Chapter 60 – Battle of the Branwens
Qrow
The three of them all charged directly at him, and Valravn stood terrifyingly still, watching their every move. Qrow jumped forward with Harbinger pointed directly towards his Uncle's throat. Valravn suddenly swung his Scythe upwards into Harbinger so hard that the impact blew him backwards. He then caught Raven by the throat and lifted her off the ground before getting punched across his jaw by Jackdaw. Valravn stumbled backwards as the Ripper thrusted forward and slashed his extended blades from his forearms across Valravn's chest. Valravn recoiled back but then shot forward, hooking Jackdaw by the throat with his Scythe, and smashing him down against the ground with great force.
He then stomped down with his mechanical foot at his head, only for Raven to suddenly teleport herself into Valravn and grab him by the back of his head and slam him down into the floor as well. Raven stabbed Omen down into the ground to slow herself, but once she lifted her head her red eyes widened. Because Valravn was gone, scattered into a Murder of Crows and Ravens. She looked around, they all did, because they could hear the chimes and the whispers all around them, burrowing into their minds like worms.
"The Branwens will survive…" Valravn whispered as he seemed to be all around them, Qrow spun Harbinger through his fingers as he looked around. Jackdaw stood back up and cracked his neck, groaning in his aging bones. Raven aimed Omen carefully, keeping her sharp Odachi blade lined with her eye. "… you will obey our bloodline's code!" Valravn roared, when suddenly the entire world around them started to crumble and erode before their eyes.
It was the Branwen Connection, Valravn was communing with them all. The howling winds of the Atlesian Wildlands surrounded them, and Raven slowly turned to the storm. Through the snow, she saw Valravn emerging from. He blasted towards them and punched Raven in the face, knocking her off-balance. He landed right next to her and grabbed her by her long black hair and smashed her face into one of the wooden pillars. He then kicked her in the chest, spiralling his Scythe around to block the incoming machine gunfire from Jackdaw.
"You all could have been so much more than you are! A Coward! A Lunatic! A Weakling! Our forefathers shamefully look down upon you." Valravn snarled as he stared them down, and Qrow scoffed.
"I'm gonna take that as a compliment!" He yelled, swiftly firing his shotgun towards Valravn's face, but then the Atlesian Wildlands seemed to transform around them once more. Valravn was using his skill with illusions to manipulate the Connection to his will, use pillars of ice rose from beneath them, and Valravn vanished into Corvid Birds once more. Qrow looked around carefully, watching as both massive shards of ice came crashing down and rising up from the ground… and as the storm started to encroach around them.
That was when Valravn struck, suddenly bursting through the storm and punching Qrow in the face. The impact was so hard that it shattered the illusion, bringing them back to the real world. They both smashed through the wall as icy cold rain stormed down from above. A huge cyclone had formed above their heads, just like the night where Summer died here. Valravn grabbed Qrow and he threw him – he was not trying to kill them, at least not yet.
Valravn stared at him with anger in his burning red eyes. Qrow stood back up, holding his sword tight as he kept his eyes on Valravn. "We're done following you, old man. This little war you wanna wage on Ruby's kind is over." Qrow growled.
"Qrow… you forget your place." Valravn snarled as he swung around and slashed Jackdaw out of the air, causing him to crash back down into the mud. "I raised the three of you up when my Brother became too obsessed with meaningless violence and actions. And yet – you still stand against me? Despite everything the Silver Eyed Scourge brought upon us?" Valravn snarled as he spun his Double-Ended Scythe through his fingers, Ravens and Crows cawed around him as the whispers became muffled by the thunder and heavy rainfall.
The wind howled through the trees and Qrow ripped off his necklace with gritted teeth, letting it fall into the mud. "Summer once told me that freedom was everyone's right!" Qrow stated, before releasing a powerful battle-cry as he sprinted towards Valravn and slammed Harbinger up against his throat, pinning him up against a tree with full force. The blade dug into the wood but Valravn's hands and aura held the blade back from doing any damage.
"I will eradicate that child!" Valravn barked.
"Then you'll have to kill all three of us!" Qrow snarled back, Valravn smashed Harbinger into Qrow's face and kicked him in the chest. Qrow tumbled back and Valravn spun around with his Scythe and slashed Qrow across the chest.
"So be it. It seems I will have to start the Branwen name once again with Yang Branwen… whether she agrees or not." Valravn snarled.
"You'll die before you ever get the chance." Raven snarled.
Valravn stared at the three of them and then he turned around, showing his back. He stared up at the stormy clouds that came raining down, alongside forks of lightning stretching over the black clouds. "You… think you have won…" Valravn snarled, closing his red eyes as the rainwater landed atop his black lids. He then nodded his head. "You… have won. Have destroyed our name… for now…" Valravn assured, tightening his grip on his Scythe.
"Now… play with me."
Raven sprinted with Qrow and Jackdaw both beside her. Jackdaw launched his feathers at Valravn before catching Raven's hand and swinging her around and throwing her towards him. Valravn backed up and lifted his Scythe, blocking the huge Odachi Blade that came swinging downwards at him. Sparks flew from the impact and he hopped backwards on his toes. Raven kicked Valravn in the jaw and she sheathed her sword, switching to her Fire Blade.
Steam trailed as rain evaporated off the superheated Odachi, and she slashed it forward, sending a powerful arc of fiery energy towards Valravn. He jumped up in the air and dodged it, and the arc cleaved a tree in half behind him. He landed and rushed forward. He spun his Scythe so fast it was a red blur, cutting across Raven's Aura Protected Body over and over again, before he kicked her in the face with his mechanical leg.
The curved razor-sharp metallic talons cut across her cheek, luckily they healed thanks to her aura. Valravn shot up into the air and he dug his talons into one of the tall trees. He held on with his Scythe dug into the tree as he stared down at them. "If you adhere to our Old Gods, then start praying now!" Valravn roared, his voice echoed all around them as lightning flashed and thunder clapped in the dark clouds. Valravn jumped down towards them, and the Ravens and Crows followed him, and he sent them forward.
They slashed their beaks and talons across their bodies, pushing them backwards, but Jackdaw spun around with his Fatal Feathers and cut them to pieces. He then sprinted forward and fired his machine guns, jumping up and launching more Feathers down towards Valravn. The Old Branwen struck the blades out of the air with his Scythe and he pushed his huge weapon up, stopping Jackdaws blades from hitting him. They stared each other in the eyes with hatred, but then Jackdaw grinned and hooked the blades that extended from his arms onto the handle of his Scythe and yanked it from his hands.
The Scythe clattered into the mud and Jackdaw slashed him over and over with the blades, before tackling him down into the mud. Jackdaw held him by the throat and proceeded to punch Valravn in the face over and over again, trying to break that mask he was wearing to finally see who it was that was lurking underneath. "Let me see who are before you die, old man!" Jackdaw roared, but then Valravn vanished once again into his Swarm of Birds, Jackdaw turned as his fist collided into the mud where he head was once located.
Valravn's voice seemed to darken as he spoke, and Jackdaw stared up at him as the birds returned back together, with the Shattered Moon barely glowing through the clouds. Valravn held out his hands as the Crows and Ravens seemed to create the shape of wings behind the old man as he landed atop the roof of the Orphanage. "Then behold, Broken Branwen, look upon your elder… who I truly am!" Valravn roared as he held his arms outwards, truly embracing the monster that he had become, just as Jackdaw had.
"Yeah… that's you alright." Jackdaw agreed, he sprinted up and fired both his Machine Guns up at Valravn, and the Branwen used the birds like shields, letting them take the hits for him. They cawed as the bullets cut them down, and then he jumped down and landed in the mud. Jackdaw snarled and launched more Fatal Feathers towards him, and then extended one longer blade through his forearm. Valravn dodge the incoming blades, since he lacked his Scythe at the moment, and just walked towards Jackdaw.
Jackdaw thrusted his blade towards his throat but Valravn caught the blade in his hands and snapped it with brute force, before smashing his knee up into Jackdaw's chest. He then twisted around and grabbed Jackdaw by the face with his cybernetic foot and pummelled him down against the ground. "It seems I was not strict enough with you to establish discipline. Something I shall atone for with Yang." He growled, grabbing Jackdaw by the head and throwing him into the wall.
Jackdaw groaned, dazed from those strikes, leaning his head back against the wall. Valravn turned as Qrow jumped up behind him and drove Harbinger down at him, but Valravn blocked the strikes with his arms, before getting slashed up the chest by Qrow. The impact slammed him against the wall. Qrow pushed the sword forward and Valravn pushed him against the side, so then the sword would drive into the wall itself. Qrow smirked, and suddenly fired the shotgun, alongside transforming the Sword into its Scythe form.
Valravn rolled out of the way as Qrow ripped the Scythe out, and he dug his hand into the muck to find his Double-Ended Scythe. He grabbed onto it, and swung around, catching Harbinger in his. They stared directly at him. "So disappointing…" Valravn sighed. Valravn then smashed his head into Qrow's stumbling him and bringing the huge Scythe downwards with immense force. The huge blade slammed down into the ground, and then he spun it, slicing up Qrow's chest once more, throwing him backwards. Raven rushed forwards with Omen but Valravn stepped aside and caught onto her forearm and then threw her over his shoulder and stamped down onto her other arm, pinning her down into the mud.
Qrow fired the shotgun of Harbinger into Valravn as he sprinted forward, and the spun the huge Scythe around his neck, cutting Valravn multiple times, before kicking the older Warrior in the gut. Valravn hunched forward and then slammed his Scythe directly into Harbinger, hooking onto it and twisting it around. He yanked Qrow forward and close lined him with his arm. Qrow fell onto the ground, but just as Valravn went to finish him, Jackdaw flew towards him in his Corvid Form, and dove downwards, firing both his machine guns at him, and then Raven opened a portal in which both Valravn and Jackdaw fell into.
It sent them high up into the air as they fought, throwing punches into each other faces, and hacking each other up with their blades. Valravn blocked some of the strikes but Jackdaw grabbed him by the throat and smashed his fist into his face over and over again, until Valravn grabbed Jackdaw by the shoulder and they both flipped through the air. Jackdaw crashed first with Valravn atop him, he grabbed onto his body with his old Cybernetic Legs and threw him up in the air, before kicking him straight in the chest again. He flew straight through the Orphanage, shattering the old wooden walls with his body and falling into the muddy grass on the other side.
Raven drove Omen down into the ground, sending powerful spikes of ice bursting up from beneath the ground towards Valravn. He braced himself, unable to get out of the way in time. Raven fired her sword forward and jumped at Valravn, but as he dig his metal legs into the soil he stopped, and suddenly swung his Scythe towards Omen. Omen collided into the Scythe, the Ice Blade shattered instantly, but Raven kicked Valravn three times in the chest, and promptly switched to her Lightning Blade.
She rolled across the floor and held the sword up above her head to the heavens, and lightning connected with the conductive metal. The electrical power caused the sword to glow and Raven fired the Blade from the Hilt, and Valravn's red eyes widened from behind the Corvid Mask. The blade exploded in a magnificent flash of glowing light, and sent him tumbling, causing his red aura to flicker slightly – that did a lot of damage to him and most likely had now managed to send him into the Yellow.
The next flicker would be red, and then his aura would officially be broken once and for all.
Raven sprinted at Valravn again and she slammed Omen against his neck, dragging the side of his head through the dirt, but Valravn slammed his fist into the soil, and they both flipped over each other. Valravn slammed his Scythe down into the ground whilst Raven tumbled. She quickly got back up though and blocked his incoming strikes with her Glowing Red Blade, backing up as he spun the huge Scythe over and over again. Qrow then shot forward towards Valravn, and the Old Warrior caught Omen in his hand and pulled her forward, catching her throat and throwing her into Qrow.
They both smacked into each other and Valravn walked towards them, the whispers every now and then could be heard inside of the heavy storm that the Tempest above had summoned.
Qrow stared through the mud and rainwater that smothered his face, rubbing it off with his wrist. Valravn launched himself forward, and Qrow blocked and parried his incoming strikes. But as Qrow blocked them, he then caught Valravn's metal leg and tripped him up. Valravn fell and then smashed his fist down into the ground, snarling like a vulnerable animal. Qrow rolled across his back and caught his throat with the Scythe, pulling him as hard as he could, sending Valravn crashing ahead into the trees. But from the darkness came the huge swarm of Crows and Ravens towards him, and Valravn burst through from them. They both crashed inside of the shed where the rest of the Rogues and Winter were previously being held.
Raven turned and he pulled her back up to her feet. "Good thing you got them out." Raven said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, it's nice to be a hero every once and a while." Jackdaw said, when suddenly they saw Qrow come flying through the wall. Qrow bounced across the floor like a stone skipping across water. He launched Harbinger in its Scythe form and it dug down into the ground. He landed onto the hilt, the huge sword dragged through the ground and he stood atop it, his red cape billowing in the wind. Qrow clenched his hands into fists as Valravn sprinted through the destroyed barn that collapsed behind him.
Qrow dropped down and ripped Harbinger from the ground, rushing to strike back at Valravn, he fired into his chest, but the impact hardly even fazed him. Valravn launched his Scythe towards Qrow and the huge handle pinned him against the wall of the Orphanage. Jackdaw gritted his teeth and sprinted at Valravn with Raven. He fired his machine guns at him, and the old man snarled, turning to see Jack the Ripper sprinting directly at him. He jumped and swung his bladed arm down towards him. Valravn then caught his metal hand with his metal leg and smashed it down into the ground, before bringing his fist down into the side of his face.
Raven sprinted to Qrow and yanked the huge Scythe free from Qrow's throat, and they turned to see Valravn decimating Jackdaw in combat. It was something to see, the fact that he was always one of the most dangerous Huntsmen they had ever seen… and Valravn could still match him in one-on-one combat, without his Scythe. "How the hell has that old man got so much strength?" Qrow panted.
"I dunno… but considering that Grimm he killed? I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't some kind of link there." Raven suggested as they both sprinted at Valravn. He turned, and suddenly the man vanished, and ice began to surround them once again. Using the Branwen Connection against them once more, turning the rain into snow – or at least it seemed that way. Raven helped Jackdaw up, but he shoved her away – things were still very frosty amongst them.
He then burst forward from the ice and slashed across Raven's face, knocking her down against the ground with immense force, then grabbing a rock and smashing it into Jackdaw's face so hard that he nearly knocked him unconscious. They both laid on the ground and Qrow slashed across his body, only for him to vanish again. He looked around, seeing Raven and Jackdaw both having to regain their strength. He looked around desperately now, uncertain of where he went.
Valravn shot forward again, driving his Scythe downwards with great force. Qrow backed up, using the sword to block his attacks as best he could. Qrow yelled out as the Scythe smashed down against Harbinger so hard that it was making Qrow lose balance. Valravn swiped the huge Scythe upwards, breaking his block, then spinning it around and smashing the blunt side of the blade directly into his ribs, winding him.
Qrow grunted, crashing down into the ground hard, smacking his head against the mud. Bubbles blew in the mud as he laid in the cold, weakly grasping onto Harbinger. As he laid there, he closed his eyes, hearing the whispers creep their way back into his head.
Valravn… Valravn… Valravn…
Then Valravn's dark and croaky voice returned, sounding almost demonic as he spoke. He walked past Raven, looking down at her. "I think your child… belongs to me now." Valravn growled, and Qrow shook both from the cold but from fear of failing them. Then… he opened his eyes and saw Summer Rose in front of him.
During their final fight against one another, when he slashed Harbinger across her body over and over again. And then the moment where he caught onto Ivy's Lash and accidentally killed her with one of the spikes. But just before the blade stabbed into her heart… time paused, and he closed his eyes with grief, unable to look at her.
"Look at me… Qrow…" Summer's ghostly voice whispered, he opened his eyes and looked at her, tears welled up in them. "What are you doing?" She asked him, her soft voice seemed to be so real.
"I… I don't know…" He sobbed softly as he looked away, unable to look at Summer after what he did to her.
"Well… I guess that's the problem isn't it?" She asked him, he then looked at her. "You want to kill him but you're too afraid of him. Too afraid of failing."
Even in death, Summer was still teaching him, even after he killed her.
"What am I supposed to do?" Qrow stammered as he looked at her.
"You have to fight it. If you keep looking away, keep hiding from your fear… you will never overcome it." Summer said to him. Qrow still could not look at her. "Look at me, Qrow…"
He felt her hand touch his cheek and turn his face to her, and he stared at her. She looked so real, so alive, eyes shining with silver light. She smiled gently, and it felt undeserved to him. "Why are you smiling? You know what I did to you… what I'm about to do…" He stammered, staring at Ivy's Lash, the blade pointed to her heart.
"I know – but I am not afraid. The only thing I was ever afraid of, was losing my girls." Summer said as she closed her large silver eyes. Then she looked at him. "And you protected them."
"I lied to them." Qrow corrected.
"Yes… you did. But you saved them both, time and time again. You saved them when they came to this Orphanage as kids. You carried Ruby to safety when she killed the King Wyvern. You protected her time and time again…" Summer explained. "You kept them alive long enough so then they could do it themselves."
He stared at her and she looked straight into his eyes. "It is time… for you to let go. You don't need to look out for them anymore, they are stronger thanks to you. They may not know it, but they are. There is only one thing left for you to do."
"What?" Qrow asked her.
"Let Go. And Don't Look Away." She told him, he closed his eyes… and then he exhaled calmly and opened his red eyes, and time resumed. Her body stabbed into the blade of Ivy's Lash, it still hurt, but she did not even relax.
She gently held his arm as she looked into his eyes.
"Now go… and stick him in the heart for me." Summer commanded, one last order from his Team Leader.
Qrow's eyes opened back up, filled with determination, and he growled deeply as he lifted Harbinger up and drove the blade down into the mud. He pushed his knee into the muck and stood back upright, staring at Valravn. He stopped and looked over his shoulder slowly at Qrow whom stood his ground. Raven and Jackdaw stared at Qrow who pointed Harbinger at Valravn. "Where do you think you're going, Val? I told you… you wanna get to them?" He asked and Valravn growled, and sprinted towards him and slammed the Scythe downwards, but Qrow slammed Harbinger downwards as well, pinning the Scythe into the ground, and Valravn sharply glared at him with furious red eyes. "You've gotta go through ME!" He yelled.
Qrow pulled his sword back which stumbled Valravn, and then the Bad Luck Charm of a Huntsman struck Harbinger across Valravn's face, dealing a massive amount of damage to him. He staggered, and then Qrow fired his shotgun into his back, before sprinting forward and rolling across his back. Valravn slammed the Scythe downwards with immense force but Qrow blocked and parried the strikes before the cogs in the sword rotated around and the blade extended and curved into the Scythe. He jumped and spun through the air, slashing his aura apart and landing behind him, gritting his teeth and firing the shotgun multiple times at him.
Valravn continued to rotate his Scythe, but then Omen suddenly cut across his side and Raven slid past him and jumped upwards, slashing the huge sword across his chest and then up his back. She switched to her Wind Blade and launched a Gale of Wind towards Valravn, which staggered him towards Jackdaw. The Ripper fired his machine guns and savagely cut Valravn's aura apart, strike but strike with his blades. Valravn headbutted Jackdaw but he rolled out of the way of the huge Scythe with cut through the blades of grass just behind him, and then he slammed it downwards towards Jackdaw.
The Serial Killer crossed his Cybernetic Arms together, catching the huge Scythe, stopping the blade from hitting his throat. Raven launched forward, using one of her Fire Blades from her Scabbard and dragged the wooden handle of the top blade through the ground. The fire blade started to splinter and burn the wood, then she dragged the sword up towards the metal blade and cut it clean off, sending it skyrocketing off into the air. Then Jackdaw jumped up and punched Valravn in the side of the face and launched his Fatal Feathers into his chest.
His aura crackled red once again…
… now he was in the red.
Valravn spiralled the huge Scythe around as he battled the Branwen Sibling all at the same time, blocking each of their strikes, and kicking Raven in the chest so hard that it sent her down to her knees. Valravn then jumped and flipped forwards, bringing his metal heel down right in front of Qrow. He only missed because Qrow transformed into his Corvid Form and flew through the air, rainwater dripping from his feathers. He descended down and slashed his Scythe down his back and Valravn roared with anger and pain, before slamming the huge weapon down where he was stood, until; Jackdaw grappled his arm around Valravn's neck and smashed him down against the ground at full force.
Valravn crashed down into the ground and held what remained of his once Double-Ended Scythe one hand, slashing the only end that had a blade left down at Jackdaw over and over again. Jackdaw ducked under the strike and cut across his chest with the blades which protruded from his arms, and then formed a shield which blocked the curved blade from stabbing down into his shoulder. Raven flew around Valravn and opened a portal behind him, jumping through it and slamming her boot into the back of his head, and Jackdaw smashed the shield formed of Grave Dust across Valravn's face.
Then Qrow landed behind Valravn and sliced clean through his back.
Shattering his aura, and leaving a deep cut through the robes, blood leaked down onto his hand. Valravn snarled and stared at Qrow and launched forward, grabbing him by the throat and smashing him against the ground over and over, but Raven cut across his chest with Omen, stumbling him and then Jackdaw suddenly slashed his Bladed Arm across the side of Valravn's Masked face, shattering part of the mask where he right eye was.
Valravn stumbled and turned, staring at them. They could now see his whole eye, alongside the old wrinkles and scars inside across his pale white skin, almost corpse-like. His eyes had thick black charcoal rubbed around them, most likely to make his eyes look more demonic than they were. He stared directly at Qrow and he charged towards Valravn, and the Elder Branwen slammed his Scythe downwards but Qrow smashed it apart with Harbinger, breaking the final half of the huge weapon.
Time seemed to slow as he pirouetted, and then drove Harbinger upwards, ramming the huge sword directly through Valravn's ribcage. Valravn gasped, his eyes wide, pupils shaking as he felt the huge blade protrude out the other side. Qrow glared up at Valravn who stared down at him, and Qrow felt his blood warmly coat his hands.
"You made us into monsters… but you will not hurt anyone else… ever again." Qrow commanded, and Valravn slowly pushed himself from Harbinger's blade. He slowly backed up as something started to happen to him. His eyes seemed to stop glowing bright red, and he groaned in pain as he stumbled backwards towards a rock. The metal in his legs started to rust and crumble, and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, looking frailer than ever as he stared at Qrow.
Jackdaw and Raven stood beside him, and Jackdaw crouched down next to him… and gently pressed his hand to Valravn's bloodied chest. He did not say a word to him, and just stood back up.
Valravn stared up at the rain… and he softly said one thing…
"Silence… So this… is what Silence… sounds like…" He gasped, finally freed from the Whispers of Valravn. His pupils dilated and one last rattle of breath left his lungs behind the mask. But then his body started to turn black, and just as he died, his body transformed into Crows and Ravens, all of which flew away and scattered into the sky, as if they themselves were finally free from Valravn.
And all that remained of him…
… was his Mask.
At long last, Valravn Branwen was dead.
Jackdaw stared down at his metal hand, with Valravn's Crimson Blood covering it. "It's over… he's dead." Raven panted, looking at Qrow and Jackdaw. Qrow nodded his head, and he walked with Raven, walking away from Jackdaw.
But he stood still… dead still…
… staring at the blood on his hand.
Because where he was stood? Where Valravn just died?
It was the exact same place where he held Summer's corpse in his arms, when they forged the lie. The very spot that started all of this destruction. A small flash of memory overcame Jackdaw, seeing her lifeless body in his arms, and Jackdaw slowly clenched his hand into a fist, turning to the two of them as they slowly walked away.
"You know I can't let you go…" Jackdaw stated, part of them hoped that maybe things could be different now that Valravn dead.
"I-It doesn't… we don't have to do this, Jack." Qrow stammered as he turned to him.
"What? You're afraid?" Jackdaw scoffed.
"No… I'm not. I just… we don't have to do this." Qrow stated, but tears streamed down Jackdaw's face. But not for Qrow, and not for Raven.
For Summer.
"You both know… how this ends." Jackdaw stated, and they both stared at him as lightning flashed above their heads and thunder clapped hard and loud. Qrow looked at Raven and she looked at him – they were both in the red.
So was Jackdaw.
This was it…
One last fight.
To the death.
Jackdaw suddenly launched his Fatal Feathers towards Qrow and Raven, and one of them hit her directly, knocking her down against the ground whilst Qrow deflected the one that came for him. He then launched more and more from his arms, yelling with fury in his voice as they broke apart against Harbinger. Jackdaw jumped up and brought his arm of Extended Blades down towards him, Qrow backed up and blocked the many blades as they collided into his huge sword, sparks flew from every single impact made. Jackdaw swung his boot up into Qrow's chest which hunched him forward, and then Jackdaw slashed upwards and that strike threw Qrow up into the air. Jackdaw caught onto his heel and slammed him down against the ground with great force.
Qrow gasped for air as the wind just got knocked out of him again, Jackdaw turned as Raven shot forward and slammed Omen down towards him, grinding her Odachi against the blades extended from his arms. He stared directly into her eyes with gritted teeth, forcing her back with his far superior strength. Her eyes widened as she tried to hold the beast of a man back, then she swiftly pulled her sword out from his blades, and he slashed downwards across her body. Raven yelped out with pain, her aura was getting closer and closer to breaking, the next strike could easily do it, their fight against Valravn had left them all exhausted and weak.
But Jackdaw continued to fight, firing both his machine guns at her repeatedly, but Raven spun Omen as fast as she could, although she still got hit a couple times. Then Raven launched one of her swords from her Scabbard and Jackdaw gasped as the Fire Sword exploded right in front of him. The flames damaged his aura more and more, and he stumbled back, before spinning around and launching one more blade towards her. Raven lifted Omen and cut the blade clean in two, staring him down.
Jackdaw stumbled, growling like a feral animal. "What's wrong, Jack? You look tired." Raven challenged, and Jackdaw roared with fury as he shot forward and slashed downwards at her, but she blocked with her Red Sword, stopping them from doing any real damage to him. She then slashed across his chest and knocked him backwards, he stumbled and as he spun around he immediately fired his machine gun at her. Her aura was getting lower and lower, then she rushed forward and slashed him again, but this time she felt her aura break, and one of his blades cut through her side.
Raven's eyes widened as she felt that hot stinging pain, and a warm sensation surround it as she began to bleed from the wound. But she was not down yet, and Qrow pushed himself back up as Raven pointed Omen at Jackdaw. "You're slowing… you're tired… you're weak." Raven told him as he stomped towards her again, until Qrow suddenly threw himself into Jackdaw, knocking him over. He then slashed his Scythe hard and fast at Jackdaw, thrusting it forward and breaking his aura with one hard swing, until Jackdaw caught Harbinger by the handle and kicked Qrow in the chest and launched the Scythe at him. The blade dug into the ground and pinned him against the wall by the throat so hard that it also broke his aura.
Now they were all out of aura.
Raven pointed Omen at Jackdaw with a small smirk on her face and Jackdaw gritted his teeth furiously at her. He lunged forward and swung his blades at her repeatedly, Raven dodged and blocked some of them, then thrusted forward and nicked his shoulder with the long blade. Blood squirted from the impact of her sword into his arm, and Qrow desperately forced his hands against the handle of his Scythe to try and help Raven.
She backed up as Jackdaw started to advance on her, there was no more jumping around, no more Corvid Bird Usage… just Primal Combat.
He punched at her and then slashed his blades across Omen, harder and harder, then she sprinted past him and sliced across his side. He yelled out in pain, falling to one knee, before launching another blade towards Raven. She screamed out in agony as she felt the large blade stab straight through her right leg. She collapsed down to that leg, and Jackdaw rose back up and slammed his blades down at her over and over again.
She held Omen up and caught his blades, staring up at him. Jackdaw snarled savagely down at her.
Raven turned and looked at Qrow, his eyes were wide… and she gasped, her eyes widened… as Jackdaw managed to yank Omen from her hands… and drive a long-extended blade from his arm… through her breast. Qrow stared at Raven with horror… as Jackdaw pulled the blade from her chest. Raven looked down at her chest as so much blood started to leak from her torso, and Jackdaw stood above her.
Raven slumped down to the ground, landing on her shoulder as she gasped in pain, barely able to breath. Jackdaw stared down at her, when suddenly he heard the sound of Qrow Branwen roaring with anger. He ripped Harbinger free and fired the shotgun into Jackdaw's shoulder, recoiling him back. He stumbled backwards as more blood poured from his injury where his arms were still organic. Qrow jumped forward and went to drive Harbinger directly into his throat, but Jackdaw smashed his blades against the side of Harbinger, breaking his stride.
Qrow stumbled and then stood as if he was in protection of Raven despite she was dying. Jackdaw rushed forward with a berserk yell, striking over and over again with the blades extended from his arms, and Qrow blocked them as best he could. He went to slash downwards into Jackdaw's throat, but the Ripper stopped the blade with his metal arm, then slammed the other blades down into it again.
And knocked Harbinger from Qrow's hands.
His eyes widened as he saw Harbinger fall into the mud, too far for him to reach it in time. He looked at Jackdaw, and he slashed his blades across Qrow's chest, cutting deep wounds into his torso. He slashed him over and over again, shredding his shirt and causing him to bleed heavily, before bringing both arms of blades down with all his might, down his shoulders. They did not sever his arms but brought Qrow to his knees.
Blood leaked from Qrow's mouth, in agony from the punishment he has suffered, and he looked up at Jackdaw, seeing the almost savage gritted scowl on his face. Raven reached out to Omen with what little strength she had left, and Qrow stared up at Jackdaw. He sighed… conceding… and held out his arms, one opened near to Raven.
He stared Jackdaw down with his arms outstretched, inviting Jackdaw to finish him off.
Jackdaw extended the same blade from his forearm that he used on Raven, and he drove it down towards Qrow's heart, when suddenly Raven threw Omen into Qrow's open palm. Qrow let out one final defiant roar, and he lifted his arm up, and drove Omen straight through Jackdaw's heart. Jackdaw's eyes widened with shock and pain as the long blade stabbed clean through, protruding out from his back.
Qrow gasped as well, his eyes lowered… to see Jackdaw still managed to stab him with his blade as well. His arm dropped, with Omen still impaled through Jackdaw, and he staggered backwards, pulling his blade from Qrow.
Qrow collapsed to the ground, landing down against one of the rocks with Raven beside him, staring at Jackdaw as he staggered backwards.
He collapsed down against a tree, rasping like his two younger siblings. The rain continued to fall, but Jackdaw softly chuckled where he fell. "Here we are… at long last…" Jackdaw chuckled as he stared at his dying Brother and Sister. "If our Old Gods truly are real… then they must be smiling upon us right now…" Jackdaw scoffed.
Qrow winced, looking down at his fatal wound. "We always used to fight… I guess… it's fitting, huh? That we'd take each other out?" Qrow chuckled as well, making Jackdaw laugh as well, coughing weakly.
"I wish… things could have been different… y'know? There are so many things I wish I could have done differently." Jackdaw said.
"You… You aren't… the only one." Qrow winced.
"I guess… dying like this… is a fitting end to this bloodstained life." He softly said, closing his eyes with grief. "Maybe Ruby… and Yang… they can… learn from our mistakes, huh? Maybe all of this… wasn't for nothing." Jackdaw shuddered with pain, and Raven nodded her head.
"I… I hope…" Raven agreed.
He looked up at the sky.
"Summer… is that you?" Qrow and Raven looked at Jackdaw, he stared up, as if she were actually there. "I'm… sorry. Even after… everything I have done… in the end… I really did try to forgive them… I really did…" Jackdaw revealed, and Qrow looked at him with grief.
That moment before they started fighting? Before he spoke?
He really tried to let it go… but couldn't.
"… In the end… I did…" He confessed.
Then Jackdaw chuckled softly as he closed his eyes. "I could be good… I could come back from it all I have done…" He muttered, remembering how Summer still believed in him. "… what a beautiful dream…"
Those… were Jackdaw Branwen's last words…
He rattled one last breath, before his eyes stayed closed and his head gently slumped down against his shoulder, dying against the tree he stood by when he saw Qrow and Raven kill Summer.
Jackdaw Branwen… Jack the Ripper… was dead.
The deaths of so many people: Glynda Goodwitch, James Ironwood, Yatsuhashi Daichi, Peony Azura, Ceil Soleil, Reese Chloris and Brawnz Ni… even Killian's Parents… and so many others… were finally avenged.
Qrow laid there beside his sister who was still alive… barely.
They looked at each other weakly as they bled out, waiting for the end together. "Sis…" Qrow weakly said.
"Bro…"
They both softly chuckled as they stared up as the storm started to fade, and all they saw were the clouds parting and the Shattered Moon in the sky. "We did it…" Qrow said to her with a small smile.
"Yes… we did…" Raven agreed, and they both stared up at the huge Moon in the sky. "It's… quite a view, huh?" She asked him.
"Yeah… best seats… in the house…" He agreed weakly.
"Gods… it's been years since I last felt so… light." She admitted, now that Valravn and Jackdaw were finally put to rest. Now it was their turn.
"Well… after all that… I think we've earned it." Qrow agreed, but he heard her breaths becoming shallower the weaker she got. "Raven… it's okay…" He assured.
"Qrow… I know you and I… never always saw eye to eye… but I want you to know… I'm… proud… of you…" She softly said to him.
"W-Why?" He asked her.
"You… didn't give up… you kept fighting to the end… I always looked up to you as a kid…" Raven softly said to him as her head started to rest on his shoulder. "We really did… mess up… in our lives… but this? This felt… good. Thank you, Bro… I'm… proud… to be… your sister…" Raven softly whispered.
"Thank you… Raven." Qrow softly said, but there was no answer. He looked at Raven, her head rested on his shoulder and her eyes closed. "Raven?"
She was gone.
Qrow sat there, waiting for the end to claim him too… staring up at the sky with Raven beside him, and Jackdaw by the tree. He then looked and saw a tall pillar of smoke… hearing distant Grimm.
Jackdaw told them, what he told Eryka and Winter, about Salem.
He knew what that smoke meant.
It had started.
So only one thing came from his mouth, the last thing he ever thought of.
"Give 'em hell kiddo…" He whispered, his eyes closed slowly, and everything faded away, leaving all the Branwens together, right where they fell.
It was over.
The Branwen Curse…
… was at an end.
Author Note - Goodbye Qrow... Goodbye Raven... Goodbye Jackdaw... and Goodbye Valravn
One hell of a Bloodthirsty chapter, four characters in one, but damn was it not one of my favourites. (Not for that reason though XD) This one had so much emotion in it, with the family pretty much destroying itself, and it was epic as hell. Valravn fought like a demon and the end with just the exhausted fight between Jackdaw and the Branwen Twins went exactly as I hoped it would. The epic stuff was for Valravn's fight, but the end? I always wanted that to be a very tired and simpler fight.
I loved their deaths though, Raven's was heartbreaking, Valravn was just satisfying and poetic, and the fact that Qrow and Jackdaw killed each other was the only way that they could go to be honest. Jackdaw's last lines were so heartbreaking as well, but at least now he could finally rest. And I loved Qrow's little "Give 'em hell, kiddo"
But of course... we all know what that smoke meant...
Prepare yourselves for the final two chapters everyone.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - Closure (Will probably be a smaller one, setting up the Epilogue)
- Matt
