Chapter Nine: A Maiden's Name
A Safehouse in Mistral
"Perry's here,"
"Good." Adam Taurus looked up. "Show him in."
Gray opened the door as Rajah continued briefing Adam. They were huddled in a small apartment in Lower Mistral that served as one of the Fang's safehouses.
"The High Leader has agreed to the suggested meeting time," Rajah said, passing over a Scroll. "She understands the situation in Mistral needs attention: apparently local cells have been attacked too."
"Is this true?" Adam asked, his eyes flicking to the newly entered Perry.
"Yes," Perry replied. "Adam, I…"
"Just give it to us from the top," Adam ordered, setting the Scroll aside.
"After I sent word of attack, four more cells – local ones this time – have been attacked this past week. In each case, anyone who stood their ground was killed. The attacks have caught police attention now too; they've begun moving in on most of the sites shortly after they hear of fighting. They think it's gang warfare, the local crime lords retaliating against the local cells moving in on their turf."
"Is it?" asked Rajah. "Because two can play at that game…"
"No," Perry interrupted. "The few eye-witnesses who got away report the same thing the Lieutenant did: a single, very powerful, attacker."
"Female and human?" asked Gray for confirmation.
"Female and possibly human," stressed Perry. "No one's gotten a good enough look to be sure of the latter."
"Who else could it be but a human?" demanded Gray.
"I can think of someone," said Adam softly.
Yuma caught on first. "Are you sure, Adam? I thought the defector was headed for Menagerie. And is she powerful enough to do this?"
"Sure, no," Adam admitted. "And Blake's certainly exceeding my expectations if she's the one behind this. But she was always competent and clever, and certainly motivated against the Fang. We were never sure she'd head to Menagerie; it just seemed the likeliest option. And she's spent time living among the humans, posing as one. Perhaps she even imagines herself one, now, forgetting that they will always remind us of who we are." His fists clenched at the last.
"So it could be one of our own?" asked Gray. "Killing so many of our brothers?"
"The killing is new; she'd always hesitated before." Adam said. "Doing so after betraying us for human lives is a new level of hypocrisy. But I've come to expect little else from the Belladonnas. They have long hindered our cause: this is simply the final step in their treason."
"So what now?" asked Rajah. "Whether it's Blake Belladonna or not, we need to track them down."
"Perry," Adam said, "you said the police had begun investigating the sites of the attacks. But what of the original warehouse?"
"They don't know about it. I've had someone keeping an eye on the Shiroi Logistics building since soon after the attack. They've not checked inside – we wanted to wait for you on that – but no one has been in or out."
"We'll check it out tonight," Adam said firmly. "We'd need to see to our brothers anyway, but it should provide us our first clues as to who – and where – our enemy is." And once I've dealt with you, my darling Blake, I can get back to the matter of the High Leader and delivering the justice humanity deserves. Without your hindrance.
-000-
A Room in Mistral
Pyrrha had always been diligent in her homework.
While she'd been spending nights keeping watch over the Shiroi Logistics Warehouse, and the occasional dusk and dawn raiding White Fang hideouts, she'd also spent her time on this cheap burner scroll researching as much as she could about her current objective. Adam Taurus was a notorious figure, albeit one about whom much was unknown. There was little but rumour about his background. His ideology was better known and commented on, but there was mostly speculation when it came to his location and resources, especially after the attack on Vale.
However, Pyrrha's interest focused on one other key area.
How he fought.
That, unfortunately, was not an area news sources had much to offer on. As for actual accounts of combat against him, there were little more than a few short grainy videos. Pyrrha poured over what little footage she could find, deploying the keen eye of a tournament fighter used to dissecting footage of her opponents' fights. She worked with what she had, but there was precious little to go on. Known details were few. He was a strong and capable fighter, but she knew that already. He was also the one to cut off Yang's arm, or so she'd heard. A deadly swordsman then, at least with that blade of his.
That, at least, was a problem Pyrrha intended to do something about.
Making little progress, she turned to wider news. There were further reports of gang fighting, with the discovery of another bloody attack on a White Fang hideout, with no sign of the attackers. It was bleakly amusing what the Mistral police made of her handiwork. She'd wanted to break from the shackles of her fame, but never thought it'd come like this. She was still somehow in the public eye, but now cloaked under a veil of anonymity. What would her fans make of this?
She doubted she'd enjoy the answer. She'd seen some of the comments on her fight with Penny. The ones she could bear to read.
This is for Penny, as much as it for Jaune, Pyrrha told herself. They used my hands, but they killed her too. And that was true, but those comments hurt nonetheless. After all, they only repeated what was already in her heart.
She stilled herself. It seemed the police blamed the attacks on an escalating war between the local crime syndicates and the Fang. Some of the White Fang appeared to believe them: there'd been some fighting Pyrrha knew she'd been nowhere near. Lil' Miss Malachite probably wouldn't be too pleased, but Pyrrha was unconcerned; she'd done everything she said she would and was hardly overconcerned for the crime lord's 'business'. Besides, with the cells Pyrrha had destroyed, the White Fang were on the back foot and Malachite's associates were having much the better of it.
She turned to other news. Anything could potentially bear on her current fight with the White Fang or the broader question of Cinder's plans for Haven. Much was irrelevant, but she'd learned to skim through the dross in search of useful intelligence. Some news about the Mistral council here, some business news there. It seemed Atlas was closing its borders, yet more of its retreat into itself following the fall of Beacon. She supposed that left her hometown of Argus as one of the few remaining points of contact.
More news, good this time. Some huntsmen had managed to evacuate a small village in the face of a bandit attack and saved the villagers from Grimm. These 'heroes of Shion' were heroes indeed in these dark times. She opened the article, anxious for a little light.
She gasped, dropping the Scroll on the floor.
She sat stunned, before forcing herself to pick it up once more, to look upon the picture of these otherwise unknown huntsmen, newly arrived in Mistral. There, plain to her eyes, were her friends. Nora… Ren… Ruby… Qrow was there too, no friend of hers, although she supposed as a keeper he hadn't been a bad sort.
Why were they here? Qrow had mentioned Haven to Ruby – that very fact had propelled her here – had he come here, dragging her team into his investigation? She felt a surge of resentment before it dropped away. No, that wouldn't be the full story. Ruby would do the heroic thing of her own volition, and from all she saw he cared for his niece at least. She was as likely to drag him into danger as the other way around.
What then of Ren and Nora? She doubted she could blame Qrow for that, either. No one could push Nora into anything she didn't want to do, and Ren was surprisingly strong-willed behind that impassive exterior (doubtless due to dealing with Nora). What would persuade them to join Qrow and Ruby? They'd care for Ruby, but Qrow hadn't told them about Haven, suggesting he didn't want them to have any part in it. Ozpin's circle had doubtless wanted to keep Pyrrha under lock and key, but did they have any plans for Ren and Nora? They'd kept them with her, at least at first, and she was sure the couple wouldn't have wanted it any other way…
They'd come for her, Pyrrha realised.
They knew she was here. Or suspected at least. And they had come looking for her. Ruby had done likewise, never one to abandon a friend. Qrow, well perhaps he was simply doing his job and protecting his niece. But she was glad he was with them, for their sake, considering what they'd apparently braved. They really were heroes.
She felt a storm of mixed feelings. Her heart went out to them, at this sign of love and loyalty. She was proud of them. She longed to reach out to them. But she dared not. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't risk endangering them. Nor could she risk them trying to stop her. Either way, she had to move even more carefully now. Hopefully Haven Academy would be safe enough for them.
-000-
Haven Academy, Mistral
Haven Academy was completely empty; neither students nor staff occupied its halls.
"No, this isn't right. Come on!" Qrow said. Where was everyone? He'd spoken to Lionheart just earlier today via Scroll. Salem's forces can't have struck this quickly!
He moved forwards, hurry ahead through the corridor.
"Wait for us!" Ruby cried as the kids followed.
They reached the pair of wooden doors that led to the headmaster's office. Qrow drew Harbinger in its sword mode.
"Get ready," he said. "There could be trouble."
The others readied their weapons, as he prepared to kick the door open.
The doors were pulled open, revealing an older man, with a mane of grey hair and a thick beard. His eyes widened in alarm. Arms flailing, he yelped in panic as he fell to the floor.
"Er… Professor Lionheart?" guessed Ruby.
"Qrow!" the man said, pulling himself up. "For crying out loud, you almost scared me to death!"
"Me?!" Qrow growled. "Why weren't you waiting for us by the entrance?"
"Huh?" Professor Lionheart looked up in confusion and pulled out a small pocket watch. "Oh right! Apologies, I guess time must have slipped away from me."
"You're joking," Qrow said impatiently. He sheathed his blade as Lionheart stood and the others put their weapons away.
"Where is everybody?" asked Nora.
"Ah, you must be the students Qrow mentioned," Lionheart said.
"Yes sir," Ruby waved in a vague salute. "Ruby Rose."
"Nora Valkyrie!"
"Lie Ren."
"A pleasure to meet you all," the headmaster chuckled. "Leonardo Lionheart, at your service." He bowed. "I'm afraid most of my staff is currently away until classes resume, but…"
"What?!" Qrow demanded, clenching his fists. Lionheart cringed in response. "Leo, you can't be serious! Who's guarding the Relic?"
Lionheart stood for a moment dumbstruck and looked away, before looking back. "Qrow! The Children!"
"Already know! I filled them in," Qrow said, gesturing at the team. "What do you mean your staff is away?"
Lionheart gasped. "You… filled them in?"
"I had to!" Qrow said. "Hell, they've already met one Maiden! More than one, depending on how you count it I guess."
"Met a Maiden?" Lionheart said, seemingly in a daze, before his senses reasserted themselves. "What? Where?"
"The Spring Maiden for one. We met her in Shion."
"The village you fought the bandits at? What's her condition? Where is she now?" Lionheart asked urgently.
"We'll get to that, Leo. But what's going on here? Why is the Relic unguarded? Why didn't you check in with Oz?" Qrow demanded.
"There was nothing to check in about before the fall of Beacon," Lionheart said with force. He turned and walked behind his desk, seating himself. "But since that day Mistral has been in chaos!" He slumped backward into his chair, arms resting on the desk before him. "Vale wasn't the only kingdom to suffer that night. Everyone was watching. Every house in every kingdom saw that poor girl ripped to pieces, saw monsters crawling over the city, Atlesian Knights attacking citizens… and then nothing. You could feel the dread in the air. With all the negativity, you can imagine what is what like when the Grimm came for us."
The headmaster stood once more, too anxious to sit. He turned and walked to the window behind him. "Mistral's territory is the widest reaching in the world, you know," he said, looking out, "and that makes it infinitely harder to protect. We lost so many great huntsmen, teachers from this very institution. And it's only gotten worse."
"We noticed," said Qrow, thinking of Shion.
"I suppose you did," said Lionheart, leaning on the windowsill. He turned. "Furthermore, the Mistral Council's at odds with Atlas. First a Dust embargo, now this closure of borders, tensions are running high. And now we have a shooting war between criminals and White Fang in the very city itself!"
"All the more reason we need Huntsmen and Huntresses here!" Qrow said, raising his voice.
"Okay, okay, things are bad!" Ruby said, hands raised. "But we can figure this out, right?"
"Perhaps," Lionheart replied. He looked at Qrow. "You did say you met the Spring Maiden?"
"We did. But you're not going to like it."
"What do you mean?" said Lionheart, walking back around the desk and taking Qrow by the shoulders. "Where is she? Is she alive?"
"Oh, she's alive alright. At Shion, she was one of the bandits."
"A bandit?" Lionheart's arms fell in shock.
"A member of the Branwen tribe."
"Raven," Lionheart breathed.
"That's right," Qrow nodded. He walked forward and placed his Scroll on the desk, syncing it. The holographic display built into the desk sprang into life, projecting a map of Remnant. The map zoomed in on one section.
"That's where their main camp is set up, where they fall back to after their raids. Raven's gained a lot of followers since she returned to the tribe, and I'm sure having a Maiden makes things even easier."
"Well Qrow, I've got to hand it to you," Lionheart said, patting Qrow's back. He gestured at the map. "We've these coordinates, we can mount a retrieval force and head out in a few weeks." He walked over to the desk and flicked a switch, activating a holographic keyboard.
"A few weeks?!"
Lionheart tapped away on the keys, copying the coordinates, before turning the display off. "That's right," he said, walking back behind the desk. "Unless you think we can negotiate?"
"I doubt it," Qrow admitted. "We crossed blades in Shion."
"With your sister or the Maiden?"
"Both," Qrow sighed. "The Maiden doesn't seem the sort to cooperate, and I didn't part with dear sis on the best of terms.
"Can't we just leave them there?" asked Ruby. "No one can get to the vault without the Maiden, right?"
"We can't leave her to attack more villages!" Nora said.
"Right," Qrow said, leaning on Lionheart's desk. "And in any case, sooner or later Salem's going to find out they have her too. Which is why we need to move now!"
"And as I keep telling you, we can't!" Lionheart replied. "This kingdom is in shambles. I have to convince the Council that we need huntsmen more than they do. Unfortunately, bandits aren't very high on their list of priorities at the moment, what with the threat of war on the horizon, and fighting in our own damn city!"
"Then to the Grimm with the Council!" Qrow shot back. "We'll do it ourselves. We're both huntsmen, and these kids have already faced these bandits in combat!"
"Yeah!" Nora exclaimed.
"And you expect the five of us to take on an entire tribe, with your sister and a hostile Maiden?" said Lionheart. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not the fighter I used to be. We have to be absolutely positive we can apprehend Spring, because if we fail Raven and her tribe will scatter, and we will be lost. And even if we succeed, what do we do with her with just the five of us? How long can we restrain her? Are you suggesting that we…?" his voice trailed off.
Ruby's face blanched. Qrow gritted his teeth.
"I hadn't got that far," he admitted.
"We need a plan, we need resources, and at the moment that takes time," Lionheart insisted.
"You know Oz wouldn't be happy with any of this if he were here," Qrow said.
"Perhaps you're right," said Lionheart. "But he's not. I'm doing the very best I can."
"There has to be something we can do!" said Ruby.
"And what about Pyrrha?" Nora asked.
"Pyrrha… Nikos?" asked Lionheart. "The champion? The one who killed that robot girl?"
"It wasn't her fault!" Ruby said, tears in her eyes. "Pyrrha never meant to do that! It's Emerald's fault that Penny is dead!"
"Be that as it may," Lionheart replied, "what does Miss Nikos have to do with this?"
"We think she's here!" Nora replied. "We're looking for her."
"Well, I'll do all I can for an errant student, but as said I have limited resources," Lionheart gestured at the school around him. "But with her fame I can't imagine she'll remain hidden for long."
Ruby and Nora glanced at Qrow. Qrow looked at Ren, to see him gazing evenly back. Qrow bit his lip in a moment of uncertainty before making a decision. After all, there wasn't much that Lionheart didn't know already, and Ozpin trusted him.
"We think she's here incognito," he said. "And she's no ordinary student. Oz chose her as his 'guardian'."
"'Guardian'? You mean she…?"
"She has half of the Fall Maiden's power. The other half is still with the one who stole them. Who apparently came from your school, along with the rest of her team of terrorists," Qrow said, unable to resist the last dig.
"We went through their records after the fall of Beacon. We had no way of knowing they were forgeries!" Lionheart replied. "As for Miss Nikos, why is she in hiding? Why is she…"
Qrow interrupted. "The enemy know who she is."
"That's… very concerning," Lionheart said.
"Tell me about it," said Qrow. "Which means we have to move carefully. We can't let any hint that we're looking for her here get out."
"Understood," said Lionheart. "I'll be very careful about that."
Qrow sighed in frustration. "I wish this had been a more productive reunion, Leo."
"I'm sorry," Lionheart said apologetically. "I know you've all travelled a long way. But I will do everything I can to help. You'll stay in the city, I trust?"
"Sure. We'll be looking for Nikos. Keep in touch about Spring. I see local comms are still up," he said, waving his Scroll. He turned around and made to leave. "Come on, kids."
Ren, Nora and Ruby filed out after him, Ruby turning on the threshold.
"It was nice meeting you, Professor."
"Likewise," Lionheart said softly.
After the party left and the door closed, Lionheart sank back down in his chair and placed his head into his hands. A few moments more, and the display flickered back to life, projecting a holographic W. Arthur Watt's well-mannered voice emerged.
"Oh, Leo, we have got to work on your improvisational skills. Still, full marks for results."
-000-
Shiroi Logistics Warehouse, Lower Mistral
The truck rolled to a stop.
Adam Taurus leapt from the back, accompanied by Gray, Yuma and a couple of White Fang soldiers. Perry and Rajah joined them from the cabin. Adam looked at the shrouded bulk of the warehouse in front of them.
"Looks quiet," Rajah said, her normally loud voice a whisper.
Adam nodded. He saw a flurry of activity out of the corner of his eye as the soldiers brought their rifles to bear, but Perry signalled for them to hold their fire. Another Faunus appeared from the entrance to the grounds and spoke to Perry in a murmur. Perry nodded and walked over to Adam.
"Same as before: no one's been in or out," Perry said.
"Then we'd better take a look. Gray, take the door," he ordered. He gestured at the small door beside the shutter doors. "Rajah, cover from here. Yuma, the wall."
Gray took one of the soldiers and ran to the door. Adam and Perry moved into cover alongside the shutter doors, while Yuma and another soldier flanked Gray on the other side. Rajah and the last of the White Fang remained behind the truck.
Gray raised his hand, fingers spread. A human may have had trouble seeing the hand in the dim light, but Adam's keen eyes could see each finger distinctly. Gray began counting down, dropping each finger in turn. After the last finger, he yanked the door open. The White Fang with him twisted into the doorway and plunged inside. Gray followed him.
A moment, and then another, and then Gray's voice crackled over the radio.
"All clear. It stinks in here Adam."
"Yuma," Adam spoke, and the pair opposite to them moved to the door and darted inside. Adam gave it a few more seconds, then signalled for Perry to follow him. "Rajah, follow us in."
Adam moved towards the doorway, Perry behind him. He was in the doorway for a fraction of a second and then ducked alongside the shutter doors on the inside.
He was immediately assaulted by the smell.
There were bodies all around, he could tell. It would be offensive even to the dull senses of a human, but to the keen nose of a Faunus it was repellent. He could hear Perry beside him gagging at the stench.
The interior of the warehouse was near completely dark, even to their eyes. Without windows, little light from the moon or any other source made it into the darkened room, save by the door they'd entered by and faintly through the doorway on the walkway above.
"Gray, get the lights on," Adam ordered. He heard Gray grunt in affirmation as he felt Rajah's entrance. He moved along the shutter doors, making his way around the outside of the room.
The lights flickered on.
"By the…" Perry whispered, while one of the soldiers let out a curse. There were bodies strewn across the warehouse. The interior crane had somehow come down, crushing White Fang and a number of crates of arms. Other bodies lay where they had fallen, weapons and spent casing indicating they'd been in combat.
Yuma pushed over one of the bodies with his boot. "Bodies are bloating, on verge of further decomposition. They've been here for at least a week." Adam nodded. The timing was consistent with the original attack.
"I can't see the Lieutenant," Perry said, looking around.
"He may be elsewhere," Adam said, recalling the warehouse's layout. "Yuma, take the walkway and check the offices on the second floor. Rajah, take the stairs and the mezzanine and work your way up. Perry, with me. Gray, see what else you can make of this." He waved his arm about him. "Let's find what we can that will shed light on our enemy."
He turned and made his way towards the staff rooms he knew had been repurposed as a barracks, Perry falling in alongside him. Despite his words, he was more convinced than ever as to the identity of their mystery assailant. And yet a niggling doubt remained. When had she become this strong?
-000-
Pyrrha had seen the lorry arrive from the roof of a nearby Warehouse. She watched patiently as she saw Adam disembark, and held herself back as they made their way inside.
She sprang into action.
She dropped off the roof, using her semblance to soften her descent. She crossed the chain link fence and circled around the side and then back of the warehouse, towards the offices by which she'd made her original entrance. The first guard she'd killed had closed that window, but that was little barrier. Looking up towards the second floor, she used her semblance, reaching out and manipulating the metal lock and handle, before pulling the window open. She again used her semblance on her own armour, propelling her up and through the window.
She crouched in the darkness, all senses peeled – bar that of smell – for any hint of her enemy. After a moment of silence, she stole forward quietly, past the body she'd left on her first visit and between the filing cabinets on either side. The room was dimly lit through the window, as were the offices through the doorway at the end on the right. She stopped before she turned the corner and froze, anxious not to give any hint of her presence. She strained her ears for any sound. She remained stationary, cloaked by the still darkness, waiting, barely daring to breathe.
In time, she heard the soft padding of footsteps approaching, quiet but unsuspecting of any other presence. She knew that in a night fight the White Fang would have an advantage. Faunus senses, particularly their night vision, were superior to that of a human, as General Lagune had learned to his cost. She'd lose if she fought 'fair'.
But then she didn't plan to fight fair.
Turn your opponent's strength into a weakness. That was a lesson she'd learned on the tournament circuit, now turned to more lethal intent. She brought her hand down to the equipment she'd strapped to her waist, past the flares she carried.
The footsteps were now in the neighbouring office and stopped. Doubtless looking around the room.
She closed her hand on her chosen tool, readied her aura to protect her own ears, took hold of one of the flashbangs and threw it into the next room.
-000-
There's been no bodies in most of the 'barracks'. Yuma had radioed to report the occasional body in the upper offices, but clearly most here had fought and died in the main part of the warehouse itself. Adam had made his way through the staff rooms nonetheless, before he reached the room at the end. There he and Perry found the body of the Lieutenant, a gunshot wound to his head.
"There's no sign of his Scroll," Perry said, peering around the room.
"There wouldn't be," replied Adam, gaze locked onto the body. He gave his old comrade a nod and stood.
"Gunshot wounds, and some of the bodies back there had injuries from a blade. I suspect a mecha-shift weapon," he said.
"A huntress?" Perry asked.
Adam nodded. "It'd be logical, though they're not the only ones to carry such," he said, tapping Wilt's hilt.
A loud bang echoed from elsewhere in the building.
"What was that?" he demanded over the radio.
"A loud bang from the floor above us," Rajah replied. "We're going up."
"Moving to assist," said Gray.
"Yuma?" Adam asked. "Yuma?" There was no reply.
"With me!" he ordered Perry, and charged back through the makeshift dormitories. He could hear gunfire now and scattered cries, punctuated by further loud bangs. He dashed past the bunks. "Back off if you need to!" he yelled into the radio, to little response.
He entered the main warehouse with Perry on his heels. He heard gunfire above and looked up to see Gray retreating along the walkway, firing blindly at the doorway. A rifle fired back, several shots hitting him. His aura sparked, before an object shot out, hitting his head and knocking him off.
Gray tumbled, hitting the floor with a loud thud. And then all was quiet.
Adam drew Wilt, keeping a hand on Blush, while Perry fanned out to his side, his submachine gun ready.
"Blake?" Adam called out in a loud voice. "I know it's you. You might as well show yourself."
An armoured figure strode out onto the walkway, clad in black and bronze and red, carrying a shield and a rifle. "Blake?" she asked, audibly confused.
Adam was equally taken aback. "You're… you're not Blake!" He'd been so sure.
"No, I'm not." She raised her rifle and fired several shots. Adam caught them with Wilt, absorbing the energy, while Perry opened fire. Just some vengeance seeking human after all, Adam thought. Time to put her down like the rest of her kind! Let her take her shots, and then he'd turn her own energy back on her with his semblance, Moonslice, projecting it back at her through his sword. She'd fall, like so many others had done before.
Then she raised her hand, and the door leading outside slammed shut, buckling under the force. She gestured again, and suddenly he felt Wilt be yanked from his hand…
-000-
Pyrrha used polarity to disarm her target and the remaining soldier, tossing their weapons across the warehouse. She leapt onto the walkway railing and pushed off, using her own strength and her semblance to propel herself towards Adam, switching Miló into its javelin mode. Adam brought his scabbard up, shifting it into a gun as she hurled herself towards him. He fired twice but she caught both shots on her shield Akoúo. She landed and rolled forward, thrusting Miló out.
Adam twisted out of the way, avoiding the javelin, and brought his gun back to bear. She caught its side with Akoúo and with a sharp jolt of her semblance sent it flying out of his hands. Adam was pulled back and with a kick she sent him tumbling.
Adam rolled and came to his feet once more, and with a roar launched himself forward, using his left arm to shove Miló aside and bringing his right fist forward past her shield. She took the hit on her torso, before bringing her shield up hard against his face, shoving back.
She saw the other White Fang soldier run for a gun, and with only a glance aside she sent Akoúo flying into him, knocking him over. She pulled it back with her semblance just in time to meet another charge with Adam. It was a feint, however, Adam lunging forward before ducking and rolling to his left. He ran towards one of the bodies and threw himself towards it, hand outstretched for the blade lying beside it. With a flick of her wrist she sent it skidding as she leapt after him. She brought Miló down and forwards, striking into Adam's back, stabbing into his aura. He twisted round and kicked sidewise into her leg. She was pushed off-balance and forced into a roll, coming to her feet the same time he did.
They glared at each other. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and twisted as the other White Fang soldier swung at her with a club. She caught it on her shield and shoved it aside, before punching him with the hand holding Miló. He stumbled back and she brought Akoúo back in and bashed him against him repeatedly. As he flailed Pyrrha thrust forwards with Miló, stabbing home, and twisted it, to a scream by the soldier. She then switched Miló to its xiphos mode and cut it free with a sideways tug. The soldier dropped for the last time.
"You'll pay for Perry, human," Adam said. He raised another sword he'd claimed from one of the dead. "And the others. You and the rest of humanity will suffer for what you've done!"
"What I've done?" Pyrrha spat, pushing aside any uncomfortable echoes. "I wasn't the one killing innocents at Beacon!"
"There are no innocents," Adam growled.
"That… that is where we differ," Pyrrha said, seizing on the feeling of relief. She focused on his form before leaping forward to attack. She tried to wench the weapon from his hand with her semblance, but he kept firm hold upon the hilt. Yet she was still able to push the blade aside, bringing her own sword down in an arc down across his torso. With a backswing she struck again, and punched forwards with Akoúo, sending Adam sprawling.
She lunged again but he kicked back, before rolling onto his knees. He blocked the next blow with his borrowed sword, and then sprang upon his feet and launched a furious counterattack. Pyrrha was forced back as she parried and blocked the flurry of blows. He swung at her neck and she bent back out of the way, but then used her semblance to push the blade so he spun out of control. She kicked out into his side, sending him to his knees, and brought Miló down onto his Grimm mask, buckling it. He swung his sword at her legs, and she had to somersault back to avoid the blow. He took advantage of the space gained and stood once again, ripping the damaged mask off his face.
"Do you see this!" he shouted, pointing to the letters SDC branded on his face. "This is what your people have…"
He was cut off as Akoúo flew into his face with a crunch, before snapping back to Pyrrha's arm. She cared little for his story or his face. The only face she saw in her enemies was that of a cruel, dark-haired woman with amber eyes. She surged forwards to attack, striking out with Miló. He took several blows before he was able to block with his blade, wrestling it into position. He blocked several more attacks with blinding speed, before twisting into a kick and sending Pyrrha back. Despite the gap he swung with his blade once more and it carved a reddish arc through the air just as she tried to pull the sword aside with her semblance.
Pyrrha was taken by surprise by the red energy blast that was emitted by the sword as he completed his swing, but her attempt to disarm him had luckily sent the blast flying upwards into the walkway. The blast scythed through one end, causing the walkway to collapse downwards and swing down with a crash. Adam pounced forward to attack but Pyrrha met him with a shield bash, before twisting into a slash from Miló. She followed the stroke with a lunge, switching Miló into javelin and stabbing out. Time to end this quickly. Adam attempted to block but was forced to grapple with the sword as Pyrrha's semblance sought to twist it from his hand, leaving him open to Pyrrha's blows. He struggled to hold onto the sword as he was struck again and again but was forced to let go as Pyrrha smashed Akoúo against his head. The sword was flung upwards, bouncing off the ceiling.
Adam threw himself back from Pyrrha's attacks, and then ducked under them with another feint as he ran. He could see Wilt now and sprinted towards it. He dove, bringing himself into a roll, picking up Wilt and bringing it into position as he came to his feet. Only to be met with flame.
-000-
The flame changed everything.
Adam had been surprised at this human. She was powerful; skilled in combat and gifted with a semblance that let her manipulate his own weapons. This hamstrung him, let her outfight him, but he was strong. With his semblance he was confident he still had a chance at ending her.
But the flame betokened something else. A power he'd only seen in one other before, and which he'd learned to his cost – counted in the lives of his men – the price of opposing.
She was another one. Another like Cinder.
Wilt did not block the flames, did not absorb their power. He weathered the attack with what remained of his aura, but she took the opportunity to snatch his weapon once more and cast it across the room. It bounced off the shutter doors and dropped to the floor.
She placed her shield and javelin on her back and stalked towards him, one eye wreathed in red flame.
"What are you?" he asked.
"I think you know what I am, Adam," she said. "I see it in your face. You've seen someone like me before. I am the Fall Maiden."
Adam glanced around. There were plenty of weapons around, if he could run for one. But could he hold onto one long enough, even if he could take any more hits? He began looking for an alternative. One didn't lead a guerrilla army without knowing when to retreat.
"What do you want? Vengeance for Beacon?"
"Yes," she replied. "But not from you. Not entirely, anyway. After all, you were simply a lackey, a minion, serving the will of others."
"The White Fang serves no one," he said, continuing to look for a way out. "We fight for our own cause."
She laughed, a strangely musical laugh for all its coldness.
"You don't get it, Adam," she said, her voice laced with anger. "This wasn't another fight for your misbegotten cause. Not a chance for glory, or even infamy. This wasn't a fight at all. It's an interrogation." The fire in her eye blazed stronger, joined by fire in her hands.
"And you're very wrong about a great many things. You certainly served someone at Beacon. Have you forgotten the name of your mistress? The one whose tool you were? Don't you remember the name of Cinder Fall? I want to know where she is. She's the one I want."
He was right. Anger coursed through his veins, anger at this woman, anger at her jibes. Anger at Cinder too, for her ultimatum, for using them and dragging them into whatever this was. With an effort of will, he fought his rage down, knowing survival was in the balance.
Rajah stumbled into the room from the stairway, injured but moving. Adam kept his eyes from her, glued them to the woman in front of him to prevent her from realising Rajah was behind her. He flexed his hands, a seemingly natural movement save for those who knew how to read the signs.
"If I tell you, will you let me live?" he asked, to keep this 'Fall Maiden' talking. Read the signs, Rajah.
"No," she replied. "But I'll make it quick."
Rajah had found and picked up Blush and had made her way beside the shutter doors.
"And if I don't know?" he asked. In truth he didn't know Cinder's current location.
"Stop stalling, this isn't a negotiation either," she said. "You must have some means of contacting her or her associates."
He did. But he had no intention of giving it. "Now, Rajah!" he yelled.
Rajah hit the switch on the shutter doors, and they burst into life. They began rolling upwards as Rajah opened fire with Blush, distracting the 'Fall Maiden'. Adam leapt forwards, moving as if to grasp another weapon, but ducked out of the way as the 'Fall Maiden' sent a gout of flame to intercept him. She'd missed his true objective, as he sprinted towards the shutter doors, falling and sliding so as to pick up Wilt. Rajah ducked under the doors herself as Adam skidded under, tumbling as he hit the rough concrete outside. He could hear the 'Maiden' pursuing them.
He forced himself up, grabbing Rajah by the arm. "Go!" he ordered. They ran, ducking behind the truck outside to block line of sight. They continued to move, as he pulled out his scroll and sent a signal calling for reinforcements. They could recover the truck later; the important thing was to get away now.
They'd left the site behind when it became clear that, whoever she was, the 'Fall Maiden' had broken off the pursuit.
"Who was she?" asked Rajah, clearly suffering from the exertion and whatever injuries she'd suffered earlier. She passed Blush back to Adam, who shifted it back into a scabbard and sheathed Wilt in it once more.
"An enemy of some allies of ours, ones we worked with in Vale," Adam said.
"And what are we going to do about her?" Rajah asked. "Gray's dead, Yuma… how do we stop her?"
Adam knew exactly who he was going to contact. Someone who had both the power, and more importantly the responsibility to clear up their own mess. The 'Maiden' wanted Cinder Fall? She could have her.
He turned to Rajah, placing his arm under her shoulder to support her as they continued walking. "We can't deal with her, but I know someone who can. I'm going to send a witch to catch a witch," he said.
Author note: A confrontation with Adam, en route to Cinder, was in the cards from the very early stages of planning this story. However, it was only when I started working through the details that I realised how one-sided this matchup could potentially turn out to be for Adam, whose otherwise extremely powerful semblance is dependent upon his weapon, and is particularly vulnerable to being negated by a Pyrrha who's become accustomed to being aggressive with her semblance. This is aggravated by the fact that here Pyrrha knows something about who she's going up against, whereas Adam decidedly does not.
There's some speculation that Wilt is composed of either fire dust or fire-dust infused metal – the former I consider extremely unlikely in any pure form (wouldn't it just blow up? Ruby could get the stuff to detonate just by sneezing on it), but even then, Wilt's hilt will be metal. In the latter case, it's still metal.
There are others who would be particularly vulnerable to Pyrrha (Penny, obviously, and I can't see any way Ironwood, being mostly metal, having much chance of winning a hypothetical 1-on-1 fight either), but others she'd have trouble against in turn. Tyrian, funnily, is much more dangerous to her before he got the robo-tail, where it's the opposite for most people (though Tyrian is always dangerous). Perhaps appropriately, one of Pyrrha's worst matchups as I figure it would be someone who doesn't use metal weapons at all, such as one lady called Cinder Fall...