Chapter 10
The Colosseum was filled with screams and blood.
The Atlesian Knights were unrelenting in their attack and fired continuously into the crowd.
Ruby moved. With a burst of petals, she appeared in front of a Knight, spinning Crescent Rose to bisect it at the waist. The machine fell apart but Ruby was already gone. Burst after burst of crimson red heralded the destruction of scores of Atlesian Knights.
Huntsmen all over the Colosseum had come alive, protecting the populace with great fervour.
The stadium screens turned a deep red. A single black chess piece, the queen, appeared. And a voice spoke.
"This is not a tragedy. This was not an accident. This is what happens when you give your safety, your trust and your children to men who claim to be your guardians but in reality are nothing more than men. The Academy Headmasters wield incredible power, more than any army."
The Knights collapsed all at once. Like marionettes whose strings were cut. Ruby turned, searching for Cinder or her pawns. But they were nowhere to be seen.
"They cling to their power in the name of peace and yet what do we have here? The leader of a nations Huntsmen and military using a festival of peace, to murder the Headmaster of another Academy. What's next? An invasion of Vale? Will Atlas come for Mistral or Vacuo next? "
Ironwood was talking into a scroll, still shaking. People started to jeer and advance aggressively on him. He pulled back from the arena.
"But Atlas is not the only one who has committed an atrocity. This tournament has seen a dismemberment. A renowned fighter taking the fall for Atlas. Who knows what else has gone on behind the scenes. Ozpin is not free of blame either. He sent a team of children to their deaths just weeks ago. It's a miracle that one of them even made it back. Will we continue to trust men like these? "
Ruby was joined by JNPR. They couldn't see Cinder or Emerald. Pyrrha gulped as several people nearby booed her.
"Our Kingdom's are about to break into war and yet we, the people, have been told nothing. So when the next shots are fired ask yourselves: who can you trust?"
The screens went dead. The crowd fell silent for a few moments. And then the alarms blared.
The Grimm were coming.
"That went well." Mercury said as he set up his scroll, ready to record the coming massacre.
"No. Junior failed. The Knights should have remained operational for much longer. We shall have to punish him later." Cinder replied.
"I guess so. At least we got Ozpin early."
"True. I had been hoping for Nikos to kill Ironwood's little pet but apparently she suspected something." She sent a cold glare at Emerald. "But no matter. Adaptability is just as important as forethought." She turned back to look over Beacon.
"Now. Let us take what is mine."
The barrier wouldn't hold for long. Once that Nevermore is through it needs to die.
JNPR was right behind her, weapons at the ready. Ironwood and Penny had left, rushing off to evacuate the people. Huntsmen had split up. Most of them rushed to protect the civilians but as Ruby arrived near the middle she was greeted by Qrow and a couple of his colleagues.
The barrier above them shattered, and the Nevermore came thundering down. They narrowly avoided being crushed by its body.
Ruby was already moving. She roared and leapt, she slammed Crescent Rose into the Nevermore's neck and then pivoted using her momentum and severed its head.
The other Huntsmen in training were calling down their lockers as Griffins began to fill the Colosseum.
Qrow grabbed Ruby. "Ruby! Take your friends and go after that bitch who caused this! Now! Leave this to the rest of us!"
She nodded. "Don't you dare die Uncle Qrow." He smiled and gave her a wink. She turned and ran, JNPR following shortly after. They passed by Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck. The latter hobbling slightly with his left leg in what amounted to a metallic exoskeleton.
They heard the Huntsmen directing students to protect the civilians. As good a plan as any really.
Ruby ignored it all however, pulling out her second scroll.
"Roman! What the hell happened!"
"Red! Sorry, but Cinder was onto us. She never sent the signal. She smuggled some of Junior's gang on board to do it instead. They broke out and took over the bots, we've managed to stop them now. The rest is up to you now."
"Damn it Roman!" Ruby exclaimed as the line went dead. There was nothing to do so she stowed the scroll away again.
The docks were a mess of angry and terrified people. Atlesian Soldiers and various huntsmen kept the Grimm at bay.
Ruby could see Ironwood trying to direct people into the Airbuses with little luck. She looked around quickly and pushed through the crowd to someone else.
"Winter!" The White-haired woman turned from her position to look at the one calling her name.
"Miss Rose? What do you need?"
"Transport to Beacon right away. And I need you to tell Ironwood that the person responsible for all of this is after the Maiden!"
"The Maiden? I don't know what that is but if it's to get the person who started this then follow me!"
They pushed through the crowd further to an Atlesian Gunship. The ground inside was littered with deactivated Knights. Winter grabbed a nearby pilot and told him to take them to Beacon. As the rest of her friends jumped on board, Winter gave Ruby a salute.
"The General and I will be along as soon as we can. Good luck."
"You too." Ruby said with a nod.
And the Gunship was off, slipping away from the Colosseum and towards Beacon.
I hope we make it in time.
Pyrrha gulped as they exited the Gunship on to the docks of Beacon. The school was wrecked. Grimm and White Fang ran rampant, they attacked anything that moved.
Students from all schools fought valiantly to defend the school. In the distance she saw CFVY take down a Deathstalker, which saved a trapped group of students. Lockers soon slammed into the ground which added several more people into the fight.
They ignored it and ran. Passing by battle after battle and making for the CCT tower. A group of Beowolves jumped in the way only for the ground beneath them to rise up and crush them.
Glynda Goodwitch stood there, crop out as she flung rock all across the battlefield. Pyrrha ran up to her.
"Professor, I'll take the power." Goodwitch nodded solemnly. Pyrrha turned and looked back at her friends before addressing her professor once more "They already know everything and are willing to help."
"Alright then. Quickly now, follow me." They rushed through the battlefield, watching as their teacher flung any aggressors away with but a flick of her crop.
Team SSSN had already arrived at the tower and were protecting it from the Grimm. Scarlet ran up as they arrived. "She hasn't come here yet. Maybe she doesn't know where it is?"
Before Goodwitch could respond Ruby nodded and said. "Alright. Protect the tower, you guys. But remember the rules. No dying. Just slow her down." Scarlett nodded and returned to his team.
"When I found out I brought in people I thought were trustworthy." Ruby said with a look to their teacher. "Team CFVY knows as well. They're dealing with the White Fang."
"I see. We don't have time to discuss why you did so. We need to transfer the power quickly." The professor responded.
The CCT was clear of anyone, dead or alive. They shuffled into the elevator a little awkwardly. It wasn't designed for six people with weapons drawn. Goodwitch punched a code into the panel and they descended.
Pyrrha took in a deep breath. She closed her eyes and thought back. She brought memories of Jaune to the forefront of her mind. Their dance. Their training. Everything. Every reason she had fallen for him.
She hoped that whatever happened to her, her feelings for Jaune and her friends wouldn't fade.
The doors opened to the massive empty halls of Beacons basement. They ran through, passing the side halls. Pyrrha wondered what else Ozpin had hidden down here, but dismissed the thought quickly, now was not a time to be distracted.
Amber lay quietly within her chamber. Goodwitch stepped up to the machine and quickly got it working. The second chamber opened. "Miss Nikos. If you please."
She gulped and got inside.
The chamber closed.
The lights turned on and the machine started.
Pyrrha screamed as another soul was slammed into her own.
"Ms Rose, I will make sure the transfer runs as smoothly as I can, you handle the rest." The Professor called, watching as a stream of golden energy passed through the tubing from one chamber to the other. Ruby nodded.
"Jaune, in front of the Maiden. Keep her safe. Ren to the left and Nora to the right. When Cinder comes down that shaft we put everything we have into taking her down. Professor, you should know that Cinder uses a bow, swords, has an affinity for fire and somehow create glass. She was the one you fought at the start of the year."
They moved into position and took aim. Ruby herself sat in the centre on one knee, Crescent Rose in its compact form.
Pyrrha continued to scream in pain. Ruby could see the rest of her team cringing. They wanted to help her, check on her or just stop it all. But they didn't. To do so would give Cinder the chance she needed.
The elevator dinged as it opened.
An arrow came flying for Ruby's face. She rolled to the side and pulled the trigger, letting loose a barrage of rounds to pin Cinder down. Ren and Nora opened fire, suppressing Cinder and burning the area.
Another projectile went flying towards Nora but then suddenly changed its path to collide with Amber. Jaune intercepted it with his shield, shattering the glass arrow. Cinder rushed out of the pink smoke and slammed into Ren with her twin blades.
"Ren!" Nora cried out. Ruby shifted her weapon back into a scythe and dashed over to Ren. With a burst of petals, she appeared behind Cinder and swung, attempting to bisect the woman at the waist.
Cinder swung her blades, one cut into Ren and the other parried Ruby's scythe. Cinder smiled as her clothes glowed a brilliant orange-red. Flame washed over Ruby and Ren as Cinder unleashed a blast of Dust from her clothing.
Ruby dashed back, wincing from the heat. Nora slammed the ground and sent shards of stone into the air, which blocked Cinder from chasing a wounded Ren. Then the shards began to float before the combined into several bigger stone spikes and were sent careening down upon Cinder.
Glynda flicked her crop, she used her Semblance to crack the ground further and create more debris to fling at their enemy.
With a roar Cinder expended more Dust and sent another wave of flame, turning Glyda's ammunition into red hot slag. As the flames subsided Ruby dashed in.
She slashed out and then disappeared in a flurry of petals, only to appear behind Cinder and do it again. She continued to expend more energy and Aura as she dashed around Cinder and released a barrage of slashes.
Then, she slowed down. It wasn't much, just a fraction of her top speed. Unfortunately, she had expended too much energy at once. An elbow slammed into her stomach and a kick sent her flying across the room. Cinder's eyes began to glow along with her clothes as a tsunami of fire raced towards the others.
Goodwitch flicked her crop and created a barrier to protect the machine but she didn't have enough time to protect herself and the others. The flames slammed into them, and they were flung to the side. Cinder stalked through the carnage, panting. Her eyes went from glowing to looking like they were on fire themselves.
"Finally. I will claim what is mine!" She summoned her bow and took aim.
Ruby pushed herself up and grabbed Crescent Rose but she was too late.
Cinder fired. The arrow pierced the metal shell around Amber. For a brief moment the woman awoke startled. Only to die seconds later. A ball of golden light flew from the deceased into Cinder.
She laughed as the power flooded into her. "Yes! Finally, I have what is-" Cinder began to float through the air but was interrupted by a metal door which slammed into her face and sent her flailing through the air. Pyrrha stepped out of her chamber panting. Her face scrunched up and sweat was flowing down her face from the pain.
Cinder regained control and righted herself, her eyes wide.
Pyrrha took in a deep breath and opened her eyes.
They burned green.
A/N: Ahhh good times. I must admit I forgot to bring up what happened to Oobleck earlier on so here he is. Mostly okay but with a bit of a lingering injury. If only canon Jaune hadn't been distracted by Pyrrha in pain. We might've gotten Maiden Pyrrha. Of course, this isn't a full power Maiden. I would describe it as probably being less than Cinder had from stealing it. Things are gonna get interesting. I hope.
I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!