One compartment behind, (F/N) has his face pressed to the glass like a small child, staring in wonder at the landscape below which becomes smaller and smaller as the wheel climbs, before coming back into view as it descends. For the entirety of the ride Pyrrha is silent, staring at her hands folded in her lap. As the ride ends, (F/N) moves to reach for the door, but is surprised when the wheel doesn't stop, passing them over to let the next carriage out.

"What's going on?" He asks, looking out the window as the next customers in line get on.

Pyrrha joins him and sees Yang waving up at them with a wink.

"Huh, guess we get a free ride." (F/N) says sitting back down. "Sweet."

"Come on guys." Yang says, leading the group back into the sea of people.

"But what about Pyrrha and (F/N)?" Ruby asks.

"Don't worry about them." Blake says, gently pushing Ruby's back. "They'll catch up."

Still watching the ground below them shrink, (F/N) frowns in confusion as the scenery doesn't change. The ground is no longer getting farther away, nor is it getting any closer. It seems like they've stopped at the top of the wheel. Having his fill of the surrounding landscape, (F/N) sits down across from Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha, you okay?" He asks. "You've been awfully quiet this whole time."

"Hmm? No, I'm fine." She says, still not meeting his gaze.

"You're not afraid of heights, are you?"

"No."

"That's good. Because I think the wheel might have broken."

"What?"

"Yeah, the thing just stopped."

Pyrrha stands and places her hands up on the window, narrowing her eyes as she looks towards the ground. Below them is the wheel's operator, at this height looking little more than a multicolored speck. Still, he doesn't appear to be in any state of panic. Quite the contrary. In fact, it looks like he's leaning against the controls, fingering through a fistful of lien.

"Yang." Pyrrha hisses under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

(F/N) moves to stand next to Pyrrha at the window. He rests his arm against the glass as he stares out past the concrete of the Kingdom and at the surrounding grasslands and mountains.

"You know, I always forget how beautiful Vale is."

"Have you been in the Kingdom before?" Pyrrha asks, looking up at her friend.

"It was a long time ago." He says, resting his forehead against his arm.

Pyrrha continues to watch (F/N) with a small frown. Though the landscape shines brightly in the reflection of his (E/C) eyes, behind them is a darkness. Subtle, but present. This wasn't the first time she'd noticed it. Usually (F/N) was so bright and joyful and full of life. But every so often (F/N) seemed to change. It never lasted long, and whenever someone tried to bring it up, he would always avoid talking about it, pretending he couldn't hear until the topic of discussion changed. But during those few second slips, everything about him changed. He seemed older. Tired. His jaw would stiffen, his body becoming more rigid, and his eyes gained a certain sharp darkness, like a fire that burned black. And then it would disappear just as quickly as it had come. To most, the change went unnoticed, but for whatever reason, (F/N) tended to let his guard down around Pyrrha.

The Ferris wheel starts moving again, seeming to snap (F/N) out of his trance. The look in his eyes is gone and is replaced by a smile as he and Pyrrha finally reach the ground. Swept away by the sea of people, (F/N) and Pyrrha catch up with the others who have been lingering near a concessions stand, Yang leaning against the side of the booth while her sister eagerly points up at one of the menu options. Ruby is handed a large stick of cotton candy as Yang sees the two approaching.

"Hey guys." She says, pushing herself off the wall. "What happened?"

Pyrrha throws her a dangerous glare, prompting Yang to laugh.

"Wheel must have malfunctioned." (F/N) says with a shrug, completely oblivious. "We got a free ride out of it though, so no complaints."

"So, where to now?" Jaune asks.

"You know, I think I saw one of those boat rides a little ways back." Yang points over her shoulder, winking at Pyrrha.

"Uh, I think I'm actually done for the day." Pyrrha stutters.

"Aw, boo." Nora pouts. "I still need to win one of those giant stuffed Ursa!"

"You guys can stick around." (F/N) says. "I'll head back to Beacon with Pyrrha."

"(F/N), you really don't have to." Pyrrha says over Yang's snickering.

"It's okay." (F/N) smiles. "There are some things I need to do back at Beacon anyways. You guys have fun. We'll see you later."

(F/N) turns and starts towards the exit, followed reluctantly by Pyrrha.

"You two have fun!" Yang shouts.

Pyrrha throws a scowl over her shoulder at the laughing blonde, watching as the group turns and disappears into the crowd. Spending more time alone with (F/N) is not what she had in mind. Biting her lower lip, Pyrrha hugs her arms and walks in silence with (F/N) towards the front of the Carnival.

"You alright Pyrrha?" (F/N) asks. "You've been awfully quiet."

"I'm fine." She says.

"You sure. You seem a little, un-Pyrrha-ish."

"I said I'm fine (F/N)." She repeats a little aggressively.

(F/N) frowns sadly, shutting his mouth and staring determinedly forwards. Pyrrha sighs guiltily. She shouldn't be taking out her frustration with Yang out on (F/N). It's not like he's done anything wrong.

"Sorry." She says, uncrossing her arms. "You didn't deserve that. It's just, Yang has been working all day to force the two of us together."

"Yes, I figured as much." (F/N) chuckles.

"You did?" Pyrrha asks to which (F/N) nods. "But you just seemed so..."

"Clueless?" (F/N) offers, causing Pyrrha to laugh. "Well, I may be clueless most of the time, but subtlety isn't exactly Yang's strongest attribute."

"So why didn't you say anything?"

"I figured playing along with Yang's little fantasy would just add fuel to the fire. And trust me, that fire is big enough already. Besides, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable and end up pushing you away. I like having you as a friend."

"I value your friendship as well." Pyrrha smiles.

"Aw, thanks." (F/N) drapes an arm around Pyrrha's shoulder and hugs her from the side, placing a quick kiss in her hair.

Suddenly, the two are split apart, almost falling to the ground as someone shoves through them, running towards the exit.

"Someone stop him!" They hear a woman yell. "They took my purse!"

Pyrrha and (F/N) immediately begin pursuing the thief, pushing their way through the crowd as they try not to lose their target. Finally spilling out into the Kingdom streets, the two look around in search of the purse snatcher.

"There!" (F/N) points as the figure dashes around a corner and into a nearby alley.

Taking off towards the suspect, the two round the corner only to be greeted by a dead end. Coming to a halt, Pyrrha and (F/N) search for any back entrances into one of the two buildings that the thief might have ran into. A grunt catches their attention and looking up they see a cloaked figure climbing the wall with no assistance. A gust of wind blows back the hood of the ragged cloak. The figure looks down at Pyrrha and (F/N) with four pairs of panicked eyes before disappearing over the top of the building. (F/N) leaps to the roof in a single jump, Pyrrha throwing her shield midway up the brick wall and using it to propel herself the rest of the distance, grabbing (F/N)'s hand who helps her up. Using her semblance, Pyrrha reclaims her shield before the two resume their pursuit.

The spider Faunus' breathing is becoming more ragged as they look over their shoulder, watching the two Beacon students gaining on them. They leap from one rooftop to the next, followed closely by the students. Crossing the next rooftop in a matter of seconds, they're about to leap to the next when a television antenna suddenly curls around their ankle, tripping them up. Falling off the roof, they land on the street below with a painful crash. (F/N) and Pyrrha leap down, approaching the thief whose grey aura has shattered from the fifteen-foot drop.

"Stay back!" The Faunus shouts, pulling a knife from the inside of their patched cloak.

Pyrrha assumes a fighting stance but (F/N) holds up his arm to stop her.

"Pyrrha, look at her." (F/N) whispers. "She's just a kid."

Pyrrha looks closer. The dirt and grime on her face had obscured her youthful features. Her cloak was frayed and patched in many places, a dirty undershirt full of holes barely visible underneath. Her feet were wrapped in bandages and her hair was matted with mud.

(F/N) raises his open hands in front of his face and gently talks to the young girl. "Hey, we're not gonna hurt you." He says. "We just wanna help."

"Stay back!" The girl shouts again, slashing the knife warningly through the air.

"Easy, easy." (F/N) says, taking a small half step back. "Just, just put the knife down and let's talk."

"Talk?" The girl scoffs. "There's nothing to talk about. As soon as I drop this knife, you'll haul my ass off to jail."

"We're not with the police." (F/N) says calmly.

"I know who you are!" She shouts. "You're Beacon students. It doesn't matter if you're not with the cops!"

"Yes, yes we're from Beacon. But that doesn't mean we want to hurt you. What's your name?" (F/N) says, trying to deescalate the situation.

"Why? So you can turn me in?"

"No, no one has to go to prison." (F/N) assures. "Let me return the purse and no one has to know you were involved."

The girl lowers her knife.

"My name is Charlotte."

"Okay Charlotte." (F/N) takes a few steps closer. "Let me have the purse, okay? And then we can get you some help. Get you off the streets."

"And what about her?" Charlotte asks, pointing the knife at Pyrrha.

"She won't hurt you. I promise. We just want to help."

"Promise?"

"My name is (F/N) (L/N), and you have my word."

Charlotte nods slightly, letting her knife hand fall to her side. (F/N) approaches her and is just about to take the purse when the sound of a gunshot rings through the air. Charlotte's figure collapses, a red stain slowly spreading across her chest.

"No!" (F/N) shouts.

Dropping to his knees he applies pressure to the wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood. Charlotte is whimpering in pain, each of her eyes wide in shock and fear.

"It's okay. You're going to be okay." (F/N) says over and over. "Hey, hey, look at me. Stay with me Charlotte. You're going to be fine."

Charlotte's whimpering stops, as does the rise and fall of her chest. Her blue eyes are still wide, several tears falling from the corners and cutting a path through the grime on her face as they roll down her cheeks. Using his index and middle finger, (F/N) gently closes the lids of her eyes before setting her softly on the ground. Rising to his feet, he slowly turns around, a dark shadow passing over his face. Standing behind him and Pyrrha are three tall figures, each dressed in a grey uniform, a black Kevlar vest covering their upper torso, an identical white + sign painted on their chests. The one on the left still has his gun pointed at Charlotte.

"Why?" (F/N) asks through gritted teeth.

"Kid had a knife." The shooter says. "You're lucky to still be standing."

"She wasn't going to use it!" Pyrrha says angrily.

"You don't know that." The middle man says. "She's a Faunus, you can't trust anything those freaks say or do. She was probably just seconds away from guttin' your boyfriend."

"She was scared." (F/N) says, looking down at the young girl's figure with sad eyes.

"She was a thief." One of them shrugs.

"She was desperate!"

"Either way, she's dead now." The man chuckles. "I don't know why you're getting so caught up on it. She was just a Faunus."

Pyrrha scowls as she watches the three figures walk away before approaching (F/N) who is kneeling over Charlotte's dead body.

"She was just a kid." (F/N) says. "No older than my brother."

"(F/N), let's go." Pyrrha says gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"How can you be okay with this?" (F/N) asks, tears starting to fall from his eyes. "She dies and they just get to walk away? Why didn't you stop them?"

"They were purifiers." Pyrrha explains. "The police stopped enforcing them a long time ago."

"And that means we should too?"

"Of course not." Pyrrha says, kneeling next to (F/N). "But if we did anything, the media would have twisted it to depict the purifiers as the heroes and painted Charlotte as a villain. We'll stop them, trust me. But Charlotte doesn't deserve that."

Nodding, (F/N) lifts Charlotte's body in his arms, one under her legs, the other supporting her back. (F/N) had carried bodies before, but never one so small. He would ensure she received a proper burial.