Chapter 31: Stolen Relic

After the breech at the Schnee manor, RWBY, JNR, and Qrow were out taking care of the Grimm that had swarmed into Mantle. Oscar went back to the dorm room at Atlas academy, while Krystal went searching for Scarlet.

"Oh hey." Draken said. "How did things go?"

"Terrible." Oscar said sitting down.

Derek cocked an eyebrow up as he looked at him. "Well, Pepper and his team went out to help around, and Vest did as well. So I'm sure it's nothing that bad right?"

Oscar looks at the two wondering why they didn't go out and help, but thought of something. "Oh it was terrible." He looked down at the floor. "Scarlet showed up."

"EYYY?!?!?!" Derek and Draken said at the same time.

Oscar nodded his head. "She killed Whitley, Weiss and Winter's brother. She killed him in front of everyone." He clinched his fist tightly. "We were too slow to realize things were falling into Salem's grasp.."

Derek gritted his teeth as he punched the wall with his robotic arm. "Damn her! She thinks she can kill whoever she wants, we need to put a stop to her."

Draken nods his head in agreement.

"We can't." Oscar said. "She's immortal."

"Immortal?" Draken asked. "You mean?"

Oscar nods. "Yes, we can't kill her. Nor can we kill Salem, both her and Scarlet are immortal. As long as they live, they will bring darkness and despair to the world."

Neo had came to the room disguised as a student as she walked in and looked at the three. She noticed the relic was on Oscar's waist, Derek looked at her as he tilts his head. "Can we help you?"

Neo didn't do anything as she lunged at Oscar snatching the relic from her.

~~~

"Grab her!" Derek shouted chasing Neo who was already out of disguise.

Oscar tried grab Neo's legs to pull her down onto the floor, but the mute turned into shards of glass.

Draken looked around as he went to poke his head into one of the rooms as he didn't see anything. While this was going on, Neo had sneaked past them as Derek looked at his scroll, he looked over to Oscar and Draken. "Hey guys, you might want to see this."

"What is it?" Draken asked looking over to him.

Oscar walked over to take a look at what Derek was talking about, he was silent. There was a warning communication that was coming in from Ruby but was cut off short. Then a group Atlas guards show up looking at the three, among the group was Neo was had smirked pointing at them.

"That little." Derek said. "What the hell is Ironwood thinking? We're not the bad guys here."

"I'll go chase Neo." Oscar said. "I'll get the relic from her."

Draken nods. "Alright."

Oscar backed up and took the back hall of the academy to make a turn to find Neo and the relic. Derek and Draken looked at each other as they charged at the guards to attack them.

Neo was hiding away somewhere as she was disguised as Nora this time, she saw Oscar run past as she grabbed him, hushing him for a moment as guards ran past. Oscar was confused how Nora was there.

"How are you? Wait..." Oscar said.

Neo smirked and headbutts Oscar knocking him back, she made her escape as more Atlas guards came looking.

Derek and Draken were tired as the were going past where Oscar was at, Derek stopped as he looked over seeing Oscar. "Over here." He picked Oscar up. "Draken, open that door."

"Alright." Draken said opening the door to a empty dorm room.

Derek walked in placing Oscar down. "And...Neo has the relic. Of course she does.."

~~~

"What do you want?" Cinder asked looking at Scarlet. "You're getting in my way of getting the Winter Maiden's powers."

Scarlet smirked a little as she back handed Cinder across the face, knocking her down. "If you're blinded by power, then if you're really wanting to get the Winter Maiden's powers. You have to go through me."

Cinder scoffed as she grits her teeth, her eyes glowed as her palms ignited with fire. "So be it.."

Scarlet laughs as she spins Black Rose around. Taunting Cinder to attack her, she was going to get her Maiden powers one way or another. "Come on then, bring it on."

"I'll make you eat those words!" Cinder barked as she ran at Scarlet throwing fire balls at her, as she created a glass sword and went to stab Scarlet.

Scarlet snickered blocking the flames, she didn't notice Cinder was getting close to her, as she felt the sword stab her. Cinder grins, breaking the blade off inside of Scarlet. She jumped back as her eye glowed.

"Ara." Scarlet said pulling the blade out. "That actually hurt." She tossed the blade down as her eyes shrank. "But...I'm just getting started!" She dashes towards Cinder as she kneed her in the gut as she spun Black Rose around cutting Cinder's body.

Cinder coughed up blood as she grips her stomach, the cuts she had started to seep out blood as well, but she grabbed Scarlet with her Grimm arm as it grasped the Grimm girl around the neck. "Don't get cocky! I can easily set you a blaze."

"LIAR!!" Scarlet yelled as she pulled Cinder by her arm bringing her close. "Maybe I should send you falling into the dark abyss of the ocean, and have you suffer." A small Grimm poked it's head out of Scarlet's hand. "Now, I think it's time you were exterminated."

Cinder's eye widen as she recognized the Grimm. "No, you wouldn't."

Scarlet grins widely. "It's time for me to get a upgrade." She pulled Cinder closer to get as the Grimm leached out and grasped out of Scarlet's hand and onto Cinder's face.

The process of transfer was starting. The Fall Maiden powers were being sucked away from Cinder, and into Scarlet's body. The Grimm Girl could feel the overwhelming power flowing into her body, her eyes glowed as the transfer was almost done.

Neo had returned with the relic as she watched what was going on, she looked at the two as Scarlet dropped Cinder soon after. Cinder panted as she looked up at Scarlet, she tried to stand up, but her legs were wobbly. "You..you took my powers!"

Scarlet started to snicker as she laughed, she sprouted her Nevermore wings as she glanced at Neo. "Ah, you have the relic. Wonderful, we can return this to my mother." She then glanced at Cinder. "As for you, Cinder." She walked over to her as she grabbed her throat. "You don't deserve Maiden powers. You just do what you want, when you want." She tossed Cinder down as she steps on her. "Bow down to your new master, I decide who lives and who dies. Worship me like a goddess."

Cinder coughed as she spits on Scarlet. "B-Bite me."

Scarlet scoffed as she picked Cinder back up, this time by the hair. She flew into the sky holding her. "Look at it, this is what Ironwood wants to happen." She glanced at Cinder. "Night will fall and drown the sun. When a good man goes to war, friendship dies and true love lies. Night will fall and the dark will rise."

A/N:[I can't take credit for Pepper and his team, Draken or Vest. Credit goes to my friends on Discord.]