I would quickly like to apologize for being late I was sick with a fevr the past week and had trouble writing this chaprter. Don't worry I'm better and this week I should be back on schedule!
I learned one thing very quickly as we ascended the stairs. The first was no person no matter how in shape, strong or energetic can climb thirty flights of stairs. Not at least without becoming extremely tired.
The four of us reached the floor below Ozpin's office and collapsed to the ground panting and groaning in pain.
My thighs were on fire and I felt like I was still climbing the stairs even as I sat down on the ground leaning onto the wall. The room was large but was surprisingly empty. In the middle of the room was a large desk with a computer a printer. Papers and files were open on the desk and had been left out like the person had left in a hurry. The odds where they had. In the back of the room was a door that looked like it led to a large conference room. Other than that the room was bare.
Neo sat down next to me taking a similar position. Her umbrella was propped up on the wall next to her. She seemed just as tired when she breathed out a silent sigh. No matter what it was Neo never seemed to make a noise. While we sat both of us to began to rub our aching muscles trying to gain some relief.
Jaune walked into the room a minute after us and quite literally flopped down onto the ground. He spread out his arms and legs like he was making a snow angel and took long deep breaths. Pyrrha walked last coming in only a few steps behind Jaune. Pyrrha had fared the best out of all four of us. However, even she was breathing hard and had beads of sweat on her forehead.
"I take it back I would rather have climbed. You couldn't ask me to do that again even if you promised me all the cookies in the world. Well maybe for that but you know what I mean!"
Jaune and Pyrrha gave a small laugh at the joke and even Neo cracked a smile. The joke eased the mood and gave each of us a little more energy. Neo grabbed my attention with a nudge to my side and held her scroll out in front of me.I looked down at it so that I could read it.
We need a new plan on how we're going to stop Cinder. She's above us right now but we can't get up there without the elevator. Any Ideas?
"Guys Neo wants to know how we're supposed to get into Ozpin's office. Some of us can climb up the elevator but that would make it easier for Cinder to pick us off."
Jaune sat up and began to look around the room for anything we could use. The room was so bare that there wasn't much to go off of. As for getting upstairs Neo was right Ozpin's office could only be accessed by an elevator and it was currently sitting at the bottom of the shaft crushed beyond repair. "Umm Ruby, how would you feel about going outside for a quick climb?"
I didn't know what Pyrrha meant and had to think about what she said. For starters how would we get outside? Second, what was I going to climb and finally was Why? "Well, it depends on what I have to climb and why. But more importantly what are trying to get at?"
Pyrrha didn't start to explain but walked over to the elevator doors and pried them open.A quick use of her semblance and she started to drag the long elevator cable into the room. After a few minute of doing so, the cable came to an end where it had been broken off.
"Ruby you're right. If we all go in by climbing up the elevator shaft Cinder can easily beat us. But what if we don't go in just through the shaft?"
"But how Pyrrha. The only way into Ozpin's office is through the elevator. How would we get in?"
"Ruby, how many times have you been inside of Ozpin's office?
"A few times why?"
"Can you tell me what he has behind his desk."
"A chair!"
"No a window! If you can climb the side up to it we can distract Cinder and you two can surprise her by coming through it."
Pyrrha was right, behind Ozpin's desk was a large circular window big enough for almost anyone to fit through. If we could get up there and surprise Cinder then we had a chance to win. The only problem was climbing up a building three hundred feet in the air. I looked over to Neo who gave a nod to the plan. If she could do it then I had no other choice than to do it too.
I turned my gaze to Pyrrha who took it as the go-ahead to get the plan started. The first thing she did was cut off a large portion of the cable using her sword Miló. She cut enough free that we had a least a hundred feet of cable but also left enough for her and Jaune to be able to climb up the elevator shaft.
Jaune was the first to speak even with his still raspy breath. "That doesn't explain how they're supposed to get outside. I don't see any windows do you?"
"Patience Jaune I was getting to that. On the other side of that door is a conference room. The entire wall it made up of a window, I do believe it will be quite sufficient." Jaune shrunk back a little at being called out by his partner. He may have jumped ahead but it wasn't anything to be ashamed of. I anything he was ashamed of being called out by the girl he clearly liked.
"Sorry got a little ahead of myself."
No one responded but it was clear the apology was accepted. Neo and I stood up and grabbed ahold of the cable. Instinctively we began to wrap it up so that we could move it. It took some time since a lot of the cable was turned and coiled incorrectly. Once we did get it together Neo and I began carried it over to the conference room. A kick to the locked door and then we were inside.
We laid the cable down on the long conference table and walked over to the glass window. It was thick but it was something that a quick hit from Crescent Rose would fix. I deployed the scythe and held it backward behind me. Right before I swung Neo stepped in the way holding a finger up to her mouth. "Oh sorry forgot it's supposed to be a surprise."
Neo shook her head at my childish response trying to give it no mind. Neo body froze where she was standing keeping the same pose she had. The sudden change made me feel uneasy until I remembered she was using her semblance. Neo appeared next to her glass clone and stabbed it with her umbrella.
The clone shattered into sharp shards of glass spreading out over the floor. Neo reached down and grabbed one of the shards with her gloved hands. She then stepped over to the window and pushed the shard against it. Tracing a large circle with the shard leaving a thin line in the glass. She then brought up her umbrella and pressed the tip into the center. The circle of glass started to slide as Neo applied force it. Once the glass had been pushed far enough from the rest of the panel it fell free and tumbled down the side of the building.
"Well, that worked pretty well. Oh, and would you remind me never to touch the remains of your clones they seem. Sharp!" Neo gave a nod and tossed the shard she had in her hand out the window. Once that was done she grabbed the cable and brought it over to the window.
"So how are we gonna get the cable all the way up there? And how will we anchor it? I don't think we're going to climb up and tie it around something." Neo held up her hand in response and started tapping away on her scroll. Do you have any fire dust rounds?
"Ya, I think so!" I reached into my ammo pouch at my side and pulled out a small box that held ammunition. Looking through it I found what I was looking for and pulled it out. Neo gracefully snatched it out of my hands and laid the round down on the table. The next thing she did started to make me wonder what her idea was. Picking up on of the metal chairs she placed it on the table.
Can you cut the chair part off? I need the base for the plan. I didn't respond but pulled out Crescent Rose and extended it to its full size. Neo took a step back moving out of the way of my swing zone. Once she was free I swung the scythe and cut the chair in half feeling almost no resistance. Once I was done all that was left was the chair's base. Neo quickly broke off the wheels and set the base down on the conference table.
Next, she grabbed the dust round and used a small knife she pulled from her pocket to pry open the round. Once it was she very carefully picked the small red dust out of the gunpowder and placed it onto the straight part of the base. Neo then grabbed the cable and place the cable onto the straight of the base.
Neo looked at me and motioned for me to back up as she pulled a lighter out of her pocket. Once it was lighted she held up her knife to it letting it heat up till it became a brilliant red color. Backing up as far as she could while still holding the cable to the base she touched the tip of the blade to the shard of fire dust crystals.
The sudden touch by the incredibly hot knife acted as a catalyst for the crystal shard causing them to burst into flame. The fire didn't last long and was not large but was incredibly hot. It was actually so hot that it had fused the metal cable and chair base together acting as a makeshift welding tool.
Neo lifted the makeshift tool and gave the cable a twirl. The chair base stayed attached and it became clear what the object was. "You just made a grappling hook didn't you." Neo gave a nod then took it over to the hole in the window. Leaning outside Neo began to spin the cable like it was a lasso then threw it up through the air. A small thunk echoed through the ceiling but it was easily something that could be played off.
Neo gave the cable a strong tug making sure it was secure. It was and Neo grabbed the cable and dropped it out the window. Keeping ahold of the cable with one hand she lifted up her scroll and quickly typed a message with one hand. Once she was done she held it up to me. Tell the other were ready to go. Just need a minute to climb up to the window!"
I gave a nod and pulled out by own scroll. Going through my contacts list I kept going till I found Pyrrha's contact and clicked on it. Once I opened it I quickly typed out a message and sent it to her. Neo and I are ready. Need a minute to climb up the window. Be ready to distract Cinder so that we can get the jump on her. Ok!" One more tap on the screen and the message was sent to the two waiting for us.
I looked at Neo and Gave her a nod saying we were set. Neo got the message and grabbed clipped her umbrella to her side before she grabbed the cable with two hands and jumped outside. Once the cable stopped swinging around Neo started her ascent up towards Ozpin's office.
When Neo had climbed a good ways up I grabbed ahold of the cable while making sure Crescent Rose was secure in the holster on my back. I quick fix but once I was done I grabbed the cable with my other hand and mimicked Neo's action. Just like her once the cable stopped shaking I started my climb upwards.
By no means was the climb far. All it was was ten feet straight up. However, it didn't account for that we were close to three hundred feet in the air. One wrong move was all it would take for one or both of us to take a nice fall down to the earth below us.
Keeping my Eyes upward I followed Neo who was climbing quickly with an accent of grace with every move. Once she reached the bottom of the window she grabbed onto it and climbed up onto the window sill. The window sill only stuck out six inches but for us, it was all we needed.
Once I got up to the window sill I grabbed it and pulled myself up onto the opposite side of Neo. Both of us shuffled till we could peek inside into Ozpin's office. From what we could see Cinder was alone sitting in Ozpin's chair facing the elevator. Neo, Cinder and I stayed in that position for a couple seconds till a loud thunk echoed through the elevator.
Right after the noise, the elevator doors flew open letting Pyrrha and Jaune step inside. Once they were inside both drew their weapons while placing their shields between them and Cinder. Cinder stood up from the chair and began clapping her hands together. The sound was slightly muffled by the glass but it was clear enough for us to hear them talk.
"So you finally made it up here. I'm surprised I thought you would've given up by know!"
"We won't give up until we beat you!" Jaune was quick with a response but his voice didn't support the words he spoke. He was scared even though his stance was solid his voice was not. Each word wavered with the slight hint of fear.
"My dear boy do you think you can stop me. I've already beaten you. Vale and Beacon have fallen. Grimm run rampant through the streets and your poor back up from atlas has turned on you. What can you possibly do to stop that." Cinder spoke with power in her voice. It was the power of someone who thought they had won while the game was still being played.
"Ha, you think Vale has fallen. It hasn't right know huntsman and ATLAS soldiers are fighting back the Grimm. You haven't won. You've lost!" Jaune's word were more powerful this time. Each word powered the next when he released Cinder's full plan wasn't in effect. I had stopped her from taking over the Atlesian robots stopping her plan from being completed.
Cinder turned away from Jaune and Pyrrha looking outside the window. Neo and I ducked out her sight staying hidden. "Do you think I wouldn't have a backup plan. You're a fool if you thought I didn't."
Cinder turned back to face the two teammates with a grin on her face. Underneath us, the ground began to shake prompting Neo and I to hold onto the window sill tighter. I looked over my shoulder looking for the source. One of the mountains in the background had a landslide falling down its side.
As the dirt fell down its side's The rock underneath cracked and a black scaled head popped through. A roar that shook the air echoed through Vale and Beacon as the Grimm roared out into the sky. Just as the roar ended the ground shook once more as it dragged the rest of its body out of the mountain. With a quick shake of its body to remove the dirt from its body, the dragon Grimm started to climb the mountain till it reached the top. Once it reached the peak the Dragon reared back its body and let it two large wings extend from its arms.
With two large flaps of its wings, the dragon took flight flying through the skies of below it was a toy for the freshly awoken grimm to play with and it was done with naptime.
Streaks of lights shot across the sky towards the dragon trying to desperately land a blow. None of them did as the missed the grimm as it dove toward them. The dragon disappeared as it entered onto one of the streets out of view. An explosion rocked the ground sending plumes of smoke and fire through the streets as the dragon wrecked havoc. Nothing stood in its path as the grimm once more took to the sky looking to continue its reign of terror.
"It seems your friends aren't doing so well right now. Are they?" Cinder was looking at the two in front of her. Pyrrha's face was filled with worry upon seeing the fierce dragon Grimm flying through the air. Jaune, on the other hand, was filled with anger. His face was knit together into a scowl at the possibility of seeing his friend's killed before his eyes.
"Oh and before we start this party. I do believe we should get rid of out unwelcome guests!" Mine and Neo's eyes met as Cinder turned to face the window. A sudden flash came from her hands and the entire window we were standing next to was hit by a fireball. Cinder had clearly spotted us and deemed it necessary to remove us from the equation.
When the fireball hit the window the glass melted instantly as it blew up in an explosion. The entire tower shook and the heat from the blast washed over Neo and I as we held on for dear life. Neither mine nor Neo's grip was strong enough to hold on to the crumbling windowsill and both of us found ourselves falling through the air. A scream erupted from the inside of the tower but was lost to the torrent of wind flying around us.
I desperately reached through the air trying to grab onto anything that would slow my fall. Just as I thought I wouldn't find anything the cool feeling of metal brushed across my hand and I grabbed it using all the strength I could muster. I could feel my arm try it rip itself from my body as I came to a sudden stop holding onto the elevator cable we had used to climb earlier. I looked up toward the tower finding that I had fallen a good sixty feet.
I quickly found Neo who was still holding onto the window sill we had been perched on. I could see her hands slipping as the window continued to crumble. Neo gave a worrying look down at me looking down towards the ground. I gave her a quick wave hoping she would spot me. Neo did and a smile crossed her face.
Neo smile turned to fear as the hold she had failed as the window sill came free. Neo began to tumble through the air uncontrollably through the air. Moving as fast as I could I ran across the side off the building trying to get under Neo. I wasn't going to be able to get under her as her speed picked up as she tumbled towards.
As Neo came falling past me I reached my hand out as quickly as I could hoping to grab her. My luck was in check as my hand wrapped around Neo's umbrella. This time both of my arms were almost ripped off by the sudden force being applied. It didn't matter though all that did was that I caught Neo.
Neo gave me a twinkling smile as she looked up to me. I had my hand wrapped around the top of her umbrella while she dangled below it connected to the handle. Neo reached out for the cable that was below her and grabbed onto it. Once I knew she was secure I let go of her umbrella and began to climb upwards.
Climbing ten feet on a rope was something that a normal person struggled to do. Now replace the rope with a metal cable that dug into your skin when you grabbed it and change the ten feet to sixty. And finally, add in that you're climbing up the side of a three hundred foot tower. That was the situation Neo and I found ourselves in.
The ascent was more difficult the higher I went. Each time I pulled myself a little higher up the building my muscles screamed in pain. Each grasp of the cable became more difficult as it became slick with a blood from a small gash on my hand. It took all I had not to look down to check on Neo. If she'd fallen I wouldn't have known.
Keeping my eyes pointing upward I could hear the sound of metal hitting metal, shields deflecting blows and bodies being hit. From the sound it Pyrrha and Jaune were not doing well. All the climb and chaos we had already experienced was starting to catch up to us. I myself was close to letting go of the cable from sheer in my head told me to keep pushing and so I did.
Not even looking anymore I put one hand over the other. I didn't know if I was moving up down or if I was dead. All I knew was I needed to get to the top of the tower.
Suddenly the sounds of battle become even clearer than before. I wrenched open my eyes looking up and realized I was only a few feet from the ruined window sill.
Pulling myself up I reached out for the jagged edge of the sill trying to grab onto a part that wouldn't fall apart. When my hand did find a hold I clamped down on it with all my strength and hoisted myself up into the room.
Once I was inside I let go of the cable I took a second staring up at ceiling letting air flow through my deprived lungs. Turning to my left I looked out over the remains of Vale watching as the dragon Grimm soared above. Small black dots fell off of it skin with every flap of its wings. Some fell out of view while other were too small to make out what they were. Others were close enough to make and what I saw was horrifying.
From its skin fell large droplets of black blood as dark as death itself. When they hit the ground they splattered onto the ground then quickly formed up into a small pool of black liquid. Once together the liquid began to change growing and shaping itself. Finally, after a few seconds, a new Grimm was formed ready to join its brethren in the already large army inside the city. Even if the huntsman in the city could seal the breaches in the wall how could they stop an enemy that summoned more at will?
Feeling terror in my heart I turned away from the scene and looked to one that was closer. Pyrrha and Jaune were still in combat with Cinder and they were losing. Whatever they tried Cinder countered with something better. When Jaune blocked one of Cinder's arrows and Pyrrha charged Cinder would collapse her bow quickly into two curved glass blades. When Pyrrha or Jaune backed off she would reform her bow and fire away.
Pyrrha and Jaune could do nothing to stop her and with every move, they became more tired. The more tired they became meant more opening for Cinder to take and less opening for Cinder to worry about being attacked through. It was a vicious cycle that would only end one way.
The thought was instantly taken away seeing Neo's gloved hand appear over the side of the window sill. Reaching out for it I grabbed it dragging the small girl inside. Even if I wasn't very big myself I could still help her.
Once inside Neo let out a large silent breath before standing up. At this point Cinder finally noticed us and the fighting stopped. Pyrrha and Jaune about collapsed seeing as the only thing keeping them from collapsing was the fight. Pyrrha held out and arm to Jaune who took it. Leaning on each other they propped themselves up using each other as support.
"Oh, my! Seems little red didn't die like she was supposed to. No matter I will kill you just like these two idiots." Cinder grinned flashing her almost perfect white teeth.
Jaune let go of Pyrrha and lifted his sword up at Cinder pointing the tip at her. Pyrrha tried to do the same but it seemed she had done a large portion of the fighting and in return lost more energy. "We will stop you. If not us then someone else!"
Cinder's grin grew wider as if pleased by Jaunes quick retort. "Oh, you stupid little boy! Even IF you stop me how are you going to stop the Grimm. You could barely hold up against those that breached the walls. What about those that are drawn to the emotions of the city. And don't forget my pet!"
Cinder held her hands out displaying the city in its state of despair. Smoke billowed from building all of the city. Sounds of gunfire echoed through the streets. All while the dragon Grimm flew overhead. "So tell me how my plan has failed!"
This time it was my turn to speak. Standing up from my spot I grabbed Crescent Rose from its holster and used my aura to activate the weapon. Gears inside began to spin as the blade unfolded and the handle deployed. Once it had I slammed it into the ground next to me trying to look intimidating. "Cinder your plan failed the second that she joined us and stopped Roman!"
Using my free hand I pointed over to Neo who mimicked my actions. Using her hand she propped open her umbrella then swung it up letting it lay behind her while resting on her shoulder. A single smile parted her teeth and almost if on cue two flashes of light crossed the sky.
Cinder's face turned to terror as the sound of a giant Grimm echoed through the night sky. It wasn't the defiant roar most gave but the rare roar of a Grimm scared and in pain. Turning to face the source of the noise.
The sight of what I saw at once made feel both joy and sadness at the same time. The dragon Grimm was tumbling through the air as clouds of black smoke began to surround its body. Two large holes were visible one passing through its left wing and the other it chest. Two Atlesian battleships loomed off in the distance with their main cannons pointed at the Grimm.
From what Weiss had told me Atlas used a special type of gun as the main cannon on their ships. The idea is simple but uses a lot of complicated math and science. Basically, the gun charges a large metal rod with huge amounts of electric dust then fires it. The electricity from the dust causes the round to fly farther and faster than most normal cannons. This gives the cannon more power making Grimm easier to kill.
"Oh, you will regret turning against me! I will hurt you worse than roman or the people who sold you ever did!" Cinder was clearly mad as she screamed at Neo. Pulling up her bow a red arrow appeared and she drew it back swiftly and fired.
The arrow streamed toward Neo and I flying with a slight arc downward. Neo quickly swung her still open umbrella up in front of us in the way of the arrow. Not even a second passed before the arrow hit Neo's umbrella and blew up in a ball of crimson red flame. Cinder's attack failed but in its wake, the fire had melted Neos umbrella making it unusable.
Neo's face shifted revealing a frown as she held the ruined weapon in her hand. "Oh by the time I'm done that umbrella will be the least of your worries!" Neo frown turned into anger as she grabbed the umbrella's handle and twisted it. Pulling on the handle she slid free a short slender blade barely a foot long.
Cinder didn't wait for Neo to move as she quickly fired another arrow and at her feet. This time a wall of fire erupted across the room splitting Neo and I off from the other three. "Oh be patient you'll get what's coming. However, I still need to deal with those two!" Cinder laughed turning away from us to face Pyrrha and Jaune.
Cinder took a step toward the two raising her bow in the process. Jaune and Pyrrha reacted instantly raising their own weapons and shields in response. Jaune was the first to move, running straight at Cinder with his sword ready to strike her down. For Cinder, this was a chance to make her own move. In the instant that Jaune took his first step Cinder fired an arrow and prepared the next.
Jaune's training with Pyrrha kicked in as the projectile flew towards him. The first slammed into his shield and the second being sidestepped. By the time Cinder prepared her third shot Jaune was upon her with Pyrrha quickly moving to help him. Cinder acted quickly firing the already notched arrow point blank at Jaune's shield. The force of the arrow pushed Jaune back an inch giving Cinder room to switch to her blades.
Jaune was quickly back after the short blow swinging his sword in an arc at Cinder's head aiming to cut it off at the neck. Two curved swords caught the blade using an x pattern then a swift kick to an open chest sent the attacker back. Pyrrha leaped in as Jaune flew passed her propelled by the force of Cinder's kick. Thrusting her sword miló with a lunge Pyrrha forced Cinder to jump backward in order to dodge the blow.
Pyrrha closed the distance in an instant bashing the raven haired girl with her shield following it up with a slash to her ribs. In a flash of red light, Pyrrha's blade skipped across the other girl's aura dealing little more than a bruise. Taking multiple steps back Pyrrha held up her shield waiting for Cinder to take the next move.
Cinder took the invitation taking a step back herself. Equipping her bow she summoned a red one similar to the one she used on Neo. Pyrrha had backed up to Jaune and instinctively pushed herself into the boy shoving them out of the way. The arrow hit the wall behind them blowing it apart with a small explosion.
Pyrrha and Jaune quickly jumped to their feet at the sound of an arrow whizzing towards them. A shout of pain echoed through the room when the arrow found its target and sunk deeply into Jaunes thigh. Trying to scream Jaune dropped to his the ground holding his limb. "I would try and get that out as quickly as possible if I were you if not you'll start to feel a lot worse!"
True to her words Jaune let out a sharp painful cry as the arrow started to heat up turning a bright orange color. Gripping it with his hand Jaune snapped the arrow arrows shaft so he could pull it free. Grabbing a piece of wood he put it in between his teeth as he wrenched the arrow free. Once it was free Jaune let out a sharp gasp looking down at the wound.
The arrow had passed straight through his femur leaving a nice sized hole. Luckily the arrow hadn't hit his femoral artery and when it had heated up it cauterized his wound. For know, he wouldn't bleed to death but infection would easily set in without proper treatment. Also not to mention he couldn't walk after having an arrow go through his leg.
Cinder let out a deranged laugh as she stood in the middle of the room. "I told you it would hurt didn't I. Just be happy I didn't shoot you in the chest or head." Jaune looked up to Pyrrha from his spot on the floor giving her a nod. "Kick her ass!"
Cinder wasn't ready when Pyrrha launched herself across the room while firing the rounds from miló at her. Cinder barely manage to summon her sword and block the shots keeping them from blowing her brains out. Pyrrha took the distraction as a chance to stab forward with her javelin let ing the blade pass under Cinder's arms. There was no flash as the blade cut through Cinder's aura and into her flesh.
Cinder jumped back pulling the blade from her body allowing blood to spill from the wound. A hiss escaped Cinder's lips as she put her hand over the wound. "You shouldn't have done that you stupid bitch!" lighting her hand up in a small flame she held it up to the wound cauterizing it shut. The smell of burnt flesh flowed through the air giving the fight an even darker aura.
Pyrrha didn't flinch as Cinder charged her swing her sword down at the scarlet hair girl. The two blades stopped above her head as Pyrrha raised her shield to meet their path. Pyrrha stabbed forward with her sword towards Cinder exposed gut. Jumping back cinder escaped the attack while swinger swords across her body catching Pyrrha's shoulder. Two small lines appeared on Pyrrha's shoulder as blood leaked from the wounds. Now both combatants had zero Aura and could only defend themselves with weapons.
In front of us, the firewall Cinder had placed began to die down slowly becoming smaller and cooler. Cinder noticed this and quickly tried to end her fight. Attaching her blades together into a large curved blade she began to swing it wildly at Pyrrha. Each attack became more powerful slamming into miló and Akuó with brutal strength. With a loud yell, Cinder swung the blade across her body in a large arc.
In a desperate attempt, Pyrrha threw akuó up in front of the blade hoping to stop its deadly path. When the blade hit her shield sparks flew across the metal as it tough leather strap gave free and Akuó flew to the ground. With a grunt, Cinder spun her blade slicing upwards towards Pyrrha's chest ready to slice her open. The clash of metal echoed through the room as Pyrrha weakly held up Miló with her remaining strength.
For as invincible Pyrrha was she was still human and made mistakes. Her sword was all that saved her from being cut in half but it didn't stop the blade from hitting her. Cinder's dark blade caught Pyrrha just in her shoulder slicing through skin armor and bone like a cleaver. Blood poured from the wound as Pyrrha let out a cry dropping her sword to the ground with a metallic clang that echoed through the office.
Jaune shot forward from his spot on the ground struggling to grab Pyrrha without collapsing himself. "Oh god Pyrrha! Hey, are you ok?...Pyrrha!... no no no no no no! Stay with me!" Jaune kept shouting at Pyrrha as he tore off his chest piece than his sweatshirt and pushed it down on the wound trying to stop the blood. Pyrrha looked up at Jaune with a small thin small on her lips. Instinctively Jaune reached out and took Pyrrha hands holding it tightly.
The sound of an arrow being notched was heard as Cinder drew back her bow taking aim at the Pyrrha. "I'm sorry to ruin your little….moment of affection. But I really would like to kill you both now!" Jaune looked down away from Cinder and locked gazes with Pyrrha's emerald eyes. As small "I'm sorry" slipped from her lips as Cinder let the arrow go.
Trying to move as fast as I could I jumped through the fire running straight through it. The flames licked at my entire body trying to ignite anything it could. My aura held against the fire not letting it do anything but make me feel a little hot. The world around me slowed as my semblance kicked in. I could see everything I needed to but it wouldn't matter. The arrow was heading straight for Pyrrha's chest and it wasn't going to miss.
Using my semblance I did the only thing I could. I ran into the arrow's path.
I could feel the warm metal pierce my skin as I stepped in its path right in front of Pyrrha and Jaune. The second I felt it cut into me I let my semblance stop and the world resume to its normal speed. The arrow cut deep into my abdomen. Pain flared as it heated up turning the bright orange color just like before. The only thing I heard in the entire room was one word.
"Ruby!
It was so small and gentle. It was filled with so much emotion as if the person was scared to even speak. I turned my eyes to face the source expecting to find someone had joined us atop the tower. No Instead the person I was looking at was none other than the small girl who had her voice stolen.
Tears rolled down Neo's face as she cried out a silent sob. I turned my gaze toward the arrow looking at it. The pain had dulled down to nothing and I could see the reason why. The arrow was glowing a bright white color and was burning away my flesh. I could see the muscles and what might have been a bone as I gripped the arrow and pulled it out of my skin. In an instant, the pain returned to me as I cried out feeling all the damage I'd received.
I fell down to my knees holding my wound gasping in pain. Each breath only brought on more pain make me take short shallow breaths. I looked up to Cinder who was still shocked that I had jumped in front of the arrow meant to end Pyrrha and Jaune.
Cinder for the last time notched another arrow and pointed it at me. WHY MUST YOU KEEP GETTING IN MY WAY. IF YOU HADN'T BEEN ON THAT SHIP. IF YOU HADN'T BEEN IN THE VAULT. IF YOU WEREN'T HERE I WOULD ALREADY HAVE WON….YOU JUST HAVE TO BE THE HERO OF THE STORY DON'T YOU…..WELL LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING LITTLE RED….HEROS DIE AND BAD GUYS WIN! HOW'S THAT FOR A STORY!"
Each word Cinder shouted came out filled with rage and frustration. It was true I was the one thing that had disrupted her entire plan. I was the reason she was losing. I was the thing that needed to be eliminated. "GOODBYE RED!" With her final words, Cinder pulled back the arrow ready to fire. She would have killed me if it wasn't for the other person who kept getting in her way.
Neo ran across the room running faster than almost anyone could without the use of a semblance. She ran right into Cinder's side stabbing her long blade into it. Neo didn't stop there she grabbed onto her and kept running. Filled with strength only Yang could beat. Pushing her Neo shoved Cinder into the wall next to where she had blown it open trying to kill Jaune and Pyrrha.
The force of Cinder hitting the barely standing wall caused it to collapse into pieces or concrete tumbling down the side of the building. Without the wall to stop her Cinder fell off the tower with a loud scream.I couldn't imagine what it would've been like to fall to your death but it didn't seem pleasant.
Trying to move I stood up gasping sharply at the sudden pain that flared from my chest. In a second a body was under my shoulder helping me stand. I looked down and stared straight into Neo's brown and pink eyes. With a single blink, the colors switched places then back with another.
I turned with Neo's help to face Jaune and Pyrrha who were still on the floor. Pyrrha was pale but the pressure Jaune had on her wound was slowing down the bleeding enough so she wasn't at the point of bleeding out. Jaune was beaten up just like Pyrrha flinching in pain every time he slightly moves his leg. He still kept pushing down on the wound keeping pressure on it.
Pyrrha's soft voice cracked as she spoke making it clear how tired she was. "Thank you, Ruby. If you hadn't… stepped in front of that arrow….I don't know what I could've done!"
I gave Pyrrha a big small hoping I could cheer her up and make it seem like I wasn't in as much pain as I was. "It was nothing. I mean I couldn't let Cinder kill you! If I did I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself."
Pyrrha let out a weak chuckle trying to mimic the purpose of my grin. "Just hang in there me and Neo will try and contact Goodwitch. Hopefully, she'll be able to help us." Leaving Jaune and Pyrrha Neo helped me walk over to where Cinder had blown away the window.
"Thank you, Neo! I mean it, we would've lost if you didn't help us. A lot more people would've been hurt!" I looked down to the girl who had a bright gleam in her eyes and a smile on her face. Pulling out her phone she typed quickly and proficiently.
Thank you, Ruby. If you hadn't shown up on that ship I would never have tried to go against Roman and Cinder. I was too afraid but when I saw you on the monitors running through the halls it filled me with hope. Then when you accepted me even after I told you all the terrible thing I'd done it made me feel something I'd never felt. When I saw Cinder hurt you it scared me. There's something about you that make me want to fight. Makes me want to speak! I just want to thank you for that.
Reading Neo's message made me want to cry. She was a girl who's been denied a normal life without a choice. She stood up against some of the most ruthless criminals in history and she was thanking me. I didn't know how to respond but to wrap her up in a hug.
Neo seemed like she was going to pull away but after a second she gave in and accepted the embrace. I think for her it was the first hug she had in a very long time. As we held each other Neo's grip tightened too much and I let out a sharp cry of pain. Neo jumped back almost letting me fall but stayed under me. Her eyes apologized but I held up a hand telling her I was ok.
"I'm fine you just squeezed me a little too hard….Quick question can I borrow your scroll I need to call Glynda and I think I dropped mine when Cinder blew up the window." Neo let out a silent sigh as she handed me her scroll. Nodding a quick thank you I clicked on the call button and typed in Glynda's number. Holding it up to my ear I thought as I waited for an answer.
How the hell do I tell Glynda that we beat Cinder and need help?
Please leave any comments or questions you have. I will try and answer the question if you guys have ny that way the story will be clearer. Thank!