"They're alive!"

Those were the first words Weiss Schnee said when she reunited with Jaune and Pyrrha.

Gasps, squeals, hugs, and tears of joy were exchanged as she, Blake, Pyrrha and Jaune all became a tangled mess just inside the Infirmary.

Bark! Bark!

Weiss heard the sound and she immediately squealed harder as she saw Zwei leap into the fray.

"Wow! You guys sound happy!" Nora greeted, following after Zwei's step and flittering around them.

"Ruby and Yang! They're alive!" Blake shouted and immediately, Nora joined the pile with a squeal.

She saw Ren smile from the door but he made no move to join them which was just as well because as much as Weiss was happy, it was getting a little bit too warm and hard to breathe with all the people around her.

"We should celebrate!" Nora squealed and Weiss found that she couldn't agree more.

Gods, she just felt so light. After everything that has happened, a celebration was just the right way to end things.

While she would have preferred to have Ruby and Yang here, them being with Yang's mother just made things easier for another kind of celebration.

A tingle rushed up Weiss' spine as she looked up to stare coquettishly at Jaune's face.

Before she could even say something however, she felt Jaune's stomach growl loudly through the group hug.

She giggled at that as they all looked towards him.

Perhaps what she had in mind could wait for later.

"Uhh, maybe we should have some lunch first." He blushed embarrassedly, pulling away as he started to rub the back of his head bashfully.

"Uhm, I don't think you should do that." Ren cringed from the side and Weiss saw Jaune immediately snap towards him.

"Why not?" He asked curiously but Ren only shook his head.

"Because the reporters are there. We saw them when we went to get Zwei. The only reason we didn't get mobbed by virtue of being your teammates was because they were busy eating. I doubt that would stop them if they actually spot you though."

"Right, no going into the lion's den." Jaune said with a shudder even as Weiss tilted her head.

"Why not?"

She doesn't know whether it was from how light she felt from surviving all of the harrowing experiences they just had but as everyone snapped towards her incredulously, she could only shrug as the words flowed right out of her mouth.

"Why should we hide from them?"

Now that she had said it, her eyes lit up as realization after realization came crashing onto her.

Her hand snapped upward, silencing any reply they had as she looked at Jaune.

"Jaune, you only hid your relationship with us because you didn't have any public standing yourself to prop the relationship up from your side."

"Ouch but fair though I don't think my lack of public standing is the only reason for that, Weiss." Jaune cringed as he looked at her, Pyrrha, and Blake while the rest turned to frown at her.

Weiss only shook her head smoothly at that however.

"Maybe but things are different now! You have clout! Now I'm not saying that I wouldn't want to be with you regardless-" She started even as a light blush tinged her cheeks but before she could even finish her sentence, a voice cut her off.

"Weiss!" Winter shouted in shock, making Weiss jolt even as her mouth began to purse.

"Winter? You're still here?"

"I-what?! Of course, I'm here! I'm jere for you!" Winter's stricken face beside Professor Goodwitch sent a pang through Weiss' heart but she only took a deep breath to harden herself as she glared at her sister.

This was the first time in her life she had really been at odds with Winter and part of her quaked but the words she threw at Weiss earlier hardened her resolve.

"-I'm taking you home!"

Her fists clenched at the memory of those words. To be treated as if she was just a child and by Winter no less!

Ohhhh, anger flowed through Weiss' heart at that even as disappointment and pain followed.

Her sister would not support her, worse, she would bring them back to their father. The same father they both ran away from. Winter was willing to bring her to him just to separate her from Jaune.

And if she was separated from Jaune, then she was separated from the others as well.

Blake, Pyrrha, Ruby, Yang, and even Ren and Nora.

True friends that she doubted she would find of similar make once Winter brought her to their father.

Weiss was just about ready to let her sister know her fury when a hand calmly rested on her shoulder.

She turned to see Jaune look at her softly and she almost melted at the understanding and support in his soft blue eyes.

"Let me." He said confidently and Weiss could only gulp as her throat suddenly became dry.

Gods, how had she misunderstood this man all those time ago?

How had she not seen the gem hidden underneath the bumbling fool while Pyrrha did so?

Weiss sighed as she made space for Jaune to step towards Winter.

Winter bristled at that and her hand automatically found the hilt of her sword.

Jaune however only stood silently in front of her and Weiss couldn't help but think of all those romantic novels she secretly read as a child.

A sigh left her throat as she remembered all those times the male lead (usually a chivalrous knight) confronted the female lead's (usually a princess or a heiress) family to declare his love for her.

Never had she thought she would ever experience those stories herself yet here they were.

Jaune Arc was facing her sister for her and as Weiss waited for Jaune's declaration of love with bated breath, he spoke.

"General Ironwood is looking for you."

"Eh?"

Tension left Weiss' body with a snap as she face-faulted. Her expectations of passionate declarations of love were dashed as Jaune sheepishly looked to the side.

Winter sneered at Jaune for that. "You can't fool me, Arc. You don't even have the balls to face me!"

"I absolutely do but I also know what it feels like to be in your position. I'm something of an older sibling myself, you know?" Jaune shook his head and Weiss' heart dropped as he turned towards her. "I especially know what it feels like to watch as if my younger siblings are about to do something I absolutely think is stupid."

Was...was this a rejection? Was Jaune calling her stupid?

"Then-" Winter started but Jaune immediately snapped a hand up and Weiss' eyes widened as he winked roguishly at her.

"But I also know what it feels like to be a younger sibling! To feel as if my older sister doesn't trust me to make my own decision. To feel as if she doesn't support me." Jaune answered, turning back towards Winter with a wry smile on his face. "It hurts like nothing else, you know?"

Winter cringed at that but her face only hardened even as Jaune continued.

"And as someone speaking from experience, I'm telling you that the best thing to do right now is to give each other some space and calm down."

"You think I'd leave my sister in your hands?!" Winter bristled loudly, her teeth grinding against each other as she glared at Jaune.

"You have no choice. General Ironwood is looking for you, remember?" Jaune only raised his eyebrow at that however, unfazed even as Winter scoffed at him.

"You lie."

"I'm not. In fact, Headmaster Ozpin was looking for Professor Goodwitch as well. Something about a fairytale?" Jaune shook his head lightly, tilting it as he looked at Professor Goodwitch who gasped.

"So they told you then?" She asked gravely, looking at both Jaune and Pyrrha.

"They did. They're with Amber right now." Pyrrha answered.

Weiss didn't understand how a fairytale could get Professor Goodwitch to react like that or who Amber was but it worked for their favor as Professor Goodwitch suddenly looked seriously at her sister.

"Winter, we must go."

"You can't be serious!" Winter flushed indignantly but Professor Goodwitch only shook her head.

"I'm afraid I am. We must go."

Winter looked furious at that, her veins bulged in impotent rage as she glared at Jaune.

Credit where credit is die, Jaune for his part stood his ground as he looked at Weiss' sister.

"Look, Ms. Sch-"

"Specialist. At least do me the honor of addressing me by my proper title." Winter interrupted, clinging to whatever control of the situation she could.

"Specialist then but I want to speak to Weiss' sister, her family, not to an Atlasean officer."

Winter scoffed but nodded at him to continue

Weiss held her breath at that. It wasn't acceptance but at least Winter was no longer baying for Jaune's blood.

Baby steps, they were taking baby steps.

She squeaked however when Jaune's hand suddenly found hers and she blushed at the warmth and comfort she found in him.

He gave her a winning smile and Weiss could only return a shaky one as Winter gritted her teeth at them.

"Make haste, Arc. Say what you mean to say and stop clinging to my sister."

"Right, sorry." Jaune replied bashfully, turning back towards Winter even as Weiss tightened her hold on his hand.

Winter pursed her lips at her but she could do nothing as Weiss firmly locked eyes with her while Jaune continued.

"What I want to say is that I understand your feelings as an older sister. I want to assure you that until you two speak again, Weiss and I won't do anything untoward-ow!"

Weiss' hold immediately turned painful as she gripped tighter with both hands while turning her glare towards Jaune.

Nothing untoward?! Oh hell no! Weiss had plans to do everything untoward with him!

With the relief from surviving a harrowing experience combined with the looming threat of her father, Weiss deserved a break!

And she was going to get it!

She was going to be pampered, spoiled, and defiled!

A light blush overtook her face at that but she kept her eyes aimed at Jaune even as she heard Winter gasp horribly.

Jaune winced before laughing nervously at her and turning back to Winter. "R-Right, sorry. I guess I meant to say I'm going to take good care of her."

Winter gawked at that, her jaw falling and rising as Weiss blushed harder when she heard Nora snicker behind her.

She eeped loudly however when she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.

"Don't you mean we are going to take good care of her?" Pyrrha added and if Weiss was already blushing before, then this time she was incandescent as both Blake and Pyrrha stood beside her.

Winter could only gape at them silently even as Professor Goodwitch shook her head in disbelief beside her.

"Here I am seeing it right in front of me but I still have a hard time believing it." Professor Goodwitch mutterred before raising an eyebrow towards all of them. "While what you do in private is your business, please remember that we are not running a brothel here. Please conduct yourself properly where anyone else can see you."

""""Yes, Ms. Goodwitch."""" They echoed, unwilling to go against Beacon's disciplinarian.

"Good, now come Specialist Schnee. We have business to attend to."

"No. Wait-"

Professor Goodwitch did not allow Winter more time to protest. She grabbed Winter's wrist and used her Semblance to carry her.

Surprised and unbalanced as she was, Winter could only gasp as Professor Goodwitch carried her towards the door.

"If you will excuse me."

They immediately made way for the blonde professor and there was a moment there where Weiss' eyes locked with her sister's.

Winter pleaded at her silently.

To do what, Weiss did not know but she could only avert her eyes in shame and anger.

Jaune was right. What they needed now was space from each other so they could calm down.

She watched as Professor Goodwitch brought her sister outside, turning away from their view as she rounded into the hallway.

Weiss sighed at that and silence dominated the infirmary again before another sound made itself known.

Growl.

Jaune's stomach growled loudly again and they all turned towards him to watch him blush embarrassedly.

"What? I'm still hungry!"

They all laughed at that and even Zwei joined in with a few barks of his own.

Truthfully speaking, Weiss was feeling the hunger herself yet unlike Jaune who slept through lunch because of exhaustion, Weiss at least had snacks handed to her.

She shook her head with a small smile on her face before smiling at Jaune. "Come on, you dolt. Let's get you some lunch."

"Uhm, again. You do not want to be the ones getting your own lunch." Ren piped up and Weiss could only sigh tiredly at that.

"And again, why should we hide from the media?"

Whatever lightness and relief she felt after learning of Ruby and Yang's possible survival was burned out by the conversation with her sister. Only tiredness and numbness remained even as she felt Pyrrha began to smoothly massage her shoulder in comfort.

She sighed at the touch but tightened her hold on Jaune's hand as she shrugged. "I understand before all of this craziness why we had to do so but things are different now. Jaune isn't just a nobody anymore. He's touted as the Hero of Vale! That's on par or even better than Pyrrha's title of Invincible Girl!"

Jaune winced embarrassedly before rubbing the back of his head. "I still don't know why they're calling me that. I just did what I could."

"Are you kidding, fearless leader?! You led the charge to kick the Grimm out of the city!" Nora exclaimed, raising her hands up jubilantly as Ren nodded beside her.

"Quite right and when everyone else was already tired, you kept fighting until another batch of reinforcements came in to help you."

Weiss smiled at that, softly squeezing Jaune's hand. "See, Jaune? There's no need to be so humble. You have achievements under your name now. You don't need to wait for the Vytal Tournament for everyone to know you."

For their part, both Blake and Pyrrha wore complicated expressions.

She could see that they were reluctant but partially agreed with her with their slow nods.

Weiss tilted her head at that. She would've thought Pyrrha would jump at the chance of being publicly acknowledged as Jaune's girlfriend but her reluctance here baffled Weiss.

Was there something she did not know?

Ultimately however, the decision laid in Jaune's hands.

"Maybe, but I just don't feel like facing them right now. I mean, what would we even say" Jaune cringed while looking at all three of them.

Weiss paused at that but smiled softly as Jaune looked apologetically at them.

She could certainly understand being nervous and while she had years of experience and training to lean on, Jaune had none.

"Fine but we still need to eat you know?" She sighed fondly.

Luckily for them, they had such good friends.

"I can sneak back in to get you some food. In hindsight, we should have done so already while we were still there." Ren nodded, getting Nora to exclaim beside him.

"And I'll provide the distraction! You wouldn't mind if I tell them your training right, fearless leader?!"

"Go ahead. As long as you don't make it too wild. I don't need them asking me how I can wrestle Beowolves for breakfast." Jaune smiled, giving them a thumbs up as everyone laughed beside them.

"Right, while you do that, I think its time for us to take a bath and get some rest." Blake cut in with a smile on her face, reminding Weiss just how tired she was.

She sighed, smiling gratefully at her teammate.

A bath and rest certainly sounded nice and she had just the plan to make it even nicer.

"We'll deliver your food to your room then." Ren nodded, pulling Nora along as she waved enthusiastically at them.

"Come on, let's get ourselves settled as well." Pyrrha called out, grabbing Jaune's other hand from the other side even as Weiss tightened her hold and blushed as she enacted her plan.

With Winter's looming threat of taking her to their father, Weiss was desparate to cling into any semblance of companionship with those important to her. Who knew until when she would be able to be with those she loves?

And so, she said words she never would've thought she would've said a year ago.

"Will you...join me...us?" She asked as her other hand snaked to find Blake's.

It was the first time she intiated something and Weiss found herself closing her eyes in embarrassment as she waited for their answers.

It was embarrassing to be seen naked by other people of course but they have already bathed together once. One more time was a small price to pay, if it even was a price at all, as she tried to seek comfort in their presence.

She never should've been worried though because she heard Pyrrha chuckle.

"Do you even have to ask?"

Weiss opened her eyes widely to see all of them looking at her.

"Looks like someone had a sexual awakening." Blake nodded teasingly and Weiss blushed even more as she hunched into herself.

"S-Shut up."

"Are you sure about this, Weiss?" Jaune asked and Weiss turned towards him with resolute eyes, blushing of course but she carried on.

"O-Of course I'm sure! Now don't ask me again!" She finished with a pout, getting Jaune to smile softly at her as he raised her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Alright. If you're sure then you're sure. It's just that we just finished talking with your sister and I guess...I just kinda feel guilty doing things behind her back."

Weiss softened at that and she smiled back before leaning into him.

"You dolt. Don't worry about my sister. I'll...I'll talk to her."

"And we'll be right here with you." Blake smiled at her comfortingly and Weiss laughed as Pyrrha tugged at them enthusiastically.

"Right! Now come on. Let's take a bath, shall we?"

And so there they all were, walking out of the infirmary and into the hallway while holding hands.

Zwei tailed behind them, rushing forward beneath their feet and looking back at them excitedly.

Weiss giggled at the sight but her giggles stopped when they encountered other people.

Luckily for them, they were students and not the media.

None thought to approach them however as Pyrrha glared ferociously at anyone who even gave a hint of stepping closer.

Weiss was thankful for it. No one was going to interrupt her special time with her special people.

She felt Jaune squirm embarrassedly at that however but Weiss and Pyrrha kept a tight hold on him as they walked forward while lingering students gawked and gaped them.

"Holy shit. It's true." A young man from Haven pointed at them in shock.

"Damn... Pyrrha Nikos, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna? What a stud." A woman shook her head in disbelief before looking at Jaune up and down appreciatively.

Blake grinned cattily at that while Weiss preened at the attention.

Let them gawk and gaggle. Weiss had never felt so liberated now that everyone knew their status and she didn't have to hide anymore. It almost felt silly being worried about how to keep their relationship a secret but now that it was out in public however, Weiss only felt joy and basked at the feeling of being able to be with her partner.

She still felt worried of course with the looming threat of her father and she did her best to keep her mind off of what her Scroll would like once she finally opened it but right now, those things only pushed her further.

She clung to any ounce of happiness she could and in this case, it was Jaune.

Their group almost paused however when they saw Cardin and his team walking away from the opposite end of the hall.

The ginger looked at them with wide eyes before sending Jaune a thumbs up.

"...Nice."

Jaune groaned loudly at that but even Weiss could see the pleased and proud smile gracing his face.

It took no time at all for them to arrive in front of their own rooms.

And with eyes still on them, entered Team RWBY's room together.

She had no doubt they would be whispering by now and judging by the muffled squeals she could hear, they were already telling anyone they could what they just saw.

"I can't believe we just did that." Jaune groaned but Weiss only giggled as they finally let go of each other.

Zwei barked happily beneath their feet, his tail wagging excitedly as he looked up at them.

Weiss bent down towards the corgi while Pyrrha and Blake patted Jaune comfortingly.

"There, there. At least its over now." Pyrrha smiled while Blake shook her head softly.

"You should be proud, Jaune. Most men would preen like a peacock to have so many women on their arms."

"I am not most men." Jaune narrowed his eyes as Weiss nodded in agreement.

"No you are not." She said as she scooped up Zwei with a smile on her face.

Carrying the corgi and depositing him atop Ruby's bed, Weiss turned around to smile at Jaune.

"Most men would hardly even be worth one of our time, much less all three of us."

They all looked at Jaune at that as he blushed bashfully at Weiss' words. "Damn, I really am lucky, aren't I?"

"And you are about to be luckier." She replied, stepping towards him and grabbing the edges of his shirt.

"Looks like someone is eager." Pyrrha raised an eyebrow beside them but Weiss only sighed softly.

"Recent events have thought me not to take things for granted. We came so close to not seeing each other again today."

They all froze at that but Weiss continued on, raising Jaune's shirt to his chest so she can feel his toned firm abs.

"Weiss, are you okay?" Jaune grabbed her wrists but she only leaned against him, letting the heat of his body pass to her as she remembered the events of this early morning.

Adam Taurus' glare with the SDC brand over his eye still tormented her mind. It reminded her that her father's enemies were hers as well they all sought to kill her.

Yet there was nothing she could do about it right now. Right now however, there was something else she could do.

"Y-Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just...really happy that I could be with you. All of you." She nodded, thumping her head against Jaune's chest before leaning back and looking at Blake and Pyrrha.

They smiled at her, leaning closer as their hands joined hers.

"We're really happy to be here with you too, Weiss." Pyrrha answered as Jaune nodded shyly between them.

"Yeah, me too."

"Come on, let's take a bath already." Blake whispered and Weiss' eyes lit up as her teammate helped in undressing Jaune.

Weiss couldn't help but lean in and peck Jaune's muscular chest. She felt him gasp at the sensation but she herself squeaked when she felt him grip her hips.

"I'm lucky. So so lucky." He mutterred just as Pyrrha leaned up to capture his lips in a quick kiss before pulling his clothes over his head.

With Jaune's hands busy entangled with his own shirt, Weiss stepped away and removed her own.

After that, Pyrrha moved back to remove her own and Blake shimmied out of hers. For just one second, Weiss and Jaune had the moment to themselves.

Blue eyes looked at each other and there they were, just in their underwear.

Weiss lunged and took her chance.

She captured his lips in a searing kiss as she leapt upward to snake her hands behind his neck. Her feet left the ground as his hands automatically found her hips, carrying weight as their tongues lashed against each other.

Unlike before, there was no hesitation and shyness in Weiss' actions. She had tasted his lips and she loked the care and passion he put into her.

And so, she would taste it again and again.

"My, someone's eager." Blake noted, cocking her hips abd raising an eyebrow as she looked at them.

Weiss blushed but only smiled as she dropped down from Jaune, pulling back and allowing her teammate in her black underwear to get her own turn.

They kissed just as passionately as Weiss did with Jaune and it didn't take long before moans filled the sound of the room again.

It didn't take long before Pyrrha was coughing impatiently and Blake pulled away, allowing the redhead to have a turn with her own partner.

She watched, her heartbeat racing and skin flushing as Jaune and Pyrrha made out with each other.

They both looked like the model of fitness and Weiss would forever be thankful that she had the privelege to witness such a sight.

Eventually however, Jaune pulled back, gasping as he looked at them breathlessly with Pyrrha still in his arms.

"Wow."

"Wow, indeed." Pyrrha giggled, leaning back before pulling Jaune into the bathroom.

Blake and Weiss followed with smiles of their own. Their underwear flying away from their bodies as they recreated the night the first time they were all together.

Weiss sighed and moaned as she felt herself be sandwiched between Jaune and Pyrrha.

Thus was perhaps the first time Weiss would ever look at her shortness as a blessing because at the height she was at, she had her face buried between Pyrrha's bountiful chest while Jaune's dick threatened to lift her up from between her thighs.

She moaned when she felt warm water from the showerhead above hit their bodies.

It was like she was being cleansed while basking in the security and comfort of being sandwiched between Jaune and Pyrrha.

"Well someone is enjoying themselves." Pyrrha giggled and Weiss could only blush furiously at the remark.

She never thought she would ever be attracted to women but well...she was surrounded by beautiful and attractive people.

She squirmed embarrassedly at that realization but gasped loudly as she felt Jaune's cockhead rub against her lower lips.

It slid across and pulled on her skin. Weiss couldn't help but moan loudly as her legs shook and she fell face first into Pyrrha's chest forward.

"Jauneeee~!" She moaned heatedly against Pyrrha's skin and she heard Jaune curse as he grabbed her hips.

"Shit, Weiss! I can't help it!"

His hardness rubbed against her. It wasn't going inside just yet but the pleasure already made her whole body heat up.

Molten desire throbbed inside her core and she had no doubt she was wet with her own juices as she panted against Pyrrha.

She shivered as she felt Pyrrha rub a hand on her hair, soothing her as she shushed and cooed.

"Sshhh, Weiss. What do you want to do?" Pyrrha asked with all the care in the world and it was just so so unfair.

With Jaune stimulating her from behind and Pyrrha soothing her from the front, Weiss could only give answer.

"I...I want-"

A pause and then she felt it. Jaune's dick was positioned just outside her quivering pussy.

"What do you want, Weiss?" Blake asked and a quick glance behind her that it was Blake who lined up Jaune's dick with her hands.

"Weiss."

Jaune's pleading voice told her the answer she should say and she did.

"Fuck me."

And he did.

Weiss gasped as he entered her in one thrust.

For the first time in her life, Weiss Schnee was penetrated and it felt liberating.

Gone was the restraints she held onto for most of her life. Gone was the pressure put onto her as heiress of the SDC.

There was only a woman being railed by a man.

Pain flashed for only a moment before it was replaced by pleasure as Jaune pistoned in and out of her.

"Weiss, you're so tight!~" He screamed, going faster and faster as he gripped onto her hips.

Finally.

Finally, they were fucking.

It might have been a few seconds or it might have been forever but Weiss was overwhelmed.

She couldn't help but grab onto Pyrrha as her whole body began to shake and convulse.

"Aahh!~ Ahhh~ Ahhh~! Jaune!"

Moans sounded out of her mouth and she could only shout Jaune's name as her knees failed her.

She crashed onto Pyrrha, moaning and quivering as Jaune continued. Yet despite the ecstasy she was in, she heard one word in the middle of a sentence that would ruin her.

"-Semblance-"

It could have come Pyrrha or Blake or even Weiss herself but it did not matter.

There was a flash of light.

Weiss felt a bang.

And her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Darkness.

Darkness left his vision as Ozpin finally opened his eyes.

"Prepare the pod."

Glynda nodded, her Semblance assembling the final parts of the Aura Transfer Machine based on the design shown by Winter.

With them working together, it took no time at all to finish the work.

There was a short crackle of electricity and then gears started to turn as the pod beside Amber opened up.

"Are you sure about this, Ozpin?" James asked but Ozpin only nodded resolutely.

"I am. You yourself said that the logic is sound."

"Just because it is sound doesn't mean it is actually right. This is magic we are talking about." James sighed but reluctantly powered on the machine as Ozpin stepped forward.

Nearing the pod, he turned around one last time tobsee Glynda, James, and Winter stand by to watch him.

"And it is your science we are using, James. Besides, don't you think it would be nice to surprise the Council with some newfound power? We could say I was busy undergoing an esoteric and thought to be lost method of Semblance evolution." He replied flippantly to lighten the mood.

"Please, you could surprise the Council with your own magic. You don't need to do this to do that." James rolled his eyes and Ozpin could only chuckle at that before shaking his head.

Besides, Mr. Arc was right. If they wanted to risk someone, they should risk themselves first.

Not that Ozpin thought there was great risk when it was him receiving the Maiden's powers.

The powers came from him so it stood to reason that theyvwould feel at home with him. Failing that, Ozpin had his own magic to keep it contained and out of every possible candidate, he was the only one with the certainty of survival in case something does go wrong.

His only regret however, was the certainty of Amber's death.

Whatever happened here, she was going to die.

He turned to the comatose woman and smiled sadly. Another sacrifice to the never-ending fight.

Gods, what a sad affair it was. Yet he did not let it deter him.

With Qrow gone, Ruby Rose out of play, and the enemy on the attack, they needed a Maiden asap.

Well, they weren't going to get a Maiden. They were going to get a Wizard.

Perhaps it was time for him to take an active role in protecting Remnant again.

It has been what?

Thousands of years, he and Salem had been locked in a stalemate with Ozpin on the backfoot?

There was a reason why he avoided blatant displays of power and authority. To do so was to have Salem try and match him and any such match could only end in one way. Ozpin at a disadvantage.

After all, one mistake was all it would take for him to die prematurely before he could even do anything.

He would have to spend decades gathering power and status again.

Decades that Salem could then use to further her whatever agenda she has at the time.

It was part of the reason why he partitioned his power and created the Maidens in the first place. Four women with incredible powers should be able to hold the metaphorical fort down during his times of transition.

Who knew Salem would be able target them not just to eliminate but steal their powers as well?

No, if she was going to do that then it would be better to keep the power to himself in the first place. It would also stop other women from being targets.

"Thank you for your service." He muttered one last time at Amber before entering the pod himself.

He left Long Memory outside, not willing to risk another source of magic to be thrown into the mix and yet just as he nodded to James to start the process, something else was thrown into the mix.

"Starting the process in 3, 2, 1-"

It all happened in an instant.

Ozpin heard the machine hum, felt his hair stand on edge, and then... a red portal appeared right in front of him.

A black blur shot right out of it and Ozpin blinked as something thudded against his pod.

Qrow Branwen had his face smooshed against the glass.

"Qrow?!" James shouted, trying to tap into his Scroll to stop the machine but it was too late.

They locked eyes and just as Qrow slid down slowly, everything that could go wrong went wrong.

Wires short circuited as Ozpin saw Amber's body glow. He watched as the machine itself glow and then...pain.

He screamed as he felt something cold connect with his Aura, his soul.

He knew everyone else was screaming outside of his pod too. He could see them moving frantically after all but one voice drowned out all the others.

"Ozpiiiin!"

It was a scream so tormented and full of agony inside his head that he couldn't help but snap towards the source, Amber's pod.

And there he saw two of them.

One was translucent and the other was solid. It did not take a genius to know what he was seeing.

He was seeing her soul and she was tormented. He watched on in horror as she was suddenly yanked out of her own body and into the tube above her.

It only took an instant before light was shining down on him from above.

The transfer was starting.

His own body glowed, Amber's soul was being pushed into him as pain burned from within.

Hot, searing, and crushing pain.

He saw Qrow stumble in shock in front of him but as he gritted his teeth, his vision suddenly burned white.

"Ozpiiiin!" Amber screamed again and this time...they were one.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" He screamed back as he felt her body die through her soul.

It was agony.

Pure simple agony as if his own heart suddenly stopped and then suddenly, an explosion

Bzzzt.

Ozpin's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.

See, there was one distinct disadvantage Ozpin had in his eternal war against Salem.

The bodies he reincarnated to, they were human.

Human bodies that were not used to magic.

Every time he inhabited one anew, he had to train himself up to be able to use magic to satisfying levels.

His current incarnation was now at an age he could not train it anymore.

And now that he added a set of Maiden powers to it?

He exploded like an overpressurized gas tank.

Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy died in a fiery explosion.

Nothing remained of him as the Maiden powers scoured him from inside out yet even as his friends watched on in horror, it was not over for Ozpin just yet.

His soul lingered, attached with Amber's as they both died.

For a creature such as him, it wouldn't have been a problem. He has been attached to other souls since time immemorial. He was used to it.

But the thing was...they were both attached to two other things.

The Maiden's Power and the God of Light's curse.

Two different things that had two different destinations.

Ozpin felt his soul drift but as he felt himself be pulled towards his next host, he felt someone latch on.

"Ozpin, help me!"

Being dead and just souls, there was really nothing to see. It was all feeling but as Ozpin felt Amber start to tear away, he grabbed on with everything he had.

He owed it to her to try.

"Amber!" He screamed out and if he had eyes then they would widen for he knew where Amber was being pulled to.

The next Maiden.

Her assailant.

Ozpin tried his best, grabbing onto every piece of Amber he could in hopes of swaying the Maiden's powers to his side even as he felt the pull of his own host.

He screamed, doing his best to hold on even as Amber screamed with him.

Yet as Ozpin felt the touch of the Maiden's powers still attached to Amber's soul, Oscar Pine opened his eyes.

Cold sweat flowed down Oscar's back as he panted heavily.

"Oscaaaar! Lunch is ready!"

Oscar jolted, sighing as he tried to get his bearings back.

He was in a barn...busy...busy with something he thinks?

He can't remember.

The only thing on his mind was a woman and an old man.

Strange.

"Well, that was a weird dream. I am never taking a nap while hungry again." He shook his head, feeling his stomach rumble as he found the stacks of hay he must have slept on.

"Oscaaar?!"

"Right, time to go. I'm coming!" He called back, running back to his aunt's house, heedless of the wisp of smoke coming out of his eyes.

Cinder Fall closed her eyes as she felt them burn.

She hissed even as she stumbled inside their own dorm room.

"Cinder, are you okay?" Emerald asked worriedly, and normally, Cinder would have lashed out at the show of pity but this time, she only grinned.

As she opened her eyes, flames blazed on both of them as she looked at both Mercury and Emerald.

"I have never been better."

[END]

Thank you for reading everyone! It has been more than one year since I started writing and I'm glad I actually finished Part 1! Part 2 will come in one or two months and don't worry, I plan to take everything that I have learned this past year and improve my writing. Again, thank you for reading and all the support!

Leave a comment and tell me how I can improve or even just say what do you think will happen next!

With that, I'll see you on Wednesday for Thy Rusted Knight.

P.S.

I still have an epilogue in store for all of you next week Monday.

Want to support me, vote on polls, get early access, look at some fanarts?

You can find my P place in the link below.

pa tr eon.c o m (slash) MrLightbringer0

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