And here it is: the special update for my 18th Birthday. Finally an adult!

Chapter 42: Revolt

Blake couldn't believe her eyes, blinking multiple times to make sure that she was awake and seeing right. After blinking three more times and pinching herself four times, she finally realized that she was, in fact, not dreaming and that what had just happened had actually happened. She looked at her teammates and saw the same confusion on their faces that she felt within her. Even Spike seemed surprised!

Adam, her old partner, the mentor that had believed in the White Fang and was their most loyal agent, was actually opposing the White Fang, more specifically Spike and the woman, whom she now realized was actually Cinder. She had been hurt by the fact that he had shown up today, worried about the possibility that she would have to fight him, but now… Now she didn't know what to think or how to act. From the reactions of the people, neither did they.

"I can't believe it," she breathed out, Yang catching her partner's surprised tone.

"What's wrong Blake?" she asked, glancing at the cat Faunus in concern. She knew of her old ties to the White Fang, but she wasn't sure what made the girl react in such a way.

"That's Adam," Blake said, nodding her head towards the tall red-head that was still standing protectively in front of the girl. Now that Blake looked closer, it seemed like he cared about the human, at least enough to go against Desde. Maybe things would turn out in their favor after all.

"Adam?" Yang pondered for a while before remembering the night they had camped in Mountain Glenn with Professor Oobleck and Blake had mentioned that name. "You mean your old partner?"

"Uh-huh."

Yang looked at the man closely. So this was the man that had trained her partner while she had been part of the White Fang? He was tall was the first thing she noticed, towering over the chained girl although he was still slightly crouched. The black trench coat, pants and gloves matched well with his hair and she noticed that he was, all things considered, quite attractive, though not her type. By the position and the way he held himself, the blonde could tell that he had a lot of fighting experience; it was like he was ready to jump into action any moment of time.

Conclusion: he was a tough opponent. But if he was actually helping the girl, then that meant that he was no longer with the White Fang and, if they were lucky, maybe even on their side.

"What is the meaning of this Adam?"

The stern and cold voice of the leader broke the tense silence that had reigned. Both sides were confused, Beacon not knowing what to do and the White Fang not knowing why one of their highest-ranked members would suddenly oppose their leader. Adam stood tall again, lowering his sword though not sheathing it, ready for the next attack. He looked at Spike for a while before speaking.

"Can't you see it? I'm leaving, Spike."

Murmurs broke out among the Faunus, until a second person, a woman, walked up beside the red-head and stood by his side, back turned to the teachers and students of Beacon.

"So am I," a female voice said, slightly muffled by the large mask that covered the entire face of the woman.

"No, you will not. Both of you will stand down immediately and get out of my way or I'll have both of you killed!" Spike's voice had gotten louder and he was shouting at the end of the sentence, nose flaring and face flushed red from anger. Confusion among the White Fang rose with no one knowing what to do. Now, not only one, but two high-ranked members were defecting from the organization.

"We will not," Adam responded, tone cold and dead set, not budging an inch.

Then, the both of them did something that stunned everyone, leaving them with their mouths slightly agape. Both Adam and Raven tore off their masks, throwing them so that they landed in front of Spike's feet. Now, everyone knew what they looked like, knew the identity that had been hidden so cautiously within the organization.

Angry shouts and questions soon filled the air, members accusing the both of treason while the Beacon teachers tried to figure out if the two were to be treated as allies or enemies. Amongst all the confusion and shouting, Yang realized that the woman beside the red-headed man was none other than her sister Raven. The last time she had seen her had been when she had still been little and she remembered the woman telling her something about having to leave and that it was the only way.

She had been angry at the time, sad that she had lost her sister, disappointed and hurt that she had been left behind. But now, she understood why she had done it, and deep within, she was grateful for it. At least now, it looked like her sister would come back to her.

"Stop this nonsense at once and stand down you two!"

"We will no longer follow you nor the White Fang, Spike. It's over." Adam's red eyes glared angrily at the man in front of him.

"No, it's not! We, the White Fang, are stronger than any of you!" It was clear that the man had now officially lost his mind, becoming a megalomaniac.

"Face it, you're outnumbered. Back in the past, I thought that what we did was right, that we would actually achieve something with what we're doing."

Adam looked at the other members of the White Fang. Their cries of protest and anger had died down and they were now intently listening to what he had to say.

"But my eyes have been opened! We didn't try to make things better, we only made them worse! Nothing is going to change by killing and threatening people."

He stopped briefly to look behind him at Serena, the girl looking at him with an expression of confusion and surprise but also gentleness, happy that he had finally found his way. He turned back around and faced the crowd again.

"If we want to change things, then we have to do it alongside and with the help of humans. I didn't realize it before because all I cared about was the organization and the missions. But now, I have someone more important to protect. And I won't let you or anyone else take her away from me!"

Serena raised her hands to her mouth, tears forming in her eyes. Even if he wasn't saying it openly, everyone knew he was talking about her. The way he had looked at her had said more than a thousand words and she was now certain that he felt the same way about her as she did about him. Quickly wiping at her eyes, she scolded herself, telling herself that she had enough time to be emotional when all of this was over and they had actually won this fight.

"As do I." It was Raven who had talked and she looked behind her shoulder and gave Yang a gentle smile. "I too have someone more important and I will protect her as well, even if I should lose my life in the process."

The Faunus seemed taken aback by Adam and Raven's words and Serena could see that some of them were starting to doubt the White Fang as well. Blake had tears at the corners of her eyes, not believing what she was witnessing. She would never have thought that Adam would be the one to oppose the White Fang first, and for a human girl no less. But it made her happy, seeing her mentor had not become the monster she had dreaded he would eventually.

"I see. You two are foolish to think you can win this fight, but no less, there will be no mercy shown. White Fang, attack!"

Spike raised his right arm and pointed it at the three, the teachers and students, giving the signal to attack. After a small moment of hesitation, the Faunus followed the order and rushed forward, teachers and students doing the same.

Cinder prepared another attack and fired it at Adam and Serena, but Adam absorbed it like the first time with Wilt and Blush, before attacking himself, metal clashing with glass. Raven quickly cut the chains that still bound Serena's hands before going off as well, engaging Spike in a duel. Serena rushed to Adam, intend on helping him in any way she could, even if she was weaponless at the moment.

The fight was on.

A/N: I do not own RWBY or its characters. I do, however, own my OC Serena and any other OCs that appear in this story.

Yes, the final fight is on! From now on, there will be some, although not many chapters, about the fight, and then I'll be progressing and throwing in some more romance since there hasn't really been much yet.

Anyway, review and tell me what you think and look forward to chapter 43!