Author's Note: This is the final chapter of Act II. Next week I'll be taking a break from this story to post the first two chapters of a new one.

Chapter 22

The sun was just beginning to set and soon the Imperial Army would be returning to its camp for the night. It had been a demoralizing and exhausting day spent standing in the sun. Though their spirits were higher, the defenders were similarly tired. They had spent the day manning the palisade, scrambling to repair breaches as soon as the Imperial artillery created them. Soon most of them would return to camp as well. There was still a little over an hour of daylight though, and none on either side could afford to rest just yet.

Far behind the Imperial line, near the area used as their camp, their supply wagons were arranged in rows and guarded by a few dozen soldiers. For them the day had been boring. They were hardly participants in the siege. It was not all bad though. At least they were relatively safe, far as they were from the front line. Soon the shift would change for the night and they could rest. After a long stretch of inaction they were complacent and off their guard. Thump. Most of the guards hardly noticed the dull noise. Those that looked were horrified. Whoosh! A flaming arrow had come out the sky and landed in a cart full of fodder for the animals. The dry plant material instantly erupted in flames.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Three more wagons were set alight. The guards searched for the source of the attack. "There!" One shouted, pointing to the sky. A lone Pegasus with two riders circled above. Flaming arrows rained down onto the supply wagons.

"Get the wagons to the river!" One of the other guards shouted. A line of fire streaked across the ground and engulfed the unlucky man. He screamed and flailed before falling over dead. Some of the guards panicked and fled. The rest started to take up fighting positions as more and more wagons were set on fire.

Electricity arced from the forest, hitting a guard. He convulsed before falling to the ground where he lay motionless. The others rushed toward the source of the attack when suddenly a quartet of fighters emerged on their flank. Another blast of electricity felled one of the guards while the others came under attack. Weiss ran one through with her blade before he could react. Nora struck one in the chest with her hammer, sending him flying through the air into one of his fellows, taking them both out of the fight. Yang rushed in close. A guard slashed at her with his blade but she ducked the attack and punched him in the throat. The guard made a choking noise and clutched his neck as he fell. With a quick pair of slashes Blake cut down two more guards. The rest fled, leaving the supply wagons undefended.

Ren emerged from the forest to join Weiss in setting the remaining wagons alight. Pyrrha landed her Pegasus nearby, she and Ruby hopping off. Given its fear of arrows it had taken a lot of encouragement for Pyrrha to get her Pegasus to accept an archer as its rider but it had paid off. Just minutes from the start of the attack it was already over. All the wagons were on fire. Food for the Imperial soldiers and their animals went up in smoke along with their medical supplies and the money sent along to pay them. The group's surprise had been complete and their success thorough.

"We should probably get out of here." Yang suggested. "We don't want to be around when reinforcements arrive."

"I think it's too late for that." Blake groaned. Soon the others could hear it too. There were soldiers approaching. Many soldiers.

Winter observed her army from a hill just to their rear. The artillery barrage was in full force and had pretty much obliterated the defenses, except for the palisade that was constantly rebuilt. Despite the setback of the duel earlier in the day things were going well. By the following day the defenders might be softened up sufficiently to allow for an attack. Winter knew she could probably overwhelm them now by sheer force of numbers, but she did not want to waste the lives of her me. This might be the last great battle of the war but there were surely more sieges to come as individual cities held out. She would need every last soldier.

Winter became aware of a commotion to the rear of the army. Soon a panicked soldier rushed up to her. "What's going on?" Winter demanded. "Report!"

"They supply wagons are under attack!" The soldier announced. "There were too many of them. We were overwhelmed."

"How the hell did the get behind us?!" Winter shouted. "How many?"

"Hundreds!" The terrified soldier replied. "They were everywhere."

"That's absurd." Winter scoffed. "Our scouts would have noticed." She looked to her army. Most of her commanders were engaged in keeping the front-line units in order. One had soldiers not integral to the position though. "Xiao-Long!" Winter shouted.

Taiyang rode his horse over to Winter. "What is it Your Majesty?" He asked.

"Something's going on with the supply wagons." Winter said. "Take the reserves and investigate."

"Yes ma'am!" Taiyang said with a salute. He rode off to gather his units.

The sound of pounding hooves echoed through the trees. Weiss and her group backed up, knowing they could not run and expect to live. They would have to fight. A wedge of mounted knights burst from the forest, charging straight toward the group. At their head was a man in ornate armor with a golden dragon on his chestplate. Beside him was his standard bearer, holding a flag bearing a red dragon on a yellow field.

"I know that insignia!" Yang announced. She rushed forward, Ruby close behind.

"Dad!" Ruby cried out.

The knight in ornate armor pulled up short and the rest of the soldiers slid to a stop with him. Taiyang took off his helmet, staring in disbelief as his daughters rushed towards him. "What are your orders general?" One of the knights asked.

"Stand down." Taiyang commanded. He jumped down from his horse and staggered forward. His men started to follow but he waved them back.

"Dad!" Ruby shouted. She leapt toward Taiyang and embraced him. Yang stopped a few feet away.

"You're...alive…" Taiyang said with tears in his eyes. "They said...they said you were murdered."

"It's all lies." Yang said. "The emperor tried to have Weiss killed so we fled."

"The emperor...that doesn't make sense." Taiyang said. "I can't believe you're alive. They brought me your ashes."

"We're not dead." Ruby said. "We're right here. I missed you so much."

"I...thought I'd never see you again." Taiyang wept. He dropped to his knees. The rest of the group cautiously approached. Taiyang spotted Weiss. He separated himself from Ruby and prostrated himself before the princess. "Your Majesty, thank you for saving my daughters."

"Arise." Weiss said. "There is no need to thank me. They have been my saviors. My father arranged my murder and that of my mother, but we were able to escape. Now we must stop him. Will you help us?"

"Of course Your Majesty." Taiyang said. He turned to his daughters. "What happened?"

"A lot." Ruby said.

"But we'll get to that later." Yang said. "I have a plan."

With all the supernatural speed afforded by her weapon, Ruby rode through the forest back toward the defensive line. In minutes she reached it and immediately headed for Qrow. She burst into his command tent. "Uncle Qrow!" She gasped, out of breath. "You need to attack the Imperial Army right now!"

Winter waited to hear back from Taiyang. She was growing worried. It was taking far too long. She wanted to send more soldiers, just in case, but she had none to spare. Soon she could hear the pounding hooves of Taiyang's cavalry. Finally. But something was off. They were not heading for her. She had positioned herself on a hill to the rear and left of the army where she could have the best view of the battlefield. They were headed straight for the rear of the army. But why? Right behind the horsemen, Taiyang's infantry emerged from the forest with a battle cry. "What treachery?!" Winter screamed. Taiyang's soldiers slammed into the rear of the Imperial Army, cutting down the stunned soldiers before they could react. The only troops with Winter were her personal bodyguard of loyal retainers. "Damnit! Attack the traitors!"

Winter's bodyguards rushed down the hill and into the melee. The Imperial soldiers turned around and began fighting against Taiyang's reserve force. He commanded a large fraction of the army, but he would be overwhelmed soon enough. Then trumpets blared across the battlefield. The gates in the defensive palisade swung open and the defenders came pouring out. They quickly crossed the no-man's-land and collided with the Imperial Army. They were now being attacked from the front and back. With the steep sides of the valley pinning them in place they were trapped.

The Imperial soldiers fought bravely but it was hopeless. As their formations started to crack they surrendered in droves. Soon the entire army was shattered. Winter could do nothing but stand there and watch in horror as her army effectively ceased to exist. Even the few officers and advisors who had remained on the hill with her fled, leaving her alone. A small group made its way up the hill towards her. The person walking at its head filled her with both joy and terror. "Weiss…" Winter gasped.

"Winter!" Weiss called back, the rest of her group arrayed behind her. "Our father has betrayed us! He arranged the murder of our mother and tried to have me killed as well. He must be stopped."

"I feared as much." Winter said. Weiss approached her. Winter drew her sword. "Don't come any closer. I don't want to fight you."

"Winter please!" Weiss implored. "Join us. Together we can stop him." She took another step forward.

"I said stay back!" Winter shouted. With a flick of her wrist a column of flame erupted from the ground in front of Weiss. "I want to join you...but I can't."

"But...but why?" Weiss stammered.

"Father...he...he has...he has Willow." Winter said with a look of anguish etched on her face. "He said he'd kill her if I failed to conquer Ferox."

"Willow?" Weiss gasped. "But why?" Willow was Winter's daughter, next in line to the throne after Winter. The last time Weiss and Winter had met face-to-face had been at the celebration of Willow's birth. Their father had been there, and he too had seemed overjoyed. Through her the continuation of his dynasty was assured. Now he used her as a hostage, threatening her death. It made no sense.

"I never believed you were dead." Winter said. "He must have sensed my doubts. His men seized Willow and he told me to come back a conqueror or not at all, otherwise she would be killed." Winter looked at her sword. "With the army gone, there is no hope of conquest."

"Winter…" Weiss said. "Please, join us. We can stop him. We can save Willow."

"No, if I betray father Willow will be dead long before we can do anything about it." Winter said. "You know what I must do."

"Winter, don't!" Weiss yelled.

"I'm sorry." Winter said. "Goodbye sister." She raised her sword and drew the blade across her throat. She dropped the weapon as a spray of blood shot from the wound then fell in a heap, dead.

"No!" Weiss cried, sprinting forward. She slid to her sister's side, tears running down her face, but she was already gone. The others could do nothing but look on in shock. Weiss grabbed her sister's body and hugged it tightly, smearing blood all over herself. "Why? Why?! Damnit why?!"

With the battle, no, the war, won, there was nothing left for Qrow to do but celebrate. After a few trying days of despair it was over. Well, it was not quite over but at least the immediate threat had been dealt with. There would still need to be an invasion of Valm, with all the dangers that carried with it, but for now he could bask in the warm glow of victory. As his officers oversaw the processing of the prisoners, Qrow returned to his command tent to share a celebratory drink with the Khans.

"That was a hell of a risk, but it definitely paid off." Glynda said as Qrow entered the tent. He took a drink from his flask and passed it to her. She drank deeply. "I didn't think it was possible."

Glynda thrust the flask in front of Penny. "No thank you." She said. "Thank you Qrow, for helping to defend our kingdom and avenge my mentor."

Glynda next offered the flask to Ruby. "No, I'm alright." Ruby said.

Glynda took another big swig before passing the now nearly empty flask back to Qrow. "I'll start making preparations for an invasion of Valm." Glynda said. "What should we do with the prisoners?"

"Those who wish to fight for Princess Weiss will be allowed to join us." Qrow said. "The rest will be detained until the conclusion of the war."

"Their invasion demands retribution." Glynda said. "You're being awfully lenient."

"We won't be lenient with the emperor." Qrow promised. "He'll get what he deserves."

The tent flap opened and Weiss pushed in. Her white attire was stained red. "Is Ruby here?" She asked.

"Oh Gods!" Ruby exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Ruby, kneel before me." Weiss said.

"But what…" Ruby started.

"Just do it." Weiss commanded. Ruby wanted to protest further but followed her liege's order. "I bestow upon you the title and lands of the Duchess of Rosanne."

"But that means…" Ruby started.

"Winter's dead." Weiss confirmed emotionlessly. "By her own hand."

"What?" Qrow gasped. "Why?"

"The emperor holds her daughter hostage." Weiss replied. "She was of the belief that with failure, the only way to save her child's life was suicide."

"I don't think I deserve…" Ruby started.

"You're the rightful heir to the duchy through your mother's claim." Weiss cut her off. "The people will welcome you as their rightful ruler when we arrive there. Rosanne will follow you, as I hope Chon'sin will follow me. With the support of the empire's two wealthiest duchies, we'll be unstoppable. We will kill my father and rescue my niece. Then Willow Schnee will take her rightful place as emperor. I no longer have the stomach for this."

"Is...is everyone else alright?" Ruby asked.

"We suffered no casualties." Weiss reported. "Your father's unit may have lost a few men. They have pledged their allegiance to our cause and will join us in the invasion of Valm."

"Where are Yang and Blake?" Ruby asked. "You shouldn't be alone now. They can help you. You should talk to them"

"They are guarding Winter's body, as ordered." Weiss said. "And I have no interest in talking to anyone. This pain is mine to bear and mine alone."

"But Weiss…" Ruby said.

"Just leave me alone." Weiss sighed. She turned around and walked out, leaving the others in stunned silence.

"I guess a lot happened while we were apart." Taiyang said, gesturing toward the large scars on Yang's neck.

"More than you can imagine." Yang sighed. "I lost a tournament match, got kidnapped by my mother, turned into a dragon, started a romantic relationship with Princess Weiss, found out mom killed Summer, had a dragon fight with mom, and buried her."

"So Raven's…" Taiyang said.

"Yes, dead." Yang confirmed. "She willingly gave up her life. She's at peace now."

"And she really did kill Summer?" Taiyang asked.

"She did, but it was a setup arranged by the emperor." Yang explained. "Even if Raven hadn't done it the emperor's assassins would have."

"It was about the Duchy of Rosanne, wasn't it?" Taiyang asked.

"Yeah." Yang replied.

"I was always suspicious." Taiyang said. "I can't believe I trusted that man. I can't believe I fought for him."

"There's no way you could have known." Yang said.

"I guess." Taiyang sighed. "So what are you going to do now?"

"Well, it looks like we'll be invading Valm to depose the emperor." Yang answered. "I'm going to see this through with Weiss...and Blake."

"And Blake?" Taiyang said.

"Yeah, she's the last living heir to the throne of Chon'sin, and the relationship with Weiss and her is a three-way thing." Yang said.

"You do take after me." Taiyang said, forcing a laugh. "I'll help any way I can."

"I know." Yang said. "But I think the help we need most is something out of our control. Weiss just watched her sister slit her own throat. I can tell she's suffering but she won't even talk to me."

"She will." Taiyang encouraged. "Just give her time."

"She's already been through so much, and now this." Yang said. "I don't know how much more she can take."

"With your support she can handle anything." Taiyang said.

"I certainly hope so." Yang said. "We've been through hell, but I get the feeling things won't be getting better anytime soon."

Pyrrha pushed her way into Qrow's command tent. "Mission complete." She reported. "The captives taken by Taiyang's force have been processed and await transport to their destinations. The perimeter is secure."

"Thanks Pyrrha." Qrow said. He, Ruby, Penny and Glynda looked depressed.

"What happened?" Pyrrha asked.

"Weiss was here." Ruby replied.

"So you've heard." Pyrrha sighed. "It's terrible."

"Yeah." Ruby sighed.

"That's not all, is it?" Pyrrha pressed.

"No." Ruby confirmed. "Weiss made me the new Duchess of Rosanne, recognizing my mother's claim."

"But that's a good thing." Pyrrha said.

"Is it?" Ruby asked. "I'm suddenly the ruler of a large and wealthy chunk of the empire. The people living there are my responsibility. The soldiers from Rosanne will expect me to lead them. I'm not prepared for any of this. I was trained to be a soldier, not a ruler. And I wasn't even done being trained in that. What am I going to do?"

"I was trained to be a ruler." Pyrrha said. "I'll help you."

"But you have Nikopolis." Ruby said. "We won't even be able to be together once the war's over."

"Your Majesty, the Exalt." Pyrrha said.

"Yes countess?" Qrow said.

"I would like to renounce my lordship over the county of Nikopolis." Pyrrha said. "Will you accept my renunciation?"

"No." Qrow said. "Not now. Ylisse is still at war. Win Rosanne first, then you may renounce Nikopolis."

"Very well." Pyrrha said with a bow. She turned to Ruby. "There. Now I'll be with you."

"But you can't just give up your county!" Ruby protested. "The people there love you. They need you!"

"You need me more." Pyrrha said. "And I'm sure Qrow will appoint a suitable replacement."

"But your manor, your wealth…" Ruby continued.

"All worthless compared to your happiness." Pyrrha said. "I would live penniless if it meant living at your side."

"I love you so much." Ruby said. With tears in her eyes she embraced Pyrrha.

"And I love you." Pyrrha said as she rubbed Ruby's back.

"Even when everything seems to be going to hell there's still love." Qrow said. He took a big swig from his flask. "It fills me with hope for this world."