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Fourth Crusade (Part One)
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Well, I looked my demons in the eyes, laid bare my chest,
Said, "Do your best. Destroy me. You see, I've been to hell and back so many times, I must admit,
You kind of bore me."
.
.
"Have you finished relaying the situation?" Temujin asked.
"Ran your people the play by play," Emerald answered. "Cuckoos gone, some loved ones gone, hordes of Grimm, plus, a giant freakin' butterfly making a beeline for us."
"Moth."
"What?"
"It's a moth."
"Right. Behemoth. I get it."
"That will do. Wake them. And connect my thoughts to theirs," Temujin ordered.
"From sweet dreams to full-blown nightmare. This is gonna be a scene."
As the mental connection secured, Temujin stepped onto the balcony of the Hanging Gardens. She sat on her small stool, and took her familiar horse-fiddle in her hands. As she touched the bow to the strings, her throat opened and she drew strength from her diaphragm.
Another tragedy to carve in these old bones one last time.
One last burden.
One last sin.
Temujin bore her face to the untethered sun and the felt desert's hot air on her skin.
Answer me, one last time.
My Kingdom of Blades.
Her low, soulful song reverberated into the skies above Vacuo. Its volume began low, but slowly and surely, its melody became a crescendo that parted any clouds. The citizens roused to its sound. The voice of their Great Khan, the voice of their Kingdom. It called them to arms.
I failed you.
I deceived you.
But will you answer me once more?
If this is our end, will we stand together?
How will we march into the darkness?
With fear?
Or will it be with Wrath in our hearts?
A single command coursed through the minds of her people. A pure emotion of most unmitigated rage. A sweltering draught that drowned away sorrow and fear.
Across the city, the citizens of Vacuo stirred. They stood tall with chests out. Their weapons drawn and raised high.
"An Eye for an Eye."
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X
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Despite the conference room in Atlas HQ being something of a small theater, all its occupants were struck silent. None could watch the floating projection, and not be horrified by what was displayed.
Finally, a lone voice spoke what they were all thinking.
"They're doomed."
The digital map zoomed out to show the Vacuo capital and its surrounding lands. Rounding to hit the city from the North and South were hosts of Grimm almost twice the city's size. Floods of red markers filled the edges of the map, but the more imminent threat was displayed by the monstrous Behemoth flying directly from the West.
Murmurs began flooding the room. Mutterings of disbelief and fear rose with a rising tide.
"How can that many Grimm be controlled?"
"If something like that attacked us, would the Aegis and Javelin System be enough?"
"We should order our Fleet back. Strengthen our defenses here."
"It's all over for them."
A hand slammed loudly onto the table. Cinder's furious gaze silenced the room and brought order to the staff.
"How far is the reinforcement Fleet?" she asked.
None made a move.
"How far are they?!"
They all jumped, and one officer rapidly tapped her tablet.
"Still a day's flight, ma'am! Twenty hours estimated!"
"Is there any way to shorten the travel time of the remaining distance?"
"They could possibly cut down a few hours by traveling at maximum thrust. However, that would only be possible for the light portion of the Fleet."
"…"
"It would be advised not to separate—"
"I know that!" Cinder shouted in exasperation.
"…Ma'am, I think we should consider withdrawing the reinforcements."
Cinder made no response. Only remaining quiet, while studying the scales and balances in her head. There was a tough call to make in this. The future of Atlas, and more importantly Remnant's, would hinge on the actions she took now.
We couldn't have predicted Salem's resources to be so extensive.
Can Vacuo hold until the Fleet arrives?
Even with the little aces up our sleeves, the chances of victory are too low to entertain.
Initiating the fight with Salem backfired.
No, it would have been worse to wait. At least, the Cuckoos have been removed from the board.
Is the situation still salvageable?
Cinder glared at the projection. Her eyes darted to every square grid. She looked down to her own tablet, and measured the logistics Vacuo's forces currently numbered and the exponential growth of Salem's predicted volume.
…
No.
The smart move would be to recall our forces.
By the time they arrive, Vacuo will likely be overrun to a point they cannot recover.
…
…
Team ENMY must be evacuated.
Cinder addressed the officer-in-waiting.
"Sortie the light-traveling transport marked Swordfish ahead to retrieve—"
"Belay that order."
Cinder turned to Weiss' sudden interruption. Her surprise quickly transitioned to smoldering fury.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"We aren't sure Vacuo is lost yet," Weiss answered.
"With all due respect, my Queen, Vacuo cannot possibly hold out against that," Cinder motioned to the projection. "Not until reinforcements arrive, and even then, the chances of victory are too small to consider."
"We need to contact Team ENMY."
"We will give them the order to evacuate—and they will follow it."
"Cinder…"
"…What?"
The Black Queen squinted, as the White leaned closer to speak loud enough so only they could hear.
"You know, better than I, the things Team ENMY is capable of."
"I do," Cinder nodded. "They can perform the impossible given the right circumstances. With adequate preparation and strong mental grit, they can and will perform outside expectation. But what Salem has brought to the board is completely out of their depth."
"I want to hear what they have to report first."
"And we shall, but do not hold out hope."
"At this point, hope might be all we have."
Cinder went quiet for a moment.
"I detest the idea of abandoning our allies more than you would believe, and this miscalculation frustrates me to no end—but we cannot afford to be stubborn at this juncture. I thought you were smarter than this."
"I doubt we can outsmart the Witch, if that's what we've been trying to do."
"…"
"She's had decades to prepare and plan and manipulate the variables, Cinder. We can't win that way."
The words rung deep with the Black Queen. It was a thought she fought hard to abate, but seeing the might Salem brought live on the projection, Cinder could only face the truth. If this was a chess game, it wasn't fair to begin with. The Witch had too many pieces from the start and moved several times before her turn came.
It was enough to dishearten anyone.
But that was not what Cinder saw in her coregent's eyes.
"…What are you thinking?" she couldn't help but utter, almost disbelievingly.
"I'm not sure myself," Weiss shook her head. "I think we have a choice, Cinder. It's the choice you and I have been dreading without really knowing what it was."
"…"
"I can feel it. We have to make a stand here. We have to."
"…Is that your head speaking, or your heart, I wonder?"
"Both."
"Very well, Weiss. We will delay ordering the retreat."
Weiss blinked in surprise.
"Really?"
"As I said before, your counsels are always welcome. No matter how naïve or ludicrous they may be."
"Hmph!"
Seeing her fellow Queen pout brought a slight smile, as well as lighten Cinder's mood. She turned to the adjutant and gave the following order,
"Mobilize all light transports. Few reinforcements sooner are better than none too late. Have the rest of the Fleet maintain course."
"Ma'am, yes ma'am," the officer saluted, and tapped at her tablet.
"And open a direct channel with Team ENMY in real time. Priority one."
"Ma'am, it will take some time to construct a secure line."
"It doesn't need to be encrypted. I don't care if Temujin eavesdrops on our conversation."
"Yes, ma'am. Right away."
Cinder breathed a quiet sigh and glanced at Weiss beside her.
"This is quite reckless, my Queen. The point of no return is not to be tempted with lightly."
"You could have overruled my suggestion. You are director of all affairs military, as you are so fond of reminding me."
"Indeed. But if I had to say…"
"…I also think, a stand must be made."
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X
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The throne room of the Hanging Gardens was instantly converted into a war room. Various communications equipments were rigged around the chamber.
Ilia was busy giving sortie orders to the city wall's hangars and garages. Mobilizations of airships and other modes of transport were underway. Nai had left earlier to join the battalion heading North. Minerva was dividing her students between those taken to the safety bunkers and those who would join the battle in the South.
Meanwhile, Temujin, the Rakis siblings, and Team ENMY had their attentions concentrated on the bigger picture.
"You're sending an awful lot of your people to cover the armies at the flanks," Emerald commented.
"Yes," Temujin answered.
"But Behemoth was going to hit the city first. You want to take the fight to the other fronts, outside the walls."
"Yes."
"We were supposed to be locking down siege defense after we got rid of the Cuckoos."
"We were."
A tense silence filled the atmosphere.
"…You're abandoning the city?" she whispered low.
When Temujin didn't give her an answer, Emerald rechecked how Vacuo's military was being divvied up. It appeared none of the staff officers noticed none of their forces were being devoted to Behemoth. The only way that was possible was if…
Emerald felt the stares of the Rakis siblings on her. Mouse and Knives were the most senior commanders just below Temujin. Minerva and Nai weren't around. They may have stopped it if they were present.
"You knew you would have to abandon the city." Emerald guessed, remembering the Precognition Semblance the siblings had. "This was a future you guys saw?"
Mouse and Knives nodded slightly in confirmation.
"So, what?! We just went through with Operation Gun Dog for nothing?"
"It served its purpose. We rid ourselves of the Cuckoos, but also believed it might cause a deviation in the future," Temujin explained. "Though, it seems the gamble did not pay off in that venture."
"Great! Thanks for clueing us in this late in the game. We knew Salem's army wasn't something to fuck around with, but the wonder siblings didn't see that big ass, Mothra-fucker coming?"
"The Witch did well to hide it. If you studied the material on our Grimm, you know Behemoth was outside expectation."
"Yeah, it's only in its adult form seven days out of the whole year. It also works on a timeclock, so you spawn-kill it as soon as it hatches out of its cocoon, far away from the any settlements."
"In the worst case, we would have waited until it exhausted its lifespan."
"Looks like there's a new worst case now."
"It is near impossible to defeat in fair, open ground. If the brunt of our forces were used to counter it, there would be nothing left when Salem's main army arrived."
"FUCK!"
Emerald continued trading attentions from Temujin to the large moth taking up the monitors. Poisonous powders spread beneath the Grimm's shadow. Its toxins carried into the gusts of its wings. Once in a while, a few scales would drop from its body, unrolling into giant, armored caterpillars.
In addition to its other absurd traits, the Grimm possessed one other ability.
"You guys see any new visions of the future?" Emerald asked.
"…Yes," Mouse squeaked out an answer.
"Let me guess. If you kept all your people behind the walls, and concentrated your attacks on Behemoth, it would've suicide bombed the city."
Upon the Grimm's death, it shed all its scales, which caused an unfathomable amount of carnage in the surrounding environment. It was another reason the Vacuo military tried to lessen the damage by disposing it elsewhere.
"Salem won't waste time. She'll have it belly flop the city anyway," Emerald bit her thumbnail. "That's what I'd do. It's too slow to target a moving army, but it can level a lot of your static fortifications. Salem's trying to weaken the siege defense for the later game."
"We have come to similar conclusions."
"Any chance we can bring it down before it gets inside the walls?" Emerald continued to press.
"My sister and I foresaw something else, which our scouts have since then confirm."
Mouse touched a nearby monitor and enhanced the image on the screen. Zoomed onto the back of Behemoth was a small army of Grimm. The groups seemed to be crowding something at their center like a shield wall. When the image was further enhanced, Team ENMY saw what was there.
A few of the Grimm Clan Leaders were identified: Camlann, Azkaban, and Combine. The combination of area effects between Azkaban and Combine alone were enough to deter any real resistance. Their abilities were much more potent than the average Cuckoo or Daemontor, and their effect radiuses even wider so.
"…Crap. Then, what's the plan?" Yang spoke up. "You guys do have a plan, right?"
Temujin looked to her goddaughter strangely, and sighed.
"A course of action is in place. Behemoth will be allowed to detonate within the city. After its death, our armies will retreat back behind whatever is left of the fortifications and initiate siege defense as planned."
Yang threw Temujin an accusatory look.
"But the other citizens…!"
"Some will survive."
"More will die!"
"Our warriors will fight all the harder."
"You can't be serious!"
Just then, Yang felt the oxygen empty from her lungs. She coughed violently from Temujin's sudden activation of her territory Semblance.
"I am deadly serious, my foolish goddaughter. It is the only way my people will survive."
"By offering some of them on a silver platter…!" Yang forced her voice through. "I didn't know you had such an ego…! I didn't know you were that cold…!"
"You have no idea."
"You'd sacrifice anything to win! What makes you so different from Salem?!"
"…Not much I suppose."
"Bullshit!"
Yang was close to throwing a punch, but stopped herself with every ounce of restraint she possessed. She then, stormed from the throne room. Her team following after.
Once ENMY was gone, Temujin bade a forlorn gaze to Knives and Mouse. Both were positively fuming and biting the edges of their lips to keep silent.
Good job holding back, you two.
We can't have them staying behind, if they knew the truth.
Yang is right, though.
I would sacrifice anything to win…
Even myself.
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X
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As Yang stomped angrily out into the hallway, her team caught up to her—right as she punched a hole through the nearby wall.
"Yang," Emerald said with a hint of disappointment.
"I know what you're going to say, Em."
"Yeah, well. I'm going to say it anyway. Temujin's making the right call."
"I don't know about 'right'."
"Either some die, or they all die. Minus one is better than minus a hundred. The math isn't hard to figure."
"Or, we can make it minus zero."
Yang threw Emerald a meaningful stare, while the team leader narrowed her brow in return.
"Yang…"
"We can bring down Behemoth."
"Not after the gas we just spent on Operation Gun Dog. Not in time, anyway."
"We can do it."
Emerald held her head like she was massaging a migraine.
"Okay. Do I have to remind you how this was supposed to work? We frontload our hand on Operation Gun Dog. THEN, we rest a tic to recover what we spent. And only after, do we actually get in on the real fight with Salem's army."
"Except there's no time to rest, because Behemoth is going to cannonball the city! We're the only ones with enough firepower and mobility to stop it!"
"Alright. So tell me, what happens when we burn ourselves down to the felt taking down Behemoth—which is a little more than an impossible ask, by the way? You think Salem's gonna pass up the chance to ghost us while we're catching breaths in-between suicide missions? We know a certain somebody won't."
"We have to, Em! Innocent people will die!"
"You and I both know the safety bunkers might hold up," Emerald crossed her arms with a suspecting stare.
"We don't know that," Yang argued back.
"Some of them will."
"A lot of them won't!"
"Yang."
"What?!"
"I should be asking you that." Emerald stepped close to Yang's face. "What's with you? Since when were you so touchy about people dying?"
"Since always!"
"No, not when we had to fight on Dracul. Not when we were making enemies in Vale. And definitely, not when we were taking over Atlas. I mean, you did, but not like this. So, what gives?"
Yang gave Emerald a long, pleading look, before answering.
"…Because this was our chance to do some good."
"…"
"Hehe…! Stupid me, right?" she chuckled sadly. "After all the shady things we've done, I just wanted to do some good—some actual, honest good. Save lives instead of being the reason people lost them. Guess I should've known better."
"Yang."
"I know, Em."
"It's not how our team does things."
"Yeah. We're the enemy. We attack. Protecting and saving people just isn't our rep."
"I'm…sorry."
"No. Nothing to be sorry about." Yang gave a violent shake of her head. "I'll get my game straight in a second. Just let me know when we're moving out of the city. Till then, I'll take a rest. Gotta refill the reserves, right?"
As the girl dragged her feet off with drooping shoulders, Neo braced her waist with a comforting hand. Together, they went to look for a private room, leaving Emerald and Mercury alone in the hallway.
"…Don't say anything," Emerald said, after a time.
"What?" Mercury put his hands up innocently. "I wasn't going to say anything."
"Stop. You go weak whenever Yang pulls that 'puppy dog that just got kicked' look."
"More like, 'you just crushed that puppy dog's dreams' look, but same difference."
"UGH!"
"What are we gonna do?"
"What do you mean, 'what are we gonna do'?! I just said it!"
"Yeah…but what are we really going to do?"
Emerald glared at Mercury's passively waiting demeanor. The staring contest lasted for a couple of unblinking seconds, before she threw up her hands in exasperation.
"AAARRRGGHHH! DAMMIT! FUCK!" Emerald vented her curses.
"You're getting softer, boss."
"And who's fault is that?! Stupid, moral, nobility craphat. Annoying, blonde, bullshit, punchy…"
As Emerald continued to mutter endless profanities under her breath, her scroll gave a soft ring.
"Welp, saw this coming." She coughed to clear her throat, before answering. As soon as the line went live, Emerald tried to make her tone as professional as possible. "Let me guess, we're being ordered to ditch Vacuo?"
"…The matter isn't finalized," Cinder's voice came from the other end. "There is no shame for you and your team to retreat."
"Yeah, I'll say. Shit's not about to just hit the fan here, it's going to—am I on speaker?"
"Yes."
"Whole room?"
"Fortunately, only Weiss and myself."
"Great."
"Your report."
"It's bad, Cinder. Real bad. I know you probably have an idea, but it's nowhere close to what we're seeing here."
"So, Vacuo is lost?"
Emerald thought for a moment.
"…These people are strong," she gave an uneasy laugh. "I saw Salem's army with my own eyes—it's like signs of the freakin' apocalypse! But these people, they want to fight. They will die fighting."
"You cannot let their behavior influence your own."
"I know, I'm trying to say something different. Cinder, Vacuo is worth saving. We shouldn't abandon them. We need them on our side."
"They are that valuable an asset?"
"They are. This alliance is probably the most important investment Atlas will ever make."
"Sounds like a sales pitch. Tell me what truly whispers in your heart."
Emerald cut her breath short and braced a hand to her chest, before continuing.
"Team ENMY is going to take down Behemoth."
"So soon after your previous mission?" Cinder questioned.
"I know we were supposed to take a power nap before the next big fight, but you can see that thing."
"You intend to exterminate Behemoth by yourselves?"
"Temujin's diverting all her forces to the North and South."
"She plans to forfeit the city. A calculated choice."
"We'll manage."
"This is reckless," Cinder ended with a pause. "What would you do if I ordered you from doing so?"
"…I'll always listen to you, Cinder. If you tell me to take my team, and get the hell out of Vacuo, I'll do it. I'll drag Yang back, even if she hates me. You say the word, I'll listen. Always."
"…"
"But I'm asking you to trust me. Let me make this call. My team can swing this."
For a moment, Emerald swore she heard Cinder's breath stifle with emotion. A second later, the other spoke again.
"You are ordered to return to me," the Black Queen commanded almost angrily. "Alive and in one piece—but at a time of your choosing."
"I promise!" Emerald answered quickly. "I promise I'll come back!"
"Hmph. You are aware any infidelity towards your Queen's orders incurs the highest of penalties."
"Don't I know it."
"So, how do you plan to perish the creature?"
"…"
"Emerald?"
"I have an idea."
"So, speak it."
"You guys might not like it."
"…Speak it."
Emerald took a searing deep breath between her teeth.
"We might have to use a couple of the aces we've been banking."
.
X
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A few miles south of the capital, Vacuo's military made first contact with the Grimm. The battalion was tasked with eliminating the enemy's first wave and slowing their advance towards the city. There were no illusions to the difficulty of their task.
But they did not know how difficult it would be until they saw the head of the horde.
"My, aren't these some familiar faces?" the cold voice lingered.
While countless Grimm smashed into the lines of Vacuo's warriors, a smaller battle was waged in the midst of chaos.
"Tai!" Glynda called.
"I know!"
The head of a Grimm King Taijitu struck at Glynda and Minerva, trying to snap the pair of sorcerers in its jaws. But Taiyang was able to position himself in time. His hands gripped each fang firmly, and slid his feet to a stop. Tattoos covered every inch of his arm, signaling the activation of his Semblance.
While their vanguard held down the threat, Glynda and Minerva aimed a set of spells at the source. A stream of elemental flame and ice swerved like a flock of birds. Their target was pelted with blizzardous hellfire.
"Hm. That was much less than I expected," the chilling voice came again.
Undaunted by the assault, an enormous tortoise shell remained when the spells dissipated. It was white, bony, and jagged. And as the Grimm barrier cracked open, it revealed a dark silhouette underneath. Their arm still connected to the King Taijitu head grappling with Taiyang.
"It seems my Crusade will be easier than initially anticipated," Salem taunted. "I knew you would be lost without Ozpin—but I didn't quite know how lost."
The witch gave her arm a tug, and from atop the Taijitu's skull, a scorpion's tail sprouted. The stinger snapped towards Taiyang's head, but the man was able to dodge the blow at the last second. The tip caught his collar, but even then, it only left a small mark on his reinforced skin.
"That all you got?!" Taiyang shouted.
"Typical," Salem scoffed.
The Witch materialized a long, ornamental hairpin from her robes. Its end was decorated with an elegantly jewel-crafted butterfly. Then, without any hesitation, stabbed the point of the needle into her collar bone, matching the placement with the scratch inflicted on Taiyang.
At the same time, blood spewed both their bodies. The man let out a scream of panicked anguish before steeling himself enough to leap back to safety. His hand clutched the base of his neck, where blood dribbled between his fingers.
The Witch on the other hand, showed only indifference to the cursed wound. She observed her three opponents without paying any mind to the black liquid spraying out. Only after a few seconds passed, did Salem spin a web from her fingertip to bandage the gash.
Taiyang badgered himself for his carelessness. He forced his wound close with his Semblance. Though it stopped the bleeding, the fix was only skin deep. Regardless, he took a fighting stance, showing he was ready to go, but a gentle hand rested his shoulder.
"Assist the others, Tai," Glynda spoke with consolation in her voice. "Leave this to me and Minerva."
"This battle will no longer take place within the confines of this realm," the Headmaster of Shade added.
Taiyang wanted to argue back, but prior experience held his tongue.
"Yes, run along now, little lionheart," Salem condescended with a brushing gesture.
"Only certain performers are allowed to share this stage."
.
X
.
"This is the best we could do, huh?" Yang asked.
"Yep. Everything's zeroed on this spot," Emerald replied.
"Couldn't make it any farther out?"
"Considering all the last-minute strings I had to pull to make this puppet show dance, I'm surprised we made this much space at all. Let's just be happy and take what we can get, shall we?"
On the farthest edge of Vacuo's Western Wall, Yang and Emerald plopped down to take a seat. Their feet dangled off the side. Neo and Mercury joined them shortly. The four stared passively at Behemoth encroaching their position. They could see armies warring at the corner of their peripheries to the left and right.
Although they were aware of the violent events transpiring, and those more to come, the team basked in the oddly-serendipitous moment of peace. For them, nothing would happen for the next few minutes. All manners of danger were either far or still on their way.
The only thing they could do at the moment—was wait.
Neo pulled out an apple, and sliced off a few pieces with her sword. One by one, she passed the slips of fruit to her teammates. The four munched on the small snack, while watching Behemoth beat its wings towards them. Nothing left, but to bide their time until the omen of destruction's arrival.
"So, everyone around's been cleared out?" Yang started.
"Yup. Zero possible casualties, except for maybe us. Just the way you wanted it," Emerald replied.
"See? Doesn't it feel nice to do the right thing?"
"Fuck the right thing. That's not why I did this."
"Oh? Then, why did you do it? I thought your self-proclaimed moral compass was broken."
Emerald glared at her silently.
It is broken.
I mostly did this cause of you…
"Still, thanks for doing it." Yang beamed with a warm smile. "I mean it, Em."
Yang was about to pop another apple slice in her mouth, when Emerald snatched it midair. Taking it as a small price to pay, the girl didn't make a fuss. Only taking replacement from Neo, who was performing her own magic trick of producing endless fruit out of thin air.
"Hey, Em?"
"Yeah, Yang?"
"Did Temujin seem…weird to you? You know, back there?"
"Temujin's always weird."
"Yeah, but… evasive."
"Temujin's always evasive."
"You know what I mean," Yang groaned. "Back when she told us she was abandoning the city, and when we told her our plan, she just okayed it like it was nothing."
"You prefer she argue with us? We practically handed her a 'we'll save your city for free' card—again. Maybe, she just didn't want to look a gift horse in the anus."
"Uh, it's teeth."
"What is?"
"The saying. It's 'gift horse in the teeth'."
"Oh. Mercury lied to me."
"No, it's definitely anus," Mercury mumbled, stuffing more fruit his mouth. "That's how you tell the horse's age."
"Okay! But you know what I'm saying," Yang brought the topic back. "What futures did Mouse and Knives see? What else aren't they telling us? Temujin doesn't seem the type, but she looks kind of like she's given up. What else are they hiding?"
"Who knows," Emerald shrugged.
"I know you've thought about it."
"I got a few ideas, but nothing concrete."
"This isn't the time for our sides to keep secrets." Yang let out an exasperated groan before popping another slice into her mouth. "Cinder and Weiss are ready to pull us out. Temujin has to know that. She needs to be open with us."
"It's not like we tipped all of our hand to her either. Still gotta play a few things close to the chest. A certain Bridge Project comes to mind. Distrust goes both ways, punchy."
"I thought we were in an alliance."
"I think this is about as much two Kingdoms can trust each other without actually conquering the other. And that's without all the bad blood between Vacuo and Atlas."
"We need to be on the same page, Em. Salem found a crack in our team and pried it apart. What do you think she'll do to two ununified Kingdoms?"
Emerald paused, and then bit into the next crunchy morsel Neo handed her.
"True. If Vacuo somehow gets out of this intact, I wouldn't put it past Salem to turn one of the Kingdoms against the other. You have an idea bouncing around that noggin? Or do you just like adding new problems to my 'shit I gotta figure out' list?"
"We need to have a sit down with Temujin. At the least, we need to hear everything the siblings predicted so far."
"Yeah, she's kept us in the deep dark about their visions. Not just us, but her own people, too."
"And if we're learning anything, whatever Temujin hides is worth finding out."
"Emerald," a voice came over the Enchantress' mental link. "Are we ready to begin?"
"Yeah. Just about," she responded, and got up.
At that moment, a number of transmissions reached Team ENMY's communications.
"Alrighty. Time to set the world record for taking down a bunch of Nightmare Class Grimm in a row, maybe!" Emerald announced.
"All boss speedrun!" Mercury fake cheered.
Yang turned to Neo with a loving stare.
"Got my back?" she winked.
Neo smiled widely.
Yup.
.
X
.
(An hour ago)
"Are we sure this is wise?" General Ironwood couldn't help voicing his doubts. "We were supposed to wait until we were closer to attempt anything like this."
"Drastic measures, General," Trafalgar answered, next to him on the bridge. "Sometimes, all we can do is take a leap of faith."
"There are countless variables which can skew the accuracy."
"That's why it's called a leap and not a step, or a modest crawl."
Ironwood breathed a sigh, before speaking into the console.
"Alright, Penny. Permission to arm."
"Armed and READY, Mr. Ironwood!" the girl answered with a chipper.
"Execute."
.
X
.
"…. What the hell are you kids thinking?" Qrow muttered his disbelief.
"I'm thinking we need your help to bring down Behemoth. Is the wax building up in your ears, grandpa?" Emerald replied.
"Don't call me grandpa!"
"The other guy is definitely a grandpa. As a matter of fact, he's the grandest of grandpas. So, you gonna help us or not?"
"I thought the plan was to surprise Salem with an ambush."
"Plans change. Roll with it."
Qrow breathed one of the most soul-draining sighs in his life, before collecting himself to continue.
"Okay. So, let me make sure I got this right. You need me to use Titan's power to help you kill Behemoth."
"Yup!"
"But before that, you need me to stick my neck out."
"You got it."
"I already don't like this…"
.
X
.
"I think I'm going to like this," Raven gave a soft chuckle.
"I thought you would," Emerald shared in the mental laugh. "Shouldn't be a violation against whatever your contract is with Salem, right?"
"Only you brats could come up with something this sloppy and effective."
"Compliment received."
.
X
.
Out in the ocean separating Atlas from Vacuo, the acting reinforcements of the Atlesian Fleet came to a full stop. While the airships hovered as still as possible, their artillery battery raised to a high angle. Tapped into each vessel's control system and calculating a complex aiming algorithm was a certain android.
"Coordinates fixed. Real-time calculations complete. Trajectory courses confirmed!" Penny cheered.
"FIRNG ORDNANCE!"
.
X
.
(Back to the Present)
Team ENMY turned their gazes eastward, where a flock of glistening projectiles soared towards their position.
"Whoa, that's gonna be close," Yang commented.
"Yeah, well. It's supposed to be," Emerald sneered, as she elbowed Mercury's side. "You're up, top gun. Make sure it's not us that gets our ass fricasseed."
"On it, boss."
Mercury activated his Semblance and felt the surrounding atmosphere come under his control. His senses extended to the oncoming artillery shells. Their trajectories mapped out in his mind's eye.
Damn. Not a bad shot from fifteen-thousand plus kilometers away.
Just need to sharp it just a little…
Mercury adjusted the turbulence and atmospheric pressure to suit his needs. He played out the simulation in his head, and matched it to the present. Their ordnance would land exactly where they wanted it to on the dime.
"Merc," Emerald elbowed him a few more times. "Hate to interrupt your beautiful mind moment, but the big bad bug is coming up faster. Maybe, short the fuse on lighting this candle?"
"Sure, just gotta speed the momentum on more than a thousand combustible Dust shells. No big deal." The sarcasm exaggerated in his voice.
"I had to hallucinate a whole Kingdom. Don't get cute with me about making the big plays."
The crying drove of whistling missiles screamed across the sky ever closer. At the same time, the great shadows and winds kicked up by Behemoth brushed the team's backs.
Despite being caught between an arsenal of hellfire and the largest Grimm ever witnessed, ENMY showed no signs of panic. Once Mercury finished his modifications, he expelled a small sigh of relief.
"Nice," Emerald smirked.
The girl started putting on the sunglasses she took from Coco so long ago. Yang, Neo, and Mercury were producing their own pairs, when Emerald took out her scroll. She then, held it out and struck a smug pose.
"Are you actually taking a selfie right now?" Yang asked in slack-jawed awe.
"I wanna send a picture to Cinder. It'll make a good memory."
Without wait or permission, the rest of the team crammed into the camera shot. They made random faces, while throwing up a series of hand gestures and middle fingers.
Meanwhile, high-pitched whistling from the Fleet's artillery reached the peak of their cries when they were suddenly muffled. Bellowing explosions cut the sound off with its own. Raining hellscape engulfed Behemoth's back in clouds of inferno. It was a carpet bombing of a creature that could have been a small island onto itself.
"Sweet fireworks," Yang grinned. "Did you get the shot?"
"Got it!" Emerald confirmed.
"I always wanted to help destroy something beautiful," Mercury shed a single tear.
Neo threw her hands up, cheering with mute excitement,
Fire! Fire! Burn!
"Okay, okay," Emerald called their attention. "I know that just made the inner pyros inside us cream, but we still got work to do." She tapped her in-ear communicator. "You there, OG?"
"I'm here."
Flying above the incinerating back of Behemoth, a black bird swooped down. Its feathers shed upon its descent, giving way to a human form. He aimed the landing of his dive before the intact form of Combine, Chief of the Cuckoo Grimm.
The parasitic bird gave a gross chirp, as it recognized its bodyguards were burned away by Penny's fire bombing.
"This… really sucks!" Qrow complained.
Sweat dripped down his face. He could feel the life being siphoned from him, leaving his skin cold. If he didn't possess the Old One's longevity, he might have died instantly in Combine's presence.
Azkaban was somewhere near, so Qrow couldn't activate his Semblance to save himself. But if things went according to plan, he wouldn't remain vulnerable for long.
…
"How much could I pay you not to save my brother?" Raven posed to Emerald via their telepathic link.
"Discount low five figures," the answer came readily.
"That was a joke."
"Was it, though~?"
From her cliffside in the Black Oasis, Raven gripped the hilt of her katana and went into a low iaido stance. Her senses attuned to the combination of Emerald and Neo's information. There, she saw her brother's back turned towards her.
"Now, don't flinch, little brother."
…
"Neo?" Emerald prompted.
The petite girl poised her estoc in a thrusting motion above her shoulder. A silver light gleamed in her irises. She made out the positions of three key figures: Qrow, Combine, and Azkaban, before sealing the sight into her blade.
Neo laxed her muscles, emptying her lungs of all its air. She concentrated a majority of her Aura into the ultimate technique she created herself, leaving just a little in reserve. It was the most powerful move in her arsenal, and she would only be able to perform it once for a long while.
The small swordswoman felt traces of Yang's influence swell in her soul. A bright fire of her beloved's sun licked heat on her fingertips.
Neo's hand moved quicker than the naked eye could catch. The sounds of shattering glass ripped the air.
In the same moment, Raven freed her blade from its sheath. Her bloody double-slash aimed down the center of Qrow's back. But at the very last second, the move collided with Neo's.
It was a clash of ultimate sword techniques that resounded across the entire continent. A piercing blade of blinding, silver glass and a cross drawn by a sinisterly, crimson paintbrush rendered the sky into pieces. The world itself seemed to tear briefly, like it was made of paper.
Raven's attack was barely deflected enough from her brother's back, and guided in the direction of Combine instead. Likewise, Neo's thrust was diverted towards Azkaban. Both their blades struck their marks down, slaying the Nightmare Grimm with their god-like skill.
Hmph, Raven breathed an impressed scoff.
Out of the four brats, she might be the one who grew the most in all this…
"Not that I'd tell her that."
…
"Uncle Qrow!" Yang shouted.
"On it, kid!"
With Combine and Azkaban down, Qrow felt the burden on him lifted. He tapped into Titan's ability, while harnessing his own Semblance. A pair of great scythes unfolded in each of his hands. A familiar green glow permeated from his body to envelope the burning Behemoth.
The Grimm's flying motion slowed. Time stalled in the space it occupied until the creature froze just above the wall and Team ENMY. Wind, fire, poison, and intermingled with it, falling caterpillar Grimm halted midair.
Yang and Mercury stared up, before bumping their fists.
The Spring Maiden felt adrenaline rush her veins as her Aura manifested. A crystallized crown formed its halo around her head. Her eyes blazed with the fire of her Semblance. She watched lightning crack across her vision, outlining Behemoth's multiple weaknesses caused by redundancies in its anatomy.
"Wouldn't be easy if we could just strike one spot. We're gonna have to hit them all."
The pair rocketed into the sky.
Mercury and Qrow went to work first. The young man summoned a storm to carry him across the Grimm's expansive mass. Every kick he delivered made the floating island shudder. Likewise, the veteran Huntsman used his Reaper's Semblance to sow death from atop. Together, they layered a cacophony of craters and trenches into Behemoth's exoskeleton.
And then, Yang joined them after building her energies to the brim.
"Many search the meaning of the shape given to their soul," she heard Nai's words echo the depths of her mind.
"I am Poison.
I am a Weapon.
I have lived and learned to become the agent that destroys my enemies' bodies.
What does your life embody?
What meaning does its shape give?"
Yang jumped from falling debris to falling debris. Fire scorched every foothold she kicked, making her way to the belly of the beast.
For my friends, I'll be their warmth.
When they are lost, I'll be their light.
And for anyone who tries to hurt them,
I'll be the banisher of their darkness.
Yang's Ember Celica shifted its form. Pistons fired across her entire arm. It rumbled with all the power and force of a jet engine.
I am the Fight that Life brings.
I am Fire.
And I Burn.
The exact moment the noon sun reached its highest point, the Spring Maiden's punch let loose a flame likened to the birth of a star. A supernova erupted in the center of Behemoth's stomach, scorching constellations across the vulnerabilities of its body.
The halting of time was no small feat, and Titan's ability only lasted a second before reality resumed. But it was enough for Behemoth's annihilation to be realized.
"Alright! It's gonna pop!" Emerald shouted. "Clear the splash zone!"
Yang, Mercury, and Qrow fled the burning wreckage's vicinity, as the Grimm plummeted down. Its body decomposed into countless scales, which combusted on any contact. The repeated detonations and weight of its carcass drove a crag into the Wall and a small part of the city.
…
Yang let herself freefall, burning cartilage still around her. Much of her energy was spent, but not all of it, per Emerald's orders. But there was no denying the weariness wanting to set into her nerves.
"Well, that was a thing."
She looked to the side, and saw Mercury speed down to Emerald. Their leader stood on the right of the Wall's break. Her Uncle was nowhere in sight.
*Sigh* "I really want this day to be over…"
Just then, among the falling scraps, Yang spotted an oddity. It was a little singed, but it stood out from everything else with its white crisp design and the way it spun sharply through the air.
Yang squinted her eyes, and saw it was a playing card.
The Ace of Spades.
.
X
.
"Is this truly all the strength you can muster?"
Salem gave a wave of her hand, and the bright projectiles Glynda and Minerva cast her way dissolved into squirming maggots. As they writhed uselessly on the ground, the Witch made a claw with her hand. Her long nails thrusted in the direction of her opponents.
Suddenly, the sand beneath the sorcerers' feet coiled like tentacles, pulling them into its embrace. Salem's hand squeezed, and the prison closed tighter.
"You're spellcasting is rather rudimentary compared to what I've seen over the ages. But I suppose that is the folly of mortals. Not enough age to hone the skill, no matter what potential exhibited."
"Then, perhaps another challenger is in order? One you can't bully with tricks."
A crow flew down, before expanding its form into a man. He snapped his fingers once, and the "living sand" about to suffocate the sorcerers was dispelled.
Glynda blinked, not believing her eyes. The image of the man before her seemed to phase in and out of existence, as if his identity wasn't solidified.
"Ozpin?"
"Apologies for the tardiness, Glynda," the white-haired man with small glasses said. "There was an issue that required our assistance."
"But, how…? What about Qrow?"
"Also, here," the figure of Ozpin replied with a voice that was not his. "This body sharing thing is more complicated than it looks."
The immortal's image flickered between Ozpin's and Qrow's, and then another Glynda recognized as Beacon's past Headmaster Myrddin's. Reality bent, and several iterations blinked in quick succession. Some figures she remembered from historical texts, more of them she did not. The spinning of the forms continued until the image settled onto a small, hunched-back old man. He had the look of a retired farmer and had to use a cane to support him like a third leg.
"Titan…!" Salem snarled with rising furor.
"…Wicked," the Old One spoke in a grounded tone. His voice was crass, but it dissipated into the surroundings like an earthquake. "Must we continue this vicious cycle?"
"Oh, it will not continue. Not for you."
"So, it was inevitable. You and I must battle once more."
"Immortal versus immortal," the Witch gestured to herself, then Titan. A bloodthirsty Magic coursed her veins, making them pulse black across her pale skin.
"There can only be one."
.
X
.
Yang was in no position to react. The playing card spinning outside her reach was practically a calling card for her death. All she could do was leave her fate to another's hands.
…
Fortunately, those hands were the ones she trusted the most with her life.
The sound of shattering glass scattered pieces of Neo's mirror portal into the falling sky. Her sword was held, outstretched. Its point pierced through the card as a bullet punched a hole through the same middle.
It should have been a perfect killshot. Yang and Neo read the trajectory, and it would've drilled right through Yang's forehead, but Neo's interference skewed its course.
"Shit!"
Yang whipped her neck as fast as she could, just in time for the bullet to tear a chunk of her hair off along with part of her right ear. Blood stained her cheek and a sharp ringing noise penetrated her eardrum.
"Hey, you. Can you hear me?" Emerald's voice came from her comms, as Yang could see her leader smirking in the distance. She flipped her the middle finger.
"Told you she'd try."
"Really, Em?! Now?!"
"Hey, you were the one who wanted to do this, despite my fair and wise warnings."
"Can we save the 'I told you so's for later?"
"Say hi to her for me," Emerald waved.
"WILL FREAKIN' DO!"
Yang flashed an angry glare to Neo, who gave her a quick nod.
Her partner conjured a mirror for her to drop into. The portal pushed her into another, and then another, and so on. Each segment accelerated the girl into the distance.
Yang didn't aim her fist. She knew Neo would do that for her. All she had to do was swing when the time came.
And at the last shuttle interval, she loosed her fist.
Yang's landing struck the terrain like a miniature meteorite. The target and source of her bullet wound was knocked off her feet, and onto her back. The shooter could have put up resistance, but the looming Spring Maiden erased any thought of that.
Instead, Inna Kao simply smiled.
"Hey, Yang." She tipped her hat, still on the ground.
"Hey, Inna. Long time no see," Yang replied unenthusiastically. "Em says, hi."
"Oh? Tell her I said hi back."
Yang did a quick sweep of her surroundings.
"No Bean?"
"Nah. I wanted to take my shot away from him just in case. Guess I made the right call."
"Too bad. I wanted to see him."
Inna stared at Yang for a while, before tilting her hat down.
"Heh… Well, you got me good, didn't you? Don't tell me ya'll fixed that trap for lil 'ol me?"
"It was Emerald's idea. We've been ready ever since we heard you and Bean were around. We know we can't underestimate you."
"Shucks, Yang. Now, yer just makin' me blush."
Yang stared long and hard at the cowgirl.
"…I heard about your team. Sorry."
"Yeah, well. I'll be joinin' thems soon."
"Funny thought that."
Yang grabbed Inna's rifle laying on the ground, and snapped it in half across her knee. It pained her a little to destroy someone's personal weapon, but the bad feeling disappeared when she remembered she was missing part of her ear because of Inna. The gun would be repaired eventually.
"Nothing to worry about if you don't have your rifle," Yang tossed the remains at Inna's feet. "I'm done killing people, especially people I like."
"…I can't stop coming for you, Yang."
"Yeah, you can. All you have to do is stop," Yang shrugged. "But if you really want to keep trying, go ahead. I'll be ready."
"Hm hm! Told you, you'd be sorry, Inna," Raven chuckled, as she stepped through her portal.
"Mom. Why am I not surprised you're here?"
"Your little girlfriend actually matched my favorite move."
"She's a keeper."
"I suppose."
"I'm totally telling her you approve."
"I don't. And another thing—"
Just then, Raven and Yang's heads were flooded with an amalgam of information. Rather information, they were a bit like actual memories, but of events yet to occur. It was disorienting to say the least, but one thing was clear.
"Hey! Did you get that?!" Raven asked Yang.
"Yeah. What the hell was that, Em?"
"It's the visions the Rakis siblings have been seeing," Emerald replied. "Don't know why, but Knives was suddenly in a sharing mood. But after seeing those visions, I can make a guess."
"Their predictions…Temujin…!"
"That's why you and Raven should get your asses back here on the double!"
"Mom!" Yang turned to Raven, and saw fear there like she never had before.
"Let's go."
.
X
.
"Hm. They brought down Behemoth," Temujin rubbed her chin with an even composure.
The throne room, which was once a bustling war room, was now vacant. The lone ruler of Vacuo sat on her chair with only the Rakis siblings for company.
"Any deviations?"
"With almost all our fortifications intact, more of Vacuo's citizens will survive by the end," Mouse answered.
"Haha… They are truly something. Troublemakers. The perfect enemy against Salem and fate."
The old woman smiled ear to ear, before breathing a contented sigh.
"Everything else is proceeding according to script?"
"…Yes."
A nearby monitor showed an endless replay of Team ENMY's assault on Behemoth. Right before the artillery from the Atlesian Fleet struck, a wisp of dark mist engulfed Camlann, and seemingly warped it out of the area.
On a security monitor, three figures made their way through the Hanging Gardens. The colossal armor of Camlann was recognized. Beside the Grimm were Adam and Blake. It wouldn't be long until they reached the chamber.
"You two should go," Temujin said to the siblings.
"No," Mouse refused shakily. "We won't leave you."
"You have to guide our people."
"We won't leave you!"
The boy now had tears streaming his eyes. He wanted with everything to overturn the future he saw. A future where the Grimm overran their land. A future where their closest friends died…
…A future where Temujin offered her life.
"Oh," the old Faunus put a hand on Mouse's head. "You know, I faced a lot of criticism for adding that Eye for an Eye thing at the end of the Code. Mostly from Minerva, but whatever." she smirked. "Who knew it would be the strength our people needed in their weakest hour? Surely, not me."
Gentle sobs continued to escape Mouse, as Temujin continued.
"No, definitely not me… But if the death of one old woman past her prime can be the rally cry of our Kingdom, I will answer that duty with a full heart."
"…"
"Go. My time is over." Temujin announced proudly. "This is goodbye."
"We won't leave you!" Mouse cried back.
Temujin scratched her ear in frustration, before turning to her other side.
"Knives. I entrust you with your brother. You know what must be done. The both of you must regroup with Nai and Minerva. Notify them of my death. The first waves of the Grimm should be dealt with by then. Fall back here with Team ENMY, and eliminate Camlann. Hold the siege until Atlas' Fleet arrives."
The younger Rakis made no move to respond.
"Knives? Did you hear me?! Knives!"
Temujin shook her shoulder, and saw the girl's expression turn with surprise.
"Oh, right!" Knives answered with wide eyes. Her tone was different from her usual. "Actually, I agree with Mouse there. You really shouldn't be so quick to sacrifice yourself."
The elder Faunus was struck speechless.
"There's a lot of people who would mourn your death, Temujin. They'd be heartbroken," the girl continued. "I know one person especially!"
"Who…?" the old Faunus could only mutter. "Who are you?"
The girl with the appearance of Knives could only smile brightly.
"There's always a way to change fate, as well as those who are willing to fight it. You said it yourself."
"…"
"But they can't help you if you don't believe in it too," Knives held Temujin's hand in both of hers. "This girl loves you so much. She begged for a way to save you, even in her dreams. That's how deep her resolve is."
Temujin continued to stare blankly at the girl. Knives met her gaze, unabashed. The young girl's eyes seemed to glint with a brighter silver than usual.
Then, Temujin remembered where she heard this speech mannerism before, as well as this unflinching determination.
"Summer Rose?"