F3: Hello everybody and welcome back to Volume 4. This'll pick up right after the events of the fall of Beacon. Before we get started the disclaimers are important so with that said RWBY is the property of Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. With that said Let's Roll Out.
Volume 4-1 Blue: Home.
All Star could see was red. The last possible thing she could remember was battling Tyrian and nearly getting killed by him but something inside her snapped and all she saw was red and the sound of a feral snarl. She honestly doesn't know what is going on with her but she knew something was wrong but she has no control over her body but all she knows was that she was running but she doesn't know where she was even going to begin with.
Fifteen minutes past and she could suddenly feel sand on her hands and feet as if she'd just entered a desert of some kind as she felted the sudden cold air nib at her but its not like it didn't bother her as she was still running uncontrollably. But even then her body was aching as her aura had yet to return which means that she was feeling everything that she'd touched or anything that touched her.
Another thirty minutes past and she still felt sand on her feet and hands but she was starting to feel fatique as well as she was suddenly slowing down her body was starting give out on her from the sudden rush. She didn't know why she was starting to get tired but she was slowing down as her vision saw a village nearby as she used the rest of her strength to get to it with every fiber of her being as she slowly headed toward the village.
=RWBY=
It was nighttime in Corquina and currently all the residents were asleep all except a few one such including a certain girl. The girl is around seventeen years old with dark skin and about 5'7 in height with dark golden blond hair and bright red eyes. She wears a black vest accented by gold with a strap below each breast and a red ribbon tied around the neck, held by a small sphere. Her top is opened to reveal the middle section of her breast. She also wears black short-shorts with a single line of red going around the bottom and a white belt around the top with a brown pouch on the side. Her shoes are black and red boots held up by black straps at the very top, over black socks.
On each side of her hips are holsters for her pistols and she was currently holding a flash light along with wearing a long jacket over her outfit.
This was Mars Kaminari who is currently on patrol.
"Do night patrol he said. It'll be fine he said. Yeah other than freezing my legs off yeah everything is just peachy. Oh just wait till I get-" Mars started until she felt a pressence coming toward the entrance of the town.
She pointed one of her pistols at the entrance along with her flashlight. She heard a sound coming toward her as she pulled back the hammer ready to fire her weapon. What she didn't expect to see was some kind of creature that resembled that of a three tail fox as it was breathing rather hard. The fox was certainly female given the body type she could tell but before she could do anything else the three tail fox suddenly fell to the ground completely exhausted.
Mars was rather stunned at what happened but she wasn't prepared for what was happening to the fox girl. The three tails were slowly merging back into a single tail along with the knails were shortening and body becoming more human as the three tailed fox became a very familiar girl to her and Mars quickly approached her.
"Star?" She questioned but the girl didn't respond as she was now unconscious.
"What in the world happened to you girl?" Mars asked herself as she holstered her weapon and carefully picked up the shorter girl and put her on her shoulder before carrying her back to her home and out of the cold of the desert night.
=RWBY=
Star didn't know how long she was out but she the only thing she knew was that she was alive and she could feel warmth like she was being covered by a extra warm blanket. She began to stir as her sapphire blue eyes opened and was met with the light of the sun as she slowly got up. Almost immediately she regretted as she was meet with dizzyness as she tried to shake it off as she cleared her blurred vision.
She noticed that she was in a hammock just like the same one she had at Beacon as she got a good look around the room.
It was a small bedroom filled with a big closet dresser for clothing along with a desk that had a mirror attachment along with a small wooden stool to sit on. The mirror had a few pictures on it along with some sticky notes stuck to the glass. To her side is a small drawer with a vintage lamp that was currently off as its brass shined in the suns light.
"Something about this room feels... familiar." Star thought before she remembered something that had happened.
"Wait a minute. How'd did I get here? More importantly how am I not at Beacon? What is going on?" Star thought as so many questions ran through her head. However she was broken out of her train of thoughts as the door opened and a familiar face was their to greet her.
"Hey their sleepyhead. Finally woke up huh?" Mars greeted.
Stars eyes went wide after seeing her old friend "Mars! Is that you!" Star said almost shouting.
"Who'd you think it would be?" Mars smirked as she came in with a plate of food. Four eggs that are sunny side up along with three chicken legs and a big glass of orange juice.
"Thought you'd be hungry." Mars said placing the tray down on the small desk so Star could reach it.
Almost immediately Star took the utensils and took a bite of the eggs as the taste alone was enough to send her to food heaven as she took a bigger bite of the eggs.
"Whoa now. Go easy on them you just woke up you know." Mars chatsized her a bit but then Star stopped a moment.
"Mars... if your here then that means..." Star said but Mars nodded.
"Yeah. You're back in Coquina. I honestly don't know how especially with what's been going on." Mars said which got the fox faunus' attention.
"What do you mean by that? What is going on?" Star questioned but Mars only sighed as she took a seat at the larger desk not exactly sure how to break the news to her friend.
"Star... I'm not sure how I should tell you this so I'm just going to tell you straight out. Beacon... and Vale... their gone Star. Everything is gone." Mars said sadly.
Star stared at her with a stunned expression not even knowing what to say as she shook her head.
"What do you mean everything is gone?" Star questioned.
Mars brought out her scroll and looked up the currently news as she played the video showing it to Star.
"In our top news Vale City is left in ruin after a surprise attack that witnesses claim that it was brought on by the White Fang. Among the attackers grimm also played a part in this once great cities untimely demise. Many civilians were killed in this attack along with students that from not only Beacon but from the other academies as well. In current record many students and civilans were victims of this attack. Two such students in particular a one Cinder Fall, and Pyrrha Nikos were among those that have died. Many other students from this incident are also currently missing and we pray that they are safe and unharmed..." The news lady replied as the news continued on.
Star stared at the scroll but more importantly of who she heard that Cinder Fall was dead. Her best friend and sister figure had died during the events of Beacon. However Star noticed the date of when this news article aired. It was four days old.
"This was four days old. I was out for that long." Star said.
"Yeah especially how you showed up in town." Mars mentioned which confused the fox faunus.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Star questioned.
"I don't know how to say this but when you showed up four days ago you were some kind of red eyed three tailed fox like creature. Then you just collapsed right in front of the entrance. Had to carry you all the way here." Mars said.
Star put a hand on her head as if trying to recall what had happened but for some reason she couldn't.
"I can't remember anything. The last thing I remember was fighting Tyrian and then nothing. Everything after that is like a blur." Star said.
Mars then got up from her seat before heading to the door.
"How about you get changed and come on down. I'm not the only person that wants to meet you." Mars said as she left the room to give Star some privacy closing the door behind her.
Star was still trying to process what had happened and still taking in that her best friend that she knew for so long was dead and couldn't do anything about it. She got out of the hammock and noticed that on the large dresser was her usual outfit that she wore.
She decided it was best not to keep Mars and whoever she was talking about waiting as she decided to get changed into her outfit.
=RWBY=
After making sure her outfit was on properly she headed downstairs to meet Mars along with whoever else she mentioned. Once she got down she forgotten how simple Mars house was. It had a living room space that is big enough for four people along with an old couch that has had a few rips in it along with a loveseat that is in the same condition.
In front of them is an old TV set that its coloring has faded but it seemed like it still works as it sits on an old TV stand. Near the loveseat is a vintage lamp light that can be used when her or her family wants to read.
On the walls are multiple pictures of Mars along with her family members and friends as well. To the left of the living room is a walk in entrance to the kitchen as Star walked toward their but their was one person she wasn't expecting to see again so soon.
"May! Your here too." Star said surprised to see the beanie wearing sniper in the kitchen as she only gave her a slight wave.
"And what does that make me? Chopped liver?" A males voice rung out next to the sniper girl as Star recognized the voice.
The person in question is male about seventeen years old that has slightly tanned skin with short black hair that is combed back with green colored eyes. He wears a dark green long sleeved muscle shirt along with light grey shoulder armor wrapped around his waist with a button on the shoulder. He also wears tan combat jeans with multiple pockets along with steel toed combat boots. On his head is a pair of brown bull horns.
"Woody Magna. Man it's been awhile hasn't it." Star said as she sat down at one of the chair in the kitchen.
It almost felt nostalgic that she was able to meet up again with her old friends but now something in the back of her mind was that what happened to her teammates and if their even okay.
"So... how's school life treating you two?" Star asked.
"Well... we were suppose to be finishing up our last quarter at Oscuro Academy but... that isn't going to be happening any time soon." Mars said.
"The headmistress has put the school on shutdown until further notice apparently whatever happened was big enough to scare the headmistress and the surrounding academies in Vacuo. On academy that seems to be going is Shade Academy." Woody said.
"After the attack on Vale and Beacon things aren't looking to great. We don't know much on the details but all we know is that the White Fang attacked and the grimm invaded. Heard not a lot of people and students made it though." May added.
Star gulped silently but for some reason she had to know about something to make sure her friends were okay.
"Is their a list of people that were killed in the attack?" Star questioned.
Mars brought out her scroll again before bringing up a new article of the people that were killed in the attack as she handed her scroll to Star.
Almost immediately upon looking at the list she first noticed that Cinder was one of the ones on the list and just below her was Pyrrha. She also noticed that Ren was also amongst those that were killed. A sad look appeared on her face when she noticed Gwens name appeared on it as well along with the three members of Cardins team but thankfully Cardin's name wasn't on their. She breathed a sigh that none of Team AMLTs members were on it nor any of her own which means they were still alive out their and hopefully safe. Finally she was glad that Team RWBY was still alive and kicking but more than likely separated for the time being.
However before she gave the scroll back to Mars she noticed an article about an arrest of someone as she pressed the article playing the video.
"While several members of the White Fang were arrested in the attack on Vale City their was one arrest against a criminal that has ravaged Vale city for nearly seven years. A one Rina Trill was arrested by the Ace Ops. Rina Trill has also been identified as the Spider and some are speculating that she might have been working with either Roman Torchwich or the White Fang in secret. We not know of the charges but we will keep you updated with further news on this development." The new lady said as the video ended.
Star only stared at the video for a moment as she was trying to comprehend about her teammate... if she can still call her that as her eyebrows narrowed a bit.
Woody noticed her reaction and saw what she was looking at "Oh that new article about that Rina girl. Can't believe that she was actually the spider herself that kinda threw me for a loop there." Woody said.
However for Star she nearly slammed Mars scroll down on the table but restrained herself.
"She lied." Star said which got their attention.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" May asked.
Star got up from her seat and turned away from them her fists clenched obviously not happy.
"You told me to my face that you were on the straight and narrow." She growled her tail thrashed.
"You lied Rina!" Star shouted her fist connecting to a nearby wall but she immeidately regretted it as she retracted her fist and held it close to her.
"Hey take it easy Star." Woody said worryingly.
"What's gotten into you?" Mars questioned but May already had an idea about what Star was talking about.
Star sighed at this as she turned to face the three.
"You how that every academy has an initiation right and have to acomplish a task. We were to bring back small relics and then we were paired up depending on what the relics are. Rina... was part of my team at Beacon." Star finally said.
"She was your teammate." Woody replied now understanding why she was upset.
"I guess that explains a lot." Mars added before thinking of something.
"Say how about we take a walk around town. Get your mind off things for a bit. Sound good." Mars said.
To Star it has been awhile since she's been around Corquina. Maybe it would do her some good to get her mind off things and maybe even figure out what Mars meant about her looking like a three tailed fox.
=RWBY=
After leaving Mars house she was able to get a better view of the town in the light. It still looked the same when she left but she could feel almost tension in the air for some reason she didn't know what but something was bugging her.
She noticed around town that their were some huntsmen and huntresses around some of the towns shops gathering supplies for apparently something big.
"Hey Mars. Any idea what's going? Lots of huntsmen around." Star asked.
Mars nodded "Yeah theirs been a lot of activity recently. Especially coming out of some of the neighboring cities. It's normally bandits roaming free or dealing with bigger threats. But their hasn't been anything else recently but I guess you can tell their has been a bit of tension." Mars said.
"Yeah I can tell." Star said as the two decided to look around the town but before getting far a shot rang out hearing it coming from the center of town grabbing their attention.
"Oh c'mon now of all times." Mars groaned as she headed toward that direction with Star following her heading toward the center of town as another shot rang out.
That got to the center of town where apparently two people were in the center but one of them a male and female on each side but the male person was down on the ground clutching his leg as it bled.
"Now that was rather rude. Not even asking me out on a date. Someone needs to be taught some manners." The women said.
The women in question has light tanned skin with long back length wavy auburn hair with a single silver streak along with a crimson colored scarf around her neck. She has gold colored eyes with freckles on her face. She wears a dark navy cropped long-sleeved shirt with a metal chain-like top attached, a silver shoulder cape with crimson trim. She also wears crimson colored torn off booty shorts with thigh high black leather boots with folded over tops and small lace up detailing.
On her right torso is a black stylish tattoo running down to her upper right leg. On top of her head is a pair of goggles. On her waist is a black belt that sheaths her weapons along with a single belt on the right sleeve and left leg. Finally she also wears worn bandages wrapped around her wrists.
"I'll be happy enough to teach you some." She said in a cold tone. However before she could pull the trigger another shot rang out hitting the gun out of her hand. The women groaned almost as if knowing who it was as she turned a faced the shooter.
Star looked to her side and noticed that Mars was pointing her gun directly at the women.
"Well hello again Mars. Still being a kill joy I see." The women said almost sweetly but Mars wasn't falling for it.
"Get out Carmine or the next shot I won't miss." Mars said angrily.
However that only made Carmine sigh at this agression from Mars "Oh do you really think your little pea shooter can actually do anything to me. Its so funny that you think that you can match me." Carmine said as she placed a hand on the sheath.
"Or do I need to show you what happened the last time you stopped me." She said knowingly.
The girl immediately tensed up but still held her weapon toward Carmine. For Star she didn't know what was going on but she could feel that this Carmine women had more experience than the both of them combind. Reluctently Mars lowered her gun and holstered it.
"Wise choice." Carmine said before noticing the fox faunus next to her.
"Oh and you brought a friend with you. That's so sweet. What's your name darling?" She asked sweetly.
"Star Azure." Star introduced herself.
"Oh that's a nice name for someone like you. Well while I would like to stay and chat but I've got to get going. Later." Carmine said as she sauntered off heading to the left as she past the man that had been shot.
"Okay who in the world was that?" Star questioned.
"Carmine Escalados. She says that she's a huntress but really she's just a damn murderer if you ask me." Mars said not particularly happy about that.
"Hold on if she's a murderer then why don't the huntsmen do something about it? Don't they have authority?" Star asked.
Mars nodded "That's the thing. Most other huntsmen and huntresses won't even touch her because she is protected by the Vacian government. Not even the Vacian police can touch her. She could've killed me right then and their and no one would've even tried to stop her." Mars said.
"You're kidding me?! An actual murderer is pretty much walking around Vacou like she owns it. And their is nothing that we can do about it." Star said as Mars shook her head.
"Nobody can. Trust me I tried once and... let's just say... it's something I can never get back." Mars replied with a sadden expression on her face.
"C'mon I need to pick up a few things at the market then we'll head back to the house." She said as Mars headed toward the market the opposite direction of where Carmine came from.
Star looked at the direction Carmine went and began to wonder what she could do but without a weapon she couldn't do much as she follow Mars to the market.
"Kitsune..." She thought and winces recalling her weapon was now nothing.
They shortly arrived at the market in which the place was buzzing already as people began gather fruits and other items as they continued throughout their day.
"Wait here. This'll only take a minute." Mars said as she headed toward one of the booths.
The fox faunus waited leaning on the side as she watched the scene in front of her. Humans and faunus talking and chatting most probably didn't know the danger that had occured. News was probably not going by well, and Star...Star didn't know what to do, and she felt drained.
Whatever happened to her days ago she suddenly felt drained like as she tried summoning her aura but try as she might she can't seem to summon it to her as it only flickered before dissapating again.
Something wasn't right with her and she knows it. Especially she was still trying to figure out what Mars meant when she first saw her as a three tailed fox but the only thing she remembered was battling Tyrian and then... nothing.
She then heard footsteps coming toward her as she looked up and saw Mars coming back with a bag full of fruits and other items held in one arm.
"C'mon let's head back. I've got what I need for now." Mars said as she and Star decided to head back to the house where May and Woody were waiting.
=RWBY=
As they were walking back Star couldn't help but get a bad feeling from that Carmine women. She felt as if she was going to be even more trouble.
"A criminal protected by the Vacian goverment. Something about that just doesn't feel right. I've got to get to the bottom of this somehow. But..." Star thought.
"Without a weapon... I'm not sure if I'll even be able to." Star thought with a downcasted look which didn't go unnoticed from Mars.
"Hey you okay?" Mars asked.
"Honestly... no. I'm not sure what is going on or why things are happening like this. I feel... so powerless to do anything. I want to be able to do something but how I am currently... I just feel so weak." Star said.
"Hey you are not weak. You just need to find your strength again." Mars said.
"Maybe." Star added still with a downcast look as the two walked back to the house.
As they returned May was listening to the radio incase of any other news that would come up and Woody was currently cooking up some lunch for everyone.
"We're back." Mars called out.
"Ah good just in time for some lunch. Thought I make you favorite." Woody said as Star smelled the scent of chicken coming from the stove.
"Thanks Woody." She thanked as Star sat at the table while Mars went to unpack the items from the bag. She turned to May who was still listening to the radio trying to find anything useful on it.
"Anything good?" Star questioned.
"Actually you guys might want to hear this." May said as she turned up the volume.
"Due to recent events Mirai International has voted to temporary shut down any dust trade that are coming in or out of Atlas. While many people are skeptical of this sudden move some believe that it would be a wise decision. However not many share the same belief. CEO Jacque Schnee of the Schnee Dust Company argued that this sudden action has been made rather hastily and without his regard." The news lady replied.
"That's not a good sign. You think this is probably a precaution about what happened at Beacon." Woody said.
May nodded "I think so. Making sure that dust shipments are shutdown while it may stop the wrong people from getting dust. It also means people will have to come up with other means of getting dust." May said.
"To think just one event can cause a ripple effect. What has the world come to." Star said genuinely worried. That also made the fox faunus wonder if their was anything she could do but without a weapon she couldn't do much but that was about to change.
"Actually Woody I'm not hungry at the moment. Their is something I need to do." Star said confidently as she got up from her seat. Mars got a smirk on her face well knowing what she meant.
"Let me guess... weapons shop." Mars said as Star nodded.
"Yeah. Plus I want to find out more about myself. For some reason or another I can't help but I know their is more about me. More that I'm trying to figure." She started hands grasped into fists.
"And sitting around here isn't going to get me anywhere and I get the feeling that this dust trade shutdown is going to effect not only Atlas but everywhere and I want to get out their and do what I can." Star says as everyone else in the room agrees.
"Well then after we eat we go by the weapons shop and find you something that suits you. That and a new outfit cause that one is getting rather old now. Gotta switch it up a little bit." Mars added.
"Yeah but even then you need to recover your strength and that means training and lots of it too." Woody added.
"But first can't do anything on an empty stomach so lets dig in." May said as the four ate. Star smiled to herself as she looked out the window as she hoped her teammates...all her teammates were doing okay.
=RWBY=
Meanwhile in the outskirts of Gossan Carmine had walked to a hidden entrance that only she knows about as she pressed firmly in the sand as she heard something clicked. A rather loud sound was heard as a doorway opened underneath her that had stairs leading downward into some kind of underground base. She walked further down as torches suddenly lit whenever she walked passed them.
She then suddenly came to a large metal door as she stood in front of it. Suddenly from above a security system activated as green holographic laser began scanner her body as if trying to identify her.
"CARMINE ESCALADOS. ACCESS GRANTED." The computer said as the door opened. The door revealed what appeared to be an underground city that seemed to be carefully carved out of the ground as their were homes created from the sand along with having shops. Their are people their as well that are both humans and faunus alike that are young and old as they saw Carmine come down from the outside.
"Hello people of the underground. I've returned with news from above. After a long trip from the capital I'm in good faith to say that the higher ups of the Vacian government are taking things into great consideration about what they did to us." Carmine said getting everyones attention.
"They considered us exiles. People that didn't belong in Vacuo because we couldn't survive. But I say right now we're most certainly surviving right down here for five whole years if I don't say so myself am I right!" She called out as the rest of the people cheered for her some of them sharing the same tattoo like the one on her torso.
"They'll learn that we can survive no matter what happens to us. We are thriving, we are living, and they will give us what we want." Carmine replied as the crowd cheered again.
"Our homes that were wrongly taken from us but we will get them back whether the captial listens to my demands or not. That I promise." Carmine said before heading to the back of the small city before grabbing one of the other bandits that were in their.
"I want to know everything their is on this Star Azure person now." She ordered as the bandit nodded before running off toward another part of the small city.
Carmine had a feeling that something was going to happen and she wanted to be prepared incase it does happen.
F3: And that's the end of the first chapter of this volume. Wonder what Carmine has planned? And what does it concern Star for. Let me know what you readers think of this first chapter in the comments. Also don't forget to follow this story as well. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm out.