42
Crescent Rose barked as it swept down, cutting a Beowolf down at the knees. Before the Grimm could even topple over fully, the large blade was buried into its chest, pinning it to the ground and killing it in one fell swoop. Ruby pivoted her scythe around, pulling the charging handle and firing a high impact shot that took off the top half of a second Beowolf's skull. The third Grimm closed the distance and she ducked under the claws, climbing atop Crescent Rose and firing it, the force of the recoil sending her and her weapon rocketing away while punching a hole in the Grimm's chest.
She skidded to a halt next to Weiss who used fire to incinerate a nearby Creeper, "How are we doing, Weiss?"
"I need some room to concentrate!"
"I got your back!" It was a testament to how fair their partnership had come that Weiss nodded and trusted her back to Ruby. They had fought their way against the tide to the train tunnel entrance in order to try and close it off and prevent more Grimm from flowing in. Weiss stuck Myternaster to the ground and a white glyph sprung to life under her. In front of them ice started to slowly form, extending upwards towards the roof of the tunnel.
Folding up the scythe of her weapon, she started firing the rifle to keep the Grimm away from her partner. She got a good look at the entire area, Blake and Yang were stood by Jaune and Uncle Qrow, the former still using his semblance on her uncle. Another three creepers fell to Crescent Rose's fire as she snapped it up and fired round after round, only briefly pausing to load another magazine into her weapon.
The ice wall was halfway up when a burst of light caught her attention and her silver eyes snapped to it, the scream reaching her ears as she watched Carmine tumble to the ground. She felt her blood run cold as the older woman's momentum carried her to a rolling stop. Time seemed to slow down and she could feel the panic mounting, the blade at her neck but her feet moved before a conscious thought even registered. By the time she knew it she was halfway there and in a blur of rose petals she interposed herself right in front of Carmine, Crescent Rose unfurled and its tip digging into the ground.
Ruby mustered all of her courage to glare at Cinder even as she felt her knees go weak and her neck itched. Fall stopped, eying her warily.
"I should have made sure you died in that tower."
"Yeah." Ruby gulped, "But you didn't."
"Another mistake I will fix."
"Nope." Came the slightly deeper voice from just behind Ruby. She turned to see Carmine standing there, dusting her clothes off of dirt and soot, "Damn if I didn't make one too, though."
Cinder's teeth bared, "Your mistake was in thinking you were a match for me!"
"Nah." Carmine denied, cracked her neck, "My mistake was thinking you weren't a crafty bitch. You really used to be so much better but you let yourself go with those Maiden powers."
Cinder's golden eyes narrowed in confusion but Carmine ignored her, looking over to Ruby, "Thanks for the sentiment, Ruby, but it wasn't necessary. But as long as you're here, maybe you can do me a favor."
"What?"
"Trade me." She smirked, holding up her holsters with Bloom and Scatter fitted in them, "I wanna borrow Crescent Rose for a bit."
Ruby bit her lip, looking back towards Cinder who was eying them both with suspicion. She looked like she couldn't decide if it was a trap or not. Looking down at her precious scythe she thought about it. The idea of using a different weapon felt like cheating on her baby, but she'd also helped Carmine with remaking those weapons, and Carmine was Ruby, and Ruby made Crescent Rose. So it was fine, right?
Tentatively she nodded and Carmine carefully took Crescent Rose from her, giving her a wink as she did so, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of them. Now get back to Weiss. I've gotta finish this."
With one last look at Cinder, she paused before darting away, "Be careful." And with a flash of petals she was gone again. Carmine chuckled as she spun the scythe around, feeling the weight of it in her hand. It felt a little lighter than usual. But then she caught herself, of course it was a little lighter, she hadn't added to it yet. It wasn't much of a weight difference, simply a few ounces of extra mechashift. If anything, Crescent Rose felt uncanny. Like it was hers and not hers at the same time.
It was missing the evidence of her hard years. A chip on the blade in the butt of the haft, a scratch near the scope, or even the long scratch on the blade of the scythe itself. It was clean and new but felt like home in her hands. It wasn't the first time she'd held it since coming back in time but as she stood in front of Cinder, her scythe aligned behind her back, she felt ten years younger for a moment. Before she remembered. Remembered what she would do, what she intended and who she needed to protect.
"Thanks for waiting, Cindy." She said cockily, just to aggravate Cinder.
"Who am I to argue if you want to make my life easier?" She had her bow in hand, an arrow nocked. They stood and faced each other for a moment before Cinder snapped her bow up, drawing and firing her arrow blindingly fast. However, Carmine wasn't still in the same spot she had been before. Now that the weakness of her semblance had been exposed, she simply needed to change tactics. Blocking the arrow was foolish, Cinder could just repeatedly reform the arrow around her defenses.
Rose petals danced in the air as she blurred to the right, Crescent Rose going backwards. As she dashed forwards she fired the rifle, adding more momentum to her speed. She caught the brief glimpse of those golden eyes widening before she cut low with the scythe. There were sparks as the bow intercepted the blade. It was only the sound of the bolt handle sliding home that warned Cinder before Crescent Rose fired again and the high powered recoil shattered through the glass bow and slammed the blade into the woman's midsection.
Cinder went tumbling end over end as Carmine took a vindictive pleasure in the woman being sent head over heel into the dirt.
-SY-
The pain brought Winter back suddenly. She was sore all over and as she tried to get up sne nearly passed out as a burning pain from her abdomen caused her to seize up. Winter looked dorn to see the red staining her uniform and the long, bent rod of metal piercing her. Delicately she touched it, just the small touch sending pain into her. Winter gave it an experimental tug but it wouldn't budge. It seemed like it was firmly lodged into the wall of the train car through her.
There was light filtering in through the torn metal of the care and no sign of Taurus wherever she looked. Had he been thrown from the car or had he simply ran off once it was clear his plan would fail? She didn't know but she wasn't in a position to do anything about it.
"Specialist Schnee to Command." She tapped the earpiece she still had, but no response came in, "Specialist Schnee to Command, do you copy?"
There was no reply, the line dead, a quick check of her scroll revealed why. The small device was crushed, screen dark. Winter took a deep breath, ignoring the burning sensation to try and call out.
"Medic!" Came her hoarse voice, "Huntress down! I need a medic!"
After a minute of shouting she felt the train car jolt painfully as something slammed into it with a mighty thud, "Is someone out there! Can you hear me?!"
Her hope was crushed as a black muzzle peaked over the edge of the mangled metal, covered in white bone with glowing red eyes. She felt her blood run cold as the Beowolf stared down at her. She had no weapon in her hand and no aura. If she didn't move, she would die.
As a fresh burst of adrenaline flooded her system and pushed the pain to the back of her mind, the Beowolf started trying to climb down to her. It ripped at the flimsy metal even as the sharp pieces cut into it. She had precious seconds before it could widen the hole enough to get to her.
Winter did the only thing she could do. She got up. The specialist grit her teeth, clenching her jaw so hard her teeth hurt as she pulled herself up and off of the rod pinning her down. She could feel it tearing away at her but she had to move. Her eyes spotted her objective a beat later, settling in on the hatch in the ceiling, that was now a wall. She didn't so much as charge into it as throw her weight at it in the hopes it would open.
It burst with a metallic clang as she hit the ground outside. The rubble dug into her shoulders as she crawled away, blood spilling a rapidly growing trail behind her. There was a shriek of metal as the wall gave way, the Grimm having made it through and was now stuck, clawing at the hatch opening. The care rocked from side to side as it tried to get at her but her relief was short lived. The situation outside was pure chaos. Grimm howled as students and Atlesian mechs fought.
The Beowolf managed to enlarge the hatch by ripping one side of it off, squeezing its body through the opening. It lumbered over to her, hot breath washing over as it savored her fear and anger towards it.
Suddenly it fell, its entire weight dropping on top of her as the Grimm began to slowly dissolve. The carcass was pushed off of her and two faces peered down at her with worry. One a young blond boy and the other a red haired girl. Winter was too weak to speak, her mouth opening and closing as she tried. Dully, her brain processed what was happening, knew why she was cold and told her not to close her eyes.
But she couldn't help it.
-SY-
Jaune stood nervously side by side ith Pyrrha and Ren, team JNPR waiting amongst the other teams from Beacon and the various teachers. The Atlesian robots were front and center, unmoving in their standby as several soldiers oversaw their deployment. He was starting to sweat underneath his hoodie and it wasn't even that hot out. Jaune felt Pyrrha slip her hand into his and give it a quick squeeze before letting go. Her being by his side was reassuring, she was his capable partner after all.
A rumble started to vibrate underneath his feet, traveling up through his soles. It was like a small earthquake and he could see the other students as they started to look around and even Gppdwitch started yelling out for attention. Nobody knew what to expect, they hadn't been told much more than to be ready to respond to a Grimm threat, that there was the possiblity of a train crash.
Except there were no tracks in the plaza/ The students had been whispering to each other for the last five minutes, rumors flying fast and thick. It wasn't surprising to see even the exchange students were in on it. He spotted some new faces mingling with those from Beacon, some had been around for a while, like the monkey faunus who kept trying to hang around RWBY, and others were newer. He even spotted one guy with what looked like a trumpet, now Jaune wasn't an expert but even he didn't think trumpets were standard weapons.
The rumbling grew stronger until suddenly something erupted. The plaza itself was torn to pieces as a sound unlike anything he had ever heard crashed through the air. A massive object was suddenly careening across the ground as students yelled and screamed in surprise. It was a train, it had come crashing through the plaza from underground. It skidded across the stone, car after car following after it as it bunched up and rolled to its side.
Jaune shakily stood up from where Pyrrha had force the both of them to the ground. The plaza was littered with rubble and metal, dust clogging the air around them. Knight units lay in pieces around them from where they had been hit by debris or the train itself. Some students were down, though hopefully they had all had their aura up.
It was in the stunned silence that they heard it. The roars and howls as a tide of black and white Grimm surged from the opening. Dozens upon dozens of the creatures poured out. King Taijitu, Deathstalkers, Beowolves, Ursa, and even Creepers. They flowed out and around the train and that wasn't even the worst part as giant mechanical hands hauled enormous metal bodies up and out of the tunnel.
They were immediately met with fire. Flames of fire dust splashed across them, knocking one to the side. The second to come out leveled its massive gun at them, but nothing happened. Suddenly the weapon was ripped from its mounting as an irate Miss Goodwitch stepped forth, waving her weapon at the mechs.
"Students!" She roared, "Focus on the Grimm, do not allow them to escape the perimeter. The teachers shall deal with the Paladins."
Jaune looked up as an Ursa charged at him. He raised his shield and pushed forward, meeting the claws head on. The heavy impact nearly made his legs buckle put she pushed back, diverting them so they slammed into the ground. With a roar of his own, Crocea Mors found itself embedded into the neck of the Grimm. The large beast lurched as it gurgled past the blade. With a wrench and a twist he pulled it free, the Grimm starting to dissolve.
Heart punding, he felt a grin come to his lips and he turned to his partner, "I did it, Pyr!"
The red haired girl turned and beamed at him before sliding underneath a Beowolf's strike, her spear going up and into its underarm, killing it with a precise strike into the heart. It fell to join its two other kin in dissolving on the ground. But Pyrrha didn't judge him for not keeping up with her, instead giving him a nod, offering a proud smile that had his heart soaring.
Nora cackled like the madwoman she was as she swung her hammer golf club style, punting a Creeper into a King Taijitu's face before blowing them both up with a well placed explosive. Ren, on the other hand, was expertly weaving between two Beowolves, delivering a flurry of slashes to each.
Something caught his eye, a man in a grimy white coat waving both hands frantically at him. Pyrrha noticed too, her green eyes widening.
"That's Roman Torchwick!"
It took him a few seconds to process the name, "The guy Ruby told us about?"
"Yes!" Pyrrha turned back towards the thief who was beckoning at them, "But what is he doing here?"
"I don't know, but it looks like he wants help."
Pyrrha's hand shot out to stop him as he stepped towards the man, "You can't! He's a criminal."
"Criminal or not, he might need our help."
She bit her lip, looking back over to the frantic thief before nodding at him. As they jogged in his direction he disappeared behind the overturned train. As they rounded a corner, their confusion only mounted as the man was nowhere to be found. Jaune turned his head around, craning his neck but the thief was nowhere in sight. A flash of white caught his eye and she saw a figure crawling along the ground, drenched in blood and a Beowolf advancing on her.
"Pyrrha!"
"On it!" Before he could even finish saying her name, Miló snapped up, barking a quick series of shots that had the Grimm collapsing.
Jaune sprinted forward, putting all of his weight into rolling the big beast off of the woman. Pyrrha was right behind him. The dissolving Grimm revealed a white haired woman who looked pale and covered in blood, clutching her stomach. Her mouth opened and closed as they looked down at her before her head lolled to the side and she passed out.
Jaune's blue eyes widened as he moved her hands, quickly pressing his own down on the wound, "Pyrrha get help!"
Pyrrha took one look at his frightened face and bolted off. Even with his hands on the wound, there was still blood pouring out from underneath her, and it was a lot. He got the feeling she was going to die any minute. It was all he could do to close his eyes and press down on the woman's stomach. She was going to bleed out, even his very limited knowledge told him that.
The white hair made him think of Weiss and he felt sick to his stomach, imagining her the one bleeding out under him. It was the first time seeing something so gruesome, it wasn't like the stories at all. Jaune had just wanted to be heroes but would instead have to watch someone die under his watch, instead. He could feel the warmth of her blood seeping into his gloves.
Jaune felt useless yet again. He couldn't help but wish there was something, anything, he could do to help her. His mind thought of Ruby, of how someone had saved her from near death. She had said it was Jack that had done it. He was an Arc. If only he could do what that man had done. Whatever semblance he had he wished he had it too, just so this woman didn't have to die.
His hands were heating up, tingling even, like small amounts of static at his fingertips. Jaune's eyes opened and he gasped at what he saw. A dull white glow on his hands as something flowed from him and into the woman.
What the hell?!
-SY-
Carmine spun on one heel, Crescent Rose coming around her hip, its tip only barely being diverted by Cinder. The woman frantically tried to move in, to narrow the distance and prevent her from using her scythe but she was one step ahead of her. As Cinder stepped in, Carmine stepped around, a light flow of petals as she dug the butt of her weapon into the ground, cracking the stone. She spun around it, both feet slamming into Cinder and knocking her back.
Even on the backfoot, Cinder had the presence of mind to hurl one of her blades at Carmine. The blade dug into her arm but her aura remained firm, if low. The half maiden leaped forward to catch her sword from mid air, spinning down with both glass blades. Crescent Rose came up, blocking them with the haft.
A creeper lunged at her from behind and she disengaged, both side stepping and bisecting the Grimm in one fell swoop. The rest of the Grimm in the cavern were quickly being cleared up now that Weiss had sealed the tunnel, though she could hear the Grimm on the other side roaring and hacking away at the barrier.
The sound of additional gunfire drew her attention, a mechanical form walking around a corner followed by more and more as a dozen Atlesian mechs and counting started filtering in. They opened fire on the Grimm, utterly ignoring all of the human combatants. Ironwood must have made sure they were set to only Grimm to avoid any kind of friendly fire.
The tide was quickly turning against Cinder and it was visible on her face as it contorted in rage. Carmine drank in the feeling, relished it. The woman screamed and charged at her again, reminding her all too much of the Cinder she used to know.
She surprised the woman by bolting forward, swinging Crescent Rose. It was blocked at the haft by one of the blades, the other lashing out and grazing her face. It didn't matter, however, as Carmine pressed the firing lever on her scythe, the blade jolting as it nearly cut into Cinder's neck.
As the woman stumbled forward she grabbed Crescent Rose with one hand, letting go of her weapon. Carmine could see the red hot glow underneath the woman's palm. Her eye widened, knowing what she was trying to do. Rose petals blurred as she spun at Cinder, letting go of the scythe to deliver a vicious blow with her elbow straight into her throat. She choked as she stumbled back, letting go of Carmine's precious weapon.
She could see the amber flicker of Cinder's aura as it grew dangerously low. Carmine couldn't let up, not when she was so close. She blurred next to Cinder, who tried to raise her weapon to deflect Crescent Rose but Carmine feinted, instead sweeping low and pulling the woman's legs out from under her with the blade of her scythe. Her semblance went to full blast as she circled Cinder in a flurry of red, faster and faster.
The two of them rose into the air, higher and higher as she became a tornado of petals, taking Cinder with her a dozen, two dozen, three dozen feet into the air. The woman flailed about before clutching her hands together, throwing them out wide in a wave of fire. Everything burned as the fire ate into her aura, petal by petal, snapping her back together but it was too late for Cinder.
The world felt like it slowed down, the two of them locking eyes as they began their descent. She saw the moment Cinder's expression changed as Carmine brought Crescent Rose to bear, pressing down on a rarely used button. With a snap the head of the scythe articulated forward, making Crescent Rose into a war scythe not unlike a spear. As she shot down towards Cinder, the woman gripped the tip desperately, even as they rocketed towards the ground, the scythe pressing down on her sternum.
She couldn't tell which of them was screaming, maybe it was both, but they hit the ground with the force of a small meteorite. The ground cracked and cratered underneath the force of the impact. Cinder's hands slipped against the blade and the tip impacted her aura.
It flashed, and then broke. The tip of Crescent Rose driving home, into and through Cinder Fall's chest, transfixing her to the ground. The woman looked up at Carmine who stood atop of her, both hands on the haft of her weapon, panting heavily. Her lone silver eye stared a hole into Cinder's wide golden eyes. Blood bubbled up from her mouth as she coughed and Carmine watched as her strength left her, the hands that grasped her weapon falling to the side.
All of a sudden, what felt like a warm gust of wind erupted from Cinder's body, blowing past her. She watched in fascination as a barely visible energy disappeared through Weiss' ice wall, down the tunnel towards Vale. When she looked back down it was clear that Cinder was no longer alive. She put her boot on the corpse and pulled her weapon free with a grunt. Her gaze swept around the cavern, Jaune was helping Qrow, supporting his shoulder. It looked like the Grimm were quickly being thinned out.
As she looked around her eye locked with a pair of silver ones to find her younger self staring at her. Ruby's eyes were wide in shock and she saw something else in there as well.
She saw fear.
A/N: This is getting out of hand! Now there are two of them!
Her is part two of the Mountain Glenn Finale. I'll admit I probably should have ended the last chapter with the first part of this one instead. But by the time I realized that it was far too late. I've gotten a lot of comments and criticism over Chapter 41 which I have read and even responded to. I try and keep an open mind to everyone's thoughts as long as they are expressed respectfully, which they were. I defended my decisions with reasoning and wanted to reiterate some of it here for good measure. Last chapter was about the first part of the fight and first and foremost the fight with Cinder is supposed to feel well earned and cathartic. Yes, Carmine did take a huge hit but that's it. Just a hit. It was the first major hit of their fight and it was one that was designed to highlight how cunning and dangerous Cinder is. I tried to express that Cinder after getting the Maiden powers fought more with pure power than any real skill, I wanted to show here that she was probably just as if not more dangerous when relying on said skill instead of power.
Perhaps I failed. A lot of people expressed skepticism over someone who has personally gone toe to toe with Salem losing to Cinder and I stand by the point that Salem, while extremely powerful, is not particularly skilled. Much like MAiden Cinder she throws her powers around. I'd argue that the likes of Cinder and Tyrian are far more deadly foes than Salem. Salem would destroy you with a blast of energy or lightning or fire. She could decimate a city with her blasts but in an actual fight she has relatively little skill. She relies on her immortality, Grimm, and power.