26 The last warning

Cinder was climbing atop the CCT sneakily, sure that nobody saw her. Quickly, she knocked out the guards in the CCT room and strode up to the console. Though she quickly learned she wasn't alone when she heard whistling above her.

Sitting on a window ledge, overlooking the room sat Neo, in her white haired and masked Proxy form. She had her legs folded and was casually looking down at Cinder.

"You.." Cinder venomously spat out.

"Me!" Neo spread her arms apart with a smirk.

"You're persistent.." Cinder created glass shards and launched them but Neo's body flickered with lightning and all of them were shattered.

"You're so trigger happy. I'm not going to fight you yet, Cinderella" Neo swung her leg back and forth as she watched Cinder.

"What do you want then!?" Cinder yelled in a subdued tone and glared at the woman.

"To save you, if it's still possible. You disregarded my first warning. This will be my last one. I realize you've had a tough life. Abused as a child and raised by a monster who uses you as a tool. She helped twist you into the power hungry young woman I see right now. I sympathize with you, really I do. But do you even know why you want power?" Neo sat cross legged and asked.

"So nobody can stand in my way anymore. What does it matter to you!?" Cinder bit back venomously.

"If I can turn away someone whose been through as much as you, it might ease my conscience. Though I do sympathize with what you were put through, it does not excuse what you'll do. Who you'll kill just for the sake of power. There are those that suffered like you too. One was abandoned by her Birth mother, then the Mother she grew up with died. Father was depressed so she had to take care of her sister for much of her childhood. Two orphans, who lost their parents and their village in a Grimm attack. They grew up alone. They chose a better path. You still can" Neo looked at her seriously now.

"How do you know this? And you judge me!? This world OWES me! I'll never be spited, lose or be powerless ever again.. Get out of my way.." Cinder prepared herself to attack.

"You can still be happy. You can still live. What you want power for? You just never want to be hurt again" Neo hopped down and faced her as Cinder grit her teeth and tightened her grip on her blades.

"Shut up.. I don't need your pity or your 'chances'!" Cinder attacked, locking blades with Neo, who pulled out Rivers of Blood and started a deadly fight.

Cinder launched superheated glass shards but her opponent effortlessly bounced off the walls using the lightning around her body. She aimed her fingers at her and hit Cinder with a lightning bolt that threw her out of the room violently. It was far to fast for even speed oriented huntsmen to dodge. Cinder's aura took the shot, though she slid across the ground outside.

"Kuh.. so easy to judge me when you have that strong power for yourself! You've never had to do anything for that power, have you? You 'heroes' are all the same.." Cinder formed her bow and aimed at Neo, who stood in front of the CCT door.

"I've killed about five people to get this power actually. Given, they were pieces of human garbage who treated the world they were in like an all you can fuck buffet. I won't deny I'm hypocritical. But you'll kill those undeserving for some flashy Maiden abilities because Salem's twisted your desire not to be hurt and abused anymore into a lust for power. Think about what you intend to do. What injustices you suffered, you intend to inflict on other people now.. You're no better than the ones who hurt you!" Neo yelled in frustration as Cinder screamed in anger and fired glass arrows at her repeatedly.

Neo flipped back and slapped the ground, making pillars of lightning strike down in a row. All the arrows shatter and she sees Cinder spring off the ground and swing at her relentlessly. Neo, parries every single one, using her enhanced speed to move and step into Cinder's personal space before she grabs her infiltration suit in the middle and judo throws her into the cold floor heavily. Cinder's aura flickers but she finds herself being lifted and stares into Neo's colorful eyes.

"You idiot.. You goddamned idiot. I'm trying to save you. Sure, I've enjoyed messing with you this whole time but I've avoiding trying to kill you. Because you can still turn back. You, Emerald and Mercury. You'll only find pain should you continue on like this. So why? It's not worth it" Neo's eyes narrowed on Cinder's now slightly unsettled expression.

"Hey, what's going on out there!?" They both heard from one of Ironwood's guards nearby.

"This was your last warning, Cinderella. Don't make me kill you" Neo moved away as Cinder took a swing at her and leapt off the roof, escaping in a hurry before Neo too, took a dive off the roof.

In the end, the guards had no idea what had happened. Ironwood thoroughly checked the CCT but nothing seemed wrong.

-Dancefloor-

Neo finally returned, much to the crowd's happiness. A disguised Neopolitan strutted over and grabbed her butt, earning her a knowing smile from Neo.

"Finally back? Come on! You gotta do the next!" Nora literally started dragging her back up stage.

"Damn.. okay, okay!" Neo complained as Nora set her down on stage, fixed her dress, gave her a breath spray and pat the DJ on the back.

"Give us a banger, girl!" Who she could probably guess was Yang said before clearing her throat.

"Yeah I saved the original song from here for last" Neo muttered and signaled the DJ, who started the song with yet another guitar opening.

"They see you as small and helpless, they see you as just a child

Surprise when they find out that a warrior will soon wild!

Prepare for your greatest moment, prepare for your finest hour

The dream that you've always dreamed is suddenly about to flower

We.. are.. lightning.. straying from the thunder, miracles of ancient wonder!

This will be the day we've waited for

This will be the day we opened up the door"

Neo decided to give it a hundred and ten percent as the crowd got more and more excited for it. Ruby was actually doing air guitars as she heard it. Blake was recording it both on her scroll and in the chat. Weiss looked like a proud Mother and Yang was cheering with Nora. Ren was actually tapping his foot (his version of dancing) and Pyrrha was staring.

"That's not bad.. I was never into music but I may change my mind" Raven took a sip of punch and watched Neo perform while licking her lips.

Neopolitan gave her the 'Sullivan' gesture Neo taught her and nodded while checking her legs out.

Of course, the song wouldn't go on for very long. Neo quickly approached the end and looked at her friends.

"In time, your heart will open minds

A story will be told

Victory is in a simple soul!!"

Followed by a last guitar riff and the crowd cheering loudly. Neo took a breath and sighed in contentment but also relief.

~Thank god I'm done.. It was actually more stressful than dealing with Cinder~ Neo walked over to their group as the party goers congratulated her.

"Good one! When's the next performance?" Yang put her arm around Neo's shoulder.

"Oho.. never? That shit is stressful" Neo groaned.

"But you were so good! You sing in the shower anyways" Nora picked her up from behind.

"You listen to me sing dumbass songs I remember..?" Neo shivered.

"Yes! The ones about 'Jizz in my pants', the 'Yo my dad' song.. kinda gross by the way? Then the 'dark cristaaaal' song! I like that one.. Hm? Ladykiller Leader?" Nora made Neo collapse in embarrassment, like a puppet with her strings cut.

"You weren't... supposed to hear that..." Neo shivered and Yang's grin grew.

"How do those songs go, Nora?" Yang asked with excitement.

"Oh! One went 'I like big BUTTS and I cannot lie!' it was catchy!" Nora started to rock her head to the memory.

~Oh right.. I started to do butt workouts after that~ Pyrrha cupped her chin and saw Neo hold her face in embarrassment. Not due to her profession of liking butts but her songs being exposed.

~That reminds me.. I miss my phone where I had all my songs. Can I buy that in the shop? I'll check later~ Neo got back up and saw everyone but Ren and Raven grabbing their own asses.

"Mind telling me what you're doing..?" Neo confusingly asked.

"Oh we're trying to see who has the biggest and roundest-" Yang was quickly interrupted by Neo.

"First place is Raven. Second place is Blake Bellabooty and third place is Yang. You got thick MILF genes within you, be proud" Neo pat Yang's shoulder as everyone looked at her awkwardly.

"What about me!?" Nora waved her hand up.

"Fourth. Tied with Pyrrha. I like more than the butt, by the way. Big, small, medium.. I'm not picky or a fetishist" Neo rolled her head.

"But you like my body best, right?" Raven pulled Neo into herself by the shoulder.

"I can classify all of the types here.. I told you, I'm not picky. Raven here is a thicc mature MILF. Yang is fit-thicc. Pyrrha is fit-medium. Nora is bottom-thicc. Blake is slim-thicc. Ruby is petite. Weiss is slender-petite. Oh, bonus here. Ren is slim-fit" Neo gave a look to Nora, who suddenly gets embarrassed.

"'Thicc'"? Are you calling us fa-" Yang got mad but Neo narrowed her eyes.

"NO! I, myself am petite-thicc. It just means you're developed" Neo shook her head.

"Slender petite.." Weiss groaned.

"It works for you, you're cute Weiss. You're all attractive just the way you are" Neo assured them, which seemed to cheer them up.

"Okay! How about we set up an afterparty in our dorms? We can play twister!" Ruby shouted out her idea.

"Sure. Mind if I bring my friend?" Neo asked and gestured to the still disguised Neopolitan, who walked over and glomped onto her back happily.

"Sure! The more the merrier!" Ruby pumped her arm as Yang grinned and ruffled her hair.

They spent the rest of their night playing board games and video games.

-The next day, Ozpin's office-

Ozpin was holding his head while listening to two of his old friends bicker about the attempted sabotage of the CCT. While he was in a far better mood since Neo was revealed to have the capability to kill Salem, he was still stressed about dealing with her agents sent to steal the Maiden powers and the Relic. He wanted to transfer over Amber's power to Neo as fast as he could but he wanted her to enjoy the dance as a regular teenager before he put the extreme weight of responsibility on her head. He was going to call her up today but Ironwood walked in, paranoid as always and informed him about the breach of the CCT, which he figured was Salem's agents' doing.

"Okay, let's calm down shall we? I believe the agent was unsuccessful in their sabotage. You did say you found nothing odd, yes James?" Ozpin asked.

"I didn't but still. They could try again. I think we need to send-" Ozpin interrupted him.

"Actually.. do you remember what Miss Jasmine said? Of her agents using your army against you? I believe she may be on to something. I have a different idea. I'll be calling her up soon to recieve Amber's half of the Maiden powers. We must make sure they do not get the full power. And.. it gives our best shot at defeating Salem a better chance" Ozpin sipped his coffee.

"She's our last hope. We'll make our move on Salem after fishing out her agents here in Vale. To this end, I'm sending team RWBY to check out Mount Glenn. I suspect something may be going on over there" Ozpin set his mug down and spoke as he looked at his scroll, where a picture of White Fang grunts were seen around the Mount Glenn area.

The sender was named 'Ligma Nutz' for some strange reason.