Cover Art by CHE3ZY
I was able to get this one out sooner than expected. Welcome to the first chapter of Volume IV. Please like, share, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the reviews. Dr. Haze is winning the poll by far with Rahm next then Jai then Terre. I would greatly appreciate feedback on this one. I also respond to PMs fairly quickly if you have any questions.
Beacon Academy:
The once grand halls of Beacon Academy were now a battlefield, littered with debris and echoing with the roars of Grimm. Professor Glynda Goodwitch, Professor Peter Port, and Professor Bartholomew Oobleck stood together at the academy's entrance, surveying the scene before them.
"We need to retake the courtyard," Glynda said, her voice firm. "We can't let the Grimm hold this ground."
Port nodded, gripping his weapon tightly.
"Agreed. Let's show these beasts what Beacon is made of!" With a shared nod, the three professors led the charge, their weapons flashing as they cut through the Grimm horde.
Other professors and Huntsmen fought alongside them too. As they fought, Glynda felt a slight queasiness in her stomach, but she pushed it aside, attributing it to the stress of battle. She fought with all her strength, her movements a graceful dance of power and precision.
"Don't let up!" Yelled Glynda.
Port and Oobleck nodded as they fought harder than before. Glynda led the Huntsmen forward as they continued their fight against the Grimm.
Despite their efforts, the Grimm seemed endless, pouring into the academy from every direction. The battle was fierce, and the casualties were mounting. They fought for hours and as the sun began to rise, casting a warm glow over the battlefield, Glynda and her fellow professors stood together, surveying the ongoing struggle. The road ahead would be long and difficult, but they needed to press forward.
Atlas:
Winter arrived at the Schnee Manor, the imposing mansion standing tall against the backdrop of the Atlas skyline. Kline, the loyal butler, greeted her at the door with a polite bow.
"Welcome home, Miss Winter," he said, his tone respectful but not warm.
"Thank you, Kline," Winter replied, her voice cool and composed.
She made her way through the grand foyer, the memories of her childhood flooding back to her. She couldn't help but glance towards the staircase, where she knew her younger brother, Whitley, would likely be lurking. Sure enough, Whitley appeared at the top of the stairs, his expression guarded.
"Winter," he greeted her, his voice tinged with a hint of resentment.
"Whitley," Winter replied, her tone neutral.
She had never been particularly close to her younger brother, and their relationship was strained by numerous factors. Winter, being the eldest sibling, was the first to leave home to join the military, leaving Whitley and Weiss behind with their father, a cold and manipulative figure. Their mother was a depressive alcoholic and was effectively not present in their lives. It led to some resentment towards their mother, but deep down the Schnee siblings felt sorry for their mother. It was probable that this whole dynamic likely contributed to a sense of abandonment or even neglect that Whitley may have felt, especially if he perceived Winter as leaving him to deal with their father's harsh treatment alone and then more so when Weiss left.
Additionally, Winter may have been too preoccupied with her duties and responsibilities to notice or address Whitley's feelings, further widening the gap between them.
Winter mentally scolded herself for always putting her duties first. She was a soldier at heart, but it didn't mean that she didn't hurt inside when she thought about her family. If she was hurting then Whitley was hurting just as bad as her. She couldn't avoid this any longer. She needed to reach out to her only brother.
"How have you been?" Winter inquired, her tone soft.
"Just fine," Whitley replied with a shrug, his voice devoid of warmth.
Winter approached him, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "I... I'm sorry for not being here more often."
"But you can make it here for Weiss," Whitley replied, looking away.
That really stung Winter.
She gave a deep, tired sigh.
"I wish things were different between us, little brother," Winter said, her voice tinged with regret. "I want us to be closer like we used to be."
Whitley remained silent and avoided looking directly at her.
Winter felt a pang of guilt.
"I know I've been distant, but I want to change that. Can we... start over? As siblings?" Whitley looked at her, a mix of longing and resentment in his gaze.
"I don't know, Winter. It's not easy to forget how you left us; how you left me."
"I didn't mean to abandon you, Whitley. I had my duties, but that doesn't excuse my absence," Winter explained, taking a step back, hurt evident in her expression.
"I know, Winter. It's just... hard," Whitley sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I understand. But please know that I want to make things right between us. Can we... try?" Winter asked, her voice filled with hope.
Whitley looked at her, his gaze softening. "I... I suppose we can try. For Mother's sake, if nothing else."
Winter took a few steps forward and held out her arms. Whitley observed her for a moment before he moved forward with hesitation and embraced his older sister. The hug was a bit awkward, but it was a long overdue embrace between the two siblings.
"Thank you, Whitley," she whispered.
As they parted ways, the air between them held an unspoken hope for reconciliation, a silent understanding that perhaps, with time, they could mend their fractured relationship.
The hospital room was a haven of quiet amidst the bustling world outside. Team FNKI—Flynt Coal, Neon Katt, Kobalt Rein, and Ivori Nukana—gathered around Ciel Soleil's bed, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. Ciel, usually reserved and composed, looked up at her fellow Atlas students.
"Thank you all for your concern," Ciel stated with slight annoyance, "I assure you that I am recovering as expected."
Flynt nodded, his gaze lingering on Ciel. "It's good to see you awake, Ciel. We were worried."
Neon, ever the energetic one, bounced on her heels. "Yeah! Those rogue Paladins really did a number on us. But hey, we're still here, right?"
Kobalt nodded, his expression serious. "It was a close call for all of us. I'm just glad we made it out alive."
Ciel nodded, her gaze distant. "Indeed. It was a harrowing experience, to say the least." Her thoughts lingered back to when she was at the mercy of those White Fang soldiers. She would have been killed or even worse had it not been for those three mysterious soldiers who saved her.
The room fell into a contemplative silence, each member lost in their thoughts. Finally, Ciel spoke up, breaking the quiet.
"I owe my life to three Atlas soldiers," she began, her voice steady. "They intervened just in time and saved me from the brink of death."
Ivori raised his brow. "Three soldiers? What did they look like?"
"I was unable to make out any distinguishing features since they wore fully encompassing helmets, but they were all nearly seven feet tall and fought with a strength and ferocity I have never seen before," replied Ciel.
"Did you catch their names by any chance?" Asked Flynt.
"Just one," replied Ciel. "Alpha."
The four members of team FNKI looked at each other with wide eyes before Flynt spoke again.
"I think we know who you are talking about," said Kobalt. "We met two soldiers just like that and one of them was named Alpha and the other was Bravo."
Ciel looked at him questioningly.
"Is there anything you can tell me about them?" Asked Ciel.
Neon shrugged her shoulders. "Not much. We were sent to shadow them as they eliminated Grimm before Beacon Academy was attacked. They were part of some elite unit that no one knows about."
"I see," Ciel trailed off. She looked as though she were in deep thought.
Flynt leaned forward. "Well, we owe them for saving you."
Ciel hesitated, a flicker of emotion crossing her face.
"That is putting it lightly. I owe them my life; without them, I wouldn't be here."
Neon nudged Ciel playfully, earning an eye roll from Ciel.
As the conversation continued, Ciel's thoughts drifted to the unknown soldiers.
Thank you for saving me. I will train harder to be strong like you, to be able to protect others as you have protected me. I may have failed Penny, but I will not fail again.
Winter made her way to Weiss's room. She knocked softly on the door before entering, finding her younger sister sitting by the window, her expression somber.
"Weiss," Winter said softly, crossing the room to stand beside her sister. "How are you feeling?"
Weiss turned to look at her sister, her eyes filled with both sadness and joy. Weiss quickly embraced her older sister tightly, refusing to let go. After a long hug, Weiss finally let go and looked her sister in the eye.
"Hello, Winter. It's been... difficult. The battle at Beacon and all the friends I lost…It's just too much to deal with at once."
"I'm here if you want to talk about it," said Winter.
Weiss went on to retell what all transpired at Beacon. Penny's death, rogue Atlas mechs injuring and even killing students, Blake disappearing, Professor Ozpin dead, Pyrrha in the hospital, Yang losing a limb, and Terre, Jai, and Rahm being killed in action. Weiss couldn't keep the tears back as she spilled it all out for Winter to hear.
Winter sat and listened to everything and said nothing. Penny's death hit Weiss especially hard. The two grew to be quite close while at Beacon. The news of the other three members of team PGRT falling in combat proceeded to break Weiss. The youngest Schnee daughter admired the three boys greatly, but she felt something more for one of them. Winter silently wished she could tell Weiss the truth that the three Guardians weren't dead, but she couldn't. Winter recalled her conversation with Zero-One-One before she returned to Atlas. Weiss became attached to Rahm in more ways than one. Winter knew this would happen and it pained her to see Weiss like this.
"I understand," Winter said gently, placing a hand on Weiss's shoulder. "But you're strong, Weiss. You'll get through this."
Weiss shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I don't know, Winter. I keep thinking about Rahm... I don't know if I saw him as a friend or something more."
Winter felt a pang of sympathy for her sister. She knew that Weiss had developed feelings for Rahm, but she also knew that those feelings were now complicated by his supposed death.
"It's okay to feel confused, Weiss," Winter said, pulling her sister into a hug. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just take things one step at a time."
Weiss buried her face in Winter's shoulder, her tears soaking into her sister's uniform. For a moment, the two sisters simply stood there, drawing comfort from each other. After a few moments, Weiss pulled away, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
"Thank you, Winter. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Winter smiled softly, her icy exterior melting just a little.
"You'll never have to find out, Weiss. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
As the evening wore on, Winter and Weiss spent time together, catching up on each other's lives. Winter listened as Weiss talked about her time at Beacon, her friends, and the adventures they had shared. She could sense the weight lifted from Weiss's shoulders as they talked, the young woman finding solace in her sister's presence. Eventually, the hour grew late, and Winter knew it was time to leave.
She hugged Weiss once more, a silent promise passing between them. "I'll see you soon, Weiss. Take care of yourself."
Weiss nodded, a small smile playing at her lips.
"I will, Winter. Thank you for everything."
With a final nod, Winter made her way out of the room as she thought to herself.
I'm sorry I can't tell you everything Weiss, but if there is one thing I am not sorry about it's that Zero-One-One will always be there to protect you.
Dr. Pietro Polendina sat in his lab, surrounded by the familiar hum of machinery and the soft whirring of gears. Before him lay the lifeless body of his beloved daughter, Penny. Her once bright green eyes now dull and empty. Pietro's heart ached as he looked down at her, remembering the vibrant, curious girl she had been. He had built Penny to be a protector, a beacon of hope. And now, she lay before him, broken and still.
Gently, Pietro reached out and brushed a lock of hair from Penny's face, his fingers lingering on her cold skin.
"Oh, Penny," he whispered, his voice filled with sadness. "I'm so sorry, my dear. I never wanted this for you."
He spent hours examining her, running diagnostics and scans, trying to understand the extent of the damage. Every damaged wire, every shattered piece of metal, was like a dagger in his heart. He had created Penny to be virtually indestructible, and yet here she was, nearly broken beyond repair. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and General James Ironwood entered the lab, his expression grave.
"Pietro," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "How is she? Can she be repaired?"
Pietro turned to face Ironwood, his eyes tired but determined. "I... I'm not sure," he said slowly. "Penny's systems were severely damaged. It will take time, and even then, I can't guarantee..."
Ironwood placed a reassuring hand on Pietro's shoulder.
"Do whatever you can, Pietro," he said firmly. "Penny is important to all of us. We need her."
Pietro nodded, his resolve hardening.
"I will do everything in my power, General," he said. "But I can't make any promises."
As Ironwood left the lab, Pietro turned back to Penny, his heart heavy but his mind focused. He began to work, his hands moving with precision and skill, determined to bring his daughter back to life, no matter the cost.
The training room was a whirlwind of activity, the Ace Ops moved with precision and coordination that spoke of their elite status. Harriet, however, stood out among them, her movements fueled by a simmering anger that seemed to drive her harder than usual. Clover watched her closely, his concern growing with each passing minute. He knew Harriet well enough to recognize when something was bothering her, and today was no exception.
As Harriet sparred with Marrow, her strikes were more forceful, her reactions sharper. It was as if she was trying to vent her frustration through her training, but it only seemed to feed the fire burning within her. Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, Clover stepped forward.
"Harriet, is everything okay?"
Harriet's movements faltered for a moment before she regained her composure.
"I'm fine, Clover. Just pushing myself harder today."
Clover arched an eyebrow, not convinced by her answer.
"You seem... off. Is there something on your mind?"
Harriet hesitated, her expression guarded. She glanced at Elm and Vine, who were watching her with concern, before finally speaking.
"I'm just frustrated. We were kept in the dark about the Guardians' mission to Beacon Academy."
Clover nodded, understanding her frustration.
"I get it, but we didn't need to know the details of a mission we weren't even remotely involved in. We were needed elsewhere."
Harriet clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "I know, but it's hard not to feel... inadequate, knowing they're out there proving themselves."
Elm stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Harriet, we're not competing against the Guardians. We're all on the same team, and our strength comes from working together."
Vine nodded in agreement. "We each have our own strengths and weaknesses. It's what makes the five of us a great team."
Harriet shook her head, her anger bubbling to the surface. "No, you don't get it! I refuse to be second best! I want us to be the best, and we never will be as long as the Guardians are around!"
The room fell silent, the other members of the Ace Ops exchanging worried glances. Clover stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.
"Harriet, this isn't like you. We're a team, and we support each other. We can't let jealousy and anger blind us."
Harriet shook her head, her fists clenched at her sides.
"I'm not blind. I see everything clearly and if you can't understand that, then maybe you're the blind ones!"
With that, Harriet stormed out of the training room, leaving her teammates behind in stunned silence.
Location Unknown:
Watts and Mercury cautiously navigated through the ruined sections of Salem's castle, their footsteps echoing in the desolate halls. The aftermath of the battle between Salem and the three armored beings had left the once-grand castle in shambles. Rubble and debris littered the corridors, a testament to the destructive power that had been unleashed. Mercury couldn't shake the image of the armored beings from his mind.
"Did you see the way they moved? It was like they weren't even human," he remarked, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and fear.
Watts nodded, his expression grave. "Indeed. Their movements were precise, almost mechanical. They were unlike anything I've ever seen. It's clear they were a formidable threat."
As they explored further, they came across a chamber that had been completely obliterated by the battle. The walls were scorched, and the ceiling had collapsed, burying everything beneath a mountain of rubble.
"It seems this is where the final confrontation took place," Watts observed, his gaze sweeping over the destruction.
Their exploration was interrupted by a sudden eruption of dark magical energy. Salem burst forth from the rubble, her presence filling the room with a palpable sense of anger and power. Dust and debris swirled around her as she fixed her red glowing eyes on Watts and Mercury. The two cowered in fear at the immortal's ferocious display of power. Her gaze pierced into their very souls, striking paralyzing fear in them.
"You failed me, Watts," Salem's voice boomed, echoing off the walls. "Your security measures were inadequate. Those beings attacked me in my own castle and escaped with their lives."
Watts swallowed nervously, knowing he was in deep trouble.
"I...I'm sorry, my queen. Please forgive my transgression. I swear to you I will make this right."
Salem's eyes blazed with fury. "I want their heads, Watts. Do whatever is necessary to find them and bring them to me. And summon Hazel and Tyrian. I want to discuss this new threat with everyone present."
Watts and Mercury exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in compliance. They knew Salem's wrath was not something to be taken lightly. As they left to carry out Salem's orders, the weight of the situation hung heavy on their shoulders. The three armored beings were a mystery, their motives unknown. But one thing was clear: Salem's anger knew no bounds, and whoever had sent those beings would face her wrath. As they navigated the ruined corridors, Mercury couldn't help but voice his concerns to Watts.
"Do you think we can find those things, let alone defeat them?"
Watts' expression was grim as he considered the question. "I'm not sure, Mercury. But we must do everything in our power to comply with Salem's orders. Failure is not an option."
Meanwhile, in Watts' lab, Emerald sat by Cinder's bedside, watching over her as she slowly recovered from the surgery. Cinder's injuries were severe, but Watts had managed to stabilize her. However, she remained unconscious, her body weak, battered, and heavily bandaged. Emerald's thoughts drifted to the battle that had unfolded within the castle. She had watched from the safety of the lab, unable to do anything as Salem and the three armored beings clashed in a spectacle of power and destruction.
She wondered about their motives and who they were. What drove them to attack Salem, and how had they managed to evade detection until now? The questions lingered in her mind, adding to the sense of unease that permeated the castle.
Salem, however, was left alone to her thoughts. Never before had any mortal faced her and lived to fight another day unless she explicitly allowed it. Hazel was one of those mortals, but he immediately learned his place beneath her. As the hours passed, Salem's anger simmered beneath the surface, her mind consumed with thoughts of revenge. She vowed to hunt down the three armored beings and anyone else who dared to defy her.
I will not rest until I've mounted your heads on the wall of my throne room. I will find you three.
Vale:
Glynda returned home, the weariness of the day weighed heavily upon her. Today's battle at Beacon had been fierce, and the effort to reclaim the academy from the Grimm had left her greatly fatigued. As she stepped into her bathroom, the day's exhaustion washed over her, and she felt a wave of nausea. Her mind drifted to the changes she had noticed in herself recently, subtle shifts in her body that hinted at something more.
Glynda shed her clothes and let her blonde hair down. Glynda's emerald-green eyes looked into the mirror for a moment. Her flawless body was fit and very well-toned. The only evidence of her age was the tiredness in her eyes. With a tired sigh, Glynda removed her glasses and then stepped into the warm embrace of the shower, letting the water cascade over her body.
The day's battles had left her weary, every muscle aching with fatigue. The soothing stream helped to wash away the weariness, at least for a moment. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax for the first time in what felt like an eternity. The water danced over her skin, easing the tension from her body. She let out a soft sigh, feeling the weight of the day slowly lift from her shoulders. As she washed, her thoughts turned to the future, to the uncertainties that lay ahead. She thought about the challenges they faced and the struggles that had brought them to this point. She thought about the students they'd lost, the sacrifices that had been made.
After a few moments, Glynda turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself in a towel. She dried off quickly, her mind still consumed with thoughts of what lay ahead.
With a mix of anticipation and uncertainty, she reached for the small box on the counter, the one that held the answer to her question. Following the instructions, Glynda waited, her heart pounding in her chest. When she looked at the result, her emotions were a tumultuous mix. The lines on the test were faint, leaving the answer open to interpretation. Thoughts raced through Glynda's mind. She thought of the man she cared for, the complexities of their relationship, and the love they shared.
Her feelings were a jumble of fear and apprehension. Glynda decided to keep this discovery to herself for now, wanting to be certain before sharing it with anyone else. She tucked the test away, resolving to seek confirmation from a professional in the coming days. As she prepared for bed, Glynda's mind was filled with thoughts of the future. Whatever lay ahead, she knew she was prepared to face it, for herself and for the path that lay ahead.
Atlas:
General Ironwood stood in his command center, overseeing the bustling activities that came with running an academy and a military. A soldier approached him with urgency in his eyes.
"Sir, we have an incoming aircraft with a friend-or-foe code identifier matching that of the Albatross," the soldier reported.
Ironwood's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and anticipation. The Albatross, the stealth ship that the three Guardians used for their mission against Salem, was returning. He dismissed the soldier with a nod, already reaching for his scroll to contact Dr. Haze.
"Dr. Haze, prepare for the return of the Guardians. They'll be back shortly," Ironwood said, his voice tinged with excitement.
Dr. Haze acknowledged the message and quickly made her way to the secure landing pads of Atlas Academy, where Ironwood joined her shortly after. They stood side by side, watching as the Albatross descended gracefully and landed on the pad. However, as the cabin door remained closed, a sense of unease crept over Ironwood.
Something wasn't right.
He approached the ship and opened the door, revealing a sight that shocked him to the core. The sight would burn itself permanently into his mind forever. The three Guardians lay inside, unconscious, motionless, and grievously wounded. What once was a trio of invincible warriors, was now reduced to mere mortals clinging to life by a thread. Their armor lay in absolute ruin, their blood pooled on the floor of the airship's cabin, and their bones broken in more places than one. Ironwood's heart sank at the sight of them, their bodies battered and broken from their ordeal.
"We need medical personnel here immediately!" Ironwood yelled into his communicator; his voice filled with urgency.
Dr. Haze moved on instinct and her legs carried her as fast as they could before she pushed James aside and knelt beside the Guardians, her mind racing with worry and questions. What had happened to them? Had Salem proven too powerful to defeat?
In the end, the questions didn't matter. Cassandra's only concern was the well-being of her Guardians. She never had children of her own, but to a certain extent, these boys were her sons in a very twisted way. She didn't sell herself the delusion of mother of the year, but she truly cared for them.
She checked their pulses and breathed a sigh of relief once she saw that they were alive. Had anyone other than her Guardians sustained wounds such as these they would have been long dead.
"Stay alive boys," she said sternly.
"That's an order," added James.
As the medical team arrived and began to tend to the Guardians, Ironwood and Dr. Haze shared a moment of silent dread. The return of the Guardians was meant to be a triumph, but now it was clouded with uncertainty.
All they could do now was hope that the medical team could save them and that they would awaken to provide answers. Cassandra quickly joined James at his side as the medics arrived.
Together, they watched as the medical personnel began to assess the Guardians' injuries. As the medical team loaded the Guardians onto stretchers, Ironwood and Dr. Haze exchanged worried glances. The severity of their injuries was evident, and the implications weighed heavily on their minds.
Despite the uncertainty, Ironwood remained resolute, and he would do everything in his power to ensure their recovery and Cassandra would be there to help.
Throughout all this, James began to ponder one thing to himself.
Fight hard men. Your mission is far from over.
I hope you all enjoyed this one. Not as long as the others but it gets the point across. The boys are live. They may have lost the battle but the war is far from over.