The world was blowing up around her. That was the best way to describe it. No matter how she moved, where she dashed off to, she was only ever stopped by the sensation of something horrible about to happen. No more than a few feet before the idea, the gut reaction, of something exploding, erupting, or tearing itself apart in front of her. And it was always right.
She ran through the stands, feeling the seats around her being ripped from the ground with more force than any hurricane could manage. She dove under the arena floor, sensing the flooring being ripped up like paper above her. She finally dashed about trying to get close to her target, but balls of darkness erupted with more force than Yang's fists before her.
All Ruby could do was run away. She had no other choice.
Ganondorf was sure to remind her of that.
"Cease your running! Neither of us can escape our fate!" His voice boomed like the thunder he commanded. "You only delay what is certain to pass!"
Ruby didn't have the breath to retaliate. Not when she had to suddenly jump sideways, again, because she felt more danger. It was all she felt as Ganondorf continue to lay blow after blow against her.
BOOM! And as another almost passive shot of his destroyed a set of stairs, digging into the guts and metal of the underside of Amity, she knew that if she didn't have her Semblance, she would have been killed at the beginning. Any one of those attacks would ruin her Aura quickly. A direct one would make her wish for a beating from Yang first.
Looking back, Ruby could only stare at Ganondorf, hovering at the center of the colosseum, cape billowing ominously behind him, and watch the powerful magic crackle off of him. Saria was strong. Her Grandpa Link was stronger. Ganondorf... she'd only seen him fight all at once before, and partially at that.
Being subject to his strength was a completely different feeling.
"How long do you intend to run, Child of the Hero? Do you wish to mock the memory of the Hero of Time to no end!?" Ruby was too busy sucking in a breath of air to respond. "Nimble as he was, even he took aim against me!" He screamed as he held up his hand. Ruby felt the danger. She saw it coming before the feeling.
Watching the air ripple above his hand, distorting as magic and electricity seemed to ball in his grasp, like the world was trying to force power into him. His face was a scowl of rage as he stared at her, golden eyes boring into her sharper than blades. Her hands were tight on Crescent Rose.
But she still felt DANGER. She moved before he threw his arm forward.
The ball of magic flew to where she was standing, fast as cannon fire. The ground was decimated while she was still in mid sprint, flying past the seats and vaulting over the railings. Crescent Rose unfolded and scratched at the ground, clawing her body to a stop. Her body jerked with the effort, but that was the point.
Her momentum spun the tip of her etched scythe, twisting it until the barrel of her heavily modified sniper was aiming up at the man in the man. Her silver eyes traced the trajectory, lining the shot up before she took in her first breath of air. She had it, and she had the explosive rounds loaded. The highest yield she could reasonably fire, and with support as well.
She aimed... and she waited. Her finger hovered over the trigger.
Ganondorf saw her... and he waited, too.
The lull in the battle did not go unnoticed.
"What stops you, Child of the Hero?" Ganondorf did not move. "Why do you hesitate to fire upon me? Do you lack the ability!?" He rolled his arm back. Ruby didn't feel danger, yet. "Are you aiming to delay the inevitable?" His lips curled in a horrid scowl. Ruby's pulled down in a sad grimace.
"This isn't inevitable!" She shouted back. "I don't want to kill you!"
"Then you are a fool!" DANGER!
Ruby was gone, a flurry of petals rocketing through the air, passing under the shadow of Ganondorf and his field. She felt before she heard the explosion of his power behind her. She stopped on the opposite end of the colosseum, rose petals exploding around her, and Crescent Rose still pulled to deliver a shot.
She stared up at Ganondorf, as he was silhouetted by roaring dark fire. Ruby could feel the heat from the opposite side of the arena. IT helped, In the poorest uses of the word, that the fire was taking up a good tenth of the stadium's seats. And he'd done nothing more than throw a portion of his power at her. Ruby didn't want to kill him, but she couldn't say it was because he didn't seem like much.
The most grotesque imagery Dr. Oobleck had ever painted of Ancient Grimm was nothing compared to the sight of Ganondorf hanging in the air, a dark inferno behind him, and the glowing force field of his make above him. Ruby could steel see the wisps of smoke from Atlas's failed attack on him. And through all of that, it was nothing more than a halo to the ominous figure painting himself above it all.
Golden eyes stared down at Ruby stared down at Ruby, and she stared up at him.
"He's right, you really are rather slow~." Danger!
Ruby leapt back as she felt the gut sensation of danger again. BAM! The daggers fell from above her, a trail of them. Her body flipped back, the daggers stabbing the stone beneath her, cracking them as she nimbly dodged them. She didn't stop because neither did the danger, so neither did the daggers. It wasn't until she was across the length of one stadium seat, having flipped enough times to make her eyes rolls, that she was able to catch her footing. Daggers, black and red lined, marked a trail after her.
"Such slippery petal you are~. I suppose that is while little birds flock to you~." DANGER! Crescent Rose came up.
CLANG! She caught a thin dark blade in the crux of her weapon, staring up with silver eyes into the one visible eye of a grey clown. Towering over her, hands on his blade, he laughed.
"But with such a quick reaction, too. I'd guess you were the Hero's child with or without other evidence." He leaned in closer to her, pushing her back. Her boots slipped, hands rising on her weapon to keep her grip. He showed no signs of effort. "Though you are lacking in experience. Perhaps I may offer you some~?"
His tongue rolled out. Long, serpentine, and drips of saliva threatening to coat her cheek. Ruby grimaced, trying to pull back without giving up ground. She didn't need to hold the position for long. Ghirahim gave it up himself.
CLANG-CLANG! The moment a burst of light and echo of blades came out. Ruby was yards away by the time she saw him standing bleachers up, his tri-ended cape fluttering, blade held up, fighting off a high heel from his new opponent.
"You do not have the qualifications to judge Ruby Rose." Fi's ethereal voice rung out. Her boot kicked up, as she pirouetted about. BANG! BANG! The motion had her dodging the daggers that popped into place with exploding diamonds, and her cape swung out with the effort. Ghirahim retreated, slicing upwards to push her off balance. Fi only continued to dance around the blade. "I have 100% assurance of this."
"It isn't in you to lie, little bird~." He taunted back. BANG! Another sword popped into his free hand, and he lunged out with vicious stabs. Ruby could sense the danger, but it was so small. Likely because of how Fi reacted.
Her body bent backwards like an expert ballerina, her boot rising with an arc of light. It beat back one blade as she flipped through the air over the other. Armless still, her cape came down to beat at the strikes as she feet kicked out to bat at the other attacks. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Her dancing and flying through the air left all the daggers stabbing at nothing.
CLING! That, and the shimmers of light that followed her boots. Ruby watched as-
DANGER!
She was gone before she thought, running down the rest of the arena steps and jumping the gap to the arena. Petals and boots hit the tiling, but her momentum didn't lack. She kept moving, and for good reason.
Fire and lightning were raining down upon her.
The furious cries of Ganondorf echoed from above, but Ruby couldn't even glance at him. Her feet and Semblance carried her as her other guided her. There was too much danger chasing after her. Her Aura was already weak, and Ganondorf was too strong. Even the air was rippling from his attacks. She lunged forward for another leap over the opposite side of the arena, ready to enter the stands again.
DANGER! Her heels dug into metal to stop herself.
BOOM! Ganondorf crashed into the bleachers opposite her. The seats dozens of rows up erupted into a dark fire. He rose with malice in his eyes. His voice carried one word, and a heavy threat.
"Burn." DANGER!
His hand reared back, a Golden Trident burning into existence. Lightning crackled around it, and Ruby twisted her fingers about Crescent Rose. She loved her weapon, but she knew a single strike from that thing would turn her carefully folded metal into scrap. She only needed one look.
A look that her instincts were commanding of her. Otherwise, she may not have enough time. Like her Grandfather. Like her mother!
"NO!" Ruby shouted as she stared ahead. Her eyes began to burn.
"HRGH!" And the lance in Ganondorf's hand quivered with his grip.
Ruby clenched her jaws as her eyes began to water, the strain of her Silver Eyes tearing through her like a blade. Even for a second, and it felt like she was taking a knife to them. Combine that with all the times she had used them before. To help out Winter, and her friends, and the soldiers. It was so painful. So painful!
"Not... enough." And Ganondorf was in pain, too. "It's not... enough... to stop me!" He didn't let it stop him. Ruby wouldn't either. Not even as she felt danger.
She shut her eyes and jumped to the side. The trident tore through the air a moment later. She didn't see it, eyes shut tight with the air itself feeling like sandpaper against them. But she felt it. Felt it as it tore through the air and the ends of her precious cloak.
That, and hearing the path of its trajectory ripping up the little of the arena that was left. Ruby didn't stop to collect herself. She continued her roll, taking strides, and jumping over the arena to the bleachers again. Crescent Rose trailed behind her, ready to carve a vicious gash in the ground. The reason for that.
Her instincts, her Semblance, were telling her about danger. Ganondorf gave off the most, but he wasn't the only one.
CLANG! CLANG! BANG! BANG! The sounds of clashing steel and conjuring daggers resounded before her, and she could tell there was danger there. She didn't run from it. Not this one.
She twisted her foot, jumped, and exploded into rose petals.
CLANG! Ruby reappeared between Ghirahim and Fi, with Crescent Rose out, catching the pair of dark blades from slicing into Fi's neck.
"Oho! The little rose is showing some thorns~. Perhaps this is why the little bird is so attracted to her?" The Gray Clown mocked above her, pushing into her. Ruby kept her feet secure, staring back defiantly. "But with no mouth to speak? Perhaps you are more like the Hero then I thought before. Certainly, a far cry from the little bird who can't stop chirping."
"The description of my preferred method of vocalization is incorrect. I do not chirp, Ghirahim." Laughter was the return, even as Fi flipped and flew behind her.
"Of course, not~! You prefer to sing and dance!" He twisted his body. BANG! Before exploding into diamonds. Ruby rose felt it all around her.
DANGER!
She twisted her head right. BANG! A dagger flew past her. She lifted her feet. BANG! A sword sung out beneath her. She tucked her chest. BANG! A pair of daggers swung over her. She lifted Crescent Rose. BANG! A pair of blades scrapped over the handle of her precious scythe. Her boots hit the ground, her back turned, and she exploded into petals again.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
A dome of diamonds and daggers flew out about her. She was already a dozen feet away, Crescent Rose out and searching for Ghirahim.
"What an agile little thing you are~." The Gray Clown continued to mock. "Perhaps this is why my Mistress has such an interest in you~."
"I know that's not it." Ruby spoke back, eyes staring into the malicious smile of the demon like thing. "I'm not stupid."
"No no, just a fool." He twirled floating diamonds between his fingers, balancing them off the blade. "Thinking that you would be more than a nuisance, yet while admitting you're beneath a threat. Trying to make yourself more than you are, while denying where you come from."
"I've never denied that." She aimed Crescent Rose at Ghirahim. He didn't blink. "I know who my Grandfather is!"
"But can you name your grandmother?" She grit her teeth. BANG! Ghirahim was gone in another flash. Ruby twisted her body, cape billowing behind her. "I can help if you'd like. It can even be called an act of piety on my part. Giving homage to the ones who created me. AHAHAHAHAHAH!"
Ruby didn't listen. She felt instead.
BANG! The sudden grin in front of her face, leaving her side as she flipped back, kicking out with her feet. BANG! She hit nothing, her hands coming up to catch her fall. BANG! She grabbed at a nose, and twisted her legs, ready to wrench it off. Danger warned her otherwise. BANG! Releasing it let a dagger stab past the air her hand and occupied. She hit the ground boots first, flipping Crescent Rose over her head and ready to treat it like a guillotine instead.
BANG! Ghirahim didn't give her the chance. BANG! He was far from done.
"My oh my, what a ferocious appetite you have now. I wonder where this was against the lesser of my masters?" She saw him across the stands, walking casually towards her, spinning a curved dark blade in his hand. "You were running about so much, a little blue bird had to keep me focused. A rose petal in a twister of a storm, suddenly showing her roots in front of me. I hope you're not about to say you're less afraid of me. I can assure you; you have every reason to be afraid of me." He grinned, as if to prove it. Snaking that long tongue of his over the blade.
"I'm not afraid of you." Ruby adjusted Crescent Rose, getting back into a charging stance. "I'm not afraid of Ganondorf either."
"And of my Mistress?"
"I'm not afraid of her."
"No? Then... can you name her?" Ruby grit her teeth.
"Salem! I'm not afraid of her!" Ghirahim kept laughing. "I don't care if you don't believe me!"
"Oh no no no~! I believe you; little rose. I just can't believe what you're actually afraid of!" He twisted his head back, almost snapping it as his body arced, cap dragging at the ground to show off his dexterity. His eye never left her throughout the macabre display. "It's so odd, seeing that you're less afraid of someone, and more afraid of what they are~."
Ruby, for that one moment, understood how Yang felt when someone was being mean to her. Her as in herself. Because Ghirahim was being mean to her, and she felt like it would be okay to cut him a little. Just the top foot off. Just that.
The danger was there, but easily enough to dodge. There was more to feel, but she didn't feel it. Not at first. Not until she focused on her Semblance like she'd practiced. Then she felt danger beyond the disappearing clown and his reappearing daggers. The bigger danger, however, wasn't focused on her.
It was above her, and she knew why.
She dashed away from Ghirahim, into petals. She knew from her training that she couldn't turn her back to an opponent. Her silver eyes went skyward to look for the danger. It didn't take long to find it.
Streaking silver flying against a block of darkness. That was what it looked like as her vision blurred. She saw Fi fighting Ganondorf, striking at him from all the directions she could take flying through the air. Ganondorf, caped in darkness and with crackling lightning, beat off her attacks with his golden trident. The golden force field above him warbling with his attacks.
"You know, that blue bird has a chance against him~." Danger! Ruby ducked as a blade swung over her head. Her heels slid on the ground, watching the diamonds ripple around Ghirahim. She didn't think of how he'd gotten to her so fast. She didn't have the time. "The spirit of Mistress's Bade, crafted by her counterpart in Time, and made for his apparent avatar. She may at least hurt him."
"Then why are you smiling?" His eyes were cruel as he answered.
"Because, he's much more capable of killing her." The DANGER was there! Ruby reacted as she thought was appropriate.
Bursting into petals again, she flew. Crescent Rose firing a shot to propel her into the air. Fi was flickering through with silver light, heels slashing at Ganondorf as she danced through the air. He was pulling forth another light distorting attack. It was dangerous! Ruby still didn't hesitate.
She grabbed Fi by her cape. The spirit stalled as she held her up in the air. Ganondorf's cruel eyes focused on her. Ruby did the same.
"STOP!" She began to bleed at the edges of her vision. Ganondorf let out a cry of pain.
"GAH! RAGH!" The magic he held rippled like a stone was thrown at it. Ruby didn't realize how significant that was. Not until she felt serious DANGER!
"FI! FLY!" She screamed out. The spirit of the sword obeyed.
Ruby didn't look away as Fi dashed towards the high bleachers some distance away. She watched Ganondorf's scowl grow. He never once had anything less than hatred in his gaze.
BROOOOOOO- Not even as the power he was holding exploded in his hand. She lost track of him the second it went off, but that didn't mean the danger went away.
Ruby thought for a moment she was staring into a black hole. Even her cape felt like it was being drawn into it. It took her that long to realize that Fi as still flying, or more accurately attempting to. The dust she trailed flew into the mass that was growing, and her cap billowing back at it. Looking down, Ruby saw tiling flying up into the mass. Tiling that was supposed to be hundreds of pounds. The danger was increasing!
"FI!"
"I am using 100% of my available power to fly, Ruby Rose." She said no more. "If we do not move within the following three second, we may be swallowed by the power." Ruby gripped tighter. "I recommend action on your part."
"Like what!?"
"The use of the Hero's Silver Eyes will likely cease the activity."
"Didn't that start this!?"
"Your actions caused Ganondorf to lose control of his power. Yours has a 94% likelihood of destroying it." Those were good odds.
Ruby looked back, took a breath, and stared again. The moment she started to, she couldn't see. She panicked.
Seeing without sight. Just looking forward, but not seeing anything. Not darkness, btu nothing! It felt like she had messed up a welding project and she was suddenly lost track of everything, the entire sky darkening around her. She looked at nothing, stared at it… then finally cried out in pain.
"AAAAGH!" It hurt too much. She buried her face against her shoulder, feeling blood clinging to her already stained cape. A moment after that, she felt no pain.
That was being slammed into nearby bleachers, as if fired from Crescent Rose herself. Something soft draped over her, and her grabbed at it.
"Rest for 2.33 seconds, Ruby Rose. You are currently safe." She felt danger despite Fi's words. So, she spited Fi's orders.
Eyes shut, she unfurled Crescent Rose again, stabbing the edge of her blade into the ground. It secured a base, her fingers wrapped around the trigger, and she faced the sky. Carefully, she opened her eyes, blinking past splotches of blood and floating dark spots. It hurt so much, too much to even think about using the Silver Eyes again. For a moment, she didn't think she'd have to, not with the darkness actually gone.
That changed as she saw Ganondorf, still hanging in the sky. He was more of a blur than the striking source of power from before. But no one else she knew could survive what he had. Not even her Grandfather… though perhaps her real grandfather.
She shook her head. It hurt. That didn't matter.
Ganondorf was alive, but he had to be hurt. She had a shot, and that could hurt him. She could with her stare, so maybe her weapons could! Maybe.
She just needed to shoot… she just needed… to kill him.
"… Will you not fire upon me?" The question nearly made her jerk. "Your aim is as true as your heritage, and with power to match. Why will you not fire upon me?"
Ruby bit her tongue. Her finger hovered over the trigger. She had a high caliber round ready.
"You have been witness to my power more than most." He spoke above her, voice booming as his golden eyes bored down upon her. "You saw me fight the demon Majora, you saw me confront the Sage of the Forest, you saw me hold up your moon! You know I have every means to kill you and leave not even an ember of your remains behind!" The fire behind him grew.
"I know... I didn't think you were weak."
"Then why do you hesitate?"
Ruby shook her head, silver eyes staring up at him.
"Because you want to die! I don't want to kill you!"
"You are among the few who do not!" He reeled his hand back. Ruby felt danger. "And the fewer yet who would deny me!" He threw his arm forward. Ruby, for a terrified moment, realized she was too pained to move.
The danger approached… then missed.
The explosion of his lance hitting the stands still was felt at her back. The air ripping and the power of his magic exploding outwards. The singe of heat almost made her gasp, but Fi's cloak at her back kept her strong. Crescent Rose kept her grounded.
"The weapon had a trajectory intended for 2.3 feet above our current position. Discarding assumptions of Ganondorf Dragmire, I have a 55% chance the weapon was intended to miss." Ruby held her tongue from asking why. Ganondorf was still screaming.
"Your desire to be free of blood is an impossible one! You, who are born from the seed of the Hero, who are destined to face the vilest parts of this word, cannot be free blood!" He held his arms above his head. Ruby watched, silver eyes shaking, as the space began to distort above him again. She saw a ball of darkness, bending the sight of the forcefield above him, then the clouds, then even his flaming hair. Then the ball of darkness turned into some churning vortex of light.
Ruby couldn't look at him again if she wanted to. He knew that.
"I know that! I know I might have to kill!"
"Then why hesitate!"
"Because you don't want to do this! You want to be free!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Grandpa Link wanted that for you! He freed you!" The words struck like her stare.
Ganondorf hesitated above her. She screamed on.
"You hurt so many people then, too! You told me about it! You told me you were evil because of the hatred! You don't want to kill, she wants you to!" Someone was laughing, but she ignored it. "I know you don't want to kill me, so why should I have to kill you!?" Her voice was hoarse, the taste of copper heavy in her mouth.
But the stadium was silent. The billowing of her and FI's cape all that she could hear. The blur of a figure that was Ganondorf so far away, holding himself in the air. No air or magic rippling around him, the crackle of lightning relegated to the clouds outside of the force field. For all the intents and purposes, there was a pocket of tension waiting to be cut. Ruby had to wait.
Wait, hope, and prepare.
The answer came with a growl. It wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"Ghirahim!" Ganondorf screamed. "Come to me! Give me your power! Aid me in destroying life!" For all the power and authority that Ganondorf had used to rend the stadium, the monsters, and the sky above them, his voice now was enough to shake the stadium. Ruby hoped that was why she was suddenly uneasy on her feet.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" The laughter did not help. "Of course~! You who've worn the anger of my God, the Incarnation of Demise! I answer your call!" No no no no!
She saw another figure, the Gray Clown shooting up from the side of the stadium he had been waiting at. She watched him, eyes focusing through the pain, as he clasped hands with Ganondorf. Tall as the Gray Clown was, he was dwarfed by the figure of the Evil King. The darkness that permeated between them when they touched made Ruby fear for what was to come. The sense of danger told her well what it would be.
And yet, she didn't expect what happened.
She didn't expect to see Ghirahim being swallowed by the darkness, the cackle of his voice echoing out across the arena as he was swallowed by a darkness so close to what she and Fi were before. She didn't expect Ganondorf to raise him up like a pool of power above his head, crushing and twisted the blob of darkness, doubtlessly mutilating what was left of the demon.
But more than anything else, she didn't expect Ganondorf to wipe his hand to the side, screaming, to throw away the darkness. Not at her, but like water off of the railing. It left behind a new object in his hands. It resembled nothing of Ghirahim.
Ghirahim was an evil monster who laughed at death. Ganondorf was holding a sword.
"Returned to me as if in the hands of Demise." Ruby's lips trembled. "My inheritance, my future, my fate. In these dreaded cycles I am forced to endure." She wiped the blood from her eyes again, Fi's cape like a wall of ice behind her.
She stared at Ganondorf, holding up a jagged saw more akin to an axe than a blade. She saw its dark metal, its gem encrusted shine, and the lighting that crackled off of it. A dark lightning so far from natural it made her skin stand on edge.
"This is my blade to hold, Ruby Rose. This is what I am destined for. Just as you were destined to stand against me." She didn't want to. "Your wants are known, and they fill me with more hatred than I already held. I thank you for it. It will make it easier for me to bear with the weight of your soul in my hands." Ruby felt the danger. Real DANGER!
"Ruby Rose. It is necessary for you to take decisive action." Fi sang behind her. "There are two possible methods of combatting Ganondorf at this moment."
"W-What are they?"
"You may continue to use your Silver Eyes." That had worked. "However, regarding the damage you have suffered and the high use you have engaged in, there is 93% likelihood you will go blind, and a further 44% likelihood in the loss of life." Ruby bit her lip.
Die… she was going to die.
"A-And the other?"
"Wear the mask of the Hero, and use him for aid." Ruby blinked. "Master Link will be able to use me and the Master Sword. He is accustomed to facing Ganondorf. You will be protected as he does so." That made perfect sense. It made too much sense.
Because it was what Ganondorf and Ghirahim were mocking her to do before.
"I-It's a tr-trap."
"There is a 33% chance. Odds are lowered as I may only detect the loss of our numbers as a detriment, from two to one. However, the quality of a combative unit will increase 433%."
"G-Grandpa's that g-good?" Her eyes stung.
"In combination with my powers and your memory. Yes." Ruby let out a sigh, one that shook her to her core.
Her fingers, wet with blood and sweat, grabbed at her Grandpa's mask. It trembled in her hands, and she didn't have the strength to admire it. She didn't have the time either. Time was on their side, but they didn't have any to waste.
The DANGER of Ganondorf loomed, and she had to act.
The DANGER became DANGEROUS, just as the feeling of darkness and lightning began to fall. The mask was heavy in her hands.
It was light as it touched her face.
For all the pain she felt the first time she wore it. Now she felt nothing at all.
The day was long, the stress was high, and Pyrrha Nikos was exhausted. She was used to long hours of training, enduring matches, and the difficulties of balancing those with the management lifestyle that came with her fame. She was, despite appearances, able to handle fatigue rather well.
But this day, she went from a dueling match against some of the best in the world, to fighting off a woman who was clearly empowered by some sort of ancient magic, evidenced by the appearance of a literal God, then being on a ship that was ripped from the air by the sabotage of deceitful and spiteful enemies. All of that happening within just a few scant hours.
She wasn't the only one either. Jaune had gone through as many fights, and his new weapon, gifted from Link and delivered by Ruby, drew out his Aura to heal his body. It fatigued him faster than running would, leaving him panting. She didn't dare to mention to him the minutes he was passed out. For all the weight and grace that Nora swung about the Megaton hammer, it was still a mega-ton hammer, leaving her dragging a literal weight around in battle. Ren himself couldn't use the Lens of Truth without fatiguing his own Aura, much like Jaune.
They were all tired. Yet they were still fighting.
"Pyrrha duck!" Her body hit the ground. A moment later a boot sailed over her head. Her shield came up, Silver Gauntlets empowered, letting her resist the second boot that came swinging at her head. It still hit hard enough to send her sliding back. Lance spun in her hand, unfolding into a rifle. On one knee, she took aim at the figure that had just swung at her.
She saw him, but that didn't mean she had a shot. He was too fast, moving like Ruby and with a far more muted color than red. The Mistral Champion drew a grimace as she whipped her hand, pulling Milo back into a lance. Not a moment later did the figure come barreling towards her again. The simile was astute.
Pyrrha blinked, and the body turned from a blur several dozen feet away to a face grinning at her within arm's reach. Her body reacted by instinct again. Shield raised, lance back, and resisting the blows to come.
BANG! This time it was the knee of the boy striking her. She took it, but struck upwards at the body hanging over her. She hit air, the figure instead jumping off of her shield like she was a sturdy piece of rock. Using the Silver Gauntlets against her.
"What's the matter? Too fast for you?" The cool jab came at her, Green eyes following the misty gaze of Mercury. "Thought you were better than that?" She twisted Milo again, but he was gone in a flash of silver. "C'mon, you're used to grabbing at petals, aren't you? Can't be that much faster than little red." Pyrrha held back a curse.
"Dammit!" Jaune did not. "How the heck did he get so fast!?"
"Wrong question, Jaune." Pyrrha corrected. She took a stance next to him. He held up the Mirror Shield beside her, placing his feet next to hers. A stalwart defense, just as they'd practiced. Against an enemy that was breezy like the wind, it was best. "The better question is where did they get these new tools from?"
"Tools?" Pyrrha didn't curse him. He didn't have the eyes for it yet.
"Look at the others." She was paying attention to Mercury. He was stopping between his quick strides to show glints of his smile. She returned it with a scowl. "They're all using something. Tell me what you see."
"Nora and Ren are alright. Sort of. Not really." Not what she meant. "Their fighting Emerald... AND Neo is somewhere."
"And how are they doing." She shook her head. "I-I mean how are they fighting. No-I mean-"
"You mean you need to take a nap." She twisted her foot. BANG! Mercury's boot hit it, letting him stand above her, practically on her. He folded his arms as he perched above her. "Let me help you out with that. Put you to sleep quick, even make it a dirt nap. I'm told nothing's deeper."
"RAGH!" Jaune swung in a large arc with the Great Fairy Sword. The lavender blade hit air. Mercury had already jumped off and away. Pyrrha entertained for a moment the idea of getting Milo in for another shot, with the boy hanging in the air. Just like before, however, the idea was dashed.
Namely as the silver haired teen dashed through the air himself. Jumping off of nothing with a blinding speed.
"DAMMIT!" Jaune screamed again for her. "How's he doing that!?"
"Not just him Jaune, the others!" She had to stay focused. He was the leader. She was the Warrior. "How are they doing!?
"Nora is handling Emerald! Sort of... A little." The sound of concrete imploding was an answer. "She can't get close, and that's good!" He swung out with the Great Fairy Sword. Pyrrha ducked, hating herself for doing it. But it was necessary.
Jaune nearly struck Mercury, but the boy's new found speed had him laughing as he easily dodged about the blade, kicking at Jaune's chest on his retreat. The sound of gunfire echoed out again, and her partner was blown back. Her eyes scanned him quickly, but found Mercury quickly again. Jaune had Aura AND the Great Fairy Sword. He was okay.
"Does that count as chest beating, if someone else does it I mean?" Mercury had an attitude, and she knew which one needed the most attention. "You seem like a guy who could use a little help with that. I can be a bit harsh, but hey, it's worked out well in the end."
"Will you shut up!" Jaune yelled out. "You killed so many people, and you're cracking jokes at us!"
"Would you prefer me laughing? I can laugh, just prefer to take it easier. And trust me, this is an easy fight now." The blur of a fighter stopped for a moment, too quickly for Pyrrha to bother entertaining the idea of shooting him again. She instead watched as he lifted his foot and tapped at the sole of his boot. "It's amazing how new threads can help you feel like a new man. Then again, you two know all about it, don't you?"
"I swear if you took that from Link's body, I'm going to give you Ruby so she can rip you apart like a reaper." Pyrrha resisted looking at Jaune. It was as hard a fight as fighting Mikau.
"Giving me too Little Red? Don't have the chops yourself?"
"No, I just know whatever I do to you, it'll be nothing compared to what she can do." Jaune took stance next to Pyrrha again. "But if we can take you out here, I'm sure no one will complain."
"Big if there. Not a big fan of those. Me or the boss. Gotta be sure about things, because that'll help you relax." He sped away, another blur of silver. "Like, say, I'm sure that these boots given to me, courtesy of a queen and goddess incarnate, really live up to their name. Pegasus boots." Pyrrha hated them. "Same way how I know Emerald is loving her new toy."
The sounds of booms echoed out behind them, but Pyrrha kept her eyes on Mercury. Jaune was looking, she knew. He couldn't ignore his teammates. She just couldn't afford to ignore the present threat.
"Don't know if the Goddess thought of it or special request from Cinder, but giving the girl with an illusion Semblance literal bombs? That's an idea so simple its effective. Had to come from some who was just absolutely confident and comfortable, ya know?"
"I know you're going to pay for what you've done."
"That's the exhaustion talking." Pyrrha grit her jaw as Mercury pointed at Jaune. "You gotta calm down and accept things. Like, someone accept Emerald isn't a good fighter, so they gave her bombs. Now she can hide those things with her illusions and literally lead a couple of idiots into them."
Boom. Boom. Duller echoes filled the background. Pyrrha had to put her foot out, stopping Jaune from turning away. She blinked, and in that fraction of a second, Mercury had darted to another portion of the field. Her hands clenched, straining the Silver Gauntlets. She wanted to reach out with her Semblance and grab him.
But that was why he kept moving. Too fast for her to track or too far for her Semblance to work. He was mouthy, but he wasn't stupid. None of them were.
"Course, that same kind of patience had to be used to keep that other teammate of yours away. Gotta say having magic lens is just cheating, like a fire extinguisher against some kinda flame semblance. You think that'd work on blonde?" He chuckled, and Jaune growled. Pyrrha kept her leg firm.
"You're just trying to distract us. You can't hurt us, or at least not without hurting yourself." It was a stretch and she knew it.
"Hurting myself? I look like I'm in pain?" He jumped around, like the wind picking up leaves. "Think you're letting the stress get to you. Or are you really gonna need that nap I offered? I'm sure I can find a pillow for you?"
"You hit and run, but you can't hit us. A shield or plate armor, and we have the means to heal." Jaune did, but she wasn't about to let a wide kick get to her, not without grabbing something out of him. "You can't beat us."
"Course not." He shrugged and... that was it.
"He never wanted to." Jaune answered back. "He knows that if we turn away from him, he'll get that chance. But we have to, because Ren and Nora aren't doing much better." Pyrrha wrapped her digits one by one around Milo, keeping herself from crushing her precious weapon on accident. "Nora's not gonna be able to handle someone lobbing bombs at if she can't see them!"
"Ren can."
"Ren is being blinded by Neo!" Pyrrha didn't look at him. Even as he shouted.
"He's got a point, Ms. Invincible. Kind of hard to tell where someone is when you're blinded by the light." He laughed, and before she could fire a shot at him, he was a hundred feet away on a different side of them. "C'mon. She's just throwing some bright acorns at him. No reason to go nuts over it."
The sound of booms and bangs going off behind them kept her nerves frayed. The fatigue, the exhaustion, and Jaune itching to push away from her were making her muscles quiver. She felt as if she could pass out at any moment, and it would be while staring into the face of a self-assured bastard... she was tired...
This was bad.
"I'm pretty happy over here, getting the best of the bunch. A good pair of boots can go a long way, and compared to some walnuts that come with a bang and basic bombs, I can do a lot more." He was a blur, but Pyrrha didn't dare to blink. Else she really would lose him. "Guess that's why I don't have much of an excuse when it comes to going two on one. Least I'll have something to hold over Emerald's after this. Hey, you're a personably guy. If I tell her that I do twice the work, will that get her to finally give me a break?"
Jaune didn't answer him. Pyrrha could see why. She could see the line of his muscles through his clenched jaw.
"C'mon, we're all friends here. Just a bit of rough housing is all this is. Can't be my fault if there's an accident, right?" He jumped and was moving around again. Jaune twisted, and Pyrrha kept her foot between his legs. He was pinned, he couldn't run to Nora and Ren. "And turning your back in the middle of training? Well, that's just dangerous. Better make sure you keep your eyes up and we'll all be skipping out of here."
"Or limping." Jaune sounded out right venomous.
"I mean that's just the sign of good effort, right?" His grin was relaxed. The shudders of battle, of their friend's battle, kept either Pyrrha or Jaune from sharing that relaxed calm he was nearly flaunting at them. "You could also lie flat on your back and enjoy the sights. Pretty sure the sky's never going to be as filled as it is tonight." He laughed.
"We have to take him out. Now. Cripple him or something."
"I think killing him may work." Pyrrha didn't flinch at Jaune's words. "Sorry, just-"
"Don't apologize for what is appropriate Jaune. And remember, I'm following you. You have the greatest plans so far."
"Against Link's friends, in training, in the arena."
"You had a fair number against Ganondorf."
"His Shadow, and even then, that was all you."
"Then guide me, so we can help Nora and Ren." She turned away from Mercury, staring right at Jaune.
"That way we can-" She only realized her mistake when it was too late.
BAM! Or when the heel of Mercury's boot connected with Jaune. In the same blur that he had been running around as, he tore into him. Jaune's body rag dolled down the ruined street, nearly pulling Pyrrha with him, given the placement of her feet. That was bad. Her shield went up – CLANG! – and stopped the knee of Mercury from taking off her head as well. It wasn't everything.
His guns went off, flipping him around her like a top, landing between her and Jaune. He wasn't even done rolling and Mercury was after him. Pyrrha sucked in her breath to scream, just as she reached out with her Semblance. She wasn't fast enough.
BAM! Another brutal kick sent Jaune flying down the road, this time like a soccer ball. The Great Fairy sword was clutched in his hand, and it was the only grace that Pyrrha had. The pain that flashed over his features, however, had her still preparing to scream. Even more so when she noticed that his armor had a dent.
Mercury was still a blur. So much so he was beneath Jaune's flight path before her boyfriend could right himself. That had him spinning on his heel, the boots of his lighting up with sparks, and then kicking outwards. The bang of shots echoed out, and just in time with Jaune's cries of pain.
"NO!" Pyrrha pushed out with her Semblance. She couldn't track Mercury, not when he bobbed and weaved. But she could predict a straight bullet.
She caught them in her 'net' holding them still as Jaune tumbled over them. It must have felt like pebbles to him. The landing, not so much. Pyrrha didn't have the time or breath to check on him.
BAM! Not when it was her turn to have Mercury attack. A boot to her chest, and giving her head near whiplash.
Her sense of equilibrium and balance were blown away, nearly flailing from the attack. She recovered as quickly as she could, pulling her limbs in, pulling up her knees, throwing out her shield and arms to slow her momentum. It worked, for a moment. But she couldn't track Mercury, and he knew it.
She knew he knew when she felt his hand on her free arm, before suddenly spinning around. Her projected path was once again ripped from her as Mercury spun like a dial. She needed a second to reorient, but he didn't give it to her. As soon as he twisted her about three times, at a ludicrous speed, he let go. Pyrrha didn't have the time to recover now.
CRASH! Not when her body was colliding with the concrete wall of a nearby building. Air left her, Aura weakening, and spots trailing in her eyes. Instinct told her to pull her arms in, hiding herself behind her shield. Breathless, it felt like she was choking.
BAM! BAM! BAM! It didn't help that Mercury was already kicking at her again, bullets and boots echoing off of her shield and her greaves.
"See!? This is fun, right? Nothing can really beat wailing on a punching bag! Though I gotta admit, it's more fun when there's a bit more fight in them." Pyrrha could grab the air to speak back with. She barely had enough to keep herself conscious. She just needed to… just needed to… focus. "Opening one." She didn't get it.
WHAM! Not until she realized her guard had dropped a hair, and her reward for offering the opening was the heel of Mercury's boot to her temple. Now her Aura wobbled, even as she tumbled. Training and desperation at her back on her feet again, standing in the center of the street. Her shield came out, Milo pulled inward, ready to stab at Mercury as soon as he flashed in front of her.
But it wasn't her he was attacking. She saw over the edge of her shield, the blur of the silver hair running at Jaune again. Her leader had the Mirror Shield away, Great Fairy Sword out, and was holding it the hilt while he embedded it in the ground. She watched, in the span of an eye's blink, as Mercury delivered a rain of kicks to him, all about his arms. He was trying to kick his grip off of the sword, but Jaune wasn't letting go.
"From one guy to another, you really need to learn to let things go. No use in holding onto the past." The snide comments continued as he laid down Jaune with another hard kick to the head. Pyrrha pulled her shield back, watching as the empty sound of pain came from him. "Just ends up pulling you down." Mercury had had his back to her, and that was her chance.
He was looking away as she pulled her own arm back, shifting her feet to adjust herself to a vaulting stance. She had once chance with this. She could hit his legs, and that would slow him down! Just that, and then-
"Peek-a-boo." She was staring at Mercury's face. His grin wide and face sure.
CLANG! His boot kicked away Milo, her arm twisting and holding her lance sure, but with no way to swing back so quickly. Mercury did not have the same problem.
"I see you."
Milo was down, her shield was kicked away, Jaune was too far from her, Mercury was raising his foot back, Pyrrha stared down at it. No defense, no guard, too little Aura, too quick of a boot. Her breath caught as the foot came up.
BOOOM! The sky cracked above them, tipping Mercury off balance. Pyrrha didn't hesitate.
She twisted her torso, slamming her shield into Mercury's neck. The crack it made was a far cry from the sound that had sundered the air, but she didn't stop. She couldn't afford to. Her hand came out, Silver Gauntlets grasping at the boy's legs. She knew they were fake now, and he couldn't get away fast enough this time.
Her fingers wrapped around one of his legs, and squeeze. The sound of shattering metal was grinding gears in her ears, and it gave her peace. Even if the scream Mercury made was animalistic in nature. She drew Milo back, ready to deliver a savage stab and end this! A crack of lightning echoed above her!
But it wasn't lightning. It was too bright. And it was staying for too long. It was holding long enough for her to stave her lance, and force her to look. To look up, gawking, at the colosseum.
"It... It broke." Simple as Jaune's words, nothing else could relay the message so easily. Not even the mad kick from Mercury, freeing his ruined leg and boot from her grasp, stole enough of her attention. She didn't even feel any of his retaliation. Her eyes were too transfixed on the sight above.
On the once ethereal dome covering Amity, broken like a golden block of ice, with a jutting spear of light coming from it.
"What... what is that?" Pyrrha didn't recognize her own voice. She barely registered what her eyes were seeing. She could see the dark clouds crackling with lightning, she couldn't miss the monster Whale Grimm hovering like a dark blimp above the city, and even the departing Mercury, hobbling on one leg, was something she understood.
But the pillar of light, bursting forth from the Colosseum, was something she couldn't understand. Not at first. The answer came to her like the explosion.
"Link?"
"I need another status report! NOW!"
"Still no effect on the shield! All efforts to penetrate have been left with no effect! No means to monitor if it has a decrease in energy levels of either. All signs point towards it being made up of some manner of energy independent of Dust!"
"Conclusion reached only due to the same manner of energy having been displayed by the Bullhead Launchpad previously! Energy there having fallen off and no longer on display. Destruction along sector has not decreased, however, as there has been monitored tremors in the area resulting in buildings falling still!"
"Combatants are currently confirmed to be wanted criminal Hazel and retired Hunter Tai Xiao Long! No signs of pardoned criminal Raven Branwen or her opponent." He bit his tongue, trying to draw blood. It didn't take much effort. "I-It is unconfirmed of her status!"
"Move on! We do not have time to focus on them!"
"Specialist Winter is also engaging former White Fang leader Adam Taurus! She is assisted by Hunter Volga!"
"Correction! Volga is assisted by Specialist Winter! Obvious discrepancy! Her arrival far after his! Must be amended!"
"At another time Professor."
"Doctor!"
"Continue!"
"Hunter Volga was suffering from major lacerations and was on the losing front against Adam, but Winter's appearance has rejuvenated him! This is assumed to be because of the Magic Rod that she is using, name noted by her own report given one hour and twenty-one minutes ago."
General Ironwood kept himself from saying time didn't matter. That would be a falsehood if he were to say it. Right now, time was all that mattered. He knew because they were running low on it.
Every second that ticked by felt like nails on his false skin.
"We have confirmation on the downed Bullhead transporting Professor Goodwitch! An unknown object knocked it out of the sky by destroying its rear engine block. It has crashed, but without damage to it or the people within."
"Where? How?!"
"Student Yang Xiao Long appeared to have caught it sir! With observations previously seen with her team at the docks, it is likely due to her increased Semblance abilities! Unconfirmed, but the initial assumption in line with her sister." That wasn't it at all, but he couldn't say a damn word to them.
"Troubling news. Still unfortunate, near egregiously so."
"She reacted to her powers as anyone would." He words were a harsh whisper to Dr. Oobleck. The roar of the wind, storm, and Grimm outside, in combination with all hands-on station scrambling over their keyboards, kept him from being heard. "I need an update! Where are they now?"
"Drone data indicates they are protecting citizens in an otherwise stable apartment building! Team SSSN was observed taking civilians inside! Professor Goodwitch and student Yang Xiao Long are killing Grimm on the outside."
"Good. They'll be okay." He felt sick just saying it. Fighting Grimm was the safest option in this city now, short of being in a central hold. His fingers cracked the metal bar he was grasping. It was already beyond repair from the hours prior. "What's the update on the enemy combatants she reported before the Bullhead was jacked?!"
"Last observation was a confrontation between three observed threats and Team JNPR of Beacon. No updates at this time, sir!"
"Why not!?"
"We... couldn't keep track of them." He stared at the woman, and she paled under his gaze. It was a disrespectful act on his part, and he knew it. Ironwood didn't stop. "There were too many Grimm a-and two of the combatant members are in possession of Semblances that alter video and audio, s-so we were not-"
"Find them! Now! We are not leaving anyone in this officially god damned city!"
"Astute observation. Action and condition. Both correct. Marvelous. Horrendous." He looked at Oobleck with thin lips. "Apologies. Rambling. Force of habit given the circumstance and general lack to include personal resources or merit able abilities to offer assistance. Troubling position."
"Then you understand my position a bit better." He did not mean to growl at the man.
"I do. Offense is not taken. Understandable. All here agree." Ironwood looked away without another word. "A true observation. Assurances on my part. Absolute."
"I'll look to verify that when everything else is said and done." That was still miles and miles away. "What is the update at Beacon!?"
"The Fierce Deity is still present at Beacon! No motion since last update!"
"Nothing at ALL!?" The scrambled as he raised his voice. He was sorry, but there was no time to offer an apology. "He hasn't used his sword, or stare, or anything!?"
"N-No sir!" The station head nearly fell over when her hand smacked her forehead in a rushed salute. She grimaced before she continued. "I-I-I can only say that he is staring at a Seer Grimm still!" Ironwood lowered his head. "Sh-Should I-?"
"Other updates. Continue. Now!" They looked, but didn't answer. "Where is Impa!? How is Ozpin faring? Where is Ruby Rose? Where are our hunters!?"
"Headmaster Ozpin is still confronting the Shadow of the Hero!"
"Hero's Shade."
"Yes! Apologies!" Ironwood didn't care for what was the right name. "Aura signs of the Headmaster are decreasing steadily, but we have no methods to monitor the Grimm-like being he is facing. Only observations are that the facility of Beacon is suffering greatly from the battle."
"How great?" There was a pregnant pause from the man speaking. Ironwood was ready for an abortion. "Well!?"
"S-Sir! Quick observation concludes three dorm halls, mess hall, and several portions of the academic wings have been either destroyed or burned!" Burned? "The Hero's Shade is... using powers."
Ironwood wanted to ask for more details. What were they, how was he doing it, what could they do to help?
What Ironwood had to do was grip the iron bar until another portion of it snapped, then looked to another sweating lieutenant.
"Impa!? Where is she? We have had no updates since she killed Link!"
"I-I-It's as you say sir! There have been no reports, sightings, or indications of her activity throughout Vale! No soldiers, drones, or civilian's testimony has indicated heavy activity from her!" Ironwood scowled.
"Obvious result. Master Shadow. Own words. Stealth, subterfuge, sabotage. Expertise on her part. Unfortunate."
"That is the least accurate I have ever heard you."
"How so? Curious? Morbid connotation."
"It's not unfortunate. Even in the middle of this, losing her is just unacceptable!" He finally snapped and pulled the metal grating off of the floor. "That woman has killed more of our friends than we've even arrested them, and we don't even know where she is!?"
"Priority. No argument, however a necessary amendment to the supposition of her importance. Her threat is mitigated on apparent orders by Salem, commanding the Whale Grimm above us."
"Your point?"
"If she is not present to us, she may be fulfilling an order for her."
"I figured that one out already, but it doesn't help us." He turned back towards the stations. More than a few heads swiveled, and keyboards nearly shattered, as everyone returned to work. He was rude to them; he had no right to criticize them for staring at his loss of temper. "More updates, now. Anything."
"Sir, we don't-"
"Then move onto plans! Suggestions! Anything!" He gripped his mechanical digits into fists. The sound of the gyros inside whirling filled the room. The cries of the Grimm and gunfire outside echoed in mocking of him.
"Your duty. Not theirs. Your purpose, requiring intelligence, intellect, experience, education. Do not put burden on them." Ironwood grit his teeth.
"I know... but I don't know what to do."
"Then we improvise. Suggestions, queries, supposition of important acts. Necessity to act now." Of that, the General could agree.
"Does anyone... has anyone hailed the other kingdom's militaries?"
"No other kingdom has a fleet as grand as ours and-"
"I wasn't curious about their capabilities. I am asking if we have called any of them. It doesn't matter if we could pose a threat with a single battleship or not. At the moment, there is no such thing as too strong of a front." The few who stared at him began to nod, before putting their digits to work.
"Communications have been ongoing with Mistral, but records and immediate reports indicate actions in line with bunkering over fleet mobilization." Ironwood licked his lips. It was the normal course of action. So, he had to act abnormally.
"Tell them if they send their available airships and Hunters, the Schnee Dust company and Atlas will pledge a year of unrestrained support."
"In... in what regard?"
"Whatever they need." The curious soldier began to type, and Oobleck leaned over Ironwood's shoulder.
"A promise that you are able to produce through effort and connections?"
"Something I'll worry about later." The sound of understanding echoed back. "Do we have the capabilities to fire cannons into the sea? We need to make sure the ships are able to escape the bay and break for the deeper waters. They'll be able to spread out and avoid Grimm activity then."
"Majority of aquatic and avian Grimm are against the hulls of the ships. Firing upon them risks sinking the ships." Same as before then.
"Focus fire on Grimm further out. Keep the Grimm coming off of them. If there are any Hunters on board, we'll have to hope they can deal with the Grimm currently on them. We can just make sure they don't have any more to contend with." The calls for actions came with his words, and he drowned out the passing of roles. "Amity, no changes in the force field?"
"None sir."
"Then look for a perimeter. Grimm didn't make that, but they'll attack whatever inside of it."
"Curious? Interesting. You believe origin of the energy is from a possible ally and not cohort of Salem?"
"No, I think whatever made that is keeping an ally inside of it. That's what cages are for."
"Assured logic!"
"Maybe, but what we need now is a miracle. Because whatever is in there, whoever is in there, is someone who can help swing this tide back to sea."
His eyes looked towards the glowing prism. It hung like a giant rock of gold, threatening to fall and crush Vale. Swirls of magic and energy billowed off of it like foam over water, and shone even under the darkness of the Whale Grimm. Nothing so much as scratched it and it beat like a heart. If there wasn't a war raging around him, he would have dedicated his hours to it without rest or thought of breaks.
For now, like so many others, he just stared at it.
Stared... and noticed something odd.
"Oobleck. Look at the arena."
"I am observing it. What am I meant to additionally perceive? Size? Structure? Deduce an increase in mass in relation to its volume?"
"None of that. Just... does it look brighter to you?"
A rumbling silence filled the air, more than a few of his subordinates following his gaze towards the floating monolith. It was already inordinately bright, probably the surest sign that it was not fashioned by anything Grimm born. And yet, over the past few minutes it appeared to be brighter from within. And now... it was just starting to glow.
"Not bright. Luminescent unchanged."
"Oobleck. It's getting brighter."
"Incorrect. Falsehood. No, misunderstanding. The shield itself is not increasing in luminous properties or letting off an increase in any translucent properties." The man leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. "Something within is glowing brighter."
Ironwood stared at the same thing. The same runic mass of impossible to penetrate and unnamable material. And the longer he did, the more he realized it. Dr. Oobleck was right.
"Sir! Grimm activity at the Colosseum!" His gaze turned to another helmet adorned soldier. "Their numbers are retreating! Currently pursuing other objectives!" Grimm didn't have objectives. That wasn't his concern.
"They're fleeing? From it?" He stared back at the structure. "What is it? What's happening?"
For once, the world felt compelled to answer him.
BOOOOM!
In a shower of magical shards, and explosion of light. Explosion was the correct word.
The entirety of the airship rocked with the sudden boom, like a depth charge in the ocean. Without a guard to grip, he fell over and stumbled on the ground, alarms blaring at the sudden tilting of axis without corrective measures. His digits clung to the metal floor, pulling himself up by the armrest of his chair. Oobleck clung to the back of it, and the rest of his subordinates correcting themselves in their seats.
"Damage Assessment! Now!"
"Peripheral damage to starboard hull! Internal stress on rivets increased 34%!"
"Cannons suffered external damage, Cannons 1, 3, and 12 too damaged to release fire!"
"Hull integrity compromised! Reports from lower decks of breaches!"
Ironwood listened to it all and scowled.
"Now is not the necessary time to adorn and expression of displeasure. Unease. Disappointment. Not this time." Ironwood looked up at Oobleck. The doctor was standing at the window already, arms out and facing the Colosseum, or what Ironwood was sure was left of it. "Something miraculous has occurred."
"What on earth are you talking about!? We just took damage from that eruption!" He scanned the shadowed horizon. "The only blessing I'm seeing is that the Grimm were about as affected as we are, but they have numbers."
"Numbers are unimportant before a sufficiently qualified object. Present example of power demonstrates... such a qualified object has appeared."
Ironwood didn't get what Oobleck was referring to, at first.
Not until he looked at the remains of Amity, or what he thought would be there. Amity was very much there, which was more than he bargained for. He was then given more than that when he bore witness to the tower of light jutting from its center. A beam that would have been closer to a spotlight in his mind, were it not so dense and bright that he could not see through the force of it.
Nor could he deny its strength as the Whale Grimm above was pierced by it, and the clouds above being broken by its rays.
"My god..."
"A certain one. A Likely conclusion."
The Wind Fish was tilting. That was natural of any being of any form of creation when it was pierced by a relic of divine power.
Such was the panic of those inside.
"It hit us! It was a direct hit!" It was a more accurate account to say one inside. "That attack, that beam! It can only be one thing!"
"Indeed, it is. And such is what I have been expecting." Her fingers folded as she stared into the maelstrom of darkness still, watching with the many eyes she had about the city below. "It took more time than I would have believed. Perhaps a part of pride on her part? Certainly not fear, at least not of death."
"You expected him to return!" Her red eyes bore to Cia. The witch cowered worse than she already was. "I-I apologize, my mistress. My queen. I only... I believed the death of the hero was a final death, at least for years to come."
"Would it be in the ways of the other cycles, perhaps, but the only eternity of the sake of the hero is that one will always rise. And at this time, there was already an heir that was waging war below. It was why I gave life and hatred to that fool of a man. As he needed a hero to focus on." Her eyes tilted to the port side of the whale's mass. The beam struck through the sky like a blade through flesh. "Be it for the reason of courage or guileless, it appears that the child is finally taking after the father."
"You mean to say... Ruby Rose was deemed worthy of the Master Sword?"
Salem laughed. The witch cowed herself.
"No no, not nearly something so impressive. The girl is a child, and the child is unworthy of the blade. No more capable of holding Fi's vessel than you would." The witch's hat moved with her shaking figure, but Salem had already turned her attention back to the maelstrom of visions. One took priority of the other.
One with piercing silver eyes boring back to her, a scowl finally adorning his lips.
She stared on, content to see the change.
"No. There was another reason for her having been made worthy. One that I have come to expect."
"She... She didn't have the power to create him, did she?"
"Of course not. She had no need to. Not when she already held his memories." Her pale fingers played with one another. "No different than Saria, than Impa, than Darmani, or even the Gerudo King himself. Just memories, that she finally saw fit to wear."
The blade of light began to draw itself forward, digging out of the Wind Fish's flesh. It made a groan so low in pitch that the metal rafter about them rumbled. The clouds churned as the piercing symbol of light began to descend and cut forth towards the ground below. It fell out of her vision, but her eyes, staring into the portals of her Seers, showed all.
It showed the blade cutting down like a knife into a cake in the Colosseum, jutting through one side. IT showed a significant number of her Grimm being incinerated by presence alone. It even showed the twinkle of stars daring to peak out from the mass of clouds her vessel and her had created. Her many eyes showed her many visions.
Not a one of them made her frown. Red lips remained pulled in a placid accepting grin.
"The rebirth of his strength is a detriment, I will admit. You are correct that the Hero's return alone is poor for our troops. Do not worry about you being so beyond knowledge that Link would ever dream of himself being a detriment to his allies." Her eyes looked at Cia again. The witch clung to her staff, jaw set as she looked between herself and her queen.
"Then... my liege... may you tell me what is the benefit of him reappearing?"
"His appearance marks two steps on a quickly shortening chart. For one, the hero and his kin will likely be able to slay the Demon King. Least of all because it was done before."
"And Ghirahim?" Salem waved her hand at the name.
"The sword of the man will flee from his grasp, as all do when the fear of death is thick. He will return, and another task will be ready for him, do not concern yourself for his well-being." The expression on the witch did not change. No love lost between the two. "Besides, that is nothing more than proof that these cycles will never end. A feather in the cap of the mundanity and absurdity."
"Absurd a-and mundane?"
"What else is to be referred to a dead hero returning through the memories of his granddaughter? Let alone my descendant as well?" Her grin was sharp and Cia reacted as if it were a blade. She was a sharp one herself. "No no, besides, it is the second reason that has the most interest, and it is the one that has the most need to occur."
Her eyes settled back on the Fierce Deity, her former lover, her fellow cohort, her once beloved, her staunch opposition. She stared into his unfathomable silver eyes, and he stared blindly into the cap of the Seer before him.
The sight brought her pain and pleasure. Cia, next to her, reacted as if staring at a beast. It showed her lack of Wisdom.
"And that reason is, your grace?"
"Quite simple, actually. It has brought not only the focus, but also the disappointment, of the Fierce Deity."
"Disappointment?"
"Of course? What else should he feel? Someone who was so determined to keep that bit of creation he was able to mold safe, not bearing the face of one destined to be in the face of all trials to come."
A noise of understanding slipped from the dark witch. Salem didn't bother to see how she bore the image of it. It didn't matter.
"And now... there is one more way he may now lose his way."
"He will be distracted?"
"No. He will come to understand me." The air outside churned in answer to her.
The dark clouds reformed as the mass of her power spilled out from the Wind Fish, the skies swallowing up the stars again, turning what was a jaded scar into the now deep pool of darkness, lightning, and malice. It rocked through the ship they rode, and the hum of the beast gave her comfort and peace.
"How will Ruby bringing forth Link do that?"
"They say a father will do anything for their child." Salem's answer was vague. The clearest answers usually began as such. "Be it the sacrifice of their body, their will, or even their dreams. Nothing matters more to them than the eternity of their children."
"You believe he will change because Ruby is in danger?"
"Perhaps. More accurately, he will change because of what she wants to be."
"And that is?" Salem dared to look away from the Fierce Deity, grinning at the naive witch.
"Him."
The Blade of Evil's Bane burned in her hands. Link stared up at the familiar glow, Ruby tearing at it. The holy light shone forth above her, and it billowed the red ends of Link's tunic. Her silver eyes stared easily into the light, even as Link's muscles flexed to hold the weight behind it. Weightless to them, a burden to her, and a promise to him.
The Master Sword, empowered with the spirit of its divine spirit, gripped in the hands of the Hero of Time
'I am pleased to be held by you once again, Master Link.' The voice resounded within Link's head. Ruby jumped in her thoughts.
'And you too! I'm holding you! And you're letting me hold you.'
'Master Link is the one who wields me. As you are of his blood and joined in spirit, you know of the trueness of my strength. At this moment, you are able to ascertain approximately 25% of my full power.' Ruby was still grinning. Link held the same smile.
'Doesn't matter! It's so much better than before!' She meant it. 'You're not just telling me what I should do. You're not just saying what I can't do.'
'I am feeling a 30% increase in my personal disturbances, attributed to the correct presumption that 95% of my conversations have been predicated over required and forbidden actions.'
Link laughed. Ruby laughed with him. Fi sang.
The world around them was bright.
'Master Link. Hero of Time. It is my honor to greet your properly. I offer apologies I did not given full disclosure of my presence before.' Ruby felt no ire from her Grandpa. He laughed, and she understood what he was thinking.
'You protected me though, when I asked for it.' Then he thought another good point. 'But that is weird. That I'm not worthy to wield you because I don't have his spirit... but you answered my call?' Fi did not respond. 'Is there a reason for that?'
The world was louder than their conjoined thoughts. The hum of the Master Sword, the great pillar of light coming off of it, jutting forth and forward through the stadium and stands, ripping through the barrier that had been hanging around them. There was nothing left of it now. Nothing but an open sky filled with dark clouds and thunderous lightning.
'It was a heartfelt request. I learned from my Master those are the most important to answer.'
'Then you do care!' Link never thought that she did not. 'Grandpa, you didn't even know she existed until we joined for the first time!'
'His statement is not false, but neither is yours. I apologize if I did not relay my reason clearly enough. Ruby Rose, child of the Hero, he who wields me now, and you who hold him with me... I am grateful to be within your grasp once again, so we may honor the wishes of the Goddess once more.'
Like the cracks of thunder above, it reminded both of them where they were. Ruby was not in the meadows of Hyrule, and Link was not resting on Ruby's home in Patch. They were standing on the arena both had fought, facing down an enemy both of them had witnessed and lived to tell about.
Ruby felt empathy. Link felt pity. Both felt the same.
"And so, the Hero stands before me once more." Ganondorf spoke with a voice that cracked the air. Link's silver eyes narrowed, and Ruby adjusted their grip on the Master Sword. "That is not correct. I have stared into those depths not once more, but now twice. Once atop a tower of my mad creation, and another in a ruined land made by a fallen God. Here now, I we stand beneath the evil that is the Goddess of Creation, and once more that gaze lands upon me."
Link took in a long-controlled breath of air. Ruby followed the motion, remembering all that Link had done to fight Ganondorf before. She had seen Ganondorf fight, now she remembered how hard he was to fight against. Grandpa had barely won, and he had had the Master Sword then.
Even then, he was too slow to save Zelda... Grandma Zelda... Salem.
The memory was cut off, with a harsh reminder of the corrupted woman above.
"There is the familiar fire in those eyes. Righteous, furious, and hot enough to match the glow of the blade you hold." Ganondorf reached his arm out to the side. Link followed it, and Ruby wondered why. Link thought of the reason as Ruby witnessed it.
CLANK! The sudden speeding of his Golden Trident. A wicked weapon that Ruby had seen tear through the stadium like it was made of clouds, and Link had memories of shattering the bodies of hardened soldiers as if foam bubbles on an ocean's current. Ruby already knew it was a weapon she'd struggle to hold, let alone swing. Link recalled trying to grasp it, and failing to find a reasonable manner to strike with it.
Ganondorf held the trident and Ghirahim's transformed body as if they were naturally put together.
A jagged dark sword and a crackling glowing trident.
The boom of thunder and rattling of the ground suited the King of Evil well. Link knew this.
The calm shutting of his eyes and placed grin promised he would receive what he wanted most. Ruby knew this.
One of them was going to die. Neither had any doubt.
"You once saved my mind, Hero of Time, by sentencing my soul and preventing me to sin again. The witch once was your princess, corrupted by the same hatred that ruled me, took that grace from both of us. And now, I have no means to resist, and no other options then to search for my death."
'He's lying! He can totally find another option! He can do nothing a-a-and then we can... we can..." She couldn't answer. Not when Link thought for her.
Thinking through how Fi could not destroy his anger alone, not without destroying his body. How he could not be sealed away, or else his anger would continue to grow and fester, resulting in a greater evil in the future. Not when he was holding the blade of the Salem's making, an equal to Fi, and something that promised his madness to continue as surely as Link's virtue with the Master Sword.
It was an impasse that had only one option. Ruby loathed it, and her Grandfather comforted her as he could in thought. Fi hummed in their hands.
'Be brave, Ruby Rose. You have the power to overcome great fear and great sorrow.' Her hands twisted on the hilt, the leather of Link's gloves, whining at the force. 'You are capable of accomplishing this.'
'How sure?' The light that swelled from Fi's form did not weaken nor tremble.
'With the current parameters, I would estimate at 99.9%. Actions have been taken with lesser assured results.' Ruby believed that. She believed they could do anything.
She let out the long breath of air that Link had taken in. She adjusted her boots to stand at attention, and Link twisted his shield to guard their side. Ganondorf, across from them, opened his gaze and widened his jaw.
The dark clouds above were blown away as lightning descended upon the stadium. The dark king was surrounded in a glow of power, and the weapons in his hands crackled with might. Link stared through it all, Ruby unblinking. The Master Sword and the spirit within, humming through the rupture and noise.
"Oh, Hero of time and descendant of his Courage. Face me."
Ganondorf flew. Link jumped. Ruby cried out.
Their weapons clashed.
He hated it.
He hated everything that was happening.
Too much. Too quickly. Too spread out. Too many important people.
He could do everything to stop any one thing, but nothing to stop it all.
Born again and destroying all the evil that had threatened the city, for but a hair's breadth of time. Now he was forced to stand on the edge of a ruined building, holding a relic of his power strong enough to ruin the fabric of all space, and stare out into the darkness which carpeted the city.
In the far distance. The boy Cardin and his team fought a traitor to her own ideals. She played with them like pawns, heedless, but not careless, to their rage. One had already died.
By the sea, a man of unreasonable wrath faced another housed in armor fashioned by magic. They fought over the grave of a corrupted Sage. Another was soon to pass.
Int eh city streets, a woman of ice using a rod of flame battled aside a hungry dragon, both to slay a false king crowned by a powerful Goddess. One was brought from the brink of death, perhaps only to return to it.
Below him across the grounds of an Academy, the shadow of a Hero's strength battled one of his ancient pasts. Death may claim neither, but one would be ripped asunder.
In the swarm of the monsters near the city center, a girl who had great power thrust upon her, fought the beasts and her desire to run. She would fail one of her goals.
In the ruins of a debauch bar, a team of intrepid children endowed with objects of great use fought a group of spies and assassins gifted tools much the same. More would die, some from each side.
And high in the sky, below the ominous beast of a Goddess's malevolent design, his child, fused with his old memories, and wielding a blade of partial power, battled a man who was cursed with the Wrath of Creation itself. He would not let his grandchild die.
The Fierce Deity would not let Ruby Rose die... but who else could he dare to risk?
"Have you thought of what yet to sacrifice?" He did not gaze at the monster. "Time may be on your side, but even she cannot save you now. She has already given too much. I should know." He did not say a word.
He watched on. He stared.
And the Fierce Deity let his blade rattle with the intent to destroy.