Chapter 10. Yesterday's Mistakes and Tomorrow's Plans.
The Vytal Festival was on the horizon. The city was bustling with life, travelers from other kingdoms could be seen wandering the streets. The Vytal festival wouldn't begin for several months, but that hasn't stopped the tourists from showing up to save their seats for the combat tournament. Ash wasn't sure if he wanted to partake. He wasn't a tournament kind of guy.
He sat in a small coffee shop. Lyra sat across from him, sipping her third cup of coffee. She was slightly jittery. Her ragged hood was tightly covering her head. He had to admit, this was the first time it's been just the two of them since the forest and he wasn't quite sure what to say. They were supposed to be partners now, even if they were already in a team.
"So." Ash finally said. The silence was broken for a moment but the uncomfortable quiet didn't take long to reform. He scratched his head nervously. "The Vytal Festival is going to be here soon."
"Yes, that should be interesting to see." Lyra murmured. Ash looked down at his cup for a moment.
"You ever go there?" Ash asked. He wasn't sure why this was such an awkward conversation. They share a room, they spend every day training, eating, and studying together. Why couldn't they drink coffee.
"I never went, I was never welcome." She murmured. Her eyes were locked on her coffee cup. He could tell this conversation was getting a little personal for her.
"Well, we could go there to watch it." Ash suggested. He felt he needed to keep talking. "If you want, it's an option."
"Sure." She replied. She downed her entire cup of coffee, she signaled a waiter for a refill. "That could be fun."
"We could always compete." Ash pretty much threw that one out there, she looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise.
"Compete?" She asked. "Are you kidding? We'd lose! Even with all the training we've gone through these last few weeks, we're nowhere close to ready for that."
"True, but the tournament is in a few months. We'd have plenty more training by then." Ash said. She wasn't wrong however, the tournament would bring the greatest from across Vytal. The last thing they'd want is to lose in front of the entire world. "You have a point though."
"Exactly. Off the table." She said chugging her refill.
"Exactly. Off the table." Ash repeated. He smiled slightly. "Well at least until you get used to your new weapon."
"New weapon?" Lyra squeaked. She covered her mouth and put her cup down. "What do you mean new weapon?"
"Every huntress needs a good weapon, last I checked you were carrying a musical instrument." Ash said reaching into his coat. He pulled out a wad of cash. "Let's find you a real weapon."
"Where did you get the cash?" She asked. Her eyes were transfixed on the money. It was as if she had never seen so much. Sadly that might be the case, even worse, it wasn't that much money.
"I know a guy who sucks at cards and we made some friendly wagers." Ash smiled. Thank you Prince. "So, let's get started."
There was a weapon shop off the harbor. The store was filled with your standard issue swords and guns, your more advanced combination weapons and a few custom rigs. This store was well loved by many of the students at Beacon as they sell individual parts, for cheap too.
"Well, what will you use?" Ash asked. Lyra simply stared in awe. "Let's make something custom."
They picked various pieces for the next hour or so. She seemed to have something in mind, even if she wasn't quite sure what it was. They moved to a backroom to assemble the weapon. Ash wasn't quite sure what to make of it, it was a quarterstaff with cattle prods at either end, with rope dart launchers on each end. The rope darts were connected via a steel cable which allowed them to function as rather terrifying stun gun. The entire weapon could fold into a small double headed baton.
Test firing it worked fairly well, it wasn't quite a lethal weapon but it could incapacitate a person, perhaps even a beowolf. It also was simple enough that modifications could easily be attached in the future. She practiced swinging the weapon around, sparks occasionally shot out of it as she did.
"I like it." She said vibrating. "I can really feel it."
"You look like you still are." Ash observed. She was vibrating from head to toe. She started laughing.
"I think that's just the caffeine." She said shaking her jittery head.
"So what are you going to call this thing?" Ash asked. She stared at it for a moment.
"I think I'll call it Maibaum" She said smiling.
"Alright, well let's pay for this thing and go." He said. Hopefully now their team has a chance. Then again, a new weapon isn't much use without proper training. "We should find a quiet place."
"Why?" She asked.
"I doubt Beowolves are going to play the part of a practice dummy." He said. She looked nervous. "We're going to spar, it'll be fun."
They found a nice quiet area in a nearby park. He let her get a few practice swings around with her weapon, he folded Silver Faust out and twirled it around. He gave her a nod when he was ready. She spun the weapon around enthusiastically and lunged at him. He swatted the weapon out of her hand effortlessly.
"Try again." He said. He desperately tried to contain his smirk. He didn't want to discourage her.
She twirled it around again and tried an impressive flip attack. He sidestepped out of the way and she crashed into the grass. He helped her back to her feet. She frowned.
"Try again." He said. She tugged on her hood and stumbled back.
She examined her weapon for a bit, taking in every detail. Ash readied himself. She was planning something. She retracted her weapon into it's compact baton form and lunged at him. She swung it at him, he quickly parried. She tapped a button and it expanded into full length, he barely moved his head in time. She swung the other end violently, shifting all the weight he had against her the other way. She almost got him. He hopped back to his feet.
"Not bad, not bad at all." Ash said enthusiastically. Lyra beamed. "Keep that up and we might actually qualify for that tournament."
"You really think so?" She asked.
"I said qualify, if you want to win we need to keep training." Ash said.
They sparred for a few more hours. Eventually they decided to call it a day. They had a rather leisurely stroll as the sun began to set. The smell of dead fish began to fade, the harbor had long since disappeared out of sight behind the many buildings. A cool breeze blew down the rapidly emptying streets. They would have to head back to Beacon soon. Surely Glynda would find some excuse to punish them for coming back late.
From the shadows of an alley a hand outstretched, it made a beckoning gesture. A hood poked into the light. Under it, a detailed mask. He turned to Lyra and back to the hooded figure.
"Lyra, I think I left something at the shop. You go on ahead, I'll catch up." Ash said patting his pockets. She looked a bit surprised.
"I can go with you." She said, Ash shook his head.
"No need, I won't be long." Ash said with probably the most fake smile he had ever worn.
"Alright, don't be late." She said. She quietly hurried down the street, looking over her shoulder frequently. He waved and turned around.
He waited until she was out of sight and then hurried toward the alley. He felt his hand gripping the handle of Silver Faust. He stepped off to the side and removed his jacket. He moved his holster from his chest to his waist. He put his coat back on and tussled his hair slightly. He felt an arm grab his shoulder and guide him through a backdoor. He was standing in a dingy kitchen, several hooded figures nodded at him as he passed them by. He was led through the kitchen doors into the restaurant. It was completely abandoned except for a single table, in which several hooded figures sat waiting, a single chair left empty. The figures gestured for him to sit, he had little choice.
"We have a target we need eliminated." The central figure said, his voice was gravelly and hoarse. "We are in need of your services."
"Listen, I don't mean to be rude here but I thought we were done." Ash said, the figures looked at each other, several groans and grunts were exchanged.
"No one leaves the White Fang." The voice came from the hooded figure to his left. He could faintly make out snarling fangs under the hood. "You swore your services to us."
"I swore my services until my company was no longer in debt." Ash replied. He could feel the tension in the room elevate. "Mission accomplished. I took the fall for your cause."
"You seem to be doing well for yourself, as is your company." The hooded figure on his right said politely. There were a pair of small antlers growing out of flaps in his hood. "Our cause is still a struggle, we are not fighting a war so easily overcome."
"Well, I can't help you. I'm attending Beacon and I wouldn't jeopardize my only chance of a future here." Ash explained. He heard angry exhales from several of the hooded figures. "I don't know if you got the memo, your war ended a long time ago."
"So says the human, you know nothing of the Faunus plight." The hood to his left spat. "You are nothing but a..."
"Silence." The central voice cried out. The others all bowed their heads. "I know that war better than you do. The battles may have finished but the war wages in the mind."
"So what good are swords in a war of the mind?" Ash asked. He could smell seafood faintly. Probably a sushi restaurant. His mind for some reason flashed to his semblance.
"Everything, nothing. The sword itself is but a tool. Aimed incorrectly it will cost us everything." The central hood said. His voice felt like it was cracking. "Aimed correctly, it could end our war before bloodshed returns."
"So by aiming correctly, what are you implying?" Ash asked. The hoods glanced at each other nervously.
"You are familiar with the Schnee dust company?" The central hood asked. He could hear the other hoods groan in disgust at the very mention of the name. He gave an agreeing nod.
"You know I do." Ash replied. He felt the hairs rising on the back of his neck.
"Hundreds if not thousands of faunus have suffered at their hands. We need to destroy that company." The voice to his left spat. "We need to destroy the man in charge."
"You want me to waltz into the Schnee Dust Company and assassinate Papa Schnee?" Ash asked bewildered. "I think you are overestimating my capabilities, greatly."
"We don't need to kill the 'Papa Schnee', only break him." The central hood said, sliding a picture across the table. "Do you know who this is?"
Ash spun the picture around and looked at it. He took a good long look, it took him a while for it to register. It was a picture of a dust shop, ransacked. Police tape was around it, two detectives were standing within. On the other side of the police tape, there were four girls. One was a young girl in a black dress and a red hood, another was a taller girl in a black vest, next to her was a tall girl of vibrant golden hair and the last was a pale girl in white. The last girl was Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. His brain almost snapped, it froze in place, his eyes staring down. Here it was, vengeance, handed to him on a silver platter.
He didn't want it. Not like this. Not planned in a shady restaurant with a bunch of terrorists he wants nothing to do with. Not with blood. Worst off, what about the others? Her team? Innocents. Maybe even worst than that, he wasn't even sure whether Weiss was innocent or not herself. A harpy in the ear sure, but whether she should be accountable for her father's decisions was still on the fence.
"I take it you are considering this well?" The central voice asked. There was a sort of softness in his coarse voice. It was almost like listening to a grandfather or great grandfather, listening to the comforting words of a man who's lived an entire lifetime of pain and suffering, knowing your life could be worse off.
"I don't know." Ash mumbled. He cleared his voice. "It's definitely tempting."
"The White Fang helped your family, on the verge of bankruptcy, survive." The central hood continued. "You paid a heavy price for this victory but we payed our debt. We always repay our loyal followers."
"What about the others?" Ash asked. The hoods looked back and forth, obviously confused. "The others in the picture, her team."
"No, they are under observation. One of them is a sister to the White Fang." The man replied. Ash looked back at the picture. One of those innocents was just another faunus terrorist. He shook his head.
"I can't do this. I'm not a killer. I hope you understand." Ash said, a hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned to find three hooded figures aiming swords at his neck. The hooded men across the table were all standing. His hand gripped Silver Faust and cocked it quietly.
"Then you are nothing but a loose end." The hood on his left said smugly. "We don't like loose ends."
"You'd kill me over this?" Ash asked. They all started laughing. For a moment he wanted to laugh too.
"Kid, we'd kill you over a glass of milk if we thought it would help our people." The voice on his right replied. His options were slinking away little by little.
"I stand by what I said." Ash smiled. He motioned to Silver Faust, aimed straight up at the central hood. He seemed to be the local leader. "So, we're at a bit of an impass."
"You have a pair on you kid." Their leader said with a smile. "Is this supposed to be the ace up your sleeve? There are twelve of us in this room alone. You'd be dead after the first shot."
"But you seem like an important enough person, it'd be a shame if something were to happen to you." Ash smirked. The old man leaned forward.
"I thought you said you weren't a killer?" The old man said. He leaned even closer. "Let me tell you what happens to those who anger the white fang. They die, their friends die, their families die. Everything you know will burn until it's nothing but ash. You will lose everything and everyone you love will lose everything. Your company will fall to cinders."
Ash took a deep breath. He scanned the room, there were guns aimed from the shadowy corners. There were swords aimed at him from all sides. His confidence faded, his smile with it. He dies, his father dies, his company dies, his friends die. He didn't like those odds. One shot and he'd go out quietly in a sushi restaurant. The alternative would be to accept. Do this and save a lot of lives. He could hear the fanged hood snarling. He closed his eyes and let in another long breath.
"Fine, I'll do it. No matter what happens afterwords we're through." Ash said. He stood up, he felt the blades move away from his neck. The others bowed slightly.
"Excellent. We will inform you of when to strike, we'll wait until she's in the city." The central hood said. "It would be harder to cover our tracks in Beacon Academy."
"Can I go?" Ash asked. They looked back and forth for a moment.
"You may, but come when you are called." The central hood said with a bow. Ash immediately turned for the door. He could hear the man continuing to talk as he left. "You know the punishment for failure. So if you can't finish the job, do us a favor and turn yourself in willingly. We might show your family mercy. One time offer."
He had to kill Weiss Schnee. He may hate her, but he doesn't hate her that much. He buried his face in his palms. What was he going to do.