RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 46: The Saint and the Cobra
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my 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^
The mines were cleared and it brought a sense of accomplishment. Plus seeing Ace Ops fight Grimm was honestly cool for Cody. Yeah he got his butt kicked by them two years ago but seeing them fight? That's different.
As much as he has some issues with them, he can't deny that they truly were good at this. Makes him wonder if he could get such training as well.
Aside from Harriet giving the stink eye at him at times. He swears, karma is going to bite her ass sooner or later. And he will be there to see it with a bag of popcorn. Oh and probably pictures to add as cherry on top.
Already soldiers began to secure the perimeter whereas the general already made himself known with the rest. Though Cody looked up at the sky, seeing the Amity Coliseum. His brows knit and lips curled down slightly. That place still had some memories he didn't want to remember.
"Be right back you guys." The blonde noticed Ruby and Jaune walk ahead alongside Qrow. Guess it was team leaders only. Ruby seemed a bit more positive. Guess fresh air did alleviate her mind if only slightly.
"Sooo, what do you think we should do?" Cody asked. "Cuz I'm all ears."
"Sleep." Yang stretched. "I mean we did cross an entire continent and flew by airship just to get here."
"I hear ya… Plus I don't like the cold." He said, a huff escaping him as a small gust of hot air blew around the two.
"Why? Cuz your fire ain't enough?"
"No, I just never liked it. I rather beside you in a bonfire." He smiled, gently nudging her with his elbow.
"Oh so you're-"
Weiss caught on with what Yang was doing. "Yang don't even-!"
"Cold blooded?"
Weiss facepalmed. Her dumb puns.
"Maybe you're just not… hot enough." Cody chimed in with a smirk. Weiss and Blake snapped their heads to Cody while Yang blinked. "What?" He blinked.
"Dis you just… make a bad pun… like Yang?"
"Yeah? I mean, I wanna try more ways to make her smile and laugh. So I thought learning her puns and jokes would work." The rider shrugged.
"… oh great. Another headache of jokes."
Yang on the other hand, quickly hugged the boy with all of her might and glee.
"Oh I'm so proud of my man for learning about them for me!" Yang said with delight as she peppered him with affection.
"Ugh get a room." Weiss blanched
"Or maybe finally get someone yourself, Ice Queen." Cody shrugged. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain to his foot. "YEOUCH!" He hopped left and right, clutching his foot and noticed Weiss's heel and her glare.
"Oops I'm sorry, guess I made a misstep."
"Harhar." He grumbled. He paused to notice another Manta landing not too far from the general and saw his sister. "Hey it's-" He was spun around by a certain black blur, making him dizzy. "Sis…"
"Wow. Blake really does have quick feet." Yang whistled.
"Well given how much she loves Lily? I'd assume you'd be the same too if you had to wait for your man for so long." Weiss shrugged.
They noticed her whisper something to Qrow. His eyes widened noticeably by nodding to her. "Something got both of their attention."
"But why not the general?"
"Remember Vernage didn't trust the guy so I can guess it also applies to Lily. Not that I blame her." Cody reminded. "Plus aside from us Qrow is the only legitimate adult who trusts her and she does in return due to the late saint."
Weiss sighed but her eyes narrowed and grimaced. An expression Cody saw. He looked where her eyes were and saw the Schnee logo. But given how Winter was already here? It was obvious who was landing next to them…
"Weiss… is the person in that ship who I think it is?"
"Yes." She said through her teeth. "I hate him as much as you hate your so-called dad."
"… I get the image now." Cody frowned.
The Schnee ship landed, allowing its ramps to lower itself down. There Cody saw a man who was no doubt Weiss' father. Dressed in a white suit and tie, along with his white hair and mustache, yet his eyes clearly showed nothing but a business man than anything else. This was the one and only Jacques Schnee.
And he did not look happy.
"So let me get this straight James. In addition to this nonsensical embargo of yours crippling my business. You've also decided you have the authority to commandeer private property? When the Council hears about this, you will never-!"
Ironwood cut him off and said, "Actually, I have already informed them. As this is now a classified military operation, it didn't require a vote."
"Didn't require a vote?" Weiss' dad repeated incredulously.
Ironwood moved his hands behind his back and added, "You might want to brush up on Council law before you lose the upcoming election, Jacques. Now, I've allowed you to land here once as a courtesy. The next time, it won't be a friendly reception."
Jacques scowled at the fellow Atlesian with a glare. "Lately, you seem to forget who your friends really are. I'm going to get that Council seat, James, and maybe then, you'll–" From the corner of the CEO's eyes, his eyes widened when he finally noticed Weiss was here. The two stared at each other for a moment before he angrily looked at the general. "You roped my missing daughter into these schemes of yours, too? How long has she been back in Atlas? Did Winter know about this?!"
Now Weiss became annoyed by her father's demands and stepped forward.
"It was my decision to come here. Just like it was my decision to leave. Or have you forgotten all about that?"
"If you think I'm one to forget anything, girl, then you've misjudged the man your father is."
"Believe me, I know exactly the kind of man you are."
And it clearly angered Jacques as his face contorted into a scowl. "How dare you speak to me that way!? I have half a mind to-!"
"Half a mind to what, Jacques?" The general asked from behind. Jacques narrowed his eyes, adjusting his cuff link while he elicited a frustrated sigh. His eyes were still aimed at Weiss.
"You know… your mother was devastated when you left." The tone of his voice sounded more direct and almost insulting the Schnee of Team RWBY.
Weiss visibly became upset upon him mentioning her mother. "Didn't leave her room for days. You know how… she gets... when she's upset."
Jacques put up a sad facade while he spoke, taking a moment to peek at Weiss whose eyes glimmered with sadness. Ruby, Blake, Cody, and Yang glared at him.
"Permission to punch him?" Cody hissed quietly.
"No… not yet anyways." What Weiss would give to actually permit it now and be done with it.
"I knew one day, you would overextend your reach. I didn't come here to beg for an abandoned mine. I came here to thank you… for personally handing me the noose to hang you." Those words were aimed at Ironwood. "You'll regret this."
"Words of a man with a blackened heart of greed." Jacques paused and noticed a girl with hair eerily similar to white but of moonlight. Green eyes showed she wasn't like his daughters, wife, or son. She was looking at him with utter disgust. "No wonder mother dislikes people of such hearts."
"And who are you to say such words to me girl?"
"Vernage, and no, I am not affiliated with anyone within your family. Especially not one of your… dark characteristics."
"Vernage?" Jacques questioned, "Oh dear… Weiss. Did you make one of these lousy friends and told them about such a pathetic tale? You should know better than to fill their heads with such fantasy and lies."
Qrow quietly stepped back as did Ironwood.
"Such words…" Lily's mind tickled with her mother's memories and her days in Faust. "Jacques is it? Don't I recall you had dark hair years back? Then again, I faintly recall an arrogant boy of that name who once asked if I was related to a Schnee. Ah yes what was it? An attempt to woo? 30 years ago."
Jacques stiffened and Lily grinned slyly.
"A man with no words hm? Ah perhaps that time-"
"She must be using Vernage's memories…" Cody whistled.
"I kinda wish I had popcorn for this…" Weiss admitted with a slight smirk of enjoyment from seeing this. "I didn't think when Vernage was Blanc, she was in Atlas."
'Vernage' twisted her amusement into disgust. "So I ask again Jacky what is it you want to say with that blackened heart?"
Weiss held her mouth, wanting to suppress the burst of laughter. Vernage of back then called him with such a insulting yet amusing nickname?
"N-Nobody has called me that name in years! H-How did you even-"
"Oh dear you forget?" Her eyes gleamed menacingly. "Or should I remind you that you insulted me as fantasy, lies, and pathetic?"
Jacques' mustache twitched.
"Get your pathetic excuse who calls himself a Schnee out of my sight or I will mince you so much your father in law would dance in jubilation in his grave." She threatened. "And that isn't a jest I make to you
"Woah." Yang gawked. "Blake… you sure have one hell of a keeper."
"Yeah I do~" Blake purred from seeing her lover be like this.
Jacques fumed at the words and glared at Lily. He turned on his heel and marched away. The ship hovered and flew away. Qrow stepped over and chuckled, "Remind me to buy you a meal for giving front row seats."
Lily shrugged. "Merely voicing what mother would have said to him if she were here."
"Still… to see him like that and back down? That was the earliest birthday present I could've asked for… Thank you Lily." Weiss said, before hugging the girl.
Lily's eyes softened before parting the embrace. She rubbed her arm. "Listen… There's something I must tell the rest of you. It's-"
Suddenly they were taken by surprise when a familiar android came crashing down, landing on one knee. The force from her landing sent Team RWBY and Cody flying with a small scream, while Winter and Lily steadied themselves against the shockwave. Penny straightened up and threw her hands into the air, the word "CONGRATULATIONS!" appearing above her head as a green hologram, with bright green hologram confetti spawning from it with a party horn sound.
"Surprise!" She chimed. Her green eyes blinked, noticing Team RWBY alongside Cody on the ground. "Uh… did we not start yet?"
Winter pressed her finger against her forehead whereas Ironwood grimaced upon being reminded of something important.
"Apparently we haven't." the older Schnee elicited an exasperated sigh.
"Start what?" Ruby asked.
XXX
The waters were still ominous with its underwater Grimm but they swam away due to the two dozen amphibious vessels that were drawing closer to Atlas waters.
Evol was humming a song, wagging his finger as a stick to his hum. He was also wagging his foot with it.
"Creator: incoming communications from Amphibious 2."
"Put it up."
The screen flickered to reveal the Hell Bros. "Ah, good! I was just gonna contact you two knuckleheads!"
"What… do you need us to do?"
"Consider this your last hurrah you two. I am giving you permission to kill anyone in Atlas associated with Vernage, oh and that also includes boyo while you're at it."
"Wait? Really?!" The brothers said in shock and awe.
"Yes, I even have a special way to increase your Hazard levels. But~ I'm not so sure if you two can handle it…" he feigned disappointment.
"W-We can try! If it's to get back at them then we will do it!"
"Well, since you kiddos are asking… Fine. I'm sending a special capsule containing some very potent Nebula Gas. Use it and you could become the same level as boyo. Leave Vernage to me. She and I have a long due rowdy tussle."
"As you order, Lord Evol."
"Send Amphibious 2 and 3 into stealth mode and increase their ship's speed. The 21 other amphibious are to remain here without movement. I want to see the results. If they fail, they fail."
"Request granted."
XXX
Team RWBY and JNR were gathered to face Ironwood, Winter, and Penny (who was holding a Scroll). Qrow, Cody, Oscar, and Lily stood on the sidelines to watch.
"It goes without saying this arena holds significance to all of us." Ironwood stated, taking a few steps forward. "It's only fitting that we should be able to reconvene here."
"Now, when the world needs to be brought together more than ever; the road you traveled from our first meeting hasn't been easy." The general walked to our left. "You fought for your school and your friends at Beacon. You fought for the world and the innocent at Haven Academy and beyond. You faced down terrors people can't even fathom. Especially facing against the eyes of the so-called cosmos." He referred to Evol. "That's not the behavior of students." The general looked at them. "It's the behavior… of Huntsmen and Huntresses."
General Ironwood nodded to Penny who approached and hummed. One by one, she stopped by each of the former students of Beacon while tapping the Scroll she held.
Each of them looked at their Scrolls, seeing what caught them off guard. Our student licenses were no more. Instead, they were official Huntsman and Huntress licenses.
"W-Wait, these are…" Ruby noticed.
"You are being granted your official licenses, today." Winter announced.
"I know this is sudden but Brothers know you deserve it." Ironwood explained. "I only regret that I couldn't do something a little more ceremonious for the occasion."
"I-We… we're honored General Ironwood, but you reall-" Ruby started but James politely raised his hand, "Please. With the threat of Salem still out there and tensions rising in our kingdom, I certainly could use more trustworthy fighters by my side. I should be so lucky to have all of you."
The general gauged their reactions that remained unchanged. "It's okay. It's a big moment. And what better way than to honor it here. When this tower is ready and communications are back up and running, we'll tell the world about Salem and face down whatever comes at us after that, together. Now… I know it's a bit… off putting for this moment. And what better way than to celebrate here? When this tower is ready and communications are back up and running, we'll tell the world about Salem and face down whatever comes at us after that, together."
They could only stand in silence.
Ironwood sighed, "That's… just about all the pomp I have in me." Awkwardly adjusting his tie, he added, "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to running this operation. Um…Well, then. Enjoy the cake." before walking away, with Winter following. Penny waved in appreciation to the retreating duo.
The former students of Beacon looked at their new licenses. "After everything we've been through, I almost forgot this is what I wanted in the first place." Yang started.
"When Beacon fell, I didn't think this would even be possible." Blake murmured.
"It almost feels trivial now." Weiss agreed.
Qrow on the other hand tried to lighten the mood. "Geez, guys, lighten up a little. Enjoy yourselves for a change. You've earned it."
Nora threw her arms into the air in relief upon hearing Qrow's opinion. "Finally! Someone said it. Let's kill some cake, huh?" She moved forward, throwing a fist in the air. "Because I can eat two slices before Ren even eats one. Who says I can't? Who says it, huh!?"
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose upon his girlfriend's comment. "Nora, nobody is arguing with you about this."
Yang snickered at the interaction before Cody walked up to her.
"Congrats on the license." He smiled softly.
"Still hard to believe…" She chuckled dryly. "But hey, at least it's something, right? … Do you still hate hunters?"
"Nah, not like I used to anymore. Sides, if I did that'd mean I have to start hating you again." Cody playfully teased her with a nudge.
"Heh, true." Her eyes drift to the others who were getting slices. "Well? Can't miss an opportunity for some cake!" The young rider nodded as he walked with her to the table to grab some cake to eat alongside his girlfriend and friends.
XXX
The morning was swift as Cody slept comfortably, cuddling up against Yang as the two of them slept in the same bed last night after the party, just wanting to relax together for once before any missions came up.
A whistle abruptly forced them awake, startling them and hitting their heads against the bunk. Standing in their room was Penny with a drill sergeant whistle in hand.
"Up and attem, everyone! Today is a big day for you new Huntsman and Huntresses!" Penny cheered with delight.
"Ugh… Penny? What time even is it…?" Cody groaned, rubbing his head.
"It is 4am!"
"Ugh… Penny…. I am not getting up to do whatever the General has planned at 4 in the morning…" Cody groaned as he dropped back into bed.
"With Yang Xiao Long as Huntress she is to partake in upcoming operations in regards to the Amity! No excuses!"
"Ugh…" The female blonde grunted in dismay. "What choice do I have…" She swiveled over. "I'll get my gear."
"That's the spirit!" Penny smiled innocently.
"Well.. if you'll excuse me…" Cody said, about to go back to sleep before Yang pulled him out of bed.
"Oh no Mister. Just cause you're not one, doesn't mean you get to slack off." Yang denied him his extra sleep. "You are going to do something!"
"That is if I am even allowed."
"The General would like to make sure any nearby Grimm or possible Faust members are taken care of. Just in case." Penny pointed out.
"Oh yeah? Then what about Lily?"
"She said she was busy with her experiment." Cody flinched at the mention of Lily's experiment. "So no sleeping in!"
"Ugh… And here I thought things would get better…" Cody groaned as Yang tugged on his wrist to pull him out of bed more and get dressed up.
After Penny left, the female blonde changed in the bathroom whereas Cody changed in the room itself. It was quick and once dressed, the two exited the dorm room. "See you later?" Cody asked.
"Yup! I just hope these missions don't waste up the day…" Yang grumbled.
Cody chuckled. "Good luck."
"You as well." Yang smiled as she gave him a peck on the cheek before they all headed out to the Amity site.
Though what many didn't realize was that outside the dorm room, there was a small bug. Listening in on the others and their plans for the day.
Seems Hell is about to freeze over.
XXX
Yang yawned tiredly, tapping the side of the transport truck. Team RWBY was transporting supplies so it wasn't that boring. Well, sorta.
Because elsewhere away from the site, Cody was taking care of the Grimm who tried to approach the site, swiftly being taken care of. But due to the rider and his Semblance, there were a few times the rider had to cool off and just standing in the tundra wasn't enough. Which meant Yang was getting a lot of eye candy from her man.
"Hey, focus!" Weiss said, snapping her fingers in front of Yang.
"My bad."
"Honestly..."
The two trucks continued to drive before the team felt the truck stop. "Huh? What's with the stop?" Ruby stood up from the truck bed. She tapped the roof of the vehicle. "What's wrong?"
"They're saying something is blocking the road." Qrow said from the passenger seat. "You girls stay here." He hopped out as he and Clover hopped out whereas the two soldiers from the truck in front of them followed along.
Blocking the road was a large tuft of snow. "An avalanche must have swept by recently." A soldier noted.
"We should have the trucks drive around it."
Qrow furrowed his brows. He looked up to his right, seeing the snow trail. His eyes narrowed. "What's wrong, Qrow?" asked Clover.
"Something isn't right. Doesn't the patrol team usually report something like this in order to prevent hold ups of the transport?"
Clover paused. His friend was right. Patrols always report of any possible incidents around the Amity side. Especially a natural disaster. He looked at the snow then the trail of snow. It didn't look… natural. Come to think of it, there was a splotch of… red by the boulder across them to their right.
Red that isn't supposed to be on rocks.
Clover's eyes widened and looked at the two soldiers. "Fall ba-!"
The bundle of snow exploded in a burst of flames, consuming the two soldiers whereas Qrow and Clover crashed against the front of the first truck. The bed of snow held explosives.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby cried out. Bullets graze the roof where her hands were, forcing her back into the truck bed.
"What's going on? Who's attacking us?" Yang questioned.
Qrow grunted, pushing slightly but saw the flames. He dragged Clover as the barrage of gunfire was pelting the trucks. "Is it Mantleans?" Clover groaned. The Hunter checked but his eyes widened as the others peeked in the small openings of the truckbed's walls.
"Oh shit." Qrow uttered.
From the topside were two Guardian Heavies loading in a drum into a weapon before cocking the xenomechanism and firing again.
"F-Faust, here?!" Weiss held her head. "How?! Doesn't Atlas' radar systems reach really far?!"
"It's Evol we're talking about… His tech can cloak from anything but Lily herself…" Blake frowned.
The barrage was relentless, forcing Ruby to aim with Crescent Rose. She pulled the trigger but saw it barely grazed its heavy plating.
"Cody, we need backup! Cody!" Yang noticed her Scroll had no signal.
*KZZZT KZZZT*
"I-I can't call him!"
"I have no communications with the others!" Clover gritted.
"I think this might've been a trap for us…" Qrow frowned, "Or more importantly to the kid. Ruby, I need you to use your weapon to distract them so Clover and I can get into the truck!"
"R-Right!"
"Here. Just in case you need a boost in power." Yang said, handing her sister the Robot Fullbottle.
With a nod, Ruby inserted the item into her weapon before she flew out with her Semblance, using her petal form to maneuver through the gunfire. The snow exploded where the gunfire impacted. One grazed her Aura and leapt. Her Scythe ignited with Rocket and went for its neck. The heavily armored machine moved to avoid its beheading before the other slammed its fist into her stomach.
The hit was strong enough to shatter her Aura, as she coughed up blood before dropping to the ground as she held her stomach from the pain.
"RUBY!"
The machine moved the weapon to point at her. Ruby's silver eyes dilated to see the glowing color inside the barrel.
The heavy across its comrade was suddenly tackled by a large familiar machine, the sound of metal being torn apart. Ruby saw the barrel rotate to fire relentlessly at it, sparks and energy spilling but it progressed and ripped the Guardian in half.
Ruby shakingly saw Cyclops drop the halves of the robot but it dropped to its knees and slouched upon the damage it had.
[Are you okay… 'friend'?] It asked of her, quickly administering first aid with a heal pulse.
"I-I… I thought that I…"
[I promised. I will protect Lily's… 'friends'. As well as mine.] it rotated its limb to a fist but its optic flickered slightly. It looked down at itself, resting the other claw to its core. [Blood Projectile has… penetrated the memory and power drive…]
"Cy…clops?"
[I must finish the mission to the end… until the damage renders my systems completely dead.]
"W-Wait… what are you talking about?"
[Evol has sent his elite forces… Lily is trying to locate enemy forces of Faust.]
It pushed itself up. [Must resume…] It paused when it noticed its legs weren't moving. [Seems neural systems to legs have ended…]
"But… Lily can fix you up if she dismisses you! She just needs to-"
[Technomancy cannot repair me on dismissal and damage has severed major parts.]
Ruby gritted her teeth morosely before looking back. "Get him in the truck!"
XXX
Cody didn't like this at all. A simple mission became a fight of life and death. Why? Because the two familiar devilish twins.
"It's finally time, 931. Your grim reapers are here."
What made things more difficult was that both brothers were in the Hell States, as one was red and blue and the other white and green. They were being serious this time around.
"You say that, but remember the last time you two fought me? I sent you crying back to Evol." Cody smirked.
"Shut the hell up you piece of shit! This time it is our win!" 898 barked. "Just like Amphibious 3 is in the middle of slaughtering your friends!"
"YOU BASTARDS!"
The Rider wasted not time, swiftly donning on his belt and slapped the Magma Knuckle into the driver as he cranked it and fended off their strikes.
ARE YOU READY?!
"Henshin!" He cried out as the magma armor formed on his person.
GOKUNETSU KINNIKU!
CROSS-Z MAGMA!
ACHACHACHACHACHACHA ACHA!
"My power is overflowing...my soul is burning...and my magma is surging!" Cross-Z Magma thundered loudly tackling the two brothers into a ravine nearby, punching and hitting them with all of his might. But before they landed, the rider sent out a magma wyvern as it struck the two brothers and slammed them into the ravine floor harshly, only for him to come flying down and with his fist striking them, a pool of magma shot out from the impact.
"Why?! Why continue to work with Evol after all of this?" Cross-Z questioned them, "We still could've saved you! You could've done what Lily did and join us! So why?! Are you just that blood thristy or that driven to get vengeance against everyone?!"
"Everyone?" 899 guffawed and laughed. "All we want is the world to burn for the shithole it is!"
898 struck Cross-Z across the chest, "This world had too many chances! The stupid Brothers abandoned it all for what? Stupid curiosity to make humanity?! The Grimm?!
899 took up the SteamBlade and slashed the rider a few times, "We joined him willingly when we saw him kill some worthless scum! We wanted the power as well, not because of some lousy idea of family, love, or friendship. We did it to kill… Why else would he give us such power and technology? So we can do it! We already know we're just being martyrs to this…"
"You what?" Cross-Z got out before being shot by the brothers.
"He told us he'll give us a boost in power. But we knew what it was… A dangerous amount of Nebula Gas. So much so, that if we even once lose our armor? We'll disintegrate…" 899 explained, making the rider's eyes widen in shock. "We're martyrs! Disposable items to Evol! And we chose it still… Because now we can just cut loose! Win by killing you and letting Evol consume this worthless planet or die by your hands? WE CHOSE THIS!"
"WE ALL ARE EXPERIMENTS SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME!"
Cross-Z grunted from the assault of the brothers. They both indeed gotten such a boost in their power. Yet he could only frown. He hoped they were just like him, Lily and the others. But they weren't… There was no good in them, no sign of redemption or change. They were like that of Evol and of Salem. They were just evil people…. Which also meant he didn't need to hold back either.
"And here I thought I could try… But I guess what Tai-Yang said was true… Evil can exist in others at birth… what matters is if I run from it… or face it." He said out loud to himself, remembering the words from the older Xiao Long. He soon stood up as the rider closed his eyes and began to concentrate. "If you guys want this… then I will give it all I got against you two."
"Please, with this boost? We can handle you easily like everything else we've killed…" 899 huffed.
"I'm more eager to see if those friends of his have survived yet? I want to skin the scythe girl." 898 sneered with delight, showing the overdose of Nebula Gas has made them just as dangerous as their blood lust.
"I'm already angry as is… Just giving me more like that isn't gonna change. Besides… I'm trying to concentrate…" Cross-Z said, his head slightly lowered as the orange of his armor dimmed softer and softer until it was just an ember glow on him.
"It ain't going to help you!" The two made a mad charge to the dragon rider.
The Twin Hell Bros began to punch, kick, slash and shoot at the rider. But surprisingly he wouldn't budge or even flinch from the attacks. Annoyance grew from the two as they kept up their assaults, unaware that the snow around them all has already melted away, even evaporated into steam.
"FIGHT BACK! WE WANT TO HAVE A GREAT BATTLE AND YOUR BLOOD!"
"Again… I'm concentrating…" Cross-Z responded calmly as now even the ember glow was gone, making it look like his entire armor was now fully pitch black.
Like a volcano… the earth within trembled, the steam rising from the crevices, the heat and pressure building up. Cross-Z's fists trembled, causing the brothers to slow their strikes. The ground he stood on was cracking with an orange glow which meant…
"Oh shit."
With his eyes snapped open, he took off the Magma Knuckle before slamming his palm against the button, igniting the weapon before he slammed the weapon against the brothers, only for those in the distance to hear a loud explosion and an eruption of magma spewing from the area.
VOLCANIC KNUCKLE!
ACHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
XXX
As Ruby and the others were trying to put Cyclops in the truck to get him back to Atlas to be saved, a loud explosion erupted as it made everyone turn to where the sound was, seeing the large plume of magma spew from the location as it made Yang's heart drop for a moment.
But before she could say anything, two bodies quickly landed hard next to the truck. The girls looking over to see none other than the Hell Bros…. But in a terrible state as their armor was broke and falling apart, some of their limbs missing or burnt to high heavens, and a hole in their chest.
"Holy…" Yang got out with surprise from the damage as another thing landed, making them turn to see Cody, though out of his armor and rolling around in the snow.
"HOT! HOTHOT! WHY DID I EVEN THINK OF THAT?!" He cried out, attempting to cool himself off.
"I got this!" Yang said, picking her Robot FullBottle quickly as she inserted it into her prosthetic and in moments a cooling agent sped from the barrel of her arm, spraying the rider as the flames and magma still on him, fading away.
"A-Aaaahh…. God that felt good…" Cody cooed with relief.
"Good thing Lily installed that feature, huh? We both figured you'd be in a meltdown sometime." Yang shook her head.
"Where…. were you… hiding that… power?" 899 coughed up as the two began to fade.
Cody turned to the brothers before he stood up and walked over to them. "Ever since Lily came back, she has helped me with some spells. And since that day, I've slowly have been storing up enough fire and kinetic energy to release… Sadly I couldn't have done it on Evol due to his form. So I decided to just use it to stop you two." He explained to them.
"You… have been storing up… that much power… only in a few months?" 898 gawked.
"Why else would I not be using my full might from the get go? To make sure it ends in one hit." Cody pointed out.
"H-Heh… gotta admit… that was gutsy of you…. Cody." 899 chuckled with another cough of blood.
"Stupid too…" 898 groaned. He laughed weakly. "I guess… we are just failed experiments eh, bro?"
"Yeah… But… even we lived true to ourselves… to the… bitter end…"
"Bitter… end." The two raised their fists high. The two brothers smiled at one another, bumping their fists only for their bodies to fade away into nothing, leaving just the landing marks and their weapons left.
The girls watched morbidly, as even if they were enemies. They still had some heart to see them as what they use to be…. Human.
"Come on… Let's get Cyclops in the truck and get back to Atlas…" Ruby requested.
XXX
The group returned to Atlas but the air wasn't well as the airship landed but upon exiting Cody and Yang dragged the machine. Qrow helped Clover walk before they saw Ironwood, Winter, Penny, and Lily.
"What happened? The rest of Ace Ops had been tryijg to contact you."
"We had a run in with the those killer twins… They set a trap for us." Qrow informed.
"Past tense… I took them out." Cody confessed.
"They're… dead?" Penny repeated.
""Had no choice…. Sides, Evol overdosed them with Nebula Gas… either way they were walking corpses." The rider informed them.
"And…" Ruby looked at Cyclops, making Lily shocked.
"Cyclops?!" She knelt to the machine. "You have been shot in the most vital locations…" she gripped the chest open and held her arms to the eruption of sparks. She waved her hands to clear the steam but to the others they gasped.
Inside was countless wires and components but in the center was a synthetic material that was pulsing. As if…
"Is that… a heart?" Ruby uttered.
"His data drive… that holds everything for him…" She retracted her hand to the sparks and blue energy flaring from it. "But to your eyes… it's the synthetic metal alloy made to look like a heart…"
"But.. it is…" Penny chimed in. "I know this because it's like the heart, dad gave me…"
"General!" Ironwood turned around to see Harriet. "We have a situation!"
"What situation?"
Harriet presented a Scroll. "The radar sensors detected a lone object outside Atlas waters and-" She paused. "Wait, two. No three-!"
20 more dots appeared behind the one lone similarly shaped dot. "Th-There's 22 ships…"
"Against an entire Atlas fleet?"
The screen flickered, revealing a certain snake who was sitting on a throne.
"Hello there. Fancy seeing you all here in one easy little place."
"Evol…" Cody growled.
"22 Amphibious Ships may seem to be so less compared to your numbers but hellloooo~? You are talking to a literal black hole here who can eat your entire continent if I want to." The snake boasted.
Ironwood's mood fell bitter at the reminder.
"But~ I decided to be a nice guy and just bring the big guns with me. Sure 22 is such a small amount but hey, this tech I made sure beats Atlas, Pietro's brain, and her android daughter." Evol relaxed in his seat, drumming his abdomen with his sharp fingers. "My tech can demolish your fleet." He snapped his fingers. "Just like that."
"I can easily break through that…" Cody glared at the snake.
"Ooh not when you have one problem."
"That is?"
Suddenly the city glimmered. Then one by one the shield systems that protected the city began to deactivate.
"Can you save people when my sleepers deactivated the shields? For my fast ships to bombard Atlas?" Evol chuckled darkly. "Open your eyes kiddo… the world is at its finish line. The only thing between me and eating my desserts… is that bitch who had been a pain in my ass for eons."
"So this is what you're here for? Just to face me?" Lily crossed her arms.
"Vernage still left her soul in you just so you can live!" Lily flinched. "Look at yourself, you are stuck between two lives. Do you believe you are still Lily? Or are you Vernage?"
Lily lowered her head, gritting her teeth.
"Atlas, the proud city with its advanced technology. You put up an invisible wall because of the witch who I made her go on her hands and knees to spare her. She still hates me but hey, if I can eat them gods when they touch the planet, won't matter. I ain't their creation."
"You sick son of a bitch."
"So! I'm gonna cut this chat so I can get dinner ready! Ciao~!" The screen flickered off.
Ironwoods slammed his fists on the hull of the ship, angered by this as he looks at the others as he needed an answer or response.
"We need to reactivate the shields. Pietro, do something."
"Systems had locked me out General! I can't!"
"What of our fleet?"
"That snake just said he can eat them just to make it even! Against blood technology of ships!"
"I can just go Magma and set them ablaze!" Cody stated, almost ready to just fly off himself.
"Cody, you are one person against 22 ships and a snake who can kill you easily!" Yang argued.
"But if we don't do something, people are going to die from his assault!"
The argument exploded amongst them, the machine staring at the ongoing bickering. It looked at its hand before it glanced at Lily. [Master. I request your acceptance of the Emergency Protocol.]
The sudden request made them look at him but Lily froze.
"Emergency Protocol?"
"Cyclops, no. I told you I am not initiating it."
[You created me for the sole purpose to protect you, your friends… and the people.]
"I said I am not!"
"Lily what is he talking about?"
"Emergency Protocol was something mother put but… it would wipe out all memory he had… alongside himself, Cerberus, Gargoyle, and Gremlin removing themselves entirely." She answered softly. "But if I do that… unlike my other inventions… I can't recreate them…"
[Master, requesting Emergency Protocol.]
"I said no!"
[Requesting-]
"I am not sacrificing you just so you can eliminate the hostiles!" She yelled. "I can't… let you go like mother did for me… I-I…"
[Master… it is okay to let us go…] the machine slowly raised its metal claw and curled it into a fist, pressing against her chest. [We live to protect the queen. After all… Glory to Humanity… That is what she taught us… No?]
Lily swallowed the remnants of tears. She lowered her head and gritted. "Okay… Okay, I'll allow it." She swiped her arm, summoning her other machines. Her tears fell and rested her forehead against Cyclops. "You talked back to me again… you stupid insufferable… Initiate Emergency Protocol."
Her beloved machine's back opened up and four pipes erupted and jabbed into Cerberus, Gargoyle, and Gremlin. They glowed and were suddenly, like water, drained into it.
[Long live… my precious queen.]
Lily stepped back as her next step caused circuit board markings to manifest beneath her and the machine. Everyone stepped back as Cyclops made a grunt as it began to push itself to stand. Data erupted from the circuit board and coiled around the machine until it formed an orb.
"Activate your protocol… rise up from the image my mother made… and do what you were programmed to do." She remembered Cyclops' words. "And show them we humans can survive!"
The data faded away and Cody gawked. Cross shuffled out from the belt and flew around in jubilation. The large bulky claws that were Cyclops' became its legs, the arms were lean but held three talon-fingers that flexed slightly. Its large metal wings that spread wide as a Manta. Its elongated tail was of Cerberus due to the tip of its tail holding three collided chainsaws. Its head shaped
"It combined!" Ruby gawked with delight.
"Not yet."
"Eh?"
The crevices of its body glowed before hissing and fell off. Parts of its body revealed glowing pale yellow energy. Metal bumps on its dark-colored body folded, shaping into metallic scales. The body glimmered before its blue eyes beamed and stood on its hind legs. It looked down at the tearful Lily.
"Go…. Technosis."
Its wings spread further before taking to the sky and zipped away.
The Saint lowered her head. "Pietro."
"Uh, yes?"
"I need you to grab my machine in your lab… and set it into the coordinates Winter will receive." She murmured. "My battle with Evol will transfer all energy into the machine. Once at full power… hit the switch."
"Lily…"
"It's time for the blood feud mother and Evol had ends today. And for people's dreams to come true."
"Wait!" Blake took Lily's hand, only for the two to look at one another before the young Faunus kissed the saint before parting, "J-Just… some good luck…."
"Talk about deja vu…" Cody murmured. Yang did the same thing back then to him.
XXX
Evol hummed a tune as he watched the other Amphibious Forces fly towards Atlas. "Oh what a lovely day."
Ahead, a Guardian picked up fast motion towards the ship. "This is Amphibious 4: There is an incoming aircraft-" the ship it was in exploded. Evol dropped his popcorn and noticed another Amphibious exploding in the air.
"Oi, what the hell is up with the other Amphibious?"
"Report, unidentified object is moving in Mach 1, piercing through the ships." The Guardian reported. Another ship not too far exploded. "Report, object has been identified." The screen expanded and Evol paused, nostalgia hitting him.
"I'll be." Made as a symbol of Eden when Vernage lost faith in the Brothers. She took inspiration by the crest of Eden.
A mechanical bipedal dragon.
"We lost Amphibious 4-18 already, creator. Awaiting orders." its pilot inquired.
Evol frowned. "Well? What do you think I will say? Shoot it down for all I care. No skin off my back! Ooh maybe it can become a decoration after that."
"We are trying but it-" Another explosion caused the communication to end once more.
"Ugh why is it-" He grunted when the ship he was in was hit. No, not hit, it was held. "Well shit."
The aircraft swayed left and right before he quickly activated his phase, teleporting himself out and rolled across the snowy tundra he found himself in. Looking up he saw the metal beast landing with the ship crushed beneath its feet.
"So! Are we gonna fight then metal lizard breath?"
It snarled but Evol noticed from the corner of his lens was a familiar face who strode towards him.
Lily. She was carrying a magic-made sword while two floating claws held Lionheart and Virtuous Steel.
"Evol."
"Lily."
"… Evol the Devourer, for eons you harmed so many lives… destroying so many. Tormented. The list goes on for everything you did to us. For murdering Arthur."
"Now how did you know that? I bet your mother never told you about him."
"I… we were given answers to everything. Of the day you fooled mother into war. Of the night you slaughtered her kingsguard and Arthur, who once chopped off your arm." She gestured to the claymore in question hovering beside her.
"Ah… one of these 'Relics'? It can answer anything, eh? I may end up keeping that one afterwards… knowledge truly is a formidable skill."
"I am here to make sure this feud ends here! For what you did to Cody! For everyone!" Lily waved her hands, cupping them with elegant motion. It was with grace until she swiftly spread her arms. A massive barrier was projected, keeping herself and Evol as the only occupants. "Just you and me… like the good old days, snake."
"Heh.. well then. I guess it's time to finally end this…" Evol stated, holding up the Black Hole Trigger. Clicking it into his buckle, he placed in both bottles.
[OVER THE EVOLUTION!]
"Henshin…"
BLACK HOLE! BLACK HOLE! BLACK HOLE!
REVOLUTION!
HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE…!
Lily's eyes closed, a teardrop falling before opening her eyes. "Let's." She bellowed as she charged towards him with four blades.
XXX
The Manta flew to the area Lily went as Cody, Penny, Qrow, Oscar, Team RWBY and JNPR were inside. Harriet held the controls while the rest of Ace Ops and Winter were heading elsewhere with Pietro for whatever the contraption they were carrying was.
"There!" Qrow pointed.
The dome was the obvious thing to see but they could see the brief flashes of magic and snow inside it.
The ship drew closer and they could barely see Lily who rolled aside and made several technoswords fly at the snake. Unamused, he made a rift to vanish and reappear, slamming his knee against her stomach. Gripping her moonlight white hair, he punched her in the same area and threw her.
However a metal shield appeared beneath her feet, allowing herself to land and propel herself towards Evol. She elicited a battle cry and used the large blades to strike him, causing sparks to erupt from his armor.
"She's really giving everything she has…" Harriet observed in disbelief.
"Why you…"
"Is that frustration you have Evol? How do you feel for what I did?"
"Heh… you say that… But what about these noisy bugs near by?" Evol said, turning to one of the airships. "Wanting them to watch you die?"
"No. But I sure as hell know they are stubborn idiots."
"HEY!"
Evol raised a hand but stopped. The black hole isn't activating outside the barrier? Why?
"Don't you get it? The barrier was made from the Fullbottle's properties."
"So… made it sure that until one of us dies? The barrier remains." Evol huffed with annoyance. "Matters not…. I have more experience in battle than you or Vernage could ever imagine…"
"Oh? Do I hear a hint of more frustration? Seems… you are becoming as normal as we are Evol. Just as any race you slaughtered."
Evol's fingers curled angrily. "I am NOTHING like you lower lifeforms!" He blasted fire to launch forward.
Lily gasped and raised her swords. She grunted as she skidded several feet but not before he gripped both of her precious swords Virtuous and Lionheart and threw them away from her. He angrily punched her left and then right. She caught the next but her glowing green eyes widened when the next thing she saw was his sharp talons.
"AAAAH!" Lily shrieked as she held her eyes upon the brutal strike from Evol. Blood seeped from her face, leaving those who witnessed from the airship horrified.
Evol had blinded Lily.
"Who is lower now huh?!" Evol kneed her in the stomach again. Lily held her bleeding face, trying to halt the bleeding. She gagged when the snake grabbed her leg and threw her like this. "Do you feel superior now, Lily?! HUH?!"
"Grh… grh…" Lily held her face.
"Now you cannot see a damn thing of the world around you! You are just trash like all lifeforms I murdered." He pulled her hair. "I don't care if I have to slaughter every man woman and child on every planet to eat. War is my thing. Watching the world burn is what I enjoy."
"LILY!" Blake cried out from the airship.
"Stay out of this!" Evol hissed, "You will watch as I kill her, kitten!"
He flexed his claws. "Just like the good old days eh, Vernage? You're done."
Time slowed as the claw moved. Lily's bloodied yet blinded gaze began to remember the day she was thrown out. She cried out for her mom and dad but all she had was ignorance. The streets. The countless other memories that played in her mind like a gallery. It shifted rapidly until…
'Let your wings fly free, my dear Vernage.'
Virtuous Steel and Lionheart gleamed before they were shrouded in magic and immediately flew to her. Evol gasped in disbelief when both blades intersected each other, stopping the claw from impaling her.
(Cue Be the ONE by PANDORA Ft. Beverly)
"I am not. Done."
Evol was struck and sent away. He frowned and went for an attack but shockingly the blades blocked it. "What the… you're blind!"
The girl kept her hand over her bleeding face. "I… am… but…" She grinned slightly. "Your magic isn't blind to my senses…"
Within Oscar, Ozma's eyes widened. "Magic sensory…" It was how he met Salem again years ago.
"So what if I am brutalized… so what if I am a worm? The only mistake you made Evol… is coming to Remnant." She dragged her hand across her bleeding face and grasped the Saint Bottle. "So… shall we begin the experiment?"
GREAT! IWAE~!
The former agent of Faust slowly raised the new Fullbottle before slamming it into the buckle.
SAINT!
A sudden meadow magically appeared around everyone, witnessing the glowing white moonflowers bloom with its radiance. Pearl white platform rose beneath Lily, elevating her as she cranked the knob.
HAE! HAERU~! HAE! HAERU~!
Metallic segments appeared around her, each one blooming a Moonflower.
ARE YOU READY?!
"Henshin!"
A silver symbol that is best described as three swords connected to half a chakram with five spikes appeared before slamming into the girl.
YAMI YORI YOMIGAERU~ SEIJOOOO!
Black armor manifested upon white petals forging across her body.
SAINT RO~GUE! SUGEI! IWAAEEE!
Saint Rogue swiped her arm, the white petals of the moonflowers flowing by the wind around her. Light surged around her before dimming, finally completing the transformation.
"I made a promise…" she curled her fingers. "To ensure freedom is given to everyone you taint! For our wings to fly to our freedom! Phase 4!"
The familiar sensation erupted through the driver but she didn't feel pain anymore. She slowly glared at Evol and bellowed with a battle cry. She moved at speed greater than what her Saint form had. Evol staggered in disbelief and countered with his own attacks.
"I-I can't see them at all!" Ruby rubbed her eyes. "All I see are bursts!"
"Can you…?" Yang turned to Cody, only to see his eyes rapidly moving around… showing he indeed can see them fight.
"Wha… What is going om…?" Weiss uttered.
"I am detecting high concentrations of energy rising from the ongoing fight between them." Penny reported. "It's unknown to me… yet… scary?
"Energy rising? That means…"
Cody's eyes swelled with tears. "She is making my dream… no, everyone's dream become a reality."
The attacks continued again and again. Evol was in disbelief. This girl no longer had trouble with Phase 4! Cody couldn't even get this far but this girl was finally withstanding it!
"Ki…sama!" His body glowed and hovered. "If that is how you want to play it Lily?! THEN DIE!" His body was shrouded in dark energy before becoming a black hole.
"… good." Saint Rogue whispered. "Pietro… do it."
XXX
In the very top area of Remnant was Pietro who received the message. His eyes softened and took a deep breath. She was doing this for Cody… for all experiments who suffered. He inserted a few keys, seeing the energy it had absorbed from the dome Lily made and into the panels of the machine.
"Good luck." He whispered. "And Brothers' bless you"
He tugged the lever.
The remaining Ace Ops, Winter, and Pietro noticed the energy was being absorbed into Pandora's Box… before firing a beam straight into the sky.
XXX
"Look!"
The beam slammed into the air, black, red, white, and pale yellow energy crackled against it before they witnessed a massive rift tearing open.
"She ripped open reality…"
Cody enclosed his eyes and felt his tears leave him. "YOU CAN DO IT LILY!"
"What is this…?! What did you do, Lily?!"
"Just as mother did with you, we go… together!" She flew straight into the black Hole Evol was in. Her armor glowed but the Fullbottle was doing its best to shield her from being disintegrated. Saint Rogue painfully gripped the lever and rapidly cranked it.
DRAGON SIDE! BAT SIDE! SAINT SIDE!
'Arthur… grant me strength… just as you did for my mother.'
With a sharp inhale, she moved the level one last time, the systems suddenly acknowledging a new input.
LION SIDE! ALL SIDES!
Her body blazed in bright white light, her body becoming nothing but a faint outline within it.
HOLY SAINTECH FINISH!
A bipedal dragon, humanoid saint, bat, and finally a lion manifested around the blaze of light before fusing one by one into the kick that was piercing through the powered orb of magic-infused dark matter.
The white light grew massively and sped faster towards the snake. Evol's eyes slowly widened beneath his helmet. His verdant orbs were full of horror and disbelief.
"THIS ENDS HERE…. ONCE AND FOR ALL….!
This girl… no, this saint was completely piercing through with all her might. A Saint who represents all of humanity.
"EVOL!"
The attack eliminated the beam and the blaze of light slammed right into Evol's torso. The duo soared higher and higher, breaking through the dome and straight onto the rift.
As they drew closer and closed, the serpent gripped the Rider's ankle.
'My spell… why can't I use it…?!' Evol was aghast by it. Why wasn't it working?! He had to-!
It was for that brief moment, the xenological lifeform saw apparitions. Of Vernage, of each life she had and the little boy who was the first soul to ever stand up to him - Arthur. But they weren't alone. Apparitions of every soul he murdered, experimented on over the generations.
They were ensuring he wouldn't live again upon the power Vernage/Lily was unleashing. This was divine punishment brought to him by Lily who was no longer Lily…
No, Lily is Vernage.
Energy began to gather at the spot Saint Rogue delivered the kick. The blazing white light was causing black light to escape Evol's armor. His own life ebbing away.
"Masaka… I… can't die…. Not like… this!" Evol slowly reached out to Saint Rogue before he screamed in pure agony. "VERNAGE…!" Energy erupted between the two Riders created a rupture of space and time and a massive burst of light erupted upon it.
The girl only saw light as she and Evol were consumed.
XXX
Outside the rift they noticed the tear fluctuating with energy. It was becoming brighter and brighter until it closed up… and released a wave of pale yellow light that phased through everything like a phantom. When it phased through Cody, he gasped and fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
"Hey! You okay?" Yang kneeled down to catch him, worried for the fellow blonde.
"I-I… feel so… weak…" He panted heavily, as if he just got shot in the chest.
XXX
The wave didn't stop. Several Atlas soldiers in Atlas suddenly collapsed from pure exhaustion. A few Atlesians too felt the same.
In Mantle, the numbers increased as more individuals felt it. In the secret place where the escaped experiments stayed, felt the light pass through them. They felt tired and yet they… felt… normal.
In Menagerie, the wave passed through but the twins felt their bodies change and suddenly felt tried.
"Rose, Jared, are you okay?" Kali asked in surprise.
"I'm… sleepy." Rose yawned.
Kali gasped when she saw the faint red hue in the children's eyes vanish. The Nebula within them were no longer existent. She looked at where the wave came from.
"… Lily…?"
XXX
The inhabitants of Eden watched as the Tower that Evol had once built began to fall into ashes. The wall too began to become nothing but a forgotten image. The crimson barrier that had kept them safe within Eden became a pale yellow color. Their minds suddenly felt an odd sensation. They remembered living in Eden but… who was it that was leading the nation? Why were there so many machines not moving?
The Guardians that had stopped functioning due to the petals upon Vernage's departure to the afterlife or were mobile twitched the second after the energy phased past them. Slowly, their dark metal alloys turned into a pale white color and their gray fatigues turnt black as the night. The crimson xeno-technology that was across Eden turnt a pearl white, purified of the nebula.
The machines began to regain function as the inhabitants of the now unified four regions saw each one approach them, earning wariness.
"What help do you require of your daily routines?" One Guardian inquired.
A child released her hold from her mother and approached earning a call of protest. She looked up and tugged the fatigue. "Can you help mommy carry things?"
The machine stared before bowing. "Request, accepted."
Each machine began to make inquiries to the humans.
They had a new program - Protect humanity.
XXX
Lily slowly opened her eyes, finding herself staring up at the dark void with its glittering blue colors. Like stars in the night. Was she dead? She wouldn't know… but there was no Evol.
She giggled before bursting out into laughter. Evol wasn't here. He wasn't here!
Her experiment… worked. Her theory had been proven.
Saint Rogue reached up to the colorful sky, smiling under her helmet. Her experiment was finally completed. The collision of dark matter and its opposite will create what she theorized. Everything Evol touched, purified. The escapees who were experimented on, cleansed of Nebula; no longer superhuman but normal people again. His technology, Eden itself, is now under her control as her mother wanted.
Her armor vanished as tears welled in her damaged eyes. "I did it mother… Evol is gone… the snake who had coiled you is finally gone…" she began to cry with a smile. "Eden will flourish as it did when you ruled… a paradise come true… A…"
"Paradise that is our beacon."
Lily stopped all motion of her body and hesitantly turned herself after sitting up. She nearly crawled back to the outline her severely injured eyes saw.
The apparition was young Arthur.
"A-Arthur…?"
The boy approached and looked up at Lily. He smiled. "Thank you." He hugged the modern saint. Lily's eyes widened as her mother's memories rose up again. The girl sniffled at first then cried joyfully and hugged him in return. "Mother is waiting for you… your free now, Arthur… it's time to go home." She whispered.
Arthur's smile grew and nodded against Lily. He vanished into wisps of light.
And now she was next…
"A long way from home aren't you?"
That… was not Vernage's voice or Evol's. She saw a figure that was… peculiar. Dressed like a blacksmith yet wasn't.
"Who…" her memories were assaulted by recollections and her eyes widened. "You're… You're the one mother always saw after each death…" she pointed in disbelief.
"You did something that was known to be impossible, young one… And yet you believe it is your time to go beyond as well?"
"The probability of survival was 50%… I should have…" She looked at her hands. "After everything I have done… everything I did for my mother… for my friends… for Cody…"
"You believe forfeiting your life is your only choice in redemption."
"I never said that! I never…" She murmured.
"Then why do it all alone? In fact… you had all that you needed to end Evol… without this sacrifice." The entity said.
"If I didn't… Cody would had to be the one to sacrifice himself… and I couldn't risk him doing that. When there's death… there'll always be death."
"Such is the balance of life. An equilibrium."
Lily noticed the being walk passed her and noticed two clear cases. One had her old weapon steam blade and the other… was Virtuous Steel that was crossed with Lionheart.
"Tell me… which are you at the end of that journey?"
"… All this time I thought of my family. They still call me Lily… people address me as Vernage…" her eyes looked at the right. "But choosing who you want to be has to be spoke of… from within. I have been Lily but being Vernage isn't easy… but I am who I am. To be me."
"Then just who are… you?"
The Saint closed her eyes and smiled. "Lily Vernage. Adopted Daughter of Vernage of Eden. Sworn brother of Cody Aldrich. Beloved of Blake Belladonna. A Saint. That is who I am… and I am proud of it.
"Then perhaps it is best… to continue onward with your life and be with them?"
"How….? I'm… here and there's no method to go back…"
The entity that Vernage had seen many times, simply smiles as with a flick of its wrist… a familiar view was shown to Lily… Home.
A tear fell from her blinded eyes. The light… she slowly reached out and her world went bright and her mind drifted away.
XXX
Cody's eyes were dim as he rested on the medical bed. He wasn't alone because his companions were here. Though there were countless other beds occupied with people who were confused and asking questions.
"What… happened?" Cody groaned out as he rubbed his head.
"You fell asleep, sleeping beauty." Yang comforted.
"Asleep? I… I only remember the fight and then a weird pain… before everything went black."
"That's because… um…" They looked at the patients. "Cody, the people on the other beds were Faust agents."
"Were?"
"They don't remember what Faust is. Not even remembering who Evol was!" Ruby waved her arms. "Heck they don't have any signs of Nebula or augmentations!"
"None?" He questioned before his eyes widen, "Cross!" He called out to his dragon to test his theory.
As the said robot flew to him, it dropped the driver into his lap as he strapped it on. The dragon already attached now as he began to crank the lever…. Yet nothing was happening. Not even a chime or the pipes of the belt.
"I… I'm cured?" He sat down. "I-I'm cured… I'm… really human now? I-I…" he sniffled. "She made it come true… she… she…" he began to cry. "Sis did it… she made my dream real… she really did it…"
"Cody…" Yang patted his back gently, knowing how much this dream meant to him as she was happy about it. But she also was sad as well as the only one who lost it all was Blake. "I know it's alot to take in since she is… gone…."
"Y-Yeah…" He sniffled, trying to cope and recover but it still hurt him. The one he saw as a sister and fought for, for so long was now gone from this world… and his only means to fight was also taken, meaning he had to stay out of this while his love and friends fought such a dangerous enemy.
"Is… Blake okay…?" He asked, worried for the Faunus.
"She's… hanging in there."
Cody lowered his head but his brows furrowed, resting a hand against the side of his head. Weiss noticed his confused look. "Cody?"
"Lily said that there was a possibility we may forget her… yet.. we didn't."
"Guess we were lucky?" Weiss shrugged, "I just hope others also remember her too… She doesn't deserve to be forgotten…"
"I sure as hell haven't." Ruby saw her uncle but the guy had a few patches on his neck and a sling over his right arm no thanks to the blast from the bomb previously.
"Well at least some good has come out…" Cody said attempting to keep a smile only for him to fail and it turned into a frown. "Just… what do we even do now? I… don't know what to do anymore…"
"Well.. for starters? You just need to rest, silly." Yang poked his forehead to push him back into bed. "We can discuss everything after you're better."
"You know I don't like waiting around…" Cody pouted, the young rider already feeling angsty to get out of bed.
"I know but you did just lose your augmentations and no longer a hybrid… at least that's what we hope?"
"I mean… i feel normal… and my driver doesn't work… Which means it must've happened." Cody said sadly, as Cross looked at his partner with a soft, sad cry. "I know. Cross… but hey at least you are still active." It gave a small chirp of delight, nodding in agreement.
His head pressed against the pillow, looking at the window. "5 years… it's hard to believe for so long. I had been running from Faust for what they did to me. Trying my best to save the other 900s from further pain. Evol has been the source of the situation for years by causing wars from his manipulation of people. And now… we are free. Our world isn't going to be eaten nor will any other planet with possible life…"
"I agree." Ruby murmured. Evol was more dangerous than Salem because he planned to eat the world. To feel that freedom from his clutches. Cody was right - Evol won't be a problem anymore.
They were all free.
The door to the hospital wing was suddenly slid open and Jaune was seen, panting. He looked to have ran for who knows how long.
"Jaune, what's up?"
The blonde knight raised a hand to stop her. He refilled the air in his lungs. "Brothers I hate running this much…" He panted. It was awkward until the leader of JNR stood up. "Guys! Ace Ops had been detecting movement where that fight was! They don't know if it's that alien or what, but they want us to check!"
"All of us?"
"They're still flying from the northern epicenter so the general is making this request."
"I just hope it isn't Evol…" Cody grimaced. Cross's metal brows softened before it perked up. It turned itself around, staring at the window. It flew to it but wobbled back from hitting it. The little dragon scratched the glass like a dog scratching the door.
"Hm? What's wrong little guy?" Yang questioned.
"Does he need to go?" Ruby saw it was the same Zwei does it.
It elicited a cry with a shake, scratching the glass again and made the same sound again. It didn't sound like a whine, hunger, or any sort. It sounded like it was…
"He's… responding to a call." Blake realized.
It bobbed rapidly and scratched the window again. Yang approached the window before opening it, watching Cross zoom out into the city and heading in a direction. It paused its flight and looked at them, pointing at the west.
"Guess that's as good as any to follow." Cody said, slowly getting up with Yang's help.
XXX
The Manta followed the little dragon as its little wings were carrying it. Weiss couldn't admit it but it looked adorable that it was carrying its large frame with its small appendages. The ship had to move slowly because of it. Cross perked up and an echo reached them, making it respond back.
"That… sounded mechanical." Cody swallowed.
Cross flew faster allowing the ship to resume its path before it flew downwards. The ship stopped when they spotted Cross hovering and landed on top of the head of its giant counterpart, its bipedal form curled around in a circle.
"Hey it's the bigger one!" Ruby pointed. "Techu… techa-?"
"Technosis." Cody corrected.
"Yeah that."
The ship landed across from it but when it saw them, it snarled defensively. Like a dragon protecting its sacred treasure.
"Open the door and let it see me." Cody offered. "I think it sees the ship as an antagonistic weapon."
Harriet flipped the controls which allowed Cody to hop out. Cross flew off the larger one's head and to the blonde. The red and gold dragon bounced across the air before returning to its companion.
It released a cry in which the beast halted its defensive behavior. Slowly, it stood on its short bipedal legs. Cody's eyes widened when he spotted a figure resting on a very small patch of moonflowers. The two large swords that were Virtuous Steel and Lionheart crossed in an X were embedded into the snow beside it. "G-Guys! It's…It's Lily!"
"What?!" Everyone peeked out from the ship and saw her.
"Get closer and bring her on board!" Clover ordered Harriet.
"Wait! Wait!" Cody halted. "It growled because it was protecting her! If you make the Manta fly closer it will see it as hostility!"
"Then how do you suppose we can help her?" Harriet snapped.
The large machine leaned down, eliciting a soft sound. It licked away some of the blood that remained on her face but nudged against her in solemn silence. Cody took a steady approach and fell to his knees. He grunted slightly and cradled Lily. His eyes softened to see the blood across the scarring over her eyes and upper bridge of her nose. Her Aura must have yet to return.
"Lily…?" He brushed away a strand of her hair. "You did it, you know? You… kept your promise to me… to everyone who were like us. We didn't forget you… and yet you are here and not within that void thing whatever you call it." He reached for her hand and grasped it tightly. "We're sworn brother and sister…" his lips quivered. "You did everything right. I was stupid and selfish to not realize how important that experiment you performed was. It was because didn't want to lose you again like before… so please… wake up?"
It was silence making him sniffle and closed his eyes, trying his best to hold back his anguish.
"Mn…"
Cody paused and opened his eyes. Was that a groan? His eyes looked down and saw her hand twitching before returning the hold of the hand. The other hand moved slightly before it flicked his forehead.
"Too big… of a speech you did…" Lily groaned.
Cody soon chuckled, tears of joy running down his face, "Figures a big speech would wake you up, sis.."
"Stupid…" Lily grunted but grasped her face. Cody waved the others over. Just before the beast moved, "Technosis… heel…" The large beast stopped before it obeyed its creator.
The others rushed to her, whereas Jaune raised a hand.
"Any funny ideas… you will be his first biological meal." She warned the knight.
Jaune gulped loudly and saw the look in the silver beast's blue eyes. "G-Got it!" He rested a hand on Lily's shoulder, channeling his Aura to refuel the Saint's. Glimmer of pale yellow light shrouded Lily but the healing process was taking a while.
"So it brought me back here huh…" She murmured but smiled.
"You're… okay…" Blake sniffled, trying to stay calm but she was overwhelmed with such joy and relief that the one she loved made it back.
"I am… guess the probability went to surviving after all…" the saint grunted. "So Evol is no more?"
"That's right." Harriet sighed. "Hate to say it but what we witnessed… it is unbelievable. Dr. Polendina couldn't even do something like what you made and did. Tearing reality? Rewriting it? That is close to a damn god."
Lily chuckled slightly through her pain, "Any advanced form of technology can be mistaken as magic."
"Though… we wield actual magic too. So… what does that even mean?" Cody questioned.
"Some day, technology can be seen as its equal." Standing up, Lily staggered and she fiddled before her fingers felt the edge of the sword. Her hand tapped across and gripped the handle. She made both blades hover around her but used the large katana to touch the ground.
Cody's eyes softened. She was using her weapon to check her surroundings. "Sis… your eyes…".
The saint paused her steps before she brushed her fingers and smiled wryly. "A price to pay upon defeating Evol… the results is worth more than it."
"B-But he… he blinded you…" Blake was as worried as the rest.
"Some experiments has risks so this is what I have to live with now."
"Does that mean you have to stop fighting?"
"… no." She shook her head as she was applied with gauze and medical bandages. She felt the bandages wrap around her eyes, leaving the lower half of her face exposed. Her brows furrowed and turned her gaze to the southeast. "I must go… to Eden."
"Wh-What?" Everyone looked at her in shock.
"The people will want answers. Evol is no more, thus they need a new leader to lead them."
"So you're leaving…?"
"Only for a week. It is for the best but I promise I will return to Atlas," She adjusted her blazer. "Mayhap during that time, it will give me much more to reflect… and embrace who I have become. I am Vernage after all. I have to uphold my duty as my mother had. Salem is still out there yes but so is the remaining Blood tribe folk. We have to be ready."
"Wait, since you're leaving. Is there anyway to regain my power?" Cody questioned, "I… don't wanna sit this out and wait for Yang and the others to come back to me… I wanna keep fighting to save my home."
Lily pursed her lips. "It.. will take time but I promise you within the week I will find a solution." Her hand landed on Cody's shoulder at first but slid across to his cheek, then the top of his head.
"You've truly grown a lot…" Lily smiled softly, petting his head.
"I had Yang and you to thank for that." He smiled back softly.
Lily and Yang giggled. "Technosis, I require lift."
The beast obeyed and used its three-prong claw to pick her up delicately and set her onto its back.
"Please… call me when you can…" Blake said, as she still needed Lily's voice to at least ease her worries and heart.
"I promise." Lily waved her hand. "And Ruby."
The said scythe wielder perked up.
"Know everything I did and said to you… wasn't out of spite. Or hate… Someday you will be thrust into a corner of conflict of who you are. I do not wish to see a girl with such potential, especially with silver eyes, perish so young… like Arthur did…" her fingers held her face. "Or to end up like me in this situation. When I return… the matter between us will settle, that I assure you."
"Okay…," Ruby understood.
"I am grateful… to have sich dear friends like you all. I still don't know how I feel about Ace Ops for what you did to my dear little brother." This earned chuckles from the fellow teens.
"Take care Lily… and come back soon okay?" Cody smiled at her, knowing that everything was getting better for everyone.
"Technosis… let us be off… for home."
The metal beast spread its wide yet massive wings and took to the sky. It released a roar and flew away in which made Cross release its own roar, everyone watching it depart with the blind saint.
"You think your sister will find a way to make you transform again? You do realize that girl is probably blind now from the damage we saw on her." Harriet questioned.
"If I know Lily? She'll find a way… Most of the reason to get rid of Evol other than true freedom from that monster, was to remove such stuff from me since she didn't want me to fight at the start. But now, I can't back out simply because of that. So I will fight… and she'll find a way like she has done when leaving the darkness behind her. I believe in her." He smiled. "After all, the law of victory is always set when she is in top gear."
"Huh… if you say so."
XXX
The place was dreadfully quiet but three chairs were laid out for the three shadowed individuals.
"Did you sense it?"
"Dear Evol is gone." A female voice mused. "But surprising… to think these lifeforms could eliminate a Blood."
"Still, it is what he deserves after stealing the Pandora's Box from Killbus and us… It was a matter of time before 'karma' as these lifeforms have called it, caught up with him." A gruff male voice chuckled.
"Then we shall continue onward with the plan… We will still consume this planet, with or without Killbus or Evol. For that was how we Blood Tribesman have done it for eons." The third one spoke up, soon standing up from his chair and turned to what appeared to be a large room, filled with many MANY White Fang members.
"We promise you! You will have what you desire! For it is bound by Blood!" The third one proclaimed to the audiences as a thunderous cheer echoed out from the White Fang members that survived the attack at Haven, alongside many others whose eyes were gleamed with blood red irises.
"Mitsuomi. Ryoka. Let us make our play now where Evol failed to do." The third one sneered.
"As you wish, Lord Blood." The two bowed their heads to him. The world may have finally be rid of Evol… But his kin that followed him were just as dangerous. As the phrasing goes… 'The calm before the storm' fitted well as Remnant was not out of the woods yet with their dangerous enemies that laid within the planet. But at least now, they still had the heroes who can fight against them. And win it.
XXX