Chapter 2: Dread In the Sky

Leonardo Lionheart sits in his office with his head in his hands. From offscreen, Arthur Watts opens the door to the room.

Watts: Are we ready?

Lionheart lifts his head to look at Watts as he closes the door behind him and steps into the room. A brief exchange of looks is made as Lionheart turns his head away from Watts who smirks in response. The two soon enter a secret hallway adjacent to the office. At the end of the curved hallway is a circular room containing a Seer Grimm.

Watts: After you.

Watts pushes Lionheart closer to the Seer Grimm.

Lionheart: Your Grace, are... you there?

The red smoke-like substance contained in the head of the Seer Grimm shifts to form an image of Salem and Cinder Fall at their location in the Land of Darkness.

Salem: Hello, Leonardo. Do you have something to report?

Salem and Cinder are also looking through a Seer Grimm to communicate with Lionheart and Watts.

Lionheart: Of course, ma'am. I would not waste your time, if not.

Watts: I'm still just so fascinated by this creature. Cinder dear, are we coming through? (tapping the Seer) Can you see us clearly? Well, as clearly as you can.

Cinder: (annoyed) Shut... up.

Watts: (sarcastic) Oh goody, you've recovered.

Salem: Your report. What is it?

Lionheart: I've... I've found the Spring Maiden.

Salem: Is that so? Well done. Arthur, had I known how useful you'd be in expediting this process, I would've sent you long, long ago.

Watts: As much as I'd love to take credit, ma'am, I can't say that either of us are to thank for this development. I guess you could say, a little birdie told us.

Salem: Explain.

Lionheart: You see, ma'am, Qrow Branwen arrived at Haven Academy earlier today. He believes Spring has taken residence with his sister's tribe.

Cinder: Is... the girl... with him?

Watts: Yes, Miss Rose was in attendance.

Salem: And you know of the tribe's location?

Lionheart: Yes ma'am! But you have to hurry! Qrow is already at odds with my-

Salem makes a face of annoyed concentration and in response one of the Seer Grimm's tentacles shoots out to wrap around Lionheart's throat and choke him.

Salem: Leonardo, do you remember the first time we met? I remember. I remember your fear. But, since that day, you've been extraordinarily brave. I won't forget all that you've done for me. Do not forget everything that I can do to you.

The Seer Grimm slowly brings the point of another tentacle close to the face of Lionheart before drawing it back. Within the orb of the Seer Grimm, Salem makes a gesture, and the tentacle simultaneously releases him from the chokehold. Lionheart coughs and gasps for breath.

Salem: Cinder, you and your team will meet with Doctor Watts, and together, convince Raven Branwen that the survival of her people depends on her cooperation. Once you have Spring under control, escort her to the Relic and contact Hazel. The White Fang and Mamba was promised the destruction of Haven, and they'll have it once we have what we need.

Watts: Understood.

Salem: Not you, Arthur. Tyrian's in need of a new tail.

Watts: What happened to his old one?

Cinder: Guess.

Watts: The silver-eyed girl?

Cinder looks stern and grunts as acknowledgement.

Watts: It will be done.

Salem: Good.

The image of Salem disappears from the Seer Grimm to show the connection has ended.

Watts: Seems Qrow was right, Lionheart. The students aren't pushovers.

In the Land of Darkness, Cinder is clearly unhappy.

Salem: You're free to speak your mind.

Cinder: I don't understand. Working with bandits? Keeping Ruby alive? What's the point? We're strong enough to take what we want by force!

Salem: Never underestimate the usefulness of others. Take Leonardo; he was one of Ozpin's most trusted, and yet now... (chuckles) You will have the power I promised you, when the time is right. But remember that it comes with a cost. If Ruby Rose or this Cinnabar Caliburn has learned to harness their gifts, then you must take care to protect yours. There's only so much I can do to aid you.

Cinder bows to Salem and goes to exit the room.

Salem: And Cinder, before you go, inform Tyrian... (her smile turning to a frown) that I wish to have a word with him.

Cinder smiles, nods in acknowledgement of Salem's order and turns, leaving the room. A few seconds after she disappears from view, the loud noise of the door immediately transitions to the next scene.


As the cargo ship flies over Lake Matsu, Weiss Schnee, still somber over being unable to help the Mistralian cargo pilots. Cinnabar walks over to Weiss, and sits next to her.

Cin: You're still upset about not helping those cargo pilots, huh?

Weiss: (she was silent for a moment, before turning to him) You and I both know we could have done at least something to help those people, and we've just... left them.

Cin: Well... The pilot said that... someone else could hav-

Weiss: That's not the point, Cin! (her voice, raised angerly, shocking Cin) We're training to Huntsmen and Huntresses, to help those that can't help themselves but could still help others, we should have helped them... don't you feel the same? (Cin hesitate to answer her question) Cin?

Cin: (he took a deep breath) Weiss... I really don't know if I could help anyone. (Weiss was in shock) After what Cinder did to Beacon, after what Adam did to Yang, and Tick... (he than started breathing heavily, thinking of Tick did to him) We've just been in Atlas for so long, doing mostly nothing, sure we did some training here and there, but fighting the Creatures of Grimm again, and worse those people that destroyed Beacon, I know we needed time to recover from what happened, but we've just lost... (his eyes start to tear up a bit) so much.

Weiss: (she placed her hands on his, holding them tightly) I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, and you're right, of how hard it was for you... for both of us back there, but please Cinnabar, don't give up on yourself. (she than placed her hand on Cin's cheek) I know it'll be hard for to get back in our feet of being a huntsman and Huntress, but we have to, I don't want spend the rest of life, do nothing and waste our gifts and abilities, I want to use them to help anyone in need when they can't anymore, It's why I wanted to help those people, you're stronger than you think, Cin, and your whole family would be so proud to see the huntsman you've grown to be now. the huntsman I've fell in love with.

Cin nearly had tears after hearing her touching words. As they smiled at each other, a huge shadow shrouded over them, interrupting their romantic moment, Weiss suddenly notices to her right a series of landmasses floating in the bright blue, partly cloudy sky, with what appears to be black crystals jutting out from the bottom of the rock formations. Puzzled, she and Cin then decides to head into the pilot's cabin. The doors open.

Weiss: Where are we?

Pilot: Nowhere good. Passing by some of Lake Matsu's floating islands. The gravity Dust that forms in these things is giving us a little turbulence. Nothing I can't handle, but the islands sometimes hide some nasty Grimm. (As Weiss walks toward the pilot, outside, an airship is seen quickly heading towards them, on fire, and leaving a giant trail of smoke behind it.) I'm just betting on our friends in distress keeping them preoccupied.

Cinnabar and Weiss notices to her right the approach of the heavily damaged airships.

Cin and Weiss: Look out!

The airship comes barreling from their right, narrowly hitting their cargo ship and forcing the pilot to pull upward to avoid it. The doomed craft, bearing a white symbol for Mistral on its sail, proceeds to collide into one of the floating islands.

Pilot: You've got to be kidding me!

The pilot then decides to switch back to the radio, listening in for nearby transmissions.

Mistral Pilot: By the gods, we've lost Percy! Help!

Another Mistralian airship, pursued by a swarm of wasp-like Grimm, is suddenly hooked from multiple directions by their extendable stingers, which leaves them trapped and unable to move.

Mistral Pilot: We're hooked! We're hooked!

Weiss and Cin watched this happen, both horrified. As the pilot makes a frantic call, the wood on the ship's exterior begins to crack, as the insects grappling on the ship pull very tightly.

Mistral Pilot: Everyone, abandon ship!

Capitalizing on their fear, one of the Grimm somersaults into the air and dive-bombs into the top of the ship, as the pilot and everyone on board perishes in the ensuing explosion. The rest of the Grimm following this turn their attention to and pursue Weiss' airship.

Pilot: Lancers, freaking Lancers! Alright buckle up- Huh?

He turns to speak to Weiss, only to see her and Cin jump down a hatch into the cargo hold, as they're now determined to stop the swarm.

Pilot: (over an intercom speaker) What are you doing?

Weiss: What we should've done in the first place!

Cin: Right. (seeing what just happened, he regained his fighting spirit) As always.

Weiss: You're carrying Dust, right?

Pilot: Officially, no. Actually, yes.

Weiss and Cin smiles as they've opens a large container of vials of powdered and also crystalized Dust and loads their weapons Myrtenaster with six of them, and six dust crystals for Caledfwlch and Pridwen, now both made into with firearm upgrades. Also, Cinnabar's luckily shoes made his grandfather, was re-customized to store in more light-green and purple dust, along with still wearing a customized hard-light dust necklace for physicals attacks.

Weiss: Then when I tell you, open the rear door!

Pilot: Better make it quick!

The pilot takes multiple evasive maneuvers low to the water and then around the floating islands while being pursued by the Lancer swarm. The Lancers nonetheless gain on the ship and begin to shoot their stingers at it, scraping the sides of the ship.

Pilot: Kid, we're cutting it close!

Weiss: You're sure, you're ready now, Cin?

Cin: (he looked at her, with new-found determination, now armed with his weapons) I like to think so.

Weiss smiles at him, as she summons a black glyph underneath her and Cin to keep them stuck to the ship as they readies their swords in front of them.

Weiss and Cin: Ready!

The cargo doors open and the battle between Weiss and the Lancers begins. First using a glyph and white Dust to push back the Lancers with a gust of wind, Weiss summons an orange glyph and Cin fires with Caledfwlch in gun form, both uses red Dust to shoot fireballs at the swarm, which succeeds in eliminating one of the Grimm.

Pilot: Haha! Hold on!

The airship does a sudden turn in the air next to a floating island before evening out again. Once even, Weiss summons five white glyphs, which she uses to launch icicles out of the cargo ship while it dives, eliminating five Lancers in the process. While Cinnabar only got two lancers, using up the red dust he'd loaded. They gets knocked off balance when the cargo ship rocks.

Weiss: Ah! What was that?!

The upper level of the cargo ship has Lancer stingers sticking in through the ceiling.

Pilot: We're hooked!

The outside of the airship has two Lancers firmly planted on top of it before the rest of the swarm gains on the cargo ship once more, with some of the Grimm flying alongside it.

Pilot: I got an idea! Hold on! Literally!

The pilot accelerates the ship toward one of the floating islands, waiting until the last possible moment before suddenly diving and using the remaining forward momentum to throw the Lancers on the ship off into the side of the rock formation.

Pilot: Ha ha!

Weiss: Can you find a pair of islands we can fit between?

The cargo ship is turned and travels toward a pair of closely adjacent, interconnected islands.

Pilot: Kid, you are reading my mind!

As the cargo ship narrowly avoids the close islands walls and the attacking Lancers, Weiss fires three fireballs from her glyphs to destroy an overhanging rock formation. The attack, as well as seeming to awakens an unseen Queen Lancer. Not yet aware of the airship, causes debris to fall onto all of the Grimm giving chase and remove them as a threat. Weiss and Cin covered their eyes from the more-normal dust of the debris. Following this, the airship manages to escape the falling debris itself and leaves the space between the two islands.

Pilot: Yeah! Great going, kids! We are in the clear!

Immediately after Weiss and Cin exhales in relief, looking at each other happily proud, before they notice that a Queen Lancer suddenly appears outside the cargo doors and is advancing on the ship.

Cin: Oh, come on!

Weiss: It's a Queen Lancer!

Pilot: What?!

Weiss fires five cyan lasers which hit the Grimm with no apparent effect. The Queen Lancer reacts to the attack by launching multiple bone spikes from multiple openings in its body toward the cargo ship. Weiss swings Myrtenaster and leans away, a pale blue dome appearing in front of her and blocking the spikes that were aimed at her. The rest of the spikes impale various parts of the ship, two of them landing in two exhaust ports in the back of the ship and causing explosions.

Pilot: Do something!

Weiss turns back toward the interior of the cargo bay.

Weiss: Cin! you better get your shoes and sword ready!

Cin: Uh, okay!

Weiss jumps onto a white glyph, which they uses to propel themselves behind the crates of Dust cargo, cutting the crates' restraint as they does so. From their new position, using five white glyphs, she throws most of the Dust crates out of the cargo doors and at the Queen Lancer. Once the crates near the Grimm, Weiss makes a movement with her right hand, and the Dust creates a large explosion containing fire, ice, crackles of electricity, and a cyan shockwave which travels outward from the impact point. From the smoke following the explosion, the Queen Lancer advances apparently undamaged, causing a shocked reaction from Weiss and Cin.

Pilot: I can see the shoreline! Gods, we're not gonna make it!

Cin: Weiss? (unsure what to do now)

Regaining her composure and a determined look, Weiss prepares to summon her Arma Gigas. Once summoned, the Arma Gigas enters a battle-ready pose.

Weiss: Pull up, now!

The pilot causes the cargo ship to pull up and ascend further into the air, before maneuvering to have the vehicle upside down. During this, the Arma Gigas leaves the vehicle and dives toward the Queen Lancer. Once it has begun to dive, Weiss moves her head down toward her weapon and closes her eyes to concentrate, with Cin staying by her side. After its initial dive, the Arma Gigas turns in the air, summons its weapon, and reenters the dive again with its blade ready.

Soon after the cargo ship regains its normal orientation, Weiss concentrates and Resummons the Arma Gigas in order to change its position from above the Queen Lancer to underneath. From its new position, it ascends to attack the Queen Lancer from behind, before then being Resummoned multiple times to different positions adjacent to the Grimm to attack it from multiple angles. After its last attack in the combo, the Queen Lancer fires its stinger at the Arma Gigas, which it deflects causing the stinger to heavily impact one of the wings of the airship. The fight concludes after the Queen Lancer's attack, with the Arma Gigas slicing the Grimm one last time, causing it to dissipate. A large amount of smoke trails from the cargo ship, its alarms blaring. Weiss, realizing the state of the vehicle and the Pilot's lack of control, summons multiple large black glyphs in the path of the cargo ship in an attempt to slow its sudden descent and lessen the impact of its subsequent crash.


Inside the White Fang headquarters, Adam Taurus kneels before Sienna Khan, who is sitting on a throne flanked by two guards on either side of her.

Sienna: Adam. I'm not going to repeat myself, so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy.

Adam: High Leader Khan, I am begging you.

Sienna: You should beg for forgiveness and nothing else! The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be more grateful your punishment was not more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible.

Adam: I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader.

Sienna: And what example might that be?

Adam: Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now.

Sienna: I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsman Academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl! And the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what?! Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please! These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness!

Adam: If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?

Adam rises and turns toward the entrance to the room.

Adam: Hazel!

Hazel Rainart opens the doors to the large room, with Mamba Naga close behind him.

Hazel: Took you long enough.

Mamba: Indeed.

As Hazel and Mamba enters, Sienna rises from her seat and her guards all point their spears toward Hazel and Mamba.

Sienna: What is this?!

Hazel: Apologies. I don't aim to cause any trouble.

Sienna: You've brought a human to this location?

Adam: You should hear what he has to say.

Sienna: This is grounds for execution!

Hazel: Ma'am, please. Nobody needs to die today. (kneeling) I'm just asking for a moment of your time.

Sienna: The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive.

Hazel: I'll take those chances, if you don't mind.

Sienna sits back down, her guards return to their neutral position and Hazel rises again before continuing to speak.

Hazel: You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want.

Sienna: I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want. I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!

Adam: That's where you're wrong.

Mamba: Indeed. (sounding more slower)

Sienna and Hazel focus on Adam and Mamba who both begins to advance toward Sienna while continuing to speak.

Adam: We can win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus.

Sienna: I've had enough of this conversation for tonight. Guards, take them away.

The guards remain stationary.

Sienna: I said, take them away!

Adam: I will admit, Sienna, you were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale already see me as the true High Leader. And many here in Mistral feel the same.

Four armed White Fang soldiers enter through the main doors and stop, pointing their weapons into the room as Sienna rises to her feet.

Hazel: What are you doing?

Adam: What's right for the Faunus. From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang.

Four more soldiers reveal themselves with their weapons drawn, two on each side of the room, as Sienna's guards point their weapons at her. Sienna quickly judges the situation, though taken by surprise. Her eyes narrow darkly.

Sienna: If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you, you're wrong.

As she turns toward him, Sienna is impaled by Mamba's weapon Nagaina.

Mamba: I know.

He lifts the pata, making it slide deeper into Sienna's body and lifting it off the ground. Fists clenched, her body shakes from the damage and Adam takes advantage of her closer proximity to rest a hand on her shoulder and speak into her ear.

Adam: Thank you, Sienna. You were there when our people needed you, but they need me now. I'm sorry you couldn't see this through to the end.

Sienna growls at this and lifts her hand to claw at Adam's neck. Before she makes contact Adam swiftly removes his weapon from Sienna, causing her body to fall to the ground and roll to the bottom of the steps leading up to her throne. The White Fang soldiers begin to withdraw their weapons as Hazel looks down upon her body before returning his sight back to Adam and Mamba with an annoyed look.

Adam: Give our former leader a proper burial.

Mamba: All who were here tonight will claim that Sienna was murdered by a human Huntsman. Sienna Khan will become a martyr for our cause, her final act as High Leader.

All of the White Fang soldiers leave the room, two carrying Sienna's body with them on a stretcher, leaving Adam, Mamba, and Hazel the only ones remaining.

Hazel: When were you planning on telling me about that?

Mamba withdraws a cloth from his back pocket and slides it across Nagaina's blade, cleaning it of Sienna's blood, along with holding onto her weapon Cerberus Whip, now in his hands.

Mamba: This was my business, not yours.

Hazel: It's our business now, and I don't appreciate you withholding things like that.

Adam: Your master was concerned with Sienna's willingness to cooperate. Now she doesn't have to be.

Hazel: Nobody needed to die today.

Hazel leaves the room as Adam sits down on the throne, with Mamba standing by his side.

Adam: We... disagree.


The cargo ship has crashed in a forest. Weiss and Cinnabar are both lying injured on the ground with clothes dirtied as two bandits approach her.

Weiss: Help... please.

Bandit One: What do you think?

Raven approaches from offscreen to take a position between the two bandits and directly above Weiss and Cin.

Raven: I think... we just hit the jackpot.

Weiss' face turns to one of concern as she looks up at Raven, who stomps on her face, causing her to lose consciousness and the scene to fade to black as Cin's voice out her name echoes.

Cin: Weiss!


End of Chapter 2


Author Notes

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