In the grand probability of endless potential and opportunity, there exists a timeline where everything goes right, rather than wrong. A timeline where events play out as close to the current one, yet key subtle differences alter and change the fates of those touched. Within the endless reaches of time, space and opportunity, the next step occurs in a tent section somewhere in the red leaves of Forever Fall…
"I can find her sir. I just need a few…" "FORGET IT. She matters little. Let her run around the world. She'll see that it's just the cesspool I know it is. As we all have seen it is. Vale is no longer a problem, the experiment worked. Now we move to Mistral", Standing over a large table in the head tent of this base of operations, stood the Beast made a Man, the bane of many Atlesian elites and nightmare to anyone who harms a Faunus. His grimm mask wasn't as intricate as Grey standing opposite the table, yet the simplicity, the black suit and horns among blazing red hair, Adam Taurus was a crime scene waiting to happen. "Prepare our brothers and sisters, but keep your voice down. The children would attract Grimm"
This White Fang base was a double front. For one it's where the Fang planned and initiated it's hit and run terror strikes upon the Human oppressors. Why just earlier today Adam himself helped capture an entire cargo train filled with Dust! Sadly it cost him a student. None the matter, she'd wisen up having spread her paws out over the continent. Discrimination was the least bad in Vale, yet that only meant the actions here would have the best results, moving to Mistral was stage two. When Mistral and Vale both bend the knee to the Faunus, then Atlas will be next, which is the real problem. As he thinks this, Adam's hand drifts towards the left side of his mask before clutching his fist and slamming on the table.
"WHAT IS THAT RACKET?!", he could hear screams and scuffles out there. Grabbing his sword and scabbard, Adam moved out of the tent, assuming some unruly kid was causing a racket and was in need of a stern talking to, but the second he left the tent, the air was thick with the smell of sulfur and the screams he thought were of kids or others of the White Fang in a friendly scuffle or argument, were screams of terror and fear. In a second the heavy burden of what he lost and the 'boring' travel towards Mistral, the responsibility of becoming a Beast so others can live the life they wanted, vanish as the duty of a leader wash over him. He clutches the sword and looks at the Lieutenant. "Get to the children, contain the attack. The safety of Faunus supersedes any other directive, is that understood?"
With a nod, a revved chainsaw sword and a grunt, the big berserker rushed off as Adam honed in on the center of the commotion and rushed forwards. As he passed tents and wounded brothers and sisters of the Fang, his blood began to boil. He had a small notion of who it could be, but no one could be that brainless and stupid, could they? Off course they could, humanity is a disease that needs to be cut out like cancer tumors. And Adam was the surgeon. Rounding a corner the White Fang Vale Branch Leader stopped his stride and rolled his eyes behind the mask. There she stood with a wounded Faunus beneath her heel. Black hair, burning eyes of hatred and the dress that was inwoven with Dust. As she raised her foot to stomp down a loud crack of a shotgun blast snapped their attention as Wilt's hilt slammed into her leg, getting it away from the Faunus beneath her while Adam moved with such speed he seemed to teleport, grabbing the sword and slamming striking at Cinder Fall. She leaps back to evade the cold steel eager to bite her flesh as Adam stands defensively over the girl Faunus on the floor. He looks back, a small white haired girl, with a shark tail. Anger boils his blood as he holds his sword in a way that's clear for Cinder to understand: you will go no further. "I could have gone to anyone for help…but I chose you Adam Taurus"
"Let me see if I understand", Adam hisses, his voice oozing with hatred that is vicious and toxic, the air itself trembling with killer instinct as he sheets Wilt back in Blush, the shotgun scabbard. "You approached me before. I told you that I wouldn't risk Faunus lives for a plan you refused to elaborate but would undoubtedly draw unnatural levels of attention to my kind, not to mention the scapegoats we'd be in the aftermath"
"What ever do you…" "DO NOT INSULT ME", with blinding speed his draw attack struck Cinder's gut, infused with hatred and intensity, the ferocious power of Adam causing orange flickers across her abdomen. A smirk on her face wasn't at all what Adam expected. Yet still he continues: "Why else come to me?! Instead of hiring mercs, praying on the 'less than reputable' Huntsmen around, you came to me, begging for manpower that I'd provide for a scheme that I assume you'd be leading from shadows. Striking when it's convenient and letting me and my forces take the blame. Why else would you pick us, the White Fang? You truly believe that I'm stupid don't you? Humans across the board never expect us to be clever, yet I didn't get to be here by being brainless, you brain damaged human b-"
"I would not be so vocal about your stance. I came to give you a chance, Adam. I want you and your forces…and I always get what I want", to emphasize that statement, she raises both her hands and unleashes a huge plume of fire. Unnaturally created fire. Her clothing didn't shine. Just a flare in her eyes as pure generated fire shot out. Was that her semblance? Instinctively Wilt is pulled half out of Blush and the pyrokinetic blast is absorbed into its crimson steel, the same steel that once would have been brittle and fragile, had it not been for the one who taught Adam to maintain his blade: Aura Forging. Not many knew but if one infuses their own soul into the blade, turning its colour into the same colour as one's Aura, it's durability becomes as strong as one's will and drive. Aura Forging could even turn cheap and crude quality steel one picks from the streets into truly triggers of devilish power! The only drawback and danger. If your will wavers, the blade betrays you and breaks, shattering the sword during the hammer and sharpening process and leaving you near death. Linking one's will and soul to a weapon can leave you entirely dependent on its strengths and addicting power. And if your discipline and focus wavers, the hunger of the Blade will push you into a frenzy that few if any could survive.
As the sword consumed the energy of the fire, reducing it's destructive plume to a mere ember, Adam's mind felt a sting. This wasn't Dust infused power. He could sense as it entered into his soul and was stored for later, that it was unnatural. It felt unnatural. Dust always felt calm and reasonable. But this felt destructive, wild, primordial. As if it was different than every day showings of power. And as it finally settled into the 'energybank' of his mind, the part he'd draw from for Moonslice, a shiver ran down his back. Just what kind of power was that?! Sheathing Wilt back as his mind returned to full clarity and reason, giving a scabbard bash as he did, Adam kept his ground, defensively protecting the Faunus unconscious behind him. Cinder, keen of mind, noticed the defensive play. He would have noticed the difference in power. How could he not? Such raw destructive force was rare among the world, hungry for it Cinder had stalked down others to aid her in acquiring that which would open doors and give her the rest and respect she deserved. An illusion casting diamond in the rough who's skills and devotion to her were a true intoxicating tonic, while a merciless patricide committing death machine was the perfect poison to divert her attention. She could still feel the first sips of Fall she took from that weakling a day or so ago. Her pained expression from the arrow in her chest, the truly panicked face as a beetle manifested in the palm of Cinder's hand and the very life of her soul being sucked out of her. Taking away the power she had and drinking it hungrily, Cinder only wanted more. More power, more strength. With all that she drank from Amber now, if she collected the quartet, she'd be satisfied. But Hunger like hers couldn't be quenched. After tasting that first drop, her sights were already set on that of her puppeteer. She'd become Queen, Remnant's nightmare turned reality. If only that damned dusty old Qrow hadn't been there to sever the connection.
"I see you now understand the gravity of the situation. With this power you're unmatched. So final chance to cooperate", Cinder smiles. Being in control off everything is intoxicatingly wonderful. She'd want more and need more of it. Yet the reaction she got, wasn't that of blind obedience or terrified groveling. No, what she heard was laughter. Not the 'I have gone mad' kind. No, the taunting 'you really think this bothers me' kind. Adam threw his head to the sky and let out a laugh so vile it almost broke Cinder's stance. Almost.
"Ha, you think some extra power will give you the edge? Oh you stupid fool of a human", Adam says as he places his hand on his sword and begins gathering the energy to unleash the Moonslice. As he opened the floodgate for the attack, a quick 'now' was muttered by Cinder which revealed two people who the Beast hadn't seen earlier. As if they just materialized. Even sister Ilia couldn't vanish that completely. Sensing the changing power balance, he knelt down, grabbed the unconscious Fang member and dashed backwards. No collateral damage. Make sure there's no chance of collateral damage and utterly vaporize these arrogant humans.
"So…first you tried intimidation, then extortion. Sad tactics that haven't worked on me for a long time, you try to use numbers. If that's the extent of the power you have, then you're nothing but a fool, know your place!", Re-engaging, now without the danger of harming a bystanding Faunus, Adam's attacks are ferocious and unyielding. With a simple double draw slice attack, standing in place and using ranged slice attacks by releasing a little Aura as he does so for extended reach, he breaks the emerald haired girl's Aura. She'd be dead if he wasn't holding back. After all, he could easily wipe all three out with his Semblance. But sometimes one has to show their true skill and brutally beat someone in a full and complete manner. Next up was the flailing legs of that gray dressed kid. First Adam merely tried to do a simple three step attack. Draw his blade for a horizontal slash, do the same slash but right to left and then back to the right. Three midsection aimed strikes. However Mercury was able to evade the first attack and raised his legs one by one to block the follow up. Resheating, the signature Iaijutsu style that his teacher had hammered into him, Adam prepared for a new attack, only for Cinder and Mercury to engage him again. Evading their attacks by leaping back and absorbing a few kinetic kicks, trying to evade the strange fire attacks of Cinder for the time, unsure if his mind could store more of that raw power, Adam broke the assassin's momentum. Striking with a reverse hold smack of Blush, spinning in place and holding the hilt of Wilt, Adam channeled the small power from Mercury's absorbed kicks into the sword as he smiled. He made a single drawing motion. Yet with the naked eye you'd swear he drew six blades. A flurry of after images, the speed of the attack being that fast, being all you could see before his hand returned the sword back to it's scabbard, while Mercury was bombarded by slashes and strikes that utterly shredded through his Aura. Crumbling to the floor with bloody patches on his jacket, Mercury was done. Adam stepped back as he cracked his neck. He could hear the voice of his master: 'better, yet you still lack the speed and motivation to elevate the 'Retribution Sever'. If you want to reach my speed to have twelve after images, your motivation has to be more.'
"You're ruining everything!", Cinder hissed as she once more shot plumes of fire at him. While he easily avoided them, the blasts impacted a few tents, luckily he knew those were empty, as the ones who were in them normally were laying on the ground wounded at the camp entrance. Adam was not impressed. He grasped Wilt, opened the powerbank and let the unruly power he had stored before feed back into his blade. The red marks on his suit, his hair, the markings on his mask even the red rose on his back glowed in an ominous flare as he readied a devastating attack. The air began radiating a coppery scent followed by an unnatural cold as behind the mask Adam gazed with unstoppable rage towards Cinder. The bloodthirst in the air around him that even caused Cinder to realize she had grossly screwed this up. Or rather she would have if she wasn't a clever person. As Adam unleashed his blade, the world itself becoming a shade of red as the sword unleashed a destructive cut so murderous it sliced the walls of camp behind Cinder, severing trees and shattering through her Aura, being on the floor managed to save Mercury's life, the girl had already vanished. A loud scream shook Adam awake. That wasn't a scream he liked hearing.
"Do…I have your attention now?", Cinder hissed. She was wounded but still alive. Mercury barely conscious ,bleeding profusely from numerous lacerations as his cargo pants were shredded and revealed synthetic legs. Yet standing behind Adam was Emerald holding the white haired shark girl hostage, knife against her throat. In a split second, the cards had swapped ante. Grimm it. He lowered his sword and stepped back, the Lieutenant appearing too late, useless Grey, before Cinder continued: "You might even harm me, but I think you'd lose a few Faunus in the struggle, no?"
He hated to play fiddle to a human, last time that ended badly. Once more he reached half way for his mask, before ultimately dropping his sword and raising his hand. "I'm listening…"
…
"Adam…what will you do?", the voice of a new rising member in the Fang asked. Deery had come to the camp after a Rally in Vale. Standing next to her was Perry. Who thankfully survived the Glenn operation, which had claimed the life of Grey. While the loss of Faunus lives was terrible and a loss, Grey had failed and his death was deserved. Especially after treating a new recruit was defamed by lies spread by Sienna, who had sent this recruit over from Mistral, Vic Migel. While normally Adam wouldn't care, there was something vile about defaming a Faunus because of their faith.
"When the first round of the Vytal tournament kicks off we prematurely execute our steps. That way we can invade Beacon and vacate the Faunus students off campus, hopefully reducing as much death for our kind as possible before we move away. With luck we'll be branded heroes for saving what kids we can, Faunus kids that is. If humans were to die, then that is sad but none would shed tears for ours so we shouldn't for them", Adam said, overlooking the drawn timeline and plans made by the woman who thinks she holds his leash. Time for a little payback for thinking her power is greater than his.
…
Amity Colosseum, the final segment, one on one rounds were about to get started. First in the arena, a girl who's mind was a mess thanks to the public knowledge that someone had tried to kill her in the turney, yet the worst punishment made was that his bail was paid by the Mistrilian elite and now back on free grounds. Grimm had surged when the truth of Poseidon had been exposed, a fallen from grace elitarian jerk who bullied those beneath him and ruined the lives of those he hated. Stratós' shenanigans as an addicted junkie of the carnal variety had also caused unrest, given several teens of all manner of gender had expressed and accused him of being forceful and inappropriate. There was an energy in the air. A very negative one as the purpose of 'bonds and friendship' the Vytal Festival was normally used for, was now nothing more than a contest to see who was less corrupt and vile. So far the public had little interest in the fights which had Atlas and Mistral teams. Fighters of said kingdoms were heckled and harassed on the fairgrounds. Drinks, food and other everyday items were thrown at the Atlesian and Mistrilian contestants when they took to the center field of Amity. The Atlesian Knight-200 security forces had trouble containing the unrest.
Add to that that Pyrrha, survivor of an unjust assassination plot by two lunatics now back on free grounds, had other things at mind. She had been asked by Ozpin to consider the position of something called a Fall Maiden. Amber Auburn, the current one, had been attacked and her power was stolen. Now while Pyrrha was a normal girl who wanted a life of meaning and attachments that would last a lifetime, Ozpin had offered her something else. The life of a Maiden. They were in need of a guardian. Someone to stand by their side. Could she honestly deny him aid? Was her Destiny to forever be above the others? Not being close to friends?! Jaune, Nora, Ren, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake. Would she still be able to see them if she took up the offer? Pyrrha didn't know. She was conflicted. Trying to help her, Jaune had mentioned that she was Pyrrha Nikos, the unbeatable girl. Destined for greatness who tackled each problem head on. She didn't want to, she wished she was just a normal girl. Pyrrha the redhead who'd get in trouble with her friends, who was invited to parties and social occurrences, not isolated and alone. She gazed at the reflection in her shield. SHe didn't see a Goddess of Victory, she only saw a lonely emerald eyed girl who'd just happened to be selected as the first fighter of the singles round.
Alas, the timeline must stay true and as Pyrrha's mind, struggling with the immense pressure of her friends to win for Beacon, to stick it to Mistral, the choice of Ozpin to step into a shadow organization and protect the world, the fact she'd slammed Jaune into a wall by accident and the unlucky timing of Ruby who spied Emerald in the stands, while Mercury was stalking around the arena, was unable to intervene in time, having Pyrrha gaze endlessly upon oceans of swords that were about to skewer her like a pig on a roost, she threw a defensive magnetic sphere around her to repel what she thought was another attempt on her life. Penny's thin steel cords coiled around her arms and legs and severed them off. Revealing a robot underneath. While a four way amputation wasn't as terrible as killing the Robot with a Soul, seeing a machine set off all the panic and distrust for Atlas, aided by a broadcast that echoed and spoke poisoned words into the hearts of all the Kingdoms. And amidst the chaos, several ships flew into the campus air of Beacon and invaded, spearheaded by a furious Beast, anger unleashed.
As the mighty Nevermore attacked, students scrambling to fight, Adam moved his forces, slaughtering Atlesian military and Knights as they went, scaring Faunus and human students into a full panicked run towards the docks, mayhem and destruction unleashed. He smiled as the timetable was ruined by his early attacks. By the time the chaos in the Vytal festival was complete, most of Beacon was evacuated. No Faunus would die at the hands of Humans, this was a sworn promise, one upon Wilt was forged. CHaos was everywhere, Grimm followed along. Adam's gaze drifted towards the night sky as endless death rains from above. How did she control the Grimm so exceptionally? He awaited words from the 'secret' team before he could pull away his men. And after what felt like forever, as he walked through the destroyed dining hall, killing Grimm and Atlas bucket heads alike, a call came through. Picking up, he heard the softest and warmest voice he ever heard. Instantly he knew who it was. The person at the line spoke the words he needed to hear the most: I have the girl, she is safe. Taurus felt a wave of relief. If something was to happen to the Shark Girl he'd lose it. He smiled: "thanks…that woman will regret what she does, we'll bring her to her knees"
"ADAM", a voice behind him. He closed the phone call as he was face to face with the girl who ran away.
…
Ruby defends Pyrrha from the Nevermore, the students at the Coliseum call their lockers, Sage and Yatsuhashi land the finishing decapitation of the Nevermore, Ironwood's Knights get turned rogue by Roman who was busted free, from the shadows Cinder has her minions broadcast the chaos worldwide, a massive Grimm Wyvern breaks free from the nearby mountain, desperation pushes Pyrrha to abandon her teammates and move towards Beacon Tower, where Cinder stalks her towards, Weiss fights Fang grunts and Atlas rogue machinery, Yang fights her way through the school, breaking jaws and kneecaps left and right. . In hopes of preventing more dead Atlas soldiers and students, Blake chases a Beowulf Alpha that breaks into the school grounds and stalks it towards the dining hall. As she gets closer however, in fear she hears the cold and rage filled voice that she once ran away from. "...bring her to her knees", Blake gasps, he's here for her! She looks at the dead Military and few human casualties. She spies the cook, school students, endless death and slaughter. She grips her sword. "ADAM!"
His face turns towards her, as his Scroll is put down and away. He turns away and begins walking towards the next section. "I have no words for you, gakusei"
Blake freezes. He called her 'student'. She remembered his lessons, the dynamic of the blade, the application of pressure, playing to your strength. He was the reason she was such an effective fighter.
"Why are you here?", she asked him, circling but keeping debris between him and her.
"None of your business. You could be standing next to me, yet you'd rather be leashed by a human", Adam says in cold disdain.
"You are wrong! I've made friends here that prove your view is flawed", Blake says before her bow twitches with terror as his mask turns towards her and gives a laugh that is unnerving and creepy.
"If you truly believe so, gakusei, why are you hiding behind that bow?", as he says that he shakes his head and continues to walk forwards. His sword flashes as a Grimm attacks and is quickly destroyed. "Because the world accepts you? No because you're terrified of what happens if you do. No matter who your friends are, you're nothing but a muzzled animal to them"
"Wrong! My friends care for me! Ruby, Yang and WEISS!", the moment the name left her mouth Blake knew she had crossed a line. His step halted and turned towards her, right side of his face first as he clutched at his mask. His lips curled into a growl as foul as his anger was in the air, you could taste it. The coppery sensation of blood. His hand clutched his sword as he stared her down.
"You are a pet for the SCHNEE?! Disappointing!", he drew his sword as a show of intimidation. He knew what his vow had been when he crafted Wilt, the bloodlust seeping into his mind as a sharp phantom pain hit him in the face. Schnee. One day he'd kill that pompous prick and his entire family line. If a Schnee was here, Adam should capitalise! Killing the famed Heiress would send the one message that the Fang was tired of being pushed around. He smiled: "I'll wipe out all Schnees of the world, and I'll start with her!"
Two distinct gunshots rang out. One was the painless sting of a bee, the katana sword Gambol on a pistol frame. Its bite was hardly noticeable as Adam felt it hit his chest. What he really felt was a high blast of explosive power at the back of his head. Turning around Blake's eyes met the amber of Yang, who had an extended arm as the smoking barrel of Ember Celica sizzled gently. Adam's anger vanished from Blake's statement. A human target. He sheathed his blade. Ready to attack.
"Get away from her!", Yang screamed as she activated Burn and blasted forwards to slam into the aggressive man who was yelling at her teammate. She sprang forwards and lunged for Adam, Blake's eyes widened in fear! SHe yelled to wait as she threw Gambol out, trying to pull Yang to the side. As her weapon looped around Yang's boot, Adam pulled his sword and sliced! He was aiming for her neck and head, but with Blake's stunt, Yang was pulled off center. Sadly not fast enough as the world turned red, Wilt letting out a blood hungry bite into flesh. When Blake looked up from what she'd done, she could see that Yang was alive. She just wasn't whole!
"NO YANG!", the shock, blood loss and pain of being amputated by a sword whose bite is as clean and painful as the crimson steel is built upon rage, Yang passed out. Blake tried to shake her awake only for a hand to grab her and forcibly shove her away. She knew her Sensei, once the sword was out, he'd see red until someone dies! Especially after naming arguably the second biggest name on Adam's hitlist. He'd be out for human blood. She tried to pull him away yet he barely needed force to keep her at bay as he raised his sword and swung to finish off the unconscious blonde.
Adam could taste blood! He was close to ending a life, another human for the slaughtering pile! Yet he only realized too late that he was the one bleeding before he felt two heels press into his chest and kickstart him flying back like a ragdolled piece of trash. Rolling through the motion, tucking in his legs he landed with a skit, sheathing Wilt once more as he stood face to face with a mask-wearing woman. Black hair, massive scabbard with rotary blades stashed. Sword extended in the same way Adam would have from an attack like this. He shook his head, the taste of blood on his lips. Spitting out a droplet or two of the red liquid as he growls. "You would defend a human? Stand down Sister or I will forgo my oath!"
Rather than reply, the woman threw a dangerous and angry glare back, her red eyes behind the mask blinking as she slashed the sword behind her, opening a hole in time space as the wounded and unconscious Yang was teleported away. Suddenly it clicked for Adam that this wasn't a Fang member or a Faunus. It was the mother. He scoffed. His own sensei had once told him never to underestimate the protective power of a parent, yet all he knew of parents was that they were either too weak to justify their living. Or too deadbeat to care about him. New rage grasps his heart. A place of safety, to cry and hide if the world was cruel. Sure would have been nice to have, wouldn't it be? "I see, the Mother come to save her spawn from the beasts that hunt"
"You have no idea what a true beast is, dog!", came the reply. Adam stepped back a single step. This was unnatural. He could feel a sensation he had banned from his mind for years. As her red blade was sheathed back into the scabbard, it rotated and she drew a different blade, a blue one laced with ice dust before she sheathed again, shot the blade out like he would have done with Blush and Iaijutsu'd him. Adam staggered back as he blocked ferocious attack after attack. The edges bit into one another, Wilt and Omen. Sharp clangs of steel that tried to destroy one another, Adam's game plan was focused entirely on defense as he slipped into a rhythm he had almost forgotten. This felt like his own sensei. He forced a blade bind, trying to get some momentum going, only for those same heels from before to ram him in his gut and shoot him backwards again. In this ferocious exchange, the presence of Blake had vanished. Running from terror at these monsters fighting, terrified of the damage she had inadvertently caused by pulling Yang off center.
"I AM NO DOG!", Adam put his blade back, his Aura was faltering but still intact. She was good. And he knew why. Yet his anger and ferocity was more and stronger than she had been. Jumping forwards, tapping into the reserves of Moonslice in his soul, his tempo increased. Full black silhouettes of him shot out from his body, circled around the mask wearing human and attacked from three angles at once. Swords slashed and tried to bite, eager for the coppery warm taste of blood only for each swing to be blocked by the Dust blade. Moving in speeds that Adam had only seen once before, he let out a gasp, before Omen's scabbard was slammed into his face and he staggered back once more. He rose from the pain and gazed at her. Yeah that was the exact same style of fighting he had learned from his Sensei: Vergil's Devil Arm technique. "...Raven?"
"Your form is sloppy. Your power is lacking. You think you are worthy of Sensei's teachings?", her voice was cold. Her attacks were potentially even more ferocious. He could feel ice build up on his legs, electrical surges strike his joints and the occasional blast of wind being shot through his body from a blow. He could feel his Aura draining faster and faster. With a roar of pain he went on the defensive, his clothing and shirt becoming more and more tattered as Adam realized that this is probably how it felt to face him. Endless attacks that barely leave time for a defense. Except she was more feral. How could this be? He was supposed to be the alpha and omega of the Faunus fighting. He had taken Vergil's words to heart: Power. I need more power! As the blows began piling up more and more, Adam became desperate. He stored his energy in Blush. She kept attacking yet he merely tanked it. As she sliced through his Aura, Adam unleashed a Moonslice! He screamed in anger as the world turned red. As her selected blade shattered into Dust particles Taurus roared in victorious glee, Wilt getting closer and closer to wipe away the older student of Vergil and his 'supposed' equal or better rival.
And then the weirdest thing happened! Before his mask, Raven's body shrank into the shape of a…well..raven! Where seconds earlier had been the human body, a single touch of Wilt away to scatter her remains as ashes to the wind, was now a bird that dodged the strike and flew upwards. Shocked and unable to understand what transpired, Raven resurfaced above his head and crashed down on top of him. Shattering what little defense was left as Adam's world turned to black. Standing over the kid, the kid she'd seen being trained by her Sensei a few times. She huffed: "You only focus on power. Without finesse and a drive that overcomes that power, you'll always be weak!", as she aimed to finish her junior, she gasped as a flash of silver illuminated the sky above.
…
"Do you believe in destiny?", Pyrrha asked with her resolve strengthened. Her ankle was destroyed, her achilles tendon snapped and severed, her chest armor pierced by a single arrow that hadn't inflicted fatal damage, but Pyrrha wasn't moving much anymore. She could feel she was near the end of her life, one more attack and she was done. Alas, as Weiss pulled out her self sacrifice play for Velvet, who in turn had single handedly rekindled hope and spirit back into the fighters before being blindsided by a Paladin, as Ruby survived the beatdown on the Atlesian ship, throwing Neo off thanks to a well placed button press, Roman being vored by a Griffon, Weiss and Ruby linking up to find Pyrrha, Ozpin and Cinder's fight, the theft of the Maiden powers by Cinder and a climactic titanic fight atop Beacon tower, it seemed all for naught as Cinder Fall, mastermind of the fall of Beacon, moved in to kill Pyrrha and reduce her to pyrrhic ashes, a streak of red rose petals jumped up the tower. Halting for just a second, the Wyvern opening it's mouth to swallow Pyrrha whole, Ruby's silver eyes looked upon the heavy wounded frame of her friend. She took the deepest breath as she screamed Pyrrha's name, a flash of blinding silver encompassing the tower. A single crow flew up the length, where after the flash, it became a Huntsman. Qrow Branwen, twin of Raven, spied an unconscious niece, a dying but still alive redhead, a Grimm Wyvern turned to stone and the ruins of a fight he'd wish he could have stopped or observed. Acting quickly, he picks up Ruby and Pyrrha and descends back down to the ground level. "don't worry kids, I gotcha"
…
And so came the fall of Beacon. A limbless Penny was picked up by James, who had suffered extensive damage to his body and cybernetics, yet managed to retrieve the black box as the damaged frame of Penny Polendina spoke encouraging words, wondering where her friends are. Cinder, having fallen from the mountain thanks to the blast of the Silver Eyes, awoke in a ditch as Grimm kept congregating around the base of Beacon tower. Blake escaping in a panicked sprint overlooked the destroyed town not noticing she was tailed by a king of monkey business journeying east with her, Vic Migel flew off with his angelic white wings holding the unconscious Adam Taurus in one hand and the gawring shark girl in another, making haste to join up with the Faunus evac bullheads. Yang's wounded body had been dropped at the front yard of her father's house, where Taiyang had panicked and rushed her to the emergency room of Patch. Weiss Schnee, seeing her friends all gone, was grabbed by James who brought her with him as he returned his army, or what was left of it, to Atlas. Jaune, Nora, Ren were approached by a huntsman their age, one they knew as Mavron, who escorted them to an emergency room where they reunited with Pyrrha Nikos, who was smiling yet sad. The damage to her tendon and the arrow scarring her chest had been restored but her days as a Huntress were over. Cinder hadn't beaten Pyrrha completely, but she had taken what power she had left and rendered her basically a crippled war survivor. Unironically, Poseidon, who hadn't fallen in this fight, also approached Pyrrha and apologized genuinely for the unfair and harsh behavior. He vowed to better his life, seeing as Pyrrha's days as a fighter were over and swore to uphold her legacy. Raven scouted the area in her raven form before returning home, after confirming her daughter was safe. Ruby awoke in bed, having been out for days, with Qrow by her side. So ends this part of the ideal timeline, with no deaths. Just crippling wounds, shattered trusts, lingering questions and a promise for more.