The school was burning. Her school. Beacon Academy. The place she had been happy to call home for the past year was currently under siege by the White Fang and the Grimm. Pyrrha's fists tightened as she thought back to the events that had occurred below Beacon tower.

She was in a pod, trapped before… that woman ambushed them. One moment, everything was going smoothly as the Invincible Girl braced herself to receive the Aura of another through screams of agonizing pain and then the next, chaos. An arrow embedded itself into the pod next to her, killing the occupant within as Pyrrha's eyes widened in terror when the power that was about to flow into her instead went to the sudden intruder.

Helplessly banging on the doors of her prison, she could do nothing as her friend… her first love was thrown aside like a rag doll. With a small burst of strength, Pyrrha ripped the doors of her pod open with her semblance, her weapons in her arms in an instant. Before she could engage the woman in front of her, Pyrrha was stopped in her tracks by the Headmaster himself as she was ordered to leave the basement. Retreat, she did even as a look full of shame and regret filled her face.

Now, her she was. Standing in Beacon's courtyard as everything and everyone around her descended into chaos. A few feet away from her, she could see a small group of students fending off the intruding wave of Grimm as another group swiftly took down a rogue group of Atlesian Knights.

"Pyrrha, lets go. I have Glynda's number. We'll wait for all of this to blow over in the Bullheads they're using to evacuate everyone" Jaune said, scroll already in hand. Pyrrha, however, was paying the boy no mind as she stared at Beacon Tower. A few moments of tense silence passed before both of them heard an explosion coming from below the tower as a human-shaped fireball ascended to the top.

"Ozpin's… gone…" Jaune remarked from her side. Taking a deep breath, Pyrrha turned her attention towards her partner.

"Jaune, you have to go and get help. Now" the girl said, resolve formed on her face.

"Pyrrha, what are you talking about?" her team leader asked, confused before he realized what her intentions were, "Pyrrha, you can't. Y-you saw who she was-"

The Invincible Girl cut off whatever her partner had to say with a deep kiss, savoring every moment their lips met as tears formed on her eyes.

"I'm sorry for this…" Pyrrha said, as she broke away from the kiss first.

"Sorry for… what…?" Jaune asked before she shoved the boy into a nearby weapons locker. At least, that was her intention before her blonde leader quickly stepped away from the girl. The boy then looked behind him at the empty locker before realizing what her true intentions were, "Pyrrha, were you about to… leave me behind…?"

"I can't drag you into this any further, Jaune" Pyrrha argued as she gripped the boy with her Semblance "I have to do this alone"

"Why?" Jaune asked, a challenging tone in his voice as his hands gripped her own.

"Because I'm the strongest in our year and I... I have to do everything I can to stall that woman before help arrives" Pyrrha replied, resolve in her voice even as her grip on Jaune's armor loosened.

"Alright, fine. Then I'm going with you" Jaune answered, before quickly adding, "I might not be the strongest in our year but our odds will be better if I'm up there with you"

"Jaune, you can't-"

"This isn't a discussion. Besides, it's Team Leader's orders" Jaune said, a teasing smile on his face as he started making his way towards Beacon Tower. Unsheathing his sword, he then turned towards her, "Well, are you coming or are you going to let me face the big, bad scary woman all alone?"

"Wouldn't dream of it" Pyrrha replied, as she caught up with the boy even as relief – no matter how small – started forming within herself.

[/]

"Okay so, I've told Weiss and Ruby where we're going. Hopefully, they'll be here to back us up sooner rather than later" Jaune said, turning towards her as the two students stood within the ruined elevator, "Are you ready?"

With a nod, Pyrrha then focused her Semblance all around them as she forced the elevator to ascend to the top. When it finally did, the Invincible Girl followed up by forcing the doors to open before hurling her sword at the woman. Her opponent then swiftly dodged the attack as Pyrrha followed up with an attack using her shield and legs. The woman, however, effortlessly blocked the attack as the redhead jumped back before entering a fighting stance. Her opponent responded by hovering into the air, a jet of fire on the balls of her feet.

Her partner joined her side a moment later, the both of them entering into a familiar stance. To Pyrrha's surprise, however, the woman in front of her put out the flames beneath her feet as she floated back down to the ground, a smile of joy on her face that confused the Invincible Girl.

"What-?"

"I'm sorry, Pyrrha" was the last thing the Invincible Girl heard before a volt of electricity coursed through her, knocking her unconscious instantly as she fell to the ground.

[Then]

"So, you are clear on what your role is to be, correct?" Cinder asked.

"Yes. Get close to the student body and identify any possible candidates Ozpin might choose to be the new Fall Maiden"

"Good. Stay vigilant. His agents might be closer than we think" Cinder advised.

"Have you ever known me to not be vigilant?" Jaune teased as his beloved replied with a chuckle.

"Of course. I'd forgotten who I was speaking to" Cinder said with a roll of her eyes before a cough from behind them interrupted their moment. With a look of barely contained fury, Cinder turned towards the Headmaster of Haven, "What is it, Lionheart?"

"T-the Bullhead is ready, Cinder" the Faunus said as he flinched, taking a step back in fear from the duo.

"And his transcripts. You're sure they're foolproof?" Cinder asked, voice laced with venom.

"I-I've made sure of it. They're the finest money can buy" the man said, sweat dripping down his brow as Jaune patted his backpack filled with supplies.

"Very well. Leave us. We'll come to you when we're ready" Cinder spat as the man hurriedly left their vicinity.

"I swear, a second or two longer, and that fool would have peed his pants" Jaune joked, a small laugh escaping Cinder's lips.

"He's a pathetic coward. How someone like him could become the Headmaster of an Academy that trains the future defenders of humanity, I'll never know" Cinder added.

"I suppose there are just some mysteries in this world that can't be solved" Jaune replied as the two enjoyed one another's company. Blissful silence passed before Jaune spoke "I should go"

"Yes... You should. It wouldn't do for you to be late, after all" Cinder said before the two shared a deep kiss that felt like it lasted an eternity. Jaune was the first to break away as he stood up.

"It won't be long before we see each other again. A few months, that's all" Jaune said as he stepped foot into the Bullhead procured by Haven's Headmaster.

"A few months. Of course." Cinder replied, as she stared at the retreating form of the Bullhead in the sky, a small frown on her face.

[Then]

Jaune stared at the door in front of him, sucking in a deep breath before knocking on it.

"Enter" a voice said from within the room. Jaune stepped into the unfamiliar dorm room as bright amber eyes widened in joy "Ah, Jaune. You're certainly a sight for sore eyes"

"Morning, Cinder" Jaune said, equally happy to see the woman he loved before turning his attention to the other two occupants in the room, "Emerald. Mercury. How's it going?"

"Jaune" came the reply from Emerald. That was the best the blonde could expect from the girl, seeing as she also had feelings for his beloved.

"Eh, I'm not dead yet so I must be doing something right" Mercury quipped as the two boys bumped fists before he shared a kiss with Cinder even as he heard Emerald's tongue click in annoyance nearby.

"Jaune, to what do I owe the pleasure of your appearance on this fine morning?" Cinder asked as Jaune took a seat beside her on her bed.

"Team RWBY. Their first-year mission is bringing them to a location somewhere in the southeast" Jaune said, noting the worried frown replacing the smile on Cinder's face "I thought that was something you should know"

"It is. And thank you, my love. That was valuable information. I'll be sure to inform Torchwick of this development" Cinder replied before adding, "Although, you could have informed me through text"

"What, not happy to see me?" Jaune asked, a teasing smirk forming on his face

"Perish the thought, idiot" Cinder said, as her hands linked with his.

"It's fine. Nora is currently unknowingly distracting my team with her sugar addiction" Jaune added as he got up to leave even as disappointment formed on both his and Cinder's faces "I… should go. I wouldn't want to… raise any suspicion…"

"Yes, of course… That would be best…" Cinder said before the blonde finally left the room.

[Then]

"Cinder, I have a… request to make…" Jaune said as he sat on the floor of Cinder's dorm, staring up at the girl.

"A request? This is rare" Cinder remarked, staring at the boy she loved in front of her "What kind of request?"

"It's about my team and Team RWBY" Jaune said, wincing as a frown appeared on Cinder's face.

"Oh? Do elaborate, Jaune"

"I want you to… spare them when everything finally starts during the Vytal Festival" Jaune replied as he bowed his head.

"Spare… them, you say?" Cinder remarked as Jaune nodded his head in reply "And your reasons for requesting something like this are…?"

"I've not gone native, if that's what you're wondering…" Jaune hastily said "It's just… They're good people and I... consider them friends, even if all of this is fake"

"Your friends?" Cinder asked and Jaune could hear the disgust in her voice.

"Yes" Jaune replied, looking up at the girl "I know what my mission in coming here was and I'm definitely not going to betray you or anything of the sort. But this is something that I hope you can grant me. Please."

"Very well. I'll spare their lives" Cinder replied as Jaune looked up, joy in his eyes "I'll inform Mercury and Emerald of your request, as well. However, I cannot say the same of Taurus or the White Fang"

"Pft, it's just the White Fang. Any student worth their salt would be able to handle them" Jaune quipped before placing a kiss on Cinder's hand, "Thank you for granting my request, Cinder"

"Only because you were the one who asked of it, my love" Cinder said as she caressed the boy's cheeks.

[Now]

"I'm sorry, Pyrrha" Jaune said, before using a modified taser gun to shock his partner unconscious. A moment later, the girl's body fell down to the ground, limp and unmoving.

"Poor Pyrrha. It's just not your day, is it? First you fail to acquire the Maiden power and now, your partner betrays you" came the voice of his beloved as she stalked towards him before the two shared a deep kiss.

"Is this your way of apologizing for throwing me against the wall earlier?" Jaune remarked as the two embraced each other.

"In all fairness, my love, I was high on my new power at that time and I would have thrown anyone against any wall" Cinder replied before Jaune stepped away from her to place Pyrrha's body against a pillar "Also, you were the one who charged towards me so turnabout is fair play"

"I had to keep up the act, after all" Jaune tried to argue even as the two shared a small laugh. The boy then noticed the giant Grimm dragon hanging off the side of Beacon Tower, "So, that's the dragon, huh?"

"Yes, she is" Cinder replied, the two moving closer towards the Grimm in question even as it let out a low growl that unnerved the blonde.

"How do you know it's a 'she'?" Jaune asked, nervously touching the dragon's bone plating.

"Silly Jaune" Cinder said, letting out a small laugh "Don't you know that such a grand and majestic being can only be a woman?"

"Of course. Silly me" Jaune replied as he surveyed the chaos and destruction that was currently sweeping through Beacon Academy. Turning towards Cinder, he spoke, "We should go while everyone is distracted"

"Come now, Jaune. Why not stay just a little longer and admire the fruits of our hard-earned labor"

"Cinder, please" Jaune said before something came to mind "Ruby and Weiss. They're on their way here"

"What? Why?" asked the Fall Maiden as she rounded on the blonde boy.

"I told them" Jaune said and before Cinder could protest, the blonde quickly defended his choice, "It was to make sure that someone would find Pyrrha and bring her to safety"

"That was a foolish decision, Jaune" Cinder said even as Jaune saw her restraining her anger before relenting "Fine. Let's go"

"Okay. There's just something I have to do first" Jaune said before making his way towards his unconscious partner.

"What are you doing?" Cinder asked as she looked over his shoulder to see him writing something on a piece of paper.

"I'm writing a letter telling them I'm sorry" Jaune replied as Cinder let out a sigh, accepting the boy's decision.

"You always did have a kind streak in you. Very well. Only because it's you, Jaune" Cinder said, turning away from the blonde "I'll inform Mercury and Emerald"

"Thank-"

"Jaune?"

[/]

Ruby raced towards the top of Beacon Tower, running as fast as her legs could bring her as worry started to flood her face. Finally reaching the top of the tower, Ruby stood tall as the sight of an unconscious Pyrrha, a kneeling Jaune and a girl who was vaguely familiar greeted her.

"…Jaune?" Ruby asked, her eyes focused on the unmoving body of Pyrrha even before her gaze locked with her fellow leaders' own.

"Ruby…?" Jaune said, a single tear sliding down his face as the boy looked away, "I'm sorry…"

Distraught, Ruby fell to her knees, hugging herself before her vision became clouded in white.

[/]

Pyrrha awoke with a gasp, an unfamiliar scene greeting her as she tried to process her surroundings.

"W-what… where… am I…?" the girl asked before she was assaulted with a bone-crushing hug.

"Pyrrha!" a voice shouted before a third person joined in on the embrace "We were so worried about you!"

"Nora? Ren?" Pyrrha said, finally able to register the two people who were currently cutting off her air supply, "N-Nora… I c-can't… breathe…"

"Oh, sorry!" the girl replied, a tearful smile on the girl's face before she finally let the redhead go "I was just so happy to finally see you wake up. I would bring you some breakfast but apparently, I'm not allowed in the kitchen anymore. Thank you for that, Ren"

"I wasn't the one who burned down one of the tents, Nora" the boy in question replied "That was you and your disastrous attempt at breakfast"

"W-wait, guys" Pyrrha said with outstretched hands, grabbing the two teens' attention "I'm confused. Where are we? What happened to Beacon? And Jaune. Is he safe?"

Nora and Ren both shared a look before the boy handed the redhead a crumpled piece of paper.

"This was found strapped to your side when we found you and Ruby unconscious on top of Beacon Tower" Ren answered as Pyrrha took the piece of paper with shaky hands "As for where we are, we're at the island of Patch. It's currently being used as a place treat those who were wounded when Beacon fell"

The boy's words failed to register in Pyrrha's mind as her eyes roved through the contents of the paper in her hands.

'I'm sorry. Please forgive me' – Jaune

[One-Shot End]

A/N: So, that's the end of this one-shot. What do you guys think? It's an idea that's been swimming through my mind for some time now and I just wanted to get it out there. Honestly, I might write a full series on it in the future, I might not. We'll see how it goes.

Hope you guys enjoyed it. I certainly did enjoy writing everything about this one-shot. It was fun and not to mention, Knightfall is my number one ship so there's that. This is my first time writing a scene with kissing & romance in it so I apologize if it seems cringe or something.

As always, fave, follows, and reviews are always appreciated.

Praise be to Cinder Fall.