Original concept by Korra Xiao Long
Written and Edited by MechaG11 and TBlocks
Part One: The World of Remnant Arc
-Chapter 2: Standing Together
General Ironwood directs a group of infantrymen at the Atlesian embassy in Vale - beads of sweat fall from his brow. With little options left, the embassy had to be used as an improvised command post for both the Atlesian and Valian troops. Panicking civilians hastily organized as best as possible, chaperoned by professional orators trained to reduce escalating behaviors and raise the morale of the populace. With the CCT down, Ironwood had no means of summoning reinforcements. His lost automated Paladins and Knights, now under control of the enemy, left him with very little in the way of proper ground forces to engage with the invading Grimm. James overhears shouting some ways away from him.
"Sir, please calm down!" requested an Atlesian soldier.
Two guards attempt to hold back a male civilian furiously attempting to push through. He points to Ironwood and angrily yells "You people did this! Your androids shot my husband!" before being forcefully pulled away by security escort.
A wave of guilt washed over Ironwood after hearing those words. It was unfathomable to think his military network fell so easily into the hands of the enemy. The mere fact that Salem's allies had grown to be this cunning disturbed him. What more didn't he know? What else under his watchful eye had been compromised? He didn't have the time to ponder this. All he could do now was to manage the situation as best he can.
As much as he needed to focus, he couldn't help but wonder about the Huntsman who brought down the Wyvern. Huntsmen are strong, but by comparison these mysterious warriors were clearly superior in some way. Did Ozpin know about this? Perhaps this was why Oz was so ready to protest the occupation of Vale. With guardians of such strength, Vale wouldn't need an army. Oz had his secrets, but this was a strange omission even for him. James needed answers.
Ironwood approaches some of his officers. "Any updates about the huntsmen that took down the Wyvern?"
An officer replies "No sir. Things have been silent ever since those flying huntsmen dispersed after the event."
Ironwood's normally calm demeanor falters for a moment, a scowl flashes across his face. He spoke with an urgent tone. "Then somebody get in contact with them! We'll need as many assets as we can if we're ever going to coordinate a successful counterattack!"
A voice interrupts the officers before they could acknowledge the order. "I figured I might save you the trouble."
Ironwood turns to follow the voice. A shadow partially obscures the light of the moon. Above floated a man clad in blue. His crimson cape softly fluttered in the wind as he descended. In his arms he bore a battle-worn Atlesian soldier. He gracefully descends before his feet quietly greet the floor beneath. A pair of assistants rushes to his side and receive the wounded soldier.
The injured soldier manages to look up at his savior, "Th-thank you" he sputters before being carried to the nearby medical staff.
Ironwood strides quickly towards the man and looks him up and down. He found his blue outfit quite strange but wasn't one to judge a huntsmen's choice of combat uniform.
"I assume you're the one in charge?" asked the man in blue.
"General Ironwood." James said as he briefly gestured to himself. He continues "I assume you're one of Professor Ozpin's Huntsmen?"
The man in blue made an unsure expression. "I'm afraid I'm not sure how to answer that. You can however call me Kal El. Others call me Superman." Kal extends his hand towards the General.
Ironwood appeared confused after hearing the latter statement. While he was no stranger to foreign names he was not so inclined as to call someone by a nickname as…inane, as "Superman." Regardless, he reached out and shook Kal's hand.
The General states "Well met Kal. As you have seen our situation is quite dire and we're short on manpower. I was hoping that you and any other allies accompanying you would be willing to coordinate with our efforts to take back the city."
"We're here to help in any way we can." said Kal.
"How many?" Ironwood asked.
Kal replies "Myself, and three others."
"If your friends are anywhere near as strong as you we might just win the day. Please, with me." said Ironwood gesturing Kal to follow.
The two make their way towards an area full of officers and strategists. Ironwood brings up a hologram map of the area and the group begins conversing over the plan to take back Vale.
Students from the various schools all lay exhausted from their battle in the Beacon courtyard. In this brief moment of respite they take time to draw their breath and gather up strength in case of further fighting. Team JNPR however had sunk into despair. When Superman returned Ruby to the rest of her peers they were not prepared for what they would see. Jaune clung to Pyrrha's lifeless body, sobbing. Surrounding him were Nora and Ren who wept as they embraced both Jaune and Pyrrha. Nearby, Ruby and Weiss tend to Blake and Yang. Weiss was taken aback by the situation. Yang had lost her right arm, Blake had been stabbed, and one of her friends murdered. Everything had gone wrong. The rest could do nothing but sit in silence and recover. Ruby looked worried. She was at a loss as to how to help her injured sister.
Ruby reaches around Yang exclaiming "Maybe with my semblance I can run her to-"
Weiss places her hand on Ruby "It's too dangerous with so many Grimm wandering the streets. We're better off waiting for help to arrive."
Coco looks to the sky, and then draws her weapon. She adds "If we can even last that long. Look!"
The students spot a flock of Nevermores and Griffons flying towards them. While most of the students immediately prepare for battle, Team JNPR is slow to jump into action.
Ren shakes Jaune in an attempt to bring him to his senses. "Jaune! We need you right now! Jaune!"
Nora detaches herself from Jaune and Pyrrha, and then wipes away her tears. She takes deep breaths trying to collect herself, and eventually readies Magnhild in its grenade launcher form. Jaune however, remained by his deceased partner's side, seemingly unaware to the chaos happening around him.
Coco knew it'd be hard to bring Jaune out of his grief, and abruptly tells Ren "Leave him be! We need to be ready whether he helps or not!"
Ren felt uneasy about the situation, but knew he had no choice but to deal with the danger in front of him. He readied his Stormflower pistols. Ruby drew her Crescent Rose in rifle form. Weiss drew her sword, Myrtenaster, with the revolving chamber clicking into the desired position. Ruby knew with half of Team RWBY out of commission they would have to repel the attack while also covering for Blake and Yang. Blake struggles to lift herself into an upright position and draws Gambol Shroud in pistol form with some difficulty.
The oncoming Nevermores begin to shower the students with giant impaling feathers. The group is battered by the storm of projectiles, but holds strong, deflecting just enough of the barrage. The students respond in kind with bullets and dust spells lighting up the sky. The flock of Grimm attempt to veer away from the blasts, some failing to dodge in time and dissolve from the fatal impacts. A large Nevermore however braves the attack due to its durability or sheer blind fury. The Nevermore dives straight for Weiss, bearing its talons ready to attack.
She was unable to react in time, but a surprise strike had fortuitously plunged in from above accompanied by a thundering battle cry. The impact is so powerful that it completely redirected the bird's trajectory. The students couldn't believe their eyes. Above the Nevermore's corpse stood the figure of a woman clad in armor. She extracts her sword from out of the malefic creature's pitch-black hide. She turns to the students as the fragments of the dissolving Nevermore fly freely into the air.
Weiss gazes at the warrior, a nostalgic sight flashing before her eyes. The stark image of a stoic figure, flowing hair, sword and shield, resembled the friend she once idolized. She shook her head, realizing this had been nothing more than a deception of the mind. It was not Pyrrha, but rather an unknown huntress standing before her.
The woman stepped forward shouting with a commanding voice "Bring the wounded towards the wall of that building! Everyone form a perimeter around them! With the structure this close they will veer away to avoid collision."
Yatsuhashi looks to Coco. She shrugs and says "I won't question the lady. Let's get them over there."
Yatsuhashi and several other students hastily bring Blake and Yang towards the building they were directed to. Jaune still remained distraught. The woman saw this and approached him. She effortlessly pulls Jaune to his feet with a single hand. Jaune was surprised by the sudden jolt.
She scolds Jaune, saying "I don't know your relation to this warrior, but there will be time to grieve later. You may have lost her, but you have not lost them." The woman gestures to the rest of the Beacon students. "Take up your arms as she did. You're a warrior are you not?"
In that moment Jaune's sense of reason fights through his tears and finds the truth of the woman's words. He nods to the woman and takes up arms. Meanwhile Nora and Ren carried Pyrrha's body to the safer location. The remainder of Team JNPR stands ready to defend their fallen friend. The students all take defensive positions around the wall with their weapons at the ready. They tense up as the flock of Grimm maneuvers around and travels back towards their position.
The woman ordered "Focus fire on the smaller birds. I will handle the larger beasts."
A Nevermore launches yet another storm of deadly feathers from its wings onto the students below. The students meet it with their defenses. The woman raises her shield against the onslaught. Her posture undeterred as the feathers clink off of her worn golden shield like rain to an umbrella. When the feathers cease the students open fire, this time targeting the smaller Grimm as the woman ordered moments ago. With no oncoming projectiles to hinder her path the woman leaps into the air. Her sword carves through Grimm as she glides through their ranks. The biggest Nevermore in the flock closes in on her with rage in its eyes.
The woman exchanges her sword and shield for her golden rope. The rope illuminates against the blackened sky as she draws it. She circles around the Nevermore's head, her rope cast like a lasso around the bird's neck. She wrestles with the beast's flight path hoping to assume command of its direction. She places her foot firmly on its back and slowly corrects the Nevermore's path. While it had not fully submitted to her will, the beast was at least steerable. She draws her sword and pursues the remaining Grimm on her new mount. Together with the students providing fire support the Grimm fell one by one.
Now that the area was clear of Grimm the woman no longer needed her mount. With one clean sweep she beheaded the Nevermore. Leaping to the ground as the rest of its body disintegrated. Coco leads Yastuhashi and Weiss as they walked towards the mysterious woman together.
Coco masked her exhaustion with excitement in her voice "You kicked butt out there! We're lucky that a badass Huntress like you showed up when you did."
The woman explains "I am no mere Huntress child. I am a Warrior. You may call me Diana."
Coco was a bit confused by Diana's redundancy in being called a "warrior" over a "Huntress". Dismissing the semantics she replied "Well, Huntress or not, you really saved our butts."
Weiss corroborates this. "We can't thank you enough. Without your help some of our friends may not have made it."
Diana nods respectfully, and then spoke humbly "Please, I am only doing as a hero should do. You all fought bravely as well. It would be remiss to say I was the only one who deserves commendation."
Yatsuhashi chimes in. "We should tend to the wounded. We're going to need an escape plan if further help doesn't arrive."
A sudden flash of light appears before the group. The students are startled by the movement, but Diana remained stoic. Before them stood a man clad in red and yellow. The students did not know him, but Diana easily recognized the sudden and electric arrival of her ally The Flash.
The Flash informs them "I can help with that. I've cleared path in the nearby streets all the way up to the Atlesian Embassy. You should be able to evacuate your friends safely through there."
Weiss: "Whoa, hey. Who exactly are you?"
Diana answers her. "This is The Flash. He is one of my allies who came here."
Coco smirks. "The Flash? Hmm, short and sweet, I like it. Well, you certainly solved our problem. Let's go tell the others Yastu."
Yatsuhashi nods. The two make their way to inform the others of the development.
The Flash updates Diana on the situation. "I got in contact with Kal. He says he's coordinating with their military general to mount a counterattack. He wants you to rendezvous with him back at the embassy. They're currently using it as a command center. Hal's still fighting on the border wall so I'm heading there next."
Weiss begs the Flash "Before you do that- Please. Our friend lost her arm. She needs medical help immediately!"
Taking this in, The Flash scans the students and then zips to the unconscious Yang. His sudden appearance there briefly startles Ruby. The Flash looks over Yang, analyzing her wound. He reaches down and picks her up.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of her." says The Flash. He looks to Blake and her stab wound. "I can help you as well if-."
Blake turns away and interrupts him "I can walk. Please…just get her to safety fast."
The Flash nods and then rushes Yang to the medics at Ironwood's Command Center.
Diana turns to Weiss "I'm afraid I must go."
Before Diana could leave Weiss cut in "Wait! I want to help too. Once I get my friends to safety I-"
Diana interrupts by putting her hand on Weiss' shoulder. "You've already done so much young one, and you are hardly in the condition to fight. If you truly wish to help then see to it that your friends make it through the day. They require your aid the most right now."
Weiss was slightly disappointed, but she understood. "I will." she promised with a look of determination in her eyes. She watches as Diana disappears into the night sky.
The students begin to leave together, taking a path through the streets. As they leave, Ruby notices that someone is missing. She looks around but fails to find anything. She decides to look upwards and barely catches Blake disappearing over a rooftop. Ruby begins to chase her. Upon realizing the faunus was moving too quickly she switches to her speed semblance to launch herself onto the building in pursuit.
Weiss notices Ruby and yells for her. She runs to the building while telling the others to go on ahead.
Blake could only take a few steps away before hearing Ruby launch into the air. She stops for a moment before Ruby occupies the same roof.
Ruby, looking concerned, asks "Blake, what are you doing?!"
Blake hesitates to turn around. "Ruby, I…" She couldn't find the words. She had hoped she could escape while avoiding this very confrontation.
Ruby continues. "Why are you running away? We need you! Yang needs you!"
Blake immediately turns, retorting "She's better off without me! Look what happened to her becauseof me!"
"It's not your fault Blake." Ruby replies softly.
Blake yells "You can't say that! You don't understand what Adam is like! What he promised to do to all of you!"
She looks into Ruby's eyes. The sight of innocence and naiveté reflect from them before she imagines the flash of Adam's blade.
Blake's eyes begin to well up with tears. "I-I can't…" She falls to her knees with her hands grasping at her head.
Seeing her friend in a vulnerable state, Ruby succumbs to tears as well. She rushes to her teammates side and grabs hold of her.
Blake continued. "Please. I don't want you to die. Not because of me."
"Blake Belladonna!" shouted Weiss. She had made her way onto the roof with her glyphs and finally caught up to Ruby.
The two girls look up in surprise at Weiss, Blake's eyes wide and streaming with tears.
"What did we talk about some time ago? What did you promise me?" Weiss queried as she approached the pair.
Blake tried to answer "Weiss I-"
"No. I want to hearthe exact words." demanded Weiss.
Blake closes her eyes and sighs. She recites the promise "To come to my teammates for help."
Weiss adds "The please, do that."
Before Blake could reply, Weiss came down to embrace her. This caught Blake off guard.
"So much is happening right now and I don't even know how to process it." Weiss said. Her tone shifts to sadness. "Don't you realize we need you? Why would you try to just leave like that?"
"Weiss…I'm sorry." Blake whimpered.
Ruby steps up and looks Blake in the eyes. "I doesn't matter how dangerous this Adam guy is, Blake. Team RWBY will have to face him together. If we're gonna have a chance, being together is our best hope."
"But-" Blake started.
"No buts." Ruby said interrupting Blake. "If we die, then so be it. It's better than dying alone, or living knowing we never tried to protect each other."
Weiss releases Blake and looks her in the eyes. She nods in agreement with Ruby.
Blake was terrified inside, but she was moved by Ruby's words. Her leader's bravery and compassion shined through all the doubt and fear within. Somehow Blake felt Ruby was right. In all this confusion and pain she could find solace in those words. Even if it was a bit naïve, there was no doubt that she felt stronger with the friends she almost considered family at this point.
Weiss and Ruby look to Blake almost expectantly. Waiting for what she will say.
Blake hesitated for a moment, but then looked up to her friends. She wiped away her tears, and then nodded. "Okay." she said.
She rose up to stand with them. Her eyes were steeled now and reflected neither doubt, nor fear.
The three members of Team RWBY leave, together.
End of Chapter Two