Hey Guys and Girls! Welcome to Chapter 2 of Grimm Solstice! I'm so excited to say that Grimm Solstice now has 59 views! It sure doesn't sound like a lot, but I'm so appreciative of everyone who has read my story! I love all you guys and I want to ask again for everybody who reads Grimm Solstice to leave a review. I really appreciate anything you guys have to say and I really do take into account anything you guys say. So sit back, relax, and prepare for Chapter 3 of Grimm Solstice!
And with that cheerful little invite, we all headed off to the training building. As soon as we walked out of the dorms, we were almost run over by a crowd of people running away from the cafeteria. I grabbed a brown haired Faunus girl with bunny ears out of the crowd. "Hey! What's going on?" I asked gesturing at the panicked crowd. "Team RWBY is having a food fight in the cafeteria!" She said nervously. I groaned. Another one? Really? This was the third food fight this month! "Alright thanks. Oh, and I love your accent!" I said before letting her go. She looked surprised before running off with the crowd. "Lets check it out!" I called out to Alban. He sighed pulling a golden pocket watch out of his breast pocket. "We are late. We are very, very late." Alban muttered. He said, checking the ornate gold watch. He sighed, quietly. "Fine, let's go check it out." He said.
As we neared the cafeteria, it's roof exploded as some blonde chick flew straight up. It looked like she had been punched, because she wasn't moving, but I checked her out on my scroll with an aura reader and she was still pretty high. She'd be fine. I sighed, this is why the upper years look down on freshmen. I called the nurse's office to let them know about the fight that was going on inside the cafeteria and to check on Ches and Bella, who were (apparently) still sleeping. We stopped to let Professor Goodwitch pass on her way to the cafeteria. I chuckled. By the look on her face, somebody was gonna be sorry. About two minutes later we saw the blonde come flying back down and go through the roof again. A couple seconds later the cafeteria lit up purple and pieced itself back together.
By the time we got to the enormous training room it was half full with teams. Until Kiera started to summon Ursa. The room emptied pretty quickly after that. The few that were left ran like hell when Cole punched one with his gauntlets, Fanged Obsidian, and the poor Grimm flew across the room, becoming impaled on a crate of practice swords. I chuckled, the possibility of training against Grimm for a change getting my blood pumping. I plugged in my headphones to my scroll and flicked to my training playlist. Immediately, "My Demons" by Starset began playing ( Srsly, look it up. It's a great song). Of course Kiera then summoned a swarm of Nevermore, which, of course, started flying directly at me.
That's when Alban started training. Stepping in front of me, Alban unholstered his twin pistols, Silver Cerberus, (Cerberi?) and started firing. Silver Cerberus are both tri-barreled, tri-dust cylindered, semi automatic, break loading revolvers. Each barrel is 16 inches long and all three rotate with each other so that they do not need three different hammers. At least that's what I read in an article explaining his weapon when it won the campus award for best firearm(s) of the month. I'm not really sure what that means. There are a couple other freshmen I could ask. I've heard there's a little redhead who is a major weapon nut. Apparently she built herself a sniper scythe! I might have to hunt her down. I freaking love scythe weapons!
With each shot Alban shot another Nevermore out of the air. They fell to the ground around me burned to a crisp, frozen solid, or smoking from electric shock. And he shot fast. Each cylinder of Silver Cerberus is loaded with a different type of dust and within seconds there were only a few dissipating Grimm laying on the ground.
Cole punched another Ursa across the room and I took the time to admire his gauntlets. Fanged Obsidian, Cole's weapons, are both elbow length gauntlets with clawed fingers. Each weighs about 40 pounds; yet he punches as if he was using his bare hands. They are both covered in Shadow/ Fire Dust crystals and when he transfers his aura through them they alight with black fire. Which, just my luck, he performed right in front of me on yet another Ursa. In flames it sailed toward me through the air before landing at my feet. I stared down, amazed, at the blackened husk that had been a Grimm not even a couple seconds ago. "Note to self. Do not piss off Cole when he has his gauntlets on." I muttered to myself.
Needless to say, both Alban and Cole are really strong. Of course as I was observing their training, Kiera decided that I should begin training and summoned a pack of Beowolves. I quickly activated my sword gauntlets, Taijitu Fangs, the serrated blades extending from their flex sheath on my arm. When the first Beowolf reached me I was ready. I slashed the first one in half with an upwards slash, black oily gore splashing across the ground before dissipating. I twisting into an a parry of another set of claws and then performed a perfect circle parry which chopped the Beowolf's arm off at the shoulder, before extending my wings to knock another two backwards to give myself the room to fly upward. The remaining Beowolves swarmed underneath me, growling, snarling, and leaping at me. I groaned at there expense, way too many Grimm fall for this. You know like if you hold a treat just out of reach a dog can't help but jump up to try and get it? Yeah it's like that. I pressed the small buttons on my wrists. Instantly, both blades split apart and elongated on energy chains until they were six foot long whip swords. I leaned back and dived toward the floor, twisting to land on my feet about six feet away. Then I swung. The perfectly performed attack slashed through all eight Beowolves at the hip. Checking to make sure I was safe, I pressed the buttons again and the chain slithered back together with a serpentine hiss, smoking with the dissipating gore of the Grimm. I love people's reactions after seeing me use Taijitu Fangs, because I never have to answer how I chose it's name.
Suddenly, a snarl erupted from behind me. It was so loud and rumbling that my entire body vibrated and it rattled my teeth. I spun on my heels to come face to face with a huge lionlike Grimm that I had never seen before. It brought it's face up close to mine; examining me, probably trying to decide if I was a snack or not. Damn it was huge! I tensed up, ready to move if it so much as blinked wrong, and called out as calmly as possible "Hey Kiera? What is this?" Kiera seemed completely relaxed around her Grimm, replied calmly. "Oh! that is a King Komatsu." She said as if that explained everything. "Yeah, okay, greeeat. So what exactly is it?" I asked trying to stay calm. The thing was gigantic, covered in white bone plates and spikes it's massive head outlined by an enormous black mane. "Oh, we encountered him on a mission! They're very rare so I had my Deathstalker and Beowolves take it down so I could summon it! Isn't he amazing! He has two heads!" She called out, gushing over it as if it was a corgi. After hearing that, the only thought going through my head was "Two?" That is when the second head made an appearance. Rearing up from behind, the second head was it's tail. The giant serpentine head reared up and opened it's mouth to release a hellish hiss. I moaned, terrified by the gigantic Grimm.
Kiera rode a Nightmare over to us and I finally understood why I got so unnerved by the presence of such an innocent, sweethearted little girl. She wasn't afraid of anything. She knew she would always have Cole and her Grimm to protect her. She lived in a fortress in which nothing could touch her. With a wave of her hand she could make cities fall, she had the aura of a god. Someone so powerful that she can't be hurt.
Kiera dismounted from her Nightmare and calmly skipped over to me. She noticed my look of terror and tapped her staff on the King Komatsu's paw. Immediately, he kneeled; allowing her to climb up his legs and then climb into the space between his neck and shoulders. "Isn't he a sweetheart?" She called down to me, rubbing her hands through the Grimm's thick mane and eliciting purrs (fucking purrs!) of delight from the enormous beast. She chuckled as the second head, which looked like a small King Taijitu, snuggled up to her before picking her up and placing her back on the Nightmare.
"Yeah you get used to it." Cole said admirably as he walked up next to me. " We've dealt with the Grimm for most of our lives, because of Bianca and Kiera's semblances. But, it's all worth it. Every day with them is another day repaid. We've been with them most of their lives. Kiera herself designed my eyepatch and had her father make it himself." I dared to glance at the black and red iron studded leather that covered Cole's right eye. "We owe them so much…" Cole's eye got a far away look as he told me about how they met.
"We had been on our own for years, traveling from town to town, just trying to stay alive. One night, we were in downtown Vale grabbing some food from a dumpster when we were attacked by members of an anti Faunus group. They let us go after they broke Alban' arm, stabbed my eye, and beat us until we could barely stay conscious. We stumbled away and ended up on the outskirts of the city where all those huge estates stand. We ended up outside the gates of the Sable and Alabast family manors. Their families have always shared an immense estate because of their shared semblance. You may have heard of Gainsboro Ballistics? That is the company their families run together. The girls were outside playing and found us unconscious against the front gate and brought us inside. We were both in a coma for a month, before we finally woke up. They all took in a pair of muddy, messy orphan Faunus twins and treated us like family. We owe our lives to the girls and their families." He said.
"You love them." I said, amazed at the strength of the feelings I saw written on his face. He didn't even try to argue, he just nodded. "Cole. She doesn't need to be burdened with our life story." Alban said walking up and placing his arm around his brother's shoulder. Cole squeezed into the half embrace; a single tear running down his cheek from his single eye. Cole quickly recovered his demeanor. "Anyway, why don't we get back to training?" He choked out, his throat still choked with withheld emotion.
All at once a gunshot slashed through the air, followed by the frightened scream of a girl, mixed with the cry of a wounded horse.
We spun toward the sound, to the sight of Kiera's Nightmare falling over; Kiera rolling off and hitting a wall. The Nightmare tried to get back up, her huge head waving wildly to hit something with her horn. A gunshot reverberated the air and the Nightmare fell silent before dissolving and absorbing back into Kiera's body. "Alright Black Bitch, get up! I'm fed up with you and your damn Grimm summoning!" roared Jayden Saril, the leader of team JOCC. The rest of team JOCC, Oric Maldir, Colby Avan, and Cham Maldir walked in from the door as Cham cocked his sniper rifle loading yet another round into the chamber.
Cole's face darkened with rage as he charged forward, "Get the hell away from Kiera, Jayden! Now!" He yelled. I grabbed onto his arm before he could do anything rash. I noticed that Colby flinched. I remembered that Colby had always taken the side of Faunus whenever one was bullied by his team leader. Alban remembered that as well. "Colby, you are allowed to leave." He spoke calmly, as he drew Silver Cerberus out of their holsters and pulled the hammers back. Colby turned and ran for it. I held Cole back with my grip on his arm.
"Where is the King Komatsu?" I whispered to Cole. "Whenever Kiera's favorites are killed the rest disappear. Something about mental and emotional bonding. She has had that Nightmare forever, she wouldn't have been able to continue a summon like the King Komatsu after it's death." He replied. I could feel his restraint; he wanted to save her so badly. "Jayden you and the rest of your pathetic team will let Kiera go, leave this building, and never come near her again." Alban said. It wasn't an order. It wasn't a request. It was simply a statement. A fact that they would do all he had said.
Jayden chuckled, ominously. "Or what, Ivory? You'll shoot me? You'll kill us? I'm done with this little bitch and her Grimm!" Most people did not have good reactions when it came to the Grimm, but rules had been set down so that there wouldn't have any issues. Of course, certain people still couldn't understand that the Grimm that the girls summoned were safe. Most people were afraid of Kiera and Bianca because of their ability.
Jayden turned as Kiera struggled up from the floor. Being the target of gunfire and her Nightmare's death had rattled her badly, but she put on a brave face and glared angrily at Jayden. "You're a jerk, Jayden! A pompous ass! You're just jealous of my bond with the Grimm! You are an imbecile if you think I will stop summoning!" Kiera yelled. Shocked by her outburst it took Jayden a minute to respond. His face turned red with rage. "Then, I WILL MAKE YOU!" Then he swung his longsword.
Kiera didn't even flinch as two longswords passed through the wall above her head, crossed and deflected the blade sending Jayden flying backwards. Then Ches and Bella misted through the wall. "Ooh! And it is out of here!" Ches yelled, shielding his eyes as if he was looking into the sun. "Kiera, are you alright?" Bella asked as she lifted Kiera to her feet. Tariq flew Bianca in through a skylight.
As soon as Bianca hit the ground she started summoning Knightmares, the armored humanoid Grimm pulling their Nightmares into a defensive wall in front of Kiera. Tariq landed next to me drawing his own twin pistols, Death's Embrace. Death's Embrace are both pistol scythes built to compliment Tariq's semblance Aura Drain. With his wings spread and his eyes burning with rage, Tariq was actually intimidating, I had never seen my brother so pissed. "You shouldn't beat up girls, Jayden." He growled. I had forgotten something our father had always pounded into his head. "Protect your sister." My Dad had always said. "And when she no longer needs your protection? Protect women. Never hit a girl." Jayden chuckled, "Yeah? Then I guess I'm fine because all I see is a bunch of garbage." That is when Tariq scared me for the first time in my entire life. He smiled, fangs extended, and growled, "Funny. That's what I see to." Then he struck; throwing out Death's Embrace and wrapping their chains around Jayden before activating his semblance and beginning to drain his Aura.
Instantly Jayden collapsed, his energy drained quicker than I had ever seen Tariq drain before. Ches, Bella, Tariq, and I stepped forward as Cole and Alban rushed to Kiera's side. Tariq flicked his wrists releasing Jayden who promptly collapsed to the ground. Ches glared down at the rest of Jayden's team. "Leave and take that." Ches gestured at Jayden. "With you. Or else." He finished with a dangerous grin. Oric and Cham grabbed Jayden's unconscious body and ran. As soon as they grabbed Jayden we turned and ran over to Kiera who was cradled in Cole's arms.
"I'm fine, Cole." Kiera said, smiling up at him. "I should have been there." Cole replied. "I'm a failure as your protector." He said morosely. "Cole you can put her down. She is not going to die." Bianca said placing a hand on Cole's arm. At her touch, and a smile from Kiera, he visibly relaxed and set her down gently; holding on gently to her arm in case she stumbled. "Why don't you try summoning Jade?" Alban asked calmly. A look of extreme sorrow passed over Kiera's face and she let out a short sob, before regaining control. "Alright, I will try." Kiera replied a serious look on her face. Instantly Alban and Bianca stepped backwards. Suddenly, Fanged Obsidian burst into flames. Cole walked around Kiera, creating a black flame circle around her using Fanged Obsidian. Ches, Bella, Tariq, and I stepped back to stand with Alaban and Bianca, as Kiera placed her staff in the middle of the circle. Kiera kneeled in front of her staff and her aura activated, shining a bright red black around her. The entire room darkened and went silent except for strange noises emanating from all around us.
A quick glance around explained why. The walls had become translucent black and an army of Grimm had appeared on the other side of the barriers. Four gigantic Nevermores now stood in front of the windows blocking all light with their jet black wings. Alban gestured for us to encircle Kiera. We followed his command wordlessly. Why? Well because these Grimm weren't the gentle tamed Grimm I had seen Kiera summon before. Each and everyone was staring at Kiera with a bloodthirsty hunger in their eyes. Looking into their eyes I finally understood. Kiera controlled whatever passed for Grimm souls. As long as she did they were her guardians. Her pets. But if she failed to show the power to summon one of their own back from the abyss? Then, this enormous collection of Grimm that she had amassed would instantly be released upon Remnant and nothing would survive their reborn fury. And who do you think would be the first to feel their rage?
Finally, after twenty tense minutes of silence, Kiera summoned her Nightmare. Instantly, all the Grimm disappeared along with the circle of flames. Kiera curtsied to the Nightmare which bowed back in respect before dissipating. As soon as the Nightmare was gone Bella, Bianca, and Kiera fainted. Ches broke the ice as we revived the unconscious girls "If that ever has to happen again let me know ahead of time so I can get out of the country, will yah?" Cole and Tariq both burst into laughter and Alban treated us to a rare half-smile.
"Oh no! You guys are going to be there every time we need to do that! Luckily it only happens once like once a year!" Cole replied cheerfully. Our shocked looks made him laugh. "That's a joke! We are very careful to make sure that major Grimm, like Jade don't die!"
Having made sure that Bianca, Bella, and Kiera would be okay, Alban decided to break up our little celebration. "We will of course have to ask you not to mention this to anyone. Even the school staff, sans Ozpin of course, do not know just how powerful Kiera actually is. This is important. Knowing the power to destroy the country lays in the hands of a nineteen year old girl would cause mass panic. Nobody can know how powerful Kiera is." Kiera, Cole, Bianca, and Alban looked at all four of us. "Can we trust you?" Alban asked.
We replied in unison "Yes!"
Whoo! What a chapter right? Well anyway a couple things I need to say. Gainsboro is one of those fancy names for grey I thought it was clever, Unfortunately the team that Alban, Bianca, Kiera, and Cole make up by first and last name does not really make up a color name so I wandered around and still couldn't find anything! So until further notice their team is Team SEIA (Sable, Ebony, Ivory, Alabast ) I will see if I can set up a poll. Anyway thanks for another amazing chapter everybody and I will see you in the next one! Or will I?