Author notes: Fun fact, this chapter was actually planned to be the last one in my original draft. It had a totally angst and open ending but as this story has progressed I want to write some more and develop this further. However this chapter progresses very, very fast but this is the point. It's all about split second decisions and the whole scene itself for the characters would only take fifteen minutes at max. On top of everything else I apologise for the late upload but it is exam season and I've had intense writers block.

Anyhow as per usual likes and comments are much appreciated and yeah I guess, enjoy?

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, all creditability and ownership of the following scenarios and characters goes to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum.

A light snowfall floated down from the grey sky, the gentle flakes glistening as they descended undisturbed due to the lack of harsh, piercing wind. The snow fell like sugar, slowly settling upon the older layers of rested dust; the beginning and promise of regeneration. The scene itself was like something from the old fairy tales and rhymes, the ones where children would come and play within the white powder whilst their mothers' carefully watched their fun from the side-lines. It should have been perfect, yet beneath the surface it was disturbed and broken. Nothing but the echo of silence and the gentle touch of snow against tainted souls reverberated from the field. It was empty. It should have been beautiful.

Blake was numb. The bitter frost should have burned where it contacted against her red and rough skin but she remained unflinching. She had lost everything. Her brutal past had been forcefully put to rest at the expense of taking down her future. It felt only right to let the present fade away with them. Even now, she could feel herself draining. Her hands were a scolding rouge, her digits fading to a sickening blue but she didn't care. There was nothing left but the ashes of what was and what could've been.

The tears eventually returned. She didn't know why they stopped but the heavy wave of emotions had returned to pummel against the now crumbling rocks of her stability as her eyes fell upon and focused on Yang's remnants. How had things gone so wrong? Blake's hands painfully balled into fists as she desperately tried to ground herself but it was in vain. It was her fault Yang was dead; she was too weak to fight Adam and she wasn't strong enough to stop Yang from protecting her. The tears at the thought were impossibly colder than the harrowing winter around her. Each trail they left searing an agonizing path down her red cheeks and trembling lips until they shattered against the miserable snow beneath her.

Blake's breathing became ragged and her hands painfully shook as she leaned forward and pitifully dragged her unresponsive body through the snow. She didn't know what she was doing. She just had to get closer. She had to make sure that this was real. Blake grunted and whimpered as she crawled through the thick blankets of snow, her stuttering drags causing her stomach to prominently throb and blister tenfold from where blush had impacted against it. She had definitely broken something. Gritting her teeth in pain, Blake's heavy pants quickly begun forming thick clouds of fog in the air. It was getting hard to find the will to keep moving. Only the unrelenting tug in her heart gave her the strength to keep moving forwards. She was nearly there.

Blake's throat swelled as she struggled to think and breathe at the close up sight of the pilled heap of ash. It was real. Blake released a piercing cry as she hunched her body over the pile, protecting it from the snowfall. "I'm s-so sorry Yang. I-It's all my fault. I-I shouldn't have ever left you. He was there. He was always there." Blake sobbed as she reached down and clenched her aching stomach with her right hand. "I should've stayed with you, I thought I was doing what was right but I was wrong." She growled as she clenched her eyes upon feeling them water with fresh tears.

"I was selfish and stupid and I'm sorry. Yang, I'm so sorry." Blake panted as her lower jaw shook. She knew she needed to confess everything, even if it was too late. "I-I love you Yang. Please- Please forgive me." She whimpered as she felt a tear fall from her chin and impact onto the cinders underneath her. Yang was gone; it was over. Blake whimpered as she felt herself falling apart. Her arms were shaking with the effort of holding herself up, her chest and stomach agonisingly contracted and tightened whilst her head violently pulsed and pounded in protest. It was too much.

What would everyone think? What would she tell Ruby? The thought made her curl in tighter on herself. She was responsible for taking Ruby's sister away from her. It was her fault. Blake trembled as the fatigue of the day caught up to her and she felt herself begin to descend into hysteria, oblivious of the rising heat beneath her chest until it scolded her through her clothes.

Blake fell backwards, left hand clenching the burn with a pitiful yowl as a large bout of steam began flowing from the ashes. Blake's eyes widened as the pile of cinders began melting the snow beneath it due to the increasing heat the grey dust emitted. Blake couldn't move; couldn't think. Her heart was beating erratically as the pile unnaturally twitched. There was something inside it. The ashes slowly tumbled and parted from the middle as a something slowly wiggled and emerged from the pile. It was the tip of a finger.

Blake's jaw widened and her eyes rapidly blinked at the revelation, she froze as the finger twitched and stretched outwards until the top half of three fingers tenderly peaked out of the ashes. A bead of sweat trickled down Blake's flushed face as nausea suddenly began to set in; she had never felt like this before and she didn't know how to make it stop. This couldn't be happening. Blake slowly placed one arm behind her and began to pull herself away in fear until the ashes glowed a flickering orange as if they were alive.

The cinders quickly fell apart as the fingers suddenly pushed up forcefully as if sensing Blake's retreat. The digits began wildly clenching the air as a hand wrapped in black wrappings pushed out and revealed itself, quickly followed by a whole right arm. Blake connected the dots then… something was going to stretch and claw its way through the grey dust. The vicious looking arm jerked forwards suddenly, causing Blake's innate instincts to kick in; her slow retreat was not enough, she had to get away fast. Blake stumbled backwards with a painful whine but she couldn't stop staring at the thing in front of her. The arm was clothed in tightly woven black fabric, several thick steel-like plates layered over the outer sides like the scales of a reptile. Whatever it was, it was heavily fortified. If that was just the arm… What if a whole body came out…?

Blake desperately tried raking her mind for explanations or a way to stop the thing as her natural drive to survive took over and pushed her back further but this was beyond the most complex teachings of dust; this shouldn't be possible. Blake could sense that the creature was made of pure darkness. It was evil. It would kill her. Her suspicions and fears were confirmed as the arm scrambled across the frost it started exhuming a dark and musky scent. It made Blake want to wretch; it smelt like rampant Grimm devouring a kill: it smelt like death.

As if it had detected her fear, the armoured arm furiously scrapped left to right spreading the snow across the field before slamming down hard against the earth, sending cascades of snow throughout the air as the hand gripped the ground in a vice like grip. Blake's heart stopped as the finger's clenched and the arm pulled itself tighter, causing a large cluster of ashes to slowly rise from the pile before they scattered above the surface; revealing a hunched figure of black and red.

Blake couldn't tear her eyes away as a left shoulder and arm appeared and locked itself into the ground with its identical pair as the being quickly hauled itself from the pile of cinders until a full, crouched body emerged.

Blake immediately froze in unparralled terror, scared that if she so much as moved she'd trigger the being into wakening. It looked like a dormant volcano, powerful muscled arms tensed harshly to keep it bowed in place before her. Rapidly darting her eyes over the creature to quickly assess it and look for any weaknesses Blake could use to her advantage if it awoke, her eyes snapped up and what she saw broke her shattered heart; a small blonde cowlick was swaying in the breeze at the top of the figures head, a trait that could only belong to one person: Yang.

It couldn't be Yang. It's not Yang! A desperate voice within Blake screamed in denial as she took in the figures appearance. Why does it look like Yang! It has Yang's physical build and that blonde cowlick is the same… Before she could stop herself, Blake whimpered her name in despair. "Yang?" This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real. Blake's eyes watered as the beings lowered head lifted to her call, revealing a bone white and blood red mask; The mask of Grimm. Blake froze as the figure crouched unmoving, staring at her like a predator before prey when suddenly all the girls muscles locked then slowly pushed herself to a standing position before Blake.

Instead of her usual yellow and brown outfit, the figure wore all black and blood red. The clothes were styled differently to; the brown short sleeved jacket was gone. In its place, a deep red overcoat that resembled a corset flowed dangerously down to the back of the beings ankles. Beneath the initial layer, the person wore an intimidating long sleeved black combat uniform with built in dark purple ribbed scale-like plates on the sleeves and gloves.

Blake didn't fail to notice how the figure's lower half was more similar to Yang's usual attire. The black shorts Yang always wore were still there but the accompanying skirt was different. It was no longer just plain fabric embedded with her crest, instead sharp and heavy looking studded plates hung from either sides of her belt. She looked like some form of samurai.

Swallowing hard as Blake looked over her lower half, her gaze slowly returned upwards, preparing herself for the sight of the mask of grimm she knew awaited her before realising that the person also had white and red plates on their shoulders but they weren't there to look fearsome; Blake recognised them as guards all especially designed to reverberate and catch any sort of blade with three sharp and indented slots evenly balanced on the right shoulder and two on the left to catch and shatter any dagger that dared to attack it. Blake shuddered at the realisation that the armour was specifically built to disarm and eliminate swordsmen.

A gentle gust of wind passed through the clearing, causing ashes and thick hair to tussle in the air, the sudden blaze of colour causing Blake's eyes to painfully sting and burn at the realisation that Yang's hair wasn't entirely blonde anymore. Yang's hair remained the same length but instead of the shining yellow, her locks shimmered a deep purple at the tips and effortlessly blended to a dark red at the midsection before flickering to blonde at her roots. It reminded Blake of the plumage of an exotic bird.

Almost as if it sensed Blake judging and evaluating it, the being's head slowly lowered with an almost intense scrawl as if it was staring directly into her soul. Blake felt her throat tighten, the mask was far more complex and intense then Adam's. It was sharp and layered with flicks of blood red which viciously highlighted the pale white base. Yet the colours wasn't what frightened Blake the most… The mask was curled and shaped in the design of a Chinese dragon… Yang…

Blake swallowed hard as she strained through her fading vision to try and see through the covered eye slits; the way the mask was designed perfectly hid the irises behind shadows so Blake couldn't determine the colour of the girl's eyes. Something in Blake deflated at the suspicious that they would be a violent red but she had to see… She had to know…

"Y-Yang" Blake choked out as her chest began to once more tighten immensely with the sobs that refused to be contained anymore. "Yang, what- what's happening?" Yang said and did nothing. The empty response from her tainted partner made Blake cry out as she began to uncontrollably shake with emotions. She had to be dead, she had to be dreaming. This couldn't happen. Blake was breaking but as the tell-tale heavy crunch of footsteps through snow approached from somewhere to her left, Blake sucked in a painful breath and fought her inevitable collapse, not once tearing her eyes from Yang even as the sound of wilt being unsheathed clicked behind her.

Adam! It's ADAM! WHAT'S HAPPENING! RUN! JUST RUN! HE'S ALIVE, THIS CAN'T BE REAL! Blake's whole body was trembling as the steps became louder and closer.

Her heartbeat slowed as the second presence became known.

Yang was an unmoving statue who stared down at Blake; Blake stared back.

The sword next to her flicked and cut through air before gently kissing the back of her neck; poised to bite.

Yang remained still.

The sound of fabric pulling back accompanied the pressure of the blade fading back in the wind.

The blade gently whistled through air

Blake blinked

The blade clicked back into the sheathe.

Blake opened her eyes.

Yang was no longer in front of her.

Blake saw the side of Yang's right leg standing precariously close to her right side. How had she gotten there so fast? How had she done it without making a single sound…?

An uncomfortable silence quickly fell over the field; the only noises being Blake's harsh and ragged breathing. The second person's presence behind her was still poignant enough that Blake could sense it but she couldn't bring herself to turn… too fearful to face the reality. Blake then noticed how Yang remained standing next to her, as if she was shielding her from something. Blake felt oddly grateful until a dark chuckle emerged from the second person and instant fear took over again. It wasn't Adam. The second person was female.

The second woman slowly stepped back making Blake feel suddenly calmer until she noticed that at some point a low churning noise had begun somewhere further back. Curiosity was quickly taking over Blake's fear but she fought it… Curiosity killed the… "Yang! YAANNGGG!" A male's voice loudly boomed from away in the distance causing both Blake and Yang to seize up. Someone was coming for Yang. "Time to go. You know what must be done." The second unknown figure tightly spoke before the churning noise became suddenly louder and the presence suddenly disappeared.

Blake shivered as it felt like the person just vanished into thin air… Her breathing was growing erratic once more and the dark spots in her vision nearly blocked out everything, yet she knew she had to hold on. Yang was still here. "YANG! WHERE ARE YOU! YANG!" The shouts were growing louder and louder through the surrounding forest causing Blake to tilt her head to the right to see if she could see who it was until she directly faced Yang.

Her partner was rapidly clenching and unclenching her fists, the strong veins in her hands jumping and pulsing rapidly at the movements. Blake looked up to Yang's mask to see that she was looking away in the distance before she lowered her head to the left to look at Blake. The shadows under the masks slits still made it impossible for Blake to see their colour but Blake felt something dark and uncertain swell inside her at the contact. This wasn't the Yang she remembered; this wasn't her Yang.

Yang looked away then started to walk to where the other woman had been. Blake actually felt something inside her break. Yang was walking away from her. Gritting her teeth, Blake swivelled her torso and used her arms to lever herself so that she could pull herself towards her partner. Blake panted heavily and had to grip the snow beneath her tightly as she barely managed to turn, looking up she saw that Yang had an intricate pattern printed on the back of her jacket but she couldn't make out what it was. Blinking to try to make out the symbol, Blake realised Yang was walking towards a swirling red oval of darkness. Urgently tugging the rest of her body around to get a better view, her stomach seared in pain making Blake unintentionally yelp.

Yang's reaction was instantaneous. Just as she was about to step through the portal, Blake's whimper made her stop. Brief hope shimmered through Blake as Yang slowly half turned towards her. Yang looked at Blake briefly for the third time that day and Blake allowed relief to consume her before Yang broke her gaze and scanned their surroundings. Blake couldn't stop looking at Yang until she noticed that the man's yells of Yang's name had grown quieter in the distance. Blake's hope was crushed as she realised that was probably why Yang had allowed herself to stop and stay. The man that was looking for her had stopped. She could stay now that he was gone, she didn't stay solely for me.

Yang looked back to Blake once she had surveyed the environment before clenching her fists. Blake's heart felt heavy as Yang's clothes began to lightly glow before black shards began to swirl and form in the air where they collectively merged around her arms with a bright orange glow until a familiar shape began to form on Yang's arms. Ember Cilica.

The weapon looked so familiar yet foreign; it was more flat and fine then Yang's original model but still had the same edges and curves. The most obvious change was that the colour was no longer a vibrant and energetic yellow but an obsidian black with orange cracks searing throughout the design. It looked similar to lava seeping through a thundering mountain; a simmering yet beautiful threat.

Blake's eyes widened as she realised that Yang had just drawn her weapons. The second woman's previous words suddenly surged forwards and echoed through her head. "You know what must be done" No… Blake couldn't speak as Yang cocked her arms back and loaded the weapons with a sickening crack. "Yang…" Blake whimpered as Yang pulled her left arm back and raised her right one towards Blake, ready to fire. Blake sighed in defeat, she had been threatened so much today but this time hurt the most. Blake plays it down to the fact that this time it's coming from Yang.

An indescribable ache begins in Blake's chest as she recalls that there had been a time where Yang had trusted her explicitly and helped her off of her own dark path when she needed her the most. The day of the dance. Releasing a slow sigh, Blake prepared herself for what she was about to say with Yang standing before her, ready to end her existence. One slip up and it would be over, but she knew that she had to trust and try to help her partner make the right choice; to help Yang come back from her dark path before it was too late. "Yang… You once said that you'd never stopped looking for answers… Did you find them? If so… Was it worth it?"

Yang tilts her head to the side contemplating the answer as Blake blinks away the fresh tears in her eyes.

Yang's head straightens as her fist tightens

Blake knows her words were not enough

Her body and mind are so tired

She doesn't give in.

Blake lowers her head, hurriedly searching for Gambol Shroud.

She spots it half a meter away in the snow.

Her entire body coils, ready to grab it.

Blake lurches forwards.

She screams as she grabs the hilt.

Yang fires.

...

Taiyang turns and sprints as fast as he physically can towards the sound as soon as he hears the lone gunshot. It sounded too much like his daughters weapon. "YANG! YANG!" He roars as he propels himself through the dense trees, almost stumbling over thick branches and protruding roots but he doesn't let them stop him or slow him down. Nothing else matters. Nothing. He needs to find her. Taiyang yells as a clearing becomes visible through the now thinning forest. "YANG!" He screams as he launches himself into the snowy clearing, prepared for the sight of anything but a horde of Grimm circling and prowling around the limp body of a girl, lying cold and unmoving on top of the bitter snow covered in glistening crimson blood.