The Black Tide: Chapter One...
Hey guys! Another RWBY fic starting here featuring team RWBY and my main man Qrow. This is set to follow on from the events at the end of Volume 7 though will absolutely be non-canon in future. Also brings up a fan theory that has been debunked but I still think it's an interesting angle. Enjoy!
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Salem approached Atlas on the back of a giant Grimm, displayed at the head of her monstrous army in all her terrible glory. All around her flying Grimm shrieked and squealed, their battle cries shattering the still night air as they descended on the floating city. Her evil compatriots on the ground were directed at Mantle with the intention of tearing it to pieces. She smiled a slow, wicked smile. There was a Relic inside Atlas. She could feel it there, humming at the centre as the humans sucked its power to keep their ridiculous metropolis in the sky.
There were several things she wanted. The first was to take the Relics of Knowledge and Creation. The second was to kill Ozpin. The third? She wanted Ruby Rose.
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"We have to go back!" Ruby gripped Maria Calavera's arm tightly as she watched the red lightning storm approach Atlas even as they fled. Oscar was gone and the Relic was lost. Uncle Qrow was Gods only knows where and they'd left the city with the Protector of Atlas in the back of their ship. Everything was falling apart, but they couldn't stand by and let Atlas and Mantle be destroyed. "We need to go back and help." She softened her words as the old woman scowled for a moment. Ruby thought she might ignore her, but then the airship banked left and they turned back towards the chaos.
"Are you sure we can do this?" Yang asked her younger sister, keeping her voice low in the small space. "It's Salem. In the flesh."
"We have to try," Ruby answered. "We need to find Oscar and Uncle Qrow and we need to help however we can. Penny?"
"Yes?" The red-haired girl looked up at the sound of her name, alert and ready.
"We're going to need everything you have. Will you help us?" Penny got to her feet, squaring her shoulders as she looked at her silver-eyed friend.
"I'm combat ready," she grinned. Ruby's answering smile was bright as she looked at each of her friends in turn. They looked back at her with scared determination, all of them acutely aware of the mortal danger they now faced. And every single one of them was prepared to run headfirst into it.
"I know things seem bad right now," she said, addressing them all. "I know Salem seems unstoppable and the Relic is missing. I know we don't have Oscar or Qrow here to help. But we've turned the tables before. We're all strong enough and smart enough to do this if we work together. We need to find our friends and we need to make sure the people of the city are safe. Salem can't get those Relics."
"We can link up with some of the ground forces in Mantle and help them to protect the city," Nora offered. Jaune and Ren nodded in agreement.
"Then we'll take Penny to Atlas with us to meet Salem in the air. Maybe we'll find Oscar there too," Ruby answered.
"What about the arrest warrant?" Weiss asked.
"We have bigger problems now," Jaune replied, his eyes on the storm of Grimm in the distance. As they watched another craft landed ahead of them. Maria gunned the throttle, sending the ship rocketing forwards in an attempt to land while the crew on the landing platform were busy with the other vessel. Ruby and her friends waited in tense silence, watching while the cargo of the other ship was unloaded. She bit back a gasp as she saw her uncle, wrists bound by a gravity bolas and his shirt stained with blood, trudge down the ramp and onto the flight deck flanked by two Atlesian soldiers. Robyn Hill came after him in a similar state.
"Hey, that's Uncle Qrow!" Yang leaned forward as she spoke and all eyes turned to where she was pointing. Ruby frowned. Something about Qrow was different. The way he held himself was almost...broken. As their craft touched down beside the other vessel she could see he was clutching something in his clenched fist. Whatever it was had stained his fingers red, though she couldn't tell if it was his blood or somebody else's.
"As soon as we land we go out and try to reason with the soldiers. Maybe we can get them to agree their release," she said. The others nodded in agreement as Maria settled the craft onto its landing gear. Her lips were pressed in a thin line as she opened the cargo bay door and her young companions stepped out onto the flight deck, leaving her and Penny's father behind. They kept their weapons stowed as they snuck round the side of the craft and surrounded the small party herding her uncle and the ex-councilwoman towards a large bay door.
"Halt," one of the Atlesian soldiers demanded, shouldering his weapon. Qrow's head tipped up a fraction and his eyes widened as he saw his nieces in front of him, hands up to show they were unarmed. His eyes flickered to the Grimm-filled storm cloud and back to them.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "You should have left with the Relic, kid."
"We don't have the Relic," Ruby answered. His eyes darkened as she turned her attention to the soldiers.
"We don't want a fight." She kept her hands up as she approached them. "We need you to release our friends."
"Your friends have been arrested on suspicion of murder," the soldier answered, narrowing his eyes. "And there's a warrant out for you and your companions too."
"They didn't murder anybody," Yang cut in, gesturing to Qrow and Robin. Qrow's expression turned sad and she saw him look down at the object in his hand again.
"We'll leave Atlas law enforcement to decide whether they're guilty or not," the Atlesian soldier retorted.
"But it doesn't look good. That guy's sword was used to kill an Ace Operative and the only witness is the other prisoner. If you have any evidence to give then you can submit it through the proper channels," the other soldier said. Ruby hid her shock well but Yang's mouth fell open. Which Operative had died? "We don't have the manpower to arrest all of you here and there's a Hell of a fight coming this way. If I were you I'd duck and run while you still have the chance."
"We can't do that," Ruby answered. "General Ironwood's arrest warrant for us is a misunderstanding and it's our job to help those who need it. We are more than willing to help protect Atlas and Mantle from what's coming but we need everyone to do it. That man is Qrow Branwen, a decorated Huntsman with a lifetime of experience and one of the best warriors we have. Robyn Hill is equally skilled and represents the people of Mantle. She can help us unite the soliders down there to face the Grimm. Right now they're panicking and it's only going to bring more. Please let us help you."
"I can't do that." The soldier shook his head and aimed his weapon at Ruby. "I'm going to have to ask you to step back or I will be forced to use lethal force."
"Lower your weapon," Penny Polendina ordered as she appeared beside Ruby. "As Protector of Atlas I'm here to help against what's coming and I order you to let these two people go. General Ironwood wants what's best for Atlas. We want what's best for everyone. If you agree to release them now I will personally round them up and re-arrest them later. You will receive full credit for your efforts."
"And if you don't round them up later?" the first soldier asked.
"Are you an idiot?" Qrow muttered from behind him. "If we can't be rounded up later it'll be because we're dead. And if I'm dead then you'll definitely be dead along with everyone else." A shade of his usual caustic attitude returned but his face still held despair. Ruby wondered again what had happened in their short time apart.
"The Huntsman is right. The only way I won't re-arrest them is if they or I am dead. Please release them." The soldiers glared suspiciously at the group for one more minute before the second soldier, the kinder of the two, nodded and deactivated the bindings around Qrow and Robyn's wrists. "Thank you. Report to your superior for further orders. If they question you about your prisoners advise them that I have it under control for now." The soldiers nodded and ran through the bay doors. Penny shook her head and Weiss frowned.
"If Winter saw that she'd fire them both," she muttered. Her brow creased further at the thought of her sister, but she turned her attention to their newly regained friends quickly. Ruby rushed to her Uncle and threw her arms around him.
"Hey, kid. Thanks for the rescue." His words were sad. She pulled back and opened his fingers to see the badge of Clover Ebi resting in his bloodied palm. His skin was lacerated as though he'd been squeezing it tight. She looked into his wine-red eyes and saw the faint tracks of tears down his face.
"What happened?" she asked quietly.
"Tyrian happened." The muscle in his jaw worked as he looked away. "Clover was trying to arrest me even while Tyrian was trying to kill us. I had to stop Tyrian but I couldn't do that without stopping Clover first." His fist clenched around the badge again. "It was my fault."
"Did you...did you kill him?" Ruby's gut twisted uncomfortably. Thankfully, he shook his head.
"No. I lost my sword and the damn fool wouldn't stop attacking me. I tried to make him understand that Tyrian was the bigger threat but he wouldn't listen. Eventually I had to fight back or Tyrian would kill me while I was distracted. I played right into his hands." He swallowed against the lump in his throat. "Tyrian ran him through with my sword and escaped. Clover died while we were waiting to be picked up." His voice cracked. "I wanted to go after him but..." He looked up at his niece, fresh tears in his eyes. "I couldn't leave Clover to die alone, not like that." She pulled him into a fierce hug, wrapping her arms around his waist as tightly as she could. Robyn laid a hand on his shoulder, her eyes sad as she watched the pair. The others stood around in tense silence, shocked by the knowledge of Clover's death.
"We need to keep you away from the soldiers then," Ruby said as she stepped back. "If they think you're wanted for murder they're likely to arrest you. We need your help Uncle Qrow. Can you still fight?" He wiped the back of his hand across his eyes and nodded, putting the pin in his pocket.
"I'll fight with every breath I have left," he nodded, his gaze turning to steel. Ruby felt a flutter in her chest as the strong Huntsmen she was used to returned. "Nora, Ren and Jaune, get Maria to take you back down to Mantle with Robyn. Salem will keep her fight concentrated on Atlas because that's where the Creation Relic is kept. You need to keep Mantle from being overrun. Robyn can help you if the soldiers try to arrest you." They nodded and ran back to the airship.
"I'll see you when this is over," Robyn said to Qrow. "You and I know the truth. We'll get through this and clear your name. I promise." Qrow nodded his thanks and she ran after the others. A moment later the aircraft rose and headed down towards the city on the ground.
"The rest of us need to find Ironwood. As much as he's our enemy right now, he's the one that can organise the troops." Qrow turned to Penny. "Nice to see you with us. We'll need your help getting to the General and we'll need it again to convince him to help us. Maybe now Salem is on his doorstep he might start listening. Let's move." Team RWBY and Penny nodded and started after the Hunter at a steady jog, heading for the large bay doors the soldiers had disappeared through.
The corridors were long and confusing. Ruby was glad her uncle seemed to know where he was going because she had no idea. Every so often a group of soldiers would run back and forth across their path, but all were too busy to pay them much notice under the threat of the impending war. Ruby kept an eye out for Oscar as they ran, disappointment curling in her gut as each intersection came up empty. They made it to the General's office in good time, having to stop only once to negotiate with the guards at the door. Penny managed to placate them enough to let the group pass.
General Ironwood sat in his chair with his head in his hands as they entered. He looked up at the noise and his eyes widened a fraction before his features settled on anger. He drew his gun and levelled it at Qrow's head. Qrow stopped and put his arm out to stop the others, guiding them behind him in case the General fired a shot.
"James, put the gun down," he said softly.
"You murdered him. One of my best operatives is gone because of you!"
"I didn't," Qrow answered. I wouldn't. He was my friend, James. Tyrian got loose and played us all."
"The report said it was your sword that took Clover's life," the General answered. The gun didn't waver.
"Tyrian stabbed him. Robyn knows the truth. I swear to you that I didn't kill Clover." His voice cracked again at the sound of his friend's name, but he kept his back straight and his eyes hard as he stared down the man pointing a loaded gun at him. "This is madness, James. We're all here to help you, that's all we've ever been here to do."
"Where's Oscar?" Ruby asked softly. The General's gun wavered just slightly, but she didn't miss it and neither did Qrow.
"...What did you do?" The Hunters' tone changed as he stared at his former friend. "Where is he?"
"None of you understand! I am doing what is best for Atlas," James thundered. "I thought I could trust you. I was glad when you came here. Now the power of the Winter Maiden is gone, the Relic is missing, my city is under attack, my best operative is dead and one of my closest friends stands accused of his murder. Everything we built is ready to fall." His anger turned cold, his voice growing quiet. "And all you did was lie to me. You didn't trust me and neither did Ozpin."
"Where is Oscar?" Qrow's question was sharp as he addressed the raving leader.
"I did what I had to do." Qrow took a step forward, brazenly ignoring the weapon aimed at his head.
"What did you have to do, James?"
"What was necessary." His finger moved to rest on the trigger. "And I will do it again if I have to."
"You shot him?!" Yang was the one to yell, her anger turning her eyes a startling red. Ruby flinched at the force of the explosive question even as the others gasped at the revelation. "We came to help you and you shot him?"
"Do you realise what you've done?" Qrow's words were edged with steel. "You shot a kid, James. That was Oscar, not Ozpin." He stalked towards the expansive desk. "And you have the nerve to call me a murderer?" he hissed. "Go ahead. Shoot me. You might as well since you seem to like arresting or killing the people who came to help you!" Qrow's anger raged again, burning like a furnace in his eys. "Put a bullet in my head, you stupid fool! You might as well since Salem is gonna come in here and kill us all anyway!" He stopped when the barrel was inches from his face, levelling a black stare at the General as he waited. Ironwood glared but his hand shook. After a moment he collapsed into his chair and dropped his head into his hands, the gun clattering heavily to the desk.
"I don't know what to do," he said softly. Qrow's anger faded and he sighed.
"We need to evacuate. Have your soldiers already started?"
"We've had airships heading out to Mantle regularly but we didn't have enough warning, and Mantle is under as much threat as we are. I'm afraid evacuating civillians is eating up our manpower and it may be futile.
"Get everyone into the Academy then. Everybody that can fit needs to be brought here. Get a message to Robyn asking her to divert any remaining civillians to one of the larger buildings in the centre of the city. We're on the defensive now. We can't afford to lose airships or the soldiers we need to man them." Ironwood nodded and followed Qrow's instructions, using his radio to contact Robyn and several other units. "Penny, are you able to defend the entrances to the Academy from Grimm?"
"Absolutely," she nodded. "Should I use the Winter Maiden powers to help?" Qrow's face went blank with shock and General Ironwood's eyebrows almost disappeared into hair.
"What now?" Qrow asked.
"The Winter Maiden. She gave me her power while you were getting arrested," Penny answered brightly.
"Huh. Alright then," Qrow shrugged. "In that case you're sticking with us. James, go and protect your people. Take Weiss and Blake."
"We're a team," Blake answered. "We should be sticking together."
"I know, but you're not training in Beacon anymore kid." The Hunter appraised each of them in turn. "You're Huntresses now, whether Ironwood revoked your licenses or not. It's time you gave yourselves the credit you deserve." He cocked his head. "Actuallt, Yang, you can go with Blake. Weiss, you're better with us. Your summoning will be useful for us."
"How come I'm relegated to protection duty?" Yang pouted.
"Because you like to punch Grimm and punching Grimm will be something you do in abundance while protecting the Academy. Not so much where the Relic is concerned."
"Can't argue with that," she grinned.
"Qrow..." Ironwood's eyes were haunted as he looked at the Hunter.
"Don't, James. Protect the Academy. We'll talk later if we live that long." James nodded. Yang gave her sister and Weiss a quick hug, nudged her uncle and then her and Blake followed Ironwood out of his office
"Do you seriously trust him to do as you ask?" Weiss raised her eyebrows at the Hunter.
"Hell no. But I trust him to put his people first."
"What do we do now?" Penny asked.
"We go to where the staff is kept and pray to the Gods we can defend it." The edge in Qrow's words made Ruby's heart race with fear, but she took a few deep breaths to calm herself, remembering the things Maria had taught her to put her in the right state of mind. She needed her Inner Light. She had a horrible feeling that without it they had no hope at all.
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