RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 15: Battles Outside and Within
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from 'any umy OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
As another day rolled on, Ironwood and some of his army had made their own base on one of the cliffside outside of Forever Fall, not too far off from where Faust is located as he was ready to debrief not only his Ace Ops, but those who have chosen to be part of this task.
"Today we have a dangerous task ahead. A new enemy has started to become more active and in the spotlight more so than Grimm or any other Militia. Today we are going to stop them from whatever their tasks are and bring them in." Ironwoods debriefed before showing the base in question.
The image zoomed on the crimson energy dome, before displaying still images of Night Rogue and Blood Stark. The human identity of Night Rogue displayed.
"The bat dude… is a teenage girl?" The Dog Faunus raised a hand, earning an elbow from Harriet.
"Agreed. And while our old target is in Vale." Ironwoods said, showing the image of Cody once more, "He is not necessary to the missions or our task here. We are here to take down, this man." He said, as the screen moved back to Stark once more. "He is the leader of this shadow organization and now the most dangerous entity on the planet." He changed the image to the box Blood Stark held up. "This artifact he has holds extreme importance to him. Whatever it is, it is dangerous. But we need details as to why he chose to dig in Forever Fall."
"Sir, are we taking in any prisoners?" Elm spoke up to the general. "We were told the half of the soldiers in black are…"
"You can say it."
"Child… Soldiers." Teens were norm given Atlas and other academies but literal children was an entire different matter.
"You heard correct." He nodded, "From our bugged calls into the boy when meeting with certain friends in Beacon, most of the soldiers are corrupted, mind controlled, and altered children that they have taken in over Brothers know how long. As much as this hurts, it would be a mercy to stop them for good."
Several winced while Winter's hand curled into her palm. She hid her bitter look at the option. To put down children… can't they do something to help them recover?
"But most of all… The two." Ironwood pointed to Night Rogue and Blood Stark, "Are the top priority. If you have a chance to take them out for good, take it."
Clover tapped the screen. "Sir, how will we pass the barrier? It says here all forms of attempts have made no success." He questioned.
"It may be true but there had been very small windows." He tapped as they noticed still images of vehicles transporting materials. "They require materials but based on the resources, they have been creating underground chambers to find whatever is underground. Thanks to our scavenging, we managed to know the schedule they set for their deliveries. They deliver at night. Tonight being the said time."
"What of their machines?" Harriet asked next. "They aren't like our Aks." From the pictures, they were individually programmed while moving around with fluid motion unlike the Aks..
"Our good friend, Dr Pietro was asked to make several EMP's, to take them out, hence why we have new shieldings on our side. This'll help cripple whatever these machines are powered by." Ironwood revealed to them, showing the shielding disks, "You are to place them either in your officer outfits or your weapons, this way you won't be affected by the EMP. I know the festival is approaching but we must take action if they decide to strike in the midst of it. Blood Stark wants to shed his skin… let's make sure he doesn't lose it."
"Yes sir!"
Within the vent, the snake flicks its tongue, witnessing the debrief. It had studied the plans. Learned every individual's name, personality, and devotion. It was given everything thus faded away.
Time to see how much fun this'll be for Evol's eyes to witness?
XXX
Lily found herself in the familiar field of white flowers but now more wilted flowers took place. Now the glowing white flowers were only ¼ left.
The bluenette looked over the field, feeling confused once again as she swore she was in a fight against 931-no… Against 'Cody'? Lily soon got up as she began to move, only to find herself still chained by green-bluish chains once again.
"HEY! Where am I? You better show yourself again!" Lily shouted out with anger, more annoyed than the last time this happened.
She saw the white petals flying across the brief breeze, and held her wild hair. She brushed the fringe back over to her left eye and saw the familiar woman with long silver-white hair. The black dress fluttering and her green eyes staring at her. A face she remembered…
"Che! You again? Whatever you are, leave me alone!" She snarled, her anger and pain making only things worse as the white flowers nearby began to wither and die. "You… are the reason I keep doing this! You…"
Memories erupted, recalling the kind woman with the similar gaze but her hair was pink, not white yet shared striking similarities.
The woman strided across the field before she stood before the bluenette. The teen felt the delicate hands cup her cheeks and greeted with saddened emerald eyes.
"Where was the girl who had always believed in that one woman who stood by you?"
"She…" Lily gritted her teeth and shoved the hands away. "She's gone!"
"… If you are gone… why are you here?"
Now that made Lily stop.
"Please Lily… stop taking this path… before it's too late."
"I… I-I…"
The petals danced around her before everything faded away.
XXX
Lily weakly opened her eyes, grasping her head to the headache she felt again. She remembered fighting Cody in the slums, forcing his friends to watch him get beaten by her.
"Goody, you're awake! Thought of having to use the defibrillators to knock you awake." She noticed Blood Stark typing on a console, his lense staring at the holographic screen.
"Lord Evol… who… is the voice in my head?"
The lifeform glanced at her then at the computer, resuming his typing. "Just someone I knew."
"Someone… you knew?"
"A story for another time. Right now, while the excavations are underway, I am going to teach you how to use that magic you have unleashed."
"Magic? Like the gift you have?"
"Precisely! But the magic you have is a bit different as it came from the beginning of time before the witch and Ozma. Magic that was once used by the person who is in you." He rested both hands on her shoulders. "You are a gifted girl you know?"
"I…. am…?" She looked up to him, surprised by those words. She even wondered… if he would take notice of her just as much as he did with 'Cody'?
"Yup! Now that you awakened her, you just have to learn so you better pay extra attention on my instructions, ne?"
"Yes, Lord Evol…" She nodded with a soft bow. "When do I start?"
"In a moment. Right now I want you to be fully recovered from that exhaustion of that magic awakening."
"I understand, Lord Evol…" She nodded, knowing better than to question him when it came to training and power.
The snake patted her shoulders before a Guardian entered. "Creator - Zero Matter energy readings lack in Dig Section A-K. Permission to start digging at Section L-Z."
"Granted! I want you guys to keep digging until you hit the goldmine!"
"Affirmative." The machine saluted before exiting.
Blood Stark noticed his serpent coil around his arm hissing before fading into the crest of his armor. "Well I'll be… guess they will be coming in the night."
"Who sir?"
"Just some Atlas buggies. Nothing to worry about."
"We could send in our new Lost Smash's to deal with them, sir." A Faust Soldier said before she held her tongue when the air changed.
"No. The Lost Smashes are to be killed by my boyo. Otherwise Phase 3's plan won't progress."
"O-Of course sir… Then… what do we do?"
Blood Stalk hummed, idly tapping the buttons as if he was changing channels of a tv. The images changed until it showed the cameras within Atlas' FOB. "Have yourselves ready to throw them a welcome party."
"As you wish, Lord Evol." The soldier bowed before exiting the area to get the other soldiers ready.
Lily looked at her hand, briefly seeing the elements dance around her fingers before it faded. To be gifted like her Lord. She now had something that Cody lacked! But soon those words rang back in her ears again.
'… If you are gone… why are you here?'
The bluenette shook her head before she took a deep breath as she closed her eyes to recover, knowing that whatever will happen next, is her choice.
"And by the cosmos who the hell smells like years old garbage here?!"
The few who remained took a brief whiff of their sleeves behind their lord's back and shrugged. Then the attention went to Lily who blinked. Slowly she sniffed her coat and tensed. "Um… I… may have crashed into a garbage cluster when I fought 931…"
Blood Stark 'pinched' his helmet. "Ugh… Heavy shower, 932. Now. Good grief, I need to disable my helmet's filters!"
"More like bat guano…"
Lily glared at the soldier who made the joke.
XXX
The underground tunnels had been fortified and reinforced to prevent any collapse of the halls. Where the dig sections failed, they were replaced with beneficial structures. One such was showers. Even loyal soldiers of Faust require such cleanliness in their ranks. It was the one thing in regards to their grooming as soldiers or other occupations.
Lily stared at the ceiling as the warm water touched her skin. Her fingers of her left hand brushed across the plus-shaped scar just above her… assets but the ominous thing? It was also on her back in an identical location as if she was stabbed straight through in the past.
"Nothing is ever simple is it?" She turned her head to notice Experiment 801 who was the Owl Lost Smash. She too was in the showers to cleanse herself.
"… Only if we screw up." Lily huffed.
"Well given how you're Lord Evol's right hand, I doubt you'll screw up, 932." 801 shrugged.
"Lily…"
"Hm? Pardon?" 801 turned to her.
"It's Lily… that's… my former name."
"Hmph, maybe you're more alike to 931 than we all thought." She shrugged off.
The older woman was suddenly pinned against the shower walls, hoisted up slightly. "Don't you dare compare me to that traitor of a bastard." The other females in the shower gasped in shock from the sudden attack.
"E-Easy 93-er… L-Lily… Lord Evol wouldn't like it if 801 wasn't defeated by 931…." One of them spoke up to her. "S-She is needed for the Lost Rituals."
The bluenette stared before releasing the brunette, causing the latter to cough as she tried to get air into her lungs, alongside now the obvious grip mark on her neck.
The buxom vice commander leaned down. "Next time you compare me to that bastard I don't care what Lord Evol says… I will kill you."
Lily soon walked out to dry off, leaving the others there both stunned and scared. The vice commander truly has changed after that run in again as well as 931's constant battles against her. And it terrified them of whatever plan Evol is having made for her specifically.
The girl snatched the towel the drone presented and took a shuddering breath. They don't know her. They were from other Experiment Groups. She was the second last person alive in group 900. Groups were by 99. Thus 900-999.
She worked her way up through the ranks, proved her strength and succeeded by becoming the current Vice Commander. And now she has the power to show 'Cody' his traitorous ways. And now, she has a special gift unlike anyone else.
The same gift like Evol has. Her lilac eyes dimmed slightly, the words Cody told her coming back. In a fit of rage, she bashed her fist against the drone that crumpled with ease. Oil and green fluids touched her arm and skin. She gritted her teeth.
Even though she now had all of this…. Deep down, she still felt inferior to Cody. He was still chosen to be some special 'toy' for Lord Evol. She still couldn't fathom why him? Was it because of him surviving the largest dosages of Nebula Gas? Was it him taking the driver that Evol made himself? Or was it him simply being able to escape this place?
Lily couldn't understand why. And deep down… She also knew that was why she pushed herself so hard. Not just to pay him back for everything… but to see him again. She was so alone when he left them behind, that the rest of the 900 either became Smashes or corpses other than herself. She couldn't have someone there to calm her down again, to help give her words of encouragement, to be there for when she needed a shoulder to cry on….
Soon… soon she'll kill Cody once he achieves Lord Evol's goals with the Lost Smash.
Only then, will she be able to truly move on… and maybe still remain as Evol right hand. Whatever will happen next, she'll embrace it fully.
XXX
Throughout the digging, the Guardians have been digging across Sections L-Z as told by their creator. The drilling never ended for them. No rest was required and even more so, no repairs unless truly damaged by debris thus shorter excavations. The drones in section Q had no luck. However upon the drilling, the drone's systems activated upon detection of unidentified energy.
It halted and made a scan. The scans indicated… Zero Matter Energy. It began drilling around until it pulled the chunk of rock onto the hallway floors. It scanned it before it saluted, releasing a loud alarm.
Every single drone shifted attention to it.
"Creator must be informed: It has been found."
More alarms spread amongst the drones, the sounds echoed across it.
Evol's prize…. Has been found.
XXX
"Make way! Make way! Either move or be thrown! You have two options!" Evol barged through the massive gathering.
Could it truly be it?! Could his eons of searching, trial and errors finally bore fruit?! As the snake pushed through, he soon was brought to the front as he witnessed his robots walking up to him with his last prize.
"Um… that's a big chunk of rock…" Lily whispered.
"That it may be… but is that inside I've been wanting to have. Now, we can't break this in one go or my prize goes to dust. It will take an hour to fully extract it from the heap of rock it was stuck in."
Lily was confused as to why it'd still take so long. But as she looked back to the hunk of rock, she soon noticed something upon it… Bits of color and glows, sparkles of elements and a faint light. Magic was what was around it, as if sealing something away from the world so that nothing can try to break into it.
"Oi! Set it into my lab! I need to start working on the Madness Project now that I have it!"
"Understood - Creator."
With a nod, the robots made their way through the now neatly moved group of Faust members so they wouldn't delay them or Evol, unless they wish to face a quick death.
Lily soon followed after Evol, curious to know more on what laid underneath the rock and magic, and if this was part of the 'power up' he mentioned to her and Cody?
Her lilac eyes stared as the robots set the rock onto the platform. Blood Stark rubbed his hands together and touched it… until silver light erupted and launched their lord through the metal wall, leaving an outline of his body in the wall itself.
"L-Lord Evol?!"
Blood Stark popped his head up, laughing giddily. "Ahahaha! I knew she left that nifty protection magic on it to prevent me from touching it!" He brushed the dirt off his armor.
"Y-You… expected that?" Lily questioned.
"She was so stubborn as a pack mule. Now, since I can't touch it." The machine activated, a drill with Dust began to jab around it but slowly. "I will have to do it the old fashion way."
"Thus it will take one hour as you said?"
"Correct!"
Lily pondered what could be inside it, as going to such lengths to hide it and then place some protective 'spell' on it. It baffled her not only for how someone could wield such power but go the lengths to make sure Evol couldn't find it. Just what was this item? But before those thoughts could be processed, a few drones walked in as it earned their attention.
"Creator. Our scanners have shown several Atlas soldiers heading towards this location."
"Talk about impatience… this machine still has 59 minutes…" Blood Stark rubbed his neck. He was silent at first, his mind contemplating strategies and ideas.
"I shall lead our troops to intercept and stall them, Lord Evol." Lily offered.
"No."
"E-Eh?"
"I got a better idea."
XXX
Winter and the Ace Ops led the small number of troops beneath the trees of Forever Fall. The moon had already begun the rise as the only source of light was the crimson energy barrier. The Schnee felt bitter in regards to the choice of having to put down children. While orphans were an occurrence in the outposts outside the main cities due to Grimm, Faust had taken them into grooming them into various occupations, mostly soldiers or spies.
Her mind dreaded the thought of how long they have been doing this, and even worse if they started targeting students. She already has a vendetta upon learning they tried to do the same to her sister, Weiss. And she'll make sure to find this leader and slay him for his heinous crimes and sins for even thinking of harming her family.
"Shouldn't those cargo trucks drive by now?" Marrow whispered.
"They should have since it's nighttime." Harriet replied.
"Calm down. It'll be here." Clover responded to the worried troops.
They waited but suddenly a small ripple in the barrier occurred and made a door-sized opening yet there was no sight of any vehicles. As if the door opened for them to enter.
"This wasn't part of the plan! W-What do we do?" Marrow said with worry in his voice. Elm slapped his back, making the Faunus cough.
"I will lead the main contingent. Ace Ops can find out whatever it is Faust has been planning." Winter instructed. "Tread extremely carefully and cautiously."
Everyone nodded before they quickly jogged through the open gap one by one. When the last one entered, they noticed most of the area was almost deserted… quiet even.
They slowly stalked forward, their weapons aimed left and right. However that was until they noticed the one they were looking for. Blood Stark who was casually sitting with a cup of coffee seeping into the helmet whereas a table was before him and an empty chair. "Yo." He waved. "Coffee anyone?"
"You!" Winter sounded off as everyone pointed their weapons at him, "Hmph, to think you'd show up. Saves me the trouble of dragging you out…"
Evol looked left and right before pointing at himself. "Who, me? Now why would you want me?" He questioned.
"Don't play dumb… Not only for all of the children you've abducted, people you also kidnapped, but you attempted to harm my sister!" Winter hissed with anger.
"… huh." He poured himself another cup of coffee and blew the steam thanks to his helmet. "What harm is there when it's taking orphaned children who survived Grimm onslaughts to shelter? Better than living in the wilderness or ending up in other places? Simply doing a good act is what I did."
"A good act?! You turned them into monsters with no hopes of having a normal life!" Winter seethed with rage as this 'man' was seeing his actions as a just cause.
"Tell me what is normal when you have teenagers fight monsters that can get them killed? Teenagers being part of a military? You train until you prove yourself to your superiors or teachers. That's what I do too." He presented a cup. "Coffee?"
A shard of ice flew from Winter's blade, piercing the cup and shattering it. Stark could only sigh with a shake of his head.
"What a waste of a good cup of coffee…"
"You will submit… We have you outnumbered and we will destroy whatever you're digging here…" Winter declared.
Blood Stark dropped his cup and sighed. He looked at a digital watch on his wrist. "Huh… took 20 minutes for this talk. Guess that leaves 30 minutes left."
"30 minutes… for what?" Marrow questioned.
"Oh… the cosmos to shine bright to all of Remnant."
Guardians erupted from the dirt, both infantry and Heavies and landed on their feet. Their weapons prime and ready.
"Let em' have it, boys!"
"Retaliate!" Winter ordered as the sounds of guns firing from both sides, sounding off from the now heavy war zone. Winter aimed for a thrust at Blood Stark but smoke that was the steam from the hot coffee gathered between and caught her weapon.
"Bat-chan, handle her while I make preparations."
"Yes sir." Night Rogue obeyed and kicked Winter back. "Soldiers 1A-1G, mobilize! Bound by Blood!"
Upon her order, the crates opened as Smash roared and swarmed out of their hiding, now assisting in the fight.
"Remember! Don't fight these 'Smash' alone! Work as a team to take them down!" Winter reminded the soldiers and Ace Ops, as these were much more harder to defeat than their robots or the Grimm. The Schnee avoided the stab and countered with a parry, her blade scraping across the Steam blade.
"I wonder how that little heiress will feel when I tell her about your humiliating death?" Lily grinned behind her mask. "Probably the same feeling as when we tricked her into thinking she was about to die. It was hilarious seeing her reaction to it, clinging to that traitor and wept in t as ears from the thought of dying so swiftly."
Winter gritted her teeth and summoned a glyph, conjuring a flock of nevermores.
Night Rogue staggered upon the barrage hitting her armor before the sword struck across the armor horizontally. She converted her sword into gun and fired, forcing the Specialist to form a glyph to shield herself. However her Aura flickered when a few grazed her shoulder and cheek.
"Just why do you follow him? He's a monster who takes children and innocent lives into turning them into monsters!?" Winter questioned the armored warrior.
"No one ever saved us for so long, you think we can just ignore it?" The Bat ducked but felt a knee to her stomach. However she grabbed Winter's ankle and hurled her aside.
"If we knew about it, we would've saved you all! That is our duty!" Winter declared as she swiftly landed on her feet, as she did feel terrible for not knowing such an organization existed.
"What of before? And before that?!" Night Rogue beheaded the summoned wolves and staggered again to the blade of Winter.
"If I knew where you children were, I would've left Atlas's ranks to find you all no matter what!" Winter said, soon gripping Night Rogue's shoulders as the older woman had a look of worry and sadness on her. "You don't have to live like this anymore… You can leave and have a better life! You can stop all of this madness! You're so much stronger than that!"
"I live my life how I want it to be!" She kicked Winter. "I decided! No one else!"
"So you'd follow this man and do the exact same things that harmed you and many others? You're willing to just become the same monster as he is and continue this cycle?! You're just making more of yourself!"
"Shut up!" She backhand the Schnee. However when Winter rolled she used two glyphs that created lightning infused lancers, sending the bluenette staggering and screaming from the electrical shock.
"Then… I guess the General is right…. There may be no hope in saving those who have become such soldiers…." Winter grimaced as she didn't want to kill those that could be saved, but these ones were way too far gone to be helped.
"WHO TOOK MY PRECIOUS BOX!?" Blood Stark's voice echoed, causing everyone to look at the high leader. "WHICH ONE OF YOU JACKASSES STOLE IT?!"
"They got it…" Winter was relieved.
"Why you conniving, greedy, miserable damn species!" Blood Stark shouted. "That thing better be kept in hardlight otherwise you will be in a lot of trouble when I f-"
*DING!*
Blood Stark tensed and slowly looked back at his machine within the domed building. "I-It's done… ehehehehe… AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He began to dance around in joy. "For eons I have searched and waited! It is free!" He quickly rushed inside. Shoving the machine off it, he saw what he wanted to see.
A buckle made of gold with red markings and a crank. The origin of Cody's buckle. The true buckle that allowed the start of what he needed in order to find the last panel. Plucking it out, he marched out and raised it high in the air for all to see. "MY EVOL DRIVER IS FREE!" He thundered.
'That's what they were searching for? A belt?' Winter questioned within her thoughts. "At least we know what to destroy now."
The air thickened and Winter gagged to the sudden pressure, dropping to her knees as she attempted to breath.
"No one will. For this… is my power. My key to the cosmos! My true form! … and Bat-chan… you get to use it for a test drive!"
"H-Huh?" Lily turned to Evol with a shocked and surprised look.
"Catch!"
Winter gasped and attempted to conjure a glyph but she stopped when Evol fired a few rounds in the dirt in front of her.
Night Rogue caught it, staring at it. She swallowed heavily to the whispers of protest in her mind. No, she won't listen to it. Like she told Winter, she decides what to do.
Dropping the gun, her armor vanished and slammed the buckle onto her waist.
EVOL DRIVER!
Blood Stark tossed the two Bottles at Lily who observed them. They both were like the same bottles that Cody used, as one showed a purple bat and the other a red engine. She shook the two and twisted the caps, eliciting a hiss. The air churned upon the escape of the gas from the bottles.
KŌMORI!
HATSUDŌKI!
EVOL MATCH!
Lily panted with worry and stress. She was uncertain what this would do to her, or if she'd even be herself again. Yet those worries began to drown out as she gripped the crank and starting to churn it.
"Stop!" Winter shouted. "Don't do this!"
This was a new power for her, this was a new change. She wouldn't be the weak little girl again. The same one who was abandoned by her only friend, the same one who lost everything to him and won't rest until he is in the ground.
ARE YOU READY?!
"I am… ready." The Atlesians saw Lily's lilac eyes gleam. "HENSHIN!" Lily yelled, cranking the knob.
Dark purple and crimson smoke erupted before several unmatched and twisted pipes erupted from it. The energy that danced across the bluenette's body made her bite her lip. Alas the energy became too much for her.
Lily screamed to the heavens, looking up at the sky as the pipes began to envelope her. Her eye could barely be seen as it was trembling and dilating to the power coursing into her body.
BATENGINE!
FUHAHAHAHA!
The pipes finally burst, revealing Lily's new form. Unlike her armor as Night Rogue, the armor she had now was a complete upgrade. It was a black bodysuit like before, as it had white armor plating instead of the black and silver ones. Her chest had a silver bat logo with purple accents around it. Steam vents on her shoulders and collar as the helmet while had bat wings, had an engine-esc breather on the front with piercing purple 'eyes' as the visor.
This was no longer just 'Night Rogue' but something more. Something dangerous. Something… Mad.
"Atlas soldiers… meet your Nightmare of Madness given form! Mad Rogue!" Blood Stark laughed. "The Madness Project is a freaking success! Woohoo!"
"Mad… Rogue…?" Winter got out from the new name and overwhelming power that was pouring out of the enemy.
Mad Rogue looked at herself, feeling so much power coursing through her body. The power was… exhilarating. She giggled slightly then laughed. However her laughter changed into cackling madness.
"I am the Boogeyman's Proxy." Mad Rogue grinned madly under her helmet. "Orders… Lord Evol?"
"Slaughter them for the ants they are."
"Acknowledged…" Mad Rogue snickered as with a swift puff of smoke, she vanished in front of Winter's eyes.
The second in command soon heard a cry of pain, causing her to turn around to see the new enemy Rider, cutting down one of the soldiers, as blood spilled from the weapon.
The Faust soldiers backed away as if they didn't need to fight as Mad Rogue was appearing and reappearing, killing the Atlas soldiers. Their bullets unable to penetrate her pale armor, the girl laughing as her armor was beginning to be painted in blood.
She rolled over the back of a soldier, thrusting the sword into the one shooting her and hooked her other arm over the soldier's neck who was behind her. She spun on her heel, slashing away her foes mercilessly as Winter's ice blue eyes slowly dilated. The men and women she was leading… dying.
Skidding to a stop, the soldier she had tucked by her arm still squirming, she merely twisted her hold and a bone-crunching snap echoed and dropped the now corpse.
Winter could only watch in horror as the bloodshed continued, unable to even move due to her own fear. But as the soldiers kept dropping like flies, Stark could only watch with delight from his new entertaining toy. Somehow he had popcorn and flick some to himself as if he was watching with front row seats. He moved aside when a corpse was thrown.
Winter soon saw only one soldier left, a young recruit just graduated from the academy. He was looking on with horror as his fear took hold of him as he screamed in terror and ran.
"No, stop!" Winter shouted out to the soldier, knowing this was what Mad Rogue wanted.
Black, white and purple wings sprouted out from Mad Rogue's back, flying towards the fleeing soldier as she soon grabbed them, lifting them up into the air as he cried and squirmed to be free.
He could only look into the menacing purple eyes of the insane rider, "P-Please… I… I don't wanna die…." He pleaded to her with tears running down his face.
Mad Rogue loosened her grip, staring down as the recruit landed on the ground. Aura flickered and shattered as blood spilled out of the soldier's mouth, dead from the fall. She landed on her feet and marched to maybe find any lingering survivors until Winter yelled and thrust her blade, causing her opponent to stagger.
Various glyphs appeared and lunged, her summons following.
Mad Rogue stared before looking at her hands. Curling tightly, wind blazed around the girl and raised her head, the elements in her hands before she thrust her left arm, releasing a blast of lightning and fire.
"What?!" Winter gasped, as she didn't have time to defend herself as the blast hit her, sending her flying into the barrier.
Winter's ponytail was undone, her uniform almost burnt and torn. She reached for her weapon but Mad Rogue planted her foot onto her hand. She twisted her heel, hearing Winter scream in pain upon the excruciating pain in her hand.
"Oi, oi, that's enough now." Blood Stark ordered. "You did well."
Mad Rogue slowly moved her foot and looked at her lord.
"Keep her prisoner. She just might be beneficial for something I have in mind after they stole the box." Blood Stark waved off.
Mad Rogue looked at Winter. While Ace Ops may have escaped, they at least have some results.
"And the other remaining stragglers?"
"Oh… you can execute them."
"Gladly…" Mad Rogue grinned.
"N-No…" Winter attempted to reach out to stop her, only for Stark to kneel down to the woman. Ice blue eyes met the teal visor of the bastard who was responsible for everything.
"I will be making a bargain with Jimmy that he won't refuse." Blood Stark sneered. "You take from the Boogeyman… you pay the price." He stood up and slammed his boot down, turning everything into darkness.
XXX
Cody soon gasped as his eyes shot open, coughing badly as he held his side. The rider looked around confused as he noticed he was back in his apartment room. Though nearby he noticed the sleeping bodies of Yang and her friends.
He looked at himself seeing he was patched up as he pieced it together that they brought him back home but refused to leave his side.
He grasped his head, his mind replaying the events of the fight in the slums. But what made his body shudder was those… 'visions'. Him seeing Stark in some barrier field, mining something. Him witnessing Atlas enter only to be slaughtered, and even worse 'Lily' becoming mad with power now.
Cody blanched as if his tongue tasted that terrible coffee from the cafe again.
Just what even was that all? Was that just some crazy fever dream? Or… Was it actually true? The blonde experiment was unsure but he could tell one thing. Something truly terrible has happened, and he worries what else could be happening now.
"Mnngh…" Yang groaned out, slowly moving before she got up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn before noticing the awoken blonde, "Cody! You're awake!" she said, soon hugging the boy tightly with relief.
"Owowowowow! Yang! I'm recovering! Let go!" Cody wheezed.
"Oh right! Sorry!" Yang apologized, soon letting go of him. Though she soon realized her actions as she brushed some of her hair away, "S-So um… how are you feeling?"
"Sides that shock of pain? Okay I guess…" Cody noted but his look of worry was shown on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"I…. I don't know…" He shook his head, "I had some… 'visons' in my sleep… But I don't know if it was true…"
Scrolls began to ringing. It wasn't Cody's or Yang's… but everyone's Scroll. It woke up the rest of the girls who groggily blinked.
"Mmngh.. Turn off the alarm…" Ruby groaned out as she was hugging Cross from her slumber.
Weiss reached for her Scroll but looked. "It's a broadcast… why so early…" She wanted to dismiss it but it wouldn't allow it. The Scrolls continued to ring in which to their frustrations they answered to the sudden broadcast.
Weiss' skin grew more pale than imagined while Cody's eyes widened.
The screen displayed live footage of a white-armored Rider who had a blade over her shoulder, while the other hand rested over the shoulder of an injured Atlesian, Weiss knew.
"Winter!?" She gasped in shock and utter terror. Cody on the other hand began to hyperventilate… What he saw? What he witnessed… It wasn't some dream or 'vison', but actually saw through the eyes of Stark.
Mad Rogue pulled Winter by her hair. "Say it."
Winter held her tongue before Mad Rogue's hand cackled with lightning and tightened her hold on the Atlesian, dosing her with a small voltage of her magic.
"Say it!"
Winter panted and looked. On the right of the screen was a hand as if it was motioning her to speak.
"My name… is Winter Schnee… Atlas' Specialist…" Winter started with a pant. "Faust… has held me as a prisoner of war for provoking the boogeyman's territory. I am to give… a message to General James Ironwood." She coughed to speak but Mad Rogue's hand cackled with lightning and repeated the shock.
Weiss's hands covered her mouth in utter horror.
"General James Ironwood… your Ace Ops… stole Pandora's Box… you are to return it… in…" She held her tongue but Mad Rogue instead pulled her up by the hair.
"SAY IT TO THEM NOW!" Mad Rogue barked.
"In 3 days or I will be executed to the world, joining the others who died. Then…" Winter took a swallow of air. "Then the SDC will become nothing once I am executed. The Dust in Faust's possession. The world will be cut off from it… and defenseless against the Grimm. The one who has to deliver the box… is… is…"
Having enough, Mad Rogue shoved Winter away and grabbed the camera. "The one to deliver the Pandora's Box is Experiment 931, Cody! I know you are seeing this friend. Either you deliver it to me or her blood and more will be in your hands in three days! You are DEAD!" The live footage turned static.
Cody and Team RWBY stood there in utter horror and shock. This was something much worse than anybody could think of. To hold the supply of Dust for the entire world alongside another life, hostage for Faust to get what they want. This wasn't something anybody could comprehend. And now… the life of everyone is on his shoulders and hands.
Remnant was in need of a hero to save them… And the only one they can rely on is in the hands of an escaped experiment. But the bigger question now is… What comes after this?
A/N: Hello everyone! Welp, ain't this a surprise? Mad Rogue has debuted, Winter injured and the Dust supply now in dire need. Can't wait to show you all what I have in store for the next chap. :3