The mother of all headaches pounded in his skull. A marching band was playing. His vision was a blurry mess filled with stars. There was a constant ringing noise in his ears. His lungs burnt. His muscles felt like soup.
'What happened?' Qrow thought, memories coming crashing through the haze instantly. Kicking headache away, he sat up. Recognising the flickering orange in his vision through the haze. Shaking his head, he surged some aura into his skull. Forcefully supressing the headache as he got his bearing.
The courtyard was burning. Chunks of marble and splinters of wood were scattered everywhere. The hour-hand of Ozpin's ceiling clock nailed a sorry bastard to the ground. Qrow was thankful for whatever god was listening that he was deaf to all the shouting. Moving rubble off himself, he forced himself to look up. The pit in his stomach taking a dive of a cliff when he spotted Oz's head speared by the second hand. His body buried under piece of rumble, the only reason he recognised him was his cane. Still clutched tightly in his grasp.
"-ow!" A voice rumbled through the ringing noise. 'So not completely deaf then.' He thought to himself, looking around. Finding an armless Ironwood marching towards him. The metal arm nowhere to be found, only some wires poking out from his shoulder.
"Qrow!" The general bellowed again. Placing a hand on his shoulder and bringing him back down to reality. Lathing onto the arm with a firm hold, his floating mind finding purchase.
"Yes!" Qrow shouted back, barley hearing his voice over the constant ringing in his ears. "What happened?!" He continued, already knowing the answer. One moment they had been planning ideas for how to lure out the other half maiden too finish her. The next moment everything had been fire and flames. Compared to James, it almost felt like Qrow had been unlucky to be the least harmed one. 'I hate my semblance.' "Glynda?"
"Alive-" James growled, coughing out drops of blood. The wires out from his stump sparking momentarily. "Scarred, but alive. We need to act. Take down my flag ship."
"Wh-" Qrow never got an answer, a deafening thunder echoing from the city. A ball of flame lighting up the night. Followed by a dozen others. The sky empty of the armada that had all but blotted out the sky. Raining like dying embers down onto the city. The flagship emptying everything it had in every direction. Not caring for friend, foe, enemy, just to unload as much as possible in the quickest time it could.
"Mutiny." James growled, spitting the words out. Backstepping a sloppy punch from an angry student. Blood smeared over his face and tears in his eyes. The general's fist smashed into his diaphragm; the boy completely having forgotten about aura. Wheezing pathetically as he sank to his feet. "Focus!" The general bellowed. "Those who can, run triage and first aid! Get the teachers! Not everyone was with the headmaster with us!"
"This is going to be a nightmare." Qrow spat, clapping himself on the cheeks. The pain waking him up. It was familiar, kicking him into overdrive. Ignoring the pandemonium around him. James having kicked the panicked students into gear. Already he could see some students making makeshift stretchers and tourniquets for those who needed them. A weight disappearing from his shoulder when he took in his surroundings again.
The academy was for the most part intact, parts of the clocktower had fallen. Ozpin's office having been the primary target. Everything else only being collateral. The student's buried under rubble simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"The forest!" Qrow shouted, breaking out into a hacking cough not a second later. "The Grimm!"
"The city walls!" James bellowed a second later, looking around. "Those who can fight, support the city walls! The Grimm are coming!"
"Why should we listen to you! Atlas scum!" A voice rang through the air. Instantly everyone looking at the suddenly quivering student. The courage that should have been in her eyes showing nothing but fear. Her legs quivering like leaves.
"Ozpin is dead. Someone planted explosives in his office." James hissed icily, staring down at her with such a glare that her legs gave out under her. "Someone wanted to kill the two of us at the same time. Atla's ships are falling from the sky, firing on their own. The school stands, but unless you who can fight get down into the city to help reinforce the huntsmen's and huntresses down there, the city might not live to see the sun. Not if grimm get inside."
"You want to be Huntsmen? Huntresses? Then step up." Qrow ordered, looking up into the sky. "I will bring down the flag ship. Try to make sure the next great war isn't kicked off in the meantime."
In an instant he was off, dashing towards the air dock. Idly catching something James threw him and pocketing it without bothering to check what it was. Finding the nearest cliff and throwing himself of. Instantly turning into a crow and darting up into the sky. Coating himself in aura and making each flap of his wings stronger. Making him ascend like a rocket. Stomach sinking when he saw flocks of Nevermore flying out from clouds.
Diving and rolling around them, he pushed his small avian body further than he should. Feeling his wings screaming at him.
'Oh I swear-' Qrow squawked loudly, noticing the orange glow that flashed from the old docks. The only thing stopping him from darting down was the need to destroy the ship that was currently raining hellfire on everything and everyone. He could make sure the kids hadn't gone and killed themselves. 'Was this Her plan? The half-maiden just a red herring?'
Pushing himself even further, Qrow flapped his tinny wings wishing they were larger. The ticking of a clock echoing in his head.
####
Jaune moved, the time for thinking had long since been thrown out of the window. He dodged, parried, sidestepped, and riposted where he could. The harbour having turned into a veritable hell-scape. Fire everywhere.
It was behind every swing of Adam's blade. It was thrown through the air like nothing from Cinder. His burning orange concoction flew from his hand. Hitting the chainsaw wielding white fang member in the face.
The glass cracked, then fire roared louder than before. Mist and steam rose from the cold water as heat billowed out furiously. The chainsaw wielder crumbled backwards, his face and torso nothing but charred and bubbling flesh. Fire stormed out, swallowing itself and growing brighter. Lighting up the night sky.
The ground shock as the wharf around them collapsed. Fire licked against his skin; fire roared from behind Adam's blade. Crocea Mors came up, directing the blade away from him as he danced into the fire.
Golden chains shot out from his hand. Impaling themselves deep into the back of another white fang member. Grabbing the chains and with a hefty pull, he pulled her into the fire. The chains slipped out of his skin, transforming into gentle motes of gold. Switching his grip, he held tightly onto Mortem Ignis's handle. Pulling the trigger and sending three bullets through the fire.
The wall of fire parting magically around them, only to collapse back with a terrifying roar.
Jaune's eyes shoot wide open, a blast of panic not his own crashing into him. Acting completely on instinct, he threw himself into the flames. Crocea Mors thrusting forward, tip biting into something hard and metallic.
Yet Mercury didn't give up. Twisting his core more, brining down his other leg like a hammer towards Violet. Dashing forward, he bodied the man with his shoulder. The elbow to his face returned with a point-blank shot to his chest.
Mercury flew through the air. Gasping as the bullet slammed into his him with the furry of thunder.
Jaune didn't have time to think, the sharp blade of Adam's katana slammed into his back. The blow was tanked by his aura, yet that didn't stop the force from the blade from traveling through him. Pushing his knees down as his balance threatened to give out on him.
"You are not getting away Arc!" A wrathful distorted shout ran through the fire. Flame wrapped around Adam like he was fire and vengeance incarnate. His red hair crimson, burning with intensity that matched the flames around them.
There was no reason to reply, the time for talk had long since passed. Maybe if it had been someone else than Adam, they could have worked out their differences and taken out Cinde together. Maybe if he hadn't killed members of the Fang, they could have worked together.
As it stood, the harbour was a free for all of pandemonium.
He had long since lost track of Nora and Ren. Only Nora's energic shouts over the fire reassuring him that they were alive. Pyrrha and Cinder was ducking it out somewhere. Weapons of orange fire flew through the air, met by balls of fire and the odd crack of lighting.
The fang was all but gone, Adam being the only one who remained. The man worth ten at least. Jaune could respect his bladework, he would kill the man either way, but it was safe to say Adam was the White Fang. At least in Vale. As long as he was alive, the White Fang Sect in Vale would never really die. He was strong, spoke words that lit flames in hearts, and willing to cross any line if it meant his vision would one day see light.
'He will die a martyr.' Unfortunately Jaune didn't have the luxury to sit and best plan out how Adam had to die. No matter what happened, he was sure Adam would die a martyr for his Cult.
The only thing he could do was throw himself back into the fray. Adam to tunnel visioned on him to care about Violet. The same coulndt be said for Mercury.
'He would have to die then.' Jaune settled on easily. Some things coulndt be allowed to stand. Simple as that.
Darting forward, steel met steel. Spak flew, swallowed by the fire that bellowed around them. Without thinking, Jaune smashed his head down at Adam. Cracking his mask. A shotgun rang, slamming into his side. But Jaune didn't care, throwing himself forward. His aura could take it, and if not, he still had some healing spells stored. They would be his last ones, but worst come to worst, he at least had his trump card ready.
"Beast! Is what you call us!" Adam shouted; face wrapped into an ugly wrath of madness. "Yet look at you!" The words were snarled, nothing but anger and madness. "Butcher! You will go down in history for the blood on your hands! Mark my word! You are no different than us!"
"You talk to much." Jaunt replied, biting his tongue until he tasted blood and exhaled with all his might. The first ever piece of blood magic he learned showing itself in Remnant. A mist of red exploded form his mouth, Adam instantly throwing himself back.
The blood mist mixes with the flames around them. Orange and red flames instantly turned a bloody crimson. Sickly tendrils of snaking flames reached out towards them. Throwing Mortem Ignis up he fired a shot, missing, Adam already launching himself down low and coming up with a sharp cut towards his neck.
Jaune didn't have time to dodge. So he didn't. Instead he just let his legs collapse. Crashing into the ground and rolling to the side. Adam's follow up attack biting into the ground as he got his feet under himself. Reaching into his vest and grabbing his gallnut broth. Quickly pouring it over his blade. The poison giving his blade a sickly menacing look in the firelight.
Jaune was just about to meet Adam's charge when they both stopped. Looking out at the black inky sea as one.
An invisible ripple trailed over the water.
Followed by old depth changes going of one after another. Rumbling and throwing large pillars of water everywhere as they heralded something massive. Through the night sky he could barely make out black, red and bone. Multiple eyes of burning crimson staring at him as the grimm showed itself.
Jaune didn't hesitate. Golden shone through the night as he jumped. Shooting up and wrapping around a massive wing, the grimm dragon nothing but demonic when lit by flame. Momentarily casting it shadow over the harbour as it flew over them. Crashing into the closest apartment buildings. Claws rending steel and concrete as it climbed. Destruction following it's appearance.
Jaune pulled, launching himself up. Biting into it's side with his blade as it came to the top. Giant wings spread wide as it launched itself up through the night sky.
"You are not getting away from me Arc!" Adam's voice roared through the air. Red and burning furry clutched around the grimm's tail.
"Oh come on." Jaune cursed under his breath, quickly climbing up the mighty grimm dragon. Using his sword to get a better foot hold where he could. Aura gathering in his left hand until crimson light shone through his fingers.
Golden black fire gathered in the grimm dragon's mouth.
"Oh no you don't." Jaune shouted, letting the glimmer of crimson ed light shot straight up into the night sky. In an instant, he, Adam, and the grimm dragon was trapped alone under a crimson moon. The beam of energy escaped the grimm's mouth. Cackling with power and crashing into the barrier of red and golden chains.
It bent, folding slightly, rippling like water, but it didn't break. Remaining rooted in the air even as the giant grimm slammed it's full body into it.
All but throwing him of it's back as he tumbled through the air. Golden chains shooting from his left hand as they circled it's neck. Allowing Jaune to swing under and launch himself back onto it's back.
Crocea Mors coming up to block a blade of trailing fire. The wrathful flames trailing behind Adam's weapon burning with malice all but matching the man's own. Having used the dragon's jerky movement to launch himself forward.
A cruel grimace on his lips as spark flew between them. A thunderous roar echoing under the red moon.
####
The world had gone to shit.
Ruby wasn't usually one for profanities, but there was no other way to say it.
It was pandemonium.
She had been the first of the students to reach the city. Huntsmen and huntresses were everywhere, flocking through the streets as phantoms. Tearing apart any atlas droid they came across and doing first aid where they could. Shouting and pulling away civilians as the last airships tumbled against the ground. Crashing into buildings. Glass, concrete and steel exploding everywhere as a heavy layer of dust hung over the streets.
Screams echoed out from everywhere.
Ruby stood stock still, taking in the chaos. Blood littered the streets. Mothers and fathers were desperately clawing at debris until their fingers and nails bled. Crying, begging, for their children to still be alive. Children younger than Violet sat gobsmacked beside lifeless bodies. Pushing at them desperately, fat ugly tears in their eyes as their parent's bodies remained lifeless. Eyes staring glossily up at the grey and turbulent night sky.
Some few grimm were born from the misery and hatred, only to be instantly chopped to pieces. Disappearing into motes of black dust that were lost in the night.
"You! Student! Help me move this piece of rubble." A gritty huntsman asked. Instantly Ruby sprang forth, appearing from a burst of roses. There in the blink of an eye, doing her best to help him hold the rubble up. Muscles screaming at her, yet she held on. The huntsman reaching down and pulling out the shell-shocked form of a child. Blood rand from the side of his head. But he breathed, his eyes were clear, caked in dust as he were.
"Kid. You are fast, right?" The huntsman asked, getting up. Blood ran from his forehead, his clothes were ripped and torn. Bloody cuts and deep lacerations all over his chest and arms.
"Yes!" Ruby nodded rapidly. If there was one thing she was confident it, it was her speed.
"Then quickly bring the kid down to the Club. Junior might be a bastard, but he is a Valean one." He said, stopping and gargling. Spitting out a tooth and some bloody phlegm. "It's not a shelter, but it's sa-"
A terrible roar rang over the city. Instantly Ruby looked into the sky, heart falling when she saw the giant grimm. A dragon, right out from fantasy and fairytale's. Fire already spilling out from it's mouth as it prepared to lay waste to the city.
Then a small spark of crimson raced up from it's back. Exploding out and wrapping the grimm dragon in a crimson moon. A ripple running up its side a moment after.
It felt as if the world held it's breath. A second rippled ran from the moon, followed by a second, third, and forth. But the crimson moon didn't budge in the slightest.
"I'm going to church if I survive this shitshow." The hunter beside her muttered. "Never know divine intervention was real."
The sound of a gunshot echoed from further down, a bullet raced through the air. Shooting straight past the red moon. The hunter beside her was gone in an instant. A wet and meaty crunch echoing down the street further down.
"You goddamn idiot!" His loud bellow rang through the streets. "Don't shoot the thing in the sky that is keeping the grimm dragon from burning us to a crisp!"
"Bu-Bu!"
"No buts! Move, if you can shoot, you can move." He bellowed, turning to her. "Kid, I don't see you moving!"
That knocked Ruby into gear, quickly taking the pulse of the kid in her arms. She breathed out in relief when she felt a strong heard beat. Then she was off. Exploding into rose petals as she ran down the street, jumping over corpses, dodging under the last remains of Atlases killer robots, and through crumbling buildings.
Ruby's heart hammered in her chest. Again and again she stopped, making sure the child wasn't somehow becoming worse through all the justling.
With a quick and sharp turn she was before the club. The building somehow still standing. Running up and kicking the doors open, she quickly handed the kid to the first person she saw.
They were gangsters, thugs, and criminals.
But they were also from Vale. The city was burning, and so was the hearts of everyone in the city. Alight by the tragedy around them. Atlas might loudly boast about their great minds and what groundbreaking technology they have created. Vacuo might boast about their toughness, able to staunchly defy the dessert and the sun. Mistral was the home to great and fragrant cultures, where dedication to one's skills were the norm.
Vale didn't have much to boast about on the world stage. Not the strongest, not the smartest, not the toughest, and not the smartest. But the oldest, nonetheless. Time and time again the city and people had been challenged. And time and time again they came out on top. Hurt and scared, but ultimately victorious.
In every man, woman, and child from Vale, there beat a heart. A heart greater than anyone. A heart that made the people stand up together against cruel tyrants and say 'No. That is enough. I will not stand for this.'
In the heart of every man, woman, and child from Vale, there beat a heart of emotion. Of strength and passion.
And as long as a single heart from Vale still beat, the city would never fall.
"Red!" A voice pierced through the air. Junior pushed himself through the flock of scared and huddled civilians. All dressed and underdressed at the same time, having been at the club and partied when shit hit the fan.
"Red." He said again, jew clenched tight in stress. "Spread the word, we don't have much, but we have some first aid supplies. Bring any kids or anyone wounded here if you can. Some might die, but we can try and save as many as possible." With that he turned, looking at the crow of partygoers. "Who of you can administer first aid!" Junior demanded.
"I… I can!" A voice rang out, a scantly dressed girl raised her hand. Makeup coated her face, her lipstick was smudged, and there were multiple neon green lipstick marks that went down her neck. Littering her stomach. There were even some around her things. "I'm a nurse!"
"Can you administer first aid and set up a triage station if we give you our first aid kits?" Junior demanded, not caring for how she was dressed. Only for what she could do.
"Yes." The girl replied, determination shining in her eyes.
"Men! You heard the girl! Show her where the supplies are kept! Help her with anything she might need!" Junior shouted, quickly turning back to Ruby. "So Red, how fast are you? How many can you bring here?"
"We'll have to find out, don't we?" Ruby replied with far more pep than she felt. With a single step forward she exploded into rose petals. Pushing her semblance to the limit like never before.
In a second she was outside, eyes darting around for anyone she could help. Feet moving before she could as much as think. Eyes darting up to the crimson moon in the sky nervously. The shell of the moon rippled again and again, but it held. The grimm dragon was contained. Even if only for now.
"I'm here." Ruby whispered gently, wrapping her cloak around a small child. Empty eyes looked back up at her, the child didn't struggle as she lifted the little girl up. Hair cocked full of dust, small cuts all over her arms and legs, and a nasty cut on her lip. "It's going to be fine."
"But… but… mommy."
"Shhhh. It's going to be fine." Ruby promised, exploding into rose petals as she quickly hurried back to the club. Quickly handing the child over to another person when she returned to the Club. About to head right back out again when a terrifying boom shook the building.
Ruby was already outside, looking up as the last Atlas ship exploded up in flames. Barely able to make out the ice bird in the sky. Large pieces of the ship flying through the air. Crashing against the crimson bubble, causing cracks to spider out everywhere.
"Oh no." Ruby murmured emptily, gritting her teeth and bracing herself as she saw sharp claws poked out through the cracks. The dragon moving it's hideous head out into the chilly night sky. Maw already filled with golden flames.
'What do I do?' Ruby screamed at herself; she didn't know how to deal with something this big. Something this destructive. She was taught to fight grimm, this felt like a bad fantasy novel come true.
A quick flash of light shot out from the shattering crimson ball. Wrapping around the dragons maw. A burst of flame, a trail of red dug into the body of someone. Yet the golden chain wrapped around the dragon's maw didn't budge. The light escaping from it's mouth growing brighter and brighter. Until something gave.
A blinding light lit up the night sky. Followed by a terrible roar of fire. The dragon exploding into a ball of golden flames.
Ruby blinked, feeling an invisible weight disappear from her shoulders. Some ray of hope making what followed feel overcomeable. "It's gone." She whispered to herself, already hearing the cheering from inside the Club. Blinking again, she saw something trail through the sky. Wrapped in fire, with smothers of gold floating after it.
'Isn't that person on collision course with us?' She thought idly, blinking as realisation slammed into her. "Scatter!" Ruby bellowed, shouting as loud as she could. Drunk as the partygoers were, they leapt like tumbling cats and stumbling dogs over each other to get away. A thundering crack slamming into the building a second later. Screams rang out as a cloud of dust fell down. Light's flashing as the light rig torn down in the collision.
Ruby readied Crescent Rose, pointing her at the dust of smoke that settled. A dust cacked head of gold appearing through the dust. A piercing blue eye and an empty socked of writhing black stared at her. Ruby stared at the ghastly woman that hugged the crumbled body. A rock falling in her stomach when she saw the one that had killed the dragon. His neck was split open, it was a miracle his head even was connected to his body. The crimson katana sliding out from the wound and clinking against the ground.
"Jaune?" Ruby asked, her heart falling to pieces as she recognised more and more of him. His garb was in tatters, burned and flaking, while his top-hat where nowhere to see. His eyes were glassy, yet burning with a fiery determination, clinging to life when he should for all purposes be dead.
"Ughh." He groaned, sitting up, head almost falling off as it dangled. Yet his mouth moved. Debris moved as Jaune stood up. Grabbing the side of his head and pulling it on straight. Running a hand over his neck, the cut all but gone, making Ruby imagine it if it hadn't been for the river's of blood that ran down from where the cut had been.
"Zombie!" Someone shouted. Jaune opening his eyes, blue pupils gone, replaced by yellow slits. Making Ruby think of cats.
"Jaune?" Ruby asked, taking a step forward. His head instantly snapping to her with such intensity she was scared his head would fall of again. Yellow and piercing eyes turning blue. An ugly scowl on the floating woman's face as she turned to look at her. Her arms wrapping almost possessively around Jaune's neck.
"Ruby?" He asked, taking a step forward out of the rubble. Kicking up and catching the crimson katana. Giving it a quick once over before fastening it into his belt. Holding his hand out as Crocea Mors shot up into his hand. "You shouldn't have seen this." Jaune mumbled to himself, eyes heavy with regret before he shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I got things to do."
"What?" Ruby asked, feeling like a broken record. Watching as Jaune, who for all instances and purposes should be dead. His neck had been cut open. His spine had been severed and cauterised. He shouldn't be able to walk, shouldn't be able to breath. But there he was. Stepping out of the rubble as if it was nothing more than a nuisance.
"I think I might need your help with something Elizabeth." Jaune whispered.
"Whatever help you require, I will offer." The ghost wrapped around his neck whispered back.
"That's all I will need." Jaune replied, rolling his shoulder and stretching his neck as he stepped out onto the street. The Club starring at him with a tense silence. Fear in their eyes, terror gripping their hearts. Quickly he whispered something under his breath, Ruby didn't hear everything he said only the last words. "The Flower that once has bloomed forever dies."
In an instant, it was as if he was a different person. Jaune was still Jaune. His eyes still blue, hair still golden, dust cacked as it was, his shoulders were still broad, and he looked just as much as a dead man walking that he did seconds before. Yet that coulndt be further from the truth. As a black and crimson mist wrapped around the sword. As the ghost's spectral arm reached down and grabbed his sword hand in hers, Jaune changed.
His back stood straighter, mist escaped him as he breathed, focus radiated from his eyes. Grabbing the hilt of the katana tied to his belt, he breathed out heavily. "Round two, bitch." Then Jaune took a step forward, only for him to snap his head to the right. Shock coloured his face, only replaced with anger and burning wrath. Ruby had seen grimm who looked less malicious than Jaune did.
Then he took a step forward, disappearing into a burst of speed. Appearing like a drifting cloud further down the street before disappearing again.
Ruby took one look between the road Jaune disappeared down, a thousand questions on her tongue. Such as how was he alive, what happened, did he kill the grimm dragon, who's katana is that, and a thousand more. Yet, a quick look into the club, and back out to Vale pushed her against the wall.
And Ruby felt like she had to make a choice. Even if she only had a second to do so. Questions such as what mattered most, who she was, what did she stand for, all thrown out of the window as she took a step forward. Rose petals floating down gently.
####
Jaune felt like he was on fire. Yet he pushed on. The effect of Overclock Reboot already dissipating. The bond he forced with Elizabeth and Crocea Mors overloading his body with miasma.
Quickening, something he didn't have the talent for, making him blaze through the city. Racing back to the old harbour. Any ideas of a second fight with Adam thrown to the side.
With a leap, he landed on the top of a chain-link fence. Pushing off with all his might, returning to the burning hellscape that was the harbour. Balls of fire and bolts of lighting meeting a wall of orange spears as Pyrrha and Cinder duked it out with another.
But she wasn't his target. The second he saw a head of silver; he disappeared in a cloud of moonlight. Crocea Mors slamming into Mercury a moment later. His aura up, yet not there as the miasma around his blade sank into his soul. Cleaving out a large wound and permanently scarring his aura.
Again, Jaune disappeared into a cloud of silver. Hacking at his back and quickening again and again as he cleaved into him. Turning into a whirlwind of silver and steel, not granting Mercury the dignity of a quick death.
Coming out of the quickening, Jaune backhanded the boy with all his might. Sending him crashing onto the ground. Gasping and shivering, whiter than a piece of paper, red bleeding out of him from everywhere. The cocky smirk he wore when they fought earlier today completely gone. Rasing his revolver, he cocked back the hammer. A dozen regret's burning him inside out.
Thunder echoed over the harbour. Blood and gore splattering not a second later.
Jaune threw a quick glance over to where gold hair mixed with blood and grey brain matter. She wasn't dead dead, but it felt like failure. That he had let his priorities drift so far he completely forgot to take her safety into consideration. But the grimm dragon had been important, he coulndt allow a grimm at that size and power to run freely in the city.
With a wave of his hand, Violet's corpse disappeared into a mote of dust.
"She will not blame you. The child worships the ground you walk on." Elizabeth whispered into his ear. "Or is it the shame? The realisation that you too are mortal, and things can spin out of control. No matter what magics you master? Your carelessness lead to the death of others?" Acting as the angel on his shoulder one moment, before her tongue turned into that of a forced serpent not a moment later. "The bigger picture worth the sacrifice of a little girl?"
Jaune didn't answer, instead pulling on the well of power between them and disappearing into motes of silver. Appearing down beside Ren and Nora. Roughly placing his hands on them, ignoring the dagger that burred itself into his chest. Instead focusing his eyes and channelling Panacea. Their wounds disappearing as if never there. In an instant Nora broke out into heavy coughing, gulping, chocking, before puking up black smog heavy blood cloths.
"Ren, you think you have a something up your sleeve that can help us disappear?" Jaune ordered, not making a single sound when his friend pulled his knife back out from his chest. "Ruby, and a crowd of civilians saw me sew my neck together. We have to leave, now. It's going to be hot here soon. Questions we can't answer thrown our way."
"Give me a minute." Ren groaned, coughing and spitting out a glob of smoke infused blood.
"I'll help Pyrrha." Jaune said, cancelling the healing spells and standing up. Pushing forward even when he felt blood on his tongue. He didn't hear anything from his left. Nora mumbled something, but he didn't know what.
"The more power you channel through me, the more you will have to pay." Elizabeth whispered reassuringly into his ear.
"Your God will get it's fill of sacrifices." Jaune answered, the labyrinth coming to mind instantly. He needed to delve deeper, both to know more, find more things to enhance what he had with, and now apparently to sate a hungry God.
Disappearing into another mote of silver, he appeared right next to Cinder. A ball of fire already racing against him. He didn't care, with his connection to the Cosmos through Elizabeth, he could freely cast the spells he had already anchored. They were still there, just lacking 'life'. A life that could be filled with Cosmic energy.
The ball of fire vanished into nothing. Blood leaked from his nose as he Quickened again. An impossible weight hammering into his soul. He hadn't even noticed he had lost feeling in his legs. Running on pure willpower fuelled adrenaline. His aura having since shattered.
"What?!" Cinder shrieked, her follow up lighting javelin thrown right back at her.
"We are retreating." He ordered curtly, coming to a stop beside Pyrrha. His partner looking to be put through the ringer. Her hair burnt multiple places, and her knight's garb didn't look any better with fire licking at the hem of her dress.
"No you don't!" Cinder roared, the fire around growing brighter. "I will not see my power pulled from my hands again!"
"Shame." Jaune said flatly. Looking at her, two beams of light shooting from his eyes. One eerie black, the other bubbling crimson. Cinder threw herself to the side, left arm scrapping by the black beam, but that was enough. Black spots of puss appeared on her left fingers, shrivelling them up. The curse roaring to life. "Pyrrha, we are leaving." He ordered, placing a hand on her shoulder. Forcing some spirituality into her. The fire in her eyes faltering, the orange glow puttering out as she 'woke' up.
Pyrrha shock her head, vacantly taking in the pandemonium around her. Eyes awake with clarity.
"Panic later." Jaune ordered, quickly dispelling the five other fireballs Cinder threw their way. Fire coated her swords as she charged at them. Jaune had other ideas, an invisible clock ticked in his mind. He, they, coulndt be here when other's came to investigate. The school still stood, but it was in ruins, what protection they offered gone. Ruby and everyone else in the club had seen him heal himself, and he wasn't ready to answer the questions they no doubt had.
Crocea Mors came up, parrying the first sword to the side, racing through the air and biting into the side of her other blade. Knocking it aside as he parried and deflected her every weapon. Her attacks were quicker than his, Cinder a whirlwind of steel.
'Predictable.' Jaune frowned, pushing Pyrrha backwards as he slowly duelled Cinder. He had seen beast's with more rationality than her. Chasing victory was one thing, but she seemed obsessed with it.
"Let's end this." He murmured, slipping through her attacks and placing a boot firmly on her midsection and kicking her backwards. Cinder danced through the air, landing and launching herself at them. Looking upwards, Jaune frowned. Cinder threw herself to the side, a still bloody metal scythe teering through the air where she had just been a second later. Qrow landed on the ground, kicking forward not a second later. A beautiful giant nevermore made from ice and snow crashed towards Cinder not a second later.
"Looks like the cavalry is here." Jaune said, shooting a dirty wink towards Cinder. Quickly jumping backwards, Pyrrha landing beside him as he cancelled the magic. A chilling misty breath escaping him, his lips turning blue, while his skin turned a clammy white. He was more dead than alive, even his once strong heartbeat sounded weak and tired.
"I swear, kids, if you are going to do something stupid!" Qrow shouted, eyes bloodshot as he turned to glare at them.
"Jaune!" A piercing desperate voice rang over the harbour.
"Ren, I hope you have something." Jaune whispered, sheathing his blade as he sent a look over to Ruby. A heavy heart in his chest. Skin clammy, be it from nerves or sweat.
"I have something, if it works, we will be gone, if not, well we won't have anything to worry about." Ren replied, pulling something out from his sleeve.
"Isolde." Jaune ordered, with a deep breath. Taking Nora and Pyrrha's hands in his.
"Always." A screeching yet melodic voice rang out. Something touched his back. And Jaune felt something twist in his stomach.
In a silent maelstrom of power, Team JNPR was gone.
Leaving a burning port, and a screaming city behind them.
####
Note: I changed Ironwood's semblance. Instead of 'Mantle', his semblance is 'Fortification', his aura is just even more defensive. If a normal aura has a defensive value of 10, Ironwood have a defensive value of 25. Simple, but I think it fits him better as the militant harass he is.
Note: Jaune can't quicken, what he can do is rely on someone else, to be able to pull of something akin to quickening.
Note: Did Jaune pull some Deus Ex-Machina out, yes. Ruby semblance Tyrian semblance = Op
Note: This may be the last chapter until after my exams, maybe I will publish something around Christmas when all the exam stress settles down, but for now, this is a hiatus announcement of sorts. The next chapter or two will be the aftermath, because things will change, both large and small, after what happened in Vale.