Sorry to all. I'm having a terrible block on my creative spirit.
Ray watched with dispassionate eyes as Pyrrha Nikos finished up Team CRDL with little effort. Ever since that the other teams had found out that team RAVN was unable to participate in the Vytal tournament, Team CRDL had been going out of it's way to tell everyone that the 'juniors' were not allowed. There was one thing that Ray wanted to do, every time that Cardin started to talk about it, and that was to shove a very blunt instrument up Cardin's ass. Then again, Team RAVN was hardly allowed to train, as those who were training for the tournament got special treatment.
Seeing Cardin falling on his face, and then being kicked again for good measures, brought a very small smile on Ray's face.
Of Team RAVN, only Ray was watching the match, as Angel, Vixen and Nova had to do some moving for the Weasley family that would move to Vale. Ron had already been accepted at the primary combat school of Patch, under the special tutoring of Qrow Branwen and Taiyang Xiao Long. Mr. Weasley had found a job with the car-shop 'Old Abby' and found out that he needed to learn about 'muggle' stuff.
Looking at Cardin, who fainted after being defeated by Pyrrha, Ray watched as Professor Goodwitch asked for some volunteers. She was about to call for Blake, who had her nose again in a book. The young cat Faunus didn't look so well, as Ray could see some sleeping bags under her eyes.
"I'll fight." Ray said as he stood up.
"Are you sure, Mr. Star?" Professor Goodwitch asked, as she adjusted her glasses. "You know that you are unable to compete in the tournament."
"Yes, and thank you for reminding the rest of the class here, including some foreign students." Said Ray as he pointed towards a section where Mistral students were sitting.
Ray looked at the group of foreign students and located his target.
"If I may choose, Professor?" Ray asked politely. Goodwitch nodded, curious as to why Ray wanted to choose against who he would be fighting.
"Fine, then I choose that guy." Ray said as he pointed straight to Mercury Black, who smiled and nodded, accepting the challenge.
"Very well then. The match will begin as soon both combatants are on the training floor." Goodwitch said. Not even a second later, Ray had jumped over the railing of the higher seated benches and landed safely on the floor.
"You know you could have taken the normal way around, did you?" Goodwitch asked, her left eyebrow raised half an inch.
"I knew that, but I would like to make a statement." Said Ray as he grabbed Hope and Deliverance from their sheaths.
"And what statement is that?" Goodwitch asked with genuine curiosity. Ray looked at her. "The statement that while me and my team are unable to participate in the tournament, we are not to be underestimated. Like he is about to find out." Ray said as he looked at the form of Mercury Black standing on the other side of the training floor.
"One question though." Mercury said as he stepped forward, causing his aura being displayed by a meter on the wall, clearly displaying that his aura was full.
"Sure, go ahead." Said Ray as he stepped on the floor himself, causing his aura being displayed as well.
"Why me?" Mercury asked. "Why do you want to fight with me?"
Ray smiled as Professor Goodwitch stepped away from the training floor.
"The reason is simple, Mercury." Ray said as he slided in a combat stance. "First of, I'd like to pay you back for pushing me on the floor, while I was greeting your friend. Second, I've noticed that you haven't had a good spar this week. I thought that we both could use the exercise." Said Ray.
Mercury nodded in Ray's observations and slid in a combat position, holding his arms in front of him.
"Three," Goodwitch counted down. Ray smiled at Mercury. "Two," Mercury nodded back. "One. Begin" Called Goodwitch, and both Ray and Mercury charged towards each other. Mercury was going for a head-shot, but Ray dived under it and caught Mercury's leg with Hope. He twisted around and used Deliverance to hit Mercury right in the chest, forcing a part of Mercury's aura to drop. Mercury then used his boots to block a second attack of Ray and used the opening that it created to hit Ray in the face. Ray's aura dropped to a slightly lower point that Mercury's. Ray smiled and Mercury smiled back. They nodded to each other and some unspoken bond was created that they would do their best to defeat each other.
In the stance, Emerald looked at her partner as he was playing with the young boy. From her point, she could see why Ray had been allowed entrance to Beacon two years earlier. She blushed slightly as she remembered the time when Ray had shown Mercury, Cinder and herself their room. Ray was a perfect gentleman at that time. But now she could see that Ray was also a very well trained Huntsmen in training.
"And the winner is Ray Star of Beacon Academy." Professor Goodwitch said as the buzzer sounded. Both Ray and Mercury had given everything they could. It was through an advanced move that Ray was able to lower Mercury's aura level enough for him to be disqualified.
"Nicely done." Said Ray as he placed Hope and Deliverance back into their sheaths, before he shook hands with Mercury. Mercury smiled back and nodded before he moved back to the stands, where he could see Emerald waiting.
Ray nodded to the professor as she explained that the dance would be that weekend, and that the first hunter assignments were next week. Walking away, Ray was caught by Jaune and Pyrrha, who wanted to talk with him about something. Nodding his head, Ray first collected a drink from the cafeteria, before he followed the 'Arkos' couple outside and to a tree, where they sat down under.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Ray asked after he took a long drink of the 'People like Grapes' soda.
"Oh. Nothing much." Said Jaune as he rubbed the back of his head. "You know, it's kinda silly actually. Some of your manners remind me of the headmasters son."
"Who, the little squirt?" Ray asked, trying to keep surprise out of his voice. Pyrrha snorted in a very unladylike way. "Yes, that little guy who was looking at our training. He was actually kinda cute." Said Pyrrha as she blushed softly.
"Pyrrha." Jaune said shocked as he looked at his team mate.
"Oh, do tell." Said Ray as he leaned forward to look the blushing spartan clad woman in the eyes. "Do you have a small crush on little Harry?" Ray teased Pyrrha slightly, but before Pyrrha could answer the question, Ray's scroll rang, telling him that he was needed in his room.
"Sorry Guys, but I need to go. It's probably another team meeting." Said Ray as he jumped up and made his way to the dorms, leaving behind a blushing Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc with a forced smile on his face. Jaune looked at Pyrrha, shook his head and walked away. Pyrrha looked at the retreating back of her team leader and secret lover and felt a few tears falling down. Jaune didn't seem to be interested in her, and that brought a pain in Pyrrha's heart, a pain that she hoped she never would have felt.
Ray made his way to the dorms and waved his scroll in front of the identification plate. The door unlocked and Ray stepped inside, before he locked the door with both his scroll and a few spells. Turning around, he found his friends standing there. Nodding to him, they all vanished into thin air, leaving only a half muted 'CRACK' behind.
Ray smiled and started to concentrate, before he vanished into this air.
Ray arrived from his short apparition jump and looked around in the Vault under Beacon. The Unspeakables were already waiting for them and team RAVN made their way towards them.
"So," Ray started. "How was the move?"
"It went well enough. Because we couldn't use our magic, we had to carry several smaller pieces, while the Weasley's used the levitation charm to carry the larger and heavier pieces." Said Angel as she rubbed her arm sightly.
Angel, Vixen and Nova had offered to help the Weasley family to move to Vale. While at first reluctant, Mrs. Weasley soon found the three young woman a pleasure to work with. Nova had taken Ron under her wing and showed him several vials of Dust, and explained what they were for.
Without the curse that had been placed on him, Ron was able to absorb the information quite easily, but what drew his attention was the weapon that Angel used to repel and kill several small Grimm that lived nearby. Living on the edge of the city, just inside the walls in the agricultural area was not without some hazards. Mr. Weasley had said that he would place some wards around the property, but until then he would stay at home and help Molly with the house.
It was good that Angel, Vixen and Nova were available, because Ron had fell into a relapse. His mind was still learning how to function well, and it was only their combined aura that pulled Ron back from the relapse. All to soon, Professor Xiao Long of Signal Academy arrived and explained that Ron would need to go to school soon. Molly nodded and told Ron that she would send him to Signal, where he would receive special help for his 'unique' condition. After a few words of Professor Taiyang Xiao Long, Ron accepted that he would go to a different school than his brothers and younger sister.
"It was nice to be welcome in a home that didn't look like the Burrow." Said Nova as she shuddered as she thought about the first time she, as Ginny, and Harry had visited the Burrow. It wasn't one of the best times.
"Did she wanted to take your weapons, or were you allowed to keep them?" Ray asked as he started to flex his muscles.
"She wanted to take our weapons first, but when we showed her what we could do with them, she let the matter rest." Said Vixen as she pulled her wand from her wrist holster. "Let's get the juices flowing."
"I agree." Said Unspeakable Bakker as he looked at the four students. "In two days time, at the night of the ball, according to what you have told us and the Intel that was gathered with the listening charms, your enemy will enter the CCT and install a virus, that will make communication with the rest of Remnant impossible. This will prevent any help coming from Atlas, Vacuo or Mistral. So we need other means of Communication. Any idea's?"
The group was silent for a few minutes. "Well, there's the patronus charm, but nobody outside us in Vale can cast it." Said Angel as she looked at the Unspeakable. Unspeakable Bakker nodded.
"How about this?" said Nova as she picked up her scroll. "Nova, we can't use a scroll, when we can't rely on the CCT." said Angel as she looked at the purple haired girl.
"Let her talk." Said Ray as he placed an arm on Angel's shoulder. "Maybe she's got something. Besides, you're thinking like a witch, Angel. Try thinking like a normal person."
"It's simple." Said Nova as she placed her scroll on a table in front of her. "A scroll, like mine, modified to use a special dedicated signal, magical in origin, to connect with one other scroll. Or a scroll that can sent messages to other scrolls, connected to one terminal. Like one master scroll to a lot of subordinate scrolls."
The group looked at Nova and her scroll. "It has some promise, but we need to place said master scroll in the hands of someone who can use it the most." Said Ray.
"Agreed." Said Unspeakable Bakker. "We'll discuss this with the other Unspeakables and come back to you. Also, that crystal you got Ray, is not an ordinary crystal. It's designed to contain a massive amount of magic. I have no idea why someone would make or use it." Said the Unspeakable as he placed a small box in front of Ray.
"Now, let's begin with Defense. Both me and Unspeakable Volker will attack you, you need to defend yourself for ten minutes."
The students all scattered to the four corners around the Vault. The Unspeakables nodded and started with the nearest one, Angel.
That faithful night came. Ray had dressed up as any male student would. A three piece suit with red accents. Angel had decided that she would take first watch. She would join later in her own blue gown, while Vixen decided that she would go with simple white.
Nova had been trying to find something that would match her purple hair, and decided that she just should go in a black gown.
The night was amazing, and the most impressive person who was at the ball was Jaune, who showed up in a dress, settling a bet he had with Pyrrha Nikos. It seems that Jaune had bet that, if Pyrrha didn't arrive at the ball with a date, he would wear a dress. Having found out that Pyrrha didn't arrive at the ball with a date, Jaune placed his suit somewhere and wore a dress. He showed remarkable skill in dancing with Pyrrha, Nora and Ren who joined their leader in some improvised but very choreographed dancing, establishing his status as Beacon's dancing King and Pyrrha as his Queen.
Ray hadn't seen it as he was following Ruby Rose, who had seen the same as he had.
A woman, dressed in black, jumping over the rooftops of the dorms, towards the CCT. Hoping to catch her before she got away, Ray called his locker to him, and seconds later was armed with Hope and Deliverance. Ruby nodded to him and called forth her own locker, delivering to her her beloved Crescent Rose.
As the pair walked towards the CCT, they spotted an Atlesian Elite Guard lying on the ground. After checking that the guard was only unconscious, Ruby and Ray entered the CCT, where they saw a black haired woman, wearing a cat-suit and a mask over her eyes entering the elevator. They ran towards it, but the doors of the elevator closed before they could reach it. "Fuck." Ray said as he kicked the elevator doors.
"Ray, call security. We need to get up there." Said Ruby as she started to try and wake up the other Atlesian Elite guards who were scattered around the floor.
"That will take to long." Ray said, but he grabbed his scroll and started to call his team. "Get over to the CCT. Get Ironwood and Ozpin now."
Having ended the call, Ray looked up while he pressed the elevator button. "Ruby. If I show you something, will you promise me that you'll keep it secret for all times?" Ray asked as he looked at the slightly smaller team leader of Team RWBY. "What?" Ruby responded confused. "Do you promise to keep what I'm about so show you a secret?" Asked Ray again, a little impatient, wanting to get the woman who was now up-loading the virus in the CCT.
Ruby nodded, and that was all that Ray needed to jump into action. "Destination, Determination, Deliberation." Harry mumbled as he took a firm hold of Ruby and concentrated.
The next moment for Ruby, felt like she was being squished through a very tight tube. The sensation only lasted a second, but Ruby fell on the floor, a little confused as to what had happened. "What happened?" Ruby asked, hands and knees on the floor. "Later" Ray said as he stood face to face with the black cat-suit wearing woman. Ruby took a deep breath and stood up, aiming Crescent Rose at the black haired, black wearing intruder.
"You know, it's not a masquerade party, So why don't you take off that," Ruby said , but was interrupted as the mysterious woman pulled out a spray can and sprayed it, forming a cloud of finely grind ash, that she used to turn into several sharp crystals that she flung violently towards Ruby and Ray. Ruby twisted Crescent Rose to block the incoming projectiles and Ray jumped out of the way. Both Ruby and Ray fired their weapons, but the bullets bounced off a shield like construct that the woman was holding up. Ray noticed that several parts of her clothing lit up when she blocked the attacks. Seeing as their attacks stopped, the woman twisted around and created from ashes around her two sharp swords.
Ruby twirled Crescent Rose behind her and fired, giving her a speed boost to attack this intruder at close range. The woman jumped up and out of the way, and formed her two blades into a bow. Her clothing lit up again as she suddenly aimed three arrows at Ruby. She released the arrows and Ruby jumped backwards, hoping to avoid the arrows. Ray looked and jumped between the arrows and Ruby and held his hand up. The arrows detonated when they made contact with Ray's hand. The woman smiled slightly, but frowned as she saw Ray standing there, unharmed, with a small dome of blue light covering the area where Ray stood.
Frowning, the woman looked at Ray, who looked right back. Orange eyes looked at blue. It was only the door of the lift opening that distracted Ruby, as Ray saw that the woman heard the lift approaching before the door opened. Smiling slightly and winking at Ray, the woman turned to ash as she flew out a window that had been opened to allow fresh air.
"NO" Ray shouted as he ran towards the window. Caring not for the height of the level they were in now, Ray jumped through the window, just as Angel, Vixen, Nova, Ironwood and Ozpin entered the communications room of the CCT.
Feeling gravity taking hold of him, Ray activated his aura, trying to move faster that was possible, as he saw the cloud of ash fleeing towards the hall where the dance was being held.
"Get back here" Ray mumbled as he used his aura and the crystals in his body to move faster.
Seeing the cloud of ash going through the door of the ballroom, Ray landed right in front of it, only to be held back by two Atlesian Elite Guards. "Listen, no time to explain, there is a woman dressed in a black cat-suit walking inside, she broke into the CCT." Said Ray, as he used a little bit of magic to cast a small compulsion charm on the two guards.
The two guards nodded and walked inside, followed by Ray. Stepping inside the small hallway, Ray found that the guards had stepped on a piece of a mask. The same mask as that the intruder had worn.
"Shit" Ray said as he pulled a pocket from his jacket and used the cloth to carefully collect every little bit of trampled mask. Holding it gently in his hands, Ray looked at the two Atlesian Elite Guards, who were looking around the ballroom.
As Harry looked around the corner, he spotted several things. First the DJ Duo of 'Paft Dunk', a friend of Sun Wukong moving in a way that wasn't dancing, Blake and Sun enjoying the music in the room, Pyrrha and Jaune (Still in dress) sitting to catch their breath. Shaking his head, Ray turned and almost collided with Nova, who had transfigured her black dress into her usual clothing.
"Ray. Ironwood wants to see you. Now." She said as she carefully waved her wand to Ray, causing his suit to change into his usual outfit. Ray nodded and followed Nova to the CCT tower, hating that he was to late to stop Cinder from up-loading that virus.
'Here's hoping that Angel's own virus is strong enough to block Cinder from important information'. Ray thought as he used wand-less magic to transport the cloth with the pieces of mask on it to his own dorm.
Entering the CCT, they were confronted by both Ironwood and Ozpin. "What happened." Demanded Ironwood.
"Let's get up to the communications room. There I can explain what happened to everyone." Said Ray in a tired voice. Ironwood was clearly not happy, but he agreed that it was probably for the best. So after traveling up to the communications room, Ray overlooked the damage. Three Elite Guards and Angel were working on finding the virus. As a precaution, they had disabled the CCT's transmission system, to prevent the virus from infecting other machines.
"So, Now that we're here. Tell us." Said Ironwood. Ray sighed deep. Looking at his team and Ruby, Ray started to speak. "It began with a feeling that I had."
A/N In this fictional work, Cinder Fall's Semblance is Ash Creation and Manipulation.