"Get them!"
Tyrian and I danced over the gunfire, bouncing off crates and ducking behind rocks before retaliating with firepower of our own - Tyrian's weapons firing while I flung rocks or spears of Dust at the enemy to scatter them. Not that I could do much more than that - I still had basically no aura left in me, and that seemed to be an annoyingly common occurrence.
The White Fang had come rushing in, guns blazing less than a minute after I got my arm back and cut myself free. Now we were fighting dozens of untrained grunts wildly firing weapons at us, proving this to not be much of a challenge.
We had come up with a rather basic plan. Tyrian and I would fight off any White Fang that came our way, while Deery would rig the caves to collapse with mining charges. Luckily, it was rather easy to figure out where to place the charges and where to not place them - by simply avoiding any visible Dust pockets.
And so far, it was working. The caves were either thin or so packed with mining equipment and weapons that the numbers advantages of the White Fang were mitigated - trapping several in chokepoints and allowing us to eliminate many before they could even hope to aim at us.
I slammed three White Fang grunts against a rock wall using a tendril of Dust before turning that tendril into a shield that blocked an incoming rocket. Tyrian cackled as he sailed over my shield and the explosion before spinning into a whirlwind, carving up two grunts and sending what remained of their bodies into the others nearby.
Looking back, I could see Deery arming one of the charges near the base of the wall before running up. She was tired - panting and heaving as she tried to catch up with us, and trying not to breakdown or lose her lunch at the sight of her once co-terrorists. Lucky for her, we reached a pretty strong defensive area - forcing Tyrian and I to stop our rampage.
A dozen White Fang hacked Atlesian Knights were firing on us, their arms in their rotary gun form, alongside three heavy machine guns and several other White Fang grunts firing both black market issued and Atlesian Military issued assault rifles. It wasn't just the amount of guns these guys were firing - they were all safe behind rocks and crates of equipment, effectively blocking any normal enemy from pushing their way through.
Tyrian and I were anything but normal. Backflipping from a volley of fire, I landed behind an old truck still loaded with equipment before using my Dust to send the truck flying at the defense line. Some of them leapt away, but others could only stare dumbly as the massive multi-ton vehicle came crashing towards them.
The hours of setting up that choke point, the cover, and reprogramming all of those Atlesian Knights went down the drain as the flying truck utterly decimated the line, crushing everybody and everything that was there. Tyrian stared at the carnage for a second before he giggled, pulling me over with his tail and patting me on the shoulder, like an old friend inviting me out for a drink.
"Such destruction, I can tell you understand its beauty! We'll make a truly devoted follower of our goddess out of you in no time!" Tyrian praised before he jumped on top of the overturned truck and disappeared over it, the sounds of screams and gunfire soon filling the air.
Deery caught up, looking very disturbed at Tyrian as she heard the screams on the other side of that truck. "He scares me," she said nervously, still out of breath.
I sighed, wiping my eyes tiredly. "Yeah, he does that," I said before climbing on top of that truck - Deery following me close behind. I should probably be more worried about him, but honestly, once you got past some of the craziness he wasn't too bad.
"W-will we have to kill everyone?" Deery asked, and I looked back to her general direction. It hadn't escaped me that she said "we" when referring to us. That meant she saw herself as responsible for the deaths here - even if she had no direct responsibility for this.
Still, I had no time to coddle her. I wasn't about to make her a liability, but with the fast pace of current events, there was little I could do to save these fanatics, not when they were still a threat to the thousands of citizens above.
"If you've got any friends that'll join you, or simply know anyone that was forced to stay here, then I suggest you tell them to get out of here. Because soon this place will become a tomb," I said darkly to Deery, as I once more launched myself into the fray.
- Atlas -
Emerald exited the infirmary, growling as she silently cussed out the doctors for checking her up, looking for injuries that didn't exist. The General had stated that they were deploying forces to retrieve Markus, and that he needed her to undergo a full checkup. They had almost all of the beacons set up, they should be able to see what was going on in those tunnels so why were they taking so long?!
As she stormed down the hallway, wearing only her black underclothes without the armor or the helmet, she didn't notice where she was going, and almost tripped over something, stumbling against the wall. Whirling around, she turned to shout at whoever or whatever had caused her to nearly fall over and slam her face on the floor.
That anger died a quick and painless demise as she saw Biscuit, sitting against the wall. He wasn't panting happily - in fact, he looked almost serious. Sighing, Emerald came over and sat next to Biscuit, before leaning on the large dog. Biscuit whined and licked her chin as Emerald rubbed the dog's head affectionately.
"I miss him. Why does he always get into these situations..." Emerald whispered softly as she kept stroking him between the ears, his soft and fluffy coat soothing her earlier rage. Biscuit whined, and she smiled. This dog was always so considerate - almost as if he understood everything that she was going through.
Emerald just sighed. The hallway was empty, just her and Biscuit. As comforting as it was that the dog was here, that she had a cuddly companion to keep her from feeling so alone, so distraught, her thoughts continued to race around uneasily.
"It should be the three of us. Me, Biscuit, and Markus," Emerald thought silently to herself. "It won't feel right without him." She found herself surprised at how attached she was to the caracal Faunus. But the longer she thought hard on it, the more she realized that it seemed that her attraction to him was much more than a physical attraction or hormonal feelings that caused them to start dating mere hours ago.
"He saved me from Cinder twice, at Beacon and at that bandit tribe," Emerald realized. "He never used me, he never threw me aside, he wanted me. He wanted me, not my body or my semblance. He never said I was useful, he said I was a friend. And he said he liked me."
Biscuit licked her cheek, and she absent-mindedly rubbed his nose. "Is this what it's like to fall in love?" she thought. Her heart beat faster, and she gritted her teeth. "Then why does this hurt so much? Why can't he be here now? Why couldn't I realize this before...maybe I'll get the chance to tell him..."
Emerald wasn't like many others. She grew up stealing and running to survive, not attending school and making friends. Where most people would stutter and blush over feelings, Emerald would charge headfirst. She knew what she wanted, and it didn't embarrass her one bit. She would tackle him and make out with him once he was safe, regardless of whether there were others around them or not.
"Yeah, I'll do that once Markus is safe," Emerald thought.
If Markus was safe.
Emerald's thoughts were interrupted when several footsteps down the hall made their way towards her. "Biscuit! Biscuit, where are you?!" a very shrill and annoying voice cried. She turned to see a redheaded girl with a red cape and annoying red scythe on her back. "Biscuit! There you are!" Ruby cried, panting as she leaned on the wall. "O-oh. Emerald, hi!" she said, her relief turning into awkwardness.
"Hi," Emerald grumbled. "Shouldn't you be with your team?"
"Well, we're getting ready to leave and I wanted to say bye to Biscuit first," Ruby said as she scratched the back of her head. "The Ace-Ops said we couldn't bring him to Ami-er, on our mission."
Amity Colosseum? That was interesting. "Yeah, well, say bye, then fuck off," Emerald said, Biscuit whining.
Ruby's face visibly fell - and Emerald would've felt bad if she actually liked her. She didn't, and she only knew it was because of three little facts. One - Ruby was annoying. Two - Ruby and her team hurt Markus. Three - she was the sister to Yang, who decimated Markus's arm.
Still, Markus wouldn't have wanted Emerald to be so rude to Ruby. He was never deliberately mean with her or her team - so that meant he liked them, right? As much as that bothered her, she knew it was because Markus was generally a nice person.
She could at least try. Emerald shook her head and rubbed her forehead tiredly, tired of the situation, and tired of being without her new boyfriend. "Markus...is stuck down in Mantle. He was taken by the White Fang," she said softly as she looked down.
Ruby's eyes widened, and she shot to her feet. "W-what do you mean?!" she cried. "How?"
"We were on a mission, and we got spotted. He saved me, and then got stopped before he could get out of there..." Emerald whispered, feeling her voice quiver in anger. "I couldn't save him, and the General won't let me go down there."
"B-but, there has to be something we can do!" Ruby cried.
"The General says they're sending team CRDL down there," Emerald said. "And I can't do anything since I'm technically on medical leave - which is utter bullshit."
Ruby looked furious now. "We have to go save him! I-I can tell the team to go on without me! You and I can steal an airship, maybe get down there and help-" she spouted off.
Emerald's eyes widened in surprise. Ruby was willing to break rules? That was new. Then again, she never really knew this shortstack of a girl. Still, this obnoxious girl was willing to risk trouble for Markus? Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. Once she apologizes to Markus and begs for forgiveness on her hands and knees, Emerald might actually tolerate her.
Unfortunately, Emerald and Ruby didn't get an opportunity to plan further, not when a man cleared his throat near them. Turning, the two girls and dog looked up to see General Ironwood sternly looking down at the girls in the hallway. Ruby chuckled nervously, before the General sighed, his angered expression giving way to a sympathetic and much more calmer look.
"I understand wanting to go after your friend. I refuse to leave anyone behind. But I do have reasons for not wanting you or you-" the General said, looking at Ruby first, then Emerald, when he said this. "-to go down there. We risk Salem getting to you both. And Rose, you have a mission to protect Amity Colosseum with your team and the Ace-Ops. And I believe you were supposed to leave now."
Ruby winced and looked down, before getting up to leave the hallway sadly. Before she dejectedly passed the General, he placed his metal hand on her shoulder, stopping her in place and causing her to look up at him.
"I understand your frustrations Miss Rose," Ironwood began as he glanced at Emerald, who was giving him a smoldering look. "I personally went down to Mantle to ensure your and his safety not too long ago. That should speak volumes of how much his safety means to me. We'll get him back soon, but we shouldn't let this setback divide us, not when we have so much - all of Atlas and everybody here - on the line. Correct?"
Ruby, who had been patiently listening, winced at the reminder of how she and her team had acted with Markus, as well as what had originally happened in Atlas. She felt that her future self did the right thing, but she wouldn't deny how badly she and her team messed things up. Looking up at General Ironwood, it was hard not to see the dead and emotionless eyes in the vision provided by the lamp.
But Ruby had to remember: this was not that Ironwood. This General Ironwood was different, one without betrayal, one with actual planning and the potential to drive back Salem's forces because of Markus. "Of course, sir," Ruby said sternly as she straightened up from her dejected state, she still had a team to lead, and they couldn't fail this mission. "I trust you." She made sure to look the General in the eye before using Petal Burst to leave the hallway quickly, likely to rejoin her team and the Ace-Ops.
James watched the girl with a hint of fondness. He could see why Ozpin put so much stock in her back at Beacon, hopefully they could continue working well together, she still had a lot to learn but he was willing to teach her.
Looking over at Emerald, the girl glared defiantly up at the General. "And you. I need you at your best. Onissa will be brought back safe and sound. I see how the two of you operate, you need each other. And once Onissa is here, the two of you will be taken off missions and given time to yourselves."
"Are you serious right now? You couldn't let us have that time BEFORE the mission? BEFORE Markus was captured?" Emerald spat.
"Believe me, I would have. But time is against us, especially given the unpredictable and imminent threat Atlas faces below. If you go down there, you'll look for him on your own. And you'll risk yourself, you'll risk everything to save him. Am I wrong?" Ironwood asked. Emerald didn't say a word - refusing to prove him correct. Sighing again, the general crossed his arms. "Just stay put and get some rest. That's an order. Onissa wouldn't want you to risk yourself like that, and you know it."
Emerald almost told him to fuck off, telling her of all people what Markus would and wouldn't want, before taking a deep breath. Getting angry would not help in this situation at all - and she didn't want to risk being separated from Markus if...no, when he was rescued because she made him mad. "Yes, sir," she hissed out from her gritted teeth.
The General didn't look satisfied, but he didn't push the issue any further. "Get some rest," he repeated. "And calm down. Stress can only be handled well for so long." Continuing his walk down the hall, Emerald clenched her fists as she tried to quell her anger.
It was only Biscuit's cold and wet nose sniffing and nudging at her wrist that kept her from acting out. Emerald exhaled, realizing she'd been holding her breath. "Markus...you'd better be OK," she whispered as she leaned back against Biscuit, who lightly barked and licked her cheek.
- Mantle Crater: Caves -
Tyrian and I slammed into the line of Atlesian Knights, snapping off robotic limbs as they tried to cut at us with their old close combat programming. Tyrian was charging the front, destroying most of them with ease. I chose to stay in the back and let the whirlwind of a Faunus deal with the old mechs, while dealing with any Atlesian Knights that tried to go for me.
I was still very low on aura - I'm not stupid enough to charge headfirst into battle the way that Tyrian could. Deery was hiding behind a rock, not willing to peek out with so many robots back there, even with Tyrian handling much of them. I didn't blame her - she had no chance of surviving anything more than a bullet, and we had already fought through dozens of guns and possibly thousands of bullets by now.
"More! Bring me more! Is that the best you filthy heretics can do?!" Tyrian cackled as the last Atlesian Knight fell, several White Fang members in the distance running off as they saw the madman take out so many robots.
I sighed as I moved to catch up with the serial killer, Deery reluctantly leaving the safety of cover as well. "How deep are we in these caves?" I asked. I was getting a little winded, and I could feel how low my aura was.
"We should be near the entrance now," Deery said. "But there'll be most of the White Fang in the way. Most of the caves here branch off from the entrance, they'll be able to wait for us there."
Gunfire and explosions filled the air a good distance in front of us, and I heard a yell coming from Tyrian up ahead. Rushing around the corner, I saw the entrance of the cave - the harsh winds of the outside filling the entrance.
Indeed, the entrance had a massive open area that branched out into at least a dozen large openings, each one with several White Fang grunts and Atlesian Knights aiming at where we were coming from. Scattered about were several crates and trucks, most of them half loaded and others old and broken down.
The main and largest opening - the only way out of the mines towards freedom - had machine gun emplacements and three Atlesian Paladins aiming right at us. And inside one of the Paladins was the leader, judging by the megaphone he held as he leaned out of the large open cockpit. I wouldn't be able to tell otherwise.
"You're surrounded! Give up now, and your deaths will only be short and painless!" the leader shouted into the megaphone, leaning out of the cockpit of the Paladin. "You can't hope to get through us! Not with this much firepower!"
Tyrian giggled and raised his arms, the blades on his weapons gleaming in the artificial lights as the others nervously readied their weapons at him. "Oh, I'd love to see you try and stop me!" he cackled.
I'd freely admit that the gathered force's were intimidating. But then again I had a Tyrian on my side, so I was confident in my odds, which seemed odd considering it was a TYRIAN of all people on my side. But if it can work for Qrow, then it can work for me!
I readied my dust and got into position slightly behind the serial killer, dust blocking off any blindspots that they could shoot us from.
"So you have chosen death," The leader said, not looking upset in the slightest at the fact. "Let's show these...Deery, what the hell are you doing?!"
The girl in question froze at the shout, having peeked out at the wrong time to see what was going on. I tensed up as well, and looked back to the terrified young woman.
But Deery seemed to lose that fear, and she stormed out of cover - tearing off her mask and hood, revealing her short hair and her widened and angered eyes. "My name is Jennifer!" she yelled. "And I'm sick of it! I'm sick of being called Deery because of my antlers! I'm sick of being a nobody who gets pushed around! I'm sick of all the death we cause left and right! I'm sick of it!" she yelled, and I realized that everything must have pushed her to her breaking point.
"Oh..." I said, thoroughly embarrassed when I realized that I'd been calling her Deery too. "Did these guys seriously never get her real name? CRWBY, you bastards! Screwing over the entire fandom!" I shouted in my head, the embarrassment getting worse and worse.
"I-I'm sorry, I should've asked your real name-" I said.
"Quiet!" Dee- Jennifer shouted at me - making me shut up at once - as she brandished a detonator for all the explosives she had been laying in the mines. "I'm done with all of it! The moment I came here, it never changes! We've hurt others and for what?! It only makes others hurt back! Don't you get it?! Everything we've done means nothing!"
Tyrian cackled as the White Fang fell gobsmacked at what Jennifer was now wielding. "I had you all wrong! You truly are like me!" he laughed, the idea of her blowing up the caves filling all our minds, the White Fang's likely in fear and horror, Tyrian's with delight, and mine with nothing more than that "Oh shit" feeling.
"You wouldn't dare," Their leader said with a hint of nervousness he couldn't keep out of his voice. "You'd be killing everyone here, including yourself. And everything we stood for will be for nothing!"
I looked over at Jennifer, worried about the same thing. These guys would be better gone, but I'd die as well. I had no such plot armor. Her response didn't ease my worries at all.
Jennifer was shaking slightly, making many wonder if she would press the bottom on accident. She seemed scared, but her eyes were resolute and her voice carried weight. "After everything I've done, everything we've done, it would only be right, wouldn't it?" She asked , a fragile smile on her face, and a single tear falling from her eye.
Everyone could only stare in shocked silence. Besides Tyrian, he was absolutely eating this up, looking at the girl like she was his new partner in crime. If it wasn't for this distraction working on him as well, I'm sure he would've attacked everyone already.
"It doesn't have to be like this," I said to the White Fang grunts, while placing a hand on Jennifer's arm and slowly lowering it, wanting to deescalate the situation. She gave me a slightly manic and confused look, but complied. "Adam Taurus is dead. I killed him with my own hands at Haven Academy when the White Fang attacked."
The gathered faunus were shocked at my proclamation, 'was that why we've heard nothing from him' many were probably thinking. Others however looked outraged, either because they believed me or because they thought I was lying.
"The rest of the members in that attack were defeated by other parts of the White Fang led by Ghira Belladonna and Sienna Khan!" I carried on, hoping to build up steam so they would listen and everyone got out of this. I had killed enough today. "Sienna Khan is back in charge, and the rest of the world is already on a path towards peace! But not here! Look!" I pointed to the armada of Grimm, visible outside of the crater.
"The equality you wish for is finally within your grasp! The human's now see that peace with Faunus is better than war, that equality would be better than another Adam Taurus! Do you wish to ruin what you have all strived to achieve, because you want revenge?"
"They have not been punished enough! They haven't paid for the countless years we suffered because of their racism!" the leader shouted lividly, forgoing his megaphone but still being heard by all. "They will grovel before us before we stop!"
Many of the gathered grunts didn't share his opinion however, as some weapons were slowly lowered. Did they really want to keep fighting? Why carry on enduring this hell and ruin what they all wished to achieve?
"Continuing to hurt each other isn't going to make things better!" Jennifer interjected, hoping to convince her former comrades to see reason. "We have caused enough suffering. Vale, Mistral and now Atlas. Will you not stop until every kingdom is destroyed? What next, Vacuo?! Maybe Menagerie when they see this is wrong?! What would we be left with?!"
"A free world! A world we can rebuild once the humans are gone!" the leader roared. "Then we'll have a Remnant where the Faunus can live without fear!" Some of the others who were once again spurred by the loud words of their leader raised their weapons again, and Tyrian giggled, ready to see the upcoming fight.
I growled. This wasn't working...
"A world none of you will be able to see, traitors!" the leader yelled. "Open fir-"
An explosion tore through the cave entrance, destroying one of the Atlesian Paladins near the left of the cave entrance, the mech toppling as grunts panicked and ran for cover. The leader immediately dropped the megaphone and ducked back into his own Paladin, the cockpit closing over him.
As the smoke and fire cleared up, I stepped back in surprise to see team CRDL rushing through the opening. Atlesian Knights turned and fired on the team of armored teens, before falling to a flurry of strikes from a flail mace head. Dove leapt atop a crate and cut down three members in the blink of an eye, before firing up at two White Fang guys with sniper rifles atop a catwalk near the ceiling. The catwalk collapsed before the terrorists could fire, and they went from aiming to falling in a split second.
Russel and Sky entered close combat with several knights and White Fang grunts, and the leader entered a fight with Tyrian, firing cannons and automatic weapons at the scorpion Faunus as he hopped around, dodging explosions and gunfire while firing back at his own. For now, the large mech was keeping Tyrian at a distance, while I grabbed the detonator from Jennifer, pocketing it at once.
"Hey. Hey, you alright?" I asked, slapping her face lightly a few times. She didn't look that frantic any longer - she just looked tired, and I couldn't blame her. Looking up at me, she smiled sadly, and I couldn't help but wince. "Look, just stay here. You'll be safe, I promise," I assured her.
An explosion rang out nearby, and I pushed the tired young woman down into cover, before jumping out with my Dust at the ready. Jumping up, my Dust shot from my prosthetic hand to a nearby catwalk, swinging like Catwoman towards the rock before I wall-ran for a few seconds, lunging onto the Paladin with a loud thud.
The mech swung its massive arms up, fists folding over its cannons to try and grab me while I began drilling through the armor of the massive robot. As I began to chip away at the very dense alloy of the Atlesian Paladin, Tyrian was able to get up close and begin cutting away at the mech, destroying the sensors right under the cockpit area of the mech.
As I punched at the armor, the mech slammed its foot down on the rocky ground, toppling me against the back of one of the missile launchers. The moment I did, they went off - ten missiles flying erratically around. "Son of a bitch!" I shouted as I tried to act before those missiles could fly down a random cave and ignite a Dust pocket.
And if that happened, no more caves, no more crater, and no more Atlas. My Dust shot out to catch up to the missiles when they all started to shoot left and right, up and down, and seemingly avoiding the caves. "What the fu-" I said before an explosion tore out.
Luckily for me, I didn't need to do anything against these missiles. All of them flew around like drones piloted by drunk college teens before flying back to the White Fang. Five of them blew up against the equipment near the entrance, sending several White Fang members flying. Two of them hit the ceiling and wall respectively and sent several fragmented rocks falling, burying a truck with a machine gun firing at Dove.
One more missile flew out of the cave, never to be seen again as the rest flew back down onto the Paladin with me still on it. The mech wasn't destroyed, but it was sent falling, with me catapulted off by the sheer force of the violent explosions. "This is complete chaos!" I remember thinking, maybe even screaming as I was sent flailing in the air.
"Don't worry, I gotcha!" I heard, and I felt an arm on my back as I suddenly stopped flipping in the air. My unknown savior and I landed and slid against the ground before hitting a toppled box. Looking to see who'd saved me, I blinked in surprise when I saw who it was. A cocky smirk, a stubble of facial hair, and a red cape greeted me.
"Hey," Qrow said - Harbinger in one hand as he steadied me. "You really gotta stop getting kidnapped."
"Hardy har har, as if I wanted to," I said in annoyance as two White Fang grunts rushed us with swords. A punch from Qrow and a kick from me sent them to the ground - their lights effectively out. "So, Tyrian and I apparently had the same idea."
"I could tell by the way you two fought together the entire way here," the veteran huntsman said, and I turned to face Qrow with an indignant look. "What? I couldn't just drop in. Ol' Jimmy sent me the moment you were reported as a hostage of these crazies. Antagonizing these guys without backup would've made saving you way harder."
"I...I guess that makes sense. Still, you couldn't have helped at all, even a little? You know, not just be a bird the whole time?" I protested. Qrow shrugged, and any argument I may have wanted to continue was interrupted as the second Paladin opened fire on Dove and Russel, who were dancing and deflecting rounds as quickly as the Paladin was firing them.
Tyrian landed between Qrow and me, and he cackled like the madman he was. "Less yapping, more fighting!" the serial killer yelled as he rushed back into the fray. Qrow followed suit, and so did I. I remember when Qrow and Tyrian fought together against Clover - which was a dumb idea.
But right now, I was thinking about how Tyrian Callows, Qrow Branwen, and I were all fighting together in the most chaotic battle I'd ever seen in a tight confined place like this mine. It was moments like this that reminded me of why I, and many others, came to love RWBY, even if my heart was pounding a million beats a minute out of terror. Jumping over a swing from the mech's left arm, Tyrian followed up by spin slashing against its limb, cutting down the automatic guns from the sides of its arm.
Qrow, meanwhile, was on the Paladin's right arm, having slashed across its hand before shifting Harbinger into its scythe form and completely amputating the arm completely. The three of us ended up forming a cohesive attack plan without having to say a single word to each other, as we split the Paladin's attention before pelting it with attacks.
In the end, the Paladin didn't last too long against the three of us. Compared to the mech fight at the highway, Qrow and Tyrian were on a completely different level than RWBY, and the leader here was nowhere near as good a pilot as Roman was.
Soon, the battle was over and most of the White Fang were dead. Looking over to CRDL, I saw that they were all in one piece - though they looked rather disturbed. As I walked over to them, they looked up and saw me. "Hey," Cardin said. "You in one piece?"
"Yeah. What about you, are you..." I said before looking at the aftermath around us. There were maybe just over half a dozen survivors, all surrendered as CRDL secured them.
"Yeah. These aren't our first kills..." Cardin muttered, and I noticed he sounded despondent as he said this. "Our first missions were pretty rough, we fought White Fang like these here and there."
I winced. "Sorry," I said quietly.
"Don't be like that - you weren't involved," Cardin said, clapping me on the back and making me stumble. "Come on, we need to call for extraction."
Yet again Cardin proved how different he and his team were, compared to how I remembered them. While I didn't think they'd enjoy the killing, I also assumed they would enjoy the fact that it was at least White Fang 'animals'. I really don't give them enough credit. I nodded before I headed back to one of the caves, where Jennifer was coming out. She was shaking, her hands fidgeting together. "Are you OK?" I asked as I brought my hand around her shoulder to steady her.
"I-I'm alright," she whispered as I led her towards the cave entrance. Qrow was helping CRDL move the surrendered White Fang members out of the cave, while Russel was on his scroll, calling someone - most likely the pilot of the airship that would pick us up.
"What will happen to me?" Jennifer asked, and I could tell that she was scared. Why wouldn't she be - she was White Fang, and Atlas despised them. She likely had no family here as well, and the thought of her being alone really left me unnerved.
"I'll talk to the General," I assured quietly. "I can't promise anything. I'll try to make sure you aren't thrown in a cell, but I don't know if you could just go back to a normal life. You'd likely be kept under some sort of surveillance…" I answered with an unsure frown, my caracal ear's folding against my head.
The more I thought about it, Jennifer didn't have a lot of options unless she tried making a break for it and starting over. A quick glance would show that trying with all these huntsmen...
Jennifer seemed to realize the same things I had, as she hugged herself and seemed resigned to her fate. Her shivering didn't stop.
After a moment of silence, I kept talking. " I do know someone who was in the White Fang though. Maybe she can help you out," I offered.
"I think I know who you're talking about," Jennifer whispered as she wiped her face. "Thanks." I smiled as we left the cave entrance, getting hit by the harsh cold of the Atlas environment.
My smile grew as we walked, feeling the full weight of my freedom hit me. I made it out of a shitty situation once more, and I'd be able to see the others again. I would be able to go back to Emerald.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was forgetting something.
"Hey, kid. You OK?" Qrow called.
"Yeah, I'm just-" I said before tripping. Specifically, tripping on an old railroad tie. I landed face first in the snow and was about to try and sit back up when I heard a click.
Uh oh. Now I remember having the detonator in my pocket.
The sounds of muffled explosions boomed behind us, and I immediately scrambled to my feet, grabbing Jennifer and carrying her over my shoulder. "Run!" I yelled.
At once, everyone did - CRDL, Qrow, the few White Fang that was left, me. I could feel and hear Jennifer's panic as we booked it away from the caves and towards the edge of the crater, where an elevator was waiting.
"Come on!" Qrow yelled, waving his arm as CRDL leapt onto the elevator. Looking back, I could see the caves collapsing, smoke billowing out. I could also see cracks in the ground, the concrete caving in behind us and quickly catching up to us.
"Run faster!" Jennifer screamed, and I looked back to see the elevator slowly beginning to rise. By the time I reached it, it was a few meters in the air already.
Quickly pulling out my Dust, I shot a rope of it at the elevator, spearing the bottom of the platform before pulling myself up, feeling Jennifer flail in panic as we shot up into the air. Luckily, she didn't kick me or loosen my grip on her, but it made the ascension very shaky.
Soon enough, we reached the platform - Qrow pulling Jennifer up while Dove yanked me up to my feet. "I blame your semblance for this," I panted as I looked at Qrow.
"I know, me too," the caped scythe wielding huntsman grumbled. Our conversation was interrupted by the sound of cracking. Looking at either side of us, I saw the walls slowly crumbling, large cracks forming around us. "I hate my semblance so much," Qrow groaned.
The elevator stopped, and we all looked around in concern. Jennifer had fallen silent, and the other White Fang survivors were frantically looking for a way out. "We're gonna die!" one cried.
As the rest fell into panic, Cardin slumped against the back of the elevator railing. "Well, nice knowing you," he said.
"No it wasn't," I remarked, and Cardin let out a short laugh.
"This is why I fight solo," Qrow grumbled before we heard the sound of an engine. Looking up, I saw a Manta flying towards us, turning to align its side doors to us.
The doors opened, and the ramp lowered. "Let's go, let's go!" a voice inside - presumably the pilot, called. The White Fang members scrambled on first, before CRDL and I went next. As the elevator began to fall, Qrow jumped onboard carrying Jennifer, bridal style.
"Up, now!" Sky yelled as the smoke of everything collapsing under us began to billow over us, filling the airship. Everything crumbled underneath us as the Manta ascended, dying far above the crater as the outer walls and some of the houses at the edge of the crater fell in.
The explosion continued to boom loudly behind us, as we all looked back at the carnage. The destruction was clear for all of us to see as we flew away. "That was close," Russel said, gasping for breath. Qrow set Jennifer down and brushed himself off awkwardly, as Jennifer leaned back against the wall and sighed.
"Yeah, too close," Sky sighed, falling on his back onto the airship floor as fatigue caught up to him.
"I'd say that was rather fun," Tyrian remarked.
"Not fun, we nearly...died..." I slowly turned to see that Tyrian was still with us. How did we forget that he was still with us?
Qrow, Cardin, Dove, Russel, and I immediately jumped back - whilst Sky scrambled to his feet while grabbing his weapon. Tyrian cackled at the frantic response. "Oh, don't be like that! We all had such fun together!" he laughed. "Besides, I don't plan on staying. I'll just take my objective and go." I shuddered as Tyrian's eyes fell upon me.
Almost instinctively, I pulled my Dust out of my arm, before Qrow stepped in front of me, Cardin prepping his weapon next to me. "That's not going to happen," Qrow growled, and I remembered that he was there when Tyrian revealed that Salem wanted me.
Tyrian frowned before sighing. "Alas, it does appear to be the case. Outnumbered and weakened by those...heretics," he hissed. "So, I'll take my leave."
"You really think you're getting outta here-" Cardin said before I grabbed his arm. Shaking my head, I watched as Cardin's angered look gave way to one of exhaustion. Tyrian just giggled before he walked towards the door.
"Before I leave, I'd like you to know something," Tyrian said as he eyed me. "This won't be the last time we meet...I'll make sure of it."
And with that, he spun around and fell off backwards out of the airship. Peering down, I spotted a Nevermore fly down to catch him. Knowing how high up we were already, it probably would, and I leaned away from the open door and sighed. "Today was too much," I muttered.
"I'd say."
Robyn Hill was piloting the Manta. "The General wanted me to be there, make sure you're alright. And judging by how the dusty old crow here reacted, this isn't the first time you ended up in bad situations. You alright?" she said, looking back at us.
I blushed. "S-sorry," I whispered.
Robyn let out a bark of a laugh. "Hah, don't mention it, kid. I was pissed off at them too. Glad you're alright," she said. "Besides, with those caves down, we saved Atlas. And maybe that Lien pinching Jacques can finally leave the crater alone, and allow us to build more homes down there when we take Mantle back."
I blinked at her words, and realized just how much faith these people had in me. Ironwood expected victory. Robyn expected change. Ozpin expected closure, and everyone else expected so much more. And I had it all riding on me. Everything changed, because the gods decided to bring me here.
I didn't stay awake to think about it. In fact, I think I more or less passed out, because the last thing I remember was my vision going blurry as Qrow called out my name. I didn't care too much though, I just felt so damn tired...
- hours later, in Atlas Academy -
Everything just after waking up - hours after the event - was a blur. I was in an infirmary, getting a checkup while General Ironwood confined me to a week of rest and relaxation as soon as I reported what I found, and the events that unfolded.
Qrow and I gave the same report, revealing Tyrian's intentions to destroy the White Fang forces in the crater caves rather than destroy Markus and the other's. The prisoners were all taken to cells to be properly interrogated, all except Jennifer.
Jennifer received a bit more leniency, getting to stay in the infirmary and being promised a therapist to talk to her. She gave up what she could - which did help a little. General Ironwood remained kind and patient with her as well, allowing her to work off her broken laws with community service, all while being allowed a place to live in the city of Atlas, and the chance to return to a normal life.
Well, as normal as life can be surrounded by hard-light shields and an armada of Grimm amidst a storm of black clouds beyond the city.
I sighed as I sat up in bed, wanting to sleep for the next few days - but not being allowed to with all of the aura boosters currently pumping in my veins. I was currently alone in the room, feeling my thoughts circle around just how shitty my situation was - specifically how the gods killed me in my own world and dumped me in this world with a planet's worth of responsibility on me.
No matter how much of a dream it was to basically be isekai'd in this world, no dreams were worth everything I had to do - especially since my choices on Remnant resulted in some even worse outcomes. I wasn't sure if I was truly ready for this, even with Atlas and Mantle united, not with so many lives being held within my hands.
This was what it was like to have the world on your shoulders. And now that I had it, I'm not sure if I could handle it. I had not only the fear of failing, but the fear of destroying everything I felt I was basically conscripted to protect. How could I know what was right anymore? Maybe RWBY did have reasons to mistrust me - I might not be making good decisions anymore, especially since they result in some bad outcomes for me.
James had come by again near the end of my stay in the infirmary, wanting to ensure that I was in top shape. I didn't know if what he was doing was the right decision, especially with how stressed he probably was, being the General and all. The last thing he needed was for me to make it worse, so I just said I was fine, but appreciated it.
I couldn't tell him about how I was really feeling, about the doubts I had that slowly grew and grew, about the misplaced faith everyone had in me, about...home.
I was later dismissed to my assigned dorm, and I felt like a robot as I walked down the hallway. I wasn't sure if people were just quiet, or if everything just felt like a blur, as I kept walking. I wasn't that tired, but I was definitely distracted. Enough that I couldn't see it when someone bumped into me.
"Watch it, I-" I was about to snap when I looked up. Halfway up to eye level, I saw Atlesian armor with its midriff missing, revealing a soft stomach. Looking up fully, I saw Emerald, still in her full Atlesian armor, but without the helmet. "E-Em?"
I immediately fell to the floor when she hugged me in a hard tackle, and I hugged her back as hard as I could. With no hesitation, Emerald grabbed me by the sides of my helmet and kissed me hard. Even as we got up, we kept making out - neither of us wanting to let go just yet.
Eventually, we broke off, panting for control of our breathing as our lungs sucked in as much precious air as possible. I stared at Emerald, her frightened and relieved eyes boring into my soul, even through the Atlesian helmet I wore. No words were shared between us, but through the silence, all I knew was that she missed me, and I missed her.
And that was all I needed as I was pulled into another lip-locking with my new girlfriend.
(AN: The next chapter will be a smut-driven story that will be published as a completely separate story - as I don't want to put any adult rated material in a teen rated story. So the story will continue on to chapter 52 while chapter 51.5 is in development.)