"Thoughts"-Italics

"Speech"-Regular

"Past/Flashback"-Bold

Goodnight

People always say things like, "It's not your fault, you didn't have a choice, don't think about it." when you do something terrible by mistake. Most people think that's the worst thing that can happen to you, the dismissiveness, the pity, the rationalization that doesn't change the fact. Even worst than that though is the silence. The lack of response. Nothing. When people can't find words to say, you've done something unforgivable. Ash stood alone in that silence. That unforgivable silence. No words. No apologies. It was his fault. It was his hands. All he could think about was blood. The smell of iron and the sickening feeling of torn flesh. Ash wanted to forget all of it but it was painted in the recesses of his mind.

Ash overlooked the smoking city of Vale with sullen eyes, "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." He said quietly as he looked to the sky, the clouds started to part and blue skies shined over the barren city. Ash blinked as he felt tears slide down his cheek and to the floor. He grabbed the side of face before dropping to his knees, a cascade of water falling from his eyes.

"Y-you're always causing trouble..."

Ash let out a blood curdling scream into the sky which echoed over the city.

"P-please I-I ha-hate it wh-when you c-cry..."

Ash teeth cracked as he pressed them together.

"Please remember to smile..."

Standing up with blank face Ash started walking.

"T-tell everyone hi for me okay?"

The sun shined overheard as Ash dragged himself over the toppled building.

"Ash will you always remember me?"

Ash wiped blood off his face before seeing familiar faces in the distance.

"I would like that..."

"Why?" Ash thought letting a teary smile come to his face.

"I love you..."

Wiping his face Ash looked up at the blue sky once more, clear, open, free.

"Good morning Ash."

"Goodnight." He choked out through teary eyes.

Ruby almost couldn't believe her eyes as Ash rained down blades upon innocent civilians, blood splattering across the stands. Glynda quickly used any and anything to block the onslaught, using chunks of broken concrete to block and combat the blades. Glynda looked at Cinder vehemently as she desperately tried to keep up with Ash's weapon production. Ash stood with a wicked grin on his face as he charged towards Glynda only to be kicked back by a woman that wore a shallow cut black dress, five necklaces with an assortment of beads, a red girdle-belt, and a pair of matching gauntlets. She also had black, thigh-length boots with a red splatter pattern. Her most distinctive feature was a fearsome, full-face mask that resembles the face of a Creature of Grimm. The mask has four eye slits, further enhancing her inhuman appearance.

She turned to Glynda, "You have to get everyone out of here!"

Ash groaned as he got up and generated Ember Cecilia and his AT's glaring at the new opponent. Launching towards her in a blaze of speed, slamming into the flat her blade. She skidded back before pushing him backward. The blades stopped raining down as Ash focused on one target, Cinder glared at the mystery woman before jumping backward to avoid a tendril of purple. Glynda squinted her eyes as Cinder shot several shots of fire to destroy the tendril she had created.

"She's the same woman from the bullhead." She growled as she dropped down from the stands and looked at Ruby, "RUBY!" She barked, "Gather as many teams as you can and fall back!"

"B-but Ash!" Ruby argued as she vaulted backward to avoid several blades, swinging out Crescent Rose as she landed to destroy several Atlesian knights that started to attack her, "Penny?!" Ruby said in shock as Penny started attacking her, a blank look on her face. Penny took aim with her blades spinning in a circle, charging up a green mass of energy. Ruby recognized it and quickly shot off Crescent Rose to shoot back into the tunnel narrowly avoiding the blast.

"NO!" Ruby yelled as the debris fell downward blocking her from entering the stage, seeing no way to go back out Ruby quickly turned to find her team and follow Gylnda's orders.

Back in the arena Ash growled as he tried to defeat his opponent who was quicker, faster, and stronger than him. Generating blades at triple the speed he had ever before, Ash charged forward with a broadsword and slammed it into her blade, recoiling as she grinded up to her guard. She quickly spun around to capatalize on his lack of balance only to feel a shield blocking her path. The two both jumped back to gain distance from eachother, Ash growled as the masked woman seemed no worse for wear.

Cinder placed her hand on her youngers brothers shoulder and smiled, "Now now calm down, we have numbers little brother~" She cooed as Penny shot severeal blasts at the woman, tearing down the stadium. Glynda looked up to see Ozpin and Ironwood give the signal to retreat and growled as she tried to evacuate as many of citizens as she could.

Cinder glared, "No that easy, PENNY!" She barked pointing to the stands. Penny quickly switched targets and attempted to fire at one of the exits that Glynda was leading civilians through until a black slammed into her arm, sending her flying backward.

Cinder growled as she recognized the man, "Qrow..." She bit out as Glynda, Ozpin and Ironwood managed to escape. Both Qrow and the mysterious woman stood together stopping Cinder from pursuing her high value targets. Ash and Penny both sized up the foes as Emerald and Mercury both dropped down to assist. Before another attack could happen the woman sliced open a portal that her and Qrow escaped through.

Cinder growled as she watched them leave, Emerald looked at her tentatively, "Should we pursue Ozpin?" She asked as the Atlesian knights started detaining any human they saw.

"No. Continue with the plan, we have control of the military force. Take control of the capital with the help of the White Fang and cut off communications." Cinder commanded as she and Ash walked away, the stadium left burning in rubble.

Ruby was moving at 100 mph as she weaved through the crowds tryong to find Weiss, Blake, and Yang. She was pulled back roughly, "W-what?!" She said in panic until she relaxed, a familiar cool face placating her worried state.

"Trick!" Ruby said in relief, "What's happening? A-Ash he's...That woman was she Cinder? Where is everyone?" Ruby asked in each question in succesion.

Trick placed a hand on her shoulder, "I saw Ruby and yes that was definetly Cinder...I don't know what's happening either but I know where everyone is heading, Blue and me split up to gather everyone and head to Sanctuary."

Ruby nodded taking a breath to gather herself, "Okay let's go." She said with a determined look on her face as they were surrounded by Atlesian robots. Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose and Trick pulled out a handful of cards as they charged forward.

Back at the hospital Ren ducked under a slice before he dropped to the ground for a sweeping kick, another slice came towards his face and he brought the blade of Storm-flower up to block it shifting his weight down to aim the barrel right at the Atlesian knights face before firing. Ren eyes widened in shock as he felt a swing from behind his back only to let out a breath of relief as Jaune slashed the robot in half. The two stood back as the knights gathered around Nora's room behind them.

Jaune looked around nervously, "Ren we need to leave."

Ren grunted in response shooting at as many of the enemies as he could, "Nora can't move yet..."

Jaune blocked a strike with his shield before bashing it against a knights face and spinning around to slice another, "We need to do something..." Jaune grunted as he was pushed back.

"LOOK OUT!" A voice yelled out.

"RUFF!"

Both Jaune and Ren jumped into the room as a burning ball of fire shot through the hall, barreling over all the knights that had surrounded them earlier. Haden turned around in confusion as the two started to sit up, "What happened?" She said turning back to Nora prepping her for movement.

"Uh..Er fire?" Jaune said looking at Ren.

"And...a dog?" Ren replied as Professor Oobleck walked in with Zwei accompanying him.

"Good evening students! It seems a crisis has presented itself!" He said until a serious glint showed in his eye, "Follow me, were getting out here."

All three of them looked relieved as Ren picked Nora up bridal style, "Were are we headed?"

"A place called Sanctuary..." Oobleck said motioning them out the door.

The streets were in full panic as members of the White Fang began pinning down civilians with the assistance of the Atlesian knights. Blake grit her teeth as she snuck through the alleys of Vale watching her people oppress their oppressors. This wasn't what she wanted, this isn't why the White Fang was created.

"Adam is this really what you're fighting for?" She thought as Yang pulled her arm.

"Blake I know but this isn't the time we NEED to go." Yang said motioning for a secret door in the alley. Blake hesitantly followed lost her her own thoughts as they watched Blue quickly move her hand over the wall in a pattern of some kind. A door opened up to a stair case and they all went down it letting the door close behind them. It was dark and dank until light opened up to them.

"W-wow..." Weiss said in awe.

"Ruby wasn't kidding about this place..." Yang said thinking back to how her little sister described it to her. Blake nodded in agreement as Blue lead them to the mansion, they all grimaced as they saw other students from their school tending to wounds. Cuts, bruises, broken bones, and probably concussions too. The explosions rocked the city to its very core. As they got closer to the mansion they saw Velvet tending to a wound on Yatsuhashi back, a deep purple bruise that probably came from the impact of cement of some sort of blunt object from the explosion.

"Yang!" Ruby's voice called out from the distance.

Yang turned around and quickly sprinted towards her sister and embracing her in a hug, "I was so worried! I didn't know where you were!"

Ruby let her sister smother her in a hug before she pulled back slightly, "I know...Sorry but I was fine, I was with Trick and we found Pyrrah and came here."

"Where's Ash?" Weiss said looking at the three in confusion. Ruby looked down suddenly and Pyrrah placed her hands on her shoulders. Trick let out a cough to gain their attention, "I think it's better if we talk about that in private~" He said heading towards Blue.

Ruby watched as Trick spoke to her, she could see Blue visibly shaking but standing tall and listening nonetheless. Her attention was pulled away however as more shouts came from behind her.

"Pyrrah!" Jaunes voice called out as the rest of team JNPR arrived with Professor Oobleck and Zwei. Jaune quickly embraced the redheaded girl before Ren set Nora down and gave his signature smirk to his teammate. Haden quietly stood beside Professor Oobleck unsure of where to be as she felt a few stares on her.

"Haden..." Blake muttered.

Haden looked away unsure how to answer, "H-hello..."

Jaune felt the awkwardness in the air and quickly stepped forward, "Well even though you still have a lot to explain you helped heal both Ash and Nora right? So we can figure it all out later right?" He proposed and Haden looked at him thankfully.

"Right as much I would like to know the details of miss Magister's myself I think it more prudent to understand our situation right now!" Oobleck said motioning to the mansion, "Miss Rose if you could gather the healthiest teams here and bring them into the mansion we can begin debriefing!" He explained before walking in the mansion himself. Ruby looked out to the yard of groaning students and let out a sigh, "This isn't gonna be easy..."

Inside the mansion things weren't going particularly well either, shouting could be heard from the main room. Tick rolled his eyes as he watched Glynda and Ironwood go back and forth at one another.

"What do you mean they're out of your control!" Glynda all but yelled.

"They won't respond to my commands! I would stop them if I could!" James yelled back.

"This wouldn't be such a problem if you didn't have such a big ego." Glynda growled, "Bringing so many just to show off!"

"I did that for this cities protection and you know that!" He roared.

"ENOUGH!" Ozpin yelled slamming his cane down into the ground, the sound resonated through the halls of the house. The room was quiet now. Trick looked around with half-lidded eyes, he looked at Ironwoods face, he could see many thing. Guilt, anger, and confusion. He looked into Glynda's eyes, he could see anger as well but it was different, he could also see yearning as if she were waiting to go back out there and fight. He saw Professor Port's and saw a furrowed brow but also a calm aura, as if he was waiting for orders. He saw Professor Oobleck's face, his eyes diligently thinking under his funny looking glasses. He saw Ozpin's eyes and he could see calculation, cold calculation, the quickest way to fix this, how to fix this, the face of a hardened veteran. He saw Blue's eyes and frowned, she was obviously upset over the discovery of Ash and Cinder, she hadn't said a word to him since he had told her.

"Communications are down too...she probably found a way to take control the night we found Ruby..." James said rubbing his forehead and looking at Trick who hadn't said anything since entering the room, "Could you tell us more about this woman Cinder?"

Trick looked around to catch everyone's reactions before sighing, "Cinder Fall, she is the older sister of the boy you know as Ash Fall. When me and Blue were younger we met Cinder on the streets, she was the dust trafficking queen at the time..."

"She was a drug lord?" James said in disbelief.

Trick shrugged, "Well by proxy I guess you could say...Cinders semblance was manipulation...suggestion...With enough time it could possibly be called mind control. Have you ever heard of the power of suggestion? That was Cinder's strength not just as a semblance but her personality. When we met her she was using a drug lord to finance herself and Ash but when our mentor met her he convinced her to give up that life and come into his care, we were still thieves but it was all petty crime, take from the rich and to the poor type of things." Trick said reminiscing the past.

"So she can manipulate others..." Ozpin said quietly, "So Ash..." He let the statement hang in the air.

Trick nodded and he saw Blue tighten her fist, "Yes...Cinder has been around Ash so long she could quite have possibly have extreme suggestion over his actions...to the point of controlling them." He explained, "Though I don't know how to stop that I believe I know how she's controlling your police force general." Motioning to Ironwood.

"Understood, then our priority is stopping that control and use it against her." Ironwood said definitively.

Trick frowned, "I don't know how easy that'll be, if she's doing it how I think she is..."

"And how do you think she is doing it?" Glynda asked with her arms crossed.

"The Cross Continental Transmit system." Trick said biting his lip, "Her suggestion works on all things, animals, and even AI the only thing she can't influence is Grimm...so it's not out the question she could be sending suggestion over the tower to all of your robots..." Trick explained.

"We need to figure out what's going out in the city first." Blue spoke for the first time.

Trick saw an odd look in her and nodded hesitantly, "Y-yeah..."

Before they could further plan anything they heard a knock at the door, with a slight creak teams RWBY, SSSN, JNPR, CRDL and CFVY all walked in looking slightly banged up. Ruby stood at the head of the all students, "U-um there are more teams outside but Professor Peach is looking after them..."

Ozpin nodded before getting up from the chair he was sitting in, "Good...This will be all we need thank you Ruby." He said with a grateful smile.

Trick looked at Ozpin with interest, "You have a plan?"

Ozpin nodded, "Yes but well have to get information quickly, can you do that?"

Trick looked at Blue who was already walking out of the mansion, "Were on it~" Trick said returning to regular manner of speech and following Blue out of the mansion. Ozpin took a deep breath before looking at Ruby.

"All you should rest, we only have few hours." Ozpin said before walking into the kitchen.

Cinder overlooked the city with a smile, Ash sat next to her smiling as her hand played with his hair. Roman walked in on the scene with slightly disgusted face but quickly changed it to a look of fear as sword imbedded itself next to his face. Ash looked at him with a crazed grin before laughing childishly, "HAHAHA You should've seen your face!"

Roman gulped, "Eheheh..." He laughed nervously before looking at Cinder, "Um we got something for you..." Roman said holding out a letter. Cinder looked at it curiously before reading it and letting out an uproariously loud laugh. Roman twitched slightly unused to the reaction and raised his brow.

"Something funny?" He asked.

Cinder looked at Roman and smirked, "Nothing...nothing at all." She said dropping the letter on the floor, Roman saw the other side and looked at it in confusion. All that was on the card was the color blue. Cinder returned to Ash and petted kissed his forehead lightly, "Things are going to get really fun Ash." She said in a sweet voice.

Ash smiled excitedly nodding his head as if he were a child, "Fun fun fun!" He said creating several blades and launching them near Roman as if he were a target for practice. Roman quickly scurried out of the room before growling.

"Geez it's like talking with a psychopathic 7 year old..." He grumbled leaving the duo alone.

Back at Sanctuary Blue and Trick were heading back into the mansion, Ruby watched them from afar and almost recoiled as she watched Trick slam Blue into the wall next them.

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Trick roared causing everyone to quickly turn to see what the commotion was about. Blue looked away from Trick and pulled herself out of his grip before giving him a look Ruby could only describe as melancholy.

"This is the only way." She said shaking her head, "If all goes well than you have nothing to worry about..."

Trick looked as if he wanted to say more before he turned around and quickly adjusted his tie, "...We should gather everyone now to talk." He said quietly, his eyes scanning over everyone that was watching them. Blue nodded and the two quickly walked back into the mansion together, leaving everyone to wonder what had just happened. She had no time to think on the subject however as they were all called to the mansion for debriefing.

Anyone who was able all got up and started walking in the house. The amount of people started crowding the room until no more people could fit. There was chattering from all of the students about what had happened, how Ash was involved, what was gonna happen, the White Fang and Faunus. There was an air of dread and nervousness that couldn't be shook. A loud slam made everyone looked up the stair case over looking them. Ozpin stood tall and calm, as if nothing had happened up until this point.

"As you all know the city of Vale has been attacked." He said walking down the steps, "I know you are all confused, scared, and hurt but now is not the time to sit and worry. You are all my students, strong and capable hunters and huntress. Now is the time for you to show what you have learned. This is not a fight over humans and Faunus, do not be mislead by our enemy as they are not one in the same. Today you fight for the city of Vale. You fight as it's protectors." Ozpin took off his glasses and overlooked his students with a genuine smile, "I am proud to call each and everyone of you, so today show why you were chosen as Vales defenders."

Everyone looked at Ozpin in awe, speechless they all silently awaiting their orders. Ozpin smiled and looked at Ironwood, "I believe my students can fight a war general." He said with a small smirk. Ruby looked around before raising her hand slowly, almost as if she didn't want to ask the question.

Ozpin acknowledged her, "Yes miss Rose?"

"So what's the plan?" Ruby asked curiously.

Ozpin looked at Blue who nodded and walked to the front of the students, "We have several points of interest, there are 4 hospitals in Vale, one for each district. Each of you will be lead by a professor to defend them. A special task force will be assembled to head into the Cross Continental Transmit tower, it will have much more security since it's the source of control over the police force." Blue explained.

Cardin crossed his arm with a small scowl on his face, "So not only do what have to fight the White Fang, Atlesian robots, but we have to worry about that freak raining down swords from the sky?" He said causing whispers to spread among the crowds.

Blue gave Cardin a pointed stare, "I'll handle Ash myself if that's what you're worried about." She bit out causing him to go silent. Ruby frowned at Blue's response, from her peripheral she could Trick flinch ever so slightly.

"Well split up all of you into your groups in a few hours so rest until then. Vale should be ours by dawn." Blue finished before walking up the stair case as everyone dispersed from the house and wandered around Sanctuary to relax. Ruby and her team went to the training room to wait and sat quietly together.

"Are you okay?" Weiss said suddenly looking at Ruby.

Ruby looked up in shock, "W-what?"

Blake gave Ruby an empathetic look, "Ruby we all know that you're worried about Ash."

Ruby looked down, "Oh...Well yeah I am… Really worried..."

Yang placed her arm around her little sisters shoulder, "Hey! Blue said she'll handle it! Maybe she knows something we don't?"

Ruby looked up and smiled although it was small one, "Yeah maybe...But right now we can't think about that, we all have to look after each-other right?"

"Damn straight!" A loud voice replied causing Team RWBY to turn their heads simultaneously.

"Sun?" Blake said curiously.

"Sup." Sun waved, "Trick told me to get all of you, apparently were apart of the task force that's going into the tower so..." Sun motioned towards the steps, "Ladies first."

Team RWBY and team SSSN stood attentively awaiting Trick's orders. They all quietly fidgeted as he sat silently in his chair playing with a deck of cards until his eyes suddenly shot towards them. Standing up he motioned for them to follow him, all them obediently followed Trick though the house until they came to a dead end.

"A wall?" Scarlet said with a raised brow until Sage nudged him, "What? It's a wall!" He argued until Trick moved his hand around in a pattern, opening up the wall.

"Of course..." Ruby mumbled, "There's always a secret door..."

The group walked in darkness for a long time until they came into the light. As they exited they felt fresh air hit them. They looked around in fascination at the small secluded area, they could see the streets of Vale below not too far from where they were. Neptune looked around and had a look of revelation on his face, "This is the edge of Beacon right above the commercial district and Residential district."

"Correct~" Trick said cracking his neck, "And this is where we will begin our mission."

"Begin? As in now?" Sun said with a raised brow.

"No in thirty minutes were going to move ahead of the teams heading towards the hospital." Trick explained.

"Why thirty minutes ahead?" Scarlet asked.

"Diversion?" Ruby said quietly bringing everyone's attention to her, "U-uh I mean well if we attack their most valuable location, the place that give them the most power well draw in more resistance..." Ruby said quietly.

Neptune nodded, "And if we draw them in it'll make it easier for all the other groups..."

Trick smiled, "And if we can stop the Atlesian knights then we won't have to worry about half of the resistance." He finished the plan with a smile.

"Hit them them where it hurts most." Yang said pounding her fist into her hand.

"And then box them in." Blake said with a nod but she looked at Trick oddly, "But what about getting to the tower? They aren't just gonna let us march in there."

Trick smiled, "Well about that..." He said walking over to two large covered objects before quickly swiping the cloaks off. Both teams gawked.

"That's a Bullhead." Sage said shaking his head.

"THAT'S A SWEET CAR!" Sun said pointing to the other vehicle.

Trick smiled before throwing keys to Weiss, "Ozpin you have some training in flying the Bullhead."

The other members of team RWBY looked at Weiss in confusion, Blake giving her a look of disbelief, "You know how to fly a Bullhead?"

Weiss fidgeted, "What's with that look? Something so menial is an easy task for someone like myself!" Weiss huffed making Ruby snicker, "That's Weiss for you."

"And what is that supposed to mean flower girl?" Weiss said with a pout.

"Flower girl?" Ruby said bringing her hand to her chest.

"Focus." Trick said stopping their quarreling, "Sun you and your team will come with me and well go from the ground floor up, Ruby you guys will drop down from above and go top to bottom. Hopefully well meet in the middle somewhere."

Both groups nodded and quietly waited the rest of the allotted time making small casual talk exchanging different strategies they use together. Trick let them converse with one another, nervous energy being released as they bounced off ideas and plans. Time ticked slowly as he looked at his watch every other minute. An alarm resounded to signal them, Trick stood up and looked at all of them.

"It's time to go."

Both teams wished one another good luck, team RWBY heading into the bullhead and team SSSN plus Trick into the car. It was time to go to work.

-With Trick and SSSN-

It seemed to be street after street of nothing but debris and fire, Trick flinched as he watched others tried to pull themselves out of the rubble.

"We have to help them." Sun growled underneath his breath. Sage placed his hand over Suns shoulders, "If you wanna help focus on what we have to do."

Sun punched out the window on his side before nodding his head, "Lets get this done." Sun muttered. Trick looked in the rear view mirror as Sun held his emotions in check for the moment, "He always like this?" Trick asked Neptune who was trying not to focus on the city at the moment.

"Always, couldn't stop if he wanted." Neptune said looking out the window for a moment, "It's why were such close friends..." He said with a frown at the sight he was seeing. Trick pushed down the pedal, "It's not a bad thing." He said speeding through the highway, the Cross Continental tower in sight.

The group saw the tower in the distance but predictably there was a welcoming party. Trick broke open the window on his left and held out his left arm, a card in his hand glowed before a shock-wave shook the car blowing away the Atlesian robots in their way. The car jumped and swerved left and right as it was shot from every direction.

"SO WHAT'S OUR ENTRY STRATEGY?!" Sun yelled from the back shooting his nun-chucks at any incoming Atlesian Knights.

"..." Trick silently pressed on the gas.

"Were crashing aren't we?" Scarlet said grabbing the back of Trick's seat.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN CRASHING?!" Neptune shouted shooting in front of them.

"Strategic crashing..."Trick muttered before they crashed through the glass of the front door. The alarms went off as they broke right the first floor, "INTRUDERS INTRUDERS INTRUDERS." The alarm went. Quickly shifting gears and holding onto the brake, Trick shifted the car and slammed into the oncoming waves of robots. Wasting no time Sun and Neptune both used the momentum of the car to jump out of the car and land in the middle of the mess. Sun swung his leg around and to kick the nearest robot. Neptune went back to back with him shot the three coming up behind him, before turning his gun into its lance/trident form. The deadly duo fought back to back before there was nothing but a bunch of scrap metal beneath their feet.

"Done yet?" Trick taunted sitting on a pile of robots himself. Scarlet snorted as he clapped his hands to get some dust off, "Oh shut up." He said looking at Sage who pulled his fist out of robot and throwing it to the floor.

Trick laughed before getting serious, pointing to the stair case to their far right, "Lets go." He said leading the group of the first floor of Atlesian tower.

"You think they know were here?" Sun asked before they got to the second floor, not a second later they were approached by a group of White Fang.

"You know...from now on when you wanna ask...don't." Scarlet commented before cracking his knuckles.

-With team RWBY-

"WERE CRASHING!"

"I KNOW THAT!"

"GUYS IT'S TIME TO GO!"

Alarms echoed throughout the sky as team RWBY's Bullhead dropped down from the sky in flames. Four figures quickly landed on-top of the CCT quickly settling a formation, Ruby quickly slammed Crescent Rose into the ground, "Ice flower!" Ruby called out. Weiss spun around her projecting a white glyph in front of her. Ruby quickly fired Crescent Rose the combination combining to create a barrage of icy bullets that tore through the legion of White Fang and Atlesian Knights. The ceiling quickly cleared out as the group quickly ran downward.

"Let's move," Yang said slamming her fist into a larger member of the White Fang sending him barreling into a group behind him before the group kicked down the door to the steps descending downward. They wasted no time as the halls filled up with more goons, Weiss enchanted Blake with haste Glyph. Blake charged ahead slicing spinning around slicing with both her guard and blade, a purple shock-wave tearing down the hall leaving slices in the wall.

Ruby spun around and slammed the blunt end of Crescent Rose into a knight before pulling the trigger to shoot forward and slice through several more. They wasted no time clearing the hall out before descended down the stairs once again.

Ruby had a pensive face, "This is going to take longer than we thought..." She thought as she they continued their trek downward.

The streets of Vale were in Chaos as the students of Beacon fought side by side against legions of Atlesian knights. A legion of young warriors taking on the endless onslaught of the Atlesian forces. Cardin slammed his mace into a robot before swinging around backward into the other three surrounding him. They seemed to become overcoming the seemingly endless force of steel, until the sounds of shouting erupted from the front lines. Cardin twisted around and felt cold fear in his veins, familiar orange eyes that struck fear into his heart. Before he could react a kick snap his head around, his vision blurred as his head snapped backward looking at his companions fend of swords that descended from the sky. Cardin tried to gather himself spinning around trying to fend off Ash only to see thin air.

"Where are you looking?" Ash taunted with a twisted smile on his face a sword created right behind his head to block a strike from Russel, spinning around and slamming his foot into his ribcage. Ash kept his foot planted in Russel's ribcage and kept his eyes on Cardin summoning Storm-flower in his hand and pointing it straight at his face.

"I'm always holding myself back..." Ash mumbled with a look of disgust on his face dropping Russel down, "Always letting pricks like you off with warnings..." He growled, "Why do I do that?" He said to himself pressing the gun to Cardin's head with a laugh pushing him down before shaking his head.

"Let me fix my mistake." Ash said with a smile.

Cardin held his breath as Ash's finger twitched.

Bang.

Cardin had his eyes squeezed shut. Awaiting pain but none came. Opening his eyes slowly he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as blue hair filled his vision. Ash pouted as Blue hand his hand up into the air.

"Blueeeee you messed up my shot!" Ash whined.

Blue flinched as Ash spoke, "How far have you fallen Cinder?" She thought as Ash looked at Cardin with a blank face.

"Run coward." Ash said several blades projected around him in one moment. Cardin quickly struggled up and dragged Russel away from the action.

Blue looked at the projected blades as Cardin ran, "Almost instant...without any mental barriers his conjuration is almost flawless...Just how much guilt does he live with?" She thought looking at Ash's arm which glowed a light hue. Ash turned his gaze onto Blue and gave her a curious stare, "Blue please let go my arm hurts~" He said with smile.

Blue grit her teeth as she let go of his arm, "Ash...I..." She bit her tongue trying to find the words to say before forcing a cocky grin on her face, "You're still no good with your AT's." She said jumping back, "Let's have a race."

Ash looked at her curiously his eye glowing amber before gripping his head, shaking his head he smiled at Blue, "Fine. Pick the destination."

Blue saw the students being pushed back, Ash shooting weapons at them unconsciously. Blue wordless flipped backward and landing on-top of the building watching as the blades stopped, Ash's attention focusing purely on her.

"The grave." Blue said simply dodging a flaming kick right next her, a spiral of ice arcing over the next building. An explosion of mist erupted overhead as Blue continued making a road of ice overhead. Ash charging towards her with a face of rage. Blue flinched as Ash jumped and grinded over building tops after her, his eyes piercing through her.

"Im sorry..." She thought speeding towards their old mentors grave.

Team SSSN ascended up the CCT coming to an empty room devoid of any person, Sun looked around before raising a brow, "Yeah that's not a good sign..." He said as the silence in the room resonated as the clicking of heels echoed in the room. Heterochromia eye flickered multiple colors but they focused in on Trick. Who walked in front of team SSSN and pulling out a two handful of cards.

Trick looked at Sun seriously, "If she's here that means were closer. I'll handle this, you guys go up and end this."

Sun looked at Trick incredulously, "What are you talking about?! We could handle this quicker together?!" He argued making Trick shake his head.

"Listen if Neo is here then that means there running low on reinforcements. They probably sent more up team RWBY's way. You need to get up as quick as you can and help them out but shutting off this system." Trick said walking past them, Neo mimicking his actions the two circling each-other symmetrically.

"Besides this is...personal." Trick said pulling down his scarf.

Sun grit his teeth but nodded hesitantly, "Fine...But well be back for you!" Sun yelled as he and his team ran up to the next floor.

Trick and Neo paid them no heed as they circled one another, until they stood about ten feet away from another, Trick fidgeted ever so slightly, "Neo..." He said quietly.

"Trick~" She said stepping towards him pulling out the blade in her umbrella, "It's been a long long time..."

"Yeah..." He mumbled while crossing his arms.

"Would you like to dance?" She asked.

"Gladly." He said before he exploded into cards. Neo shook her head as her body shattered like glass.

Sun felt a buzz in his pocket as they dashed through the halls, pulling out his scroll he read his messages. A video feed opened up of team JNPR fighting, Ren was sent flying backward across the screen before the cam shakily shifted to the source of the destruction, a spider droid tore the streets. Nora smashed her hammer into its side slightly shifting its trajectory away. The message, "Hurry." was the only thing that came after the feed cut off. Before anyone could comment on the video the ground shook as the sounds of shifting gears caught their ears.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Sun said slowly turning around.

"...Remember what I said about that whole not saying anything Sun?" Scarlet said backing up slowly as a spider droid stalked towards them.

"Seriously what were the chances..." Sun said sheepishly as he too began to back up slowly.

"SUN!" Sage said, "Seriously! Enough with tempting fate!"

"It's hardly-OH SHIT!" Sun yelled as a beam of energy ripped through the hall, he and Neptune jumping into an office of the right side whilst Sage and Scarlet jumped the opposite way. Neptune pulled his goggles on a looked at his best friend, "I have an idea..." Neptune said pulling out his gun, charging it up before taking a deep breath and jumping back into the hall.

"HEY LOOK AT ME YOU PIECE OF SCRAP METAL!" Neptune yelled shooting three electrical shots into the droid making it target him.

"TARGET SIGHTED." It stated charging up another shot.

"Oh boy-" Neptune said quickly cutting a corner narrowly avoiding another cannon as the droid barreled down the hall towards him.

"NEPTUNE!" Sun yelled as the droid passed him, Scarlet and Sage.

From the hall sounds of crashing and gunfire responded before Neptune slid back to them and stopped, "You saw the feed! We need to hurry! Go without me I'll keep this thing busy!" He said before groaning and taking off down the hall again.

"Bu-" Sun reached out before shaking his head and giving Scarlet and Sage a nod, "Lets go." He said shooting down the main hall to the next floor.

-Up Above with team RWBY-

The four girls made quick work of any grunt they sent their way but as they continued their trek they couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. As they ran through the empty hall they came to an opening, a clear room. All four stopped and looked at one another, "It's too quiet..." Blake pulling up Gambol Shroud.

"You really shouldn't say things like that!" And unknown voice called out Blake didn't have time to turn around as she was kicked far ahead of the group, Ruby quickly activated her semblance and managed to to get ahead of her to catch her friend. Before she could a react a wall dropped down, cutting her and Blake off from Weiss and Yang. A gunshot from Yang's gauntlet resounded on the opposite side. Ruby whipped her head around to see the guy that fought Pyrrah in the sparring match alongside his friend with the green hair. Mercury vaulted backward to avoid the strike throwing his hands up into the air.

"Sorry but you didn't knock on wood, that's bad luck you know." He said cockily as Emerald pulled out her dual revolvers.

Weiss quickly created a Glyph and Yang reloaded her gauntlets with a low growl, "Listen Ruby you and Blake go ahead, well handle these two." She said shooting forward towards Mercury throwing our a straight jab. Weiss covered her sending out a stab causing Emerald to jump to the side and fire her weapons. Dispersing both her and Yang from one another, Ruby looked at Blake who nodded before both continued forward, they had no time to waste.

Sun grounded his teeth together as he continued up the tower alone. Several floors after they had left Neptune two White Fang lieutenants cut them off. Sage and Scarlet had pushed him forward before he could retort, cutting him off from them.

"Damn it damn it damn it." He thought as he continued running up the steps. He had catch his breath as he made his way to the 30th floor, it was empty...completely empty save for one lone figure standing in the middle of the room.

"So its you..." A familiar voice called out. Sun saw a familiar shade of crimson red hair and prepared himself, "You're Blake's old partner..." Sun said somewhat quietly. Adam walked into the light adorning in his Grimm mask, "She told you about me." he said although it wasn't a question.

"...Why are you doing this? Aren't you Blake's friend or something? How can you do this?!" Sun said thinking of all the innocent people that were killed or injured.

"My relationship with Blake is unimportant...What is important is justice."

"This? Is this your justice?!" Sun yelled stepping forward.

"You're Faunas! Don't you understand!? Or have you ignored the headlines!? The humans out there don't think were people in the same sense that they are..." Adam said raising his voice.

"...Maybe you're right...But there are people...there are humans trying to change that...trying to help us! And all you've done is destroy what little progress they were making!" Sun said pulling out his staff, "I can't let you do this. I don't care what you are to Blake, I have to stop you right now!" Sun yelled charging forward.

"Then you will die." Adam meeting Sun in a clash.

-With Ruby and Blake-

Ruby and Blake knew they were getting close, the knights came in fewer groups and there were smaller and smaller traces of the White Fang with every floor. Ruby noted the their floor, "35th" She thought as they went down the stairs. The both stopped in their tracks as familiar face appeared in front of them.

"Penny..." Ruby said quietly as her friend robotically walked forward a circle of blades erupting from her back. Penny's eyes looked dull and lifeless. Ruby frowned as she remembered the girl with bright curious eyes, the girl who asked to be her friend, the one who confided to her. Whipping out Crescent Rose Ruby looked at Blake and shook her head, "Go without me Blake were so close...please get there before..." Ruby said looking at Penny. Blake nodded and sprinted past penny dodging a strike with her clone, Penny shot her blade at Blake as she got close to the stair case only for it to be reflected by a red blur.

Ruby held Crescent Rose under her arm and got ready for a fight, "Penny you're in there somewhere and I won't stop until you come out!" She shouted although Penny wordlessly charged at her.

-With Weiss and Yang-

One wouldn't want to walk into this room as there was nothing but bullets flying everywhere you went. Yang and Mercury clashed in the middle of the room while Emerald and Weiss were continually slashing at one another.

Yang's flaming fist clashed against Mercury's kick, her superhuman punch against Mercury's hook kick. Weiss and Emerald were shooting one another from behind the two, continuously having close up exchanges, Weiss growled as she couldn't stay close, Emerald using her chain sickles to keep her at distance. Yang's fist were burning with flames, the longer she used her semblance the higher the chance of injury but he couldn't stop even for one second as Mercury's quick kicks countered her every punch.

"I hope Ruby's having better luck..." She thought ducking under a spinning kick and stepping back and trying to step into his guard.

-With Sun-

The sound of bullets and metal grinding against metal was the only thing that filled the otherwise silent room. Adam wasted no time trying to kill Sun, a diagonal slash which just missed his head. Sun responded quickly spinning clockwise spinning his staff around to sweep Adams legs, A quick back-step avoided the strike but Sun wasn't even close to finishing. Continuing his attack he attempted a roundhouse kick, Adam perfectly mimicked the action causing the two kicks to clash.

Both recoiled back and began firing at one another far only five feet away. Sun was firing and blocking simultaneously with his nun-chucks keeping Adam on the defensive. Adam continued to slash through Suns bullets with his katana, trying to find a place to attack. Focusing his eyes he continued to watch Sun critically, slashing away at each bullet before dashing forward for a stab.

Sun was surprised at the speed of the strike but didn't panic, swinging his nun-chuck around the sword he managed to stop its velocity before it pierced his chest. Quickly trying to pull back his sword Adam used the sheath/gun to fire at Sun from close range. Sun did a front aerial to dodge the shot, pulling his nun-chuck with him causing Adams katana to fly up into the air.

Seeing as he was weaponless Adam didn't let Sun stop and continued his fire his gun. Sun had to cartwheel and flip once more before he could prepare an attack, luckily for Adam he had just enough time to jump into the air and grab his sword.

The two gathered themselves before facing off once again, "This is going nowhere quickly." Sun thought as he noticed they were back to square one.

"I have to do something dangerous if I want this to go anywhere..." He thought seeing Adam charge him once again, "Can't mess up." Sun thought seeing the incoming strike towards his heart.

Adam fully expect Sun to dodge this strike but all he needed to do was stall and he won, no need to kill him but if worked out that way then it was no skin off his bones. Going through the strike he was shocked as he felt his sword penetrate skin. Sun instead of dodging the strike tilted it right of range of his heart into his left shoulder. Adam went all the way through and came face to face with the blonde-haired faunas.

Sun grimaced as he felt his left arm stiffen from the stabbing pain in his shoulder but he a clenched a grin as he had Adam exactly where he wanted him. Bringing up his right arm and clicking the trigger, Adam staggered back as his mask was blown off and a bit off blood splattered on the ground.

The two once again staggered back, Sun pulled Adams sword out of the ground and threw it to the ground and raising his still functioning arm to point his gun at Adam.

Adam felt the bullet grave the side of his head, the mask changing its trajectory ever so slightly to ensure his survival. With no sword in hand he had his gun pointed at Sun resulting in a standoff.

"Why..." Adam muttered.

Sun seemed confused steadying his aim on Adam, "Why what?"

"You risked dying...for what?! Some stupid humans?" Adam all but shouted.

"Those *stupid humans* are my friends and say what you want but if you want to kill them you go through me." Sun said with blood flowing down his shoulder.

"We didn't ask for this..." Adam said quietly. Suns grip wavered as he heard Adams voice, it was tired.

"...Yeah." Sun said, "None of us did." he said quietly. Adam and Sun stared at one another, so similar but different..."How did it turn out this way?" Were both of their thoughts as they pointing their guns at one another.

-With Ruby-

A flurry of sparks lit up the room, a deadly dance of blades, a battle against time. Ruby blocked a swing from her left, twisting Crescent Rose around to block the right, spinning it underneath her back to block another strike. Penny had her locked in place as she continued sending strikes at every single area of Ruby she could target. Ruby had to stop herself from from flinching a sharp pain shot through her side. She shot herself backward, her eyes darted up, down, left, right. Every strike Penny sent her way Ruby quickly batted away, efficiently slicing each blade away from her. Before she could do anything else the ground shook making both her and Penny stall for a moment as they jumped back to regain their balance.

"What was that?" Ruby thought quickly re-engaging with Penny.

-With Trick-

Trick pulled himself up, coughing as he did so, "It's always this way with you..." He thought falling down onto the wall to his right, using his right arm to pull himself up. The room was burning with fire, the windows were blown out, glass was shattered on the ground. Trick calmly observed the smoke unsurprised when Neo walked out out, a bit of blood dripping down from the side of her face. She limped forward towards Trick her umbrella in tatters.

"I don't understand you Neo..." Trick said propping himself up against the wall, his legs to tired to stand up by themselves.

Neo staggered forward whilst trying not to slip on the cards that littered the floor below them, "You're still trying to understand? You know you've grown up so much but you're still a little kid..." Neo said wiping a bit of blood off her face.

Trick eyed her evenly, "You could have stopped...You could be on this side right now."

Neo fell downward on Trick's chest and looked up at him, "I owe Roman a lot Trick, you know that."

Trick looked down at her constantly changing eyes, "Did you know?"

Neo closed her eyes tiredly, "About?"

"Ash." Trick replied with a hostile tone.

Neo grabbed Trick by the collar and glared, "Had I known that was her end goal I would have told you. At the very least I wouldn't have gotten involved."

Trick studied her for few moments before letting out a sigh, "So she really has fallen that far..."

Neo laid her head down on Trick's chest, "I've never understood Cinder myself...What's she's done to Ash...Trick I'm sorry."

Trick grit his teeth, Neo could hear the squeezing, "After mentor died...Ash dropped off the face of the world..."

"Once he realizes what he's done today..." Neo stated her eyes flashing white.

"Why are we doing this?" Trick said looking at Neo tenderly.

"We don't have choice. Never did." Neo replied wistfully.

"Will you comeback on your own? To Sanctuary?" Trick asked playing with her hair.

"One day when I've repaid my debt perhaps." Neo said adjusting Trick's tie.

Trick sighed, "That guy...He really does piss me off."

Neo let out a small giggle, "Roman isn't that bad honestly...well maybe he is...but he wasn't always like that."

"Anyone keeping you from me is that bad..." Trick grumbled uncharacteristically.

Neo shook her head and pulled down his head and laid a gentle peck on his lips, "You still can't beat me in a fight." Neo noted looking at the destroyed area around them.

"One day I will. Then I'll drag you back to Sanctuary myself." Trick said in a completely serious voice.

Neo had a small smile on her face, "I know you will...until then..." She said letting go of Trick and walking away. Trick felt the last of energy leave his body, slumping against the wall and to the ground. Neo walked away trying her best not to turn around as she heard the fire crackling around them.

"I await that day..." She thought pulling out her umbrella and whipping it around to disperse the flames before disappearing in a white flash.

Blue cringed as she blocked Ash axe kick, feeling her arms almost give way as he shifted his weight downward onto her. Ash's eyes were filled with rage as she pressed down, Blue quickly dropped her guard and stepped back before launching forward and head-butting him in the skull. Ash recoiled and spun around in a tornado of flames before whipping around for a spinning back kick, Blue shot out a crescent kick knocking away Ash's. Blue didn't stop and swung around for a butterfly kick, Ash carried his momentum and brought is other foot around to clash with his surrogate sister. A shock-wave followed their exchange causing the ground to break apart as they were both sent skidding backward.

Cinder watched from on top of an old church, arriving a few minutes after Blue had taken advantage of Ash's rage and lead him to the burial site of their old mentor. The graveyard was torn to pieces as the two battled one another to a standstill, the ground that was icily covered was lit with flames.

"It's as if the tundra has met hell itself." Cinder thought as the flames and ice continued to spread across the floor. She watched as Ash stubbornly refused her mental commands, his rage overcoming any suggestion she could currently give him, "Your death always did weigh heavily on him...mentor." Cinder thought with an odd melancholic look in her eyes. Before she think anymore on the issue she saw ash slammed through the church, a flurry of icy blades tearing through the ground followed him leaving the entrance glazed over in a layer of ice and spikes. She looked towards Blue who had her leg outstretched letting out heavy breaths before letting it fall to the ground, her head turning to Cinder.

Cinder dropped down from the church and stared at Blue impassively, "Very well done, although if he would stop being stubborn and use his semblance more effectively..." She stated her eyes glowing amber as she sent a few more commands to Ash.

"Did you ever care about Ash!?" Blue yelled next to Cinder in one second, grabbing her by the collar with angry eyes boring into Cinder.

Cinder looked away, "I have little time to explain, even if I did you wouldn't understand..."

"I WOULDN'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND." Blue shouted vehemently, "Ever since mentor died...you were waiting...implanting your ideas...you were planning on controlling him...THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN SAY THAT WOULD MAKE ME UNDERSTAND!"

Cinder's face was unreadable, blank, uncaring, but for a split moment Blue could have sworn she saw her eyes flash to an expression of guilt. Cinder eyes were half-lidded as she pushed Blue off her, dusting off her dress, "Which is why I am not going to explain..." Cinder said turning around, "Ash will become something that all of Remnant will look to." Cinder said looking up to the sky, "A hero...yes a hero needs a villain don't they?" She whispered as Ash came shooting past her towards Blue, a more focused haze in his eyes.

Blue cursed internally as Ash had several blades surround him, Ember Cecilia around his fists, his AT's still present, and both of Cinder's blades in his hands. She quickly vaulted backwards whilst kick up a pillar of ice that shot up between them. She was unsurprised as it was sliced in half as she landed on her hands she spun around and went into aerials, each icy kick clashing with Ash's slices. Blue quickly shot up from her aerials and sent a butterfly kick towards Ash, she cursed as Ash countered with his own kick, planting one blade into the ground and spinning around to slice at her midsection.

Blue stumbled onto the graves and looked at with determined eyes, her AT's wheels opened up revealing a light blue core. Her wheels grounded on the ground and her body lit up a deep blue, Ash had to cover his eyes as the light shined brightly.

"Ice age..." Blue mumbled quietly as the entire area shot over into an icy arena, Ash looked down as ice had left his feet planted into the ground. Before he could move ice shot at him, slashing at each spike he growled as one slammed into his arm leaving it frozen. His amber eyes shot up to see Blue's sad eyes as his head snapped around, ice spreading over his face. Blue sent a flurry of kicks across Ash's body, littering him in ice his body barely able to move. Jumping back with her AT's shining a bright blue. She grit her teeth as she began circling her surrogate little brother. If one were to look at a distance they would see a dome of ice erupt from the grave-site, small snowflakes falling from the sky.

Both Sun and Adam seemed locked in a standoff neither budging from their spot. Adam stared right into Suns eyes who didn't waver in his gaze for a moment. Sudden footsteps made both of them shift slightly. Blake walked in on the two with a look of surprise, "Sun? Adam?" She said looking between the two, the both of them stuck in a deadlock. Sun gave Blake a sheepish smile although he kept his gun positioned squarely on Adam.

"Hey Blake glad you made it!" Sun said his arm hanging loosely at his side.

Blake stood conflicted emotions as she watched both Sun and Adam, the latter of the two remained silent to her appearance. Blake looked past Adam to see the final set of doors between them and the beacon, pulling out Gambol Shroud in gun mode she aimed it at Adam.

"Sun I'll keep him here hurry and stop the beacon." She commanded.

Sun looked at her hesitantly, "Okay..." He said shooting past Adam who dropped his firearm down.

The two Faunus looked at one another, an eery silence between the two of them before Adams mask slowly crumbled to the ground. He looked at it with an empty stare, his eyes following the bits fall to ground. Blake arm shook as she kept her gun pointed on her former partner, she couldn't find any words to say to him.

"He's a good guy..." Adam said referring to Sun, "Different than me..."

Blake opened her mouth before closing it, her eyes looked sad, "You two aren't so different..."

Adam let out a dark chuckle, "Maybe...But he's different in the most important way right?"

Blake nodded solemnly, "The most important way possible."

Adam looked out the window of the building, "Blake...it was me who should have said sorry."

A few stray tears fell down Blake's eyes as she remembered their last encounter, "Adam..." She said quietly.

Sun let out a relieved gasp as he finally managed to make it to the control panel but he suddenly wished that Neptune was with him.

"There's no off button...THERE'S ALWAYS AN OFF BUTTON!"He mentally yelled as he frantically searched through the entire control panel for something that vaguely resembled an *off* switch. Sun was pulling his hair out before throwing his hands up, "Fuck it!" He yelled shooting the control panel.

"Shutting down." A robotic voice announced.

"YES!" Sun shouted with a fist pump before falling backwards holding his shoulder, "Hehehehe that was close..."Were his final words as he passed out unconscious.

Blake reached out to Adam as an alarm erupted from the building the room flashing red. Adam looked around and growled before looking at Blake, "Go get your friend this place is going to be leveled soon."

Blake clenched her outreached hand and looked towards the doors that Sun ran through before closing her eyes and running in the opposite direction of Adam. As the alarms rang through the building Adam stood alone with his hand placed against his face where his mask used to be, a perturbed look on his face, "A place where Faunus and Humans get along...is such a place possible?" He pondered aloud.

-With Ruby-

Ruby shook her hand as she sent Penny back with a punch across her face, she could feel the metal against her hand. Penny stood back up in a daze, a small bit of the paint scraped off her face by Ruby's face. She looked around in confusion before looking at Ruby, placing a hand on her cheek she blinked a few times. Ruby looked at her walking slowly towards her, "Penny?"

Penny looked at her oddly, "Ruby? Where are we? How did I get here?" She asked with a confused voice. Ruby smiled, realizing that Blake or Sun had gotten to the beacon but before she could explain what was happening the alarm started flashing in the room.

"Flashing lights..That's not good, it's never good!" She said quickly grabbing by the arm, "Penny I'll explain later!" She shouted pulling Penny with her.

-With Yang and Weiss-

Weiss slammed into the wall as she caught Yang, the room that they were in was filled with bullet holes and craters from where Yang and Mercury had been clashing. Red lights started flashing as Mercury and Emerald stalked closer to them. Yang got back to her feet and raised her fists, Weiss made several glyphs around them but neither of their foes proceeded forward.

Mercury wiped his mouth, a nasty bruise on his cheek, "Looks like they got to the beacon."

Emerald outfit was littered with cuts and she flipped her hair back, "Guess that means our time is up." She said putting her dual revolvers in their holsters.

"Where do you think you're going?" Yang said cocking Ember Cecilia already ready for another bout.

Mercury ran his hand through his hair, "You crazy? This place is gonna blow and I'm not really in the interest of dying."

Yang growled lowly as the two ran away, Weiss held her arm and shook her head, "We did what we came here to do."

Yang sighed and deactivated her gauntlets, "You're right, let's hurry and get out of here."

Blue stumbled backward and onto the floor as the wheels on her AT's closed. Ash was frozen solid in a dome of ice, Cinder stared on impassively. Blue breaths were haggard as looked at Ash solemnly.

"Please Ash..." She thought with tired eyes, "Please wake up." She thought as Ash started to glow a deep orange. Blue's eyes widened as Ash's eyes and arms started glowing a flaming orange, from within his icy dome bubbles started forming and steam started seeping from within. Cinder smiled as the ground started to take up and orange hue, Blue looked down on the ground and cursed. Quickly getting to her feet she brought up her arms.

The streets of the cities roared as the students from Beacon began to overtake the White Fang, the Atlesian knights shutting off and resuming to their previous functions. Ozpin stood on top of several Atlesian Paladins as he watched his students sweep through the remaining areas. A small buzz from his scroll with several messages opened up.

"Agricultural district taken care."-Goodwitch

"Industrial district finishing up."-Qrow

"My work here is done."-Raven

"Commercial district pushing forward."- Oobleck

"Residential district clearing out."-Port

Ozpin nodded as they started taking back parts of the city one by one, the Atlesian force now aiding them in their conquest. The entire plan went as well as it could have although Ozpin had to physically stop himself form flinching as he saw a student bloodied on the ground in front of him, "Dead." Ozpin noted somberly before a light shot out in the far distance in the cliffs of Forever Fall. There wasn't a person in the city of Vale that couldn't see the mighty flame in the distance. A cross of fire and destruction that blazed brightly in the sky, Ozpin looked at it wearily, "Just like all those years ago..." He thought.

Ash blinked. He could feel warm liquid running down his arm. The thick smell of iron spread across his face. Fire and brimstone surrounded him. Smoke, destruction, and the smell of death. This environment was all too familiar to him, a memory that nothing could lock away. Ash blinked as he looked around, a soft pressure grasped his arm which made him look down ever so slightly.

"W-what?" Ash whispered.

A soft voice cracked back at him, "Y-you're always causing trouble." Blue said with blood pouring from her mouth and down onto her chest. Ash's eyes flickered between orange and amber as he followed the blood down to her chest. Her chest. Ash's eyes shot open wide as he stared at his arm. Ash's arm trembled as he looked back at Blue, realization in his eyes as he did so.

"B-blue?" Ash whispered quietly to himself his eyes flickering back in forth like a broken light, memories flashing in his head, blood stains on his hands. Ash's eyes welled up. Past and present colliding in his brain.

"P-please I-I ha-hate it wh-when you c-cry..." Two voices merged together, one old and gruff and the other light and coarse.

Ash's head snapped to Blue and image of an old man switching into view, blood covering his face, "Please remember to smile..." The images of Blue and the old man switched back and forth with one another. Ash heard a sickening sound as Blue fell forward and leaned against him for support, her azure eyes fading.

"T-tell everyone hi for me okay?" They both said flickering back in forth. Ash's eyes flickered madly as if fighting.

"Ash will you always remember me?" Both voices tiredly whispered out, Ash's eyes dulled over for a moment.

"I would like that..." Both voice whispered in a melancholic tone. Ash's eyes slowly returned to their orange color.

"I love you..." The voices returned to one, "Good morning Ash." Blue finished.

Ash felt tears run down his face as a pair of lips softly pressed against his forehead, a small bit of blood imprinting itself onto his head. Blue's original azure eyes dulled into a light-gray blue. Her body limply laid against his chest. Ash no longer felt the beating of her heart. Ash stood silent as the fire danced around them, small flakes slowly falling to ground.

"Snow?" Ash said despondently, his face blank with tears falling down the sides of his cheeks. With a loud slick Blue fell off Ash's arm, caught by his other and gently laid to the floor as he laid her down, a gravestone right behind her head.

"Mentor..." Ash whispered quietly as the flakes descended downward onto the ground. Quiet footsteps clicked behind him, Ash didn't turn around. With his unbloodied arm he gently closed Blue's eyes and shook violently as tears fell to the floor. Cinder stood watching silently as Ash weeped quietly.

"Why..." Ash said in a deathly quiet voice.

Cinder almost shivered at the darkness in his voice, "If I told you would it matter?"

"Matter?" Ash said quietly standing up with multiple blades shooting in to life around him, "Blue...her life...it mattered." He said staggering as he turned around. Cinder stood still as Ash looked at her with lifeless eyes.

"Tell me why..." Ash said taking a shaky step forward.

"It was necessary." Cinder replied closing her eyes.

"You...killed Blue...and you used my hands to do it..." Ash murmured looking at Cinder with broken eyes, "Why...why why why...Tell me why." Ash said clenching his fists slowly.

"Every hero needs a villain." Cinder said cryptically.

An audible snap erupted around Ash as a flurry of blades conjured around him. In a flash of bright orange Cinder felt herself fly backward. Ash slammed her all the way into the church and gripped tightly around her neck.

"TELL ME WHY." Ash screamed as blade implanted itself next to her head.

"WHY." Another blade.

"WHY." Another.

"WHY." Another.

Cinder's eyes flinched closed as Ash throttled her and slammed her into the stone wall of the church. Several swords were planted around her head, more around her body, and hundreds littered across the wall.

"I would have rather died than been apart of what you've done." Ash said in a hushed voice, "You...why did you..." He whimpered, "I'LL KILL YOU!" Ash yelled smashing her through the wall. Ash dashed forward through the wall to follow through but found Cinder standing cliff-side already, holding her throat she looked at Ash expressionlessly.

"No...No you don't." Ash whispered in rage.

Cinder held out her arms, "History will absolve me." She whispered closing her eyes and falling backward.

"CINDER!" Ash yelled in desperation and anger quickly running to the edge to see her fall in a hole of nothingness. Ash stared down at the deep dark hole. Rage boiled in his blood. Ash took a sharp breath. Another in. Another out. Each breath slowly becoming more erratic. He almost hyperventilated before holding out his arm and blades appeared. A wail of anger and despair erupted from his lungs as he fired aimlessly. Blades cascading down into the pit. Minutes? Hours? He didn't care anymore. Ash felt his arm burn and boil, screaming for the end. Finally it came.

Dropping to his knees Ash's breathing evened out and his arms dropped to the ground. The blood on his arm had dried. He could feel how sticky it felt. He could smell it. With every breath he took it filled his brain. Ash trudged back to Blue's lifeless body and wordlessly picked her back up bridal style. Ash's let out a dark dry chuckle as realized what the *snow* was. Small flakes of ashes fell down from the sky.

Ash overlooked the smoking city of Vale with sullen eyes, "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." He said quietly as he looked to the sky, the clouds started to part and blue skies shined over the barren city. Ash blinked as he felt tears slide down his cheek and to the floor. He grabbed the side of face before dropping to his knees, a cascade of water falling from his eyes.

"Y-you're always causing trouble..."

Ash let out a blood curdling scream into the sky which echoed over the city.

"P-please I-I ha-hate it wh-when you c-cry..."

Ash teeth cracked as he pressed them together.

"Please remember to smile..."

Standing up with blank face Ash started walking.

"T-tell everyone hi for me okay?"

The sun shined overheard as Ash dragged himself over the toppled building.

"Ash will you always remember me?"

Ash wiped blood off his face before seeing familiar faces in the distance.

"I would like that..."

"Why?" Ash thought letting a teary smile come to his face.

"I love you..."

Wiping his face Ash looked up at the blue sky once more, clear, open, free.

"Good morning Ash."

"Goodnight." He choked out through teary eyes.

All members of team RWBY and SSSN managed to evacuate the Cross Continental tower in time, the building toppling to the ground quickly after they had escaped. The White Fang were slowly overwhelmed by the combined efforts of the students, teachers, and Atleasian forces. Slowly but surely the streets cleared out again. Several hours after the attack team RWBY and other students of Beacon quietly stood in the streets...they saw dead members of the White Fang...dead classmates they had known before this disaster. Glynda Goodwitch had returned but even she was somewhat off as there was a few stains adorning her usually flawless attire. They had began an effort to help civilians that had been trapped and or injured from the attack.

It didn't take long for some students to break down, seeing their friends dead or a pool of blood on the floor next to their feet. Glynda flinched seeing her students begrudgingly walk through the streets of death, many would have called it the longest day of death as it seemed wherever you turned no matter you did you could find the bodies of others or the results of the dust explosion. The first few hours...no the first few days after an attack are usually the worst. Its one thing to be in the middle of chaos and hear and see people dying...its completely more exhausting going through every nook and cranny trying to stop it. There was no noise but the occasional moan or groan from someone suffering under debris. Ruby wiped off her face as she helped pull someone out from the rubble, looking around her breath hitched as she saw a lone figure in the distance.

Almost everyone turned to see one of the people responsible for the pain and suffering. Ash walked forward, his face blank and indifferent with dried tears on his face. Ruby wanted to shout out in joy but her mouth dropped open as she took in his form. Ash walked forward with Blue in his arms, blood soaked on his body, and nothingness in his eyes. People shot him dirty looks, looks of fear, looks of anger, but he paid them all no heed. Glynda quickly approached him and tried to think of something to say but before she could speak Ash passed her.

Ash wordlessly continued forward, passing everyone without so much as a word. Ruby watched in utter silence as Ash's footsteps grounded into the gravel, filling the deathly quiet atmosphere. Not a single person spoke. No one could speak. Their only response was silence. Ash walked past everyone in that silence. Unforgivable silence.

Days after the attack that became known as the "Fall of Vale" the council had to take action. Relations with Atlas had suffered greatly due to their *assistance* in the attack, although borders couldn't be closed due to Vale's need of Atlas's resources. None of the main culprits of the attack could be found so the council did what they could, although Ash's situation was explained they couldn't very well let him off with a warning. As an ex-criminal the council decided to put Ash on trial. As expected the decision was guilty but due to Ozpin's influence and the circumstances involved in the incident the worst that they could do was expel him from Beacon academy. After Blue's funeral Ash stayed in Sanctuary for a few days, locked in his room alone, neither he nor Trick could properly speak to one another. Not out of anger but...sorrow.

Trick stood quietly making food for the children in Sanctuary, it was quieter now that Blue was gone. The children weren't informed of the details of Blue's death but it affected them all the same. A knock grabbed Trick's attention and he quickly opened the door and was unsurprised to see Ruby standing outside looking around.

"Can I come in?" she asked her usual happy voice somewhat forced. Trick noted her tone and said nothing, after-all...everyone felt the same way.

"He's upstairs~" Trick said in his usual tone before walking back into the kitchen.

Ruby muttered a thanks before walking upstairs and heading to Ash's door, she could hear mumbling from inside and quietly listened.

Ash was sitting quietly alone...he didn't have a team...he didn't have parents the closest he had were Glynda and Ozpin and they were completely swamped in their own problems. He knew Trick was in grief even if he didn't admit it. Alone. He was used to being alone really ever since he was young it was that way, anyone who had had become close to him usually died...usually it was all his fault,"Blue...Mentor...Cinder"he thought the last one angrily contemplating leaving the Vale.

"Maybe leaving wouldn't be that bad..." He said aloud to himself before a creak opened up behind him.

"I really hope you don't mean that." a voice said sadly from behind him. Ash turned around quickly, he had left his guard down, "Ruby..." He said quietly.

"Would you really just leave? Right now? Without telling anyone!?" She shouted angrily.

"Ruby..I...No you don't understand I...I...Its nothing okay? I was speaking nonsense you know?" Ash tried to laugh it off but Ruby's glared was enough to stop him right in his tracks, he couldn't say a word to her.

"..." Ash quietly stared at his girlfriend trying to find something to say, making sure to keep a smile on his face.

"...Stop that..." Ruby said quietly.

"Wh-" Before Ash could even say what Ruby interrupted him.

"That. That right there. Stop lying to me. Please..." Ruby whispered a small bit of tears appearing in her eyes. Ash was stunned as Ruby stared at him with tear-filled eyes, reaching his arm out to grab her he looked down to the floor.

"..." His face dropped, his smile gone and his eyes tired, "I'm sorry..." He said quietly. Ruby pulled him closer to her letting his head rest on her shoulder.

"...Why would you leave? Why do you keep lying?...I'm your friend aren't I?" Ruby said quietly.

"..." Ash silently laid on her shoulder, letting silence fill the air.

"Ash...Please?" Ruby said gripping him tighter. Ash felt warmer as he laid on Ruby, slowly opening his mouth, "...It was my fault...Mentor...Blue...It-It was my hand. Mine. Blood...all I see is blood...Blues blood...M-my fault...People I love...You...Trick...Glynda...Ozpin...What if.." Ash weeped letting his weight fall upon Ruby's shoulders.

"Heavy..." Ruby thought as Ash's worries, guilt, and stress all dropped onto her, "You don't have to face that alone...You don't have to lie and be strong...not to me." She whispered her tears falling into his shoulder, "I'll cry with you." She said looking at him with the tears falling down her face.

Ash's eyes widened before tears fell from his face, holding Ruby closer to him and weeping, "...Thank you." He whispered.

The two held each-oth"r in the moonlight for what felt like an eternity, looking at the moon.

"...So you said you loved me?" Ruby mumbled her head laying on his shoulder.

"U-um I...We..It was...I was-" Ash sputtered trying to figure out what to say. Ash's sputtering was cut short as a peck met his lip, a pair of gentle lips locked with his silencing him from speaking any further. Before he could even enjoy his kiss it ended with a giggle, "I love you too." she whispered. Ash decided not to say anything more, he wasn't in the interest of sounding dumb at the moment.

Looking at Ruby he smiled, "Thank you...for staying with me..."

Ruby looked at Ash, her silver orbs boring into his orange, "It wasn't your fault. I'll always be by your side."

Ash looked back at the moon and snorted, "I'll try to believe that..."

Ash stood in Ozpin's office with a look of annoyance on his face, a few weeks had passed since the attack and the city was slowly rebuilding. Ozpin sat quietly in front of Ash for a few moments before moving a chess piece.

"You're wondering why you are here." Ozpin stated.

Ash sighed, "It's been established I was expelled, it's fortunate that nothing worse happened."

Ozpin moved another piece, "It is."

Ash sat down in the chair he was given and gave Ozpin a look, "I'm done waiting Ozpin why am I here?"

Ozpin gave Ash a small smile, "Perhaps I don't need a student..."

Ash mouth slightly dropped downward, "What are you trying to say?"

Ozpin smiled before sliding Ash a folder, "You can't be a student...but I do need a successor and you won't technically be on the roster..."

Ash stared at the folder and shook his head, "Ozpin I can't...I can't be..."

Ozpin placed a firm hand on Ash's shoulder, "Ash… I have made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child, you are not one of them."

Ash sat silently contemplating the idea opening his mouth he shook his head, "I...Thank you Ozpin."

Ozpin smiled lightly and leaned back into his chair, "Good...Now this is what well do."

"So that's how I got back into Beacon...But not really..." Ash said to a grave at his feet, white lily flowers decorated it, "I'm going to be working under a lot of people soon...Being Ozpin's apprentice will be a lot different than being a student I imagine..." Ash said wistfully as birds chirped and the sky shined a familiar azure blue.

"Most people in the school either hate me or are afraid of me...It's not as bad you think really...My friends all still understand...Ruby has helped a lot too...now that you're gone she comes to Sanctuary a lot..." Ash took pauses as he gathered himself to speak, "Haden stuck around, she had to go into questioning with Ozpin but she checked out...Ren is still a little iffy about her but she's been making up for the tournament match...Stella and Sparky are both sticking around to help fix everything...That's going well by the way...The construction doubled once the council allowed us to use the Atlesian robots again...Glynda is working overtime too...Your funeral wasn't too long ago either...That was er terrible...Everyone was crying...Well me and Trick didn't...Me cause I already did all my crying...Him? Well I guess he wanted to look strong for the kids...I uh brought you flowers...your favorites...Me and Trick aren't talking...You would probably be mad I know but we just can't face eachother yet...I can't face him...I...I'm still...hah...I still..." Ash quietly knelt down and traced his hand across two graves.

"I'm still here everyday..." Ash said looking up to the sky, "You woke me up... I could never thank you for everything...You were the big sister I always wanted...You were the one I needed...Goodnight Lily Blue."

A/N: That was a long ass chapter (probably around 15k!) This was by far the hardest chapter for me to write since there was so much going on (In the story and in my life) I went through a lot of emotions while writing this and there was a lot of grammar mistakes im sure since the more I write the more suspect I am to it but it is relatively well written. Cinder's motivations will be hidden for quite awhile so you can think on your own about why she did it but it won't be written for a long time! Big things though are the next chapter though, the next chapter involves the 3 year timeskip! You probably already see Ash's 18 year old version on the cover now but if you want a better look you can just go onto my profile and find the link at the bottom (I somehow worked it onto fanfiction crazy I know!)

But the last thing I want to do is thank everyone who reads, follows, or favorited my story so far! You guys truly inspired me everyday so in no particular order im going to start with followers and then favs (They are suspect to repeat but even so) I know there are a lot of people that read and don't have accounts! But even so I want to thank everyone whose name I have and can see soooooooooooooo.

Thank you so much all followers:

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