RWBY
Origins Of LUNR
Chapter 35: Coming Together
Back in Mistral after Qrow had brought Regulus and his group to the house Ruby and the others were staying at, they all began catching up. "Ruby!" Arrietty exclaimed as she dashed at Ruby with her arms open.
"Arrietty!" Ruby also exclaimed as she dashed towards Arrietty with her arms open. The two embrace and smile at one another
"How have you been, I'm so glad you're alright," Ruby said.
"I'm glad you're alright too, I was so worried about you guys," Arrietty responded.
"Midori!"
Everyone turned around to see Nora holding Midori by her waist and lifting her into the air. Midori laughed and put her hands on Nora's arms " Stop it Nora, put me down!" She replied.
"But you're so cute!" Nora said as she spun around with Midori in her hands.
"I'm glad to see you guys made it out okay my friend," Ren said as he shook Regulus's hand.
Regulus grinned feeling welcomed and shook his hand back "Same to you." He responded.
"Hey Regulus, where's the rest of your team?"Jaune asked as he looked at Regulus.
Regulus turned his head to Jaune "From what Qrow told me, Uzziel and Lance are on their way here. As for Nolo… we… got into a fight recently. He left us and I have no idea where he is." Regulus explained.
Nora put her hands on her hips and looked at Regulus as she tilted her body forward. "You guys shouldn't be fighting. Aren't you two brothers?" She asked, scolding Regulus in the process.
"It's not like I want to. The last thing I want to do is fight with him. But we're siblings so it's bound to happen from time to time." Regulus explained.
"He's right, having problems with your sibling is normal. There were times when Yang and I were mad at each other, but we always found a way to work it out."
Everyone turned their heads to the left side to see Estelle walking towards them. "I don't know how many times my brother and I have gotten into it. But we always find a way to make things better. I could never stay mad at him for too long." She said with a smile on her face.
"You said you're Uzziel's sister right? You're so beautiful, I love the hair." Nora complimented as she popped up behind Estelle and observed her long red hair.
Estelle giggled and gave Nora a warm smile "Thank you." She replied.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. They tense up and look at each other before Jaune cautiously goes to open it. The young boy that met with Qrow was on the other side, looking hesitant and uncomfortable. Jaune looks back over his shoulder at the others and Nora shrugs.
"Can I... help you?" Jaune asked.
"Um... yeah. Is there a Ruby Rose here?" The boy asked.
Regulus and the others immediately stand up, cautious and defensive. Midori walks over towards Regulus and looks at the boy "Why?" She asked with a serious look on her face.
"Well…" The boy started before he looks to his left and Qrow appears, moving drunkenly and grabbing the boy by the shoulders. "I found him!" He exclaimed. Qrow snorts into his hand and continues laughing as he stumbles into the house.
"I think her uncle could use some help." The boy said.
Qrow almost makes it to the couch before he stumbles and saves his balance by falling backward onto the cushions. "Whoa. Ugh." Qrow mumbled while settling onto his back and folding his arm over his eyes. "I found him."
"What is going on out there?!"
Everyone turned to see Dyna walking into the room with an apron wrapped around her waist.
"Can't a girl cook in peace?" She asked as she stood beside Estelle.
Qrow burps and chuckles, catching Dyna's attention. She sighs and puts a hand to her forehead exasperatedly. "Qrow, did you get drunk again?"
"Maybe." He responded.
"Oh." The boy said finally stepping in as he looks at Ruby "You have silver eyes."
Ruby looks at him, a touch surprised. She turns to Ren and Nora, who shrugs again, before looking back at the boy. "Who... are you?" She asked.
Qrow chuckles from the couch. "Uh... Well. My name is Oscar Pine." The boy responds.
"Wait for it…" Qrow chimed in which made Estelle and Dyna sigh at him before looking back at Oscar.
"But you probably know me as... Professor Ozpin." Oscar finished.
Everyone gasped and looked confused. Jaune takes a couple of steps back. Qrow continues chuckling. "I did it!" Qrow exclaimed while raising his fist to the air.
He falls off the couch onto the floor, startling Nora. She puts her hand to her mouth and gasps "Ooh!"
Meanwhile...
Leonardo Lionheart sits in his office with his head in his hands. Suddenly Arthur Watts opens the door to the room. "Are we ready?"
Lionheart lifts his head to look at Watts as he closes the door behind him and steps into the room. A brief exchange of looks is made as Lionheart turns his head away from Watts who smirks in response. The two soon enter a secret hallway adjacent to the office. At the end of the curved hallway is a circular room containing a Seer Grimm.
"After you," Watts said as he pushes Lionheart closer to the Seer Grimm.
"Your Grace, are... you there?" Lionheart asked.
The red smoke-like substance contained in the head of the Seer Grimm shifts to form an image of Salem, Terror, and Cinder Fall at their location in the Land of Darkness.
"Hello, Leonardo. Do you have something to report?" Salem asked.
Salem, Terror, and Cinder are also looking through a Seer Grimm to communicate with Lionheart and Watts. "Of course, ma'am. I would not waste your time, if not." He stated.
"I'm still just so fascinated by this creature. Cinder dear, are we coming through?" Watts asked tapping the Seer. "Can you see us clearly? Well, as clearly as you can."
"Shut... up." Cinder said, showing that she was annoyed.
"Oh goody, you've recovered," Watts said sarcastically.
"Your report. What is it?" She asked.
"I've... I've found the Spring Maiden." He said.
"Is that so? Well done. Arthur had I known how useful you'd be in expediting this process, I would've sent you long, long ago." Salem praised.
"As much as I'd love to take credit, ma'am, I can't say that either of us is to thank for this development. I guess you could say, a little birdie told us." Watts responded.
"Explain." She said.
"You see, ma'am, Qrow Branwen arrived at Haven Academy earlier today. He believes Spring has taken residence with his sister's tribe." Lionheart said.
"Is... the girl... with him?" Cinder asked.
"Yes, Miss Rose was in attendance," Watts responded.
Salem then leaned forward and looked at the image of Watts "And you know of the tribe's location?" She asked.
Lionheart nodded at his question "Yes sir! But you have to hurry! Qrow is already at odds with my-"
Salem makes a face of annoying concentration and in response one of the Seer Grimm's tentacles shoots out to wrap around Lionheart's throat and choke him. "Leonardo, do you remember the first time we met? I remember. I remember your fear. But, since that day, you've been extraordinarily brave. I won't forget all that you've done for me. Do not forget everything that I can do to you." She warned him.
The Seer Grimm slowly brings the point of another tentacle close to the face of Lionheart before drawing it back. Within the orb of the Seer Grimm, Salem makes a gesture, and the tentacle simultaneously releases him from the chokehold. Lionheart coughs and gasps for breath.
"Cinder, you and your team will meet with Doctor Watts, and together, convince Raven Branwen that the survival of her people depends on her cooperation. Once you have Spring under control, escort her to the Relic and contact Hazel. The White Fang was promised the destruction of Haven, and they'll have it once we have what we need." Salem said.
"Understood." Watts said as he nodded his head.
"Not you, Arthur. Tyrian's in need of a new tail." She informed him as she rested her hands on her lap.
"What happened to his old one?" Watts asked as he raised his eyebrow.
"Guess." Terror chimed in.
"The silver-eyed girl?" Watts asked.
Cinder looks stern and grunts as acknowledgment. "It will be done." He said before stepping back.
"Good." Salem simply replied.
The image of Salem disappears from the Seer Grimm to show the connection has ended. "Seems Qrow was right, Lionheart. The students aren't pushovers."
Back in the Land of Darkness, Cinder is clearly unhappy. "You're free to speak your mind." Salem said as Terror walked over to his chair and sat down.
"I don't understand. Working with bandits? Keeping Ruby alive? What's the point? We're strong enough to take what we want by force!" CInder said as she looked out the window before turning to face Salem.
"Never underestimate the usefulness of others. Take Leonardo; he was one of Ozpin's most trusted, and yet now…" She pauses as she chuckles. "You will have the power I promised you when the time is right. But remember that it comes with a cost. If Ruby Rose has learned to harness her gift, then you must take care to protect yours. There's only so much I can do to aid you."
Cinder bows to Salem and goes to exit the room.
"Cinder wait."
Cinder stopped and turned around to look at Terror who was looking at her "I want you to take Damien along with you. He's been complaining about not being able to do anything useful and this will be his chance to prove that he's ready." He explained.
Cinder nodded at him and was about to turn around until he spoke again "I'll make sure he knows that you're in charge, if he gets out of line or chooses to not follow your orders, then punish him as you see fit. He's young and he's very skilled in battle but he's still a naive child." Terror finished.
Cinder smirked and nodded her head "Understood." She replied.
As she was about to start walking Salem spoke: "And Cinder, before you go, inform Tyrian…" She paused as her smile turned to a frown. "That I wish to have a word with him." Cinder smiles, nods in acknowledgment of Salem's order and turns, leaving the room.
Meanwhile….
As the cargo ship flies over Lake Matsu, Weiss Schnee sat on a huge crate with Uzziel who was leaning on her shoulder sleeping. She was still somber over being unable to help the Mistralian cargo pilots, suddenly notices to her right a series of landmasses floating in the bright blue, partly cloudy sky, with what appears to be black crystals jutting out from the bottom of the rock formations. Puzzled, she then decides to gently shift Uzziel's body so he wouldn't fall over and head into the pilot's cabin. The doors open.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"Nowhere good. Passing by some of Lake Matsu's floating islands. The gravity Dust that forms in these things is giving us a little turbulence. Nothing I can't handle, but the islands sometimes hide some nasty Grimm." As Weiss walks toward the pilot, outside, an airship is seen quickly heading towards them, on fire, and leaving a giant trail of smoke behind it. "I'm just betting on our friends in distress keeping them preoccupied. Where's your friend?" He asked.
Weiss smiled and looked behind her "He's taking a nap. He was making such a fuss about flying to Haven without rest but as soon as he sits down he's out like a light. It's amazing he flew from Vale, all the way to Atlas." She said,
"Whoa! What is that kid? Regardless of what his semblance is, no normal human can do that." He stated.
Weiss notices to her right the approach of the heavily damaged airships. "Look out!" She exclaimed.
The airship comes barreling from their right, narrowly hitting their cargo ship and forcing the pilot to pull upward to avoid it. The doomed craft, bearing a white symbol for Mistral on its sail, proceeds to collide into one of the floating islands.
"You've got to be kidding me!" The pilot said.
The pilot then decides to switch back to the radio, listening in for nearby transmissions.
"By the gods, we've lost Percy! Help!"
Another Mistralian airship, pursued by a swarm of wasp-like Grimm, is suddenly hooked from multiple directions by their extendable stingers, which leaves them trapped and unable to move.
"We're hooked! We're hooked!"
As the pilot on the radio makes a frantic call, the wood on the ship's exterior begins to crack, as the insects grappling on the ship pull very tightly.
"Everyone, abandon ship!"
Capitalizing on their fear, one of the Grimm somersaults into the air and dive-bombs into the top of the ship, as the pilot and everyone on board perish in the ensuing explosion. The rest of the Grimm following this turn their attention to and pursue Weiss' airship.
Uzziel who had woken up through all the commotion opens the door and looks at Weiss and the pilot. "What's going on?" He asked.
The pilot tried to keep calm but freaked out at what he saw "Lancers, freaking Lancers! Alright, buckle up- Huh?"
He turns to speak to Weiss and Uzziel only to see them slump down a hatch into the cargo hold, as they are determined to stop the swarm.
"What are you doing?" The pilot asked over the intercom.
"What we should've done in the first place! You're carrying Dust, right?" Weiss asked as she looked at the containers.
"Officially, no. Actually, yes." He responded.
Weiss opens a large container of vials of powdered Dust and loads her weapon Myrtenaster with six of them. Uzziel walked over and did the same, preparing himself for battle.
"Then when I tell you, open the rear door!" She stated.
"Better make it quick!" The pilot warned her.
The pilot makes multiple evasive maneuvers, but the Lancers gain on the ship and begin to shoot their stingers at it.
"Kids, we're cutting it close!" He exclaimed.
Weiss Summons a black glyph underneath her to keep her stuck to the ship as she readies her sword in front of her.
"Ready!" Uzziel said.
The cargo doors open and the battle begins. Using glyphs and Dust, Weiss succeeds in eliminating one of the Grimm.
"Weiss!" Uzziel exclaimed.
"I'm on it." She replied.
A glyph appeared in front of Uzziel who pointed his gun at the glyph. He pulled the trigger and shot off five shots that turned into Ice blast due to Weiss's glyph.
He eliminates five more while the pilot continues to do evasive maneuvers. Weiss and Uzziel both gets knocked off balance when the cargo ship rocked.
"Ah! What was that?!" She asked.
The upper level of the cargo ship has Lancer stingers sticking in through the ceiling. "We're hooked!" The pilot said.
The outside of the airship has two Lancers firmly planted on top of it before the rest of the swarm gains on the cargo ship once more with some of the Grimm flying alongside it.
"I got an idea! Hold on! Literally!" He exclaimed.
The pilot accelerates the ship toward one of the floating islands, waiting until the last possible moment before suddenly diving and using the remaining forward momentum to throw the Lancers on the ship off into the side of the rock formation.
"Haha!" He laughed.
"Can you find a pair of islands we can fit between?" Weiss asked.
The cargo ship is turned and travels toward a pair of closely adjacent, interconnected islands.
"Kid, you are reading my mind!" He replied.
Aura began to form around Uzziel's body which Weiss noticed immediately and put a hand on his wrist "Hold on. Don't resort to that just yet. Let me try something first." She said which earned her a nod from Uzziel.
As the cargo ship narrowly avoids the close islands walls and the attacking Lancers, Weiss fires three fireballs from her glyphs to destroy an overhanging rock formation. The attack causes debris that kills the attacking Grimm but also awakens an unseen Queen Lancer.
"Good work Weiss." Uzziel praised which made Weiss smile.
"Yeah! Great going, kid! We are in the clear!" The pilot said.
Immediately after Weiss exhales in relief, a Lancer significantly larger than the rest suddenly appears outside the cargo doors. "It's a Queen Lancer!" She exclaimed.
"What?!" The pilot was shocked, to say the least.
The Queen Lancer attacked the ship initially."Do something!" He yelled.
Weiss uses most of the Dust crates to explode against the creature, but it survives unscathed.
"I can see the shoreline! Guys, we're not gonna make it!" Regaining her composure, Weiss looks at Uzziel and nods her head which earns her a nod in return. Weiss Summons her Arma Gigas, while Uzziel begins to activate his semblance and forming a red aura around his body. The aura took on the form of a dragon as Uzziel stared at the lancer.
"Pull up, now!" Weiss ordered.
The pilot followed the order pulling the cargo ship up and ascended further into the air, before maneuvering to have the vehicle upside down. During this, Uzziel and the Arma Gigas leave the vehicle and dove towards Queen Lancer. The Arma Gigas, controlled by Weiss, dashes towards the Grimm as Uzziel flies past Gigas and crashes into the Grimm holding on to it by the head, stopping it in its tracks. The Lancer tried to extend its stinger and stab Uzziel with it. But as it tries Uzziel moves his body to the left to dodge the attack.
With his change in maneuver, the stinger crashed into the ship causing immense damage to it. The Arma Gigas dashed past the Grimm slashing it in the process. Uzziel then let go of the Grimm and tilted his head backward for a moment before bringing it back and letting out a huge fire blast and engulfing the Grimm in flames, killing it in the process.
However, the cargo ship has taken too much damage and descends."Weiss!" Uzziel exclaimed. Uzziel races towards the falling ship while Weiss tries to use her Semblance to slow the ship's trajectory down, Uzziel flew to the front and grabbed on to the ship but it's not enough to prevent it from crash landing as the ship was already too close to the ground.
Meanwhile...
Inside the White Fang headquarters, Adam Taurus kneels before Sienna Khan, who is sitting on a throne flanked by two guards on either side of her.
"Adam. I'm not going to repeat myself, so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy." She sternly stated.
"High Leader Khan, I am begging you." He started until she spoke again.
"You should beg for forgiveness and nothing else! The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be more grateful your punishment was not more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible." She explained.
"I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader." Adam tried to explain.
"And what example might that be?" She asked.
"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now." He said motioning his hands to prove a point.
"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsman Academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl! And the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what?!" She asked as she looked at him.
"Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please! These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness!" She finished.
"If you want to know more about humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?" Adam rises and turns toward the entrance to the room.
"Hazel… Paul!" He called out.
Hazel opens the doors to the large room and enters with Paul standing beside him "Took you long enough." Hazel said.
As they both enters, Sienna rises from her seat and her guards all point their spears towards Hazel and Paul. "What is this?!" She asked.
"Apologies. we don't aim to cause any trouble." Hazel said.
"We come in peace, your highness." Paul mocked with a smirk on his face. Hazel gave him an annoyed look, wanting him to shut up.
"You've brought a human to this location?" She asked with a shocked look on her face.
"You should hear what he has to say." He insisted.
"This is grounds for execution!" She said slamming her hand on the armrest.
"Ma'am, please. Nobody needs to die today." Hazel said as he grabbed Paul's arm and brought him to the floor and making him kneel. "I'm just asking for a moment of your time."
"The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive." She warned in a stern voice
Hazel looked at Paul who was still smirking and flared at him before looking back at Sienna. "I'll take those chances if you don't mind."
Sienna sits back down, her guards return to their neutral position and Hazel and Paul rise again before continuing to speak.
"You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want." He explained.
"I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want. I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!" She exclaimed in anger.
"That's where you're wrong." Adam cut in.
Sienna and Hazel focus on Adam who begins to advance toward Sienna while continuing to speak.
"We can win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus." Adam balled up his fist trying to get his point across as he smirked as walked up the steps to her throne.
"He's right you know." Paul chimed in.
Hazel turned his head to look at him and raised an eyebrow "What are you doing?" He asked.
Paul held his hand up to stop Hazel from talking and continued. "Humans treated the Faunus like an outcast. They shame and attack you every chance they get… that excluding Hazel and myself. This is why our master wants to aid you in your cause of standing up to the humans. From what Adam has told me the humans have even made your own son turn against you and turned him into one of them. I know you won't stand-"
"SILENCE!" She yelled, completely cutting him off.
"You have no right to bring up that matter, it does not concern you." She said, slowly calming herself down from her outburst. Paul just chuckled to himself while closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"I've had enough of this conversation for tonight. Guards, take them away." She ordered as she held her hand out.
The guards remained stationary. Sienna looked at them with a confused expression on her face. "I said, take them away!" She ordered again, showing her frustration.
"I will admit, Sienna, you were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale already see me as the true High Leader. And many here in Mistral feel the same." Four armed White Fang soldiers enter through the main doors and stop, pointing their weapons into the room as Sienna rises to her feet.
"What are you doing?" Hazel asked as he looked around.
"What's right for the Faunus. From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang." Adam stated. Four more soldiers reveal themselves with their weapons drawn, two on each side of the room, as Sienna's guards point their weapons at her. Sienna quickly judges the situation, though taken by surprise.
Her eyes narrowed darkly. "If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you, you're wrong." As she turns toward him, Sienna is impaled by Adam's weapon.
"I know." He responded. He lifts the blade, making it slide deeper into Sienna's body and lifting it off the ground. Fists clenched, her body shakes from the damage and Adam takes advantage of her close proximity to rest a hand on her shoulder and speak into her ear.
"Thank you, Sienna. You were there when our people needed you, but they need me now. I'm sorry you couldn't see this through to the end." He said. "Don't you worry… I'll make sure your son joins you soon enough. Maybe there you both will be able to find peace." He said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Sienna growls at this and lifts her hand to claw at Adam's neck. Before she makes contact Adam swiftly removes his weapon from Sienna, causing her body to fall to the ground and roll to the bottom of the steps leading up to her throne. The White Fang soldiers begin to withdraw their weapons as Hazel looks down upon her body before returning his sight back to Adam with an annoyed look, while Paul chuckled again.
"Give our former leader a proper burial. All who were here tonight will claim that Sienna was murdered by a human Huntsman. Sienna Khan will become a martyr for our cause, her final act as High Leader." All of the White Fang soldiers leave the room, two carrying Sienna's body with them on a stretcher, leaving Adam, Paul and Hazel the only ones remaining.
"When were you planning on telling me about that?" Hazel asked in annoyance.
Adam withdraws a cloth from his back pocket and slides it across Wilt's blade, cleaning it of Sienna's blood. "This was my business, not yours." Adam said.
"It's our business now, and I don't appreciate you withholding things like that." Hazel retorted.
"Hazel calm down big guy, he's handled what needed to be handled." Paul said, not seeing a problem with the situation.
Adam nodded at Paul's remark. "Your master was concerned with Sienna's willingness to cooperate. Now she doesn't have to be."
"Nobody needed to die today." Hazel said.
Hazel leaves the room as Adam sits down on the throne. "I... disagree." He responded in a cocky tone.