Hello everyone! How are you all today? I'm doing pretty good myself. There really isn't any major news in my life, except track practice is starting, so that's been tiring. Also, if you haven't checked out my other story, I'd love if you did. Nothing else to say, so enjoy :)
"This is pretty slow progress don't you think?" Rideat said.
"Did you think this would be fast?" Ike asked.
"No, not really just a bit faster." With the time spent inside of his own head, Ike had managed to destroy ten of the one hundred Grimm nests plaguing his mind. This freed a few town, along with a couple of hunters Ike was familiar with through new articles. Currently, the brothers, Eisenhower, and the hyena Faunus were all sitting together in the inn Ike currently called home. The headmasters offered the three former organization members a room within Beacon but the three all turned them down. Ike claimed that it wouldn't feel the same without team RWBY there, James wanted to stay near his brother, and Eisenhower simply didn't like the feel of being in a fighting academy again.
"It's not like this is easy. We're almost guaranteed to lose a few people in each raid not." James pointed out.
"Ya, I know. It just seems like there's a faster way to do this." The Faunus said.
"Do you have a plan?" Ike asked.
"Well, the start of one."
"We're all ears." Eisenhower said.
"What about if we attack a bunch all at once." Rideat recommended.
James spat out the drink in his mouth at this idea, "Are you crazy?"
"Kinda." The Faunus mumbled to himself.
"We don't have the man power to attack multiple targets at once. We're a militia not an army."
"It isn't really the best idea." The younger Mers admitted.
"It could work." Eisenhower said.
"How?!" James replied.
"Well there are obviously faults in Vesh's defense right?"
"There are, whenever we kill a part of him left behind, I flash into control now." Ike said.
"Exactly, this means that a part of his strength is being used when we fight Vesh. This means that if we attack multiple targets at once, he'll have to stretch out the strength he uses in fighting us, making the attacks easier."
"There's still Grimm though." James pointed out.
"We have plenty of strong Hunters now. We can divide them up and attack simultaneously."
"What about Ike though?" The older brother asked.
"What about him?" Rideat asked.
"I go into the real world whenever we kill a part of Vesh. If I'm fighting when that happens, I'm done for." Ike answered.
"Just don't fight until yours is the last target left." Eisenhower said.
"So you want me to just let everyone fight my battles while I sit here and flip in between consciousness?" Blue asked.
"You can still aid whoever is the last to free their sector, you just have to wait." James said.
"You're agreeing with this?"
"It'll be efficient okay? I'm not saying that it'll be safe, but it'll get you back to the real world quickly."
"How am I even going to know who's the last group attacking."
"I think this will help." Eisenhower said as he tossed a scroll over to the teen. Ike opened it up to see a layout of a small map. The screen was broken up into ten differing sectors all colored blue. Surrounding those were divided sectors all colored black. Above the map was the word Agartha. (Sorry Ashuri Brighty, I liked your idea, but I prefer this one.)
"A map?" Ike asked.
"It shows who controls what part of your head. However, it can only map out what we can see, so anything that you've freed and what borders that will be mapped. Everything else is simply not there right now." The shape shifter said.
"You're just going to do this whether I okay it or not, won't you." The archer asked.
"You know us so well." The Faunus replied.
"Fine, we'll attack multiple targets at once. How many though?"
"Well, there's three of us that can each lead a group, if we can get the help of a few of the Hunters and Headmasters, we can probably attack about ten of them safely." James said.
"And then I'll just help fight whichever sector hasn't been freed yet."
"Exactly." Eisenhower answered.
"Well, let's go gather everyone then." The archer said, closing the scroll, standing up, and walking out into Agartha's Vale.
-At Beacon-
"It does seem effective." One headmaster argued.
"Yes, but it's practically suicide." Another replied.
"But they get weaker the more we attack. I say we attack fifteen nests!" Another declared.
"They've been doing this for hours." Rideat complain as he propped his head up with his elbow, which rested on his thigh.
"At least they gave us chairs to sit in." Ike replied with the same bored tone as he dropped his head downwards. The headmasters did give the four of them chairs.
"Do we really have to be here?" Rideat asked as he leaned his head over the back of the chair and looked at the wall.
"Well, only one of us really needs to be here." Eisenhower pointed out, he shouldn't have though. As soon as the words left his lips, his three companions sped off leaving behind a cloud of dust. Not realizing they had left, he asked, "Do you guy mind if I…" He then noticed the absence of the others. "Oh, don't worry I'll stay here and watch the most boring argument ever. I'll just message you when they're done." He then covered his eyes with his hands and propped his arms on his legs. "Some friends you guys are." He mumbled.
-Outside the Office-
"Maybe we should go back and have one of us stay with him." Ike said.
"Are you volunteering?" His older brother asked.
"No, just thinking out loud."
That's when James's stomach rumbled. "Anyone else hungry?" He asked.
"Just you." Rideat answered.
"Well, I'm going to go to the cafeteria then. I'll find you guys later then."
"Have fun!" Ike called out as his brother walked in a different direction.
"Be safe!" He called back.
After randomly walking around for a few moments, Ike said, "So Rideat?"
"Yes?" The Faunus asked.
"How do you see?"
"Well that's blunt." The Faunus replied.
"Well, you have you hood pulled over your eyes all the time."
"That would be because I'm blind."
"Then how do you walk around and fight and stuff?" The archer asked.
"It's my semblance." He replied. "I can see aura, kind of a small replacement."
"Then how did you fight Grimm? They have no soul or aura."
"Very carefully." Said the blind Faunus with a small laugh. "But, I did learn to listen for them as well as use my teammates' aura to guide me."
"Did it work?"
"Somewhat. It wasn't easy, but it worked for a while. But then, you know I ended up here."
"I guess you have a point. Then how are you able to fight so well in here?" Ike asked.
"Well you have an aura and a soul and stuff, right?"
"Ya."
"Well there you go!" The hyena said as if it made perfect sense.
"That makes no sense. Whatsoever."
"Well, because we're in your head, everything gives off your aura."
"Even Grimm? And what about when we fight parts of Vesh?" Blue asked.
"He has own aura. The Grimm use his as well. Everything that is connected with you such as everyone in this building has your blue aura. Anything associated with him such as his fragments or the Grimm the fragments created have his dark purple aura. Now does that make sense?"
"Yes it does. So you just see a bunch of figured walking around in the dark?"
"Sure do."
"Then how do you see building and stuff?"
"I use the figures of people as a reference, and if nobody's around I can make little clicks with my tongue to figure out where objects are based on when the sound bounces off." (There's a person who can actually do that! It works like how a bat sees.)
"That actually works?" Mers asked.
"Sure does."
"Interesting to say the least."
"What about you?" Rideat asked.
"Umm, I can see just fine."
"No, I mean tell me about yourself."
"You're in my head, shouldn't you know all of this?"
"Nope, I'm just a memory. I only know as much as other memories tell me."
"Makes sense, so what do you want to know?"
"Well, why do you want to get out of here so badly?"
"Would you want to be stuck in your own head?" The archer asked.
"I guess not, but there has to be some reason you're rushing this."
"Well, there's this girl named Ruby…" Blue said before being quickly cut off.
"OF COURSE IT'S A GIRL! WHY DIDN'T I THINK ABOUT THAT?" The Faunus yelled out.
"Do you want me to keep going on?"
"Ya, go ahead. I wouldn't want to ruin your fun of talking about her."
"Ya, whatever. Anyways, she's pretty awesome." Mers said.
"Ooooo tell me more!" Rideat said in a mocking tone.
"Shut up, I'm done with this topic."
Rideat laughed a bit and then said, "Well tell me about your past."
"That's a bit… sensitive." Ike said.
"So it mine, so we can swap."
"Well, I became an orphan at a young age, leaving only James and I to look after each other. Well, he looked after me more than I looked after him, but that's not important. Eventually a man who called himself Victor offered to take us in. Being desperate kids, we accepted. He took us to an old factory that his group used as a headquarters. James and I trained there to fight, until it was decided we were ready to start taking on jobs. We ever renamed Juliet and Lima. Victor didn't believe in using real names. We began with just small jobs, we helped people and got paid to do it. It seemed like a good thing. Once I was around fifteen years old, we began to get assassination missions. Nobody that we ever attacked was completely innocent, but at the same time most of them didn't deserve to die. We were becoming criminals as we progressed through the days. Eventually one of our missions went bad, and James got shot. He died there that day. I quit the group, and went my own way. Then, out of sheer good luck, I met Ruby a few months later. I helped her attack a group of me that were robbing a dust shop. Neither of us realized that the robber was being conducted by two of the most dangerous people in Vale. After the fight was over, we were both invited to join Beacon by the Headmaster, which we both accepted. Victor slowly gained control of my head, until the day that I was put here in his place and he took mine. The rest is just what's been happening to me in here." The archer said, finishing him monologue.
"Wow that's some crappy stuff."
"Yep, now it's your turn." Ike said.
"Fair's fair, I, like you, became an orphan as a kid. Both of my parents were Faunus as well and our house was burnt down by a bunch of racists. However, the fire caused me to go blind as well took away my arm." The hyena then moved his robotic arm around a bit. "I lived on the streets for about two years, until I meet a member of the White Fang. His name was Abraham and he began to teach me how to fight and use aura. His said that being a Faunus was hard and that I would need to learn how to defend myself. My prosthetic arm was given to me on my twelfth birthday as a gift from him. Abraham became like a father to me. Then, when I was fourteen Abraham contracted an incurable disease. He died later that year. Even though I was pretty destroyed, I keep training that way I could fight for what he believed in. Once then White Fang change management, I was one of the first people to leave. I thought that the new methods went against everything Abraham believed in. Then I joined Beacon and did pretty well here."
"Rideat?"
"Ya?"
"How did you die?" Ike asked.
The Faunus sighed and said, "I figured you'd ask that."
"You don't have to answer if…" Blue was then cut off.
"No, its fine. I knew you'd ask this eventually. I was still a first year at the time and the first year students were all meant to go on a mission with a hunter, with their team. Well, we choose a search and destroy mission outside of Vale. We had a pretty nice hunter along with us, he was named Chaud Fuego if I remember. He used a weird flamethrower like weapon. Anyways, we went on our mission and were doing well, until a few of Goliath came. To say they went happy would be an understatement. Chaud stayed back, while we ran to get to the bullhead that was called in. Chaud put up a good fight, but was tossed aside by the tusks on one of them. I don't think it killed him, just knocked him out. I actually feel bad for him, because he probably feels guilty for me dying. Anyways, I decided to try to hold them off long enough for everyone to escape and hopefully get onto the bullhead with Chaud somehow. I was able to climb up to the top of it, and take out the right eye of one of them. It then shook me off and when I looked up I saw a giant foot coming down towards me. And well, here I am."
"Wow, I'm sorry Rideat." Ike said.
"Its fine, went out like a hero didn't I? Plus, I didn't have much of a life before Beacon, so I died giving it to the school."
"You really love this place, don't you?"
"Why do you think I was on the front lines of that first raid?"
Ike then received a message from Eisenhower saying, "Hey, I think they're done fighting like the bunch of old guys they are. Get back in here."
"You think it's a trap?" The hyena asked.
"Probably, but if it isn't we should probably be there." The pair then turned back around, and headed towards the Headmaster's Office.
-Back In the Office-
The pair of students pushed open the door, to see some Headmasters still bickering. "Yes!" Eisenhower yelled out. "Suckers!" He then stood up and made a break for the door, but was stopped by Rideat grabbing his shirt collar, which forced him to a sitting position.
"You aren't going anywhere." The blind teen said. Eisenhower mumbled something under his breath, and then James strode through the door, plate of food in hand.
"This stuff is great." He said, shoving another piece of chicken in his mouth.
"James, the message was a fake. Go back to the food." Ike said.
"We have made our conclusion." One Headmaster announce.
"Or maybe I'm a mind reader." The former hunter said.
"Or maybe you an idiot who got lucky." The older brother replied, ruffling Eisenhower's hair as he walked by. Eisenhower then got up and sat down in his seat next to the other three. Although, they didn't look like the most serious bunch. Ike was actually paying attention, Rideat was messing around with his prosthetic arm, James was still eating chicken, and Eisenhower looked half asleep.
"Are we sure this is the right choice?" One Headmaster whispered to another.
"If it protects Vale, then yes." Headmaster number two responded.
"We have come to the conclusion to lend you our aid in this plan." The first Headmaster of Beacon announced.
"Now let us begin planning." The second Headmaster said.
"We have a small idea of the plans already." Ike said.
"As you know, we plan on attacking ten targets at once. I, Eisenhower, and Rideat are all capable of leading a team into battle. We have three Hunters who have already agreed on leading a team. That means, we need four of Beacon's staff or students to be able to lead the remaining groups." James said.
"What about Ike?" One of the oldest Headmasters asked. (Oldest as in like age, not the first Headmaster)
"I lose consciousness after each piece of Vesh is killed, making it too dangerous for me to fight. Therefore, I will aid the final team's attack, but can do nothing else. Now, do you have anyone in mind for the remaining four leaders?"
"I'll take a spot." One Headmaster said. He appeared to be in his late thirties. His name was Headmaster Tin. He wore a grey suit when not in combat, but donned a full set of armor when preparing to fight. He used a sword taller than him to fight. The weapon had no ranged mode, but he didn't really need one. The man was a walking tank.
"Any others?" Eisenhower asked.
"Professor Zauberer would be a good choice." Rideat pointed out. "He teaches aura control, and acts mainly as support."
"Darian Cam would also be a good choice. He's a fourth year student, who's a squirrel Faunus." Added a Headmaster Ike glanced over at Rideat, who nodded confirming the third choice.
"And perhaps Professor Tunet." Recommended James. "I met her in the cafeteria. She uses a lightning bolt shaped sword infused with lightning dust."
"She's a wonderful recommendation." Said one of the Headmasters. "Now as for your plan."
"We will each lead a team into a nest. Three are occupied by Ursa, One by Beowolves, Two with King Taijitu, another has a few Death stalkers, two are infected with Boarbatusk, and the final one has…" Eisenhower's voice then trailed off.
"Has?" Tin asked.
"Goliaths." He responded.
"How many?" Tin asked.
"Seven."
"Seven Goliaths!" Exclaimed the eldest Headmaster. "That's impossible!"
"Not if we attack right." James said. "I can lead the team against the Goliaths. We'll take the longest that way Ike will be helping us. We will also need to stack a few hunters with us."
"Well, as long as you're putting your own neck out there, I say it's worth a shot." Headmaster Tin said.
"I suppose it is." The first Headmaster responded.
"Alright then, we'll go find everyone and ask if they want to help in the attacks."
The four then stood up, and walked out of the office. "So are you sure we can kill four Goliaths?" Ike asked his brother.
"Ya, why not? It won't be easy, but we got this." He then wrapped his arm around his younger brother, and pulled him in close. "Plus we'll have Hunters with us."
"Whatever you say." Ike said somewhat nervously. Truth be told, the archer was extremely worried about fighting a Goliath. It was the beast that killed Rideat after all.
"Now come on, I want to get some more chicken." James said as he began jogging down the hall.
"Does he only ever think of food?" Eisenhower asked.
"Only when it's good food." Ike said happily, remembering the taste of Beacon's pancakes. "James, wait up!" Ike called out as he ran after his brother.
"I can't believe they're running for food. Can you Rideat?" Eisenhower then looked around to see the Faunus missing. "Rideat!" He called out.
"They might have steak!" The hyena yelled back from somewhere in the maze of halls.
"Great, they left me again." Eisenhower mumbled to himself. "Wait up! I'm gonna get lost!" The eldest of the four then took off after the others.
So, hopefully there's gonna be a big fight somewhat in the next few chapters. Also, the next chapter will take a bit of time to write, because I'll be visiting my brother for about 4 or 5 days, where I most likely won't write while I'm down there. No other real important news, so don't forget to leave a review and pm me with any questions, because I'm always happy to explain something a bit more and hear some feedback from the story. Have a nice day :D BYE!
