Okay! New chapter time! Not much to say this time, other than I think Kil'Jaeden going pop was awesome and that I can't wait to break things on Argus. So I won't take any more of your time! Onto responses and the chapter itself!

Raging Archon: Well... I guess you could consider what happens to Weiss and Ravarth this chapter as an interaction of a sort. A very stressful sort. And bloody. Lots of blood. As to the ETC, I was actually going to make that a joke in the chapter, but then I realized that it Really clashed with the tone of the chapter, so I had to leave it on the cutting room floor, as it were, but still good idea!

smartjocklv: There's a reason Summer seems a bit uninvolved so far. Her plot is what I would consider to be a slow burning one. If I put it out there right now it would clash massively with the storyline and throw the Broken Shore section outta whack. But she will be seeing Ruby in just a few chapters! Hope this answered your query.

I Might Change It All

I'm not your pet, not another thing you own,

I was not born guilty of your crimes.

Your riches and your influence can't hold me anymore,

I won't be possessed,

Burdened by your royal test,

I will not surrender,

This life is mine!

"Dayum... You four look like you've been through hell."

Those were the first words out of Yang Xiao Long's mouth when the N and R of Team JNPR strolled into the Schnee Ball Room, both of them haphazardly dressed in their old prom attire back from their first year in Beacon. Not that she had much room to complain about people's dress choices. The only reason she was in one was because she'd ended up borrowing a dress from one of the noble women after a small tiny little 'My Sister's The Queen' speech.

"You don't know the half of it." Ren sighed, massaging the side of the temple in an apparent attempt to stave off the migraine that was no doubt hitting him.

"What happened?" Varimas, who was dressed in a formal red and gold robe that frankly assaulted the senses, asked.

"We were sent out to recover the Tear of Elune..." The reply came, though it was unusually quiet, even from one as monotone as Ren. There were large bags under his eyes, and it appeared as if he hadn't eaten a proper meal in days.

"Were you able to recover it then?" The Sin'Dorei inquired, receiving a small nod from the quiet young man.

"Yes, yes we were able to recover the Tear, eventually..."

"Then what's-..."

"Not everyone walked out of that forest alive..." A third voice cut in, though it was just as lifeless as Ren's.

Varimas quietly glanced over to see Pyrrha leaning against Jaune, who in turn was leaning against a wall, his eyes hidden by his mane of blonde hair which was beginning to slowly grow out.

"The Night Elves and their allies lost a lot..." Pyrrha muttered, her listless gaze barely even locked on Yang and Varimas, "...Some more than others..."

Once Pyrrha glanced back to Jaune once more and Yang was confident she wouldn't be turning around once more she gently nudged Varimas' side, "Never thought I'd see it with my own eyes."

"What?"

"P-Money and Vomit Boy."

"What about them?"

"I just never thought I'd see this." Yang admitted with a sigh, cupping her face in her hands, "...And it's the one time I don't have my scroll on me too... Damn you Irony Gods!..."

"Right..." Varimas muttered, turning back to Ren. "At any rate... Why show up here? From the way you're all carrying yourselves I doubt it's a vacation."

"We have a new mission for now." Ten explained, glancing over to the crowd of nobles and bureaucrats milling about the ballroom floor, "Apparently the Legion's going to try their luck at attacking the SDC while Anduin is negotiating with them. That's why we're here."

"Oh? Who gave you this mission."

"Illidari." The ninja responded simply, "They stopped us as we were crossing the main gates into Stormwind. Whisked us here before we could even think about complaining."

"Hold up, did they happen to mention who was leading them?" Yang asked as she finally broke her gaze from Jaune and Pyrrha, stepping forward.

"No, why?"

"Cuz a demon we took out was telling us about some new 'champion' that they got." She explained.

"And you think they may be leading the attack?" Ren asked, a curious eyebrow raised.

"Chances are, yeah."

"What better way to introduce a new leader of your faction than a mass attack led by them?" Varimas said with a sigh. He'd seen a tactic like this used more than once, and the results were never pretty. If their attack proved to be even slightly successful then one or both factions would end up crippled right out of the gate.

"They're betting on our fear of the unknown." Pyrrha muttered as she pulled herself away from Jaune, her own emerald eyes scanning the throngs of guests, "They may want us to overestimate their forces and send everything they have to defend against what may prove to be little more than a small group."

"Or they're placing their bets on us underestimating them..." Ren added.

"It's a big target," Jaune finally spoke up, pushing himself off of the wall, to stand beside his partner, "You think they're going to try to wipe the board clean, don't you?"

"Yes, quite possibly..."

"Well should we even be standing here talking about this then?" Yang inquired, giving a small shrug, "Wouldn't it just be safer to evacuate the more important figures of Remnant and Azeroth before the Legion even gets here?"

"No, I still have Ash-..."

"No offense Jaune," Varimas interrupted with a raised hand, silencing the learning paladin before he could get the suggestion off the ground, "But you only just got Ashbringer a few short months ago."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean-..."

"It means that you don't know how to properly wield it yet. That sword has a way of... Those who use it improperly tend to find themselves in less than ideal situations..." He continued, watching as Jaune's face fell, "Don't rely on it to save the day for you all the time, or you'll quickly find yourself on the ever growing list of wielders who have died with that sword in their hands."

"He's right Jaune-Jaune." Nora exclaimed loudly enough for several attendees to glance over at the small group, "You should wait, that way they won't know what hit them when you master it!"

"Indoor voices Nora!..." Ren cut in, causing said noise-cannon to clamp her hands over her mouth dramatically.

"Oop, sorry!..." She loudly whispered, snickering as she did so.

As Ren continued to scold Nora for her sudden outburst Varimas let out a soft sigh, letting the air slowly escape his lungs as he turned his gaze up to the ceiling, closing his eyes as he spoke, "Well I suppose if we discount running as an option, how many-..."

A loud crash echoing throughout the room ceased Varimas' train of thought as the group quickly turned their attention to the source of the noise.

"What?! Already?!..." Yang asked, felfire sparking on her fingertips.

"Damn it all... Jaune! You and Pyrrha try to locate the King and Queen and-..." Varimas trailed off upon noticing that not only had Team JNPR completely ignored his words, but even Yang had tuned him out in favor of staring wide eyed at the center of the ballroom, "What?!"

Instead of the demonic presence that he had been expecting, Varimas was instead greeted by the sight of Jacque Schnee yanking Weiss away from Thomas by her arm, a broken wine glass on the floor and a red mark on Weiss' cheek, with Ruby and Anduin only feet away, both watching in disgust.

"Wait, what?-..."

That was all that could be said before his vision was filled with torrents of Fel Green.

"Honestly? He really tried that? That just seems like it was a bit foolhardy from the start." Weiss muttered as she and a plump elderly woman in a gaudy yellow dress conversed quietly in the center of the room.

"It was dear, it was, but you know what they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained!..." The woman replied with a laugh before adopting a sly smirk that accompanied an exaggerated dismissive wave, "You know my husband though, just Has to snap up these obscure opportunities whenever he can!"

Thomas wanted to tear his eyes out.

He wanted to tear his damn eyes out.

This was not what he had in mind when Weiss said 'mingling'. Mingling was making small talk about the weather or art or some other benign tripe. Mingling was meeting a new person, speaking to them for a few minutes and moving on.

And so when Weiss said 'mingling' earlier, he had expected mingling!

Instead though he was forced to endure a barrage of political and economic jargon that made his head spin like a top. How in the world Weiss could keep up, let alone respond, was completely and utterly beyond him.

"Are you alright?"

Weiss' voice snapped Thomas from his thoughts and into the gaze of the concerned looking heiress, the woman she'd been talking to long gone, presumably off in search of her husband or for more alcohol.

And judging by how much she talked he had a suspect feeling both would be in the same place.

"Wish I could say yes, but I don't understand a damn thing you're saying." He finally muttered with a shake of the head.

Weiss gave a small smile, tracing the rim of her wineglass with her gloved hand, "We were discussing the economical implications of increased fire dust sales due to the war with the Legion, and the possible consequences it may present in both the long and short terms for the supply and demand chains, which would in turn cause possible inflation regarding the fire crystals to the general consumer."

"...What?..."

Weiss very nearly giggled at the blunt response, a far cry from even months before when she would have just insulted him for such a reaction, "We think the prices of dust for civilians may go up for a while, since most of it is currently going towards the war."

"Could just say that..."

"I could." Weiss said simply, a sly smile on her face.

That smile was short lived however as a new voice echoed its way into their conversation like a hot knife into flesh.

"Weiss!"

Thomas suppressed a groan. The last time he had heard that voice he had ended up nearly giving Anduin a heart attack. Turning to face the voice he attempted to suppress a second groan threatening to escape from his throat at the sight of an approaching Jacque Schnee.

"Weiss, you'll be going on in an hour, I expect you to-..." Jacque trailed off as he seemed to finally noticed the man standing beside his daughter, glaring holes into his forehead, "Ah, you again... Still following my daughter around like a lost dog I see..."

"Careful, this dog bites..."

"Charming... Do keep this in the back of your mind; you are here solely due to the goodwill you hold with King Anduin. If this whole affair weren't in an effort to secure a treaty with your Alliance I would have you thrown out of here." Jacque explained before glancing off to the side, not so subtly whispering, "Preferably out of the third story window..."

"Father, please..."

"Please what, dear?" Jacque spat, snapping his attention to his daughter, who seemed to flinch at his harsh tone, though after a moment she seemed to recover, her face growing hard.

"Don't insult him, he hasn't done anything provoke you tonight."

"No, tonight he hasn't." Jacque "Though I feel more than justified in my actions considering the comments made during our last little skirmish. Or don't you remember what was said regarding you and your sister?..."

"He didn't mean what he said-..."

"Didn't he now?"

"You were the one who goaded him into that confrontation either way!..." Weiss exclaimed loudly, causing several guests to glance in her direction, some with looks of mild shock on their faces, "You were the one who forced our family name down his throat!..."

"Of course I did!" Jacque replied as he jabbed a gangly finger in Thoams' direction, "He was speaking to you as if you were some common soldier!"

"I Am a soldier!" Weiss spat as she took a step forwards, leering at her father.

"You're the heiress to the largest dust company in the world!"

"And look what that got me!" Weiss' arm flew forwards, gesturing to the increasing number of concerned and bemused guests that were beginning to surround the father and daughter like a flock of geese crowding around bread crumbs.

Of course to them that's all this was, Thomas thought as he himself watched the two argue. Gossip, bread crumbs. Same thing to these people.

"It got you the wine in your hand, the dress you wear, and the house we stand in!" Jacque's voice was beginning to grow into a yell, no doubt it's full strength only held back by the years of dealing with stressful situations endured by the aging man.

"And a father who sees his children as assets!"

"That's absurd!..."

"Really?! Then tell me, father, when was the last time you and I did anything together?!..." Weiss paused for a moment to revel in the look of genuine confusion on her father's face before she resumed her verbal offensive, "When was the last time you bothered to learn what interests or desires I had past those that involved the SDC?! When was the last time you even told me you were proud of me?!..."

"Weiss, stop this at once, you're making a scene!..." Jacque growled, an ounce of fire in his voice snuffed out.

"Perhaps I Want to make a scene!"

"Continue to display this childish behavior and we'll have a problem on our hands!..." Jacque hissed as he took a step towards Weiss, only to halt when the sound of a sword being drawn reached his eardrums.

"We already have one..." Thomas' murmur echoed above the sound of Myrtenaster being half drawn from its scabbard.

"Excuse me..." A voice echoed above the chatter of the surrounding guests, silencing several as they began to part to the sides.

When the crowds finally finished parting, the faces of a none to pleased King and Queen Wrynn were revealed, standing before them.

"Is there a problem here?" Anduin asked, the edge in his voice clear as day.

"Weiss? What's going on?" Ruby added, her own expression not one of annoyance like her husbands, but one of concern.

Weiss said nothing in response to either query.

"Everything is under control," Jacque spoke up, flashing a smile at the royals before gesturing to Weiss, "My daughter appears to have just gone a bit too long without a reminder as to her place within this family."

"...Burn in hell..."

For the next few moments one would have easily been able to bear their own heartbeat in that ballroom.

Not a word was spoken by those who surrounded the father and daughter. Not one guest or guard dared open their mouth.

All except for Thomas, who smirked as recognized the very phrase he'd used on Winter only a week prior.

He watched with perverse satisfaction as Jacque's face began to visibly redden in anger. Or perhaps embarrassment. Hopefully both.

"Excuse you?! Do you find that sort of language acceptable now?!"

Weiss gave no retort to her fathers words, merely stealing a glance in Thomas' direction, returning his smirk.

"I've just about had it up to here with you! Up to your room this instant! And don't think we won't be having quite a long discussion later regarding the state of your future inheritance if this behavior is not flipped on its head immediately!"

Weiss stood stoic, not budging.

"...GO!"

"...I'm through..."

"...What is That supposed to mean young lady?..." Jacque finally uttered after a few moments of stunned silence, his hands balled so tightly into fists they were beginning to turn white.

"I'm not your property! You don't own me!" Weiss exclaimed loudly as she whipped around to face her father once more.

"As long as you hold a financial lifeline to this family I do!..."

"Then I suppose it's time to change that, isn't it?..."

Weiss turned to Thomas, who raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Commander Bloodclaw of the Army of the Grand Alliance, I, Weiss Schnee, formally request a full time position within the armies of the Alliance under the command of yoursel-... Ah!..." Weiss was cut off as she felt her father's hand impact against her cheek.

Her wine glass fell to the floor, the sound of glass shattering accompanied by a hornet's nest of murmuring by surrounding guests, as he seized her by the arm and began dragging her away, ignoring her pained cries.

Thomas let out a loud growl as he began to stalk towards the two, his eyes flashing yellow as his nails ever so slightly began to take on a more vicious appearance.

"Thomas, no, not again!" Anduin snapped, causing both Thomas to falter and Jacque to turn to face the two, a stern expression painted upon his face.

"If you even think of threatening me-..."

"Threaten you?" Thomas asked as he continued on his path towards them once more, "I'm three seconds away from tearing your goddamn head off!"

Jacque said nothing as he merely began to yank Weiss away yet again.

"You think I won't?-..." Thomas felt his breath escape him as a loud bang erupted through the ballroom, shards of rock flying past his face.

Before anyone could think to do anything another one of the pillars lining the room exploded in a shower of fel green, shrapnel lodging itself into more than one unfortunate partygoer.

He saw them all.

The flashing images of Weiss being dragged away by her arm. The crowds of people shifting this way and that as they attempted to find their bearings. And the host of guards and guests hiding small fel enchanted daggers in their grasps, approaching not only Anduin and Ruby, but also Jacque and Weiss.

"Weiss... WEISS!..."

"Milly, you need to eat." Thomas directed as he stared down upon the frail form of his sickly young sister sitting upright in her bed, nursing a small wolf doll, using a small rag to clean the dirt off the surface of its artificial fur.

"I will, I will! Just lemmie clean up Ravarth!..." She muttered, giving her older brother a small pout.

Thomas chuckled, "You really love him, don't you?"

"He's the best!..." She insisted, putting what little strength she possessed in her voice, "He might be a wolf man, but he'll always protect me, no matter what."

"You've already got me to protect you silly."

"Well..." She glanced down at the plush doll, scratching it behind it's ears, "Maybe he should protect both of us."

"Ravarth might be a wolf man, but that doesn't mean he can protect everyone Milly." Thomas explained as he sat on the side of her bed, which was really no more than an old mattress, reaching over to place a hand on her knee, only to flinch back when the young girl seemed to find her voice once more.

"Well he can try!"

"Yeah..." Thomas smiled, "I'm sure he will."

Silence seemed to dominate the small room for a moment, the only sound reaching either siblings ear the constant patter of raindrops impacting softly against the tile roof of their shelter like a symphony from nature.

"Thomas?" Milly finally asked.

"Hmm?"

"If Ravarth was real, do you think he would save us from them?... The other wolf men?..."

Thomas cradled his bandaged arm, hidden under the sleeve of his coat coat, which itself was caked in all manner of mud and muck. "I'm not sure, there's a lot of them..."

"Yeah, so?"

"You think he'd take on all the other wolf men himself?"

"I think he would..." Milly confirmed with a nod, "I think he'd protect us, no matter what..."

Thomas smiles and gave Milly a gentle pat on the head. "Well until he shows up, I'll just be your Ravarth, alright?"

"You really think he's out there?" Milly asked, her voice filled with fascination.

"Yeah, I'll bet you he's out there, fighting the wolf men right now. He's probably saving a girl just like you."

"You promise? You gotta promise me he's out there!..."

"...Yes. I promise..."

I promise.

Ravarth never felt himself shifting.

He felt only the wind on his fur as he leapt up, jumping from table to table as he bore down on the assassin now only feet away from Weiss and Jacque, ignoring the panicked screams of patrons echoing around him.

"What is that thing?!"

"It's an Alpha Beowolf! Someone put it down, quickly!" Another guest yelled as she watched the Worgen rip into the disguised demon, it's masquerade fading away as it died, revealing its true corpse to the world.

Ravarth leapt from the now mauled demon to the floor near the King, his lupine eyes narrowing as a young guard ran up, giving the Worgen a salute.

"Commander Ravarth! We-..." The soldier was cut off as Ravarth suddenly slammed his claws against the man's armor, sending him flying back into the crowd, collaterally knocking over several guests in the process.

"Ravarth! What's gotten into-..." Anduin was cut off as he jumped back, avoiding a swipe from the Worgen.

Several guards who'd had the sense to keep their distance from the Worgen quickly lined up all around Anduin and Ruby, defending them not only from the demons, but the Worgen who now attempted to maul whatever would drew close.

"He's gone feral!" One of the guards yelled at the confused partygoers, "He's gone feral, don't get near him!"

Another loud crash echoed across the room.

Ruby quickly turned to face the source, expecting a new threat, only to find Weiss and her father struggling, the heiress desperately attempting to pry herself from her father's grasp.

"If you think I'm going to-..."

"I told you to let me Go!"

"Weiss! What do you think-..." Jacque was cut off as a blast of icy energy solidified his feet onto the floor as the guests who'd somehow become distracted enough to watch the family quarrel let out a gasp of horror.

Weiss however seemed to possess little hesitation as she pulled herself away from her enraged father, stomping towards Ravarth, who had just recently finished removing the throat of a disguised assassin with the gaul to attempt a strike.

"Weiss, what're you doing?..." Ruby whispered before her eyes shot wide open, "NO, WEISS STOP!"

Ravarth seemed to notice the sudden shriek from the queen, glancing up at Weiss, giving off a low growl, however this did nothing to slow her pace.

Just as she reached him she saw his claws fly towards her face.

At the last moment, just as the Worgen's claws were to impact her, she ducked, watching as the claws hit the demonic saboteur they were intended for before grasping the cold metal hilt of her blade, still sheathed at Ravarth's side.

She whirled around Ravarth, drawing the blade as she did, giving her enough momentum to cleave through the chest of a fel blade wielding guard, sending him to the ground without even a cry of protest.

Blood splattered upon her dress.

The old Weiss would have stopped in her tracks at this very moment. The old Weiss would have convulsed in horror upon seeing the slimy green fel blood caked upon her dress. The old Weiss would have dropped her weapon and cried out in protest as she desperately attempted to wipe off the blood.

She felt her lips tug upwards as she ripped her sword from another demon's torso, a fresh spray of the glowing green liquid impacting against her dress.

Thank Dust the old Weiss wasn't here.

"Don't turn your back on anyone you don't recognize!" Pyrrha, who held Corcea Mors and Akoúo̱ in front of her as she stood atop a table, ordered to the various guests.

Several took the spartan's words to heart, wasting no time in making a quick exit from the party, while others grabbed trays and knives in a laughable attempt to defend themselves.

However many of those same guests faltered themselves at the sound of a pained scream echoing throughout the ballroom.

Pyrrha turned to face the source of the noise, letting out a small curse when she saw Jacque fighting off what seemed to be a crazed young man, a glowing green dagger sticking out of the patriarch Schnee's arm.

It seemed as if the fighting would drag on forever but eventually the guards and those armed in the party dispatched most of the demonic saboteurs. However, just as it seemed as if the defenders were finally gaining an upper hand on the attackers, Weiss felt a small hand pressing against her side.

When she glanced down she felt her stomach drop at the sight of one of the party goers staring back up at her with a sadistic smile, a knife held up in the air, ready to come down upon the heiress.

Before it could make contact though Weiss felt her entire body shift to the side as she was yanked into the embrace of a Worgen, the sound of blade sinking into flesh reaching her ears as clear as day, despite the surrounding fighting.

"Rav?-..." Weiss felt her heart stop as a sudden weight shifted into her shoulders, forcing her to prop it up in order to stay on her feet.

However that weight became too much within a matter of moments, forcing her to drop the now unconscious Worgen to the floor, where the dagger sticking out of the side of his chest was clearly visible.

Her entire being seemed to freeze at that moment.

Though she commanded her arms to move, for her voice to call out, all she could do was stare. Stare at the twitching form of her friend, laying limply in the middle of the ballroom, like some old ragdoll that had been carelessly discarded.

A weak groan from the other side of the room commanded her to eyes to focus in on the noise for but a moment, only for the fencer to realize it was her father, causing her to snap her attention back almost immediately.

Finally, as she felt the rough grasp of two guards on her arms dragging her away from the fallen Worgen, her voice was found, culminating itself in one ear piercing shriek.

On the other side of the room, Ruby felt herself cringe as she watched two armored guards dragging Weiss from Ravarth, both desperately attempting to hold onto the flailing girl as they made their way into the wall of shields and tables that had been thrown up as a sort of impromptu barrier.

She began making her way over to the heiress, intent on calming her down, only to stop in her tracks when she heard it.

When she heard her voice.

"Rose..."

Ruby felt her heart skip a beat.

"Come out little Rose!... I know you're in there..." The voice called out once again, it's sultry tone betraying the underlying edge it possessed.

"Was that?..." Ruby felt her stomach lurch as the image of her raven haired rival took form within her minds eye, her sadistic smile matching the voice which tickled her eardrums.

"No, there's no way. You practically frappéd her vocal chords sis!" Yang, who was helping prop up one of the many tables with a handful of guards, assured with a nervous smile.

Laughter echoed from outside, filling the halls with its haunting melody.

"Sure sounds healthy to me." Varimas muttered as he turned to look out of the window, only to take a step back as he let out a sigh, "Oh... That, that isn't good..."

Ruby glanced out of the same window, to the courtyard, only to freeze at the sight of a massive infernal, flanked by four large fel-guards marching upon the mansion.

Not wasting another second, the Reaper leapt towards the window without a word, using her semblance to smash through the wood and glass as if it were air, landing before the demons as the remainder of the guards, along with what remained of her old friend group, rushed out to stand beside her, all faces present twisted in shock.

"Ah... There you are... And just as I was about to pry the information from my little friend here..."

There she stood proudly. Perched atop the massive infernal with a white haired boy locked in her arms, a dagger pressed up against his throat. The socket which once held her missing eye glowed with fel green energy. The same glow, albeit more faint, that encompassed her entire being.

Ruby unlatched Crescent Rose from her back, shifting it into it's scythe form as she glared up at the woman, uttering her name only once, as if cursing her very existence.

"Cinder..."