LXV - Crown
Check the note at the end for some important (ish) information.
~~~(LXV)~~~
Oxon took another step back as he watched the girl. She briefly scanned them before one more person joined the confrontation. From behind, he heard the loud steps of the mechanical chair of the Doctor.
"Darling, why don't you say hello to your friends?" Darling? Does this man know Penny?
Penny turned to look in the direction of the man's voice before her eyes latched onto Ruby, a large smile on her face. Better to stare at the kid than at him, that's for sure. Ruby smiled back at her girl and put her weapon away.
Penny leaned forward a little.
"Sal…"
Ruby, along with the others, became confused at the odd greeting. "Huh?"
Penny lowered herself to one knee as a high-pitched charging noise was heard, even at such a distance.
"...U…"
Ruby watched the girl nervously. "Uh…?"
Suddenly, Penny began sprinting toward Ruby at high speed with a cheerful expression.
"Tations!"
Ruby, realizing what's about to happen, flailed her hands around in front of her and screamed, eyes wide. She did not make an attempt to dodge, though. Penny leapt and activated her foot jets, rocketing forward and tackling Ruby into the ground. From under the robot, Ruby groaned in pain.
Everyone else, besides Oxon, put their weapons away and approached the pair. He still wasn't sure if she would attack him on sight after all. The energetic robo-girl popped back up onto her feet, while Ruby slowly rose with her hand on her head and mumbled about getting the plates of a bullhead.
"It is such a pleasure to see you all again!"
After a moment to recover, the girl looked over tearfully at her friend. "Penny, I… I-I thought you…"
"Died?" Pietro rode his chair over to stand by Penny's side. "I guess, in a manner of speaking, she did. But we were able to recover her core from Amity Arena once it had made its way back to Atlas. It took me some time, but…" He looked over to his "daughter" as she gave a big smile.
"I'm as good as new! Better, even! And now I'm the official protector of the city!"
"That's my girl. We're not going to let a little ripping to shreds stop us, are we?"
"No sir!" The girl knocked on her head with a clanging sound.
Oxon wilted a bit at their words. Sure, it was true the girl could come back. Nice even. But it also was a reminder that not everyone else could. There were no do-overs for the others. Though, he did glance down at the girl's name engraved on his over/under shotgun. Perhaps hers was a name he could scratch off?
"This is…"
Blake finished Weiss' statement. "Strangely wholesome."
"Sounds like Penny to me."
Penny excitedly grabbed Ruby by the shoulders. The two shared a smile at their reunion.
"We have so many things to catch up about. I cannot wait!" Just as Penny finished her declaration with a grin, the city's alarms began blaring once more, though it seemed to be much further away. Penny continued without changing her tone or facial expression. "It seems we will have to wait."
Penny bounced backward and saluted the group as she charged her jets. Seconds later, she then rocketed off into the sky, where she continued speaking as quickly as she used to back in Beacon to Ruby, even as she took off to kill more Grimm.
"Let's talk more later! I can't wait to hear about all of your adventures and tell you how I have been and I am just very excited about the whole experience!" As she flew overhead, she finally locked eyes with Oxon and gave him a wave. "I believe you are still a wanted criminal, Oxon Adhmad, I recommend turning yourself in!"
He let his weapon fall to his side as he watched her go. Was that it? A warning for him to turn himself in was all he was going to get!? He didn't know whether to curse or to laugh. He let out a strangled mix of both.
A hand patted him firmly on the back.
Turning his head, he saw Yang standing next to him, watching the girl disappear. "Well, I knew we'd need to explain your situation to the general, but it sucks you're still wanted."
"I probably wouldn't be, but since Atlas arrested me, I am bound to be in their system. Seeing me out and about is probably something they'll take issue with." He ran his hand down his face in anxious frustration. "I'm not sure if I'd have preferred her to have arrested me right then and there… Not sure what I should be doing now, especially since me being with y'all might make things harder for you all."
"Don't worry, we'll make sure to explain the situation to Ironwood, I'm sure he'll come around." He definitely wished he had Ruby's confidence.
Pietro seemed to be making his way back to his office. He waved at them to follow, answering a question somebody had asked. "And thankfully, I have about a thousand answers. But let's get out of this weather first."
"I have absolutely no idea who that child was. Is she important somehow?"
"Did you not watch the Vytal Festival?" Oxon gave the woman an incredulous look. Penny's "death" was the major catalyst in kicking off the attack on Beacon and creating the required negativity for the incursion. The whole world saw her dismembered! Cinder and Mercury made sure of that.
"No, I never cared for the fights ever since I lost my eyes. Why? Did she win?"
"Did she-" Oxon raised both eyebrows and one hand to his temple. "Oh forget it, I'm sure the others can fill you in."
"It's kind of a long story, and that it is pretty unexpected to see her again."
"It really never is a dull moment…"
"But I wouldn't say unwelcome. I was honestly expecting things to go a lot rougher."
"Didn't you say your semblance was bad luck? Are you trying to jinx us?" The man shrugged.
"Fair. For now, how bout we head back to the good Doctor's place and figure out our next plan. I'd rather not be bumbling around outside in the cold while waiting for Robo Wonder to return."
"Maybe I can ask Pietro for some advice about the general, and how he might react to me being he-" From down the street, Oxon heard a faint "whooshing" sound. Since he'd kept his weapons out, he managed to throw New Leaf to intercept some sort of rope weapon that was launched at him.
Even though he managed to deflect that one, more came out and wrapped around his upper body. One glowed purple and constricted his arms to his stomach, another wrapped around his upper chest, blinking yellow. Oxon didn't have the time to curse before an electric current bypassed his aura completely. His vocal cords warbled as the electric charge ran its course, only ending the shock when his aura was depleted.
With a pained gasp, Oxon fell to his knees before his face met the road. His muscles were twitching from the leftover voltage running through him. His metal armor did not help him here.
He wasn't sure how long he was staring into the damp asphalt below him. But he had to fight to stay awake. That shock, followed by the blow to his head when he hit the ground, had his vision swimming and dark spots danced before his eyes.
When he finally looked around him, he noticed that the others were also tied up. Though they did not look like they suffered the same treatment he did. They were struggling to escape their bonds, but did not look worse for wear.
"Oxon!? Are you okay!?" Painfully shifting his head to the side he saw Oscar trying to inchworm his way over to him. If the situation were different, he may have found the sight amusing. He didn't get far when a large woman put her foot on his back.
"Might want to worry about yourself first."
It wasn't just her. Four other uniform-clad people came out of hiding and surrounded the down group. In the lead, was some redhead that reminded him of someone. But he couldn't think of who at the moment.
"Well done, team. I'm sure the General will be pleased."
"Hey! What's going on!?" The woman completely ignored the young boy's cries.
"Hey, pal! I'm a licensed huntsman! Just helped save everyone?"
The ginger, who must have been in charge, looked down at Qrow, twirling a… horseshoe? It was either his fading consciousness playing tricks, or the guy actually had a horseshoe spinning on his finger. The guy put the horseshoe away and picked up Qrow's weapon, much to the huntsman's anger. The other uniformed operatives begin gathering everyone else's weapon.
Oxon let out a weak curse as a short girl removed his guns and shield from his arm. She wasn't fazed.
"Quiet, you. By the Authority of the council of Atlas; you, Oxon Adhmad, are under arrest. Resistance is useless, but I wouldn't say no to you trying." He was too smart and too weak to try anyway. Not when she clearly wanted him to.
Horseshoe freak, then approached Ruby, picking up the relic, and looked at it.
"Hm. Let's get them loaded into the next transport."
Ruby cried out as she watched him take away the thing they'd been fighting hard to protect. "Please! We were just trying to help!"
Pietro came back. Likely after hearing the commotion. "What is the meaning of this!? Ahag! What are the Ace-Ops even doing down here in Mantle?"
"Ace-Ops?"
"Doctor, good to see you. Well, we heard a report of an unauthorized ship making an unauthorized landing, followed by an unauthorized use of weapons by unlicensed Huntsmen."
"If we could just talk this out-"
Clover spoke to the man casually while tossing the Relic from one hand to the other, like some sort of ball. "They'll be able to talk this out once they get to Atlas. Let's move out!"
The "Ace-Ops" break apart and leave the area to the regular foot soldiers. The group is then not so nicely loaded into the back of a van with their wrists bound. Oxon slumps over immediately after being thrown in, but managed to barely stay up thanks to Blake. He gave a mumbled thanks.
Qrow, ever the pessimist, seemed both upset and vindicated that he was right. "Now, this… This is much closer to what I was expecting."
The back doors of the van are slammed shut. And that was when he realized his struggle to free himself was useless. He gave up. No longer fighting to stay awake, Oxon let the pain and exhaustion do its work, letting him black out.
~~~(LXV)~~~
In the air cruiser they had been transferred to, Blake tried to prop Ox up between her and Yang. He had been unconscious ever since getting thrown into the transport van in Mantle. The Atlesian specialists clearly had an idea he was there with them, otherwise he would have only been bound like her and the rest. Not electrocuted.
"How is he?" Blake glanced over to Weiss, who looked at the unconscious Oxon with clear worry. And she wasn't the only one. Everyone else in the ship looked worried for his health after seeing him take that attack and then faceplant into the street. He'd probably be happy to hear that.
She hoped he wouldn't get a concussion.
She let out a sight as she shifted slightly to be a bit more comfortable while still supporting him. "It's hard to tell, I can't exactly check on him like I am, all I can really do is keep him as stable as possible." And it wasn't easy. Turbulence during transport had her fearful he might slip from between her and her partner and hit his head again. She didn't want to wake him either, in case she would make things worse.
"Where do you think they're taking us?"
Qrow rolled his eyes at her leader's question. "I'm gonna go with jail." She had to agree, it was the likely destination.
"I still can't believe that fishing pole guy took us out like it was nothing."
"Welcome to Atlas. Those were Ironwood's Ace Operatives."
From nowhere, an unfamiliar man sitting with the group finally spoke up. "Hmm? You guys had a run-in with the Ace-Ops? Ironwood must really have a bone to pick with you."
Weiss rolled her eyes at the insinuation. "They're not that big of a deal."
The man was not taking her words as anything real and scoffed. "Not that big of a deal!? The Ace-Ops are the elite-of-elite military Huntsmen and Ironwood's personal attack dogs."
"So they got you too, huh?" Again, the man seemed like their words were absurd. "Pfft! I wouldn't let myself get caught by them. I'm here because I've been speaking out against Atlas' exploitation of Mantle, and General Ironwood is trying to silence me."
"You threw a brick at our ship!"
The idiot proudly puffed out his chest at the words of the pilot. "It's worth it if it gets people talking about our cause!" The pilot just sighed in annoyance.
""Our cause"?"
Forest: "Yes, the fight for better conditions in Mantle! Lead by the charismatic, talented, lovely Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses!"
One of the pilots pressed a button, causing the window between the cab and the back of the ship to begin slowly closing. The oaf noticed this, stood up, and began frantically shouting to the window so the guards could hear him. "They were all top Atlas Academy graduates, who could've signed up for the military, but Robyn and the Huntresses chose to stay in Mantle. She's gunning for a seat on the Kingdom's council, and when she gets it, she's gonna put an end to Ironwood's tyranny!"
"Happy… Huntresses?"
"Is that their real name?"
"Don't you think "tyranny's" a little dramatic?"
Forest turns around to respond and looks surprised upon realizing who had just spoken.
"Easy to say for a Schnee heiress, living comfortably up in Atlas."
Weiss raised her shackled hands. "Ah yes, I'm ever so comfortable in a prisoner transport after being arrested. So very comfortable." Not that the idiot seemed to care, the family name of her friend clearly blinded him.
After a moment of silence, Blake watched Nora with morbid curiosity as the girl began chewing her restraints. Not for the first time either. If she succeeded, she was tempted to ask the girl to do the same for hers.
"Whoa, it's gorgeous up here!" From further down, her leader was standing up and looking through one of the windows. The awed comment caused Jaune and Nora to leave their seats, and the girl to stop chewing on the restraint, and looked out the window with her.
"It's pretty, but we just witnessed one of the many "prices" that that beautiful costs." She didn't bother to stand up. Clearly knowing all about it due to being a native.
The non group member stood up from his seat and looked outside. "This isn't the police station."
Qrow took a spot next to the window, looking out at the scenery. "It's… Atlas Academy."
If it weren't for her and Yang holding Oxon steady, she would have gone to check it out. Why they had been brought to the academy was a question she desperately wanted an answer for. But they'd probably get one soon. No need to rush and endanger her bro- her wouldn't let him get worse now after all he's done for them.
She felt the ship touchdown on a landing pad and saw a pair of guards that opened the ship's rear double doors. With strict commands, they let their big team disembark the craft. Thankfully, a pair of Atlesian Knights, the 200 series, take Oxon's body. Blake quickly realized that letting them carry him was a mistake.
The only ones not to go with the group towards the main campus were the "revolutionary" and Oxon. Something they all noticed and that she vocalized.
"Hey! Where are you taking him!?"
The soldiers, the human ones, did not respond. Two left to escort Oxon and the idiot, while the remaining two escorted them in the opposite direction. She tried again to demand they not be separated, aided by the others as well, but neither of the Atlesians even looked like they cared.
After what happened in Mantle, she worried about what would happen to him. Especially after the little she told him about his time in the Valean prison. Atlas tended to be more rough when it came to terrorists. The White Fang knew that very well.
"Blake, I'm sure he'll be okay, he's a tough one." She looked over at her partner. The one looked nervous as well. Either for themselves or for the one of them that had been separated from their group.
"He better be…"
Ruby laughed nervously and tried to dispel a bit of the anxiety. "It might not be how we envisioned it… But it looks like we will be seeing General Ironwood after all. For better or worse..."
"So, what do we do?"
The group was placed into an elevator inside the academy while still accompanied by guards. They were definitely listening in on their discussion. But there was nothing else they could do. Either go in blind or risk the two soldiers sharing their plans. None were exactly ideal.
"I don't know yet. But we should be careful with what we say."
One of the guards noticed their plan being made and glanced back at them. But he said nothing. It was not a good thing as far as she could tell.
Speaking as quietly as she could, she leaned over to speak to the girl. "We'll follow your lead, Ruby."
Ruby smiled but then started to look worried again. Blake understood completely. The elevator beeped as it arrived at its destination. Once open, the guards escorted the group out into a hallway and down a flight of stairs.
Despite it being a school, Blake worried about just where they are being taken. It wasn't likely an interrogation chamber, that was where Ox was likely taken away to. But it still was nerve wracking. They arrived in a room just as Ironwood walked into it as well, he was speaking to someone else though.
Blake froze at the sight of him.
"I swear if I have to sit through one more council meeting like that…" He turned toward a small flight of stairs on his way to his office, accompanied by Winter Schnee and Penny. The younger girl noticed the group and stopped with an excited gasp.
"Yay, you're here!" Her happy hello caught Ironwood and Winter's attention, causing them to stop and look at the new arrivals. Blake didn't know what to say or do, thankfully, Weiss stepped out from behind Ruby and approached the group.
"Winter."
Winter gasped lightly in surprise, but the sisters' reunion was quickly interrupted by Nora leaning forward and holding up her bound wrists. The girl gave the three a glare while waving her fingers. "Anyone wanna give us a hand with these?"
Winter took a moment to collect herself. Corn, The woman returned to the expected facade of a military officer. Her eyes roved over them before her eyes turned to the soldiers. "You have ten seconds to take those off before I start hurting you." The guards looked at each other in confusion at her command.
"Huh?"
The subtle glare she sent them finally made them understand the situation. The guards frantically removed the bolases from everyone's arms while Ironwood watches with a smile.
"Sorry!'
"Please, let us help you!"
"Forgive us!"
It was almost surreal. All her time in the fang never prepared her for something like this. The bolases fell to the floor, giving off a purple glow and retracting the dust enhanced ropes with a beeping noise.
Ironwood waved them forward. "Please, come in."
The group followed Ironwood, Winter and Penny into Ironwood's office nervously. They might have been released from their bonds, but there were still things that worried Blake. The state of the kingdom being the biggest one.
"It is so good to see all of you."
Yang leveled a flat look at him as she massaged her wrist. "Our reception didn't really convey that."
Ironwood a sigh in acceptance. "I sincerely regret how you were treated by my team."
"Are you?" Blake was surprised to see that it was Nora who confronted the man.
Ironwood walks behind his desk to sit down, and Penny and Winter take positions standing at either side of the desk. "When a rogue airship entered our airspace, it raised some… red flags. We assumed the ship was stolen." That made sense for their arrest, but not for everything that happened.
Ruby: "Stolen?" Ruby laughed awkwardly, before taking an apologetic tone. "Okay, yeah… it was stolen."
Ironwood nodded at the confession. "We had no idea who or what was on that bullhead, after everything with Salem and her agents at Beacon, I had to be cautious. And it's a good thing I was, since we captured a clearly escaped member of Cinder's conspiracy. In our streets." He looked proud, and Weiss' sister looked vindictive. A worrying sign.
"By a member of Cinder's group..?" She knew what answer she was going to get before she finished asking.
"The criminal known as Oxon Adhmad. We arrested him on that night and handed him over to the council of Vale." Winter Schnee looked pleased at her words. She remembered Weiss complaining about her sister trying to cast doubt on Oxon back before. The woman was clearly happy about being proven right. "The man was observed by our facial recognition software and I sent a team to bring him in immediately."
"Oxon came here with us! He is not working for Cinder anymore, he said he left their group on the night Beacon fell. He told us he hated her the whole time and hadn't had the courage to break free until the Dragon came out."
"Regardless of what you believe, that boy is a convicted criminal. A terrorist that attacked Vale and your school. He was supposed to face justice in that kingdom, but he clearly has no intentions of reforming. As per the laws of Atlas he will be held accountable for his crim-"
The icy woman was interrupted by Ruby stepping forward with a large frown. It wasn't a normal sight.
"He's not a criminal!" The silver eyed girl wilted under the critical eye of the elder Schnee. "Okay, he may have helped Cinder before, but he's been working hard to repent. He helped Blake take the White Fang back under the control of her parents, he helped us defend Haven Academy from Hazel and Cinder, and he's done so much more here and there to help us along; risking his life the whole time."
"You might believe him to be remorseful, but he fooled you all once before, so any defense of Adhmad is worthless." The girl growled lightly as her words were ignored. "He will be questioned by our specialists until he gives us the truth."
"But we-"
"I'm not sure how he managed to pull the wool over your eyes a second time, but that clearly means we can't underestimate him." She turned to her sister, a kind smile on her face. "I'm just glad to see you are not hurt."
"Winter…"
"I'm glad you have returned home, even though I know you have never truly been happy here. Especially at our home, but I hope you will come to find some now that you are here at the academy."
"I- Winter…" The girl glanced around to each of them before finding Blake's eyes. She was clearly conflicted about the situation and needed help or advice. She didn't know what to say or do herself. "It's not as you say."
The woman raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. "Oh?"
"About Oxon. Even after everything that happened, he chose to stand and fight by our side against many dangerous foes." She nodded to Blake whose face paled slightly as she took off her backpack. Inside is an item that creates a complicated pit in her stomach. "Including Adam Taurus."
From the backpack, Blake retrieved Wilt and Blush. The sheath gun had been stolen by Oxon and the blade taken by Yang. While they never looked for his body, this would be proof enough. Proof that Oxon was not who he used to be. The sight of the iconic sword and sheath had the three Atlesians freeze.
Penny, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
"According to my scans, that is indeed the weapon combination of Adam Taurus. Its high end materials as well as the signs of battle over its body indicate heavy use and precise care." Her eyes had been glowing slightly as she looked over the weapons. Winter and Ironwood nodded at her observation.
"So that monster is dealt with? You have my and all of Remnant's thanks." He motioned for Blake to step forward and she did. Reaching out, the general took it in his hand, inspected it closely. "It must have been a difficult battle."
"It was." Yang stepped forward to stand by her, giving Blake a boost of comfort. "We fought hard until our auras were broken and then some. And your soldiers dragged away one of the three who beat that bastard."
The man blinked at that before placing the weapon on his desk. "You say that Adhmad was partially responsible for his defeat?"
"Damn right, and locking him up after all that is wrong." The blonde girl glared unblinkingly at the older man.
The man sighed and rested a hand on his forehead, trying to fight off some frustration. "Be that as it may, a few good deeds won't wash away the wrongs he's done. I'm sorry. Since he is here, Atlas will take the place of Vale in meting out punishment for him. While you say he has helped, and he may be truthful about changing, the fact remains that he broke the law when he escaped his prison. If what you said is true, then maybe something can be done for his sentence, but I would need to speak with both Adhmad and the Council before I can make a promise."
"Sir, you can't be-"
"That's enough Winter, it's clear that your words earlier agitated the situation beyond what it should have been." She looked shocked for a moment before becoming embarrassed at her display. "I know you wanted to investigate the potential plot he might be a part of, so why don't you go relieve Specialist Bree? She should have already started by now."
"What!? No! Just let him join us!"
"I don't see how keeping him locked away is a good idea."
"Do you want to push him away? We just got him to relax again!"
"Please, if we could just talk this out…"
Ironwood slammed his hand on the desk with a loud bang.
"Enough about the… "ally"... you have picked up. I will agree to think a bit more on his case, but we have important things to discuss." The general pressed a button on his terminal, causing the room to become barricaded. "I need to talk with you all about the relics and our next steps."
Blake knew they had no choice but to listen. Hopefully they could convince the general to be lenient on Oxon.
~~~(LXV)~~~
Oxon groaned as he came too. His whole body ached and he could faintly taste a bit of burn in his mouth. Like he'd swallowed smoke from a campfire. The room he found himself in was not much of one in his opinion. Rooms should have solid, privacy giving walls, this one was made of light.
The next thing he noticed was that his hands were above his head and that he was already on his feet. He couldn't pull them down and his effort only had him lift himself off the floor slightly. Actually looking up, he saw that his joined wrists were connected to a ring above him, a dust powered leash ran from there to the constraints holding him.
Needless to say, his position was not a comfortable one. That was likely the point, he'd been in a similar situation a long time ago. And his mind started flooding his psyche with anxiety.
Not again… please not again!
His struggle with his chains of light meant nothing. Though his head snapped to look at the shape that entered through the momentarily deactivated light barrier. He did not recognize the girl, besides when she arrested him. Her shorter stature meant nothing due to the scary expression on her face.
Her words, though, were more worrying.
"I've heard about you from Winter. She said she was enraged when she heard about what happened at Beacon. She was also furious she wasn't able to interrogate you herself in Vale. She's mad she has to wait to do so again. But she let me be your warmup." The small girl deployed some sort of metal support skeleton to her limbs with a vicious smile. "I hope you eventually come to understand just how much you fucked up to get on Atlas' bad side."
He didn't say it aloud… But he already regretted it.
~~~(LXV)~~~
"Fuuuucckkkkkk..!" - Oxon, probably.
So I realized a day after posting the last chapter that I have Covid! I had been in a bit of an odd state for that week I wrote Alpine, and know I know why. Because of that, I have gone back and looked at the previous chapter now that my mind is clear once more. There are definitely things I could and should have done better. But by the time this chapter is up, it should have been edited to be its proper self. Also, a new omake as an apology.
Thank you to the reviewer for bringing that to my attention. I intended to have a bit more dialogue and stuff than what I put in. Stupid sickness messing with my head. How dare it.
But in brighter news, the fishing trip was a success. There was one spot where the fish would smash my fly the moment it hit the water. So that was super fun and I managed to catch 27 Rainbow, Yellowstone Cutthroat, and Cut-Bow hybrids before I began to get too fatigued. I also saw a bear about 20 feet from the trail as I hiked in. Super cool and it did not care for me as it ate some bushes.
100% I hiked 2 miles in to fish for about 6 hours, then two miles back to my car. 100% did that in the beginning of my worsening symptoms, but it was sooooooo worth it. And nobody can convince me otherwise. I lived, after all.
Don't forget to review!