RWBY Reloaded: Volume 5 Chapter 6: Old friend.
(Haven Academy, Vault of the Spring Maiden)
Raven stands near the door of the vault, glancing at it. Her mind drank in every word Yang had flung her way. She saw Yang and Ruby leave along with Reuben towards the main level of the academy. However, she lingered. She felt adrenaline rushing though her veins as her heart continued to pound in her chest. Her crimson eyes dart around the room, she feels a familiar, yet unseen presence.
Raven: Summer…
Raven couldn't physically see her old teammate and friend but somehow knew she was near.
Raven: I don't know if you can hear me.
Raven then starts to walk towards the elevator.
Raven: But thank you.
Raven could feel the wind flow through her black hair. She dusts herself off and walks up towards the surface.
(Haven Academy, Main Atrium)
Raven arrives up the elevator and stares at her daughter and then to Ruby Rose. She looked so much like Summer it pained her. She maintains a calm and cool demeanor as Reuben is nowhere to be found.
Qrow: Look if you two want Team RWBY and JNPR out of your way, I can take them to Atlas.
Raven: That's up to Reuben.
Raven stares at her brother before putting her Grimm Mask back on.
Tai: You're going to leave him, aren't you?
Raven sighs as she walks closer to her ex-husband.
Raven: Unlike you, l'm leaving him before I get him killed.
Yang scoffs as she glares at her mother.
Yang: Classic Raven, abandoning the ones who care about you.
Yang didn't bother to call her mom.
Raven: The Spring Maiden powers will cause me to be hunted by Salem. I'd be endangering him if I stayed.
Raven then transformed into a bird and flew the coop through an open window. Jaune then looks around.
Jaune: Wait, We're all not going to actually leave are we?
Jaune could feel the gaze of those around him.
Ducard: Well, if you do decide to vacate, you must know that leaving like this, you won't be welcome back.
Qrow looks at the man before taking Oscar from him.
Qrow: I wouldn't want to be back, buddy.
Following the lead of Taiyang, the remaining students and two huntsmen leave. However a certain Silver eyed huntress decided differently.
Ruby: I'm not leaving!
The adults, along with Team RWBY stop, and look at her.
Ruby: I said I'm not leaving, Reuben just literally saved us all from Cinder Fall. Remember, the girl who killed Pyrrha!
Ruby looks back with defiance.
Yang: Ruby! Why are you being difficult?!
Weiss walks over to Yang.
Weiss: It's okay, Yang. I'll make sure she's safe!
Qrow already exited the building and Taiyang with him. Yang begrudgingly joins them as they head north.
SIX MONTHS LATER.
(Atlas Academy, Kingdom of Atlas)
James Ironwood looks out at the city below. His black beard he caresses with his human hand. The door behind him slides open, as Penny Polendina walks in. She is carrying a tray of food for the General. She sets it on his desk.
Penny: General Ironwood. Your evening meal, sir.
Penny looks at the older man. He seems to be lost in thought.
Ironwood: How many Huntsmen have to be sacrificed, for this war to be over?
Ironwood pulls up his holographic monitor.
Penny: What do you mean sir?
Ironwood: Ever since the Battle of Haven, Salem seems to have ramped up her attacks.
The bodies of dead huntsmen and huntresses litter his screen.
Penny: Is that…?
Ironwood: Brunswick Farms…
Ironwood pulls up the image of the Grimm.
Ironwood: Those who split from the Justice League to form the Remnant Renegades, were mostly all killed there. They stayed to rest, but little did they know it would be their final rest.
Ironwood showed off the purple orb. It seemed to have made the Grimm there more powerful.
Ironwood: Jaune Arc was the only survivor. After killing Nora Valkyrie, he went insane and had to be committed to the Argus Asylum.
Ironwood then starts to eat his food as he looks at the shifting sky.
Penny: What about Ruby?
Ironwood then shifts his map, he pulls up Haven Academy.
Ironwood: After hearing what happened to her sister, she has refused to come out of her room. Winter has been deployed to Argus to better defend it. Weiss is still at the Academy, training and hoping her teammate can rejoin her.
Penny stares at the feed longingly.
Penny: We need to do something!
Ironwood: That's why I sent Diana to Vacuo. She will bring back the summer maiden, and the relic from Vacuo.
Ironwood sits down in his chair.
Ironwood: As we speak, Atlas is being raised into the air with the relic kept here. Once we reach the proper alt-
Penny: What?! How could you abandon Mantle?!
Ironwood stares at Penny, eating before taking out his gun and putting it on the table.
Ironwood: I have very intelligent officers on the ground in Mantle. But if it falls, that is a small price to pay for the world's security.
Penny then turns and tries to run out of the office. The mechanical doors slam shut with a green electric barrier surrounding the frame and running crisscross in the doorway.
Penny: General?
Ironwood stands up, walking over to Penny. He brushes her hair out of her eyes, and places his human hand on her face.
Ironwood: Penny, you have a different role now.
He says, staring into her eyes.
Ironwood: Get on your knees.
Penny looks at him with a scowl
Penny: No…please!
(Haven Academy, Mistral)
Reuben sits alone in his bedroom. His former Atlas Superman uniform hangs in his closet, dusty from not being used. He has fully settled into his role as Headmaster, overseeing repairs after the battle. He then snatches his scroll from his nightstand. He walks over to the center, and presses a button. The ground cracks as a metal circle appears in the ground. He descends deeper and deeper until he hits a place very similar to the Spring Maiden's Vault. Water drips from the ceiling as Reuben stares at the antiquated path before him. He steps out of the circle and walks towards a crimson and dark blue crystal. His steps echoing throughout the lone space. He looks at the woman suspended within. Arms restrained with Gravity Bolas supplied by Atlas.
Reuben: So, Cinder…
The black haired woman opens her one working eye. Her stump of an arm twitching. The Grimm arm had been destroyed in the previous battle.
Cinder: Superman…
Her golden eyes glare back at him.
Reuben: Tell me, what is Salem's new plan?
Cinder scoffs.
Cinder: I wouldn't know, I've been stuck here. But if I know Salem, she will bring her full power to bear on the next Kingdom in her crosshares.
Salem was indeed immortal, so she has time on her side. A hundred days, or a hundred years meant nothing to her.
Reuben: I could have killed you, especially when you were weak at the bottom of the pit.
Cinder then smirks.
Cinder: The boyscout taking a life? Let alone mine would ruin your reputation.
She then laughs.
Cinder: I'll bide my time here. Salem will return and crush you under her heel.
He stares deep into Cinder's eyes.
Reuben: That may be. But, I've gotten used to my new power. If even for a few minutes, I can keep Salem at bay.
Cinder then smirks again.
Cinder: You, just like most men, only lasted a few minutes with me. Maybe in another life it could've been me in your bed instead of Branwen.
Reuben turns to leave, after looking at Cinder one last time.
Reuben: Emerald and Mercury, your former minions are in Vale and Vacuo. Tyrian is in my territory again, while Arthur Watts is in Atlas. I'll be sure to bring their bodies back for you.
He then walks down the hallway and back up towards the surface.
(End of Volume 5)