Chapter 12: White Dragons and Broken Bones


The elevator pad creaked and groaned as it slowly rose, a sinisterly smiling Adam stood atop, his hands clasped around hilt his sword as he propped himself up on it. He stood there menacingly like a dark lord, this time he was in possession of the high ground, and as such his arrogance showed brilliantly.

"Nice to see you finally show up, Bell, Lyme, Dune. Better late than never I guess," He gazed upon his team, all engaged in combat in two on one situation. He would have expected no less from his hand-picked soldiers. "Tell me, Where's Edan?" Adam said as he walked off of the supply lift.

"He stayed behind, Onyx needed him to do some 'heavy lifting' as he put it." Bell called out as she swung her bladed shield at Hex, narrowly missing. Adam raised his eyebrow, "You seem to be struggling..." he noted as he watched her take a shot from Hex after dodging an attack from Blake.

"We're... handling it..." she said in between grunts of effort. Blake had to commend her for being able to casually converse while fighting two opponents at once.

"Adam, you better not lay a hand on them or I swear to Oum..." Alex threatened darkly, his hands ready to draw Asura at any moment.

"And who's going to stop me? You?"

Alex's answer came in the form of a flash of orange, his blade mere inches from Adam's throat only for it to be blocked by Blush, Adam's scabbard for his katana Wilt.

"Oh look who finally decided to grow a pair, come on lizard, let me remind you why I was the best in class back at the academy." Adam readied in a drawing stance.

He jumped backward and glared daggers at Adam. Growling and baring his fangs beneath his mask, he took hold of Asura in a similar stance. The world around them felt still, the fighting around them seemed to halt as the air pressure around the two began to change. Around Alex, a burning orange aura began enveloping the atmosphere surrounding his body. The temperature was increasing tremendously while around Adam a the air turned into a blood-red miasma. From a single bead of sweat dropping from the forehead of Qrow's matted brow, the two Faunus clashed at an unbelievable speed. If you blinked you would have missed it, both drew their swords at the exact same time clashing mere meters from their original position. Fiery orange versus red darkness, Alex' s sword burned with a heat so incredible Adam had to forcefully back up from the clash to avoid scorching himself.

"I see you've grown," Adam said dusting soot from his clothes. "But not enough," he said and in an instant, he was behind Alexandrite, The young leader had a split second to react before the red blade curved upward grazing his back and tearing his clothes, it was as though the blade penetrated his aura's defences inflicting direct harm.

"Alex!" Ruby screamed out in panic. "You sure you got time to be worrying about someone other than yourself?" Lyme said as he sent green ooze in their direction. Ruby narrowly dodged only for coat to be caught in the acid, forcing her to tear it off and toss it to the ground. The substance ate away at the fabric rapidly, making Ruby glad she reacted when she did.

"Ah shit, you ruined one of my favourite shirts!" Alex yelled as he tore off his red undershirt, his black zippable hoodie hanging loosely over his shirtless body. "You'll pay for that…" he said a dangerously, changing Asura to its second form he blinked almost instantly above Adam and brought the scythe down in a cleaving motion. The blow was easily blocked but Alex kept his position. Slowly but surely Adam began losing to the force behind the dragon's blow, as if the longer he held him there the heavier he got. Realizing the situation Adam kicked him hard in the chest sending him flying back onto the elevator platform, just as he fell, Alex swapped to sniper form mid-air and fired a few shots at Adam, that were easily blocked. The force of the blow was absorbed into Adam's blade, using his semblance he prepared a draw stance. Before the downed Alexandrite could react, a blood, red light struck him hard crushing through his aura causing him to spit out blood. The force of the impact crippling the floor of the elevator pad sending it and the damaged boy rocketing into the depths of the facility.

Adam gazed into the depths of the facility's abyss and snorted "Hmph you aren't getting off that easily," he said as he jumped in after him.


"You're not so bad girly," Lyme said as he blocked Ruby's scythe with his blade, "Not as predictable as the Schnee girl over there." He pointed in the direction of Weiss only to find she was missing. As if on cue a black rune appeared below him anchoring him to the floor and restricting his movements, he cursed inwardly as he was forced to suffer a massive hit to his Aura from a bullet propelled Crescent Rose. Before he could crash to the floor he shot out two bursts of corrosive goop that ate away at Ruby's skin, burning her right arm, leaving a black mark.

"AH FUCK! IT BURNS!" Ruby screamed out in pain as she clutched her arm, Weiss knew it was serious from the fact that Ruby swore... Ruby. Never. Swore.

"Oh god RUBY!" Weiss yelled looking at the wound, the area above her elbow up to her shoulder was completely burnt over, exposing raw flesh. Had her aura not been almost depleted from the earlier exchange the damage would have been less., the substance was still slowly burning away further, she had to stop it now, tearing off part of her dress she shoved onto Ruby's face. "Bite down on this, it's going to hurt but I need to stop the spreading."

Ruby simply nodded meekly and bit down hard onto the cloth. Weiss then spread ice dust around the wound and froze the area completely. Ruby screamed bloody murder into the cloth as the wound froze up completely.

"Hurts like a bitch doesn't it? Acid manipulation, that's my semblance, though it only works through my Green Thorn here, remarkably potent isn't it?" Lyme chuckled only to erupt in a coughing fit. He hated to admit it but she got him good, his ribs were cracked and his left arm was sprained from bracing the impact.
"Dune, I need assistance!" he yelled, the four-armed man's attention instantly swapped from the two opponents in front of him, the barrage of rapid punches stopped and he jumped high into the air and crashed next to Ruby and Weiss knocking them back. The large man stood protectively over his ally.

Yang and Nitro reared their weapons, prepared to engage their enemy alongside Ruby and Weiss. Bell was casually dancing around Blake and Hex, as if it were a stalemate, an impenetrable defence versus two masters of deception.

Qrow groggily sat up, his eyes barely able to focus on the area around him. Sapphire instantly helped him up, but kept a steady arm wrapped around his shoulder, "Uncle Qrow you shouldn't move too much, Adam did a serious number on you."

Qrow just shrugged her off, "No time, where's my…" he searched around his pockets until he found a small radio transmitter, bringing it up to his lips he spoke quietly, "Oz *cough*, it's me, you know what to do. Threat level delta," and with that, he tossed the radio into the snow. "What was that?" the blue girl asked in confusion.
"Radioed Oz for backup, the only problem is, backup won't happen for another hour, it'll take some time for the dropships to get here." Qrow coughed slightly.

"Where's charcoal?" He asked glancing around for signs of Alex or Adam.

"They're fighting down in the facility..."

"THEN WE NEED TO HELP HIM!" Qrow said trying to get up only for him to yelp in pain and fall back down.

"You need to rest, I can't do much right now besides try to protect you if they break through our frontline." She said gesturing to the ongoing fights. Qrow snorted, "Protected by a little girl, this is new. Where's my..." he glanced around and spotted a broken Harbinger. "Fuck."


-Inside the Facility-

Nova crashed through floor carrying the crater bound elevator with him. The impact rattled the facility cracking the metal floors. Cursing through the pain he made a break for cover; no doubt Adam would be quick on his heels. He needed to recover, as he was, he was no match for Adam. While their sword drawing techniques were almost the same speed, and while his semblance allowed him to adapt his strength to overcome his opponent, Adam wasn't just any opponent. Adam's semblance was similar to Yang's, he absorbed force by blocking with his sword and then is able to redirect the force at an amplified level. If Nova had to calculate, it was roughly 1.5 times the original damage, hence why it didn't kill him but hurt like an absolute bitch. It was like Adam was one upping him in every aspect, except for well, being an Aspect.

You know it wouldn't have killed them to leave a few pillows around. I mean sure things like this aren't expected but I mean seriously. You're a working secret underground facility, pretty sure most of the staff never went home, so why in god's name isn't there like a broken pillow dispenser tossin' out random soft cushions to break my fall. he contemplated rubbing his sore hide.

Wincing in pain as he struggled to his feet, Nova stumbled around the dimly lit complex looking for somewhere to hide and regain his strength. His damaged left arm now dripping blood as he walked. Ugh screw this, he thought tearing off his wig and mask, his back horns protruding through the top of his head, as he ran his fingers through his hair. He had to gain some ground, give his aura some time to heal up.

Sprinting across the facility, he managed to hold himself up in one of the empty rooms, dropping down onto the ground, he leaned himself up against the back wall, just behind the door. Think Nova, think! He's stronger than you in a head on fight, he matches you in speed and his fashion sense is overwhelmingly better. How do you get out of this?

He barely registered the dull clunking sound of the metal cube that was once in his pocket, roll onto the floor, it was amazing that it hadn't been lost in the fight.

"What about you huh? You got any answers for me?" He asked rhetorically, running his fingers along the cool metal, as his bloodied thumb passed over the groove on the top, the cube began to glow faintly orange. Startled by the sudden change in demeanour, Nova dropped the cube.

"Oh great, looks like I triggered an event…. What video game am I in? Is this the part where the security system comes on and makes my day worse?" Nova yelled out loud, completely ignoring the fact that Adam would still be on his trail, not like his hiding spot was any good.

The object began floating in the air instead of falling to the floor, and like a guiding light began moving, toward a blank wall in the room, next to it was a desk with a nameplate, similar to the ones that teachers would have on their desks. except this one was completely covered in dust. The cube then began crashing into the wall, as if it was trying to break it down.

"Great, it's stupid. Good job whoever made this thing, you made it brain damaged." Nova said sarcastically as he walked up to the thing that was lightly tapping against the wall. He examined the desk, faintly tracing the furniture. Wistfully he picked up the nameplate as if he wasn't currently fearing for his life. Squinting at the faded writing, he could barely make out a few words, 'Dr. E _ A I_' F-_R_E_H_A_R_'

Dr EAI, that's a stupid name...

...unless...he began using some heat and scrubbing away at the dust and rust that covered it. 'Dr. Elain Flareheart' The words stood out like white chalk on sidewalk. The only thing that he could register in his mind was MOM?!.

She's alive?! Why does she have a desk here?! What was her connection to this place?! He was torn from his thoughts when a loud crash echoed through the otherwise still facility. "I know you're in here traitor! You can't hide from me for long..." Adam called out loudly as more crashes could be heard.

He glanced for a way out. There was only one door and it led straight to Adam, he needed to think but the incessant clanking of the cube was driving him insane. Wait... the cube, if it was ramming it's head into a wall by his mother's old workstation then it must have something to do with it. He looked over the wall frantically, tracing his bloodied hand over it, if the blood activated the cube then surely something in here would *click*. Just as his hand passed the edge of the wall at the corner, a soft click occured, white light began emanating from around what looked to be a door frame in the solid wall. Well... here goes nothing he thought as he pushed onto the outlined door, passing straight through into a white room. The door sealing shut behind him.

"Well, in we go I guess, OW!" he said as he almost stumbled back into the door frame out of clumsiness, it didn't help his left eye was non-existent. The room around him was like a padded room made of hard lights and white tiles. It was narrow and small, like a large hidden closet. At the very end of short hall was a glass container on a white pedestal, sealed by cube shaped slot lock, inside it were two vials, each about six inches tall and one inch wide, they held some rather strange liquid. Both murky and translucent, a faint glow on them, one a light ocean blue, and the other, a fiery orange.

The cube that had been ramming its head against the wall earlier had now, slowly, floated its way over, Nova following curiously behind. The cube embedded itself into the lock and opened the case allowing Nova to reach inside and carefully extract the two vials.

"What in the world..." He questioned staring at the two containers in his hands, they were cold and sturdy, as if they were made of something stronger than glass, the ends were mechanical, as if they held some other purpose.

THE SERUM! It clicked in his mind in a near instant, this facility had been working on a project to develop a type of serum that would enhance the user permanently, like a type of power steroid. If his memory served correctly, the liquid inside these vials was actually a nanomachine solution, finalized by an unknown doctor.

Then it hit him like a slap in the face, the doctor that finalized the formula was his mother. She succeeded in producing the enhancement serum, and then she hid it away, that's why it was in her office, at her desk. That's why it reacted when he touched it.

"So... you're probably alive, and what's more is that you worked with the White Fang to produce this. The question is... why?" just then, the cube that had been sitting neatly in the lock had popped out and landed on the pedestal and began to jitter. Nova blinked in surprise, "Woah, the hell is up with you..." The cube in question began to morph and unfold, piece by piece coming apart, opening at the center like a box. There was something resting inside...

Nova reached out and grasped the object, a little black cloth bag with a string tying the mouth. there was something small and round inside, and what felt like paper. Curious, he opened it and emptied the paper out first, unsure what the other object was. The paper was white and fresh, as if it hadn't been touched since the day it was put in there. He carefully unfolded the paper, on it was lines and lines of an unmistakably intricate handwriting.

'Nova, Luna, I don't know how much time has passed between the time of writing this and when you read it but know that as of the moment of this letter, I am alive. Your father and I are both alive. I've succeeded in experimenting with our family's Shard of Remnant. Combining its power with that of my new nanomachines has created a serum that would enhance the powers of an already existing Aspect. These prototypes I've created with you two in mind, these were designed specifically for you, they were our only successful prototypes. Please do not use these until you are old enough for your body to handle them. You probably have hundreds of questions but I can't explain it all on this piece of paper. I've rigged the facility's systems to respond only to our family's Aegis gene, but you probably figured that out when everything started activating when you touched it. I don't know what's going to happen to me now that I've ruined this place but know this: I am alive, Onyx won't kill me or your father, we're too valuable to him alive. I know I can't stop you from looking for us, but I'm entrusting the Shard to you, please, above all else, keep it out of his hands. Randolf knows what to do.

With deepest love, Elain Flareheart.

PS: DO NOT USE THE SERUM IF YOU ARE -

The last part was scratches and scribbles as if she was hastily forced to stop writing.

Nova felt like his entire world was collapsing in on himself, for years he had gone under the belief that his parents were alive, it was just belief. He had no proof. The world told him they were dead but he refused to believe them, and now that the truth was staring him in his face, he didn't know whether to be crying tears of joy or break out in a depressive fit.

"Honestly mom," Nova said, tears leaking down from his face, "Seriously, the first message I get from you in almost nine years and it's this?!" he barely choked out the words through the tears as he stuffed the vials into his hoodie pocket and this time, remembered to zip it shut.

He emptied the rest of the bag into his palm, a smooth red stone fell out, not much larger than a cotton ball, it was round and shaped like an oval. It's texture was warm and seemingly unblemished, it looked like red jade, a white dragon adorned the larger face. The dragon was curled like a flame, its claws extending outward to one side, its body long and slender.

As he firmly grasped the stone, images flashed through is mind. He could see his mother, terrified and panicked, forcibly dragged into this facility like a slave by a tall burly man with jet black hair, his arms and neck incredibly hairy. He wore dark grey outfit with black shoulders. He was massive in every essence of the word. More images of other scientists cowering in fear at him and his White Fang soldiers, Nova's mother working tirelessly into the night against her will. Every chance she got she would purposely mess up the experiments, delaying the project as much as she could. The scenes played out as if they were embedded into the stone, rolling through his mind as though the object in his hand was resonating with him..

Emotional rollercoasters were never his thing, it was usually just a string of disappointments but today was certainly one if he ever knew it. At this stage the mix of rage, hurt, confusion and distraught he felt at one point left him impassive to everything except the rage building in him.

As he dropped his hand to his side, the stone began to pull forcibly on its own, as if it were trying to get to something.

"Really? Not this to..." He droned recognizing the familiar situation, "What do you want?" he asked the stone as if it would respond to him. The stone just tugged his hand harder, toward Asura.

"What do you want with my baby?" his answer came in the form of the stone wrenching itself out of his grasp and latching onto the sword, embedding itself in the eye of the golden dragon that curled around the hilt. In almost an instant he felt his weapon grow heavier, the stone had done something to his blade. Rubbing his temples, he was drawn from his irritation to a familiar loud crashing noise outside.

"Looks like someone's pissed... Guess I better own up to whatever it is I need to do..." Nova sighed as he pushed back onto the sealed door, and luckily enough, it actually opened I was really banking on it just pushing open, didn't actually expect it... He strode outside and stood in the center of the facility now, awaiting his enemy.


"So you finally decide to show yourself," Adam said with a tone of boredom, "Honestly I didn't know dragons could run so quickly, thought your warrior pride demanded you stand and fight or some shit," he spat.

"Yeah I dunno about that, I thoroughly embrace the tactical retreat method," Nova joked while rubbing his chin.

"You're wasting my time, to tell you the truth I don't know why master Onyx wants you alive, or why he needs this serum so badly when he has another lab dedicated to it. That cube you picked up must mean something, so... give it to me." He demanded pointing the edge of his blade at Nova' throat. The young dragon swatted it away with a quick draw of his own blade, the red katana and fiery steel resonating a dangerous hum.

"I can't let you have that serum Adam. I don't know what your master is planning but I'm going to stop him, and I'll start by taking you down first." Nova prepared his stance, his gaze determined and unwavering, eyes lined with the spirit of the warrior.

"Take me down? What a joke, you couldn't beat me when we were kids and you can't beat me now, you and you're pathetic family will pay for betraying the White Fang, for betraying all Faunus!" Adam yelled a battle cry as he slashed forward, Nova dodged the blade barely missing his neck.

"Betrayal? What are you talking about? Your people attacked US!" Nova dodged his blows only to be met with a swift kick that sent him flying backward into the monument.

"We attacked you because you sold us out, your 'royal family' were selling our secrets to the Humans, you cost us the war!" Adam screamed in anger, his aura flaring wildly, tendrils of black and red energy whipping around him.

Nova was shocked to say the least, "Is that what you think? Adam you know me, or at least you used to, you knew my parents, we would never do something like that!"

"LIES! All you dragons ever do is spout LIES! Master Onyx said that your family betrayed our kind! Master Onyx is no liar!" Adam was angry, his eyes however were somewhat hazed over, as if there was something fuelling his rage and blinding him to the truth.

"Looks like I won't convince you with words…." Nova drew Asura in its scythe form, except, it wasn't like before. He was taken aback in surprise when he saw that the scythe itself had become enhanced, the red jade stone embedded in the eye of the dragon was glowing, the Incidium blade was no longer segregated but one solid piece, and the heat it radiated was no joke. Adam reeled back a little upon seeing the new weapon, eyeing the glowing gem, "Is that..." He mouthed, at a loss for words.

"A Shard of Remnant? I think so... too bad I don't know exactly what it does..." Nova answered, spinning the scythe and testing its weight. It was definitely heavier, but not an unwelcome change, just passing it through the air left heat waves, as if the gem had enhanced his weapon to channel his power.

"You have in your possession one of the greatest sources of natural power in the world and you don't even know how to use it! This is brilliant!" Adam said chuckling madly."I'll just have to beat you and take it..."

Nova had enough.

With one fluid motion Nova was on him, Adam blocked but the strength and weight behind the strike was greater now, momentarily stunning him. Using this opportunity Nova bega rapidly striking at Adam, tearing away his aura's defences like a paper shredder, channeling his power into the blade and scorching away at the older Faunus, leaving burn marks all over him. Adam managed to regain his senses and instantly struck out with Blush, shooting several rounds at Nova who just spun the scythe, deflecting the bullets. He launched himself at Adam, rearing the blade for a fatal strike, the incendiary blade burning the ground as he flew toward his opponent. Adam blocked it easily though he suffered damage from the heat, and reflected the impact sending Nova crashing upward through the first floor landing him on the balcony of the second. Nova could've sword he saw it, a flash of a necklace with a black gemstone hanging from Adam's neck.

"SHIT THAT HURT!" Nova cursed, his aura dangerously low from their drawn out fight. "How do you like that? The taste of my semblance, you remember it don't you? You understand that no matter how hard you hit me, I'll just hit back harder."

"Man seriously? Your semblance is like cheating," Nova called down, dusting himself off, wincing from the pain, there were definitely some broken ribs, his left arm was completely shot, and there was possibly internal bleeding.

"And yours isn't?" Adam raised an eyebrow though no one could see behind his mask.

"At least mine isn't practically invincible," Nova huffed.

Their banter was calming to Adam, almost as if they had never been enemies, he would have given into the atmosphere if it hadn't been for a sharp pain in the back of his mind, telling him to take down the traitor.

"ARGH ENOUGH OF YOUR GAMES!" Adam blinked upward, a bright red slash aimed straight to Nova' torso. Nova parried just barely able to skirt by the damage. The Shard began to hum and a fiery red glow began to breathe out of the dragon sigil, Nova didn't know why he understood what to do, but it felt like the gem was storing power, charging itself.

"Alright then, time to get serious!" Nova yelled, pushing him back and rapidly swiping, gritting his teeth through the pain of his damaged arms. Adam just growled and blocked his assault, the problem was that despite his attempts the scythe spun dangerous flames as it moved as if it burned the very air around it.

"Fancy trick but it's not enough," Adam lunged forward ducking under Nova' swing and cut his torso upward, blood flowing from the wound, the force of the impact cracking the walls behind them.

Instead of flying back like he did those times before, Nova caught Adam's hand, using the momentum of the swing he launched them both off the edge of the second floor crashing into the monument below.

"Okay raging bull, time to play, I'm not very good at controlling this power and when I use more than just a little it tends to go crazy, but...since it's just us here, mind if I turn up the heat?" Nova said as he got up from a downed Adam in a crater. He brought Asura over his head and extended his broken left arm wincing in pain as he did. Calling upon the fire that slept within him, the air around them began to superheat, expanding at an exponential rate. Nova held up his scythe and willed the Shard to help him. A flame began generating at the blade, but not just any flame... it was like the essence of fire itself, not a calm flickering flame that brought life, but a deadly violent flame that would incinerate anything it touched. The heat felt like thousands of tiny explosions going off at once. Adam could only watch in horror as the apocalyptic flaming scythe came reaping downward, erupting the area in an explosion of fire, burning away at everything, even the metal, leaving a scorched crater and piles of melted iron.

Nova fell back onto the floor, convinced that Adam Taurus was incapacitated. Struggling to his feet the young dragon propped himself up with Asura and limped out of the wreckage, leaning against a pillar, unable to move anymore.

"That was a powerful strike..." came the one sound Nova did NOT want to hear.

"You have gotta be kidding me right now…" Nova said, he expected a half burnt Adam, he didn't try to kill him but he feared he went overboard, the fire he wielded was amplified somehow, much more violent than ever before. His fears were somewhat shattered as a flash of red erupted from the crater, he swore he almost saw the face of a demon in the flare.

Adam flew out of the crater, his body burnt and damaged but his skin was slowly healing, his eyes glowing red like they were no longer Faunus. The necklace Nova thought he saw earlier floating around Adam's neck. It glowed a sinister black aura that mingled with Adam's red.

"YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE IN POSSESSION OF A SHARD OF REMNANT! This...THIS IS THE POWER YOU COULD WIELD WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT!" Adam spoke, his voice sounding loud and resonated as if there were more than one. "YOU DIE HERE TRAITOR!" he reared his blade, a mysterious blood red energy mixed with black swirled around it.

"Talk about bullshit power-ups…." Nova tried to laugh but the encroaching doom threatened to consume him. The attack previously drained everything he had, his muscles were torn and exhausted, his body refused to move.

"So…life was good while it lasted, I guess," Nova joked aloud but in his mind, he was breaking down. He had so much left to live for, his sister, his mother, his father, Ruby, he had so much left to do. A sole tear leaked down his left mismatched eye as he prepared for death... but it never came.

"ADAM! WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!" A strange voice broke through the atmosphere, stopping Adam's attack mid swing.

"WHAT! I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE!" Adam's voice boomed.
Bell had come into the complex, "IT'S THE MILITARY, THEY'RE HERE, WE NEED TO JET NOW BEFORE WE GET CAUGHT!" she yelled.

"HA! LET THEM COME I WILL KILL THEM ALL!" Adam called back, still floating nearly ten feet off the floor, his entire body exuding power, like some sort of demigod

"Look at you, your torn up, strong as you may be Lyme is injured and it's us against seven ships... I've already contacted Master Onyx, his orders are to retreat NOW! Besides, I believe your orders were specifically NOT to use your power or kill the dragons?... What's our esteemed commander going to do to you once he finds out that you blew up seven airships and got your team killed on top of disobeying his orders?" she called back from the third floor.

Adam cursed, she was right "Fine, but not before I-" he wasn't able to finish as a new voice broke through.
"You should listen to her, scram before you bite off more than you can chew," a deep older male voice came through, the glint of a shining silver katana in the dark.

"Who's there?" Adam called. He was answered with a white slash of energy erupting through the area, almost cleaving him in two if he hadn't dodged. "Who else you deranged dimwit, leave now without laying a single hand on my apprentice or else, it won't just be an army you fight…" the man growled, the threat sent chills down Adam's spine as if the weight he carried in those words was far beyond anything Adam could deal with. He wore a white fur coat, his build was slender and tall like Qrow but his hair was slicked back and shining silver, dog-like ears sprouted from the top of his head. His face was mature and stern and he wore glasses, a long Katana held in his arm.

"Wulf…"Adam cursed lowly as he floated up to Bell. He weighed his options, sure he could take on a few ships but Wulf was a different story, the man was strong, very strong and he was in no condition to fight the master swordsman.

"This won't be the last time you see me…" Adam said as he deactivated his enraged mode, his eyes returning to normal before he disappeared into the dark with Bell.

Randolf Wulf rushed over to the fallen Nova, "Aye kid come on, wake up. Imma get you outta here," he said, his voice gruff but gentle. "Fine mess you made of yourself aye," he said looking over Nova, the young dragon just coughed up a fit.

"C'mon you shitty teacher, everything hurts…. Tall red and crazy was pretty tough" The wound on Nova' chest was bleeding uncontrollably; his left arm was black and blue around the shoulder and his body was covered in scars.

"Good god you look like someone tossed you in a wood chipper…" he muttered as he gently picked up his student and carried the unconscious boy outside, jumping an unnatural height upward to the top of the pad above the building where team ASHNRWBY were.


Up topside, Lyme was slung over Dune's back, during the commotion earlier Bell had slipped off to find Adam to warn him of the oncoming threat, while the rest of team ASHNRWBY minus the A were squaring off against Dune, apparently the large silent man had enough strength to match all of them in their exhausted states. Each member exhausted and tired, their fights drawn on long without end, neither side had given an edge and even in the two on one situation, there was no winner. Yang, Nitro, Ruby, and Hex stood on the front lines, each looking just as tired as the next, their eyes dimming and their legs struggling to keep them up.

"Looks like backup has arrived..." Ruby said with a lopsided grin, looking up at the sky, the enemy followed her gaze to see the ships encroaching on their location. "You guys are so dead..." Weiss said half-heartedly, she was completely out of dust and really didn't want to re-engage the fight.

"It was nice meeting you but, it seems that's our cue... Dune if you would be so kind..." Lyme lightly tapped his comrade's shoulder. A stiff nod came from the giant before a mass of steam erupted from his body, blinding everyone. Once the steam had subsided and the coughing fits died down, the enemy was gone, disappeared in smoke.

"Fuck, they got away..." Yang cursed dropping down onto the cold snow, resting her weary body. Hex pulled up next to her and leaned her head on her girlfriend's shoulder, snaking her injured hand over the blonde's and entangling her fingers, "Is that such a bad thing? I'm just glad we're still alive." She gazed into Yang's eyes. Yang just smiled sweetly and leaned her head atop Hex's and kissed it, "You and me both..."

The airships landed, and soldiers piled off, spreading out around the area. A medical ship dropped near the team allowing them to easily carry their injured for first aid.

"Captain Branwen Sir!" A soldier in Atlas military uniform showed up and saluted. Qrow visibly flinched, "At ease soldier, just secure the perimeter, those guys we just fought could be anywhere." The soldier nodded affirmatively, "Any idea who they were sir?" he asked.

"We don't know who they were, but they were strong..." Ruby said folding Crescent Rose and kneeling down to check on her uncle, broken ribs, a twisted ankle, and a mild concussion.

"How did you manage to drag the Atlas military here?" Weiss asked as she limped forward to the medical ship, she had a few dark blue bruises but otherwise, she was fine.

"Ozpin called in a favor." Was all the explanation Qrow gave the heiress.

Blake and Hex were relatively uninjured, Sapphire was just drained and Ruby had suffered minor scratches except for her arm, which was rather raw.

She had to consider, Adam was one powerful man, to manage to hurt a skilled huntsman such as her uncle so easily... imagine what he would have done to...

"ALEX!" Ruby yelled out looking frantic. Everyone's eyes went wide, their precious friend was still down there, the fact that he didn't come back up... Ruby feared for the worst.

"It's been forever since that brute kicked him down there. Neither of them have come out yet." Ruby said rubbing her good arm in nervousness. The look on her face was pure fear. Yang looked on sympathetically, Sapphire came up and held her hand, and looked into her eyes, silver met blue, "Have faith in my brother, he's alive I just know it" was all she could say. In truth she to was worried beyond belief, she had to say those words aloud as if to make herself believe.

"I'm sure charcoal's got this, that Adam guy is good but if anyone could beat him it's our flaming dragon boy," Qrow said wincing as he attempted to get up. Ruby looked up to Qrow, "What did you just call him?" she asked, now everyone was staring at the older huntsman, "Ah shit..." Was all he could muster out before he yelped in pain at antiseptic being applied to his wounds by the nurse.

.

"Hey! Look someone is coming out of the hole!" Blake said pointing to the lift. A tall man dressed in all white who they had never seen before came out carrying something, or someone, the boy was bleeding, bruised and looked nothing short of a corpse.

"WULF!" Qrow cried out limping up to him. The two met each other briefly, Qrow was smiling ear to ear but Randolf's face was grim.
"What's going on…" Ruby walked up to the two.

"No time to explain, he's in critical condition," Randolf said as he took Nova off his back, a makeshift bandage wrapped around his torso, the bleeding was not stopping. If it continued any more, he might die of blood loss.

"Who's that…." Blake started but her voice trailed off. "There's no time kid, help me get Charcoal onto the ship!" Qrow yelled.

"That's ALEXANDRITE?!" Everyone exclaimed simultaneously, finally registering that the white and orange-haired boy that lay before them was none other than their close friend.

Everyone's eyes widened in horror at the sight of their friend. The condition he was in was far beyond any level of injury they had seen. The state of his injuries would have killed any normal person, the white dragon was hanging on by sheer willpower.

"OH MY GOD SOMEONE! WE NEED A MEDIC!" Yang screamed out to the soldiers as Ruby just stood there, all hope for words gone. She was sure, that he would just come out of there, smiling his gentle grin, arms open for a celebration. She never expected him to come out of there on the brink of death's door. She couldn't lose him, not today.

"Why isn't his aura repairing his body, what's going on?" Nitro who had been behind Ruby said. "His aura is weak but it's constantly depleting itself to replenish his blood. He's not healing because it's barely keeping him alive." Randolf responded, trying his best to keep the pressure on the bleeding wound.

The medics arrived and placed him on a stretcher, and rushed back to beacon before everyone else, Randolf boarded with them for support.

When the bullhead left carrying the teams Ruby was mortified. Yang and Sapphire did their best to help her relax but her mind was constantly at ends. What if she had gone in with him, maybe she could've stopped this from happening. These thoughts ate away at her all the way until they got back to Beacon.


As soon as they docked the two teams rushed out, leaving Qrow behind.

"HEY STOP! YOU NEED TO BE DEBRIEFED!" A soldier said trying to deny them entry into the campus.
"NO TIME FOR THAT OUTTA THE WAY!" Nitro yelled bodying the man aside. Weiss screamed apologies as she ran after them.

They barely made it in time to find Nova lying on a hospital bed, IV drips hooked up to his arms and a mask over his face to help his breathing.

"He just came out of surgery so he should be out of it for a while." A feminine voice said. The team turned to see a nurse come through the door, she was brown haired with chocolate eyes, wearing a standard white nurse outfit.

"We managed to patch up the wound on his chest, though it was difficult, whatever cut him, cut deep enough to almost sever his lungs. Four broken ribs, a punctured diaphragm, the bones in his legs have been crushed at the joints as if he were standing on them while they were already broken. His left shoulder had been dislocated and multiple lacerations about his body." She read out the list of damages from her clipboard.

"What in god's name was he fighting a horde of Ursa?" she asked in disbelief.

"Try mad cow," Nitro joked, the team was overall relieved to see he was alive but one thought plagued Ruby. "How long until he wakes up?" she had a sinking feeling as if she knew something was instinctively wrong.

"Well given the extent of his injuries, weeks? Months? Even then his body will never be the same again." She said.

"What do you mean…," Weiss asked fearing the answer.

"I mean that he might not be able to be a huntsman after this. His legs were completely shattered, we're doctors, not miracle workers, his arms may work but his legs and the muscle strain, the blood loss and lung damage, he may never be able to fight again." The nurse said solemnly.

A gruff male voice boomed from the doorway, "My apprentice isn't so weak, he'll figure it out." Randolf said as he entered the room followed by Qrow.

"And Who are you huh? You were carrying him but we don't even know who you are." Weiss asked snarkily.

"MASTER RANDOLF!" Luna cried as she ran up and hugged the older man. He just laughed and leaned down to hug her back. "Good to see you two kiddo," he said tussling her hair. "Don't worry your brother will be fine."

"WHO'S THIS KID?!" Yang asked incredulously gesturing to Luna, whose mask and wig were long gone, her need for secrecy non-existent.

"Yang really? You don't recognize me? And I thought we were friends..." She pouted and pulled her signature blue hood over her head in fake sadness. Everyone recognized the action, "SAPPHIRE?!" Came the resounding realization.

The one and only!" she chirped, though her cheeriness was only a facade, it instantly turned to worry once she spotted the unconscious body of her brother. Qrow noticed her depressive state and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I've known that time bomb for years, he'll make it." he input taking a swig from his flask.

"Are you his guardian?" The nurse asked Randolf.

"Ah yes, what seems to be the issue?" he turned to the nurse.

She reached over to a table that sat at the corner of the room and brought out two syringes from the drawer. One Orange and one blue.

"He had these on him when he was brought in, said it was important to give it to you, don't know how he even managed to speak in that state," she said handing over the vials to Randolf. The older man took them and examined them over. No, it can't be… IT IS!

"This could be the answer!" Randolf exclaimed causing everyone in the room to jump at the outburst.

"What is the answer Wulf?" Qrow turned to his friend.

"These, THIS!" he held the orange syringe in his hand. The team simultaneously raised their eyebrows, "HuH?!" they chorused

Randolf composed himself and pushed up his glasses.

"Ahem! What I mean is, this is liquid nanomachines, these were designed with Nova specifically in mind, like a tailor-made enhancement." He said moving over to the boy.

"His real name is Nova?" Weiss asked, seemingly the only one concerned by this.

"What are you…" Ruby started but stopped when Randolf jabbed the syringe into Nova's arm draining its contents.

"WHAT THE HECK OLD MAN!" Nitro exclaimed in alarm.

"Don't worry this should help him," Randolf said. "Probably." He added.

Within moments, orange circuit marks began glowing over Nova's body, flames encircled and licked at his wounds like a million tiny fireflies. Within seconds all his external lacerations were gone, the black and blue discolourations of his legs and shoulders were gone, and the pained look on his face was replaced by a content sleeping face.

"Astounding…." The nurse said as she was about to write something down but Randolf stopped her. "Breathe a word about this and I will make sure you never wake up again," Randolf threatened. Gulping the nurse nodded and hurried out of the room.

They waited a while but Nova showed no signs of waking up, his pain seemed easier but the golden flames that had healed in him before began wrapping themselves around his body, encasing it in an almost cocoon-like state they all thought it was over when the sudden calm that had overcome him did a complete one-eighty. "AAAAAAAAAARHHHHHHH!" the circuit veins that were soothing him began to wrack his body, causing the boy to scream out in deafening agony.

"What's happening to him! Is the bed gonna catch on fire?" Nitro exclaimed bringing attention to the situation.

"HOLD HIM DOWN!" Randolf said urgently. Nitro instantly went to Nova's side and held him firmly. The boy writhed and squirmed under his hold, Nitro just looked on worriedly, everyone else was too shocked to speak. Eventually, Randolf managed to strap him down and knock him sedate him with anesthetics.

"What's happening to him?! SERIOUSLY OLD MAN HE'S IN MAJOR PAIN!". Yang yelled.

Randolf nodded negatively, "Calm down, he'll be fine provided he's strong enough to deal with the pain. Right now, the nanomachines are…mutating his body, adjusting his muscles and organs to handle the newfound pressure and power. Though there is a chance he may not remember any of us at all when he awakens and even now during this process his body is under immense stress." Randolf said as he filled a cup with coffee from a thermos that conveniently lay on the nurse's table. He leaned against the wall trying to calm his nerves.

"What does that mean? Is he gonna wake up any time soon?" Ruby asked the older man, her eyes then turning to her uncle but he just shrugged his shoulders.

The wolf Faunus took a long sip from the cup before answering, "Can't say for sure, it could be hours, days maybe even weeks. We have no real way of knowing how long it will take his body to adjust to the changes, as for what state he will be in it is also pretty hard to say, in the past Aegis warriors were unstable existences. Their powers were always subject to rampant outbursts if not contained. If my guess is correct, these nanomachines were specially designed for him by his mother. I'm just hoping this prototype works," He placed the cup down.

Weiss whose patience had been wearing thin, she and her team had just been sent on a life or death mission to retrieve some artifact they didn't even know if they had. Hell, they didn't even know the real purpose behind everything, they were left on a need to know basis.

Weiss slammed her fist down on the table startling everyone. "Alright Fido, start talking, I'm gonna need some explanations" she huffed while folding her arms.

Randolf almost spit out the coffee, "Excuse me?"


Long chapter again, took some time to try and iron out all the problems though, I think there may have been one or two I missed, I just can't seem to find them though.

So yeah, secrets are out, next chapter will be some much needed lore.