Final V5 Chapter!
Lionheart burst through the doors of the Mistral Police headquarters, a receptionist glancing up at him, cocking an eyebrow at his tail. His heart ached, and he winced as he stepped over to the desk, resting a hand against his chest.
"Can I help you, sir?"
"I- I am Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart, and Haven Academy is under attack by the White Fang and Grimm cultists." He said. The receptionist straightened out, pressing a multitude of holographic buttons around their desk.
He clutched his chest, his heart aching worse. He forced a smile, watching as the receptionist notified all the police forces across the city. He leaned against the desk, watching as a line of officers rushed past him, rifles in hand, the one in front barking orders.
Mess with my school, will you, Salem?
Blake watched as Weiss looked over at her and Adam, her lips parting and eyes widening when she saw them.
Adam shoved past her, sprinting toward Weiss with a roar.
Weiss staggered off the bench, her body sluggish as she raised Myrtenaster, swallowing as she took a stance as that Faunus came toward her, Blake chasing after him.
W-what the-?
The Faunus' left eye was branded, her families initial's seared into his skin, the eye white in a pit of red.
"SCHNEE!" he yelled. He swung, Weiss cried out as their blades hit, feeling herself get flung back. Her arms shook as she pushed herself up, grabbing her sword from where it landed. "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" His boot crashed into her stomach, flipping her over. She coughed, her stomach throbbing as he grabbed her by the throat, hefting her into the air. She clawed at his hand, struggling to lift Myrtenaster as he squeezed. She couldn't look away from the branding, her family legacy staring back at her as he pressed the tip of his sword against her chest.
Blake tackled Adam with a yell, Adam grunting as she knocked him to the ground. She got in front of Weiss, gripping her sword, hearing Weiss get to her feet. Adam growled as he got to his feet, turning, and glaring at her.
"You don't want to do this, my Belladonna." He said. "I am the salvation of our people, and we will never know peace until the Schnee's are dead." He raised Wilt, aiming the tip at Weiss. "I knew you had strayed from our path, my love, but I will make you see reason once again after I kill her. And we will bring humanity the justice they deserve." He smiled. "Together."
"Y-you're Adam," Weiss gasped. Adam shot Weiss a look before looking back at her.
"I am not your love." Blake shifted her stance. "Weiss is my moon, and I am her stars."
Adam's lip quivered, his grip on Wilt's handle tightening. He took a breath, glaring at both of them. "You're the one making this difficult. Remember that."
He shot forward, swinging Wilt, Peace Bringer crashing against it. Blake yanked her blade free, ducking under his swing, shoving her sword into Blush, yanking it free of his belt and swinging, hurling it away, hearing it clatter against the ground far away. She swung with the momentum, her blade darting down toward Adam's head. Wilt caught her blade, knocking it aside, his foot shooting out. Blake leapt back, a clone taking the kick, dissipating into a black mist.
Adam charged through the mists, Wilt a red blur. She parried his swing, sparks leaping between their blades as they clashed again and again. She spun around a slash, grabbing his wrist behind her, and leaping backwards, her heel slamming into Adam's face. He grunted, staggering back as she landed, releasing his wrist, jabbing her katana's handle into his gut, grabbing her pistol from its holster as she spun away from a slash, firing several shots, Wilt glowing angrily as Adam deflected her shots, slicing through them.
Adam smirked.
His blade and horns glowed red, black energy crackling around him. He shot toward her, dark shadows mimicking his every movement. Blake snarled, slashing forward, gasping as she sliced through a shadow. Adam shot past her and toward Weiss, a yell ripping from his lips as he leapt into the air, Wilt ablaze.
Weiss' muscles screamed as she leapt out of the way, Adam's sword stabbing into the ground, a shockwave of red energy spraying forth, ripping through the ground, stones flying out. He yanked his sword free, shadows moving with him as he swung at her, Weiss barely having time to counter each swing, her arms trembling from each blow.
Adam frowned, spinning around, catching a kick from Blake with his blade, Blake leaping from it, spinning in the air, kicking the side of his head, and sliding against the ground as she landed next to Weiss. Adam growled, rubbing the back of his head before looking back at them. The glow in his horns and sword dissipated, returning to their dull color.
He shot toward her, Blake leaping in front of her, their blade's clashing as they swung at each other. Weiss flanked Adam's side, gnashing her teeth as she forced her body to move through the exhaustion.
No aura for glyphs
She pulled the trigger, Red, her blade igniting as she charged at Adam. He spun, kicking away Blake's sword and catching Weiss' sword with his own. He smiled at her, flames leaping in front of his face.
"You know who got that Dust you use, don't you, Schnee?"
Weiss glanced at the branding on his eye, feeling her lip part. Adam's smile grew as he shoved forward, knocking Weiss off her feet, Myrtenaster clattering against the ground. He stalked toward her, chuckling as she scrambled toward her sword.
Several shots rang out, Adam hissing and spinning around, deflecting several more shots, his aura shimmering as Blake fired. Weiss grabbed Myrtenaster and got to her feet, breathing heavy as she ran toward the two.
Blake held a hand over her face, hearing Adam grunt in annoyance as floodlights washed over them.
"This is the Mistral Police! Lay down your weapons and surrender!" a voice echoed above them. Several Mistral airships hovered in the air, armored police rappelling down into the fray of White Fang and Menagarie Faunus. Winds buffeted them, dust and gravel being kicked up by the airships. Adam snarled, looking up at the airships.
"Adam! It's over, give up!" she shouted. He looked back at her, his expression hardening. His horns began to glow red, black, and red energy crackling around him.
"Never."
He slashed Wilt through the air rapidly, maroon energy shock waving out and flying toward her. She jumped out of the way of the first, twisting in the air to dodge the second, gasping as the third hurled toward her.
She screamed, feeling her skin sizzle as the energy washed over her, her aura flaring as she was flung back. She hit the concrete, groaning as she lifted herself up, using Peace Bringer to steady herself as she got to her feet.
Shadows moved alongside Adam as he assaulted Weiss, circling around her, Weiss' parries and dodges growing slower and slower. Adam away from Weiss, hurling Wilt, the blade buzz sawing against Myrtenaster, sparks spraying out. Weiss yelled, knocking the blade aside, embedding it into the ground. Adam shot toward her, grabbing his blade from the ground, and swinging at her stomach, Weiss' eyes shooting wide as she brought Myrtenaster up, Wilt slicing through it. Weiss cried out as Adam's fist slammed into her face, knocking her back, Adam grinning as he stepped over the remains of Myrtenaster.
Blake gnashed her teeth, jumping toward Adam, throwing several clones behind her, launching herself further with their momentum. She somersaulted over his head, landing in front of Weiss, catching Wilt's swing with her own, forcing Adam back with a flurry of blows. She left a clone, feeling her aura break as she jumped back, Wilt slicing through it. She fired several shots, Adam hissing as they hit, his aura shattering, crackling around him.
He glared at her, the glow in his horns dying. His gaze darted behind her and toward Weiss.
"I don't want to have to hurt you again, my love." He pointed at her stomach with Wilt; at the scar he had given her. "One scar is enough; I don't want to have to give you more."
"You have no idea how many scars you've left me with," she spat. Adam frowned before sighing and shrugging his shoulders.
"Have it your way."
He sprang toward her, interlocking blades with her, smiling as he looked at her. Blake pulled her blade free, ducking under his next swing and jabbed forward.
Blood spurted as she stabbed into his stomach, Adam inhaling sharply. Her ears pinned back as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, hearing his agonized groans as she stabbed further in, twisting the blade. He rested his head against hers, his breathing labored.
"I… will always… be wi-"
Blake yelled, ripping her sword aside, Adam screaming as the side of his stomach was cut open. She pulled herself out of his hug, stepping back as he collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around him.
"My… Belladonna…"
Blake closed her eyes, her ears pinning down as Adam's gargled breathing slowed. She turned away and opened her eyes when it ceased. Weiss stood in front of her, blood running down the side of her face, her jacket and dress charred and burned.
Blake embraced her, burying her face into her shoulder, hiccupping. Weiss struggled to lift her arms, wrapping them around Blake, and closing her eyes.
"Weiss." Weiss moved her hands up Blake's back, fighting the numbing exhaustion as she ran her hands through Blake's hair. "Weiss… I…" Blake clung to her, gripping the back of her dress. Weiss couldn't speak, every part of her sore and screaming. She simply held her, clinging to her stars as she wept into her shoulder.
Yang sprinted forward, leaping, firing a shot, clearing the gap in the bridge, spinning, hurling a kick at Raven. Raven grunted, catching her kick with her gauntlet. Raven shoved, Yang spun back, gravel spraying out as she landed. She snarled, charging at Raven.
"Why did you tell me to come with Ruby-" she hurled a punch, Raven blocking, grabbing her wrist, Yang twisted out of it. "If you wanted her dead?"
Raven sidestepped her next swing. "Because I knew you would be strong enough to beat Cinder's lackeys," she parried Yang's swing, grasping her arm, and hurling her aside. Yang grunted, slamming against the bronze Vault door. Raven rested a hand on her hip, annoyance in her red eyes. "And I needed some type of reason to go with Cinder so I could kill her and give our tribe time to get somewhere Salem won't find them."
Yang growled, getting to her feet, her aura arm forming. She ran, leaping and kicking down, Raven dodging the kick. "When did you become the Maiden? Why did you hide that from me?"
Raven kept her hand on her hip, dodging and weaving around Yang's punches. "Little bit after you were born." Raven backhanded Yang's punch, sparks leaping as her gauntlet sliced against Ember Celica. "She was a young girl, caught under some burning rubble." She ducked under a punch, Yang gasped as Raven's leg swept out, knocking her feet out from underneath her. Raven grabbed Yang's neckerchief, keeping her from hitting the ground. The annoyed look in Raven's eyes faded as she looked at her. "She… she looked a lot like you did at that age. I didn't want to see her suffer."
Yang smacked Raven's hand away, grunting as she hit the floor. She got to her feet, scowling at Raven.
"Stop holding back!" she yelled. Raven ducked under her punch; her movements calm as she continued to dodge. "What happened to 'I won't be forgiving'? Why won't you fight me?!"
Raven scowled, her arm a blur, Yang gasping as the handle to Omen smashed into her stomach. "Because I don't want to fight you. If I did, you would be dead already." Raven pulled the handle back, sheathing it, scowling as Omen's scabbard whirred and spun. "My offer still stands, Yang. Give all of this up, all of this pointless fighting against Salem, and join me." A portal materialized behind her, and she motioned to it with her hand. "No more pain of Weiss not loving you, no more dealing with Oz and Qrow's lies."
"Fuck you!" Yang screamed, her aura arm flaring, flames burning as she slammed it into Raven's face. Raven grunted, the portal disappearing as she crashed to the ground. "You don't know a fucking thing about me! You left me!" Raven got to her feet, scowling as she rubbed the spot Yang had punched her. "You've never loved me! Stop acting like you do!"
"Shut up!" Raven yelled. She threw a hook, Yang's arm shaking as she caught it, feeling Ember Celica dent inwards. "I've always loved you!" Yang kicked up, Raven catching and tossing her aside. "The night I left I was going to take you with me!" she yelled. Yang got up, holding up her fists. "I've always watched over you, even when you didn't know I was around!" Raven ran to her, Yang ducking under her swing, throwing her own. "I wanted you to grow up like a normal person! I thought Tai would be strong enough to raise you on his own!" Raven yelled, the two of them parring each other's punches and kicks, neither landing a hit.
"And you think I would want to give up my family to come live with you because you said all that shit?" Yang hissed.
"I want you to leave all of this before you get hurt again! It won't just be your arm next time! Weiss will die! Ruby will die! Everything you care about will be taken away because of Ozpin and Qrow!" Raven grabbed Yang's arm as she swung, grasping it, spinning Yang around and kicking her, hurling her to the ground. Yang groaned, panting as she stood up, sweat stinging her eyes as she looked at Raven. Raven frowned. "I am offering you a way out of this insanity. So, stop fighting and just come with me!" she said.
Yang spat, raising her fists. "You're pathetic." She hurled herself at Raven, Raven growling in annoyance. "It fucking sucks, not being able to be with Weiss the way I want to. But I know I need to move on. You? You never did, and you're just bitter and hateful because you couldn't have what you wanted." Raven said nothing, grunting as one of Yang's blows hit her shoulder. Raven caught her next punch, yanking her arm up, and staring at her.
"Do you know what I've always wanted from you, Yang?" she asked. She let go of her wrist, stepping back. "I wanted you to turn out stronger than me."
"I already am." Yang said.
Raven said nothing, a flicker of a smile on her face before she turned away, going to the Vault door. "If you are this dead set on fighting Salem, then so be it." She rested her hand against the door, blue runes lighting up around the doorway, the mechanical wing like appendages making up the door itself shuddering as they shifted, swinging into the doorframe. Yang squinted, holding up a hand as light poured from the entrance, brighter than the burning tree above them.
Raven turned away from the door, a portal materializing next to her. "My words mean nothing to you, but… I am proud of who you became. And I know you would not have turned out this way if I had been there for you."
Yang felt her lip tremble as Raven stepped through the portal, disappearing. Leaving her, like she always did. Her aura arm dissipated, and she clenched her hand into a fist, not looking at where Raven had stood as she marched into the light of the doorway.
Sand crunched beneath her boots, miles and miles of desert stretching out before her. The air around her was hazy, whispers and unclear voices all around her. There was no scorching heat, no deathly cold, the desert like a dream. She shook her head, walking through the sand, staring at a gold and blue lamp that hovered above a stone altar. She cocked her head when she reached it, grasping its handle, and looking it over.
This? This is what they were fighting for? What she was fighting for? What she had lost her arm for? What Jaune, and Coco had died for? What everyone had abandoned her for?
She squeezed, turning, and hurling the Relic into the sand. She felt her legs give out, crumpling into the sands, her screams of anguish lost in the whispers and voices of the desert.
Emerald groaned, her head swimming, her vision blurred as she lifted her head. The Great Hall was aflame, Hazel was a ways off, fending off Ruby, Pyrrha, and Nora. Mistral airships hovered in the air above her, the thud of their rotor blades filling the air, the winds buffeting her. She looked around; members of Salem's cult and the White Fang were on their knees, Mistral police surrounding them. Mercury lay in the grass near the Great Hall, clutching his stomach, coughing, and groaning. Adam lay dead, his sword resting in the pool of blood surrounding him.
T-this is bad.
Hazel grunted in annoyance as one of her Dust crystals was blown off her arm, the belt of Dust crystals she had brought nearly empty.
C-Cinder will get the Relic. She's a Maiden, she'll be able to stop all of them and save this. Salem won't be mad at us if that happens at least.
Emerald felt a spark of hope, a smile forming as she forced herself to her knees, watching as a figure walked through the smoking entrance of the Great Hall. Something in their hand glowed a bright blue. Emerald's smile fell, dread gnawing at her.
The one in the smoke had only one arm.
Ruby froze, a scream ripping through the air. Emerald was on her knees, clutching her head, screaming.
The streetlights began to glow red, the flames swallowing the Great Hall turning black. Emerald's scream grew louder and louder, her shrieking voice stabbing into Ruby's mind. The smoke billowing into the sky began to spin, spiraling, taking form. Ruby swallowed, stepping back, the air growing colder and colder, her breath coming out in silver puffs as the spiraling form twisted, red lights glowing from the smoke.
Her blood ran cold as the eyes formed in the smoke; hateful, blood red pools that stared out. The spiral twisted, the flames ever black, the world around her glowing red, the smoke turning to a deathly shade of white. A head formed around the eyes, bone pale, its pit like mouth filled with sharpened teeth. Black, tar like goo drooled from It's mouth, splashing over the ground.
Ruby fell to the ground, scrambling back, screaming as the face turned, its glare fixed upon her as it shrieked, tar spraying forth. She threw a hand in front of her, squeezing her eyes shut as the shrieking grew, the face shooting towards her.
The shrieks and screams stopped.
She tentatively opened her eyes, lowering her hand. The face was gone, the lights back to their normal yellow white, the flames orange, the smoke grayish black. She got to her feet, clutching her scythe as she looked around.
Emerald, Hazel, and Mercury were gone. Weiss, Blake, Nora, and Pyrrha were picking themselves up from the ground, Nora trembling, holding onto herself. Members of the Mistral Police and White Fang were gawking, staring at the burning Hall. Laughter cut through the air, sickening and chilling. The people in Atlas Specialist uniforms were struggling against the police, the oldest one laughing hysterically, trying to clasp his hands together.
"Oh praise be to the Mother! To grace us with her presence!" he yelled.
"Praise be to the Mother!" the others echoed.
"She will not forsake us! We have done her will!"
"Done her will!"
Ruby looked away, clutching Crescent Rose tighter as the police forced them to the ground, trying to silence their laughs. She looked back at the building, her lips parting as she saw Yang stumble out of the smoke, a glowing blue and gold lamp in her hand. Yang stumbled, her head swaying before collapsing to the ground.
"-ang!"
"Ya-!"
"Yang!"
She groaned, opening her eyes, her body numb with exhaustion. She felt herself being sat up; Ruby's arm wrapped around her shoulder. Weiss stood in front of her, her arm wrapped around-
Blake.
Yang's hand curled, her nails biting into her glove as she looked at her. Blake's ears pinned back, her eyes darting from the fist forming, and to the remains of her other arm.
"Yang? What happened to you?"
She lurched forward, ripping free from Ruby's grasp.
"Yang!"
She threw her arm around Blake, resting her fist against her back, feeling it loosen, and clutch onto Blake's back, her nails digging into Blake's shirt.
"You left…" she said. She felt herself start trembling, clutching Blake tighter. "You left us. You left me." She shook her head, feeling her forehead rub against Blake's shoulder. "I thought… I thought you never cared about us. That you helped destroy Beacon." She hiccupped, her tears dampening Blake's shirt. "I needed you, Ruby, somebody, to be there for me. And nobody was. Because everybody always leaves."
She hiccupped again, feeling Blake and Weiss wrap their arms around her, Blake's hand running through her hair.
"I… I thought I was doing what was best for everyone, by running away." Blake said. "I wanted to protect you, and Ruby, and Weiss from my past. I… I'm sorry, Yang." Yang sniffed, feeling Blake gently pull her away from her shoulder. She smiled at her. "I'm not going to leave again."
"None of us are," Ruby said, wrapping her arms around Yang.
Yang squeezed her eyes shut, clutching Blake, feeling herself shudder as she sobbed into Blake's shoulder; the loving embrace of her team, her family, holding onto her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, girls."
The wind blew around her, the autumn air chilled. Brown and red leaves swirled with the wind, white butterflies dancing over Summer's grave. She crouched down, running her hand over the faded stone, feeling the indents and grooves of Summer's emblem carved into the stone.
"Summer…" Raven whispered. She took a breath, exhaling as she pulled her hand back. "I know. I know that… things wouldn't have worked out if we had been together. I know it, deep in my soul. You would be sickened by me, at what I've become, at the things I've done, at the things I've said to your children." She sniffed, the tears sliding down, the tears she had buried for so long. "You… you would probably try to kill me if you knew what I was now. A noble Hunter like you." She smiled; the tears warm. "The noble Summer, going to save Mistral from the Valravn, to go and stop the Raider clans from tormenting the innocent."
Several of the white butterflies flew away from the grave, landing on her arms, their tiny steps so gentle. They looked up at her, their eyes silvery gray.
"They're a lot like you. Your ch…" She closed her eyes, looking away from the grave, feeling the butterflies crawl. "Your daughters." She finally said. "You've raised them better than I ever could have. I thought about having a family with you, it was something I always wanted to have with you. And…" She opened her eyes. "I never would have been a good parent to whatever kids we might have had. I never would have been good for you."
"I thought that Cr-Ruby was going to turn out like my brother. And I was wrong. They're like you. So much like you." She wiped at her eyes and sniffed. "I don't expect you to forgive me for what I've done. But I wanted you to hear this. And to know… that I did the right thing this time." She shook her head. "I can't get involved in Ozpin's fight… not after what happened to you. But… would I have been able to live with myself if I let the only part of you left in this world die?"
She got to her knees and rested her head against the gravestone. "I… I will never stop loving you, Summer. And every day… I want the Feathered One to take me to you. Even… Even if I know how you will act once we see each other again."
Raven's eyes snapped open and she sprang to her feet, looking behind her as something thudded softly against the grass.
Taiyang stood near the tree line, his eyes wide in disbelief as he looked at her, a bouquet of white and red roses laying in the brown, swaying grass.
Sorry for how long it took to finish V5, just been busy and V5 is hard one to work on. Very excited to work on V6, so hopefully it won't take as long.