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, we find ourselves in James Ironwood's office. Where the message and black glass Queen piece left by Vergil, have achieved their respective goal: to drive the tinman into a heartless rage.
"Are you with me?", James said as he gazed at the four Huntresses he once viewed as priced and valuable members of his inner circle. But the message of a white mountain was clear to see, and Winter always did have a blind spot for her sister. "Why did Winter show you the location of the Maiden?"
"Because…", Weiss was shocked that the question was so hostile. It's not like she got close to the Maiden, all she did was observe from a distance. And honestly she probably wouldn't be able to find the way back, this place was a maze after all, "...I care for my sister. I questioned her about you, especially your treatment of Mantle. She showed me and I accepted the fact that you have groomed her, but it was her choice, which I must respect"
"If Cinder's here, perhaps you spilled the location regardless? Either way, I've sent Winter to claim the power as we speak. A message was left here", James pressed a button and the line once more appeared: The mountain's peak looks down on the floating city. James glared at Weiss once more. "Your sister was far more obedient and less concerned with meaningless lives in the grand picture"
"Doing what's right is not meaningless…general", Weiss gave an angry stare into the cold and heartless eyes of Ironwood. You traded one tyrant for another, sister.
"How did Robyn know about the global communications project?", seemingly 'won' that argument, he stepped up to the next plotpoint. Angry eyes from the Ace Ops turned towards the Huntresses, as Yang and Blake exchanged looks.
"We told her. The night of the ambush", Yang openly admits, stepping forwards, meeting James' angry cold eyes with blazing determination in hers.
"You did what!?", Blake turned towards the big massive muscle woman that was Elm and explained: "We were trying to help, which is more than Atlas can say, hunting her as you did"
"Going behind our backs!?", Marrow barked, the frustration in the room skyrocketing as the bag James had taken from Watts began moving and shivering. Yet that spurred a thought in Harriet: "Wait…you let her escape!"
"Robyn has been on Mantle…Atlas..our side! From the start!", Yang said, standing face to face with the speedster, glaring daggers at one another to see who'd shrink away first.
"WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE", James roared as his frustration began building even higher. Causing Weiss to pinch the bridge of her nose. Mantle is on the brink of collapsing with the Megoliaths, Sabyrs and Teryx around. And here they were arguing about who did what behind who's back? These people were more insufferable than Jacques had ever been. "None of this matters right now! This is Thornmane all over again!"
She shouldn't have mentioned that, because hearing those words, remembering the Grimm attack that Bram had caused, James snapped: "LOYALTY ALWAYS MATTERS!"
The bag Watts had been carrying snapped open and a soft clicking silenced the room as everyone stared in horror at the Seer Grimm that had just appeared. How long had it been stuck in there? What even was this thing?! James pointed the white pistol of Due Process at it and hesitated to fire. Until a whisper broke from the creature. A voice, ominous and dangerous, whispered with glee and sinister energy. "General Ironwood…"
As the voice spoke, the Grimm's red colours drained away as it shriveled, as if it was dying. It's tentacles becoming thin, solid and brittle, the crystal carapace which looked like an orb fractured and broke as it died, letting a thick fog into the office. From the fog, a shape coalesced and became what Ruby and her team had seen in Mistral, when Emerald unleashed her illusion and escaped. A horrifying image of a pale humanoid, empty black eye sockets with deep red irises, black veins that gave her 'pale as a corpse' body the look of a deceased nightmare and pale moon white hair. Salem stood before them all.
"The brave Huntsmen and Huntresses of Atlas bested Arthur Watts. Congratulations…"
"We stopped Tyrian too. And we'll stop Cinder and whomever else you send our way!", Ruby took a step forwards. Everyone among the Ace Ops and her team surprised that she had the guts to stand her ground against this monstrosity. Her bravery in the face of this thing was something the Ace Ops wouldn't have mustered, Yang was still contemplating which 'parental figure' she'd trust but at this point she forgave Raven her cowardesse, that thing was horrifying! Weiss and Blake clutched each other's hand in a desperate attempt to find solitude and strength.
"Dear girl…Cinder is dead…and their goal was never victory..it was merely to set the stage"
"For what…?", James found his voice again, his weapon trembling as he pointed it at the ghost. He knew shooting the bullet wouldn't do anything to stop this mirage, but he wanted to fire so badly. yet when the shape of Salem turned towards him and gave a wicked smile, his finger refused to pull the trigger.
"For me…time isn't on your side James. It has ALWAYS been on mine! The people of Atlas have suffered enough. Surrender the Staff and the Lamp to me and they need not suffer any further. The nightmare will be over"
"That's…", James lowered his weapon, a moment of true silence passed over everyone, afraid James would give in, as Leonardo had done, or fall, as Ozpin did in Beacon. Then his eyes dulled, a cold resolve as he met Salem's gaze and holstered his gun, Mettle kicking in full force, giving him the backbone and drive to stand up for his goals and ambitions, "...not going to happen"
"Simply accept the futility of your situation. And this can all be over"
"We've seen what you're capable off. The Lamp showed us", upon hearing mention of the Lamp, Salem's sugar sweet smile for James vanished and turned to face…her. The Silver Eyed newborn who had stopped Cinder at Beacon, who prevented Mistral's fall, even if technically it was still not operating as intended. The Rose with thorns who got away from Tyrian, no easy feat, but that was with aid from Qrow Branwen, another thorn in her side. "It showed us everything. We've seen that you can't be killed. But we've also seen you fail! We don't need to kill you, to stop you. And we will stop you!"
Salem's form shifted and slid over the floor, eerily quiet as everyone held their breath. Even James had a tight claw of fear around his empty cold metal heart, Ruby was the only one standing her ground. A single spark, the hope that can ignite change. No that won't do. Those bright silver eyes need to be broken and shattered. Salem's sugar sweet smile returned as she mused; "Your mother said those words to me"
"My…mother?", gotcha…Salem could see the cogs in that small 'innocent simple soul' begin to turn. SHe mentioned the Lamp, no doubt she had questioned Ozpin and the headache that was Summer Rose. Oh, now I can see the resemblance, Salem thought, as tears began clouding the Silver Light. Just a little more and those dangerous eyes will be as dull as the mind of Leo was after the Seer strangled him to death.
"She was wrong too…"
And so she uttered the words that confirmed the suspicions that had already been creeping into the young Rose' mind. Summer didn't return home, abandoning her children, Ruby couldn't stand it, bear another second of it. It felt as if she'd lost her mother all over again. A haunted feeling crept back into her mind, she had taken Summer for granted, what child knew better at the time. Yang had carried her through that darkness, but ultimately, Ruby had been painfully aware of what that meant. She had sworn to uphold a happy mindset, to stand as a beacon of virtue and strength, just as her mother was. Wanting to be like the heroine she had looked up to as a child, she desperately wanted to be dreaming when the realization hit. Leaving like a shadow in the night, never to return. And at the core of that issue, was Salem. Ruby's eyes shimmered and flickered, before she cracked. Words from what felt eons ago appeared in her mind's eye: 'the urge to protect life, reflects off your eyes and brings death to the soulless. For it is in wanting to preserve life, that your power grows'...but what if that urge and drive is shattered? What if an empty void opens in your heart and you can barely stand up? Ruby collapsed as she cried rivers of dull silver, her mind conflicted with itself. Go on, move forward through the pain of loss and persevere, or give in to the heartache. As she collapses, she doesn't realize that someone is trying to cradle her, nor does it matter. She recalls what her job is. As the image of Salem fades, the leering smile still on her face, Ruby pushes away who was holding her, not seeing who it is as she stands up, the memory of a friend from long ago springing to her mind, 'don't screw up, if you fail, you fail your entire team', she stood tall, wiped the tears from her eyes and steeled herself, as a leader it was her job to stand tall, especially in this situation.
…
"General Ironwood…?", Weiss wondered after the short discussion that had happened, Ruby was uncharacteristically quiet. Whatever Salem had said must have been painful for her, she couldn't recall the last time she'd seen Ruby cry so painfully. Sure there was that heartwarming moment, or not, when she thought Yang would be angry for leaving, during the reunion in Mistral. But this was different.
"The Staff and the Lamp have to be locked away"
"You said we could keep it…", Ruby broke through her grief and stared at the reflection of Ironwood. Tension was rising once more.
"Well…that was before you lied to me about the Maiden. About Robyn. And before Salem was right on our doorstep, before Mantle was nearly destroyed and myself and my army were left exhausted. Maybe that last question can serve me now, the timeline has changed…we must change our plan…"
"What are our orders sir?", Harriet said, standing at attention. Team RWBY couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"We'll take the plan for Amity Tower…and apply it to Atlas"
"WHAT?!", Ruby staggered back, her team standing just behind her. She had fallen before their eyes, she had looked weak as a leader, Ruby kicked herself. Never again would she break in front of her friends.
"Oz never had the guts to go far enough. We harness the power of the Staff, raise ourselves high in the atmosphere, Atlas' artificial climate will keep citizens and food supplies safe and out of reach of Salem and whatever nightmares she can concoct"
"But we're not finished evacuating. You'd be leaving Mantle to die", Blake said, stepping besides Ruby, who quickly and unsuccessfully wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, appearing less strong than she hoped she would.
"Mantle…for the sake of keeping the Relics out of Salem's grasp. It's the best play we have at keeping those and the Winter Maiden out of reach of Salem. And if it means sacrificing Mantle for this to work…so be it"
"We have an opportunity to reunite the world. If we launch the tower we can call for help. Mistral and Vacuo…", Ruby grasped at straws. Huntsmen and Huntresses don't turn tail and run. Sure she'd lost Beacon, her home. But she was here, she had left with Jaune and the others, and walked on foot to prevent Haven from suffering the same fate. And now Atlas. She only hoped Vacuo was protected for the time being, and that they'd be willing to help.
"Sometimes…doing the right thing means making tough decisions"
"The right thing to do, would be to stand our ground", Blake said, earning a 'me too' from Yang, standing at Ruby's left shoulder.
"This is how you end up exactly like Lionheart", Everyone turned to face Weiss as she said that. She looked him dead in the eye, before continuing: "You'll risk what little you know for the sake of it. Headmaster Lionheart gave in and became a spy. You're turning away from the people you swore to protect when you were made General, and besides the Council won't allow you to!"
"They don't get a say. I'm going to declare Martial Law."
"No…", Weiss' eyes became watery, why am I always running and losing the homes I make for myself? First Beacon, then team RWBY, then I almost lost RWBY again after that train. And now Mantle?
"What about Robyn!?", Blake asked, equally desperate. Earning a scornful remark from Elm: "Who exactly are you loyal to?"
"The people of Remnant! As Huntresses!", Ruby said, turning away from James.
"We are saving who we can…and you're standing in our way"
…
"They decide what happens next…but we have our orders", Harriet spoke to Marrow as Ruby steps ahead of her team and glares them all down.
"My uncle was right…you Atlas Specialists think you're so special", She says, a little bit of Qrow's cynicism in her voice as she extends her weapon and looks back. Weiss Schnee stood furthest back, her new fighting abilities needed time even if she wasn't exactly helpless. Yang would take the front line, Elm was the strongest and no one except maybe the massive Lancer Queen Weiss could summon was able to tank and deal with her, Blake at the ready, to face off and run disruption. SHe smiled, this was like the Vytal Festival all over again. Versus team BRNZ, then her smile faded. She heard from Scarlet in Mistral that only Nolan survived.
"You think you're going to stop us? We're the best Huntsmen in Atlas"
"Perhaps…but we're the better team", With those words Ruby rushed off past the ones fighting. breaking through the door. Harriet groaned and went into hot pursuit. For a moment they simply chased one another, until Ruby's Petal Burst ran out and she had to catch her breath. She materialized near the elevators, where she felt herself get catapulted against the doors, bending them out of shape as her Aura sparked. Harriet sure was fast. Ruby swung Crescent Rose back behind her and blasted a shot to propel her into action, once more taking controlled bursts to evade Harriet who tried to speed blitz her. Ruby adjusted her strategy, she still wanted to keep an eye on the others, but she also needed to deal with the speedster. She swung her Scythe, making Harriet trip, shot a bullet to change her own angle of approach, ninja ran across the wall and burst forth once more, Harriet in pursuit. At the end of her speed burst, Ruby flipped the Scythe blade over and swung wide once again. Harriet wouldn't fall for the same trick twice, but Ruby wasn't trying to strike her. She slammed her blade into the wall, coming to an abrupt stop and kicked at the Ace Op, using the momentum stop to change her angle again and cannonball her steel tipped boots into the rabid hare. She connected, sending Bree crashing into a wall, her anger building as Ruby zips towards the Atrium, watching as Blake and Yang were double teaming Vine and Elm. In a way that makes sense, given that Vine is not that great when he's cornered so Blake should deal with that, Yang and Elm also went into favor of Yang. That meant Ruby could stop focusing on them, for the moment. That just leaves Weiss. Ruby bolts for the door of Ironwood's office before an angry roar hits her ears and she's kicked into the office.
"I had you all pegged from the start"
…
When Ruby bolted forwards, Yang rushed Elm and punched her in the gut to try and push her back. However she planted her roots and Yang felt like she hit a concrete wall. Her Aura must be massive! Even more so than someone like Yatsuhashi. Elm twisted her hips and swung her Timber, Yang placed her arms before her, the basic guard position and braced herself. Rockets activated on the war hammer and blasted into Yang. Thanks to the centrifugal force of the strike, Yang took a massive blow that instantly drained forty percent of her Aura as she was catapulted out of the office and rolled across the floor and down the stairs. Taking another few chips on the Aura reserve as she came to a halt with Elm standing over her, roaring and stomping her feet. Yang raised her arms to try and cut the power of the hammer, before she felt Gambol loop around her waist and pull her out of the way, Ederne slamming heavily into the floor. Yang caught the fractured but mostly intact floor and smirked. Maybe that's a way to deal with those annoying Aura Roots of hers. Blake, who had chased after Yang, pelted Vine with bullets to give her clear access, drew both her weapons. The now permanently compacted blade version of Gambol for mobility was one thing to wield, as she swung herself out the office and slashed at Vine's Aura Vine trying to snag her ankle. The purple hue of Passion slashed outwards. Blake figured it would be hard to get used to a longer sword, considering the reforged Wilt was longer than Gambol had been. But in the name of the Brothers, Blake couldn't explain why the blade felt like it was weightless in her hand. It moved faster, easier and stronger than ever before. Whatever that Aura Forging was, Blake smiled as she effortlessly sliced and diced her way through the chalky coloured Aura tendrils as Zeki sighed and swung after her. She threw Gambol to pull her free and zipped over Elm's head, slashing at her with Passion, the blade sparking over the Aura as Elm roared in pain. Like crimson steel that preceded it, the purple blade bit effortlessly into the target, even more eager now since Elm was threatening and harming a member of Blake's friends…family. She looked at Passion, thought of her mentor and wordlessly thanked him. The only thing that dual wielding a sword and a 'whip chain' like weapon as Gambol folded in had as a disadvantage, she wasn't as fast on the swing as she should be. She threw the gun as it snatched a pillar at the roof, fighting in a wide open Atrium was clever for her, but Vine plucked her from the air like a bug catcher, threw her at Elm who held her in a hold, shaft of the warhammer pressed against her throat.
"If you come peacefully we won't hurt you"
"Speak for yourself! These traitors deserve a beating!"
"You're traitors to the people of Mantle!", Blake hissed as she gasped for air. Yang noticed she was at a disadvantage, but she knew how to turn this around, she took a page from Raven. Confidently she lowered her guard as she smiled in a very taunting way.
"Save your breath Blake…they're just following orders, like mindless robots. They wouldn't know sense even if we beat it into these numbskulls", Yang flashed a pearly grin, saw the eyes of Elm radiate hatred and anger as she threw Blake against the wall, her purple Aura sparking in the process. She leapt into the air, raising Timber overhead and screamed in rage. Yang was looking at a dark mirror. Is that how I was way back when? A mindless rage machine? Thanks dad, for the lesson. Yang ducked to the side as the warhammer passed her, cracking the floor where she had been standing and threw the strongest uppercut she could. Even using Burn to enhance her strength as her Aura was already depleting from the heavy blow she had taken earlier. Her fist impacted deep into Ederne's gut as she gasped for air and was shot upwards. A soft beeping audible as Yang drew Ember Celica back and exploded the sticky bomb, sending Elm even higher before she fell down like a sack of bricks and impacted the floor with a satisfying thud! Blake shook her head from the wall impact and left a Shadow behind as Vine snatched at her, the clone vanishing as Blake closed the distance, shooting with Gambol before cutting deep into the Aura tendrils and drew a top right to bottom left vertical slash over Zeki's body. He crumbled to his knees before he pulled himself up, taking the high ground at the top of the atrium.
…
Weiss was fairing perfectly! Myrtenaster ping ponged between the Glyphs as Weiss chipped away at Marrow. She had seen him use that Semblance of his so all she had to do was stay in motion and prevent him from pointing at her. Which was rude anyway! She expertly slid under his Boomerang Fetch, which was a terribly rude name as well, the Ace Ops had been picking on this kid since the start. Marrow turned to face her and snapped his finger, while Weiss changed the floor he was standing on to ice. His focus wavered as she slipped in place, allowing Weiss to coat Myrtenaster in fire and slash the air. The wave missed Marrow who leapt over it and nearly burned his tail. The heavy vaporized ice forming a dense wall of thick fog as Weiss ducked under the desk and summoned the Armagigas, her Grandfather was always with her protecting her, she just realized. Heavily armored and powerful. "You Schnees are used to getting your wishes, but it's time to face the music. I'm taking you in"
"This is my home…I will protect it with my utmost skill. And my name is WEISS!", She pointed her sword at him, sending the massive behemoth of summoned armor careening towards Marrow! His eyes shot open in horror as he pointed at it and yelled 'stay', stopping the momentum and halting it. Weiss had already engaged her second attack, creating ice shards at the wall with Ice Dust and Glyphs, she then used Wind Dust to blow Marrow into it! Since his focus was on the Armagigas, he barely had time to avoid the wind attack, and by sheer dumb luck he took a cartoony pose and escaped the sharp ice wall. However, that meant that Gigas was free to rush him. It's heavy broadsword sliced through the ice as Marrow desperately parkoured through them to get away. He looked at Weiss as the behemoth chased him down and got an idea! She snapped his finger as he threw the Boomerang, distracting the summon and shouted 'stay' at Weiss. The behemoth rushed forwards, snapping off the ice as it crashed into the reinforced windows and stopped moving. Without her arms and sword to direct, Marrow had Weiss trapped! He smirked as he walked over to her, his Semblance still active as he took Myrtenaster from her. "An Ice Queen frozen…how the tables have turned"
Weiss grunts as she can't move. Her sword pulled from fingers that are too frozen to stop him from taking it as the Summon just stands there. He grins, forms Fetch into a rifle and blasts it while not looking, over the shoulder, acting 'cool' but he was just being a jerk. Weiss strained and groaned. But she couldn't move at all. He reached for a set of binders as there was a roar and Ruby was blasted into the room. Weiss still couldn't move as Ruby staggered to her feet, gasping and aiming at Marrow.
"I had you kids pegged from the start!", Harriet walked into the room and attempted to punch Ruby, before she saw Marrow and rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap Marrow, take them down"
"I'm trying to arrest her Har…not kill her! You're being excessive!", Marrow kept his eyes and finger pointed at Weiss, she was forced to stand there, unable to move or resummon her knight. Ruby noticed and nodded.
"It's not excessive when it's necessary!", Ruby bolted forwards and swiped at Marrow with her Scythe. He was forced to drop the hold he had on Weiss as he evaded, Ruby smiled at Weiss, her mind clear for the Schnee heiress to see; you're welcome bestie! As Ruby bolted out the door, Harriet followed. Leaving them alone. Marrow confidently walked over towards the discarded rapier and smiled. Now what was she gonna do? Weiss drew the hilt she had received from Coal. Use it when in a pinch. Well I'm definitely in a pinch. Pressing the button, the icy blue blade extended. Her ten minutes started. She generated ice Glyphs and began skating around, moving and escaping his freezing Semblance as he hurled his Boomerang at her. Weiss raised her blade and deflected the thing. It was good to see that it was sturdy! She put a foot against the wall and shot herself forwards. Marrow snapped his finger but Weiss was just fast enough, her ice blue dagger slashed at Marrow who groaned before he pointed at her again. Weiss had to do something. Quick! She pointed her sword, opening a few fire Dust Glyphs and blasted him with them. Marrow's Aura flashed, Weiss skated over her sword and now had an Aura dagger and her rapier. She engaged once more! Stabbing at Amin, slashing. Weiss was a dancer, her weapons were her dance shoes and Marrow was sadly the dancefloor. He groaned, the light blue Aura sparkling and shimmering before Weiss carved her way through. She smiled as she slapped the flat end of the Aura blade into Marrow's temple as well as the basket guard of her rapier. Marrow looked at her, groaned and fell down, out cold. Weiss huffed and groaned. How does Winter do this so effortlessly? She shook her head, her dagger fizzling out as she deactivated it and gently poured a little Aura into the battery.
"Sorry Marrow. But you need better friends. After all, you think I'm the problem but your 'team' and general literally gave you a boomerang weapon and called it 'fetch'..so..", Weiss said before she turned to leave the office. Looking to return the favor for Ruby.
…
Blake danced around the walls, pulling herself between the pillars and swinging out of the way from Elm's reach, but also cutting away whenever the lean man swatted and grabbed at her, she simply used Passion to cut herself free. Or throw a Shadow to throw off his aim. With her gaze on Yang should she need help. Yang herself was changing tactics. Having been slammed into the walls, more and more cracks appearing in the walls and floor, Yang had taken too much damage. Her Aura was lower than she liked, she began evading. Using the heavy kickback of Ember Celica's twelve gauge slugs, she dodged each strike. If Elm swung high, Yang went through her legs. If Elm swung low, she sprang up and used the aerial movement to evade and escape damage. She threw kicks and punches, peppering Ederne but not bringing her down. She wasn't easy to topple, a strong rooted tree. But then again, the plan was already working. Elm stepped back and recentered herself.
"Time to wrap this up Vine…they've had their chance…don't be soft!"
"Are you telling me or yourself?", Vine had grabbed debris from the cracked wall and began throwing it at the both of them, Yang smirking as she blasted herself around, moving fast and dynamic. Yet she also left sticky bombs all over the floor. Vine focused on slowing down Yang who was dancing around Elm. Boulders flew at her and Elm swung the warhammer around, with a powerful blast she kicked a particularly large rock towards Elm who headbutted it into smithereens. Vine suddenly screamed in pain as Blake had used his hyper focus on Yang to sneak closer and drove Passion into his back. Vine careened over the edge and Blake acted fast! She spun Gambol around him and slammed him into the floor, while she stayed up high. Yang smirked, she had been putting bombs all over the floor and with Vine now in range as well, she set off the bombs. As she does, Blake pulls her off the ground and saves her from friendly fire as the dust clouds of the explosions settle. Elm stood firm. Vine was out cold.
Yang threw her arm back, taking the same pose she did long ago in a nightclub in downtown Vale as she slammed into the floor, the massive shockwave knocking Elm free from the floor, her feet rooted to stones as the floor was damaged heavily and fractured into splintered patterns. Unable to achor herself for her massive weapons Elm's eyes opened in shock as Blake appeared above her, pushing her down with a firm kick, air rushing over her ears and head as Yang, who had been storing her energy stood with a mighty grin and flared her hair into a golden fire. Burn was at a high power amp as she rose her fist up and slammed into Elm's chin. Her shocked open mouth slammed shut, her teeth straining as pain and even a form of whiplash knocked Elm clean out, falling backwards upon the floor and stopped moving. The mighty Elm, toppled at last. Yang grinned: "Timber"
"Yang, Blake!", Weiss joined them at the atrium and smiled, hugging them both. They all turned their attention towards the elevators, hearing the sound of Crescent Rose and the sparks of Harriet's semblance. The three of them looked at one another and nodded in agreement.
…
Ruby was slowing down. How the heck was Harriet this energetic still? After bolting from the door after helping Weiss, proving that she was keeping an eye on her team unlike Harriet who hadn't noticed that she was the last one standing at the end, she had been cornered by the elevators and was using every trick she had. Swinging Crescent Rose to give herself space, but she kept feeling fists hitting her extremities. If she span horizontally, she would get dizzy and feel punches at her head and legs. If she jumped and did the 'Qrow -Death -Whirl-Special' which was holding Crescent Rose perpendicular to your horizontally midair body and turning around your axis. Forming a vertical death swirling mass of blades and colours. Yet if she tried that, she found herself either pinned to the wall or floor. Despite being excessive, at least Harriet wasn't trying to kill me, Ruby thought as she zipped out of a hold with Petal Burst. Yet when she came out of it she was bombarded with punches. One from the sides, if she turned to defend from that angle, she felt a punch at the back of her head. Bree was like a pinball, hitting her over and over as Ruby's Aura began dropping dangerously fast. She turned and felt a knee in her back, forcing her on the floor, Crescent Rose slipping out of her grasp as Harriet grabbed the restraining bolas from her belt and began restraining Ruby. Acting on instinct, she dissipated into rose petals and wound the rope around Harriet. Now she can't punch me anymore! Harriet glared as she zipped away, returning as she clutched her thighs around Ruby's neck from behind and used her body to throw Ruby against the wall.
Scrambling to grab Crescent Rose, Ruby stood on wobbly legs as she shook her head. Maybe she needed something like Qrow did, a sword is a better weapon to deal with humans than a scythe is. She shook her head! No, not her baby! It was perfect in every way. As Harriet charged at Ruby, she swung, just in time as ice formed over the floor and made Bree lose her balance, before she got the full impact of Crescent Rose to the face. Pink Aura shimmered before it broke and shattered. Slowly Harriet got up, seeing she was outmatched, with Yang, Blake and Weiss looking at her, weapons at the ready, she turned to face them and screamed, as she ran at them, only to see stars as Ruby threw a punch that would have made Qrow proud! Harriet's eyes crossed as she took a single extra step and fell on the floor. Out cold. Proud of herself she smiled at her team!
"Go team RWBY!", the others cracked a smile and laughed for a moment. Until Ruby's eyes turned serious, "We have to stop Ironwood! No Maiden is no Relic meaning no flying city!"
"Sis, the city's already flying", Yang said, teasing as she shook her head with a giggle. "You know what I mean!", ruby said, pouting.
"We'll need to find the Winter Maiden. I know where she is, Ruby you're faster let's both go and find her!", Weiss suggests.
"Good idea, we'll look for the others", Yang offers. Blake and Weiss exchange a look until they hear an elevator open and they drop the Ace Ops they had been gathering in the atrium to restrain them. At the top, Maria and Pietro appeared, as their scrolls broke free from the jamming. Maria smiled.
"These whippersnappers truly are a headache, watch them ask for help"
