While the far-from-intrepid heroes were making their half baked plans, things weren't going all that smoothly in Salem's camp either.

And by camp, you'd really mean big, ugly, zeppelin, whale-shaped Grimm. [Still don't know why Penny didn't end up jumping down this thing's mouth as a Pinocchio reference.]

Emerald Sustrai was sitting around it, trying not to touch any of its disgusting body parts from the inside, while Mercury Black was boxing with himself.

Nothing had changed here since they'd arrived late last night, other than Tyrian had found his way back at some point--they avoided him.

Then something moved.

Hazel appeared in the...doorway? Emerald wasn't really sure what to call the openings in this thing. Valves? Arteries? Death tunnels?

"Someone just came in," he said. "Not sure who. She'll want us ready."

He meant Salem.

Mercury straightened and shrugged.

Emerald got up, and they followed Hazel down the hallways.

One of the Seers drifted past them but didn't take any notice of them.

Emerald had never voiced this to anyone, but the fact that the Grimm around them ignored them now, though by nature they were drawn to attack all humans, made her feel almost like she was one of them.

Sometimes she had nightmares that she was.

But it was no good to say that to the others... Anyway, who would care?

She told herself it was just because Salem was controlling it. The Grimm still hated them, of course, but they obeyed Salem. They liked her.

That was almost the worst part. They didn't fear her, they acted like they adored her...and Grimm didn't adore anyone.

Emerald had to swallow these thoughts as they came into the sort of courtroom Salem had constructed in the middle of this Zeppelin.

"You certainly do enjoy collecting assets." They could hear Salem speaking in that creepy, crooning tone.

To their surprised, and Emerald's relief, the people who'd come in were not Watts, but Cinder!...and Neo? What was Neo doing here? Wearing Torchwick's hat? Didn't that guy die...? Oh, she probably needed a new job.

And she joined them? 

Why? was Emerald's second thought after her initial happy reaction.

"Cinder!" She started to rush forward, oblivious to what was just being talked about.

Hazel and Mercury watched, probably both silently thinking that Emerald really didn't get it.

"You're here! I knew you'd come--" Emerald continued.

"Quiet!" Cinder cut her off without so much as a glance at her.

Emerald stopped short.

After all this time? That was her response? What...?

But maybe she was just stressed... Salem could be pretty intimidating... Right, and Emerald was making a scene in front of her...not the smartest idea.

Tyrian crooned. "Hmm, so devoted to someone so incompetent." [It really says a lot when even the homicidal maniac and the two-bit inventor both show equal amounts of contempt for Cinder. Though she and Tyrian are pretty similar, so I guess there's just no honor among thieves.]

He went on to say something about how he'd been causing trouble and doing the killing for the will of "our goddess", but Emerald honestly stopped listening as much as possible. He creeped her the frick out.

But she paid attention again when he gestured at Cinder and said, "You were merely atoning for past failures."

"Polendina's creation interfered with the transfer of the Winter Maiden powers," Cinder said coldly. "But now I know she has it, and once I return to Atlas, it won't take long to finish what I started. That power will be mine."

"I have given no such command," Salem said, holding up her hand airily. 

Cinder looked startled. "Ma'am, now is the time to--"

Salem put her hand on the Zeppelin's...control panel? and it groaned, and red light flashed over the floor.

Chills ran down Emerald's spine.

"This game is not yours to win, Cinder," Salem said in a terrifyingly direct voice. "It's mine. Just because you're more valuable to me than a pawn, doesn't make you a player. Everything is already in motion. All you need concern yourself with is your ability to act when I tell you to." She gazed out the front of the Zeppelin. 

"Of course," Cinder said, bowing. "Without you, I am nothing."

Salem haughtily waved them off, and they all retreated--gladly enough, in Emerald's case.

But she didn't think Cinder was letting this go.

* * *

At the same time, up in Atlas, Winter Schnee was in the infirmary getting treated for her numerous injuries.

Thankfully her arms weren't broken or sprained, just wrenched badly and twisted, and they were able to get her some braces that would allow her to hopefully use her swords without too much trouble.

Her Aura would heal the minor bruises and cuts probably by tomorrow, if she didn't sustain any more damage.

The same could not be said for the General's mood.

Thankfully she was not suspected of actually letting the Maiden go, due to her condition, just as Shine had predicted...but he was not happy with Penny.

The Ace Ops were not happy over Clover's death.

Winter had had no inkling of it till she got back. Apparently he'd been stabbed to death. Tyrian had escaped...and Qrow's sword had been covered with Clover's blood.

Winter could not believe Qrow would do this. He was many things--an ass, a buffoon...but a murderer? That just didn't sound right... Perhaps it had been Tyrian... After all, Qrow had been found with Clover. If he really murdered him, why wouldn't he have run away? Or Robyn...who swore up and down that it wasn't him.

No one used her Semblance to test it, however, for fear that she'd escape if they untied her hands. [Though that wouldn't actually have stopped her from using her Semblance if they really wanted to know, so frick them.]

Winter wasn't sure if General Ironwood actual believed it was Qrow, since he hadn't said, but he'd had him arrested anyway.

If Winter questioned the wisdom of this when Qrow technically hadn't committed treason at the same time as the younger team had, and it was sort of like skipping the part where they were even sure he was guilty, she hadn't said anything.

But it came to her attention again because a crew mate came to tell Ironwood that the prisoners had arrived.

[Beats me how they got Clover's stiff there before they got them there, when they were picked up at the same time but Clover was already in the mortuary when the announcement was made, but then, that's just show logic, CRWBY.]

"They're being processed in Stockade B," the crew mate girl said.

For what?  Winter thought to herself but said nothing.

Ironwood nodded, and the crew mate left.

"Qrow and Robyn?" Winter said quietly.

She wasn't sure if she was asking him if it was them, or what reason he had for locking them up... Robyn probably had it coming, but wasn't Qrow his friend?

Her personal opinion aside, she was surprised that Ironwood was so quick to dismiss him. He'd had a higher opinion of Qrow than she had at any time.

But then...things had changed a lot.

She unwillingly recalled Shine's very hard words about her being appointed to her position because she was a yes-man, that she couldn't ever disagree. [You believe that was already 5 chapters ago? Sheesh.]

Shut up, she told her mentally. You don't know the General like I do. He has a reason for this. You'll see. Once this settles down, he'll give them a proper trial and let them go. It's just for their own protection...

Ironwood made no answer to her question whatsoever, but after a pause to watch the medics work on her--which made her wince--he asked them, "Could you give us the room please?"

They left.

"I'll be fine," Winter said, holding up her hand...even that hurt.

How did Cinder inflict so much damage just on pure rage? [My question exactly. Based on my reviewing of the show for this fan fic, Cinder's not actually that good of a fighter without her magical powers and cheat magic things like the death portals and Grimm arm. Winter should easily have been able to kick her butt in pure skill. Yet she gets totalled? Consistency, where are you?]

"Thank you, Winter." Ironwood for once used her real name. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

[I'm not one to call "Toxic Abuser" at every little thing, but you notice he ignored the implied doubt in her question of Qrow and Robyn and her implied concern and instead just moves to using affirmation to try to keep her loyalty through guilt? Like, you didn't used to be this much of a prick, James. What happened? Then again, considering he was literally grooming Winter for the Maiden powers, and she knew it, maybe she just doesn't see red flags...]

"I've never... No one has ever seen a Grimm force this large before." Ironwood turned away, now not sure what to do. "The city's hardlight shields will hold, but, not forever."

"What will you do...sir?" Winter almost forgot the honorific at this point. [That she feels the need to use it while he doesn't also says a lot...]

Some technician outside started yelling at some people coming in. "What are you doing? You can't be in here?"

Winter saw it was the other two Council members.

Oh good, she thought. Maybe we can enlist some cooperation for dealing with the situation at hand...unless they're just here to insult the General again.

"This is absurd! Let us through!" Sleet said.

"I'm going to do everything I can to defend this kingdom," Ironwood answered Winter while glancing out the windows at the scene.

Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Camella came forward.

"What in God's name are you doing, James?" she demanded.

Funny, she used the singular, Winter noticed in passing. Like what those two mysterious people said...

"No matter the cost," Ironwood muttered just before he left the room.

"Have you lost your d--- mind?" Sleet yelled at him, though the walls slightly muffled it.

Winter waited for the General to speak calmly and rationally to them about his plan.

"Are you that--" Sleet went on.

Instead of speaking, the General suddenly pulled out his gun and--shot Sleet right in the head.

Harriet, who saw the whole thing, just stared for a second.

Camella gasped and backed up against the wall. [As an aside, they really should have carried weapons. You live in a world of monsters that eat people, for crying out loud.]

The General turned and walked away down the hall.

Winter and Harriet exchanged a look.

Harriet looked freaked out for one moment, then her gaze hardened and she followed the General.

Winter stared in shock. What just happened?

* * *

Ironwood ordered Watts to be brought from the cell, to Qrow and Robyn's suspicion...probably Jacques' too, not that anyone cared about him.

Qrow was still depressed about Clover's death, mostly because he felt guilty for not just fighting Tyrian instead--not that Clover had given him the option, really.

Robyn was busy being angry at Jacques and Watts, but once Watts was gone, she admitted that she felt helpless.

Qrow wondered if they should just kill Ironwood...and he voiced this thought when he thought it was safe to do so. [Though they have cameras, so is it really safe? Literally in the cell where you could have the most surveillance on you.]

Robyn looked at him like "shut up" with a worried glance.

Jacques laughed at the idea. "You'll never get out of here in time to do that. We're all doomed."

That might be more true than he knew, had they known what went on upstairs. But Harriet and Marrow hadn't told them.

Qrow wondered if Ruby and Yang were still safe, or if they'd been apprehended and taken somewhere else.

Robyn voiced the same thought about her Huntresses and wondered if Mantle was overrun by now.

"What did you even do?" She looked at Qrow. "I mean just because your team turned on him doesn't automatically make you guilty. And I could prove you didn't kill Clover either...so why are you even here?"

"Jimmy is not the most rational person in the world when he's pissed," Qrow said.

"You're telling me? Who gave him two Council seats?" Robyn said.

"You think you're so much better?" Jacques said.

"Better than you at least," Robyn said. "I didn't sell us out!"

"You didn't help either," Jacques said.

Qrow was sick of listening to them.

They were interrupted very unpleasantly by Winter, of all people, coming in.

She only had a few guards with her, who she waved off.

Qrow did a double take. She looked like she'd gotten run over by a truck, hit with a blow torch, and then run over by a Grimm.

"The h--- happened to you, Ice Queen?" He stood up.

"A small tiff with Cinder Fall," Winter said narrowly.

"Oh great... Who is that?" Robyn asked.

"Cinder? She's alive?" Qrow said.

"You missed quite a lot," Winter said.

"Winter, have you heard from my lawyers?" Jacques asked.

Winter ignored him pointedly.

"I have a question," she said. "Did you hear from your team before you were arrested?"

"Nope," Qrow said. "Only that we were getting arrested."

"For no charge," Robyn added snippily. "Especially him, for the record. Your Ace Ops just attacked us with no reason. And let Tyrian escape. If you'd just let me out of this stupid cell and hold my hand, I could prove to you that it wasn't us."

"I have no doubt that it wasn't you," Winter said coldly. "I have a low opinion of your intellect, but who would be stupid enough to wait around their crime scene? Callows was the only one who fled. The innocent don't run." [So Weiss gets that from her.]

Qrow raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" Robyn said. "So if you buy it, why don't you let us out of here, Lieutenant?"

"The General believes it's safer for you to be here, for the time being," Winter said. "And as long as you cooperate, we won't hurt you. I'm sure, once this situation is under control, we'll have time to re-examine the facts of your case, but there's no time right now."

"Right, I know what happens now," Robyn said. "You leave us here to rot and say you just lost track of time. There are people dying out there, and I should be with my team. And your friend here should be with his family! Or at least not just sitting here. We're not helping anyone in here."

"That's not your call," Winter said.

"All I did was stand up to injustice," Robyn said.

"Robyn, shut up," Qrow said.

She gave him a look. "What?"

"I know Ice Queen well enough to know she didn't come down here to chat," Qrow said. "So what is it that you want?"

"The truth," Winter said tightly. "What happened?"

"Why does it matter?" Qrow said. "There's no way to test it, without Robyn's Semblance. You people are going to believe what you want."

"Callows got away. I want to know if he gave any indication where he was going," Winter said tightly.

"Why should we tell you?" Robyn said. "You don't believe us."

"Because he'll go after our team," Qrow said. "Probably... He wants Ruby."

Robyn made a disgusted face. "Ew..."

"Schnee, you people have to track that guy down," Qrow said, with more concern now. "If he finds her out there, alone, there's no telling what he'll--"

"And I'm as concerned about that as you are," Winter cut him off. "So I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

Qrow and Robyn exchanged a look.

"Clover tried to arrest us," Qrow said. "Robyn fought back. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wasn't having it. The psychotic killer started laughing, then he killed the pilot."

Winter winced.

"We go down, Robyn gets knocked out, and it's just me, Clover and Callows," Qrow said. "We start fighting Callows, but then he suggests taking care of Clover first so we could finish it. I figure, I'll knock Clover out and then I can focus. Can't fight both of 'em at once. But it doesn't go that way. Blame bad luck or blame Callow's manipulation, but somehow he gets my scythe, then he...well, you heard it."

Winter looked down.

"Then he ran off," Qrow said. "Something about the will of the goddess and saying I just killed Clover. I could have chased him, but..."

"But he didn't want to leave Clover alone," Robyn spoke up. "I woke up about that time, saw it. Clover didn't blame him. So I buy his story. Plus, why bother lying? You people won't let him out of here no matter what he says, so he might as well tell the truth."

Winter had no doubt at all that it was the truth. But it wasn't pleasant.

"Why didn't you just team up to fight Callows?" she demanded. "You may be a fugitive now, but you're not a homicidal maniac. Clover should have been able to assess the bigger threat at the moment."

"Tell him that," Qrow said. "I mean...someone should have told him that..."

"Yeah, it was his own fault for choosing that," Robyn said. "You can't pin that on Branwen here. Haven't you known him for longer than me? If I don't buy it, how delusional can you be if you do?"

"I said I believed you," Winter said sharply. "But it looks bad. You're a known criminal. Your word against the evidence isn't much...and Qrow has never liked Atlas. The Ace Ops won't be so easily persuaded."

"What about you?" Robyn pointed at her. "You're the second in command. You know this is bulls---. Why don't you let us out?"

"I can't do that," Winter said. "This was the General's command, not mine."

"Because you wouldn't have done it," Qrow said. "Because it's crazy. The real criminal is out there. Not us. This is stupid. You're going to need all the help you can get."

"And you would help us bring in your own nieces?" Winter said.

Silence.

"You're going to help bring in your own sister?" Qrow shot back.

Winter flinched. "I'm not...assigned to that. If they lay low, it's likely they won't be a high priority...but certainly the General would have you look for them...given your experience in the area of locating people. You should be glad you're in here."

"I wouldn't do it," Qrow said.

"And then you'd be in here for that," Winter said. "There is no way around this."

"Sure there is," Robyn said. "You let us go, because it's the right thing to do, stop being the General's mindless war machine, and use your freaking head for once. I know we've never really 'talked ', but I always thought you were a little smarter than this...maybe. Or maybe you're as weak minded as the rest of his followers. He does have a genius for picking people like that."

Did she and Shine write this stuff together? Winter wondered. Considering Shine professed such a dislike for Robyn's methods, she sure sounded like her.

"That's enough." She stiffened...then winced. "I have to go. If Callows is out there, someone should be watching for him... Also there's an army of Grimm outside Mantle, and we have to go attempt to destroy it."

"Mantle?" Robyn said. "But... So now you care, huh?"

"Believe it or not, we always have," Winter shot back. "Perhaps if you'd tried diplomacy instead of robbery, this would have been apparent sooner. And you would be out there, instead of in here."

Robyn's mouth dropped open, and she frowned. "Hey--"

"What about me?" Qrow said. "What did I do? This is bulls---, she's right. We've never gotten along, but from a practical standpoint, this is something you're okay with just because of that? Isn't that kind of petty for a special operative?"

"Suddenly you care about rank?" Winter looked over her shoulder. "I can't do anything here. Helping us catch Callows is the most you can do...and sadly, you can't even do that very well. He might be in that Grimm army by now. We'd never find him unless we destroy it...but we have to do what we can."

She paused. "If we find your nieces, is there anything you want me to tell them?"

Qrow frowned. "Not to cooperate with you," he said.

"Are you sure that's really what you want?" Winter said warningly.

Qrow sighed. "It won't matter... They're going to do what they think they should do. I guess all I want them to know is that I didn't do it...in case they saw the news."

Winter sighed to herself. "That will be all."

She walked out of the room.

"She's a lot of help," Robyn said.

"We're fricked." Qrow sat back down.

"Tell me about it. What is wrong with her?" Robyn threw her hands up.

"That's not why," Qrow said. "That's easily the nicest I've ever seen her. James is probably going to kill us."

Robyn shot him a weird look. "That was nice?... Geez...we're doomed."

[I find the addition of this scene to make sense in two ways: 1) It gives Winter more to do in the interim of while she's recovering and adds to the reasons for her to change her mind. 2) It does a better job summing up what Qrow would be worried about here instead of reducing him to just wanting to off Ironwood. Yeah, he'd definitely be worried about his family who's out there alone without him and on the run. Imagine that, show? Imagine Qrow actually being consistent as a character!

Also, words fail to describe how little chemistry he and Robyn have as a couple, but I do think they have a good sibling dynamic. She's almost like Raven if Raven was nicer...and dumber.]

[As an aside, I noticed the writers made all the characters less intense versions of themselves since Volume 3. Qrow lost most of his snark, Winter lost a lot of her stern edge that we love her for, and the kids all lost their quirkiness a lot over time. Some people think that makes them more well rounded, but to me it's like they aren't even the same people anymore. Bring RWBY back!]

* * *

Oscar really regretted going with Yang, specifically once they got out there on the hovercrafts that Pietro had provided.

Yang had said she was the most masterful driver. What she should have said was she was the most terrifying.

Jaune was freaking out and telling her to slow down, but she ignored him.

Oscar held on for dear life and tried not to throw up.

Finally they slowed and started actually fighting Grimm and escorting people to safety.

Ozpin started speaking.

"I suppose an apology is in order," he said. "I am sorry, Oscar."

"I'm not upset that you were gone," Oscar said, very salty. "I'm upset that you're back."

"I was never really gone," Ozpin said.

"Yeah, but I started to feel like part of the team," Oscar said. "Now...I don't want to lose myself."

[Someone said that the lore isn't that he loses himself, it's that Ozpin blends into his soul and he stays the same. 

While I do see some reason for thinking that, since Ozpin acquires the skills of his past lives, it seems like he doesn't acquire them forever, or at least, not as strongly as the original owners had them, since we see no sign that he can invent or do anything that unusually talented beyond his basic skills and his battle prowess, which was his original talent in his first life.

I think he does keep some of the persona of his host while he has it, but he is the one in control, and the other person does fade out. The show had made that pretty clear. So I don't think there's a real case for saying it will still be Oscar--and even if in some way it was, he won't be his real self anymore. And isn't that also pretty creepy?]

"I don't want that either," Ozpin said.

"So what about what Shine offered?" Oscar asked. "Are you going to work against it?"

"No..." Ozpin hesitated. "But I don't want you to hope too much. Perhaps she thinks she can break this curse, but if it was so easy, why has it lasted so long? You think I have never wished it was gone?"

"What about Alicia? Did she ever talk about it?" Oscar said.

Long silence.

"When Alicia came, I had already absorbed the soul of the person I was in," he said, "so she couldn't save him from it."

Oscar got the feeling that wasn't the whole story.

"There's something you're not telling me still," he said.

Pause.

"Maybe," Ozpin said. "It was to myself she was sent...not to you. I would prefer not to go into it."

"Oz, I'm getting really sick of this," Oscar said.

"I know... Look, perhaps in time...but right now, it's too...obscure... I don't even know that they can do anything to help you. Or if it's different... But have you given thought to what will happen if they succeeded even so?"

"I'd be free," Oscar said.

"You would...in a way...but would someone else?" Ozpin said. "Suppose I just move to a new body? Or...if it stops the curse...the gods may be angry. If they ever returned...they may punish us for defying them. I may start all over again, and your new friends may also face their wrath."

Oscar felt uncomfortable.

"I don't think they're afraid of them," he said.

"Yes...but they never met them," Ozpin said. "The god of darkness has a wicked temper. I worry he would not even bother to find out the facts of the matter before passing judgment. This venture is riskier than you have been thinking, Oscar. Don't make it lightly. There are things worse than dying."

"Easy for you to say," Oscar snapped. "You get to come back."

"It does not make the dying part easier," Ozpin said. "Rather like a taunt, actually. You at least will not remember what happened, but I will... That is my concern."

"Oz, even if I believe that you really were thinking of me here," Oscar said, "it seems like you didn't even try before. I have a chance to make this different... Besides...something is different. Our powers..."

"I don't see that positively, if we're more helpless," Ozpin said.

"There has to be a plus side," Oscar said.

Right then his thoughts were interrupted by some more Grimm. A dragon shaped one.

They all leapt into action.

The three older ones took care of it more, but there were some smaller Grimm that came running past them, and Oscar rushed to stop them.

He hit one, and it turned into dust.

The others turned to him, snarling.

One clawed at his cane.

"Hey, stop it!" Oscar said. 

"Strange," Ozpin said.

The Grimm looked up at Oscar and growled, then it backed up.

"Why...isn't it attacking?" Oscar asked.

"Hmm..." Ozpin said.

Oscar suddenly remembered...Shine and Wally?! They scared Grimm... Was he seeing the same thing here?

"Go away." He held up his hand, unsure of what to do. "In the name of---"

Even as he said it, the Grimm's ears went back, then they ran for it.

"My word!" Ozpin cried.

"It worked!" Oscar said.

But his relief was short lived.

Some other Grimm came running past them just a few minutes after that, running the opposite way--and didn't even attack, they just acted freaked out.

"I've never seen Grimm run like that," Jaune said. 

"They have," Yang said. "From those two weirdos."

"No, something was different," Ren said. "Even they have to tell them to. Those ones ran away from nothing. No one is over there."

"Are we sure Miss Sunshine And Roses didn't just follow us out here?" Yang looked back.

Oscar felt a weird chill go down his spine.

"What is that?" Ozpin wondered. "I sense something...malicious."

"Guys, it's not her," he said. "I'm pretty sure it's--"

Before he could finish, something suddenly hit him off his feet and into the ground.

It was some big, black Grimm dog-like thing, but it wasn't a beowolf!

It slammed him into the ground the way a dog slams an animal it's trying to kill.

"Oscar!" Ren cried.

Oscar was pretty sure the only reason he could even move after that was his Aura kicked in.

The Grimm hound thing jumped on him with its paws again, making his Aura flicker.

Oscar kicked at it frantically.

"This is not good!" Ozpin cried. "But why isn't it trying to eat you?"

Good question. It wasn't using its teeth to try to bite him, just to pick him up--which it did again. Then it slammed him again.

Oscar blacked out from the impact mostly, but he dimly heard voices of his friends yelling at it.

And he thought he got lifted up...like he was being used as a shield?

Then something that made every fibre of his being crawl...a voice that sounded like the Grimm itself was talking.

"Give him back!" Ren yelled.

"No..." the Grimm said.

Then it flew away.

Oscar had very dim memories of what followed. He thought he got carried over the tundra, because it was cold, and he felt air rushing past, but he couldn't quite come to.

Then the cold air stopped and was replaced with this almost humid, warm air that was somehow worse.

Then he was coming awake finally...and the hound had him in its mouth, like a dog carries a toy, and Salem herself was standing in front of him.

"Oh no..." Ozpin said in his mind.

[My thoughts exactly.]