You probably don't believe it, but yes, this is a new chapter, and it hasn't even been a month yet.
"What?!" Robin yelled in surprise.
"Yeah, team UMBR. They attacked team CRDL, beat them up, pretty bad." Pyrrha explained.
"Well that isn't exactly hard. But did you say-"
"Yeah. They beat up CRDL for being weak, pathetic. For a different reason than when you fought them. Immediately after team CRDL went running, they helped the boy up, a wolf faunus if I recall. He thought he was being helped. UMBR then proceeded to beat him. They told him to go back to the zoo, where he belonged."
Robin hit the table with his fist, a look of pure frustration. "Is he OK?"
"Not the worst I've seen, but it wasn't pretty. I didn't get a long look though, Ozpin made everyone leave."
"Is anything going to happen to them?"
"The leader's father is the Chief Admiral of the Atlas Navy and Airforce. Not to mention his ties with the rail industry. Ozpin will be in some serious trouble if he gives anything more than a reprimand."
"Ha. Of course. Ethics is only for the peasants, right?" Blake commented sarcastically.
"Seems like it." Robin answered.
"Robin, I know how much you hate this, but I might not get involved with them. It could end badly." Yang suggested.
"I don't give a damn how rich he is, or who his dad is, if I see them attacking someone unjustly, I will intervene. Not up for debate." Robin spoke harshly, and serious. I don't really care if I face repercussions for it. I'll follow the rules, and the norm, when they are based on justice.
Seeing he wasn't going to back down, Yang gave up.
Ren asked a question it was clear all of team JNPR was thinking. "How's Ruby doing?"
"...She's doing better. Should be going back to class tomorrow, assuming the counselor gives the OK, which it looks like she will. Her wounds are doing good considering, her aura's done a good job healing them, but she probably won't be allowed to participate in any combat for a bit longer."
"That's good to hear. I'm so sorry that happened to you. If you ever want our help, feel free to ask." Jaune offered.
"I think we'll be fine, but I'll do that if we ever need it." Robin answered.
"Hey guys!" The door swung open as the red hooded girl walked in. She's sounding a lot better than she did before. I hope she's not just acting it.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled, jumping up, and hugging her sister. Surprisingly, she didn't squeeze her like usual, most likely remembering her injuries were far from healed.
Yang guided Ruby to a chair, and sat her down, Ruby grumbling about not needing help, but not making a big deal of it.
"So Ruby, what did the counselor say?" While Ruby was back at the dorm, she was let outside for a while the previous day, so it didn't necessarily mean she would be going back to class.
"I'll be going back to class tomorrow, but I'm not allowed to touch my baby for a week."
Her wha- oh that's right, her baby… "That's great! Well, going back to Ports isn't that exciting, but you going back to classes."
Ruby giggled at that, "Yeah, by how much we learn about him in grimm studies, I'm beginning to think he's a grimm."
"That would explain a lot," Yang commented.
"Where's Blake?" Ruby asked, realizing the black haired member of the team was missing.
"I think I saw her in the library earlier." Robins spent a lot of his time there, studying constantly, to learn everything he could about Remnant. If he was to be a good leader, he had to catch up, especially after what happened at the docks.
Yang forgot about the conversation going on, flinching as the memory of her discussion with her partner.
The wall shook slightly, and Yang flinched, as Blake's fist hit the wall. Not hard enough to put a hole in it, but pretty close. "I can't stand this! I can't just do nothing! The White Fang needs to pay, and beyond that, they're planning something, something bad, but nobody is doing anything about it! I'm done waiting! We need to get back out there, or Ruby won't be the only one in the hospital!"
"Are you crazy Blake! We JUST got our asses kicked by them! Ruby is STILL IN THE MEDICAL WING RECOVERING! We were just there, TWO DAMN MINUTES AGO!"
"Which is why I can't just do nothing! I'm a faunus, I could try infiltrating them, or something, I don't know!"
"No you couldn't, they know who you are! You're just going to get yourself killed!"
"We're training to be huntresses Yang! That's our job! Might as well do it trying to do something!"
"Let someone else fight the White Fang, someone qualified! This isn't our job!"
"Who? The police? Don't make my laugh"
"It doesn't matter Blake! We aren't strong enough! Ruby is out of this completely, and I sure as hell am not fighting them at such a disadvantage. I have a problem picking fights Blake, but this suicidal!"
"Aren't you angry at them? How can you just sit idle?!"
"I am Blake! I want to go out there, and kick their asses, especially after how they hurt Ruby! But now's not the time for that."
"Then when is? Do we wait to fight back until it's too late?" With Blake walked away. Yang didn't even try to call out to her.
"I'm fine, really. I don't want you guys worried about me."
"Of course we're worried about you Ruby!"
"I got out fine, I'm mostly healed anyway, the only reason they won't let me fight for a while is because of school policies. Really, let's just go back to normal."
How can she say that so easily? How did she bounce back so fast? I've seen plenty of fake smiles, people pretending to be alright, but unless Ruby is a manipulative sociopath, this is real. I thought she would take this hard.
"We messed up, we lost a battle. Huntsmen don't always win, even the heroes in the storybooks take some losses."
But you're 15. You're not a hardened hunter. Maybe I just underestimated her strength.
She lost her mother. When she was a child. She knows what loss is. Perhaps I overestimated this defeat, she got hurt but it's not as if she had been sailing an easy life, and never tasted defeat. She's not a privileged child, she's a strong woman.
Robin turned to the now open tent flaps, when the cold air rushed in. He was greeted with the angry face of his daughter. "What was that?" she questioned angrily.
"What was what?" Robin asked, genuinely confused what had his daughter so angry.
"THAT! The strategy meeting!"
"I'm sorry, did you want to say more?"
"Why didn't you put me in the raid?"
He honestly hadn't really thought about it. "It's going to be extremely dangerous. It was hard for me to be convinced to let anyone do it."
"I can handle it dad! The Valmese can't hurt me," she insisted.
"Yes they can Morgan! They took over the entire continent! You have no armor, one hit is all it takes!"
"I've fought harder. Do you remember where I came from? I'm more experienced then most of the shepherds! You put Gaius on the team! Please, let me do something! I can't stand watching you exhausted every day, planning strategy non-stop, while I do nothing! Let me help!"
"I can't let you get hurt Morgan."
"I've been hurt! I've seen people die, I've killed people, I've been cut, burned, smashed! It wasn't easy dad. Why do you think we came back?"
"... I know Morgan. That's why I can't let you go. You've been pushing yourself as hard as I have, I noticed you taking all of those watch shifts, and all of those missions. You've done more than Lucina!"
"I have to! You're up every night, working. When you aren't working, you're training or fighting. If you have to do that much, it means we need to do more! It means you need the help."
"No Morgan, it's the burden of the tactician. Every death we've had has been on me. Every loss could have been prevented, had I been better prepared. I can't make another mistake!"
"You will if you keep going like this! We're soldiers dad, we knew what we were signing up for. We're a team, the burden falls on all of us. And as long as you're working like this, I will too."
As Robin began to open his mouth Ruby cut him off.
"And don't start blaming yourself again! We're a team Robin, a fall for one of us is a fall for all of us. We go together, and take everything together."
I know Ruby. That's why I don't want to let you get hurt. It hurt us too. I'm tired of seeing people get hurt, Ruby didn't deserve that. I've seen enough pain. Naga, why is it the young who have to get hurt?
"Okay Ruby. We're in this together."
"Team RBRY!" Ruby shouted, way louder than was necessary.
Robin heard a 'Team JNPR!' through the walls from Nora.
"You have a deathwish. Reminds me of Chrom. Scratch that, we all had a deathwish. We charged straight into the heart of the most powerful enemies, repeatedly, usually having to wing our escape plan."
Blake stopped mid stride, and turned to look at her team leader. She was enroute to leave Beacon's campus, going to the city. The sun was just setting, which wasn't all that late, due to the season.
"Come to stop me?"
"No, making sure you don't get yourself killed, going out there alone."
"I need to know what's going on Robin."
"I do too. How about not doing it alone?" At that, Beige stepped out from around the corner.
"Beige? Why are you here?"
"I already helped you guys out one time. Just know I have a few things I need from the White Fang."
At that, Blake looked at Robin in surprise, before it dawned on her. That would explain Why Adam called the retreat when he did. Is Beige really that strong? Good thing she's on our side.
"She saved my life at the docks, actually. And we both want to get to the bottom, or really, the top of this. So we're joining forces." Robin filled Blake in.
"Mind if I join you too?" Blake stumbled a bit, and fell onto her butt when a swordsman appeared in front of her.
"Sean?!" Robin asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"You two aren't as attentive as you think you are." Blake said to Robin and Beige, Sean nodding confirmation.
"I'm not sure I like the idea that you might be following me at any time, without me noticing." Robin complained.
"I won't follow you into the bathroom, if that's what you're worried about."
"Ok Sean that's enough. We're done here." Robin ended the conversation, although his tone was clearly light.
"So, we're fighting the White Fang?" Sean asked, obviously knowing the answering.
"Not necessarily fighting them, although with my luck we'll probably end up taking on the entire organization, inside of a volcano." Robin 'answered.'
Beige cleared her throat. "I have some information that may be of use. Firstly, the name Cinder. It's a person, working with whoever is playing around with the white fang. Maybe even the puppet master, though that would probably be too easy. Secondly, the White Fang are being used as more than soldiers and dust collectors."
After she stopped for a second, Sean got impatient, "Wellllll?"
"They're taking some of them. Kidnapping them. Not sure what they're doing with them, but they're taking them, and this is happening pretty high up. Somehow, they've been covering it up from the White Fang. They're using them for something, clearly something not good for us, or the unlucky White Fang members"
"Why are they using the White Fang, risking conflict, instead of just kidnapping random civilians?" Sean questioned.
"That's the question, isn't it." Robin agreed.
"Well, what I want to know, is where the hell you're getting this information." Sean eyed Beige suspiciously.
"That, I will be keeping to myself." This earned an even more challenging stare from the swordsman, but he looked away when he saw she wouldn't cave.
"Really?" Sean questioned, in surprise.
"Yeah. I'm a faunus. Best you know this if you're going to be joining us. If you tell ANYONE though, I will cut your tongue out."
"Woah woah, okay. No need to get hostile, I'm the last person who would give up somebody's secret."
"You better hope so. So, how long can your semblance last?"
"My aura will lose power if I hold it too long, it's a good escape mechanism, or an evasive tool, but it's a bad idea for me to hide inside a crowd of armed racist faunus for an entire rally, if that's what you're asking."
"So you'll wait out here with us. Blake, make sure you're near the exit, if you get spotted, you could get captured or killed. Promise me you won't risk getting caught, no matter what." Robin spoke sternly.
"...Fine." With that, Blake walked off towards the alley, and the white fang members who were guarding the door. As she walked away, she put her old grimm mask on her face.
It felt strange, wearing the full uniform. It felt gross. The image was one of fear, not peace. And while she was no hippie, the human race as a whole was redeemable. She understood the necessity of using violence when their enemies did as well, but the application was despicable. They were killing innocent civilians, who had nothing to do with the oppression of faunus. While the ignorance of many humans and their lack of care to help the faunus, was infuriating, they were victims of the SDC as well. They humans who were desperate enough to work with the faunus in the mines died in the collapses, were overworked, and underpaid. And there sure as hell was a reason some were desperate enough to take those jobs. They didn't always understand the struggles faunus faced, but that was supposed to be where the White Fang came in. To bring unity.
But they didn't care about unity, they didn't even care about liberating the faunus. The methods they used weren't just reprehensible, they were poor strategy. They would get nothing accomplished this way. They didn't attack SDC mines, they didn't arm and defend vulnerable communities from the anti-faunus groups, or the police. They attacked civilians. Blew up trains. And now, they were stealing dust, for Remnant knows what. I made the right choice leaving them. The cause has been warped into an unrecognizable state. To a state where they are so bloodthirsty, they would side with the enemy. They aren't even radicals, they directly oppose the goal of faunus liberation.
I'm sorry Robin, this is no time to play it safe. I already put some temporary dye in my hair, and with the mask and uniform, it's unlikely I'll be recognized. Besides, these seem to be new recruits anyways. Probably lost all the actual White Fang. The ones that didn't leave were likely killed.
Having Beige help has clearly paid off. We wouldn't have been able to find this if it weren't for her. Getting the scroll from Neo, AND being able to get access to their line even after they though they broke it. Don't know where she learned that, but I won't complain.
Blake walked through the open doors, casually. There were a number of White Fang members, and it seemed, as suspected, that they were moving the dust they had accumulated here. The warehouse was most likely just a forward operating base. That they were transporting the dust here presumably to their main storage meant something was going to happen fast. It went without saying it would probably be quite bad,
Shit! Torchwick is here! Had a feeling he would be. He doesn't know me too well I hope, and with my mask, uniform and the brown hair dye...
The warehouse as a whole was almost empty. It didn't really make sense until Blake could see the back garages. There was a LOT of trucks. Are they transporting ALL of this in one trip? Why? All that will do is draw attention to them! I don't even get how they bought this many trucks without catching the eye of the police. They must have some good connections.
Still, why do this in one trip? What are they planning? Blake started helping, as to avoid detection.
It had been a half hour, and the cat faunus had found nothing out. She couldn't start asking questions without blowing her cover, and nobody really talked about it. She did, however, hear something about Mountain Glenn. She would have to remember that.
"Alright! We're all done, get into the trucks! If you haven't been assigned a truck, you aren't a driver, and get into the back, with the goods!" It wasn't torchwick, but a White Fang officer that shouted the order. Blake glanced at the trucks, and at the front entrance. She could definitely get away. But time was running out. One more look at the door way, and a long one at the trucks.
I knew it. I knew she would do this. Damn it Blake. He would comment this to the fellow student 'sitting' next to him, but then they'd be discovered. The crate wasn't soundproof, after all. And it was too dark to mouth it.
Robin was scrunched up, surrounded by dust canisters. The crate was nearly entirely filled with them. They managed to get in the middle of the crate, throwing a few canisters out. Robin helped the poor ventilation with a wind spell. It was pretty tight though. The crate would have been a hard fit even if it was empty. To his right sat Sean, the man reckless enough to suggest this idea. Then again, Robin went along with it.
And it really was an awful idea. Robin had fully comprehended how bad it was after they got inside of it. It was entirely impossible to get out of the crate without alerting everyone nearby what was happening. Not to mention the risk of sitting in a crate of explosives. Dust accidents weren't at all rare, at least he had heard so.
But Blake had done what both Sean and Robin expected. If that was a good thing, because it meant they wouldn't have to break out in the middle of the warehouse and fight a lot of angry faunus, or a bad thing because it meant they all were stuck going Naga knows where, Robin was not sure.
We're moving. Robin had no idea where Blake was. He knew there was a LOT of semi trucks, odds were she was in a different one. The only reasons he assumed she did board one was because there was no commotion, and Beige hadn't notified her of going outside. Considering the trucks were leaving right then, and Robin's truck was near the back, that only left one option.
"So, why do you think they didn't put us up front? There's enough seats." Blake asked the white fang member leaning next to her. There's not even anywhere to sit. Every time the damn truck turns, we go flying.
"To watch over the dust? I don't know."
"But why back here? We can't see outside. Are they expecting the police to break through the back mid drive? Even then it seems like it's a worse position."
"I'm more curious why all of the drivers are new recruits. Most of them are quite young, I think the guy driving ours is only like 15. At least it seems like it."
Now THAT was certainly strange. Blake looked at the faunus, and noticed something else. The weapon on his back. It wasn't a standard white fang weapon. It was custom made. I would bet my honor that if I were to look at most of the people in the containers, it would be the same. Something is going on, and the fact that nobody knows it means it's probably quite bad.
"They're taking some of them. Kidnapping them. Not sure what they're doing with them, but they're taking them, and this is happening pretty high up."
"Oh."
"What?" The bear faunus questioned.
Blake didn't know exactly what was going to happen, but one thing was for sure, "We need to get out. Now."
"Huh? What do you mean."
I could just take him out, he's a risk. But… "Just trust me! We have to get out NOW!"
Blake ran at the back doors, and kicked them at her maximum momentum. She fell to the ground, and felt a harsh pain in her leg, but the doors remained closed. It didn't look like it got even close to opening, they must have secured it well. Damn.
Blake turned, drawing Gambol Shroud, slashing downwards at the front side of the nearest dust crate. She ripped it open, and grabbed a dust canister, tossing up at the roof.
"Wait what are you-" the canister exploded when Blake's bullet reached it, blowing a hole in the roof.
She jumped onto of a stack of crates, before leaping out through the hole. She looked back, and saw the faunus was still hesitant. "Get up, I have no idea how much time we have!"
"How much time before what?!"
They both stared as three of the 'dust crates' blew open, releasing purple gas. Based on the screams they heard from the other trucks, these weren't the only ones.
"Before THAT! Grab my hand, quick!" The smoke was obviously toxic, but it hadn't filled up the container yet.
He was much less reluctant to listen to her now. Jumping off of a crate, he grabbed onto her hand. But as she tried to pull him up, he did little to help.
"Come on! Don't have a lot of time here! Help me out here!" Blake grunted. The faunus was quite large, and had heavy gear on. It wasn't an easy lift.
"The gas… I can't feel my lower body. I'm half paralyzed."
"...shit. I'll get you out of there. Grab onto the edge with your other hand."
As he shifter his left hand from hers, to the edge, Blake's vision was flooded.
"Yaaaa!" She tumbled backwards, hearing the too familiar voice of Roman Torchwick, from her left.
"DRIVERS! Keep going! We're facing sabotage from some double agents, we'll deal with them. We mustn't be late!"
The bastards a good liar. I'll give him that.
"Don't worry about your friend there kitty, he's in good hands."
"Is-is he dead?"
"I think you should be more worried about yourself."
Realizing what was about to happen, Blake jumped backwards, landing on the hood of the truck behind, as the truck container took another explosion.
Damn it. He's probably dead. Fuck you Roman. Fuck you. No more. This stops here.
The truck convoy took up three lanes, but they weren't all in line. Blake was crouched on the right most side, Roman in the middle.
Blake chucked Gambol Shroud past Romans truck, onto the one in front of it. Yanking on it, she land briefly on the top of the original truck, that was now swerving off of the road, left of a hole where Roman blew it up,using it to jump left, kicking Roman in the stomach. Landing on her feet forward of him, she yanked back Gambol shroud into her hand, changing it into a sword. She decided to go two handed, keeping her sheath down.
Roman intercepted her first few attacks with Melodic Cudgel. He kicked out, back Blake had already shifted to the side. Letting go of her sword with her left hand, she punched him in the gut, but his aura easily took the hit.
She was surprised when he managed to get a powerful hit in, launching her to the right. The right trucks had accelerated slightly, leaving her headed towards the side of the truck she earlier landed on. Quickly realizing she wouldn't land on top, she stabbed hard into the container with her sheath, using it to stay up. Roman noticed this, and sprinted towards her, jumping at the top of the container, most likely to knock her off.
Blake had already transformed her primary blade back into its gun form, throwing it up and forward. When Roman hit the ribbon, she activated the trigger, causing it to wrap around his waist.
However, when she went to pull on it, hoping to take him out altogether, the ribbon instantly grew loose. Shit…
From the cab of the truck to their left, a chained kusarigama cut her ribbon. When Roman went to hit her off of the truck, his cane hit a familiar clone. "I knew those weapons were familiar. I thought you would have learned after last time!"
By then, Roman, had noticed she was on the same truck as his accomplice. Blake briefly studied her. She had dark skin, of which she showed a lot of. Her hair was a peculiar shade of light olive, contrasting with her red eyes. More importantly were her weapons. She held two kusarigama. From what happened moments earlier, Blake suspected she could break them from the handle, using chains to extend it's range.
Blake stopped assessing her new opponent when both blades came flying at her.
Fuck, it's windy. Well, what would you expect, standing ontop of a truck, that was going well over 80 miles per hour. Mercury had dealt with much windier, in the mountains to the east of Vale. But that didn't mean he liked it. He looked down, as the wind was hurting his eyes when he faced straight into it.
He had gotten out of the cab, seeing Roman in trouble up ahead. But Emerald seemed to be ahead of him, and he didn't really want to help Roman anyways. He was a bit of an ass. Not the Mercury could talk.
Emerald was clearly better than this cat faunus anyways.
Mercury snapped his head back up, when the doors or the container, just 5 yards ahead of him, blew open, in a dark explosion. What the FUCK?!
Mercury coughed, as the poisonous gas washed over him. MOTHERFUCKER! He knew he would survive, he would be past it in a few seconds, but he already lost his chance to hold his breath. It wasn't exactly great breathing the stuff in.
When he finally stopped coughing, he noticed a white haired teen was on the truck to his right, and another one was following him, using some kind of grapple. Mercury just let out a long sigh, before hopping off to the right, firing simultaneously both of the weapons on his legs to propel himself up.
Wasn't super fast, but hey, I did it relatively soon. What more can you ask of me? Not a whole lot of action this chapter. But you'll be getting more soon. I think I'm getting better at writing the characters, but tell me if there's something I can improve on there.
For those of you who don't know, or haven't gotten it yet, Fire Emblem Heroes came out yesterday. Mobile game, and a lot more simplistic than the main series. The plot is total garbage, but it's pretty fun. I got two 5 star Robins in my first hour, so he's been a bit OP. I won't complain though.
Reviews:
ARSLOTHES: Hope you liked it! I'm surprised with myself that it wasn't absurdly late this time. I'm hoping I can keep it up, but I won't even give that a maybe, because it hasn't happened before. Don't expect anything, soon, don't expect anything late. It will come when it comes.
mcd3424: They are quite similar, I put in a flashback of Morgan here on that, but there's not going to be a chance for actual discussion for a while, if at all. I won't spoil that. It would be kinda cool, but it wouldn't be if it was forced in.
Zero kami no mu: Yep. There's still the giant dragon to be seen, I certainly won't leave that out, but I won't say anything on what will happen there.
AlphaRidley: I thought I did a fair job writing that in, but I see what you're saying. I felt the conversations he had with the main characters were pretty reasonable. Robin meeting Ruby was due to his weapon, and he started talking to Jaune because he was there, and nobody else was. It's worth noting that the teams are chosen in initiation, so as long as he was a student, that was the best, and a quite reasonable option. As far as Ozpin, he got sighted by Qrow, which was a bit lucky, but not out of the question, it's not unlikely Qrow would have been in the forest, and Robin didn't make a discrete entrance. It's one of many possibilities, but is no less probable. Regardless though, it's FAR from a certain outcome, so I can see why it seems unrealistic. Thanks for the review!
Anyways, I think I'm doing a little better now that I've got a more solid plan, the events seem much less random. Also in theory allows me to work faster, but we've already gone over that. Please leave a review if you have ANYTHING at all to say.