Interlude 4
Bonjour! I'm back with another chapter, I'm actually getting work done with this story, lol. Anyways back to it…
"Damn that's tiring," said Cassie as she left the infirmary from her daily physio.
"Well, I mean, you've just like woke up from a coma, worsened by the fact your aura was literally zero," responded Ruby.
"True, true. So whatcha wanna do now, since I can't do much on my own?" asked Cassie.
"Oh! Can we test out your arm?" asked Ruby.
"Sure. I mean Opal didn't get to tell me what she did when she made this, but now we get to find out for ourselves," stated Cassie.
The duo made their way to the testing range of Haven academy, only to find it relatively empty due to the start of the semester. During the middle of the day in the middle of the week in the middle of September, it was to be expected.
"Alright, lets go over some of the features that should be standard by now," said Cassie.
"First, the shuriken launcher. Could ya pass me a dust crystal, any type?" asked Cassie to which Ruby gave a burn dust crystal.
Cassie then opened up her forearm and placed the crystal in, causing it to glow red through the plating for a second. She then proceeded to complete the motion commands that created her projectiles. It worked flawlessly as expected from Opal's craftmanship. She threw them at a nearby target and they found their mark just fine. After a half-second they ignited, leaving burn marks where they once were.
"Perfect," said Cassie.
"That's pretty awesome Cassie. What else can that beauty do?" asked Ruby.
"Well it can do this," said Cassie, launching her forearm towards Ruby, who put her arms up to cover her face, expecting to be hit, only it never came. She opened her eyes to see the forearm in front of her face hovering there, with one finger extended. It then poked Ruby on her now exposed nose.
"Boop!" exclaimed Cassie.
"You're just like Nora," said Ruby.
"Relax, I'd never hurt you," said Cassie.
"That's pretty awesome though,"
"Thanks, but from yesterday, I saw it could do something even better," said Cassie, "Let's see if voice commands do anything, 'Arm, do the spinny launcher thing,'"
"Command unknown," responded the arm, "Given Designation: Tornado Crusher. Voice commands are as follows User: Rocket Punch; Standard forearm launch. Star Flurry; Over produces projectiles and launches them all within one second of each other, depletes the current dust crystal. Electro-hook; The electro magnets within your arm will activate carrying you towards the launched forearm. Turbo-Smasher Punch; Launches Forearm, creates dust fins around the arm and launches it with much more force and speed as well as spinning allowing for more penetration power. End."
"Of course those ridiculous names are Opal's, only she could come up with such crazy names. Well let's test them out shall we?" asked Cassie.
"Sure thing. Oh can I try a voice command?" asked Ruby.
"Go ahead, I'm just not sure if it will respond to you," said Cassie.
"Star Flurry!" exclaimed Ruby, hoping for something to happen.
"Star Flurry," stated Cassie, to which the arm responded by readying itself and unleashing a torrent of throwing stars at the target Cassie was facing.
"Dang it," said Ruby.
"Guess it doesn't like you. Let's try this; Rocket Punch," said Cassie launching her arm towards a monkey bar. She wanted it to grasp the bar to which it did. "Electro-hook," stated Cassie, feeling her upper arm start to be pulled towards the forearm. It lifted her with ease and ended up attaching itself to the forearm which remained grasping the bar as it connected with it's master.
"Whoa! That's so cool!" exclaimed Ruby.
"Shit! I did not think that through, there's no way I'm making a landing from this high up, without aura or leg strength," said Cassie.
"Um, I'll try to get you down," said Ruby.
"You sure?" asked Cassie.
"Yup," said Ruby. The cloaked girl used her semblance to boost herself up to Cassie, grabbing her, then letting herself fall. Only to use her semblance to booster herself at a slight angle above the floor, enough to negate the downwards momentum. "Told you I'd get you down," said Ruby holding Cassie bridal style.
"You sure did," said Cassie, looking up at her friend smiling. Ruby looking down doing the same thing.
"What did I walk into?" asked Yang, as she saw the two girls.
"Well we were testing out Cassie's new arm and she ended up getting stuck on the monkey bars up there, then I had to get her down," said Ruby.
"My hero," said Cassie.
"What got you up there though?" said Yang.
"The electro magnets in my arm. Catch!" said Cassie, launching her arm at Yang with low velocity. The girl in question caught it with ease.
"Alright, can you hold it just above my wheelchair?" asked Cassie, Yang obliging.
"Electro hook," she muttered, hearing her upper arm ready up. She was pulled quickly over to the arm and it reattached, leaving her right above the wheelchair.
"Whoa, that's pretty cool," said Yang.
"It is, but could you set me down please?" asked Cassie. Yang proceeded to gently place Cassie back in the wheelchair.
"You didn't seem to eager to let Ruby put you down," whispered Yang.
"That's because she's cooler than you," stated Cassie. This left Yang flabbergasted. Someone thought that Ruby was cooler than her, this never happened.
"What did you just say?" asked Yang.
"Your. Sister. Is. Cooler. Than. You." Stated Cassie bluntly.
"Wha-," was all Yang could say.
"And you said I wasn't cool," said Ruby.
"You should've seen the way she got me down, it was pretty epic. I don't think you could've pulled it off," said Cassie.
"It's okay, Yang. Only a little bit of bruising to you're ego," said Ruby.
"Whatever, anyways the main reason I came here was to ask if you guys wanted to eat something, it's about lunch time, so you wanna come with?" asked Yang.
"Sure, Ruby you don't mind pushing me?" asked Cassie.
"Not at all," said Ruby.
The three made their way over to the cafeteria relatively quickly. They saw that it was packed due to it being lunch time and all. Ruby and Yang saw some familiar faces sitting with Wiess, Ren and Nora. There with the trio were team CFVY and three members of team SSSN, Sun being absent.
"'Sup guys," greeted Yang.
"Hey, Yang," greeted everyone.
"Who's the new chick with Ruby?" asked Coco.
"The name's Cassandra Aotatsu, just call me Cass," responded Cassie.
"Well I'm Coco Adel, meet the team. This red-head over here's named Fox, the Brunette's name is Velvet, and tall and silent beside her's named Yatsuhashi, just call him Yatsu," said Coco.
"The name's Neptune, de-facto leader of team SSSN," said Neptune, "Beside me with the red hair is Scarlet, and beside him is Sage, nice to meet you."
"Likewise," responded Cassie.
"So we've heard a little bit from these three about you, but we wanted to hear from the real deal. So, did you, ya know actually almost die?" asked Coco.
"Coco, don't be insensitive," chastised Velvet.
"It's fine, but yes that's true," said Cassie.
"I had heard that you were able to produce dragons as part of your semblance, is this true?" asked Yatsu.
"Yup, I don't even know the full extent of my semblance though, but it does relate to dragons. That much I know," said Cassie.
"Interesting, do you know of the origin of your parents?" asked Yatsu.
"Well, see I don't know if my parents are alive or dead for that matter," responded Cassie.
"I am truly sorry," stated Yatsu.
"No harm done, I've gotten used to it," said Cassie.
"Well let's switch topics shall we, um what Hunter academy to you go to?" asked Neptune.
"None," she responded.
"Okay, wait, how old are you?" asked Neptune.
"Fifteen," she responded.
"Oh, what combat school are you training at?" asked Neptune.
"None, but if you're asking about my occupation, I'm an Atlas Specialist," responded Cassie.
"What?" asked both team CFVY and SSSN.
"She's not lying, she was tasked as my bodyguard before being tasked here in Mistral," said Wiess.
"Damn, you're something special kid," said Coco.
"Wow," said Neptune.
"Smooth Nep," said Sage.
"Cassandra, you're name appears to be of Mistralian ancestry. Both Ren and I share in that. Ren has told me about your auric problems, might I suggest that we try a method of aura rekindling?" asked Yatsu.
"Anything to help get me back on my feet," said Cassie, "Hey Ruby, wanna tag along?"
"Sure," responded Ruby.
"You don't mind right?" asked Cassie.
"Not at all," responded Yatsu.
"Cool," said Cassie.
"Ooh, you get some time with two hunks Cass, good going," said Coco.
"I see what you're thinking Coco, but I don't swing that way if you know what I mean," responded Cassie, "Does that bother any of you?"
"Not at all," they responded.
"I'll take your place," said Yang suggestively.
"Nonsense," said Yatsu, "This would only provide benefit for her as she is the one with an auric condition, an aura induced state of weakness rather. None of which would benefit any of you here at this table."
"This might be a little off topic, but could someone grab me a little something to eat?" asked Cassie, "I'd do it myself, but you can see that might be difficult."
"As I have already eaten, I shall bring you a meal, and as Ruby is your acting caretaker I shall bring her one as well," said Yatsu.
"Thanks Yatsu," said Cassie.
"It is not a problem," he stated as he walked off.
"You know something?" asked Yang.
"What? asked everyone.
"Ruby's gotten pretty tall, mind standing Ruby?" asked Yang.
Her sister complied standing next to her at her full height, and Yang was right. Ruby now stood just one inch shorter than her older sister. "Damn Ruby, you grew like five inches from the time I saw you last."
"The milk really paid off!" exclaimed Ruby.
"Nice going Ruby. Class is about to start, so the we have to head out, see ya later," said Coco as Yatsuhashi returned with the food. With that team CFVY left.
"Same with us, peace guys," said Neptune as team SSSN got up to go to class as well. Within the next few minutes the cafeteria emptied out.
"Well, that just leaves us," said Yang.
"How did you get here Yang?" asked Ren, "You were lucky to make it here when you did."
"That is very true, well I got to Mistral by boat, and I brought Bumblebee along with me to make the trip here quicker, and thank Oum I did. I don't think Ruby and Jaune would've been able to take that thing on their own, and well the whole… Pyrrha situation would've made quick work of the other two, sorry Ruby," said Yang.
"No, you're right," said Ruby, "The only two fit to fight her were Cassie and Uncle Qrow."
"Cassandra, Pyrrha said that, she said that you should've won the fight, she said you were winning until you could see her face, then you went on the defensive, why?" asked Ren.
"I can slay Grimm any time, but I can't do that to a person, I just can't. I always try to go for the least painful way of incapacitating my enemy, but in this case she was too strong for that. I couldn't bring myself to hurt her..." said Cassie.
"I see," said Ren, "You are not as bad of a person that you make yourself out to be, this shows it."
"Maybe…" respond Cassie.
"Chin-up, Cass. Hell you fought better than any us," said Yang.
"Thanks," said Cassie.
"You've done a lot for us in the little time that we've known you, Cassandra. When I was not in a right state of mind you made sure to let Nora remove me from the area, thereby making it safer for the others. If I had done something rash in that state…" said Ren.
"He could've got himself or one of us really hurt," Nora finished for him, "It means a lot to me that you didn't let him fight the way he was. You may not know it, but if something happened to Ren, I don't know what I would've done."
"Cassandra, you seem to not know it, but the things you've for us were, are not meaningless no matter what you think of them. You seem to think more of others than yourself, which can be seen in your actions. I ask this of you because we feel the need to. Please take care of yourself," said Ren.
"Why are you guys so worried?" asked Cassie.
"Because we know you'll put us before you," said Ruby, "Look, Cassie, I don't want you to just throw yourself at just anything that'll hurt us."
"You don't know that," responded Cassie.
"I do. Uncle Qrow's told me a lot about you. I know you had a rough time as a kid, but he says you do everything for other people, and rarely for yourself. Even in the littlest of ways. He told me about the kid you gave your first paycheck to even though you needed it. He told me about how fifty percent of all the money you make goes to orphanages. He told me you get by well enough. From the way you spend you're money it's clear that you're not the number one priority. After everything you've done for us we just want you to look after yourself for once, sometimes being so selfless isn't a good thing," said Ruby.
"I guess so… If that's what you want Ruby, I'll do it. If it makes you feel better, I'll try to take better care of myself. Although having you taking care of me is great," said Cassie.
"What can I say, learned from the greatest sister!" said Ruby, "Up top!"
Yang reciprocated with a huge smile and thumbs up, "Guess we got ourselves a keeper!"
"You're sticking with us right Cassie?" asked Ruby.
"I'm in it for the long haul," responded Cassie.
If you can't tell, a lot of the inspiration for Cassie's arm comes from the Mazinger Z series as well as the Mazinkaiser and Mazinkaiser SKL Mecha animes. Loved those shows, literally my childhood. Anyhow, wrote this in my spare time between studying physics and math, so tell me if there are any issues, I'll be sure to fix them when I get the chance.
-Peace, Myrillis