Chapter 3

The pounding, rumbling sound got louder. It was accompanied by the thunder of falling trees. Finally the group could see what they were up against. Ursai, and Majors at that. Four of them. They were huge and covered in white armored plates. One would be a tough fight. With four it was going to be a real battle.

"Pyrrha, can you take one on you own?" Ruby asked.

"I can try." Pyrrha said.

"Good." Ruby said. "Everyone take one with your teammate." She turned to her left. "Ready Weiss?"

"I'm always ready." Weiss said.

"We've got this!" Nora exclaimed. Ren nodded.

"Yang?" Blake said sheepishly.

"Let's get this over with." Yang sighed.

While the students were distracted with their fight Qrow had slipped away to join Taiyang. The pair looked on from a concealed position atop a nearby hill. As they kids had fought through the Creeps and Beowolves, Taiyang displayed increasing discomfort. As the Ursai arrived he was near a panic.

"Majors, they can't." Taiyang protested. "It's time to end this."

"Give them a chance." Qrow said. He grabbed Taiyang's arm to make sure he did not rush off to help. "They can handle it."

"I can't handle it!" Taiyang shouted. "This is insane!"

"Trust me." Qrow implored. "They've got this."

Pyrrha wanted space. The last thing she needed was to be fighting two Majors at the same time. She leveled her rifle and took a few shots at the Ursa closest to her. They did not seem to do any real damage but they sure made the creature mad. It roared and charged after her. She led it to the right, away from the others. Once she felt it was far enough she turned to face it. The Major was closer than expected. She lifted her shield just in time for the beast to barrel into it. Pyrrha was lifted off the ground and sailed through the air. She adjusted midair before planting her feet against a tree. She pushed off and rocketed back toward the Grimm. Flying spear first she slammed into the Ursa, sinking her blade into its chest. It was less than impressed. With a swipe of its claw she was sent tumbling across the ground.

Ren got the attention of the Ursa on the opposite end from Pyrrha's. Nora dashed off ahead of him as he led it into the forest to their left. There was a clearing nearby where they could fight it without interference. Ren ducked through the foliage with the Major in hot pursuit. The Grimm snapped trees like toothpicks as it raced after its target. Ren burst into the clearing. Nora was already there, standing in the middle. As Ren raced past her Nora leveled her grenade launcher. She fired a rapid series of shots at the onrushing beast. The grenades exploded in quick succession, obscuring the view with smoke. Unfazed, the Ursa burst out of the cloud and lowered its shoulder, slamming into Nora and sending her rolling across the field. Ren had circled around and attacked the Grimm from the side. He leapt onto its back and repeatedly stabbed it in the back of the neck. He moved this way and that as it struggled to reach him. Eventually the Grimm got its man. It grasped Ren in its claw slammed him straight into the ground.

Weiss used her glyphs to create walls of ice that sent one of the Ursai in her and Ruby's direction. Once it was sufficiently separated from the others, Weiss laid down a patch of ice on the ground. The Major slipped and slid toward the waiting pair. Ruby coiled up, fired Crescent Rose and spun around, lashing at the out-of-control Grimm with her blade. Her scythe hooked the Ursa's side and failed to penetrate the armor. The Major was still in motion, and dragged Ruby with it. A backhand slap from its paw knocked her away. Weiss skated in on her glyphs, lancing fire at the beast as she approached. Once close she encased its feet in ice and slid around behind the creature to stab at its back. After a few stabs the monster roared, wrenched free of the ice and spun to face her. Weiss tried to back away but the Ursa was too quick and sent her flying with a swipe of its claw.

Yang charged straight at the final Major as soon as it cleared the trees. Blake waited behind her, firing Gambol Shroud at it as a distraction. Yang reached the Ursa, ducked under its initial attack, and hit it in the jaw with an Ember Celica boosted uppercut from Phoenix Wing. The beast staggered back as Yang's momentum carried her into the air. She kept firing, all the way up and back down. The Major lost track of Yang's flight but caught site of Blake. It charged at her. She backflipped out of the way, leaving shadows behind for the Ursa to hit instead. Blake stopped her retreat and launched herself at the monster. She slashed at its calves as she dove between its legs. It quickly spun around and slammed its colossal fist down atop her. Yang charged in now but the Grimm saw her coming. With an almost casual swipe it sent her sailing through the air. Yang crashed through a window and into the house.

"That's it, I'm ending this." Taiyang declared. "It's too much for them." He pulled away from Qrow but his grip was firm.

"I'm sorry Tai, I really am." Qrow said. He twisted Taiyang's arm around his back, swept his legs and drove him face first to the ground. Qrow kept the arm locked up as he followed Taiyang down, pinning him to the ground. "I can't let you interfere."

"Let me go!" Taiyang demanded. "They're going to die! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Pyrrha rolled to her feet. The Ursa was already charging at her. She dove aside and it slid past, unable to match her dodge. The threw her spear and it sunk into the Major's back. With a roar it turned around and swiped at her. She deflected the attack with her shield then used her semblance to pull the spear deeper into beast. It flailed wildly at her but she kept her shield up and slowly retreated. All the while the spear dug deeper. Finally it poked through the Ursa's front, the resistance dropped and it shot out and into Pyrrha's hand. The Grimm roared and staggered forward, its attacks weaker and less coordinated. It made one final lunge. Pyrrha stepped back and let the creature fall at her feet. She lifted her blade and plunged it into the monster's neck. With a twist, she severed its head.

The Major lifted its foot to stomp on Ren. Nora arrived just in time to hit it with a hammer to the stomach. The Ursa tumbled back to the ground. Nora leapt up and brought her hammer crashing down on the Ursa's chest, but its armor held. It rolled and swiped at her, launching her across the clearing. Ren was back up. He dashed in and stabbed the Grimm in the knee, dragging his blade around the joint until it collapsed. It slashed at him and he leapt back out of its reach. Nora came flying in and slammed Magnhild down on the Ursa's head. It groaned and writhed. Nora stood beside it, lifted her hammer over her head, and crushed the Major's head flat.

Propelled by a backwards shot from Crescent Rose, Ruby flew at the Ursa. She slid under its attack and went between its legs, hooking one with her scythe as she passed. The Major slammed down on its face. Ruby immediately turned and repeatedly slashed at its injured leg until it was fully severed. Meanwhile Weiss encased the beast's arms in ice, pinning it in place. Ruby went to work on the other leg and severed it as well while the monster roared in pain. Weiss walked up to the Ursa's head. It snapped at her with its jaws but she stood just beyond its reach. She flipped Myrtenaster around, held it over her head, then plunged the blade into the Major's skull.

With Yang out of the picture the Ursa attacked Blake. She had been too slow to get up and the Grimm slammed her back down. It repeatedly pounded on her with its claws as she desperately struggled to block. With a pair of shotgun blasts the Major staggered forward. It turned around and Blake took the opportunity to escape. Yang emerged from the window, her eyes red and her hair engulfed in flames. She ran straight at the Ursa. It swiped at her and she deflected the blow with Phoenix Wing before punching the beast straight in the chest. A flurry of Ember Celica boosted punches to its head, neck and chest kept the monster reeling. As it wobbled Yang cocked her prosthetic arm for one final punch. She uncorked the strike and hit the Ursa in the center of the chest, blasting a hole all the way through it. It stood for a moment before falling down onto its back.

"Takin' out the trash." Yang boasted. She dusted herself off and looked back at the house as the fire in her hair faded and her eyes returned to their normal violet. Ruby and Weiss were just arriving from that general direction. "Dad's not going to be happy about the window."

"Look out!" Ruby warned.

Yang spun around. The Ursa was not as dead as originally assumed. It was too late to block as its claw headed straight for her. In a flash of black and white Blake smacked into Yang's side, pushing her out of the way. Blake took the hit instead and was sent flying. She slammed hard into the side of the house before dropping to the ground in a crumpled heap. "You bastard!" Yang screamed, her hair once more aflame and her eyes blazing red. The Major swiped at her but she effortlessly caught the strike on Phoenix Wing. She crouched and launched into a leaping uppercut that caught the Ursa in the chin and separated its head from its shoulders. Yang leapt atop the headless corpse and kept pounding until it finally began to evaporate.

"Blake!" Weiss cried as she and Ruby rushed to the downed fighter's side. "Are you alright?"

Ren, Nora and Pyrrha returned at about the same time. "Oh no…" Pyrrha gasped.

Weiss knelt at Blake's side. With Ruby's help she laid her out flat, resting Blake's head on Weiss' lap. "Speak to me." Weiss pleaded. Blake was bleeding from her nose and, as evidenced by the growing stain on Weiss' skirt, from the back of her head. The area around her left eye was beginning to swell up. "Blake...please."

"Damnit!" Qrow shouted. He released Taiyang and rushed off. Taiyang got up and followed.

"I told you!" Taiyang screamed.

"Shut up!" Qrow shot back. He unfolded his scythe and chopped down a tree that fell in Taiyang's path. There was not enough time to avoid it and Taiyang tripped over it, rolling across the ground until he slid to a stop.

Taiyang realized what Qrow was doing. If he and Taiyang arrived at the same time, the charade would be revealed. Qrow was still playing his damn games. He was still abusing the kids' trust. "I'll kill you!" Taiyang yelled.

Blake groaned and opened her right eye. Her left was swollen shut. She coughed violently, choking on blood from her nose. Weiss helped her sit up straighter. "Are...are you okay?" Weiss stammered.

"My head hurts." Blake complained. She coughed again. "My chest too."

"Blake, I'm so sorry." Yang sobbed. "This is my fault. I wasn't paying attention and I..."

"I'll be fine." Blake assured her. "Don't worry about it. It happens."

"And I'm sorry about the way I've been treating you." Yang continued. "I knew you had to have your reasons for what you did but I wasn't willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I should never have said that I didn't trust you or that we weren't friends. I was just being angry and stubborn and an idiot."

"You were just being human." Pyrrha said. "You were hurt. You lashed out. It happens."

"But it shouldn't happen." Yang said. "Not with my best friend."

"And I shouldn't have run but I did." Blake countered. "I've already forgiven you. I just want you to forgive me."

"Of course I forgive you." Yang said.

"Then I'm happy." Blake said. Her eye closed and she fell limp.

"Blake?" Weiss gasped.

Ren pushed the others away and reached for Blake's neck. He held his fingers against if for a few seconds. "She's just unconscious." He reported, much to everyone's relief. "Her pulse is strong and stable but we should probably do something about that head wound."

Qrow arrived. "Okay everybody, back up." He said as he pushed his way toward Blake and knelt beside her. Ren repeated his findings. "Well that's a relief. Yang and Weiss, carry her to her bed. Ruby, get out the first aid kit. I'll have her patched up in no time." He stood. "I'm really sorry you kids had to do that but you did an excellent job. You should all be very proud."

"Aren't you hurt?" Pyrrha asked. She pointed to the blood stain on Qrow's side.

"It's annoying but I'm alright." Qrow lied. He had not really been hurt in the first place. "It'll hurt plenty when the adrenaline dies down but it's nothing to worry about."

Weiss and Yang carried Blake into the house and Ruby followed. "Is there anything we can do to help?" Nora asked.

"Actually there is." Qrow said. "Make a sweep of the forest to make sure there are no stragglers. We don't need any surprises." The trio headed off. Qrow knew for a fact they would find nothing. He had carefully culled the Grimm and led them over terrain that he knew would separate them into groups. It had all been perfectly choreographed. Moments later Taiyang came walking out of the forest. He looked ready to kill Qrow and he probably was. Qrow could not blame him. "She's fine." Qrow said. "Just a little bump to the head."

"You're no better than Ozpin." Taiyang growled. "Next you'll start talking about acceptable losses and sacrificing the few to save the many."

"That's our mission, to save humanity." Qrow said. "As much as it pains me, not everyone can be saved."

"Save them." Taiyang demanded. "They're still kids. Let the adults handle it."

"Whether you like it or not they're not kids anymore." Qrow countered. "Not since what happened at Beacon. The things they've seen, what they've been through, they're all grown up. They're Huntresses now and there's not a thing you or I can do to change that. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure they survive. I want them to live long, happy lives. The problem is, without their help, no one on Remnant will have a long, happy life."

"I should kill you where you stand." Taiyang seethed.

"You can try." Qrow challenged. "Just know that the forces arrayed against us are fearsome enough without adding you to their number. If you decide to oppose me, I won't let you."

"Is that a threat?" Taiyang said.

"Yes." Qrow replied. "I've dedicated my life to protecting this world. We may be friends but I won't let you stand in the way."

"We're not friends, not anymore." Taiyang said.

"I wonder what Summer would do if she heard you say that." Qrow said.

Taiyang punched Qrow in the jaw. "Don't you dare use her name." Taiyang warned.

"I probably deserved that." Qrow admitted, rubbing his jaw. "I've got to stitch Blake up now, so if you'll excuse me."

"This still isn't over." Taiyang said.

Qrow laughed. "It's only the beginning."

Once Blake was patched up and conscious again it was time to debrief. Each fighter reported to Qrow what had happened throughout the battle from their own points of view. Qrow may have already known what happened, but hearing it from the participants was important. What they described and how they described it was a window into their psyches. Qrow was encouraged. Not only were the reports detailed and accurate, the students were displaying a confidence he had not seen since they had arrived.

"Very good." Qrow said as he wrapped up the debriefing. "I'm proud of all of you. I think we learned a few important lessons too. Yang?"

"Never let your guard down." Yang sighed.

"Good." Qrow said. "Blake?"

"Don't take a hit for Yang unless it's absolutely necessary." Blake said. "With her semblance getting beat up is basically her job."

"Excellent." Qrow said. "Alright, I think that's been enough excitement for one day. You should all get some rest. No training tomorrow either. As for me, I fear I'm beginning to sober up and I must correct this at once."

"How are you feeling?" Weiss asked.

"I'm hurting all over, but I'll be alright." Blake replied. "I've had worse."

"Why did you do that?" Weiss asked. "You know Yang can take a hit better than any of us."

"She's suffered enough because of me." Blake answered. "I figured it was time for me to suffer for her."

"That's a really messed up way of looking at it." Weiss said. "I really hope that's the concussion talking."

"I'm going to be fine and we're all friends again." Blake said. "It worked out. You should stop worrying about it."

"I'm worried about you." Weiss said. "You can't go being self-sacrificial. You're not built to take hits like that. I...don't want to lose you."

"I'm sorry it worries you, but I won't stop defending my friends." Blake declared. "I'm done running."

"Tactical retreats are okay." Weiss pointed out. "I know you want to protect the people you care about, but be smart about it. It won't do anyone any good if you get yourself killed."

"Sometimes I wonder…" Blake sighed.

"I won't have you talking like that." Weiss said. "You're not thinking straight right now. Get some rest. I'm sure you head will be clearer in the morning." Weiss got up to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Blake asked.

"I'm going to record a message for my sister." Weiss replied. She thought for a moment. "Do you think I should tell her about us?"

"I don't know her that well." Blake answered. "Will she have a stroke if she finds out you're in a relationship with a Faunus?"

"My father would." Weiss laughed. "I don't know about Winter though. I'll think about it."

"Is everything alright?" Pyrrha asked.

"Yeah, it's fine." Yang replied. "I just feel bad about Blake. Maybe if I hadn't said those awful things to her she wouldn't have gotten herself hurt."

"I don't think that's the case." Pyrrha countered. "I think she still blames herself for your arm."

"But I don't blame her." Yang said. "That was my stupid anger. Letting my emotions get away from me is what got her hurt today too. I feel like I need to change."

"Yang, I don't want you to change." Pyrrha said. "You're amazing."

"I'm not talking about becoming a different person." Yang explained. "I just need to make some adjustments. I need to be calmer. I need to be more careful with the things I do and say. That doesn't mean I can't still have fun and be spontaneous, I just need to be more aware."

"Those are admirable goals." Pyrrha said.

"I'm not sure I can reach them." Yang admitted.

"I know you can." Pyrrha encouraged. "Just recognizing that there's a problem is a huge step. You're strong and smart enough to do it and I'll be here to help you in any way I can."

"You were so cool today!" Nora exclaimed. "All those sweet ninja moves…" Nora imitated some of Ren's attacks while making possibly offensive kung-fu sounds.

"You did a really good job too." Ren said.

"Didn't I?" Nora said. "Magnhild really crushed it today! Literally!" She laughed manically. "Those Grimm didn't stand a chance!"

"I'm really happy to see you happy." Ren said.

"I'm always happy." Nora said.

"No, I mean really happy." Ren said. "I know that it's been tough for both of us, but for a while you lost that...I don't know...spark. I'm really glad to see it's back."

"I don't really know what you're talking about." Nora lied. Playing the always happy, always manic, excitable girl was a big part of her coping mechanism. "But if you're happy than so am I!"

"Hey Uncle Qrow!" Ruby said. She jumped over the back of the couch to sit down beside him.

"What's up kiddo?" Qrow asked. He took a long sip from his flask.

"Uh...I think dad's mad at you." Ruby said. "He keeps looking at you like he's imagining how he's going to kill you."

"I know he's mad at me." Qrow confirmed. "And that's probably exactly what he's thinking about."

"Why?" Ruby asked.

"It's complicated." Qrow sighed. "He's still angry about what happened at Beacon, with Yang's arm and your new powers."

"But that wasn't your fault." Ruby said.

"Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't." Qrow said. "It really doesn't matter. He also doesn't want me training all you guys. He wants you all to go home and give up the whole Huntress thing."

"But none of us want to do that." Ruby protested. "It's my dream to be a Huntress."

"I know kiddo." Qrow said. "He knows it too. He just wants you to be safe. He's afraid."

"I guess he's not happy about the Grimm attack today either." Ruby said.

"Yeah, that's got him pretty hot." Qrow agreed.

"You fought until you couldn't anymore." Ruby said. "I don't know what else you could have done."

"I probably had a little fight left in me." Qrow said, a major understatement. "The truth is he blames me for the Grimm even being here." Ruby gave a confused look. "Grimm are attracted to negative thoughts. I brought four kids full of them here."

"I thought Ren, Nora, Weiss and Blake seemed pretty happy." Ruby said.

"They put on a good front." Qrow sighed. "You do too. What happened at Beacon is still hurting all of you."

"I guess so." Ruby admitted. "I try not to think about it too much."

"I hope your success here today helps." Qrow said. "You guys did a fantastic job. I really believe you could be the protectors this world needs. You just need some more time."

"I definitely feel a lot more confident." Ruby said. "After Beacon I felt like I was too weak to do any good. Now I can see that I have a lot to learn but I can still help."

"Good." Qrow said. "I hope the others feel the same way."

"How are you?" Ruby asked. "You were bleeding a lot."

"Oh, I'm alright." Qrow said. "A little bleeding never killed anybody. Well, except all those people who bled to death. Forget I said anything. I'm fine."