A/N: So a lot of things are going on in my life. Most of them really good, but they're keeping me away from writing this story and updating the volume. To rectify this, I decided to make the chapters a little shorter than what I'm used to just to make it fair for the readers. Not what I wanted but you must adapt to unfortunate situations. Luckily, this story has reached the halfway point so it's fine with me.

Setting: Open Road

Hours of traveling did not quell the persistent thoughts of Alexandrite. Supernova was on Alexandrite's mind for most of the day. It gave her clarity on her semblance she didn't realize she possessed. More experience with the state of mind the drug presented meant she could figure out how to do these feats on her own. All she needed was more.

She glanced behind her at the caravan she was hauling. The drugs were in there and she needed to get to them somehow, however, she doubted Ebony would allow her to just take one for herself. She needed to think of another way.

"Alex...Alex… Pay attention!"

A voice that felt so distant said followed by a slap to her shoulder. She turned to find Zinnia with a miffed face. Alexandrite found her pouting expression somewhat cute, but distracting herself further was only going to turn that vexation into anger.

"We're going to rest here and pick up the trail tomorrow," Zinnia informed her.

Alexandrite barely registered the others stopping while she pressed on. Getting her hands on Supernova to further her progression. The thoughts were filling her head and blocking everything else out.

"Right," she responded.

She trailed back to where Ebony and D'Rado were beginning to set up camp. The area was simply by the road with little trees obscuring them from sight. The lack of foliage offered little protection, but it cut both ways for enemies trying to approach stealthily. This tactic kept them on the path but left them and enemies exposed. A double-edged strategy, but Ebony didn't show concern. The risks seemed worth it in her eyes...or she had some weird ulterior motives… It was hard for Alexandrite to discern what was going on in the Vantablack's head anymore.

Alexandrite parked the small caravan and began unpacking the tents and other items. She handed Ebony and D'Rado their sleeping bags and was about to give Zinnia hers, but stopped when she found the Supernova they were holding underneath it. Her eyes were focused on the items that could propel her strength forward, but now was not the-

"Heavy?"

Again Alexandrite is brought back to reality by Zinnia's voice which adopted an accusing tone. Turning to see the Paragon, she found the young woman with her arms folded and cold eyes. Judgemental was the word she would use to describe Zinnia's mood. Her actions were easy to read and Alexandrite figured her own were the same. She tossed Zinnia her sleeping bag.

"Not at all. Here."

Zinnia caught it with ease but her eyes didn't fall off the suspicious Behemoth. They stared at each other and the tension was building between them until Ebony shouted toward them.

"Alex, Zinni! Hurry up or D'Rado and I will eat your share too!"

I-I won't! I wouldn't dare take your portion of-"

"Didi, I'm only teasing!" Ebony laughed at D'Rado.

The jovial chatter seemed to break the awkward silence. Zinnia walked away with Alexandrite following behind her. She could see her new boss was harassing their young charge and his burning red face only made her tease the boy more. Focusing on something other than Supernova should help her seem more discreet and D'Rado became the subject of her attention.

Seeing him being coddled after watching him in combat was odd and very contrasting. D'Rado was on the wall of a young man and a child and she couldn't make heads or tails of him. Simply put, he was strong and weak at the same time, but she usually saw him as weak outside of battle. He was an abnormality in her eyes.

"Miss Ebony… Could you please let me go?" D'Rado requested nervously.

"You're going to give him a heart attack," Zinnia commented.

She gently pulled Ebony off the boy and ignored her complaining groans. D'Rado nodded to her in thanks and got in a more relaxed position on his sleeping bag. Ebony calmed down with her teasing and put on a more serious demeanor as she addressed him.

"D'Rado, I have a question for you, but if you don't want to answer it's perfectly fine."

"What is it?"

"There was something I noticed during our previous battle and the others you were a part of. You don't use your semblance, do you?

"...Uh…"

"If you don't want to talk about it-"

"It's not that. I… haven't unlocked it yet"

He had his head down when he opened up about his semblance or lack thereof. Slowly, he raised his head to see their reactions and was met with wide eyes from Ebony, understanding from Zinnia, and indifference from Alexandrite. He was half expecting to be mocked for his shortcomings, but Zinnia asked him about his progression.

"I'm sure you've tried to activate it on your own. Have you ever felt some kind of power swell inside you? Maybe you used it without knowing?"

Thinking back to his missions and training to unlock his semblance...no. There wasn't a moment felt the experience she described. D'Rado shook his head in disappointment. Fully aware he was claiming to be a Huntsman, but not having a semblance made him feel like a sham.

"Maybe we can help you out," Ebony offered.

He turned to her sharply with disbelief in his eyes. "Really?"

"All semblances wake after a certain moment so we'll try to help you find out what it is. Once you activate it, it should be simple for you to use your semblance on command. We'll try tomorrow after we reach the town, okay?"

She went from teasing to reassuring so quickly. It was hard for him to understand the many layers of Ebony, but he did trust her wholly. He believed she had his best interests at heart and just like the rest of the Caped Corps. D'Rado eventually went to sleep feeling safe with Ebony's group and excited about what tomorrow would bring.

Talks of assisting D'Rado with unlocking his semblance brought Alexandrite back to discovering what more she could do with hers. Those ideas floated in her head before falling asleep and took over her dreams. The power she could unleash with Supernova and how to use it afterward. Tomorrow marked an encounter with someone dealing out Supernova and a potential scuffle. She knew her chance was going to be then.

Setting: Settlement

It took the entire morning to reach this small town and it had the appearance of any other town in Mistral. There were no landmarks or any economic importance. Another run of the mill settlement, but that made it a good front for drug dealing. Unsuspecting places wouldn't draw attention. They arrived and found a place to rest for the night. Ebony turned to her group and began planning.

"Alex. You've been hauling our caravan this whole time. Once we get our room, you can relax in the room while we investigate the area."

"Pulling that thing around wasn't a big deal. I'm coming along in case you need me," she told Ebony, but knew she would miss her chance if she stayed behind.

"All right, but you did drag that thing the whole way, so let one of us put it in the room. Get whatever time to relax as you can," Ebony said and asked Zinnia to take the caravan.

The Paragon took the reins of their haul and pulled it to her side. She waited for Ebony to get the keys to their room.

Everyone waited for Ebony to be done. Alexandrite sat in a chair in a waiting area and Zinnia stood by the hallway to the inn rooms. D'Rado was by the door, looking at everything around him to relieve his boredom. His line of sight went to the lights on the ceiling, the second floor, the people in the lobby, and the people walking by outside. His glance to the world outside let him see something peculiar.

Running down the road in a frantic manner was a faunus man. His animal trait was a rodent's tail and his face showed pure terror as he ran past them. It had to be Cedar. This was bizarre, but it made their search so much easier. D'Rado was about to turn and call to the others, but something else ran by and it left him speechless. Someone was chasing Cedar and D'Rado didn't know why that person was here. Without uttering a word to the others, he walked out of the inn and followed the scene taking place.

Alexandrite was bored out of her mind as she waited to get the mission started, but she turned her head fast enough to see D'Rado run out of the inn.

"Where is he going?"

Cedar pushed people out of his way to run from the person chasing him. Sweat was expelled from every pore and fear exuded enough to permeate the air. He ran frantically with his body a little more forward than it should be while running but he wanted to get as far from his pursuer as possible. He almost tripped over a rock and tumbled into someone in a crowd, but he used that to his advantage. Cedar lunged forward into the thick of confused people then darted to the closest alley.

Did he lose his chaser? Was he in the clear? It didn't matter to him and he kept fleeing…until he reached further into the alley where he was met with a dead end. His heart sank and a foreboding chill ran up and down his spine.

"Too bad for you," he heard his pursuer call out to him. The voice was deep and imposing. "Finally got you cornered."

Cedar turned to find a looming shadow over his form. This person towered over him and it only made him more frightful of what they would do to him. The mouse faunus buckled and knelt to his knees, trembling in fear. He had a backpack that has now hanging loosely on his right arm.

"Always heard cornered rats bite back. Guess whoever made that phrase was wrong."

This large person raised their arm to strike.

"STOP!" D'Rado shouted from behind the large pursuer.

The person froze in their tracks and slowly turned their head to face the young Huntsman, seeing the shock and disbelief in his eyes.

"What are you… Why… What are you doing here?" he asked desperately, barely able to register the sight in front of him.

The person stayed silent and it incurred D'Rado's anger as he screamed in a demanding tone.

"Answer me, Rouge!"

The large faunus continued to stare at his teammate with a quiet expression that displayed a detachment that was so unlike the person D'Rado knew.

"I'm here to catch a rat. That's all."

"It looked like you were about to do more than that. What are you doing in a place like this?"

"Taking down people selling Supernova. I found this guy and remembered his grandpa talking about him. He ran as soon as I asked him to hand over his Supernova. It's for his own-"

"Liar!" Cedar shouted in fear and desperation. "You were trying to kill me!"

The way Rouge was going to strike just a moment ago did show killing intent, but there had to be more to this situation than that. There had to be. It's Rouge after all. Right?

The large rhino faunus groaned before turning back to Cedar. "I don't have time to explain this to you."

He turned back to Cedar and started the drill on his arm. He was prepared to kill the young man. D'Rado felt his stomach twist but he still rushed to stop his comrade, but something ran past him before he noticed.

Rouge threw his fist equipped with the drill at Cedar with the intent to bore a hole in his chest, but when his weapon made contact, sparks flew instead of blood and guts. Between him and his target was a glimmering polearm with cracks where the drill made contact. Holding the weapon was…

"Mind telling me what you're doing?"

...Alexandrite.

Rouge stared at her with a deadpan face while hers was cocky and the crystal around her halberd was slowly breaking apart from the drill's rotation. With a burst of strength, she lifted her weapon to deflect Rouge and push him away at the same time. At this moment, Cedar found his chance to escape, slipping past Alexandrite and darting out of the alleyway, dropping his backpack. D'Rado watched him leave but didn't chase after him. He felt like staying here to discover what Rouge was really up to was most important. He made a mental note to apologize to Ebony for ruining her plans later.

Perhaps now Rouge would explain himself…

The large man attacked Alexandrite again instead of standing down as D'Rado hoped, though Alexandrite didn't appear to mind. The look on her face displayed her desire for combat. She guarded against his second blow with her crystal-covered halberd again. The force and weight of his strike were felt in her arms. His physique was more than just for show. Rouge was incredibly strong and she couldn't ask for more.

The crystal on her weapon was breaking apart thanks to the drill. Shards were flying around before crumbling away. She swiftly lifted her leg and kicked him in the abs, pushing him a few feet away. It gave her enough space to plan her next move. She got in position to lunged forward and pierce his hide. With the skin of a rhinoceros, she believed this attack wouldn't hurt much. Her spearhead jabbed into his abdomen and his breath left his lungs, but Rouge was still on his feet and he grabbed her halberd with a tight grip.

Alexandrite formed red crystal armor around her left arm and flung it at the man, but he didn't move to evade or defend him. Her fist collided with his jaw, but he was unfazed. It was like striking a wall. One that could strike back.

D'Rado looked on with his mind fogged in confusion. He didn't understand Rouge's motive or his hostile actions. He remained stunned until he witnessed his comrade give Alexandrite a strong punch to her gut that even he felt. The strength behind his blow was strong enough to lift the large woman off her feet and she doubled over. D'Rado's instincts kicked in and he drew his lance. Firing his crossbow in such a cramped space was foolish. He'd definitely get Alexandrite caught in the blast. A thrust forward and D'Rado struck Rouge in the back with his massive spearhead, hoping to snap him out of whatever was making him so violent so they could talk.

The blow managed to hurt him based on the tiny groan of pain rouge emitted, but he was still standing and he turned to D'Rado. Before the young man could apologize or say anything, he was met with Rouge's fist. The large faunus backhanded D'Rado and pushed Alexandrite into the wall at the end of the alleyway. Rouge looked down on them both before leaving the scene.

"Great. Now I gotta chase that rat bastard all over again," he grumbled as he walked past D'Rado. He stopped when he felt a hand try to wrap around his ankle and looked down to find D'Rado was trying to hold him back. "Stay down."

"Not until you tell me why you're really doing this? I'm not letting you go until-" D'Rado stopped talking when he saw Rouge raise his foot and loomed it over his face. That was going to do more than just hurt.

Rouge was ready to stomp D'Rado out, but green crystals erupted from the ground below and almost skewered him if he didn't back away. Crystals were forming around the walls and the ground. He looked over to see Alexandrite was back on her feet. She was holding the backpack Cedar had in his possession but dropped it after grabbing what she really wanted: A syringe with Supernova.

"Not as strong as Royal or durable like Zelts, but you still pack a big punch and make a good practice dummy," she thought as she looked at the syringe.

"She wouldn't," Rouge said to himself, but D'Rado heard. The young Huntsman turned to Alexandrite in time to see her inject herself with Supernova. "She would. Dammit."

The power coursed through her body and her aura was flaring up just like before, but Alexandrite tried to maintain some form of mental clarity. She was more aware of her surroundings than she was in the chasm, but clear thought was elusive. "H-How did I... do it... again?"

She used her semblance to create a cluster of crystals in the palm of her hand then imagined a saber as she did it. In seconds, a saber made of blue crystals formed in her left hand. Alexandrite paid attention to the process and believed she could do this without Supernova if she practiced on her own. She was right. These capabilities could be reached. Greater strength for greater battles could be achieved. A triumphant smile etched itself on her face.

D'Rado stared at her. She used the drug without any reservation. "Alex. What have you done?"

His words fell on deaf ears. No one acknowledged them. Rouge took a step forward. His large boot crunching into the green crystal covering the floor. He had an odd, pleased expression as he advanced.

"Looks like you'll make this interesting. Come at me, bitch. Show me what you can do now."

Alexandrite, fueled by Supernova rushed to Rouge and he charged at her with his drill spinning violently.

D'Rado could tell before it started. This battle, no matter who won, was going to bring calamity.

Would Alexandrite be considered a drug addict? No, but she is a junkie when it comes to battle and she'll use anything to make her conflicts more enticing and exhilarating.