Chapter Sixteen: Losing Control
A scream rang out through the room. Oscar turned to see Weiss pulling away from Vernal, yellow lightning sparking between them.
"Are you going to let her die too?" Cinder taunted Jaune.
"Stop messing with me!" Tears spilled down his face.
"If that's what you want..." Cinder pointed her sword at Jaune, who threw a hand in front of his face instinctively. There was a soft whoosh and her sword ignited with a red-hot fire. She ran at him. Yelling, he charged to meet her.
Ruby turned, watching them as if in slow motion. "No!" She screamed. A flash of white light exploded from her eyes, bathing the room in a silver glow. Oscar flinched away, momentarily blinded. Emerald's pistol connected with the back of Ruby's skull, and the light faded as she crumpled to the ground.
Cinder cried out in pain and fell to her knees. Fighting for breath she looked up, clutching her arm. Jaune's sword brushed past her face, chipping the edge of her mask. He overextended, falling to the floor.
Fire blazed from Cinder's eyes. "Did you actually think you had a chance against me?" Her foot slammed down on his chest. "You?"
Jaune flinched and reached for his sword. His fingertips brushed the hilt.
"You're just a failure with a death wish."
"If I die buying them time, then it's worth it!" Struggling to get up, Jaune looked Cinder in the eyes. "They're the ones that matter."
On the other side of the room, Nora and Ren battled Hazel, working in tandem. Yang dodged kicks from Mercury, firing back.
"You think so?" Cinder's lip curled up in an awful parody of a smile, watching Vernal throw Weiss backwards. Weiss knelt, trying to catch her breath. With a cruel, measured ease, Cinder conjured a glowing metal spear from thin air.
"No..." Jaune struggled to stand as Cinder raised the spear. "No!"
She threw it. Weiss gasped, her head tilted up to the ceiling. The long metal shaft had torn straight through her side. Her hands spasmed. She looked down, unable to breathe, eyes wide and glassy.
Yang stopped fighting, watching in abject horror. Nora and Ren stood, shocked and silent. Tears streamed down Jaune's face. As they watched, the spear crumbled into ash, and Weiss slumped to the floor.
"Weiss!" He ran to her.
Oscar stood, frozen. He saw Jaune press his hands to the gaping hole in Weiss's side. Wide-eyed and frantic, Oscar glanced around the room, desperately looking for something, anything. His heart stopped. Ruby lay unmoving at Emerald's feet. Eyes hardening to steel, Oscar turned to Lionheart in blind rage. With a furious yell, he struck him in the head with his cane. Lionheart crumpled like tissue paper, falling backwards down the stairs and colliding with Hazel.
Oscar rushed over to Ruby's comatose body. "Ruby, get up!" He shook her. "Get up! We need you!" Nora appeared at his side, kneeling helplessly.
Hazel grabbed Lionheart by the collar, lifting him into the air. "You're lettin' that boy make a fool of you." He warned.
"That's not just a boy!" Lionheart fought for breath. "It's Ozpin, he's already reincarnated!"
Hazel's eyes snapped open in shock. He dropped Lionheart, turning to see Oscar still kneeling at Ruby's side. Ozpin's cane was gripped tight in his hand.
"Ozpin?" Hazel snarled.
Ruby stirred. "Ow..."
"Ruby!" Relief washed over Oscar. He opened his mouth to explain what had happened.
"Ozpin!" Hazel roared.
"Oh no."
"You thought you could hide from me?" He yelled, fists clenched in fury. He tore off his jacket, pulling out four chunks of yellow Dust crystal. "You'll pay for what you did! You'll die, over and over again!" He plunged the crystals into his arms and his veins crackled with yellow lightning. It sparked in his eyes.
"Do we fight?" Stammered Oscar, backing away.
"No, run!"
With a snarl, Hazel charged at him. He swung a fist at Oscar's face, lightning sparking from his knuckles. Oscar leapt back.
"Oscar."
"No!"
"Oscar!" Ozpin insisted as Oscar dodged another blow.
"I told you, no!" Hazel's fist connected with Oscar's stomach, sending him flying back into a wall. His chest heaved, spasming.
"Please, let me take over! I can handle him!"
Oscar coughed, sitting up. "You told me I needed to fight for myself!" He pulled himself to his feet, wincing slightly. "So I will."
"This is not your fight!"
"What does that mean?" Oscar's eyes narrowed. "Why is he so upset with us?"
"He didn't tell you my tale, did he boy?" Hazel snarled, stalking over. "I thought you looked familiar." He towered over Oscar. "To think that evil was inside you when our paths first crossed."
Hazel's shadow fell over Oscar, and his mind flashed back to the train, then the farmhouse. He couldn't breathe.
"Your blood won't be on my hands." Hazel raised his fists. "It'll be on his."
Qrow leapt in front of Oscar, holding up his scythe to block Hazel's blow. The impact threw them both backwards. With a snarl, Qrow pulled himself to his feet and ran at Hazel, his scythe outstretched and aimed for his heart.
Oscar stood staring. "What was he talking about?"
"Tell him, Ozpin." Hazel snarled, holding back Qrow with one hand. "Tell him how you killed her!"
"Her?" Oscar whispered.
"Gretchen Rainart was Hazel's sister." Ozpin spoke fluidly yet quickly. "Despite her brother's wishes, she enrolled at Beacon Academy to become a Huntress, and tragically lost her life on a training mission."
Oscar lowered his cane, shoulders dropping.
"Hazel holds me responsible."
He closed his eyes.
"Please, let me fight. I know Hazel. He's wounded in a way that cannot be healed."
"You know now!" Hazel tossed Qrow to the ground, turning to Oscar. "You can forgive me for what I'm about to do."
"Did she know?" Oscar challenged. "Did she know the risk of being a Huntress?" He brought the cane up, gripping it firmly with both hands.
"She was only a child!" Hazel yelled. "She wasn't ready!"
"She made a choice!" Oscar turned his cane on Hazel, dropping into a fighting stance. "A choice to put others before herself!" He tightened his grip, steel in his eyes. "So do I."
Hazel sighed. "Then you've chosen death." He stepped forward, lightning sparking in his skin.
"I'm sorry." Ozpin muttered.
"What?" Oscar barely had time to force the word out before a flash of yellow light shone from his eyes. He felt Ozpin take control of his mind, and fell to his knees. When he rose again, it was Ozpin that looked up, his blazing eyes narrowed.
Hazel noticed the change. "Ozpin!" He roared.
