Heart's Embers

by SugarLoaf12

It's been fifteen months hasn't it? Living from day to day, moving from place to place. Looking for the next payday, the next target... the next fight. I thought living outside their war would be easier. But sometimes knowing... is all it takes to leave you wondering "What if" I think back to why I left and I know I made the right choice... Ozpin be damned.

41. The End

Hey guys! Finally managed to get this one finished out for you, ended up taking a bit longer of a break than originally intended, but I'm back and excited to be writing again. Hope you guys all like it and thank you all for your kind messages and patience, they mean a lot. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

"Speech"

Thoughts

---

Chapter Forty-One: The End

Slade's eyes fluttered open, groaning as he forced himself up to a sitting position "What happened? Where am I?" he asked looking around.

Slade...

He couldn't find the source of her voice, but he knew it was Elise without question. Taking a minute to look closer, he recognized where he stood now. This was the castle he'd seen when Jinn showed them the past, the one Ozpin, or more accurately, Ozma, had lived in with Salem when he'd first returned to Remnant. He followed the familiar surroundings until he found himself in Salem's study. It was a large stone room with walls lined with pillars and arched windows designed to resemble eyes. Two walls were filled with these windows while another wall was covered by four bookcases, filled to the brim with books and a simple wooden door between the third and fourth bookcase. The last wall was semicircular, with a crystal ball on a wooden pedestal. On the opposite side of the room, was a wooden desk with Salem sitting in the chair. Behind her sat a banner with her and Ozma's emblem adorning it. The walls were lined with candles in holders, a red rug covering the center of the room. Ozma sat in a matching chair on the opposite side of her desk, a chess board between them.

Despite the castle being from an era long past, Salem maintained her current appearance while Ozma himself held the appearance of Professor Ozpin. Neither of them seemed to notice his presence as he approached. On the board, each of the black pieces on Salem's side had taken the shape of different types of Grimm, only a few pieces resembled her followers, Cinder, Tyrian, even Neo. While the white pieces were replaced by smaller versions of RWBY and JNPR with, Qrow and Winter flanking them and Ironwood standing in place of the king on the board. That was when he noticed that Penny and himself weren't present on the board at all, surprising him.

Ozpin moved Ruby's piece forward, removing Roman Torchwick from the board before leaning back into his chair "Silver-Eyed Warriors" Salem smirked "That always was your favorite tale, wasn't it?"

"It's a tale worth telling, especially given your attempts to eradicate it"

"You've grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains" Salem moved Cinder's piece forward "You rely on them far. Too. Often" she finished, knocking Pyrrha's piece over "These children will do nothing to further your cause. They're not the heroes from your tales" she added removing Pyrrha from the board.

Ozpin gave a small smile "No, they're the heroes of their own tales. Tales with honesty, trust, and love proving victorious over dishonesty, fear, and hatred"

Her nostrils flared "You cannot change what is fated to pass, Ozma. Fate still comes for us in the end. Even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die, and when they're gone... darkness returns. Only the darkness of this world will persist"

He tilted his head "I'm not so sure about that" he pushed Ruby forward, removing Cinder from the board with a gentle smile "Who says I can't change the outcome? There's still time"

She took Cinder's piece, crushing it in her hands, then molded it into a different shape, one resembling the Cinder of today "Time isn't on your side, and there will be no victory in strength" she moved Tyrian forward as she replaced Cinder's piece onto the board.

Ozpin moved Ruby's piece once more, removing Leonardo from her side "But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten; things that require a smaller, more honest soul" he then reached to the side of the board, placing Penny and a piece modeled after Slade into empty spaces.

"A smaller, more honest soul? It's true that a simple spark can ignite hope, breathe fire into the hearts of the weary. The ability to derive strength from hope is undoubtedly mankind's greatest attribute... which is why I will focus all of my power to snuff it out" she finished.

"You'd be surprised to find what they're capable of. There's more to them than you think. Sometimes, when a light flickers out, it'll reignite and burn brighter than ever"

Her gaze darkened, getting to her feet "Then I'll just snuff it out for good!" she bellowed, throwing the board from the table.

Ozpin stood to his feet "You will try" he picked up a piece from the table, tossing it into the air "But like with so many others, you will not succeed" Slade's eyes widened at the piece he held, one that looked like Ruby, but there were some differences as well, could it be?

"Summer Rose?" he wondered.

Suddenly, black mist emanated from Salem, surrounding Slade and blocking his vision. He saw Ozpin's appearance fade, leaving behind Oscar before being pulled away by a hand formed from the mist. The ground beneath Slade shattered like glass, the faint sound of Elise's voice calling his name echoed through the dark. He fell for what seemed like forever, until he suddenly felt the ground beneath his feet once more. He recognized the streets of Mantle, but it was engulfed in flames, buildings devastated by the Grimm all around him.

Slade turned to find a familiar blonde rushing right toward him "Yang!" he reached out to her, but she passed right through him.

Turning back to find her running toward Raven as she walked away from her, the moment she reached her mother and took her by the hand, her image faded, leaving Yang with only a picture of Team STRQ in her hand. Suddenly, the city shifted to the inside of the academy, Cinder and Winter directly across from each other. Winter held her weapon aloft, separating the smaller blade into her open hand and used a Glyph to charge forward. Cinder held her hands out on each side, creating a wall of flame behind her as she formed two blades in her hands, one obsidian and one of flame before charging forward, scrapping the blades on the ground behind her.

Before Slade could even react to the scene before him, Elise appeared in front of him, taking him by the shoulders "Slade, snap out of it!" she smacked him across the face.

His surroundings spiraled in on themselves until there was nothing left but an empty black void for them to stand in. After a moment, Slade found himself standing in an open field, one close to where he'd grown up so many years ago. His breath hitched at the sight, but he remained silent, taking the time to look around as Elise waited patiently, tilting her head toward him questioningly.

"What... was that? Your Semblance?"

She shook her head "No, not this time. It was just a dream... or a nightmare, depending on your point of view"

"Then, I'm asleep?" she nodded "Why? What happened to me?"

"Our connection has grown stronger. It's becoming harder to differentiate my own memories from yours"

"You mean... like Ozpin and Oscar?"

She placed her finger to her chin thoughtfully "Similar, but not exactly. Unlike them, we're not merging together, but I've experienced what you have alongside you every step of the way. Pain, happiness, despair. All of it, but it used to be much easier to keep separate from my own feelings, now... not so much"

"Why?"

"I... I think it's because Salem is gone"

"Then... she was acting as a form of... barrier?" he asked.

"More or less, but that's not what's important right now"

"I think it's pretty important. I've only known about this for two seconds"

"That's not what I..." she sighed "Right, sarcasm" she cleared her throat "Salem and that army of Grimm aren't the most pressing issue Remnant faces at the moment"

"It... isn't?" Slade asked with clear doubt.

"There is something that has been feeding off Remnant for nearly a century. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's roots have spread throughout the four kingdoms and beyond. If it is not destroyed, humanity may very well perish"

"But you don't know what it is?"

She shook her head "No. But I do know how to find it, the Relic of Knowledge"

"You want me to use the final question?"

"The question is unnecessary. The Relic itself is the key. If I can use my power in conjunction with the Relic, I can pinpoint it's location. Then, it's just down to getting there and destroying it"

"So that's what you meant before when you said you didn't need to use the Relic"

"Precisely. But I can't find it without the Relic"

"How do you even know about it? Whatever it is?"

"You saw it through my Semblance, same as I did. The Brothers told me everything I needed to know to find it. The rest can be figured out once we're there, even they didn't seem to know much about it" she explained.

"You spoke to them?"

She nodded "I can communicate with them because I am no longer of this world, but I cannot leave it on my own either. I'm trapped in a form of limbo"

He nodded with a look of determination "Then we'll find it and destroy it. After we save Atlas from Salem"

Elise took a deep breath "That would be... unwise"

"What?" he asked in surprise.

She exhaled "It is unlikely Atlas will survive the coming battle. The only chance you have of survival, is to not be present when she arrives... and to take the Relics with you"

"You want me to abandon Atlas!? Even if I wanted to leave, Ruby would never abandon these people, which means Yang is going to stay behind with her. There's no way I'm leaving them behind to fend for themselves"

"Slade..."

"You told me we could save Atlas!"

"Atlas is going to fall, Slade. But you don't need to fall with it. You saw it the same as I did, the chances of Salem failing are practically nonexistent. If you stay and fight, we'll both just die and Remnant will die along with us"

"I will not abandon these people! I will not leave my friends to die, even if that means I die with them. You can either help or stay out of my way"

Elise considered his determined expression with a small smile "Stubborn" she shook her head.

"Guess I take after my sister, huh?"

She rolled her eyes "Very well. Have it your way, just don't doom all of Remnant, please? As a personal favor to me"

"Well, just let me check my schedule-"

"No, no, that won't be necessary. I think you're scheduled to... wake up" she whispered the last two words.

His eyes snapped open, heart racing as he took in his surroundings, a pair of lilac eyes staring down at him "Yang?" he asked surprised, the blonde kneeling on the bed beside him.

"Slade! You're awake!" she wrapped her arms around him "I was so worried something was wrong"

Slade stiffened at the contact, but quickly relaxed into it, returning the embrace "We're back at the academy?" he asked noticing he was in his dorm room.

She pulled back from him "Yeah, we brought you back as soon as we found you"

His gaze lowered to her place on the bed, the indentation made it clear she'd been there for awhile "So, you decided to stay with me until I awoke?" he smiled up at her.

Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment "Well, yeah" she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly "I wanted to make sure you were okay, and after our last talk, well..."

"You couldn't wait to hear how I felt about you" he finished with a knowing look.

"I mean, it's only fair. You got to hear how I felt-"

Yang was cut off when he grabbed her by the back of her head, smashing his lips to hers. She froze in shock, slowly responding to his movements, hands moving to his shoulders. His hand moved to her back as his opposite hand cupped her cheek, allowing them to deepen the kiss. They continued their passionate kiss until they needed to break apart for air, remaining inches away from each other as they caught their breath.

"I should've done that a long time ago" he breathed out.

"Wow... so much for words" Yang smiled, her cheeks now cherry red.

He let out a soft laugh "I always thought the one and only Yang Xiao Long was about action instead of words"

She grinned "Okay, you've asked for it now" she leaned in toward him, bringing their lips together once more, each of them pulling the other closer. She pulled back after a moment of enjoying the kiss "See? I'm all about action"

"A compelling argument" he smirked "But I'm not sure you've entirely convinced me. Perhaps another demonstration would help?"

She gently pushed him with a laugh "There will definitely be more of that later, tough guy"

Slade chuckled "So, what exactly happened?"

"You tell me. We found you collapsed in the snow. We were worried you'd been hurt or your Aura had been depleted, but there was no sign of frostbite or hypothermia. What happened?"

He frowned "I don't remember, I was... waiting for all of you, and then... nothing. I must've collapsed, but I don't know why"

Elise appeared at the end of the bed "That's easy, it's because of me"

Slade's eyes widened in shock, Yang followed his gaze and then looked back at him "What? What is it?"

"I... you don't see her?" he asked.

"See who?" Yang wondered with concern.

Elise rolled her eyes "No, she doesn't see me, Slade. I'm stuck in your head, remember?"

Slade frowned "Elise" he answered turning back to Yang.

"Elise? You're... seeing her?" she asked looking back to the end of the bed.

"Yeah, just like I used to see Salem"

Elise smiled, holding one finger up "Not a coincidence I figured this out once she was gone, you know"

"Yeah, I figured as much after our last conversation"

Yang turned back to him "Is she... being helpful?" she asked carefully.

"Well she did tell me to leave Atlas to burn, but otherwise she's been very helpful"

"She what?!" her Aura flared in anger.

He squeezed her hand to comfort her "Hey, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, no matter what she says"

Yang's anger died down, a smile gracing her lips "You'd better be"

Elise sighed "Did you really have to say it like that?"

He shrugged "Hey, I'm not the one who suggested abandoning my friends" his gaze turned back to her "What exactly did you mean when you said it was you?"

"I already told you, our bond is getting stronger. I can't say for sure, but there have been plenty of people in your head recently. Perhaps your body was unable to handle the stress, finally broke down?"

"Will it happen again?"

She shrugged "I wish I knew. In the meantime, you should try to keep our communication to a minimum, at least until we know for sure what caused your collapse"

"Fun..."

She smiled "Well, I'll leave you to... whatever it is you two are going to get up to"

Slade sighed "What is it?" Yang asked.

"Just another mystery I don't have the answer to" he replied "Either way, it looks like Elise and I are going to be staying separate for awhile, at least until we know for sure she's the cause"

Yang took his open hand in both of hers "I'm just happy you're awake. I don't want you to make this a habit"

"Trust me, I don't plan on it"

Yang smiled "Good" she placed her hands over her chest, guiding his hand with them "Now, don't think kissing me means you get to leave without telling me everything"

He chuckled "You really want to hear what I think of you that badly?"

She nodded "Knowing is nice and all... but hearing it isn't too much to ask, is it?"

He smiled, taking her metal hand in his and kissing her knuckles, he then moved it to his chest and told her "Yang Xiao Long, you're smart, strong, way funnier than anyone I've ever met. You roll with the punches life hits you with, even when they knock you down, you don't stay down forever. You get back up, and you hit back twice as hard, and I'm not just talking about your Semblance"

"Slade..." tears started to well up in her eyes.

"You're kind, nurturing, honest to a fault, and you're never afraid to speak your mind, to tell people like it is. But more than that, you're a hero, and not just the kind you read about in stories and fairytales, but the kind of hero I needed when I was at my lowest"

Yang leaned forward, her forehead against his "Keep going" she prompted with her freehand now lovingly caressing his face.

"Before I met you, I was in a dark and cold place. My life seemed empty, I had either lost or run away from everyone I had ever cared about, and I blamed myself for it all, rightfully or not. I was so angry, even knowing revenge wouldn't make me feel better, it gave me something to focus on. So I decided to go after Raven for her role in what happened to Elise"

She smiled "That's when we met"

His hand reached up from her chest to cup her cheek "Then we met" he said with a nod "My little ray of sunshine, you sparked something in me I never thought I could feel again. Hope... you made me hope again, and it scared me. You don't just inspire me to be a better Huntsman, you inspire me to be a better man. You saved me from the darkness, my own, and Salem's. All the dreams I had failed to reach in life didn't matter anymore, because I have a new dream. One I will fight for with all my heart"

"What is it?" she asked, tears flowing freely now.

He gently wiped her tears away with his thumb, lifting her prosthetic arm to his lips, he kissed the back of her hand "To see you smile everyday, to make you happy anyway I can. I was scared to open my heart again, but now that I have... I've gained a new family to love and care for... one I won't let anything happen to" he finished with determination.

"Then... you're not afraid to be with me anymore?"

He shook his head with a low chuckle "No, Yang. I'm still scared as hell... and I still think this will make things harder on the both of us. But I'm just not strong enough to say no anymore"

Yang grinned "Good" she pressed her lips to his once more.

Slade eagerly kissed her back, it was short and sweet. Both of them parted with smiles on their faces "So, it's official then?"

She nodded "I wasn't even sure I could be this happy about anything"

His smile widened "Neither did I"

She giggled at the dreamy look on his face "Mind if we just take a minute to enjoy this?"

"That sounds lovely" Slade leaned back onto the pillow, Yang stretched out onto the bed alongside him, resting her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair gently "You're so beautiful" he whispered.

She closed her eyes with a content smile "Just be careful, you know how I am about my hair"

He chuckled "Don't worry, I don't plan on losing a hand today"

Yang breathed a sigh of contentment "Thank you"

"For what?"

"For saving my mother... I know she and I aren't close... I mean, I hardly even know her, but..."

"She's still your mother" he kissed the top of her head "I know. I don't know what it's like to be abandoned like you do... and it infuriates me that you do, that you've had to put up with this your whole life..."

She turned her head to look at him "Just promise me you'll never leave me behind, that you'll never abandon me... like she did"

He took her hand once more "I swear, so long as I still live, I will never leave you, Yang Xiao Long. I will always be right here, beside you... because I-"

The door to his dorm opened "Hey, Yang. I brought you some lunch-" Ruby stopped, the tray in her hand clattering to the ground.

"Ruby, this uh..." Yang started but was unsure what to say, her cheeks flushing from embarrassment.

Ruby's eyes were wide with shock, a bright smile on her face "Aw! You two are adorable!" she squealed.

"Ruby..." Yang groaned.

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt" she waved her hands in front of her awkwardly, speaking a mile a minute "I'm just gonna check on the others, maybe see what Oscar is up to. Bye!" she zipped out the door at blinding speed, rose petals fluttering in her place.

Slade let out a soft laugh "Everyone is gonna know about us within the hour"

Yang groaned "So much for enjoying the moment"

---

Cinder sat impatiently in her chair within Salem's meeting room, the claws of her Grimm hand scraping the wood in a slow anxious rhythm. Neo stood behind her chair with her arms crossed, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground. Opposite them, sat Arthur Watts with his hands folded in front of him. The sound of footsteps clacking along the ground turned their attention to the doorway, it opened to reveal Emerald, Hunter, Cole, and Tyrian all entering.

"Where is she?" Cinder asked.

"Disposing of garbage" Tyrian chuckled as he took his seat.

Emerald looked nervously at Cinder but made no move to stand behind her, instead following Cole to the side of the room. Hunter placed the top his scythe on the ground, leaning on the hilt "It's almost time for the fun to begin" he grinned.

Moments later, a dark corridor appeared in the seat at the head of the table, vanishing quickly to reveal Salem in it's place. Cinder and Neo both stiffened at the sight of her, the latter leaving her mouth slightly agape. Neo quickly closed it and moved a step away from the table, wishing nothing more than to get away from her piercing gaze.

"Cinder, you so easily reclaim your place in my court" Salem noted with a smile.

"I... came as you asked. When Arthur-" she stopped when Salem raised her hand to silence her.

"I know why you're here, Cinder"

"Has the time finally come?" she asked.

"You managed to capture Ms. Xiao Long as I requested... but she was rescued by those pesky little children, and they reclaimed the Relic you delivered to me"

Cinder's eyes widened "They... stole it from you?" she asked surprised.

"The same way you stole it first, right out from under Ironwood"

"Not that it matters, now that they're both gone" Cole pointed out.

"I had heard you destroyed Corinth, was that because they fled there?" Cinder inquired.

"They did... and Ironwood dropped a mountain on me"

"That does sound like the James I know" Arthur noted with amusement.

"Then they got away?"

"Due to the interference from Raven Branwen... again"

"She attacked you? Directly?" Cinder asked in shock.

Salem folded her hands in front of her "She did, and here I'd thought she'd learned her lesson when she ran from being a Huntress"

"Like Sable learned his?" Hunter asked with a malicious grin.

Salem wore a malicious smile "Mr. Wolf has paid for his transgressions, but the plan remains the same. His new orders should leave him with... considerably less wiggle room"

"What is the plan exactly?" Cinder asked.

"Ah, that's right. You were gone for that bit. Though, being outsmarted by a bunch of children truly does speaks less to their intellect and more to yours" Arthur sneered.

Cinder growled "You-"

"Enough. We don't have time for squabbling" Salem's threatening tone silenced them both.

Emerald cleared her throat "Ma'am... I was just wondering..." Salem turned her head toward the young girl, a lump forming in her throat from her gaze.

"Go on. Ask your question" she prompted with a wave of her hand.

She exhaled nervously before continuing "Why send Hazel and Mercury to Vacuo before the attack? It sounds like we might need them"

Cinder's eyebrows knit together "You sent them away?"

Salem's shoulders moved slightly from a silent laugh "The same reason Tyrian and Hazel killed all those Huntsmen in Mistral before our strike at Beacon. Because we need them to prepare for the next stage"

"You're not worried about our chances without them?" Cinder asked.

"Why would she be? She is all powerful!" Tyrian bellowed.

"Calm yourself, Tyrian" Salem soothed "Because we all have our tasks and I trust each of you to see them through. The only one who needs further instruction... is you" she pointed her finger to Cinder.

Cinder nodded "Learning the Winter Maiden's identity will help tremendously, I know who has it, it won't take me long to find her and take her power for my own. Then I can open the vault and get the Staff-"

"No" Salem's tone was sharp "You will perform another task for me"

Cinder's eyes widened in confusion "Ma'am, with all due respect. Nothing matters other than the Relic-" she cut herself off at stern the look in Salem's eyes.

"General Ironwood and his team of children have stopped me from fulfilling my part of a particularly important bargain. Mrs. Schnee is very upset her husband still breathes. I have given her my word he would be killed and that Atlas would be hers once I have the Relic"

"You... want me to kill Jacques Schnee? Tyrian could easily-"

"If I wanted Tyrian to do it for me, I would've asked him, wouldn't I?" she snapped.

Cinder blinked in surprised, swallowing nervously "I... I just don't understand..."

"Nor need you understand. You will have the power you desire and I will have the Relic I desire, but I do not make promises I cannot keep. And this is one promise I have been unable to uphold thus far... so I'm sending you. In return, Mrs. Schnee will deliver the Maiden right to you. Then, and only then may you claim her power for your own. Am I clear?"

Cinder exhaled in disappointment, but bowed her head "I will see it done, my queen"

Salem smiled "Good" she waved them off dismissively.

They all started to filter out, many of them using corridors of darkness to leave. Arthur created one and motioned for Cinder to go through. Neo turned to follow her "Not you" Salem spoke softly.

Neo stopped and looked to her in surprise. The first corridor closed as a second opened, Arthur stepped through it, leaving the two of them alone. Salem motioned for Neo to sit in the chair closest to her. She stood fearfully for a time before moving to the end of the table and taking a seat. Salem's smile widened, head tilting as she rested her chin on the back of her fist.

"Your name is Neopolitan, is it not?" she slowly nodded "You were an associate of Roman Torchwick, were you not?" she nodded a second time "Do you wish to see him again?"

Her eyes widened in shock, blinking away her confusion she motioned for her to continue "It occurred to me that you have not asked for anything in return from Cinder apart from the death of Ruby Rose, something I would be happy to grant you, but first I need something from her, something she cannot give me if she's dead. You understand?"

Neo swallowed, then nodded "Good. Do as I ask, and in return I shall grant you whatever it is you wish. You work for me now, not Cinder. Understood?" she nodded once more.

"Excellent" Salem stood to her feet, creating a corridor behind her "You will bring her to me alive, and you will do so during the attack on the academy. Fail... and you'll see Mr. Torchwick much sooner than you'd like... and if she is killed by your hand. I will ensure you suffer beyond anything you could ever imagine and ensure you never see him again. You understand?"

Neo shook with fear, slowly nodding her head once more "Excellent" she motioned to the portal "You may see yourself out"

Neo took a moment to process her words before getting to her feet, then moved to the portal, quickly leaving before Salem changed her mind. Once she had vanished, Salem opened a second corridor around herself as the first dissipated. She turned to her prisoner still in chains in the black hooded cloak a few of her followers had taken to wearing. She smiled as the woman's crimson eyes glared.

"Tired of leaving me conscious? Want to return me to my nightmares again?"

Salem grinned "This has never been about you, my dear girl. This has always been about something far more important"

"The Relics... well, there is one you'll never get your hands on"

Salem chuckled "The Relic of Knowledge can answer any question, and it will tell me exactly what I want to know. Starting with how to get to the Relic inside Beacon's vault"

She scoffed "If you're so confident, then why don't you already have the Relic?"

Salem's smile dropped into a frown "Because, the brave Huntsmen and Huntresses who've been railing against me took it from me before I could learn how to use it from one of their own. They're quite persistent for such young prospective heroes"

She smiled "You'll never win, Salem. Nothing you do will ever matter, because Ozpin will stop you, his followers will stop you. Nothing will ever change, you might as well give up now"

Her smile returned "I command a great and terrible army, one that has already begun to orchestrate my victory, even if they don't yet know it. Their time is running out, and I can wait eternity if that's how long it takes. I'm a patient woman"

"This isn't going to end how you think, Salem"

Salem bent down, leaning in close to her face "Enough of the bravado, nothing awaits humanity but their extinction. Tell me how to access the Beacon vault, and your suffering can finally end"

She growled "That's never going to happen. You won't break me"

Her smile widened "You know... I am impressed at how long you've managed to resist me. All these years, the torture, both physical and psychological. I brought you back from the dead to give me the answers I seek, but exerting too much control over you turns you into nothing more than a mindless husk... but I know how to make you give me what I want"

"Not confident enough that you'll ever figure out the Relic of Knowledge?" she taunted.

Salem whispered in her ear "If attacking your body and your mind won't suffice... I'll just have to go after your heart"

She thrashed against her chains "You'll never make me talk, I won't break, not now, not ever. Not even... for her" Salem stood up straight, a frown setting on her face.

"We shall see... She is a strong child, to be sure. Like you, she has powerful friends. However, unlike you, she doesn't alienate them, doesn't face problems on her own to try and protect them. She understands the truth you couldn't, you see. I am beyond strength, I am... the end... and I am coming for her"

"You will fail, Ozpin will stop you" she declared confidently.

Salem smirked, turning away from her "I wonder which will break first. Her spirit, or her body. Nothing hurts like losing one of the family, especially when there is no one to blame but yourself"

A dark corridor formed ahead of her "In time you will have a choice to make. You will have to choose between her life... and the lives of everyone on Remnant" a wicked smile formed on her face "Sweet dreams"

She vanished without another word through the corridor, tears fell down the woman's shrouded face "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." she whispered.

---

Fear... that was all he could see looking back at him. Not the hardened gaze of a hero ready to fight and die for those he'd sworn to protect. These were the eyes of a child, a lost child who wanted nothing more than to run away, to hide... he hated it. He was a man of action, a man of strength, the personification of discipline, everyone expected him to have all the answers, depended on him to protect them, to stop Salem, even knowing everything he did, it didn't change his responsibilities. It was too much, no one could carry such a burden on their own... but he wasn't alone, he had to remind himself he had friends and allies loyal to him, to his kingdom.

He would sacrifice whatever it took if it meant Salem failed to destroy his kingdom, failed to destroy Remnant. His life to save all of humanity, the world, one life seemed such a small price to pay. He needed to succeed where Ozpin failed so many times in the past, he needed to be stronger than the man staring back at him... and yet he could not find strength in the image before him. Only the fear he despised so greatly. The longer he looked at his reflection, looked at his eyes, the less confident he was in his plans, in his defenses... in his friends. Could these children really accomplish what Ozpin could not? Could they be strong enough to be the heroes they so desperately tried to be? He didn't know... and he hoped they didn't need to be. But that time had come and passed them by, they saved Haven, they got the Lamp to Atlas, they saved the people of Corinth, they had accomplished so much more than he'd expected of them when he'd met them at Beacon... yet he still, was afraid.

There was a firm knock on the door to his office "Come in" he called back, turning away from the window.

Winter opened the door, waiting for the others to filter in behind her "You asked to speak with us, General"

He nodded "We need to go over our defense plans for the attack. Salem's forces are on our doorstep, and we don't have much time left before they arrive to strike at us"

"Hope it's a good plan, from what we saw in Corinth, she's coming in force" Qrow pointed out.

Ironwood sighed "Yes, and it seems the losses she suffered didn't do much to slow her down"

"Not that we really expected it to" Slade replied.

His eyes rested on Slade and Yang, their hands intertwined. He allowed himself a small smile before continuing "It seems the Wyvern that attacked Corinth wasn't the only one she brought, they're spawning new Grimm everywhere they go, and Penny's reports suggest many of the Chimera soldiers lost in the avalanche have emerged from the snow"

"And that's not even considering the bigger problem" Jaune pointed out.

"What do you mean?" Blake asked.

"When we went to investigate Ithaca, we never even reached the town before we were attacked. If the Grimm had been all we encountered, that would've been expected. But Cole was leading them with Chimeran soldiers... and they led us right to Iapetus" Ren explained.

"They wanted us to go there... and they knew we were heading out there before we even got there" Jaune added.

"That mission wasn't exactly top secret" Nora argued.

Weiss frowned "No, but Cinder knew exactly where to find us too, she knew exactly when we would be in Mantle to strike"

Ironwood sat in his chair "Which means Councilor Harris was not in fact the spy Salem had planted in our ranks. Or at least, not the only one. We need to plan our next steps very carefully"

"What is our plan exactly?" Ruby asked.

Ironwood brought up a holographic display of the layouts of the cities of Atlas and Mantle "With Pietro's counter signal in place, we have nothing to fear from any infiltrators Salem has imbedded within the population in Mantle and Atlas. Military personnel are assisting local Huntsmen in evacuating the refugees and residents to a single defensible location. The crater beneath Atlas"

Yang scoffed "You really think we can stop an entire army of Grimm from getting to them?"

He shook his head "Ideally, we'll have them evacuated to Atlas before the attack begins. But our best estimates suggest Salem's forces will be here before the end of the day. We won't have enough time to finish the evacuation before the siege begins"

"Then dedicate more ships to the evacuation-" Nora started to suggest, but he cut her off.

"If I move the fleet now, Atlas is vulnerable to attack. I've already designated two of my airships to defending the evacuees from the crater. Jacques has also volunteered SDC transports to assist as well as security droids to help in their defense. It'll take time, but we'll get them all to Atlas safely"

"Where're we gonna put 'em all? Even Atlas wasn't built to house an entire kingdom's population" Qrow pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Wherever we can find the room. Schools, subway tunnels, hotels. They'll be kept safe during the battle until we can drive Salem's forces out for good. Once we've reestablished control over Mantle, then we can focus on rebuilding and possibly expanding. It's unlikely many of the refugees plan on heading back out into the tundra to try and rebuild their settlements... at least, not right away"

"So we're just cramming 'em wherever we can fit 'em" Slade noted.

"For the time being, yes. We don't have much choice in the matter" Ironwood answered with a firm nod.

"What do you need from us?" Ruby inquired with determination.

Ironwood couldn't help but smile at her eagerness to help "Reports indicate the Grimm horde approaching Atlas is..." the display zoomed out the a map of the kingdom, the entirety of the kingdom covered in red just outside of Mantle in all directions "larger than originally anticipated"

"How much larger?" Yang asked.

"We expected at least twice the numbers that attacked Beacon, assuming Salem would anticipate better defenses and a well coordinated military. Penny's scans indicate she's bringing three to four times that number, and worst of all..." he turned his attention to the massive storm outside his window, coming over the mountains outside Corinth "there's something big coming in that storm"

"Wonderful" Weiss drawled.

"In the storm, Sir?" Oscar asked.

"Every ship I sent to investigate never returned, and I won't risk Penny to find out what it is. Regardless, the important thing is evacuating Mantle. That's where you all come in"

The display zoomed into the layout of Mantle "We know the Grimm are going to attack from all sides, that's why we're moving everyone to the crater. You'll split into four teams to hold each front for as long as possible. I leave that decision up to your team leaders, but more importantly, someone has to stay in Atlas"

"What? Why?" Weiss asked.

"We don't know for certain Salem is going to isolate her forces to taking Mantle, she could divide them and attack both cities at once. Someone needs to coordinate our defense in both cities simultaneously. I'll lead the forces on the ground here, which just leaves our forces in Mantle. I'd recommend Qrow take charge given his combat experience, and Winter should coordinate from here, given her familiarity with both the city layout and military protocol, I feel she's the best for the job"

"So you don't want me near the battlefield?" Winter asked.

"Not if I can help it. If anything should happen to me, you're the only one I trust to take over"

Winter's eyes narrowed "Is that because of trust, or because you're afraid of losing the Winter Maiden?" she asked in a pointed tone.

The room froze, everyone staring in shocked silence "What?" Weiss asked.

Ironwood looked to Slade, who only shrugged back to him, unsure how she'd learned of it. This did not go unnoticed by Winter, who's nostrils flared with anger, turning her body fully toward him "You knew?!"

"Slade?" Yang asked surprised, releasing her grip on his hand.

"I, well, it's not what you might think-"

"Then what is it?!" Winter asked advancing on him "You've been acting like you were my friend, but all this time you've been keeping secrets from me? From all of us!"

"Winter, please. I didn't-"

She grabbed him by his collar "No! You don't get to-"

"That's enough!" Ironwood slammed his fist down into his desk as he stood "Winter, I am sorry to have kept this from you for so long. But Slade only discovered the truth when I told him personally. He didn't like the idea of keeping it a secret anymore than you do, but he did so at my request"

Winter turned toward Ironwood, releasing Slade "Why? Why would you keep something like this from me"

"Doesn't exactly make you look good, James" Qrow pointed out with a glare.

Ironwood lowered himself back into his chair, resting his face in his hands "Winter, do you remember that mission to Vale after you graduated, the one I supervised? We rescued a girl who'd been attacked by bandits?"

Winter frowned "She was gravely injured, nothing I did helped her, just prolonged her suffering"

"I gave you the order to put her out of her misery, let her pass painlessly... that girl... was the Maiden"

Winter grimaced "If you knew this whole time, why would you keep this from me?"

He sighed "I didn't know, not at first. But by the time I learned the truth, you were already the new Maiden... I had hoped keeping your identity a secret might keep Salem from targeting you, give you a chance at the life you wanted... not this"

"That wasn't for you to decide" Weiss argued.

"Being a Maiden means more than being a Huntress. You can't live a normal life, stay in one place for too long. You need to live your life looking over your shoulder... I thought you deserved better. Perhaps that was foolish of me, but... I couldn't bring myself to tell you the truth"

"But you told Slade, why?" she asked.

Ironwood sighed "Because I trusted him to do his best to protect you, to keep you from falling into Salem's hands, or worse, Cinder's"

Winter turned to Slade "When did you know?"

He exhaled "Just after Raven saved my life"

Winter's posture relaxed "Then, you saved my life because you-"

"Care? Yeah, Winter. I didn't keep you alive because you were the Maiden... I did it because you were my friend, whether you felt the same way or not"

She allowed herself a small smile, shame clear in her eyes "I... apologize for my outburst. I was out of line"

He shook his head "No, you were upset, and that is to be expected, given your situation"

Ironwood nodded "Agreed. I'm sorry for keeping this from you Winter, truly, from all of you. But I need to know, how did you learn you were the Maiden?"

Winter folded her arms behind her back "Salem revealed my identity to Cinder Fall when she delivered Yang to her, I overheard their discussion"

Ruby rubbed her chin thoughtfully "If Winter is the Maiden, it's probably safer if she stays in the academy during the attack. Especially if Cinder knows who she is"

"I agree, better to be safe than sorry" Qrow added.

"I think that should be her choice to make" Weiss argued.

"It is her life after all" Blake agreed.

"Yeah, she's a big girl" Yang pointed out.

Winter inhaled deeply, exhaling before speaking "Very well, General. I'll stay behind in the academy to coordinate our forces"

Ironwood smiled "Thank you, Winter"

Weiss looked up at her sister "Are you sure, Winter? You'll be stuck up here the whole time"

She nodded "It's my duty, Weiss. Like it or not"

"That doesn't mean-"

"I've made my decision, Weiss. It's okay" she assured her with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Then that just leaves the strategy for Mantle's defense" Slade pointed out.

"You have some thoughts, I take it?" Qrow asked.

"A few" Slade stepped forward, pointing at the display of the city as he explained "The Grimm are going to come at us from all sides, but we don't have the advantage of numbers. They won't get tired or give us a reprieve. We'll have to fight until they're dead... or we are"

"There's no way we can fight off that large of a force in one night" Jaune pointed out.

"That's why we won't" Slade replied "We can set up several ambush points around the city, soldiers and Knights can help us keep them busy while the other Huntsmen protect the civilians. If we keep enough Knights manning the walls, we can draw them in without putting anyone but us at risk for as long as possible. Then we hit them at each ambush point to thin their numbers. It won't be enough to stop their invasion, but it should buy us enough time to finish evacuating the city"

"Which will allow us to to evacuate to Atlas once their safe" Ren noted.

"Assuming we can hold them off long enough for that" Nora whispered to herself.

Jaune smiled "With the fleet positioned around the city, Salem's forces won't have the advantage here!"

"All ground forces will be restricted to Mantle, where the fleet can pick them off without risking our own. Then we just stay focused on Salem's aerial forces" Ironwood added "Ruby, those Wyvern's will be a problem, but those eyes of yours should be able to restrain them long enough for us to take them down"

She grinned "You can count on me"

Winter stepped forward "What about the missing ships from Embermane? Chimera could be using them in the assault"

"Leave them to the fleet. Even if they managed to recover all three of them, they won't be able to compete with the entire fleet" Ironwood answered.

"What if they attack the city? If Mantle is targeted by airships, we'll have no way to defend against them" Qrow pointed out.

"Sending them to attack Mantle would be pointless, all Salem cares about is the Relic. Not the lives of our people" Ironwood argued.

"And if she does it anyway?" Slade asked.

Ironwood sighed "Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"

He nodded "Of course, that's not even considering Salem's inner circle" Slade pointed out.

"That's right! We still have no way of stopping the people she's brought back. Hunter and Cole, Sable... even if we can imprison them..." Yang let the sentence hang.

Ironwood smiled "I believe we have a solution to that" he opened a drawer, removing a small case from it and placing it onto the desk.

"What is that?" Weiss asked curiously.

Opening the case, he turned it around to face them. It was full of several copies of the injection device they'd found in Mantle "Pietro has reverse engineered the device you found using the sample of Grimm liquid you sent to him. These can extract the Grimm fluid within their bodies. For people like Tyrian, that would take away his ability to teleport, as for those brought back from the dead..."

"It'll put them back in the ground. For good this time" Qrow concluded.

"That's the intention, anyway" Ironwood picked one of them out of the case "You just need to get these onto any exposed area on their body, it'll work like a magnet for that sludge. Pietro says whatever Salem's using permeates itself in every part of them, anywhere will do" he explained.

"Then we can stop them!" Nora grinned.

"In theory" Ren added.

Ironwood nodded, placing it back into the case "There's enough for each of us to carry at least four. That should make it easy to stop her followers even if one person is forced to take them all down personally"

"Then we should get to splitting the teams" Ruby suggested "Oscar, if you're going to defend the Relic, you should stay in the academy, like Winter"

"Actually" Ironwood called "With Salem aware of Winter's identity as the Maiden, there is no point in keeping the Relic outside the vault. Winter can seal it away. Then, the only way either of them go anywhere, is if Winter is defeated"

"Which will be difficult if she doesn't take to the field" Oscar nodded in understanding.

"Harder still with you protecting her"

"What?" he asked surprised "I won't be in the battle either?"

Ironwood sighed "As much as you have improved under Slade and Qrow's tutelage, you're not ready for a battle like this, even less so without Ozpin's help... assuming he's still gone, that is?"

Oscar sighed "He helps sometimes, calms me down when I panic, reminds me of my lessons in a fight. He helped me a lot when I was fighting Mercury and Emerald"

"But he's still gone otherwise?" Winter asked.

He nodded "Yeah, just disappears again. Like always"

Ironwood stepped forward, placing a hand onto Oscar's shoulder "While I understand your desire to join the battle in Mantle, it is unlikely Atlas will make it out without a scratch. I'm certain you'll see enough action as it is, and I wouldn't trust just anyone to watch Winter's back"

Oscar nodded in understanding "Yes, Sir"

"What about the rest of us?" Blake asked.

Ruby held two fingers "We'll split into teams of two, to cover each front before drawing them into the ambush points" she counted on one hand as she continued to explain "Nora and Ren, Blake and Jaune, me and Weiss, Slade and Yang. Qrow will be coordinating us, so it'll be up to him to reinforce any of us who need help or send Penny instead"

"Leaving our fastest responders as backup units" Jaune nodded along "Sounds like a plan"

Ruby smiled "Once we've drawn in the Grimm, our objective is to keep them occupied and away from the crater for as long as possible until everyone has been evacuated. We'll regroup once they've sprung the ambush points and help wherever we're needed most. Weiss and Nora, you'll need to focus on hitting them as hard as you can while Ren and Blake pick off stragglers. Jaune and Yang will hold defensive positions while I use my eyes on any Grimm too tough to take down on our own. Slade will reinforce whatever position is weakest and trade out with Jaune when he needs to heal any of us"

"While Penny and I keep the skies clear and help wherever we're needed, right? Same as before" Qrow nodded "Solid strategy, kiddo"

Ironwood stepped forward "I want each of you to stop by your dorms before heading down to Mantle. Penny will have delivered full suits of Atlesian armor for each of you, use as much or as little as you wish. I just want to make sure you're all properly outfitted for the battle. It's not going to be easy"

"Thank you, General. We won't let you down" Ruby assured.

He smiled "I know you won't... good luck, all of you"

Each of them filtered out into the hall, heading back to their rooms "You didn't tell them about Elise" Yang whispered to Slade as they walked.

"Let's just keep that between us for now. We can worry about that after the battle is over" he answered, matching her volume.

"Shouldn't they know?"

"We don't need to give anyone anything else to worry about. This battle is going to be tough enough. Besides, we really don't know anything for sure yet"

Yang frowned "I guess that's true"

He smiled "Hey" he brushed her hair out of her face, kissing her cheek "One thing at a time. All we can do right now, is focus on saving Atlas"

Her cheeks held a light blush, smiling at the show of affection "Then let's kick some butt already"

"That's the spirit" he smiled.

Qrow stood off to the side, watching his niece resting her head on Slade's shoulder as they walked, a smile on his face "They really do make an adorable couple" Winter mused.

He turned his head toward her "Yeah, they do" he chuckled "Not like us, huh?"

She smiled "The five o'clock shadow doesn't do you any favors"

"Hey" he feigned offense.

"Besides, we never announced anything officially. I suppose they didn't either, but at least my sister is discrete"

He chuckled "Yeah, guess Ruby can be a bit impulsive"

Winter's expression turned serious "Qrow, promise me something"

He took her hands in his "Hey, I promise I'll take care of Weiss. She'll be fine, you don't have to worry about her"

She smiled "Make sure they all come back, okay?"

He nodded, his expression hardening "They will, even if it means I don't"

She frowned "You'd better come back to me too, Branwen. You hear me?"

He smirked "Yes, Ma'am"

"Good" she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"What, that's all I get?" he asked with a playful pout.

She let out a soft laugh "Something to look forward to" she assured with a wink.

"So, Winter. About you and Qrow..." Weiss called from behind her.

Qrow grinned "Yes, it's true" he proclaimed rather proudly.

Winter groaned "Ugh. By all means, let's discuss this together"

"I'm just glad to see you so happy" she explained with a smile.

"I'm happy, he's happy, you're happy that we're happy. Everyone is happy" she snapped, trying to end the conversation.

"Aw... you're happy" Qrow quipped with a smile.

Winter groaned, while Weiss laughed at her sister's expense, she then pulled Winter into a tight embrace "Stay safe, alright?"

Winter rolled her eyes "I'm not the one going into battle, Weiss" she returned the embrace "You'd better come back to me. You understand?"

She smiled up at her sister "I will, my friends have got my back, and I have theirs"

Winter smiled back "I know... just be careful"

---

"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Slade asked with a smirk.

Yang gave him an incredulous look "What? I think it looks good on me!"

She wore a pair of Atlesian shoulder pads as well as leg guards over her usual outfit. The armor itself was spray painted to match her prosthetic and Ember Celica. Slade wore the same pair of shoulder pads in their usual grayish white color. Both of them stood on the east wall of Mantle, overlooking the empty tundra. Night had already fallen over the kingdom, but the approaching storm had everyone uneasy. Knights lined the walls around them, with two officers commanding them.

"Everything looks good on you, Yang. That's not my point"

She grinned "I know, I look amazing right?"

He chuckled with a light roll of his eyes "Nevermind"

"Could you two lovebirds keep it to yourselves, or at least use your personal channels?" Winter asked over their earpieces.

"Oh, let them be! I think it's adorable" Nora pointed out.

"You have any idea how long we've all been waiting for this to happen? Let them enjoy it!" Ruby agreed.

"It was about time" Weiss laughed "I thought the two of you would never get together"

"Guys..." Yang sighed in embarrassment.

Slade chuckled "Good to know our love life is the main concern at this point" Ironwood's laugh could be heard, but he didn't add to the conversation.

"It's a good thing you guys finally got together. I'm pretty sure Nora was planning on locking you two in a room together if you didn't start making some real progress" Jaune added with a laugh.

"That was the tamest idea she had, by the way" Blake assured.

"Don't remind me" Ren shuddered.

"What? I was just trying to support my friends!"

"I don't understand what they mean. Can someone explain?" Penny asked.

"Better you don't, kid" Qrow replied.

"My thoughts exactly" Ironwood agreed.

"Alright, guys. Focus, I see Grimm dead ahead" Ruby ordered.

The rest of the team wore variations of the Atlesian armor over their usual combat outfits. Ren and Blake used only leg guards while Nora used arm guards to make blocking attacks easier. Ruby wore a single shoulder pad while Weiss wore two along with an arm guard on her main hand. Jaune was the only one not wearing any Atlesian armor due to the already sizeable amount of armor he wore into battle. Lightning illuminated the night, revealing the sheer size of the sea of approaching Grimm. Yang's eyes grew wide at the sight of them. Ursi, Sabyrs, Beringels, Beowolves, Boarbatusks, Goliaths and Megoliaths, even towering Leviathans continued their slow march toward Mantle. Throughout their ranks, Chimeran soldiers could be seen matching their pace.

"There's so many..." Yang took an instinctive step back.

Slade took her hand "I'm gonna be right here next to you the whole time"

She turned to him fully "You really think we have a chance of pulling this off?"

"I think the only way we have a chance is together. Honestly, I'm more afraid of losing you than the battle"

She gave a nervous laugh, pushing her hair behind her ear "Yeah, me too... I won't let us be torn apart"

He smiled "You're a strong girl, Yang. Stronger than you've ever been, you have strong friends behind you, and I know we're gonna give it our all... but strength doesn't matter against Salem" he finished with a frown.

"I know..." she squeezed his hand comfortingly.

He squeezed back, giving her a look of determination "I can promise you one thing though, I'll fight harder than I ever have in my entire life. I've always had something I was willing to die for, something I wanted to die for at times... but something to live for... that's something I never expected to find, yet here we are"

Yang smiled brightly, tears welling in her eyes "Slade..."

"We can do this, Yang. We just need to work together, we're good at that" he declared with a wink.

She smiled, letting go of his hand "Yeah, we'll send 'em packing!" she slammed her fists together.

He removed Defiance from its holster "Together"

She nodded "Together"

Lightning peeled across the sky, accompanied by booming thunder. The wind howled, hurling the snow down upon them as they stood ready to fight. Ironwood stood at the edge of the academy landing pad, the Grimm horde in full view from his place. Thousands of them spread out across the tundra like a blackened sea. His hands closed into fists, fear washing over him, and anger surging in response to his terror. The Grimm collectively roared as the Leviathan's began expelling electrified flames from their mouths, striking the buildings within the city. The Grimm charged at full speed now, the larger Grimm keeping to their marching pace.

"Here they come" Jaune announced.

"Whenever you're ready, General" Ruby replied.

"All ships, fire all batteries. I want those Grimm out of my kingdom. Focus your fire on the Leviathan's. Send these monsters back to the holes they crawled out of" he ordered.

The sky was lit ablaze with cannon fire, each shot raining down upon their army, several Leviathan's were killed within minutes "Knights, take aim!" one of the officers shouted.

As one, the Knights directed their rifles toward the encroaching horde, each of them ready to attack when ordered. The Grimm continued to charge the outer wall of the city. Slade aimed Defiance, Yang lowering herself to one knee, fists up in preparation for a fight. She armed Ember Celica and her prosthetic just as the first of the Grimm got into range.

"Fire!"

The Knights pulled their triggers, firing down upon their enemies, finding their marks with near perfect accuracy. Slade began firing down upon them as well, but with every Grimm that fell, more replaced them. Each front engaged the Grimm horde, Ruby firing Crescent Rose, Nora and Ren firing Magnhild and StormFlower, Blake firing Gambol Shroud, and Weiss launching ice at them from Glyphs above her head. Many Grimm were cut down, but their advance continued unhindered. Jaune stood ready with Crocea Mors as he witnessed the decimation of their front lines over and over, but the advance couldn't be halted. Chimeran soldiers took aim and started firing upon the posted Knights, disabling many, even one of the officers was hit, dropping over the side of the wall into the approaching throng.

Many of the Beringels took flight while the Beowolves scaled the walls "Here they come!" Ruby shouted.

The first of the Grimm came over the wall, and Yang was the first to make contact. She sprung up from her crouched position with a powerful uppercut to the Beringel, firing her prosthetic with the strike, throwing it down into the climbing Grimm. Slade ducked back beneath the swinging claws of a Beowolf as it struck for his throat. Dropping onto one knee, her fired Defiance through it's chest twice, killing the creature just in time to be attacked by another from the left. Twisting around the strike, he sliced his emerging wrist blade across it's neck, severing it's head from it's shoulders.

One of the Beowolves had it's attention drawn by a sharp whistle, turning just in time to find Yang propping herself up on one elbow beneath it in a relaxed pose, grinning "Sit" she commanded, using her legs to knock it on it's rear "Roll over" she fired Ember Celica into it's head, flipping it backward through the air onto it's chest "Good boy"

Ren flipped over an attacking Beowolf with one of the blades of StormFlower imbedding it's shoulder. Slicing the opposite blade through it's abdomen, he used the curved blade to pull it backward into a powerful swing from Nora, launching it skyward. Blake used Gambol's sheath to block a strike from a Beringel, then stabbed the blade into it's chest. The creature roared in anger, but was unable to react as Jaune slammed his shield into it's face, knocking it from the wall with the force. Using it's wings, it tried to return to attack them, but only met the swinging blades of the two Huntsmen, severing it's head from it's shoulders.

Ruby held Crescent Rose in it's rifle form and fired into the first Grimm that approached her, blasting straight through to the second behind it and cutting them down. Flipping forward, she fired into the head of a Beringel, causing it to smack her away with the back of it's fist, roaring in anger. She landed on her back, rolling to a standing position with the momentum, Crescent Rose expanded into it's scythe form as she spun it expertly, firing it from behind to send her spinning back toward the creature. Hooking the blade onto the back of it's neck, she fired again, the force slicing right through the creature, killing it instantly.

Weiss was knocked on her back by an Ursa that managed to climb the wall. Myrtenaster emblazoned with flames, she cut right through it's leg, dropping it onto it's back as well. Getting to her feet, she used both hands to impale the creature through the chest, pinning it to the ground. With a flick of her wrist, the blade bisected the Ursa with little effort. Her attention turned skyward when she heard the roar of a Nevermore. Descending from the storm clouds, Nevermores, Sphinxes, Manticores, Teryxes and Griffons swarmed the skies, making their way toward Mantle and the surrounding fleet of Atlas.

"All ships, redirect attention to the skies. Clear those Grimm out immediately! Keep them away from the crater at all costs!" Ironwood ordered.

"Qrow" Winter called.

"Loud and clear, Ice Queen. We're up, kid!" Qrow replied urgently.

The airships turned their attention to warding off the attacking Grimm, dozens of Manta airships littered the skies, engaging in dogfights with the creatures. Many of the Grimm turned their attention to the Knights on the walls, scooping them up and dropping them from great heights. Qrow in Corvid form fell in line behind several Sphinxes. Returning to human form, he impaled one of them through the chest from above, then leapt away, clipping the wings of another with gunfire. Harbinger shifted into scythe form, allowing him to cut right up the middle of the final Grimm, bisecting the creature.

Penny slammed into the Nevermore heading toward the crater, piercing right through it from the force of her strike "Have your fighters form a defensive perimeter around the crater. There's too many for Qrow and I to take on our own"

"Right away. Keep up the good work" Winter replied.

"Yes, Ma'am" Penny smiled, blasts of energy firing from several different rings of her blades, taking down one Grimm after another.

Nora grinned gleefully as she knocked down one Grimm after another, standing on the edge of the wall shouting a single word between each swing "These. Grimm. Are. So. Stupid! They. Just. Keep. Coming. Right. To. My. Hamer!"

"Don't antagonize them" Ren called "There's enough of them attacking us as it is"

"Pft. You're no fun" she called back.

Slade slid to a stop on his back, an Ursa pinning him to the ground with it's large paw. Wrapping his legs around it's arm, he flipped the creature off the back of the wall, then fired Defiance down into it's head, the creature igniting into flames from the Dust infused round. Getting to his feet, he noticing a line of Megoliaths charging at full speed right at the wall, right where Yang had her back turned as she wrestled with two Beowolves.

"Yang, move!" he called as he moved to help.

The first Megoliath reached the wall before he could reach her, crashing through the wall with a powerful strike of it's tusks. Slade was thrown onto his back a short distance away while Yang careened through the air, slamming down onto the road below. Without hesitation, Sabyrs poured through the opening, rushing right toward her as she struggled to her feet. Slade pushed himself to his feet, rushing to the opening and leapt down into the charging Sabyrs.

"Slade!" she called from her place on the ground, her eyes wide.

"What was that? What happened?" Ruby asked concerned.

"Eastern wall has been breached. Slade, Yang, fall back to eastern ambush point" Penny ordered.

Using his Semblance, he lifted the Sabyrs into the air "Knights, cover the breach!" he ordered.

Twisting around toward their location, the remaining Knights opened fire on the floating Sabyrs, killing each of them as more rushed to take their place. Yang ejected shells from her weapons and leapt into the action beside Slade, the two of them striking down one Grimm after another with powerful strikes from her fists or slices from his blades.

"Yang, we need to go" he called as he sliced through yet another Sabyr.

"After you!" she called back, slamming her fist into the face of a Beowolf.

"Ladies first!" he fired Defiance into a Chimeran soldier as he peaked around the corner.

Yang scoffed "Come on!" she grabbed him by the arm, pulling him along as they ran, only releasing him after they'd gotten some distance.

The Megoliaths didn't intend to allow them to get away, giving chase along with a few smaller Grimm moving ahead of them. The sound of another wall shattering echoed as they ran "Northern wall is breached, all teams retreat to ambush points before you're flanked" Winter advised.

"On it!" Jaune called.

"Headed that way now" Ren assured.

"And we're bringin' company!" Nora shouted.

Slade looked back to see the Grimm were gaining on them "Get to higher ground" he called, firing a grappling hook from his gauntlet, soaring up to the rooftops.

Yang looked back just in time to see a Sabyr leaping at her. With a smirk on her face, she planted her feet and pulled her fist back to strike, slamming it into the Sabyr's underside and firing Ember Celica, she destroyed the creature. Firing her prosthetic, she launched herself skyward, looping around a street light and throwing herself toward a low rooftop. She ran back the same way Slade had gone and arrived to find the makeshift wall she'd been looking for.

"There!" she leapt down, launching herself over it with her weapons, landing safely in front of a dozen soldiers formed into two firing lines, the front line in crouched positions.

Slade took up a position with the other soldiers on fire escapes around the intersection "Traps ready, Sergeant?" he asked.

"As many as we could" she answered with a smile "Let's burn some Grimm"

The Megoliath rounded the corner with dozens of Grimm following closely behind "Now!" Yang called.

The smaller Grimm were obliterated while the Megoliath ignored the exploding Fire Dust, roaring with rage as it charged. Just before reaching the wall, it slid to a stop, raising it's front feet up to stomp on it. Just as it did, it's attack was stopped when Penny slammed into it's chest, keeping it from attacking as it's fleet flailed wildly.

"Open fire!" the Sergeant shouted.

Slade, Yang and the slew of soldiers all unloaded everything they had into the creature, causing it to stumble back. Penny's blades formed into a large circle as she backed away from it, with great effort, she unleashed a powerful blast of energy into the underside of it's head. The creature wailed in anguish before dropping on it's side, vanquished. The soldiers cheered happily at the outcome, but Penny didn't stay long, rushing off to fight more Grimm in the sky.

"Thanks for the help, Penny!" Yang called with a wave.

"It is my pleasure to serve you, Yang!" she shouted back.

Slade returned to a standing position "How're the other ambushes-" the sounds of far off explosions gave him his answer "-going?" he finished.

"No help needed here!" Blake assured.

"We've taken care of ours as well" Weiss replied.

"Well that's good. We could use some help with ours! There's just too many!" Nora shouted.

"On my way, kiddos. What would you do without me?" Qrow called.

"I'll head over too! Everyone else meet at the rally point. We hold there and keep these Grimm occupied for as long as possible" Ruby ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am" Slade smirked "And here I thought Qrow was in charge of our forces in Mantle" he said mostly to himself "You heard the lady, everybody get moving. Yang and I will cover you"

"Yes, Sir!" the Sergeant saluted.

Slade leapt up to the roof above him "Yang, cover the left and I'll-ah!" he was tackled over the edge of the roof.

"Slade!" Yang called, but was unable to rush to his side when the Grimm started to close in on her. Her eyes flashed red "Come on you mangy beasts! Get out of my way!" she shouted leaping at them as the soldiers scattered.

Slade managed to catch himself on the edge by one hand, but his assailant hung by his leg, pulling him over after a moment with a sickening laugh. Slade twisted as he fell, slamming his heels down into Tyrian's chest and pinning him to the fire escape in front of one of the soldiers. Slade moved to say something but was stopped when Tyrian punched him across the face. Slade stumbled back, then kicked for his throat as Tyrian stood, knocking him over the edge into the alley below.

"Don't worry about him, I'll keep him occupied. Get going!" Slade ordered before flipping over the edge, following after Tyrian.

Landing in the alleyway, Tyrian sat in a prone position with a grin on his face, tail lunging at him. Twisting around the strike, he flipped backward away from him to gain some distance "Callows" he growled.

"Slade Stroud!" he greeted with a grin "Honestly I was hoping to find someone more fun to play with, like Qrow. But I suppose I'll have to settle for you"

Slade fired Defiance for his head, but Tyrian merely shifted around it with a grin "You'll find I can defend myself just fine, thank you"

"Oh?" he tilted his head "And how well did that work out for you the first time?"

"Says the one who lost his tail to a little girl. The way I hear it, you cried like one when you went back to dear old Salem" he smirked.

Tyrian growled "When I'm finished, we'll see which of us is shedding tears!" he shouted charging forward.

Qrow sliced through the underside of a Sabyr as it leapt over him, then cut a second up the middle. He leaned back to avoid a strike from an Ursa as his blade changed into a scythe. From behind, a Boarbatusk attempted to strike him, only to find it's tusks hooked on the scythe blade as he spun it, lifting it skyward before cutting through it's belly. Planting the blade into the ground, he punched the Ursa in the face, stumbling it back as he hooked his foot on the handle, lifting the scythe back into his grip. Thrusting his blade forward, he straightened the blade, then curved it back into scythe form as he sliced through a charging Beowolf.

Ruby fired Crescent Rose into the face of another Beowolf as it attempted to strike him from behind. She transformed it into scythe form and rushed forward, flipping around an Ursa and slicing it in half. Firing, she used her Semblance to speed past Qrow, splitting into three around a Goliath before converging on the ground as she landed. Firing Crescent Rose as she released it, she sent it spinning through several Grimm and into the air. She leapt onto and kicked off the Goliath's back leg, spinning and catching her scythe. She fired to increase momentum and slammed the blade down into the creatures head, causing it to wail in agony.

"Come and get it!" Nora shouted as she slammed Magnhild down onto the back of the blade of Crescent Rose, forcing it down and killing the Grimm.

The two of them leapt down from it as the creature collapsed "Let's regroup with the others. They're gonna need help holding that rally point" Ren offered.

"Right behind you, we-"

"Guys! I can't find Slade anywhere and he's not responding!" Yang called.

"What?!" Qrow asked in surprise.

Slade spun away from Tyrian, ducking beneath a strike from his wrist-mounted blades, then blocked an attack from his tail with his left gauntlet. With the opposite hand, he struck for Tyrian's left side, only to clash blades with his own. He stepped back away from his opponent, narrowly avoiding a swing of his tail, then leaned back beneath several rounds fired for his head. Kicking his leg upward, he used the armor on his boots to block his wrist blades aimed for his midsection, then struck outward with the same leg, forcing Tyrian to twist around it to avoid being struck.

Slade flipped forward with a kick aimed for his head, but Tyrian managed to lean back away from it. He then thrust his tail for his face, only to be caught in Slade's grip. Sliding left, he struck for Slade's side, only to clash with the armor on his boots. Pulling Tyrian by his tail, Slade fired Defiance for his chest, only for the Faunus to twist around it, elbowing Slade in the face, then kicking his weapon from his hands. Activating his Semblance, he unleashed a flurry of strikes upon Slade, alternating between his tail and his wrist blades as he desperately tried to disrupt his Aura. Slade barely managed to keep ahead of his assault, then flipped forward over his tail and kicked him across the face. Tyrian stumbled back with a pained groan, giving Slade the opportunity to call Defiance back to him with his own Semblance.

Tyrian growled in frustration as he flipped backward over the weapon as it passed beneath him. Tyrian charged for Slade as he caught his weapon, striking with blind fury. Slade dropped back into multiple back handsprings away from him, sliding to a stop as he thrust both blades toward his chest. They clashed against Slade's own, the manic Faunus grinning as he applied more pressure on him. Slade's eyes widened as he saw his tail prime to strike, dropping onto his back, he kicked Tyrian in the chest, sending him flying over him as he rolled to a standing position. Tyrian landed on his feet, two Chimeran soldiers rounding the corner and surrounding Slade on each side.

Tyrian chuckled "You're anticipating my moves better than last time we fought"

"What can I say? You're predictably unpredictable"

The soldier on his left fired at him, forcing him to block with his gauntlets, then perform a twirling leap into the air as the second fired, missing his target and hitting the first in the chest, dropping him onto his back. Before he could stand back up, Slade fired into his helmet, keeping him down. Firing a cable from his gauntlet over his shoulder, he caught the other by his neck, pulling him toward a powerful kick to his head, throwing him at Tyrian. The Faunus laughed as he swatted the soldier away from him using his tail.

"So, is the siege going as General Ironwood planned?" he asked with a grin.

"That depends on how you look at it" he answered with a smirk.

"Oh, I do hope your friends are alright. After all, this distraction has been fun... for one of us at least"

Slade glared "They can take care of themselves"

"I certainly hope so!" Tyrian leapt forward forcing Slade to block his wrist blades once more. The Chimeran soldier fired from a crouched position as Slade backed away from Tyrian, deflecting each round and wild strike from his opponents "You cannot stop divine intervention. She will destroy this world and all who walk it's surface!"

Slade replied as he continued to block rounds from the soldier "I hear plenty of confidence, Callows. But what exactly have you gotten for your certainty? A mutilated body, running errands for a woman who's more Grimm than human? It's sad really"

"You don't get to talk about her that way and live!" Tyrian shouted as he rushed toward him.

Slade rolled over Tyrian's shoulder as he struck, kicking his tail away. He fired Defiance into the helmet of the soldier, taking him down "You're as mindless as these puppets she parades around. Just what do you get out of all of this?"

Tyrian cackled wickedly "Salvation!" he answered simply.

"Not that I'm shocked, but you're deluded"

Slade flipped over Tyrian as he charged, only to be knocked on his chest by a strike to his back from his swinging tail "How sad to see your life is going to end so pitifully"

Slade rolled onto his back and into a back handspring as Tyrian's tail impaled the ground. He blocked Tyrian's wrist blades as he slid to a stop, then sidestepped his tail and blocked two more strikes from his blades. Slade released his grip on Defiance, flipping it upward as Tyrian's wrist blades sliced for his arm. He used his Semblance to pass through Tyrian and kick the back of his knee, dropping the Faunus to one knee. Slade reached into his coat but was stopped by a strike from his tail, forcing him to roll over his assailant's back to avoid it, he caught Defiance in his left hand as he found his footing in a crouched position, firing beneath his right arm into Tyrian's surprised face. Ducking beneath a second strike with his tail, he noticed a familiar bird flying toward them.

"You've certainly improved since last we fought"

"Ironwood taught me a few new tricks. The benefit of having friends"

Tyrian laughed "For all the good it does you! You're friends aren't even here to help you when you need them!"

"Just puts us on even playing field, seeing as you don't have any friends" he smiled at Tyrian's annoyed expression "Besides, who ever said I was alone?" Tyrian's expression dropped into one of shock.

With a smirk, Slade flipped back away from Tyrian just as Qrow manifested with Harbinger, swinging downward toward the Faunus. Tyrian managed to block just in time using his tail, then spun around away from Qrow, throwing his coat off in his direction. Qrow sliced through the coat to find Tyrian leaping toward him, ready to strike. With a horizontal slice of his blade, their attacks deflected off each other. Tyrian's tail thrust toward his left leg, forcing Qrow to leap over it, using his open hand to steady himself as he landed. Slade fired Defiance at Tyrian, drawing his attention as he charged toward him. Slade dodged acrobatically, standing on one hand, then turning over into a leaping kick for his face. Using his wrist mounted guns, he propelled himself backward away from Slade, but Qrow curved Harbinger's blade and hooked it around Tyrian's tail, pulling him toward a powerful punch to his face. Tyrian leapt at Qrow and began slashing at him, forcing him to defend with his straightened blade. Tyrian was suddenly slammed against the wall by a burst of rose petals, forming into Ruby as she slid to a stop between her uncle and Slade. The three of them stood opposite the Faunus now, weapons directed toward him, ready to strike.

"Surrender, Tyrian. You have no where to run" she warned.

"Never!" he laughed.

Ruby spun Crescent Rose in a downward strike for him, Tyrian caught the blade between his flat palms with a grin. He turned his head toward Slade, who kicked him across the face, stumbling him, then struck him with an upward kick to his chin, followed by a downward kick. Qrow slammed the hilt of his blade into Tyrian's side as he moved to retaliate, stumbling him as Slade flipped Defiance in his hand. Smashing the back of the gun into his face as Qrow swept his legs out from under him, Slade flipped forward with a kick to his abdomen, slamming him into the ground. Tyrian rolled away as Qrow stabbed Harbinger into the ground, growling at them in frustration.

Slade reached into his coat with his open hand "Think you two can make me an opening?" he asked stepping behind them.

Qrow and Ruby nodded to each other "Let's go, kiddo"

Slade fired a single shot from Defiance, which Tyrian easily swatted away with his tail. But as soon as it made contact, his tail was encased in ice, causing him to stare in surprise. Qrow slashed for his head, only for him to roll beneath his attack, jumping over a slash for his legs from Ruby. He sidestepped a spinning vertical slash from her before leaning back beneath a thrust for his head from Qrow, his blade in a reverse grip. Before he could move, Qrow slammed his fist into his face, stumbling him to his right, ice shattering as he slammed his tail on the ground. Ruby sliced high as Qrow sliced low, forcing Tyrian to leapt high into the air to avoid their strikes. As he descended back down toward them, Ruby kicked him in the chest, followed by Qrow firing upward into him. Slade flipped sideways through the air, kicking one leg after another into his face. Ruby took something from his hand as she flew past him with her Semblance, twirling around him before soaring back toward Qrow, confusing Tyrian. Slade tucked Tyrian's left arm beneath his own, kicking the back of his knee, dropping onto his opposite knee. Tyrian's tail trust for his head, only to find it frozen by his Semblance. Tyrian's Semblance activated, reaching his free hand toward Slade, only to have Ruby slid to a stop beside him, pulling his arm behind his back.

"Just what are you trying to-" before he could react, Qrow stabbed something into his chest with a loud cry.

Tyrian expected pain, but this was on a level he'd never felt before. It felt as if his whole body was on fire, his very essence leaving his body. He screamed in anguish, watching as the small cylindrical casing protruding from his scarred chest filled with the black fluid that made up the Grimm. His eyes widened as each of them returned to their natural golden one after the other. As the last of it emptied into the casing, Slade removed it from his chest, each of them quickly getting some distance from the Faunus as he caught himself on his hands.

"Nice work" Slade nodded to them.

"That was a fun little shell game" Qrow replied.

"And we got to be the shells!" Ruby grinned.

"W-what... did you... do? What did you do?!" Tyrian shouted looking up at them.

Slade held the casing between two fingers "We took away all that pesky Grimm gunk. Should make you much more manageable now"

"You... y-you took away her blessing?!" he screamed with tears in his eyes.

"Looks more like a curse to me" Qrow grimaced.

"I'll kill you!" he shouted, standing back up.

The three of them directed their weapons toward him "I don't think so" Ruby glared.

Tyrian began hyperventilating "It's okay... it's okay... she will forgive you... this is all... part of the plan... part of the plan..." he turned and rushed off.

"Hold it!" Qrow moved to give chase.

"Easy, Qrow" Slade stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"We're just going to let him get away!?"

Ruby placed her hand on his opposite side "No, he's right. If we go chasing after him now, in his condition, the Grimm will be all over us"

"Damn it" Qrow cursed.

"We'll get him, just not today" Slade holstered Defiance "Thanks for the save, you two"

Ruby nodded with a smile "Yang said you were in trouble, so we came running"

Qrow hummed in agreement "We should regroup with the others. They'll need our help"

Ruby shook her head "No, Penny is gonna need you up there" she pointed skyward "Slade and I will regroup with the others"

Qrow scoffed with a light smile "Aren't I supposed to be giving the orders around here?"

"Only if you can keep up, old man" she answered grabbing Slade and then vanishing with her Semblance, rose petals flowing in a trail behind her.

Qrow sighed in defeat "These damn kids"

Nora and Ren arrived to find Weiss, Blake, Yang and Jaune awaiting them "Hey!" Jaune called in relief.

The three of them shared a group hug "Have you heard from Slade?" Nora asked.

"I've got him!" Ruby called as she slid to a stop, rose petals swirling around her.

Slade caught himself on a nearby car, looking pale "Ruby... don't ever do that a-oof!" Yang tackled him into a hug.

"You had me worried! What happened? Are you okay?" she asked looking him over.

Slade smiled "I'm fine, I'm fine, Yang. But Tyrian got away. Though we did manage to get this out of him" he held up the casing of Grimm fluid.

"Thank you, Pietro" Weiss noted aloud.

Ren looked up as a Manta airship flew low around the buildings "Winter, why are aircraft this far from the crater?"

"What? I haven't ordered any change in formation, is there any more you can see?" she inquired.

Blake narrowed her eyes as two more soared past "A few, yeah"

Nora's eyes widened as one of them flew right between the buildings heading straight toward them "Get to cover! Yang, give me a hand!" she shouted.

Yang rushed to her side and helped her launch a car skyward as missiles launched from it. Weiss formed a wall of ice behind the vehicle, trying to protect the area from the strike "Incoming!" she shouted.

"Everybody move!" Jaune shouted, several soldiers running for cover.

One of the missiles hit the vehicle, destroying it as the rest obliterated the wall. Penny soared through the shattered ice and unleashed a blast of energy, splitting the airship in half. She hovered in place as it slammed to the ground, sliding to a stop behind her. Ruby placed two fingers to her earpiece as she spoke.

"What was that?"

"That wasn't one of ours. It's registered as... missing..." Winter answered.

Penny's blades took down the man piloting it "Consider it located. Chimera pilot"

"Chimera? Where did those ships come from?" Winter asked.

"Think I might know where" Yang called, pointing skyward.

Through the darkened clouds, a massive Atlesian airship broke through, headed straight for Mantle "Well... that's wonderful" Jaune frowned.

"That's one of the ships from Embermane. Then they weren't destroyed after all" Winter replied.

"Good thing we'd expected this, right?" Blake asked hopeful.

"That ship has enough room to be carrying thousands of reinforcements aboard, Grimm or otherwise" Ironwood warned.

"That ship cannot reach Mantle, if it does, civilians could get caught in the crossfire. There's too many Grimm in the air to stop that and keep them away from the crater" Winter explained.

"General, can your ships take it down?" Ruby asked.

"Not without leaving Atlas undefended. Those Wyverns are still out there somewhere, if I move them now-"

"They Wyverns could swoop in and attack the city, right" Jaune sighed "What's the plan then? Trying to take that thing down from the ground is impossible"

"Then we won't attack it from the outside" Slade offered.

"You want us to take that thing down from the inside?" Weiss asked incredulously.

"It could work, but we'll need to sabotage their systems" Blake concluded.

"A ship that size needs coordination to properly relay orders. If we can cut them off from communicating..." Yang mused.

"You'd leave them in disarray. Might buy you enough time, but they'll make you work for it" Winter finished.

"Then we should send our whole team inside" Ruby offered "We each pick a spot and sabotage as much as possible" Ruby explained.

"You'll need to get control of the bridge, if that ship goes down, it's gonna head straight for Mantle" Jaune added.

"This is gonna take all of us to stand any chance of pulling it off" Weiss sighed "We never get the easy jobs"

"But what about the Grimm here in the city? We can't just leave these soldiers to take them all on their own" Nora argued.

"We won't" Slade assured "If Penny can keep the ship distracted, Ruby and her team can get aboard. While the rest of us keep things under control down here"

"You want the four of us to take down that thing on our own?" Yang asked in surprise.

"Hey, if anyone can do it, it'd be you guys" he shrugged.

"We've got Grimm closing fast, if you're gonna head on up there, you need to do it now" Penny warned.

"What about the Wyverns? If they attack while we're onboard, I can't use my eyes on them from inside the ship. You'll be defenseless" Ruby pointed out with concern.

"We're Huntsmen, Ruby. It's part of the job" Jaune reminded with a smile "We'll do what we can to keep them from the crater... just hurry back, alright?" he offered his hand to her.

Ruby accepted it with a firm nod "Take care of yourselves, all of you"

"You too, Ruby. I want to see all of you back here when this is over"

Yang grinned, cracking her knuckles "Let's show these guys who they're messing with!"

"Alright, now... how do we get up there?" Ruby asked.

One of the Manta airships came barreling toward them, all of them dropped into defensive stances as Penny prepared to attack it. They remained skeptical when it slowed down, hovering in front of Penny. The side door opened, a Chimera soldier thrown to the ground from inside. Before anyone could question it, Qrow poked his head around to see them staring in confusion.

"Well, what're you all waiting for? Hitched ya a ride"

Slade chuckled with a roll of his eyes "Get going. We'll take care of everything here"

Ruby nodded "Let's go, Team!"

Yang stayed behind as Blake and Weiss followed behind her, looking to Slade "Hey, be careful. Okay?"

He smiled, approaching her "I should be telling you that, you're the one with the hard job" he took her hands in his "We'll be fine. You just watch your back in there"

Yang smiled back, planting a quick kiss on his lips "You'd better be here when I get back"

He nodded "And you'd better come back"

"Sometime today, love bugs" Qrow called.

They both rolled their eyes "Get going, Yang"

She smacked him firmly on the rear "Keep yourself in one piece for me" she winked back at him as she rushed off.

Nora whistled encouragingly, Slade blushed from embarrassment, clearing his throat "Jaune, let's get into position"

He nodded "We're gonna need to each take a direction, at least until Penny and Qrow make it back"

"Really wish we had some backup right about now" Nora grumbled.

"We'll make do" Ren assured.

"Did somebody say back up?" a vaguely familiar voice called from behind them.

Slade turned to see the source of the voice, his face scrunching at the sight "What the hell are you supposed to be?" he asked the newcomers.

The man who stood before him was young, with a dark complexion and brown eyes. He wore a black suit jacket with white trimmings over an untucked white collared shirt and black vest. He had a loose cyan colored tie around his collar, along with black dress pants and shoes. He also wore a silver ring with a cyan colored gem on his right index finger. He also had rectangular sunglasses over his eyes and a black fedora with trim that matched his tie and a cyan studded earrings.

To his left was a young Faunus with a light complexion, she had green eyes and light orange hair with cyan streaks in her bangs. She had a cat tail covered in pink fur that became lighter toward the tip. Her hair was stylized into two swirled buns. She had a white bell collar around her neck, as well as white roller blades with dark blue wheels and peach colored tongues and cuffs. They also had twin peach colored hearts outlined by white on the back. She also wore a white cat-themed cropped jacket with attached fingerless cat paw gloves and cat ears on the hood, defined by peach coloring. She wears a dark blue crop top with golden buckles on the straps that attached to her matching blue shorts, with a cyan crop top over the other.

Two buttons were fixed on her jacket over her right breast, one purple with the design of a cat's face and another green one with a heart. Her shorts had two yellow star designs on her left thigh and another layer beneath that in the form of cyan stockings that gradually become blue at the bottom along with rainbow stripes on the sides alongside tears on the thighs and calves. She also wore a white belt with golden belt loops set on the second notch with an additional belt around her right thigh attached with strap to her main belt. Finally, she had a pair of small golden earrings in her left ear, one on the top and one on the bottom.

He ran his finger over the brim of his fedora "Flynt Coal, at your service. The General said you might need some backup, so here we are"

Slade blinked "...Right and your colorful friend here is...?" he motioned to her with his hand.

"Neon Katt!" she greeted "Have you ever been rollerblading before? It's so fun! That coat would probably make it hard though, get caught on a lotta stuff"

"Uh... right..."

"Hey, you guys!" Jaune called happily.

"Ah! It's you guys again!" Nora shouted, matching her team leader's tone.

Flynt chuckled "Well if it isn't Team JNPR. How ya been?"

"You know each other?" Slade asked.

"They were in the Vytal Tournament back in Vale, they even stayed to help fight the Grimm when Beacon fell" Jaune explained.

"Ah, so that's where I've seen them before" Slade nodded "They were one of the teams RWBY matched against, right?"

"That's right, and we so totally lost!" Neon yelled with a disappointed frown, but her mood quickly brightened "It's so cool to see all you guys again!"

Flynt tilted his head toward Slade "You were there too?"

Slade rubbed the back of his neck "Eh... more or less"

"Where's the rest of your team?" Ren asked curiously.

"Kobalt and Ivory stayed behind to help protect the civvies. Boooooring! Am I right? They're in good hands!" Neon assured with enthusiasm.

"Right..."

Nora leaned over to whisper in Slade's ear "You get used to her"

"Yeah, just didn't realize I'd be meeting Faunus Nora today" he whispered back playfully.

She elbowed him "Not funny. I'm way more fun than she is"

Flynt turned to face Jaune fully "Well, who's in charge around here? We got any orders?"

Jaune fidgeted nervously, speaking quickly "Uh, well, Qrow is, uh, well he's not exactly here, so I don't think we really, uh, decided on-"

Nora smacked him upside the head "Well it's either you or Slade, we're all down here waiting on you to figure it out before the Grimm eat us all"

A loud roar drew their attention, charging Grimm coming from three different directions "Speaking of Grimm" Ren noted.

"We let those things get past us, there's nothing between them and the crater" Slade exhaled "No pressure, right?"

Jaune didn't hesitate, turning back toward the others "Flynt, attack from a distance, stay out of the fight as much as you can. Nora, charge in whenever you see an opening. Neon, stay close and help out wherever you can. Ren, use your Semblance to attack from stealth, keep them confused. Slade, take down anything that gets past them. We hold this line, however long we need to"

Slade nodded "Sounds like we've got a plan then" he spun Defiance in his hand.

"Let's do this!"

---

Winter tapped her finger impatiently, her patience decreasing with every passing second. She sat at Ironwood's desk, the dark storm raging outside. The lightning and cannon fire outside illuminated the dark room around her. The only light inside came from the holographic displays all around her as well as her Scroll on the desk top. Camera feeds from Mantle and Penny, as well as a few from the fleet gave her a clear view of the battle from her place in the academy. Two Knights were posted behind her, the faint blue glow from their visors a serving as a constant reminder of their presence. Just another precaution Ironwood had taken to keep her safe, as if she needed the added protection. Who did he think she was? A damsel that needed saving? She thought he'd trusted her enough by now... but maybe she was wrong. That of course, was how she'd gotten into this argument in the first place.

"General, surely my skills can be put to better use on the battlefield" Winter urged.

"We have already been over this, Winter. I will not concede to the foolish notion that your presence will do anything but invite Cinder right to you" Ironwood replied over her earpiece.

"It is not foolish" she glared "I am the Winter Maiden, if I can use my powers to help stop the Grimm-"

"Powers you have no idea how to use, to control" Ironwood pointed out.

"And who's fault is that? If you had just told me sooner, we might've had time to teach me-"

"Enough!" he silenced her "This is not up for debate, Winter. We have enough to worry about right now. And I can't change the past, mistakes or otherwise. We have to deal with the hand we're dealt, not the hand we want. And you will remember which of us in charge here"

Winter took a deep breath, fingers closing into a fist "Yes, Sir" she replied with a deep frown.

"Is this a bad time?" Winter's attention was drawn to the door, where Jacques stood hesitantly poking his head in.

She motioned for him to come in "If that is all, General. I have duties to uphold" she spoke in a strained tone, forcing herself to remain civil.

Ironwood sighed "Winter, I know this isn't easy for you... just try and be patient. They'll be fine, they're tough kids"

She exhaled "I know..."

"Well, then... keep up the good work. I'll be buying all of you drinks once this is over"

Winter rolled her eyes with a small smile "Most of them are underage, Sir"

"Yes, well... I'm still working on that part of the plan. Stay safe, Winter"

"Hard not to up here" she whispered to herself "You too, Sir"

"Winter..." Jacques spoke softly as he approached her "What's the matter?"

She sighed "The kingdom is at war, an army of Grimm are on our doorstep and one of our own airships is now with Salem... and I'm stuck up here, giving orders, instead of out there fighting monsters"

Jacques frowned, kneeling down beside her "I'm worried about Weiss too, darling. But she can take care of herself, and she has good friends watching out for her" he spoke with certainty, despite his own reservations.

She nodded "I know, but it's hard being left behind. I just feel so powerless"

He smiled "It's hard caring about other people. It was easier when money was all that mattered"

"But it isn't all that matters" she replied.

"I know, Winter... seeing you in that hospital bed must've snapped me out of that haze of greed I was in. I know I wasn't... I am far from the best father, I know all of you deserve better than I've given you. But I also know the heavens must've blessed me to grant me children as wonderful as the three of you"

Winter pulled him into a tight embrace "Caring was all we ever needed from you. To see you've changed so dramatically in such a short time... it's encouraging"

He chuckled "I don't know about all that, I don't feel like I've changed too much... just fighting my natural impulses more often than not"

She pulled back to look him in the eyes "And that is all any of us can do, Father"

"Ugh, enough. Your honeyed words are going to turn my stomach" Willow called from the open doorway.

Winter scowled, releasing her hold on Jacques "Mother. You were supposed to stay with Whitley"

She waved her off dismissively "You fret far too much, my dear. Klein is still with him"

Jacques stood to his feet "That is not the point, dear. You're supposed to be looking after our son"

She scoffed "As are you, but you just can't stop worrying. Bad enough you force us to stay here instead of the manor, but you even brought the staff with us and none of them are serving anything"

He scowled "I did not bring them to keep us comfortable. The shelters are full enough with the refugees evacuating from Mantle, our manor will serve just as well for those who need it-"

"Ah, yes. How could I forget. You gave our home to those animals" she seethed.

"Only until the siege is over with!" he insisted.

"And how much will they steal from us in the meantime? Hmm?"

"The soldiers guarding them will be searching each of them as they leave. You mustn't be so concerned about our things right now, of all times"

"Don't pretend you aren't. I know you locked your study up tighter than most vaults"

"I am on the Council, on my terminal, there are things-"

"Things of grave importance" she mimicked his tone "Yes, I'm aware. Did you know there isn't even a mini bar in this place? It's utterly dull"

He rubbed his eyelids with his thumb and index finger as Winter got to her feet in anger "Dull?! Have you taken a look outside?! People are dying out there to keep you safe in here and you have the gall to complain?!"

She rolled her eyes "Yet here you are, in here with the rest of us. So much for protecting the kingdom. All you and James seem to care about-"

"Get out" Jacques ordered sternly.

"Excuse me?"

"Get. Out. Now" his face was inches from hers now.

"I am not some servant you can-"

"Ahem" she turned to see Arthur Watts standing behind her, arms folded behind his back "Mrs. Schnee, this academy may be the safest place in the kingdom right now. But wandering off without your security detail isn't. If something were to happen to you here, we'd all be devastated, wouldn't we?"

Winter breathed a sigh of relief "Professor Watts, can you please see to it she returns to my dear brother... and stays there" she spoke with faux sweetness.

He gave a quick salute "It would be my pleasure, Specialist Schnee" he motioned for Willow to exit "After you, Ma'am"

She scoffed "Very well. If I must be treated like a child"

"You're certainly acting like one" Winter breathed out. Jacques fixed his wife with a look of suspicion, but allowed her to continue without a word.

"Councilman? Are you coming along as well?" Watts asked.

"I'll be right there, just need another minute with my daughter" he answered with a false smile.

He nodded dutifully "Of course"

Winter's attention turned to Jacques "Father?"

"Winter... did something seem off about your mother?" he asked hesitantly, looking back to her.

"You mean aside from her atrocious attitude? Not that I noticed, why?"

He frowned "I... I don't know. I guess I just expected her to put up more of a fight to being escorted anywhere. She doesn't usually appreciate anyone telling her what to do..."

"You think she is up to something?"

"I don't know. She's been moving a lot of money around since the banquet and I don't know where it came from. That's actually what I was hoping to speak to you about"

"I can't say the idea of her getting bribes is all that surprising to me, Father. Whatever is going on with her, it can be dealt with after we drive off the Grimm. Salem is our biggest concern right now" she explained as she approached him.

"You're right of course... still, I'm worried"

"Because you could be losing money?" she asked.

"Because I think she might be in bed with the wrong people. She and I may not see eye-to-eye anymore, but she's still my wife"

"That you married for the family name"

He frowned "Not the best reason to start a family, is it?"

Winter placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "You're not the same man you were then, Father. Give yourself some-"

"We're closing in on the ship, Winter. I estimate three minutes until we're in range of their cannons" Penny warned over her earpiece.

Winter moved her fingers to her earpiece, quickly returning to her seat "Acknowledged. Proceed with caution"

The door suddenly opened, Oscar stepped inside with two steaming mugs in his hand "I brought hot cocoa-oh" he stopped when he notice Jacques presence "Good evening, Councilor Schnee" he greeted politely.

He smiled down at the boy "Good evening, Mr. Pine"

Oscar whispered to him "Did you want a moment alone?"

He shook his head "No, no. I was just leaving, apparently I have a misbehaving spouse to wrangle"

"Ah. Fun"

"Indeed" Jacques exhaled "I'll leave you to your work, stay safe" he called as he made his way to the door.

Winter smiled after him "You too, Father"

The moment he stepped through the door, he moved to follow behind his wife. The more he thought about the situation, the faster his pace became, the faster he walked, the more concerned he grew. Surely he should've encountered the two of them by now, this was the way to where Whitley was waiting. Suddenly, he turned on his heel, rushing the opposite direction, it didn't take him long to reach Watts' office. He moved to knock, but stopped when he heard voices on the other side.

"You have put my position here in jeopardy for your own selfish desires. I've had to work overtime because of you" Watts spoke with venom.

"She promised me that Jacques would be dead by now, yet she has failed to deliver on that promise, twice!" Willow argued.

Jacques peaked through the door, opening it slightly "Those children have proven a greater hinderance than anticipated, this is true. But you were promised the kingdom of Atlas once the battle is won. Yet, you left private correspondence carelessly in your chambers, you ordered Harris to attack when there was no need. Two of our own are now dead because they'd have put our plans at risk if they lived. Because of you and your preoccupations"

"You're the one who activated the kill switch on Harris and Lawson, not me" she argued.

"Because they learned about your connection to them, they could've learned of your connection to her! Where would that leave me if you'd been arrested? Hm?"

"What does it matter now? The battle has already begun, and yet you sit here lecturing me instead of upholding your end of the bargain!"

"Your partnership with Salem is at risk as it is, she-"

"She can speak for herself" Salem's voice called, a Seer moving into view.

Willow visibly stiffened at the sound, unknowingly doing the same as her eavesdropping husband "Of course, Ma'am" Watts stepped aside, letting the Seer approach them.

"With all due respect, this mess is of your own making. Yet you accuse me-" Willow began.

"I would watch your tone with her if I were you, Schnee" Watts warned.

"Your agents were the ones who failed to capture that girl, failed to eliminate my husband, and it was you who failed to claim the power of the Maiden from my eldest when she was right there in front of you. Do you expect me to believe you can uphold your end of the bargain when you can't even stop a handful of children?"

Salem tilted her head "Is that all?"

"All?" Willow's eyes widened in anger "You will take this seriously-urgh" she was silenced when one of the Seer's tendrils wrapped around her neck.

"The only thing I don't take seriously is you. You carry yourself like that of a spoiled brat. You have proven yourself to be clumsy" the Grimm tightened it's grip as a barbed tendril closed in on her eye "I assume I do not have to remind you the price of failure?"

Willow dropped to her knees as the Seer released her, gasping for breath "No... I... understand..." she rasped out.

"Good" Salem folded her hands in front of her "I shall honor our agreement, your husband shall die... today. I have one of my best coming to take care of it, as soon as Arthur gives her a way inside"

Willow struggled to her feet "What... do you want... from me...?"

Salem smiled "Just one little thing. Winter Schnee"

Jacques gasped as he stepped back from the door, Watts sighed "It seems we're not alone"

Stepping outside his office, he found Jacques slowly backing away from him, Scroll in hand, dialing for Winter, it didn't take long for her to answer "She's working with her! Salem! She wants you! You need to call James and-"

"Apologies, Councilor. But I don't think she's accepting calls at the moment" Watts held up his own Scroll.

Looking down at the device in his hand, the display had turned red, reading "Device disabled"

"It's going to be difficult to make any calls with that thing, now isn't it"

"Arthur" he growled "How could you be working for her? She's a monster!"

"Your wife doesn't seem to agree. How disappointing you didn't remain loyal, I'm certain your son won't appreciate being made a target once again"

He threw his Scroll at Watts, who easily swatted it away "Leave my children alone!"

"I'd be more worried about myself if I were you, Jacques" he chuckled, turning back to the door as Willow exited "Ah, Mrs. Schnee. How nice of you to join-" he watched as she rushed off towards Ironwood's office "-us..." he finished, shaking his head in disappointment "What are we going to do with her?"

Using this moment of distraction, Jacques ran off the other way, desperate to find anyone who could help him. The Seer moved out into the hall "It seems it's time to move to the next phase of our assault, Arthur"

"So it would seem" he tapped away on his Scroll, a sneer forming on his lips.

---

"We're closing in on the ship, Winter. I estimate three minutes until we're in range of their cannons" Penny warned, leading the way for the ship behind her.

"Acknowledged. Proceed with caution" she instructed.

"Do we have a plan?" Weiss inquired.

"Getting aboard will be the easy part. I'll drop you on the ship, you'll get inside through one of the exterior doors" Qrow replied.

"Once you're onboard, connect your Scrolls to their systems. I'll help you bypass the security to give you access to the engines while Penny feeds them false alerts throughout the ship. You'll need to plant explosives at key weak points" Winter explained.

"Blake can easily get you connected. Yang, keep them busy until Weiss has the explosives planted" Ruby instructed.

"Piece of cake!" Yang grinned.

"Sounds like I've got the easy part" Blake replied.

"I should have just enough Dust on me to do the job. But I'm not gonna have much left to work with once we're back on the ground" Weiss warned.

Ruby nodded "I'll head to the bridge and make sure we're directed away from the city. Hopefully not too much survives the crash to reinforce the Grimm laying siege"

"While you're there, try and download whatever data you can from their computers" Ironwood suggested "It could tell us more about their attack plan or who our traitor is... assuming Chimera even knows"

"We'll do our best, General" Ruby assured "Blake will provide backup to the rest of us as needed. As soon as we're finished, we get out as fast as we can"

"Do we have a plan of escape?" Weiss asked worried she'd overlooked that part.

"We'll just steal one of their ships and head back"

"Uh... did you learn how to fly one of these when I wasn't looking Ruby?"

"That shouldn't be a problem. Connect your Scroll to the console and I should be able to pilot it remotely, or at least set a course for Mantle" Winter assured.

"Well, that does make me feel better" she replied in relief.

"Why not just summon one of your Lancers again?" Yang asked.

"There's too many Grimm in the air as it is, not to mention if they have ships too, they'll attack us. If we fell from this height back to the surface... well..."

"Splat... yeah, got it. Steal a ship it is"

"At least try and be off the ship before detonating the explosives. I don't know if my heart can take another last minute escape" Qrow called back.

"Pft! You worry to much!" Yang replied dismissively.

Ruby placed her hands on her hips "We're about to charge headfirst into an advanced warship, but that's not going to stop us. The odds may be impossible, we may be outnumbered, but that's never stopped Team RWBY before, and it won't stop us now. We're gonna show them what Huntresses are made of!"

"Well, get ready, cause they're ready for us!" Qrow called back.

Several Manta class ships exited the hangers and soared toward them, they were intercepted by Penny, unleashing blast after blast of energy into their wings to cause them to fall. Qrow fired a missile into the one closest to him, but was unable to avoid being struck by another causing the ship to lose altitude as they passed over the top of the airship.

"Jump, now!" he shouted.

Without wasting time, Ruby and her team leapt from the ship as it went down. Ruby used her Semblance to land safely while Yang fired her weapons to slow her descent as Weiss did the same with her Glyphs for herself and Blake. Once they landed atop the airship, they rushed to the closest point of entry, splitting off in different directions. Blake and Weiss went left while Yang went straight and Ruby went right.

"We're aboard, Penny" Ruby alerted her.

"Affirmative, Ruby! Qrow and I are heading back to Mantle now"

"He got out in time?" Yang asked hopeful.

"He did, he's-"

"Caw!"

"Ah, yeah that makes sense" Yang laughed sheepishly.

Blake and Weiss entered the room at the end of the left hall to find several Chimeran soldiers surprised to see them "Intruder-" one started to call but was interrupted when Weiss slammed the hilt of her blade into his chest, having used one of her Glyphs to launch herself forward.

Weiss then twirled around him with two strikes of her blade through his chest then midsection. He slumped to the ground as Blake flew past Weiss, slicing through two more then dropping back into a handspring away from them as Weiss sliced through the next three before they could move to strike. One of them opened fired on them, causing Weiss to deflect each round with her blade. Blake ran past her deflecting them with her own blade as she rushed their attacker, slicing through his chest as she leapt into the attack, descending with a downward strike onto the next soldier, then cutting through the knees of a third. Sliding with her momentum, she unsheathed Gambol Shroud and sliced through several more at blinding speed, impaling the final one on the end of her blade.

"I'll connect Winter, keep pushing forward" Weiss nodded back to her before rushing off. Blake made her way to the nearby console and connected her Scroll "Winter, you ready?"

"I'm in the network. Nice work Blake. I'm sending you directions to security, I imagine your time in the White Fang taught you how to manage Atlesian security systems. Be careful"

"Oh, that was so close to a compliment too" Yang said in a playful tone.

"She's not wrong, if it counts for anything" Blake replied with a smile.

Alarms started blaring throughout the ship, alerting the soldiers to attacks in several different locations "That should keep them chasing their tails for awhile" Winter noted "Nice work, Penny"

"Always happy to be of assistance"

Yang rushed a group of unsuspecting guards as they made their way down the same hall away from her toward a blaring alarm. She flipped forward, slamming her heel down onto the one in the back, the others turned just in time for her to uppercut another as she fired Ember Celica, then kicked two different soldiers away from her. Moving at blinding speed, she fired into a soldier in front of her, then kicked back into another before sweeping the leg of a third and uppercutting him as she fired, before slamming him back down with a shot from her prosthetic, propelling her metal fist into his chest as he crashed to the ground.

Planting her heel on the chest of the soldier closest to her, she kickflipped back into a spinning kick, propelling herself with a round fired from Ember Celica, she threw another into the wall behind him. Firing both weapons at once, she launched herself into a strike with both elbows to the final guard's chest as he tried to regain his footing from her earlier attack. She stood triumphantly over the defeated guards, blowing the steam from the barrels of her weapons.

"Sending 'em out with a Yang, oh yeah!" she punched the air twice, then kicked with excitement.

"Yang, you know I can see and hear you, right?" Winter pointed out dryly.

She froze, blushing from embarrassment "What's there to see? I don't know what you're talking about..." she replied sheepishly, trying to play it off.

"Right..."

Ruby spun Crescent Rose over her head as the soldiers attacking her tried to engage her with their weapons, keeping them at a distance. Hooking the blade under the leg of one of her attackers, she flipped him onto his back, firing her weapon to slam into a second attacker, throwing him into the roof with an upward strike. The third and final assailant rushed her from behind, only to have the handle of Crescent Rose thrust between his legs, slamming upward painfully. Twisting around, she delivered a powerful kick to his chest, dropping him to the ground.

"I've hit a dead end, this door should lead to the bridge, but I'm cutoff" she reported.

"Hang on, Ruby. Security system's being stubborn. Should only take a second" Blake assured.

Yang gasped "Ooo! Hey, guys! Think I found their armory, some awfully fun toys in here" her tone changed from playful to serious "Gotta say, I don't want to jinx us, but I expected more soldiers than this. Something feels off " she pointed out.

"Done. Should be clear for you now" Blake declared "Honestly, I've gotta agree with Yang, we should be careful"

The door opened "Thank you, Blake" she smiled "Weiss, how's it coming?"

"It's uh... going..."

"Everything okay, Weiss?" Yang asked.

"Oh yeah, just fine. Except for the fact there's bombs planted everywhere!"

"Uh... bombs you didn't plant?"

"Why would they do that?" Blake wondered.

"I don't know, but I don't think we should stick around to find out. Ruby, I'm headed to meet you at the bridge. I suggest the rest of you do the same"

"I'm on my way!" Yang called.

"See you there, stay safe" Blake added.

"Alert to all teams! Wyvern has just entered the field, headed straight for Mantle" Ironwood warned.

"Yeah, we see it! Any chance you guys might be finishing up soon?" Jaune asked hopeful.

"Going as fast as we can, Jaune. Just hold on" Ruby assured.

"Oh, we'll be here. Assuming it doesn't crush us all first" Slade deadpanned.

Ruby entered the room to find the bridge completely empty, save for one man standing with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the bridge console, the sound of his metallic breathing sent a shiver up her spine "Sable Wolf"

"Ruby Rose... you shouldn't have come aboard" Sable pressed a few keys on the console behind him.

"I know you don't want to serve Salem, let us help you. We can work together to stop her" she tried.

Sable's shoulders trembled, but he couldn't control his own body anymore, it was all Salem now "She ordered me to plant explosive charges all over this ship. They're strong enough to destroy this ship and Mantle once we crash land... I can't refuse..."

Ruby's eyes widened in shock "This ship was never meant to attack the fleet or reinforce Mantle... it's going to destroy the city!"

"And your friends along with it, as planned" his hands lowered to his sides, removing the pistol holstered there "I specifically placed the charges where they'll do the most damage, and they'll go off when we crash..."

"Then we'll disarm them!" Blake called as she arrived.

"Yeah, couple bombs won't stop us!" Yang declared as she and Weiss made their way in not long afterward.

"Even if you could disarm them all in time, this ship is still going to crash into Mantle. The controls have been overridden. Mantle will be destroyed one way or another"

Ruby placed her fingers to her earpiece "Did you get all that, Winter?"

"Affirmative. I'm locked out of navigational systems, they're locked in. Penny?"

"It's not just code locked, the system is burnt out completely. There's nothing I can do"

"Then what do we do?" Blake asked.

"I'm open to ideas" Ruby replied.

Sable's body trembled as he took a step toward them "You... need.. to... leave..." he forced out as he took a second step, then broke into a full sprint.

Ruby and Yang were unable to react fast enough, receiving a kick to the face from each of his heels as he leapt between them, then a third kick to Weiss threw her onto her back as her teammates rolled into nearby consoles painfully. Blake held her blade and sheathe in each hand, ready to strike as he turned to her. Both of them leapt forward, only for Blake to be grabbed by her abdomen and slammed down into the ground. Sable stomped down onto her chest painfully, then punched for her face only to strike through her, having used her Semblance to escape his attack and roll away. Sable moved faster than she could, slamming his fist down onto her chest as she blocked with her weapons. One hand grabbed her by the shoulder and the other by her leg, swinging effortlessly, he launched her out the window of the bridge, sending her flying onto the hull.

"Blake!" Ruby called after her, being the first to her feet.

Firing for his face, he blocked with his arm, then fired back at her, she spun Crescent Rose to deflect the round and knocked his arm away with the end of her scythe. He spun with the strike, firing both pistols now down at her abdomen as he lowered himself to a crouched position. Each round was deflected, save for one, causing her to groan in pain. Spinning to a standing position, he grabbed the end of Crescent Rose and flung her out the broken glass after her teammate. Weiss used her Glyphs to launch herself toward him, only for her blade to get caught beneath his arm. She attempted to strike him with her free hand, but was stopped when he smacked it away with his pistol. Flipping it over in his hand, he smacked her in the abdomen with it, then twisted around, launching her through the glass after Ruby as she lost her grip on her weapon. Holstering the pistol on his shoulder, he turned toward the charging Yang. With Myrtenaster spinning in his hand, he spun down to one knee as she swung high, and sliced across her legs, dropping her onto her hands, then slice upward across her chest, stumbling her to her feet.

With a growl of frustration, she charged Sable once more only to have her legs swept out from under her and a powerful kick to her abdomen sending her flying outside to the rest of her team "Yang!" Ruby called with concern, hanging from Crescent Rose.

Yang embedded her metal arm into the roof, sliding to a stop "Don't worry! I'm hanging on!" she called giving a thumbs up.

Blake hung from her own weapon with Weiss hanging onto her hand "What do we do?" Weiss called.

Sable leapt out onto the exterior with them, Myrtenaster in hand. He approached Blake and Weiss "Forgive me" he kicked her in the face, sending them both flying back.

"No!" Ruby called, watching as Yang barely managed to catch Weiss by the leg, keeping them both safely onboard "Whew"

"Guys, I have an idea" Yang told them.

"I'm all for it!" Blake called.

"We need to get him off his feet, send him over the edge"

"Alright, sounds simple enough... how?" Weiss asked.

"I'm going to throw you both at him"

Blake's eyes widened "I'm suddenly not for this plan anymore"

"Here we go!"

"No, no, no, wait!" Yang swung them back, then launched them toward Sable.

Blake caught the end of Gambol Shroud and ripped it out of the hull, both her and Weiss slid to a stop as they engaged Sable. Weiss swept for his legs, only to have him step back away from it, then spun down beneath a strike for his head by Blake. Elbowing them both in the chest from behind, he struck the back of his fists into their faces, then spun with a kick to Blake's, throwing her onto her back. She embedded her blade into the hull to stop herself from sliding as he flipped through the air, kicking Weiss toward Ruby, who used one of her black Glyphs to pin herself to the hull on her back.

Sable started to drift with the wind, but his boots magnetized to the surface bringing him back down safely "Whelp, there goes my plan" Yang lamented, launching herself toward them with Ember Celica.

Sable flipped forward at the defenseless Weiss and struck downward at her chest with his stolen blade. Yang blocked the strike with her metal arm, forcing him away from her teammates with a shove of her shoulder to his chest. Punching for his left side, he fired his pistol into her knee, then slammed the hilt of Myrtenaster into her face, throwing her aside. Blake managed to barely catch her with the ribbon of her weapon, using the magnetized clip, used for sheathing her weapon, to keep her on the hull. Sable turned toward Blake and rushed toward her as she forced herself to her feet. Leaping into a downward strike, Blake blocked with her sheathe and sidestepped a kick for her chest, then used her Semblance to avoid a second kick as he spun toward her. Ruby and Weiss got to their feet as Blake slid to a stop beside them, each of them holding each other to keep steady.

Yang climbed the ribbon to the rest of her team "We don't have a lot of time. We have to get out of her and tell Ironwood to take this thing down before it reaches the city" the blonde reminded them.

"How? He's too fast, and the wind is going to knock us off this ship before we have a chance to stop Sable" Blake concluded.

"And the snow has been a big help" Weiss deadpanned.

Ruby had a look of realization wash over her "I've got an idea"

"I'm all ears" Blake panted out.

"Yeah you are" Yang laughed at her own joke.

"Yang" Weiss reprimanded "This isn't the time"

"Spoilsport. What's the plan, Rubes?"

"It's not my plan, it's your plan. I think you're right"

"Uh, no offense, Ruby, but we already tried her plan, he's magnetized to the hull" Weiss argued.

"Yeah, and we're not. Buuuut, if we can make him lose his footing he might give us the opening we need"

"Give us?" Blake asked.

"Haven't you noticed? He's slowing down between attacks. He's trying to resist the chip controlling him!" Ruby answered.

"Alright, Ruby... we'll go with your plan, er, my plan"

She nodded "Blake, take the lead, then Weiss, then me"

"And I'll take up the rear, got it"

Weiss nodded "This'd better work" she formed a miniature Glyph in her palm.

They moved into a single file line "Whatever you girls are planning, I hope it's good" he called as he started running toward them.

"Now!" Ruby called as they followed one after another.

Blake flipped sideways through the air as he sliced through her, leaving a copy behind from her Semblance. The real Blake sliced downward with both weapons, dropping his arms to the ground as he fell to one knee, she then impaled her blade into the hull to keep her steady. Without wasting a second, Weiss spun over her into a kick for his face. He moved to avoid it but found himself stumbling as a miniature Arma Gigas sliced through his right foot. Her heel connected with his mask, pushing him back as he stumbled and Blake took her by the hand to keep her on the ship. Using her Semblance, Ruby soared over them, landing between Weiss and Sable, she fired Crescent Rose as she swung, knocking Sable's legs out from under him. Yang stepped on the backs of her teammates as Ruby embedded her weapon into the hull once more and activated her own Semblance, hair ablaze and eyes matching her sister's namesake. With a loud cry, she slammed her metal fist into Sable's face just as he seemed to freeze up, shattering his helmet and sending Myrtenaster clattering to the ground along with one of his pistols.

Yang caught the blade in one hand and held onto Crescent Rose with the other, keeping her level "Yes! How do ya like that!" she shouted as his pistol slid down over the edge along with its owner.

Weiss used a large black Glyph to keep herself and her team safely on the ship, now that none of their attacks would be halted by it. Sable careened over the edge, but before he could fall, his hand magnetized, sticking to the hull, flipping to his feet. He pulled himself back up with his opposite hand, his face now in clear view for each of them.

"Oh, come on!" Ruby breathed out in frustration.

"Oh... my..." Weiss' eyes were wide.

"What did they do to him?" Blake asked.

Sable's face was soulless, his cybernetic skull staring back at them, digitized eyes matching the color of the Grimm's own. He looked closer to one of the Apathy than the Faunus he used to be "They ripped me apart" he answered.

"You're not like the others in Chimera, you're not just controlled by the chip in your brain..." Yang breathed out.

"The chip might as well be my brain" Sable finished "My Aura is the only part of me they decided was worth keeping. I don't even know if I'm really the man I used to be, or if I just think I am because I'm programmed that way... but I'm not like that friend of yours, whatever they did to remake me, they wanted it to be me, my skills, my memories, all of it. They didn't want something new like Dr. Polendina did... life is full of surprises like that"

Blake grimaced "That's horrible"

"Not as horrible as what Salem has planned. You'll need to clip her new wings if you want to change the course of this battle"

Weiss' eyes widened, she took her weapon from Yang "Guys, I think I have an idea. But we're gonna need some help"

"What kind of help?" Yang asked.

"Slade's kind of help" she smiled.

Sable huffed "I like you girls, you're everything a Huntress should be. I'd like to think my daughter would've grown up to be like you, any one of you" he removed his pistol from his shouldered holster "You're going to have to stop me if you want to get off this ship"

"No, I don't think we will" Weiss' Arma Gigas grew to enormous size and leapt onto the bridge, destroying the console as it impaled it's blade through the ship.

All of them stumbled as the bridge exploded violently "Well, that's one way to stop a ship" Yang called out as she struggled to regain her footing.

Sable rushed toward them, but before he could attack, Arma Gigas snatched him up by his legs and threw him into the raging inferno of the interior. Wasting no time, Weiss used her Dust to freeze the bridge, trapping him inside, at least for the time being.

"Everyone jump!" Ruby shouted.

"Are you insane! We're too high!" Blake yelled back.

"No, listen to Ruby!" Weiss shouted as she ran to the edge, a Glyph in her hand.

"I'm all for crazy plans, but this one isn't great!" Yang noted as she followed behind.

The four of them all leapt from the side of the ship, Weiss summoned a Lancer as quickly as she could, all of them directing themselves to it and landing safely. Looking back at the ship, it started to slowly lose altitude, it's nose pointed directly for Mantle. The Lancer soared away, doing its best to avoid the Grimm polluting the sky.

"So much for not using this as our way out" Yang laughed.

"We didn't really have any other options" Weiss placed her fingers to her ear piece "Slade, can you hear me?"

All she recieved in reply was static "That doesn't sound good" Ruby noted.

"Winter, do you have anything on Slade's position?" again she recieved no answer "Penny? Anybody?"

"Something is wrong. Communications are down" Blake frowned "What do we do?"

"Uh... guys" Yang pointed ahead of them.

They all looked to see explosions tearing through Atlas and the academy, airships dogfighting other airships in the sky "Oh no..." Ruby gasped.

"What do we do? We can't talk to Atlas and we can't warn the others about the airship" Weiss pointed out.

"We need to get to Atlas and figure out what is going on right away, but if that airship hits Mantle..." Ruby frowned.

"They're all dead, yeah" Blake's ears drooped.

"And you're the only one who can stop that Wyvern with your eyes" Yang added.

Ruby hardened her gaze "Get up to Atlas, figure out what's going on as fast as you can" she stood and leapt from the Lancer down toward Mantle, firing Crescent Rose to increase her speed and direct herself.

"Ruby! What are you doing?!" Yang called after her.

---

Flynt unleashed his Killer Quartet on a group of Chimeran soldiers as they took aim at Neon, his multicolored soundwaves threw them into a nearby wall. Nora wasted no time, slamming Magnhild into the group and launching them through the building with a powerful strike. A Beowolf rushed Flynt from behind, but Ren leapt from the shadows and sliced through it. The two nodded to each other, then returned to the fight. The Atlesian soldiers had taken up positions leading to the crater, picking off any Grimm or Chimeran thugs that slipped past the Huntsmen.

"Neon, you've got a real party on your back" Flynt warned.

Neon grinned as she led the pack of Grimm away from her allies "Just taking them for a ride, Flynt! No biggie"

Twirling around so she was roller blading backwards, she looped around a street lamp and picked up speed back toward the pack. With blinding speed, she smashed through them, back and forth, using her cyan colored glowing nunchucks to destroy them, many of them frozen in ice before shattering from her strikes. Slade was thrown onto the hood of a nearby car, an Ursa roaring in his face as it attempted to bite him. Slade leaned out of the way, then wrapped his right leg and left arm around it's neck, impaling his opposite wrist blade into the creature, causing it to roar in anger. Kicking it off him as he released his hold, he fired both gauntlets into the Ursa's chest, killing it. Jaune rushed to Slade's side as a Sabyr leapt at him from behind, slamming the bottom of his shield into it's face. Slade rolled forward on one hand, kicking a Boarbatusk as it charged, then sliced his wrist blade through a Beowolf as it prepared to strike at Jaune from behind. Jaune impaled the Sabyr with his blade while Slade grabbed the Boarbatusk by it's tusks and lifted it, twisting toward Jaune, who slashed through its underside, killing it.

Two Chimera soldiers were taken down by soaring blades from behind, followed by Penny slamming through the Grimm lines with tremendous force. She slid to a stop behind Qrow as he used his scythe to pin a Teryx to the ground by the blade. Swinging the scythe to his right, he knocked the rifle of a Chimeran soldier away from him before kicking him in the chest, sending him flying straight into one of Penny's blades. Spinning as she unleashed a beam of energy from her array of blades, she took down dozens of charging Grimm with ease, then soared back into the sky, taking down several more flying Grimm with her blades. Ahead of her, a Nevermore roared, she increased her pace, latching her hand onto the edge of its beak, she fired a beam of energy through its mouth, burning a hole straight through the creature, destroying it.

Ren dropped onto a Sabyr from above, hooking StormFlower on each side of its neck, he severed its head with a simultaneous strike from each weapon. Jaune slashed through a Beowolf, then twisted into a second slash that decapitated an approaching Ursa. Turning back to a Sabyr as it leapt toward him, he slammed his shield into its head, throwing it backward with the force of the strike. Slade rushed toward an oncoming Beowolf and flipped sideways over it, firing Defiance into the back of it's head. Nora used Magnhild to sweep the legs of a Boarbatusk as it charged, spinning with the motion, she slammed her hammer down into it's underside, destroying it just as a roar echoed through the night. Looking up, they all watched as a Wyvern emerged from the clouds, exuding the same black substance as before, dropping to the ground and spawning more Grimm as it approached. Ironwood approached the edge of the academy terrace, noticing the Wyvern turning downward to Mantle.

Slade's arms drooped as he panted with exhaustion "Give me a break..."

"We need a plan" Ren noted.

Flynt sighed "Anything we do is just gonna piss it off"

The color drained from Neon's face "We're so dead... it's Beacon all over again"

"Alert to all teams! Wyvern has just entered the field, headed straight for Mantle" Ironwood warned.

Jaune placed two fingers on his earpiece "Yeah, we see it! Any chance you guys might be finishing up soon?" he asked hopeful.

"Going as fast as we can, Jaune. Just hold on" Ruby assured.

"Oh, we'll be here. Assuming it doesn't crush us all first" Slade deadpanned.

Pietro stepped out onto the terrace "General" he called.

"Doctor?" Ironwood turned toward him "What is it?"

"Councilor Rawlings wanted to speak with you and I, seems he wants an update on our defenses"

"Now?" Ironwood asked surprised "We have more important things to worry about right now. If I'm not overseeing the battle-"

"With all due respect, Sir. Isn't that why Winter is coordinating our defense?"

"That's not the point, we need to focus on protecting our people. The last thing I need right now is the Council breathing down my neck"

Pietro frowned "Well, unfortunately, he didn't make it sound like it was a request. I don't know how he'll respond if you refuse"

Ironwood sighed deeply, he didn't like it, but he knew the Council could make things very difficult for him if he didn't work with them "What of Councilor Schnee?"

"He was with his family last I knew, but I doubt he'll be exempt from the meeting all the same. I'm certain we'll find him there"

"Right" he cleared his throat, two fingers moving to his earpiece "Winter, I'm being summoned by the Council"

"Now? We're in the middle of a battle"

"My thoughts exactly. Keep me informed of any new developments. If you need me, I'll leave immediately"

"Understood, Sir"

He folded his hands behind his back "Alright, let's get this over with"

The Wyvern swooped down toward the city, then with a powerful beat of its wings, launched itself skyward. They covered their faces as the wind knocked into them, each of them sliding back a few inches, aside from Neon who began to roll away, only stopping when Flynt caught hold of her arm. The beast came crashing down onto a set of buildings, crushing them beneath the weight of its feet. Spreading its wings, it unleashed a ferocious roar right at the group of Huntsmen. More and more Grimm continued to spawn out from the sludge it dropped to the ground.

"You're going to need to keep that thing away from the crater, even a drop of that stuff gets in there, the Grimm will be everywhere-" Winter's voice faded into static.

"Winter? Winter, are you there? General? Ruby?" Jaune tried.

"Something is wrong, what's going on up there?!" Nora asked.

"One thing at a time, Nora" Slade replied, the Wyvern preparing to attack them.

Before it could move, a powerful blast of energy struck the back of its head, Penny soaring past it a moment later "Penny!" Jaune called.

"We need a plan!" Nora called.

Jaune rubbed his chin thoughtfully, thinking aloud "The Wyvern's head is too heavy armored to do much damage, but its insides could be vulnerable... that tail is as much of a weapon as its claws and the wings make it impossible to reach in the air... unless you can fly. Six eyes... means it relies on seeing everything"

"Then we need to give it a blind spot, confuse it by taking out its eyes" Slade suggested.

"That'll just make it mad" Ren noted.

"Right, but it'll give us a fighting chance, we either need to buy time for Ruby to get here or we need to destroy it here and now" Slade replied.

"And without a way to know for sure if Ruby is coming..." Jaune sighed "We're left with only one option"

"Piss it off" Nora grinned "Got it"

"Already on it!" Qrow called as he rushed past them.

Flynt leaned over to Neon "They're completely crazy" he whispered.

"Yup. Totally insane"

Qrow swung Harbinger in scythe form toward one of its smaller left eyes, slicing across it painfully. Catching himself on one of its teeth, he flipped himself over its head, blade straightening as he impaled the back of its neck. The beast roared in anger, using the claw at the top of its wing, it swung for Qrow, forcing him to switch to Corvid form. Switching back to normal between its legs, he slashed his blade for each of them before spinning Harbinger into a scythe and performing a leaping strike across its midsection, landing beside the others.

Nora rushed to the right, firing Magnhild at its skull "What's the matter? Got something in your eyes?!" she shouted with a grin.

Flynt moved to the opposite side of the creature and used his Killer Quartet once more, confusing the creature as it roared in anger, thrashing about. Slade didn't waste any time, taking advantage of Flynt's Semblance, he took aim with Defiance, lined up his shot carefully, then fired into the larger eye on its left side, the soundwaves propelling the round forward to increase the impact. The Wyvern roared angrily at the destruction of its eyes, leaving it with only one more on that side. Its tail moved to strike Slade only to miss as Neon knocked him out of the way.

"Guys, I have an idea" Penny told them hovering over the group.

"I'm open to pretty much anything at this point" Jaune replied.

"Then leave it to me, I'm gonna need its attention" she moved to its right side, striking it with a blast of energy.

It turned toward her in anger, ready to attack, then she flew quick away behind it. The Wyvern turned around and beat its wings, preparing for flight. As it did, the Grimm that were created from it charged toward those remaining on the ground. The Wyvern crashed through building after building chasing after Penny, she looked back to see it was gaining on her. Increasing the power behind her thrusters, she turned skyward heading straight up. The Wyvern struggled to follow, but managed to keep her in its sight.

"What is she doing?" Nora asked as she smashed her hammer down onto one of the charging Grimm.

"I don't care if she's singing it a lullaby. As long as it works" Slade called back, firing Defiance into a Teryx over his shoulder.

Penny twisted around, her thrusters continuing to propel her upward. Both of them were concealed in the storm now, Grimm screaming all around her. She ignored them, forming a circle of blades in front of her, firing a large beam of energy right at the Wyverns head. This slowed the creature down, but didn't stop it completely. With a flick of her wrist, two much smaller circles formed on each side of her, firing blasts of energy into the red membrane of its wings. Clenching her hands into fists, she pulled back just as several Grimm moved to attack her, she descended quickly, rushing back out of the storm with the Wyvern nose diving to follow her.

"Look, there!" Ren called, pointing to the sky as the Wyvern reappeared.

It was gaining on Penny, no matter how much she put into her thrusters, she couldn't stay ahead of it. The Wyvern noticed the quickly approaching ground and held its wings out to slow itself, but the holes she'd burned in them prior only grew into larger tears. It roared as Penny flipped around at the last moment, unleashing a powerful blast of energy into its mouth. Just before she collided with the ground outside Mantle, she used her thrusters to change direction, slamming into the streets, bouncing to a stop from the momentum. The Wyvern however was no so fortunate, slamming all its weight onto its head as its insides burned, its whimper of pain cut short by the impact.

Penny propped herself up, watching as the Wyvern began to fade "I did it..." she said in disbelief, eyes wide.

"She did it!" Jaune shouted happily, having witness the death of the massive Grimm.

Slade was on the run from a pack of Grimm following behind him. Removing several Fire Dust rounds, snapping the top off one and tossing them over his shoulder. Flipping through the air, he fired Defiance into the powdered Dust as it fell from the casing, causing the three to explode, burning through the whole pack as he landed on his back, sliding to a stop. He took a moment to catch his breath, sitting up.

"Slade, there is too many for you to be lying down on the job" Qrow called, helping him to his feet.

He nodded "Yeah, there seems to be no end to them"

"We've got this, guys! We've already taken down a Wyvern, what else can they throw at us?!" Nora shouted.

The roar of an approaching Leviathan tore through the air "You had to ask" Ren griped.

Qrow's shoulders drooped "We're so dead..."

"Not today you aren't" called a familiar voice.

A burst of rose petals flew between them "Ruby?!" Qrow called with shock.

She slid to a stop in front of a Beowolf, impaling it on Crescent Rose and slamming it down over her shoulder. She then took off like a rocket, converting her scythe into a sickle-like shape, spinning through their ranks. She cut up and down, left and right, dismembering the Grimm faster than they could react, increasing her ferocious speed with each passing second. Crescent Rose returned to it's natural curve, slicing through the center of the final Grimm in her path, leaving her sliding to a stop before the massive Leviathan. Without wasting a moment, a bright white light emanated from her eyes, engulfing the surrounding area, destroying many Grimm around them. The Leviathan was petrified, but the stone holding it started to crack.

"Hold it right there!" Penny shouted unleashing a powerful beam of energy into it's chest, killing the creature as it burned a hole through it.

Ruby panted for breath, resting Crescent Rose on her shoulder "There... all... clear..."

Qrow approached her with a smile "Glad to see you, kiddo"

Ruby smiled back, managing to catch her breath "Where's the Wyvern?"

Penny landed beside her with a bright smile "I felled the beast!" she saluted "No magic necessary!"

Ruby was shocked, but quickly overcame it, shaking her head "Good, then we just need Slade"

"Me?" he asked confused "What do you need me for? Where is the rest of your team-"

Ruby zipped over to him, shushing him with her finger "We don't have time. That ship-" she pointed to the descending airship "-is going to crash into Mantle and it is armed with dozens of bombs to destroy the city. Weiss disabled the ship, but it is still going to crash into the city... unless you stop it"

Slade blinked, watching the ship with shock "You want me to... move that?"

She nodded "Mmhm, with your Semblance"

"I... I've never even tried to move something that big, let alone after this much fighting. I don't know if I have it in me to-"

"Then I'll help" Jaune offered "With my Semblance, I can boost your Aura, then you just drop that thing in the snow before it can hit the city"

"I can't, I... I-"

Ruby took him by the shoulders "If you don't, everyone here, including us, is going to die. You need to do this"

Slade frowned "You're really not making this easy on me, huh?" he sighed "Alright... Jaune, let's give it a go. We'll need some cover"

"You've got it" Qrow assured.

"Good, cause once you're done here, we need to figure out what's going on in Atlas" Ruby replied.

"You lost coms too?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah, can't get in touch with anyone. I sent the others to the academy to find out what's-"

Nora shouted loudly as she caught a Megoliath by its tusk, sliding from the momentum of the creature as she strained with effort. Flynt used his Semblance to slow it down while Neon cracked her nunchucks, Lightning Dust radiating through the yellow weapons now. She placed them onto Nora, providing her the extra strength to stop the creature with her Semblance. Penny dashed over, unleashing a powerful blast of energy into its underside. Ruby rushed over to help while they kept it occupied, Ren moved to replace her.

"Give her a hand, Qrow. I can keep them from being bother by the Grimm" he assured.

"Right. Good luck, kid" he called back before rushing to the action.

Ren concealed the three of them from the Grimm using his Semblance while Jaune used his own to amplify Slade's. He closed his eyes, focusing on the massive ship, reaching his hands out toward it. He could feel the individual parts of the ship, but no matter how he tried, they hardly moved, his frustration causing the metal to bend but not shift. He pulled and pushed, he twisted and turned, but nothing he did seemed to work. Finally, he tried to bear all his power down onto the front of the ship, making it nosedive, yet even with all his effort, it only adjusted course marginally. He dropped onto his knees, refusing to give up, his Aura quickly dwindling.

It's too much! I can't... I can't!

Breathe, Slade. You CAN do this. Focus, use your emotions to fuel your power

I'm trying, Elise! Nothing I do works!

You are focusing on negative emotions, those are not the strongest emotions, only the easiest to call upon

Then what do I do?

Channel the most powerful emotion, the one that has seen you, has seen humanity through the darkest of times.

What? Which one is that?

...

Elise?

Isn't it obvious?

Slade turned his head toward the others, Ren and Jaune protecting and amplifying him. Qrow and Ruby, Nora and Penny, each of them fighting to protect each other. His thoughts shifted to Weiss and Blake, Winter and Oscar, even James and Ozpin. All the friends he'd made that he wanted so desperately to protect... his family. Finally, his thoughts landed on the one responsible for it all, for saving him from himself. Yang Xiao Long... he thought to when they'd met, to when he'd gifted her a new bike, when they danced together, the kiss they shared that morning, the words she'd said to him in Corinth... but most importantly, he thought to the future he wanted, the life he looked forward to living with her by his side. With that final thought, the ship dipped dramatically. Blinking in surprise, Slade used this newfound power and twisted the ship away from the city as much as he could, it slammed into the snow, explosions tearing through it. A shockwave knocked everyone down, throwing them as a massive explosion tore through the remains of the ship, snapping it in half as it came to a stop on its side.

Slade's ragged breathing was accompanied by Jaune and Ren's exhausted breaths as well "Well... that was... awful"

Jaune laughed "Hey, we... still... did it..."

"As a team" Ren agreed, being the first to get to his feet.

Jaune accepted his offered hand, standing tall "Let's get you up, Slade" they both offered a hand to him.

Slade accepted each of them, getting to his feet "That's one less thing to worry about at least"

Neon's eyes were wide as dinner plates "Oh my gosh, you guys were super crazy awesome! Why didn't you just do that the first time?"

"Hey, that was a... hopefully one time thing" Slade replied "That wasn't exactly as easy as it looked"

"To be honest, it didn't look all that easy..." Flynt noted "Diggin' the teamwork, though. Very nice"

"I swear, you kids are always trying to show me up" Qrow chuckled "Nice work, Slade"

"Just wait until Yang hears about this" Nora grinned "She's gonna be bragging about it for months"

"Speaking of Yang, we need to get up to Atlas and figure all this out. Something was very wrong, and if something happens to Oscar or Winter, that city" Ruby pointed skyward "Could be dropping on our heads"

"We can't just leave. The evacuation is still nowhere near finished" Penny pointed out.

"Well, we've been holding strong so far, and Penny just took down a Wyvern for crying out loud!" Jaune grinned "Slade and Qrow are two of our best fighters, if something bad is going on up there, they'll need you guys up there"

"Way ahead of you" Qrow changed into Corvid form, flying up toward Atlas.

"Well... that's one way to make an exit" Jaune noted aloud "Ren" he called turning back to him "Make a run to the crater and find out the status of the evacuation. If we can't talk to Ironwood, neither can they"

He nodded "Right. I'll be as quick as I can" he rushed off without another word, leaving Nora grumbling about 'lack of attention'.

Slade turned to Ruby "I'm worried about Yang, but I'm not sure I feel much better leaving everyone here by themselves"

Ruby frowned "Me neither, but we need to do something and fast. If we don't at least get communications back up, we're in the dark down here"

Jaune placed a comforting hand on Slade's shoulder "Don't worry, we'll keep them busy as long as we can"

"Yeah, we'll show 'em what we're made of!" Nora shouted with excitement.

Slade smiled, giving them a firm nod "Stay safe then, and give 'em hell" he turned to Ruby "Any ideas on how to get up there?"

She smiled sheepishly "Just the one" she pointed to the tethers connecting Mantle to Atlas.

Slade's eyes widened "Are you insane? You want me, us, to climb... that?" he pointed incredulously.

"Look, I know you're not a fan of heights. But we've gotta get up there, and we can't exactly flag down a civilian transport from the crater. Not without slowing down the evacuation"

"I don't mind heights, it's the falling I'm not fond of"

"Well, you're afraid of flying too-"

"Crashing, I'm afraid of crashing. Big difference" he corrected quickly.

"Well, do you have any better ideas?"

Slade promptly held up one finger "As a matter of fact... I do not" he finished deflated.

"See? Perfect plan" she motioned for him to follow "Come on"

"Perfect... right..." Slade rubbed his eyelids "I'm going to die... this is how I die... Ruby is going to kill me" he muttered to himself as he followed behind her. Outside the city walls, by the smoldering wreckage of the stolen airship, a metal hand reached out of the snow.

---

That's all for this time folks, I'm already hard at work with the next chapter, promise it won't be too long before that one comes out for you guys. Thank you all for your continued patience and understanding.