"Fuck…" Crim cursed, gazing at the peak of Blackrock. Naiv swiftly punched him in the gut, but didn't look at him.
"Don't say that," he said simply as Crim crumpled to the ground in a retching fit. Malachite laughed. Stele let out a low whistle.
"That's a biiiig mountain... " he said. Other first year students nodded in agreement.
"Indeed it is," Professor Merin said. No one quite knew when or how he had arrived. He turned to face the throng of students.
"At the top of Blackrock there are certain idols that you and your partner will have to retrieve, along with a white and red flag for the first pair to reach the top. But be warned. Blackrock is a dangerous place, and the climb is long and treacherous. You will have a maximum of three days to complete your task," he announced. Every student scoffed, aside from Naiv who still had his face set, and Crim who thrashed about the ground gasping for air. Merin coughed politely and gestured towards Naiv, who jabbed Crim in the same place as before. Crim breathed heavily and slowly rose to his feet, then attempted to strangle Naiv, who punched him in the face with the back of his fist. Crim went down. Naiv hadn't looked. Merin sighed.
"... as I was about to say, the first pair to complete the task will receive transport back to Beacon. Everyone else is walking," The students moaned in protest.
Fray Goodmother led each pair to a different part of the base of Blackrock. This was a timely process. Crim drew in the sand with a stick while Naiv fiddled with his visor. They were impatient.
"You'd better be fast," Crim warned Naiv. "I'm highly competitive." Naiv laughed.
"Don't worry, you won't have to worry about me." he said. Naiv pulled a heavy black arrow from his quiver. There was a rung just before the feather. Naiv flipped a small hatch in his bracer and pulled out a small but strong hook attached to a sturdy wire. He clipped it to the rung and drew his bow. Crim gave him a questioning look but Naiv just smiled.
Initiates ready? Goodmother's voice echoed hollowly through the minds of the nervous students. It made Stele's head hurt. He didn't like it.
Climb! Crim began to run up the steep mountain. Naiv's arrow whizzed past his face and stuck somewhere high up above him. A second later, Crim was grabbed by a flying Naiv and dragged up the hill.
"God-OOF-dammit-AGH-NAIV!" Crim yelled as he crashed into every rock and tree on the way to the arrow. Naiv smiled quietly.
Malachite and Stele used a similar method to begin their arduous climb up Blackrock. Hidden within the thick knife heads and handles were small, super strong chains, powered by a small motor. Stele pulled a small trigger on the handle, and the knife-head shot out and stuck into the mountain above the pair, who were then pulled up the mountain by the rapidly retracting chains. The process was repeated until late morning. The sun beat down upon Malachite and Stele harshly, and it almost felt like a physical beating, and the pair took a break in a shallow cave full of flat rocks. A large tree cast shade over the flat piece of rock sticking out of the mouth of the cave. Malachite collapsed onto his behind and tossed off his breastplate. Stele examined the armour. Malachite wore green plate armour, with black edges. It was simple armour, with no frills, but it was modified to allow quick and large movements. Each piece of plate was separated, and there was one piece for each part of the body: gauntlets, upper arm plate, shoulderguards, a full chestpiece that extended up the back of his neck, a multitude of leg pieces, and a pair of boots. The dark green armour shone. It was kept in good condition. Stele saw that underneath his armour, Malachite wore a black kevlar body suit. Stele noticed metal pads in specific places on the arms and chest of the suit. Malachite noticed him inspecting them.
"They're magnets," he explained. Stele gave a questioning look. Malachite picked up a piece of plate and showed the underside to Stele. There was an identical magnet. Stele smiled and nodded in approval.
"Where'd you get it?" he asked.
"My little sister made it for me,"
"That's surprising,"
"It wouldn't be if you knew her. She's amazing with steel." Stele grinned suggestively. Malachite scowled.
"Don't be an asshole. Do you want to hear this or not?" Stele rolled his eyes and indicated his want to listen.
"I used to have some average generic armour. I was sparring with my sister and she smashed it open… " Stele's eyes widened. "She's pretty scary," Malachite laughed. "Anyway, she told me that it'd embarrass her if I got killed because of my reckless attacks so she made me the perfect armour." Stele stared out over the gigantic trees of the Emerald Forest. The air inside the cave was cool. Then he spoke.
"So, is she single-" Stele received a smack to the head.
On the opposite side of the mountain (which was still shadowed slightly), Naiv massaged a bruise on his thigh. Crim's head had crashed against it during their rapid ascent. It was really annoying. The pair rested on the branch of a massive tree jutting out over a crevice. Crim had chosen this resting spot, much to Naiv's dismay. He was afraid of heights, so leant against the thick tree trunk. Crim, on the other hand, lay sprawled along the branch, nursing his various bumps.
"You're such an asshole," he was saying as he gently rubbed a nasty bruise on his bare shoulder. His combat jacket lay next to him.
"Would you have followed me if I'd told you my plan?" Naiv asked. Crim reluctantly shook his head. "And look how far we've come in half a day." Crim gazed over the landscape below. In the distance he could just see the tower at Beacon.
"Smartass…" he muttered. Naiv smiled. Crim fought with the wind to keep his hair out of his eyes. Then he put his red combat jacket back over his black vest and stood. His now-ripped jeans were tucked into his combat boots, which were covered in dust. He looked just like someone from Vacuo. Naiv laughed at this.
"What now?" Crim asked, irritated, as he strapped his sword and sheath onto his back.
"I'm just thinking about how you're from Vacuo," Naiv replied. Crim scowled.
"And what's funny about that?" he asked.
"Nothing, nothing. Sorry," Naiv added. "Tell me about it. About life in Vacuo." Crim thought for a moment.
"It's not as fancy as Vale. The people are simpler..." Naiv laughed again. "...but also hardier. We survive the sun. It's nearly three times hotter there. I lived in a large village called Zill. We made our money by trading gold, forged items, jewelry… that kind of stuff. My father- well, he's actually my uncle, but he raised me, I never knew my dad- was the smith. He taught me how to forge and how to fight. My community was an old one- I was the youngest. Our shaman foretold that I would become a great warrior, so my village saved for years and eventually sent me to Beacon."
"Where did you learn?"
"From the Shaman. She taught me how to read and write, and offered me many books about the history of Vacuo and Remnant. She also taught me about my lineage and…" Crim raised his palm and a tiny ball of blue electricity hovered in it, "my semblance."
"Is your semblance unique to you?"
"No, apparently it's a family thing. In each generation of the Solan one man in the family has had it, and he passes I down to one of his sons, though I only know that because of the Shaman."
Naiv looked at Crim with interest.
"You weren't going all out yesterday, were you?" he asked. Crim shook his head.
"I have a bad habit of not fighting properly until I'm against the ropes," Crim grinned sheepishly. Naiv sighed.
"Tell me," Crim said.
"About?" Naiv asked.
"You. If we're going to be partners I have to know more than the fact that you're an asshole and an archer." Naiv closed his eyes and smiled.
"I'm from Vale. I was born here. I've lived here all my life. My family is rich, but not like the Shnees. We live modestly. My parents are great. As long as I've lived I've be once been told who or what to be. I've never been questioned for my hobbies- though I have no questionable ones- or my likes and dislikes. I'm exactly who I want to be. When I picked up a bow for the first time I was nine.
"My parents paid for lessons and we discovered that I had a talent. So we nurtured it and trained it." Naiv paused for a bit. "I've come to Beacon because I want to make the world safe for people who can't fight like us. Those with strength have a duty to those without." Crim smiled.
"You're a regular hero, huh?" he asked. Naiv laughed.
"If you say so." The sun was now directly over the mountain, and the heat simmered over the ground. Naiv thought it would be unwise to start traveling again. Crim on the other hand seemed raring to go. He hopped out of the tree and strode back into the sunlight.
"C'mon, let's keep moving. We need to cover as much ground as possible by night." Naiv squinted at the sun.
"Crim, we still have plenty of time. It's only noon. Besides, don't you think it's it's little ho-" Naiv realized the stupidity of his question and shut his mouth. Crim smiled and drew his sword, then propped it against his shoulder. "Evil creatures appear once the heat disappears. We should move while we can still focus on going up. You're a city boy," he added. "you wouldn't know these things." Naiv rolled his eyes and stepped over to Crim.
"C'mon," Crim said. "If we walk, you won't sweat as much. Then he turned and began marching up the mountain, whistling a mirthy tune.
The last rays of light unblocked by the steep cliff of Blackrock shone on Malachite's armour, and fruitlessly attempted to dry the blood on his chestpiece. Slain beowolves lay on either side of him and Stele, and more live ones paced around the pair. They had been ambushed whilst walking about a flat piece of rock full of trees. Although the duo had dispatched two thirds of the large pack rather quickly, they were both panting now, and the beowolves showed no intent to leave.
"Can't you just paralyze them?" Malachite asked. Stele shook his head.
"I can only slow them down, and even so, it's too dangerous to attempt to touch them," he said as he launched one of his blades into a beowolf's skull. It collapsed. Malachite barely dodged a swipe from another, then brought his axe straight down the creature's middle, bisecting it. He punched the next one in the face and shattered its head. He smiled. Bloodlust was his favourite feeling. Stele faced two beowolves. They rushed at him, the bigger one taking the lead. Stele dove over it, then lodged his dagger into its back. Releasing the blade and hanging on to chain, his momentum carried him towards the other beowolf. It opened its mouth to bite the oncoming hunter, eyes glowing red. These same eyes went out as Stele shoved his second dagger straight through the beowolf's top jaw, into its brain. He pulled the other beowolf towards him and, after pulling his dagger from the corpse's skull, rammed it between the creature's eyes, killing it instantly. He freed both daggers and retracted the chains. He turned to look at Malachite, who faced the last four monsters. They were wary, unwilling to pounce, and they kept their eyes locked with Malachite's. Deciding that he'd waited long enough, Malachite clicked a button near his flamethrower trigger. The shaft of the axe telescoped into itself, until Malachite held only the head of the axe, which then split into two large semi circular blades. Malachite held them at his sides and grinned. The Grimm rushed at him and attempted to rip out his throat. Putting his left blade all the way ahead of him, and his right on his chest by bending his elbow, he braced his legs. As the first Grimm closed in on him, Malachite spun viciously, slicing the beowolf from its nose to its behind. He continued on to the rest of the pack and messily, viciously ripped apart the terrified beowolves. Stomachs opened, limbs were flayed, heads decapitated, all in a whirling, green, death tornado. Stele frowned as what appeared to be a liver landed on his foot. When Malachite was finished, his armour was no longer green but dark red. He reconnected his blades and returned his axe to his back. Stele wiped some blood off his face.
"That was… interesting," he commented. Malachite grinned. "But we'll have to learn to fight together if we want to be an effective team." Stele said. Malachite nodded, then looked up at the darkening sky.
"Let's do it tomorrow. Right now, we should focus on setting up camp and organising guard duty." he said. Stele sheathed his daggers in silent agreement.
Crim sounds like a train, Naiv thought to himself as he sat outside the tent. Crim continued to snore and Naiv shook his head. It was just after dark and Naiv was halfway through his first guard shift. He sat on a rock with his bow on his lap. He'd set his visor to infrared and, in the twilight, was a menacing figure. So far everything was calm. Small rodents scampered about, and insects sang their high-pitched songs. Naiv amused himself by using his visor to spot Grimm in the forest below Blackrock. The night air felt good against his skin. He breathed in deeply.
I was not prepared for this, he thought, turning to look at Crim. I have no idea why we were paired up. We're nothing alike. Not really. He sighed and prodded the small fire with a stick. The night was boring. And lonely. Naiv quietly hummed to himself. Something to the right of him moved and he looked towards it, an arrow cocked. A mouse scurried out from a bush and disappeared into the darkness. Naiv sighed in relief. He was tense. Naiv yawned. And tired. Maybe… if I close my eyes… just for a minute..
Naiv woke up inside the tent. He resisted the urge to swear as he sat bolt upright. Crim sat on a tree stump outside, sword resting on his crossed legs. The sky was slightly bright, but the first rays of sunlight were trapped behind Blackrock. Naiv stood up and put on his bow and quiver. He approached Crim.
"Hey," he said sheepishly. Crim didn't answer. "Look, I get if you're mad. I'm sorry, I just closed my eyes and-" Crim snored loudly. Naiv stopped. Then smacked the back of Crim's head. He fell off the tree stump and cursed violently as his knee hit a rock. Naiv smiled and decided not to punish him. Crim mumbled something that sounded like a sarcastic thanks.
"We should pack up and get moving," Crim said, jumping to his feet. He woke surprisingly well. The pair set to work taking down the tent and packing equipment. They packed quickly and were ready to move within fifteen minutes. The sun had become blocked by dark clouds and the air was cool. It was a good time to travel. Naiv readied his grappling arrow, but Crim insisted that they run for a bit first.
"My head still hurts a little," he explained. Naiv sighed but conceded. As they set out two figures emerged from the bushes behind them. Crim and Naiv stopped to look at them. They were dressed in black cloaks that covered their bodies and masks that hid their faces. Naiv became cautious but Crim smiled.
"Are you guys first years too?" he asked. No answer. "I guess we've gotta race you to the top then!" No answer. Crim laughed awkwardly. Naiv put his grappling arrow back and slowly drew an aura arrow. "Come on, guys, we don't want to have to kick your asses on day two…" Crim said, grinning in anticipation. The two figures threw back their cloaks, weapons in hand. One held a black staff and the other a high tech black machine gun with a long blade running along the bottom, ending a few centimeters past the nose. Crim drew his sword and immediately threw himself at the machine gunner, taking everyone else by surprise.
"Crim, we need a strategy!", Naiv yelled, but Crim had already locked his sword with his cloaked opponent's. Naiv rolled his eyes and plucked a grey, sphere headed arrow out of his quiver and fired it at his rapidly approaching enemy's feet. It exploded into a small smokescreen. Naiv dashed out of the smoke and nimbly leaped into a tree, then notched an aura arrow and switched his visor to infrared. No figure showed in the smoke.
"What th-" Suddenly feeling a massive impact upon the back of his head, Naiv tumbled out of the tree and landed on his back. He let out a grown but instinctively rolled away, just in time as the cloaked fighter landed where he'd fallen. Naiv rolled to his feet and switched his bow into melee mode, then lunged towards his opponent. His blows were deftly deflected, and he received a staggering punch to the gut, swiftly followed by a blow to the face with the staff. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, before rolling away to dodge another staff dealt attack. As he stood again he notched an ice arrow and fired it at his opponent, who made the same mistake Crim had made: he blocked. The arrow exploded and ice quickly enveloped the figure. Naiv then notched three purple headed arrows, filled with electric dust and fired them in a triangle around the ice. This created an electric field which shattered the ice and sent the cloaked assailant jerking around on the floor. Naiv nodded before running towards Crim. Whilst Naiv had been occupied with his fighter, Crim had struggled with his own opponent. After clashing blades for a few seconds, the cloaked fighter had backed away and opened fire upon Crim, who dashed between trees in order to dodge. One bullet glanced his cheek and singed his skin. The bullets were fired with dust. Changing tactics, Crim dashed forwards and rapidly spun his sword, blocking bullets. The assailant was taken aback at Crim's reflexes, and was subsequently punched in the face. They tumbled down the slope and scrabbled for a handhold. Crim jumped after them and barely missed them with an overhead slash that shattered the ground. Hid opponent jumped away and switched their current clip with a much larger, darker one, with the number fifty scratched onto it. They then hit a switch that revealed a left hand grip along the side of the large gun, and held it tight. Crim barely managed to roll away as a hurricane of lead buried itself in the ground, trees, rocks, and everything else behind him. Wood splintered and stone was shattered as Crim dashed frantically about his opponent.
Shit, he thought as a tree exploded behind him. Those are some fucking big bullets. I can't risk blocking those. Time for plan B. Crim charged some electricity into his legs and jumped onto a branch way up, then disappeared into the foliage. The machine gunner tore the branch apart but no corpse fell. They whipped about, trying to find their target. Crim charged some electricity into his gloves. They were specially designed with conducting gems along the top of his hand and on his knuckles. These gems began to glow blue. As his opponent destroyed more trees, Crim swung under his branch and launched himself straight down, rocketing towards them.
"Gotcha!" he yelled. They looked up in time to see a bright blue fist right in front of their eyes. Then there was a flash, a tingling sensation, and darkness.
Crim flexed his wrist as his opponent lay unconscious next to him. He sighed and sheathed his sword.
"Didn't even need to split blades…" he muttered. He looked up as Naiv strolled out from a bush above.
"That was quite a move." he said. Crim smiled.
"I know we're meant to use our semblances sparingly, but that never depletes my aura. It's awesome." he said. Naiv rolled his eyes, then looked towards the collapsed warrior.
"Can he still talk?" he asked.
"I rate he'll only wake up in an hour or two. We'll get nothing out of him," Crim answered. He'd pulled back the hood to reveal the face of a man in his early twenties, with short brown hair and fine stubble.
"What about yours?" Naiv shook his head.
"I trapped her in an electric field. She'll be out for a while as well." Crim nodded and looked down the mountain. Naiv followed his gaze. They stood in contemplative silence for a while.
"So," Crim said. "... She hot?" Naiv punched him in the gut and proceeded to walk back to the gear.
"We're leaving." he said. Shouldering his pack. Crim staggered after him.
"Jesus, Naiv, do you have-" Crim stopped for a second in order to block Naiv's punch with his bracer, causing a sharp yelp.
"Do you have to hit me every time I say something bad?"
"It's unnecessary." Naiv replied, cradling his hand. Crim rolled his eyes and picked up his own kit.
"You're killing my free speech." Naiv looked at him and raised his eyebrows. Crim shrugged.
"It was worth a shot." Crim said. With a spring in his step he caught up with Naiv and the pair began the final climb to summit Blackrock.