Sup guys! It's boi Universal Writer back with another chapter! October has come. I'll be moving back the publishing date for this book to the last Friday of this month or the first Friday of November! But by the time you're seeing this chapter is probably by the middle of January of next year or something. I don't know. By the way, I removed the Grimm Eclipse book because I couldn't stand reading it. Plus, I'm retconning it out of the series. Sorry to those who enjoyed it. It seems we'll be seeing Volume 9 next year. That's good! Can't rush a good series like RWBY. Well, enough of me talking, enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: All characters, music, and etc belong to their respective creators!
(-Music: Brave Steel [ Sen no Kiseki III ]-)
The scene opens with the violet eyes of Knuckles Kaji moving to the left seeing Yang Xiao Long lift up her head, arms as they prepare for a fight. Taiyang Xiao Long takes a swing at her with his left hand, but she easily blocks it with her wrist, pushing his hand away from her. The interplay repeats with his right and her left, only this time Yang uses the momentum to turn and come back at her father with a roundhouse kick. Taiyang bends backwards to dodge it, his legs in a lunge. He gives his daughter a solid punch, pushing her back a few feet.
Nearby, Zwei watches the two spar, panting happily. Beside him is a low stool with two white towels. His head changes angles, oscillating to the sounds of grunts and contact. Abruptly he holds his head straight and makes a noise of surprise.
Taiyang stands alone and moves forward, doing his own roundhouse kick. Yang joins both hands atop each other to block Tai's landing foot. With a loud cry, she pushes it up and back. Taiyang regains his footing in a flip while Yang waits for his landing. With a powerful strike, she knocks him back with a single hit.
Holding onto his right bicep, Tai slides through the dirt, his feet flat on the ground until he comes to a stop. "Woah! Whatever training that you did with Knuckles, it really helped!"
(-Music Ends-)
"We've been at this for the majority of this week. I get it, you wanna make sure I can still fight." Yang says while bumping her two fists together. "I think I'm doing just fine."
"You're close." Taiyang says while he stands upright, no longer nursing his arm and walks around his daughter in a circle, he assesses her progress.
(-Music: Practical Exam [ Sen no Kiseki ]-)
"Oh yeah?"
"You're still off balance."
"What?! No I am not!" Her response made her father chuckle.
"He wasn't referring to that type of "balance" Yang." Knuckles spoke with a smirk on his face.
Taiyang comes in from offscreen, delivering a left hook right into her face. Yang's upper body rears back both from impact and surprise. She's ready to block his right hook, however, and uses the turning momentum to deliver an elbow jab. Grinning the entire time, Tai blocks it and then dodges all the kicks she follows through with. Yang switches to punches, but Tai is too on point for her. While she uses her left hand to block an elbow thrust, Tai has grasped her arm and pulled it forward. The position puts Yang in the position of having her balance rely on the weight of one leg. He sweeps her forward leg, sending her onto the ground on her back. He leaves her there and walks over to Zwei, who happily gets the top towel for him.
"That could use some work too." The Xiao Long Patriarch says before letting out a chuckle in amusement as he takes the towel and gives Zwei a rub on the top of his head. Zwei hums happily. Arms spread on the ground, Yang takes a breath before speaking.
"Meaning?" She inquired.
"I saw your tournament fights. During the Vytal Festival." He answered while toweling his sweat. "I won't lecture you on your "Chaotic Meltdown" since it was something that was beyond your control."
"Let me guess. "I was sloppy."" Yang says in a mocking accent.
"No, no, you were predictable. And... stubborn. And... maybe a little boneheaded." Her father listed off her faults as that made the Flamboyant Blonde sit up and stare at her father. "Do you realize that you used your Semblance to win every fight after the qualifiers?"
Yang spun around with her back facing to her father. "So what? How is me using my Semblance any different than someone else using theirs?"
Taiyang tosses the towel on the ground, he moves toward his daughter. "Because not everyone else's is basically a temper tantrum. I'm serious! Once you take damage, you can dish it back twice as hard, but that doesn't make you invincible! It's great when you're in a bind, but what happens if you miss? What happens if they're stronger? What then? Now you're just weak and tired! You've always been one to burn brighter than everyone else, whether it was with your smile, or, well, I remember your first haircut."
He playfully tugs the hair on the back of her head. Smiling, Yang bats him away. He chuckles and gets up, walking away a few paces with Zwei just behind him.
(-Music Ends-)
(-Music: Ashiyu No Nukumori [ Sen no Kiseki II ]-)
"But you gotta keep your emotions in check. Keep a level head, and think before you act. Your Semblance is a great fallback, but you can't let yourself rely on it. It won't always save you." Taiyang lowers his head, sadness creeping into his tone. "Obviously. You definitely have your mom's stubbornness."
The Xiao Long Patriarch faces one of the trees, not looking at Yang. Between the two of them, Zwei moves his head back and forth as each speaks.
"Oh, so now we can talk about her?" The Flamboyant Blonde jeered.
Her father shrugged. "Well, as I have been informed, you're an adult now, remember?"
Yang sighs. "Well, sorry I remind you of her…"
"Don't be. Raven was great in so many ways - her strength, her ambition, her dedication to whatever cause she thought was worth fighting for." Taiyang spoke as he turned around with a smile on his face. "I'm proud of how much of her I see in you. But, I'm glad I don't see all of her in you."
Yang arched her brow. "Why?"
"Your mother was... a complicated woman. Like everybody, she had her faults, but those faults are what tore our team apart. And, it did a real number on our family. You both act like the easiest way to tackle an obstacle is through it." He points to their corgi, Zwei while walking toward her, stepping around Zwei. Then he extends his hand to her. "That strength is all that matters in a fight. But if you just take a second look, then maybe you see… there's a way around as well. Come on - one more before dinner."
"Is this the last one?" Knuckles inquired as he sat up from his meditative position.
"Yup. Let's go dad!" Yang says with a grin on her face as she takes her father's hand and he helps her up.
They circle each other, arms at the ready. Taiyang makes the first move with a left hook, followed immediately by a right cross and a kick. Yang blocks and dodges, continuing to avoid being hit even when Taiyang flips in the air. She cartwheels, avoiding him and he lands across from her. They face off again, Taiying doing a single punch and kick. Veering to avoid it, Yang rolls a few feet away before turning and rushing at him. They meet in the middle, each with their left hand on the other's right elbow, pushing against each other.
"Heh. See? Alright! Now you're using your head instead of your—"
Taiyang gets interrupted by Yang kicking his leg out from underneath him but catches him as he falls back. They pause in that pose, grasping hands and smiling together.
(-Music Ends-)
In the makeshift practice area of her room, Weiss Schnee holds Myrtenaster at the ready. She steps back, twirls, a stream of blue-white light coming from the tip of her sword. On the close of her twirl, Weiss holds it aloft before striking the tip to the floor. A Summoning glyph appears, the Arma Gigas' sword slowly but surely beginning to emerge. Weiss' eyes are shut as she concentrates, the power of her Summoning causing a small wind to blow the hair around her face. A voice interrupts.
(-Music: In the Darkness of Ignorance [ Sen no Kiseki IV ]-)
"Hello sister." Greeted Whitley Schnee, who is propped up against the frame of her open door. The sword shatters and disappears, the glyph fading away after.
"Ugh, leave." Weiss says with disdain in her voice.
"How hurtful. And here I am, about to offer you a favor. Father's taking me to town to introduce me to some of his business partners. I'd thought I'd see if you wanted me to pick up anything since you're... well, stuck here." He says with smugness on his face.
"Are you envious Whitley?" Shadow Yaminagi spoke as he rose from her shadow, thus surprising the young man.
"Whatever do you mean?" Inquired Whitley with narrowed eyes at him.
"Is that why you hate me? Are you jealous of my abilities? Of Winter's?" The Ice Princess inquired as she narrowed her eyes.
Whitley steps away from the door frame. "Hmm... no, not really. Honestly, I find it barbaric. It's beneath people like me. Like Father. What can a single Huntsman possibly do that an army cannot? That's why we have one, even if it is run by a fool."
Shadow pointed his two fingers at Whitley was a black fiery spear that stopped at the Schnee Heir's Adam's apple. "Hmph. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Answer me this Whitley; if ants battle a Beowolf, who emerges the victor? Think about it. Money can only take you so far. Unless you got anything useful, then get lost."
"Fine, fine. I've got better things to do. Enjoy your... training, however pointless it is." The Schnee Heir spoke while he rolled his eyes. "What is your plan, anyway? What do you hope to accomplish while trapped in your own bedroom?"
(-Music Ends-)
(-Music: Awakening [ Sen no Kiseki II ]-)
A black glyph appears on the open door, promptly swinging it shut on Whitley's briefly surprised face. Weiss lowers Myrtenaster with a sigh and resumes her Summoning position. The glyph appears and this time Weiss looks at the portrait of the Arma Gigas on the wall. She repeats the same twirl and stab. The glyph glows brightly and spins faster. The books shake in the bookcase on the wall. One particular tome, decorated with floral relief, falls off the shelf and opens on the floor. The window bursts outward as the room is consumed in a bright white light. The light abates to reveal Weiss covering her eyes with her arm. The door to her room is pushed open by an urgent Klein Sieben.
"Miss Schnee! Are you alright?!" He inquired while being panicky.
"Be at ease Klein. Weiss has achieved something quite extraordinary." The Ultimate Life Form smirks as he looks at the former Schnee Heiress with a nod of approval.
The butler's eyes widen and he leans backwards, looking amazed. Weiss smiles at him and turns to face the Arma Gigas she successfully Summoned.
Weiss looks at the broken window. "Klein. We need a favor."
Klein nods determinedly.
(-Music Ends-)
(-Music: Overwhelming Power [ Boku no Hero Academia ]-)
Blake Belladonna and the masked White Fang member leap from tree to tree, Blake in pursuit of the other Faunus. They both pause for a moment, gripping different trees. A noise above the spy makes her gasp and Sun Wukong appears, dropping down.
"Gotcha!"
She leaps on, out of his path. Blake pursues while Sun lands on a branch.
"Hey, wait up!"
"Don't let her out of your sight!" She told him.
The spy emerges from the trees and onto a roof. She continues to run across the buildings, Blake right behind her. Sliding under some arching pipes, she finally turns and stops. Using her weapon in whip form, she slices the pipe, releasing steam to block Blake. It doesn't work; Blake moves right under the pipes through the steam.
"Why are you watching me?!" Blake asked with narrowed eyes.
The girl smiles and lowers her weapon. Sun lands on the roof behind her, causing her to turn around.
"Give it up! I'm not above hitting a girl, you—"
He gets cut off when the spy's whip comes at him in an attack, which he falls back to avoid. Blake takes advantage of the distraction to kick the Scroll out of the spy's hand. The girl is surprised, avoids Blake's next attack, responds with a kick of her own and attempts to retrieve the Scroll. Sun tackles her instead.
"Grab the Scroll! Seems someone thinks it's important!" Sun told her.
"Get off!" The Spy cried.
She headbutts Sun, cracking off the part of the mask covering her left eye, and tries to race Blake to the Scroll. Instead, first one and then a total of four clones tackle her. Sun is holding his pose to control his Semblance and Blake pauses.
"Quit staring and grab it!" He grits his teeth.
She finally listens, and Sun finally releases his Semblance, which he had been struggling to maintain, and falls to his knees. The clones disappear from atop the girl. She rises and aims her weapon at Blake.
His eyes widened. "Blake! Look out!"
The Shadowcat turns around, rising with the Scroll in her hand. She sees the broken Grimm mask crumble from the spy's face. "Illa."
Sun gets on his feet. "Wait, you know her?! But she doesn't even look like a f—aagh!"
He gets cut off when the color-changing Ilia strikes an electric hit near his shoulder with her weapon. Sun cries out and falls.
"Sun!"
"Give it to me!"
"No."
Illa changes color again. "You shouldn't have come back."
Before she could do anything else, an energy ball impacted her, sending Illa off of the roof. She looks up to see Miles "Tails" Prower who's carrying the injured Sun with his right arm with his left hand that is covered with an Arm Cannon with the barrel smoking.
"C'mon Blake! Sun needs medical attention and bring that Scroll with you!" Tails told her as the cannon disappeared into pixels and used his left arm to support his friend's weight.
Blake nods. "Right."
Tails takes off in the air and Blake follows him back to the Belladonna home to get their friend medical attention.
(-Music Ends-)
(-Music: DOOMSDAY TRANCE [ Sen no Kiseki III ]-)
The landscape is looking dreary as Ruby Rose can be heard breathing heavily.
"Just hold on, Uncle Qrow." She pleaded with tears running down her face.
Ruby and Jaune Arc carry Qrow on a makeshift stretcher. Sonic Takamaki is running on pace with everyone on the left side. Pyrrha Nikos doing the same on the right side. Lie Ren is before them on the path, leading the way while Nora Valkyrie brings up the rear. Qrow is groaning in pain and is a touch delirious.
"Tai. She's not... coming… Tai…" Qrow grunts and coughs repeatedly.
"How much farther guys?! Qrow is getting worse!" Sonic said as he grabbed his Scroll out, trying to call one of his teammates.
"We've gotta be close!" Nora spoke.
"Without the map, there's no way of knowing. But I feel like we're close to something." Ren said while hoisting StormFlower.
"What is it?" The Hooded Huntress inquired about her friend's sudden armament.
Directly ahead is a fork in the road with a signpost. They are coming from the direction of Higanbana. Kuchinashi and Mistral are to the right, where the land is mountainous. To the left is Kuroyuri, its name crossed out. The path that way remains low ground.
"Hey, hey! Mistral! We're on the right path! Oh…" Nora realized that the signpost was not very helpful to their situation.
"Does it say how close?!" Ruby asked, trying to keep herself together.
"No Ruby, looks like the path will lead us up to the mountains. We can't take that chance with your uncle injured." Pyrrha said with a shake of her head while Jaune and Ruby set the injured man down.
Ruby looks at Qrow, concerned, before rushing forward to the signpost. "Okay. Well, what about this place? Kuro... Kuroyuri? Can we get help there?"
"That village was destroyed years ago." The Ninja answered immediately after Ruby finished her question.
"But if it takes us around the mountains, it's the best bet we've got." Jaune said.
"It will take too long." Said a stern Ren.
"The town would have had a doctor, right? Maybe we could scavenge for medicine!" Ruby added in, siding with Jaune's logic.
"Right!"
Ren closes his eyes, lowering his head and shaking it. "We're not going to find anything! We just have to press on!"
"Enough guys! Let's split up!" Sonic zips between the three. "Nora, Ren, Pyrrha will take the mountains. Myself, Jaune, and Ruby will take the town. Cool?"
"No no no! We're supposed to stick together! We keep each other safe!" The Blonde Arc disagreed with Sonic's plan but his girlfriend placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Jaune." The redhead Spartan said his name firmly. "It'll be fine. We'll cover ground quicker. If we make it to Mistral, we'll bring back aid. If not, we'll be able to get the lay of the land. So we will have the knowledge of alternate paths to take around the mountainous region."
Ren turns and looks at Nora. They exchange small, affectionate smiles. Still holding his gaze, Nora drops her hand from his shoulder. All six remain silent, feeling the weight of the choice before them. Qrow coughs, making them all turn in concern and giving the motive to continue.
(-Music Ends-)
(-Music: Investigation [ Sen no Kiseki ]-)
Jaune looks at Ruby before turning to his teammates. He comes up and hugs Ren and then gives Pyrrha a quick kiss on the lips. "Okay. Just take care of each other."
Nora smiles at her partner. "We always have."
"Don't worry Jaune, my love." Pyrrha said lovingly to her boyfriend before letting go of his hand.
On the path to Kuroyuri, Jaune and Sonic lift Qrow. They turn to Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren, who are on the path through the mountains to Mistral. They nod and Nora waves. Ren starts to turn, looks back one more time, and then runs with the two girls following him.
An aerial shot shows the split group going in separate directions before the visual focuses on just Jaune, Sonic, and Ruby.
"They'll be fine Jaune. Just relax." The Blue Blur said, trying to comfort the uneasy blonde.
"You don't know that." He retorted.
Sonic rolls his eyes at his response. Moving forward, his steps leave an imprint on the ground, shortly after overlapped by Jaune's own. The visual pulls back again, revealing that their footsteps tread over another, larger mark, the same one discovered in Shion.
(-Music Ends-)
[ To Be Continued… ]