Chapter 13
Day 3: Night
Atlas
Ironwood's office was plunged back into darkness as the apparition of Salem vanished. Her ultimatum, to give her the relics or be destroyed, delivered and subsequently refused by Ironwood.
"That's Salem? That's what we're up against?" Marrow asked, his voice filled with fear and disbelief.
"And it looks like she's coming here." Harriet said. Yang could hear her trying to put confidence that she didn't have into her voice.
"No." Ironwood said, his voice cold as he stared out over the Atlas skyline, "She's already here."
"That seems…" Vine paused as he checked his scroll, "Increasingly likely. The long-range proximity sensors are all offline…" Ironwood said nothing and continued to stare out the window.
"General?" Blake asked quietly, her ears flattening themselves against her head.
He turned and regarded the two girls, his gaze cold and distant. "I've sent Winter to claim the powers of the Winter Maiden."
Yang's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Don't you think that's a bit extre-"
"The old maiden is no longer able to perform her duties." Ironwood said, cutting Yang off gruffly. "The Staff and the Lamp must be locked away. Protected in the vault."
"Y-you told Ruby that we could hold onto the lamp…" Blake said softly, her apprehension growing by the second.
"That was before you and your leader betrayed my trust." he snarled angrily, "Betrayed our trust." he gestured to the Ace Ops, "Before Salem was right. Here." he stabbed his finger into his desk for emphasis.
Yang jerked back as if physically struck, "I don't think that's fai-"
"Fair?" Ironwood interrupted, "What's not fair is your leader deciding to withhold vital information that could have saved lives."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Blake said shortly, fixing him with a defiant glare.
"Uh, sir?" Harriet said nervously, before Ironwood could retort, "If she's coming, we need to start prepping as soon as we can. What are our orders?"
Ironwood took a deep breath, composing himself, "We're going to apply the plan for Amity to the entire City of Atlas." Yang's eyes widened as he crushed the glass chess piece in his fist. "Once we're high in the atmosphere Salem and her forces won't be able to mount attacks on the city, and the artificial climate will protect the crops and populace."
A short laugh of disbelief escaped Yang's lips as a horrible realization dawned on her, "You're abandoning Mantle." she said quietly. He looked at her impassively, saying nothing.
Blake's ears flattened completely against her head. "The evacuation is nowhere near close to being finished!" she said loudly, stepping towards his desk "You'd be leaving hundreds of thousands to die!"
He turned his cold, emotionless gaze on her, "I would be." He stated simply.
Blake gasped, putting her hand over her mouth, her brain rebelling against the idea that this man that they trusted to protect people could even voice such an idea.
"You can't do that…" Yang said, but Blake could tell that not even Yang believed her own words.
"I can. Once I declare Martial Law." Blake felt the air around Yang grow several degrees warmer
"I'm not just going to stand here and let all these people die!" Yang shouted, pointing aggressively at the General, "This is Insane!"
Suddenly All the hair on Blake's neck stood on end, something wasn't right. She glanced back at the Ace Ops, she saw that Marrow was looking away, a look of shame on his face; the rest, however, looked ready to leap into action, their hands poised to grab for their weapons. All of their gazes were focused on the two of them. She met their states with a defiant look, she won't give them the satisfaction of seeing her afraid.
"Those people are counting on us to save them." Yang said quietly, drawing Blake's attention back to the front.
"We're saving who we can." the general said, his voice low and dangerous, "And the two of you are standing in our way."
Yang also glanced around, the Ace Ops all looked like coiled springs, ready to pounce on them if they tried anything. She knew exactly how that fight would go if it came down to it.
Blake stepped forward toward Ironwood's desk, her stance aggressive and her ears all the way back, "You're supposed to protect people, not leave them to die! We won't go along wi-"
Yang placed her mechanical hand firmly on Blake's shoulder, cutting her off, "You're right," she said to Ironwood, making her voice subdued and quiet, "this is bigger than just Mantle. We'd like to help. Save who we can."
Blake looked at her like she was crazy, "But-" she started.
Yang tightened her grip on her shoulder until she heard Blake give a small hiss of pain. The two girls shared a look, Yang trying to will her partner to understand. 'Trust me.' She tried to convey.
Blake's shoulders dropped and she nodded, then looked back at Ironwood, "What can we do?"
Ironwood nodded approvingly, and Blake could feel the Ace Ops relax. "You made the right choice." He said, "The two of you can-"
Yang's scroll rang. "It's Jaune." She said looking at the caller ID. Ironwood nodded, giving her permission to pick it up. "Everything ok Jaune?" She asked, picking up the call.
"Yang, we've got a serious problem!" His agitated voice came over the scroll's speaker.
Ironwood strode over and took her scroll. "Report, what's going on?" He asked gruffly.
"Sir, there's been some kind of fight up here in the dorms, Oscar and the Lamp are gone!"
Just then, a massive BOOM sounded from elsewhere in the building. Vine quickly pulled out his scroll. "Atlas Control reports a breach in the Maiden quarters." He said after a few moments, his voice urgent, "Security cameras show that Specialist Schnee and Penny are already there and are responding."
All eyes turned to Ironwood for orders, after a moment of thought his eyes snapped to Yang and Blake, "You two, go help Arc and his team locate Oscar and the Lamp." His eyes narrowed, "Don't make me regret trusting you." The implied threat in his voice was obvious. "The rest of you, assist Specialist Schnee. Go. Now."
They all rushed out of the room, the two groups opting to take separate elevators. Yang and Blake were silent until the elevator doors closed behind them.
"What the hell Yang?" Blake asked, rounding on her partner, "Why are you so ready to let those people die?"
"I'm not!" Yang said indignantly, genuinely hurt by the accusation, "But we can't help anyone if we're locked up in Ironwood's jail for treason. If we're still on the outside, we can still try to help the people of Mantle, we can still try to help find Ruby and Weiss." She gently grabbed Blake's hand, "Do you really think that we would have won that fight if we'd have pushed the issue?"
"No," Blake answered quietly, "but you know Ruby would have pushed it."
"I know she would have," Yang agreed softly, "and if Ruby and Weiss were here, that fight might have gone much differently, but just the two of us against all of them? They would have mopped the floor with us." She chuckled slightly to herself, "I guess thinking it through before you rush in actually pays off."
Blake sighed, she knew Yang was right, but she still felt incredibly dirty. "All of this is wrong." She said quietly, her ears drooping as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Yang quickly pulled her in for a hug, she couldn't stand to see Blake this distraught. "We'll get through this. Together." Yang promised.
Blake wrapped her arms around Yang's waist, resting her forehead on Yang's shoulder, enjoying her partner's radiator-like warmth for a moment. "I know." The Faunus said quietly.
The two reluctantly separated as the elevator dinged, indicating their arrival on the dormitory floor. The doors parted and they stepped out into a long hallway. Far down the hallway, they saw a pink and white clad woman sprinting towards them. Ren skidded out from a side hall just in front of the small woman, bringing his weapons to bear, but Neo easily deflected the small arms fire with her umbrella.
As Neo bore down on him, Ren flicked Storm Flower's blades forward intending to slash at her but at the very last second Blake saw Neo's face ripple and suddenly she looked like Nora, a sad, pleading expression on her face. Ren brought his blades up short, Nora's face smirked and Neo slammed her fist into Ren's face with a haymaker that made Blake wince in sympathy.
Just then, Nora Jaune and Oscar sprinted around the corner. Nora launched a grenade at the small woman's back, only to have it swatted back at them with her weaponized umbrella. The three newcomers were blown backwards by the explosion, knocking them all down to the ground.
Suddenly, there was a flare of bright light and Blake felt the hallway get very warm. She looked over just in time to see Yang's eyes flip from violet to angry red. "Oh, this bitch again…" Yang snarled, "It's payback time." She launched herself at the tiny woman, her blazing hair leaving a trail of flames in her wake.
CHOOM
Her gauntlets barked, sending blazing pellets soaring down the hall, but Neo lazily brought up her open umbrella, deflecting the projectiles into the wall. Yang rapidly closed the distance between them, and unleashed a series of rapid punches, most of them aimed at her opponent's head. Neo avoided or turned the strikes aside, retaliating instantly with several jabs at Yang with the blade at the end of her umbrella; Yang dodged what she could and deflected the rest with her metal arm.
The two jumped apart, neither seeing an opening to exploit. Yang looked over at JNRO, just now getting back to their feet, "Stay back guys," she said loudly, "me and Blake have a score to settle with this one." Neo rolled her eyes, a condescending smirk on her face. Yang easily interpreted her meaning 'Same old stuff. You haven't changed at all'.
A small snort of amused laughter escaped the blonde brawler, she was a little proud of herself for not letting the small woman get in her head. "Oh I don't know about that," she retorted, "I've picked up a few tricks since last time."
She brought Neo's black bowler hat out from behind her back, having stolen it right off her head with one of her missed punches. She waved the hat tauntingly, "I've got a pretty sneaky partner who taught me that one." She said cockily, sparing a moment to wink at Blake, who was still standing by the elevator.
Neo's face became a mask of pure hate, and she launched herself at Yang, her mouth open in a silent scream of rage. She rapidly slashed at Yang with her umbrella, the attacks now wild and nearly uncontrolled. Yang was briefly surprised by the ferocity of Neo's attack and felt the small woman's blade leave a shallow gouge on her leg; she rapidly recovered and deflected the rest of Neo's attacks. Yang countered with a right cross, aiming once again for her opponent's head. Neo tilted her head to the side, letting Yang's arm pass right by her ear. Yang saw her opportunity.
CHOOM
She fired a round straight into the wall, the weapon's recoil sending her metal elbow slamming right into the back of Neo's skull. The tiny woman smashed into the wall on the other side of the hallway, slumping to the ground.
Yang whirled around and attacked again, striking at the prone woman. Her fist connected, but only succeeded in shattering the glassy illusion that had replaced her opponent. She felt a tug and the hat vanished from her hand. She whirled, trying in vain to locate her adversary.
"Oh no you don't!" Yelled Nora from the other end of the hall; she swung her hammer, connecting with a nearly invisible Neo, sending her skidding back towards Yang.
Blake, who had been content to hang back and let her partner blow off some steam, noticed that Yang was starting to breathe hard and decided to give her a bit of a break. "My turn." She said, rushing past Yang, katana in one hand and sheath in the other.
Neo, just now struggling back to her feet, barely managed to get her umbrella up in time to block Blake's first strike, but quickly fell into a defensive rhythm as the Faunus rained more blows down on her. Blake fought hard for several moments; slashing, pivoting, blocking, making sure she kept Neo on her toes. Once she saw Neo getting sloppier, Blake left a deliberate gap in her defenses, which Neo immediately pounced on, thrusting her blade into Blake's heart.
Neo's smirk of victory was short lived as 'Blake' crumbled into stone, leaving the small woman with a very startled expression on her face.
"Boo." Blake whispered in the girl's ear as she suddenly appeared behind her. Neo whirled around slashing at her opponent, only to shatter a clone made of ice.
"You're not the only one who can do fancy illusion tricks," Blake said as she trapped Neo's arm and umbrella within an ice clone, "Mine are just a bit more…potent."
Neo inhaled sharply as a fiery version of Blake slammed into her and detonated. Neo smacked violently into the wall, her aura flaring but not breaking. The Lamp rolled away from her and she quickly tried to scramble after it but found Blake's blade at her throat and quickly slumped back against the wall, glowering at her.
"I'd stay down, short stuff," Yang said, looming behind Blake, "You lost this round." Oscar dashed up, and scooped up the Lamp. Yang noted the bruises and cuts on his face and nodded approvingly, the kid could take a punch. And judging by how fast Neo tired out, had put up quite the fight too.
"Thanks guys," he said gratefully as Ren, Jaune, and Nora came up behind him, "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if she had gotten away with it."
"No problem," Yang said, smirking down at the glowering girl, "Not going to lie, that felt really good after the day I've had."
Just then, they all heard a commotion from down the hall, they turned to look as a group of soldiers sprinted past the end of the hall, shouting at each other.
Too late they all realized they'd taken their eyes off of their prisoner, they all flicked their eyes back, only to find that Blake's katana was pointed at nothing. At the opposite end of the hall from the soldiers, they heard the door to the stairwell open and close.
"How does she do that?" Yang asked in disbelief, "We looked away for two seconds!"
"I don't know," Jaune said, "but at least she didn't walk away with the relic, thanks to you guys."
"Yeah," Nora said as Ren gave a nod of agreement, "you guys are lifesavers."
"Please," Yang said, waving her hand dismissively, "you guys softened her up for us. She was running on fumes at the end there."
"We all are," Blake said, realizing they hadn't slept in more than twenty-four hours, "if we had been fresh, I'm certain you guys would have handled her yourselves."
Ren nodded, "We should call this in. Let the General know that the Lamp is safe."
Yang tapped her earpiece, "General, this is Yang." She said, "We're all a little banged up but the Lamp and Oscar are both secure. Unfortunately the intru-"
"Good to hear." Came the curt reply, "We'll debrief later, I have more important matters to deal with at the moment."
"But she-"
"Ironwood out."
"That was…weird." Jaune said, his brows knitting together.
"Yeah," Yang agreed, "what's more important than keeping the relic from enemy hands?"
"I dunno." Nora said, shrugging dramatically, "whatever it is, it must be really-"
Just then, another group of soldiers ran by the end of the hallway. They were only able to catch tiny snippets of conversation.
"It's all over the radar!"
"-must be huge!"
"Gotta see-"
The Huntsmen all looked at each other for a moment then, as one, dashed after the soldiers.
They soon arrived at a student common area, adorned with sofas and tables looking out a large bay window that had a magnificent view of the city. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, the sky turning a muted pink.
All around the school, massive warships began to rise into the air, fighters launched and assumed formation, and the gun batteries at the edge of the city began to power up.
The soldiers gazing out at the city with them collectively gasped, drawing all their attention to the horizon. A roiling black cloud rose created the distant mountains, rolling down the slopes like a black avalanche, making a clear beeline to the city.
The cloud was lit from the inside by periodic bursts of red lightning, illuminating moving shapes inside of it. Hundreds of flying Grimm emerged and took up positions around the cloud as it approached the city. Nora gasped in surprise and awe as the truly massive head of a monstrous whale emerged from the cloud. It opened its mouth, displaying rows of razor sharp teeth; dozens more flying Grimm poured out of its gullet, joining the clouds of monsters already flying around the cloud. Moments later its deafening roar finally reached them, rattling the windows in their frames.
All of the hair on Blake's body stood on end and she shivered. She gave voice to the thought that was going through everyone else's head.
"She's here."
That's the end of day 3, and Salem is finally here! I think that the Blake and Yang Vs. Neo fight is my second favorite next to the Ruby and Weiss Vs. Watts and Tyrian fight from Day 1. Next chapter We'll be going back to Ruby and Weiss on the tundra. As always, thanks goes to V for being my Beta reader and of course thanks to YOU for reading! Leave a review letting me know what you thought! see you next chapter !