25

The Pride Before the Fall

The pain was something she was used to as she lay there, staring up at the only light in the dark expanse around her. Gold eyes burned silently in the dark as she put her hand to her stomach, wincing slightly as the hunger pangs continued for a while. Eventually they would go away but the pain was getting worse. How long she'd been trapped down here she didn't know, time had ceased to have any meaning to her. She didn't even know if was night or day outside.

In the dark she had to subsist off of the filthy water she had fallen into though she thanked her mistress that she'd landed in the surprisingly deep well of water without hitting the jagged rocks surrounding it. With nothing to do but wait she had fantasized her revenge on that mute. She'd been so close, the power of another maiden within her grasp only to have her plans turned on her. Neopolitan would die, that was for sure, and it would not be swift.

Finally she felt something stir within her and for once it was not hunger but something else. Raising her one remaining hand before her face she concentrated briefly, feeling the tug of power which had slipped her grasp for so long in the depths of the ravine in which she found herself. A spark sputtered into a steady flame that started small and eventually grew into a fist sized ball of fire that illuminated her surroundings.

Cinder Fall let out a smile, the first in a long while, as she looked up once again at the glow from the vault high above her head. The walls were uneven and had places for handholds, she could climb out if she needed though getting up the shaft to Haven would be much more difficult. Something brushed against her ankle and she looked down sharply to find nothing on the ground. The feeling came back but there was nothing there still so she cast about to find the source, it had to be a draft.

Strengthening the flame she carefully spent the next few dozen minutes inspecting the walls of her prison. The steady flame flickered in the small movement of air and she narrowed down onto the crack in the wall.

This was it. Her way out.

Examining the aperture found that it only went forward a few feet before opening to the outside world. That was enough for her and she gathered the dregs of her power into the palms of her hand. The maiden's power responded to her emotions, her determination. She wasn't going to be beaten here, she wasn't going to die. She would live, survive, and claim what was rightfully hers.

The power exploded out in a tremendous release of energy that blew away everything in front of her. Cinder panted and felt her strength leave her, one knee impacting the hard ground as she steadied herself with her hand. She'd only just regained her strength and had spent it. Through sheer determinations she struggle to her trembling feet and staggered out the opening and into the cool night air. With only the light of the fractured moon to guide her way Cinder made out into the treeline, her eyes set on the dim path before that she knew must lead somewhere.

First she would gather her strength.

Then she would take what was rightfully hers. A pain lanced up her left arm, or what was left of it and she gazed down and the blackened stump, the only thing that remained of the limb granted her by her mistress.

Though if she couldn't have the Maiden's power then no one could.

"Sun Wukong reporting! Mission accomplished. Blake Belladonna has been successfully returned to her team!"

The monkey faunus executed a clumsy Atlesian salute that Weiss returned in proper form, "At ease Agent Wukong. Good work on returning our stray to us. I have half a mind to put a bell on her."

That earned an indignant squak from said cat faunus who was hanging just next to the ex-heiress. Yang was barely suppressing her laughter while Ruby was already in the throes of a laughing fit.

"Really though, Sun, thanks for looking after our wayward teammate. It can't have been easy." Weiss spared a long stare at Blake who huffed and crossed her arms.

"Aw, I woulda done it anyways. I look after my friends." Sun looked a little bashful but it made them smile even more. They knew he would have regardless and that was what was really important.

"More than friends, I'd say, " Yang interrupted, throwing an arm over Sun's shoulders, "Methinks the kitten doesn't hate it nearly as much as she says she does." Everyone looked to see a red cheeked Blake turn around and walk over to Ilia who was just joining them at the commissary.

Everyone had gathered at Mistral Central Station to see off the group heading to Argus. Ilia had only just arrived in the company of Blake's parents, the three of them getting ready to set off back to Menagerie. They looked happy and Blake was simply over the moon at having dealt such a huge blow to the White Fang. Nothing had been able to truly get her down, not even Yang's strange mood around her. Not that the blonde hadn't tried to hide it but they were still partners and the cat faunus could tell there was something up with her ever since she had come back to the team.

It wasn't like she didn't know why either. She remembered the story Yang had told her in Beacon, when she had been working herself too hard to investigate the White Fang. Her mother had abandoned her when she was little and Ruby's mother had died. Blake knew the blonde had abandonment issues, it was something of a team secret though she suspected Jaune knew too. Blake suspected Yang was struggling with the blame over her mother leaving and seeing her teammate leaving, and the cat faunus did feel guilty for it. Especially when she saw the scar on Yang's chest.

The woman in question came up to the group following closely behind Qrow, who was holding a bundle of tickets that he distributed. Blake had gotten a good look at the woman, who looked like an older Yang with black hair, over the past week as she made more and more frequent visits to the temporary home they had in Mistral. She didn't miss the way her partner stiffened up when Raven showed up though the two made a show of not acknowledging each other's existence. They had all heard the shouting.

She turned her attention to her own mother who stood next to her husband and in standing slightly behind was Ilia, until Kali dragged the girl forward. Blake was secretly pleased that her parents had seemed to take a liking to her old friend while the chameleon faunus seemed embarrassed about the attention.

"You'll be staying with your team, then?" Kali looked past Blake to her team.

"They need me. I left them once… I'm not going to do that again." Her mother and father looked at each other and then looked back at their daughter, looks of pride on their faces.

"We are so proud of you Blake." Ghira pulled her into a hug that was joined by his wife. The young cat faunus relaxed into her parents' embrace. She felt so relieved to hear those simple words. Blake knew they loved her and were proud but hearts were fickle things and the words soothed hers.

"I love you guys. I'll visit again, when things have calmed down." They didn't know the truth and while she did think they would support her trying to save the world she didn't want to worry them. After releasing them she turned to Ilia and with a tug from Kali the husband and wife slipped away to leave the two to say goodbye.

"Thanks again Ilia. I don't think I could have done it without you."

Ilia shook her head, "You'd have found a way."

"No, I don't think I could have. Ilia, thank you."

Though the girl looked like she wanted to protest, the words died on her lips when she saw the look on Blake's face. Instead a sad smile blossomed, "It's me who should be thanking you Blake. You saved me, gave me a second chance where no one else would have."

She stepped forward and hugged Blake, pink quickly flashing across her skin before it was gone again, "I have no words for how much I owe you Blake."

The cat faunus rest her hands gently on her friend's back. Maybe she could never return the feelings the woman had for her but she could accept and understand them, "Good luck Ilia."

They seperated and Ilia wiped moisture away from her eyes, "You too Blake. I...I.. Goodbye." Another quick hug and Ilia was gone after the elder Belladonnas.

Yang stared out the window. She hated being cooped up and the promise of another few hours on the Argus Limited did little to temper her impatience. The snowy scenery passed by in a blur as the blonde sat by the window in an apathetic daze. Weiss didn't want to go to Atlas and it showed in her snappy attitude while Yang still wasn't sure how to act around Blake. She wanted to forgive the girl and in some ways she already had but there was a lingering doubt that nagged at her deep down. If she left once was she going to again?

She tried to dispel her funk with a deep breath but it didn't work. Resigning herself she stood up, "Just gonna get some fresh air." Yang responded to the looks from her teammates.

It didn't take her long to find Jaune sitting in one of the public areas of the train chatting with an old lady dressed in blue. He noticed her and a quick smile from him made one mirror his on her face. One hand came to rest on the back of his seat.

"Hey Yang, what's up?"

"Nothing much. Just stretching my legs a bit."

He gave her a knowing smirk, "Feeling cooped up?" She rolled her eyes but didn't refute it. Just before she moved on she felt his hand pat the back of hers quickly.

Yang decided a quick walk up and down the cars would do her some good. The Argus Limited was a fairly nice train, not that she'd ever been on one before. As she made her way towards the front of the train she saw the others hanging around. Qrow, Raven, and Oscar, probably Ozpin though, were having a conversation in the dining car. Her mother didn't even spare her a glance and she pretended it didn't bother her.

In one of the front cars Nora had cornered one of the conductors and was asking him about how trains worked. Yang blatantly ignored Rens long suffering stare in her direction as she backed out and decided to make her way back to their room. It looked like everyone wasn't as bored as she was, she honestly would have loved a bit of excitement. Yang was getting antsy and that wasn't a good sign for her temper.

I'd love to be able to destress right about now.

The train shook hard and Yang was thrown to the side against a row of seats.

"I didn't do it!" She cried out and then blushed a moment later when she realized she'd said that out loud. A quick look out the windows showed exactly what was going on. Black figures could be seen flying about, chasing the train. Oscar broke into the carriage she was in, a worried but determined look on his face.

"We have to get topside, I'll go get Ren and Nora. Qrow's getting the others."

"You know, I'm starting to think you were right about the grenade launcher Nora!" Jaune shouted against the wind as he blocked another fireblast from a manticore, he resisted the urge to wave his sword at the hovering grimm. The blond was feeling quite useless in this fight and noted to himself to at least pick up a ranged weapon in the future. It couldn't hurt to be prepared.

A thunk went off and the manticore he had blocked exploded into a pink puff of smoke, "Told you!~" Nora sang as she danced passed, aiming at groups of manticores with Magnhild.

Jaune blocked another shot as Ren ducked under his shield, gunning down another manticore. Each one they killed was replaced by another, there was no end to them. Team RWBY was a few cars down from them and were slaughtering the manticores but being waring of the much larger sphinx. The two proper professionals of the group were wading through the enemies. Qrow's weapon barked and dissolved a manticore before he jumped up and bisected another. Raven was even more efficient as she used her powers to hover around attacking the grimm from the air.

There was a scream as one of the Argus Limited's professional huntsmen was carried off into the forest. Jaune felt his blood freeze at the sight, knowing what fate awaited him. He shook the image from his head and shoved the tip of his sword through the gullet of a manticore that had come too close. Even the blood of the creature dissolved off of his blade as it died, flaking off like ash in the wind.

Suddenly the turrets on top of the train came to life, firing upon the Grimm with abandon and reducing their numbers visibly. The train carriages had armor slide into place over the windows as it was transformed into a defensive mode. The packs numbers - if that's what a group of them are called- dwindled rapidly as the combat moved on.

In his moment's distraction a manticore tackled him to the rooftop his shield being forced into it's jaws to prevent the creature's attempts to maul him. Jaune's sword skittered across the train as a clawed foot knocked into his hand. The beast froze, however, as a thin blade pierced it's cranium. Through the dissolving grimm he spied the grinning face of Neopolitan.

Ren jogged over and helped him up, looking around he noticed that the only grimm left was the sphinx which was tied down before being split in half by a combined attack from Qrow and Ruby. The train shuddered and Jaune nearly fell over as he almost lost his balance. It looked like now that combat was over everyone was eager to get back down below.

"You guys get back down below, I've gotta get my sword." Ren nodded and the rest of his team plus Neo started clambering back down into the train. It looked like the others were doing the same. Eager to get out of the chilling wind Jaune made his way over to where his sword had slid, on the edge of the roof.

Jaune counted himself lucky the weapon had now slid right off the tracks, imagining what his father might say if he lost the Arc ancestral blade. Being very careful, he inched his way up and knelt down to pick the sword up, placing it back in it's sheath at his waist. With a quick sigh in relief her turned around right as the train shook again, sending him off balance. He felt a pit open up underneath him at the weightless moment as he entered freefall. Jaune's arms windmilled in a futile attempt to right his position even as he knew it was far too late.

He was going to fall.

"Jaune!" Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Ruby burst into rose petals and streak across to him. She had been the last to go under and had noticed his plight. He felt a heavy impact as she slammed into his chest, wrapping her arms around him as he felt himself affected by her semblance. The world itself seemed to slow down as they whistled through the air. He couldn't tell if that was the wind screaming in his ears, Ruby, or himself.

They were both lifted up and towards the train but their momentum started stalling. Looking down he saw Ruby's head loll to the side as her muscles relaxed, her eyes closing. Jaune felt gravity take hold of them. The world stopped spinning as they started falling and he gripped the girl to him tightly and closed his eyes as the ground came rushing up to meet them.

A/N: And there we go. Moving forward with some time skips as everyone board the Argus Limited. Things go differently from canon but things still go wrong on the journey to Argus.

V6 Ep 7 premiered today and it gave me a lot to think about. Though, the reason I'm mentioning this isn't spoilers but to rather tell you guys I have a plan for the rest of this story and will thus be ignoring most of canon from now on though I will pick and choose things I might need to include from canon. This change is actually the first step towards what I'm writing for the rest of the series.

Though I have to admit that I've absolutely loved the past few episodes, especially the Grimm designs in the new season.

I didn't notice this until I came to make this note but the title is a double reference. huh. Go figure.