As The Crow Flies: Chapter 24...
Hi guys! I know I haven't updated for a while but we're almost there now! Once the final chapter is out I'll just be tweaking any errors and then marking it as complete. Sorry about leaving you all waiting for so long, medical issues left me out of action for a while but I'm back and here's the next chapter!
oO0Oo
Salem swept over the city like a tsunami. Her Grimm barrelled through the streets like a never ending tide, bashing down doors and knocking holes in walls. Soldiers battled throughout the streets, struggling to maintain control of Beacon. Huntsmen and Huntresses leapt between them, lending their extraordinary weapons to the fight.
"This is chaos," I breathed.
"It's Salem. She lives for this." Fires raged around us everywhere, lighting the sky orange. The light reflected in Qrow's red eyes as he watched the destruction.
"I didn't think you meant it literally when you said the world would burn."
"Now you know. Let's go." He turned to leave.
"Qrow, wait. What you said about combining the Relics. Do you really believe it?" He turned back to me, frowning lightly.
"I believe that whatever happens, Salem has to be stopped. If the Gods didn't wipe us out it would be a miracle. But I'd rather die in an instant than be tortured to death. The flip side of that is that the Gods would kill all of us without discrimination if they judged us badly." I nodded and he looked at me strangely for a second. "Be careful. Whatever you're planning, please just be careful. I don't want to lose you."
"Qrow..." I didn't have words for what I wanted to say.
"We should go," he said, understanding anyway. I followed him as he hopped down from the rooftop and slipped down a narrow alley between the buildings. Grimm screamed and shrieked all around us as we picked our way back to the academy. It was the last safe place in Beacon, and scores of soldiers and Hunters from all over Remnant surrounded it.
When we finally reached the edge of the defences, the wall of soldiers parted to let us pass. Row upon row of military vehicles and weapons surrounded the skies and grounds around the academy, all poised and waiting. They had been instructed not to shoot before Salem arrived unless absolutely necessary.
As we passed through the open doors of the Beacon Academy, Winter Schnee nodded at us, hurrying past to station more soldiers at the defence lines. Beyond the room she had emerged from were Ozpin, Team RWBY and several others all gathered around a huge map table. Once this room had been a lecture theatre. Now it was a war room.
"Uncle Qrow, Brynn! You made it back." Ruby slammed into us, pulling us into a tight hug. "We were worried you might get stuck out there."
"Hey kid." Qrow ruffled her dark hair affectionately before following her to the table in the centre of the room. The map of Beacon showed our defences, and the tide of Grimm trying to overwhelm them.
"It's time," Ozpin said softly. "Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. I need all of you to follow me. Qrow, I need you to help Winter station the soldiers. Everyone else, be prepared to defend this place with your life."
"Got it." Qrow nodded and bent to kiss me. "See you soon." I watched as he walked away, the separation tearing at me as I realised that this was war, and he could die while I was gone.
"This way." I tore my eyes away from the dark haired Hunter, following Ozpin through the doors at the other side of the room and down the corridors that twisted through the school. Yang stayed close by my side while Arya and Val brought up the rear. Ozpin led us towards his old office, stopping outside the doors to the elevator so we could catch up. I swallowed and stepped inside.
"The Relics are in the tower?" Yang sounded surprised.
"It seemed the best place for them since Tyrion stole the Relic of Destruction from its original hiding place." He turned to Arya. "When we get up there I need you to stay by my side until I tell you otherwise." The small girl nodded, her bottom lip trembling with fear. "The rest of you are to separate out. Once we leave this room again you cannot touch each other until this is over and the Relics are safe."
The elevator pinged as we reached the top and the doors slid open silently. Ozpin strode to the centre of the room with Arya on his heels. Yang squeezed my arm before moving to the right and standing with her back against the wall. I went left. Val stayed standing outside the elevator.
The room was devoid of furniture, and the raging fires in the city cast a sickly orange glow through the panoramic window. It shimmered like the surface of a river and I knew immediately that it was enchanted. Nobody would be able to see in from outside, no matter how much they wanted to.
Four displays were set up around the room. They looked ordinary at first, but then I saw the same shimmer on them that pulsed through the huge window. On the left stood a tall glass cabinet. Inside it was a staff. Closest to the window, at the back of the room, was another square glass case with a marble bust in it. On its faceless head sat an ornate crown. Near Yang, the Relic of Knowledge was held aloft by a beautiful statue of Jinn. The last display was a pedestal with two metal prongs protruding from the top. I realised after a minute that the stand was meant for the Relic of Destruction.
"Arya, this is your Relic." Ozpin's voice floated across the silent space, drawing our attention. "The Crown of Choice. It gives you the ability to see the outcome of any choice you wish, except the ones you must make for yourself. Be careful. It's power is great, but in war the choices we must make are not kind." He opened the glass case and handed her the crown. It seemed far too big, but as she placed it on her head it seemed to shrink. By the time it settled into place it had morphed into a golden diadem. It looked like it was made for her.
"Where do you want me to go now?" Her voice was quiet and sweet as she spoke.
"You need to go back downstairs to the war room. Stay far away from the door. Val, you can go with her since your Relic isn't here."
"You brought me up here just to babysit her once she got the crown?"
"She needs someone to look out for her. Arya is too young for war. We aren't," I answered. "We don't have time for you to argue." Val scowled but did as she was told, leading Arya through the elevator doors and back down to the others.
"Yang, as you know, the Relic of Knowledge is from the Spring Vault. That means you must protect it." Yang nodded and pushed off from the wall, taking the Relic from its perch and hooking it to her belt. "You need to stay away from Arya. The Relics must not touch one another, and you must not touch the other Maidens if they have their Relic."
"Got it." She nodded her understanding and left, taking her time to make sure she didn't bump into Arya on the way down.
"And that leaves you." Ozpin beckoned me forwards and opened the cabinet with the staff in it, removing it carefully. "This is the Staff of Creation." He held it out to me and I stared at it. Its long handle was made of pearly white wood, and the base and tip were surrounded by beautiful golden vine work. At its top sat a huge, faintly glowing jewel.
"It's beautiful," I said as I took hold of it. I could feel the power buzzing through it.
"It is. And deadly. The Relics of Creation and Destruction are different. Where the other two grant knowledge, these don't. The staff and the sword can be used as weapons."
"I can believe that with the sword but how could the staff be used as a weapon? It creates, it doesn't destroy."
"It doesn't have to. The things it creates can destroy for it. You can bring to existence any creature you can dream of. Will it, and it will be."
"That's amazing."
"It is, but it's also dangerous. The Relic of Destruction draws power from the people it touches. It's why your aura stopped regenerating when you got cut."
"What does that have to do with the staff?" I tested its weight in my hands. Qrow had taught me to fight with a staff last year, though the Relic was balanced so much better than the practice staffs despite the huge gem on one end.
"The staff draws its power from you." I stopped testing its weight and frowned.
"That would make it the weakest of the Relics then right?"
"No. When combined with the Winter Maiden its strength is formidable. That's the problem. Power like that is enticing and if you go too far you won't be able to pull it back. It will sap you of every ounce of magic you have, and you will die." He folded his arms across his chest. "The possibilities of what you can create with the staff are endless, but if you misjudge what you create you can't go back. It will continue sapping power from you until the creation is done, no matter the cost. Be careful, Brynn."
"Qrow told me to be careful too."
"He cares about you deeply. I regret my choices more than ever now." Ozpin bowed his head. "If I hadn't made the decisions I've made his family wouldn't be in danger."
"You didn't make me or Yang Maidens, and you didn't give Ruby silver eyes. We were made to protect this world. You just helped us along the way." He smiled softly at my words. "I forgive you, Ozpin."
"You...what?" For the first time since I'd met him, he was surprised.
"I forgive you for making the choices you made. You made them because you thought they were right. I see that now. I'll do whatever I can to be the protector you think I am." I smiled at him. "And I don't plan on dying today."
oO0Oo
"This is so cool!" Ruby squealed as she perched on the back of a beautiful winged stallion. The jewel on the top of the staff flashed as it finished drawing the power needed to create the Pegasus. "And he's really real! I thought Weiss's summoning was cool but this is insane!"
"Be careful." Qrow laid a hand on my arm. "Did Oz tell you how it works?"
"He did. That took next to no power at all. I could create a hundred more before I got tired," I answered.
"But you shouldn't." He looked concerned. "I don't think I'm ready to give you up just yet. Please don't get yourself killed."
"I won't," I answered, stretching up onto my toes to kiss him.
"I still think it's a joke that I don't have my Relic," Val muttered.
"Do you want to go take it from Salem yourself?" Weiss spoke in a clipped tone, clearly irritated by the red head.
"Obviously not. It's just annoying that mine is the only one with any real power and yet it isn't with us." She tossed her hair back dramatically.
"You underestimate the other Relics," Qrow answered. "Technically the staff is the most powerful as it can both create and destroy. However the relics of Choice and Knowledge have their own incredible talents."
"I'd love to see you try to tell Jinn she isn't powerful," Yang snorted from her spot at the other side of the room. Ruby giggled.
"She's a genie in a lamp, what could she possibly do to me?" Val tossed her hair over her shoulder and placed a hand on her hip.
"Just because the Relic's main talent is to answer three questions truthfully doesn't mean Jinn has no abilities of her own. She's incredibly powerful," Qrow responded. He paused for a moment before folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, and she can hear you." The colour drained from Val's face as Qrow walked away, grinning broadly. I followed after him, stifling a laugh of my own.
"What's the deal with you and her?" I asked when we were out of earshot. "You seem to hate her and she can't stop flirting with you."
"Do I have to answer?"
"You slept with my cousins, it couldn't be worse than that." He scowled at me for a minute before shrugging.
"Sure, why not. When Val became the Summer Maiden I was sent to protect her. We got drunk, we slept together, she got attached and I tried to let her down gently. She told me nobody ever said no to her and promised I'd fall for her one day. I backed away from that crazy as fast as I could and hoped she'd forget about me, and that was that."
"She definitely didn't forget you," I answered. He took hold of my wrist and pulled me close.
"But I forgot her," he murmured, brushing a lock of hair away from my eyes. "How could I think of anybody else with you around?" His fingers touched my cheek, lifting my face to look into his red eyes. "What are you planning, Brynn?"
"I...don't know yet."
"Are you going to unite the Relics?" He didn't seem angry, just infinitely sad.
"Qrow, I don't see what else we can do. Salem can't be killed, she's immortal. Dismembering her didn't work, the city is in ruins and the rest of Remnant will follow soon after if she's left to wreak havoc as she pleases."
"Why do you think this will work?"
"I don't know if it will." I gazed back at him steadily. "But we can't kill her, we can't imprison her, we can't reason with her and we can't stop her. Doesn't it seem like our only option?"
"Brynn, the Gods will wipe Remnant and everyone on it from existence if they see we haven't learned to live in peace. We are at war. If they're called here while we're in the middle of battle they'll kill us all." He spoke softly but I could see the worry in his eyes.
"What else can we do, Qrow? This can't go on. One way or another, she has to be stopped or she will continue to kill, and maim and destroy as she pleases." I took his hands in mine. "I don't actually know if the other Maidens would agree to it. And we can't do it without the last Relic anyway."
"I actually have a plan for getting that back," he answered.
"You do? Tell me."
"It's similar to the way you stopped the Devoratrix with Ruby." His face soured. "There's only one problem."
"And what's that?"
"We need Val."
oO0Oo
"Are you kidding? I'm in. I want my Relic." Val tossed her red hair back with an excited grin.
"It could be dangerous. You have to make sure you watch Tyrion's tail. If you get stung it's over." Qrow was working hard to keep the irritation out of his tone.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. I can handle it. You know very well how much I can handle." She winked at him and his anger returned.
"Will you cut it out? I turned you down years ago and I'm telling you again now I'm not interested." He put his arm around my shoulders. "And in case it hasn't already been made clear, this is my girlfriend."
"I know," she replied, still smiling. "But I know you, Qrow. Top shelf booze and no strings attached." She turned to me and I had to resist the urge to smack her. "Enjoy it while it lasts, Brynn."
"That isn't me any more," Qrow growls.
"Oh honey, people don't change. You like exciting women with something a little spicy to offer." She set a hand on her hip and smiled at him again. I snapped, lunging forward to grab her throat.
"If you proposition him one more time, I will wipe that smug smile right off your lips. Do you understand me?"
"Let go of me!" I hold her stare for a minute longer before releasing her throat. She glared at me, rubbing the sore spot angrily.
"You know, you're right Val. I do like exciting women," Qrow said with a smile. "And Brynn is the most exciting woman I've ever met."
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to help you now," she spat.
"Do you want your Relic or not?" My retort left her scowling silently. "I thought so." I took Qrow's hand and led him away.
"You really are crazy," he chuckled.
"I lost everything once. I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some jumped up bitch try and take you from me now." He stopped me in my tracks, pulling me in for a kiss.
"She couldn't if she wanted to." I smiled and let him continue leading me out to the battle grounds outside. "Time to test your new toy," he said. "Be careful."
"I will." I took a deep breath and stepped forward, letting go of his hand and hefting the staff. It felt strange to be using such a long weapon.
The soldiers parted to let me through, and Qrow followed behind. We reached the edge of the defences after a few minutes. A sea of chaos was stretched out before me. Buildings burned all across the city and soldiers ran back and fourth, interspersed with Huntsmen and Huntresses as they tackled the Grimm.
I held the staff out and imagined something small first. I watched as the jewel flashed and a bird materialised in front of me. It was a white crow, and it cawed once before flapping its wings and flying towards the nearest Grimm. The gruesome creature turned its head to look, distracted by my creation. The nearest soldier used the distraction to behead the creature in one quick swipe. As it fell flat, smoke rising from its body, I smiled and unleashed a torrent of white birds. I felt the small pull on my aura as the staff drew the necessary power from me, and seconds later thousands of the white apparitions swarmed the Grimm, causing confusion and chaos wherever they could. The soldiers took every advantage and the Hunters cheered as they cut through the scores of confused monsters.
"Impressive," Qrow said from behind me.
"The possibilities are infinite with this thing," I replied. "Anything I think, it makes."
"Do you remember the King Taijitu back in the forests?" I did remember. I remembered him pressing me against the tree, his eyes boring into mine. I nod. "Think you could create one?"
"I know I can." I set to work, and the white and gold King Taijitu appeared in front of us, rearing its great head with a deafening hiss before tearing into the nearest Grimm. The energy needed wasn't much different to the amount required for the flock of birds.
"Nice. Do you think you're ready to get started?"
"Let's do this." I took a deep breath, feeling the staff pull harder on my resources this time. The crystal glowed bright as my creation materialised in front of us. Qrow whistled, clearly impressed.
"Never thought I'd live to see a dragon," he said. Soldiers all around us stopped to stare at the pale beast as it stretched its wings wide and roared. A jet of flame burst from its throat and high into the air.
"Ezra!" I called up to it. It turned at the sound of my voice and lowered its head, humming deep in its chest.
"Holy shit," Qrow muttered.
"He's beautiful," I breathed, stroking the dragon's white snout. His eyes were piercing blue and he had a long, spiked tail. "Can you understand me, Ezra?" The purring changed tone, growing deeper, and I knew that he could. "I need your help." He butted my cheek gently with his nose before bending lower to let me onto his back. I climb up and look back at my Hunter. "Are you ready to fly?" I asked Qrow with a grin.
"As I'll ever be." He took my hand, allowing me to haul him up. Ezra roared again and kicked off from the ground, dragging us into the air.
"First we take out the Wyvern," I shouted over the wind, gesturing at the winged creature circling the outskirts of the city. "Then we get the Relic."
oO0 CYANIDE 0OO