Chapter 71

(So, I was asked a long time ago that if I could pick voice actors/actresses for my OCs, who would I choose? After a bit of thinking about it, for some fuckin' reason, I decided I wanted to make a few adjustments to that.

If I could, I'd want Mist to still be voiced by Laura Bailey. But I'd change Shadow to Robbie Daymond. I'd change Nicci to Erika Harlacher. Nolan North and Sam Witwer would still be Chrome and Marek. But I'd change Liam to Johnny Yong Bosch.

Don't know why I was thinking about this after so long, but there it is. In case anyone was curious)

Chrome

Minutes earlier

In the foyer of the mansion, the doorbell rang. Chrome, Ruby, and Blake, opened the door to see Ren, Ocar, Yang and Jaune standing outside.

Ruby and Yang shared a quick reunion before Ruby turned to Oscar. Yang looked to Chrome, who averted eye contact. He wasn't entirely sure what they were anymore. Back at Beacon, the two were barely a "thing" and now, with everything going on, they hadn't really had a chance to build on that. At best, the two of them were probably just good friends.

But that line of thought was interrupted as Yang brought Chrome into an embrace.

"I missed you." She said softly.

"Really?" Chrome asked with a nervous chuckle. "It hasn't even really been two days."

"Shut up." Yang told him with a smirk.

Outside, Ruby went to bring Oscar in for a hug, but stopped when she saw a not so friendly face among the group.

Emerald, rubbing her arm nervously, was with them.

Gritting her teeth, Ruby reached for her weapon.

"No, she's okay! I can-"

Oscar was interrupted by Ruby's scroll ringing. Answering it, May was on the other line.

"Kids, the cargo ships you sent just made it but they're not alone." May shouted.

"May? What are you talking about?" Ruby asked.

"Oh my gods, run! Everyone, into the mines!" May shouted at the civilians behind her.

"Were those...?"

Suddenly, an emergency CCT broadcast began to play.

Present time

After watching the broadcast, everyone in the group, except for Emerald, slowly looked to Chrome as he clutched his scroll in his hands. Ruby was clearly shaken as well, but Chrome was beyond furious.

Ironwood killed Marek on a live broadcast in front of everyone in both Atlas and Mantle.

As Yang went to place a hand on his shoulder, Chrome's scroll snapped in two from the amount of pressure he applied to the tiny device.

Throwing the pieces of his scroll to the ground, Chrome turned to the front door and went to leave the mansion.

"Where are you going?" Yang asked as he walked by her.

She was ignored as Chrome walked outside. Yang was going to follow but was stopped by Ruby.

"Give him a moment." Ruby told her sister. "He might just need some time."

Walking a few feet away from the mansion, Chrome stopped and crossed his arms.

Glaring out at the horizon, he had no idea what to think. Nicci was gone. And now, so was Marek.

"Hey."

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Chrome looked back to see Jaune standing behind him. Barely even acknowledging him, Chrome returned his gaze to the horizon.

"I know how it feels." Jaune said. "Losing a teammate."

Chrome scoffed.

"Nicci and Marek, they-"

"Say another word, and I'm gonna start swinging."

Chrome's voice was laced with anger and malice. So much so that Jaune stepped back for a brief moment. However, the blonde regained his composure before moving to stand in front of Chrome.

"Look, Chrome, I know-"

He wasn't able to finish as Chrome threw a punch, connecting with his jaw. Jaune stumbled away, completely taken back by Chrome's action.

"You don't know how this fuckin' feels!" Chrome shouted. "I've lost half my team in less than two goddamn days! How in the fuck could you possibly know about anything I'm going through when you weren't even there when Pyrrha died!?"

Jaune's mouth fell open as he took a step back. But Chrome pushed forward.

"I'm not looking for your sympathy! I watched someone I considered family get stabbed and bleed out in my arms! And now I watched another person get executed on live fucking broadcast!"

Chrome's face was a deep red with rage.

"How could you possibly understand how any of that feels, when you only heard about Pyrrha's death! You weren't there." Chrome paused to chuckle. "Fuck it. I'm done."

Everyone fell silent as they stared at Chrome.

"What do you mean by that?" Yang asked.

"I'm fuckin' done." Chrome repeated himself. "Salem, Cinder, Maidens, the Grimm, all of it!"

"I think that's enough." Emerald said.

"You don't get a say in this!" Chrome shouted, turning all of his anger towards Emerald. "It was one of your friends who killed Nicci!"

Emerald only glared at him, grasping her weapons just in case.

"Chrome!" Blake shouted his name, getting his attention. "That's. Enough."

Looking to Blake, the two locked eyes before Chrome turned around and stormed off.

Liam

After the broadcast, Liam angrily paced back and forth in Weiss' room.

Weiss watched him as he threw his scroll across the room. Clenching his fists, Liam ran his hands through his hair.

"GODDAMNI-AAARGH!" Liam screamed in anger as he kicked the coffee table, shattering the glass. "FUCK!"

His voice echoed in the room as Weiss and Nora could only stare at Liam. Neither of them knew what to say.

Turning to the door, Liam stormed over to it.

"Where are you going?" Weiss asked.

"To kill Ironwood." Liam growled.

"What?!" Weiss sprung to her feet and rushed in front of him, blocking his exit. "You can't kill Ironwood!"

"That bastard just murdered my teammate on live TV!" Liam shouted. "He deserves EVERYTHING that's coming to him!"

"That may be." Nora said. "But you heard him. If we try anything other than what he ordered, he'll destroy Mantle. If any of us show up without Penny, he won't hesitate."

Liam paused.

"Until Mantle is safe, we can't risk anything." Weiss said softly.

"Then what do we do?" Liam asked. "Penny is unconscious, and without her, we can't exactly do as that fucker wants."

Weiss and Nora looked down.

"I'm gonna get some air."

Liam moved passed Weiss and began heading for the foyer.

Walking down the stairs, Jaune and Ren passed by him, heading up, presumably, to see Nora.

Liam glanced around, noticing Ruby and Chrome walk into the dining room. Heading inside to speak with them, he paused when he saw Emerald standing next to the door.

Immediately, Liam grabbed her and shoved her into the wall, pressing his arm into her neck.

"Liam!" Oscar quickly rushed and tried to pull him off Emerald.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" Liam shouted.

"She's not with Salem anymore!" Oscar shouted as Ruby came to help pull Liam away from her.

Pushed away from Emerald, who rubbed her throat, Liam pulled his weapon off his back.

"Not with Salem?!" Liam repeated.

"As much as I hate to admit it, it appears Emerald is a friend." Chrome stated. "For now, at least."

Liam looked around the room at Yang, Chrome, Blake, Ruby and Oscar.

"Are you guys fuckin' high?!" Liam pointed the tip of his sword at Emerald. "She helped destroy Beacon! Tried to destroy Haven! You guys seriously just gonna-"

"Yes." Oscar cut Liam off.

As Liam glared at Oscar, Yang approached, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"She helped us escape Salem's creature." Yang explained. "She's an enemy of Salem, just like the rest of us."

"So, you're just gonna forget that she aided the cause of so many deaths?!"

"No. But she does deserve a chance to redeem herself." Oscar said. "Everyone does."

Liam glanced around at everyone.

"Do you hear yourselves?!" Liam growled. "What if this is just a coordinated plan by Salem?!"

"It isn't." Emerald spoke. Turning to glare at Emerald, Liam clenched his fists. "You don't trust me, fine. But I am telling the truth when I say that I no longer work for Salem."

"Work for Salem?" Liam repeated. "Hey, Ruby, what was it this bitch said back in Haven? When you two fought? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't she say she was doing this for Cinder, not Salem?"

Ruby was silent as she recalled.

"She did." Ruby said slowly.

Emerald sighed.

"Fine. Allow me to correct myself: I am no longer working for Salem OR Cinder." Emerald said, glaring at Liam.

"That true, huh?" Liam pushed passed Oscar and Yang, glaring down at Emerald. He was quite a bit taller than her, having to crane her neck to look up at him. "Tell me this: when I get the chance to kill Cinder, you gonna get in my way?"

Emerald's eyes widened as she stared at Liam.

Shaking her head, Emerald narrowed her eyes.

"You won't have to worry about me." She stated.

"We'll see when the time comes, won't we?" Liam said before heading towards the door. Pausing in the doorway, he looked back to everyone. "Expect an 'I told you so' when she stabs you all in the back.

"Can we please just give each other a chance? Emerald's not with Salem anymore, and Ozpin is back." Oscar said.

"What?" Liam and Chrome turned to Oscar.

"Ozpin is back." Oscar said again.

Ruby grumbles into the table while everyone else goes quiet.

"All of this doubt and worry and distrust, it isn't getting us anywhere."

"Then nothing has changed!" Ruby slammed her hands on the table. "We're in the exact same spot we were yesterday. Arguing what to do while the kingdom waits to die."

Yang lays her hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her. Ruby shrugged the hand off and runs out of the room. Yang hesitates for a second, then runs after her, followed by Liam.

Yang and Liam soon find Ruby on the stairs next to the entrance, hugging one of the stone poles. The duo slowly make their way to the fallen suit of armor.

"You know, that giant hound kicked us around like we were nothing." Yang said. "But Blake said you two and the Schnees managed to take it down. Still having to one-up your big sis, huh?"

"Did she tell you what it was? Underneath?" Ruby asked.

Yang glanced away as Liam stared at the armor that had crushed the Hound.

"Yeah." Yang said softly.

"You know what that means then."

Yang sighed as Liam realized where Ruby was going with this.

"I wouldn't worry about that--"

Liam turned to Ruby, walking over to her.

"That's what happened to-"

"Don't you say it!" Liam growled. "Don't you even fuckin' think it!"

Ruby looked up at Liam, her eyes filled with tears.

"You know it, too." Ruby stated. "You just don't want to admit it."

"No!" Liam shouted. "Don't you say it! Not you." Liam was clearly on the verge of tears. Even though the thought crossed his mind, he didn't want to admit it to Ruby. He didn't want it to be true. But he already knew it was.

Yang looked back and forth between her cousin and sister.

"That's what happened to Mom." Ruby said.

Yang's eyes immediately began to water at the sudden realization. Trying to hold back tears, Yang grabbed her head and crouched when they start to fall off her face.

Liam had tears running down his cheeks too.

"When I saw its eyes, I knew." Ruby continued. "Salem used to kill people with silver eyes, like Maria. But she's always wanted us alive."

Yang composes herself enough to look at Ruby.

"But why would that change unless, when she met Mom, she learned she could do something new." Ruby finished.

Ruby looked to Liam.

"We shouldn't lie to ourselves. I've wasted our time getting Amity up, thinking help would come, but it didn't, and Amity fell."

Yang approached Ruby while rubbing her eyes.

"I was being childish."

Liam, not wanting to hear anymore of this conversation, turned around and walked out through the front door.

Grabbing his head as Ruby's words repeated themselves, he sat down on the steps, doing his best to calm down.

He didn't even notice when Weiss came outside.

"Hey." She said softly, joining him on the steps. "So, Emerald is with us now, huh?"

"They told you?"

"Ren and Jaune did." Weiss replied. "Yang and Ruby seemed rather upset. Any idea why that is?"

"Salem." Liam replied. "Ruby had the same thought I did. That our mom was turned into one of Salem's experiments."

Weiss fell silent.

"I want her to be wrong, but-" Liam couldn't finish, his voice breaking.

Weiss had no clue what to say to him.

Liam looked into Weiss' light blue eyes. "That Faunus, I don't want to end up like that." Tears stung his eyes from the thought alone. "He had no humanity, no free will. He was just a monster, only existing to accomplish whatever Salem tasked him with." Liam fell silent as he ran his hands through his hair. "I'm terrified, Weiss. If Salem somehow gets ahold of me, or Ruby, then-"

"That won't happen." Weiss said, placing a hand on his cheek, getting Liam to look her in the eye. "I promise."

Liam gently removed her hand from his cheek, giving a gentle squeeze.

"Promise me something else." Liam said.

"What?"

"If Salem does somehow catch me, please, kill me." Liam said.

Weiss' eyes widened at the request.

"I-"

The tears in his eyes began to overflow.

"Please. Promise me."

Weiss took a moment before slowly nodded her head.

"I will." Weiss paused for a brief moment. "I promise."

They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of glass breaking as Penny landed next to them.

"I can no longer be delayed."

"Penny?" Liam and Weiss got to their feet.

Penny began to walk away, ignoring them as Ruby rushed outside. Ruby used her semblance to get in front of her and grab her by the arms.

"Penny please!"

Penny twitched uncontrollably. "I...I must...open the vault." Her eyes flashed between red and greed. "I... I do not want...Ah!"

Emerald emerged from the entrance and looked on in shock as Oscar ran passed her

"Ruby, stop me!" Penny shouted.

"Penny!" Ruby grabbed her by the waist to try and keep her from leaving.

Penny's eyes settled on red.

"I must open the vault and self-terminate."

Penny took flight with Ruby still holding on. Penny is stopped from her flight by Blake, wrapping her weapon around Penny's right arm. Ren took the moment to grab Penny's other hand with the hooks from his weapons. Blake, Yang Nora and Oscar grabbed the chords, and together they dragged Penny to the ground and onto a Glyph made by Weiss.

"I've got her!"

Liam rushed in to help hold the chords.

"What do we do?" Nora shouted.

Penny's eyes glowed with the maidens power, as she summoned a tempest around her. The wind caused Weiss to recoil, canceling the Glyph. Penny tried to lift herself up with the summoned wind.

"I must open the vault!" Her eyes alternate from red to green. "And self-terminate."

Emerald joined in, using her chain sickles to grab Penny by the shoulders

"Do something!" Emerald shouted.

Jaune let go of the chords and ran towards Weiss. He amplified her aura, allowing Weiss to make a stronger Glyph, grounding Penny once more.

"Penny please. Tell me how to help you." Ruby said.

Penny narrowed both her eyes.

"Kill me."

Ruby's eyes widened in shock

"Kill me. And I can make sure the power goes to you." Penny said.

Ruby didn't reply as everyone else looked on in horror.

"Please... Please!" Her eyes twitched red. "I cannot fight it!" She looked to each person in the group. "Blake! Liam! Please! Wei-"

Her head suddenly snapped backwards as a gunshot rang out. With the sound of wires buzzing, Penny's eyes dilated, her body slumping in Ruby's arms. From her body, the power of the Maiden rushed to Weiss.

However, no one seemed to notice as they looked to the source of the gunshot.

Chrome stood on the steps leading into the mansion, holding Liam's weapon in its rifle form, smoke coming from the barrel. While everyone was focused on Penny, Chrome took Liam's weapon right off his back.

"What the hell did you do?!" Liam stared at his leader.

Chrome tossed Liam's weapon back to him.

"Found the solution." Chrome replied.

"What are you talking about?!" Ren shouted.

"We let Penny go off on her own, she opens the vault then kills herself, the Maiden powers are lost in the wind." Chrome stated. "If the vault is just sitting open, that allows whoever to take the contents. Now that one of you is the new Maiden, we can ensure that both the power and Staff are safe." Chrome crossed his arms, looking to each person in front of him. "You can be pissed at me all you want, but the way I see it, I did what none of you could do." Chrome walked passed them. "Thank me later."

Watching Chrome walk away, everyone glanced at one another, speechless as Ruby cradled Penny's body.

End of chapter 71