Atlas soldier began cleaning up the remains off the attackers from earlier while Veronica and other medical staff were treating any injured, excluding Orion who woke as he was being examined and left without words to anyone even Emerald who he saw to get his sword back. Team RWBY met with Emerald to ask more about Orion, hoping to know more about him.
" Is he alright ? " Ruby asked first, causing Emerald and Mercury to look around nervously before Mercury answered.
" Yes and No. Cinder was important to us but to Orion most of all, she practically raised the guy. "
" What do you mean raised him ? "
" Cinder was in Vacuo for a while travelling and she came across his home, or rather what was left of it. Turns out that he burnt it down , and practically everyone in it. Figured he had enough of being a reject so when he snapped, he snapped bad. When sets his mind to something, he sees it through, no matter what so I'm surprised your all alive because he honestly wanted you dead."
" What do you mean he burnt his village down ? Didn't he have family ? " Weiss nervously.
" His family was killed by Grimm so he lived alone. He got bullied and picked on for being the reclusive weirdo and people found his semblance...unwelcome. How would you feel if you there was something with the power to practically burn your soul ?" Emerald added as Team RWBY looked at each other nervously.
" He seems depressed, or even broken. Are you sure he's going to be fine ? "
" Nope." Emerald and Mercury answered in unison, shocking everyone." He needs to be alone. He never asked for help for as long as we've known him so we're not going to start now. " Emerald said with a shrug.
" Jeez that's harsh. Thanks, anyway."
Having split from their team, Ruby and Yang decided to pay Orion a visit but when they reached the lower areas of where his cell was, the two guards stationed there told them that he wasn't there and that he was in the forest of Forever Fall, and to be careful if they were going to go find him.
So after a short trip to Forever Falls, it was a simple task to find Orion, as all Ruby and Yang had to do was follow the trail of destruction and killed Grimm. Ruby and Yang crouched low as they felt Orion aura as he released his aura like he had done in Vacuo, but the difference now was that Ruby and Yang could practically feel his sadness and any emotion he wasn't suppressing to the point that they didn't want to bother him. He was sitting at the bank of a pond with Muramasa planted the head of a Beowulf that was beginning to dissipate.
Ruby and Yang both looked at each nervously before they took a step forward and Ruby ended up crunching a leaf under her boot, yet Orion still didn't turn around until Orion turned to see them only they weren't expecting what they saw.
" W-Were you crying ? " Ruby asked in surprise before a black tendril shot out at her and pierced the ground between her legs as she fell back in shock along with Yang who likewise fell back as Ruby landed on her.
Despite their position, they were more focused on Orion's eyes as they emitted steam but it was no denying it.
He had come here to be alone, and to cry in peace. The tendrils vanished quickly and Orion turned away again, " Leave me alone. Now."
That was enough for Ruby to disappear in a flurry of rose petals leaving Yang alone. She took a breath and carefully walked towards Orion, as if careful not to anger a predator in their own kingdom.
" Leave me alone, I won't ask a third time."
" I wanted to thank you, you know for saving Ruby and everyone else."
Orion turned away from Yang as the tendril's faded. He retrieved Muramasa and sheathed the blade as he placed it on his lap. " Thank me ? "
" Yeah, back in Vacuo, you saved from Ruby and then risked your life to let us escape. Then, you show with some random woman and end up saving me. I just wanted to say thanks, where it was due. Soo, why are you crying ? "
Orion decided to not answer and simply began skipping stones in the lake, and it took Yang a minute to realize he was ignoring her.
" Hey ! When someone tries to show SOME gratitude to you, the least you can do is acknowledge it. "
Again he continued skipping another stone in the lake, refusing to acknowledge her at all, which only succeeded in making Yang more annoyed.
" HEY ! "
" Uh huh." Orion said as got up and walked past Yang but stopped behind her as Yang felt his aura sweep through the area, giving off a pure murderous intent," Your welcome, but here's a warning, don't push me. I could kill all of you without a second thought but we need each other. When that's said and done, pray we don't see each other again."
" Wait wait wait, gone ? "
Ozpin nodded along with Goodwitch as she placed a scroll on Ozpin's desk and showed them both a map of Atlas. " She said that we would find their fortress here. General Ironwood is preparing to mobilize the Atlasian army as he has been given approval by their council. Before she left, Miss Raven gave us an idea of what to expect, and after all that's occurred, she believed that you, or rather that book in your possession, could be an important tool in the upcoming fight."
" So I'll ask, will you assist us ? I'm confident in our abilities, but you'd be a valuable asset. In exchange, Mercury and Emerald will be released from our custody, however you still have to answer for your past crimes." Ozpin said with his hands folded at his desk.
" Alright, I'll help." Orion stated blandly, " but after all is said and done, I suppose I don't get a free-ride ? "
" No, your crimes go father than theirs, and as such we cannot risk your escape, lest you cause more destruction."
" Tch, so basically you want me to fight your battles, except I get nothing but either a prison cell or death in return."
Ozpin took a sip from his coffee before speaking, " If you choose not to take part that's fine, but do not make light of the strife you have caused young man. In the end, everything you do comes full circle, all the chaos you've caused will undoubtedly come back for you. "
" Spare me the lecture old man, you want my help and I'm offering it. Besides, death isn't death, and I don't intend to die at all. So if you don't mind, fetch me when you're ready, I'll be in my cozy little prison."
Orion turned as his guards shoved him into the elevator and he gave a sarcastic wave good-bye to Ozpin and Glynda as the elevator doors closed and he was gone out of sight.
Yang, who had been silent during the exchange finally opened her mouth to speak. " So are we going ? "
" Depends, are you volunteering ? I'm by no means forcing anyone to go."
1 week of careful, planning, evaluation, and training was needed to decide who was capable of joining the assault.
Most teams weren't capable, either because of their current skill levels, coöperation, or any other flaw. Team RWBY had volunteered to go and barely was allowed to join, along with Team JNPR.
Sun's team was described as " too reckless" to be allowed to join, in fear either lives or others.
" So this is it, we'll be heading to Atlas and then we're gonna save the world huh. Man, a lot has happened." Yang said as she leaned against the railing of the ship along with her friends.
" Where's the psycho ? " Blake asked in curiosity.
" The "psycho" is right here." Orion said from behind them as both Teams JNPR and RWBY turned around in shock. " Surprised to see me ? You shouldn't be, I said I was going to be in the fight, and nothing's stopping me. Any objections ? "
" Several, for once you're...seriously ! " Blake said as she looked over the railing to see Sun and Neptune climbing onto the ship.
" Are you two insane ?! How did you even get on here ?! " Weiss whispered angrily as her and Blake pulled Neptune and Sun onto the ship.
" We weren't gonna miss, and sneaking on was easy, heck I'm a great stow away."
Orion couldn't help but laugh to himself at the sight as he turned to leave, " I get to kill to birds with one stone. This is gonna be interesting."
" That a threat ? " Neptune questioned Orion as he slowly reached for his rifle on his back.
" Take it as you will, you're the ones who snuck on the ship, not me. Point being we're gonna be on the water so if you wanna pick a fight, be smart about it cause it's a looong swim back to Vale."
" Umbra, Umbra, umbra, you are the last one that I believed would betray me."
Raven spat defiantly on the ground in front of Elias, causing Sauriel to grip her by her throat, " Ignorant traitor ! "
" It's alright Sauriel, go gather our forces, they now know where our fortress is. I trust I can delegate it's defense to you ? "
" Of course, my lord." Sauriel released his grip on Raven's neck as he turned and left.
" Oh Umbra, such a waste, you could ruled an entire kingdom at your own leisure."
Raven weakly spat again, before raising her head, " My name...is Raven."
" Raven, or Umbra it matters not. Though it is such a waste of your talents, nevertheless it's no massive loss. My victory is assured. Humans at their core are weak."
" You're...wrong...Elias." Raven said with determination, despite being chained, " talk down about humans all you like but you can't change the fact that you're a human as well. You can mask it all you like but in the end, you're a human like the rest of us."
" So you may believe, but I believe I've found a valuable asset. That phoenix boy, when I first released him, I felt a familiar aura around him. Chaos has given him strength. Much me, he is free from Chaos' influence, yes he could prove useful to me. Thank you Raven, even in betrayal you've given me the means to a total victory."
Elias turned and began to walk away before Raven cackled lowly under her breath, earning his attention again.
" Orion...isn't a weak minded fool. I'm...putting my trust in him...Yang...and Jaune.."
It was Elias's turn to laugh now, " Do you honestly believe that they'll make it through everything unscathed ? Do you believe that if they attack me, they'll all live ? "
Raven weakly lowered her head in defeat. She knew, she knew the answer. " No, no I don't."