A shorter chapter than normal and long overdue.
Chapter 5:
Oscar felt like he's dying.
Dying on the inside. The Grimm that's snarling close to his face is hardly the source of his suffering. That honor is reserved for Professor Port's killer storytelling that's nowhere near finished. Oscar reckons it's the sole reason why the Grimm is going into a frenzy and have chosen him as a chew toy to take their hatred out on.
"… Surrounded by countless Grimm! Just like the situation we are in now!" Port slashed away a Beowolf and hooks an Ursa by the arm with his blunderbuss axe, promptly shooting off its head. "Only they were the meanest and toughest of the bunch. Towering, hulking Alpha Beowolves and Major Ursai that can crush an armored vehicle with one swing!"
Oscar had to tune out the boisterous huntsman to focus on the danger around him. He kicks back and lets the Beowolf he's been fighting fall over before leaping back onto his feet to whack another one across the face. Three more precise strikes from Oscar's cane were all it took to break the Beowolf's neck with a sharp crack.
He then spins back to deal with the Beowolf he threw over, throwing out his weapon and jabbing at the Grimm's torso in a rapid session, stunning it repeatedly. In one finishing move, Oscar thrusts his cane into the center mass of the Grimm, killing it with a powerful shockwave.
"Ha… Ha…" Oscar pants as he glances around. Relieved that there was no more Grimm within the vicinity.
"… And that's a story for another time!" Port concluded a chapter of his anecdote and brushes his clothes with one hand. "Hmmm, I must say. The Grimm we fought just now is a lot more ferocious than normal. With a fixation on you, I might add."
"Y-yeah…" Oscar inhales deeply, taking in the cool air into his lungs.
"The Creatures of Grimm are attracted to negative emotions, and in rare cases those with exceedingly high amounts of aura." The professor puts his hands over his forehead to shield his eyes from the sun, "Or there's something unique catching their attention. Like a semblance."
He begins to move out again, relegating Oscar to dragging the collapsible steel cage with him.
"I haven't unlocked my semblance yet and my aura reserve should be average." Oscar follows closely to the huntsman as they continue deeper into the forest to look for a suitable specimen. "And I think I've been controlling my emotions pretty well too."
It must be of his unique situation here. Has he truly crossed through time and into the past? Or is it something else? Whatever the case is, it must be the reason why the Creatures of Grimm seems slightly fixated on him. That, or they see him as a weak link. An easy prey.
"That's certainly interesting then." Port muses, stroking his mustache while he clears a path.
Eventually, they found a dry dirt slope that leads down to a wide-open dirt field that's sparse of any vegetation. Large roots sprouts from the ground that's big enough for Oscar to climb over. The shades from the tree branches and leaves clotted most of the sunlight barring down in the area, giving it a tranquil feeling.
"How are we going to get a live Grimm back to Beacon?" Oscar asks, "Don't tell me we're dragging it back by foot."
Port laughed, "I've carried live Grimm back with me all the time!" Oscar's face had a look of dread. "But we've delayed long enough. A bullhead and a team of second years will help us once we got what we needed."
Oscar breathes out a sigh of relief.
"Awoooooooo!" A sharp howl shattered the tranquil forest, accompanied by snarls and growls.
"Right on cue!" Port laughs and twirls his weapon, "Now! Let's go find ourselves a worthy live Grimm!"
The Creatures of Grimm pours out from the bushes and trees, most were coming from the northeast of the forest. A collection of Beowolves, Ursai, and miniature Deathstalkers amass themselves towards the center of the clearing, eyes glowing bright red with hatred.
"If I survive and make it back to Beacon…" With the Long Memory in his hand, Oscar begins to imagine Ozpin's face on every Grimm and starts whacking away.
/-/
"Five liens Professor Port is bringing back an Ursa."
"Beowolf."
"Has he ever captured a Nevermore before? The small ones at least."
"Nah. Never bothered with them." Said a young girl with dark brown hair, a beret, and shades inspect her nails with disinterest. She's Coco Adel, leader of Team CFVY. "I say it's a Boarbatusk. Those ones are uncommon around this part of the forest."
And Professor Port won't pass it up for a common Grimm like a Beowolf or Ursa Minor.
Team CFVY was on call to assist Professor Port in transporting his captured Grimm back to Beacon like he always does every new school year. The Grimm Studies professor has a habit of capturing live Grimm and releasing it in his classroom to test his students, much to Glynda's annoyance. They'll be transporting it on an airship instead of taking it back all the way to Beacon on foot, which is foolhardy even for Professor Port. Though chances are he'll boast about doing something similar back when he was young.
"Boarbatusks shouldn't require a bigger cage like this." A large tan skin youth named Yatsuhashi Daichi put his large hand on a foldable steel cage that's leaning against the interior wall of the bullhead. Even though it's leaning against the wall, the folded cage towers over the large huntsman-in-training.
"Is that why you thought it was an Ursa?" A rabbit faunus girl with brown hair, Velvet Scarlatina, asks him. "That would explain why we had to take a bigger bullhead."
"And a larger cage than what he normally takes."
"An Ursa is already a pain to bring back. That's if it's an Ursa Minor. If it's an Ursa Major…"
"Goodwitch will flip." Fox Alistair matter-of-factly said. He is a heavily scarred young man with dark skin reddish hair, and pure white eyes; indicating that he is blind.
"Oh, yeah. She'll flip." Coco shivers a bit at the thought of an enraged Glynda Goodwitch, "Along with the school as well."
"It's unlikely that he'll manage to bring a Grimm that massive and strong back to Beacon," Yatsuhashi assures them.
The bullhead's intercom begins to buzz, "Your destination is half a klick away!" Their pilot shouted from the cockpit, "Can't go any further without risking the airship!"
Coco got to her feet as the airship descends right above the treetops. "Got it! Let's go, you guys!"
She leaps from the bullhead and falls for a few meters, landing casually on the grassy ground. She twirls her purse which is also her weapon, ready to clear the landing zone if necessary. Yatsuhashi landed heavily with the large folding cage and his giant sword second after his team leader, followed by Fox and Velvet. Together, they visually scout their surroundings of any threats and found the area clear.
But the sound of Grimm roaring and fighting could be heard not far from their current standing.
"All clear as far as I can tell." Fox telepathically told his teammates. "We should hurry. Don't want to lose any extra credits."
"Remind me again why he needs another team to help with the transport?" Velvet asks. Whenever Professor Port goes out to capture Grimm, he brings a team of students with him to help. It's the first time he had to call on another team to help out.
"Perhaps he plans on bringing multiple Grimm back." Yatsuhashi fixed the folded steel cage straps around his arm. Not too loose or tight in case he needs to fight. "Which team did the professor take with him?"
"Probably a third or fourth-year team this time." Coco tugs on the strap of her purse and begin jogging towards the commotion. "Fox. Watch Yatsuhashi's back. Velvet, with me."
Team CFVY moved through the trample forest grounds swiftly while maintaining their guard. The clattering metal from Yatsuhashi lugging around the folded cage and his sword drown out the beastly roar of Grimm. They arrived at a wide slope that leads down to a wide clearing. There, they spotted Professor Port nodding and watching a young boy soloing an Ursa Major, much to their shock.
"Professor Port didn't bring a team with him. He brought only one person!"
None of them recognize the young boy, who looks way too young to be attending Beacon. If the rumors are true, then this must Ozpin's apprentice.
"… Looks like Yats won this bet."
"Not yet, and I've spoken too soon. It won't count if it's not captured yet."
"You really need to just admit victory sometimes." Coco shoulders her purse and waves at their professor. "Professor! We're here!"
"Ah, Team CFVY! Good to see everyone after a long summer break!"
"You too, Professor." Coco points at the boy who's occupied fighting an Ursa Major. "It that Professor Ozpin's apprentice we've been hearing about lately?"
"Indeed! Imagine our surprise at the sudden announcement! Hoho! He certainly lives up to my expectation!"
"Should we be helping him?" Velvet asks the professor, ironically snapping pictures with her camera of the boy fighting the Ursa Major.
Professor Port twirls his mustache and laughs, "The young lad can handle it all by himself! You should have seen him fight off an entire army of Grimm earlier! Reminds me of my youthful days…"
Team CFVY grimaced and feared another telling of his long-winded stories. All of his stories are capable of putting anybody to sleep, or worse; they'll remain awake to hear the entire tale. A horrifying fate.
"A little help here!" The boy shouts at them. His entire body was drenched in sweat and was breathing hard while he avoids another swipe from the giant Grimm.
"Get that cage open! Today, we'll be bagging ourselves an Ursa Major!"
The cage was unfolded to its maximum size and snaps tightly at the side, secured by numerous bolts and hinges. Professor Port and Yatsuhashi hoist the cage and moved it closer towards the Grimm while it was distracted. They set it down at the professor's order and fanned out, ready to provide support to one another should things go awry.
"I am ready." Yatsuhashi fingers the cage's door with tensed anticipation.
"Bring it down! Don't kill it!" Professor Port's voice boomed loudly, briefly distracting the Ursa Major.
The boy let out a frustrated cry and struck the Grimm near its shoulder with enough force to make it lose its balance. The Ursa Major howls and tumbles into the metal cage, instantly snapping shut by Yatsuhashi and heavily secured by Professor Port. The inner component of the cages tightens slightly, preventing the Grimm from thrashing around and hurting itself.
Ursa Major. Captured successfully.
"Miss Goodwitch is going to flip when she finds out we're bringing back an Ursa Major," Coco said loudly over the angry roaring. "Also, nice job kid!" She turns to the boy responsible for taking down the Grimm. His outfit could use some style. "You also need some better clothes. No offense."
"That's the least of my concerns right now." There was a lack of energy in his response, but the snarky retort is certainly amusing.
Velvet puts a hand over her forehead, "Sorry about my team leader. She's… Into fashion. A lot. I'm Velvet, and these are my teammates."
"Oscar." He greets them as each of the second-years introduced themselves.
Soon, they made their way back to a safer area to be picked up by the bullhead.
"So, you're Professor Ozpin's apprentice? I didn't even think there was an apprenticeship available, much less for the headmaster."
Oscar sighs as they all got onto the bullhead. Professor Port and Yatsuhashi were tasked with hauling the contained Grimm onto the bullhead, much to the anxiety of the pilot.
"There wasn't. An apprenticeship, I mean."
"So, there wasn't an application or opening for the position?" Coco rubs her chin thoughtfully, "Then how did you get the apprenticeship?"
"It was a last-second decision from Ozpin. Not that I know what goes behind his head." He rubs his neck before taking a seat. The fact that he addressed Professor Ozpin as just Ozpin is somewhat telling of how Oscar sees the man. Either they are well acquainted with one another to skip the formalities, or Oscar doesn't really respect the headmaster. Maybe both.
Professor Port slaps Oscar on the back, "You did very well for your first mission. The headmaster certainly chose well!"
"Yeah. You did really good. For the first time, we'll be bringing a powerful Grimm back to Beacon all thanks to you."
"But Miss Goodwitch won't be happy about that." Yatsuhashi points out.
"Leave everything to me." The Grimm Studies professor assures them, "This isn't the first time I've been in the deputy's highlight. I know my ways around. Especially when it comes to my research!"
That gave Oscar some concern, but he was too tired to care at that moment. His eyes glide towards the rabbit girl's camera. It's a rather simple-looking device. However, something about her camera made him doubt that it's an ordinary camera.
"Is that… Your weapon?"
Velvet fumbles with her camera. "Y-yeah. I also use it to practice my photography."
"Cool. What else does it do?"
"Well…" She looks at her team leader, then clicks on her camera to give him a small demonstration. "I can create solid light copies of any weapons I see." She generates a pale blue copy of the Long Memory and grasps its handle in her hand. "Tada! I can copy both the weapon and the wielder's movements."
"That's amazing." Oscar softly gasps with glimmering eyes.
"Thanks. I worked hard on the initial and final designs." The copy vanishes and Velvet stores away her camera, "But each time I use a copy, I lose it. So, I need to build up my arsenals every time. I… Hope you didn't mind me photographing you."
"I don't mind. You might even teach me a thing or two." Besides, he only started to learn how to fight yesterday. Outside of a few small Grimm that manages to get near the farm, he never fought anyone or any Grimm bigger than him.
"M-me?"
"Did… I say something wrong?"
"Oh, no! It's just that…"
"Someone sure is humble." Coco lightly nudges Fox in the ribs, "Wanna bet if Velvet will start tutoring the little guy?"
Fox had been awfully quiet. Granted, his semblance allows him to communicate with others and doesn't often talk because of it. The entire time, Fox has been 'eyeing' Oscar despite being blind. He can sense other's aura around him. It's not a semblance, rather an advanced form of aura control and from what Fox is currently 'seeing', there's something off about Oscar's aura.
From afar and up close, there's nothing out of the ordinary with his aura. However, if one were to pay close attention to the source of it all, his soul, they'll notice that there's something indescribable emanating out of his soul. Like a slow swirling aurora.
What is that? He thought to himself before getting brought back to reality.
"Yo, Fox! You okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"You sure? Kinda spacing out there."
"I was trying out a new meditation technique." He returns his attention to Oscar's aura but found that the swirling aurora has disappeared.
Strange… Was it my imagination?
/-/
The moment they returned to Beacon; Professor Port ushered them to the academy while he deals with an irate Glynda upon hearing that they've brought back an Ursa Major. She can brush off a Boarbatusk or any of the weaker Grimm, but an Ursa Major is simply too much for your average first-year student to handle. More importantly, they'll have to keep the Grimm under wraps within the academy and account for it getting loose.
"You can rest assure, Glynda. This Grimm is for study only, not to test my students. My research has been put on hold for a while now and this specimen young Pine obtained for me is too valuable for such trivia matter." Everyone watched as Professor Port managed to convince Glynda to let the Grimm be kept in containment within the campus while spouting on about his research.
"I'm surprised Miss Goodwitch is letting go of the matter."
Yatsuhashi nods, "Professor Port really knows how to make a convincing argument, more so when talking about his research. If only the same could be said for his lectures."
"Ugh. All his stories of his youthful days." Coco shakes her head and shivers. "It's been a year now and his stories aren't even halfway finished."
Oscar looked at them in horror. "Wait. You mean his entire lecture is just stories about himself?"
Coco laughs at his expression and tussles his hair, "Looks like you've heard some of them already. His class is like that, for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"He's not that bad." Velvet defends the Grimm Studies professor. "He gives good advice and is a good chaperone on missions."
Oscar will admit, Professor Port did give him some good advice during his assignment. Though he doesn't appreciate being thrown under the bus, or Grimm in his case. He was a farmhand who has limited experience combatting Grimm, nothing like Ruby or everyone else here at Beacon. Except for Jaune. No offense to the blond teen.
The soft clicking sound of an Ozpin's walking stick tapping on the solid ground drew the attention of Team CFVY and Oscar's. The headmaster greets them with a nod and a smile.
"Good morning, Team CFVY. Hello again, Oscar. It seems you've completed Professor Port's unpremeditated assignment." Ozpin observes the rattling cage that housed the Ursa Major, "And exceeded our expectation."
"Do we get more extra credits for bringing back an Ursa Major?"
"Extra credits?"
Velvet blinks, "Doesn't your assignment get graded?"
"I wasn't told how grades and credits work." Oscar looks at Ozpin quizzically. He can give Ozpin a pass for not telling him since it's supposedly common knowledge.
An apologetic look spread across Ozpin's face. "It has slipped my mind that you are unfamiliar with the academic system. A brief overview should be sufficient."
"While you're at it, he needs better clothes." Coco pinches Oscar's farm clothes and clicks her tongue disapprovingly. "He's your apprentice. He needs to have the same level of fashion. He needs new clothes!"
"Coco…" Her teammate groan and facepalms. They slowly look up; unsure what response Ozpin will give in return.
Ozpin hums and then nods, "Mr. Pine did arrive with little belongings under his name."
"And I do need some new clothes…" Oscar misses his old combat attire, or was it his future combat attire? Determining what tense to use when taking time travel into account is confusing.
"Hm, yes. Very well." Ozpin took out his scroll and made a note for himself. "How would you like to assist Mr. Pine to the business district during this weekend, Miss Adel?"
Since Oscar isn't familiar with the layout of Vale, it's best to let someone like Coco accompany him. The fashionista is knowledgeable when it comes to shopping and is capable of defending Oscar should he be in any danger.
Coco straightens herself with a grin. "Will Beacon be covering the cost?"
"It'll be from my personal pay. I'll work out the details soon." He walks by them to greet Glynda and Port who were still discussing a suitable location to study the Ursa Major. "In any case, you all will receive significant credits for your work. As for you, Mr. Pine. I would recommend you take this time to clean up before lunch is served."
Oscar looks at himself. His current attire has definitely seen better days and his body is drenched in sweat. "Um, yeah. I think I'll go take a shower."
"Coco. I thought you'll be watching the live finale of Vale's Fashion Display this Saturday?" Velvet whispers. Outside of emergencies, this was the first time Coco chooses to ditch the weekly fashion show to do something else.
"Eh, I'll let the girls record it." She then turns to Oscar, "Give me your number before you go."
"My number?"
Coco didn't raise an eyebrow at that, nor was she surprised. She could already tell that Oscar wasn't exactly tech-savvy. She had to teach her partner what is a scroll and how to use one before.
"Hand me your scroll and let me show you." After adding her number to Oscar's list of contact, she and her teammates bid him farewell. "See you later, kid! Come find us at the cafeteria when you're done so we can work out our shopping plans for the weekend!"
"Will do!" Oscar salutes them and took off to his dorm to clean up.
As Oscar's figure disappeared, Coco's teammates all turn to look at their team leader with a skeptical expression.
"I may be blind, but even I can see that you're scheming something." Sighs her partner, Fox. "Don't get us into trouble."
"Hey now! It won't hurt to try on every combat attire I can find in the business district."
"Yes, it is!" Her teammates shout back.