So That's How It Is.

"Salem can't be killed... you all heard her too, right?" Yang asked

Team RWBY, along with Severa, all angrily glare at Ozpin, whose head is still down. He looks up, with tears streaming down his face. Qrow just looks away.

Ozpin slowly looked up "I-".

Yang interrupted in an enraged tone "There was so much you hadn't told us! How could you think that was okay?!"

Ozpin doesn't say anything, he just hangs his head back down in shame.

"Professor..." Ruby spoke and Ozpin looks up at her, she had finally reached the end of her patience with him and looked just as angry as the rest "What is your plan to defeat Salem?".

"I... don't have one..." Ozpin admitted as he looked down again.

Suddenly, they hear an enraged scream as Qrow punches Ozpin in the face, sending him into a nearby tree trunk. Severa jumped in surprise, her father had so far proven he could keep calm even in the worst of situations, so seeing him snap like that was a real shock.

"No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good..." Qrow spoke in a sad tone.

Ozpin looked at him tearfully "But, you are!".

"Meeting you... was the worst luck of my life..." Qrow said.

Ozpin stares back in disbelief upon hearing Qrow say that, before looking down dejected "Maybe you're right..."

Ozpin's eyes glow as control is transferred back to Oscar. He holds his cheek in pain from the effects of Qrow's punch.

"What happened?" Ruby asked.

"He's... gone" Oscar answered.

"That bastard! Tell him we're not done yet!" Yang yelled.

"No, this is different. He's gone. It- It's like he's locked himself deep inside my head. Our head?" Oscar grunts as he holds his head in pain "I hate this! I want it to stop!".

"He just left us?" Weiss asked in disbelief.

Blake looked worried "What are we gonna do now?".

Yang growls in anger, she couldn't believe that not only was Ozpin as liar, he was a coward too. He just ran away the moment they called him out on all the stuff he's done.

"Enough! We need to get move on. It'll be dark before we know it, and every one of you is spewing negativity!" Maria said as she walks up and helps Oscar up with her cane "There's a trail over there, trails usually lead somewhere".

Yang glares at her "Lady, I don't know who you think you are but-".

Maria slams her cane in to the ground "No buts! I understand that you're upset. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is humanity's second time around. But, if we don't move, we die. And I'll be damned if I've lived this long just to die out here in the cold!".

"She's right. Come on" Ruby said.

"Umm... Guys?" Severa said and everyone looked at Lucina who had not moved at all from her kneeling position.

"We... all saw the same thing right?" Blake asked, remembering the horrifying reveal they witnessed... Salem is Lucina's grandmother.

Ruby hurries up to Lucina and kneels in front of her "Lucina, look at me".

Lucina slowly raised her head, tears in her eyes "I...".

Ruby grabs her shoulders "Lucina, this doesn't change anything. You are still the same person we know and love".

"It changes everything" Lucina said as she stands up "I used to believe I knew exactly who I was and what my life goal was... Now... I don't know anything anymore...".

She walks away a few steps and everyone couldn't do much more than give her some space, and hope she calms down. Everyone grabs their belongings and whatever Dust they can carry with them. Maria sits on Bumblebee as Yang walks her bike. Ruby walks over to Oscar and hands over the handle of his cane.

Oscar grabs the cane "I'm just going to be another one of his lives, aren't I?".

Ruby puts her hand on his "Of course not. You're your own person".

"Don't lie to him, Ruby" Qrow said as he drinks from his flask "We're better than that".

Ruby and Oscar look down sadly before walking to join the others. Severa grabs Qrow's arm, making him stop and look at her. She gives him a strong hug, surprising him for a moment before he gently pats her back.

"Thank you kid..." He said softly before gently breaking the hug and walked away.

Severa watched him leave with a sad look. Before she felt Blake take her hand. They looked at each other for a moment before Severa intertwined her hand with Blake, holding it. Blake was relived that Severa accepted her comfort and they began their cold trip through the snowy forest.


In the Land of Darkness, five Nevermores are perched on a rocky outcropping with large purple crystals. They fly away when an airship flies by them heading towards a large purple structure in the distance. The airship lowers down to an outcropping that serves as a dock, and Hazel, Líf, Mercury, and Emerald hop out. As they proceed forward, they notice Tyrian leaning against the entrance at the bottom of the stairs. His scorpion tail now has a spiked, metal tip covering it from where it was cut off.

Tyrian laughs as he sees them "Welcome back, welcome back! I do hope you missed us as much as we missed you".

Emerald and Mercury glare at him, but Líf did nothing.

"Let's go" Hazel The four proceed forward past Tyrian.

"Speaking of which, where is our Fall Maiden?" Tyrian asked.

Emerald stops upon hearing this, prompting Tyrian to giggle, causing Emerald to growl.

"Emerald, come on" Mercury said.

"Don't tell me something happened to her?" Tyrian said in a mocking tone before laughing.

Emerald turns around and draws her weapons at him "I will cut off more than just your tail".

Tyrian: chuckles as he slowly walks toward Emerald "Careful, little girl. Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore".

He gets close to Emerald's face, causing her to back away. Tyrian intentionally cuts his cheek with the blade of Emerald's weapon. Emerald has a disturbed expression on her face upon seeing this, and Mercury steps up to hold Emerald's shoulder and scare Tyrian away from her.

Mercury glares at the scorpion faunus "Back off, freak".

"Oh, don't misunderstand, I am in mourning just as you. Because it appears you've failed our Queen, and that is a tragedy" A moment later, Tyrian drops his sympathetic facade and starts to laugh maniacally.

Mercury looks back at him in disgust while Emerald has a fearful expression on her face. The two of them, Líf and Hazel turn around to proceed up the stairs as Tyrian continues laughing.


In the meeting room, Salem opens her eyes and glares at her subordinates. Tyrian and Watts are seen fearfully sitting at the table along with Thrasir who showed no visibel emotions, while Hazel, Líf Emerald and Mercury are kneeling at the other end of the room.

"I would like you to explain to me... how it is you failed so spectacularly?" Salem asked in a calm but deadly tone.

Hazel tried to explain "The Faunus Militia split our forces-".

"Stop" Salem interrupted and Hazel remains silent with a fearful expression on his face "Let me rephrase the question - who is responsible for your defeat?".

Líf, Emerald and Mercury stay kneeling as Hazel stands up to give his answer. Salem listens intently.

"I take full responsibility" He said.

Suddenly, Salem flips the table over, knocking Tyrian off his chair. Thrasir and Watts hastily stands up from their seats and backs away.

"But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?! We all know who's truly to blame..." Salem walks forward and menacingly holds her hand out in front of her.

"I don't-" Hazel began but Salem motions her hand, and a glyph with her symbol appears underneath Hazel. Multiple Grimm arms come out from it and grab Hazel, forcing him down on all fours and suffocating him.

"Emerald..." Salem looks over to Emerald, who is still staring down with a fearful expression "I want you to tell me whose fault this was" Salem slowly walks over to Emerald as she breathes heavily "Now".

Emerald closed her eyes in fear "Cinder! We failed because of Cinder...".

"That's right" Salem said, placing a hand on Emerald's shoulder, causing her to flinch "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself".

Salem walks away from Emerald. Both her and Mercury look up in surprise.

"You mean-" Mercury began.

"She's alive?" Emerald finished.

"You're joking, how could you know that?" Watts asked.

Tyrian glares at him "Are you questioning our divine savior?!".

Watts reels back "I..." Salem looks over to Watts and glares at him, he chuckles nervously "Of course not, forgive me".

Salem proceeds to address her subordinates "It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence... But, the moment you put your desires before my own... they will be lost to you" She releases Hazel from her grasp and walks back to the other side of the room. Hazel catches his breath "This isn't a threat. This is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found... through me".

Hazel stands back up, Tyrian lets out a small chuckles, and Watts straightens his coat, Thrasir remains silent. Salem glances outside, where several Nevermores are flying, before looking down and closing her eyes.

"And so we must... press on" Salem turns around to face her subjects "The Sword under Vacuo's academy, Shade-".

"Ma'am" Hazel spoke and everyone looks at him, Tyrian glaring "I have... more to report".

Salem's eyes narrow. She was not pleased by being interrupted and she spreads her hands, causing the Grimm arms to appear around Hazel's feet again.

Hazel looks down at them nervously before explaining himself "Qrow and the children are taking the Lamp to Atlas".

Tyrian laughs "Not if I can help it".

"Sure, cause you did an exellent job the first time you tried to capture only one of them" Thrasir said, making Tyrian glare at her.

"And they're being led... by Ozpin" Hazel finished.

At this, everyone slowly looks toward Salem with fearful expressions on their faces and Mercury notices the windows starting to crack.

"So soon?!" Tyrian asked in shock.

"He's the only man with a chance of getting through to Ironwood. If that happens..." Watts suddenly stops as he and everyone else notice the windows cracking. They then look at Salem, and dark smoke emanates from her.

Salem was clearly furious "Leave...".

"Your Grace, I can..." Salem glares at Tyrian, causing him to reel back.

Emerald looks on in fear before Hazel puts a hand on her shoulder "Come on".

Everyone quickly proceeds to exit the room as the windows start to crack even more. Emerald takes one last look behind her as the doors close. Salem, left alone, seethes with anger before calming herself down. Everything is seemingly quiet, but the knowledge of her former lover being back, combined with the fact that he has her granddaughter was to much for her to take... then all of a sudden, Salem yells out in rage and the windows shatter violently.


Back in the snow, Team RWBY, Severa, Lucina, Qrow, Oscar and Maria proceed on the trail. The snow starts to pick up even more. Lucina hadn't spoken a single word since they had began walking. Everyone were worried, but knew they couldn't help her until they had found a safe spot.

Qrow stops and sighs "Doesn't look like this is gonna let up".

"Just wanna get this stupid Relic to Atlas" Blake said.

"Let's hope we don't have to walk all the way there" Weiss said.

Yang looks at Maria, and spoke sarcastically "I thought trails led somewhere".

"Do you have nothing better to do than to harass a defenseless old lady?" Maria asked in a similar tone.

"Everyone, quiet. Do you hear that?" Ruby asked.

Everyone stops in their tracks. A metallic squeaking can be heard. A large farm can be seen, one of the front gates swings back and forth with the wind. A large sign above the entrance reads "BRUNSWICK FARMS". Everyone arrives at the gate.

"Well, at least one good thing happened today" Blake said.

"If only one..." Severa said.

"It looks abandoned" Weiss noted.

"It's still better than this" Ruby said.

"Come on, I think we could all use some rest" Qrow said.

Everyone proceeds through the farm's gates, with Qrow being the last to enter. The snow starts to pick up even more as the gate is heard closing with a metallic clang.

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Tell me what you think.