A Changing World
Act 2
Chapter 8: Regrouping
A/N: There is a chance there won't be a chapter next week as College is getting busy for me.
…
The duo were now further down the hallway, having just had a moment of quick contemplation. Before them lay a section of the hallway that was blocked by rubble that had been left behind by the prior explosions.
Some sunlight and a small breeze were coming in through the broken sections as well as shards of fragmented construction.
"We need to get past this. Toothless, think you can dig a way through it? We don't want to blast it as that could make things worse."
Toothless responded with a warble and stepped forward to begin digging. As he got to work, Astrid looked back at the steel door they had passed minutes prior.
It had been lying flat on the hallway floor, blackened with soot and warped so it could no longer fit its frame.
Once the hallway was clear, Toothless warbled to get Astrid's attention.
"Right, let's keep going."
Passing the heap, they rounded another corner to bump into Stormfly, to Astrid's delight. "Hey girl!" she cooed.
The dragon squawked in turn, equally excited as she stopped and started grooming her favourite human. "It's nice to see you too." Giggled Astrid. "But we need to find the others."
"No need, your dragon helped us escape." Said a voice. Looking in the direction of the speaker, she saw it was Taiyang, with the others present, armed to the teeth. He was carrying Hiccup's axes and his shield was strapped to his back.
"Ren, give Astrid her scroll. Astrid, hand Hiccup to me. It's best if he were awake."
Nodding, Astrid held Hiccup out to Taiyang. After putting down the axes in his grasp, Taiyang took Hiccup from her.
After propping Hiccup up against a wall, Taiyang slapped Hiccup in the face, to Astrid's surprise.
"Why did you do that?" She demanded, her voice indignant. Ignoring her, Taiyang stared at Hiccup who had been jerked awake by the slap, his expression extremely confused. "What happened? One minute I hit a wall, next minute I'm here. Can someone explain?"
Taiyang slapped him in the face again. "Because of you, my daughter is still missing. You screwed up. That's what happened."
Hiccup looked away. "Sorry."
"It wasn't Hiccup's fault dad." Interjected Ruby.
"Yeah. If anything it was my fault. This was my plan. I was part of the White Fang and didn't remember Max's semblance. Yang is still missing because of me." Added Blake.
"I don't actually care. No matter whose fault it is, my daughter is still missing." Said Taiyang, his voice angrier than before.
Turning to address Hiccup, he continued. "Your weapons are over there. Put them on and let's get out of here."
Hiccup silently rose and proceeded to don his weapons.
"Anyone have my axe?" Asked Astrid.
"Here." Said Blake, stepping forward slowly with a limp, holding Astrid's axe in her arms.
"Thanks." Said Astrid, taking the axe. "What happened to you though? You didn't have a limp earlier."
"Some rubble landed on my leg in those explosions from earlier and got stuck. It's been sore since then," she explained.
"Unlucky Blakey. Me and Renny huddled together." Added Nora.
"I'm ready now," announced Hiccup. He was now standing next to Toothless, absently stroking his obsidian flank.
"Alright. There's one thing I need to do before we leave." Astrid strode over to Taiyang and held her axe at his throat. "Hurt my fiancé again and you will answer to me. I don't care what reasons you might have for doing so, or how much or little you intend to hurt him, you run it by me first. Clear?"
"You remind me of my wife. We're clear." Satisfied with that answer, Astrid removed her axe.
They then set off, heading for the front gate.
After some time had passed, they successfully navigated the labyrinth of hallways and corners, some of which were a dead end, they managed to retrace their steps to it.
Once the controls for the gate was found and the gate itself was open, they passed through, stepping out into the outside world.
In front of them, two airships had landed and a procession was on their way to them.
"There are two airships here? I thought there was only one." Said Astrid.
"You knew there was one of them and you didn't tell us?"
"I'm telling you now Taiyang. I saw it from a hole in the ceiling of our room."
"Hey, there's Weiss. I wonder what she's doing with those soldiers." Commented Ruby.
"I guess we'll find out soon." Remarked Ren, watching until the procession finally reached them, coming to a stop when they did so.
…
The group now stood in the presence of the captain of one of the airships, with Weiss and a group of soldiers gathered around a hologram of the captain of the other ship.
"I'm Captain Smith." The first Captain introduced himself. "The hologram, and my colleague, is Captain Taylor."
"Hello." Captain Taylor introduced herself.
"Care to explain to us all what happened down there? We know that parts of the building were destroyed and two bullheads took off recently. We weren't expecting survivors." He continued.
"I came up with a plan to rescue friends of ours. It failed badly." Said Blake.
"Of course it did, you complete dolt! It's why I had both of these ships out looking for you when you didn't call after an hour had passed, as agreed. Both captains here already know about the plan.
What we want to know is how did it go so bad Blake?" Asked Weiss.
"That was mostly my fault. Astrid and I encountered their leader. I sent her away, thinking I could beat him. I underestimated him. He has a semblance that slows you down and can eventually paralyse you while fighting. As far as I can tell, it has no weakness besides the fact that it doesn't work immediately. Anyway, I lost the fight and as a result, everyone got captured. Now the White Fang has gone Thor knows where." Said Hiccup.
"Those Bullheads were last seen heading east, towards Mistral." Said Captain Taylor.
"Well, that's good news then. We'll go on our way now. I have a daughter to find and rescue." Said Taiyang.
"Not so fast sir. After escaping from a White Fang base that exploded partially, you all should receive medical treatment first." Said Captain Smith.
"Only two people here have any injuries." Replied Taiyang. "Blake's leg was trapped under falling rubble and-"
"And Hiccup hit his head against a wall during the explosions and passed out." Finished Astrid.
"Is that what happened?" Asked Hiccup.
"Yeah, I had to carry you over my shoulder before I found the others."
"Huh. Well, at least it explains the headache I have at the moment."
"Right, so we get checked and head out tonight. Agreed?" Asked Blake.
"Agreed." The others chorused.
"One question, why did you want two airships to come here Weiss? With how big one of these is, surely just one is enough." Asked Hiccup.
"I asked General Mondschein to send two airships in case anything went wrong here. I'm not ready to lose anyone else like I did Winter." Said Weiss, her voice wavering as she mentioned her sister's name.
"When you say 'asked', is that the same way you got General Mondschein to go to Mistral?" Asked Ren
"Yes." Replied Weiss, drawing smiles out of the group.
"Before you go, would any of you like to receive upgrades to your weapons to help rescue your friends?" Suggested Captain Smith. "For a small, itty-bitty price that is."
"I'll take care of that for anyone who wishes to upgrade their weapons," Weiss told him.
"Very well. We'll leave you to it." Said Captain Taylor before she disappeared.
"Alright men, get back to your posts." Ordered Captain Smith. The soldiers dispersed while he also stepped away.
"Alright, who's first?" Asked Weiss.
"Not a weapon upgrade, but do you have leather? I'll be needing it to make myself some new armour."
"Consider it done Hiccup. Anyone else?"
"If you could get Crescent Rose to use lightning Dust rounds, that would be nice Weiss."
"Are you planning on using those rounds to immobilise opponents in a fight?"
"Yeah." Ruby nodded.
"Alright. Next?"
"I'd like some kind of gun built into my axe. I've been practising to use a pistol for some time, so I might as well use one." Said Astrid.
"Can you have the head of my hammer generate lightning at the press of a button?" Asked Nora.
"Certainly. Is that all?" Asked Weiss. "Ren, Blake?"
"I'm fine." Said Ren.
"I'll be alright Weiss." Responded Blake.
Weiss nodded. "Alright. I'll need to go make some calls if that's okay with you sir." Captain Smith nodded in response.
As Weiss brought out her scroll, the captain coughed to get the group's attention.
"The medbay is back there, down the hallway at the very end of the ship." Said Captain Smith, pointing at a door that opened into the aforementioned hallway. "You two, get checked out."
Hiccup and Blake nodded and set off, walking down the hall together.
…
"You're all set. Just a large bruise. You'll be fine as long as you don't hit your head on anything while it heals." The doctor told Hiccup, who was sitting on a bed
He nodded and the doctor approached Blake, the faunus sitting on another bed. "Now you take it nice and slow while walking with that cast and crutches. Definitely, no fighting until that ankle heals."
"Okay. I promise not to."
The doctor saw right through her. "You don't. Nobody ever keeps a promise like that. Keep an eye on her." He told Hiccup before leaving the room.
"So, what have you been up to since I left?"
"Working with Weiss mostly." Replied Blake.
"She's gotten a lot nicer than when I first met her back at Beacon." Noted Hiccup.
"Yeah, she has."
"I wish I could go back to that time."
"Really, why?"
"Things were much simpler then. The only things I had to worry about back then was training to fight and getting fish for Toothless. Now there is the White Fang, Raven and this Merlot person to deal with."
"We'll rescue them the next time, Hiccup." Blake said resolutely.
"Awfully confident, aren't you?"
"Guess I am." Replied Blake. "But enough about that. What have you, Astrid and Gobber done in your time away?"
"Bunch of things. I got betrothed for one. You call it getting engaged over here. Other things involve meeting my mother who wasn't killed by dragons like we first thought and I was forced to kill a madman. Quite eventful, all in all."
"Sounds like you were busy. My time working with Weiss was not nearly as hectic." Smiled Blake.
Hiccup smiled in turn. "Lucky you. What about the others? Team SSSN and CFVY?"
"Well, team SSSN are apprenticing under a Huntsman so they can become fully qualified. Then they'll be working to set up a school in Menagerie to teach faunus outside of the White Fang how to fight. As for team CFVY, they're with Port and Oobleck and other Huntsmen and Huntresses in the Grimlands, working to drive back the Grimm. They haven't been able to call anyone since they left a month ago, but they are set to return soon."
"Sounds like everyone is busy now." Noted Hiccup
"Indeed. I'm going to meet up with the others now. I'm sure they're bored waiting for us and I'd like to stretch my legs."
"I'll come with you."
As the pair headed along the hallway back to the bridge, Hiccup brought out his scroll. Turning it on, Hiccup found he had a missed call from Ozpin.
"You go ahead, Blake. I'll be there in a minute," he told her. Nodding, she continued on her way.
Hiccup called Ozpin back. His scroll rang twice before the call began.
"Hello, Ozpin. What did you call me for earlier?"
"I had a development involving two captured White Fang individuals that may help you in your search for Yang and Qrow. Head back to Beacon as soon as you can." Ozpin told him.
"I'll be sure to tell the others about that Ozpin. But first, I have business with Weiss to attend to. Might take a few days before we can head over there."
"Very well. I will be making my own inquiries from the pair and informing you on what I find."
When the call ended, Hiccup had just put his scroll away before a voice made him turn around with haste.
"This doesn't look like the SDC Headquarters Hiccup." Said Raven, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. "Mind explaining to me why you're on an Atlas Military airship right now?"
"W-well, you see Raven, I'm on my way to talk to Weiss now. Got held up with some things."
"Alright." Hiccup let out the breath he didn't know he was holding in.
Raven's next sentence revealed that act to be a mistake. "I'm coming along as well."
"T-that's not necessary Raven."
"Maybe, but it won't hurt the chances of the deal working out, so I'm coming with you. Call Astrid and head out on your dragons. I notice that Gobber isn't around as well."
"I'll go get her and meet you at the Schnee Manor. Gobber is already there, working on making more crossbows. You know where the Manor is?"
"Don't need to. I'll wait till you get there and portal to you. Get moving. I don't have all day."
"Alright then." Said Hiccup before turning and sprinting to the bridge.
Bursting through the doors, Hiccup scanned the area for Astrid and Weiss. Spotting Astrid talking to Taiyang, he made a beeline for her.
"So, how did you meet Stormfly? Hiccup told me how he met Toothless a while back. What about you?"
"She was one of the dragons we learned to fight-"
"Hey, you two. Sorry to interrupt your conversation but Taiyang, you mind if I borrow Astrid?"
He shook his head. "She's all yours. I should go talk to Ruby. I'll hear that story at another time, Astrid."
They both watched him go before Hiccup spoke up again. "Get Stormfly. We need to go."
She turned to face him. "What? Why?"
"Raven's here."
"On the ship?"
"Yeah, she talked to me in that hallway back there. Any sign of Weiss?"
"She left shortly after you and Blake went to get checked up on. She's probably back home by now."
"Right, we'll need to tell Captain Smith about what we're going to do."
"What can I do for you two?" He asked when they approached him.
"We have some business to deal with, sir." Said Astrid. "We'll need our dragons for it."
He nodded before giving an order. "Someone escort these two outside and call back Lance Corporal Schmitt and his men."
…
"So, how do you think this deal will go?" Asked Astrid, her dragon flying side by side with Toothless.
Behind them, both airships became smaller and smaller as they flew through the afternoon sky.
"With Raven there, I suspect quite badly." Replied Hiccup.
"How about I do the talking for this one Hiccup? That way, we might be able to act like you already came up with a deal with Weiss, but she refused, hence why we haven't sent any Dust to Raven yet."
"That could work. Great idea Milady." They smiled at each other before Hiccup spoke again. "Land bud, I have a call to make."
When both dragons were back on the ground, Astrid looked inquisitive. "Who are you calling?"
Hiccup brought out his scroll before answering. "Weiss. I think I should explain what's going to happen. Maybe she can help explain the reason why we were inside that airship back there to Raven. Otherwise, we could be in trouble."