Chapter 22: A New Approach


"The Huntsmen and Huntresses named by General Ironwood are still at large. There are scattered reports of some of them being spotted in Mantle, slaying Grimm and assisting with the evacuation. But we cannot confirm these claims. Robyn Hill and Professional Huntsman and former Signal Academy Professor Qrow Branwen have been placed under arrest. Though the details are still being shared with the media, Mr. Branwen has been charged with the first-degree murder Atlas Ace Operative, Clover Ebi. We have not received any comments from General Ironwood.

Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Grimm continue to gather just outside the Kingdom of Atlas. The Hard-Light shields have been engaged and the army is currently being deployed in the agricultural district. We have yet to see the main force of Grimm, but we did spot a giant floating whale, one of myth and legend. We must remain calm and control our emotions, folks, or else the city may end up being attacked. But the Atlas Military is strong, they will hold them back!

In other news, Councilman Jacques Schnee has been placed under arrest. According to our sources, it seems he assisted a man thought to be deceased, in gaining Atlas Network Security Codes. This man is none other than Doctor Arthur Watts, responsible for shutting down Mantle's heating grid. Hours have passed and the Grid is still not online. The Spokesman for the Schnee Dust Company hasn't made any comments yet regarding the situation.

Now, we will go to the weather report, it's going to be a cold one folks. We'll let our weatherman, Chet Ubetcha, give us a more detailed report."

Levi looked away from the holographic screen, ears folded down as he leaned back against the wall. There was a box of .45 ACP Dust rounds next to him, along with several magazines. Most of them were for Shiva, while the others were for Gambol Shroud. Months ago, when they had arrived in Atlas, he had convinced Blake to change the caliber and magazine of her weapon. That way, they could share mags in a pinch. He was glad that the design change would end up assisting them in the future. He needed to work with his team, as well as he could at least.

He was so tired. The last time he had felt this exhausted was when they were back in Brunswick Farms. Back then, it had been the Apathy that had drained him, this time, it was different. He didn't know what to do, what to think, or what to even say. How else could he react? Salem was here, in person. Her forces were just outside the kingdom and they were powerless to stop it. Their secrets had shattered their trust in General Ironwood and made him cold and callous. He was sure the man had always been like this but now, those traits were on the forefront of his mind. He wasn't going to stop until Atlas survived the war and the attack was repelled. Whatever it took, even if it meant sacrificing Mantle to achieve that goal. He couldn't let him get his hands on Penny, he wasn't going to let him.

"Hey, kid."

He looked up at Johanna, a look of anger on his face. He slid a magazine in Shiva, pulling the slide back. "What?"

"I said you could take the ammo that you needed, not all of it. Remember, we need some of it as well, and sourcing more is difficult. Or did you forget what is currently going on outside?"

"Of course, I didn't. The news has been constantly reminding me of what is going on outside. But this ammo isn't all for me. It's for my friend when she gets here, she'll take half of these magazines. You want us to help you protect the people of Mantle, so don't complain when we load up on bullets."

The woman narrowed her eyes, walking forward, only for Fiona to grab her hand. "Don't, we don't need to argue right now. What we need to do is work together."

"Sure, that's an easy thing to say. He's just been sitting there moping and doing nothing." the green-haired woman said, glancing back at Levi. "Either you get off your ass and help us, or you hit the road. We aren't a charity."

Levi merely cocked Overture, pushing himself off the shelf. He slid his rifle into his holster, standing firm before the woman. "I am not leaving until my friends get here. You might not care about them, but I do. They are my life, my family, and they are out there, at risk. All of us are, so instead of bitching at me, why don't we settle our differences and work together."

"Haah… how funny. You know, I never liked you. The second you walked into our HQ and started hounding Robyn for answers, I knew you weren't like other military men."

"I don't give a shit if you like me or not. I suspected you all of being thieves, and I was right. You were dealing with criminals, criminals who caused the deaths of tons of people."

"An interesting observation, but Mantle wouldn't be so fucked if Good old General Jimmy actually cared about us."

"HE CARES ABOUT YOU MORE THAN YOU THINK!" he shouted, causing the woman to step back. "He has been preparing for this since the Fall of Beacon, preparing Amity to unite the world. To save all of us. Yet all of you treated him like a fucking monster. He may have acted like a tyrant and he may act coldhearted, but he isn't. At the end of the day, he was right. He did everything for you, for your family, for all of us and you still don't understand!"

"Levi."

His ears folded back, the man glancing over his shoulder. He locked eyes with Blake, who had a look of concern on her face. Yang was standing beside her, not exactly meeting eyes with him. Jaune, Nora, Alto, and Ren had arrived with them, along with Pietro and Penny. All of them looked like they had been through hell. He didn't waste a second, swiveling on his foot, he hugged the black-haired faunus tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Blake. Back at Ironwood's office, I started shouting at you, at Yang! I blamed you all for what was happening and I… I tried." he said, hugging her tightly. "I tried to get through to him, I tried to talk to him and he didn't listen. He just looked through me like I didn't exist and I…"

"It's okay. I know you tried, all of us did," she said, hugging him back. Yang sighed, scratching her neck.

"Hey look… I know I fucked up, we both did, we said a lot of things to each other that we didn't mean. But you were right, I said we wouldn't lie anymore, and that we wouldn't tell any more half-truths, and I went back on my word. You were right."

Levi shook his head, letting go of Blake, standing before the blonde brawler. "No one is right, no one is wrong. It doesn't matter anymore, what matters is that all of us are together."

She forced a smile to her face. "Yeah… that's what matters… so uh… where's my hug?"

He sniffled a bit, holding back tears as he laughed, hugging the blonde tightly. He turned to the others, shaking hands with Jaune and Ren, and sharing hugs with Nora and Alto.

"Oh wait… where are Ruby and Weiss? Please tell me they're okay!"

"They're fine, both of them are, but…" Yang shook her head. "They're still searching for Oscar. I don't know where he went, but I think he went to speak with Ironwood. Whatever happened, we think he dropped out right under Atlas. All we were able to find were pieces of broken metal and a huge hole beneath the landmass."

"We shouldn't have left him behind. He was right there next to me and I…" Alto sniffled, only for Nora to wrap an arm around her.

"Hey, Ozzy is going to be fine. He isn't a kid anymore, he's done a lot of growing up!"

"That might be the case, but he is still in danger. Not only that but now that we've lost the Relic of Knowledge, things are going to be harder for us." Ren said, looking away in disappointment. "None of us were-"

"It's not the time for that. What we need to do is figure out what we're going to do next," Jaune said, stepping forward, head held high. "We need to help evacuate the rest of Mantle into the Crater as soon as we can. But we are all spread thin, and there are Grimm from last night's attack still out there."

"Then we need to head back out there and finish them off," Johanna said, swiveling on her foot. "I suggest you start planning on what to do next. If you want to help, then you have to pick which side you'll be on, Atlas, or Mantle's."

She took off, Fiona hot on her heels. She looked back, an apologetic look on her face as she disappeared through the double doors. The room became silent, the only sound coming from the Holoscreen as the news came back on.

"Picking sides is exactly what she wants," Levi muttered, sighing audibly. He caught the look on Penny's face, how she was rubbing her arm. He gave her a small smile, stepping up to her. "Are you okay, Penny? You seem sad."

"I um…" she paused, closing her eyes. "I took her power."

He tilted his head. "What?"

"Winter was sent to claim the power of the Winter Maiden, but they were attacked by Cinder. She tried to get at Fria, but she activated her powers. Penny was the only one that could get close and…" Yang didn't finish what she was saying. Levi looked back to her, seeing her eyes flashing green briefly. He took a hold of her hands, holding them tightly.

"Don't feel bad, Penny. You didn't do it because you wanted those powers, right? You did it because you felt like you had no choice. There is nothing wrong with making hard choices like that, it's what makes us human."

"Right… human," she said, pulling her hands out of his grasp. She walked away from him, remaining silent as she did so.

"Give her some time, Levi. A lot has happened in the last few days, her getting framed, deactivated, the people hating her and new this… my poor little girl." Pietro said, earning a smile from Levi.

"No one said being a teenager was easy. She certainly has it harder than the rest of us, that's for sure," he said. His gaze shifted toward the television, seeing their mugshots on screen again. "Now, if only we could get through to Ironwood, make him see reason."

"It would be easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than for Ironwood to trust us. That ship has sailed and the bridge has been burned."

"No it isn't, Ren. We can get through to him, I know we can. We just have to remain hopeful!" Nora said, trying to remain cheerful. He didn't even meet her look, his face only hardening. Alto looked like she wanted to say something, but instead remained quiet. There were so many negative emotions in the room they were palpable.

The silver-haired faunus didn't say anything, instead, he grabbed all the spare magazines he had refilled, handing them to Blake. "There's ammo in some of these boxes, Johanna said we could top off, but only what we need. We have an overabundance of dust at the moment, but eventually, it'll go as well."

"It's at times like these I wish I paid attention in Dust Chem. Maybe we'd be able to make our own ammo."

"You need shell casings for that, Jaune, and I doubt Blake, Yang and I are gonna pick those up mid-fight. We'll be fine. We're already fugitives, robbing a dust shop is nothing." he replied, leaning back against the nearby shelf. He grabbed the holster he had found among some military equipment, strapping it to his right leg. Once it was in place, he slid Shiva into it, placing the 5/7 he got from the Chief in his back holster. He kept his eyes on the floor, his thoughts drifting back to his partner. "Trivia, wherever it is you are, I hope you are okay. I just hope we don't end up permanently losing that Relic."

xxx

Trivia's hands shook a bit as she held onto the wheel. It had been difficult getting back to Cinder without her noticing, but she had achieved her goal. She had been flying for close to an hour now, heading away from Atlas. The clouds around them grew dark and thick, crimson lightning arced around them in unnatural ways. She felt the hairs on her arms stand on end the further she flew, genuine fear shaking her to her core. Though she kept her face firm, not wanting to show Cinder any sign of weakness. The moment she realized she wasn't actually on her side, she wouldn't have much time to make her exit. And she wasn't going to leave without that lamp.

Just as she moved beyond the cloud cover, the massive Grimm Whale became visible. It was a lot bigger than she had been expecting. It was a horrid, ghastly creature, with large fangs and leathery fins. Thousands of Gravity dust crystals had been embedded into its body, which allowed it to float. Thousands of Teryx's, Manticores, Nevermores, and other flying Grimm moved around it in flocks, screeching and howling loudly. She swallowed the lump in her throat, shifting her direction a bit, only for Cinder to move closer.

"There!" she pointed. Trivia followed her finger, seeing the large openings in the side of the whale, which coincidentally, looked like landing pads. She looked at Cinder as if she was crazy, but the look she got back confirmed she was serious. She changed her course, flying straight ahead.

It didn't take long for them to finally land. Cinder stepped out of the Manta, looking around for a moment, a gleeful grin on her lips. She gestured for her to follow, and she did so, ignoring the urge to kill all the Grimm around them. The inside of the whale was just as gross as the outside. The thick pulsing veins on the walls and floor only served to unnerve her more. With each breath the creature took, the whole thing shook. How it was capable of floating out of the water was beyond her. The Grimm were evolving, that much was certain. She trailed silently after Cinder, taking in her surroundings, making sure to memorize every doorway and corridor, just in case she needed it.

They finally made it to what she assumed was the bridge, or the throne room, given the large chair in the center. And there she was. The woman she had seen in Jinn's vision, the woman who had betrayed Ozma, who was leading a shadow war in Remnant. The creator of the Grimm, the one who caused her and her friends so much grief. Salem was sitting in her chair, in all her glory, staring ahead at Mantle and Atlas. She caught Cinder out of the corner of her eye, watching as she knelt down, her hand over her heart as she bowed her head.

"My Queen."

Ever so slightly, Salem turned her head. Her ruby-red eyes were just as haunting as they were in that vision. Her face was cracked and pulsing, yet despite that, there was a serene beauty to her. She was no longer the prisoner in the tower, the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed woman who had won the hero's heart. She was now a cold, calculating creature of malice, hellbent on destroying anyone and anything in her path. She rose to her feet, slowly walking toward Cinder, a serious look on her pale face.

"Cinder."

Hearing her voice in person was different than in a vision. It was cold, devoid of emotion, or anything resembling a human. Her heart was pounding her chest as she watched, unable to think, unable to say a word, though she doubted she would be able to say anything even with a voice.

"When I chose you as my vessel for the Maidens, I put my trust in you. So, I trust that you wouldn't return to me empty-handed."

Cinder reached into her cloak, holding the lamp out to her, a smirk on her face. "The Relic of Knowledge. I took it right from under Ironwood's nose."

"You stupid lying cunt. If it wasn't for my plan you wouldn't even have it, bitch. Oh, I can't wait for Phase Two to begin." Trivia thought to herself, relaxing her expression. Salem stared at it in shock and wonder, not having expected to see a relic up close so soon.

A familiar laugh filled the room, causing Trivia to stiffen. She looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with Tyrian Callows, who was wringing his hands like a kid in a candy store. "Outsmarting the General speaks less to your intellect and… more to his."

Cinder let out a growl as he walked around her, giving her the biggest grin, tail wiggling behind him, the tip pulsing with poison. "After all, you were outsmarted by those children first."

The woman merely smirked, rising to her feet. "And according to radio chatter, that same General and his forces outsmarted you. A shame that Watts never made it back."

Tyrian forced a frown on his face, a clear fake one as he looked away from her. "I'm afraid the doctor was a necessary sacrifice."

His eyes lit up briefly, his manic giggles erupting from within as he placed the tip of his tail beneath Trivia's chin. "Oh my… I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon. Tell me, how did being asphyxiated feel? Would you like me to do it again? I'm sure that boy toy of yours isn't going to come to your rescue this time."

"Do not antagonize her." Cinder hissed, glaring at the man. "She crossed blades with you because she was deeply undercover. If you had slain her, my plan would have fallen apart at the seams. So do watch what you say and do around her."

"Ohohoho… the nerve of her. You certainly have become more brazen, haven't you?"

Salem locked eyes with Trivia, staring deeply into her soul. She froze, bowing her head in fear. She looked away, a look of curiosity on her face. "Who exactly is she Cinder?"

"Neopolitan, ma'am. She has some interesting skills that will be of use to us, she is a valuable asset," she replied. Trivia glowered at her, her expression telling Cinder everything she needed to know.

"Hm… I see… you are fond of collecting assets aren't you?"

A soft, squelching sound filled the room, footsteps filling the room shortly after. Trivia was surprised to see both Emerald and Mercury, along with a man she hadn't seen before. A man whom she assumed was Hazel, though his appearance had changed a lot since she had seen his mugshot in Mistral. Emerald raced forward, a look of joy on her face.

"Cinder! You're here, I knew you'd co-"

"Quiet."

Her crimson eyes widened, an expression of shock spreading over her face. She bowed her head, clutching her arm tightly. Tyrian let out a laugh, clicking his tongue as he shook his head in faux disappointment. "So devoted to someone so incompetent. While the good doctor and I were advancing the will of our goddess, dismembering the very body of this Kingdom… you were merely atoning for past failures."

She turned to face him, fists tightly closed. "Polendina's creation interfered with the transfer of the Winter Maiden Power. I wasn't expecting to meet so much resistance, not just from that damned toy but from the Schnees, whom I should have destroyed ages ago. But now… I know she has it, and once I return to Atlas, it won't take long to finish what I started. That power will be mine."

"So you say, you better watch your back though… someone else could come behind you and stab it, ahahaha!"

Cinder let out a growl, her eye flaring a bit, only for Salem to speak. "I've given no such command."

"Huh? But ma'am, now is the time to-"

Salem slammed her fist against her throne, causing it to pulse bright red. Pulsing shockwaves descended from it, moving all throughout the floor and across the massive Grimm. Its moans shook the whole room, sending shivers down their spines. The clouded room became brighter, as the clouds cleared, revealing the Kingdom of Atlas, thousands of kilometers again.

"This game is not yours to win, Cinder. It's mine. Just because you are more valuable to me than a Pawn, it doesn't make you a player. Everything is already in motion. All you need to do is concern yourself with your ability to act when I tell you."

She bowed her head, placing her hand over her heart. "Of course. Without you, I am nothing."

Trivia narrowed her eyes a bit, not expecting Cinder to fold so quickly. She said nothing as she rose to her feet, gesturing to her to follow. She glanced back at Salem as she left the room, watching her stare at the Relic of Knowledge as if she had won the lottery.

xxx

"Dammit, we're being spread too thin here. We need an evacuation from Sector 3, Fiona do you copy?" Johanna asked, several beeps filling her ear.

"I copy Johanna. I'll swing by and see what I can do."

"Good! I'll be sending more people to sectors six and seven. Sector 9 is holding for now but we don't know for how long. Keep giving us reports on those Grimm movements, alright?" she asked, earning several confirmations.

Levi looked away from her for a moment, his focus returning to his notebook. He had been busy working on a calculation, something he hadn't done in a long time. With his recent acquisition of Plant Dust, he wanted to put it to use. Working on math was something that helped keep him calm. It was what he had done when Raven had held him hostage, and it was what he did when Aria kicked him out of their dorm. It was something he could use as a distraction, the numbers didn't give him anxiety, they didn't sway or change. They were constant. Perhaps that's why he liked mathematics so much.

Once the calculation phase was finished, he moved on to the practical aspect, forming the glyph itself. He held his hand out, his semblance activating, producing nothing but a blank glyph. He uncorked a bottle of Plant Dust, pouring a bit onto it, watching as the glyph slowly started to change. Ever so slightly, archaic lettering started to form, changing and embedding themselves onto the glyph itself. He poured more dust onto it, the center glowing brightly, a symbol, resembling a golden tree, appearing in the center. The more dust he added, the more aura he poured into the glyph, keeping his aura levels, dust amount, and calculations running in his head. It sparked for a moment, but he was quick to stabilize it, holding it still for a moment.

"What are you doing?"

He looked up, seeing the curious look Penny was giving him. The others had settled onto their own devices, though they had seen the glow the moment he started. He gave the cybernetic girl a smile as he continued pouring a bit of dust onto the glyph.

"I'm working on a new glyph for my arsenal. Mine aren't like Weiss's, like the Schnee Family glyphs. Mine are blank, I have to create specific calculations in order to apply an element to them. General Ironwood told me this was a hereditary ability, one that my birth mother had, according to my mother, Y'mhitra. Once I get this one right, I'll be able to cast it whenever I want provided I have the Dust."

"Oh, I see, how intriguing. I always assumed they were like Weiss's glyphs. If you have to calculate each one you make, does that mean you have more control of the elements than she does?"

"According to the General, yes. He said that eventually, I'll be able to tap into an ability that the Miqo'te once had. The ability to control the elements using Dust. It was something archaic, and nigh close to magic. Miqo'tes who achieved this were always treated as Grand Wizards." he said, bowing his head slightly. "I had thought… Maybe if I unlocked this, I could do the same, and prove to the General that he wasn't wasting his time on me. But honestly, I don't think I will ever achieve this."

"I don't believe that. I think you are going to achieve greatness in the future, Levi," she said, giving him a smile. "Though I do understand magic now. It isn't like an aura, or like a semblance. It's a different force. It feels like it's alive, and mystical all at once. It feels like… creating something out of nothing."

"Creating something out of nothing?"

"Yes." she said, holding her hand out. Her eyes flashed brightly, ethereal flames bursting from them as she focused on her palm. He saw small bubbles of water form around her palm, only for them to freeze. "There is water vapor all around us. With magic, I was able to bind them together, turn them into water and then freeze them. Perhaps it's the same for you. With the aid of Dust, you'll be able to draw from the elements around you. The dust is your spark, the spark that will let you create magic!"

"A spark, huh? I'll keep that in mind, Penny. Maybe if I focus on my Semblance and think about creating something, I might be able to tap into that power." he said, looking down at his glowing glyph, seeing it had stabilized. "As for this one, I think it's ready. I'll be able to use it in battle now. Thanks for speaking with me, I have a lot on my mind at the moment."

"You are most welcome!" she said, her ear perking up as the news report came back on. She let out a sigh, brushing her hair out of her face. "Now if only we could get through to the General."

"We will, okay? I haven't lost faith in him. I haven't. He's acting cold, his heart is closed off, but that's because he's focusing on what is right in front of him. I think that's his Semblance. Once he makes a choice, he sticks with it, sees it through to the end… some messed up kind of tunnel vision. If we can break him out of that stupor, get him to see hope again, we'll turn the tides."

"You truly believe that?" Johanna asked, causing him to look at her. "Do you truly think you can get through to that man? He's like a robot, following his programming."

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe it. He's not a cold-hearted robot, some… unfeeling tin can. He's just hurt, scared. We all are. We have to have faith… it's all we can have, now." he replied, ears folding down.

"Johanna, there's an Atlas ship flying around," May said, having rushed into the room. Johanna grabbed her weapon, gesturing to the map in front of her.

"Take over while I go check it out. We can't have the military snooping around here," she said, swiftly leaving. May sighed audibly, glancing at the map as she pressed her finger against her comm.

"Fiona, how are things in Sector 3?"

"Not as bad as before, we managed to get a hold of a lot of people, but there are Grimm pouring out of Sector 2. We're holding them off but we're not sure how long we can hold them back for. Some men headed into Sector 1 to search for leftover iron they could salvage from Brown Ironworks."

"Those fucking idiots, I told them not to head into Sector 1, that place is a lost cause. Several factories there are on fire and we can't risk going in there just for spare pieces of iron!" May snapped angrily. "Get them out of there!"

"Roger that."

"Fuck me… what else could go wrong today?" the blue-haired woman mumbled, eyes falling back on the map of Mantle.

The doors slowly opened, and Johanna returned to the room, followed by Ruby, Oscar, and Weiss. Nora shot out of her chair, racing right toward Oscar, who cringed, only to be pulled into a tight embrace. The orange-haired girl released him, only to be glomped by Alto who started peppering his face in kisses, checking him over for injury and hugging him tightly. Levi almost felt bad for the boy. Almost.

"Hey."

He looked away from Alto and Oscar, meeting the tired, worried blue eyes of his girlfriend. He sighed with relief as he pushed himself away from the wall, hugging her tightly. His ears twitched a bit, a familiar mechanical sound filling them. He pulled away from the hug, taking notice of her burned outfit, trailing his eyes down to her arm, seeing the burned scars, his eyes resting on her arm. He took a hold of it, tracing it with his fingers for a moment, gazing back into her eyes.

"It was Cinder, wasn't it?"

She nodded softly. He felt anger flowing through him, his body shook with it. She placed her hand on his face, instantly relaxing at her touch. Despite her hand being mechanical, it was just as warm as her real one. He held it against his face, bowing his head a bit. "I'm so sorry, for everything."

"Don't be, it was out of our hands. We couldn't have predicted what would have happened. We went to a banquet, expecting the General to hold his seats. We weren't expecting Salem to make a massive move. We couldn't have known she was so close."

"We got caught off guard, but we won't make that mistake again," Ruby said, her silver-eyed gaze shifting toward Oscar. "How did you end up in the slums?"

He rubbed his neck with his free hand, sighing. "It's a long story. I get the feeling there's been a lot of those today."

A familiar voice swirled in his mind. "You aren't going to tell them?"

"You and I aren't done talking yet." Oscar thought back, eyes narrowed a bit. He looked around, gasping a bit in realization. "Wait… where's Qrow? And Robyn?"

They remained silent, none of them knowing how to answer. Levi realized none of them knew, and how could they? They hadn't been there when the news report was read. He stood up straight, addressing the whole group. "Qrow's been arrested by the Atlas Military. He's being charged with… the death of Clover Ebi."

"What?" Yang squeaked, disbelief written on her face. Ruby looked at the faunus, a firm look on her face.

"Are you sure about that, Levi? Did you hear it on the chatter or…?"

"It was in the news… I don't know what happened, but Callows escaped. Robyn was arrested as his accomplice. That was all that was shared on the news. Wherever they're being kept, it's safe to say they aren't getting out."

"Fan-fucking-tastic. What else can go wrong?" Yang said, hand shaking in anger. The door flew open, and once again, Johanna stepped into the room, a firm look on her face.

"Alright, all of you are together again. Are you ready to work?" she asked, only to be met with silence. She pinched her eyes in annoyance, gesturing to the video feed on screen. "Look, the largest horde of Grimm ever seen is hovering over the tundra, and out there is a city full of people with no heat, and from what you've told us, without military protection. And while we're happy to give you guys a place to lie low for a while, it's time to get those people some help."

"How? General Ironwood is stopping all evacuations to Atlas. We can't get them out of the city with Salem's forces surrounding us." Ren said. Johanna looked at him, a firm look on her face.

"The Crater, beneath Atlas. It's not safe, but it's warm, and with everyone in one place, we can do a better job of protecting them. May can send you where you are needed most. We've got to get everyone down into the Crater before nightfall. In the slums, we might have a chance." she said, swiveling on her foot.

"We are never going to sleep again. I just know it," Weiss quipped, causing the large woman to glare at her.

"Either you're helping, or your baggage. Oh, and you best get used to sleeping on the hard ground, Princess, we don't have Vacuan mattresses and duvets down here," she said, leaving the kitchen.

The silence didn't last, as Yang got to her feet. "We need to get out there and do what we can for Mantle."

"What we need to do is do what we can for everyone. What about Amity? And telling the world about Salem? We can't do this alone. We need help." Ruby said, meeting her sister's lilac gaze with a silvery one of her own.

"Ruby's right, the Happy Huntresses are handling the evacuation better than we could. And there's the bigger picture." Blake said, only for her partner to glare at her.

"But Amity isn't even finished. It was still under construction, it would be a waste of time!" she snapped. Ruby sighed, gathering her thoughts before turning to Pietro, a firm look on her face.

"Doctor, What would you need to launch Amity now?"

He cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up his nose as he closed his eyes in thought. "Uh well… we've made decent progress on the construction and fuel collection. All potentially manageable. But uh…hm… Amity was designed so it couldn't launch itself without first being granted clearance from General Ironwood's terminal."

"Fucking shit, of course," Levi mumbled, running his fingers through his hair. "It was probably a safety measure, to make sure no one could prematurely launch it or bring it down before the due date."

"There is no way Ironwood is going to cooperate with us, Ruby. It's a lost cause."

"But he doesn't have to," she said, placing her fist in her hand. "All we need is approval from his terminal, right?"

"You want to go back to the Academy? We just went through hell getting out of there!"

"Actually," Pietro began, causing the pair to look at him. "There is more than one terminal. The one in his office and the one in the main Atlesian Military Compound at the base of the city. You'd have to get into the compound somehow, then uh… get inside the operations room and then… hoo boy, I might have to think about this one some more."

"And… this is the easy option?" Oscar questioned.

"What you are saying is it can't be done. It's pointless. And even if you got the message out, there's no guarantee help would come." Yang negatively replied.

"It isn't just about that, Yang. Even if help doesn't come, the world deserves to know about Salem. That was the plan all along, to prepare the world. Atlas can only remain strong if the world is alerted." Levi said, a hopeful look on his face. "We gotta at least try."

"He's right, Atlas is Salem's current target, she isn't hiding anymore. Once she gets what she wants, she's going to leave. She'll head for Shade Academy and then back toward Beacon. We need to warn the rest of Remnant."

Her older sister remained silent, hand on her head as she gathered her thoughts. There were hundreds of things on the forefront of her mind. Ruby did have a point, but she couldn't risk herself on something that might not work. She looked her straight in the eye, a firm look on her face.

"Ruby, when we came here, we said we'd follow your lead. But… things haven't exactly worked out."

"Through no fault of your own, of course," Weiss quipped, crossing her arms. Yang glared at her, a twinge of guilt showing on her face. "All of us made a mistake, keeping what we learned from the lamp a secret was wrong. We should have trusted Ironwood wholeheartedly like he trusted us. Maybe we wouldn't be wanted fugitives right now."

"The only thing that's changed is the side we're perceived to be on. We are still Huntsman and Huntresses. Our loyalty is to the people, as a whole, not one kingdom, not one person. I agree with Ruby, we must launch Amity." Blake said firmly.

"There are people that need us right now," Ren piped up, looking around the room, face full of annoyance. "If we spread ourselves too thin, we'll be overworked. We are already tired, hungry, and stressed out. We have to focus on what is in front of us. That is something all of us can actually do."

"But this isn't just about Atlas! Ruby's right, we need to warn all of Remnant! They need to know in Vacuo, in Mistral… in Vale. They deserve to know what's coming!" Nora said. Ren didn't meet her eyes, lowering his gaze. Alto sighed audibly, ears folding down.

"Both are important but we can't take risks. I think we should split up and do both."

"That's not a bad idea," Jaune said, standing between them all. "We can go for both, we'll get Amity up and running and evacuate Mantle."

"No, that's what Salem wants. She wants to divide us, we need to stick together."

"That isn't what she wants, Ruby," Oscar said, squeezing the Long Memory tightly. "What Salem wants to do is turn us against each other. Just like this. Jaune has a point. We can work separately, but still be united."

"Or…" Penny cut in, looking at his hands. "I can take the Relic to Salem, and maybe… she'll leave Atlas alone. Maybe she'll stop the attack on the Kingdom."

"There is no way in hell I am letting you do that, Penny. We didn't fight that vengeful bitch this long for you to hand her the Staff on a silver platter. Don't forget Cinder wants your power. You land on that whale, and you are as good as dead. And I am tired of seeing my friends die." Levi said, standing firmly before her. "I will not let you become another one of her victims."

"Besides, we can't exactly trust Salem to actually leave Atlas. For all we know, she could destroy the Kingdom, use the staff to make something else. That happens, Atlas falls and Mantle gets destroyed."

"Nobody is turning anyone over and we are most certainly not handing the Staff over," Yang said, eyes shifting between Ruby and Nora. "That is the one thing we can all agree on."

"Okay… then I guess we're going to Atlas." the red-clad girl said, turning to Pietro. "Can you help us get to that terminal?"

"I suppose someone needs to help you bypass security," he said, stroking his chin. Levi dug his hand into his pocket, handing him the black scroll.

"Here, Arthur Watts left this behind, it's helped us a lot in the past, it can help us again. You've analyzed it and understand the OS, right? It'll help us." he said, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "We'll be counting on you, sir."

"Not just him, I'll go too."

"No, Penny, we can't take that risk."

She turned to the man, eyes glowing brightly. "I am the protector of Mantle. I cannot understand why General Ironwood has abandoned the people here. He may have, but I will not. I'll go."

Silence filled the room, but it didn't last as Yang moved toward the exit, glancing over her shoulder. "Do what you gotta do, I'll go out there and see what I can do."

"Yang."

She stopped, turning to catch what the doctor threw at her, noticing it was a set of keys. She looked at him curiously. "I was working on something for all of you when all this happened. Swing by the Pharmacy, I'm sure what I've got in there will come in handy."

Alto finished loading bullets into her spare magazines, shoving one in Milo's receiver, joining Yang by the door. "I'll be coming along too if Ozzy's going with you, I am going to protect him. I will not let him disappear on me like he did back in Atlas."

"Alto… I."

"No!" she said, glaring at him. "I lost my sister to Salem, Oscar, I will not lose you too. I love you too much for that to happen."

He nodded, hiding the flush on his face. Ren reached for StormFlower, glancing at Nora. "Are you coming?"

"I'm going with Ruby. I'm sorry Ren."

"But what about Mantle?"

"Oh, I'm saving Mantle! Because I actually believe we can do this!" she said, trying to sound cheerful. He didn't say a word, moving through the doors.

Yang followed suit, not bothering to say goodbye to her sister. Jaune held his hand out to Ruby, giving her a firm look. "We'll get things done. Be careful out there."

"You got it, keep an eye on my sister, okay? She's pissed off right now but I know it's just the situation we're in."

"I know, she'll come around."

"Keep in touch, we'll settle this soon. Once we weather this storm, we'll head to the Winchester and have a cold pint." Levi said, holding his hand out. Jaune laughed, giving it a shake.

"Now that is some serious fried gold."

The room grew quiet once more, the remaining group not knowing what to say. Levi took a deep breath, crossing his arms as he looked around. "Alrighty, we should get a move on. Getting into Atlas is going to be harder than getting out of it. Since we'll be returning to Atlas Academy, I wanna see if I can get Qrow out."

"That's too risky of a plan, we can't afford to lose you."

"We can't afford to lose Qrow, Snowflake. All of us are strong, but we aren't stronger than General Ironwood. We haven't seen him fight to his full strength. We'll need a Huntsman who has that same amount of experience," he said, brushing past her. "Plus, it doesn't sit right with me that he's sitting in a jail cell for a crime he didn't commit."

"You think he's innocent?"

"I know he's innocent, Ruby. We need all the help we can get, so I'll start snooping around. Besides, it's not like we're blind," he said, flipping Sonata's scroll across his fingers, a catty grin on his face. "After all… I am a Special Operative."

"Ohohoho~ You are as crafty as a fox, Levi. Are you sure you aren't part fox?" Nora asked, earning a shrug from the man.

"I dunno. Miqo'tes are some sort of feline, but we might have canine traits. That's beside the point. Let's get a move on, no more wasting time." he said. Ruby took the lead, Nora, Penny, Maria, and Pietro filing out behind her. Levi turned to leave, only for Weiss to grab his wrist. He turned to look at her, a frown on his face. "What's the matter?"

She didn't say a word, pulling him into a kiss. His eyes grew wide, softly fluttering closed as he kissed her back. His hands moved to her hips as he held her close, a single tear falling down his cheek. She pulled away first, wiping his tears away. "I was so worried, so scared for you."

"So was I… and so was Trivia. She took off with Cinder, she'll let us know when she's ready for Phase Two. All we need to do is make sure Atlas remains in one piece until then. We'll get out of this alive, Snowflake. Do you trust me?"

"Unconditionally, just as I trust Ruby, Blake, Yang, and the rest of our friends. Let's not keep them waiting, they'll start saying things," she said, walking around him. A small smirk flashed onto his lips as he matched her pace, giving her a hard spank on the rump, making her scream in surprise. "What the fuck?!"

"I couldn't help myself. Ever since I pushed you through that hole back at Raven's camp, I wanted to grab it again."

"Stupid damned pervert! I don't know what I see in you."

"The same thing I see in you, someone I adore with every fiber of my being," he said, giving her a wink. He didn't think her face could get any redder.

xxx

Sonata hadn't spoken much since she had been given her new directive. There were so many things on her mind that she decided to remain silent. When she had returned to her dorm, some soldiers had been waiting for her with a new uniform befitting of her station. Even now, she wore it and it felt foreign to her. The long navy blue jeans covered her prosthetics, something she had proudly shown off before. She was wearing armored boots, despite not needing any leg armor. She was wearing a long-sleeved white coat, along with matching power armor on her left arm. The General wanted her to be in top shape. If she was to take over the Ace Operatives, she needed to look the part.

And yet, she didn't feel like she was ready. Vine, Elm, Harriet, and Marrow stood beside her, all staring at Clover's deceased form. Even in death, the man had a smile on his face. A large, metal plate had been placed over the large wound that had ended his life. She wondered how it was that they arrived in that situation. How did things go south so fast? Just last night, she had finally met up with her friend after 2 long years, and now they were bitter enemies. Her father was in jail, her mother was grieving, learning that the love of her life had done so many heinous things, and her little sister, Coloratura had joined as a cadet, wanting to follow in her footsteps. It felt like her life was tearing itself apart at the seams, and to make it worse, Salem was out there, taunting them with her presence.

She took a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak only for Harriet to cut her off. "Don't. We don't need your words right now."

"I wasn't-"

"Please, just let us grieve in silence."

"Harriet, that is not the way to address your superior." Vine scolded, earning a scowl from the woman. He turned to Sonata, giving her a nod. "Whatever you wish to tell us, Special Operative Piccolo, we will listen."

"Special Operative…" she thought, the title moving through her mind. She looked away, eyes narrowed as she focused on the drawers in the back. "I never saw myself as a special operative, much less the leader of the Ace-Ops. All I wanted to do was become a Huntress. To protect the people of Atlas and Mantle… not just them, Remnant too. I never thought I'd find myself joining the Atlas Military, coming this far in it."

"Well if you don't like it, you can quit. We don't have the time for self-pity parties, not when the biggest horde of Grimm ever seen is knocking on our doors." Harriet said, turning to the sky-haired girl. "If you think I'll follow someone who doesn't want to fight, you've got another thing coming."

"Learn your place, I outrank you." Sonata hissed, meeting her glare with one of her own. "It always upsets me when people don't let me finish what I am trying to say."

Harriet looked away, arms crossed in rage. She was barely holding onto herself and was ready to lash out, but bit her cheek so as to not inquire her wrath. Sonata stood in front of the four, as straight as she could despite her demure face and short stature. "I have been ordered to take over operations for this team. We may not see eye to eye, but that is the reality of it. Things in Atlas are going to change, and we must be ready to face those changes. We are all grieving the loss of Clover, but he would not want us to continue like this."

She paused for a moment, meeting their gazes one at a time. "You four were hand-picked by James Ironwood himself, defenders of Atlas, protectors of Mantle. We must not forget why we are here, because we are at the service of the people. The Kingdom of Atlas, not Atlas City, not Mantle City, the Kingdom. Things look dire, things will get worse, people will die, that is a fact. We cannot run from it, but we shouldn't hide from it either. Let us foster good relations between ourselves and work together to do what is right."

"That's easy for you to say, but I can tell you don't agree with what you are saying. After all, one of your friends is a fugitive, and the other defected to Salem's side. I don't think you have what it takes to keep Atlas's interests."

"And I think you are far too emotional to be sent out to the front lines," she said, looking directly at Harriet. "We can all think what we want, and we can say what we want. At the end of the day, General Ironwood issues out the orders, and I follow them. We will do whatever it takes to defend this kingdom. If that means fighting my friends, arresting them… possibly killing them. Then I will do what I must. I recommend you check your weapons over, you'll be needing them in a few hours."

She stepped out of the medical room shortly after, the door sliding closed behind her. She let out a shaky sigh, ignoring the looks the posted soldiers had given her. She brushed her hair out of her face as she stepped into Winter's room. She was still being checked over, hissing with every prod and poke. General Ironwood stood by, eyes narrowed as he kept his eyes on the screen. She cleared her throat, grabbing his attention.

"Sir, I've spoken to the Ace-Ops as you have ordered. It'll be difficult to replace Clover's position, but I will do it as well as I can."

"I understand… it may be difficult to do something like that but… you and Winter are all I have left. Both of you shall be in command of the Ace-Ops. You are the backbone of this team, don't forget that." he said, earning a nod from the woman, who remained silent. She looked at his arm, frowning a bit.

"Um… sir, forgive me for asking but… are you alright? With the loss of your arm, I mean? I saw the medical charts myself. I hadn't expected for it to be so horrifically burned." she said. Ironwood remained silent, staring at his new prosthetic for a moment. He thought back to his fight at Amity, how Arthur had trapped him, and how he had sheared his skin clean off just to defeat him.

"Sometimes, you need to make hard choices, Miss Piccolo. I would rather lose my arm than let that bastard hack into Amity Tower. It is still our lifeline."

"You still plan on launching it?" Winter questioned, causing the man to look at her.

"Our focus is on the Kingdom of Atlas. But I trust your sister and her friends will take care of that for us," he said, a firm look flashing onto his face. "My cooperation with them will stem from their cooperation with me. Should Penny return to us, then I will allow them to launch the tower."

"Will you still arrest them?" Sonata asked. The General remained silent, that was all she needed for an answer. The doors briefly opened, a crewmate stepped in, saluting the General with a firm look on her face.

"Sir, the prisoners have arrived. They're being processed in Stockade B." she said. The man hardly replied, giving her a silent nod. She swiftly left the room, returning to her post. The man perked up a bit when he heard Winter hiss, the medic having poked at the bruise around her eye.

"You know, I never expected Qrow to do something like that. Robyn, sure. I never trusted her, but not Qrow." she said, crying in pain when the nurse rolled her wrist. The General stood straight, looking at the two medics.

"Could we have the room, please?" he asked. The pair didn't hesitate, leaving shortly after. Sonata remained silent, hands behind her back as the tired-looking man shared looks with them. "Do you think I did the right thing? Abandoning Mantle, naming those kids as fugitives? They wanted to help, even if they went behind my back."

"I am not one to question your orders, sir, I simply follow them. If you believe stopping evacuations in Mantle is beneficial, then it's beneficial. A lot of things happened that were out of control. Naming those kids as fugitives is the only way to ensure we have Penny come back to Atlas."

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" Sonata asked, earning an icy look from the white-haired woman. "You weren't there when everything went down at the General's office. You didn't see Salem like we did. All Team RWBY was trying to do was assist the people, all of them. That is why we joined the military, wasn't it? To prevent what happened at Beacon, but you know what? I see that exact same thing happening here."

"What happened at Beacon will not happen here."

"Are you sure about that?" she snapped, turning to the General. "Because in my opinion, we are way beyond the point of no return. I fought against my friend because it was an order, and I will keep following them, but I am not going to stand here wondering if what I am doing is right or wrong. Because I know that what we are doing is wrong. We don't abandon people in need. We don't arrest our allies."

"Then what more do you want me to do? All of our plans have gone to shit. Thanks to Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses, Amity was stalled. Thanks to Jacques Schnee, Arthur Watts hacked into our system and caused Mantle to turn into a shitstorm. And now Salem is out there, with her hand around our necks, seconds away from squeezing. We don't have a choice, no amount of morality will change that, Sonata. You know as well as I do that if Atlas falls, Remnant falls."

"Remnant isn't one kingdom, James." she returned, her gaze wavering a bit. "The Twin Gods gave Ozma a task if humanity isn't united, then they will wipe the slate clean. We have to be united, that is how we win against Salem. Leaving Mantle behind, abandoning Remnant, there is nothing human or civilized about that."

"Need I remind you that we have limited resources and limited time?"

"We can make time! Ask yourself if what we are doing is right?" she said, looking at Winter, a pleading look on her face. "You can see it, can't you, Winter? Knowing your sister is out there, trying to help, risking her life. It is tearing you apart inside, isn't it? Ask yourself if you can live, knowing that you are going to abandon her to her fate. Can you really stand there and watch the people below us die?"

"It isn't about that anymore, Sonata. It is about making sure there is someone left to pick up the pieces."

She gasped a bit at her words, only to narrow her eyes, looking away. "Thousands of people have died in vain because of Salem… and we will be responsible for adding to that total. Everything that comes after, everyone who has died and will die, will die in vain, if we start what comes after with an act of cruelty. I hope you can live with yourselves knowing that. I will continue doing what is ordered of me, I've already been turned into a toy soldier, may as well follow my programming."

She left the room shortly after, not bothering to meet the gazes of the Ace-Ops as she walked away. Ironwood clenched his fist tightly, hand shaking as he did. "She doesn't understand."

He calmed himself, forcing a smile onto his face. "Thank you, Winter. I don't know what I would do without you here, without either you or Sonata. She's gone through a lot this week already and she brings valid points but… No one has seen a Grimm force that large before. The hard-light shields will hold but… not forever,"

"What will you do, sir?" she asked.

"Wait, you can't be in here!"

The General looked over his shoulder, seeing the two technicians moving forward. Familiar voices echoed through the corridor as they struggled and failed to hold the people back.

"This is absurd, let us through!"

His hand slowly moved toward his gun, fingers wrapping around the handle. He began to draw it, only to shake his head. He looked back to Winter, a firm look on his face. "I'll do whatever it takes."

He stepped out into the hallway, just as Councilman Sleet and Councilwoman Camilla stepped forward, both of them sharing equal looks of anger.

"What the hell are you doing, James?" she shouted, the man's cold demeanor not changing.

"Do you think you can do whatever you want because you hold two seats in the Council? And what's this about Martial Law? Have you lost your damn mind? Are you really scared of-" Sleet's words caught in his throat as he felt Due Process being pressed against his face. Ironwood's trigger finger twitched a bit, the cold expression still on his face.

"I will not have you impugn my decisions, Sleet. The Atlas Military is the only thing that can stand against Salem and her forces. I will not let anyone, even you, stand in my way of protecting this Kingdom." he said, glancing at the soldiers behind them. "Arrest him, both of them."

"Yes sir."

"James, you can't do that! What about Checks and Balances? You are becoming nothing more than a goddamned dictator!" Sleet shouted, only for the man to pull the trigger, the ice bullet grazing the side of his head, leaving behind a small trail of ice.

"Consider yourself lucky. We cannot begin what comes after with an act of cruelty. That is how we lose our humanity, hate me if you want. But I will save this kingdom, no matter the cost." he said, holstering his weapon. Gravity Bolas were tied around their wrists, both Council Members being taken away. Ironwood stepped away, leaving the stunned Ace Operatives and Winter behind.


Location: Mantle

The cold wind picked up, carrying with it a swirl of ice and snow. Levi shuddered a bit, feeling its bite against his skin. Though his aura was active and protecting him against the cold, it was still cold enough to cut through. Aura was amazing that way, though it could protect you from powerful hits, aid you with the use of dust and your semblance, something as simple as a cold wind could deplete it. It was something that always fascinated him. He looked up for a moment, the underside of Atlas was gleaming brightly. The Hard-Light shields had been activated, so getting through from the bottom was not going to be possible. He looked away for a moment, Scroll in hand as he looked at Trivia's contact, the only message present being from two days ago.

"She'll be fine."

He glanced over his shoulder, meeting Weiss's eyes. His shifted toward her mechanical arm for a moment, before he looked at his scroll. "Yeah, I know. Can't help but worry about her, knowing she's inside the belly of the beast."

It wasn't long before the others joined them. Ruby, Blake, Nora, and Penny had made it safely onto the rooftop. The flat surface had gotten slippery due to the snow, but it kept them away from the Sabyrs. Thankfully, all of the flying Grimm were in other parts of the city, so they were alright for now. Their leader pulled down her hood, cringing a bit due to the cold. Much like Levi before, she stared up at Atlas, eyes narrowed in thought.

"Hey," Blake called out, causing her to turn around. "We're still united."

"I hope so," she dejectedly replied. Their scrolls pinged, an open message broadcast to all of them.

"We're all set to leave. I'll get Pietro out to Amity, but that doesn't answer how we're getting all of you to Atlas." Maria said, causing Weiss to giggle.

"Well actually, I think I might have an idea fo-"

She was cut off by the ringing of a scroll. They all pulled theirs out, checking their screens only to find them blank. Penny held hers out, General Ironwood's image on it. She looked at them for a moment, shakily taking the call.

"Hello, Penny. I'm worried about your safety. Tell me where you are and I'll have you picked up right away," he said, almost in a monotone. "Atlas needs you, Penny. Salem is here."

She was about to speak when Ruby took her scroll, staring at the image for a moment before speaking.

"She's not going anywhere until you change your mind about Mantle. There's still a chance for Remnant to be-"

"Mantle… You're still worried about Mantle?! Remnant is doomed, Ruby. Unless we leave, Salem is going to destroy Atlas and with it any hope for humanity. We need to think about the future. If she makes it through our defenses, everything that follows will be on your hands."

"It's a little callous for you to say that, James," Levi said, standing next to his friend. He took the scroll from her hand, walking to the edge of the building. "Blaming us for giving a shit about the people is wrong. You know that it is. You know that leaving Mantle behind is wrong, but there is still a chance. Atlas was created to give people hope and to secure a future for all of Remnant. I know you still believe that there is hope out there, I saw it on your face back in your office. Let us help. Allow us to evacuate what's left of Mantle to Atlas, and I will personally make sure Penny opens that vault for you."

"There is no time-"

"Well, make time! You have enough time to call Penny and taunt us when you could be working toward helping the people that need it the most. The Happy Huntresses are gathering everyone in the Crater, all it would take are a few large dropships to bring them up."

It was silent, the only thing that made noise was the swirling wind around them. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the man spoke. "I'm sorry Levi, but there are far more important things right now."

"I understand. But that also means one thing, I will defend Penny with every fiber of my being. I will not let her die like my teammates, James. If I have to go against the whole of Atlas's Army, I will. I think you of all people know how stubborn us Athans can be."

The man scoffed. "Oh, I know."

The call ended moments after. He stared at the device for a moment before handing it to Penny, giving her a smile. "We'll be fine."

"Would you honestly bring me to the vault if the General saves the people of Mantle?" she asked, causing him to shake his head.

"Of course not, but at this point, we need to do whatever it takes to make him see reason," he said, glancing at his friends. "It's not too late. I have faith in him,"

"It's a waste of time, Levi."

"Perhaps, but I'm banking on him making the right choice, Nora. For now, let's focus on what we need to do, finding a way into Atlas."

"As I was saying before we were rudely interrupted, I have an idea. Come along, we need to hurry before this avenue becomes closed to us." Weiss said, taking the lead. They all shared a look, not knowing what the former heiress was cooking up.

xxx

The thin membrane separated as the Queen of the Grimm stepped into the room. She was holding the Relic of Knowledge tightly in her grasp, its glow illuminating the partially darkened room. She held it up, looking at her reflection on its smooth surface. She found herself smiling as if admiring the distorted image.

"I have questions for you," she stated, holding the lamp outward. A dark, ghastly creature started sniffing the relic, letting out a deep guttural growl as the scent of it drifted through its nostrils. "But first, I need the one who can show me how. Bring him to me…"

The Grimm growled, swiftly leaving the room. As the membrane began closing, someone stepped into its field of view. Salem looked away from the relic, almost surprised to see the person who stood by her. "Odette."

"My Queen, I apologize for the manner of my arrival. I wished to arrive earlier but had to be discreet when doing so. Especially because you know who is here." she said, kneeling before the woman. "Forgive my insolence as well as my failure, I invaded Atlas Academy but was not able to recover the Winter Maiden's power nor the staff. It wasn't until after I was forced to retreat that I learned Doctor Watts was captured."

"Hm… Tyrian told me what you did in Mantle. You ensured the citizens were in a constant state of unrest. You also used the Crystal Nexus to attract the Creatures of Grimm to the city, as a prelude to my arrival. You did me a service, there is nothing to forgive."

"M-My Queen?" she asked, looking up at Salem. She just smiled, placing a hand on the girl's cheek.

"It is as I said, you have done nothing wrong, you have not failed me. However, the same cannot be said for the one who brought this lamp to me. She has let her emotions overtake her, and she has stepped over her boundaries. I'm afraid the powers of the Fall Maiden have made her believe she has what it takes to win this game of mine, alas that is not the case. I have only myself to blame for that."

"What? Of course not, you have done all of us a kindness. You have freed us from the lies of that bastard Ozma. You are not at fault for any of the things she has done."

"But I am… I have been far too lenient and merciful to her. And that is why I must start anew. She is a failed experiment, but you shall be my success. Remain in the shadows, watch her closely, and when she is most vulnerable, take what is yours. Once you have it, we can focus on retrieving the Relic of Choice."

"It shall be done, My Queen. But I have one request, if I may be so bold to ask," she said, earning a nod from the woman. "I ran into my old partner in Mantle."

"Ah yes, the silver-eyed miqo'te. It has been quite a long time since I have seen one of his breed. In fact, I believe his mother was the one whom I last slayed." she said, balling her fist tightly. "It is because of her that I have these horrible scars. He must be eliminated."

"Indeed he must. Our blades are fated to cross, all I ask is that you allow me to act on your behalf, and take his eyes for you."

"No, he is useful to us alive. You will not take his eyes, but… I will allow you to break him. After all, he left you for dead, battered, bruised and broken. Do the same to him, so long as he makes it here alive. I have plans for him and his silver-eyed little friend."

"It shall be done," she said, rising to her feet. The pink-haired woman closed her eyes for a moment, hugging Salem tightly, much to her surprise. "I'll do my best to bring you what you desire most, Mother."

The dark queen only smiled, patting her head lovingly.


A/N: I don't have much to say about this chapter, only that things are about to go down, I guess, lol.