The train cars rattled beneath Jaune's boots as Team JNPR moved forward, clearing out White Fang operatives with ease. Each swung of Jaune's blade left arcs of glowing light, carving through the White Fang operatives with decisive blows.
Pyrrha flanked him, her spear Milo seamlessly shifting to a rifle. Her shots rang out in quick succession, each bullet finding its mark with unerring accuracy. When White Fang members tried to flank them, Akoúo̱ spun like a deadly disc, knocking them off the train into the rail track below.
"Keep pushing!" Jaune called, his voice steady amidst the chaos. "We need to get to the front!"
Nora's laughter echoed as Magnhild swung in wide arcs, smashing enemies into the steel walls or sending them careening off the sides of the train. Each hammer blow reverberated with a deafening clang, accompanied by Nora's gleeful exclamations.
Ren moved beside her like a shadow, his aura-infused palms striking with pinpoint precision. A single hit from him left White Fang members incapacitated, their weapons clattering uselessly to the floor.
As the team pressed onward, the resistance grew fiercer. The White Fang members they faced were better armed and more coordinated, but they didn't have an aura, which made them easy prey.
In the middle of the train, Jaune stepped forward, his shield raised just in time to block a White Fang member's sword strike, then with a swift motion, he slammed his shield into the attacker's chest, sending them sprawling.
"Pyrrha, now!"
Pyrrha lunged with Milo, her spear piercing through an enemy's defenses. She deflected a counterattack with her shield, creating an opening for Ren and Nora to strike in unison. Ren's palm strike knocked one opponent to the ground, while Nora's hammer reduced another's weapon to scrap while knocking the White Fang operative flat on the ground.
"Nice work!" Jaune said, scanning the train car for threats. His gaze hardened as he spotted the train's front cars ahead, where flashes of light and the sounds of intense combat were at.
"Let's move!" he commanded, and Team JNPR surged forward.
When they reached the front cars, the trouble became even more clear. Grimm and White Fang operatives swarmed the area, engaged in a fierce battle with Team RWBY, or at least one of them. Ruby's Crescent Rose spun in wide arcs, cutting through Grimm. She then transformed her scythe, firing accurate shots at a Grimm trying to lunge at her.
"Ruby!" Jaune shouted, knocking down a White Fang member with a pommel strike at the gut. "We're here to help!"
Ruby turned, her silver eyes lighting up with relief. "Jaune! What are you guys doing here!?"
"Long story!" Jaune replied, his shield bashing an enemy aside. "Let's focus on stopping this train first!"
"Okay! But can you check on Weiss and Yang!" Ruby called out, slicing through another Grimm. "They went ahead!"
Jaune nodded, motioning for Pyrrha to follow him. Together, they pressed forward, cutting through the White Fang operatives with unrelenting force.
The train cars shaking.
Entering a cabin, Jaune and Pyrrha found Weiss locked in combat with a hulking White Fang member. He was muscular, with short black hair and an aura of menace. Despite Weiss' skill, she was clearly struggling against his brute strength.
"Weiss!" Jaune called, rushing forward.
Without hesitation, Jaune and Pyrrha charged together, their shields raised. They slammed into the White Fang member with enough force to send him flying into the train car door. The impact left him crumpled and bleeding.
Weiss lowered her weapon, her expression a mix of relief and confusion. "Jaune? Pyrrha? What are you guys doing here?"
"Really long story," Jaune said, grabbing the unconscious White Fang member and tossing him aside like a ragdoll so they could proceed onward. "We need to stop this train."
"Weiss nodded. "I'll join Ruby then. Get Yang and we'll somehow make a plan!"
With Weiss retreating, Jaune and Pyrrha moved to the next car.
As they entered, they were met with Yang sprawled on the floor, her aura flickering weakly. Standing over her was Roman Torchwick's accomplice, who they met on the highway. And a masked woman wielding a katana made of Dust. Her posture was calm, but there was an air of lethal precision about her.
Jaune's grip on Crocea Mors tightened. He gave Pyrrha a subtle signal with his eyes, and she responded immediately, using her Semblance to manipulate the metal panels in the car. They wrapped around the Roman Torchwick's accomplice, Neo, like a restraining jacket, binding her limbs.
"Get away from Yang," Jaune warned, his voice cold and steady. "One… two… three—"
The masked woman studied him, her head tilting slightly. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but Jaune didn't give her the chance. He had a feeling that if he fought her here, it would be a pain… and she was wearing a mask like the White Fang. That was reason enough. He surged forward, his shield slamming into her with enough force to send her crashing into the train wall.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune called.
Pyrrha acted swiftly, pulling the katana's hilt from the woman's grasp using her Semblance. The masked woman snarled, struggling against her restraints, but Jaune didn't relent. He slammed his forehead against hers, the impact stunning her, before following up with a knee to her gut. As her aura flared in resistance, Jaune twisted her arm and threw her over his shoulder, slamming her onto the floor.
Pinning her down, his knees on her elbows, Jaune delivered a series of heavy punches to her midsection, breaking her aura. The woman glared up at him through her mask, defiance burning in her blazing eyes, but Jaune's didn't waver and didn't give her a chance. With a last punch, he knocked her unconscious, the blow creating a shockwave.
"That was… violent," Pyrrha commented.
"Restrain her too," Jaune ordered, his voice firm. "She's… dangerous. If we fought fairly… I'm sure we'd have a hard time. We can't have that."
Pyrrha nodded, using the metal panels to secure the masked woman further. Meanwhile, Jaune knelt by Yang, placing a glowing palm over her head to heal her.
Yang stirred, her lilac eyes fluttering open. "Jaune? Pyrrha? What are you guys doing here?"
"Long story," Jaune said with a faint smile. He gestured to the unconscious masked woman and Neo, who lay restrained nearby. "You know her?"
Yang's gaze darkened at seeing the masked woman. "Yeah… I'll handle it."
"Then we'll stop the train," Jaune said.
Satisfied, Jaune stood and motioned for Pyrrha to follow him. They pushed forward, heading toward the front of the train.
The front car of the train rattled as Jaune and Pyrrha pushed through the last door. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of scorched metal. Roman Torchwick stood by the controls, his cane resting casually against his shoulder, a smug smirk plastered across his face.
"Well, well, look who finally made it," Roman drawled, tipping his hat mockingly. "I assume you're here to deliver some self-righteous speech about justice or whatever it is kids like you prattle on about."
Jaune, however, didn't even entertain Roman. His gaze flicked to Pyrrha, who caught his silent signal. In an instant, Roman's smug demeanor disappeared as the metal panels around him groaned and twisted, wrapping tightly around his body. Before he could react, Pyrrha raised him off the ground and slammed him into the ceiling with bone-shaking force.
"Hey, wait—!" Roman's protest was cut off as Pyrrha slammed him into the floor. Then back to the ceiling. Then the floor again. The impact sent vibrations through the entire train car. His aura flickered with every hit until it shattered with an audible crack.
Pyrrha stopped, the metal panels holding Roman aloft as he groaned in pain. He glared at them, his cocky smirk replaced by a pained grimace. "You brats... you're gonna regret—"
Jaune silenced him with a cold glare that sent a chill down Roman's spine. Without a word, Jaune stepped forward and slammed his boot onto Roman's knees with brutal precision. The sickening crunch of bone echoed through the car, and Roman let out a howl of agony.
"You deserve worse," Jaune said icily, grabbing Roman by his hair and lifting him up. His golden aura flared as he drew his fist back. "This is for the folks who got hurt on the highway, by the way."
His punch landed squarely on Roman's jaw with enough force to send teeth flying to the floor. Roman's head lolled back, his body going limp as he fell unconscious. Pyrrha winced slightly but quickly wrapped Roman's battered form in a cocoon of metal panels, securing him from neck to toe.
"Was that really necessary?" Pyrrha asked gently, lowering Roman to the floor with her Semblance.
Jaune's shoulders heaved as he caught his breath. "People died because of him. He deserves worse than a few broken bones and missing teeth."
Pyrrha nodded but said nothing further, her green eyes watching Jaune closely.
Turning his attention to the train's controls, Jaune's heart sank as he saw the state they were in. Wires were severed, screens shattered, and the control panel sparked ominously.
"It's busted," he muttered grimly.
Pyrrha stepped closer, her voice steady. "What do we do now?"
Jaune rubbed a hand over his face, his mind racing. "We can't stop it from here... which means we'll have to stop it manually." He pointed at the wheelset below the train. "You'll need to use your Semblance to slow the wheelset of train, Pyrrha, while I try to stop the train from the front."
Pyrrha blinked. "The front? Jaune, that's dangerous—"
"I know," Jaune interrupted, his tone firm. "But we don't have a choice. If this train reaches the end of the line with those explosives, it'll level everything in its path and from the looks of it, this train's heading to Vale and punch through defenses. We can't allow hundreds… no, thousands of Grimm to get out, Pyrrha…. Sorry for asking you to do this… but your Semblance really is useful at times like this."
Pyrrha hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But don't apologize for asking too much of me. I can handle it."
Jaune smiled faintly, gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Pyrrha."
Jaune opened the comms on his Scroll, calling the others to the front car. Within minutes, Team RWBY, Ren, Nora, and Professor Oobleck joined them.
Oobleck held Zwei under one arm, his words tumbling out at a rapid pace. "I assume you've assessed the situation, but in case you haven't noticed, this train is rapidly approaching the city, loaded with explosives, and, oh, is that Roman Torchwick and Raven Branwen, unconscious over there? Splendid work!"
Jaune cut through the chatter. "Professor, this train needs to be stopped now. The controls are destroyed, so we'll have to stop it ourselves. Here's the plan."
He quickly outlined the steps, his tone calm and authoritative despite the gravity of the situation. "Pyrrha and I will handle the front. Pyrrha will use her Semblance to slow the wheelset while I try to stop it from outside. The rest of you will handle cutting off the explosive cars and collapsing the tunnel to contain the blast."
Ruby's silver eyes widened. "You're going to stop the train manually? Jaune, that's insane!"
"It's also our best chance," Jaune replied firmly. "We don't have time to argue. Can I count on you all to handle the rest?"
The group exchanged glances before nodding one by one.
"We've got your back," Ruby said, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Just don't get yourself killed, fearless leader," Nora added with a grin, though her voice wavered slightly.
Jaune met their gazes, his expression softening for a moment. "Thanks, everyone. Let's do this."
The team split up, each taking their assigned tasks. Pyrrha moved to the wheelset, her hands raised as she activated her Semblance. The metal groaned in protest as she began to slow the train's momentum, her aura flaring brightly.
Jaune climbed to the front of the train, the wind whipping against his face as he crouched low for balance. He planted his feet firmly, Crocea Mors in its greatsword form strapped securely to his back. Taking a deep breath, he channeled his aura inward, preparing for what was to come and then planting his feet on the tracks.
Meanwhile, Team RWBY, Ren, and Nora worked tirelessly to separate the explosive-laden cars from the rest of the train. Weiss used her glyphs to freeze the couplings, allowing Yang to smash them apart with her Ember Celica. Ren and Nora covered their flanks, ensuring that any remaining White Fang operatives didn't interfere.
"One more car to go!" Ruby shouted, her Crescent Rose slicing through the final coupling.
At the same time, Blake and Oobleck threw the charges at strategic points along the tunnel walls. The plan was to collapse the tunnel after the train cars were separated, containing the blast and preventing it from reaching the city.
At the front, Jaune braced himself as the train continued to barrel forward. He could feel the strain of Pyrrha's Semblance as the wheelset groaned and sparked, but it wasn't enough to stop the train completely.
"Pyrrha!" he shouted through the comms. "I need more time! Keep the wheels slowed as long as you can!"
"Understood!" Pyrrha's voice was strained but resolute.
Jaune focused on his aura, amping his limbs, his body lazing like a beacon. With a powerful stomp, he dug his leg further in. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the steel. Sparks flew as Jaune dug his foot in on the tracks, using every ounce of his strength and aura to slow the train's momentum.
Behind him, Team RWBY and the others finished their tasks just as the explosives detonated. The blast rocked the tunnel, sending debris flying in all directions. Dust and smoke filled the air as the tunnel began to collapse, the ground shaking beneath their feet.
The screech of metal echoed through the collapsing tunnel as Jaune stood at the forefront of the train, his back pressed on the train's front. His aura flared wildly, blazing in a pale gold. The momentum of the train was monstrous, its weight threatening to barrel through him like an unrelenting tide. Jaune braced himself, his boots grinding against the steel tracks as sparks flew up in a dazzling cascade.
With a guttural roar, he released a shockwave rippling through the tracks, bending and twisting them with the sheer force of his aura. The train shuddered violently, but its momentum was far from broken. Jaune gritted his teeth, feeling his aura tremble under the strain. Every fiber of his being screamed to stop, but he couldn't afford to give in.
From her position atop one of the cars, Pyrrha strained every muscle as her Semblance wrapped around the train's wheelset, fighting against its relentless rotation. Sparks flew as her control over the metal slowed the wheels, creating enough friction to buy Jaune precious seconds. Milo and Akoúo̱ were on her back, her free hand trembling from the exertion.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha's voice came through the comms, taut with effort. "I'm holding it as long as I can, but the strain—"
"Just a little longer!" Jaune shouted, his own voice hoarse from the exertion. His boots skidded slightly, the steel tracks beneath him warped and groaning under the force.
Pyrrha's green eyes were sharp with determination. She dug her feet in and focused her Semblance further, her aura sparking faintly as she pushed herself to the limit. "Understood," she replied firmly, though her chest heaved with the effort.
Behind Pyrrha, Ren and Nora worked tirelessly to hold off the incoming Grimm that had been drawn to the noise and destruction. Ren threw aura-infused strikes, felling Beowolves before they could reach the train. Beside him, Nora swung Magnhild with unrelenting force, her hammer crashing down on the Grimm with thunderous impacts.
"Ren!" Nora called out, swinging her hammer to knock a lunging Creep back into the darkness. "Tell me we're almost done here! Fearless leader's doing the whole 'hero thing' up front, and we're not going to fail him!"
Ren's normally stoic face cracked into a brief grimace. "Jaune can handle it," he said, though his tone carried a thread of doubt. He fired a burst from Stormflower, taking down two Grimm at once. "But we need to make sure no Grimm gets past us."
Jaune's legs trembled as he felt the train's force fighting back against him. His aura flickered dangerously, the strain threatening to overwhelm him. For a moment, doubt crept in.
Could he really stop this?
Then, through the haze of sparks and smoke, Pyrrha's voice cut through. "You've got this, Jaune! Just a little more!"
The sheer conviction in her voice ignited something within him. Jaune steeled himself as he poured the last reserves of his aura and amping up further. The pale gold light surged brighter, surrounding him in an almost blinding radiance.
With a primal roar, Jaune's aura flared like a bright sun. The train groaned, metal grinding against metal as it began to slow. Sparks flew in every direction, illuminating the tunnel in brilliant flashes of light.
Behind him, the last of the explosives detonated. The resulting shockwave sent chunks of debris cascading down the tunnel walls, causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet. Dust and smoke filled the air as the ceiling began to collapse, the tunnel groaning under the pressure.
Finally, with a deafening screech, the train came to a grinding halt. Jaune remained standing at the front. Glowing faintly, the golden light dimming as his aura drained completely. His legs quivered, barely able to hold him up, but he didn't let go until the train was fully still.
The tunnel fell silent, save for the distant crumbling of debris. Jaune let out a shaky breath, his shoulders sagging under the weight of exhaustion. He had done it.
From behind, Pyrrha leapt down from her position, sprinting toward Jaune with Milo on her back and Akoúo̱ strapped to her arm. Her usually composed demeanor was fractured with worry as she reached him, raising her shield to deflect a stray piece of falling rubble that was about to hit Jaune on the head.
"Jaune!" she called, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Jaune gave a faint nod, though his breathing was labored. "Yeah... we did it," he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.
But before he could say anything more, his aura flickered one last time and shattered like fragile glass. His knees buckled, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the side.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha caught him before he hit the ground, her arms wrapping around his torso. His armor was heavy, but she held him firmly, lowering him to sit on the ground.
The rest of the team quickly gathered around. Ruby was the first to arrive, her silver eyes wide with alarm. "Jaune! Is he okay?"
Ren knelt beside Pyrrha, his sharp gaze assessing his leader's condition. "His pulse is steady," he said after a moment, his voice calm but tinged with relief. "He's just completely drained. He pushed himself too hard. Not surprising."
Nora crouched down, her usual playful energy replaced with worry. "Fearless leader, you're not supposed to take 'overachiever' this seriously," she said softly, gripping his hand.
Weiss and Yang arrived shortly after, their own expressions reflecting a mix of concern and admiration. "He's reckless," Weiss muttered, though her tone lacked its usual bite. "But it worked."
Pyrrha brushed a stray lock of blonde hair from Jaune's face, her lips pressed into a tight line. "He seems to do this," she murmured, her voice just loud enough for those closest to hear. "Puts everyone else first, no matter the cost to himself."
Dr. Oobleck approached, Zwei perched on his shoulder, the professor's typically frantic demeanor subdued. "You all did exceptionally well," he said, his voice unusually measured. "Stopping that train… and plausibly saving the city… it's no small feat."
Ruby nodded, her gaze lingering on Jaune. "Well, we have great help."
Pyrrha adjusted her hold on Jaune, her green eyes glinting with quiet resolve. "Let's get him back to Beacon," she said firmly. "He needs rest. NOW."
Nora grinned faintly, her spirit returning. "You heard her. Fearless leader needs his beauty sleep."
"I'll secure the prisoners," Dr. Oobleck said, heading to where Neo, Roman, and Raven was.
With that, the teams began their slow journey back, with Jaune leaning on Pyrrha and Ren as they made their way out of Mt. Glenn's tunnels and back to Vale.