"We have to get out of here!" shouted The King.

"But… what about…" Ruby began.

"No time! Quick, I'll provide covering fire!"

King Harkinian once again pulled out his AK-74 and started shooting at the Dovahkiin, but with a quick flick of the wrist, Stannis threw the conjured blade out of his hand. His entire body shimmered with light as the bullets deflected off his master-chef level ward. Luckily, I was quick to deflect the blade out of the air before it could strike The King right in his noggin.

"Wait!" Little Red stood up. "Let me help too!" With the swift pull of a lever, Ruby transformed her Big Dick into quickscope mode, and then aimed it right at Stannis Baratheon.

-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-

Of course, even with their combined firepower, neither King Harkinian nor Ruby could break through Stannis's ward.

"Weiss, see if you can get a hold of Chuckie! Neo, find Shirou and tell him to get a hold of Saber! Maybe she can help us defeat Stannis!"

No need to tell me twice. In the blink of an eye, I was off, trying to get to higher ground to see if I could find Saber's master. I looked back on the battle from time to time. I just hope those two could hold off Stannis for long enough. Ruby's got her speed, but I can't say the same for his royal majesty.

Of course, things didn't go according to plan.

Within seconds, Mermaid Man was back on our trail. "Where do you two whippersnappers think you're going? You cannot escape from me that easily, because I have the power of MONEY on my side! So why…"

In that moment, Gwonam got onto Mermaid Man's back and tried jabbing his blade at his throat. "You think you can get away from me, motherfucker? YOU WILL PAY FOR RUINING MY K/D RATIO! PREPARE TO DIE, MOTHERFUCKER! AYAYAYAYAYAYA!" Mermaid Man tried getting Gwonam off his back, but the genie's weight was too much for him to handle.

Well, that was one problem solved. Now it was time to get back to business…

-SCREEEEEEE!-

Well shit. Look who decided to show up. It was one of those dragons from Skyrim, though I don't really know what it was doing all the way out here. Maybe it was attracted to Stannis's old socks.

It wasn't anything that I couldn't handle.

Just as the dragon landed right on the ground, I somersaulted back down the hill, the dragon's flame passing overhead.

Luckily, Shirou had forgotten to take his rocket launcher with him, so I figured I could use it for just the occasion. My umbrella could probably penetrate through the dragon's thick scales, but I didn't want to take any chances here.

Those flames could ruin my perfectly good trenchcoat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Weiss begin to mount the side of robo-Reptar, trying to find an opening hatch. The fight against Stannis was going too fast for me to catch everything that was going on, so all I could get was a speed-dash here, gunfire there, and the occasional "Wuld-Nah-Kest" and "Zun-Haal-Viik" every once in a while. Sometime in the middle of the fight, I saw Ruby move Yang out of the immediate vicinity so she wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.

I rolled over on the ground and caught the missile launcher in my arms. On the other hand, the dragon was still clawing its way toward me, so I couldn't get enough distance for the rocket to be effective without blowing up in my face.

I was going to need a distraction of some sort.

I tried having a look at my surroundings once more. I could probably get some high ground if I got on top of Reptar, but that would put Chuckie and Weiss at risk, and we couldn't have any of that. Weiss was the main character, and Chuckie was one of the greatest Kung Fu masters of all time.

Ruby and King Harkinian didn't look like they'd be of help anytime soon. The King had taken a piggy-back ride on Ruby's back, and Ruby was doing her damn hardest to keep her distance from the Dovahkiin so he couldn't combo her to death with his move that increases attack speed or the one that slows down time.

Well, it looks like I'll have to make a run for it.

I continued backflipping through the air like a professional gymnast, trying to stay away from the fight between Ruby and Stannis so it couldn't pull any surprise attacks. The dragon still managed to keep pace with me, despite being fatter than Dr. Eggman. Maybe I should start trying to walk like a normal person instead of investing all my energy into unnecessary theatrics.

-PLUNK!-PSHOO!-PSHOO!-

This must be my lucky day. In the blink of an eye, a pair of homing missiles shot out of Reptar's chest and flew straight toward the dragon's backside. They didn't do much damage when they hit, but they still got the dragon to turn around just long enough for me to make my signature move.

Taking a few steps back, I lifted the Type-91 and aimed it at the dragon's chest.

Here goes nothing.

-PSHOO!-POW!-

Critical hit.

The dragon was now shrieking with pain, as now there was a huge gaping hole in the middle of its chest. It didn't last very long, and after only a few seconds, it just collapsed on the ground. Its scales started shimmering with the brightest goddamn light that I've ever seen, and a wave of piss-colored energy washed over me.

If you thought that somehow I would be able to absorb that dragon's soul as the rest of its body turned to dust and bone, well, you're in for a bit of a disappointment. All that energy went straight to Stannis's sword, though since he gotten all the chaos emeralds in Bomberman 64: The Shrekond Attack, it wouldn't do much good at this point.

When I turned back to the main fight, Ruby and Stannis were still at a standstill, mostly because little Red was still running away from all of Stannis's attacks with the help of her semblance.

"Let me ask you this once again, young maiden, hand over that man this instant!" demanded the Lord of Dragonstone and Skyrim.

"Nope, make me!"

"If you insist with this foolishness." Keeping his sword trained on Ruby and her Big Dick, Stannis suddenly rushed at Gwonam and Mermaid Man, so he could take the magical genie unawares. "Wuld-Nah-Kest!"

Yet right before Stannis could slice the man's head off with a quick swing from Lightbringer, Gwonam instantly grabbed a hold of Mermaid Man, swung him around in front, and wrapped his arm around his fat neck, using him as a human shield. "FUCK YOU, MOTHERFUCKER!" Gwonam swiftly wrapped his open hand around his hostage's fat belly and drew out a fully-loaded, sawed-off shotgun from under his black cloak.

-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-

"You do not have the skills to take down a pro-as-heck master of the Wuju style! My level of swag exceeds the bushels upon bushels of weed smoked by Snoop Dog on a daily basis! Now DIIIEEE!"

-BOOM!-BOOM!-BOOM!-

"Gee whiz boy," remarked Mermaid Man, "I didn't even know I had that thing!"

None of Gwonam's firepower had any effect on Stannis, seeing how often he kept bringing up his ward. He hadn't even needed to drink any potions yet, and the fight was just beginning. Now seemed like a good time to intervene, but I didn't want to take any chances, seeing how easily he outplayed our psychic Tarot card reader.

While Gwonam was reloading his gun, Stannis brought his free hand out.

-KABOOM!-

A streak of lighting burst forth, bypassing Mermaid Man and striking Gwonam directly, but the old wise magician still looked like he had some juice in him.

"Please," pleaded Mermaid Man, "I do not want to die! I still must find my Barnacle Boy! Barnacle Boy! Come back to me, Barnacle Boy!"

At around this point, Weiss had stumbled over to Ruby's position, lugging the ginger baby in her arms, all covered in soot and ash. I couldn't tell if he was unconscious from all the heat that had built up inside that giant robot or whether he passed out from smelling Weiss's gas.

"Ruby!" She dropped Chuckie onto the ground, panting like she was out of breath. I started making my way over to the two of them.

"Weiss, good to see you're alright. Neo, any signs of Shirou?"

Not yet, though I haven't really looked all that hard, seeing as I had to deal with a fully grown dragon. We might be able to make some dough off its bones later, once we get back to the city.

"Well," said little Red, "we'll just have to look harder while the genie distracts him."

"But what do we do, Ruby? We still don't have a plan for dealing with this guy!"

"I don't know! I thought just trowing Yang at all our problems would solve everything, but I guess we'll have to find something else."

At that moment, The King jumped off from Ruby's back, "Might I suggest something?"

"Like what?" Weiss crossed her arms. "You're the one who got us into this mess!"

"Well I probably should have mentioned this to you earlier, but…"

"Look out!" shouted Weiss.

When I looked to where the heiress was pointing, I saw the Dovahkiin's Bullhead trying to make a getaway.

Why would he be trying to run now of all times?

Though, on a second look, Stannis still seemed to be preoccupied with Gwonam, who had gotten back on his magic carpet. Mermaid Man was still being held hostage, and Cinder was still struggling to get back up. Yang hadn't moved from where Ruby had last placed her.

Once the transport was about fifty feet off the ground, a guy with a couple of bullets in his face slid out and fell face flat onto the ground.

That could only mean one thing.

When Stannis saw his Bullhead rising off the ground, his helmet jolted as his head turned to examine the area. "What the hell is going on? I didn't give an order to retreat! Dammit!"

After disarming Gwonam with a shout and rescuing his fat companion from the genie's clutches, the false king rushed over to where Cinder was and picked her up.

"Now!" shouted Ruby.

As Stannis raised his fist to fling a fireball at the escaping ship, Weiss got in close and plunged her sacred ancestral sword into the ground, causing a cage of ice to form around the false king.

Looks like we had our opening.

As the rest of us charged toward him, all Stannis could do was turn his head and look upon us with confusion on his face. "What?"

Ruby launched herself off the ground with the spring in her Big Dick, and began spinning in the air. "THIS IS FOR KILLING OUR FRIEND!"

But just then, I saw a deep orange glow emerge from deep under the ice. In an instant, the ice shattered and a wave of fire swept over little Red as Cinder spread her arms out and channeled her fiery semblance.

I should have expected as much from my former boss.

Still, it was too late to back out. While Ruby was still screaming in pain, I drew the blade out of my umbrella, ran in close, and tried to make a deep cut across Cinder and Stannis's backside. Unfortunately, the false king was too quick for the count, and with one fell swoop, he shot the blade out of my hand, though I managed to dodge the follow-up swing with my insane reflexes. For anyone else, that blow would have clipped them in one hit, so I guess I should consider myself lucky. Not everyone has the skills of Batman and Superman and Spiderman combined.

Now that Cinder was able to stand up on her feet again, Stannis laid her onto the ground. "It looks like I still have some use for you, witch."

"Do not underestimate my own capabilities. Shall we make leave?" Cinder pointed up to the Bullhead, which was now beginning to land on the Egg Carrier. Her other hand was busy fishing through her pockets for her scroll, but all she pulled out was scrap metal.

Stannis clenched his fists. "Very well." He turned to us. "Consider yourselves lucky today, for the next time we meet in battle I shall show you no mercy. Until we meet again."

I watched as the three of them walked away, trying to catch a plane at the next town over before the Egg Carrier got away. I couldn't help but notice little Red spinning round and round while poking her burns, saying "Owwie!" every time she did so.

"Ruby, you dunce, would you stop doing that?" said Weiss as she planted her hands on her hips.

"But, Weiss, it huuuuurts!"

Little Red collapsed onto the ground. Chuckie looked like he was hurt pretty bad as well, but he was too unconscious to say anything about. Looking back over Muhammad Avdol's corpse, we were going to have to bury it sometime soon or else he was going to turn into a ghost and watch us while we go to the bathroom like some sick bastard who likes to write stories about cartoon characters suffering from indigestion after eating fast food.

But then I had a look at Yang Xiao Long.

What in the world? This doesn't look too good.

"What is it, Neo?" Weiss said as I gestured her to come over. Seeing as the heiress doesn't seem to understand basic English, I had to use nonverbal communication to get her to talk. Once she was close, she jumped back a bit. "Wha… When did this happen?"

"What are you two girls up to?" said The King.

"Your majesty, come over here quick!"

After King Harkinian stepped in between me and Weiss, he said, "Holy shit!"

The back of Blondie's skull was riddled with bullet holes. A note was pinned down between her shoulder blades with a simple Kunai. It said, "I used to be an incompetent, pig-faced virgin like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee."

Well, to be honest, I've seen worse, done worse actually, but losing our best man put quite the damper in my soul. Whoever did this wasn't any amateur, seeing as they've eluded even my scent.

No, we were dealing with a real first-class ninja over here.

As Weiss lowered her ear to Yang's dead body, The King ripped out the note and had a look over it. "What is this horseshit? What kind of uncouth mongrel would write such obscenities?" He threw the note to the ground.

The heiress leaned back up. "She's dead alright. Ugh… Great, now what do we do?"

King Harkinian then wiped his forehead, and then made a pious gesture with his hands. "This is my fault, girls. I should not have led you on such a dangerous quest. Gwonam!"

The magical genie pushed himself off the ground. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Gather up the dead so we may be ready once King Leonidas gets here."

Ruby sprung out of her unconsciousness, "Did you say King Leonidas is going to be here?"

Weiss jumped before her teammate spreading her arms out, "Ruby, don't look!"

But it was already too late, "Yang!"

Little Red ran over to Yang's dead body and knelt right next to it, tears beginning to stream out of her blackened eyes. I couldn't help but notice The King raising his right finger as if to speak, but something had stopped him.

Ruby turned to the three of us, as Gwonam threw Muhammad's stinking corpse onto his magic carpet, "We can revive her right? All we have to do is get a Phoenix Down or find a necromancer or something like that, right?"

"I dunno," said Weiss, "I think she's gone for good."

"But… but we're supposed to be part of a team and find Daenerys Targaryen and the great Kung Fu masters together!"

"I'm sorry, Ruby."

I turned around just as Ruby leaned forward to hug her teammate, taking one hard suck on my nicotine lollipop. I could do without all this hugging and kissing and stupid kids stuff mucking up my day-to-day life.

And then I saw them.

A few hundred feet ahead of us, Leonidas of Sparta jumped out of Rider's pitch black chariot and started making his way toward us with a graceful stride, though I can't really say how he got there without any of us noticing. Behind him, Pyrrha jumped out of a bright red SUV, leaving a naked and comatose Jaune in the front seat, bound by a single leather cord. I didn't really want to know what went on between a faithful husband and his loving wife when the sun went down, but I knew it couldn't be any good.

When he faced King Harkinian, the King of Sparta made a kneeling bow, reaching his hand to his exposed left chest, and then stood back up. His eyes then turned to Yang, "It seems I came too late. I am sorry for your loss."

The King of Hyrule waved his hand, "There is nothing you could have done. I should have taken a safer route."

"Maybe, but we shouldn't dwell on it too much." Leonidas stepped to the side. "My daughter, Pyrrha Nikos." The red-haired girl simply smiled and waved.

Pyrrha stepped up to the remaining members of RWBY, "It is a pleasure to meet you once again, though I seem to have arrived at a bad time."

King Harkinian turned to his fellow king, holding him by the shoulder. "I'm sorry to ask this of you, but could you perform the necessary rites for our friends?"

"Wait!" shouted Ruby as she raised her hand and stood up. "Mister Sparta-guy, do you think you can help us bring back my big sis?"

Leonidas began making his way back to the chariot, but then turned back, "One should not meddle in Hades's affairs, but perhaps I can aid you on your quest. Is it true that you wage war against the vampire Nora Valkyrie, and by extension Gilgamesh?" Ruby nodded, though Weiss held her arms crossed. "Come. Let us return back to the capital."

We all started making our way for Pyrrha's SUV. I watched Gwonam glide over and pile the dead bodies in the trunk right next to some strange tools Pyrrha used to keep her boyfriend in check. Once that was said and done, King Harkinian and his vizier went back to the magic carpet, carrying Chuckie in their arms. After Leonidas returned to his chariot, the remaining four of us jumped into the van. I looked back over the seats to look at Yang's dead body as we all started getting back on the road.

This was definitely Nora's doing. I couldn't say just what Nora had planned or how the hell she managed to kill our best member without any of us seeing it, but this time she crossed the line.

Nora was going to pay for this.

A/N: Hi everyone! That's the end of that arc. I hope y'all still like this trainwreck of a story. I don't know if I was able to use everyone's abilities and stuff to their fullest potential, and I might have ended the fight too early, but I hope y'all still like it anyway. Any thoughts on recent plot development and stuff? Let me know if you have any comments or questions or anything like that. The next chapter's going to be another intermission chapter, though we'll be seeing a different perspective this time. Stay tuned!