Notes:

Short chapter this time around, bear with me.

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Cinder was reeling from the blow she had just received, the suddenness of everything surprising her more than anything else.

Why?

Why had someone come for her?

As she asked the question internally, another series of explosions rang out, throwing her into further disarray but leaving her relatively unharmed.

Why is someone always coming to save them?

During her clash with Pyrrha, she had been certain that there would be no salvation for her, but it had come regardless. And from a child no more powerful than the person he had come to save.

Her thoughts traveled back to Amber, that worthless and unworthy child who wasted the incomprehensible power of the Maidens playing Remnant's Hero. She would have destroyed her completely if that man, Qrow, hadn't interfered.

Even in the White Fang, the generals jumped headfirst to save their subordinates when their lives meant nothing.

She thought back to her own upbringing… why had no one come to save her?

Was it something wrong with her?

Was she unworthy of saving?

Why did no one come?

"Aargh!"

A cry of agony rang out from her agonised lips, catching the whole city in its wave and rocking all its inhabitants for at least a moment before a slight, calming wave followed it.

On her knees, Cinder shed tears of resentment, and she realized: this was her path.

To be alone and to grow stronger from her solitude.

Solitude was her salvation.

She felt the power of the Maiden fully integrate into her like ice melting, the slight chill sending her body into ecstatic vibrations.

She was alone, but she was powerful.

Soon, everyone else will be alone too.

With this thought, her eyes looked towards the direction that Pyrrha and Jaune had gone.

xXx

The duo ran for their lives, knowing that they'd be in serious trouble should the Maiden catch up. Jaune's plan had been to fight her together, but after Pyrrha's firm warning, he hightailed it out of there with her in tow.

Suddenly, the pair heard an agonized scream from the tower they had just fled.

The scream stopped them dead in their tracks, their blood almost literally frozen by the pain and power in it. Just as they snapped out of it, though, they found themselves in the devastated room they had just left.

Seated in her sultry manner on one of the fallen gears of the giant clock was the irresistible Cinder, her sedate stare and pose giving her the grace of an Empress and making even the ruins she was surrounded by look like a palace.

"This is the power of magic," she said calmly, her gaze fixing the two in their place as she spoke.

"It's a power beyond measure, and it's in my hands."

As she spoke, the light in her eyes died for a second and was replaced by a deep ennui, as though even this new power had lost its charm instantaneously.

"You know," she said with a harsh smile, the light coming back to her eyes and the incongruity of her features in that moment lending a mysterious and cruel charm to her face as she did, "I can't help but remember what you told me earlier and how you dismissed what I had to say. Even now, when I'm so exuberant, I can't help being pissed off by it."

She turned her gaze towards Jaune and smiled at him, as if to say,"So this was the knight who came to save you, how brave."

"You doubted me when I told you," she said, her hand waving idly as she did, "but I'll show you what it means to be alone."

It happened suddenly, to even say that it was over before one could blink would be an exaggeration.

The young blonde next to Pyrrha had stopped breathing.

The Invincible Girl was in disbelief. She hadn't felt anything.

Not the stirring of power, not the cessation of Aura… He had just stopped breathing.

This was the power of magic. When certain conditions were met, it was nigh omnipotent.

Earlier, due to Cinder still digesting the power she had stolen, she was often slow to react and instinctively used her very familiar Semblance rather than the foreign power. Even while she spoke to Pyrrha, she had been distracted, musing on things not related to her felled opponent. On realising her path, though, the fog that had inundated her thoughts was cleared decisively and she realised her full potential.

One's path was essential in fully mastering their magic potential. Like Semblances, they were unique to the individual and could only manifest their power based on this uniqueness. She had envisioned Pyrrha experiencing the same Solitude that she felt, and her magic had obeyed, causing the sorrowful scene of the felled Arc warrior.

"No!"

A powerful shout came from above them and before anyone could react, the source of it landed on Cinder, carrying her through the many floors below and to the underground area of the school.

Pyrrha was left alone with the no longer breathing Jaune.

It was all her fault.

xXx

Standing before her was the Principal, Ozpin. His furious visage was enough to scare the newly awakened Maiden for a moment before she recalled that she had the upper hand.

"You needn't be impatient, old man," she said in her relaxed manner, "I was planning to come to you immediately after I was done with your students."

Ozpin's anger gave way, and he looked at the cruel woman with softening eyes behind his shades.

"You're consumed by this power that you've gained, but recall this: fate exacts a price for all that it bestows… You can still turn back."

Cinder felt herself react to his sincere, almost paternal, concern, her hand involuntarily reaching out for his before she held herself back. She looked at him forlornly, her face betraying how tired this all had left her.

She hadn't asked for such a life, she hadn't asked to be abandoned by the world.

To be abused by those meant to love her.

All she had wanted was to be loved.

She fought back tears at this, remembering that only Solitude was left for her.

"My fate was to be a slave, to be tortured and neglected. I have broken my chains, I won't ever go back to that life… I can't."

xXx

Deeper in the city, Raven was cleaving her way through the scores of Grimm Creatures that lay between her and the Headmaster.

As Omen carved its way through another Cauldron, she found herself standing before a pair of lilac eyes.

Her Semblance, Kindred Link, gave her a certain intuition whenever one of the people she was bound to was nearby, so she wasn't surprised to see her. Still, the intensity of the stare, and the way her eyes looked through the mask she wore and directly into her, gave her a slight shock, and she couldn't help but start suddenly and move backwards a little.

Yang's stare didn't relent despite seeing her mother's reaction, and she instead looked at her more firmly.

She had waited so long for something like this. She wanted to say something, but the words failed her.

"Where have you been?"

The question shook the pair out of their reverie, and they turned to see Ruby Rose, who had been separated from her sister during the chaos, looking worriedly at her sister and warily at the other woman at the same time.

She didn't know of the Branwen Tribe (Qrow didn't like to delve into his past) but the Grimm mask generally wasn't a sign of anything good.

"Stay back, Ruby."

That was the only thing Yang said to her, her lilac eyes cold as they stared into the silver ones of her half-sister.

When she turned back, Raven Branwen was gone.

Yang looked around frantically, breaking into a disordered run in an attempt to catch up to her mother.

"Yang!" Ruby shouted after her as she appeared before her in no time with Blossom Burst, blocking her path.

"We need to meet up with the others, it isn't safe here."

"Why is it always you?"

"Every time I find her," Yang continued, furious flames building up in her eyes as she did, "you're always there to stop me and drag me back."

Ruby understood what she meant.

Years ago, when she had tried to find her mother, she had brought Ruby along with her and they'd been attacked by the Grimm. Yang was convinced that if Ruby hadn't been with her then, she'd have been able to find her mother. Her conviction of this, though never vocalised before, had never been shaken by reason and introspection. Reason and introspection weren't Yang's strong suit to begin with.

Ruby's mind was shot. She couldn't come up with a reply to such an accusation.

It was in this cloud of negativity and uncertainty that it happened.

A roar from the great Wyvern above was heard and that dangerous ooze fell from the sky once more, buffeting the entire area below it.

Yang and Ruby made to get away, but one's speed was far superior to the other's and only she made it out.

The dark ooze landed on Yang's arm, climbing up slowly but with the certainty of clockwork.

"Yang!" Ruby shouted, trying to reach her sister, who was now separated from her by the sea of newly formed Grimm Creatures.

As she cleaved her way through the monsters, she heard an ear-splitting scream from the blonde. The agony of it distracted her and allowed a Beowulf to score a strike on her, sending the petite frame of the already exhausted Huntress-in-training through the mostly demolished shell of a nearby building.

"Yang," she whispered exhaustedly, trying to regain her feet with futile motions.

I need to save her,Ruby said to herself, fighting the fatigue that told her to give herself over to unconsciousness.

'Rest,' it said, 'you've done all you can."

Rest,she thought, the suggestion alluring beyond resistance,I could use some rest.

"Ruby," a warm voice called out, pulling her out of the void, "we still have work to do."

Suddenly, the black-haired scythe user opened her silver eyes, energised inexplicably. She looked up to see a woman with similar dark hair and, more strikingly, the same silver eyes.

Her warm smile gave assurance, and Ruby felt her body warm up as she took her to her feet.

"I'll show you something cool," she whispered, putting her hand on the red-cloaked Signal Academy alumnus. Just as she did this, a bright silver light emerged from both their eyes, engulfing the scene around them and many blocks surrounding.

When Ruby woke up, the Creatures of Grimm surrounding her had vanished, and so had the mysterious woman with silver eyes.

Notes:

Since Pyrrha's based on Achilles, could Jaune be her Patroclus?