(Your POV)

You continued your walk through the forest, away from the town. You had gone, looking for a blade, and returned with nothing...

But Beacon was under attack, and you were a continent away. You didn't know how you were going to get back, and even if you were.

Edel: Is that all you're here for?

(Y/N): Hmm?

Edel: You said Raven was helping you with power. You're only here for that?

(Y/N): Yeah...

Edel nodded, continuing on.

Edel: So we're heading to Raven to get back to Beacon?

(Y/N): Yeah, Beacon's under attack.

Edel: From Salem?

(Y/N): I don't know.

Edel: You're talking with Ruby again...

(Y/N): How did you know?

Edel: I know everything that I should.

The pair of you continued in silence until you reached the camp once again. The pair of you continued through, making your way into Raven's tent.

Suddenly a sword was at Edel's throat as he sighed.

Edel: Hello Raven.

Raven: Why are you here?

Edel: You're transporting (Y/N) here to Beacon.

Raven: Am I now?

With that Raven lowered her blade, turning to face you instead.

(Y/N): Beacon's being attacked. I have to help them.

Raven: And yet you chose to come with me.

(Y/N): I didn't know what would happen.

Raven: Take all the information in and make your choice.

(Y/N): Alright I'll return to Beacon.

Raven turned away, walking deeper into her tent.

Raven: You already made your choice.

(Y/N): No. Take me back.

You turned back to look at Edel but he wasn't there. The flaps of the tent billowed as he walked away.

Raven: Imagine going back to Beacon. Ruby will be in more danger.

(Y/N): This isn't just about Ruby.

Raven: Sure it's not.

You let a silence fall for a moment, before you jumped through the tent flap as a blade was thrown over your head.

You stumbled into the camp as everyone turned towards you, weapons drawn.

(Y/N): Great.

You cracked your neck, pulling out your pistols, and flicking the safety off.

The closest one rushed at you and aimed a kick low, but you smashed your foot into their ankle, causing them to lean forward. You quickly whipped them across the face with your pistol, before sweeping their legs out and shooting them in the chest.

You flipped underneath a knife that was thrown at you, before flipping once more under a larger blade. You however, left your foot up, kicking his arm backwards and when he swung at you once again you shot the blade, lifting his arm up as you kicked the back of his knee.

He quickly recovered, as you leapt into the air, kicking their arm to the side as you used your pistol to give you some momentum for you to kick him in the chest, sending him back into the nearby supplies.

Several shots were fired at you, as you let the suit absorb the rounds of Dust, before you ran towards the incoming crowd.

You used both feet to kick off of one, before changing the pistols into the sniper rifle and sweeping the legs of the other four.

The one from earlier charged again as you dodged a wide hook before slamming the gun into the back of her head.

You raised the gun up, blocking a slice from a sword, before turning around and uppercutting them away.

You then looked around, as you saw a familiar girl walking towards you.

You thought back to where you knew her from, racking your brain for any slimmer of information.

Suddenly wind whipped through your hair as you looked up to see the sky darken and more leaves scattered through the air.

(Y/N): Vernal...

Vernal: Glad to see you remember me.

She extended her blades, stalking towards you.

Vernal: A new god against a Maiden. I'll make your coffin a nice one.

You rolled your eyes, changing your weapon into the pistols.

(Y/N): Bury me close to the surface so I can crawl back from the dead.

(3rd Person POV)

The Wyvern flew past the hijacked Atlesian Airship, as Ruby looked on, with the surrounding Griffons roaming the skies. A Griffon landed on the airship, but Ruby easily cut it down with Crescent Rose, causing it to disintegrate into black particles.

But suddenly, she heard a snap, turning to see Neopolitan, now changing into her standard attire with a wave of light washing over her from bottom to top, as she winked after taking a picture of Ruby, sending it to a certain crime lord with the following text.

Neo: "Guess Who?"

Roman: Oh, you can not be serious!

Having realized his old foe was interfering yet again, the wanted criminal quickly picked up Melodic Cudgel and walked up to the top of the airship.

Right outside of Beacon's dining hall, Blake Belladonna backed away from the shattered window, staring in horror at her old partner.

Adam: Running away again? Is that what you've become, my love? A coward?

Blake: Why are you doing this?

Adam: You and I were going to change the world, remember? We were destined to light the fires of revolution!

He stomped on a downed Atlas student's chest.

Adam: Consider this... the spark.

A horrified Blake watched Adam draw Wilt, preparing to stab the student. Blake then charged into the dining hall, drawing her sword in a flash. Her blade clashed with his as she pushed him away from the student, and they stood with their blades locked.

Blake: I'm... not... running.

Adam: You... will.

He kicked her away, knocking her onto the floor. A nearby Creep ran toward her, only to be shot by Adam.

Adam: But not before you suffer for your betrayal, my love.

He smiled and began walking toward her.

Back outside the Beacon grounds, Velvet Scarlatina groaned as she struggled to get up, only to get knocked back down when Coco Adel bumped into her after getting knocked away from a Paladin.

Neon Katt and Reese dodged and weaved between groups of students fighting against Grimm plus the infected Atlesian Knights and Paladins. The rest of Team ABRN surrounded a Griffon attacking it with bullets and fireballs, as Bolin knocked a Knight aside.

Reese spun her board and sliced through another as she passed by it. Nearby Sun and Neptune tried to hold back a Paladin, while Nora and Ren decimated another group of Knights. Yatsuhashi fought another Griffon while Fox dashed over from a pile of robot parts.

Two Creeps rushed at Flynt who used his trumpet to send the first one flying. Neon and Reese used their weapons to freeze a second Paladin's legs in place. Weiss then arrived on the battlefield, and charged in but got swatted aside by its arm.

Neptune reached out his hand to the heiress.

Neptune: Weiss!

Yatsuhashi tried to hold back a Paladin's fist with his sword, but he got overpowered and was knocked back. The Paladin then turned to and started approaching a distracted Ren.

Nora: Look out!

She pushed Ren out of the way of the Paladin's incoming strike, taking the hit instead.

Ren: Nora! No!

He reached out to her, but got knocked back by the Paladin too.

Coco and Neptune Vasilias fired their weapons at the Paladin, but it was unfazed.

Neptune: Uh, this is bad.

Coco: Well, I guess now's a better time than any. Velvet!

Velvet turned from glum to excited.

Velvet: Really?

Coco: Just make them count.

Velvet nodded and walked up to the Paladins.

Weiss: What are you doing? She's going to get hurt!

Coco: Just watch.

Velvet held her hand out as Anesidora glowed, forming a scythe. Grabbing the copy of Crescent Rose, Velvet leapt into the air, dodging cannon fire as she imitated Ruby's overhead spin, she descended slashing at the Paladin.

She then replicated Myrtenaster to deflect the Paladin's punch and landed a few blows before pushing it back with an Ember Celica imitation. Once after she landed a few shots, she slid under the Paladin's fist, similar to Blake as she used a Gambol Shroud copy and uses its string to trip over the mech, before moving to the second Paladin by lopping off its hand, and jabbing it in the head with the cleaver.

Before it could react, it was immediately peppered with holographic bullets, thanks to a copy of Gianduja. As it moved forward, Velvet switched to using Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang to counter a blow, as she landed another few hits while landing a downward blow from above with a copy of Magnhild, severing a limb.

As the first Paladin attempted to recover, Velvet immediately copied Floating Array, as she leapt off the second Paladin and sliced apart its legs before blasting it at full power. However, the first Paladin sucker punched Velvet.

Velvet: Aah!

She was sent skidding from the blow, landing on her back.

Coco: Velvet!

At this, Coco unloaded her weapon on the Paladin to no avail, Neptune, Nadir, and Reese rushed to her side and added their own firepower. But the barrage had little effect and the Paladin continued to loom over Velvet.

Furious, Weiss immediately rushed in past the others, as she instinctively used a summoning glyph, confusing her. When she got in between Velvet and the Paladin about to bring its fist down, she raised Myrtenaster defensively then closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

A thud was heard as she looked up and discovered that she summoned the arm and sword of the Arma Gigas she fought before, which blocked the Paladin's fist and bisected the machine in half.

She took a brief look at her summoning before being surprised by a camera flash, which had been taken by a smiling Velvet.

But before they could take a breath, another advanced Paladin rushed in from the corner and began to charge at them.

Sun: You have got to be kidding me!

Back at the airship, the battle commenced as Ruby performed a low swing, with Neo somersaulting over it, and ducking the next swing, before performing another backflip to dodge the third.

Ruby then twirled Crescent Rose before attempting another low sweep, only for Neo to back-flip away from her consecutive twirls. Once Ruby finished spinning her weapon, she lodged Crescent Rose on the hull and fired a shot, only for Neo to shatter in an illusion, revealing Roman as he fired a shot back with Melodic Cudgel, sending Ruby flying several feet, before she lodged Crescent Rose to safely grip herself from the surrounding gales, while Roman walked up to her.

Roman: Little Red, little Red, you are just determined to be the hero of Vale, aren't cha?

Ruby: What are you doing? Without these ships, the Grimm will destroy everything!

Roman: That's the plan!

Ruby then swatted aside Melodic Cudgel just as he attempted to fire it at her, causing him to move a few feet off-balance, before Neo returned and leapt over her, kicking Ruby's left cheek, and using the momentum to flip her over and sent Ruby tumbling on her back. Neo then followed up with a roundhouse to the face, and a rear horse kicked to nearly send her careening off the hull of the airship.

Ruby: But why? What do you get out of it?

Roman: You're asking the wrong questions, Red! It's not what I have to gain, it's that I can't afford to lose!

As Ruby charged, Neo vaulted over Roman for a powerful kick. She then leapt up, grabbing Crescent Rose, and slid under, flipping Ruby once more with the hook of her parasol.

As Ruby spun midair, the pint-sized powerhouse finished with a roundhouse to the abdomen, as Roman slammed the barrel of Melodic Cudgel to the ground and fired, causing the cane to ricochet and hit Ruby, before catching it and firing the weapon once more over his shoulder.

The blast was enough to send Ruby holding on for dear life, with the embedded blade of Crescent Rose the only thing preventing her from falling.

Edel: If you ever need me, call my name Little Rose. 

As his words ran through her head, she felt herself call out to him.

Ruby: Edel!

Roman: I may be a gambling man, but even I know that there are some bets you just don't take.

Neo then extended Hush's hidden blade and dragged it on the surface, as she held Ruby at sword-point.

Roman: Like it or not, the people that hired me are going to change the world! You can't stop 'em, I can't stop 'em!

As Roman continued, Ruby kicked away a Nevermore, and noticed the button on Hush.

Roman: You know the old saying, "If you can't beat 'em-"

Suddenly, Ruby reached for the parasol, when suddenly a gale slammed into the ship, shaking everyone. Ruby slipped further down on Crescent Rose, holding on for dear life.

Roman: Do you have to interrupt my...

He finally realized the person that stood in front of him.

It was Edel, walking forward with a spear made of jade, and wearing a slightly different outfit.

He wore a white sleeveless shirt with subtle cloud patterns. It had a high black collar with golden accents, with its left side extending further to cover his shoulder. Around his right arm, he wore a white and gold sleeve with a red lining, his shoulder topped off with a pauldron, tipped with two mint green spikes.

He wore baggy dark purple pants, and wore dark purple boots overtop. He had black and dark turquoise gloves with gold decals. He carried some sort of teal gemstone on the back of his left glove, and there was a strange mask on the back of his right hip.

Edel: Away from her.

Roman: Edel my boy. Good to see you.

Edel: I won't repeat myself again.

Roman: What, can't even say Neo's name now?

With that Edel launched forward, and Roman fired a shot. Edel seemingly disappeared, Roman's shot missing, when Edel appeared behind him. He quickly reached down, and held out his hand, to which Ruby took.

Edel was then slammed in the back, as the two of them fell off of the ship, Edel holding Ruby tight, as she clung to him.

He then disappeared in teal and black light once more, as the two of them were back on the ship, Ruby back with Crescent Rose.

Roman: You're too late, kid.

Edel said nothing, watching as Neo walked around, facing him alongside Roman.

Roman: You know, I'm all for the little guy winning here, but it looks like your time is up.

Edel turned his gaze to Neo.

Edel: I wonder what will happen to (Y/N)?

Neo paused, fear crawling over her usually confident face.

Edel: That would be bad, wouldn't it?

Roman: Whatever, who cares about the kid?

Neo turned towards Roman, genuine anger in her eyes.

Suddenly Edel leaped forward, ducking under a shot as he thrusted his spear towards Roman, and then towards Neo.

Neo's image shattered again, as Edel stabbed forward, through the umbrella and towards Neo's face, to which they both fell over the edge, Grimm rising up to chase them down to the surface.

Roman: NEO!

Ruby: I don't care what you say! We will stop them and I will stop you! BET ON THAT!!

As Ruby charged at top speed with the use of her Semblance, Roman gripped Melodic Cudgel with both hands, the left hand holding the shaft, as he quickly caught the projectile with the hook end and hurled it at Ruby, knocking her away, before smacking her with the business end of the cane, ramming the weapon in her stomach, and firing another shot, sending her on her back once more.

Roman: You got spirit, Red. But this is the real world!

Roman then whacked Ruby with the butt of his cane, sending her back a few feet.

Roman: The real world is cold!

Roman landed another coshing, this time on Ruby's legs.

Roman: The real world doesn't care about spirit!

Ruby then kicked him in the knee, causing him to lose balance as he prepared a downward strike.

Roman: You wanna be a hero? Then play the part and die like every other Huntsman in history!

He then proceeded to smack Ruby with the butt end of the cane.

Roman: As for me, I'll do what I do best: lie, steal, cheat, and SURVIVE!

Just as Roman prepared a final, overhead swing, an Alpha Griffon suddenly appeared from the sky and swallowed him whole, attracted by the negativity of his rant. The roar sent Ruby back a few feet, before the two charged at each other. Ruby prevailed when she kicked the beast in the head, sending it through the hull and causing it to crash.

And then, she grabbed Crescent Rose, leapt off the falling airship, and propelled herself in the air, shooting at the ground as if her weapon was a pogo-stick, before landing safely on the rooftops of Vale.

Back in the city, Glynda used The Disciplinarian to knock back a few Creeps, while Qrow sliced and blasted at a few infected Knights with Harbinger. A few Atlesian Knights walked towards them, aiming their weapons. Suddenly, their heads were shot off.

Without hesitation, Ironwood shot down all of the infected Knights with Due Process. Flipping it into his right hand to club the last one as it leapt at him.

Ironwood: This area's secure! We need to...

Suddenly, Qrow's expression changed into what appears to be anger. He transformed his sword into a scythe and charged toward Ironwood.

Ironwood: Qrow! This isn't my doing!

Qrow continued charging, despite Ironwood's words. The general flipped his gun in his hand and got into a battle stance, preparing for the perceived attack.

However, Qrow leapt past Ironwood, who turned around just in time to see a large Griffon lunging at him. With one swing of Qrow's scythe, the Griffon was sliced in two. Upon landing, Qrow turned around to address Ironwood.

Qrow: You idiot. I know you didn't do this.

Ironwood relaxed and sighed, lowering his head and putting his hand to his forehead, while Glynda placed her hand on his shoulder.

Qrow: So what now, General?

Ironwood: Someone's done the impossible and gained control of my machines. And that enormous Grimm seems to be fixated on the school. Glynda, form up the local Huntsmen and establish a safe zone here in Vale. We need to evacuate Beacon. Qrow, I'm leaving that to you and my men. I still need to get to my ship.

The three heard a loud noise and turned to see its source: Ironwood's ship slowly nose diving into the ground.

Qrow: Well, it won't be much of a walk.

The Atlesian Knights that were still functioning attempted one last time to harm the Huntsmen, before powering down.

In the Beacon courtyard, the students stood prepared to fight the Atlesian Paladin that was charging toward them. However, electricity arced across it and it suddenly powered down, collapsing and sliding to a stop in front of them.

Sun: Hmm. That went better than expected.

Weiss doubled over, exhausted, leaning on Myrtenaster to keep herself standing.

Yang: Weiss! You're okay! Have you heard from Ruby?

Weiss shook her head.

Yang: What about Blake?

Weiss: She went after an Alpha and some members of the White Fang.

Yang: You look for Ruby. I'll meet up with Blake.

Yang hurried off in the direction that Weiss pointed, while the heiress gave a thumbs up.

In the Beacon vault, an elevator opened up to reveal Ozpin, Jaune, and Pyrrha. The three immediately sprinted out of the elevator and down the corridor.

Jaune: What is this place?

Pyrrha: It's... a type of vault.

Jaune: You've... been here before?

Pyrrha looked away from him.

Jaune: What would this school need to... hide?

Finally seeing the Aura transfer machine, Jaune stopped in his tracks, gazing wide-eyed at the strange contraption and the comatose girl inside.

Jaune: What? Who?

Pyrrha: Jaune...

Ozpin: Pyrrha! Get to the pods!

Pyrrha looked at Jaune, then ran to the second pod.

Ozpin: Mister Arc, if you'd like to help, you can stand guard here.

Jaune looked at the two with uncertainty, then turned around and got into a guarding stance.

Pyrrha: What do we do now?

Ozpin ignored her for the moment, typing on the machine's hologram keyboard.

Ozpin: We do nothing.

The second pod opened, and Ozpin turned his head to look at Pyrrha.

Ozpin: You, Miss Nikos... have a choice to make.

Pyrrha looked at the pod, then at Jaune, hesitating. Her expression changed from uncertainty to sadness, and she wiped a tear from her eye, still looking at Jaune. She then climbed into the pod, which closed.

Adam: This could've been our day! Can't you see that?

Blake: I never wanted this! I wanted equality! I wanted peace!

She raised her sword, its blade folding into sickle mode, and shot at Adam, who blocked both bullets with his sword.

Adam: What you want is impossible!

He sheathed his sword and backhanded Blake across her face, knocking her over.

Adam: But I understand because all I want is you, Blake.

She began to raise her sickle again, only for him to kick it out of her hand, knocking her over once again.

Adam: And as I set out upon this world and deliver the justice mankind so greatly deserves, I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love.

Yang: Blake!

Yang's voice drew their attention to one of the broken windows. She soon came into view and shot a White Fang member, before looking around for her teammate.

Yang: Blake! Where are you?

Adam looked at Blake to see her terrified expression, then returned his gaze to Yang.

Adam: Starting with her.

Ozpin: Are you ready?

Pyrrha looked at him and gave a slow nod.

Ozpin: I... I need to hear you say it.

Pyrrha: Yes.

She laid her head back, staring ahead.

Ozpin: Thank you, Miss Nikos.

Ozpin pressed a few more buttons on the screen, and Amber's pod raised up. Amber began glowing orange, and her eyelids began fluttering.

The orange glow traveled along the pipes connecting the two pods - first up to the ceiling, then down to Pyrrha's pod. An orange glow surrounded Pyrrha, who began screaming out in agony.

Jaune: Pyrrha!

Jaune ran over to Pyrrha's pod, moving his gaze back and forth between Pyrrha and Amber's pod. While Jaune panicked, trying to understand what's going on, Ozpin looked away.

Ozpin: I'm... so sorry.

Suddenly, an arrow pierced the glass of Amber's pod, striking her in the chest. Amber gasped, and her eyes opened, then began to close again, while the machine began beeping an alarm.

Ozpin and Jaune turned around to see Cinder Fall standing halfway down the corridor from them, an obsidian bow in her hand. She lowered the bow, a tiny smirk creeping across her face.

Adam drew his sword and stabbed it into Blake's abdomen near her left hip, causing her to shriek in pain. The cry caught Yang's attention.

Yang: Huh?

Adam stood upright, pulling his sword from Blake's flesh and turning to face Yang.

Yang: Get away from her!

Blake reached out helplessly, whispering to Yang.

Blake: No... please...

Adam sheathed his sword, smiling. Yang screamed, her eyes turning red and a burst of flame erupting from her.

She leapt at Adam, drawing her fist back with tears in her eyes. Adam swiftly drew his sword, swinging it through the air at Yang, as his Semblance activated. As Yang flew through the air, the lower half of her right arm separated from her.

Amber struggled to breathe, her eyes wide, the machine's alarm still playing. Finally, all breath left her. Her eyes drifted closed, and her head leaned to the side, her whole body going limp. The green flames that lit the torches throughout the vault suddenly snuffed out.

Yang flew through the air, beginning to lose consciousness, with glowing yellow Aura splattering out from her wound. She landed on the floor and laid there on her side, completely still.

Pyrrha frantically beat her fists against the glass of her pod. The orange glow left Pyrrha and traveled back through the pipes into Amber. The glow then bursted out of Amber, shattering the glass in its way, and entered Cinder.

The murderer glowed, began floating, and gained long trails of flame around her eyes, with orange energy swirling around her. Pyrrha beat even harder on the glass, her stress increasing. Jaune raised his sword and charged toward Cinder.

Ozpin: Stay back!

Cinder summoned a large fireball casting it toward Jaune, who blocked it with his shield and was blasted backwards, landing on his back.

Pyrrha: JAUNE!

Finally, Pyrrha used her Semblance to rip the pod's door off its hinges, throwing it at Cinder, who knocked it away like it's nothing.

As Cinder began to descend to the floor, Pyrrha leapt out of the pod and charged, calling her weapon and shield to her with her Semblance. However, Ozpin put his arm out, stopping her.

Ozpin: Take Jaune and get out of here! Find Glynda! Ironwood! Qrow! Bring them here right away! The tower cannot fall!

Pyrrha: But I can help.

Ozpin: You'll only get in the way.

Pyrrha hesitated for a moment but obeyed Ozpin, scooping up Jaune and running away. While she did so, Cinder descended to the floor and watched them leave, with the glow, the swirling energy, and the flames around her eyes all disappearing. Cinder turned her attention back to Ozpin, her eyes still glowing for a moment.

Adam slowly walked toward Yang's unconscious body and swung his sword out to the side, flicking her blood from its blade. Before he could reach her, Blake threw herself between them, giving him a determined stare.

Adam: Why must you hurt me, Blake?

He swung his sword, and Blake's head detached from her neck. However, both her body and her head suddenly vanished, and Adam turned to watch the real Blake flee, dragging Yang with her.

He began slowly walking after her, not even bothering to look at the Creep that attempted to ambush him as he cut it down.

Cinder: This whole time... right beneath our feet. She was right about you.

Ozpin turns his cane in his grip, staring hard at Cinder.

Cinder: Such arrogance.

Leave any questions, or suggestions, if you would so wish to.

Until next time!