Someone in the reviews had a problem with me describing Adam as inexplicably weaker, and specifically stated that proper frame of mind and increased strength on Blake and Yang's part was enough to win.

Absolute bullshit. Neither Yang or Blake have gained any significant strength. Yang is actually weaker, since she stagnated for months. You can't recover from that in days- inactivity can kill your career if you work boxing, mixed martial arts, etc. Blake didn't have that same issue, but she hasn't been training either. She should be just as powerful as she was back in season 3, which was nothing in the face of Adam.

Adam has a ridiculous set of skills which are perfectly tailored to take them on. His shadows are aggressive, allowing him to keep up with Blake's defenses, while his moonslice can completely ignore Yang's semblance by hitting so hard she loses her entire aura in one attack. Granted, he had a moments charge time, but the result is undeniable. He should win, not them. Their victory was plot armor, and nothing more.

On top of that, he lists frame of mind and their lack of fear as compelling reasons for them to win. What the fuck are you smoking, dude? Yang is supposed to have PTSD, and you think she's going to be fearless!? More importantly, why doesn't she have any hesitation or even guilt about straight up murdering someone?

Blake shouldn't be any better, as the Battle of Haven moment was a complete cop out on the writers parts that ruined one of Adam's best qualities- his lingering presence. None of the villains had that after volume five, actually, with volume six killing off the only villain who might be able to earn it back: Adam.

So yes, Adam was heavily nerfed. He was setup as leagues above them in volume three, and with no training or significant powerups Blake and Yang were able to straight up murder him with minimal difficulty. Saying otherwise is an insult to my- and your- intelligence.


Sorry about the rant... That review just really pissed me off. It came at a bad time, too, since I just woke up at six on my day off for a test I didn't even need to go to. I'm leaving it in because it makes a salient point.

Powerscaling has never been RWBY's strongsuit, and that's fine. Thanks to Monty's animation, I don't think anyone really cared about discrepancies- the spectacle mattered more than their strength, and the outcome of each fight still aligned with our expectations. With the fight choreography in the shitter (Cinder vs Neo notwithstanding) that element has been lost, and more thought should be put into how their fights are arranged.

As a writer myself, who specifically has an overpowered MC, stuff like this is important to me. It sucks to see these problems in a show I used to love, and it's that very feeling that compels me to create this. I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinions, but this isn't one. Miles and Kerry are not proficient at writing action. That's fine- I personally suck at writing dialogue, even with years of experience on it- but failing to recognize those faults and having people cover for them is not going to get that fixed. I want you to bring up writing issues in my work, with suggestions or tips on how to fix it. The fact that they don't, and that they shield themselves from criticism, is more of a problem than the failures themselves.

Please, keep watching if you enjoy it, but don't assume I'm wrong just because I don't agree.

Thank you.


"What did we miss?"

Everyone in the room turned at his words, and an uncomfortable amount of them looked annoyed by the interruption. That passed, thankfully, replaced by wide smiles and sounds of surprise.

"OSCAR!" Nora cheered, shooting forward and tackling him to the ground. "Welcome back!"

He tried to say something back, but any sound was muffled into her breasts- and oh, those were soft.

Oscar paused.

Figures. Normally Ozpin would have given him some remark about how he was thousands of years old and wouldn't accept being in a lustful teenager. No such luck, so he couldn't even confirm that bastard was still there.

At least Maria eased his other concerns.

Maria glanced up from her drink as he sat down opposite her. Without eyes, reading her expression was difficult, but the narrowing of her visor was enough to say he'd gotten her attention.

Except... He didn't actually know what to say. He'd had a moment to calm down, so he wasn't panicking, but what exactly was he hoping to address here?

"You're still troubled about your future- both the battle and Ozpin- aren't you?

Or she could hit the nail on the head within seconds. That works too. "Well, yeah... Wouldn't you? I'd fought a creep before- a dog sized thing with just two legs and a mouth- but that was it. Now I'm up against criminals, monsters, and an immortal lady who Ozpin couldn't even kill in over a thousand years!"

Maria took a sip of her drink. "And you think complaining about it is going to solve your problems?"

His head fell. "No, but what should I be doing? I need a plan- guidance- something."

"If its a plan you're looking for-" she smirked, "you shouldn't be coming to me. I lost my eyes to a simple ambush, which could have been avoided if I just Gorgon'd a single Nevermore before it hit the bridge I was standing on." She took another drink and tipped back in her chair. "Guidance, on the other hand? That I can do."

"Anything," Oscar pleaded, leaning forward.

"Well, to start, what do YOU want?"

Huh? What did he want? To go home, mainly. This whole adventure had been running him ragged, even before their end goal was literally stated to be impossible. Somehow, he felt like that wasn't the answer she was looking for.

What else was there? Stay alive was another obvious answer, but was too vague. He could do that in any number of ways, and it didn't really leave a direction for him to follow either.

"I... I don't know."

She nodded. "Yep."

Oscar blinked. "What? That's it?"

"Oh no- that's just the starting point," she stated flatly. "Let me tell you something. Until two days ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was just roaming the world, seeking a purpose that wouldn't come." She smiled bitterly. "I had a purpose, once, but it wasn't even my own. It was assigned to me, because of what I could do. One of the others- Weiss- has a similar option set before her. She could spend her life for the betterment of the Schnee family coffers, but she chose a purpose of her own instead."

"Helping us?" he guessed.

"Not in the slightest." She went to take another sip of her drink, but found it empty. With a sigh, she set it down again. "You said you were a farmhand, correct?" He nodded. "Tell me, Why did you work the fields?"

"To help feed my family?"

Maria grinned. "Exactly. You did it to protect the status quo- your family, your home, your life. People fight hard for that; many people have willingly died to uphold what they consider to be normal. For some, that's a worthy sacrifice. If I had to guess, that's what Ozpin was thinking for thousands of years. However, that thought process also leads to stagnation and complications with new developments, like the faunus."

"Is this supposed to be comforting?"

"Oh Oum, no!" She laughed, only stopping when she noted his deadpan expression. "This is leading up to something I swear. Before that, though, I want you to ask yourself something. You thought on what you wanted earlier- can you name a single thing you thought of that wasn't like that?"

He... He couldn't.

"That's why you are having problems," she explained. "You don't desire a change, so you don't have a thing to work towards. You can only play defense like that, and no offense, but you're terrible at that."

"And how does this help me with Ozpin?"

She stood up, planting a hand on his shoulder as she passed. "Why would you need help with someone who surrendered?"

Without another word, Maria strode out the door.

Huh... She was right. Why was he-

"Are you paying for her, sir?" a waiter asked, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up, specifically at the cup still sitting on the table.

Dammit.

Leaving him with the bill aside, she'd been a great help. He didn't have a proper plan yet, but that was fine. He knew what he actually wanted- to surpass Ozpin and finally bring an end to the Grimm threat.

It was a lofty ambition- many would consider it ridiculous or impossible- but that was just an excuse for giving up.

"So," he began once he was finally back on his feet. "What are we gonna be doing to get to Atlas?"


"I still can't believe you all agreed to this," Qrow chided through his headset. "This is idiocy."

Pfft, no it's not. Qrow just didn't understand her tactical genius. Watch- in an hours time they'd all be on their way to Atlas and he'd be praising the great and wise leader Ruby.

Now, if they'd just gone with the mailing idea, then he might have had a point. Hijacking the bullhead that transports the mail mid flight, on the other hand? Even Jaune had praised the idea, so it had to be good. Those protections, like passcodes and keys? They'd have already been put in by the pilot.

All they'd have to do is knock out one or two guys, and then follow Maria's instructions to the letter so they didn't crash into a cliff! It was perfect!

So why was there a mountain's worth of butterflies drowning her insides?

"I really don't think you should have sent me..." Jaune groaned from the inside of a large suitcase. Ah- that was it. It wasn't panic; she was suffering from vomit induced nausea.

"Fear not, brave hero, for you have the most important job of all!" Namely, empowering Ren so they didn't get swarmed by Grimm when they moved into their territory. Bullheads were fast, but not subtle, and they'd need to stop to pick everyone up. They'd survive, obviously, but the bullhead would almost certainly be destroyed during the battle.

The rumbling of an engine was their only companion for a few minutes. Jaune wasn't talking for obvious reasons, and Ren was being his usual calm self. Hm... Maybe she should have gotten Nora or Blake involved with this part of the plan. At least then she'd have someone to talk to.

Ah well. It was game time anyway.

The burlap sac fell away, leaving her in a dark room filled with tons of packages and letters. The two biggest containers popped open to reveal Jaune and Ren, the former of which was currently gasping for air.

Eugh, we are definitely throwing that overboard. Thankfully, she'd be escaping the smell entirely. The cargo bay, at the base of a bullhead, didn't open to the inside of the ship itself, so she'd be safe once she got into the cockpit.

"You got this," Ruby whispered to herself as she brought up her scroll. The torch function lit up the room, and she quickly scanned for a lever Maria said would be there.

It was a button now, since Atlas was Atlas, but she found it easily enough. The problem only came when she hit it.

"Uh, Maria?"

"Yeah?"

"Did we, uh... have a contingency for if the door refused to open?"

Qrow was the one who answered that. "Break the hinges? They should be inside, and we don't really need the door for our trip."

Yeah, but she hadn't wanted to spill everyone's mail into the ocean... It was a worthy sacrifice, but she'd prefer not to make any of them.

Crescent Rose extended in her hand, fluidly slicing through both latches in a single stroke. The door fell away, exposing them to the midday sun- though not a sudden drop in air pressure. They weren't high enough, so nothing was sucked out into the open air.

The pilots were still alerted, though, which meant she needed to work fast. Ren's semblance came over her, purging any lingering nerves, and she was off into the open air.

To an outside observer, it would look as though a red cloth whipped out of the cargo bay and across through the side door. The cockpit door split in half with a single stroke, shattering with a single semblance-enhanced kick.

Ruby blurred forward, gripping both pilots by the back of their collars. She would be the first to admit she lacked physical strength, but her semblance made up for that by propelling her backwards. In a single motion, they were thrown from their chairs and into the back wall- knocked out cold. They looked to have aura, but clearly weren't trained in its use. Fortunate, since it made this as painless a process as possible.

"It's done."

"Damn, seriously?" Qrow paused, perhaps realizing just how insulting that was. Not that she really cared- Ren's semblance was great for that. "Alright- come pick us up. I assume you know how to turn."

Ruby rolled her eyes, taking a seat in one of the vacated chairs. The control stick was standard, and with no chance to send an alarm, they were home free.

Except...

"ADV25-320, why are you turning around?" Their tone made it clear they didn't know- or even suspect- anything. Why would they, when Grimm were so common? That's why these things weren't entirely automated, even by Atlas.

But Ruby couldn't say she'd spotted some Grimm, now could she? While she hadn't heard the two speak, it was a reasonable guess neither of the middle aged men had a voice like hers.

Maybe Ren could have done it, but then they'd have confirmation codes or the like, wouldn't they?

She remained silent, knowing it would take another few seconds before they triggered the alarm, and stuck to the plan.


"A stolen bullhead?"

"Yes, miss Cordovin," one of their privates- Yorick, if she recalled correctly- confirmed. "It was one of the Atlas Distribution Vehicles, so it doesn't have any weaponry we'd need to be concerned with, but it was still carrying a number of packages to Atlas."

Cordovin sighed. "And since we don't know what was in them..." She straightened up, as did everyone else in the room in response. "I will attend to this personally. Given who attempted to get a trip to Atlas yesterday, I think I have an old friend to visit." She paused, glancing about the room for something, but not finding it. "Is Camille not here?"

"She's on break," another one of them dutifully reported. "She should be back in thirteen minutes, ma'am."

"Nevermind, I'll prep the Colossus myself." Cordovin made her way to the door, pausing there for a moment. "Tell her she's in charge when she gets back- until then, just don't. Do. Anything."

She kept her controlled posture and vague expression all the way to the hanger, and then into the mech itself. An elevator took her up, allowing her into the open control center where she finally relaxed. The chair was comfortable, and she was away from the watchful eyes of her men.

A smile grew as the door sealed, accompanied by the hanger peeling open. It took a moment for the Colossus to activate- along with numerous buttons and switches- but she was practiced in its use.

It was time to show why nobody messes with Atlas.