"So," she said as she wiped her mouth clean "what can you remember about your dream Fox?"
"I'm not sure Velvet. I try to forget about my nightmares." He stared blankly at his food, focussing on the plate to hopefully discourage his teammates from prying. He was lying, of course. But this one wasn't really one he was up for discussing openly, he needed time to process it himself first.
"But you mentioned how real it felt, surely there has to be some reason behind why it felt like that."
"I agree with Velvet." The deep voice of Yatsuhashi sent a shiver down Fox's scarred spine. Not because it was threatening or anything, but purely because was so damn deep. "It seems to me that your nightmare last night was more than just a dream. It sounds more like a premonition." Milky eyes looked up towards his partner.
"A premonition? Yatsu, I can barely see anything. I have been like this since I was a boy. How can I be getting dreams of what might happen if I don't even know what is happening right now?"
"Tiresias was a man from the times of the First Civilisation long before the Grimm or Dust were ever known to the world who saw nothing with his eyes and yet still could communicate with the Gods of his time and was known for his clairvoyance. His blindness did not affect his ability to predict the future; it enhanced it and made him view the world in a different light. The lack of natural sight made his own predictions less biased to opinion and most, if not all, seemed to come true."
"I am not Tiresias, Yatsu. I'm me. That sort of thing happens to me one time and you start spouting knowledge about a blind prophet from a time long since past?"
"I was merely attempting to ease your mind on the possibility of this being a more regular occurring event."
"Well it isn't helping!" Coco felt a little uneasy sitting between the two at the moment. Yatsuhashi was a big guy, a walking tank by anyone's standards and not the sort of person you'd want to pick a fight with, unless you had a death wish. But Fox seemed to be incredibly short-tempered with everyone this morning and having an argument with Yatsuhashi right over her head wasn't exactly the way she wanted to start the day. Maybe that dream hit him harder than she thought. She decided to take action.
"Easy boys. Fox, with me." She dropped her cutlery on her tray and rose quickly with it. Seizing the opportunity to leave the conversation, Fox stopped eating as well.
"Gladly." Even saying that to his leader was sharp. It definitely needed to be discussed. Not with the others though, just the pair of them.
"Apologise to Professor Port for us if we're not back." Velvet nodded and lowered her head back to her plate. It was clear she felt a little guilty for initially prying. Yatsuhashi also fell silent. He felt ashamed for what he said and it was clear he felt he had made the situation worse. After they had handed their trays back, the two of them walked away from the cafeteria and took a leisurely stroll around the grounds. Coco said nothing deliberately. Fox said nothing because he was angry at first. As time passed in silence he grew more and more frustrated at it; it was as if he'd lost another one of his senses, the lack of noise frustrated him.
"What did you want Coco?"
"Finally!" she cried. "I thought we were going to have to walk around in silence all day. I wanted you to tell me about your dream." Before he could open his mouth again, Coco finished her sentence. "But on your terms; not mine, not Yatsuhashi's, not Velvet's. It's why I didn't ask before, why I made you speak first. And now I will let you speak about it as much as you want." Fox smirked. She was good. But that's why she's in charge.
"Okay, I will tell. Can we sit?" They found a bench close by and sat before Fox started recounting the event. "Contrary to what I said earlier to Velvet, I remember my nightmares vividly. This one was no exception. The setting is what seemed most confusing about everything - that ancient newness, if that makes sense to you." The fashionista's head nodded to let the boy continue. She didn't know what he was on about but having Fox continuing to talk gave her time to think.
'So long as he doesn't ask you what you think it could mean Coco, you're in the clear.'
"So, what do you think it means then?"
'Shit.' "Well, I mean... you say that it felt like the place was old, but at the same time it felt new, right?" The copper haired boy nodded. "So, that could mean that it's a place that is originally quite old but has recently been refurbished or something, hence why it feels new. So where in Vale has recently been given a new lick of paint but the building itself if relatively old." Fox's expression changed as he countered her claim on the building's location.
"It might not be in Vale."
"Huh?" 'Damn it and I thought I had managed to bullshit my way out of there quite well...' "What're you thinking?"
"Well I remember sensing all of the Kingdoms in that one space, so it could be anywhere. But at the same time we can't be deployed on missions outside of Vale until our final year. So actually that either means it's a long way off before this event happens - if it does at all - or it is actually still in Vale. To be honest, I'm not sure which option I'd prefer."
"Fox remember; it's a dream. It happened in the past and you need to move..." The girl's thoughts strayed as she said the words once again. Something added up in her head as she spoke. "Dream?" 'No' "Past?" 'Maybe, but why?' "Past... past..." It clicked again. "Past! Fox, the Vale Museum! A place that is quite new filled with trinkets and memorabilia from all four Kingdom's histories. Fox that has to be it! You saw us fighting something or someone there!" The words made sense to the boy as well, that would explain a lot about the dream.
"I think you got it Coco. The dream took place at the Museum!"
'Coco, you clever little shit you.' She took a mental note to reward herself later as she stood, ushering her teammate to do the same. "C'mon Fox, we've got to tell Ozpin or Professor Goodwitch. If what you dreamt could actually happen, they ought to know."
"We ought to know what?" The second years jumped as the two people they were just talking about walked up the pair of them.
"Sorry Professors, you startled us."
"We are aware, and I tried to explain to Professor Ozpin here that sneaking up on a blind student is most unwise. Yet here we are."
"Yes, I do apologise for that." The green clad Headmaster took a sip from his cup before he continued. "However it is coincidental how both parties needed to be in touch with one another at the same time."
"Sir?" Fox's head cocked sideways in confusion.
"We wanted to inform you that we have a new mission for you and your team, Ms. Adel. And my guess would be you already can suss where you may be going and what it may be regarding." Coco had figured it out, so answered his comment with a question.
"Does this have anything to do with Fox's nightmare?"
"Oh dear, a nightmare? I'm sorry to hear you had one Mr. Alistair." The two students looked at each other puzzled; surely he had to know Fox had a nightmare about what he did, else he wouldn't have mentioned the fact that they knew where they were going. He was being extremely vague - more so than usual.
"So, where exactly would be we posted?"
"All will be revealed in briefing, if your team is willing to take up the task at hand."
"Of course we are sir."
"Ms. Adel," Goodwitch chimed in, "May I remind you that all members of a team are supposed to be consulted before agreeing to undertake any mission, as per the rules of this Academy."
"But we don't know what we're doing. We can't agree to something if we don't what we're agreeing to; even the slightest information could help us make a decision."
"Very well; but just this once" the Headmaster said, sipping from his cup once again. "It will be a Security Based Mission of the greatest of importance. I cannot divulge any more information than that due to the risk that it may pose until I have had the entire team's approval in person. So should you wish to undertake this mission, the briefing will be held at 1:30pm in my office today. It is a very important mission, and you would need plenty of time to prepare for it, hence the short space of time I have given you to decide. I will also authorise your team's absence from your lectures should you come see me. Understood?"
"Yes sir" the pair replied in unison. The two adults smiled and turned away.
1:27pm. There was a ring from the far end of the room as the elevator announced that it would be arriving within the next few seconds. After that time had passed, metallic doors slid open and Team CFVY walked into Professor Ozpin's office atop the Tower in Beacon Academy.
"Welcome Team CFVY. You're early."
"We know you don't like to wait too long, sir."
"Indeed you are right Ms. Adel. I take it there was unanimous agreement on accepting this mission." Four heads nodded at the man.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Then let us brief." The four students approached the desk he sat at, looking at the small pile of paper in front of him. "Have you ever heard of the Parchment of Volentes?" All four students answered with a resounding no. "Good. I'd like you to keep it that way. Once the mission is complete I will explain more about it in your de-brief. All you need to know about it is that it has been documented to be one of the most powerful items on the planet. A single touch grants he, or she, who touches the power of a Being beyond comprehension. The only thing is, it can be used once then it disappears for a hundred years or so."
"Forgive my interruption sir," Yatsuhashi spoke purposefully, "but why must we protect this item if it is to potentially disappear for a hundred years again?"
"A valid question Mr. Daichi, and one that will be answered in due time." The tall man nodded in appreciation of his query being answered, albeit partially. "As I mentioned, the Parchment of Volentes is said to be powerful. And as Mr. Daichi said - and I'm sure you all figured out - I have tasked you all to protect the item."
"Surely the Vale authorities would provide much better protection than we ever could sir."
"Against normal, everyday crooks - perhaps. But these aren't them. Sources believe that Roman Torchwick, along with a few other notable people of infamy he's worked with in the past, are working together once more to capture this item and use its - shall we say, mystical properties - for themselves. That is why I want Team CFVY there; if these criminals are there then we need a strong team to combat them. If you could apprehend them as well, that would be an added bonus and may even play to your favour when it comes to reviewing the mission."
"We'd be delighted to take on this task sir" Coco grinned as she spoke, this was the first proper time their task hadn't involved Grimm in any way and it was an exhilarating thought. Sure, it meant more planning, but that was the second best part sometimes. Her teammates seemed to match her enthusiasm.
"I'm glad to hear that. You will be based around the new exhibition showing off the partially revealed Parchment of Volentes in the Vale History Museum." Milky eyes widened and turned towards the beret wearing girl sitting near him. The Vale Museum. Maybe Yatsu wasn't kidding about the whole 'blind prophet' thing. If his vision was to be taken literally, they will all die. If they didn't, Fox had some serious apologising to do. Ozpin continued on over the scarred boy's thoughts. "The Parchment arrived only yesterday evening, so they could strike at any time. But going off previous heists from these people, they don't usually strike immediately. I'm going to give you two days before I post you there. In that time, I expect you to formulate a plan."
"Understood Professor."
"Good. Are there any questions about your mission?" Three members shook their heads knowing that everything they wanted to know had been answered. Fox, however, remained silent for a second or two - he didn't even know what he wanted to know. In the end, he shook his head as well. "Excellent. I shall arrange an airship to drop you off outside the Museum just before it closes at 4:30pm in two days' time."
"No need Professor Ozpin, we can walk. It's not like it's that much of a hike to the Museum." With a slight chuckle, Ozpin let the team make their own way there. He dismissed them shortly after. The ride down the elevator seemed so much longer than it had ever been before for Fox. Maybe for Coco as well, but she didn't seem to be showing it.
"Guys, my nightmare was in the Museum." Cute little rabbit ears lay down on Velvet's head as she processed her friend's words.
"So, do you think that means we'll..." what she wanted to say wouldn't come out anyway, but Coco stopped her girlfriend's train of thought before she uttered another word.
"No Velvs, that means nothing. What it means is that Fox somehow saw what might happen in this place if they get their hands on this thing. It also means we are going to do everything we possibly can to avoid that happening at all. Right?" Her team rallied behind her as the doors finally slid open on the ground floor. They'd have to have an extensive plan for this; if they failed, Fox's nightmare could become their reality.
Hey guys!
I stand by my previous comment, this one is going to be monstrously tricky, no one else has written something of this scope with them. But I will do my best for everyone to keep my promise of weekly uploads of the story, maintaining the quality I know some of you look for in my work.
This one's going to be a real test of my skills...
As always, feedback - good or bad - is most appreciated