Since the fight with the Grimm Leviathan was skipped over, thought be nice nod to have this chapter refer to the other Leviathan that Ruby and company will have to face now that they're in Atlas.
Cinder leaned against the tree, running a controller between her fingers. The Malachite twins were nearby, glowering at her. Miltia's hand kept forming a fist whenever they made eye contact. Cinder smiled at her and moved her hand to the button on the controller.
Miltia relaxed her hand, looking away. The yellow Dust crystal in the collars they were wearing caught the light of the moon, glowing dully.
She looked up at a thumping in the sky and peeked around her tree.
A Mistral airship had landed in the nearby clearing, the door opening and Neo and Torchwick exiting. Cinder left her tree, hearing the Twins follow her.
Torchwick frowned when he saw her. "Fuel on these things isn't great, we'd be lucky to get to Mantle."
"As long as it gets us to Solitas, it will serve our needs." Cinder said.
She looked back at the Twins and motioned her head. They walked past her, shooting her a glare as they boarded. Torchwick sighed, and boarded, grumbling to himself.
Neo smiled at her. "I haven't had a chance to have any fun since the Fall. I'm so happy you're back." She signed.
Cinder returned the smile and rested her Grimm claw on top of Neo's beanie, patting her head. "It feels good to be back."
She dragged her suitcase behind her, the rest of her team walking past her. The sun was rising, casting a pale orange light over the dark ocean surrounding Argus. Weiss held a hand over her eyes, looking out over the bay.
Fishermen were departing the docks, their boats bright shades of red and green and yellow. The air was thick with the scent of sea salt, and the sound of lapping waves. Snow coated the buildings near the docks, bits of ice floating further in the ocean.
She took a deep breath before exhaling.
A hand dug into her shoulder, and she looked back. Ruby smiled at her and withdrew her hand. She looked past Weiss and toward the water.
"You're nervous." She said.
Weiss nodded.
"I don't know how bad things were for you back home, but you're not alone anymore. We're never going to abandon you. And if things get bad with your family while we're there, you'll always have us to protect you."
Weiss smiled and nodded. "Thank you," she said.
Ruby patted her on the back before starting to walk away. "We need to head out, it's going to be a long flight to Atlas."
Weiss sighed, and gave one last look at the coast before following after her team, heading for the Atlesian base.
The red wine poured smoothly into the glass. He filled it halfway before setting the bottle aside and raising the glass to his nose. He sniffed; the bouquet was rich, and fruity. Mother might have finally become lucid and sober, but there was no need to waste such exquisite vintages.
Whitley set the glass next to the bottle before moving to the other side of his room, to the record player. He sifted through his vinyl's; what would go well with the wine and news? He lifted a vinyl and smiled. Violin Sonata in G minor, nothing could compare.
He set the record, and moved the needle, closing his eyes as the first notes filled the air.
Sensational.
He went over to his chair, sinking into the leather. A chessboard sat on the table next to him, next to the wine. He flicked on the tv, muting the volume.
A news reporter was hurriedly speaking into a microphone, shielding their head with their other hand as a crowd surged behind her. Many of them were Faunus, some were human. All were in deep trouble, no doubt. They were hurling stones and bricks, the camera panning over to the nearby riot line. The stones and bricks bounced off the soldiers hardlight shields, the expressions of the soldiers hidden by their helmets.
Whitley took a sip from his glass of wine, watching as the riot unfurled. He looked away from the television, and to his chessboard. He picked up a white pawn.
Let the game begin, General.
E4
Robyn handed out rifles to each member of the Fang, nodding at each of them. Joanna was mixing ground up Red Dust into the alcohol bottles, stuffing the caps with cloth. Fiona was storing the satchel charges and pipe bombs away with her semblance. Other members were assembling their sniper rifles, and missile launchers, slinging rows of ammunition around themselves.
"Joanna is going to hand out the Molotov's to certain members in the crowd. Once there's a break in the line, the crowd is going to surge forward, and chase the soldiers down." She reached the end of the line, handing off the last rifle. She pulled back on the repeating crossbow on her arm, looking it over. SDC weapons had been used by the military for so long, they had better not crap out on them now. "Knowing the Atlesian's, they're going to send out their tanks and ships to try and intimidate us or kill anyone they see when they realize we won't back down"
"Once those start rolling out, I want snipers and missiles to keep them busy. We're going to be fighting the main soldiers, keeping them distracted so Fiona can do her job. Fiona will be setting explosives in key areas and once she's done, will be joining back up with us"
"Once she's back with us, we'll begin to retreat, dragging the military after us, and detonating the explosives once they pass. Hopefully we'll be able to kill enough of them that they won't be able to use that much armor on us during the next fight."
They all nodded at her. She exhaled, feeling her stomach twist into knots. She glanced out the window of the abandoned building they were in, looking out over the brightly lit streets.
This is for the good of Atlas. For the good of my people. Sienna would approve of this; I don't have time to be anxious.
She looked back at the White Fang and pumped up her fist. "When humanity asks you to hide!"
"Show your teeth!"
Ironwood sat in his chair, watching the live broadcast. Molotov's shattered against the shields of his soldiers, exploding into balls of red and orange flame.
His soldiers broke rank, rushing to help those on fire, trying to put out the flames. The crowd surged forward, more of his soldiers breaking their line and fleeing, dropping their shields. The crowd descended on the flaming soldiers and those trying to save them, beating on them with stones and bottles.
Salem's agents have found the White Fang here, just like they did in Vale.
He stood up, leaving his desk, and pulling out his scroll.
Atlas will not fall, not under my rule.
Winter tightened the strap of her armor. It had been a while since she had to wear the panzer armor Specialists were given. She stood up, inspecting the armor, moving her limbs, testing the weight.
She looked aside at the young man gearing up next to her. He had dark skin, and dark green hair pulled back into a bun. His armor was a sleek black, contrasting with the bits of his white and blue uniform that peeked out from the sheets of metal and ceramic. His pauldron had the Specialist emblem painted on; a snarling ursa head impaled on a spear.
"You're the fng, aren't ya?"
Winter looked toward the entrance of the room. Harriet stood in the doorway in her armor, her helmet tucked under her pit. Her arms were bare of armor, her strength enhancing gauntlets covering her arms. Her rifle was slung over a shoulder.
"Yes," the young man replied, saluting. Harriet returned the salute, and he went back to putting on his armor. "Sergeant Marrow Amin, ma'am."
"How many got through Specialist training this time? Heard the latest class had about two thousand candidates."
"Twenty, ma'am."
"How many you lose on the helljump? Not being able to figure out a landing strategy is what gets a lot of people kicked out."
He shrugged. "I don't remember the exact amount, ma'am."
Marrow finished strapping on his armor and got up. He grabbed his rifle and inspected it. It transformed into a curved saw, the shape reminding Winter of a boomerang. He looked it over before changing it back to its rifle form and slinging it over his shoulder. He grabbed his helmet, and put it on, the red visor masking his face. He looked over at her.
His voice was muffled as he spoke "What are our orders, ma'am?"
"Was wondering the same thing; deployment of Specialists for a street riot seems like overkill." Harriet said.
Winter buckled her sword around her waist as she spoke. "Foreign forces have made contact with the White Fang here and have supplied them with Hunter grade equipment. IED's show evidence of being made with Red Dust. Airships flying over Mantle have spotted enemy combatants with MANPADS on the rooftops." She grabbed her own rifle, slinging it over her shoulder. "The General wants us to clear civilians from the streets- tear gas, rubber bullets, whatever it takes- to minimize casualties and clear the streets for our armor to maneuver and for medavac of those hit by those IED's. Once that's done, we're free to engage any terrorist forces. Robyn Hill is the current leader of the Atlesian branch of the White Fang, and the General wants her brought in alive for questioning."
Winter put on her helmet, the visor flashing as it came to life. FIRETEAM: ACE appeared in the bottom of her visor; Marrow and Harriet's aura gauges appeared with her own beneath the fireteam name.
"Just another day at the office then," Harriet said with a smirk.
Flames licked the streets, each explosion a blinding flash. Watts lowered her binoculars; the glow of the flames was clearly visible now, even from where she was perched. Her leg dangled off the side of the building as she set the binoculars aside, turning toward her scroll and laptop.
So much of the Atlesian infrastructure was the same, no updates to the os or software. She peaked over the ledge, eying one of the many cameras. New hardware at least.
There was a thud on the other side of the roof; she didn't bother looking up from her work. "I see you've been hard at work," Watts said.
"I have merely spread the word of our Mother," Sable replied.
Watts smirked. "Yes, yes, praise to our Goddess." She resumed her typing, another explosion rocking the streets. "Did you intend for Ironwood to blame the Faunus and White Fang or did James screw himself over without our involvement?" she asked.
"The General speaks heresy. Claiming that our Mother's all seeing Eye is the mark of the Ishvara gods." Venom dripped from Sable's words. Mother Sable spat and coughed. "All of my hard work has been credited to the White Fang."
Watts grunted as Sable ran a hand through her hair. She swatted her hand away, looking up and glowering at her.
Sable cocked her head. "I do not wish to question our Mother's plans, but are you not too old to become a Maiden?"
Watts grunted and looked back at her laptop. "I'm twenty-nine, premature graying is normal. Especially when you get your doctorate at twenty."
The code went through, and Watts adjusted her computer glasses. All the nearby cameras were now at her disposal. She looked over at the flaming streets; no doubt Ironwood would want those cameras blacked out, can't let the good people of Atlas see what was happening at the base of their mountain.
She started to type as another explosion went off. Best to keep that from happening.
Weiss groaned, opening her eyes. Blake was gently shaking her awake, smiling softly at her.
"We're almost there," Blake said.
Weiss sat up, rubbing her head. The others were awake, some stretching their arms in their seats.
"You spent most of your life in Atlas, right Weiss? What can we expect?" Pyrrha asked.
Weiss rubbed her wrist. "I… actually grew up pretty sheltered. My father didn't let us leave the estate very often, only for us to go to temple in the city. All my tutors were brought to the estate to teach us as well, I never had a chance to attend a formal combat school in Mantle or Atlas."
"Well, you've gotta know something at least," Nora said.
Weiss let go of her wrist and shrugged. "We're a much more peaceful kingdom than the rest of Remnant, relatively speaking. Prior to the discovery of Dust in the northern icesheets, we didn't have very many natural resources and most of our settlements were on the coast, trading what little we could grow and produce with Mistral and Vale. We've always had a standing military because of that; our soldiers would protect the villages from Grimm, and our ships would protect our trading vessels. Our government prior to the establishment of the Council was based around our military leaders. All of that is why we still have them even after the Great War and the Hunter schools popping up. All our cities and settlements will be well defended, and we don't have a lot of crime due to their presence. We shouldn't expect very many Grimm to bother us during out stay either. Due to the cold, we don't have as many wandering the wilderness like in other kingdoms and the ones that do are… best left alone."
"I try to leave any Grimm I see alone," Ren said. They all looked at him. "That was a joke."
Weiss giggled, placing a hand over her mouth.
"Atlas has its issues, namely with the way we treat the Faunus, but I can assure you that we'll have a much easier time there compared to Mistral, or even back at Beacon." She said.
Weiss looked toward the cockpit as a voice spoke over the ship's intercom. "We are approaching Atlas and should be arriving shortly."
Weiss went to the cockpit, leaning between the pilot's seats and looking out the window. Icebergs and swells floated in the inky ocean around Solitas. The Atlesian Fleet cruised below them; battleships, aircraft hangers, destroyers, and cruisers all streaking through the water. Auroras danced in the air, bathing the dreadnaughts and frigates in greens and blues as they hovered in the air above the coast. The pilots chattered on the radio, as they flew past the blockade.
The coast gave way to the farmlands, and Weiss frowned. She was far up in the sky, yes, but something seemed… off. Why did so many of the farm towns looks deserted? Why were there so many tanks and armored vehicles in those towns? Most of the harvest should be collected already but that land looked… stripped and dead. She squinted, trying to make out details of a large fire burning in the middle of one town, multiple armored vehicles and trucks parked on the outskirts. Thick, black smoke shrouded most of the town, and she grunted in annoyance, unable to make anything out.
"Approaching the Alsius Mountains and Mantle." One of the pilots said.
Weiss looked ahead, her stomach slowly twisting as the mountain range grew closer. Mantle spiderwebbed from the base of the mountain, smog choking the air around it. Atlas glistened from the mountain itself, its towers and spires illuminating the night.
"Beginning our descent into Mantle."
The ship jolted as it started to descend, skirting over the rooftops.
Weiss looked out the windows, a sharp pain wrapping around her heart.
Smoke belched from various buildings, fires swarming throughout the streets. Tanks sped down the roads, soldiers sprinting behind them. Mantas and Yuki-Onna's soared through the air, touching down on streets and on rooftops, soldiers piling out like wasps from an angry hive.
Atlesian citizens hid behind burned out cars, and makeshift barricades, popping up to fire at the soldiers. Gunfire rained down from the windows of nearby buildings, soldiers collapsing in the streets, the long barrels of tanks swiveling toward those buildings. Those people's homes. Smoke drifted from the rooftops, explosions rocking the tanks. She could see people scurrying across the rooftops, large missile launchers in hand. Some were laying on the roofs, sniper rifles as long as Crescent Rose aimed down at the streets.
She felt tears welling, her hands trembling as she grasped her wrists. No…no… this can't be happening. Not here. Not in Atlas.
She yelped as a Chione fighter ship soared up to them.
"Break! No unauthorized vehicles are allowed in Mantle airspace at this time! Land immediately or your vehicle will be grounded! Over!" a voice shouted over the radio.
"Stand by. This is a Atlesian military transport with a missing Atlas citizen on board, we are coming in under orders of Colonel Cordovan. Over." The pilot radioed back.
There was a pause. "Break! No unauthorized vehicles are allowed in Mantle airspace at this time! Land immediately or your vehicle will be grounded! Over!" The voice repeated. The fighter ship banked, swerving off. Weiss pressed against the glass, spotting the ship behind them.
"Weiss? What's happening?" Ruby called out.
Grounded? T-they wouldn't… they won't shoot us down, right?
The two pilots looked at each other. "Copy all. Wilco." One radioed.
Their ship banked, descending toward a building with Atlas soldiers on the roof. The ship slowed to a stop, landing on the rooftop. The doors hissed open, and Weiss squeezed her wrists.
"Everyone out!" a voice shouted.
Her team and friends all looked at her, confusion on their faces. Weiss swallowed, going, and grabbing her suitcase before heading for the door.
The soldier's rifles greeted her. She descended the ramp, keeping her suitcase in front of her. One of the soldiers ran up to her, yanking their scroll out, and running it over her body.
"Got an ID! Weiss Schnee! Citizen of Atlas!" he shouted. The soldier grabbed her, yanking her away from the ramp. She looked back; Qrow was glaring at the soldiers, his scroll in hand, his other hand gripping Omen's handle.
"Qrow Branwen. Hunter. And very fucking pissed off at all of you." He sneered.
"ID confirmed! Qrow Branwen of Vale."
He rolled his eyes, and pocketed his scroll, keeping his hand on Omen as he joined Weiss' side. Weiss tightened the grip around her suitcase as Blake stepped out. Her ears were pinned to her head, her eyes filled with anger.
The soldier ran up to her, running their scroll over her.
The soldier's eyes widened. "White Fang! White Fang! Belladonna!"
Blake screamed as she was shoved to the ground, her sword and suitcase knocked aside as the soldier pinned her to the ground. The other soldiers rushed forward, aiming their rifles at Blake as she struggled on the ground.
"Blake!" Weiss shouted. She shoved against the soldiers, struggling to get near her love, her everything.
Blake was snarling, spittle flying as she thrashed on the ground as the soldier handcuffed her.
"Take Miss Schnee somewhere safe," the soldier grunted.
One of them grabbed her arm and she yanked her arm free.
"Let go of her!" she shouted.
"Belladonna is one of the most wanted terrorists in all of Atlas. Any and all White Fang members are to be captured and brought in for questioning by order of our Consul."
Blake shouted something in Ishvi, something Weiss hadn't learned yet.
"If you're going to arrest her then you're going to have to arrest all of us!" she shouted.
The soldier looked up from Blake to her and then to the soldiers around her. He shrugged, and dug his knee into Blake's back, eliciting a yelp. "Okay," he said.
Ruby beat against the hardlight wall of her cell, grunting as her bound hands bounced off it.
They were each in a different cell, the walls around them humming. It was cramped, no room to lay down, barely enough space to sit. Two guards stood on each of the doors of the room. Their weapons and the Relic lay on a table against the wall.
"'You'll have to arrest us too' great going, kid." Maria said.
"I stand by that decision. We can't afford to get split up right now." Weiss replied.
Ruby hit the wall again, grunting. "We need to see the General! We have important information about who he's fighting!" she shouted. "Please! Tell him we have the Relic, that Weiss Schnee is here!"
One of the guards looked at the other before motioning with their head. The guard nodded and left the room.
Ruby exhaled, letting her hands rest.
Ironwood stood at his desk, looking over a holographic display of the streets of Mantle, a live feed from the helmet cams of his various soldiers playing next to the map.
He looked up at a knocking at his office doors. "Enter," he called.
The door opened, the soldier saluting him. He returned the salute, and they lowered their arm. "General, sir, we arrested a group of individuals who arrived on an Atlas ship. The vessel was sent by Colonel Cordovan from Argus, but the individuals present were carrying Hunter grade weaponry, and a White Fang member known as Belladonna."
Ironwood frowned. "Why was this ship allowed into Atlas?"
"Weiss Schnee is present with the group, and Cordovan says they found her in Mistral and were transporting her back home. A girl in a red cloak said that they were carrying a 'relic' and that they had important information about our enemies. The only Hunter present with them was a Qrow Branwen, the rest seemed young enough to be in their second or third year of Hunter training."
Ironwood's lips parted. Team RWBY? What are they doing getting involved with the Relics and Salem?
"Bring them to me, I need to speak to them."
"Including the White Fang member, sir?"
"Yes, even her."
The soldier saluted and left the room. Ironwood returned his attention to his map and camera feed, watching the battle unfurl.
Ruby followed the soldier in front of her, her team and the rest trailing her. She looked around as she walked, admiring the halls of Atlas Academy.
They were a sleek gray color, with white marbled floors. Gray and blue mosaics decorated the ceilings and floors. The various classroom doors were stark white. Yellow Dust crystals were perched on intricate torches, blue glass encasing the crystals, casting everything in a dim, blue light.
The students kept a wide berth of the soldiers, shooting concerned looks and glances at them as they walked past. Their uniforms were gray and white, the sight making Ruby smile.
How long had it been since she'd seen those uniforms at Beacon during the festival?
"We don't have time to stop, Professor Zeki's class is very far away from Professor Ebi's class."
Ruby stopped; she knew that voice. She looked around, spotting her. Ciel stood out with her light blue beret. Two other people Ruby didn't recognize were following after Ciel, and-
Her eyes widened, her mouth parting.
It… it couldn't be her.
That orange hair, pale, freckled skin, and bright green eyes.
Ruby bolted, ignoring the shouts of the soldier as she ran toward her. She shoved through students, running toward a ghost.
"Penny!" she shouted. Penny looked over at her, cocking her head to the side. Ruby leapt, crashing into her, trying to hug her with her bound hands, nuzzling her head against her chest. "I-I-I… how are you here? I-I saw you-!"
Ruby looked up at Penny's face, smiling at her love.
Penny cocked her head, blinking as she looked at her. "Do I know you?"
Salem dipped her hand into the lifeblood. It was cool, thick, and tarry to her fingers. She pulled her hand out, watching the lifeblood drip down her arm.
The sun was setting, casting the purple crystals and Dust of Legion's domain into shadow. The wind blew, bits of dust and gravel wafting past her.
The end draws near.
Salem got to her knees, and slid her hands beneath the lifeblood, closing her eyes. She focused her aura, pouring every ounce of her soul into her glyphs.
Grimm splashed up from the lifeblood, screeching and clawing their way out of the tar. Every single Grimm that she had slain, every single one that had been lost to time.
She opened her eyes as a gargantuan whale broke the surface, the ground trembling as it roared.
And I shall be the one to see this world come to its end.
And that's the end for now. I'll be putting this fic on an indefinite hiatus to let the show's story progress further to get a better idea of how to adapt the Atlas arc. Outside of being mostly caught up with the show, I also was wanting to put this on hiatus to work on my original content. Looking at advice from professional authors and expectations for first time writers from agents and companies, my fantasy anthology series will be put on the back-burner so I can focus on three standalone novels (a horror, a sci-fi, and a magical girl) that would work better as debut works. I might upload a oneshot fic every once and a while for things I like, but for now, this is goodbye, and thank you for reading my work, I truly appreciate it.