Broken Glass

Aqua gave Neo as much time as she needed to recover from her ordeal of facing her Phantom self. After having faced her own Phantom, Aqua was in no hurry to pressure Neo into moving or even asking her what had happened. Whatever was said, or communicated between them was none of her business and she couldn't afford to drive Neo away when the two were working together to restore her world anyways. Aqua wasn't sure how long it took before Neo was ready to move but she liked to guess it was at least ten minutes, if only because she knew they were on a bit of a clock.

When Neo stood up she wiped her remaining tears away, took a deep breath and looked at Aqua with a calm face but Aqua could see the sadness in her eyes. Aqua would have taken the time to ask her if she was all right, if she needed a break, or even offering anything to try and help her.

But she couldn't.

They were in enemy territory and the sooner they finished finding the last mirror the better. So they kept on moving to the third and final mirror. In a flash it took them into what looked like an abandoned mine shaft.

"I wonder if this mine those dwarves worked in." Aqua wondered to herself as she and Neo continued walking.

It was only then they could see the mine shaft was actually a floating path of rock in the same dark void the rest of the places they had been to in this dark realm. Neo looked around and spotted another floating rock nearby but too far to jump.

"Neo."

She turned and saw Aqua had found the floating mirror they were looking for. Or rather what they thought was the mirror because it wasn't showing the same void they had been sucked in with the last two. In fact when they looked at the mirror, they saw a piece of floating rock that wasn't supposed to be there. Then suddenly it disappeared and reappeared in the spot it had been in the mirror, allowing Aqua and Neo to continue on.

They jumped onto the piece of newly formed rock and soon enough spotted another mirror. Both shared a look with each other, realizing what they had to do.

They had to repeat this a few times before they finally reached the mirror they had been looking for.

"So…Who goes in this time?" Aqua wondered, standing just a few feet from the mirror.

Neo took a step back, not eager to face another Phantom version of herself.

"Real nice." Aqua rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine. I will handle it."

Neo watched as Aqua stepped forward and vanished into the mirror. Hey, just because Aqua was her partner for the time being that didn't mean Neo was going to step up in every single fight. She was already doing more than her fair share…

At least in her mind she was.

Truth be told, Neo wasn't sure just what she could offer to contribute to this 'saving the world' shtick besides fighting the obvious monsters but she had just been through a fight with a Phantom copy of herself and she really didn't want to fight another one. Besides, she could say she had faith in Aqua's ability to get through this.

Mostly.

However just as she walked up to it she was suddenly pulled in as well.

Xxx

As soon as Aqua stepped through the mirror, another Phantom resembling her was waiting with its Keyblade already summoned.

Aqua summoned her Keyblade, staring the Phantom down. "Let's get this over with."

They immediately dashed forward and their Keyblades sent sparks flying as they clashed. Aqua found this Phantom copy to be even stronger than the one she had fought earlier.

Just as Aqua jumped back, she heard a sound and glanced over her shoulder, seeing Neo staggering forward. "Neo?"

Phantom Aqua grinned as a phantom copy of Neo appeared next to her. "Why would we let anyone sit this out? After all, she is supposed to be your partner in saving the world…The same world she helped destroy."

Phantom Neo threw the same taunting smirk at the real Neo who scowled.

"Don't be so humble, Trivia Vanille." Phantom Aqua spoke. "We know what you've done. There are no lies here."

Aqua glanced between Neo and the copies.

"You came from a home of two people, who cared more about the illusion of a normal family than raising their daughter right. They mistreated you, imprisoned you, tried to control you and never once did they understand the folly of their attempts and your hatred for them festered to the point you left them to die in the mess of their own making." Phantom Aqua continued with a smile. "Why should she trust you to help her when you are just using her to escape your crimes? To simply shrug off the blame and go on about, possibly making even more mistakes without care for the people that are hurt?"

Phantom Aqua then looked at Aqua. "Would you really trust your life to the likes of her? She'll just betray you in the end. You have to realize that."

"And I should trust you, a Phantom formed from the doubts of my own heart?" Aqua retorted. "You only seek to weaken our resolve so the darkness will take our hearts. There is nothing you say that will make us falter."

"Is that so?" Phantom Aqua glanced to her fellow Phantom who grinned. "Shall we find out?"

Suddenly both Phantoms switched opponents with Phantom Aqua shooting right at Neo, swinging her Keyblade with enough force to knock the girl back while Aqua blocked a slash from Phantom Neo who immediately shattered.

(RWBY Volume 6 Soundtrack One Thing Begins)

Aqua spotted movement out of the corner of her vision and immediately blocked a strike from an open parasol that knocked her back.

Kill for kill, eye for eye

Phantom Neo flipped back before landing on her feet, smiling at Aqua before charging forward and thrust the bladed end of her parasol at Aqua's head.

Blood for blood, it's time to die

Aqua moved the left, dodging the strike but instead of pulling her parasol back Phantom Neo continued past her before she spun, lifting one leg up to perform a side kick to knock Aqua's Keyblade aside and then elbowed the handle of her parasol in Aqua's stomach.

Gone's the life that he gave

Aqua grunted, having been taken by surprise but lashed out with a strike that pushed Phantom Neo back.

Now revenge is all I crave

While lacking a Keyblade, Phantom Neo was agile and skilled as she successfully blocked or dodged Aqua's strikes and lashed with spinning kicks with aerobatic skill.

Retaliation's soon complete

Just as Aqua had an opening, Phantom Neo pulled an unexpected move by shifting her form to resemble…

"Ven?"

I was nowhere, I had no one

Ven, or rather Phantom Neo took advantage of Aqua's stunned state and lashed out with a kick to the face, knocking her back. Aqua was dozed but managed to recover and step back, dodging a slash to her throat from Phantom Neo.

"That was dirty!" Aqua shouted as she immediately fought back.

I felt nothing

She forced the Phantom back with a series of slashes, while blocking Phantom Neo's own sweeps and kicks.

Lost without a voice

Then she found an opening by hooking her Keyblade with Phantom Neo's foot and with a spin, threw her into the air.

And on my own

Just as Phantom Neo was using her parasol to slow her descent, Aqua aimed her Keyblade. "Thunder!"

Then a candle's flame brought a brand new name

Several bolts of lightning hit the Phantom but she shattered into glass shard, revealing that she had replaced herself with an illusion.

But now you've stolen everything

Aqua watched as several copies of Phantom Neo appeared around her, using her illusion Semblance to try to distract and confuse her. "Close but you're not the first illusionist I have fought."

And I'm all alone

Aqua called upon her Shotlock, 'locking' onto the multiple Phantom Neos in her mind and pointed her Keyblade forward. "Lightbloom!"

I had one thing

From the tip of her Keyblade came multi-colored orbs that rained down on the battlefield, blasting away the illusions until they were all gone.

Along with supposedly the real one.

And you've taken it from me

In the meantime Neo was finding herself on the defense as Phantom Aqua attacked her by summoning giant shards of ice that she fired right at her.

A single light, a single friend

Neo somersaulted, spun, twirled, ducked and barely dodged out of the way of each attack but it hardly mattered.

But you've made that end

Phantom Aqua carefully paced back and forth, observing Neo like a predator. Having enough, Neo shot forward and stabbed her blade through Phantom Aqua's chest.

Only it wasn't the real phantom.

There was one thing

It was an illusion that vanished immediately upon being hit. Neo's eyes widened as she then felt something slam into her over a dozen times.

To help escape the misery

Neo's mouth to let out a cry that never came as she sent flying across the void they were in. Her Aura had managed to protect her but the force of the attacks still knocked the breath out of her.

And now it's all disarrayed

She managed to get up, panting a bit from the blows and watched as Phantom Aqua stalked slowly towards her.

You took my whole life away

"Hurts doesn't it? When you are up against someone who complete outmatches you?" Phantom Aqua asked as she slowly approached.

Neo just glared.

You sent me back to nothing

"You like to project such confidence in battle but only to hide such inadequacy. Even as you project the smile of a remorseless killer, you know deep down that you prefer not to."

Neo stiffened.

Now you'll pay

"Not since that night have you ever truly killed someone. No, you only reserve that for people you truly believe deserve to die by your hands…" Phantom Aqua grinned. "Like Cinder and Little Red?"

Pay

"You want to project the image of a remorseless killer but deep down you're just the same troubled little girl that yearned for freedom and love." The Phantom Aqua mocked. "You killed for Roman because it made you feel appreciated but after he died you only reserved that for the two people you believed caused his death, aside from that elderly woman who humiliated you."

Neo gritted her teeth, her body shaking in not just anger but also denial.

Life for life, death for death

Motivated to shut this phantom up, Neo shot forward, swinging her Hush at Phantom Aqua who blocked with her Keyblade.

Tit for tat, just one last breath

The two exchanged strikes with Neo utilizing both her Hush and her feet in battle.

Absolution's nowhere near

It wasn't enough as Phantom Aqua activated her Spellweaver Command Style, preforming an elegant dance that blasted Neo back.

Cue the scene, now it's time

Neo landed face first in the ground and looked up, watching as Phantom Aqua conjured five illusions of herself and all six began to dance and twirl around her in a circle. Neo realized that this was how the phantom was planning on killing her.

Reparation for your crime

But rather than try and get up, Neo laid her head face first on the ground. What was the point? She couldn't defeat this Phantom because it used magic that was even more powerful than even a Maiden.

If Neo couldn't defeat Cinder in a one on one fight what hope did she have here?

Atonement day is finally here

There was no point now. Her world was gone, Roman was gone, even Cinder was gone so what was there left?

I had waited for this meeting

Little Red had gone crazy in the head and trying to kill her would just get her killed to but at this point she wasn't sure it mattered.

For this moment

"There's a difference between living and surviving, Neo. Living is being with what matters the most including friends and family, surviving is only ensuring that you might make it, living only to die another day." She remembered Aqua telling her that back on the island. "If nothing else in life matters, what would be the point of surviving at all?"

Dreamed about the day I'd make you crawl

'Yeah.' Neo wondered as the Phantom Aqua's danced even closer. 'What is the point?'

What a sweet release when you rest in peace

Neo closed her eyes, ready to just let it all end for her.

Vengeance, justice, finally mine

What about us? Neo suddenly felt a great pain in her chest. Do we not matter anymore?

And I'll watch you fall

Who was that?

Neo slowly opened one eye and saw a little girl, Trivia Vanille standing before her with a sad expression.

Will we let it all go to waste?

I had one thing

Neo closed her eyes. 'What is there left?'

"Neo!" She heard Aqua call out.

And you've taken it from me

She opened her eyes again to see Aqua running towards her but she was too far away. She wouldn't make it in time.

A single light

Just giving up like that, Neo? Have you forgotten what I taught you? Neo's eyes shot open and she saw…him.

Her Dum-Dum.

Roman Torchwick grinned as he knelt down over her. Hey kiddo.

A single friend

She tried to reach out and touch him. You didn't think I wouldn't show up at your last moment…And whack you on the head for being such an idiot.

He did just that, whacking her on the head which made her silently yelp and glare at him.

Don't look at me like that, Neo. You know we're professionals so we don't do sucker jobs like revenge. Now you need to get up and fight for real here.

Neo was gob smacked by what she had just head. Stand up and fight?

Well, you don't have much choice if you want to live. Besides, I need you to live to look after my hat. Roman tapped the hat on Neo's head. Now hurry, stand up and show them why no one should ever mess with Neopolitan. Show up Little Red and her friends and show them that even you don't like being a hero, it doesn't mean you don't know how.

But you've made that end

Show up Little Red and her friends?

Neo had to admit that she liked the sound of that.

And when you save our world, when you have the chance you leave the life behind and don't look back, especially not that fire witch or her boss but if you have the chance, throw a wrench into their plans as payback.

There was one thing

Now that sounded like the Roman she knew. She slowly stood up and watched as the Phantom Aquas closed on her for the kill.

To help escape the misery

By which she meant their kill.

And now it's all disarrayed

That's my girl. She heard Roman one last time

You took my whole life away

That was when her pink Aura surged to life around her, giving her a new feeling of strength she had never felt before.

Was something happening with her Semblance?

You sent me back to nothing

A copy of herself appeared in front of her and without even thinking she shot forward.

Now you'll pay the price

The Neo copy held out her hands as the real Neo jumped and her front foot landed in the copy's hands. The copy then launched her up and over the Phantom Aqua and her own illusions as they spun in, shattering the Neo copy and let loose a magical shockwave that would have surely killed Neo if she hadn't moved.

You destroyed my life

Phantom Aqua turned and watched as Neo opened her parasol, landing perfectly on the ground. "So, you choose to die fighting."

After years of suffering

Neo smirked at her. 'No. I choose to kick your ass.'

Finally had a place to go

Neo reached out with her Semblance, wishing her opponent to be as still as a statue and Phantom Aqua was pink particles to spread all over Phantom Aqua's body, filling her vision with pink and white and in a matter of seconds she was encased in stone…

But not anymore

It didn't end there. The bladed end of Hush stabbed where Phantom Aqua was and there was a shattering sound.

And now it's war

Aqua watched in surprise to see Neo stab her Phantom counterpart through the chest.

And there won't be peace

Phantom Aqua looked down at the blade coming from the top of Hush and then back at Neo.

Til I get what I came for

"So you have done it…" Phantom Aqua said as a smile slowly appeared on her face.

I had one thing

Neo pulled out her blade and stepped back, watching as Phantom Aqua slowly vanished.

And you've taken it from me

She had did it.

She had won.

A single light

Aqua watched as Neo simply stood victorious which was surprising given that it was a copy of herself that her…partner had been fighting.

Perhaps she should be careful now.

A single friend

Speaking off…

But you've made that end

Aqua activated her Bladecharge Command Style and spun it around in her hands, forming a circle.

There was one thing

The glowing blade cut through something, revealing Phantom Neo who had been camouflaged the entire time.

To help escape the misery

Neo turned around; watching as Aqua easily dispatched her own Phantom self with very little effort it seemed.

And now it's all disarrayed

Both watched as the remaining Phantom disappeared with a smile on her face…

You took my whole life away

There was a flash of light…

You sent me back to nothing

And they were both back in the Evil Queen's lair with the mirror cracked.

Now you'll pay the price

(RWBY Volume 6 Soundtrack One Thing Ends)

Aqua sighed as she looked at Neo with a small smile. "Good job. I was a little worried you might not win."

Neo simply shrugged with a small smile as she held up her hand and watched as her pink Aura swirled around it.

She felt a whole lot stronger now for some reason, like something had happened to force her Semblance to become stronger because she sure had never been able to make anyone disappear just by wishing it.

"I think it's safe for us to leave now." Aqua simply said, deciding it was time to move.

Neo agreed wholeheartedly.