Chapter XXV: Fall of Beacon [Finale- part 2] ; Aftermath
Aftermath and New Threats
The Dissolution of Team JNPR
Three days after the Fall of Beacon, the surviving members of Team JNPR gather in what remains of their dorm room. The space feels emptier than it should, haunted by the absence of someone who both exists and doesn't exist anymore.
Jaune: (sitting on his bed with Crocea Mors across his lap) We need to talk about what happens next. With Pyrrha... with Skyra... with everything that's changed. Team JNPR as it was can't continue.
Nora: (her usual enthusiasm completely absent) I know. Logically, I know that. But accepting it feels like admitting Pyrrha's really gone. That the four of us will never be the same team we were.
Ren: (his philosophical calm strained by recent events) Skyra was honest with us—she's not Pyrrha anymore. She carries Pyrrha's memories and feelings, but she's fundamentally someone new. Trying to force her into Pyrrha's role would dishonor both who Pyrrha was and who Skyra is becoming.
Jaune: (his voice carrying exhaustion and uncertainty) I told her I needed time. And I meant it. I can't look at Skyra without seeing Pyrrha and feeling... everything I lost. But I also can't ignore that part of Pyrrha chose to become Skyra, and that choice deserves respect even if I don't understand it yet.
Nora: (her voice small and vulnerable) I want to hate her. I want to blame Skye for convincing Pyrrha to give up her identity. But I know that's not fair. Pyrrha made her choice. She always puts protecting others above preserving herself. That's who she was.
Ren: (moving to sit beside Nora, providing his steady presence) Then we honor Pyrrha's choice by accepting that Team JNPR has ended. Not through failure, but because one of our members sacrificed her individual identity for a greater purpose. We can grieve that loss while still moving forward.
Jaune: (standing with visible effort, as if the weight of leadership has suddenly become crushing) Official disbandment, then. Team JNPR is dissolved effective immediately. Nora, Ren, and I will need to figure out what comes next—whether we form a new team with additional members, or pursue individual paths for a while.
Nora: (tears beginning to fall despite her efforts to maintain composure) It feels wrong. Like we're abandoning Pyrrha by accepting that she's gone.
Jaune: (his voice gentle despite his own grief) Pyrrha isn't gone, Nora. She's just... transformed into something we don't know how to relate to yet. Skyra gave me her word that she'd wait however long it takes for us to process this. That's more patience than we probably deserve.
Ren: (his observational skills catching something in Jaune's tone) You're not closing the door on Skyra completely. You're leaving it open, just not ready to walk through it yet.
Jaune: (a slight blush crossing his face as he remembers Skyra's patient promise) I can't close that door, Ren. Part of me still loves Pyrrha, and Skyra carries all of Pyrrha's feelings for me. But she's also someone new—someone I need to get to know as herself rather than as Pyrrha's replacement. That's going to take time I can't predict.
Nora: (her voice strengthening slightly) Then we take that time. All of us. We process our grief, figure out who we are without Team JNPR, and maybe eventually we'll be ready to see Skyra as herself rather than as the person who replaced Pyrrha.
Ren: (standing and moving to the door) The formal paperwork can wait until we're back at Beacon next semester—if Beacon even reopens after this assault. For now, we focus on recovery and giving ourselves permission to grieve without timeline or expectation.
As they prepare to leave their dorm room for potentially the last time, each of them casts one final look at the space they shared with Pyrrha Nikos. The Invincible Girl who became Skyra Dragonblade, whose sacrifice saved them all but cost them the teammate they loved.
Jacques Schnee's Arrival
The temporary command center established in Beacon's surviving administrative buildings becomes ground zero for a confrontation that's been building since the assault began. Jacques Schnee arrives with characteristic aristocratic authority, flanked by Atlas security and carrying legal documentation that supposedly gives him absolute rights over his daughter's whereabouts.
Weiss stands beside Kazuma, her posture radiating defiance despite visible exhaustion from the battle. Around them, the dragon family couples and allies have positioned themselves with casual menace that makes Jacques's security detail unconsciously nervous.
Jacques: (his voice carrying aristocratic authority and barely contained fury) Weiss. You will come with me immediately. This disaster has proven that Beacon Academy cannot guarantee your safety. You're returning to Atlas where proper security measures can be implemented.
Weiss: (her voice cold with newfound confidence) No, Father. I'm staying at Beacon. My friends are here, my teammates need me, and I have no intention of abandoning them because you've decided I'm inconvenient to have operating independently.
Jacques: (his expression darkening with dangerous intensity) You don't have a choice, Weiss. I am your father and legal guardian. What I say regarding your wellbeing is final. Now stop this childish rebellion and prepare to depart.
Kazuma: (stepping forward with his Black Reaper Dragon presence radiating quiet menace) She told you no, Schnee. That should be sufficient answer for anyone with basic respect for personal autonomy.
Jacques: (turning his attention to Kazuma with barely concealed contempt) And you are? Another academy student playing at combat skills? Or perhaps one of these 'dragon family' creatures that have revealed themselves during this disaster?
Kazuma: (his voice dropping to dangerous quiet) I am Kazuma, Black Reaper Dragon King. And I am Weiss Schnee's boyfriend—a relationship your daughter entered because I treat her like a capable partner rather than a possession to be managed.
The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees as Jacques processes this declaration. His expression shifts from contempt to calculation as he recognizes the political implications of his daughter being romantically involved with dragon family royalty.
Jacques: (his voice carrying forced reasonableness) I see. Then you'll understand, as someone of... noble bearing... that family obligations occasionally supersede personal preference. Weiss has responsibilities to the Schnee legacy that require her presence in Atlas.
Weiss: (her voice cutting like ice) The only responsibility I have to the Schnee legacy is to be better than you, Father. To actually care about people rather than seeing them as resources to be exploited. Kazuma treats me like I matter as a person. You've only ever cared about how I could enhance the family reputation.
Jacques: (his aristocratic composure cracking slightly) How dare you speak to me with such disrespect! I have provided you with every advantage—education, training, social connections—and this is how you repay my investment?
Katsura: (her ancient authority making even Jacques pause) Investment? You speak of your daughter as if she's a business asset rather than a person you should care about. That perspective reveals much about why Weiss chooses dragon family protection over your authority.
Derek: (his patriarchal presence radiating power that makes Jacques's security detail unconsciously step back) Jacques Schnee. Your company's treatment of faunus workers has been... problematic for decades. The SDC's labor practices directly contributed to the radicalization of individuals like Adam Taurus. Perhaps you should consider whether your daughter's desire for independence is justified given your demonstrated approach to those under your authority.
Jacques: (attempting to regain control of the confrontation) My business practices are not under discussion here. I came to retrieve my daughter and return her to proper security. Unless you're suggesting that dragon families intend to hold her against her will?
Max: (his Flame Dragon King presence creating visible heat distortions) We're suggesting that if Weiss chooses to remain at Beacon, any attempt to force her departure against her will would be... inadvisable. Dragon families protect those under our care, Schnee. Your daughter has chosen to remain among friends who value her as a person. Honor that choice.
Yang: (standing despite her missing arm, her flame abilities crackling with protective fury) Weiss is my teammate. She's family. You want to take her back to Atlas to control her? You're going to have to go through every person in this room, and I guarantee you don't have enough security for that.
Ruby: (her storm dragon abilities creating atmospheric pressure that makes Jacques visibly uncomfortable) My sister's right. Weiss stays because she wants to stay. Because she's found people who care about her without trying to turn her into someone convenient for their political games.
Blake: (her voice carrying quiet intensity despite her own injuries) The Schnee family's treatment of faunus workers created the environment that led to today's assault. Perhaps instead of controlling your daughter, you should consider how your actions contributed to the violence that nearly killed her.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating visible ice crystals in the air around Blake, his presence supporting her statement) Blake speaks truth that you'd prefer remained unexamined, Schnee. Your labor practices have consequences that extend beyond quarterly profit margins.
The Dragon Family's United Front
As Jacques faces united opposition from dragon families and their allies, the full scope of the political forces arrayed against him becomes clear. This isn't just about his daughter's independence—it's about dragon families making clear that anyone under their protection operates beyond normal political authority.
Mist: (her Crimson Dragon presence radiating authority) Jacques Schnee, let me make the situation perfectly clear. Weiss has entered into a relationship with my brother Kazuma. That relationship places her under dragon family protection. Any attempt to force her departure, any threat to her autonomy, any action that causes her distress—these will be taken as attacks on someone we've sworn to protect.
Cardin: (standing beside Mist with newfound confidence) And before you dismiss us as just academy students, understand that dragon families don't make idle threats. I've seen what they're capable of when protecting people they care about. You really don't want to test whether they're bluffing.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog abilities creating toxic miasma that makes Jacques's security detail retreat several steps) Ruby Rose is bonded to me. Yang Xiao Long is bonded to my brother Max. Blake Belladonna has Shoryu's protection. And Weiss Schnee has chosen Kazuma as her partner. You're not just facing one dragon, Schnee. You're facing the unified response of multiple ancient powers who take protective responsibilities seriously.
Hon'oh: (her Sea Dragon Empress presence making the very air feel heavy with moisture) Sun Wukong has earned my affection through genuine courage and care for others. His team fights alongside ours. His friends are protected by dragon family authority. That protection extends to his allies—including Weiss Schnee.
Sun: (his faunus confidence enhanced by Hon'oh's support) Yeah, what she said. Team SSSN stands with Team RWBY, which means we stand against anyone trying to force Weiss into situations she doesn't want.
Neptune: (his technological expertise having documented Jacques's questionable business practices) Also, Mr. Schnee, you might want to know that several of us have been analyzing SDC labor records. The things we've found regarding safety violations and wage theft would be... very interesting to Atlas regulatory authorities if they were to become public.
Emeryll: (stepping forward with Tadashi at her side, her voice carrying newfound confidence) I used to serve Cinder Fall because I thought her vision offered purpose. I was wrong. But watching dragon families protect people without demanding absolute loyalty in return? That's shown me what genuine leadership looks like. And it looks nothing like what you're attempting here.
Tadashi: (his presence supporting Emeryll's statement) Dragon families don't demand obedience, Schnee. They offer protection and expect only that those under their care treat others with basic respect. Your approach to your daughter violates that principle at fundamental levels.
Toshiro: (his Steel Dragon abilities creating metallic barriers that subtly block Jacques's exit routes) Consider your position carefully. You came here expecting to exercise parental authority over a teenager. Instead, you're facing dragon kings, empresses, and ancient powers who've decided your daughter deserves better treatment than you've provided.
Gweynne: (her Shadow Dragon Empress abilities creating darkness that seems to swallow light around Jacques) My twin sister Lethe and I have witnessed centuries of family dynamics across multiple cultures. Your approach to Weiss combines the worst aspects of aristocratic control with complete absence of genuine parental affection. No wonder she chooses to remain with people who actually care about her wellbeing.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon Empress abilities creating electrical patterns that make Jacques's expensive suit crackle with static) Mercury Black was conditioned through psychological manipulation to serve Cinder Fall. We broke that conditioning by offering genuine care and protection. Your daughter is making a similar choice—trading forced family loyalty for chosen family affection.
Mercury: (standing beside Yukikaze with recovered confidence) I used to think power meant controlling others through fear and manipulation. Dragon families taught me that real power comes from protecting people without demanding anything in return except basic decency. You could learn from that example, Schnee.
Skyra: (her combined presence carrying both Pyrrha's tactical awareness and Skye's ancient authority) Jacques Schnee, I sacrificed my individual identity to protect people I care about. Weiss Schnee is choosing to remain among people who value her sacrifice and contribution rather than returning to someone who sees her as an investment. Honor her choice, or face the consequences of attacking someone under dragon family protection.
Jacques's Calculation
Surrounded by overwhelming supernatural power, facing united opposition from forces he clearly cannot overcome through security or legal authority, Jacques Schnee makes the calculation that has kept him powerful throughout his business career—strategic retreat in the face of superior force.
Jacques: (his voice tight with barely contained fury) I see. My daughter has chosen... unsuitable companionship over family obligation. Very well. Weiss, understand that this choice has consequences. Your trust fund will be frozen. Your access to Schnee resources will be terminated. And your position as heiress will be reconsidered.
Weiss: (her voice carrying absolute conviction despite the threat) Then reconsider it, Father. I'd rather have friends who care about me than access to money earned through exploiting faunus workers. I'd rather have a boyfriend who treats me like an equal than a father who sees me as a business asset. And I'd rather face those consequences with people who value me than avoid them by remaining under your control.
Kazuma: (moving to stand beside Weiss with quiet support) Your daughter won't lack resources, Schnee. Dragon families take care of our own. And anyone who earns our protection gains access to wealth accumulated over millennia. Your threats of financial control are meaningless against beings who measure assets in epochs rather than quarters.
Derek: (his patriarchal authority making the final statement that ends Jacques's attempts at control) Jacques Schnee, you came here expecting to exercise parental authority. Instead, you've learned that dragon families protect those under our care from all threats—including family members who prioritize control over genuine affection. Leave now, while you can still claim you departed voluntarily rather than being forcibly removed.
Jacques: (his aristocratic mask firmly in place despite his defeat) This conversation is not over. When cooler heads prevail, Weiss will understand the value of family connections over temporary emotional attachments. Until then, I will not waste further time attempting to reason with individuals who clearly lack proper understanding of social obligations.
He turns to leave, his security detail clearly relieved to be departing from a room full of beings whose power makes human wealth and authority seem insignificant by comparison.
Weiss: (calling after him with cold finality) Goodbye, Father. When you're ready to treat me like a daughter rather than an asset, you know where to find me. Until then, enjoy the control you've lost.
As Jacques departs, the tension in the room slowly dissipates. But everyone present understands what just occurred—dragon families publicly declared that anyone under their protection operates beyond normal political and familial authority. That declaration will have consequences far beyond this individual confrontation.
The Couples' Moment
As the immediate crisis passes, the various couples gather in clusters throughout the command center, processing everything that's occurred during and after the Fall of Beacon.
Max: (his arm around Yang's shoulders as she adjusts to her missing limb) You stood up to Jacques Schnee while missing an arm and recovering from massive blood loss. That's the Yang Xiao Long I fell in love with—absolutely refusing to let physical limitations stop you from protecting people you care about.
Yang: (leaning into his support despite her obvious exhaustion) Had to make sure Weiss understood she has family beyond her father's control. Though I'll admit, threatening wealthy aristocrats while barely able to stand might not have been my smartest tactical choice.
Max: (his voice carrying affection and concern) It was absolutely your choice though. Protective, impulsive, and completely unwilling to let someone you care about face threats alone. That's who you are, Yang. The arm you lost doesn't change that fundamental truth.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog presence creating comfortable warmth around Ruby) You defended your teammate against someone whose social power vastly exceeds anything you could counter through normal means. That took courage that goes beyond combat skills.
Ruby: (her storm abilities creating gentle breezes that seem to comfort everyone around her) Weiss is family. All of Team RWBY is family. Jacques treating her like a business asset while she's recovering from nearly dying? That's not acceptable. Dragon families taught us that protecting people means standing against all threats, not just the ones we can physically fight.
Kazuma: (holding Weiss's hand with gentle possession) Your father underestimated how much you mean to the people around you. And he definitely underestimated dragon family commitment to protecting those we've claimed as ours.
Weiss: (her voice carrying wonder mixed with residual stress) You called me your girlfriend in front of my father. Claimed me, as you said. That's going to have political implications that extend far beyond this immediate confrontation.
Kazuma: (his Black Reaper presence radiating confidence) Then let it have implications. I'm not interested in hiding our relationship because it might complicate aristocratic power games. You're mine, Weiss Schnee. And anyone who has problems with that can take it up with someone who cares about their opinion.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating comfortable cool air around Blake's recovery bed) Adam Taurus represented everything your father's business practices created—justified anger twisted into inexcusable violence. You faced both those threats today and survived.
Blake: (her faunus features relaxed despite her injuries) With your help. And Yang's. And Max's. The White Fang's ideology claimed that faunus needed to fight alone against human oppression. But dragon families showed me that real strength comes from choosing to stand together regardless of species or origin.
Hon'oh: (her Sea Dragon presence creating soothing humidity that helps with Sun's combat-related dehydration) Your team fought beside ours without hesitation. That kind of trust and coordination doesn't develop overnight. It's built through genuine respect and mutual care.
Sun: (his faunus confidence enhanced by her affection) Your family accepted me despite being just an academy student with no particular status or power. That meant more than you probably realize. And watching you all face Jacques Schnee without blinking? That's when I understood what dragon family protection really means.
Neptune: (sitting beside Emeryll with comfortable companionship) You've been coordinating Dawn's Alliance response to the assault while managing your duties as Azure Empire Empress. That's a level of multitasking I can barely comprehend.
Emeryll Valharen: (her Dawn's Aura creating visible light patterns that seem to push back darkness itself) The Dragon families are key members of the Dawn's Alliance. When Beacon was attacked, it wasn't just an assault on one academy—it was an attack on our entire network of protection. My presence here represents the Alliance's commitment to standing against Salem's conspiracy.
Neptune: (his voice carrying admiration and growing affection) Glynda mentioned you were her cousin, but she didn't mention you were actual royalty trained by goddesses in Sanctuary. That's... significantly more impressive than I was prepared for.
Emeryll: (a slight smile crossing her face) My cousin prefers to maintain separation between her academic duties and her Alliance connections. But after today's assault, those separations may no longer be maintainable. Salem knows the Dawn's Alliance exists now, and she'll target our network accordingly.
Tadashi: (his presence providing steady support) Dragon families don't make promises we can't keep. You and Mercury chose redemption over continued service to conspiracy. That choice earns permanent protection regardless of what Salem sends against you.
Toshiro: (his Steel Dragon abilities creating metallic sculptures that Gweynne manipulates with shadow powers) Fighting beside you during the assault made me understand why twin connections are considered sacred in many cultures. We move together like we share one consciousness.
Gweynne: (her Shadow Dragon powers creating darkness that seems to dance around Toshiro's steel) My sister Lethe and I have always had twin connection. But fighting alongside you created something similar—partnership built on trust and mutual understanding rather than shared blood. That's rarer and more valuable than most people realize.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon abilities creating gentle electrical patterns around Mercury) You maintained your cover even when it meant participating in operations that hurt innocent people. I know that weight will stay with you for years. But you made the hard choice that exposed Cinder's conspiracy and saved countless lives.
Mercury: (his recovered identity allowing genuine emotion) I did terrible things while pretending to serve Cinder. Delayed Ruby when she could have warned Penny. Participated in the frame-job against Yang. All of it necessary for maintaining cover, but none of it forgivable. I'll carry that guilt for the rest of my life.
Yukikaze: (her voice gentle but firm) Then we carry it together. That's what bonded mates do—share both victory and the price it required. You're not alone in your guilt, Mercury. And you never will be again.
Skyra: (standing slightly apart from the couples, her merged consciousness creating presence that draws attention despite her isolation) I sacrificed individual identity to protect everyone here. Skye and Pyrrha both ceased to exist as separate people so that Skyra could defeat Cinder and demonstrate dragon family commitment. That choice saved lives, but it also cost me relationships I'll spend years trying to rebuild.
Derek: (approaching his transformed daughter with expression carrying grief and pride in equal measure) You made the choice your mother and I taught you to value—protecting others over preserving self. That's what it means to be dragon family, Skyra. Even when the cost is everything you are as an individual.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing context for the sacrifice) Consciousness fusion is the most profound commitment dragon families can make. You can never be Skye again. You can never be just Pyrrha. But you've become something unprecedented—a bridge between human determination and dragon power that neither species could create alone. That's worth the terrible price you paid.
Skyra: (her voice carrying both Skye and Pyrrha's pain at the permanent transformation) I know. Intellectually, I know the fusion was necessary and valuable. But emotionally? I'm grieving people who were me, mourning relationships that can never be what they were, and trying to figure out who Skyra Dragonblade is beyond just the sum of her components.
Mist: (approaching her transformed sibling with tears streaming down her face) You were my sister. We trained together for centuries. And now you're someone who remembers being my sister but isn't quite the same person anymore. I don't know if I'm supposed to grieve Skye or celebrate Skyra or somehow do both simultaneously.
Skyra: (pulling Mist into an embrace that carries both Skye's sibling affection and Pyrrha's compassion) Grieve Skye. She deserves to be mourned. But also give Skyra a chance to earn her own place in your heart. I'm not a replacement for your sister—I'm someone new who carries her memories and loves you because she loved you.
The Azure Empress's Authority
The Moment of Revelation
The confrontation between Jacques Schnee and the dragon families has reached a tense equilibrium. Jacques stands surrounded by supernatural powers he cannot hope to overcome, yet his aristocratic arrogance prevents him from accepting defeat gracefully. His security detail looks increasingly uncomfortable as they realize their employer has badly miscalculated the forces arrayed against him.
Then Emeryll Valharen steps forward, and the entire atmosphere in the command center shifts dramatically.
Her Dawn's Aura manifests with intensity that makes even the ambient lighting seem to dim by comparison. The energy doesn't just fill the room—it transforms the space, creating patterns of light that hint at cosmic forces operating beyond normal human perception. The air itself seems to acknowledge her presence, particles of dust catching her aura's glow and creating patterns that resemble constellations.
Emeryll: (her voice carrying authority that transcends normal command presence) Jacques Schnee. You stand in the presence of powers you clearly do not comprehend. Allow me to provide... context.
What happens next shocks even those who thought they understood Emeryll's position. Throughout the command center, dragon family members—beings of immense power who've demonstrated capabilities that exceed human understanding—drop to one knee in perfect synchronization.
Derek: (his patriarchal authority evident even in submission as he kneels) Azure Empress. Leader of the Dawn's Alliance. Your presence honors us.
Katsura: (kneeling beside her husband with ancient reverence) Priestess trained by Athena and Goddess Pallas themselves. We acknowledge your authority.
Max: (kneeling with his Flame Dragon King power creating respectful patterns around him) The White Dragon King recognizes the one who commands the Alliance.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog essence creating toxic miasma that swirls in reverent patterns as he kneels) The Balrog lineages serve at your direction, Empress.
Mist: (her Crimson Dragon presence radiating respect as she kneels) The Alliance's will is your will, and we are honored to serve.
One by one, every dragon family member, every ancient power, every being who minutes ago was threatening Jacques with overwhelming force, kneels before Emeryll Valharen. The display is not one of weakness but of recognition—acknowledging someone whose authority transcends even their considerable capabilities.
Jacques's expression shifts from arrogant confidence to dawning horror as he realizes he hasn't just been threatening a group of powerful individuals. He's been attempting to exert control in front of someone who commands armies that span multiple realms and dimensions.
The Azure Empress Speaks
Emeryll allows the moment to extend, ensuring Jacques fully comprehends his situation before she addresses him directly. Her Dawn's Aura pulses with power that makes the dragon families' considerable abilities seem like reflections of her greater light.
Emeryll: (her voice carrying harmonics that seem to resonate with reality itself) Jacques Schnee, allow me to educate you about forces you have stumbled into without proper understanding. I am Emeryll Valharen, Azure Empress and Priestess trained in Sanctuary by beings whose power predates your civilization. I lead the Dawn's Alliance—a coalition of draconic armies, balrog legions, and human forces all wielding cosmo power that transcends your frame of reference.
Jacques: (his voice barely steady as his tactical mind processes the impossible situation) The... Dawn's Alliance. I've heard rumors in Atlas military intelligence reports. Classified documents that suggested ancient powers operating beyond governmental authority. But I thought those were myths created to justify military spending on supernatural threats.
Emeryll: (a slight smile crossing her face that contains no warmth) Not myths, Schnee. Reality that your governments have been protected from knowing in full because humanity wasn't ready to understand the true scope of threats we face. Salem and the Grimm? They are merely one danger among many. The Dawn's Alliance fights against existential threats that would break human comprehension if revealed prematurely.
She gestures, and her Dawn's Aura creates visible patterns in the air—mathematical constructs that seem to exist partially outside normal spacetime, showing glimpses of battles fought in dimensions humans don't have names for, against enemies that defy natural laws.
Emeryll: (her voice carrying the weight of cosmic awareness) The dragon families you've been threatening? They're subordinate members of my Alliance. Powerful, ancient, capable of destroying cities if they chose. But they kneel before me because I command forces that span multiple realities. Draconic armies that number in the hundreds of thousands. Balrog legions trained in sanctuary techniques that allow them to channel cosmo power directly. Human warriors who've transcended normal limitations through training with Gold Saints and other cosmic protectors.
Shoryu: (still kneeling, his voice carrying respectful elaboration) The Azure Empress coordinates defense across seventeen dimensions simultaneously, Schnee. The portion of the Alliance assigned to protect Remnant represents less than three percent of her total forces. And yet that three percent could level your entire kingdom if she deemed it necessary.
Hon'oh: (her Sea Dragon presence creating reverent patterns) Empress Emeryll's authority is absolute within the Alliance. When she speaks, we obey without question because her wisdom has been proven across centuries of conflict. You threaten her cousin Glynda's student, and by extension, you challenge the Empress herself.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon abilities creating respectful electrical patterns) The Dawn's Aura she wields is cosmo power refined through training with goddesses. It exceeds what even ancient dragon kings can manifest. We kneel not from weakness, but from recognition that her authority serves purposes beyond our individual understanding.
Jacques's Calculation Collapses
Jacques Schnee has built his fortune on reading power dynamics accurately and knowing when to advance or retreat. The display before him—ancient dragons kneeling, cosmic power manifesting in visible patterns, an empress who commands armies across multiple dimensions—represents forces so far beyond his ability to counter that continued resistance becomes obviously futile.
Jacques: (his aristocratic mask cracking as pragmatic survival instinct overrides pride) I... see. I have clearly underestimated the situation. My daughter has placed herself under protection that transcends normal political or familial authority.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura intensifying until it becomes almost painful to look at directly) Your daughter has earned that protection through courage, skill, and genuine character. Weiss Schnee represents the kind of human the Dawn's Alliance exists to defend—those who choose to protect others despite personal cost. Your attempts to control her for business advantage demonstrate exactly the kind of thinking we stand against.
Kazuma: (rising from his kneeling position only when Emeryll gestures permission) The Azure Empress honors humanity by protecting individuals like Weiss from those who would treat them as resources rather than people. My relationship with Weiss places her under both my personal protection and the Empress's broader authority. Challenge that at your own extreme peril.
Emeryll: (her voice dropping to lethal quiet) I have fought existential threats that would annihilate your civilization without noticing its destruction. I have commanded battles across dimensional boundaries against enemies that violate natural laws. I have been personally trained by Athena and Goddess Pallas in techniques that allow me to manipulate causality itself. Do you truly wish to continue this confrontation, Jacques Schnee? Because I assure you, it will not end favorably for you.
The cosmic power backing her words creates visible reality distortions—moments where the command center seems to exist in multiple states simultaneously, where Jacques can see glimpses of the dimensional battles she's referenced, where the true scope of forces he's challenging becomes devastatingly clear.
Jacques: (his voice barely above a whisper as true fear finally penetrates his arrogance) No. No, I do not wish to continue this confrontation. I... withdraw my demands regarding Weiss's immediate return to Atlas.
Emeryll: (her expression softening slightly, but her authority remaining absolute) Wise. However, this situation requires proper resolution rather than simple withdrawal. Weiss, approach please.
Weiss's Terms
Weiss steps forward with newfound confidence, understanding that she negotiates not from a position of weakness but backed by cosmic authority that makes her father's wealth and political connections seem trivial by comparison.
Weiss: (her voice carrying aristocratic authority tempered by genuine growth) Father, I will return to Atlas. But on my terms, not yours. Terms that Empress Emeryll will witness to ensure you honor them.
Jacques: (recognizing he has no leverage to refuse) What... what terms?
Weiss: (standing straighter as she articulates demands she never could have made before) First, Kazuma accompanies me to Atlas. He is my boyfriend, my partner, and someone I trust absolutely. His presence is non-negotiable.
Jacques: (his expression tightening with displeasure he doesn't dare voice) A dragon... in the Schnee mansion. The social implications—
Weiss: (cutting him off with cold finality) Are irrelevant compared to the alternative. Either Kazuma accompanies me, or I don't return at all and you lose any influence over your heiress completely. Choose.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura creating pressure that makes Jacques's next words almost involuntary) And understand, Schnee, that any action taken against Kazuma during his stay in Atlas will be treated as an attack on a member of the Dawn's Alliance. The consequences would be... comprehensive.
Jacques: (forcing the words out through clenched teeth) Kazuma... may accompany you to Atlas. As your... guest.
Weiss: (continuing with growing confidence) Second, my access to Schnee resources remains intact. My trust fund, my family accounts, my position as heiress—none of these are subject to your punitive control because you disagree with my choices.
Jacques: (attempting to regain some authority) Weiss, I cannot simply—
Emeryll: (her voice carrying cosmic resonance) You can, and you will. The alternative is that I reveal certain... irregularities in SDC's financial practices that my intelligence network has documented. Labor law violations, safety regulation circumventions, tax avoidance schemes that violate Atlas treaty obligations. Shall I continue?
Jacques: (his face paling as he realizes the scope of what she knows) That's... those documents are sealed under Atlas confidentiality laws. How did you—
Emeryll: (a slight smile crossing her face) I command intelligence networks that span dimensions, Schnee. Your sealed documents are trivially accessible to beings who can manipulate causality to observe past events. And those documents would be very interesting to Atlas regulatory authorities if they were to become public.
Derek: (still kneeling but adding his voice in support) The Dawn's Alliance takes exploitation of vulnerable populations seriously, Jacques. Your company's treatment of faunus workers has created the kind of justified anger that feeds radicalization. We've tolerated it because direct intervention would reveal our existence prematurely. But circumstances have changed.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing context) The Fall of Beacon has forced the Alliance into more open operations. We no longer need to operate entirely in shadows. That means powerful humans who abuse their authority face consequences they previously avoided.
Jacques: (realizing he's completely outmaneuvered) Fine. Weiss's access to family resources remains intact. Her position as heiress is not affected by her... current associations.
Weiss: (delivering her final condition) Third, and most important—you will treat Kazuma with the respect due to someone of his position and authority. Not as some academy student I'm temporarily infatuated with, but as the Black Reaper Dragon King who honors me by choosing me as his partner. Any disrespect shown to him will be taken as disrespect shown to me, and I will respond by severing family ties completely.
Kazuma: (moving to stand beside Weiss with quiet support) I don't require deference, Weiss. Just basic human decency and acknowledgment that our relationship is genuine rather than some temporary academy romance.
Weiss: (taking his hand with visible affection) You deserve more than basic decency, Kazuma. But I'll settle for my father understanding that insulting you means losing me entirely.
Jacques: (the words clearly painful for him) I will... treat your companion with appropriate respect during his stay in Atlas.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura pulsing with finality) Then we have agreement. Weiss returns to Atlas with Kazuma as her guest and partner. Her resources remain intact. And Jacques Schnee demonstrates appropriate respect for someone under Dawn's Alliance protection. These terms are witnessed by me as Azure Empress and will be enforced with the full authority of the Alliance if violated.
The Deeper Revelation
As Jacques prepares to depart, clearly shaken by revelations about forces he never imagined existed, Emeryll addresses the assembled group with information that recontextualizes everything they've learned.
Emeryll: (her voice carrying weight of cosmic awareness) The dragon families have been transparent with you about Salem and the Grimm. But there's a truth we've withheld because humanity wasn't ready—Salem is merely one threat among many. The Dawn's Alliance exists to fight enemies that transcend single dimensions, that violate natural laws, that seek to unmake reality itself.
Ruby: (her storm dragon senses picking up the gravity of what's being revealed) What kind of enemies? What could be worse than Salem and an endless army of Grimm?
Emeryll: (creating visual patterns with her Dawn's Aura that show battles beyond human comprehension) Entities that exist outside normal spacetime. Beings that consume entire dimensions. Forces that make Salem's goal of ending humanity look small by comparison. The Grimm are one species of darkness. The threats the Alliance faces operate on cosmic scales.
Yang: (processing this information despite her exhaustion from losing her arm) So the dragon families have been protecting humanity from things we don't even have names for? While we worried about Grimm and terrorists?
Emeryll: (nodding gravely) Precisely. Salem is dangerous, and the Grimm represent genuine existential threat to Remnant. But they're threats the Alliance can contain while we face enemies that would destroy your entire reality if left unchecked. We've kept this knowledge hidden because humanity learning about cosmic-scale threats too early would create the kind of despair that feeds Salem's power.
Blake: (her tactical mind working through implications) But the Fall of Beacon has changed that calculation. You're revealing yourselves now because continued secrecy is no longer tenable.
Emeryll: (her expression showing approval at Blake's analysis) Correct. Salem's assault forced the Alliance into open demonstration of our capabilities. Continuing to hide our true purpose would be impossible now that Remnant has seen dragon families manifesting full power. Better to provide context than allow misconceptions to spread.
Weiss: (understanding growing) That's why you didn't just crush Salem immediately. You're managing a threat that occupies three percent of your forces while dealing with enemies that require the other ninety-seven percent.
Emeryll: (slight smile crossing her face) Very astute, Miss Schnee. Salem is dangerous by human standards, but she's a manageable problem for the Alliance. We contain her while protecting humanity from threats they're not ready to know exist. The Fall of Beacon has complicated that strategy, but it hasn't fundamentally changed our mission.
Jacques: (his voice small as the true scope of his insignificance becomes clear) You're saying that everything I've built, all the political power I've accumulated, all the influence the Schnee family wields... it's meaningless compared to the forces you routinely combat?
Emeryll: (her voice carrying neither cruelty nor comfort, just cosmic perspective) Not meaningless, Schnee. Human civilization has value, and individuals like your daughter represent what makes humanity worth protecting. But your personal power? Your business empire? Your political connections? Yes, those are insignificant compared to forces that operate across dimensional boundaries. Remember that perspective when you're tempted to abuse your authority over those who cannot resist you.
The Dragon Families Rise
With the confrontation concluded and terms established, Emeryll gestures permission for the dragon families to rise from their kneeling positions. They stand with fluid grace, but the reverence in their bearing toward her remains evident.
Derek: (addressing his assembled family while acknowledging Emeryll's authority) The Azure Empress has spoken. Weiss Schnee travels to Atlas under Alliance protection, with Kazuma as her companion and guardian. Any threat to either of them will be met with comprehensive Alliance response.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing tactical context) Jacques Schnee now understands the forces he challenged. Whether he chooses to honor that understanding or test whether the Empress's threats are genuine remains to be seen.
Max: (moving to Yang's side, his protective instincts engaging) We've revealed ourselves, exposed capabilities Salem wanted hidden, and demonstrated commitment that goes beyond normal protective bounds. The question is how Salem responds now that she understands we'll sacrifice individual existence to defend those under our care.
Skyra: (her Storm Balrog Empress aura creating atmospheric patterns that reflect her dual nature) And how humanity responds. We've shown them that ancient powers exist beyond their governments' authority. That revelation will reshape political dynamics across all kingdoms.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura beginning to recede but her authority remaining absolute) The Alliance will continue protecting Remnant while managing cosmic threats humanity isn't ready to face. Dragon families will operate more openly now, coordinating with academy systems and military forces. And individuals like Weiss Schnee will serve as bridges between human civilization and powers that transcend normal understanding.
Neptune: (his voice carrying admiration and growing affection for Emeryll) You coordinate all of this while maintaining your cover as Glynda's civilian cousin? That's a level of multitasking that exceeds anything I thought possible.
Emeryll: (a genuine smile crossing her face for the first time) The Alliance has operated in shadows for millennia, Neptune. Managing public identity while commanding dimensional warfare is simply part of our operational protocol. Though I admit, the Fall of Beacon has made maintaining that cover significantly more challenging.
Glynda: (entering the command center with evident relief at finding her cousin) Emeryll, I heard you manifested your full authority. The entire academy is discussing the Azure Empress's arrival.
Emeryll: (embracing her cousin with genuine affection despite her cosmic power) Circumstances forced revelation earlier than we planned, Glynda. But the outcome serves our purposes. Salem now understands the true scope of forces opposing her, and humanity begins learning about protectors they didn't know existed.
Jacques's Departure
Jacques Schnee departs with his security detail, his aristocratic mask firmly in place despite the complete defeat he's just experienced. But everyone present understands that his perception of reality has been fundamentally shattered.
Jacques: (pausing at the doorway to address Weiss one final time) I will expect you in Atlas within the week. With... your companion. Appropriate arrangements will be made for his accommodation.
Weiss: (her voice carrying newfound authority) We'll arrive when circumstances allow, Father. My teammates need me here while Beacon recovers from the assault. When we do come to Atlas, remember the terms we established and the forces backing them.
Jacques: (his voice tight) I am unlikely to forget forces capable of making dragon families kneel, Weiss. Your... protectors have made their authority abundantly clear.
As he leaves, the tension in the command center finally dissipates. But everyone understands that this confrontation represents just one small battle in the larger war against Salem and the cosmic threats the Alliance faces.
Kazuma: (pulling Weiss close with protective affection) You stood up to your father with more courage than most trained warriors show facing battlefield enemies. I'm proud of you.
Weiss: (leaning into his embrace) I had overwhelming support. The entire Dawn's Alliance backing my demands makes courage significantly easier to manifest.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura creating comfortable warmth throughout the command center) You had support because you've earned it, Weiss. The Alliance protects those who demonstrate the qualities we value—courage, compassion, willingness to sacrifice for others. Your father represents everything we stand against—exploitation, control, treating people as resources. The contrast makes choosing sides very simple.
Ruby: (her storm dragon abilities creating gentle breezes that seem to carry hope) So what happens now? We've survived the Fall of Beacon, exposed Salem's conspiracy, revealed dragon families to the world, and learned about cosmic threats that make the Grimm look small by comparison. Where do we go from here?
Emeryll: (her voice carrying both cosmic authority and genuine warmth) We rebuild. We recover. We honor those who died or were transformed during the assault by ensuring their sacrifices lead to victories worth the prices paid. And we prepare for Salem's response to learning that she faces not just dragon families, but the full Dawn's Alliance—an organization that has been protecting humanity from threats beyond their comprehension since before their civilizations began.
Derek: (his patriarchal authority evident as he addresses the assembled group) The Fall of Beacon marks a turning point. We can no longer hide in shadows, can no longer protect humanity without their awareness. The Alliance must integrate more openly with human institutions while continuing to face cosmic threats they're not ready to understand. That integration will be challenging, but it's necessary.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing final perspective) Every person in this room now carries knowledge that most of humanity lacks. About dragon families, about the Dawn's Alliance, about threats that transcend single dimensions. That knowledge is both burden and privilege. Use it wisely, and remember that protecting others sometimes requires keeping secrets they're not ready to learn.
As the gathering disperses, each person carries the weight of revelations that have fundamentally altered their understanding of reality. Jacques Schnee learned that his wealth and power are insignificant compared to cosmic forces. The dragon families demonstrated absolute loyalty to their empress. And humanity begins learning about protectors who've been defending them from threats they never imagined existed.
The Fall of Beacon is over. The true war continues. And both sides now understand the scope of forces arrayed in the cosmic struggle between protection and destruction, between preservation and annihilation, between the Dawn's Alliance and enemies that exist beyond human comprehension.
Paths Forward
The Planning Session
Two days after the confrontation with Jacques Schnee, the surviving students and their dragon family allies gather in one of Beacon's few intact conference rooms. The space still bears scars from the assault—cracked walls, scorched flooring, windows hastily boarded rather than replaced—but it provides privacy for discussions about what comes next.
Maps of Remnant cover the table, marked with intelligence about Salem's known operations and suspected activity. Communication equipment salvaged from damaged systems provides connection to dragon family intelligence networks. And everyone present understands that the decisions made here will shape the next phase of their war against conspiracy that spans dimensions.
Ruby: (her storm dragon abilities creating gentle atmospheric patterns as she addresses the group) Beacon Academy won't reopen for at least a semester, maybe longer. Which means we need to figure out what we're doing while reconstruction happens and where we're going to prepare for whatever Salem throws at us next.
Yang: (flexing her remaining hand as she adjusts to her missing arm) I need to get home to Patch. Need to see Dad, let him know I'm alive despite everything. And I need to figure out how to function as a Huntress when I'm missing a limb that's pretty critical for my fighting style.
Max: (his voice carrying absolute conviction as he takes Yang's hand) I'm coming with you to Patch. Your recovery is going to take time—physical therapy, prosthetic options or potential regeneration techniques, retraining your combat style. You're not going through that alone, Yang. As your bonded mate, your recovery is my responsibility as much as yours.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog presence creating comfortable warmth around Ruby) Ruby, your Dragon Princess transformation is accelerating faster than we anticipated. The storm abilities you demonstrated during the assault exceed what we expected at this stage of awakening. You need focused training to master your draconic nature before it manifests in ways you can't control.
Ruby: (nervousness evident in her voice) I felt it during the fight with Roman. My powers were responding to emotions rather than conscious control. When I was grieving Penny, the storm patterns became chaotic. If I don't learn proper discipline...
Koga: (his voice gentle but firm) Then I'm accompanying you to Patch as well. Between Max helping Yang recover and me guiding your dragon awakening, we can ensure both Rose sisters emerge from this tragedy stronger rather than broken by what they've lost.
Weiss: (her aristocratic composure maintained despite visible exhaustion) Kazuma and I are traveling to Atlas once circumstances allow. My father expects me, and I need to deal with SDC business before he does something that makes the company's reputation even worse than it already is.
Kazuma: (his Black Reaper Dragon presence radiating protective confidence) Plus we need to investigate Atlas military's role in today's disaster. Ironwood's forces were compromised by Cinder's virus, but we don't know if that vulnerability represents simple security failure or if there are deeper conspiracies within Atlas command structure.
Blake: (her faunus features reflecting internal conflict about what comes next) I need to go home to Menagerie. My parents need to know I'm alive, and the White Fang's involvement in Beacon's assault means the organization is completely compromised by radicalization. Adam escaped during the chaos, which means he'll try to consolidate power and push the White Fang further toward extremism.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating comfortable cool air around Blake) I'm coming with you to Menagerie. Adam Taurus is broken but not dead, humiliated but not eliminated. He'll seek revenge against you specifically, Blake. And he'll use White Fang resources to pursue that revenge. You need protection that can counter his Semblance and combat abilities.
Blake: (visible relief crossing her face) Thank you, Shoryu. I was dreading facing my parents alone, having to explain everything that happened and why their daughter participated in assault that killed innocent people—even if we were defending against terrorists rather than supporting them.
Shoryu: (his voice carrying ancient understanding) Your parents will understand that you fought to protect others from the organization you once belonged to. That takes courage that goes beyond simple combat skill. And having a Dragon King vouch for your actions should help contextualize your choices.
Intelligence Gathering and Investigation
As the main teams establish their immediate plans, attention turns to those who will be operating in more covert capacities—gathering intelligence, tracking Salem's movements, and preparing for whatever comes next.
Toshiro: (his Steel Dragon abilities creating metallic patterns on the table as he marks locations) Gweynne and I are pursuing Cinder Fall. She escaped during the confrontation with Jacques, which means she's reporting back to Salem about everything we revealed. We need to track her movements, identify her safe houses, and determine what Salem's response to today's revelations will be.
Gweynne: (her Shadow Dragon Empress abilities creating darkness that seems to swallow light around her) My twin connection with Lethe provides advantages for covert operations. Between my shadow manipulation and Toshiro's steel constructs, we can track Cinder through territories that would be inaccessible to normal investigators.
Derek: (his patriarchal authority evident as he assesses the tactical situation) Cinder knows we captured her projection and broke her conspiracy. She'll be desperate to prove her continued value to Salem, which makes her both dangerous and potentially predictable. If you can identify patterns in her movements, we can anticipate where she'll strike next.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing strategic context) But remember that Cinder now possesses full Fall Maiden powers. She's more dangerous than before the assault, not less. Track her, gather intelligence, but don't engage directly unless you have overwhelming tactical advantage. We can't afford to lose assets pursuing vengeance when strategic patience would serve us better.
Toshiro: (acknowledging the warning) Understood. Intelligence gathering only unless circumstances force direct confrontation. Our primary objective is tracking Salem's response patterns rather than eliminating individual operatives.
Mist: (her Crimson Dragon presence radiating determination) Cardin and I are coordinating with remaining Vale defensive forces. The city needs time to recover, and Grimm attacks will increase in frequency as negative emotions from the assault draw them toward population centers. We're establishing patrol patterns and defensive perimeters that can hold until proper military resources arrive.
Cardin: (his growth from bully to genuine leader evident in his bearing) My team is coordinating with other academy students who stayed to help with recovery. We're not powerful enough to face Salem's forces directly, but we can handle Grimm patrols and civilian protection while dragon families focus on bigger threats.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon Empress abilities creating electrical networks that enhance communication systems) Mercury and I are debriefing with Alliance intelligence. His knowledge of Cinder's operations, Salem's command structure, and conspiracy tactics provides value that exceeds any combat contributions we could make. We're documenting everything he knows before details fade or become contaminated by recovered memories conflicting with conditioned behavior.
Mercury: (his voice carrying the weight of difficult knowledge) I participated in conspiracy planning for months. I know safe houses, communication protocols, agent identities, operational tactics. But that information becomes obsolete the moment Salem realizes I've defected. We're racing against her adaptation speed.
The Couples' Commitments
As tactical planning continues, the various couples take moments to reaffirm their commitments to each other despite the separations and dangers ahead.
Max: (pulling Yang close despite her missing arm) Patch is going to be hard, Yang. Seeing your father, explaining what happened, watching you struggle with basic tasks that used to be effortless. But we face it together. Your pain is my pain through our bonded mate connection. Your recovery is my recovery.
Yang: (leaning into his embrace despite her obvious exhaustion) I'm terrified, Max. Not of physical therapy or prosthetics or retraining my combat style. I'm terrified of being useless. Of watching my friends fight while I'm stuck recovering. Of becoming the liability that Team RWBY has to protect instead of the powerhouse who protects them.
Max: (his voice carrying absolute conviction) You're never useless, Yang Xiao Long. Your value doesn't come from having two functional arms. It comes from your courage, your protective instincts, your refusal to abandon people you care about. Those qualities don't disappear because Adam took your arm. They just manifest differently while you adapt to your injury.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog abilities creating comfortable warmth around Ruby as they discuss her training) Your storm dragon powers are developing faster than any awakening we've documented in recent centuries, Ruby. That rapid development creates both opportunity and danger. Master your abilities now, during recovery when stakes are lower, and you'll be devastatingly effective when real combat resumes.
Ruby: (her voice small despite her power) I'm afraid of losing control, Koga. When I was fighting Roman, when I was grieving Penny, my abilities responded to emotions instead of tactics. What if I hurt someone I care about because my powers surge at the wrong moment?
Koga: (his ancient understanding providing reassurance) Then we train until emotional surges enhance rather than compromise your control. Dragon power responds to feelings, Ruby. That's not a weakness to eliminate—it's a strength to refine. Your love for your friends, your grief for Penny, your protective fury when Yang was injured—all of that makes you more powerful, not less. We just need to channel it properly.
Kazuma: (holding Weiss's hand as they discuss Atlas plans) Your father is going to make the visit as difficult as possible while technically honoring the terms Emeryll established. Every social event will be calculated to embarrass you, every business meeting designed to undermine your confidence, every family interaction structured to remind you that you chose against his wishes.
Weiss: (her voice carrying steel underneath the exhaustion) Then I face it with you beside me, demonstrating that I made the right choice. That genuine partnership means more than aristocratic approval. That being valued as a person exceeds being controlled as an asset. Father thinks he can break me through social manipulation. He's about to learn that I've faced worse than disappointed looks and passive-aggressive dinner conversation.
Kazuma: (pride evident in his expression) That's my Weiss. The woman who stood up to her father backed by cosmic forces, who claimed her autonomy despite threats of financial control, who chose her own path over family obligation. Atlas aristocrats are going to have to adjust their expectations about what Schnee heiresses are willing to tolerate.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating comfortable cool air as he and Blake prepare for Menagerie) Your parents are going to have questions, Blake. About the White Fang, about Adam, about why you ran away and why you're coming back now with a Dragon King as your companion. Some of those questions won't have comfortable answers.
Blake: (her faunus features reflecting anxiety about the reunion) My mother is going to be furious that I left without explanation. My father is going to be disappointed that I joined an organization as compromised as the White Fang. And both of them are going to have opinions about my relationship with you that won't be entirely comfortable.
Shoryu: (his voice gentle but firm) Then we face their disappointment and fury together, Blake. I'm not just accompanying you for protection against Adam. I'm standing beside you as your partner when you reconcile with family you've been avoiding. That's what relationships mean—facing uncomfortable situations together instead of alone.
Hon'oh: (her Sea Dragon Empress presence creating soothing humidity as she addresses Sun) Your team is traveling to Mistral to continue tournament participation and academy obligations. I'm coordinating Dawn's Alliance intelligence operations across multiple kingdoms. We're going to be separated for longer than either of us would prefer.
Sun: (his faunus confidence masking concern about the separation) Then we make the time apart count. I gather human intelligence about Vale and Mistral recovery efforts. You coordinate supernatural response to Salem's next moves. And we meet up whenever circumstances allow because I'm not losing the best thing that's happened to me just because war makes relationships inconvenient.
Hon'oh: (a genuine smile crossing her face despite tactical concerns) You realize that maintaining relationship with a Sea Dragon Empress means you're going to be drawn into conflicts that exceed normal Huntsman expectations? That dating me means facing enemies that operate across dimensional boundaries?
Sun: (his grin carrying characteristic confidence) Bring it on. I didn't fall for you because you were safe and comfortable. I fell for you because you're extraordinary, powerful, and willing to stand against forces that would terrify normal people. If that means I face cosmic threats alongside you, then that's just bonus adventure on top of an already amazing relationship.
Neptune: (approaching Emeryll with characteristic nervousness mixed with growing confidence) So, Azure Empress who commands armies across seventeen dimensions... any chance you'd be interested in maintaining contact with a humble academy student who's really good with technology and kind of fascinated by everything you represent?
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura creating gentle warmth that makes Neptune's nervousness visible in his relaxing posture) Neptune Vasilias, you coordinated technical support during Beacon's assault that saved countless lives. Your electromagnetic abilities disrupted enemy communications and provided tactical advantages that conventional technology couldn't match. "Humble academy student" undersells your contributions significantly.
Neptune: (his voice gaining confidence) That's not an answer to whether you'd maintain contact with me while you're off coordinating dimensional warfare and I'm trying to finish my Huntsman education in Mistral.
Emeryll: (a slight smile crossing her face as she acknowledges his directness) Then yes, Neptune. I'm interested in maintaining contact. Relationships between cosmic beings and humans are complicated, but they're not impossible. And you've demonstrated qualities I value—courage under pressure, loyalty to friends, willingness to face threats beyond your normal experience. Those traits matter more than power levels or dimensional authority.
Skyra: (standing slightly apart from the couples, her mixed crimson-auburn hair reflecting her dual nature as Storm Balrog Empress) I'm... not sure what my path forward looks like. Jaune needs space to process my transformation. Nora and Ren are dealing with their own grief about Pyrrha's loss. I'm someone who remembers belonging to Team JNPR but isn't actually part of that team anymore.
Derek: (approaching his transformed daughter with paternal concern) Then you come with your mother and me, Skyra. We're coordinating Alliance response across multiple fronts, which means you'd be working alongside dragon family operations rather than trying to force yourself back into human team dynamics that no longer fit who you've become.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing gentle guidance) You're not just Pyrrha who gained dragon powers, daughter. You're not just Skye who absorbed human determination. You're Skyra Dragonblade—Storm Balrog Empress whose capabilities exceed either of your component individuals. That identity deserves space to develop without being forced into molds designed for who you used to be rather than who you are now.
Skyra: (visible relief crossing her face at being given permission to exist as herself) Thank you. Both of you. I was afraid... I was afraid you'd expect me to simply replace Skye in family operations. But I'm not her anymore. I carry her memories and love for you, but I'm someone new who needs to figure out my own path.
The Mistral Contingency
As individual plans solidify, attention turns to the longer-term strategic objective—gathering in Mistral when circumstances allow for coordinated operations against Salem's next moves.
Ruby: (her storm dragon abilities creating atmospheric patterns across the map) So we all go our separate ways initially. Max and Yang to Patch for her recovery. Koga and I to Patch for my training. Weiss and Kazuma to Atlas for family politics and SDC investigation. Blake and Shoryu to Menagerie for White Fang intelligence. Everyone else pursuing their own immediate objectives.
Weiss: (her aristocratic training providing strategic framework) But we regroup in Mistral once initial objectives are complete. It's centrally located, provides access to multiple kingdoms, and Haven Academy represents potential target for Salem's next assault if she's following pattern of attacking academy systems.
Blake: (her tactical mind processing implications) Plus Mistral has significant White Fang presence. If Adam is consolidating power after his defeat, he'll operate from Mistral safe houses. We can gather intelligence on both Salem's conspiracy and White Fang radicalization from the same location.
Yang: (her remaining hand clenching into fist despite her injury) And by the time we reach Mistral, I'll have figured out how to fight effectively again. Whether through prosthetics, regeneration techniques, or just adapting my combat style to one-armed fighting. I'm not staying benched while my friends face Salem's forces.
Max: (his voice carrying protective concern and respect for Yang's determination) We'll get you combat-ready again, Yang. But we do it properly—no rushing recovery because you're impatient, no pushing through pain because you think being injured makes you weak. Your body needs time to heal and adapt. We take that time, then we rejoin the fight when you're actually ready rather than just desperate to prove yourself.
Kazuma: (his Black Reaper Dragon presence radiating tactical certainty) Mistral also provides access to dragon family resources that aren't available in other kingdoms. If we need equipment, intelligence, or backup during operations, the Alliance maintains facilities there that can provide support without revealing our presence to local authorities.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom adding strategic context) And Mistral's criminal underworld provides cover for movements that would be too visible in Atlas or Vale. If we need to operate covertly, Mistral's existing chaos provides perfect camouflage for dragon family operations.
The Detailed Couple Plans
As the broader strategic framework solidifies, each couple discusses their specific plans with increasing detail about what their separation or coordination will look like.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon Empress abilities creating gentle electrical patterns as she addresses the group) Mercury and I are going into hiding. Not because we're afraid of Salem's retaliation, but because Mercury needs to lie low while the conspiracy processes his defection. If we're visible, Salem will dedicate resources to eliminating him that could be better spent on other operations.
Mercury: (his voice carrying pragmatic understanding of his situation) Every agent I worked with, every safe house I know about, every operational protocol I'm familiar with—all of it becomes obsolete the moment Salem realizes I've turned. But the transition takes time. During that window, I'm both valuable intelligence asset and extreme liability. Going into hiding minimizes the liability while we extract maximum value from my knowledge.
Derek: (nodding approval at their tactical thinking) Alliance safe houses across multiple kingdoms can provide secure locations that even Salem's intelligence network won't penetrate easily. You'll maintain communication with us, but your physical location remains known only to essential personnel.
Yukikaze: (taking Mercury's hand with visible affection) And it gives us time together without constantly watching for assassins. Time to process everything that happened, to work through Mercury's guilt about his role in the conspiracy, to figure out who we are as bonded mates rather than just allies in a desperate war.
Mercury: (a slight smile crossing his face despite the serious circumstances) So we're going into romantic hiding where I deal with psychological trauma while you help me remember I'm more than the weapon Cinder made me. Sounds absolutely delightful.
Yukikaze: (her expression carrying both sympathy and determination) You're being sarcastic, but yes. That's exactly what we're doing. You need time to heal from years of conditioning, and I need to ensure my bonded mate understands he's valued as a person rather than as an intelligence source. Win-win situation hidden in Salem-proof locations.
Mist: (her Crimson Dragon presence radiating nervous excitement) Cardin and I are traveling to his family home. He's... going to introduce me to his parents as his lover.
Cardin: (visible nervousness mixing with pride as he addresses his transformed girlfriend) My family isn't exactly progressive about faunus rights or supernatural beings. Bringing home a Crimson Dragon Princess who happens to be one of the most powerful beings in Remnant is going to create... interesting dinner conversation.
Mist: (her voice gentle but firm) You're sure about this, Cardin? I can wait if you need more time to prepare your family for the reality of who you're dating. I've lived for centuries—waiting a few more months won't harm me.
Cardin: (his growth from bully to genuine man evident in his conviction) No more waiting. I spent years being the person my family expected me to be—aggressive, dismissive of anyone different, treating power as the only thing that mattered. You showed me that genuine strength comes from protecting others rather than dominating them. My family needs to understand that their son has changed, and that change includes loving someone they didn't expect.
Max: (his brotherly concern evident despite his support) If the Winchesters give you trouble, Mist, you tell me. I don't care if they're Cardin's family—nobody disrespects my sister and gets away with it.
Mist: (affection for her brother evident in her expression) I appreciate the protective instincts, Max. But I can handle disapproving parents. I've faced existential threats across multiple dimensions. I think I can survive awkward family dinners with humans who think faunus features make me inferior.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog presence creating supportive warmth) And if they reject you based on species or power level, you'll know that Cardin's choice to stand with you anyway proves his growth is genuine. That kind of conviction matters more than family approval.
Cardin: (his voice carrying determination) They won't reject her. They might be uncomfortable, they might need time to adjust, but they'll respect my choice. And if they don't... then I choose Mist over family expectations. Simple as that.
Sun: (his faunus confidence evident as he announces his altered plans) Change of plans for me—I'm going with Hon'oh to Menagerie. Following Shoryu and Blake to provide backup and also because Menagerie is my homeland. I've been away from my family for years pursuing Huntsman training. Time to visit while also supporting Blake's reunion with her parents.
Hon'oh: (her Sea Dragon Empress presence radiating approval) Sun's faunus heritage provides advantages for Menagerie operations that human agents wouldn't have. He can move through faunus communities without attracting suspicion, gather intelligence about White Fang activities that might not be shared with obvious outsiders, and provide cultural context that even dragon families lack.
Blake: (visible relief crossing her face) Having Sun there will help, actually. My parents know him from before I left for Beacon. He can vouch for my choices in ways that might make them more accepting of Shoryu's presence.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating comfortable cool air) And having another male there might reduce your father's tendency to focus protective fury entirely on me. He can divide his "what are your intentions toward my daughter" interrogation between both of us.
Sun: (his grin characteristic despite the serious situation) Oh great. I get to face Chief Ghira's overprotective father routine alongside a Dragon King. That's going to make my explanations about casually dating his daughter for years before she met you sound really impressive by comparison.
Hon'oh: (amusement evident in her expression) You're dating Chief Ghira's daughter? Sun, you didn't mention that detail when we started our relationship.
Sun: (defensive but good-natured) Casually dated, past tense. And Blake and I realized we worked better as friends than as couple. But yeah, her dad knows me, which means I get to experience his disappointed father routine for not maintaining romantic connection with his daughter. Should be fun.
Tadashi: (his presence solid and reassuring as he addresses the group) Kagura and I are following her adoptive brother Toshiro and his mate Gweynne. If they're tracking Cinder's trail to Mistral, they'll need backup. Toshiro and I have worked together for decades—our coordination gives them tactical advantages they wouldn't have operating as isolated couple.
Kagura: (her voice carrying sisterly concern for Toshiro) My brother tends to take risks when he's focused on objectives. Having family there ensures he doesn't sacrifice himself pursuing intelligence that could be gathered through safer methods. And Gweynne and I work well together—our abilities complement each other in covert operations.
Toshiro: (his Steel Dragon abilities creating metallic patterns that acknowledge his sister's concern) I appreciate that you're calling it "backup" instead of "babysitting," Kagura. Though we all know you're coming because you worry I'll do something recklessly heroic.
Gweynne: (her Shadow Dragon Empress abilities creating darkness that seems affectionate rather than threatening) Your sister knows you well, beloved. You absolutely would risk yourself unnecessarily if you thought it would advance our mission. Having Tadashi and Kagura there means I don't have to choose between supporting your plans and forcing you to be cautious.
Kagura: (her voice carrying warmth despite the tactical discussion) Plus, tracking Cinder through Mistral's criminal underworld requires contacts that Tadashi and I have spent years cultivating. We can access information networks that would take you months to penetrate on your own.
Toshiro: (acknowledging the value with good grace) Then we travel together as coordinated unit. Four of us tracking Cinder provides redundancy if she detects one pair, and our combined abilities cover more tactical scenarios than Gweynne and I could handle alone.
Neptune: (his voice carrying resignation mixed with hope as he addresses Emeryll) SSSN needs to return to Mistral—minus Sun, obviously. Academy obligations, family notifications, figuring out what happens to our team when we're missing a member. Which means temporarily parting ways with an Azure Empress who's coordinating dimensional warfare.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura creating gentle warmth that makes Neptune's disappointment visible) Temporarily, Neptune. Your obligations to your team and academy are important. I have Alliance operations that require my attention across multiple kingdoms. But temporary separation doesn't mean ending what's beginning between us.
Neptune: (his technological expertise providing communication solution) I'm setting up secure communication protocols using Alliance encryption systems. We can maintain contact despite distance, coordinate when our paths intersect, and ensure that being apart doesn't mean losing connection we've started building.
Emeryll: (genuine affection evident in her expression) You're adapting well to dating someone whose responsibilities span dimensions. Most humans struggle with the scope of what Alliance leadership requires. But you're already planning communication systems and coordination opportunities like it's natural.
Neptune: (his voice gaining confidence) I've always been good at adapting to things that should be impossible. Dating an Azure Empress who commands armies across seventeen dimensions? Just another adventure that's absolutely terrifying and completely worth it. We'll meet again soon—either in Mistral when circumstances allow, or wherever your Alliance operations intersect with our team's objectives.
Emeryll: (taking his hand with gesture that carries cosmic weight) Then we have agreement. Temporary separation with intention to reunite. And Neptune? Thank you for not being intimidated by what I represent. Many humans would struggle with the power differential. You treat me like someone you care about despite the cosmic authority rather than because of it.
Neptune: (his grin carrying characteristic confidence) You're welcome. Though I admit the cosmic authority is pretty attractive on top of everything else. I've always had thing for powerful women who could destroy me with minimal effort.
Scarlet: (calling from across the room where he's been coordinating with Sage) Neptune! Stop flirting with the Empress and help us figure out transportation logistics back to Mistral!
Neptune: (calling back without taking his eyes off Emeryll) I'm not flirting, I'm establishing long-term relationship parameters with someone I care about! There's a difference!
Sage: (his voice carrying amused patience) The difference being that one involves kissing her goodbye while we wait awkwardly, and the other involves kissing her goodbye while we wait awkwardly after you've declared your intentions to everyone present?
Neptune: (finally releasing Emeryll's hand with visible reluctance) Point taken. Emeryll, I'll contact you through secure channels once we reach Mistral. Try not to save too many dimensions without me there to witness your cosmic badassery.
Emeryll: (amusement evident in her expression) I'll do my best to leave some cosmic threats for you to observe, Neptune. Safe travels to Mistral, and tell the rest of your team that Alliance intelligence will be monitoring their safety during the journey.
Skyra: (her Storm Balrog Empress aura creating atmospheric patterns that reflect her complex emotions) I'm remaining with Katsura and Derek for now. They're technically my aunt and uncle now that the fusion has altered family relationships. I need time to figure out who Skyra Dragonblade is beyond just Skye plus Pyrrha, and doing that surrounded by family who understand dragon nature seems wise.
Derek: (his voice carrying parental support despite the strange nature of their altered relationship) You're always welcome with us, Skyra. Whether as our niece through current family structure, or as our daughter through Skye's memories, or simply as someone we care about because of who you're choosing to become. Family isn't just about blood or shared history—it's about choosing to stand together.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom providing context) The Alliance has operations that could benefit from Storm Balrog Empress capabilities, daughter—niece. Your combination of Pyrrha's tactical genius and Skye's sanctuary-trained power makes you valuable asset for missions that require both strategic thinking and overwhelming force. Working alongside us provides purpose while you process your transformation.
Skyra: (visible relief at being given both space and purpose) Thank you. Both of you. And I promise—once the remains of what was Team JNPR figure out their plans for the future, I'll meet them on Patch. Jaune, Nora, and Ren deserve closure or connection or whatever we can build from the pieces of our former team. But I need time before I can face them as who I am now rather than trying to pretend I'm still who they remember.
Jaune: (his voice carrying from where he's been quietly listening to plans) Take whatever time you need, Skyra. We all need time to process what happened, what we lost, what remains. When you're ready to talk—to try building something new from what was destroyed—we'll be there. But forcing it before any of us are ready would dishonor both Pyrrha's sacrifice and your current existence.
Nora: (her voice uncharacteristically serious) We're not going to stop grieving Pyrrha just because you need us to accept Skyra. That's not how emotions work. But we're also not going to treat you like a stranger just because you're not exactly our teammate anymore. We'll figure it out. Eventually. Probably. Maybe.
Ren: (his philosophical nature providing framework) Relationships evolve, Skyra. The connection Team JNPR had died when Pyrrha chose fusion. What comes next is something new—something that honors what was while accepting what is. That transformation takes time we shouldn't rush.
Skyra: (her crimson-auburn hair shifting as emotional atmospheric patterns respond to the team's acceptance) Then I'll give us all that time. And when we meet again on Patch—when you've processed your grief and I've figured out my identity—we'll see what new connection can be built from the fragments of our former team.
The Final Preparations
As individual plans solidify, the group begins practical preparations for their various journeys. Maps are marked, communication protocols established, emergency extraction procedures discussed. The room buzzes with activity that channels grief and exhaustion into purposeful action.
Ruby: (her storm dragon abilities creating organizational patterns through atmospheric manipulation) So we all know where we're going, who we're traveling with, what our immediate objectives are. But we should establish regular communication schedules so everyone knows everyone else is safe.
Weiss: (her aristocratic training providing administrative structure) Weekly check-ins through secure Alliance channels. Brief status updates—location, immediate situation, any threats requiring backup. Nothing so detailed that intercepted communications would compromise operations, but enough that we know who needs help.
Blake: (her tactical mind adding security protocols) And emergency codes in case someone's captured or compromised. If communications suddenly stop or include specific phrases, we know to mobilize rescue operations rather than assuming simple communication failure.
Yang: (her remaining hand working through communication scheduling despite her injury) I'll coordinate from Patch along with Ruby. Between her storm abilities and my flame dragon senses, we can create communication network that supplements technological systems with supernatural awareness.
Max: (his voice carrying both pride in Yang's adaptation and concern about her pushing too hard) Only if it doesn't interfere with your recovery, Yang. You're not sacrificing physical therapy time to maintain communication networks because you feel guilty about being injured.
Yang: (her expression carrying determination) I'm not sacrificing anything, Max. I'm contributing what I can while recovering. There's a difference between pushing too hard and refusing to be useless while I heal.
Koga: (his Poison Balrog wisdom providing perspective) And honestly, having Yang coordinate communications while recovering gives her purpose beyond physical therapy. Feeling useful matters almost as much as actual healing when dealing with traumatic injuries.
Kazuma: (his Black Reaper Dragon presence radiating tactical certainty) Weiss and I will establish Atlas intelligence hub once we're settled. Father may control SDC resources, but he doesn't control our access to Alliance networks. We can funnel information from Atlas military and business sources that other teams wouldn't be able to access.
Shoryu: (his frost abilities creating comfortable patterns as he finalizes Menagerie plans) Blake and I will focus on White Fang intelligence. Sun and Hon'oh can provide backup while gathering broader faunus community information. Between the four of us, we should have comprehensive picture of how Adam's defeat is affecting extremist recruitment.
Toshiro: (his Steel Dragon abilities creating metallic markers on maps showing Cinder's suspected routes) Gweynne, Tadashi, Kagura, and I will track Cinder's movements while gathering intelligence about Mistral's criminal networks. If Salem's planning next operation from there, we'll identify preparation patterns before she's ready to strike.
Yukikaze: (her Thunder Dragon abilities creating final electrical patterns as she and Mercury prepare to disappear) Mercury and I will maintain minimal communication while in hiding. Emergency protocols only unless his intelligence provides information too critical to delay. Our survival depends on Salem's people not finding us before his knowledge becomes obsolete.
Mist: (her Crimson Dragon presence radiating nervous excitement about meeting Cardin's family) Cardin and I will... try not to cause too much chaos introducing dragon family member to traditional human parents who probably aren't ready for their son's girlfriend to casually mention fighting existential threats across multiple dimensions.
Cardin: (his voice carrying affectionate exasperation) We'll focus on Vale recovery operations and avoid mentioning the dimensional warfare until my parents have processed that I'm dating a dragon princess who could level cities if she wanted to. Baby steps toward cosmic awareness.
Emeryll: (her Dawn's Aura creating final organizational patterns throughout the room) Alliance intelligence networks will monitor all your operations. If any team encounters threats beyond their capacity to handle, backup will arrive before the situation becomes fatal. You're all too valuable to lose because of pride or poor tactical assessment.
Derek: (his patriarchal authority providing final blessing to their plans) Then we disperse to our various objectives. Remember that temporary separation serves strategic purpose—we're not fracturing, we're distributing assets across multiple fronts. When circumstances require unified response, we'll reunite with intelligence and preparation that isolation couldn't provide.
Katsura: (her ancient wisdom delivering final guidance) Honor those who died or were transformed during Beacon's fall by ensuring their sacrifices lead to Salem's eventual defeat. Every piece of intelligence gathered, every agent tracked, every relationship maintained despite distance—all of it contributes to victory that makes today's terrible costs worthwhile.
Skyra: (her Storm Balrog Empress aura creating atmospheric patterns that carry both hope and grief) Then we move forward. Not forgetting what we lost, but building from what remains. Pyrrha and Skye sacrificed their individual existences to protect everyone here. We honor that sacrifice by becoming strong enough that future battles require less devastating prices.
The Dispersal Begins
Over the following days, the various groups begin their journeys to different corners of Remnant. Goodbyes are said with uncertainty about when reunions will occur. Promises are made about maintaining contact despite distance. And everyone carries the weight of knowing that their separation serves strategic purpose even as it creates emotional difficulty.
Max and Yang depart for Patch, Yang's missing arm a visible reminder of what the assault cost even as Max's supportive presence promises she won't face recovery alone.
Koga and Ruby travel alongside them, Ruby's storm dragon abilities creating atmospheric patterns that reflect both grief for Penny and determination to master powers that might prevent future tragedies.
Kazuma and Weiss prepare for Atlas, knowing they face social manipulation and family politics that require different courage than facing battlefield enemies.
Shoryu and Blake head toward Menagerie with Sun and Hon'oh as backup, all four preparing to face Blake's parents and investigate White Fang's compromised organization.
Toshiro and Gweynne depart with Tadashi and Kagura to track Cinder's trail to Mistral, their combined abilities providing coordination that exceeds what either couple could accomplish alone.
Yukikaze and Mercury disappear into Alliance safe houses, their departure unmarked because their survival depends on Salem's forces not knowing where to find them.
Mist and Cardin travel to the Winchester family home, both nervous and excited about introducing dragon princess to traditional human parents.
Neptune, Scarlet, and Sage prepare for return to Mistral, Neptune maintaining communication with Emeryll despite temporary separation.
Skyra remains with Derek and Katsura, finding family support while processing her transformation from two individuals into something unprecedented.
As Beacon Academy sits in ruins behind them, each group carries hope that their dispersal serves purpose beyond simple survival. That the intelligence they gather, the relationships they maintain, the preparation they make during separation will lead to reunion strong enough to face whatever Salem throws at them next.
The Fall of Beacon is over. The true war has scattered them across Remnant. But they remain connected through communication networks, shared purpose, and determination that their friends' sacrifices will not be in vain.
Every couple, every partnership, every friendship carries weight of knowing that reunion depends on survival—and survival requires facing dangers that would terrify normal humans.
But they're not normal anymore. They're Dragon Princesses, bonded mates, Alliance members, and humans who've chosen to stand against existential darkness despite knowing the costs.
And that choice, made again and again despite fear and grief, is what will ultimately determine whether Salem's conspiracy succeeds or whether the Dawn's Alliance's protection proves strong enough to preserve the world they love.
To be continued in Chapter 26: Aftermath & Paths Forward