MrLightbringer0
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Jaune's Pineapple Jam 53
🕑 Added 2024-06-08 14:04:09 +0000 UTCLT dazedly blinked his eyes open before immediately clenching it shut in pain as a blinding headache pierced his mind.
What happened?
He remembers leading a squad of recruits on a routine scouting mission and then-
Memories of fighting flash through his mind before the image of the Huntsman kneeing his face crystallizes in his thoughts.
Damn it…
He cursed as his head throbbed painfully but he accepted it. He accepted the pain. Pain means he was still alive and that was all he currently needed.
He gritted his teeth as he slowly opened his eyes. It was blurry but he could make out one of his comrades wearing a White Fang uniform kneeling over something.
He groaned as he pushed himself to sit up and it was enough for the figure to notice him.
“LT, you’re awake!” The figure turned toward him before rushing at him with a high-pitched voice.
He flinched at the voice but at least he knows who was talking to him now.
“Deery? Is that you?” He asks in a rough voice and Deery at least has the sense to reply softly once she notices his reaction to her.
“Y-Yeah, it’s me.” She calls out softly as she puts a hand on his back to support him.
“What happened? Where’s the rest?” LT asked, looking around to see….a dead body.
That was the something he saw her kneeling to.
“T-They’re dead, LT. They’re dead.” Deery confirms and LT’s heart grows cold.
He had to know.
“Who, Deery? Who?” He asked with a gulp.
He had to know if Adam died. It didn’t seem possible but LT of all people knew the fleetingness of life. As much as he wanted to believe Adam couldn’t die back there, anything was possible in the chaos of battle.
Deery only shook her head from side to side as her body trembled. Not a good sign by any measure as his mind immediately begins to chant one thought.
Not Adam. Not Adam. Not Adam-
“Everyone.” Deery whimpered
LT lost all strength as his shoulders slumped in defeat. He almost laid on his back again but Deery’s hand supported him.
“They’re dead? All of them?” He mutters absently. His eyes losing the light at the thought of Adam’s death-
“Adam and Perry made it but the rest….”
Life suddenly returns into LT’s eyes as he gasps instantly.
“Grimm?”
His mind went back to the situation at hand before he got knocked out. Tens of his brothers and sisters lost but while it might be callous to think so, as long as Adam survived then it wasn't a major loss.
It was still a loss however but Lt used that loss to light a fire inside of his heart. Vengeance for those they lost and hope for the future because Adam survived.
“The ones who stayed in the basement? Yes, the Grimm got them. Perry barely managed to blow up the tunnel on time.” Deery nodded, gazing at the way to the surface now blocked by walls of concrete, rock, and other debris.
His mind turns to the name Perry. That was the recruit with him and Deery. The one who managed to spot something suspicious in their scouting mission.
“What about the team planting the bombs?”
If Perry blew the bomb, then what happened to the team?
“Our squad….the human got them.” Deery answered with a gulp and LT’s eyes snapped wide open.
It was her squad. The squad he was supposed to teach. They must have stayed to do their own part and the report of their loss angers LT even more.
“The human?!” He growls, glaring into the darkness where he supposedly escaped..
He thought at first they might have been lost to the Grimm like the others but perhaps it was reasonable to think that that human tore through them if he managed to escape deeper into the tunnels.
“Yes, he tore through the squad. Adam and Perry are hunting him right now.”
“Then we need to help them.” He replied gravely, trying his best to stand up and causing Deery to panic.
“But you’re injured! We don’t even know which way they went!”
He was disappointed at her defeatist mentality. It was the mentality of an SDC slave and LT wanted to yell at her for even showing that kind of attitude in front of him.
And yet, he knew she was also going through something stressful. This was her first real battle after all and to lose most of her squad because of it? Well, LT needed to be gentle.
So with uncharacteristic gentleness, he shook his head disappointedly at her words before lightly putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Listen to me, Deery. It doesn’t matter if I am injured or not. It doesn’t even matter if we don’t know where their exact location is.” He says and her eyes grow wide at his gentle tone.
LT felt offended at her shocked and disbelieving look. He could be gentle, right? Right?!
Still, shocked or not, Deery’s expression allows LT to continue uninterrupted as he injects steel in his voice.
“What matters is we do what we can. So what we are going to do is head back to base first while helping any more of our comrades the human manages to hurt. After that, we need to help where we can.”
LT felt proud as he saw light and determination return to her eyes.
“You’re right, you’re right. For our comrades.” Deery nods slowly, standing up and reaching a hand for LT to take.
Damn, he felt prouder of her already.
“For our comrades.” He repeats with a smile on his face as he takes her hand.
That human better watch because they were coming his way,
=========
“He’s coming this way!”
“Don’t let him get through!”
Qrow frowned as instead of letting him pass through, the group of Faunus stood stubbornly in front of him.
He neither had the space to go around them nor did he have the time to restrain his blows. With that, it only took him seconds before he was through with that group and he continued running along the dark.
He fucked up.
Grimm appearing in the middle of a fight? Sure, he could handle it. All he needed to do was transform into his bird form before he got overwhelmed.
Grimm were easy to fool while he was in his bird form.
For some strange reason, they always tended to ignore animals. Sure, they didn’t ignore Qrow outright but when a human suddenly turns to a bird in front of them, they tend to get confused before looking for another target after Qrow shakes them off.
Slipping past the White Fang’s defenses? Easy, just use the chaos created by the Grimm to sneak past.
What came after that was hard however.
He never planned on assaulting the White Fang base on how own, unfortunately he was forced into it by the Grimm. He couldn't risk getting squashed by an Ursa or raked by a Nevermore.
With the rain thundering outside to prevent him from flying away and the Grimm still flooding the building, Qrow was forced to go with the flow and get past the White Fang's defensive which brought up a problem of its own.
He couldn’t risk flying blind in his bird form in this particular kind of environment by virtue of the fact that he was fragile when he was a bird. After all, one slap was all it would take to break his neck.
Qrow didn’t fancy dying today so he had to transform back into his human form once he passed through their defensive lines. Because unlike the Grimm, the White Fang would immediately take notice of a strange black bird flying inside their tunnels.
Which explains why Qrow found himself racing across the maze of maintenance tunnels connected to what is increasingly obvious to him, the underground railroad network under Mountain Glenn.
The tight maintenance tunnels he was just running through then opened up into a bigger tunnel. The tracks he almost trips on tells him he was now on the railroad network itself.
Qrow would have been impressed with the White Fang for managing to make use of something like this if he wasn’t fighting for his life. As it is however, he was downright angry and frustrated.
It was too damn dark! While the maintenance tunnels at least had low intensity light lining the walls, these larger railway tunnels did not.
They had light but they were weak and at intervals farther than Qrow was comfortable with. It would plunge Qrow into darkness for a long distance before he could reach some light.
It was dangerous but more than that, he didn’t even know which way to go!
“He’s over there!”
Damn it!
Qrow could hear another group of Faunus coming towards him. He was just about to turn the other way now that he had space to avoid bloodshed when he paused.
This…..this could be the answer to his problem. He didn’t know which way to go but maybe these guys do. Heck, he can probably just trace where they came from and he’d most likely stumble ibto their base.
“Quick! Get the others! Box him in!”
He clicked his tongue as another group of Faunus appeared in front of him.
Sure, these guys might be weak but they were many. Qrow might be a good deal better and stronger than them but even he could get tired fighting and running continuously. By then, it would be a death by a thousand cuts if he wanted to be poetic about it.
Blood flew and the group of Faunus screamed as he clashed silently with them. He never liked drawing blood when it was unneeded but in this case it was definitely unavoidable.
He didn’t have the time to hold back his strikes as he crushed one man’s chest with a kick and landed in the middle of their group.
“Brother, nooooo!” One of them screamed agonizingly, his weapon dropping onto the ground in despair.
Damn.
“DIE!” Another shouts as the rest of the team move to attack him with their swords.
He had no room for hesitation left. A slash of Harbinger all around him reunites the guy with his brother together with his whole team.
It was a kindness. At least that’s what Qrow tells himself as he immediately moves to trace back where they came from when he hears voices chasing him from behind.
Damn it. They’re already boxing him in! He had to make it fast if he didn’t want to get surrounded.
And so with that thought, Qrow charges in deeper into the darkness towards the White Fang base.
They wanted to kill him? They’d have to catch him first.
=========
Richard Bullson did not want to catch the human.
On the contrary, he wanted to be far away from wherever he was considering the screams and reports they’ve been hearing.
How the hell did he even find them? Richard wasn’t even able to see much less send a message to Tukson’s supposed contact! Did this guy just get lucky in finding them or what?!
As he was busy with his thoughts however, a voice shouts out from the radio communications hub they had inside the base.
“He’s in the tunnel heading to North Central Station!”
Damn it! That was the worst place the human could have barged in!
It might have been past midnight already but Richard knew that’s where their recruits were being trained right now.
“He’s cutting through Grey’s Squad! We need more men over here!”
Richard’s hands clenched angrily. So this is what a Huntsman could do. Now if only he was fighting Grimm instead of Richard’s people then everything would be perfect. As it was, he angrily grabbed the radio to relay his commands.
“Get the recruits out of there! We can’t lose any more of our people!” He shouted at the radio as he crossed the name Grey squad from his list.
That’s six squads down not counting the squad Adam took with him to reinforce the one LT was supposed to be teaching!
“Sir, we are not sending reinforcements?” One of the Faunus around him, his improvised assistant, asked worriedly.
Richard winced. It was a nightmare and he could already feel his impromptu command staff start to panic around him.
He didn’t want to be the one in command but with Adam and LT in the frontlines while most of the veterans from Mistral were out of the city for some other mission, it fell to Richard as the most senior to take command.
“No, we can’t face him head on.”
He never even wanted to fight and he would’ve been perfectly happy to order the young ones to flee however his comrades’ faces around him crumple into fear and despair at his words.
As much as he wanted to abandon the fight and tell his people to run however, he couldn’t. They could get out using other access points but the negativity they were feeling right now would lure the Grimm to them when they get to the surface.
No, for better or for worse, they had to fight the human here.
His face hardens and his comrades' moods start to brighten as they see his resolve.
If they were going to fight however, they needed to fight smart.
“We need to set a trap.” He states gravely as he looks at the map of the underground rail network in front of him intently.
The problem now was how. He had few experienced warriors with him but even they wouldn’t be able to stand up to the human now that it was very obvious they were facing someone good.
With the human seemingly heading to the base however, Richard might not have a choice but to send someone against him to die.
He was agonizing over what few choices he had when a hand landed on his shoulder. Turning to the source he sees Roman Torchwick blowing a smoke at him.
He coughed even as Roman gave him a smirk before putting out his cigar.
“Now, now. Our dear sweet cow over here is on the right track.” Roman announces, pointing at Richard’s swaying tail.
“Ox Faunus and the name’s Richard.” He grumbles while waving the smoke with his hand.
“Yeah, don’t care. The point is you animals are on the right track. You are just missing a few pieces.” Roman mocked and Richard’s fists clenched in anger.
This was the type of people that gives good Faunus like him reasons to hate the humans.
The discriminatory words, mocking tone, and judging look sets even Richard’s pacifistic heart ablaze.
“I don’t suppose you are going to tell us what we are missing?” Richard growls as he glares at him.
“I am actually but I might not feel like sharing anything if you are like that.”
“Fuck you, you racist!” His assistant shouts from beside him but Richard only raises his hand.
“Racist? Me? Why, I discriminate equally between humans and Faunus, you know? Doesn’t that make me the least racist of them all?” Roman cuts in with a grin and a fake gasp of shock.
Richard only grunts. He’s pretty sure it was a load of bull but if Roman wants to fake being an egalitarian and help them then Richard was at least willing to let this much slide.
“What do you want, Roman?”
“Well, Richie-”
“Richard.”
“-still don’t careeee.” Roman replies in a sing-song voice before clearing his throat and putting an arm over the shoulder over his partner with a smile.
”Anyways, what I am saying is me and my partner over here are willing to face the pesky little Huntsman for you. All you need to do is pull your people back and let us do our thing.”
“Is that it?” Richard asked with furrowed brows.
“Yup! That’s it!”
That seems too good to be real. Roman Torchwick offering to help them from the goodness of his heart? That’s like saying humans and Faunus are currently living together without discrimination! While it was Richard’s dream, he was self-aware enough to know that it wasn’t happening in their world today. Which means something like this shouldn’t be happening either!
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. This is our livelihood too, you know? We just want to do our part protecting it.”
Richard looked at him doubtfully but if Roman Torchwick wanted to risk his life protecting them then who was he to argue against him?
“Alright.” Richard sighed before picking up the radio to relay his orders. Before he could even speak a word however, a voice called out from the radio.
“This is Adam Taurus. Intercept the human. We will be striking from the back.”
It was direct and to the point and while no speeches were made, Richard watched as everyone around them cheered and clapped happily. It was just a few words and yet smiles brighten their surroundings. Even Richard breathed a sigh of relief.
This. This was just another reason why Adam was being hailed as the Hero of the White Fang.
The ability to inspire others to believe in him. To believe everything will be okay because he was here. Richard will admit it, he could see how others could be so taken with him.
Now if only he used that influence to push for equality and Richard would have followed him completely. As it is however, he wasn’t quite as taken by the atmosphere as his comrades. This allows him to see Roman’s reaction.
“Now this is interesting.” Roman smiles widely at them but he can’t fool Richard.
It was brief but Richard saw the brief downturn of his lips before his grin snapped back in place.
Richard saw Roman Torchwick frown.
=========
Roman frowned as he and Neo ran to intercept the Huntsman.
When he leaked the information to those Beacon students, Roman knew something like this was going to happen. He was prepared. It was going to be his chance to sic the students on the White Fang, while Roman either surrenders outright or pretends to fight them and maybe fake his death to get Cinder off of his back.
That chance went down the drain ever since Adam Taurus arrived in Vale. The damn fanatic looked at him too closely on account of him being human. It also turned out that the one attacking them was a genuine Huntsman judging by what he could hear from the radio earlier.
It was certainly a departure from what was slowly becoming a pattern of him fighting a couple of brats from Beacon. Still, he had to try and now that a Huntsman was wreaking havoc in Adam’s forces, Roman finally had the opportunity to act.
He just needed to land the timing right.
Clang!
Speaking of timing, Roman smiled as he heard the sound of fighting right ahead.
“You ready, Neo?” He called out behind him, stopping just before a turn where he was sure he’d be able to see the Huntsman.
Neo nodded beside him with a smile, just as eager as he was to put their plan into action. It would feel good to be free once again. Sure, they might need to lay low while Cinder was still in Vale but it was definitely damn better than being roped into her crazy plans.
Hearing the sound of fighting start to die down, he puts a smile on his face as he steps out into the open.
“Hello, Hunt- OH SHIT!” He started only to have to duck down as a sword came flying for his head.
TWUNK!
The sword buried itself on the wall behind him and Roman had to roll to the side when he saw a figure rush towards him.
“Roman Torchwick. Just the man I need.” Red eyes looked at him as the Huntsman landed beside his sword.
Roman gulped as he hurriedly stood up. He immediately brandished Melodic Cudgel as he took in the Huntsman’s appearance.
Bloody clothes with an even bloodier sword? This guy was a killer. A killer that wouldn’t even give Roman the chance to talk or even fake his death to escape.
Damn, looks like it was going to be a real fight after all.
===========
Adam clenched his hand tightly as they came across another dead group of comrades when a voice from the radio he picked up spoke up.
“Adam, this is Richard. The Huntsman is heading to the base and he is using the tunnel connected to North Central Station, you could hit him there. I’ve also sent Roman Torchwick and his partner ahead.”
The messenger. It was the messenger who seems to keep giving him good news.
Adam smiled at that. It was good news all around considering how badly the situation deteriorated earlier tonight. Still, there was something he was curious about.
“Thank you, Richard. How did you convince Roman Torchwick to fight?” Adam spoke as he watched Perry breathe heavily.
“I didn’t need to. He said it was to protect his own livelihood so I also pulled back the recruits.”
Adam nodded at that. That sounded like the Roman Torchwick he knew but more than that Richard pulling back the recruits was a good call.
“Good job, Richard. Thank you for sparing the recruits.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“On the contrary, you saved their lives. Be proud of that. You have saved the future of the White Fang.”
Adam used to think that these recruits from Vale were weak and would be useless in the frontlines. They are still that certainly but he could see the potential. Especially from the one behind him.
They were by no means setting an easy pace yet Perry stuck with him. Despite being tired and having less training, this particular recruit toughened it out and seemed to be willing to go for more as he looked at Adam with steel in his eyes.
Adam nodded as he saw Perry grab equipment from their dead comrades. Someone else will come through here later to retrieve them when it was safe but using their own weapons to avenge them would be good sense.
Not that Adam needed to do that but Perry did and it gladdens his heart to see him doing what needs to be done. H
“Come, the human is just ahead.” He calls out, getting back Perry’s attention who straightened himself before taking a deep breath.
“I’m ready.”
Adam only nodded.
Adam might be hopeful about this particular recruit but Perry wasn’t there yet.
But he will be if he survives this encounter. After all, great warriors are born in the fires of battles for life and death.
===============
Qrow fucked up.
He really did.
When Qrow heard his nieces throw down with Roman Torchwick and the White Fang, he thought these guys would be chumps or weaklings to let first years beat them up.
He was wrong.
Oh most of the White Fang still seemed to be that but Roman Torchwick wasn’t.
Don’t get him wrong, it’s not like Qrow was losing either but Roman was good. Good enough to last long enough for his sidekick to harass Qrow.
He would have to revise his opinion of his nieces. They were more badass than he thought if they’ve fought these guys off more than once.
Still, while Roman and his sidekick were good, Qrow was just plain better.
Sparks flew as the three of them clashed in a storm of steel. Harbinger grinded across Roman’s cane towards his face before an umbrella appeared between them.
Qrow jumped back before suddenly rolling to the side when Roman shot at him. He found himself facing the multi-colored shortstack after that. Leaning away from the kick she just sent his way, Qrow was just about to hook her with Harbinger’s scythe form when Roman blocked the strike for her.
Still, an ear-splitting crack of Harbinger's rifle lets him use the momentum to throw Roman away.
Qrow grunted when he felt the pipsqueak crouch down to punch him in the gut and just like that, he used the momentum to roll back, extending his foot to catch the pipsqueak on the chin as he creates some distance between them.
Just to be safe though, he transforms Harbinger into its gun form to make them back off.
This was getting troublesome.
Every time he slipped past one of their guards, the other was there to compensate.
Still, it’s not like Qrow wasn’t doing anything either. Misfortune still tripped them up and he still landed some hits of his own.
More than that however, he could already see them tiring at the pace he put them through with their disheveled hairs and dirty clothes.
Yet it’s not like Qrow was full of energy either. Running through consecutive fights after only getting a few hours of rest took a toll on him as he struggled to keep his breathing even.
“Had enough old man?” Roman called out as both groups looked at each other intensely from a distance.
Qrow only sent a smirk his way.
“Are you kidding me? I could do this all day!” He lied like the liar he is.
He could not do this all day.
Especially not when he heard the sound of a sword escaping its scabbard from behind him.
Qrow immediately leapt up and did a backflip as a blade passed through where he just was.
“Adam Taurus, what took you so long?” Roman called out as he stepped beside Adam who turned back toward him.
“I was handling the Grimm, human.” Adam growled as he readied his sword again.
Damn, so Adam Taurus, well-known terrorist and Hero of the White Fang, was here huh? Ozpin and Jimmy would want to know.
It was enough actionable intel to figure out something big was going on if Adam Taurus and Roman Torchwick were here together.
Qrow couldn't wait to see Jimny's face when he realizes Jaune Arc was actually trustworthy.
Before Qrow could plan an escape however, a voice screamed out behind him.
“AGGGHHHHHH!”
Qrow dodged the sword coming for him immediately. He let his momentum then transfer his movement into a reverse roundhouse kick, catching the assailant straight in the face.
“Damn, kid. A word of advice. It’s not a sneak attack if you announce yourself with a shout.” Qrow winced as he heard the body hit the ground.
“I-It worked as a distraction though.” The kid called out through heavy breathes and Qrow widens.
Damn, the kid had some balls. Qrow could have killed him with the stunt he pulled and he was lucky to be alive as it is.
Still, Qrow laughs as he immediately jumps away from Adam Taurus charging at him.
“Not in the slightest, kid! What made you think I would forget I was fighting more than one enemy?!” He mocked yet whatever reply the kid sent his way was ignored as he started to fight with Adam.
He led him backwards away from Roman and his partner as they danced a dance of death. Their moves consist of slashes, swipes, stabs, and parries as they try their best to outmaneuver each other with their footwork.
Swords clashed and sparks flew between them as one strike, two strikes, then three strikes happened between them before Qrow felt the air change.
He leapt away just as Roman and his sidekick tried to flank him.
It was his mistake.
Before he could even land, a sudden vertical slash of red light rushed towards him.
Qrow felt the world slow down as only his experience and instincts let him transform back into a bird and dodge past the red light.
Time immediately resumes to normal as Qrow flies towards them before transforming into his human form and slamming his sword towards their center.
Damn, was he good.
He smiled as they immediately jumped apart as rocks flew all around him.
With all of them separated and dazed, this was his chance!
Quickly identifying the best target, he charges at Roman Torchwick.
Take him out and they would fall.
His main problem was that Roman and his sidekick worked too well together. And even if he does defeat Roman’s sidekick, Roman could still communicate with Adam and work together. The pipsqueak didn’t seem to have that same type of communication skills as she stayed silent throughout their fight. She wouldn’t be able to work with Adam at all.
"Got you." Qrow smiled as he charged at Roman with his sword ahead of him.
With Roman dazed and out of balance, Qrow instantly moved to-
BANG!
And just like that, the situation started to turn for the worst.
Qrow stumbled before he could even stab Roman as a bullet deflected his sword. Turning to the shooter, he sees the kid still laying down but with a gun aimed shakily at him.
This was bad. This was really really bad.
“Damn kid, why didn’t you start with that if you already had a gun?” Roman asked happily as he began to engage Qrow.
“I-I wanted to feel his blood on my hands the moment I stabbed him.” The kid replies shakily, his gun falling on his chest as he loses all strength in his arms.
Qrow tsked at the kid’s reply as he tried to gain some distance.
Try as he might though, he couldn’t get far before Adam begins to harry him from the side.
"Oh, you are not getting away." Adam speaks as he blocks Qrow's escape route.
"You really are bullheaded, aren't you?"
His joke falls flat as Adam only growls and Qrow has no time to think but to immediately switch to the defensive.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flash anew before Qrow has to jump over Roman’s partner trying to sweep his legs.
He responds by kicking her in the face while he was midair. This leaves him open however for Roman to hit him in the gut and launch him into the wall.
Instead of letting his back crash into it however, Qrow raises his feet and springboards back into the fight.
"Oh sh-"
He catches Roman Torchwick with a knee to the face before he engages Adam in another round of swordfighting.
This guy.....Damn, this guy was his main problem. He doggedly hounded Qrow as he did his best to escape before he got swarmed again.
Still, Qrow was again just plain better.
While Adam Taurus relied on his sword, Qrow used his whole body as his weapon.
A feint with his sword opens Adam's guard and lead to a few kicks to Adam's kneecaps.
The Faunus stumbles but before Qrow could capitalize, a shot rang out from Adam's scabbard and he had to lean back just to avoid it hitting his face.
It doesn't take long before Roman rushes him again and another round of fighting ensues again.
That was when Qrow’s face started to fall as the situation turned grim.
They were wearing him down and unlike before when Qrow could try and do the same with Roman and his partner, this time…this time he had no luxury to wait for misfortune to befall them as he was the one getting put up to his paces.
Outnumbered and surrounded, he had to find a way out before he tires.
Eventually though, his arms grow heavy and his legs get tired. He starts lagging behind and failing to keep up.
He stumbled as he felt Roman’s partner kick him from behind.
He grunted as he barely managed to block Roman’s follow up with his sword before immediately cursing out in pain after getting shot by Adam’s scabbard.
Aura flashed fragilely even as Qrow used the momentum of the shot to swing his sword even faster.
He heaved Roman away from him and aimed to catch Roman’s partner with Harbinger's blade when the worst happened.
Instead of seeing multicolored hair and eyes he sees….black hair and silver eyes looking straight at him.
Ruby.
His arm instantly raises the trajectory of his sword right over her head before he realizes his mistake.
Fuck.
He continues his sword's trajectory and hits Adam who barely manages to block. It still mabages to launch him away from Qrow however and plant him into the wall but it was too late.
Silver and black turn to brown and pink before Qrow’s Aura breaks as he is stabbed in the gut.
He gasped weakly before his eyes hardened into a glare.
A backhand to the face launches the bitch away from him, letting him pull the sword out of his body and drop it into the ground.
Before Qrow could do anything else however, Roman hits him from behind on the head with his cane.
He stumbles on all fours, weak, dazed, Auraless, and with wet, sticky blood flowing down from the back of his head.
"Shit, Neo. You okay?" He heard Roman ask as he approached his partner.
Neo, huh? So that was her name. He remembers hearing it before but he must've forgotten in the darkness and the flurry of the fights.
More than that however, Roman just committed a grave sin of combat. He turned his back without checking if his enemy was down.
Qrow might be dazed, weak, and Auraless but he was not out of it yet.
He sees his opportunity as he crawls towards Roman in all fours.
Clasping both hands together with two fingers raised, Qrow decides to use a move so heinous that Summer had to ban him from using it when he used it against Tai.
He had few precious moments before Roman started to turn around when Qrow screamed the name of the move deep in his heart as he brought his hands upward.
A THOUSAND YEARS OF PAIN!!!!!
His Aura not reacting to the unperceived threat, Roman Torchwick launched upward with a scream of agony while holding his ass.
Was it juvenile? Oh, definitely. Was it effective though? Hell, yeah it was!
Qrow had a moment to smile at his achievement before Neo's boot meets his face and before he knew it he was on the ground staring up at them with his sword beside him.
He sees Adam breathing heavily, Roman limping toward him, and Neo glaring at him.
Fuck. They were speaking to him. Qrow knows that at least but for the life of him, he has no idea what they are saying as he feels the blood on his face.
He sees the kid from before start to walk into view and Qrow has one last thought before Adam hands his sword to the kid.
Ruby, I’m so-
The tunnel is filled with the color red.
=========
Ruby stumbles and she almost drops the tray of glasses she was carrying.
“Be careful with that!” Weiss screeched as she hurriedly arranged tables around them.
“I’m sorry! It’s hard to walk in these lady stilts!” She replies
“Heels, Ruby. They are called heels and you need to practice with them now if you want to be presentable for the dance later!”
That’s right. It was the day of the dance and Team RWBY was now rushing to do the preparations!
“I think we are good here!” Yang called out from behind the DJ booth and Ruby smiles as she uses her Semblance to arrange the utensils for so many tables.
“That's great! What about the rest?!” Ruby calls out once she sees Weiss finish the decor.
“I’m done here, what about you, Blake?” Weiss turns towards their last member who enters from the main door.
“The food is ready. We’ll arrange them later right before the dance to keep them fresh.” Blake answers with a smile on her face and they all smile at that.
“That’s it, then?! We are finished?!” Ruby asks enthusiastically, gathering her team to the center of the dance floor.
“I believe we are finished, yes.” Weiss nods and Ruby squeals with a smile on her face as she gathers her team for a group hug.
“Alright! Team RWBY has done it again!”
Her team responds with varying degrees of enthusiasm but that’s okay! Because right now, Ruby feels like nothing could go wrong!
Comments
Biggs Ringor
Thanks! One thing I want to establish is that the bad guys could have some type of teamwork too. Plus, we never did see Qrow fight more than one person at the same time except for the 1v1v1 he had in Atlas. His other fights with multiple people don't coubt because it was more of a series of 1 on 1s in a chaotic rumble
Daniel Hyena
I really love the chapter and want to personally thank you for not making Qrow a Garry stu, the scene makes sense in that he lose not because he was weaker but because he was ambush, outnumber and he was facing competent fighters, specially Roman and Neo who were covering each others openings. We have witness competent and "elite" characters lose to a inferior team that works together better, like the ACE OPS against RWBY, Adam Vs Blake and Yang etc.
Jamieoeyes
Oh, thank God! hope Raven makes them hurt cause despite what she has said and done she still cares about her family deep down and I think she wouldn't want a repeat of what happened to Summer. So, I'm hoping for the Spring Maiden to put them in their place before she leaves, and for how I guessed I'm a beta reader who has helped his author with a lot of the story beats and character development in his own story as well. So, making a good guess on what happens especially if you weren't going to kill off Qrow like this wasn't exactly hard, though I'm no prophet you could have thrown a curve ball in how Qrow got out a different way, but the Raven card was just the more obvious guess.
Robert Walker
Thank you, I don't mind spoilers like these
Robert Walker
Oh no this is not good.
Biggs Ringor
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! -Raven appears. P.s. how do you always guess it? Though perhaps it might have been too obvious. No way was I going to let Qrow die this early and to some chumps no less.
Jamieoeyes
I'm going to be very angry and stop reading this for a while until the bad guys suffer a deadly lost themselves if something happens to Qrow. I can believe him getting injured, but he still should have been able to escape and if was to be captured or killed, I believed that Qrow would still have his sister's get out of jail free card. So, this would be the perfect time for Raven to jump in and since Qrow could be unconscienced she can flex her Maiden powers and likely kill Perry and badly injure Adam, Romen and Neo. Before dropping him off at Tai's, that's what I'm hoping for if not then I'm not going to read any further while maybe ten chapters from now, sorry cause Qrow Branwen dying like this does not compute with me.
D
This is going to be heartbreaking
