In which a mysterious location is uncovered.

In which a choice must be made.

While Oobleck and Port oversee the evacuation, Ruby and Weiss hunt for the missing Jaune and Pyrrha. At Beacon Tower, Cinder appears to defeat Ozpin so Pyrrha fights her alone to try and save the tower. Ruby's arrival just in time to see the end of the fight triggers a mysterious power she didn't know she had. The episode ends with Ruby deciding to travel to Haven in search of answers.

On the airship, Ruby fights Roman and Neo while Ironwood joins Glynda and Qrow on the battlefield below. The students fight Atlesian Paladins while Blake confronts Adam in the school's cafeteria, leading to a showdown between Yang and Adam. Meanwhile, in the secret vault, Ozpin, Jaune and Pyrrha attempt to transfer Amber's Aura to Pyrrha... and Cinder shows up.

While Jaune moves Qrow to safety, Ren begins fighting the Nuckelavee recklessly until Nora calms him down. Team RNJR then comes up with a coordinated strategy and Ren successfully executes the Grimm. Two patrolling military airships from Mistral arrive and they take Team RNJR to Mistral. Ruby and her group plan to visit Professor Lionheart at Haven Academy once Qrow's injuries are fully healed. Unbeknownst to them, he is working for Watts. In a post-credits scene, Oscar approaches Qrow in a bar and identifies himself as Ozpin. Qrow returns his cane.

War breaks out with battles occurring on the tournament field, the city and the school. Formerly adversarial tournament teams unite to fight the Grimm together while Ruby goes after a rogue airship that has turned on the rest of the fleet. Cinder's virus makes things worse by turning the robotic Atlesian army against both the city and its defenders. And then the Grimm Dragon appears...

Mercury fights Ruby to prevent her interfering with Penny and Pyrrha's fight. The tournament match ends in disaster and Cinder hijacks the airwaves with a grim message for the world's audience. Roman and Neo sabotage the Atlesian military ships while the Grimm and the White Fang begin their attack on Vale.

Starting the last episode ends, Ruby follows Weiss as she races across Vale to greet a woman who turns out to be Weiss's older sister, Winter. As the sisters begin their journey back to the school, they're interrupted when a drunkard picks a fight with Winter. He turns out to be Ruby's uncle, Qrow. Awesome fight and property damage ensue, until it's broken up when Ironwood shows up followed by Ozpin and Glynda. Later, Qrow, Ironwood, Glynda, and Ozpin have a meeting where a lot of harsh words ensue.

We open to Pyrrha getting her world rocked as Ozpin and co. tell her the secret history of Remnant. Later we start the opening of the singles matches with Yang vs. Mercury.

The episode gives a glimpse into the past about Cinder's motivations, how she recruits Emerald and Mercury, how she connected with the White Fang, and how she managed to steal the Fall Maiden's power. We also cut back to the present to see the immediate aftermath of what happened after Yang's victory against Mercury in the tournament.

Between Watts, Tyrian, and the seemingly endless swarm of Grimm, evil is encroaching on our heroes from all sides. The biggest threat, however, may be hiding where they least expect it.

Team RWBY rally around Yang when Ironwood tells her she's been disqualified then Qrow and Yang discuss Yang's mother. Jaune and Pyrrha have a heart-to-heart which distresses Pyrrha due to her confusion about Ozpin's offer. The next fight is confirmed to be Penny versus Pyrrha while Ruby finds herself confronting Mercury, who is supposed to be on his way back to Haven.

The fight for Haven continues, but now it's time for our heroes to turn the tides, especially now that a long lost ally has returned with an army at her back.

Ruby talks relics with Ozpin and Qrow while Raven meets with Leo. Meanwhile, the attack on the Belladonna house is still going on. Blake and Ilia fight for their ideals.

We open to Ruby giving her mother's monument the run down of the past two seasons and after a few reveals and lampshading the naming choice of the writers, Ruby is off. It's the first day of the 40th annual Vytal Festival Tournament and its team RWBY vs. team ABRN. But while this battle occurs, there are shadows beginning to stir under the light of this event.

RNJR and Oscar train and discuss Semblances. Meanwhile, Yang confronts her mother while Weiss prepares her own escape.

The first doubles match of the tournament puts Mercury and Emerald against Yatsuhashi and Coco. Later Qrow and Winter spend some quality time with their families.

Professor Lionheart's method of passing information to Salem is revealed and Weiss' transport runs afoul of the Grimm. Meanwhile, Adam and Hazel meet with Sienna Khan, who is extremely angry with Adam's attack on Beacon Academy.

The fight with Salem's group gets more intense as Weiss is injured, Hazel goes into a furious rage, and Cinder enters the vault.

Despite development and growth, things are made tense for Team RWBY in Mistral when Ruby brings up Blake. Meanwhile, in Menagerie, Blake agrees to a nighttime meeting with Ilia.

Ruby and company meet with Lionheart, who is less than thrilled to see that not only is everyone armed but there are more people than he thought.

The truth is finally out, and it's not only our heroes who take notice. With everything at stake, it's all hands on deck to protect the City of Mantle

It's Team JNPR vs. Team BRNZ and Team SSSN vs. Team NDGO.

Penny reveals to Ruby that she wants to remain at Beacon and mentions that she has a plan to make that happen. Yang and Weiss fight Team FNKI representatives, Flynt Coal and Neon Katt. Qrow and Ozpin discuss Ironwood's recent actions and Qrow asks Ozpin if he's chosen the "guardian" yet.

Qrow seeks out Huntsmen and Huntresses to aide in the fight against Salem, while Yang and Weiss prod answers out of Raven.