Chapter 24
POV: Omniscient
Ren and Jaune were still standing over Weiss. Ren was checking her pulse, but almost wished he hadn't.
Ren: She… She's hardly breathing. I don't know what we can do…
Jaune looked at Weiss face once more. Her head was moving, her mouth saying words, but she wasn't making a sound.
Jaune: Come on, PLEASE! We can't lose anyone else…
Then he closed his eyes, as tears rolled down his cheeks. He felt a warmth in his hands, as, unknown to him, a light enveloped Weiss.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Weiss had found one of the crystals that was in a comfortable enough position to sit and had been doing that for the last few minutes, just thinking. She thought about how much had happened to her. The good. The evil. She took all of it into account, thinking of the net goodness of the world. She almost felt pulled to the chasm. It would be so easy… Unconsciously, she began moving towards the chasm. She jolted away only a few feet from it, and quickly backed up. She had finally tallied the net goodness to be positive. She knew she should stay. But then again, did she really value the bad correctly? I mean, some of that stuff really sucked. Once again, she found herself hovering towards the edge. Finally, she turned defiantly towards the light and began pushing towards it. And when I say pushing, I mean PUSHING. It took serious effort to go towards the light. She was exhausted, only after a few feet. She remembered how easy it was to go to the chasm… and once more, she was standing at its edge. Then, she once more began hearing voices. Except for this time, they were different. She heard Yang's shouts and realized most of them were from pain. She realized Hazel's weren't. Then, the biggest one of all hit her. Jaune's pleas were for her. They were for her to come back. She heard a full snippet of his words as clear as day. We can't lose another one. She felt her dress grow wet, and she realized it wasn't blood or sweat, it was tears. Her friends had already gone through so much, she had to make it back to them. Not only for her sake, but for theirs. She cleared her mind of everything, except for thoughts of her friends, and the good times they had gone through together. Still, she felt the pull of the chasm. She didn't think about it, though, and marched on. She began to feel tired but knew that if she rested, she would end up back there. Still, she walked closer to the light. She couldn't even see how far she had come, but she didn't worry about it. All she knew was she was tired. Soon, she could barely keep it out of her mind. Suddenly, though, she felt energized. She looked down, to see herself glow. She began walking forwards again, except now, every step she took put her further than 10 steps previously. Now, she might be able to make it back in time.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ren watched in amazement as Weiss began to be covered in light. Her pulse had almost stopped. He wasn't sure if it would ever start again. Suddenly, she gasped. She wasn't conscious yet, but her breathing had started again. Her pulse came back stronger than ever.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Raven, Vernal, and Cinder descended in silence. They had been silent ever since entering the elevator. They didn't know what would be ahead, for any of their plans.
Cinder: Are you nervous, girl? The first maiden, in… well, I'm not sure anyone knows how many years, is about to open a vault. I would say it's quite an exciting time. Aren't you honored?
Vernal: No. I'm not concerned with any of this. All I care about is my tribe- my family. This is a burden, not an honor.
Cinder: Well, don't you have her trained well, Raven.
Before Raven could respond, a golden glow filled their vision as the elevator entered into the open. The vault was a massive room. At one end, there was a massive tree, which caused the glow. Its leaves were mostly normal, but some glowed orange and yellow. As they descended, those leaves began falling. The elevator finally stopped, and the metal gates opened, allowing them to finally step off the elevator.
Cinder: Well, it certainly is grander than Beacon's. I wonder what the extra effort was for?
Raven: Can we please not linger?
The other two realized they had been standing still while admiring the massive cavern in front of them.
Cinder: After you.
Vernal went first, with Cinder following in the middle, and finally, Raven. She put on her helmet and followed Cinder.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Ozcar was a bit closer than he would have liked, but you don't always get what you want, do you? He ducked under one punch and leaned back to dodge another. Finally, he rolled to the side, dodging yet another. He recovered his balance while Hazel pulled his hand out of the beam he had just lodged it in. Leo, from further away, took aim at Ozcar. Fortunately for Ozcar, Leo was interrupted as a bullet hit his gauntlet. He turned to find Qrow, changing the gun back into a sword before charging. Meanwhile, Hazel walked back up to Ozcar, towering over him. Naturally, Ozcar wasn't afraid. He immediately began jumping all around Hazel, dodging every strike that could have gotten close. At the same time, he struck every inch of Hazel's body. After kicking off of Hazel, his momentum carried him to the steps, between them and the middle area. He ran up the side, dodging two bolts of lightning Hazel launched and ended by striking Hazel in the face. Hazel tried to punch him as he was close, but Oz jumped back quickly. Then, because Hazel left the perfect opening, he jumped forward and rapidly jabbed Hazel as fast as he could. Finally, he rolled between Hazel's wide open legs, and spun around, powering up his strike. The cane hit the fleshy area beneath Hazel's ribs, putting Hazel on the ground. Ozcar walked back towards Hazel, who was on his knees. Hazel wasn't going down, though, and slammed the ground.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Jaune and Ren were watching as Weiss' breathing began stabilizing.
Jaune: What… what's happening?
Ruby: Weiss!
Ruby suddenly ran over, having just woken up.
Ruby: What happened?
Ren: I think she's going to be ok!
Jaune slowly lifted his hands, showing that the wound had almost healed. Ruby heard her sister's cry of pain and turned to see Yang being beaten senseless by Mercury. Yang shook her head and charged, just to run straight through a hallucination. Ruby saw her charging at nothing. Then, she felt the ground shake and saw Ozcar fighting Hazel. He was able to keep up with Hazel but then was hit in the back by a massive rock. He recovered just in time to see Hazel about to punch him in the face. Qrow appeared in front of him and tried to block the fist, but his movements were sloppy. Hazel instead sent him crashing to the roof. Ruby also saw Rocket, slumped against a wall, already out of the fight.
Ruby: Ok, Oscar needs help. Ren, you get on that.
Ren: Got it.
Ruby: Nora, Jaune and Weiss still need cover.
Nora: No one's going to touch 'em.
Ruby: Make it happen, RNJR!
Once more, she turned to see Yang being hurtled across the room by a kick. Emerald ran forward, about to follow up the attack, but Ruby slammed into the ground in front of them.
Yang: Thanks, sis. You okay?
Ruby: No. I'm angry.
Then, they charged.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Vernal, Cinder, and Raven walked forward and stepped onto a glass panel. This panel seemed to sense their presence and lit up. A line of light shot out towards the tree, and the blue raced up the tree, forming a vein-like pattern. The glowing leaves began to fall. Vernal caught one, and looked at it closer. It didn't even seem like a leaf; it was more of a tongue of fire.
Cinder: Having fun yet?
Vernal was snapped back to reality, as she dropped the leaf.
Raven: Stay focused. We don't want this to take any longer than it has to.\
Cinder: Oh, come on, Raven. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Let her enjoy it.
Vernal turned back towards the vault. The door itself wasn't made of wood or other natural materials but instead was made up of small circles of paper. They looked like a breeze could knock down the door.
Vernal: So… how does this work?
Cinder: When the spring maiden touches the door, it will open. Then I will walk in and retrieve the relic. No one else. Is that clear?
Raven: It doesn't matter to us. Let's just get this over with.
Cinder: Right. Vernal, would you care to do the honors?
Vernal glanced uneasily at Raven, who nodded. Confidence restored, she walked forward, to the vault door. Raven watched as she approached the door. She moved one hand to her sword.
Cinder: You know, Raven… I've heard so many stories about you. About how you are a cunning leader… That you're clever. Too bad they're wrong.
Immediately, she knew her plan was out.
Raven: Verna-
Years of training, instilled into Vernal by Raven, awoke in her mind. She immediately spun around, almost before the cry was finished. Time almost seemed to slow down around her as she finished the turn… and immediately was pinned to the wall, an overwhelming pain coming from her abdomen. She looked down, to see an arm, sticking out of it. Raven, still standing behind Cinder, was frozen solid. Cinder's dress had ripped at the sleeve, revealing a black arm similar to the knuckelavee, an arm that was now sticking through Vernal. Vernal knew no help could come. Instead, she focused on trying to pry the claws out of her stomach.
Cinder: It's nothing personal, dear. You just… aren't worthy of such power. But I am.
She tightened her grip, releasing a scream of agony from Vernal. Cinder heard cracks coming from Raven, and knew she had to be quick.
Cinder: So I will take what is mine.
Finally Vernal succumbed to the pain. Her cries grew weak, and she slipped into unconsciousness. Cinder's smile faded. Something wasn't right.
Cinder: What? Where's the power?!
She finally heard a crash behind her has Raven broke free from her icey prison. As she turned to face her new opponent, she heard a faint clunk, as Raven's helmet hit the ground.
Raven: You won't find it.
Raven was shaking with rage. Her head was down, and her eyes were closed.
Raven: Vernal… was never the Spring Maiden.
She opened her eyes, and an all to familiar red flame burst out.
Raven: I am.