Chapter 51 - To the Ends of the Earth

Act VI - Kingdom of Lies

The gloomy sky was finally rolling in overhead, the darkened blanket hanging outside the window of the train me, Albatross, and Amber sat in, Iota taking a backseat in my head for now as I felt my body nearly succumb to exhaustion. For several days I haven't really slept much, thoughts and feelings ran rampant without control, not even Iota's aggravating remarks could sway my focus.

What now concerned me was that as far as most towns across Anima knew, almost all Huntsmen activities had ceased for a few weeks now, bar the odd wanderer or duo, which gave us quite the unsettling feeling that Salem had some part in that 'coincidence'.

"You should rest, more than any of us." I jumped out of my blank expression, turning on my palm to view Amber, her concerned face matched with seriousness, but I just stretched

"I'm fine, just until we're in Mistral until then I'll not feel safe sleeping through this journey," I argued, but she didn't buy it, instead, she shook her head

"Okay, I'll take your word on it, just try not to wake the rest of us," I gave her a comedic salute and she closed her eyes, using her wings to cover her face

I don't know how long I stared dumbly out toward the world that just swam by, but the mountains opened up to reveal a city built upon a large mountain that acted as a centerpiece surrounded by valleys. The City of Mistral was... amazing. I wonder, if my some slim chance, that Ruby was here, with Erika and maybe the others? It was wishful thinking but if I knew Ruby she'd never take the attack on Beacon lying down, even though the reconstruction is almost complete, Salem nearly succeeded, so what stopped her from doing the same to the other kingdoms for their relics?

I was about to ask Penny something to pass the time, but another thought came to mind as I Mistral grew closer by the minute, despite the gloomy skies it was still a magnificent sight to behold, I have to take a look around whilst I'm here. Maybe some shopping too.

"Penny... is something off to you?" I asked her, as the sprite turned to look at the city, humming

"Nope, the temperature is currently normal for this time of year in Anima and the news headlines depict nothing of major concern - Though the missing Huntsman has been reported recently." She replied with a load of unnecessary information, but I kinda deserved that for asking vaguely. My body tensed however as we approached the perimeter of the city. "Sky, you're heart-rate has increased."

"Penny, those ruins over there?" I raised a finger to a hillside, old ruins of a forgotten era of humanity lay without disturbance, and yet it felt as though something was watching the train, and specifically us as the train moved through the valleys.

"I do not follow, those ruins have been the dwelling of Grimm, it's typically used as a hunting grounds for students at Haven." Penny couldn't feel it though, this daunting wave that washed over me.

"Everyone get down! Iron Regalia!" At my command I was contained within the black metal once more, eyes locked to the approaching Grimm, its neck reeling back. "Albatross, Amber, wake up!"

*SCREECH-Shatter-Crash*

I don't know what hit me, but I was lying on the floor between the seats, with no sign of Albatross or Amber through my hazy vision, I was clutching my stomach, that ringing in my ears replaced with an alarm from the train carts ahead of me, whilst a shadow loomed over me.

"Gah!" I tried to move my back off the ground with my elbows, but I only grunted as talons scraped against my chest. Morana leaned down to snarl, wings flapping heavily to remove the cloak, revealing his distorted form to both me and those within the carriage

His feathers were burnt and some had melded together, ribs were exposed on his right side and the mask was shattered, revealing one crimson eye the other completely torn and scarred. The lower wings were gone, leaving only his large wings, tattered and smoking. His arms were brunt, revealing bone that looked to grow irregularly through the skin.

"YoUr KiNd DiE, tHe GrImM rIsE aGaIn! TaKe BaCk ThE wOrLd..." His gnarled voice spat at me, pressing me further into the floor before his wings blew him back, and with a few sweeps, he flew high into the air, squawking loud enough that all of Mistral could hear him.

Amber dashed out from behind the seats, rifle in-hand. "Are you alright?" She asked me, pulling me to my feet, whilst Albatross stared out the massive hole in the cart, his gaze fixated on what had occurred. "Albatross?"

"We need to get these people to Mistral, now" He waved to us, but I stumbled toward the breach, peering up at the clouds. "Think you can take him? Even me and Summer thought he was dead - How did he even survive falling into lava?"

"Sheer willpower it seems," I sighed, turning to him. "I can do this, and I'll make sure he stays down this time."

"What are you planning?" Albatross asked me curiously before I pointed upwards

"Hit him really, really hard." This was all I had, truthfully, it would take more than brute force to put this Horseman down, but Mars said nothing about saving him, good, I had no idea how I'd manage to convince the world's angstiest Grimm to team up anyway

That answer didn't look to satisfy Albatross, but he smirked warily. "You and I are too much alike... alright, we'll take care of things down here, now go."

"And be safe, the three of you," Amber added, already working to help people evacuate to the other carts in an orderly line

Albatross leapt out, hooking his fingers to the side of the train before lifting himself up with ease, inspecting the damage. "His sonic blast knocked out the power in this sector of the train grid, might be able to restart it with some dust." He held out his right hand, then clenched it. "Or I'll punch it into working again."

Oh yeah, we were alike. "Be safe, both of you." I returned to my mentor, sweeping up into the air to view the train from afar, already security were on the move to aid in repairs and possible evacuation. Meanwhile, a storm brewed above, and a dark shadow swept the clouds.

"Ok, here we go." I breathed shakily and spun backward into a vertical climb, wings splitting the air with sharp, narrow thrusts. "It ends here, Morana..."

"Let's clip his wings for good." Agreed, Iota.

My visor filled with whites and greys, lunging high into pockets between clouds, the sounds of Mistral below fading out as I finally broke through the clouds, and into the troposphere, a thin howl of wind passing both I and the Horseman.

We both flew up gradually, drowning out the noise of the city beneath our feet by the sharp wind, the clouds hung overhead, covering us in a gloomy sky in the pocket of open air. It was completely silent, only my breathing was making a sound, other than my own hands rising, the blades on my gauntlets ready as the metal gently tapped against one another.

Meanwhile, Morana revealed his old scythe again, cracked and withered despite having not used it when he fought Albatross and Summer apparently. His hands tightened around the crooked spine, the reflective face refracting what little light split the clouds.

At first, neither of us moved an inch, both just floating above Mistral, our eyes competing for the other to make a move, even under my helmet, it was like he was staring right back, daring me to blink, twitch, strain, anything to give him a reason to move.

[No-One's POV]

Morana's eye glowered with a lust for bloodshed and retribution. His wings bridged the gap in seconds, his scythe swung in a large arc from his right, but Sky realized this, and in a fluid motion, he spun, the blade clipping the sides of his arm. Mid-spin, Sky brought his right arm down diagonally from his left, slicing a few feathers.

Sky ascended, flying past Morana's face, the Grimm gave chase, sweeping his wings harder. Sky turned, swinging his left arm down, blocking the scythe's strike, before he guarded his face, blocking Morana's clean left-cross, knocking both of them back while they continued to fly at into each other, their strikes clanking in the air, dispersing the clouds in the area from the shockwaves.

Sky flanked Morana, swinging his right arm down, striking the handle of the scythe which was followed closely by a downward slash from his left. Sky turned his back to Morana with a spiral, tearing his blades up diagonally to the right. Morana was struck, but his talons reached out, latching to Sky's shoulders as he proceeded to toss him upside-down, and striking in a horizontal arc, forcing a grunt from Sky at the vibrating shockwave in his stomach.

Recovering quickly, Sky spun in a barrel-roll, the breakneck velocity behind a roundhouse to Morana's jaw let out a clean snap. This threw Morana off completely, providing breathing from between the two. Morana was staring at his weapon, then at Sky, who just chuckled once, tapping his right blade against his left arm where Cognitum would sit.

"Not this time." Sky murmured, seeing the quills on his head rattled

*Screech*

With a sharp flip Sky evaded the sonic torrent, only for his eyes to bulge at Morana's surprised tackle, his talons sinking against his abdomen as the two thrashed and flew through the layers of cloud. The two broke another layer, now a floor of white stretched out before them, the bright orange sky clear with only the sun to bathe them in light, a light that blinded them both.

With this advantage, Sky twisted his waist, tossing his waist free of Morana, both of Sky's legs locked around the Horseman's neck, throwing him downward. When Sky looked down, he braced as Morana came rising with a spin of his own, the scythe tearing across Sky's forearms, diverting the weapon away from his neck and shoulder.

Recovering, both turned to face one another, immediately clashing once more only to have the force of their attacks rebound off the other, realigning himself, Sky shot forward, locking both arms as the two combatants spun round. Sky effortlessly glided with the lack of gravity, leaning down with his right in a vertical arc, striking Morana's chest, Sky, however, gasped, when he felt the claws dig through his armour, thankfully only grazing him.

The two broke apart, pivoting around the other for a better angle, then they retaliated, blades tensed against the other causing sparks, their gazes hardened like steel, each pushing to break the other's defense first.

The two threw their weapons high, Sky bringing his arms down on the scythe head, then again, and again, Morana growled, slamming a foot against Sky's waist, throwing the boy into an uncontrolled tumble. Craning his wings to flow with the wind and the angle of which he fell into, he recomposed immediately, soaring with a precise lunge of his right, the gauntlet unleashing a cloud of red dust, igniting his arms with a furious red flame.

But as he grew closer, Morana calmly held his scythe close to his left shoulder, his hands tensed around the handle. Then, he brought the scythe down on Sky's own spine with a quick spin of his own body. A silver curve splitting the sky.

Meanwhile...

*Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock-Knock*

"Seriously? Ok-Ok, I'm coming~!" A voice sounded on the other side of the door, then, the door finally opened, much to Amber's delight, and Albatross' hesitant fist held a millimeter from Ruby's face

"Ehehe, sorry 'bout that." He smiled, opting to Ruby's growing confusion. Inside, Jaune and Erika looked away from their scrolls to pry into who it was. Ruby just tilted her head

"Umm, can I help you?" Ruby asked slowly, before Albatross pointed at her, then at the clouds above them

"Well, sorta - We uh... may have a common issue, forecast says it's gonna be storm laced in death, hopefully for one over the other." His humor wasn't helping, as Amber jabbed his side. "Ack, sorry, force of habit - Can we come in?" He asked her, putting Jaune, and Erika on-guard

"Ruby, who are they?" Jaune asked, eyeing the two and their weapons as Ruby allowed them inside, Albatross immediately slammed the door, sighing

"You know doors really won't stop him but it's the thought that counts." He stepped back, spinning around to the trio. "Right, so, you guys know Morana, right?"

That got a reaction from the red girl. "You mean that crazy Grimm that tried to kill us, with those other 'Horsemen'? Yeah."

Again he pointed to the ceiling. "He's currently high above us fighting... an ally of ours seems reeeeally annoyed after I and my partner dumped him in a volcanic bath," He scoffed, hands on his hips. "Honestly, no appreciation these days."

Amber pinched the bridge of her nose, "His antics aside, we're not your enemy, we needed to find Ruby, and her friends since Morana would more than likely come here if he already knows your group is staying here." Amber explained, making them worried. Just then, Yang, Weiss, and the others appeared from the rest of the house to investigate the commotion, which Amber happily sighed. "Good, everyone's here - That raises a question, how did you know they were here?"

Albatross froze, sweating slightly. "I... may have been... tracking them?" He gave a toothy smile, and the tension in the air thickened from the group in question. "Okay, not the best idea I've had, but would you rather have me keep tabs on them to ensure their safety or have one of Salem's goons pick them off?"

"Like Tyrian?" Nora pointed out bitterly, and both Albatross and Amber glanced at one another, the Dragon Faunus narrowing her eyes

"It was Sunday, who works on a Sunday?" He whined, then shook his head, confronting the group with a serious expression. "Look, not the time to picking on me, alright? We've got... huh?" His head turned to the ceiling again

"Albatross, do you hear that?" Amber asked him, to which everyone stood still, even Qrow, and Oscar, they heard nothing but an eerie silence, bar from the groaning of wood, and a soft breeze

Albatross grimaced. "Nothing. Not even a gunshot." "Kid, you better be okay."

In the clouds...

"FaLl."

Morana's guard lowered, watching the black knight soar past him with remnants of flame scattering in the air. Despite everything, the Grimm lowered his head out of respect for the hunt that had stretched for so long, and an unforgettable one at that. To him, the three instances they've fought have been far more entertaining, full of a simple drive to fight for superiority, for death, nothing more could compare.

Morana's thoughts shattered, eye widened beyond comprehension.

Sky's left arm lunged through his stomach in a horizontal arc, his body flying past Morana's attempt to block it, but ice soon froze over his abdomen. Sky then swung back in a diagonal arc, spinning past Morana while bringing his left arm down again, sinking through the Horseman's back. Morana lashed out in a frenzy, the blade slit the air while skimming over Sky's helmet he lurched up, dragging the left across Morana's chest once more.

The result was the four strikes erupting from their points of impact, the ice shattering among the open skies, causing Morana to stumble in the air, the numbing of the ice beginning to snap organs and flesh, dark mist leaking from wounds. Taking the finite opportunity, Sky generated the dust into his right gauntlet, its outline now a crystal clear purple, matching his highlights.

One horizontal strike to Morana's stomach, followed by the same arm crossing from left. He folded his arm, bringing it up diagonally, inverting its ascent he carved down roughly, igniting the dust with a surge of lightning, straining Morana's scream. All the Horseman could do was stare right back at the amethyst eyes locked with his scarlet.

Sky felt his back scream to stop, along with the blood now covering his left eye, but he blinked it away, bending his left arm back, plunging the tip through Morana's chest, folding at the elbow he tugged the flesh down, then thrashed up, tearing a large chunk of flesh from the Grimm, a plume of black smog erupting under his feet.

With a final cry, Sky crunched a large red crystal in his bare hand, coating his right in a sea of flames as he plummeted toward the stunned Horseman, the blade impaling Morana completely while the flames grew to feed into the wound, drowning out his gargled cry and burying it under Sky's own.

Sky pulled back, shoving Morana off his arm and into a nosedive for the clouds below, the scythe spun off into the distance never to be seen again. And while a dark mist rose above Sky's eyes, he could finally lower his guard, aura resonating over his body.

Sky, now alone in the air, panted with every inhale of air, his voice now ragged and tired from the fight. There was no telltale sign of wingbeats over than his own, no sign Morana survived. It was over, two Horsemen down, and two left to save.

Stretching with a slight groan. Sky turned in the air. "Guess we're up pretty high, Morana should disintegrate before reaching the ground."

"Mission accomplished, well done!" Penny praised her friend, while Iota chuckled once

"Some hunter he turned out to be."

All Sky could do was nod. "Now then, let's meet up with Amber and-"

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH*

Sky's screams were completely drowned by the sonic waves shattering his armour from below, the sound becoming increasingly more versatile with each passing second, his mind was turned hazy, his muscles were contracting at the pain from the passing waves. All he could do was watch his armour crack and chip, pieces falling to Mistral below, the purple lights flicking between purple and white.

When the ringing stopped, or atleast the pain, Sky was barely afloat, trying his best to keep his wings high, but they twitched as his body hung in the air limply, trying to rekindle his falling strength, however, the metal twisted in the claws of Morana, half his skull exposed, and more raw flesh underneath touched the open air. Sky tried to pry himself free, but Morana did it for him, letting go the second he tried.

All Sky could do was listen to echoes call to him, all while he lifted his hand into the clouds rushing past him, blood trickling from wounds, and out the armour. Each desperate attempt to stay awake was beginning to fail, Sky begged his mind to stay awake, he tried to move even a mere shake to gain control, Sky tried to claw his hands at the speck that was Morana, as it grew farther, and farther away before...

Nothing. Only the air that whistled by.

To Be Continued...

Morana lives up to his title, just what can bring this bird down? We're not done yet though, not while the lives of Sky's friends hang at the edge. I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!

Next Chapter: I'll Be Your Hero

Ruby and her friends confront Morana in a grueling battle against an unstoppable force.