War

***War*** is the thirteenth episode of *The RWBYA Adventures*.

## Plot

*[The farm plains on the outskirts of Atlas, filled with Compost King tractors... and Grimm. A squadron of Atlesian Military soldiers readied their guns just outside the city walls. On the edge of the floating landmass, the Monstra roared, releasing a wave of Grimm Liquid that spawned a plethora of Grimm types: Sabyrs, Sulfur Fish, Apathy, Megoliaths, and more. From inside Monstra, Salem commanded the forces of the Grimm by moving her hands about in gestures comparable to an orchestra conductor. The forces of Grimm and Atlas clashed as General James Ironwood looked on from the safety of his office. He scowled, then pressed a button on his desk console, speaking remotely to a subordinate.]*

Soldier: Yes, sir?

Ironwood: I am evacuating *all* citizens to the subway. Prepare Manta Squad Omega, and dispatch to every part of Atlas.

Soldier: But sir-

Ironwood: ***Now!***

*[Ironwood slammed his fist on his desk. Catching his breath and trying to calm down, he slowly lifted his head, glaring up at Alien X.]*

Ironwood: Whatever you're planning... I hope it's worth it

*[Elsewhere in Atlas, civilians were seen lounging in a public park. High-pitched speaker feedback was heard before Ironwood broadcasted his announcement.]*

Ironwood: Citizens of Atlas, please proceed to the nearest underground subway station for shelter.

*[One man got up from beside his daughter, confused and looking around for a threat. As sirens began to blare, people started to panic and run for the subway. Then man was frozen with fear until his daughter pointed to the sky behind him.]*

Daughter: Dad? Look!

*[A swarm of Lancers weaved their way between the Atlas skyscrapers, sending the man stumbling back. A squad of Mantas swooped in, opening fire on the Lancers. The man hurriedly leaped to his feet.]*

Father: We need to go!

*[The Ace Ops and Winter took Yang, Jaune, Ren, and Alan into custody, and cuffed them with Gravity Bolas. Their Manta approached Atlas, and Atlas Military chatter could be heard over the in-ship radio.]*

Commander 1 *(voice)*: We can’t get the Hard Light shields back up, sir. The generators took too much damage!

Ironwood *(voice)*: Then don’t waste resource on them. Beta Squad, the creature?

Commander 2 *(voice)*: We tried bombs, missiles, but we can’t make a dent, sir.

Winter: Sir, Schnee here. Penny is still MIA, but we’ve apprehended Arc, Xiao Long, Nomaly, and Ren.

Ironwood *(voice)*: Nomaly? ...He must've done it again.

Winter: Sir?

Ironwood *(voice)*: Nevermind that. Stand by for further orders, and don’t let those fugitives out of your sight.

Winter: Yes, sir. Of course.

Yang: Still just following orders.

*[Winter turned and narrowed her eyes at the girl, then gasped as Monstra slowly came into view through the windscreen. Jaune and Ren stare slack-jawed at the gargantuan Grimm. Alan turned away from the sight, gritting his teeth.]*

Jaune: That’s where the Grimm took Oscar. It’s even bigger than I thought.

Vine: *[clearly skeptical]* Grimm don’t take prisoners.

Yang: *This* one did. If you would just let us go-

*[Yang went to get out of her seat, but Vine and Elm grabbed her shoulders, forcing her back down.]*

Alan: Oh, come on, Yang. It's like you said. *[takes on a mocking tone]* They're just following orders.

Harriet: Quiet back there! It's bad enough I've had to deal with you in two different places at almost the same time! However you did that...

Alan: Oh, oh, I'm sorry. Am I being too loud for your rabbit ears? Oh, my mistake, you don't even have any! Just that stupid little mohawk stylized like one, you wanna be a Faunus *soooo* bad.

*[Harriet growled and went to get up, but stopped when Winter put her hand on her shoulder, attempting to stifle the situation. Winter then glanced back at Alan, causing him to stop his uncharacteristically toxic laughter.]*

Ironwood *(voice)*: Cease fire. Manta squads, concentrate on secondary hostiles. Command is working on a solution for the creature.

Winter: What do you have in mind, sir?

Ironwood *(voice)*: We aren’t making any progress attacking the thing from the outside. But from the *inside*, it could be vulnerable. Science team is putting together a bomb. When it’s ready, we’ll drop it off as close to the target as possible. Then, your team will deliver it on foot. Sending your rendezvous coordinates now.

*[Throughout Ironwood's order, Winter's face went through a cycle of emotions: pensiveness, horror, denial, and finally, resolution.]*

Winter: Of course, sir. We will hold the point and we will get it done.

*[Team RYNJ was taken aback.]*

Jaune: But Oscar’s in there!

Yang: You can’t do this!

*[As Yang struggled to break away from Elm and Vine's grasp, Winter's expression changed back to one of regret. Her right hand trembled before she steadied it by clenching her fist.]*

*[In the Schnee Manor, Ouroborosaurus continued trying to heal Nora. When it eventually stopped working, with Nora still unconscious and still scarred, Ouroborosaurus sighed, and reverted to human, putting his hands in his face out of frustration.]*

Nora *(sleep talking)*: Now what am I good for?

*[Moving his hands and looking down at Nora as he heard this, Alan gently brushed part of her hair out of her face, sighing in sadness seeing she was still unconscious. Alan glanced up when the door to the room opened, with Ruby, Weiss, and Blake entering with hot drinks.]*

Ruby: How is she?

Alan: This Aura stuff... Ouroborosaurus isn't used to it. *[stands; holds up the Simplicitrix, showing a hologram of Nora's Aura level, being at merely 5%]* Without it properly restored, I can't do anything more than I already have. She needs something more practical. Like an actual doctor.

*[Weiss handed Alan a cup, the only one of the four not hot, and in fact having ice instead.]*

Blake: Hopefully, May’s able to reach the others. I’m… I really hope they’re okay.

*[Blake glanced out of the window at the Atlesian night sky, where distant red lightning could be seen flashing periodically.]*

Blake: Salem’s monster is making Grimm faster than the Atlas military can kill them. The city won’t stand a chance unless we stop it.

Ruby: It’s massive. Way bigger than a leviathan. What can we even do?

Alan: ...Interesting word choice.

*[The three girls turn to Alan curiously, who sipped his drink as he looked out the window.]*

Alan: ...Way Big. I don't imagine the power of Atlas' Staff would mind some other giant monster showing up... But I can't say the same for the people of Atlas. I think he'd just add to the fear. To the negativity.

Weiss: There's got to be *something* you can do. ...Right?

Alan: I already started doing that something. And I'm not sure it's working.

*[The three traded glances, but before they could ask further, the conversation was interrupted as May entered the room.]*

May: Fiona said your friends haven’t been heard from in a while. Unfortunately, the last thing they’re worried about is a couple of kids. Come on, I’ve got the ship ready to head back and-

*[Weiss hurriedly got to her feet, setting aside her cup.]*

Weiss: What? We can’t leave.

May: It’s chaos at the Crater. Atlas has its army, but Mantle only has us. People are dying.

Weiss: People are dying *here*, too. Don’t you have family in Atlas?

May: No. Mantle needed me, and to the Marigolds, that meant I wasn’t their *son* anymore. And I made sure that everyone knew that I *wasn’t* their *daughter*.... So forget ‘em. They’ve got Henry, yours have Whitley. You get what I’m saying.

Weiss: I don’t know about-

May: Which side are you on, anyway?!

Blake: We’ve heard that before.

*[May stepped toward Blake to confront her, but Ruby chimed in.]*

Ruby: There are no sides! We want to help everyone. We’re all facing Salem together. And together is the only way we’re going to get out of it.

May: *[sighs]* So, how exactly do we get out of it?

*[As the group pondered their situation, Whitley could be seen in the hallway eavesdropping on the conversation.]*

*[Meanwhile, in the Ace Ops' aircraft, Yang stood up to confront Winter. Elm and Vine quickly got up as well, grabbing her arms.]*

Yang: You can’t blow it up with Oscar still in there!

Vine: That creature causes more damage every minute. We cannot wait.

*[Winter had her back to the others, hiding her pained expression from them. Jaune stood up as well.]*

Jaune: Please, Winter, give us a chance to try to rescue him first! We… We could be your test run. You don’t know what’ll be waiting for you inside, right? So we can go ahead to check it out, and look for Oscar while we’re inside.

Marrow: You want to go inside that thing alone?

Yang: Wouldn’t you do it for Elm? Harriet? Vine?

*[Marrow and Harriet traded uneasy looks.]*

Elm: We don’t let feelings get in the way of making the right call.

Alan: Bold of you to assume that your boss makes the right call.

Elm: That's not my point! Trading three lives for one is stupid.

Ren: No, it’s not. *[looks up in defiance]* He’s our friend. We will do whatever it takes to find him, because we care about him.

Harriet: (scoffs) I really had you pegged as the most level-headed of the bunch, but I guess you’re just as naive.

Alan: Naive, or human?

Harriet: *[attempting to ignore Alan]* Feelings don’t matter, the job matters.

Alan: Bullshit

Harriet: What?!

Alan: You've been operating on emotions ever since we got here! That anger and hatred you have towards me has been fueling you!

Harriet: Shut up! *[laments, trying not to give Alan the satisfaction of being right, then turns back to Ren]* When you lose someone on your team, you move on. Replace them, like Marrow replaced Tortuga and Winter replaced-

Ren: No! *[stands to his feet]* No one is replaceable.

*[Ren's eyes widened as he stared at Harriet. Ren's perspective showed everything as grey, with Harriet still colored but slightly desaturated. Surrounding her were red flower petals rising up from below like fire. She glowered at him, incensed.]*

Ren: ...You don’t really believe that. You are furious about losing Clover, and you... you miss him.

*[Harriet briefly let her surprise show, but her expression quickly reverted to anger.]*

Harriet: You don’t know anything about me!

*[Ren glanced at Marrow, who was surrounded by blue petals slowly falling like snow. Elm had rising red and yellow petals surrounding her, and Vine had green petals swirling gently around him. Ren finally looked down at himself. Pink petals gently fell toward his feet.]*

Ren: ...That’s why you lost against Team RWBY. You, you try to fight how you feel about each other, so you’ll never truly work as a team.

*[Elm let go of Yang to rage at Ren. The red and yellow petals were still rising up around her.]*

Elm: Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!

*[She pulled her fist back to strike Ren, only to top when Winter stepped between them.]*

Winter: Everyone, calm down.

Alan: *[snickers]* Oh, so, Elm, what you're saying is, punching Ren just then was the right call? Not emotions getting in the wa-

Winter: Alan!

Alan: ...Yes, ma'am.

Winter: *[sighs]* Thank you.

*[Winter took a moment to study her prisoners' expressions, and then lamented.]*

Winter: Fine. We will drop you as close as we can to the monster.

Harriet: You can’t be serious. They’re fugitives and traitors!

*[Winter turned toward Harriet with cold indifference.]*

Winter: I outrank you.

*[Harriet's eyes widened in surprise before she relented, growling indignantly. Alan also went wide eyed and took a slight step away, facing away. Yang took notice of this.]*

Yang: What is it?

Alan: ...No more frightened, only aroused.

*[Yang groaned and rolled her eyes.]*

Winter: *[ignoring Alan's comment]* If you aren’t out in time, we drop the payload. No matter what.

*[Marrow turned back to face the windscreen, uncomfortable.]*

Jaune: We understand.

*[The Manta touched down on the outskirts of Atlas. As its hatch opened, Winter deactivated the Gravity Bolas tied around Yang and Ren's wrists. The latter approached Marrow, who was standing guard by the door.]*

Ren: You don’t like this either. In fact, you don’t want to be a part of it at all anymore.

*[Marrow's expression fell, with Harriet watching. He seemed to steel himself, and lowered his gun.]*

Marrow: I… I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it.

*[He headed for the cockpit area. Yang used the blast from her gauntlets to leap off the ship, and Jaune tossed Ren his guns before drawing his own sword and shield, then leaping onto the plains. Winter watched Jaune as he leaves, her expression stony. Alan approached Winter, still waiting on his Bolas to be undone.]*

Ren: I know you don’t, either.

*[Winter, in Ren's eyes, had rising red and yellow, swirling green, and falling blue petals surrounding her as she fixed Ren with an indifferent stare. She sighed, and undid Alan's bolas, allowing him to stretch his arms.]*

Alan: *[halfheartedly]* Thanks, sis.

*[Ren then looks to Alan, and his expression becomes a mix of confusion and concern. In Ren's Semblance vision, Alan had black petals around his body, each of which moved so subtly that they almost appeared entirely still. Alan jumped from the ship, running after Yang and Jaune. Ren then followed, and after Ren's departure, Winter's expression betrayed her concern.]*

*[In Schnee Manor, the group, save for Nora, descended the central staircase.]*

Ruby: Wait, what about Qrow and Robyn? Well, maybe if we can get them out of wherever they’re being held, they could-

*[May clutches her forehead in frustration and rounded on the other four angrily.]*

May: No, see, you just don’t get it! This is not a situation where everyone wins. Now, you all can come with me to help in Mantle, or I can drop you off near the front lines, if you still want to help Atlas. Your uncle and Robyn can’t save us. We have to choose. So choose.

*[Ruby, Weiss, and Blake looked at each other uneasily. May turned to Alan, who shared in the uneasy look.]*

May: Or... You could clone yourself again. Right? It's what you did before.

Alan: It's not *that* simple. I lose some power each time I clone. Especially with the way the first clone happened this time... *[sighs]* There's a whole ass whale that needs to be destroyed. As much as I'd like to help both again, neither side would be getting me at my best, and I don't know if that's going to be good enough. I'm having doubts that even what I can do *now* is good enough.

May: That's got to be better than nothing.

*[A knock at the door drew everyone's attention, and they drew their weapons, creeping to the door. Alan then became Felinja. Weiss opened the door cautiously, her eyes widening when she saw who it is.]*

Weiss: *[gasps]* Klein!

*[Klein stood in the doorway, doctor's bag in hand. He tipped his bowler hat.]*

Klein: Miss Schnee! I heard there was a patient here who needed my help.

Weiss: I, I am so sorry, Klein. It’s my fault that Father...

*[Klein's eyes turned green as he held his hat to his chest. He seemed to develop a stammer.]*

Klein: Please don’t worry, my snowflake, it had nothing to do with you. *[places his head back on his head, with his eyes turning red]* And *everything* to do with Jacques.

*[Klein entered the manor and slammed the door shut. Weiss walked him in, sniffling and wiping away her tears as the others put away their weapons. Felinja looked to Blake and Ruby who shrugged.]*

Weiss: Well, that’s sweet of you. But wait, how did you know-

Klein: *[upon his eyes turning blue]* Ah, young Whitley. I’m so glad that you rang! May I please see the patient? I understand it’s urgent.

Whitley: *[descending the staircase]* Yes, she’s in Weiss’s room. Just go up the-

Klein: I haven’t been gone that long, Master Whitley. I believe I can find it.

*[Klein patted his hand on Whitley's shoulder before heading up the stairs.]*

Weiss: You called Klein?

Whitley: That girl needs a doctor. *[turns away from Weiss]* I didn’t do it for you.

Weiss: I know. That’s why it means so much to me.

*[Whitley gasped as Weiss stepped forward to hug him. After some hesitation, he sighed and embraced her back. Weiss gasped when she and the others heard an explosion from outside.]*

Felinja: ...You didn't happen to call anyone else, did you?

*[Whitley shook his head. Ruby opened the door to find a smoking crater in the manor walkway. She, Weiss, Blake, and Felinja ran out to investigate. Some of the smoke going way, the group saw Penny, crackling with electricity and covered with neon green fluid lying in at the bottom of the crater. Penny caught sight of her friends and weakly reached out to them.]*

Penny: I’m… I’m sorry.

*[Penny collapsed, unconscious.]*

## Major Events

* Ren's Tranquility Semblance evolves, allowing him to read spikes in emotions.
* Winter lets Team RYNJ go inside Monstra to find Oscar, despite Ironwood's orders to keep an eye on them.
* Penny crashes outside of Schnee Manor after the Watts hack.

## Credit Scene 1

...No, I’m giving you the password, and hoping you’ll find the truth for yourself.

*[Oscar's words were heard, muffled slightly by the door which Emerald was listening through.]*

He’s a prisoner, Em. He’ll say what he thinks will get him out.

*[Mercury's voice was heard just before the scene changed. He was seen packing an away bag with Emerald in the same room.]*

Emerald: So you’re still going to Vacuo, after what I just told you?

Mercury: Those are Salem’s new orders, and I know better than to disobey Salem.

*[Mercury headed for the door.]*

Emerald: But-

Mercury: *[sighs]* Look, even if what he said was true, we can’t stop Salem. You told me yourself, Hazel tried. He failed and he got in line. Big guy’s not going to pick fights he can’t win, and neither should we.

*[Emerald puts on a defiant expression. Mercury turns away, stepping into the corridor.]*

Mercury: And all of this is pointless, anyway. Salem’s not ending the world.

Tyrian: *[laughing]* Of course she is!

*[The two were caught off guard by Tyrian's sudden appearance when they stepped into the hallway.]*

Tyrian: ...You’re surprised? Salem is destruction incarnate! *[giggling]* Our mistress wishes to see the end of it all! There is no ideal more beautiful.

*[Tyrian clapped his hand on Mercury's shoulder and curled his scorpion's tail around him, but just as quickly pushed him away.]*

Tyrian: If you couldn’t see that from the start, you must be out of your mind.

*[Tyrian kept up his maniacal giggling. He leered at Emerald and Mercury, his tail curling and uncurling sinisterly, then used it to hurry Mercury down the hallway.]*

Tyrian: Now come along, Mr. Black. You and I have a date with the desert.

*[The two walk down the hallway of Monstra, passing a Winged Beringel sleeping on the ceiling. On one of Monstra's landing bays, Mercury was pushed roughly into a Manta aircraft as Emerald looked on, a mixture of dread and worry on her face. Mercury caught her gaze and gave her a solemn nod before Tyrian took the ship into the distant Atlesian sky.]*

## Characters

* Alan Nomaly
* Ruby Rose
* Weiss Schnee
* Blake Belladonna
* Yang Xiao Long
* Jaune Arc
* Nora Valkyrie
* Lie Ren
* Penny Polendina
* Oscar Pine
* Whitley Schnee
* Klein Sieben

### Villains

* General Ironwood
* Salem

### Ironwood's Group

* Winter Schnee
* Harriet Bree
* Marrow Amin
* Vine Zeki
* Elm Ederne

### Grimm

* Monstra
* Centinel
* Teryx
* Manticore
* Megoliath
* Boarbatusks
* Apathy
* Ursai
* Beowolf
* Winged Beringels
* Sulfur Fish

## Aliens Used

* Alien X *(cameo, continued from previous appearance)*
* Ouroborosaurus *(cameo, continued from previous appearance)*
* Felinja

## Trivia

* Once again, the Alan with Team RYNJ was originally going to have an alien appearance, and was then scrapped due to the broken Simplicitrix storyline.
* Ouroborosaurus operates slightly differently in this series than the proper canon, a sign of the alternate timeline differences. In *RWBYA*, Ouroborosaurus was able to heal Blake's stab wound from Adam Taurus, an injury which surely broke Blake's Aura. Here, however, Ouroborosaurus is incapable of healing Nora more without her Aura in place.
	+ Also before anyone else says it, Auraborosaurus. Ourobaurasaurus. Ouroborosauras. Aurabaurasauras. Fuck you, I did the jokes first.
* For some clarification: Alan's Simplicitrix, at some point during the first Volume, was given functionality similar to the Scrolls. This has allowed him to activate his comms through the device, see the arrest warrant for the group, and see Nora's Aura. This was likely done in conjunction between Pietro Polendina, and Alan using an intelligence alien.
* This episode was released on the same date as the previous episode.

## Credit Scene 2

*[Hazel entered the room of Monstra where Relic of Knowledge was being kept, and crudely dropped Oscar along the path.]*

Oscar: Why did you bring me here?

*[Hazel took a moment to examine the Lamp on its pedestal before he responded. As he spoke, he circled the Lamp, eyeing it suspiciously.]*

Hazel: I've been thinking about what you said. If it's a lie and I took that lie to Salem, the punishment would fall on my head before yours. If what you said is true and I used the password myself, well, I don't know what happens when this thing activates. *[looks back at Oscar]* So let's see if you're bluffing.

Oscar: You want me to summon her?

Hazel: Either way, it'll tell me what I need to know.

What are you doing?

*[The two turned to see Emerald had joined them, a concerned expression on her face. Hazel grunted noncommittally, joining her behind Oscar.]*

Hazel: Let's find out.

*[Oscar slowly got up, holding his side. He took a deep breath.]*

Oscar: Jinn.

*[Cyan mist unfurled from the Lamp. A nearby bubble of Grimm Liquid burst and its droplets froze in place. Hazel helds a protective arm out in front of Emerald, who took a step back. Both look on in awe. Jinn materialized and stretched, settling into a relaxed position as she looked at Oscar.]*

Jinn: Why, hello again, old man. Did you have a question for me?

*[Oscar chuckles, waving hello to Jinn. He turned to look at Hazel, who stared at Jinn.]*

Hazel: Actually, I think all my questions are answered now.

*[Jinn looked on bemusedly.]*

Oscar: What are you going to do?

Hazel: ...What Gretchen would have done. And that starts with getting you away from here. *[turns to Emerald]* Both of you.

Oscar: I'm going to need something before I go.

Jinn: So just to be clear, none of you have a question for me?

Oscar: No, but we'll be bringing you with us.

*[Hazel and Emerald traded uneasy looks.]*

Hazel: The moment we move that thing, this place goes on high alert. Better to get you out first.

Oscar: But...

Hazel: I'll come back for it. Not like she knows the password anyway.

*[Hazel and Emerald turned to leave. With one last backward glance at Jinn, Oscar wordlessly followed them. Jinn glanced to the side with a smirk, before returning to the Lamp in a puff of cyan smoke. In the darkness next to the door, a pair of differently-colored eyes could be seen watching the trio leave. A featureless red figure stepped out into the light, shimmered, and turned into Neopolitan. She slowly approached the Lamp.]*