Damn it all…
Months of preparations gone to waste. The most important mission of her life has turned into a catastrophic failure.
As her blade tore through the dark hide of a Beowolf, she could hardly contain the growl of frustration that hissed through her clenched teeth.
It was supposed to be simple. The preparations were extortionate! Excessive, even! How could it all have gone so wrong?
Myrtenaster pieced the skull of yet another of the many creatures of Grimm that surrounded its wielder. All she could think to do was curse herself under her breath.
Such a fool… How could I have let this happen…?
Not even ten minutes into the mission, a chain of explosions traveled along the ceiling of the cavern. Naturally, Weiss was ahead of her troops and narrowly escaped the collapse. The only problem now was that she was separated from all the help she had garnered.
She did not know if they managed to escape the collapse in time. For all she knew, they were dead. She still held onto hope they were able to evade the collapse or perhaps find themselves waiting for a rescue in a pocket of air as she was.
A small gap in the unending waves of Grimm that threatened her provided the slightest respite. Weiss looked to her sides and bit her cheek.
She brought a few divisions of Atlesian Knights to aid her in her mission. Most of them were on the other side of the wall of debris blocking her exit, but a handful of them were sealed in with her. Half of them now laid in the rubble, torn to mechanical shreds.
As the clicking of robotic parts and reloading firearms echoed throughout the cavern, Weiss frowned and looked up at the massive wall of boulders and rubble that blocked her way out. It would take days, maybe even weeks, for her team on the other side to get through this.
Weiss was surprised she could even see all the rubble inside the cavern. There were thousands of glowing dust crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling. Some were the largest she had ever seen before. Different, vibrant colors of fire, ice, lightning, and more lit up the cavern for her to see well enough to defend herself from the onslaught of Grimm.
But something did not add up. How could it be these dust crystals were still here? The chain reaction should have blown the entire cavern to bits and left no structural integrity in it what so ever. They were certainly agitated, but they had yet to react. She still had to be careful.
Perhaps the fact none of the dust had combusted was her complimentary stroke of good luck after the initial, random explosions.
Still, as the brief moments of relative peace ticked by, Weiss' mind raced. She realized she had not given enough thought to the possibility of her not coming out of this mission alive. There was no way out of this pocket. Even if the Grimm did not get her, she would starve or run out of air eventually.
The thought of her last moments with Yang made her heart hurt. She regretted leaving things the way they were. She hoped Yang would forgive her…
And her girls, Wendy and Wilma… What would Yang tell them? That their mother died alone in a cave because all her preparations did not matter in the end?
A nearby howl pulled Weiss from her thoughts. Her anger returned as her blade leveled with the incoming wave of Grimm. She counted a mixture of a dozen or so Beowolves, Beringels, and Manticores.
Wasting no time, Weiss channeled ice dust through her blade and plunged it into the ground. A massive trail of ice shot out in front of her, completely encasing a good portion of the Grimm.
With half of the creatures subdued, Weiss cried out as she sped toward the nearest monster with her blade extended. Metal pierced dark, soulless fur and the howl of the Begringel was choked and short; a cry for help.
Weiss shifted her weight and felt the breeze of a paw swinging inches past her face. She tore Myrtenaster from the evaporating corpse of the Beringel and slashed at a Manticore as it bared its angular teeth at her. The Grimm growled as an orange heat leaked from its maw.
Weiss caught on to the telltale signs of the beast's fire breath and hastily formed an ice glyph within its mouth. The following blast would surely have set off the agitated dust crystals in the cavern were it not for the glyph which simply disintegrated the Manticore into snowflakes.
The sound of metal clanking and screeching against stone stole Weiss' attention. Another Atlesian Knight reduced to scraps. She only had two left. The knights had not gone to waste, judging by the Grimm that laid around them, disintegrating into smoke.
She still was not pleased with how quickly her only support was being depleted. Her blade tapped the ground, forming a massive glyph at her feet.
In seconds, a glowing, white Boarbatusk rose from the glyph and ground its hoof against dirt. It charged the remaining Grimm, knocking them into rocks and breaking their bones. Finally, Weiss sent the summon into all the frozen Grimm, shattering their frozen bodies to pieces along with their incasing.
At last, Weiss allowed the scowl to fall from her face as her summon withered away with the Grimm. She wondered how much longer she could keep this up.
I refuse to die without a fight…
She stole the precious moments to rest as she steadied her spinning head with the hand not gripping Myrtenaster.
Two loud cracks made Weiss jump, and she opened her eyes just in time to watch her last two Atlesian Knights' headless bodies crumple under their own weight. Her scowl returned, and she turned to face where the sound had come from.
She was met with a woman with brunet hair, cut short, and light blue eyes. The smirk on her face and her leisurely gait spelled trouble despite the fact she was unarmed.
"Well, well… Look at what we've got here…" hummed the woman.
Weiss heard a few pairs of feet land around her. She glanced at her sides, confirming that she was surrounded. She narrowed her eyes.
"Weiss Schnee… How nice it is to finally meet you," the woman huffed.
"I can't say the same for you, whoever you are," Weiss nipped.
"The name's Vernal. It would be wise of you to remember that," said the woman as an angry frown overtook her features.
Weiss raised Mytenaster and ground her teeth, "It appears I underestimated you."
"That will be your last mistake," said Vernal, dangerously.
"Forgive me, but I hardly expected a lowly band of thieves to try their hand at sabotaging a full-scale incursion on their dust mine."
"Unfortunately for you, this is personal," said Vernal.
"Let me guess," Weiss nearly chuckled, "This cave is where your tribe has collected its dust resources for decades?"
"Your wife has taken something from me. Something I held dear. I want her back," Vernal growled.
"You must be the new leader of the Branwen tribe," Weiss shook her head, "Pathetic. Raven has changed. She would never stoop back to the level of filthy rats like you."
"She won't have a choice," said Vernal, "After I'm done with you, your wife will hear about what happened. She will know Raven's tribe was responsible for ruining this ridiculous mission, slaughtering everyone… She will hate Raven. She will never want to see her again. Raven will have nowhere else to go."
Weiss could barely contain her anger. Her scowl grew deadlier and she sank into a stance with the tip of her blade aimed at Vernal.
"Over my dead body…"
Vernal laughed, baring her teeth as she slowly pulled two disk-like blades from her back, "That's the idea…"
Yang shook her head as she blinked away the strange sensation Raven's portal inflicted. Her head steadily stopped spinning, and she could see clearly again.
As she expected, the portal had transported her inside the cavern. She had not prepared for how loud it would be, however.
Monstrous growls and roars muffled by the hundreds of cracks and pops from weapons' fire. Dozens of Altesian Knights and a few Paladins lit the area with their flashlights and floodlights just well enough for the huntsmen teams and the foot soldiers to see the Grimm coming.
Towering piles of rubble sat on the frontline as well as the rear. Yang concluded the fireteams were blocked off from the rest of the cavern and the entrance was sealed when the collapse happened.
Seeing so many of the soldiers still breathing brought a great deal of comfort to Yang. If all these people survived, Weiss had to have survived as well. It was just a matter of finding her.
"Do you see her?" asked Raven from behind her.
Yang almost forgot Raven was there with her. She scanned the ongoing fight without a word.
The Atlesian Paladins were standing in the back, closer to where Yang presumed was the entrance of the cavern. The high-tech mech suits were providing a generous amount of support with their massive assault cannons and bathing the whole air pocket with the lights from their floodlights, which made it much easier to see everything else.
The foot soldiers were wisely letting the Atlesian Knights keep the front line. In fact, Yang could not find a single human body on the ground. There were only piles of scrapped knights and decaying Grimm corpses.
As Yang looked farther up the path of chaos, the number of dead Grimm grew. The huntsmen and huntresses were clearing out as many Grimm as possible before they got to the front line and it did not look good.
Yang's eyes darted to each huntsman and huntress, desperately hoping to find a head of white hair. With each person she counted, her heart sank deeper into her chest.
"No," Yang shook her head and answered Raven's question, "But I do see Qrow!"
Qrow was leading the other huntsmen's charge. He was skillfully cleaving off the heads of every Grimm that crossed his path while taking special care to watch his team's back. The only problem was that they were grievously outnumbered. They were going to be overrun any minute.
"Come on! We have to help them!" Yang commanded as Raven nodded.
She broke into a sprint, extending Ember Celica into their gauntlet forms with Raven and Omen on her heels. Leaping forward, she screamed a battle cry as her gauntleted fist rammed into the skull of a Beringel that was about to strike Qrow from behind. The headless Grimm was flung across the cavern, decimating a trio of Beowolves along the way.
Qrow whipped his head around, disbelief flooding his expression, "Yang!? How the hell are you—" he made eye contact with Raven who was impaling a Manticore a few feet behind Yang, "…Oh."
"Qrow, what's going on!?" Yang shouted over the booming roars and weapons' fire.
"We're pinned down! These damn monsters just keep coming!" shouted Qrow as he fired Harbinger's shotgun rounds, "They're getting in through some tunnels near the boulders! We need to—"
A piercing roar shook the whole cavern. Even some of the Grimm halted.
Yang squinted as she tried to make out a shape emerging from the dark. A massive paw stepped into the floodlights followed by a pair of wide, burning eyes. With a beat of its mighty wings, a Sphinx reared its bony head and cried out to its Grimm brethren.
"Shit…" Qrow huffed under his breath, "It's a good thing you're here, Firecracker, because I'm going to need your help with this!"
"You have my help as well," said Raven as she backed up Yang.
Qrow eyed Raven with a spark of uncertainty in his eye but did not complain.
"Raven and I will clip its wings. After that, you should have a clear shot at its torso," said Qrow, "There should be no armor there."
"Right. I'll draw its attention while you're at it," Yang nodded.
Qrow raised Harbinger and extended it into its scythe form, "Everyone, maintain a defensive perimeter! Leave the Sphinx to me!"
The Grimm assault continued as more Beowolves and Beringels charged. The soldiers and other huntsmen did their jobs keeping them off Qrow, Raven, and Yang.
As a bright glow garnered behind the Sphinx's crooked teeth, Qrow and Raven sprang into action. The two siblings deftly avoided the fireballs shot from the Grimm's mouth and swiftly closed the distance.
The Sphinx locked its fiery eyes on Qrow and dropped its massive paw onto the ground he had just occupied. Realizing it had missed, the Grimm swiped at Qrow only for Raven to slash at its arm with Omen.
The Sphinx screeched and beat its wings as it briefly stood on its hind legs. More flames leaked from its jaws as it slammed its paws into the ground, sending shockwaves throughout the cavern. While Qrow and Raven were stunned by the vibrations, the beast spat a fireball that singed the end of Qrow's cape.
The Grimm reared its head back as its breath was set aflame again. It opened its mouth to let another fireball loose, but Yang would not let that happen. A well-placed rocket from Ember Celica detonated the fireball within the Sphinx's maw, creating a plume of fire around its cat-like face. The agitated Grimm locked onto Yang now, preparing another fireball.
"Go! I've got its attention!" Yang shouted as she rolled away from a blast of fire.
Raven and Qrow got to work.
"Qrow, I need a boost!" Raven shouted.
"Climb aboard!" Qrow called and presented his scythe.
Raven knew exactly what to do and leaped onto the flat blade of Harbinger. As Qrow spun in a circle, gaining momentum, Raven jumped into the air.
Satisfied with his throw, Qrow thrust the blade of his scythe into the dense wing of the Sphinx.
The Grimm cried out and attempted to change its target, but Yang denied it with another barrage of rockets.
Raven recognized what her brother was trying to do and altered her original plan. Instead of following through with her own strike, Raven hurled her blade at the Grimm's other wing. It spun with blinding speed and sliced cleanly through the wing.
The beast shrieked again, but it would not be able to react in time.
Raven allowed gravity to pull her down. She landed on top of Qrow's scythe, sending it all the way throw the second wing with ease.
The Sphinx slammed its paws into the ground as it became enraged and swung its head around, violently.
"Yang! Now!"
Before Qrow had finished shouting, Yang propelled herself into the air with Ember Celica. She rained half a dozen rockets down on the Sphinx's exposed midsection, a battle cry punctuating every blow.
A large crater in the Grimm's hide spelled doom for it, but it was not dead yet as it cried out in agony.
Yang fired her gauntlets behind her, propelling herself toward the Sphinx like a meteor. Her fist collided with the soft, exposed entrance she had made with her rockets, allowing her to blow completely through the beast and bury her fist into the ground underneath it.
The Sphinx faded away before it could even hit the ground.
Sensing the shift in their assault, the Grimm howled and retreated back to their caves, most likely to prepare for another attack.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Qrow cheered, "That was some fine work, Firecracker!"
Yang did not even dust herself off before she was standing in front of Qrow, "What happened?"
The grin on Qrow's face fell and he cleared his throat, "Right… Yang, it wasn't supposed to be like this. The instant we entered the cavern, something happened. The whole ceiling exploded and now we're trapped in here."
"Where is Weiss?" Yang asked impatiently.
"She was ahead of everyone else when the explosions happened. We were separated by that wall of rubble," Qrow answered as he pointed to a tall pile of boulders that stopped them from delving deeper into the cavern.
"Damn it," Yang grunted, "We'll never get through this…"
"Raven Branwen?" a man's voice called as he approached.
Raven and Yang turned to face the new man. He was a huntsman wearing an Atlesian uniform of sorts. He had brown hair and kind, teal green eyes.
"Yeah? How can I help you?" Raven raised an eyebrow.
"You're under arrest," said the man as he removed a pair of gravity handcuffs from his belt.
"Hey!" Yang shouted and stepped between Raven and the man, "What the hell are you doing? She's here to help you."
"Raven Branwen is wanted for her crimes against the Kingdom of Mistral. I need to take her in."
"And go where, huh? To that giant wall of boulders?" Yang bit.
"Why are you defending her? I know who you are, Yang Xiao Long. Do I need to remind you that she is responsible for the destruction of dozens of settlements all around Mistral?"
Qrow stepped between Yang and the man, holding his hands out, "That's enough, Clover. We have much bigger things to worry about right now than my sister."
The man, Clover, looked stunned, "You can't be serious! You trust her?"
Qrow sighed and briefly locked eyes with Raven, "This time."
Clover pursed his lips and folded his arms as he thought, "Damn it, Qrow… This is why I hate working with you! I can't deny the success rate for your hunts. Don't make me regret this."
"Yeah, whatever," Qrow rolled his eyes as he turned back to Raven and Yang, "Anyway, what's the plan?"
"I know she's alive. She has to be," said Yang as she turned to Raven who was frowning at her feet, "I need to get to the other side of this debris."
"There might be a way through the caves," Clover piped in.
"That would take too long," Raven shook her head, "I was thinking about using an old Team STRQ trick."
Raven knowingly eyed Qrow as he chuckled to himself.
"That one always came in handy. Got us record times on the obstacle courses at Beacon," Qrow shook his head.
"What is he talking about?" Yang asked.
"A clever way to use my semblance," Raven answered, "You see, I can create a portal within a specific radius of someone I am bonded with. It doesn't matter if there is a physical barrier between us. This allows me to make a portal that we can use to bypass a physical obstacle."
"She can make a portal through walls as long as you're standing close to it," Qrow clarified, "Came in real handy when we had to get somewhere fast."
"The only problem is that it drains more aura the farther away the portal is, or the thicker the wall is in this case," Raven added, "That shouldn't be a problem though. I doubt the distance is greater than I can handle."
"Do it. We can't waste any time," Yang commanded.
With a curt nod, Raven unsheathed Omen and approached the wall, "Yang, could you place your hand on the wall?"
Yang did as was instructed and watched Raven take a deep breath. As she has witnessed before, Raven's blade tore through the air, forming a swirling red and black rift that hummed quietly.
"That should do it," Raven sighed.
Another howl rang from the caves. Qrow bit his cheek and looked over the Atlesian soldiers he was commanding.
"You both should go without me," said Qrow, "I need to stay here. No one is dying. I'll make sure of it."
"After we find Weiss, we'll get the rest of you out," Yang reassured and turned to enter the portal.
"Yang," Qrow called out with a flick of his weapon, "Good luck."
Yang nodded and disappeared through the portal.
"Weiss!"
By the time Raven stepped out of the portal, Yang was already sprinting.
The loud roars and screeches over the noise of metal clanging on metal rang in her ears. She was relieved to find Weiss alive.
She was locked in combat. Grimm were all around her but were hardly the only threat to her life. She was fending off the Grimm and someone else.
Vernal…
Raven's former protégé, along with several other familiar faces that belonged to her old tribe, was attacking the wife of her daughter.
Weiss was barely holding up her defense. She was horribly outnumbered with the Grimm at her heels and the tribe constantly bombarding her with strikes. Raven was beyond impressed she had held on for so long.
Yang had undoubtedly noticed Weiss' struggling as well and was focused on reaching her. So focused, she did not see the Beowolves charging at her.
"Yang, behind you!" Raven cried and dashed to Yang's aid.
Yang barely managed to turn around by the time Raven's blade severed the Beowolf's arm from its body and its head soon after.
Raven noticed the other Grimm had backed off of Weiss, most likely drawn away by Raven's outburst.
"We need to get to Weiss!" Yang shouted over her shoulder as the beowolves surrounded them.
"We can't get to her with the Grimm in our way," Raven frowned, sensing Yang's unease, "Don't worry. She's doing just fine."
The Grimm sprang towards the two huntresses.
Yang ducked, giving Raven clearance to split it in half as more of the creatures converged on them. Working together, she and Yang made quick work of them.
Raven sheathed her blade and narrowed her eyes, "Vernal!"
She watched as her protégé froze. The metal clanging stopped and all eyes were on Raven.
Vernal locked eyes with Raven, speechless.
"Yang?" Weiss asked with disbelief as she desperately tried to recover her breath.
Yang was by Weiss' side in an instant, supporting her weight.
Weiss clung onto Yang, huffing, "Yang, I-I'm so sorry…"
Yang looked between Raven and the people who were attacking Weiss, "Not right now, Weiss."
"Raven…" Vernal whispered.
"Raven, who are these people. Why the hell were they attacking Weiss!?" Yang demanded.
A smirk formed on Vernal's face as she stared at Yang, "You don't remember me?"
Yang studied Vernal's face but realized who she was by the tattoo on her arm, "Daisy? From the bar?"
"So, you do remember," Vernal chuckled.
Raven shook her head, "What have you done…"
"What's necessary to get back what was taken from me," Vernal scowled, "I thought you wouldn't show up. I was wrong."
"I told you to abandon the mine," Raven frowned.
"What are you talking about? Who is this, Raven?" Yang asked.
Raven sighed and closed her eyes.
"Go on. Tell her exactly who we are," said Vernal.
Raven locked eyes with Yang, "They're bandits… From the Branwen tribe. Vernal was my second in command."
"That's all I was to you? Your second in command!?" Vernal cried.
"You knew they would attack the mine!?" Yang roared at Raven.
"It's not like that, Yang," said Raven, looking back to Vernal, "She came to me in the dead of night on Patch. She asked me to come back. I refused, and I foolishly thought that would be the end of it. I had faith Vernal wouldn't act this brashly."
"But she did! And Weiss almost paid the price!" Yang shouted as her fists tightened.
"Stop it!" Weiss cried and stepped between Yang and Raven, "Vernal is trying to turn you against Raven, Yang. It was her plan from the start. As a member of the Branwen tribe, she wanted to kill me so you would want nothing to do with Raven."
Raven locked eyes with Yang and gazed at Vernal, "Is that true?"
Vernal scowled, "It is. And when the Schnee falls, your daughter will blame you. It is because of you that she will die, after all. But then again: now that she's here, I think a change of plans is in order."
Yang's jaw tightened; so much so even Raven noticed it.
"I'm disappointed," Raven sighed sadly, "Look at what's become of you…"
"I am what you made me!" Vernal sneered.
"Back down, Vernal," said Raven with a shake of her head.
"That's not an option," Vernal growled and readied her weapons.
"Please, don't do this. I'm begging you," Raven pleaded.
Vernal's expression turned deadly.
Yang let go of Weiss and extended Ember Celica, "Weiss, go sit down."
"No. I'm alright now," said Weiss, "Let's do this together."
Raven sighed and shook her head as she pulled Omen from its sheath.
Vernal turned to her subordinates with a snarl, "Kill the Schnee and her wife! Raven is mine."
The tribesmen charged Yang and Weiss as Vernal lunged at Raven. Raven caught a glimpse of Yang holding her ground and turned her attention on her old protégé.
With a growl, Vernal swung her blades adeptly and with precision. The skillful blows which Raven blocked and dodged were fast and deadly; a clear improvement from the last time they sparred.
Vernal spun around in a roundhouse kick but it only split the air as Raven dashed back out of her range.
"Fight me, damn it!" Vernal commanded as she pointed her disk-shaped blades at Raven and shot a beam of dust energy at her.
Raven deflected the beam into the ground with her sword, away from the highly combustible dust crystals.
"No one has gotten hurt yet, Vernal," Raven began as she steadied her blade, "You can stop this. Let me help you."
"The only way I'm stopping is if you come back to the tribe," Vernal shook her head and lunged at Raven again, "Lead like you're supposed to!"
Raven dodged another string of strikes.
"I can't do that. That life of thieving and murder…" Raven blocked a kick with her forearm, "It's in the past. It was wrong, and I wish I saw that sooner."
Vernal slipped through Raven's guard and caught her abdomen with a slash against her aura.
Raven stepped back, surprised. She watched Vernal glance at Yang and followed her gaze.
Yang and Weiss were holding their ground, but the sheer number of tribesmen were wearing them down. It seemed they were locked in an even fight for now.
"Soon you won't have a choice," Vernal laughed and picked up where she left off in their battle.
Vernal threw one of her blades at Raven, who dodged it with a roll to the side. The disk ricocheted off a rock and found its place back in Vernal's hand. She leaped into the air, intending to land on Raven.
Raven did not recognize this move from her protégé and positioned her sword to parry the attack.
Vernal's blades trapped around Omen, preventing Raven from moving it.
Raven caught on immediately and detached the blade, sending Vernal flailing and off-balanced. She used the hilt to tear another blade from her sheath, ready to punish Vernal's overly-headstrong attack.
She saw her opening. Such an easy target.
Vernal's feet touched the ground a short distance away. She had not missed Raven's hesitation.
"I won't fight you," Raven shook her head and stood up straight as Omen returned home to its sheath.
"If you won't fight me, I'll kill them all! The Schnee, your daughter, Cinder… All of them!"
"You are misguided," said Raven, "I raised you to be a killer. Let me show you what I have realized since then."
Raven extended her hand.
"Grimm!"
Raven turned her head towards the shout. Another wave of Grimm had emerged from the caves and were attacking the tribesman and Yang. Her hand reached for Omen when a glint caught her eye.
Vernal, her weapon raised, cried out as she shot a beam by Raven.
Raven followed the beam as it burned past her and collided with a massive dust crystal. Her eyes shot open and a gasp was all she could manage as she braced for the inevitable.
A deafening crack followed by a blinding light sent Raven sprawling across the cavern. She could not see, and a high-pitched whine was all she heard.
"Y-yang!" she called, though to her it was silent.
Yang felt the ground beneath her feet rumble as a loud boom echoed throughout the cavern. She turned to the sound and watched as dust crystal after dust crystal combusted in a chain reaction, sending shards of dust and debris everywhere.
"Weiss!" Yang shouted over her shoulder.
"I'm here!"
The ground rumbled harder and cracks began to form under their feet. All around them, Grimm and tribesmen fell through the cracks as the ground began to collapse underneath them.
Panic filled Yang's features as she desperately looked for somewhere to go. The tribesmen had to have gotten in from somewhere. There had to be a way out!
"Raven! Make a portal!" Yang desperately checked her surroundings and found Raven lying on the ground not far from Vernal, "Raven!"
"Yang, run!" Weiss shouted as she stabbed the tip of Myrtenaster into the earth.
A massive glyph formed in the blink of an eye with the Arma Gigas on its feet just as quickly. The Arma Gigas gently lifted Raven into its arms before making a break for it with Weiss in tow.
"I said run!"
Yang broke into a sprint, speeding past Vernal. She could hear the ground shattering behind her. She did not dare look back.
"Look! There's a cave above!" Weiss pointed.
The Arma Gigas lifted Raven up and set her down inside the cave before helping Weiss up. It knelt down in wait for Yang to reach them.
"Yang, hurry!" Weiss cried desperately.
Yang's legs pumped as hard as they could. She had not remembered the last time she had pushed herself this hard.
Her vision was blurred, but she heard Weiss' voice. She could see her in the cave on higher ground. She focused on her.
"Behind you!" Weiss shrieked.
Yang did not have to look to know the ground just behind her was falling away. What surprised her was the voice.
"You're coming with me!"
A hand gripped her boot with enough force to bruise. With a gasp and one last look at Weiss, Yang's chin slammed into the stone floor as it fell from beneath her.
"YANG!"
Yang screamed as she was pulled down into the depths of the cavern. The hand on her boot disappeared, and she found herself tumbling down a rocky incline. She tucked her limbs in to protect her body and caught brief glimpses of another body stumbling with her.
She reached the bottom of the pit before long and groaned as she found her footing. Her head was spinning and her back ached.
"You took everything from me!"
Yang could hardly hear the battle cry that approached her as she felt the sting of a sucker punch to the cheek. She supported herself against some rubble as a pained moan escaped her. Her vision cleared up and she saw Vernal approaching her.
"Get up!" Vernal snarled as she gripped Yang's collar and threw her against the ground, "You are weak!"
Yang clumsily got back to her feet and raised her gauntlets with a deep breath.
Vernal readied her blades and set her attack in motion. She struck at Yang with ferocity and aggression.
Yang barely kept the heavy blows at bay as she was knocked around the field of debris.
"You are nothing! Just a selfish, coward!"Vernal screamed, "Arrogant! Ungrateful!"
Yang threw a speedy right hook only for Vernal to duck under it and slash across her chest.
"You're half the warrior I am!" said Vernal, "Yet she still chose you!"
Vernal roared as she landed a powerful kick to Yang's abdomen.
"You have it all and you still want more! Why does she waste her time with you!?"
Yang growled as Vernal broke through her guard again.
"There was one thing in this cruel world I had! I had a purpose! A role to play!" howled Vernal as her attacks grew deadlier, "Now I have nothing!"
Vernal pointed both her weapons at Yang and blasted her, sending her into a boulder.
"And I'll kill every last one of you to get her back…" she said, coldly.
Vernal stood over Yang, bringing her weapon back to strike her again.
What little light there was in the pit gleamed off Vernal's blade, and it almost looked beautiful to Yang. As time slowed within her mind, her life flashed before her eyes.
Is she right? Have I been selfish? Have I been looking at this wrong?
When Raven first came into Yang's life, it seemed like a cruel joke. The one person she had waited her whole life to meet only revealed herself when she had given up.
And what about Weiss? Wendy and Wilma?
Have I been selfish with them?
Yang remembered the times before Raven. The times before this mission in Mistral. Everything was perfect. It was like she was living a dream.
Was it Raven who changed that… Or me?
"You're right!" Yang hastily spat.
Vernal's anger shifted for the briefest moment. She was confused.
"I have been selfish," Yang groaned as she painfully sat up, "I have been arrogant. Even ungrateful… But I haven't taken anything from you!"
Yang slowly stood up.
"Liar!" Vernal growled as she dealt the final blow.
Yang's eyes sparked and her hair began to glow. With a shout, she parried the strike hard enough for Vernal to drop one of her weapons. She knew her aura was low, so she had to do this quickly.
"You call me selfish, but look at you!" Yang began as she rained fire on Vernal's guard, "You are willing to destroy the lives of hundreds, all so you can have Raven back!"
Vernal aggressively swung at Yang, but she saw it coming and delivered a devastating hook in her stomach.
"I see now we aren't so different," Yang grunted as she dodged another desperate attack, "I know what it feels like to be left behind! I know that feeling of betrayal in your heart!"
Yang slammed her knuckles into Vernal's chest, dazing her for a moment.
"We both responded with bitterness and anger," Yang took a quick breath, "But now I know that was wrong of me! It was selfish!"
With one last punch to the chin, Vernal cried out as her aura shattered against the cold, hard ground.
"That's the difference between you and me," said Yang, out of breath, "At the end of the day, I want to do what's best for my family. You only care about yourself."
Yang's eyes flashed back to their usual lilac as her hair ceased its burning and her aura crackled away. Her knees hit the ground as a breath escaped her.
"Yang!"
Yang looked up and chuckled as a glowing, white Nevermore landed a few feet away from her. Weiss leaped off the summons and sprinted toward her.
"Yang, are you okay!?" Weiss cried as she slammed into Yang, wrapping her arms around her neck.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Yang teared up as she clung to Weiss, "And I'm so glad you're alright too."
Raven dismounted the Nevermore and slowly approached Vernal.
Yang looked up, confused, "You're okay! What are you going to do with her?"
Raven sighed as she held out her hand, "My offer still stands, Child."
"What?" Yang stood up with Weiss' help, "Are you out of your mind?"
"You have taught me that sometimes it is worth it to give someone a second chance," said Raven, "I think Vernal has every right to the same treatment."
Vernal looked up at Raven, shocked, "I… I-I accept. Raven… I'm so sorry…"
Raven smiled, still waiting for Vernal to take her hand, "I'm not sure if it would be wise to forgive you right now… But in time, we can fix things."
Vernal looked away, "T-there's something else… Something you won't like."
"What did you do?" Yang growled, dangerously.
Raven held up her hand to stop Yang, "What is it, Vernal?"
"I had… A plan. A contingency in case I failed to—Um… kill the Schnee," Vernal looked down in shame, "I sent some of my people to Patch. They were instructed to take Cinder hostage. They'll kill her if I don't contact them by sundown."
Yang's eyes widened, "Shit!"
"Raven… We'll never make it out of this cavern in time," said Weiss, "I'm so sorry…"
"It's not just that, Weiss!" Yang shouted, her eyes frantically bouncing from place to place, "I left the kids with Cinder before I left!"
Weiss' face went still as the color drained from it.
"Don't panic. I have enough aura to portal us back to Cinder. Vernal can tell her tribesmen to stand down," said Raven as she unsheathed Omen.
"Portal?" Weiss asked, mildly shaken.
"It's her semblance," Yang explained.
"Stand back," said Raven as she slashed the air.
Yang gripped Vernal by her upper arm and pulled her to her feet, "If any of your murderers have even touched my girls, I will break your legs," she whispered dangerously into her ear.
Yang pushed Vernal through the portal and followed.
As Raven stepped through the portal, her aura flickered. She was nearly depleted.
"Where the hell are they?" Yang asked as she looked at Raven.
Raven looked up and realized they were in the front yard of Yang and Weiss' house. The clouds were still thick and refused to let any sunlight penetrate its cover. The slight winds were cold and made her spine tingle.
"They must be inside," said Raven, "Vernal, it would be best if you went in first."
Vernal glanced at Yang, timidly.
"Don't worry. I'll hold your hand," Yang rolled her eyes and pushed her forward.
The four women slowly entered the house. The front door was ajar. Unsurprising.
They entered and, interestingly, still felt a breeze.
"All the doors are open," Yang scoffed, "The air conditioning better not be on."
"Yang," said Raven as she pointed out the open glass door, "Look."
Yang's eyes landed on two tribesmen in the backyard. They were standing with Cinder. She could see a revolver jammed into her neck.
Her blood began to boil. Wendy and Wilma were with Cinder. Both of them had tear-stained cheeks.
She was ready to kill these tribesmen.
"Don't," said Raven as she stopped Yang, "We can still resolve this peacefully. Let me handle this."
"If my kids get hurt—"
"I won't let that happen," said Raven with reassurance.
Yang scowled and pushed Vernal out the door and onto the grass.
"R-raven…" Cinder managed as her eyes lit up at the sight, "I tried to stop them…"
Raven frowned at the cuts and bruises all over Cinder's hands and face, "Everything's going to be alright."
"Mother! Mommy!" screamed the sobbing voices of Wendy and Wilma as they desperately tried to run to them.
Weiss started for her children.
"Stay right there!" demanded one of the tribesmen.
Weiss bit her cheek and crouched so her face was level with Wendy and Wilma, "Wendy, Wilma, just look at me. Everything is going to be just fine. Just focus on me," she cooed.
Yang scowled at Vernal, "Tell them to let them go."
Vernal stayed silent.
Raven turned to her protégé, "Vernal?"
Vernal looked into Raven's eyes with anger in her own.
The two tribesmen glanced at each other and one of them spoke up, "Let go of Vernal."
Yang's grip on Vernal's arm tightened, "You… Damn liar! I'm not letting go until you give me my daughters!"
"Let go of her, Yang," said Raven.
Yang's scowl snapped to Raven with disbelief.
Raven looked into her eyes, "Please trust me."
Yang's eyes darted to everyone there until they landed on Cinder with the revolver at her neck. She looked down at Weiss. She understood and let go.
Vernal slowly walked across the gap and joined her tribesmen. She held her hand out and the revolver was placed in it.
"I'll give you one last chance, Raven," Vernal shook her head and gripped Cinder's upper arm, "Come back to the tribe."
Raven sighed. She could not even begin to describe how disappointed she was. She wanted to believe Vernal was still redeemable, but it seemed like that time had passed some time ago.
"I can't do that, but I also can't let you kill Cinder," said Raven as she stared into Vernal's soul, "I will give you one chance to walk away. Leave Patch and never return. You can live your lives and let me live mine."
Vernal narrowed her eyes at Raven until she felt the tribesmen at her sides shift. They looked at each other again and began to back away.
Vernal looked over her shoulders with ire in her eyes, "Cowards! I'll kill you both for this!"
The tribesmen disappeared into the forest, leaving Vernal alone with her hostages.
Vernal pressed the barrel of the revolver to Cinder's temple and gripped Wendy's shoulder to keep her in place, causing Yang to tighten her fists.
"Raven…" Yang hissed.
"This isn't you, Vernal," said Raven, "This anger. This indignation… That's never what I wanted for you."
"Of course I'm angry! You left me!" Vernal bit.
"Yes. I did," Raven sighed, "But it wasn't because of you. I left because I realized there were bigger problems in my life that I needed to address."
"You left because Cinder told you to!" Vernal grit her teeth as she jabbed Cinder with the revolver, "You never cared enough to stay! You betrayed me!"
"Vernal. Listen to me. I need you to understand something," Raven began, "I have made many mistakes in my life. Killing and stealing for as long as I did? That was a mistake, and I have to live with the consequences of that. I had a life. A daughter who I left behind long before I found you. I wronged her, and I have been working to earn her forgiveness. To fulfill my role in her life."
Vernal looked at Cinder, Yang, and her other hostages: the two whimpering little girls on her other side.
"I see now… I see why you're so calm. You are willing to lose Cinder. Her life isn't worth as much to you," said Vernal, almost chuckling, "I bet hers is."
Vernal pulled the revolver away from Cinder and pointed it at Wendy.
"Get that thing away from my little girl!" Yang roared as she raised Ember Celica.
"Trust me," said Raven, "Please."
Yang's anger fell, and Raven saw what she was really feeling. There was no rage in Yang. There was only fear. Yang was petrified at the thought of losing her daughter. Raven would not let that happen.
"I realize I've wronged you too, Vernal," Raven began as Weiss tried to calm Wendy and Wilma from where she was crouched, "I destroyed your village, killed your real family, and took you under my wing."
"You saved me from my family. They were abusive and you know that!" cried Vernal.
"No," Raven shook her head, "I didn't save you. I stole you. Taught you to be a monster like me. Look at you: you were willing to kill an entire battalion of soldiers and huntsmen to get to me."
Vernal's angry expression shifted as her grip on the revolver loosened. Her gaze shifted briefly.
"Now you see it. You were right about everything. I have wronged you," said Raven, carefully, "I never should have left Yang..."
"Stop…"
"I never should have come back to the tribe…"
"No…"
"And I never should have taken you. For that, I am sorry."
Raven could see Vernal's heartbreak as tears rolled down her cheeks. Vernal's grip on the revolver was shaky and loose. Now was the time to strike.
Raven slowly moved her hand to Omen's hilt.
Vernal desperately tried to control her tears and locked her eyes onto Yang. The anger returned and she bared her teeth through tearful eyes. She screamed as loud as she could; letting her rage and torment channel into her actions.
She aimed the revolver at Yang.
Time seemed to slow as Raven watched the hammer pull back. In a movement of pure instinct, she dashed in front of Yang.
Omen was not even half-way out of its sheath by the time the bullet shattered Raven's aura, digging into the minimal armor Raven's tunic provided and piercing flesh.
With a sharp breath, Omen fell to the grass, followed shortly by Raven's knees.
Cinder clasped her hands over her mouth, "RAVEN!" she screeched.
"NO!" Vernal cried.
Raven's vision was unfocused and dimming. It was getting harder to breathe. She could feel the blood filling her lungs.
She only saw movements. Blurred blobs of color shifting around her.
Wendy and Wilma ran to Weiss' waiting arms.
Yang tackled Vernal to the ground and raised her gauntleted first to strike her down.
"Yang!" called a voice. Raven thought it sounded like Weiss.
There was a pause in Yang's movements before she dealt the blow. What a shame.
It was now Raven realized she was lying on her back with her head on Cinder's lap. She looked up and could make out her tear-filled, golden eyes. What a wonderful sight to be her last.
That's what's happening, right? I'm dying?
At least she fulfilled her duty as a mother to Yang. She would die keeping her alive.
I hope Cinder can forgive me…
She could not hear Cinder's pleas to keep her eyes open anymore. She felt far too tired.
At last, as thunder sounded and the rain began to fall, she failed to keep her eyes from closing, and the darkness consumed her.
A/N: Hello! I'm sorry! Not only have I made you guys wait over a month for the climax, but I ended it on yet another cliffhanger! I really did not think it would take me that long to get this chapter out, but here we are. I wanted to make sure I got this chapter right. Hopefully, it isn't another month until the next chapter is out! Thank you for reading and please leave a review!