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* KickTheSonOfABitch: When the High Priest ends up cornered, [[spoiler: he begs for his life]] against Jaune. In response, Jaune rejects any pity he might've held for him and [[spoiler: invokes the ImMelting effect of his Semblance on the surrendered opponent]]. While an awful fate, the High Priest was a mass murderer and Jaune doesn't spare a second thought over it.
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* PayEvilUntoEvil: When the High Priest ends up cornered, [[spoiler: he begs for his life]] against Jaune. In response, Jaune rejects any pity he might've held for him and [[spoiler: invokes the ImMelting effect of his Semblance on the surrendered opponent]]. While an awful fate, the High Priest was a mass murderer and Jaune doesn't spare a second thought over it.
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* ForWantOfANail: Each chapter has one divergence from canon, which, while seemingly innocuous, has major effects.
** In the first chapter, Ruby figures out a way to beat Neo and Roman without seemingly killing Neo. Due to this, Roman and Neo survive, Ruby allies with them against Salem's forces, Team RWBY reunites early, and [[spoiler: Roman singlehandedly organizes the end of the White Fang and the deaths of Adam Taurus and Sienna Khan, giving way to Ironwood occupying Menagerie]].
** In the second chapter, Qrow arrives seconds too late to keep Ruby from getting poisoned by Tyrian. The end result is Ruby dying, Qrow killing Tyrian, and Team JNR deviating from their course entirely. On the villains' side, [[spoiler: Cinder kills Watts far earlier than in canon, before dying herself thanks to Jaune. Emerald becomes the Fall Maiden]].
** In the third chapter, something much less inconspicuous changes. Pyrrha Nikos refuses to become the Fall Maiden, and as such, [[spoiler: Jaune Arc ends up corrupted into a brutal Grimm hybrid, Salem fakes her death and continues plotting things out two years later, and the world is none the wiser to her being alive]].
** In the fourth chapter, [[spoiler: Rhodes saved Cinder from enslavement years ago and Cinder became a very skilled Huntress and one of Ozpin's inner circle, forcing Watts to work on his own and orchestrate the fall of Beacon, an attempt he fails at... unfortunately, Cinder's morally gray methods disillusion Ruby and it's implied Ruby may join Salem thanks to her. All this change happened because a Huntsman rescued one girl]].
** In the fifth chapter, [[spoiler:Mercury and Emerald somehow sabotage the system at the Festival, preventing Pyrrha and Penny from fighting each other. The result is the Battle of Beacon, while still occurring, becoming a complete failure, with Cinder being driven back, the Fall Maiden powers going to Pyrrha, the White Fang being almost disbanded, and Salem's group being exposed]].
** In the sixth chapter, Adam misses a shot and accidentally lets Ghira Belladonna die, causing him to see himself as a failure. The end result is an Adam who is no less vengeful, but slightly less evil and a ''lot'' more effective and clever. Among other things, rather than targeting all humans, he aims ''straight for the top'', deciding he will settle things with Jacques Schnee [[spoiler: ''and'' put himself on top, to boot]].
** In chapter eight, [[spoiler:Salem dies instead of Ozma, and he pisses off the Gods while trying to find a way to cure her. The result is him accidentally discovering the multiverse, the Gods cursing him with his reincarnation for a different purpose, and Ozma carving a bloody path through history as humanity's greatest enemy, only with no-one able to stop him]].
** In chapter one of ''Paths'', Glynda doesn't arrive to save Ruby during the Dust heist, so Roman saves her instead. The result is a Ruby who is far more capable and dark than in canon, [[spoiler:Roman dying several volumes early at Ruby's hand, Team RWBY breaking apart at the seams, and Ruby and Neo fleeing Cinder to go to Mistral]].
** In chapter two of ''Paths'', "What A Sweet Release," Neo makes the fateful decision to make a HeelFaceTurn and kill Cinder before she can travel alongside her. This results in the heroes having Neo on their side, and she even fights Adam-- [[spoiler: and twice proves vastly superior in combat]].
** In chapter three of ''Paths'', "Born Indicted," Sienna Khan is SparedByTheAdaptation by virtue of Hazel's intervention. As a result, she [[spoiler: pulls a gambit that trades her own life, and many others, for peace between Faunus and humans]].
** In chapter four of ''Paths'', "Small And Helpless," Salem discovers Ruby's Silver Eyes. The result is a brutal chapter in which Tyrian murders Ruby's father and hunts her to the ends of Remnant [[EvilIsPetty out of spite]].
** In the first chapter, Ruby figures out a way to beat Neo and Roman without seemingly killing Neo. Due to this, Roman and Neo survive, Ruby allies with them against Salem's forces, Team RWBY reunites early, and [[spoiler: Roman singlehandedly organizes the end of the White Fang and the deaths of Adam Taurus and Sienna Khan, giving way to Ironwood occupying Menagerie]].
** In the second chapter, Qrow arrives seconds too late to keep Ruby from getting poisoned by Tyrian. The end result is Ruby dying, Qrow killing Tyrian, and Team JNR deviating from their course entirely. On the villains' side, [[spoiler: Cinder kills Watts far earlier than in canon, before dying herself thanks to Jaune. Emerald becomes the Fall Maiden]].
** In the third chapter, something much less inconspicuous changes. Pyrrha Nikos refuses to become the Fall Maiden, and as such, [[spoiler: Jaune Arc ends up corrupted into a brutal Grimm hybrid, Salem fakes her death and continues plotting things out two years later, and the world is none the wiser to her being alive]].
** In the fourth chapter, [[spoiler: Rhodes saved Cinder from enslavement years ago and Cinder became a very skilled Huntress and one of Ozpin's inner circle, forcing Watts to work on his own and orchestrate the fall of Beacon, an attempt he fails at... unfortunately, Cinder's morally gray methods disillusion Ruby and it's implied Ruby may join Salem thanks to her. All this change happened because a Huntsman rescued one girl]].
** In the fifth chapter, [[spoiler:Mercury and Emerald somehow sabotage the system at the Festival, preventing Pyrrha and Penny from fighting each other. The result is the Battle of Beacon, while still occurring, becoming a complete failure, with Cinder being driven back, the Fall Maiden powers going to Pyrrha, the White Fang being almost disbanded, and Salem's group being exposed]].
** In the sixth chapter, Adam misses a shot and accidentally lets Ghira Belladonna die, causing him to see himself as a failure. The end result is an Adam who is no less vengeful, but slightly less evil and a ''lot'' more effective and clever. Among other things, rather than targeting all humans, he aims ''straight for the top'', deciding he will settle things with Jacques Schnee [[spoiler: ''and'' put himself on top, to boot]].
** In chapter eight, [[spoiler:Salem dies instead of Ozma, and he pisses off the Gods while trying to find a way to cure her. The result is him accidentally discovering the multiverse, the Gods cursing him with his reincarnation for a different purpose, and Ozma carving a bloody path through history as humanity's greatest enemy, only with no-one able to stop him]].
** In chapter one of ''Paths'', Glynda doesn't arrive to save Ruby during the Dust heist, so Roman saves her instead. The result is a Ruby who is far more capable and dark than in canon, [[spoiler:Roman dying several volumes early at Ruby's hand, Team RWBY breaking apart at the seams, and Ruby and Neo fleeing Cinder to go to Mistral]].
** In chapter two of ''Paths'', "What A Sweet Release," Neo makes the fateful decision to make a HeelFaceTurn and kill Cinder before she can travel alongside her. This results in the heroes having Neo on their side, and she even fights Adam-- [[spoiler: and twice proves vastly superior in combat]].
** In chapter three of ''Paths'', "Born Indicted," Sienna Khan is SparedByTheAdaptation by virtue of Hazel's intervention. As a result, she [[spoiler: pulls a gambit that trades her own life, and many others, for peace between Faunus and humans]].
** In chapter four of ''Paths'', "Small And Helpless," Salem discovers Ruby's Silver Eyes. The result is a brutal chapter in which Tyrian murders Ruby's father and hunts her to the ends of Remnant [[EvilIsPetty out of spite]].
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* PointOfDivergence: Each chapter has one divergence from canon, which, while seemingly innocuous, has major effects.
** In the first chapter, Ruby figures out a way to beat Neo and Roman without seemingly killing Neo. Due to this, Roman and Neo survive, Ruby allies with them against Salem's forces, Team RWBY reunites early, and [[spoiler: Roman singlehandedly organizes the end of the White Fang and the deaths of Adam Taurus and Sienna Khan, giving way to Ironwood occupying Menagerie]].
** In the second chapter, Qrow arrives seconds too late to keep Ruby from getting poisoned by Tyrian. The end result is Ruby dying, Qrow killing Tyrian, and Team JNR deviating from their course entirely. On the villains' side, [[spoiler: Cinder kills Watts far earlier than in canon, before dying herself thanks to Jaune. Emerald becomes the Fall Maiden]].
** In the third chapter, something much less inconspicuous changes. Pyrrha Nikos refuses to become the Fall Maiden, and as such, [[spoiler: Jaune Arc ends up corrupted into a brutal Grimm hybrid, Salem fakes her death and continues plotting things out two years later, and the world is none the wiser to her being alive]].
** In the fourth chapter, [[spoiler: Rhodes saved Cinder from enslavement years ago and Cinder became a very skilled Huntress and one of Ozpin's inner circle, forcing Watts to work on his own and orchestrate the fall of Beacon, an attempt he fails at... unfortunately, Cinder's morally gray methods disillusion Ruby and it's implied Ruby may join Salem thanks to her. All this change happened because a Huntsman rescued one girl]].
** In the fifth chapter, [[spoiler:Mercury and Emerald somehow sabotage the system at the Festival, preventing Pyrrha and Penny from fighting each other. The result is the Battle of Beacon, while still occurring, becoming a complete failure, with Cinder being driven back, the Fall Maiden powers going to Pyrrha, the White Fang being almost disbanded, and Salem's group being exposed]].
** In the sixth chapter, Adam misses a shot and accidentally lets Ghira Belladonna die, causing him to see himself as a failure. The end result is an Adam who is no less vengeful, but slightly less evil and a ''lot'' more effective and clever. Among other things, rather than targeting all humans, he aims ''straight for the top'', deciding he will settle things with Jacques Schnee [[spoiler: ''and'' put himself on top, to boot]].
** In chapter eight, [[spoiler:Salem dies instead of Ozma, and he pisses off the Gods while trying to find a way to cure her. The result is him accidentally discovering the multiverse, the Gods cursing him with his reincarnation for a different purpose, and Ozma carving a bloody path through history as humanity's greatest enemy, only with no-one able to stop him]].
** In chapter one of ''Paths'', Glynda doesn't arrive to save Ruby during the Dust heist, so Roman saves her instead. The result is a Ruby who is far more capable and dark than in canon, [[spoiler:Roman dying several volumes early at Ruby's hand, Team RWBY breaking apart at the seams, and Ruby and Neo fleeing Cinder to go to Mistral]].
** In chapter two of ''Paths'', "What A Sweet Release," Neo makes the fateful decision to make a HeelFaceTurn and kill Cinder before she can travel alongside her. This results in the heroes having Neo on their side, and she even fights Adam-- [[spoiler: and twice proves vastly superior in combat]].
** In chapter three of ''Paths'', "Born Indicted," Sienna Khan is SparedByTheAdaptation by virtue of Hazel's intervention. As a result, she [[spoiler: pulls a gambit that trades her own life, and many others, for peace between Faunus and humans]].
** In chapter four of ''Paths'', "Small And Helpless," Salem discovers Ruby's Silver Eyes. The result is a brutal chapter in which Tyrian murders Ruby's father and hunts her to the ends of Remnant [[EvilIsPetty out of spite]].
** In the first chapter, Ruby figures out a way to beat Neo and Roman without seemingly killing Neo. Due to this, Roman and Neo survive, Ruby allies with them against Salem's forces, Team RWBY reunites early, and [[spoiler: Roman singlehandedly organizes the end of the White Fang and the deaths of Adam Taurus and Sienna Khan, giving way to Ironwood occupying Menagerie]].
** In the second chapter, Qrow arrives seconds too late to keep Ruby from getting poisoned by Tyrian. The end result is Ruby dying, Qrow killing Tyrian, and Team JNR deviating from their course entirely. On the villains' side, [[spoiler: Cinder kills Watts far earlier than in canon, before dying herself thanks to Jaune. Emerald becomes the Fall Maiden]].
** In the third chapter, something much less inconspicuous changes. Pyrrha Nikos refuses to become the Fall Maiden, and as such, [[spoiler: Jaune Arc ends up corrupted into a brutal Grimm hybrid, Salem fakes her death and continues plotting things out two years later, and the world is none the wiser to her being alive]].
** In the fourth chapter, [[spoiler: Rhodes saved Cinder from enslavement years ago and Cinder became a very skilled Huntress and one of Ozpin's inner circle, forcing Watts to work on his own and orchestrate the fall of Beacon, an attempt he fails at... unfortunately, Cinder's morally gray methods disillusion Ruby and it's implied Ruby may join Salem thanks to her. All this change happened because a Huntsman rescued one girl]].
** In the fifth chapter, [[spoiler:Mercury and Emerald somehow sabotage the system at the Festival, preventing Pyrrha and Penny from fighting each other. The result is the Battle of Beacon, while still occurring, becoming a complete failure, with Cinder being driven back, the Fall Maiden powers going to Pyrrha, the White Fang being almost disbanded, and Salem's group being exposed]].
** In the sixth chapter, Adam misses a shot and accidentally lets Ghira Belladonna die, causing him to see himself as a failure. The end result is an Adam who is no less vengeful, but slightly less evil and a ''lot'' more effective and clever. Among other things, rather than targeting all humans, he aims ''straight for the top'', deciding he will settle things with Jacques Schnee [[spoiler: ''and'' put himself on top, to boot]].
** In chapter eight, [[spoiler:Salem dies instead of Ozma, and he pisses off the Gods while trying to find a way to cure her. The result is him accidentally discovering the multiverse, the Gods cursing him with his reincarnation for a different purpose, and Ozma carving a bloody path through history as humanity's greatest enemy, only with no-one able to stop him]].
** In chapter one of ''Paths'', Glynda doesn't arrive to save Ruby during the Dust heist, so Roman saves her instead. The result is a Ruby who is far more capable and dark than in canon, [[spoiler:Roman dying several volumes early at Ruby's hand, Team RWBY breaking apart at the seams, and Ruby and Neo fleeing Cinder to go to Mistral]].
** In chapter two of ''Paths'', "What A Sweet Release," Neo makes the fateful decision to make a HeelFaceTurn and kill Cinder before she can travel alongside her. This results in the heroes having Neo on their side, and she even fights Adam-- [[spoiler: and twice proves vastly superior in combat]].
** In chapter three of ''Paths'', "Born Indicted," Sienna Khan is SparedByTheAdaptation by virtue of Hazel's intervention. As a result, she [[spoiler: pulls a gambit that trades her own life, and many others, for peace between Faunus and humans]].
** In chapter four of ''Paths'', "Small And Helpless," Salem discovers Ruby's Silver Eyes. The result is a brutal chapter in which Tyrian murders Ruby's father and hunts her to the ends of Remnant [[EvilIsPetty out of spite]].
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* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The ending of "The Wolves and the Soulless" sees [[spoiler: Roman Torchwick win completely, leaving every party OutGambitted alongside killing the White Fang's leaders and letting James Ironwood annex Menagerie before parting with the heroes on AffablyEvil terms with the only solace being that the narration reminds readers that Mantle's destruction will see Roman get some long-overdue karma]]. This sets three tonal principles for ''Destinies'': Firstly, that [[TheBadGuyWins villains can earn huge victories]] and [[GrayAndGreyMorality morality isn't always clear-cut]]; secondly, that being TheChessmaster is the best way to survive in this version of Remnant; third and lastly, however, that [[BittersweetEnding even the darkest endings will have sweet elements]].
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* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The ending of "The Wolves and the Soulless" sees [[spoiler: Roman Torchwick win completely, leaving every party OutGambitted alongside killing the White Fang's leaders and letting James Ironwood annex Menagerie before parting with the heroes on AffablyEvil terms with the only solace being that the narration reminds readers that Mantle's destruction will see Roman get some long-overdue karma]]. This sets three tonal principles for ''Destinies'': Firstly, that [[TheBadGuyWins villains can earn huge victories]] and [[GrayAndGreyMorality morality isn't always clear-cut]]; secondly, that being TheChessmaster is the best way to survive in this version of Remnant; Remnant and AnyoneCanDie; third and lastly, however, that [[BittersweetEnding even the darkest endings will have sweet elements]].
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* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The ending of "The Wolves and the Soulless" sees [[spoiler: Roman Torchwick win completely, leaving every party OutGambitted alongside killing the White Fang's leaders and letting James Ironwood annex Menagerie before parting with the heroes on AffablyEvil terms with the only solace being that the narration reminds readers that Mantle's destruction will see Roman get some long-overdue karma]]. This sets three tonal principles for ''Destinies'': Firstly, that [[TheBadGuyWins villains can earn huge victories]] and [[GrayAndGreyMorality morality isn't always clear-cut]]; secondly, that being TheChessmaster is the best way to survive in this version of Remnant; third and lastly, however, that [[BittersweetEnding even the darkest endings will have sweet elements]].
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* AlasPoorVillain:
** Adam is a murderous monster; despite this, his [[spoiler: mutilation and eventual death]] are treated as a tragedy due to his increasing SanitySlippage and the fact that he seems to completely regress into a scared child [[spoiler: as he perishes]].
--> ''[[spoiler:Adam Taurus died as he had lived his entire life. Alone, agonized, and above all, afraid.]]''
** Subverted with Cinder herself, who upon realizing that she's not long for the world, [[spoiler: shows a last vestige of respect for Neo and tries to ask her if she believes in destiny... only to end up KilledMidSentence]].
** Adam is a murderous monster; despite this, his [[spoiler: mutilation and eventual death]] are treated as a tragedy due to his increasing SanitySlippage and the fact that he seems to completely regress into a scared child [[spoiler: as he perishes]].
--> ''[[spoiler:Adam Taurus died as he had lived his entire life. Alone, agonized, and above all, afraid.]]''
** Subverted with Cinder herself, who upon realizing that she's not long for the world, [[spoiler: shows a last vestige of respect for Neo and tries to ask her if she believes in destiny... only to end up KilledMidSentence]].
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** The third chapter sees Adam take on Yang and Neo; Yang activates her Semblance and manages to plow through Adam's defenses and maneuver around him excellently-- but she's stopped when one of her best-timed moves [[spoiler: accidentally rips his right arm off]].
to:
** The third chapter sees Adam take on Yang and Neo; Yang activates her Semblance and manages to plow through Adam's defenses and maneuver around him excellently-- but she's stopped when one of her best-timed moves [[spoiler: accidentally rips his right arm off]]. Later, Adam also [[spoiler: smashes off his own foot to escape Sienna]].
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* AssholeVictim: Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against anti-Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them apart.
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* AssholeVictim: AssholeVictim:
** Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against anti-Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips themapart.apart.
** The fates of [[spoiler: Arthur Watts and Tyrian Callows]] are both gruesome and painful, sadistic drawn-out deaths courtesy of Cinder; but the fact that the two are a SmugSnake and a {{Sadist}} respectfully means they come off as deserved.
** Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against anti-Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them
** The fates of [[spoiler: Arthur Watts and Tyrian Callows]] are both gruesome and painful, sadistic drawn-out deaths courtesy of Cinder; but the fact that the two are a SmugSnake and a {{Sadist}} respectfully means they come off as deserved.
* TheBadGuyWins: As one would expect from an EvilVsEvil story, one of said evil sides claims victory. [[spoiler: Ruby sweeps Cinder's force out of existence thanks to Sienna destroying Adam, Junior converting Malachite to their side, and Neo self-destructing to kill Cinder]]. Ruby then proceeds to organize her council as planned and [[spoiler: begin her effort to wage war on the world]].
* BeingEvilSucks: A recurring theme throughout the story is that characters who choose evil end up alone. Adam is a scared PsychopathicManchild and a ControlFreak who has nobody who truly loves him [[spoiler: and fittingly dies just as lonely and scared as one would expect]], Cinder personally lost the two people most loyal to her through never appreciating them, Ruby ends up without friends or loved ones when [[spoiler: Yang refuses to join her and Neo dies]], and even [[spoiler: Hazel]] is depressed and lost due to choosing the side of evil, which makes them easy to recruit to Ruby's cause.
* CardCarryingVillain: A [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] and ultimately [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] trope. Ruby and Cinder have no hesitation in declaring themselves to be villains for what they do, but being a self-proclaimed "villain" [[BeingEvilSucks is actually miserable]] and leaves them with nowhere to go when people who ''aren't'' willing to serve open, theatrical criminals come along, most notably [[spoiler: Yang, who will never work with Ruby]].
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** Ruby continues to play the role of a genius strategist, setting up an empire that she aims to use for much greater things than being a simple crime lord.
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** Ruby continues to play the role of a genius strategist, setting up an empire that she aims to use for much greater things than being a simple crime lord. Notably, thanks to her injuries, she ends up coordinating the final battle from afar-- and does just as good a job of it as she would've on the ground. That said, she's actually bad at chess in-universe.
** Sienna Khan proves to be this by the final chapter, having played [[spoiler: Adam]] right into her hands in her intention to finally undo her weakest link.
* DownerEnding: By the end of the story, [[spoiler: Ruby completely wins but is left alone by Neo's death and Yang's refusal to join her in a life of crime.]] Meanwhile, Mistral has been [[spoiler: left in shambles by Cinder's InternalReveal of the true nature of Salem and Ozpin's ForeverWar]]. Ozpin and Ironwood have agreed to [[spoiler: send Team JNPR after Ruby]] with lethal force authorized, and the only rays of hope are that Salem has lost her entire council thanks to [[spoiler: Cinder killing Tyrian and Watts alongside Ruby recruiting Hazel]].
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** Even as a crime lord, Ruby still genuinely cares about Yang, and also states that she sees Neo in a sisterly manner.
to:
** Even as a crime lord, Ruby still genuinely cares about Yang, and also states that she sees Neo in a sisterly manner. Even as the story plays out, her complicated feelings toward her mother are a recurring theme, and she ultimately declares Summer's mysterious death as being among the things she'd like to prevent with her new era.
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* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Cinder shows no hesitation in plunging her fist straight through Neo's chest. Thankfully, it's an illusion.
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* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Cinder shows no hesitation in plunging her fist straight through Neo's chest. Thankfully, it's an illusion. [[spoiler: The next time she plunges her fist through Neo's chest, it isn't an illusion]].
* InternalReveal: Cinder reveals to [[spoiler: all of Remnant]] that Salem exists and that she and their leaders are secretly engaged in a ForeverWar.
* InternalReveal: Cinder reveals to [[spoiler: all of Remnant]] that Salem exists and that she and their leaders are secretly engaged in a ForeverWar.
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** Surprisingly, Cinder herself proves this when she talks with Ruby for quite some time, only to be brutally efficient in taking her down and delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown toward her.
to:
** Surprisingly, Cinder herself proves this somewhat pragmatic when she talks with Ruby for quite some time, only to be brutally efficient in taking her down and delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown toward her.
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* TheReveal: Cinder's actual plan is to [[spoiler: use Ruby as bait to lure in Watts and Tyrian, as revenge for them having killed Emerald and Mercury]].
to:
** With nothing left to lose, Cinder shows no hesitation in openly [[spoiler: murdering Tyrian and Watts]], beginning an outright war in Mistral, and [[spoiler: revealing Salem and Ozpin's ForeverWar to the entirety of Remnant]].
*TheReveal: TheReveal:
** Cinder's actual plan is to [[spoiler: use Ruby as bait to lure in Watts and Tyrian, as revenge for them having killed Emerald andMercury]].Mercury]].
** Ruby's proper goal, beyond founding a crime empire, is to enter the ForeverWar between Salem and Ozpin as a third party and [[spoiler: ''[[TakeOverTheWorld win]]''.]]
*
** Cinder's actual plan is to [[spoiler: use Ruby as bait to lure in Watts and Tyrian, as revenge for them having killed Emerald and
** Ruby's proper goal, beyond founding a crime empire, is to enter the ForeverWar between Salem and Ozpin as a third party and [[spoiler: ''[[TakeOverTheWorld win]]''.]]
* UndyingLoyalty:
** Mercury and Emerald showed nothing but utter loyalty to Cinder no matter how she abused them, and Cinder is motivated by the two [[spoiler: dying for her]].
** Neo has an unbreaking, iron vow of loyalty to carry on Roman's legacy at his request, defending Ruby despite despising her for killing her best friend. Neo eventually [[spoiler: shows no compunction toward dying for her]].
** Mercury and Emerald showed nothing but utter loyalty to Cinder no matter how she abused them, and Cinder is motivated by the two [[spoiler: dying for her]].
** Neo has an unbreaking, iron vow of loyalty to carry on Roman's legacy at his request, defending Ruby despite despising her for killing her best friend. Neo eventually [[spoiler: shows no compunction toward dying for her]].
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* VillainousBreakdown: The first chapter opens with Adam in the throes of one, retreating from a seemingly invincible Blake. While said Blake is actually Neo's illusions, Adam uncharacteristically runs for his life like a coward.
to:
* VillainousBreakdown: VillainousBreakdown:
** The first chapter opens with Adam in the throes of one, retreating from a seemingly invincible Blake. While said Blake is actually Neo's illusions, Adam uncharacteristically runs for his life like acoward.coward.
** When Yang abandons Ruby for good, Ruby finally breaks down and just cries from sheer loneliness.
** The first chapter opens with Adam in the throes of one, retreating from a seemingly invincible Blake. While said Blake is actually Neo's illusions, Adam uncharacteristically runs for his life like a
** When Yang abandons Ruby for good, Ruby finally breaks down and just cries from sheer loneliness.
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* XanatosGambit: Cinder and Ruby [[GambitPileup pile them up]] as the story goes on.
** Cinder openly declares that her winning or losing is irrelevant to her goals; all she wants is to send Mistral spiraling into chaos and leave someone-- either herself or Ruby-- to [[spoiler: oppose Salem and Ozpin]] and to lead the world into its new era.
** Ruby and Neo's plans to deal with both Little Miss Malachite and Cinder are this-- for Malachite, she [[spoiler: pretends to have her daughters hostage]] but also has a Dust bomb laid out on [[spoiler: the envelope she delivers the staged photo in]] so that she can either force her to her side or kill her on the spot, and Neo and Ruby have agreed to [[spoiler: put a Gravity Dust self-destruct option on Neo's weapon so that, even if she loses, she can use her last moments to [[TakingYouWithMe bring Cinder with her]]]].
** Cinder openly declares that her winning or losing is irrelevant to her goals; all she wants is to send Mistral spiraling into chaos and leave someone-- either herself or Ruby-- to [[spoiler: oppose Salem and Ozpin]] and to lead the world into its new era.
** Ruby and Neo's plans to deal with both Little Miss Malachite and Cinder are this-- for Malachite, she [[spoiler: pretends to have her daughters hostage]] but also has a Dust bomb laid out on [[spoiler: the envelope she delivers the staged photo in]] so that she can either force her to her side or kill her on the spot, and Neo and Ruby have agreed to [[spoiler: put a Gravity Dust self-destruct option on Neo's weapon so that, even if she loses, she can use her last moments to [[TakingYouWithMe bring Cinder with her]]]].
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* AnArmAndALeg:
** The third chapter sees Adam take on Yang and Neo; Yang activates her Semblance and manages to plow through Adam's defenses and maneuver around him excellently-- but she's stopped when one of her best-timed moves [[spoiler: accidentally rips his right arm off]].
** The fight between Cinder and [[spoiler: Tyrian]] ends with Cinder willingly [[spoiler: giving up her hand]] to drive an arrow through her opponent's throat.
** The third chapter sees Adam take on Yang and Neo; Yang activates her Semblance and manages to plow through Adam's defenses and maneuver around him excellently-- but she's stopped when one of her best-timed moves [[spoiler: accidentally rips his right arm off]].
** The fight between Cinder and [[spoiler: Tyrian]] ends with Cinder willingly [[spoiler: giving up her hand]] to drive an arrow through her opponent's throat.
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* BatmanGambit: Cinder predicts Ruby's actions and plays her like a fiddle toward the end of the first chapter; namely, she figures out Ruby will send Neo to try and track the man Cinder sent to kill them, and that Ruby will interrupt a meeting between Malachite and Junior, allowing Cinder to take her on personally.
to:
* BatmanGambit: BadBoss:
** Cinder is this, unlike the BenevolentBoss that is Ruby. Cinder will sacrifice anyone and anything to achieve victory, including her own minions. [[spoiler: That said, she genuinely loved Mercury and Emerald and is actually seeking revenge for them]].
** Adam willingly guts one of his own men for a perceived insult, then coldly orders the other to clean it up.
* BatmanGambit:
** Cinder predicts Ruby's actions and plays her like a fiddle toward the end of the first chapter; namely, she figures out Ruby will send Neo to try and track the man Cinder sent to kill them, and that Ruby will interrupt a meeting between Malachite and Junior, allowing Cinder to take her onpersonally.personally.
** Cinder manages to predict [[spoiler: Watts']] actions with ease, knowing that he would try to [[spoiler: hack into the energy field she deployed]] and setting up safeguards against it that allow her to instantly bring down his best advantage.
** Cinder is this, unlike the BenevolentBoss that is Ruby. Cinder will sacrifice anyone and anything to achieve victory, including her own minions. [[spoiler: That said, she genuinely loved Mercury and Emerald and is actually seeking revenge for them]].
** Adam willingly guts one of his own men for a perceived insult, then coldly orders the other to clean it up.
* BatmanGambit:
** Cinder predicts Ruby's actions and plays her like a fiddle toward the end of the first chapter; namely, she figures out Ruby will send Neo to try and track the man Cinder sent to kill them, and that Ruby will interrupt a meeting between Malachite and Junior, allowing Cinder to take her on
** Cinder manages to predict [[spoiler: Watts']] actions with ease, knowing that he would try to [[spoiler: hack into the energy field she deployed]] and setting up safeguards against it that allow her to instantly bring down his best advantage.
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* BloodierAndGorier: Just as ''The Black Knight'' and "Small And Helpless" vied for being the goriest entry in ''Destinies'' as a series, ''Fallen Petals'' throws its own hat in the ring with Adam's gruesome MookHorrorShow against the anti-Faunus supremacists and the brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown that Cinder gives Ruby at the end of Chapter One.
to:
* BloodierAndGorier: Just as ''The Black Knight'' and "Small And Helpless" vied for being the goriest entry in ''Destinies'' as a series, ''Fallen Petals'' throws its own hat in the ring with Adam's gruesome MookHorrorShow against the anti-Faunus supremacists and the brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown that Cinder gives Ruby at the end of Chapter One. The later chapters continue this trend, notably featuring considerably more dismemberment than most of the stories in the franchise.
* TheChessmaster:
** Ruby continues to play the role of a genius strategist, setting up an empire that she aims to use for much greater things than being a simple crime lord.
** Cinder is just as much of a plotter as in canon, using Ruby as bait to [[spoiler: lure in Watts and Tyrian and kill them]], alongside planning her own revenge against Ruby and takeover of Mistral.
* TheChessmaster:
** Ruby continues to play the role of a genius strategist, setting up an empire that she aims to use for much greater things than being a simple crime lord.
** Cinder is just as much of a plotter as in canon, using Ruby as bait to [[spoiler: lure in Watts and Tyrian and kill them]], alongside planning her own revenge against Ruby and takeover of Mistral.
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** Salem's council implicitly turned against Cinder the moment they got a chance, judging by her hoarse voice and the mask across her eye.
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** Salem's council implicitly turned against Cinder the moment they got a chance, judging by her hoarse voice and the mask across her eye.eye. It's later revealed that her failure to keep Ruby from escaping was an excuse that Tyrian and Watts gleefully took to try and kill her, alongside [[spoiler: murdering Emerald and Mercury]].
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* DirtyCoward: DownplayedTrope with Adam. While he's not outright cowardly and actually proves to still be a capable warrior willing to fight dozens of people, Neo's illusion of Blake sends him running scared and leads Neo and Ruby to the White Fang's base in Mistral.
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* DirtyCoward: DownplayedTrope with Adam. While he's not outright cowardly and actually proves to still be a capable warrior willing to fight dozens of people, Neo's illusion of Blake sends him running scared and leads Neo and Ruby to the White Fang's base in Mistral. This continues to be a recurring theme, as Adam proves to utterly ''hate'' the idea that he's a coward-- when Lionheart rightly calls him out as a ControlFreak whose deepest fear is not being able to determine what others think of him, he nearly snaps and kills the headmaster right there.
* EnemyMine: The third chapter sees Neo, Yang, and Adam in a fight that includes constantly switching allegiances between enemies. First, Yang allies with Adam; then, when Adam proves to be a TeamKiller, Yang teams up with Neo against him. After the CurbStompBattle they give him, Yang activates her Semblance and forces Neo and Adam to team up, only for Adam to [[spoiler: betray ''Neo'' as well by leaving her on the ground instead of helping her up]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:
** Even as a crime lord, Ruby still genuinely cares about Yang, and also states that she sees Neo in a sisterly manner.
** Even the murderous Neo misses Roman deeply, and still holds something of a grudge against Ruby for killing him.
** Cinder, for all she's an evil schemer who abused everyone around her, [[spoiler: is legitimately saddened and horrified by Mercury and Emerald's deaths, and hopes to avenge them]].
* EnemyMine: The third chapter sees Neo, Yang, and Adam in a fight that includes constantly switching allegiances between enemies. First, Yang allies with Adam; then, when Adam proves to be a TeamKiller, Yang teams up with Neo against him. After the CurbStompBattle they give him, Yang activates her Semblance and forces Neo and Adam to team up, only for Adam to [[spoiler: betray ''Neo'' as well by leaving her on the ground instead of helping her up]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:
** Even as a crime lord, Ruby still genuinely cares about Yang, and also states that she sees Neo in a sisterly manner.
** Even the murderous Neo misses Roman deeply, and still holds something of a grudge against Ruby for killing him.
** Cinder, for all she's an evil schemer who abused everyone around her, [[spoiler: is legitimately saddened and horrified by Mercury and Emerald's deaths, and hopes to avenge them]].
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* EyeScream: Cinder wears a mask over her right eye, heavily implying that she's suffered damage to it.
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* EvilVersusEvil: Ruby Rose is a crime lord who has no hesitation working in drug smuggling and allying with terrorists. Cinder Fall is a former minion of Salem with no reluctance to hurt innocent people and bring kingdoms down. Their factions oppose each other, and Cinder also [[spoiler: works against the much more sadistic Tyrian and Watts, having lured them in deliberately for a chance to kill them]].
* EyeScream: Cinder wears a mask over her right eye, heavily implying that she's suffered damage to it. This is confirmed in later chapters; Tyrian and Watts ended up taking her eye in their attempt to kill her.
* EyeScream: Cinder wears a mask over her right eye, heavily implying that she's suffered damage to it. This is confirmed in later chapters; Tyrian and Watts ended up taking her eye in their attempt to kill her.
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* MythologyGag:
** Ruby is shown to be an expert at building and repairing things, a nod to the fact that the show establishes her as having built Crescent Rose herself.
** Cinder loses an eye and sustains an injury to her voice just like at the end of the third volume of the source material, only this time it's the opposite eye and [[spoiler: Tyrian and Watts were behind it rather than an unknowing Ruby]]. Similarly, she moves to Anima and seeks revenge-- just like what happened in the series, but under different circumstances.
** Yang and Adam's confrontation in the third chapter parallels their final fight, specifically having Yang catch one of his blows and deliver a deciding strike in response; [[spoiler: this time, however, ''Adam'' loses an arm, repaying him for what happened in "Heroes and Monsters" back in the series' third volume]].
** Ruby is shown to be an expert at building and repairing things, a nod to the fact that the show establishes her as having built Crescent Rose herself.
** Cinder loses an eye and sustains an injury to her voice just like at the end of the third volume of the source material, only this time it's the opposite eye and [[spoiler: Tyrian and Watts were behind it rather than an unknowing Ruby]]. Similarly, she moves to Anima and seeks revenge-- just like what happened in the series, but under different circumstances.
** Yang and Adam's confrontation in the third chapter parallels their final fight, specifically having Yang catch one of his blows and deliver a deciding strike in response; [[spoiler: this time, however, ''Adam'' loses an arm, repaying him for what happened in "Heroes and Monsters" back in the series' third volume]].
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* TheReveal: Cinder's actual plan is to [[spoiler: use Ruby as bait to lure in Watts and Tyrian, as revenge for them having killed Emerald and Mercury]].
* SanitySlippage: Adam is confirmed by his own narrative segments to be ''losing his mind'' as the story's events go on. He hallucinates himself in the mirror, is taunted and abused by said hallucination, and can barely keep his impulses in check. Even during fights, he starts ranting and raving.
* ShoutOut:
** In the second chapter, Ruby and Cinder have a conversation that spirals into a discussion about the uses of chaos; Cinder notes that she's used chaos to climb to the top of everywhere she's been and denies the notion that it's a pit, stopping just short of outright saying "[[Series/GameOfThrones Chaos is a ladder]]".
** Author's notes confirm that Cinder is playing Mozart's "Lacrimosa" on the piano in the third chapter.
* SanitySlippage: Adam is confirmed by his own narrative segments to be ''losing his mind'' as the story's events go on. He hallucinates himself in the mirror, is taunted and abused by said hallucination, and can barely keep his impulses in check. Even during fights, he starts ranting and raving.
* ShoutOut:
** In the second chapter, Ruby and Cinder have a conversation that spirals into a discussion about the uses of chaos; Cinder notes that she's used chaos to climb to the top of everywhere she's been and denies the notion that it's a pit, stopping just short of outright saying "[[Series/GameOfThrones Chaos is a ladder]]".
** Author's notes confirm that Cinder is playing Mozart's "Lacrimosa" on the piano in the third chapter.
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* WickedCultured: Cinder, an extremely devious criminal, plays the piano when she's alone. Author's notes confirm that she's playing Mozart's "Lacrimosa."
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* AssholeVictim: Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them apart.
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* AssholeVictim: Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against Faunus anti-Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them apart.
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In August 2023, a third spinoff, ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/49074820/chapters/123810691 Fallen Petals]]'', saw its first chapter published. The story continues from the events of "Even Brilliant Lights," centering Ruby's attempt to build a new life for herself and Neo in Mistral. Spoilers for its preceding chapter will go unmarked.
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[[folder: ''Fallen Petals'']]
* AssholeVictim: Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them apart.
* BatmanGambit: Cinder predicts Ruby's actions and plays her like a fiddle toward the end of the first chapter; namely, she figures out Ruby will send Neo to try and track the man Cinder sent to kill them, and that Ruby will interrupt a meeting between Malachite and Junior, allowing Cinder to take her on personally.
* BigDamnHeroes: At the end of the first chapter, Neo comes in to rescue Ruby and keep her from being killed by Cinder.
* BloodierAndGorier: Just as ''The Black Knight'' and "Small And Helpless" vied for being the goriest entry in ''Destinies'' as a series, ''Fallen Petals'' throws its own hat in the ring with Adam's gruesome MookHorrorShow against the anti-Faunus supremacists and the brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown that Cinder gives Ruby at the end of Chapter One.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder:
** Cinder is treacherous, as always; she worked for Raven for months to recoup her power base, only to poison her and take control of the Branwen clan herself.
** Salem's council implicitly turned against Cinder the moment they got a chance, judging by her hoarse voice and the mask across her eye.
* CurbStompBattle: At the end of the first chapter, Cinder delivers an absolutely vicious NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to Ruby, culminating in her slamming Ruby through a wall and into another building entirely before stabbing her multiple times.
* CurbStompCushion: Compared to Ruby, Neo fares better against Cinder and eventually escapes with Ruby in tow at the end of the first chapter.
* DirtyCoward: DownplayedTrope with Adam. While he's not outright cowardly and actually proves to still be a capable warrior willing to fight dozens of people, Neo's illusion of Blake sends him running scared and leads Neo and Ruby to the White Fang's base in Mistral.
* EvilCounterpart: Cinder is more like Ruby than ever-- both of them have been reduced to hiding in Mistral and trying to form a criminal empire, both of them are vicious criminals, and both of them wear red outfits. To boot, Cinder even compares their backstories of AbusiveParents and ParentalAbandonment respectively.
* EyeScream: Cinder wears a mask over her right eye, heavily implying that she's suffered damage to it.
* FirstEpisodeTwist: Cinder is in Mistral and delivers a brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to Ruby, and Yang is coming to bring her sister home.
* GoneHorriblyRight:
** One supremacist attempts to use a chainsaw against Adam. Unfortunately for him, the constant pressure against Wilt helps charge Adam's Semblance directly.
** Ruby dispatches Neo to track the man Cinder hires to try and murder them back to the source; unfortunately, Cinder counted on exactly this to get Ruby without Neo.
** Ruby walks in on a meeting between Little Miss Malachite and Junior Xiong, using RefugeInAudacity to try and get their attention. Unfortunately, it quickly turns out that Malachite has been working for Cinder for a while and the entire thing was set up to lure Ruby in.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Cinder shows no hesitation in plunging her fist straight through Neo's chest. Thankfully, it's an illusion.
* MookHorrorShow: Adam absolutely shreds a bunker of anti-Faunus supremacists in Mistral, chopping them to pieces and massacring their numbers before brutally putting down every retreating supremacist as well.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Cinder absolutely ''demolishes'' Ruby at the end of the first chapter, beating her nearly to death, [[WreckedWeapon breaking Crescent Rose]], and then stabbing her in the abdomen several times. Ruby can't do anything but struggle.
* PragmaticVillainy:
** Sienna accepts Ruby's offer of alliance, recognizing that Ruby won't betray her and arguing that it's convenient for both of them.
** Ruby doesn't want to rule Mistral herself. Rather, she wants "a seat at the table," her own voice on proceedings. She's more than willing to divide power between the criminals of Mistral.
** Surprisingly, Cinder herself proves this when she talks with Ruby for quite some time, only to be brutally efficient in taking her down and delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown toward her.
* RefugeInAudacity:
** Ruby enters the White Fang's headquarters through a TrickAndFollowPloy, and sits on Sienna's throne before asking an alliance with Sienna, who notoriously distrusts humans. This works, as Sienna is impressed by her audacity and honesty.
** Ruby not only interrupts a meeting between Malachite and Junior by pulling up a chair to join, but even kicks her feet up onto the table. When she talks to her, Cinder similarly kicks her feet up.
* TimeSkip: ''Fallen Petals'' takes place three years after "Even Brilliant Lights," with Ruby having finally gotten the resources and plans to build her empire in Mistral.
* TrickAndFollowPloy: Neo creates illusions of Blake, frightening Adam into returning to the White Fang headquarters and leading Ruby and Neo right into the throne room.
* VillainProtagonist: Ruby is a criminal mastermind now, but she still serves as the protagonist in her journey to try and forge an empire in Mistral's world of crime and subterfuge.
* VillainousBreakdown: The first chapter opens with Adam in the throes of one, retreating from a seemingly invincible Blake. While said Blake is actually Neo's illusions, Adam uncharacteristically runs for his life like a coward.
* AssholeVictim: Anyone subject to quite the MookHorrorShow Adam delivers would be sympathetic, except for the fact he's going up against Faunus supremacists in the first chapter. Adam even internally notes his delight in feeling no guilt as he cuts loose and rips them apart.
* BatmanGambit: Cinder predicts Ruby's actions and plays her like a fiddle toward the end of the first chapter; namely, she figures out Ruby will send Neo to try and track the man Cinder sent to kill them, and that Ruby will interrupt a meeting between Malachite and Junior, allowing Cinder to take her on personally.
* BigDamnHeroes: At the end of the first chapter, Neo comes in to rescue Ruby and keep her from being killed by Cinder.
* BloodierAndGorier: Just as ''The Black Knight'' and "Small And Helpless" vied for being the goriest entry in ''Destinies'' as a series, ''Fallen Petals'' throws its own hat in the ring with Adam's gruesome MookHorrorShow against the anti-Faunus supremacists and the brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown that Cinder gives Ruby at the end of Chapter One.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder:
** Cinder is treacherous, as always; she worked for Raven for months to recoup her power base, only to poison her and take control of the Branwen clan herself.
** Salem's council implicitly turned against Cinder the moment they got a chance, judging by her hoarse voice and the mask across her eye.
* CurbStompBattle: At the end of the first chapter, Cinder delivers an absolutely vicious NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to Ruby, culminating in her slamming Ruby through a wall and into another building entirely before stabbing her multiple times.
* CurbStompCushion: Compared to Ruby, Neo fares better against Cinder and eventually escapes with Ruby in tow at the end of the first chapter.
* DirtyCoward: DownplayedTrope with Adam. While he's not outright cowardly and actually proves to still be a capable warrior willing to fight dozens of people, Neo's illusion of Blake sends him running scared and leads Neo and Ruby to the White Fang's base in Mistral.
* EvilCounterpart: Cinder is more like Ruby than ever-- both of them have been reduced to hiding in Mistral and trying to form a criminal empire, both of them are vicious criminals, and both of them wear red outfits. To boot, Cinder even compares their backstories of AbusiveParents and ParentalAbandonment respectively.
* EyeScream: Cinder wears a mask over her right eye, heavily implying that she's suffered damage to it.
* FirstEpisodeTwist: Cinder is in Mistral and delivers a brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown to Ruby, and Yang is coming to bring her sister home.
* GoneHorriblyRight:
** One supremacist attempts to use a chainsaw against Adam. Unfortunately for him, the constant pressure against Wilt helps charge Adam's Semblance directly.
** Ruby dispatches Neo to track the man Cinder hires to try and murder them back to the source; unfortunately, Cinder counted on exactly this to get Ruby without Neo.
** Ruby walks in on a meeting between Little Miss Malachite and Junior Xiong, using RefugeInAudacity to try and get their attention. Unfortunately, it quickly turns out that Malachite has been working for Cinder for a while and the entire thing was set up to lure Ruby in.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Cinder shows no hesitation in plunging her fist straight through Neo's chest. Thankfully, it's an illusion.
* MookHorrorShow: Adam absolutely shreds a bunker of anti-Faunus supremacists in Mistral, chopping them to pieces and massacring their numbers before brutally putting down every retreating supremacist as well.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Cinder absolutely ''demolishes'' Ruby at the end of the first chapter, beating her nearly to death, [[WreckedWeapon breaking Crescent Rose]], and then stabbing her in the abdomen several times. Ruby can't do anything but struggle.
* PragmaticVillainy:
** Sienna accepts Ruby's offer of alliance, recognizing that Ruby won't betray her and arguing that it's convenient for both of them.
** Ruby doesn't want to rule Mistral herself. Rather, she wants "a seat at the table," her own voice on proceedings. She's more than willing to divide power between the criminals of Mistral.
** Surprisingly, Cinder herself proves this when she talks with Ruby for quite some time, only to be brutally efficient in taking her down and delivering a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown toward her.
* RefugeInAudacity:
** Ruby enters the White Fang's headquarters through a TrickAndFollowPloy, and sits on Sienna's throne before asking an alliance with Sienna, who notoriously distrusts humans. This works, as Sienna is impressed by her audacity and honesty.
** Ruby not only interrupts a meeting between Malachite and Junior by pulling up a chair to join, but even kicks her feet up onto the table. When she talks to her, Cinder similarly kicks her feet up.
* TimeSkip: ''Fallen Petals'' takes place three years after "Even Brilliant Lights," with Ruby having finally gotten the resources and plans to build her empire in Mistral.
* TrickAndFollowPloy: Neo creates illusions of Blake, frightening Adam into returning to the White Fang headquarters and leading Ruby and Neo right into the throne room.
* VillainProtagonist: Ruby is a criminal mastermind now, but she still serves as the protagonist in her journey to try and forge an empire in Mistral's world of crime and subterfuge.
* VillainousBreakdown: The first chapter opens with Adam in the throes of one, retreating from a seemingly invincible Blake. While said Blake is actually Neo's illusions, Adam uncharacteristically runs for his life like a coward.
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* SavedByCanon: Jaune is obviously going to survive to confront Pyrrha in "I'm Not Your Sacrifice", the only question is how, especially when his Aura is gone in the first chapters yet is present in the original story.
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* SavedByCanon: Jaune is obviously going to survive to confront Pyrrha in "I'm Not Your Sacrifice", the only question is how, especially when his Aura is gone in the first chapters yet is present in the original story. Additionally, since that story ended with the revelation that Salem is still alive, she's not going anywhere either.
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* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: "Small and Helpless" has Tyrian Callows stalking a young Ruby Rose, trying to hunt her down for his own interests, and ''pinning her to a wall and pinching her cheek'' once he catches her, later even stating his intent to "devour" her. While he just wants to kill her, his interactions with Ruby have something of a predatory undertone.
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** In "Small and Helpless," Taiyang only dies after giving Tyrian the fight of his life, then getting back up from ''impalement'' to save his daughter, a PapaWolf to his last breath.
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* ImAHumanitarian: "Small and Helpless" gives Tyrian multiple lines alluding to possibly being a cannibal. Notably, he also compares himself to a dragon when fighting Ruby and states his intention to "devour" her.
--> ''Now, Humans, they squeal like pigs, but they’re so much more satisfying. So much more tender, and the way they run is so much more natural, you know? The hunt. The thrill of the chase. Not necessary, but akin to appetizers on a wondrous meal. Granted, pigs make better meals than men, but...''
--> ''Now, Humans, they squeal like pigs, but they’re so much more satisfying. So much more tender, and the way they run is so much more natural, you know? The hunt. The thrill of the chase. Not necessary, but akin to appetizers on a wondrous meal. Granted, pigs make better meals than men, but...''
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* {{Sadist}}: The defining trait of one Tyrian Callows. He ''could'' achieve his goals efficiently and simply, but in none of the stories is he depicted as anything but a soulless murderer who takes absolute pleasure in causing others discomfort and pain, only opting for quick kills when it's necessary to get to his real goal.
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* BeyondTheImpossible: In their final fight, [[spoiler: Winter and Adam reignite their Auras and go for one last clash, crashing through floors and brutalizing their surroundings while blazing with supercharged Auras despite the fact ''none of it'' should be possible]].
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* {{Determinator}}: Both parties in the final duel are this. [[spoiler: Adam and Winter]] both manage to [[spoiler: reignite their Auras and go another round, even more powerful than before]], on ''sheer willpower''.
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* TookALevelInBadass:
** Sienna goes from a deceived victim to Adam's right hand, who's not incapable of scheming herself.
** Adam himself is explicitly shown as [[spoiler: capable of fighting toe-to-toe with ''Winter'']]. While he was explicitly stated to be a capable fighter beforehand, [[spoiler: Winter notes that he's gotten stronger, likely due to consistent training with an equal combatant like Sienna]].
** Sienna goes from a deceived victim to Adam's right hand, who's not incapable of scheming herself.
** Adam himself is explicitly shown as [[spoiler: capable of fighting toe-to-toe with ''Winter'']]. While he was explicitly stated to be a capable fighter beforehand, [[spoiler: Winter notes that he's gotten stronger, likely due to consistent training with an equal combatant like Sienna]].
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* AffablyEvil: This is what Adam has more-or-less ascended to as of this story. After "This World Will Have No Peace" characterized him as clever and ruthless, he spends most of this one surprisingly polite and mostly interested in challenging himself to improve his own skills [[spoiler: and stave off his increasing anger at the world and desire to hurt people, which is starting to resurface]].
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* ShutUpHannibal:
** In "This World Will Have No Peace," Adam responds to Jacques' ranting with four simple words and one simple action: [[spoiler: Using Moonslice to brand the bastard like he himself had been branded]].
--> '''Adam''': ''There. [[spoiler: Now we match.]]''
** In "What A Sweet Release," Adam is going on an infuriated speech about how humanity hurt him, once again trying to draw pity. Oscar, who he's taken hostage, has ''none of it'' and, while showing sympathy for his pain, rebukes him.
--> '''Oscar''': ''I don't blame you for being damaged, but you were the one who decided you weren't worth fixing!''
** In "Small and Helpless," when Tyrian is giving one of his dramatic monologues about how viciously he's going to kill Ruby, comparing them to a fairy tale, Ruby [[spoiler: activates her Semblance and begins to attack him, before finally declaring "You're the big bad wolf? I'm a huntress." She then decapitates him, finally ending his danger]].
** In "This World Will Have No Peace," Adam responds to Jacques' ranting with four simple words and one simple action: [[spoiler: Using Moonslice to brand the bastard like he himself had been branded]].
--> '''Adam''': ''There. [[spoiler: Now we match.]]''
** In "What A Sweet Release," Adam is going on an infuriated speech about how humanity hurt him, once again trying to draw pity. Oscar, who he's taken hostage, has ''none of it'' and, while showing sympathy for his pain, rebukes him.
--> '''Oscar''': ''I don't blame you for being damaged, but you were the one who decided you weren't worth fixing!''
** In "Small and Helpless," when Tyrian is giving one of his dramatic monologues about how viciously he's going to kill Ruby, comparing them to a fairy tale, Ruby [[spoiler: activates her Semblance and begins to attack him, before finally declaring "You're the big bad wolf? I'm a huntress." She then decapitates him, finally ending his danger]].
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* BittersweetEnding: When taken together with its original chapter, this is the way the story ends. [[spoiler:On the one hand, Vale has suffered incredible damages thanks to Cinder and the High Priest and it's unlikely that they'll recover any time soon; additionally, thanks to the Silver Eye, Jaune is on his way to fight Pyrrha in a battle that will cost him his life. On the other, Salem's forces are crippled for at least the next few years thanks to Hazel's machinations, Mercury and Emerald are free to live their own lives, and Jaune's battle with Pyrrha convinces her to come back to the fold and defeat Salem for good, so the situation is far from hopeless]].
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* PlausibleDeniability: After [[spoiler:killing Cardin]], Jaune has a confrontation with Mercury and Emerald, wherein he tells them that it's such a shame that they died in battle and Jaune couldn't even find their bodies. They quickly realize that he's giving them a way to escape Salem's side for good, [[spoiler:and they take it, running away into the night to live their own lives]].
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* AdaptationalBadass: [[spoiler:Cardin Winchester may have been a Huntsman-in-Training, but the only person he ever won a fight against in canon was Jaune very early on in his training. Here, his forces begin the story having managed to take over half of Vale, becoming such a threat that even Salem herself takes notice and Atlas is close to intervening]].
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* AdaptationalBadass: AdaptationalBadass:
** [[spoiler:Cardin Winchester may have been a Huntsman-in-Training, but the only person he ever won a fight against in canon was Jaune very early on in his training. Here, his forces begin the story having managed to take over half of Vale, becoming such a threat that even Salem herself takes notice and Atlas is close tointervening]].intervening]].
** [[spoiler: Dove Bronzewing and Russel Thrush]] have both unlocked their Semblances and manage to pose a threat to Mercury and Emerald, two experienced killers, in contrast to their canon counterparts who aren't especially impressive in combat.
* AdaptationExpansion: There's some expansion on how Aura works; namely, it's noted that Aura has "weak points" by Mercury, which can be struck to deal greater damage to Aura. This justifies characters striking significant blows and also explains the faster pace of fights in the ''Destinies'' stories.
** [[spoiler:Cardin Winchester may have been a Huntsman-in-Training, but the only person he ever won a fight against in canon was Jaune very early on in his training. Here, his forces begin the story having managed to take over half of Vale, becoming such a threat that even Salem herself takes notice and Atlas is close to
** [[spoiler: Dove Bronzewing and Russel Thrush]] have both unlocked their Semblances and manage to pose a threat to Mercury and Emerald, two experienced killers, in contrast to their canon counterparts who aren't especially impressive in combat.
* AdaptationExpansion: There's some expansion on how Aura works; namely, it's noted that Aura has "weak points" by Mercury, which can be struck to deal greater damage to Aura. This justifies characters striking significant blows and also explains the faster pace of fights in the ''Destinies'' stories.
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* AwesomenessByAnalysis:
** Jaune can figure out others' fighting styles and work to counteract them, most notably shown when he holds his own against Mercury by binding his legs.
** Mercury's assassination expertise lets him deduce others' fighting styles, weak points, and Semblances. Most notably, this is used when he figures out how to kill [[spoiler: Dove Bronzewing]]-- Mercury counts exactly the amount of time he can use an ability for, and then deduces how said ability works. [[spoiler: Using the gap where Bronzewing can't bring his Semblance's shield down to slip explosives under his feet and reduce him to LudicrousGibs]].
** Emerald figures out how the Semblance of her opponent, [[spoiler: Russel Thrush]], works. She then uses this knowledge to win the fight with them very quickly.
** Jaune can figure out others' fighting styles and work to counteract them, most notably shown when he holds his own against Mercury by binding his legs.
** Mercury's assassination expertise lets him deduce others' fighting styles, weak points, and Semblances. Most notably, this is used when he figures out how to kill [[spoiler: Dove Bronzewing]]-- Mercury counts exactly the amount of time he can use an ability for, and then deduces how said ability works. [[spoiler: Using the gap where Bronzewing can't bring his Semblance's shield down to slip explosives under his feet and reduce him to LudicrousGibs]].
** Emerald figures out how the Semblance of her opponent, [[spoiler: Russel Thrush]], works. She then uses this knowledge to win the fight with them very quickly.
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* BloodierAndGorier: In particular, its final chapter goes toe-to-toe with "Small and Helpless" for the most gruesome piece of ''Destinies'' content published. Most notably the moments in which Jaune kills a soldier with a feather that produces gruesome, explosive boils on his flesh, [[spoiler: Dove Bronzewing]] being reduced to LudicrousGibs by Mercury's explosive rounds, and Jaune [[spoiler: melting Cardin]].
