The Volume 2 arc begins. Our young Huntsmen and Huntresses are going to facing bigger and badder challenges. But first, the funniest fight in the series. Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY or Devil May Cry.
Chapter 11: Remains of Childhood
Mercury and Emerald walked through the streets of Vale, Emerald scanning the signposts to try finding where they are. "You sure we're not lost?," Mercury asked. Emerald then spotted a shopkeeper hanging up a "re-opening" sign on his store, From Dust Till Dawn. Seeing the old man start to slip off his step-ladder, Emerald quickly moved to help the old man. "Thanks, young lady," the shopkeeper. "No problem," Emerald replied, "Listen, maybe you can help me and my friend out. See, we're new in Vale and we've been looking for Tukson's Book Trade."
She showed the shopkeeper the address she wrote on a piece of paper, and he gave the two of them directions before returning to the sign. As they walked off, Mercury noted something. "Something troubling you?" Emerald looked at her partner. "What makes you think that?" "Well any other day you'd have swiped that old man's wallet without a second thought and without him the wiser," Mercury noted, "But you walked away from a prime opportunity empty-handed. Pretty sloppy for a master thief." Emerald simply stopped, grabbed Mercury by the collar, then surprised him by flat-out kissing him on the lips.
Mercury's arms went limp and his eyes went wide before closing as he fell into the kiss. When Emerald finally broke off, she said, "Think that'll get you to stop teasing me?" "Maybe...," Mercury said, still stunned. The young thief smiled but sighed. "I've just been concerned lately. You know Cinder is worried after she received word that some odd changes were cropping up." "She's just paranoid," Mercury said as they continued walking, "Might be another side-effect of you-know-what. Granted given what we're planning to do she has every right to be paranoid, but still."
"I dunno," Emerald said, concerned, "Have you ever known Cinder to be anything other than confident in her plans?" "No," Mercury said, shaking his head, "But then again I haven't known her for very long. Neither have you." The duo stopped at the bookstore and entered. The both shared a look of surprise as someone much younger than they expected was behind the counter. Emerald walked to the young man while Mercury browsed through the books. "Excuse me, but we were looking for a few titles." The young man nodded. "Sure thing. What are you looking for?"
Emerald ran through a list of titles, some the store had, some they didn't. "How about... Third Crusade?," Emerald said, with a subtle touch of seriousness. They young man, oblivious, replied, "Huh... I don't think I've heard of that book." Emerald's serious look dropped into one of confusion. "This is Tukson's Book Trade, right?" The young man nodded. "And," Emerald continued, "You're Tukson?" "Nah," the young man replied, "Old man Tukson left last week heading for Vacuo. Something about a police protection program. Apparently they rushed him the tickets."
"Huh," Mercury said, just as surprised as Emerald. After they looked at each other, Emerald said, "Sorry for the confusion. We assumed you were Tukson since you were running the store." She got out another address, which was one of their "hide in plain sight" safehouses as well as the appropriate amount of Lien for the other books she had ordered. After making the necessary reservations and paying for them, the duo left the book store. "Well," Emerald said, "At least we can get some reading done while we're here." "Yeah, and Cinder won't yell at us for getting our hands dirty," Mercury noted.
Meanwhile at Beacon Academy, Blake was sitting with her team, sans Ruby, looking through her journal. She had opened it the day she had first gotten to know Adam. "Lemme guess," Yang said, snapping Blake out of her thoughts, "Your ex?" "Yeah," Blake said sadly, "Back then I didn't know what he was really like." Yang opened her mouth to catch a grape thrown by Nora, Team JNPR was sitting across from them, but didn't say anything else. None of the friends were really talking about Blake's bad relationship, at least not in public, but from what she was willing to say in private it had left a long-lasting scar.
As the group bantered a little about the fight at the docks, Ruby came in with a huge binder which she dropped on the table. "Sisters, friends, Weiss." "Hey!," Weiss called out indignantly. Pyrrha looked at the binder and noted the front cover. Someone, likely Ruby, had used a red marker to cross out the original title, "Vytal Festival Activities property of Weiss Schnee", and written a new title, "Best Day Ever Activities!". Ruby continued talking. "Four score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream. A dream that our two noble Huntsman teams would unite together to have the most fun anyone has ever had... Ever!"
Weiss then noted the binder. "Did you steal my binder?" Pyrrha snickered as Ruby, holding her hands out in peace signs, said, "I am not a crook." Blake shook her head and smiled. Despite all the battles Ruby had been through up to that point, she never seemed to lose that childlike innocence. "What are you talking about?" Ruby pointed at her. "We need to kick this semester off with a bang." "I always kick my semesters off with a Yang," Yang joked. This got her smacked in the face with an apple while Jaune retorted, "Dust dammit, Yang."
Ruby shook her head. "Listen guys, it's been two weeks since preparations for the festival began, and with more exchange students arriving and the tournament at the end of year our second semester's gonna be great. But classes start back up again tomorrow. So I've set up a series of awesome events for us to do today." "I don't know whether to be proud or scared," Weiss admitted. "It still sounds like a good idea," Blake noted, "After the craziness at the docks, I think we could all use something fun." Weiss stood up to make a comment, only to get hit in the face with a whipped cream pie thrown by Nora, who promptly tried to blame Jaune by pointing at him.
Outside the cafeteria, Sun was walking alongside his best friend and partner, Neptune Vasilias. Neptune was impressed as Sun described the fight the local Hunstmen had against the White Fang, and also a little teasing about Sun's new crush. As they approached the cafeteria doors, Sun winded down his story. "And the best thing about her is, she's a Faunus." He checked his words and quickly added. "But that's a secret! And I don't mean an 'I'm gonna tell Scarlet the moment he turns his back' secret!"
"Relax Sun," Neptune said with a nod, "You explained the whole thing. I got it." Sun nodded. "Seriously. I don't wanna screw this up. The people at this school are the coolest, and more importantly Blake and her friends are really tight. They know how badly her last relationship went and they'll really wail on whoever hurts her, even accidentally. That said, I'm really excited for you to meet them so... Be cool. You're gonna be cool, right?" "Dude," Neptune said as he crossed his arms and smiled. "Good point," Sun said, and they both entered the cafeteria. To their surprise, there was a cry of, "Food fight!"
The entire cafeteria was in disarray. To the duo's right, several tables were stacked on top of each other haphazardly alongside several vending machines and drink fountains. Nora was standing on top of the pile cackling like an Evil Overlord and chanting, "I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" On the other hand, Ruby was crushing a milk carton screaming, "Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful! It will be... Delicious!" Her team join in on her war cry. Team JNPR leapt down from their perch. Ren kicked up a trio of watermelons before kicking them over to Team RWBY.
Jaune grabbed several more with his Semblance and threw them. Pyrrha threw a couple of her own, while Nora flipped an entire tableful. Seeing the incoming projectiles, Yang shoved her hands into a couple of roast turkeys, using them much like Ember Celica to dodge and smash the watermelons. Blake leaped over her and grabbed a couple baguettes, wielding them much like the twin blades of Gambol Shroud. Jaune and Pyrrha quickly grabbed a couple baguettes of their own and raced to confront her, Jaune quickly ducking as Yang threw one of the turkeys in his direction.
The couple double-teamed Blake, who had to use her Semblance to effectively dodge. After a few exchanges she backed away, throwing one of the baguettes end-first as she did. Jaune rushed to catch up to her, with Pyrrha throwing her baguette much like Milo's javelin mode. Blake blocked the projectile, but then had to confront Jaune's bread-based sword skills. Luckily for the feline Faunus, Ruby chose that moment to come racing in riding a food tray, knocking Jaune aside and then moving in on Pyrrha.
The red-head managed to hold off Ruby as she came diving in tray-first, but Ruby's momentum let her knock down Pyrrha quickly. Nora and Ren quickly came to their friends defense, but Weiss then moved in, using a ketchup bottle to make the floor slippery. Ren couldn't help but think of Myrtenaster's ice technique as he slipped and crashed into some more tables, while Nora jumped up to grab an empty flagpole and ran the end into a leftover watermelon, swinging it around much like Magnhild. Ruby stepped in to stop Nora's first attack but got knocked back.
Thinking quickly, Weiss grabbed a whole swordfish and used it to briefly duel Nora, knocking her back for a bit before Nora launched a serious counterattack. Weiss was knocked into a pillar on the far end of the cafeteria. Ruby quickly grabbed her partner as the column collapsed, then in an overly dramatic, and much exaggerated, fashion, cried out, "Weiss, Weiss! Don't leave me! No!" Weiss, who was still conscious, resisted the urge to snicker and ruin Ruby's moment. Meanwhile, Yang had grabbed two more turkeys and began dueling Ren, who had settled on a pair of leeks in lieu of any weapons similar to StormFlower.
Ren was able to hold his own for a while, but Yang's superior strength allowed her to knock Ren to the ground. However, Yang then got on the bad end of an attack from Nora who came in to defend her man. After a brief exchange, Nora actually sent Yang right through the ceiling. Blake dodged the falling debris and grabbed a long sausage chain, whipping it around like Gambol Shroud's ribbon and smacking Nora right into one of the vending machines. Seeing several soda cans fall out of it, Nora grabbed a couple and started chucking them like Magnhild's grenades.
Blake got knocked back by one can, but quickly recovered and started dodging the others. By now Pyrrha and Jaune had recovered, and spotted all the cans. Smiling, Jaune nodded to Pyrrha, who used her Semblance to manipulate the cans, while Jaune took the tap from the soda fountain and pulled the trigger. The two attacks overwhelmed Blake, sending her sailing into the wall. Ruby spotted this, and raced forward using her Semblance, causing all the soda cans, and eventually Team JNPR, to be sucked up in the slipstream. Hitting the opposite wall, in the order of Ren, Nora, Pyrrha, and Jaune, they soon spotted the soda cans barreling in on them.
The two couples held hands as they braced themselves, getting absolutely pelted by both the cans, and a whole mess of other foods. Finally, Ruby landed right in front of the impact the made. The four team members then dropped to the ground, leaving their imprints in the wall. Having seen the whole thing, Sun remarked, "I love these guys." Neptune, who had suffered some minor collateral damage in the form of getting grape soda all over himself, was less than amused.
That's when Glynda burst into the cafeteria, crop in hand, and used her Semblance to put the cafeteria back in as much order as she could. Though angry, she calmy addressed the students, "Children, please... Do not play with your food." The two teams, sans Yang, grinned sheepishly. Yang soon joined them, albeit falling from near escape velocity, then got up and dusted herself off before giving a thumbs up. Glynda was still angry, but calmed down when she saw Ozpin walk up behind her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Best let this one go," Ozpin said, "After all, they won't be children forever, so best to let them enjoy what little childhood they have left." Glynda sighed. "It is wrong to think they're growing up too fast?" Ozpin shook his head. "No, but I don't think they are. Actually, I'd say they're growing up at the perfect pace. Besides, if this simple child's game is any indication, they're keeping their combat skills sharp." He then thought to himself, 'Which means when that day finally comes, they'll at least be able to survive...'
Elsewhere, at a White Fang hideout, Mercury and Emerald walked over to where Roman could seen going over some schematics. When he spotted the duo, he smiled and pulled them into a fake hug. "Welcome back kids. How was your time in town?" He managed to grab a slip of paper from Emerald's pocket, the irony of which was not lost on the master thief when she realized it, and asked, "May I ask why you have the address for Tukson's bookstore?"
"Well," Mercury said, "We had been planning on cleaning up your mess. Unfortunately, it seems you took too long. Tukson was long gone by the time we arrived, leaving the store to someone else." "Really?," Roman said, genuinely surprised, "And here I was sure I'd have a few more days to deal with that little issue." "And here I was sure," Cinder said as she descended from a nearby lift, "That I told you two to keep your hands clean while in Vale." "Sorry ma'am," Emerald said, "But it looked as if Roman didn't have a clear handle on the situation."
Cinder sighed. "Well, at least you technically followed my orders, so I'll forgive you." "And for the record," Roman said as he lit a cigar, "With my schedule recently cleared up I had planned on finishing that little job by the end of the week. Speaking of which..." He turned to Cinder, who smiled. "Don't worry, I've already come bearing gifts." Several White Fang members came in transporting shipping containers. "My contacts are not happy they had to reach this far," Cinder said, frowning, "But luckily for you they are understanding of the situation. Regardless, we are now ready to move on with Phase Two."
"I trust this means you'll be releasing a bit more information?," Roman said, narrowing his eyes. "Very well," Cinder said, "You are already aware that we plan on attacking Beacon Academy. The reason being is that one of the prime goals of our operations is penetrating a high-security vault containing something of great value. Don't get your hopes too high, it's value is not monetary. However, we are willing to pay you quite handsomely for your role in this." Roman smiled. "Very well. What's our next move?" "First," Cinder said, "You'll be having our White Fang friends transport the Dust to a certain location which I will send to your Scroll. Once at the location, you'll receive further orders."
"One step at a time, eh?," Roman said, shaking his head, "Very well." As Cinder left with Emerald and Mercury, the thief asked her assassin lover, "Just to ask, how high do those metal legs of yours reach?" "They stop just above the knee," Mercury replied, "Why do you ask?" Emerald grinned. "Oh, you'll find out once we get to the hideout..." Cinder couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. 'Seeing those two flirt with each other puts my mind at ease. Which is a good thing, because I'll need that peace of mind as our plans continue...'
To be continued...
We kicked this new arc off with a bang! Speaking off, how many of you guys can spot the Rooster Teeth reference I snuck in there? Read and review.