ACT 2: No Brakes
"You know what's strange? So many Hunters you see traipsing about are predominantly humans. You'd only see a handful of them walking around with telltale signs of their bestial heritage, and that's if you're lucky. There's a reason for that, see.
"Earlier, Qrow gave a brief introductory lecture about the Faunus, correct? I'd like to expand a bit more about their genetics - the genome sequences the scientists were able to map out showed near identical match to that of a normal human's, though albeit with noticeable discrepancies, presumably to account for their, well, animalistic traits. Still, that leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and a chief one among them is Aura, or rather, lack thereof. Take a sample population size of a hundred for instance; the number of Faunus individuals that can manifest Aura could be counted by fingers in one hand. For humans, it's more of a coin toss.
"Scientists are still scratching their heads about why this happens. Some speculate that the genes required for Aura manifestation and Faunus' bestial characteristics are mutually exclusive, and so competing over one another for dominance. Most of the time, the latter wins, though on rare occasions, a little genetic mutation allows for the two genes to, well, co-exist to a degree, allowing certain Faunus individuals to utilise Aura, while still retaining their Faunus heritage.
"Another theory, albeit far-fetched in the eyes of many, suggests that Faunus was once humanity's ancestors, and that the first humans were born when the 'Aura genes' became the dominant strains, and atrophied the Faunus' animalistic traits, rendering it vestigial. If you examine the human skeletal system, you can see the coccyx, also known as tail bone. Doesn't it remind you of, say, a tail? What of the wisdom teeth, the muscles connected to the ear? Doesn't seem so far-fetched now, does it?"
-Taiyang Xiao Long
Another train car decoupled itself, and team RALY jumped on to the next car. Within seconds, the car exploded in a ball of raging fire, resulting in yet another crater forming overhead, and Grimm poured down the hole from the surface above. This was the third, and by now the Regalities had a solid grasp on the full extent of Roman's plan.
The cab of the train, the locomotive, was several carriages ahead of them, the otherwise clear path obstructed by White Fang insurgents who were aboard. Their suppressive fire forced the team of aspiring Hunters to duck into one of the compartment, this one thankfully devoid of timed explosives.
Their moment of respite was brief, as the carriage door slid open, and in rushed more White Fang guards, fully armed. Clangs of steel rang as both sides locked weapons, team RALY being forced on the defensive, their full combat potentials hindered by their hesitation to use lethal force against those who could not utilise Aura in any tangible forms as means of protection.
The White Fang terrorists had no such qualms. And neither did Bartholomew Oobleck, for that matter. The image of a studious scholar was gone, and in his place stood a formidable Huntsman, well-learned in the arts of murder to a brutally efficient degree. His thermic lance in his grasps, he shot a jet of fire, capitalising on the narrow passageway of the train doorway to bottleneck his opposition, effectively cooking them alive. Those who stood near the back scampered away in retreat.
Yang and Ren gaped at their supervising Huntsman, perturbed by his murderous acts. Granted, their circumstances couldn't afford them any leniency to act otherwise, but still, murder was murder.
Oobleck didn't bat an eye. They weren't his first students to regard him with such looks, and as long as he remained a professor, he was certain they weren't going to be the last.
Jaune and Ruby, on the other hand, didn't seem as disturbed, almost as if they've seen it before.
"Children- no, students," Oobleck corrected himself, for the hardships they've gone through and was about to face was going to undoubtedly change them. "As your superior and as your teacher, I have one, and only one, order for you all, and that is to stop this train, no matter the cost. We can't afford to fail, there are too many lives are at stake."
The four Regalities froze, their complexion turning pale. The true extent of the responsibilities resting on their shoulders was beginning to dawn on them, as well as the disastrous consequences that could follow if they failed. The burden was crushingly heavy, and Oobleck hated that things had to come down to this.
It felt wrong, forcing these students to bear burdens that shouldn't have been theirs to begin with. Even though they were all here by their own volitions, they were still children, innocent youths.
Was it determination that spurred them, or resignation to the inevitable? Or perhaps teetering on the fine line between the two? Regardless, Oobleck watched them in pride as the Regalities locked eyes with one another, seeing their own resolve reflected in others' eyes, and collectively nodded as one.
"Thank you, all of you," said Oobleck. Brandishing his lance, he led them through the door to the next carriage, team RALY falling in line behind him. More White Fang soldiers came to meet them head-on, the forefront insurgent crashing into Yang in a storm of fists and kicks. Though physically smaller, Yang's skills proved superior as she blocked a kick with hers, sweeping the Faunus off his feet with her other leg and slammed him down with a beatdown.
Ren displayed his combat prowess in a contrasting style of grace, letting a wild punch thrown in his direction barely slide over him, before pulling his opponent closer and delivered a powerful strike with his palm, the resulting momentum knocking the Faunus over, unconscious. Another Faunus stepped in, her twin daggers poised to strike the Eastern Mistralian, were it not for Ruby's sharp eyes as she shot the blades out of the grunt's hand. A moment of befuddlement from the White Fang soldier was long enough for the adept to incapacitate the soldier with a swift chop to the neck.
While lacking the finesse of his arguably superior companions, Jaune stood fast, holding his own ground against his own opponent, a Faunus with a similar taste in blunt weapons as his personal nemesis, Cardin Winchester. However, unlike his former tormentor, this brute of a Faunus wasn't a Huntsman in training, but a thug with a weapon.
Using the Faunus' own momentum against him, Jaune sidestepped a blow from his opponent and bypassed his guard, intent on cutting him with his blade, only to hold himself back at the last minute and tried to bludgeon the terrorist with the flat side of his sword instead.
That proved to be a mistake, as the blow bounced off the Faunus' armoured vest, leaving Jaune open for an attack. Wide-eyed, Jaune could only watch as the grinning Faunus raised his mace to deliver a fatal blow.
Oobleck was quick to step in and skewered the Faunus right through his sternum, kicking the corpse off his lance.
"Professor, I-" Jaune stammered.
"Do not hold back, Mr. Arc!" The historian barked. "Hesitate for even an instance, and you not only put your own life at risk, but your friends' as well! Many people could die if we don't stop this train, remember that, Mr. Arc!"
Oobleck tilted his head as a bladed projectile whisked past him, and countered with a swift thrust that caught the assailant square in the neck, instantly killing him. Lifting his lance with the body still impaled, Oobleck rammed against a cluster of White Fang guards, forcing them back until they found themselves pinned against the car wall. With a flick of switch jet of fire hissed forth, incinerating the whole lot of them alive.
"You bastard!" One of the few remaining Faunus insurgents bull-rushed the historian, screaming bloody-murder. Yang decided to intercept the enraged Faunus and shot her fist forward. The punch unintentionally carried more force than intended, and the struck Faunus crashed into the train carriage's side door. The Faunus flailed, succumbing to the momentum that carried him out through the door and down into the track, straight into the train wheels like ground meat.
"Shit, I… That wasn't what I… I didn't mean to…" Yang stood rooted on the spot, wide-eyed. A hand clasped on her shoulder, and the blonde fighter jumped, face frozen in panic. "Prof, it was an accident, I swear I didn't mean to-"
"You did what you had to, Miss Xiao Long. It wasn't your fault," Oobleck reassured her. "I understand that it's difficult, but I must ask you to be strong, for your team, for the people of Midgard."
"Right, right, I… got it." Yang took a shuddering breath, attempting to hold herself together. She regained her bearings, but refused to meet anyone's eyes, fearing what she'd see in theirs if she did.
"Yang…"
Yang squeezed her eyes shut. "Sorry Ruby, just… not now, 'kay? Please."
As if struck, Ruby recoiled, but obliged nonetheless. With one last glance at the distressed blonde, Oobleck led the Regalities to the next car, Ruby following close behind. Yang allowed Jaune to pass through first, before trailing after him. Another hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks, and she turned to see Ren's piercing eyes meeting hers.
"It's alright. We've got your back," Ren said.
Yang's breath hitched. There was neither accusation nor disapproval in his eyes, only sincerity. Unable to form a word without breaking down, she simply nodded, turning away so he couldn't see the tears that welled up in her eyes.
The next train car was empty, though the door leading to the next carriage was malfunctioning. Oobleck pointed at the hatch overhead and the ladder that hung down from its edge, and climbed up.
"Whoa…!" Jaune swayed as he tried to balance himself on a fast-moving train car. The walls of the tunnel sped past them in blurs, and he felt the familiar sensation of nausea creeping up his digestive tract. The urgency of the circumstances helped him retain his dignity somewhat, and he managed to stave the urge to vacate the contents of his stomach, however little there was to heave up.
They jumped over to the next carriage with relative ease. The hatch was sealed, though Ruby easily bypassed the problem by shooting it open. She jumped down first, Jaune following close behind, sword at the ready. There was no welcoming reception from the hostile Faunus, much to their relief.
It was short-lived, however. From several carriages ahead, the White Fang insurgents brought out the big guns, and several Atlesian Vikings jumped into view. Modelled after the Paladin prototype, the Vikings were smaller, though still boasted considerable armour and firepower. Designed with heavy frontline combat in mind, the Vikings were outfitted with twin gatling cannons that fired 20mm rounds with deadly accuracy.
Oobleck swore. He was under the impression that the Vikings were still undergoing field tests in military research stations in Atlas. How did the White Fang ever get their hands on these war machines?
Said war machines slowly advanced, the automatic cannons slowly spinning to life, ready to empty its lethal payload on the intruders. In a split second Oobleck acted, and shoved Ren and Yang down the hatch.
"Prof, what are you doing!" Ruby called up as she helped her sister to her feet, Jaune doing the same for Ren.
"There's no time to explain! You students must stop this train, and fast! We're running out of time!" Without further explanation Oobleck darted out of the view. Moments later the four Regalities dove for cover when 20mm rounds punched through the carriage roof, narrowly missing them.
"What the shit-fuck!" Yang cried as they shakily rose to their feet, eyes bulging at the sheer size of numerous holes where the rounds punched through.
"Now would be a very good time to leave!" Jaune yelled, and made for the door. None of the Regalities objected, all too glad to vacate the area before it got too hot.
The sound of skirmish above the car made Ruby halt in her tracks. "Guys, professor Oobleck-"
Jaune gritted his teeth. "There's nothing we can do! We'll just have to trust him to handle it on his own!"
"Jaune's right," Ren added. "Our primary objective is to stop this train. If we don't, all of this would've been for nothing."
Ruby nodded reluctantly. "Alright."
The Regality quartet proceeded to the next carriage. This one, too, was void of White Fang presence, yet another stroke of luck, unexpected but by no means unwelcome. It just made their tasks that much easier. With hopeful looks, the Regalities pushed on, Ruby and Jaune in the lead.
Ren brought their rear, about to follow them through the door, when he caught a movement in the corner of his periphery, a minute detail overlooked by the rest of his team. His instinct kicked in, and he raised his StormFlower just in time to parry a hit from an unknown assailant.
The clash of steel brought the rest of the Regalities to a screeching halt. "Ren, what's wrong?"
Instead of answering, Ren opened fire on the seemingly empty space before him, his perceptive eyes tracking something they could not see. Ren raised his StormFlower blades again, this time blocking against the same invisible force that struck him hard, enough to send him staggering back a few steps.
"Ren!" Seeing their teammate under attack prompted them to fall into battle stances, ready to rush to his aid when Ren blocked their advances with an outstretched arm.
"No, you all need to stop this train. I've got this."
"But Ren-"
"Damnit, hurry up and go! Now!" Ren shouted. The outburst caught them off-guard, and the three Regalities exchanged looks, uncertain.
"Shitshitshit!" Jaune cursed loudly, before turning and sprinted to the door on the other end, Ruby following his lead. Neither of them wanted to leave their teammate behind, but they both knew they had no other choice. Their task was far too big for them to do otherwise.
Yang was torn, one half wanting to stay behind and fight with her partner, while the other urged her to run ahead. The latter half won, and Yang forced her legs to move, cursing herself with every step that led her away from the Eastern gunslinger.
"You-you better win! Don't you dare fucking die on me, you hear me?!"
The corner of his lips curved upwards. Come hell or high water, he could always rely on Yang to show that she cared in her own, outwardly callous way.
"You find this funny, do you?" A feminine voice rang out. Ren raised his guard when the air shimmered before his eyes, and a Faunus materialised from thin air like an apparition, one that was clad in form-fitting bodysuit. Had it been under different context, Ren would've appreciated the woman's feminine characteristics. Instead, he raised his automatic handguns and fired.
In a display of dexterity no human could achieve, the Faunus twisted and somersaulted in midair, letting the bullets sail past her slender form. Before she landed on her feet her whip lashed out, catching Ren squarely across the jaw, catching him off-guard.
"Aw, did that hurt?" The Faunus giggled, her furry ears twitching.
Ren said nothing as he opened fire again. The feline White Fang Infiltrator deflected them with flurry of her whips, before she flogged him again, striking from unexpected angles, easily snaking past his guards.
Ceasing fire, he decided to adopt a different approach. Uncollapsing the blades attached to his handguns, he tried to dodge under her whips to close the distance between them, only to be forcefully stopped when the whip flogged him across his torso.
The Eastern Regality gritted his teeth. This woman, whoever she was, was not like the common White Fang rabbles he encountered before. Her unorthodox style of fighting with her whips made it difficult for him to engage her in close quarters. The narrow boundaries of the train carriage only served to further restrict his mobility.
The feline Infiltrator smirked, amused. "Don't tell me this is all you've got." With another flourish of her whip she sent Ren skidding back several steps. Ren tried to block, but failed as the Infiltrator aimed for his legs. The whip coiled around his leg, and the Infiltrator gave a savage tug, slamming the Easterner down on his back.
Ren grunted in pain. Gingerly he tried to stand up, only to be pinned down by the Infiltrator's foot on his chest, his StormFlower kicked out of his hands. "That was a cute little sound you made there. It'd be much better if I got you to scream, though. The young ones always make the best noise." She finished with a slow lick of her lips.
Ren retorted with a kick, buckling the woman off him. He rolled out of the way and tried to reach his weapons, only to be jerked back when the whip snaked around his throat and tightened like a noose.
"Where are you going, cutie? I haven't finished playing with you just yet. Now go on, squeal, human! Squeal!" The Infiltrator laughed almost hysterically as Ren choked and struggled. His Aura was weakening from the persistent pressure, and his vision started to dim and flicker. In a last-ditch effort he reached for the curved knives he carried on person, and furiously sawed the blade against the whip. The noose was cut, and Ren fell on all fours, gasping desperately for air.
"Bastard!" The Infiltrator kicked him in the chest. As Ren doubled over, she kicked him again, this time aiming for his face. He fell to the ground, dazed from the repeated battery.
Tossing the cut whip to the side, the feline Faunus drew out a long stiletto, and held its needle-like blade before Ren's eyes in a threatening manner.
"You humans just don't know when to fucking quit, do you?" She pinned him on the ground with her knee, the tip of the dagger positioned above Ren's left eye. "It's a pity – I hate killing those with a pretty face, human or not. But this operation's bigger than all of us, and we can't let anyone stand in our way."
Ren said nothing, his expression unreadable. If anything his silence only further fed her amusement. "Playing the silent hero, hmm? Let's see how long you can last before you break, shall we? However this operation turns out we're all going to die either way, so might as well enjoy myself when I can."
Her mocking smile turned to a sneer. "How about we start with your eyes? You humans did the same to my folks, this oughta even the scale." With a snarl, the Infiltrator held up the dagger and stabbed down.
Ren was faster, however. With the karambit still in his hand, he drove the claw-like blade straight through her temple. The Infiltrator died almost instantly, her mouth agape, frozen in dismay.
Ren pushed the dead Infiltrator off him, and dragged himself to the corner of the train car, where he threw up. Closing his eyes, he held his trembling hands together to keep them still. It was in vain; he could still feel the vibration of steel biting through flesh and bone, and blood dripped through his fingers.
Plip. Plip. Plip.
The blood brought back unpleasant fragments of his past to the fore, the day when he acted as the Reaper's messenger for the first time, albeit unintentionally. It was one of the main reasons why he chose to leave Mistral, for wipe clean his slate.
And now, he tainted it once more, this time by choice. That didn't make it any easier for him to stomach it, however.
The train door hissed open, and the three Regalities stepped into yet another empty car. Unlike before, however, they proceeded with caution. Their first run-in with an invisible enemy left them rather shaken, eyes open and ears focused for even the slightest of noises or shimmering air.
A muted gunshot rang from the previous carriage, and Yang stopped dead in her tracks, fists clenched. Ren was fighting, alone, and it was eating away at her.
"Yang." Jaune and Ruby stopped as well, and Yang could tell they too, were visibly distressed.
"I know. Goddamnit, I know."
Jaune gave her a solemn nod. "The sooner we stop this train, the sooner we can come back for Ren."
"Yeah…" Yang unclenched her fist. Something drew her attention ahead, and to her horror she saw something dart towards Ruby, who was still facing Yang with her back to the thing, none the wiser about the approaching danger.
"Ruby! Get down!" Her reflex kicking in, Yang snapped her fists forward and sent a fiery ball of raw kinetic energy hurtling towards the impending flicker. Ruby's own reflex proved just as fast, ducking just in time for the shot to soar past the air where her head would've been. She dodge-rolled to the side, absently registering Jaune backpedalling out of the line of fire.
"Yang, what the-" Jaune started, though was cut short when the shot hit its mark, dissipating into thin air, leaving behind in its place what seemed suspiciously like a parasol. A gloved hand folded it back down, and revealed their newest assailant in full view.
"Uh…" They gauged their current opposition with no small amount of uncertainty, for such a diminutive young woman seemed far too out of place amongst the grisly and bloodthirsty criminals of the White Fang organisation, especially with her choice of attire that exuded class, while still being easy on the eyes.
Yang was quick to return to her senses, and wasted no time in throwing the first punch. Whoever this woman was, she just tried to attack Ruby. Yang spent days in agony, fearing for her sister's life after they were separated. Seeing yet another attempt on taking her sister's life stoked a growing fire inside the fighter.
The chic girl nimbly dodged the punch, and the barrage of fists Yang threw in her direction. Yang raised her arms to block as the girl threw a back-kick. The amount of force behind the kick was surprisingly heavy, and Yang instinctively knew that this girl was not someone to be trifled with.
"Yang!" Ruby regained her bearings and shifted her Crescent Rose to its sniper form. Yet again her hands deliberately lowered her aims away from the vital body areas. As if sensing her hesitation, the girl blurred out of view, only to reappear behind Ruby. The caped leader of team RALY cried out when the woman landed a savage roundhouse kick and sent her flying.
"Shit, Ruby!" Jaune rushed to her side and half-crouched, helping her up with one hand and holding the sword pointed at the mysterious woman with the other. He doubted he could put up much of a fight, though he couldn't just stand and let this girl harm Ruby.
Yang, too, had a similar notion. Propelling herself forward with dual shotgun blasts, she closed in on the girl and attacked. Said girl nimbly flipped backwards and landed on one of the metal crates strewn about in one, fluid transition of motion.
"Yang-"
"Jaune, get Ruby and go on ahead!" Yang cracked her knuckles. "This bitch's mine."
"Yang, no! It's too dangerous!" Ruby stood up, Crescent Rose in one hand. The other still clutched her side where she was kicked.
Yang smirked, not taking her eyes off her opponent, who remained seated on the metal crate, watching the entire exchange with a mocking amusement. "Chillax, little sis! I totally have got this one in the bag."
"But-"
"Ruby," Jaune shook his head. "Let's leave this to Yang. Don't forget, we have to stop this train, and quickly, too."
Ruby chewed her lips, contemplating. With one last look at her sister, she reluctantly nodded and ran through the door to the next carriage. Jaune followed suit, silently praying for his friends' safety.
Yang heard the door slide shut behind her, then dropped the smile. Her now red eyes took on a decidedly murderous gleam. "You tried to hurt Ruby, and I just got her back. Hope that means you're ready to die, bitch."
Crossing her legs, the mysterious girl daintily laughed, unaffected by the blonde's death threats. Her mismatching eyes seemed to flicker between different shades with each blink in a mesmerising fashion. Yang shook her head clear and charged. Yang's foot shot forward, though her shorter opponent twirled around the leg and countered with a spinning hook kick. The sharp end of the heel caught Yang right in the face, and Yang stumbled back, temporarily disoriented.
This time the heterochromatic girl was on the offensive and jumped for a drop kick. Recovering quickly Yang grabbed the girl's leg and threw her with all her might, only to growl in annoyance as the girl landed on her feet, faking a yawning gesture.
"That's it!" With a roar Yang fired shotgun blasts from her gauntlet, though the girl unfolded her umbrella and simply blocked, with nary a scratch on the item. The blonde fighter sent another flurry of punches and kicks, and those too, the girl effortlessly dodged and danced around, before thrusting her umbrella and jabbing Yang in the stomach.
Gasping in sudden pain Yang jumped back, narrowing her eyes when she saw the girl nonchalantly swinging her umbrella, a sharp metal needle jutting out of the tip. If it wasn't for her Aura, that could've easily been fatal. And the girl seemed aware of the fact as well, her silent smile taking on a condescending note.
Digging into her side pouch, Yang took out fresh strips of kinetic shells and fed them to her explosive gauntlets, noting how they were her last, which meant that she had to make every shot count.
The silent girl leaned forward, gesturing her fingers in beckoning motion.
Yang obliged with another battle cry. Fire slowly danced across her body, and she felt its heat coursing through her, infusing her with strength. Her eyes turned blood-red, in its depth radiating promises of endless pain. And through them Yang saw the girl's mocking jeer slip, replaced with a visage of fear.
Blasting forward, Yang threw a powerful punch, this time connecting with her infuriatingly evasive opponent. Yang didn't allow a moment for the girl to catch her breath, and rained down blows upon blows on the girl with the mismatching eyes. She felt the vibration of breaking bones against her knuckles, the drops of blood that splattered against her face, and felt a shiver of sadistic joy upon seeing her mute adversary reduced to a splatter of red and flesh on the metal floor.
Before she knew it, Yang stood over the crushed remains of her opponent, victorious. Blood pumped in her veins and her breaths came in ragged gasps, still high on the adrenaline rush that her Semblance brought. She had killed, again, but more importantly, she had won.
Yang bellowed in triumph, her war cry more bestial than human. Her Semblance was slowly robbing her of rationale, but she was too drunk on victory to care.
Until she heard a quiet giggle behind her.
Her senses regaining its clarity, Yang whipped around, astonished to see the girl, alive.
"What the-" Yang snapped her gaze down to her feet, where the girl should've been, dead. The 'girl' lying dead by her feet shattered into ephemeral shards, fading to nothing. "What the fuck! I just killed you! I-"
The heterochromatic girl struck before Yang could finish with a high kick to the face, grappling the blonde fighter and threw her into the ceiling. The momentum of the throw sent her careening to the ground, depleting her Aura reserves as the flames on her body flickered and died.
Yang tried to will her body to move, to no avail. Setting loose her wild Semblance took its toll on her body, turning her muscles heavy and stiff, unresponsive. She could only glare as her wordless adversary sauntered into view, her visage smug.
Grasping the handle of her umbrella she drew out an estoc with deliberate slowness, grinning when she saw the blonde fighter's eyes lit up with fear. The girl's sadistic persona came to the fore, and took slow, leisurely steps around Yang, letting the tip of the thin blade caress the metal floor to prolong the agonising tension.
"Fuck… Fuck…!" Yang struggled, though she could barely muster enough energy to clench her hand to a fist. "Move, damn it… Move!"
The girl ceased playing around, and moved in for the killing blow, holding the estoc right above Yang's chest. She had no Aura left to protect her, no teammates to rush to her rescue.
Suddenly, beyond her peripheral vision, what appeared to be a cloudy mass of amorphous darkness struck the girl and knocked her away. Groaning, Yang strained her neck to see the cloud of shadows converging into a woman, her face hidden beneath a fearsome mask that resembled Grimm. Drawn in her hand was a blade reminiscent of a katana, albeit much longer in length.
Perhaps startled by the mysterious woman's intervention, the mute girl flourished her umbrella, and in a blink of an eye disappeared into thin air.
With the imminent threat removed, the masked woman sheathed her sword, before walking past Yang without a glance.
"Wait…" Yang shakily sat up. "I said… wait…"
Her strength gave out, and Yang collapsed on her back again, her vision dimming. The last thing she saw was the woman fading in a swirling cloud of shadows.
Jaune and Ruby made their way towards the next set of carriage with heavy hearts, embroiled in inner struggles. Every step taken forward was a testament to the strength of their wills, for the task ahead of them demanded greater urgency.
"We're almost there, Ruby," Jaune said. "It's up to you and me, now."
Ruby nodded, and together entered the next train car.
"Shit…" Jaune cursed, and for a good reason. A lone Faunus sat on one of cargos stacked on either sides of the train coach, garbed in characteristic White Fang combat gear, complete with a full-face mask. Upon sensing intrusion the masked Faunus drew to his full height, a fearsome chainsaw in his hands.
"How'd you get in here, eh?" Brylls growled. "Not that it matters – you're not getting through."
Ruby unfurled her Crescent Rose, just as Jaune tightened his grip on Crocea Mors. "Ruby?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you use your Semblance and run past him?" As Ruby was about to protest, Jaune held up his hand. "Let me finish! What I meant was for you to get behind him and hit him from behind, while I keep him occupied on front. That way, we can take him out quickly. I hope."
"I'll try," Ruby said, and ran forward. Much to her horror, the usual blur of the surrounding and the feeling of air whipping past was gone, and she ended up practically running head-first into the burly Faunus' chainsaw, bereft of her Semblance's boon.
"Ruby!" Catching herself just in time Ruby skidded to a halt, and fired her Crescent Rose to propel her back to safety.
"Christ Ruby! What the hell was that?! You alright?!"
"I-I don't know!" Ruby wailed. "I don't understand, my Semblance – it's not working!"
"What do you mean, it's 'not working'?" Jaune asked.
"I don't know!" Ruby repeated, distressed. Then it hit her; back in the cavern, when they attempted to escape with Oliver, she tried to use her Semblance only for it to fail to activate. It failed yet again, and there was no discernible cause as far as she could think of.
There was no time to muse on the issue, however, as Brylls the Bear took the initiative and lunged, swinging his chainsaw in a lethal arc. Ruby tried to bring her Crescent Rose up to parry, only to shriek when the chainsaw's rotating teeth left gashes on her hybrid scythe.
Grinning, Brylls took another swipe with his chainsaw. This time Ruby dodge-rolled out of the way, unfortunately crashing into one of the boxes.
Jaune swore. The clutter strewn about the train car greatly hampered their range of movement. Ruby's inability to utilise her speed Semblance only further fuelled the fire of their current predicament. His earlier plan of fighting the Faunus two-on-one was dashed out the window, leaving only one other option left, one that he dreaded addressing, however necessary it was.
Brylls advanced on the caped girl, only to be tackled aside. "Jaune!"
"Ruby! I'll hold him off, you go on ahead!" Jaune yelled, grunting when the hulking Faunus gripped him tightly by the shoulders.
"But- No! Not again!" Ruby shook her head furiously. "I'm not leaving you behind too!"
"Goddamnit Ruby! We don't have a choice!" Jaune managed out as he grapped against the bear Faunus. "We have to stop this train! You know what'll happen if we don't! Oobleck, Ren, Yang – everything they did would've been for nothing!"
"Crap! Crap! Crap!" Ruby howled, squeezing her eyes shut. As much as she wanted to stay, Jaune was right. The train was drawing ever closer to the city of Midgard, and if they didn't stop it, many lives were at risk. She knew this, she did, but…
Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, she ran past them towards the door to the train's control unit. "Jaune, I'm sorry!"
Jaune heard the door hiss shut behind him, and allowed himself a small smile. Now it was up to Ruby to save the day.
Brylls growled, and grabbing Jaune's arm slammed him against the crates. His Aura softly glowed as it absorbed most of the impact, though doing little for the pain that shot up his back.
"Aura? You're one of those Hunters, then?" The bear Faunus snarled. "No, a weakling like you, there's no way. So that'd make you one of those brats up in them fancy Academies."
"Yeah, so what?" Jaune stood back up on his feet and dusted himself off. "What's it to you if I was?"
"It just means this will be an easy fight," Brylls barked in harsh laughter, revving his chainsaw again. "Like shooting goddamn humans in a barrel."
Jaune raised his blade en garde. The bear Faunus swung his chainsaw, and Jaune angled his sword so that the chainsaw slid across his blade. He saw what the monstrous industrial tool did with Ruby's Crescent Rose; he wanted to avoid the same happening to his Crocea Mors, even with its otherworldly durability. He wasn't keen on testing its tenacity either. That meant no head-on contact, though that was easier said than done.
Brylls charged with an upward slash, its long range forcing Jaune to step back to avoid being cut in half. He knew he was risking a lot by giving his ground, as it meant cornering himself with minimal room for movement. And his opponent was not only physically bigger and stronger, his weapon was also had longer reach. If he was boxed in to a corner, he was as good as dead.
Jaune readied his blade and followed the Faunus' movement closely, waiting for an opportunity to strike. It wasn't difficult to find one; while more physically imposing, it was clear that his Faunus adversary was not trained in any formalised combat styles, judging by his wild swings that lacked control and finesse. That didn't trivialise the threat his opponent proposed, but it did make it easier for him to at least strategize on how to fight.
The only thing that held him back was really the fear and uncertainty. This wasn't a sparring match held in controlled environments in Beacon Academy, this was a real-life combat situation, where even a smallest of mistakes demanded a heavy cost.
Steeling his resolve, Jaune pushed himself forward, capitalising on a brief window of vulnerability between the Faunus' wild swings, and managed to score a cut on his arm. Granted, it was a superficial injury, drawing only a thin line of blood, but it was a progress.
"Son of a-" Brylls re-adjusted his grip on his chainsaw. Enraged at the sight of his own blood, the bear Faunus charged towards Jaune with reckless abandon. Jaune held up his sword in an attempt to halt the charging beast, though Brylls was not deterred. Like a battering ram Brylls sent Jaune slamming into the train car wall, the force momentarily incapacitating the male Arc. Brylls was not yet done, however, as he proceeded to grab his face and threw him to the other end of the coach.
Jaune groaned in agony, the brutal beatdown rapidly wearing down his Aura reserves. Crocea Mors fell out of his grip during the collision, lying on the ground several feet away from him. He made for his blade, only to halt when Brylls charged again, blocking him from retrieving his sword, leaving him completely defenceless. On his either sides the crates stood uncaringly, boxing him in. His sword was out of his reach, his shield long lost back in the tunnels. He had no armour to protect him, and his Aura – it wasn't enough to stop him from being sawed in half.
Already the bear Faunus was upon him, chainsaw descending, eager to spill blood and flesh.
Out of desperation, Jaune locked his arms and held them up on guard, bracing for the inevitable. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see how he would meet his end.
Through the slits of his sealed eyelids he saw his arms glow, solidifying and radiating shockwaves of shimmering light when it crashed against the rotating butchery tool. Jaune was just as shocked as his opponent at the unexpected turn of events, though wasted little time in utilising his newfound power and unleashed it against the bear Faunus.
The car was flooded with an explosion of light, consuming everything within in its brilliant radiance. Amidst the chaos Jaune heard Brylls scream, intermingled with the sound of metal meeting flesh.
The flood of light subsided, and everything returned to normal, sans the White Fang insurgent who clutched his face, blood slipping through the gap between fingers.
"Fucking… human… trash!" Brylls threw his hand off and bellowed. A long, jagged line ran across his face above the nose, leaving shredded mess of blood and skin where his eyes were supposed to be. His mask lay broken on the floor, the sawed-off edges stained with blood.
"Holy shit! I… I didn't…" Jaune stammered, strange sense of guilt tugging at his heart.
Brylls roared and blindly swung his chainsaw. "I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Jaune yelled in panic ducking under a slash that came too close for comfort, and ran past the blinded Faunus to put some distance between them. "Please, just stop already!"
The bear Faunus paused, lips curled back in a snarl. "Stop? STOP?! After everything you humans took from me, you ask me to stop?!"
"Look, you're badly hurt! There's no point in fighting anymore!" Jaune tried to calm the Faunus, futile as it was. The blinded Faunus rampaged, consumed by rage and madness.
"'No point in fighting?'" Brylls laughed harshly, warped and crazed. "We will never stop fighting until every last one of you human scums are dead!"
"Goddamnit! I said STOP!" Jaune yelled. The Faunus roared back in response and slashed his chainsaw, hitting empty air. Jaune darted forward, Crocea Mors back in his grasp. A flash of blade later, Brylls fell to one knee, blood seeping out of a deep cut on his leg.
Much to Jaune's horror, his half-mad adversary stood back up, covered in his own blood. "You greedy fucks. First you take my home, then my family, and if that wasn't enough now you want my blood too?" Brylls laughed again. "Then take it! But I'll kill you first!"
"Stop! STOP!" Jaune cried, half-pleading. "DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS!"
Brylls raised his chainsaw, as Jaune did with Crocea Mors. Their battle cries fused as they rushed one another, both with intents to kill, one with vengeful intent tainted with madness, the other with great reluctance.
The fight was already decided; Brylls collapsed, in a broken heap of muscle and blood. Jaune panted, his once pristine blade painted with blood. The blade slipped through his fingers and clattered on the floor, though Jaune barely registered it.
Roman Torchwick leaned back against the chair, toying with a lit cigar between his fingers. The rush of nicotine and other hundreds of carcinogens was like a calming remedy and did wonders in helping him cope with stressful situations. It was one of few things that helped him from life's cruel jokes, keeping his questionable extent of sanity from derailing too much. And speaking of derailing…
"Sir?" The only other occupant of the train's control unit, a young female Faunus, spoke.
Roman sighed. "What?"
"It's just that… shouldn't we be stopping around now? I mean, shouldn't we be getting close to our evac points?"
"Evac points?" Roman furrowed his brow in concentration, before realisation hit him. "Oh, those. Yeah, about that, afraid I've got some bad news for you, hun. Those evac points I talked about? It was all bullshit. I made them up."
The female Faunus turned to Roman, horrified. "…What…?"
"Yeah, my bad. But come on, look at it from my perspective; would you lot have signed up if I let slip that this was pretty much tantamount to a suicide mission? I mean, if you animals were any dumber then yeah, probably, but-"
"You lied to us?" The young White Fang soldier whispered in disbelief.
"I didn't lie," Roman defended. "I just, for a lack of better term, selectively omitted some details, that's all. I mean, I was going to pay you lot, I was! You'd all be dead by then, sure, but still."
"You- You-! Traitor!" The White Fang soldier reached for her gun, though Roman was faster. Whipping out his Melodious Cudgel he fired, and the Faunus dropped on her knees, clutching her mangled hand.
"Relax, will ya?" Roman rolled his eyes. "Besides, it's not so bad – you dumb animals always go on and on about humans mistreating you here and bullying you around there, but now, thanks to me, you all finally had the opportunity to do something big. This operation is going to make those humans bleed, which is what you all wanted, wasn't it?"
"I h-hope you burn in h-hell!" The young Faunus sobbed. "Human s-scum!"
"It certainly felt like living in one, what with having to work with you animals in so close proximity," Roman shrugged. "But any good criminal worth their salt would've got an exit strategy planned, and let me tell you, I'm not just a good criminal, I'm a great criminal."
Roman snapped his fingers. "Neo!"
The air shimmered in unnatural contortion, and out of thin air the diminutive girl appeared. Roman gave his accomplice a quick look-over, taking note of her slightly dishevelled state. "Been roughhousing with our 'guests'?"
Neo responded by flipping a daintily bird, earning a chuckle from the criminal. "Not that it matters – Midgard's just ahead. About time we hightail it outta here, what do you say?"
Before she could respond, they were interrupted by beeping door panels on the other side. Someone was trying to gain access without a passcode clearance, though there was no need for it – a single gunshot was heard, and the door yielded, sliding open.
Roman pinched the bridge of his nose. "For fuck's sake."
"Roman Torchwick!" Ruby stood, Crescent Rose aimed in his direction. Her eyes darted between the three occupants within, recognising the short girl with the parasol from earlier.
"You're… But… what about Yang?"
The girl simply winked, and Ruby's knees buckled, threatening to yield. "No…!"
"Little Red, Little Red. Don't you ever get tired of playing the hero?" Roman's voice boomed, and Ruby turned her gaze to the criminal, eyes red with angry tears.
"You…" Ruby whispered vehemently, channelling all her fear and anger to harden her resolve. "Stop the train."
The criminal sighed, undaunted even when Ruby pointed her gun at him. "I'd rather not."
"Stop. The. Train. NOW!" Taking aim she pulled the trigger, the bullet speeding past the criminal's head.
Surprised at the redhead's display of defiance, Roman spat out his cigar. "You missed, Red."
"Yeah, on purpose." Ruby frowned. "Stop the train, or I'll really shoot you. I mean it!"
Neo stepped forward, drawing her estoc challengingly. Ruby gladly returned the gesture, the dark rage within her crying for revenge. Roman chose that moment to intervene, however.
"No need, I'll handle this myself. Just be ready to get us out at a moment's notice."
Neo narrowed her eyes, but relented with a nod. Roman twirled his cane and cracked his neck, meeting Ruby's furious eyes with his own. "Gotta say, that look suits you better, Red. But I think seeing you dead at my feet would be much better, don't you think?"
He then did something she did not expect; Roman grabbed the third occupant, an injured young Faunus by the scruff of her neck and raised her as an impromptu shield. "Go on, Red – shoot, I dare you."
"No, don't shoot!" The young Faunus pleaded.
"Roman Torchwick, you…" Ruby stared in disbelief, scowling at the criminal. "Coward!"
"Like you're one to talk. You come charging in here with all that bravado shit, but when the going gets tough, you just crack," Roman snorted. "Like I told you before, pathetic."
Her nostril flared, and for an instance everything turned hazy and red. Before she knew it, she felt something coursing through her, consuming and devouring her from within. An excruciating, searing pain lanced through her entire being, so much so that her screams died inside her throat.
Then her eyes regained its clarity, time resuming its march and returning her back to the present moment, though it was no longer the same as she left it. Blinking, she saw Roman stagger back in pain, dropping the young Faunus on the ground in a pool of her blood.
Blinking, Ruby saw thin trails of smoke rising from Crescent Rose's barrel, ejecting a single, spent shell casing clattering on the ground.
"What…? What'd I just…?"
Roman grunted, rubbing his side where the bullet clipped him after piercing through the Faunus. "Well shit, ain't that a surprise. Didn't think you had it in you, Red."
"No, that wasn't me! It wasn't!" Ruby protested, though it fell on deaf ears, her own included. Try as she might, there was no denying that it was her own finger that pulled the trigger.
The criminal didn't give her time to dwell on the matter, raising his weapon and dishing out his own firepower. Ruby forced herself to move, engaging him in a duel.
The train car opened, and in limped one Lie Ren. His eyes fell on the unconscious form of Yang Xiao Long sprawled on the floor, her body bearing signs of an aftermath of a brutal fight.
Ren sat down next to her body, and closed his eyes in concentration, willing his Aura to flow to his hands. Soft, green light enveloped the Eastern Mistralian's hand, and he placed them above Yang's chest. It was a nifty skill he came to acquire during his days spent working in the infirmary, courtesy of one Velvet Scarlatina. The idea was to gather one's Aura and channel them to his hands, which acted as conduits to transfer Aura from point A to point B, or, in this case, Ren and Yang respectively. The transference then forced the recipient's body to kickstart its own Aura stores, much like jump-starting a car battery.
As expected, Yang's eyes snapped open and her back arched, a gurgling sound escaping from her mouth. After a few moments her body relaxed, now wide awake.
"Fuck…" Yang breathed out. "I'll never get used to that."
"Try not to lose next time, then," Ren huffed, rolling his eyes. "This isn't any easier for me, you know."
"Is that what you normally tell girls before you grab their tits?" Yang jabbed. "Perv."
"Is that how you normally thank those who saved you?" Ren riposted, though his reluctance to speak words of the more profane variety prevented him from ending his verbal jousting with a barbed finisher. "You're welcome, by the way."
"You know, you should really try swearing every once in a while," Yang said with an eye-roll.
"It's uncouth."
"It's called being a pussy."
Ren sighed. "Nice to see you alive, too."
Yang grinned. "Loosen up, you know I'm just fucking around with you."
A tremor rippled through the train car, jostling them out of their conversation and reminding them of their predicaments. "Shit, the train's still moving? How long have I been knocked out?"
Ren shook his head. "Jaune, Ruby – they must be up ahead." He stood up and helped Yang on her feet. "Can you walk?"
Yang winced, her body still aching terribly from the fight. She gritted her teeth and endured it, as she had little choice to do otherwise. "Yeah, kind of. Thanks."
Ren nodded, and together they pressed onward. They found Jaune a few cars up ahead, arms wrapped around his knees and head buried in-between. At the sound of door opening he looked up, tears running down his cheeks. A few feet away from him was a body of a White Fang insurgent, face down in a pool of blood.
"I-" Jaune stammered, before he broke down. "I asked him to stop, I did! I didn't want to kill him, it wasn't my fault!"
"Jaune…"
"I had to, I had no choice! He was going to kill me, what was I supposed to do?!"
Taking a deep breath, Yang hobbled over to Jaune, carefully skirting around the dead body. Given her brutally candid disposition, Ren followed after her, ready to exercise some damage control. Her usual 'tough love' approach may have had its time and place, though now wasn't the time nor the place.
"Jaune." Jaune looked up to see Yang hovering over him, her hand outstretched. Slowly Jaune took it, and allowed the blonde to help him back on his feet.
"Yang, I…"
"I know. I know." Yang silenced him with a hug, much to their surprise. "You did what you had to."
Jaune sniffed, and furiously wiped his eyes. They broke off, and Jaune managed to hold himself together, though he kept his eyes cast down. "Ruby's just up ahead."
Yang lightly punched him on the shoulder. "Then let's not waste time, alright? Get your act together, Jaune, this ain't over yet."
"Yeah," Jaune concurred. "We came this far – let's just finish the damn thing."
Ren retrieved Crocea Mors from the ground, and held it out for Jaune. "Here."
"Thanks, Ren," Jaune said with a small sigh of relief. It was heartening to see that his friends still treated him as they always did.
Ren did one better by clamping his hand on Jaune's shoulder in a reassuring manner. "You're still one of us, Jaune – remember that."
"I… Thanks," said Jaune, relieved.
Ren smiled back. "Any time."
The three Regalities made a beeline for the control unit, locked in a desperate race against time. They finally reached their destination, arriving just in time to see Ruby sailing through the air and crashing into a wall. The young leader of team RALY bounced off and fell to the ground, unmoving.
"Ruby!" Yang cried out and hurried to her sister, gasping when she saw the toll the fight took on the caped girl. Her dress and cape bore numerous scorch marks and tears, her skin adorned with burns and cuts.
Ruby's eyes fluttered open, her lips curling upward when she saw her sister. "H-heya, sis, what took you so long?" Her eyes slid past her sister's, and found both Jaune and Ren, much to her relief.
"Aww, how sweet," Roman jeered, twirling his cane. Neo sat on the train console, watching them with mild interest. "Hate to break up your little re-union, but Little Red and I was still in the middle of something, so step aside if you will."
"Like hell!" Yang stood protectively over Ruby, Ember Celica loaded with shotgun shells. Jaune and Ren mirrored her gesture and brought their respective weapons to bear, ready to fight. Their acts of resistance only elicited another sigh from the criminal.
"Fucking kids," Roman spat. "You dumb little shits still don't get it, do you? Even if you did somehow stop the train, it's a dead end for you all, a literal dead end!"
Jaune closed his eyes. "Yeah, we know." The tunnel gate, unyielding and indifferent, on one end, and the other, a tidal wave of ravenous hunger in the form of claws, fangs, and destructive instincts. Even if they succeeded, there was no way out for any of them – the train itself was a death trap. He knew of this, and so too, did Ruby, Yang, and Ren.
Roman gawked in undisguised disbelief and animosity. "Are-are you fucking kidding me?! You knew?! You motherfucking knew you were all going to die and still tried to stop me? Why?!"
Ruby stared, perplexed as to Roman's strange outburst. Gone was his arrogance and contemptuous smirk, and in its place was unbridled anger, stoked by something that they could not understand.
Neo lightly cleared her throat, drawing Roman's attention. Wordlessly she pointed at the windscreen, at something in the distance, growing steadily larger as they drew closer and closer. It was the gate, the only line of defence the city of Midgard had against the darkness that festered beneath the earth.
Growling, Roman raised his cane loaded another shot, this time aiming at the train's navigation console.
"No!" Jaune shouted, though he was too late. The resulting point-blank shot completely tore the panel, rendering it inoperable.
There was no brake left, nothing left to stop the train.
"There! All your bloody 'heroics', it has been all for nothing! Now you can't stop this train, I can't stop this train!" Roman half-shouted, half-laughed. "You can all crash and burn together!"
"TORCHWICK!" Ruby cried. The four Regalities could do nothing as the two criminals vanished, leaving behind ghostly echoes of their mocking laughter. All the while the train drew closer to the gate.
"Well, guess that's how it ends for us, then," Yang said with a sad smile. "Not with a whimper, but with a Yang."
In spite of the situation, the rest of team RALY couldn't suppress their groans. "Really, Yang?"
"Gotta make it count till the end, right?" Yang said, her lips quivering. "Hell, it's been a blast, hanging out with you guys."
"We did our best. That's got to count for something, at least," Ren quietly said.
"I just… I just wish we could've done more, done better," Ruby whispered in regret.
"Us too, Ruby, us too," Jaune chuckled. "See you guys on the other side."
They said nothing even as they gathered close, holding each other. No further words were needed, for they all knew. Unbeknownst to them, Jaune's body started to glow, his friends' doing the same seconds later. Each radiated different shades of light – fiery gold, glimmering emerald, swirling crimson, and incandescent white – and together, they melded and fused, weaved into a tapestry of dancing aurora by forces unseen, before erupting in a nova of light, moments before the train and the gate exploded.
"Status report."
The transceiver crackled. "Squad One in position."
"Squad Two reporting, this station's secure."
"Station Three's cleared out. Awaiting further orders."
The comm-link buzzed in static, gunshots ringing in the background. The radio fell silent, until it crackled again. "Squad Four in place, hostiles neutralised."
"Good. Stay in position and await for further orders. Hazel out."
Terminating the comm-link, Hazel headed for his destination, a nondescript block of concrete that guised itself as an old, abandoned building under the government's ownership, the doors barred and windows boarded to ward off the curious and the adventurous. On an outwardly appearance, there was no direct way in, and that bothered Hazel none, for what he was after was not the building itself per se, but rather, the secrets it guarded beneath it.
He paused, discreetly surveying his surrounding to ensure he wasn't followed, then slipped into the alleyway next to the old building, empty save for a single manhole on the ground. Removing the grate, Hazel lowered himself and climbed down, unbothered by the rancid stench of the sewer network.
"Sir." He was greeted by a White Fang infiltration specialist, the rest of the unit snapping into position.
"Which way?" Hazel asked.
"Straight ahead, there's a lift, only used by the humans in case of emergency," the Infiltrator said. "Regardless, it'll still lead us to the main hub, where they house the auxiliary power station."
Hazel jerked his head. "Very well, with me."
"Sir." Hazel and the White Fang's Fifth Infiltrator units boarded the elevator. As it descended, Hazel prepared for combat. "Lieutenant."
"Sir?"
"What of their security system?"
"Hacked into their networks, sir. Disabled the communication lines and jammed their security alarms. Whatever happens down here, no one above the surface will be any wiser."
Hazel smirked. "Good. Keep the place on lockdown, nobody gets out alive."
The elevator stopped, and opened with a cheery ding. Two men in security uniforms looked up from their newspapers, startled to see an intruder. "What the fu-"
Hazel snapped into action, his arm punching through the first guard's torso. The second guard reached for his gun, though had no time to aim and fire as Hazel rounded on him with a spin kick to the head, the force of the kick breaking the guard's neck.
Behind him the White Fang Infiltrators fell into position, activating their cloaking devices.
Hazel gave the order. "Kill."
There was a rush of quiet padding as the cloaked Faunus insurgents stormed the place, eliminating all personnel within indiscriminately, like hounds set loose upon their hunting grounds. The underground complex was soon beset with screams of the dying quail, any form of resistance rendered obsolete against the assassins they could not see.
Hazel let the Infiltrators to do their work, while he tended to his. His task led him to the auxiliary power generator, a beast of a machine wearing shells of metal and cables, thrumming with energy, fuelled with both electricity and specialised Dust. If Watts was correct, this machine had enough power to temporarily maintain Midgard's shield in case of an unprecedented emergency. As such, if their plan was to succeed, this machine had to go.
Hazel began setting up the explosives, packed with enough firepower to blow a great crater in its radius. With his work done, he vacated the area, making his way back to the elevator.
The Fifth Infiltrator unit was already there, all of them accounted for. The lift carried them back up, and when they reached the surface they disappeared like ghosts, not one soul aware of the silent massacre that took place in less than an hour.
The transceiver remained silent until Hazel was aboard a private airship, hovering over the grand, peaceful city of Midgard.
"All units accounted for, sir. Your orders?"
Hazel took one last look at the city, at its citizens.
"Blow the charges."
A/N: As I mentioned in the last chapter, this is the second half of the original chapter 20, albeit with slightly less word count.
This chapter was, well, a little difficult for me to write, if I have to be honest. Being forced into a situation where the only outcome is to either kill or be killed, experiencing the crushing guilt that they'd most likely never forget, and testing them so as to see whether they would endure it and keep on moving forward, or give up and expire. This was a chapter where they walk away, less innocent than who they were at the beginning of the story. I wanted to emphasise that point and convey it in the actions of the characters as they dealt with their own demons. I hope I did this chapter justice.
On a more humorous note, while I was flicking through the 'No Brakes' episode, when team RWBY and the WF goons are duking it out on top of a moving train (imagine that...), Blake actually knocks one of them off the train (remember the guy with the Wilhelm Scream?), though then again, the entire train kinda blows up, so presumably most, if not all, of the WF grunts died at the end. I didn't notice it at first, considering how up to that point the first two seasons were very light-hearted, with some awkward moments sprinkled here and there. Bit of a fridge horror moment, admittedly.
I'll be wrapping up Act 2 in the next chapter or two, then move on to Act 3, or depending on how the story decides to unfold itself.