Cinder impatiently paces the roof of an Atlesian building; she had been waiting for Neo to bring the Lamp.
"What's taking so long?" she growled. Suddenly, she heard a more bestial growl and whipped around to see a glowing orange wolf facing her from the other end of the building…its demonic owner behind her.
Cinder partially relaxed. "Oh, it's you. What do you want?"
The Marauder glared at Cinder. "You are a fool for having to wait for the girl. Have you learned nothing?!"
"What do you mean?"
"She was never with you, she kept the Relic, just like she turned on you in Haven."
Cinder growled in anger; she guessed she should have seen it coming, but it was still frustrating.
The Marauder continued. "I find your continued failures rather…amusing. However, I did not come here to mock."
A red portal opened behind him and he gestured to it. "She's waiting for you."
Cinder's eye widened as she realized who he meant. She then nervously walked through the portal, coming into Salem's throne room inside the Monstra, where Salem and Tyrian waited for her.
Cinder immediately knelt before Salem. "Please, Ma'am. I can explain."
Tyrian chuckled. "Someone's been a baaaad girl."
"Oh, really? And where would Watts be, Tyrian? At least I managed to evade capture."
"I'm afraid the Doctor was a necessary sacrifice. You on the other hand…"
"That's enough" Salem said, silencing them both before turning to Cinder, "I'm afraid there isn't much to explain that I don't already know. Our Marauder friend here has proven valuable as of recent."
The Marauder simply grunted and nodded in return as Salem continued. "You were close to getting the Lamp, but you put your trust in the wrong people. Then you relied on yourself to try and take the Winter Maiden's power, which you failed spectacularly at."
"But now I know that the Polendina girl has it" Cinder argued, "The problem was that I was admittedly overpowered…by Khione."
Salem's eyes widened in interest at the mention of her eldest daughter. Even Tyrian seemed a bit shock. "The sisters…they're here?!"
"Which means you-know-who won't be far behind" growled the Marauder.
Salem quickly regained her composure. "It matters not. Julius is the only one who can let him out, and the poor thing's too scared to use his magic. His restraint will be his downfall."
Suddenly, the red circle in the center of the room flared red. Noticing it, Salem's eyes narrowed. "Tyrian, Marauder, out. I'll speak to him privately with Cinder."
Both nodded before leaving the room. Cinder looked up. "Who?"
"Surely you remember my associate, the God of Darkness's first creation." Salem replied, "Sadly, he cannot be here physically, but that doesn't stop him from speaking through his spirit."
She then waved her hand over the circle, causing a mass of red and black liquid to rise from it and take the shape of a massive armored figure, the helmet having two large horns at the top.
Cinder felt fear creep into her heart while Salem coolly smirked and said. "It has been a while…Davoth."
The Dark Lord nodded to Salem, then looked at Cinder, who could feel his cold gaze.
"So" he said, his deep voice echoing in the chamber, "this is the one who proved loyal…"
Cinder felt a twinge of pride until Davoth finished, "…and yet has proven a failure time and again."
Cinder's face fell, though Salem remained calm. "She still has much to learn, it's true, but at least she keeps fighting for me. Her persistence is admirable."
"But persistence does not bring results!" Davoth snapped, "If we are to rule this world, we need soldiers who can actually do their damn job!"
Cinder used every last reserve of willpower to remain calm. "But I know that the Polendina girl has the Maiden power. Once I return, I can finish what I started. I can become more powerful, Dark Lord, I just need more time."
Davoth looked down at Cinder, who mustered the courage to look into the apparition's eyes. After a few tense moments, Davoth chuckled in amusement.
"Well, you were right about her persistence" he told Salem, "Make sure it's put to good use."
Salem nodded. "Of course. You'll also be happy to know that I have…nudged Ironwood against those who defy us. With him blind, I now knock on Atlas's very doorstep."
"Gooood" Davoth mused, "Now is our chance to take it out. Once Atlas falls, the rest will be all too easy."
He then looked to Cinder. "Take note of this. Should you fail again, I will personally ensure that your failures never happen again."
Cinder shuddered at what that could mean, but was able to calmly reply. "Yes, my Lord. Without you and Salem, I am nothing."
Davoth nodded before the liquid illusion dissipated, leaving Cinder and Salem alone.
Salem then turned to Cinder. "Go rest and recover; you will need it for what I have planned for you."
Cinder bowed her head before standing up and leaving.
…
Back in Mantle, Dr. Hayden had opened up his laboratory to the Happy Huntresses as a base of operations. May leaned over a map on the counter, speaking over a communication device. While she talks, Ruby, Weiss, Maria and Joanna walk inside. Spring sits on a nearby table as Dr. Richardson bandages her shoulder.
"I know, Sector 3 is going to need the most help. I'm sending backup your way right now. Fiona, do you copy? We need transport from Sector 3 to the crater" She said.
"Copy!" Fiona answered
In the cafeteria, what remained of the teams were sitting at tables while Penny and Pietro watch the news. The news network is displaying a Fugitives notice for the Maiden Sisters, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team JRHD (minus Nouvs), Neo, Maria, Katrina, Penny and Pietro.
Blake turned to Julius. "Why are you wearing the hood?"
"It's…a bit hard to explain" Julius replied nervously, "Something happened during our fight with Kahn Makyr; I had to use a little more magic then I wanted. I know we agreed on no more secrets, but I'm a little scared about this one."
"Julius" Ruby said, "I promise we won't get mad. Just show us."
Julius sighed. "Here goes."
He then pulled the hood back, and the other teams gasped in shock to see his white skin.
Julius looked down solemnly. "I know, I look terrifying. But I had no choice; Kahn Makyr would have overpowered us. What sent me off the deep end was that she threatened Blake."
The others were silent for a moment, and Julius became worried they would start to judge him, but then Ruby walked over and gently patted his shoulder. "You did this for love, so I know it's still you in there. I promise, once we drive Salem back and save Atlas, I'll figure out a way to turn you back to normal."
Julius wanted to tell her that might be an impossible task, but he thought against it; there was enough hopelessness going around today. He then looked at Blake and nervously smiled. "This doesn't mean it's over between us, right?"
"Why would it be?" Blake asked back, "You did this because you cared about me; that kind of selflessness is the reason I even fell in love with you to begin with. It doesn't look like you've stopped. Plus, I kinda like those new teeth."
Julius raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Teeth?"
Ruby and Katrina looked at Julius's mouth, and he bared his teeth to show them. Then, Ruby let out a yelp, while Katrina gave a stifled laugh; Julius's canines had been replaced with sharpened fangs.
"Welp" Katrina said, "Looks like you're a faunus now."
"What?" Julius exclaimed before feeling his teeth and finding the fangs. "What the hell…?"
"A Grimm faunus…" Ruby mused, "Interesting."
"Could be useful" Weiss said.
Autumn lit up. "You could rip someone's throat with it!"
Julius quickly decided to change the subject. "So, Hector, any word from Novus?"
Hector shook his head. "Lost contact with him about an hour ago. Oscar hasn't said a word either."
"What about your rouge uncle, Red?" Roman asked.
Ruby replied. "We don't know. The last we heard Qrow was with Robyn, but…".
Suddenly Joanna and enters from the kitchen, followed by Elena Richardson "Alright, these Grimm aren't letting up; you ready to work?" She is met with silence and turns to look through a box of supplies and sighs as Richardson continued "The largest Grimm horde ever seen is hovering over the tundra, and out there is a city full of people with no heat and, from what you told us, no more military protection. And while we're happy to give you guys a place to lie low for a while… It's time to get those people some help".
"How? Ironwood is stopping all evacuations to Atlas. And we can't get them out of the city with Salem's forces surrounding us" Ren said.
"The crater. Beneath Atlas. It's not safe, but it's warm, and with everyone in one place, we can do a better job protecting them. May can send you where you're needed most. We've got to get everyone down into that crater before nightfall. In the slums, we might have a chance" Joanna answered before she turns and heads back toward the kitchen.
"We're never going to sleep again; I just know it" Weiss said.
Joanna stops with her hand on the door and turns to look at Weiss "Either you're helping… or you're baggage".
She then exits into the kitchen. Yang gets up and moves to stand in front of everyone "We need to get out there and do what we can for Mantle".
"We need to do what we can for everyone. What about Amity? And telling the world about Salem? We can't do this alone. We need help" Ruby said.
"Ruby's right. The Happy Huntresses are handling the evacuation better than we could. And there's a bigger picture" Blake agreed with her leader, "We need to bring in the Doom Slayer."
"But Amity isn't even finished. It was still under construction" Yang reminded, "And Julius couldn't open the portal last time, remember."
"Because I was afraid I would become this" Julius replied, "Now that I know I'm still in control…I might just be able to manage."
Hector scoffed. "The problem is getting to the portal chamber."
Ruby turns to Pietro "Doctor? What would you need to launch Amity now?".
"Uh... We've made decent progress on construction and fuel collection, all potentially manageable, but uh… hm… Amity was designed so it couldn't launch itself without first being granted clearance from General Ironwood's terminal" Pietro answered.
Yang turns to Ruby with her arms crossed and lowers her arms as she speaks "Ruby, there is no way Ironwood will cooperate with us".
"But he doesn't have to. We just need the green light from his terminal, right?" Ruby asked.
"You want to go back to the academy?" Yang asked, making it clear she did not support the idea at all.
"Actually… there is more than one terminal. The one in his office and uh… one in the main Atlesian Military Compound… at the base of the city" Pietro said "You'd have to get into the compound somehow, then, uh, get inside the operations room, and then… hoo boy… I might need to think about this some more".
Ruby then turned to Hayden, "Would it be possible to get Julius down to the gateway?"
Hayden thought for a moment. "It won't be easy, knowing that Ironwood now has warrants out for your arrests. However, I might have a few tricks we can try."
"A portal?" Julius asked.
"No. Ever since the last attempt at opening it, that chamber has been resonating with Argent Energy and raw dust. There's no telling what a portal could do to it."
"Great, what else could go wrong." Yang said.
Ruby was growing more and more annoyed at Yang constantly trying to shut down her ideas "Atlas is only Salem's current target. She's not hiding anymore and once she's done here she'll move on to the rest of Remnant. We need to warn them!".
Yang stands in silence for a moment "Ruby… when we came here, we said we'd follow your lead… but... things haven't exactly worked out".
Ruby recoils somewhat with a mix of emotions on her face. Yang's statement elicits various reactions from Weiss, Nora, Julius, and Penny, as well.
Everyone took a moment to calm down before Ren spoke up "There are people here who need us right now. That's something we can actually do".
"But this isn't about just Atlas. Ruby's right. It's about all of Remnant. They need to know in Vacuo, in Mistral, in Vale, what's coming. So they can prepare" Nora said.
Jaune steps between Ren and Nora, putting his hands up to each of them "Okay. Okay… Then let's go for both. Get Amity up and running and evacuate Mantle."
"But that's how Salem got this far; by dividing us. We have to stick together" Ruby said. No one was aware that Hector got a separate call on his Scroll and had moved into the other room to take it.
"No. What Salem wants is to turn us against each other. Just like this. Jaune has a point. We can work separately and still be united" Julius said, "Besides, I'm the only one who can open the gateway anyways."
"I wish we could go with you" Khione said, "However, the four of us decided that there's something else we need to handle on our own."
"Do what you need to" Julius said, "I'll be fine."
Just then, Hector ran back into the room, a huge grin on his face. "Good news, guys!"
"What?" Julius asked.
"I just got a call over a private airwave…from Sienna Kahn."
Blake started up in surprise. "What?!"
"I talked with her about what's going on" Hector continued. "And you're not gonna believe what she said…we're getting backup."
This got everyone's attention.
"What do you mean, backup?" Yang asked.
"As of right now, multiple fleets of White Fang aircraft are mobilizing from all over and heading for Atlas as we speak. Sienna's leading the pack."
Everyone felt a collective surge of hope.
"This makes things a bit easier." Julius said, standing up and facing the teams. "Now, I agree with both Ruby and Yang; Mantle is a priority, but so is the rest of the world. I say we split up into three teams. One goes for the terminal, one defends Mantle, and I'll go for the gateway. I know we can do this. As long as we stay in touch with each other, we won't be divided."
The others looked at each other and smiled; inspired by Julius's words. Even Yang saw that there was some truth in what he said.
"I know you're all scared; trust me, I know what that's like. But right now, we're all Remnant's got. So I say we stare that fear right in the eyes, show it who's boss, and kick Salem's ass."
Nora fist pumped. "Yeah!"
Blake warmly smiled at Julius as he said this; she was proud of who he had become, and she could feel that his sisters felt the same way.
"Alright" Julius said, "Let's roll out!"
…
On a rooftop Ruby, Nora, Katrina Blake, Weiss, and Penny are standing ready to do their parts. Penny came along with them because she was the only one who could hack in to Atlas' systems and help download the information. Katrina came because she could hotwire any systems they might need to get into.
Blake puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder "Hey, we're still united".
"We are" Ruby said, "Thanks to Julius."
Maria spoke over their ear-piece "I can get Pietro out to Amity to prepare, but that doesn't answer how we're getting all of you up to Atlas".
Weiss smiled "I might actually have an idea f-".
A beeping tone starts playing from someone's Scroll. The girls look confused, and Katrina, Blake, Ruby and Nora check their Scrolls. The four of them then turn to look at Penny, who is holding her ringing Scroll, unsure of what to do.
The scroll's screen says: Incoming Call General Ironwood
Penny nervously taps the Talk icon, accepting the call. Ironwood's voice was heard "Hello, Penny. I'm worried for your safety. Tell me where you are and I'll have you picked up right away. Atlas needs you, Penny. I was going to call you later, but this saves me time. I am willing to offer a full pardon of all your crimes, and I will keep you out of prison. I will even let all your friends go free. All you have to do is come back and join us" Ironwood said.
Ruby got a little angry at that and walks over to Penny, who allows her to take the Scroll "She's not going anywhere until you change your mind about Mantle. There's still a chance for Remnant to be-".
"Mantle… You're still worried about Mantle?! Remnant is doomed, Ruby. Unless we leave, Salem will destroy Atlas and with it, any hope Humanity has left. We need to think about the future. If she makes it through our defenses, everything that follows will be on your hands. Penny, you have the power to save everyone. Make the right choice, or you will be responsible for thousands of deaths, all because you couldn't compromise your own morals. Do you really want their blood on your hands?" Ironwood asked.
Penny lowers her head and walks away a few steps. Ruby quickly ran up and hugged her, doing her best to calm Penny before she breaks down. Ruby's brave face falters, and she looks worried.
Ruby's mind wanders to Oscar, who hadn't been seen for days now.
"Oscar, where are you?" she asked herself.
…
Inside a medical room in Sentinel Prime, Novus sits on one of the medical tables as one of the healers wrapped a bandage around his wounded and now bare torso; the armor around his body had been removed. Oscar stood nearby.
"How're you feeling?" he asked.
Novus flexed his arm and gave his body a few twists once the healer finished. "Better."
Before Oscar could say anything further, a door opened nearby as the Doom Slayer walked in.
"I'm fine, Dad." Novus said, "It didn't hit anything vital."
"But it still hit you." Slayer replied, "And that wasn't from a demon nor Grimm."
"He saved my life" Oscar said, "If you want, I can explain everything."
Slayer looked to Oscar and eyed him for a few moments, then nodded. "Alright, but I want you to tell me EVERYTHING."
Let me know what you think so far!