A/N: Well everyone, this chapter marks the beginning of the end for the story. I want to thank all of you that have supported the story from beginning to now. It's been a long road with more ups and downs than I though would be possible, but yet we're still here. I have different ideas for chapters to come after the official ending so don't worry too much. With that being said, I hope you all have a great day. Rhino out.
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Ruby: "Did you get them?"
Topaz: "We did, and it will be easier than we were anticipating."
Ariel: "Really?"
Topaz: "Yep."
Ruby: "So what do we need to do."
Qrow: "We turn her off and then back on again."
Ruby: "What?"
Topaz: "It's exactly as Qrow said Ruby. Dr Polendina set a failsafe in Penny's programming if she ever were to develop a virus in her coding."
Ariel: "That sounds a little convenient, doesn't it?"
Topaz: "Maybe, but I'm not going to complain about it."
Ruby: "Now the big question is, how do we turn her off?"
Topaz: "Like this."
Topaz walks behind Penny and brushes the hair away from her neck, revealing a small hole in the back of her neck.
Ruby: "Penny, are you okay with this?"
Penny: "Must. Please help. Go to. Do it. Vault."
Everyone could see Penny struggling to fight off whatever was controlling her.
Topaz: "Anyone have a paper clip? Or perhaps a hairpin."
Weiss: "Will this work?"
Weiss makes a small needle of ice and hands it to Topaz.
Topaz: "Should work just fine, thanks Weiss."
Topaz puts the small needle into the hole and holds it for a couple of seconds. Penny suddenly makes a strange series of beeps before going limp. A minute of silence goes by with everyone holding their breath before Penny jumps up with a bright smile on her face.
Penny: "SALUTATIONS!"
Ruby: "Penny, how are you feeling?"
Penny: "I feel wonderful friend Ruby."
Topaz: "Did it work?"
Penny: "I believe that the reset went flawlessly Topaz, thank you."
Topaz: "It's no problem Penny. We're friends after all, it's what we do."
Ruby: "Right."
Penny jumps into Ruby and Topaz to give them a hug, involuntarily knocking them both to the ground.
Ruby: "I now know how you feel Topaz."
Topaz: "Sort of, you are a lot lighter than Penny is."
Penny: "That was rude friend Topaz."
Topaz: "…"
Penny: "You should know never to comment on a ladies weight."
Topaz: "As true as that is, I only meant it that Ruby isn't made from different metals and alloys."
Penny: "…Oh. Right you are."
Qrow claps his hands together to get everyone's attention. With all eyes on him he clears his throat and begins.
Qrow: "Right, with that problem out of the way, what should our next action be?"
Robyn: "I would like to get back to Mantle to give them some assistance with everything."
Qrow: "That's good and all Robyn, but how exactly do you plan on getting there?"
Robyn: "…"
????: "I might be able to help with that."
A familiar voice sounds out from the open doors of the mansion.
Topaz: "About time you got here old man."
Don: "Bah, you kids have no patience."
Topaz: "Maybe, but neither should you with one foot in the ground."
Don: "I'm as fit as a fiddle, with more experience than you do hairs on your head."
Topaz: "Sure you do old man. So, you can fly Robyn down to Mantle?"
Don: "Easy as pie."
Topaz: "Right, Robyn you're with Don. After that Don, I want you in charge of evacuation for the citizens of Atlas. Nova, you and Scarlett are with him for protection. Penny, you go with them as well."
Don: "Aye lad."
Scarlett and Nova: "Got it."
Penny: "Yes friend Topaz!"
Topaz: "Neo, I want you to take Ariel and Emerald and run interference with Ironwood. Do whatever you need without hurting anyone."
Neo: "Shouldn't be too difficult."
Ariel: "Right."
Emerald: "Thank you Topaz."
Ruby: "What about me and my team Topaz?"
Topaz: "You girls are with me. We're going to see what we can do about the grimm and possibly Salem."
Yang: "Finally."
Yang punches her fists together in anticipation while the rest of Team RWBY look eager to go as well.
Willow: "You all be careful please. As a mother I can't help but worry about the danger you will all be facing today."
Topaz: "Don't worry Willow. It's our job to face this kind of danger, and at this point we are rather used to whatever is thrown at us."
Willow: "If you say so Topaz."
Topaz: "For now Willow you should go with Robyn and the others and evacuate to Mantle with whoever is left employed here."
Willow: "It's just Klein and I."
Topaz: "Makes things easier. Team JNPR, I want you guys helping out with the evacuation as well. Go house to house if you have to."
Jaune: "Got it Topaz. Nora, if you feel like you aren't up to it at any point head to Mantle yourself."
Nora: "I'll be fine Jaune."
Ren: "Nora."
Nora: "Fine, if it gets to be too much I'll head down."
Jaune: "Thank you. Now let's move, we don't have a lot of time for all of this."
Topaz: "You heard the man everyone, let's move."
Everyone breaks off in their own directions, each prepared to face whatever comes their way. Rushing towards to field where the fighting seems to be the most intense, Topaz and team RWBY find the Atlas soldiers being overrun by the sheer number of grimm. They break off into three teams to help whoever they can. Topaz rushes to where the few Paladins left standing are and begins slashing at the goliaths and megoliaths pushing against them. Pained cries are followed with the creatures disappearing in puffs of thick black smoke.
Atlas soldier: "Who goes there?"
Topaz: "I'm here to help."
Atlas soldier: "Topaz?"
Topaz: "Yes? Do I know you?"
Atlas soldier: "No, we've never spoken. My name is Daniel, and I heard about what happened to you. How are you here?"
Topaz: "After surviving the incident with Ironwood I went back home to spend time with my family. I was there until Ruby broadcasted everything that was happening here."
Daniel: "Thank you for coming back, even when no one would blame you for leaving us for dead."
Topaz: "My friends and people I consider family are here. I would blame myself. Now, l have to get back to the fight, these grimm aren't going to slay themselves. Make sure you and your men are able to fight, if not fall back and rest up."
Daniel: "Thank you Topaz, we will."
Topaz nods before rushing back into the fight. Slashing and stabbing through any grimm that comes before him. He carves a path through the grimm until he finds himself standing next to the rest of team RWBY, the grimm all cowering away from them.
Yang: "What's going on?"
Blake: "They all look like they're scared of something."
Topaz: "Not something, someone."
Ruby: "She's here."
The black dust from all of the defeated grimm begins to swirl in front of them, creating a black ball of pain and misery. In a matter of seconds, the black ball begins to take shape, an all too familiar shape to Topaz.
Topaz: "Be careful everyone. She's too dangerous for you to take head on, leave that to me. Support me from a distance while keeping an eye on the grimm surrounding us."
Ruby: "But-"
Topaz: "Don't argue with me on this Ruby."
Ruby: "Fine, but we aren't going to just sit here and watch if it gets bad for you."
Salem: "Oh don't worry young silver eyed warrior. Your little group will have bigger problems to worry about instead of just sitting there."
Salem's voice is cold and commanding, and with her words four globs of a black liquid begin to take shape in front of each of them. Each glob slowly morphs into a member of team RWBY.
Salem: "Let's see how you girls fare against yourselves~"
Without a moments notice, the members of team RWBY find themselves fighting mirror images of themselves with no ground being gained in the fight. Slash for slash, punch for punch the girls find themselves in a stalemate while Topaz dodges the different attacks of Salem herself while trying to keep an eye on how the girls were doing. Topaz lunges at Salem, trying to slash across her chest only for her to block his spear and hold him in place for a moment.
Salem: "They don't stand a chance against themselves. Whereas your friends only have so much aura and stamina, my clones of them have neither. They feel no fatigue or pain. Just look, the blonde one is already showing signs of struggling. And we best not forget the silver eyed girl. She's too distracted to be able to use that power of hers. How the mighty will fall~"
At that moment, much to Salem and Topaz's surprise, there is a bright flash and the four clones of team RWBY are suddenly frozen in solid stone. Salem's face grows terrified for a moment before quickly composing herself, jumping back away from Topaz. A gentle hand on his shoulder has Topaz looking over his shoulder.
Topaz: "About time you got here."
…