Volume 8 Chapter 8 Alternate Ending: Clash of the Maidens.
(Atlas)
Ironwood looks up at Reuben.
Ironwood: I should've ended this a long time ago.
Reuben walks slowly towards Ironwood.
Reuben: I feel the same way. I easily could have finished this
Reuben closes the gap between himself and Ironwood. He grabs the undamaged metal hand of Ironwood that still holds Capital Punishment. Reuben then slices it off with his sword. He tosses the powerless limb across the city, and out of sight.
Ironwood: You played me like a damn fiddle.
Fluid leaks out of Ironwood's metal hand, Reuben's power slowly returning. Ironwood reaches with his good hand to his gun.
Reuben: Oh no sir, a fiddle is very complex and takes years to master.
He holds the gun in his hand, his hand shaking as his Aura begins to flicker. Ironwood puts his finger on the trigger, but his hand continues to shake.
Reuben: I think it's more accurate to say I played you like the cheap kazoo you are.
Ironwood, enraged fires his final bullet at Reuben who dodges. Reuben rushes towards his old comrade.
Ironwood: This isn't how this end!
Reuben then flares his aura, rushing at Ironwood and delivering a blinding series of melee blows to the General. This only served to eat up Reuben's vital energy reserves.
Reuben: Yes, it is!
Reuben then defiantly puts his fist through Ironwood's chest. The General only had a few seconds to react as Reuben smashes his head into the ground. Ironwood can feel the metal in his eye breaking.
Reuben: I'm sorry, James.
Reuben then slams his boot down on the General. Crushing the mechanical tyrant under his boot. To ensure his death, Reuben crushes his central processing chip under his boot. Reuben then feels his power rapidly dwindle. He wasted too much energy on Ironwood. Reuben then speeds off towards the Ruins of Atlas Academy.
(Atlas Academy ruins)
Reuben desperately punches in controls for the ship. The old model refuses to start for him.
Reuben: Come On! Come on!
Suddenly, a blast of frigid air hits Reuben. He exits the ship in an attempt to find another one. However, he is met with the newly reinvigorated Winter Schnee. A dark expression is on her face.
Winter: My sister is dead…you killed her! You involved her in your little superhero group…
A blinding storm then starts to form as Winter's rage builds. Reuben pants, exhausted from his battle with Ironwood. His aura breaks on the spot as he tries to power up. He is simply too drained to fight her off. He expended additional energy making sure James Ironwood was sent to the afterlife. A few seconds, costing him dearly.
Reuben: Atlas is falling! W-Winter we can settle this another time!
He pleads with her, but it falls on deaf ears as she races towards him.
SLASH!
Blood squirts from Reuben's mouth as he finds himself impaled on Winter Schnee's sword.
Winter: Good, then you shall fall with it!
She withdraws her sword as she senses a greater power. Cinder Fall emerges and looks over at the duo. She wordlessly generates a black sword, flaming. She walks up to the once powerful huntsman and buries her sword in his chest. More blood escapes his body as he screams out in pain.
Reuben: Please! Don't do this!
Winter looks at Cinder, and for a moment, the two Maidens made a truce as Winter plunges her blade back into Reuben. She smirks, twisting her blade as she feels his life force fading away. Cinder generates a second blade and cuts down the Atlas Superman.
Cinder: That was for Haven….
Cinder and Winter withdraw their blades, still slick with Reuben's blood. Seconds later, a portal appears. Raven Branwen steps out and looks at the scene.
Raven: You stupid bitches…...just signed your death warrants!
She powers up in a fury, brandishing Omen. Winter makes the first move, rushing at Raven.
Winter: Oh yea?
Raven blocks with omen, powering it up with electric dust. The two blades crackle as they clash. The impact sends shockwaves that flatten more of the ravaged city. Winter tries to gain the advantage, but Raven didn't give an inch. The death of Reuben, galvanizing her to new heights.
Raven: Yea!
Raven vanishes, before gathering more energy and launching it from her blade. Cinder then jumps into the brawl, her weapon clashing with Raven's.
Cinder: Fall and Winter Vs Spring. You don't have a chance in hell!
Raven breaks off the sword clash as she spin kicks Winter who tried to approach from behind!
Winter: It seems you; Raven Branwen are a Fully Realized Spring Maiden. Which makes my job of killing you that much harder.
Raven then rushes at Cinder. The Two of them clashing again as the Fall Maiden was still weak from her battle with Team RWBY moments ago. Cinder's aura begins to flicker as Raven presses her advantage, eyes burning with rage.
Raven: You killed my Daughter and my boyfriend! For that, you will die!
Raven goes to slash Cinder; she feels a sharp pain in her back as Winter slashes her back. Raven's aura mostly protects her as it only damages her clothing and leaving a small scratch on her back.
Winter: Never turn your back on me!
Cinder responds by punching a fiery fist at Raven's face. she tries to summon more of her Fall Maiden powers, but her Aura shatters. Raven wipes her cheek and smirk.
Raven: That tickled.
Raven raises her hand and unleashes a powerful green energy blast. Cinder's eyes widen as her life flashes Infront of her eyes. Cinder is then Vaporized without a trace.
BOOOOM!
Atlas then makes impact with Mantle. The shockwaves destroying the two cities and causing a massive amount of water to flow from the ice. She watches as the rushing water carries away Reuben's corpse as she lets out a tear. The water then turns to ice as Winter Schnee uses her power to stop the water from drowning her.
Winter: You?! Why won't you die?!
Winter steels her resolve once more as she gets back into her battle stance. Raven then chuckles as she turns around.
Raven: You don't understand just how fucked you are.
Raven opens her eyes, as the right eye burns orange with the power of the Fall Maiden, and the left blue with the power of the Spring Maiden.
Winter: Oh shit…
Raven then closes the gap between them. One punch flies through the air as a shockwave quickly transforms the massive iceberg to water, and then to steam. Winter reels back from the blow, her aura flickering violently.
Raven: He was defenseless. You should've spared his life!
Winter: Why? So, he could crawl back under some rock and come back with even more power?!
She slams her sword into the ground. Generating a large suit of armor around her body with her semblance.
Winter: I'd rather die here!
Winter charges at Raven, her Winter Maiden powers still augmenting her. Raven meets her head on, slashing omen at Winter Schnee's summon. The powerful blade slices through it like butter and through Winter's Aura. Winter can feel the sword effortlessly glide through her. In a single stroke her summon disappears, leaving Winter with nothing to defend herself.
Raven: Your terms are acceptable.
Raven sheaths her blade. Seconds later Winter is split in half, her blood flowing freely from her waist as one half lacked a top, and the other lacked a bottom. Winter falls to the ground lifelessly as Raven can feel more power coursing through her veins. Raven takes one last look at the battlefield and opens a portal into the unknown.
(End of Chapter)