From Hunted to Hunter

by CC-2224 Commander Cody

I've been many things: an Orphan, Terrorist, Murderer, Liar, Protector, Friend, Leader, a Pawn and a Huntsman. My name is Simon, my past is a cautionary tale of the dark abyss of the human psyche that men who fight monsters fall into and themselves become monsters, but I survived and climbed out of that pit, however it's effects will always be with me and those that i hold dearest.

14. A Whole New Path

A/N: This Chapter Brings "From Hunted to Hunter" up to 50,000+ words... COOKIES FOR ALL MY READERS who have supported and motivated me to write so much in such a short period of time! Thank-you all of you and I hope you all enjoy your RWBYday today :D

Disclaimer: I do NOT own RWBY... or Prof. Port would be sent to fat camp and "Don't flirt with female students 101" classes.

Rewritten: 01/02/15

Chapter 14: A whole New Path (Set 6 months After Chapter 13) Simon's PoV:

As I read a letter I had received from Kruger detailing how fearing for his and his families safety, he had relocated to Mistral I heard a glass smashing as it was chucked at a wall. "Those bloody Whiskey Squad fucks and their money hungry asshole of a captain!" Kale fumed after another village raid for White Fang terrorists went to shit and Shevchenko used some stupid excuse to put an entire village of 250 Faunus into the custody of the SDC for the labour camps... for a very handsome fee of course.

"I heard Whiskey each pocketed nearly 100,000 Lien each, no wonder Danny and Luke became so damned chummy with then and have began acting like a couple of regular pricks!" Shauno growled, sharing Kale's distaste for Whiskey and how our former teammates were now just as bad as them.

I looked over to the two marksmen "Got to agree with you there... If we get given another village raid for Shevchenko to fuck up: he and Roman's manhood have a date with the sharp end of Vindex Umbra" I said in a semi-humorous voice, trying to cheer my teammates up, It kinda crept me out to see them so serious and pissed off all the time as they had been in the last month or so.

The marksmen turned to me and both cracked a small smirk at the thought of the two most narcissistic people they knew losing their manhood "Dude we will legit pay you to do that and film it. I would watch that repeatedly!" Shauno said still chuckling for the first time in what seemed forever. It was then that Lachlan entered the room from a meeting with Roman that the two marksmen and myself refused to attend due to burning desires to slaughter the greedy redheaded bastard.

"Pack your bags ladies... we're going back to civilisation for a week" He said with just a hint of happiness, which was rare for the normally emotionless and calculating man.

"Define civilisation, is the war over... we finally allowed to leave this mountain prison?" Kale said hopefully, regretting staying on now that the Black Fist command was no longer allowing people to leave the group (without being labelled deserters and placing a death mark on them).

"Sorry Kale, but apparently despite wiping the floor with the Fang, the war still rages. The four of us leave for the Atlesian capital in the morning, making a stop at a Black Fist base along the way to pick up some civilian clothing seeing as I suspect that none of us have any right now. I have the address for our accommodations while in the capital." came Lachlan's deadpanned reply.

At hearing this the four of us looked to each other with confusion, Kale being the first to speak up "By the looks of it we have got an assassination coming up, though I' am kind of worried about the fact we are beginning to operate within major cities controlled by the Atlesian government, this is a very dangerous escalation and could lead to a violent response from General Ironwood's army." he said cautiously once again adopting his serious tone that had taken over his normal sarcastic, smartass manner.

Shauno on the other hand was smiling from ear to ear "Oh cheer up man, stop being such a downer, we get to go see the capital... Time for some R&R. If we find the time we could even take Simmo to a club and help find him a lady friend to show him a good time" He said cackling with laughter sending a wink my way. I went slightly red in the face at this comment from Shauno and exactly what he was implying.

"Guys, focus... This is a mission, and probably a damned important one if they are risking sending us to the damned capital of Atlas!" Lachlan rebuked.

"Well the mission of getting this teenage boy laid is also very important! I mean he is a damned virgin!" Came a humorous reply from Kale deciding to stop being so down in the dumps and join in on Shauno's antics. Lachlan merely growled and stomped away, never having been a fan of the marksmen's antics.

I looked to the pair of now laughing marksmen with a look of embarrassment and hopeful eagerness "Err, guys... were you serious about that?"

Shauno and Kale looked at me and say my rose red face and then just fell down laughing "Oh my god, that face is just hilarious, we are so doing this!" Came the excited cry from Shauno who was choking and tearing up from the sheer amount of laughter this was causing him.

Kale managed to rein in his laughs "Couldn't agree more... besides we all know how much women dig ugly ass facial scars and teenage bumfluff on 15 year old kids" he said in a smartass attempt at insulting the scars from my fight with Schwarzer and the fuzz covering my face due to no one in the camp except of course Roman having had access to razors in several months.

"Oh fuck you Kale, At least I don't look like a ginger monkey with my facial hair unlike you!" I shot back.

At this Kale stroked his red facial hair and looked down in mock hurt "I'll get you for that you motherfucker!" he said throwing the salt shaker that had been on the table near him at me.

Catching the shaker on instinct I placed it on the table "Kale shoots and he gets blocked... just like what happens whenever he goes clubbing" I say before I completely lose it and run off to my room to escape the raging storm that Kale just became, which just caused Shauno to lose his shit and laugh even more.

As I looked around my room i saw my Scroll light up, walking over to it and opened it up. It was a video message from Gregory with an URGENT alert set to it, My eyebrows raised in curiosity I opened the message to see a image of my friend loaded down like a packhorse and the message began to play:

To my closest friend Simon, I have deserted from the Black Fist, I simply could not deal with attacking innocent civilians anymore... I know your unit regularly did these types of raids during the war. But mine always was fighting actual Black Fist combatants and to me this work just demeans and degrades what it means to be a soldier of humanity. We were meant to have the moral high ground and be better than the Faunus... but this has simply disgusted me and convinced me that whoever actually leads the Black Fist is much worse than those poor bastards we slaughtered in that bunker so many months ago.

I' am not the first, nor am I the last who will leave, but it is foreseeable that like the others that leave without permission I will become wanted by the fist... So I' am going into hiding, I cannot say where at this point but when the time is right I shall contact you again. I also Implore you to get out as well... The Black Fist is gearing up to go in a new direction, and from where I stand that direction will merely get anyone involved killed. Take care Simon... I know you're a survivor so you'll do what is right to keep your thick skull from getting bashed in or blown apart. Your friend and brother in arms Gregory Ilan Volker.

With that the transmission cut out, 'Good luck mate, you'll need it while you're still in Atlas' I thought to myself hoping that Gregory could get out of Atlas and to another kingdom before The fist caught up with him. My fists curled in anger at the thought of fellow Black Fist soldiers hunting down Gregory or any other former member. I never agreed with the new rule of not allowing people to stay, like a conscript army... before the battle of the Alps, people could come and go as they pleased from their units to see families or tend farms. Though most stayed due to their commitment to bringing down the Fang, now that that had been accomplished and they wanted to return to normality, only to be told you'll be shot if you do so. The Black Fist in my opinion had lost what it stood for... A beacon for the protection of humanity the moment they made a decision to turn their weapons on those who had loyally served them for up to the last three years. 'A new direction? Must have something to do with our new mission... ' I concluded in my head as I began packing my few belongings for the trip into the capital, including a small rucksack full of 125,000 Lien that I had received from the SDC for the Faunus we had effectively sold to them as slave labour. Part of me wanted to just throw away this dirty blood money but I knew I'd need that money sooner or later... most probably sooner. So instead I tucked it into the bottom of my pack and set it near my door, deciding to get a good night's sleep before we departed.

The Next Day (Atlesian Capital)

Having spent the morning travelling on a Bullhead and then the early afternoon at a small Black Fist base just outside the capital picking up several new set's of clothes, seeing as according to the Black Fist who had been escorting us, our camo uniforms would stand out in the city 'No shit Sherlock' I thought as I looked finished up having a shave, which had resulted in several small cuts due to this being the first time I had ever used a razor, which caused Kale and Shauno a lot of laugher at my expense as they watched after having demonstrated the appropriate way to handle a razor.

"Jeez Simon, you did a more of a hatchet job on your face then Schwarzer did" Kale said while Shauno lay rolling on the bed coughing up his lungs from laughing too much. I growled and through the face towel I had just used to clean the blood off and dry my face with at Shauno.

"Assholes" I muttered as I picked up the black slacks, tie and white business shirt that I had to wear for the trip in and returned to the bathroom, closing and locking the door to change out of my camo.

Upon realising I had no idea how to do a tie I growled and exited the bathroom to the marksmen who were still laughing at my attempts at shaving "Oi fuck faces, umm can one of you do a tie?" I asked with a pleading look.

The pair of marksmen stopped laughing and looked at me holding the tie out... the stared at it for a moment then just began laughing even harder again "Oh my this is precious... you poor kid, can wield dangerous weapons and kill people but you get defeated by a simple razor blade and a tie!" Kale said rolling his eyes and shaking his head at my pathetic skills in anything not combat related. Finally he stepped over and put it on and showed me how to tie it.

"Awwwwww he looks like he is ready for his first school dance... so handsome, so where's his date?" Shauno Said in a over-exaggerated feminine voice as he walked over to inspect me wearing fancy clothes such as these for the first time and rested his head on Kales shoulder putting on a exaggerated motherly act.

I rolled my eyes "I swear you guys are gay sometimes... mainly every night when I realise you guys share a bedroom." I shot as an insult to get back for this treating me as a child... as their child.

This caused both marksmen to laugh, at least until Lachlan walked in furious "Hurry up you lazy, procrastinating shits... we leave in 10 minutes. I know that you two assholes are having particular enjoyment at expense of a teenager learning how to be a man, but time is short." he barked at the marksmen.

Kale simply smirked and stood over Lachlan, being 9 inches taller "Time maybe short, but it isn't as short as you Lachie" He said smugly and chuckled for all of a second before Lachlan's fist connected at full force with Kale's nuts.

"You were warned about jokes about my height and of calling me Lachie" Lachlan said, his voice dripping with venom before viciously glancing to Shauno and I before storming out of the room.

"Well aint he just a kill joy" Shauno said before helping Kale up who had toppled over due to the pain in his crotch.

As we exited the base with our new bags full of clothes we were ushered over to the base commander stood by an aide who was carrying a tray. "Here are your fake identities, in case Atlesian authorities question you. Simon you are a posing as a huntsman in training so that you can openly carry your gun staff without suspicion for either that or the scar." The commander said handing me my papers, I didn't bother to listen to the rest of it, instead going to sit in the large luxury car that was to take us into the city.

A couple minutes Kale jumped into the driver's seat, Lachlan had shotgun and Shauno jumped in the back with me and we began the 70km drive into the capital. After about 30 minutes I got bored so I decided to be a pest "Lachlan are we there yet?" I repeated over and over, Shauno joining in as well.

"I fucking swear! If I hear that phrase again I will ram your gun staff up your arse Simon!" Came the murderous reply from Lachlan whom had reached his bullshit limit for probably the rest of his life. So I sat silently, deep in thought as I prepared myself for what was to come.

Upon reaching the motel we were to be staying out I was visibly in awe: A building that must have been at least 100 stories that overlooked a massive park area on one side of the building and a massive shopping mall on another. Lachlan went to the lobby to collect our room keys while the marksmen and I stood by the car silently.

I was trying to keep my face hidden from the security cameras dotted around the place 'Ugh being somewhere with so much security can't possibly end well, especially with distinctive marks such as mine.' I thought to myself.

Eventually Lachlan returned and with the keys and an envelope that had been left at reception for us. We were situated on in a four bedroom apartment on the 2nd storey with a perfect, unobstructed view of the park (due to the balcony railings having been removed) ... where a massive stage was being erected on a knoll near the far end of the park. Kale surveyed the room and it's view and nodded knowledgably "50 Lien says that whoever we are here to kill will be on that stage and this will be where the shot is taken from."

Shauno nodded in agreement while Lachlan shrugged and opened the envelope to receive our next instructions "Well we will just have to wait until we meet our contact then, Which will be in about an hour at the 'Chancellors Tavern'. Sorry Simon, sounds like an 18+ establishment so you'll have to wait here while the rest of us attend, guess taking you clubbing will have to wait until next time." Lachlan said, taking just a little pleasure in being able to treat me like a kid because I wasn't legal drinking age.

About 30 minutes later the others left, taking one set of room keys and leaving me with the other. Deciding against going out exploring at the current moment, I flicked on the TV having not watched one for several years. As I flicked through the channels I saw various news reports and current affairs shows featuring reports about the Black Fist. 'Hmm wonder what the people who live in the cities have to say about us heroes of humanity and protectors of the outer colonies.' I wondered as I eventually chose a news program that was just starting to watch. About 15 minutes later I was left dumbfounded and angry "So these people in the city, who have no knowledge whatsoever on how many humans were murdered in the outer colonies and settlements think we are just as much terrorists as the White Fang? Well legitimately fuck them... it would have been genocide without the Fist protecting those affected by the Faunus uprising those years ago when the White Fang turned Violent!" I screamed in frustration at the TV before changing the channel. Only to be bombarded by more of the same, 'Fuck me dead isn't there any cartoons on?' I mentally bitched, wanting something to laugh at like an immature little kid. I eventually gave up and settled upon another news program that wasn't talking about The Fist.

"Good evening and Welcome to Channel 8 News: Violet Scully reporting with tonight's top story. Tomorrow will be the Inaugural 'Faunus Equality and Rights' or FEAR Rally to be held in the Atlesian Botanical Gardens, with Speeches to be headlined by Atlesian Ruling Council member: Councillor Jaeger Meister and the head of 'Faunus for Peaceful Coexistence' Mrs Olivia Taurus..."

I switched the TV off, my mind had clicked and I knew exactly who we were going to be shooting, and I didn't like it one bit. For now instead of targeting militant Faunus groups we were now targeting groups who were using genuine peace to advance the Faunus race and any humans that agreed with them. 'So this is the new direction that Gregory mentioned... No wonder he got out. Assassinating a Council member is a good way to end up dead' I thought to myself as I at once made a decision based upon my desire not to end up dead 'That's it I' am OUT of here!' my survival instincts screamed as I grabbed my bags in preparation to make a quick getaway... Only for the door to unlock and open and one very pissed off Soldier entered leading two very distressed looking snipers who were each carrying large instrument cases that obviously contained sniper rifles.

"Simon we need to talk, we got our mission brief from our contact" Lachlan said.

I shook my head "Already know the who, when, why of it" It isn't hard to work it out with the names of two major political players giving speeches on that stage tomorrow plastered all over the TV" I replied with a tone of extreme disapproval to this plan.

"These targets are threats to human dominance and therefore are threats to humanity itself!" Lachlan growled in reply. I sighed and looked down to the ground defeated, I would have to make my escape tomorrow in the chaos that will inevitably ensue after this assassination. I simply retreated into my room tossed my bags in the corner, and I began to rearrange my things so that all the stuff I'd need would be in my field pack and anything I could afford to leave behind would be in the bag I had picked up from the Black Fist base this morning.

The Next Day (The "Sniper Suite")

We had placed a small coffee table into the middle of the common area to prop the rifles onto and closed the curtains so that they were only cracked enough to give a clear view of the stage that sat less than a 1000m away from our position. I had switched the TV on and tuned it to a channel that was covering the rally live, I wanted to hear the speeches be given If the targets lived long enough to give them. Lachlan agreed to turn it on so he could watch the shots hit their mark on the screen, seeing as Shauno and Kale were the ones making the shots so his and my eyes weren't required to be glued to a scope.

"We take the shots the first opportunity that both of the targets are on stage together, Kale takes the Councillor and Shauno takes the Faunus filth. Now remember people once we make the shots, pick up your gear and exit the building, we all separate and will meet up at the agreed upon location in 7 days to extract back to base and lay low." Lachlan said impassively as he gave us our final briefing.

From outside a series of chants about peace and equality could be heard both through the open window and the TV screen. I took my place behind the rangefinder set up next to Kale's rifle and Lachlan took his place next to Shauno and then began the waiting game...

The wait didn't take long, before any of the speeches began the organisers brought out all the speech givers for some joint message of peace and acceptance, however I wasn't really listening, I had to assist Kale in setting up his shot. "Target identified, 4th from the left, can I get some shot parameters Simmo?" Kale asked, his voice quivering lightly.

I looked through the rangefinder as I heard Kale slide a massive round into the open bolt and ram it home, "Range to target is 977m, no elevation adjustments. Wind is 3 knots going right to left. " I said deadpanned, not allowing my emotions to show. As Kale made the appropriate adjustments to his scope I could hear Lachlan going through the exact same process with Shauno.

I turned to Kale who looked pale as a ghost "you have never killed another human before have you? only Grimm and Faunus?" I questioned.

Kale whispered his answer "Nope, neither has Shauno.. we had always hoped to avoid doing such things."

I nodded reassuringly to the shooter "I remembered the first time I killed, It wasn't Grimm or Faunus... it was two humans while I was on the street, It ironically was also the same night I met Roman." But Kale was no longer listening having put on his ear protection to avoid hearing damages as both sniper rifles discharged simultaneously. I quickly did the same and gave a thumbs up to Lachlan who gave me one back. I tapped Kale on the shoulder to signify that both shots were set and turned my eyes to the TV screen.

Obviously these two had done simultaneous shots before because they seemed to act in unison: they held their breaths and in unison began applying pressure to the triggers until in perfect synchronisation the sniper rifles discharged, sending their deadly payloads hurtling towards their targets. My eyes glued to the TV screen which was currently showing a zoomed out view of all the speech makers lined up, Out of nowhere two clouds of blood and guts spewed out, and both targets collapsed, their abdomens reduced to red mush by the Explosive rounds impacting and their small charges detonating inside their bodies to guarantee death. Within moments without a single spoken word, the four of us had jumped up, grabbed our gear and made our exit and escapes each giving a nod of good luck to each other. The other three going out the doors and I ran forward, right over the balcony and hit the ground running, pack slung over my back Once more into uncertainty.

Five Days Later

I was lucky I had brought all the Lien I had made with me instead of throwing it away in disgust, I was moving from motel to motel each night, small cheap, inconspicuous places. Each time i saw a news paper or TV screen it was all plastered with reports and updates into the assassinations. Blame had quickly been shifted onto the Black Fist.

Unsurprisingly The Black Fist, through a spokesperson had gone onto TV to vehemently denied the accusations but at the same time praised the "lone wolves" who had perpetrated this "act of service to the species" So obviously the Fist wasn't going to rat myself or any of the others out and all the security recordings from the motel had mysteriously disappeared. But I decided I had enough... I wasn't going to go back and risk being Disposed of to tie up loose ends of the assassination, nor was I going to go back and merely kill or ruin the lives of innocent women and kids.

The Fist will hopefully just assume me dead. Tonight I began Down a Whole new path. Once more I packed my few belongings and left the cheap motel room I had been occupying near the Atlesian Capital's main train yards. Walking up to a fence I withdrew a set of wire cutters I had bought at a hardware store from my pack and cut away a large section of wire. As I slipped into the yards I saw a train being loaded, a large SDC dust train. 'Well how fucking Ironic... this is the second time I have stowed away on SDC property, I shall have to leave a thank-you note this time.' I thought to myself as I jumped into a storage car, I noted a passenger car towards the end of the train being boarded by several people as well as armed guards but I knew that snobs such as those that ran the Schnee company would never come up to a storage car, so I was fairly safe. I curled up in a corner of the carriage, curled against my pack. Dozing off deciding to leave the details of what I do next for when I arrive at wherever this train is headed to.

I was jolted from my sleep by an explosion further up the train. "Oh holy fuck!" I yelled as the explosion sent me flying head first in to the dust car's steel wall. Grabbing up Vindex Umbra I scrambled out of the car and up to its roof. I saw a Bullhead streaking across the sky and it deposited several pairs of raiders at various lengths of the train. I extended my gun staff into its gun form and slammed a cartridge pouch in, raking the bolt I unleashed a massive stream of tracer fire at the Bullhead. The door gunner turned his attention on me and began returning fire which I blocked with my Aura and simply fired back, absorbing the incoming fire like a walking tank. Eventually I scored several hits on the gunner and he fell out of the Bullhead, but didn't hit the ground due to his safety harness. I ejected the now empty cartridge pouch and swapped to blade mode, looking around I saw two of the raiders jump up onto the roof of my car, aiming rifles at me.

My Aura flared Red-White as I charged into the two raiders, shoulder charging one straight off the car and saw him fly off, his skull hitting a tree as he flew through the air off the train. I turned my attention to the other would be attacker who was now shooting at me to no avail As I simply absorbed the first few rounds with my Aura before I rolled left and charged in, the attacker attempted to slam the stock of his rifle into my face but I blocked it with Vindex Umbra before landing a knee to the man's crotch, as he collapsed to his knees I flourished my staff and stabbed the blade right through his sternum. Withdrawing my weapon I saw the dying attacker remove his helmet... to reveal the face of my former teammate Danny who looked up to me with eyes full of venom and hate "G-g-god damn *Coughs* damn it all Simon, Why did you have to be here... You should be in the capital, and now you have killed Luke and me! Y-you Fucking traitor!" Those were his last words before he slumped over, no longer among the living.

I looked down at the corpse with contempt "Yeah right Luke, you guys are the traitors... biting the hand that feeds you and attacking other humans!" I said maliciously to the corpse as I pushed it off the train car. I heard several sets of yelling and gunshots from the passenger car behind me.

I ran for the passenger car, leaping across several storage cars in the process. Upon reaching the entrance which had been blown open, I see inside was Roman, Captain Shevchenko and Sergeant Savage all with their weapons raised and they were yelling for someone to drop their weapon. As I edged forward My weapon ready, I peeked around the corner to get a view of who they were in a standoff with and to my astonishment it was a white clad teenage girl with skin as pale as snow, sporting an off-centre ponytail of silver-white hair who was wielding what looked to be some sort of modified rapier which was glowing red as she held it up to Roman, the carriages other occupants were at the far end.

Deciding to enter the fight I picked up a sharp, heavy piece of what had once been a door and hurled it as hard as I could into the back of Roman's head, leaving a nasty cut on his head and neck, which stained his pimp outfit red. "Oi Roman, Just wanted to say I have wanted to pelt something sharp at your head for years you motherfucker!" I said in a smartass manner as the three raiders turned to face me, their faces lighting up in recognition, then in anger. The white clad girl kept her weapon raised, watching this exchange in confusion.

"Oh hello there kid, I see you have decided to be a damned thorn in my side by disrupting my re entry into my preferred profession, no matter... you will be disposed of, Shevchenko has wanted to end you for a long time, so sic him!" two things happened it that moment, Shevchenko and Savage charged me and the white haired warrior charged Roman using some sort of speed enhancing glyphs. I

nside the cramped carriage I couldn't use my weapon to its full effectiveness but I was still more than a match for these two clowns. The two Whiskey Squad leaders opened fire on me, instead of absorbing it with my aura I ducked behind some seats, and huddled down as the bullets tore through them. The firing stopped and it became obvious that they had blown away all of their ammunition, I rolled out from behind the seats Vindex Umbra raised as I charged at the pair while Roman was fighting the White haired girl in the middle of the carriage.

I ducked under the pairs strikes with their rifles, but instead I caught a pair of savage knees to my face which sent me sprawling onto the ground. I shook my head and decided that using my 2m long staff was not going to work in such confined areas. I jumped up and charged back in unarmed except for my aura and my body. Before reaching the pair who had now drawn knives I kicked off the ground and rebounded off the carriages ceiling, landing a catastrophic blow to Savage's shoulder feeling and hearing several bones shatter from the force.

I landed and twirled on my feet, landing a roundhouse kick to the same area on Savage, which had him sprawling in pain as he clutched his now ruined shoulder. Before I could turn around to meet Shevchenko I felt a Knife embed itself in my back, around where my kidneys were and an arm come around my neck, locking me into a choke hold.

Shevchenko leaned in close and whispered "Hush Simon, Don't resist the end you have been dealt... just let the blackness consume you" as he twisted the blade before withdrawing it and jabbing it in higher, getting it lodged between my ribs, perforating my lung. I felt blood rush up to my mouth and I coughed it up. Shevchenko once again twisted the lodged knife. In that moment I was infused with a release of adrenaline and my Aura flared up as I turned my head and bit into Shevchenko's face, tearing a massive chunk out of it. The Whiskey Squad captain let me go as he yelled in pain and he clasped his now mutilated face, I spat the chunk of flesh in my mouth right back at Shevchenko before I with much pain, withdrew the knife from my back and flung it towards my opponent, the 8 inch blade going right through Shevchenko's throat. I turned towards the white haired girl and Roman just in time to see the girl flying through the air towards me, I didn't have time to evade, only brace for the impact.

The girl hit me and knocked back several feet, But I managed to keep my footing and actually seemed to catch the girl in my arms bridal style to ensure she didn't hit the ground. Once my backwards movement had stopped I placed the girl down on her feet pushed away from me and stuck her nose up "Would you like another round with this cockbite or do you want me to have a shot at beating him? I ask picking up Vindex umbra and extending its blades. once again.

"No I do not need any help taking down this would-be raider when he is attacking my families train! especially not from some foulmouthed stowaway!" She said in a most haughty and pretentious tone before she lunged back into the fight, by firing a trail of ice along the ground at Roman. I on the other hand shrugged and leant against a wall, my weapon at the ready, but secretly grateful she refused my help, I could feel more blood filling up my throat and lungs from the blade that had pierced my chest cavity. I cough up some more blood, only to hear a smash ahead of me, I look up and see the girl sprawled against a wall and Roman preparing for a kill shot. I gritted my teeth to suppress the Pain and lunged into the fray, leading with my shoulder to knock Roman off balance which succeeded then following up with a sweeping strike at his midsection which was blocked by Roman's pimp cane.

Roman and I swapped several blows, Roman being mostly defensive, due to his weapon being of almost no value in melee combat. I pushed my advantage and forced him into a corner and began pounding him with strikes trying to break his defences. Finally I thought I was wearing him down, funnelling most of my rapidly depleting Aura into my strikes to try and finally strike Roman down. But as I went to land the final blow, Roman managed to dodge it and spin around me. First he put an explosive round from his cane into my gun staff at just the right angle, causing it to shatter to pieces. Then he Placed his cane against the back of my Right knee, he pulled the trigger and a shot rang out, shredding my knee cap. I shrieked in pain and collapsed almost instantly into unconsciousness due to a sensory overload.

That Same Time Weiss Schnee's PoV:

As I regained my senses I realised I lay sprawled against one of the sides of the carriage, looking up I saw the stowaway engaged in combat with the redheaded Dust Pirate. The stowaway had the pirate pinned against the far side of the carriage and was trying to land a killing blow. I saw the Pirate's move before he made it, his body language all pointed to a dodge to the right, yet the stowaway didn't pick up on it and missed his strike... this fatal lack of perception cost the stowaway dearly as I saw the pirate unleash an explosive round point-blank into the stowaway's right knee which caused almost instantaneous black out for the poor guy. But instead of dealing a final blow the pirate simply blew a hole in the side of the carriage and jumped into a airship that hovered nearby. before departing he had the gall to tip his bowler hat to me like he was some sort of gentleman!

I felt the carriage slowing down, Obviously they had detached the last few carriages from the train and made their getaway. 'Damned thieves, my family got enough trouble from insolent Faunus let alone human raiders.' I thought to myself as I looked at the carnage before me.

I looked to the now unconscious stowaway whom now lay in an ever expanding pool of his own blood. and I summoned the few remaining security guards whom I had ordered to take cover when that redheaded brigand had attacked our carriage "Keep him alive, he has ended up in this position protecting the Schnee Dust Company, therefore we are obligated by our honour to keep him alive and see that he recovers. And will someone please signal for a pick up, before something else attacks us!" I said in a commanding, Schnee like tone. I spared one last look to the Stowaway and mentally pleaded for him to live, for I well and truly did owe him my life and a Schnee always repays their debts.

A/N: I honestly could not resist the GoT reference at the end, was impossible not to use it haha :P Please Read and Review people... your feedback and questions always help motivate me and I love answering the questions that people send my way about my story. -CC signing off.