Note: Ah, the final arc is finally here. The long-awaited moment has come to pass. Of course, it wasn't always supposed to end like this. Technically this was only supposed to mark the conclusion of Flames' first half. But with the third story taking on a new life of its own, it lets me expand on characteristics I didn't plan on before. Each of these last three chapters is going to basically be double-length to give the final arc some extra heft. How are we going to transition to Vytal? What final challenges are Team RWBY going to face, and will they be able to overcome them? Let's find out. Enjoy.

That night, James Ironwood went to bed a defeated man. He stared at himself in the mirror, examining every saggy flap of skin with the precision of a craftsman. Every wrinkle seemed deeper, every muscle shrunken beneath the obstructing layers of fat. He stood in front of the mirror for longer than any time he could remember. There was a certain kind of feeling that existed within him that he was unfamiliar with. An inevitable, existential dread. His world had already ended. Now, he merely waited. And in waiting, he could only look at himself.

The phone call came after he went under the covers. He did not answer it at first and became immediately disgusted with himself. He, the great James Ironwood, hiding from his problems. His hand had hovered over the Scroll and simply never answered. When the call came again moments later, he willed himself to pick up. He didn't have to check the name. He knew who was waiting for him.

The fury of Winter Schnee was unmatched. She unloaded onto him every curse she could think of, each terrible slur laced with malice reserved for her most hated enemies. How dare he so flagrantly violate their terms and think he could get away with it? He had endangered her sister, thrown her into the pits of hell where he intended her to suffer and die, and then when she failed to live up to his expectations, he had the audacity to arrest and publicly humiliate her. Weiss had told her every detail of their conflict, and no—saying that he technically didn't send Team RWBY into the Vault didn't mean anything. Winter had already baked Team RWBY being dumbasses into her calculations. Ironwood's blatant manipulations were more than she could stomach.

"I'm done, James. Your money is gone. I'm submitting a formal inquiry to the Council to have your position revoked."

"Don't make an enemy of me, Winter. Your father knew—"

"My father is a weak pervert who is knee-deep in legal bills because I stood up to him. If you genuinely think you are in a position to threaten me after everything you've done, you are dumber than he is."

"The Council won't remove me. I am the General of the Atlasian military."

"And after your reckless disregard for government property, you won't be for much longer. Seriously, James, after everything, the fact you think you can still negotiate out of this is insulting. I am taking everything away from you. Your rank. Your role as headmaster. Your seats on the Council. Your finances."

"Winter, I implore you to—"

"And until you are gone, I am terminating all contracts between the SDC and the military, your Academy included."

"W-What? But you—"

"I can, and I will. If that doesn't encourage the Council to take action, I don't know what will."

"You'd cripple our entire military. My students depend on that Dust."

"Then perhaps you should learn to be better fighters. A soldier dependent on dust might as well not be a soldier at all."

"You can't afford to tear up your existing contracts. Your stock price can't handle it."

"Check the trades. SDC stock has stabilized. We even rose yesterday. The shock has finally stabilized."

"It will start again once you threaten me."

"Then you best resign gracefully before that happens. I have money to burn, James. Your reputation is just as flammable. The inquiry gets submitted in the morning. Goodbye."

Winter did not give him a chance to respond, and frankly, he did not deserve it. His threats were as empty as the Grail was between his fingers. He did not sleep long that night, tossing and turning, waking every hour in a cold sweat. He just lay in the dark, letting anxieties take him as if he were a child.

In the morning, Ironwood returned to his office. Walking through the halls, he attempted to put on a brave face. Standing up straight, he would salute the guards as he walked past, but he could feel the air shift. The guards were slow to salute back. While students stood at attention in his presence, he could hear them whispering behind his back. They had all seen him triumphant, but news spread quickly through the halls of Atlas Academy. Team RWBY was walking free. For the second time since they had arrived at his school, they had publicly outplayed him. His students surely mocked him just out of earshot. Did they know his time was coming to an end? The elevator to his office was slow to rise, a remnant of the battle damage from the day before. It took nearly a full minute to reach the top floor. He almost didn't want to look at what was inside.

His office—his beautiful office—in rubble and ruin. Nothing had been fixed from the previous day, as he did not let anyone see what had become of the space. The desk lay in fragments of splintered wood. His computer glitched within the rubble. One of his bookshelves had toppled over, spilling valuable tomes all over the floor. The crackling fireplace was silent, its structural integrity broken; large cracks appeared in its chimney that would let smoke spill out into the room. There were bloodstains on his pelted rugs and shell casings scattered along the floor. The office was freezing cold as gusts of wind bellowed in from the giant, gaping hole in his back window. Ironwood stood at the entrance for several minutes, surveying the damage. His bottom lip quivered, but aside from that, he showed no emotion.

Quietly, he walked to the back of the room and stared out the hole in the glass. He felt the cold rush against his face and looked down at the Academy beneath him. He saw students scurrying about like ants, going about their business, unaware that their world would soon be fundamentally shaken. A weaker man would have taken the plunge. It would be so easy. But he was unable to take that step over the edge. He just looked down at the world as it passed him by, a world he would soon no longer control.

Was he standing there for an hour, or just a few minutes? He entered a trance, lost in despair and only awoken when the elevator dinged behind him. He did not turn to greet his visitor. He did not care to see their face. He heard the steady marching of a cane and the even steadier voice of his former friend.

"I would apologize for Glynda's actions, but let's be honest, James. You did start this."

Ironwood grumbled. "What are you doing here, Oz?"

Ozpin slowly walked around the room, taking in the damage for himself. It didn't seem nearly as bad during the fight, but a little distance had given him plenty of perspective. "Are we not allowed to talk anymore?"

Ironwood growled. "You have so much nerve to step into my office after what you did."

"What I did? For the kingdom built on 'personal responsibility', you have quite the difficult time accepting fault. Though, I should note… this won't be your office for much longer, will it?"

"Winter told you."

"She didn't have to," Ozpin said comfortably. "Your little stunt caused quite the uproar. All of that destruction and sacrifice, and without a payoff, there is nothing to show for it. Winter Schnee has more than proven she is not one to take lightly."

"It's over, Oz," Ironwood said slowly. "They're going to take everything from me now. You've won the game. Congratulations."

"No, no, I don't take pleasure in this," Ozpin stated. "You've been my friend for twenty-five years, James. I don't want it to end like this. As a matter of fact, that's why I came to talk to you."

"You haven't come to gloat?" Ironwood asked suspiciously.

"Not if I can help it. I've come to offer you a truce."

Ironwood flinched at the word. He refused to turn around as Ozpin explained himself.

"Things are looking quite bad for you, James. The Council has more than enough evidence to discharge you. However, if they really want to start looking, there's more than enough they can find. It can only get worse from here. But I might be able to sway them—maybe not enough to protect your position at the Academy, but probably enough to stop you from going to jail. Surely, that's still of interest to you."

Ironwood just frowned. "At the moment of your victory, you've come to take pity on me. You are really something, Oz."

"No, I've come to have mercy on you," Ozpin said sternly. "It's a shame you cannot tell the difference."

"It's shameful you believe there is a difference."

"James, please hear me out," Ozpin said passionately. "We are far better off working with each other than stabbing the other in the back. Look at what we have accomplished by putting aside our differences. I placed my faith in you to lead Atlas Academy, and you have proven yourself a resourceful leader. There is a war coming for the Grail, James. You know this. Even now, Team RWBY is trying to worm their way into the Vytal Festival to take the power for themselves. If we work together and unite our fighters under a common cause—"

"No," Ironwood said bluntly.

"Would you not have allies?"

"I would rather not be talked to like I am a child."

"Oh, quit your stubbornness and see the bigger picture," Ozpin implored. "You saw Ruby's fingers. She's in Half Bloom. At this rate, Rosaline might emerge before the Vytal Festival is even over. You are the military man, James—surely, you know the consequences of fighting a war on two fronts. If we spend our time fighting each other, neither of us wins the Grail. Let's put aside our differences and work together for the good of our nations. Let's be reasonable, James."

Ozpin extended his hand, even though he knew Ironwood would never turn around. His words were sincere enough, and he wondered if his passion was enough to break through Ironwood's grief and rigid exterior. Yes, Ironwood was a pain, but he was a pain that had been carefully nurtured over a quarter of a century. That kind of commitment was hard to let go, no matter what happened the day before. Ironwood did not respond, mulling over the opportunity. Ozpin silently hoped that he would be the bigger man.

Unfortunately, Ironwood just started to laugh at him. It was the laugh of a man who had already lost.

"You know something, Oz?" Ironwood grinned. "When you know how to play the game, all of your little tricks become so obvious. You have this immaculate way of trying to frame your own self-preservation as compassion. It's a remarkable talent."

"I'm trying to help you, James."

"You are helping yourself, Oz. I'm just the most convenient path to do it. You know just as well as I do that the Council doesn't really mean anything. It all comes down to Vytal. And despite how much you've invested in those delinquents you call a top team, you know that Private Polendina has the best chance of winning. And you also know that no matter what you say, or who stands within this office, Penny is loyal to me. As long as she believes that I can strip her of her will, she will follow me to the end of the world. She's already demonstrated that fact."

"Unless I tell her that you are responsible for her condition," Ozpin countered. "That might dampen her loyalty somewhat."

"Go ahead and tell her. She still won't be loyal to you," Ironwood said dismissively. "Let Penny become a wild card in the most important tournament in history. Hell, let her run back to Team RWBY for comfort. I'm sure you'd love that, wouldn't you?"

Ozpin grimaced. "You've made enough mistakes, James. Don't make another try to refuse my help."

"I've had quite enough of your 'help'. I think I'll manage on my own." Ironwood brushed Ozpin away, never once looking his former friend in the eye. "Get out of my office, Oz… and pray they remove me before Vytal ends."

Ozpin tapped his cane against the floor. There was nothing more he could do. Aside from pushing Ironwood out that window, he could see no easy way out of his predicament. His alliance had come crumbling down. He could only hope he had created enough pillars to support the extra weight. He turned and entered the elevator without a goodbye. Ironwood still refused to look at him.

As the door to the elevator closed, and it began its slow descent back to the Academy, Ozpin stood in silence. There was a shift in the air next to him. A figure, cloaked in distortions, quickly became visible. Stealthily holding her tongue from the sidelines had never been her strong suit. Now, fully materialized next to Ozpin in the elevator, Glynda Goodwitch leaned against the wall and stared judgingly at her former boss. She shrugged.

"You should kill him."

"I'm not killing James."

"Let me kill him."

"No."

"He betrayed you."

"Lots of people have betrayed me over the years."

"And you usually don't get over it."

"I'm not over it, I'm looking past it."

"He's too dangerous."

"And that's why I don't want him as an enemy."

"You have enough dirt on him to build a mountain out of."

"And he has that on me. And what happens if the Atlas Council starts digging into his unsavory past? Whose fingerprints are they going to find all over it? It's hardly beneficial if I'm also removed from my position before Vytal concludes."

"Not if you kill them, too."

"God, what is it with you and killing people?"

"It's an efficient means of solving problems."

"You and I have very different concepts of efficient."

"You're leaving yourself open to risks. If he gets the Grail—"

"If anyone gets the Grail, we're doomed," Ozpin said sharply. "It doesn't matter if it's Ironwood or whoever replaces him as headmaster, nor does it matter if it's Atlas, Mistral, or Vacuo. The only acceptable outcome is for us to win the Vytal Festival. Do you understand that? It's all that matters now."

Goodwitch crossed her arms and sighed. "You know you'll have to tell Theo and Leo about this?"

"I'm aware. Theo may or may not cooperate. Leo… she's always been a pain."

"Then our schools go to war," Goodwitch stated. "And if Team RWBY or their dumb little friends win the tournament, then we all lose. Wonderful. Can I get off this planet please?"

"They won't win. They won't even compete," Ozpin said confidently. "Team RWBY has no viable path to begin with, and I'm going to get Team JNPR and Team CFVY removed from the competition. All I have to do is place one phone call to the Vytal Committee, and it will be as if I waved your little magic wand."

"Are you allowed to withdraw them from the Festival?" Goodwitch asked. "Didn't you submit their paperwork already?"

Ozpin just smirked at her. "Trust me. I don't think that's going to be a problem…"

"What the hell do you mean you can't remove them?"

Ozpin's scream would have been enough to shake the foundations of the entire Academy. It was certainly enough to shake his office, and Glynda was taken aback by his sudden, rageful outburst. He seethed over his Scroll, but the woman on the other end—a Vytal Committee member named Barbara Somethingorother—remained exceptionally calm.

"Sir, the rules on this matter are exceptionally clear."

"I don't care what the rules say."

"Sir."

"You have to remove them at once."

"Sir."

"I demand it!"

"Sir, did you fill out the paperwork?"

Yes, Ozpin filled out the paperwork. Last week, in fact. While he had considered forcing Team RWBY to compete in the Vytal Festival, he made the decision not to drastically alter the formula that led Beacon to success. While putting Team RWBY in a life-or-death situation may have satisfied some dark urge, the last thing he needed was for them to become even more popular. As such, when he submitted his teams for the Vytal Festival, he picked the top teams from each grade. Team JJWL of the seniors, Team URKA of the juniors, Team CFVY of the sophomores, and Team JNPR of the freshmen. It should have caused no problems. Even with Teams CFVY and JNPR being allied with RWBY, it shouldn't have mattered if they competed in Vytal. But that was before the tournament became the most important thing ever, something he absolutely could not explain to the woman giving him a healthy dose of sass on the phone.

The infinite sass of Barbara.

"I don't care about the paperwork, either."

Her unimpressed tone did not falter. "You should care about the paperwork, sir. It's very important. Please re-read the clauses. It states very clearly that once competitors have been submitted to the Vytal Committee, they cannot be retracted unless explicit verbal consent is given by all existing team members, barring death or significant disability preventing them from giving consent. Your teams, sir, are they dead?"

"No, but—"

"They aren't dead, sir?"

"No."

"Are they disabled?"

Glynda snickered. "Not yet."

"Sir, I need a response. Are they disabled?"

"They are not disabled, but an exception needs to be made—"

"If they are not dead, and they are in good enough health they can give consent, then they cannot be withdrawn from the Vytal Festival unless they ask to be withdrawn on their own. The rules don't give me room for exceptions, sir."

"Well, that's one way to solve the problem," Goodwitch snickered. "Say the word, Oz."

Ozpin grumbled. "Would you please stop threatening people for five seconds?"

"Sir, are you talking to me?"

"N-No. Apologies." He took a deep breath. Okay, think. Be creative. Killing Team JNPR or CFVY? Out of the question. Roughing them up? Also probably out of the question. Team RWBY was going to keep them on twenty-four-seven lockdown until the Vytal Festival began. How about blackmail? Classic… but given the stakes, he wasn't sure if they would fall for anything he threw at them. With the whole world on the line, they were going to stand their ground. Impersonation then? Goodwitch could shapeshift into them and consent on their behalf. Only, they would immediately discover this plan and expose him, and even though Goodwitch could shapeshift, her impressions were just terrible. Okay then… next plan. Speak to the manager. "Listen, Barbara, was it? Could you please put Franklin on the line? If I could talk to him, maybe we could come to some understanding—"

"Franklin doesn't work here anymore."

"Wait, what?"

"He retired back in February."

"Why didn't anyone tell me about it?"

"I don't see any reason why you'd be notified, sir."

"Then, who heads up the Committee? There has to be somebody."

"You've been speaking to her, sir. Now, do you have anything else you need to ask?"

"I… you…" Ozpin stammered, but he was unable to find the proper words. Who the hell was this lady? Why was she not afraid of him? She should have been afraid of him. People feared Ozpin! Did she just start, like, yesterday? Sensing his struggle, Goodwitch leaned over his shoulder and spoke into the speaker.

"Hi, yes, hello," she started. "Is there any way whatsoever that the teams can be substituted with someone else? Say, even if they were to mysteriously vanish before the Festival began. Surely then, we would be permitted to replace them with someone else."

"There is no clause for that anywhere in the current agreement, ma'am," Barbara said bluntly. "If they fail to show up to the tournament, and they have not submitted proper paperwork to ask for their removal, they will simply forfeit all of their matches."

Goodwitch looked at Ozpin with hope and inspiration, but he shot her down with a grumble. No, he actually did not want to give up half of his team slots to forfeitures. Add that to the other existing reasons, and Goodwitch was forced to roll her eyes in defeat.

"Your rules make no sense," Ozpin claimed. "This is my school I am representing. You are saying that even in cases of expulsion, dishonorable discharge, or any other significant scandal, you won't withdraw them unless they ask for it? What kind of standard is that?"

"If you have an issue with the rules, sir, then you can submit a proposal for a rule change to the Committee, and we will consider it during the start of our next active session."

"And when is that?"

"This September."

"September?"

"That is what the month is called, sir."

"This… this is an outrage. You are screwing over my entire Academy."

"That's not my concern, sir. You should have waited to fill out the paperwork if this was your concern."

"I am not going down without a fight."

"That's what they all say, sir."

"You will not be speaking like this to me when this is finished, you understand. I'll guarantee you are removed from your position before you can even blink."

"Take it up with the Committee, sir."

"I don't need to take it up with the Committee. Do you have even the slightest idea who I am?"

"Yes, I do, sir," claimed Barbara. "You are someone who should have waited before submitting the paperwork."

Ozpin nearly slammed his head against the desk. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't even forge documents. Consent had to be verbal. He was trapped. Even with Goodwitch's many, many powers, he couldn't see one that would be easy to use without significant risk of exposure. Team JNPR and CFVY were going to compete. He couldn't stop them. The world was about to be destroyed because of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy. God, Blake was right about everything. Anarchy was the answer.

Okay.

Deep breath.

Maybe this wasn't so bad. Yes, JNPR was in. Yes, CFVY was in. But who wasn't in? Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Blake Belladonna. Yang Xiao Long. The forms were already submitted, and the signatures were filled out. If he could not negotiate a change in the teams, then they had no means of doing so either. Those girls, his biggest existential threat, were out of the tournament. Case closed. And besides, he still had Team JJWL under his thumb. They had proven they could take both JNPR and CFVY at the same time. Even one-on-one, they were still favorites to win. And while he hadn't massaged them nearly as much as he would have liked, Team URKA were no slouches either. The brilliant juniors were a talented fighting force in their own right, and with some simple persuasion, he could convince them to remain loyal to him. So really, this wasn't the absolute worst outcome—

"Oh, sir. I've just received the update from your Academy. Maybe this will brighten your day."

Huh?

"What update?" he asked suspiciously.

"One of your other teams just got off the call with our talent rep. Team URKA. Fun lil' name. They have officially withdrawn from the Vytal Festival."

Ozpin slammed his fists onto the table. "They did what!"

Three Hours Earlier…

"You… want to pay off all of our student loans?"

"And a fifty thousand Lien bonus," Weiss stated calmly.

"And all we have to do is not enter the tournament where we have to fight Team VLNC?"

"Yes."

Weiss was very succinct, and the members of Team URKA were quite reasonably skeptical. The four top juniors—Sasha Ulem, Colm Rutherford, Kristen Kepler, and Cameron Archim—were all known for their varying degrees of brilliance. Their weapons were some of the most advanced in the Academy, and they frequently aced their exams with time to spare. They examined every situation with a level of tactical genius that reminded Weiss of her girlfriend. Perhaps it would have been better then if Ruby handled the talking. There was no time to dwell on that. Sitting in their dorm room, Weiss gave her presentation to the juniors with as much confidence as she could muster. Most of them seemed to fall in line, though their leader, Sasha, a quizzical girl with a quizzical mind, seemed most skeptical.

"The Vytal Festival is the biggest tournament ever. Most Huntresses would dream of competing," she said calmly. "If we just quit, what will everyone think of us?"

"Sasha, she's offering to pay our student loans," Colm pointed out. "The prize money doesn't even cover that."

"Assuming we'd win at all," said Cameron. "We're not the favorites. I mean, with Pyrrha and Team VLNC competing, we don't have good odds."

"And our medical bills. Don't forget our medical bills," said Kristen. "The risk-reward calculus just doesn't work out for us. If we can get paid without having to risk our careers—"

"Everyone, we've been training our whole lives for this," Sasha protested. "What will everyone think of us if we just withdraw a few weeks before the competition."

"You are still the top team of the juniors. That's very respectable," Weiss stated. "Your teammates are making good points. There's no glory in getting killed by Vivian Jupitarian. If you take the money now, you can invest it into your future. You can get a head start on your retirements even."

"And," Colm said again with wide eyes, "she'll pay our student loans."

Sasha sighed, scratching the back of her head. "I don't know…"

Weiss cleared her throat. "One hundred thousand Lien."

One firm handshake later, Weiss left Team URKA's dorm with confidence. Just as it closed, she heard Sasha Ulem dial up her Scroll, and she smirked as she walked down the hallway. She thought Ruby was out of her mind when she suggested this, but once again, she learned never to doubt her girlfriend's wisdom. Winter was more than pleased to participate in this scheme of theirs, much to her surprise. Team RWBY competing in the Vytal Festival, sponsored by the Schnee Dust Company, would generate more in sales than any paltry amount given away as bribes. It was such a simple yet devious plan—buying out the hopes and dreams of her classmates with nary a pinch into her pocketbook—that it almost made Weiss realize the inherent, disjointed power structures of capitalism and its many terrible consequences. Almost.

Unfortunately, Weiss's mind was filled with other burdens. She was happy that the negotiation went well, but there was the subtle fact in the back of her mind that she was doing this as a charity case. She wasn't the best talker on her team. She was never the most charming, relatable, or persuadable. Yang should have been doing this. Ruby should have been doing this. It was her idea after all. Yet, Weiss was stuck with the short straw, but not out of malice. Quite the opposite. Ruby gave her this task so she could feel useful again.

Three months ago, Weiss was the chosen one. After spending her entire life as an afterthought, kicked out of her family without remorse and shunned for her disease, she thought she finally mattered. Yes, it was all part of some broader, evil plan to control her, but for just one spectacular second, Weiss felt the world revolve around her. She had a gift and power that made her stand out not just among her team, but the entire world. The gift of the Fables was hers.

And then Rosaline happened. Minute by minute, it became clear she wasn't the special one in the story. She could meld minds and summon giant toads, but her sister was the one with the resources everyone needed. Ruby was the one with the gifts. When it finally came time to prove her worth to her team in the Vault, her chains snapped like pitiful twigs. She couldn't stand on her own two feet. She had to get saved by the others, rescued by a new, terrifying power that dwarfed anything she could ever do. Standing underneath Ruby's rose petal wings, Weiss felt the awe of being in the presence of something greater than her. Now, she just felt sick.

And that was bullshit. Ruby would tell her that was bullshit. She was special. She saved Winter, for gods' sake. And it wasn't like Ruby meant to overshadow her by slicing giant robots in half, speaking ancient languages, and being far, far, far more important than her. Weiss tried to stand up straight and put on a brave face. Team RWBY needed her. She would tell herself that over and over again until she finally started to believe it. She was being useful right now by getting them into Vytal, and once she was in Vytal, she would make herself useful by winning the whole thing. She… she could do that, couldn't she? Even if she had to fight…

Weiss shook the thought out of her head. She came to the next door and pounded on it vigorously. When the students inside opened up, she smiled at them.

"Team BLCK? I was wondering if I could talk to you about the Vytal Festival."

Team RWBY worked fast… too goddamn fast.

Ozpin was going on a spree throughout the halls of Atlas Academy. Team URKA was out of the Vytal Festival. When they were questioned on the subject matter, they admitted to everything. Good students that they were, they apologized for the drama they caused, though they could very plainly see Ozpin not forgiving them. He could have possibly pressured them into going back on their word. If he really wanted to, he could have offered to write off their loans as to remove any incentive for working with Team RWBY.

Ozpin did not want to do that.

That was fine. Screw Team URKA. Bright students but lacking ethics. They would most likely get whooped by Team JJWL anyway. That was fine. He could find someone else to replace them. He had an entire school of Huntsmen and Huntresses who were far more willing to fight for a selfless cause, who wouldn't be bought so easily, and who would actually prove to be useful in a fight. It was fine. This was fine.

The next best choice was Team BLCK, the second-ranked team of the juniors. They weren't nearly as tactical as Team URKA, but they were brawny and brave and surely wouldn't be bribed into giving up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—

"Sorry, Professor Ozpin. We already made a deal to get our loans forgiven."

Okay, so Team BLCK were also selfish, greedy monsters. But the third-ranked team of the juniors, Team PWEL, would perhaps be amenable to—

"We're not going to compete either. If we sit out, Weiss Schnee will pay for our—"

Seniors! Seniors were great. Wiser. More experienced. Who were the second-best seniors he could ask? Yes, yes, Team SHRK. Vicious. Clever. They may have easily been overshadowed by Team JJWL, but they were great fighters in their own right. They would make even better contestants. Right?

Right?

Right?

"Professor Ozpin, I don't know how to say this, but—"

Dumb. Dumb, stupid, dumb, stupid, stupid, dumb.

Dumb dumb dumb.

This was the dumbest thing he had ever seen.

Team KLAW of the Sophomores? Bought.

Team SPDE of the Seniors? Bought.

Team HOPE of the Juniors? Bought.

Bought.

Bought.

Bought.

How many top teams had Team RWBY gone through? How much money were they throwing around carelessly? Some cost more than others. Some understood the nature of the game and milked RWBY for all their worth. But in the end, everyone had a price. To someone like Winter Schnee, it would hardly matter. She was maybe losing a few millions, easily recuperated by a healthy day in the market. Hell, if Team RWBY really did compete, they would rack up enough sponsorship money to make these expenses meaningless. Not that it mattered. All of this was just a distraction, a way to piss him off. It would accomplish nothing but his misery. But dammit was it working.

In his desperation, Ozpin turned to the freshmen. The second-best team was CDRL, and that gave Ozpin some amount of hope. CDRL hated Team RWBY. They were responsible for the boys' humiliation at the start of their studies. If anyone was going to reject Team RWBY's offer, it would be Cardin Winchester. Ozpin didn't necessarily have confidence in the boys to pick up solid wins within Vytal, but it was better than nothing. Marching to their dormitory, Ozpin picked up his pace as his hope rose. He pictured the line-up of teams. JJWL. CRDL. JNPR. CFVY. A strong showing of Huntsmen and Huntresses, even if he was working against half of them. It would be enough. Maybe they'd even get an upset or two. He knocked on Team CDRL's door with gusto and grinned eagerly as Russel Thrush opened the door. Ozpin opened his mouth to speak—then Russel opened the door wider.

Team CRDL's room was messy in all the ways one would expect. Clothes lining every inch of the floor. A distinct odor indicated someone hadn't showered in a week. But that didn't draw Ozpin's ire. In the back of the room, sitting next to the rest of Team CDRL, was Ruby Rose. She didn't seem bothered by the room in the slightest. When she noticed Ozpin in the doorway, staring at her dumbfounded, she just smiled at him. She wore a single, black glove over her hand, and with that same sheltered hand, she waved at him.

"Good morning, headmaster. It's good to see you."

Ozpin could barely contain his disgust. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be ruining someone else's day?"

"Well, I noticed it was getting late, and Weiss was moving as fast as she could, so I decided to help out by personally speaking with Team CDRL myself," Ruby explained. "We've been having very interesting discussions about their future."

Cardin Winchester stood in front of Ruby with his hands on his hips, posed with a cocky swagger that was undeserved for someone of his position. Ozpin tried to interject, hoping the situation hadn't gotten out of hand.

"Well, students, I actually came to discuss something quite important with you."

Cardin and his bros looked at Ruby with a knowing glance, but she feigned shock. "Oh no. Was it… something related to the Vytal Festival?"

Her play ignorance was enough to send Ozpin into a rage.

"You… didn't…"

"Sorry, Professor," Cardin said. "We're not gonna compete this year. Ruby made us an offer we can't refuse."

Ozpin hissed. "What… offer?"

"Five thousand lien! Can you believe it?" Cardin said with amazement. "And, she's going to offer an exclusive merchandise item through the Team RWBY Fund. A Team CRDL-branded sweatshirt! We're going to be famous."

Ruby tried to hide her smile as Ozpin's glare became strong enough to melt the ice caps. "You… gave up a chance to compete in Vytal… for five thousand lien… and a shirt?"

None of the boys seemed to understand why that was a bad thing. In fact, judging by their enthusiastic grins, they thought it was the best deal of their lives.

"This girl is really something, Professor. I'll admit: I used to think you were a pathetic little dweeb with a hot sister. But you're actually pretty smart."

"T-Thank you," Ruby said, awkwardly clearing her throat. "I don't really know what to do with some of that information."

Ozpin gripped his cane tightly, so tightly it threatened to break under his hands. The boys of Team CRDL seemed to recognize something was wrong, but didn't have the capacity to ask basic follow-up questions. Ozpin raised a finger, pointing at Ruby before beckoning her forth.

"You." His words were poisonous. "Out here."

Ruby innocently shrugged and rose to her feet. As she exited the dorm, she waved to the boys behind her. "Don't forget to send me the sketches for your logo! It's going to sell great, I just know it!"

"Will do, Ruby!" Cardin said proudly. "Royalty checks, here we come!"

Ruby left the room, and Russel shut the door behind her. The moment the barrier was formed between her and the other students, Ruby's innocence dropped. Her smile turned cold.

"They aren't getting royalty money," she said simply. "It won't be in the contract. I'm sure they won't read it."

Ozpin growled. "You think you are so clever, don't you, Miss Rose?"

"Less clever than efficient," Ruby admitted. "Maybe if you didn't charge so much for tuition, it wouldn't be so easy to bribe your entire student body."

"This doesn't mean anything. I'm still in control here."

"Are you?"

"I have the final say on who enters Vytal," Ozpin reminded her. "If you think there is even a chance I'd consider handing that opportunity to you, you are sorely mistaken. I don't care if you pay off every team in this school. You can't get in without my approval."

"Of course, we can," Ruby said confidently. "All we have to do is eliminate everyone else."

"And then what? You think that will force me to select you? I'd rather let Beacon fall one team short than ever let you get near the Festival."

Ruby held back a knowing laugh. "Oh? But… you don't have a choice. Didn't you read the paperwork?"

No. Ruby could see it in his eyes. Ozpin had not read the paperwork. She explained it carefully to him.

"If the teams you submit aren't able to participate, then they simply forfeit the match. But if Beacon Academy isn't able to select all four teams before the deadline next week… the Vytal Committee gets to select the remaining participants from the Academy."

What?

"And if no one else is willing to step forward," Ruby explained, "then I wonder who they will select? Probably the extremely famous Heroes of Vale who will significantly boost their ratings and attendance. Not like they really have a choice." Ruby sneered as she saw Ozpin's fear grow. "But you have a choice. You can give us a fighting chance. Maybe if you play nice, when we win, we won't use the Grail to destroy everything you care about. Or you can keep making enemies of us. Up to you."

Ozpin was never sure that he hated Ruby Rose until that very moment. He was bothered by her, furious at her antics and her constant disobedience. But he could never admit to himself that he hated her until that very moment. The smugness radiating off of her made him sick to her stomach. She was treating this whole thing as a game at his expense. The world was going to end, and she was interjecting herself like some star player, intent on making everything more complicated. She thought that money and influence could let her steamroll him, but she was making a mistake. She was a novice at a game he had mastered over lifetimes. He didn't care what he had to do to stop her. He would scrape the bottom of the barrel if he had to. He would never concede to the likes of her.

Team RWBY was not entering the Vytal Festival.

That was final.

"I'm calling an assembly," Ozpin declared. "Every Beacon student will meet in the auditorium. We're finding the last team for Beacon now."

Pyrrha really wasn't sure what she was doing anymore.

Four months ago, when she first stepped foot into this very auditorium and took in its grandeur, she had an understanding of who she was. She was the prodigious Huntress, an undefeated, invincible warrior who was training to become even better amidst a sea of rising, external threats. Team RWBY were merely those weird girls who talked to them occasionally and had just defeated a Grimm in the middle of Vale. She was a loser who could barely talk to her own teammates but excelled at her work. She liked Ozpin. She liked her school.

Four months was more than enough time to destroy all of that. Win a tournament to earn a cup that lets you gain the power of the gods, aka the ancient civilization that your entire race is descended from. If you don't, your headmaster will destroy you and maybe the whole world. The hell? Seriously, when did she get there? Apparently, Ruby and Weiss were off bribing the whole student body, and she was just supposed to be okay with it. Actually, she was okay with it. Why was she so okay with it? Probably because of the world-ending catastrophe that she thought of before. It was all too overwhelming. If Jaune hadn't sat beside her, gently strumming her hand, she might have broken out into a panic attack on the spot. And if she had to rely on Jaune Arc being the steady, calming presence, that only proved how absolutely messed up the entire situation was.

Ozpin had summoned the entire student body into the auditorium, and the teams crammed themselves into the front rows, leaving the overwhelming amount of space behind in the rest of the amphitheater abandoned. Team JNPR did not sit among them. Per the request of the spontaneous notification they received, some of the teams sat on the ledge of the stage, legs dangling into the orchestra. On one end, Pyrrha and her team sat uncomfortably, waiting for the show to begin. On the other end of the line sat all members of Team JJWL. They did not look happy, being dragged out of whatever chaos they liked to cause. Vivian Jupitarian sat the closest, her long legs splayed out in front of her. Her sinister blue eyes lingered on Team JNPR, and Pyrrha tried her best to ignore them. She gently stroked Jaune's hand, hoping he could provide some stability.

Unfortunately, he was also shrinking under Vivian's gloating gaze.

"Where's Team CFVY?" Jaune asked, turning the subject to something else.

"Velvet is getting a check-up with the nurses," Ren explained. "I don't think they'll be here."

"Ozpin isn't going to like that," Pyrrha stated.

"Eh, Ozpin doesn't like us anyway," Nora said with a shrug. "I'm just curious why all of them are here?"

To that, none of them could answer. Blake and Yang were nowhere to be found either, but aside from them, they saw every familiar and unfamiliar face from Beacon within the crowd, chatting among themselves as they waited for the assembly to begin. Pyrrha could see the excitement on some of their faces, and she heard in whispers the rumors being quickly passed around the student body. Was it true? Was Team RWBY buying up debt to get into Vytal? It seemed like a fantasy, but some of them swore it had happened to them. Pyrrha sighed. Those girls were more effective at manipulating others than she anticipated. She was thankful they were at least on her side.

Eventually, Pyrrha saw Weiss Schnee walk down the many steps to the front row, and seat herself among the crowd. Ruby Rose sat beside her not too long afterward. Then, a moment after, Professor Ozpin finally appeared. He walked with fervor, his cane impaling the ground with every step, and he huffed as he made his way onto the stage. There were no other teachers. No guards. Seemingly no one had been informed he was doing this. Pyrrha recognized in her former mentor a great desperation.

Ozpin stood in the center of the stage. He cast a mean stare at the blank spot where CFVY was supposed to sit but brushed it aside. They didn't need to be here for this. There was no microphone prepared for him, and he was forced to raise his voice for everyone to hear him.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I'm not going to keep you from your classes for very long." His fake smile seemed even faker than usual. An uncomfortable air passed over the students. "I have brought you all here because we are currently dealing with a… minor school emergency. Due to circumstances outside of my control, one of our school's spots in the Vytal Festival has suddenly opened up."

He waited for the shocked murmurs, but there were no murmurs and no one was shocked.

"Now, despite whatever you might have heard, participating in the Vytal Festival is one of the greatest honors a Huntsman can ever achieve. It is a tournament of incredible prestige, and competing in the tournament itself can bring one tremendous amounts of success. Now, as one of your fellow teams has stepped down from the tournament due to… personal reasons… this has opened an opportunity for one of you to step forward and claim this chance for yourself. Isn't that exciting?"

No one said anything. Ozpin looked at Ruby in the front row. He was just waiting for her to do something terrible, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Now, I could manually select a team. Let me be clear: there are more than enough worthy and willing candidates to choose from. However, I decided that it might be more appropriate to simply… let you all express your enthusiasm for participation. Anyone who wants to compete in Vytal is more than welcome to—"

Ozpin's speech was immediately derailed as Ruby jumped up to her feet. She turned around to her fellow students and waved her arms to snatch their attention.

"Hey, everyone! Listen up!"

Ozpin snapped. "Miss Rose, sit down and be quiet!"

She would do neither. Ozpin thought he was being clever, addressing the students all at once to prevent Ruby from negotiating with them. He failed to realize he just made her job that much easier. The students, dealing with some degree of second-hand embarrassment from the obvious drama playing out before them, nonetheless watched intently as Ruby made her case.

"Here's the deal!" Ruby announced. "Anyone who actively chooses not to participate in the Vytal Festival is getting all their student loans paid off! That's right. Completely paid off! We will pay for all of it right here and right now, and all you have to do is not sign up for Vytal!"

The students looked around nervously. Those in the know could vouch for Ruby's plan. Those just learning the rumors were true began to whisper among themselves.

All student loans? Really? Right now?

But Ozpin was prepared for Ruby to make a move. He cleared his throat, drawing their focus back to him.

"That won't be necessary, Miss Rose. Any student who volunteers to participate in Vytal will also have their student loans paid for. The school will clear them free of charge."

Ozpin grimaced as the words came out. If Ruby was going to make him play hardball, then he was going to go just as hard. Ruby faltered for only a microsecond, but in that moment, her animosity for her headmaster was visible for all to see.

Fine. He wanted to throw money around? They would see whose pockets emptied first.

"But student loan repayments are only the first thing we'll offer!" Ruby countered. "Weiss, tell them what they get if they refuse to sign up for Vytal."

Weiss calmly stood up and cleared her throat. She spoke with all of the authority and superiority of an SDC spokesperson. "The Schnee Dust Company and the Team RWBY Fund are prepared to offer additional monetary payments freely negotiable by each team. Furthermore, we are prepared to cover the cost of any textbooks, weapon repairs, Dust supplies, and any other expenses that you have accumulated or will accumulate during your time at Beacon."

"Don't listen to them," Ozpin said with a bitter laugh. "Paying many of your expenses? Fine. I can do that as well. The team that participates in the Vytal Festival will receive one hundred percent free tuition."

Somewhere on the stage, there was a shocked, almost pained gasp. Only a handful of the students noticed it, though they couldn't find its source. A very invisible Glynda Goodwitch slapped her hand over her mouth, trying to watch the battle of money unfold without making more noise. From the seats, Ruby and Weiss were undeterred.

"We can also offer you exclusive partnerships through our Funds with Huntsmen agencies around the world," Weiss said. "Our Fund has accumulated valuable sponsors, and we will be more than happy to provide our resources to anyone who needs them. Long after you have left Beacon behind, the Team RWBY Fund will continue to support your goals and dreams."

Ozpin scoffed. "Beacon Academy already supports students deep into their careers."

Ruby shook her head. "For the top teams of each grade, yes. But did you know that in terms of pure numbers, when most Huntsmen in Vale retire, they often don't have enough money saved up for retirement? Forty-seven percent of Huntsmen have said that they are forced to return to work in their forties and fifties because their finances have dried up. The Companion Party, which Ozpin currently supports, is considering reducing the pension received by Huntsmen by more than half. Isn't that true, Professor?"

Ruby looked at Ozpin with wide, innocent eyes, and the headmaster stammered as the other students stared at him with discontent. "Well, that legislation is unlikely to pass—"

"And don't forget about the difficulty that Huntsmen have finding good health insurance," Ruby reminded the crowd. "Ozpin fully supports a privatized health care system in which companies have full discretion to reject applicants who either experience life-threatening work or received injuries from that type of work in the past."

Ozpin grimaced. "That… you see, that system has many benefits to the consumer…"

"The Team RWBY Fund is committed to helping the students of Beacon pay for health care!" Ruby said confidently. "And we will also help cover you for eye care and dental!"

"Retirement, health, savings… we are going to help everyone save for a better future," Weiss declared. "And yes, that extends to the people we have already had discussions with. We will be looking out for you as well."

"However, this is a communal effort," Ruby explained. Sensing Ozpin was on the ropes, she moved in for the kill. "In order to help the entire student body, we need you all to work together. Here are the terms. If every team here of you agrees to withdraw from Vytal consideration, then we will extend the benefits even further. We will work to create an entirely separate Fund—a Team RWBY Fund II—specifically crafted to help the students of Beacon live long, rich, and healthy lives in their careers and post-careers. But we need every team to agree to work together. If Team RWBY isn't able to compete in Vytal, then we won't be able to accumulate the proper funding or support we need to make this a reality. So, can we please get the consent of everyone here that you won't participate?"

What started as frenzied whispers turned into a firestorm. The many students began to talk not just with their teammates, but with students in different grades. They leaned across rows and talked to each other across aisles. Ruby watched it all enthusiastically. It was perhaps the greatest plan Ruby ever constructed—a bit of political theater inspired by one too many Blake rants. She needed all of the students to cooperate in the end, so why not play off it? The students of Beacon had been beaten down by the world for too long. They had been forced into the cold, Atlasian winter, stripped of their identities, and subjected to brutal training regiments they didn't understand. They had watched as their headmaster played favorites and engrossed himself in political games that they did not understand. Their needs had been abandoned. Their faith: shaken. If mere bribes were not going to be enough to sway them, then the promise of a better future—one that the older generations seemed hellbent on ignoring—would be enough to change their minds.

Ozpin frowned, and then his frown turned into an angry roar. "Come now. No one is actually falling for this, are they?"

The students ignored him. They spoke frantically among themselves. Team RWBY was one of their own. Maybe they were separate in some important ways, but when the chips were down, they were here to support them. It was widely known they supported Team CFVY and Team JNPR. Hell, they even offered to help Team CDRL. Why wouldn't they extend that grace?

"These are all cheap bribes and empty promises," Ozpin stated. "You cannot take this child seriously?"

Again, his words fell on deaf ears. The students of Beacon were quickly coming to a consensus. A united front. Ruby's simple plea was enough to inspire the masses. Their conversation was no longer in whispers, but in loud, excited chanting. Ozpin looked behind him as if hoping that someone rational could see the same lies that he saw. But his only allies—well, his only visible ones—didn't fall in line. Team JJWL sat in silence, nodding along carefully to RWBY's ideas. They may not have been eligible for the bribes, and they may have been cruel, vicious, heartless bastards. But a guaranteed healthcare plan? They weren't stupid.

"Enough of this!"

Ozpin's fury reached its peak, and he slammed the end of his cane into the ground. It nearly ruptured through the wooden stage, and the booming echo was enough to shock the students into silence. Ruby grinned as Ozpin's seething madness drew all their attention toward him.

"This is absurd. I am not going to stand here and let this girl lead you astray. We are ending this. Any team that wishes to participate in the Vytal Festival and see this charade finished, raise your hand."

Ozpin waited.

Ruby held her breath.

But no one raised their hand.

"Come now. Don't be foolish. This is Vytal we are talking about," Ozpin growled. "Who is going to be responsible and step up to compete?"

Again, no one raised their hands. If someone even looked like they were considering it, whispers flew toward them, and they were shot down by the power of the student collective.

Ruby's smile returned. This was it.

"Anyone?" Ozpin asked again, growing desperate.

Ruby Rose had done the impossible. She was popular among her classmates. She inspired them.

"Come on, anyone?"

Ozpin was practically screaming. Goodwitch, invisible behind him, was pulling her own hair out of frustration. Weiss stood next to her girlfriend with pride. Ruby felt the wind on her back.

"There has to be someone who actually wants to fight in the Vytal Festival!"

Ozpin's plea was met with only silence by the student body whose needs he long abandoned. He had tried so long to turn them against Team RWBY, to prove that they belonged to the other side. But the wolf didn't fit properly in its disguise. His calls to action had faltered. The suicide of the Vytal Festival, of a life abandoned by the elite of Beacon, held no allure. When simple needs failed to be met, the students turned to their own, and Ruby was there to lead them. It wasn't even her money that swung them to her side—though that certainly helped. It was her sincerity, something Ozpin was incapable of. The broken headmaster would be forced to swallow a very bitter truth. He had lost a step. His words were powerless.

Ozpin would have to accept defeat.

Team RWBY would enter the Vytal Festival.

And then, waaaaaaaaaaaaay in the back of the auditorium, a young voice screamed as loud as it could.

"Me! I'll do it!"

Ruby turned toward the voice. Weiss turned toward the voice. Ozpin, JNPR, JJWL, and every student in the auditorium turned toward the voice. It came from high in the rafters, so far away it barely registered. They saw, in the distance, a blue dot bounding down the steps toward the stage, sprinting with unreal enthusiasm. Slowly, she took form as one of them, a young, fierce woman hurrying toward them. Strange—Ozpin didn't even realize one of his students was missing from the assembly. She had completely missed the notification, because honestly, who the hell checks their email constantly throughout the day? Dumb people, that's who.

"I'll be in Vytal! I'll super-duper be in Vytal!"

Her voice was screechy and horrible, and as she came closer, Ruby could recognize some of her features. The blue dot became a blue bob of hair that—suspiciously—looked very similar in style to Ruby's own. Her eyes were manic as if she was possessed by a demon. Her smile was toothy, wide, and full of delirious satisfaction. Ruby swore she recognized her, but the name escaped her. The student still ran down the steps. There were a lot of steps, but she was getting there. Almost. She waved her arms excitedly, trying to capture Ozpin's attention as if everyone wasn't already staring at her.

"Let me be in Vytal! Please, please, please! I'll be the best fighter evaaaagggghhhhhhhhhhh!"

And then, she tripped.

"Fuck!"

She bounced down the steps.

"Ow! Shit! Ow! Fuck!"

Tumble tumble tumble.

"Fuck! Ow! Dammit!"

Rolling, crashing, falling, smacking, and flailing down the steps, the student eventually came to a brutal stop at the bottom floor, landing directly in front of Ruby. The RWBY leader could only stare at her with some pity and concern, but before long, the young woman jumped up to her feet, brushed herself off, and continued celebrating as if she hadn't just suffered a massive concussion.

"Woohoo! Vytal!"

She bounded onto the stage, sprinting past Team JJWL who, like everyone else, had no fucking clue who this girl was. She halted directly in front of Professor Ozpin, and with an overly enthusiastic smile, she saluted her headmaster. Ozpin looked at her with dull eyes.

"Yes, Miss… ummm…"

"Aqua, sir!" the girl announced. "Aqua Lilliota! Reporting for Vytal duty!"

Ozpin looked down at the little Huntress, somewhat relieved, but also somewhat terrified. He cleared his throat. "Yes, that's right. You are from Team ATOM, correct?"

"Team ATMC!" Aqua reminded him.

"Yes, yes of course." He paused momentarily. "Okay, you're in."

Aqua jumped in the air in victory—and from the sidelines, Ruby and Weiss saw their plan crumble into dust.

"What?" Ruby screamed.

"Haha! Eat it, bitch!" Aqua shouted happily, symbolically lapping up Ruby's tears. She did a little dance that was halfway between a twerk and a seizure. "I win! Aqua wins again!"

"But… but…" Ruby stammered. "Our plan. Listen to our plan."

"Oh, I heard your plan, and I don't give a shit," Aqua stated smugly. "I'll make a fuckton of money when I win Vytal by being awesome."

"You don't care about healthcare?" Weiss asked. She genuinely couldn't remember who this bitch was, but that didn't stop Aqua from mocking her all the same.

"Healthcare? Retirement? I'm dying young!" Aqua danced all the way to the front of the stage. She looked out unto the crowd of her peers—the same peers that she had just actively fucked out of receiving a ton of benefits. Ozpin watched her dissatisfied, but ultimately, relieved. JNPR and JJWL stared at her in disbelief that a student like this even existed. Weiss and Ruby gasped in horror as the Holy Grail, their future, the world itself, slipped out of their reach.

Aqua didn't give a shit about any of that. She got what she wanted. Glory. Recognition. And a chance to screw over Team RWBY regardless of any long-term consequences. She triumphantly pumped her fists into the air.

"Guess what, motherfuckers? Team ATMC is going to the Vytal Festival!"