Chapter 63
"Are you sure?"
"I am." Winter replied, pressing down on one of the keypads buttons. Slowly the door lowered, sealing Fria into what would be her grave. "The General has ordered it after all." Winter smiled and turned to Penny, whose face was twisted in concern and confusion.
"So you're fine with it because it's an order?" Penny asked.
"To tell the truth… I would rather not do this."
"Then why do it?"
"Because it's an order. Because I have to. Because I don't have a choice." Winter replied with a sigh.
"I think we always have a choice. I also think that if you don't want to do something, then you shouldn't do it."
"Well-"
A distant explosion cut Winter off. No no no no no! "Not now…" The ground shook. "I need to hurry and-" In the gap between door and doorframe there was a bright orange glow.
And then the door itself glowed a similar colour, moments before it was blown inward. Winter drew her sabre in time to parry a glimmering curved red blade. There, from the smoke that had eclipsed the door, came Cinder Fall. The raven-haired woman smiled cruelly as she brought her offhand around the side, a blade forming within it.
Clang!
A pair of swords from Floating Array had sped in between the incoming attack and Winter, deflecting the blow. Winter backed up to gain some space, but Cinder followed, her blades twirling.
Winter thumbed a trigger on her sabre, causing her parrying dagger to be sent flying to the side into her waiting off-hand. Now with each wielding two blades, they were even.
Aside from the mass of flames Cinder let fly with a roar. The wave slammed into Winter and Penny both with enough force to send them crashing into the next room. Winter tried to roll with it and managed to at least pull herself up quicker, but if it wasn't for Penny's control of her floating swords Cinder would have gained a prime chance to take her out.
"Thanks!" Winter called, falling to a knee and summoning a glyph behind her. Cinder twirled, sending a spiral of fire all around her that struck Penny's swords back. As the cables pulled the weapons back to Penny, Winter sent forth a flock of tiny Nevermore.
Cinder scowled as she cut down bird after bird. Winter and Penny used the summons sacrifice as a chance to recover. Winter quickly loaded in Frost Dust to her sabre while Penny began to charge a pair of lasers.
Sadly for them, Cinder would have none of it. While she appeared busy with the summoned Grimm, she was preparing her own attack.
With a spin, she cut down the remainder and then dropped her blades. She smiled and then flew backwards, a glass-like bow forming in her hands. Winter's eyes widened a moment before she started to charge. Cinder pulled back on the string, an arrow forming as she aimed.
Winter spawned a pair of glyphs, one below her and one in front. She slashed her sabre into the front one, expending some of her Dust to fire off a half dozen icicles at her foe. The one beneath her instead thrust her forward, almost like she slid across the ground.
Cinder fired her arrow, surrounding it in a veil of fire. Flaming arrow met the icicles, causing them both to explode and filled the room with steam. Winter twisted to the side, using more glyphs to manoeuvre around to flank Cinder. She came in at high speeds and slashed.
She hit nothing but air.
"You Atlas elites are all the same…" Cinder whispered as her left arm appeared from the cover of the steam cloud. Winter wasn't in a position to dodge, so she tried to form another glyph to push her out of the way.
But she was too late.
A clawed hand grabbed her by the face and then there was a strange feeling. It hurts! It was like a vacuum was trying to suck out her very soul.
"You have everything and yet continue to strive for more, more, more! You never think about those of us you leave to rot! Well, I refuse to starve!" Cinder spat the words with such venom that it almost shocked Winter. But she was a soldier.
She would keep fighting no matter what.
Another glyph spawned beneath the pair of women. Cinder looked down in surprise, but this time she was the one that couldn't react before disaster struck in the form of a shimmering white-blue Alpha Beowolf. Cinder let out a sound of shock and pain as the summons massive arm crashed into her, separating the women and freeing Winter. Cinder arched through the air for a moment before letting out jets of flame to catch herself.
And then a pair of green lasers slammed into her, forcing her through one of the walls and out into empty space.
"Thanks again." Winter smiled a little as she stood back up and straightened herself. Penny smiled and walked closer to the hole, weapons ready. While she did that, Winter hurried to check the transfer machine's status. Looks like it didn't suffer any damage. That's good. I should-
"Gaaah!" Penny screamed. Winter turned but there was no one else in the room. Shit! Her Beowolf faded as she desummoned it and summoned a Manticore in its place. Mounting it, Winter took flight.
A vibrant green laser from below narrowly missed her as she exited. Winter twisted her Manticore around, barely avoiding a fireball from above. Cinder dropped down, landing on the head of the Manticore. "You should take a good look at the city your precious General has left to die!" She snarled before firing into the head of the Grimm, destroying it. Winter slashed out as she began to fall, barely managing to hit the leg of her foe.
The strike didn't do much damage, but it forced Cinder into a slight spin which pushed her into another beam attack she would have otherwise dodged. Reddish Aura crackled as Cinder screamed in pain. It was followed by a jet of flame launched towards Penny, who barely managed to avoid a direct hit, suffering a graze instead.
Penny gave Winter a glance before rocketing up to attack the wounded Cinder. Winter turned her fall into a dive as she held out a hand, spawning another glyph and summoning a second Manticore. The beast roared as it flew out of its mother glyph and picked up Winter. Together they sped back up towards the fight.
Cinder lashed out, panting as she summoned a dozen blades and launched them at Penny. Floating Array moved with purpose and ease, cutting down each of the incoming attacks. Cinder reforged her bow and opened fire, raining arrows onto Penny. They were easily knocked aside by a circular barrier of swords, but Cinder expected that.
The arrows began to explode, seeming to practically consume Penny. "Aaaaaaaaaa!"
"Penny!" Winter roared, rising up above Cinder. "Damn you!" She yelled as she jumped from her mount, blades slashing. Cinder's bow blocked and parried each attack, even as cracks formed along its glassy surface.
"You don't deserve that power." Cinder hooked her bow around Winter's blades and wrenched them up. "You who have been given everything don't deserve to take what little those like me can get!" A hand came down and launched fire into Winter's face.
"GAH!" Winter screamed in pain, her Aura flickered, her hands nearly let go of her weapons. Cinder shattered her own bow, causing Winter to drop. A series of laser came from the side, splattering across Cinder and keeping her from finishing Winter, who was caught by her summoned Manticore.
All three combatants were exhausted. Their Aura's were low. But still, they fought.
Cinder flew about, dodging more and more lasers. The speed at which she had to go was taking its toll, as there were more and more grazes. However, her counter blasts of fire were just as effective at trapping Penny. Winter flew around the side, launching waves of icicles. But Cinder was a Maiden, even if only half of one, and so it was a simple matter for her to summon a shell of flame to melt such an attack.
Winter frowned. They were beginning to enter a stalemate, but it wasn't on their side. The military was in chaos as it tried to pull out of Mantle. Winter was draining Aura just to stay alive and Penny would run out of energy at some point. Cinder? As far as Winter knew, as long as Cinder was conscious she could keep using the Maiden magic.
They needed to finish this. Now.
Winter swallowed. We have to act. If we stay as we are, we lose. So even if this risks us losing, it's better than waiting! Winter took a deep breath, commanded her mount to rise and prepared for one last attack.
I'm so close! Cinder couldn't help but smile, even as she took another glancing blow courtesy of Ironwood's pet robot. Another jet of flame launched from her outstretched hand, striking the fake girl's shoulder.
I'm so close. Once I take the Winter Maiden's powers, I'll hunt down Nikos. Once she's dead I'll have twice the magic. I'll find and kill Raven for her arrogance and then I'll be the most powerful human on Remnant! It'll only be a matter of time before I claim the Summer Maiden as well!
Cinder let out a laugh. She was so close now. She could practically taste the sheer power she was about to-
"Oof!" She cried out as a heavy weight hit her, followed by a pair of clawed hands slashing into her sides. A white-blue Beowolf had landed on top of her and was pummeling her sides. Damn you Schneeeeeeee!
Cinder snarled and let forth her anger as a burst of fire and hate. The beast shattered in an instant. A dozen icicles slammed into her a moment later, timed perfectly. Cinder's Aura crackled again. It was almost broken.
"Ahhh." She let out a whimper of pain as Winter dropped down and landed on her, racking her blades across Cinder's chest. Her Aura shattered. Winter's eyes sparkled with success. Cinder snarled and resolved to make it short-lived.
Flames burst forth once again as Cinder poured her power into punishing the bitch. Winter cried out as fire was poured over her body. Aura cracked and shattered. Cinder grabbed Winter and twisted, throwing the Schnee down towards Mantle.
Fire sputtered beneath Cinder for a moment before stabilising. She looked over to Penny, whose eyes were wide in horror.
And then, without a single word spoken, the robot flew after her falling friend.
Cinder smirked and flew back into the chamber where her future awaited. The floor was scorched black by all she had thrown in the room, but one place lay untouched. The machine. It was the same kind of technology that had snatched the Fall Maiden from her back at Beacon.
She wouldn't allow it to ever snatch something from her again. Nothing would be taken from her. I deserve this. Metal screeched as she tore it off.
"Hmmm?" The elderly woman slowly came too.
"Hello." Cinder said.
"Wh… who? What… What am I doing here? I feel as if I'm forgetting something… something important. I had… a thing… something to hold onto until the time was right…"
"Yes, you do. That time is now. I've come to take it." Cinder formed a dagger in her hand and lashed out.
"No." A single word that was followed by wave after wave of wind. Cinder was blown clear away from the pod as wind whipped up in the room, forming a tornado that mixed razor-sharp wind with chilling frost.
Cinder rolled along the floor as she was thrown and pushed and then…
She was floating.
She had fallen through the hole once again.
But now it had been sealed behind her by ice.
A massive pillar of wind and ice was spiralling out of the roof, having destroyed the ceiling.
No! No no no no no no no no no no no no no! It's mine! It's mine! IT'S MINE!
Cinder caught herself with her power, and raced back to claim what she was owed.
Before it could be stolen.
"Go go go!" Jaune called out, blocking a volley of gunfire.
"Hiiyaa!" Pyrrha shouted, using her Semblance to tear the soldiers' rifles away.
Ren and Nora raced out the door, but Oscar hesitates.
They'd come to pick him and the Relic up, but now the military was after them, trying to catch them before they could escape with Maria and Pietro who had come to their aid. James was going to abandon the world. He couldn't let that happen. Oscar bit his lower lip and raced over to Jaune. "Hold onto this for me." He said, clipping the Lamp onto Jaune's belt.
"Huh? Oscar what are you doing!?"
"I'm going to talk to James! Maybe I can change his mind! I have to try!" He yelled back as he leapt down another hallway. "Go on without me. I'll catch up, okay?"
"Oscar!" They yelled after him, but Oscar didn't turn back.
Maria and Pietro should get that Manta working and take JNPR to pick up Ruby and co, wherever they ended up. I need to do this. He's a strong ally if we can keep him. The halls were easy to run through, as long as he kept off the main route. He was forced to pass by many soldiers, but he took his time and snuck past. It was as if he'd done this before.
Eventually, he arrived at the elevator and, thanks to James taking him down here before, punched in the passcode that took him down to the Vault.
Oscar took a deep breath and prepared himself.
The Vault was huge and open, with those same floating rocks that had been there before. Down on the one walkway leading to the Vault door, was James Ironwood. "Winter. Good timing. We have to hurry…" He called up with a hint of relief in his voice, it turned sour however when he saw Oscar instead. "Ah. So… to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
"It's just me." Oscar sighed, stepping off the elevator as it came to a stop.
"I see. So? Why did you come? To stop me?"
"To talk."
"To proselytize to me you mean. My mind won't change, not when so many lives hang in the balance." James shook his head.
"James. When you took up the role of General and Headmaster, you swore an oath, didn't you? You swore to protect Atlas."
"I AM protecting Atlas!" James snarled back. Oscar let out a sigh.
"Are you? You seek to raise the city, but James… your job wasn't just to protect a city, it was to protect the Kingdom. How are you doing that, when you're abandoning everything but the city?"
"SO WHAT!?" He roared. "Do you think I want to sacrifice Mantle? Do you?! OF COURSE NOT! But I am doing what must be done. For Humanity! For our survival!"
"You are going to abandon all of Remnant, all the millions that live everywhere but Atlas! I told you what we saw, what Ozpin was given as a mission. The only way we beat Salem is together! Abandoning the world is the exact opposite! You're doing what she wants!"
"I'm doing what she wants? I'm not the one refusing just so I can sit on some high horse!"
"Is that what you think this is!?" Oscar walked forward. "That we're trying to stop you so we can say we're better or more moral?! We're trying to save as many lives as we can!"
"By stopping me?" James scowled and stepped around, walking circles around Oscar. "By forcing Atlas to die with Mantle? That's how you save lives, is it? Well, Oscar, I believe that that is the most foolish thing I've heard."
"One city, or the world? A few thousand, or a few million? That's what this is. You want to run, but if that Vault is going to be opened then we can use the Staff to force Salem back!"
"And risk her getting her hands on it? No. No, I don't think I can allow that."
"James, please. You can't allow Salem to influence you! She wants us fighting!"
"You should have thought about that before you resisted."
"James!"
"James is what my friends call me." His eyes had gone cold. His stance widened ever so slightly. "To you, it's General."
Bang!
Oscar let out a pained groan as he stumbled back. Another bang. And another. His foot caught the edge. A fourth shot. His Aura cracked. He slipped over the edge.
Oscar fell.
And fell.
And fell.
Oscar.
A familiar voice called out to him.
Oscar!
Huh?
You need to move!
Oz...pin?
Yes! I'm… I'm sorry but you need to grab our cane! Quickly!
O...okay…
His hand slipped to his waist, where it remained clipped to his belt. He fumbled with the release but finally managed to remove it.
Only to drop it.
He was still falling, so it flew up slightly. He reached, fumbling, but finally, he caught hold of it.
Pull the trigger! Pull it and think of time rewinding!
Time… rewinding…
He pulled the trigger and… It was strange. It was as if his Aura was suddenly regenerating! It didn't return to full, nor even to where it had been before he'd been shot, but it was much higher than it had been.
Good! Good. Now you need to break through the bottom! I know you can do it!
"Haaa!" Oscar twisted in the air, brought The Long Memory up to his shoulder and, as he drew close to the bottom of the hole, of the Vault, thrust it forward with all the might he could muster. His Aura burst to the fore, as did the greater power within him that he had been granted by Oz.
With a massive crash, he burst through.
The great wide world stretched out below him, from the wastes to Mantle. And in the distance, a dark cloud had gathered.
Oz… welcome back.
Oscar… thank you. We have a lot to talk about.
Yeah. Yeah, we do. But first, you need to tell me how to land safely.
Ozpin chuckled. Yes, that is important. Alright, so what you want to do is…
A/N: Almost at the end. My plan changed slightly halfway through lol, so the end of V7 will be next chapter. The fight between Winter, Penny and Cinder was fun. Cinder's a little more... mobile? Strategic? Something like that. She's weaker than canon and has no allies, no help. Which means she has to play a bit smarter. So she counters Winter a bit and does a lot more flying around. Still, once things leave the building Cinder's basically won. Winter requires Aura just to keep up, which makes her a liability which ultimately causes their loss. But there's still time to make up for it, with Fria doing her thing. Next time we shall see the new Winter Maiden. Have I changed who gets it, or kept it the same? You'll have to wait to find out!
And you'll have to wait longer because I'm taking next week off. It's my birthday so I want to relax and destress a bit. Though annoyingly enough COVID decided now was a good time to outbreak again here in NZ, so we're locked down. Ugh. Oh well, hopefully, it doesn't last long.
Anyways I'll see you guys soon! I hope you all enjoyed!