Chapter 10

Nora swung Magnahiln, again and again, landing blow after blow to Mercury. However Mercury was no pushover and grabbed her, kicked her in the ribs repeatedly. She winced as she felt ribs break. She fell and saw Ren laying there, still unconcsious. Her resolve higher than ever, she turned over and cracked Mercury full force in the side of the head,
sending him flying. She was on top of him again before he could even react. She swung her hammer high, bringing it down on his legs, shattering his prosthetic kneecaps.
He threw up his hands, panicking as she raised her hammer again, a sinister gleam in her eye. "No no no wait!" He pleaded

"You will NEVER hurt my friends again. NEVER!" She screamed, dropping Magnahiln on his chest, crushing every bone and organ between the mallet and the ground beneath him.
"Never again..." she panted as she passed out from the pain of her ribs.

"Nora!" Jaune yelled, and was clubbed over the head by a Beowolf, knocking him out once more. Weiss appeared at Ruby's side, carrying an unconscious Blake.

"She's beat up pretty bad. Adam almost killed her. She'll be okay though." Her nose was bleeding from the strain of summoning and she too, fell before Ruby's eyes.

"Weiss!" She said, alarmed.

"Ruby! A little help please?!" Yang asked, dancing around a Deathstalker, while Cieryl fought to Alpha Griffons at once. Ruby rushed to help Yang.

They heard a scream as Cinder landed on the ground, seeing the body of her last ally. Neo charged her and was cast aside like she was nothing, hitting her head and also falling unconscious.
She aimed a blast at Yang, and Yang fell as Ruby finished off the Deathstalker. She aimed another blast at Ruby, Cieryl turning to face Cinder, again the memories flashed through his head.

"RUBY, MOVE!" He shouted as history repeated itself. The blast was about to hit Ruby and all Cieryl could think of was "Summer... I failed you." but the blast was blocked, by someone they had yet to see on the battlefield. Ozpin.

"You have killed... my students. Children I swore to protect. If I had recognized you sooner, I would have acted earlier. I have seen these wonderful students fall again and again. and I have had ENOUGH! PYRRHA NIKOS SHALL BE THE LAST! I WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER STUDENT TO PERISH SO LONG AS I AM STANDING!" He roared, drawing a sword from his cane and charging the woman. She drew a flaming sword from the scabbard attatched to her dress, and started to duel. The fight seemed like it would have no end. Blades clanged and fire burned.
Ozpin was old though, and he was growing weary of the fight. Ruby and Cieryl watched as he faltered and Cinder slashed his chest. He dropped his sword in pain, and Cinder torched the ground beneath him, and the great and powerful Ozpin was no more. Ruby moved forward, ready to strike, knowing what would happen if she did. Yang grabbed her cape from the ground where she lay, coughing out what words she could.

"No Ruby... you can't go... I won't let you..." she said with tears in her eyes, Ruby felt a hand at her shoulder, and Cieryl stood before her.

"Stay here. I'll take this bitch down... Keep your sister safe, okay?" Cieryl knew there was no coming back from this.

"Uncle?"

"Yeah?"

"Say hi to my Mom... please..."

Cieryl's face filled with tears once more as he hugged Ruby. "I promise I will. See you on the other side, kid.." he said as he walked towards Cinder, who was laughing at the place where Ozpin had just been.

"WHO WILL STOP ME NOW?" She screamed.

"I will. I will not allow you to kill Ruby Rose or Yang Xiao Long. I will never allow it." Cieryl said, determined

"The man out of time... very well. FALL BEFORE MY FLAMES!" She cried, diving into battle with him. She threw her flames at him, which Tempus absorbed without hesitation. Seeing her flames were useless, she drew her sword once more. Tempus clanged against her blade, her burning him at every opportunity. His healing was running out, and he knew it. As his aura was almost depleted, and his clock no time to turn back to, Cieryl closed his eyes. He opened his eyes as his semblance activated for a final time. A giant clock face appeared on the ground of the battlefield, slowing time around him. With a final push, he plunged his blade into Cinder's heart. Her eyes widened in shock and an unearthly howl filled the skies.
She went up in flames as Tempus activated inside her chest, emptying the flames it had collected back into her. Cieryl slumped down, as he knew it was over. Cinder had fallen, her allies defeated, and the Grimm were being pushed back. Ruby ran to his side, Yang limping behind her.

"Cieryl!" she cried, lifting his head into her lap "You can't die, remember?" She began to cry. Cieryl looked past her to see a familiar woman in a white cloak, watching over him

"Summer..." He whispered. He looked into Ruby's eyes as he closed his for the final time. "And now, the real Eternity begins..." he said softly, as everything went black.

A WEEK LATER

Ruby, Yang, and Taiyang stood before Tempus, stuck in the ground to mark Cieryl's final resting place, right next to Summer's, the white and gold rose pendant swaying softly in the wind as it hung from the hilt of the blade.

Taiyang spoke first: "Thank you... you gave your life so that my daughters could return home to me. Summer would be proud. She IS proud. Thank you..."

Yang stepped forward as her dad stepped away. "You saved my sister. Something I was unable to do. Thank you for that, and for the truth about mom."

Ruby came last. Tears fell as she stepped towards the two memorials. In her hands was the rose insignia she wore on her belt. She leaned forward and attached it to the chain her mother's pendant was on. "I will never forget the life and peace you sacrificed everything to bring to us. We love you... Uncle Cieryl." With that, she looked out into the sunset "We should head home soon. It's getting late." she said.

Cieryl I want to ask you something

Ruby, Taiyang, and Yang turned to walk back.

Anything, Summer.

They started walking towards the woods.

As my Knight, I was to ask you to use your gift, to guard my family throughout the ages...

The Beacon clock tower struck the hour. 8 PM. Gong... Gong... Gong...

I ask you as a favor to me...

Ruby glanced back, swearing she could hear another sound layered withing the Clock tower's chimes.

I will do it for you, my Summer...

"DADDY! YANG!" Ruby screamed, running to Tempus and clawing at the dirt.

Thank you, my Knight...

"What is it?" Yang asked.

"Listen!" Ruby yelled.

Taiyang and Yang leaned close to listen.

Thank you...

Their eyes widened and they started to dig.

My Knight...

"They got deeper and deeper, and hoisted up the coffin.

Goodbye...

They opened the casket...

There was the sound of Ticking...

A/N: This wasn't my original plan. In the past few days, I started plotting a bit more and I decided to write another installment after this one. I don't have a full layout, but I have some ideas. I'll probably start writing in within the next few days and go from there. I really hope you guys enjoyed my first fic, and will continue to read
more as I write. Thank you guys for reading!