Finally finished the last of the prologues. Sorry it isn't as long as the others, but I hope you all still enjoy it.
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth...If I owned it I'd have more kung-fu movie battles in ancient temples.
Peizhi stood in the great empty hall of the temple. Her eyes were unaffected by the darkness as she carefully scanned the room for any sign of movement, glancing between the mighty pillars and up into high ceiling. Then she heard it, the faint creak of wood and the soft padding of footsteps closing in all around her, the attack was about to commence. Without warning a group of black clothed figures charged from her right brandishing swords and spears. Peizhi tighten her grip on Qilin and dropped to a defensive stance. As the first attacker came in range bringing his sword down with a powerful swing, Peizhi swung her own blade upwards blocking the blow before stepping in and sending a powerful open palm strike into the attacker's chest sending him flying back past his comrades. The remaining two charged in together, one with a spear and the other with twin swords. The spear wielder stabbed and thrust at Peizhi in an unrelenting fury while the other ducked in close slashing wildly, it was all Peizhi could do just to dodge the flurry of attacks, she had to change her tactics. Waiting for the right moment she ducked another thrust of the spear, then shot her arm up and cinched it tightly around the weapon's shaft stopping its wielder from pulling it back. As the other attacker came in to strike she blocked his blow with her sword and swung her leg up and into his chest knocking him off his feet. Turning her attention back to the spear holder she brought Qilin down and splintered the shaft of the spear with her blade before lunging forward with cat-like quickness and striking him in the face.
Peizhi had little time to celebrate her victory before the next wave commenced and more assailants converged on her from the left and down from the ceiling's rafters. She growled as she decided to go on the offensive. She pulled the trigger on her sword's broad hilt as she swung at the attackers descending from the ceiling causing a long shaft to burst forth from between the guard and the hilt turning the broad sword into an impressive halberd. The blade struck each foe in one powerful arc. Some managed to recover from the blow and land safely while most crashed to the floor with a loud thud. Spinning on her heel she brought the blade around towards the attackers on the left. The blow struck nothing but air as the black clad attackers sidestepped or jumped back to avoid the blow, but this bought Peizhi the time she needed. Cocking the pump on her hilt the shaft swiftly retracted transforming her blade back into a sword before she leapt into the fray. She brought her blade up in a powerful swing as she reached her first foe knocking his own sword from his hands and sending him to the floor. She followed the blow with a spinning leap into the air towards the next attacker bringing a strong kick down across his shoulder driving the man to his knees. Peizhi quickly flipped back to dodge a pair of spears. Taking aim at one of the attackers before pulling the trigger once more sending the blade rocketing into one of spear wielders' chest, the sound of armor shattering beneath cloth ringing through the temple hall as he soared back from the impact. Quickly cocking her weapon once more she charged the other attacker dodging his thrusts until she was close enough to drive an elbow strike into his sternum. Another two attackers with swords charged her. She dodged and countered their blows and slashes until one came in close enough. She ducked low and swept his legs out from under him and sent a rising blow hard into the other's midsection.
It was then she picked up the sound of gun being drawn and cocked behind her. She turned in time to see a row of assailants as they opened fire on her. She whirled, spun, and ducked through the hail of automatic fire. Once she was close enough she extended Qilin once more, still spinning, bring the blade around and in one swing cleaving it through the barrels of the guns before spinning around once more using the shaft to take the legs out from under the gunmen sending them crashing to the ground like black dressed bowling pins.
Another wave of attackers came rushing into the hall with swords and guns at the ready when a thud resounded from beneath the looming and angry figure of the marred god statue at the fair end of the hall. "That's enough!" Came the rasping voice of the Master sitting at the base of the imposing statue at the far wall of the temple. "I've seen more than enough!" He called out pushing his sharp pointed sunglasses up the bridge of his nose and using his walking stick to rise from the floor. Suddenly the hall was filled with light as the torches throughout the hall burst into life. Most of the black clad figures rose, all be it slowly, some removing their masks to reveal the familiar faces of the Monks and caretakers of the temple. The older man made his way to the beaming Peizhi at a quick pace despite his long advanced years. "You did well today." He said casting eyes over the many monks still being helped from the ground and out of the hall, a few of the less injured among them already hurrying off to attend to their regular duties.
"Does this mean I passed Master? Will you finally let me go to Beacon?" Peizhi pleaded, her deep amber eyes wide and filled with hope.
"Come on Peizhi, take a walk with me." The old Master said gesturing towards the courtyard. He led them through the maze like interior of the temple passing various monks and workers as they went, each one bowing to the Master and trading warm greetings with Peizhi. After a few moments they reached courtyard, a few monks scattered about tending to the flowers or combing through the rocks of the meditation garden. "You really put on quite the show today. It feels like it was only just yesterday you were waddling across that floor learning how to walk." The old man chuckled gazing out over the garden.
"Master I keep telling you, I'm not a kid anymore." Peizhi chided up at her teacher making him grin wide as pulled a cigar out from his robes.
"Ah, the folly of youth." He mused lighting his cigar, taking a moment to savor the smoke as it billowed up towards the sky. "Spending so much time trying to prove you're so much older than you really are." Peizhi merely huffed crossing here arms in a childish pout, "You know I wasn't always the Master of this temple, when I was young I was an angry and restless soul. I spent much of my life fighting and doing things I'm not very proud of. That is until the day I finally stumble my way into this temple." He gestured for Peizhi to follow him as he began walking the garden path. "The outside world is a very different place. It is full of malice and danger, I can still remember the days of the Faunus Wars, so much senseless violence between man and Faunus alike." He turned to the girl, a pleading expression behind his dark lensed glasses. "This is why I hope you'll reconsider traveling to Beacon. The world is not a kind place, especially towards Faunus like you. I just want you to be safe."
"I know that Master." Peizhi said averting her eyes from his gaze. "But you taught me better than to just hide away in a safe little castle. I want to go out and see the world and help protect people, human and Faunus alike. The world needs huntsmen and huntresses like me to keep it safe and that's all I've ever really wanted to do." She said meeting his eyes with conviction. "Plus I should be just fine, I did have a pretty awesome master to teach me how to fight." Peizhi giggled while her Master's featured softened into a smile.
"Well said kid." The old man said pulling the young Faunus into a hug. "I guess the world really isn't all that bad. It has you in it after all." They stayed embraced for a few moments longer before parting.
"So Master, does this mean I can really go to Beacon?"
"Yes but only on two conditions." The Master said sternly once more puffing on his cigar.
"What are they, please, please please just tell me already." Peizhi begged, her cat like ears twitching with her anticipation.
"First I want you to promise to stay safe out there now that we can't all watch over you." The Master lectured, a few of the monks in the garden making audible sounds of agreement.
"Fine. And second?"
"Second is you need to write us a letter every week to tell us how you're doing so we don't have to worry." The old man grinned at her.
"Yeah! That's right." Came a muffled cry from back towards the temple quickly followed by a chorus of hissing 'shhhh's' and a different voice saying, "Quiet. They'll hear us." Until a large collection of Monks seemed to tumble out from behind the wall connecting the courtyard and the main hallway.
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Cried the Master as he survey the disheveled pile of monks slowly picking themselves off of the floor.
"Ah come on Master, we just wanted to wish Peizhi good luck on her journey." One of the monks said starting the tidal wave of well-wishing and advice.
"Listen to the Master and try to stay safe out there." Cautioned one of the older monks." She can take care of herself just fine Roshi, I've got the bruises to prove it." Laughed another monk his arm wrapped up in a sling. "Be sure to bring along a jacket, Vale tends to get cold early in the year." Chided another bespectacled monk. "You better not forget to write, we'll wanna hear all about how you're doing in school." A monkey Faunus monk said pointing for emphasis with his half eaten banana.
"Enough already you bunch of chuckle heads. She isn't leaving right this minute so save your goodbyes til she leaves!" Yelled the Master. "Now get back to work or I'll give you some real bruises!" The monks scrambled off back into the temple making Peizhi giggle. "They're right you know. It's gonna be real lonely without you running around here."
"I know, but it's not like I'll never be coming back and I'll be sure to write." Peizhi reassured her old master.
"I know, you know one of the happiest days of my life was the day we found you crying your little lungs out on the main steps. Time really does fly. Try not to get into any trouble out there okay." The Master said lightly ruffling the hair between her feline ears.
"I'll try." She said smiling up at him. "Well I better hurry up and get packing. The trip to Vale is gonna be a pretty long one." She jogged off towards the temple when she heard the Master call back to her.
"And I better not hear anything about you fooling around with any boys!"
"I never took a vow of celibacy." She called back snidely. "Maybe I'll give it some thought if you stop smoking those smelly old things." She called holding her nose and pointing at the Master's cigar.
"I told you, these are a form of smoke offering." He laughed.
"What's that? I can't hear you over all the boys lined up to ask me out on a date!" And with that she broke into a playful run down the temple halls, happy that soon she'd be boldly adventuring out into the world.
And there you have the last of the main cast. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and wished that between work and school I had more time to work on it, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Thank you to those who have sent in character submissions and thank you to every one who has taken the time to read this far in.
Next chapter: First day at Beacon.
Til next time.