RWBY: The Last Stand
W.T. Roberts
6
Cinder was in her most violent, fire-filled fury. Her flame-engulfed form drifted down to the city gates, where her nemesis resided. "You think I would let you come without a fight?" she shrieked, eyes blazing. Haken stood stoically, refusing to give up. "You can still come home, Ella." he murmured, holding out a hand. "Don't call me that!" Cinder screamed, causing the ground to split, and rubble to levitate. "If that is your wish," Haken closed his eyes. "I can't save you." He gazed long at Cinder, now realizing for the first time what he had to do. She was altering the very stability of the city, bringing all energy to herself. "Everybody, flee!" Yastuhashi roared. Coco turned to leave, but halted. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she watched between the flames. Haken stood in the middle of the carnage, sword drawn. Fox wrapped his arm around Coco; she struggled, but eventually let him carry her away. All she could do was cry.
Haken watched the girl he once loved morph into a being of pure energy. And he knew. He knew there was no saving her from the get-go, yet he still hoped against hope that Cinder would come home. His Cinder, his Ella, was only hungry for power. And now Haken had to commit the very act he swore to protect his love from; he had to kill Cinder. So, he took a step towards her, and the mound of wreckage she stood on; Cinder shot a pillar of flame at him, intending on cooking him dry. Haken tanked the flames, and when they stopped, Cinder gasped. The huntsman's skin was healing, healing from being burned alive. Now beyond hatred, Cinder cast multiple flames at Haken; he ate it, and glowed brighter. Cinder was shocked. Haken never did speak of his Semblance; now Cinder discovered that the more she tried to kill him with energy, the stronger he would become. So, the maiden thrust out her hands, and wicked blades materialized in them.
Ruby watched, helpless. "What do we do?" Ironwood was manic. He slammed his hand on the intercom button at his desk. He prepared to give orders, but Ozpin placed a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't our fight, James."
The two combatants darted to and away from each other; bobbing and weaving away from each other's blades. When their weapons clashed, a small shockwave rippled across Atlas. The opponents drew apart for a short time. Haken spoke first. "I have failed you Ella." "You failed yourself!" Cinder shot back. "The rulers we call protectors were plotting to take over!" "Cinder," Haken pleaded. "Salem is evil." Cinder huffed. "You would stand with them? After all they did to us?!" "Yes. If that means stopping you." "Then you will die!" Cinder barreled towards her enemy, swords upraised for the kill. But she stopped in mid-air when the tip of her blade pricked Haken's neck. Cinder drew back as if she had been slapped. "You won't fight?" "No," Haken declared. "I'll do this."
Haken gripped Cinder's midsection, dragging her in close. He placed his fingertips on her cheek, establishing the link. Haken opened up his memories to Cinder, sharing all his emotions. As well, he probed Cinder's consciousness, finding a weak spot in her defenses. He discovered one, and slipped inside. Cinder's mind was full of hate, which pained Haken. He clawed out the happy remembrances, the ones Cinder tried to bury, and shared them with her. Soon, the wildfire around them died down, and the pair, no longer combatants, but a pair of the same entity, stood alone. Haken dissolved the painful recollections in Cinder's mind, forcing her to focus on the positive ones. Even so, he was oblivious to Cinder's creeping hand; it snuck towards the knife at Haken's belt. Cinder whipped the dagger out, and plunged it into Haken's back. His eyes were full of guilt, pain, and utter shock as the link between their minds was severed. Haken smiled, sharing one last thought, not a memory, but a hope for the future. Cinder released him, tears welling in her eyes. The Companions circled her, each one charging up his or her weapon. Cinder, defeated, sank to her knees, sobbing. Then, the klaxon blared, and several hundred Atlesian soldiers joined the scene. Cinder, realizing that there was only death here, vanished.