Chapter 41 – Buying Time

Oscar

The next morning…

The White Fang was starting to come together, much faster than anyone had ever expected. Blake stood with Yang and her father. The two of them glanced at each other and held hands. Many Faunus – Former White Fang or not even related to the organisation – were coming to fight. Bringing anything they could fight with, alongside a couple of Huntsmen and Huntresses who had gone into hiding here in Menagerie. All ready to fight back against Salem.

But even with all these people, the uncertainty of how many people around the world were going to come to their aid was never leaving their mind. It was hopeful, seeing so many men and women taking up arms to fight for freedom here in Menagerie… but what of Vale?

Mistral?

Vacuo?

Atlas?

Even Argus as well?

How many people will fight the fear in their gut of facing Salem, and fight with their fellow brave warriors?

Oscar sighed. Those kinds of questions rattling around in his head were just making him feel woozy. He turned and walked into the Dreadnaught that Ghira called in. They only had three, but that would be enough to transport their forces to the Sanctum. After walking into the ship, he saw that Ren and Nora were sitting together. When he saw Ren caressing her bump, he felt their concern grow. He walked past them and sat down, watching as Weiss and Ilia walked in with Sienna and the others.

He held his hands together and looked out the window. As another hour passed and everyone was aboard the three Dreadnaughts, they took off and left Menagerie behind. Oscar hadn't stopped looking out the window that entire time, his hands held together.

And before long, he could sense that Ozpin was there. "How are you feeling?" Ozpin asked. He turned and saw the old Professor sat on a crate opposite to him, all in his head, of course.

"How did you feel? When Salem attacked Beacon?" Oscar asked.

Ozpin took a couple moments to answer that question, but eventually he did. "Afraid… but not for my life… for the lives of my students." He answered. Oscar just nodded his head.

"I guess we really are a perfect fit." He chuckled.

"It's the hardest part of any war, especially when you're the one giving out the orders. Always with that fact in the back of your mind: how many lives am I going to end to win this war? How many dreams and ideas are lost? How many families shattered? Who am I to give these orders?" Ozpin sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "It's a feeling that never goes away… believe me… and the second you make yourself numb to those questions…"

"… you end up like Thaddeus." Oscar concluded.

"In a sense… yes." Ozpin agreed. "A good leader always takes the consequences of their actions into account. Recklessness with lives… that's not true leadership." Ozpin explained.

Oscar continued to gaze out the window, only seeing the vast sapphire ocean. Menagerie truly was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. Vale had its moments of beauty and Mistral's Mountains were stunning. But Menagerie was like somewhere from out of a fairy tale. A beautiful and massive oasis, surrounded by a harsh desert, with the clearest and bluest ocean he had ever seen and incredibly colourful plants and animals everywhere.

And the people… despite the Feral Ones, he never got a second look. Which was surprising. Considering the fact he was Human, he assumed he may have got some looks from a land completely inhabited by Faunus.

But no one was cruel to him.

Everyone was kind and welcoming.

More so than humanity itself.

But as Oscar stared at the beauty, it almost acted like a new form of determination, pushing him to want to stop Salem even more now. If they don't stop her, then all of this will be gone. Replaced with something horrific instead. "Oz… what if she already has all four Relics? You heard the broadcast that Killian sent out. They don't have a choice and only had an hour. That was nearly twelve hours ago now." Oscar explained.

"She most likely has them all…" Ozpin said.

"Then… why hasn't she done anything yet?" Oscar asked him, which stumped them both. She had what she wanted. She could summon the gods right now… what was taking her so long?

"We can find out." Ozpin revealed. Oscar raised his eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Oscar asked.

"There's a spell we can use. I rarely ever use it since it's not exactly a subtle form of spying. Not like the Branwens' Ability to turn into Ravens, Crows and Jackdaws." Ozpin explained. "But because of our connection with Salem, we can… basically extend our auras out and communicate with her. She won't notice our presence at first, but she will. But it will give us enough of an idea of what she is doing right now." Ozpin explained.

"And maybe it can buy us some more time." Oscar agreed.

"Precisely."

"Oscar?" He heard the voice of Blake from behind him, making him jolt.

"Oh! Hi Blake… you okay?" He asked.

"You're talking to Ozpin, aren't you?" Blake asked. "I heard what you asked him…"

Yang was with her, and so was Weiss. "What did he say?"

"Let's just say we're thinking the same thing." Yang agreed. They clearly meant about why Salem hasn't used the Relics yet.

"Wanna explain, Oz?" Oscar asked, his eyes shone and Ozpin took control.

"To summarise… it is almost certain that Salem has all the Relics now. But we do not know why she has not used them yet, but I have informed Oscar that we know of a spell to… communicate with Salem. To effectively transport of Aura, our souls so to speak, to her. Not a form of spying I do anymore since there is nothing subtle about it, but it can work." Ozpin explained.

"Will Oscar, or any of you in there, be in danger?" Weiss inquired.

"Not at all. We would just appear in her mind, but we are not physically present. The major risk of this is the fact that Salem could track the spell to where we are. But… well… we're now over the ocean, and I doubt Salem much cares anymore." Ozpin explained.

The three of them looked at each other and looked at Oscar. "If you're both willing to do it… then do it. We need all the help we can get." Blake said to him, and Ozpin nodded, returning control to Oscar. He looked at the Long Memory in his hands and he set it down on the floor, closing his eyes as Ozpin unlocked the memories and muscle memory in performing the spell.

Then his eyes glowed green, and it begun.

Ruby

Emerald was at the front of them and they carefully walked through the halls together, Mercury with Cinder's arm over his shoulder. She was in a terrible way, barely able to keep her eyes open. "How long were we in there for? Didn't feel that long?" Ruby asked.

"Around ten hours." Emerald answered, and it was an answer they were not expecting.

"Seriously?" Pyrrha gasped.

"Trust me, time gets funny in this place. You'd be surprised how much time or how little time has passed when the sky never changes." Mercury explained. Cinder wheezed and cough. Mercury held her up and saw the blood leaking from her eye and nose. "Gods… I'm so sorry, Cinder…"

"Why the hell… are you apologising to me? I was the one… who left you here…" Cinder sounded so weak, she needed something to boost her.

Emerald squeezed her eyes shut in grief, realising just how much their former leader had changed. If she was like this from the start? Maybe things could have been better… maybe things wouldn't have ended up this way…

She tried to not think about the sad state that Cinder was in and kept moving forward. Ruby stayed close to her. "The Noctis Putrida is killing her. She can't fight. We need to get her out of here." Ruby stated.

"I'm not… going anywhere…" Cinder argued.

"You can't even stand, let alone fight." Mercury stated.

"Don't… leave me behind…" she begged. Emerald looked at her and closed her eyes.

It may be the right thing to get her somewhere safe… but Cinder would rather go down fighting than waste away to a sickness…

… the least we can do is give her that.

One last laugh against her fate, to die on her own terms.

"The armoury has a bunch of stuff there that can help her walk, but down this hallway is Watts' lab." Emerald explained, so Mercury lifted Cinder and offered her to Penny, who was strong enough to support the dying Maiden.

"I'll get it. They won't suspect me on my own." Mercury stated, and he walked over to Emerald and kissed her passionately. "Just get them to their weapons. I'll be right back." He promised, walking calmly down that hallway in the direction that Emerald had said. She turned and saw Cinder looking at Emerald with a small smile.

"What?" Emerald asked.

"About time." Cinder chuckled.

Emerald quietly laughed, blushing, before walking ahead of them. "C'mon." She walked with them and they turned round the corner. Pyrrha's eyes widened when she saw the amount of Grimm, and also the amount of Black Gallows out there. It looked like the entire Black Gallows Military was here at the Sanctum. They knew that a battle was coming, and they were ready for it.

"Emerald… were you the one who tried to help them escape? Our friends?" Ruby asked.

"Me and Mercury. After Beacon, we tried to run… but we were captured and tossed into these cells… tortured, just like them. Tortured until we were compliant again… but we never were. We just learned to be careful, and smart. To play the part for as long as we can. I hoped that at least one of them would make it… and Cardin did. I hope he lets someone know about them. Knowing they're alive? It's gonna light some fire under some asses." Emerald explained.

"Thank you… for trying… and for this." Penny said, looking at Emerald with a bit of fear as well. The girl who messed with Pyrrha's head all those years ago and lead to her being torn apart. Pyrrha had distrustful eyes as well, but it was clear that Emerald wanted to make things right.

Plus, it was only now that they saw her scars on her body from when she and Mercury were tortured together. "Don't thank me yet. Salem's still out there." Emerald explained. They turned the next corner and directly ahead of them was the Armoury she was talking about. But her red eyes widened, and she gasped, and she held her hands out towards them, and she just shushed them. Then she leant against the wall and fiddled with Thief's Respite.

They stood perfectly still, then heard the voices that were coming round that corner from the Armoury. "… you'd think she'd have done it by now. It's been ten hours since we captured them." Icarus said, then they saw both the Fallen Angel and Hazel emerge from the Armoury. The gigantic man, constructed from the corpses of Huntsmen and Huntresses to create a weapon that could wield the Relic of Destruction – by Ozpin – closed the door behind him.

"I don't even know where she is." Hazel agreed, and the two of them walked down the hallway in Emerald's direction.

"Last I saw her, she was leaving the throne room with all the relics. But I never saw her exit the building. I even flew around to see if I could see her… but I don't know." Icarus shrugged.

Cinder listened to their voices as they walked in their direction, breathing as steadily as she could and trying not to cough, despite how painful it was.

"Hey, Emerald?" Hazel spoke, and she looked up at the two of them. They were standing literally right next to Team C.P.P.R, but thanks to Emerald's semblance, they had no idea.

"Yeah?" she answered.

"Have you seen Salem anywhere? It's been ten hours and we've heard nothing." Hazel asked.

"No, I haven't. Been wondering that myself." Emerald answered, and luckily she didn't even have to lie for that question.

"Well, if you do, let me know. We're getting anxious. Even Watts is." Hazel said.

"What about Tyrian?" Emerald inquired.

"What do you think? Bastard's loyal to a fault. She could literally beat him to death and he'd still promise to serve her." Icarus chuckled. Hazel gently patted Emerald's shoulder, and they walked away, none the wiser that Team C.P.P.R were right there. Emerald exhaled then she gestured them to keep moving.

"Wait, so nobody knows where Salem is?" Pyrrha asked.

"No, she literally vanished. No idea where she or the Relics are." Emerald answered.

"What about Jaune?" Pyrrha asked.

"Seen him around, so he's not with her." Emerald answered again, then they entered the Armoury and sat Cinder down.

"I… think I know where she is." Cinder answered.

"What? Where?" Emerald asked, and all eyes were now on her.

"When I was younger, I saw her leave the castle, and I followed her out there. I got lost, and some Grimm surrounded me. But Salem found me and killed them all. She didn't say a word and quickly portalled me back into the castle, but I saw a small house behind her. I think… it was that place where Ozma died all those years ago." Cinder explained.

"Or where Thaddeus slaughtered her family." Ruby added.

"Maybe both? Maybe she wanted that to be where her family would be? Not in the castle? Some place safe, with some sort of spell keeping Grimm away?" Penny suggested, and Pyrrha nodded her head.

"Somewhere she could be alone." Pyrrha added.

"I never knew there was a place like that here." Emerald admitted.

"Do you remember where it was?" Ruby asked.

"Give me a minute… I need to remember which way I went…" Cinder answered, pressing her hands against her head.

Whilst she tried to remember, they all searched for their weapons.

But Emerald was constantly afraid for another reason.

"C'mon, Merc… where are you?" She stammered, her foot tapping as she looking down at the hall repeatedly.

Mercury

He walked down the hallway towards Watts' lab, passing by more and more cells where prisoners were being held. These cells differed from the one that C.P.P.R were in. These were Black Cells, and judging by the architectural difference, these were added in the past few decades, unlike the centuries old cell bars near the throne room.

As he walked by them, he could hear the muffled screaming and crying of civilians inside of them, but he slowed down as he passed one of them. Hearing no voice, he looked at the camera to see who was inside. He jolted, but walked away, pretending he didn't see who that was.

He continued down the path towards the Lab, and turned to the door, opening it. When he saw Watts was here, he hid his shock. He had large vats with Grave Dust in there and he had some of it swirling around his arm, forming blades and even guns with them. He turned as he saw Mercury stood there. "Ah, Mercury, my dear boy. What brings you here?" He asked, sending the swirling Grave Dust back into the vat.

Mercury quickly thought up something. "I was wondering, have you seen Salem around?" He asked, walking through the lab towards the injections that he knew could give Cinder the boost she needed. A form of aura amplifier, like the one that Eryka gave Winter ten years ago when Beacon was attacked again so they could escape the Shadow of Broken Promises.

"No, I haven't. Why do you ask?" Watts inquired.

"You seem like you're the only person here who doesn't seem to be even the slightest bit concerned about that. I mean, she has all the Relics. Why isn't she just use them already? Why drag it all out?" Mercury asked as he calmly walked towards them and stood there, one arm behind his back.

He expertly took one of them without making a sound.

Thank you, Em… knew those little lessons of yours would come in handy.

"Salem is a very complicated woman, Mercury. She will let us know when she is ready." Watts assured.

"Why are you so certain of that?" Mercury asked, and Watts raised a brow. He set his tablet down on the table and walked around it towards him. Mercury felt his heart rate accelerate a bit more there.

"You've heard the story, haven't you? Of how I met Salem?" Watts asked him.

"I'm sure you'll be more than happy to retell it." Mercury commented, making Watts chuckle.

"After I ran from the Atlesians, after the Grave Dust incident, I ran for many years. Used the Gyrfalcon prototype I stole to make as much distance as I could. I knew my name would be on bounty boards in every Kingdom. So I went to the one place nobody would hunt me… only the Grimm. I came here. I found nothing but wasteland until I found this old castle." Watts explained, leaning against the table next to him with his arms crossed. "And inside I found… this frail but beautiful young but clearly ancient woman on the floor. Just leant against a broken throne, hair dishevelled and covered in grime. I think she had been there for decades, not moving." Watts explained.

Mercury could picture the sad sight. "I spoke to her, but she didn't say a word. She said nothing for a couple of weeks. I just hid in the castle from her Grimm, mostly. I stole enough food and water to keep me going for that long, but after a while, I ran out. And as you can tell, not much food in this wasteland, and it was too dangerous for me to set foot outside. I starved, unlike her, who looked as fit as an athlete all the time. I was dying… then I saw her standing there, and out of thin air… she conjured an apple. She still said nothing, but it was the first time I saw her stand up." Watts explained.

"When I had some strength back, I went back into the Throne Room and sat on the floor nearby, and I talked at her. Thanking her for giving me food, and once again asking her name. She still said nothing, so I went to leave, but then she finally said something. You're welcome." Watts chuckled, shaking his head.

"After that, we slowly talked, and she eventually told me about what happened to her family. I helped her get back on her feet and get over her grief. So if there's one thing I'm certain of? It's that Salem needs time… so we should give her time to do what she needs to do." Watts explained, patting Mercury's shoulder and walking away.

Mercury walked away from the table and left the room, leaving Watts to his machines. But he could tell that Watts was watching him leave.

Despite all their history of Salem saving Watts that night…

… he would still betray her for his own benefit.

Ruby

She picked up Black Thorn, and held the two Scythes in her hands, staring at them with a smile, missing these two things so much after having them snatched away. Although part of her still missed Crescent Rose, perhaps part of her will always miss that oversized weapon. Penny found her Grave Dust Reserves in here as well, forming Floating Array behind her with a smile.

Pyrrha picked up Crocea Mortem and stared at the sword, closing her eyes… knowing that she may have to fight Jaune again. And being unsure if she could put him down if she had to. Cinder sat there, then her eye widened as she remembered. She weakly stood up and limped towards the window when she saw what sparked her memory.

"Cinder?" Ruby asked, staying close to her side in case she collapsed. She crashed against the window but pointed.

"There… that spire of purple crystal? It's… there… I remember seeing that spire…" Cinder finally said, coughing in pain, grabbing at her chest.

"Are you sure? There are a lot of those things around here." Ruby commented.

"Trust me, that's the biggest one, and up close? You know that it's the biggest." Cinder explained, before she started coughing more and more, and collapsed into Ruby's arms. She eased her back down and Emerald crouched down in front of her, pressing the back of her hand against Cinder's forehead.

"Gods, she's burning up again." Emerald sighed, uncertain of what to do.

"What were you guys talking about? The thing in here that could help her walk?" Pyrrha asked. Emerald stood up and walked to one of the lockers, pulling something out. She set it down on the table and they approached.

"It's the shell of an Exo-Suit, like the one that Ace Ops Member uses… Harriet, I think her name was. Doesn't work the same way, but it's enough to help her walk." Emerald explained, Penny nodded her head.

"It will help." Penny assured, smiling at Cinder. Their eyes turned to the hallway when they heard incoming footsteps, so Emerald activated her semblance and hid them all from anyone but her eyes and acted unsuspecting, tweaking her weapon. But she kept her eyes on the hallway, then she felt her heart bounce with relief to see Mercury turn the corner.

"Oh, thank the gods." She sighed with relief.

"Just had to get Watts' ego going to sneak it. Thanks for the lessons." He said to her, winking. He walked past Emerald and pulled the needle out, crouching down beside Cinder.

"You didn't develop a phobia of needles by any chance?" Mercury asked her, Cinder scoffed.

"Funny." She wheezed. He pressed the needle against the skin and it punctured, and he injected the booster in. She gasped, feeling the rush of energy enter her body, and her body glowed as her aura activated. She pressed her hand against the floor and forced herself back up, panting.

"How do you feel?" Penny asked.

"Still like death… but I can fight. I'm itching for it… but not yet." Cinder stated.

"What is it?" Ruby asked.

"I need to find Amber… I have to make sure she's safe before we do this." Cinder explained.

"The little girl?" Emerald asked.

"She's… well, like a daughter to Cinder." Pyrrha clarified. Emerald and Mercury stared at Cinder in disbelief.

"Wow… you really did change." Mercury commented, and Cinder nodded her head.

"I need… to get her out of here."

"Salem put her in her bedroom, not in one of the cells. It's always guarded by a Black Gallows soldier. And that entire area of the castle is patrolled by the Praetorian Knights. It won't be easy getting her out." Emerald warned.

"I can get her out. I'm strong enough to fly now." Cinder assured. Emerald and Mercury looked at each other and he sighed, scratching the top of his head.

"I guess it's just like old times." Mercury said.

"No, please… I already left you both here with her. Just go." She begged.

"Not yet. We're helping you save that little girl. It's the least we can do." Emerald promised. Cinder looked at Ruby, Penny, and Pyrrha. Ruby spun Black Thorn through her fingers.

"Biggest Crystal, right?" Ruby asked.

Cinder nodded.

"Alright, ladies. Come on… Cinder'll catch up. Let's get there and come up with a plan." Ruby ordered, Penny and Pyrrha followed her as they opened the window and jumped down. Penny flew down whilst Ruby dragged one scythe against the wall to slow her descent, and Pyrrha bounced from the wall and rolled across the ash covered ground.

No turning back now.

Salem

The Dark Queen was exactly where Cinder predicted…

Sat on the porch of her home, where Thaddeus Rex Arc slaughtered her children and murdered the man she accepted. There were no tears in her eyes as she stared at their graves. She just stared, seemingly vacantly, with the four Relics just on the floor in front of her. She had not activated all four yet to summon the Gods, but she had the means of summoning her revenge before her very eyes.

The Relic of Destruction stabbed into the floor, and Creation leant against the wall. She quietly tapped her index finger against the top of her other hand, staring at the graves and bowing her head.

What was holding her back?

She had it all… everything she needed to end this once and for all…

She exhaled, then lifted her head to see Ozma stood in front of the graves with his arms behind her back. She sensed the spell being used and her red eyes narrowed. "Here we are again…" Salem sighed.

"Indeed." Ozma agreed. "Please, Salem… stop this… I know you know that this is bad."

Salem remained quiet. "What? Do you think this will make up for the things you've done? For how you neglected our daughters? To bring back the children Thaddeus butchered?" Salem suddenly blasted towards Ozma, but only to go straight through the illusion and land on the ground a few yards away from her home.

Another variant appeared behind her, the one that she had children with – the False God. He chuckled, smirking at her. "Wow, Salem really? Straight for the throat? Even after everything we've done together?" He asked her.

"Stay out of this Ozma. I will kill you again if I must!" she yelled, blasting a bolt of lightning towards him, only for the explosion to erase the position where he was standing.

"You know we can't do that, Salem." The old Hermit stated. Salem snarled, gritting her teeth as she ripped a massive boulder from the ground with her magic and flung it towards him, blowing the land to pieces.

Behind her stood the Drunkard, laughing. "Man, we've all been on the brink of death more times than we can count. There's very little you can do to scare us, Salem." He said, but she opened her hand and called her Double-Ended sword to her, and when she caught it she cut the Drunkard clean in half, only causing him to fade away.

Ozymandias appeared, and he was not alone. She was surrounded by them all. She stared at him and sighed. "Just tell us why. You know that killing the Brothers' Grimm will destroy everything. Their existence allows us to exist. Killing gods will have consequences." Ozymandias stated.

"How would you know? How could anyone know? Nobody has done it before." Salem stated.

"And you'd risk all life in our universe to test that? For what? Revenge?" The Father questioned as he glared at her, fists clenched.

"Destroying the gods will not give you the perfect blank slate you want. It will turn everything into a hellscape, with no relics to clean up the damage." The Drunkard explained.

"If you're so certain of this, then why haven't you summoned them back? Why haven't you killed them yourself?" Ozma asked, his voice as kind and familiar as she remembered. She turned and stared at him. "Want to get it off your chest?"

She remained quiet. "Yeah… because you don't know what will happen if they die, either. And you're afraid that we're right." Ozymandias commented.

Salem gritted her teeth in anger, forming a powerful and destructive spell, and she punched the ground with all her might, blasting a huge magical shock wave that wiped the variants away. She remained with that scowl on her face, hearing only two more remain.

"Fine… don't tell us." Oscar spoke up, and she turned, looking at the much younger man compared to the others. And beside him stood Ozpin, with his cane in his hand. "But tell me this, would you have carried this out if your family were still here?"

Salem flew up in the air above the two of them, staring down at the two variants.

"Careful, boy." Salem snarled. "I may not be able to harm you now, but when you arrive, I will tear you apart like I did to them."

Oscar felt no fear, despite knowing she would. "Why not? You betrayed your family once. Why would I expect you to do otherwise for the one you raised in that house?" Oscar questioned, and she gritted her teeth at him, eyes burning red with the Maiden Powers in her veins.

"I'm a good liar. I'm a very good liar." Ozpin spoke up, walking around Oscar as he spoke up to her. "But you? You're better… you fooled us before, and you fooled the last family you had as well, just like you fool everyone who follows you." Ozpin said, holding both hands atop the pommel. "So tell us… did those children you claimed to love so much know the truth? Or did you view them the same way as you did our children?" Ozpin questioned. "Or how you view your current children?"

"This is pointless, Ozma! Your words will not stop me from doing this." Salem snarled.

"Well you're correct on that front." Oscar said, chuckling. "But we can do the same thing we've been doing ever since you challenged the Brothers Grimm. We can buy Remnant a little more time."

Salem snarled, and she blasted towards them both, making impact so hard that she felt the connection sever.

On the other end Oscar gasped, recoiling back and looking at his chest, thinking for a moment she actually got him.

Salem stood amongst the rubble of the area, and she walked back to the Relics and the old home… but she stopped, hearing footsteps and soft whispers.

She closed her eyes… then sat down on the porch.

Waiting for them to make their first move, picking up some stone and fiddling with them.

Cinder

Cinder held out her arms whilst Mercury and Emerald connected the straps of the Exo-Suit together, and once it was all together and powered up, Cinder felt her strength increase even more. Enough to keep fighting to the very end. What she wants more than anything… to die fighting.

But first, she had to make sure that Amber was safe. "You ready?" Emerald asked her, and Cinder nodded her head. They hurried through the hallway and she glanced down there, making sure that nobody or nothing was there. Luckily, it was clear at the minute, so they made their next move. They hastened down the hall towards the T-Section. She stopped them and made sure that Watts wasn't coming out of his lab… but the door was already locked, meaning he had already left.

This time, they didn't need to give directions. Cinder knew the layout of the Castle like the back of her hand, so getting up to the bedroom was not a matter of getting lost. It was making sure they weren't spotted. They continued down that hallway, but Emerald gasped and held her hand against Cinder's chest, stopping her and Mercury.

"What is it?" Mercury whispered, but she hushed them and held her hands up, telling them to stay still.

Then they heard it… the creepy clicking of a Seer.

The creature emerged from one of the cells, blood on its hooks, and the door closed behind it after it was done torturing the person inside. It floated past them, but slowed down, hissing softly. Cinder prepared to fight if she had to, but then the Seer continued on its path.

Thank the gods for Emerald's Semblance…

Emerald moved first, and they followed, finally locating the spiralling staircase, and they quickly made their way up. Hearing Tyrian speaking down below definitely hurried their pace as he walked down the path of the cells.

Sounded like Adam was with him as well.

They continued to make their way up the stairs, passing floor after floor, heading for the bedroom that Cinder saw in Jinn's vision of her past. They continued up, then finally found that large hallway. Cinder's eye widened at what she saw… the hall was lined with statues carved in the shape of the armours of all the Knights that served her.

The Inquisitor – who they now knew, was Ozma, the Senechal, the Zealot, the Executioner, the Spartan, the Shogun, the Berserker…

… and the Deacon…

It looked so familiar but so different and they walked down the hall, but immediately took cover as Emerald activated her semblance. They saw the Praetorian Knights enter constantly on their patrol. But there was no sign of Jaune up here, just some of the Praetorians. Emerald quietly gestured for them to follow and pointed to the staircase that headed up to her bedroom.

They slowly snuck forward, trying not to make a sound as the Praetorians made their patrols, their steps heavy and movements seeming stiff and mechanical outside of combat. Their movements looked like they were stop motion animated, unnatural and not as smooth as they were used to.

It gave them the creeps, actually.

As they walked, Cinder held her chest, feeling that burning pain still in there. The booster only got her on her feet, but it didn't stop the pain. She tried not to make a sound, but even that was enough. The negativity coming from her pain caused one of the Knights to turn, staring at where she was, despite being unable to see her thanks to Emerald's semblance.

Emerald gasped, then had an idea, pressing her finger against her temple and focusing.

The Praetorian Knight spun around, hearing something the others couldn't, and it walked away to investigate, whilst the other two followed. Mercury smirked and nodded his head proudly at her.

They got up and ran up the stairs. Then she only hid Cinder from the guard at the door, and he held his hand up. "Whoa, what are you doing? These are Salem's quarters." The soldier questioned, and Mercury confidently walked forward.

"Yeah, Salem asked us to bring the kid down to her." He said.

"The hell are you talking about? Salem ordered to keep the kid here until she came here in person." The soldier revealed.

"Oh, is that so? Then…" Mercury paused and sighed. "… okay." He spun around roundhouse, kicked the soldier's head against the door so hard that the door burst open and he slid across the floor, knocked unconscious.

Amber screamed in shock, then her eyes widened to see Cinder. "Cinder!" Amber cried out and Cinder dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around Amber, hugging her tight. And they witnessed something extremely rare… Cinder crying. She sobbed into Amber's shoulder with relief.

"Thank the gods…" Cinder sobbed, holding her tight.

Emerald and Mercury stared with wide eyes, unable to believe this was the same woman they worked for years ago. "I'm so sorry… I… I…"

"It's okay… don't apologise, honey. It wasn't your fault. We gotta get you out of here."

"M-Mom?" That really shocked Emerald and Mercury. "A-Are you okay? You… look sick…"

Cinder swallowed deeply, knowing it would crush Amber to know what was gonna happen to Cinder, but she turned to hear the Praetorian Knights roaring, sprinting up the stairs to where they were.

"I'll explain when you're safe!" Cinder said, coughing and holding Amber close. Then she held her hand out to Emerald and Mercury. Emerald held Cinder's whilst Mercury held on to her. Cinder blasted through the window, shattering it as the Praetorian Knights charged inside, firing their Sceptres at her as she flew out of their range.

She descended and found a safe location behind the crystals, far enough away to give them time. Cinder looked around, checking if it was clear. "Okay… it's clear this is the best chance you're gonna have. Amber, honey… I need you to listen to me…" Cinder said, her voice breaking again, crouching down in front of her and holding her shoulders. "… I'm dying…" she revealed.

Amber's eyes widened. "W-What?"

"I'm really sick… and it's because of bad things I did a long time before I met you. And they're catching up with me. All I can do now is make sure I can try to ensure you… and everyone else in the world… has a chance." Cinder said to her, but Amber cried, sniffling and tearing up.

"N-No… no you're not… please no… M-Mom!" Amber cried out, and Cinder wrapped her arms tightly around Amber, kissing her cheek.

"I love you, Amber… but please… let me do this one thing. I have lived my entire life with nothing, and I killed to fill that hole. At least let me make sure now that you and so many other girls don't become what I became." Cinder begged.

Amber cried into Cinder's shoulder, not wanting to let her go. But Cinder stood up and turned to Emerald and Mercury, the former tearing up immensely. "Both of you… please… get her out of here."

"Cinder…" Mercury also sounded like he was on the brink, like Emerald.

"It's time for me to go meet the one who made this way, and try to make things right before I'm too sick to do anything." Cinder said.

"Oh Cinder…" Emerald sobbed, reaching out to hug her, but Cinder stepped away.

"Don't, oh Cinder me… neither of you… you deserved better than me. So go and be better than what I nearly made you become." Cinder begged them. "You both know…"

Cinder walked towards the edge of the cliff but stopped and looked back at them, seeing Amber holding Emerald's hand, crying. "The two of you? You're good people… the best… better than I ever deserved. And Amber? You made me better… you made me better than I ever believed I could be. And I will always watch over you… you'll never be alone." She promised.

Emerald walked over to her and she smiled, holding her hand with both of hers. "You're a good person, Cinder… and despite it all… I'll never regret meeting you." Emerald promised, and Cinder smiled. "… and I always was a good thief." She laughed tearfully.

"The best." Cinder corrected. "Now go… all of you… get out of here." Cinder begged, and Amber reached out for her.

"I love you… mom…" Amber cried.

Cinder smiled, and she winked at her, making her smile back before she walked away. Cinder turned around and exhaled deeply, staring at the giant spire of purple dust. Her eye ignited, and she floated off the ground, then flew forward.

As she flew across the sky, it all became so easy and so painless. Like everything that had been weighing her down was gone, and she was ready for the inevitable to come.

And she heard the voices in the back of her mind.

You're a good person Cinder…

We know you, Cinder. The real you…

You still have time… to decide who you want to be with the time you have left…

See all of this as a sign, Cinder. To try… try to do the good thing…

I better not regret saving you…

Cinder stared forward, remembering the first thing Raven ever said to her.

"You won't." She promised.

Sun

Teams S.S.S.N and C.R.D.L sat together inside of the cell, hugging their knees in fear of what will happen next.

And they were about to find out as the door opened, and they lifted their heads…

… and they felt nothing but terror.

"What's going on?" Tyrian Callows asked. His silhouette stood in the red light of the sky. They were speechless in terror, knowing that he knew that Team C.P.P.R escaped. He slammed the door shut behind him and the darkness surrounded him. They only heard his voice, knowing he was still glaring at them all.

"Where is Team Copper?" He questioned calmly.

They remained silent from fear.

Suddenly Tyrian's eyes glowed bright purple, and he stepped into the red light of the skylight, teeth gritted and eyes mad with fury.

"Where… IS TEAM COPPER?" He bellowed, cybernetic Scorpion Tail arching over his shoulder.

Author Note - Here we go...

Final Battle...

I hope ya'll are ready for this. It's gonna be epic!

That ending was both emotional and terrifying and I love it. Tyrian is so fun to write because he is so fucking terrifying. And the part with Cinder... that was so damn emotional to write. I'm so proud of her in this story, she has come so far. From wanting to destroy the world, to only wanting to protect Amber, to now wanting to save her and the world at large.

The part with Salem and Ozma's variants was awesome as well, love having moments like that. Plus having her be like this, quiet and questioning whether this is the right choice is awesome. But she's still decided on what she is gonna do, meaning they have to stop her once and for all.

Also Em was the MVP of this Chapter XD RIP her aura, having to use that semblance so much.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

- Matt