Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth.

Author's Notes: Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Can someone skip to the end and then quickly tell me if it's any good? Aaaaaaaugh I'm so nervous. I hope it's good. My fingers hurt.

Please remember that there is still an epilogue.

Anyway, here is the finale. I'm so nervous. I think I have to go throw up.

I really really hope you enjoy it.

Her finger itched. Too bad it wasn't there to be scratched. Cinder stared at the stump, burned closed by her own fire. Where once her slender finger had extended, beautiful like white porcelain, it was now scarred and ugly. Rage boiled in her stomach as she looked at the missing digit. That whore will pay. I'll laugh while she screams as I burn her lungs inside out. She lowered her hand back to her side, reclining back on the wicker couch that dominated one side of her gazebo. Across from her, shifting her feet nervously while avoiding eye contact with the witch, was Roman's diminutive wench, holding her folded umbrella close to her chest like a scared child.

It was so boring, waiting for Roman's call. Time for some fun... Sliding her legs to the floor and standing slowly, Cinder brushed her dress smooth and walked over to the short girl, a smile spreading across her face. When Neo noticed her approaching her shoulders raised and her eyes widened, the grip on her parasol tightening. "Relax, Neo..." Cinder purred, stroking a hand along Neo's shoulder. "We're just waiting to hear back from Roman. Nothing to be scared of..." she whispered as she stepped behind Neo, dragging her fingers underneath the wavy pink-and-brown hair. She could hear the petite thief's breathing become erratic and scared. Yes... This is power... This is fear...

She continued circling around her captive, her fingers tracing along Neo's thin shoulders, until she stood in front of the small girl. Her eyes twinkled with malicious glee as they stared into the fearful brown and white, her fingers brushing gently along the soft skin and tilting Neo's head upward by the chin. "Something I've always wondered, my dear..." she said quietly, leaning close. "And I hope you can answer for me..." Her mouth was next to Neo's ear. "What sound does a mute make when she screams?" She hummed happily as she felt the shiver of fear shake through Neo's body, the girl's sharp gasp of fright making her heart flutter. "Oh, shh, hush hush..." she giggled, placing her index finger over Neo's mouth. "It will only hurt a little... I need you alive for Roman, after all..." She held her hand off to the side, summoning a small flame in her palm. Delight wiggled down her spine as she watched Neo glance nervously at the fire, its light reflected in her pupils. Yes, yes... be afraid... "I've always loved your eyes..." she sighed, licking her lips. "Now, be a good girl and hold still..."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the curtains spread open, warm yellow sunlight spilling into the shaded gazebo. She turned, a furious rebuke halfway out of her mouth. "Hello, my darling." Roman said, smiling wide at Neo and spreading his arms in greeting. Seeing Cinder's annoyed expression, he dropped his grin. "I'm certain I'm not interrupting anything..." He said, his tone dark and menacing.

Cinder plucked her hand from Neo's mouth, the fire in her other hand fading to smoke. "I believe I told you to call when you found something..." Cinder said, her teeth grinding as she spoke. She did not like to be interrupted. She crossed her arms and glared at the well-dressed master thief, her eyes glowing dangerously. "I expect you to obey."

Roman grunted, the corners of his mouth twisting upwards, but the smile did not meet his eyes. "I thought I'd surprise you. Bring her in, boys!" he called backwards through the curtains. Cinder's eyebrows rose in curiosity, her face neutral as two White Fang dragged a struggling Emerald Sustrai into the gazebo, gagged by a strip of cloth tied around her mouth. "Let it not be said that Roman Torchwick doesn't deliver." he said with a bow, touching two fingers to his hat. "One Emerald Sustrai, with my..." he paused, seeming to consider his words. "...compliments." he decided, shrugging.

She could feel the heat rising in her chest; the burning, hungry desire. Her mouth opened and closed, her eyes alight with excitement. She was literally salivating with anticipation. She sighed to calm herself, steam blooming from her nostrils. "Good work, Roman. I knew there was a reason to keep you alive." Cinder stepped toward her prey, a thin grin pulling at her lips. Emeralds eyes were wide, jerking between Cinder's and Roman's. "Hello, you thieving little shit." She took a step closer to Emerald. "You can go now, Roman." Cinder said, turning her head but keeping her eyes fastened on the gagged woman.

"Oh, but I can't. Not until our deal is completed." Roman objected, raising a finger.

Cinder paused, her gaze switching to Roman as she scowled. "Our deal is over, you moron!" she snarled, the edges of her eyes bristling with fire. "Collect your whore and get the fuck out!"

"Oh. Not our deal." Roman said, gesturing toward himself and Cinder. "Our deal." He grinned, pointing his thumb at Emerald. "Sorry to break it to you, bitch." Cinder's temporary confusion dissolved as Roman smashed his elbow into the face of the closest White Fang, the faunus screaming as blood burst from his broken nose. Roman then swung his cane around and blasted the second White Fang away in a cloud of red-tinged smoke, the man's body cracking against one of the colonnades supporting the gazebo.

Roman reached into his coat, withdrawing a knife with a short blade, and in a single, swift motion, severed Emerald's restraints. The green-haired girl removed her gag, then pulled two large, wide-mouthed pistols from behind her back. "Nice to see you again, bitch." Emerald snapped, leveling her guns at the witch.

Cinder's face twitched as she glared at the pair of thieves standing in front of her, her jaw muscles clenching in pure fury. "You..." she hissed, "puny... little... INSECTS!" she roared, great trails of flame sprouting from her eyes. "You dare to betray your Queen?!" Her indignation only grew when Emerald smiled slightly and Roman wagged his finger.

"You're not my queen, you crazy hag."

"No, I guess I'm not." Cinder breathed, scowling at the traitors. "But I know who is..." she grinned, a large fireball appearing in her hand. With a vengeful yell, she turned and prepared to hurl the flaming orb at Neo, the short girl still standing silently in the middle of the gazebo.

The crook of Roman's cane snatched her wrist, pulling her arm downwards and sending the fireball crashing into the floor with a deafening boom. The flames spread along the ground like spilled wine, casting dancing shadows on the gently waving curtains and stopping inches short of Neo's boots. "You're not going to touch a hair on her head." Roman uttered quietly, glaring from beneath the rim of his hat. He thrust with his knife, aiming for Cinder's neck.

She blocked it with her other arm, grabbing his wrist and pulling him into Emerald's aim, blocking the green-haired thief from interfering. They struggled for the upper hand, pushing and twisting against one another as they vied for the superior position. Roman was larger and stronger, but Cinder's infinite rage and powerful aura gave her unnatural strength. "I'm going to melt you alive!" she screamed in his face, flame snapping from her mouth.

"Get out of the way Roman! I don't have a shot!" Emerald cried, leaning to try and get a bead on the witch.

"Neo! Time to go!" Roman shouted to his partner, keeping his eyes locked on Cinder in case she had some hidden trick she could use when he wasn't looking. Neo nodded and started running from the gazebo, her heels clacking against the imported wood. If that woman escapes, he wins...

"I will tear down your whole world..." Cinder growled at the master thief. With a howl of fury, she summoned a massive wave of fire, giant rings of golden-orange flames spreading from her chest and hands. Roman was blown backwards, crashing into Emerald and knocking them both to the ground. "BURN, YOU WRETCH!" Cinder bellowed, shooting a screaming plume of fire at the fleeing mute.

"NEO!" Roman yelled, reaching a hand out helplessly while scrambling back to his feet. At his call, Neo turned around, her eyes filled with the reflections of the wave of flame that was hurtling towards her. She spun her parasol upward, deploying it just in time to deflect the initial brunt of the inferno, the curls of flame spreading around the deceptively lacy umbrella. She was blown over by the force, her parasol tumbling from her hands as she slammed into the sandy ground with a silent grunt, her face twisted in pain. "Neo!"

"Burn! Burn! BURN!" Cinder roared again and again, raising both hands over her head and creating a long spear of fire. "DIE, CUNT!" She threw her hands outward, sending the spear flying at the girl trying to crawl back to her feet. She laughed maniacally as it hissed through the air, leaving a wavy tail of black smoke. A streak of white, red, and black leaped in front of the hurtling spear, and Cinder cackled all the louder as the fire pierced a bloody, burning hole into Roman's shoulder, sending the tall man spinning through the air to land hard in the sand beyond his diminutive partner. "Fool! Now you'll burn together!" she shouted, drawing her arms back to send the next torrent of flame that would erase the pair of thieves forever.

A green blade attached to a chain whipped in front of her face, close enough that she could feel the air of its passing on her nose. She jumped backwards, lowering her hands to a prepared position by her sides and slowly turning her head to glare at the smiling woman pointing two large pistols at her head. "I don't think so, bitch." Emerald said, her expression firm. "Come on, Roman, let's kill this monster."

After a long moment with no response, her grin shrank and she quickly glanced to where the criminal duo had been moaning in the dust, just managing to catch the sight of Roman's hat-less head bobbing away through the crowd, his bowler tumbling across the street in the wind. "That asshole!" she grumbled, turning back to face the smiling witch.

"All alone, Emerald? Abandoned by your friends?" Cinder hummed, her voice sickeningly sweet. "How familiar that sounds..." Her eyes glowed with fire, and sizzling flames swirled around her fingers. "Now... give me my jewel..." she growled, stalking closer to the forsaken thief. "Give... me... my... JEWEL!" Flame sparked out of her mouth, her eyes hidden behind a tumultuous blaze. Her hands were curled into violent claws that glowed with fire, swaying by the witch's hips with predatory slowness.

Emerald's eyes widened at the sight of the avatar of fire that was prowling towards her, the heat from the witch's hands scorching her face even from their moderate distance. "Ah, fuck!" she groaned, firing one round from each of her pistols before sprinting in the direction Roman and Neo had fled, her heels kicking up mounds of sand.

Cinder blocked the bullets with a wave of her hand, the rounds exploding into showers of sparks that fizzled and died in the dusty street. "Run all you want, you streetrat! I will find you!" she shouted after the running girl. "And when I do... you will wish you died back in Vale..." She walked purposefully down the road, hungry tongues of flame crackling around her.

Roman was half-dragging Neo through the crowded mess of Grand Bazaar, pushing his way through lines of merchants and sliding around the tightly grouped stalls of various wares. Got to get away. Far away. Back to Atlas maybe. Lie low. Hide. Every time he elbowed aside a trader he felt spiking lances of pain spread through his shoulder and back, the ragged and torn skin scraping against his bloody coat. But he needed to get away. He needed to get Neo away. "Come on, Neo!" he called back to his partner, her wrist gripped tightly in his hand. She kept glancing between his face and his back, worry creasing her face. "Don't worry, I'm fine. We need to go."

Breathing was becoming difficult. His chest heaved as he struggled to fill his lungs, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He quickly checked behind them, unconvinced of their safety even though all he saw was the thousands of bartering Vacuans. He pulled Neo into the shade provided by a pottery vendor, crouching down so their heads were level. "Listen, darling, no matter what happens, do not let her catch you. If you have to, go find Red and Kitty Cat. Okay?" Her gaze switched fearfully between each of his eyes; she looked to be on the verge of tears. He brushed a hand through her bangs, hooking the strands of pink hair behind her ear. "Do you understand me, Neo?" You need to be safe. Rule number one. After what felt like far too long, Neo finally nodded once, her expression growing determined. "Thank Dust." he sighed, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "Okay, now, let's-"

Two small hands grabbed his face, preventing him from standing. He would have asked what she was doing, except her warm, thin, delightful lips pushed into his, and he didn't dare resist her kiss. It tasted better than the world's most expensive chocolate, and he valued it far higher. If it wasn't so important that they keep moving, he would have regretted when they separated. Neo placed an open hand over her breast, then lightly punched Roman in his chest, right on his heart. "I love you too, my princess." he breathed, staring at her tearful eyes. "But we really have to get going..." He stood and pivoted on his heel, retaking her hand and starting to pull her towards the docks.

Two strong hands grabbed his collar and lifted him into the air, and he sighed as he spotted the shining golden gauntlets attached to the wrists. "Going where, Roman?" Blondie growled, her upper lip twisted into a snarl and her red eyes glaring murder.

"Hello, Blondie." he croaked through his semi-constricted throat. "Where are your friends?" He heard a quiet 'schnick' as Neo started to draw her hidden blade, but before he could wave at her to stand down there was the more noticeable scraping noise of steel on steel.

"Put it away, Harlequin," Kitty Cat's angry voice sounded from behind him. "or I'll slice your neck." These are supposed to be the good guys...

"Answer the question, Roman." Yang said, shaking him strongly. "Where ya' going? Got the cure yet?"

"The cure for what?" Roman sneered, looking down unafraid into the blonde's fiery eyes.

The gauntlets deployed, extending to Yang's elbows, and Roman heard the dual clicks of two hammers being locked back simultaneously. "I'll give you one guess..."

"Emerald has it." He said quickly, assuming an annoyed expression. "She's the one you should be after."

"Where is she then?" An explosion silenced Grand Bazaar, a cloud of smoke and dust growing from a row of buildings further towards the center of the giant marketplace. Gradually, the screams of thousands of people filled in the silence, and hordes of people began to flood out of the trading hub.

Roman raised a hand, his thumb pointing in the direction of the blast. "My money's on that way." he said, a sarcastic, unamused look decorating his face.

"Yeah, thanks. I think I got it." Blondie said with a scowl, dropping Roman back onto the street hard. "Come on, Blake."

"Coming." The two huntresses began sprinting towards the plume of dust, somehow managing to push their way through the howling crowd.

Roman watched them disappear into the mass of bodies, using one hand to brush himself off while the other held to the aching hole in his shoulder. "Ow..." he moaned, grimacing as the flaring pain slowly faded. "Crazy bitch. Too many of those nowadays." He glanced down at Neo, smiling reassuringly when she met his eyes. "Good thing you're normal. Let's go." He held out a hand for his partner, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles when she took it. They joined the fleeing crowd, although at a slower pace. Damn shoulder. Damn witch. Damn them all.

He stopped, an idea forming in his mind. Neo tugged on his sleeve, confused about why they weren't running. "I have an idea, darling. Follow me." They started moving again.

The pounding of blood in her ears drowned out most of the voices in her head, the screaming sea of people that poured around her overpowering the rest. The merchants and buyers seemed to instinctively know to avoid her, a bubble of empty space surrounding her. It was probably the wisps of flame that blew from her hair, or maybe the glowing red eyes that looked hungry for blood.

Yang could feel Blake on her heels, the sound of the faunus' breath piercing through the cacophony of the marketplace. It both scared her and comforted her, because while she loved knowing that her girlfriend was close, the strongest voice in her head wouldn't shut up.

Kill her. Kill Blake. She's right there. Do it. She stabbed you. She hates you. You hate her. Kill her. KILL HER! Yang snarled and clenched her teeth. There wasn't time to fight with herself. She needed to find Emerald. Find the cure, save Blake, save herself.

Suddenly, the crowd vanished, and the two huntresses found themselves alone next to a blown-out, cracked building. Dust and smoke obscured their vision, but it was impossible to miss the twisted bodies that lay on the ground; sandy, drying blood clotting in patches next to the corpses. "Cinder!" Yang growled, her fists clenching in frustration. "She did this."

Blake put a hand on Yang's shoulder, relaxing the blonde slightly. "We'll find her later. Right now we need to find Emerald and save you." Save you first. Kill her. Kill her. Kill Blake. Kill her. Save Blake!

"Aargh!" Yang snarled, pulling at her hair. "I can't see a damn thing with all this dust! They could be anywhere!"

"Yang..."

"Some huntresses we are... Can't even find one lousy Pyromaniac. Where do you think-"

"Yang, shut up." Blake said sternly, the blonde turning to face her with a confused expression. "I can hear something..." Yang looked at the faunus' ears, which were swiveling back and forth as the girl tried to pinpoint the direction of whatever she could hear.

"What is it?"

"Fast footsteps. Heavy breathing. Muttered curses." Blake said, her eyes staring absently at the ground. They flicked up, her head jerking to the girls' right. "It's Emerald." Blake rapped her knuckles against Yang's arm. "Come on, this way." She jogged off into the settling dust, Gambol Shroud's black ribbon flapping behind her. Yang grinned and followed her, the anger in her chest yearning for release.

They zigzagged around abandoned stalls and quickly vacated buildings, the smoke and dust from the explosion still filling the streets of Grand Bazaar. Yang's hair was a dull blaze of light in the haze, like a lighthouse on a fogged shore. Stray cats shot from alleys at the sound of their footsteps, merely a distraction as the huntresses searched for a glimpse of their target.

Blake saw her first. "There!" she shouted, pointing ahead to a flash of green hair that disappeared around a corner. "Come on!" Yang pushed herself harder, passing her partner and thundering toward the alley Emerald had taken. She barely slowed down when she reached the turn, smashing her shoulder into the brick wall with a grunt before pushing off down the narrow passage. At the far end she could see her target, the green-haired thief glancing behind at her pursuers. Yang could see her mouth 'Shit!', and drove her legs against the ground, practically flying through the alley.

Emerald turned, and Yang saw two flashes of yellow light just before the bullets ricocheted off the walls next to her, jagged shards of brick bouncing off her shoulders. She snarled and tore her way toward the thief, whose burgundy eyes were growing wider and wider as the furious blonde huntress approached.

Emerald's head twisted back and forth quickly as she searched for an exit. Apparently she found one, because she disappeared from Yang's sight seconds before the blonde could grab her by the throat. Yang dug her heels into the dirt, skidding along the ground as she tried to quickly change directions. Emerald had slipped down another side-alley between two large buildings, her crunching footsteps and panting breath echoing back to the blonde. Yang leaped into the alley after her, her hair lighting the walls.

She found Emerald staring helplessly at a tall, unscalable wall of smooth sandstone, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Emerald!" Yang growled, her chest heaving from the pursuit. The thief turned, her expression firm and eyes narrowed.

"So the bitch has huntresses working for her now?" Emerald spat, taking a prepared stance. "Aren't you supposed to be defending people, not helping a madwoman burn the world to ash?"

"Give me the cure, Emerald." Yang said, taking a step forward.

"Fuck you!" The blades on Emerald's pistols extended, glistening green steel scratching into the dust. "You neutered my partner, you blonde whore!"

"Give me the cure!" Yang shouted, her arms shaking from the tension of her strained muscles.

"Yang!" She whipped her head when she heard Blake's cry from the mouth of the alley. She watched Blake's eyes shift past her and widen. "Look out!"

She heard the click and the twin booms, crossing her arms in front of her head just in time for the two screaming rounds to explode on her gauntlets, fire and wind wrapping around her body in a burst of light and noise. With a growl she clawed through the lingering smoke, her eyes glowing red. The time for negotiation was over; she'd take the cure by force. Kill her! Kill her! Take the cure! Kill her! She was going to rip the defiant thief into pieces and search for the cure among the remains. As she stepped free of the cloud of smoke, her eyes widened in surprise when she spotted Emerald running towards her, the pistols secured on her back. Perfect...

Yang curled her hands into fists, punching out with her right arm toward Emerald's stupid, smirking face. Just before she made contact, Emerald jumped to her right, kicking off the wall and leaping into the air. Yang's eyes tracked her flight as she bounced to the opposite wall, repeating the trick and pushing off the vertical surface. Yang watched open mouthed as Emerald fell towards her, frozen in confused surprise. "What the fu-" she said, suddenly silenced by the thief's foot landing on her face. She heard Emerald laugh as the green-haired woman pushed off once again, shoving Yang to the ground.

Yang landed on her back with a 'thud', blinking dust out of her eyes to watch as Emerald pulled herself onto a thin ledge next to a window a story and a half up the wall. "Nyaaaa!" Emerald mocked, pulling at one of her eyelids and sticking out her tongue. She kicked in the window, shattered glass raining down onto the blonde huntress, and swooped inside, disappearing from sight.

"Yang!" Blake called, appearing beside her partner. "Are you okay?"

Yang snarled, pushing herself back to her feet and waving off the concerned faunus. "I'm fine. We need to catch her."

"Right." Blake nodded. "Maybe if you lift me up, I could-"

Yang interrupted her by roaring, the sound of her rage ringing along the alley as she threw all her might behind her fist and punched into the wall, the stone bulging inward. Cracks spread in an arch along the sandstone wall, dust and pebbles clattering into the dirt. With another yell, Yang swung her other hand into the wall, blowing it open in a shower of dust and broken bricks. "Look, I made a door." she said, her shoulders heaving with each angry breath.

The interior was dark, shafts of light poking down from skylights to illuminate the swirling dust. Yang's boots crunched across the pile of debris that she had created, her hair adding its yellow tint to the dim space. Her red eyes roved the open room, which was bare except for a few stacked crates and a red-and-white forklift sitting in the far corner. "There!" Blake called from behind her, climbing into the building after the blonde. Yang followed her pointing finger to the far wall, where she could see the flapping trails of green hair that her partner had spotted.

"Emerald!" she screamed, causing the fleeing thief to turn. Yang took a step forward, preparing to sprint after the woman, but stopped as Emerald threw a small object towards the pair of huntresses. "The cure?" she whispered to the air, her eyes hopeful. No. She watched as the object sailed across the room, tumbling in the air and casting small glimmering flashes across the stacked crates. No. Not the cure. She tore her eyes from the object, staring back at Emerald as the thief smiled, aiming her pistol at the flying item.

RED DUST! The demon inside her bellowed. It could smell it, and it was slobbering as it stretched its ethereal arms toward the falling crystal, intangible fingers grabbing at the sparkling rock.

Save Blake.

Yang turned, worried eyes falling onto her partner who was watching the flying object, ignorant of its material. Save Blake. Time was passing in slow motion as she walked to Blake and shoved her harshly back through the hole in the wall, her face neutral as the golden eyes looked at her in shock and the faunus' mouth opened in protest. She ignored the shouted call of her name, turning back to watch Emerald's gun fire, and the shining round hurtle toward the crystal of red Dust. Yang spread her arms, trying to cover as much of the hole and protect her girlfriend. Save Blake.

The shockwave of the explosion broke all the glass in the closest three blocks, a massive plume of flame and dust erupting through the skylights of the warehouse they were in. Yang's ears were filled with a loud ringing noise, and she opened her eyes to find herself lying on her back on top of a pile of bricks. Blake was above her, tears in her eyes and her chin quivering in fear. "Blake?" she said, but she couldn't hear her own voice over the ringing. Blake was saying something, but she couldn't hear it. "I can't hear you..." she said, trying to sit up. Her head hurt. "Are you okay, Blake?" she asked, her voice sounding muffled as the ringing slowly began to fade away.

"I'm fine, Yang... but..." Blake sobbed, holding one of Yang's hands to her face. "But that was red Dust, right?"

"Yeah. Are you okay?" Yang asked. Her head hurt.

"I'm fine. You saved me. But..." Blake was gently shaking her head. "Yang... your eyes are red."

And then she could feel it. Fire was spreading through her veins, her arms shaking with barely contained rage. Revulsion twisted in her stomach, and she resisted the urge to vomit. A chorus of screams boomed in her head, and she felt her hair heat up. Her heartbeat doubled, burning pain pouring from her chest throughout her body. It was creeping up her neck, and she could barely see through the film of red that coated her vision. Kill. Kill. Kill! KILL! She rose shakily to her feet, supported by Blake's gentle hands, but the girl's soft touch did nothing to relieve her pain. "It hurts, Blake." Yang moaned, staring at the ground. "It hurts so much."

"Can you fight it? Push it down like you have been?" Blake asked, her nervous fear poisoning her voice.

Yang's hair started to glow and rise on its own heat, small flames crackling along the tresses of gold. Her stomach twisted and rolled, and she grit her teeth against the pain that stabbed in her mind. Her fingernails were coated in her own blood as they pushed into her palm, the muscles in her arm bulging with tense strain. "No." she groaned, her breath coming in fast, deep gasps.

"Yang..."

"You... you heard what Weiss said..." Yang hissed through her teeth, keeping her eyes locked on the floor. "I need to go back in, right? So... so don't worry. I won't die... I won't die from this. Don't worry." Hot tears blurred her red vision, itching as they rolled down her face.

Blake hugged her tightly, squeezing her arms together. "Yang..."

"Go, Blake." she said, touching a hand to the faunus' shoulder. Blake pulled away, looking worriedly at the glowing red eyes. "Go. Because... I... I can't... I don't want to kill you. I'm scared I might kill you, Blake." The fiery agony was inching up her throat, her mouth filling with the taste of blood. "Go. Please."

Blake wiped her eyes, rising onto her toes to kiss the blonde's cheek and then her forehead. "I'll get the cure. I'll get it." she said shakily, stepping away from the panting, red-eyed huntress. "I'll be back, Yang. Stay... stay safe. Please."

"Go, Blake!" Yang yelled, spasms shaking her body. The tendrils of rage were reaching her mind, red wolves of fury howling in her consciousness. Blake nodded, sniffling as she turned and sprinted after Emerald, giving the blonde one last fearful glance before disappearing through a door. Good. She's gone. Yang breathed deep, and exhaled in a long sigh, slowly lowering her resistance.

The fire flooded into her mind, burning heat exploding through her veins. Her knees bent and her back arched, her head tilting upwards as she roared, the crackling snaps of flame echoing in the broken, abandoned warehouse. Her body relaxed as the scream petered out, her shoulders slumping as steam billowed from underneath her glowing hair. Murderous red eyes rolled sluggishly to the door Blake had left through, a wide grin spreading across the demon's face as she slowly started to walk to the exit. Find Blake. Kill Blake. Burn her! Burn!

"Well, hello there, tall, blonde, and angry. I've heard a lot about you..." a sly, smooth voice called from the broken hole in the wall behind her.

Yang turned, her grin morphing into an angry snarl, flame spitting from between her clenched teeth. "Cinder..." The witch was standing on the pile of bricks, one hand on her hip and the other pushing aside a stray strand of black hair. Fire danced at the corners of her gleaming eyes, the woman's smile hauntingly vicious.

"It has been so long since we last met... How is your sister? And that faunus girl?" Cinder stepped into the warehouse, swirls of dust spinning behind her.

"Cinder..." Yang growled, her fists clenching and pulsing fury collecting in her chest. Her hair glowed brighter, wispy fire swaying from its edges.

"Ooh, you do have a bad case, don't you." Cinder said, resting her chin on her hand. The smile was still there, mocking her. "Have you missed me? Were you upset that I wasn't in that prison? I must thank you, by the way... A lot of past associates were able to escape, thanks to you." She laughed, the sound ricocheting off the walls of the warehouse.

"I'll kill you..." Yang breathed, stomping toward the chortling witch. "I'm going to fucking kill you..." Light rippled along the floor and ceiling as she charged toward Cinder, a quiet crackling creeping from the blaze of her hair. "DIE, CINDER!" she bellowed, breaking into a sprint as she rushed across the warehouse floor, a trail of steam vanishing behind her.

Cinder only smiled as the howling blonde flew toward her, excitement fluttering in her chest. She crossed her arms in an 'X' in front of her chest, twin spheres of fire growing in her palms. When the huntress was a step away, a golden fist surging at her face, Cinder unleashed her attack, her arms spreading out and a wide ring of fire expanding from her chest. It crashed into the blonde, sending her flying across the warehouse to slam into a red-and-white forklift in the far corner. Cinder chuckled as she started walking to her prey, her eyes glowing like fresh embers. "This is going to be fun..." she said to herself, summoning another ball of fire.

Yang scrabbled to her feet, her face twisted into a snarl of pure rage, blood and froth spilling from her mouth. She screeched her fury as she pounded across the ground, the echoes of her boots booming in the wrecked building. Cinder launched her next strike, the fireball spitting from her hand with the sizzle of superheated air, the wisps of its tail snapping as it flew. The blonde raised a gauntlet and deflected the attack with a sweep of her arm, the orb of fire flying wide to burst high against the back wall. She swung at the witch, the golden steel missing Cinder's face by an inch as the dark-haired woman twisted to the side, her grin growing larger.

Cinder leaned away from a sudden backhanded attack, uttering a quick laugh at the huntress' failed attempt to hit her. The blonde leaped at her, a shining fist aimed at her face, but Cinder sent a blast of fire into Yang's chest, and the furious girl was thrown to the ground. She scrambled back to her feet, just in time to receive Cinder's aura-guarded kick to the side of her head. Yang bounced across the dirt, skidding to a stop in the middle of the warehouse. With a growl, she pushed herself to her knees and slammed a fist into the ground in frustration. "Come now," Cinder purred as she walked slowly toward the raging blonde, "I thought you were going to kill me? This is almost too easy..."

Yang snarled and thrust herself at the witch, her hands stretching at the pale neck, but Cinder easily spun out of the way, throwing a fireball into the blonde's back as she stumbled past. The impact sent Yang flying, colliding once again with the forklift. Blinking stars out of her red eyes, Yang growled and rose to her feet, reaching down and grabbing the forklift by its roll-cage. Groaning with effort, she lifted the heavy vehicle and heaved it at the smirking witch, the giant, multi-ton projectile hurtling through the dusty air.

A grimace replaced Cinder's grin as she raised both hands and poured a wave of fire at the falling vehicle, slowing its travel until it thudded into the ground and rolled past her in a noisy clamor of twisting, screaming metal. The smirk returned, but as she turned her gaze from the failed attack, her eyes widened in surprise when the red-eyed huntress was right beside her, a golden fist already punching toward her face. The metal, hot and sharp from the demon's flaming body, crushed into Cinder's head, tearing a large gash across her nose and cheek and sending the witch sailing across the warehouse. She bounced and tumbled along the ground, the gritty floor ripping the fabric of her dress. She shakily climbed to her feet, touching two fingers to her face and glaring when they came back bloody. "You," she hissed, lowering her hands to her sides, "are going to scream as I fry your eyes into blackened husks..." Fire burst into life around her eyes, a murderous snarl twisting her lips.

Yang's shoulders heaved as she took deep, angry breaths. Her hair glistened in the air, waving on its own heat as Cinder slowly walked back into the light provided by the windows on the ceiling, fire swirling around the witch's hands. They stood silent for a moment, the two most vicious Pyromaniacs together, burning red staring into flaring yellow. With a roar, Yang angrily raised her hands over her head, a shrieking pillar of flame erupting from her head and shoulders as she strained her whole body, the cords of her tendons raising her skin. Her howl rebounded off the stony walls, the room filling with the sound of her fury. She crouched into a lunge, then shot towards the witch, her boots kicking up waves of brick dust and sand. "DIE!"

Sparks and haze wafted from Cinder's arms as the flames that coated her hands spread along her body, tongues of fire flapping around her eyes, shoulders, and heels. She walked purposefully towards the approaching demon, her blazing eyes glaring murder at the blonde huntress. "BURN!" she bellowed, casting a torrent of white-hot flame tearing out at the red-eyed devil. The building was lit with the wavering, uneven light of Cinder's inferno, the cascade of fire blooming as it rushed across the warehouse, crackling and snapping as it consumed the air in its angry journey from her pale, four-fingered hand. "BURN!" Cinder cackled, her eyes glowing with the reflections of her conflagration.

Two hands covered in golden steel clawed apart her fire, the flames warping around the gauntlets that guarded the powerful arms. Yang burst from among the blaze, barreling toward the shocked witch with fire pouring from her golden locks. "DIE!" she shouted, taking one final step before throwing herself forward and throwing her fist into the witch's face, the two Pyromaniacs falling to the ground in a heap of fire and thrashing limbs. "Die! Die! Die!" Yang screamed over and over, scrambling over Cinder's clawing hands to kneel on top of the struggling witch. "DIE!" She slammed her head into Cinder's, blood gushing from twin wounds on both their foreheads. Yang felt the resistance in the older woman's arms diminish, her blows growing weaker and the fast breath becoming ragged. "DIE!"

"No!" Cinder screeched, the fire fading from her eyes as they grew wide with fear. She frantically tried to block the blonde's arms from bashing into her head, pushing with all her might against the blazing hands. Her feet and knees kicked helplessly in the dirt, pinned underneath the demon's surprisingly heavy weight. "NOO!" A golden fist rose and fell, smashing solidly into her jaw and sending a bright red flash through her vision. She blinked her eyes clear just in time to see another fiery fist plummeting into her face, bright red blood splashing onto the dusty floor. She coughed, her head filled with thrumming pain. Shivers of fear coursed through her body as she saw the gauntleted hands connect together and raise high above the blonde's head. "N-" she choked, raising her arms in a weak defense. She could feel the panic rising in her chest, her body convulsing as it strove to eject her lifeblood from her lungs. She slapped at the blonde's arms, at her chest, at her face, twisting and squirming as she sought any way to free herself from the demon's hold. Her hand found the devil's snarling face, her fingers poking into the hot, slobbering mouth and scraping against sweaty, bloody cheeks. She summoned the last remnants of her power and sent fire pouring from her hand, engulfing the blonde's head in swirling yellow flame. It did nothing. The hands descended, solid steel crashing into her head with a wet 'thunk', blood and bone fragments splashing from the witch's shattered face into the sand.

And then there was silence.

Yang stood slowly, extricating herself from the tangled arms of the motionless witch, her breath coming in large, uneven gasps. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, smearing spit and blood across her cheeks. She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and screamed her victory to the audience of dust motes that floated lazily through the hot air, steam blowing from her hair. Her arms fell back to her side, heavy and tired. "Was... that... fun..?" she asked between panting breaths. "Now... now for Blake..." Heat pulsed in her chest as she stumbled toward the door, the room growing dark and quiet as the door creaked closed behind her.

She nearly slipped on a patch of extraordinarily loose sand, whirling her arms in erratic circles to keep her balance as she tried to follow the green-haired thief around the incredibly tight turn she had just taken. "Emerald!" Blake called, slowly building back to her rapid sprint, her legs pumping against the ground with heavy clomps. The woman spared her a momentary glance, not even slowing down as she raced through the alley toward the bright, open street ahead.

They had been running through the twisted back streets and side alleys of central Vacuo for what felt like an eternity, the dark-skinned criminal leading her on an impossible-to-remember trail that doubled back on itself and ran in multiple circles. Slowly, Blake had managed to catch up to her target, her huntress agility and desperate persistence allowing her to push herself harder than most.

She needed to catch Emerald, get the cure, and save Yang. One chance... Drawing the pistol half of Gambol Shroud, she pulled the trigger and hurled it at the back of the fleeing thief, the gunshot spooking a cat hiding in a trashcan. The bladed pistol spun and whistled as it soared through the air, Emerald glancing behind her just in time for the heavy metal weapon to smack her in the back, throwing off her balance and sending her tumbling into the sand. Hauling on the black ribbon wrapped around her wrist, Blake snapped the pistol back towards her, grabbing it out of the air and assuming a cautious stance as Emerald groaned to her feet, spitting sand out of her mouth. "Give me the cure, Emerald." Blake demanded, taking small steps closer to the glaring woman.

"Fuck you." Emerald spat, wiping her mouth and drawing her pistols, mimicking Blake's posture. "And fuck your blonde friend. And fuck Cinder." The long green hooks unfolded from underneath the barrels of her pistol. "You want the Anulo?" she growled, lowering her stance. "Come and get it. I'm not gonna run anymore."

Blake carefully crept forward, keeping a watchful eye on Emerald's blades and holding her own braced defensively in front of her face and neck. "We're not working for Cinder. We need it to cure our disease." Maybe she could reason with her.

"I don't care. You're chasing me, Cinder's chasing me... It's all the same. No one cares what happens to little Emerald." She was weaving her way down the alley towards Blake, her hair waving in the light breeze. "Well I'm not going to take it anymore." She whipped one pistol upward, firing two rounds and running down the alley, her blade scraping a furrow in the dirt.

Blake dodged away from the bullets, which scraped off the brick walls with a dull 'twang', leaping from one side of the alley to the other as more shots zipped past her, burying themselves in the walls or the ground. A bladed hook whizzed by her shoulder, its chain clinking as Emerald heaved it back, and Blake ducked just in time to avoid the razor-sharp edge cutting off her ears. She rolled and jumped, now right in front of the green-haired thief. She sliced upward with her wide blade, using her katana to block a side swing from Emerald. Steel met steel and sparks exploded from the contact, harsh metallic ringing overpowering their grunts of effort.

Emerald kicked at her, the sandal striking her in the stomach and forcing her back, Blake wincing in slight pain. She was now exposed, and Emerald tried to capitalize on her defenselessness by swinging both hooks in a cross, the green-tinted steel flashing in the sunlight. Blake jumped upward, leaving behind a shadow to be cut in half by the long blades, bouncing off the wall and landing behind Emerald.

As the thief turned Blake swept with her leg, knocking Emerald into the dirt once again, a quick curse accompanying the 'thud' of her fall. Blake lunged forward, hoping to pin Emerald down, but the dark-skinned girl somersaulted backwards and rose to a crouch, retracting her blades back onto her pistols. As the guns fired, Blake shadowed backwards, tossing the pistol of Gambol Shroud at Emerald's legs. The ribbon wrapped around the woman's left ankle and Blake tugged, forcing Emerald into a split and putting her back into the dust. "Damn it!" Emerald growled, starting to push herself to her feet.

Warm black steel pressed against her neck, and she paused, raising her hands after a moment. "Give... me the cure..." Blake huffed, gathering her breath. "Just do it..." She watched as Emerald slowly reached into a pocket, pulling out a dark blue velvet cloth, unfolding it to reveal a ring of jet black metal a couple inches in diameter, sharp onyx diamonds attached on the exterior with thin metal loops. "Is... is that..?"

"The Anulo Lux. Cinder's cure." Emerald breathed, scowling as she held it out for the faunus huntress. Blake gently grabbed the cloth, lifting it from Emeralds hand and marveling at how simple it was, and how utterly important. Now we can save Yang... "So now what? Are you going to arrest me? Kill me?"

Blake wrenched her eyes from the glossy bracelet, moving her sword away from the thief's neck and letting her stand. "Neither. I don't care what you do anymore." I have to go save Yang. "How does it work?"

Emerald rolled her shoulders, bending down and retrieving her pistols from the dust. "No clue. Cinder always wore it on her ankle. Never talked about what it did." She deposited her weapons on her back, brushing off her shirt and pants, and turned to face Blake. "So you're really just going to let me go?"

"Yes. We're here for the cure. For the... Anulo Lux. We're not after you."

Emerald raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. "Whatever." She turned, walking slowly to the end of the alley. "Hey," she said, turning her head back, "if you see Roman Torchwick... Punch him in the face for me, will you?"

Blake chuckled. "Sure. I owe him a couple good hits myself." She folded the cloth back over the jewel, pocketing it before recombining her swords and storing them on their sling on her back.

"Most people do..." Emerald smiled, waving as she turned the corner and vanished from sight.

Blake sighed, rolling her neck and turning to the far end of the alley, the direction she hoped she had come from. Have to save Yang... She took two steps when she heard a strange cry from behind her. She whirled on her heel, her hand already on Gambol Shroud's handle as she lowered herself into an offensive crouch. Had Emerald come to try and steal back the cure? She gasped and her eyes went wide as she saw Emerald creep back into view, but not as she had expected.

Emerald was floating in the air, suspended by gauntleted hands that were gripped around her throat. The green-haired thief was clawing at the arms around her neck, wet gurgles leaking from her mouth as she kicked and struggled against the blonde demon strangling her. "Yang! Stop!" Blake yelled, but if her partner had heard her she didn't show any reaction.

Yang turned into the alley, fire leaping from her hair as she walked, glowing red eyes locking to Blake's scared face. "Blake..." she grinned, a sickening, evil smile that made Blake's heart sink. The devil was temporarily distracted by a hand pushing against her face, and she snarled before slamming the bucking thief roughly against the wall. "FUCK YOU!" she roared into Emerald's dazed face, spittle and blood splashing onto the woman's dark skin. With a grunt, Yang threw the stunned girl across the street, her body crunching against a shop on the far side and leaving bloody cracks in the bricks. A haunting giggle burst from the blonde, her mouth spreading into a vicious, hungry smile. "Hello, Blake." she said slowly, turning to face the scared faunus.

"Yang... no..." Blake shook her head, her eyes wide and frightened as she stared at the flaming devil stalking down the alley.

"I hope you struggle. I hope you scream." Yang whispered, licking her lips. "It makes it taste sweeter. And you know I've always lov-"

"Please... please don't say it..." Blake begged, falling to her knees.

"I've always loved it when you were feisty."

Her yellow eyes opened to a world of pain. Her face was covered in blood and sand; she coughed when she tried to breathe, putting a hand to her bruised, swollen cheek. It felt like an eternity as she slowly sat up and pulled herself along the ground to a wall, her ragged red dress scratched and dirty. She leaned her head back against the cool, sturdy surface, taking light, shallow breaths that sent throbbing pain through her throat and chest. "Fuck... that... blonde bitch..." Cinder gasped hoarsely, speaking to no one in particular. She spat out a tooth, the blood-smeared molar dragging in the dust. "Just... she wait... until I... can regain my strength. Then... then she's dead!"

"Somehow, I sincerely doubt that." an arrogant, amused voice called from the shadows, Cinder's head lolling to the side as she searched the room for the speaker. Roman Torchwick stepped into the light, his uncovered hair glowing neon orange in the sunlight that spilled from above. He was wearing a smug grin as he leaned onto his cane, crossing one foot over the other. "Goodness, you look like hell." he said, frowning.

"Roman... you filth..." she breathed, coughing out the words with droplets of blood. "Get over here... and help your queen..."

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head and laughing. "We've been over this, my dear." he chuckled. His expression dropped, his eyes serious and glaring. "You're not my queen." All joviality was gone from his voice, and he stepped forward to stand over the bleeding witch.

"You... weasel! You are dirt!" Cinder snapped, the words coming out scratched and thin.

Roman smiled again. "Flattery won't get you anywhere with me, I'm afraid." He reached into his coat and pulled out a long, menacing knife. "Nowhere at all."

Cinder's eyes widened at the sight of the sparkling blade, her shoulders rising in fear. "This isn't your style, Roman. You're a thief, not a killer!"

The tall man crouched down beside her, looking over his knife. "I'm many things to many people." he said, switching his gaze to her frightened eyes. "You hired me as a thief, and for you I was a thief. Sometimes people need a killer, so for them I'm a killer."

"If you're going to do it, get it over with!" Cinder cried, grabbing at Roman's arms but the master thief pulled away. "Who... who set you on me? You've never done the dirty work before! Who is it? It was Adam, wasn't it! I've always distrusted him! No, it was Emerald! She concocted this whole plan from the beginning! Who was it, damn you!"

"My my, have plenty of enemies do you? Well don't worry, it wasn't any of them." He smiled, standing and walking back into the light. "No, this is my own, personal, endeavor." He turned back to face her, his eyes filled with malice. "Emphasis on 'personal'." he growled slowly. He stood silent for a moment, then closed his eyes and returned his knife into his coat. "You see, the number one rule in this business is no one threatens my princess. But you did. And that means you broke the rules." He inspected the fingers of his gloves, ignoring Cinder's quiet whimpers of pain as she gasped for breath. He paused, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. "And you know what happens to people who break the rules..." he said, turning to face her and standing straight, a small grin pulling at his lips. He leaned forward slightly, speaking quietly, "They. Get. Punished." He pointed his index finger behind Cinder, signaling her to look with a nod of his head.

Cinder turned her head slowly, keeping her eyes watching Roman until the very last moment. When they finally switched to where he pointed, she jumped and screamed in fear. Crouching beside her, completely unmoving and deathly silent, was Neo, the blade portion of her parasol shimmering in the dim light. Her face was perfectly neutral, but then split into a wide, wicked grin, her eyes changing to brown and white in a blink. "No... no! Roman! No!"

"My true queen, the light of my life, always gets what she wants. And just a minute or two ago she told me she wanted revenge. And she always gets what she wants." Roman smirked, turning away from the two women on the ground and waving over his shoulder. "So adieu! Au revoir! Sayonara, Cinder. 'Til we meet again in hell, where I doubt your fire will be the biggest of my concerns."

She pushed herself off the wall, crawling painfully through the dirt towards Roman. "No! Roman! No! No-!" A sharp, piercing pain stabbed through her leg, and she twisted her head to see Neo grinning at her while holding her sword point-down, the steel protruding from Cinder's thigh. The petite psychopath pulled the sword free, sending more burning pain along Cinder's body, then stood and stepped over the witch's back, pressing the end of her sword against Cinder's throat. "No! NO! You can't let her do this, Roman! ROMAN! ROMA-urk." She was silenced by the pointed rod of steel that was shoved clean through her neck, piercing through her windpipe and severing a multitude of arteries. Blood clotted in the sand, steaming and sticking to the paling white face and wavy black hair of Remnant's most violent witch.

Neo stood, wiping her sword with a cloth and dusting off her knees before taking Roman's outstretched hand, the two thieves walking to the exit. "Excellent job, Neo. I told you it would be our last job for the witch." He glanced down at her, smiling as he wiped a droplet of blood off her cheek. "How about we go for some... ice cream?" He chuckled at her excited expression, and put an arm around her shoulders as she hugged against his waist. "And I think I saw a pet shop around here somewhere. Want to take a look?" They stepped back into the open air of Vacuo, leaving the broken, bleeding body of Cinder Fall to rot.

Dust, did she miss those heavens of amber. The way they stared, filled with tears and hopelessness, was just so... so... juicily delicious. Their heartbroken, dull luster sent shivers sizzling through her spine. But the way Blake was just sitting there, shoulders sagging in defeat and quiet sobs shaking her body... it was boring. "Get up, Blake." Yang urged, steam rolling through her vicious smile. "Get up. Fight. Struggle!" She took another step, her fingers curling and uncurling in rage-fueled excitement. "It's more fun when you're feisty, so get feisty!"

"Stop saying that... please stop..." Blake cried, tears dripping off her chin into the sand. "We were so close, Yang. We were so close."

The blazing devil was standing over her now, the wisping flames of her hair spreading light and heat through the dusty alley. "FIGHT!" Yang roared, clouds of spit and steam raining into Blake's hair.

The faunus slowly raised her head, her chin wrinkled and quivering as she cried, pleading golden eyes watery and desperate. "I can't, Yang. I can't fight you. I love you. I love you too much." She shook her head, hiccuping coughs interrupting her speech.

I love you too, Blake! The deep, sane part of Yang's mind screamed, rattling the bars of her mental cage of chemical fury. "Fine then." The gauntleted fist swung down, smashing into Blake's head and sending her flying into the opposite wall, her body making a disgusting crunching noise as it collided with the sturdy brick. "This just makes it easier..."

Blake groaned in pain as she pushed herself to her knees, holding a hand to her throbbing head. She choked and coughed as the strong hands grabbed her by the hair, hauling her upwards. "Yang-" she gasped, silenced by a punch into her stomach.

"You never saved me." Yang growled. "I'd ask you every day to save me. Save me from this burning, unending pain. 'Save me Blake! Save me save me!'" The devil put another fist into Blake's gut, the faunus wheezing for breath. "You say that you love me, you say it like you mean it..." Yang pushed her face in front of Blake's, her hair lighting all the scratches and dirt that covered the dark-haired girl's face. "But you stabbed me, in Vale. You tried again in Atlas. I think you hate me. I think you're lying to me, that you've always lied to me. You never loved me." Yang turned and pinned Blake against the brick wall by her neck, her partner's black boots hovering half a foot above the ground. "I. Hate. You." she snarled quietly, baring her teeth. "And I'm going to kill you."

"Yan-. No. I... lo- you!" Blake gasped, pushing against the arm holding her to the wall. The fingers around her throat were burning hot; hotter than the sun in the middle of July. "I love... you-!" She slapped at the blonde's hands, then stopped. She had to get Yang the cure. One hand clawing on the fingers wrapped around her throat, she fumbled into her pocket with the other, pulling out the soft blue cloth. She grabbed the Anulo with two fingers, letting the protective cloth drop into the dust. Blake raised the bracelet to her face, her scared eyes searching its surface for any clues as to how it worked. The edges of her vision were darkening as her brain was starved of oxygen, but she could see a tiny latch interrupting the otherwise uniform pattern of jeweled diamonds.

"I'm going to kill you." Yang repeated, glaring through the center of the ring and squeezing her hands tighter. She could feel the struggling muscles in Blake's neck, the panicking pulse of blood in her veins as she constricted the flow. It was everything she'd ever dreamed; powerful, cathartic, and so completely satisfying. "I'm finally going to kill you." Joy rushed through her body and flame leapt from her hair as she laughed, the booming, crazy sound echoing off the walls in a chorus of madness. She relished the sight of Blake's crying eyes, her horrified, silently screaming expression as she slowly suffocated to death. It was the greatest pleasure she'd ever felt.

There was a ringing 'clink' and color returned to Blake's eyes as the Anulo Lux split open, two curved halves connected by an invisible hinge. As darkness pressed into her vision and the world began to disappear, she clamped the bracelet over Yang's wrist, using the last of her strength to wriggle it under Ember Celica's shining steel. "I love you, Yang. I always will..." she said with the last of her breath, her eyelids hovering closed and her body going limp.

The burning hands released the unmoving faunus, the dark-haired girl's body slumping to the ground. The blonde demon howled, fire erupting from her hair. "YES! Hahaha! YES! She's dead! She's dead!" She breathed deep and sighed, letting her body relax. "Now..." she breathed, turning her head to the street. "Now for Ruby..." She took one step, but paused before the next as she felt a strange coolness spreading along her arm. The pain, the fire, the heat in her arm was vanishing, being replaced with... nothingness.

Her eyes traced the feeling of relieving coolness as it spread to her elbow, then to her shoulder, then throughout her chest. In an explosion of alleviating chillness, the roaring fire and boiling rage that dominated her heart and mind evaporated, and she sucked in breath before falling to her knees, a shocked expression on her face. "What..?" she gasped, looking at her hands. She turned them over in amazement, her eyes pouring over her body in surprised fascination. There was no more pain, no more anger. She glanced into the gauntlets on her arm, and smiled. Her reflection had lilac eyes.

She laughed, tears of happiness gathering in her eyes. "Blake! Ruby! Weiss! I'm... I'm cured! It doesn't hurt anymore! I'm better!" I'm me again! She whipped her head around, her joyful laughter immediately dying when she spotted the still form of Blake, the faunus' head leaning against the wall with closed eyes. "Blake? No..." She scrambled across the dirt on her hands and knees, pulling Blake's head into her lap and cradling her chin. "Blake? Blake!" she called, more tears falling from her eyes. "No! Blake! Come on!" She knelt there and cried, knowing it was useless.

She had killed Blake. She had killed the love of her life.

"I'm sorry, Blake." she sobbed, stroking the thick mass of dark hair. "I'm sorry. I love you. I love you so much. I love your eyes, I love your hair, I love your voice." She fell onto her back, an overwhelming depression robbing her of her energy. "I loved you. I loved the way you'd purr when you were happy. I loved the way you'd stay up all night reading, cuddled against me. I loved how smart you were. I loved waking up next to you and being able to watch you smile when you woke up. I loved knowing... knowing that you loved me." She forced herself up, leaning over to kiss Blake's still-warm lips. "I loved you. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that you saved me, but I couldn't do the same." She flopped again onto her back, her hair filling with dust and sand as her tears rolled past her ears.

The world felt dark and lonely. She cried as she thought of all the things she had wanted to do, wanted to say, that she'd never be able to. There wouldn't be any more laughter. There wouldn't be any more smiles. There would never be another twinkle in those eyes that she loved. No more books, no more dinners together, no more walks in the park. No more dancing together, no more singing together, no more love. Only crying. Only tears, and heartbreak, and sadness. She'd never be able to ask her, never be able to-

She almost missed the barely audible cough through her sobs. She levered herself upward, her eyes wide and staring at the motionless faunus cradled in her lap. "B-... Blake?" she whispered, her mind absent of all other thoughts.

For several moments there was nothing, just the wind blowing through the alley. Then there was another cough, and a fuzzy ear twitched. "Yang..?" Blake moaned, her voice scratchy and quiet. Yang watched in astonished, disbelieving joy as her girlfriend lifted from her lap and turned over, golden eyes meeting teary lilac. "Yang..."

Yang jumped forward, wrapping her arms around Blake's fragile body and squeezing, pouring all her love and relief into the hug. "Thank-fucking-Dust!" she said, nuzzling against Blake's face. "I thought I... I thought I killed you." She pulled back, then thrust forward again and pushed her lips against Blake's, pushing a hand through the soft black hair. They separated, smiles spreading across their faces.

"You're... cured?" Blake whispered. "You're back?"

"I'm back! I'm back and I'm never leaving you again! Never ever ever ever!" They kissed again. "I love you, Blake. I love you I love you I love you I love you!" They kissed again and again, each time separating to tell each other they loved them, before finally they stood and started to walk out of the alley, Yang supporting Blake. "Not good enough..." she said, drawing a confused look from Blake.

The confusion changed to surprise, and Blake yelped as Yang leaned down and picked her up, carrying the faunus in her arms as they strolled slowly down the street. "You don't have to, Yang..."

"No, but I want to. I want to hold you for the rest of my life. I want to hold you and kiss you and love you forever. And that's just the beginning."

"Yang... are you..?"

"I am. I love you, Blake."

They kissed again.

"Okay. I love you too."

"I love you more." Blake's laugh sent trills through Yang's heart.

"Impossible."

Thank you for reading.

Keep moving forward.