Chapter 7: Again

Luna, the leader of team LNAR, was on her day off. The freshmen were away on their first missions, and while many of the older students still had classes today, she had a free schedule for the day. Rare as they were, she intended to enjoy it. Sadly, the other three members of her team thought otherwise in her eyes. They chose to stay in their dorm today to study or laze about. Artemis especially disappointed her. The pair had been an item for over four months now, but had barely gone out on any dates. A day like today would be perfect. But, no, everyone had told her last night, including her boyfriend, that they wouldn't leave campus today.

Whatever, she thought to herself. As rare as these days were, she fully intended to enjoy herself, even if it was alone. She'd woken up at dawn and taken the earliest airship to the city, and didn't plan on returning to her dorm until dusk. She'd be exhausted, sunburned, and irritable whilst carrying an armful of shopping bags. To her, it sounded like the perfect plan.

So, at 7:30 in the morning, she found herself in the town square in front of the courthouse, planning her route for the day's venture. Coco had told her about an amazing clothing store in this very plaza, her favorite dust shop recently reopened, and she knew of a great coffee shop just around the corner. She smiled as she mentally considered her options.

A sudden, curious sound reached her ears. Is...is that a train? She looked around trying to find the source. the only conclusion she could draw was that the sound was coming from the steps of the courthouse. She, and several others in the area, approached it with a sense of curiosity to investigate the noise. Even upon closer inspection, she couldn't figure out what the sound truly was.

But that was before a massive diesel locomotive crashed through the courthouse steps. The massive steel vehicle shattered the stone that it came into contact with, sending shrapnel in every direction. Most that were too close were hit by flying rocks, severely injuring them, dismembering them, or ruthlessly killing them upon impact. Luna fared no better, as she was directly in front of the locomotive. Shocked, she didn't have enough time to raise up an Aura. The train landed directly on top of her. When the sirens began to wail, her scroll, which miraculously survived, was buzzing on the ground next to her mangled corpse. Artemis was calling her, trying desperately to find out what the sirens were about and if she was okay. He would get an answer eventually in the day, but not from her. No, he'd get a visit from the police, bearing the terrible news of her death.

Ruby grunted painfully as she forced the rubble off of her chest, clambering to get to her feet. Coughing violently as dust and concrete filled her lungs, she looked around and saw that the rest of her team were doing much the same. Spitting out a gross glob of mucus and dust, she readied her weapon and scanned the plaza intently. "You okay, girls?" she asked.

Weiss limped as she approached, dragging Myrtenaster lazily behind her. "I've...I've been better." She looked around and saw that the train and its cars had been torn apart by the concrete structures that it had collided with; only a mangled mass of metal seemed to remain from each car. The engine was mostly intact, and Weiss swore she saw a pale, female hand poking out from under it. She forced the thought from her mind, not ready to accept any casualties in her current state.

Yang neared Ruby and grabbed the younger girl's face, closely inspecting her for serious injury. She breathed a sigh of relief with a smile. "Do you have any idea what dad would do to me if you were hurt?" Ruby gave a weak smile in return. Yang's smile faded quickly, however. "Weren't there Grimm behind us?"

"Yang," Blake said as she pointed at the gaping hole that lead to the tunnel. "Please, for future reference, don't ever say shit like that." The other girls turned to see where Blake was pointing, and they each felt pits form in their stomachs. King Taijitu, Ursi, Beowolves, and Boarbatusks began to pool out of the gaping cavity, almost as if the great below had opened up to allow the wretched beasts into the frail city. Gambol Shroud drawn and ready, Blake's determined face seemed almost etched from stone. "Here they come!"

Ruby cocked Crescent Rose and matched her team mate's expression. "Protect the civilians!" she ordered. Her team nodded in agreement, and with a loud battle cry the four girls charged headlong into the fray.

All the while, Doctor Oobleck lay unconscious in the wreckage of a train car.

Team JNPR prepared to board their Bullhead that would take them to their first real mission. Excitement filled the air, and Jaune was looking forward to testing out his skills. He'd spent several months training under Pyrrha's tutelage, and he wanted to know what he was capable of. But then the sirens rang. Smoke and dust blew out of the city, and Jaune stared worriedly at the buildings. What's happening?

"I'm...I'm sure it's fine," Pyrrha blatantly lied, trying to ease Jaune.

But there was a feeling of dread eating at Jaune that he just couldn't get rid of. "I'm not so sure," he said. "C'mon." He stepped onto the Bullhead with his team in tow. "Pilot! Change of plans; take us to the city. Drop us off where that smoke is coming from."

The pilot gave him a confused look. "You sure?"

"Positive," JNPR's leader said with confidence. Pyrrha sighed with relief; she was just as worried as Jaune was.

But Jaune was also terrified. He'd never felt so afraid, and he didn't even know what was wrong. Let's get this sorted out...quickly.

Cinder smiled deviously as she watched the smoke rise from her high rise apartment. It's easy to live in luxury when you cheat and steal everything you need and want, and now that the signal had been made there could finally be some changes made. She heard her door open, and in came her two subordinates; Emerald and Mercury. "Are you two ready?"

Mercury seemed to stomp his foot, but Cinder knew that it was just his habit of cocking his boots to prepare for battle. "Always."

"Good. We have a brief window for our attack. We'll leave Beacon, and in turn, Ozpin in ashes before they even know what hit them."

Emerald hesitated as she spoke up. "Um...Cinder, I just wanted to know; why exactly are you picking a fight with Ozpin? Rumor has it that he's unbeatable."

Cinder's smile grew darker. "He took something precious from me. While I can't get it back, I fully intend to make him repay me for it. Blood, after all, is the richest and most treasures of currencies in this world." She stepped past the two younger combatants, making her way to the door. "Let's go."

Mercury and Emerald watched her with confusion as she exited. Mercury shrugged. "What's it matter?" he asked. Leaning in, he gave Emerald a swift kiss on the cheek. "We're going to have fun either way."

Emerald smiled. "You're right."

"No survivors?"

"None." She leaned up and returned his kiss. "Or die trying."

From her "room" in Beacon Academy, which suffice to say was more like a rudimentary science lab, Penny heard the sirens echo throughout the halls. She tilted her head curiously at the sound as she sat on a metal table. "Father, what is that?"

The elderly man in question, sporting black framed glassed, white, aged hair and muttonchops and a white lab coat was scratching his chin in thought at the sound. "I'm not quite sure, Penny," he said. "I...I do worry about it though." He paced for a moment, with Penny sitting silently on her table. "I think I'm going to find out. Wait right here, honey." He was about to turn to the door, but it burst open before he could perform the motion.

Two Atlesian soldiers ran in. "Doctor Asimov, sir!" one exclaimed. "We're here to protect you!"

Penny's father, Doctor Asimov, stared dumbfounded at the men. "Protect me from what, you daft fools!"

The men seemed stunned, not accustomed to the man's personality. "Vale, sir; it's being attacked by Grimm."

Asimov's eyes went wide. "Grimm? In the city? How?"

"We don't know. Initial reports state that there're some casualties. We can't be sure how many yet until we clear the beasts out."

Penny fidgeted from her tabletop perch. "Father, I ..."

"No, Penny," he said quickly. "You're not ready yet."

"But, Father, people need help. He said that there are casualties. What if more people die?"

He sighed. "I don't like it either, Penny, but I can't afford to lose you as well."

Penny hesitated before she spoke any further. "They need help."

"We'll just have to trust in Ironwood's troops, as well as Ozpin's huntsmen."

Ruby slid backwards on her feet as a Beowolf knocked her back unexpectedly. Most of these beasts should have been child's play for team RWBY, but their prior engagement with Roman and the White Fang had left them all quite exhausted. That, along with surviving the train wreck, made for a very difficult fight for the four of them. "If I find Roman again," she whispered to herself. "I'm gonna kick his stupid teeth in!" She turned to see the rest of her team panting just as hard as she was. "You girls okay?"

Weiss smiled. "I think I've been better," she said almost with a laugh. "Well, we shouldn't be here for much longer."

"How do you figure?" Blake asked with a wheeze.

"Well, we're either about to die...or, more likely, we're going to get some back up."

"We are in the middle of Vale," Yang pointed out. "I'd wager our teacher's will be here shortly."

"Yeah, I can already see Professor Goodwitch's scowl now," Ruby joked. "But, let's try to still be standing when they get here." Cocking Crescent Rose, she lunged forward with a yell. Her team mirroring her actions, they began to clean up the mess that was called Grimm.

Roman used his cane for its real purpose as he limped away from the train. "I can't believe I agreed to this shit," he muttered to himself. Glancing over a hunk of metal that must have once belonged to the train, he saw team RWBY fighting as hard as they could against the Grimm. Roman shook his head. "I'm sorry, Red. I wish I could help you. But, I have work elsewhere." He felt a presence from behind, and he turned to see a slightly scuffed up Neo approach with a nod. She handed him a touch screen tablet. "Thank you," he said. Reading it, he saw that it was a message from Cinder.

[Beacon Academy is the true target. Bet there in five minutes. Your reward awaits you upon victory.]-Cinder

Roman nodded before throwing the tablet; the screen shattered on impact when it hit the ground. "Let's go, Neo." From up above he heard several Bullheads and Atlesian Airships. Not even bothering to look, he knew that his role as the distraction was done. Now it was time for the real work to begin.

Ten minutes had passed, and the Grimm were all eliminated. Ruby looked around and took in the devastation. Teams JNPR, CFVY, CRDL, GEAR, and several others had come to fight off the beasts, as well as the Atlas military and, just as they assumed, their instructors. Now it was time to begin cleanup, and Ruby fought the urge to cry at the sight of the civilian casualties, and the one Beacon casualty. Luna Fay was found by her three teammates in team LNAR; she'd taken the day off and was crushed during the initial crash. Ruby shook her head. A needless death, she thought. "At least its not as bad as it could have been," she said aloud.

"I don't get it," Weiss said. "You said something about a battle for Beacon. This has nothing to do with Beacon. Why did they do this? It makes no sense."

"Yeah," Yang said. "Why go through all of this trouble?"

Blake sighed. "It was a distraction," she said.

"What?!" Yang and Weiss both yelled at the same time.

"She's right," Ruby agreed. She waved over Professor Goodwitch. "Professor, we have a problem."

"I can see that," she replied with a bite in her voice. "Roman Torchwick is nowhere among the wreckage. We did find Oobleck, however. He's got a concussion, but he should be fine."

"Roman being gone is part of the problem. This wasn't their objective. This was a distraction."

Glynda frowned. "A distraction? From what? What's their true aim?"

Suddenly, the sound of an explosion echoed across the city. Following the sound, their gazes froze on the plateau upon which Beacon sat. Smoke billowed from the front of the school. "That's what they're after," Ruby said angrily. "That's been their goal all along. To destroy Beacon."

Glynda scowled angrily with frustration. "Everyone, get to a drop ship! Beacon is under attack!"

Cinder, Mercury, and Emeral strolled through the remnants of Beacon's front gate, which lay smoldering on the ground. "They don't make them quite like they used to, do they?" Mercury joked. Emerald laughed with him, and Cinder gave a rarely light hearted smile.

She turned to her two subordinates. "Shall we get to work?"

Emerald nodded and drew her pistols. "Wanna play a game, Mercury?"

"That depends; is there a prize?" he asked in return.

She gave him a seductive glance. "I'm the prize."

"Kinky. I'm in. What's the goal."

"Highest body count?"

The two shared a look between each other. "Done," he said smugly. "I hope you didn't plan on getting any sleep tonight."

Cinder turned around. Behind her and her two close servants was a small army or White Fang soldiers; roughly two hundred in total. "Make an example of them. Show them all that you're not animals. You don't need their huntsmen to protect you! And you don't need them to rule over you like tyrants! Destroy them!"

The crowd of faunus cheered happily with a war cry as they charged the campus; students who were outside soon found themselves fighting for their lives.

A Bullhead came into view and hovered for a moment. Roman and Neo leapt out from the side and landed flat footed. "Am I late?" he asked cheerfully.

Cinder approached him. "This is our final phase, Roman. What do you think?"

He shrugged. "I suppose my dust stealing came in handy. Now, about my payment."

"You'll get it when this is over," Cinder assured. "But first, I'd like to give you a bonus. You have no orders except to stay until we finish. Whatever you find here at Beacon is yours to keep. Take a little breather and do what you do naturally. You've earned it." She turned and sauntered away. "Come along, Emerald, Mercury."

Roman sighed as she got out of earshot. "Round up some of those White Fang animals. We've got more work to do."

Ozpin stood in his office watching the chaos below from his window. Few have ever seen Ozpin angry, and he liked it that way. He was positively furious currently. I should have listened to James, he said. My experience be damned. I wasn't ready for this.

But he could stop it. He knew he could. He didn't like to do things like that, but he could. He saw the woman responsible for all of this strolling towards the building. One quick second and she would be dead. That's all it would take. Slowly, he raised his left hand, his fingers set to perform a snap. He applied pressure, ready to snap his fingers. One snap, and it'll be done.

James Ironwood barged into the office, and Ozpin quickly lowered his hand. I can't...I can't be like I was back then. I must prove that Remnant's way works.

"Ozpin!" Ironwood yelled.

"I know!" Ozpin replied angrilly. "You were right, I was wrong! I get it!" He turned to face his old friend. "It's too late to avoid it. We have to fight back."

"She has a company of White Fang troops. All of my soldiers are in Vale cleaning up right now!"

"Mine aren't," Ozpin said. "They may be children, James...but I have every confidence that they can win a war." Gripping his cane, he stormed towards the door before pausing. Turning again to face the window, he approached it with purpose.

"What are you doing?"

"Something I did in a past life," he whispered. Swinging his cane, the window shattered. Gusts of wind poured into the room. "I'm not going to hide behind my troops." Taking another step, he leapt through the window.

"Ozpin!" Ironwood yelled as he ran to the window.

But Ozpin didn't listen to him. He was in the moment as the wind rushed through his hair and tugged at his clothes. He always hated to feel this way, but he truly never felt alive unless he was going into battle. When was the last time he'd felt this way? Eighty years ago during the Human-Fuanus War was the last time. And another forty years before that. Then fifty, and twenty, and sixty...further still he could go back and remember every single conflict he'd ever participated in. He smiled, remembering even further and further back than any man should be able to remember to a time when he was truly young. When his appearance and his age were one in the same.

The ground drew closer and closer, and at the last second, Ozpin snapped his fingers and his descent ceased; he hovered just above the ground. Gently he lowered himself onto his feet, and he found himself surrounded by the White Fang. He silently adjusted his glasses before hitting a small switch on his cane; a small, pointed tip extended by two inches from the tip. The soldiers charged at him without hesitation, but Ozpin wasn't fazed. He readily joined the fray, swinging and jabbing with his weaponized cane.

Though his fighting style seemed very violent and full of anger, his mind was actually in a very peaceful place. Combat did that to him; where many who write or paint find that sort of serenity, he did the same in fighting. It was his art. At this very moment, his mind had drifted to a time when he first built his can. Arguably, it's one of the oldest weapons in the entire kingdom and few were older.

Gripping the handle delicately as though it were a flower, he parried every blow thrown at him.

He carefully carved the handle out of a rare white wood that can sometimes be found in the center of the Emerald Forest. He remembered spending almost four days just carving the intricate vine like design on the outside.

With a carefully placed lunge he felled a White Fange agent and began dueling with another. The rest he simply dodged; he seemed to prefer only truly acknowledging on opponent at a time, but it didn't cripple him. It made him more intimidating. Swinging, he cracked the ribs of a man with the cane.

The cane itself he hammered out of metals he found in a meteorite in a faraway land. At first glance it simply seemed like a black bar of metal, but that's simply because he dyed it black during the forging process with a mixture of different metals and heat variations. If you looked really closely, you could see the cable like pattern traditionally found in Damascus style steel. To this day, he is most proud of having accomplished this very difficult forging on his own.

Three White Fang agents charged him at once in an attempt to overpower him. Ozpin frowned. "That's very disrespectful," he whispered as he twirled the cane effortlessly and swung to knock all three of them on their backs. He'd dispatch them when they tried to fight him again. For now, he focused on the next foe to approach him. Briefly caught off guard, however, he quickly blocked another agent's blade with the hand guard.

The hand guard had the same metal that the cane itself held, but to match the handle's white color he coated in white gold, and even etched his name onto the side. On a sword, the point between handle and blade would be called a cross guard. That portion of his can served the same purpose, and that's where he attached the hand guard. Inside the cross guard was an array of clockwork that at face value did nothing, but it actually operated the mechanism to extend the tip into a pointed shape for stabbing. Ozpin felt only a little sad about the two massive clocks he destroyed to get the parts needed for the mechanism. But, he built two new ones to replace them shortly afterward.

The small group of White Fang that were in the court yard made up a small percentage of the overall troupe the woman, Cinder, had brought with her. He suspected the rest were within. With one final lunge, he dispatched the last of the group that remained outside; eleven dead faunus lay about him. He sighed and returned the cane to its normal grip so as to rest on it; he certainly felt much older than he looked right now. Gently, he rubbed his thumb over the pommel of the cane, remembering how the final piece of his weapon was built.

He capped the bottom off with a crystal. Not just any crystal, but one that looked as though it were chilled glass. Solid white in color, nothing could be seen through it at first glance. He went through alot of trouble to make sure of that, too. Because if one did look very, very closely, they could almost make out a small flame burning within the center of the crystal. An odd flame, it could never decide on what color to burn.

As it was a flame of every color in the rainbow.

Ozpin turned to enter the school. Glancing upward, he saw Nik standing upon a nearby rooftop. Today he was joined by an elderly man with a large tome and a writing instrument. The sound of Bullheads and Airships drew him away; reinforcements had arrived.

Song: Again-Yui

Author's Note

This chapter went ALL OVER THE PLACE! But, I had fun with it. I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had been busy with work and shit, so I could only write a little bit at a time. Then about 6 days ago I just stopped writing; couldn't find the time. Saturday would have been a good day...except I left work early Friday due to illness, and woke up on Saturday puking my guts out. I'm much better now, though. No more puking. So, I finish this chapter today at long last!

Anyone remember the significance of rainbow flame? I shall say no more beyond that as far as that train of thought is concerned, but yes...its a thing. :D

Also...who remembers Luna from The Longest Night? Yeah, I brought her back...and killed her again. Hopefully this doesn't become a hobby of mine.

Sorry about not going into detail about the battle with the Grimm...but we all saw the episode, right? Yeah, RWBY fights, JNPR shows up, Listen up, strap in, notify your next of kin...the whole deal. Great episode. Why even try to compete with it?

Also, mad props to ANYONE who happens to get the reference I made with Penny's father. I'm too young to even be making the reference, but hell with it. I thought it was fun. :D

Next time! Things get a little...stranger. (it's a pun in the making. live with it.)

Fun Fact: This chapter when through some different names: it was originally Sad But True, and then I changed it to Parüm, and briefly considered The Hanging Tree but felt that it would be really out of place. So, then I listened to Again and was like "yeah, that'll work".

Fun Fact 2.0: My 21st birthday was Sunday. I may or may not have become...not sober. I had fun though, so there's that.

Till next time! :D