Hawk's life has been defined by power and strength alone. His time at Beacon and with his team has shown him many new outlooks on life but has the lessons he learned stuck with him even after he left. Or have they become something more...
It has been several weeks since Team HVRN took the Staff of Creation into their possession. Learning of its ability to create any object as long as they were specific in their description of the said object, they made resources to buy the loyalty of Miss Malachite and her network of spies and informants. Utilizing the network of spies, they were able to keep a constant eye on specific events and people. Hawk primarily interested in the whereabouts of his uncle, Qrow. While his team was confused on why Qrow was such an important person, he stressed that he and Qrow were the last Branwen on the planet, and he wanted to make sure that his uncle was safe. But secretly wished to have his uncle join him in his mission. Besides tracking Qrow's position, the team kept a close eye on both sides of the war. After the fall of Atlas, Ozpin and his huntresses stayed very close to Shade Academy. On the other hand, Salem was taking advantage of the lack of resistance and expanding her territory to encompass most of the continent. Salem's actions demanded a response from the team.
Currently, the team is occupying a small hideout given to them by Miss Malachite. Inside is quite well-furnished, with many different rooms to allow for more than adequate living conditions. Inside, the team is overlooking a map of the current state of Remnant; most of the map was covered in a black outline, signifying areas controlled by Salem. They stretched from Vale to enclosing most of Mistral and Atlas.
Ren: "Her constant pushing is a clear sign of overconfidence. Looking over old history books, the Grimm had never taken this much land before. This is new territory for her, winning this much that is."
Pyrrha: "Thats nice and all, but how do we counteract this?"
Nora: "I say we find her and just, WHA-BAM!" Punching both of her first together.
Hawk: "Calm down. We have to take a different approach to this. If we take her head-on and beat her, we only help the side we don't want to win. We have to show Salem that she isn't free to take what she pleases."
Ren: "What do you suppose?"
Hawk: "We each have enough power to do with as we please without any resistance. So I suggest a pincer attack. One to crush her advancing forces with overwhelming aggression and the other to break her confidence in her ability to hold her territory."
Nora: "Oooh. So we're splitting up?"
Hawk: "Correct. Nora and Pyrrha will meet the Grimm force flooding into Atlas. Your abilities are perfect for stopping an advancing force then subsequently crushing them."
Ren: "And what of us two?"
Hawk: "Me and you are taking Beacon."
Pyrrha: "Beacon!?"
Hawk: "Yes, Beacon is by far Salem's most significant victory against Ozpin, as it signified the turning of their war. As long as she holds it, she will perceive her victory at hand. But when we take it, we will quickly remind her that the tide of war can change drastically. Our plan will both crush her advance as well as her overconfidence."
Several hours later, Hawk's dark red portal opens up on a cliff overlooking the demolished Mantle. Out step Pyrrha, Nora, and Hawk. They originally had no idea why the people of Atlas were heading through the gate team RWBY had made. But upon finding out what they were running from, it made what Hawk did much more egregious.
Hawk: "Remember if you need assistance or when the mission is accomplished, flare your energies in unison. That'll create a signal for me to portal to."
Nora: "Aww, look, Pyrrha, he's babying us."
Pyrrha: "I don't mind, Nora; it shows he cares immensely for us." Placing a kiss on Hawk's cheek.
Nora: "That's just because you're sleeping with him. I'll meet you down there after you two are done sucking face." Hopping down the cliffside.
Hawk: "Be careful, please."
Pyrrha: "I was going to say the same thing." She runs her hand over his cheek before she too hops down the cliffside.
Vergil(mental): "Your fondness over her will not allow her to grow stronger."
Hawk(mental): "And you questioning my intentions isn't going to accomplish anything. Either you assist me or keep quiet. Got it." Receiving no response, Hawk turns and opens a portal back.
Back with Pyrrha, she lands on the ground below using Nameless to stab into the rock wall to slow her descent. She sees Nora already exploring the destroyed remains of Mantle. Catching up with her, they both walk through the semi-drowned city. When Atlas crashed into Mantle, it caused the dam nearby to break, letting the torrent of the sea envelope the cities.
Nora: "You know...seeing stuff like this. It fills me with both fear and determination." Pyrrha gave a confused look. "Like when I see all this, I'm afraid that we aren't on the right side. But it also shows me what will eventually happen if we don't stop this war. I mean, we had no involvement with this, and look what happened. These people trusted Ironwood, and he betrayed them; he tried to kill all these people, and wasn't Ironwood supposed to be on Ozpin's side."
Pyrrha: "This reminds me of something Hawk said once. 'Those with strength will always have people looking to them with expectations. But no matter how strong they are, the people's expectations will always crush those that try to bear them.' Ironwood, Ozpin, Theodore, and countless others tried to do this, and in the end, they each failed."
Nora: "But what makes us any better?"
Pyrrha: "Because they tried to bear the weight alone, we aren't alone, Nora. We've gained unimaginable power, power that can handle the weight of the world."
Qrow: "Nice speech. Wonder how many people had to die for you to believe that one."
The two of them look up to see Qrow standing up on a destroyed ledge; next to him is a young woman with light blonde hair wielding an arm-mounted crossbow pointed at the two.
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Qrow: "Oh. Pardon my rudeness. This is Robyn Hill. She is pretty pissed about what happened to her city, and rightly so. So how about you do us a favor and tell us what the hell you're doing here?"
Pyrrha: "We aren't here to hurt anyone. We're here to help."
Robyn: "Good, you can start by leaving. *Whistle*." Multiple people, some military, other civilians, come out of the rubble, pointing weapons at the two members of team HVRN.
Pyrrha: "You don't want to do this."
Qrow: "And why's that?"
Pyrrha: "Nora."
On cue, Nora lights up with yellow electricity, the energy surrounding her to form her armor, the two ethereal arms forming each with a copy of War-Cry within their clawed hands.
Nora: "Come on! Come at me; I'm itching for an early fight!" Qrow, Robyn, and the other people back away slightly in fear.
Pyrrha: "As I said, we are not here to fight you. We are here to stop a horde of Grimm that are coming here under Salem's orders to kill you all."
Robyn: After a minute of contemplation. "Lower your weapons." The surrounding people lower their guns. "Qrow, they're your problem now."
Qrow: "Alright, you two. Follow me, and you best hope you are right about this horde."
