--Your POV--
We sat at the family dining room in the manor, discussing plans of what to do. Right now, we're assessing our situations and what actions we could play out.
Yang: Ok, Ironwood wants Penny and William, otherwise, Mantle is done for. So, how do we stop him? | Blake: Qrow and Robyn are still in his custody. | Jack: And May said that Atlas security drones are watching the crater, which means they're trapped too. | Oscar: And Salem isn't gong to stay gone for much longer. | Ruby: So then, it's impossible.
Emerald: See? If Miss Hero with all the answers doesn't have an answer, then we have ours. | Weiss & Y/n: Shut up. (Ruby sighs) | Yang: *approaches her* Okay, then why don't you just leave? | Niko: Can we please just give each other a chance? | Oscar: Yes, Emerald's not with Salem anymore, and Ozpin is back.
Tension grew in the air as he mentioned that again...
Oscar: All of this doubt and worry and distrust, it isn't getting us anywhere. | Ruby: *slams her fist to the table* Then nothing has changed! We're in the exact same place we were yesterday! Arguing over what to do while the kingdom waits to die!
I went over and gently grasped Ruby's shoulder, only for her to push me away and she turn and ran outside. Shocked, Yang took the initiative to go after her as I recover.
--In Weiss' room, William's POV--
I sit with a hunch as Jaune boosts my aura, helping me slowly grow back my wings. Currently, the bones, muscles, and tendons have recovered, all I need now is the soft tissue to help catch the wind and later solidify hard enough to stand against steel.
Ren: *starts a conversation* I'm...glad you're alright, both of you.
Jaune: *stop using his semblance with an audible sigh* Sorry. | William: Its alright, Jaune. Anything's faster than waiting several months for the progress you've made in just hours. | Jaune: *nods* Nice to hear, but, I'm also sorry about those cracks, Nora. No matter how much I boost you, they won't go away...
Nora: *sits up* Don't apologize. I got hurt doing what I always do, just another ditsy move from Nora. | Ren: Th-That's not true. | Nora: How would you know? We were supposed to be a team, but that didn't matter to you! When things went wrong, you pushed us away. You shove people out so you don't have to feel things that are hard!
She was out of breath, somehow, from her venting. Laying her back against the pillows, Ren looks away with a sad look.
Ren: You're right. I should be apologizing, to the three of you. W-When we lost Oscar and things got difficult, I said terrible things. I've been so...angry, at myself, for not being as good as the Ace Ops, for what happened at Robyn's rally, for losing the lamp. I thought if I just focused on working harder, getting stronger, that we...I, wouldn't fail. But, my biggest failing was as a teammate and as a partner.
Me and Jaune looked at each other before looking at Ren and Nora.
Jaune: Ah Ha ha! All water under the bridge, buddy! | William: I'll give you two some space. | Jaune: Ha ha! I'm uh...gonna go see if Klein needs any help with Penny!
We both left the room and went on our separate ways. I was heading towards the dining room but heard Yang talking, so I checked it out and saw her talking to a...saddened Ruby.
Yang: You know, that giant hound kicked us around like we were nothing, but Blake said you and the Schnees managed to take it down. Still having to one-up your big sis, huh? | Ruby: Did she tell you what it was? Underneath...? | Yang: Yeah... | Ruby: You know what that means then. | Yang: I wouldn't worry about tha-- | Ruby: That's what happened to Mom... (Yang immediately began crying)
Things clicked in my head and I realized who they were talking about. Summer Rose...that bastard's memories are still present in my head, and every now and then I can sort of "reminisce" Shadow's memories and I know what he and Salem did to her...
Ruby: When I saw its eyes, I knew. Salem used to kill people with Silver Eyes, like Maria, but she's always wanted me alive. But why would change, unless, when she met Mom, she learned she could do something new. | Yang: *sniffs* Ruby... | Ruby: *regains her determination* We shouldn't lie to ourselves. I wasted our time getting Amity up, thinking help would come, but it didn't, and Amity fell. I was being childish...
William: You were being optimistic. (the two looked at me with surprised looks) Apologies, I heard everything. Look, blind optimism is bad, but no optimism at all means we already lost. What we need is hope. Moreover, we need to take risks. | Ruby: But mine didn't work...
| William: Doesn't mean it did absolutely nothing. You got a warning out to everyone. Not everything is sure to happen. | Yang: And...if you didn't notice, my plan for Mantle didn't work either...but we got Oscar back, and we did a lot more that was never in the plan.
I walk down and sat on the steps while Yang does the same beside Ruby.
Yang: Mom took a risk the day she left, and I don't think...I don't think it went the way she wanted it to, but she's still my hero.
She hugs Ruby for a few moments before the muffled sound of glass breaking was heard. Jaune suddenly passed me and the other two.
Jaune: Hurry!
Everyone came out and we see Penny getting up.
Penny: I can no longer be delayed. | Ruby: *appears in front of her thanks to her Semblance* Penny, please! | Penny: I-I must open the vault! I-I do not want...Ah! Ruby! Stop me! | Ruby: *hugs her* Penny! | Penny: *her eyes turned red again* I must open the vault, and self terminate.
She activated her boosters and flew off but Blake grappled back to us thanks to Gramble Shroud. Ren shoots his grapple at made a somewhat stable anchor.
Y/n: Ruby, catch!
I grab Cronus and split it in two before throwing them at Penny. Ruby catches the twin scythes and I start pulling Penny down with the help of Gravity Dust. Upon reaching the ground, Weiss made a black glyph and stuck the Robot to the ground.
Weiss: I've got her! | Y/n: Thanks! | Nora: What do we do?! | Y/n: *Penny's eyes start to emit green fire* Oh shit.
She starts to create winds strong enough for us to begin struggling to keep our hold.
Penny: I must, open the vault, and self terminate!
Slowly, she rises from the ground but two pairs of grapples came from Emerald, adding another batch of resistance to the Robot.
Emerald: Do something!
Jaune nods and he ran over to Weiss, boosting her aura to a point Penny and Ruby is stuck to the ground.
Ruby: Penny, please, tell me how to help you! | Penny: ...Kill me. (we all widened our eyes) Kill me, and I can make sure the powers goes to you. Please...please! I cannot fight it! | Nora: Yes you can! It's just a part of you, remember? If you were only a machine, you never could've fought back for this long!
Ruby: She's right..! She's right! Jaune! Boost her Aura!
Quickly doing so, Penny's boosted aura was able to break her from the virus. When she felt fine, she nodded, granting a swift hug from Ruby as we all walk up and knelt down in front of her.
Jaune: Did...I stop the virus? | Penny: *looks at her hands* ...No, it's still there. | Y/n: But you've got an Aura, Penny. A soul, that's who you are. Our friend, not a machine.
A warm touching moment was created, and then interrupted thanks to Emerald.
Emerald: I think you're wrong, by the way. (I look at her with a stern look) I highly doubt you're in the same place you started. I-I mean, yeah, y-You guys have been getting your asses kicked, some of that, my fault, but like, you're at war. You're gonna take hits. (William stares)
Emerald: Look, I'm just going to be super pissed if you all finally decide to give up the moment I switch sides. | Oscar: *raises his brow* Switch sides, huh? | Yang & Jake: Awww! (we all share a laugh as Blake playfully punched Yang and Jack) | Emerald: Or like, whatever. | Oscar: *helps Emerald up to her feet* If you all wouldn't mind, I really think Ozpin would like to say something. (everyone looked at each other) | Ruby: Go ahead.
Oscar's eyes glowed, indicating that Ozpin has gained control.
Ozpin: I was recently reminded of an old fairy tale. A young girl flees the consequences of a choice...to a magical place. But, having never learned from her initial failure, she only succeeds in spreading it. (breathes in) I failed all of you. I should have trusted you with the truth, and should never have run the day you discovered it.
Yang: It was rough, but... | Jack: I think after everything that's happened, we understand. Trust is... | Y/n: Trust is a risk itself. | Ozpin: And I hope it's a risk you can take on me again.
We all smiled toward our Headmaster.
Penny: *groans as she places her hands on her chest* I can still feel it fighting me. | Jaune: And I can't just keep amping her forever. | William: Additionally, we can't keep the General waiting. | Penny: Ah! | Nora: Guys, she has to go to the vault...
Y/n: Wait...that's...! | Ruby: That's...actually a risk we haven't considered!