Chapter 4: A New Voyage
*******Apologies for putting this off. Enjoy.*********
Blake sat on the seat of Bumblebee, Nora, Ren and Weiss stood under a tree. The four friends waited as Ruby and Yang hugged their father.
"Please be safe...both of you. Tai said as he released his embrace.
"Heh don't worry dad, with Blake by my side. I think we'll be able to handle ourselves."
"I'll try to send you a letter any chance I get okay dad.." Ruby said as she smiled.
"Don't worry Mr. Xiao Long, we'll be with her the whole way." Weiss said
"Thank you Weiss, it was so nice to have company in this house. heh I'm gonna hate that it's going to be quiet again."
A bark hooked everyone's attention, looking to see the source and Zwei is now sitting on Bumblebee. Whining a little as he tilted his head. Blake standing in front of the bike now as she glared at the Blake and white Corgi.
"Zwei...sorry buddy but you're not tagging along with us this time." Yang said as she picked him up.
"Sorry we're leaving like this though.." She said.
"Heh better than you leaving a goodbye letter." He smiled.
"Thank you for letting us stay with you Mr. Xiao Long." Ren said as Nora dangled in a nearby tree.
"Of course Ren, thank you two for helping around the house." Tai said
Ren nodded as he shaked his hand. Ruby smiled as Weiss was double checking the supplies, with the four backpacks around her as she had a list.
"Don't worry dad, we're the best and nothing will stop us so easily." Ruby said.
"Yeah, we're the best of the best." Yang said as she flexed her arm.
"Be safe girls." Taid said as he handled Zwei from Yangs arm.
Zwei yipped as he panted and looked around and wagged his tail. Tai smiled as he walked back inside, putting the 3 foot corgi down on this stubby legs trotted back inside the house. Ruby turned to her older sister and hugs her as well.
"Be careful in those the forest in Anima okay." She said.
"You and Blake better get to Menagerie safely." The Red Reaper spoke.
"Is Pyrrha going to meet up with you guys at the docks for Mistril?"
"Yeah, she went to go see Jaunes family to recieve her modified armor and new sword." Ruby said.
Ren and Nora put on their packs as Weiss walked up to her and handed Ruby her backpack. Yang walks over to to Blake and her bike, smiling at her cat-eared Faunus both saddle up. Starting her Bike, Blake wraps her arms around Yangs waist.
"Whoa there kitty cat, least take me on a date first." Yang said sarcastically as she looked back.
"Oh shut up and drive you top heavy." Blake retorted as she Yang smiled back.
As the four made their way to the Docks, Nora was on her scroll happily playing "Rings of Destiny 3" while Ren was sitting on a bench reach "The Red Lotus", while Weiss was sitting on the opposite end of the bench alongside Ruby whose was scanning around the docks looking for their fifth compatriot.
"She'll be here Ruby, now take a seat you're making me nervous."Weiss said
Looking to the corner of her eye, she now realizes people are looking at something. Weiss and the other two notice to crowd looking at someone too.
"What do you think is drawing the crowd?"
"Who knows, could be some local celebrity." Weiss said as she opened her scroll to a notification.
"YOU THINK WE SHOULD GO GET AN AUTOGRAPH?" Nora jumped up in excitement.
Ren didn't even flinch as he bookmarked his current page. Ruby continued to look at the exciting crowd. Closing her scroll and drawing out Myrtenaster, stabbing her sword into the ground, multple black glyphs shimmered in between the crowds as it caught the people off guard. Activating the gravity it pushed the crowd to the sides. Creating an opening causing Ruby to look at her White haired teammate.
"Weiss! What are you doing?" she scolded.
Weiss stared back as she pointed to the crowd as a single, familiar voice could be heard.
"She asked for my help so don't yell at me."
"I'm sorry..."
Seeing the Red Spartan walking up to the four, her long red hair was a little shorter but now in a single braid.
Her golden shoulder plate had a white base with a golden trim, the details in her Bracer is too remade with a white armor detail. Her leather belt seemed to now carry her pouches, wearing a dark brown button up shirt and a golden bronze shirt. Nora eyed her up and down, admiring the new look. Weiss noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual high heels, the gold and white armored huntress was wearing a pair of light brown sneakers.
"Hello Ruby."
"The new looks really suites you Pyrrha."
"How come you're wearing those Pyrrha? Where are you heels?" Weiss spoke concerned.
"Ohh heh, since we're taking such a long journey, I thought it be better to walk in something comfortable."
Nora and Ren both looked down at Weiss's choice of shoes, getting a little flushed as the two stared down at her usual and only pair of heels that she was wearing.
"Don't you dare say a thing Nora Valkyrie..." She glared at the pink haired girl.
Pyrrha and Ruby snickered at the classy heiress. Ruby hugged Pyrrha as the fans of Ms. Nikos clamored and snapped pictures.
"We better board, the ship leaves soon." Ren said the group.
"Yeah, I like to get away from these people than get swarmed again."
"Living the high life isn't easy I see.." Ruby said as she walked over to Weiss.
Grabbing their belongings and heading for their ship.
Below deck, yang tunes up Bumblebee as Blake lays on the seat while reading her book of the Man with Two souls. hearing the creaking of the ship as she sways around. finally finishing up, Yang sighs in relief as she puts her tools away.
"Finally don tuning her up." Blake said ass he closes her book.
"Yup, Bumblebee should be ready to hand those sandy beaches of Menagerie when we get there. Finally I can show off my girls, it's been while." Yang said as she winked at Blake.
Rolling her eyes, Blake sits upright as she puts her book down.
"Yang...you know you didn't have to come with me to Menagerie, you know some faunus there might not like that a..."
"Don't worry Blake...if i didn't want to come along, I would have said it, you saved me at beacon...I owe you my life..." Blake held her hand, looking at the tough powerhouse with a soft smile.
Yangs cheeks glow as she feels her tough but soft fingers holding hers. The two warriors feel the world around them fade in this brief moment. releasing her grasp from Yangs hand, she looks up at her bow and pulls it off. Yangs eyes widen as she stares at her ears.
"Oh my GOSH your ears are just so cuuute!" Yang spoke in a high tone she held her hand out almost making contact with her cat ears.
Blake laughed as she swiped her hands away. "Keep those hands off the goods Yang Xiao Long." She chuckled at the woman. "come on, lets go to the deck and get some fresh air. I think those engine fumes are making you crazy." Blake said as she putted her book down on the seat of the bike.
Yang smiled as she grabbed her rag and cleaned off the spots of oil and grease on her arms and fingers.
******* Retun to the present where Ruby and the others are in the forest of Anima*******
Ruby sighed in relief as they could hear people talking about and children laughing. Pyrrha smiled as they reached the village. Ren looked as it brought memories back to his childhood, Nora giggled as she waved at a child who was looking at them. Weiss looked as some of the villagers were constructing homes, until noticing the five saw the many people in the village square, noticing some seemed to be in bandages.
"Nora, could you and Ren go see what supplies we can get?"
"Sure." Nora taking Ren's hand as the two headed toward the marketplace.
"We should see if the mayor has anything that could get us some Lien." Weiss said as she and Pyrrha continued to look at their surroundings.
"Agreed"
"If you huntsmen are looking for any Grimm to hunt, you're all out of luck. A Huntsman was here a 4 days ago and he took care of a Giest that was killing our farm animals and destroying farm equipment." Said a deep voiced Faunus as he bared horns on his head.
"Ohh...uhh is there anything here that we can do for some Lien." Ruby pleaded.
"Well... you could ask around but I think our mayor here might have something for you guys."
"Seems like there's alot of people here than there should be?" Weiss said as she looked at the various people.
"Well two days ago some people from Shion showed up here in the dead of night. The mayor kinda has his hands full." said the muscular man.
"So that's why you're building those houses?" Ruby spoke.
"Yeah, the villagers said bandits attacked early in the morning...said they were saved by a Huntsman...I think if he and the Huntsman that was already in the village, I don't think there would be any survivors."
"Any idea who this Huntsman was?" Weiss spoke up.
"Oh now, he wore a helmet and no one here never seen him take it off but the one thing that stood out was his symbol. It was a duel golden arcs, looked nice, whoever forged it must have put effort into it." The man said as he stroked his beard.
"Golden arcs..." Pyrrha said she looked at Weiss and Ruby who bared the same look of curiosity.
"Is there anything else you could tell us?" Ruby spoke up
"Well, when he was here he was talking about heading to the academy in Mistril to see some friends."
"Did he say anything else? Was he wearing white Armor?"
"White? No his armor was either gray or black but he had black and yellow gloves on, That's about it...do you know him?" Said the Faunus.
"Maybe..." Ruby said.
"Thank you sir."Weiss said.
"Sure thing, hey if you need anything. Come down to my blacksmith shop and I'll see what I can do for you ladies."
"Umm actually, I was wondering if I could get my blade sharpened?" Pyrrha said.
Pulling out a kopis blade from it's sheath, the blacksmith whistled as he admired the finely forged blade. Ruby and Weiss stared at the silver blade, the middle of the blade had a golden strip, the top and bottom guards were a golden bronze of the handle along with a dark shade of red on the grip.
"I can sharpen it for you. This is amazing, the metal is light and perfectly balanced." The black smith said as he balanced the sword on the palm of his hand.
"Who made this?"
"A friend's family..." Pyrrha said as her fingers stroked on the insignia that has been placed on the left side of her greave.
"Well tell them that they did a fine job next time you see them." He said as he smiled.
"Thank you again sir and we will." Ruby said as she waved at the man.
"Take care..." He said as he walked off in the opposite direction.
"Do you really think it could be..." Weiss finally said first as she broke the silence.
"It can't be..."
"Then we're going to find out is using his symbol and kill this bastard" Pyrrha said
The two looked at the Nikos with shock of what she just said. Her fist clenched tightly as she kept her eyes straight ahead.
"P..Pyrrha?"
"No one disrespects my friend..." Pyrrha said as the three walked into a large building.
Walking up the steps to the building, Weiss holds the two girls back as they stood in front of the door.
"Before we go any further, should we tell Ren and Nora?"
"I….I don't know….I think it's best we keep this between us." Ruby spoke as her and Weiss turned to see what Pyrrha's answer will be.
"I think it's for the best…I don't want them to have this on their minds on our way to Mistril." Pyrrha said as she sighed.
"Okay then..." Weiss spoke as she opened the door and seeing the Mayor of the village talking to other villagers that seemed to be discussing the situation of the newcomers.
