Chapter eleven: Sicking solution and alarming reveal
Italics= character thoughts
Nero was not having a good few days. After her first appearance in Oobleck's class, rumours spread around the school of an Atlas student with glowing dust tattoos and weird floating hair. Despite what the fox boy said, they didn't die out, in fact, they only increased. What didn't help was how Weiss was being dragged into it all too. Since Nero followed RWBY everywhere, especially Weiss, people started to think she was some servant of Weiss who came to the school to look after her. The Professors attempted to stamp out the rumours, Port and Oobleck because of how some were starting to become quite ridiculous or hurtful, and Glynda because of what she knew. The Beacon and Shade academy students took the hint and stopped, and Haven didn't seen to care in the first place but the Atlas students couldn't seem to let it go. That was, until Ironwood stepped in. When faced with the General, most students went quite, the few remaining talked exclusively in secret. Nero hated the trouble she was causing everyone.
In the training hall, Weiss continued to try and use Nero's whip. Even though she had been attempting the last three days, she was making little progress. She held the ether whip level to her head and lashed it with a snap of her wrist, Nero grimacing from her technique. After another minute, she couldn't take it and stepped up behind her and took the whip.
"Miss Schnee, umm, that's not how you use a whip…" she reluctantly said, Weiss becoming visible agitated.
"Uwhh! Then how do you use it? That one movie Yang made us watch had a cowboy using his to disarm people like that."
"From that description, that was a lasso, they aren't the same thing." Nero did wide, fast sweeps with the whip "If you are too close to your opponent, then wide sweeps can trip them up, but…" Nero turned to a mannequin and did an over the head chop, the whip's rope following before the bladed spike embedded itself in its head.
"My whip is meant to hurt and harm, not disarm." she pulled the whip back and lashed it forward, the whip wrapping around its arm, before pulling back again and tearing its arm off "Although it can do that if you wish." she finished.
Weiss frowned and looked over at Penny and KOS-MOS. She was firing her cannon, trying to get the hang of the aiming.
"Penny's weapon looks easier to use." she commented.
"An ether cannon is powerful, but relies on accuracy. It may not require an advanced technique, but if you're bad at aiming, then it's useless." Morag stated walking over.
"It's just, I've always used a rapier, practiced fencing. It requires quick, precise stabs, strikes, and the occasional slash. This whip is so, different."
Nero placed her palm on the bottom of her whip, the watery rope, retracting into the handle until it was only a third of its length. She swiped from left to right, the blade responding faster to her movement.
"Miss Schnee, if you are having trouble due to its length, then this may help. Try using it like this. It has a shorter range, but is more like a flexible, short bladed weapon. When you get use to it, then I can extend it, then extend it again until you are used to using its fully two metres." Nero suggested.
"Hmm, this looks more manageable."
After a few fast slashes, the whip's spike slashing two feet in front of her, Weiss' Scroll went off, an alarm to tell when they had to finish.
"Well, we can try this tomorrow, come on Nero, we have homework to finish." Weiss reminded Nero, handing her her whip.
"But I already finished all the of the dust theory for tomorrow. I red that book you gave me too." Nero replied, crossing her arms.
"What about your history?"
"I...don't understand most of that…"
"Then I'll help you." The two left talking, Morag sighing.
Now then, I need to go check on Perun's condition, it's been semi-stable the last few days, hopef- something crashing onto the ground made her turn, interrupting her thought.
Penny was looking sheepishly at a charred mannequin, riddled with holes.
"This thing can be quite a bit more powerful than you think…" she whispered.
"Master, you pressed the vent trigger." KOS-MOS said shaking her head.
I wonder if the Headmaster will be annoyed? Morag asked herself as she stared at the two broken mannequins.
As Nero and Weiss walked towards the exit to the training halls, Weiss heard someone call her. They turned to see Professor Port walking after them.
"Miss Schnee, just the person I was looking for."
"Yes Professor Port, what do you need?" she asked.
"As you may know, the dance is next Sunday, with team CFVY leading the charge with the organization of the event. But unfortunately, their away mission is taking a bit longer than planned."
"How much longer?" Weiss asked.
"Around five days, they will most likely miss the dance, and the preparations are not finished. So, I would like to ask you to finish preparing it. Bring a bit of Schnee class to it."
"That sounds like fun Miss Schn-gah!" Nero was interrupted by someone suddenly using both herself and Weiss as arm rests.
"Oh, sounds fun. I'll help too." Yang said, leaning on both of them smiling.
"M-Miss Xion Long, p-please get off me! You smell horrible!" Nero gasped, the smell of sweat coming off her.
"What? Oh, I just finished my workout and overheard, sorry." Yang got off both of them.
"Anyway Yang, myself and Ne-" "An excellent idea!" Port interrupted Weiss.
"Miss Schnee can bring class and Miss Xion Long can bring fun to the dance!"
"Hey!" Weiss yelled.
"The venue Miss Scarlatina picked was Beacon's ballroom, as you might have guessed. I would check on the progress they made before their mission. Well, happy planning." Port finished, walking off.
"Yang, he asked m-" "Give me ten minutes and we'll all head over to check tonight." Yang cut her off, running into the changing room.
"Don't worry Miss Schnee, she probably won't be too extreme." Weiss' face deadpanned "Right?" Nero finished, nervously.
Perun staggered around her room, finally getting her coordination back after several days of practice. She sat down on the bed, her growing exhaustion from her inability to absorb the dust in the air slowly growing worse. She sighed.
"This is bad...if I can't fix this problem, I might…" she shook her head "No, stop that Perun! This could be worse."
Perun closed her eyes, focusing on her core, the dull pain flaring up as she did. She attempted to absorb the dust, only to find the pain worsening to the point she had to stop and began gasping, the pain unbearable. She punched the bed.
Damn it! Why won't it work!?
She heard the door open and Poppi wandered in, a smile across her face.
"Perun, Poppi have idea." she smiled transforming into her alpha form.
She grabbed her side belt that she had taken off her qtπ form when she had changed into the Atlas uniform. She opened a satchel and took out a container.
"Friend said could not absorb energy from air, but Poppi remember function that can help."
Poppi's chest opened up, exposing her ether furnace, two ports visible. She plugged the container into one.
"Poppi not use a lot of ether lately, so Poppi drain extra ether for Perun. Cannot make too many many, but maybe it help." she explained unhooking the container, now glowing greeny yellow.
"Poppi, are you sure that's okay?"
Poppi nodded as she hooked up a second, handing Perun the first.
"How do I…?" Poppi walked over and grabbed Perun's hand, shoving the container to her mouth.
Perun swallowed a bit before pushing her back, coughing and spluttering.
"P-Poppi! Don't do that! You could have just said drink it." Perun scowled.
Poppi looked dejected.
"Meh...sorry, Poppi just trying to help."
Perun sighed, looking at the ether.
It may help...a bit. I don't think you're meant to drink ether though.
Perun looked over at Poppi, who had a wide eyed stare, waiting. Perun inhaled sharply and drank some of the ether...and instantly lurched forward, nearly vomiting.
"T-That was revolting!" Perun coughed, clutching her stomach.
After a few seconds, it died down and she actually felt a little better. A little. Poppi continued to stare, rocking on her heels as she undid the second container. Perun forced the rest down, clearly disgusted.
"Does friend feel better?" Poppi asked.
After a few seconds, Perun nodded, too sicked to speak. Her exhaustion lessened after another few seconds, but her sickened stomach hung around. Then they heard the door open as Morag stepped in, raising an eyebrow at the scene in front of her.
"What is going on here?" she asked.
"Poppi wish to help friend, so Poppi give spare ether from ether furnace."
"Hmm, well, did it help?" Morag asked, curious.
"Somewhat…(gah)...it isn't a final, or perfect solution, it tastes terrible…" Perun whispered, grimacing "Oh Architect...I'm gonna vomit!" she finished, holding her mouth.
"I don't think this will work Poppi."
"I-I'm okay...it's fading…" Perun added "If I can get past that part, it actually helps."
"Maybe making Perun's tummy sad bad solution…" Poppi wondered spinning the second ether container in her hand.
Perun staggered to her feet, her nausea fading completely. She walked over uneasily.
"Morag, if this removes my inability to produce energy from my current condition, then I belief it is worth it. I can walk...mostly and if I only have to drink one or two a day, then I'll take it over sitting here fading away."
"Poppi think only have enough of one bottle a day, extra ether came from Poppi not doing much."
"Perun, (sigh), I won't stop you from drinking these" she grabbed the container "but if they start to negatively affect you, apart from the near vomiting, then stop, understood?"
Perun nodded as Morag handed her the container.
"Now, what about your weapon?"
Perun didn't answer, only looking away.
"Please try." Morag asked.
Perun pulled out a weapon core, it was missing part of itself. She formed her megalance, the ice melting and the weapon decolouring, becoming brittle. She snapped it's shaft with ease.
"My weapon is broken...no matter how much I try, it just...fails."
"May I see?"
Perun generated another weapon core and handed it to Morag. Examining it, it seemed to flicker in a similar frequency to Perun's core. As she held it, her wound began emit a bit of pain, but as it did, the core's flickering stopped. After another few seconds, Morag attempted to summon the lance. The weapon formed, the head's ice melting briefly before stopping, slowly reforming.
"Well, this is unexpec-" she suddenly fell forward, the pain worsening before disappearing.
She blinked twice, using the lance to balance. Poppi waved her arms excitedly.
"Weapon not break! Poppi surprised!"
Morag stood up straight, looking at Poppi.
"Poppi, your shield please."
Poppi summoned her shield and Morag stroke it full force, the ice cracking before reharding.
"There is a bit of a weakness to it, but…" Morag folded the weapon up and clipped it to her back "I believe it is serviceable."
"What did you do?" Perun asked, shocked.
"I don't know, but we should take it as a good sign. Now, I need to report to the General about Weiss and Penny's practice. Perun, do you wish to come and get out of this room?"
"Yes." she stepped forward, her knees wobbling.
Morag grabbed her hand.
"Allow me to help."
"Poppi will hold other hand." Poppi added turning back into her qtπ form, grabbing the other.
"Thanks, both of you." Perun smiled.
Team RWBY and Nero sat in the seating area of the sparring arena. Professor Goodwitch walked, her usually semi-frown on her face. She looked around the room.
"Well children, I hope you are all ready, because unless anyone wishes to spar with another, I will be choosing combatants." she announced.
Several groups all began to mutter amongest themselves. After a minute, a boy stood up.
"Yes Mr Winchester? Is there someone you wish to spar with?" Glynda asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to fight...her." he pointed at Nero, who looked surprised.
"Me?"
"Yeah, I want a bit of playback for my 'accident'" he stated with an annoyed smirk.
He knew it was me that splashed him? Well, Mr Fox saw me...so it's possible. I should have been more careful. Nero thought.
"Mr Winchester, are you sure you want to fight-" "Yeah, I'm certain." he cut her off, Glynda becoming visibly annoyed.
"All right…" she said, unsure.
"Be careful Nero." Weiss warned.
Nero nodded. As her opponent left to get his weapon, Nero simply jumped over the ledge, into the arena. She walked over to Glynda, spinning her unextended whip on a single finger. Glynda walked over and leaned in close to her.
"Please refrain from using anything that-" Nero generated her water skirt mid-sentence "will attract attention…" she finished.
Instantly, the students began whisper and chatter.
"Woah, that's cool!" "How'd she do that?" "She probably has dust in her shorts." "She really likes dust, it's in her clothes and skin?"
Glynda silenced everyone with a snap of her crop. Nero spotted Weiss facepalming. She laughed nervously as the boy came out of a tunnel off to the side, mace in hand. She extended her whip as she smirked.
"I hope you're ready girl."
"I am Mr Winchester, show me how you fight."
"Let the match between Nero and Cardin begin!"
Cardin rushed her as soon as Glynda finished, swinging his mace at Nero with surprising speed. Nero ducked under it and rolled to the side, dodging a downward smash. She leapt back a few feet and began to swing her whip rapidly, Cardin barely dodging the slashing spike head. She did a twirl and snapped her at his foot, the watery rope wrapping around his ankle. Nero pulled back and tripped Cardin up, dragging him across the ground before using her whip to throw him across the room. He hit the ground and skid across it before jumping to his feet. He looked unamused.
"Huh, that all you got? Throwing me around?" he laughed, clearly unimpressed.
Nero answered with quick alternating vertical attacks, her whip's blade slashing Cardin repeatedly, his aura blocking the attacks. He charged Nero, who found her attacks became increasingly harder to land due to how long her rope was. He tanked another few attacks before commencing his assault. He swung hard and fast, almost wildly, lacking any strategy other then attack. Nero pulled her whip back and avoided his swings, blocking a few with her whip's handle. She wished to use her shield, but Glynda had asked her not to use any of her abilities. Nero couldn't get far enough away to even catch a break. Finally, Cardin hit his mark, his mace striking Nero square in the cheek, blade first. The force sent her flying, a soft crack coming from the impact point. Nero spun in the air and landed, holding her face.
He cracked my cheek bone! Ow...
Nero barely had time to nurse it as Cardin chased her down, still swinging wildly. Nero blocked an attack with her whip's spike, sparks flying.
"I don't have to use it as a whip you know?"
Cardin glanced down at her as she pushed him back and slashed his chestplate with her unextended whip, her surprise attack cutting the metal. She smiled as her cheek healed. Cardin, enraged, lashed out at her, grabbing her hair.
"H-Hey! Let go!" as Nero yelled as Cardin pulled her back and let go.
He took the chance he made and swung his mace at her shoulder, a visceral crunch echoing through the arena as he shattered her shoulder and collarbone, Nero staggering back screaming. The whole student audience gasped at the sound, Weiss almost jumping out of her seat. Cardin wasn't finished though, he ran in to attack again, ignoring Glynda ordering him to stop. He swung again, but was surprised by what Nero did.
She blocked it...with her hand.
The force made the mace's blade dig into her hand, the sudden stop making Cardin flinch. She glared at him, her pupilless purple eyes unnerving him.
"Cardin...I would advise you not to underestimate your opponents…" she growled, an empty smile creeping across her face.
"W-What t-the...how…? Your shoulder…?" he whispered.
"What, this? It's just pain...I've the fortitude to endure that." she laughed dryly.
Cardin stepped back, Nero's sudden change creeping him out. The mace was left in her hand, her crippled shoulder healing enough to enable her to rip it free. She threw it aside as Cardin backed away from her.
"Well, shall we continue Mr Winchester?" she asked, her face and expression returning to normal.
To emphasise the point, she aimed her whip at him, the spike launching out of the handle, slashing his cheek and embedding itself in the wall a metre behind him. Cardin swallowed, before sprinting over to his mace and running out of the arena. Nero sighed before wincing, her shoulder flaring up with pain as it healed.
"Well, I believe the winner of this match is Nero. I would suggest going to the nurse's office to get your shoulder checked though." Glynda added with sideways glare.
Nero nodded as Weiss stood up and raised her hand.
"Yes Miss Schnee?"
"May I go with her to make sure she's okay?" Weiss asked.
"Of course. Make sure she makes it there safe."
Weiss jumped down and joined Nero as she left, more chattering coming from the students. A mix of worry, adoration and a hint of fear spread around the room from Nero's display of tranquil fury. Weiss sighed as she heard Glynda ask for another fighter and a boy's voice asked to fight Pyrrha. She turned to Nero.
"Are you okay?!" she asked, worried.
"Don't worry Miss Schnee, my bones will be healed soon, sorry to trouble you."
"N-No...it's fine…"
That sudden change...it was...frightening. I need to ask her about that. Weiss thought as she lead Nero back to her dorm instead of the infirmary, so she could heal in peace...and secret.
AN: Hello, sorry for the delay, my computer is misbehaving. Or for a better explanation, it crapped out on me. I'm trying to use my college to write this stuff, but it's not very good.
I'll be going away next week for two weeks and the internet used to be too bad in the pace I stayed to upload anything, but they supposedly improved it, so it may not matter.
Also, there was a lot of XC2 stuff at E3 and the challenge mode came out with some...interesting characters. The part I really like was the costumes though. Disguised Pyra and Morag in a white uniform, which was weird with how I had Morag wear an Atlas uniform...yeah. I like Pyra style Mythra too.
As for this chapter, it was meant to be a bit longer, but next chapter would be very short, so I cut off a bit from this chapter so I could make the next longer, sorry.
If you have any questions, PM, review, stuff like that, I'll answer as soon as I can.
Finally, that chapter name? I couldn't decide which to use, so I mushed the two together, yeah...I need t get better at naming stuff.
Anyway, enjoy