Chapter 52 - Soulbound
Focus... just like drifting through a forest...
Think of the wind gliding through trees, crossing over branches...
Imagine skipping above rivers and breathing the elements...
The more I focused on those instances, framing the image piece-by-piece with great detail that could outshine an artist I flopped onto my back, staring up at the emerald ceiling above. Blowing my bangs from my eyes I felt my chains retract from my arms, once more in failure. No matter how perfect the image, the feelings and more I poured into them nothing bloomed.
"What makes you so different?" I asked my hand outstretched to the tree above. "What's the catch?"
"You enjoy talking to your hand?" Dropping the appendage I found Yang staring down at me with her fists on her hips, smiling. "Having fun?"
"Thrilled," I remarked, rolling up to her awaiting hand, tentatively taking it as she hoisted me up. "Is it already lunch?" Then my stomach growled loud enough for the Grimm in Forever Fall to hear. "Nevermind."
"Come on, you need to eat to get all big and strong," Yang playfully hugged me as we walked, unable to escape my groan of displeasure.
"I hate you..."
"Love you too, dork." She noogied my already unkempt bangs as we wobbled away, my mind nowhere closer to an answer but otherwise not unhappy.
"Hey guys, can I be frank?" Eros pipped up between bites of his sandwich as I leaned into my palm.
"Sure, though I don't see the merit in changing your name, but you do you." My hand dismissed.
Ruby gulped down a strawberry quickly, raising her hand. "Can I still be Ruby?"
I patted her head. "Now-now, let Frank speak."
He just gave me a flat look for a moment as I chuckled with Ruby. "Well, I sense great danger approaching, bud," Eros with his ominous replies as always, and why around lunchtime, I'm hungry. Turning with a juice box straw still in my mouth I spotted the caramel flames engulfing our neighbor as she pointed a finger at me.
"You and me, main path outside after lunch, you in?" Brief and utterly random. I just let my brow raise while twirling the straw in my mouth.
"I'm sorry, you sound like you're ready to use me for a drug deal, repeat with human words please?" I blinked and listened.
Coco shifted her shades to stare over them at me with a toothy smile. "I want to settle the score with you; No offense, you're strong, real strong but I've gotta see that myself and the Vytal Festival is too far away still for me to feel satisfied with sitting on the sidelines - so I want to fight you head-on," She placed a fist on her hip. "So, are you in, or is taking on your senior too much for you?"
My eye twitched. Eros face palmed. "Oh no, she said the thing."
"'Zorah...'" No use trying to stop what's been set in motion now, pard.
I stood up sharply, alerting a few to our staredown as I chuckled boldly. "Oh? Approaching me on the subject of strength are we?"
"Coco, we talked about this, we can't pick fights with younger years, that's bad!" Velvet called from afar but Coco didn't budge, a shot of electricity between our eyes.
"Can't really kick your ass from afar now can I?" Coco stepped closer until we were nose-to-nose, both roaring for a fight. Never did I think I'd get the chance given the chaos I'm constantly surrounded by but this was a prime opportunity. And who knows, my Semblance might get that hint it needs to evolve.
"Then come as close as you like," I dared lowly. Behind me, Azure tried to pull me back a little, staring at me evenly.
"'Zorah, you know what will happen if you do this again, Goodwich won't sweep this under the rug.'" Her point was fair and I could see her worry, so I clicked my fingers.
"Then a compromise, I'll just ask my Master to make it official, even bring you along as assurance things won't end in property damage, simple!" Her jaw dropped and Coco chuckled.
"That's the spirit - here that Fox, we've got a match this afternoon!" She declared to the blind man standing by his team, looking no more pleased than Azure.
"...you're kidding me, just like that?" Theron threw his hands ahead of him. "We had to poke the bear a bunch to get him to even consider fighting us, what the hell!?"
Ryuko just sighed into her hand. "Idiot; Doesn't take much more than a few correct words, and he's ready to fight the world."
"You are no different!" I countered only for her to flip me off. "Hah!"
"'Do we get a choice in this?'" Azure again attempted to tag out but Fox shook his head once he approached, obviously reading her thoughts.
"I do not believe we do; There is no stopping Coco now," Fox wasn't all the thrilled either. "I suppose it is a good time to teach regardless - besides, I think letting them blow off this vendetta is a good thing - they've glared at each other for weeks now."
He was right though; Since I saw Coco's team in action I was curious as to what her Semblance can do other than enhance Dust. Could it be used to enhance more than mere minerals? What about her weapon? And besides, all my fights recently felt like my life was on the line, for once I just... want to have fun.
That and the Dance got pushed back because of, 'Unforeseen Security Risks', totally not because of my amazing skills, no-no. Bet that General Ironwood guy's just loving this, his compensating fleet over Vale certainly speaks volumes of such.
"We'll exclude the use of Dust if that'll make things better," I relented, turning to Azure. "I don't beg and I don't plan to so..."
Her face turned between me and Coco before she shook her head with a breath, smiling slightly. "'If it'll make you both happy... then sure, just a spar right?'"
"She's in," I summed up, earning a punch to the arm from Coco.
"Great! After lunch then, let's see if that Semblance of yours is as cracked as they say!"
"Ditto, I'll try not to ruin your clothing too badly." That looked to irk her, perfect.
By the time the heat died down around us, Echo returned with Shiri, the pair looking around at the commotion, then to each other. "What did we miss?"
"Beats me, kid." Echo shrugged.
[No POV]
Outside a number of students gathered for the small sparring match between Beacon's top First Year partners and their Second Year's duo. As always, bets were made and Scrolls were set to record it all for highlights and studying since almost everyone wanted a shot at partaking in the tournament.
The area was just off to the left of the main walkway, instead, it was a white marble water garden with many interconnected pathways leading around a circular basin with sections of water at certain levels. The students gathered on the top outermost ring.
Over by one of the small walls, Myst sat with one leg propped against the wall for her arms to lean on, standing next to her was Blake and Ruby, the rest of RWBY missing. Ryuko and Theron were nearby too,
"Looks like it's about to start," The silverette broke the silence, Eros standing with Ruby a fair few feet away, the two spouting about the fight ahead.
"It is," Blake added briefly.
"So... why are you here?" She was curious.
Blake held up her Scroll, "Yang wanted me to record the fight for her, as well as give Weiss something to study once she was feeling better." That made Myst nod, recalling the absence of said Heiress at lunch. "Still, I feel Zorah and Azure are at a disadvantage."
"Hmm, how come?" Myst kept her eyes on the pair prepping at the center platform of the garden.
"Not to sound rude but they are skilled, no question, however, I feel when compared to the likes of second years, and those from Team CFVY of all teams they may struggle more often than if up against people from our year." It wasn't as if Blake doubted her friends' skills but rather putting into consideration what she's heard of CFVY's strengths in the last two years.
"Well... guess we'll just have to wait and see." Myst smiled, leaning forward with Blake sat beside her.
Down in the arena, so to speak, Zorah was silently retracing what he said before to Azure...
"Sorry 'bout this but the opportunity presented itself." He defended meekly while Azure crossed her arms in an attempt to look mad.
"'I understand but why now, what's so important that you had to accept Coco's fight now of all times?'" It wasn't that she wouldn't compete it just left her confused as to the abrupt timing.
Zorah scratched his head, looking pensive when he was hiding something. "I... look, it's something that will only work with a trial by fire, least that's my expectations, I honestly don't know if this will work," He sighed, scratching his cheek. "Plus, Coco's been on my case about fighting me since her planning for the Dance was pushed back, thanks to me and these constant threats from Nightmares."
Azure's face softened, "'That wasn't your fault.'" Sadly he didn't look convinced.
"I want to make it up to her so I told her to challenge me whenever she wanted, no matter the circumstances." He admitted in defeat and Azure surprisingly smiled a little, patting his cheek gently.
"'Then I'll fight with you always, we're a team, right?'" He stared at her for the longest time before letting out a breath, nodding.
"Yeah... we are."
"Ready?" He murmured, seeing her spear drawn just out the corner of his eye. Cracking his neck he held Night Sky in its scabbard, clutching the handle with both hands down to his right hip.
Taking the place of Master Yin was none other than Azure's father, Midnight, his hand raised between the two pairs. "Now! The exhibition match between Team CFVY's Coco and Fox against Team MAZE's Zorah and Azure will now commence!"
Coco stood rather casually with her handbag by her side. "I promise not to make you look too bad, Zorah."
"..." He made no comment, in fact, he didn't seem to be listening at all.
"The use of Dust is excluded say for passive use and this will not count toward each team's standing for entering the Vytal Tournament! Once one team's collective Aura is depleted into the red the match ends! Am I clear!"
Azure and Fox merely shared a slow nod of understanding, weapons drawn to one another.
Midnight's hand came down after mouthing a 'good luck' to his daughter. "Begin!"
The crowd cheered as neither side moved an inch for the first few seconds. Compared to most matches, Zorah didn't have his lazy-eyed expression, rather, he focused solely on Coco, her eyes hidden by her shades.
Someone blinked, and Fox made the first move. He dived right, allowing one tonfa to swish at Zorah's guard as the blades screamed. Neither pair of MAZE expected the switch but stood their ground as Coco halted Azure's attempt to aid Zorah who leapt onto the level behind them. Fox continued his sudden assault with both tonfas, their long edges hacking and slashing at Zorah's constant parries, the strange use of bladed boxing wasn't like Yang's Ember Celica. Whatever Fox was doing he knew what Zorah was going to do.
"Tch!" Azure grunted, throwing a fist to where she heard movement, missing the stylish Coco as she leveled her handbag back, throwing it down with tremendous force that grazed Azure's spear, cracking the tiles under her while Coco's right leg swung high, missing the Faunus who skirted around her.
Coco smirked and pivoted quickly to evade the thrust and swung her bag again, creating another large burst of air pressure. The disorientating blast left Azure open to a gut punch with a right cross, bones rattled and her body flew across the garden. Coco's bag didn't look like much but Azure could hear it, she enhanced her bag with gravity dust, making it much heavier, and with her Hype Semblance, it was all the more dangerous.
The soft laughter from Coco drew the ocean-blue eyes to the woman swinging her trusty handbag around her wrist, stomping toward the downed Faunus mockingly. "Come on, Azure, I know you've got more fight than that, where's that look in your eyes when you fought Zorah?"
Azure wiped her bruised cheek, aura shimmering over the marking. The pair continued to fight hard. Meanwhile, Zorah was struck by a cross-slash from Sharp Retribution, his chains severed like twigs.
Azure gasped, her lightning cutting out partially as the sharp grin from Coco met her eyes, striking the electrified girl across the chin with her handbag, the force practically buckling Azure's bones. This wasn't like any other student, Coco knew what Azure was - "That's it! It's Fox's telepathy!"
"...I'll just find my way out..." His voice trailed off in Azure's head soon after.
Both Azure and Zorah collided with one another's backs. Both jumped, locking backs while readying for a counter strike, neither realized it until both Coco and Fox were sailing down from above, two tonfas split the chains defending Zorah followed by a powerful breath of wind pressure ahead of Azure. This left the crowd in suspense at the massive wave of debris and dust kicked from the explosion.
When it settled somewhat, Azure found herself far from the center of the attack, on the ground. She gasped, spotting Night Sky clattered to the ground beside her and the dust cloud gather across the garden. Zorah took the blow for her, but why didn't he dodge?
"Huh, didn't see that coming," Coco's brow rose but shrugged since Zorah was clearly out of the fight for a period. "Let's wrap it up, Fox."
"Right." He drew his arms forward, the pair pincered Azure who, without her spear, hesitantly grasped Night Sky, feeling the weight pull at her arm. She didn't know if Zorah was out cold or why he was so distracted but that didn't matter right now.
Drawing the Midnite sword she attached the scabbard to her lower back, she had to be careful though given the blade's ability to slice through aura with ease. "Please work for me, Night Sky," Keeping her guard up Azure rushed the pair with the sword held perfectly in her hands. Just like the time their bodies switched, her muscles could recall how to distribute its weight carefully.
Coco and Fox attack Azure in unison, overwhelming her with strikes while keeping their fair distance from Night Sky's edge. Fox manages to strike a punch on Azure, knocking her back and giving Coco time to backflip and graze the earth, sending another wave of fragmented concrete and dust Azure's way. However, Azure quickly propelled herself over the rush of wind, blocking a strike from below, kicking Fox down.
Landing, she blinked as Coco locked a hand with Fox, flinging him over Azure's strike to boot her crown, tossing her toward Coco. The girl was ready and spun her weapon around as its hem embedded itself into Azure's stomach, seeing her face twist and her aura shimmer once she clattered across the ground.
"I don't get it, why can't Azure fight back?" Eros murmured, completely surprised by how one-sided the match was thus far.
"It's Night Sky-" Ruby spoke up, deep in her analysis mode, hand over her mouth. "-It weighs more than any other material on Remnant, Azure fights a lot like Blake so heavy weapons aren't her thing, and Zorah... he looked distracted by something."
Eros blinked then focused on the fight. "He'll snap out of it," His confidence drew Ruby's eyes, seeing him hold a thumb up. "It's my best pal, he's never lost a duel and I don't expect him to start now."
"Yeah!" Ruby grinned, continuing her analysis with an idea cropping up in her mind while inspecting Azure defending with Night Sky. "Maybe..."
The world was devoid of color in Zorah's vision, though his eyes were closed as he focused on the orange flame burning against his chest. "Still nothing, why... you worked for Mom so why can't I do this now?" It frustrated him to no end, no matter how defensive he played, that sense of danger never triggered a reaction. "What is it? Am I... just not strong enough... again?"
The words made his fingers curl against the soil and brick. His face scrunched up, it was stupid to think it was a lack of strength that impeded his progress, he knew why. It was his fault his Semblance couldn't make that next step, he was denying it for weeks now, trying to bottle it all up but then so much happened that he snapped, he let it show briefly against Tex.
"Why... what good can come from me?" The more he resisted the harder his chains shook, they didn't agree, his soul refused to acknowledge this. "I know! But that doesn't make it right!" His Semblance was a curse at times, it too had a sense of consciousness, his inner self as put during his training, it was the only part to himself that couldn't just be ignored less he weakened himself further.
The embers hissed, tickling his nose. "...I'm not worth it but..." His heart tightened again, he wanted to let it go but that only made it increasingly worse, it was like a finger trap he constantly pulled against.
The orange flame flickered a shade of blue momentarily, his face no longer tensed and winkled. "I know... I get it," Feeling his chains rattle in his ears, he let color seep into his eyes, turning them blue with a slight smile of uncertainty. "I accept these feelings - happy now? I won't deny it, I do..."
It was all a network to Zorah. Where his chains connected one bound to a sliver flame close to his right shoulder, another began to bridge close to his heart, a plump blue ember. It was a highway of emotions connected by his chains, and another had been formed.
A heavy sigh left his lips. "So that's the feeling of a weight off your chest, huh?"
While Azure managed to keep Coco from advancing she knew Fox was attempting to flank her, he could hear her thoughts, ensuring his presence wasn't felt periodically. As the pair closed in, something shifted in the dust behind them, a faint shimmer of teal as something blue lashed out, parrying Fox's strike on Azure.
"Heh, there we go..." Myst sighed in relief, clapping her hands. "Now get in there and wrap this up, Whitey, that's an order!" She grinned, nudging Blake's side, snapping her from her own trance.
From the smoke, the crowd saw that Zorah had changed once more. His chains bound to his body, a smooth teal tint, his once white hair now shared similar shades of blue, his eyes a complete parallel to Azure's, her own wide while her heart pounded at the sight.
Shooting Star was held, azure embers scorching his body while a fanged smile split his lips. Atop his head, white ears tipped light blue. He looked just like a Faunus. Azure couldn't believe it, he... mimicked her Semblance, her biology! "Wow..." If she wasn't flustered before she was now, tail wagging excitedly.
"Oh... crap," Coco stepped back while Fox followed, neither knowing what to do, Fox tried to invade Zorah's mind but something cut off his connection and invisible blade?
"Okay, thanks for holding out," Zorah nudged Azure, awakening her from her gawking with a flushed face, holding Night Sky. "Just like before."
"Mmhmm!" Both shifted past each other, weapons drawn as one.
Fox rushed them quickly, by now, Zorah's aura was low. With a sudden drop to his knees he avoided Azure's sword and the chains, his tonfa did indeed connect and to his shock, his blade was wrapped by two chains. Zorah didn't make a sound, twisting Fox's arm, throwing him into a spiral.
"Fox - gah!" Coco attempted the same move as before, flanking Azure when she was still recovering from a shockwave. Azure drew her sword back, dispersing a small dust cloud, blinding Coco who felt the edge of the sword carve through her aura like butter, pushing her away. The dust dispersed.
Neither had any idea how or why, bodies colliding with one another as the hilt of Night Sky and Shooting Star connected to their torso's, tossing them high for a twin roundhouse to the side. It was their turn to end things. The thrashing continued with remarkable coordination from the MAZE pair. Zorah caught Azure who was thrown away with a chain, flicking her leg down for a devastating kick of electricity.
The strike blew dust and debris away, a chain swiping Fox's right leg out from under him while a spear struck the earth between his legs, a hand twisting so that a pair of boots could crack against his cheek. Zorah knelt down, allowing Azure to vault and disarm Coco a second later before her enhanced bag could unleash another wave of pressure.
A wave of flaming chains threshed against Fox's tonfa while something sharp tore across his stomach, burying him into the earth while a strong heel-kick from Azure kept Coco back, unable to see through the dust Azure had kicked up with heavy slashes of her sword.
"Game-!" Zorah slammed his left fist into Fox's hip.
"Set-!" Azure left an afterimage in her wake, disorientating Coco as Azure's right leg cracked against the back of Coco's legs.
"Match!"They ended it with a unison of chains and a thunderous swing of Midnite that uprooted some of the tiles, pummeling their opponents into one of the upper levels of the garden, shattering their auras.
Once the dust settled and the crowd was in an uproar, Azure turned and found Zorah on his knees, aura shattered not a moment later while his Faunus additions faded away. "That... took a lot - they're good," Panting, Zorah knew it was a risk but it paid off, more than he would've wished for.
"'Are you okay? You used a lot of Aura to generate my Semblance'" It made her really happy but worried all the same, placing her hand against his forehead. Luckily, no fever but his face was a little pink. "'You really didn't need to risk doing that here, but... you looked just like me.'" Her sweet smile beamed in the sunlight, enough to cause Zorah to stumble over his words for once.
"U-um, surprise, yeah s-sorry for not s-saying - ahem, I-I'm fine though," He wobbled on his feet but managed to stand as Coco sat up not far from them. "You two okay!?"
"I feel like I got hit with a train, but sure!" She grunted. Losing sucked but she got what she asked for, and a headache included. "Damn, you don't hold back, ah." She clutched her forehead while Fox just sat on the ground, staring blankly into the sky. Then Coco snapped to him. "I didn't and you know it! And besides, you kept jumping the gun on this, I told you gunning for Zorah was our best opinion!"
Whatever they argued about went unheard by Zorah and Azure, the girl holding up her fist weakly to her partner. It took a moment to register, both clutching the wrong weapon, then he returned her small tap of their fists.
Later that day...
It was later in the afternoon, Weiss, who was feeling better, and Blake was absent from their dorm say for Yang, Ruby, and Ryuko. The trio stared at their brother sitting on the carpet with them, legs crossed and head low. His eye was filled with worry.
"Sorry to bother you guys but... I need to get this out," He apologized meekly, again, his actions today continued to confuse them relentlessly. His finger was tapping against his cupped hands. "I've just been trying to push this issue aside and now that's no longer possible."
"You gonna keep beating around the bush with us, seriously?" Ryuko didn't mean for it to be harsh but it got a reaction out of him as she sat closer. "You've put up with my shit so feel free to return the favor."
"Sister of the year, huh?" He joked rather weakly, shaking his head. "I honestly don't get it, why I... have to feel like this."
"Is it about what you did in your fight?" Ruby asked, seeing him nod while sharing a look with Yang. "Um, is it about someone? Like your team? Or is it... what we did?" She meant to say Tex but again, it was them that 'caused' the damage to Zorah ultimately.
"N-no, not any of you I... just promise me-" He shook a little. "-you'll keep this between us, please?" He pleaded and Yang smiled, ruffling his hair.
"Anything, just tell us what's got you all bummed out." Nodding slowly, Zorah parted his lips, face gradually turning red.
Every word he spoke held a stutter or two. With each sentence, the girls had their expectations shattered again and again. After he stopped to gauge their replies, Zorah would scratch at his sweaty palms to detract from his state of mind. His heart felt like it'll burst or his breathing would stop, he had no clear way of digesting his recent discoveries correctly.
"...I'm scared, because... what good could ever come from me?" It was the unquestionable truth. They didn't know bar Ryuko, they didn't know how distorted his mind was or how he relished a fight for the guilty pleasure it gave him, that rush of combat, and the pain that followed. He was a destructive person by nature.
"Bullshit," Yang swore, flicked his forehead to get him to lift it. "Sure, you're not perfect, and your social skills really do suck-"
"Aren't you supposed to say something encouraging here?" Ryuko motioned dumbly but Yang's hand covered her mouth.
"-but that doesn't matter," Yang smiled warmly, bringing Zorah close to rest his head against her collarbone as he shook a little. "What you're feeling isn't wrong, don't feel guilty for feeling these things - you're still you regardless."
"We'll help you if you ever need it," Ruby added, embracing him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Sure, I have no clue what to do either but I'll try to understand, promise."
"You make it sound too easy, Red," Zorah chuckled against Yang's collar, eyes hesitant as a fist connected to his heart lightly, Ryuko holding onto a knowing smile.
"You really got to stop keeping these things to yourself," Ever the tomboy but her heart was in the right place. "Just don't go screwing things up because you start backtracking on doubts, that'll get you nowhere fast."
"Right..." He murmured, enjoying this moment of serenity. His fight today, feeling what Azure felt, fighting alongside her in complete synergy again, the feeling of his flames against his skin and how fluently his chains coiled and snaked to his transparent thoughts made one fact notably clear to his thick skull. Something that was equally terrifying as it was surprising. "Thank you... you know, for listening."
"What are siblings for, right?" Ruby grinned, reassuring him with her honesty, she was painfully innocent but it was something he'd never take for granted.
To Be Continued...
You know, I think this is the worst fight I've written, I just... don't really like it but my head refuses to completely rewrite so I apologize if it's weaker than most but the fight wasn't really the center point. Zorah's now obtained Azure's flaming form of her Semblance with the added baggage of accepting the truth over his own sense of denial - but what exactly?
I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter Hunters!
Next Chapter: From Me to You
The first-years will soon embark on their first missions, while the excitement is brewing, Zorah is gifted with an unexpected encounter.