AN: What's this? Another chapter so soon? Well, stuff happened and I actually had gotten the previous chapter and this chapter done before posting the previous. What happened exactly? Stuff. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 62: No Winners Here
Ozpin should have been happy that he was back in familiar territory. The halls of Beacon Academy, his halls. He was back, out of the other world from hell. He should have been happy. But standing where he had vanished, carrying the body of a little girl, who was left a corpse that did not represent her true age (a final cruel trick played on her by life itself), he was not happy.
Ozpin was livid; and at the moment, he could unfortunately not take it out on Gray Jackal, the people who controlled poor Alice for so long. They were not present. Instead, he could only take it out on Salem's close subordinates.
Ozpin gingerly carried Alice's body to the outside of Beacon Academy, with a cold expression on his face. Take this rage out on them I shall. He vowed, before disappearing in a green flash of light.
Meanwhile, back in Ever After Forest, in the center of a massive crater, Hazel Rainart calmly retracted his fist from the motionless, facedown body of Hansel Kobalt. "That's all she wrote." Hazel growled, still riding the high from his burst of power from the Dust he had injected into his body. "I suggest you stay down. Do not force me to kill you. I am under Salem's orders to spare your life and bring you to her. I do not enjoy disappointing her…none of us do."
At that moment, Hazel sensed the presence of a Huntsman that made him shiver. He narrowed his eyes. "Qrow Branwen." He muttered. "Damn it, this complicates things."
Hazel contemplated his next move. If I were at full strength, I would face off against him. But I have fought too many battles, one of which pushed me further than anyone else has in years. Likely, Pyrrha Nikos is that way as well, which means going after the full power of the Fall Maiden is out of reach. And if I tried to carry Hansel Kobalt and collect Cinder, he might catch up and we'd still be in trouble.
Loathed as I am to admit it, Salem asked for too much of us for this mission. No, where we went wrong was we tried to prioritize claiming everything she asked for when the chance arose. If I had approached things differently…could I have gotten past Hansel with time to collect Pyrrha Nikos?
Hazel took a deep breath. I let myself get wrapped up in fighting that irritating young man, and it cost us. This failure is mine. If we lose Cinder, our cause takes a massive step back, and we will all suffer for it at Salem's hands.
Hazel began to walk away from Hansel, resolved to collect Cinder before things got even more out of hand. However, upon nearing the edge of the crater, he sensed a familiar presence rising to his feet. His eyes widened in a mixture of disbelief and irritation. "No." He growled.
Hazel looked over his shoulder to see Hansel back on his feet, eyes hidden by a lowered head. He snarled with rage at the fact that this boy just would not stay down. "What is with you?" Hazel demanded. "What is it going to take for you to realize that this fight is unwinnable for you? Continuing means death! Or would you prefer death, boy?!"
Hansel did not respond. Hazel shook his head. "You're hopeless." He concluded. "Hopeless, and more importantly dangerous. Too dangerous to be left alive, I'm afraid. With such stubborn resolve, even she could not break you."
Hazel took a deep breath. "I never agreed with her desire to bring you to heel. I knew as soon as I heard of you, that someone like you would never turn. And you've done very well in proving me right." Hazel dug his heels in, prepared for one last lunge. One that would surely kill Hansel Kobalt. "Salem will understand. Even she can put aside whimsical wants such as your servitude for the sake of her ambitions. It's admirable, really."
"This blow will cave that thick skull of yours in." He promised. "Goodbye, Hansel Kobalt. May history only remember you as a stubborn fool who did not know when to give up."
With that, Hazel lunged at Hansel, with a bolt of lightning trailing behind him. Before the next second passed, Hazel was upon Hansel, ready to cave his skull in with one final punch, just as he promised. The punch was thrown, the blow landed. However, it was not Hansel's skull that took the blow. Instead, much to Hazel's disbelief, Hansel's left hand had come up and caught Hazel's fist.
Hazel's mouth dropped open in shock. He tried to move his arm away from Hansel, only to find that he could not. Hansel's grip was too strong. Impossible! Where is this strength coming from?! He was near death when I walked away from him!
Hansel's grip tightened. Hazel's eyes widened further when he heard the sounds of the bones in his left hand break. Then, Hansel raised his head. Hazel got a good look into his eyes and a shocked gasp left his mouth. A part of him wished to look away in fear, but he could not. Once the man had regained his composure, he could only stare at Hansel with fear and awe.
"What are you?" He demanded.
Hansel did not respond. His damaged right arm moved forward in a flash and a fist connected with Hazel's chest. And in a flash, Hazel disappeared from the crater, sent flying by a powerful punch.
Ironically, Hazel had gone away from Qrow Branwen, and had indeed left the crater. It was just not in the way he had intended. Not the way he intended at all. Meanwhile, Hansel Kobalt was left standing in the middle of the crater, body slowly going limp.
Meanwhile, Qrow had instinctively stopped for a moment when he saw his niece lying on her back, exhausted, with the little sister of that ice queen nearby. "Yang!" He exclaimed, dropping in from the sky out of his bird form.
"Uncle Qrow?" Yang gasped. "Oh, thank the gods."
"You okay?" Qrow worriedly asked her.
"Just exhausted," Yang replied, "you should see the other guy."
Yang gestured with her head to show Qrow the unconscious Mercury Black. Qrow whistled in appreciation when he saw the state Yang had left him in, along with the still frozen Emerald Sustrai. "You two did a number on them." He praised before addressing Yang specifically. "And it looks like you got back at the jerk for Vytal after all."
"Damn straight." Yang grinned before her expression turned serious. "Look, Uncle Qrow, forget about Weiss and me. Ruby's still deep in the forest. Blake too. Teach is there too, but if these two are here, that means that psycho Cinder is in the forest. You've got to get them out of here."
Qrow did not hesitate, though he wished he could stay long enough to praise Yang for being able to prioritize who really needed his help. "Pete and Barty are right behind me." He promised, referring to Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck. "They'll get you guys to safety. Just hang tight."
"Hey, we're not going anywhere." Yang joked.
Qrow ran ahead and transformed into a bird once he was out of sight. "Do you think he'll get there in time?" Weiss suddenly asked.
"It's Uncle Qrow, showing up exactly when he's needed is kinda his thing." Yang replied.
"...Do you think Ruby and Blake will be alive when he gets there?" Weiss asked after a moment of silence.
"We can't really do anything about it." Yang admitted. "All we've got to keep us going is faith at this point."
Finally, back at the fight with Cinder, Ruby and Blake, a new player had entered the field to tip the scales in favor of the Beacon girls. A visibly battered, injured and exhausted Glynda Goodwitch glared at Cinder. Cinder scowled back. "You actually killed the Jormungandr? You are strong." She admitted. "It's going to be years before Salem is able to evolve a Grimm into an ancient class beast such as that once again."
"Want me to play you a sad song on the world's smallest violin?" Glynda scoffed.
"A rather crude response from a supposedly sophisticated woman such as yourself." Cinder raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, forgive me, I get a little cranky when people try to kill me and my students." Glynda said with biting sarcasm.
In spite of the tense situation, Ruby and Blake both could not help but sweat-drop. She is definitely the professor's foster mom. They concluded.
Cinder chuckled. "Well, getting cranky might be all you're capable of. Because it looks like the Jormungandr has left you in a far more manageable state, Holy Witch." She proclaimed, superheating dust into several swords.
Before Ruby, Cinder and Blake could even blink, the swords were destroyed by projectiles, flung by Glynda's Semblance. Cinder gasped. "Oh, don't look so surprised." Glynda scoffed. "Yes, I hurt all over because of that damn snake you set loose."
"But just because I've gotten weaker, doesn't mean you're stronger than me." Glynda proclaimed. "I'd say I'm only operating at 50% at best. Considering that you ran like hell with Roman Torchwick that night, I think we both know 50% still surpasses you. So let's end this, Cinder Fall."
Cinder moved to attack Glynda once more, only for the ground beneath her feet to be suddenly uprooted by Glynda's Semblance. She gasped as the suddenness actually lifted her into the air, leaving her stunned for a few moments before remembering she could use flames at her feet to fly.
By the time Cinder summoned flames at her feet, Glynda struck again. A burnt tree was uprooted and slammed into her midsection. "Ack!" Cinder grunted in pain.
Glynda casually flicked her riding crop around, manipulating more debris to strike Cinder hard. "You know, people tell me all the time about how elegant my Semblance is." She mused. "I actually disagree with them."
Cinder landed on the ground, realizing she was in danger in the air. "The only thing relatively elegant about my Semblance is the level of control needed to use it properly." Glynda revealed, casually lifting up more debris with her Semblance, much to the amazement of Ruby and Blake.
"Other than that, my Semblance is as crude as they come, because it can be summed up by a very simple concept: hammer the enemy with as much force as you can manage until they lose the will to fight." Glynda smirked. "We may not be related by blood, but I seem to share the same sentiment as my boy."
"Don't fuck with me!" Cinder screamed as she started blasting debris with fireballs.
Blake and Ruby just stared in awe as Cinder's projectiles clashed with Glynda's projectiles. Ruby was the first to note that Glynda actually had the advantage in quantity. This is crazy. Professor Goodwitch is at half strength and she's still overwhelming Cinder! It took Blake and I everything we had just to survive and she's just making it seem so effortless.
For her part, Blake looked around and watched as small pieces of the land and debris were ripped up and thrown at Cinder like they were being shot out of cannons. She wasn't kidding about the level of control. But a very underrated part she neglected to mention, the sheer mental capacity needed to break down debris into the appropriate amount of weapons is incredible. Just how quickly can Professor Goodwitch's brain process information?
Cinder yelled in pain as she was peppered with projectiles, unable to land a meaningful hit on Glynda. Damn it, the whole point of the Jormungandr was to kill her or at least buy us enough time to collect Pyrrha Nikos and the other half of the Fall Maiden's powers. This was supposed to be a simple smash and grab mission. But everything's gone wrong! If I can't salvage this…who knows what Her Grace will do to me!
Cinder's eyes widened in fear. She…she might actually take away these powers as punishment. I can't let that happen!
With a roar, Cinder's entire body burst into flames. Glynda's eyes went wide when she saw the heat of the flames become so intense that the area around her began to melt, like magma. I don't care if she's one of the Ten Legends, I won't forgive her for looking down on me. Cinder vowed.
"Bitch!" Cinder spat at Glynda as the projectiles melted down before they could strike her.
Ruby and Blake gasped. She adjusted her strategy just like that to defend herself? Ruby realized.
A defensive shield of fire to melt the projectiles…that was smart. Blake admitted.
Glynda regained her composure and narrowed her eyes. "That was very unwise." She proclaimed before the magma-like substance that arrived as a result of Cinder's intense heat suddenly began to rise up.
Blake's eyes widened again as the magma surrounded Cinder and converged on her, like it intended to encase her in a fatal prison. Unbelievable! Just as Cinder adjusted her strategy in an instant, Professor Goodwitch adjusted her own even faster!
Ruby simply stood slack-jawed as the magma encased Cinder, turning her into a burning statue. However, before anyone could celebrate, a burst of power came from the statue. The outer shell of magma exploded and Cinder glared at Glynda. Several dust swords superheated into glass and were launched in her direction.
Ruby and Blake both gasped in surprise as they were flung to the side by an invisible force. Then, they watched as several projectiles rose up to defend Glynda from the blades. The blades shattered upon impact with the debris Glynda manipulated.
"So disappointing." Glynda mused as she went on the offensive now, forming spears out of burnt tree trunks. "I guess this is the best I could expect from someone who only got half of the Fall Maiden's powers. It's no wonder you had to go after Amber. If you had gone after any of the other three, you would've been killed."
Cinder scowled as she created a wave of fire that incinerated the spears. "Perhaps you shouldn't have let her out of your sight!" She yelled.
"A tragic mistake." Glynda acknowledged. "Amber was our responsibility and we failed her."
"But I know that she was also cautious, like we told her to be, and that she never would've been taken out if you hadn't lured her into a trap." Glynda pointed out. "Tell me I'm wrong, Cinder."
Cinder responded by creating a massive arrow of fire that was immediately launched at Glynda. Glynda quickly responded by ripping a massive chunk of earth from the ground to block the giant arrow. "And I also know that even if she had been lured into a trap, Amber would have fought back until the end. She fought to live another day, like a true Huntress. And I'm sure she fought like hell. I'm sure someone like you barely eked out a win."
"Someone like me?" Cinder summoned enough power to fly into the air. "I was a prodigy long before I took this power for myself! I am not just some run of the mill Huntress!"
Glynda smirked again. "So was I back in the day. In the grand scheme of things, that term is overrated." She admitted. "Especially with how each new generation of Huntsmen is stronger and stronger than their predecessors."
Suddenly, a cloud of dust surrounded Cinder. "And for a prodigy, you sure do love taking power like a damn parasite. Then again, that's all you are. A parasite, a buzzard. You leech off others for power, then scurry away at the first sign of danger."
"You dare…" Cinder trailed off, deciding to turn the dust cloud into glass that she would immediately shatter.
Then, a boulder came through the cloud and slammed into her midsection, sending her back to the ground. "Oh, I dare." Glynda promised. "You ran from me the night we both met Ruby, and you ran from Ozpin as soon as your little scheme to take the rest of Amber's power failed."
"Forgive me if this is something nobody's ever had the guts to tell you before, but all you know how to do is run, hide and take in the grand scheme of things." Glynda revealed. "Calling you a parasite and a buzzard sounds pretty damn appropriate to me."
At that moment, memories of advice Cinder had received from a man that she had been trying to put out of her mind for years flashed in her head. "You'll be running for the rest of your life." Hearing that advice again made Cinder freeze up.
Blake gasped, realizing just why Glynda was trying to talk Cinder to death as much as fight her to death. She's trying to make Cinder careless. By getting inside of her head, she's making her careless with her powers and defenses. I don't know if Professor Goodwitch actually needs to play mind games…but she's just increasing her chances of winning at this point.
"I am not running." Cinder muttered before shouting. "I am not running! Do you hear me? I never ran! Not once!"
Glynda began to subtly manipulate a large mass to strike at Cinder. And with this, I have completely caused her to snap. The more out of control her emotions are, the more she'll waste energy. That will make bringing her down much easier.
Cinder screamed with rage as a massive fireball began to grow in her hands. "Bigger…bigger…BIGGER! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Cinder screamed as the fireball became the size of a Beowolf.
Glynda took a deep breath. A bit dangerous, but this is exactly as planned. The more out of control her emotions are, the more unstable her Aura becomes, especially by using so much magic to create that giant fireball. That will make protecting herself difficult. A blow like this will definitely end the fight now!
As Ruby gazed upon what was undoubtedly the final moments of the fight, a million thoughts ran through her head. She knew she should be happy that everyone was going to walk home alive and well. However, she also could not help but be amazed at the gap between Glynda and Cinder. I honestly thought Cinder was on a completely different level…but Professor Goodwitch is the one who was on a different level all along. And what's more, she's basically at half of her full capabilities because of prior injuries. She's fighting at half strength at best and she's still this far ahead of Cinder.
Ruby found her mind going to a dark place, as her thoughts came to a very inevitable conclusion. They're this far ahead of us. This is what it takes to be a pro. This is what it takes to be the best. I'm so far behind…Cinder, Professor Goodwitch, Professor Kobalt, Professor Ozpin…they're all on a completely different level.
Blake, on the other hand, knew that Glynda had prepared to strike Cinder hard with some sort of mass. However, she had begun to have doubts about such a plan. With a mass of power gathering in her hands in the form of that flame, it would still go off. And a blast like that would be dangerous for all of us!
Cinder prepared to toss the fireball at Glynda. "Now, burn!" She exclaimed.
"You really do have the worst case of tunnel vision." Glynda chided. "Though I suppose that is to be expected from someone who constantly feels they are in control of the situation."
"However, it's time you pay the price for it."
With that, the ground beneath Cinder was lifted into the air. Cinder yelled in surprise as she was moved higher and higher until she found herself staring down a large, burnt tree trunk. Blake and Ruby both yelped in surprise as they were unceremoniously pushed backwards by the force of Glynda's telekinetic powers.
Then, without any control being exerted over it, the massive fireball Cinder had been holding onto fizzled and then exploded. Further away, a black bird cawed in surprise at the sight of a cloud of fire as it neared the site of the explosion.
Back at the fight, Glynda Goodwitch shielded herself from the intense heat of the explosion. She looked over her shoulder to see Ruby and Blake were practically flat on the ground, staring in awe at the destructive power of the final move of the fight. A body fell from the sky and hit the ground hard.
Blake looked at the charred body of Cinder Fall in shock. Did we really just win? Just like that? Blake wondered.
Ruby just stared silently at the beatdown her nemesis had just received. After all that…she lost so easily to Professor Goodwitch.
Glynda took several deep breaths. That took more out of me than I thought. I guess even half of a Maiden's power is nothing to sneeze at.
Suddenly, Cinder's body started to stir, eliciting a gasp from everyone present. "For real?" Ruby muttered in disbelief.
Glynda shook her head as Cinder, heavily injured, rose to her feet. "Seriously? You're unbelievable." She muttered.
"I will win." Cinder croaked out. "I will win, do you hear me?"
"After all I've been through…I will not go back to what I once was!" Cinder proclaimed. "Victory will be mine, no matter what!"
Glynda did not hesitate, she straightened herself out as she prepared to fight and protect Ruby and Blake once more. Then, someone else cut into the conversation. "That's enough, Cinder, it's over."
Cinder and Glynda turned to see Hazel Rainart limping into the clearing. He stood next to Cinder, who actually looked surprised to see someone of his caliber in such a state. Ruby's eyes widened in horror as she came to realize the implications of Hazel being here.
After all, if he was here, what happened to Hansel?
"Hazel…what happened to you?" Cinder demanded.
Hazel sighed gazing at his injuries. "I only have enough Aura to keep my Semblance active and for defense…but not enough to heal these injuries." He admitted.
"E-even so!" Cinder tried to reason with him. Well, more like get him to see things her mad way, rather than reason. "If we combine what strength we have left, we can take Glynda!"
Hazel shook his head. "Qrow Branwen is on his way here, Cinder. And with him here, Pyrrha Nikos is definitely out of reach. We've lost. We've no choice but to retreat and beg her ladyship for forgiveness."
"No! We can still complete our mission! Going back empty handed would be-"
At that moment, a chilling voice cut through the air like a very sharp knife. Ruby and Blake both shivered at the tone. Even Glynda felt a chill run down her spine. "Oh, enough, Cinder, except that you've lost."
At that moment, a strange, jellyfish-like Grimm floated into view. "Your Grace!" Cinder gasped.
"Is that…Professor Goodwitch, is that who I think it is?" Ruby asked.
Glynda nodded. "There's no doubt. That is her voice."
Ruby then watched in shock and a hint of horror as Cinder actually flinched at the sight of the jellyfish-like Grimm, a Seer. "Your Grace, please forgive me." She pleaded. "I didn't mean for all of this to go wrong…"
"The fault is mine, Your Grace." Hazel cut in. "I let myself get caught up in battle, and Pyrrha Nikos escaped as a result. If you are to punish anyone for this, let it be me."
A dark portal then opened up. "If that is how you feel, then both of you enter and return to me, right now." Salem firmly ordered. "I will deal with you both later."
Hazel patted Cinder on the shoulder with his good hand. "We must go, and accept whatever she has in store for us." He ordered before entering the dark portal.
Cinder took a deep breath and gave one last defiant glare to her three foes. "I swear, we will finish this another time!" She exclaimed before fleeing into the portal.
Glynda sighed. I don't have the strength to pursue either. She admitted to herself.
"Now then…looking at the three of you," Salem chortled in amusement, "the only one with any sense is the Faunus."
Blake was flinching and shivering at the meer sound of Salem's chilling voice. "She's cowering like an actual cat. How comical."
This is…this is Salem? This is the master of all Grimm? Even her voice feels like I'm being impaled through the heart with a cold blade..
"Now then, as for you, little one, you must be Ruby." Ruby's eyes widened at Salem addressing her directly. "I apologize that we cannot yet meet face to face…but it is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Ruby swallowed hard, unable to bring herself to speak. Salem then took a deep breath, inhaling sharply as though she were experiencing pain. "You are the spitting image of your mother." She said bluntly.
Ruby's eyes widened. "Mom?"
"Summer Rose…the same face, same eyes, same determined expression, even in the face of impossible odds. The traits of a hero from the fairy tails. In fact, those traits are quite similar to many of your kind I've killed over my long lifetime. However, none exemplified those traits better than your mother."
Salem then growled. "No matter how many times I see those despicable eyes, I want to destroy the one with them, no matter how insignificant they are. And seeing the same face as Summer Rose's…a decade and a half and seeing it fills me with such anger."
"Just looking at you, Ruby, makes the old wounds from my battle with Summer ache. Only two others ever pushed me as far in battle as she did, and she is the only one besides Oz who can enrage me so."
Ruby finally found her voice. "Then…you killed my mother." It took a moment, but Ruby actually managed to comprehend what she just said. And she snapped. She screamed with rage. "YOU KILLED MY MOTHER!"
Blake and Glynda both flinched at how furious Ruby sounded. "There we go! That's more like it!" Salem forgot her anger and laughed in amusement. "Now that I've got your attention, I want to make a few things very clear to you."
"I don't know what delusions of grandeur dear Ozpin has filled your head with, but I've killed warriors with silver eyes far greater than you, not just your mother. And compared to all of them, you're nothing but a whelp. Though, considering you are the last of your kind, it'd almost be a shame to end you like all the rest. It's like hunting an already endangered species to extinction."
Ruby glared at the Seer. "Speaking of, do you want to know what your mother was like at the end?" Salem taunted.
Glynda's expression turned sad at the sight of how angry and sad Ruby looked. She's torturing the poor girl…not for any particular reason, other than her own amusement. It's just like Ozpin told me: she's evil. I'd take it one step further and argue she's pure evil.
"All she did was mutter your name, telling you to live. I think the only reason she didn't beg me not to hurt you is because she wanted to die with a little bit of pride and dignity in her heart." Salem laughed. "When I heard that, I could not help but laugh like I am now. The fate of your kind is forever intertwined with mine. Live? That was never in the cards for you."
"But all the same, I've killed so many of your kind over the years that I really want to see just how far you'll go. It's like my own recurring show at this point. So try to keep me entertained, Ruby. Live long enough, and I'll have to address you personally, just like your mother."
At that moment, a gunshot rang out and the head of the Seer exploded into black miasma. Ruby, Blake and Glynda looked behind them to see Qrow pointing the shotgun of Harbinger outwards. The barrel was smoking, recently fired. "She was done." Qrow shrugged.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shouted with relief. Then, she started to tear up as what Salem said really hit her. "Uncle Qrow…she killed Mom. She really killed Mom."
Qrow lowered his head in sadness. "I know kid, I know." He said sorrowfully.
At that moment, the quartet heard growling. Beowolves and Ursa slowly approached them all. Nevermores cawed as they landed next to their four-legged brethren. "You have got to be kidding me." Blake muttered.
"Talk about a sore loser." Qrow added. His were then drawn upwards. His eyes widened when he realized what was about to happen. "Oh shit. Move!"
Glynda seemed to realize what was happening as well, and Ruby and Blake were unceremoniously dragged backwards by telekinetic power. At that moment, a wall of pure green energy tore through the ground like a laser, enveloping all of the Grimm in the process.
"Whoa!" Blake exclaimed in shock.
"He's never one for half measures when he's serious." Qrow muttered, looking upwards.
The dust settled and all of the Grimm that had been ready to attack were gone, wiped out by this incredible power. Ruby looked to where Qrow's eyes were and saw Ozpin floating in the air, cane pointed outwards.
"Please tell me it's finally over." Blake muttered.
Glynda sighed, relaxing considerably. "This fight? Yes."
Ruby's eyes widened as she remembered something very important. "Professor Goodwitch, Uncle Qrow, we have to go back to where that large man came from!" She exclaimed.
"Why?" Glynda asked.
Ruby's answer made Glynda's stomach twist in knots. "Because he was fighting Professor Kobalt!"
Glynda's eyes widened. "Please, God, no." She muttered. Not my boy, anything but my boy.
Meanwhile, back at Salem's dark fortress, the two loyal servants almost immediately found themselves kneeling in fear of their mistress. "Milady, please forgive us," Cinder pleaded, "we were so close. I was so close. Please, don't take my power from me."
Salem hummed. "Go and treat your wounds, Cinder." She ordered. "We will speak further on this matter later."
Cinder nodded and rose to her feet. "Yes, yes of course!" She exclaimed, before leaving Salem's presence.
"Now, as for you, Hazel," Salem turned back to her largest enforcer, "I would say the same of you, but you have taken responsibility for this mission's failure."
Hazel nodded. "I will make no excuses, Milady." He promised. "I wished to try and deliver both the other half of the Fall Maiden's powers and Hansel Kobalt himself to you, and because of that, I failed in both. I was far too confident that I could do both and because of that I failed."
Hazel lowered his head. "Whatever punishment you have for me, I will accept it."
Salem studied Hazel for a moment. She then shook her head. "No," she said to him, "you know where you went wrong on this mission, and even we cannot account for bad luck. The arrival of Hansel Kobalt and those other girls was unforeseen and an unlucky miscalculation. Had I foreseen it, I would've ordered you to prioritize Pyrrha Nikos. We can bring Hansel Kobalt to our side at our leisure."
Hazel grumbled at this. Salem raised an eyebrow. "There is something bothering you, Hazel." She noted.
Hazel took a deep breath. That boy, he had to know. "Milady, what is Hansel Kobalt and why do you wish him to be brought to your side?" He demanded. "You say it is his fate to fall to darkness like his family…but I am beginning to wonder if there is more to it than that."
Salem smiled darkly at this query. "You saw something, didn't you?" She asked knowingly.
Hazel did not respond. Salem already knew the answer to her own question. "Get your wounds treated and we will speak afterwards." She ordered.
"There, I will tell you the dark truth of the Kobalt Family. A truth even darker than the Tragedy of the Flames."
Meanwhile, back in what was left of Ever After Forest, Ruby and Blake led Glynda and Qrow to where Hansel and Hazel had been battling. As they neared the site of the fight, the amount of destruction in the area was growing. "Oof, just wait until Mom and Dad get home." Qrow muttered. He then turned his attention to Glynda, Ruby, and Blake. "You sure none of you need my help?"
"We're all fine, Uncle Qrow." Ruby promised.
"I'll be fine after I see my boy." Glynda said under her breath. Only Blake's ears caught that. It was at that moment she truly understood the depths of Glynda's love for her adopted son.
Then, the quartet arrived in the clearing and saw the crater that had resulted from the intense battle between Hansel Kobalt and Hazel Rainart. "Geez, that kid is not one for half measures either." Qrow shook his head in disbelief.
Ruby and Blake looked around in shock at the destruction. So this is what happens when the Professor goes full force. Blake realized. I guess the tougher the Huntsman, the more they've gotta limit themselves around civilians. It's the same with Professor Goodwitch. They really are on a completely different level compared to the rest of us.
At that moment, both girls saw the center of the crater and their eyes widened and they gasped in horror.
In the center of the crater stood Hansel Kobalt, burnt, dirty, broken, and covered in blood. "Professor Kobalt…" Ruby muttered in shock.
"All of those injuries and he's still standing? Still conscious?" Blake could not believe it.
Qrow's expression turned somber when he realized that was not actually the case. "No…" he could only mutter.
"HANSEL!" Glynda screamed, summoning as much of her strength as she could to run down the crater on her own towards her son.
Once Glynda reached the bottom of the crater, she stumbled her way to Hansel. Then, she got a good look at his face and realized what had happened to her boy. Hansel's eyes were open, but they were glassy, blank. He was not moving a single muscle.
"He's…he's unconscious!" Glynda shouted in shock.
Ruby and Blake gasped while Qrow lowered his head in sorrow. The kid gave it his all and all he's got to show for it is the bad guys running away to fight another day. All these injuries…kid, I hope it was worth it.
Glynda could not stop the waterworks. "Oh, Hansel," she sobbed, "your mind may have given out, but your body refuses to yield. You can't help it. It's just who you are. All your years of training and fighting have turned you into a spectacular Huntsman, one who won't give up no matter what. And I am so proud of you for that."
Glynda then pulled Hansel's body into a tight embrace. "But it's okay, you don't have to push yourself anymore!" She yelled in grief, visibly in pain. "You've done incredible. So please, just take a rest, Sweetie. It's over! Let yourself rest!"
Blake lowered her head, unable to stop herself from weeping at the lengths her teacher had gone for all their sakes. Ruby looked away, unable to bear the sight of Hansel in such a state. Nothing's changed. Cinder got away. Salem's still out there. And now even the professor is…
A few tears fell from Ruby's eyes. Why can't I be half the Huntress that Mom was? Why am I so weak?
The battle was over, but the winners did not feel like such.
Meanwhile, the authorities had finally arrived and were surrounding the injured students, who had all been somehow gathered by Zwei. As the authorities secured the injured, they also took Cinder's two associates into custody.
While Mercury Black stayed surprisingly quiet and somber as he was loaded into a truck to be taken into prison. Emerald Sustrai, however, would not be quiet. She furiously struggled against her restraints as she called out for her master and savior. "Cinder!" She yelled. "Cinder, where are you?"
"Please, don't let them take me! Please! Where are you, Cinder?" Eventually, she was loaded into the truck with Mercury.
Eventually, the injured Professor Plum and Professor Peach had been brought in as well. "Get them medical attention right now!" An officer exclaimed. "We can still save them!"
Two more officers came out with a limp body on a stretcher. The officer who had spoken up earlier turned to them. "What about her?" He asked.
"She was dead when we found her." One of the carriers said grimly.
The officer's expression turned somber. "Get a cloth over her and take her away then…there's nothing we can do."
Pyrrha Nikos then saw the face of the dead and her eyes widened in horror. "Professor Greene." She said breathlessly as tears immediately welled up. Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren, who had regained consciousness, gasped when they heard her say that.
"Professor Greene!" Pyrrha fruitlessly called out to Ann Greene's body. "Professor Greene!"
As said before, the battle was over, but the winners did not feel like such.
AN: That's two arcs in a row with pyrrhic victories. Kinda depressing, really. And, we've also left with more questions than answers. What is the Kobalt Family's darkest secret? Who or what is Hansel Kobalt? And where do we go from here?
Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z...er, Wild Hunt.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. See you all next time.