Chapter 47

Trust Falls

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

"Scroll Communications / Tv"

Location / Date / Time Change

"Martial law?" Robyn repeated in shock next to Qrow. "We cannot let him do this!"

"Calm down." Clover requested. "I'm sure the general understands the gravity of this-" His Scroll beeped and he glanced at it, seeing the wanted 'fugitives'. Standing up, he walked over as Qrow gripped his handle. "Calm down. I don't want to fight you. Either of you." He added, glancing at Robyn who pulled out her own Scroll.

"Free ride, and a show…" Tyrian chuckled.

"Shut it." The leader said before turning back to the two. "Qrow, the general's put out a warrant for you and your nieces."

"Has James lost his mind!?" Qrow shouted.

"He's trying to silence anyone who might stop his inhumane plan." Robyn stood up and pointed her crossbow at Clover. "Looks like he underestimated me, again."

"Only Qrow's been called for an arrest." He replied. "And I don't know what the General is planning. But abandoning people to die isn't what I signed up for."

"So you're just going to follow them anyway!?" Robyn asked, flexing her finger.

"Not at all." Clover replied. "I'm saying we play along, and then when in Atlas, talk to him. See if we can't snap him out of this."

"And if we can't?" Qrow asked.

"It's taking a very long time for this show to get to the good part." Tyrian complained.

"Shut. Up!" Qrow growled out. "Robyn, after everything tonight, we owe Clover the benefit of the doubt. Let's see what happens."

Glaring at him, Robyn relaxed her arm and let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine. But if I even think you're double crossing us-" She raised her bow and Clover unfurled his rod. "I won't hesitate for a second."

"I'd expect nothing less." Clover chuckled before the three were slammed onto the floor of the ship.

A broken pipe rolled and hit Qrow in face. Tyrian had broken free during the argument and killed the pilots, laughing as the ship plummeted to the ground. "What are you doing!?"

"THE WILL… OF OUR GODDESS!" He cackled before kicking the Huntsman away and steering the ship hard into the ground.

"BRACE FOR IMP-!"

With Winter & Penny

Winter stared at her Scroll, her mind going a hundred miles and hour. "Weiss… What did you do?"

"The General is leaving Mantle to perish?" Penny questioned from behind.

"He's saving Remnant." The Specialist replied as she put her pad away. "We can't let the Relics fall to Salem."

"But… all those people we just protected…" The robot mumbled as Winter walked forward. "They won't survive without us."

"We don't have time to-"

"That doesn't bother you!?" The red head snapped back, making Winter stop in her tracks. "What about your sister? Our friends?"

"My personal feelings don't matter." Winter declared. "I have my orders. I need to claim the power of the Maiden, you're here to assist me. Come, we've waisted enough time."

"Those feelings should matter." Penny replied.

Winter glanced around and stepped forward. "Penny, the General is making tough choices so we don't have too. For the good of all, not just a few." She gripped the robots hands in her own.

"Maybe the few shouldn't be making those tough choices." Penny ripped her hands away and glared the specialist in the eye. "And I do not see what is good about any of this."

She walked away and Winter folded her arms behind her. "On that, we can agree." She mumbled before following the machine.

Ironwood's Office

"Think about what you're doing." Weiss begged the four.

"General's order." Gray replied. "Until this is sorted, you traitors are staying here." He pressed a button on his Scroll and the entire room lit up in red lights as the windows were barred.

"We don't want to make this any more difficult." Lady said.

"Then don't make us get out of here by force." Yang replied, her and Weiss preparing their weapons.

The Ace-Ops did the same, except for Marrow. "Hold on, we aren't REALLY going to slug things out, are we?"

"WE'RE not doing anything." Gray declared. "They decide how this goes." Ruby stepped forward and unfolded her scythe as Natsu dropped into a fighting stance. Marrow sighed and pulled his gun out. "You really think you can stop us? We're the very best Huntsmen."

"In Atlas, maybe." Ruby replied before taking off in petals and slammed through door. Gray turned and ran after her as Natsu ducked a missile. Yang punched Lightning's sword back as Weiss flicked Marrow's blade aside.

Ruby returned to normal speed as ice covered the floor. Gray shifted his weapons and swung his swords, forcing Ruby to block with her spear. A heavy kick sent her crashing into an elevator, denting the door. "Gray, stop it! This is just what Salem wants. We need to be working together!"

"You lost that chance when you lied to the General!" He shouted back, swinging his swords.

Down the hall, Yang punched at Mary again and again, making it impossible for her to aim her weapons. Yang landed a punch on the jaw and knocked her back. The blonde rushed in and was meet with a head butt before getting swatted aside by one of the launchers. She aimed and fired both rockets at once as Natsu flew around the opening.

Lightning zipped after him as he caught one of the missiles. Throwing it at Claire, he watched her slice it in half as the explosion went off. Natsu slid under Lady's weapon as Yang ducked the second projectile, the explosion going off behind her. She tossed two explosive rounds at Lady, who swatted them aside and rushed after her.

Natsu was struck from behind and sent to the ground as Lady stepped on his back, her launcher pointed at his head. Yang froze as Lightning turned to her. "This has gone on long enough. Surrender, and we won't hurt you."

"I don't want to do this anymore than you do." Lady added, her finger hovering on the trigger.

"But you WANT to abandon all the people you swore to protect!?" Natsu shouted, writhing underneath.

"It's not worth the breath, Natsu." Yang spoke up. "They're just following orders now."

Glaring at the blonde, Mary rushed forward and swung her launchers at Yang. Sighing in annoyance, Claire jumped up and dived at Natsu, who rolled to the side and stood back up.

Weiss stabbed and rushed at Marrow who blocked and threw his boomer-sword. Weiss flicked it away and stabbed into the ground, freezing the floor. Marrow jumped over a fire attack before landing on the ground, mist filling the office. "I know Schnees are used to getting their way, but it's time to let this one go."

Ice shards fired at him and forced him to block. "This is my home." Weiss declared as Marrow saw a rising shadow. "And I refuse to give it up without a fight." The mist faded and her knight summon was behind her.

Qrow groaned in pain as he searched the rubble of his ship. Glancing to the side, he found Robyn lying on the ground. He rushed over and checked her neck for a pulse. Finding it, he sighed in relief before footsteps made him turn, gripping his handle. "Easy!" Clover shouted, hands in the air.

Qrow relaxed as the Ace-Op leader raced to his side. "Don't worry. She's still breathing." Qrow explained.

"Well, that's one less thing to worry about." Clover smiled. "Fortunately, we aren't too far away from Atlas. Someone is bound to have seen the crash."

"So now what? We wait?" Qrow questioned. "Not really my-"

Clover slammed him to the ground as a giant red tinted shuriken flew at them. The blade stuck into the metal before it faded into a red mist, flowing over them. "I wouldn't advise that. Not if you wanna live." Ardyn chuckled, pulling his great-sword off his back.

"Who the hell is this guy?" The scythe user asked.

"Ardyn Izunia." Clover answered. "Once one of Atlas' best huntsman… until he decided the infamy of being a criminal was better than what he got as a Huntsman."

"That… and it was just nice to be out from Ironwood's thumb." Ardyn chuckled before rushing forward. Qrow pushed himself up before he and Clover shared a glance and the two charged back.

In the rubble of the ship, Tyrian slowly groaned and woke up. A sick smile on his face, he twisted his hands and laughed as he broke his thumb, free himself. Snapping it back into place, he undid the knot and stood back up, watching the fight from the broken window. "Ooh, this is going to be good."

Atlas

Gray punched Ruby in the face, sending her sliding over the ice back into the office. Marrow hucked his weapon at Weiss, only for the team leader to bat it back. The Ace-Ops stood next to each other, Gray turning to the Faunus. "Stop messing around and get serious!"

"I'm trying to arrest her, not kill her, Gray!" Marrow snapped back. "There's this thing called excessive force! You should really look into it."

Weiss' knight swung her sword and forced the two duck, rose petals falling in front of her. Growling in annoyance, Gray rushed after Ruby.

Natsu and Yang threw a punch and both hit Lady in the face before the blonde ducked a swing from Lightning. "Don't think we're worth your powers?" The pinkette asked.

"No, I just don't feel like wasting them here." She replied, angering Lady. Firing both missiles, she could only watch as Natsu caught them and threw them back, blasting her into the air. Yang rolled to the side of another swing as Natsu tackled Mary out of the air, pinning her against the wall.

"Please stop this." He begged. "We both know this is wrong!"

"What I know doesn't matter." Lady headbutted Natsu in the nose, forcing him to let go. "I follow my orders, period."

"Fine… Have it your way." The hybrid sighed before diving at her. She rolled to the side and picked up her launchers, pulling the triggers. She looked down at the barrels and found them frozen shut before they exploded in her face. Crashing into the wall, her Aura broke and she fell unconscious. "Sorry."

Yang slid under a swing before Natsu kicked Claire in the back. Stumbling forward, she missed Natsu spun Yang and she peppered the ground with explosives. Another blast filled the room as Lightning struggled to stand, her Aura broken. Pushing herself up, it took one punch from Yang to knock her out.

Marrow rolled to the side from a stab from the summon before being forced against the wall, almost skewered on icicles. Forced to move or be slashed, he froze Weiss in place only to find the summon still moving. "STAY!" The armor froze before Marrow was hit by a trio of fireballs, breaking his Aura.

Gray slammed his hands on the ground and froze Ruby in place. Unfurling his swords, he charged and slashed at her, Ruby barely able to block a few hits. He jumped up and prepared to stab her, only for a blonde blur to hit the ice user. Yang spun around and slammed him to the ground before Natsu dived and slammed his feet into his face.

The cryomancer had just enough time to look up and see Yang slam an elbow into his back, breaking his Aura and knocking him out. Ruby cuffed him and dragged Gray to the central hall. "We need to stop Ironwood. If he can't access the Relic, he won't be able to move Atlas."

"We just need to get to the Winter Maiden first." Weiss added.

"Me and Yang can do that, we know where she is." Natsu chimed in. "You two need to find the others."

"But our Scrolls don't-" A chime cut Ruby off and the turned to see Pietro and Maria appear from an elevator.

Pietro seemed rather impressed that the four took out the best Altas had to offer. "This is the part where they ask us to help." The elderly woman pointed out, seemingly disappointed she didn't get a chance to shine.

The four stared into Oscar's room, destroyed Knights and bullet holes littering everywhere. "Oscar has to be around here." Aerith mumbled before cupping her mouth. "Oscar!?"

The vessel appeared, slamming into the wall. "Watch out!" Ryuko swung her blade, forcing Nui to spin and reveal herself for her own safety. "This crazy woman attacked me. It's like she came out of no where!"

"Who the hell are you?" Ryuko asked as the rest pulled out their weapons.

"Sorry, not telling." Nui teased, pointing her parasol at the Lamp Oscar was clutching. "You could always just give me the shiny shiny and I'll leave you alone."

"You hurt our friend. That's not going to happen." Blake declared before Nui charged towards them.

Vergil blocked her parasol with Rebellion before pushing her back. Aerith and Blake opened fire only for the bullets to bounce off the fabric. "Try this!" Ryuko fired off a volley of rounds as Vergil rushed forward, his katana meeting umbrella. Nui kicked him back as Blake threw Gambol Shroud, trying to ensnare her foe.

To the groups surprise, the blonde girl just spun and vanished, the cloth wrapping around nothing but air. Blake pulled it back only for the girl to reappear and pull on the cloth, catching the Faunus off guard. Nui flipped her over the brolly as threads latched into the wall. Ryuko jumped with an roar and pulled herself forward feet first.

Nui merely performed a split and the attack missed, sending her into a wall. Oscar rushed past Vergil and Aerith and swung his cane, only for the blonde to flip him end over end and into the air. Both thrusted their weapons forward aimed at the falling Relic. Luckily Oscar was the one who hooked it.

Laughing in joy, Nui thrusted again and again, pushing Oscar back. Aerith delivered a blow to the stomach, cutting her off before Vergil punched her back. Nui looked at the five as Ryuko jumped forward, her weapons put together into their scissor mode. Oscar grabbed Nui by the ankles and Ryuko slammed her blades together.

.

.

.

Only for the snap to hit air, Ryuko to tumble to the ground and Oscar to be holding nothing. "The hell!?"

"Is that her Semblance?" Aerith questioned as Vergil rushed towards the intersection, looking down the hall.

An Atlesian soldier spotted him and started firing at the swordsman. "We need to go, now!" He shouted as the five ran from the gunfire.

Winter Maiden Chamber

"I hope it will be painless for her." Winter confessed, looking at Fria.

"You said your personal feelings don't matter." Penny reminded her as she ran a diagnostic on the Aura transfer machine.

"They won't change my actions." The Specialist explained as she walked over. "What I'm committing too. The power of the Winter Maiden and the Relic MUST be kept from our enemies. Even if it means she dies. But… yes, Penny. We must still acknowledge our personal feelings. Wrestle with them. That's how we know were on the right path. It's… what makes us human."

"I… I think I understand…"

A blast shook the room and caught their attention, the tea set rattling on the table. The lights were suddenly cut and Winter stepped out into the hall. The red backup lights turned on and she saw Atlesian Knights littered on the floor. A fireball suddenly shot forward and she dived back into the room.

The projectile hit the wall and exploded into smoke as Winter blocked off the room. She drew her sword just in time for the door to be blown up and her and Penny knocked to the floor. Cinder walked with a flame dancing over her hand as the two stood up. "Both of Ironwood's puppets. Lucky me."

"Cinder…" Winter growled, pointing her blade.

"You were responsible for Beacon." Penny added. "For what happened to me."

"Sadly, I see it was only temporary." Cinder confessed, aiming her palm at her. "Now step aside, or there won't be anything left to salvage this time around. What do you think of that?"

"I think…" Penny glared at the Maiden before her swords surrounded her as she took air. "It gives me personal feelings."

Tundra

Qrow ducked a stab from a large red dagger before pushing it aside. He fired a shot point blank only for a red and black shield to take the hit, barely making a dent in it. Clover hooked the shield with his rod from behind and pulled hard, sending it flying into the tundra. The dagger transformed into a great axe and swung down, cracking the ice.

Both jumped back from the broken ice and charged again, Ardyn kicking snow into Qrow's face. Blinded, he missed the weapon transforming into a scepter and hooked the sword. With a pull and a headbutt, he stole Harbinger out of Qrow's hand before throwing at the ship remains.

"The hell is with this guy?" He growled as he jumped back from the crushing mace. "Is it like Vergil? How does he have so many weapons?"

"It's his Semblance." Clover replied, sliding next to him. "His whole family history is in his head, so he can form them from memory and Hard-Light Dust. The entire bloodline had it until he killed them all."

"And I thought Raven was a bad parent." Qrow declared before they charged again.

Maiden Chamber

Penny flew forward and tried to crash into Cinder, only to see her fist caught by the Maiden. She swung the machine and sent it crashing away with a smirk, only for a small flock of white Nevermores forced her to block. Winter launched forward with a thrust as Cinder jumped back.

She forged two swords in her hands and blocked another strike before pushing her back. "You Atlas elites are all the same!" Cinder growled, her eye glowing in her Maiden power. Winter broke the stalemate as the two started swinging their blades. "You think hoarding power means you'll have it forever. But it just makes the rest of us hungrier!"

A spin kick sent Winter crashing to the ground before a glowing sword flew past Cinder. "And I refuse to starve anymore." Penny fired off her foot rockets and launched forward, spinning as she swung armory. Cinder blocked and dodged the array before the robotic girl sent them all forward.

Winter pulled out her secondary weapon and charged from behind, creating a two on one situation for the Maiden. She jumped and dodged before kicking them away, only for the girls to return the favor and stand side by side. Roaring in anger, she threw herself forward in, grabbed them both by the face and slammed them through the wall.

Out in the air, Winter swung her sword and stabbed into the Grimm arm, only for the hand to let her go. Letting the Schnee fall, Cinder turned to Penny and threw her away before crafting another sword and kicking it towards her. Triggering her thrusters, Penny stopped herself and caught the blade, only for it to explode in her face.

Recovering quickly, she quickly regained her height as Cinder kept herself aloft with her hands and feet. "I have come TOO FAR to be stopped by some toy!" A blue blast of energy hit her back as Winter flew forward on a white Manticore. Cinder hurled fireballs at it, but the summon dodged them all. From the other side, Penny flew in for a pincer maneuver, the two swatting at Cinder time and again.

With an annoyed roar, Cinder flew at Winter before going to a lower angle. A flaming sword split the summon in half and Winter fell to the ground. A final fireball broke her Aura, insuring that it would be a fatal landing. Penny and Cinder flew in opposite directions, with different goals in mind.

The android barely managed to catch Winter and turn around to the chamber. "What are you doing!? My life doesn't matter!"

"I disagree." Penny declared, her rockets growing larger.

Tundra

Ardyn pulled against Clover as he hooked the killers weapon. Dissipating the weapon, Clover fell back before swinging again, hooking his feet. Ardyn rolled back up and flicked his wrist, only for nothing to come. Turning around, it only took one punch from Qrow shattered Ardyn's Aura, knocking him to the ground. "We… we did it…" He panted out.

"We really do make a-"

Qrow watched in horror as Tyrian took HIS sword and ran it through Clover. Blood stained the snow covered ground as the mad Faunus pulled the blade out. Clover stumbled to the ground and gasped in pain as Tyrian chuckled. "Doesn't look like your friend's gonna make it."

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Oh, you mean, like you killed Clover?" Tyrian chuckled, throwing the blade on the ground. The roar of airships echoed in the night as Tyrian clapped his hands. "Oh, here they come now. Right on time. Oh, on your left." A fist crashed into Qrow's face and Ardyn kicked him aside.

"Much obliged, Tyrian." Ardyn said, tipping his hat. "Now, let's get going before the pigs show up."

"Looks like our score will have to wait another day!" Tyrian shouted before the two ran.

Qrow wasted no time on them and rushed over to Clover, trying to save his life. "Someone… had to take the fall." The Ace-Op leader gasped out.

"James will take the fall." Qrow growled. "I'll make sure of it."

Clover turned to the side as the sun started rising, a smile on his face as breathed his last. Qrow cried out in agony as the soldiers raced over.

Atlas Dorms

"Faster!" Vergil shouted at the other three, the beaten Oscar firmly on his back. "We need to lose them." They reached an intersection before running from even more soldier, rounding the corner they just came from. Ducking into a room, they hid for their lives before jumping out in shock, the blonde girl from before having been in the same room.

Oscar looked down and went wide eyed at the Relic on her hip before she suddenly spun again, vanishing in front of them. "No, we need to find her!"

"Stop right there!"

Blake turned to the side and found soldiers aiming their guns at the group. "We need to go!" She lead the retreat as the others followed her, Oscar hobbling in the back.

Metal being peeled open was the sound that woke Fria up. "You had your time in the sun… But now, it's time for someone else." Cinder exclaimed, spite in her eyes.

"Yes… I've been… waiting here…" The elderly woman mumbled. "For some time, I think… What was I waiting for?"

"Me." The one-eyed girl declared, raising her gloved hand. She pressed it forward, only for Fria to catch the black tendrils that shot out of it.

"No." Fria denied, her eyes glowing with power. "I still have… a job to do…" Cinder pulled her hand free and the glove faded away. She quickly crafted a dagger and roared as she went for the heart, only for an icy blast to knock her back. Cinder looked up to see the old woman within a vortex of freezing wind as the floor started icing over.

The machine door flew at her, forcing her to roll out of the way and jump to safety. Fria gripped her head in pain before her power tore through the roof, just as Penny and Winter landed. "What is that?"

"That's… the power of a Maiden." Winter answered before sprinting towards it. She reached out to Fria only to pull her hand back in pain, her fingers suffering instant frostbite. "It's too cold. We have to do something." Penny stared at her hands and clenched her fists before rushing forward, jumping into the blizzard. "Penny!"

Atlas Dorm

"I'm sorry…" Oscar coughed out, the group finally finding a place to rest.

"It's not your fault." Ryuko declared. "It was that weird girls fault… She REALLY pisses me off."

"We… we failed." Vergil growled out, his fist punching the wall behind him.

"Not at all." Aerith said back.

"So why aren't we holding the Relic?" He retorted. "Now Salem has the lamp, Ironwood has the staff, and we have NOTHING!"

"Vergil, that's enough." Blake ordered, silencing the swordsman.

A beep on their Scroll's caught everyone's attention. "Anyone there? Can you hear me?"

"Doctor!" Ryuko quickly opened hers up and was meet by a shrill voice screaming in excitement.

"I told you! The finest mind in Atlas!" Maria cheered.

"Maria! What are you doing?" Aerith joyfully asked.

"Grabbing our ride out of here." The blind woman answered, the sound of gunfire echoing in the background. "We need to hightail it out of here. Where are you?"

"The academy training room." Blake replied. "We slipped away from some soldiers, but they could find us at any-"

Gunfire cut her off as rounds nearly hit her head. "Shit, they found us!" Ryuko popped out of the door and unleashed a hail of bullets from her guns. "We just need to stick together and we'll be-"

"Hold on, where's Oscar?" Aerith asked looking around.

"I'm sorry, but you all need to go on without me." The vessel declared on the line. "There's something I have to do alone." The line died as the four shared a nervous glance.

Pushing through the storm, Penny freed her foot from ice with a rocket boost. Coming to a stop in the eye of the storm, she looked up at Fria before reaching for her leg. The elderly Maiden gasped in shock before looking down. "Are you okay?"

The glowing eyes died as she looked around her. "I… had a job to do." She mumbled. Penny looked around and found the machine frozen over. "I was… supposed to protect the power of the Maiden. Until I was ready… I worry I may have lost track of time. But you can tell James that I'm ready now."

"Ma'am… if you do that-"

"I'll be gone." Fria finished her thought. "I know I have a hard time remembering now, but I couldn't forget that." She floated to the ground and Penny rushed to catch the older woman. Looking around, Penny found a point of the ice wall glowing white. "What's your name?"

"It's Penny." The auraed android answered.

"Penny…" The elderly woman said with a smile. "Are you… the one?"

Before she could answer, Cinder broke through the ice wall, glaring at the android. "SHE'S MINE!" Charging at the pair, Penny braced for the impact. It never came and she looked to see Winter block the charging Maiden.

"Get her out of here!" Winter shouted before pushing Cinder back. The dark haired girl created two swords and started slashing at the operative before dagger slashed her arm, splattering blood on the ground again and again.

Penny turned back to Fria and held her hand as she closed her eyes for good. Winter crashed into a ice wall as Cinder stepped over, a sword in her hand. A single snowflake flew past her, making her turn around in shock. Penny opened her eyes and they glowed green, angering Cinder.

"Winter!" The older Maiden turned to see Ruby and Yang staring at her. The blonde's eyes turned red and started glowing as Ruby activated her own power. The silver light forced Cinder to flee as Ruby dropped to her knees.

Yang rushed over to the older sister, only to be pushed away. "What did you do?"

Penny looked up at Ruby before turning back to Fria, her life ended. Ruby rushed over and hugged her friend, who welcomed the embrace. Winter pushed herself up against the wall, clutching her stomach. "I'd suggest you all surrender… and comply with the General's orders…"

"We… can't do that." Yang declared. "And you know that."

"Then… I'd suggest you run." Winter replied, reaching for her ear. "This is Special Operative Schnee, in need of immediate medical attention. Send reinforcements. Over."

Yang nodded before she helped Ruby pick Penny up, leading to the hole. A ship appeared and the three quickly ruched into it, leaving Winter by herself.

Atlas Vault

Ironwood stared at the golden door high above him, his arm in a cast. The elevator started moving, making him sigh. "Winter… thank you. I know that must of been difficult. I- I'm so sorry…" He turned around and looked up, his eyes surprised. Oscar was riding the shaft down before it came to a stop. "And… whom do I have the privilege of speaking to?"

"Still just me." Oscar said, using the cane to help him walk.

"It was smart of you, not to bring the Lamp with you." The general confessed. "I wouldn't trust me, either."

"Trust is what I'm hoping to fix." The boy confessed, coming to a stop. "I'm know we can still figure this out, if we all work together. Please…"

"Do you plan to fight me?" Ironwood asked.

"No, that's exactly what she would want." Oscar replied, looking at the cane. "I guess it's because of Oz, but… holding it calms me. I'm not afraid when I hold it." He retracted the pole and placed it behind his back.

"You still think I'm afraid?" The general chuckled.

"I know you are. We ALL are." The boy said. "But it's what we do when we're afraid that-"

"That's easy enough for you to say!" Ironwood cut him off, starting to move towards Oscar. "Call me whatever you want, but the fact of the matter is I WAS RIGHT! The minute I softened up, Salem took that as an opening and used it!"

Oscar stepped back with every step the general made. "If you abandon Mantle, you abandon our best chance of bring the world together again. You abandon Remnant, leaving millions to suffer so a few can survive! What kind of-"

"All excellent philosophical points that won't matter if Salem wins!"

"Listen to me!"

"No, you listen to ME!" He snapped back, pushing Oscar back even more. "I'm done with other people's inability to see the big picture get in the way of what's RIGHT! Robyn, the Council, this Kingdom, even you."

"Then you're exactly like her, James." Oscar declared.

"…James is what my friends call me." Ironwood mumbled with a soft glow on his eyes. "To you, it's General Ironwood." He calmly unholstered his gun and shot Oscar, shattering his Aura and knocking him off the platform. Holstering his weapon, he pulled out his Scroll as it buzzed.

A simple text from Winter read 'it's gone', angering the General as he roared in rage.

Oscar fell down the large metal shaft, the cane falling faster than him. 'Oscar…' His eyes glowed as Ozpin spoke once more, making the boy reach for his cane. He grabbed the cane and held down the handle, causing the gears to turn and begin glowing. He roared and dived towards the bottom of the hole, a green orb forming around him as he broke through the metal.

"Fear. That is the one common quality of every living thing on this planet." Oscar opened his eyes and found him falling towards Mantle. "Yet for as common as it is, we always underestimate its power. The fear of growing close to someone, the fear of loss, of failure. And as more and more depend on you, the fear can get even stronger.

"But the fear itself is not the real concern, but who we become when in its clutches. Will you be proud of that person? Forgive them, understand why they did what they did? Will you even recognize them? Or will the person become the very thing you should have feared from the start? I suppose we all find out, sooner or later."

Oscar holstered the weapon behind him and roared, the same green energy protecting him from impact. Standing up, he stared at his hands in shock. "That power… these memories… you're back, aren't you? You saved me."

'Actually, you saved us.' The voice declared.

A dark thundercloud rolled in, red lighting flashing in the sky. A giant, flying Grimm floated over towards Atlas. At the top of the whale creature, the transformed Roman pointed his cane arm forward, roaring like an animal.

Sorry this took so long to come out, but a LOT of personal stuff has been getting my way. Honestly, pretty happy with everything that came together. It's by no means what I completely want, but I'm kinda just… done with this year. Hopefully next year will be better. See you all then. Happy Holidays.

Beta read by The ExcadrillComics