Vale was burning. The world he fought so desperately to create in The Great War was crumbling before his eyes. So, many lives lost, yet now another massacre was being committed by another kingdom's army.
Perhaps that was unfair to James, Ozpin thinks to himself. He had told him the army wasn't going to help, though even he hadn't expected this.
Salem had outplayed him. He was on the backfoot now, despite having had every advantage possible. The kingdoms united, the relics protected, and the next generation was almost ready to take the place of the old. But now wasn't the time to ponder on the past.
He reaches the entrance. In the courtyard a group of students stand together. The sight fills him with pride and hope. No matter what, this generation would stand together, united just as the God of Light told him to do.
Ms. Nikos notices him and rushes towards him. If she was willing to receive the Fall Maiden's power, then some good may come from this mess. Mr. Arc talks to his teammates, before following Ms. Nikos.
"Professor, I-" She starts.
"Ms. Nikos, Our biggest priority is the safety of the Fall Maiden. For now, we need to go to the vault." He begins running, Ms. Nikos right behind him.
"Pyrrha, wait!" Jaune calls. "Where are we going?"
"Mr. Arc, I understand you have questions, but now isn't the time. They can be answered later."
And so they run, further and further into the school, until they reach the elevator. Ms. Nikos is obviously nervous, as is Mr. Arc. The descent is painfully slow, a feeling of anxiety rises in his chest before he forces it down. The doors open and they run again, close to their goal.
"What is this place?" Mr. Arc asks.
"It's a type of vault." Ms. Nikos hesitantly responds.
"You've been here before?" He doesn't get an answer. "What would this school need to…" He trails off. "What? Who?"
"Pyrrha, get to the pod." He tells her. As of this moment, she was involved whether she wanted to be or not. She was no longer just a student. "Mr. Arc, if you'd like to help you can stand guard here."
"What do we do now?" Pyrrha asks him. Another child he wishes didn't have to be caught up in this war.
He sighs. "We do nothing." The pod opens. "You, Ms. Nikos, have a choice to make." She looks at Jaune and hardens her resolve. She steps into the pod, eyes still gleaming with worry as the door closes.
The ground rumbles as he finishes typing in the command. "Are you ready?"
Her nod reminds him of the countless others that have marched to their deaths for him. "I-, I need to hear you say it."
"Yes."
"Thank you, Ms. Nikos." He starts the machine. Amber's pod rises, her eyes flickering open momentarily as the transfer begins.
Pyrrha lets out a cry of pain as the power is forced into her body.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune cries.
"I'm, so sorry." He apologizes, though even he isn't completely sure who he's apologizing to.
Whistling air catches his attention. The following sound of an arrow meeting flesh before he can even turn around makes him want to curse. The enemy was here, and Amber was dead.
The transfer stops as the power shoots towards the woman. If he can remember right, she was a student from Haven. Salem had taken pawns from the schools then.
The woman rises into the air, almost as if gloating about her success. Mr. Arc runs toward her.
"Stay back!" He calls, as Mr. Arc is launched backward.
"Jaune!" Ms. Nikos yells as she sends the pod door flying towards the woman. She easily bats it away as she lowers herself to the ground. Ms. Nikos goes to attack, but he stops her. He wouldn't let her die today, or anyone else as long as he had a body.
"Take Jaune and get out of here. Find Glynda, Ironwood, Qrow! Bring them here right away! The tower cannot fall." He orders.
"I can help." Ms. Nikos protests.
"You'll only get in the way." He lies. Seemingly convinced, she helps Jaune to his feet. They run past his enemy, the woman making no attempt to stop them.
He can almost hear a ticking clock as he readies himself. The familiar beat of this bodies heart pounds in his chest as the woman speaks.
"This whole time, right beneath our feet. She was right about you. Such arrogance."
They both lunge forward at the same time. Magic against magic, his own power used against him. Flashes of fire and green light as they duel through the corridor. Ironic, and in a way poetic. His own power leading to his death and the death of so many others, just like his mistakes.
He duels with all his might, hoping for his allies to arrive. His magic, though finite, is just as strong as it ever has been. Despite this, he was being pushed back. If he was younger, he might have won. Yet this body has grown old and weak, and with one mistake his body is washed in flames.
He lies on his back, eyes unseeing of the world around him. Clicking heels near him before a flash of heat overcomes his body once more. As everything fades he can hear the clock again.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
His eyes open again, a new body waking with a gasp.
And the cycle begins anew.