Chapter 53 - From Me To You

Another nice day, by Remnant's standards, and every one of my team, bar Myst, sat outside to handle our work for the afternoon. One thing was certain, Doctor Oobleck never skipped work and was... genuinely fair with coursework. I sat against a tree in the shade with Azure sat next to me, our textbook balanced between our legs. Though Shiri sat in the middle of Azure's legs following along in silence.

Echo hung from the tree like a bat would, insert joke here, and Eros did the same only right-side-up on the branch with his legs over the edge. It was nice, simple, and quiet for once. While jotting down a few comprehensive answers about the Battle of Four Fronts, Pyrrha approached.

"What's up, Pyrrha?" This sudden announcement broke the silence, perks of soul seeing I suppose.

"Good afternoon, Zorah, everyone," She greeted kindly, looking around at the students passing by. "I wanted to know if you were still up for our own match later today?"

"Huh?" "'When was this?'"

It took a second for me to register her words before it clicked. "Ah, yeah, I did say that - oh, and Echo wants a crack at you too."

"I will not fall to Miss. Magnet!" Echo declared proudly with her fist up... or down?

The redhead chuckled into her hand, looking pleased by the challenge. "Then I look forward to our matches, though excuse me if I am a little worn out for our battle, Echo."

The Nightmare-in-hiding waved her hand with a lazy smile and eyes shut. "It's all good, I just wanna fight someone, haven't gotten to stretch my muscles for a while now."

Just then, Azure sat up straight, her ears flicking toward a distant sound only she could hear. Her brow knitted into a 'V' before turning past Pyrrha. "'Something's barking, is there a dog here?' is what she said" I repeated for everyone.

"Strange," Pyrrha murmured, finger curled against her chin. "I swore I heard that too before I came to see you two, perhaps a student's pet?"

Then I heard it, it was faint and Azure's head snapped in the same direction I guessed, even Shiri poked her head around me to try and spot whatever it was. "What's a pet?"

"A domestic animal families tend to keep as companions," Echo answered while swinging herself upright. "Feel like I've heard this bark before, but where...?" The index of soundwaves everyone.

*Bark...*

My eyes shot open, "No way..." It can't be, no... no way? I dropped my books immediately to turn toward the familiar, tiny soul that barreled in our direction, my chest suddenly getting tighter as I spotted the blur of black and white honing in on our location. "It's you..." My voice cracked slightly.

*Bark-Bark!*

In seconds I lost my balance as the bundle of puffy fur crashed into my, throwing me onto my ass as I was assaulted by numerous licks to the face, my laughter suppressed as I was attacked by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, itself clearly remembering as I felt a sudden wave of emotions come over me. To think... he still remembers me.

"I know, thanks, Zwei," I rubbed his ears a bit, his front paws against my raised leg as he nuzzled my hand. "I'm sorry, boy, but I have to go, I can't stay here."

*Whine*

I bit back the urge to cry, but he was always a good boy, always licking my wounds for me before he was barred from my room, he'd sit with me as I rested too. Picking him up I pulled him into a tight hug with a shaky breath.

"I know - I know, I love you too," He licked my face again

Hugging him close I felt my breath tremble. "It's really you... good boy, hahaha," He continued to lick my face as I held him close, ruffling the fur atop his head, and in the spot behind his right ear, seeing his back leg thump. "I missed you too - my trusty hound, right?"

"Arf!" Zwei answered, nuzzling my chin again.

"Zorah!" By the time Ruby arrived, I already got the picture while wiping my eyes quickly, keeping Zwei close in my lap. She smiled before hunching down on her knees. "He took off the second we opened the door, guess when I said your name he wanted to find you."

"Yeah..." Chuckling hoarsely I cleared my throat, patting his head while he licked my free hand. "He's not exactly a normal dog."

"'This is your pet you mentioned?'" Once Azure was close enough Zwei perked up, immediately hopping from my lap into Azure's, standing up on her chest to lick her face, surprising the wolf Faunus who blinked a silently giggled at the response. "'He's really cute~'" She added before scooping the corgi into her arms like an infant, nuzzling Zwei's nose.

"Don't think there's a person on Remnant he doesn't like, especially Faunus," Echo just stayed up in the tree since Zwei had a habit of chasing her shadow form when he sensed her presence. Eros hopped down too to pet Zwei while Shiri approached the dog warily, obviously never seeing one before.

"It's really fluffy..." While hesitant. Zwei calmly pushed his snout forward to nuzzle Shiri's hand, and the sight of her eyes sparkling while a faint blush crossed her cheeks was a sight to behold. "Cute..." She murmured while scratching his head, making him pant happily.

"So-" Turning to Ruby while my hand stroked Zwei's back, though Shiri and Azure coddling the corgi made that difficult. "-not that I'm complaining but why is Zwei here?"

Ruby was silent a moment then perked up. "Ah, yeah! Ahem, Dad sent him in the mail for us to take care of him while he was out on a mission."

"I'm sorry..." My face flattened.

'He did what?' Azure's head swayed right.

"In the mail..." Eros's head swayed to the left.

"That sounds about right," Echo snickered above, or until the branch snapped and Zwei rushed to bombard her with barks and licks. "Uwaaaah! N-no s-stop ahahaha - t-that's tickles~!" Good, she's distracted.

Ruby just waved nonchalantly, "Dad does it all the time." I'm extremely worried about future packages. Then Ruby fished around in her uniform's blazer, retrieving an envelope. "And Dad sent this for you - I think it's really important too."

"'Zorah...'" Azure noticed how my attitude shifted the second I saw the letter. It was from Tai... my Dad. Last I spoke to him I tore into him, and now I wonder if he was even made aware of Tex's involvement due to my negligence.

I stared at the offered note silently, Ruby looking around anxiously before flipping it around, holding it out while lifting my hand to grab the end. "It'll be okay," Again with that blind confidence to barter with my pessimistic view.

"I swear you're too good at those puppy eyes," Sighing I snatched the note away and tore off the seal, emptying the contents into my free hand. Just a folded page. My breath heaved while everyone, excluding Echo and Zwei, huddled closer to listen as I unfolded the note and decided to read it aloud. "Tch, okay... 'Zorah'-"

'-When you get this I hope you don't immediately tear it apart, I get if you're still angry but... I know, I know everything now. Your Professor, and in turn your guardian at the time, Yin came to Signal Academy to tell me about us, what this... Tex did to us, and to you.

I don't expect you to want to see me, not while it's our faces burned into those memories of yours, I just hope we can meet soon after I'm back. I sent Zwei for the girls to take care of, I bet he's missed you, he never left your bed for quite a few nights after you did leave. He's smarter than most expect, huh?

Look, I don't know if I have the right to say this but... I do love you, and I despite how badly our last meeting went I'm pr-'

I crumpled the note at that point, out of anger or denial, I don't know. "If he wants to tell this shit he can do it in person," With that I stood up and grabbed my stuff, hiding my expression from the rest while choosing not to face whatever expression complimented Azure's striking emotions right now. "I'll see you later for our match, Pyrrha."

"I... right," She didn't push the subject.

"Zor-" I stopped Ruby with my hand.

"Just... don't, Red." I needed to get some work done. "Seeya guys later."

"Arf! Arf!" Turning to my left, Zwei ran up to me and pushed his front paws against my knee, forcing me to kneel down and pet him.

"You want to tag along, huh?"

"Arf!" He quickly leapt into my arms, causing my smile to return before I gave a small wave back to the rest, leaving to mull over my afternoon workload and... other things.

"Dammit, Master; How much did you tell him about me and Echo?" Now I had a headache.

[Echo's POV]

"-and that's all the grumpy emo wrote, took off without another word like this world just turned on its head," I finished my retelling of today's events like one of those Reality TV shows me, Myst, and Weiss like to chew apart like a comedy. I slumped back with my arms propping me up at the edge of the arena. "I get he's still conflicted but I read the rest, his Dad's sinsecre."

"Um... perhaps it is like me, I... have been filled with such animosity and rage that it simply blinded me," To my left was the lingering soul of Amber, herself sitting next to me with her face obscured by her hood. "I understand the feelings that overwhelm you, you feel lost but your best way to express is through what you have in front of you."

I chuffed, looking up at the glass ceiling above. "Ain't that the truth - tch, some Nightmare I am." Some guardian I've become.

Amber sat forward, hands on her lap, she was tense. "I... do not remember what became of my power, I can feel it... somewhere, it's yearning to be free or... the part that resides with me," Her hand moved to her chest, creasing her blouse. "I-I get sudden waves of confusion and anger like I wish to... burn everything, but I'm terrified at the same time of that fire, my own flame hurts."

I understood. Soul Fracturing was a dangerous unknown. When a soul like hers is fractured she is left with a state of limbo, she feels the odd pull of that missing piece, feels what the thief feels, and vice versa. It's a painful and torturous sensation. "It's okay," I placed my hand on her shoulder, seeing her glance at me and my smile. "I'll help you find who did this, and I'll make you whole again, cross my heart and all that." I winked, and... did she blush?

"T-thank you, Echo."

"Aw, is someone warming up to me~" I cooed, nudging her elbow before flames were all that lingered, her soul had moved a few feet away as I laughed. "You're cute when you're flustered, hahaha!"

"...do not tease me," She huffed as I slithered back to her side, swinging my legs out. "Why is it you wish to help me - I am grateful for yours and Zorah's company, truly, but... why help a broken soul like me? I... no one wants anything but my power, all for that... um, what was it I'm meant for?" Her brow knitted, she was losing herself in vague memories again.

"Hey-" I nuzzled her side with my arm, grinning as I played with my highlight. "-we told you before, your power isn't what makes you Amber, that name, your personality, and memories, that's the person I want to help, even if you never were a Maiden."

Amber looked at me from under her cowl and was pleasantly surprised by my words. Looking down at my hands I chuckled lightly. "It's funny when people see Nightmares razes towns, killing men, women, and children alike, doing unspeakable things they think we're as we are named," I rubbed my hands, scarless as always. "Then there are Nightmares that care, wishing only to protect and safeguard what they believe, so what am I? A monster or... I dunno,"

Thinking of Team MAZE, everyone that saw me as a friend despite not knowing the truth, I felt like I belonged here, that... I was human. "What I do know, is that I am no defined by this body, my name is Echo, my partner is Zorah, and I love him like family and I will follow him to the ends of the earth."

Amber looked to me, staring into my eyes with something I couldn't describe, but she was pensive. "Echo... if I were to lose my power, or rather if it were threatened... if that Witch finds me," Her eyes looked up from her hand against mine, almost pleading. "Will you take it instead? Take... my soul, I... I don't want to die... I want to see more of what I forgot, I want... I want to see what you see."

"You... want me to," My eyes grew in shock. She wanted me to become a Maiden instead, to stop whoever tormented her from finishing the job. "B-but I'm a Nightmare, I-I not even from Remnant-!" Her other hand took my left, squeezing them in their astral grasp.

"You are Echo," She smiled lightly. "You are more than just a Nightmare like you said."

I felt my body tingle in a strange way, one I've never felt before, but it made my hair stand on end in a good way. With a sigh I smiled, holding my head down at our hands. "You sure know how to twist my words against me, sly cat you are," I giggled, then lifted my head. "I don't know but..." I wasn't going to accept the end yet. "If there's no other choice, then... I will, I give you my word."

That is something, I'm choosing not to break.

Then, of course, the lost soul gave me the warmest smile I've ever seen, one I swore I've seen before. "Thank you, Echo."

[No POV]

Zorah kicked the door open to the dorm, hands full as Eros shuffled in behind him, Azure already away to put Shiri to bed for the night. "Look, no one understands Kingdom Hearts - it's a mess, a beautiful, disorganized mess."

"Don't think you've ever used that word before," Eros smiled, slipping past to turn the lights on for Zorah while he dropped all their stuff on Myst's bed, again, no sign of her anywhere which was beginning to become apparent with Zorah. "But I mean, is there no video that kinda condenses everything, makes it easier to-"

"Myst is avoiding us," Zorah interjected, looking around. Her weapons were missing, same with her bag and a few items. "Did she say she was heading into Vale later tonight?"

"Um... no," The redhead murmured, brow creased. "Actually, I don't think I saw her after breakfast, she had this odd look on her face when I asked, just said, 'I'm okay'." That caused Zorah to hum, looking around the dorm inquisitively.

"What's wrong with you, Myst?" Looking across the living room section Zorah spotted a note with Azure's plushy of Dodogama atop it. Picking up the note I flicked it open, seeing Myst's horrible handwriting inside. "And they say all women have great handwriting, Ryuko can write better chicken-scratch than this."

"What's it say?" Eros peeked over Zorah's shoulder, as Zorah's fingers creased the corner of the page, Eros then paled in comparison. "You're kidding..."

Hey guys, if you're reading this I can imagine you're pulling some faces.

Sorry about this, guys, but I just... can't stand the idea of letting you get hurt. I know, hypocritical of me right? I'm not like my sister, I can't just focus on one straight path, not when mine is so messed up. Tex took my sister from me, I should've done more for her, I should've just refused to work with that snake, Torchwick.

But if anyone can lead me to Tex, it's the same snake that got me bitten by him. Just... don't follow me, I know he hurt you, Whitey, so I'll be sure to return the favor. Just... keep at it, I'm not a good leader, much as I brag otherwise, I suck at leading others, only to their early graves really.

It's been a riot, I mean it - and Eros? You act like a goof but I know you'd make a better leader than me. ~Sincerely, Amethyst Merigold

Myst shook her head clear of her faults, Staring across Vale with Heart and Spade close to her hips, fingers to the triggers while a new, black edge hummed to life, white cracks tainted the metal. She had her leads now, all jotted down over the weeks since confronting Roman. If she knew her old acquaintance he had his quirks. That was her window to exploit.

Adjusting her new ponytail, Myst lost the glow in her mismatched eyes, watching the White Fang below shuffle through an alleyway. With her feet up on the edge, she need only take a single step forward.

To Be Continued...

Myst has Midnite augments to her weapons!? Amber makes Echo a conflicting offer, and Zorah reunites with Zwei! I hope you enjoyed, appreciate the support as always, seeya in the next chapter Hunters!

Next Chapter: Divide and Conquer

With Myst AWOL a new leader is needed to track her down. But not without some help from Master Yin and the returning Team CFVY.