A/N

Finished. Finally. *Looses a sigh*

Got to tell you guys, it is not fun trying to write a finale without any notes at all, let alone any kind of concrete plan. But I did it anyway, yeah.

And man oh man, is this chapter the bomb. It was a absolute beast to write, and I don't think I'm far from the truth when I say that you'll absolutely love it.

So, there you go. The second-to-last chapter of Golden Dawn. Complete and ready for your viewing pleasure.

Inner Grounds, Beacon Academy.

"Ruby!"

A panicked voice, vaguely familiar to the girl, sounded in her jumbled thoughts as nothing more than a echo. Slowly as Ruby realized that she wasn't dead or burned to a crisp, she managed to remember that she had the ability to move around.

First, she opened her eyes, a groan lifting out of her as she saw hints of the night sky far above. A gentle breeze whipped her hair around a little, also bringing attention to the incredible stinging on her cheeks.

"Ruby! Wake up!" Her eyes boggled as Yang's powerful grip on her shoulders shook her back into reality in a instant. Ruby squeaked in alarm, staring up at Yang as she desperately shook her up and down.

"Sis, stop!"

Yang stopped and blinked twice, staring down at her before laughing and pulling Ruby up into a hug. "You're okay!"

Ruby slowly nodded. "Yeah, I... I am." She glanced to the side at all of the people sitting around in tight-knit groups, some of them staring around with a blank face or just looking at the ground.

"Where's dad?"

Just then she glanced over her shoulder to see him jogging over. He squatted down and gave her a hug without a word. With a sigh he sat back on the ground, giving her some room. "Please, don't do that to me again."

Ruby grinned sheepishly and nodded. "Promise." She winced as he chuckled and ruffled her hair, getting a annoyed grunt from her. "Won't be a habit." Her grin vanished as she patted herself down, frowning at absence of a familiar weight on her back. She looked around with increasing desperation and looked at Yang and her father. "Uh, where's Crescent Rose?!"

Her father rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "...Still in the Centerkeep. The Academy's aura must have pulled it from you when Ozpin pulled his trick."

She stared at him for a few seconds, until she looked around and noticed the grassy field they all sat on. Ruby looked at Yang with a frown, shaking her head as her thoughts became clearer and clearer. "Wait, Cinder... didn't she-"

Both her father and Yang frowned and nodded.

"She did."

"What?" Ruby managed to focus, noticing Weiss standing off to the side, staring at the darkened walls of the Centerkeep and the flickering firelight completely engulfing the tall stained glass windows from within.

Her memory properly came back as she shakily walked over to Weiss. "Weiss, are you okay?"

"They're just the latest in a long line of people taking advantage of my background." Weiss sighed at the concern on Ruby and flashed a quick smile. "Really, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." Weiss looked away from her at the burning Centerkeep. "Jaune and Pyrrha are still in there."

Ruby's eyes widened. "Wait, what?- So how are we out here and they're still in there with Cinder?"

For a moment, Weiss's eyes narrowed as she jerked her chin at Professor Ozpin, who came limping over with Professor Goodwitch supporting him on her shoulder. "That is my doing, Ruby."

"Professor Ozpin? Professor Goodwitch?"

Weiss arched a eyebrow. "Teleportation?"

"It's my semblance. And it takes a lot out of me."

Ruby blinked twice, before speaking out loud. "Is that what the coffee's for?"

Ozpin chuckled while Glynda sighed and muttered something. "It's a very addicting drink."

"Wait a moment. If we're out here, then what about the White Fang? And Cardin Winchester and his team? Or Cinder and Torchwick? Don't tell me all of them are still in there?"

"Well, most of them. I moved the White Fang out of the hall to somewhere else in the Academy's grounds."

"You teleported the White Fang? You could have gotten Jaune and Pyrrha out of there!"

"It wouldn't have looked good for people to find out that White Fang members were killed in the center of Beacon Academy, Ms Schnee. It would have only angered the faunus even further and cause problems for everyone." He grimaced. "And Jaune's aura stopped me from teleporting them."

It was then that Ruby noticed Pyrrha's mother and father storming across the grass towards them. The King of Mistral loomed over Glynda and Ozpin, a utterly horrific fury in his green eyes, with the same also seen in Athel's eyes as well.

"Where have your defenses taken our weapons, Headmaster?" Athel's words were just above a whisper, full of barely contained fury.

Ozpin didn't bat a eye. "The armory. But you two aren't going anywhere."

Athel narrowed her eyes and glanced up at her husband, who gave a low growl. "Who are you to stop us?" The King's words came out as a growl. Yet despite that Glynda still glared up at him, while Ozpin was unfazed.

"Our daughter is still in there, you can't just expect us to do nothing!? Answer us!"

"Without your weapons Cinder will just have two more hostages." They both now stared at Glynda, who stared back with just as much fire. "Your daughter can handle herself... and her team leader will do everything he can to protect her."

Ozpin gave just the barest hint of a amused glance at her.

"And what about Jaune? He's stuck in there too! He's never been in a fight in his life!" Jaune's mother came over, ignoring the pointed look on Glynda as she stared straight into Ozpin's eyes with uncontained fury. "He was never ready to be a huntsman!"

Ruby fidgeted, entirely okay with not saying, doing, or thinking of anything at all. But instead she quietly cleared her throat, and in the midst of the angered glares, the six of them looked at her. She quivered under the thunderous eyes of Pyrrha's parents, and the equally fiery glare of Jaune's mother, but she made her stand. "Jaune is a great team leader and a wonderful friend." She looked at Jaune's mother. "And you're wrong about him. He's strong. Capable, and very smart. He saved one of our classmates from a Ursa attack, and during our initiation in the Emerald Forest, my team and I would never have been able to defeat the Nevermore if his team didn't take on the Deathstalker. Oh! And you should have seen him during the combat trials!"

Jaune's parents looked at each other, while Queen Athel and her husband had fallen silent.

She shrugged with a quick smile at all of them. "I couldn't have asked for a better friend." Ruby looked straight at Pyrrha's parents. "And I'm sure Pyrrha's instincts are never wrong."

And just like that, the angry fire in Queen Athel's eyes cooled. The woman's pale green eyes widened as she looked at her husband, before stepping forward and giving a nod to Ruby.

The girl chuckled nervously as Athel moved past her to Ozpin. "... We trust your judgement."

During this Jaune's mother stayed silent, although she too had lost the angered edge. Mrs Arc sighed, mumbling something before being led away by Mr Arc, leaving Ozpin to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Now that the matter is settled, we need to evacuate the grounds."

"Headmaster. Oobleck and I are ready to move everyone towards the gates." Professor Port and Qrow both approached him, with Ruby staring at her uncle with a look of worry.

Qrow took a few swaying steps and stood next to Professor Port, leaning on Crow's Eye as a support. "I'll stay to help fight Cinder-" Qrow started to tip forward before being caught by Professor Port before he hit the ground.

"I'm afraid not, young man. You're in no condition for a fight." Qrow narrowed his eyes and sighed as Professor Port casually twirled his blunderaxe on his other shoulder, giving a strong pat to Qrow.

"You're injured as well, Qrow." Glynda guided Ozpin over to join them. "Don't overdo it, idiot."

Qrow rolled his eyes at her words. "Whatever."

Ozpin gave him a look before addressing them all.

"Everyone. We're going to the main gates."

They all turned to leave, before Ozpin noticed that Ruby and Weiss hadn't budged.

"We're a teammember short. And we're the only ones with our weapons."

Ozpin sighed. "I don't need to tell you how dangerous this is going to be." Glynda went to say something, before settling for a look of grim acceptance.

"Be careful, girls."

Ruby nodded just as Professor Port, Qrow and her father came back. The burly old professor came to a stop, allowing Qrow to limp on his own towards Ruby and wrap her in a hug while Carmine stood off to the side with a grim smile.

"I'll be fine, uncle. Nothing to worry about!"

"You? I've got worry about your dad dancing on my grave if something happens to either of you." Qrow chuckled, glancing over his shoulder at Carmine before loosing a sigh. "Just don't do anything I wouldn't do. And remember your training."

She smiled and gave a nod. "Got it." Carmine came forward, nudging Qrow with his elbow as he stopped in front of Ruby. "I'll be fine, dad-"

"I know. I just wanted say how proud of you and Yang I am."

Ruby's thoughts stopped in their tracks. And she grinned. "Thanks."

Carmine glanced at Weiss. "Don't let her do anything stupid, alright?"

Weiss smirked. "You can count on that."

Carmine gave a nod. "Good luck." He turned to rejoin Professor Port, assisting him in supporting Qrow as the three of them followed after Ozpin, Glynda and Pyrrha's parents.

Yang joined Ruby and Weiss, checking the bright red buckshot shells on her Ember Celica's. "Ready for this?"

Ruby hesitated before nodding and looking at her. "As much as I can be."

"I'm not sure what you're so worried about. We'll come out on top, Ruby." At Weiss's confident words a small smirk managed to appear on Ruby.

"Guys!"

The three of them glanced in the direction of the armory, seeing Lie Ren and Nora running towards them across the grassy field, wearing their normal clothes.

"Here."

Lie Ren tossed Myternaster to Weiss, who nodded in appreciation. "Thanks. Got Pyrrha's weapons?"

He pointed at Nora, who grinned and turned around to show Milo and Akouo strapped to her back.

Ruby nodded to all of them. "Let's get moving."

Nora twirled Magnhild on her shoulder as she rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck, following the others.

"Let's break some legs!"

Centerkeep.

He glowed white, a pure light, and in that instant Cinder's flames reared back like they were shadows, left crackling and roaring their fury, leaving nearly no part of the hall unscorched. The black and white marble flooring was now scorched to the point where it was almost a uniform a black, cracked in several places from the heat, with huge ebony beams littering the once clear floor, broken or bent or burnt.

Among the wreckage Jaune stood rooted to the spot, frozen in wonder as he stared at the pure white glow suffusing his entire body. Strangely enough, he could hear the barest hint of a pure ringing from Crocea Mors.

Jaune cleared his thoughts, focusing on Pyrrha lying on the floor. He breathed internal sigh of relief to see her completely unharmed, although unconscious. The same glow around him also covered her, and now that he looked up and scanned the room he saw that it was around everyone else as well.

Cardin stared at him with a awestruck expression while his teammates patted themselves down, checking for any burns only to find none. Behind them, Roman Torchwick did the same, only to notice that the end of his cigar was a burned black stump.

The criminal took it out of his mouth, dropping it to the floor and stepping on it before lifting his cane. He aimed it at Cinder's back with a growl. "I'm beginning to think you're trying to kill me."

Cinder didn't even turn to look at him. Her burning gold eyes locked onto Jaune, with a very wicked smile on her. Her eyes flicked to fix on something in the air near him.

Something dropped to the ground with a sharp crunch, scattering into a thousand shards, echoed off the scorched walls and filled the smoke-filled air.

Jaune glanced down at a cream colored shard near his shoe, noticing it had a bit of the Beacon Academy symbol on it. She noticed other pieces scattered nearby, also having parts of the symbol on them.

He shook his head to chase the weird hum away, taking his eyes off of Professor Ozpin's broken coffee mug.

"Well. That was eventful. It's a shame Ozpin couldn't get you or the Mistrallan out of harm's way, Jaune." She tutted. "I can't fault him. He's such a fragile little man."

Jaune kept her in his vision as Pyrrha's lessons ran through his head, telling him to always keep track of the situation. Dove Bronzewing stood off to his left, both of them looking around at the flames with clear discomfort, loosely holding onto the razor-thin rapier in his hand. Unfortunarely Sky Lark had the tip of his glaive pointed right at Jaune at all times, while Russel Thrush practically hopped from foot to foot, a grin on his face as he twirled his handaxes.

Cardin just stood frozen to the spot, his eyes flicking constantly to his teammates and then to Jaune as the white glow around him finished fading.

Jaune ignored the frighteningly loud beats his heart thumped out as he fixed a cold stare at Cardin, keeping his sword-arm loose but ready and his shield semi-raised. "You don't have to do this."

Cinder placed a hand on her hip, her chuckling echoing in the hall. "I think he does, Jaune."

Cardin remained silent with a stricken look, while his teammates continued to advance closer towards Jaune.

"I'm already very impressed by your abilities, Jaune. But I've never seen how well you do against multiple opponents."

Roman Torchwick rolled his eyes and scowled. "Just get this over with."

Jaune's eyes widened as the edge of Sky Lark's glaive came smashing down through the air. He raised his shield just in time to block the blow and take a step backwards, only for Russel Thrush to rush him from the side with both hatchets slashing at his ribs. Jaune gritted his teeth as he tightened his grip and flicked his wrist up, blocking both edges with the flat of his blade before stepping forward and slamming his shoulder into the small-framed boy.

A half-forced yell came from behind, raising the hairs on Jaune's neck as the point of Dove Bronzewing's rapier scraped across one of his pauldrons, scratching the white enamel finish.

Before Jaune could react or twist out of the way, his eyes widened as Sky Lark slammed the side of his glaive's shaft into Jaune's legs. The boy loosed a grunt, holding his breath and holding the tears in before managing to hop backwards, stumbling to a stop and shaking his head to refocus.

Breathing heavily he kept his shield in front of his chest and the tip of Crocea Mors extended alongside. "Stop this! She's just using all of you!"

Cardin still stood frozen to the spot as he stared at Jaune, his mace lightly held by his side.

Russel Thrush gave a savage grin as he smashed both of his handaxes down on the side of Jaune's shield, knocking it askew and forcing Jaune to push back in awkward fashion. "See that's where you're wrong, Arc! This is a opportunity too good to let slip by!" Each blow left a mar in Jaune's shield. Each impact rattled his body and set his teeth on edge, and the look in the boy's eyes was nothing but anger and rage directed against Jaune in its entirety.

Jaune's arm began to deaden as Sky Lark and Dove Bronzewing closed up on his flanks, cutting off any chances of getting around them to improve his chances. Jaune noticed the look of glee on Cinder, the almost encouraging nods she gave him. It would have been easy, in fact he could feel the overwhelming force inside of him, just itching to be unleashed against them. But in kind his resolve only deepened.

He continued to weather Russel's frenzied blows, hoping that he would tire soon when suddenly the boy turned his shoulder and slammed his full weight into the shield, knocking Jaune back and throwing him to the floor. Jaune hacked and coughed as the rim of the shield dug into his chest, before quickly shifting it to cover him fully as Russel roared and launched another barrage of ringing strikes, soon leaving them the only noises or feeling Jaune could sense,, leaving his mind in a stupor.

He couldn't feel his fingers and his arms were nearly limp, and as Sky Lark and Dove Bronzewing's shadows fell over him, he somehow managed to keep completely silent, even though all he wanted to do was get them to stop, in any way possible.

But the blows wouldn't stop, and Dove Bronzewing raised his rapier, while Sky Lark hefted his glaive, and a mighty yell tore from Russel Thrush as he raised both of his hatchets over his head, putting his all into a single strike onto the abused and cracked surface of Jaune's shield.

Jaune closed his eyes, but the blow never came. Instead he heard Russel Thrush cry out and fall to the ground, followed by surprise and shock from Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark as the both of them moved away, blocking the blows of a very heavy weapon.

He heard heavy breathing as he opened his eyes, being hoisted to his feet by Cardin.

Cardin quickly turned away from him, raising his mace and blocking Sky Lark's glaive with the shaft. "What are you doing, Cardin!?"

The broad-shouldered boy answered with a grunt, headbutting Sky Lark and forcing him back. "Doing what's right."

Jaune swayed on his feet, unable to believe his eyes as he glanced at his shield and sword. "Cardin...?"

Both Dove and Sky backed away from Cardin, their weapons raised as they stood together.

Cardin glanced over his shoulder. "That aura of yours could come in handy right now, we can get through this if we-"

Cinder started walking down the hall, clapping her hands with a very amused look, stopping Cardin cold as he focused on her with a scowl.

"Why, you are a surprise, Cardin."

He hefted his mace, glaring at her even as Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark continued to glare at him. "I don't care what you have over my family, I won't be a part of your games anymore! I won't let you manipulate my team either!"

"I should have known that honor your family is known for could come in trouble. But it's no matter." A flame sparked to life in her outstretched palm as she slowly leveled it against Cardin.

He narrowed his eyes, lifting his mace off his shoulder and taking a few steps forward.

Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark parted automatically for her walk through. She came to a stop with a smile, unnerving Jaune as her eyes flicked to his before glancing at the two boys on either side of her.

Cardin stopped in his tracks as Cinder suddenly turned, holding a flame against Dove and Sky's necks. The two boys froze instantly, dropping their weapons in the process.

She smiled.

He gritted his teeth, before rushing forwards with a roar, raising his mace for a overhead strike. Cinder lowerered her arms and moved out of the way, and Cardin spotted Roman Torchwick with the end of his cane raised, Cardin couldn't stop.

Jaune shouted a warning but before he could move a crimson flash spewed out of Roman's cane, shooting through the air and striking Cardin right in the chest, engulfing him in a red flash.

Both Dove and Sky cried out in alarm as they scrambled away from Cinder and Roman, running as fast as they could while Jaune froze with a horrified look. "No!"

A small sigh came from Cardin as the mace dropped from his hands with heavy thud. He fell to his knees, the front of his chest smoking and burning. He slumped forwards at Cinder's feet.

"Cardin!"

Cinder chuckled. "He wasn't as useful as his father was." She continued to move forward, the flame in her hand glowing fiercely as Jaune fell to his knees, dropping Crocea Mors and staring at the ground, willing his aura to activate, or turn on, or do whatever it did!

But even as the flames drew closer nothing happened, he couldn't feel any tingling and there was no white glow. His eyes moved upwards, staring at Cinder as he bowed his head.

Next to him, his sword and shield rattled against the floor, ignored by Cinder as she stood over him with a big smile. "Going to play along?-"

Both the sword and shield whistled through the air as if snatched up by a invisible force, and her eyes barely registered the shield before it slammed her off her feet and sliding across the floor. The shield curved around in the air as she grunted and got to her feet with a confused scowl, joining Crocea Mors as Pyrrha caught them both, already running to where Jaune knelt, his head bowed.

"We don't really need to keep her around, do we?"

"Jaune needs to be motivated." Cinder snapped her fingers, and Pyrrha watched as a brilliant pyre flared in her palm, stretching high enough that its flames licked at the wrecked roof beams above, before curling back down with a hiss into a furious ball of flame. Cinder lowered her arm, aiming straight at Pyrrha as she stood in front over Jaune, a look of defiance on her.

The light from her flames flickerd across the smoking walls of the Centerkeep as Cinder's smile took on a edge of savagery. She flicked her finger, and the ball of flame erupted into a rushing thick column, consuming the entire center of the hall in its girth as it rushed straight at Pyrrha.

Pyrrha's instincts made her stand her ground in the face of the flaming column, the firelight reflecting in her calm eyes as she took a deep final breath of clear air, knowing what was coming.

The firestorm rushed forth, all consuming, all devouring, drowning out her surroundings in a fiery sea of fierce reds, bright oranges and sickening yellows, her eyes widened as she felt the superheated air washing over every part of her.

Still Pyrrha held her ground, gritting her teeth and steeling herself as she held the shield in front of her face, only to catch a glimpse of Roman Torchwick's grin as a flare of crimson erupted from the end of his cane, spiralling through the center of the firestorm and slamming into the face of the shield, throwing her to the floor just as Cinder's firestorm encroached around her and Jaune, devouring the walls of the Centerkeep.

Outer Dormitories.

Blake gathered her hair forward over her shoulder, staring at the strip of black cloth draped over her other palm. Briefly her eyes looked up, and she thought about binding her ears to protect them.

At once she banished the thought, knowing she'd be at a disadvantage if she did. Instead she wound the black cloth around the midsection of her hair to keep it contained and out of the way.

Bending down she picked up Gambol Shroud inside its sheath, slinging it over her back and moving around the edge of the bushes back onto the garden path, where Sun Wukong waited, twirling the separated rods of his gunchaku.

She stopped in front of him and nodded. "Ready."

He gave a disappointed sigh, shaking his head. "Y'know, I kind of liked seeing you in the dress."

Blake nearly rolled her eyes before noticing the genuine look on Sun. Instead she gave a tight smile. "Honestly, a part of me wanted to keep wearing it." She frowned at how brief her first experience of wearing a dress was. Soon the frown disappeared as she refocused. "But it would only slow me down in a fight."

Sun loosed another sigh. "I hope my disappointment's worth it."

"I think it is." Blake chuckled at his groan as she folded her arms. "You looked okay."

"Okay?" Sun looked up at her. "That's it?"

"Just okay." A little smirk appeared as she gave him a sidelong glance. "Maybe a little dashing."

"Much better."

Blake looked away from him and started moving down the path, turning her thoughts to more serious matters as she scanned the darkened specters of the student dormitories looming on either side of the path up ahead. A sense of disquiet grew in her as they left the open garden behind, passing into the almost pitch black shadow of a walkway connecting the buildings on either side of them.

Even Sun was completely quiet, further unnerving her to the point that she stopped in the midst of the pitch black shadow, staring at the courtyard ahead. She clenched her fist, willing her legs to keep going. But they wouldn't move. She knew they were in there. Waiting for her. Him too.

"Running away would be easier, Blake."

She didn't turn to look at him, instead she narrowed her eyes and loosed a sigh. She nodded. "It - it would be." Blake glanced down at Gambol Shroud, thinking for a moment.

Blake waited for him to say something funny or witty, or at very least comforting. But all she heard was silence. Nothing but her own thoughts. The instinct to run away was almost overpowering. It almost commanded her legs to move, just like it did when she ran from the train heist, just like it did when her secret came out.

But this time, she held onto the idea that for the very first time she had friends that would do anything for her. Blake's eyes narrowed, taking on a determined edge.

And she would do anything for them.

Turning to face Sun Wukong she shook her head. "I'm done taking the easy way out. Are you?"

Surprised, he took a step back and raised a eyebrow. "I'm a thief, I steal stuff, I don't go looking for a fight-"

"So what was that with Torchwick?"

Sun fell quiet and stared at the ground. He sighed and held out his hands.

She glanced away with a sad smile, before fixing him with a sincere look. "I need your help, Sun."

He looked up, bouncing his gunchakus up and down. "Fine. I'm so blaming you if we get killed."

"I can live with that."

With a steadying breath, she closed her eyes, sliding Gambol Shroud out of its sheath with a smooth rasp and holding it by her side as she moved out into the open courtyard, nestled in the center of the shadowed student dormitories. Sun followed close, placing the ends of his gunchakus together, the locking mechanisms clicking loudly in quick succession as they formed into a staff.

Blake ran her eyes over the shadowy balconies and fire escapes covering every part of the building's walls, her ears twitching as she concentrated on any sounds of movement coming from them.

"So do you hear anything? She stopped and gave him a scowl. He shrugged. "Hey, you have the ears-"

A smooth rasp of metal sliding along leather reached her ears. She slammed her fist into Sun's chest, getting him to stop. Blake pointed Gambol Shroud forwards towards the fountain, staring up at a shadowed figure perched on top of the statue at the center.

Her eyes ran along the length of a naked crimson blade, a dull red in the pitch blackness of their surroundings as Adam hopped down from his perch, landing on the rim of the fountain. He leveled the tip of his sword down at her, while aiming a boxy jet black rifle at Sun Wukong.

Behind the mask, Adam narrowed his eyes. "Being with this thief will get you nowhere, Blake."

Despite the stomach-churning anxiety she felt at the thought of even trying to match Adam blow-for-blow in a sword fight she managed a little smirk.

She glanced at Sun. "I can't help it. He matches my sunny disposition."

A groan came from Sun. "Really?" he muttered.

"Is that so?" Adam stared at her. "You can still come back. Even after all you've done, I won't hold anything against you, Blake."

"Is it really so bad being with the White Fang that you need a familiar face by your side?" Blake lowered Gambol Shroud to her side, taking a step forward. "Admit it, Adam. They aren't the people we used to know! They aren't your people anymore!"

Sun Wukong rolled his eyes and hefted his staff. "I think she's outgrown her fanatical terrorist phase, spiky."

Adam's finger began to squeeze on the trigger as he snarled.

Sun Wukong dodged backwards, watching as the buckshot ripped a chunk out of the stones he was just standing on. He skidded to a stop, only to raise his staff overhead to block a slash from Adam's crimson blade.

Blake struck from the side with a rising kick, only for Adam to drop his rifle and grab her ankle, wrenching her to the ground in a rough heap, before landing in front of Sun and catching his rifle, aiming it straight at the monkey-boy's chest.

Adam glanced down at Blake as she stuck out her leg in preparation to sweep his feet out from under him. He lowered his sword tip at her throat

Both Sun and Blake froze. "Unlike you I haven't turned my back on the Faunus. We're all working together to create a safe home for our people, why can't you do the same?!"

Sun's eyes fell on the boxy tip of the shotgun, before narrowing and focusing on Adam as he held the tip of his blade down at Blake. He pressed his thumb down on the middle segment of his staff, the movement too small for Adam to notice.

He managed to catch Blake's eye, who frowned slightly.

Adam noticed her and focused on Sun, just in time for him to flick the end of his staff, slapping Adam's rifle upwards before angling the opposite end of his staff to the ground behind him. A brightly colored burst flared at the end as he reached forwards and grabbed Adam's collar, taking him into the air with him.

Blake got to her feet, picking up Gambol Shroud, breaking into a sprint as Adam fought and twisted with Sun, the two of them slamming into one of the balconies above. With a loud squeal the baroque railing bent inwards from the impact, and Sun's pained gasp echoed down to her as Adam snarled and launched him upwards into the base of the balcony above.

She gritted her teeth, focusing on the air between her and them for a moment before flicking her wrist, turning into a blur as she rocketed towards a nearby balcony. Blake threw her hand out to grab the railing, shaking the disorientation away and taking a deep breath before looking upwards, only to watch in horror as they both disappeared over the lip of the roof.

The haunting silence only unnerved her as she forced herself into another blur, rushing up from balcony to balcony at such a speed that she barely felt the impact of the railing each time. She vaguely felt hints of bruising as she reached for the brick edging, managing to get a hold and pulling herself up and over.

She popped up immediately, brandishing Gambol Shroud and its sheath. Blake came to a stop, narrowing her eyes at the sight of the crimson blade's tip pointed down at unconscious Sun's neck, with his gunchaku lying separated and twisted in a pile near the edge of the roof.

Adam tilted his head as she loosed a growl. "I'm growing tired of this game, Blake."

Blake scowled. "I'm not going back with you. The White Fang aren't who I am anymore!" The girl took a challenging step forward. "Now let him go. And let's settle this."

"The White Fang are who you are, Blake. Ever since we were kids they've been there for us! And we swore we'd never turn our backs on them!"

"And they manipulated us into hurting people to get what they need! What they're doing isn't for the good of the Faunus!"

"Isn't it? The Four Kingdoms listen to us when we speak. They heed our message. The White Fang never had this kind of power before Alpha took over!"

"I won't be part of a message soaked in blood!" Blake hissed, shaking her head. "This isn't how we'll become equals to everyone else!"

He chuckled, a bitter low tone that set the hairs on Blake's neck on edge. "It gets the message through, though, wouldn't you agree?"

Focusing, she took a deep breath. "Enough." Blake shifted into a blur, appearing as a flickering shadow through the air as she crossed the distance between them in less than a second. She aimed her downward stroke at his neck, getting rewards by him lifting his sword blade up to meet hers in a crash of sparks. He leaned backwards, arm snapping up to aim his rifle at her side.

Instinct made her twist the other way, only for him to jab the rifle forwards into her exposed belly, winding her long enough for him to grab her hair and wrench her down to the ground with a vicious pull.

Gasping and with tears in her eyes she pushed off and rolled away from his rifle, stumbling back to her feet and putting some distance between him and her, shakily holding up Gambol Shroud and its sheath.

Adam held his sword out at her. "I taught you how to survive, you won't beat me so easily."

Her eyes widened as he sped through the air, black tendrils following in his wake as the edge of his sword crashed down on the edge of Gambol Shroud. She gritted her teeth, grunting as she struggled to hold his blade in the base of the X formed by her weapons.

"The White Fang needs you! - I need you!"

"I don't need you!"

He snatched the blade back, twisting around and thrusting it at her belly only to be deflected by her desperate block, ringing in the dead night as he growled and curled his free hand into a fist, slamming her side repeatedly and without mercy.

Her mouth flew open as she cried out, before biting down as her side went numb. A yell tore out of her as she stepped forward, using what little feeling she had left to lean forward and headbutt his mask with enough force that a crack split down its length. Adam grunted in surprise, shaking his head before wrapping her in a headlock and squeezing.

Blake's vision fluttered as her arms went limp, and Gambol Shroud dropped from her hands and clattered on the rooftop, along with its sheath. She gasped for air, managing to draw in small ragged breaths as his features took on a very unnerving softness.

"Give up, Blake! Give up before you kill yourself!" Thoughts of terror and shock ran through her darkening mind as she heard the desperate vulnerable edge to his voice.

Her limbs continued to numb, and a growing blackness began to consume her vision when she spied a shock of golden hair, shining framed against the pale light of the broken moon hanging in the sky above, almost like a shooting star, coming closer and closer before her very eyes.

A pair of blazing red eyes made her slacking thoughts stir.

Yang's roar ripped through the air, making Adam look up with a snarl and putting a tired smirk on Blake just before she began to close her eyes.

He held up his blade, only for it to scrape across the curved surface of Yang's Ember Celica's, glancing into thin air as both of her gloved fists slammed into his chest with thunderous impact, cracking and fissuring the roof around them. "You really don't know how to take no for a answer do you!?"

She loosed a mighty yell, her hair shining like the sun as blood-red fire wreathed her fists. He let out a single surprised and outraged grunt as Yang sent him flying, several sparks of golden-fire being left in his wake, shining in the night as he was sent careening over the edge of the roof.

Blake managed to roll on her side, glancing up at Yang as she took a step forward, before noticing a black blur shifting in the air beyond the roof for a moment, before it disappeared.

She drew in shaky, heaving breaths, coughing and sputtering. "Yang?"

A light-headed nausea filled her head as Yang hoisted her up and wrapped her in a crushing hug, her now indigo eyes filled with worry. "You okay?"

Blake swayed on her feet, keeping upright by holding onto Yang's waist as tightly as she could. "Fine."

Yang punched her shoulder, almost knocking Blake off her feet. "Next time, wait for me to back you up, huh?"

To her surprise, a flush entered her bruised cheeks. Blake rubbed her shoulder. "It was a pretty close call." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry."

"...I dragged you into this. It's only fair I drag you out." Sun murmured, still dazed and knocked out cold on the concrete nearby.

Blake managed to roll her eyes, while smiling at Yang. "Where's Ruby and Weiss?" She said as Yang looped a arm over her shoulder, moving over to where Sun Wukong laid.

The flames did not burn.

Pyrrha slowly opened her eyes. "Jaune?" she whispered in awe, staring at the pure white brilliance surrounding his body as he stood in front of her, his shield raised, glowing ablaze, with the blade of Crocea Mors complete wreathed in silver brilliance, lighting up the darkened and sundered walls of the Centerkeep, blotting out the sullen glow provided by the crimson flames dotting the floors and windows.

Cinder rubbed her hands together and made a impressed noise. "I must say, I'm definitely interested in you now, Jaune. I'd like to see more of that aura of yours."

Next to her, Roman lowered his cane with a frown. "Now I'm worried." The criminal muttered, glancing over his shoulder at the scorched and cracked grand staircase.

Cinder paid him no mind, already walking towards the center of the ruined hall, glancing up at the night sky through broken patches of the blackened roof with a small smile. She looked down at Jaune as he lowered his shield and sword to his sides, and started to approach. "I can see why Ozpin let you stay at Beacon, Jaune."

He narrowed his eyes in response, coming to a stop.

She smirked. "Does it rub you the wrong way? Knowing that you were only admitted into Beacon because of a forged transcript? That even the greatest bastion of Huntresses and Hunters in the world is not infallible?"

"I know one thing." He lifted his head, glaring at her while holding up his blade and shield. "I'm a Huntsman. And you're among the monsters I hunt."

Cinder clapped her hands together and chuckled. "Is that so? There's something you don't understand about the world, Jaune. Huntresses and Huntsmans are not heroes, and people such as Roman and I are not villains."

"I understand enough! You hurt Cardin just because he wasn't useful to you! You hurt my friends, you threatened their families! That's what a villain does!" He expelled a deep breath, reaching into himself and finding what he needed. His eyes flashed as the silver glow around him and his shield and sword blazed. "And now I'm going to show you what a hero does."

Cinder opened her arms wide with a savage grin as he charged forward, holding his shield aloft and keeping his sword point true even as a series of orange sparks fizzed through the air between them, sparking into a great wall of fire that rushed to engulf him. He gritted his teeth and yelled as he slashed his blade through the heart of it, a silver trail tracing its arc as the flames sputtered and died around him.

Jaune rushed forwards, taking advantage of Cinder's brief frown to slam his shield towards her. She twisted around, wreathing her gloved hand in furious flames and raking across the surface of his upraised shield, leaving deep nicks in the gleaming white metal.

He hopped backwards, remembering his footing as Pyrrha's words rang through his thoughts. Jaune sidestepped, twisting around the slice Crocea Mors at her exposed shoulder. She countered by raising a column of flames around them, dancing to the side and slamming her palms together for the flames to swirl around each other, with Jaune at the center of the pyre.

A gasp was torn from his throat as he dropped to his knees, the silver glow around him flashing from brilliance to a faded glimmer as the flames pressed inwards, licking the surface of his raised shield and heating up his sword until it was too unbearable to hold. Crocea Mors fell from his grip.

Jaune gritted his teeth, even as outside the flames Cinder manipulated the pyre around him. "Let's see how long you last!"

Slowly, his thoughts dimmed, and his vision pulsed as Jaune took in ragged gasps, beginning to struggle for air as his arms slackened and legs deadened. The inside of his throat began to tingle as superheated air rushed into his mouth, forcing tears from his eyes as he shook his head to keep his focus from going.

At the other end of the hall, Pyrrha's voice rang out, managing to cut through the blazing flames and rouse him.

"Jaune!"

Pyrrha's desperate shout surged strength into his hands. He growled and slammed his fist into the ground, struggling to his feet as he held up the shield with both hands, pushing with all of his might against the flames.

The silver brilliance of his glow broke through the sick red of the swirling column as it weakened. With one final push, the flames broke against his shield and he tumbled out of the pyre back into clear air.

Jaune gasped for air, sucking in great gasps even as Cinder squatted down over him, lighting a small blue flame in her palm and pulling him upright. He swayed unsteadily, feebly trying to lift his shield up for a block when she grinned and shoved the flame into his chest.

The compacted mass erupted into him, and Jaune's vision blackened as he hurtled backwards through the air, crashing into a heap with a whispered grunt.

Over where Crocea Mors lay on the floor, a cherry orange glow emanted from its blade, replacing the graceful silver sheen.

Pyrrha knelt over him. He barely registered her attempts to shake his shoulders, only being able to focus on the massive flames erupting from Cinder's outstretched arms.

Somehow, despite being on the verge of unconsciousness, he managed to sit upright, clambering to his feet even as Pyrrha noticed the flames Cinder was preparing.

Tired beyond belief, and despite every last muscle he had being utterly exhausted, on the verge of total collapse, Jaune shook his head to focus, squaring his shoulders as he hunkered down behind his shield, facing down the oncoming firestorm as it hungrily consumed its way towards them.

"I'm your leader. It's my duty to protect you."

Her eyes widened as she struggled to her knees, staring up at him for several blank seconds as her thoughts went cold and dark. The air was unbearably hot now.

In a instant she blinked and shook her head, shakily getting to her feet and limping closer to him. She managed to grasp his hand for a second, before shifting her grip over to his heater shield's handle.

Pyrrha's eyes locked with his as he frowned.

"You're my leader. We do this together."

As the flames rushed towards them, he stared into her eyes, and nodded. "Alright." He whispered.

Over the hiss of the oncoming fire Cinder chuckled.

"How touching."

Their silhouettes stood tiny against the rage of the firestorm as it prepared to engulf them, until a single whistling note pierced the air of the hall.

Before their eyes, the firestorm bucked and stumbled in its path, roiling and twisting around itself as it started to shrink and die. Jaune stared wordlessly, catching flashes of a great crimson scythe together with the slender silver needle of a rapier.

His tired mind was even more bewildered when a flash of pink energy erupted out of nowhere, being followed by a small girl's bellowing roar.

Lie Ren landed in front of them both, brandishing his Stormflowers.

"Guys?"

On the other side of the hall, Cinder narrowed her eyes as Ruby launched through the air at her, swinging Crescent Rose in a large sweep with a growl on her features, the hem of her cloak and hood flapping.

Cinder narrowed her eyes, smoothing back her loose hair. "I'm really getting tired of seeing that red hood."

Just before Ruby's scythe sliced through her midriff, Cinder snapped her fingers, disappearing in a blazing column of smoking orange flames. Ruby squeaked as she tumbled to the ground, being followed by Weiss as she shouted in alarm.

"She's gone!"

Weiss didn't answer, grunting as she fought to untangle Myternaster as well as herself from Ruby, before glancing upwards to see Nora and Magnvild falling towards them.

Nora blinked twice when she noticed them, quickly snatching Magnvild close to her chest before falling on top of them.

"Perfect." Roman muttered, turning to rush up the staircase when a icy blue glyph appeared in the air in front of him. He raised a eyebrow and took a step back, before a invisible force punched him down the staircase and back onto the wrecked floor of the hall. A grunt came from him as he slid to a halt, his cane smashed into pieces.

Ruby, Weiss and Nora stood above him, all of them with glares.

Lie Ren led Pyrrha and Jaune over to them. Roman stared up at all of them, brushing off some dust on his coat and bowler hat. He got to his feet. "No hard feelings?"

His eyes fell on Pyrrha's fist as she pulled her arm back.

"Oh, perfect-" Pyrrha's fist crashed into the criminal's jaw, sending exploding stars in Roman's vision and immediately flooring him.

Even in the amount of pain he was currently feeling, Jaune still winced. He managed a nervous chuckle and glanced at Pyrrha. "Wow."

"I was waiting all night to do that."

Ruby suddenly toppled back, dropping Crescent Rose as she yelped. "Ah, my feet really really hurt!" She kicked off her boots, rubbing her feet vigorously.

Weiss rolled her eyes as she sheathed Myternaster, turning to Jaune and Pyrrha and raising her hands. "My 'team leader." She said with a smirk, wiggling her fingers.

Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other and laughed, still supporting each other while Nora lunged forward and wrapped them both in a bear hug. "I'm so glad you two aren't barbecued!"

"Um... thanks Nora."

Over Nora's shoulder, Jaune saw Yang, Blake and Sun rushing over to them from the blasted remains of the Centerkeep's main doors.

Ruby yelped as Yang knelt down and wrapped her in a huge hug. "You did well, sis!"

She squeaked, fearing that her ribs might shatter as she noticed Blake swaying unsteadily behind Yangs shoulder.

Ruby's eyes widened as she took in the bruises, cuts and welts all over Blake's pale features.

"Blake! You look terrible..."

"So does this mean the tournament is canceled or something?" Sun mumbled woozily, getting a incredulous look from every single one of them.

Yang looked around, wincing when a huge wooden beam broke from the roof, falling down with a thundering thud and sending a groan through the tortured floor and shaking the barely standing walls.

Everyone turned to stare at the broken beam, while Yang crossed her arms and shrugged. "Nope."