Yang: Salem can't be killed... you all heard her too, right?
Arion: And I have to find an artefact to seal her away if there is something wrong?! The fade doesn't exist anymore!
Team RWBY all angrily glare at Ozpin, whose head is still down. He looks up, with tears streaming down his face. Qrow just looks away and Arion grips his staff tight in anger.
Ozpin: I--
Yang: (enraged) There was so much you hadn't told us! How could you think that was okay?!
Oz doesn't say anything, he just hangs his head back down in shame.
Ruby: Professor... (Oz looks up at her) What is your plan to defeat Salem?
Ozpin: I... don't have one...
Suddenly, Qrow punches Ozpin in the face, sending him into a nearby tree trunk.
Qrow: No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good...
Ozpin: (tearfully) But, you are!
Qrow: Meeting you... was the worst luck of my life...
Oz stares back in disbelief upon hearing Qrow say that, before looking down dejected.
Ozpin: Maybe you're right...
Ozpin's eyes glow as control is transferred back to Oscar Pine. He holds his cheek in pain from the effects of Qrow's punch.
Ruby: What happened?
Oscar: He's... gone.
Yang: That bastard! Tell him we're not done yet!
Oscar: No, this is different. He's gone. It-- It's like he's locked himself deep inside my head. Our head? (grunts as he holds his head in pain) I hate this! I want it to stop!
Weiss: He just left us?
Blake: What are we gonna do now? Arion? What says Fen'Heral about this?
Arion: He's also ashamed and don't dare to talk. Maybe he should had let me stay in Thedas so I wouldn't been involved in this chaos! What have I done to deserve this?!
Yang growls in anger.
Maria: Enough! We need to get move on. It'll be dark before we know it, and every one of you is spewing negativity! (helps Oscar up with her cane) There's a trail over there, trails usually lead somewhere.
Yang: Lady, I don't know who you think you are but--
Maria: (slamming her cane) No buts! I understand that you're upset. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is humanity's second time around.
Arion: Actually third time. But without elves, dwarves, the avvar and qunari...
Maria: But, if we don't move, we die. And I'll be damned if I've lived this long just to die out here in the cold!
Ruby: She's right. Come on.
Everyone grabs their belongings and whatever Dust they can carry with them. Maria sits on Bumblebee as Yang walks her bike. Ruby walks over to Oscar and hands over the handle of his cane.
Oscar: (grabbing the cane) I'm just going to be another one of his lives, aren't I?
Ruby: (puts her hand on his) Of course not. You're your own person.
Qrow: Don't lie to him, Ruby. (drinks from his flask) We're better than that...
Ruby and Oscar look down sadly before walking to join the others.
In the Land of Darkness, five Nevermores are perched on a rocky outcropping with large purple crystals. They fly away when an airship flies by them heading towards a large purple structure in the distance. The airship lowers down to an outcropping that serves as a dock, and Hazel Rainart, Mercury Black, and Emerald Sustrai hop out. As they proceed forward, they notice Tyrian leaning against the entrance at the bottom of the stairs. His scorpion tail now has a spiked, metal tip covering it from where it was cut off.
Tyrian: (laughs) Welcome back, welcome back! I do hope you missed us as much as we missed you.
Emerald and Mercury glare at Tyrian.
Hazel: Let's go.
The three proceed forward past Tyrian.
Tyrian: Speaking of which, where is our Fall Maiden?
Emerald stops upon hearing this, prompting Tyrian to giggle, causing Emerald to growl.
Mercury: Emerald, come on.
Tyrian: (in a mocking tone) Don't tell me something happened to her? (laughs)
Emerald: (turns around and draws her weapons at Tyrian) I will cut off more than just your tail.
Tyrian: (chuckles as he slowly walks toward Emerald) Careful, little girl. Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore.
Tyrian gets close to Emerald's face, causing her to back away. Tyrian intentionally cuts his cheek with the blade of Emerald's weapon. Emerald has a disturbed expression on her face upon seeing this, and Mercury steps up to hold Emerald's shoulder and scare Tyrian away from her.
Mercury: (glaring) Back off, freak.
Tyrian: Oh, don't misunderstand, I am in mourning just as you. Because it appears you've failed our Queen, and that is a tragedy.
A moment later, Tyrian drops his sympathetic facade and starts to laugh maniacally. Mercury looks back at him in disgust while Emerald has a fearful expression on her face. The two of them and Hazel turn around to proceed up the stairs as Tyrian continues laughing. Elgar'nan is even standing outside.
Elgar'nan: So you all failed. I'm not surprised 'cause humans are so dump creatures.
Emerald: You could had saved her! Why hasn't the blood magic worked?!
Elgar'nan: Oh that. If she had managed it the servant of Mythal would had followed only her orders. She failed because I made it on purpose. (grins at Emerald's shocked face) I wish I would had seen the face for her idiocy. I don't like teaching a thief. (looks back) Oh, and your so called queen is already waiting. Don't be late. (Dissapears in smoke)
In the meeting room, Salem opens her eyes and glares at her subordinates. Tyrian and Arthur Watts are seen fearfully sitting at the table while Hazel, Emerald and Mercury are kneeling at the other end of the room. Elgar'nan leans against a wall near the door with an apathetic face.
Salem: I would like you to explain to me... how it is you failed so spectacularly?
Hazel: The Faunus Militia split our forces--
Salem: Stop.
Hazel remains silent with a fearful expression on his face.
Salem: Let me rephrase the question - who is responsible for your defeat?
Emerald and Mercury stay kneeling as Hazel stands up to give his answer. Salem listens intently.
Hazel: I take full responsibility.
Suddenly, Salem flips the table over, knocking Tyrian off his chair. Watts hastily stands up from his seat and backs away. Elgar'nan just stays unmoved.
Salem: (angered) But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?! We all know who's truly to blame...
Salem walks forward and menacingly holds her hand out in front of her.
Hazel: I don't--
Salem motions her hand, and a glyph with her symbol appears underneath Hazel. Multiple Geist hands come out from it and grab Hazel, forcing him down on all fours and suffocating him.
Salem: Emerald...
Salem looks over to Emerald, who is still staring down with a fearful expression.
Salem: I want you to tell me whose fault this was.
Salem slowly walks over to Emerald as she breathes heavily.
Salem: Now.
Emerald: (closing her eyes in fear) Cinder! We failed because of Cinder...
Salem: That's right. (placing a hand on Emerald's shoulder) I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself.
Salem walks away from Emerald. Both her and Mercury look up in surprise.
Elgar'nan: (clenches teeth and mutters) Fenedhis.
Mercury: You mean--
Emerald: She's alive?
Watts: You're joking, how could you know that?
Tyrian: Are you questioning our divine savior?!
Watts: (reels back) I...
Salem looks over to Watts and glares at him.
Watts: (chuckles nervously) Of course not, forgive me.
Salem proceeds to address her subordinates.
Salem: It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence... but the moment you put your desires before my own... they will be lost to you.
Salem releases Hazel from her grasp and walks back to the other side of the room. Hazel catches his breath.
Salem: This isn't a threat, this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found... through me. (turns her head to glare back at them)
Hazel stands back up, Tyrian lets out a small chuckles, and Watts straigtens his coat. Salem looks outside the window and watches the Nevermores fly before looking down.
Salem: And so we must press on. (turns around to face her subjects) The sword under Vacuo's academy, Shade--
Hazel: Ma'am. (everyone looks at him) I have... more to report.
Salem glares at Hazel for interrupting her, and has the Grimm arms ready under him. Hazel looks down at them in fear before explaining himself.
Hazel: Qrow, the elven mage and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas.
Tyrian: (laughs) Not if I can help it.
Hazel: And they're being led... by Ozpin.
At this, everyone slowly looks toward Salem with fearful expressions on their faces and Mercury notices the windows starting to crack.
Tyrian: So soon?
Watts: He's the only man with a chance of getting through to Ironwood. If that happens...
Watts suddenly stops as he and everyone else notice the windows cracking. They then look to Salem, and dark smoke emanates from her.
Salem: (furious) Leave...
Tyrian: Your Grace, I can...
Salem glares at Tyrian, causing him to reel back. Emerald looks on in fear before Hazel puts a hand on her shoulder.
Hazel: Come on.
Everyone quickly proceeds to exit the room as the windows start to crack even more. Emerald takes one last look behind her as the doors close. Salem, left alone, seethes with anger before calming herself down. Everything is seemingly quiet, but then all of a sudden, Salem yells out in rage and the windows shatter violently. Elgar'nan goes into his room and plans to inform Arion about the sword in Vacou.
Elgar'nan: (thinks) I know Fen'Harel must informed Mythal's last servant the truth how it really was. I'm grateful that Salem released me but I will not stay here as a pet. I'll get his knowledge soon enough but first I will be forced to tell him about this sword. (creates a double and turns into a small Nevermore and leaves the kingdom) It was a good idea to keep some of his blood to track him down. And now I know where he is.
Back in the snow, Team RWBY, Qrow, Arion, Oscar and Maria proceed on the trail. The snow starts to pick up even more.
Qrow: (sighs) Doesn't look like this is gonna let up.
Blake: Just wanna get this stupid Relic to Atlas.
Weiss: Let's hope we don't have to walk all the way there.
Yang: (to Maria, sarcastically) I thought trails led somewhere.
Maria: Do you have nothing better to do than to harass a defenseless old lady?
Arion: Can't you all finally stop?
Ruby: Everyone, quiet. Do you hear that?
Everyone stops in their tracks. A metallic squeaking can be heard. A large farm can be seen, one of the front gates swings back and forth with the wind. A large sign above the entrance reads "BRUNSWICK FARMS". Everyone arrives at the gate.
Blake: Well, at least one good thing happened today.
Weiss: It looks abandoned.
Ruby: It's still better than this.
Qrow: Come on, I think we could all use some rest.
Everyone proceeds through the farm's gates, with Qrow being the last to enter. The snow starts to pick up even more as the gate is heard closing with a metallic clang.
TBC