AN: Happy Summer of 2023, folks. I know it's been awhile, but enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 61: Shadow Dance
Professor Ozpin had experienced much in a long life of death and regret. However, there was one thing he found to be quite true: death never got easier. This was especially true when death was sought by someone. For Ozpin, life was something that should be cherished. He had learned that over the years from many wonderful people who had been his allies…his friends. A part of him hated how someone could just so casually ask, plead, even for their life to be ended. Especially when the person asking was a little girl, only a few years older than Hansel was when he first found him in the forest.
However, Ozpin was also a smart man. He knew this little girl, Alice, was not all she seemed to be. Something he could not resist voicing. "You're actually an adult trapped in a little girl's body, aren't you?" He asked bluntly.
Alice laughed bitterly. "Is it that obvious?" She sighed. "Yes, yes I am. I'm actually supposed to be...in my thirties? Twenties? Shit. I really can't remember anymore."
Ozpin knew he should be leaving as soon as possible. And yet, he could not bring himself to abandon this person who clearly needed him. "What happened?"
"Twenty years ago, I developed this Semblance, Wonderland. However, an accident happened shortly after. I accidentally developed a Semblance too powerful for me to control…and it grew out of control." Alice revealed.
"That's a rare phenomenon…but possible." Ozpin grimly noted.
"It dragged me into my own world…and my family too. My family perished from Wonderland's dangers, and I was left all alone, occasionally dragging hapless victims inside to die. And I couldn't leave. I know it sounds selfish, but being unable to leave was the worst part."
"And you were alone like this for twenty years?" Ozpin was horrified at the thought.
Alice nodded. "Until the Ace of Spades found me, and recruited me into Gray Jackal as one of the organizations Zeroes."
Ozpin gasped. "Why is Gray Jackal involved in this?" He demanded.
"They've formed an alliance with that monster, Salem." Alice revealed. "To what end, I don't know. All I knew was what the Ace of Spades told me when she recruited me. I would kill anyone who was lured down my Rabbit Hole, and I would keep doing it until I came across someone strong enough to kill me, because neither she nor anyone else intended to set me free."
"That's awful." Ozpin muttered.
"They're like that." Alice took a sip of her tea. "There is one other thing…about the Ace of Spades. Something you should probably know."
Ozpin raised an eyebrow at this. "What is it?" He asked.
"That guy who has been messing with their plans? Hansel Kobalt? She's really got it in for him. Like, it's to the point where she's obsessed with him." Alice revealed.
That disturbed Ozpin greatly. "Why?" He asked. "What could connect those two?"
Alice sighed. "I don't know," she admitted, "the only people who know who the Ace of Spades is behind the mask are the Numbers who serve her directly. And she is very protective of her secret identity, and why she's so obsessed with Hansel Kobalt."
Alice shivered. "I heard she got her hands on two Zeroes that had the brilliant idea to uncover all of that. I don't know what she did to them, but they were unrecognizable by the time she was done killing them. She sent a strong message. Finding out her identity was off the table for anyone."
Ozpin lowered his head in deep thought. Does Hansel know about this? He wondered.
Alice shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Umm…so about my death?"
Ozpin was snapped back to reality. "Are you sure about this?" He asked. "Suicide is…"
"I can't do it anymore…and you can't leave unless I permit you to, or I die." Alice admitted.
"But if you let me leave, I can get someone who can perhaps nullify your Semblance and set you free that way." Ozpin claimed, thinking of Ruby and her powers. If he could just coach her enough to use it on command, they could save this girl.
Alice smiled sadly and shook her head. "If Wonderland collapses like that while I'm in it…I'll die too. This is what happens when a powerful Semblance grows completely out of your control, Professor Ozpin. But you probably knew that, right?"
Ozpin lowered his head once more, this time in grief. "Then this really is unavoidable." He acknowledged. "I'm so sorry it has to be this way, Alice."
Alice shook her head again. "Please, don't be. I want this. I've killed too many people already. I just want it all to end."
"How do I leave once you die?" Ozpin asked.
"A door will open. Wonderland's sick little way of acknowledging you as the winner of this twisted game it forced us both into." Alice replied.
Ozpin took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come next. He stood up and walked over to the girl. He then raised his cane and tapped her. A light flashed briefly. Alice's eyes widened. "What…just happened?" She asked.
"It's a simple spell. Think of it as euthanasia in the form of magic." Ozpin had to restrain the disgust in his voice at what he just did. "You'll fall asleep peacefully…and that will be it. It will all be over for you."
Alice felt a large weight lift from her shoulders as relief washed over her. "Then…I'm going to die?"
Ozpin nodded. "Yes."
"I'm going to die soon?" Alice wanted it confirmed.
Ozpin paused, not wanting to admit to it again. However, for her sake, he did so. "Yes."
Ozpin then felt something tug against his pants leg. He turned to see Alice had grabbed onto him, looking up at him with a pleading gaze in her eyes. "Could you stay with me?" She requested.
Ozpin's heart melted at the look in her eyes. She really did look how her age seemed at that moment. A sad little girl, looking for comfort. "I'm scared." Alice admitted.
Ozpin forced a smile as he took a seat next to her. "I'll stay with you." He promised. "Until the very end."
Alice smiled sincerely and took Ozpin's hand into hers as the two simply sat in silence. Ozpin sat with that little girl until her time was up and the door home opened up.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, the dust was finally beginning to settle and the flames were clearing out. In the epicenter of it all stood Hansel Kobalt, and even he looked shocked at the fact he was still standing. "That…was everything I had." He muttered to himself. He looked around. "I don't see Hazel anywhere…good."
Hansel then realized he could not feel his right arm. He looked and winced. It was charred completely back. He immediately knew what was wrong. "Third degree burns…and I'm pretty sure I've fried my nerves too." He noted.
Hansel surveyed the rest of his body. "Looks like my Aura focused on the other damage instead." He continued before looking at his arm again. He sighed in resignation. "Glynda is going to read me the riot act for being this reckless."
Hansel gasped. "Glynda…and not just her, Rose and Belladonna too. They're still in the forest!" He realized.
Hansel then saw Wolf Fang, still where it had been knocked away when Hazel had disarmed him. He smiled slightly, relieved that his beloved sword was still in one piece. A part of me just isn't there if Wolf Fang isn't near me. He noted.
"I just need to get my sword and get going." He muttered to himself. "I may have one arm…and basically no Aura, but I can still fight. I just have to be careful. Just have to…"
Hansel trailed off when he heard a commotion behind him, something was trying to unbury itself from the burnt debris. His eyes widened when he sensed a very familiar Aura signature. No way…
Hazel Rainart grunted as he emerged from burnt debris, looking no worse for wear. He immediately turned his gaze onto Hansel and took note of his condition. "Your last gasp was just a very powerful punch." He said, scowling. "A bit too predictable, unfortunately."
No way! Hansel felt all the color drain from his face.
Hazel then heaved a sigh. "Still, I will commend you. For a brief moment, you actually did punch through my Aura there. Unfortunately, I still have enough to heal my injuries and continue."
"But I mean it when I say that I commend you, Hansel Kobalt. Out of all the Huntsmen I have fought under Salem's command, you are definitely the strongest." Hazel praised.
That's impossible. I hit him with everything, and he's still going?! Hansel just could not believe it, even if the proof was right in front of him.
Hazel then reached into his pocket. He then pulled something out. "Out of respect for that display of strength, I will now fight you seriously." He revealed. "It is the least I can do to respond to your effort. After all, you are strong."
Hazel then revealed what he had pulled out: two lightning Dust crystals. "However, I am stronger." He proclaimed, placing one of the crystals in his other hand.
Before Hansel could say anything, Hazel took the two crystals and drove them both into his chest. Hansel's eyes widened. No…he didn't just…
Hazel then let out an inhuman roar as electricity crackled all around him. His shirt exploded from the blast and his body seemed to grow in size. "My Semblance, Numbing Agent, allows me to inject Dust into my body while avoiding adverse effects like the immense pain that would happen otherwise." Hazel revealed, his voice distorted.
"This is the end, Hansel Kobalt." Hazel told him. "Take comfort in the fact that it took my best to defeat you."
In a flash, Hazel leapt towards Hansel, reaching him in a single bound. The force of the jump was so great, the ground where Hazel had been shattered. A slipstream of lightning trailed behind him. Hansel gasped. Hazel was so fast he had actually disappeared from his sight completely.
Before Hansel could do anything else, he felt Hazel strike him in the stomach with a powerful punch. His mouth opened in a silent scream as lightning coursed through his body, his skeleton becoming visible. The force of the punch lifted his body off of the ground. Hazel then quickly threw an uppercut that struck Hansel in the same spot and launched him into the air, like a rocket.
I…I can't…I can't do anything. Hansel realized as Hazel jumped into the air after him. He practically disappeared into a lightning bolt as he sped past Hansel. Hazel was moving so fast, he was outpacing someone who had been punched with enough force to be launched into the air. I can't do anything at all. He's just too strong…and I'm too weak from all the fighting before!
At that moment, Hazel materialized into sight behind Hansel and kicked him right in the back. Hansel's screams finally had sound as he was sent careening back to earth, screaming in pain all the while.
Hazel humphed at the sight as he floated in the air with lightning crackling at his feet. "Such a pity that it has come to this." He mused. "If you had just surrendered Pyrrha Nikos…if you had just chosen to join us with no fight whatsoever, you could've avoided all of this unnecessary bloodshed. Know that all of this is the fault of that fool who placed delusions of grandeur in your head, Hansel Kobalt"
Hazel sighed, as he came to realize something: not even he actually believed that anymore. "No…no, that's not right." He admitted. "This was inevitable, Ozpin notwithstanding. And I fought you because I wanted to. That's what you want me to say, right?"
"Well, you were right." Hazel acknowledged. "Now then, do try to stay alive, Hansel Kobalt. I do have my orders to bring you back to Salem, after all."
Hazel then repositioned his body and shot downwards like an actual lightning bolt, raising his right fist. Hansel was motionless, his body crackling with electricity as Hazel came onto him from above.
His eyes widened just as Hazel struck him like an actual bolt of lightning. Electricity exploded around the area like tesla coils running wild. If Hansel Kobalt was still alive, he would not be going to Salem in one piece. No, he would be coming back broken.
Thankfully, for Hazel, Salem did not mind one bit if he was a little broken. In the end, all of her 'toys' were just a little broken. One more broken one did not matter.
Meanwhile, Cinder Fall took a deep breath as she stared down Ruby Rose and Blake Belladonna. "I have ideals." She insisted. "Ideals formed over a life of unfairness that was forced on me by people far more powerful than I was at the time."
"But things are different now!" Cinder exclaimed. "The one with the power is me!"
Ruby glared at Cinder. "So what, you just decided to become a bully yourself? Commit your own injustices?" She demanded.
"There is no such thing as injustice or justice. There's only what the powerful choose to do, and the fact that the weak have to live with it. The only way to live the life you desire is to reach for the top." Cinder proclaimed. "To become so powerful that no one can hurt you, no one can bring you down. Only the strong can live happy lives. And after everything I've been through, I deserve a happy life!"
Ruby shook her head. The young Huntress-in-training knew she still had much to learn…but even she knew that was just wrong. "Do you think you're the only person who's been through what you're describing?"
"They don't matter." Cinder snarled.
"That's just the thing, Cinder, they do." Ruby insisted. "I've been at Beacon for almost a year now, and do you know what I learned about people? Everyone has had it rough at some point, some worse than others."
"Some get bullied, some are mistreated for their species, some are just lonely, and some are irrationally hated by the world for the dumbest of reasons. They all suffered through rough times, just like you. I guess in a way, the good guys and the bad guys of this fight aren't so different in that regard."
"Is there a point to this? Are you dictating your obituary to me, Ruby?" Cinder demanded.
"Let me finish." Ruby said firmly.
Cinder scowled. "Anyway, you know what the thing is about all of that, Cinder? In spite of that similarity, there's still a difference between you and everyone else." Ruby glared at her archrival. "Everyone else didn't lash out and hurt others. Maybe normal people just don't go crazy like you did."
Cinder's scowl turned into a hateful glare to match Ruby's. "So maybe instead of it being society's fault you're the way you are, maybe the problem was just you all along." Ruby concluded. "Because you know what, Cinder? Even if life was unfair to you, like it is to literally everyone else, all the people you've killed? That's all on you."
Cinder ground her teeth together, as blades formed in her hands. "You do realize that all you're doing is making me want to hurt you even more, right?" Cinder pointed out to her. "All you're doing is guaranteeing that your death is going to be so much more painful than it already is."
Ruby chuckled. "I mean, yeah." She admitted. "But honestly, Cinder, I'm realizing that I really can't stand people like you, so I really don't care."
While Ruby and Cinder proclaimed their hate for one another, Blake found herself desperately trying to formulate a plan. We escaped with our lives with nothing more than luck last time. We will not survive a second encounter.
At that moment, Blake heard the voice of the White Fang's leader, Sienna Khan, inside of her head. "Strike hard, make the humans fear you, and then retreat into the shadows so that you can do it all over again. That is the way of the White Fang from now on, that is how we win our equality, our respect."
Then, Blake heard Adam's voice in her head. "You know what must be done, Blake. Cut her off and escape with your life. Live to strike another day. Just like High Leader Khan and I taught you."
Blake's eyes widened, horrified by the very thought of abandoning Ruby. There was only one answer she could possibly give to such horrid thoughts. No, no! I won't abandon Ruby, and I am done running!
Our Semblances may reflect who we are, but they are still our powers! You will take shape based on my will, and you will help me protect my friend! Blake insisted. Instead of fleeing from my problems, I will protect and then strike back with all my strength, and fight until the very end!
"If that's how you feel, then die, Ruby!" Cinder snapped, charging towards her hated foe, like a jet, shooting through the air.
No! Blake exclaimed inwardly, throwing herself in front of Ruby without hesitation, unsheathing Gambol Shroud in the process.
As Cinder neared Blake and Ruby, who's eyes went wide when she realized her friend was about to make a sacrifice play for her sake, Blake's shadow started to move on its own, attaching itself first to Ruby's shadow, then to Cinder's shadow as the woman got near her.
Cinder scowled as she came to a stop in front of Blake. "You are just an annoying pest!" She hissed before throwing a roundhouse kick right into Blake's face, sending her flying away from Ruby.
"You need to be squashed like one!" Cinder yelled as she waved her hand and created a tower of blades made of dust that appeared behind Blake.
"Blake, no!" Ruby screamed, eyes briefly flashing a silver light and putting Cinder on guard.
As Blake neared the blades, a thought occurred to her. She did not know why, but something inside of her soul was compelling her to sheathe Gambol Shroud. So she did.
Ruby honestly did not understand what happened next. She blinked and her eyes turned back to normal. And where Cinder had once stood, Blake stood instead.
Cinder honestly did not understand what had just happened. One minute she was standing next to Ruby, the next, she was feeling her own blades trying to dig into her back. Thankfully, she was well protected by her Aura. Even so…
What the hell just happened? She snarled inwardly, desperately racking her brain to find the answer.
Ruby's eyes darted back and forth from Cinder to Blake. "Blake? But you…and Cinder…and now you're…and now she's…WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!" She yelled.
Blake chuckled. "Ruby, it's okay." She reassured her. "In fact, it's more than okay, it's awesome. I really owe you one when we get back."
"What do you mean?"
Blake turned to her friend and smiled. "Ruby, once again, I have to thank you. Because of you, I was able to surpass my limits and awaken a new power." She revealed. "I think I'll call it 'Shadow Dance.'"
"Shadow Dance?" Ruby repeated. Then she saw how her shadow was connected to Blake's. "Why is my shadow connected to yours?"
Cinder gasped and looked down to see that her shadow was connected to Blake's as well. Blake smirked. "A requirement for Shadow Dance to be used. I have to use my Aura to connect my shadows with those I wish to 'dance' with."
"Okay, how do we dance then?" Ruby asked. "Because unless we're going to do what Team JNPR did at that dance, you can't really dance with more than one partner."
Blake sweat-dropped. "Figure of speech, Ruby." She got back on track. "We're going to spend the rest of this fight swapping places with Cinder and basically troll her to death."
Cinder's eyes widened. That's what happened before! But how do I break out of this? That's the important question!
Ruby's eyes widened in delight. "That's great!" She exclaimed. "No, it's awesome! With an ability like that, we might actually have a chance!"
Blake nodded. "So, Leader, mind letting me take the lead for this one?"
Ruby smiled. "Sounds good." She nodded, readying Crescent Rose for battle once more.
"Then I've got just one order for you." Blake told her. "One thing that you need to do."
"No matter what happens from here on out, don't stop." Blake ordered.
"Are you kidding?" Ruby smiled. "You of all people should know that once I get going, I can't stop until the fight's over!"
"Then let's go!" Blake exclaimed as the two rushed Cinder.
Cinder snarled as she summoned two blades to defend herself. "You fucking bitches!" She snapped. "Don't be so cocky!"
Blake then started rapidly sheathing and unsheathing Gambol Shroud repeatedly. With every sheathing, she and Ruby swapped places as they neared Cinder. "One more thing I should mention!" Blake exclaimed. "Sheathing Gambol Shroud is necessary to activate my technique!"
The two were soon upon Cinder. Before Cinder could react, she was suddenly where Ruby was, leaving her back wide open to a slash from Crescent Rose. Cinder gasped in pain as she took the full brunt of the attack.
However, Cinder recovered quickly and turned to strike Ruby. But, once she did that, Blake was suddenly where Ruby was and she was struck by Gambol Shroud. Then, Blake sheathed Gambol Shroud again and Cinder was in Blake's original spot. Blake then unsheathed Gambol Shroud and struck Cinder in the back.
Blake smirked and sheathed Gambol Shroud and swapped places with Cinder again. Cinder snarled and tried to slash Blake, only for Ruby to strike her from behind again, Blake rapidly unsheathed Gambol Shroud once more and slashed Cinder again.
Cinder's mouth dropped open as she let out a pained gasp. I can't react in time, their cadences are too different! Cinder realized. There's too much of a difference between their movements when they swap for me to react in time!
Blake swapped places between herself and Cinder. Ruby sped past her and slashed Cinder once more. Blake then swapped the two once more, placing her between them and the two slashed her simultaneously. Cinder growled and tried to counter with an attack on Blake to stop this madness. However, Cinder soon found Ruby in Blake's place with Ruby striking her once again.
Damn it! That Faunus girl…is she swapping with me? Or is she swapping with Ruby? That split second of trying to figure out her next move makes my thoughts falter and dulls my reaction time! Cinder realized.
Blake suddenly kicked Cinder in the jaw and then swapped places between the two of them. Ruby then slashed a downed Cinder across the back. Cinder recovered in time to turn to Blake and then watch her and Ruby swap yet again. Blake peppered her with gunfire from Gambol Shroud and Ruby blasted her with a few rounds from Crescent Rose.
Oh no…I can't… Cinder trailed off as she found herself being swapped with Blake once more. Ruby shot her again with more bullets.
Blake then swapped places with Cinder as the woman tried to charge her. The sudden swap put her in range with Ruby's next slash from Crescent Rose. Blake then appeared in Ruby's place and slashed Cinder just before she could recover. Another swap, this time between Cinder and Blake. She was then peppered with gunfire from Crescent Rose.
Cinder managed to recover enough to try and attack Blake, but was swapped with her and left open to yet another attack from Ruby and Blake. The two slashed her simultaneously, yet again.
I can't break out of this! Cinder realized.
For her part, Blake was beginning to truly believe in their chances at survival. If we can just keep this up, we can hold out until backup arrives. Blake noted. I just have to keep screwing with her head.
Make the enemy doubt every decision they make, don't make them reactive, make them unable to act at all! That's how you really win! Blake concluded.
The Faunus girl then saw Cinder's eyes light up in flames. Still easier said than done though, this is Cinder we're talking about. As long as she has those Maiden powers of her's, she still has us outclassed in raw power. And with raw power comes explosive, destructive capability with a wide range, like Professor Kobalt's Purgatorial Flames.
But if you can't outmuscle someone, you outplay them instead. Blake smirked, knowing she had to add another layer to her mind games to keep Cinder from being able to fight properly. Deep down, this woman had a temper. It was time to exploit it.
"It's over, Cinder, you're just not going to win this." Blake taunted. "I've got you in my trap, and I'm not going to let you go any time soon."
"Because the thing is, Shadow Dance doesn't require much Aura to use. We could do this all day, and it wouldn't stop being funny." Blake revealed.
Cinder snapped at that statement. The beating she was getting made her way more susceptible to such taunts, and it showed. "Don't mock me!" She yelled as flames exploded around her body. Though Ruby wanted to stop her assault, she remembered Blake's words to never stop, no matter what. So, she pressed on.
Quickly, Blake swapped places with Cinder and herself. Cinder realized she was well out of range to strike them and quickly powered down. Ruby suddenly sped forward with Petal Burst. Blake, for her part, transformed Gambol Shroud into its kusari-gama form and pulled herself behind Cinder. She then quickly transformed her weapon back to its normal katana form as she landed.
Cinder's eyes widened when she saw Blake moving to sheathe Gambol Shroud. Damn it, no! She's going to swap again! But with her and me? Or her and Ruby? Regardless, what I have to worry about now is defending myself! Whatever she decides to do, I'll be ready this time, and melt them to their bones!
Blake sheathed Gambol Shroud.
And nothing happened. Nobody changed places with anyone. Cinder gasped as her mouth dropped open. They didn't swap places?!
Blake smirked. "Just because I've sheathed Gambol Shroud, doesn't mean I'm using Shadow Dance." She revealed. "It's a simple trick, but it's an effective one. Hit her hard, Rubes!"
Cinder gasped as she turned back to wear Ruby was, only to see the girl spinning with Crescent Rose outwards. The girl built up a tremendous amount of momentum and struck Cinder with her strongest slash yet.
Cinder's eyes widened in pain as the powerful slash actually broke through her Aura and cut her across the chest, near the scar Ruby had given her back during the Vytal Festival. So, she means to scar me again? Again?!
At that moment, Cinder realized that with the swapping briefly paused, she could concentrate enough to finally counter. If I can't deal with them directly, I'll just have to take a different approach! I commend you for obtaining this power on the fly, Blake Belladonna, but you forgot one thing! I too can switch up my style when I need to! That miscalculation shall cost you dearly!
At that moment, all three girls were surrounded by a dome of dust that quickly superheated into hundreds of swords. "Oh crap!" Blake gasped, realizing Cinder had finally found a workaround for her technique.
Ruby finally stopped her assault as she took in their new situation. Cinder started laughing. The battle had finally swung back in her favor. "So close, but so far!" Cinder exclaimed. "You two may have been able to strike me repeatedly and with impunity, but you're still too weak to do any lasting damage!"
Ruby watched in horror as the wound she had dealt closed. "See? You won't be leaving me with a second scar today, Ruby!" Cinder declared.
Blake took in the dome of blades that surrounded them. Not good, even if I swapped places with anyone, we'd still be trapped. All she'd have to do is command it and they'd all converge on us. She probably doesn't even care if she's trapped in her own technique as well. As far as she's concerned, she can take it.
"Two fools for the price of one attack!" Cinder declared with a manic gleam in her eyes. "And one of them just so happens to be the foolish little girl that I hate the most!"
"With this, the pain and humiliation I felt ever since you struck me with that attack will finally end, Ruby!" Cinder told her.
Ruby gave Cinder a defiant glare, bracing herself to either take or dodge every single blade. She would not give Cinder the satisfaction of breaking, not after she and Blake had pushed her so far.
Cinder snarled. "Stop looking at me like that! A weakling like you has no right to look at me like that!" She yelled, preparing to direct the blades to converge on all three of them with her right hand.
What should I do? What should I do? Blake frantically thought.
"Perish!" Cinder screamed, throwing her right arm forward.
However, before any blades could move, hundreds of projectiles came out of nowhere and collided with each blade with great precision, shattering them all instantly. Cinder's eyes widened. "What?"
"I never did like the idea of arriving in the nick of time. People that you're trying to save or protect shouldn't have to worry whether they're going to be alright or not, even for an instant." A familiar voice made Ruby and Blake both sigh in relief.
Glynda Goodwitch limped into view as she glared at Cinder. "But I'm glad I got here in time. Now then, you can either leave my students be, or I will force you to leave."
"But honestly, I'm so pissed off right now, that I'd actually prefer you make me force you."
Meanwhile at the edge of Ever After Forest, Qrow Branwen, Peter Port and Bartholomew Oobleck stood at the ready to charge into the fray. "Okay boys," Qrow narrowed his eyes in determination, "we've got some kids to save."
A single black bird flew into Ever After Forest, followed closely by Port and Oobleck. The final stages of the battle had begun.
AN: We've hit the climax, folks, complete with some incredible references. JJK's Boogie Woogie, which is honestly one of my favorite scenes in the series. Batman sits with Ace until she passes, the hardest battle he's ever fought. This was a fun chapter to write, considering Blake's potential.
Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter is coming sooner than you think.
