Arcangel087- Hey, a review! I wasn't sure anyone was still reading. The title is 'You Cannot Save Me' for a reason…prepare for more death. Thanks for pointing out the Ozpin bit, I moved part of the explanation up in chapters.
Seriouslazy- I mean Matron did say nothing was more important than Neo and Roman. So yay I wrote her in character.
Neo clammers onto Roman's back. Almost making a snide comment about how it took the end of their world for him to finally give her a piggyback ride. Before she could try to make a smug illusion to illustrate her point. He launched his grappling hook onto a partially broken fire escape of the CCT. Desperately clinging to him as he settled on the precarious structure before launching them higher and higher until they were on the roof. Stable on her feet, watching through the ash filled atmosphere. Pyrrha slapped at the air, unseeing Emerald stalking her with fire pouring out of her red eyes. Curved blades flipping through her dark fingers. The Wyvern screeched in the distance.
Roman muttered, "I'll take Emerald. I'm used to training against illusions."
Neo granted her twin the illusion of looking weak. Bruised and waxy looking from fake blood loss. It'd shatter soon, but it might buy him an opportunity. She ran from him towards the dazed and confused, not so invincible girl. She had to keep Pyrrha out of the fight. The girl wasn't ready, not for a battle like this. That screech was louder, but Neo couldn't see how close it was through the Grimm ash.
Pyrrha focused on her spear level on an imaginary enemy. Clapping, drawing the taller girl's attention, Neo spreads her fingers, the words shimmering, "We are trying to protect Vale."
Pyrrha's mouth purse, the girl might not be ready, she wasn't dumb.
Her brother theatrical, "Well Mint Chip, are you sure you know how to use a semblance?" Roman switched the grip of his cane, using the hooked end to pull at her arms, misdirecting her blows as the knife in his hand cut at her Aura.
Emerald stomped her foot down, "Like you can talk!"
Neo couldn't know what the illusion was. Still, to her pink & brown eyes, it was easy to see Emerald's knee come up and Roman's knife cut into her thigh, shattering her Aura.
Roman was ever so arrogant, "Mine is a rare card up my sleeve, I don't rely on it. You rely on your enemies trusting only their eyes." He tugged at his bangs. "What can your semblance do to the ears, the nose, heck the taste."
Pyrrha, confident again that she could trust her own mind, "She had a glove to steal magic, and when she latched onto Ozpin with it," The girl bit back a sob, "he killed himself."
Neo frowned. Didn't it take time to adjust to magic? Or did it depend on how you got them...steal them?
Emerald shouted and lashed out. The hook of his cane twisted her neck into his knife. Then, kicking her blades far and dropping his weapons. Whitecoat arms dosed with blood, he eased her to the ground, "You deserved so much more than this Mint Ch…Emerald." Roman gently wiped the pink bubbles forming over her lips, and her gaze rested on Neo. The petite girl held her breath and she had no idea why her brain felt like it was melting.
"Neo!"
She looked up into her brother's silver and green eyes. Mascara horribly smudged. Her mouth parted to tease, and nothing came out. Her eyes burned, and she was terrified she would lose her sight, much like with her voice. He held her tight, and the screeching was louder. His eye glowed.
Pyrrha clutching her shield, "That's a wyvern."
Neo coughed, squeezing her eyes closed and open, noticing the ash floating between them and the fearsome creature. Dizzyingly Roman lifted her carrying her to the edge. He smirked casually, "Here I am, the most dashing criminal in all of Vale. Fighting a Wyvern alongside the Vital Tournament Champion. I'm practically a folk hero, dear sister."
Leaning now against some rubble, she stuck out her tongue. Tasting the bitter ash in the air, suddenly wondering how much would it take to poison her. To turn her into that version that her future husband buried.
Roman oblivious to her fears continued jesting, "Well, don't sing about it obviously." Then, resting his hat on top of her head, tucking his bangs under his ear, he sprinted off to Pyrrha's side.
The invincible girl, "So I can manipulate metal, what's your semblance?"
Roman looking upwards, "I…" after an agonizingly slow exhale, "...can smell and manipulate Dust." The Wyvern's barbed tail jutted at him. With a wave of his hand, the remaining Dust on Emerald condensed on the tip. Then, it exploded with a strike of his cudgel, blowing off the barbs.
Neo tried to stand. She couldn't let him fight without her. She burned, and her efforts landed her on her side. Helpless, she watched through the thick air. How much of Vale was destroyed?
Pyrrha held the end of the grappling hook as her brother whipped the amazon onto the creature's back. They snapped and withdrew. Knocking each other out of harm's way. If Neo could have sung about it, she might have.
She remembered what Oscar said and clapped her hands together, sending her illusioned words where her brother could see them.
[Who do you wish to protect?]
Glancing back at her, she saw through the smog-filled air his single silver eye glowed. Turning back to his foe, everything around him was silver.
Before him
Above him
Behind him
The glow faded, and her brother was on his hands and knees. The sky is clear, with black blood raining down upon them.
The Wyvern screamed.
Unaffected.
Neo lurched to her feet and stumbled madly. Falling again and the fire persisted through her. Distantly hearing a rhythmic thrumming. Then gunfire and random rubble was thrown at the Wyvern. Rolling her head upwards, she saw a helicopter.
James Ironwood was shooting, and Glynda had them descending. Oscar ran up to Neo looping a face mask over her ears and bridging the metal wiring to fit tightly over her nose. He watched curiously, "The air is clear, but what's with the Grimm ichor?"
Roman raised himself up, shaking himself off and running after Pyrrha, jumping off her shield to jab the thing in the eye. He landed next to James.
Flashing a wink, "So raincheck on, the whole, arresting me?"
The General groaned before charging at the creature. Neo seized Oscar's sleeve, his hand combed through her hair. "Neo, I'm fine now. Ozpin is still confused, but I've adjusted." Her eyes flared, and his hazel eyes pierced through the pain, "It wasn't supposed to be you." Then, sighing, "You will adjust. Maidens always do." Wyvern knocked Ironwood off the building only to be saved by Roman's grappling hook. The Criminal flashed a pompous grin.
Ironwood tonelessly, "What do you want some cake or something?"
Roman, "Unquestionably," Flinching at Pyrrha being knocked to the ground. "But how about we kill the dragon first?"
Ironwood, "Now that you mentioned it, I do have one trick."
Roman, "Well worth a try."
The General threw Roman at the Wyvern.