Here we are at Chapter 49. Let's see how the gang are handling their current predicament as we get into the new year. I do not own RWBY or Transformers. They belong to their respective owners. Here's chapter 49. Enjoy.


Chapter 49: A Cause to Fight for

Atlas soldiers watch from the military base as Cordovin continues to battle Megatron and his allies, all of them completely unaware as the radar systems pick something up... and it's heading straight for Argus.

Back on the cliffs, Megatron gets back on his feet as he eyes Cordovin's mech as she has her attention on Maria's airship.

"You just couldn't keep this situation between you and I, could you Calavera? You had to rope children and even fugitives into your schemes this time. You seem to forget who you are dealing with here," Cordovin takes aim and fires off another shot from her cannon that barely misses the airship.

Megatron looks back to the others, "Is everyone unharmed?"

Ruby rubs her head, "I'll live. Weiss, are you okay?" she checks her partner.

However, Weiss has her attention elsewhere, "Dreadwing!"

In the forest, Dreadwing swings his sword down on the ghoul, but it catches his sword arm, surprising Dreadwing, and then throws an uppercut into his stomach to send him flying back. Skyquake makes a few punches on its rear, but then the ghoul swings around to deal a backhand to his face and then kicks him back.

The brothers regroup, "Brother, is it just my imagination, or is my body..." Skyquake begins.

"No, I noticed it too, brother. It's... It's learning. And it's getting better as it fights. This will prove to be more difficult. We may have to get a little more serious, or else we may be in greater danger than before," Dreadwing realizes.

The ghoul roars and charges at them, while the brothers meet the charge head-on.

Weiss is worried about her knight, but Megatron gets her back on track, "Dreadwing will be fine. He has his brother with him, and he is a skilled warrior. Right now, we need to focus on Cordovin and her machine. It's going to take as many of us as possible to take it down,"

Just then, Oscar calls through the comms, "I might have an idea for that,"

Megatron looks at the airship as he replies, "I would say for you to keep thr airship away, but things are not going so well. What do you have in mind?"

As he asks, Team JNR rejoin the group, "The cylinder in the mech's right arm with the cannon. Everytime it rotates for a Dust cartridge to fire, the cartridge moves into the cannon. But, when it wants to use its missiles, the missile launcher has to pop out, not in. If we time our shots perfectly when the missile launcher is out and hit one of them, it should cause a chain-reaction that'll take out the whole right arm and maybe take down the mech itself," Oscar goes over the plan.

"...Time our shots perfectly..." Soundwave's visor goes off as he looks at Ruby, who figures out his meaning.

"I... I don't know. I think if I'm going to have a chance, I'll need to be practically staring down the barrel of her cannon without her figuring it out," Ruby replies. \

"Well, if you need to get close for a shot, I can help with that," Maria says as she flies the airship around to stop right in front of them.

"I can fly for a little while longer. I can act as a distraction for Ruby," Megatron adds.

With no other option and little time, Ruby nods and jumps onto the airship and it takes off towards the mech. Megatron uses his semblance to create his jet-board and flies with them, intent on taking that thing down.

"We'll need something to bait her into using her missiles," Megatron calls out.

Maris smirks, "I've got just the thing," she then calls Cordovin. "Hey Cordo, I've got one missile left and I precisely know where I'm going to stick it!"

Cordovin only smirks at this, "Hahaha, just one, Calavera. Well, that's too bad, because I've got plenty. And they're all going to blast you into kingdom-come," she takes the bait and engages her missile launcher and takes aim.

Of course, Oscar doesn't like this plan now, even though it was his idea, "ARE YOU GUYS CRAZY?!"

"We can't hold back now. Give it all you've got!" Megatron replies.

Ruby takes aim with her sniper-scythe while Megaton flies on the side and fires off his arm cannon to keep Cordovin's attention off of her. The blasts do a little damage on the mech, but Cordovin keeps her aim steady until she sees Ruby with her weapon out.

Cordovin realizes her plan, "You won't get me that easily,"

She retracts her missile launcher, and Ruby takes a shot. However, the shot barely misses at the last second. Cordovin then changes her weapon and loads a Dust cartridge.

"Pull up! Pull up!" Oscar screams.

Megatron flies in front of them and creates a large shield with his semblance. Cordovin fires, and Megatron manages to block the shot, but the force of the blast knocks him flying back. Maria pulls hard on the stick and flies by to catch him. She opens up the side door and Ruby and Oscar catch him inside, just above the water. However, they get too close to the cliffs. Maria pulls back the stick and keeps the airship from crashing, but it clips the cliffs and ends up losing control. The collision knocks Maria into the controls and knocks her out, forcing Oscar to take the reins.

"We're gonna crash! We're gonna crash!" Oscar freaks out.

The airship ends up crashing through the trees before coming to a hard stop. Seeing the accident in front of them, Qrow jumps off a cliff and turns into his crow form to go help them, while Laserbeak follows right behind him as the others move on foot. At the crash site, Megatron groans as he sits up, holding his head. He looks around, checking to make sure his allies are okay. Though not exactly in one piece, Ruby, Oscar, and Maria are all still alive.

"Maria, are you okay?" Oscar asks.

Maria groans while holding her head, "Ow, now I might need a brain prosthetic for that one,"

Megatron looks to Ruby, "Ruby, are you alright?"

Ruby slowly nods, "Y-Yeah, I'll be fine. I just need a minute," she collects herself.

Megatron looks ahead outside the airship, "Unfortunately, we don't have a minute," he narrows his eyes as he sees Cordovin's mech approaching the cliffs, and them.

Cordovin laughs as she approaches, "Hahaha, I must admit, you kids are cleverer than I first thought. But, the intellect of apes is nothing compared to the intellectual might of humans,"

Megatron looks back at the others, and then at the fight between Dreadwing and the ghoul. The Ghoul throws a few punches at Dreadwing, but he catches one of them, and then Skyquake catches the other. The twins each throw some punches of their own to weaken the ghoul, but then the ghoul rolls back and kicks the brothers over it, sending them flying into a pair of trees. As the ghoul gets back on its feet, it then notices Cordovin's mech, and Megatron walking towards it. The ghoul roars and charges at them, intent on destroying anything in its path.

"Megatron!" Oscar yells out.

Megatron looks back just in time to see the ghoul charge at him. Megatron jumps out of the way, and the ghoul continues its course towards the mech. It jumps at the mech, shocking Cordovin, as it latches onto it. The ghoul starts tearing off pieces of its armor and digging into te insides. Cordovin growls and manages to grab hold of the ghoul and then throws it long, sending it far, far away from the cliffs and into the ocean. The twins watch as their chance is lost once again.

"My body" Skyquake notes before he notices his brother take a knee and a few ragged breaths. "Brother, are you alright?"

"Forgive me, Skyquake. I failed to retrieve your body, and give you a chance to be restored, or at least be at peace," Skyquake apologizes bitterly.

Skyquake kneels next to him, "Worry not, my brother. There will always be new opportunities. But one thing hasn't changed, and that is that I will always be with you," Skyquake says before his spirit vanishes as Dreadwing is forced to deactivate his semblance to conserve what strength he has left.

With that fight over, Megatron looks back at the others, seeing them okay, but not at full strength, and he decides to take one more gamble. Megatron starts walking forward.

"Megatron, wait!" Ruby calls out.

"Stay back! I'll deal with this," Megatron stops at the edge of the cliffs.

Cordovin stops right in front of him, "This game has been fun, but now it ends. You were foolish to challenge the might of the Atlesian military. Surrender and accept your punishment for your crimes. If you beg for mercy, I may even spare your life and let you off with life behind bars,"

"Forget it!" Megatron stands defiantly, surprising Cordovin a bit. "We have to reach Atlas. We're not trying to get there for ourselves. We're trying to get there because the fate of the world is at stake. You know, I look at you, and I am reminded of who I once was. Someone who wielded power, who commanded an army. But, in the end, I only used that power for myself. I used that strength to look down on everyone else, to crush any who would stand in my way. Believing that I was the only one that was right. But, since that auspicious day so long ago, and since this journey began, I have realized what true strength is. True strength is lot lording power over others for one's own benefit, like you have done with your military. True strength comes from putting one's life on the line for someone else. Before all this happened, we came to you to ask for your help because we are not your enemies. Your true enemies want us to fight each other, and you're giving them exactly what they want. We didn't want to steal from you. We did it because you would not listen to anyone but yourself. You gave us no other choice. More dangerous foes have tried to stop us than you, and they have failed. And I didn't come all this way just to be stopped by someone who is not even my enemy. So, I ask you now to make a choice: stand with us? Or stand against ME?"

A few silent but tense moments go by before Cordovin gives her answer, "I choose... to end this foolishness once and for all," and she aims her cannon directly at Megatron.

The others race to help him, but Megatron creates another one of his spears and throws it straight into the cannon.

Cordovin freaks out, "NO!"

"Wait the missiles spring out, but the Dust pops in," Jaune realizes as Team JNR watch on.

The spear hits the inside of the cannon as it charges and explodes, causing a series of other explosions to break out around the arm. The shockwaves from the explosions knock Megatron back and he crashes into a tree. Forms of Dust explode with them and cause large ice and rock spikes to sprout out around the arm, forcing the mech to fall onto one knee as the cannon is reduced to nothing, and the mech becomes immobilized.

"Megatron!" Jaune and the others go to his aid. "Hey, are you okay?!" Jaune and Ren help Megatron onto his feet.

Megatron groans a bit, "Yes, I will be fine... Mostly," he stands upright on his own after a moment. He then looks back and approaches Dreadwing. "Are you alright, Dreadwing?"

Dreadwing slowly stands up, though his expression remains melancholy, "I wish I could say I was. Once more, I had a chance to reclaim my twin's body, and once more, that chance slipped through my fingers," he clenches his fists.

"The ghoul is most likely still alive. Which means that you will have other opportunities. And also, remember Prime's promise. If he said that he can save your brother's spark, then he speaks the truth. We just have to keep going," Megatron says.

Dreadwing sighs and slowly nods before turning to Weiss, "Are you alright, Milady?"

Weiss shakes her head, "Never mind me, Dreadwing. I'm more worried about you. I'm sorry you couldn't get your brother's body back,"

Dreadwing makes a slight bow, "I am honored by your concern for me, Lady Weiss, but as Megatron said, there will be other opportunities. For now, it would be best to focus on the task at hand," he looks back at the mech, as do the others.

"Oh," they hear and look over to see Maria and Oscar stepping out of the airship. "I can't believe I missed the best part. Well, anyway, the ship's working again. I think this is as good a time as any to get out of here,"

Ruby looks back, "But, what about Yang, Blake, and Predaking?" she asks, making Megatron look back out to the forest beyond.

Back with the others, Predaking stands between Adam Taurus and Yang and Blake. He first looks at Adam's blade. He had broken it once before, but it seems he repaired it, and upgraded it since the blade is a little longer now and the sheathe appears bigger now. He then glances back at Blake, who is on one knee as Yang tends to her.

"Predakingm he's-," Blake tries to say before holding her side from the pain of her battle with Adam.

Seeing Blake hurt, Predaking turns back to face Adam, "Have you learned nothing since our last encounter?" he looks at Adam's face without his mask, seeing the brand scar over his left eye. "So... that was what I detected... The scar he bore is the proof of his vengeance..."

"I've been waiting to kill you, fo so long. For taking everything from me," Adam hissed as he holds his sword and gets ready to fight the larger dragon Faunus.

Predaking walks forward, "Before we commence with this bout, I have one thing to say to you. Something I would not believe would be uttered from my mouth," he remains calm.

Adam narrows his eyes, "Oh? And what would that be?" He glares at his enemy.

Predaking takes a deep breath, "You were right,"

This statement shocks Blake while confusing Adam, "Is this some kind of joke!? What do you mean I'm right?!" "Adaam appears both confused and enraged.

"What the humans of this world did to you and the Faunus is a true crime of prejudice and fear. Your spite is earned. But now, after the conflict of Haven Academy, the humans have begun to see Faunus in a better light. One that will truly lead us down the path of peace. Yes, I was born through cloning and I may not have been born upon this world as you were, but I am a Faunus," Predaking explains as he keeps walking towards Adam whose surprise becomes more and more evident, "Corsac and Fennec told me of what you said when you usurped Sierra Kahn from her throne. The Faunus are superior to humans in many ways, but attempting to provoke a war with the humans will not show our superiority. What will is by showing them that we do not fall victim to our impulses and act like the beasts they believe us to be. That burning fire of hatred will turn on you as it almost turned on me when I saw the one who killed my brethren before me, and Blake was almost a victim of when I tried to gain my vengeance," Predaking is now standing before Adam. "You can overcome your own hatred and help us save this world from Salem, the one who wishes to destroy all of Remnant, both humans and Faunus," Predaking then offers his claw-like hand to Adam "Help your people get the better life that they deserve," he asks.

Blake and Yang watch in silence at the exchange. When Blake heard him say that Adam was right, she thought he was losing it, but now she sees that he truly is someone worthy of being a leader. Of being a king. To offer a hand of friendship to someone who, for so long, has always seen him as a fake, a monster, an object, and who had fought against him in the past. It made Blake feel that she was right about Predaking; that he is the embodiment of love. Yang, like her partner, is also shocked by his words. She can't say she feels the same way about him when it comes to the person who sliced off her own arm, and caused so much suffering for Blake. But, she can't help but feel a new level of respect for him, for wanting to end this peacefully rather than fight to the death like before. For taking that chance. It's something her sister did with her mother back at Haven.

Adam Taurus remains silent and then... "I will help my people get a better life... And the first step to fixing things... is by getting rid of you!" he makes a quick slash at Predaking, who blocks the strike with his claws and slides back across the ground on his feet.

Predaking sighs, "It seems you are truly lost then. So be it," he narrows his eyes and charges back at Adam as their fight begins.

Predaking fires a breath attack at Adam, but he blocks with his sword to absorb the attack. They get close and Predaking swings his right claw, but Adam jumps over the attack and then makes a swing at his rear. Predaking manages to block the attack with his left arm and then throws a right punch at Adam. Adam blocks with his sheathe, but gets knocked back by Predaking's power. Predaking fires another breath attack at the ground, coating the area in flames and blocking Adam's vision. Predaking jumps through the flames and lands a claw strike across his chest, followed by another punch to the stomach and ends it up with a kick that sends him flying back. Adam rolls back onto his feet and charges back at Predaking. Predaking sends out his flames again, but Adam absorbs the attack with his blade and then flips over him while landing a strike across his back. He then charges again, using the energy he made to create a few shadow clones to encircle Predaking. Predaking breathes fire on the ground, sending out flames to burn through all of the clones, but then notices Adam in the air and falling towards him with his sword sheathed. When he gets close, Predaking throws a claw strike that Adam meets with his sword, causing a small shockwave to break out around them.

They separate and Adam makes another attack. He makes a few swings at Predaking, who blocks with his claws and his arms. He brings out his sheathe gun close up, but Predaking grabs it away to narrowly evade the shot and swings Adam around to slam him on the ground. He goes to stomp him down, but Adam rolls away. However, he can't avoid the uppercut Predaking gives him and he gets knocked further back.

Blake and Yang watch the fight from the sidelines, "Will Predaking be alright?" Yang asks.

Blake keeps her eyes on the fight, but she nods, "Yes. He beat Adam once before, and I still believe in him. He won't lose. Because Adam only fights for himself, but Predaking fights for others,"

Adam fires off a few shots with his sheathe gun, but Predaking breathes some flames to burn the bullets to ash. Adam then charges at him again and tries to make a swing at his face. However, Predaking blocks with his armored gauntlets and then makes a claw strike across Adam's face. He follows it up with a knee strike to the chest. Adam counters with a kick to his side, but Predaking keeps going with a left claw strike, forcing him to jump back. Adam sheathes his sword again and charges up his semblance. He makes a quick sheathe strike, sending out a blast of red energy at Predaking. Predaking takes the brunt of the attack, disappearing in a cloud of smoke and dust. Adam smirks, thinking he finally got a good hit in on him, but then the smile disappears when flames erupt from the smoke. Standing there now is Predaking, contained within the fiery form of his Predacon form. He roars and swings his tail around at Adam. Adam uses his sword to block the strike, but gets sent flying back. Predaking adds to this with a breath attack that blasts Adam to the ground. Predaking flies up into the air and tries to crash down on Adam, who manages to jump out of the way at the last second.

Adam makes another strike with his sword, sending out another wave of red energy. This time, Predaking fires off another breath attack. The two attacks collide, but Predaking's breaks through and blasts Adam back onto the ground, with his aura depleted. Adam tries to get back up, but Predaking slams a flame claw down on his right arm, burning it and causing him to scream in pain. He releases his sword, and Predaking takes it in his claw. He consumes the blade in flames until it burns and melts away into nothing. Once more, Adam's blade is gone, and once more, he is defeated.

"...H-How? How could I have lost again? To some... THING like you?!" Adam yells as he gets onto one knee.

Predaking releases his semblance, and the flames die down and he returns to normal. Yang and Blake watch on from the sidelines, waiting to see what will happen.

"This must end, now. You cannot win, Adam Taurus. And do you know why? It's because you stand alone. You wanted to be a king, but only with everyone else beneath you. I strive to be a king that will protect his subjects, and will raise them up, not bring them down. I am not standing here alone. I stand with my comrades. I stand with the spirits of my fallen brothers. And most of all..." he glances back at Blake. "I stand with someone whom I have a reason to fight for, more than anyone else. Let go of the past, Adam Taurus. And look to the future. Just as I have done. Just as Blake has done. Please," he extends a hand to Adam Taurus one last time.

Adam Taurus looks between him and the girls. Slowly, he raises his hand... and takes Predaking's. Predaking helps him up and gives him a nod, which he returns. Predaking turns to walk back to the girls, not seeing Adam aim his sheathe gun at his head. A shot rings out, and Predaking's eyes widen. Slowly, he turns to Adam... and sees the bullet hole in his chest. He looks back, seeing Blake aiming her pistol at him.

Adam looks down at his fatal wound, "...Oh..." he stumbles and leans back towards the edge.

With a final gasp, he falls off the edge, plummeting into the river below, and to his death. Predaking looks at his descent and then back at Blake. Blake's trembling hands drop her weapon, and she drops to her knees, tears flowing from her eyes. Yang is the first to come to her aid, and the two girls have an emotional embrace.

"I... I'm not going to break my promise. I swear!" Blake cries as she holds Yang tighter.

Yang gently moves her back for their foreheads to touch, "I know you won't," she comforts her.

Predaking joins them and kneels before Blake, "I'm sorry, Blake,"

Blake turns to him, "Predaking, I just... When he, I just..." the tears stop her from speaking.

Predaking gently wipes the tears away, "It's okay. You were protecting me, just as I will always protect you. No matter what,"

Blake cries a new wave of tears as she crashes into his chest, and he holds her in his arms. Yang holds a supportive hand on her shoulder. The two remain silent, letting Blake let her emotions out, now that her nightmare is finally over.

Back with the others, they regroup as Cordovin tries and fails to get her machine moving again.

"No! No, no, no, no, no!" Cordovin yells. "You! You're never getting to Atlas! You hear me, never!" Cordovin yells.

"If you had listened to us in the first place, you wouldn't be in this pathetic state," Megatron notes.

"No, we'll see who's at fault when my forces destroy you! All forces, converge on my position and eliminate these pests at once!" Cordovin calls out on the comms.

"Guys! We need to move now!" Oscar yells from the airship.

"We need to get to Yang, Blake, and Predaking first," Weiss notes.

However, they hear another call come in, "Mam, we've been trying to reach you. Argus is in danger," a soldier replies, shocking Cordovin.

"...What?" she mutters.

Megatron and the others look out to the ocean... only to find the image of a giant Leviathan Grimm slowly making its way towards the city, unleashing a roar that echoes for miles.

"By the Allspark," Megatron mutters as his eyes widen at the beast.

The group then look up, seeing scores of Manticore and Sphinx Grimm flying towards the city, too many to count.

"It never gets easy for us," Dreadwing watches the swarm.

"It's a Leviathan. It began its approach during your battle. We need you," the soldier on the comms says, while the monster roars again.

The group look to the giant robot, realizing that they just disabled the only thing that can stop the Leviathan.


And that's the chapter. Megatron and his allies defeat Cordovin, and Predaking's group have finally vanquished Adam Taurus. But, a new, more sinister threat has come in the form of a Leviathan. Will Megatron and his allies defeat this new threat and save Argus? Will they finally reach Atlas? Until then, please Read and Review.