The students were scared for this episode for many reasons. Some of the biggest were the fact that Cinder and Neo were currently in Atlas, and none of them knew for how long, and Mantle is now under attack by a wave of Grimm. The title of the episode only caused more apprehension. The question of how Robyn knew about Amity Tower was going to be asked, and the result of it all was not going to be pretty. All of Ironwood's progress was going to blow up before it could even get off the ground.
Ruby tried to squeeze as close to her sister as possible while clutching a pillow to her chest. She was terrified of the events that would occur from everything finally coming down on them. Unfortunately, Ruby knew that this wasn't even going to be the worst of it, as that would all happen in the next three episodes.
"Is anyone prepared for this episode?" Sun asked. Everyone shook their heads or expressed their doubts one way or another. All of them took a few seconds to take a deep breath before giving Raider the okay to start the episode.
(Volume 7 Intro)
Grimm ran and flew rampant through the streets of Mantle as the military attempted to handle the situation. People ran around screaming in fear while Atlas Airships flew overhead.
It was absolute chaos in the streets, and all of them wished they could do something, but deflated when there wasn't anything they could do. They were fated to sit and watch all of this destruction unfold in front of them.
Citizens ran through the streets, narrowly avoiding the herd of megaliaths that barged through the gap in Mantle's borders.
A few of the students released a sigh of relief as none of the people were hurt. They don't know if they'd be able to handle watching someone get trampled.
A sabyr roared atop a car as May and Fiona dealt with more Grimm. It was attracted by the scent of fear and ran towards its source, sniffing at a terrified Faunus woman and her child. "Here kitty, kitty!" Nora screamed, bringing down Magnhild and killing the beast.
The students were glad the woman was saved in time, but they wished they could be more eased by their counterparts' presence, but there was still much more that needed to be taken care of. There was no time for a single moment of peace. "Now all we need to do is find a way to get rid of all the other Grimm," Nora said.
Weiss gestured for the two to run as Marrow helped to block more of the Grimm's path. A pack of sabyr roared as they came rushing toward the three. On a separate road, Blake was running away from both beowulves and a megaliath.
Yang couldn't help but suck in a breath, but she knew Blake was fine, she could handle herself. The rush of nerves from everything just has her on edge.
One beowulf shoved another and lunged toward Blake. She used her semblance, burning one with fire dust, evading a second with electric dust, and the third with ice. The third beowulf stumbled and was crushed by the megaliath. Blake then turned a corner, and the megaliath ran into a building.
Yang felt the urge to make a joke about the property damage, but now wasn't the time or place to do it. Besides, Yang now felt scared about any joke she planned to make. So many of them were off-hand comments that describe an event that happens in the future. She's worried to even think one because the same thing happens.
It continued to follow her, and at the last moment, Blake dashed out of the way for Elm to stop the Grimm in its tracks. The force causes the megaliath to elevate in the air.
Everyone's eyes, besides Winter's, widen at just how strong Elm is. She caused a Grimm that huge to go airborne. Nora makes a small mental note to ask Elm if she will train with her at some point.
Yang runs down the street, planting explosives on the Grimm's belly. "Now!" Yang shouts, and Elm throws the Grimm into the air. The explosives beep as Yang sets them off. All three of them gasp for breath.
How long have they all been trying to fight off all of them Grimm?
Blake turns to the citizens, hiding behind a car, to head to the nearest shelter. Yang tells Blake the shelters are going to fill up soon, but Elm counters that they're all they've got.
Ruby thought for a moment if transferring all the people up to Atlas might help, but then that would just put all of those people in danger as well. And all the negative emotions from both cities would just attract ten times more Grimm. Those shelters really were all they had.
"The shelters can't be everything that the people of Mantle have, there has to be something more!" Pyrrha exclaims, and Winter frowns. She plans to have a very long discussion with General Ironwood about Mantle and what they can do to make it better for the people.
"We just have to hold off the Grimm!" Elm shouts, but Blake and Yang don't look too convinced. On a different building, Clover speaks to Ironwood through his earpiece while Qrow shoots down teryxes. The man asks Clover about new orders.
New orders? Now? They hoped the orders had something to do with keeping the people safe. They couldn't just leave all of them to fend for themselves, they wouldn't be able to survive.
Qrow follows after him. Near the borders, Marrow takes down a sabyr. Another comes behind him, but is handled by Weiss, who summons a large Arma Gigas to impale the Grimm. Marrow deadpans as he looks at the thing while Weiss giggles.
"Weiss, this is no time to be adorable," Ruby said, causing the girl in question to blush.
Nora watches every streetlight glow red. The people of Mantle bump into the border wall behind them. "Take us to Atlas, we won't survive down here!" A woman screams.
"Why isn't Ironwood doing anything?!" A man screams. The people slowly walk toward Nora, demanding that she take them to Atlas.
Nora's eyes looked at all the people in panic, her own breathing starting to become heavy as she herself couldn't do what the people were demanding of her. They were all trying to do their best, but their best wasn't enough when so many lives were still in danger. Ren took hold of Nora's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze in an effort to ground her.
"Please, everyone, we're doing our best! We will get you to safety, just give us a little more time!" Nora shouts as a screen light comes on, grabbing everyone's attention. Robyn's face appears on screen.
"Atlas, Mantle, I know you're scared. I'm here with General Ironwood, and we have a message for you." Robyn's semblance glows green as she holds Ironwood's hand. "What he has to say may sound unbelievable, but it is all true."
They were all relieved that the people were finally getting to learn about Salem, but they were all a little surprised that Ironwood chose this moment to do it. He wanted to get out this message when the streets of Mantle were infested with Grimm? They guessed there would never really be a right time to share this information. Nonetheless, they were all happy that the secret was out.
"An ancient and terrible evil lies outside of our kingdom. It was responsible for the destruction of Beacon, the attack on Haven, and for the recent attacks on Mantle. This powerful force goes by the name of Salem." Ruby was elated at hearing him open up. "Salem seeks only to divide us, to turn us against each other. If she can insight hatred in us, then we will lure in the Grimm, and destroy ourselves."
One of Salem's greatest powers is her ability to divide the people, but if they can all stand together and unite as one, then every single one of them has the chance to beat her. None of them will allow any academy to fall because that would just mean that Salem is one step closer to winning.
"United we stand, divided we fall!" Ruby shouts, pumping her fist in the air as she plans to do everything in her power to keep them all as one.
In another street, Jaune and Ren eliminate some of the sabyrs, protecting the people as they run past. They stop when a large pack comes charging towards them, but the two boys prepare for the fight. Vine then jumps on the truck behind them and uses his semblance to push all the sabyrs into the wall. "Salem herself does not work alone. Her minions have invaded our very city."
Neo and Cinder listen to this message as Ironwood states that Arthur Watts and Tyrian Callows are the ones to blame for the recent murders in Mantle and for sabotaging the heating grid.
A few of the group were curious about the reason for Cinder's agitation about Tyrian and Watts. Was it because she learning that the two of them have been in Atlas this whole time? Or was it something else? None of them really wanted to care about digging deeper because, well, it was Cinder. Besides her, the group was more than pleased that the public was being told the entire truth. One or two of them held a pessimistic thought about how this was all going to go wrong.
"But we cannot let ourselves give in to fear and panic, that is what she wants. Instead, we must unite and fight back, together! Every. Single. One of us!" Ironwood declares.
The room burst into cheers as they couldn't agree more. Nora even wiped away a fake tear, muttering about how that was so beautiful. "If it's a fight Salem wants, then it's a fight Salem's going to get!" Yang shouts.
"Alright!" Jaune suddenly shouts. "Single file line, place a hand on the shoulder in front of you, eyes forward, move, move, move! Show 'em how it's done, kids!" Jaune says, kneeling to the kids in front of him. One of them salutes as they march, and the adults follow.
Jaune rubs the back of his head, dumbfounded. "Who knew being a crossing guard for the kids was going to pay off this much?" The rest of them shrugged as they were just as surprised.
"I hope I'm not the only one finding this callback funny," Yang chuckled.
"No, definitely not," Weiss added. Jaune groaned, covering his face with his hands.
"Aw, Jaune, you know we don't mean it in a bad way," Yang said.
"I know," Jaune replied.
Vine asked where Jaune learned to do that. "Uh, morning school route?"
"Either way, it was very effective," Pyrrha said, kissing Jaune on the cheek.
Jaune closes his eyes and activates his semblance to boost Ren's. "This, my friends, is why I was forced to divert resources from Mantle, for the Amity Communication Tower. Amity Tower is now completed."
The group didn't believe this news one bit, there was something else to it. The General was planning something. Was he possibly trying to bait Watts because he knew he would come to the tower? That has to be it.
"And ready to launch. It will reestablish all global communication…"
"The colosseum remodeling was a communications tower? How did James get this past me?" Watts asks himself.
This shocked them; not even Watts was able to see this coming?
"The Council and I have decided to evacuate everyone in Mantle to Atlas."
Ruby smiles, but there is still a hint of worry about the Grimm.
"I'm withdrawing all defenses from Amity in order to assist with repelling the Grimm in Mantle."
"We must put aside our differences and band together to defeat this threat! I fully support General Ironwood's plan!" Robyn announces, and the people of Mantle erupt into cheers.
The students join upon seeing that people of Mantle are going to join the fight and that everyone will be working together.
Tyrian punches the wall in frustration, cracking it. "The Grimm should have destroyed our enemies, not make them friends!" Watts calmly tells Tyrian to wait.
"Our tin soldier's heart has cost him his mind."
None of them liked how calm Watts was acting about all of this. He had a plan, didn't he?
"You need to keep their attention on Mantle for as long as possible." Tyrian asks maliciously if Watts wants more chaos than a Grimm invasion. "If anyone on Remnant could deliver that, wouldn't it be you?" Robyn announces that for those who are in their shelters, they are to stay put and that help is on the way.
Everyone's blood ran cold. All those people…now trapped in one place…
"No!" Ruby screamed.
Robyn states that for those in Sector 17, she'll be seeing them personally.
They figured this had to be when Robyn and Qrow would fight against Tyrian like they did in the intro.
Coming to think of it, Tyrian does have an idea. In the apartment room, Cinder grunts out her frustration that Tyrian and Watts made it to Atlas before her.
Ah, so that was where her anger had come from.
"I still can't believe those idiots beat us here!"
"Wasn't Cinder the one who was walking on foot the majority of the way?" Oscar asked.
"Vacuo was supposed to be the next target."
Sun's eyes widen at this information. "No way I'm letting you do anything to my home!" Sun shouted angrily. They were going to need to write down the timeline of their plans for where they were meant to strike and where they really did.
"The timeline has changed. You said the farmboy has the Lamp?" Neo nods. "Find him, take it." Neo stands up and changes into Ruby, looking angry. "No! We get what I need first! Then we get what we want!"
Weiss and Yang both wrap a protective arm around Ruby, glaring at the screen.
"Now go…" Neo crosses her arms, turning away from Cinder.
Everyone raises an eyebrow. This wasn't more of a prediction, but what they knew was going to happen. Neo was going to get sick of Cinder bossing her around and doing what she wanted, and then Neo was either going to threaten her or turn on her. All of them were expecting it to be the latter.
"Ironwood's been hiding the Winter Maiden for years. Tonight I'm going to find her." Neo changes back and gives a deadpan expression.
"Neo is not convinced," Ruby muttered.
"The General's as predictable as his androids. Threaten what he has, and he'll flock to protect it."
All of them were going to witness her plan, and they were going to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.
In Mantle, fleets of airships fly over the city, and some come down towards the ground. The door opens, and a militant yells for everyone to get in. Nora watches out for the people as they get in, and a loud boom echoes from Penny flying above. Somewhere deeper in the city, Blake and Yang do the same thing until three megaliaths come charging. "I've got this!" Elm shouts, planting her feet and readying her rocket launcher.
Nora and Ruby gasp in excitement as they get to watch Elm use her weapon. "Let's go, Elm!" Nora screams, pumping her fist in the air and encouraging the woman.
Two rockets head toward the Grimm and destroys all three of them.
"Yeah!" Nora continues to shout.
The citizens cheer, and Elm gives them an "ok" sign. Elm watches Penny from below. "Alright, we just need to get everyone to the closest airpad," Ruby states.
"The closest LZ is…" Harriet begins but each thundering step from a megaliath makes the surrondings rumble. "There." Harriet finishes as the megaliath shows itself.
The students stared at the screen, slack-jawed, never having seen such a giant megaliath. "What the fuck is that?!" Yang yells, pointing at the screen.
"That's a mega-megaliath…" Jaune whispers under his breath. Ruby took a deep breath as this was the perfect time to use her silver eyes.
Penny blasts the street with her laser to stop it in its tracks as the people run away screaming. Penny lands beside the two, and she and Harriet nod to one another. Ruby takes a breath and concentrates on the lives around her, but her focus is broken by the megaliath's cry.
For a moment, a couple of Ruby's friends wonder if there is anything they can give Ruby that can help to completely concentrate and block out any outside noises or distractions.
Ruby looks down at her bullets and uses her semblance to put her on a rooftop where she can shoot at it. Penny uses her swords, but they don't leave a mark. She launches them to where they're stuck, but the Grimm sees the strings and throws her to another street.
Ruby gasps, hoping that Penny wasn't too hurt from that.
Ruby follows after the girl and asks if she's okay. "Ouch, those tusks sure are dangerous," Penny declares as she bounces back on her feet.
Ruby releases a sigh of relief, not knowing if she would be able to take any more scares with Penny. Raider deliberately kept to herself that this was far from the worst scare when it came to Penny.
"They sure are," Ruby then gasps and looks to Penny. "I think I have a plan." Penny nods in determination likes she understands, but then asks what it is. The megaliath continues to walk down the street and Harriet runs to grab its trunk, but it pulls it away. Harriet holds its foot up as it tries to squash her, but she isn't strong enough. She launches herself back, her aura breaking as she lies in the street.
"Harriet!"
"Get up!"
"Come on!"
All the students scream as they fear the giant Grimm will crush her.
Penny blasts the giant Grimm. "Over here, you big bag of bones!" The megaliath begins to run toward the girl, and Penny charges up her swords to send a giant laser to slow it down. Then, she breaks off a couple of her swords from the main blast to make a smaller laser that lands on one of its tusks.
The students smile in triumph as they understand Ruby's plan. If none of their weapons are able to defeat it, then why not use its own protection against it? Yang takes her hand and begins to ruffle Ruby's hair.
Penny and megaliath stared each other down when Ruby shouted, "Now!" Penny pulled back, letting the Grimm run at her. Ruby sped with her semblance and used Crescent Rose to tear one of the tusks off. Penny grabbed hold of it and threw it on the ground. Ruby cut at its back leg, and the beast impaled itself on its own tusk.
The room burst into more cheers as they watched the Grimm disintegrate into nothing. "That's my baby sister!" Yang cooed. Ruby shoves Yang away as she becomes too smothering for her liking.
The citizens proceed to cheer for Penny and Ruby as the rest of their friends inform them they're heading to the next LZ. "Ms. Hill, the southern outskirts are clear.It should be safe to begin evacuations now."
"Great work, Penny, over and out." Robyn then turns to Joanna. "Make sure you get these people to safety, I'm gonna check for any stragglers." Joanna nods and runs off with the group as Robyn runs down an alleyway.
This was it, one of the moments the intro was building up to. Though both Qrow and Clover ran off, they assumed that he would be joining the fray as well. "Kick his ass!" Yang shouted.
Tyrian watches from the roofs, chuckling to himself before making his presence known. "Robyn Hill, for such a little bird, you have quite the impact around here." Robyn shoots, but Tyrian dodges with the turn of a head. "Bringing hope and a smile wherever you go." Robyn shoots again, but he catches the arrow between his fingers.
It was scary how fast his reflexes were, and it was even more scary coming from a man of his…level of danger.
"I find it…upsetting." Tyrian quickly begins to charge, laughing all the while as Robyn shoots, but Clover's line has him reeling back, sitting on his tail.
"Sorry, Callows, I really wanted to pummel you on my own, but the General insisted I share," Robyn spits as Clover and Qrow land behind her.
Winter also wouldn't have minded being a part of this fight, but unfortunately, she has to sit and watch from the sidelines.
Clover states they aren't the only ones with a grudge. Qrow says they'll both have to get in line. Tyrian glares at all of them. Flying towards Amity Tower is an airship.
The students couldn't help but express their disappointment that they didn't immediately get to see them all fight.
Watts walked through the halls of Amity, quietly looking around the dark hallways.
What did Watts plan to do with the Tower? Corrupt it somehow and destroy the communication parts?
Watts hums to himself. "This will certainly do the trick, but I wouldn't exactly call it finished." The doors to the area immediately shut as Ironwood's voice echoes through the speaker as he says his name, welcoming him. "It wasn't finished, it was bait." Ironwood tosses the mic and jumps down from the box, landing in the arena.
They were about to watch a fight between Tyrian, Robyn, Clover, and Qrow, and a fight between Ironwood and Watts? This was certainly about to be an eventful episode. All of them held complete faith in the fours' abilities to win.
"Y'know, James, this place has always been a technological marvel." Watts tosses his bag to the side, continuing to step into the area. "Truly, even before you went into…did all this." Watts gestures to the colosseum. "The different types of dust, the biome system, and of course, everything that goes into controlling them." Watts shows the glowing rings on his fingers before slamming his hand onto the floor, activating the arena.
Watts must have made a backup plan in case General Ironwood tried to do something like this. All of them frowned, but they were ready to watch General Ironwood kick this man's butt!
All the floors began to open as its terrain was being chosen. Watts puts up a shield to dodge a bullet from Ironwood that clinks to the ground. "You always were a pain in the ass," Ironwood grunts. The terrain changes to a gravity field as Watts runs off the platform, Ironwood shooting all the while. The General looks around as the playing field is set into place, and looks up at Watts, who stands high above him.
None of them had ever seen this terrain before, but if it was one of gravity, they knew things were about to get really interesting.
"At the risk of sounding cliche, James," Watts pulls out his gun, letting it spin, "I won't be going down without a fight." The spinning comes to a stop with a click as Watts points his gun at the General.
The room shouts in utter dismay when the screen goes black. None of them were going to see the fight with Tyrian or Watts?! "This is where the episode ends? We need to see what happens, start playing the next one!" Yang shouts. Raider felt like this was such a different group from when the episode first started. But, if Raider had to guess, they were all put at more ease with all the citizens being led to safety up in Atlas.
Now they can't wait for the next episode to be played as they're yelling for Raider to continue, as they want to watch both of the fights go down. "While I know we all want to watch the battles," Weiss starts, and everyone agrees, "We also need to be glad that the General has opened up about Salem and that the people are all aware." All of them took a second to calm down before nodding.
"Though I'm worried about what Cinder plans to do," Ruby says.
"As well as Neo coming after Oscar and the Lamp," Pyrrha adds. There are so many horrible things arising that they're focusing on what they think would excite them the most, just to experience that small feeling of joy.