Chapter Two: Tag Team
(A/N: Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to say I changed Winter to Jacques in the last chapter. Not much of a change, but I figured I would let you know.)
The two Remnant raised warriors stood facing Raven, the alien staring them down. They knew how they fought against each other, prepared for battle with this powerful foe.
"You seem shaken up," Whitley taunted. "Scared of the two of us together?"
"They don't know about Xiao Long's brat's power. That could be to my advantage." Raven thought to herself. "Oh, please, you fools couldn't beat me on your best day with me at my worst. I'm ten times stronger than you."
"Strength isn't everything," Yang pointed at her. "And we're going to take you down together."
"Let's begin," Whitley rushed forward, Yang right behind him as they charged. Raven suddenly vanished as the two were slammed from behind with Raven's elbows. The two slammed into the ground, getting up again.
"You really need to understand just how out of your depths you are. I was not kidding when I said I was that much stronger than you."
Yang clenched her fists, looking back at the pod where Ruby was trapped. "I'm coming Ruby. I'll get you out of there."
Raven's fist slammed into her face, knocking her away from the pod. "Focus on me, idiot!"
Yang and Raven began to trade blows, Raven's hitting a lot harder. Whitley jumped into the fray, both of them managing to hold their own for a moment. Raven soon grew tired of this, however, and knocked them both away.
"Again, you resist," She growled. "Why must you be so stubborn. I mean, I know it's a Faunus trait, but why must you insist on resisting me, your own flesh and blood?"
"Anyone who wants to kill and destroy innocent people like that is no blood of mine!" Yang wiped the blood from her mouth. "I'd rather die than live like that."
"You fool! You deny your race! We live for the fight, the brawl, to fight those stronger!"
"Oh, that part I love, but I won't hurt innocent people just to get it!"
"You won't get in the way of my conquest!" Whitley punched Raven in the face.
"Even the Arcosian gets it and they're supposed to be peaceful!"
"The what?"
"It doesn't matter, you won't live long enough to understand it anyway." Raven rushed forward, slamming their heads together before kicking them both.
"Together, let's go," Yang said, looking at Whitley.
"Whatever," Whitley followed her, shooting forward to charge Raven. They zigzagged back and forth, striking at her from all sorts of different angles. Raven dodged the blows, throwing blows of her own. The two of them dodged, just barely managing to avoid the devastating power Raven was attempting to strike them with.
"They actually can fight," Raven focused on the two. "Fortunately, I'm much stronger than them both put together."
A blast of Aura from Raven threw the two backwards. Yang and Whitley both landed on their feet.
"Looks like it's time to let loose," Whitley tossed off his turban and cape, the two landing on the ground with a thud.
"You wear weights too?" Yang asked.
"No, I just love getting naked around you." Whitley rolled his eyes.
"To each their own." Yang took off her golden bracelets and boots along with her weighted shirt.
"His power's gone up by two hundred points," Raven's eyes narrowed as she looked through her Scroll. "And hers by two fifty. Interesting how weights can affect their power so much."
"Now, let's finish this," Whitley and Yang rushed forward again, much faster this time, Raven continuing to avoid their blows, but with much less margin. She punched them, but they were able to dodge much better. The Faunus' eyes widened; how much could weights increase power, especially for a Faunus.
"Enough of this!" She exclaimed, knocking them off and rising into the air. "Taste my special move!"
With that, two spheres of darkness formed in her hands, growing to the size of basketballs. She took a deep breath. She knew how dangerous these two were to her now, so she couldn't take chances.
"Taste my power!" She shouted. "Oblivion Wing!"
With a burst of power, she thrust her hands forward, the orbs of darkness shooting out a beam towards each of the two of them, warping the very air and causing slight burns as they shot for them. Yang just barely managed to get out of the way, but Whitley wasn't so lucky. Yang looked over at Whitley.
"Are you okay?" She asked. "Did she… oh my god!"
Whitley was holding his arm… or rather the stump of where it once was. Blue liquid, his blood, dripped down from the wound, landing on the ground and chilling the grass a little.
"Looks like I disarmed you!" Raven taunted as she landed on the ground. "But, enough games. I'm done wasting my time."
"That's enough!" Yang clenched her fists. "Now it's my turn to use a move!"
"That's not how this works." Raven pointed as Yang got into her stance.
"Too bad!" Yang shouted, cupping her hands in front of her, drawing them to her side. A white ball of flame emerged in her hands, swirling and pulsing with the power she was putting into it.
"HYYYYPERRRR" Raven's Scroll pinged at the massive power being stored. It was rising higher and higher, the numbers on her Scroll moving quickly up and still rising.
"What the hell?!" She exclaimed. "How is her power rising so high! It's at a thousand already! Is this what living on this planet has done to her?!"
"DESTRUUUUUCTIOONNNNN" The ball of energy was the size of a beach ball, the white flame seeming to take on a rainbow hue as well as keep its white color of pure destructive power. Yang's muscles rippled with the power she was gathering from within herself. Her hair began to rise from the pulsing energy waves the sphere was putting out.
"It's getting even higher!" Raven exclaimed. "Soon it'll exceed my own! What the hell is this technique!?"
"BEAMMMMMM!" Yang thrust her forward, releasing the Hyper Destruction Beam, the legendary move of the Axolotl Hermit.
The beam exploded from her hands in a rainbow beam of destruction, racing toward Raven. The colors in the beam of pure destruction were swishing and swirling as it drilled, seeming as if it was a light show. It spiraled and spun as if it was trying to drill the very air, which shifted and shuddered, almost as if it was catching fire. Its diameter increased drastically, now half the size of Yang herself, speeding toward the alien.
"I've no choice," Raven thought. "I've got to block it! Just barely, but I may be able to stop it!"
The alien put her hands in front of her, the Hyper Destruction Beam slamming into them. She was pushed back, sliding two feet in the dirt and making a skid. But, the held steady, somehow never breaking her stance. She grit her teeth, holding fast as the beam slammed hard, thundering sound bursting forth as the beam seemed to screech with the motion of its drill, parts of Raven's armor blasting off from the power emitted from the beam.
When Yang finally ran out of steam, stopping her assault, Raven was standing there, panting heavily.
"She… She blocked it," Yang dropped to her knees. "That was my strongest attack. Whitley, you got anything else?"
"I got one," Whitley clenched his remaining fist, a cold blue glow beginning to come from it. "Fortunately, this one I can use it with one hand."
"Cool," Yang panted. "Downside?"
"I need time to charge it. Five minutes. Got any ideas?"
"Her tail should be a weakness. If I can grab that, I should be able to halt her movements and weaken her for you."
"Good. Go for it," Whitley smirked. "It's funny, I had developed this technique to use on you, yet I'm helping you with it. The irony sickens me."
"Well, I'm sure you'll get a chance to use it at some point," Yang stood up, wiping her forehead. "But, I'll grab her tail and you fire."
Whitley simply nodded, summoning his energy to himself, his hand glowing a bright blue. Yang rushed for Raven, attacking her in a strategic way, carefully moving around her while also keeping her distracted.
"You should just give this up, Xiao Long," Raven said. "You know you can't beat me. Your power has gone down from that weak attack."
"Yours can't be any better off," Yang chuckled. "You're slowing down too."
"I am more powerful than you," Raven pressed the offensive, landing a hard blow on Yang's shoulder. "You can't beat me with such cheap tricks."
"How about this one?" Yang ducked under a punch, sliding under Raven's legs and reaching up to grab her tail, squeezing hard. Immediately, Raven froze, her breath hitching as her eyes glazed over. She dropped to her knees, then her face as the energy fled from her. Her weak point exposed, she couldn't do anything.
"Wh-What are you doing?" Her breath was ragged, choked, as if she was suffocating.
"I remembered what happened when my own tail was grabbed," Yang stood up, still holding her tail. "It hurt like hell. So, I figured that I could get you to be stopped that way."
"B-But, you'll let me be killed by that Arcosian," Raven gasped, looking at Whitley. "H-He's charging up a powerful attack. I-I won't be able to dodge."
"Look, I don't want to kill you, but you threatened my planet and my daughter," Yang glared at her. "Playing to my mercy isn't as easy as that."
"But, you're my own daughter," Raven let out a small sob. "I'm so sorry I threatened the planet. Please, just let me go and we can discuss this over some… whatever you drink on this planet."
"Don't be a fucking idiot," Whitley ground through his teeth as he charged up his attack. "She's just trying to fool you and take advantage of your stupid good nature."
"But, if she's sorry, truly sorry, maybe a second chance wouldn't hurt her," Yang looked over.
"Are you serious?" Whitley demanded, his hand shining like a miniature sun, with a cold blue light that seemed to suck the heat from even there.
"Look, I've learned that the best course of action isn't killing my enemies."
"You slaughtered an entire army singlehandedly."
"They were evil and had it coming. I spared your life.'
"Only so your precious god wouldn't die." Whitley scoffed. "And, I will still kill you. And, so will she."
"Look, I don't think that it's such a good idea to just let her die if she can repent." Yang said, her grip loosening a bit. "Besides, I want to fight her again. I don't often get such strong opponents."
"She was going to use your daughter as her pawn while she killed you." Whitely growled.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Yang said. But, it was too late. With her grip slackened, Raven took advantage, thrusting her off, kicking her in the gut so hard Yang coughed up blood.
"You utter fool." Raven said, stomping on Yang's ribs. "I can't believe you fell for that. Seriously, I figured even a baby could see through that trick."
"Well, you may have incapacitated her, but you've got me to deal with," Whitley smirked. Raven stared at him, her Scroll pinging with a reading of his power.
"Th-This power!" Raven exclaimed. "It's four thousand! I… I can't block something that powerful!"
"Shiākōrudoaishikururaitosupia" Whitley thrust his hand forward, the blue light shooting out in a spiraling spear toward her, shooting straight for her, shooting and drilling forward, but in a much tighter fashion than the Hyper Destruction Beam.
The cold attack speared through the air, the ground and air below it freezing and robbing the area around them of heat. A powerful updraft occurred, heat rushing into the empty space, ice coating the ground as it shot forward. The beam struck a mountain behind where Raven was standing, the mountain becoming coated in ice and shattering like a china vase.
Whitley panted, his attack used and dropped to his knees. The line of ice felt welcoming to him as he looked to see Raven having been speared. Well, that was what he expected, but to his horror, Raven was standing beside his blast's trajectory, completely fine. Well, there was a patch on her shoulder that was a blackish blue like it had been given frostbite. But, she didn't even seem to notice it.
"I'll say that was pretty good," The alien taunted the frost demon. "I'm sure you could have killed me had I not dodged. I mean, you even managed to catch my shoulder and hurt my shoulder a bit. Nothing I can't heal by waiting a few minutes, but, this is the end of the line for you, Arcosian. Now, you die."
"Not until we stop you," Yang ran behind her, attempting to punch her, but Raven turned swiftly, kicking her in the throat.
"That's enough out of you." She said, Yang hacking and choking as she fell backward onto the ground. Whitley was stunned, unable to move for a moment as he watched Raven stomp hard on Yang's arm. Yang let out a choked gasp, unable to scream.
"I wish you had been more compliant, daughter. I had wanted to conquer planets with you and my two comrades. I'm sure the Empress would have made you a noble position."
She stomped on Yang's other arm, the sickening crunch bringing another choked gargle. She then began to stomp on Yang's ribs, taking her time to release her frustration onto Yang.
"Your stubbornness has brought you to this point, Xiao Long," The alien said. "I didn't want to have to do this to you, but you need to be taught a lesson."
Whitley felt a horrified chill run down his spine. This monster was capable of far more cruelty than even he. His own atrocities both he and his father had committed seemed to pale in comparison to what Raven seemed capable of. But, there was something, something else.
He looked around; there was a massive power, rising rapidly as he looked for the source. It was incredible, rising higher than Raven's even. But, where was it? It was nearby, but his mind seemed clouded.
Suddenly, like a load of bricks, it hit him; the pod! The pod where Yang's brat was being held! It was coming from there! He had thought he'd sensed a strong power other than Raven's earlier, but it was gone in an instant. Now, it was back with a vengeance.
With a thunderous crash, the pod exploded and the small form of Ruby leapt into the air, landing on the outside of the crater. Now that the pod was gone, he could tell, to an even greater horror than when Raven had first appeared, that Ruby was the source of the power. Her hair was waving wildly and her tail was thrashing around like a crazed tentacle. Her tone was calm, almost as if she'd just woken up from sleep, but there was nothing but fury in those silver eyes, a cold fury Whitley was glad he didn't seem to be on the receiving end of. Even with that, it was clear that something was going on with that child.
Even Raven was afraid, taking a step back as she looked at Ruby. No doubt that thing on her face was telling her something truly terrible. Yang looked at Ruby with shock, unable to believe the power that was pulsing off of her daughter in waves.
"Stop beating up my mommy." The pint sized terror said, staring straight at Raven, her tone belying the fury that radiated off of her. Before Raven could even react, Ruby was right in front of her, throwing a punch that sent her flying backward. A painful crack could be heard as Raven fell backward.
"R-Ruby?" Yang asked, looking at her daughter. In that instant, the massive, furious power that Ruby had exuded was gone, replaced by the kind, timid demeanor she was known for returning.
"M-Mommy?" She asked, looking down at Yang. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sweetie," Yang said, unable to move her arm to comfort Ruby. "What was that that you did?"
"What?" Ruby asked.
"So, it seems that the brat has power, but it's gone now," Raven walked up, limping and clutching her chest where she was hit. "You managed to severely damage my body, but now it's my turn."
Raven kicked Ruby in the head, sending her tumbling a few dozen feet away. Ruby lay unconscious, unmoving.
"Damn, I'm too weakened for that to be a killing blow, even to someone with such a small power," Raven growled. "How does a brat have such power? Could she be… no, a low class could never be such a thing, if it even did exist."
"Y-You bitch," Yang growled back. "She's just a child."
"A child whose power eclipsed the three of us," Raven turned to her. "A power that is out of control. But, I will kill you and take her to control it."
"N-No," Yang struggled to stand, falling back onto her back.
"Don't bother," Raven said, turning to Whitley. "Now, it's your turn."
But, before Raven could walk toward him, her legs were grabbed by Yang, who had managed to get her in a leg lock and climb onto her back, all without the use of her arms.
"Can you do your attack again, Whitley?" She asked.
"I can, but why not grab her tail again?" Whitley asked.
"She can rip it off," Yang coughed up blood.
"Y-You knew?" Raven gasped.
"Ironic, it seems, that I actually do get to kill you with this move." Whitley chuckled, summoning the power to use his ability.
"Xiao Long, please, I promise this time I'll leave and never come back," Raven pleaded. "I promise!"
"I don't believe you," Yang said. "You're just saying that so I won't let you die here."
"But you'll be killed too," Raven said.
"That's a sacrifice I'll have to make for the good of the planet." Yang didn't move, holding Raven down. "Do it, Whitley!"
"Just a minute more." Whitley held his hand up, the cold beam charging in his hand. The warmth of the area was gone now, leaving it feeling chilly. He aimed the blast at the two, acknowledging Yang's sacrifice, the bravest thing he could acknowledge her doing. It's not like he respected her, but even he had to admire the resolve to be killed in such a brutal manner as this.
"Xiao Long, please, just let me go!" Raven pleaded hard, hoping that her daughter would take mercy on her. But, Yang's resolve was firm, unmoving as she watched Whitley.
"Shiākōrudoaishikururaitosupia" Whitley thrust his hand forward one more time, the heat sapping beam shooting straight for the two, racing like a rocket. Raven made a half-hearted attempt to dodge, but was unable to.
The beam struck them, the heat sucked from their bodies and the cold beginning to tear into them. Blood shot off of them, freezing instantly as the beam ravaged their bodies. Mercifully, the beam ended thirty seconds later as Whitley ran out of energy to use the attack.
Looking at the two, they looked as if they'd been squeezed dry, looking shriveled and blue, like large raisins. Yang almost seemed glued to Raven due to their bodies freezing together. Yang fell off of Raven, her skin remaining attached to Raven as her insides could be seen. But, the blonde was numb, unable to feel. Ice coated her body, nearly holding her eyes shut.
She looked as if she were trying to say something, but the air in her lungs was frozen.
"We did it if that's what you're asking," Whitley walked over. "She won't live much longer. Of course, I know you'll be back. You haven't died yet."
He looked over at Raven, who seemed only a little more alive than Yang, but still very close to death.
"So you're still alive," Whitley growled, looking down at her.
"It seemed you couldn't kill me without killing her," Raven wheezed out. "Too bad."
"As if you know what this planet holds." Whitley sneered. "You're dying, so I see no harm in telling you. On this planet, there are mystical orbs known as Relics that can revive a dead person. She'll be back before you know it."
"Thanks for telling me," Raven choked out. "And, thanks for telling my comrades."
"Comrades?" Whitley asked, eyes widening slightly.
"Yes, they can listen in on my Scroll here," Raven smirked. "They'll be here quickly and will avenge me to revive me. I wish I could see the look on your face when they kill you. They're far stronger than I am."
With a cry of anger, Whitley stomped on her head, shattering it. "Worthless shit stain."
Whitley turned to the sound of a helicopter flying toward him.
"Seems like the entourage is here," He muttered, looking at Ruby. That brat could definitely be useful.
"Wh-what happened here?" Velvet looked at the mess. "Wh-Whitley, what did you do!?"
"The threat is dead," The frost demon looked at the dead body of Raven, whose Scroll had fallen off. "I'm sure it will do your hearts good to know that Yang sacrificed herself for the greater good or whatever."
"Yang, hold on," Blake jumped out, taking Yang's frozen hand. "We'll get you a Dust Bean and get you right as rain."
"She's too far gone," Whitley said, looking at Velvet, who picked up Ruby. "On a side note, give me the child."
"Why should I do that?" Velvet asked. "Not that I'll ever give you her at all."
"I could kill each one of you a dozen times over and take her by force if that's what you want. We have little time to discuss this. This bitch has allies and they will be here soon."
"Then she should train with us." Blake stood in front of Velvet.
"That brat displayed an incredible amount of power that we've never even been able to comprehend before," Whitley pointed at Ruby. "I am the only one that can train her."
"I can take you when you're weakened like this," Blake got into a fighting stance. Whitley sighed, an ice formation in the shape of an arm burst from his stump, melting to reform his hand. With that, he walked over to Blake, swatting her out of the way and standing in front of Velvet. He towered over her, the rabbit eared woman holding Ruby protectively.
"I'll give you three seconds." He said, grabbing Ruby's arm and pulling her over to him. "Now, you should train as well. Become strong. I will bring her back a warrior.
With that, Whitley took off, leaving the two to stare.
"This isn't good at all," Glynda clenched her fists. "I hope he can train her well."
"What makes you think he can do it?" Blake asked. "I mean, this is the spawn of the demon that killed your master."
"I sensed the insane power that burst from that little girl," Glynda looked up at where Whitley had gone. "I'm sure he saw it first-hand. Of all of us, he is the only one. But, I don't think he's quite as evil as he used to be."
Far off, on a planet a vast distance from earth, two beings sat on a log, enjoying the fresh kill they had scored from the natives.
"A shame Raven had to die," The taller one said, looking down at the shorter. "We could have used her for that job."
The shorter one stood, her long white hair rustling behind her. "That weakling proved she was truly weak, losing to such pathetic levels like that."
"That kid was something else. Do you think we should breed with humans to make hybrids like that?"
"Are you daft?! Do you want a bunch of brats more powerful than us running around? Of course not. But, it is intriguing. It's like hybrids may be some form of hybrid."
"Like a Satyr?"
"Not on your life! If anyone has the potential to become a Satyr, it won't be a halfbreed like that."
"So we're not going to avenge Raven then?" The taller asked.
"Oh, we're going to that planet," The shorter one clenched her fist, a gleam in her eye as she smirked. "But, only so we can take those Relics for ourselves. We could gain immortality. Even the Empress won't be able to stand against us."
Next time on Dragon Sun Zwei:
Yang must run down the treacherous Dragon Way to meet a legendary figure in preparation for the Faunus threat looming on the horizon. Meanwhile, Whitley begins to train Ruby to use her immense power. How will their training fare? Will they be able to gain any power? And, what of the others? Will they become more powerful? Find out next time on Dragon Sun Zwei.