Chapter 9

Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Neo, and Cieryl dashed across the battlefield. Yang took out her scroll and called Blake, but there was no reply.

"I need to go find her! I'll be back!" Yang told them and turned to run, Weiss grabbing her sleeve.

"I'll go. Protect Ruby for me Yang. Just in case..." she turned to Ruby, and kissed her softly. "I'll see you soon!" and took off.

Ruby sighed and sniped a Grimm that was running after Ren, who was preoccupied defending Nora. Ren waved at Ruby in thanks, him and Nora running off to fight some more.

An Alpha Deathstalker was fighting Pyrrha and Jaune, but they were holding their own. It looked like Yatsu was defending Velvet and Fox, who were no longer fighting, but Ruby didn't know why. "What happened to them?" She asked Yang.

"Coco... Coco didn't make it... a Nevermore dropped her from really high up. She died on impact..." Yang dipped her head, and Ruby shed a tear. She didn't know Coco overly well, but she still considered her a friend. "Cmon sis, Beacon needs us." Yang added, poking her sister.

Jaune was now fighting a Griffon on his own while Pyrrha killed the Alpha Deathstalker. She turned in time to see Jaune get knocked out by the Griffon, and Pyrrha rushed to his aid. She took out the creature without much difficulty. Yang went to run to Jaune, and an airship got shot out of the air, flying straight towards them. Pyrrha looked up and activated her semblance, trying to hold the airship, but it was too heavy. She glanced back at Jaune, shed a tear, and used her semblance on his armor, throwing him to Yang, who caught him. She smiled for a second

"Take care of him, Yang..." and the ship hit her, exploding and bursting into flames on impact. Yang held Jaune and cried into his chest, causing him to stir.

"Y-Yang? What's wrong?" he asked, and she pointed. Pyrrha's spear and shield were on the ground nearby, showing where she was only moments ago. Jaune stood and ran to the burning wreckage and dropped to his knees. "No... Pyrrha... she was my best friend..." His eyes were wide with shock, not quite comprehending what happened to the teammate he just lost.

Weiss fought her way through some White Fang, ducking and dodging as she went. After her opponents had fallen, she heard a fight nearby. She dashed around a few buildings and rounded a corner to see Blake get picked up and thrown through a wall by Adam. Adam picked her up and swung a finishing blow.

Blake was having her ass handed to her. She was no match for Adam. She was more the sneaky-beaky type. Not the rough and tumble type. She was trying to snag him with Gambol Shroud, but he just ripped it out of her hands. Weaponless, she still tried to fight. He picked her up and punched in the throat, making her gasp for air.

"Remind you of the old days, Darling?" he sneered. "I gave you everything. How DARE you turn your back on me?!" He wrapped his hands around her throat, choking the life from her. As her vision grew dark, she swung a kick as hard as she could, hitting him in the crotch, dropping her. She gasped, taking in the air, her lungs feeling like fire. Her relief was short lived, however, as he pounced on her, and threw her through a wall. He jumped on her, raising his fists. He's going to kill me... I'm going to die here... alone... She thought. His fist came down and she closed her eyes... but nothing happened. She opened one eye to see a massive sword, made of ice, blocking Adam's fists. She looked up and a giant knight, made purely of ice stood over her, protecting her. She looked to the side to see a woman in white standing nearby, holding her weapon pointed atthe knight she was controlling.

"Weiss!" Blake coughed out. Weiss was obviously straining, as her knight continued to fight Adam. He was backing deflecting the blos the frozen behemoth, but lost his footing as he tripped, leaving him at an angle he couldn't correct. The knight brought his sword down, and Adam's head flew high, severed from the body that had caused Blake so much pain. Weiss ran to Blake, and picked her up.

"Come on. I'm getting you out of here!" she said, picking up Gambol Shroud. Blake sighed in relief.

"You came for me..." She said

"You're my teammate. I will never leave you behind." she said, carrying Blake to safety.

Ruby, Yang, Neo, and Cieryl were now fighting Grimm alongside Ren, Nora and Jaune. The Grimm's numbers were thinning, as were Atlas' machines, and White Fang had run off after hearing that Adam had fallen. Ruby blinked and Ren flew past her into a wall. He was half buried in rubble and Nora ran to his side. She shook him a few times, then sighed. "He's just knocked out. He'll be okay." She said, kissing his forehead.

"Damn... I was aiming to kill." A voice said, and Nora turned to see Mercury, and sparks flew from her as she shouldered Magnahiln. Ruby stepped forward with Yang to fight Mercury, but Nora yelled to them.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM! He tried to kill my Ren, and Pyrrha is dead because of the invasion he probably caused. He's MINE!" Nora roared. Happy, energetic Nora was gone, What stood before them now was Nora, feeling nothing but pure, unadulterated hatred. She raised Magnahiln and the fight began.

"Keep the Grimm away from them!" Jaune yelled and they continued fighting, building a perimiter around their friend.

Nora was going to make sure Mercury was crushed. Nobody messes with her Ren.