her ear.

"Comfort goes both ways, Weiss," her lips brushed against the queen's skin. "What say you about it?"

Weiss froze, catching on to the general's real meaning. Summer had to hold back a smile as she saw the queen's face shift through many emotions in only a few seconds. First surprise, then anger, want, and at last, embarrassment.

Just as she had planned. This Schnee was proving to be much easier to manipulate.

"You don't have to ashamed of it, my queen. We are all human beings, are we not? We seek solace wherever we can find it," Summer pressed gently. "Nothing needs to come of it. It'll be our little secret…"

"S-Summer!" Weiss' eyes darted away from the mirror in horror. "You just – We can't do that, n-not now! Winter, a-and Ruby-"

"Shh… They would want you to be happy… Just let go for a little while…"

Weiss was trembling now, her hands gripping the chair beneath her. Her mind told her this was wrong, unacceptable, disgraceful… But Summer's words were like a sweet melody, deafening her better thoughts…

Summer let herself smile and edged her head forward a little bit more, closing in for the finishing move. One little kiss, and the queen would be hers.

But then a shiver ran down her back and she looked to the side, towards the balcony. Two amber eyes examined her intensely, seemingly glowing in contrast to the nocturnal background.

Belladonna.

"The queen is going to sleep, General Rose. She doesn't want any more visitors," the faunus spoke clearly. "You should go."

"Of course," Summer stepped back and nodded, as if nothing had been happening between her and the queen. "Forgive me for my rudeness, Your Highness. I will leave so you can rest."

Summer met eyes with Blake, keeping her anger at bay with a gentle smile. How dare that faunus ruin her plans? If she could, she would squeeze the life out of her right then and there…

But she couldn't. Belladonna would have to be taken care of another way. Summer turned around and exited the room, her cloak concealing her dark expression.

The queen's room was heavy with silence as Weiss sat still on her chair, eyeing the mirror unblinkingly. Blake took a deep breath and approached her, laying a hesitant hand on her liege's shoulder.

"Are you alright, my queen?" She asked, truly worried.

"Yes," Weiss got up and walked to her bed. "Blake… Thank you. You saw and heard nothing."

Blake nodded mutely and went back to the balcony while the queen laid down on her bed with her heart beating fast and skin feeling uncomfortably hot.

"Hey! Pyrrha!"

The redhead's eyes opened suddenly when she heard that whisper. Looking around her room, she identified the noise came from outside the window at the wall opposite to her. Pyrrha rubbed her eyes sleepily and rose from her bed, then walked to the window and opened it.

"Hmm?"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune exclaimed in relief. He had been struggling to not fall from the narrow edge he had sidled on for a good time now. "Sorry! I know it's the middle of the night but – Oh."

His mind went blank as he looked at her fixedly.

"What?" Pyrrha frowned.

"You are – Uh, in your… sleepwear?"

She looked down at herself, confused by his reaction. What was wrong with her silk red camisole? She was forced to wear it due to the weather. In her homeland, she used to sleep in her undergarments only.

Pyrrha blushed. Good thing they weren't in her homeland.

"Well, I was sleeping," she defended herself meekly. "Come inside, or you'll fall down."

"A-alright."

Jaune climbed over the windowsill and landed on the floor of her room. He resisted the urge to inspect every little detail around him. Pyrrha crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.

"So," she spoke nervously. "Was there something you wanted to say?"

"Yes! Right!" Jaune's face grew serious. "I… I think there's something really weird going on here."

Pyrrha stared at him emotionlessly. Surely he didn't mean here as in, her room? Or something between the two of them?

"I mean, in the castle," Pyrrha's distress was substituted by genuine concern as Jaune adopted a somber tone she had never heard before. "The day queen Winter was killed, I was stationed on the castle walls. I heard the commotion, but didn't know what was happening. Then, general Ozpin and Ruby came running from the castle."

He paused and rubbed his forehead, as if was about to say something he didn't quite understood yet.

"They stopped for a while and started talking," Jaune gulped. "Ruby was asking what exactly had happened, and Ozpin said… He said her mother was dead, and that the Summer Rose we know, the general, isn't actually Summer Rose."

"What?" Pyrrha stared at him harshly. "Jaune, you're not making sense."

"He said she put a spell on the queen, to make her sleep forever," he paused. "Ruby stayed back to buy time for Ozpin to escape. Then Summer reached her and…"

Pyrrha shook her head and sat at the edge of her bed. The whole revelation was disturbing and, frankly, outside the realm of anything she could have imagined… But Jaune talked with such emotion, she found it hard to just dismiss his tale.

Summer Rose. Pyrrha had heard her name several times as she grew up. A young rebel with a scythe, fighting for freedom and justice. Terror of the nobility, hero of the masses. And yet, when the mistralian arrived at Vale, she found the Reaper sitting in court with her supposed enemies. Pyrrha had always found that unsettling, but until now, she hadn't put much thought into it.

And Ozpin… She had known the moment she met him he was worthy of the tales people spoke of him. He was wise, strong and just. Not the kind to turn on his queen and pupil.

She could see now. It was all connecting so easily, and opening a new world in front of her. A dark world full of fear and illusions.

"You're saying she's a witch?" Pyrrha asked. "A witch disguised as Ruby's mother?"

"Yes," Jaune nodded. "I think so."

"Dragon's blood," the redhead swore, drawing from the Valesian vocabulary she had been surrounded by for the last few months. "And she's the High General now. She's got the entirety of the Guard under her command! And if she cursed the queen… Where does her ambition stop?"

"We should warn queen Weiss." Jaune stated firmly.

Pyrrha got up and shook her head.

"No. We have no evidence except for your words. I believe you, but that won't be enough against someone of her position," she explained. "And, if she's a witch… Couldn't she have some sort of influence on the queen?"

"Well, that's just… unfair," Jaune crossed his arms in frustration. "How are we supposed to reveal who she is, then?"

"I don't know. But we need to make sure she doesn't do anything to Weiss while we figure out a plan," Pyrrha said. "I'll talk to the new bodyguard – Lady Belladonna – tomorrow. Maybe I can get her on our side, since she was Ruby's friend. Meanwhile, you lay low, Jaune."

Jaune nodded silently, happy to agree with whatever course of action she presented. He was amazed by her quick thinking and resolve. Jaune couldn't plan a route to the castle kitchen, much less the outing of a trickster witch.

"But, uh, if you want," Pyrrha blushed. "You could sleep here. It's very late, and I don't want you to fall trying to return the way you came from."

"But… I'm a… And you…" Jaune stuttered, refusing to make eye contact.

"It's a mistralian tradition, don't worry."

Jaune was beginning to think mistralians had way too many strange traditions. Still, he was too nervous to argue with Pyrrha, so he started to lay down on the floor.

"No!" Pyrrha exclaimed. "We… We share the bed."

She laid down on the mattress and edged to the side until she was close to the wall. Jaune was struggling not to faint as he obeyed her wishes and laid beside her.

"See?" Pyrrha giggled nervously. "It's a nice tradition."

"It sure is…"

Maybe he should consider moving to Mistral…

Blake sat on the queen's balcony, her back pressed against a wall while she hugged her knees. Her eyes were closed, but she couldn't sleep. The events of the day kept replaying in her head – the accident with Velvet, and…

Why would Summer try to seduce Weiss? She had found her daughter, dead, just a week ago. Blake had recognized Summer was a carefree, even playful person, despite her past. But this… This was something else.

Blake found herself clutching her daggers' hilts, her hands shaking with fury. How dare that woman disgrace Ruby's memory.

Her anger subsided somewhat as she heard a faint sound coming from Weiss' room, a door that was opening very, very slowly. Blake looked back at the room, expecting to see the queen woken and standing, but she was still sleeping on her bed.

A tall shadow distinguished itself in the darkness as a glint of metal shone beside the sleeping royal. Blake jumped to her feet, drew her daggers, and in the blink of an eye had them pressed lightly on the back of the intruder's neck.

"Move. Away," Blake warned slowly. "Lower your weapon…"

The intruder sobbed abruptly. A knife hit the floor loudly. Blake grabbed the assassin by their shirt and spun them around, slamming them to a wall. The moonlight made its way inside the room through the open balcony and revealed the stranger's face.

"Velvet?" Blake whispered. "What are you doing?"

"I-I'm sorry!" The slave yelped, then covered her mouth with her hands.

"Why would you try to assassinate the queen?!"

Blake immediately felt like a fool. Why would Velvet not try to assassinate the queen? She should understand better than anyone else how the slave felt. In the past, if she had been presented with the opportunity of slicing her lord's throat…

"I'm sorry," Velvet repeated. "She told me to do it. She told me to do it."

"What?" Blake did a double take. "Who?"

The bed creaked behind them. Blake turned her head and saw Weiss sitting up, her blues eyes widening as she took in what was happening her room.

"What is the meaning of this?" The queen asked warily.

"Velvet made a mistake," Blake's eyes narrowed at the helpless faunus. She wanted to protect her, but there was no lie convincing enough to get her out of this mess. "She was standing beside your bed with a knife in hand. She dropped it when I confronted her."

"What?!" Weiss stood, clenching her fists. "This can't be happening. It's never enough, is it? When I think I'll finally have a night of peaceful sleep… It never ends."

Blake waited patiently, though she couldn't help but disdain the queen's attitude. She had hardly looked at Velvet, as if the faunus didn't even exist.

"What should I do, my queen?" Blake asked carefully.

"Tell the guards to take her to the dungeons," Weiss sighed. "She'll be executed tomorrow."

Blake gripped Velvet by the arms, but couldn't bring herself to move. Weiss stared at her, frustration blossoming into outright anger.

"Stop looking at me and do it!" She exclaimed. "Are you deaf? Do you have some condition you've kept hidden from me? Ruby was many, many things, but at least she wasn't slow."

The bodyguard's eyes sparked with hatred, and for a moment, Weiss thought she would lash out at her. But instead, Blake turned her face away from her and lead Velvet out of the room.

"Bloody faunus." Weiss fell back on her bed and glared at the ceiling, wishing she could shred something – or someone - with her rapier.

Yang's eyes rested on her full mug of coffee. Silence reigned in Nora and Ren's kitchen as they absorbed the last details of her tale. Penny sat in a chair, completely still, with a big frown on her forehead. She wasn't playing with her toy anymore.

"Oh, Yang," Nora hugged her friend tightly. "I don't know what to say."

"There's nothing to say, Nora," Yang muttered darkly. "Ruby's dead."

"Bones," the inventor cursed lightly, crossing her arms. "That can't be it. There has to be a way to wake her up. Maybe I can make some potion, or-"

"No. Please, just stop." Yang interrupted. The last thing she wanted was to be fed false hope.

Nora wiped her eyes and looked away. Ren circled around the table and rested a hand on Yang's shoulder.

"You can stay with us for as much time as you need," he said. "But do you have anything on your mind? Any plans?"

"Yeah," Yang nodded. "I'm going to train. I'll go out there in the blizzard every day, until I'm strong enough."

"Strong enough for what?" Ren frowned worriedly.

"To come back to Vale and tear down that damned castle," she finally picked up her mug and took a long sip. Her eyes were red like fire. "And then I'll scour every corner of that city, and the kingdom, and the whole fucking world, until I find the bastard that took my sister away."

She slammed the mug down on the table.

"And then I'll kill him."

Damn, girl. If I were Ozpin, I'd change my name, my face, and the reality in which I existed. But, then, again, I would be Ozpin. He's supposed to be a badass in combat.

I would like to inform you guys that I'm posting this a day before the Volume 3 finale airs. If I never post another chapter, it's probably because the episode was too much for me to handle and I died. Seriously, YANG LOST HER ARM HOLY SHIT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.

Ahem.

Thanks for reading.

-Zeroan