Chapter 13
A Beowolf roared and barreled through the pitiful remains of a stall before a large blade came through and cut it clean in half. Yatsuhashi moved on without a second thought.
Coco growled as she reloaded. It took longer than she wanted, most likely due to her mounting anger. Everything had gotten fucked real quick and now here they were, scouring the Festival grounds for survivors they weren't likely to find.
Just like their mission to Lower Cairn.
Coco pulled her gun up and clicked the new drum into place. Her face was set into a scowl as she pushed through the remains of what had once been a bustling festival. Bodies of civilians and Huntsmen both littered the ground.
Coco saw the mangled corpse of some student from Mistral. Some poor boy who didn't react in time. How many of them had died because of this? Coco turned and gunned down a Beowolf. The wolf-like Grimm was torn to shreds within seconds.
"All clear over here. We're coming to meet with you, Coco." The voice of Fox appeared in her mind. He and Velvet had split off earlier. She sent back an ok through their link and moved to catch up to Yatsu. He nodded at her approach.
A scream tore through the air from nearby and the pair rushed forward. They turned the corner to see Sky Lark waving his weapon to keep several Boarbatusk's at bay in an attempt to save a wounded Russel Thrush. Yatsu sprung into action and ran his blade through the first boar Grimm.
Coco opened fire and cut through two others. Sky took his chance and knocked another over before impaling it upon his halberd. Yatsu used his immense strength and cut through another two one swing.
"Th-thank you…" Sky panted, leaning on his halberd. Yatsu just nodded in answer.
"Grab your friend, we're getting you two to the docks." Coco said, cold and without care. It was hard to sympathize with assholes who had been hurting her friend since their first day here. But they didn't deserve to die for it.
"We need to find Cardin and Dove!" Russel groaned as his teammate pulled him up. "Cardin went running off after the White Fang. Dove went after him."
"We get you out first. Then we come back for your friends, got it?" The boys both nodded solemnly. Promising to help Cardin Winchester? What is wrong with me? Coco shook it off.
They started moving again, Yatsu in front and Coco at the back with the idiots from CRDL in the middle. They faced a couple of Ursa which Yatsu slaughtered quickly. But the battles were mounting up and beginning to wear on him.
How many had they taken back to the docks by now? Too many to count really. They'd been at it since that dragon had shown up and fighting before that.
They hadn't heard from Ruby or the others since before the battle had started. Coco was worried, but there wasn't much they could do. Who knew where they had gone or if they had managed to reach the Maiden.
They could all be dead for all that Coco knew. No, I can't think that way! They'll survive! They have to.
Another Grimm interrupted her thoughts, a Griffon slammed into the ground and made a weak attempt to get up before a glowing blue spear impaled its head. The Grimm turned to dust at the same time as the spear shattered into a thousand tiny lights.
Coco smiled as Velvet and Fox stepped out, several civilians in tow. "We grabbed who we could." Fox sent over with a nod.
With team CFVY back together the Grimm didn't stand a chance! The civilians were moved into the middle of the formation, a couple carrying Russel. Velvet, Fox and Sky joined the outside of the formation. The group pushed onwards towards the evacuation point at the docks.
We'll get these people out. Just make sure you all come back too. Coco hoped that everyone was still alive.
"We shouldn't have left the others!" Dove said as he drew his blade free of a dying Beowolf. Cardin shrugged before slamming The Executioner into an Ursa, which sent it tumbling to the ground with its chest caved in.
"You can always go back, Dove."
"And leave you to die by yourself? Fat chance." Dove fired into an approaching Beowolf. "Still, how do you know this guy is the leader of the Fang?"
"You mean aside from him wearing a completely different outfit to the rest of the animals here?" Cardin moved on, leaving Dove to catch up. "He's the boss, I just know it!"
"And how are we supposed to take him out! Especially without Sky and Russel!"
"I'll think of something!"
"You're going to risk our lives on that?!"
"I'm risking my life! You are the one who decided to follow me!" Cardin turned to face Dove.
"We're supposed to be a team, Cardin!" Dove grabbed Cardin's shoulder. "We fight together. I just want to be sure you are thinking straight!"
"What do you mean?"
"We spent the year screwing over these animals and now they're fighting back. Are you sure you don't feel responsible?"
Cardin pulled out of Dove's grasp. "Why would I? I-"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I'm going to take him down because he led this, not because I hate them or feel guilty!" Dove looked into his eyes for a moment. Cardin's heart was racing. Dove nodded.
"Ok. Let's get rid of him then." Cardin felt relieved and nodded back.
"Let's get a move on." The pair ran on, passing by bodies of the deceased. White Fang, civilians, Huntsmen and students alike. Cardin ignored them. He didn't have the time to worry.
"Cardin look!" Dove shouted a few minutes later. Cardin turned to look in the direction Dove pointed. There he saw a blue-haired boy with his spear impaled in an Ursa. Behind him were two wounded and a boy with red hair who reloaded his pistol before he fired at a Boarbatusk.
Cardin roared as he charged in, his mace came roaring down upon the head of a Beowolf and it left nothing but a thick paste in its wake. Another swing sent a Boarbatusk flying into another Beowolf which Dove quickly jumped in and executed both.
"T-thanks… I didn't know if we were going to survive that…" Blue said.
"We wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for Sun!" Red yelled.
"I don't care about your squabbles. Did you see a man in black and red with a White Fang mask?" Cardin interrupted before the weirdos could get too into their argument.
"Yeah, we did." Blue responded. "We were already weak from another fight when he hit us. Was asking for Ruby Rose while he wrecked us. We… had to tell him where she was…"
"I told him. I wasn't going to sacrifice my team for the friend of Sun's crush!" Red started yelling again.
"Just tell me where he went!" Cardin grumbled.
"The tower! That's where Ruby was!" Blue answered quickly. "I'd go with you, but we need to get Sun and Sage out of here."
"The docks are being used to evacuate people." Dove provided. The pair nodded and pulled their wounded teammates up before running off, still bickering.
"Idiots… let's go Dove."
"Right behind you!"
The pair continued on their way, set on their path.
Qrow grunted as he slid across the broken concrete. He quickly recovered his footing and parried Adam's crimson blade.
Qrow swung his weapon at Adam's dominant in an attempt to weaken or even remove it entirely. He wasn't so lucky however as Adam moved with incredible speed to block the heavy blade. The two fell into a blade lock, each pushing on the other.
Adam snarled and relented for a moment, it unbalanced Qrow and left him open to a counter-attack. A pull of a trigger blasted a wave of pellets into Adam's face and forced him to back off.
Qrow righted himself once again and opened fire, but the Faunus managed to deflect most of the rounds, the few that he let through grazed him at best. It was definitely not going Qrow's way. I should be able to beat him, but there are too many people around and my Semblance is too indiscriminate, I can't let loose like I usually can.
It'd give Adam the advantage, but what other choice did he have? Adam would gain the advantage anyway when it inevitably hurt someone else. Qrow clutched his weapon tight and stepped forward, and slashed out in an attempt to cleave Adam in two.
Adam laughed and blocked it, before Qrow put more effort behind the blade, and forced him to give ground. Qrow followed after, attacking relentlessly. Adam was pushed back and Qrow kept on the pressure. Adam growled and attempted to disengage and launched himself back to gain distance. Qrow fired at him in midair, hit and sent the White Fang member sprawling.
Adam hit the ground and rolled back. Qrow never let up and continued his firing. "Ruby! Where the hell is the Maiden!"
"Pyrrha went to the top of the tower, to fight Cinder!" Qrow's eyes widened in panic.
"Damn it! Can you fight?"
"Yes! I'll flank him and-"
"No! Go and help Pyrrha." Qrow ran forward, clicked a button on Harbinger and slashed as his blade transformed into a scythe. Adam was unprepared for abrupt swap in weapons and failed to compensate, the scythe landed a clean hit and tore into his Aura.
"How?!" Ruby yelled, but Qrow didn't answer. He slashed out at his opponent, to keep him on the back foot and away from the others. Adam scowled and moved in, past the effective range of the scythe and fired into Qrow's leg.
Qrow grunted and fell to one knee before rising and punching Adam in the face. The mask cracked and Adam backpedalled in panic. Qrow raised an eyebrow before he charged in once more.
Adam had gained some distance, however, and sheathed his blade. The red upon his body began to glow with a brilliant light. With a smooth motion, he drew and slashed in one. The world seemed to lose its colour, it turned to red and black.
Adam laughed in triumph as the world returned to normal. It cut off abruptly when Qrow dropped from above and cut into Adam's shoulder. He screamed and fired from his sheath, which sent Qrow back.
Adam panted as he clutched his shoulder. Qrow smirked. I doubt he could figure out I transformed into a bird to escape that attack. Probably won't work again however. The pair looked at each other, stuck in a standstill.
Qrow took a peek back, just in time to watch as Ruby was thrown upward by Glynda. The woman used the last of her strength to send the young girl flying halfway up the tower. The flurry of petals that floated down told Qrow all he needed.
He had a fight to win after all, and if he was right he wouldn't be alone for long.
"Pathetic." Cinder said, as she kicked the unconscious form of Jaune. Pyrrha tried to pull herself up, to stand and fight. But her leg gave out under her. "Truly a pathetic boy." She kicked him again.
"Leave him alone!" Pyrrha glared at the monster before her. Cinder turned and sighed.
"How noble of you. You could have escaped while I dealt with him, but you stayed. I suppose I should thank you for making my job easier." Cinder walked toward her without a care in the world. She didn't think Pyrrha could do anything.
It hurt to realise how right Cinder was.
Pyrrha was out of Aura, her weapons were gone and she could barely pull on any of her new magic. But she had to keep fighting, her team would die otherwise.
What's the plan Pyrrha? You're the Invincible Girl, you have to have something! Pyrrha grabbed a nearby piece of metal, once the leg of Ozpin's desk, and used it as a crutch to stand up.
Cinder watched in amusement, but made no move to finish her. She just watched, glass bow in hand.
Pyrrha was out of breath when she finally managed to stand upright. She stumbled back as her ankle nearly gave way. Cinder watched, now with a raised brow. Pyrrha continued to slowly back up.
"What are you doing?" Cinder asked, filled with curiosity at the broken girl. Pyrrha didn't answer until she reached the edge. She took in a deep breath as the dragon Grimm pulled itself up over the other edge and sat itself down behind Cinder. Pyrrha gulped.
"Come now girl, you can't think you have any way out of this. I've won!" Cinder's smile was cruel as she walked towards her.
"Tell me Cinder… how do the Maiden powers transfer?"
"It passes to the person the user was last thinking of, but failing that it chooses at random. Did the fool Ozpin really fail to tell you at least that much." Cinder's asked with an amused voice.
"What do you think happens when that power is split? If I die, does it really go to you?"
"Of course it does! It was never meant to be split!"
"And yet, the wizard did just that... He split his power. He gave four women so much, but who said it couldn't be split again?" Cinder's eyes widened as she moved and loosed an arrow.
Pyrrha let herself fall backwards, over the edge. She thought of Ruby and only Ruby, even as an arrow pierced her body and one of her lungs.
Pyrrha closed her eyes. I'm sorry Ruby. You don't deserve to have this thrust onto you… but I failed. You'll do better. I just know it!
Pyrrha felt her consciousness begin to fade. For a moment it felt as if she stopped falling, as if she was being brought up to Heaven.
Pyrrha smiled, and let herself sleep.
A/N: Sorry for the lateness. Last week I had trouble with the chapter for my other fic so this got delayed as well. This chapter was fun though. Looking into what's happening elsewhere for a moment. Coco and team rescuing people, Cardin being his usual angy boi, giving a look at what happened to SSSN. Good times. With Pyrrha's scene, I did always wonder if when Amber died the Maiden Power went to Cinder it was because Cinder was the last person Amber thought of, rather than the power just seeking it's other half. I doubt we will ever know in canon but I thought it was something interesting to ponder.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time!