Cover Art by CHE3ZY
Look who's back! It's been a while and it feels good to bring another chapter to this story. Things are still a bit crazy but I've been getting work done on this story little by little. Better something than nothing at all. Hope you all enjoy this one. I hope my writing skills didn't get too rusty during my hiatus. Please let me know I can improve. I'm going on a much needed vacation next week for about two weeks so I'll be absent. As some of you in the reviews have mentioned, I need to take care of myself too.
Beacon Academy:
Mercury sat on a table with his mechanical leg propped up, a screwdriver in hand as he worked on it. The silver-haired Assassin's son was watching the news, which was showing the increase in Grimm activity and the Atlas military's response to the situation. Mercury smirked but that smirk turned into a frown as soon as he saw the screen go black. The hotheaded teenager turned and growled at Emerald.
"Hey, I was watching that!"
Emerald rolled her eyes.
"Shut up!"
"Is this how you treat a patient?" Asked Mercury.
Emerald reached over and twisted the screwdriver in his leg, causing him to wince.
"Ah, too tight!"
"Enough," said Cinder.
Emerald and Mercury turned to see their leader in the doorway of the warehouse with Neo standing beside her.
"Our Mercury put on a wonderful show. He was quite brave."
Mercury glared at Emerald.
"These things aren't exactly cheap."
Emerald ignored him before turning her attention to Cinder.
"So, what's next?"
Cinder waved her scroll back and forth and smirked.
"Thanks to Watts, you and I are going to make sure the next matchup goes as planned. The Invincible Girl and Ironwood's puppet are going to give the world a fight to remember. The Wyvern will certainly enjoy it."
Emerald smiled.
Cinder looked at Neo and gave her a nod.
"It's time," said Cinder as she handed the mute girl her scroll, "that scroll will get you inside Ironwood's ship. Free Roman and connect the scroll to the ship's network."
Neo glanced at the scroll for a second before she looked back at Cinder and nodded. A pink shimmer began to surround Neo's body as she took on the form of an Atlas military officer. Cinder smirked in approval just before Neo vanished from sight.
Cinder gestured for Emerald to follow her as she moved towards the exit.
"What about me?" Asked Mercury.
Cinder looked over her shoulder back at him as she continued towards the exit.
"You get to lay low for a bit longer. We wouldn't want people to see you on your feet and have this all be for naught, now would we?"
Mercury smirked.
"Can do."
Outskirts of Vale:
The sun dipped behind the rugged mountains, casting long shadows over the outskirts of Vale. Rahm, Terre, and Jai stood at the foot of the imposing mountain; their eyes fixed on its darkened silhouette. They had been given a crucial mission by General Ironwood himself: eliminate the dormant Wyvern that slumbered deep within the mountain's cavernous heart. With their weapons at the ready, the team began their trek into the mountain's treacherous caves.
Each step was calculated, their movements silent and fluid. The air grew colder as they ventured deeper, and the faint echoes of distant growls reached their ears. The sounds of the growls weren't particularly close, but they weren't far either.
"Looks like we've got company," said Terre.
"Understood," replied Jai.
The payload they were carrying spat in the face of discretion. When it was all said and done, this operation would be the furthest thing from quiet in the literal sense. However, they knew that the Wyvern awakening now would put the people of Vale at risk. They would need to eliminate the Grimm they encountered quietly. The cave was pitch black; the light from the waning sun outside could no longer reach inside. Their enhanced eyes' powerful night vision let them navigate through the cavern. Their helmets came equipped with night vision and thermal imaging as well as infrared flashlights to help in case their eyes weren't sharp enough to navigate the caves. As they silently navigated the winding passages, the sounds of Grimm lurking in the distance began to grow more pronounced. The boys rounded a corner and there, just a few feet away from them, were two unsuspecting Ursas.
The Guardians didn't even take a minute to do their job. It was swift and efficient. The boys dispatched the creatures with silent precision. They were merely a speedbump on their road to the main prize.
Beacon Academy:
James was monitoring the progress of the boys from his ship's office. The general's eyes were glued to his computer screen as he watched the green, orange, and grey dots, representing the individual transponders of Special Mission Unit 117, move closer to the objective.
General Ironwood hummed in thought as he pondered the situation before him. Sending the Guardians to eliminate the Wyvern was never part of his original plan for them, but the negativity from Ms. Xiaolong's match with Mercury put the risk of the Wyvern awakening at an all-time high, and having the Wyvern potentially becoming a threat to Vale was simply not on the table.
James glanced at his watch, noting the time. He had a few minutes before the matches resumed and as much as he wanted to stay and keep tabs on his men's progress, he had to show face at Amity. His confidence in Unit 117's abilities never wavered before and that wasn't about to become the case. He knew Vale would be safe from the Wyvern. The general shut the computer off and proceeded to exit his office.
Outside his office were two soldiers standing guard, both of which immediately flanked the general as he made his way toward his transport shuttle. The walk to the shuttle was met with a multitude of soldiers quickly clearing the way for the general and saluting him as he went by.
The general and his escort party arrived in the ship's hangar bay where the shuttle waited. James walked forward to the shuttle's ramp and passed a young female guard who saluted him as he walked onto the shuttle, failing to notice the subtle change in her eye color from brown to pink.
The female guard watched as the shuttle's door began to close, stealing one last glimpse of General Ironwood before it was fully sealed. The shuttle's engines roared to life as it lifted off while Neo gave the subtlest of smirks as she turned and made her way in the direction from which the general came.
The well-lit corridors of General Ironwood's ship echoed with the sound of Neo's silent footsteps. With graceful movements, she maneuvered through the halls, her eyes focused and determined. Neo approached the heavily guarded prison cells. Her eyes surveyed the scene, calculating her next move. The guards, unaware of the danger that lurked in their midst, stood watch. Swift as a shadow, Neo moved with precision, her nimble form sliding between the guards before they could notice. With calculated strikes and unnatural agility, she dispatched each one silently, her skills as a formidable combatant on full display. The guards fell, unconscious and defeated, as she made her way to Roman's cell. Inside, the sight of Roman Torchwick, his body battered and bruised, pierced Neo's heart. Her eyes widened with a mix of sorrow and determination as she stepped forward, her hands conveying a tender touch upon his injured face. She signed with a gentle urgency, questioning him about the pain he endured and the one responsible. Roman's eyes met hers, gratitude shining through his weary gaze.
"Ironwood," he said simply, exhaustion and pain were evident in his voice. "He wanted information on Cinder, but he got nothing."
His injuries silently revealed the horrors he had endured at the hands of Ironwood, the scars etched across his body telling a tale of torment. A flicker of anger passed through Neo's eyes as she absorbed Roman's words. Her hands spoke volumes as she vowed to exact vengeance upon his captor. Roman's expression shifted, a mix of pride and concern, as he spoke.
"As much as I want to see that," he said, "that will have to wait. Do you have the scroll?"
With a solemn nod, Neo accepted Roman's guidance and presented him with the scroll she received from Cinder. Roman took it and smiled mischievously as he slowly got to his feet.
She skillfully concealed the extent of his injuries with her Semblance, masking the physical toll he had endured. She grabbed hold of him, pulling him down into a kiss. The master thief returned the kiss with just as much energy and for a moment the two were lost in bliss. After what felt like an eternity they pulled away and the two shared a nod.
Their connection, unspoken but understood, remained unbreakable as they ventured forward. Together, they moved in silence, their steps purposeful and synchronized. They skillfully navigated the ship, evading any remaining guards who crossed their path, intent on putting the next phase of the plan into motion.
Amity Colosseum:
Ruby descended the steps to an open seat while she pondered Velvet's words. If what she said was accurate, then Coco had a similar experience to Yang's. That was certainly a peculiar circumstance, but there was no real way to connect the dots if there was indeed a connection.
As Ruby continued down the stairs, she looked around at the assembled crowds... until her stupefied eyes saw a familiar, glaring face on the other side of the arena.
"Emerald?" Ruby asked aloud softly to herself.
The last she heard, Mercury was flown back to Haven to receive medical treatment closer to his family and his team was to accompany him. If that was the case, then why was Emerald here?
As if sensing she was being watched, Emerald leaned forward to glare in Ruby's direction. The leader of team RWBY suddenly ran towards an exit. Checking to see if no one was around, she entered a door labeled with a yellow maintenance sign and walked into a maintenance tunnel. She walked forward with determination as the announcers' voices were heard, muffled behind the brick walls. All the while her mind was processing the nearly overwhelming information.
"All right," came the voice of Professor Oobleck over the loudspeaker, "it's now time to begin the randomization process for our next fight!"
As Ruby continued down the tunnel, the sound of the roulette was faintly heard. Ruby abruptly stopped in her tracks at the sight of another unexpected "friend" stepping out from a nearby tunnel, completely unharmed and definitely not in Haven. Ruby had to squint her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
"Mercury?"
The boy in question looked slightly surprised to see her down in these tunnels. He quickly regained his composure and smirked just as Professor Port's voice was heard.
"It looks like our first contender is... Penny Polendina from Atlas..."
Ruby stared at Mercury questioningly.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Haven."
Before he could answer, Port's voice echoed through the tunnel.
"And her opponent will be... Pyrrha Nikos from Beacon!"
Mercury mockingly put a hand to his chin.
"Ooh, polarity versus metal. That could be bad. Don't you think?"
Ruby's eyes widened at the very grim realization.
"No," she said softly.
Ruby glared at her new opponent, reaching back to grab Crescent Rose, only to remember she didn't have it on her. Mercury simply grinned maliciously and set himself up in a fighting pose.
Outside, the arena's center was lifting back into the air, and an oblivious Penny was grinning wildly, with her fellow redhead Nora cheering excitedly from the stands, even getting Ren to let out a reluctant "Yay." Pyrrha, however, did not have the same energy as Penny. Her face and body were still filled with depression.
Atlas Academy:
Diagnostic Scans Inconclusive!
Cassandra resisted the urge to grab her computer monitor and throw it across the lab. She took a calming breath before she regained her composure.
"Easy there Cassandra," said Pietro's aged voice, "you might give yourself a heart attack."
Cassandra shot him an annoyed glare and scoffed. She wasn't old by any means, but she wasn't young either. She was quite the looker when she was younger and even though she was in her fifties, she was still beautiful. Despite being a scientist, her upbringing as the daughter of the toughest military commander in the history of Atlas kept her in good shape during her youth and later years.
"You're one to talk Pietro," she fired back.
Pietro held his hands up in mock surrender as he let out a friendly laugh. Cassandra didn't find his jokes humorous.
"I'm just saying that maybe you should relax a bit. We've spent countless hours working to find any malicious software in Beacon's network and we've come up with nothing. Isn't it possible that maybe there's nothing here to find?"
Cassandra examined her old mentor for a moment with careful eyes. Had she been under the assumption that this whole thing was the work of some mere human, then maybe she would have been on board with Pietro's line of thinking. However, Dr. Haze had to give Salem more credit than that. This was a witch who had been around when gods walked Remnant. She had eons of experience and while Cassandra was as smart as they came, she would not dare underestimate Salem's capabilities.
"I understand your sentiment, Pietro," she replied, "but James strongly believes that there is something here and I won't rest until I've found it."
Her old mentor regarded her with a soft expression before he slowly nodded in understanding.
"Well in that case," said Pietro, "let's double down on this little venture."
Cassandra gave her old mentor a small smile before resuming her work. Pietro glanced over at the television, smiling as Penny was up next to fight in the tournament.
"Give it your best sweetheart," he said softly.
Amity Colosseum:
The atmosphere in the Amity Colosseum was electric with anticipation. The crowd eagerly awaited the clash between Pyrrha Nikos and Penny Polendina, the two top-ranked first-year students. As the battle commenced, Pyrrha's mind was clouded with conflicting emotions, her heart heavy with the weight of the impending choice to become the new Fall Maiden. In her turmoil, she found solace in the fact that her opponent was Penny, one of her dearest friends.
Their eyes locked, and a mixture of determination and concern filled the air between them. Pyrrha's grip tightened on her weapon, Milo, while Penny's green eyes brimmed with unwavering trust. They circled each other, both unwilling to strike first, yet aware that the stakes were high.
With a sudden burst of movement, Pyrrha lunged forward, her aura enveloping her like a radiant shield. Penny swiftly dodged her initial attack, her agility and reflexes on full display. The crowd erupted in applause, enthralled by the display of skill before them. The battle unfolded, their movements a graceful dance of combat. Pyrrha's form was elegant yet precise, her strikes imbued with the power of her semblance, Polarity. Penny matched her friend's prowess, her mechanical limbs moving with otherworldly grace, her swords cutting through the air like rays of light.
Their weapons clashed, sending sparks flying in all directions. The ground beneath their feet trembled with each powerful strike. Pyrrha's heart ached, conflicted by her duty as a Huntress and the yearning to be herself. Doubt clouded her mind, threatening to weaken her resolve.
"Pyrrha, stay strong!" Nora's voice carried across the arena. "Remember, we're in this together!"
A surge of warmth washed over Pyrrha, momentarily pushing aside her doubts. She locked eyes with the smiling Nora from the stands, their unspoken connection reigniting her inner fire. With renewed determination, Pyrrha pressed forward, her strikes regaining their full strength. Their battle reached its crescendo, the air crackling with energy. They clashed with unmatched intensity, their weapons a blur of motion. Pyrrha's shield blocked Penny's swift strikes, while her own counterattacks were met with precise evasions.
Pyrrha's mind raced. She fought with a heavy heart, her every strike laced with a mixture of power and hesitation. The audience watched in awe as the fighters weaved between each other, their weapons colliding with resounding echoes, but hidden in the shadows, Emerald observed with sinister delight and saw an opportunity to use her semblance of illusion manipulation. Unbeknownst to Pyrrha, the illusions began to infiltrate her mind, distorting her perception.
Shadows morphed into phantoms of enemies, tricking her senses. Doubt seeped into her thoughts, clouding her judgment. Pyrrha's eyes widened as she saw Penny charging at her, an unmistakable determination in her gaze. The clash between their weapons grew fiercer, the crowd roaring with excitement. But in Pyrrha's mind, Penny's attacks seemed more relentless and unpredictable than ever before. Struggling to keep up, Pyrrha's defenses faltered. Her movements grew erratic, her strikes lacking the precision and strength she was known for.
Panic seized her heart as her once trusty abilities failed to aid her, and the shadow enemies got closer and closer. She couldn't comprehend why her abilities seemed to falter, unaware of the effect of Emerald's semblance on her perception of reality. In a moment of desperation, Pyrrha unleashed her semblance's full power and threw Milo forward with deadly force in an attempt to rid herself of the shadow enemies. The illusory enemies surrounding her dispersed, revealing Penny in their wake. It was too late to stop her strike. Pyrrha's weapon pierced through Penny's defenses, slicing through her abdomen like a knife through hot butter. Time froze as Pyrrha's eyes widened in horror.
Penny's body went limp, the light fading from her eyes. The echoes of the crowd's cheers transformed into gasps of shock and despair. Pyrrha's world crumbled around her as she fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"No... Penny... What have I done?" Her voice cracked with sorrow, her hands trembling as they reached out to hold her fallen friend while tears flowed like waterfalls from her eyes.
The weight of guilt and grief settled upon her shoulders, threatening to crush her. In the midst of the chaos, Emerald reveled in her triumph, a wicked smile stretching across her face. She had succeeded in manipulating Pyrrha's perceptions, in turning friendship into tragedy. As the colosseum fell into a stunned silence, the spectators' cheers turned to shrieks of terror. Pyrrha's cries of anguish reverberated through the arena, a haunting lament for the loss of her dear friend. She cradled Penny's lifeless body, her heart shattered into countless fragments. The world would forever remember the battle between Pyrrha and Penny, not for its display of skill and camaraderie, but for the devastating consequences that unfolded. All around Vale and Remnant, the Grimm became invigorated and emboldened to attack.
Despite Professors Port and Oobleck trying to bring order to the chaotic situation, their efforts proved futile as they could no longer project their voices throughout the stadium or kill the video feed.
"THIS WAS NOT A TRAGEDY," came the voice of a young woman over the stadium's PA system. "THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAND OVER YOUR TRUST, YOUR SAFETY, AND YOUR CHILDREN, TO MEN WHO CLAIM TO BE YOUR GUARDIANS."
All around the world, people watched and listened to the mysterious woman speaking. From their respective positions, Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow, Theodore, and Ironwood knew this was it. Salem made her move. The seeds of discord and chaos had been successfully sown by the witch, and they failed to stop her. Of all of them, James was the most enraged.
James listened to the girl speak as he readied himself for what was to come. He knew this was coming better than anyone and despite all his efforts to try and outmaneuver the witch with his carefully made plans or his utilization of his Guardians, she still managed to get the best of him, but it didn't matter.
James cracked his neck. One way or another he would end this. He owed it to the people of Vale and the world. He steadily made his way to the announcer box; he needed to get everyone out of the stadium in a calm and orderly manner.
Atlas Academy:
Diagnostic Scan Results: Presence of Malicious Software Found!
"I've done it!" Cassandra yelled in absolute elation.
After what seemed like an eternity of constant diagnostic scans and endless software probes, she finally found it. Her and James' suspicions were correct. Salem had planted a bug into Beacon's network. All she had to do now was go about analyzing the details of this virus and then find a way to destroy it and purge it from Beacon's systems. Pietro's help would prove indispensable when it came to purging the software. Speaking of Pietro, he'd been awfully silent.
"Pietro," Cassandra said without looking up from her workstation, "did you hear me?"
She looked up and saw her old mentor staring motionless at the television. Before she moved to ask what had him like that, she saw the bisected body of Penny on the screen.
"Oh no," she said as she covered her mouth in horror, "Penny…"
Pietro looked as if he'd died inside. Cassandra walked over and placed a comforting hand on her old mentor's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Pietro," she said softly.
Pietro said nothing as he silently cried.
Beacon Academy:
Neo and Roman stealthily made their way to the heart of General Ironwood's ship, the bridge. Their steps were silent, their clothing disguised to look like soldiers of Atlas thanks to Neo's semblance. The air crackled with tension as they approached their objective, soldiers patrolling the area unaware of the imminent threat. As they reached the control room, the sight of armed soldiers guarding the entrance met their eyes.
Neo's lips curled into a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming with determination. She glanced at Roman, who nodded in understanding. They moved forward, their steps confident and purposeful, blending seamlessly among the troops. One soldier approached them, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
"State your purpose," he demanded, his voice laced with authority.
Roman took it upon himself to respond.
"We've been assigned to assist with the system upgrade. High priority orders from General Ironwood."
The soldier eyed them skeptically, but the illusion held. He examined their credentials, noting that they had the proper clearances and the orders were there.
"Carry on, but stay alert," he cautioned before allowing them to pass.
Inside the bridge, Neo and Roman found themselves faced with a group of technicians and soldiers, their eyes fixed on the array of screens and controls. Neo's eyes narrowed, her face silently signing a plan of action to Roman. As if reading her every gesture, Roman nodded in agreement. They moved with silent precision, their objective clear. Roman approached one of the technicians.
"We've been ordered to conduct a routine maintenance check on the control systems. We require immediate access," his expression composed and confident.
The technician hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning him and Neo. The illusion held strong, disguising their true intentions.
"I'll need to verify your clearance codes," he replied cautiously.
"Go ahead," replied Roman as he presented their clearances on the scroll.
The technician examined the scroll and took note of the proper clearance. Swallowing his doubts, he nodded and stood up and left, granting them access, unknowingly playing into their hands. With no more opposition, Neo and Roman swiftly took control. Their eyes scanned the array of monitors and panels, assessing the complex system before them.
Neo's hands moved with precision, connecting the scroll to the main control console, ready to unleash the virus that would grant Cinder control over Ironwood's forces. Roman kept a watchful eye on the soldiers and technicians in the room, ensuring their activities remained undisturbed. He spotted a guard inching closer, suspicion etched across his face. Sensing the imminent threat, Roman quickly stepped forward, his voice smooth and persuasive.
"Everything is under control here," he declared, his eyes meeting the guard's. "You'd best be utilized elsewhere. Go and inform the first officer that we're making progress on the upgrades."
The guard hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting between Roman and Neo. Ultimately, he nodded, trusting Roman's authority. He departed, leaving Neo and Roman to carry out their plan. With a final look of determination, Neo activated the virus. The console hummed with newfound power, the virus infiltrating the ship's systems.
Neo stepped back, her heart racing with a mixture of adrenaline and anticipation.
"It's done," she signed to Roman, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction evident in her eyes.
Roman smiled, his voice filled with admiration.
"You've done it, my silent savior," he whispered, a glimmer of pride shining through his exhausted gaze. "Now that the virus is in the system, it's time to clean house."
Neo didn't need to be told twice. She smirked as she drew Hush and brought forth its blade. Roman looked over at the unsuspecting guards and smiled. The two of them were going to have a blast.
"You brought your army to my Kingdom, James. Use it!" Ozpin's words echoed in James' mind as he went about formulating a plan to coordinate his forces in a counterattack.
The general stood atop the flaming wreckage of his shuttle. Thanks to his AK-200s going rogue, his shuttle crash-landed in the middle of Vale. His physical appearance wasn't too different from his wrecked shuttle. His jacket was torn to shreds and his cyborg parts were exposed. There was a reason he was called the Tin Man and it wasn't just because of his cold personality. He was desperately trying to reach a single one of his officers to get an idea of what the hell was going on up there in the sky but comms were down. He could hear the sounds of combat in the distance.
Things were spiraling out of control quickly. Penny was dead, a Nevermore managed to slip by Vale's outer defenses and break through Amity's hard-light shield, both Vale and Beacon were under attack by both the Grimm and the White Fang, communications between his forces were severed, the Paladins and the AK-200s had gone rogue, his flagship had been taken over, and he hadn't heard anything back from Unit 117.
In all fairness, he wasn't worried for the Guardians. He was worried about the students he left back at Beacon. He left them with a choice: they could either stay and fight or flee for their lives. He couldn't fault them if they fled. They were kids; they weren't soldiers. They were put in a situation that he should have prevented, and he failed. Ozpin had taken Ms. Nikos down to the vault to take control of the Maiden powers, which meant that Ozpin wasn't there to help protect the other students. James had to trust that the students would be fine. Team RWBY had proven itself quite capable. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do for them at the moment. He needed to take control of this situation.
Salem and her pawns were two steps ahead of them and it boiled James' blood to dangerous levels. It was as if a perfect storm came together. Despite his meticulous planning, everything was playing into Salem's hands. He didn't know if it was simply unfortunate circumstances or if it was due to his own ineptitude and carelessness. He wasn't perfect, he made more than his fair share of mistakes, but he never once considered himself reckless. In any case, it didn't matter. He had a crisis to solve right here and now. Once this was over, he was going to have to reevaluate his approach to fighting Salem.
Glynda, Theodore, and Qrow were sent into the city to lead the fight there, Theodore was all too eager to go and join the fight in Vale. By his own admission, the Headmaster of Shade Academy felt that things were finally getting interesting. Apparently, things had gotten a bit boring for him back in Vacuo, and that was saying something considering how chaotic that entire kingdom was.
James refocused himself and took off in a sprint towards the scene of battle. He had work to do.
Outskirts of Vale:
The two pilots circled the mountain in a constant, lazy orbit. Comms between them and the ground team were nonexistent, but they followed the mission's progress via the team's motion trackers.
"Looks like they're nearing the central cavern," said the co-pilot.
"Good," replied the aircraft commander, "I'll let control know."
The co-pilot nodded as the aircraft commander switched over to mission control's radio frequency.
"Control, Phantom-One-Six, ground team is in position."
Radio silence.
The two pilots shared a look of concern before the aircraft commander tried again.
"Control, Phantom-One-Six, do you copy?"
Nothing.
"The hell is going on?" Asked the aircraft commander.
"Not sure," replied the co-pilot, "I'm not getting anything on any other frequencies."
As the two went about trying to diagnose the head-scratching issue, they were oblivious to an approaching aircraft on their radar. It wasn't until their air traffic advisory system sounded that they looked up and saw an Atlas fighter approaching off the nose.
"Comms must be down. Let's get this guy's attention," reasoned the aircraft commander.
The co-pilot's eyes were glued to the approaching fighter. The inbound aircraft flew past at high speed. The co-pilot managed to catch a glimpse of the aircraft's pilot, an AK-200, taking note of the red glowing visor.
That's odd. They're usually blue.
The aircraft commander rocked the aircraft's wings to signal to the fighter that their comms were down. The fighter banked hard and came behind the dropship.
"What is this moron doing?" Asked the aircraft commander.
The answer came in the form of chain gun bullets tearing through the cabin.
"Shit!" Yelled the two pilots simultaneously.
Their realization came too late as the bullets tore through them and set their aircraft ablaze and careening toward the ground and finally exploding on impact. The fighter circled over the crash site for a moment before it took off towards Vale.
The faint glow of the Wyvern's lair illuminated the path ahead. The cavern opened up into a vast chamber, where the colossal Wyvern lay slumbering. Its immense form, draped in darkness, filled the cavern. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the beast breathed heavily in its sleep. Silently, the trio prepared to execute their plan. Rahm adjusted the bomb on his shoulder, its weight a reminder of the impending danger. Jai's grip tightened on his sword while Terre's gauntlet hummed with energy, preparing to unleash its hard light constructs.
"Let's get to work," Rahm whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant rumbling of the Wyvern's breath.
With a shared understanding, the team cautiously advanced toward the slumbering Wyvern. The sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern, creating an eerie symphony of anticipation. They pushed forward, focused on their mission. Just as they were about to proceed, a cacophony of screeches pierced the air.
More Grimm flooded into the chamber, their eyes glowing with malicious intent. The disturbance caused the Wyvern to stir, its eyes flickering open.
The team exchanged determined glances, adapting quickly to the changing circumstances. Rahm swiftly detached the grenade belt from his shoulder, arming himself with a devastating arsenal. Jai shifted his stance, his sword transforming into a sleek assault rifle, while Terre summoned a hard light shield to protect their flank.
The battle erupted in a flurry of bullets, explosions, and flashing blades. The chamber became a battlefield as the team fought to fend off the relentless assault of the Grimm and keep the awakened Wyvern at bay. Rahm's rockets whizzed through the air, detonating amidst the Grimm with resounding booms. The concussive force sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber, disorienting the creatures and buying the team precious moments. Jai's assault rifle spat a storm of bullets, each shot finding its mark with deadly accuracy. His movements were a seamless dance of precision and agility as he weaved between Grimm, his combat knife slashing through their ranks. Terre utilized the full potential of his Dust-infused staff, channeling the elemental forces to devastating effect. Fire erupted from his weapon, engulfing the Grimm in scorching flames, while arcs of lightning crackled through the chamber, electrifying their adversaries.
Amidst the chaos, the Wyvern roared in fury, its massive wings unfurled as if readying itself for flight.
"Clip its wings now!" Yelled Terre.
Jai's instincts kicked in and leaped high into the air, and with a swift stroke, he sliced through the Wyvern's wings, severing its ability to escape. The wounded Wyvern thrashed about, its fury intensifying. The team pressed their advantage, their attacks growing more ferocious.
Rahm hurled grenades into the creature's maw, each explosion chipping away at its monstrous form. Terre's hard light sword carved through the air, striking the Wyvern's body with precision and draining its energy. But the Wyvern's strength was far from depleted. It clawed its way toward the cavern wall, eager to escape and determined to wreak havoc upon Vale.
"We can't let it escape," said Rahm as he fired another rocket at the Wyvern's back.
The three doubled their efforts to kill the beast, but the massive Grimm seemed to only be annoyed by their efforts as it thrashed its powerful claws against the mountain's walls, burrowing a makeshift tunnel out of its prison.
The Wyvern let loose a bloodcurdling roar to the heavens as it was finally free. The Grimm wasted no time as it ran on all fours towards the city of Vale in the distance.
Rahm, Terre, and Jai pursued, knowing they couldn't allow the beast to reach the city. The outside world greeted them with the light of the celestial bodies as they emerged from the mountain. The Wyvern's form loomed ominously against the dark sky, its rage palpable. The team glanced at each other; their resolve unyielding. Terre's voice broke through the tension.
"We need to put this thing down now."
Beacon Academy:
Pyrrha felt the weight of the world crushing her. She looked through the aura transfer pod's small window and watched as Jaune stood guard and Professor Ozpin started the machine.
It was all her fault.
Penny.
She killed her.
Pyrrha killed one of the sweetest, most innocent souls in the world. She killed her friend. The Invincible Girl was utterly disgusted with herself. She wasn't a Huntress. A Huntress was supposed to protect people. She was a murderer. Killing Penny brought the Grimm to Vale and all its people, and it was all because of her. She thought back to her last conversation with Jai. She was so conflicted about becoming the Fall Maiden because of the chance that she would cease to be who she was. Would she remain Pyrrha? Would she become Amber? Would Amber and Pyrrha cease to exist and become an entirely new person? She didn't know.
What she did know were two main things.
First, any concerns Pyrrha had about remaining who she was were thrown out the window. The person she was didn't deserve to call herself a Huntress. If there was any chance she could bring about any good in the world to make up for all the wrongs she'd done, then she would take it.
Second, there was no way she could ever face Jai again after what she'd done. She would never be able to face any of her friends again after what she did, but Jai was the special case. Jai had always been there for her. He was her best friend; maybe more, but that didn't matter anymore. She killed his little sister, and she did not doubt that he would never want to see her again after this. She wouldn't blame him for it. She didn't deserve to have someone like him in her life.
Pyrrha let out a pained scream as she felt a burning sensation envelope her. This must have been the power of the Fall Maiden she was feeling. This was it. She wasn't scared of her destiny anymore. She was ready to right her wrongs.
Back outside the Beacon grounds, Velvet groaned as she struggled to get up, only to get knocked back down when Coco bumped into her after getting knocked away from an Ursa. Neon Katt dodged and weaved between groups of students fighting against Grimm and the infected Atlesian Knights. Nearby Sun and Neptune held back a pair of Nevermores, while Nora and Ren decimated another group of AK-200s. Yatsuhashi was fighting another Griffon while Fox dashed over to help. Two Creeps rushed at Flynt who used his trumpet to send them flying away.
"We've got them on the ropes! Keep it up people!" Yelled Nora.
The resounding sounds of cheers from the other students came as a response. The morale among the students was at an all-time high. They were steadily whittling the Grimm and the AK-200s down. General Ironwood would have been proud of the display of teamwork and fighting spirit.
Unfortunately, the cheers ended quickly as the thundering sound of metal on concrete echoed throughout the immediate vicinity. A Paladin landed in the center of the students, sending some of them flying back from the shockwave caused by the impact.
Weiss charged toward the Paladin but got swatted aside by its arm.
"Weiss!" Neptune yelled out, reaching out his arm.
Yatsuhashi tried to hold back the Paladin's fist with his sword but was quickly overpowered and knocked back. The Paladin then turned and started approaching a distracted Ren.
"Look out!" Nora yelled as she pushed Ren out of the way of the Paladin's incoming strike, taking the hit instead.
"Nora! No!" Ren yelled.
Coco and Neptune fired their weapons at the Paladin, but it was unfazed.
"This is bad," said Neptune nervously.
Coco looked at Velvet and gave a nod.
"Well, I guess now's a better time than any," the leader of team CFVY said.
Velvet looked excited.
"Really?!"
Coco nodded.
"Just make them count."
Velvet nodded as she walked up to the Paladin.
"What are you doing!?" Weiss yelled. "She's going to get hurt!"
Coco smirked.
"Just watch."
Velvet, her eyes focused and determined, swiftly maneuvered through the chaos. Her weapon, Anesidora, hung at her side. She raised Anesidora and with a quick flash, it transformed into an identical replica of Rahm's partisan in her hands. The weight of the weapon felt familiar, as if she always knew it, and her confidence surged. Now wielding Rahm's partisan, she darted through the battlefield, moving with the same finesse and agility as Rahm. The rocket launcher attachment, integrated with the partisan, hummed with Dust-infused power before a couple of hard-light rockets fired, impacting the Paladin and sending it stumbling back.
"No way," whispered Weiss, who was amazed at Velvet's identical movements to Rahm's.
Within a moment Velvet held an exact replica of Jai's sword. Velvet moved gracefully, avoiding the bullets from the Paladin's chain gun with the grace reminiscent of a Guardian. She jumped high into the air and brought the hard-light blade onto the Paladin's head, causing a significant segment of damage. Anesidora flashed once more, and Velvet wielded an identical three-sectioned staff that Terre wielded. With each swing, the staff emitted a dazzling display of Dust, generating powerful explosions on the Paladin's joints. With the weapons and movements of the Guardians in her arsenal, Velvet became an unstoppable force. She combined their techniques and fighting styles with her own acrobatic prowess.
One moment she unleashed a barrage of rockets that brought the Paladin to its knees, and the next she channeled Dust through the staff to create a protective barrier for her allies against the Paladin's bullets. The battlefield seemed to blur around her as she fought with elegance and grace. Each use of Rahm's partisan sent a multitude of hard-light rockets at the Paladin, Jai's sword-assault rifle rained bullets upon the enemy, and Terre's staff manipulated the very elements. It was as if she embodied the strengths of all three Guardians simultaneously. As she fought, her teammates watched in awe, inspired by her skill and adaptability. The tide of the battle began to shift, the hacked Paladin was losing ground to the sheer power of Velvet's copied arsenal.
Finally, in a daring move, Velvet leaped into the air, and Anesidora morphed into Crescent Rose. The battlefield seemed to slow down as Velvet twirled her body, reminiscent of Ruby Rose, and brought the scythe down on the Paladin's head, severing it completely. Her teammates cheered her on with vigor. As the hacked Paladin crumbled, Velvet stood triumphant, breathing heavily but exhilarated by the power she had wielded. Velvet's grip on her camera loosened. She turned to her teammates, her eyes alight with determination.
"We can win this," she said, her voice steady and resolute despite panting for breath.
The sounds of cheers from the other students resonated around her. Though the morale was high, it was short-lived as the students were quickly surrounded by even more Paladins. Where there was one before, now there were eight.
"Oh you've got to be freaking kidding me," said Coco.
Outskirts of Vale:
The Wyvern roared in pain to the heavens as a few explosives detonated beneath its belly. The massive Grimm attempted to slash the three Guardians with its claws, but the super soldiers were too fast for it and easily evaded. The Wyvern spawned several Nevermores and Ursas from its body. The spawned Grimm didn't last long as the Guardians quickly put them down.
The Wyvern, despite its best efforts, wasn't going anywhere.
"We can't hold it off like this forever. We need to use the bomb," said Rahm.
"Any ideas?" Asked Terre.
Rahm nodded.
"I've got one," replied Rahm, "but I'm going to need an aura boost and your knife. You two need to keep it busy and just back me up."
Jai's eyes met Rahm's, a silent understanding passing between them. Jai stepped forward, one hand resting on Rahm's shoulder and his other hand passing Rahm the knife. Closing his eyes, Jai focused his aura, transferring as much of it as he could into Rahm. Rahm's aura surged with newfound power, his body glowing with a brilliant light. It was time to put his semblance to use.
The three Guardians shared a nod. Jai and Terre split off immediately, each of them peppering the Wyvern with ranged shots to divide its attention between them. As the two kept the Grimm busy, Rahm was readying himself for what was to come.
With determination, Rahm charged towards the Wyvern with the bomb still strapped securely to his back. His gaze locked onto the beast's eyes, his confidence unwavering. Rahm retrieved his partisan and fired off a single rocket from his rocket launcher, getting the pissed-off beast's attention.
Rahm activated his semblance, a shield of orange shimmering energy enveloping him. The Wyvern lurched forward, its mouth wide open. Within a second it was over. The Wyvern snapped its jaws shut, consuming Rahm and the bomb in a single gulp.
Jai and Terre observed the whole thing without batting an eye. The two weren't worried for their brother. They didn't have time to be worried. They had to keep the Wyvern in place and away from Vale and Beacon Academy. They trusted him and his now obvious plan. All that mattered now was Rahm's plan actually working.
The Wyvern spawned another batch of Grimm as it roared to the heavens in anger.
"Handle the stragglers," said Terre, "I'll keep the Wyvern busy."
Jai nodded as he loaded a fresh magazine into his assault rifle.
Inside the creature's belly, Rahm quickly surveyed its dark innards. Taking note of key spots, he dropped his semblance, quickly setting to work on planting the explosives. Even with Jai's donation of aura, the protection afforded to him by his aura would corrode quickly inside the Wyvern. Working with swift, practiced efficiency, Rahm surgically planted the small explosives dead center in the Wyvern's stomach, such as to not prematurely trigger them. With that done, he planted the armed warhead at the far corner of its stomach, carefully ensuring its placement.
Rahm retrieved a detonator as he put as much distance between himself and the center-laid explosives. With a slight smirk, Rahm hit the detonator.
On the outside, Terre and Jai observed an explosion coming from the Wyvern's stomach. The massive Grimm thrashed about as a hole was blown through its stomach. Out from the hole leaped Rahm who was covered in stomach acid but otherwise okay from his aura doing its job.
"Run!" Yelled Rahm.
Terre and Jai didn't need to be told twice. The three Guardians took off at full speed, aiming to put as much distance between them and the Wyvern as possible.
The Wyvern didn't give chase, instead opting to head for Beacon Academy and by extension Vale. The school was ten miles away and the city was just a bit further than that. Without its wings, the dragon-like Grimm would have to crawl on all fours to get there and that would take a hell of a lot longer now that its wings were clipped.
Within the span of two minutes, the three super soldiers managed to put over a mile of distance between the Wyvern and them. They jumped into a section of low-lying terrain by a creek just as Rahm retrieved the other detonator.
"Fire in the hole," Rahm said as he pressed the button.
Then, with a thunderous roar, the bomb detonated. The area in the immediate vicinity shook to its core as a blinding flash of light erupted from the Wyvern's carcass. The shockwave rippled through the air, sending debris and dust spiraling into the sky. The explosion echoed across the land, sending a shockwave a mile out in every direction.
As the dust settled, Rahm, Terre, and Jai stood in awe of the destruction they had wrought. The once-mighty Wyvern was now reduced to ashes, its threat to Vale extinguished forever. Where once was a healthy diversity of vegetation, now stood a blast crater that housed no signs of life.
Within Vale, Beacon Academy, and Amity Colosseum, people everywhere had to stop and look at what was unleashed. The light from the explosion was like a miniature sun that was made all the more prominent against the dark sky. The deafening sound that reached their ears seconds later could only be described as monstrous. Whether they were students, soldiers, Huntsmen, or White Fang, none could take their eyes off the explosion. The blast was unlike anything anyone had ever seen.
The boys observed the crater for a moment as they shared a moment of silent camaraderie, a wordless acknowledgment of their triumph. Their mission to destroy the Wyvern was a success, and the kingdom of Vale was safe.
The violent pinging of their scrolls kept the moment short-lived, however.
They retrieved their scrolls and saw that a red image was flashing on their screens, signifying an SOS signal from General Ironwood. The Guardians shared a look amongst themselves for a brief moment. If the general had activated his SOS signal, then the situation back at Beacon and Vale had deteriorated to dismal levels. What exactly happened? They did not know. All they knew was that they needed to get back immediately. They had a job to do, and the answers would be given to them soon enough.
"We need to get back to Beacon ASAP," said Terre. "Radio for extraction."
Jai and Rahm nodded as Jai went about making contact with the dropship via his scroll.
"Phantom-One-Six, this is Zero-Three-Seven, ready for extraction."
Silence.
"Phantom-One-Six, this is Zero-Three-Seven, do you copy?"
Nothing.
Jai looked at his brothers with a disapproving look.
"I got nothing," he said.
"They're not showing up on radar either," said Rahm.
"Looks like we're running back. Let's move Guardians," said Terre.
The Guardians took off at full speed in the direction of Beacon and Vale. They just hoped they didn't arrive too late.
The boys have killed the Wyvern, but Beacon and Vale are in flames. Can the boys make it back in time to make a difference? What will the boys think when they learn that Penny is dead? Tune in next time to find out.
-Dude64