All Characters belong to RoosterTeeth etc.
"Look I know you don't like this but... I'm honestly trying to help you." Neo was as angry as anyone tied up could be... Though the gag seemed unnecessary, I don't know which one of us thought that idea up. But her angry little pink and brown eyes screamed of murder... Pyrrha was much better at the helpful thing.
Yet everyone was together in the dining room trying to come up with a plan. Watts had migrated from the workshop to work on Penny under supervision. He even got help in the form of Ruby asking far too many questions, "And you're sure this will work?"
"I get why Cinder wants you dead now!"
"I mean her soul is outside of her body. Are you sure you can put it back?"
"I could put it in a damned Paladin, hell she could even fit into that arm over there! I may put her in a toaster if you keep talking! Now leave me to my work!" I don't think she was getting the hint. So I made the decision to drag her away to the actual meeting. He wasn't kidding about the toaster thing. But we still needed Ruby for the plan… or whatever we were doing. To any outsider it must have looked like we were standing around and talking. I was waiting for someone to say something dramatic. I knew I wasn't going to be the one saying anything.
"So what's the plan?" Thank the gods Nora was better enough to be present. Even if no one answered it was oddly enough Watts that gave his two cents.
"I say we drop Atlas on Ironwood and call it a day." It was around then that Everyone came to the dawning realization that Watts was still evil. Even if he was helping a little.
"Alright. That sounds fair. How-" I didn't get to finish when Ruby cut me off.
"No! We are not dropping the city to spite one man!" That didn't make much sense to me but then again... Watts and I looked at each other as we had the same thought. Weiss shook her head until she got a message as well. Though this one was less angry.
"Why not?"
"Oh gods, there's two of her now," I didn't think Blake was that much of a smart ass. Ruby was once again the voice of reason.
"We can't kill all the people in the kingdom because of some petty-"
"I didn't say anything about the people, for all I care you can send them to the moon! All I want is Ironwood to suffer for choosing this abomination over mine!" Watts was going to continue but he didn't get to finish either when Weiss realized something.
"Oh gods, You're the man behind the paladin program!" Her hands went to her mouth as she sat agape. I knew his program went under because of the only test subject being a raging alcoholic but that was all. Watts raised an eyebrow prodding her for what he was being accused of. Weiss continued "You used over a thousand human test subjects! I didn't think anyone as sick and-"
"Yes. I did use human test subjects. All of which were former soldiers far too injured or disabled to function on their own. We gave them the choice: be a test subject and definitely get new limbs, or well... rotting wasn't the best alternative." I knew he was trying to frame that like he was heroic and he likely thought it was. That had to be one of the most morally ambiguous things I've ever heard. Watts didn't know when to stop, must be where I get it from. "I don't see why your chastising me, Pietro used as many people in his pursuit to create this-"
"Anyways! He's morally ambiguous! That doesn't mean he's wrong. I told Ironwood the plan weeks in advance and he still managed to sink himself waste deep into it." It wasn't that hard of an argument but they were still trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I however was ready to give up on him... that spoke leagues about my character. Though I should probably attempt to make peace. Ruby stood at the head of the table as Watts was putting the final touches on Penny.
"That doesn't matter right now. What matters right now is Penny. When you fix her will-"
"Yes, she will still have the program in the back of her head." That got him several dirty looks, "If you want me to take a large chunk of her personality out I can remove it."
"I mean-"
"No." I got shut down by half the room again. I personally don't think it would be too bad. So what if we get another mildly damaged ginger... I'm glad I don't have red hair.
"That means we need to come up with a way to save her..." Oscar was trying to act as if he were Ozpin. Bad choice, he made terrible decisions when he was in charge... I'm actually pretty sure he was only capable of making the wrong decision at this point. But Oscar paused for a second as Ozpin told him something. If only there was a way to create a new- Oh right, "We could use the relic..."
"I already know how to fix her. It would be a waste of a question." Watts was listening in as his sleeves were practically green at this point. We all looked to him before going back to Oscar.
"He's right... we can't exactly ask how we would save Penny if she can't tell the future." Weiss was sadly on the side of the mad scientist. But Oscar shook his head as he declared our next mission.
"No- The Relic of Creation. We open the vault and use it to save her..." Oscar hesitated as what he didn't want to say next began to form, "The problem is the relic can only create one thing at a time. And It's currently... powering the engines that keep Atlas in the air." Oh. Oscar just had to add that caveat.
"Save the doll while dropping Atlas in the process. Sounds like a perfect plan," Watts was still commenting in but the scowls were the only thing he got in return. Then everyone began considering what Watts had said earlier. If they couldn't use the relic then Watts would have to do the unspeakable. Watts had other plans, "The dust reserves could keep the city in the air for several hours. But it will fall no matter what we do at this point."
Right. The plan.
"Why? The relic is still-" Ruby didn't get to finish her sentence.
"The plan was always to drop Atlas. And now that Salem is here it's only a matter of time before she causes enough havoc to… succeed. We may have bought a little time but that's all." I cut in as I didn't want to tell them but I still had to do the right thing. There was next to nothing that could stop her now. Even if Ironwood's bomb was able to vaporize her for-
"What about the cane? Do you think you can do that laser light show again?" What was Yang talking about? Ozpin's cane was an extendable stick that he could channel magic through. There are very few items that can do that anymore. It's the main reason I use glass weapons made up on the spot; they can store and channel magic just not for very long or reliably at all. So his cane was special in that sense alone.
"I used a majority of the energy stored up..." Energy? Wait, was that not Ironwood who blew up Monstra? Should I have taken his cane back at Beacon?
"What energy?" I asked as I needed the little details. If it was magic I could… donate some of mine to him for the time being.
"Well, over Oz's many lifetimes he's stored up a considerable amount of energy. And I managed to burn through it in a few seconds…" We don't have lifetimes. So it was pointless to try and use some of mine to-"All that kinetic energy… gone in an instant…"
"Wait! Kinetic!" Watts and I shouted at the same time. If it wasn't magic then I had a simple solution. Everyone looked confused as I got up right next to Oscar. I didn't hesitate as I used shadow hand to pick him up by the collar and normal hand to snatch the stick out of his hands.
"Cinder, what are-" I didn't let the child protest as I tossed it to Watts. Oscar got set down as Watts quickly inspected the mechanism housed inside the round handle of the stick. He gasped several times before he made his declaration.
"I don't believe it! This stick houses what has to be the first G-engine!" Of course it does. How did Ozma create one of those thousands of years ago?
"That can't be right- the first G-engines were crafted during the great war. And they create anti-gravity, they don't store energy." Weiss coming in with the correction. Watts rubbed his temples as he was about to give a lecture.
"Of course you'd think that. No, the G-engines don't create energy, they absorb it." He paused as they all began to question him, "Are you following along or do I need a blackboard to explain it?"
"That isn't how they-" Weiss wanted to argue but Watts didn't argue. He told.
"Cinder! BLACKBOARD!" I rolled my eye as I produced a large glass spike behind him. He picked a bleeding piece of Penny to use as a marker as he went into his lecture. "What is commonly referred to as the G-engine nowadays had a more sinister purpose during the war. It was originally designed to disable enemy dust reserves by absorbing all the energy the crystals held, before exploding (typically due to absorbing too much energy). But one of the research assistants accidentally left a gravity dust crystal in one overnight, and when they returned the following day the damnable thing was floating. With no energy from dust to absorb it began to absorb the very element in nature."
No one had a response to that. I clapped as he finished drawing the blueprints for these original engines. I hoped it would be enough to placate him. It wasn't.
"Since then they've been improved by spades and the original purpose has been widely forgotten." He was losing their attention so I did the wrap it up signal, "This stick is similar to the original engines. It absorbs the kinetic energy from nature and stores it… in what I'm guessing is a magic crystal?"
Watts motioned to the orb on the bottom of the handle, Oscar nodded confirming his hypothesis. He looked at the stick for several seconds before forgetting about it entirely by tossing it back to me. Watts had a lust for knowledge but when he got it his previous task still remained the most important. Oscar extended his hand for the cane but I had other plans. I tossed it to Yang, "Go fill this."
"...How?"
"I don't know, working out all that angst you've built up." She looked like she wanted to argue for a few seconds but decided against it. That was replaced with her taking the stick and hitting everything in the room not nailed down.
"PLEASE BE GENTLE! THE LONG MEMORY IS VERY DELICATE!" Ozpin shouted from inside of Oscar. I was about to smack him but I thought against it. I had already killed him once. But everyone else took notice as well. He didn't wait as he attempted to retreat back into Oscar's head, I stopped him picking him up again. He panicked as he was going through several thoughts, "I understand you're-"
"Not me." I turned him to the others. I didn't need his speech. I wasn't one of his child soldiers. I didn't need his apology. They however did. As they stared firmly as if demanding an explanation, he began to crack. He took a long sigh which I set him down in the middle of.
"I am sorry for not telling you all the whole truth to begin with… I have seen far too many lose hope when it's revealed. I always wish to keep it to… well… keep the hope alive. But you have all proven how wrong I was… and for that I am glad." That was a poor apology but at the same time it was still one they needed. I hope they thought the same. "It may not change your minds about me but I am truly proud of how you all carried yourselves in spite of knowing the truth…"
Now I get him. I wish I didn't but I do. And from the looks he's getting I should help him explain better, "You're not afraid of getting betrayed, you're afraid of getting deserted. It must be hard to trust people when the truth would break them... even more than already are if they are stupid enough to follow you. But I get it. It's hard to trust people that may leave you behind…"
"That… is a good way to put it, though it doesn't excuse my actions. Even so I'm especially proud of you Ms. Fall." Oh look. The reason I killed him. It's back along with the feelings- waitaminute. Feelings- I shouldn't be having those… Without Salem around I have emotions at the moment. This would only last until she returns. We needed to act quickly. Though I still need to rub it in.
"I don't see why. When it came down to it I betrayed all of you. There's nothing to be proud of." That should get him to stop pretending he had anything to do with me. But it got several eye rolls.
"But you returned, and you made sure you didn't kill Oscar."
"That's hardly me making sure. More along the lines of my incompetence shined through." I said that with a grin.
"Probably, but your incompetence never hindered your ability to kill. Moreover, it generally limits your ability to make choices." Watts interjected once again. What a prick. I should give him a piece of my mind. Or I could just embarrass him...
"Hey, don't talk to your daughter like that!" I grinned as I shouted that. Everyone's eyes shot back as they began looking between us. Weiss was definitely trying to figure out if I was like Penny and Ozpin was trying to figure out if I was half Salem. Watts shrugged as he turned to me.
"Oh please. You think I value their opinions enough to get embarrassed, you really don't know me at all." He chuckled to himself.
"Daddy no!" I cried out.
"Stop." He was quick to respond to that one. We had a stare down as we were determined to make the other flinch first. Ruby swiped her hand in the middle of our staring contest, breaking our concentration.
"We are getting far too off track. We need to come up with a plan to save everyone, whether it be Penny, Atlas, or even Ironwood." She had enough with the argument she was ready to get the plan made. I don't think she realized Watts wasn't on our side, "Even if we could use the relic to fix Penny... There are still too many people that would get hurt from Atlas falling."
"Oh dear, it's almost like you don't have a way to immediately create a solution."
…
…
…
Of course Watts was the one to come up with a new plan. But that didn't mean he thought one up just that he knew the next step. What were we supposed to do? We could create anything. Were we supposed to create a way for everyone to get to Atlas before we launched it into the atmosphere?
"We could create a teleporter for everyone in Mantle to get to Atlas. Then launch it into orbit, sounds easy," Yang had to be reading my mind as she kept tapping the cane.
"If we did that then all those people would be trapped up here with us... and Salem," Ozpin concluded as he thought up a plan himself.
Wait, Salem was already here if we did that she would be locked up here with us too. Even if her body was destroyed it would reformat where she was last. And it's not like we could create a way to stop her for long. She was a master of getting out of things. Both prisons and admitting anything she's wrong about. That means there is nothing we can do to stop her… Our only solution is to run. How will we do that? Oh I know… "We have to drop Atlas."
"Cinder we can't-" Jaune was trying to stop me. I needed to make sure this got out.
"Salem's already here. We can't change that and at this point it would be a suicide mission to fight her… so we run." It was the coward's play but it also made a slight amount of sense. Yet Blake didn't exactly like that idea.
"We can't run from her. We need to-"
"We shouldn't waste time fighting to save a crumbling kingdom. We should create a 'teleporter' and… leave her in a falling city without so much as a maiden." That was a solid plan. Though it left us without the most technologically advanced kingdom in the world. Well that's what Watts is for.
There was a decision to be made and I sure wasn't going to be the one to pull the trigger, just the one to load the gun. Everyone shared glances before we came to Ruby to make the final decision. She was lost in thought as she had to ask what was probably a realistic question, "Is Atlas lost?"
We didn't know how to answer. I guess it was time for one of her pseudo famous and probably plagiarized speeches. Though when none came I realized she was actually asking. She wanted to know if we could save the kingdom or if we should simply move on. I didn't know. I felt nothing but abject hate for this kingdom but I couldn't bring myself to damn it's people. Even if they deserve it… "Of course it is!" Watts, I get the hate- "Even if you saved it today, it will go on being a thorn in the side of your so-called peace. This kingdom hasn't changed since the great war and it will prove itself to be a simple faction vying for control of the world sooner or later. Hell if we don't take it down now, in a hundred years it will no doubt circle back to the fascist campaign of world domination and enslavement!"
Where did that come from? Was… Was Watts trying to help the world for a great evil he himself predicts? Is there an ounce of heart in there at all? Probably he wasn't some tin man… Just a jealous fool. Ruby took that thought and made her decision, "Then we leave. But not before taking everyone with us."
"Yeah, sure. That sounds simple enough when you don't consider the key isn't exactly going to cooperate," Weiss brings up a fair point. But I already had that one solved.
"Oh, I can get her to work with us." I launched shadow hand at Ruby dragging her over to the table to Neo. Even if Neo hated her I was certain Ruby could… break her with pure niceness. Or talk her into helping out of mutual survival. Neo was clever enough to know who to ally with to survive. And as Ruby stood there I knew it was the perfect plan. Or the contempt that they had was mutual.
…
…
…
"What do you want me to say?" Oh gods. We're fucked. I leaned over whispering in her ear.
"She wants you dead because you killed Roman."
"Okay… And?" What? Wasn't I supposed to be the emotionally damaged bad girl?
"I don't know, apologize or something!" I was dangling my arms around. How was this in my wheelhouse? I was the least empathetic person here, shouldn't one of the others be able to explain this better. I looked to them only to find Yang dragging her thumb under her neck. I'm not going to kill Neo for power. Ruby kind of just stood there with a blank expression before she spoke again.
"But she's evil…"
"So was I but you still apologized to me!" This was getting to me.
"Yeah, I didn't want to scare you off with Pyrrha inside your head… That's why we were all nice to you." Wait what? I thought it was because they were just naturally nice people. Did they really manipulate me into turning to their side?
"Wha..." I turned to the others as most of their eyes refused to meet mine.
"Wait, we were supposed to be fake nice to her? Whoops…" Nora at least had my back. I wanted to cry. They didn't like me, I was nothing to them. Just a passenger or host for their friend. Then Jaune spoke up.
"Cinder, you literally killed one of our friends! IT TOOK A WHILE FOR YOU TO GROW ON US!" Oh right, I forgot about that. Okay, I'll give them the pass like they did me. I nodded along as I realized this with the tears drying nearly instantly. But they didn't have the Pyrrhic training wheels this time. And Neo wasn't going to stop hating me… ever. So it was up to Ruby to break these walls. She just needed a starting point, and I knew the perfect one.
I snatched the hat off Neo's head, this will get her to apologize. Neo thrashed around as I placed the hat in Ruby's face. This had to elicit an emotion, the hat of her former arch enemy. I stepped back as Ruby took it out of her face ready to put it back on the writhing Neo. But she stopped when she stared at something inside the hat. Ruby reached in and plucked out a picture. A simple Polaroid… A selfie taken by a grinning orange haired man and the teenage angst of a pink ice cream cone scowling at the man taking a picture. It looked worn. Like that picture was there long before Neo had the hat.
Ruby just stared… she didn't have a single tear in her eyes as she looked. Neo was furiously trying to free herself. I was about to snatch the picture out of Ruby's hands to give it back to Neo. She looked both on the brink of tears and the brink of activating the maiden power freezing everyone in the room to death. But Ruby spoke before I could take it, "I never hated him… Roman I mean. Sure he was a jerk, but he wasn't evil. Or he didn't seem it at least. He was hard to define. I think I only got him with his last words; It's not what I can gain… it's what I can't afford to lose." Neo stopped shaking as she kept focus on Ruby as she spoke to me, "He wasn't doing that for himself was he? He was doing them because you forced him…"
I nodded to Ruby. The words caught in my throat… I had never thought about how I had practically forced Roman into helping me… That's what got him killed. I forced Ruby to kill him. I should be the one apologizing to Neo. If anyone deserves Neo's revenge it was me.
"He wasn't fighting for himself… he was fighting for you. But his reason doesn't change the facts. He was a criminal and I had to stop him," Oh Ruby, take it any other direction! This isn't what Neo wants to hear. Ruby put the photo back in the hat before she placed it on top of Neo's head, "That's why I am sorry I couldn't keep him alive to take him in. I'm sorry I couldn't do my job and protect him from the Grimm. And I am sorry I failed to save him!"
…
…
…
I need to apologize to them. But I can't do it now, not yet. Especially while Neo sits there stone faced. She hadn't even moved once after she stopped shaking. It was odd I thought she had an- Oh. Ruby wasn't waiting for a response as she leaned in to ask a favor, "I know you hate me. And I know he wasn't my biggest fan. But without you there will be so many others who go through the same pain you went through. We could really use your help… you're the-"
"Ruby. Stop." I gently placed a hand on her shoulder before I moved to Neo's side and cut the bindings. Everyone looked like they wanted to shout at me for freeing her but I knew better. I gently tapped the girl's form, shattering the illusion. In its place sat Neo head hunched over crying her eyes out. She needed a friend. I pulled her into my chest allowing someone else to cry on me today. I spoke softly but with purpose, "It's my fault… all of this. So if you need revenge, then I deserve it. But please… help them after you gut me."
She didn't say anything. She never did. But I could feel a slight nodding as she cried… She would open the vault, then hopefully she doesn't kill me in petty revenge. Oh well. I've lived a life.
*RINNNNNNNGGGGGGGG*
Who's scroll is that? I don't care, who's calling? We were having a moment! I turned to face the culprit with the noise. Of course it was her. Team RWBY always had a way of causing a distraction, "You gonna answer that?"
"I don't know…" Ruby looked at her scroll as she wasn't sure who was calling. Since Ironwood had cut off communication then we shouldn't be able to receive any signal… much less a call. But then again with Amity in orbit it may not exactly matter anymore. Though the call kept ringing… If she wasn't going to do it. I snatched the scroll from her hand accidentally hitting the answer button.
"Whoops…" Well now we get Ironwood making demands-
"I SWEAR TO THE GODS IF YOU HANG UP THERE WILL BE NO REMOTE LOCATION FAR ENOUGH FOR ME TO FIND YOU! SO HELP ME I WILL HUNT YOU TO THE END OF REMNANT IF YOU DARE!" With the startling screaming the scroll found its way flying out of my hand onto the table. That was someone I wasn't expecting. The shrill shriek of a woman far too exhausted to care about our opinions. I clamped my mouth shut as I now fear the wrath of the so-called Goodwitch. Everyone else did as well as they did the same. Then after several pants for her she declared, "You better be there Ms. Rose."
We all looked at Ruby as if the scroll was going to turn into Glynda herself and strangle us all to death. Ruby inched her way closer as she spoke softly, "Uh… yes… we are."
"Great! What do you think you're doing?!" Oh this was going to be good. That is a very broad question. I think we are trying to drop Atlas on Ironwood, but she probably thinks we're going to save people.
"Uh… We're protecting the people!" Ruby loudly declared that as everyone gave their approving nods.
"NO! I meant, WHAT DID YOU DO TO TRIGGER IRONWOOD'S PSYCHOSIS!?" Oh… At least she knew he was unstable. Unlike some people… Ozpin… unlike Ozpin.
"He threatened to leave Mantle behind! He said he'd rather save what was left of Atlas instead of attempting to help the people!" Is that what's happening? I thought I drove him mad trying to steal the Maiden… Goodwitch groaned.
"I knew there was something he was leaving out." Glynda called him first and when he hung up on her she called Ruby. Her groans had to be from exhaustion at this point, "Look. I don't know what he's planning, but I do know it will be… extreme. So you need to be ready to flee."
"What! No we can't we can still-" Weiss tried to protest.
"If you fight at this point, the only thing you will accomplish is causing more suffering. You need to be smart… someone has to be up there." It sounded like she was wiping her glasses down. Wait, smart! I drew Ruby's attention as I tapped shadow hand. I hope she got the proper signal when she nodded.
"We can't afford to wait! Salem's already here, we need to act if we want to save anyone!" Ruby was trying to be passionate but there was something that made Goodwitch hesitate… Why didn't they try to make her the maiden? Was it because she was too old? Too much of a public figure?
"Ozpin, I could use your experience right now…" Goodwitch grumbled to herself. Probably trying to get some of his sagely wisdom. I don't think Oscar realized this when he interrupted her.
"Ozpin doesn't exactly have a plan either! He's making it up as we go as well…" That was an accurate statement of what's happening. Or his character entirely.
"So he's there?" My eye shot wide as I crossed my arms in the motion to not tell her. Jaune followed up behind me, along with nearly everyone else. He began to look worried.
"Uh... yes. But... Ironwood... has him?" We began nodding. If she knew Oscar held him then he'd get a verbal beating worse than any physical one. Glynda sighed once again.
"Alright fine, I pretend to believe that lie. But you should know that Ironwood is about to demand Penny's surrender to open the vault. All I want to know is- Do you have the maiden?" We technically had both the maiden and Penny.
"Yes, we have Penny... the maiden..." I could hear as Goodwitch realized Penny in fact wasn't the maiden. The others didn't. With a sigh Glynda finished her speech.
"I don't know what you're planning, and I probably don't want to at this point. But, I will make one thing clear: It is your duty as Huntsmen and Huntresses to protect the people. Anything aside from that is not your job..." She sounded tired... of course she did. After running herself ragged from all that trouble I left at Beacon; she must be a ghost of her former self. But she continued in spite of herself, "So please refrain from getting everyone in the world killed."
"Can do!" I shouted triumphantly. Then the looks of horror formed on their faces as I realized what I just did. Oh. This was a deep feeling of fear.
"Was that Cinder?" She was far too calm… I shouldn't chance my spotty luck.
"…Yes," I tapped the end call button. Looking at the others I got a mixture of expressions, mostly them rubbing their temples and thumbs up from Nora. Weiss kept shaking her head until she got a message as well. I just hoped this one was less angry.
This plan was nonsense. How did they keep beating me if their plans made absolutely no sense? Sure they had help in the form of a mentally deficient general trying to negotiate them into committing murder suicide. He'd be the one killing them before Salem kills him. But that doesn't explain why they think this plan will work.
Jaune would lead Nora, Oscar, Ren, Emerald and Watts to meet Ironwood with Emerald disguised as Penny. Then Watts would send a message to all the people still alive telling them to flee before dropping Atlas on Ironwood… the others didn't know about that part. I wasn't going to tell them either. While we open the vault, use the relic to save Penny and make a portal to Vacuo. I just hoped Neo would hold out her revenge as I taught her to fly up the hole in the bottom of Atlas. She was a fast learner already flying at high speeds, "Now your first instinct is going to be propelling yourself, which isn't wrong. But if you do that now you'll slam into a pipe and knock yourself unconscious."
Neo didn't respond as I reached out and took her hand. She wasn't entirely happy about that but she didn't exactly struggle free as she followed my slightly slower pace up. I was being cautious, just for now. But after Neo guts me for revenge I'm sure the others will take her with them. They were nice like that… and they had implicit orders as well. Gotta love the whipping boy. Also if they melted my heart they should be able to do the same to little miss Ice Cream here…
…
…
…
"But if Neo melts won't she just be shorter…"
…
…
…
Neo's grip tightened as she tried to crush every bone in my hand. She had taken learning she had the maiden power extremely well… Considering I told her in the Manta on the way here. Though shock made things easier as she immediately went defensive. She knew I wanted the power, but she didn't know that was yesterday and what I want today is something only she can provide. So that was another tense one sided conversation. I just wasn't exactly ready for what I would need to do next.
Though the room was larger than I expected. I guess they built them all large enough for Raven to kick my ass in each before falling in a hole to escape… She got lucky… I can never tell Yang. Yet thinking of her must have summoned her as she offered a hand to pull us up, "Your mom beat me up and threw me in a hole."
"I know. Then she fled like a little bitch." Oh. I never asked about their relationship… I only knew from Pyrrha. I shouldn't prod. Neo on the other hand could ask all the questions she wanted. I assumed that's what she was doing when she reached over to Yang. Probably going to write something on the only exposed skin…
"What do you- NO STOP!" Neo had quick fingers as she deftly pulled Yang's top down. Yang was red in the eyes as several of us got faces full of her two hard little nodes. Yang was quick to flick Neo before covering herself, "Little pest!"
"Yang be nice." Weiss was trying to mediate as she tried to comfort Neo. Blake was speechless as she stood there. I thought they would know every nook and cranny of each other's bodies by this point. Yang blushed as she tried to protest.
"Tell that to her!" They all looked to the devious eyes of Neo knowing she would do it again. She may not be a Faunus but she was definitely a cat. They were trying to remain calm but I knew the proper way to break the ice.
"It's a bit cold in here isn't it?" This made not only Yang blush but Blake as well. Weiss rolled her eyes as I giggled. Though that was broken up by Ruby making another declaration.
"We can make fun of Yang's nipples later! Right now we have to open the vault," Ruby shook her head as she was struggling to keep Penny's body standing. Watts had managed to redesign Penny so her core could be inserted quickly. It sadly left her body as a motionless doll though. This got our lighter mood to harden as we approached the vault. A massive door floating in the middle of the room. It was less magical than the one in Mistral but felt more important as well. Sort of like how I imagine the insides of cars look… Watts can never know I forgot his lesson on fixing cars.
When we got close enough a stairway formed out of the floating panels. Watts was right about the unnecessary decadence of this kingdom. I took Penny's arm over my shoulder as I helped Ruby carry her up the flight of stairs. She was heavy for a little girl… but then again she was a robot. I didn't really believe she had a soul… but Nora and Ruby do so I guess I can't really disregard the possibility. Either way it felt like the floating panels would give out with every step. Much to my relief we made it to the end.
It wasn't the first time I had seen a vault door up close but then again I don't think anyone wouldn't stand there awestruck at the sight. Well until you snap back to reality and notice all the eyes of everyone staring, "Did I say something dumb?"
Ruby shook her head as Neo nodded, "What now? Is there a special panel? I mean Oscar didn't exactly tell us how this works."
I sighed as I pushed Ruby away from Penny. She didn't like it when I pulled Neo in her place… I don't think Neo did either. It was an easy march to the vault as I placed shadow hand on it, "Like this, Neo."
Neo looked at her hand before she created a copy of shadow hand. Then she put it on the vault door. That was literally it. A maiden touches the door it will open and if she touches the frame while it's open it will close. Though I wasn't expecting the thing to light up, "Hurry!"
As the panels of the door began to break apart I put Penny's core back in. If this didn't work I would be holding the lifeless body of Penny shortly… I just hope Watts was clever enough to out think the literal spirit of creation. Ruby burst into petals as she took her team to the relic while I had to deal with the newly awakened flickering eyes of Penny.
"SeLf DeSTRuct- NO- INitIatED!" She was panicking.
"Penny they've got you! You'll be fine! I promise they won't let you die again!" I was trying to comfort her but as her arm tried to free itself I was beginning to have problems. I could barely spare a glance at team RWBY as they got to the relic. Now I can only hope. Even if I was out of range I would at least notice the change after it happens. That was until Penny's eyes stopped flickering and her grip became significantly weaker. She blinked several times before turning to Neo before me.
"You are very warm…"
"Yeah, I get cold- WAIT! You can feel?!" Neo didn't wait as she tapped me in the stomach. She pointed at something to the left of me. I couldn't see anything until I turned my head. It was all of the mechanical bits of Penny. Shaking like a maniac before crumpling to the ground, "That's… terrifying…"
"Penny!" Ruby rushed back over as I released my grasp of the small girl. Penny practically threw herself into Ruby's chest, wrapping herself around Ruby's chest. Penny was determined to get the most out of her first flesh and blood hug.
"Do hugs always make you feel this warm inside?" I sluggishly paced around the little display. I didn't like what I would have to do next. I found my way to the others as Ruby finally saw fit to reply.
"Yes, they do." I grinned as they broke apart. Before Penny grabbed Neo as the little girl attempted to pass, pulling her into a hug as well. Neo didn't look comfortable. Then Penny moved onto Yang, then Blake, before Weiss. I put my hand out stopping her from doing the same to me.
"You don't want one?"
"...No… Not yet." I smiled as I looked her in the eyes. Then I turned to Weiss… as she held the relic. I hope they can understand. I pushed Penny aside before launching shadow hand at the relic.
"Cinder! NO!" Weiss tried to keep a strong grip but I wasn't letting it go as I yanked it out of her hands. In an instant my back was to the sea of sand as they covered the entrance. I had to make sure not to get lost as I took the relic and flew myself out. Their shouts were drowned out by the ring in my ears. The parasite was trying to command me. Demanding that I take the relic to Salem. I couldn't. I won't. I need it first! I landed hard creating a crater around me. I wasn't more than fifty feet from the stone path but I was far enough that they wouldn't hear what I was going to create.
"Ambrosius!" Nothing changed as a blue smoke began to spew from the relic. It began to take shape turning into an incredibly cut man. I wonder if I could get Jaune to look like this… Right focus.
"And to what do I owe the pleasure? Is this about the nasty little parasite?" Wait how did he- right they told him.
"Yes. It is…"
"Well anything I create to replace will disappear after the next use of the relic so you better be ready to-" the tears streaming down my face caused him pause. Before I found my voice.
"TAKE IT OUT!" I don't know how to phrase it and for that matter I didn't care. He was taken aback at my demand.
"You do realize that it is acting as a large chunk-"
"I don't care! At this point I deserve whatever hell I earn from removing it!" He rubbed his chin as he clearly wanted to ask more questions. Then he rolled his eyes and told me something I wasn't expecting.
"Your friends inferred that their next request would be for you. So why not go to them and-" I had to keep cutting him off.
"Because I don't want them to try in vain to save someone like me! I have done nothing but hurt them constantly for the last two years! The only reason they tolerate me is because I had their friend in my head! And now with her gone… I don't… they have no reason to keep me around." He paused for a second as he thought it over. His face showed that he had something else to say, "Well!"
"I may be able to create anything. But that doesn't mean I can't see when things are created by hands other than mine," That meant nothing to me. And the confusion must have shown on my face as he continued, "You created bonds. Cheesy, yes I know. But acting like the bonds you helped create aren't real is a slap to the face of any creator… and them."
What was he? A therapist? I needed to see one of those, but I didn't need to have him psychoanalyze me. That was Pyrrha's job, "I don't-"
"That isn't me saying I can't do it, just a piece of advice before I do," He started waving his arms like a coke fiend… or Tyrian, "I do wish you luck with what comes after."
"What is that su-AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I get why he told me to get help from the others. The pain of having the parasite disconnected from my organs was intense. It burned even more than having them blown out of me in the first place. I retreated from the pain, ending up in the only place I could. In a flash I was healed, my arm was back and my long flowing black hair had regrown gently covering my eye. There wasn't a trace of the scar anywhere. I was beautiful again, I looked down to inspect the rest of my body. I wished I didn't see what I saw. My short red dress. The one I wore back on Beacon tower... Oh no. I didn't like this. I was back where it all began. I had to escape…
"Pyrrha..." I called out to no response. She wasn't here. She probably despised this memory, it was the one of her dying after all. I crumpled to the floor in a mess of emotions.
"Pyrrha!" I couldn't force her to be here. The tears began streaming down my face as I felt everything I'd been repressing for the last few days all in an instant.
"PYRRHA!" She didn't respond. There was nothing I could do. I had to live with killing her a second time. And this time it would actually hurt. I hadn't even gotten to apologize to her…
"I-I-I'm-I'm-I'M SORRY! I'm so sorry I tried to kill Oscar! I'm sorry I tried to kill everyone at Haven! I'm sorry for everything! Everything that is happening is my fault! I can't make up for it! But please, I need help!" No reply, "I'M SORRY I KILLED YOU!" She was gone and I wouldn't get any help after this. I needed to apologize to the others. I needed to apologize to Ironwood. And I needed to tell the others what they really did for me.
They cared for me. For the first time someone cared for me. That was the first time in my history that anyone ever did that for me. It was also the first time I had ever been shown any sort of real kindness. They did all these things for me and I swatted it away like it meant nothing. I need to apologize to them before I die. I need to stand.
"Here. Let me help." A hand was offered to me. I looked up through thousands of tears all to see the lovely green eyes that I had stolen from this world, "Hello again."
"PYRRHA!" I shouted like a blubbering child as I shot up into a hug far too similar to Penny. She was tall and warm, or I was a small child that had never so much as had a friend. Either way I gripped onto her tighter than I had ever held onto anything.
"I get it, I get it. You missed me. Doesn't mean you need to crush my ribs for a second kill." She patted my back as I refused to relent. That was until I did. I raised my head to let our eyes meet.
"Pyrrha I'm sorry I tried to take over and steal power. I know it was wrong and-"
"I know." What-How- "I saw everything."
"Oh no." Did that mean she was influencing my actions the entire time? Had I changed at all? Was this all some sick joke?
"I'm so proud of you. I was worried when you tried to burn Oscar alive… and I did have a hand in him hitting the fire extinguisher but after that it was all you." Wait did that mean…
"So everything… was my idea… even the… confession…" I didn't want to say it. It was embarrassing.
"Yes. Even without my help, you managed to make your way back to the others. It was a little surprising but… You meant every word of it." She loved them, and I couldn't feel love at the time. So it was me on the spot. I loved them. Did that mean I loved her?
"Does that mean… I love you?" I looked to her for reassurance. She nodded several times. Oh great. I hesitantly and slowly began leaning in.
"You have got to stop trying to kiss people."
"I'm sorry! I don't know how to properly express love!" She giggled as I shouted. This got me to giggle as well. It was a nice way to die… I just wish I could tell the others-
"We're not dying, you realize that right?"
"Huh?"
"Oh gods. Look, whenever you open our eyes lookout for the hand!"
"What is that supposed- Oh come on!" I opened my eye once again looking out over the sea of sand. I was supposed to be dead. How the hell am I still alive?
"Ambrosius couldn't just remove half of our organs and expect us to survive. He had to create new ones." Oh that explained-
"Wait, you're really back! Oh thank the gods! I need your help! Both psychologically and physically." I could feel a slight positive chuckle in the back of my head before she shouted.
"LOOKOUT FOR SHADOW HAND!"
"What? OH GOD!" I didn't even realize what would happen to the Grimm hand until it began attacking my face. I probably deserved this. But then again as I tore it off my face with my singular hand I threw that thing on the floor. It kept wriggling trying to get to me but I wouldn't let it. I kicked it away from my feet before I noticed the perfect weapon was still in reach. I'm sure the Spirit of Creation wouldn't mind being used to destroy a Grimm.
"I don't think he'll approve."
"TOO BAD!" I stabbed the spear right into the hand before tossing it over my shoulder. Wait- THE OTHERS ARE IN THAT DIRECTION! PANIC!
"Calm down if it was that easy to kill them then you wouldn't have failed so much."
"Hey… no, you're probably right."
"I am right. Now think about what you're going to say to them when we walk back over there." That hadn't come to mind. Frankly I hadn't thought of surviving but now that I had I was panicking. I would need to improvise…I looked over at the stone walkway to see them staring at the Grimm dissolving below the relic. Then they turned to me shocked. I waved.
"Hello again!" I don't know where I heard that before but it sounded right.
"ME! IT CAME FROM ME!"
"Oops… you should probably-"
"Not a chance! You need to apologize to them."
"Fine. But I'm going to pretend to be you until then." She didn't put up much of a fight after that. I slowly struggled through the sand, note to self: heels and sand do not mix. When I arrived I pulled the spear out of the stone, "I could easily run taking this with me," I handed it to Ruby, "But then I wouldn't get to say what is most important."
I looked through them before I found the one that needed my apology the most. There it was, the girl I killed. Penny stood there shoe less as she had a curious look on her face. She didn't expect me to walk up and take her hand into mine, "Penny, I'm so sorry I killed you."
She rolled her eyes as she began patting my head, "I know Pyrrha. It was just an accident after all."
"I'm not Pyrrha! I'm Cinder… and I'm sorry I killed you... " I slapped her hand away from my head. Everyone's eyes began to dart between each other as I proclaimed that. Even Penny was speechless… or more specifically she was trying to produce a thought or two. I stopped her when I continued, "I found your blueprints on Ironwood's scroll back during the tournament and I thought it would be funny if I put you against Pyrrha. I knew what would happen and I didn't even hesitate. I'm so sorry that I-"
"It's okay. I survived," She pulled me into a hug. It was warm.
"She was much nicer to you than she was to me."
"She can't exactly do much to me at this point. She is just a little girl after all… Oh gods. We have to protect her." Pyrrha chuckled again. When the shorter girl finally released me I was met with Ruby. I need to apologize to her as well.
"I'm sorry I tried to kill you… one-two-four. Four times. I don't have a good excuse… and you know it was just petty revenge so…" AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was floundering. What would Pyrrha do?
"It's okay…" She scratched the back of her head. Before turning me to Weiss… OH SHIT I THREW A SPEAR THROUGH HER!
"I'm sorry I threw a spear through your gut… how did you survive that? Wait no I mean-" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
"Oh gods. You did! I completely forgot about that!" I could just have not brought that up couldn't I?
"No. It's good to apologize. And not just for them."
"Then I'll keep going." I turned to Yang and Blake, "I'm sorry I cut off your arm."
"Okay, I want you to be specific- when and how did you cut off my arm?" That was a peculiar question… When did I cut it off? Beacon right? When did I see her at Beacon?
"Beacon…" She shook her head… "Did I not cut off your arm?"
"No. You didn't." Blake answered for her girlfriend. Well I could always do that.
"Are you two dating yet?" I grinned as I asked the question.
"No, we're just friends." I did a double take before I turned back to the others who had similar looks. A slight indignation at their refusal to admit it. We all slightly shook our heads as the two soon to be dating lesbians didn't understand. But that was ended by a cough from someone small and pink.
"Neo." I looked at her as she expectantly demanded an apology, "I'm sorry I got Roman wrapped up in all of this… which got him killed."
She nodded with a hmpth. Wait, she's going to stab me now. She didn't get the chance when Ruby asked, "I get the parasite but was the rest really necessary?"
"Yes, removing the- Wait the rest?"
"Okay don't get mad."
"I don't like where this is going," Weiss produced her scroll showing me myself. My left hand reached out and took the camera out of her hand… LEFT! WHAT! When I looked in the reflection I found long red hair cascading out of the left side of my head. It was far longer than the rest of my hair, and with a swipe of it out of my face I noticed the general lack of a scar. Though the addition of a new left eye was nice… even if it was a beautiful green.
"Now I know it's not how you remember but… he didn't exactly ask either-"
"Do you think this will get Jaune hard?"
"CINDER!"
"What! You were thinking it first." A small blush spread across my face as I thought that. She pulled the camera away from our face as the grimace was soon turned into panic as she shoulder checked Penny. I was the evil one, what was she doing!? Though I was greeted by the wandering shot of a missile crashing right into us. Oh good. Being unconscious is fun.
"Sorry not sorry."