Chapter 38

Pyrrha sucked in a breath and gently let it out. There was a strange moment of peace since Winter's arrival. But just as soon as it came, it went as Cinder rocketed towards the Specialist.

Winter blocked a frantic strike with her sabre. Cinder growled but then flew back as Winter drew a parrying dagger from her sabre, nearly cutting Cinder's face open with the surprise attack. As she backed up the Schnee planted her main sword into the floor and a glyph formed beneath her. A glimmering white-blue Beowolf rose up from the ground and charged with Winter right behind.

Pyrrha took this as her chance and half-hobbled to the ruined elevator. There had to be something there for her to climb down! She heard a roar as the Wyvern returned, crashing down onto the tower in front of her. It stared down at her with baleful red eyes. Pyrrha swallowed and ran forward anyway.

As she reached the broken elevator she ducked down, in time to dodge the beast's maw as it tried to consume her. She rolled onto the metal floor and began to search for a hatch or the like. She heard the sounds of battle behind her and peeked back.

The Wyvern had seemingly decided to ignore her and assist Cinder, reaching out with its massive head to try and catch Winter in its jaws. The Schnee Specialist was dodging both gigantic teeth as well as flame and glass. Winter summoned what she could whenever she had a chance. Beowolves and Nevermores were her favourite creations it seemed. The Beowolves acted as shields for her while the Nevermores harassed Cinder and hindered her movements as much as they could.

It wasn't going well for the Specialist, between the Wyvern and Cinder, she was being pushed back. But without Aura, there wasn't much Pyrrha could do...

As she watched, Pyrrha caught sight of exactly what they needed. Cinder was slowing down. The powers she wielded took their toll and they were beginning to show. The Wyvern had begun to take the lead. Pyrrha looked back at the floor. She could escape, abandon Winter. Abandon her friend's sister.

Miló almost sang in her hands as it shifted to her rifle. Pyrrha took aim and fired. Cinder cried out as the bullet embedded itself in her shoulder. The Wyvern roared and turned to attack Pyrrha. A Beowolf leapt onto its snout and began to carve into its flesh. Pyrrha hobbled away from the beast while it was busy.

She got halfway across the room when another arrow pierced her leg in almost the same spot as before. Pyrrha screamed as it burned red-hot, her flesh burning with it. The arrow quickly shattered but the damage was done as Pyrrha fell to the ground again.

She wouldn't be walking anytime soon.

Winter tried to come to her aid but the Wyvern continued to get in the way, angry at her summons. Cinder hovered over, her eyes burning with both power and anger. "You damned elites! You've had everything given to you! No more. I won't accept it!" Cinder battered Pyrrha's weapons away with blasts of wind and grabbed her throat.

Pyrrha choked as she was lifted up. Her hands desperately clawed at Cinder's as the hand began to heat. Pyrrha looked on in horror as her throat was beginning to burn.

So this is how I-

She didn't finish as a flash of red shot up over the ridge of the once office. Ruby landed and looked up, her face fierce with tears in her eyes. As she laid eyes on Pyrrha and Cinder she grew terrified, worried, shocked. The emotions flickered over her in seconds as those silver eyes began to glow.

"Pyrrha!"

The voice seemed to echo all around them as her eyes released allspice brilliant shining silver light.

"What!?" Cinder shouted, dropping Pyrrha.

"Aaahh!" Pyrrha cried out in pain as she hit the ground and her leg gave way beneath her. The Wyvern roared and then went silent.

The whole tower was still. Pyrrha didn't know for how long but when sound eventually returned she heard Winter limping towards a downed Cinder, who lay whimpering on the ground whilst holding her left arm which had been half disintegrated and half turned to stone. She got off lighter than the Wyvern above, which had entirely been trapped in a stone prison.

The sound of a Bullhead heralded the arrival. Winter prepared herself for battle, which likely saved her life. The vessel arrived with its door open and the moment it did, Emerald Sustrai opened fire on Winter. The Specialist threw her Aura up and then struck the air.

Pyrrha watched, shocked and unsure of what she could do, injured and bereft of weapons and Aura, as a pair of White Fang jumped out and grabbed the raven-haired woman. Emerald seemed focused on Winter and yet wasn't attacking. Winter struck at nothing with her blades.

She only came to as the door closed and they took off. Winter cursed under her breath.

"Shit." Pyrrha twisted and looked up, shocked to see Qrow Branwen climbing up the edge.

"H-how did you…?" She stuttered.

"Not important. Winter, what happened?" The man said walking away from Pyrrha.

"Cinder had incredible power. I arrived to assist. Your niece arrived as well. She… screamed and let out some… some light! It injured Cinder heavily. Her allies arrived to save her, however."

"I see. Can you get them out of here?"

"Yes. but I won't be able to provide assistance afterwards." Winter said, sheathing her blades.

"Good. Get them out. I'll be fine. I need to check if Ozpin is still with us." Qrow said.

Winter nodded and quickly summoned another Manticore. It was more transparent than the previous. Weaker. The adults helped Pyrrha onto the back, the summon wrapping its tail around her waist to hold her, and put the unconscious Ruby on Winter's lap.

Pyrrha looked back one last time to see Qrow already gone. He'd vanished into the air.

A question for another time. Pyrrha thought as they took off, heading towards safety.

Qrow sighed as he returned to his human form. The basement vault was fucked. There was no better word for it. Scorch marks were everywhere.

And in the middle was a burnt and broken body. Little remained of his green suit. His glasses had managed to stay together, though they were cracked and beyond worthless now. The only thing untouched was The Long Memory which had rolled out of Ozpin's hand.

Qrow picked it up and pulled the trigger, turning it into its compact form. He sighed and removed the man's glasses and closed his eyes. "Sorry, Oz. I… I wish it had gone better. You saved some people though. Good job." The glasses were folded and put into Qrow's pocket while he clipped the cane to his belt.

He couldn't carry the body out, but they would want something to bury and the cane was out. The next Oz would want it after all.

Qrow gave one last look at Ozpin, another to the dead body of Amber, and made his way out.

He was done with this day.

"Sir! We're holding just fine for now!" A soldier reported with a salute as James stepped off of the Bullhead and onto the Beacon docks. "However we are running low on manpower and ammo. We won't last much longer."

"Understood. Evacuate everyone."

"Yes sir!" He said before running off to communicate his orders.

Glynda came down from the vessel. "Did I hear that right? You're pulling out!?"

"I'm sorry Glynda. We don't have the resources to hold this location. If I still had my Battleships, I could hold this. But we both know where they are." He pointed back over Vale, to the cloud of smoke coming from the one that crashed in the city and past it to the two that fell into the wilds outside the city. "We can't stay here. We have to pull back before we lose more people."

"I… damn it." She looked down and clenched her fists. Anger filled her face. James reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We will hold as long as we can. Give the students as much time as possible to retreat. I'll be the last person to leave."

"We'll be the last." She corrected. James smiled and nodded. He pulled his hand back just as Qrow appeared.

"Qrow. Good to see you're alive." James said.

"Yeah." Qrow said, pulling a pair of cracked glasses from his pocket. "Oz didn't make it though." He handed them to Glynda.

"I…" Glynda tried as tears filled her eyes.

"Winter should have brought a couple of the kids. Ruby and her friend Nikos. The latter was wounded."

"I'll investigate and make sure they got back safely." James said, clapping Qrow on the shoulder before rushing off.

It didn't take him long to find medics who had seen Winter. "Sir! We sent them off on a transport to the west city hospital. Most of the students have been evaluated nearby there." One of them said.

"Understood. Keep up the good work." James said.

"Yes sir!" The medics chorused, saluting. They got back to work as fast as they could.

Qrow had gone by the time he returned to Glynda. With a shared nod, they joined the fray.

"Winter!" Weiss exclaimed as she entered the tent. A veritable city of them had been set up outside each of Vale's hospitals. Weiss herself had rushed over once she had heard Winter had been taken here.

"Weiss! I'm glad to see you safe." Her sister said with a smile. Her arms and legs were bandaged but she didn't seem too injured.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. I suffered a few cuts and bruises, but I'm mainly just drained. Of Aura especially."

"That's good. Very good. I heard you came in with Ruby and Pyrrha?"

"Yes…" Winter looked down. "Pyrrha was injured and Ruby unconscious. Ruby is in one of the other tents I believe."

"And Pyrrha?"

"Taken inside the building itself. They're both alive and will recover. I-"

She was cut off as the tent flap opened again. Weiss turned and felt her blood run cold. "Winter. Weiss. I'm glad to see you both safe." Her father said with his signature smarmy smile.

"Father… what are you doing here?" Weiss asked, swallowing.

"Well, now that James has finally cleared Vale of those Grimm I knew I needed to make sure my daughters were safe and sound. Once I heard they were transferring students here I knew I needed to come."

Needed to make sure we were safe for your image. Weiss nodded. "Thank you for checking up on us but we're fine. It's-"

"I wouldn't call this fine, Weiss. Vale has been attacked! Almost destroyed even! No this is far from fine. Come, we shall return to Atlas where it is far safer."

"What!? No, I'm not going! My friends are here!"

"Friends? Like that beast you sent into the tournament?"

"It was a misunderstanding!"

"Was it a misunderstanding when he slaughtered SDC workers? He's a monster, Weiss. Come. He can't hurt you in Atlas."

"But-!"

"Weiss." Winter interrupted. She reached over and grabbed Weiss' shoulder and whispered into her ear. "If you fight he may take it out on your friend. I know you don't wish to go back, but sometimes you have to conserve your energy and fight another day."

"So I should just let him take me back there?" Weiss whispered back.

"Yes. Father came because you were on a team with Adam. He will fight to have him thrown in jail. If you go back however…"

"I keep Father from doing it…" Weiss growled for a second before turning back, a smile on her face. "Alright, Father. Let's return to Atlas."

Jacques Schnee smiled. "Good. Winter, I trust you will be returning with the General?"

"I will."

"Hmm. We should leave quickly." He turned and left the tent. Weiss sighed and followed.

I wish I could say goodbye to everyone. I'm sorry. I'll see you as soon as I can. I promise.

Adam stared down at his hands. His arms, legs and body had been bandaged but his hands hadn't been hurt at all. They just felt like they were still covered in the blood of a friend. A friend only being worked on by doctors because of him. Because he underestimated Blake.

I should have realised she would have Dust. I should have known she had trained other techniques. I should have known… His brain continued to circle around and around. He had caused this. He was the reason Yang had lost an arm. If only he had-

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the tapping of heels on the floor. He looked up to see a battered and torn Glynda Goodwitch. Her eyes seemed… soft. For once. "Professor…" He croaked out.

"Mr Taurus." She said simply and took the seat next to him. "How is she?"

"Still in there…" He looked down the hall. They were operating on her. Or he thought they were. They were saving her. That was all he remembered. It was all a blur.

"I see. You've been here since?"

"Yes…"

"You need to get some rest. It's been hours."

"Hours?" He turned to face her.

"Yes. We evacuated Beacon. Nobody is there now. You and Yang were evacuated a few hours ago. It's late evening now. Almost night."

"I see." He said, unsure of his response.

Goodwitch scanned him for a moment before she sighed. "He was right."

"Huh?"

"Ozpin. He was right. I should have put more faith in you. You fought hard to save Yang and bring her to safety and now, here you are, waiting for any word on her condition."

"I'm the reason she's here-"

"Why? Because the White Fang did this?"

"It was my attack. My… my ex who did this!"

"How?"

"I couldn't defeat her and she pulled Yang into my attack and I couldn't stop it before she-" He was cut off as she put a hand on his head and… rubbed?

"Take a deep breath." He did so. "And let it out." He did. "Good. It wasn't your fault. Your opponent pulled Yang into it. You could have done better, most would have had trouble checking an attack in that situation. You aren't at fault, Adam."

"I… I don't…"

"Take a deep breath and let it out. You didn't do wrong. Not this time."

"Thank you." He whispered. She smiled.

"I didn't like you at first. But you are my student. I help all of my students whenever they need it. Keep taking those breaths and remember that you're not the one in the wrong." She stood and began to walk away. "Take care of yourself, Adam."

"I'll try…" He whispered as he was left alone again. How much time had passed? She'd said hours but… he didn't know anymore.

He didn't know how much more time passed before the next visitor. A tanned man with a tattoo on his arm and blonde hair. He stopped in front of Adam and sighed. "You must be Adam Taurus." Adam silently nodded. "Stand up. Come on."

Adam stood. He wasn't sure why. He just felt like there wasn't any point in resisting. Too tired. The man's eyes scanned him up and down. "Hmm. Not what I expected. Come on." He walked away, leaving Adam to follow him down the hallway.

"Hi, there!" The man said as they reached a nurses station. "I know everyone's in a rush but I'm Taiyang Xiao-Long and I'm here to check on my daughter, Yang Xiao-Long."

"Of course." The woman said. She looked as tired and worn out as Adam felt and yet she still worked, still pushed herself hard. "She's down the hall. The doctors should be about done. You can wait just down there." She said, pointing back the way they came.

"Thank you very much." Taiyang said with a smile. He started walking back. Adam followed.

"That was a waste…" Adam muttered.

"Nope. We learned they are almost done and you got to stretch your legs." Taiyang replied. He turned back to face Adam. "Do you have a place to stay?"

"Beacon." Adam replied simply.

"So that's a no then. Fine. Yang won't be discharged today, not while she's weak and in a critical condition. Qrow is already picking up Ruby. She's fine. You'll come stay with us for a few nights. Until we can sort you out."

"Why?" Adam asked, feeling confused.

Taiyang sighed. "I know your past. Qrow told me. He also told me that Yang and Ruby like you, a lot. You are a part of their family and my daughters family is my family. Family take care of each other, simple as that."

"I see…" Adam trailed off as a group of doctors walked down the hall, one breaking off to come over.

"You two here for Yang Xiao-Long?" He asked.

"Yes. How is she?" Taiyang replied.

"She'll live. She lost a lot of blood though. We'll have to keep her here for a couple days to make sure there are no complications. Sorry about that."

"It's fine. Thank you for everything."

"Of course. If you'll excuse me." The doctor said before rushing off.

"Alright. Come on. Let's head home. We can see her tomorrow." Adam just nodded in response.

They met Qrow outside. He'd picked up Ruby, who was unconscious, and a car. He gave Taiyang a hug and Adam a nod. They piled in and were off.

The city was damaged and Knights filled the streets. Emergency services were everywhere, doing their best to save lives and shore up defences. The Atlas military looked like it was preparing to leave. Understandable, after their robots went mad.

They avoided the more damaged parts of the city, mostly caused by the crashing air vehicles, the Battleship in particular. They soon arrived at the docks. Taiyang booked them passage on a ferry and, after some wait, they boarded with the car and were off to Patch.

When they eventually arrived at the log cabin, Adam felt exhausted. His body was sluggish and tired. The idea of rest being so close almost destroyed his remaining energy. Qrow guided him into the house and to a guest room.

"Take a rest kid. You'll feel better tomorrow." Qrow said before he left him.

Adam soon collapsed onto the bed. The mattress and pillows were comfy and pulled him into a deep slumber. It felt like his last sleep had been ages ago…

A/N: Hello Again! I hope you all enjoyed Christmas! I'm sorry for the delay. I got delayed and wasn't able to get the chapter to my beta before he was unavailable because of the holidays. Didn't want to post it without being checked over.

Anyway the chapter! Only a third dedicated to the last part of the fight. Had trouble trying to do it from Winter's POV, not really sure why, so I went with Pyrrha's. Who gets to survive this time! Yay! And Tai is as welcoming as can be to Adam, who's having a rough day, to say the least. The Battle of Beacon is over, and all that remains is the aftermath.

I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!