"I gotcha kiddo."
"Qrow! We have to go!"
Flying Grimm screeching all around them. Steel beams and gears collapsing into the ground below. A small tiara, glowing red from the heat, stood by his feet. He picked it up and placed it on his belt. Behind him a distraught combat instructor trying to make sense of the chaos. In his arms he carried a small human figure, unconscious, shivering in the cold air. A tiny frame wearing a hood of red and black. It was such a juxtaposition, he thought to himself, seeing what he saw. A young girl of black hair and a rood coat, exploding outwards a great flash of white that enveloped everything on top of that collapsing tower that once stood proudly over Beacon, over the city of Vale. The tower was now just a shadow of its former self, as was the school that once trained the best of the best. The defenders of the world, now scattered in panic, as the life they once knew lay just as shattered as the school they once called their home.
A white light consumed everyone on top of that tower. As Qrow picked up his niece and her weapon, he stared at awe at the once enormous and terrifying Grimm that brought down so many of Atlas' prized cruisers, now frozen atop the tower's remains. All signs of the fighters that brought down the tower were all but gone, save for the tiara that now lay on the floor, its owner gone. All he knew was that Pyrrha and Cinder fought on top of that tower, and everything beyond that fact was enveloped in the bright light that came from Ruby's eyes. He and Glynda rushed to the top upon hearing from Weiss that Ruby had made her way to the top to help Pyrrha. That moment Qrow already knew. He didn't need to be sober to know that if they were late, there would be disastrous consequences.
And there were.
"Where is she? Where is she?!"
Qrow screamed as she carried Ruby in her arms. With both Cinder and Pyrrha nowhere to be found, the aftermath of the tower's destruction provided more questions than answers. Realizing that staying any longer would be dangerous, all three of them descended from the tower aboard an Atlas Bullhead. Aboard the Bullhead were the remaining members of Team RWBY. Weiss was taking care of an injured Blake and Yang. Qrow put an oxygen mask on the still unconscious Ruby, laying her down on a stretcher. Glynda was reporting their findings to Ironwood, who was now aboard his flagship and finally beating back the Grimm hoard. Qrow looked at his niece with worried eyes. With Yang having lost her right arm and Ruby releasing an, until today, unknown power within herself, he knew he had a lot of explaining to do to Taiyang. An explanation that was likely to include a few threats and a few punches on their father's side.
"Nothing? Only Ms. Rose? What happened to the intruder and Ms. Nikos?"
"Yes James. Nothing. All that remained of Ozpin's office was burnt out rubble and that giant Grimm frozen on top. It's highly likely that the intruder escaped. It would seem we failed. She got what she came for."
"And you say that Ms. Rose froze that Grimm? Are you sure?"
"Yes. That's the only explanation. None of your ships even managed to hurt that thing. It would seem Ozpin was right."
"Then… that girl… and the remaining maidens… they're our last hope…"
As part of Ozpin's inner circle, all three of them knew immediately what that meant. Ozpin had shared some of what he knew of the people of the silver eyes. All Qrow knew at this point was that Ruby possessed a power equaling, if not surpassing, that of the maidens. Her survival was now paramount, he said to himself, as he caressed his sleeping niece's forehead. While he was proud of what Ruby was and how she had spared Vale further destruction, he was also filled with a sense of fear and dread. Fear and dread because he knew that Ruby was now set down a road she cannot leave. A road that, eventually, would be filled with fighting, suffering and, if it comes down to it, death.
"Set down at the base. I'm going down to the vault."
"What? That's dangerous! We don't know what's down there!"
"Look. Ozpin's gone. We need to find out what happened down there. Something. Anything."
"Qrow…"
"Get the girls back to the safe zone down and come back for me. I won't take more than half an hour, I promise."
Qrow took the last shot of whiskey in his canteen and handed it to Glynda before getting off the Bullhead. As the Bullhead ascended, Qrow looked towards the main tower entrance and the plaza in front. He had always known that the threat from the shadows was fast approaching. It didn't even occur to him that it would come so fast, so efficiently and so… brutal. Merely 3 days ago this plaza, with its gallant statue of a hunstman and huntress in front, was full of eager and wide-eyed students prepared to prove their worth in the classroom and in the combat halls. This was the birthplace of many of the world's future protectors. Now… a slaughterhouse. He clenched his fist as he parted the front door.
He entered the tower lobby, now in disarray with countless wires and gears strewn about. The main elevator was now broken, the shaft empty. He was thankful that the emergency staircase to the vault beneath was still intact, and it was only a few stories underground. The security door had been pried open. He descended down the now barely lit staircase, the smell of burned rubber and metal emanating its way up. Holding his scarf to his face to block out the smell, he ventured won to the bottom floor into the great hall that once housed Ozpin's secrets. Just like the lobby above, countless flame-singed pillars and destroyed marble columns littered the place. It was clearly the site of a great battle, its outcome both fairly obvious and still a mystery.
Ozpin was perhaps one of, if not the, best fighters on the planet. Qrow knew that if he were to somehow lose or choose to leave, it would be for the right reasons. Still, there was no sign of Ozpin or his foe aside from the wreckage of battle. Undaunted, he approached the Aura Transfer Machine pods. In the pod to the left lay Amber, with an arrow through the glass and in her chest. He didn't need to touch her to know she was already dead. The girl he had rescued had now passed on her powers to her assaulter, with the dire consequences evident around him. Beside the pod lay a walking cane. He picked it up and knew almost immediately that this was Ozpin's cane. It was left neatly leaning on the control panel with nary a scratch on it. If Ozpin was really defeated, then there would be no reason for it to be placed so carefully beside the machinery.
Qrow smiled and remembered Ozpin's words. A few days after Qrow rescued the Fall maiden, in this very same room, Ozpin had warned them of darker tides to come. Qrow distinctly remembered Ozpin telling them that, should he ever leave them his cane, it means he has something he has to do. By himself.
"Heh. Fine Ozpin. You go do what you have to."
Carrying Amber's lifeless body, he headed back up to the plaza where the Bullhead was now waiting. Qrow lamented that he had spent much of the day carrying people's living and lifeless body's. On the Bullhead was Glynda and Ironwood waiting for him, waiting for news.
"Is she…?"
"Yes James. Whoever that woman was, she's got all of it now."
"And what about Ozpin?"
"He's… gone. And I found this."
Qrow showed them Ozpin's cane. Glynda's face immediately went sullen. Ironwood had a stern expression. Both knew what this meant.
"Ozpin… I hope he knows what he's doing…"
"He almost always does, Glynda, even though he never tells us."
Qrow sat down on in the Bullhead and pulled out a canteen of whiskey he had somehow hidden under the seat. Taking a whiff and a sip, he looked out the window and surveyed school and the city below. For the most part, much of the fire that had engulfed the school and its immediate vicinity had died down, with only a few Grimm scattered about. By this time huntsmen teams from the other areas of the continent had already arrived and had subdued much of the rampaging creatures, however most of the Grimm had already started congregating in the center of Beacon around the tower itself.
"What's the report on casualties?"
"… At least 6 students died, countless more injured. We still don't have accurate figures on civilians and tournament visitors. In fact, almost a third of the victims were due to your own forces James…"
"…"
Ironwood sat beside Qrow and looked at Qrow's canteen. Knowing what he wanted, Qrow handed him his whiskey.
"I guess now's a good time as any to start drinking."
Qrow and Ironwood, despite working together, always had a slight degree of animosity towards each other. Qrow never really liked Ironwood's tendency to rely on force and bravado, while Ironwood often criticized Qrow's more sneaky and underhanded methods. In the end, though, both did their job well. More so now, with Ozpin gone, that they needed to step up and put their differences completely aside.
"Glynda… how's Ruby and Yang?"
"They're both still unconscious, but they'll be fine. Yang didn't lose a lot of blood with her Aura protecting her, but the shock of the trauma still knocked her out cold. Ruby… that power of hers… the doctors say she's just completely exhausted."
"Just like her mother the first time…"
"Qrow… is this what Ozpin was telling us about?"
"Definitely. You actually believe Ozpin's story now James?"
"Let's just say I still wouldn't believe it if we didn't see it with our own eyes. If she really is one of them… well… I'll leave that to you Qrow."
"So what's your plan now?"
"… I'm pulling my troops out. People will just get agitated if they see our combat droids around. Your huntsmen should be able to handle things now. You… take charge Glynda…"
"And you Qrow?"
"… I'm taking my nieces back to Patch. They need time to rest, plus I've got a lot of explaining to do to their father. Ruby… she needs to know. About what happened on that tower. About herself."
"Qrow… the Cross Continental Transmission system is down. When you go back to Patch and I go back to Atlas…"
"I know I know. Back to old school communication now. Looks like we'll have to do our own things for the time being."
The Bullhead had just landed in the field hospital near the docks in western Vale. Waiting for them was Jaune Arc, eagerly anticipating any news from Beacon. During this time Yang was already undergoing emergency surgery in the field operating room, Ruby was resting in the makeshift ward and Ren and Nora were helping with the giving first aid to injured civilians. Jaune worriedly paced back and forth by the landing pad as the Bullhead landed and went straight to Qrow.
"What happened? Have you found her? Is she alright?" Where is she?"
Jaune, while obviously tired, was frantic when the Bullhead finally touched down. Qrow had barely taken a step out of the transport when he was accosted by Jaune. Healready knew what Jaune was planning before they even landed. His heart winced inside, realizing what he had to do. He had been the bearer of bad news all day already, but this was different. This was worse. He had already stopped Jaune from forcing his way back to Beacon when they found him in the city, having been launched by Pyrrha in the rocket locker. He had promised Jaune that he would bring her back.
He did… just not in the way he had hoped.
"Is she okay?"
"Jaune… I'm sorry…"
Qrow reached into his belt and pulled out the tiara. The tiara, having been subjected to the searing heat of Cinder's flames, had already slightly melted, its inlaid gems barely hanging on to their sockets. The gold plating had begun to flake off. The smell of burned metal mixed with the faint scent of the perfume its wearer once used. In the inner lining of the tiara glistened with glass that had fused with the metal. It was ash that was heated so much that it became glass and fused with the tiara.
Qrow handed the tiara over to Jaune, whispered in his ear and walked away, leaving him standing there motionless, soulless, tears streaming down his face.
Author's Notes:
Ever since the shocking events of the season 3 finale, I tried to make sense of the events that happened between Ruby unleashing her power on Cinder and the giant Grimm and when she woke up at home in Patch. This is how I imagined what each of the characters had to go through and what went through their heads as they tried to cope with the events and the tragedies they caused. Each chapter will detail specific characters so this will continue as I try to delve into each character. While I make this, my other ongoing work (With or Without You) will still continue, so please leave reviews for this and my earlier stories!