Alternate Ending RWBY Reloaded Volume 3 Chapter 7: Darkest Hour.
(Beacon Tower entrance)
The Battle for the academy rages above them.
Jaune and Pyrrha run out of the front door. The muffled sounds of Ozpin and Cinder's fight can be heard.
Jaune: Okay, I think I have Glynda's number.
He walks away, looking at his Scroll
Jaune: Oh, where is it?
Pyrrha turns and stares silently at Beacon Tower. Jaune's voice soon breaks her concentration.
Jaune: Pyrrha? What was all of that?
she turns to look at Jaune
Pyrrha: I...
Their conversation is interrupted by an explosion.
Jaune: But... Ozpin...
Pyrrha: There's no time.
She shakes her head, then looks at Jaune, quickly adopting a determined tone
Pyrrha: Go. Get to Vale and call for help.
Jaune: Huh? What are you gonna do?
Pyrrha slowly turns her head to stare up at the top of Beacon Tower. Following her gaze, Jaune realizes what she plans to do.
Jaune: No... no, Pyrrha, you can't. You saw how powerful she is! Pyrrha, I won't let you do-
Jaune Arc, and Pyrrha Nikos lock lips for the time as she expresses her love. Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. However, she did not anticipate what was to come next. Jaune turned and pushed her into a nearby locker.
Jaune: I can't her get to you. She's too powerful, and if she gets your powers, unstoppable.
He seals her inside and blasts her off into the distance far away. Jaune exhales, steadying himself before going to be a real hero, like his ancestors.
(Outside the academy)
Reuben is busy destroying them Grimm attempting to get to the tower. Ducard is behind him, blasting the flying Grimm with his hand cannon.
Ducard: The Timeline has changed.
Ducard looks up and observes the flying locker.
Ducard: Reuben! Get to the tower at once!
Reuben: But the Vault!
Ducard: We can gamble the relic in exchange for its key.
Reuben then blasts off towards the Academy, surveying the damage as his broken red cape flutters in the wind. He feels so many chaotic events happen at once. He looks up at Ironwoods flagship, without thinking, he lobs his sword upwards to destroy the craft. He picks up his worn-down shield, examining it for a second before throwing it at incredible speed.
(Ironwood's flagship)
Back at the airship, the battle commences as Ruby performs a low swing, with Neo somersaulting over it, and ducking the next swing, before performing another backflip to dodge the third. Ruby then twirls Crescent Rose before attempting another low sweep, only for Neo to back-flip away from her consecutive twirls. Once Ruby finishes spinning her weapon, she lodges Crescent Rose on the hull and fires a shot, only for Neo to shatter in an illusion, revealing Roman as he fires a shot back with Melodic Cudgel, sending Ruby flying several feet, before she lodges Crescent Rose to safely grip herself from the surrounding gales, while Roman walks up to her.
Roman: Little Red, little Red, you are just determined to be the hero of Vale, aren'tcha? Just like that moron in a cape.
Ruby: What are you doing!? Without these ships, the Grimm will destroy everything!
Roman: That's the plan!
Ruby then swats aside Melodic Cudgel just as he attempts to fire it at her, causing him to move a few feet off-balance, before Neo returns and leaps over her, kicking Ruby's left cheek, and using the momentum to flip her over and send Ruby tumbling on her back. Neo then follows up with a roundhouse to the face, and a rear horse kick to nearly send her careening off the hull of the airship.
Ruby: But why!? What do you get out of it!?
Roman: You're asking the wrong questions, Red! It's not what I have to gain, it's that I can't afford to lose!
As Ruby charges, Neo vaults over Roman for a powerful kick. She then leaps up, grabs Crescent Rose, and slides under, flipping Ruby once more with the hook of her parasol. As Ruby spins midair, the pint-sized powerhouse finishes with a roundhouse to the abdomen, as Roman slams the barrel of Melodic Cudgel to the ground and fires, causing the cane to ricochet and hit Ruby, before catching it and firing the weapon once more over his shoulder. The blast is enough to send Ruby holding on for dear life, with the embedded blade of Crescent Rose the only thing preventing her from falling.
Roman: I may be a gambling man, but even I know that there are some bets you just don't take.
BOOOOOOOM!
The Sword of Reuben's embeds itself into the ship. It penetrates the dust core and makes it unstable. The Ship combusts and is enveloped in an inferno seconds later. Ruby jumps off the ship and activates her semblance, trying to outrun the flaming flagship. Ruby skids and falls on the ground, scraping up not only her knee, but hitting herself on the head on impact. Roman and Neo are nowhere to be found.
Ruby: Holy SH-
(Beacon Tower)
Reuben reaches the top as he witnesses Jaune struggle against Cinder. Cinder notices him instantly as she turns her head to see him. Jaune relaxes as he senses Cinder not fighting him anymore.
Cinder: Reuben Clark, The Atlas Superman.
Reuben walks towards Cinder, the ground cracking under his boots.
Reuben: Cinder Rhodes.
He smirks, watching her face twitch. She generates an obsidian blade and tosses it Reuben. He catches it with his right hand.
Cinder: That's not my name. My master, Salem, has an offer for you. Join us.
Cinder smiles as she walks towards him, considering Jaune not worth her time.
Reuben: You killed Headmaster Ozpin…
Reuben looks over at Jaune.
Reuben: Why waste your time with him?
Cinder: The old man has outlived his usefulness…
Jaune rises up and rushes at Cinder. He charges in with his sword, and in an instant. She places her hand on his chest. She proceeds to vaporize him from the inside with her semblance. Jaune Arc turns to ash as his armor clatters to the ground. His sword falls to the ground lastly, clattering against the sword.
Cinder: Bown down before me.
Cinder powers up like before. Reuben watches her, calculating her next move.
Reuben: only if you hit me as hard as you can…
Cinder: Oh is that right?
Reuben: Now hold on, you might've misheard me. Not half as hard, not some arbitrary percentage. I want you. to hit me. as hard as you can.
Cinder: And if I don't play along?
Reuben: Then I guess your father was right about you!
Enraged, Cinder kicks Reuben in the head. But he does nothing as her heel connects.
Reuben: Ohohoho consider that nerve touched!
She backs away, backflipping to gain distance.
Cinder: H-How?! I'm the Fall Maiden! Aren't Maidens supposed to be all mighty?!
Reuben: That's the problem. You're not at full power. You've fought students and Ozpin. A man who was likely holding back.
Cinder growls as she decides to play his game. Cinder then floats midair by unleashing her Maiden power.
Reuben (Mind): She's burning through energy like crazy. If she had more time with her powers, I doubt I'd be able to win. I just need to get her to burn off enough energy for her aura to break.
Cinder then unleashes a powerful fire blast. This one larger than when she fought Ozpin. More concentrated and dense. Reuben stares at the sun, like flame. The shockwaves start to litter the tower. The floor begins to give way. All according to plan. The massive orange fireball makes contact. It utterly destroys the place where Reuben was standing. The fireball then falls closer and closer to the ground before exploding. The Explosion leveling the weaker building in the area. Cinder laughs at her masterpiece. Her thoughts go back to Pyrrha, the girl who almost denied her these powers.
Cinder: I killed him! I killed the Atlas Superman!
Cinder's aura flickers and breaks as her power consumption proves to be too much for her body. The smoke billows from the area. Cinder then goes to marvel in her victory. But she feels an overwhelming pain in her chest. Cinder looks down and observes the fist of her opponent coming through. Her eyes widen as he holds her heart in his palm.
Reuben: My turn!
He closes his fist and crushes her vital organ in his grasp. Cinder's eyes go white as Reuben retracts his fist. He sends her body sailing to the ground. Reuben then looks around him before descending the tower.
(Epilogue)
Reuben arrives at his cabin. The Fall of Beacon weighing heavily on him. Cinder Fall likely chose a candidate to receive her powers. He unlocks his door and enters the building. He then senses something's off. He hears a cheery voice coming from behind him.
Pyrrha: Mr. Clark?
He turns to look at his visitor.
Reuben: Yes?
Pyrrha: I wanted to know if I could train with you?
Reuben mulls this over for a second.
Reuben: Aren't you already powerful?
Pyrrha opens her eyes, showing an orange flare in one.
Pyrrha: A power you are all too familiar with.
He smirks as he eyes the young woman.
Reuben: I suppose you can stay for a little while.
Pyrrha closes the door behind her.
(End of Alternate Volume 3-7)