Ruby flung open the door to her dorm. Sh rushed out into the hall. The young girl was dressed in her normal outfit, sporting her typical red hooded cape. Her weapon clung to her back. Ruby was busy thinking about a new lead on the White Fang, to pay attention. Ruby failed to see the boy in front of her. Ruby slammed into him and fell to the ground.
"Sorry, I didn't see you," She said, beginning to look up at whomever she ran into. "What's someone even doing out at midnight anyway-" Her voice froze up at the sight of the pair that stood over her.
Alex Feuer and Percy Brewner loomed over, the now meek and shy, Ruby Rose. Ruby could gather that she had bummed into Alex, but they both stared down at her. This made her quite uncomfortable, something Alex picked up by watching her fiddle with her fingers.
"It's totally fine!" He exclaimed, dawning an ear to ear grin and offering her a hand.
Ruby took a second to accept the hand, but quickly accepted it. Alex pulled her up and Ruby smiled back, feeling more comfortable around the pair.
"Thanks," She said, rubbing the back of her neck and nervously laughing.
Ruby had improved her issue of meeting new problem since arriving at Beacon, but there was something about the two that just made her naturally nervous. She knew what it was, Percy's scowl. Percy gave her that look like she was a hindrance, although it probably unintentional.
"S-so… where are you two going?" Ruby asked, trying to avoid Percy's cold blue eyes.
Percy cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket by pulling its collar. "A walk," he said. His tone detached, cool, and calm.
Alex shook his head as Percy walked off. "I apologize for him. We are looking for our teammates," he explained. "Why are you out at this hour?" Alex asked.
"My teammates and I were investigating some White Fa-" Ruby paused, realizing they opted to keep the White Fang a secret. She froze, trying to think of a lie.
"Hello?" Alex asked, laughing a bit. "Some White what?"
Percy stopped walking and turned back. He saw the look in her eyes, could tell she wasn't a liar. "White Fauna of the Emerald Forest right?"
Ruby turned to him, instantly understanding. She faced Alex again and furiously nodded. "Yup! The White Fauna of the Emerald Forest. We are working on an assignment for Professor Peach."
"Oh cool," Alex said, oblivious to the lie. "Well would you like to come along? We could walk you there. Is that cool with you, Percy?"
The oldest male shrugged. "I couldn't care less."
Ruby smiled. "I'd love too!" She said, hopping slightly. The young girl was always eager to make more friends.
Percy shoved his hands into his pockets and walked down the hall. Alex and Ruby hung back and let him walk ahead. The two talked amongst themselves.
Ruby nudged Alex and gestured to Percy. "So what's his story?" Ruby whispered.
Alex shrugged. "No clue. His semblance gives him super speed and he can throw lightning. That's all I know."
"Okay," Ruby said. There was an awkward pause, but Ruby soon tried to keep the conversation going. "Well what's your story?" She inquired.
"Not a long one," Alex replied. "I'm an orphan. Most of my life has just been looking for my next meal."
"Sounds rough, no family at all?" Ruby questioned.
Alex shook his head. "No, I have a brother. His name is Ryden. He's two years older than me and the only reason I am here."
The two continued their conversation just a few feet behind Percy. It didn't bother Percy that much, he was too tired to talk with either of them. He soon reached the end of the hall. Two heavy steel doors blocked Percy's path. Percy placed his hand on their knobs and turned them. Luckily the doors weren't locked. Percy easily threw both doors open. The three emerged into the main courtyard of Beacon.
The cold breeze of the night blew past their ears like a whisper. The sound of water, splashing in the fountain in the center of the courtyard, went undisrupted by the lonely midnight. A shadow covered the three and was cast down from the statue above the fountain, splitting the light of the shattered moon.
Percy was the first to begin moving across the courtyard. The two younger teens followed. They had not gotten more than a few steps from the door when Percy suddenly stopped.
"Percy?" Alex asked. "What's the matter?"
Percy didn't move a muscle. The signs were all around him. He slowly raised one hand and brought it to the hilt of his was at that point, Alex realized the same. The sound of water was deaf, the wind's whisper was silent, and the moon's shine illuminated the three.
Ruby looked back between the two males. She did not know what they were on edge about. However, she was going to ask. Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but her words were interrupted by Percy.
Percy released his blade. As soon as the black metal was visible from the sheath, water was thrown from the fountain. The water covered Percy and suddenly froze over him. A blast of wind slammed into him. Percy was sent flying backwards, right into the arms of the two statues. Both of the stone huntsmen had moved on their own. They wrapped their arms around Percy and forced him to his knees.
Ruby's eyes widened and she went to run to him, but Alex thrust his arm in front of her. Alex drew his blade, a crimson gladius. It illuminated his face and his red eyes that stared ahead. Ruby looked at what Alex was focused on and saw three silhouettes in the night, walking towards them.
"Autumn, I had my doubts about it, but that plan worked perfectly," A girl, with blue hair tied in a ponytail, said.
"Aqua, why wouldn't it work? The ice slowed him down enough for Rook and I to subdue him," Autumn replied. She smirked at Percy and walked towards him. Autumn flipped her amber hair back and her smirk grew as she neared Percy. "Rook, make sure he can't break out of that hold!" She called back.
A large and muscular man nodded. He clapped his powerful hands together and the statues tightened their grip on Percy.
Alex noticed that this Autumn was carrying a cloud grey longsword on her hip. He noticed all three had weapons. Aqua had a seafoam green trident on her back, it was short, only about a foot or two long. Rook on the other hand, had a large ebony black war hammer on his back. This hammer must've been bigger than Percy was, who stood at over six foot.
Autumn reached Percy and grabbed his chin with her hand, pulling his face up and staring into his eyes. "So this is where you've been hiding?" She asked. "Cain Raven has been looking for you for so long. We know you stole the Elder Weapon of thunder. Where is it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, lady!" Percy barked.
She stared into his eyes, trying to intimidate him. "Fine," She said, releasing his chin. "Aqua, hold them," She barked to her comrade.
Aqua drew her trident and pressed a button, extending it to its full length of six feet. She waved it at Ruby and Alex. Ice grew up from behind them. Ruby and Alex tried to leap forwards, but Autumn blasted them with air, forcing the two back into their icy restraints. Autumn kept her sword aimed on the two, an amber aura formed at the tip.
She looked down at Percy. "Which one should I kill first?"
Percy's eyes went to saucers. "Don't you dare."
"Then tell me where the sword is," She replied.
Percy hung his head in shame. "It's in Ozpin's office."
"Thanks for your cooperation, traitor," Autumn coldly said.
The aura at the end of her blade shot off like a bullet. It struck Alex in the chest, blasting apart his red hoodie and his under shirt. The ice holding him was blown into shards and he was thrown back. Alex's limp body hit the ground twenty yards back and rolled across the stone courtyard ground. Finally coming to a stop, with smoke rising from the impact zone.
Percy screamed out, he struggled against the hold of the statues. "I'll kill you!"
"Now, we know the sword is most likely in your possession. So I doubt you'd let Ozpin hold onto it. Now either tell us or the next shot kills her," Autumn threatened, aiming the blade at Ruby.
"Autumn, don't you think killing children is going too far?" Rook said, speaking for the first time.
"Rook, shut up and just follow orders. You idiot!" Autumn barked.
Rook silently looked away, setting his eyes on Alex's body. Horror filled those eyes. Yet he had no intention of defying Cain and risking his own life.
"Clock's ticking, Brewner," Autumn growled. Percy did not respond. "Rook, put a little pain into him."
Rook waved his hands and the statues took Percy's arms and forced them behind his back. He winced in pain as they slowly forced them further and further.
"Let's see what breaks first. Your arms or my patience," Autumn said. "If I were you, I'd deactivate my aura and choose arms, better than letting a young girl die. Or you could tell me where that sword is!"
Percy slowly aimed one of his hands back towards the dorms. He smirked. "Go to hell," He said.
"You're going to let that poor girl die like the other one?" Autumn asked.
"No, because no one's dead… yet," Percy said.
Autumn raised an eyebrow at Percy's comment. Her eyes widened and she spun back towards Ruby, but stared passed her. It was at this moment, Autumn was struck in the back with a torrent of red flames.
Rook and Aqua looked to the attacker, Alex Feuer. Smoke rose from the wound on his chest, but he was more energized than hurt.
From the torrent of fire came a large fan. It split the fire and was followed by a blast of air at Alex. The boy rolled to the side. The blast flew passed him and into a wall. Autumn glared at him, the front of her massive fan scorched. She pressed a button and the fan collapsed back into her sword.
"Pest, I thought you were dead," Autumn growled.
"It's called playing possum," Alex said, brandishing his blade as crimson flames engulfed it.
Alex barreled forwards. He reached Autumn and slashed at her. The woman rolled her eyes and parried the attack. She countered with extreme speed, cutting directly into Alex's side. Only for him to burst into red fire and appear behind her. Alex slashed upwards, throwing Autumn forwards.
Autumn recovered with haste and spun around. She was met with a high kick to the chin and a barrage of eight swords slashes to the gut. Alex finished his combo with a push kick that sent Autumn skidding backwards across the courtyard.
"Is that all ya got?" Alex smirked.
His smirk was literally smacked off his face as Aqua slammed the butt end of her trident across his cheek. Alex staggered backwards and she thrust the three pointed end at his heart.
In the same moment, Thundercloud broke through a wall and landed into Percy's hand. Blue lightning exploded from his body, shattering the stone statues that held him down. Now free, Percy shot off. He flew in between Alex and Aqua, parrying the trident back and countering with a blast of lightning. Aqua was thrown backwards into the fountain, landing in the left over water.
Percy raised his sword to Ruby and fired a bolt of lightning at her. As it zoomed across the courtyard, it split into four smaller bolts, striking the ice around her and freeing her.
Percy turned to Alex. "I need you and Ruby to run!"
"No way, this battle is too important and there's too many of them!" Alex protested.
Percy was about to continue the argument, but a scream of rage filled the courtyard. Both teens turned to the fountain as Aqua was carried into the sky by a spout of water. Percy sighed and drew his black katana.
Aqua twirled her trident and aimed it down at Percy and Alex. Water shot out and froze. She unleashed a salvo of hundreds of ice spikes onto the males.
Alex stepped forward with a cocky grin, but Percy put on blade in front of him. Percy rushed the mob of spikes. His arms had lightning racing around them as they furiously sliced each spike. In a few seconds, he was done. Nothing more than an icy mist remained of the attack.
Aqua landed back on the ground. "Rook, seal off the entrances to this courtyard!" She barked, looking around at the many lights that were being flicked on as hundreds a rose to the noise in the courtyard.
Rook nodded and drew his hammer. He slammed it down and cracked the earth beneath him. The doors that lead back into the building all became blocked by walls of stone.
"Time to get serious!" Aqua said. "Autumn, release your weapons first gate!"
Alex spun around to the attacker's leader, who seemed unphased by his barrage. She nodded back at Autumn. "You got it! Piercing Gust, first gate… release!"
"Neptune's Fury, first gate… release!" Aqua called out.
Percy and Alex watched as both weapons began to change. Aqua's weapon became an arctic blue with golden accents. Autumn's fan sword changed to ink black. The two had their aura's flare up over their bodies.
"Still don't want help?" Alex asked, pressing his back to Percy's.
"Shut up and try not to die!" Percy replied as the two women shot towards them with superhuman speed.
Aqua slammed her trident down onto Percy. The male caught it with both his blades and pushed the weapon back. He kicked Aqua in the gut. She staggered back and Percy cut her across the face. He went to cut her with the katana, but Aqua knocked it from his hand.
Aqua pulled a hand back and Percy was knocked in the back with a blast of ice. Percy flew into Aqua, who grabbed him by the throat. She lifted Percy off his feet.
"How does someone like you even wield an Elder weapon?" Aqua asked. "Weapons designed by the gods and goddesses to give their Elder Guardians significant power buffs. Can you even open one of the four gates on your sword?"
"Y-you… bastard," Percy struggled to speak as Aqua strengthened her grip.
"If I kill you, then Cain will surely reward me for my efforts. A king must give the best rewards, wouldn't you agree?" Aqua asked.
Aqua tossed Percy back. He hit the ground and rolled back onto his feet. Percy raised a hand and sent a blast of lightning at Aqua. The woman twirled her trident and blocked the attack. She dashed towards him.
"Die!" She shouted, thrusting her trident forwards.
Percy shut his eyes and shielded himself with both blades. Surprisingly, he felt nothing. Percy opened his eyes to a red cape fluttering in front of him. Attached to it was Ruby, who had blocked the attack with her scythe.
"Hey!" Percy shouted. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Saving… you," Ruby weakly said as she was slowly forced to her knees by Aqua's strength.
"Worm," Aqua sneered.
Aqua pulled her trident back and thrust the butt end of it upwards. This knocked Ruby's scythe out of the way and opened the young huntress in training up to be attacked. Aqua thrust the trident at Ruby's chest.
A blue blur flashed in front of the two and quickly parried the attack back. It quickly revealed itself to be Percy. His frost white eyes glared at the surprised Aqua.
"I can't open my weapon's gates, but I can use the Gewitter!" Percy said. He cut upwards with his katana. Aqua easily blocked it, but failed to see Thundercloud slam into her gut. As the wind was knocked from Aqua's lungs, Percy smirked. "Is that good enough?" He leapt into the air and roundhouse kicked her across the face.
Aqua staggered back and wiped some blood from her lip. "That's all you can do?"
Aqua swung her trident up and a wall of ice spears lunged towards Percy. He ducked under them, losing a few strands of hair. Percy cut through the wall with one blade and dove towards Aqua, stabbing at her with the other.
Aqua parried the blade with ease. She slammed a palm into Percy's chest and froze a thin sheet of ice over him. Aqua cracked the butt of her trident's pole into Percy's ribs. The ice cracked and he staggered to the side, only to be met with the spears of the trident.
Percy leapt to the side, but he was too slow. The trident grazed his ribs, cutting into his clothes and skin. The cut wasn't deep, but it did draw blood. Percy winced and snapped back with two slashes from each sword. Aqua parried them all.
"Brewner, you can't even touch me anymore," Aqua boasted. "Go ahead! Try and land one, clean, hi-" Aqua was sent flying as something exploded behind her.
Percy looked behind the woman and saw Ruby, her scythe in its sniper mode. She looked up from her scope and smiled. Ruby rushed over to Percy.
"Can you still fight?" Ruby gestured down to the wound.
"It's nothing," Percy said. "My aura will heal it."
"You pests are starting to annoy me!" Aqua screeched. She stormed towards the two. "Enough playing around!"
Aqua summoned water around her as she walked. She waved her trident and a wave of water slammed into Percy. The water carried him back. He glared at Aqua and lightning covered his body. Percy bolted towards Aqua, who simply snapped her fingers. The water that covered Percy, froze and stopped him dead in his tracks.
Aqua set her gaze on Ruby. As Percy struggled to free himself from the frozen prison, Aqua went in for the kill. Aqua blasted a couple of ice shards at Ruby. The young girl leapt back from the ice shards and gave Aqua a slight cocky smirk.
Ruby's smirk faded as she realized she had leapt back into a puddle. Aqua thrust a hand up and Ruby's legs were covered in ice.
"No more distractions from little red!" Aqua shouted. She rushed Ruby.
Percy shattered the ice around him and bolted towards Ruby. Remnants of the ice were still on his body, making it hard to move. Percy reached the two as the trident was a few feet from Ruby's chest. He slid in between them and parried the trident.
Aqua didn't let up. She stabbed at Percy. He blocked the attack with his sword, catching the trident in between two of its points. Aqua swiftly twisted the sword from Percy's hands. She twirled around and smacked the trident down. It smacked Percy in the head and he staggered to the side.
Aqua grinned and stabbed forward toward Ruby. Percy spun around and leapt toward them once more. He flew in between them, no sword in his right hand. Percy took the trident straight into his right shoulder. He let out a cry of pain and slashed Aqua across her mid torso. Aqua was completely off guard and the black katana cut deep into her.
Blood spilled from both fighters. Aqua yanked her trident out of Percy, who fell backwards from pain. Ruby caught him and ripped her legs out of the ice.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
"This wasn't your fight. Your death would've been on my hands," Percy said, standing back up. He twirled both swords and stared down Aqua. "Now come on, we need to finish this fight!"
As Percy spoke, the ground beneath the two began to shift and morph. Walls of stone rose from the ground and spikes aimed at the two, trapping them.
Rook walked towards the group. "Enough," He called. "I won't have anymore bloodshed," Rook declared. He turned to Aqua. "We bring Brewner back, alive. No one needs to die tonight."
While Rook and Aqua debated what to do with Percy Brewner, Autumn was in her own battle. Alex Feuer had proven to be able to hold his own against her sealed weapon, but was struggling against the first gate being released.
Autumn charged forward and slashed horizontally. Alex parried the attack, countering with a blast of fire. Autumn rolled to the side, the flames missing by inches. Alex blasted her with more crimson flames. Autumn's sword unfolded into a massive fan and she shielded herself with it. The crimson flames were stopped by the mighty fan.
Autumn spun around and slammed the fan down, summoning a gust of wind. The mighty gust flew across the courtyard and slammed into Alex. The boy was lifted off his feet and thrown back.
Autumn raced behind him and folded her fan. She sliced her blade into his back. Autumn placed on hand on Alex's back and sent out a shockwave of her amber aura. These two attacks shattered Alex's orange aura. They sent the young teen across the courtyard and slammed him into a wall.
There he laid, wounded and weak. Alex couldn't even stand back up. He watched, helplessly, as Autumn strolled towards him, her long sword scraping against the stone courtyard floor.
"Rook, you're an idiot!" Autumn shouted.
"What?" Rook called back.
"Kill the Brewner and the girl, I'll kill this one!" She barked.
"Autumn, that's an order I can't-"
She spun around and glared at Rook. "Go ahead. Don't follow my orders, end up like Brewner," Autumn sneered.
Rook sighed and miserably looked at the stone prison he had the two trapped in. "You got it, boss."
"Good," Autumn said. She was now over Alex and had her blade above him. "Die."
As she thrust her sword down, Autumn felt something. The woman spun around and saw an inferno of blue fire racing toward her. Autumn activated her fan and shielded herself. The flames died out quick and the woman lifted her fan.
Walking towards her was a male, carrying a long sword. A certain bloodlust in his crimson eyes as he neared her.
"Ryden!" Alex shouted, smiling with joy at his older brother.
Ryden drew his blade. "You made a mistake attacking my kin and for that… I'll kill you."
It was at this same moment that a shot sounded off from a gun. One of Rook's stone walls had been shattered. A busty blonde stepped through, smoke rising from her shotgun gauntlet.
"Ruby?!" Yang called, looking around the courtyard.
"Yang!" Alex called, remembering Ruby telling him about her older sister. Yang turned to the young boy. Alex pointed at Autumn. "She attacked her!"
"Where is my sister?" Yang demanded, her eyes turning crimson as she stormed towards Autumn.
On the other side of the courtyard, Rook was about to execute the two. It was at that moment the prison of stone he had held them in, began to glow purple. The rocks cracked and shattered in seconds. Rook spun around and saw someone approaching.
His emerald green eyes and gold hair made this new fighter easy to spot. A black leather bag hung at his side. It was filled to the brim with multiple, tiny objects.
"Percy, you good?" Marty Goodwitch asked.
"No, I'm pissed," Percy said, his frost white eyes glaring at Aqua.
"You two got that one?" Marty asked.
"Yes," Percy answered.
"Good, I'll take on rocky over here," Marty said.
Rook nervously backed up as the remnants from his stone prison flew to Marty. They swirled around him, as Marty had complete control over them.
XXX XXX XXX
Flames shot across the courtyard, breaking night's black veil. The blue fire was dispelled with a fierce gust of wind. Autumn leapt through the smoke and glared at Ryden.
She went for a charge, but Yang Xiao Long blind sided the woman. Yang's right fist made contact on the cheek of the unaware woman. It was followed by a quick left hook to the eye. Yang kneed the warrior and fired off eight jabs to the gut with her right arm. Yang spun around and back handed Autumn with her left hand.
Autumn was knocked off the ground. She was left dazed and flew across the courtyard. The woman hit the ground, tumbling ten yards and stopping at a tree. There Autumn laid, unable to make sense of what had just happened. She grit her teeth and willed herself up.
Her eyes were drawn to the busty blonde, whom was charging like a bull. Autumn gripped her blade, hard. She flicked a switch and the blade folded out into a fan. Autumn wound both arms back. With a mighty stroke, Autumn sent a blast of air barreling at Yang.
The attack was moving quick, quicker than Yang could have reacted to. It was lucky that she wasn't alone.
Ryden leapt down in front of the busty brawler, his blade drawn and a lit. The male cut through the blast of wind, expelling fire from his sword and forcing the winds apart. The attack was split and flew passed both students. It struck the wall behind them. The stone school wall, splintered and cracked.
Ryden sheathed his sword, his ink black hair calming down after being blown around by the wind. He walked away, not bothering to say a word to Yang, not even looking at her.
"Hey!" Yang shouted, grabbing Ryden's shoulder and yanking him around. "Thanks."
"Whatever," Ryden sneered. "Just don't get yourself killed."
"I won't," Yang said, stepping forward. "Your semblance is impressive, so how about I show you mine?"
Ryden raised an eyebrow at the blonde. He watched her close her eyes and took in a deep breath. Yang's eyes flashed open, revealing glowing crimson eyes. Her hair lit up with what almost looked like flames.
Yang tore off, kicking up a cloud of dust. She was in front of Autumn in seconds. Two punches sailed in the woman's direction.
Autumn blocked them with her fan. She countered by folding her fan and jabbing forward with her blade. Autumn did not expect Yang to have a follow up attack. Autumn was proven wrong by the five punch combo Yang dished out.
One jab striking Autumn square in the face. She staggered back. A spin kick to the gut, two quick taps to the mid torso, and a right hook, sent Autumn flying. The woman was thrown through a window, landing in some classroom.
Ryden wasn't in awe, but was surprised about Yang's power level. She tripled her strength just by using her semblance, it was impressive, but Ryden was more interested in other techniques.
"So what do ya think, fire guy?" Yang smirked.
"I've seen better," Ryden replied.
Yang frowned. "You're no fun."
Ryden ignored her. He walked toward the broken window. Autumn was very much still alive and not even close to her limit. Ryden thought about what she and her thugs were doing in Vale. In the last week, he had seen more people like him and Alex than ever before.
"Get down!" Yang's words interrupted Ryden's train of thought. Ryden felt Yang grab him from behind and pull him back. Yang threw both herself and Ryden down to the ground. She had seen the attack, but Ryden had not.
A blade of wind shot toward them both, extending from Autumn's sword. The woman glared at the two.
It was too late. Ryden saw blood spray into the air. He heard Yang let out a cry of pain, the attack slicing through her shoulder. The two hit the ground and Ryden quickly sprung up. Worriedly he kneeled down to Yang.
"Ah… gods damn her!" Yang cried out, gripping her wounded shoulder.
"You saved my life," Ryden said, genuinely in awe. He looked closer at the wound, realising how deep it was. Ryden shed his coat and used it in an attempt to stop Yang's bleeding.
"I… can still fight," Yang weakly said, trying to sit up. She let out a sigh and fell back, unconscious.
Autumn strode to the students. Autumn raised her sword once more. "I was aiming for the guy, but the bimbo works," She said with a shrug. Autumn fired another blast from her sword at the two.
Blue flames shot off of Ryden and engulfed Yang. The flames then fired away, landing in a flaming ball forty yards from Ryden.
Ryden stood up, flames engulfing his scabbard. The male drew his sword, spewing fire everywhere, which began to spread around him. It torched the grass and spread around Ryden. Ryden placed two hands on his might sword and swung it forward like a bat. The male cut straight through the blast of air. His fierce crimson eyes glared at Autumn.
"I told you, you will die for hurting my kin… my brother Alex," Ryden growled. "But now you're going to suffer. I only cared about Alex, but now? Yang Xiao Long, the girl who saved my life, I will protect."
"Aw, how cute," Autumn mocked. She slowly approached. "Romeo, you're out of your league!" Autumn barked.
Ryden charged the woman. She grinned and swung forward. Ryden parried the attack and leapt over her. He landed and cut upwards, tearing into Autumn's back. The woman stumbled forwards. She spun around, palm aimed at Ryden.
Amber aura shot from her palm. But it was met with Ryden's blue flames as Ryden slashed the blast of aura with an arc of fire. Autumn rolled to the side, the flame arc shooting passed her. She got up and let off three quick blasts of wind.
Ryden stepped back and blocked the first. He twirled his sword around and countered the second. The third was stopped by a torrent of blue flames. The torrent flew towards Autumn.
She threw her blade down, embedding it into the ground. Autumn wound both her arms back. The torrent of fire illuminated her face as she threw both arms toward it. Each hand let out a powerful blast of wind.
The two elements collided, blasting out at the impact area. The ground in the courtyard shook. Autumn brought her hands back. The blast of air followed. The flames returned to their charge.
"Idiot, I'm an Elder Guardian. He can't beat me with novice level attacks," Autumn said to herself.
She twirled her hands around. The air began to morph. It spun around, getting faster and faster. Soon Autumn had a tornado formed. She let the fire shoot right into her tornado. The flames didn't get more than half way through before getting swept up.
Once she had the flames in her tornado, Autumn willed the air to shoot into the sky. The flames went along with it. The two attacks reached the night sky and erupted in a glorious fireball and shockwave.
"I amaze even myself sometimes. Okay, let's finish-" her words were forced back into her mouth as Ryden's foot made contact with her face.
Autumn was able to grab her blade, before she was thrown back. The woman recovered in the air and landed on her feet, sliding back a couple of yards. She looked up at Ryden and smiled.
"I like your energy," She said. "It's a shame I have to rip it from this world!" Autumn slashed her blade three times, sending three arcs of wind at Ryden.
The male easily countered the arcs. He smirked at Autumn. She returned the gesture. Autumn twirled her sword and stabbed it down. She knelt on the ground and began muttering to herself.
"Mother of winds, give onto me your power," Autumn said.
"No need to pray to your god, he's right here," Ryden said, smirking.
Autumn clenched her sword, finished her chant and drew it from the ground. Autumn let out three more arcs of wind. These ones traveled far faster than the others.
Ryden dashed forward and cut the first one. He was caught off guard by their sudden increase in power. The following two, Ryden did not fair well against. The second slammed into his blade and pushed him back. Ryden struggled against its force, using all his might to push it back.
After being pushed halfway across the courtyard, Ryden finally sliced through the arc. Only to be hit with the third, throwing him across the other half of the courtyard and slamming Ryden into a wall.
XXX XXX XXX
"Brewner!" Aqua shouted. She thrust her trident forward.
Percy slapped it away with Thundercloud. He stabbed his katana at her throat. Aqua spun her trident, using the butt end to block the katana. She leapt back, in an attempt to gain distance. Her attempt worked, Aqua put near to thirty yards between Percy and her.
Aqua did forget she was fighting two opponents. Something Ruby quickly reminded her, cutting into Aqua's back with her scythe. Ruby burst into rose petals and flew in front of Aqua, reforming with her sniper aimed on Aqua. Ruby squeezed the trigger and shot Aqua in the chest. The bullet sent Aqua flying back.
Percy flashed to his enemy. Aqua had barely recovered when Percy reached her. She had just gotten back onto her feet and already Percy was at her throat. He kicked her down onto her knees. Percy then slashed at her with Thundercloud.
Aqua swatted the blade back with her trident, swinging diagonally downwards to do so. Percy thrust his katana into her right forearm.
"Agh!" Aqua cried out in pain.
Aqua swung her trident horizontally at Percy. The male rolled back and let off two bolts of lightning. Aqua swung her trident and blocked both. She stabbed the trident into the ground and fired a beam of ice at Percy.
The ice forced Percy back, giving Aqua breathing space. She reached down to the katana and yanked it out, swallowing the pain. Aqua let out a sigh and dropped the sword. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the pain.
A sudden gust of wind made her grab her trident. Aqua spun around, meeting Ruby's scythe with her trident. Aqua snapped the butt end of the trident up. It knocked Ruby's weapon upwards, leaving the young girl open for an attack. Aqua brought her trident back and threw it forward.
Percy came diving in between the two, parrying the attack. He had retrieved his katana and swung at Aqua. Percy slashed at her eight times, all of them were parried by her trident. In a fury, she kicked him back.
A red blur raced behind her. Aqua spun around and blindly stabbed in front of her. Her instincts were right as she struck Ruby with her weapon. The trident struck Ruby in her side. Aqua was unsure if she drew blood or not, but Ruby was only thrown back a few yards. She recovered and raced off again.
Percy charged her from behind, he brought both blades down on her. Aqua spun around and caught them with her trident. The two were left to struggle against each other's brute strength.
"You two are getting on my nerves," Aqua growled. "Why'd I get stuck with the two fastest pests?"
"I think our fighting styles blend nicely!" Percy said, pushing Aqua's trident out of the way and striking.
He lunged forward, thrusting Thundercloud at Aqua's mid torso. She spun her trident and parried the attack. Percy slashed twice with each sword, but they were countered.
Aqua stabbed her trident forward. Percy caught it with both blades, crossing them. Aqua smirked and ice appeared at the three tips. The ice quickly spread onto the two blades, freezing them together.
Aqua yanked her trident from the ice. She smacked both blades down and stabbed them into the ground. Aqua pole vaulted with the trident, kicking Percy in the face. She released her trident, leaving it to cover the blades in ice.
Percy was quick to recover from the attack. He was met with Aqua's fist, covered in ice, slamming into his upper torso. Percy's lungs had their air stolen by the punch and left him gasping. Percy fell to his knees.
Aqua smirked and kicked him, flipping him in the air. Percy hit the ground, landing on his back. Aqua aimed one palm at him and began to cover the teen in a thick sheet of ice, leaving only his head exposed.
Percy struggled furiously in the prison of frost. His efforts were in vain as Aqua summoned a spike of ice to her hand. She knelt down on top of Percy, the ice spike aimed down at his neck.
"Clearly you two need some practice!" She said. Aqua looked around and gestured to their surroundings. "I must've wounded that little pest, cause she sure as hell isn't here!"
As Aqua's words left her lips, a red scythe came down on her. The scythe came flying down behind her, its blade's tip pointed at the back of Aqua's neck. Attached to the scythe was Ruby, swinging her weapon with one hand. The other was planted on her side, where blood soaked her clothing.
Aqua was quick to sense the young girl's presence, twirling around and rolling to her left.
Ruby's scythe followed her. The scythe met the trident on its second swing. Sparks flew from both weapons as the sound of metal against metal rang throughout the courtyard.
Aqua leapt back five yards. She landed with her trident aimed at Ruby. Aqua instantly covered her trident with ice and hurdled it toward Ruby. As the trident flew, a wave of ice covered the ground it soared over.
Ruby watched it approach her, making no effort to dodge. She brought back her large scythe and kept her silver eyes on the trident. It reached her within seconds. Ruby swung down with her scythe, slicing the trident from the air.
As soon as the scythe made contact with the ice covered trident, spikes of ice exploded outwards from the weapon.
Ruby was thrown into the air, landing a few yards away. She landed on her right shoulder, rolling back onto her feet in a crouched position. Her silver eyes scanning the courtyard for the missing Aqua.
Ruby's eyes didn't have time to find her. Aqua was now behind her, thrusting her trident into Ruby's back. The three pointed trident hit her blood red cloak and instead of piercing a young girl, pierced a bundle of rose petals.
Ruby took off running. She was a red blur, flashing around Aqua. A tornado of rose petals shot around the woman. Aqua's vision became a field of red as the tornado of petals grew higher and higher.
"What a semblance," Aqua said. Her eyes scanning the storm of petals.
Ruby shot out of the tornado. She slammed into Aqua at top speed. Ruby brought her scythe down on the woman. But it was blocked. Ruby was thrown away as Aqua blast her with frost.
The tornado of petals died as soon as Ruby was hit with Aqua's attack. The hundreds of petals slowly fluttered onto the ground, where they were covered in ice.
Aqua sent waves of ice out from her trident, freezing the ground around her. The grass, stone path, and petals, all were covered in her frost. Of course this ice was directed at Ruby, who was dazed after hitting the ground. Soon the student was covered in ice, at the mercy of Aqua.
XXX XXX XXX
"I don't want to hurt you," Rook said.
"I don't want to fight either, but Percy is my brother. You can't kill him," Marty said, reaching down and placing a hand on his bag.
"I'll make it quick," Rook said, heaving his massive war hammer up.
Marty smirked and moved to open his bag. The ground beneath him began to rumble as his hand moved not more than an inch. Spikes of stone shot out from the ground and flew at Marty.
The student leapt away, landing a couple of yards back. Rook was there to meet him. Rook swung his hammer upward, almost taking Marty's jaw off. Luckily the boy was able to step back in time.
"I won't let you draw whatever is in that bag," Rook said, his gruff voice going lower.
Rook charged forward. He swung horizontally at Marty, the boy ducking as the warhammer skimmed his hair. Rooks swung a leg forwards. Marty was launched away from the large man.
Marty landed back, almost thirty yards from rook. He looked back at his attacker, only to be struck from behind.
Rook moved his hands around, instructing the stone spike that had stabbed Marty. The stone split apart and the shards were launched at the boy, still in the air.
Marty hit the ground, not on his feet. He slid a yard or two and hopped onto his feet. A rain of rocks come down onto him. Marty leapt back and forth, dodging the hundreds of stone shards raining down on him.
Rook pulled a hand back. This action caused a great spear of stone to shoot at Marty.
The student whirled around, facing the now stone spear. It was coming at him fast, faster than any of the other attacks. Marty knew he had no other choice than to use his semblance.
Marty placed both hands in front of him, the bag at his side split open and out came multiple metal balls. They all had a purple aura around them. Marty clapped his hands together and the balls collided with each other, forming a shield in front of him.
The spear struck Marty's shield. Its point cracked and broke. The rest of the stone continued, destroying itself against the shield.
Marty let out a sigh and pulled his hands apart. The shield responded, breaking up into the various metal balls.
"Your semblance is polarity?" Rook asked in awe.
Marty shook his head. "Mine is telekinesis, like my mother's!" Marty thrust his hands and the balls shot towards Rook, like he had fired them from a shotgun. "It's a heredity semblance!"
Rook smacked the ground with his hammer. A wall of dirt rose from the soil. It wasn't near enough to stop Marty's attack. The one hundred balls pierced the dirt wall like a knife through butter.
Rook raised his hammer. He twirled it around and swung at the ground. The earth reacted and a wave of stone flew around him, forming a wall.
The balls took on a new shape, twisting into what looked like tiny drills. Even this stone wall wasn't enough to stop Marty. The bits of metal carved their way through the wall, flying at Rook.
The large man swung at them all. But more than that, pieces of rock and other bits of the ground, all rose to his hammer's head. They expanded the area of his hammer. In the blink of an eye, Rook swatted all one hundred balls from the air. His giant hammer pinned them all into the ground.
Rook pulled his hammer from the stone and dirt. He looked on at Marty, who was no longer there. The man spun around and there was his opponent.
Marty aimed his right arm at the pile of rock and soil, he ripped the metal from underneath. It all flew right into his hand, forming a sword. Marty sliced Rook across the chest, tearing his clothing. He went upwards, hoping to land another hit.
Rook blocked the attack with his hammer. The muscular man went to grab Marty, but the boy changed his weapon again. This time he spilt the sword, making a dagger in his hand and a spike of metal in the air. Both were thrust into Rook's skin, making the giant roar in pain.
Rook reared back, taking the dagger and spike with him. It was no problem for Marty as he snapped his hand back and both came flying back to him, raining the ground under Rook with his own blood.
"These bits of metal are titanium and I'm well trained in using the material, so bury them all you want… you can't break them or stop me from moving them," Marty said.
Rook didn't bother talking. He charged Marty, sending waves of stone at him. Twenty spikes of rock shot up from the ground, surrounding Marty.
Marty clapped his hands. The metal flew around him and encircled Marty. The spikes destroyed themselves as they stabbed against the shielding. Marty's hands flew apart and the metal followed his commands. It morphed into a massive saw, spinning and slicing through the rock.
"I told you, you can't touch me," Marty said, looking back at Rook. The large man was gone.
Marty's gaze was drawn above him. Rook was falling from the sky, hammer pulled back and ready.
"Damn it!" Marty said, raising his hands.
A sheet of metal shot up over Marty. Rook came down on him like a meteor. The man slammed his massive hammer down. The force of the attack did not pierce the titanium, but forced Marty down.
Rook's feet touched the ground, he pulled back the hammer. Rook swung upwards, under the shield. Marty pulled the metal apart. He sent one half down onto Rook's hammer, pinning it to the ground.
Marty pulled the other half to his hand, forming a dagger. He leapt at Rook, slashing him. Rook summoned a layer of stone to his left arm. He blocked the attack with his arm.
Marty was grabbed by Rook's right arm. Marty was thrown, landing ten yards away on his feet and sliding to a stop. Rook ripped his hammer out from the metal and rushed Marty.
Marty pulled the metal and morphed it into another dagger. This time it flew right to Rook's back. The man had no way to defend himself from the unknown attack. The dagger pierced his flesh, embedding itself deep into his back.
"Agh!" Rook cried out. He hit the ground, collapsing to one knee.
Marty yanked the dagger out and pulled it back to him. There he combined the two blades into a large ball of metal. Marty hurdled the ball at Rook like a cannon shot.
"Damn," Rook said under his breath. He forced himself up, using his hammer to support his weight.
Rook held up one hand and ten walls of rock shot up from the ground. He let out a sigh and stood up straight.
The loud sound of rock cracking rang throughout the courtyard. Rook snapped back to the walls. He watched as the ball of metal was undeterred by them, crashing through them all.
Rook let out a sigh and raised his hammer. "Nature's Fist, first gate… unlock!"
The ebony war hammer began to glow. It's light flashed out, forcing Marty to shield his eyes. The light soon faded and Marty lowered his hand from his eyes.
Rook stood in front of him, the metal ball split in two at his feet. In his hands was a different looking hammer. The ebony black hammer had changed. Its handle was now made from obsidian and the head was no longer metal. It had changed to a large diamond, obsidian supports wrapping around it, keeping it attached.
Marty called back his metal. He did not want to charge in without knowing his foe's new strength. The metal swirled around him.
Rook shot off, faster than before. Within seconds, Rook had reached Marty. The giant man brought his hammer back and swung forward. Marty held up his hands and formed a shield. The hammer tore through the metal like paper.
Marty was struck in the chest by the war hammer. It sent him away. Marty sailed through the air, until he slammed into a fist made of stone. The fist tightened around him. Marty struggled, but could not break the stone, nor move his hands to control anything.
"I'll kill you later," Rook growled, turning around and walking off.
He strolled over to Aqua. She was pressing a knife of ice to Ruby's throat. Rook grabbed her arm and yanked her away from Ruby.
"Is that necessary?" Rook asked.
"Oh come now, Rook," Autumn called. She approached the two. "We need to decide what to do to these students."
"We don't have time to kill them! Percy needs to be brought back alive!" Rook protested.
"Shut up! I'm killing her, then Brewner," Aqua declared, raising a hand to Ruby's face. "Good bye pest!" Aqua sneered.
A loud snap echoed throughout the courtyard. It was followed by Aqua's scream. Both Autumn and Rook looked to their partner. The arm that was threatening Ruby had a leather whip wrapped around it's now red skin. The two turned to the whip's owner and their hearts sunk.
A man in a cowboy stared them down from the other side of the courtyard. He had the whip in his hand and a cigar in the other. Slowly, he brought the cigar up to his mouth, illuminating part of his face with an orange glow.
"Clay?!" Autumn screamed, backing up.
"I wandered on down to Vale, only to find y'all beating a group of children?" Clay said, blowing a stream of smoke. "Maybe if ya got on yer knees… I'd consider letting y'all go, sound nice?"
"You old bastard!" Aqua shouted, clenching her arm. "That stung! If you think that you can just humiliate me like that, then I'm gonna-"
Clay looked at her with a bored expression. He pressed a button on the handle of his whip. The entire whip began to glow a burning red. Aqua felt her skin burn. She let out a shriek of pain. Clay casually yanked the whip back, severing the woman's arm. Aqua reared back in pain, clenching the burning stump that remained of her arm. She shrieked like a banshee, howling in excruciating agony.
"So, what'll it be?" Clay asked, talking over the shrieking Aqua.
Before the other two could answer, the various rock walls were knocked down and out poured numerous teachers, highly trained huntsman.
"Heh, looks like y'all don't even got a choice in the matter. Go ahead and sell out… or I'll deal with ya," Clay sneered.
Autumn shot Clay a dirty look, but knew better than to fight. She rushed over and helped Aqua up. The three hurried away, just before the teachers reached them.
Clay watched them run, chuckling a little. Once the three had left, the old cowboy walked over to Ruby.
"Well howdy," Clay said with a wave. He placed one hand on the ice that had her trapped. In seconds, the ice was melted and Ruby was freed. "Now ya go get that wound treated," Clay ordered.
The cowboy turned his attention to Percy. He strolled over to the teen trapped in ice. Clay looked down on the boy and shook his head.
"Howdy there, scamp," Clay said.
"In my defense, I fought pretty evenly," Percy said.
"Says the feller flat on his ass," Clay said. Clay looked back at the teachers, his eyes met Ozpin's. "I think Oz wants to speak with ya. So how about I get ya outta that ice?"
"That would be ideal," Percy said.
XXX XXX XXX