Sword and Shield
Ash knocks on the door to Team RWBY's dorm. Yang is the one to open the door.
"Hey, Ash." She greets, "What are you here for?"
"Is Ruby there?" Ash asks.
At the sound of her name, Ruby makes her way to the door.
"Are they finally ready?!" Ruby shouts with a massive smile on her face.
Ash nods.
"Yes!" Ruby shouts, her grin even wider.
"What are you two talking about?" Blake asks from her bunk.
"My weapons." Ash answers, "What else would get Ruby this excited?"
"I though you were getting a shield?" Weiss says, studying in her bunk.
"You think it would take months to forge a shield?" Ash asks, rhetorically.
"So what did you get?" Yang asks.
"Come along and find out." Ash suggests.
Ash and Team RWBY, Blake and Weiss having been dragged along, arrive at Cedric's shop. As they enter, Ebony jumps in surprise.
"I'm sorry." Ebony says after she regains her composure, "You weren't supposed to be here for another hour. Mister Stormbringer is still polishing them."
"I'm sorry, too, but this little devil," Ash points at Ruby, "wouldn't stop bugging me."
"Why would you tell me they were ready if we had to wait?" Ruby pouts.
Ash chuckles as he places his hand on her head, ruffling her hair.
"Stop that!" Ruby demands as she pushes his hand away.
"We're going to be here awhile." Ash states, "Better find something to do."
Ruby is currently examining weapons that Cedric has on display, Ebony denying her constant offers to help. Weiss is trying to inspect the Dust lining in Ash's clothing, but is being ignored. Blake is reading, trying to block out the commotion from Ruby and the work being done in the back. Yang is following Ruby, barely listening and still bored. Ash is sitting as he usually does, eyes closed and arms crossed.
Cedric finally exits the back room, wiping sweat from his brow.
"They're ready." He declares.
Everyone stops what they're doing and turns to Cedric.
"Let's see them, then." Ash says as he gets up.
Cedric brings the five of them into the back room, which is about as large as the rest of the shop. Two thirds of the room is devoted to different stations, each for different purposes. The rest have more weapons on display. Cedric leads them to a group of weapons, covered with a sheet. Ebony walks over and smiles at Ash before removing the sheet, revealing the weapons and two belts. One is designed to go around the waist and the other is designed to go over the shoulder like a bandolier. The belts are black with white buckles. As for the weapons, first is Ash's shield, which is designed to be holstered on the back of the bandolier. It's a coffin shield with a bladed top and bottom. The shield itself is white with silver blades and blue on the sides. Next was Ash's old sword, which instead of being hidden in his shield, was copied, and the two are designed to be sheathed on the back of the belt. They've been slightly modified to match the rest of the set, with light grey grips, a black cross guard with blue detailing, and white blades with silver edges. After that are two flat tipped shortswords design to be holstered on the sides of the belt. They are colored black with a blue detailing and have white blades with silver edges, but unlike Ash's old weapons have black grips. The last piece was another coffin shield, but the size of a buckler and with the handle made so the shield is parallel to the arm as opposed to perpendicular. Unlike the other shield, there are no blades so the blue wraps around the entire shield with white in the middle. Like the other shield, it is not handheld, instead it connects to Ash's forearm with straps matching the belts. Attached on the inside of the shield is a grey pistol with a blue hand guard. A wide blade, matching the others, is attached to the shield like a tonfa blade, with the tip facing backwards.
"I hope you have some names." Cedric says, 'If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was arming a whole team, but instead it's just you."
Ash puts on both belts and holsters the weapons in their respective places, holding the pistol, a couple straps also wrapped around his forearm.
"I have a few ideas." Ash states.
Ash's grip on the pistol tightens and the blade rotates so it's positioned in front of barrel and more like a katar instead of a tonfa.
"Say hello to the Exousia." Ash says as he examines the weapon.
Ruby walks towards the shortswords and points at them.
"What you gonna call those?" She asks.
"Astraea." Ash answers as he retracts the blade, "The shield's Themis, and my old sword was called Sovereign."
"Five swords. Are you compensating for something?" Yang jokes, causing Ash to give her a deadpan expression.
"In all seriousness, why do you need five weapons?" Blake asks.
"Each weapon has a purpose." Ash explains,"Exousia is my main weapon, however if I need a larger surface for superior defense, I use Themis. If I need a smaller weapon I use Astraea and Sovereign serves as a backup."
Ash turns to Ivory's sword, which is resting where the weapons used to be. Ash puts down Exousia and grabs Ivory's sword. He walks towards Ebony and holds the blade out to her.
"Here." Ash says, "This is now yours."
Ebony takes a step back.
"W-why?" Ebony asks, surprised by his actions.
"Ivory believed weapons are an extension of ourselves, and one's true weapon is there's alone." Ash states, "It's a weapon that no one can use as well as they could."
Ebony nods, remembering those words.
"She believed this was her true sword, and I know it would be an injustice to continue to use it." Ash admits, "Now that my weapons are complete I have no reason to use hers. "
Ebony takes the blade from Ash and stares at the runes.
"Do you know what they mean?" Ebony asks.
"No, she never told me." Ash answers.
"She never told me, either." Ebony says.
"So are you gonna try them out?" Yang asks.
"Yes, but not here." Ash responds, "And I know exactly who to test it on."
Ash stands on his side of the Arena, with Ebony on the other. Cedric's shop has a testing ground on the floor above, in it is a arena for duels.
"Should I activate the armor?" Asher asks.
'No.' Ash answer, 'I shouldn't need it.'
Ash glances to the side, where Team RWBY has gathered.
"Start the countdown." Ash orders.
5
Ash draws both of the blades of Astraea, with Exousia stored in his Semblance's pocket dimension.
4
Ebony draws Ivory's sword.
3
Ash closes his eyes and sighs.
2
Ebony takes a offensive stance.
1
Ash opens his eyes and gets into a defensive stance.
Go!
Ebony immediately slashes, sending an arc of Aura at Ash. Ash closes his eyes and Ebony gasps in shock. Ash just stands there as the arc flies by his head.
'He didn't even move' Ebony notes, 'He completely read my movements.'
Ash thrusts both arms forward and the blades of Astraea rotate, becoming gun barrels. Ash fires both, shooting out white beams.
Ash stands in his mind scape with Asher.
"How exactly does the armor work?" Ash asks,
"It's powered by my Aura, channeled through the gems." Asher explains, "Ozpin's Aura merges with his host's, mine does not. Instead of one larger pool, our Auras are separated. These gems can be formed at will, and they can be used as a power source."
"Like Dust?" Ash asks.
"Yes, but that's thinking too small." Asher explains, "The gems can be use for so many greater purposes."
Returning to the moment at hand, Ash continues to fire Astraea, drawing on the gems within them. Ash then converts the blades back into their sword forms. He dashes forward, and jumps into the air. He spins around and kicks at Ebony, who blocks. The gravity Dust in Ash's boot launches Ebony backwards. She slides to a halt and dashes forward, jumping into the air. She stabs at Ash, who crosses his blades to block. Ebony flips over Ash and swings her sword, sweeping Ash's legs. Ash quickly rolls backwards, dodging a stab. He fires a beam at Ebony and she backflips out of the way.
Ash charges forward and stabs at Ebony but she dashes to the side, he swings his other blade and Ebony ducks out of the way. Ash swings both blades, and Ebony blocks with her sword, but the force of the slash pushes her back. Ebony attempts to regain her footing, but Ash slashes four time, she blocks them all but they cause her to lose her balance again. Ebony rolls forward, dodging Ash's next swing. Ebony quickly regains her footing and bashes Ash with her pommel, she then slashes with her sword, which Ash blocks. Ebony spins around as she slashes, Ash deflects the blow and counters with a slash, that Ebony blocks. Ebony retaliates with a swing, which Ash back steps out of the way of. Ebony swings again, knocking the blade of Astraea from Ash's grip. Ash swings with his remaining blade, but Ebony blocks and kicks his wrist, disarming Ash of that sword as well.
Ash draws one of the daggers of Sovereign and throws it, but Ebony blocks with her sword. Ash rolls to the side to gain some distance, drawing Themis in the process. As Ash rises to his feet, he pulls Exousia out of his pocket dimension, using his shield as the portal. Ash activates the blade mode of Exousia and takes a defensive stance with his eyes closed. He takes a deep breath, recalling the feeling of fighting with his shield. He then opens his eyes and Ebony dashes forward. She tries to stab, but Ash effortlessly blocks. Ebony continues to strike his shield, but Ash doesn't even flinch, his silver eyes staring Ebony down.
"Ebony is no pushover." Blake says, "But Ash is something else too."
"Ash thrives in one-on-one duels." Weiss states, "Besides Ivory, nobody's even gotten his Aura down to yellow. I wonder if Ebony can do the same"
"Now that Ash has his shield back, that will be hard." Ruby adds, "His semblance makes Ebony's attacks useless if he can block them."
"Not to mention he's fast." Yang comments, "With his gravity Dust, he can block pretty much anything Ebony has."
Ash thrusts his shield forward, causing Ebony to flinch. Ash uses this feint to slash at Ebony with Exousia, but Ebony jumps backwards. Ash immediately closes the distance, swinging his sword. This proved to be a feint too, and Ash thrusts forward, jabbing Ebony in the stomach with his shield.
'His shield?!' Ebony questions.
Ash uses his Semblance to shoot a gust of wind from the tip of his shield, sending Ebony flying backwards. Ash then dashes forward and slashes with Exousia three times, and Ebony blocks and deflects all three strikes. She charges forward and stabs at Ash, but he deflects her strike with his shield, knocking her off balance. Ebony quickly regains her footing while gaining some distance.
"Your reaction time is very impressive." Ash comments, "But that's just instinct. Are your mind and body fast enough to keep up?"
"And your defense is just strong as was Ivory said." Ebony replies, "But you won't win this battle by blocking."
Ash turns to Ebony and they both dash forward. Their blades lock and separate as Ash slashes, Ebony leaning back and countering. Ash reacts similarly and swings his shield upwards, Ebony leaning backwards to dodge its bladed edge. They both slash, blades locking once again.
'She's somehow negating the extra force from my larger blade and gravity Dust.' Ash notes, 'Could it be her Semblance?'
Ebony takes the offensive, but Ash blocks all of her strikes with Themis, he thrusts the shield forward and Ebony jumps back. She immediately returns to the offensive, Ash blocks each strike, waiting for an opening. When he finds one, he stabs with Exousia. Ebony uses her sword to push the blade away from her face, the edge barely scraping her cheek.
'NOW!' Ebony shouts.
She stabs with her sword, passing Themis and grazing Ash's cheek. Ash's gaze narrows as he feels his Aura decrease slightly. Ebony tries to press her advantage, but Ash returns to blocking each strike. Ebony then stabs forward, the runes of the blade lighting up. The hit knocks Ash off balance and leaves him open. Ebony raises her sword and slashes downwards. There isn't enough time for Ash to move either of his arms to block with his weapons. So Ash's grip on Exousia tightens, rotating the blade so that it functions as a proper sword. Ash blocks with this, surprising Ebony as she hadn't expected him to be able to. In her shock, Ash converts Exousia back to it's blade mode and stabs Ebony's side, knocking her to the ground and bringer her Aura down to the yellow. Ash glances at his own Aura, a decent percentage higher than Ebony's.
"I must admit, I wasn't planning on using Exousia's third mode in this duel." Ash says, "But that hit would have been devastating if it connected and chained it into something."
Ash switches Exousia into it's sword mode and takes a defensive stance.
"Come!" He orders.
Ebony charges and slashes with her sword. Ash blocks with Exousia and then his shield. Afterwards, Ash slashes with Exousia, and Ebony leans backwards, letting the blade soar overhead. Ebony slashes twice, with both blocked, and then blocks Exousia. Ebony slashes two more times, with both blocked, and then dodges a stab from Exousia in its blade mode. Ash blocks two slashes then swings Exousia at Ebony's side, but she blocks with her sword. Ebony slashes at Ash, but he ducks underneath the blade before jumping back and stabbing with Exousia in its blade mode. Ebony pushes the blade away from her and jumps backwards. She dashes forward and slashes, but Ash blocks. Ebony front flips over Ash, slashing while in air, but Ash turns and blocks that too. When Ebony lands, she rushes at Ash and continues to slash at his shield. Ash blocks each and every strike, before slashing with Exousia, grazing Ebony's cheek.
Ebony dashes forward, continuing her bombardment on his shield, but Ash continues to block each strike. Ebony stabs one final time, but Ash lowers his shield and dodges, stabbing at Ebony's stomach with Exousia, knocking her backwards. Ebony recovers and stabs, but her blade passes straight into Ash's pocket dimension through Themis. Ash retracts the blade of Exousia and shoots Ebony in the face at point blank, her sword coming out of the pocket dimension. The blast from Exousia is similar to the beams fired by Astraea, sending her skidding backwards,
Ash fires Exousia eight more times. Ebony tries to block with her sword, but Ash uses his Semblance to make the outside serve as an entrance and the inside serve as an exit to his pocket dimension, the blasts passing through them and striking Ebony. Ebony falls to her knees after the last blast, noticing they've left burn marks on her clothing.
"This fight is over." Ash declares, closing his eyes, "We don't have to go any further."
Ebony pushes herself to her feet. She glances at her Aura, which is still in the yellow.
"No." She says, "Not yet."
Ash turns back to Ebony and drops Themis. Ebony charges and just before she is in striking distance, Ash opens his eyes, which are glowing. He actives Exousia's blade mode and slashes, sending her sword into the air. Ebony gasps as she jumps up and grabs her sword, slashing and sending an arc of Aura towards Ash. Ash spins around, letting the arc pass by, drawing the second dagger of Sovereign in the process. He extends the blade and slashes, knocking Ebony off balance. He slashes again, knocking Ebony's sword out of her hands again. Ash then slashes upwards, knocking Ebony backwards. Ash sheaths Sovereign as he retracts the blade of Exousia. Ash closes his eyes and turns to Team RWBY as Ebony falls onto her back, her Aura now in the red.
"He used his silver eyes." Ruby states, "But the fight was pretty much over, why'd he need it then?"
"He was proving a point." Blake answers, "Ebony's good, but Ash is on another level."
"Doesn't not using his silver eyes at all prove the same point?" Yang asks, "There has to be more to it."
"Does Ebony even know about silver eyes?" Blake asks, "It's not exactly common knowledge."
"Think about it." Weiss says, "He could've kept using feints or kept using his semblance to hit her with his shots. Instead he searched for another way to win."
"His goal was to test the weapons, not to win." Cedric speaks up, surprising the others as they didn't notice him standing there, "He was trying out different strategies with the weapons. Ebony was a test subject, not a sparing partner."
Ash walks to Ebony and helps her up, retrieving his weapons by opening portals beneath them.
"You okay?" Ash asks.
"Yeah." Ebony says.
"You seemed a little lost in the fight." Ash notes, "I guess your not used to that sword yet."
Ebony nods as she picks it up.
"The weight's different." Ebony says, "It's way heavier than what I'm used to."
Ash nods in understanding.
"Those last minute adjustments you had use add really changed things up." Ebony comments, "What exactly are those white beams?"
"Just a little something I found using my Semblance." Ash lies.
Ash takes note of the scorch marks on Ebony's clothing.
"Did you let down your Aura or did they break through it?" Ash asks.
"They broke through." Ebony answers, "Whatever they are, they're strong."
"They lose most of that power on impact." Ash notes, "Doesn't seem like they can penetrate much."
"You should focus on Aura density if you want to improve that." Asher suggests.
"Thank you for your help." Ash says.
"Thank you for the fight." Ebony responds, "It was fun."
"So how much do I owe you?" Ash asks, turning to Cedric.
"You don't owe me a thing." Cedric says, "If you did, you would have to pay at least half up front and the rest when the job is done. It wouldn't be right to charge a friend of Ivory. A friend of hers is a friend of mine."
Cedric turns to Team RWBY.
"That goes to you four as well." Cedric states.
"Pleasure doing business with you two." Ash says.
"The pleasure is ours." Cedric replies, "Come back if you need any maintenance or want something else built."
Ash shakes Cedric hands before he and Team RWBY leaves the shop, his gear now holstered and sheathed in their respective places.
To clarify, the scene written entirely in italics is a flashbacks.
Next is back to the main story, which will include the proper unveiling of a new villain and the finale for Volume 1. I was probably watching a bit too much Gundam 00 when I was designing Ash's weapons.