Yang looked at the broken faces of their comrades as they all sat, huddled around a warm fire in the center of the room. Yes, they had somehow survived. Yes, they were strong enough to probably fend off the Grimm – for a while at least. But even knowing this, the skirmish that had kicked off between the two sides had taken its toll on everyone who was left. The enemies retreated, but they knew that they were the ones who had lost the battle. With a sigh, Yang sat back down next to Raven.

'Our dad is an X-Class?' she mumbled to herself, disheartened. 'But... why? Why would he join the creatures he swore to destroy?'

'I don't know,' Raven solemnly answered her, Velvet's disappearance clearly weighing heavily on Yang's mind. 'Hey, don't look so glum,' she said, nudging her sisters shoulder reassuringly.

'How can I not? One of my friends has gone missing. One of my heavily pregnant friends. She just... disappeared. I'm starting to think that she's-'

'Don't you dare say it,' Raven said, her harsh tone shocking Yang. 'Your friend is fine,' she assured, 'Come on, it's not as if Taiyang got to her or anything. She's fine.'

'I hope so.'

Ruby had been tending to Fox's injuries herself, the cities doctor having been slaughtered in her office. Ruby took what she needed from the medical supplies and cleaned his wounds before patching him up, so it wasn't like he was in any danger, but he was still very sore after the battle so she insisted on personally tending to him.

Neo and Roman were sitting in a corner, arguing over something. Out of all the people in the room, they were by far the ones least affected by the loss of life. Yang and Ruby assumed their time in the White Fang must have dulled their senses to death. They found it quite tragic actually, how people could just get used to having people die around them. If it weren't so horrible it might almost have been poetic.

Yang decided to approach them. She felt like she needed the change of pace that they would bring.

'No, that's all wrong,' Roman said in an annoyed voice, Neo pouting in response. Yang never noticed it before, but Neo could be surprisingly cute at times.

'Hey,' Yang interrupted, the two of them meeting her gaze.

'Hello, Yellow. What brings you to speak to me?'

Roman's refined tone of speech caught her off guard, as evidenced by her lack of response.

'Are you OK?'

She was even more surprised at the gentle words of Neo, a woman who didn't make the friendliest first impression from their meeting aboard the train.

'Yeah, I just... I needed someone to talk to. Someone new.'

'Come sit here,' Neo said, patting the seat next to her, to which Yang complied.

'Thanks. I just don't know what to do. I mean, we can't stay here for long. What if those Grimm come back? But... at the same time, we can't just abandon the injured. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. At this rate... at this rate everyone is going to die.'

Clenching her fist, they could see the pain in Yang's eyes. It was a serious matter after all, and both Neo and Roman could not offer her much in the way of support.

'You should have more faith in the people around you,' Roman gently told her, the first sign of kindness he had shown towards anyone that wasn't Neo.

'I have had faith in them. And look where it's got us. I've seen several of my friends die in front of me because of that faith. A lot of my friends have gone missing altogether because of that faith. How can I keep believing that they'll be fine after that?'

'Well,' Roman said, 'everyone has something they're good at. I'm good at escaping, Neo is good at defence. It's when people attempt things that go against their strengths that things go wrong. People die because of their own mistakes. Because they foolishly attempt something which they just aren't capable of.'

Yang felt anger fuming deep within her.

The death of her friends was all their fault? How dare he!

And then she relaxed. He was right, and she knew it.

Weiss, the light, dust based fighter went out on a mission that should have been attempted by someone with much more physical ability along with Ren, who was also quite a light fighter himself.

When the group separated rather than sticking together, Coco was killed.

Pyrrha ran up to someone who was impersonating Jaune without thinking of the possibilities. Every single thing Roman had said was correct. And that fact alone hit her harder than any other thought could. Yang couldn't take the thought that maybe they really could have been saved after all, and simply cried. Neo comforted her, Roman getting up to leave, an uncomfortable feeling welling in his chest. He wasn't great with mushy stuff, so he left her in Neo's capable hands.

A few days passed, and the injured had recovered from their wounds nicely. They hadn't had any repeat attacks, either, but the group still held a solemn, defeated air about them. Ruby wasn't sure what it was about it, but something irked her about the atmosphere. She understood all too well why they were distressed, but she couldn't stand the fact that everyone was just so willing to accept defeat like that. Standing up, she gripped Crescent Rose in her hands and fired a shot into the ceiling, surprising everyone in the room.

This is it. I have to give them hope now, or else they'll mope like this for the rest of their lives.

'What is wrong with all of you? Are you all really so easily beaten? Is everyone in this room really so afraid that you're willing to just give up? Look at you all! Sitting around, only fearing for yourselves! Why won't any of you get a grip?!'

'Ruby,' Yang began, clutching her sister's arm as she spoke. 'That thing out there, that's an X-Class Grimm. How the hell are we supposed to fight something like that?'

Taking a moment to think and cool her head, Ruby answered her.

'I don't know. But there's one thing I do know. I know that sitting around here drowning in our sorrows WILL NOT keep us alive. If we just wait here feeling sorry for ourselves, they'll come back. When they do, they'll kill us all. We need to go out there and face our fears, because staying in this room will not set us free.'

'Ruby, just look-' Raven began, before Ruby angrily cut in. 'Shut up. Shut up, and LISTEN. When man first set foot on this world, when the Grimm started attacking our people, did humanity ever once give up? Did they falter in their cause? No. They carried on, marching onwards into the darkness looking for an answer, and in that darkness they found a light. They found dust, and with it they learnt to use and control aura. They drove back the Grimm. They built civilization. They saved a species. When the War of Remnant was fought shortly after the kingdoms were built, thousands, millions lost their lives. But did they give up? Did they cower in fear of those who were stronger? No. They stood up to them. They fought and they overcame, bringing with them a new age of tactical prowess and skill that was never before seen. When the Great War occurred, did people cry and worry about themselves? No. They cheered on their heroes who were out there fighting for their lives!'

Taking a breath, Ruby asked a question that shook the beliefs of everyone in that room.

'Tell me something. Do you want to live?'

A few murmurs here and there gave her a response, one that she was entirely unsatisfied with.

'I SAID, DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?'

More enthusiastic voices answered this time, but it still wasn't enough for Ruby.'

'DO YOU WANT TO LIVE, OR DON'T YOU?!'

The fiery response or roars that filled the rooms was good. She was proud of them for finally getting themselves out of their depression.

'WELL IF WE WANT TO LIVE, WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES!'

Again, exuberant cheers filled the room.

'ARE WE GOING TO TAKE DOWN THOSE FUCKING GRIMM, OR AREN'T WE?!'

'WE ARE!'

Smiling to herself, she felt true pride in the people that stood triumphantly in the room with her.

'THEN LET'S GET OUT THERE, AND KICK SOME SERIOUS GRIMM ASS!'

The thunder of 'yeahs' was more than enough to make Ruby believe that they were serious about it. Leaving their hiding place, the group marched towards the entrance of the city, the gates still broken after the battle earlier in the week. Exiting the city, their spirit was indomitable. It was like they were a completely different group of people, and had Ruby been looking on from outside, she would have been awestruck by their sheer tenacity and spirit. Storming through the forest, the few Grimm who were unlucky enough to face their wrath were torn to pieces. With each one, they gained momentum. They gained confidence. And most of all, they gained the will to fight back. Their spirits had been broken after the annihilation they suffered inside the city walls, after their one safe haven was proven to be useless. They had nothing left to defend, and that meant they had only one option – attack. As they exited the forest they came to a clearing, in the middle of which sat a gigantic castle, one which they were surprised they hadn't noticed during their time in the city. Without hesitation, they advanced onwards towards the gates. They had been built up, destroyed and rebuilt.

Now it was their turn. They were going to tear down the few things that the Grimm held precious. They were going to show them the terror and might of the human race.

Several Grimm noticed the cluster of people advancing on the settlement, and immediately went to inform their leader of their arrival.

Two of them burst through into the private chambers of Taiyang, greeted by the sight of Cinder and Taiyang in a rather compromising position.

'Mmm...' Cinder seductively moaned as Taiyang thrust into her, before turning to notice the two SS-Classes standing in his doorway.

'What is it?' Taiyang said in an annoyed tone, 'I was in the middle of something, if you don't mind.'

Even for the SS-Class Grimm, his piercing red eyes sent immense fear through them.

'My Lord, the humans from the settlement are advancing on our castle as we speak,' one of them finally managed to say.

'Oh,' Taiyang said, faking a tone of interest. 'Thank you for bringing this to me.'

Pleased with themselves, the two Grimm thanked him and turned to leave.

'Oh, and do forget about what you saw in here,' Taiyang told them threateningly. 'On second thought, I'll make you forget,' he told them, shooting bolts of fire straight through both of their heads.

'Idiots,' he mumbled to himself mockingly as he returned his lips to Cinders breasts, the moans of pleasure she was eliciting filling the room as the two of them reached their simultaneous crescendo.

'There's always so much,' Cinder said in a sultry, pleasant voice as she slowly slid one of her fingers inside herself, retrieving Taiyang's semen as she seductively swallowed it down.

'So, what are we going to do about the intruders?' she asked, clothing herself in her trademark red dress.

Taiyang smiled in response.

'Let them come. I want to see how many of them make it here.'

'I'll make sure to obstruct them as best I can then,' Cinder replied confidently. 'If I wait here with you I won't get to have any fun of my own.'

Taiyang respected the mischievous glint in her eye, and nodded his head in response.

'Very well. I'm sure you'll do me proud.'

Meanwhile on the outside, the group had eliminated every single Grimm that had dared cross their path, their steadfast determination pushing them forward until they reached their goal.

'This is it,' Ruby said as she turned to the others. 'Taiyang and Cinder must be inside here,' she pointed out. 'If not, we destroy the place anyway seeing as it's quite a nice Grimm hideout.

They had reached the apex of their journey.

They knew their task would be difficult, but if they had any idea what was awaiting them they would most definitely have turned back.