Mistral: The New Stomping Grounds
Team WA Volume 4: Journey Through Mistral
The Grimmscape
A foul presence fell over this land, a land of jagged rocks, purple crystals, dried and cracked soil, and curious black pools which resembled tar pits. But these pools did not hold tar, but the essence of Grimm. If one waited long enough, they would be greeted by the sight which was currently being witnessed by a green-haired girl and silver-haired boy, the sight of Grimm emerging from the black pools.
Emerald and Mercury looked on in horror and disgust from the window of a large castle made of the same jagged stone which characterized the rest of the landscape. The snap of Cinder's fingers drew their attention as they looked over towards where their mistress sat, a large table made of the same purple crystal as could be found in the landscape.
The rest of the room was surrounded by several large windows, and several more glowing purple crystals, some of which had candles on them, that cast a purple glow around the room. The two quickly made their way over to where Cinder sat, in a large chair made of jagged, bone-like tusks, with Emerald shoving Mercury aside to be next to Cinder, who was now wearing a red robe-like outfit with gold trim, one long sleeve, two elbow length gloves, and an eye-patch which covered her left eye and part of the large scar which was now on her face. Her hair had been cut to neck length as well.
"Ah yes, do keep your, ahem, posse in check," said a mustached man sitting across from Cinder with graying hair around his temples, a red and yellow Victorian-era suit with a tie, and a gray coat with yellow-lining and a pair of fingerless glove.
An infuriated Mercury tried making a move but was stopped by Emerald who held up her arm to block him, knowing full well the consequences if Mercury tried something.
"You hear that," said the mustached man, "Silence, I have half the mind to thank the little girl that bested you."
Suddenly a throwing knife with a rune on the blade embedded itself in the table in front of the mustached man. In another instant, a wolf Faunus appeared, crouching on the table with a black sword on his back, who kicked the mustached man in the face, knocking him over and out of his chair.
"You insolent animal!" exclaimed the mustached man as he quickly got up from the floor, rubbing his nose. "I don't appreciate you bad-mouthing my boss, Watty," said the Faunus, as he pulled his knife out of the table, "I mean seriously, insulting someone who can't even talk back, and you call yourself a man."
"I've told you before mercenary, it is DR. WATTS," said the mustached man as he stepped closer, clenching his fists, "And we all share the same rank at this table, meaning you serve all of us!"
"Exo just leave it," said Mercury, trying to reason with the wolf Faunus. "Sorry Merc," said Exo as he rose to a fighting stance and gripped the handle of his sword, "But I think this guy needs to know that the names on my checks read Adam Taurus and Cinder Fall, and that I wouldn't work for his sorry # # if he paid me double what I'm getting now!"
"Ohhh," said one of the other occupants sitting at the table, a man with a long pony tail, a vest which revealed the scars on his stomach, white pants, brown boots, multiple belts around his waist, and a pair of bladed gauntlets on his wrist, "carve out his eye and give it to Cinder she'd like that."
"You're incourageable Tyrian," said Watts, "If anyone's dying it will be this pathetic-." A loud sound, caused by the large wooden doors at the entrance of the room drew everyone's attention. In another moment, the doors flung open, causing everyone to stand from their seats as a woman with chalk white skin, black veins on her face, a black diamond on her forehead, white hair done up in a large bun with several smaller buns sticking out on the lower parts of her hair.
The woman also wore a long black dress which reached down to the floor and hid the woman's feet, making it seem as if she was hovering across the floor, while a long black cape with three decorative eyes which hung off her back and arms, completed her wardrobe. But the most menacing aspect of the woman, as she made her way to the other side of the room to stop at a candle-lit altar, were her red and black eyes, the kind of eyes that haunted ones nightmares.
Exo, hopped of the table, keeping his distance as the woman crossed the room, not casting her gaze upon anyone until she stopped in front of an altar made of more of the purple crystal decorated with several candles. "Watts," said the woman, in a surprisingly human-like tone, "Do you find such malignance necessary?"
"I apologize mam," said Watts respectfully as everyone, save for Exo, Emerald, and Mercury took their seats, "I'm not terribly fond of failure, or of disloyal servants." "Then I see no reason for your attitude towards young Cinder," said the woman, "She has become our fall maiden, destroyed Beacon tower, and most importantly of all, killed dear old Ozpin, and as for our mercenary," the woman turned her gaze on Exo, causing him to shift a little uncomfortably despite himself as he twirled one of his knives, "He aided young Cinder and her compatriots in escaping Vale, provided us with continued information from the underworld now that Torchwick is gone, and has continued to do everything asked of him since arriving here, in fact I believe his outburst earlier could easily be interpreted as a sign of loyalty."
"It's just personal preference," said Exo, still avoiding eye contact with the witch, "I may be a mercenary, but I got standards that Doctor Dick over here doesn't fill." Watts glared at Exo but said nothing.
"So I am curious Watts," said the chalk-skinned woman, "Which failure or disloyalty do you speak of?" "Well, the uh, girl with the silver eyes," responded Watts. "We've dealt with them before," said the only person at the table who hadn't spoken yet, a large man with long hair, a beard, and brown eyes, wearing a green coat with gold trimming, black on the arms, a brown belt, and a tunic underneath. "How is it a novice was able to best one of us?" asked the man.
"My thoughts exactly," said Watts, "It should have been effortless, even without her new power." "It is because of the maiden's power," said the chalk-skinned woman, "You are the key to our victory Cinder, but your newfound strength comes with a crippling weakness, which is why you will remain here while we continue your treatment."
Cinder could only hold her head low in frustration as the woman continued. "Dr. Watts, you will take Cinder's place and meet our informant in Mistral," said the woman. "Very good," replied Watts. "Tyrian I want you to continue your hunt for the spring maiden," said the woman, indicating the man with the pony tail.
"Gladly," responded Tyrian with an ominous chuckle. "Hazel, I'm sending you to the leader of the White Fang, Adam Taurus has arranged the meeting," said the woman, eliciting a nod from the man in the green coat, "Taurus continues to prove loyal, insure Sienna Kahn feels the same." "As you wish," said Hazel.
Cinder raised her hand, getting Emerald's attention as she leaned down to hear what Cinder had to say. After another moment, Emerald stood back up nervously. "Speak child," said the woman. "Well, she wants to know," stammered Emerald, "What about the girl?" "What about her," said Watts dismissively, "This seems like her problem, not ours."
Cinder slammed her fist on the table angrily at Watt's comment as the doctor smiled smugly, before another throwing knife embedded itself next to Watt's head. "Whoops sorry," said Exo in a mock apologetic tone, "Butterfingers today, but you know, my problem not yours."
"Enough," said the woman before Watts could respond. "Tyrian," said the woman turning to the insane man after a moment of thought. "Yes my lady," replied Tyrian. "Spring can wait, find me the girl," Tyrian was ecstatic for a moment as he laughed happily while the woman continued speaking, "And bring her to me." Tyrian's good mood suddenly vanished as he realized he wouldn't get to kill anyone, but he regained his composure as he nodded in understanding. "Thanks to your efforts Beacon has fallen," said the woman, "and Haven will be next."
A Little While Later
"I swear some of those guys get more insane every day," said Exo, as he, Mercury, and Emerald made their way down one of the castles many dimly lit hallways as Tyrian's laughter echoed after them. "You should talk," said Emerald, "Kicking Watts in the face, you should be glad you're not dead right now." "Like I said, standards, Cinder's my client," said Exo, "And if I just let anyone insult my clients it reflects a bit badly on me as a mercenary, some people might get the idea that I don't take care of my customers."
"Yeah my Dad used to say stuff like that too," said Mercury, "and guess what he's dead." "Yeah I got it," said Exo, "But fortunately for all of us I got another job right now, so that means I get to leave this creepy castle for a bit." "Where are you off too in such a rush," asked Emerald.
"Adam's given me a new job, now that Drake's gone MIA, he's tasked me with hunting down any other known or suspected traitors in the White Fang, so I get to hunt down my old partner," said Exo. "Maybe you could drag him back here," said Mercury, "I need something living to hit for a change." "You two should just get a room," said Emerald as she started walking faster.
"Oh but you two should be happy," said Exo. "Why's that," asked Emerald. "Because while I'm out, I'll also be looking for any of those students who tried to ruin our plans at Beacon, including a pair of troublesome brothers." "Oh yeah, those guys," said Mercury, rubbing his head as he remembered some of the pain, "That Aegis guy does hit hard."
"What does a mercenary like you have against Wayne and Aegis?" asked Emerald. "I mean, you two should already be angry because they managed to beat you, even if just barely, but they managed to beat me once and out maneuver me a second time," said Exo as he pulled out one of his knives and gazed at the reflection, "So what else can I say, other than payback is gonna be a # # ."
The Kingdom of Mistral: Local Village
A silent wind blew tonight outside of a small village, one which at this moment, didn't have a soul out on the street, save for a large lone figure in a green poncho circling around the village border, eyes searching and ears straining for anything even slightly abnormal. As the figure walked, they looked up at one of the larger tree-covered hills for a moment, before nodding and continuing on.
As the figure walked, a growl suddenly drew his attention as he stopped to listen. Other growls joined in as one, then another, and another beowolf came stalking out of the bushes towards the figure until at least a dozen or more began to surround the figure. The figure observed the Grimm for a few moments, noting that these beowolves looked larger and even more bestial than the ones he'd seen before.
As the beowolves stalked even closer towards the figure, he made no move to run, only stood there and smiled as the first beowolf pounced, barring its fangs and claws as it let out a vicious snarl. Try this, thought the figure as a spiked glove made of glass materialized on his right fist.
With a single powerful swing, the figure dug the claws into the pouncing beowolves head and shattered the glass glove, the force of the impact creating a crater in the ground and instantly killing the beowolf. The other Grimm roared in anger as they began leaping at the figure, who formed a pair of spiked glass gloves on both hands and knocked away one beowolf after another until the gloves broke again.
As the brawl continues, one beowolf is lucky enough to sink its fangs into the figures left shoulder, or rather, a glass shoulder pad the figure had created. "What's a matter," asked the figure as he reached behind his back and grasped a pole-like weapon, "you don't like hard food?"
The figure quickly spun a cylinder on the weapon, hitting ice dust as it forms a large blade similar to a naginata which pierces straight through the beowolf's head. The corpse of the Grimm slides off, pulling the poncho with it as the figure is revealed to wear armor similar to a centurion with large boots, leather shoulder pads, and a combat belt similar to samurai armor.
But the most striking feature of the figure, is his head which is uncovered with his hair tied in the shape of a wolf's tail and two bear ears sticking out of his head. "Come on I know there are more of ya," he said loudly, his voice echoing through the forest. As if in answer to his comment, even more beowolves came crawling out of the bushes, their tempers roused at the sight of their fallen brethren as they charged towards the stranger with the bear ears.
They never made it, however, as a black and blue sickle attached to a near invisible wire came swinging down from one of the many trees, decapitating several of the charging beowolves as a new figure leaped into the fray, this one wearing a bluish gray coat with a faded bear symbol, a large flap of white fur which ran around the shoulders and the back of the neck, and several stitched up places where the coat had been damaged in combat.
The rest of this new figure's outfit was a pair of black pants, boots with metal bear claw symbols on the toes, a utility belt lined with dust rounds and other supplies, a pair of gloves with wolf claw symbols, and a wolf mask with complementing colors which covered nearly his whole head.
"What kept ya Wayne," he asked as Wayne landed right next to him. "Oh you know Aegis," replied Wayne as he fired his other weapon in its SMG form at several of the charging beowolves, "just taking out stragglers." "Geez, how many were there," asked Aegis as he reformed his glass blade into a spear point and stabbed it into the mouth of a charging Grimm. "Fifteen or so," said Wayne as he decapitated another Grimm and kicked its head into a small Nevermore flying overhead.
"Must've been a mess," said Aegis as he threw the dead body of the beowolf he impaled into another two beowolves. "It was a surprise," Wayne said as he created a large blue energy ring which he threw into the pile of Grimm, slicing through all three of them, "Which reminds me, we got one more problem."
"What kind of problem?" Asked Aegis. As if in answer to his question, another roar sounded from the forest as an even larger Grimm resembling a huge gorilla with bony plates covering its chest and arms. "The Beringel kind," said Wayne as the Grimm beat its chest before charging the two brothers.
Responding quickly, Wayne switched both weapons to SMG form and fired at the charging Grimm, while Aegis fired a large number of glass shards at the Grimm. The Beringel raised its arms in front of its face, deflecting the shots as it quickly closed the distance between it and the two brothers. Aegis spun the cylinder on his weapon, forming a stone hammer which he used to block the Beringel's fist, causing it to roar in pain as Wayne jumped to its right side, slashing at the Grimm's legs with his weapons.
Wayne slashed several times, but failed to cut the Grimm's skin as the Beringel quickly turned and tried to swat Wayne aside. Wayne managed to raise his hands to block the blow in time, but he was still sent flying backwards as the Beringel turned its attention back to Aegis with another punch, which Aegis blocked. Wayne, still in midair, attached his weapon to his wrist wire and tossed it at the Grimm.
The wire wrapped around the Beringel's neck as Wayne's momentum pulled its head back. The surprised Grimm reached for its neck to undo the wire as Wayne reeled back in and Aegis slammed his weapon into its chest, causing the Grimm to roar in pain as Wayne came flying back delivering a semblance charged fist to the back of its head. Aegis moved out of the way as the Grimm went rolling forward. Wayne managed to untangle his wire from the Grimm's neck as he reeled his weapon back in, regrouping with Aegis a few feet from the Grimm.
"It's got tough skin," said Wayne as the Beringel got back on its feet. "Wanna try that new trick of yours?" Asked Aegis as he spun the cylinder on his weapon to fire. "If you can buy me a little bit of time," said Wayne as the Beringel charged. "I'll buy you more than a little," said Aegis as he formed a flaming sword blade around his weapon and charged the Beringel. Aegis' weapon clashed with the Beringel's fist as he parried blow after blow, enraging the Grimm further and further with each hit.
Okay, just focus, thought Wayne as he put his right weapon up and started focusing and shaping the energy in his hand, not just force but piercing damage as well. In another moment, a javelin-like shape of energy formed in Wayne's hand as he aimed it carefully. "Ready Aegis," asked Wayne as Aegis held back the Beringel. "Bear ducking down," said Aegis as he jumped back, ducking his head as the Beringel leaped after him. "Catch this," said Wayne as he sent the new attack sailing through the air and straight into where the Beringel's heart would've been, if it had one.
The Grimm gave a dying roar as Aegis spun his cylinder to energy and formed a white, glowing ax blade and sliced the Grimm's head off as its body feel to the ground, dead before it even hit the dirt. "A little close to my head there," said Aegis as he shut off the fire dust on his weapon. "I was aiming for the spot between your bear ears," said Wayne as he pulled his right weapon back out, "Guess I missed."
"Well how about next time I throw a spear between your ears," said Aegis as they surveyed the rest of the village for any remaining Grimm. "I don't have bear ears remember little bro," said Wayne. "I'd figure out a way to make it work," said Aegis, "you got regular ears right?" Wayne simply rolled his eyes before speaking. "Let's just take care of any other Grimm," said Wayne, "Who knows, you might get your chance to throw a spear before the night's over."
A roar from another couple of Grimm drew their attention as they spotted some Nevermores and Creepers coming their way. "Guess that means it's back to work," said Wayne as the readied his weapons. "This is gonna be a long night," said Aegis as the two brothers charged at the remaining Grimm. The remainder of that night was filled with the sound of dying Grimm.
So it begins, volume 4 of team WA's adventures as they make their way towards Haven Academy to reunite with their friends and confront Cinder and her allies. But now, the two brothers find themselves almost completely alone and being directly targeted by some of their enemies elite fighters who will stop at nothing to see team WA dead. To survive, Wayne and Aegis may have to form some unlikely partnerships as their enemies close in all around them.
And thank you to all of my reviewers, followers, and viewers who've continued reading this story and brought us to a milestone of over 5,000 views. So thank you all once again, and if anyone has any suggestions for how to improve my writing or this story, just send me a message or two. 'Til next time.