RWBY
Origins Of LUNR
Chapter 40: Set Up
The full moon illuminates the night sky above Haven Academy. On the school grounds, Qrow Branwen takes the lead as the currently present members of Team RWBY, Team ARAM, Team JNPR, Estelle, Miyabi, Dyna, Team LUNR except for Lance and Oscar Pine followed close behind. Ruby stops and looks up to admire Haven's CCT tower, before following the rest of the group to a nearby building.
"Do you think Bayne's hunch was correct?" Estelle asked looking at Qrow.
Qrow sighed as he scratched the back of his head "I hope not. But we're about to find out."
Once he said that they entered the building and were greeted by Leonardo Lionheart, who is standing on a terrace at the top of the stairs that is being held up by a statue.
"Why hello. Thank you for... coming. There... seems to be more of you than last time." He said with a nervous chuckle.
Qrow and the rest of the group stop to look up at Lionheart.
"Eh, you know what they say, 'The more the merrier'. So what's going on with the council?" Qrow asked.
"Why... did you bring your weapons?" Lionheart asked as he looked at them.
Qrow raised an eyebrow "What? Leo, we're Huntsmen. You okay?"
Lionheart nodded "Of course! Of course, sorry. Just haven't had my evening coffee." He chuckled nervously. Uzziel narrowed his eyes at Lionheart and gave him a stern look, knowing he was acting awkward and suspiciously.
"Look, it's nice to see you, but we got work to do. Are we getting support from the council or not?" Qrow asked.
While the two talked, Yang notices from the corner of her eye a black bird perched on a balcony railing.
"Mom?" She said in a confused tone
Everyone's attention is turned to the bird. It flies away just as Qrow shoots at it, but he misses. The bird flies down behind Lionheart, transforming into Raven Branwen, donning her mask. Everyone glares at her.
"Raven…" Estelle muttered.
Miyabi gritted her teeth as she gave Raven a look of pure anger.
"They weren't kidding... They do have magic!" Arrietty said in amazement.
Raven took her mask off and looked at her brother "If you're going to shoot me, shoot me. That was insulting."
"What are you doing here?!" He asked.
Raven began walking down the stairs "I could ask you the same thing. You've been scheming, little brother. Planning to attack your own sister."
"Leo... what have you done?!" Dyna yelled out.
Lionheart gave her a sad look "I…"
"Leo did what any sane person would in his position - he looked at all the information he had in front of him, assessed the situation, and made a choice. And it seems you all have too." Raven replied, cutting him off.
"You have the Spring Maiden," Qrow stated as he looked at his sister.
"I do." She quickly replied.
"Then hand her over and let's work together! We can beat Salem!" Qrow said.
Raven shook her head as she kept her eyes on him "All that time spent spying for Ozpin and you still have no idea what you're dealing with. There is no beating Salem!"
Ruby took a step forward and spoke "You're wrong. We've done things that most people would call impossible, and I know the only reason we were able to do it is because we didn't do it alone! We had people to teach us, people to help us, we had each other. Work with us. At least I know we'll have a better chance if we try together. Please." She pleaded.
Ruby holds her hand out. Raven glares at it. "You sound just like your mother."
Suddenly, Raven draws Omen and creates a portal with her Semblance. From the portal, a fireball is launched and hits Ruby square in her torso. She lands several feet back.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled out.
While Yang runs to her little sister, Cinder Fall steps out of the portal. "Hello, boys and girls." She said as She is then joined by Vernal, Damien, Diana, Emerald, and Mercury as they too step out from the portal.
"Cinder…" Ruby said as she glared at her.
Cinder and her group line up alongside Raven, while the rest gasp. "C'mon guys, is that any way to greet your old friends? Uzzi…" Mercury said as he looked at Uzziel with a smirk on his face.
Uzziel clenched his fist and growled at him. "Uzziel, stay calm," Estelle ordered as she looked at her brother.
Suddenly they hear the doors behind them open up.
"Oh no…" Oscar said in a low tone as he noticed who it was.
Hazel and Paul are seen closing the doors behind them as they enter.
"The White Fang is prepping demolition and securing the school grounds. No one's getting in, and no one's getting out." Hazel warned as he looked at them. Paul started to laugh evilly as he looked at them
Outside, a White Fang soldier is seen placing a bomb on the CCT tower. The area was filled with White Fang soldiers. Adam Taurus looks on.
"Once the charges are set, move back to the perimeter watch. Tonight, Haven falls." Adam orders as he smiles evilly.
Back inside, everyone watches as Hazel and Paul slowly approaches them. They turn their attention back to Cinder.
"This was all just a trap?" Weiss asked.
"It appears so…" Ren replied.
"Bayne was right," Regulus added.
"Raven, tell me... how long have you been with them?" Qrow asked, glaring at his sister.
"Aww, don't take it personally, little bird. Your sister was a recent addition. The lion on the other hand... Entrance into the Vytal Festival was a real treat, Leonardo's been sending Salem all sorts of information for a very, very long time. Isn't that right, professor?" Cinder asked, mocking Qrow.
Lionheart has a look of shame on his face "Stop it…"
"It was you... you sit on the Mistral Council. You had information on every Huntsman and Huntress in the Kingdom, and you gave it all to her?" Miyabi asked as she took a step forward.
Lionheart's eyes widened "Miyabi I-"
"We couldn't find any of them, because you let her kill them!" Estelle added in anger.
Lionheart doesn't say anything, only still having a sad expression on his face.
"I'm going to ask you this once. Did you lead her to my parents?" Estelle asked as she looked at Lionheart.
Lionheart didn't say a word he just continued to look down with a sad expression which made Estelle growl in anger. "Aw now, don't beat yourself up about it, Lionheart, I'm sure Tyrian and Hazel would've found them on their own eventually." Cinder said.
Uzziel glared at Cinder intensely as he clenched his fist harder, almost close to making them bleed. "You are a fool Cinder." He stated.
Cinder smirked as she turned her attention to Uzziel. "You dare to show your face with me and my sister here? You're not leaving here alive!" Uzziel exclaimed which made Weiss look at him with concern.
Cinder chuckled at this and shook her head "Poor little boy. I find it laughable that you can talk so tough, seeing as you were trembling in fear the last time we met." Uzziel gritted his teeth as she mocked him.
"What is wrong with you...?" Jaune called out as he was seething.
"How can you be so broken inside... to take so many lives, and then come here and rub it in our faces like it's something to be proud of?!" He asked as Cinder slowly looked at him.
"Jaune…" Nora said with a worried tone.
Jaune started to get enraged "All with that damn smile on your face!" He yelled as tears stream from his eyes.
The rest of the group draw their weapons.
"Everybody, stay calm!" Dyna exclaimed as she looked at the children around her.
Cinder glared at Jaune who glared back "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did! Do you hear me?!"
"Kid!" Qrow called out.
"Well?! SAY SOMETHING!" Jaune yelled.
After a short pause, Cinder says "Who are you again?"
At this, Jaune gains a look of shock, and then of pure anger. He transforms Crocea Mors to its two-handler form and advances. Cinder summons a glowing scimitar and blocks Jaune's attack.
"Jaune" Ruby called out. Ruby leaps into the air, but a chain wraps around her and she is pulled to the ground by Emerald.
"You're not getting near her," Emerald says as she smirks.
"Ruby!" Yang exclaimed as she started to run towards her. She was quickly stopped by Damien who stood in her way with his right hand on the hilt of his sword. "You got bigger problems to deal with, rookie." He mocked which earned him a glare from Yang.
Jaune is then pushed back by Cinder and the two begin their duel. Uzziel growled once more and gritted his teeth "Back off Jaune she's mine!" He exclaimed as he dashed forward only to be stopped by Mercury.
"Hey there, Uzzi. We should really pick up where we left off, don't ya think?" He asked, which earned him a cold stare from Uzziel.
Estelle noticed that Uzziel couldn't get to Cinder and looked at Dyna who nodded and started to make their way towards Cinder.
But before they could get close enough, Diana landed in front of them and smiled at both of them. "That's as far as you go." She stated.
"Diana we don't have time for you right now," Dyna said as she got into a fighting stance revealing her trench knives.
"I'll say this once, move or you'll share her fate," Estelle states as she gripped the hilt of her sword
Diana unsheathed her sword and shook her head "Seeing as I can't do that. I guess there's no point in talking anymore." Diana said.
Meanwhile Raven looked at what was going on and then spoke. "Take out the heiress. Don't bother wasting your power, she's not worth it." Raven says to Vernal who nodded.
Raven then draws her sword as Qrow uses Harbinger to lock blades with his sister. "Running away was one thing, but this... you've crossed the line!" He scolded.
"Sorry, brother. Sometimes family disappoints you like that." She retorted harshly.
"We're not family anymore," Qrow said coldly as he leaned in closer to his sister.
"Were we ever?" She asked bluntly
"I thought so, but I guess I was wrong." He responded. He then jumped back as she tried to slash him, but she quickly kept up to him as she jumped after him. He then jumped away again she followed him once more and quickly delivered a quick kick to his stomach which pushed him back.
As she was about to charge at him again Miyabi was seen dashing towards Raven in mid-air with her Gauntlet blade out. Both Raven's sword and Miyabi's gauntlet blade collided with each other, as Miyabi landed on the ground.
"One pathetic fool after another," Raven said as she looked at Miyabi in their blade struggle.
"You're the only pathetic fool here, Raven." Miyabi quickly retorted.
Raven smirked at her "Aww, don't be that way. I know why you're mad. Hurts to know the one you love, is in love with me instead huh? Still trying to win Jarvin's heart?" Raven mocked.
Miyabi glared and started to swing her blade at Raven who started to block each attack.
The two proceed with their fight, while Vernal confronts Weiss. "Let's see what the Schnee name really means," Vernal said as she drew her weapons, while Weiss held Myrtenaster en garde.
"I'm more than a name," Weiss replies as she points her weapon at Vernal.
Vernal raised an eyebrow "Hm, prove it."
Weiss activates a glyph below her and projects herself forward to fight the Spring Maiden. Meanwhile, Oscar sneaks up the stairs to Lionheart while Hazel confronts Ren, Nora, Arrietty, Arrossire, and Roy who hold up their weapons defensively.
"I don't wish to fight any of you," Hazel said as he looked at everyone in front of him.
"Nor I, you." Ren quickly replied.
"But we will if you're with her!" Nora added.
Hazel starts cracking his neck and knuckles "Very well, then." Hazel proceeds forward.
As this was going on Paul was standing across from Regulus and Midori who looked prepared to fight. Paul pulled out a knife and smirked as he looked at Midori. "How's about a smile?" He asked in a joking manner.
Midori glared at him and took a fighting stance "I don't think so." She quickly responded.
Paul started to wave the knife around as he continued to look at her. "But I have plenty, hanging on my wall."
Regulus took a step forward "Enough, if you will not stand down, then we'll take you down." Regulus said bluntly.
As Lionheart nervously watches the fights going on, he then notices Oscar walk up behind him. "Young man, I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing, but for your sake, I suggest you leave. Now." He ordered.
Oscar defiantly remains stationary before taking a few more steps toward Lionheart. "I'm warning you!" Lionheart exclaimed.
Lionheart holds out Stalwart which switches to active mode, while Oscar prepares to draw something from behind him "That's enough!"
Lionheart rotates his weapon, having a glyph appear above it which then conjures a flaming rock that launches at Oscar, who holds out his arms in front of him defensively as the attack explodes. Oscar is unscathed, though his Aura shimmers. He continues to proceed up the steps and draws The Long Memory.
"Ozpin?" Lionheart's eyes widened as he noticed the weapon.
"Not quite," Oscar replies.
Oscar then proceeds forward as his attacks force Lionheart on the defensive. Lionheart blocks or dodges most of them, one drives him against the rail. Oscar hits it as Lionheart avoids another strike, then follows up with a swing that sends Lionheart staggering down the steps. He jumps down to continue attacking and eventually manages to whack Lionheart back a few steps.
"This can't be... I knew you would be back, but... you made it here! You found Qrow! How?" Lionheart asked.
"Leo... what happened to you?" Ozpin said mentally.
"Wait. You can't have had this form for long. You're... not really Ozpin right now. Boy. Child. If I deliver you to Salem, she'll have to be pleased with me, and I can finally get out of all of this! I can finally be free!" Lionheart, now determined, preps his weapon again.
"What do I do?" Oscar asked.
"Fight," Ozpin replies wisely. Oscar nods and proceeds forward.
Meanwhile, Weiss leaps around on her glyphs, dodging Vernal's weapons as she throws them like boomerangs. Weiss is then forced on the defensive and creates a large ice wall. She then stabs Myrtenaster into the ground as her Arma Gigas summon crawls out of her glyph. Suddenly, a large beam destroys the ice wall as well as the Arma Gigas before it could be fully summoned. One of Vernal's weapons knocks Weiss back several feet.
Vernal smirked while catching her weapon "Don't think I'm going to let you take the easy way out."
Elsewhere, Jaune is knocked to the ground.
Cinder started chuckling as she looked at Jaune "I'm starting to remember you, you're the dense one that can't tell when he's out of his league." She mocked.
Jaune gets back up and clashes blades with Cinder again. Ruby watches them fight but is snapped out of her distraction by Emerald. She then transforms Thief's Respite into its revolver forms and fires at Ruby, who twirls around Crescent Rose blocking Emerald's shots. "Why are you doing this?! Salem's-"
"I don't care about Salem! But I owe Cinder everything. You want to fight her that bad? Be my guest." Emerald said, interrupting Ruby.
Emerald then activates her hallucination Semblance, creating a wall of fire that Cinder emerges from and charges at Ruby. Suddenly, Cinder's form disappears, while Emerald trips Ruby. Ruby fires a bullet that narrowly misses Weiss, who is blocking Vernal's shots with Myrtenaster. Weiss attempts to summon, but Vernal is too quick and prevents her from doing so. Eventually, Weiss manages to launch Vernal out of the way and prepares to summon again. Suddenly, Vernal appears in front of her and lands an attack that depletes Weiss' aura. Weiss lets out a pained scream. Jaune hears this and looks in her direction as tears well up in his eyes.
"Are you going to let her die too?" Cinder asked.
Jaune glared at her "Stop messing with me!"
"If that's what you want…" Cinder then ignites her scimitar. Cinder and Jaune proceed forward to clash once again. Ruby looks behind her and notices this. She briefly thinks back to the moment when Pyrrha Nikos died, and her eyes start to shine bright again.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Ruby yelled out.
A bright light engulfs the area but dies down when Ruby is knocked unconscious by Emerald. Suddenly, Cinder falls to her knees, holding her arm in pain. She looks up, and barely dodges Jaune's attack as it chips her mask that conceals the left side of her face. As Cinder moves out of the way, Jaune trips and falls. Cinder gets back up enraged, activating her Maiden power while doing so. She then steps on top of Jaune to hold him down.
"Did you think you actually had a chance against me?! You?!" Cinder exclaimed.
Jaune struggles to reach for his weapon while Cinder calms herself and deactivates her Maiden power. "You're just a failure with a death wish."
Jaune looks at her while struggling "If I die buying them time, then it's worth it. They're the ones that matter."
Cinder looks to Jaune's comrades as they fight against their respective foes, before smiling evilly back down to him.
"You think so?" She then notices Weiss get knocked back several feet away and begins to slowly proceed toward her while she conjures an obsidian spear.
"No... " Jaune said as he watched helplessly while Cinder continued to advance towards Weiss "NOOOOOOO!"
Cinder throws the spear and it impales Weiss through her abdomen. She gasps in shock as everyone stops their fighting and stare in shock as well. The spear then disintegrates as Weiss goes motionless and slumps forwards.
Uzziel who was standing across from Mercury started to shake as he slowly looked behind him to see Weiss impaled by Cinder's spear. Uzziel was finding it hard to breathe as he kept looking on, not knowing what to say. His heart started to hurt as he saw her slowly falling. All he could muster up was simply "Weiss… No…"
