Checkmate

***Content Warning:*** The following episode has themes of death that may be distressing to some readers. Discretion is advised. If you're thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, National Suicide Prevention Hotline is a resource to help: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

***Checkmate*** is the nineteenth episode of *The RWBYA Adventures*. It is the Volume 2 finale.

## Plot

*[In the agriculture district of Atlas, the corpse of Monstra continued disintegrating. Inside of the corpse, black smoke swirled around into a humanoid figure.]*

Serena: That Jaune boy during the broadcast. He seemed to have a brightness to him. Perhaps there was a plan?

Bellicus: That "brightness" only applies to the smile, if he's happy with the city falling.

Serena: What do you mean?

Bellicus: Well, he's either stupid, or he's not so different from Ironwood after all-

Alan: I. Have. ***HAD IT!***

Bellicus: I beg your pardon?

Alan: I've tried. I have tried and tried to appeal to both of you. And where has it gotten us? The same goddamn office for three days, all that time fucking wasted!

Serena: Now, now, you needn't such crude language.

Bellicus: Almost makes me miss the Firefly boy.

Alan: Fuck both of you.

*[Serena was taken aback by the comment, while Bellicus remained resolute.]*

Bellicus: I rest my case.

Alan: I mean it. Fuck both of you. Fuck your delegations. Fuck your deliberations. Fuck how much time you waste. We've spent *far* more than enough time sitting here, talking about nothing. It's time we take action.

*[Down in the Atlas Vault, Winter charged at Ironwood, swinging down her sword onto his prosthetic left arm. She then drew her estoc and attempted to stab him with it, but Ironwood dodged and jumped back. He then tried to swing his hand cannon but Winter jumped up on top of a nearby pillar.]*

Ironwood: Winter, do *not* blame me!

*[Ironwood fired his cannon, and Winter moved out of the way as the blast destroyed the top of the pillar. Winter then created five Glyphs that launch large ice shards towards the General as he rolled out of the way.]*

Ironwood: I have sacrificed *everything*!

Winter: No, you have sacrificed *everyone else*! *You* closed the borders, *you* squeezed Mantle until it broke!

*[The two continued trading blows. The weapons locked as Ironwood’s cannon began charging up again.]*

Ironwood: I’ve only done what’s best for Remnant, and ***no one*** is grateful!

*[Ironwood drew the white Due Process gun and uses it to pistol whip Winter, disorienting her.]*

***YANG!***

*[Blake's shout once again echoed. The yell caught Penny's attention right as she was going to go through the portal to Vacuo. Cinder glanced down to NRG.]*

Cinder: I don't believe we've met.

NRG: Yeah. Let's not make this a habit.

*[NRG's grill plate glowed bright green as he fired a radioactive beam at Cinder, who blocked it with her Maiden magic. Ruby gots to her feet, shell shocked from what happened to Yang]*

Ruby: Yang...?

*[Neopolitan, still hungry for blood, engaged Ruby in battle again as Blake desperately reached into the air where Yang was last seen. Weiss held Blake back from leaning too far, and Blake took her head in her hands, weeping. Her ears then folded back in rage, she grabbed her weapon and headed in Neopolitan's direction. Weiss watched her go, then caught sight of an amused Cinder who was still blocking NRG's attack. Ruby did all she could to deflect Neopolitan's strikes. When she pulled back her umbrella, Blake's weapon tethered her arm, preventing her attack. Yelling in fury, Blake landed a blow with her sheath, only to shatter one of Neopolitan's solid illusions. Growling in indignation, she located the real Neopolitan and charged forward. Meanwhile, Cinder threw fiery projectiles at Weiss, who dodged and blocked them with her Glyphs. Cinder also used a magic ice attack to block up NRG's grills, at least temporarily.]*

Why'd you have to come back?!

*[A figure emitting green flames suddenly appeared: Penny. Weiss reached out to her.]*

Weiss: Penny, no!

Penny: Why didn't you just learn your lesson?

*[Cinder turned, smirking, but took a heavy blow from Penny, and was knocked back. She quickly righted herself and summoned another blade, tweaking her nose cockily.]*

Cinder: Oh, Penny...

*[Penny frowned, making an expansive gesture as if to manipulate her floating swords, but she gasped and looks at her back, realizing her robotic parts are all gone, including her signature weapons.]*

Cinder: I did.

*[Penny turned back to face Cinder, but took a flaming projectile to her chest, getting launched backward. She landed in a crouch on the central platform, then used her Maiden power to replicate her floating swords. As Penny plunged headfirst into battle with Cinder, Weiss headed for higher ground, using her Glyphs to augment her speed. Penny was blasted away by a wave of fire, and Cinder attempted to fly after her, only to be pulled back by one of Weiss' Glyphs. Cinder disabled it with a burst of flame before turning her attention to Weiss. She conjured a barrage of obsidian projectiles, causing Weiss to falter as she caught sight of the citizens pouring in from the portals around her. She quickly summoned her Arma Gigas' sword to block the projectiles as Cinder sent them her way, but some get through, embedding themselves in the platform around her feet, and some travelling through the portal behind her. Jaune, who was on the other side, quickly raised his shield to try and protect the citizens, and casted a worried look at the portal. Weiss, panting from her exertion, didn't notice the glass projectiles glowing until they were about to detonate. She was catapulted skyward in an explosion of flame, but cushioned her fall with a black Glyph. Cinder and Penny reengaged in battle as Ruby and Blake kept the pressure on Neopolitan. Blake stopped her advance when she heard Penny scream, and took a moment to watch the Maidens' fight. She also caught sight of Weiss' predicament, and seemed conflicted on which battle to choose. A green beam of energy shot through the sky. blasting Cinder. She angrily looked for the source, seeing NRG having melted the ice. She went for an attack while screaming, but this distraction gave Penny an opening for her own attack. NRG then turned to Blake.]*

NRG: Priority one, Blake. *[points to the fight]* Penny and the Staff need to get to Vacuo.

Blake: *[glancing to Neo and Ruby]* But- *[stops and turns back, seeing NRG having put his hand on her shoulder]*

NRG: Ruby can hold her own, we both know that. But we have a job to do.

Blake: *[shakily breathing while trying to stifle her emotions]* ...Right. Let's go.

*[Blake used Gambol Shroud to swing off a higher platform towards the fight, and NRG jumped off the edge, transformed, and flew up as Jetray.]*

*[Harriet was piloting her ship through the Atlesian skies as refugees hurried into a portal on the street level. An alert on the ship's console drew her attention to the cargo bay, and she engaged the autopilot before heading down there. In the cargo bay, Vine managed to climb on board, and he crouched, panting.]*

Harriet: Vine. Glad someone made it. Watch for a tail, I need to make sure this thing is still armed.

*[She walked over to the bomb, bringing up an activation confirmation on its screen. Vine used his Semblance to restrain her hand before she could prime it. He slowly approached the bomb.]*

Vine: I'm no longer certain this is the most logical course of action.

Harriet: *[leaning closer with a frown]* Do you really wanna do this, Zeki?

*[Vine deactivated his Semblance, holding up a placating hand.]*

Vine: No, I don't. Harriet, the General is no longer in charge. Ruby and the others have used the Staff. Atlas is falling, but its people will be safe. Unless you--

*[Harriet slammed a fist on the bomb's exterior, her face a mixture of indignation and rage.]*

Harriet: It's the principle, Vine! It's about loyalty. Clover understood that. Clover would see this through.

Vine: Then perhaps Clover was wrong too.

Harriet: Don't you dare! Clover was... He was...

*[She initially had an irate expression, but it became more and more morose as she talked. Eventually, she had to turn away from Vine and stifle a couple of sobs.]*

Vine: ...Important to you.

*[Beside herself with grief, Harriet stepped away from the bomb.]*

Vine: Harriet, you are not the only one-

*[He slowly approached her, reaching out to put a steadying hand on her shoulder, but the ship lurched to one side, throwing both Ace Ops against the wall of the cargo bay. An identical ship was ramming into theirs, attempting to knock it off course. It was being piloted by Robyn, who was yelling defiantly. With one last grimace at Vine, Harriet armd the explosive and opened the door on the cargo bay. Vine was sucked out of the ship by the airflow, but managed to tether himself with his Semblance, only to be kicked off again by Harriet. He barely managed to grab ahold of one of Harriet's ship's wing-attachments while Harriet herself zoomed back into the pilot's seat. Robyn noticed Vine's predicament and pulled back, presumably to avoid harming him. Harriet disengaged the autopilot, then squinted through the windscreen. A dark bird seemed to draw closer, and as a cloud passed in front of it, a screaming Qrow was revealed, driving his sword into the windscreen. He broke through, and he and Harriet tumbled down a hatch into the cargo bay. He pinned her to the ground, leaning in to taunt.]*

Qrow: Looks like you're getting that fight after all.

*[Harriet kicked him off, and they face off around the explosive. Meanwhile, Arthur Watts had finished his apple, and tossed its core behind him. He engaged the autopilot on Harriet's ship, steering it closer toward the center of Mantle.]*

*[By the portal on Vacuo's side, a crowd of refugees waited out the sandstorm, their emotions masked by Ren's Semblance. However, his Aura quickly depleted and dissipated, leaving him panting. Penjectile had created additional armor in a shield-like fashion around himself, Ren, Emerald, and Oscar to try to shield them from the storm.]*

Ren: I'm spent.

*[Emerald peered through the sand in the portal's direction, then at Oscar.]*

Emerald: Where's Penny? Couldn't she deal with this storm?

Oscar: Wait, Penny should've been here by now. Something's wrong.

*[He jogged back to the portal, but was thrown back upon contact, leaving him sprawled on the sand.]*

Oscar: What? Why can't I-

Ozpin *(voice)*: Oh, dear... Ambrosius.

*[A look of realization dawned on Oscar's face.]*

*[A flashback was shown depicting Team RWBYA and a newly-made Penny in the Atlas vault, discussing the specifics of the portal network that would lead the refugees to Vacuo. Ambrosius stared at the projected schematics and executed complex hand gestures as Weiss speaks.]*

Weiss: People enter from Atlas and Mantle from one side, and leave on the other side, with a one-way ticket to Vacuo.

*[Weiss' last few words seemed to echo as the camera zoomed in on Ambrosius' eyes.]*

*[In the present, Oscar ran to rejoin his comrades.]*

Oscar: We can't go back, the portal won't let us.

Penjectile: What?!

*[A sudden unearthly scream was heard in the distance, and from the sandstorm came a flock of shrieking Ravagers. One refugee was promptly seized in the claws of a Ravager; several others screamed and ran away through the crowd. The four traded worried looks before readying their weapons. Penjectile retracted his armor and then extended it over his flippers, giving him sword-like blades.]*

*[Cinder and Penny flew at each other, using their respective Maiden powers to clash. They flew around as people continued to run towards the portal leading to Vacuo. Cinder launched a fireball hitting Penny in the back. She then tried to use her Grimm arm to grab Penny, but a Queen Lancer summoned by Weiss flew by and got Penny out of the way. Nora watched the crowd of people running for the Vacuo portal.]*

Jaune: Priority one.

*[Nora looked back to her leader and they exchanged nods, continuing with the evacuation. On the lancer, Penny looked depressingly at Weiss.]*

Penny: Weiss, all she ever wanted was the Maiden power. I can buy you all time.

Weiss: But, Penny-

*[Suddenly, Weiss was struck in the back by a fireball, causing her Queen Lancer summon to disappear. They fell onto one of the platforms, both of their Auras flickering. Cinder landed nearby and smirked evilly. Penny gasped as Cinder looked to Weiss, and the Staff of Creation next to her. Penny suddenly got up and blocked her path.]*

Penny: I’m right here! I’m what you want!

Cinder: I want it all...

*[Cinder launched herself forward, but suddenly was kicked in the face by Blake, pushed back some distance away from them. Blake then looked to Weiss.]*

Blake: Get up!

*[Weiss nodded and did so, grabbing Myrtenaster and the Staff. She then ran off as Blake and Penny face Cinder, their weapons at the ready. Jetray then landed near them, changing into Czechmate upon landing.]*

*[On the Atlas cargo ship carrying the bomb, Qrow and Harriet continued their fight. Harriet kicked Qrow into the wall, causing him to groan in pain.]*

Qrow: You’re making a mistake, Harriet! What happened to Clover, I regret-

Harriet: *[growls]* Shut up ***ALREADY!***

*[Harriet then turned around and uses her speed Semblance to cut the straps holding the bomb in place, and then jumping to tilt the airship. The bomb started to slide towards the open cargo door, and Qrow jumped in front of it, trying to hold it in place.]*

Harriet: Get out of the way!

*[Suddenly, the ship jolted. Qrow and Harriet looked behind them, and noticed the other cargo ship being piloted by Robyn behind them. Vine used his Semblance to hold Harriet’s ship in place, being supported by Elm, using her Semblance to hold them both on top the ship they’re on.]*

Elm: Hare, please! Don’t do this! They’re still evacuating in Mantle!

Harriet: ***Why can’t you just let me do my job?!***

Elm: Because you’re our friend! And we won’t let you go through with this!

*[Harriet was taken aback and lowered her head upon hearing these words. The bomb began to slide forward more, and Qrow was shoved out of its way.]*

Qrow: No!

*[Qrow took out Clover’s pin and closed his eyes somberly. The Ace Ops watched in shock as the bomb began to near the edge of the ramp. Suddenly, it stopped, and Qrow and the Ace Ops breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, the screen on the bomb said, “INITIATE COUNTDOWN” with the prompt for “YES” being highlighted. Qrow and Harriet looked to each other in disbelief. Back at Atlas Central Command, Watts smirked after pressing the button for the bomb. Watts then stepped from the control console, Watts swiped at the controls one more time, shutting them off. Turning about, he began to saunter off towards the central location portal that had opened behind him, but it suddenly closed.]*

Watts: *[befuddled]* ...What?!

*[Ruby continued to fight Neopolitan. Neo eventually kicked Ruby to the ground, causing her Aura to flicker. Neo slowly approached Ruby threateningly.]*

Weiss: Leave her alone!

*[Weiss slid in using her Glyphs, using the Staff to knock Neo through a portal. Cinder noticed this, and angrily launches flame torrents to hold back Penny and Blake. Cinder then kicked Blake off the platform.]*

Penny: Blake!

*[Penny flew to catch Blake, while Czechmate jumped over the flames, just barely missing being every so slightly scorched, and landed a kick to Cinder's gut. Screaming in anger, Cinder attempted to slash an obsidian blade at Czechmate's head, which he casually dodged, followed by him grabbing hold of Cinder's wrist. Cinder then flew up with him, and used her Maiden powers to breath fire directly onto his face; she then slung him around to another platform, and flew off. Czechmate landed on the platform, and tumbled, rolling off the side of it... And his fall being broken by landing on a lower platform not far beneath the other. His Aura flashed.]*

Czechmate: Just my luck...

*[Czechmate groaned while trying to sit up, only to fall back down. Meanwhile, Weiss helped Ruby back up.]*

Weiss: Come on, we have to do this for Yang.

*[Cinder approached and smirked. The ground began to glow beneath Ruby and Weiss. The latter noticed this and pushed Ruby back, simultaneously shoving the Staff into her hands.]*

Ruby: No!

*[An explosion went off, knocking Ruby back. Weiss was launched up into the air before landing hard on the ground, her Aura breaking in the process. Suddenly, Neo reappeared from the portal. She traded blows with Ruby, managing to snatch away the Staff as she knocked her off the platform. Ruby managed to land on one of the walkways, but helplessly watched Crescent Rose slide over the edge.]*

Ruby: NO!

*[Ruby watched her weapon fall into the abyss. She then looked back to Neo, who glared back at her.]*

*[On the cargo ship, the bomb started to count down thirty seconds.]*

Qrow: The autopilot’s locked! We gotta go!

Harriet: *[falling to her knees]* There’s no time to make it out of the blast range… I’ve… Killed us all… I’m sorry…

*[After trading a glance with Elm, Vine used his Semblance to reach the ship, and then used it again to place Harriet in Elm’s arms. Vine looked to bomb silently.]*

Elm: No… you can’t!

Vine: *[smiling sadly]* I can… if it means saving all my friends.

Harriet: ***NO!!!***

*[Harriet tried to reach out for Vine, as Elm took her inside Robyn’s ship. Qrow and Vine solemnly nodded, acknowledging each other, before Qrow jumped out from the ship and transformed into his corvid form to fly away. Vine focused, placing his hands together, then used his Semblance, creating a barrier around the ship as the bomb continued to count down. The timer went off, and the contained, muffled explosion caused Vine’s Aura barrier to disappear. A cloud of smoke was left in its wake as Robyn, Elm and Harriet looked on sadly. Robyn began to fly the ship away from Atlas.]*

Ruby: Whatever you wanted...

*[Ruby looked over her shoulder as she neared the edge of the walkway, before facing Neo again.]*

Ruby: ...I hope it was worth it.

*[Ruby spread her arms wide, offering herself as a target. Neo extended Hush's blade as she prepared to go for the kill. She lunged, but Ruby deliberately fell backward before the blade could hit her; she then used her Semblance to circle under the path, come up behind Neo and attack her from behind, disarming her and knocking her over the edge. Ruby tried to catch the Staff, but Cinder launched a fire blast into her back, breaking her Aura and knocking her off the path. Ruby caught onto Neo's ankle, the former hanging from the edge of the path. Cinder grabbed the Staff and approached them. Neo reached out to her, but Cinder's Grimm arm reached past, grabbing the Lamp from Neo’s belt.]*

Cinder: You should have never threatened me…

*[Neo looked up at her in anger as Cinder kicked Hush over the edge, into the abyss. Cinder's smirk turned to a glare as she looked from Neo to Ruby.]*

Cinder: And you... *[pauses when Ruby goes to activate her Silver Eyes]* ...Should have never been born.

*[Cinder used the Staff to smash Neo’s hand, causing her to lose her grip and fall, Ruby along with her.]*

Blake & Penny: ***RUBY!!!***

*[Penny flew in carrying Blake. Blake was thrown forward as Penny was knocked back by Cinder’s fireball. Blake managed to grab Ruby, and used Gambol Shroud to hook onto the platform. The two tried to swing back up, but Cinder launched another fire jet that burns through Gambol Shroud’s ribbon, causing a distressed Ruby and Blake fall and disappear into the abyss. Penny looked on, distraught.]*

Penny: No!

*[Cinder prepared to attack Penny again, but is struck by Dust rounds.]*

Weiss: Get back!

*[Weiss held Gambol Shroud in its pistol form, firing shots at Cinder as tears streamed down her face. Jaune parachuted to Nora near the Vacuo portal.]*

Jaune: May, Joanna, Fiona, *any* Huntsmen that went through that gate, bring ‘em here!

*[They shook hands as Nora headed through the Vacuo portal. Weiss was seen getting knocked back as Cinder hovered above her.]*

Cinder: It figures that a Schnee would be the last one standing, letting all her friends die first.

*[Cinder spewed a fire breath attack, but Penny flew in and blockew the attack with her Maiden swords.]*

Penny: You wouldn’t know *anything* about friends!

*[Cinder tried to attack again, but Jaune arrived and knocked her back using the Gravity Dust in Crocea Mors’ shield. The cawing of a bird was heard, and Kickin Hawk swooped in, attempting to get a dual kick on Cinder, who held up her arm to block him. Kickin Hawk leaned in with a scowl.]*

Kickin Hawk: I thought I said not to make this a habit-

*[Cinder blasted Kickin Hawk away, though he used his wings to regain composure and fly towards the others, transforming mid-air. Jaune, Penny, and Weiss dual wielding Myrtenaster and Gambol Shroud’s katana, and the newly transformed and growling Rabadger readied themselves to face Cinder again. Cinder got back up, but suddenly her Grimm arm started to act up, giving her some discomfort before she smirked.]*

Cinder: She’s back...

*[Cinder created a shockwave to knock the teens back, and then launched two flame swords that Penny blocked easily. Suddenly, Cinder created fire walls, separating Jaune, Penny, Weiss, and Rabadger. Penny looked to her friends, but suddenly screamed out in pain. She looked down and saw Cinder’s Grimm arm impaling her chest and starting to drain her Maiden powers. Penny looked up, seeing Weiss and Rabadger both jumping in to fight Cinder again before falling over. She started to lose consciousness from blood loss. Jaune came into her view.]*

Jaune: Penny! Hold on! *[activates his Semblance to boost Penny’s Aura]* My Semblance-

Penny: No... there’s not enough time to heal me...

*[Jaune noticed the other three still fighting behind him.]*

Penny: She can’t get the Staff *and* the power... But there *is* something you can do... *[reaches for Jaune's sword]*

Jaune: *[taken aback]* I don’t know where the others are, but… Weiss... Alan... They'll give us time!

Penny: Let me choose... this one thing... trust me...

*[Penny's face grew pale, and deteriorated some. Jaune drew his sword, his tormented expression reflected on the blade. Cinder knocked away Gambol Shroud and Weiss watched it fall into the abyss, before being knocked to the ground by Cinder. Rabadger came around, trying to impale one of his three-set blades into her chest, only for her to block it with two swords and push him back. Rabadger roared at her, but then sniffed about curiously, his head jerking to a different direction than Cinder. Deciding to take this as an advantage, Cinder prepared to finish him and Weiss, but froze when she heard Jaune scream out in anguish, her expression shocked. Jaune was seen standing over Penny’s body as his tears dripped to the floor. Her blood dripped from his crimson-stained blade. The scene faded to white.]*

*[In a white space, Penny tapped her toes patiently. She then smiled as she noticed someone.]*

Penny:'[saluting] *Salutations! You made it!*

*[Winter was seen entering the white space.]*

Winter: Where...? What is this?

Penny: I thought of you... and here we are.

Winter: *[gasps in realization]* Oh, Penny...

Penny: It seemed fitting that it should be you. It was your power after all.

Winter: No, Penny. *You* were always the real Maiden at heart. I was just a machine... just... following orders.

Penny: *[holding Winter's hands]* You were my friend.

*[Aura was shown as Penny transferred the Maiden powers to Winter.]*

Winter: *[smiling]* Thank you… for trusting me with this. When you’re… gone…

Penny: I won’t be gone, I’ll be part of you.

Winter: *[sobbing]* Good. I’m glad.

*[Penny smiled one last time as she fades into light, her hair briefly appearing in the short cut that it originally was when meeting Team RWBY for the first time.]*

Ironwood: So… the destiny I chose for you has arrived.

*[Winter got back up after having been thrown down during her fight with Ironwood in the vault entrance.]*

Winter: You chose nothing. *[begins lifting herself into the air]* This...was a gift.

*[She opened her eyes, blue Maiden flames coming from them. Ironwood looked on in shock. He fired another blast from his cannon, but Winter easily deflected it with an ice shield. The blast ricocheted back at Ironwood, leaving a large smoke cloud on his position once it collided with him. Winter turned and flew into the portal.]*

*[In the central location, Rabadger's bloodlust had come down purely from the shock of the situation.]*

Rabadger: ...P-Penny?

*[Rabadger then shouted out in pain. Cinder's Shadow Hand had impaled his chest, akin to Penny. Squeezing her grip in his chest, she channeled her Maiden powers through the Shadow Hand; the direct impact of the heat and magic caused the Simplicitrix to flash rapidly between black and red. Cinder pulled her claws away, and Rabadger fell to his knees, becoming human again, the Simplicitrix smoking by this point. Alan 2 glanced up, and his face filled with fear while becoming much brighter, as a fireball from Cinder collided with him. The impact caused Alan 2 to go flying off the platform, Weiss reaching out hopelessly for him. He took one final glance at Weiss before his Aura shattered, and his eyes closed, with him falling into the abyss.]*

Weiss: ***NO!***

*[Cinder angrily launched herself forward to Jaune. He pushed her back with gravity Dust. She conjured a flaming sword and charges Jaune again. Jaune extended Crocea Mors to parry her swing, but the force of Cinder's attack shattered his blade. Jaune looked at his broken weapon in shock, before he was knocked to the ground. Cinder advances on him, looking enraged.]*

Cinder: Where did it ***go?!***

*[Suddenly, a blue blast hit Cinder. She angrily looked for where the blast came from, and saw Winter floating above her. The two Maidens clashed in midair, exchanging blows of magic and swords. Winter activated a glyph summoning a flock of small Nevermores. Cinder conjured more flaming swords and launched them at the Summons, destroying some of them. However, the rest got through and surrounded Cinder, attacking her from all sides. Cinder created a large fireball to free herself from the flock. Meanwhile, Jaune helpsed Weiss get away from the battle toward the gate to Vacuo. As the Maidens clashed again, Winter snatched the Staff away from Cinder, but was struck and dropped it onto the path below. Cinder noticed Weiss and Jaune getting away, grinned savagely, and launched a fireball at them. Jaune threw his Hard-Light shield grenade to block the attack but they were both knocked back. Horrified, Winter flew towards them at high speed as the ground under them began to glow.]*

Winter: No...

*[Cinder balled her hand into a fist, causing the ground beneath Jaune and Weiss to explode. Jaune’s Aura dissipated as Weiss was launched over the edge.]*

Winter: *(voice breaking)* ***WEISS!!!***

*[Winter watched helplessly as her younger sister fell into the abyss. Jaune got back up as Winter levitated onto the walkway. She fell to her knees and cried, slamming her fist on the ground in grief, with Jaune watching with a concerned look. Winter's eyes narrowed in anger as she stared up at Cinder, who had retrieved the Staff. Suddenly, the pocket dimension shook as an enraged female scream was heard, distracting all three of them.]*

Jaune: *[looking at Winter]* We need to go... Now.

Winter: *[glares at Cinder one last time]* You... Are going to pay... For ***everything*** you’ve done!

*[Winter and Jaune began to retreat, and Cinder did the same, now having both the Staff and Lamp in her possession. Cinder exited through one of the portals leading to Atlas, and the walkways started to disappear. Jaune ran as fast as he could to the Vacuo portal, the disintegration of the pathways catching up quickly. Winter noticed this and tried to turn back for him, but was unable to stop herself as she passed through the gate. Jaune tried to jump for it as the path gave way beneath him, but the portal disappeared and he fell into the abyss as well, screaming as it happened.]*

*[In Vacuo, Nora desperately banged on the portal, unable to go back through. Atlas and Mantle civilians screamed as they were attacked by Ravagers. Emerald, Oscar, Ren, and Penjectile did their best to fight them off. The horde of Grimm approached them, but they got blown away. Everyone then noticed Winter, using her newly-christened Maiden powers to levitate in the air. She noticed her mother Willow, her brother Whitley, and Klein Sieben in the crowd, and tears streamed from her eyes. Penjectile glanced between Winter, and the place the portal once was, then lowered his head in grief, a look shared by Winter. The roar of Grimm gots her attention. She noticed the horde of Ravagers and Sulfur Fish approaching. Winter screamed out and prepared to take them all on.]*

*[Ironwood regained consciousness as he heard footsteps approaching him. Cinder walked down the stairs with a smirk on her face, carrying both Relics. As she looked up, her expression changed to fear. A black cloud of smoke swept down the elevator shaft, then circled around Cinder.*

Cinder: I… I failed you again, master. They used the Staff to save thousands. Before our allies fell, Neopolitan… killed Ruby. And before Ruby and her teammates fell, they used the Lamp’s final question.

*[The smoke swirled together in front of Cinder, materializing into Salem herself. Her eyes narrowed as she listens to Cinder's blatant fucking lies.]*

Cinder: I couldn’t stop them! I couldn’t even stop the Maiden from escaping without putting the Relics in jeopardy... I’m... I’m sorry...

*[Cinder kneeled before Salem, presenting the Lamp and Staff to her. After a pause, Salem smiled faintly.]*

Salem: In pursuit of a new world... *[takes the Relics from Cinder]* No cost is too great. You’ve done well, Cinder. Our work here is done.

*[Salem began to walk away; Cinder followed, smirking. Ironwood, unable to get up, helplessly watched them pass him. He noticed the white Due Process, and began crawling towards it.]*

Salem: You said they used the Staff. I assume you rid the world of their creation. What did you create in its stead?

*[Atlas Central Command was shown engulfed in flames and smoke.]*

Cinder *(voice)*: I merely added more flames, to the fires of Atlas.

*Through the glass, Watts was seen trying to break out by swinging a chair against the window. He screamed out in desperation as the flames continued to spread. Behind him, a bright light appeared, gaining his attention. He was surprised by it, and then fearful as a silhouette approached from the light. Back at the vault, Salem merely smiled. Ironwood tried to aim his revolver at them. On hearing the sound of its hammer, Cinder glanced back at him.]*

Cinder: And that’s... Checkmate.

*[Cinder activated her Maiden powers and flew away. Ironwood glanced to the side, then sadly lowers his head as he accepted his fate. The large floating landmass of Atlas fell onto the now-deserted city of Mantle, engulfed in a large dust cloud. Salem and Cinder flew away from the fallout. From the cargo ship, Qrow, Robyn, and the surviving Ace Ops watched sadly as Atlas and Mantle were abandoned and destroyed, Harriet reaching out to try to comfort Marrow. Qrow desperately screamed out the names of his nieces as he tried to contact them, his expression turning horrified when they don’t respond. A large tidal wave appeared and engulfs both Atlas and Mantle. The flood continued until both cities were fully submerged underwater. Back at the cargo ship, the group doesn't even have the proper time to process what was happening, as a silhouette appeared before them... that of Alien X.]*

Credit Song

## Major Events

* Salem rebuilds herself after Oscar destroyed her.
* Neopolitan, Ruby, Blake, Alan 2, Weiss, and Jaune fall into the void, same as Yang in the previous episode. Alan 2's Simplicitrix is also damaged in the process.
* Cinder critically injures Penny. Penny then asks Jaune to kill her, so that she can choose to pass the Maiden powers to Winter, keeping Cinder from getting both the Relics and the power.
* Watts remotely activates the bomb, and due to Harriet's actions, Vine must sacrifice himself to keep the bomb from destroying the others, as well as those left in Mantle.
* Almost all of Atlas and Mantle are evacuated to Vacuo.
* Cinder lies to Salem regarding the events that have transpired since she was destroyed.
* Salem obtains both Relics.
* Cinder attempted to use the Staff of Creation to trap and kill Watts, but something, or someone, saves him.
* Atlas falls on Mantle, taking Ironwood with it.
* Rabadger debuts.

## Characters

* Alan Nomaly
* Ruby Rose
* Weiss Schnee
* Blake Belladonna
* Yang Xiao Long *(flashback)*
* Jaune Arc
* Nora Valkyrie
* Lie Ren
* Oscar Pine
* Professor Ozpin
* Penny Polendina *(death)*
* Emerald Sustrai
* Winter Schnee
* Marrow Amin
* Vine Zeki *(death)*
* Elm Ederne
* Qrow Branwen
* Klein Sieben *(cameo)*
* Willow Schnee *(cameo)*
* Whitley Schnee *(cameo)*
* Ambrosius *(flashback)*
* Bellicus
* Serena

### Happy Huntresses

* Robyn Hill
* May Marigold
* Fiona Thyme
* Joanna Greenleaf

### Villains

* General Ironwood *(death)*
* Cinder Fall
* Arthur Watts *(cameo)*
* Neopolitan
* Salem

### Grimm

* Monstra *(corpse)*
* Ravager
* Sulfur Fish

## Aliens Used

* Alien X *(continued from previous appearance)*
* NRG *(continued from previous appearance)*
* Jetray *(cameo)*
* Penjectile *(continued from previous appearance)*
* Czechmate
* Kickin Hawk
* Rabadger *(debut)*

## Allusions

* The comments Alan makes to Cinder about not making a habit of the two meeting is a nod to *Aquaman*.

## Trivia

* The canon version of the episode seems to just kill Watts off when Cinder traps him. However, I am inherently against that, because killing off the best villain in such a bad way by the hands of the worst villain is not good, so I didn't do it.
* The canon version of the episode is named *The Final Word*, in reference to Cinder saying "Checkmate," the last word audibly heard in the episode. Which begs the question of why not just name the episode that? All the Volume's episodes were one word, so the last episode all of a sudden not being that is weird. So I didn't do that.
* The discretion and suicide hotline were added due to their presence in the canon episode. The themes surrounding the deaths of Penny and Vine are still present, after all.
* This episode's release date is Blake's birthday. Coincidentally, this also puts it as releasing the same day as *RWBY/Justice League #9*.

## Credit Scene

*[Waves washed ashore along a beach. In the sand, Crescent Rose was seen embedded. The area was tropical, birds and other creatures were heard making noises. At the top of a cliff, a large, mystical-looking tree overlooked everything around it.]*