The REDS of war

Volume Six Chapter Three

"Salem can't be killed... you all heard her too, right?" Yang says. Team RWBY all angrily glare at Ozpin, whose head is still down. He looks up, with tears streaming down his face. Qrow Branwen just looks away.

"I--"

Yang glares at Ozpin enraged. "There was so much you hadn't told us! How could you think that was okay?!"

Ozpin doesn't say anything, he just hangs his head back down in shame.

"Professor..." Ruby speaks, Ozpin looks up at her. "What is your plan to defeat Salem?"

"I... don't have one." Suddenly, Qrow punches Ozpin in the face, sending him into a nearby tree trunk.

"No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good."

Ozpin looks at Qrow tearfully. "But, you are!"

"Meeting you... was the worst luck of my life..."

Ozpin stares back in disbelief upon hearing Qrow say that, before looking down dejected. "Maybe you're right..." Ozpin's eyes glow as control is transferred back to Oscar Pine. He holds his cheek in pain from the effects of Qrow's punch.

"What happened?" Ruby asks.

"He's... gone."

"That bastard! Tell him we're not done yet!" Yang roars.

"No, this is different. He's gone. It-- It's like he's locked himself deep inside my head. Our head?" Oscar grunts as he holds his head in pain. "I hate this! I want it to stop!"

"He just left us?" Weiss asks panicked.

"What are we gonna do now?" Blake asks. Yang growls in anger.

"Enough!" Rei shouts. "We need to get move on. It'll be dark before we know it, and every one of you is spewing negativity." Rei watches as Maria helps Oscar up with her cane. "There's a trail over there, trails usually lead somewhere." He says grabbing a coat from an opened luggage.

"But-!" Yang goes to speak.

"No buts!" Maria shouts. "I understand that you're upset. Honestly, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that this is humanity's second time around. But, if we don't move, we die. And I'll be damned if I've lived this long just to die out here in the cold!"

Rei shrugs. "She's right. Come on." He says grabbing a suitcase with his his clothes and starts walking with Sky quickly following after him. Everyone grabs their belongings and whatever Dust they can carry with them. Maria sits on Bumblebee as Yang walks her bike. Ruby walks over to Oscar and hands over the handle of his cane.

Oscar looks down grabbing the cane. "I'm just going to be another one of his lives, aren't I?"

Ruby puts her hand on his. "Of course not. You're your own person."

"Don't lie to him, Ruby." Qrow drinks from his flask. "We're better than that." Ruby and Oscar look down sadly before walking to join the others.

"Are we?" Rei asks from the front of the group not bothering to look back at everyone.

In the Land of Darkness, five Nevermores are perched on a rocky outcropping with large purple crystals. They fly away when an airship flies by them heading towards a large purple structure in the distance. The airship lowers down to an outcropping that serves as a dock, and Hazel Rainart, Ambrose, Mercury Black, and Emerald Sustrai hop out. As they proceed forward, they notice Tyrian Callows leaning against the entrance at the bottom of the stairs. His scorpion tail now has a spiked, metal tip covering it from where it was cut off.