Once again
Gazing at the sight that once took everyone's breath away, it was now set in ruins because of the greed of one person.
Beacon Academy. Once the best huntsmen school in all of Remnant, now lies destroyed. The towers that once held high now crumble like they were never there.
Glynda Goodwitch, the Headmistress of what's left of the famous Beacon Academy, walked through the rubble not for the first time since the fall.
She saw the remains of the students dorms, she saw the remains of her combat classroom, and she saw the tower that held the office of the man she trusted the most crumble to nothing.
Her companion flinched at the sight. The Tower that once stood there was on the ground, she could see the remains of the office, but what made it worse was what was left at the top.
Looking up, a statue of the dragon Grimm, that came in and destroyed any hope of saving the school.
It stood there motionless, and after what her student did, Grimm stopped spawning.
"Ruby used her silver eyes to do this, we don't actually know if it's alive or not. I didn't allow any of the students to get close to find out too." She didn't face her companion, knowing the expression she would see was full of sorrow.
"Silver eyes, they told me about it, he told me about it." Her companion said in a whisper, she continued walking.
"You must understand that you came to me as a surprise, after the fall, we didn't know who survived and who didn't, and with what we found and heard from Miss Rose, we thought you died, Pyrrha." She glanced at her companion, Pyrrha Nikos walked behind her, her emerald eyes glowing faintly.
"Sorry, I also thought i- no. I'm sure I died then, but then I got a mission, they said it is my destiny." Pyrrha looked conflicted, and Glynda just gave her a glance.
"They, the brothers, you mean?"
"I think so, they brought me up to speed, after I finish here, I'll be going to Atlas."
"Let's hope we can find it first." Pyrrha nodded.
Her mission, her destiny, is in front of her, she failed once, she won't fail again.
"What the hell did you do Jaune? How did you manage to piss off literal gods?" Her expression twisted into an agonized one. They ordered her to remove the threat, she tried to reason after discovering that it was Jaune they wanted to be removed, they agreed to let him live if she could stop him and destroy the weapon he has.
A weapon powerful enough to destroy Remnant. They told her they wanted what's best for them, so it's only logical to help them, and she needed to save Jaune. She won't waste this opportunity.
"We're here." They arrived at Beacon's basement, where they kept the fall maiden and where Ozpin died.
"What are we looking for exactly?" Pyrrha asked, looking around.
"Ozpin used to wear a pin with Vale's flag on it, we need to find it." Pyrrha sighed. The basement wasn't the one big hallway that it used to be, rocks, dirt, and metal rods were everywhere.
"It's gonna take a while, huh."
"Less complaining, more searching."
They spent the better part of eight hours rummaging through the rubble with no luck. Both of them were using their semblance, Pyrrha with her Polarity and Glynda with her telekinesis.
"I think I found it." Pyrrha said, lifting up a small pin with her semblance.
"Good job." Glynda took the pin, she dusted it off, showing two golden axes in the middle.
She then disassembled it, showing a piece of tech inside of it.
"That's the key?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yes, Ozpin always had it on himself, just in case of a situation like this. Now we just need to find his desk." They made their way to what's left of Ozpin's office. Which was just the desk.
Glynda clicked a button on the desk, opening a secret chamber where she placed the pin in the middle.
Soon enough, the whole desk started to glow, gears turning fast. They took a step back and watched as the gears broke the glass above them and came together.
The glow blinded them both, only after it ended did they opened their eyes.
"Is that?"
"Yes, Miss Nikos, the Relic of choice, Ozpin made the Vaults to keep the Relic safe, and Salem expected that, so he decided to keep one close to him." She walked forward, holding the Crown, which was made of numerous gears glowing gold.
"Here you go, I'm sure Ozpin will be happy to know you're alive, and more so that the brothers decided to end this." Pyrrha took the crown in both hands, marveling at its construction.
"Yeah, he'll be happy to see it."
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"You did what!"
"I avenged Cinder, that what." Emerald snapped back at him.
"I shouldn't have told you the information, do you know how much trouble you caused me? Now they'll be looking at how the information got leaked"
"So? We took out the maiden, if she didn't die, I'll just go and finish her, and if she did, then I'll kill the next one and take it."
"Just like Cinder, your arrogance will doom us. Make your way to Atlas Academy. Tyrian made enough distractions so you and your friend could go in. We just need the Relic of Knowledge, nothing else, do you understand?"
"Yeah, just the Relic. " She gritted her teeth.
"Good, don't screw this up, or I'll just give that little knight a tip to let you meet your beloved Cinder."
The line closed before she could respond, instead, she threw the scroll away and shot it.
"How dare he mock Cinder, when I get my hand on the maiden powers, I'll teach him a lesson." She growled and looked at her friend, who didn't look bothered at all.
"It was fun blowing up little Red and all, but we need to go." Mercury said, a little impatiently.
"What, do you have a date or something?" She asked sarcastically.
"No, I just don't want to piss off the literal Queen of the Grimm. Cinder is dead, you can try and take revenge on whoever you want it won't change a thing." He turned around and started walking. Leaving her fuming in anger.
"You'll see. I'll kill Arc and Rose and avenge Cinder."
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Weiss rushed through Atlas Academy, pushing away anyone who was in her way.
She didn't even care if they screamed at her, she didn't care if they cursed her. She kept running as fast as she could.
She was the last one to finish her mission, and conveniently, the communication was down so the news reached her last.
"Out of the way." She pushed another soldier and passed by him and finally reached the medical wing.
She saw her friends scattered around the area, waiting. She saw Jaune with a hand on Ren's shoulder, she saw Yang walking back and forth, her concerned eyes never leaving the floor.
She saw Blake with a casket while Oscar sat next to her. She decided to approach them, seeing how they were the least stressed.
"What happened? Where's the rest?" Blake's eyes widened and jumped to her, she saw relief in them.
"Ruby and Penny were in an explosion, Penny protected Ruby, but both were badly hurt. While Nora still in the emergency room after we fought off Tyrian." Blake saw the questioning look in Weiss's eyes.
She didn't blame her, they came a long way sense team RNJR fought off Tyrian, they got stronger, they all did, but a surprise attack taking Nora's aura left them in a bad spot.
"It was an ambush, he was waiting for us, he took Nora by surprise, and we were left protecting each other and couldn't chase him."
"How's Ruby's condition now?"
"She should be out of the surgery any moment now." Yang said, surprising both Weiss and Blake. She didn't look their way, her eyes kept on the door. At that moment a doctor came out of the room.
"Is she ok, doc?" Yang was the first one on him, followed by Weiss and Jaune, while the rest kept quiet.
"Miss Rose is stable, she didn't take a lot of injuries. Thanks to Miss polendina, she'll be able to move in a day and be ready for missions in about four days or so." The last part angered Yang, but Weiss cut her off.
"What about Penny?"
"Miss polendina is, as you know, a robot, so I can't do much, but seeing the damage, I can't say she'll be fine, her right arm and leg were ripped off, while most of her cybernetics were heavily damaged." Everyone grimaced at the news, and it wasn't much better when Penny's father came out of the other room, looking clearly distressed.
He gave them a glance, his red eyes and the trace of tears visible. He gave Jaune a long look, then nodded.
"Is she gonna make it?" Yang whispered.
"I'm sure any broken part can be replaced, as long as she herself isn't damaged." The excuse was weak, even Weiss herself didn't believe it, but it helped them a little.
"Come on Ren, let's go see Nora, we can't keep her waiting for her boyfriend to visit." The joke earned him a small chuckle from said man.
"So you two finally together together, took you long enough." Yang teased, trying to lighten the atmosphere a little.
"I suppose everyone was waiting for that moment?" They all nodded, even Oscar.
"Well, I guess I can't keep my girlfriend waiting, let's go." They waved goodbye and went into the room, she wouldn't be awake, but no one commented on it.
"Whoever did this will pay." Yang said, and Weiss and Blake approved, no one messes with their team leader and gets away with it.
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"General-"
"I already ordered Atlas to go down to Mantle for repairs, it will give us an opportunity to save Penny." Jaune exhaled a breath he didn't know he had.
"Thank you."
"I don't deserve the thanks, Tyrian escaped, we have no idea how the information on Rose and Penny's mission got leaked or who planted the explosive on their bullhead. To say it simply, we got out smarted." The General grunted.
"Watts is probably the one who leaked the information, did you change Atlas cybersecurity?" Jaune asked, walking towards the desk where Ironwood sat.
"Yes, but it is still slow, changing all our security will take time. I was careless this time, I should have kept missions off the books until I knew the system was clear."
"So, how are we doing this?" Jaune asked.
"We will land Atlas in Mantle for repairs and maintenance while you use the Staff to create Penny's new body. This will leave us with one use for both Knowledge and Creation." The General noticed a nervous look on Jaune's face.
"What is it?" He frowned.
"I don't actually know how to use Creation…" Ironwood stared at him for a long moment.
"Listen, I wasn't there when Team RWBY used it."
"And the only one who knows is the man you want to keep in the dark." Ironwood finished for him.
"Yeah."
"Great." The General slumped into his chair, frowning.
"I'm going to tell him what's happening and ask him to help me." He eventually said.
"We can't-"
"I won't tell him anything, I'm just going to tell him I want to use the Relic to save Penny, that's it." Jaune gave him a long look and sighed.
"Fine, but be Careful." The General nodded.
"So, what's the Ace-Ops status?" The change of topic brought a happier look to the General's face.
"Your information was accurate, too accurate, quoting Clover. They found her there and negotiated to help them retrieve it. I give it a week for them to return." Jaune nodded happily.
"Good, we just need one more to be all set, in the meantime, we can rest?"
"Yes, after the attack, I want you all to have a week off. When the Ace-Ops come back, we will put the plan into action. I already talked to Winter to inform team RWBY and JNPR, you can train or take it as a well deserved vacation, you all earned it."
"Thank you, General. Now if you excuse me, I need to save my teammate from seeing something he shouldn't see at his age." The General chuckled and waved him off.
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"So it's a vacation?" She asked.
"It's a paid leave, it's for huntsmen who suffered a traumatic injury or event that made them unable to work." Winter explained.
"But I didn't suffer anything, my mission went without any hitch."
"Yes, but your teammate didn't, this paid leave is for the whole team, so team RWBY and JNPR are exempted from missions until further notice."
"So it's a vacation." Winter sighed.
Winter and Weiss sat at a small café on Atlas, drinking coffee and having their sisterly time.
"Yes Weiss, it's a vacation." She didn't cheer as much as Winter expected, she looked troubled.
"That's great and all, but what am I supposed to do?" She complained.
"Ruby doesn't want to leave Penny's side after what happened, Yang and Blake have a thing going on, and being close to them is suicide, not to mention Ren and Nora." She could just go to the city on her own, but it wouldn't be the same.
"How about visiting home?" Winter suggested.
"Yeah right, did you forget why we left."
"I did not, but mother asked if we could visit, the two of us." Winter had Weiss's attention at that.
"Mother? Isn't she always drunk those days?"
"She was, by what Whitley told me, she quit it, or more likely limited her usage."
"Wait, you talked to Whitley?" Winter raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I talked to him, he's also my brother, although I'm a little ashamed that he reached out first, it's the job of the older siblings to reach out."
"What did he say?"
"That mother became more sober, that she started to reach out to him, he didn't know why, that's why he called me." Weiss hummed, thinking of what the reason might be. She looked at Winter.
"No sister, I also don't know what happened, that's why I want you to go." Weiss gave her a worried look.
"You're not coming?"
"I have duties, Weiss, I'll see if I can finish early and come, other than that, you can bring one of your friends with you, in case father shows his face." Weiss grimaced, and Winter chuckled.
"I saw what you did, I can only say I'm proud of it."
"I'm going to find someone to come with me." Weiss stood up, her face red with embarrassment.
Weiss walked back to her team room, thinking of who could come with her, only to get the answer slammed into her face.
She fell back, but a hand caught hers, holding her up straight. She blushed a little at the sudden contact, but looked pleased.
"Are you ok, Weiss?" Jaune Arc asked her, holding her hand to make sure she stood straight. He noticed and removed his hand.
"Sorry." Weiss immediately missed the warmth of his hand but quickly put her act together.
"Jaune, are you perhaps free tomorrow?"
"Ohhh yeah sure, what's up?"
""Great, I want you to accompany me to visit my family."
"Sure, I can accompany you to the cinema- wait what? Your family?"
"Yes, I don't have anyone to ask currently, so I thought you'd be the best one for the job, just in case things got out of hand." Jaune seemed stunned by that, she felt a little satisfaction from it, he rarely looked baffled those days, and she liked when he was the blonde idiot of team JNPR.
"Ah, sure, I guess, if you want to." He said, unsure.
"Great, meet me outside my room at 8, dress nice, we will take a bullhead to the family mansion."
"Wait, a mansion?" He asked, but Weiss was already on her way to her room, skipping happily.
"What did I just agree to?" He asked out loud, but Weiss didn't hear him, so he turned his head to walk away
"A date probably." said the scroll that was shoved into his face. He recoiled and looked at the one holding it.
Neo smirked at him, shoving her scroll back in her pocket.
"Neo? How did you get here? How did you get into Atlas? There's an embargo on Atlas." He asked, shocked.
"Well, I was with you duh, who do you think was the pilot?" She gestured to him.
"Why did you come here?" He asked.
"Bitch fall brats came here, they're planning something." Her face turned serious.
"Dammit, do you know where exactly?" She shook her head.
"I don't think they are here for you, at least for now, it looks like they were planning something."
"Alright, keep an eye out for them just in case they show up, I'll tell the team and Ironwood too." She nodded.
"See you later, and don't mess up that date." She winked at him and turned to glass, disappearing.
"Just a few weeks, Jaune. Salem will be here and we can end this in just a few weeks." He told himself as he typed to everyone about what Neo told him, then thought better of it and deleted it.
"It's better to inform them in person, Watts could be watching." He made his way to General Ironwood's office.
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"Smart kid, no wonder she got interested." Watts chuckled, watching from the security camera that Neopolitan missed.
"The kid has her on his side, and he seems to have a good relationship with the dear General." The screen switched to Jaune leaving and entering General Ironwood's office.
"What did Salem see in you? What is all of this about some fairy tale?" Watts thought, pulling out what he found on the fairy tale that he sent to Salem.
"I guess I'll find out in time."
Note: And here I thought I was clever to bring a character to help the brothers, I thought it would take you more to figure out it was Pyrrha, but no.
I wanted to bring Cinder back, just to fuck with jaune, but thought better of it, now Pyrrha will take the fight to Jaune.
Everything is coming together, will Atlas survive? Definitely. Will the character survive? Probably. Will Jaune and Pyrrha fight to the death?
Thanks for reading the chapter. Please leave a review and tell me what you think about the chapter.
Free Palestine.
And goodbye.