Chapter 39
"Did you do anything to my mother?"
Salem was quiet for a long moment, her smile cruel as she looked down her nose at Ruby. Finally, she spoke. "Ah, Summer Rose. I did meet her once. She was an… interesting person to say the least. She was so very determined." Salem spoke as if she was remembering something from long ago.
"What did you do to her!?" Ruby growled.
"What did I do? I did what any good host would do, I invited her in for a nice cup of tea." Salem replied with a sarcastic lilt. "You know what she said to me? She told me that it didn't matter how powerful I was, nor how much I had at my disposal or even how tough it would be to kill me. None of it mattered because she would defeat me."
Salem's smile turned even crueller and harsher. "Nothing like you." She said, staring into Ruby's soul. Ruby stumbled back slightly at the fierce glare. "You may look like her, but you would call yourself my killer, my death. Your mother did not allow herself to hate me. She was a far greater person than you have become."
Ruby gulped. She tried to respond, to disagree but nothing came. Salem went on, relentless. "Despite being another of Ozpin's loyal weapons she had heart. You have allowed yourself to become more alike those you face. You are filled with hate, just like Cinder and Hazel. When you discover the truth about Ozpin I know how hurt you will feel. I've seen it plenty of times before."
"W-w-what do you mean? T-the truth?" Ruby stammered.
Salem chuckled. "Oh, it's simple really. Ozpin is a man with many, many secrets. His best weapons always find out. He lets them closer and closer, building trust until he finally tells them. Not everything, however. He will never do that. It would break everything he has built. That's why he uses so many children warriors. He can indoctrinate them early on into ensuring they follow his orders without question and don't ask naughty questions. He is far from a good person, Little Rose. Haven't you ever wondered about him?"
"What does that mean?" Ruby replied, swallowing.
"Think about it. Ozpin appeared from nowhere, rose to the top of his class and soon after graduating, he became a teacher. It hardly took any time before everyone accepted that he would be the next Headmaster. Don't you wonder why?" Salem asked. Her smile faded a moment later, however. "I can see from your face you already know about his parasitic nature. He must have already returned." She snarled to the side. "Do you see how he lies? He returns from the grip of death time and again but only a few fanatically loyal followers know."
"And I can trust what you say?" Ruby said.
"Believe what you will. Just know that one day the truth shall be revealed, and you shall understand why so many are willing to join me against him." Her smile returned, this time soft and almost caring. "When you do discover the truth, remember how I treated you today and know that if you are willing there will always be a place for you amongst my number."
"You did something to my mother. I'll never trust a word you say!" She snarled. "I'm going to enjoy tearing down your forces and ruining your plans! I'm going to rejoice when I put a bullet through your skull, just like this!" Ruby drew Crescent Rose, aimed and fired. The bullet cut through the creature's bulb head, cracking open the glass-like shell. The gas inside spilt out quickly, the shape of Salem vanishing in the mist. The Grimm collapsed to the ground and began to dissolve.
Ruby watched with satisfaction as it died. Once it was finally gone she sheathed her weapon and left the dark office.
Jaune let out a yell of triumph as he threw the heavy metal panel away. He reached in and helped an injured pilot out of the burning wreckage of an airship. Other emergency services were beginning to arrive to help. With their assistance, they were making good progress.
Pyrrha was lifting an entire chunk of metal up and off a group of trapped officer's. Neptune and Scarlett ran in and helped evacuate them. Qrow was ordering people around, directing the newcomers to places that needed their help. Taiyang and Sage used their natural strength to help retrieve those in danger, just like Jaune. Sun achieved the same via his Semblance.
All in all, they were making good progress, and it wouldn't be long before they had saved as many as they could.
Jaune sighed as he hefted another plate away, revealing a pair of White Fang. They raised their guns, shaking in terror. "Well if you can raise those then you can get out yourself. Maybe think about helping." Jaune said and walked off to the next spot.
He didn't have time to deal with them.
When Ruby returned to the main foyer the smell of smoke dominated the room. Ren and Nora had dragged the traitor over to one of the room's pillars to tie him up. Nora was still standing by him, hammer in hand, but Ren had gone to help a slowly building line of the injured and unconscious who had been brought into the relative safety of the academies main building.
Ruby made her way back over to Lionheart. "Nora. You can go help the others. I'll keep watch over him." The hammer wielder considered for a moment before she nodded and rushed out to help. Ruby knelt down in front of the bedraggled and beaten Headmaster. "I had a nice chat with Salem."
"Ah. What will you do with me?" Leonardo asked, voice filled with defeat.
"Not sure yet. How open are you to swapping back over?"
"You… you would accept my help? After everything I did!? Why?" He looked up at her with confused yet hopeful eyes.
"Because of you we need every Huntsman we can get active here in Mistral. You were a good Huntsman. I'm going to give you a choice. Either you can be tried for your crimes, or step down and spend your days working to stall the Grimm until the next generation can take over." Ruby replied.
Leonardo gulped but nodded slowly. "I… I understand. You want me to dedicate my life to stopping the person I betrayed you for." He despaired.
"It's not like you have to throw your life away," Ruby said with a roll of her eyes. "Work with other Huntsman. Form a new team. Do whatever it takes to protect this Kingdom. Got it?"
"I do. I understand. I only wanted to protect the Kingdom. She said she would stop the attacks if she was unopposed here. I… I will keep people as safe as I can. I give you my word."
Ruby sighed and shook her head. "Your word doesn't mean much. But I trust that you know the consequences of a second betrayal." She flicked a wrist and deployed one of Ember Emortus. Leonardo gulped again and slowly nodded. Ruby stood, drew her scythe and cut the rope tying him to the pillar. "Then get out there and help save lives."
Leonardo Lionheart didn't stick around. He rushed out through the ruined front door. Ren gave her a concerned look from where he was bandaging the wounds on a police officer. She shook her head and went outside as well.
The screams and cries of the injured filled her ears, soon joined by the sounds of firemen putting out the wrecks of the airships and the ambulances as they landed. Haven was a mess of destruction and would take months at least to be able to begin teaching once more.
Ruby let out a sigh. I'd better try and help.
"Some of our men were caught in that explosion! You should have waited!" Ilia winced as one of their own members turned to try and tear into Adams' decision. It wasn't going to end well.
"They're martyrs for the cause! Just like Sienna Khan and just like you will be too, if you keep running your mouth!" Adam snarled. The White Fang around him all backed up. Adam shook his head. "Are you all so pathetic that you can't even accept sacrifices!?" They shuffled awkwardly, faces twisted in anger and hate.
They're going to turn on us like this! How are we going to get revenge if we don't have them at our back? Ilia wondered. Not that revenge even sounds right anymore. Adam had told her about Ruby Rose plenty of times since he'd returned from Vale, all of it negative. He'd made her sound like a being of pure hate and violence. And yet that blonde boy put himself in danger to save her, not even knowing if it was possible. Would I do that for Adam?
The answer was obvious. She knew full well that he'd pushed Blake away, which led to her running away to Beacon. She'd only hung out with him because of Blake anyway, so with her gone, she had no reason to stay around him. Especially with the way he was treating his own men. Berating them and treating them like dirt for not wanting their friends and allies killed by their own commander.
He'll want us to chase after Rose again. He says she caused Blake's death, but I'm beginning to think that wasn't the truth. Or at least not all of it. But what was she to do? Leave? Abandon the fight? No, she couldn't just leave because he might have lied. But if he had lied to her about Blake's death? I'll avenge her, no matter who caused it. So I'll need to figure out who is responsible. I've heard Adam's take. The only thing to do is hear hers.
It was a good thing Adam was planning to give chase then. Screams pulled her from her thoughts. She watched in horror as Adam tore apart his own men. A bloodied man, clutching his chest to keep his intestines inside, stumbled over to her. She grabbed him as he fell. He looked up into her eyes.
"He's… a monster…" his head fell to the side, gone.
Well. I can't trust him to have my back, now can I? Ilia thought with horror. She lay the man down and knew her next goal. She'd play along with Adam for now, but when she had a chance?
She'd throw him to the wolves.
"We have to go back!"
"Are you an idiot!? We can't go back!"
"She needs us! We owe her our lives! We have to go back!"
"If you go back they'll capture or kill you! Hazel talk some sense into her!" Mercury growled and turned to the large brute, who was slowly removing dull and cracked Dust shards from his arms. Any normal man would be crying out in pain. Hazel wasn't normal.
"He's right. We can't go back. We return to Salem and… and we hope she isn't too angry at us." The man grumbled.
"But… but!" Tears streamed down Emerald's face.
Mercury sighed. "You've gotta look out for yourself first Em. I thought a thief would know that. Let's just get back to the ship." The silver-haired teen trudged off through the woods, alone for a moment. It didn't take long for the other two to follow along.
Sometimes I wish I'd just tried my luck with the Grimm, rather than deal with this shit.
"Connection to the CCT Tower lost. Please contact your provider if this issue continues."
Jaune flicked the screen off with a sigh. It was all anything played right now. Every single channel was just gone. Just like in Vale right after Beacon fell. Without all four towers, global communication is gone, but without the local tower, everything is screwed here. Until they get the backup online there won't even be any news channels. Mistral would have to rely on older forms of passing information for a while.
Jaune collapsed back onto a couch next to Pyrrha. She gave him a half-hearted smile before turning back to cleaning her sword. They were all seated around the lounge, thinking. They'd come back to the house late and gone to bed quickly. The next day had come fast and with it an explanation from Ozpin about the Relic they had acquired. It was like a genie from some old fairy tale, but instead of wishes, it offered answers to three questions. And it took a hundred years to recover them.
A bit of a pain, considering they were all used up at the moment. That didn't stop Ruby from staring into the swirling blue within the lantern. She must have questions. I wonder what they are. He didn't have the energy to ask, however. None of them had any energy left, exhausted as they were by everything that had happened.
Jaune wasn't sure how long he sat there, staring into space. Eventually, however, Qrow arrived in the room with an explosive sigh. "Hey, kids." He grumbled.
They mumbled hellos in response. He didn't even react to the lack of a warm welcome. "Tai and I were talking. We should move soon. The locals are handling everything and we need to get the Relic to safety in Atlas. Leonardo pulled some strings and got us tickets on one of the only trains moving right now." He took a long drink of his canteen. "Ah! That hit the spot. Anyway with most transport either delayed or not running, this'll be our only chance for a while. It leaves tomorrow afternoon so be ready."
"What's going to happen to Lionheart?" Pyrrha asked.
"He's leaving Mistral. Said something about finding some old retired friends and making up for his mistakes. Also known as going to find people to die alongside while fighting Grimm."
Oscar walked in at that moment, though when he spoke it was apparent Ozpin was in control. "So he refound his backbone? Good. We don't have time to look for his replacement Headmaster, however. We shall have to have faith that whoever is chosen is trustworthy. But that can come later. As Qrow said we need to get the Relic to safety. If it can be sealed inside Atlas's Vault then we only need to defend the Maiden."
Pyrrha loudly cleared her throat. "I wanted to say something. I haven't gained any more power than I had yesterday. So it's possible that Cinder is alive."
Ruby's eyes twitched at her words, causing her to turn to look at Pyrrha with a complicated expression.
Ozpin nodded. "We can hope that it has simply passed on to someone else and that we don't have to deal with Cinder again. However, we should all be prepared for her to return at an inopportune moment! We can't allow ourselves to be caught off guard by her." He smiled. "That said, make sure to rest today. Who knows what we might face going forward?"
Ozpin left, granting the body back to Oscar who sighed and sat down. Jaune closed his eyes and leant back in his seat. It was hard to call the battle a win, but they had saved the Relic and defeated their foes.
Here's hoping our next battle goes better.
A/N: So my computer is all fixed, but my Beta was away this week. I decided to post anyway though. Hopefully, it's of similar quality to usual. Chapter-wise we have Salem being manipulative, Haven burning, Leonardo told to basically go fight Grimm until he dies, Ilia realising Adam's gone mad and might be lying about Ruby, Emerald crying over Cinder and everyone taking a much-needed break after learning how the Relic works. Good times! In many ways, it did end off worse than canon. Haven is actually destroyed here, whereas in canon it just needs a new Headmaster. Next up is the train to Argus and Volume 6. Oh what fun awaits.
I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time!
