Gamer4 in. Alright, back to my original plans. In the wake of three darker-than-usual episodes with no musical numbers, time to put four in. Nobody's complained yet. In reverse of the order they'll appear, we have the original game's Wandering Soul, Tim Rice's Anthem, Gordon Lightfoot's Don Quixote, and Three Dog Night's... The Road to Shambhala. Yes, that is where I got the name for this worldline. Yes, I have been waiting for the right moment to use this song since I started. Anthem and Don Quixote weren't originally part of this episode, but then I figured, screw it, we've got a play going on, might as well spam another couple numbers. And Wandering Soul... if you kennit, you kennit. I appreciate very much the well-wishes in the wake of the recent tragedy- the least I can do is try and get this episode up in a somewhat timely manner. Let's go!
Episode XXXVII
The Road to Shambhala
Curtain Call
"I'd like that," Ruby nodded. "That world's funny, this one's... a bit depressing sometimes."
Vanessa stared at her for a full ten seconds. "Oh, you sweet Summer's child."
"Was that a joke?" Jack beamed. "You hear that, Tom? Lana? Vanessa actually said a pun!"
"Oughtta get that enshrined in our memories right quick," Tom laughed.
"Go hammer a Pikachu, all of you," Vanessa rolled her eyes. "We've got some worldlines to watch."
"Alright, let's get going!" Tai clapped his hands as Jaune and the others reconvened at the village's exit. "Nolan, Brook, you're in charge 'til I get back! Try not to burn the place down while I'm looking the other way!"
"Leave it to us, Captain!" Brook saluted.
"We'll have a nice glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice waiting when you get back!" Nolan chipped in.
"Looking forward to it!" Tai gave one last grin and wave before turning and leading the others back into the tunnels.
"Isn't that the same way towards where that titan kicked off?" Torchwick narrowed his eyes.
"Well, it was a long tangle of tunnels- it wouldn't be surprising if it has more than one exit," Ozpin offered.
"We're taking a different path this time around," Tai almost seemed to answer the question. "Going into the belly's lower level- what you saw from the cliffside."
Sure enough, they weren't in the claustrophobic environment nearly as long this time before emerging into that same vast cavern- Jaune could even make out the cliff where they'd encountered the bizarre Team Nora.
"A drop from that height? I could take it," Nora crossed her arms proudly.
"That poor titan..." Ren lamented.
"We could use some music- a nice walking song does the soul good!" Tai declared.
"Gods, no!" Raven groaned.
"More musical numbers? I'll make it so," Vanessa declared, lazily scribbling something on a sheet of paper.
Jaune brought out his guitar again. "Let's see... oh, I know!"
He began to strum, and eventually to sing.
"Wash away my troubles,
Wash away my pain,
With the rains of Shambhala!
Wash away my sorrows,
Wash away my shame,
With the rains of Shambhala!"
"Classy, very classy," Coco nodded her approval.
"Is this one of those old people songs?" Ruby wondered.
"How did we raise such little heathens?" Qrow asked of Tai.
"I wonder that every day," Tai shook his head sadly.
The rest of the team seemed to approve, though, as even Blake chipped in for a rousing chorus of "Oooohhooohooo, oohoohoo, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!"
Jaune took back over.
"Everyone is helpful-
Everyone is kind,
Along the road to Shambhala!
Everyone is lucky,
Everyone is so kind,
Along the road to Shambhala!"
Another chorus, and they all joined in together:
"Tell me, how
Does a light shine,
In the halls of Shambhala?
Tell me, how
Does a light shine
In the halls of Shambhala?"
Jaune glanced towards Blake, who sighed with a slight smile, and picked up the song.
"I can tell my sister
By the flowers in her eyes
Along the road to Shambhala!
I can tell my brother
By the flowers in his eyes
Along the road to Shambhala!"
"Oh, she's so happy!" Kali beamed.
"Mom..." Blake groaned.
And once again, they all joined in.
"Tell me how
Does your light shine
In the halls of Shambhala?
Tell me how
Does your light shine
In the halls of Shambhala?"
For a while, they continued the song- "Sham-Sham-Shambhala, Sham-Sham-Shambhala..."
At last, the singing dwindled as they approached what looked to be the gates of Shade. It was manned by guards in full armor, but after a quick once-over, they waved the team through without any problems.
"I'd have had some questions for the singing douches, but that's just me," Torchwick snorted.
As they moved into the center of town, Jaune found his eyes drawn towards a long line of people. "What's this?"
"Distribution center," Tai answered casually. "Government rationing out their resources. In practice, it's first come first served."
"Rationing? Isn't that something that usually happens during wartime?" Saphron wondered.
"Therer have been whisperings of a war between Vacuo and Atlas here," Blake flipped through her notebook. "If they're both on limited resources, that would certainly explain it."
A young man currently stood at the front of the line, beaming as the elderly lady behind the counter handed over a bowl of soup with a warm smile on her face. "Okay, I'm afraid that's the last for today."
Just before the boy could accept the bowl, a woman roughly shoved him out of the way. "My husband is a soldier- he's been busting his gut for this country, he has- surely, his family deserves food more than some street rat!"
"Wait..." Saphron leaned forward, eyes wide. "That kid is Adrian!" Her eyes narrowed. "This... will not stand."
Jaune and Pyrrha seemed to agree- they moved forward and helped Adrian back to his feet. Jaune turned towards the woman with fire in his eyes. "What do you think you're doing, picking on a kid like that?"
The woman stepped back, glaring at the team as the others caught up. "And who the hell are all of you?"
Blake cleared her throat. "Jaune, we're here to find Tai's friend..."
"Huh, don't usually see Blake as the bystander," Yang considered.
"I... don't like that," Blake shook her head.
"You think being an adult is all about barking orders?" Jaune blatantly ignored Blake's council. "It's about accepting your responsibility to the weak!"
"As if you urchins understand what you're talking about," the woman sniffed. "Guards! These men are harassing me!"
"Ugh... we've got a karen on our hands," Nora groaned.
"So it would seem..." Ren agreed.
Quickly, guards descended on them, blades in tow. "What's going on- Mr. Xiao Long?"
They slowed to a halt when they saw Tai moving forward. "Happy to explain everything, boys- this young lady got to picking on this runt here." He ruffled Adrian's hair- the boy was clinging to his leg. "Tryin' to take soup that rightly belonged to him."
"I see," the guards nodded. "Well, Miss, we're going to have to ask you some questions-"
"No! You can't arrest me! Nooooo!"
"I'm just glad Tai was there," Saphron crossed her arms with a sigh. "Things could have gone a lot worse."
Tai smiled as he looked down at Adrian. "So, how you doin', kid? Growin' nice and well- and how's Granny Calavera?"
"Granny Calavera?" Saphron asked.
"We've seen her in other worlds before- I guess she's the one who adopted Adrian here?" Jaune guessed.
At the mention of 'Granny Calavera,' Adrian looked downcast. Tai frowned. "Not well, huh?"
"You know this kid?" Sun asked curiously.
"Oh, right- meet Adrian- that friend of mine, Maria Calavera, takes care of him."
Pyrrha smiled, and knelt down to his level. "Hello, Adrian- it's lovely to meet you!"
Adrian smiled and blushed, but said nothing.
Tai chuckled fondly. "He's shy around new people. C'mon, let's go see his granny. She'll be up in the playhouse."
"Oh, they're going to MgRonald's?" Ruby perked up.
"Playhouse, not playplace, dolt," Weiss rolled her eyes.
"What's the difference?" Yang shrugged.
"A playhouse is a house one goes to to see plays!" Weiss threw her hands up in agitation.
"You certainly have an... interesting team, Weiss," Winter's lips twitched upwards.
"You're telling me..."
The city of Shade was constructed into the cliffside surrounding the Vacuan Titan's inside- Tai led them up several flights of steps until they entered another square, at the head of which was a grand theater, several posters outside detailing the plays that would be performed in the near future.
"Is she an actress?" Sun wondered.
"Nope- she's the playwright, and leader of her troupe," Tai corrected. "And... hey, looks like they've got a performance starting up in just a few minutes! What say we take a load off?"
"Huh... 'The Legend of Oum,'" Sun read. "Sounds like a hoot and a half!"
"Huh, never sat through a play before," Jaune considered- he failed to look back and see the contemplative look on Pyrrha's face.
"I can... *a-hem* only imagine how strange it must be to see plays based on one's own exploits," Ozpin coughed.
"Yes... how... strange," Salem crossed her arms.
"Ruby want to go!" Ruby bounced up and down eagerly.
"Alright!" Tai turned towards a man standing behind a counter. "Four for Legend of Oum!"
"There's more than four of us," Jaune pointed out.
"Blades are free if they're with their drivers," the man behind the counter stated dully.
"I'm... not sure how I feel about that," Blake narrowed her eyes.
"Oh- and this one's ten," Tai added as an afterthought, glancing at Ruby.
"Actually, Ruby is-" Ruby started, only to be silenced by a fierce glare. "Er... ten and three quarters!"
"Child discount it is," the man nodded monotonously, clearly not caring enough to ask why such a young nopon had a blade with her.
"Eh, we've all had those kind of jobs," Qrow shrugged. "'cept Ice Queen, I guess."
"Alright," Tai whispered as they entered the hall. "Nice and quiet- I'm sure they're already packed."
Indeed, they were- it was a hassle to find seats, let alone near enough to each other. They ultimately managed it just before the curtain rose, revealing a stooped woman with long hair, white from age, leaning heavily on a knobbly cane topped with a skull ornament.
"The world has changed," she announced throatily. "I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was... is lost, for none now live who remember it..."
"That's her!" Jaune identified for his sister. "That's Maria Calavera."
"She doesn't look like a bad caretaker..." Saphron looked her over.
The orchestra kicked in, playing a low, sad song as Maria stepped off the stage, continuing her narration but allowing her troupe to act out her words as they were spoken.
"It began shortly after the Exile from Shambhala... the Architect sent forth her two greatest servants, the Grails, to safeguard humanity."
"A... second Grail?" Blake looked shocked. "I thought Pyrrha was the only one!"
"We haven't heard of any others until now," Ren agreed. "And all who talked about Pyrrha seemed to speak of her as 'the' Grail, never 'a' Grail."
"Could it be this is Ms. Calavera's imagination?" Ghira suggested. "An addition to the story, for dramatic flair?"
"Quite the change to make if she's claiming this play is historically accurate," Kali frowned.
"Legend of Oum, the Netflix adaptation?" Nora pondered.
"However, one of the Grails turned against their orders- consumed by lust for power, the Dark Grail wielded its power with reckless abandon, forcing all the titans' peoples under his thrall."
The Dark Grail in question was portrayed by a large man in full black armor, slinging around a mace half his size, effortlessly knocking over any who stood in his way.
"Of course, the ever-cliche dark lord plot," Neo rolled her eyes. "Haven't heard this one before."
"True classics never die!" Ruby pumped a fist in the air.
"And yet, hope is something that never dies," Calavera's narration continued. "And sometimes, victory comes from the simpler, more honest souls..."
The stage brightened, as two actors emerged- one astride a horse-looking prop, the other carrying an acoustic guitar not unlike Jaune's. The orchestra died down, and the man with the guitar began to strum.
"Can't we get a longer break from these things?" Torchwick moaned.
Vanessa took a long drink- for a full thirty seconds. She then spent another thirty seconds looking over to him.
"...No."
"Through the woodland, through the valley,
Comes a horseman, wild and free!
Tilting at the windmills passing,
Who could the brave young horseman be?
He is wild as he is mellow,
He is strong as he is weak.
He is cruel as he is gentle,
He is wise as he is meek."
"I like this song!" Ruby smiled.
"It's very pleasant," Pyrrha agreed happily.
"A bunch of self-contradictory dribble," Raven scoffed.
"It's called poetry, Ms. Branwen," Ozpin pointed out. "Literalism can only take you so far."
"Reaching for his saddlebag,
He takes a battered book into his hand!
Standing like a prophet bold,
He shouts across the ocean to the shore,
'Til he can shout no more..."
"Something about that verse feels a little weird," Neptune noticed.
"Poetry doesn't always play by the conventional rules, either," Ozpin advised.
The man on the horse picked up a book and sang the next part of the song:
"I have come o'er moor and mountain,
Like a hawk upon the wing!
I was once a shining knight
Who was the guardian of a king!
I have searched the whole world over,
Looking for a place to sleep!
I have seen the strong survive,
And I have seen the lean grow weak!
See the children of the earth,
Who wake to find the table bare!
See the gentry in the country,
Riding off to take the air!"
"I loathe such idealistic drivel," Adam scowled.
"No... we could absolutely use such a man in our world," Ghira shook his head.
"Wouldn't mind sharing a brewski with him myself," Tai smiled.
"A real knight in shining armor!" Stars appeared in Ruby's eyes.
The man with the guitar piped up again:
"Reaching for his saddlebag,
He takes a rusty sword into his hands!
Striking up a knightly pose,
He shouts across the ocean to the shore,
'Til he can shout no more:"
"See the jailer with his key,
Who locks away all trace of sin!
See the judge upon the bench,
Who tries the case as best he can!
See the wise yet wicked ones
Who feed upon life's sacred fire!
See the soldier with his gun
Who must be dead to be admired!"
"A surprisingly deep song," Ironwood acknowledged. "I wonder how much it reflects the original man himself?"
"He sounds like... everything I aspire to," Jaune admitted.
"There is something quite resonant about it all," Ren agreed.
"See the man who tips the needle,
See the man who buys and sells,
See the man who puts the collar
On the ones who dare not tell!
See the drunkard in the tavern,
Stemming gold to make ends meet!
See the youth in ghetto black,
Condemned to life upon the street!"
And finally, the man with the guitar:
"Reaching for his saddlebag,
He takes a tarnished cross into his hand!
Standing like a preacher now,
He shouts across the ocean to the shore!
Then in a blaze of tangled hooves,
He gallops off across the dusty plains,
In vain to search again,
Where no one will hear...
Through the woodland, through the valley,
Comes a horseman, wild and free!
Tilting at the windmills passing,
Who could this brave young horseman be?
He is wild as he is mellow,
He is strong as he is weak!
He is cruel as he is gentle,
He is wise as he is meek!"
With the song concluded, the play returned to its main story, as Oum traveled across Remnant, gathering friends and allies as he prepared to take on the 'Dark Grail.' A noble from a distant land, and most prominently, a red-haired swordswoman. Jaune's initial thought was that this had to be Pyrrha, but she was specifically described as not being the Grail- she was given the name 'Adenine,' described as the greatest swordswoman of Zemuria. Still... she acted a great deal like Pyrrha- she had the same kindness, the same tender eyes.
"Two Pyrrhas?" Jaune blinked.
"I doubt he'd mind that," Nora sniggered to Ren.
'Adenine' quickly became the deuteragonist alongside Oum himself, as they and the noble rushed towards the final confrontation with the Dark Grail, whereupon, at last, Oum called on the Grail of Light.
"Oh, Architect!" he cried, reaching towards the heavens. "Grant me the power to restore balance to the world!"
And the Grail of Light appeared- a tall, blond woman descending on a wire from the ceiling above the stage.
Jaune blinked. Blond? Not red?
"Maybe Ms. Calavera got the colors mixed up?" Pyrrha suggested.
"Iunno, she looks old enough to have seen it personally," Qrow commented.
"You truly know nothing of manners, do you?" Winter wrinkled her nose at him.
"Apropos of nothing, this is what a deus ex machina actually looks like," Vanessa commented. "A god descending on a machine."
The Light Grail scattered petals across the stage, signifying her power, as the Dark Grail and his minions were struck down. Alas, the victory was not without cost, as three titans, including the legendary Zemuria, were slain, sinking beneath the Cloud Sea's waves forevermore.
"I suppose... it really is true, then," Pyrrha squirmed a little.
"It's not your fault," Jaune insisted. "If you hadn't shown up, that other guy would have done it anyways, and the rest of Remnant afterward."
"I... suppose that's true..."
The play's final scene took place between Oum and Adenine, as they prepared to part ways- Oum setting off into the mists on another adventure.
"Now that Zemuria is gone, where will you go?" Oum asked.
"Oum... Zemuria will never be gone," Adenine stated firmly, as music began to well up behind her- she turned to the audience and began to croon.
"No man, no madness,
Though their sad power may prevail,
Can possess-
Conquer my country's heart,
They rise to fail!
For he is eternal-
Long before
Nation's lines were drawn,
When no flags flew,
When no armies stood,
My land was born!"
"Sniff..."
"Are you okay, Kali?" Ghira looked to his wife.
"Yes, it's just... so beautiful..."
"And you ask me why I love him?
Through wars, death and despair,
He is the constant-
We who don't care...
And you wonder, will I leave him?
But how?
I've crossed over borders,
But I'm still there now!"
As the music swelled up, there were scarcely any dry eyes.
"Are you okay, Blake? Weiss?" Yang asked.
"Yes... it's just... after leaving my home country..." Blake whispered.
"...My sentiments exactly," Weiss agreed with a sniff.
All the remaining cast of the play stepped back on stage to back up Adenine's final verse.
"How could I leave him?
Where would I start?
Let man's petty nations
Tear themselves apart!
My land's only borders
Lie around
My heart!"
As her final note died down, the cast stood arm in arm and bowed to the audience as one. Before they straightened up, the curtain descended, bringing the play to a close.
"Sniff, sniff..."
"Even the Ice Queen?" Qrow's eyes widened.
"Silence- it's just... so beautiful!" Winter tried to covertly wipe her eyes, which, of course, only made it more obvious.
The world cut ahead to the team filing out of the theater. Blake noticed Pyrrha lagging behind a little, and took the opportunity to move forward and tap Jaune on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" Jaune asked.
"Listen," Blake whispered, glancing behind her to make sure Pyrrha wasn't too close. "This play thing... it has to be awkward for her, doesn't it?"
"I guess we're the weird ones at this point for getting used to seeing ourselves in these situations," Nora leaned back, cradling her head in her hands.
"But for us, it's another world," Velvet pointed out. "For this Pyrrha, it's her actual history..."
"I... I mean, I guess?" Jaune shrugged.
"Oooohhhhh, you dolt," Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Go talk to her," Blake pressed. "Go make it right!"
"Um... make it right?"
Blake ignored his cluelessness, turning him around and pushing him towards Pyrrha, who seemed just as surprised as he was. "Oh- hello again!"
"Ummm... hi!" Jaune rubbed the back of his neck. "So... the theater..."
"It was incredible, wasn't it?" Pyrrha grinned, catching Jaune off guard. "The way they portrayed the Cloud Sea- that cloth, moving just like actual clouds! How did they do that?"
"Oh! I guess... she was just impressed by the special effects!" Jaune blinked in surprise.
His other seemed equally uncertain. "Er, yeah, the clouds were... pretty cool! Very, um... cloudy?"
Ozpin leapt up from his seat in Jaune's helmet to whack him upside the head. "What are you saying, you fool?"
"Thank you, Ozpin." Weiss felt like smashing her head against a wall after witnessing that. "I was about to have to find a way to do that myself."
Ozpin didn't answer at all, simply taking a long drink from his mug.
"C'mon, I don't know what to say in a situation like this!" Jaune hissed back.
"Hey, did you two wanna talk to Maria or not?!" Tai called. Jaune and Pyrrha hurried to catch up with the others just as Tai opened the door at the end of the hall without so much as a knock. Inside was the elderly woman who'd served as the play's narrator, poring over what seemed to be future scripts with the aid of a large pair of glasses. She turned immediately to see her guests.
"Ah, I was wonderin' who'd be rude enough to kick down my door like that," she chided- though through a knowing smirk.
"Looks like you're still collecting as much junk as you can," Tai commented, glancing around the cluttered chamber.
"Well, if you wanna make fun of my hobbies, I can just send you right back on your merry way!"
"Yeah, you can tell they've been friends for a while!" Sun laughed loudly.
"They seem to be antagonizing each other," Penny tilted her head in confusion.
"And what else are friends for?"
"So... this is your friend?" Blake asked in surprise.
"Oh, yeah- maybe you wouldn't think it, but the old bag and I tore up quite a few battlefields back in the day!"
"Usually without a scrap from a dunghill in return, thanks to this hippie's bleedin' heart!" Maria laughed.
"Well, starting a theater troupe ain't exactly a get-rich-quick scheme either, is it?" Tai volleyed back as if it were second nature.
"If you're done talking shit to each other..." Raven groaned.
"Well, enough flappin' our gums over introductions," Maria seemed to agree. "You ain't the type to hike all the way up here just to look back on old times. What brings ya to me?"
"Well, you're older than the first titan, aintcha, Maria?" Tai asked bluntly.
"Why would you-" Winter began to ask furiously,
but Maria broke into laughter. "You always did know how to make a gal feel special! True enough, I got a good few years on me- whatsit to ya?"
"We were hoping you might know a way across the trench around Yggdrasil- a way up to Shambhala," Jaune finally spoke up on his own behalf.
"Shambhala?" Maria blinked. "Well, it ain't every day I get some pipsqueak crossin' my door askin' for a way to the holy land..."
She leaned forward, taking them all in- at last, her gaze fell on Pyrrha. "Ah, I see- that core crystal... that do add up a thing or two, don't it? And who's the Grail's driver this time around?"
"That's me," Jaune raised his hand and waved a little. Maria looked towards him, and he immediately felt the sensation of being scanned.
"Little shrimpy for a wielder of divine power, ain't he?"
"Yup, that's what we've been saying," Neo agreed.
"Big things come in small packages!" Ruby insisted.
"And how you swing that overgrown gardening tool around like a paper plane is one of Remnant's greatest mysteries," Torchwick sighed heavily.
"It is what it is," Tai shrugged. "So, how about it? Can you help us or not?"
"Hmm..." Maria stroked her chin a little. "You talk about the trench- I take it you've already met Yggdrasil's watchdog?"
"We bumped into him, yeah," Sun agreed. "Not a very reasonable guy."
"I shouldn't say so!" Maria laughed. "Hasn't let anyone near the tree in five hundred years! Yet..." She stroked her chin a couple more times. "There is a lady what did it before- climbed Yggdrasil, I mean. Even met the Architect, dependin' on who ya ask. Hard to guarantee much of anythin', but if anyone might have an idea how to get up that tree, it just might be her."
"Who was it?" Jaune asked eagerly- at which Maria's face fell.
"Not someone she's a fan of, from the looks of things," Qrow observed.
Jaune remained persistent as ever. "Please, if you know anything, tell us! I have to get to Shambhala, no matter the cost!"
"Yeah... yeah, I'll tell ya," Maria agreed. "Only- mind if I have a little one-on-one time with Little Ms. Grail herself, first?"
Jaune glanced to Pyrrha, who nodded. "Of course."
Jaune looked to Tai, who quietly nodded and led everyone else out of the room.
Maria took a seat, filled a pipe, and lit it up. She glanced towards Pyrrha, as if waiting for her to speak first- she did.
"So, you're the one who wrote that play, correct?"
"Sure did," Maria nodded. "I'm sure you noticed the discrepancies better'n I. Stuffed shirts couldn't accept that Adenine was a man, for instance."
"Wait, Adenine was a man?" Neptune gasped.
"Well, there goes all his fantasies for a week," Sun chortled.
"I wonder why they'd have made her change something like that?" Winter wondered.
"Netflix adaptation ahoy!" Nora groaned.
Maria took a pull on her pipe. "...I hope I didn't bring up any bad memories."
"Well, yes..." Pyrrha admitted, "but there were good memories mixed with the bad. Cherry pie with the coffee, as Monty might have said."
"Aye... that's what he'd have said, alright," Maria nodded.
"She says that like she knew him herself," Ironwood noticed.
"Maybe my other wasn't really kidding about how old she is?" Tai wondered.
"I really am sorry... for dragging it all up again," Maria apologized. "It's just... I wanted people to know about back then- to have some understandin' of what it was like."
"Yes, it's really starting to sound like this is all something she experienced firsthand herself," Ozpin considered. "Do humans live exceptionally long lives in this world, or...?"
Another pause, as Maria took another pull. "So... you plan on usin' that power of yours again?"
"Of course, she should," Raven rolled her eyes. "But something tells me this world is going to take the cliche goody two shoes route."
"Yes, how dare we not wantonly abuse power that accidentally destroyed three continents," Winter glared at her over crossed arms.
"I... certainly hope not," Pyrrha answered hesitantly.
"Good," Maria nodded approvingly. "I'm not sure this world could take it again..."
Pyrrha slowly blinked in agreement. "Yes... only if there was no other way..."
Maria slowly met her gaze. "You know who it is you're going to have to talk to, don't you?"
"...Yes."
"Just wanted to make sure."
Pyrrha adopted a look of determination. "We're going to make it to Shambhala. It's our destiny."
"You 'n that boy?" Maria smiled.
"Yes- his name's Jaune. He's a good man, with a kind heart."
"I suppose that's what drew ya to him, eh?" Maria chuckled, somewhat wanly. "Yeah... go tell your friends I'll help ya out."
"Thank you, Ms. Calavera," Pyrrha placed a hand over her chest and bowed herself out.
Maria smiled, and put her pipe to the side before breaking into a fit of hacking and coughing.
"See what I mean? That's what smoking gets you!" Neo side-eyed Torchwick, who crossed his arms and ignored her with apparent determination.
The door immediately swung open, and in came Tai and Adrian. "Grandma!"
"You doin' alright, Old Bag?"
"Oh, just a little cough," she waved their concerns aside, even as the rest of the team filtered into the room. "Gimme a moment, I'll be right as rain."
"'Just a scratch,' huh?" Sun shook his head. "That's dumb- you shouldn't press yourself like that- especially at that age."
"As I keep saying, he has his own brand of wisdom," Ren nodded approvingly.
Tai seemed to agree. "Alright, everyone, we're givin' her the chance to rest. I bet I can get us a nice rate at the hotel in town."
"A good night's rest... don't sound to bad about now..." Maria admitted, leaning heavily on her cane. "You just be sure to come bright and early tomorrow, got it? Got a little somethin' for ya to send you on your way."
Tai nodded, and let the troupe out of the theater.
It took significantly more effort to get Adrian off of her- he lingered behind and continued fussing over her well after the others took their leave. It was only an hour later that she loudly announced how much she'd like a glass of juice from that stall down the road that Adrian's eyes lit up and he finally dashed out of the room.
"Such a good kid," Saphron's eyes softened.
It wasn't much longer after that when she heard the door creak open again. She smiled softly. "That was a lot quicker than I-"
She froze when she turned to see, not Adrian, but Cardin and Sky Lark.
"Dammit- should have guessed when they went to bed early they weren't getting that information," Yang swore.
"Shoulda seen it coming a mile away," Qrow nodded grimmly.
Never did a look of fear cross Maria's face- once her initial shock died down, a small smile graced her lips. "Musta missed my invitation to the reunion."
"That's... not exactly what we're here for," Cardin shook his head with a smirk.
"Eh, just as well- Grail already took off for parts unknown," Maria waved aside. "Headin' for the Abyss, last I heard- round about where you rightly belong."
"OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!" Nora cheered, blaring on some air horns alongside Yang, Sun, Jack and Ruby. The others covered their ears, except for Lana, who looked as though she'd like to join in, if only she wasn't still trapped in a giant slab of ice.
"Heh... just as much of a bitch as ever," Cardin chuckled humorlessly.
"Now, now," Sky raised his hands. "No need to pick on the elderly, Cardin- especially in a town of quack doctors and dull blades. The poor lady's ether flow is growing stagnant."
"Her... ether flow?" Ironwood tilted his head. "I was given to understand such things only applied to blades in this worldline."
"That's what my notes say," Blake agreed.
"Then... does that mean she's a..." Neptune allowed the question to linger in the air.
As Sky continued his wheedling, Adrian was approaching the room with a glass of juice in hand, a wide grin on his face- a grin that disappeared when he heard the voices. He slowed down and strained his ears.
"Oh, boy, time for the stupid kid to get involved," Torchwick adjusted his hat.
"You know," Sky pretended to remember, "my blade, Neon, specializes in direct ether manipulation- getting yours up and flowing like new again would be remarkably simple- done in less than a minute. What do you say? No need to rush towards death."
Adrian nearly dropped the juice. Grandma... is going to die?
"A bribe, is it?" Maria seemed to consider for a moment, before laughing heartily. "Sonny, this old girl has a good few years on her yet, and even if Mr. Reaper were to come a-knockin' tomorrow, I'd not keep him standing at the front door. You're too young to understand, but I'm quite ready to turn in after this long, long day."
"The kind of stuff Dumbledore says," Ruby reflected. "I still don't really get it myself..."
"Because you, too, are too young," Salem little more than whispered, earning many a surprised glance.
"But are your children?" Sky persisted. "Are they ready to see you walking into the Great Unknown?"
"Nah... I raised those kids to be strong," Maria waved aside. "Strong enough to see me off with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts."
Raven opened her mouth, but was cut off by the world itself this time.
"Tch... how cliche," Sky scoffed.
"...Exactly," she muttered.
"We'll... give her some time to think it over," Cardin decided. "If you ever decide on actually living, we won't be far away." He took his leave, Sky short on his heels. Maria slowly turned and lowered herself back into her seat.
"No deal, partner!" Sun smirked.
"But... Torchwick's right," Neptune pointed out reluctantly. "The kid heard all of that..."
"Adrian... no!" Saphron gasped.
Sure enough, Cardin and Sky had scarcely left the playhouse when they heard soft footfalls behind them- they turned and spied Adrian slowly approaching them.
Sky immediately put on a look of faux concern. "You must be one of Ms. Calavera's orphans, aren't you?" Adrian slowly nodded. "I see... and you must have heard what we were just discussing?"
Another slow nod. "Is... is it true? You can help Grandma?"
"Of course," Sky nodded, kneeling down to Adrian's level. "All I ask in return is one eensy-teensy favor..."
"Get your hands off of him, you filth!" Saphron snarled.
The world cut to a hotel room where Pyrrha and Blake were sleeping in adjacent beds- Jaune and Sun were in the next room over, Ruby and Penny in the room over from that, and Tai and Qrow in a room at the end of the hall.
Pyrrha was initially sleeping quite well, returning to her usual dreamscape amongst the fields of Shambhala... until the tranquility was interrupted. She sensed a presence behind her, and was able to identify it without looking.
"You can't be here..." she whispered.
"Not sure when you started making the rules," Cardin smirked from where he leaned against the tree.
"Oh, dear- is Cardin a psychic in this world?!" Velvet fretted.
"That doesn't really fit with anything we've heard before... unless... no!"Weiss's eyes widened.
"What?! What is it?!" Yang spun to stare at her.
"I... I dare not risk speaking it into existence..."
Whatever it was, Blake seemed to have come to the same conclusion, leaving the sisters of the team to shrug at each other. Much the same was happening on their sister team, split between Ren and Pyrrha on one side, Jaune and Nora on the other.
"...Why are you here?" Pyrrha asked slowly, dreading the answer.
Cardin leaned forward- he was never one to beat around the bush the way Sky did. "We've got one of Calavera's brats."
"No!" Pyrrha gasped.
"I went ahead and promised Sky that he'd get to kill someone tonight," Cardin stretched nonchalantly. "Whether that's you or the brat... I'll go ahead and let you decide." He turned away before pausing. "Oh, and this probably goes without saying, but I don't get the chance to say it often, but... no funny business. You show up alone, or Sky will make the decision instead."
"Monstrous..." Ironwood growled.
"Bringing children into these conflicts..." Winter agreed, her eyes narrowed.
Blake began to shift in her sleep- she awoke just enough to roll over and vaguely notice that Pyrrha wasn't in her bed. Probably just getting some water or something... her brain processed before starting to shut back down.
Before she could entirely return to dreamland, however, she was shocked fully awake by the storm of footsteps in the hallway- a split second later, her door burst open as all the rest of the team except Pyrrha rushed in.
"Adrian's gone missing!" was all Jaune had to say before Blake was on her feet and completely alert.
"Just like a-" Yang started.
"Cat, yes, we know, now shut up, Adrian's in danger!" Blake interrupted.
At the rear of the team was Maria, hobbling along on her cane. "Must've been that Cardin... he n' some other kid were tryin' ta wangle a deal outta me."
"What other kid?" Blake asked.
"Don't remember a name, but he had some sorta... mullet, I think the kids these days call it?"
"Sky," Blake immediately identified. "But I can't think of any reason they'd want Adrian-"
"Blake... where's Pyrrha?" Jaune asked slowly, realizing just who was absent.
"I... I don't know," Blake admitted. "She wasn't there when I woke up."
Jaune began to pace nervously. "She... must have realized what happened to Adrian somehow..."
"Hmm... not unthinkable," Maria agreed.
"So, what, she went to save him on her own?" Blake crossed her arms.
"Did she leave a note or something?" Sun asked.
"No... no, I'd have noticed," Blake shook her head.
"If I had to guess... I'd say Olethro Ruins," Maria speculated.
"Where from, you just pull that name outta your ass?" Torchwick crossed his arms.
"Shut up, and maybe we'll find out," Coco suggested none-too-gently.
"Where's that?" Jaune asked.
"It's where Monty awoke the Grail, all those years ago," Maria explained quickly. "If I'm right, that place has a special significance to the both of 'em."
"How do we get there?" Jaune quickly demanded.
"I'll show you the way," Tai stepped forward. "You stay back and get some rest, Old Bag."
"I'll do... just that," Maria conceded. "You just go and show those Zemuria fellas what-for- yeah, I said what-for, I'm old, get over it."
"Oh, I hope nothing bad happens to her, either!" Ruby fretted. "I like funny old people!"
The city of Shade turned into a whirlwind around them as they rushed towards the ruins, but Pyrrha had already reached the top of the steps, standing at the edge of the amphitheater that overlooked the Vacuan titan's head- the only part of the nation of Vacuo that was on top of the titan, rather than within.
Cardin snorted when he saw her appear. "Boring... still not willing to use your true form, huh?"
"They keep saying that- what is her true form?" Yang wondered. "She gonna go super saiyan or some crap?"
"Here's hoping!" Sun grinned.
"I'm not here to entertain you," Pyrrha glared. "Where's Adrian?"
"In the peanut gallery," Cardin pointed carelessly. "You ought to thank me, you know- Sky's the meanest sunnuvabitch I know- took quite a bit to keep him off the kid."
Pyrrha glanced in the direction he pointed, and saw Adrian lying on one of the higher seats of the amphitheater- unconscious, but unhurt as far as she could tell.
"Oh, thank the gods, he's okay..." Saphron released her breath.
"Pyrrha... smash," Jaune glared.
"Gladly."
"Heeheehee- mean ol' sunnuvabitch!" Neon giggled as she skated around Sky, standing off to Cardin's right- behind Cardin stood his own blade, Watts.
"I still say we should have sent a finger or something," Sky pouted.
"Only if you're willing to have yours broken!" Saphron snarled.
"She's here, isn't she?" Cardin waved side casually. "Now... to business. You know why we called you here, don't you?"
"I believe I do," Pyrrha nodded. "...Is Adam truly on your side in all this?"
"I exist for his benefit... and that's all I have to say about that," Cardin shrugged offhandedly.
"For someone who hates humanity, he seems to have inspired a strange amount of loyalty from several humans," Ozpin noticed.
"Hazel was one thing, but Cardin, the one who hates faunus?" Velvet blinked. "I really don't understand!"
Pyrrha didn't seem to have anything more to say either- she raised her hands, ready to defend herself.
Cardin's smile finally disappeared as Watts formed the gold thread between them, allowing him to summon his mace. "About time we ended this."
He swung his mace, sending a trail of ether towards Pyrrha that she blocked with the hexagonal shield. Again and again he struck, again and again she blocked, but it was clear she was being driven back.
One stray fragment of ether managed to get around her shield and graze her arm.
On the stairs, Jaune felt the pain and stumbled with a yelp.
"Jaune!" Ozpin yelped in concern.
"Fine- I'm fine, we have to get to Pyrrha!"
"I'd normally call bullcrap, but this time, getting to her really should take full priority, so..." Sun shrugged.
Indeed, the pain caused Pyrrha to stagger as well, hunching over slightly and panting in an effort to catch her breath.
"I see I'm not the only son of a bitch out here," Sky smirked.
"But she's still defiant," Cardin sighed. "C'mon, may as well throw in the towel! You really think you can handle all that power on your own?"
"I'm not going to use it!" Pyrrha declared. "I won't let anyone ever use it again!"
"Ah, so that's what's going on," Winter crossed her arms. "He wants to use the power that toppled three titans."
"But... to do what?" Neptune asked perhaps the most chilling question of all.
Power began to well up around her core crystal, forming into a great ball of fire surrounding her.
"An impressive trick for someone working alone," Sky commented.
"Holding back before, huh?" Cardin grimaced with a flourish of his mace. "It's almost like you don't know who you're dealing with!"
The fireball came careening towards him, only for him to smash it apart with his mace.
"So weak," he scoffed. "Face it, you just can't beat me on your own!"
"Then it's a good thing she's not alone!" came a cry- the rest of the team spilled out into the amphitheater behind her, and Jaune led the attack by leaping into the air, bringing down the Grail Sword.
"Fearless Leader!" Nora led the cheering.
"The kid?!" Cardin growled. Watts rushed to his side and formed a shield before them, forcing Jaune to back off.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha beamed when she saw her backup.
"Oh, good, she wasn't trying to do everything on her own, it really was just to keep Adrian safe," Jaune breathed deeply.
"Tai, Qrow, get Adrian!" Jaune quickly instructed.
"No problem!" Tai agreed, already scooping the kid up into his arms.
"So, it's come to this," Sky smirked, stepping forward as Neon continued to skate around him. "C'mon, Neon, we have blood to spill."
"Thought you'd never ask!"
"I don't remember her being so... bloodthirsty," Weiss shivered.
"Well, we've been told many a time that the blade is affected by the person who awakens them," Ren pointed out. "Perhaps this is a result of that."
"I must admit," Sky maintained his smirk, "I have enjoyed playing my part in this... hackneyed tale, yet..."
"Heheheh... time for the final act?" Neon guessed.
"Make it so," Sky agreed, and Neon began to glow, spreading it across the entire amphitheater like a net.
"You're bluffing," Jaune growled, rushing forward with his sword, not seeming to hear Pyrrha's cry.
"No, wait!"
"Um, Fearless Leader, it's probably best to listen to her," Nora chuckled nervously, tapping her index fingers together.
"Um... does anyone else hear the music?" Penny asked hesitantly.
"Haven't we had enough music numbers in the-" Raven started, but Ozpin interrupted, shaking his head.
"No... this music is... different..."
Jaune was caught off-guard as Sky was able to block his attack with ease- looking back, he saw that the thread between him and Pyrrha had been severed.
"Blades draw their power from atmospheric ether energy," Sky explained, like a teacher talking a student through a difficult math problem. "From their crystal to their weapon, where it manifests as arts- but what if we were to interrupt that flow?"
"Shit!" Tai swore as he saw what was going on from above, from just outside the net.
And at last, words were being sung, but not by anybody on the screen, but by a woman in the background.
"Among the mist, I see a stretching path...
It reaches out so far beyond what I can see!
How far would I be walking 'til I reach the end,
The end of the path that's to be seen?"
"It's... sad!" Ruby gulped. "Ohhh, I hope nothing really bad happens!"
"Damn! The power's draining out of my weapons!" Blake gasped- she, too, seemed to be floored as the thread between her and Sun was broken.
"I'm givin' it all I got, Blakey, but this fog is cutting me off!" Sun announced.
"Masterpon... Penny feel funny..." Even Penny was starting to sound tired.
Cardin grinned and rushed them- in their weakened states, they only barely managed to dodge.
"HACKS! I CALL HACKS!" Yang roared.
"They clearly don't care, you brute," Whitley growled- though most of his anger did seem to be directed at the villains on-screen.
"I would keep thinking and questioning myself,
'Why do I have to walk this path, oh why?'
I can't seem to find the real meaning to this path I take,
Fate to accept and my goal seems so far away!"
Jaune was the first to force himself back to his feet. "Why won't you people just leave Pyrrha alone?!" he demanded.
"I'd have thought that was obvious," Sky brushed some bangs aside without a care in the world. "We want the Grail's power aaaaaaaall to ourselves. It's Adam's desire to erase all life from the world!"
"All life? Not just humanity?" Ghira quirked a brow.
"He must have mispoken," Adam grunted.
"But if it was just to wipe out humans... why would any of them go along with it?" Kali pointed out.
"What are you talking about?" Blake demanded as she leapt forward and engaged him in combat, despite his clear advantage.
Cardin directed an attack towards Jaune, only deflected by Pyrrha leaping between them and forming the shield- it shattered underneath the attack, sturdiness worn away by the fog.
"So, tell me why I'm here, and what's the reason I am here today!
If I recall, it was you, you wish that I would stay!"
"He really said that?" Blake demanded in disbelief. "Erase life from Remnant?"
"I don't know why you're surprised," Sky laughed. "He thought you'd understand better than anyone, what humans are really like."
Blake staggered backwards, looking aghast, her sword dropping to her side. She only survived the next strike because Tai leapt in front of her and deflected it on her behalf.
"What're ya doin', kid?!" he demanded.
"No matter how much wind will blow against me, I will keep on, oh oh!
I will keep moving on, to find the answer to-
I'm lost in search for you!"
"You've been through Shade," Sky commented. "Seen the ships, weapons, and soldiers, all ready to invade Atlas. Doesn't it make you want to laugh? Every corner of the world, inhabited by vermin ready to kill the other vermin."
"It sounds like they're really referring to humans and faunus interchangeably," Ghira noticed.
"That's the case in most of these worlds- they're different races of the same species," Vanessa agreed.
"I'm tired from the constant carry on, shouting that I can't see the way ahead...
The words would fill the mist so gently in the air,
And it melts as time just passes by,
When I look back, there is no trace of my path!"
"Of course, that's nothing new," Cardin scoffed, picking up Sky's monologue. "Humans haven't changed a damn bit in five hundred years!"
"He talks... like he's not human himself..." Velvet noticed.
"Please... prove us wrong..." Blake silently begged.
"Little wonder that Mother abandoned them!"
"Um... what?" Ruby blinked in surprise.
"I didn't want this to be true, but all the evidence points that way..." Pyrrha whispered. "The only person we've heard call the Architect 'Mother' is me... a Grail. Cardin... is a Grail too."
"WHAT?!" cried everyone who hadn't yet pieced it together.
"Not just any Grail," Ren agreed. "He must have been the Dark Grail from the play... and we're getting some insight into why he tried to destroy everything."
"He's still driven by hatred... but it's for everything, not just one race..." Blake gulped.
"No... you're the only one who hasn't changed," Pyrrha shook her head. "Mother didn't want us to destroy innocent life!"
"Is that why she gave us these powers?" Cardin challenged. "Get real! We were given these gifts to descent to Remnant and exterminate these pests!" As if to demonstrate, he flexed his arms, and was surrounded by a column of darkness.
"I cannot find my way to the past-
It's too late, time has elapsed!
There's only now that goes on here on out,
My eyes see ahead..."
"That power's not comin' from his blade," Tai grimaced.
"So much!" Blake gasped.
"That's right... playtime's over! Let's end this, Sky!" Cardin bellowed.
Cardin leapt up and brought his mace down on Jaune and Pyrrha again- her shield shattered, and they were both sent rolling across the ground. Over them jumped Penny, holding Ruby, who in turn was holding her drill as they rushed back towards their aggressor.
"So tell me why I'm here, the reason I am here today!
If I recall, it was you, you wish that I would stay!
No matter how much wind will blow against me, I will keep on, oh oh!
I will keep moving on, to find the answer to-
I'm lost in search of you!"
Cardin buckled a bit, but stood up and threw them off like insects. Electricity sparked around Penny's chassis, earning a concerned cry from Ruby. "Penny!"
Neon giggled as she skated towards them- Qrow leapt in to block her, matching her blow for blow. "These kids are under our protection, little lady!"
"Heh... very noble, but it's only a matter of time," Sky shrugged smugly. He swung his sword towards Blake- Sun managed to take the blow for her, but collapsed to the ground with a grunt.
"Sun!" Blake cried, before turning to glare at Sky. "You bastard!"
Neon grinned as she suddenly abandoned her scuffle with Qrow to attack Blake from behind, sending her crumpling to the ground.
"This... really isn't going well..." Ruby was chewing through her nails.
"Damn you!" Jaune cried- he forced himself to his feet and rushed in once again, even as Ozpin cried after him.
"Jaune, stop! It's no good!"
Sure enough, Sky was able to send him back with the barest amount of effort.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha cried, rushing forward until Cardin sucker-punched her in the solar plexus, sending her to the ground, winded.
"Gotta say," Cardin commented as he wiped off his knuckle, "hitting girls just isn't as much fun."
"Ever the icon of chivalry, Cardin," Sky laughed.
"They clearly think they have this tucked away," Qrow growled.
"Sure do... but there's one person we haven't seen knocked down yet!" Tai agreed, his eyes narrow.
"When you stop and look ahead, and face up to the blue above,
Then Jacob's Ladder will come down and check me up!
If I could climb up every wrung, would you be waiting at the top?"
Cardin reached down towards Pyrrha- but was thrown off when a whirlwind smacked into him from behind.
"You're not getting her!" Tai roared, standing atop the seats of the amphitheater, outside the fog's range. It put Cardin on his defense, parrying and dodging Qrow's attacks.
"Almost forgot about the oaf," Sky sighed. "But the fog is still protecting us- even if your attacks can hit us, they barely register."
"Will this mean, that I will search no more?
I'll try and reach the ladder there,
Far away in distance, I hear the voices,
Was this what I've expected? I don't even know, oh oh..."
"Ya think I don't know that, ya idjit?" Tai scoffed. He produced his sickles and leapt head-first into the fog.
"Uh... you do have a plan, don't ya?" Qrow asked, caught off-guard.
"Pay attention, Jaune!" Tai cried. "Your final lesson- one last thing you can do with your blade!" He turned the sickles around, and plunged them through his own body.
"DAD!/TAI!/OLD MAN!" Ruby, Qrow, and Yang cried in absolute horror. Tai stared, unable to say anything, baffled at his other's actions.
"Is this the real me I've longed for? I wish that was the case!
I know I'll let go of the ladder that's there-
I will start walking from this point on..."
"TAAAAAAIIIII!" Jaune cried, his eyes wide in horror.
Tai grunted, doubled over, but stood up straight quickly enough, a smirk crossing his face.
"Channeling the ether from his blade... directly through his body?!" Sky stared, slack-jawed- he had been truly caught off guard.
"Damn right," Tai agreed, his smirk widening. "There ain't a damn thing you can do to stop this flow!" He raised his fist and wound up a punch- it sent a wall of solid air flying towards the Children- it sent them all flying.
"Badass," Yang agreed, "but please tell me you've got a plan for recovering!"
"I'm not here at all, I don't exist here at all,
I gotta search for me!"
Cardin recovered fastest, running forward alongside his blade. Watts raised his hands, but was grabbed by Qrow who rushed in, standing atop him to pin him down.
Cardin, however, ducked another punch and brought his mace up into Tai's chest.
"DAD!"
"Tai!" Jaune cried again.
Nearby, Blake seemed to be struggling to reach out for him, but was only managing an inch at a time.
Tai reached around the handle of the mace and held it there. "Move it!" he yelled. "Take Pyrrha and run, kid! Run all the way to Yggdrasil- may you breach the top and gaze upon the golden land of Shambhala! And remember to fight your war!"
"I wish that I could find myself soon-
I need to find myself...
Myself..."
At last, Cardin wrenched his mace free of Tai's grip and spun it around, ready to plant it in his chest again- only to pause at the last minute. A flash of light appeared behind him as Qrow vanished, returning to his crystal, at the same moment the light left Tai's eyes. He was already gone.
"No... no... DAD!" Ruby cried.
"Those fuckers! Those shitbags!" Yang roared, tears streaming down her face even as she hid them behind her anger.
Even Raven pointedly looked away, refusing to let the others see tears tracing their way down her own cheeks.
"What... did I do?" Tai wondered, detached from reality as he felt.
"What you always did- gave your life to your kids," Qrow patted him on the back with one hand- the other was shaking too much.
"TAAAAAAIIIIII!" Jaune wailed to the heavens.
"Oh, please... how cliche," Sky flipped his hair.
"Don't let me run into Sky once we get back to our world... I don't know if I'll be able to keep myself from ripping out his damn throat," Yang growled.
"We'll... try," Weiss muttered, daggers ready to fly from her eyes.
Jaune rose to his feet and put all of his feelings into one long scream as he rushed Cardin. "You're going to pay! For Tai!"
"Jaune... no..." Pyrrha whispered as she forced herself back to her feet. "We have to retreat... to get away from here..."
Cardin sighed. "What a pain in the ass..." He used his mace to deliver an uppercut towards Jaune, sending him flying across the theater again. He attempted to get to his feet, but every movement caused bolts of pain to run through him.
"Won't let you... get away with this..."
"No, not Fearless Leader too!" Nora's hands covered her mouth.
"Jaune... no..." Blake's eyes widened, but she could move no faster now than she could before.
"Jaune-Jaune!" Ruby put all her strength into her wings, attempting to push herself up, but they collapsed from under her.
Cardin smirked as he raised his mace above for one final strike. "So long, runt."
Then came Pyrrha's cry, louder than all the others:
"JAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNE!"
Light began to pour forth from her- light the likes of which could only be seen otherwise in the sun- Cardin had to drop his mace and use his hands to block it to keep from going blind.
Pyrrha had risen into the air, and was... transforming. Her ponytail came undone, her hair growing wild, untamed, and blond. Her red-and-gold armor gave way to a leather jacket and skirt, the flaming heart over her left breast open and visible.
She touched down to the ground, and when she opened her eyes, they'd changed from emerald green, matching her crystal, to a vivid azure blue.
"Wha- Yang?!" Ruby was so shocked she forgot to be sad about Tai's death.
"What the hell is this?!" Adam stared. "I've never seen a semblance like that before!"
"Because no such semblance exists," Ozpin shook his head.
"P... Pyrrha?" Jaune stared.
Light shown from his hand- he looked to see that even the sword was changing, turning white and gold, expanding in size. "I... I don't understand!"
Sky, for once, made no effort to hide his shock. "No! You can't rewrite the scene now, it's too late!"
"Oh, my other, hurry and punch his face in." Yang abandoned her confusion in favor of her previous anger.
Sky rushed forward with Neon at his side- he froze at the look of absolute, raw fury on the new Grail's face.
"You idiot, get out of the way!" Cardin yelled, just as a pillar of light descended from the heavens, causing an explosion right where the two had been standing before.
"Is that... just one of her blade powers?" Pyrrha stared. "Have I been able to do that the whole time? Is that the power they're after?"
Nobody had any answers.
More pillars of light followed, chasing the two around the amphitheater. "Sky, Sky, what do we do?!" Neon fretted.
Sky opened his mouth just as a beam cut them off, destroying half the theater and sending it collapsing into the Cloud Sea below.
Cardin, however, seemed overjoyed. "'Bout time you showed yourself... Yang!"
Plenty of viewers had thoughts they wanted to bring up, but none dared speak now.
He leapt forward, but was blocked by another shield Yang summoned with one hand.
"Yang? Pyrrha, what does-"
"The name's not Pyrrha," Yang cut him off. "And Yang died five hundred years ago. Call me Crocea Mors- the Yellow Death."
"Yellow-" Blake stared.
"Death?" Ruby agreed.
"We can worry about what she means later!" Yang shook her head. "For now, kick their asses!"
"Pyrrha is another self I constructed," Crocea explained.
"Another... self?" Jaune blinked, clearly not fully understanding.
"Explanations later- fight now."
"Of- of course!"
Crocea Mors focused, and sent a wave out that forced Cardin back. Jaune rushed forward to attack, but Crocea forcibly held him back.
"Focus! I can't send power to you in this fog!"
Sky stared at what Crocea was able to accomplish regardless. "How- my powers are useless? Where is she getting this energy?!"
"Not from ether, that's all you need to know right now," Cardin growled. "Pincer!"
As they rushed forward, Crocea Mors waved her hands, and the world seemed to fade to darkness for Jaune. All he could see were Cardin and Sky charging them in the promised pincer attack. However, they seemed to be moving in slow motion, leaving clear after-images made of light.
"What... what is this?"
"Visions? Like my other has?" Ruby perked up.
"Foresight," Crocea Mors explained shortly. "My prediction of what will happen in the immediate future. Read their movements to find an opening, and counter!"
"Got it!"
Jaune focused on the men, stooped down, and brought his sword up, sending them both flying in a maneuver not at all unlike what Cardin had just used on him.
"Impossible! How did he dodge that?!" Sky yelped.
"Who cares? Just bring them down!" Cardin cried.
A wall of light descended, countless beams dotted around the arena.
"I... I don't know that we can!" Sky gulped. "There's no way to break this link!"
"This... is the Grail's true power," Crocea Mors growled, glaring at their opponents.
"Sure is," Cardin smirked. "And I've waited a long time to see it. Welcome back, Yang."
"Let's end this," Crocea whispered. "Follow my lead."
Jaune nodded, holding out the sword for her to place her hand on the hilt. Together, they raised it skyward and cried "SACRED ARROW!"
A beam fired into the sky and brought down countless smaller beams like rain.
"No- no!" Watts cried as he staggered backwards. "I was supposed to be... immortal!"
"What is this, Sky?!" Neon cried as her body began to dissipate, fading away until only her crystal remained.
"No- NEON!" Sky cried.
"Oh, what a cliche," Yang snarled.
"You really had to get that one in, didn't you?" Blake sighed.
"You're goddamn right I did!"
Watts staggered back, trying to avoid the beams, but they battered and tossed him around until there was nowhere else for him to go but over the cliff.
Cardin was much more measured as he watched his mace dissipate, but Sky had collapsed to the ground, staring at Neon's darkened crystal. "I... I don't..."
"On your feet, Sky! We have to retreat!" Cardin ordered.
Sky did not get back up- he was still staring.
Cardin gave a grunt of annoyance as he forcibly picked Sky up and stomped on the ground, sending out a shockwave that kicked up dust and momentarily blinded Jaune and Crocea Mors- by the time they regained their bearings, the two Children of Zemuria were gone.
A second later, Crocea Mors flashed with light, and Pyrrha was back- she began to collapse to the ground, only stopped when Jaune caught her. He knelt, his lap her momentary pillow. He felt another cry coming as he slowly looked up and was harshly reminded of what this battle had cost them.
Even in death, Taiyang Xiao Long remained on his feet. Of the myriad scars upon his body, not a single one of them was on his back.
XXXX
I think it's pretty self-explanatory why I was hesitant to write this episode in my prior headspace. Er... Happy Easter, I suppose? This was a long one- I think we'll have one more RTS episode before moving worldlines- I'm sure the audience has questions they want answered before we shift gears. That said, the next episode should be a lot shorter, and ideally, up a lot quicker. After that... I'm thinking we'll finally get back to Childhood's End... left that one alone a lot longer than I originally intended. Until next time, please drop a review to let me know your thoughts, and of course, don't you dare go hollow- Gamer4 out.