RWBY: Paths of Light and Dark
Chapter XIII: Team MTAL - Second Trial Part One
Valethornia Academy – First year locker room
Taz took his black and silver aviator jacket from his locker. Team MTAL had been assigned to bio-dome number three for their second trial. The young faunus was only slightly disappointed that his locker was on the opposite side of his teammates. Why must the gods torment me? I could totally be getting eyefuls of hot teenage lesbian action right now, or at least seeing the girls in their underwear. He thought to himself before pulling out his bladed tonfas.
Taz checked the weapons for any signs of damage. The examination didn't take long. Taz was satisfied that the weapons wouldn't need any maintenance, major or minor in the near future. He placed the weapons into their holders across his back waist and closed the locker before heading towards the area where his teammates were at.
Turning the corner Taz saw that the girls were just finishing up getting dressed. Malyganya was lacing up her sneakers while Layla adjusted her gloves. Taz gave Amber a once over and let out a long whistle. It was his second time seeing her in her combat suit but he was still impressed.
Amber's outfit was built for combat and totally didn't fit her personality. She wore a dark brown leotard with green stripes running along the sides diagonally. Over the leotard, covering Amber's upper torso and shoulders was a half-breastplate made of light flexible material that exposed her midriff section. Surprisingly enough, it was extremely durable.
It protected the vital organs in Amber's chest. Her neck and shoulder area was also sufficiently protected by the armor which matched her leotard's dark brown. On her arms Amber wore armored bracers and elbow guards made from the same armor as her breastplate.
Her lower-wear consisted of a skirt that went from her waist to her knees. The skirt itself was slightly plain, matching the colors of her leotard with the green stripes and dark brown lining up with one another. Woven into the skirt were pieces of armor. It provided a moderate amount of protection to the girl's thighs and hips.
Completing the entire ensemble were knee high sandals with shin guards. Taz could tell from the outfit that Amber preferred speed and precision. The young woman carried her twin short spears on her back in X-shaped holders. To keep her bangs from covering her eyes amber held back her hair with a small headband. With her forehead exposed part of the jeweled circlet Amber secretly wore beneath her hair was clear to see.
"So, you girls ready for this or should I wait for you to do makeup?" Taz asked the young women jokingly.
Layla smirked at Taz before flipping him the middle finger. The young woman had already strapped up her gauntlets and was watching Malyganya strap on the bandolier and scabbard for her weapon.
"Stow it you two. We have no time for jokes." Malyganya said with an authoritative tone.
"Yes mam, Commander Oregenera mam!" Taz exclaimed with a mock salute.
Malyganya did not take kindly to this and grabbed the young man by the front of his shirt. Malyganya locked eyes with Taz before activating her semblance, changing her eyes pitch black, and glaring at the young man.
"Taz, I'm all for jokes when it is appropriate, but right now is not the time for it. I made you second in command because I believe you know this. Don't make me regret that decision." The young leader stated before pushing past Taz and motioning for Layla and Amber to follow.
Amber hurried after Malyganya but offered Taz a soft smile as she passed him. Layla followed and gave Taz a playful smirk before clapping his shoulder. The teenage faunus returned the smirk and followed after his team. I'll show you I'm not all jokes. Taz thought as he and his team walked the halls.
The members of Team MTAL saw other first year teams walking about. The ones in full combat gear were heading to their own secondary trials. There were others however who were still in uniform.
"I guess they're splitting up the times for each team." Layla observed as they passed some other first-years still in uniform.
"That seems to be the case. Since each team gets a different trial and they are still holding regular classes for the second and third-year students. They would have to split up how much time is allotted for each team to do their trial as well as which spaces can be used." Malyganya agreed as the team turned the hallway towards their assigned bio-dome.
Entering the dome Malyganya and the others were surprised to see that the dome was bare. No configuration had been set. Even more surprising was the fact that another team was inside the dome. Malyganya didn't recognize any of the people standing in the dome. She didn't let her surprise halt her progress either. Leading the way Malyganya and her team began walking towards the other team.
"Hello there, I'm Jack." The young man whom Malyganya guessed was the leader greeted as they approached.
"Hello Jack, I'm Malyganya." The dark-haired beauty returned the greeting, holding out her hand.
The two leaders shook hands and made introductions.
Jack was the leader of Team JSMN. His team consisted of two girls and two boys including himself. Malyganya took note of each member. There was Simon, a short slim and entirely underwhelming young man. He carried a large tome under his left arm and a wooden staff topped off with a green jewel. Simon was dressed in a long black robe with matching cowl covering his head.
Long range dust caster. If our trial is to face off against this team, then Simon will have to be taken down first. Malyganya took note of the way Simon carried himself and was already devising strategies to take him down.
Next to Simon stood Mini. Her name was obviously giving to her ironically. The female was giant, standing at least six and a half feet tall. To match her height was her extreme muscular structure. From what Malyganya could see Mini's weapon, scratch that, weapons of choice consisted of a bow with a large quiver of arrows, a large spear, a throwing axe, a single-edge longsword, throwing knives, knuckle dusters, and a spiked buckler. She was clad in black and blue armor with a flowing blue cape. She had silver hair tied in a ponytail, and covered by a brown, orange and white bandana.
Jack-of-all trades weapon master. I have no doubt that her proficiency with those weapons are well above average. She must be confidant in her skills to carry them all at once. I'll have to take her on solo. Malyganya gave a mental not of priority to Mini as she assigned Simon to Taz.
The final member of Team JSMN was Jack's twin sister Nina. Despite being fraternal twins Jack and Nina looked eerily identical. Both had long dark red hair with slightly pointed ears. Their faces were slightly angular and pointed. The only real way to tell them apart was by their heterochromia eyes. Jacks left eye was green with the right being blue while Nina's right eye was green and her left being blue.
The twins were dressed in identical gender-neutral clothing. They both wore a sleeves white combat gi. Black belts were tied around their waists. For weapons Jack had a pair of bladed knuckles while Nina wore bladed greaves.
Strictly melee fighters. Although given their nature they'll fight together. Amber and Layla should be able to take them. Malyganya made her observation of the twins and was mostly unimpressed. Compared to their teammates Jack and Nina didn't look like much.
TEAM MTAL VS TEAM JSMN
The loud speakers suddenly boomed within the bio-dome causing the members of each team to instantly hold themselves differently. Jack's friendly expression was instantly replaced with a warrior's battle glare. Simon quickly retreated to the back of the team and opened his tome. Nina joined her brother's side and got into her fighting stance. Mini pulled out her sword and axe and hunkered down off to the side slightly.
OBJECTIVE: CAPTURE THE FLAG
A sudden rumbling sound was heard as the ground began to shift.
"Scatter!" Jack cried out.
Trees suddenly erupted from the ground and began to grow at a rapid rate. Foliage and rocks also appeared as the bio-dome's center area transformed into a dense forest.
"Layla, stay with Amber!" Malyganya commanded as she and her team became separated by the terraforming location.
Layla grabbed Amber from around the waist and lifted the child-like teenager off the ground. Holding Amber bridal style, Layla jumped out of the way of a falling branch. The rapid growth of plants had caused some to crash into one another which forced each team to avoid debris.
Landing on the ground Layla looked around for immediate danger before placing Amber on the ground. The two teammates looked around the area hoping to find some sign of either Taz or Malyganya.
"Nooooooooooo!" Amber suddenly shrieked.
Layla turned around and saw mechanical tentacle arms had wrapped themselves around Amber's wrists and ankles. Before Layla could react however, the arms lifted Amber away into the dense foliage above.
"LAAAAYLAAAAA!" Amber's voice cried out fading into the air.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: RESCUE THE HOSTAGE
The loud speaker boomed once more but its sound was muffled by the forest. Layla shook her head and punched the trunk of a nearby tree. Suddenly her scroll began ringing. Taking the device out Layla saw a message from the administration.
She opened the message and saw her team's base location as well as the location of Malyganya and Taz. The team was given a frequency to use for the duration of the trial. Closing the message Layla quickly turned to her team's frequency.
"Layla! Taz! Amber! Do any of you read me?!" Malyganya's voice called out through the scrolls speakers.
"Maly, it's Layla. I'm tuned in." Layla confirmed as she began heading in the direction of the team's base.
"Good, so it's safe to say you aren't the hostage." Malyganya's voice spoke. Layla could hear the sounds of her leader running through the forest through the speakers.
"Is Amber with you?" Layla's leader asked giving the young woman pause.
"Sorry Maly, she was taken from me." Layla apologized.
She heard Malyganya swear through the scroll and winced. Layla felt bad that she had failed, but worse because she failed Malyganya.
"Maly, let me do the rescue, I can get her back." Layla offered as she began running once more.
"No, make it to the base. I'll discuss strategy with you and Taz once we all meet up." Malyganya ordered. Layla bit her lip to stop herself from protesting.
"Taz here, you ladies online?" Taz's voice spoke suddenly.
"Taz, It's Malyganya. Amber's the hostage from our team. We're rendezvousing at the base." Malyganya quickly explained.
"I'm already here. When I go the message, I was nearby so I wanted to secure the area before contacting anyone." Taz replied.
"Good job Taz, excellent forethought." Malyganya complimented. Layla felt a slight pang of jealously but quickly pushed it off to the side. Right now her emotions weren't going to help anyone. Closing her eyes Layla allowed all outside distractions to fall away.
The only things I need to concern myself with are the mission and following orders. I'll deal with everything else afterwards. Layla thought to herself as she felt her body slip into its familiar groove of motion. The young woman had noticed that since meeting Malyganya and spending time with the young woman that she herself was changing.
The change was slow and gradual but at times her emotions flared up and for Layla that was unusual. The only way she knew to deal with this change was to literal flip her emotions off, by using her semblance. By manipulating the way her five sense handled information in her brain Layla was able to deceive herself into believing she was emotionless.
This newfound ability was still experimental however as she noticed when she used it with Taz she was still able to feel some emotions. She was trying to perfect it so that all her focus would be on what's important to her.
But my feelings for Malyganya are important.
They aren't constructive to our current predicament.
I don't want to not be able to feel them.
Feelings get in the way of logic.
That may be true, but I've never felt this way before.
Feel this way when the mission is over. Remember the pain of loss you felt from your mother's death and sense of abandonment from your father. Lock your feelings away.
You're right. I don't need to feel right now. I just need to finish the mission.
Layla's internal struggle with herself lasted a few seconds before her emotions were shut off. Making her way through the trees of the artificial forest, the young huntress made it to the base within minutes. Malyganya and Taz were waiting outside the base, which was basically a rundown shack. Their flag was in the middle shack which was one room.
"So what's the plan?" Layla asked as the team entered the room.
"The message we were sent had a two-and-a-half-hour timer meaning that we are on the clock. Not enough time for recon which means we'll have to go in with limited intel." Taz stated pulling out his scroll.
"First thing that we know for certain is that Amber is the hostage. Our first priority should be rescuing her." Taz continued.
"Why do you think that?" Layla asked with a bored tone.
"Aside from the fact that she's our teammate? If we get her then we'll increase our fighting strength back to full and make it easier to complete our primary objective." Taz explained noticing Layla's change in demeanor.
"Unfortunately we don't know who was taken from Team JSMN." Malyganya mused.
"I had come up with strategies regarding straight forward fighting scenario." The dark-haired female continued explaining to her team.
"Our preferred match-ups would be Taz against Simon, Layla and Amber against Jack and Nina, while I would take on Mini." Layla listened to Malyganya strategize.
"You would team me up with our weakest link?" Layla asked with a dull monotone.
Malyganya looked to Layla and sighed.
"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Yes, I would have placed you with Amber because I trust you. You're more than capable of holding your own while outnumbered but also she might learn something from you."
Layla locked eyes with Malyganya. Her leader's expression was a mix of disappointment and frustration. Layla merely shook her head.
"So how will we go about doing this?" Layla asked Taz.
"Well we can't leave the base unguarded. I suggest that Malyganya stay's behind while you and I look for Amber." Taz put forth his opinion.
Malyganya nodded slowly as she thought over the proposal.
"I'm the only one with a long-arm so if I do have to go against Jack or Nina then I'll have the advantage."
Layla clenched her jaw slightly in frustration. The strategy made sense but something inside her didn't like it. Clapping her hands Malyganya walked over towards the shack door and looked outside.
"Ok, Taz you and Layla find Amber. Once she's recovered make your way back here." Malyganya ordered.
Taz nodded and proceeded outside with Layla following behind.
Malyganya stopped Layla from leaving however. Taz looked at the two girls with a worried and confused expression.
"Go ahead Taz, I just need a moment with her." Malyganya stated.
Taz nodded once more and ran off into the forest leaving the two females alone.
"Layla, I don't know what's eating you but get your shit together." Malyganya stated roughly.
Layla stared at Malyganya and sighed.
"Sure thing boss. Can I go now?" Layla asked but pushed Malyganya's arm out her way before chasing after Taz.
Malyganya sighed and looked around the area surrounding the base. Alright, we've got about two hours left. I'll prepare a few surprises for the enemy and wait for the others to come back. Malyganya thought to herself as she started looking for suitable materials.
A/N: I'm thinking this might be three parts like ORCJs but it could be pushed to four depending on how things go. For those who need help with the pronunciation of Team JSMN, its read as Jasmine.