Sapphire, Qrow, and Taiyang soared through the skies on the back of a radiant Light Legion dragon. The creature moved so fast that it crossed continents in mere minutes. Qrow and Taiyang were forced to kneel, gripping the dragon's armor tightly to resist the intense wind pressure. Meanwhile, Sapphire stood at the front of the dragon, completely unaffected by the wind, as if rooted in place like a statue.
Despite their amazement, Qrow and Taiyang couldn't shake the words Sapphire had said earlier. Finally, Qrow shouted over the roaring wind.
"Hey, kiddo! What did you mean when you said Summer is in danger?!"
Sapphire didn't reply with words. Instead, he raised his hand, summoning a glyph in his palm. A black flame flickered, and three small beetles emerged—one flew to Qrow's ear, another to Taiyang's, and the third into Sapphire's own ear. The connection between them opened a telepathic link.
**"Before I answer, Dad… Would you believe me no matter how unbelievable it sounds?"**
Taiyang responded immediately. **"Yes. I'll believe every word you say."**
Sapphire took a deep breath.
He began to explain everything—his multiple reincarnations, the power of the Authority of Aeons, and the moment he collapsed and awakened one of his Authorities. It may have seemed off-topic, but he knew hiding the truth would only cause harm. He'd learned that the hard way in previous lives.
"So you're saying you're reincarnated… and have a powerful Semblance?" Qrow said, still processing. "That's hard to believe."
"You can see black flames on people's heads that mark their death by fate, and white flames on their chest that show natural causes?" Taiyang asked.
Sapphire nodded. "Yes. And one person's fate can affect others. Right now…"—he looked at Taiyang—**"the black flame above your head is reacting violently."**
Qrow looked alarmed. Taiyang, however, remained calm.
"Am I meant to die to save Summer? To change fate?" Taiyang asked.
**"That's not how fate works,"** Sapphire said, voice firm. **"And even if it was, I wouldn't allow it."**
He smiled warmly. **"You and Mom are precious to me. This is the first life where I've felt the warmth of a family. I won't let fate take that away—not this time."**
Taiyang returned the smile with pride. Qrow watched silently, the tension in his chest easing.
Ahead, the continent of Anima came into view.
"So this is where Summer is," Qrow muttered.
"Wait, what's that?" Taiyang pointed to the right.
A massive, grotesque Grimm—shaped like a whale—hovered above the ocean. Flying Grimm swarmed around it. Below, battleships fired heavy weapons at the beast.
"What do we deal with first? The Grimm or the people on those ships?" Qrow asked.
**"Summer,"** Sapphire answered without hesitation.
He focused, connecting with a hidden dark soldier embedded in Summer's shadow. Moments later, he pointed at the whale's mouth.
"There. I can feel her."
He noticed Taiyang had no weapon. With a wave, glyphs formed around Taiyang's hands and feet, summoning white gauntlets and black boots onto him.
Without delay, they launched toward the Grimm.
As they closed in, the dragon opened its jaws. A white light gathered in its mouth before erupting in a beam that vaporized the Grimm in its path.
---
**Inside the Whale Grimm**
Raven knelt, exhausted, using her sword to stay upright. Summer lay unconscious. Salem loomed over them, smirking.
"Still struggling? Let me end your pain," she said, reaching for Summer.
Suddenly, a shadowy hand emerged from Summer's shadow. Everyone froze. From the darkness, a giant black wolf materialized—Grimm-like in form, but different.
The wolf swiped its claw, hurling Salem away. She recovered quickly, stunned but uninjured.
Summer's eyes fluttered open. She saw the wolf and smiled.
**"You sent him… didn't you, my child?"**
She stood.
A moment later, a radiant beam pierced through the whale's skull. Everyone froze—except Summer, who smiled.
The white dragon blasted into the chamber, carrying Sapphire, Qrow, and Taiyang.
Taiyang rushed to Summer and held her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, tears falling.
Qrow helped Raven stand. Sapphire kept watch.
Then he sensed it—**Aetherial Biomass.** Concentrated.
He scanned the room. Salem. Cinder, flaming with Maiden power. And behind them—Watts, Hazel, Tyrian.
He didn't know them. But he knew danger.
Then came the pain.
His head pulsed—**the backlash of unlocking all seven Authorities at once.**
"Uncle, Dad—get them out of here. Now."
Taiyang and Qrow carried Summer and Raven to the dragon.
Sapphire stood between them and the enemy.
Tyrian saw his chance. He lunged.
A glyph formed under his feet—then a flying sword shot upward, grazing Tyrian's side. He grinned despite the wound.
Sapphire's right eye rotated with two glyphs. Gray and silver ones floated around him. The gray formed a gun, the silver a sword.
He attacked.
Salem formed a Grimm barrier. Cinder raised a wall of fire. The others scattered.
It was enough.
Sapphire leapt onto the dragon—and they fled.
---
**Back at the Xiao Long Residence**
Though tired, Sapphire remained conscious, watching over Summer and Taiyang.
The black flames were gone.
He turned to Qrow, who stared at him with silent questions.
Sapphire said nothing. He simply nodded.
The dragon landed. Light Legion knights stood guard.
Ruby and Yang ran forward, fear turning to joy when they saw their parents safe. They hugged them tightly, and Summer kissed them on the forehead, crying.
Sapphire stood to the side, relieved. His calculations had worked. He had saved them.
Then, at last, his body gave in.
He collapsed.
Pan
ic struck—until they realized he was simply asleep.
With a sigh of relief, they let him rest.
The boy who defied fate… deserved peace.