CITADEL – NIGHTMARE
Ruby's eyes fluttered open, the dim light filtering through the window casting eerie shadows along the walls. She blinked a few times, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep. As she lay there, staring at the ceiling, a strange unease settled in her chest. Something felt… off.
With a yawn, she slowly sat up, stretching her arms high above her head. The beds around her were empty—Yang, Blake, and Weiss were gone. That wasn't unusual, but something about the silence in the room felt suffocating. A strange weight pressed against her chest, making it harder to breathe.
Frowning, Ruby swung her legs off the bed and walked toward the window. She hesitated before pulling the curtain open, a sense of dread creeping up her spine. The moment her gaze landed outside, her breath hitched in her throat.
The forest surrounding the Citadel was in ruins—either engulfed in flames or reduced to charred stumps. The sky, once a peaceful shade of blue, was now a sickly red, swirling with dark storm clouds. Grimm Griffons circled above, their black forms blotting out the fading sun.
Then she heard it—screaming.
It wasn't distant. It was close. Too close.
Her body tensed as she turned toward the door. The muffled cries of agony echoed through the hallway beyond, sending chills down her spine. Swallowing hard, she took a slow step forward, reaching for the doorknob—
The door vanished.
Ruby gasped, stumbling back as the entire room around her melted away—replaced with a long, dimly lit hallway. The screaming abruptly stopped, replaced by an ominous silence.
Then… the blood pooled in from the hallway's exit.
Ruby's hands trembled as she walked forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. The metallic scent of blood thickened in the air. When she turned the corner, her heart stopped.
Bodies.
Jaune's sisters—all of them—lay lifeless on the floor. Their eyes were vacant, their expressions frozen in fear. Even his parents, Jason and June, lay near the entrance, their hands barely touching as if they had reached for each other in their final moments.
Ruby's breaths came in short, ragged gasps. This… this isn't real. It can't be real.
She staggered forward, trying to avoid stepping in the crimson mess beneath her feet. Her fingers twitched as she reached for the exit door.
The moment she touched the handle, a body slumped forward against her.
"Jaune!" Ruby screamed.
Jaune collapsed onto the ground, his blank stare frozen in time. His body was cold, unmoving. A shaky sob tore from Ruby's throat as she knelt beside him, her fingers barely grazing his face.
Then, just behind him… Neo.
She lay in a pool of her own blood, a gaping hole where her heart should have been. The sight of her made Ruby choke on a cry, her stomach twisting violently.
Her head snapped up. More bodies.
Ren and Nora were locked in each other's arms, a massive spike driven through both of their chests, pinning them together in an embrace that should have been filled with love—but instead, only held death.
Ruby's legs trembled as she forced herself to her feet. She clenched her eyes shut, refusing to see any more of this nightmare. It's not real. It's not real.
Seconds passed. Silence.
Finally, she opened her eyes.
She was no longer in the Citadel.
Now, she stood in the middle of a scorched wasteland, the last remnants of the forest still burning in the distance.
Then she saw them.
Weiss. Blake.
Both of them lay on the ground. Still. Too still.
Ruby felt like the world had just shattered. Her knees buckled as she collapsed beside them.
Blake's body was pierced by jagged spikes, her arms stretched out as if she had tried to reach for something—or someone—before her final breath.
Weiss… Weiss's throat had been slashed.
Ruby's breath came in shuddering sobs as she reached for Weiss's face, her fingers trembling as she gently brushed against her cold cheek. Her lower lip quivered as fresh tears blurred her vision.
"No… no, no, no…" Ruby choked out.
This wasn't happening.
She squeezed her eyes shut again, wishing that when she opened them, it would all just disappear. That this nightmare would end. That Weiss would wake up, that Blake would sit up and roll her eyes, that Jaune, Neo, Ren, and Nora would be alive—that everyone would be okay.
But when she opened her eyes…
Nothing changed.
A soft, ragged gasp broke through the silence.
Ruby's heart nearly stopped.
She turned her head and saw someone barely moving. A weak, trembling form lying in the ash-covered dirt.
Ruby's breath hitched.
It was Yang.
Ruby's breath came in quick, panicked gasps as she scrambled toward her sister's unmoving body. Her knees hit the scorched ground hard, but she barely noticed. Yang was still alive—barely.
Desperately, Ruby reached out and pressed trembling fingers against Yang's neck, searching for a pulse.
There. A faint, uneven rhythm beneath her fingertips.
"Yang!" Ruby gasped, her voice shaking. "Hold on, I—I can help you!"
Before she could do anything else, Yang's hand shot up like lightning and clamped around Ruby's throat.
Ruby choked, her hands instinctively clawing at Yang's wrist as she was lifted off the ground.
Yang's bloodstained face was twisted with rage, her red eyes glowing with furious intensity. Her lips curled back in a vicious snarl as she glared at Ruby, pure hatred burning in her gaze.
"You did this!" Yang growled, her voice laced with venom.
Ruby gasped, struggling against the tightening grip around her neck.
"You killed us all, Ruby!" Yang roared, her voice shaking with unfiltered rage and betrayal. "Because of you—"
The words died on Yang's lips. Her grip suddenly loosened.
Her expression flickered—then went blank.
Her eyes, once burning red, dulled back into lifeless lilac.
Yang's hand dropped limply to the ground.
Ruby collapsed, coughing and gasping for air, her heart pounding violently in her chest.
When she looked up… Yang wasn't moving.
Her body lay still, her empty eyes staring into nothing.
Ruby's fingers curled into the dirt, her nails digging into the ashen ground. She felt numb.
No…
"She's right, you know."
A chill ran down Ruby's spine.
Slowly, she turned her head—her body frozen in terror.
Salem stood over her.
The witch's blood-red eyes glowed ominously in the dim, fiery light, her lips curved into a sinister smile.
"You did do this," Salem purred, her voice sickeningly sweet. She took a slow step forward, her towering form casting a shadow over Ruby.
Ruby could barely breathe.
"How does it feel?" Salem whispered. "To know that everything you've fought for… everything you've loved… is gone?"
Ruby tried to move, to summon her strength—but she couldn't.
Salem's grin widened.
Then, she vanished.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Then—
A monstrous hiss.
Ruby barely had time to react before a massive King Taijitu emerged from the darkness, its monstrous twin heads towering over her. Its jagged fangs gleamed in the crimson light as its jaws unhinged wide—lunging straight for her.
Ruby didn't even scream.
TEAM RWBY'S ROOM
Ruby gasped, bolting upright in her bed. Her breath came in quick, shaky gasps as she clutched her chest, sweat trickling down her face.
It was just a nightmare.
She blinked, trying to ground herself. The eerie silence of her nightmare was gone, replaced by the soft hum of the Citadel's ventilation system. She looked around—Weiss was still sound asleep in her bed, peaceful and undisturbed.
Blake and Yang weren't there.
Ruby exhaled shakily, rubbing her temples. She felt exhausted, even though she had just woken up.
The bathroom door opened, and Ruby turned her head, watching as Yang stepped out, already dressed for the day.
"Morning, Ruby," Yang greeted casually, heading toward her bed.
Ruby didn't respond.
Yang frowned, turning back toward her sister—Ruby was staring at the ground, her hands tightly gripping the sheets.
Something was wrong.
Yang walked over and placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder—only for Ruby to flinch violently at her touch.
"Oh," Ruby mumbled, her voice distant. She forced a small smile. "Hey, Yang."
Yang's golden eyes studied her sister carefully.
She glanced at Weiss, who was still curled up in bed, before crouching beside Ruby.
"Another nightmare?" Yang asked softly.
Ruby swallowed and nodded. "You were all dead. Everyone was dead. It felt… so real, Yang."
Yang sighed. "Damn it, Ruby." She placed a hand on her knee. "I wish I could tell you that it'll stop, that one day you'll wake up and never have to feel this way again, but…" She hesitated. "I don't know. I honestly don't know."
Ruby clenched her hands into fists. "Salem said to me that she would never go away, Yang. I don't know if she meant that literally, or if she's just trying to mess with my mind… but it's scaring me."
Yang's expression hardened.
Ruby looked at her with glossy, silver eyes. "And the night before, back in Patch… I saw her again. And she touched me, Yang."
Yang's breath hitched.
"I felt her hand," Ruby whispered, her voice trembling. "It was cold. Ice cold. Like she was really there."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
Yang reached for her again, but this time, Ruby quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Yang stood there, fists clenched.
She turned toward the bed, only to find Weiss now awake, staring at the bathroom door with concern.
Her blue eyes darkened.
"…Salem?" Weiss murmured.
DARK PALACE
Envy sat on her throne, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Cinder stood to her left, her arms crossed, while Roman lounged lazily to her right, twirling his cane between his fingers. Emerald stood nearby, watching in silence.
Before them, Blaze stood at the head of a large group of Dark Seekers, all lined up in perfect formation. Their dark armor gleamed under the dim lighting of the throne room, their masked faces staring straight ahead.
Envy slowly rose from her throne.
"Congratulations," she said, her voice carrying across the room. "You have all proven yourselves worthy of the title Dark Seekers. Many who attempted to walk this path were not so fortunate… but you, you stand here as the strongest among them."
The Dark Seekers stood taller at her words.
Envy's crimson eyes gleamed. "The time to reveal ourselves to the world will come soon. But for now, we continue with our mission—striking fear into the hearts of Remnant. More cities and villages will fall. More will kneel before us."
She turned her gaze toward Blaze. "And you, Blaze, have proven to be a most valuable ally. A strong leader. A true warrior."
Blaze smirked but remained silent, standing at attention.
"That kind of success should not go unrewarded."
At Envy's signal, Cinder stepped forward, carrying a long, black sword. The blade seemed to absorb the light around it, its edge sharp and foreboding.
"This sword," Envy continued, "was forged from my own energy. It can cut through even the strongest Aura."
Blaze's eyes gleamed with intrigue as Cinder presented the weapon to him. Without hesitation, he reached out and gripped the hilt, feeling the cold power thrumming beneath his fingers.
"I accept this gift, my Mistress." Blaze bowed deeply.
"Good." Envy's lips curled into a smirk. "Now… why don't you give us a demonstration?"
With a snap of her fingers, a lone Dark Seeker recruit was summoned forward. The man stepped into the center, looking confused—until Blaze took a step toward him, gripping his new weapon tightly.
The throne room fell silent as Blaze swung the blade with precise, effortless force. The recruit stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground.
A hush settled over the room. Cinder and Roman exchanged knowing glances. Emerald looked away.
Blaze examined the dark blade, admiring its sleek design. He then discarded his old sword, letting it clatter to the ground.
He smirked, sliding the new weapon into its sheath.
"I shall call it…" He ran a hand over the hilt, eyes burning with satisfaction. "SoulBreaker."
CITADEL – HALLWAY
Jaune adjusted his chest armor, making sure the straps were secure before reaching for Crocea Mors. Ren fastened StormFlower to his waist, while Neo, twirling her umbrella in one hand, gave a small smile in approval.
As Jaune straightened up, ready to head out, Team RWBY appeared in the doorway.
"Hey, guys," Jaune greeted.
"Morning, Jaune," Ruby responded. "You guys ready to head to the Mess Hall?"
"Absolutely," Ren answered.
Yang looked around. "Where's Nora?"
Ren sighed. "Probably in the Mess Hall already… and most likely eating everything in her path."
Blake chuckled. "We should hurry, before there's nothing left."
As both teams made their way through the hallway, they engaged in casual conversation.
"I heard yelling last night," Ruby mentioned, looking at Jaune. "What exactly was that?"
Jaune let out a tired sigh. "That… was my sisters. Sorry about that."
Yang raised an eyebrow. "Are they always that loud?"
Jaune shook his head. "Not always. Only when they're all together… or when they're arguing over something."
Weiss crossed her arms. "Let me guess—they were fighting over a boy."
Jaune nodded. "Yeah. I think they all had their eye on someone here."
Weiss sighed. "Wonderful."
As they turned a corner, Wesley appeared, approaching them with a confident stride.
"Good morning, everyone." His tone was professional but friendly. "I trust you all had a good night's sleep?"
"Absolutely," Neo chimed in, flashing Jaune a quick smile. Jaune returned it.
"Good," Wesley said with a nod. "I assume you're heading to the Mess Hall?"
They all nodded in confirmation.
"Well, before you do that, we should find Ms. Valkyrie," Wesley continued. "She's currently training our newest recruits."
"Training?" Yang repeated, intrigued.
Ren, however, palmed his forehead, letting out a deep sigh.
"Oh, no."
Blake gave him a puzzled look. "Uh… Ren?"
Wesley smiled. "Follow me to the Courtyard. I was evaluating her training methods earlier. Fascinating."
Jaune and the rest of the group exchanged wary glances. Whatever Nora was doing… it couldn't be good.
"Alright," Jaune said. "Let's see what kind of damage she's doing."
CITADEL – COURTYARD
"COME ON, LADIES!"
Nora Valkyrie's voice boomed across the courtyard as she powered through push-ups at a blazing speed. Unlike her, the new recruits struggled to keep up. Some had slowed to a crawl, while others had collapsed onto the ground, their arms trembling from exhaustion.
"And I thought Boot Camp was the worst," one recruit groaned.
"Yeah, man," another wheezed, barely managing another push-up. "What she's doing is worse!"
"DID I SAY YOU COULD STOP?!" Nora barked.
The two recruits groaned but immediately resumed their push-ups.
At that moment, Wesley entered the courtyard with Jaune, Ren, Neo, and Team RWBY in tow. The four girls stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide as they took in the scene before them.
Nora, still pushing through exercises, spotted them.
"HEY, GUYS!" she called out cheerfully before turning back to the recruits. "KEEP AT IT!"
Satisfied with their suffering, she hopped up effortlessly and jogged over to her friends.
Blake, still staring at the exhausted recruits, finally found her voice. "Nora… when exactly did you wake up this morning?"
"Six a.m.!" Nora answered proudly. "Figured I'd get a head start on my morning routine before everyone else woke up."
She turned to Wesley with a beaming grin. "He saw me demolish my morning workout. Didn't even break a sweat! Needless to say, he was impressed. So, he asked if I'd like to train the new recruits, and of course, I said YES."
Nora gestured toward the recruits, who now lay sprawled across the ground, groaning in agony.
She sighed, shaking her head. "Wussies."
Jaune, amused but not surprised, chuckled. "Well, we're about to head to the Mess Hall. Care to join us?"
Before Nora could answer, a monstrous growl echoed through the courtyard. The entire group froze.
It was Nora's stomach.
Everyone stared as she casually patted her belly.
"I guess I am a little hungry," Nora said with a sheepish grin. Then, with renewed enthusiasm, she grabbed Ren's wrist.
"TO THE MESS HALL!"
In an instant, she took off, dragging a helpless Ren along behind her.
Wesley, who had been watching the entire exchange with genuine fascination, shook his head with a small laugh. "Your friend is… fascinating. And terrifying."
Jaune clapped a hand on Wesley's shoulder. "Trust me. Once you get to know her, you'll realize that both of those things are true—at the same time."
Wesley chuckled. "I'll take that chance." He then gestured for them to follow. "Go on. You'll need your strength for the first day."
As Team RWBY and Jaune's group turned toward the Mess Hall, Weiss hesitated, glancing at the exhausted recruits still struggling through push-ups.
"Uh… what about them?" she asked.
Wesley looked over at them, smiling smugly.
"I'll give them a break…" He checked his watch. "In about ten minutes."
Weiss sighed but couldn't help a small smile.
Nora's recruits were in for a rough time.
MESS HALL
Team HAVC sat together at one of the long tables, quietly eating their breakfast. The Mess Hall was massive, filled with soldiers, huntsmen, and specialists all getting their meals for the day.
"Gotta admit," Hazel said, taking a bite of his eggs. "This place is impressive, alright."
Ash grunted in agreement and gave a short nod.
Cyan rolled her eyes. "Shit, Ash. Do you ever talk?"
Ash glanced at her, expression blank. "Only when necessary."
Cyan let out a mock gasp and placed a hand over her chest. "No way! He speaks!"
Ash ignored her and went back to his meal.
Violet, smirking at their exchange, turned toward Hazel. "I agree with you. This place is cool, but we haven't even seen the whole structure yet."
"True," Hazel said, leaning back in his seat. "But I like it already."
Before Violet could respond, she noticed Team RWBY approaching their table.
"Hey, guys!" Ruby greeted with a smile. "Are you enjoying the Citadel so far?"
Team HAVC nodded.
"Good," Yang said, setting her tray down. "Because we've been assigned to help with your training."
"Really?" Cyan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep," Ruby confirmed. "Each of us will be paired with one of you, based on your skills. We'll be mentoring you, and getting to know you better in the process."
Blake crossed her arms, adding, "Ruby and Hazel will train together—both of you are snipers. Weiss will be working with Violet, since she's well-known for her tech skills. Ash, since you and I both specialize in close-quarters combat, we'll be paired up. And Yang will be working with Cyan, since both of your weapons are hybrid close-quarters and ranged."
"That way," Weiss continued, "we'll learn to work as a team before we head into the field together."
"And speaking of that," Yang added, grinning, "our first mission is tomorrow."
Team HAVC exchanged glances.
"So," Ruby said, grabbing a piece of toast from her tray, "after we finish eating, we'll head straight to training. Sound good?"
"Got it," Hazel said with a determined nod.
"Great," Weiss said.
"Now…" Ruby looked toward Violet, smiling. "Can we join you guys?"
Before her teammates could say anything, Violet grinned and waved them over.
"Sure!" she said, a little too quickly.
Hazel raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
As Team RWBY took their seats, Yang smirked. "Aww, Weiss," she teased, "looks like you might have some competition."
Weiss shot Violet a pointed look, who quickly looked away.
Ruby, oblivious as ever, happily took a bite of her toast.
Across the Mess Hall, Team JNNR sat together, eating their breakfast. While Jaune, Neo, and Ren ate at a normal pace, Nora was devouring an alarmingly large pile of food.
Jaune sighed, watching her. "Nora."
Nora barely looked up from her plate. "Yeah, Jaune?"
Jaune shook his head. "If you keep eating like this, I'm pretty sure we'll run out of food within the week."
Nora waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. Wesley told me they grow their own food here. There will be plenty."
Jaune glanced at Ren, who simply shrugged.
Meanwhile, Nora attempted to keep talking, her mouth still stuffed with food.
"Nora." Ren sighed. "You're forgetting to swallow. Again."
Nora blinked at him, then swallowed the food all at once. "Thanks, Renny." She tapped his nose playfully. "Boop."
Jaune let out another tired sigh, but before he could say anything, he noticed something odd. His entire family, all of his sisters and parents, sat at another table staring at Nora in complete shock.
Sapphire, eyes wide, leaned toward Jasmine. "She is so not human."
Jasmine nodded in agreement. "I honestly don't know how she's still alive."
"I really don't get what you guys see in her," Jade said, looking at Jaune.
Jaune just chuckled. "You get used to it."
Jonathan, Jaune's eldest brother, turned toward him. "Well, anyways… May we join you?"
Jaune glanced at Neo, Ren, and even Nora, who all nodded in approval.
"Yeah, sure," Jaune said, gesturing to the open seats. "Pull up a chair."
Meanwhile, over at Team RWBY's table, Violet was practically beaming as she sat right next to Ruby. However, her excitement quickly faded when she heard a low growl from the person on Ruby's other side—Weiss.
"Maybe we should've sat somewhere else," Blake muttered to Yang.
"Nah," Yang said, smirking. She crossed her arms, watching Weiss closely. "We can do some team bonding right now. Besides…" Yang leaned toward Blake. "I wanna see Weiss' jealous face."
Weiss glared at her. "I am not jealous."
Yang gave her a knowing grin. "Uh-huh. Sure, Princess."
As Team RWBY continued eating, Ruby remained blissfully oblivious to the tension growing between Weiss and Violet.
Back at Jaune's table, the Arc family was now seated with Team JNNR, enjoying their breakfast together.
Sapphire, still clearly flustered from earlier, looked at Jaune. "Soooo…" She twirled a piece of hair between her fingers. "You guys know Ruby Rose well?"
Clover nudged Sapphire with her elbow. "Sapphire."
Jaune chuckled, shrugging. "Uh… yeah. We've known her for a long time."
"Well… most of us," Ren added. "Pyrrha knew her a lot, too. Back when she was alive."
There was a brief moment of silence. The mention of Pyrrha always brought a somber air to the group.
Neo, however, decided to speak up. "And I got to know Ruby after I tried to kill her."
The entire Arc family froze mid-bite.
Neo grinned slightly. "Ruby is the reason I switched sides in the first place." She placed a hand over her heart. "And honestly? I thank her for that."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating, and all… but did you just say you tried to kill Miss Rose?"
Neo's grin faltered slightly. "I… may have."
Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his head. Neo turned toward him, narrowing her eyes.
"You did tell them I tried to kill you guys, right?"
Jaune let out a nervous chuckle.
Neo's eye twitched. She then sighed loudly before dramatically slamming her face flat on the table.
"Well," Jasmine said after a pause. She took a sip of her coffee. "Now we definitely know."
Yang, having overheard the conversation, chuckled as she glanced around the Mess Hall. Her eyes landed on a dartboard hanging on the far wall. An idea sparked in her mind, and she turned toward Cyan.
"Hey, Cyan."
Cyan looked up from her plate, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Yang smirked. "You say you've got great aim with a bow, right?"
Cyan leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "That's right."
"How about with a knife?"
Cyan scoffed, grabbing her blade from her belt. "Same skill, different weapon."
Yang's smirk widened. "Perfect. Let's put that to the test." She stood up, tossing her own knife into the air before catching it. "Get up."
Cyan, intrigued, got to her feet. "Right now?"
"Right now," Yang confirmed, already making her way toward the dartboard.
As they passed Team JNNR and the Arc family, Yang stopped at Artemis' seat.
"Artemis," Yang said, drawing the archer's attention.
Artemis looked up, raising a brow. "What's up?"
"You any good with throwing knives?"
Artemis grinned and casually picked up the knife from her belt, twirling it between her fingers. "Please. I can snipe a fly off a wall with one."
Yang grinned. "Good. Follow us."
With Cyan and Artemis in tow, Yang led them to the dartboard mounted on the wall. A few Atlesian soldiers standing nearby noticed them, some stopping to watch.
"Alright, here's the deal," Yang said, spinning her knife in her hand. "It's simple." She took a casual stance, flicked her wrist, and sent the knife sailing through the air—sticking dead center in the bullseye.
Cyan and Artemis watched with interest.
Yang turned back to them, smirking. "Think you can match that?"
Artemis and Cyan both grinned and pulled out their own knives.
"Easy," Artemis said.
"Child's play," Cyan added.
Yang held up a finger. "Ah, ah—there's a catch." She pointed to the dartboard. "You have to do it without looking."
Artemis and Cyan exchanged glances, then smirked.
"Alright," Artemis said.
"Let's do this," Cyan added.
The two archers turned their backs to the dartboard, lifted their knives, and—without hesitation—threw them over their shoulders.
Yang turned to see if they had actually hit anything, expecting them to at least come close.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
The two knives landed directly in the center, perfectly aligned with Yang's own knife.
A few of the watching soldiers nodded in approval, murmuring among themselves.
Yang blinked, then crossed her arms. "Well, damn."
Artemis and Cyan turned back, saw their knives sticking precisely in the bullseye, and shared a look of pride.
Artemis smirked, shooting Yang a wink before blowing her a playful kiss.
Yang froze. "Uh…"
Jaune walked up next to her, grinning. "Yeah… so, uh… Artemis swings both ways."
Yang cleared her throat. "Ah."
Jaune patted her shoulder. "Fair warning—she will try to tease you."
Yang sighed. "Just… remind her I'm married, alright?"
Jaune chuckled. "Will do. But, uh… doesn't mean she's gonna stop messing with you."
Yang rolled her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."
COMMAND CENTER
Ironwood stood near the center of the room, scanning over his Scroll with a focused expression. The room hummed with the soft chatter of Atlesian officers and the beeping of various consoles.
The moment the doors slid open, he looked up to see Qrow and Raven stride in. With a sigh, he tucked his Scroll away and approached them.
"You're back," Ironwood said, crossing his arms. "Did you find anything?"
Qrow, looking worn out and irritated, ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Every village we visited gave us the same description, Jimmy," he said. "The attackers wore dark armor and left nothing but bodies and ruins behind them. No survivors in some places."
Ironwood's jaw tightened.
"What we don't understand," Raven added, her crimson gaze sharp, "is why they haven't attacked the major cities yet. They're biding their time for something."
Before Ironwood could reply, the doors to the Command Center slid open again.
Qrow glanced over his shoulder and let out a small chuckle.
"Well, I'll be damned. Didn't think you two would make it."
Peter Port and Bartholomew Oobleck strode in, both looking determined.
"And miss the fight of the century?" Port boomed, his mustache twitching with enthusiasm. "Not a chance! I live for moments like these!"
Raven raised a brow. "You just want another story to tell your students."
Port grinned, rubbing his chin. "That too! What good is a battle if not for the wisdom we can pass on?"
"Not to mention," Oobleck interjected, adjusting his glasses as he spoke rapidly, "Beacon is currently closed—temporarily, of course! Reports of village attacks have caused quite the panic among citizens. It's all over the news. Remnant is on edge, my friends."
"That's why we need to end this before they do any more damage," Ironwood said, his voice firm. He looked between the two professors. "I assume you've both been fully briefed on Cinder Fall and this so-called Envy?"
Both men nodded.
"Excellent."
Just then, the doors slid open once more.
Wesley Grey entered, his expression grim. He walked straight to Ironwood, a small tablet clutched in his hand.
"General." Wesley's tone was sharp. "I just received a video feed from one of my men in the field. You're going to want to see this."
Ironwood's gaze hardened.
"Put it on screen."
Wesley retrieved his Scroll and placed it on the central table. A holographic screen flickered to life on the wall, playing a live-feed video.
The footage was chaotic. A small village burned in the night, its homes reduced to charred remains as Dark Seekers rampaged through the streets. Men, women, and even children screamed in terror as the armored warriors cut them down without mercy.
Qrow, watching the devastation unfold, scowled and clenched his fists.
"They just won't stop," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
"Just keep watching," Wesley urged, his tone serious.
The camera feed shifted, catching sight of a new figure—a hooded woman, soaring through the air like a ghost. Before anyone could react, a massive sphere of water formed above the village square, engulfing a squad of Dark Seekers in its swirling depths.
Ironwood's eyes widened.
"What the hell…?" he muttered.
Inside the water sphere, the Seekers thrashed and struggled, their weapons slipping from their hands. Their bodies convulsed for a few agonizing moments before going still. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the water separated, and their lifeless corpses rained down onto the scorched earth.
The hooded woman hovered above the carnage, turning toward the camera. The flickering flames illuminated her face—a sharp, angular visage marked by a deep scar that ran from her left eye to her upper lip. But it was her eyes that stood out the most: dark blue, cold as the ocean depths.
She lingered for a brief moment, then took off, vanishing into the night sky.
Silence hung in the Command Center.
Ironwood turned to Qrow and Raven, noting the shock in their expressions.
"Was that who I think it was?" Qrow asked, his voice low.
Ironwood's gaze remained hard, calculating.
"Bring the footage back," he ordered. "Pause it at her face."
Wesley rewound the video, stopping at the moment the hooded woman locked eyes with the camera. The screen displayed her icy stare, her scarred face illuminated by the burning village.
Ironwood studied her for a long moment before exhaling sharply.
"Yes, Qrow." He nodded gravely. "It's her."
Raven's hands tightened into fists.
"The Spring Maiden."
SHOOTING RANGE
Hazel steadied his breath as he took aim down the scope of his sniper rifle. His focus locked onto the distant target, and with a steady squeeze of the trigger, the rifle cracked. The bullet whizzed through the air, striking the target just shy of the dead center.
Ruby, standing beside him, lowered Crescent Rose and studied the impact through her scope.
"Almost perfect," she noted. "But try laying flat next time—it'll help stabilize your aim and improve your accuracy."
To demonstrate, Ruby smoothly dropped into a prone position, resting Crescent Rose against the ground. She exhaled, took aim, and fired.
Bullseye.
"Aiming from one knee works fine," she continued, rolling onto her back and sitting up, "but there are going to be moments when absolute precision is the difference between life and death. When that happens, you need the most stable position possible." She nodded toward the target. "Go ahead and try."
Hazel didn't hesitate. He dropped onto his stomach, elbows planted firmly as he repositioned his rifle. His eyes narrowed, adjusting slightly for the wind.
Breathe in…
Breathe out…
He squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out—and this time, the bullet punched straight through the center of the target.
A satisfied grin formed on his face.
"Excellent," Ruby praised, grinning. "Keep firing a few more rounds—I'll evaluate from here."
Hazel nodded, reloading his rifle, more confident than before.
TECH ROOM
Weiss stood with her arms crossed, watching as Violet tightened the final screw on a small, spherical device. With a press of a button, the sphere lit up, humming softly.
"Good," Weiss remarked, stepping forward. "Based on your theory, the gas inside will temporarily choke anyone within its radius, disabling them just long enough for you to either escape or incapacitate them." She held out her hand. "May I?"
Violet grinned and passed the device over. Weiss turned it over in her palm, examining the craftsmanship.
The design was precise. The seams were clean. No loose parts, no signs of rushed assembly. Sturdy, reliable, effective.
She nodded in approval. "Impressive. No mistakes, no miscalculations—exactly as planned." Weiss handed the device back to Violet and raised an eyebrow. "Now, can you make another?"
Violet's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Absolutely."
She immediately reached for her tools, eager to build an even better version.
TRAINING ROOM
Blake and Ash sat cross-legged on the floor, facing each other in the dimly lit training hall. The faint hum of automated targets resetting in the background filled the silence between them.
"Remember, Ash," Blake said, her voice calm but firm. "Maintaining a steady mind and controlled emotions in battle is key. The more composed you are, the sharper your focus will be."
Ash gave a small nod, his usual stoic expression unwavering.
Without another word, both unsheathed their weapons in perfect synchronization.
A soft chime rang, and multiple targets sprang up behind them, shifting unpredictably. Instantly, both warriors launched into action—silent, swift, and precise.
Ash moved with measured efficiency, cutting down each target with calculated slashes. Blake, in contrast, was fluid like a shadow, her strikes seamless and effortless.
Within a minute, the last target collapsed in pieces.
Ash let out a slow breath as he sheathed his sword, glancing at Blake. She had already finished first. Not a single unnecessary movement.
"Very good," Blake said, offering him a small nod of approval. "But this was just the beginning, Ash."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Blake's expression shifted into a knowing smirk. "Soon enough, I'll teach you how to take down your enemies with your eyes closed."
For the first time, a small chuckle escaped Ash's lips.
"I'm eager to learn that."
COURTYARD
Yang and Cyan stood about five feet apart, the open air buzzing with latent energy between them. The morning sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, reflecting off the polished stone beneath their feet.
Cyan shifted on her heels, gripping her bow tightly. "Um… Yang?" she asked hesitantly. "Why are we out here? The Training Room is inside."
Yang smirked, rolling her shoulders. "Because out here, you don't get the comfort of predictable, stationary targets."
With a flick of her wrist, Ember Celica extended, transforming into her arm blade. She leveled it toward Cyan.
"You're going to be fighting me."
Cyan blinked, looking caught between excitement and uncertainty. "Uh… what?"
Yang noticed the hesitation in Cyan's stance. "You okay?"
Cyan shook off her nerves and snapped her bow into quarterstaff mode. "Yeah. I'm good."
"Alright then," Yang said, shifting into a ready stance. "On my count, we go."
Cyan nodded and tightened her grip.
"One."
She adjusted her footing.
"Two."
She raised her staff, focusing.
"Now!"
Cyan lunged first, swinging for Yang's midsection, but Yang ducked low and slid beneath her. The second Cyan felt the air shift behind her, she pivoted, swinging her weapon to intercept Yang's incoming strike. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying from the impact.
They separated—Cyan pressing forward, Yang moving with effortless confidence.
Cyan tried to predict Yang's movements, but she was too fast. Yang suddenly vaulted over her, flipping midair before landing gracefully. Cyan turned—just in time to take a solid punch to the jaw.
She stumbled back, growling in frustration.
Ignoring the sting, she charged again. Yang sidestepped, spun, and landed a sharp kick to Cyan's back. The younger girl hit the ground with a grunt.
Yang exhaled. "That was good." She held out a hand. "But your reaction time needs work. The faster you adapt, the less likely you'll end up on your back."
Cyan took her hand and stood, shaking off the soreness. They sparred again.
And again.
And again.
Each time, Cyan found herself outmaneuvered, her timing a step too slow. Each time, Yang patiently coached her. "You need to focus, Cyan," she advised. "You're fighting me, not your frustration."
On their next clash, Yang extended her hand again—only this time, she hesitated.
Cyan's blue eyes flickered… then shifted to deep violet.
Yang's stomach tightened. Her smirk faded. "Cyan…?"
Cyan's entire demeanor shifted. Her expression darkened, her grip tightening around her weapon. Her breaths came heavier.
Yang took a step back. "Maybe we should—"
Without warning, Cyan lunged at her with blinding speed.
"Cyan! What the hell are you doing!?" Yang barely dodged the wild swings of her quarterstaff.
Cyan wasn't listening.
She attacked relentlessly, her strikes erratic but powerful. Yang had to dodge and deflect each blow, trying not to retaliate too hard. Something was wrong.
"Cyan, stop!" Yang yelled, trying to reach her.
But Cyan's rage only intensified. She moved faster, her strikes more vicious.
Weiss and Violet entered the courtyard just in time to witness the sudden onslaught.
"Oh, no!" Violet gasped. Without hesitation, she sprinted forward.
Yang was caught off balance when Violet suddenly swept her leg, tripping her onto the ground.
Cyan, seizing the opportunity, drew a knife and raised it above Yang's chest.
Yang's eyes widened.
Cyan thrust downward.
At the last second, Yang caught Cyan's wrists, struggling against her strength. The knife inched closer to her heart.
"CYAN!"
Violet launched herself at Cyan, tackling her off Yang. They hit the ground hard, Violet pinning Cyan down.
Weiss rushed forward, grabbing Yang's arm and pulling her up.
Cyan thrashed beneath Violet's grip, breathing heavily, eyes still locked in that unnatural violet hue.
Violet held Cyan's face gently, forcing her to meet her eyes.
"Cyan, look at me," she said firmly. "Look at me, now."
Cyan's body remained tense, her breath uneven, but she did as Violet instructed.
"It's okay," Violet said, her voice softer now. "It's me. Violet."
Cyan's wild struggling slowed as she continued to stare into Violet's steady gaze.
"He's not here anymore," Violet whispered. "You were attacking Yang. Your friend. Adam is not here. He will never be near you again."
At the mention of Adam's name, Yang's breath caught in her throat. Her expression hardened, confusion and realization clashing in her mind.
Cyan didn't move for several moments. Then, her eyes widened in sudden clarity. She looked at Violet, the panic melting into horror.
Violet gave her a small nod. "Good. Now, I need you to breathe. Can you do that for me?"
Cyan nodded, though her hands were still trembling.
Violet studied her for a moment before slowly letting go of her grip. Cyan stood up, her legs slightly shaky. Her eyes shifted back to their usual blue, the unnatural violet hue fading.
Cyan stared at the ground, her face unreadable.
"Are you okay?" Violet asked.
Cyan looked up, her expression blank, but she gave a small nod.
"Alright," Violet said. "Why don't you go sit for a while, find a quiet place? I'll come talk to you in a minute."
Cyan said nothing, but she retrieved her weapon from the ground and walked toward a nearby tree stump, sitting down. Her head lowered slightly, her fingers gripping the staff tightly.
Violet sighed, rubbing the back of her neck before turning back to Yang and Weiss, who still looked stunned.
"Okay… I just got attacked!" Yang exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "What the hell was that about!?"
Violet glanced at Cyan, then back at Yang. "Cyan… has a problem. She's endured a traumatic moment in her life."
"Traumatic?" Weiss asked, crossing her arms. "What do you mean?"
Violet hesitated. "I'll explain later. Right now, she needs someone who understands what she's going through."
Without another word, Violet walked toward Cyan, sitting beside her on the stump.
Yang ran a frustrated hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. She turned to Weiss.
"Well… shit."
ARCHERY RANGE
Velvet and Coco strolled through the archery range, watching soldiers, Huntsmen, and Huntresses firing bows and crossbows at distant targets. The sharp twang of bowstrings filled the air, followed by the rhythmic thunk of arrows embedding into wooden bullseyes.
Coco adjusted her sunglasses and smirked. "Seriously, Velvet? You really wanna learn to use a bow?"
"I do, Coco," Velvet said with a nod. "I've always wanted to. With my Semblance and weapon, I can mimic anything. But archery? That's one skill I never actually learned." She smiled. "It was going to be my weapon of choice before my mom convinced me otherwise."
Coco scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "So, you're just gonna start learning from scratch? On your own?"
"Oh no," Velvet said. "I asked Jaune's sister to train me."
Coco's expression shifted slightly. "Oh. Um… okay. If that's what you wanna do."
Velvet narrowed her eyes. "Coco, you okay?"
"Of course I am," Coco answered quickly. "It's just… I heard Artemis is into women too."
Velvet's ears twitched as she blinked in surprise. "Oh. I didn't know that." Then she smirked. "Wait… are you jealous?"
"Absolutely not," Coco said immediately.
"Coco…"
Coco sighed dramatically and threw up her hands. "Alright! Maybe just a little jealous."
Velvet chuckled, leaning in. "You don't have to be. You know you're my girl."
Coco huffed but smiled. "And you're mine. But if I see her trying anything, I swear, I'm gonna hit her."
Velvet shook her head with amusement. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen."
At that moment, Artemis Arc approached, her bow slung across her back.
"Velvet Scarlatina?" Artemis asked.
"That's me," Velvet confirmed.
"Great." Artemis gave a confident nod. "Artemis Arc. I'll be training you in archery, from the basics to advanced techniques."
Velvet smiled but then her expression turned serious. "Before we start, Artemis, I want to set some ground rules."
Artemis tilted her head. "Um… okay?"
Velvet folded her arms. "I'm aware of your… preferences, and I want to make one thing very clear. I'm taken. This is Coco Adel."
Artemis looked at Coco, who had her arms crossed and a serious expression.
Velvet continued, her voice firm. "I also know about your flirty attitude toward people you find attractive. So while you're training me, you will not flirt with me, will not touch me unless absolutely necessary, and will not stare at me for long periods of time. If you do… there will be consequences. Got it?"
Artemis's eyes widened. Even Coco looked impressed.
"I… um… okay," Artemis stammered.
Velvet's serious look melted into a smile. "Good. Now, where will we be training?"
Artemis cleared her throat, pointing toward an empty archery booth. "Uh… over there."
"Perfect." Velvet turned to Coco and leaned in, pressing a quick peck to her lips. "See? I can be serious."
Coco smirked. "Damn, babe. That was kinda hot."
Velvet grinned before heading toward the archery range. Artemis stood frozen for a moment, still processing what had just happened.
Coco pulled her sunglasses down slightly and gave Artemis a sharp look. "Better follow her rules, Blondie," she said coolly. "She means the world to me."
Coco then walked off, leaving Artemis standing there, looking both intimidated and impressed. With a hesitant gulp, she hurried after Velvet, ready to start training.
ARC ROOM
Jasmine and Clover sat on their beds, quietly immersed in their books. The room was peaceful, the soft sound of pages turning filling the space. Across from them, Jade sat cross-legged on the floor, her hands resting on her knees, eyes closed in deep meditation.
On the other side of the room, Jonathan and June sat together on June's bed, whispering to each other, enjoying a rare quiet moment as a couple.
The door creaked open.
Lily strolled in, a smug grin plastered across her face. She flopped onto her bed, stretching her arms behind her head, looking utterly satisfied.
Clover, sensing the shift in energy, lowered her book and smirked. "You look way too happy, Lil'. Care to share with the class?"
Lily hummed, eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh, nothing too important." She sighed dramatically. "Just had a very interesting conversation with that Neptune guy."
Jade's eyes snapped open.
"What?"
Lily's grin immediately vanished. She turned her head, locking eyes with Jade—who was no longer in a meditative trance, but was now very much awake and staring daggers at her.
A bead of sweat rolled down Lily's temple.
"Oh… shit."
JNNR ROOM
The sudden crash from the room next door shattered the quiet.
Jaune, who had been carefully polishing Crocea Mors, sighed heavily and set the sword down. He and Neo, who had been cleaning her own weapons, exchanged a knowing look.
From the open doorway, June and Jason Arc suddenly zoomed past, fleeing in a hurry.
Jaune sighed again, rubbing his temple. "Brings back memories."
Neo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Really?"
Jaune chuckled. "Yeah. A lot of things have changed, but my sisters? Not one bit."
Neo rolled her eyes playfully and stood up, walking over to the door. Without a word, she shut it softly… and locked it.
Jaune blinked. "Uh… Neo?"
She ignored him, strolling over to the windows, drawing the curtains closed. The dim lighting in the room darkened even more, creating a private, intimate atmosphere.
Jaune cleared his throat. "Neo, what are you—"
Neo turned, grinning mischievously as she slowly walked toward him.
"You know," she purred, stopping right in front of him, "Ren and Nora won't be back for another couple of hours."
Before Jaune could respond, she gracefully slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Jaune swallowed hard. "Uh, Neo... my family is literally next door—"
Neo leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered something very suggestive.
Jaune's face instantly turned bright red. "Neo—!"
She smirked. "I promise to be quiet."
Jaune stared at her, still flustered, before shaking his head with a small laugh. "You're unbelievable."
Neo simply grinned before pressing her lips against his, pulling him into a deep kiss.
With one swift movement, Jaune wrapped his arms around her waist and toppled backward onto the bed, Neo giggling softly against his lips.
The locked door remained shut.
REC ROOM
Sun and Neptune were deep in a game of pool, the clack of billiard balls echoing through the casual atmosphere of the Rec Room.
Sun lined up his shot, aimed carefully, and with a smooth stroke, sank the 8-ball into the corner pocket.
"Yes!" Sun fist-pumped in victory. "Pay up!"
Neptune let out a dramatic groan before reluctantly pulling out a few Lien and handing it over.
"You up for round two?" Sun asked, twirling his pool stick.
"I don't think so," Neptune replied, placing his stick back on the rack. "Actually… can I ask you something?"
Sun raised an eyebrow. "Sure. What's up?"
Neptune leaned against the pool table, rubbing the back of his head. "How did you get lucky with Neon? I mean, one minute you're talking to her, and next thing I know, you two are a thing."
Sun chuckled, setting his pool stick down. "Well, I guess it officially started back in Mistral. After Nebula… you know…" he trailed off, his expression sobering for a moment.
Neptune nodded. "Yeah. I remember."
Sun took a deep breath. "I was there for Neon, comforting her through it. I guess she saw a different side of me—one she never knew. And honestly? I'm glad. She makes me happy, and I try to do the same for her."
Neptune absorbed that for a moment before nodding. "I see."
Sun eyed him. "Why do you ask?"
Neptune sighed. "Well… I thought maybe you got with her by flirting like you do with every girl you meet. But now, I get it—it was different. You actually care about her."
Sun smirked. "Of course I do. I learned that the real way to a girl's heart isn't through pickup lines or being smooth. It's by showing her that you genuinely care."
Neptune crossed his arms, processing that.
"…That actually makes sense."
Sun tilted his head. "There something else on your mind?"
Neptune hesitated before answering. "Yeah, actually. I, uh… had an interesting conversation with Lily Arc earlier."
Sun's eyebrows shot up. "Lily Arc? Seriously?"
Neptune chuckled. "Yep. And man, she caught me off guard. She's—uh—very flirty."
Sun grinned. "Oh, I know."
Neptune shrugged. "But the thing is, I kinda already had someone else in mind before she started flirting with me."
Sun's grin widened. "Oh really? And who might that be?"
Neptune shifted uncomfortably before finally admitting, "Jade."
Sun's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… Jade? My former instructor?!"
Neptune nodded, rubbing his neck sheepishly.
"…Huh," Sun said, blinking. "Well, that's unexpected."
Neptune laughed nervously. "Yeah, tell me about it."
Sun thought for a moment before giving his best advice. "Well… if you think you like her, take it slow. No smooth, 'too-cool-for-this' attitude—just be yourself. Get to know her, spend some time with her, and see where it goes."
Neptune looked at Sun in surprise. "You really think that'll work?"
Sun smirked. "Worked for me, didn't it?"
Neptune chuckled. "Alright. I'll give it a shot. Thanks, man."
"Anytime, bro."
The two fist-bumped, sealing the conversation.
Neptune stretched, grabbed his jacket, and left the Rec Room.
As soon as he was gone, Sun suddenly felt two familiar arms wrap around his waist.
"That was very sweet of you," Neon purred in his ear, smiling.
Sun turned his head slightly, smirking. "I just said what's true."
Neon giggled. "And that's why I love you."
Sun's smirk softened into a warm smile as he turned to face her fully. "And that's why I love you too."
Neon grinned, leaning up to press a quick kiss to his lips. Sun wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close, savoring the moment.
TEAM RWBY'S ROOM
Violet and Cyan sat on Ruby's bed, their expressions tense. Ruby and Yang stood nearby, while Weiss and Blake sat across from them, waiting for an explanation.
Blake crossed her arms. "Alright. Can someone explain why we had to cut training short and come here?"
Yang scowled. "Because Cyan tried to kill me, Blake."
Blake's eyes widened as she immediately stood up. "What?!"
"Hold up," Weiss interjected, placing a hand on Blake's arm. "Let's hear Cyan out first."
Blake hesitated but eventually sat back down, her golden eyes locked onto Cyan.
Ruby's voice was calm but firm. "Cyan… explain yourself. Why did you attack Yang?"
Cyan was silent at first, her hands clenching in her lap. But a simple reassuring touch from Violet on her shoulder seemed to be all she needed. She took a shaky breath and spoke.
"I lied to you all," she admitted. "Not just to you guys… but to everyone outside of Team HAVC. Only Violet and my team know the truth."
The members of Team RWBY exchanged confused glances.
"My parents never died in one of Salem's attacks," Cyan continued. "It didn't even happen two years ago. It happened on my thirteenth birthday. And…" Her voice wavered. "It was the White Fang."
Blake's fingers twitched, her nails slightly digging into her palm.
"There were at least a couple dozen of them when they arrived in my village. My parents fought so hard to protect us… but it wasn't enough." Cyan's voice broke slightly. "I watched them die while I hid in fear."
Blake lowered her gaze, her fists tightening.
"But… that wasn't even the worst part," Cyan whispered.
The air in the room felt heavier.
"Their leader—Adam. I think that was his name."
Blake snapped her head up. "His name was Adam Taurus."
Her team turned to her, surprised.
"But I took care of him years ago." Blake's voice was steady, but there was something dark underneath it. "He's dead."
Cyan's eyes widened slightly. "You… you killed him?"
Blake nodded once. "I did it myself."
A moment of silence passed before Cyan exhaled sharply and continued.
"When he found my hiding spot, I thought I was dead. He held his sword to my neck, smiling. I remember staring at his mask, just waiting for him to kill me."
"But… he didn't?" Ruby asked.
Cyan shook her head. "Not right away."
Yang frowned. "Why?"
Cyan's eyes met Ruby's, serious and filled with something close to shame.
"Because I'm a Faunus, Ruby."
The room went silent.
"What?" Yang said, blinking.
Cyan nodded. "Adam thought I was scared of the humans, not him."
Ruby, Weiss, and Yang all looked stunned.
Blake, on the other hand, looked away, her jaw clenched tightly.
Yang exhaled sharply and crossed her arms. "So… you're telling me that you're a Faunus and you never said anything?"
Cyan looked down, her hands gripping her knees.
"You have to show them," Violet said gently.
Cyan stiffened, looking visibly hesitant.
"It's okay," Violet reassured her. "They're not going to judge you."
Cyan stared at Violet for a long moment before nodding. Taking a slow breath, she reached up and removed her hood. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she flinched slightly when her fingertips brushed against a sensitive spot on her scalp. Her hands trembled as she lowered her head, revealing something that made Team RWBY's hearts drop.
Two long, jagged scars ran across the top of her head, stark against her pale skin.
Cyan's voice was quiet, yet thick with emotion.
"My Faunus heritage is that of a rabbit. Like your friend Velvet." She swallowed hard, keeping her head lowered. "I used to have cute, little bunny ears. People made fun of me for them… but I never cared. They were part of me."
She closed her eyes for a second before pulling her hood back up.
Blake's fingers twitched slightly at her side.
Cyan took another shaky breath. "Taurus saw my rabbit ears. Then he looked at my parents… at theirs too." Her fingers curled into fists. "He… he ordered two of his men to force me onto my knees, their guns aimed at my head. I was scared shitless."
Yang's jaw clenched. Weiss held onto Ruby's arm tightly.
Cyan's breathing became uneven. "Taurus crouched in front of me… saw that I was crying. And he told me…" Her voice shook. "'I'm not going to kill you… not yet.'"
The room fell deathly silent.
Cyan's hands instinctively reached for her head, pressing against the scars.
"He had his men hold me down. And he… he…" Cyan's voice broke.
"…He cut them off."
A sharp breath escaped from Ruby's lips. Yang looked like she was about to punch something.
Cyan's whole body trembled. Her breathing turned into soft, hiccupping sobs.
Violet immediately pulled her into an embrace, holding her close. Cyan didn't resist. She just buried her face into Violet's shoulder, her small frame shaking.
Ruby and Yang sat down, trying to process it all.
Blake, however, stood up abruptly and walked toward the counter. She braced her hands against it, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles turned white.
The room was so quiet, the only sound was Cyan's muffled sobbing.
Finally, Ruby broke the silence.
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Cyan." Her voice was soft, filled with genuine guilt and sorrow. "You don't have to continue if you don't want to."
Cyan just nodded weakly, still clinging to Violet.
Blake, still facing away from everyone, exhaled slowly.
But there was no mistaking the faint sound of her claws scraping against the counter.
Cyan sniffled, still curled up in Violet's arms. Her voice was shaky as she continued.
"I was… alone for days." Her hands clenched into fists again. "I had no one. No family. No friends. Just… me."
Yang and Blake exchanged a glance, both recognizing that painful loneliness all too well.
"I tried my best to tend to my wounds. Took care of the cuts as best I could." Cyan lifted a hand, briefly brushing her fingers over the scars beneath her hood. "But every time I looked at what was left of my village…" Her voice dropped, barely above a whisper.
"…I felt nothing but rage."
Blake tensed. Ruby swallowed hard.
"That's when I discovered my Semblance," Cyan admitted. "It… only activates from anger."
Yang narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling how Cyan's eyes had shifted to deep purple during their spar.
"I was just a kid, but I was furious." Cyan's hands trembled. "One day, I snapped. I started hunting down White Fang members. I never— I never killed any of them." She looked at Blake, as if silently pleading for her to believe her. "I just… I just wanted to hurt them. Make them afraid. Make them feel what I felt."
Violet nodded solemnly. "She was like that for days," she added. "Every time her rage took over, she'd just go out looking for another fight."
Cyan sniffled again, nodding. "But then… it stopped. My rage ran dry, and I was so tired. So hungry."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I was walking… no, stumbling across a road when I found a refueling station. I had no money. No food. I was weak. I thought maybe I could wait until the right moment— maybe sneak in, take something and—"
"…And that's when I found her." Violet finished the sentence for her, a soft smile on her face.
Cyan turned to look at Violet, eyes filled with gratitude.
"She was hiding. Thought she was hiding, anyway," Violet said with a small chuckle. "But I was always good at finding people who didn't want to be found."
Cyan smiled slightly at that.
"I introduced myself, saw the state she was in, and— well, I couldn't just leave her there." Violet shook her head. "I bought her food, let her stay with me. I told her, 'I'm not gonna let you be alone anymore.'"
Cyan wiped her eyes, her voice steadying. "And I stayed with her. For a couple years, actually. Until I got back on my feet." She gave Violet a small nudge. "But we kept in touch."
Violet grinned. "Damn right we did."
Cyan sighed deeply before turning to Yang. "I… I'm so sorry, Yang." She bowed her head. "I didn't mean to— I just— I hope you can understand."
Her gaze briefly flickered to Yang's metal arm.
Yang followed Cyan's line of sight, looking down at her prosthetic for a moment. She exhaled through her nose before lifting her head.
"…Yeah. I get it."
Cyan blinked, surprised.
Yang rubbed the back of her neck. "I know what it's like to have anger take over. To let it… control you." Her hand unconsciously tightened into a fist. "But I also know it doesn't have to define you."
She looked Cyan straight in the eyes.
"So do me a favor— keep the anger to a minimum."
Cyan nodded firmly. "I promise."
Ruby let out a breath and turned to Cyan and Violet.
"Hey… can you two step out for a bit?" she asked. "I need to talk to my team."
Cyan hesitated but nodded. She carefully tried to stand up, only for her legs to wobble. Her Semblance had drained more energy than she realized.
"Whoa— easy there," Violet muttered before sighing dramatically. "Alright, princess, I got you."
Without warning, Violet scooped Cyan up into her arms, carrying her bridal-style toward the door.
"Violet, I can walk—" Cyan protested, blushing.
"Yeah, yeah," Violet teased. "You can argue about it after you actually get your strength back."
Cyan grumbled under her breath but ultimately relented. Violet shot a quick wink at Ruby before carrying her teammate out of the room, gently kicking the door shut behind them.
As soon as they were gone, Weiss folded her arms, deep in thought.
"Something on your mind, Weiss?" Blake asked.
"I just…" Weiss furrowed her brows. "I wonder how long she's been dealing with this. Keeping her trauma bottled up like that, letting it control her emotions…" She sighed. "That's dangerous."
Ruby nodded, agreeing. She then turned to Yang.
"You've had experience with this kind of thing before," Ruby said. "Losing control because of anger."
Yang crossed her arms. "Yeah. I used to have the same problem with my Semblance. My anger would flare up, and I'd let it fuel me, without thinking about the risks."
Ruby nodded. "And you learned to control it."
"Exactly." Yang glanced at the door. "Maybe I can help her do the same."
Weiss and Blake exchanged looks before Weiss finally spoke up.
"I think that's a great idea," Weiss said. "We've only been here one day. Cyan deserves a chance to get things under control."
"I agree too," Blake added. "But I really hope we don't get a repeat of what happened today."
Ruby sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "There's one more thing," she said.
The rest of the team looked at her.
"Ironwood needs to know about this," Ruby stated.
Yang raised an eyebrow. "Are we sure about that? I mean, what if he—"
"It's better if we tell him," Ruby interrupted. "He's already dealing with enough. If he finds out about this some other way, it might make things worse."
Blake sighed. "She's right."
Yang exhaled sharply before nodding. "Alright. Let's go talk to the General."
COMMAND CENTER
Qrow let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his forehead as he processed the information he'd just been given. Across the room, Raven stood with her arms crossed, her usual stoic expression betraying nothing. Ironwood, however, remained firm, standing tall as Oobleck and Port exchanged wary glances.
"You kept this from us?" Qrow finally spoke, his voice laced with irritation. "Why?"
"It was deemed unnecessary to make this public, Qrow," Ironwood replied evenly.
"Unnecessary?" Qrow repeated, incredulous. He stepped forward, stopping just inches from Ironwood. His crimson eyes burned with anger. "Then tell me this, Jimmy. How do you think she's going to feel when she finds out the truth?"
Before Ironwood could respond, the entrance doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Team RWBY entered.
Qrow turned his head toward them, immediately noticing the heavy expressions on their faces. Whatever they had been dealing with, it had clearly left a weight on them.
Ironwood straightened his posture. "We'll discuss this matter later," he stated, before turning to the newcomers.
Raven, however, had already honed in on her daughter. "Something wrong?"
Yang let out a breath, her eyes flicking toward her mother before shaking her head. "It's fine, Mom. We just had a conversation with someone from Team HAVC." She paused, running a hand through her hair. "We do need to talk—"
But Ironwood cut in, walking up to the group.
"Good, you're here," he said. "I assume your training with Team HAVC has gone well so far?"
Weiss nodded. "Yes, sir. We had a… setback. But HAVC will be ready for tomorrow. However, we need to—"
"Excellent." Ironwood interrupted. His tone was firm, his words precise. "Now. There has been a… change in plans."
Team RWBY exchanged confused glances.
"Uh… what change?" Yang asked, crossing her arms.
"The original plan was to scout the munitions factory that was taken over by Cinder's soldiers," Ironwood began. "However, due to some recent developments—which I am afraid are classified—your objective has now shifted. You are to infiltrate the facility and retrieve intel."
Weiss stiffened. "Wait… infiltrate? You want us to sneak inside a heavily guarded munitions factory?"
"A factory crawling with Cinder's forces?" Blake added, her ears twitching slightly.
"That is correct," Ironwood confirmed without hesitation. "I understand your concerns, but you will not be going in alone. You will have a specialist assisting you—one who is uniquely equipped to ensure your success."
"So, this specialist will be escorting us through the entire mission?" Weiss asked, skepticism in her tone.
"Not necessarily," Ironwood replied. He took out his Scroll and pressed a button. "This may come as a shock to the four of you." His sharp blue gaze settled on Ruby. "Especially you, Miss Rose."
Ruby blinked, confused.
Before she could ask, the doors to the Command Center slid open once more.
Footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as someone entered the room.
Team RWBY turned—each of their eyes widening in surprise.
But none more than Ruby.
The girl who stood before them had bright, orange hair tied into short pigtails, adorned with a familiar pink bow. Her green eyes gleamed with life, and a warm, cheerful smile rested on her freckled face. She raised a hand in an enthusiastic wave.
"Salutations, Team RWBY!" the girl greeted in an upbeat tone. "It is a pleasure to see you all again!"
She then turned her gaze to Ruby, her smile growing. "Especially you, Ruby."
Ruby's breath caught in her throat.
Her heart pounded as she took a hesitant step forward. Slowly, almost disbelievingly, she reached out, her fingertips brushing against the girl's soft, freckled cheek.
She was warm.
She was real.
A shuddered breath escaped Ruby as her fingers trembled.
"Uh… Ruby?" the girl asked, tilting her head. "Is something wrong?"
Ruby barely heard her.
Her silver eyes locked onto the familiar face in front of her, searching for some kind of trick, some illusion, some lie.
But there was none.
She was here.
She was real.
And so, with a voice that barely left her lips, Ruby uttered a name she never thought she'd be able to say again.
"… Penny?"