So! I felt bad that I left you guys for like almost two years, so like, I decided to pour this whole chapter out over the course of the last few days since the last chapter. Imagine it as a thank you gift for sticking around with this fic for so long. Now, onto some of the things in this chapter and the lore behind this fic. I created this entire thing between Volume 4 and Volume 5, so there was a lot of information that we didn't know or have at the time, so I had an ass ton of creative freedom to work with. However, now with all the shit we got now, I am having some serious trouble mixing canon with the lore of this fanfic that won't confuse you, because if I'm being honest, a lot of stuff that happens in canon can somehow work with this fic's lore. (not all but a lot can still fit with the lore I've set up)
Sienna is a character I've always wanted more information on and with literally jack shit nothing, enjoy some backstory for our favorite High Leader
Anyway, it's a really long one just in case I disassociate and disappear for a year again lol
Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY
Chapter 37: Autumn Rises
Adam. Sienna.
"I didn't think I'd see you here, High Leader," Adam crashed against her chain, careful not to get caught, "how is this for making them suffer?!"
Sienna dodged as Neo came in, kicking the swordsman, weaving around him and against his movements, she was forced back when the chameleon fell in to defend him. A whip sword against parasol, their maneuverability matched one on one. However, as they skirmished, Sienna watched as Adam pulled away, crashing his sword against the green-haired girl's kama blades, while dodging the grey-haired boy's gun boots. Against two people, he remained as strong as he was expected to be. Unbeatable, impossible to trick and feint.
Taking slow deep breaths, she tried to focus.
Raven dashed for Cinder Fall, sword to swords, springing sparks and shattered glass. To her right, Winter Schnee clashed with the winged Yuma as his verticality challenged her powerful white summons. To the side, the King himself charged for Cinder, dodging Ilia's strikes and Trifa's oozing webs. Moving in, she swung her chain whip, a blade at the end slicing and cutting against Wilt. Clang, Clank, Boom. Dust to Dust, blade to blade, she had flashes, almost freezing in her steps as her eyes locked with Adam's. Unmasked, proudly displaying his branding, but it was his eyes – no longer a warm blue, were as black as night.
The veins that crawled across his pale face were sickening. The horns that protruded from his hairline were thick and enlarged. As he swung, knocking Neopolitan back, he turned his furious attention back to Sienna. Bringing her chain whip together, she fell back as his blade clashed with her. "See what I've become, because of you, Sienna?"
"You've done this yourself, Adam!" Sienna spat. "King!"
Falling back, Jaune appeared, bashing his shield into Adam's face. Swinging Crocea Mors forward, the sword glowed a marvelous white as it clashed with Wilt. Raising his shield, he blocked Ilia's whip sword, turning his attention back to her. Bullets, blades, acrobatics, they moved about one another in the open grounds of the CCT. Not a single person gave the other any chance to breathe. Raven was knocked back by Cinder's sudden flames; Adam pushed the mint-head girl back. Trifa spit webs and moved with the same fluidity as the mute girl among them. Winter crashed with Yuma, Ilia remained, trying to overpower the King.
Sienna, stood still, trying to focus.
"Sienna," Adam moved in once more, "I thought you wanted the Humans to fear the Faunus! I thought you wanted to make the Humans suffer!"
I only chose violence because it was the only thing they understood.
Fields of wheat spread across the open fields. Upon rolling hills and the rising mountain ranges that sprawled to the horizon. She watched, a pitchfork in hand and a burlap sack stuffed to the brim. Looking around, her tiger ears tilted, curling down to her aggravated scalp. A deep breath, a glance to the other Faunus gathered across the fields, skin dark under the beaming Anima sun. They cracked beneath the heat, hands chaffed and bodies bruised. From the backs of horses, to watchtowers hidden by forest trees, humans stood within, hands and fingers resting against the triggers.
The girl of five watched and waited as a horned Faunus shuffled by her. There were seven of them, burns on their necks, scars on their arms and backs. Across the fields, tilling the soil, almost twenty bull Faunus had fallen to their knees, beating the soil. As the sun continued to trail across the sky, clouds moved from the great Lake Matsu. Beneath watchful gaze, beneath hateful eyes, she lifted her pitchfork, grunting as she dragged the burlap sack behind her.
Across the field, a young man with blonde hair and glasses stood among the Faunus. Handing them small envelopes, the girl watched as the workers bowed and held his hand, praising him, thanking him. Shaking hands among the elder Faunus, even smiling and laughing with them, despite their grievances, the man moved the workers about. Some returned to the facility behind. Others traded spots with those who sat beneath the shade. Whoever this man was, he was a strange one.
Not a glare on his face, nor a sliver of hatred in his green eyes. Tall, but scrawny, he had an entourage of guardsmen following at his heels. Stopping at a group of elder Faunus, he handed them a satchel and a large envelope. She watched as they opened it, suddenly spilling several Lien cards, each of varying color. Clattering on the tilled earth, the human simply shook his head, bending down himself to pick the cards with his own hands. Faunus gathered, smiles on their faces for the first time. However, his eyes locked with hers. Green to amber-gold, they said nothing as they stared at one another.
Suddenly, he began to pace to her. Eyes widening, she dragged the burlap sack, making her way to the silos in front of her. Panic beginning to rise, she tripped over her feet and the pitchfork dragged behind her.
"You hear?" a guardsman murmured next to the grain silos, neither even giving her a sideways glance, "there's talk of the fucking animals actually winning the war."
"It's not a war," another responded with a scoff, "it's a stampede at best. Whatever, let them take that shithole."
"What, and let them think they mean something?" the first scoffed.
"Let them go to that hellhole and they all starve within a year," the second laughed, "let it continue…they run back here, to where they belong."
"Hey!" the strange human ran up to the men, "watch your mouth!"
"Master Grey," the two bowed their heads.
"Don't give me that shit," he hissed. The two men did nothing but stand at attention. Before the girl could continue on her way, the human turned around, grabbing her burlap sack and the pitchfork from her chaffed hands. Swinging the pitchfork around, he knocked the two men to the dirt, "I could have sworn my father said children would not be working in the fields. I leave for university for six years and return to find this place is nothing more than a menagerie."
"Forgive me, Master Grey," one of the guards spat blood from their mouths, "but the new Master of this plantation says otherwise. These animals are nothing more than free labor."
"They're employees, and they have been since they signed the contracts to work here," the blonde human scowled, "fortunate for them, they will still have their jobs by the end of the day. Leave your weapons and get off this Plantation. Or else."
They prepared to speak, but a series of humans, dressed in black clothing and armor raised their firearms and drew their swords, "you heard the young Master Grey. Leave, or else, Anzi."
"Fava, let's go…"
She shook in her tattered clothes, shrinking under the human's gaze. Before she could run away, he knelt in front of her, "I'm sorry…none of you deserve this treatment. What's your name, I don't recognize you, child?"
"M-My name is Sienna Khan."
The man nodded, a flurry of emotions spreading across his face, "Khan…your mother was my maid growing up. May you lead me to her; I'd like to visit her."
"Master Grey," a soldier said, "we have other things we must attend to."
"Are you going to stop me?"
What more do the Humans want to take from us?
The girl of twelve watched carefully. Hands shaking, tiger ears shifting as she held a wooden buck, sloshing with murky water. Her mother, sick and dying, murmured as the human rested a cool cloth against her searing forehead. The woman shuddered under the covers as the man immediately pressed the cloth. Water spilled against her temples, trickling between the follicles of her hairline. Tiger ears tickled, shivering as the droplets weighed the furs down. "Sienna…"
"Mama…" she snapped from her mind.
"Be careful, Mrs. Khan," the human whispered as he removed the cloth. Dipping the towel into the water, he sighed to himself. "Sienna, I cannot leave your mother in her condition. I need medicine, Kuroyuri is nearby. It should not take you long. It is only an hour away."
"But…" Sienna clutched the bucket of water.
"Do not worry, Sienna," the human smiled, "I promise, I refuse to let your mother die of this sickness. But the only way I'm going to do that is if I get that medicine. Here is five hundred Lien, it should be enough. Now go."
"I'm scared…" Sienna clenched her teeth, "I c-can't go alone. What if someone tries to hurt me?"
"Master Grey…" her mother murmured, "I-I'll be fine. Please go with her."
"Don't call me that," he held her hands, "none of you ever had to."
"Koa," she whimpered, "do this…for me."
"I-I know the dangers, Mrs. Khan," he heaved an exasperated sigh, "but it's been four years since the Faunus War ended! I put an end to the Plantation when I learned there was no saving it. The people here have only Grimm and nameless bandits who would never venture this far. She will be fine. I'm not letting you suffer alone."
"Please…" the woman bellowed a body shuddering cough. Springing to his feet, the man quickly poured a glass of water, popping painkillers from a bottle and into his shaking hands. He moved swiftly, careful not to knock anything over within their small home. Creaking floorboards, a dangling chandelier hanging by mere threads of old rope. However, the man said nothing, carefully lifting the woman's head with his hand.
"Alright, Mrs. Khan," he nodded, "I'll make sure your daughter makes it back, safe and sound."
"T-Thank you, Koa."
I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want.
"I want no trouble," Koa raised his hands, moving Sienna behind him, "we're just passing through on our way to Kuroyuri."
"Kuroyuri, you say?" a human sneered, "you do know that animals are better when they're caged?"
"She is no more an animal than you," Koa responded, pulling Sienna along.
"Well, that's a shame," the human moved in front of them once more. Bushes rustled as more humans appeared, swords and makeshift rifles in their hands, "you love the creatures, fine. I don't care. But there's a toll to be paid on this road – cough up the Lien or else, Master Grey."
Koa's eyes widened as the gun butt bashed him across the face. Glasses shattered, nose broken, he fell to the unpaved road. Hands to his face, he made an involuntary move, pushing Sienna away. Stumbling over her small legs, she tripped, rolling in the mud as the humans surrounded him. Sheathing their swords, slinging their firearms over their shoulders, they kicked and punched the man, stomping as he rolled about in the muck and mud as she was. Their words, their threats and their accusations mute to her ringing tiger ears.
The first man backed away, wiping his face of blood and mud. These thugs lifted Koa by his shoulders, revealing a face Sienna couldn't even recognize. He huffed, struggling to breathe from his ruptured face. Leaning back, the man gasped as he came back to consciousness. The first thug however, punched him in his stomach, nearly sending the man flying back. Repositioning him again, the thug punched once more, over and over again, until Koa was spitting blood.
"Do you recognize me, Master Grey?!" the man drew a knife, pressing it against the swollen bruises shutting Koa's eyes. Dragging the blade against the flesh, blood trickled wildly, painting his pale skin, crimson. He spat, punching Koa once more, "Do you remember my name, Master Grey?!"
"I was never a master," Koa spat, "neither was my father. His advisors…his own compatriots…they twisted his vision and brought their hate and ignorance–"
Punching Koa once more, he held the knife at his throat, "say my fucking name, Grey."
"Anzi…" he panted, "I'm surprised Fava isn't here with you."
"A damn Faunus by the name of Corsac Albain butchered him along with so many others in the War," Anzi punched once more, "I was deployed elsewhere near Atlas, while Fava was sent by General Lagune to Fort Castle. I think we all know what happened there! Corsac Albain fucking butchered the General's forces, annihilating their entire army within a night! Don't get me started on that disgusting animal they unleashed – Tyrian Callows!"
"Then…" Koa huffed and puffed, struggling to catch a breath, "if you hate them so much…why are you coming after me? The Plantation is gone…the Faunus are gone. We sold our properties, our farms and businesses…I'm just a doctor now."
"No," Anzi scowled, "you're nothing but scum."
"Anzi," a call from one of his thugs came, "We just got word that Ghira Belladonna is meeting some dignitaries from Vale, in Shion."
"Is it those damn Arcs from Orléans again?!" Anzi's grip on his knife faltered, "Alexios fucking promised they'd keep those bastards out of Anima!"
"What? Scared of some Huntsmen?" Koa chuckled.
"Let's get out of here, and make our way to Shion!" Anzi kicked the doctor once more, "if I ever see you again, Grey…I'm gonna gut you like a pig."
I want the Humans to fear the Faunus.
"Your mother is weaker than ever, Sienna," Koa rested a hand on her shoulder, "I don't…I don't know how much longer she has. The antibiotics, the painkillers, nothing is stopping the progression of her sickness. I'm afraid that we don't have much time left with her. And worse yet…her Alzheimer's is progressing at a rate I can't treat here. I just don't know any hospitals that will accept Faunus patients around these parts…"
The girl of sixteen couldn't breathe. News like this, it was a weight that she had never thought she would have to bear. As her shoulders slumped, as her head and vision began to whirl, she reciprocated Koa's condolences, remembering how much of an impact her mother had on him as well. Staring at the wood shack, she waited. It had been too long since she had seen her mother, much less spoken to her. Hands trembled, shaking as she stumbled into the porch. Tiger ears weighed by new piercings, hair stylized to part across her now tapering face, she took a slow deep breath. Hand on the handle, she stopped, "What am I doing…?"
"If…If you don't feel strong enough to do this…" a fifteen-year-old bull-Faunus murmured.
"You fought your way from Mantle," Sienna responded, "we fought our way to join the White Fang. I can do this."
"I'm with you no matter what, but…do we have to keep this human with us?" Adam asked, giving the man a sideways glance through his mask. "I thought you wanted to make the humans suffer–"
"I want them to pay," Sienna turned to him, "but I want equality. I want equity. I want justice. Koa has done nothing but protect me and what is left of my family. So, I expect him unharmed when I return. Am I understood, Adam?"
Raising his hands weakly, the bull sighed, "I…I didn't mean to upset you. I apologize, Doctor Grey."
"I've heard much about you, Mr. Taurus…"
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. A creak screeched through the small shack, filling her with memories she had almost forgotten. A little girl sat at the breakfast table, drawing pictures of trees and meadows. A young child, dirty from physical labor out in the plantation fields. A preteen screaming with a bed-ridden tigress well beyond her years, before lifting her stuffed duffle bag and running off into the night. Carefully, Sienna moved about the tight confines, finding the very same chandelier of twigs and branches hanging by the weakest, yet strongest of ropes.
In the bed tucked away in the corner of the room, a tigress, white and grey haired, with beautiful tiger ears that tilted and folded in pain. The jewels and piercings that once glimmered in the houses she cleaned and maintained, were gone, replaced with unhealed holes that pierce the membrane. Wrinkles had shriveled her once beautiful face, the brown skin she proudly proclaimed, dotted with black blotches and warts. Sienna was speechless, falling to her knees, "Mama…?"
There was no response, but the labored rise and fall of her chest beneath layers of blankets. Frail and broken, the woman was silent beneath the encompassing warmth. Sienna, desperate, took her mother's boney hands, tracing the pads of her fingers against the wrinkles of her mother's skin. "Mama…it's me, Shere…it's Sienna."
A gasp, a cough, the woman almost like a zombie turned to face her, "My baby? Where have you been? You looks so…so grown!"
Sienna's breath hitched, catching in her throat. "Yes, mama, I have. I'm so sorry I haven't seen you in so long…"
"So long?" the woman coughed once more, "you were leaving with Koa to get me medicine from Kuroyuri…"
Sienna sniffled, "yes mama, we got you the medicine. I'm back, I'm here."
"Baby?" she whispered, turning to face her, "y-you've grown…where have you been?"
"I'm fighting for our people," Sienna said, gripping her mother's hand with new fire. The delirious look on her face only made Sienna's heart clench. The woman's confusion as she felt wires and patches on her chest, the beeping of machinery that checked her vitals. The young Khan however bit her lip, tightened her grip, a hardened stare leveled at her mother, "I'm fighting so that good men like Koa, and innocent Faunus like you…don't have to be treated like trash, or forgotten in the wilderness. I'm fighting so that we can be treated as people too…mama…I swear…I swear that I will make these dreams come true."
Beep.
Sienna's ear quirked, the jingling of her metal piercing, only sent shivers down her spine. Her mother flatlined.
Sienna rose to her feet. Placing a small kiss on her mother's forehead, the woman took a deep breath. Hands cold and numb, she shuffled from the shack only to stop at the porch. Koa and Adam stood with their hands up. Several humans had gathered, new assault rifles raised in their directions, some even glowing with energy coils building charge. There were almost fifty of them and several SUVs parked on the property.
"What the fuck is this?" Sienna asked.
"You're on Brotherhood property," a man stepped from an SUV, "I suggest you vacate the premises and we'll let you be on your way."
"You didn't answer my question," Sienna said, "better yet, who the fuck are you?"
"I am Carob Luna, of the Clan Luna, here in Mistral," the man said, "and this land belongs to me."
"We will be on our way…" Sienna noticed several men return to their vehicles and drive off into the former grounds of the Plantation. The fifty slowly dropped to twenty-five as more decided to leave the area completely, however Carob remained, almost examining them with a watchful eye, "I just…my mother has lived here for years. She and I used to work on these lands before the Plantation was sold."
"I didn't ask for a sob story, creature," Carob rolled his eyes, "I am choosing to be cordial with you because you are outnumbered and outgunned. Killing you wouldn't be a mercy – it would be a waste of bullets. Now, I won't maintain this tone if you continue to remain on the premises."
"I'm not leaving my mother," Sienna said defiantly, "and you won't make me."
"I was hoping you would say that," the man said, "take them away and drop them off at the ruins of Kuroyuri. No one will look for corpses in a dead town. As for you, Doctor Grey…we have some words to share for your traipsing with these animals."
"Sienna!" Adam backed away from the nearing soldiers, hand rushing to Wilt and Blush, "Sienna!"
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Sienna," Carob taunted.
"I am not leaving."
"Sienna!" Koa pleaded as a soldier grabbed him, restraining him immediately. "Don't do this! Just comply!"
Comply. Comply. Comply.
It's always easier to train an animal.
What gives you more right than the rats in the street?
You would look better in a leash.
Comply. Comply. Comply.
"No."
"Oh well," Carob rolled his eyes, "torch the property."
"Wait!"
A glass bottle was thrown from the crowd of soldiers. Adam moved fast, pushing her out of the way. Smashing through a window, the Molotov cocktail exploded within the shack. Smoke and fire, and the shockwave itself, threw the two Faunus forward and over the porch railings. Soldiers moved to apprehend them, beating them with the butts of their guns, but with every person they had fought, every protest that turned violent and every shop and terrible factory they pillaged – it was nothing.
Sienna moved out of the way last second, punching a soldier in his groin. Adam followed suit, focusing behind his Grimm Mask. Drawing Wilt from her sheath, the crimson blade clashed with the barrels of guns and the edges of broadswords. Whipping around, he moved out of the way as Sienna followed in, kicking back, knocking the soldiers from view. Rolling in the dirt, she snapped at her first target, jamming her knee into his groin once more, sending the human, cowering into himself.
Without a moment to waste, as Adam cut and battled the soldiers in pitch melee, she rolled about, unsheathing the screaming soldiers sidearm. Lifting it quickly, she pulled the trigger, cutting through a pair of gunmen as she retreated back into the flaming shack. Bullets riddled the flaming home. Throwing herself against the window sill, she peeked, pulling the trigger with blind fire, hoping to at least stave off their coming advance. Even with her aura, she knew she could not fight them all. She wasn't a Huntress.
As her magazine clicked empty, she dropped her handgun, resting her head against the wall. "Look what you've done, Sienna…your friend here is in some serious…bullshit. You just had to be like the tigress you are, huh? Fighting back instead of just cooperating. We could have avoided all of this nonsense if you animals, just cooperated! You had a life, you had homes, you had everything handed to you after the Faunus War and here you are, pretending as if giving you Menagerie wasn't enough! I hear how the Chieftain of the island calls it a cage – you have a home now, you have everything you want except, that isn't enough is it?!"
"You Faunus have your taste of blood and war," Carob scoffed, "the Great War, the Faunus War…how many more wars do you want to keep fighting, Sienna? We are on the same side here! We're all just trying to get by."
"You call this trying to get by?!" Sienna spat, "you torch my home, you put my friend in chains and try to kidnap my family's doctor?! How does this make any sense?! You speak to me as if I'm nothing more than filth in your eyes! You treat Doctor Grey like all of his efforts in Mistral, in the University, and the hospitals abroad, are nothing but trivial works of a weak man! Who the fuck are you to decide that?!"
"Why, yes, my dear, Sienna," Carob scoffed once more, "he is as worthless as those Arcs from Orléans. As worthless as that Belladonna who leads that accursed White Fang. You are animals that cannot be tamed, but we conceded when your kind won the War. You got everything you demanded…"
I want them to know that we demand respect!
"No…" she watched as her mother's body engulfed in flame. Shaking in her clothes, she steeled her resolve, a shimmering of aura captivating her body, "no…we didn't get everything."
Springing to her feet, dodging a flurry of bullets and tracers, she snapped the chandelier from the ceiling as wooden boards and the roof began to tumble down. With aura infused in the rope, she swung it about, wrapping it around a stray kitchen knife. She was careful, unleashing her aura around her body as the flames spread around her. Bursting into action, she shredded through the walls of the shack, rolling about the grass and dirt. Adam was trapped, with several men piled on his back, struggling to chain him.
With a flick of her wrist and her aura focusing with the hate and rage boiling in her chest, the makeshift bladed-whip snapped froward. Embedding deep into a man's unprotected shoulder, Sienna pulled, tearing the man from Adam's back. Dislodging the blade she slid across the dirt, kicking and slicing as she closed the distance. Several more turned their attention to her, swinging wildly but never getting close to finishing the job. As aura shimmered wildly, her focus intensified, her speed and perception increased. She was beginning to see shadows of hands, blinks and images of what was to come and what had already passed.
Moving to defend, she stopped a blade before it came close. Sliding her foot back, she dodged a low kick. Knee up, she blocked a mid-kick. Sliding her fist forward under a potential block, she punched the man with so much force, aura exploded outward. Focusing, tunnel vision. She lunged for the man, knife poised, she jabbed, and stabbed, turning the once pale-skinned man, into a pile of bloodied meat. Ears tilted and reacted, listening to the slightest change in the winds, the slightest crunch of grass. As her aura continued to pump around her, the tunnel vision returned.
Throwing the rope-knife outward, it stabbed through a man's leg, just under the knee guards of his armor. None of these soldiers had aura – something she was going to take advantage of. Pulling her rope, the aura continued to spread, siphoning into every thread and lace. The man fell forward, crashing into another, breaking their assault. Wrapping the rope around the man's neck, she pulled and pulled until she heard the ominous crack.
Breath harsh, shaking and quaking with surprise, she could not break focus. Pulling the knife from the man's knee, she gave a deafening cry before sheathing it into his throat. She watched as the color left the man's blue eyes. Slowly, slowly, slowly, his pupil dilated before her, ending with his final gurgling gasp. Wiping her face, a screaming gurgle was heard as the final soldier was dispatched, cut to pieces by the blood-soaked Wilt. Adam was panting, the fifteen-year-old had never fought this many sentient opponents on his own before. Giving Sienna a quick nod, the boy sheathed his blade, taking a stance.
Slowly, she pulled the knife from the corpse, facing Carob, who at this point looked like he had seen a ghost. Backing away slowly, he threw his back against an SUV, hands shaking as he fiddled for the door handle. As soon as she took a step, the man finally got his wits together and quickly jumped into the driver's seat. In his rear-view mirror, all he could see was a blood-soaked tigress, whose eyes focused only on him.
"Doctor Grey…" Sienna murmured lifelessly, "after what happened here…we won't see each other ever again. Thank you for helping my mother all these years."
"No," Koa shook his head, "it was nothing more than what I owed her. Sienna, Mr. Taurus; be safe. Just promise me…you won't go too far."
As they entered different SUVs, they gave one another one final nod before they drove off in different directions. Sienna and Adam hot on Carob's tail, they bled across the fields of the former Plantation, zipping between overturned boulders and tree stumps. As her aura flared, the world warped before her until there was nothing but the tunnel of darkness and the light at the end, revealing Carob, trying to make his way to the highway. Turning the wheel, making a sharp right, they cut through trees and brush, nearly flipping the vehicle several times, but not once did she lose her target.
Under trees and beyond the forest cover, they had arrived at the first road they had seen in almost twenty minutes. He made a hard right, she followed, spinning the wheel with all her might. However, she had underestimated the turn radius of her SUV. The vehicle began to shudder as its wheels lost traction. Without a second thought, she smashed the windows to the SUV, throwing her rope-knife out. The focus maintained. Spinning around a tree trunk, the SUV continued onward, pulled by the tree. Carob continued down the road, exploding into the distance as she and Adam spun about. She ignored his rage, his cries and fears. As the SUV had built enough speed, she pulled the rope back, unleashing the vehicle down the road.
Now, mere inches away from the Luna, she pressed bumper to bumper. "Get down!"
Lowering her head and pulling Adam with her, bullets riddled the interior, blowing holes through her head rest. Luna had his own firearm and with panic and maybe luck on his side, he managed to get the shots perfectly aligned. "Adam, do something!"
"On it!"
"Just keep the car steady, alright!"
Sienna didn't listen, simply keeping her eyes embedded on the Luna speeding for his life. Adam, drew Wilt, taking a slow and deep breath as he channeled his aura. Unleashing it upon the car door, it blasted off the body of the SUV, disappearing into the blur the forest had become. Holding on for dear life, the winds of over a hundred miles an hour pressed against him, nearly tearing the mask from his face. Focusing, he lowered Wilt to the concrete, generating sparks and flickers of violent flame. However, as they sped on, the blade of Wilt began to glow, the accents of his clothing followed suit, building kinetic energy. But as most of his plans, it didn't work out.
"Sienna! Watch out!"
That split second of lost focus, Sienna lost control of her wheel. Snapping away, for that moment of moments, she could see it, a hulking monolith bursting through the tree line. A massive lifted pickup truck with wheels as big as the SUVs themselves, plowed into the scene in perfect timing. At the front of the truck, a giant snow shovel was placed. Closing her eyes, she accepted her fate. The truck plowed through them, sending the SUV into the forest as speeds neither were prepared for. The damage could have been worse, but the SUV flattened against an ancient oak tree just off the side of the road.
Smoke billowed from the overturned vehicle as Sienna was balled up against the impacted windshield. Below her, Adam was wounded, sprawled into the gearbox. Neither were in any position to be moving. Ankles sprained, wrists twisted, several bones absolutely broken – aura or not, it would take time to heal. Gasping for breath, Sienna blinked, amber-gold eyes shimmering as aura came to life. Frantic, she threw her back against cracked windshield several times before successfully breaking free. Against the flattened hood of the car, she puked, blood and whatever else.
Still clutching the rope-knife, she kicked at Adam, awakening him. "Adam…we're not done yet…"
"Damn it…" he hissed, holding Wilt and Blush. Crawling through the shattered windshield, they plopped into the dirt below, steaming and shimmering with aura. "I still…who the hell are the Brotherhood? No one would be this fucking concentrated. Just who are these people?"
"It doesn't matter, Adam," Sienna gave him a glare, "we're not going back after this…after everything we've gained, everything we've suffered…the lives we just took…"
"They didn't give us a choice," Adam shook his head, "we would have died if we didn't fight back."
"I'm not regretting it," Sienna scowled, "just…I am sick and tired of being treated like trash. I am tired of being forced to resort to violence. Enough with the lies – there is no peace with Humans like them. And when they are the majority, when they are allowed to do whatever the fuck, they please…it does nothing but spit on the sacrifices of our people."
"Gods do you ever stop with the speeches?" a sneer came from the side, "how much propaganda have you guzzled, tigress?"
"Propaganda to you, is life to for me," Sienna spat, "don't think for a second you know me."
"Enough of this!" the man raised his handgun, "I grow tired of this nonsense!"
"So do I," Sienna smirked.
Flaring her aura, her semblance awakened fully. Focus snapping between several men and vehicles, she threw her rope-knife out. Stabbing a soldier through his throat, she pulled, springing herself forward in a dash of dirt and smoke. Kicking the man from her knife, she slashed, clashing with swords and blocking bullets, imbuing her entire body with aura. Twirling her rope and the knife once more, faces were cut, necks were nicked, skin was slashed open. Beside her, Adam had closed the distance, Iaido, slashing and sheathing, slashing and sheathing, no one could match his speed. Speeding through the gathered vehicles, he focused on the tires, cutting and popping their wheels ending their only chance to escape.
The Luna tripped, stumbling over his feet as he rushed to his SUV once again. Sienna, snapping the neck of another, she focused once more. His fear, his weakness, made her lungs catch on fire. His terror made her mind explode as if she were high. Springing ahead, like blood in shark infested water, she ignored the moving soldiers and vehicles clicking their ignitions. "Adam! Don't let him get away!"
Sheathing Wilt, Adam took a deep breath as his body and the sword began to glow. The rear tires of Carob's SUV burned out, spilling smoke and heat. As the car sped forward, Adam unsheathed, unleashing Moonslice in every direction. Cars were turned to dust, men simply faded into thin air and the rear of the SUV disappeared, sending the front scraping until it crashed into another oak tree. Engine block wrapping around the trunk, Carob was launched from the windshield, smashing into another tree.
"W-Wait…" he gasped, crawling through the underbrush, "beautiful tigress, wait!"
Sienna said nothing as she neared the man. Twirling her rope-knife, she followed the trail of blood. An animalistic glint in her amber-gold eyes, she stopped when Carob leaned against a tree, hiding beneath its low hanging branches. "So…you got me, tigress…"
"I liked it better when you were calling me by my name," she glared, "but even that is too good for you."
"Why are you doing this?" he whimpered, "You could have just left…no one had to die…"
"You're wrong," she held the knife against his neck, "my mother died the moment you bastards showed up. I couldn't even bury her."
"We know she did," Carob scoffed, choking, "why do you think we showed up? She was squatting on my land…I was kind enough to let her stay until her last breath. You…you wasted so much time, so much life…for nothing!"
"Sienna," Adam called, "just kill him…"
She flinched, glancing between the Grimm Mask and the bumbling human, resting against a tree. A flurry of emotions expelled across her face as her thoughts churned within. "Do what you think is right…but if you really want to be accepted…killing me will never allow that dream to come true."
Frustrations rising, her nerves exploding and her semblance bleeding into her head, Sienna couldn't breathe. Hyperventilating, her hands shook, her arms and legs aching violently. Clenched teeth, tightened fists, she lunched forward, knife in hand, eyes wide with pure unadulterated focus. Screaming to the azure sky, she panted. Next to the man's head, the kitchen knife was embedded into tree bark, less than an inch from his temple. Amber-gold locked with cold blue eyes.
"W-Why?" the man whimpered.
"It would be a waste of a good knife!" she spat, "your life was in my hands…I spared you. I can only hope you'll repay the favor."
Rising up, she walked away, stumbling to Adam. Pulling the rope-knife from the tree, she dragged it along as they neared the last of the working SUVs. However, Carob sighed, cursing as he rose to his feet. Drawing a knife from his sleeve, he marched to Sienna. Eyes focusing on the mess of black hair, her skinny neck, her tiger print skin marks and her animal rear. Rage, hate and fear poisoned his mind as he grabbed Sienna's tigress ear, pulling her to him. Before Adam could even react, she whipped around, wrapping the rope around his neck. Kicking the knife outward, letting it loop around a low hanging tree branch. As the knife swung by, she kicked it back, imbuing her aura into the blade.
She rushed forward, her semblance igniting through her body. She grabbed the knife and pulled the rope, lifting Carob off his feet. She pulled and pulled, putting all of her strength, all of her hatred and fury. He choked, gagged and sputtered as he dangled several feet off the ground. Fingers shoved against the ever-tightening rope, he moved about, choking, screaming breathless as his face reddened and his lungs emptied. She waited, holding him herself until he stopped fighting back. As his body hung limp, she threw the knife out, embedding it into a tree.
"That was…" Adam said breathless.
"L-Let's just get back to Ghira…" Sienna wiped the blood from her face and bruises, "I knew this would be a mistake…"
"Isn't this what you wanted?!"
Raven appeared, knocking him back, "Khan! Wake up!"
Shaking her head, Sienna moved out, sliding under Trifa's sudden new attack. Several bolts of compressed webs exploded from her body, latching onto Raven's sword, keeping it locked in its sheath; Neo's parasol, keeping it closed; grey-haired boy's gun barrels, keeping his boots shut. Blinking, she knew something was different with her former Black Ops. Ilia suddenly disappeared, only to reappear next to her, whip sword already poised to strike. Taking a deep breath, she weaved between the extending blade, trapping it between knot of chain links. Sliding her chains down, she wrapped it around Ilia's wrist, disarming her with a simple flick.
Behind the chameleon, Jaune arrived, bashing her with his shield. Raising his sword, he swung for Adam, clashing in a shower of sparks and light. Raising his shield, Trifa's bolt of webs suddenly closed it, forcing it into its sheath form. Jaune, for his power and understanding, flinched at the attack. Dodging Adam's wide swing and quick Iaido movements, he fell back, opening space between himself and the Team ACID.
"Alright," Jaune twirled his sword, sheathing his shield to his back, "he's stronger than the last time I saw him. Despite that, he's not moving like he's trying to fight us."
"Because I'm not," Adam sheathed Wilt once more, "it's Cinder Fall that I want."
"That's crazy," Jaune glared, "because she's mine."
"Wait in line, King," Adam scowled, "your time will come soon enough."
Urgh! Jaune charged, his pupils shifting color. Moving at his side, Sienna closed at Adam's flanks.
To the left, Raven met Mercury's footwork with her own, while absolutely meeting Emerald and Cinder's movements with ease. One on three against the infamous Bandit Queen were odds she happily accepted. However, as she gained the upper hand, Neo appeared, bashing her parasol in Cinder's undefended abdomen. Chocolate and strawberry eyes gave the Faunus a narrow glance, not a word to be shared, not a sigh to be given. This girl, was too skilled, too comfortable with combat and it made the woman wonder.
Raven fell back, hands raised and fists balled, she scoffed, "these kids are getting in my way. While I don't need a sword to fight, it would make this so much easier."
Raven suddenly moved, grabbing Sienna and kicking Neo away. Swinging and springing back and forth, a pair of webs, massive weights of compressed web acting as wrecking balls. Jaune moved in, bringing his sword upon the webs, sending them flying across the field. To the far end, Emerald raised her pistols, taking quick shots at the blond King. Fast and practiced, he blocked the bullets with his blade, aura infused and beginning to flare outward. Sapphire eyes flickered to crimson as his hair began to burn. Antlers shimmering from his forehead, he dashed toward them, fading into light clones as bullets cut through his aura shield.
Just as his blade met Emerald, Mercury kicked, knocking him back toward Ilia. Block, block, swing. Block, block, lunge. Semblance, semblance, swing. The King moved once more, only to meet Adam's crimson blade. Edge to edge, swordsmen met in a dance of death. Footsteps, movement, scanning eyes. The twitch of a finger, the twitch of a hair, everything was examined as they met broadsword to katana. A shower of sparks, a shower of flame, neither gained the upper hand.
Sienna moved in, swinging her chain whip, catching Adam off guard. Blade to blade, she attacked once more, locking Wilt within the web of chain links. Kicks, punches, underhand tactics. She fell back, rolling away. Adam charged, but as his blade stabbed through her face, everything shattered into glass. Eyes wide, he whipped back around, flinching as Neo's fist lodged into his cheek.
"I don't know why you're doing this," Adam rubbed his cheek, "but this isn't your fight."
Neo glared, raising her parasol.
"Right," Adam raised Wilt, "you're the mute."
Across the field, Winter finally arrived, her Manticore chewing on Yuma. As she prepared the final strike, he broke free, obliterating the Manticore to dust. She moved, glyphs appearing under her feet, vanishing away in a flurry of snowflakes. Moving back, she swung, sword to his arm blades, sparks and heat between their glare.
"I'm surprised you managed to catch up, Schnee," Yuma hissed, "look at you, Specialist Schnee…are you getting tired, soldier?"
"Not even close," she growled. Sliding her blade against his own, she moved around, slicing at his knees and tendons, but the aura he had repelled her strikes. A black glyph grew on his chest, suddenly pulling him away back toward the Ballroom. Against concrete and paved walkways, she activated her glyphs, springing forward. Swords moving together, she struck at his head, his neck and under his shoulder, places where aura was weakest. A kick, a swipe, Yuma could barely keep up. Arm blades sparking, his defenses faltering.
To the rear, Jaune could not make his way past Ilia to stop Trifa and her webs. Falling back, Trifa roared as a pair of weighted webs swung about, smashing through skirmish, forcing Raven from her assault, throwing Cinder back toward the CCT and Adam and Jaune back-to-back. A glare, a hiss, they moved about one another, swords to swords, locked in pitch melee once more.
"Wow," Jaune scoffed, bringing his sword back, "look at us. Just make this easy for me and get out of my way. Cinder is the one I want."
"Wait in line," Adam kicked, knocking Jaune away.
Turning his attention, the bull took a slow, but powerful breath. Neo was fighting Emerald; Raven was facing Cinder; Sienna battled Ilia. Horns glowing with heat, he gave Jaune a haunting glance, "try and stop me now, King."
Taking a stance, he locked his legs as Jaune tried to close the distance. With a powerful cry, he focused his gaze on Cinder Fall and her alone. Head down, horns brimming with head, he sped forward, aura exploding from his wake. Crashing through Neo, almost shattering her aura upon impact, he cleaved through Sienna, sending her and Ilia flying to either direction. Blasting through each duel, he plowed into Raven and Cinder, only come to a skidding stop when every shattered into glass.
"The mute," Adam roared, "Trifa, handle the mute!"
Neo, whipped back hearing a flapping of wings and the oozing splash of webs. A clash of her weapon against a ball of web, she was thrown back into the walls of the tower behind them. However, just as Trifa closed the distance with a flurry of webs, a black glyph grew on the spider's chest, spiraling with haze. Neo blinked, and she flew across the courtyard.
"Get up, Neopolitan," Winter called, "we're not done yet. We've spent too long with this mindless skirmish."
"Agreed," Sienna said, rolling her shoulder, "we need a plan."
"Well, I'm open to suggestions. The longer we waste time talking, the more we leave Cinder Fall to ACID," Winter scowled. Trifa and Yuma rejoined with Ilia, "the King can't handle all of them on his own."
"The hell he can't," Raven scoffed.
"Regardless," Sienna raised a hand, "arguing isn't going to get us anywhere."
"These were your Black Ops, Khan," Winter gave Sienna a sideways glance, "how do we beat them?"
"Their abilities have changed," Sienna watched as Ilia faced against Mercury. Yuma stayed by Trifa's side, as she tried to keep a bubble of distance between Jaune and Cinder. The tigress examined the fight from every facet, "Ilia is a skin shifter – she can change colors of her skin like a chameleon. However, due to whatever Salem did to her, she can disappear completely. Yuma's wings were only enough to allow him to glide, now he can fly. Trifa's webs were only enough for verticality and restraining people."
Neo rolled her eyes, picking web from her parasol. Drawing the thin blade from the handle, she slashed at the body of Omen, cutting through the layers of web trapping her weapon. Pink and brown locked with crimson as Neo simply huffed, twirling her weapon once again. The four gathered their wits, focused their minds and turned to the opponents.
"Neo, you and Schnee will face Yuma. Branwen, your blade will keep Trifa's webs from maintaining effect." Sienna said, "I'll help the King and ensure Adam and Cinder's compatriots do not interfere with his quest. Any questions – and Branwen's already engaging…gods damnit."
"Schnee…" Sienna heard nothing but the hum of glyphs and the flashing of clothing. Turning to the girl beside her, Neo simply shrugged, opening her parasol, she gave the woman a quick wink before her umbrella took the winds. Hovering out toward Winter, the tigress frowned, "fucking…"
Throwing her chain whip forward, the blade clung to the wall of the tower. Pulling with her might, she shot forward toward Cinder and Jaune. Foot out, she kicked the woman back, watching her trip over her heels. Cinder swung back, blades igniting with flame.
"Glad to see you back in the fight, Sienna," Jaune smirked, "she's fighting harder and in fact, her movements are wilder. There's little to no refinement where there should be. She's losing it."
"Who are you?!" Cinder bellowed, her voice cracking with rage, "why are you standing in my way?! I don't deserve this!"
Fire erupted one eye, the delirious look on her face, "you have stood in my way since I had come to Vale! I grow tired of this!"
Sienna moved, swinging her weapon. Clash, clash, break. Chain links met with her blades, infuriating Cinder further. Orange-yellow eyes glanced left and right, cold realization set in when her compatriots were nowhere to be found, caught by Trifa's web or facing Raven Branwen in a pitched duel. Snapping back to the blond boy charging at her with a broadsword and the tigress preparing to go for her legs, she panicked. Bringing her fists down, crimson energy and flame unending exploded in every direction, sending them back through bushes and paved streets.
"I will not be defeated like this! Not this!" Cinder threw her hand out, flames in pillars roared onto the street, "You will not deny me my destiny!"
"What is she whining about now?!" Sienna called over the roaring flame. Before she could get a response, Jaune appeared, lifting her off her feet. Sliding across concrete roads, he panted, eyes shifting color. Flame roared outward, separating the skirmishes, putting the fighters at square one once more.
"Remember how I said she was the one who started the end of the world?" Jaune whipped to Sienna, "she's got some issues, alright. This is getting out of hand. I thought Team KRWN could be worth something. You want out, I'll give you this out. To think I saw potential in you."
"I'm not out of the fight yet, King," Sienna glared, "we barely got Neopolitan a few days ago and barely started understand Schnee's motives. We didn't have time."
"The best teams are the ones forged in flame," Jaune said, "Keep ACID off of me while I take Cinder. That's all I need to finish this once and for all."
"Say no more," Sienna said, "trust me."
"You trust me?"
"That remains to be decided, King."
Jaune smirked, "good enough for me, High Leader. Let's get this done, shall we?"
Springing into action, she twirled her chain whip, striking Adam across the face. Closing distance, she clashed with him as Raven came through, matching his sword strikes with perfect precision. Weaving in and out of attacks, Sienna watched carefully, her focus solely placed on Adam and the grey-haired boy trying to take advantage of the situation. Anger rising, her semblance awakened. Raven was close to kill Adam, but that kid wanted more. Dashing between the two swordsmen, cutting an opening, she threw the chain out, wrapping around Mercury's boot. With a yank, he fell over, losing his balance. She punched and elbowed, raising her blade above her head. His eyes widened with fear for a split second as she brought the blade down, shoving it into his throat.
As the blood began to spill, she threw her chain out once more, wrapping it around Emerald's wrists. Focus. Focus. Focus. Sliding forward, ignoring Adam and Raven's movements, she punched the girl back, letting the chain wrap her in a mess of links. As Emerald struggled, eyes widening with fear, Sienna pulled once again, forcing her back into her waiting elbow. As she prepared to strike once again, Emerald threw her hands up to defend herself, but the strangest thing happened.
Mercury was back on his feet, rushing straight for her. Releasing her chains, Sienna went on the defensive, dodging him as he overshot her. However, he simply disappeared as he flew away. Preparing herself once again, Mercury arrived, a kick to her stomach, a kick to her back. Focus! Focus! Focus! Sienna brought her chains to defend against his coming onslaught, but the boy simply vanished once more. Eyes widened, body shaking as her aura shimmered to life, she was low. Ears twitched, hairs raised, she snapped back, throwing the chain out to the sound. It wrapped around Emerald's wrists, binding her arms together.
"Illusions," Sienna glared, "I've had enough with illusion semblances. Do you have any idea how hard it was to fight Neo?"
Emerald could only gulp, her red eyes wide with fear. But just as Sienna swung the blade between her eyes, the image shimmered. She shoved her blade into a bush. Anger rising, she whipped around, narrowing her eyes as Emerald pulled Mercury to his feet, actually trying to run away. Pulling her chain, she prepared to strike but a look from Neo and Winter caught her attention. Trifa was not defeated, but at least the spider wasn't using her crowd control attacks. They were all getting tired, she could see it and these powerful strikes, these powerful fighters, it made her blood boil.
Giving the two kids a quick glance before turning her eyes back to the fight, her semblance phased out, aura flickering to sparks. A deep breath, she moved in, tackling Trifa, wrapping her chains around her wrists. Pure rage and power, Trifa responded, firing bolts of webs from the holes in her poisoned hands. Back and forth, webs crashed against shields of aura, against Winter's summons. Disconnecting her chain, Sienna saw an opening. Tightly, she pulled Trifa back, pulling the chain and dragging it across her neck, binding her back. Pulling, pulling, she hissed as the snap and crack was heard.
Dropping the woman, the Faunus's body seized before staying limp. Slow breaths. Slow, heaving breaths. Feet aching and legs on fire, Sienna could not believe what she had done. Hands dropped the handle of her chain whip, ears ringing as it clattered beside Trifa's dead body. Winter's glyphs came to life, as she zipped back and forth across the battlefield. Sword piercing at Yuma's body, breaking through what aura he had left. Sword strikes, kicks and glyphs, Winter moved in and out of his arm blades, his punches and swings, unable to be touched. Neo moved against Ilia, parasol to whip sword, maneuverability to sly tactics. The mute girl swiftly matched Ilia's movements, a checkmate in the dance of death.
But her eyes remained on Trifa. Sienna couldn't breathe. Hands shaking, she fell back, eyes never leaving the woman's corpse. The markings of her skin once a light grey-blue, were black as night, as crimson as blood. Her body began to sizzle, smoke trailing from her broken body. Body and soul, there was no soul in this creature. Trifa's empty gaze crawled with something as she laid there beneath fire and wintery glyphs. Seconds, she could feel the clock ticking. Seconds, the whistle of rocket lockers. Seconds, she could hear the footsteps of King's Fist soldiers, and Atlesian automatons. Seconds, the veritable and impossible to forget, deathly hiss of Grimm dying.
Grimm? Sienna wondered silently. What…what happened to them?
Eyes turned to Jaune as he slashed Cinder's aura. The woman's unhinged shrieks sending shivers down her spine. Aura came to life in her bones. A flicker of light from Jaune's open palm, a flicker of light matching Raven, Winter and Neo. Trails of light followed to his fingertips, each glowing with white light. Cinder cowered, her power faltering. Adam panted, slowing down, no longer able to keep up with Raven's onslaught. Clash, clash, clash. Break, break, break. Strike, strike, strike. Sienna shivered as warmth spread throughout her body. Aura filling within her soul, her semblance awakening once again.
Focus. Focus. Focus.
Springing back to her feet, she gave Trifa one final glance, ignoring Winter's blade as it sheathed into Yuma's throat. Springing her chain out, it wrapped around Adam's wrist, forcing Wilt from his grip. Pulling back, he lost balance, slashed across the chest by Raven's Omen. She sheathed, standing over him as his aura shattered before her eyes. Ilia beaten back, fell beside him, clamoring to lift him to his feet. Sienna watched as black veins spread across her bare pale arms, up and down like snakes beneath her flesh. Adam, fared no better, the veins so vicious, so visible, only seemed to thicken across his face.
"Grimm," Raven simply said, "something was done to them."
"You're going to let a human kill me, Sienna?" Adam murmured.
"No," she hissed, "Branwen, go and aid the King."
"Don't give me commands, Khan," Raven turned her attention to the Arc. Drawing her blade once more, she clashed against Cinder, ignoring her waves of crimson glyphs and bolts of erupting flame.
"Adam, Ilia," Sienna glowered. Neo and Winter soon caught up with them, weapons aimed at their throats. Neo glared, words spoken through the heat of her eyes, she drew her blade, ready to pierce Adam's throat, but a hand stopped her.
"Sienna," a familiar voice said, "we'll handle this."
"Blake…" she murmured. Behind her, the infamous members of Fireteam RWBY had arrived, still in their dresses, their raised their weapons, ready to keep fighting, "why are you here and not helping your King?"
"It's not our fight…" Blake said solemnly, "he has been waiting for this moment…the best we can do now…is make sure he doesn't go too far."
Jaune clashed with her, throwing her off her gait. Soldiers had filled the courtyard, King's Fist, Atlesian; Huntsmen and Huntresses. They watched with Scrolls risen, flashes awake and blaring in the night. Beneath the hum of the shattered moon, he refused to give them any attention. Raven had pulled back, prepared to escape, but her eyes had locked with Yang's leaving pandora's box ready to open. There was no one left to distract him. Charging in, he slashed against her, pushed back and kicked her as she shrieked like a banshee.
For Beacon!
Flames flickered across the city he held dear. Vale was under siege. Homes, apartments, entire streets awash in flame and rubble. People running for life, Grimm feasting on the innocent who could not defend themselves. Fear in his heart as he collapsed on the campus of Beacon, watching Grimm and Paladins tearing through what remained of their weak and final defense. Arslan moved through the Atlesian Knights. Weiss cut through Grimm who only continued to gather in growing numbers. Yang and Blake were nowhere to be found. Pyrrha at his side, Ren and Nora, exhausted in the fires of battle.
Beacon. His path to greatness, his path to fulfilling his destiny. He heard her, her cries of pain and screaming agony. He wanted to follow her; fight beside her. But with her kiss of death, the tears that marred across her cheeks, she pushed him away. Into the rocket locker, ignoring his pleas, ignoring his begging voice, she just pushed him away. Disgust, hatred and anger to himself, regrets and unsaid words were all he could feel as the locker burst into the distant, flaming city. She was going. She was going – she was gone.
Cinder moved in, unbalanced, the delirium taking over. Red glyphs surrounded the ground around her, exploding with red-hot fire and aura. Jaune met her sword once more, clang, sparks and the shrill scream of steel to steel. His hatred blaring in his multicolored eyes. He swung once more, cutting through her aura. Before she could defend herself, he slashed once again, slicing through her left arm.
For Haven!
Walls beaten with fire and artillery. Upon the multi-leveled city, behind the flames of unending battle. He could see her, smirking behind her wounded mask as she took tentative, threatening steps to Weiss. White Fang washing into the city streets, every terrace, every level, like the very horde of Grimm their fear gathered. Within the halls of the great Haven Academy. Its tower under attack, Adam Taurus was moving in, with the aid of Hazel Rainart. There was nothing he could do. Waiting. Watching as Cinder threw her flaming spear at the beautiful Schnee. He could feel the power, the hatred and the rage as he could do nothing but cry and scream. But she missed. Cinder missed.
He could see himself fighting her off, making the coward flee back into her siege lines, fleeing the campus grounds. Hands fading in and out of his vision, he made his way across the battlefield, under a shower of smoke and fire, bullets and shells, he found them. Yang and Blake, fighting almost twenty Faunus by themselves. They were struggling; they wouldn't make it. He moved in, cutting through the deluge until there was only one left. His anger, his rage, he struck Adam, but not without his own scar. Yang was faltering, Blake was wounded. He needed to finish the job, swinging, he cut the bull's head from his shoulders.
Panic. It was something he knew well. As they rushed to airships that were already beginning to take off, he tried to keep his emotions under control. Defenders of the great city, of the Academy, fled for their lives. Grimm had pushed through the walls; into the barriers they swore to defend. Was it over? A woman walked upon the fields burned and charred black with fire and ash. She was there, Jaune stopped mid step, watching as he moved Yang and her sister onto the airship. Blake was calling out, moving through the earthquakes that shook the towering city. Her father was buried in rubble, trying to get people to safety.
Panic. Yang begged him, running back into the chaos, hands up trying to get him to come back. Pulling civilians to their feet, he did what he could. The earthquakes continued, shaking everything from the towers that poked into the sky, to the very foundations of the great monolith. He moved, as Salem drew power to herself. Raising a strange device, it blared a powerful, blinding red light. No words could be shared as he helped Ghira remove the rubble from the scene. Cardin at his side, more shouting, more begging, but at least the Belladonnas and the people were safe. Stacked against the docks, airships blared sirens, captains and sailors calling out to the remnants of the city.
Panic. He was falling. Oceans rushed un, Lake Matsu had grown to a sea. Salem was upon a giant flying whale, its roars and groaning moans nothing more than deep rumbles in the growing night. Oceans tore through mountains, shredded through green valleys and plains of orange and bronze. The oceans drew close as the airships only distanced further. He was falling. Faunus were crying out as the waves swept them away, White Fang and defenders from Menagerie. The Belladonnas waded, as Sea Feilong burst from the surface, beams of energy exploding from their open maws. He was falling. But the ribbon wrapped around his feet.
Panic. He and Yang screamed out, only held by the chaffed hands of Ruby and Weiss. Only inches from falling from the bullhead bay doors, they watched as Blake slowly shrank into the raging, thrashing seas below.
Cinder was panicking, breath wasted and panting as she lost control of her sword. Eyes could not find Emerald or Mercury. She could not see the ones she had chosen, the ones she entrusted to be her companions. The only one she could see, was the blond boy with multicolored eyes. She could not keep up. No matter what she did, it did not matter her strategies, her tactics nor her skills – countered everything she did. It was terrifying; it was infuriating. Everything he did, everything she did, everything – it fell apart because of this boy!
"W-Why are you doing this?!" she shrieked, backing away from him, "I've done nothing to you!"
Jaune smiled, "it's not what you've done…it's what you will do."
A quick parry, her swords were knocked from her hands, leaving her defenseless. Shoving Crocea Mors into her stomach, he twisted the blade as her pain gasp echoed like music in his ears. Twisting, he shoved the blade as deep as he could until blood spurt from her open gullet. He smirked, relishing the fear in her eyes. Twisting further, she groaned, begging through gurgled chokes.
"How does it feel, Cinder?" Jaune neared, the heat of his breath tickling against her crimson bloodied nose, "how does it feel knowing you've failed?! How does it feel to know you aren't getting out of this?!"
Her gurgles only made his sickening smile linger. The horns on his head began to twist, darkening from the golden hue. "It's time I take back what doesn't belong to you, Cinder."
Throwing his hand to her face, her eyes widened as his glowing palm burned against her forehead. Not a scream to be heard from the gurgled mess her words had become. Heat rose from within, piercing through his aura, filling his body with darkness. He groaned, surprised at her sudden monstrous grip, she was defiant, biting her lips, her gaze steeled against the burning white light.
"Oh?!" Jaune glared, his horns twisting further. Golden light poisoned began to darken, "You think you can defy me?! You think you can deny me, Cinder?! Burn, you worthless, nameless bitch!"
However, his rage, his fury calmed. Horns untwisted, reverting slowly back to the antlers they once were. As Cinder trembled in his grip, he turned back to see Ren standing in the circle, hand up and his ram horns that spun to fit their natural twists.
"Jaune…calm down. You're indulging yourself."
"Ren," he glowered, snapping to the boy, "you, them, everyone, saw what we faced, because of this…this creature!"
"She isn't a creature, Jaune!" Ren's horns uncurled ever so slightly, straightening, while Jaune's antlers twisted and curled, "she was manipulated and corrupted by Salem. There is no need to prolong this. You're making an unnecessary scene."
"Y-You don't understand, Ren," Jaune grabbed Cinder, throwing her to the dirt, "she was the reason for everything I have done! She, is the reason for why I had gone as far as I did! This…this bitch!"
She began to crawl away, Crocea Mors dragging against the concrete. Jaune stepped down, stomping into her back, "Killing her isn't enough!"
"Killing her would finish this before it gets any worse, Jaune," Ren glared, taking a threatening step.
Team RWBY stepped forward, ready to defend, while team NDGO moved to back Ren. Nora and Pyrrha sputtering through words like lightning between them. People backed away, scrolls still recording. Jaune took a heaving breath, kicking Cinder onto her back. Crocea Mors glinting with her blood as she raised her hands in surrender. Jaune said nothing, putting his hand on the handle of the great blade.
"It's more than just making her suffer, Ren," Jaune closed his eyes, "it's making sure Salem doesn't get her victory, no matter the cost. I have to do it, Ren. If she suffers as I do so, the better for me. I am ending this before it begins. Do not stop me."
"I'm not trying to stop you from killing her," Ren said, raising his hands. Giving RWBY pleading looks, shame quickly flashed across their faces. Backing away, Pyrrha and Nora sighed in relief, "you could butcher her for all I care…you weren't the only one she hurt, remember? Our family, the ones we love…the eight of us, she tore us apart and made us suffer, one by one. I'd kill her myself, but not like this, Jaune. This is a spectacle; not justice. Please…just calm down, everyone's watching. Do you understand?"
Jaune stopped, looking at Cinder as she pleaded through blood-soaked lips and teeth. The pain in her eyes made his heart race with an inexplicable feeling. She was just a woman, feeling the same things everyone in her position would feel. Trapped, caged and locked. Trapped, with no escape to be found. Without you, I am nothing. She said it in her head. Again and again, she repeated it. The cold of her body, the stinging against her neck. She could not fathom it, staring at this boy.
He knelt beside her, putting his hand on the sizzling burns on her forehead. Hand glowing once more, he lowered it to her skin, not a smile on his face, not even rage. Pulsating aura through her body, she flinched, fidgeting against the rising heat. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back as the heat claimed her. She slept. But sleep would not claim her. Opening her eyes, she could feel nothing but the winds, mist of morning dew against blades of grass. She flinched, springing to her feet.
"I know you're wondering what's happening," a voice called to her.
Whipping back, she stared at him, an empty glaze in her orange eyes, "what is this?"
"It's your memories," Jaune said, "I didn't think a monster like you could think of a place so pure."
"I don't know who you are, aside from your title of king, but somehow you know everything about me," Cinder did not move, listening to chirping birds and fluttering butterflies.
"You…" Jaune took a deep breath, "Salem destroyed Remnant. Salem defeated us and when I was the last person on this world…she was planning to torture me until I was left as nothing but a shell of skin and bone. But she couldn't have done all of that, without you."
"W-What?" Cinder turned to him.
"If you can't tell, I'm from the fucking future," Jaune scoffed, "at least…I was. It's all very, very confusing, honestly. Regardless of that, in the future, you succeed. You commence the Fall of Beacon and take the Fall Maiden's power in their entirety. You help with the Fall of Haven, of Anima; instrumental to the Fall of Atlas and Solitas; the sinking of Vytal; the End of the World. Without you, her chess piece, her first domino – she couldn't succeed."
"I care about this world, I care about the people who lived here," Jaune stepped to her, "but you killed my friends. You ended their lives. The ones I love with all my heart. You personally took tried to take their lives and succeeded for several of them. Not this time, Cinder, not this time!"
"What now?" her words were empty and devoid of emotion, "you got what you wanted…you took everything from me."
"You're going to give me the Maiden powers," Jaune demanded.
For a moment, cinder's face awakened with color and life, "but…but you're not a girl."
"I'm not keeping it," he nearly laughed, "don't be stupid now."
"Then take it…" she said in a near whisper.
Jaune reached forward taking her hand. Not a flinch or a reaction. "Promise me one thing, if you can…if you kill Salem…no matter how unlikely that is…"
He flinched at her tightening grip.
"Make her suffer as you made me…"
Light and a bounty of colors flowed from her body and into his arm. Her once healthy face began to fade in color, pale and white like ivory. The empty gaze, the broken eyes in which she stared, spoke to him. From the scar around her collarbone, to the back of her spine, she stood there, waiting.
"For what it's worth, Cinder…" Jaune began as she fell to her knees, "you could have been an ally at one point. You could have changed…"
"Heh," Cinder gave a weak, empty chuckle, "even as your most hated adversary, you still have time to think of mercy."
As she fell back, the last of her aura and life force fading into his body, he leaned down to her, putting a hand on her forehead. A hint of a smile spread on her face, however empty of malice. Empty of hate.
"Cinder…I promise I'll give that bitch exactly what she deserves."
He opened his eyes.
Ren stood beside him, a hand on his shoulder as Professor Ozpin had now taken full control of the situation. Students were gone, but the King's Fist and the Fireteams remained. Neither said a word as Jaune stumbled to his feet. Carefully, he pulled Crocea Mors from Cinder's body, feeling weaker than ever before. No one spoke, as he stumbled along, arm draped over Ren's shoulder. Ignoring the looks of their comrades, their subordinates, their friends and the ones they loved. The horns upon their heads slowly began to fade, crinkling away like crackled dust.
Into the elevator, Jaune panted weakly, his face paling as the seconds continued. Sweat poured from his brow as he struggled to stay standing. Clinging to Ren, the boy refused to let him go. Slumped, Jaune fell forward as the elevator doors shut. He couldn't breathe. Legs weak, he collapsed, panting, labored breaths. Fists clenched together as the elevator made an ominous ding. As Ren moved to help him, Jaune hissed, shaking his head.
"Jaune," Ren pleaded, "don't take this on your own."
"I know," he panted, his face continuing to pale, "I know…I just…it's so much pain, Ren."
"All the more reason to help you!"
"Fine!" he scowled as Ren struggled to lift him to his feet.
"Gods, Jaune, did you put on some weight?!" Ren strained himself. Before he could struggle any longer, a strong hand lifted Jaune to his feet. At his side, Cardin was panting, soaking his suit in sweat.
"Come on, guys," Cardin nodded, "let's get this done…whatever it is you're doing…"
"Cardin…" Ren gave him a soft smile, "you have no clue how much we appreciate you. Truly. First me, now Jaune. If you weren't a huntsman, you'd make a great bellboy."
HA!
Jaune mumbled his guffaw, "t-that's a good one, Ren. C-Come on…I just need…I need to find Amber…Amber…"
Cardin and Ren lifted Jaune as his body seemed to only grow heavier. Sweat trickled down his brow as his head shot back, dangling weak, his lungs contracted. Chest tightening, closing in his ribcage. Head spinning, his body suddenly seared with heat. Cardin and Ren flinched, nearly releasing the Arc. His hair ignited with golden flame, his eyes spiraling with crimson orbs. It didn't matter, neither refused to release him. He shuddered violently, seizing into their arms. Springing from his back, several clones flipped about before flickering and phasing out of sight. He screamed, howling out like a wild animal.
Cardin groaned, tightening his grip. As the final clone began to flicker, it exploded in a shower of light. The fire continued, the clones kept appearing, the explosions kept ringing. Suddenly, the pillars around them began to compress. A violent hum began to sound. Ren couldn't breathe, his own legs beginning to strain. Ram horns grew from his forehead as Cardin continued to soldier on, almost lifting the two in his arms. Metal torches spewing green flame sprang from their braziers and sconces. Crashing across the great corridor, the polarity grew out of control. Left and right, clones exploded, torches moved with life.
"Oh, fuck this!"
The instant Ren's grip loosened, Cardin threw his arms around their waists and lifted them together. Throwing them over his shoulders, he charged across the corridor, with fear in his steps. Clones would not stop; torches would not stop moving around them like a halo. As the chaos continued, a green light suddenly exploded from Jaune's body as a purple, almost malicious light emanated from Ren. Cardin ran up the steps, watching as the torches and flames suddenly reverted. Explosions reversed, returning to the clones they once were. Torches flew back into their sconces and braziers ignited with light once more.
"Jaune do what you gotta do!"
Dropping the pair, Ren gasped, sweat pouring down his face. Rising to his feet, Ren couldn't believe his eyes. The destruction was undoing itself, but that wasn't the end. A stream of black ooze trailed from the base of the steps to the open elevator. Grimm, small and juvenile began to crawl from the thickening liquid.
"What the fuck now?" Cardin cried, "without my mace, I can't fight these guys!"
"Just watch Jaune and make sure nothing happens to him!" Ren commanded, "I'll handle this, Cardin."
Cardin scowled before returning to Jaune's side, "Why the fuck is it always you guys?!"
Jaune grunted, his muscles tight and cramped shut. Cardin's arms lifted him to his feet, "these are pods of some kind…clearly you want one of them, which?"
"T-The one on the…l-left…"
Lips chapped and dry, his mouth dry, he collapsed against the pod, finding Amber still breathing within. Throwing his hand against the console, his head could not stay steady. Fingers pressed buttons, but his arm locked. As the Grimm began to roar behind him, Cardin grabbed his arm and threw it against the console, letting a series of sounds and lights scan his boney hand. Suddenly, the pod began to shift, humming as machinery moved to its new command. The pod hissed, screeching as hydraulics came to life.
"Is that…the Fall Maiden?" Cardin asked.
Jaune panted, putting his hand on her face, "y-yeah…hopefully this works…I can't breathe anymore, Cardin…"
"Come on, Amber…wake up…"
Pyrrha trembled as King's Fist moved in, lifting the dead from the battle. Ruby sat on the sidewalk, Russel and Arslan at her side. No one knew what was happening, and that was doing little to make things any better. Staring at the woman named Cinder, the Spartan could not turn her head away as the medics zipped the woman into a black body bag. To the side, the Spider Faunus was zipped as well, careful not to aggravate the corpse. Sienna stood with Blake as they talked quietly among each other. Yang, stood in front of Raven, neither spoke since they locked eyes. Weiss, spoke – shouted – at Winter.
Pyrrha could not look away at the damage. An unshakable feeling grew in her chest. Ozpin left Glynda's side as she began to work. Concrete and stone slowly began to fit together like pieces in a puzzle. As Ozpin knelt in front of Ruby, talking to her, Pyrrha needed to do something. Giving Nora a glance, the girl was feeling it too. NDGO gave them quick nods and joined the rest of the Fireteams while Pyrrha and Nora slipped away. Careful, they slipped into the tower and entered the elevator. As the final ding rang in their ears, they took a deep, shaking breath. Their weapons drawn and ready, they prepared themselves.
As the door opened, it was not what they expected. Without thinking, they charged forward, weapons blazing and Grimm turning to dust. All Pyrrha could see was Jaune. Blitzing through the motions, the Grimm vanished to her unending onslaught. Sliding across the corridor, Cardin arrived, falling from the air. Fist glowing with warmth and heat, he smashed his fist into the floor, sending a column of explosive power and flying tile, throwing Grimm up into the air, shards in their heads and faces, disappearing into dust before they could hit the ground. In the smoke of the explosion, she was blown off her feet. Flipping through the air, she rolled about the floor, speeding through the shroud.
Her body froze as she raised her spear. A Grimm crawled behind him, latching itself to his back, crawling for Amber. Pyrrha turned to Ren, who couldn't believe what he was seeing. Throwing his hand out, purple energy echoed outward. She didn't know what it would do, she didn't care – Jaune was in trouble. Rushing to him, she jumped high, raising her spear over her head, she charged in. Closing the distance, the spear lodged into the pod, just inches from Jaune's hand. Pulling it free, the Grimm reacted, slashing for Pyrrha. Transforming Milo into its xiphos form, she parried, preparing to strike the creature.
It was maneuverable, avoiding every swing and swipe, but the Arc stayed still, hand on Amber's face. As Pyrrha made a quick stab the creature jumped from Jaune's back and slithered on the floor, following Ren's power. A grey aura covered the them, even spreading to the girl strapped to the pod. As the Grimm shuddered toward Ren, it began to float, almost levitating at Ren's open hand. Fingers clenched; the hand began to close. The Grimm hissed, creamed out as it writhed and shuddered to his gaze.
Pyrrha, no longer asking questions moved to strike it down, but a hand gripped her left, holding her tight. Flinching, she turned to the touch, dropping Milo as her eyes locked with Amber's. The girl coughed, sputtering to Jaune's touch. No matter what healing he did, what semblances he used, her condition was not getting any better. Amber coughed, careful not to bother Jaune as his snores began to ring.
"P-Pyrrha…" she murmured, "Jaune told me about you…he showed me everything that would happen. He won't accept it, but he can't save me. Whatever it was that Cinder Fall did to me…it's permanent. I'm not…"
"What do you need me to do, Amber?" Pyrrha gripped her cold hand, "I don't…he told me about you too."
"Be the Maiden I couldn't…"
"W-What?"
"Take it…" she whispered. With her hoarse coughs, Pyrrha tightened her grip, "you have a good heart, Pyrrha…your aura, it's beautiful."
"But, I c-can't!" Pyrrha pleaded, "you are strong, you can make it! Don't give up, Amber!"
"While the soul is strong," Amber whimpered as her eyes closed, "the body has given up a long time ago…Pyrrha…it won't be easy, but Jaune, your Queens…your chosen family…"
"Why me?" Pyrrha couldn't believe her ears. As the battle raged behind her, the girl pleaded.
"Do you believe in destiny?" Amber said.
I'll be thinking of you, Pyrrha.
You know the drill guys! Drop a review!
ja ne!
gottahavekyuubi