Chapter 5, The Phantom Menace Part II
Qrow stood frozen, his breath shallow, as the fear and memories hit him all at once. The woman before him, standing confidently in her dark, crimson-lined cloak, was no stranger to him. Her presence carried the weight of countless tragedies, none more haunting than the massacre at the Tertawa Highlands.
Kayla. Jonathan. Jayden.
Their faces flashed in his mind, accompanied by the echoes of their final cries. The pain of that day tore through him anew, paralyzing him. And now, here she was—Cinder Fall, apprentice to the Empress herself.
She was here in Lothadare.
Qrow's chest tightened. It could only mean one thing: Salem had sent her to hunt the Prodigy.
Cinder stepped forward, her sword at her side, the flames dancing faintly along its edge. Headmaster Rueben and Leandra immediately moved into defensive positions, their weapons raised—Rueben's cane glowing faintly with energy, and Leandra's double-bladed sword gleaming in the firelight. Auron, Hanako, and Keith flanked them, weapons drawn, their faces grim.
Everyone could feel the weight of her presence. Even without speaking, Cinder's reputation preceded her. She was a blade in Salem's arsenal, a bringer of destruction. But it wasn't any of them she was focused on.
Her amber gaze was locked on Pyrrha.
Pyrrha summoned her shield and spear to her hands with her semblance, raising them as she steadied herself, her heart racing. She had never encountered anyone like this before. There was a confidence in the way Cinder carried herself—no, not confidence. It was arrogance.
Cinder halted, her lips curving into a sly smirk. "Well, well. I must admit, it's almost poetic to find you here." Her voice was smooth, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Pyrrha frowned, lowering her shield slightly. "What… Who are you? And how do you know me?"
Cinder tilted her head slightly, as if amused by the question. "You truly have no idea who I am? How quaint." She let the tip of her flaming sword rest lightly against the ground. "My name is Cinder, and I've been searching for you for quite some time, Prodigy of Akara."
Pyrrha stiffened at the mention of Akara. Her grip on Milo and Akouo tightened.
"Come with me quietly," Cinder continued, her tone dripping with mock civility, "and no one else has to get hurt."
The calm demand shattered the paralysis holding Qrow. He blinked, shaking off the memories as rage bubbled beneath his calm facade. He gritted his teeth, stepping forward to put himself between Pyrrha and Cinder.
"She's not going anywhere with you," Qrow growled, unsheathing Harbinger. His weapon shifted into its massive sword form, the blade glinting in the firelight.
Cinder's smirk widened. "Ah, there you are," she said, her voice almost teasing. "How long has it been since we last met, Qrow?" Her mocking tone made his grip tighten on Harbinger's hilt. "How are those students of yours? Oh… that's right."
The casual cruelty of her words cut through Qrow like a knife. His jaw clenched as anger overtook him, his muscles coiling as he prepared to strike.
"Qrow…" Pyrrha's quiet voice brought him back to the present. She glanced at him with worry in her eyes, the tension in his body unmistakable.
Qrow hesitated, glancing down at her. She could see the conflict in his expression, the rage battling against something deeper.
"Oh, I see what this is," Cinder said, chuckling softly. "Do you honestly think you can protect her from me? How noble of you. And how utterly pointless."
Before anyone could react, two more figures stepped out from the fire and debris behind Cinder. One was a tall, silver-haired man with his arms folded, an air of calm menace about him. The other was a woman with wild, neon-green hair, twin pistols spinning deftly in her hands.
"I'll give you one last chance," Cinder said, her voice cold and unwavering. "Hand the Prodigy over to me. Or we'll do this the hard way."
Keith barked out a laugh, stepping forward and pointing his weapon at her. "Yeah, no chance. You want her? You'll have to get through all of us first."
Auron raised his blaster alongside him, while Hanako's sword gleamed in her steady grip. Pyrrha stepped forward, planting herself firmly beside Qrow. She raised her shield and spear, determination burning in her eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Pyrrha declared, her voice strong and clear.
The silver-haired man turned to Cinder. "Looks like they've chosen the hard way. What's the plan?" he asked, his voice calm but expectant.
Cinder's grin returned, wide and eager. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," she purred.
She tossed her sword into the air, and it erupted in flames, spinning as it ascended. Catching it by the hilt as it fell, she swung the blade behind her in one smooth motion. Flames roared forth, surging toward the group in a fiery wave.
"Get down!" Qrow shouted, grabbing Pyrrha's shoulder and pulling her aside.
The team scattered. Pyrrha rolled to the ground as the flames surged past, scorching the platform where they had stood moments before. Cinder lunged forward through the fire, her burning blade poised to strike.
"Pyrrha!" Qrow shouted, leaping between her and the oncoming attack. Harbinger clashed against Cinder's blade, the force of the impact sending sparks flying. Qrow gritted his teeth as he pushed back against her strength.
Cinder grinned, pressing her attack. The two exchanged a flurry of strikes, their blades colliding with a deafening clash of steel. Qrow fought to hold his ground, but Cinder's strikes were calculated and relentless.
Pyrrha scrambled to her feet, Milo transforming into its javelin form. She hurled it toward Cinder, forcing her to leap back. The fiery blade narrowly missed Qrow as Cinder flipped through the air, landing with a predatory crouch.
"Red, stay back!" Qrow barked, but Pyrrha ignored him, pulling Milo from the ground and twirling it in her hands.
She rushed forward, meeting Cinder head-on. Their weapons collided with a resounding clang, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the platform. Pyrrha pushed back against Cinder's strikes, her movements precise and disciplined.
"You've been trained well," Cinder remarked, her voice filled with amusement. Their eyes locked, Cinder's gaze burning with hatred and malice. "But training won't save you."
Before Pyrrha could respond, Qrow rejoined the fight, Harbinger swinging in a wide arc toward Cinder. She leaped back, summoning a second sword in a burst of flames.
"And now there are two," Cinder said, her grin widening as she readied her blades. "Let's see what you're made of."
With that, she lunged forward again, her fiery blades clashing against Pyrrha and Qrow's weapons as the battle erupted into chaos.
Auron, Keith, and Hanako staggered to their feet on the edge of the landing platform, shaking off the dust and heat from Cinder's fiery onslaught. Their gazes snapped toward the center of the battlefield, where Pyrrha and Qrow fought desperately against Cinder. The apprentice moved with terrifying speed, her two flaming swords dancing in arcs of fire as she shifted effortlessly between the two. Each strike was met with fierce resistance, but it was clear that Cinder had the upper hand, countering every attack with lethal precision.
Auron gritted his teeth, his blaster in hand. "Get up!" he barked at his teammates and his mother, Leandra, who stood beside him, her double-bladed weapon still drawn in its rifle form.
Without waiting for a response, Auron turned to charge toward Pyrrha and Qrow, his weapon raised, but his path was abruptly blocked. Emerging from the smoke and flames ahead of them were two familiar figures—Mercury and Emerald.
Mercury twirled the silver blades that extended seamlessly from his arms, his stance calm and poised for battle. Beside him, Emerald leveled her dual pistols at the group, a cocky smirk playing on her lips.
"Where do you think you're going?" Mercury taunted, his silver hair glinting in the flickering firelight.
Keith blinked in surprise, pointing at Mercury's extended blades. "Dude, did those blades just come out of his arms? That's… freaky."
"Focus," Auron snapped, keeping his blaster trained on the pair. His mother stepped forward beside him, her weapon shifting back into its double-sword form with a mechanical hiss.
"Stand aside, or we will remove you," Leandra warned, her tone calm but laced with authority.
Hanako stepped up beside her, her katana gleaming in the firelight as she pointed it at Mercury. "You stand no chance against us. There are only two of you," she said coldly.
Mercury exchanged a glance with Emerald, giving her a slight nod. Emerald smirked before holstering her pistols, extending a single hand toward the group.
"What are they doing now?" Keith muttered, his grip tightening on his hammer.
The answer came swiftly. In a flash of green light, multiple clones of Mercury and Emerald shimmered into existence, surrounding Auron and the others. Dozens of illusions closed in from all sides, cutting off any escape.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Keith exclaimed, spinning in place to take in the sheer number of clones.
Hanako's eyes narrowed as she raised her katana. "Looks like they've taken the advantage."
Mercury smirked from across the battlefield. "Uh-oh. What's the plan now, huh?"
Auron glanced at his mother, his voice steady but urgent. "What do we do, Mom?"
Leandra's gaze flicked between the advancing clones, her jaw tightening. Then, with deliberate calm, she twirled her double-bladed sword in her hand, the flames of the wreckage reflecting in her determined eyes.
"We fight," she said simply. "We will not yield to those who threaten Lothadare."
Inspired by her resolve, Auron activated his plasma shield, which shimmered to life over his left arm, and transformed his blaster into its sword form. "Let's do this," he said, stepping into position beside her.
Hanako and Keith nodded, each readying their weapons as the clones surged forward.
"Attack!" Leandra commanded, charging headlong into the fray.
Her double-bladed sword whirled in a deadly arc, slicing clean through one of the clones, which dissolved instantly upon impact. With practiced precision, she spun and parried, cutting down two more in quick succession.
Auron met the charge head-on, deflecting a clone's attack with his shield before delivering a decisive slash with his plasma blade. The clone flickered out of existence, and Auron turned to block another blow.
Hanako was equally fierce, her katana a blur as she sliced through the illusions. She leaped back to avoid a volley of shots from Emerald's pistols, then closed the distance in a flash, cutting down two clones with a single swing.
Keith grinned despite the chaos, hefting his hammer onto his shoulder. "Let's see how solid you fakes are!" he shouted, leaping into the air. He brought his hammer down with a deafening crash, sending clones flying. The illusions flickered and dissipated as explosions rocked the platform.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha and Qrow continued their desperate battle against Cinder.
Pyrrha ducked as Cinder hurled another wave of fire from her twin blades, the heat searing the air around her. She turned in time to see Cinder close the distance with Qrow, their blades clashing in a storm of sparks. Qrow gritted his teeth as he blocked her relentless strikes, but Cinder moved with unyielding strength, forcing him back with every swing.
"Red, stay back!" Qrow shouted over his shoulder, but Pyrrha ignored him.
She lunged forward, Milo shifting into javelin form as she hurled it at Cinder. The fiery apprentice leaped into the air, avoiding the weapon, which embedded itself in the ground where she had stood. Cinder landed gracefully, crouching low with her swords crossed.
Pyrrha sprinted forward, reclaiming Milo and twirling it in her hand. She clashed with Cinder head-on, sparks flying as their weapons collided. Cinder smirked as she pressed her attack, her strikes growing heavier and faster. Pyrrha countered as best she could, but each blow forced her further back.
"You've been trained well," Cinder remarked, her voice calm and mocking. "But you're out of your league, little Prodigy."
Their weapons locked, and Cinder's amber eyes bore into Pyrrha's. There was hatred there—pure, unrelenting malice that burned hotter than her flames. Pyrrha shuddered but refused to falter.
Qrow rushed back into the fight, swinging Harbinger in a wide arc to force Cinder off balance. She leaped back, landing lightly on her feet. Her smirk widened as she summoned another wave of flames, sending them hurtling toward the pair.
The blast struck Qrow full force, sending him flying back across the platform. He landed hard, sliding to a stop and leaning heavily on Harbinger as he gasped for breath.
"Qrow!" Pyrrha cried out, but before she could reach him, Cinder closed the distance.
Her fiery blade slammed into Pyrrha's shield, the force of the blow sending her skidding back. Cinder pressed forward relentlessly, her strikes growing more vicious. Pyrrha fought to hold her ground, but it was clear she was being overwhelmed.
With a final, powerful swing, Cinder's blade broke through Pyrrha's defenses, slashing upward and sending her flying. Pyrrha hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop as her weapons clattered away from her grasp.
Cinder loomed over her, raising her blade for the finishing strike.
"You put up a good fight," Cinder said, her voice dripping with mockery. "But all must face the inevitable."
Before she could strike, a brilliant flash of blue light erupted from the side. Cinder was blasted back, her form spinning through the air before she landed hard on the platform.
Pyrrha turned to see Headmaster Rueben, his cane glowing faintly as he lowered it. "You both must leave. Now!" Rueben commanded. "We'll hold them off as long as we can."
"But—!" Pyrrha protested.
Qrow grabbed her by the shoulder, pulling her to her feet. "We have to go, Red! Now!"
Cinder rose from the ground, flames erupting around her as she snarled. Her fiery aura intensified, and her twin blades burned brighter than ever.
"GO!" Rueben shouted.
Qrow dragged Pyrrha away, her gaze lingering on Auron, Hanako, and Keith as they fought bravely below. Her heart twisted with guilt.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered.
As Rueben unleashed another blast of magic to hold Cinder at bay, Pyrrha and Qrow disappeared into the smoke, racing toward their escape.
Qrow swung his leg over the seat of his motorcycle, the engine growling to life beneath him. Sheathing Harbinger across his back, he glanced over his shoulder toward Pyrrha, who stood frozen a few steps behind.
Her gaze was locked on the battle below—the flashes of light and fire illuminating the chaos on the landing platform. Auron, Hanako, Keith, and Leandra were still locked in combat with Emerald and Mercury's clones, their movements fierce and unyielding. Farther back, the Headmaster held his ground against Cinder, casting spell after spell, his magic barely keeping the fiery apprentice at bay.
Pyrrha's fists tightened at her sides. Her heart ached at the sight of her friends fighting without her, and guilt gnawed at her like a persistent thorn. She could hear the echoes of clashing blades and feel the heat of the fires in the air around her.
"Red!" Qrow's voice cut through her thoughts like a blade. She turned to find him watching her, his expression hard and urgent. "Get on. Now!"
Pyrrha swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making breathing difficult. She wanted to stay, fight beside her teammates, and stand with them as they faced the impossible. But Rueben's voice echoed in her mind, commanding her to leave. You both must leave… Now!
Turning back to Qrow, she forced herself to nod.
"Right," she said, though her voice barely carried over the engine's roar.
She sheathed Milo and Akouo on her back with one last glance over her shoulder. Her weapons felt heavier than ever, a tangible reminder of the battle she was leaving behind. She climbed onto the motorcycle behind Qrow, hesitating briefly before wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Qrow revved the engine, the growl of the machine rising into a steady roar. "Hold on!" he barked, his voice rough but steady.
Pyrrha barely had time to tighten her grip before the motorcycle surged forward, the tires squealing against the road as they sped away. The wind tore at her hair and stung her eyes, and the sounds of the battle began to fade behind them.
Still, she couldn't stop herself from glancing back. The platform was a blur now, shrouded in smoke and flame. She could barely make out the figures of her friends, still fighting, holding their ground.
"I'm sorry…" Pyrrha whispered, her voice lost in the roar of the wind.
Qrow's gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, his jaw tight. He didn't look back—not at the battle or the friends they were leaving behind. He focused on getting them out of Lothadare, away from the danger, and onto the path they had no choice but to take.
Cinder growled low in her throat, her amber eyes narrowing as she watched Pyrrha and Qrow speeding off into the distance. They're getting away. Again. Just as they had in Arthamore. She clenched her jaw, frustration flaring within her. She couldn't afford to let this slip through her fingers again.
Her grip tightened on her flaming swords as she glanced at Headmaster Rueben, still standing between her and her quarry. The old fool was strong, but he was a distraction—a delay she could no longer indulge. If she wasted another second, the Prodigy and her protector would once more slip through her grasp.
Rueben raised his cane, the faint glow of magic gathering at its tip as he fired another light toward her. Cinder sidestepped the attack with graceful precision, the magic searing the air where she had been only moments before.
"Enough of this," Cinder hissed, thrusting one of her swords forward. A blazing fireball erupted from its tip, spiraling toward the Headmaster. Rueben reacted quickly, raising his cane to cast a shield spell, but he was a fraction too late.
The fireball struck the ground before him with a deafening explosion, sending a shockwave rippling across the platform. Rueben cried out as the blast threw him backward, his cane clattering to the ground beside him. He hit the platform hard, the impact forcing the air from his lungs as smoke and fire billowed around him.
Cinder's lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she straightened, the faint glow of the flames reflecting in her eyes. She turned toward the fleeing motorcycle, her cloak billowing behind her as she launched herself into the air. Her fiery aura ignited as she soared forward, leaving a blazing trail in her wake.
Leandra swung her double-bladed sword, cleaving through another of Emerald's clones before glancing back. Her sharp eyes widened in alarm as she saw the Headmaster lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by smoke and debris.
"Rueben!" she cried out, her voice tight with concern.
Auron, who had just finished slicing through one of Mercury's clones with his plasma blade, turned sharply at the sound of his mother's voice. His heart sank at the sight of the fallen Headmaster.
"I'm alright," Rueben rasped, his voice strained as he pushed himself up on one elbow.
Leandra and Auron hesitated, relief flickering in their eyes. But that relief was short-lived. Rueben lifted his gaze past them, his expression shifting from pain to alarm as he saw Cinder streaking through the air like a comet, her fiery form closing in on Qrow and Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha…" Rueben whispered hoarsely, his voice almost lost beneath the crackling of the flames around him.
Auron followed Rueben's gaze, his stomach dropping as he realized what was happening. "Pyrrha!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the platform.
Her blazing swords hummed with heat and power as Cinder closed the distance. The motorcycle was within her sights now, its taillights glowing faintly against the darkened road ahead. She grinned, the thrill of the hunt fueling her resolve.
"You won't escape this time," she murmured, her swords igniting even brighter.
But as Cinder surged forward, a flicker of light caught her eye. She glanced to the side just in time to see Rueben, battered and bloodied but still standing, raising his cane once more. The Headmaster's eyes burned with determination as he channeled every ounce of his strength into a single spell.
"Not today," Rueben said firmly, his voice ringing out with quiet defiance.
A brilliant magic beam shot from his cane, cutting through the air precisely. Cinder's eyes widened in surprise as the blast struck her mid-flight. She was thrown backward, spiraling through the air before landing hard on the platform below. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the stone as flames erupted around her.
Leandra and Auron watched in awe as Rueben staggered forward, his cane trembling slightly in his grip. The Headmaster's face was pale, his strength waning, but his resolve remained unshaken.
"Auron, Leandra, hold the line!" Rueben commanded, his voice unyielding despite his injuries. "They need time to get away!"
Leandra nodded, steeling herself as she raised her double-bladed sword. Auron turned back toward the battle, gripping his plasma sword tightly. The remaining clones of Mercury and Emerald closed in, but the two fighters held their ground, cutting through the illusions with precision and fury.
Far ahead, Qrow glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes catching the faint glimmer of flames behind them. He growled under his breath, pushing the motorcycle harder.
"Hold on, Red!" he barked, his voice carrying over the engine's roar.
Pyrrha tightened her grip around Qrow's waist, her knuckles white as she clung to him. She turned her head, her heart sinking as she caught a glimpse of the battle fading into the distance. Even now, she could see the faint flashes of her teammates fighting alongside Rueben and Leandra.
She bit her lip, her chest tightening with guilt. She wanted to go back, to stand with them, to fight—but Qrow's words from before echoed in her mind. This isn't your fight, not yet. You can't save them if you're dead.
"Pyrrha!" Auron's voice rang out faintly behind her, barely audible over the roar of the wind and the motorcycle's engine.
Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away, focusing on the road ahead. "I'm sorry…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Qrow's grip on the handlebars tightened as he pushed the bike to its limit. The wind tore at them, and the darkness of the road ahead seemed endless, but there was no turning back now.
Behind them, Cinder rose slowly from the cracked platform, flames reigniting around her. She clenched her fists, the fiery swords materializing in her hands again. Her gaze burned with fury as she watched the motorcycle disappear into the distance.
Rueben stood firm despite the strain, his cane glowing faintly as he prepared for another attack. Cinder's eyes narrowed on him, her lips curling into a snarl.
"You'll pay for that," she growled, stepping forward with deadly intent.
The battle was far from over.
Pyrrha shifted her gaze back, her heart racing as she saw Cinder soaring toward them, flames swirling around her like a living inferno. Her fiery swords glowed menacingly in the night, and the apprentice's amber eyes burned with unrelenting fury.
"She's coming!" Pyrrha exclaimed, her voice tight with urgency.
Qrow glanced into the rearview mirror, the reflection of Cinder growing closer with every second. The apprentice of the Empress was gaining on them fast, her speed unnaturally swift. Qrow's jaw tightened. They didn't have much time. If they didn't make the jump now, it would be too late.
Reaching into his shirt pocket, Qrow pulled out the pendant—the artifact entrusted to them to open the portal to Haven. With practiced fingers, he pressed several symbols along its edge, activating the ancient device. The center crystal glowed faintly before shooting a bright blue beam forward, carving through the darkness ahead of them. The beam widened into a shimmering portal, its edges pulsing with energy as it stabilized.
"Hang on, Red!" Qrow barked, gripping the handlebars tightly and leaning forward as he revved the engine. The motorcycle roared in response, picking up speed as it surged toward the glowing gateway.
Behind them, Cinder let out a furious growl as she realized their plan.
"No!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the night. She raised one of her fiery swords, the blade blazing brighter before she thrust it forward. A massive fireball erupted from its tip, streaking through the air toward the fleeing motorcycle.
Pyrrha glanced back and gasped, her emerald eyes widening at the sight of the blazing projectile closing in on them.
"Qrow!" she cried out.
But Qrow didn't answer. His focus was locked on the portal ahead, his face set in grim determination. He leaned further over the bike, urging it faster, the engine screaming as it hit its limits.
The fireball was closing in fast, its heat already prickling at Pyrrha's back. She gritted her teeth, summoning Akouo to her arm and bracing herself. If it came to it, she'd block the attack with her shield.
But just as the fireball was about to reach them, the motorcycle crossed the threshold of the portal. The shimmering gateway swallowed them whole, its light briefly flaring before snapping shut behind them.
The fireball struck the ground where they had been, erupting in a massive explosion that shook the street. Flames and debris scattered in all directions, but Cinder's quarry was gone.
Hovering mid-air, Cinder let out a furious growl, her teeth clenched as her fiery aura flared around her. She had been so close—so close—and yet, the Prodigy had escaped her grasp once more.
Her fists tightened around the hilts of her swords as she slowly descended to the street. The flames around her dimmed slightly, but her rage remained as hot as ever. Her amber eyes narrowed in the direction the portal had been, and her lips curled into a predatory grin.
"Run while you can, Prodigy," she murmured, her voice low and venomous. "But the hunt has only begun."
From below, the battle came to a halt as Auron, Hanako, and Keith turned their attention to the shimmering portal in the sky. They watched as the gateway flickered and vanished, leaving no trace of Pyrrha and Qrow behind.
Auron let out a shaky breath, lowering his plasma blade as relief washed over him. "They made it…" he murmured.
Hanako sheathed her katana, her expression softening as she nodded. "They're on their way to Haven."
Keith, his hammer resting on his shoulder, let out a long sigh of relief. "Phew. About time. I thought for sure that flaming psycho was gonna catch them."
Auron glanced up at the now-empty sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the chaos around him. "Bye, Pyrrha," he said quietly.
But their moment of relief was short-lived. Among the dissipating smoke, Mercury and Emerald slipped through the shadows unnoticed, retreating toward the edge of the transport station. Mercury's sharp gaze caught the distant shapes of incoming Lothadarian gunships, their searchlights cutting through the darkness as they closed in on the battle site.
He gestured subtly to Emerald, who nodded in understanding. Without a word, the two assassins broke into a sprint, vanishing into the night.
At the same time, their clones flickered and disappeared into thin air. Auron, Hanako, and Keith turned quickly, scanning the area for any sign of the originals.
"Hey, where'd they go?" Keith asked, frowning as he spun in place.
Hanako's grip on her katana tightened, her eyes darting around the battlefield. "They're gone…" she said, her voice quiet but laced with suspicion.
Auron frowned, his relief now tempered by concern. "They're not done with us. Not yet."
Cinder stood motionless in the middle of the street, her fiery blades dissipating into embers as her aura settled. Her mind raced as she considered her next move. The Prodigy had escaped for now, but this was far from over.
With a final glance toward the empty road ahead, Cinder turned and walked away, her grin never wavering.