3rd Person POV:
In the Vault under Beacon the fight between the new Fall Maiden and the Headmaster of Beacon has begun.
After a clash, Cinder slides back, using her hand to melt the floor below her, and summons ice crystals from the newly-formed substance, hurling them towards Ozpin.
Ozpin deflects them all by moving at insane speeds before darting forward and delivering a bunch of fast strikes at Cinder with his cane, with the last blow launching her back.
Cinder then floats mid air by unleashing her Maiden power. Ozpin then slams his cane into the floor, forming a spherical force-field around him.
Cinder then unleashes a powerful fire blast, with Ozpin leaping into the attack with the barrier protecting him. As he closes in on her, everything soon goes white with a flash.
The scene changes to to the docks outside of Beacon. Air buses are seen picking up the last few civilians and students. Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck oversee the evacuation.
Port: That's it! Everybody on board! This is a mandatory evacuation!
Oobleck: A safe zone has been established in Vale! Please, remain calm and listen to Atlas personnel!
Meanwhile with Weiss she stares down in disbelief at the sight in front of her.
As Ruby and Y/N come running down the path, Zwei barks to alert Weiss of their presence, and Weiss turns to greet them.
Weiss: Ruby! Y/N!
Ruby: Oh, I found you!
Y/N: Are you okay?
Weiss: I'm fine, but where have you two be-
Ruby: Don't worry, we're fine! What's going on?
Y/N: Where's Yang and Blake?
Unsure of what to say, Weiss lowers her gaze sadly.
Y/N: Weiss?
Weiss steps aside, giving them a clear view of Blake and Yang lying on the ground. Both girls have bandages wrapped around their wounds, and the latter is unconscious.
Behind them sit Nora and Ren, who are too battered and bruised to fight. Blake reaches over and places her hand on Yang's.
Blake: I'm sorry. (she gets tears in her eyes)
Ruby reaches out and opens her mouth to say something, but in her emotional state, she doesn't know what to say.
Blake: (curls up, closing her eyes) I'm so sorry.
Y/N walks over and places a hand where Blake is holding Yang's.
Blake: Y/N...
She only responds by closing her eyes as Y/N's Aura flows causing Blake to pass out.
Y/N: Rest up.
Ruby: Yang...
Sun: (Walking over) Hey. She's gonna be okay. The soldiers have a ship ready to take you guys to Vale.
Nora: But Jaune and Pyrrha are still missing.
She attempts to stand, but she quickly sits back down, groaning and holding her side.
Ruby: What?!
Sun: Look, guys, that giant Grimm is circling the school! Even the White Fang are pulling out! We all have to go, now!
Ren: We're not... leaving! (Stands up, but then falls to his knees) Ugh!
Sun turns and casts a worried look at Blake.
Ruby: I'll find them...I'll find them, and I'll bring them back.
Weiss: No! We will find them. (She turns to Nora and Ren) Watch after Blake and Yang. We'll be back.
Y/N: I'm going too.
Ruby: But you're already injured especially after the fight with Roman.
Y/N: Don't worry about it.
She then rips off the wrappings on her arm and leg showing the wounds have already healed.
Weiss: How did y-
Y/N: We don't have time to question it.
Ruby and Weiss get over their shock as the two nod at each other before departing with Y/N following close behind.
Sun: You better be! Idiots....
The scene changes to the front of Beacon Tower as Jaune and Pyrrha run out of the front door. The muffled sounds of Ozpin and Cinder's fight can be heard.
Jaune: Okay, I think I have Glynda's number. (walks away, looking at his Scroll) Oh, where is it?
Pyrrha turns and stares silently at Beacon Tower. Jaune's voice soon breaks her concentration.
Jaune: Pyrrha? What was all of that?
Pyrrha: (turns to look at Jaune) I...
Their conversation is interrupted by an explosion, followed by Cinder using fire to fly up through the elevator shaft.
Jaune: But...Ozpin...
Pyrrha: There's no time. (shakes her head, then looks at Jaune, quickly adopting a determined tone) Go. Get to Vale and call for help.
Jaune: Huh? What are you gonna do?
Pyrrha slowly turns her head to stare up at the top of Beacon Tower. Following her gaze, Jaune realizes what she plans to do.
Jaune: No... no, Pyrrha, you can't. You saw how powerful she is! Pyrrha, I won't let you do-
Suddenly, Pyrrha grabs Jaune's head in both hands and silences him with a long kiss on the lips.
After a moment of hesitation, he gently pulls her in and returns the kiss, while Pyrrha slightly raises her foot behind her. She then pulls away, ending the kiss, and stares into his eyes, one hand on his cheek and the other on his chest.
Pyrrha: (Sadly) I'm sorry.
She then uses her Semblance on his armor, pushing him directly into a nearby locker, which slams shut from the impact.
Jaune: Hey! Wait! Stop, stop! Pyrrha, please don't do this!
While Jaune pleads, Pyrrha walks over to the locker and begins typing coordinates into it. She looks him in the eyes one last time, before stepping back and watching the locker fly away.
Once it vanishes into the distance, she clenches her fists and, once again, adopts a determined demeanor as she walks toward the tower.
Once she steps through the entrance, she runs to the nearest elevator and uses her Semblance to force the doors open. Inside, she finds that Cinder has left a large hole in the floor and roof of the elevator on her way up.
Pyrrha steps inside the elevator, closes her eyes, and begins mustering all of her strength. The elevator begins shaking. She focuses even harder, straining herself, until the elevator begins a quick ascent toward the top.
Meanwhile, Ruby, Weiss and Y/N are on their way back to Beacon campus, when Weiss' Scroll begins ringing.
Weiss: It's Jaune! (answers) Where are you?
Jaune: (In the street somewhere in Vale, panic in his voice) Weiss! Please, you have to stop her!
Weiss: What?!
Jaune: Pyrrha! She's going after that woman at the top of the tower! She doesn't stand a chance!
Weiss: Jaune, what are you talking about!? Where are you?
Jaune: (shouts into the Scroll's speaker) Don't worry about me!
Jaune: (leans against the wall with his voice now filled with sadness) Please, you have to save Pyrrha.
Weiss: We will. Are you okay?
With one last flare of emotion, Jaune screams and throws his Scroll onto the ground, breaking it. He collapses onto his hands and knees, crying.
Jaune: Please...
Weiss: Jaune? Jaune!
The ground shakes, alerting Ruby and Weiss to the danger that approaches them. The Wyvern flies into view, circling Beacon Tower with black ooze dripping from it.
It perches on one of the arches stemming from the tower and utters a screech.
Ruby draws Crescent Rose, shifting it into its scythe form in preparation for the Grimm spawning from the ooze.
Ruby: I have a plan.
Weiss: (Draws Myrtenaster) You always do.
Ruby: Y/N...?
They notice she's gone as they see her sprinting at full speed dispatching the Grimm before making wings and flying up the tower.
At the top of the tower, in Ozpin's office, a large amount of smoke flows out from the elevator, masking the entrance of Cinder Fall. She confidently strides to the window across the room, a smirk on her face.
As if sensing her presence, the Wyvern climbs up to the top, peers at her through the window, and screeches.
Cinder: (With a gentle, comforting tone) Shhhh... This is your home now.
The Wyvern stares at her and utters a shorter, quieter screech. Cinder backs away from the window and holds her hand out to the side, creating a fireball in her palm.
The sound of sparks distracts her, and she looks over her shoulder at the elevator, her fireball dissipating.
After a few moments, the sparks come to a stop, and immediately upon the elevator doors' opening, Pyrrha's spear flies toward Cinder, who casually leans to her right to dodge with a smirk on her face.
The spear is soon followed by Pyrrha's shield, backed by Pyrrha herself, and Cinder puts her arms up, blocking it and pushing it away. While Cinder uses fire to hover in the air, Pyrrha calls her spear and shield back to her with polarity, staring down her opponent.
Cinder gains a fiery glow around her eyes and swipes her hand through the air, attacking Pyrrha with an arc of fire. She then shoots a stream of fire, which Pyrrha dives over.
Six small fireballs form in a circle behind Cinder, and she sends another streak of fire toward Pyrrha, who barely avoids it. Once again, Cinder sends a stream of fire her way this time Pyrrha uses her shield to block it.
She leaps toward Cinder, powering through the flame, and as soon as the fire stops, she spins around and slashes Cinder's arm with her spear.
However, Cinder catches the blade and pulls, turning Pyrrha around. Cinder slams her palm into Pyrrha's stomach, and fire bursts forth, blasting Pyrrha away.
Pyrrha slams into a wall and falls to her hands and knees. She then stands back up and faces Cinder with determination still in her eyes. Cinder propels herself forward with flames jetting from her hands, smirking once again.
She attempts to slam into Pyrrha's abdomen, but Pyrrha leaps into the air above her and wraps her arm around Cinder's.
As Cinder slows to a stop, Pyrrha positions herself to place her feet on the wall behind her and pushes off, flipping herself over Cinder. She uses the momentum to flip and toss Cinder across the floor.
Cinder lands on her front and, as she slides, she pushes off the floor to get back on her feet and perform a back-handspring. Her smirk turns into a look of slight concern upon the sight of Pyrrha charging forward to slam her shield into Cinder's abdomen and push her over.
As Cinder stumbles backwards, Pyrrha hits Cinder's right hand with the blunt end of her spear, then slashes Cinder's left hand with the spear's blade.
She then spins around and slashes across Cinder's abdomen and legs. Pyrrha spins around to attack again, but Cinder performs a backflip whilst kicking Pyrrha, with flames trailing behind her foot. The kick knocks Pyrrha into the air, and Pyrrha quickly rights herself.
She flips her spear in her grip, holds it back, and then tosses it toward Cinder while firing the gun mechanism. Six fireballs appear around Cinder again, but they dissipate when Cinder backhands the spear away.
After being momentarily distracted by the shield, Cinder returns her attention to Pyrrha and gains a look of slight surprise, then annoyance.
Pyrrha launches herself toward Cinder and puts her arms around her, tackling her. The two turn each other in mid-air, fighting to be the one on top. Upon their landing, the room fills with a white cloud.
Upon their landing, the room fills with a white cloud. When the dust settles, Pyrrha has Cinder in a choke hold, and Cinder is barely managing to hold Pyrrha's spear away from her neck.
The Wyvern flies away, and Cinder's eyes begin glowing as she applies heat to the spear in her hands. Her grip tightens as she heats the spear more and more, staring over her shoulder at Pyrrha.
Upon hearing a loud screech, Cinder turns her gaze ahead and smirks, while Pyrrha gains a look of fear. While Pyrrha sets her focus on the Wyvern that is flying toward the tower, Cinder finally snaps the spear's melted blade into pieces.
Just before the Wyvern slams its wing into the roof of Ozpin's office, Cinder elbows Pyrrha in the abdomen. The room fills with a green glow as the windows shatter and Pyrrha goes flying across the room.
Giant cogs and debris come crashing down in the office, and the structure containing the CCT's transmitter falls to the ground outside, in pieces.
Pyrrha crawls toward her shield, while Cinder watches on from her position levitating off the floor with flame jetting from her feet. While looking for a way to distract Cinder, Pyrrha notices Ozpin's collapsed metal desk and uses her polarity to throw it at her knocking Cinder to the floor.
She then quickly grabs her shield and rolls across the floor, sitting up on her knees and holding the shield up. With a burst of flame, Cinder throws the desk off of herself and levitates in the air.
Pyrrha rolls out of the way of two streams of fire that Cinder sends her way and attempts to block a third. However, the force of the third sends Pyrrha tumbling backward, and the floor momentarily catches fire while Pyrrha rolls to her feet.
From behind the wall of flame, Pyrrha throws her shield at Cinder, who confidently backhands it away. She then looks up in surprise to see a multitude of giant cogs floating in the air around her.
Using her polarity, Pyrrha directs her shield to knock Cinder's feet from beneath her and then slams a cog down on Cinder's abdomen to pin her to the floor. She calls her shield back to her arm, then brings the cogs together into a pile on top of Cinder.
However, powerful burst of fire, sending them in all directions. One of the cogs flies toward Pyrrha, who raises her shield to block, in vain. The force of the impact slams her into the remains of a wall, taking away the last of her Aura.
Cinder forms an obsidian bow in her hand. As she raises it up and draws back an obsidian arrow, Pyrrha charges forward, spins, and throws her shield at her.
Cinder looses the arrow, which shatters upon impact with the side of the shield. However, as the fragments part ways above and below the shield, they glow orange and rejoin each other on the other side.
The fragments melt into each other and cool into the shape of an arrow, which continues on its path directly into Pyrrha's ankle. Pyrrha collapses in pain.
She attempts to pull herself to her feet, but the pain is too much. Both ends of the arrow break off, making removal impossible. She turns over onto her hands and knees as Cinder moves to stand in front of her.
Cinder: It's unfortunate you were promised a power that was never truly yours. (She kneels down and lifts Pyrrha's chin, staring into her eyes and smiling) But take comfort in knowing that I will use it in ways you could never have imagined.
Pyrrha: (pulls away, sitting up and matching Cinder's stare) Do you believe in destiny?
Cinder: (Frowns, narrowing her eyes) Yes.
She forms an obsidian bow and arrow again. She pulls back the arrow, lowering the bow to aim at her weakened opponent she goes to fire only for a wave of Water to block the arrows path.
Cinder: What?!
Suddenly she gets cross slashed by a familiar wolf Faunus knocking her away.
Pyrrha: (looking up) Y/N...?
Y/N: ....
Y/N: (Maria, please get her out of here)
Maria: (Yes master)
Maria then manifests in her physical form wearing her battle attire.
She grabs Pyrrha jumping off the tower before using her fire to slow their descent.
Cinder recovers from the blow as Y/N summons Asuna as the wolf Faunus and Fall Maiden circle each other.
Cinder: So, another weakling has joined in this useless endavor.
Y/N: Tch...
Cinder: You should've let her stay with you, might've helped your already low chances of getting out of here alive.
Y/N: ...
The two fighters then get into their stances as Y/N rushes in using her semblance creating water underneath her feet allowing her to slide at great speeds.
Cinder creates two obsidian short swords as she uses fire beneath her feet to speed in retaliation.
The two clash weapons as Cinder pushes Y/N back only for her to switch to her guns and fire multiple blasts at her as Cinder deflects the shots.
Y/N then lands and summons Asuna charging at the Fall Maiden actually landing multiple slashes on her with the last strike knocking her away.
Cinder rebounds and forms a sphere of fire around her as she then fires multiple fireballs at Y/N, who stabs the ground with Asuna creating a pillar of water causing the flames to evaporate as a smoke cloud fills the area.
Y/N keeps her guard up as Cinder tackles her using her sphere of fire as it explodes on attack knocking Y/N back as her Aura starts to flicker.
Cinder creates her obsidian bow and fires three Arrows as Y/N backflips away dodging two of them as the last is heading straight for her.
Suddenly, the arrow is broken by making contact with a crimson Greatsword as Maria blocks Cinders attack before sending an Aura Arc at the Fall Maiden knocking her away.
Maria: Master, are you okay?
Y/N: I'm fine, is Pyrrha safe?
Maria: Yeah, I brought her to Ruby and Weiss.
Y/N: Thank the gods we made it in time.
Their attention is then drawn to Cinder, who let's out an enraged scream as her eyes glow with flames erupting around her.
Y/N: (She's gotten even stronger than before)
Y/N: (It's almost as if she became a completely different person)
Cinder: I've had enough of this futile resistance girl! I the Fall Maiden will not be beaten by a mere student!
Y/N: ("Fall Maiden"?)
She isn't given time to think as Cinder charges in with her swords, Y/N struggles to gain any ground against the immense power coming from Cinder.
Cinder let's out another yell before causing an explosion of fire knocking Y/N away but she manages to regain her footing before she leaps in the air going for a downward slash using Maria in her Greatsword form.
Cinder slashes at Y/N cutting her body in half as her remains turn into water as the real Y/N comes down and breaks Cinders swords.
She then switches back to dual wielding and goes to slash at her with Asuna only for Cinder to let out a burst of fire keeping her back before landing multiple slashes with her newly formed swords.
With her last blow Cinder unleashes a strong explosion of fire with Y/N using the last of her Aura to create a barrier of water causing smoke to appear with it settling as Cinder stands above Y/N no longer having Asuna and Maria in hand.
Y/N: D-Damn...
Cinder: You really thought you had a chance against me?!
Cinder: I am the Fall Maiden! Follower of Salem!
She stomps on Y/N's chest before she could question.
Cinder: And you're nothing but a lowly survivor that I let live to tell the tale of the destruction I left in the village of Hasumi.
Cinder then goes to stab her as time seems to slow for Y/N.
???: (So pathetic)
Y/N looks up to see her past self staring down at her.
Y/N: (Y-You?)
Past Y/N: (I should've known my emotions would hold me back)
Past Y/N: (All this time you spent here at this school making new friends, lovers, partners, when that time should've been spent searching for her and taking her down as she did to our village)
Y/N: (W-What are you saying?)
Past Y/N: (I'm saying I've had enough with these weak emotions that will only lead to more pain)
Y/N's past self then kneels down to her current self's face as chains start to form around her arms as Y/N is sent down into the world she saw earlier in her dreams after her match in the tournament.
Y/N: (I'm here again..?)
Past Y/N: (This will be your home now. I'll handle all of this and end this so called Maiden)
She leaves the realm as Y/N is dragged into the depths leaving her feelings of pure despair.
Back in the real world times resumes as Cinder goes to stab Y/N as her eyes change from their blue color to completely black.
Y/N then grabs Cinders blade, blood running down her hand as she actually pushes her away from her.
Cinder: What?!
Y/N: ...
Aura starts to surround Y/N as she stares at Cinder with pure disgust.
Y/N: I am the vessel of my desires.
Y/N: Wrath is my soul and isolation my heart.
Y/N: I have drifted in a sea haboring over a thousand desires.
Cinder: Shut up!
She fires multiple fireballs at her only for the attacks to do nothing as Y/N continues her chant.
Y/N: Aware of suffering, yet unaware of victory.
Y/N: Endured tremendous amounts of pain to dream for many desires.
Y/N: I call for my need for revenge upon this world.
Y/N: Come forth my Infinite Desires!
Y/N's Aura then explodes as her along with Cinder are engulfed in an ocean as a realm forms with Y/N and Cinder standing a top an ocean.
Cinder: What? Where-
Before she could question any further Y/N summons Asuna and Maria.
Asuna & Maria: (Master?)
They look at her eyes and gain a terrified expression.
Maria: (No...not you...)
Asuna: (Master please!)
Y/N doesn't respond as her two weapons try to fade from her hands only for Y/N to allow more Aura to flow as Asuna and Maria feel immense pain from her feelings of malice and rage.
Maria: AH!!!! Master please!
Asuna: GAH!!!! Please Master Stop!!!
Maria & Asuna: MASTER!!!
The two are then engulfed in dark spheres as they change into different forms.
Y/N: Now come to me.
Maria & Asuna: (obedient and completely devoid of emotion) Yes...Master.
Y/N or rather her emotions are forced to watch this scene as she struggles to free herself from the chains as tears well up.
Y/N's Emotions: Stop it! Please! I promised them I wouldn't do that anymore!
Her current self with Cinder doesn't listen and continues to walk over to the Fall Maiden, who has her eyes glowing with fire surrounding her in a sphere.
Y/N then charges at her as Cinder blasts her away with a burst of fire as she continues to push through using Asuna and Maria as shields from the attack.
She then charges at her once again as her and Cinder clash blades with neither landing any hits on each other until Y/N puts more Aura into her blades shattering Cinders obsidian swords.
Cinder: Tch!
Y/N then goes to swing down only for Cinder to make a shield of fire blocking her attacks.
Y/N continues to bring down her swords as small cracks can be seen as Maria and Asuna let out a yelp of pain but persist with sadistic smiles on their faces.
Y/N's Emotions: (still struggling to free herself from the chains) Stop it! You're hurting them!
Her current self ignores her pleas and continues to swing her blades down completely getting through the flames and goes to slash at Cinder, who backs away and fires multiple arrows at the wolf Faunus.
Y/N bulls through slashing at the arrows with some of the arrows landing cuts on her cheek, arms, and legs.
Blood runs down her wounds but Y/N persists with her assault launching multiple Aura Arcs at the Fall Maiden.
Cinder creates a pillar of flame to block them as Y/N goes through the flames with her hoodie burning off as she brings down a large Aura Arc on Cinder.
A large geyser of fire rises from the impact as Cinder goes out unscathed with Y/N taking a breathe while Asuna and Maria are on the verge of shattering with multiple cracks on them.
Y/N's Emotions: You can't keep going like this! If you do Asuna and Maria won't be able to recover!
Cinder: It seems you've reached your limit.
Y/N: *pant* *pant* Shut up.
Cinder; I have to say this realm is quite impressive, a great place for me to practice my newly acquired power.
Y/N: *pant* *pant* Shut up.
Cinder: Quite a shame that the last remnant of Hasumi was this pitiful girl.
Y/N: I SAID SHUT UP!!!
She recklessly charges at Cinder, who creates a large sword of glass and fire as Y/N leaps in the air and goes for an overhead.
Y/N: DIE!!!!
Y/N's Emotions: STOP!!!!!
Her current self brings down her swords as Cinder swings her blade as the sound of blades shattering echos within the realm as blood rains down as Y/N has a large slash mark across her chest holding the hilts of Asuna and Maria, who are completely shattered.
Y/N's Emotions: (crying) NOOO!!!!
The realm dissappers as Y/N, falls to the ground with blood pouring out from her slash wound.
Cinder: Good riddance.
Ruby makes it up to the scene as she gasps at the sight before her.
Ruby: Y/N, no...
She then clenches her fists, curls her arms to her body, and then suddenly flings her arms out to the sides, beginning to levitate slightly off the ground. Brilliant white light flows from her eyes as she screams out the name of her fallen lover.
Ruby: Y/NNNN!!!!
The white light envelopes her, spreading out to the Wyvern and Cinder.
Cinder: (In complete shock) WHAT?!
Everything goes white as only whispers are heard.
Qrow: It's alright. I got ya, kiddo. I got ya.
Soon silence takes place until only radio static can be heard.
Taiyang: (sigh) Nothing.
Qrow: Just turn it off. Without the CCT, there's no point.
Taiyang: Communication down across the entire Kingdom, no way to contact the outside world...and Ozpin's still missing.
Qrow: Yeah.
Taiyang: This is bad, Qrow.
Qrow: Yeah, this is bad.
The scene shows Ruby asleep in an unfamiliar bed, wearing gray pajamas. Birds are tweeting and sunlight is streaming onto the wall behind the bed's headboard.
After a few seconds, she wakes up and looks over to see her father asleep in a chair. She sits up and sighs quietly, causing Taiyang to stir awake.
Taiyang: Ruby! (gets up and runs to kneel by her bed) You're awake!
Ruby: Ugh...what happened?
Taiyang: Your uncle Qrow found you, unconscious. He got you out of there, though, and brought you home safe.
Ruby: (looks down in thought for a split second, then looks at Taiyang) Wait! Yang! Is she alright!?
Taiyang: Uh... She's uh... she's gonna be alright. I think she's just... I think it's just gonna take some time for her to get used to things.
Taiyang: She's too strong to let this stop her. (covers his eyes for a moment, sniffling, then looks up, smiling) I'm just glad to have my girls back at home.
Ruby: What happened to the school?! And Vale?! Were they able to clear out the Grimm?
Taiyang: Things at Vale are under control, but the school... It's... it's not that simple. That thing, whatever it is, doesn't seem to be dead.
Taiyang: Don't get me wrong, you did a number on it. But it's not disappearing. It's... kind of... frozen. I know that doesn't sound too bad, but it keeps attracting more Grimm to the school.
Ruby: (tilts her head in confusion) I did...what?
Taiyang: Hmm?
Ruby: You said I did a number on it. What do you mean?
Taiyang: I...Look that's not important right now. We can talk about it later. Things are just... kind of a mess.
Qrow: It's always a mess.
Ruby and Taiyang look to see Qrow suddenly standing in the room, near the door. He finishes off the contents of his flask before continuing.
Qrow: Mind if we have a minute?
Taiyang: What, I can't stay here?!
Qrow: Tai. Please.
Taiyang stands up, sighs, and then leans in to kiss Ruby on the forehead.
Taiyang: I'm glad you're alright. (starts walking away) I'll go make us some tea.
Taiyang glares at Qrow on the way out, but the latter doesn't appear to care. As Qrow approaches Ruby's bed, he grabs the chair and drags it with him.
He then spins it around to face the bed and sits in it with a significant slouch, crossing one leg over the other.
Qrow: So, how you feeling?
Ruby: Um...I kind of hurt...all over.
Qrow: (chuckles) That makes sense, after what you did. (crosses his arms)
Ruby: You guys keep saying that! That I did something! What are you talking about?!
Qrow: (uncrosses his arms and legs, leaning forward in the chair) What's the last thing you remember?
Ruby: I ran up the side of the tower, and when I got to the top, I... (she gasps, sadness in her eyes) Y/N! Is she...?
Qrow: (looks down) She's gone.
Ruby: I... (tears fill her eyes) I... I got to the top... (she begins crying) and I saw Y/N (looks angry) and Cinder...(grips her blanket, tears falling onto it) and then everything went white!
Qrow: Anything else?
Ruby: I remember...(wiping the tears from her eyes) my head hurting.
Qrow: The night you met Ozpin, what was the first thing he said to you?
Ruby: I...I don't know. I think it was something about...
Qrow: Silver eyes. That's an extremely rare trait.
Ruby: So?
Qrow: You're special, Ruby. And not in the "Daddy loves his special angel" kind of way. You're special the same way your mom was. Remnant's full of legends and stories, some of them true, some made up.
Qrow: Back before Huntsmen, before Kingdoms, it was said that those born with silver eyes were destined to lead the life of a warrior. You see, the creatures of Grimm, the most fearsome monsters mankind had ever encountered, were afraid of those silver-eyed warriors.
Qrow: They were the best of the best. It was said that even a single look from one of these fighters could strike a Grimm down. Heh. It's a ridiculous story.
Ruby: But...you think that I might be...
Qrow: (Chuckles) Well, a giant monster is currently frozen on top of Beacon Tower. And you're here, safe in bed.
He gets to his feet and walks over to a window, leaning on the sill and staring outside.
Ruby: Wait, wait, how did you know what Ozpin said to me... the night we met?
Qrow: All those missions I go on... all the times I'm away in some far-off place... it's been for Ozpin. But he's missing now. Something's been set in motion. With Oz gone, I'll have to pick up where he left off.
Ruby: Then what can I do? If I'm so special, then I can help, right?
Qrow: You really wanna help? Get some rest. You're in no condition to go anywhere right now. (starts heading for the door) Besides, our enemy's trail leads all the way to Haven. That'd be quite a trip for a pipsqueak like you. (winks) Catch ya later, kiddo. (leaves)
Ruby sits alone for a while. She looks at the window that Qrow looked out of, then stares at herself in a mirror hanging on the wall across from her bed.
Yang sits alone in a spare bedroom, staring out a window. Her remaining piece of Ember Celica rests on the nightstand next to the bed next Y/N's pistols.
Ruby: (standing by the doorway) Yang?
She waits for a moment, but when she receives no response from Yang, she turns to leave.
Yang: Ruby.
Ruby turns back around, and Yang turns her head to look at her younger sister, tears now in her eyes. Ruby runs over and hugs her.
Ruby: I'm so glad you're okay!
Yang: But I'm not.
Ruby frowns and releases the hug.
Yang: It's all gone - the school, Penny, Ozpin, and...(looks at her severed arm)
Ruby: Yang, where are Weiss and Blake?
Yang: Weiss' father...came for her.
Ruby: What? What do you mean?
Yang: No one outside of Vale knows what happened here. Before the tower fell, the last thing people saw was Atlas attacking innocent people and Grimm destroying the city.
Yang: Everyone's scared. No one knows who to trust. So, Weiss' father came to take her back to Atlas, where he thinks it's safe. She's gone.
Ruby: Well, what about-
Yang: And Blake ran! Sun saw her go. After we got to the city, she just... ran!
Ruby: But... why!?
Yang: I don't know...and I don't care.
Ruby: There has to be a reason she-
Yang: No, there doesn't! Sometimes bad things just happen, Ruby!
Yang: (eyes turning red with tears welling up) EVEN THOUGH IT'S TEARING ME APART!
Yang: She's gone Ruby! Y/N's gone! The girl we loved is gone!
Ruby: So, what do we do now?
Yang: You can do whatever you want. I'm gonna lie here.
Ruby: Yang...
Yang: Just leave me alone.
Ruby slowly leaves the room, but she pauses in the doorway, looking over her shoulder to say one last thing.
Ruby: I love you.
A leaf falls from the tree outside Yang's window and slowly drifts to the ground. Over time, the ground becomes covered in snow.
Ruby steps outside, wearing a backpack, and quietly shuts the front door.
Jaune: Hey.
Ruby: Hey, Jaune. Haven's a long way to go.
Jaune: I know. It's the only way we have.
Ruby: Are you sure you want to come along?
Ren: The journey will be perilous, and whether we'll find answers at the end is entirely uncertain.
Nora: We'll give it our best to make it through.
Ruby: Then let's get started.
The four begin their long trek, down the road leading away from Taiyang's home.
Narrator: A smaller, more honest soul... It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope, breathe fire into the hearts of the weary.
Narrator: The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute. Which is why I will focus all of my power...to snuff it out.
Taiyang is seen bringing breakfast to Ruby's bedroom, but suddenly drops it when he sees she's not there. He then runs out of the room, unaware of the note Ruby left behind on her bed.
As Taiyang runs past Yang's bedroom, she notices a raven perched on a branch, before watching it fly off.
Narrator: How does it feel, knowing that all of your time and effort has been for nothing? That your guardians have failed you? That everything you've built will be torn down before your very eyes?
Narrator: Your faith in mankind was not misplaced. When banded together, unified by a common enemy, they are a noticeable threat.
Narrator: But divide them, place doubt into their minds, and any semblance of power they once had will wash away.
Grimm are then seen marching toward the ruins of Beacon. In Vale, Glynda is seen trying to repair a shop with her telekinesis, but fails to hold it together.
Elsewhere, Blake is seen running across rooftops. She stops to notice Beacon in the distance before continuing onward. Weiss is then shown sitting in a passenger plane with her father holding on to the necklace Y/N gave her.
Narrator: Of course, they won't realize it at first. Like you, they'll cling to their fleeting hope, their aspirations. But this is merely the first move.
Ruby is then seen visiting her mother's gravestone again, before turning to join Jaune, Nora, and Ren.
Narrator: So you send your guardians, your Huntsmen and Huntresses, and when they fail and you turn to your smaller soul, know that you send her to the same pitiful demise.
The scene shifts revealing an ominous-looking stone stairway lined with dark, purple crystals as a figure in black is overlooking a barren wasteland.
Salem: This is the beginning of the end, Ozpin...(turns her head towards the audience) And I can't wait to watch you burn.
The scene changes to the same raven that was watching Yang flies away before disappearing into a red portal.
It then flies onward to a small camp before landing and turning into Raven Branwen.
Raven then makes her way to one of the tents.
Raven: How is she?
Branwen Tribe Member: Stable she should be fully healed within a few months.
Raven: Good. Make sure nothing happens to her.
They both turn to see Y/N, with her slash mark healing due to her Aura.
Raven: (forming a confident smile) She'll be a very valuable asset.
Volume 3 End