Chapter 67

Once upon a time, The Hound would have been able to appreciate the beauty in the rolling snowy wastes or snow-packed valleys of Solitas. But now there was nothing but orders and that insatiable desire for destruction. There was no hate, no anger, no sadness.

Simply destruction.

But Her commands superseded that. The Hound wanted nothing more than to close its jaw and destroy the boy there. But it couldn't. It wanted to destroy that Lamp, oh that Lamp that called to it so. It was a beacon made by a God, and all any Grimm could want was to destroy it. But none could refuse commands given by Her.

The Hound wished to destroy all that it could. The boy. The Lamp. Those fools chasing it into this high-cliffed valley. But it had to return. Even as that trio fired bullets and shot lightning, it couldn't stop to do battle. So it did the only thing it could do. The Hound dropped the boy into its arms and howled.

Immediately Teryxes began to fly over from the horde waiting outside Atlas, while Centinels burst from the ground.

But despite the sudden increase in Grimm, that trio kept coming. One even managed to wrap a cord around The Hound's leg, causing it to slow slightly. It let out a growl and glanced back, seeing the black-haired human slowly crawling up the cord. If… it… reaches… take… boy… Its mind was slow as it thought, but that thought still raised it above the rest of its kind.

As if coming to aid the Hound, a Teryx flew in to chomp on the dangling human. However, the red-headed one fired a beam of fire from below, piercing the flyers neck and killing it. She had to swerve to the side and dodge several Centinels as they burst through the ground around her, however. On the other side of the small valley was a blonde, slashing his sword through Grimm as he raced by on his hoverbike.

The Hound growled and flew up a bit, trying to slam its hanger-on into a stone arch, but the human nimbly used it as a stepping stone to launch himself further up. He didn't notice that the growl had called on a few arriving Sabyr's, who ran across another arch and leapt onto the human and his cable. With a pair of Sabyr's clinging to him and trying to bite into his flesh, he was unable to climb further.

But he had help.

The red-head, so angry at everything going on that it was like a shining beacon to the nearby Grimm, jumped from her damaged bike and summoned her magic into a whirlwind to carry her up. She froze the moisture in the air, turning it into razor-sharp icicles that were immediately launched into the Sabyr's. With its allies dead, the Hound was returned to its previous predicament.

However, it was quickly reaching the end of the valley. Soon enough it would be in the open air and close to Her. These humans would give up or die once that happened. Of course, it had to make it there without losing its prize.

The Hound clenched its claws tight around the unconscious boy and then spun in midair. The cord whipped up, throwing the black-haired human into the air. Then the Grimm morphed its other leg to be more akin to a human hand or monkeys paw and grabbed the cord, forcing it off of its ankle. That left the hanger-on floating in the air.

It gave the redhead a choice.

She dived down and caught him, summoning wind to slowly drop them to the ground. It bought the Hound the time it needed to fly out of the valley and into the open air of a large canyon. In the distance flew the great seat of its master, soon to hold the prize she desired.

"You should have gone after Oscar!" Ren yelled as he put down one of the last remaining Grimm in the valley.

"I couldn't let you get hurt! Not with so many Grimm around!" Pyrrha hissed back, firing bolts of lightning to bring down multiple Teryxes. Her powers had only been growing since Cinder had fallen, and now she had a wealth of magic to call upon. But using it for so long was still draining her, evidenced by the sweat running down her brow.

"Enough!" Jaune ordered, finally sheathing his blade as the threat ended. "I want to save Oscar just as much as you do Ren, but I won't sacrifice you to do it! Either of you! Pyrrha made the right choice. We have to find another way to save him."

Ren clenched his fists and turned away. Pyrrha looked on in pain. I… I couldn't let you get hurt when I could save you… She wanted so desperately to put it into words, but it didn't come out. He was already going off to check the remaining hoverbike and if it would function.

Jaune came over and pulled her into a hug, his right hand stroking her hair. "It's okay Pyrrha. You made the right choice. We'll get Oscar back. I'll think of something. I promise." His voice was soft and helped calm her down.

"I… thanks, Jaune." Pyrrha sighed and wrapped her arms around him in turn. The hug lasted only a few more moments before they went to get moving, but it did wonders to bring Pyrrha back into focus.

They would save Oscar. They had to.

A splash of red hit the road as Cardin coughed blood. He practically stumbled to his knees but forced himself to stand and lash out with his mace. He was slowing down, but each of his hits was still like a truck. Another Ursa's head crumpled under The Executioner, granting him a short buff.

His team was out there in the horde, fighting, but he couldn't see them anymore. There was just so many Grimm. They practically formed a wall separating the four from each other. There was almost no chance of surviving. But despite the odds…

Cardin laughed.

He just laughed and swung his mace. Blood leaked from the numerous tiny holes in his body, where his Aura had failed to properly protect him. It was so low now he was surprised it hadn't broken. Or perhaps it wasn't low at all? His Semblance was still kicking after all, so maybe he had just lost track.

It didn't really matter. All he had to do was swing his weapon. He just had to fight and fight and fight. He was Cardin Winchester, and dying to something like this would be a blight on the family name!

"Rrraaaaaaaaagggghhhh!" Cardin roared and thrashed. Two Beowolves died as they tried to leap on him, his mace breaking open their bodies and throwing them into their friends. Doing so always bought him just a couple of seconds to breathe. Or try to. Hey… is it… getting hard to breathe? Cardin wondered as he coughed up more blood. He'd taken a mean hit to the chest by an Alpha Beowolf, but it hadn't broken through his armour. Had it broken something inside?

Eh… who gives a fuck!? He snarled and crushed an oncoming Sabyr. As it tumbled to the side he got the first view of one of his teammates. Sky was bloody and barely standing, just swinging his halberd around to wave the Grimm back. He'd managed to get up next to a building, so his back was protected. That short glimpse was quickly consumed as more Grimm filled the hole.

But it wasn't as… full as before. We're making a damn good dent! "Boys! We're almost there! Keep fighting! We are team CRDL! We won't die to these fucks!"

"Rraaaa!" Three voices called back. Cardin let out a sigh of relief. He'd been worried… The sounds of battle increased, and not just because his friends were inspired.

Guess reinforcements made it… well, gotta put on a good show!

"It's so… creepy…" One soldier whispered as she pressed a button on the elevator.

"I know what you mean. They're just… sitting there. Staring at us." Her companion shuddered in fear. "I almost wish they'd just hurry up and attack!"

"I get what you mean, but that would be horrible!"

"I know I know…" the second soldier shook his head. "Ugh, the waiting is killing me…"

The doors opened suddenly, revealing an empty floor. "Hm? This isn't our stop…" the first soldier looked around confused, her gaze eventually falling on the panel full of buttons.

Just as they all were pushed in.

"Huh!?" Her voice cracked and the doors closed and the pair were sent to every level. Out on the empty hall laughter could be heard as Nora cackled. Such noise suddenly stopped however when May kicked her.

"I only block sight, you know! They can hear us."

"Right. Sorry. It was just too funny!"

The hall fell silent as the group cautiously made their way through, following Penny's directions. They passed by another pair of guards, flattening themselves against the wall to avoid being caught, and eventually arrived outside the main command centre. Those words did put the idea that Ironwood would be here into Ruby's mind, but Penny assured them that he commanded from his office instead.

The room was filled with rows and rows of work desks with a couple dozen personnel moving back and forth. From what they could see when the door opened as people passed in and out, they were drawing up battle plans. From a sky battle to an invasion of Atlas soil. They were preparing for whatever they could think up.

Ruby did hope their plans would work against Salem.

"How do we get in?" Ilia asked as the group pulled back into a side hallway. "I could probably sneak through by myself."

"My Semblance won't get us through there. Too many people." May shook her head.

Ruby thought for a moment. "I could probably carry everyone in my Semblance. Zip across the ceiling quietly and get there without being spotted." Everyone nodded their agreement.

"Then I'll go sort out an escape route." May said.

"The closest hanger is down that way, third hallway on the left and then second on the right." Penny immediately provided.

"Got it. Meet me there when you're done."

They waited for the next person to enter and followed him in several steps before Nora poked out her leg and tripped him up, spilling his hot drink all over two others. As an argument broke out, Ruby pulled all but May into her Petal Burst and launched herself up to practically crawl across the ceiling.

Soon enough they arrived in a side room that would take them to the terminal they desired. They passed through a few doors, opened by Penny using Pietro's codes, and through a more open cylindrical space before arriving in something akin to a server room. Penny made her way over to the main console there and jacked in.

Nora let out a quiet sigh. Ruby and Ilia glanced her way. "You alright?" Ilia asked.

"Yes. No. I don't know." Nora let out another sigh. "I just… I… it's been so long since I've really.. gone off without Ren, you know? We've been together for years… well not together together… and maybe we never will…"

Ilia smiled sadly. "I understand that feeling. I spent a long time with Blake when we were in the White Fang. I fell for her pretty hard, but I never made a move. I didn't believe it could work out, so she got with Adam. And he hurt her. Not physically, but mentally. Emotionally. He was a manipulator. Ah, sorry. I don't mean to make this about me. I… I know what it's like to love someone who can't or won't love you back is all."

Ruby shook her head. "Ren definitely loves you, Nora. He won't admit it. I think he's just… worried. Worried about what would happen if he let himself feel too much. If he lost you. Or any of us. He's worried we aren't strong enough to get by."

"Right…" Nora fell down into a chair. "I've been starting to wonder though. I've spent so long at his side that… I don't think I know who I am without him. Who I am when I'm not… the big bad hammer-wielding Nora Valkyrie. When I'm not just strong and hitting things…"

Ilia and Ruby shared a quick look. Ruby bit her lower lip and sighed. "Nora… I get it, I think. When you're around someone for so long and then they aren't there, it can feel… lonely. Or like a piece of you is missing. Mom, Yang… Weiss and Blake… aren't here. When I lost them it was like pieces of me were lost with them. But that's the thing right? They were just… pieces. A part. There's more. You haven't seen it yet, what lies there just waiting. But you will. With or without Ren."

Ruby stepped forward and grabbed Nora, pulling her up into a hug. "People are defined by lots of things. You aren't just the big tough hammer-wielding Nora. You're the pancake lover. The crazy dream haver. You… When we travelled as RNJR you made attempts to be the jokester too. That's all you, Nora. There's more even I don't know, but no matter what it's you." She held the hug for several more seconds before pulling back. Nora didn't seem to necessarily agree, but there was a look of contemplation on her face.

"I need to think… Thanks, Ruby, Ilia. You helped…"

"Of course." Ruby smiled.

"Happy to help." Ilia replied.

"All done!" Penny called, erasing the vestiges of tension from the trio. "Father has everything he needs to launch the tower now. All we need is to leave."

"Then let's go." Ruby took to the front, opening the heavy metal door. She stopped in the entranceway, however.

Standing in that cylindrical room was the Ace-Ops.

And they looked ready to fight.

A/N A little late but here we are. I hope you guys liked my peak into The Hound's mind and seeing the chase from its perspective. Pyrrha had a chance to save Oscar but decides to save Ren instead as the Hound uses its shape-shifting to its advantage. Meanwhile, Cardin and co fight and fight and fight some more. It's tough, fighting a massive horde with just four, but they do a good job. As good as any really. Thankfully they get rescued, so no deaths. In another meanwhile, we have Ruby's gang doing their thing and sneaking in (poor Bill). Followed of course by the convo with Nora, with some differences from the canon version but several similarities. Mainly through some fun/interesting connections to Ruby and Ilia. And of course, we finish off with the Ace-Ops appearing. Fun things await.

I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!