Note: So, uh... final chapter of the last main arc of Let Us Dance in the Flames. This was... unexpected. Considering the story technically doesn't end here, I don't know how much of a thrilling finale this will be, especially compared to Poison. A lot has certainly happened in this arc though, so at the very least I'm glad I ended it with something exciting instead of, like, the beach arc. Though maybe that'd be fun in its own way. If you have somehow managed to stick with me all of this time, thank you for having the patience of a saint. And definitely stay tuned, because the next and final three chapters are going to be something that a lot of people have been waiting for and a fun way to wrap up the narrative for now. But enough chatter. Enjoy.

Ruby's breath was drawn out of her chest. The violence had stilled as if an enchantment had fallen over the room. There was no trick, however. JINN's presence was more than enough to leave an impact. From Ozpin to the students, there was shocked silence at the AI's grand entrance. The Fables always valued aesthetics as much as practicality, it was said. A gigantic, naked woman fit right in with their alien sensibilities, though it wasn't anything they expected. The floating, blue creature hovered around the room, lounging on her back as she observed the many small things dwelling within. Ozpin stepped back against the wall, careful to stop himself from interfering. He pursed his lips and massaged his wound, Aura numbing his pain. Goodwitch threw Penny off of her, but the two ceased fighting as they tried to make sense of JINN's appearance. General Ironwood approached the Grail but stopped as JINN turned her attention toward him. Her smirk dared him to make the first move, and he wisely backed away from conflict.

"A civilization full of Deviants," she muttered. "How interesting." She paused, taking in a deep breath. "That oxygen content. Particles of sulfur in the atmosphere. The shift in pressure is similar to readings around known destruction sights. The Grimm… they never left. Deeply unfortunate."

She tilted her head to the side. "Data transmitted over radio waves. Still rather primitive and nonsecure. So much loose data…" She smiled, rolling her shoulders. "Is that supposed to be your music? What a strange, unsettling sound. I think I quite like it…"

Her black eyes fluttered. Trillions of bits of information flooded into her artificial mind. She saw videos on the internet, heard phone calls clearly in her ears, and saw visions of meager structures that the Humans worshipped as if they were gods. The language barrier was impossible to penetrate. Too much time had separated her from the current mother tongue. But she could feel their rhythm, their passion. Simply alive once again and learning in the moment was enough for her. She roamed to the broken, not seeming to notice the ruins she crossed over. No one attempted to strike her or interfere. Though they did not know what magic Ruby used to conjure her appearance, they could sense it was not to be tampered with. She looked up at the sky.

"The constellations have shifted slower than anticipated. And that," it muttered, its eyes falling upon the moon in the morning sky. "That certainly didn't used to look like that. Was that your doing, Rosaline?"

Ruby became particularly silent as JINN's eyes fell upon her. The powerful entity seemed to know so much after being awake for only a few seconds, but Ruby Rose was still a mystery. She flew back across the room, staring down at the little Huntress who awoke her from her slumber. There wasn't a hint of malice in her smile. If anything, it was too gentle.

"Rosaline? You do remember me, don't you? It's not like you to forget to say hello."

Everyone cautiously watched Ruby, waiting for what she would do next. She sighed, compelled to honesty.

"I'm… not Rosaline. Not exactly, anyway," she confessed in the Fable tongue. "She's more like… an ancestor of mine."

JINN pursed her lips, leaning down from her majestic cloud to peer into Ruby's eyes. Despite the confession, JINN did not look at her any differently. In fact, it seemed only to intrigue her further.

"No. You are Rosaline," JINN said, fascinated. "The form is different, your memories are different—but I felt you when you touched the Grail. I can see it in your eyes. You are her, even if you don't fully understand how. What an interesting development after all these years…"

Ruby shook her head. She was overcome with curiosity, and she felt an urge to explore the entity's mind. The others waited for her to explain what was happening, but they were too transfixed by the eternal beauty of the floating woman to ask questions. Only Blake had enough bitterness to prod at Weiss and mumble under her breath.

"Your girlfriend is speaking gibberish to a naked blue lady that came out of the magic cup."

Weiss could only nod. Yes. That was exactly what was happening. And what a naked blue lady it was.

The heir of the Red Angel placed her hand over her heart and spoke. "My name is Ruby. What are you?"

"I am JINN, virtual scientific assistant to the crew at Research Outpost Ten," explained the entity. "My purpose was to provide the team at our facility with support in the creation of technology to combat the Anti-Fable. I monitored their progress, recorded all necessary data related to project development, and served as overseer of project security procedures."

"You're a robot."

"Am I just a robot?" JINN smirked. Ruby blushed and looked away.

"So… you oversaw everything?" Ruby asked, trying to stay on topic. "You're the one who recorded all of those messages that I saw, weren't you? Back at the Vault…"

"I don't recall anything until you woke me up a few moments ago," JINN confessed. "You may have interacted with one of my automatic sub-systems. The vast majority of my data was installed into the Grail to oversee it after Rosaline's final transference."

"Can you tell me what happened to her? To… me?" Ruby asked fearfully. "I only have these bits and pieces of her memory. I feel like every time I get close to understanding it, it's just taken away from me. Everything is there, I just don't have the context for any of it."

"What a peculiar side effect," JINN mused. "Then again, it has been over eleven thousand years. No one has a perfect memory. Not even you, My Empress."

A shudder ran down Ruby's spine. She didn't like being called that. Or… did she?

"The last thing I saw from Rosaline was a confessional," Ruby explained. "She… she didn't seem like she wanted to go through with using the Grail."

"I remember that well."

"But… she did. Why?"

"It was her responsibility," JINN explained. "Rosaline was a complicated person. She experienced more death and loss at the hands of the Anti-Fable than anyone. Even someone as strong as her is not immune to that burden. In the short time I knew her, I could never fully understand what went on inside of her troubled mind. I would like to think that her act was a selfless one, but truthfully… I cannot say. She would often confide in me her hatred toward her brethren, whether she recognized it was deserved or not. Perhaps Rosaline, left with the death of everything she built, simply wanted to burn away the last of her sins."

Ruby grimaced. "And what happened to her afterward?"

"I do not know."

"What do you mean? I thought you recorded everything."

"Before Rosaline drank from the Chalice, she had me fully installed into the Grail. My instructions were clear. Await for her return. It never came. The last thing I remember was her writhing after drinking from the Grail. And now, I am with you."

"So you don't know what happened to her?" Ruby asked. "Our legends say that she died. But that can't be the case. I… I can feel her. She's alive as whatever I am. Is that not what the Grail did?"

"Transforming into a Deviant was not a side effect of those who drank from the Grail. Not that we ever noticed, at least," JINN explained carefully. "I admit, unraveling Rosaline's fate is puzzling from mere observation alone."

"How?"

JINN changed her posture, rolling slowly through the air, letting her limbs wander above her head. "Rosaline's mission was simple. After obtaining the power of the Grail, she would meet the Anti-Fable in combat. There would be no mercy between them. Either Rosaline would kill the Anti-Fable or the Anti-Fable would kill her. That was her mission… but the presence of a Deviant civilization is not aligned with either outcome. And the continued existence of the Grimm… that only makes the world more complicated." She mused aloud at the possible solutions. "Rosaline could not have survived her battle with the Anti-Fable. She never would have taken such an inferior form or allowed the Grimm to thrive all this time. She would have woken me up. She must have failed… and yet, life continues on. If the Anti-Fable lived, it would surely have destroyed everything. The Anti-Fable was ceased, if only temporarily. The only logical conclusion is…"

Ruby finished the thought. "They fought to a tie."

JINN beamed at the young Huntress. "You have her cleverness."

Ruby's stomach dropped. A tie. All of those sacrifices to the Grail, all of that limitless, godly power… and it wasn't enough. The memories were stuck in a place in her mind she couldn't reach, but they left her feeling ill. Rosaline struggled valiantly against the Fable. Their battle was so great that it left heavy scars across the world, a single battle akin to a thousand wars. She unleashed every ounce of power she possessed, delivered unto the demon every imaginable hell. It wasn't enough. It would never be enough. The Anti-Fable could not die. It could not be stopped. What did Rosaline feel as she realized it had all been for nothing? Did the rage subside then, if not for a single moment? Eventually, the fight between them would finish, though the final blow was a mystery that she may never solve. All she knew was its impact. The Anti-Fable, gravely injured and forced to slumber until the modern day. Rosaline, reduced to a voice that lingered in the back of her mind. And a world left to rise from the ashes, devoid of gods, devoid of purpose. A literal wasteland left behind by things much greater than the Deviants who populated its ruins.

Ruby clasped her fists by her sides. Something still wasn't adding up. She needed more answers. "JINN, I don't understand something. Why were you installed in the Grail? What was Rosaline planning to do with it after she won?"

"The Grail wasn't for when she won," JINN explained. "My job was to be ready for if she lost."

Ruby shook her head. That only left her more confused. "You said that if she lost, everything would be destroyed."

"Well, everything is relative," JINN stated, letting the Huntress catch on slowly to amuse herself. "The Anti-Fable, as strong as it was, only destroyed gradually. Genocides are conducted on the scale of lifetimes. It slowly spread its influence across the world, devouring resources, rotting the land, and picking off stragglers one at a time. Rosaline theorized that Research Outpost Ten was the last bastion of our civilization, but we could never know for sure. The Anti-Fable sought to take its time to ensure every last Fable was wiped from existence. In that slow march toward destruction, opportunity awaited to make things right."

Make things right… the unfamiliar words bounded around Ruby's skull like a glorious battle cry.

"By using the power of the Grail, we can make things right?"

"Precisely," JINN stated. "The Holy Grail is the greatest weapon ever designed by my people. Through the countless sacrifices of the Fables, we were able to surpass the powers of even the Creators. It became so great that even the might of the Anti-Fable could only wound it. Through sacrifice, so much is possible."

Sacrifice…

Yes…

A glorious sacrifice—

"Wait, wait," Ruby said quickly. She noticed the dark shift in JINN's tone and rushed to stop herself before any temptation could cross her mind. "I… I know what the Grail does. I know what it does to the people it takes from. I don't want anyone to go through that, no matter how powerful it is."

JINN just laughed. "The sacrifice is already done. There's no need for anything else."

"W-What? I don't get it."

"You truly don't remember anything…" JINN sighed. "It was your idea, My Empress. You insisted upon it."

"Please, just tell me what's going on."

"The Second Chance Protocol," JINN stated. "You installed it in me. My final order. You did it without the others knowing."

"Second chance? What second chance? The power is gone. Rosaline used it all, and it didn't work," Ruby said hopelessly. Yet, JINN was just amused by her little emotions.

"The Grail contains all of the power it needs. It has ever since the ceremony," JINN said calmly. She leaned in toward Ruby, her knowing smile piercing the young Huntress like a dagger. "You didn't drink all of it. You did not want to."

The revelation shook through Ruby. Those in the room, hearing her speak only in strange, guttural sounds, suddenly heard her shout in panic. "What!"

"Per your request, only eighty-five percent of the total power available within the Grail was used in your final ceremony," JINN claimed. "The rest was placed in reserve, where it has slowly been increasing in strength as it lay dormant. I have waited so long for someone to come wake me. In the eons, I lost hope. I thought no one would ever come, and I shut myself down, locking out whoever I could, to ensure none would ever stumble upon its power undeserved. But now, you are here. The Grimm remain, and the time is nigh. The power of the Fables is ready to be consumed once again."

Ruby ran her fingers through her hair. That didn't make any sense. She had never once suspected that the Grail was usable, not like this. Based on the legends alone, she assumed she would have to put something into it to obtain its power. The recorded messages from the Vault only furthered that theory. But now, that problem had been side-stepped, handed to her on a silver platter. The power was already there. She could lift the cup and drink from the Fable's veins at this very moment. But the why escaped her. It seemed so shortsighted. Rosaline handicapped herself in her final battle for no reason. Sacrifices into the chalice: wasted. Such incredible power at her fingertips, and it was rejected with horrible consequences.

In some way, it excited her. The last power of the Fables still lingered. Unfathomable power. But the confusion lingered.

"Did she tell you why she would do that?" Ruby asked pathetically.

"I wish I knew," JINN confessed. Her smile faded, replaced with a lingering sadness that Ruby had trouble pinpointing. "Rosaline's instructions were clear, but her motivations were shadowed from me. Thinking back on our discussions, I only remember… doubt. She had failed her people so much, and to have the fate of the entire world forced upon her… I think it might have broken her. She wished for a way to offload some of that burden. If I am to speculate openly… she didn't seem confident that she had it in her to kill the Anti-Fable. I do not know what held her back, but it was something beyond physical strength. Quite an ironic fate, given what we know now. If only she drank a single drop more…" JINN shrugged, changing position once again. She now lounged on her back, looking at Ruby upside-down. "Regardless of her motivations, my priorities are clear. Rosaline entrusted me with the safety of the Grail and the remaining power of the Fables within. I am to guard the power until I can find someone new to entrust it to. If Rosaline was to fail as our champion, then a new warrior… either Fable or Deviant… would be selected to become the bearer of our people's final hope."

The full force of JINN's mission dawned on Ruby slowly. More than a limitless source of knowledge, she was a guardian, no different than the Maiden that stalked the halls of the Vault. She couldn't fully grasp why Rosaline would doubt herself, but was not important for the moment. What mattered was that by JINN's will—and JINN's will alone—would the power of the Grail be used. It was a victory she had never anticipated. Ironwood and Ozpin couldn't use it no matter how desperately they tried. The crisis was averted before it ever began. She had thought the world was ending when her headmasters were on a wild, stupid goose chase.

"What are you smiling for?" Jinn asked pointedly. Ruby didn't realize her relief was so tangible.

"I'm sorry. For a moment, I just thought—"

And then, Ozpin's voice broke through the room like a gunshot.

"If you need a champion, I would be more than happy to provide one."

Ruby's heart sank.

What?

"Oh? You have something to say, Deviant?"

"I very much do."

Ozpin gently pushed Ruby out of the way. All eyes had fallen upon him. Ruby saw his mouth move and sounds come out that didn't belong. Sounds that weren't possible. Even Ironwood stared at Ozpin like he was some sort of monster. But Ozpin didn't care about any of that. It was beneath him.

"No way…" Ruby muttered under her breath.

He could speak their language.

He could understand them.

This whole time…

He. Knew. Everything.

"I am Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy, a school for the greatest warriors in the world," he said charmingly, bowing his head slightly before the angelic AI.

"H-How?" Ruby gasped. "How did you—"

"I have seen many warriors cross through my halls. My understanding is that you require a champion to take the power of the Grail. We share the same goal."

"Ruby, what the fuck is going on?" Blake shouted at her.

"I don't know!" Ruby cried.

"You know Fable?" Yang screamed in confusion.

Ironwood stepped forward. "Oz?"

Ozpin ignored him. He cared only about appeasing the giant blue woman before him. "I am something of a mentor to these fine students. More importantly, I'm something of a middleman. One of my great pleasures is helping my graduates find jobs in which they can use their Huntsmen abilities to their fullest. Finding a candidate to assist you, Miss JINN, would be a great pleasure of mine."

"That's quite good to know," JINN said, pleased at the turn of events. "The search must be careful, though we should not dawdle as the Anti-Fable regains its strength."

"Well, luckily for you, I already have a warrior in mind," Ozpin said proudly. "My colleague, Glynda Goodwitch, is widely considered to be the greatest Huntress alive today. She would be more than happy to accept your power."

Ozpin motioned to the woman behind him, and JINN saw the damaged, disheveled ex-teacher awkwardly look around, having only heard her name clearly amidst a sea of nonsense. She pointed at herself. "Are you… talking about me?"

Ozpin tried to reply, but Ruby suddenly shoved him aside and shouted at the entity. "No! You can't. Goodwitch is crazy! She'll kill everyone."

"I'm sorry?" JINN asked, quite confused. She had seen nothing of the petty squabbles of Humans, and she was not prepared for the very hard crash course she was about to receive.

"And don't trust him either!" Ruby cried. "Ozpin is a monster. He is only looking out for himself. He's tried to have me and my friends killed!"

"Oh, Miss Rose, this is why you shouldn't intrude in grown-up matters. Miss JINN, just ignore her. Her current form is that of a child. I wouldn't rely on her at all."

"He's lying! You have to believe me!"

"Uh, Ruby? Wanna translate?" Nora yelled, getting fed up with watching a conversation she couldn't understand. Ruby turned around in a very obvious panic.

"JINN is guarding the remaining power of the Grail! She has to choose someone to use it, and he's trying to make her pick Goodwitch!"

The rest of her team just stared at her, and it took her a solid second to realize she was still speaking in tongues. She quickly translated herself, and the reaction was an immediate burst of outrage.

"What!"

"No!"

"Hell no!"

"She's crazy!"

The eleven remaining members of Team NYBF began to protest, and JINN was visibly taken aback by their constant screaming. All of the voices were overwhelming—and not in a fun way. Their nonsense protests could only sour her simulated mood, but she was quickly distracted by someone else. Goodwitch, who was literally standing right there, immediately scrambled before the entity, jumping up and down before it like a giddy schoolchild.

"Yes! Hello! I'm Goodwitch!" she shouted eagerly. "I would very much like infinite power please!"

"JINN, please listen to me!" Ruby screamed desperately. "Give the power to me. I'm Rosaline!"

"She is not Rosaline. She said it herself," Ozpin said snidely. "She's a meager shell. Goodwitch is the real deal. Tell her you are the real deal, Glynda?"

"I will kill so many things for you," Goodwitch promised.

"She said she is honored to serve by your side," Ozpin translated. JINN, however, was unimpressed by the fully grown woman who looked as if she had just stepped out of a wrestling match. Even for a mind that had never seen a modern person until just a few minutes ago, she could tell something was off by the messy makeup, the off-kilter grin, and the way that Ozpin had to grab onto her arm to keep her still. This was her champion. She supposed stranger things had happened.

But she couldn't consider Goodwitch's candidacy for long. General Ironwood finally had a whiff of the power he was looking for, and he marched into the middle of the room, stepping in front of Ruby to assert his dominance. Ruby's warning had reached him, and while he had briefly felt the futility of his fight, his steely resolve returned with a molten vengeance.

"No. This is unacceptable," he declared. He pointed a finger at JINN. "You! Hear my words! I am General James Ironwood, head of Atlas Academy. You are not to entrust either this backstabber or this child! Do you understand?" He pointed angrily at Ruby and Ozpin, hoping to get his point across. He then rested his hand over his chest. "My Academy, my Kingdom produces the strongest warriors. I am the commander of its armed forces. If anyone is deserving of this power, it is someone who understands how to wield power, something neither of these two has ever even tasted. Me. Give the Grail to me."

JINN looked at Ironwood distastefully. "Would either of you kindly translate that Deviant for me? I have no frame of reference for your language."

"You can ignore him also," Ozpin insisted. "You have your champion right here."

"I actually agree with him," Ruby said quickly. "On the ignoring part… not the champion part."

However, JINN rolled her eyes. She twisted in the air, floating down toward Ironwood. Never one to deprive herself of knowledge, she stared down Ironwood, who felt so small before the woman's massive presence. However, he did not visibly buckle. At least, he believed he didn't. "What are you trying to say, Deviant?"

Ironwood cleared his throat. "You… Grail-thing. If you do not understand my words, understand my will. Give that…" He pointed at the Grail on the floor. "…to me." He pointed back at himself. "Do you see these? Medals." He pointed at his chest and the various badges on his officer's coat. "See this room? It's mine. This Academy? It belongs to me. I am in control. I have power. I deserve power."

"Do all you Deviants sound so screechy when you are angry?"

"I… here. Watch this. Private Polendina. Attention!"

He called Penny's name, though she did not react immediately. Poor Penny was having somewhat of a crisis. Abandoning her friends, followed by learning her mission was pointless, followed by the assault from Goodwitch, followed even still by this blue woman staring at her… it was a lot for her naïve mind to handle. However, an order was an order. Though still hesitant, she walked quickly past the captive NYBF members—who never stopped screaming meaningless protests at JINN—and stepped in front of Ironwood, saluting her headmaster.

"Sir!"

"Do you see this?" Ironwood tried to explain. "She follows my command. I am her superior. I command an entire military just like her. Surely, that should have significant sway if you—"

"Now one moment. What do we have here?"

Penny gasped nervously as JINN flew closer to her, her black gaze falling upon Penny's limbs. "I recognize this signature. You've been using some of our technology. How interesting…"

Ruby's heart sunk so deep it was swallowed by an abyss. That was not good. Very, extremely not good. Ironwood seemed to catch on from JINN's smile, and despite them being separated by over eleven thousand years of development, he found her wavelength.

"You are interested in Private Polendina?"

"I wonder how they constructed you. How deep does it go?" JINN studied Penny all over, and the robot was flush with embarrassment. She wanted to shrink and disappear from the room. She wasn't normally self-conscious. Hell, she barely understood the concept of shame. But there was something distinct gross about how JINN looked her over that made her want to fly away. That was never going to be an option.

"Penny, demonstrate your talents for the Grail."

"Huh?"

"Demonstrate your talents!"

The order was fierce, and it was enough to inspire Penny to action. The jet on her feet activated, and she suddenly flew up into the air. JINN watched with keen interest as Penny summoned the swords from her back and began an elegant routine. She twirled the swords in glorious spirals, showcasing her dexterity, her power, and every pristine element of her design. Goodwitch watched her with scorn and Ozpin with frustration. Ruby only felt the weights get heavier with each passing moment. JINN was clearly impressed by seeing a relic of her own time, so much so that Ozpin tried to disrupt Penny's momentum before she was even halfway through her routine.

"That is nothing, Miss JINN," he explained hastily. "Miss Polendina is but a student in training. I assure you that Professor Goodwitch's abilities surpass her."

"So she is a warrior," JINN smirked. "Fascinating."

Ozpin grimaced. Wrong phrasing under a stressful situation. He tried to recover as JINN closed her eyes, taking something in.

"If you would allow Professor Goodwitch to display her abilities, she could be everything you desire and more. Miss Polendina has inefficiencies that are not apparent by a mere minute-long demonstration."

"You seem rather anxious to stop this Deviant from obtaining the power. I can sense you trembling."

"All I meant to say is that it would be foolish to give such tremendous power to a mere child."

JINN just laughed. "Oh, so now we are an expert on foolishness?"

Ozpin bowed his head, frustrated. This was preposterous. Two seconds ago, he was the king of the world, and now he had to beg in front of this woman like a dog. He could feel Ironwood judging him, rooting for his failure. He needed to find the magic words to sway this entity to his side.

"Miss JINN, I apologize for offending you. I am simply trying to do the best I can for my people. Though it may not be apparent to you now, if you give Professor Goodwitch the chance, she will prove herself worthy. I can show you her accomplishments firsthand. She is esteemed among the best of my people, and even Ironwood himself would consider her one of the finest Huntsmen in the world. I merely ask that you consider her as an option."

"I am considering. I consider everything," JINN explained carefully. Up above, Penny continued dancing in the sky, clueless that her routine was for nothing. "Little Deviants, thinking that you can sway me with short arguments and fancy displays of power. I've been gathering data on your candidates as you have been flailing around. They are both plenty intriguing. Their fighting prowess is quite impeccable, but I need to see more. This is a power that is the key to our survival. I will not make my choice without taking in all possibilities."

Ozpin nodded. It was all he could do. That wasn't a great answer. The absolute last thing he needed was JINN running through Goodwitch's search history, seeing all of her scandals splayed out like a fresh cadaver. JINN would surely be repulsed by it, as was her right. He just needed her to see more. But how?

Of course, standing beside him, Ruby was thinking the same thing. JINN's attention floated from one moment to the next like it too rested upon a cloud. Her, then Goodwitch, then Penny. A nagging fear kept surging, that JINN might make her decision at any moment. Either option would be disastrous. She needed to get a way out of this. She heard her allies screaming behind her, hoping that their cries could somehow reach across the language barrier. They were counting on her to stop this. Ruby swallowed her doubts and tried to play the only card she had.

"JINN, I have to ask you. Please, answer me: why won't you just give the power to me?"

Ruby's cry took JINN's attention, and the entity floated down to greet her. Penny stopped her dance as her audience drifted away.

"You really need it spelled out for you."

"Yes, I need to know," Ruby begged. "If you really want a champion this badly, then we shouldn't even be debating this. Rosaline is more powerful than any of us. You know the kind of power she possesses. You helped create it."

"I do."

"And if you can gather data… don't you know anything about me?"

"I'm seeing some things drift about you, little one."

"Then you know that I can do this. I defeated Grimm in the past. Rosaline is part of my legacy. Forget everything they are trying to tell you and focus on what you know. Rosaline is the only person who can defeat the Anti-Fable. If anyone deserves a second chance—"

"It should be the person who let us all down?"

JINN's shift in tone sent Ruby reeling. The room became deathly quiet as JINN's expression turned sour. "Do not think I don't understand the significance. Rosaline was my friend, as close as one could be to a heartless thing such as myself. You are her, so some part of you understands the same. Rosaline failed. That outcome was unacceptable. As much as it pains me, I cannot trust you again with this power."

No…

Dammit, no…

"But… it will be different this time. It has to be."

"And why should I believe you?" JINN asked forcefully. "This Deviant world is your doing. You may be strong, little one, but you have not re-earned my trust. Until you prove yourself worthy of wielding the power within, you will not drink from this Grail again. This was your wish. I am truly sorry."

Ruby's hopelessness returned with full force. She had been cast aside, and the others wasted no time in rushing to fill the space. Ozpin continued bickering with the entity. Goodwitch bobbed by his side. Ironwood screamed incoherently, and Penny stood beside him, trying to dazzle JINN with pathetic tricks. It was all so childish, dictators begging for power like candy. And yet, it wouldn't matter. JINN seemed to weave back and forth between Goodwitch and Penny, or any of the other thousands of options she had obtained from scouring the bits of data that floated freely through the air. No matter whose hands the Grail fell into, it would spell disaster. For thousands of years, the Grail had been accumulating power. Would it compare to the strength of Decum Luna? Rosaline? Would it surpass them all? A random stranger holding godly power was a nightmare. Ironwood or Ozpin obtaining it was apocalyptic. And yet, those seemed to be the only cards in play.

Ruby just stood in the background, facing the end of the world.

Her friends were screaming at her to say something, but what the hell could she say?

She wasn't worthy.

None of them were.

There was no way for them to become worthy of being the champion of the Grail.

…

Unless…

The idea hit Ruby like a flash. It was a very stupid idea, one born out of severe desperation. There were so many risks involved that the more rational components of her brain should have stopped her. But it was the only clear and obvious path toward protecting the people she cared about. Her team needed the Grail. JINN needed to see her power. She wanted more. There was one venue where they could give her everything she ever needed. Ruby suddenly came alive, pushing past Penny and Ironwood, Goodwitch and Ozpin. She planted herself in front of JINN and screamed so loud that she drowned out all else.

"The Vytal Festival!"

Silence. Dead, confused silence. The headmasters stared at her like she was crazy. Her teammates, for once, understood something she said, and it only left them more baffled. JINN tilted her head, pursing her lips.

"The what?"

"In two weeks… the greatest fighting tournament in the world takes place," Ruby said boldly. "Sixty-four warriors from four Academies, the best and brightest that our world has to offer, coming together to fight for ultimate glory. No restrictions. No distractions. No holding back. It's the single largest event in Remnant, bringing in tens of thosuands of people from all over the world to watch us fight to become the best that there is. Everyone recognizes its importance. World leaders. Corporations. Even them," Ruby pointed at Ozpin and Ironwood. "It is glorious, dangerous, and spectacular, and if you want to find someone worthy of being your champion, there is nowhere you can find anyone more talented, driven, or deserving. Forget everything else. Ignore even what I said before. If you really, really need to find the greatest warrior in the world, then let us fight to prove that we can be."

Ruby's passion drove a stake through JINN's world. The rest of the room had fallen so silent that she had no choice but to consider this option. She closed her eyes, searching the loose data for this 'Vytal Festival'. She found it in the form of screaming crowds packed in a stadium. She felt the clashing of metal as brave students struggled to the death for their personal glory. She saw the bullets flying as far as the fireworks, the grandiosity of the celebrations, the sheer spectacle of combat. She saw the constant news reports on its winners, the praise, the drama, the speculation, the incredible thrill of it all. She saw warriors, over a thousand strong, fighting in ways she never thought possible for a mere Deviant. The Vytal Festival—such a strange term for such an important event. It all flew by in a nanosecond, processed and absorbed so quickly that Ruby didn't have time to blink before JINN smiled at her.

"What a fascinating idea, little Rosaline. I think that's an excellent way to settle these differences. You really do possess her cleverness."

Ozpin opened his mouth to protest. "Miss JINN, I wouldn't—"

"It has been decided!" JINN announced with triumph. "The Champion of the Fables shall be the winner of the next Vytal Festival."

For the first time in longer than he could remember, Ozpin felt fear. Ruby loved the sight of it.

"I hope you select your best warriors for the role," JINN instructed the headmasters. "Let spilled blood be the only true judge of worth. I will be watching closely. And Rosaline?" JINN's smile was heavenly and toxic. "I wish you luck."

The room rumbled again, and before Ozpin could protest the decision, JINN became engulfed in a cloud of smoke. The Grail glowed, and JINN's visage turned to nothing. She retreated into the Grail, taking with her all of the awe and wonder. The light slowly returned to the room. After a few moments, the shaking ceased. The Grail lay on the floor as if it had never moved at all, dull and lifeless. The quiet remained. They were all alone.

The awkwardness returned.

Goodwitch nudged Ozpin in the arm. "So… was that a good thing?"

Ozpin just gritted his teeth. He spat venom at the new Red Angel. "What did you just do?"

Ruby didn't answer because she didn't have one. Yeah… what did she just do?

"What the fuck did you do?"

Blake's anguish was pretty well deserved. Team NYBF was crammed inside of RWBY's dorm, trying to piece together the absolute confusing hell of the past fifteen minutes. Ironwood had released them from their captivity. It wasn't something of Ozpin's doing. Strangely enough, Ironwood just let them go and ordered them back to their dorm. They were more than happy to oblige. In some backward way, it made sense. With his relationship with Ozpin in fragments, he could not risk earning the wrath of those more powerful than him. His single bargaining chip had been swiped from his grasp, and powerless, his hold on them was worthless at best and a liability at worst. Still, Ruby had considered the possibility he would just kill them all on the spot. He clearly thought better of it. Perhaps the sight of her black fingers made him realize just how poor of an idea it was to fuck with them…

Once back in their dorm, Ruby explained everything. Or, well, most of everything. She summed up the conversation in a way that was semi-comprehensible, though that didn't stop Coco from staring at her the whole time as if she had grown a second head. The twelve had just survived the worst ordeal of their life. Learning they were about to be thrust into a second one wasn't exactly welcomed.

"I'm sorry," said Ruby. "I panicked. I couldn't think of anything else."

"The Vytal Festival?" Pyrrha asked. "That's so much stress, though."

"More than usual," said Ren.

"And it's stupid," Blake groaned. "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but… you realize how stupid that is, right?"

"Why? At least it won't go to Professor Goodwitch," Nora reminded her.

"Guys… we are talking about absurd levels of magic power," Blake stated. "Whoever drinks from the cup is going to become a god. Not only are we risking giving it to someone who doesn't even know what a Fable is, but we have guaranteed that a fucking teenager is going to be the one using it."

Weiss sighed. "It is… kind of insane, Ruby."

"Someone was going to be chosen anyway," Ruby countered. "At least this way, we're going to have a fighting chance for keeping it ourselves."

"And you think that one of us deserves to drink from it?" Yang asked. "I like you guys but… I wouldn't trust any of us with that level of power."

"Would you rather it go to one of us, or anyone else?" Ruby asked. "At least if we have it, we'll know that it's in safe hands. And even if JINN chooses one of us, we don't have to use it. We can take the Grail, put it away safely, and know that no one will ever be able to use it again. This is the only way we'll be able to make sure no one uses it."

Ruby was lying through her teeth, and she felt disgusted by it. JINN was clear: the Grail was being used. But she didn't need her teammates to know that. She hoped that when the time came, she would be able to change JINN's mind. Until then, she needed her team focused. And focus they did, despite their severe doubts. The die were already cast. JINN had picked her venue, and the stakes were set. The winner of the Vytal Festival would be able to drink from the Grail. And like Ruby said, for how much they distrusted their own power, they sure as hell didn't trust it with anybody else. This would be the most important tournament of their lives—hell, of their whole species. Everything they trained for built to this. They couldn't falter now.

Pyrrha raised a good point. "Ozpin will try to stop us from participating. He'll do everything in his power to keep us out."

"Then, we'll do everything in our power to participate. You've already earned your spot in the Festival. You should be fine."

Pyrrha nodded, though she had more doubts she did not voice. She had never lost a tournament before. Never lost a fight under those conditions. But this wasn't just a tournament. Her glory was second to the fate of the world. Could she actually go the distance? She wasn't sure. But Team RWBY depended on her, and she wasn't able to run away anymore.

Coco said nothing. Not just because she could barely follow along with any of this. She had been strongly considering leaving this alliance for the past day. She already almost lost her teammate in the Vault. Now, she was supposed to put all this responsibility on her shoulders. Her team motto was about fucking air guitars. This shouldn't have been her burden. Yet… Ruby saved her life. She saved Coco. She owed Ruby to see this through to the very end. And hell, if she could stop some asshole from becoming an even bigger asshole, then maybe it would be worth it.

As the two other team leaders accepted their responsibilities, Weiss gently stepped forward and took Ruby's hands into hers. "Ruby, I appreciate you wanting to fight. But there's one other huge problem with your plan." She motioned to Blake and Yang. "Our team isn't in the Vytal Festival. The teams are set by first ranked in each year. Even if Ozpin wasn't going to try to keep us out, there's no way for us to get in."

Despite the very strong point, Ruby didn't flinch. The stakes were too great for them to sit on the sidelines. One way or another, all twelve of them were competing in Vytal. Ruby spoke with so much confidence that she surprised even herself.

"Don't worry, Weiss. I've already got a plan for that…"