Lurking Darkness (Main Timeline)

The Machine

"That's actually a risk, we haven't considered."

"Using the Staff of Creation?" You ask.

"We've been so worried about keeping everything away from it, we never considered using what's inside the Vault." Jaune says.

"Maybe we can use the Staff to save Penny and get everyone in Atlas to safety." Weiss's scroll pings.

"Well, you'll never guess who I just heard from."

"Let me guess. Winter Schnee?" You ask.

"Yep, she's asking for help." She smiles.

"Let's go inside and make a plan." Ozpin says.

"Right." You all stand up and walk back into Schnee Manor.

"So we've got people trapped in Mantle that we can't get out unless we use the Staff, which is located inside the Vault. If we open the Vault, Penny terminates."

"And if Ironwood catches onto what we're doing somehow, he blows Mantle sky-high." You continue.

"There's something else to consider. Once the Staff creates anything else, the city drops. Atlas has enough natural Gravity Dust to keep it from plummeting immediately, but, well, nobody's going to want to be around when it touches down." Oscar continues. Ruby shirks away, seemingly regretting this plan slightly.

"Okay, so let's use the Staff to teleport everyone to safety. Maybe even to another Kingdom."

"You can't just wave it like a magic wand and make our problems go away, and we haven't even told you about, him."

"Who?" Yang asks, Ozpin takes over to explain.

"The Spirit in the Staff. He's, a character. He can create anything but only if you can explain to you how. He need real world blueprints, like a craftsman."

"I've already gone through the city layouts for the SEC evacuation, maybe I can help?" Weiss smiles at Whitely.

"There's still James, and his bomb to consider." Ozpin says, thinking.

"Oh, I've got a plan for that." Weiss looks at Emerald.

""Emerald? You're sure this will work?" She turns and smiles.

"Well, it worked on you guys, didn't it?" You dip your head and stare at her.

"Okay, too soon, got it. It'll work, the General won't even know what hit him." She transforms into Penny, fooling even you.

"Pretty clever disguise idea from the Ice Queen, even I have to admit."

"We got this!" Nora says ready to go. You guys begin to approach Atlas.

"Do it." You ask Emerald. You watch her begin to trick Ironwood. She walks up to him.

"Didn't think you'd actually come." He hands Winter a pair of cuffs.

"I don't want anyone else to die." Winter places the cuffs on Emerald's wrists. Ironwood takes a deep breath out, and walks toward her.

"You've... done the right thing." He places a hand on Emerald's shoulder.

"I have." She releases her hold on his mind, revealing you, Ren, Nora, Jaune and Oscar at the ready.

"Feels weird." She backflips and kicks the General in the chin and lands, catching his weapon. Everyone begins their assault on the General with Winter at their aid. Oscar even gets to show off his improvement before Winter ends the bout with one blow. She uncuffs Emerald shortly after.

"Move to phase two!" Winter walks to you.

"I'm going to need assistance lugging the General to the cells."

"Yeah sure. This is still really crazy." You and her walk toward the unconscious man.

"What? The massive assault on Atlas? Or dropping Atlas out of the sky?"

"Both. Both is a good answer." After walking the General to the cells, you see Jacques Schnee sitting quietly.

"Oh great, you again."

"Mr. Aspro."

"You know, if it were my choice, a prison cell wouldn't be your place."

"That, I can agree with." Your Scroll lights up and on it is Jaune.

"This should be uhm.. that did, something?"

"You're live."

"Everyone can see you."

"Oh! Ahem! C-Citizens of Atlas, Mantle! What we have to tell you is very important. Atlas, is falling. But—!" The communications cut out.

"Shit! Kingdom wide communicae are gone!"

"That boy said Atlas is falling! Is that true?" Winter shuts off her Scroll.

"Yes. We're using the Staff to get everyone to safety. Salem can have the rubble, we'll all be long gone."

"Are you—!" The hard light pulses at Jacques' touch.

"Are you going to leave me here?"

"I wish. It'd be easier." You tell him.

"No, when we're finished, we'll move both of you to safety."

"Oh... thank you Wint—."

"Oh don't thank me." She snaps back.

"It was Weiss's decision." He looks stunned.

"C'mon, we still have a lot of people to move Winter."

"Right. I think I'm good now. Go meet up with Team RWBY at the Vault. I'll be down shortly." You nod and run to the elevator.

"...kay for starters I'm gonna need more information for this central location, for starters uhhh, where is it?"

"Here." You walk up the stairs to see a giant blue man, ripped with muscle and adorned with gold.

"A place like these Vaults, wherever they are they're clearly not part of Remnant."

"Y/n!" Penny screams and runs over to hug you.

"Hi Penny! You look good! How's it feel to have squishy guts now?"

"Odd. I don't feel as of this body can take as many hits as my old one could."

"Part of being human." You see Blake and wrap your arm around her.

"Hello kitty cat."

"Hello... I don't have a good nickname." You chuckle.

"It's fine."

"Hey, uhm. Still here? And to answer your question Mr.?"

"Aspro." His eyes widen before returning to normal.

"Mr. Aspro. You're either brave or much more foolish than you realize. Got any references?"

"Oh we've got one." Weiss flashes multiple schematics and blueprints to the spirit. He smirks and does a few hand movements, behind you, a portal opens.

"So, it's done?" Weiss asks.

"Yeah." He waves everyone away. The robotic form of Penny dissipates. You all walk toward the portal, smiling and happy.

"Oh and a brief point of clarification about this central location of yours." You all turn to see the jolly spirits tone has completely shifted.

"Do not fall."

"Okaaay and with that dire warning!" He disappears.

"We did it." Weiss says as she hands Penny the Staff.

"What, now?" Penny asks.

"We go to Vacuo." Ruby walks up.

"All of us. And hope that we thought of everything."