RWBY: Moon Reflection

The sun shone brightly as Crimson adjusted his clothes, preparing to head out for groceries. "I'll be heading to the market," he announced casually. Pyrrha's heart skipped a beat; this was the perfect opportunity to spend time with him. Seizing the moment, she stepped forward.

"I'll come with you," she said, her voice steady despite the flurry of emotions swirling inside her.

Crimson glanced at her and nodded. "Alright, let's go."

The two set off, the air between them calm but filled with potential. Pyrrha wracked her mind, searching for a conversation starter. She had barely begun to gather her thoughts when a familiar voice rang out.

"Wait for me!" Ruby's cheerful tone broke the tranquility as she dashed toward them, her energy unmistakable.

Pyrrha glanced at Crimson, hoping he might suggest Ruby stay back, but instead, he smiled warmly. "Sure, Ruby. Let's go."

To Pyrrha's dismay, the trio continued onward. Any chance for a private conversation seemed to slip further away with every step.

Throughout the day, Pyrrha tried again and again to find a moment alone with Crimson. Yet, each time she approached him, someone would join them, or a task would demand his attention. By the evening, she resigned herself to the thought that she'd have better opportunities in Atlas.

________________________

The following day, the group gathered outside Pyrrha's family estate, bags packed and ready to depart. Pyrrha's mother and Cheiron stood near the gate, exchanging heartfelt farewells.

"Take care of yourselves," Pyrrha's mother said, her voice warm but tinged with concern. "And stay safe in Atlas."

Cheiron clapped Crimson on the shoulder. "Watch over them."

"I will," Crimson replied with a small smile, nodding respectfully.

The group waved their goodbyes before heading off toward the military base. The journey was uneventful, filled with light conversation and shared anticipation of what awaited them in Atlas.

When they reached the base, however, the atmosphere shifted. The large entrance gates clanged shut behind them, and soldiers lined the walls, weapons aimed squarely at the group. Turrets whirred as they locked on, their presence a stark reminder of the military's distrust.

The tension grew heavier as a short, stout figure emerged from the ranks. Commander Cordovin walked forward, her expression as sharp as the soldiers' bayonets.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" she sneered, her eyes locking on Crimson. "You thought walking in here with confidence would let you pass? I've investigated Crimson Rose, and I know for certain you're an imposter."

Crimson tilted his head, genuinely confused. "What are you talking about?"

Cordovin snorted derisively. "The real Crimson Rose doesn't have tattoos on his face. The marks only appear when his semblance is activated. Did you really think you could deceive me? Impersonating him and lying in my face! that is a punishable crime!"

The group bristled at her accusation. Before Crimson could respond, Ruby and Yang stepped forward, their expressions indignant.

"Are you serious?" Ruby snapped. "This is our brother! We're his sisters! Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long"

Yang gestured toward Weiss. "And this is Weiss Schnee. If you don't believe us, ask her!"

Cordovin turned her sharp gaze to Weiss, her demeanor unwavering. After a long pause, she said, "If Miss Schnee has allowed herself to be misled, I will ensure she is escorted safely to Atlas. As for the imposter and those of... questionable origin," she added, her eyes briefly settling on Blake, "they will be detained." As she said those words, the soldiers around her pointed their weapons at Crimson and his group. 

The group's anger simmered, but Crimson's calm voice cut through the tension."You had three days to contact General Ironwood," he said, his tone level yet firm. "You chose not to and even resorted to violence. That's on you."

Cordovin opened her mouth to respond, but Crimson stepped forward, his smile unwavering. "I'm borrowing an aircraft," he stated matter-of-factly, continuing toward the base.

The tension hung thick in the air as Crimson walked steadily toward the gates of the Atlas military base. The soldiers around him bristled, weapons aimed, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

"Crimson, stop!" Qrow called out, stepping in front of him. His voice was stern, laced with concern. "You can't just attack a military base like this. Think about what you're doing."

Crimson paused, looking at Qrow with a calm yet unnerving smile. "Attack the base?" He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Relax, dad. I'm not going to destroy an Atlas base or commit a massacre. The general wouldn't appreciate that. But..." His crimson eyes glinted dangerously as he continued, "I think he will understand if I cause a little damage and humble some arrogant children who think they are invincible."

Before Qrow could respond, Commander Cordovin, red-faced and livid, shouted from her place among the soldiers. "How dare you! Soldiers, take him down! Show this imposter the might of Atlas!"

The soldiers opened fire, but before any bullets or energy rounds could find their mark, Crimson unsheathed his blade in one fluid motion. In an instant, the air was filled with an intense energy that seemed to distort the space around him.

With a single blinding slash, dozens of crescent moons of energy erupted from his sword, streaking forward with incredible speed. They tore through the base's defenses like paper, destroying the gate and large sections of the surrounding walls. The shockwaves from the attack knocked every soldier unconscious, their weapons clattering to the ground.

When the dust settled, the once-imposing defenses of the Atlas base lay in ruins. Only the commander remained standing, frozen in shock as she took in the devastation around her. Her arrogance had vanished, replaced by fear as Crimson approached, his sword back to his sheath and his hand on the hilt.

Still smiling, Crimson addressed her in a voice that was polite yet chilling. "If you had contacted General Ironwood, no one of this would have happened. You should be thankful I chose restraint."

The commander's face paled as she realized the truth of his words. Crimson's reputation in vale soared due to his feats, especially slaying the grimm-dragon single-handedly, and the person before her was a monster in human clothing. She swallowed hard, her arrogance utterly shattered.

"Now," Crimson said, his tone soft but commanding. "Lead us to the aircraft while I'm still being nice."

Shaking, the commander nodded and began walking toward the hangar. The rest of the group followed in silence, the weight of Crimson's power sinking in. Ruby hesitated for a moment before voicing the question on everyone's mind.

"Crimson... Is this really okay?"

Crimson didn't break stride as he replied. "The general will understand. I explicitly asked this commander to contact him for confirmation, but she refused. If she wanted trouble, then she got it. I don't see any reason to hold back against someone who refuses to listen to reason. Besides, I thought you all were in hurry to reach Atlas"

Cordovin's fists clenched at his words, her fury evident, but she dared not speak. The image of the devastation behind them was a stark reminder of what Crimson could do if truly angered.

At last, they reached the aircraft. The group began boarding with Crimson helping Raven board it, the tension slowly giving way to relief. As they prepared for takeoff, Cordovin, her pride in tatters, slipped away from the group and sprinted toward the base.

Weiss noticed her first and glanced at Crimson. "She's running."

Crimson looked back briefly but waved dismissively. "Let her. She's not worth the trouble."

Qrow checked the aircraft state before turning on the engines. The hum of the aircraft's engines filled the cabin as the group settled in for their flight to Atlas. The tension from the confrontation at the base lingered, but for the moment, silence reigned. Ruby leaned against the window, watching the base grow smaller below them.

Just as the group began to relax, a deep rumble shook the air. The aircraft jolted slightly, prompting Weiss to rush to the cockpit and look out the windshield.

"What the—" she gasped, her eyes widening.

The group scrambled to look out the windows as the mountain they had just passed began to split apart. Massive chunks of rock slid away, revealing a colossal hidden structure. It shimmered with polished steel and lights, emerging from the depths of the mountain like an ancient titan awakened from slumber.

Then came the voice—loud, shrill, and filled with indignant fury.

"You dare insult the might and greatness of Atlas?!" Commander Cordovin's voice boomed from unseen speakers, echoing across the landscape. "You will pay for your insolence!"

From within the opened mountain, a giant robot emerged, its form towering and imposing. Each step of the mech sent tremors through the ground below, a testament to its sheer weight and power.

Cordovin's voice rang out again as the machine turned its glowing eyes toward the fleeing aircraft. "Let this be a reminder to the lesser kingdoms of the superiority of Atlas! You will bow before its might, or be crushed beneath it!"

Weiss's face paled as she stared at the monstrous machine through the cockpit window. "She's piloting that thing…" she said, almost in disbelief. "She's completely lost her mind!"

"Is that thing even supposed to be here?" Nora asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"No," Qrow answered grimly, crossing his arms. "That giant mech isn't meant for battles like this. It's designed to take down giant Grimm that come from the depths of the ocean, not for squabbles with people." He let out a low whistle. "Cordovin must be out of her mind if she thinks using it here is a good idea."

As if on cue, Cordovin's voice blared once more. "This is your last chance to surrender, Crimson Rose! Turn the aircraft around and submit yourselves for judgment, or I will be forced to remind you why Atlas is the greatest kingdom on Remnant!"

Crimson stood near the back of the cabin, unshaken by the commander's threats. He stared out at the mech, his expression relaxed. "She's gone from arrogant to desperate," he remarked coolly. "She's overcompensating for her earlier failure."

"Yeah, well, desperate people with giant weapons tend to be a problem!" Yang pointed out, gripping her seat as the aircraft rocked slightly.

Ruby frowned, looking at her brother. "What do we do, Crimson?"

Crimson's crimson eyes glimmered with a calm confidence as he turned to Ruby. "We stay the course. I've already given her more attention than she deserves." He glanced out the window again, the faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "If she tries to stop us, we will deal with her"

Weiss sighed "This isn't going to end well…"

Outside, the mech took another thunderous step forward, its cannon slowly beginning to charge. Cordovin's voice was relentless, filled with pride and anger. "Face me, Crimson Rose! Face the might of Atlas, or cower like the coward you are!"

The group exchanged uneasy glances. The mountain may have split open, but it seemed the commander's sanity had split with it.