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 the Atlas Academy barracks, where Jaune is currently throwing out his hands as they stand at the destroyed remains of machinery that was torn to pieces. And no trace of Oscar.
"This isn't good", Jaune bemoans as he looks to the left and right in the hallways. They couldn't lose Oscar! Sure the Relic is important, but not as important as Oscar. He was a friend. An ally! And not just the next life of Ozpin.
"He has to be around here! OSCAR!", Nora screams at the top of her lungs. Ren rolls his eyes and groans. "Nora announcing our presence like that will only draw more Atlas military personnel towards us and-"
"NORA help me!", a voice rang out nearby! Jaune nodded as the three rushed out towards where that came from. And were shocked when Oscar, moving faster than he ever had, was slapping his stick against balls of fire, a parasol as several Atlesian soldiers and Knights lay dismembered on the floor. He acted on instinct as he dashed forwards and extended the Hardlight Dust from his shield and blocked a blast of heat and fire. One that set a small ember at the top of his pineapple haircut. Which he quickly put out. THat wasn't fire Dust. Far hotter. His shield was hot. Not uncomfortably so but still noticeable. A flurry of bullets blasted over his head as Neopolitan extended Hush and protected herself. Nora rushed up to Oscar and hugged him. "Are you ok?"
"I am now…these two showed up earlier and almost took it", he cradled the lamp as they formed a three man cell around him. Nora and Jaune at the front with Ren standing back a little. Yet they all looked at Neopolitan and back at Oscar. There was only one.
"There's only Neopolitan", Jaune said as he looked back. Neo looking around and frustratedly rolled her eyes, "we haven't heard good things"
"The other one has white hair, dressed like a fairytale character", Oscar said, Ren closing his eyes and focusing as Nora extended her hammer and rushed Neo. Who only gave a cute smirk and bowed before the hammer shattered her like glass.
"Look out!", Ren pulled Oscar and Nora back as Jaune slammed his shield into the floor and caused it to grow bigger, the Hardlight Dust forming a solid barrier as a new fireball was shot at him. As the heat caused the air to boil and displace what he saw, the world swirling thanks to the heat distorting his vision, he saw a shape. A woman. No a girl, barely older than him, perhaps a little younger, with ashen white hair, killer blue eyes that stung with hatred and a dangerous killer instinct. She wore heeled boots, shin protectors in a dark gray colour, light ash coloured pants with a belt that was brown, on the belt hung a flask and a small shortsword, fingerless gloves that mixed with arm bracers, similarly of light ashen gray, a simple black shirt that was tucked underneath a corset like jacket with a hood. All ash colour. The hood was down, while the girl held up a hand and a small pilot flame burned. Jaune's gaze drifted towards Neo and the rest of his team. He was a decent fighter, but if Neo could take on Yang, he was out of her league. Similarly, Nora who has as much attack power, if not more, would also not stand a chance. That left only Ren. He lifted his shield and covered their retreat as Neo and the ashen one went in pursuit. The longer this drags on, the bigger the chances of being discovered. ORNJ crossed a hallway, being shouted at by the Atlesian military, Nora blasted a section of the hallway and collapsed it, buying them time.
"The general can BILL ME!", she roared with a maniacal laughter!
"Ren, you're the best chance at handling Neo. You're our best fighter. Oscar Nora and I will deal with-", before he could finish, the debris was blasted aside and a heavy fire plume shot out, Jaune turned in place and braced himself as a stream of intense fire blew into his shield. The Hardlight keeping the heat from his face yet the metal parts were groaning and moaning, struggling to contain the heat. Nora shot her grenade launcher but the pellets were easily deflected. Jaune swallowed hard as he ducked down and raised his shield, raising the flaming beam up into the wall. He had fought with only one person that had this power. As he looked back and saw Ren nod, circling around for a flank, Oscar behind him and Nora still blasting at the figure. Neo was gone.
"Long time no see, I must say I love the new you. Young and energetic, Cinder", Jaune taunted, the flame beam dispersing as the woman dropped her hand. That was a much needed break in her attack, his shield was glowing. Not good!
"That can't be Cinder", Nora said in disbelief, the mention of the name visibly causing the woman annoyance as she held up her hand. At first it was just a small burning flame that was half an inch away from her glove. Jaune, who had been in the weapon labs and around almost half the world at this point, realized what this was and wrapped an arm around Oscar, dove into a side room, yanking Nora with him as the sound of a Dust power jet engine's sound filled the air before a bright blaze of flame swooped through the hallway! That was some impressive damage as the stone floor remained mostly intact as everything hanging on the walls, be it Dust torches or even the occasional banner of Atlas, was burned away. Small flames living and eating away happily at the walls and floor. Oscar groaned as he got up and put his staff to the door, holding it closed as the flame roared a few seconds longer before burning to a stop.
"That…would be the full power of the Fall Maiden", Oscar bemoans as he opens the door and Jaune rushes out the door and bashes his shield against Aschen who had walked up to the door, eyes flashing with intense anger and hate. As the shield connects and sends her stumbling backwards, Jaune whistles, Oscar dashing around him and hitting the back of Aschen's knee, forcing her to the ground. A trick he had perfected with Ruby in Mistral: he would stand his ground and hinder the opponent and his allies would dart around and inflict damage! Aschen screamed and rose up, but Jaune sliced at her head, forcing her to duck and bashed her backwards. Into a waiting Nora who slammed the dangerously powerful Magnhild into her back. Aschen was catapulted into Jaune who sliced at her with his sword. Man this was going well! "Give up Cinder"
"MY NAME…", Aschen's hand shot up as Oscar tried to club her as she was getting up. She looked at him and wished above all else that her Semblance was having an iron hide. The heavy bonking sound of a wooden stick hitting steel rang out as Aschen stood up, her skin dark gray as if she was made of pure iron refined ore. She pulled Oscar into her range and gave him a concussive headbutt! Sending him flat on his butt as she reached for the Relic, "ASCHEN GWAIN!"
As she grabbed at the relic, Jaune stepped over Oscar in a defensive way, steel bit into iron as her arm was knocked aside by Crocea Mors, a roar woke her thoughts as she looked at Nora who was behind her. Smirking Aschen's body vanished. Nora barely had enough strength to halt her strike as Aschen appeared behind her, raising both hands with folded fingers into a single massive ball of steel and death, intent on smashing Nora's skull into paste. Jaune reacted on instinct once more. Raising his shield arm and crossing both his arms, he stepped into the attack, sheltering Nora from the blow as a heavy iron 'ball' of death smashed into him. Pain rang through his arms all the way to his shoulders as the blow was that powerful. Even his massive Aura reserve couldn't help prevent that damage. Yet he smirked as Nora rolled out and away from him, flipped his sword and trapped Aschen's metal hand between the shield and the edge of his sword. Nora pinched the battery pack in her hammer and sparked with electricity as she roared and slammed the hammer into her gut, Aschen desperately trying to break free yet the sword and shield were like a vice. A loud gong echoed as Magnhild connected and blasted Aschen backwards. Crashing a good inch into the wall and leaving a person shaped imprint, her skin returning to normal after the impact, even if the hammer had already turned her body normal where it had impacted.
"How is she doing that?!", Nora asked as Aschen staggered to her feet and shook her woozy head. "One moment she's teleporting, the next her skin turns to iron!"
"It's the magic…", Oscar said as he had a black eye and nosebleed from where she had given him a heavy headbutt with her steel skin. Jaune gave him a hand and boosted Oscar's Aura to give him a little faster regeneration, clearing the bloody nose and the concussion, his black eye remained however.
"So not only does she have a Semblance, she's also using magic to 'mimic' other people's Semblances?", he asked Oscar. The more data he had, the better he'd manage to analyze and strategize. If that was the case, then he and Ruby had gotten lucky back in Mistral. Cause Aschen was way stronger than Cinder had been. Oscar got to his feet and twirled Long Memory in his fingers and centered himself, his eyes flashing for a split second as Aschen groaned and put her hood up. One moment she sat there, the next she was gone.
"Invisibility?! That's cheating!", Nora said as she backed up next to Jaune. Jaune quickly realized that they needed to get the heck out of here.
"Fall back!"
…
"Long time no see", the words of Jaune faded away fast as Ren circled around the hallways, trying to flank the back of those two. He had heard of Neo but never actually fought her. As he turned a corner he came face to face with..
"Nora?!", he stopped in his track and looked back. This wasn't the time for some ditsy move! Why can't you follow orders? He shook his head and grabbed her. "What are you doing? We need to pr-"
The air was knocked out of his body as 'Nora' smiled, her eyes changing to brown and pink. Ren's eyes opened in shock as he grimaced before swiping at Neo who had disguised herself. Yang and the others never mentioned she could do this! He roared and struck. Yet faltered halfway through the strike as Nora's face returned, looking pained at him. It was only a second, but it was all Neo needed to flick her blade out of Hush' tip and swipe. Ren's Aura shimmered as the edge bit into his skin before he duck low and swiped at her legs. Neo smirked and shattered like a mirror. He groaned and stood back up, looking around. Nowhere to be seen. He closed his eyes and focused. As he opened his eyes, he saw a single pink petal fluttering to the right, the way his friends had gone. In the distance he could hear a loud gong? That didn't seem correct, he shook his head and gave chase, finding Neo walking through the hallway! Gotcha! He shot both blades from Stormflower and using the cables retracting, shot himself feet first towards her. Neo turned to look at him and vanished. Grand split her legs as she sank to the floor but held the handle of her parasol up, snagging the line on one of his guns and throwing Ren into the wall. I am no match for this woman.
Ren shot his guns once more, But Neo deflected without a problem, walking towards the place where his friends were engaged in a very dangerous fight. He leaps to his feet and tries getting in close, slashing and kicking, swiping and fighting. But like he was in Kuroyuri. Weak and vulnerable. He pulled out every trick he had, agility which she was better at. Strength which she was also stronger at. Ren might have been the best of the team as a martial artist, but he was dramatically overshadowed. As he deflects the blade of Hush, he shoots the knife into the wall and flies off, back towards his friends as he huffs. This wasn't going well. He was about to re-engage when the call to retreat came out. As he turned and ran, Atlesian soldiers cut off him and the rest of his team. Meaning they had to go through Neo. Jaune throws his sword at her, she blocks it, as it is magnetically pulled back at him she smirks to deflect it, only for Oscar to dive and grab her feet. Neo's smirk becomes a toothy grin as the sword impacts her and she shatters into glass. For a moment they're home free as the four of them bolt out a door. Oscar, tired and less trained than them, begins to feel winded. As if the air itself becomes harder to walk through, holding him back. As the others gain ahead of them, they run into a different branch of soldiers as they double back. Jaune sees Oscar behind and reaches for him, lifting him up his shoulder as they run. In the chaos of it all however, the Relic vanishes from Oscar's back.
"Wait! The relic!", Oscar breaks off of Jaune and goes for it. An Atlas soldier rounds the corner and opens fire at him. Jaune stands in front of Oscar and blocks the bullets.
"We have to lose them!", Jaune huffs, as he deflects the bullets towards a wall and collapses it, forcing that side to be safe for the moment. Oscar takes labored breaths as he is more tired than he should.
"Aschen..she's using magic to slow me down", he moans as he is lifted by Jaune again. They all run towards the hanger bay, only to all begin slowing down.
"How is she doing this?", Nora asks once more. It's as if the air was heavy and made of denser material. As Jaune takes a step he falters and stumbles, dropping Oscar as his foot sinks into the floor. He was stuck in quicksand!? What!?
"Jaune!", Oscar doubles back, grabbing his arm and pulling him out, Nora and Ren helping. Once they get him out, they run further, but as Jaune looks back, Oscar's missing. What the heck?! "Oscar!?"
"He's right here Jaune", Ren says as he holds up Oscar's hand, both of them looking at one another.
"Whatever that girl's doing…I'm not sure how we can fight back. Magic is unfair", Jaune says. First generating quicksand. Then using illusions to make it seem someone wasn't there?! Oscar nodded, "agreed…it feels like I'm running through syrup"
"Syrup? I could use some pancakes", Nora said, trying to crack a joke and lighten the situation.
"Not the time", Ren huffs as they huddle together, not as fast as they should, moving towards the training grounds, where they stop for a moment. To catch their breath. Only…
"Oh no…I'm..sorry", Oscar says as he sinks against the door and groans. How did he lose it?! Was it when he dove for Jaune? No he'd have seen the invisible Aschen. Having Ozpin's soul in his, he could see a faint outline of the girl, it's how he knew she was a Maiden. But it matters little. Maybe Neo had taken it. Either way, it was gone.
"Don't be…there's nothing we could have done", Jaune huffs. He was also tired. And standing in quicksand isn't a good thing either.
"We weren't ready to become Huntsmen", Ren snarls. After all they experienced, they were nothing but children stumbling from one problem to the next. Ren kicks the wall. With the Nucklavee it was luck. In Mistral it was Adam and the police who eventually turned the tide. The train was another example of their failure. Ruby sliced the train and split them up. Sure they'd survived but something went wrong.
"That's not true!", Nora looks at him with pain in her eyes as she gazes at the man she loved. But he just snaps further: "Then why don't we have the Relic!? Salem will get the Lamp, Ironwood has the staff. And we have NOTHING"
"Lay off Ren. We had no idea what to prepare for with a Maiden who actually knew what she's doing. Duplicating Semblances…that's just wrong", Jaune sighs. He recalled Pyrrha telling him about the nature of Aura and Semblances. If your soul manifests a unique power that's truly yours, imagine if someone simply copies it? Something so intimately yours, now turned against you. Jaune felt dirty.
"Exactly why we aren't ready! We needed more training!", Ren roars, pushing past Nora, making Jaune tense as he steps up towards Ren and glares him down.
"All we've done, the Maidens, relics, fighting friends and allies. They don't train this in school! Vale focused on team building, Mistral focused more on a person's skill and if you're good, you become great. Think those big three from the Vytal Festival. Atlas is all based on things that go against Ozpin. After all why are the Ace Ops working on five people rather than four? And Vacuo is all for yourself! We would never have been ready but we are surviving!", Jaune bellows, earning the roar of other Atlas soldiers honing in on their location. Jaune steps to the front and raises his shield, while the others, winded, fall back behind him. Over the sound of gunfire a welcome sound comes over their scroll communications.
"Anyone there? Can you hear me?!"
"Doctor!", Jaune reaches for his scroll but has to keep his arms raised. Nora grabs hers and listens in. Maria yelled in triumph! "Ha finest mind in Atlas!"
"Maria?! What are you doing?", Nora asked in awe and sighs, some good luck after all.
"Grabbing a getaway ship, we are leaving! Where are you?", the coms are clear but there seems to be an urgency to her voice. They're probably fighting out there as well.
"The academy training room. We are safe for now but don't know how long we can ho-ahhh", Nora gasps as a stray bullet blasts her hand and shatters her Aura. Nora and Ren run and hide behind Jaune who turtles up, but notices once again they're missing someone. How are we always missing; "OSCAR?!"
"I'm sorry but you all need to go on without me. There's something I must do on my own"
…
"Go! GO!", Jaune ordered! He huffs as he lags behind, his Hardlight shield expended, used up from blocking so many bullets. They had fought their way through what felt like the entire base at this point. Nora was the main valuable player here, she had busted down the floor with her hammer and ensured they had gotten out of the training hall. Next up, it was just booking it to the exit. Everywhere Atlesian Knights were patrolling and even a single Paladin was powered up, ready to go. Nora flew on her weapon, Ren rushed after her. They had made it to the landing platform and were in full retreat. Bullets and other things were thrown at Jaune as he could see capture bolas and the like, all trying to stop and prevent them from escaping. From the side opening, Blake shot what little bullets she could spare as Yang screamed at them to hurry up! Jaune groaned, easy for you to say moving like a cannonball with those gauntlets. No Jaune, don't sass your friends. It's been a rough day as is. When he boards he falls to his knees. Barely hitting the steel floor or the ship's already dusting off. But he can't help himself.
"Move! We have to get out of here!"
"Way ahead of you kid!"
"Where's Oscar…and the relic?", Yang asks. Ren growls and kicks the door, Nora hangs her head, defeated and Jaune rolls onto his back, laying flat as he drinks in what air he can, exhausted beyond relief.
"Oscar went rogue. The relic..is in Salem's hands…she has a new Maiden to work with. One who calls herself Aschen Gwain"
…
As the gang unites and dusts off, picking up Weiss and Ruby, as Oscar survives his massive plummet towards Mantle, as Qrow and Robyn are detained and accused for the murder of Clover, a black dark storm cloud the size of a continent begins advancing over the air towards the Atlesian airfleet. Watts had merely disabled the outer sensors but with a cloud like this, maybe he should have left them active! He smiles to himself in his cold cell, the darkened clouds could only be the work of Salem. The proximity sensors of the ships furthest from Atlas, all receive a massive blip. And as they begin panicking over the size of their readings, something so large in the sky couldn't be right, one massive spike of emotions shoots through the Atlas military. Fear. And that's by design! Standing atop a Grimm Leviathan of Leviathans, a monstrous shape that hovers from Gravity Dust, ironically the same lie that was told to the public about Atlas giving Salem the idea for this creature, is the Mistress of Grimm herself. For the one way to break resistance and strike down those in defiance, the true poison of resolve and bravery, is the sickening terror and claws of fear! She will bring the floating city to it's knees and fear will be used as the main weapon, guiding Monstra ever closer to Atlas. Fear has come, heralding death, upon all humans must face, so Salem herself can unite the relics and forever end her curse, to wipe from existence this insulting Remnant from a bygone age.
