Hunting or Bust

Dust 77: When It Falls

((((((((Hunting))))))))

This was the worst possible scenario.

Over many years and many lives he thought he'd made enough safeguards and plans to prepare for every disaster imaginable. Surround himself with trustworthy, reliable partners who share his desire to keep the world safe. Train generation after generation of outstanding new Huntsmen and Huntresses to protect the world. And entrust the powers he held once long, long ago to noble, worthy young women who would use the powers he squandered for good use.

But nothing ever went as planned.

New disasters always appeared or were manufactured to counter his plans. Those trustworthy people he believed in didn't always return that trust. The world was never truly protected as Hunters thinned our around the world. And that power he gave as a gift could so easily be corrupted by those vying for strength.

Over so many years he tried to adapt and learn how to fix the problems he made before.

But his school was falling.

Vale was overrun.

His trusted comrades were separated.

And the mastermind behind it all was floating over his head as magic filled her body.

Pyrrha had escaped from her tube and was prepared to fight beside him, but he ordered her away. He had already risked her life with the chance to transfer the Maiden's powers over to her. Now that it was taken away, he wasn't going to waste her life against an opponent too powerful to comprehend. That's why he ordered her and Jaune away.

They didn't have the luxury of coming back like he did.

The fight between them was destruction incarnate. The vault under Beacon was left in ruins with the carnage they wrought. Cinder may have only had half of the Maiden's power until now but she obviously put in the practice because she seemed like an old hand.

She had ice and lightning and wind and everything in between at her disposal, but she adored fire. Flames and embers surrounded her body nearly every second as a simple wave of her hand released waves so intense they melted through stone and metal. Her intent was clearly to reduce him to smolder and ash in an instant.

He avoided them. Decades of trainings and lifetimes of experience cried out for his body to move. His Semblance and what was left of his magic pushed his body to keep fighting. The Beacon headmaster flashed along the ground to avoid her attacks, landing glancing blows and attacks each time he passed by her.

Maidens weren't invincible or unstoppable. Though they may appear to be forces of nature they were still people but with greater power at hand. Many of them had been killed in the past. A blind spot they weren't watching. Their guard lowered in a moment they believed themselves unbeatable. All it took was one hit to topple even the mightiest opponent, and Ozpin was ready to deliver that hit.

He created shields. Dodged with afterimages. Cinder created countless arrows and launched them down at him. His cane struck along her body and stressed her Aura. She forced him back with a violent burst of magic. Their back and forth continued like that so long that Ozpin started to believe that he might be able to take this victory back.

But once again he realized nothing ever went as planned.

The old Huntsman groaned as he tried to lift himself up, his legs crushed under a slab of concrete that had dropped down in their battle. Ozpin tried to pull himself out but the arrows sticking into his body stressed and pained him with every movement.

"Well isn't that unfortunate?" Her mocking voice taunted him as Cinder slowly stepped over him. She walked over the slab, pressing it down harder in his legs and earning a groan of pain from the Huntsman, "Although I can't help but think your current situation seems appropriate for you." She looked down at him with a sneer, "You tried to hide all of this away and now you find yourself crushed underneath the weight of your lies."

"I implore you to stop trying to add poetic irony to this matter. I've been pinned by a slab of rock and you're going to kill me. So what's the point in trying to impress me with your pseudo-intellect?"

Cinder just chuckled despite the spite in his words. She flicked her fingers forward and summoned a flame to her fingers that she stared into deeply, "It's wonderful. I've had this yearning in my body for so long since I took part of the power and now that I have it all it just...it makes me feel complete." She closed her eyes and reveled in it with a deep breath before looking down at him, "Do you remember what it was like having this magic? When this power was yours and so much more?"

It was empty now without it. Sometimes he longed for that power and other times he was thankful to be free of it. Watching it dance in the hands of the psychopath above him made him wish he could call it back at will. But no such luck.

"This connects us I suppose, even more than what we had before through her. This was your gift and you've passed it on to me." She smiled warmly while looking down at him, "Does that make your skin crawl as much as mine?"

"Absolutely."

"Well at least we can agree on that." Cinder shrugged and then looked over to the side. Ozpin followed her gaze and saw Amber in her pod, body limb as the arrow in her eye remained half protruding from the glass, "Do you think she'd thank you for the power you passed on to her? The power that isolated, threatened, and in the end killed her."

"You killed her. Don't blame it on the Maiden's power." Ozpin retorted, "There are always fools and cowards touched by madness that chase after the smallest speck of control and power they can find. Don't try to twist it like you didn't have a hand in any of it."

"I could say the same to you." Cinder returned, holding out her hand and bathing Amber's corpse and pod in fire. Everything in its path slowly turned to ash and powder before nothing was left, "Do you think if she was still alive, she would believe that little speech and not blame you?"

No. No she would. And rightfully so. Every Maiden in history, every life they lived and those affected by their powers, were his responsibility.

Cinder stood back up and lowered her hand towards him, "I think I need to end this. I still have so much to do."

"You'll never win." Ozpin warned, "There will always be people to stand up to you and her forces."

"And none of them will ever stop her. You know that. I know that. But you still seem to deceive all those around you so you won't be alone in your pointless endeavor." Her eyes narrowed as flames covered her palm, "She'll be quite happy to know you were like this in your last moments. But look on the bright side...you probably already have some experience burning to death."

Well...she wasn't wrong.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Naruto, please let me help. I can carry-"

"Just focus on guarding, Ruby." The whiskered blond panted as he hefted his father up his back, "We have to be close."

He must have looked like shit because his younger friend was still watching him. She turned back around and kept her scythe in hand, probably exhausted herself but still willing to help him. They made their way along Beacon's courtyard until-

"There!"

He looked up and spotted the main landing platform for Beacon, crowded and filled with ships. Even though they were so close Ruby stayed by his side to guard him and his father. Naruto actually felt some energy come back to him as he sped up and jogged the rest of the way.

"Hey!" Sun was up to greet them, and looked to be the only one with enough energy to do so, "There you are! We were so worried about you guys! How - h-hold on, what happened?"

"We were attacked." Naruto panted, "He got hurt pretty bad. Whatever medical attention he can get right now is needed. I-I think he's still breathing but-"

"Okay, I'll get Sakura." Sun turned to move before he paused. The monkey Faunus looked to Ruby and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Ruby, you should probably brace yourself."

"Huh?" She looked up at Sun in confusion before she took notice of his fearful expression, "W-What happened?"

"They've gotten medical attention and they'll be taken care of in Vale-"

"What happened? W-What-" Ruby pushed his hand away and ran into the crowd. Naruto followed after her as she looked around. As they passed Naruto noticed other teams resting and recovering. The members of Team GKRT were still moving around to check on others despite their exhaustion. And Team CVFY were grouped up, holding onto what remained of their weapons after their fierce fight. He kept looking until he almost ran into Ruby's back.

"Oh no."

"Ruby." Weiss whispered as she looked up at her partner. She was kneeling beside her two teammates that laid on the ground. Blake was on her side, one hand clutching a bloody wound in her abdomen while the other reached out and took Yang's hand. The blonde fighter was on her back, unconscious and unaware of the panic around her.

And probably of the fact she was missing an arm.

Naruto watched as Ruby stumbled forward and dropped to the ground, "Yang?" She reached out to touch her older sister - the girl who always got up and never backed down - and just gently nudged her shoulder, "Yang?"

"I-I'm sorry." They looked at Blake as she muttered to herself, "I-I thought I could stop him. I thought I could stop him before he hurt her. But he was too fast." Tears filled her eyes and ran down her face as she wept, "I couldn't help her. I'm sorry."

"Blake," Ruby gasped, shocked to see her teammate so broken and crying, "I-It's okay. It's not your fault-"

"Yes it is." She refused and shook her head, "He s-said he was going to destroy everything between him and I. A-And Yang," Whimpers and sobs escaped as she squeezed Yang's hand, "It's my fault. It's all my fault."

Naruto's heart broke seeing his friend like this. He knelt down and touched her shoulder, causing her to flinch and look up at him. When she saw it was him she stared up into his eyes as he looked back. She hiccuped and eased her shoulders as he gently squeezed, letting her know he was here.

A hand on his shoulder drew his attention away from his injured friend. He looked at Weiss as the heiress squeezed his arm, "Have you seen the others yet?" He shook his head, "Come with me."

There was a timber in Weiss' voice that sent a chill down his spine. Fear filled Naruto's body as he followed the short heiress around before reaching the others. Ren was panting and clutching his broken weapons. Nora was nursing her side like something was broken. Tenten was silent as she stared down at her lap with tears in her eyes.

Kiba's eyes struggled to stay open as Tenten's torn sleeve was wrapped around his bloody throat.

It took a second for Naruto to realize what he was looking at. When he did he nearly dropped to his knees beside them. He stared at his partner as he heard wheezing breaths come out from his mouth, "How?"

"We were fighting and exhausted." Tenten whispered, "Then that big guy Jūgo came over and he was some kind of-of Grimm." He was confused by what she said but one look around at the others told him she hadn't misspoke, "He knocked us around like it was nothing. Then he reached Kiba. H-His Aura was broken from all the fighting and he..." A tear dropped down on Kiba's face as Tenten sniffled, "He tore out his throat."

"We...we don't know if he'll make it."

...

"Who needs help?" Sakura came running over with Sun close behind. The pink-haired medic quickly noticed his father hanging over his back and knelt beside him, "Put him down." Naruto laid Minato out and let Sakura go to work, "He has burns and a concussion. And his breathing in uneven. I think his esophagus was injured."

"Can you-"

"I can fix it." He heard Sakura mutter to herself over and over, "I can fix it. I can fix it. I can fix it. I can fix it."

She wasn't saying that to reassure him. It sounded more like a mantra she whispered to convince herself.

He looked around at all the terrified people before looking up at Sun, "What are we going to do with all these people?"

"We're going to put them on the ships and move them over to Vale. We can't risk staying in Beacon any longer."

"But," Naruto looked up as the Wyvern circled the skies above them. Now that all the Flagships had fallen, it was the single biggest entity that controlled the skies, "How are we going to get past that thing?"

"We'll have students and Huntsmen posted in every ship to try and help. They'll do whatever they can to protect their ships." Sun looked worried as he finished, "And hopefully that will be enough."

Get on the ships and hope for the best. That was their last resort. That was all they had left to work with.

Naruto looked up at the Grimm guarding the skies and dropping monsters on them. He looked around at the people who were tired, scared, and beaten. And finally down at his father, injured and unconscious while he tried to follow his mission.

Trying to help these people.

"It won't be enough. So I'll take care of that thing."

"What?!" They looked at him like he was mad. Honestly he couldn't really argue at the moment, "Did you seriously just say that?" Sun threw out his arm, "Don't be crazy man!"

"The alternative is winging it and hoping all these people make it to Vale." Kiba. Tenten. Yang. Blake. His father. That was too many important people to risk on faith that a Grimm wouldn't killed frightened people. He looked up at Sun, "I can try to give everyone a better chance."

"H-How?" Weiss questioned, "You can't actually think you can kill that thing."

"I don't need to kill it. I can just distract it. And I can do that by going wild."

"No!" Tenten shook her head, "You can't control yourself like that! We don't even know if you'll be able to fight it!"

"If I'm only around it then maybe my instincts will know that it's the danger." Naruto stood up and stared at the flying beast, "Then I'll keep attacking it."

"No way are we letting you do this!" A strong hand landed on his shoulder and tried to force him down. He struggled to stay standing as Sun shook his head, "Look at you man! You can barely stand!"

"But I am standing! And I can still fight!" Naruto channeled his Semblance and slapped Sun's hand away with his Aura covered arm. He lowered it to his side, "If I can still do those things then I have to do something."

His fellow Faunus looked positively irate, but anything short of knocking him out wasn't going to change his mind. Naruto knelt back down beside his teammates and father. He reached out for Tenten's hand and told her to find Sasuke when they reached the city.

She shook her head, pleading with him to come with them.

But he was going to make sure they got out safely.

"Dad," He whispered by the injured man who struggled to breathe, "Just hold on. You'll be okay. I'm going out to fight that monster and give us a chance. I know I'm not you so it'll be hard, but please trust me." He turned back-

And felt a tug on his body.

He looked back and saw his struggling father had reached out and grabbed Stormer's handle before he could get away. Minato didn't even have his eyes open but he still reached out for him.

The whiskered boy untied his weapon from his waist and left it in his father's hand. He laid it across his chest before smiling, "Keep that safe for me until I get back."

Naruto walked away from the landing pads and towards Beacon. His aim was to climb the towers until he was close to the Wyvern before unleashing his full power. He saw Beowolves and Ursae charge towards him as he prepared his Semblance.

Gunshots and flying icicles slayed them immediately.

"You're an absolute idiot. But if we can mitigate some of the damage then that's worth the risk."

"We can still stand and we can still fight."

Naruto looked between them with a grateful smile, "Thank you."

And with that he, Weiss, and Ruby charged back towards Beacon.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Pyrrha, what just happened?! W-What was all that? What happened to that Cinder lady? What were you doing in that pod?"

How could she explain it? How could she word it in a way that he would possibly believe?

"We need to call for help, Jaune." Pyrrha deflected glumly while looking at her partner, "We need all the help we can possibly get."

Jaune didn't look happy that she was intentionally avoiding giving him an answer. But the situation was dire enough that he realized they really did need to focus on this and push everything else to the side. Reluctantly he nodded and pulled out his Scroll, "Okay, alright w-who do we call? Professor Goodwitch? Are Oobleck and Port still in Amity? Naruto's dad is really fast so he can get here quick!"

Pyrrha nodded robotically and pulled out her Scroll to help. She stared down at the screen and couldn't bring herself to do anything with it. She...she felt numb.

After days of struggling with the idea of taking the Maiden's power, she had finally resolved herself. She...she surrendered the idea of her individuality and identity for the sake of helping the Kingdom. Helping her friends.

And then it was just pulled away. Taken by Cinder and now being used to battle their headmaster.

Would he be able to defeat her? Could he stop her? The way he and the others had explained it to her made her imagine the Maidens as invincible guardians of pure power. Would he be enough to stop her before it was too late?

The glow of fire rising up through Beacon's tower made her realize he wasn't.

"Was that - t-there's no way she got through." Jaune muttered in disbelief as he watched the flame rise through the windows of the tower, "I-I mean Ozpin was down there! He couldn't-"

"He lost."

"Pyrrha-"

"He lost." She repeated, "She beat him and now she's going up the tower. She's going to destroy it. If she does...she'll take down the CCT."

If the CCT went down then that was it. No more global communication for who knows how long. Information around the world would either stop or be reduced to a snail's pace. The Kingdoms would be separated from each other. People around the world in need of help would find themselves hard-pressed to get any. Everything would be in danger.

If she took down the tower.

"Did you call for help?"

"I'm reaching but I can't connect to anyone. I don't know who's out there."

"Keep trying."

"I will but what will..." Jaune looked up as he saw her staring up at the tower. Her partner must have understood her intention just by looking at her. He shook his head, "No."

"She just needs to be stalled until someone capable comes to fight. And if she can be stopped-"

His hand roughly grabbed her wrist and tightened around it.

Pyrrha remained still and silent as she felt his gaze on the side of her head. She turned to look at him, seeing his eyes desperate and wary. How must she have looked to garner that kind of reaction from him?

"No." He shook his head, "Just no."

"Jaune, if she can be stopped-"

"She beat Ozpin. He's stronger than any of us! There's nothing we can do."

"Do you know how many people will die if the CCT goes offline? It would put Remnant back in the dark."

"So what? What are we supposed to do?"

"Something! We have to do something!"

"Others will come and help! They'll stop her!"

"Before she does what she wants? Before it's too late?" Pyrrha tried to catch her breath as she stared at her partner, "Every second we waste here is another second we risk letting her take everything down."

"Pyrrha...if we go up there, then we won't come back down."

He was right. The fact she could admit that so easily left a pit of despair in her belly. Ozpin had failed to stop that woman and Pyrrha doubted she was merciful enough to just leave him down in that vault.

Anyone who went up there...who tried to stop Cinder...had to be ready to give their lives.

"Jaune," She whispered as her resistance fell and she stopped trying to pull her wrist out of his hand, "We might still be students, and we still have a long way to go...but we're Hunters." She stared up at him, "I'm still a Huntress. And you're still a Huntsman. That isn't just a job title. It's a duty we have to honor no matter what."

"Pyrrha-"

"We help people no matter what terror surrounds us. We try to face evil and save people to the best of our abilities. We do everything we can...until we can't do anymore. That thought can be terrifying." She admitted but pushed on, "But if we don't try to do something when no one else will, then the consequences that happen due to our inaction will stick with us forever. We can't do nothing."

That's what it meant to be a Huntress, at least in her mind. They fought and tried and did everything they could in a hopeless situation. It was the reason people could still find hope in terrible times like this.

Because there were people that ran into the storm, not just away from it.

Jaune stared at her in silence before looking up at the tower. It still stood but that might not last for much longer. He turned to look back at her and then down at her hand, "Fine."

"Thank-"

"But I'm coming with you."

Pyrrha shook her head, "Jaune-"

"You asked me down there not to leave your side. No matter what happened. I-I don't know what this was all about, or what was supposed to happen, but we're still here." His hand slipped off her wrist and into her hand instead, interlocking their fingers and squeezing her hand firmly, "So if we have to go up the tower, we'll do it together. Whatever happens, we'll do it together. I won't leave you."

...

She couldn't believe how soothing it was to hear him say that. In an instant all the hesitation faded from her body with just those simple words.

How did just a few words ease her worries so quickly?

Pyrrha stepped towards her partner as their hands were still linked together. Reaching up she placed her hand against his cheek, feeling him flinch under her touch as she ran it along his face. He still had a gentle face, but it was one that had seen numerous battles and fights since they were accepted to Beacon.

Her hand trailed up and moved his hair away, giving her a look at the scar that marked his forehead. The first injury he received that he got standing up to a Grimm and emerging victorious without any help. If she knew it was going to leave a scar she would have stepped in and helped sooner. But after he got it he seemed so peaceful and open that she couldn't help but be happy that he fought that battle himself.

He wasn't just the silly goofball that caught her eye that day at initiation. Now he was so much more. An aspiring young Huntsman. A capable and trustworthy leader. A friend to be confided in at the hardest moments.

Her partner, Jaune Arc.

She leaned up and kissed him.

She felt his body flinch and jolt when her lips touched his. He was probably surprised and shocked by her sudden move but she felt him ease against her. His hand gently rested on her hip and held her tightly as their kiss deepened.

What was once apprehension and confusion now felt warm and accepting. He returned her kiss with a passion, and somehow the world felt safe again. In that moment the terrible idea of abandoning the world to its own machinations didn't seem so horrible.

Leaving...with him...seemed like a dream.

They separated and stared at each other. Pyrrha's cheeks glowed and Jaune's were red as well. He stared at her in complete shock as she smiled.

"I love you."

Hearing her say that must have sent him reeling. He bumbled and tried to say something in return but couldn't find the words. That was fine. She was glad to have finally been able to say it. Running away together or fighting to the end together.

It would be perfect together.

Her eyes lingered over his shoulder before she closed them.

Jaune let out a yelp of surprise as he was suddenly yanked off his feet and dragged into a rocket locker. As he slammed back into the locker its door shut tight and refused him exit. He pounded his fist against the door as he looked through the slits and stared at her, "Pyrrha! Pyrrha what-"

It would be perfect together...but she didn't want to drag him into this.

Things got worse when people did nothing in the face of evil. But not everyone had to sacrifice themselves in order to stand up to it.

She smiled sadly and started to typing in the controls as Jaune's fist pounded against metal, "No! Pyrrha no! Don't do this! Let me out! I can help you! You have to let me help you! P-Please, don't send me away! I won't leave you! I'll-"

She looked up at him and smiled, causing him to pause and shake his head.

"Goodbye."

"PYR-"

The locker launched up into the air and sailed towards Vale. It was a small vessel and super quick. None of the Grimm flying around would reach him in time.

When this was over she was going to have to apologize to him.

...

She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"Up ahead!"

Ruby started firing on the Grimm that encroached towards the landing zone. Shot after shot killed the charging beasts but no amount of killing seemed to thin the horde. Beside her Naruto and Weiss did their part to kill the incoming monsters. Her partner summoned several types of Glyphs that knocked the monsters around and into each other before speeding in and piercing them with her rapier. Naruto on the other hand was far less elegant, charging in with his Semblance over his hand and obliterating everything that stood in his way.

It was amazing that they were all still fighting despite how exhausted they were. But they were exhausted, and there wasn't much more they could do if they continued at this rate. And the idea of letting Naruto keep fighting against such a terrifying monster in his current state was making her more and more worried.

"More coming!" Weiss' warning drew their attention to another horde of Grimm rushing towards them. Ruby gripped her scythe and prepared for more before Naruto rushed forward, "Hold on-"

"WRAAAAH!"

With a strained roar Naruto thrusted his hand forward and let his Aura stretch out. A giant orange claw rocketed forward and barreled into the oncoming horde, carving a huge hole in the black wave that was crushed in his grip. The hole in their line gave Ruby the opportunity to rush into their formation and carve the beasts into pieces. And Weiss kept them compact, creating Glyphs that forced them to stay in place long enough for her to cleave their heads from their bodies.

She slid on her knee when the hunting was done and tried to cacth her breath, Naruto dragging his Aura back into place around his arm as Weiss used Myrtenaster as a crutch. As Ruby wiped her cheek she looked up to the sky. The Wyvern was still flying circles over the school, dropping black splotches out of the sky that pelted the ground beneath it.

This was never going to stop.

"Almost there." Naruto whispered through his labored breathing, "Just gotta keep going."

"Naruto wait!" Ruby reached out and grabbed his hand, "You can't keep going like this."

"Ruby we're wasting time."

"You're gonna pass out!"

"I'm fine." He barked and yanked his hand away as she and Weiss looked up at him with doubt. Taking a breath to steady himself he shook his head, "Each second we waste here is another we risk letting that thing and the Grimm it spawns get closer to our friends. So if you're worried that I'm suddenly gonna topple over then don't bother-"

He stopped in the middle of his argument, staring off over their heads as his ears drooped to his hair limply. When Ruby saw his expression grow so horrified, she panicked and turned to look around.

The Bullheads and Airships were already taking off. Rising into the air and heading towards Vale. They then turned back and looked up in the air in time to see the Wyvern take notice of the vast source of negativity flying away.

It shifted towards the retreating ships.

Weiss gasped, "Oh my god."

"Shit!" Naruto cursed, "I gotta make it to the tower!"

"There's no time! It's already moving! What do we do?!"

Ruby cocked her rifle and aimed up at the flying beast. She had it in her sights and started firing shots at its underbelly. The bullets bounced off harmlessly when they hit and it just kept flying. She knew that wasn't going to work but there had to be something they could do!

"Launch me up there."

They looked at Naruto as he kept staring up at the Wyvern, "Use your Glyphs to boost me up there with the force of Crescent Rose's recoil. That'll get me high enough up to reach it and try to get it away." He looked down at her and offered a nervous smile, "Like a slingshot."

"Are you sure you can make it?" Weiss asked.

"Can you make some Glyphs in the air I can use as footholds?"

"I-I can but not that far up. If we're separated by that much distance I can't form them to help you."

"Then I'll make it. I'll make it work." Naruto reassured them, sounding more like he was convincing himself than he was them.

"Naruto," Ruby whispered and looked up at him, shaking her head, "We don't know if this will work."

"I know but trust me. I can do this." She still wasn't convinced by his words. But when he squeezed her shoulder and looked at her with firm eyes that believed he could do this, she faltered, "Yang. Blake. My dad. My team. Everyone. Let me help them...please."

...

Ruby furrowed her eyes and tried to refuse him but he was right. She wanted to protect her team and her friends. But she couldn't do that while he could if he took this risk. So with great reluctance Ruby turned Crescent Rose around and offered him the bladed inside of her weapon.

She refused to acknowledge his thanks for helping him with this dangerous stunt. As she felt his weight settle on her weapon and his boots settle on her blade, Weiss waved her rapier around.

Several layers of Glyphs formed under the blade of her weapon and the passenger on top of it.

Ruby looked to her whiskered friend one more time as he balanced himself and prepared for the fight, "Naruto," She whispered and got his attention, "You...please be safe."

Naruto smiled at her, "I'll be okay. Wish me luck."

"Good-"

"NOW!"

Ruby pulled the trigger and lifted her scythe, feeling a massive boost in power come out when she did as she launched Naruto up into the air. She spun around to bleed off the momentum before stopping and looking up. Ruby and Weiss watched as Naruto's body flew further and further up towards the Wyvern before he became indistinguishable from the night around him.

"Good luck."

"Huh?"

The hooded Huntress finally noticed the ringing in her ears and saw Weiss draw out her Scroll. When she saw the picture of her friend flashing on the screen she answered, "Jaune-"

"Weiss! Thank god! You need to grab as many people as you possibly can and get to the tower!"

"W-Why?"

"It's Pyrrha! She needs help!"

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Naruto struggled to catch his breath and keep his body straight as he flew up into the sky. If his posture slipped he'd suddenly be spinning into the sky before plummeting back towards the ground. Instead he narrowed his eyes and focused forward as he flew closer and closer to the screeching Wyvern.

He felt his speed start to wane as he reached a peak in his flight. Just a few more seconds of upward momentum before his arc would stop and he'd drop back down. But he was still close enough to the Wyvern that he could do something.

He closed his eyes and focused.

Focused on the giant winged monster that flew just a little higher up.

Focused on the teammates he was going to see when this was over.

Focused on the people he needed to protect right now.

He focused...and then let himself slip away.

The orange beast that roared in its awakening immediately snapped its arms out and stretched its Aura. Orange claws encircled around the Grimm's legs and stopped it from dropping out of the sky. As the Grimm flew forward it trailed behind a mindless creature covered in orange Aura.

This was dangerous.

Every instinct in its body screamed that it didn't want to be up here.

But this thing it was holding on to was much more dangerous than the height they flew at. And there was a nagging feeling in the back of its head that it couldn't let this Grimm fly any closer.

It had to be stopped.

"WWRRAAAHHH!" The orange beast roared and pulled itself into the Wyvern's leg. It started climbing and scaling the side of the winged monster before arriving at its ribs. Drawing its claws back, it enlarged them before digging into the inky black flesh, "RRRAAAHHHHH!"

The Wyvern let out an agonizing wail as it felt the beast's attack cleave into its chest. It banked to the side and stopped it's pursuit of the retreating ships to take care of the problem. Looking down at the orange fox clinging to its side, it let out a furious roar that bellowed across all of Vale.

"RAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The fox roared back challengingly as it repeatedly clawed the same spot over and over again.

The Wyvern roared and shifted in the air in an attempt to shirk off the creature on its side. The orange fox just clung on tighter and pulled itself in close as the wind running over it could have ripped it off if it relaxed.

From the inky black flesh of the Wyvern emerged several other Grimm. They formed on the straighter, stabler parts of the monsters body as it flew. Several of the newly born monsters were blown off into the sky by the force of the wind but some of them held on tightly.

They crawled towards the glowing orange fox latched onto their maker and tried to claw its face off. The orange beast roared and swung its arm, stretching and expanding it to knock the Grimm off with a single swing.

The Wyvern continued to sail through the sky and turn sharply in every direction, hoping to force the creature sticking to its side off with the change in force. But it persisted and held on for dear life while continuing to attack the same spot on the Grimm's body. Stretching its Aura to leave worse wounds and even expanding it inside the wounds to cause worse damage.

The Wyvern suddenly turned up and started rising higher and higher into the sky. It spun around at incredible speeds as the wind rushing off it could have ripped normal people to shreds. The orange fox clung to its side as it spun faster and faster. The wind got rougher. The grip got weaker.

The flesh it clung to so desperately ripped away.

"RRAAAAHHHHHH!" The orange beast cried out as it slipped away from the Wyvern and started tumbling through the sky. It flailed around wildly, trying to take hold of something but finding only rushing wind and empty sky. The sight of Vale's burning city passed in its eyes for an instant every time it spun around. It was all a blur as it dropped out of the sky.

Until it caught sight of the Wyvern diving down through the air to follow after it.

The orange fox let out one more roar and threw out an enlarged claw to attack the incoming Grimm.

The attack disappeared into total darkness. And so did everything else as the Wyvern's mouth clamped down over the orange beast.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!"

Blake was startled by Tenten's broken, anguished cry as it reverberated through the hull of the Airship. For a second she thought she had blacked out from the pain and had a nightmare.

But one look around the ship told her she hadn't been dreaming.

Velvet had broken down into tears and wept to herself. Yatsuhashi had her hugged tightly to his chest and Coco tried to calm her down but there was no stopping her cries.

Tenten cried to herself, tightly clutching onto Kiba's unconscious body as she tried to weather the flood of emotions she felt. Nora and Ren tried to help her, but the ginger girl had tears in her eyes and the taciturn boy had slammed his fist into the seat in anger.

Sun was pacing and punched the hull of the ship hard enough to leave an indent in it.

As she saw them react, Blake quickly realized...

That wasn't just a dream or nightmare or vision. It had really happened.

She looked out the window and watched the Wyvern fly through the air and roar into the sky. Already finished making a meal of their dear friend like it was nothing.

He did it. He said he was going to fight that monster and draw its attention away from the ships and he was true to his word. The Grimm was flying away and leaving their ship and all the others alone.

And all it cost him was his life.

Blake looked around in her fugue state, making note of the unconscious Minato and Yang still suffering from their injuries. Completely unaware of what had happened.

Was he really gone?

Was that silly, endearing little goofball she called a friend really gone? Did that overly friendly, invasive guy that never left her alone in a time of need just die? Would she never see him smile and laugh again around her like everything was a joke?

At least he kept his word. He protected all of them.

...

Blake's vision blurred behind her tears as she sobbed, squeezing Yang's hand for something to hold on to as everything felt like it was falling away.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

She tried to strike when her opponent's guard was down and they were at their most vulnerable. Not an honorable way of fighting or how she was taught, but right now etiquette and honor had no place here.

This was for survival. For the sake of people around the world, and for herself as well.

She barreled through the elevator doors and flipped, launching her shield forward at staggering speed with the back of Cinder's neck in its path.

Her elbow shot up and knocked it out of the air before it could hit. It spun around before making an unnatural turn back to Pyrrha and sliding into place over her arm.

"Oh, well if it isn't the spare." Cinder said with a condescending lilt in her voice. She turned away from the window surrounding Ozpin's office but not before looking out over the scenery one last time, "Quite the view he gave himself, don't you think? He chose the top of this tower to place his office and make his little nest. I think he did it so he could look down on all the little fools that thought he would protect him. What do you think?"

"He chose this place so he could protect the tower and keep an eye out over all of Vale."

"Yes, and look how well that worked out for everyone. The city crumbles. Ozpin's dead. And now there's no one here to help them." Cinder's hand rested on his desk and ran over it softly, "And he only had his arrogance to blame."

Pyrrha grip on her sword tightened, "I'm here to help."

"Oh, that's cute. You think you're actually a player."

She caused an explosion by her hand and sent the desk and chair rocketing towards the wall. Pyrrha reached out with her Polarity and stopped it before it could impact, sending it back the way it came and straight at Cinder.

The raven-haired woman swiped her hand aside and obliterated the desk with a wave of fire. She was already getting accustomed to her magic. If Pyrrha wanted to end this, she had to do it fast.

Her sword shifted into its rifle form and she started firing shots at Cinder's head. The woman easily deflected each one with the palm of her hand, coating it in fire and melting every bullet before it could land. Pyrrha attempted to divert the bullets and make them attack from other directions but they were simply going to fast. She could barely move them off course at all before Cinder easily anticipated their trajectory.

Which gave Pyrrha the perfect distraction.

As Cinder played along and blocked her attacks, the young champion reached out with her Semblance and took hold of whatever she could. Several pieces of metal started to raise into the air and narrowed in on Cinder's position.

The treacherous woman must have sensed something coming before her arms whipped out on reflex, melting the incoming projectiles before they could hit her. Several more shards of metal shot towards her, rotating incredibly fast and swarming from all angles Pyrrha could control them from.

Cinder waved her arms out and created a ring of fire to protect herself. Her head snapped aside and avoided a jutting shard of metal that flew for her temple. She backflipped away as the projectiles pelted the ground she once stood on.

Pyrrha took the chance her Semblance offered and lunged forward with her javelin. Cinder jerked aside in time for Miló's blade to miss her face but cut a few strands of black hair. The redhead pressed on, spinning her javelin around expertly over her shoulders and arm to gain speed as she kept swinging at Cinder's unarmed form.

Cinder stayed light on her feet, stepping back and retreating from Pyrrha's range by only a few inches. Her back finally hit the wall and she had nowhere left to run as Pyrrha yelled and lunged with her blade aimed squarely at her face.

Her hands clamped down on either side of the blade before it could pierce her nose. Pyrrha pushed forward and tried to stab Cinder in the head, but as she pushed her weapon forward she realized that the blade didn't get any closer.

Only too late did she notice how hot the grip of her weapon was and how her blade had started to fold while turning white.

"Jumping and dodging and fighting for my life." Cinder said with a light smile, "I'm going to be nostalgic for those aspects of fighting. Because from here on out...it'll be just too easy."

A powerful explosive force expanded from Cinder's body and sent Pyrrha flying, losing ahold of her ruined sword and shield as she sailed across the room. She cracked the wall with her back and dropped to the ground with a hiss as she picked herself up.

Metal and stone and glass and so much more littered the ground in front of her. Pyrrha looked around in shock to see the office and the top of the tower completely obliterated. As the horror of the CCT tower coming down around her started to dawn, Pyrrha looked up at the glowing woman lording over her.

"Now then," Cinder spoke as she floated off the ground with fire swirling around her, "Shall we continue this little fight?"

She threw her hands forward and sent fireballs flying towards Pyrrha. The young champion rolled aside and quickly pulled her shield back to her arm. Securing it over her forearm, she took the brunt of the powerful magical attacks against her shield as she started to dash around the room.

Cinder laughed mockingly as she followed her movement and continued to throw all the fire she could muster. Pyrrha weathered through the flames, pushing against them as her shield grew so hot it started burning her arm. As she pressed against the scorching flames she roared at the top of her lungs.

One of the massive gears that made up the tower shifted in place before lifting up and veering through the air.

It slammed into Cinder's back and nearly knocked her out of the air before she increased the heat around herself. The gear melted along her body and dropped down into two pieces of slag.

Pyrrha yelled again and pushed her limits, lifting every last piece of spare metal around the room at once. With another scream of effort she forced it all into a single point and overwhelmed Cinder in the air with all the metal she could control. She compressed it down into a single point over and over hoping to crush Cinder completely.

A bright glow emanated from the gaps.

Followed by an explosion that blew her away and nearly deafened her.

She felt a weight and fatigue drag down her body like never before. Her Aura! These explosions had taken their toll and her Aura had broken. Desperately Pyrrha picked herself up-

Pain. Terrible, excruciating pain pierced several parts of her body and made her drop to the ground. With a pained gasp she looked down and saw several arrows had pierced her; in the abdomen, arm, shoulder, knee, and heel. She tried to lift her shield-

It was kicked off her arm by Cinder as the woman stood over her with a bow in hand. She shook her head as Pyrrha panted to air, "This is why power should not be so easily tossed around. A man who had no claim to it, with people who have no understanding of what it really is, promising it to a girl who had no right. Of course she would get an inflated sense of worth and think she could fight a battle she'd never win. If there's anyone you should blame for losing your life, blame Ozpin and his crew."

No. No she had no delusions that this would have ended so easily in her victory. She...she just couldn't stand by and do nothing.

"Well, you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. This would have been the outcome for anyone in your position." Cinder notched another arrow and pulled it back, aimed down at her, "No one could have stopped me."

Her friends.

Her family.

Jaune.

Her hand against his cheek...his lips on hers. Just once more...

"No."

"Beg pardon?"

"You'll lose." Pyrrha whispered softly as she looked up at Cinder, resolute despite the fate she faced, "One day this power will fail you...and you'll lose. And the people I have in mind will be the ones to break you." She shook her head, "You'll never win. That...is your destiny."

Cinder stared down at her before pulling back her arrow, "Child...you don't have to worry about destiny anymore."

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Cinder looked out over the remains of the broken office, the shattered tower, and then out over the burning landscape of Vale. Her plan. Her victory. Her success.

How in the world could that silly girl think she was destined for failure?

She looked down at the golden circlet in her hands and scoffed. It was nice jewelry. But didn't suit her. She tossed it aside and turned around.

Until she heard repeated footfalls grow closer and closer.

She looked back in time as the young hooded Huntress sprinted up from the side and landed on top of the tower across from her. Taking in her surroundings she quickly noticed Cinder and narrowed her eyes, "You!"

"Oh?" Cinder chuckled, "I think I see where Roman's frustration with you comes from. Right here basking in my own satisfaction and you come barging in out of nowhere."

"Where's Pyrrha?" She drew out her ridiculous scythe and pointed it at Cinder, "Tell me!"

"Pyrrha?" Cinder repeated the name, finding some familiarity with it on her tongue before nodding, "Oh you mean the Invincible Girl?"

"Tell me!"

"Okay," Cinder pointed at Ruby before aiming her finger down, "You're standing on her."

Ruby immediately looked down at the patch of grey soot that filled the creases of her boots.

"What?" She questioned, "What are you talking about?"

"The ash and soot. That's her. What's left of her."

Her eyes widened in shock and she took a sharp breath before shaking her head, "N-No, that's not-"

"Believe me girl," Cinder summoned an intense flame into her hand as she smirked, "Nothing is impossible for me now."

As Ruby stared at the flame in her hand, something seemed to click in her mind. And when it did she looked down at the dust she stood on and screamed. She stumbled back, kicking up the dust and screaming in horror when she did as she crawled away and into the wall. She looked down at it and mumbled, "P-Pyrrha? N-N-No, she's - s-she's supposed to be up here waiting for us. I-I was-"

"She was waiting. She put up a fight. For as long as it did her any good." Cinder slowly strolled forward, keeping her hand wreathed in flame as she prepared a repeat of her earlier performance, "I imagine it'll be much the same with you."

"No! P-Pyrrha-"

"Is gone, girl." Cinder interrupted, "I killed her."

...

That seemed to have broken her as her eyes became lifeless and stared ahead blankly. Cinder chuckled lightly before aiming her fire and increasing the flames-

Before a bright silver light overwhelmed her and everything around them.

She heard a scream of pure, unending agony.

It took Cinder a moment to realize it was her screams.

And it was all she heard until she passed out from the pain.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

The silver light emanating from the top of Beacon's tower shined across the sky of Vale. Many of the Grimm flying around saw it and veered away, afraid of coming into contact with the light that went against their very instincts.

The ones closer to its brilliant eminence weren't lucky enough to just fly away. They went blind, suddenly paralyzed, decimated, or reduced to stone in an instant. Many Grimm started to fall out of the sky from the damage they sustained.

The Wyvern had been hit by the light. A portion of its body had turned to stone as one of its wings went stiff as rock. The creature let out a pitiful roar and flapped its remaining wing desperately to stop its sudden descent.

It flew out towards the city, hoping to escape the bright light that hurt it so badly. As it did it felt a terrible, agonizing pain churn through its body. But it wasn't because of the light or the stone that covered its body.

A giant orange claw broke through the stone that covered its ribs and left a massive gaping hole in its body. The Wyvern cried in pain as another bulge in its body started to drag along its inside before popping out. Giant orange constructs of Aura pierced through its body from the inside before the massive Grimm fell from the sky.

It broke apart into bodily chunks that rained down over the city. Some of the pieces were already dissolving into black dust. Some of them formed into Grimm that pelted the city blocks beneath it. And with all of those falling pieces...was a glowing orange figure.

It smashed against the top of a building and broke through its corner unimpeded. It knocked into the side of other buildings and skipped off them like a stone before finally cratering the street below.

The orange fox snapped back to its feet and roared in terror. No longer surrounded by darkness. No longer being digested in the body of a monster. It frantically looked around to try and get accustomed to its changed surroundings.

It wasn't being eaten. The fight was over.

All that was left were burning buildings and a wrecked city block.

The orange fox looked around cautiously as it tried to understand what had happened. As it stood there Grimm ran by it, paying it no mind as they ran down the street. The orange beast stood still and calmed itself.

It returned control to him-

"There!"

Gunshots impacted across its body and knocked it over. The orange fox spun around and roared angrily at the Atlas soldiers opening fire on it.

"Is that thing a Grimm?!"

"Doesn't matter! Get it back! We need to at least secure this city block! Push all the Grimm back and out of the city!"

The mindless fox tried to fight back but the gunshots were just too rapid and unyielding. It had no chance to counterattack or fend for itself.

Run!

It had to run!

It turned back and bolted down the street in a desperate attempt to flee. It ran alongside Grimm as they retreated from the city and back into the forest.

Away from the danger.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

He couldn't stop pacing.

Jaune had nearly dug a rut into the pavement waiting for some news.

Waiting in the makeshift landing zone the professional Huntsmen had prepared for arriving ships, Jaune had been there when the others ships landed. He greeted his exhausted teammates and helped them sit. And he had to watch as Kiba, Yang, and Blake were shuttled off for immediate medical attention.

And he heard...what happened to Naruto.

B-But he didn't believe it. I-It was Naruto they were talking about! Their friend! He had gotten into bad situations before and made it out! T-They must've just been mistaken. Any minute now he'd come back with the others and they'd all realize how silly they had been acting.

He'd come back, with Ruby and Weiss...and Pyrrha.

He had so much to say to her. Not all of it kind or thoughtful. He was going to chew her ear off when he got the chance.

And then after that...

Well there was a lot to consider after he was done saying his piece.

A Bullhead finally came into view from Beacon and came to a gentle landing a little ways away from them. Tenten, Nora, and Ren came to a stop by his side as the hull of the ship hissed and opened up.

The first thing they noticed was Ruby and the fact she was unconscious in her uncle's arms. As Qrow walked down the ramp and hit the street, he spoke up, "Is she-"

"She's fine." The Huntsman answered solemnly, "She's just knocked out. I'm gonna give her some room to rest and...recover."

As Qrow walked away and carried his niece off with him before they could ask anything else, the sound of heels on metal grabbed his attention. He looked up the ramp and saw Weiss standing at the top of it.

With Akoúo in her hands.

Nora let out a gasp and buried her face in Ren's chest as he held her close.

Tenten dropped to her knees beside him and just stared ahead as tears ran down her face.

Jaune...stood there confused.

What was this?

Why were they reacting like that?

It made no sense. Why did Weiss have Pyrrha's shield with her?

As Weiss slowly walked down the ramp Jaune just stared at her and shrugged, "So where's Pyrrha?"

The Schnee heiress sniffled and shook her head before passing the shield into his hands. He took it and watched her walk further into the area as the others wept and struggled for air. Jaune looked down at the shield in his hands.

He finally noticed Pyrrha's circlet and the ruined Miló resting along the inside of it.

...

It...it took him longer than it should have to realize what it meant.

When he did he dropped to his knees as well and shook his head.

She was the strongest.

She was perfect.

She was invincible.

She was his partner and she could do anything!

So how...h-how could she - w-why wasn't-

Jaune screamed.

He screamed for hours, refusing to believe that this happened. That this could be real.

But it was.

They had lost...and they had suffered more than they had ever imagined possible.

((((((((Hunting))))))))

Done

I finished. I finally wrote and it. And now...

Now it's cold without you here...it's like winter lasts all year.

Maybe someday I'll forgive myself for not finding a way to save her and leaving everyone in such terrible condition.

But I gotta focus on two more chapters. The aftermath...is gonna be rough.

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Sorry and Bye