Chapter 34
They sat in the airship as it flew over the forest. Their mission would be taking them outside Vale and to the outskirts of an abandoned city. The downed airship was somewhere in the city, and that's what their team had to find.
"I don't trust the city." Blake said "It's supposedly uninhabited."
"That means just bandits and possibly some raiders." Ren told her
"We can always parachute in." Ethan said turning around to face them "Instead of landing."
"Hell no." Blake said before looking over at Pyrrha "You alright?"
"I just have a bad feeling that something is going to happen." She told Blake
Shortly after a red spear came flying up from the forest and towards Ethan. He spun around and caught it. Ethan took a look at it then laughed.
"What's wrong?" Ren asked him
"I'll see you guys at the drop zone. Blake, you're in charge." He said before jumping out the back of the airship
They all just looked at what their leader did and just stared at where he was.
"Look's like you were right." Blake said to Pyrrha
Ethan landed on the ground still holding the spear. He looked up and saw a person with a white baseball jacket and jeans looking at him. His blonde hair moving with the wind as he walked over to Ethan.
"Sup Ethan." They said
"Ares? Why are you here?" Ethan asked him
"Ozpin sent me. After realizing the danger that was truly in the city he sent me here." Ares said extending a hand "Now can I have my spear back?"
Ethan handed him the spear and looked at him.
"What?" Ares asked
"Why would Ozpin send you. Last I checked we didn't fake your death for nothing." Ethan said leaning up against a tree
"Beats me. All I know is that there is an underlying evil in the city." Ares said
"You felt it too?" Ethan asked him
"Yeah. This whole place is full of it. Now, let's go meet up with the rest of your team." Ares said walking towards the drop zone
Ethan rolled his eyes and followed him. This was going to be unbearable for Ethan.
Pyrrha looked around as she got off the airship and saw two people waiting for them. She recognized Ethan sitting on a tree stump, but didn't recognize the second person. Ren and Blake followed her off the airship and saw the two before them. The pilot took off and told them to radio when they needed a lift back. Ren's eyes never left Ares, as the two had a bad history.
"Sup Ren." Ares said
"Why the hell are you here? Last time we worked together Nora was almost killed." Ren told him
"She lived though!" Ares said pointing at Ren
"Guys, would you two calm down?" Ethan said from the stump "Like or not we have to work together. Ozpin sent him here because the threat in the town got worse than just bandits and raiders. Monsters have been seen going in and making camp there."
He jumped off the stump and began his walk toward the city, Blake and Pyrrha not far behind him. Pyrrha walked up his side and looked at him.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked her still looking forward
"I don't trust this city." She told him "And who is that guy?"
"That's Ares. He's a pain in the ass but a damn good fighter." Ethan told her
Blake appeared on his other side and would look back to see Ares and Ren arguing.
"Why do they bicker so much?" Ethan asked
"They were both in love with Nora last year. Then around the time of winter break, Ares started receiving solo missions. He got jealous of Ren for getting to spend time with her. So on group missions he would always try outlandish plans to get her attention." Blake told him "They should be fine in a couple minutes and go back to being friends."
"One can hope." Ethan laughed
"The tournament's still going on right?" Pyrrha asked
"Yup, round 2 is tomorrow. I just can't wait for the doubles round after winter break." Ethan said "That means I need a partner."
"What about us?" Blake asked him
"Yeah, but we know Ren and Nora are going to team up. I figured Pyrrha and you would team up. I don't feel like asking anyone on Team BNRV. I might ask Ares if he wants to be my partner, we have similar fighting styles. I think I'll ask Ares." Ethan said
Blake smacked him upside the head and laughed.
"Ouch?" He said
"We're here." They heard Ares say as they entered the city
They drew their weapons and walked to the next street. Ethan pulled out his phone and used it to guide them to the flight recorder. Ares saw the downed airship crashed in what appeared to be a high school. Ethan and Pyrrha approached it before realizing where they were.
"Ethan…" Pyrrha said looking at him
"We're home." He said "Or at least what's left of it."
He shook his head and kept moving forward.
"Pyrrha and Blake watch the outside. Ren, Ares and I will enter the school and obtain the flight recorder." Ethan said walking into the school
"Ren," Blake said stopping him "keep an eye on him."
Ren nodded and ran after Ares into the building.
Nora and Blaire were sitting in their room reading, when they heard a knock on the door. Blaire sighed and got up from her bed to answer it. Opening the door she saw a man with a red jacket and blue hair.
"Hey, have either of you guys seen Rosaria?" He asked them
"First off, who are you?" Blaire asked him
"I'm Neptune." He said putting his hand on his chest and bowing to her
"Neptune?" Nora asked jumping off her bed
"Oh no." He said as she hugged him and tackled him
"Where have you been?!" Nora exclaimed as she pinned him to the ground "I have so much to tell you!"
"Can you get off me?" He asked her
Nora climbed off of him and helped him stand. He moved a few feet away from her should she do anything else random.
"Why are you looking for Rosaria?" Nora asked
"She forgot her shirt at my room." He said before realizing what he just said "Wait, that came out wrong!"
Nora and Blaire both laughed. Nora collapsed onto the floor laughing, Blaire simply leant up against the door frame. Nora stood up and looked at Neptune, then she crossed her arms.
"Alright mister, explain the situation." Nora said
"So we were walking back from lunch when she tripped and landed in one of the fountains. After helping her out and covering her with my jacket, she asked if I had spare clothes she could borrow. So I led her back to my room and gave her some clothes of mine to wear, mainly just my spare pajamas. I waited outside as she changed and then she left. I swear that was it." He told them
"Well not all of it." Rosaria said from behind him "You forgot about the goodbye kiss."
"Rose!" He exclaimed
"Oh, Rosaria. We simply can't let you date such guys like these. Come inside and we will have a long talk about the guys you should date." Nora said slinging her arm around her and leading her inside their room
Blaire grabbed Rosaria's shirt from Neptune and closed the door. He sighed and walked back to his team's room. Talking to himself about how weird those girls are.
Rosaria sat on her bed. Nora and Blaire sitting opposite her.
"You like him?" Blaire exclaimed
"Kinda yeah." She replied
Nora sighed and looked at her.
"Be careful around him. We don't you to have your heart broken." Nora told her
"He's such a gentleman though. It's hard not to fall for him." Rosaria said flopping backwards onto her bed
Nora got up and walked over to her. Rosaria looked up at her. Nora smiled and became her normal self.
"That settles that. What do we want to spend the rest of the day doing?" Nora asked jumping on her bed
"Guys, there's a problem." Velvet said entering the room
"What's wrong?" Blaire asked her
"Team BERP's signal was lost upon entering an abandoned city. We've been called in." Velvet said as she picked up her sword
"I'm coming with you." Neptune said from the door "My teammate is also there, the rest of my team will help you out."
"Who is your team exactly?" Nora asked him "And have you been standing there the whole time?"
"We're Team Greece. We consist of Ares, Artemis, Mercury, and myself." He said as they all entered the room "And we always take care of our own."
Ethan grabbed the flight recorder from under the pilot's seat. He looked back to see Ren and Ares making a barricade. Blake and Pyrrha reported a horde of goblins coming towards them. Ethan jumped out of the cockpit and landed in the hallway. Blake and Pyrrha had made a makeshift path should they need to escape. The airship was crashed in the second floor, and the cockpit was facing down at them. This allowed for them to make a staircase should they need to escape. They can get onto the roof and defend their.
"How many ways can they get in from?" Ethan asked them
"Only this way. Luckily the wing fell off and blocked the other side of us." Ren said as he put a stone down on the barricade
"Does Beacon still receive our signal?" Blake asked "Maybe they can send help."
"They lost our signal an hour ago. Help should already be on its way." Ares said loading an assault rifle they found in the dropship
"We use guns to keep them at bay, if they get close switch to melee." Ethan said loading a magazine into a sniper rifle
Blake turned her weapon into her tec-9 and Pyrrha changed hers into it's rifle mode. They took up a spot behind the barricade and Ethan sat in the cockpit. They remained hidden as they heard the goblins enter the school yard. Ethan aimed down his scope and watched the staircase, that they would enter from. They heard the sounds get louder and a goblin entered the second floor using the staircase. A shot was heard and the goblin's head exploded. Ethan pulled the lever back and loaded another bullet into the chamber. The goblins downstairs heard this and started running up the stairs.
"Here they come." Ethan said as he fired again
The team popped up from the barricade and opened fire as the goblins poured onto the floor. They came in through the windows and the stairs. Most of them had swords, but a few had bows. Arrows whizzed by the team as they kept their stream of fire on the enemy.
"Reloading!" Ares yelled "Cover me!"
He put in a fresh magazine and popped back up from hiding. He popped up as an arrow landed in his shoulder. He pulled it out and continued to shoot the goblins. Ethan ran out of ammo and threw the sniper down on the ground, he jumped down and looked at Ares.
"Toss me the spear!" Ethan yelled over the gunfire
Ares nodded and tossed him his spear. Ethan twirled the spear and jumped over the barricade. He stood in front as his team stopped firing to watch him. A goblin ran up to him and he moved the spear with inhuman speed, cutting the goblin's head off. Ethan twirled the spear before dashing into the group of goblins running at him.
"Fall back!" Ren yelled as he saw the rest of the team panting
"But Ethan's still fighting." Pyrrha said shooting a goblin
"He'll be fine!" Ares said reloading his gun "But we need to get out of here!"
Ren stood up and received an arrow to the chest. He fell down and Blake caught him.
"Ren's hit!" She yelled
Ares moved over to her and pulled out the arrow. He then helped Blake drag him into the airship cockpit.
"Take him to the roof, I'll be there soon." He told her as an arrow pierced his leg, causing him to fall backwards
Pyrrha helped him up and she started to climb into the airship cockpit when she felt it move. She quickened her movements and made it to the roof.
"Where's Ares?" Blake asked her
Pyrrha ran back into the ship and saw him lying against the floor of the cockpit with two arrows sticking out his back. She pulled him up and dragged him through the rest of the ship, using her other hand to climb up. Blake grabbed his arms and pulled him up onto the roof. She pulled the arrows out and threw them away.
"We just need to wait for Ethan now." Blake said
Pyrrha stood up and climbed back down into the ship, she saw Ethan still fighting. He was cut up and had arrows sticking out of his arms and back. Ethan kicked the goblin in the leg and cut its head off. He spun the spear and stabbed another goblin. They kept coming at him, and he was managing to hold them off at first. Now he was fighting for his life as one wrong move would result in him getting killed. He felt a sword pierce his chest, and he spun around and killed the goblin. He slowly made his way back to the barricade and jumped back over. He saw Pyrrha and he fell onto his knees. He fell over and laid there motionless. Pyrrha was about to jump down when she heard Nora.
"You hurt my Ren!" She yelled smacking a group of goblins with her hammer
Neptune jumped over her and shot three goblins with his weapon. Mercury punched a goblin and sent it flying back into another.
"Artemis, you and Rosaria make it up to the roof. I have a feeling that's where they are." He said punching another goblin
The two archers ran through the goblin horde, shooting arrows and kicking them aside. They reached the barricade and Rosaria saw Ethan's body.
"Ethan!" She said checking his pulse "He's still alive!"
She pulled the sword out and saw Pyrrha in the airship. Artemis climbed up and made it to the roof. Rosaria threw Ethan into the cockpit and Pyrrha dragged him up to her. She made it inside the ship and helped Pyrrha get Ethan up to the roof. Artemis was sitting next to Ares when she saw Pyrrha.
"What happened?" Artemis asked moving her silver hair out her eyes and behind her ear
"A goblin horde ambushed us. We were lucky to have survived." Pyrrha replied
"Well, the pilot should be coming soon. Velvet and Blaire stayed on the ship incase it got attacked." Rosaria said
Mercury joined them on the roof, Artemis noticed the cuts across his body.
"We need to leave, and soon." He said passing out
She caught him and laid him next to Ares. Neptune and Nora joined the others on the roof, shortly after. Neptune turned around and shot into the airship. The goblins started to climb into the ship, but were stopped by Neptune.
"Where is the evac?" He asked them
A goblin shot an arrow and it grazed his cheek. Neptune turned back and shot it almost instantly.
"We need to get out of here!" Artemis said aiding Neptune
The airship for their evacuation was seen overhead and lowered itself so the ramp was touching the roof. Velvet and Blaire ran out and grabbed the wounded, Velvet grabbed Ren and Blaire grabbed Ares. Blake picked up Mercury and Pyrrha picked up Ethan. They ran inside the airship and strapped the wounded into the seats. Rosaria ran in and Artemis followed her in. Neptune slowly made his way in, he turned to run and a goblin made it up to the roof. He threw Ares's red spear at Neptune. It pierced Neptune as he made it into the ship. Artemis shot the goblin with an arrow and the ramp closed. Rosaria pulled the spear out and began chanting elvish magic to heal him. She saw the wound closing and heard him pass out.
"Did we at least get the flight recorder?" Blake asked
"I wouldn't have left it behind." Rosaria said lifting it up "I grabbed it after I threw Ethan into the ship."
Pyrrha sat next to Ethan the whole flight. She had his head on her shoulder and her arms wrapped around him. She and Blake both made mental notes to talk to Ozpin about the mission when they got back to Beacon.
Blake and Pyrrha both stood outside Professor Ozpin's office. They waited for Professor Goodwitch to leave before they entered, instead what happened was they were told to come in. Blake and Pyrrha stood in front of Ozpin's desk. He looked at the two girls before asking his question.
"How may I help you two ladies today?" He asked
"We were wondering why you would send our team single handedly on a mission that almost got us all killed." Pyrrha told him
Blake and Professor Goodwitch were amazed at how serious Pyrrha was.
"I did not anticipate the goblin horde to move that fast." Ozpin replied "That was why I sent Ares along, but clearly even him and Ethan combined were not a match against the horde."
"We're lucky the reinforcements got there when they did." Blake said "Any sooner and we might have been dead."
"We sent the signal to the other two teams as soon as we lost your signal. The pilot was given direct orders to take them straight there." Ozpin told them
"Also, when were you planning on telling us our hometown was destroyed?" Pyrrha asked him
"I only recently found out that your town was destroyed. It appeared to be the works of the goblin horde." He told her "I am truly sorry you had to find out this way. How is the rest of your team doing?"
"Ethan still hasn't woken up. Ren is being smothered by Nora. As for Team Greece," Blake told him "Artemis seems to be taking care of them very well. Blaire and Rosaria have been helping her."
"I figured letting them rest in their own rooms would be a good idea. It seems I was right." Ozpin said "Now if you ladies will excuse me, I am needed in the conference room."
Blake and Pyrrha left Ozpin's office, they then proceeded to walk back to their room. Pyrrha opened the door and saw Ethan sitting on his bed, his back to them. She looked at the bandage wrapped around his back, and he noticed them enter.
"You're finally up." Blake said hugging her brother
"I just woke up a few minutes ago. My chest hurts like hell." He said trying to stand but fell back down
Pyrrha decided to go get something to cheer him up. She left the room and walked down to the garden where they kissed after the dance. She saw a fox limping across the path and she knelt down to help it. She saw that it had needles stuck in it's paw. Pyrrha soothed the animal as she removed the needles. After removing the last one she pet the fox and it licked her face. Then the fox ran off down the hill and into the forest. She looked up and saw the moon shining down on her. Walking into the garden she saw an apple hanging from a tree. She reached up and pulled it down. Feeling like that would do the trick, she ran back to her room. Opening the door, Pyrrha saw Ethan sleeping on his bed. Blake pulled up a chair to watch him, but she too was asleep. Pyrrha smiled and put the apple on his dresser. She noticed Ren was gone and stuck her head into the room across the hall. Ren lay fast asleep in Nora's bed. But she was asleep in a chair holding his hand.
"Everything alright Pyrrha?" Velvet asked her from the hall
"Yeah, I was just checking up on Ren. Where are Blaire and Rosaria?" Pyrrha asked closing their door
"They've been staying at Team Greece's room. They really like those boys, it's somewhat scary." Velvet laughed "You should get some rest, we've all had rough days today."
Pyrrha wished her goodnight and walked into her own room. She changed into a red tank top and put gym shorts on instead of her usual hoodie and sweatpants. She climbed up into her bed and wrapped herself in the blanket. Closing her eyes she fell asleep, but only to be woken up due to a nightmare later.
Pyrrha stood on the arena floor, Ethan across from her. He produced Hell's Blade and pointed it at her. Pyrrha readied her spear and shield in response. He rushed her and she blocked his attack. In a quick swipe he knocked the shield out her hand. She lunged with her spear, but he caught it and pulled her toward him. He headbutted her and she landed on the ground. Tossing the spear aside Ethan raised his blade and brought it down.
Pyrrha shot up in her bed and looked around her body. She had no marks indicating that her dream was real. She noticed the ring glow and she looked at it. It pulsed three times then stopped. Pyrrha looked under her bed and saw Blake in Ethan's bed with her arm over him. His big sister was protecting him even in his sleep. Ethan found it annoying having to wake up to her in his bed on some nights. But it was only when he was badly hurt that she would do it. Pyrrha smiled then went back to sleep.