Time for another part of the battle. This is going to be another mostly-fight chapter. Here's hoping I can keep you all entertained.
Qrow stared Cinder down as they stood across from each other.
"I'd make this hurt, but my niece's friend is in there." Qrow said, "But that doesn't mean I won't do what I have to."
Cinder smirked.
"That's fine with me." Cinder said.
Cinder put her arm up and began to launch fireballs at Qrow, who used Harbringer in its sword form to block the blasts. Once Cinder's barrage stopped, Qrow rushed at her. Cinder created a pair of glass swords that blocked against Qrow's sword. Qrow pushed Cinder's weapons back as Cinder struggled. Cinder thought fast and jumped back, using her abilities to shoot a stream of fire that let her fly back and up on top of a house's roof.
"So, you're the bringer of bad luck?" Cinder asked, "I'm certainly not impressed."
"You do know that I have been toying with you, right?" Qrow asked.
"You're bluffing!" Cinder said.
"Am I?" Qrow asked.
Qrow activated his shotgun and opened fire on Cinder. Cinder created a wave of fire that incinerated the bullets before they could hit. When the wall went down, Cinder was met by Qrow, who swung his sword at her. Cinder put a glass sword up to block the attack, but she was sent flying. Cinder created her bow and arrows and launched them at Qrow. Qrow jumped back to avoid the arrows as they smashed into the house and caused an explosion that lit the old, crumbling houses on fire.
"Oh, look at what you did." Cinder said as the fire began to spread around Qrow.
Qrow kept his sword ready as he searched for Cinder. Cinder rushed through the fire and at Qrow, swinging her swords. Qrow blocked the weapons with his own. Cinder pulled a sucker move and destroyed her glass swords, switching to a spear. Cinder quickly spun around, hitting Qrow back with her new weapon.
"So, we're expanding our arsenal now?" Qrow asked, "Alright."
Cinder launched at Qrow by using her powers. Qrow's sword transformed into a scythe and he spun it around, hitting Cinder and sending her flying.
Back with Ren and Nora, Jaune was about to be killed by the Nuckelavee.
"Rgh..." Jaune moaned as he held the beast's hand back with his sword.
"Jaune, watch out!" Ren said.
Jaune looked over to Ren and Nora and saw a barrage of grenades coming towards the Nuckelavee. The Grimm turned towards the grenades and got blasted in the face, letting go of Jaune in the process. Jaune got up and ran back over to his friends.
"What's the plan?" Jaune asked, "You do have a plan, right?"
"Yes." Ren said, "I need you and I to take care of the monster's arms so Nora can take care of the horse. Is that understood?"
Jaune nodded.
"He's getting back up!" Nora said.
The Nuckelavee released a huge shriek as it launched an arm towards JNR. Jaune and Ren rolled to the side as Nora jumped up a building, providing cover fire for her teammates. Ren climbed up the tree in the middle of the plaza and fired at the Grimm. The Nuckelavee's sent its right arm towards Ren. Ren jumped out of the tree and onto the Nuckelavee's arm. Ren jumped up and fired at the beast as he flew through the air. The Nuckelavee swung the arm it used to attack Ren, who just barely dodged it.
"Now!" Ren said.
Jaune stabbed his great sword down into the Nuckelavee's left hand, which was resting on the ground. The beast let out a cry of pain and turned to the side, kicking Jaune with its hind legs. Jaune rolled across the ground as Ren went for his target. Ren dropped down and slid down the Nuckelavee's free arm. Ren jumped up before reaching the hand and, when he landed, he stabbed his weapons into the monster's hand, effectively pinning it to the ground.
"Nora, your turn!" Ren said.
Nora dropped off of a tall building, smiling as she fell down. Nora flipped over and over until she slammed her hammer into the horse head, killing that part of the Grimm. Ren pulled his father's old knife out and approached the Nuckelavee.
Back with Qrow and Cinder, the battle was heating up, quite literally.
"Agh!" Cinder cried as she was hit back by Qrow's scythe.
Qrow rushed over to Cinder and kicked her down. Qrow stood over Cinder, pinning her down.
"You're lucky that Ruby's friend is in you." Qrow said, "Otherwise, I'd kill you right now."
"Your compassion will be your downfall." Cinder said.
Cinder raised her hand up and a strange shape formed under Qrow and Cinder and a scream-like sound could be heard. Before Qrow knew how to react, an explosion engulfed the twosome and sent Qrow and Cinder flying.
Jaune, who was down on the ground, watched as Cinder landed next to him. Cinder got up next to the weakened Jaune and created a glass spear.
"I suppose it was about time that you died." Cinder said, "After all, it's where you belong."
Ren walked over to the Nuckelavee's torso and held the knife out.
"For my mother. For my father. For all of those that you've slain." Ren thought, pausing between each sentence to cut another part of the Nuckelavee off, "For myself."
Ren cut the Nuckelavee's head off. As the beast faded out, something else happened.
Cinder was about to thrust the spear into Jaune, but she suddenly gasped and fell over, the spear collapsing as she fell. Cinder landed on the ground as Jaune got up.
"Pyrrha?" Jaune asked, holding Cinder up, "Pyrrha, are you in there? PYRRHA?!"
Jaune shook Pyrrha/Cinder back and forth, trying to wake her up.
"Wake up! PYRRHA!" Jaune cried.
Ren, Nora, and Qrow, who was carrying Ruby, approached Jaune as he held Pyrrha/Cinder in his arms.
"Where are you, Pyrrha?" Jaune asked.
Meanwhile, in Pyrrha's mind, one last battle was about to be fought. Pyrrha stood opposite to Cinder.
"They might have killed the Nuckelavee." Cinder said, "But I will kill you here and take this body for myself."
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha said, "But I can't let you do that."
"Then you die all over again." Cinder said.
Cinder and Pyrrha readied their weapons, which they had in the realm of their mind for some reason, and then rushed at each other. They knew that only one could remain.
Sorry to put things on a cliffhanger, but I wanted to save Pyrrha and Cinder's fight for the finale. I hope this was a pretty decent chapter. The next chapter will be the Volume finale.
Powerhouse out.
