Chapter 14 - Our way

"Hello everyone" zen said

"Hey are we going to watch the future yet?" ruby asked

"Yep but there something else I'd like to say is it October so it close to Halloween and ruby birthday" zen said

"Really that awesome" ruby said excited

"Yeah yeah also this will be the last episode of volume 6 than we're going to listen to music than volume 7" zen said

"Yeah let's go" yang said

Nighttime at a forest clearing. A Mistral airship can be seen landing. The doors open, revealing its occupant as Neopolitan, who drops her disguise and is revealed to be wearing a new outfit. She looks to see someone step out of the forest, revealed to be Cinder Fall also sporting some new clothes: a cape which conceals her Grimm-ified left arm as well as an eyepatch that covers the left half of her scarred face. She stops to inspect the airship.

Cinder: It should get us to Solitas. After that, you might want to try materializing yourself some snow boots. (continues walking)

"How did they get a airship so easily?" Jaune asked

"I don't know probably neo using her semblance" zen said

"Looks like you got new outfits" Roman said

"They do look good" neo said with a sign

"Know we have to deal with both of them alongside watts and Tyrian" ironwood said angrily

Neo rolls her eyes at Cinder's remark. She steps out of the airship and holds her hand out, and Cinder stops walking and has an irritated look on her face. Neo then places her hand on the airship and uses her Semblance to transform it into an Atlesian Manta aircraft. Cinder smiles at this. She then retracts the disguise and snaps her fingers with a smirk on her face.

Cinder: You know, Neo, someone once asked me if I believed in destiny.

The two of them board the airship.

Cinder: And I'm happy to say I still do.

The two smile evilly as the airship's door closes.

"She turned it into a atlas airship so it will be easier to there undetected" ruby said 

"Who ask her that?" Yang thought out loud

"Well it was the "invincible girl"" cinder said smirking

Everyone was shocked to hear that

"A-Anyway I don't like though smiles" ruby said awkward 

Back in Argus, multiple Manta aircraft engage in dogfights against Manticores and Sphinxs above the ocean. The Leviathan itself slowly trudges through the water approaching the city. Some aircraft fly by for a gun run on the towering Grimm. The Leviathan, however, simply dives below the ocean and swims.

Air Control: All units, be advised: Leviathan-class Grimm has submerged but is still on approach. Preparing hard-light shields, over!

"How are we going to stop it without the mech help and without ruby trying something suicidal" Weiss said

"The shields will hold it back for a short will" yang said

Elsewhere, Ruby Rose and her friends overhear the radio chatter with looks of horror on their faces. Caroline Cordovin continues to struggle to get the Colossus' arm cannon out of the water with it being covered in ice and rock Dust.

Manta Two-Two: We're getting slammed by hostiles out here! Where is Cordovin?!

Cordovin: This is your fault! Do you hear me?!

Yang: Ruby!

"How is it our fault that she attack us with the mech" ruby said annoyed

"Good yang and Blake are  back with us" Weiss said

Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna can be seen running out of the forest to rejoin the group.

Ruby: Yang! Blake! Are you okay?

Yang and Blake notice the disabled mech.

Blake: What happened?

The group then hears the Leviathan roaring.

Yang: Was that a giant Grimm?

Weiss: Yes... and we just ruined the only thing capable of stopping it...

"Well there is another thing and I don't care if you guys don't agree right know but our best option" ruby said stubbornly

"Yeah we know but we're worried" yang said

"Please I'll be fine" ruby said

The group wastes no time boarding the aircraft. It begins to fly away. Ruby watches with pity as Cordovin continues to struggle to move the mech. Cordovin herself yells out in anger.

Cordovin: This is your fault!! YOUR FAULT!!! This is... (gives up)

Soldier: (over radio) Ma'am, what's your status? We need an answer, over!

Cordovin: ... your fault... (looks down sadly)

Blake: I'm so sorry...

Yang: Don't be. This isn't on you.

Blake: But--

"Blake don't blame yourself okay" yang said

"Yeah and you're safe so that all that matters" ruby said

Ruby: You're safe, that's all that matters.

Blake smiles at her leader and the two hug. Ruby looks to Yang and the two share a smile.

Maria: I suppose I have to be the bad guy and say it, getting the lamp to Atlas is still our top priority, and right now we have the perfect opportunity to head straight for it. We may not get another chance like this.

Yang: No way!

Weiss: We can't leave, not like this.

Blake: It's like you said, a Huntress is supposed to protect others to the bitter end.

"Yeah future me you tell her" ruby said

"Wow she tells us that protecting people is our top priority and she saying to abandon them" ruby said

"Yeah look like we don't agree with her that good" yang said

Maria looks to Ruby, who just shrugs and smiles. Maria smiles back and continues to fly.

Ruby: We need to head for the Leviathan. Jaune, can you and Ren be ready to mask our ship?

Ren: I think we can manage.

Jaune: Got a few ideas?

Ruby: I've got one.

Qrow: Eyes up, everybody. It's back.

"Yeah let's kill this Grimm" ruby cheered

"Good idea to our semblance to mask our emotions" ren said

"Well let see there reaction to ruby memories" zen thought

The Leviathan swims for a bit before resurfacing above the water, letting out a terrifying roar.

Manta Three-Four: Argus Base, this is Manta 3-4! Leviathan has hit the shallows and resurfaced! We need those shields up now, over!

From the city, a large crowd gathers as they look out to the ocean with concern. Terra Cotta-Arc is seen making her way through the crowd, eventually reuniting with her wife Saphron and their son Adrian, before looking out to the ocean again in concern. As the Leviathan approaches Argus, a hard-light Dust barrier is erected, halting its progress.

"Come on we need to beat that thing before it hurt someone" jaune said worried for his sister

"Let's see how long that barriers last" Weiss said

Manta Two-One: Target stopped! Engaging, over!

A pair of Manta aircraft are seen firing shots at the Leviathan. Suddenly, the Leviathan unleashes an energy beam attack from its mouth. It shifts the beam over to one of the poles powering the hard-light Dust barrier, destroying it. The Leviathan roars.

Ruby and her friends watch in horror from their aircraft.

Oscar: It tore straight through...!

Air Control: All squadrons, fall back to evacuation procedures. Disengage Leviathan! I repeat, disengage! Over!

"That was way to easy!" Weiss shouted

"Why did you design them that way you could of put the power source behind the barrier or even but small barriers to protect them" zen said

"Well it would cost more dust and we all the dust we can to power the barrier" ironwood said

"I know but don't you guys have any other power source you can use in my world we have solar, wind, hydra alongside other power sources" zen said

"What??" Everyone said

"Yeah also better for the environment as well since we are using natural things like wind and water but they are really expensive" zen said

Ruby: No, wait!

Ruby runs up to the radio.

Qrow: Ruby!

Ruby: We can stop it!

Air Control: Who is this? Identify yourself!

Ruby: I'm a Huntress. My team and I are heading to the Leviathan and can weaken it for you to attack!

Everyone looks at Ruby in shock.

Jaune: We can?

Ruby: I can.

"Really calling yourself a huntress now rubes" yang said

"Yeah shut up yang" ruby said

"Oh yeah also in the future when you see it you will definitely be happy" zen  said

Maria: Ruby, when I said "trial by fire"--

Ruby: I did it at Beacon and at the farm.

Weiss: You really think you can do it now?

Ruby: I don't have a choice.

Air Control: Manta 5-1, your ship is currently flagged as hostile. You will receive no support, over.

Ruby: (picking up radio) Fine, we'll do it alone if we have to.

"Let's hope you can do it" yang said

"Yeah let's hope" ruby said

"So no support from anyone there great" Blake said

From her mech, Cordovin overhears Ruby's radio chatter.

Ruby: We can hit it while it's stopped at the next barrier. Ren, you're up!

Ren and Jaune proceed to combine their Semblances, masking the airship as it weaves between the air battles between Grimm and Atlas forces. The Leviathan makes its way to the next barrier and charges its energy breath again.

Qrow: We're too late! Pull up!

"So close but nothing stopping it getting to Argus" ruby said

"Don't worry kiddo I'm sure you'll stop it" Qrow said

"Thanks uncle Qrow" ruby said

The Manta aircraft pulls up out of the way as the Leviathan fires its breath, destroying the next barrier and toppling a cupola off one of the buildings in Argus. Ren and Jaune collapse as their Auras are drained.

Jaune: Damn it...!

Ren: That's all I've got!

Blake: It's on the move again! We need to stop it!

Yang: What do we do?

Ruby thinks for a moment, before to looking to Weiss.

"The battle with the mech took a lot out of us sorry we couldn't help much" jaune said

"I'm sorry too"'Ren said

"It fine guys" ruby said with the other agreeing

The Leviathan continues to approach Argus, but suddenly, the aircraft carrying Ruby's group opens up its hatch doors.

Nora: Eyes on us, ugly!

Nora and Yang fire their respective weapons at the Leviathan.

Blake: Is it working?

Maria: Unfortunately, yes! Hang on!

Blake runs over to Weiss, who is maintaining a Glyph she activated.

"We distracting it" yang said

"Yeah and I must be using my lancer to fly ruby other to the leviathan" Weiss said

"That has to be exhausting" jaune said

Ruby is seen riding on the back of Weiss' Queen Lancer summoning.

Ruby: (to herself) Okay, okay, you can do this... You have to do this!

Eventually, Ruby stops in front of the Leviathan. She closes her eyes and begins to concentrate, the noises all around her slowly muting out.

Yang: Ruby? Ruby, hurry, something--

Ruby takes out her earpiece and tosses it into the water below. She closes her eyes again to concentrate. As she concentrates, Ruby thinks back on various memories:

"Not the best idea to throw the earpiece rubes" yang said

"Well I need to concentrate" ruby said

"Let's see what ruby is thinking about" zen said

"What we're going to see ruby memories" yang said

"Yep" zen said simply

She thinks of her father and sister, when Zwei first arrived at Team RWBY's dorm room, when she and her team are about to start a food fight, and when they get noodles after their victory in the tournament.

She then thinks of Penny Polendina, then to when she first saw Jaune, of Team JNPR, of Pyrrha...

"Good she having good memories" yang said

"I have a gut feeling that it going to get worse" ruby said

"Yeah but can we all just talk about yang having ponytails" zen said

"Shut up don't talk about my ponytails" yang said

"What you look cute when you had them" tai said

"Shut up" yang said

Everyone smiled at yang

"When we fought team jnpr and won against them in the food fight" ruby said

Suddenly, Ruby starts to frown as bad memories start to flood her mind: the night when Jaune trained alone with a recording of Pyrrha, when she saw her friends wounded as Beacon was being evacuated, when Yang sank into depression over the loss of her arm.

Ruby whimpers upon remembering the deaths of both Pyrrha and Penny...

Suddenly, Ruby opens her eyes again and notices the Leviathan standing face to face with her.

"What you saw me training" jaune said shocked

"Yes I'm sorry" ruby said looking down

"No it fine ruby just tell me next time" jaune said

"Ruby why didn't you tell us all of this and how you were feeling" yang said

"I don't what you guys to worry and I thought it was more important to get to atlas" ruby said sadly

"You should of still told us" Weiss said

"Okay" ruby said

Ruby: What?

Yang: Why'd it turn away?!

Ruby then remembers she has the Relic of Knowledge on her belt, which caused the Leviathan to have its attention on her.

Ruby: No, no, no, no!!

Suddenly, the Leviathan opens its maw and lunges toward Ruby...

Ruby: (reeling back) J--JINN!!!

"No the relic attracted  the leviathan to where she is" Blake said

"That a smart idea but will she actually come out" yang said worried

Suddenly, time stops. Everything slows down and freezes, even Yang who calls out her sister's name.

Yang: Ruby!

Ruby then breathes a sigh of relief as she hears the rattling chains of Jinn.

Ruby: I'm sorry... I don't have a question for you. I just... I just needed a little more time...

Ruby looks to Jinn, who has a stern look on her face.

"She actually come out even though she know I don't have a question" ruby said

"Yeah but I don't think she will do it again" Weiss said

"Yeah but sleazy it brought me time" ruby said

Jinn: I know... and while you don't seek knowledge, just this once, I shall give it freely. I will not allow you to use me without a question again... (smiling) Even if this was clever.

Ruby nods at Jinn. She then turns to face the Leviathan again and closes her eyes to concentrate once more. Time slowly starts to go back to normal.

"Wow maybe she taken a liking to you ruby" zen said

"It was extremely clever well done miss rose" ironwood praised

"T-Thanks" ruby said

"Come on let's se some good memories" yang said

She thinks back to when Team RWBY decorated their dorm room, when Weiss gave her coffee, when Blake cheered for Weiss in Professor Port's class, when Yang was training her before leaving for Beacon, when Team RWBY celebrated their victory after saving Vale.

Ruby smiles as she thinks back to the Beacon Dance and Team JNPR again, and then to when Qrow arrived at Beacon, to talking with Oscar, and then to Maria, and to Penny again...

"What we did Weiss give you coffee?" yang asked

"It was after the first lesson we had with port" ruby said

"Oh okay" yang

"Wait what the image with you two about?" Weiss asked

"Well I was training ruby in hand to hand but as you can tell she terrible" yang said

"Shut up" ruby said annoyed

"Yeah that after that a alpha urea attack us and I was the only one who could defeat since ruby didn't have her weapon with her" yang said

"Wow that must have been hard" Weiss said

"Yep but I killed it" yang said proudly

"The dance where jaune wore a dress" ruby said laughing remembering him in the dress

"Yeah yeah laugh it up" jaune said jokingly while smiling

"Yeah all good memories" yang

"Well let's say the last one will shock all of you in here" zen said

And finally, Ruby thinks back to her mother, her white cloak blowing in the wind as she overlooks a cliff watching a sunset. She then turns around, offering a warm smile. Her own Silver Eyes reflect back to her daughter's...

Ruby's own eyes then shine bright, the brightest it has ever been. A massive white light engulfs the area, turning the Leviathan to stone. The citizens of Argus and the Atlas military cheer as the Grimm threat has been nullified. Ruby's friends give proud smiles and Maria breathes a sigh of relief.

"Did she just think about mum" yang said

Raven flick slightly at that but no one but zen noticed

"Why does she act like she does I know she care about yang and the others but refusing to admit or trying to Denied it is incredible stupid" zen thought before sighing

"She did she really did and it was the finally push for her sliver eyes to activate" Weiss said

"I'm so proud of you ruby" yang and summer said at the same time proud in their voices

"Yeah we're all proud of you ruby"

The light retracts back into Ruby's eyes, and she turns around to look at the city of Argus still standing. Suddenly, Ruby hears a stone crackling behind her. The Leviathan's head manages to move and tries to aim at Ruby.

Ruby: No...

Cordovin: I'll take it from here!!

Suddenly, Cordovin shows up in the Colossus, its arm cannon now detached. Everyone looks in shock. Without the weight of the cannon, the Colossus begins to run toward the semi-petrified Leviathan.

"How is is doing that?" Weiss said shocked

"Well this Grimm is incredible old and powerful that yes it can be turned to stone but it won't stay like that forever" zen said

"Okay so powerful Grimm won't last long when turned to stone but what about the wyvern it still frozen right" ruby said

"Well I'm not sure if it still stone but it might be since it was the first time you used them and you used such a powerful blast that you lost consciousness for along time at most a week but probably two days" zen said

"Is that cordovin she managed to escape" ruby said

Cordovin: (smiling) After all, I was sworn to protect the people!

The Colossus' left hand then transforms into a giant drill. Cordovin uses the drill to destroy the Leviathan, causing it to dissipate. The people of Argus cheer while the Arc family looks on with stupefied expressions.

The Colossus then walks over to Ruby. Its cockpit opens up revealing Cordovin herself standing in a stern military manner.

"Yeah we did it thanks to Cordovin" ruby said

"Maybe she isn't to bad after all" yang said

"Yep let's see what she has to say" Weiss said

Ruby: Thank you. And... I'm sorry.

Cordovin: The Atlas military can handle the stragglers.

Ruby: What, uh... What are you saying?

Cordovin: (smiling) I'm saying I don't think anyone would notice if one more ship went missing in my lengthy report.

Ruby smiles back at Cordovin, who then turns the mech around and runs off to join her men in taking down the remaining Grimm.

"She letting us take the airship" ruby said happy

"Yeah that means we can get to atlas" Weiss said

"Yeah let's go than" yang said

The airship Ruby and her friends are in flies through the night sky.

Maria: We should have just enough fuel to make it.

Ruby: Thanks, Miss Calavera.

Qrow: Hey, Ruby. You did great out there today, kid. Just don't go giving me heart attacks like that again.

Qrow is about to take a drink from his flask, but ultimately decides not to. Ruby hugs her uncle.

Ruby: I love you, too.

"Yeah trying to give me heart attacks you brag" Qrow said

"Please you'll be able to handle them" ruby said

"Looks like I'm stopped drinking in the future" Qrow said

"Yeah that a good thing" ruby said

"Yep but I going to be hard to resist the urge it taking a lot out of me not to drink one" Qrow said

"Don't worry you'll be able to handle it" yang said smirking

"Yeah I know" Qrow said

Qrow smiles at his niece as she walks away to join her friends.

Maria: You weren't half bad yourself today, Qrow.

Qrow: (smiles before sighing) I feel like they did all the heavy lifting.

Maria: But you were there to help when they asked for it, and you were there to catch them when they fell. Literally, if I recall.

Qrow: Thanks. You know, it was pretty incredible getting to see the Grimm Reaper in action.

"Yeah I didn't do a lot back there" Qrow said

"Yeah but at least you help us" ruby said

"Yeah uncle Qrow we really didn't do much either than one you definitely did was ruby will being a total badass" yang said

"I'm not that amazing yang" ruby said

"You took down a mech along with turning a leviathan into stone" Weiss said

"What about Oscar he landed the airship by himself" ruby said

"Yeah that was awesome" jaune said

"Thanks but I still don't think I did it alone" Oscar said

Maria: Ha, you should have seen me when I was your age!

Qrow smiles as the two of them look out the cockpit's window to the night sky.

In the back of the aircraft, Weiss, Blake and Yang sit together.

Weiss: I'm sorry you went through that nightmare. But, I'm glad Yang was there for you in time.

Blake and Yang smile before the latter takes the cat Faunus' hand.

Yang: We were there for each other.

Nora: Took the words right out of my mouth.

"I'm sorry we couldn't help" Weiss said

"It fine" Blake  said

Everyone then looks to Ruby.

Ruby: Hey, stop it!

Ren: You petrified a Leviathan... after diving down the barrel of a cannon!

Ruby: (laughs) Don't act like you all haven't done crazy stuff before! I mean, Oscar made a successful crash landing! He's a fourteen-year-old farm hand!

Jaune: That was seriously impressive.

Blake: We'd have been stranded without you.

"Really know there talking about it" ruby said

"Yeah but come one it was awesome" yang said

Oscar: I... thanks, but... I've been meaning to tell you guys... I didn't land the ship on my own.

Oscar thinks back to when the airship was about to crash land.

Oscar: We're gonna crash! We're gonna CRASH!!

Ozpin: Stay calm, it's going to be okay.

Nora: Ozpin took control?!

Oscar: No, he guided me... And then he was gone again...

"So ozpin helped Oscar crash land successfully" Weiss said

"So he looking out for us" Oscar said

"Yeah thanks to him we was able to defeat them grimm along with getting to atlas" ruby said

Yang: Does that mean he's been watching us this whole time?

Oscar: I don't know, but... it at least means he was looking out for us.

Everyone ponders this revelation before Qrow speaks up.

Qrow: Hey, if you've never seen Atlas in person before, you don't wanna miss this.

Ruby and her friends walk up to the cockpit window.

Ruby: Is it weird that I'm sorta nervous?

Yang: No, I'll believe we've made it to Atlas when I see it.

"Yeah we made it to atlas" ruby cheered happy

"Yeah but I want to know what it looks like us close" yang said

"Trust me it looks amazing" Weiss said

Weiss: Well... believe it.

The airship comes out of the clouds, and the floating city of Atlas is seen coming into view.

Nora: Wow!

Maria: You know, you make the trip up to Atlas over and over, but you never get used to that view. (her prosthetic eyes start to act up again) Oh, come on!

Weiss leans forward and has a nervous look on her face. Ruby notices this.

Ruby: Weiss, what is it?

"It looks beautiful" ruby said with other agreeing with her

"Why does Weiss look nervous?" ruby asked

"I'm curios as well" Weiss said

"Well you'll see" zen said

Everyone looks up, and notice above the city of Atlas many Atlas Airships.

Weiss: The Atlas air fleet... I knew all of our ships were called back, but...

Qrow: They're set up like they're expecting an attack...

Suddenly, the radio turns on.

Atlas Air Control: Manta 5-1, welcome home...

"Why do you have them ready for an attack James" Qrow said

"Well It seems I'm got even more nervous and paranoid than I'm right know" ironwood said

In the Land of Darkness, Mercury Black is seen looking out the window in the meeting room. Emerald Sustrai then walks in.

Emerald: Mercury, I wanted to...

Suddenly, she notices Mercury's face has an expression of horror as he looks out the window. Emerald looks to where he's looking.

Emerald: What is she doing?

"It back to Salem hideout" ruby said

"Why does Mercury look so scared" jaune asked

"Well once you see it you be scared to" zen said

A Beringel is seen crawling out of one of the black, tar-like pits, with Salem herself standing close by. She then uses her magic as Nevermore wings suddenly sprout from the back of the Beringel. The Beringel gets used to its new appendages, before flying up to join many other Beringels also grafted with wings. Emerald and Mercury continue to watch in horror.

Hazel: There's an old saying.

The two notice Hazel Rainart enter the room and stand next to them.

Hazel: If you want something done right... do it yourself.

Salem looks up to the army of Grimm she has gathered, before turning around and using her magic on the black pools again, engulfing the entire scene...

"She just gave that Beringel nevermore wings"  yang said shocked along with the others

"Not a bad idea to give them nevermore wings" Salem said

"So she create a Grimm army and she going to be coming after us by herself" ruby said horrified

"Yay more problems to deal with" yang said sarcastically

"So that the end of volume 6 so know we'll listen to about 3 to 4 songs than the trailer for volume 7 than watch all of volume 7 also all of get some sleep" zen said

"Yeah I'm getting tired and sleepy right know" yang said

Everyone left to there rooms to sleep