The Shadow of Fire
Chapter 40: All Aboard
Ozpin walked down towards the entrance of Beacon with harsh and firm steps on the ground below, Glynda and Ulysses following on his heels while the group of Hunters and Gods followed behind awkwardly, most talking to each other.
"So, Hayden is it? How fair you on this grand day?" Feng asked with a small smile towards Hayden, who awkwardly shrugged with a hint of a soft smile, having not been accustom to people socializing with him.
"I am superb! For the Gods have returned once more. Today is indeed a wonderful day to be alive." Feng said happily, feeling like a million Lien.
Meanwhile, Jacob and the now awake Cheshire were walking side by side, Jacob whistling while Cheshire just looked at the ground, growling.
"Ya alright Chesh?" Jacob asked, using his new nickname for her, nudging her shoulder.
"I hate him." Cheshire said, gesturing to Orion in the front of the group. "He ruined my life..."
"Him? The God guy? He seems pretty calm, how could he ruin your life, Chesh?" Jacob asked with a frown, Cheshire not responding.
Lucas, Morris, and Felix walked in a triangle, Lucas at the front, walking backwards so he could communicate better with his new partners.
"White Fang?" Morris asked Felix in a neutral tone, his trench coat blowing in the wind.
"Ex. Vale Special Forces?" Felix replied in an equally neutral tone.
"Ex. Interesting." Morris said with a hint of interest in his voice, humming.
"Indeed. A variety of people have gathered here today... I do wonder about the true purpose." Lucas noted, the duo nodding.
Ruby, Blake, and Yang walked with Orion in the front of their own group, taking amongst themselves while Weiss walked with Saturn, who was taking in the sights.
"The school looks different. Doesn't fit well without explosions and craters." Saturn noted, Weiss rolling her eyes.
"You're an idiot." Weiss said aloud, sighing as they walked.
"An idiot who killed you twice." Saturn retorted, grinning as his eyes shifted to purple; amusement.
"Hmph." Weiss sounded. "At least I can die as many times as I want, Laos." Weiss growled, tripping on a rock, falling down head first to the concrete below...!
A firm hand grasped her by her neck, preventing her from hitting the ground as she was pulled up, breathing heavily.
"If anything kills you next, it will be me, not some stones." Saturn remarked.
"I'd like to see that." Weiss growled back, the crime lord chuckling next to her.
The large group reached the statue of the two Hunters and the Beowulf Grimm, Ozpin taking a sip of coffee.
"Luna. Open the Vault." Ozpin said with a harsh sigh.
Luna sprung to life next to the group, floating and following Ozpin as he paced around the statue.
Luna yawned, or something like that. "I'm sorry, I was in power down mode. What is it you wish to be brought out, Headmaster Ozpin?" Luna asked with a tilt of her digital head, Goodwitch muttering something about how stupid the hologram looked without her glasses.
"Bring up the Maelstrom." Ozpin said with a growl, cursing Orion under his breath.
Luna paled, or something like that. "T-the M-Maelstrom...? But it's not fin-"
"I know. Bring it up, please Luna." Ozpin said with a semi-happy tone, giving an unsettling smile towards Luna, who just shrugged.
"Bringing up Maelstrom 001." Luna said with a snap of her holographic fingers, causing the ground beneath the large group to shake rapidly, Ozpin not buckling an inch in the tremor.
The ground suddenly stopped, the mouth of the Beowulf opening slightly, a small black cube falling out into Ozpins hands, weighing it as the mouth closed.
Weiss took a small glance back at her friends and new teammates as Orion walked up to Ozpin for the device, her breath ceasing for a moment...
Weiss was suddenly in another place, what seemed to be a square in Vale, standing on a marble platform. The city was burning around her, smoke filling her lungs; the sky burning red.
As she looked around the new area, she could see those who she was just with all around her, laying with their respective weapons to their sides. Whether or not they were dead or alive was unknown to Weiss, who turned her attention to the center of the platform...
Blake was lying in a pool of her own blood, along with Yang across from her, Ember Celica in pieces. Ruby was laying near them, laying on the marble steps to the side, golden blood leaking from her body as she laid completely still.
Saturn was laying next to Weiss, seemingly knocked out or passed out in a way, leaving Weiss all alone...
The heiress looked up from the bodies to the sound of horrible laughter, a being of pure evil standing before her, holding Orions now tattered trench coat in hand as he laughed, tossing it aside.
A groan of pain snapped Weiss from the Elder Gods attention, turning to her right to see Dagonus with Orions Saber stabbed into his chest, laying in a pool of his own Godly blood, trying to say something.
"Come Schnee. It is time for History come to its end..." Xalveris said with a cackle, his eyes glowing black when her vision went dark...
"Weiss?" Saturn's voice asked the young Schnee as he snapped his fingers in her eyes, snapping her out of her daze. "Are you okay? I can't kill you when you aren't paying attention; it's unprofessional." The man teased, one of his pens poking her stomach, grinning evilly.
"Still not funny." Weiss said with a glare, as he had done this a few times already with the pens, snatching it from his hand.
"Meh, lighten up, Schnee. I can't have fun? Is that a rule now?"
Weiss just rolled her eyes at the mans antics, knowing he met well anyways, the vision from before now taking her mind.
'What was all that...?' The white haired girl thought with a bite of her lower lip, confused.
"Everyone..." Ozpin said with a frown as he scanned the group. "I am entrusting you all into Orion's care... Although I'd rather not..."
Orion coughed.
"But... It is needed if what I have been told is correct. Most of you I know, and all of you know me. Just know... That... That what is about to happen will change history forever... And I would like you all to understand that regardless of what happens in the future, you all have served Vale proudly." Ozpin said, sending a chill down most of the groups spines.
"What does that mean...? Sounds like a funeral speech..." Weiss said with a frown as Ozpin and his two arguing Hunters followed him back into Beacon.
"Okay all!" Orion said with a grin towards the group, tapping the cube. "All but team RWBY follow me. Team RWBY, meet us here in 20 minutes. Grab your belongings, we won't be back for a while." The God said with a clap of his hands, leading the others towards the side of Beacon Cliff, team RWBY just standing behind.
"Welp. Time to pack!" Yang said happily, dragging Blake back towards the dorms, Weiss and Ruby following...
Signal
Patch
12:30 AM
A lone man in a tattered black cloak sat in his classroom chair at Signal Academy, a minor school to train potential warriors to defend the world, eating a small sandwich from a few days ago. The man, nearly 50 in his age, sat with nearly no sound whatsoever, just watching the clock tick by.
"Hm. Oh Dagonus what could you be up to this time?" The man said to himself with a sigh, sensing the presence behind him.
"Planning. My dear friend." Dagonus said with a small smile, barely evident on his face. His mix colored eyes of red and silver regarded the elder man across from him coldly, who in turn spun around in his chair.
"What is it you require, Dagonus? You don't make the trip up here often. Not after my sisters death, nor after your children were accepted into Beacon." The man said with a mocking tone, running a hand through his greying hair.
"You, Qrow, are very incompetent, per usual. As for your question... I seek your opinion."
Qrow put his old sandwich down on his desk, sitting up.
"I won't condone it. Your father-"
"I don't care for his politics in the Heavens. All I care for is my birthright; my destiny..." Dagonus hissed, glaring at the teacher.
"You wish to be a king... a ruler... But you do know you will find no salvation on this planet." Qrow said with a mild tone, nearly no emotion.
"Then I will simply crush it. All I seek is my rightful place as a king. And if I can't have my proper throne back... I'll make my own. Regardless of any rebellion." Dagonus explained.
"So. You wish me to side with you, yes?" Qrow said to cut the Gods whole story short.
"Indeed... Dear Qrow..."
Beacon
Vale
1:23 AM
"Weiss... Are the carts really needed?" Blake asked with a mild sigh out of stupidity. "You literally have 17 suitcases. Who brings that much on a trip?!" The cat girl asked.
"I'll have you know, Belladonna, that I only brought the most important things." Weiss retorted, Ruby coughing awkwardly.
Ruby was pushing the two carts that Weiss had pushed her luggage on with the other boxes and bags, physically pushing one while she levitated one along with her mind, the cart shifting every few feet due to her daydreaming every few seconds.
"Weiss... You packed all your stuff..." Ruby noted, frowning.
"Exactly! It was all needed!" Weiss said with a huff. "I mean, look how much Yang brought!"
"Weiss, I packed all the food and Dust... Of course I'll have more bags. Don't shift the blame, Princess." Yang said with a roll of her eyes.
"Why you..." Weiss began before the group heard the sound of applause from down the stone walkway, Saturn standing alone, a small black carry-on bag in hand.
"Girls, hurry it up. Orion's taking off soon. Don't want to miss your flight." The former crime lord said with a tip of an imaginary hat, walking off towards Beacon cliff, the group following.
"Flight?" The group echoed.
As they all neared the peak of the massive cliff above the ocean and Vale, Saturn turned to the group a few feet away, smiling.
"Hurry it up, ladies." The man said, falling backwards off the cliff to the sea below...
The group blinked.
Before Yang could make some weird pun about the situation, a sharp hiss broke through the air, causing the ground to vibrate quickly as a massive dark black airship rose up from the side of the cliff, appearing to resemble one that Atlas had built already, however this one looked much more futuristic. It was much longer than any airship the heiress had ever seen, hundreds of thousands of meters long, at least in Weiss's mind it was. To her, it was as long as the CCT had it been put on its side.
One grand side door to the ship opened up, a long platform of pure blue plasma elongated out from it, connecting to the cliff before the group. Saturn stood at the doorway, gesturing for the group to hurry up as he entered the dark craft, the girls reluctantly following suit...
"Aren't I the greatest!" Orion said proudly, gesturing for a hug from the girls.
"What IS this!" Weiss exclaimed as she took in the interior.
The group had followed Saturn throughout the crafts corridors and halls, passing door after door. At one point, they had walked across a glass bridge to the front of the ship, beneath them was the belly of the craft, containing massive arena like the one students could practice on back at Beacon, leaving Ruby in awe as they reached the command center, or the "bridge" as Blake called it. There Orion stood with a large grin plastered on his face, his golden eyes sparkling with joy.
"This is the Maelstrom! The strongest, fastest, largest ship ever commissioned by your race... Erm... Races." The God coughed awkwardly as Blake glared at him. "We needed a place to ourselves, and we got one!"
"But... Didn't Luna say it wasn't finished...?" Blake asked with a frown.
"Well... The engines could fail and blow up the craft in a colossal explosion of fire and metal at any second... But we should be fine!" Orion said with a bright grin.
Weiss blinked.
"Where's the others?" Yang asked, looking around for the other 7 warriors and cat lady.
"The others? Unpacking in their rooms. Everyone gets one for themselves." Orion explained, pulling out a data pad. "Weiss... Your room is in between Saturn's and Rubys. Room 001. Yang, yours is next to Rubys and next to Blakes. Room 004. I'll let you all unpack." The God said with a smile before turning back to the array of various computers and navigational controls, looking out the massive rectangular main window in front of him.
And with that, the group of 4 plus Saturn walked down the hallway behind them, following various signs that lead them to the cabin area.
Saturn immediately entered his room, locking the automatic metal door behind him, leaving the others to enter their own.
Weiss walked in and closed her door, locking it as well, turning to see the interior of her new home.
The walls were all light blue, a pair of white snowflakes parallel on opposing sides of the room, rotating clockwise in a circle. The lights above the room were placed in a large chandelier made of solid ice. The floor was tile, appearing to be ice, yet it wasn't slippery. There was a large bed across from her, all white with a white wooden frame to hold it up. A large snowflake emblem was placed in her beds blanket, rotating as well.
Two desks were next to her bed on both sides, one on the right had various computers and Scrolls while the other was empty, a large dresser to her right at the door.
Weiss was in awe, when her suitcases materialized into her room from thin air, causing her to nearly pass out from surprise. Once she collected herself, she began the long process of putting her items away, and once she finished her unpacking, and changing into her night gown, the heiress blinked lightly a few times with her good eye and fell fast asleep...
Unknown Airspace
April 23rd
8:00 AM
"Schnee." A deep toned voice spoke out to the heiress, causing her good eye to flicker open slowly, rubbing the orb to clear her partial vision. "Rise and shine."
Saturn Laos stood before her at the door, leaning on the frame, his black suit on, having had Orion spawn multiple copies of said outfit for the crime lords services. The mans mechanical eyes were currently light blue, having just woken up, feeling semi-tired still. After all, a few hours of rest isn't the best thing to get before a busy day, and he had been up since 4.
"Huh...?" Weiss asked with a high pitched yawn, sitting up.
"Orion wants everyone to do some training in the arena. You got 30 minutes to get ready. Showers are down the hall." Saturn said with an adjustment of his suits black jacket before walking off, the automatic door closing behind him.
"Ugh... Sleep... Screw you... Orion..." Weiss said with a yawn as she sat up, feeling what seemed to be a pinch at her ear.
"Love you too..." Weiss said bitterly at the pinch, groaning as she got ready for the day...
10:15 AM
The War Games
The Maelstrom
Over the Dremlock Sea
Weiss and her team ducked as Felixs body was sent flying over their heads, Yang eating from a large red and white bag of popcorn as she watched the winner of the round be claimed.
"Jacob is the victor. He now moves up to 3rd place." Orion announced, a large TV projected behind him, showing a large line of names going vertical, numbers by each.
Jacobs name passed both Feng and Felix, only two behind the days current champions: Lucas, and Saturn.
Saturn was going ten and zero, not losing a single match so far. Those who went before; Ruby, Lucas, Jacob, Cheshire, Feng, Morris, Yang, Blake, Felix, and Hayden. All that were left was Weiss, who was testing the bandage on her eye as she slowly removed it, blinking softly.
Weiss was in last place, having lost to nearly everyone so far. Her mind was on her father still. Where was he? Who was messing with his Scroll? These questions plagued the heiress, distracting her during battles.
"Next is Saturn, and Weiss..." Orion said with a frown as the former crime lord moved into place, cracking his knuckles as he pulled out a handful of golden pens.
"Ready Schnee? I'm not holding back like back at my base." Saturn taunted, Weiss dismissing it.
"Sure. Sounds swell." The white haired girl responded with a sigh, cracking her neck as she focused on the task at hand...
"Three. Two. One. Begin!" Orion announced, Saturn and Weiss both moving for battle.
Weiss paused in step to defend, and to judge her opponent, forming a strategy. Meanwhile, Saturn clicked his pens and tossed two in the air above, his fist-formed Guardians spinning them in the air above, Saturn holding two in his own hands, the four blades poised for the battle.
Weiss waited, not wanting to be brash.
Saturn race forward, jumping as he brought all four blades down on Weiss, who spawned a large glyph above her head, catching the blades and forcing the man back to the ground, where she struck at him with her rapier. The group of blades clashed as the crime lord intercepted her sword with two of his own as he stabbed forward with the others on his left. Weiss quickly rolled from the area before spinning her Dust chamber, setting it to blue as she spun around, stabbing it down to create a wall of ice. The heiress jumped up and placed a glyph on her left combat boot, kicking the wall of frozen water, sending it sliding quickly at the man before her.
Saturn sliced forward with his combined blades, burying two into it before gathering up all his strength, spinning as he launched the wall of ice airborne towards Weiss, who changed her rapier to green, smashing through it un-harmed as she ran forward to battle...
Xalveris's Throne Room
Sea of Despair
Xalveris smiled wickedly as his best soldier, Rook, slowly approached his throne of skulls and shadows, the black knight getting on a knee before regarding his master.
"Lord Xalveris... I have done as you asked..." Rook stated proudly, his master simply clapping slowly in response.
"Then I assume my prize was taken?"
Rook coughed. "Dias and Valor were slain during the assault. Their reforming will take many days..."
The Fallen Gods of storms and bravery were now destroyed for a time, causing Xalveris to hum in thought, planing his next move with this new information.
"Well. It is no matter. If Grimmlock is as powerful as he was during our encounter earlier... Than our new friend will be more that compensation for our dear friends deaths, hm?"
"Indeed, my lord..." Rook nodded slowly, standing up as his master shooed him off, heading down the tower to properly contain Grimmlock...
Maelstrom
Feng, the last monk of his order in Atlas, watched Weiss closely throughout her battle with Saturn, the young man thinking about the ancient ruins of the temple he once took care of...
'As darkness falls upon the world... the light, woman of white, shall uphold...' Feng echoed part of the message in his mind, having memorized the scriptures of the ruins before a section was destroyed by a group of teenagers who felt defacing a temple was a fun idea.
'Could she be the woman...?' Feng asked himself, frowning as he thought, not noticing the end of the battle...
"Weiss is the winner! She takes Saturn's place at the top of the board." Orion announced, patting Weiss on the back as Saturn pocketed his swords, holding a cut on his hip from Weiss's rapier.
"Lucky... Hit..." Saturn noted, Blake walking over to held him sit down.
The large group began to integrate together, all poking fun and congratulating each other on their victories or losses. Feng ignored all the talk, grabbing Weiss by her wrist as Orion moved off.
"Huh?" Weiss asked aloud, looking down at her gripped wrist.
"We need to talk, miss Schnee." Feng said with a serious look, his tunic worn from battle. "Now."
Geist breathed heavily over the body of the White Fang guard that had been patrolling his cell since Touko left, having utilized all his Aura to break his chains and snap the guards neck. Although the man wasn't dead, he would feel the pain once he woke up.
Geist Schnee stumbled towards a single table in the room, a small nightstand with his belonging upon its silver surface, including his Scroll.
Geist quickly formulated a crude message based on numbers, hoping the White Fang hadn't been up to date with the Schnee family code system.
Geist quickly re-read his message, sending it just as the doors to his cell bursted open, Touko and two guards walking in with bows in hand.
"So, I see we have a rebellious prisoner, hmm?" Touko stated as one guard punched Geist in the face with his bow, knocking the Schnee out cold on the floor.
"Clean this up, make sure he doesn't leave again." Touko said as she plucked up his Scroll, humming as she exited the room...
"Okay okay. What do you want?" Weiss said softly, rubbing her wrist as Feng stopped dragging her down a nearby hall, well away from the others.
"Has Lord Orion spoken of the Prophesy?" Feng asked suddenly, causing Weiss to blink a few times in confusion as she thought.
"No...?"
"Really? About the rising Darkness? How only one warrior of Light can prevent total destruction?" Feng urged, Weiss nodding a little.
"He does talk about evil rising, but not the last part... Why?"
"I think you are the hero the scriptures foretold. You are the one who will end the Darkness." Feng said with awe, amazed at the events going on around him. Gods returning, the legendary warrior of Light possibly found, and even a new God to add to his worship list... Life was certainly getting better.
Meanwhile, Weiss had the strange image of her battling the Elder God of Darkness and Destruction back in the square of the city, gulping a little. Why couldn't it be just nerves? Could it even be real?
"You have the blessing of the Gods... I can feel it within you... Lord Orion, Lady Rose... Lord Dagonus... Lady Aphrodite... Lord Grimmlock... But... I can feel someone else..." Feng said quietly, as if something was very wrong.
"Feng...? Are you okay?" Weiss asked, concerned.
"Yes... Yes, I'm fine..." Feng lied, a powerful image of a certain all-powerful God filling his mind...
'She must be the one...'
"The Prophesy will commence soon... I can tell... So I want to ask you, how much would you sacrifice to save the world?" Feng abruptly asked.
"The world...?" Weiss began to ask as the larger group began to flow down the hall they were positioned in, Ruby dragging Weiss down the hall so they could hang out, leaving Feng to himself...
"Hmm..." Feng hummed as he followed, his mind focused now on her possible answer...
Cheshires Room
The older cat faunus sat alone in her room, thinking as her neon purple eyes watched the floor carefully. Shadows danced around the room slowly, her purple and black feline tail wagging happily, or franticly.
'Cheshire... You need to calm down.' A voice in her head spoke, her tail shifting so it was in front of her lap, wiggling.
"Oh hiya Sasha! I was wondering when you would pipe up!" Cheshire instantly brightened up, her tail wiggling as she pet it.
'What has you so down this time?' Sasha the tail spoke to Cheshire.
"Orion..."
'It wasn't his fault, I've told you a thousand times. Someone else ratted on you, I swears! It's obvious!'
"Where's the proof then?! All I know is a soon as I told him the secret, a day later I'm stuck on this rock!" Cheshire shouted at her tail.
'Orion loved you, you're his favorite little sister! Remember?' Sasha reasoned. 'Now stop being a pouty little Goddess and go talk to him!'
"..."
Sasha shifted back behind Cheshire as she stood up from her all black bed, exiting her room and making her way to the bridge...