Well, I see people enjoyed the Omakes with one of many possible futures if Touma was stuck on Remnant. The division was pretty even who people liked more between Neo and Blake. There were people asking for a Ruby and Touma one. I have good news in that regards. Someone else is writing that along with a Touma x Yang one. Once both are finished, I'll be posting them as another set of Omakes. There's also some interest in Accelerator x Weiss, so we'll see what happens. For now, I'm going to answer comments from chapter 47, since they weren't answered on the Omake.
RedRat8: Well, the options are, work something out, or push the White Fang away to do even more. Wouldn't it be better to stop the violence earlier? It's going to be explained later in more detail. How many Faunus children are the same way because of the SDC or racist policies?
Griefmore: You seem to realize what's coming.
Nine To One: Hmm, Penny actually sayin when she talks would be funny.
Ahsoei: What makes you think that?
WwEpsilonwW: Not publically, but he knows they are there.
HYDE-BERSERKER: Dio is secretly in Remnant. I am still doing the names, but just because it is a Jojo reference, I'm not adding it based on principle.
Guest: I want to write, but I need time to sit down on a computer.
The Newbie Guest: Shhhhh, we don't talk about that little thing.
shiroryuu012: It's kind of funny, isn't it? Oh, all these monsters wanting to kill people just run away from kids. Hmm, maybe at some point.
Takedo: They could show up then.
GeeKING Out: Waiting is a horrible thing for sure.
vietnamese guy: You'll have to find out.
Maelaeran: Ozpin had some fun talking with Touma about the White Fang.
SlothDGod: Harems are difficult. Touma's just too nice. He needs to be a dick more.
808Joker808: That's going to be tough. They could easily become friends, but dating? Don't think so.
Mr. X: Silverfang is dead and no idea when I can resurrect him.
Green Espada: Probably better fight scenes at least.
JumpingToaster: Faunus aren't animals. It would be racist to push a salad to Velvet and steal her carrot cake saying the lettuce is her food.
Anime Crossovers: Something will happen, but I can't quite call it a 'new' move.
Omegas Prime: The Remnant Sword and Shield. Things will get tougher for sure.
PUSSYSMASHER: Oh yeah, he would.
alucard19910: Always wanted to see what would happen if people got together a little earlier. When you word it like that, it does seem like Ruby would be the best girl for Touma. Touma just doesn't go for the best girl. He gets the ones with weird pasts he helps them overcome.
Alkatros: I try. Sometimes it is hard to keep everything flowing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Toaru Majutsu no Index or RWBY.
Neo actually got to enjoy watching a bunch of shell-shocked adults stare at the sky as Accelerator quickly and efficiently tore apart the Nevermore. Unlike against Touma, even when faced with power far greater than themselves, the Grimm continued to throw themselves at him. Black wings and bodies fell from the sky but did not actually land in the fort. Accelerator was someone who liked to finish things quickly but hated showing weakness. There was no way he was going to let remains damage the thing they were supposed to be protecting.
There was part of him that was a perfectionist.
Touma shook his head, a little bemused himself, as he examined Neo's expression. The girl saw him looking and winked back. They shared a quick fist bump as General Taupe rounded on them.
"What in God's name…?" The poor man may have seen a lot over the years, but few people could truly appreciate the power Accelerator wielded. Or really even comprehend it. "How…?"
"Accelerator has a very powerful Semblance," Touma explained, as it was the simplest way to get people to understand just like he did with himself a few moments before. "It's what set him apart from the other first years and why we were sent here to help."
"So let me get this straight," The general sighed. "You… have the power to repel Grimm, while your teammate, Accelerator, up there has the power to hunt Grimm down and destroy them effortlessly?"
"Pretty much." There was nothing more Touma could say or do at that point, all he did was shrug with his remark.
Once the information sunk in, General Taupe seemed oddly accepting of it. This confused Touma for a moment and left Neo to examine the man. She now understood why this man was left in charge of such a strategic location. The way the gears in his brain were clicking into place, he was thinking how best to use their powers.
"So, an ultimate sword and shield…" Those words flowing from his mouth were more than enough to confirm Neo's suspicion. "I can see why Ozpin sent you. We exchanged greetings already, and it's a waste to repeat ourselves. As of now, we don't require your assistant, not that clearing the skies wasn't a welcome surprise. We mostly want additional security in case things do go south. Grimm attacks are increasing, so we'll figure out where best to station you once you get shown around and settled. That sound good?"
"You're the boss," Touma assured him. "Ozpin said to follow your lead."
Taupe summoned a male soldier to act as their guide, as he had to monitor the fort's progress. Neo was happy she wouldn't have to do any work for a while. With Accelerator and Touma there, she might not even have to do anything. Seeing Accelerator come back down made Touma know that he was already getting sick of fighting the Grimm. After they reconvened, the three of them were led around town to get an understanding of where everything was.
"There's a second wall in the center?" Touma questioned the man, looking up at the steel and concrete barrier.
"That was the original wall back when the fort was first built," The soldier explained. "It took a long time to construct due to constant Grimm attacks years ago. With more advanced defensive systems and weapons, we were able to expand the fort to what you see right now. That's why we have the second wall. We could take down the original wall, but it would be time-consuming and requires manpower that would be better used in other places. It can also be used as a fallback location if the first wall falls."
"Makes sense."
It was one thing to read about defenses like this, it was another to see it being put to use. Touma remembered history classes detailing battles involving walls. That no longer was the case in his world, as you could quickly go over them with technological advances. With the size of cities, it wasn't feasible to make walls protecting entire towns. His world also didn't have endless armies of monsters attacking constantly. There was the wall around Academy City, but that was sort of a special case.
Accelerator honestly didn't care too much. All he cared about was the layout, which he instantly memorized. He needed to make sure he was ready just in case he went anywhere. Walls were nothing to him, as a simple touch would knock them down. Neo was in a similar mindset during the tour, yawning audibly and ignoring the constant sound of gunfire until they reached the innermost area. They were being led to some temporary barracks near the command center of the fortress when she saw it. Something that immediately drew her attention.
A lamp made of gold and gems was hanging from a statue of a male Faunus.
Without meaning too, she instinctively stepped toward it.
"Neo?"
'Crap.'
Neo flinched as she heard Touma's words. The boy noticed her moving away from them. Somehow, he was getting really good at sensing when she wanted to do something fun. Of course, she wasn't going to steal the lamp, not now at least. It was in an open location in the middle of the day. If she wanted to steal it, it would be in the middle of the night. No, all the girl wanted to do was examine it and see if it was real gold and jewels.
"Oh, that?" The soldier stopped to see what Neo was looking at. "That lamp is probably one of the most important things in this fort, and not for its monetary purpose."
"Oh, is it magic or some bullshit?" Accelerator couldn't resist asking sarcastically. He assumed a fortress wouldn't take pride in useless trinkets.
"No, not quite, though some legends said it could be," the man laughed and then grew solemn. "The history of this fortress... is mired in negative aspects many would rather forget."
"Racism?" Touma blurted out without meaning too. His journey here had been mire in that discrimination so it was the foremost on his mind.
"Yes." Came the blunt response. "As you may be aware, originally, this fortress was manned by Vale soldiers. However, it proved to be too much for their limited manpower then. Prisoners, who were sentenced to life, were sent here to help out, with the promise of being released earlier for a couple of years of service."
"Oh, I'm sure that went well," Accelerator muttered.
"Yeah, most didn't make it to get set free." The soldier nodded slowly, his tone bitter. "So, back then, they decided to send some of the 'trouble makers' here to get rid of them to keep the city calm."
"Faunus?" Touma's words were nearly a growl through his teeth.
"Yes, the fortress was a prison and a barrier for the protection of Vale," The soldier continued. "Well, as you can guess, plenty of innocent people, mostly Faunus, were sent here. Conditions were abysmal, and people continued to die. Which honestly, I think just drew in more Grimm."
Neo frowned and pointed to the lamp.
"I was getting to that," The man assured her. "A group of Humans and Faunus decided they had enough. You'd be surprised what those groups can do together when they have the same goal. While Faunus had night vision, the humans didn't. So as a sign of friendship, they stole that lamp from the general at the time. It was used to guide the people away from the fortress one night back to Vale." He rubbed his head. "This was shortly before the Faunus Rights Revolution. After Faunus were given rights, the people who escaped managed to raise enough interest to force changes here."
The man looked at the statue.
"The General and several of his men who were tormenting prisoners were executed, and some of the council members who overlooked everything were arrested. It wasn't pretty. In the end, they decided to hang up the lamp here as a reminder about what we can do together. It's been here ever since. The two individuals who led the others, one human and one Faunus, even wrote a small saying beneath it."
Touma looked at the base of the statue and saw a line.
May this testament stand as a reminder that we are stronger together. That it only takes a small amount of light and knowledge to show us the way forward.
"I wish people wouldn't forget about this now," Touma muttered, mostly to himself. "Maybe the White Fang would never have been needed."
"Preaching to the choir, kid." The soldier stepped forward. "We've had plenty of racists come here and it had to be beaten out of them. We fight with our lives on the line every day. Regardless of what race someone is, we need to support each other with everything we have or it's the end."
Accelerator was a little uncomfortable hearing this and turned away. Reliving the past was something that haunted him continuously, no matter how many times he thought he got over it. Last Order saying he was forgiven helped, but the nightmares still lingered, like a never ending memento of what he did.
Neo's expression was blank as she just listened and looked at the priceless artifact.
Her fingers twitched.
Before the tour could pick up again, an alarm blared through speakers all over the base. A loud, ear-splitting shriek made everyone jump in surprise. The soldier pulled out his scroll and his face grew pale.
"We have an emergency!" He yelled. "Follow me! We're going to the captain in the front."
"What's happening?!" Touma had to shout with all his might to be heard above the alarm.
"You'll find out." Came the gruff reply.
Touma, Accelerator, and Neo ended up on the wall with Captain Taupe less than ten minutes later. The fortress was large and trying to get through everyone rushing around and vehicles traveling on narrow roads had been a nightmare.
"What's the problem… sir?" Touma tried to add a little bit of politeness at the last second.
"Goliaths… and a lot of them." The General growled, pointing.
In the distance, there were easily twenty of the large elephant Grimm, lining up and watching them back. Their black fur was a strong contrast to the white bone armor of their masks, making them look like tanks.
"So, blast them?" Accelerator suggested and Neo made finger guns with her hands to support his statement.
"If they were closer, we could," Taupe responded. "At this distance, even a direct hit would only wound them. It would waste ammo. Normally, we would wait until they drew close and then blast them, but with this many… FUCK!" They jumped. "There's more coming."
In the distance, another ten or so Goliaths were approaching the others.
"Looks like they are preparing for a siege." Accelerator commented, arms crossed.
"Goliaths are old Grimm and have lived a long time," Taupe replied, without taking his eyes off the beasts. "They have developed a certain degree of intelligence. Unless an opening arises, they stay away from fortified areas. But… once we show weakness, they will swarm like they are possessed, doing everything they can to slaughter us."
"Are you saying Grimm have a hivemind mentality?" Accelerator let out a bark-like laugh.
"We haven't been able to prove anything, but I wouldn't doubt it," Taupe answered, cutting the albino off. "They at least know when it's time to make an assault. It's the reason I wanted you two up here. If Kamijou here has the power to repel, you can stop them at the wall. While Accelerator can act like a sword to strike them when they get close."
"Whatever." Accelerator didn't care. He was here for a couple of days and then he would leave. Killing some Grimm would just pass the time.
Neo pointed to herself before Touma could answer.
"If any Grimm get over the walls, you can help our teams eradicate them." The general assured her.
The girl seemed fine with that and leaned against Touma's back.
Touma didn't immediately reply. His gaze was still on the elephant Grimm. Why he was so interested in them, he wasn't sure. They were the largest Grimm he had seen so far. Supernatural creatures that could demolish buildings with just their brute strength, and so much of the dark power that fueled them. How humanity was able to fight these beasts before developing technology was a mystery.
Yet, his wrist began to throb as couldn't take his eyes off the Goliaths.
Team JNPR was currently finishing a patrol around the town they were guarding.
After meeting the mayor, the first thing they did was question some of the scouts about what they had seen. Just like Mayor Linn told them, the witnesses to the mutated Night Dancer had retreated the moment they saw it. None of them knew what it was capable of nor where it was now. One brave scout lead Team JNPR to the site, but it was long cleared except for some footprints.
They headed back shortly afterward. Nightfall was approaching and they didn't want to be caught out in unfamiliar terrain in the dark with unknown Grimm nearby.
"So what's the plan, Fearless Leader?" Nora asked, once they were back behind the protective walls of the town.
"We're going to have to investigate first thing tomorrow morning," Jaune replied. "Get an understanding of the area, look for clues, and see if we can track this Grimm back to wherever it's hiding. I rather fight it during the day than at night."
"I can try to track it, but I can't guarantee we'll find it." Ren reminded him.
"It's a good plan," Pyrrha encouraged. "While we might have to lure it out if this doesn't work, fighting it at night would only increase the danger. Night Dancers like to sneak up on their targets and attack with high speed. In a way, it's similar to Ruby and her weapon."
"I don't think Ruby would appreciate being compared to Grimm." Jaune pointed out. "Let's not tell her."
"Tell her what?" Nora asked innocently.
"Appreciate it, Nora." A grin formed on the leader's face.
"I'm a little surprised at how well Linn is keeping the town calm," Ren commented, looking around. "Normally, if a Grimm was spotted nearby, not even counting unusual types, the towns tend to go into lockdown. It's used to keep people from accidentally running into the Grimm, but generates animosity that tends to attract more. It's a cycle too many places fall to."
"You sound like you've experienced this before." Jaune turned to examine his all but blood brother. The boy's face was pretty neutral when he responded, but Nora bit her lip.
"Nora and I traveled a bit before coming to Beacon, remember?" Ren answered, his tone not giving anything away. "We've stayed in towns where this has occurred."
"Is there any good way to avoid that issue then?" Pyrrha asked him.
Ren gestured out to where some Faunus children kicking a ball behind the safety of the wall.
"That's why I said Linn was doing a good job. People aren't leaving the town, but not locking it down completely. It lets people have a sense of normality."
"Those kids look like they're having fun without a care in the world," Nora commented gleefully. "Glad to see that even out away from the main cities, people can live happily."
"It's why we fight, Nora." Jaune reminded her, grinning himself. "So everyone can grow up without fear of the Grimm-… oomph."
Nora had suddenly hugged Jaune tightly, forcing the air out of his lungs.
"Indeed." Pyrrha held a hand up to her mouth at Jaune's expression as it changed from serious to goofy due to suddenly being assaulted by Nora. If she had been any other girl, Pyrrha might have intervened with someone touching her boyfriend like that, but Nora was family and would never try to steal Jaune. "You might want to let him go so he can breathe."
"Oops!" Nora let him go and bopped her head while sticking out her tongue. "My bad."
"No… problem." Jaune assured her weakly, rubbing his injured ribs. "Just… surprised me."
Ren was the only one who didn't say anything. He knew why Nora reacted so strongly. Jaune had no idea how much the words he just said to Nora meant. They had lost their home and family to a Grimm attack long ago and it's why they traveled so much. It was just them. Now, at Beacon, they found a family. People who shared the same dream and liked them for themselves. Few could tolerate Nora's excitable personality or Ren's stoic one for so long without getting at least a little annoyed.
Jaune and Pyrrha never did.
Ren walked by and patted Jaune's back as they prepared to move on. Jaune continued to walk until a sharp small pain hit him in the side of his face.
A large rubber ball had managed to snipe him in the head.
"Hey!" Nora yelled. "Watch it!"
"Sorry!" A boy and girl dog Faunus with matching brown ears sticking out from their heads said together coming over.
"It's fine, Nora," Jaune assured her. "It's an accident."
"Here you go," Pyrrha smiled kindly, getting them the ball and handing it to them. "Try to be careful though."
"We will." The boy promised.
"Umm… you look familiar." The girl said, causing Pyrrha to stiffen ever so slightly. "Ah! You're Pyrrha Nikos! The champion!"
"Really?" The boy looked dumbfounded.
"Yes, I am," Pyrrha answered honestly. "I'm here on Huntress Business."
"That's so cool!" The girl gasped. "Can I run home and get paper for an autograph? Pleeeeeaaaassseee!"
"Umm…" Pyrrha looked at the others for help.
"We aren't doing anything urgent now," Ren reminded her. "We can give her a couple of minutes."
"You two can go," Jaune said to Ren and Nora. "I'll wait with Pyrrha." The champion smiled at her boyfriend, glad for his support.
"Catch up when you're done!" Nora waved as she and Ren headed off.
"I'll be right back!" The girl rushed off and the boy took the ball back to a couple of other Faunus children waiting.
"Sorry about this," Pyrrha mumbled, but Jaune only laughed, causing her to tilt her head in confusion. "You're not upset?"
"Why would I be?" Jaune asked, surprised. "You're making a bunch of kids happy. I admire that."
Pyrrha's cheeks tinged and she felt herself smiling stupidly.
"I do try to make sure any of my fans understand I appreciate their support," the redhead admitted. "It's just it can be very time-consuming and some of them will always barge in when I'm busy or would like to have some one-on-one time."
"I understand that feeling," Jaune took her hand in his for a moment. "I never got a moment to myself with a bunch of nosy sisters back home. While I love them, every now and then they drive me crazy when I just want to read comics in peace."
Pyrrha's fingers tightened slightly on the blonde's hand, appreciating the fact he can understand her.
They let go when the girl came running back, along with two other girls who were probably her friends and fans of Pyrrha. One had a lioness tail and the other had panda ears on the side of her head.
"Please make it out to Cindy." the young dog Faunus girl begged.
"Of course." Pyrrha began writing a little motivational message for the girl as Jaune kept his distance since the girls wanted the champion's attention. "There you go."
"Thank you soooo much!" The girl squealed as the other two girls got their autographs.
"Can I ask you a question?" The girl with panda ears asked and Pyrrha nodded. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Pyrrha debated with herself for only a fraction of a second. Her manager would not be happy to hear about it and her parents back home would be surprised that she told anyone. Then she realized none of that mattered because she was her own person and loved Jaune. If others didn't approve of him, they weren't good enough to see how amazing he was.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Pyrrha replied.
"Who!" The girl with the lioness tail asked, eager for gossip.
"Him." Pyrrha pointed to Jaune who was looking away at the moment and did not notice them.
"Really?" Cindy asked skeptically. "He doesn't look reliable."
"Oh, he is," Pyrrha corrected her gently. "If you're ever in trouble when he's nearby, he'll make sure you're safe. You shouldn't judge people by their looks anyways. We're all different and everyone deserves respect." She stood up. "I have to get back to my job, but it was nice meeting you all."
The girls waved goodbye and rushed back home, probably to show off their gains.
"Finished?" Jaune asked as Pyrrha walked over.
"Yeah, nice girls, but they seem to be a little young to realize how valuable something is," Pyrrha replied, grabbing her boyfriend's hand.
"Eh, kids are always like that." If he was uncomfortable with her public gesture, there wasn't any sign of it. "One day they will see what they are missing out on."
"I couldn't agree more." Pyrrha giggled, as the two made their way to meet up with Nora and Ren. Both of them were helping a guy carry some wooden boards.
Well… Nora was doing most of the work, but it was still helping.
"Thanks a lot, kids." The guy with large horns told them. "Have to say, girl. You got some muscles on you."
"I work out almost every day." Nora bragged.
"Shows." He bid them farewell and left to finish his job before nightfall.
"That was nice of you two," Pyrrha commented.
"It's important to show Huntsman and Huntresses aren't above anyone else," Ren replied evenly. "We were sent to help eradicate a Grimm threat, but until we find the Grimm, we can help in smaller ways."
"Plus, it was easy," Nora added, shrugging. "Kept my mind off other things."
"What kind of things?" Jaune inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Like the feeling of being watched."
Three pairs of eyes stared at the bubble girl for a moment, as they processed it. Then the blond boy spoke up, exasperation in his voice.
"Nora… I swear… If you jinxed us and a horde of zombies attack … I will never let you forget this."
Nora giggled nervously and thumped her head with her fist.
"How long have you been feeling like this?" Pyrrha asked, tilting her head. Nora was kind of random and sporadic, but she never really lied other than when she greatly exaggerated events in stories. Something like this deserved at least a little investigation.
"Umm, since we were leaving the Grimm site?" Nora shrugged.
"And you didn't tell us?" Ren asked incredulously.
"I couldn't see anything no matter how much I looked," Nora protested. "There really wasn't anything there. If I had mentioned it, our guide would have gotten scared. Maybe it was just because the woods smelled funny or because it's going to rain soon."
"Nora… your instincts are usually pretty good," Ren muttered, causing the girl to smile as she shifted nervously. "I wish you told us earlier."
"So you really think something's out there?" Pyrrha asked.
"We know something's out there," Ren reminded her. "I'm considering the possibility that Nora was right and we were being watched." He turned to Jaune. "What do you think? You're our team leader."
Jaune rubbed his chin, as he looked from Nora to Ren. Then he glanced over at his partner, who was waiting patiently to hear his answer. Being a leader sometimes sucked. Every decision he made would impact others. If Nora was wrong, they would waste time investigating. If she was right and they did nothing, they could end up risking their lives to whatever was stalking them.
The choice seemed pretty clear.
"I trust you three with my life," Jaune conceded. "If Nora says she felt like we were being watched, I'm going to believe her. I think we should take watch during the night. One team hit the hay early, the other help the town night shift keep watch. If something does happen, we can help out. Keep our Scrolls ready to contact the others. We won't be caught with our pants down."
"Hehe." Nora giggled at the metaphor.
"An excellent plan, Jaune." Pyrrha agreed. "Many teams do that out in the wilderness during a long-term expedition to avoid being ambushed by Grimm."
"I am okay with this plan too," Ren nodded in confirmation, before looking at Nora. "Do you want to take the first or second watch?"
"Second!" Nora decided instantly. "I'm tired now and want to sleep."
"Hey, I'm the leader, so I get to decide shifts." Jaune protested.
"Well, you can tell Nora she can't be second shift if you want." Pyrrha held her amusement behind her hand.
"Fine, Pyrrha and I will take the first shift and change around one in the morning," Jaune sighed heavily. "Okay? Should give us both about 6 hours of sleep. Enough to survive on."
"Sounds good, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora grabbed Ren's arm. "Come on, let's go. We don't have time."
Nora rushed off, dragging Ren with her, though he seemed content.
"Do you really think we're being watched?" Pyrrha asked as Jaune walked toward the wall.
"I've seen a lot of weird things since coming to Beacon," The boy replied, instead of answering her question. "Crazy plans for taking down giant Grimm, scientists using Grimm as an energy source, and people being thrown into Remnant from another world. I think Nora sensing something is probably pretty reasonable. Rather than taking a chance and risking people's lives, I would rather be overcautious."
"You're really a good leader, Jaune," Pyrrha told him, her smile truly genuine. "I am proud to be on your team."
"I'm proud to have an amazing partner who can save me when my homework situation becomes unmanageable," Jaune replied, a slight teasing edge to his tone.
"Jaune!" The champion gasp, punching his arm, but unable to hold back her laughter.
As the two kids enjoyed their time together in the remaining daylight hours, past the wall and among the tree lines, several red eyes flickered softly in the shadows of the underbrush. They weren't normal eyes though, as each one was a compound one like a fly. All of which were aimed at the town.
The light that shone upon the world began to diminish, as the sun began to set.
The deafening roar of the Ursa was quickly silenced when Ruby's speedy scythe work decapitated it. Landing on the ground, her scythe, over her shoulder, the young leader scanned the battlefield to see how her team was holding up. They had taken the opportunity to have a couple of the towns scouts show them the surrounding area at Weiss' insistence, not just the location of the talking Ursa. Yang whined a bit about having to hike, but it turned out to be a good decision.
A group of Ursa ran into them, causing a free-for-all.
The two scouts who lead the way were actually really skilled. The male Faunus was a crocodile with scaly patchy skin. The woman was a horse Faunus with a long brown mane. Both had high-caliber Dust rifles, almost as powerful as Ruby's own weapon. Slightly less recoil, but strong enough to damage most Grimm. Ursa were tough and could take a hit, but they didn't have much armor like other Grimm types.
"Incoming!" Yang yelled, punching one and sending it flying over Ruby's head.
Things were going well. Ruby actually got to use some of her formations she had been meaning for them to try in actual combat. Yang, being the frontline melee, took point, while Ruby and Blake flanked. Weiss' Dust and Glyphs were the ultimate support. Blake threw her weapon, the ribbon wrapping around the leg of an Ursa, before she pulled it down. Ruby grinned, jumped into the air, and kicked off a Glyph that appeared instantly behind her.
Weiss had relented and they got to practice some partner combination talents before the dance to get Ruby to stop being jealous.
"To your right!" Ruby yelled, zipping past Blake and slicing the Ursa. "Perfect teamwork, everyone!"
"Don't get complacent!" Weiss yelled, sending a blast of fire at an Ursa, forcing it back. The two scouts finished it off with a couple of rounds to the face. "There's still plenty more."
"Where the hell did they all come from," The male scout growled, shooting another Ursa. "We should have detected a large migration-…"
"Watch out!" The woman yelled. The guy turned around to see an Ursa lunging at him. Neither scout could react in time and it looked like it was the end.
Until a wall of ice erupted between them.
There was a sickening crack as the Ursa crashed into it.
"They are flanking us!" Weiss warned the others, not even looking at the two people she just saved. "We either need to move or finish up quicker!"
"They are almost done anyways," Yang told her, rushing over to help. "Less than ten left."
The four Huntresses and two Faunus soldiers finished off the remaining Ursa without much incident after that. All of them were used to facing Grimm and the four girls were all near the top of their year, after Pyrrha of course. The two Faunus escorts were actually pretty amazed at how strong they were. The mayor had not given them a good description of the girls, mostly just calling them children.
"We owe you an apology," The woman said, once all the Grimm were dead. "We judged you before we headed out based on your age. All of you were exceptional and worthy of being Beacon students."
"Water under the bridge," Ruby assured her, though she couldn't fully prevent the grin on her face. Finally, someone understood age didn't matter to be a Grimm killing machine. "We're in this together. So now that we can trust each other, we'll finish our mission no problem."
"Not that it doesn't feel good to prove people wrong," Yang whispered to Blake.
"Shush." The Faunus cut her off.
"And I owe you an apology," The male crocodile Faunus muttered, turning to Weiss while rubbing his scaly arm. "I sort of looked down at you for being a Schnee, and yet you saved my life without a second thought."
"I appreciate it," Weiss replied. "It's not like I can't fully understand your dislike to my family. My father is hardly a glowing example of someone you would inspire to be."
"Weiss is all grown up," Yang pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. "Remember when you and she would argue about the White Fang all the time?"
"Shush." Blake cut off her partner again, but her head had slowly been nodding in agreement with Yang's words.
"White Fang occasionally causes trouble in these parts," The woman grumbled. "Spreads all sorts of bullshit to frighten people."
"Like what kind of rumors?" Ruby asked. "We dealt with them a little, but I never actually heard what kind of stories they tell people. Well, besides they need to group up for protection and rise against humans."
"The Schnee family is the main rallying cry for them," The woman admitted, eyeing Weiss. "Because of past events."
"And I'll make sure when I take over the SDC those events won't happen again." Weiss declared stiffly.
"Come on, spill the stories." Yang encouraged, as the group started heading back to town. Everyone looked at Weiss, who sighed loudly and facepalmed.
"Might as well tell her," The heiress relented. "She's going to bother you until you do."
"A common one is that the Schnee's eat Faunus children." The man shrugged. "Not like anyone believes it, but you tell kids that enough times to scare them to behave, they eventually grow up hating the name."
"Ugh, seriously?" Weiss heard plenty of rumors about her family, ranging from bad to just downright awful, but this took the cake. "That's disgusting on so many levels."
"Looks like we can't let you near Blake and my baby then." Yang commented.
"What?!" Ruby gasped at the unexpected news.
"Ow!"
Blake slapped Yang upside the head.
"Most of the serious ones don't reach out here," The female scout admitted, scratching her head. "It's mostly the stupid rumors you hear parents tell kids. Our mayor may be a hardass, but he doesn't like the White Fang. Thinks they cause more problems than they solve."
"They do!" Her partner growled. "But still, a good chunk of the town supports them."
"Like how much support?" Blake asked wearily.
"They shouldn't cause… problems," the man admitted. "It's just they probably don't like humans being here."
"Not like I can't understand their mentality when they move out here to get away from humans mistreating them." Blake muttered drying.
"Wish there was something we could do to help more with this problem." Ruby said weakly, more to herself than anyone else.
"Standing up for Faunus being mistreated, speaking out against injustice, and treating us as equals is a good way to start," The woman told her. "I know you shouldn't blame everyone for the actions of a few, but you got to understand. Many people just turn a blind eye to our problems. They think, oh, we don't discriminate, so there's nothing more we can do. You can still call out people on their shit."
"I remember Vomit Boy doing that," Yang admitted. "We didn't step in, even if we hated what happened to Faunus girl. Have to admit, that was pretty brave."
"Jaune's awesome like that," Ruby agreed. "We should have done more."
"Can't change the past, kids." The man slung his weapon over his shoulder. "Just don't repeat those mistakes and you'll be surprised how much the future can change for the better." He grinned. "And don't hide in closest to steal bad Faunus kids while they sleep."
"Is that another Schnee rumor?" Yang asked dryly.
"That's one I've heard before." Blake admitted sheepishly.
"Not funny." Ruby huffed.
"Yeah, I haven't done that in years." Weiss agreed.
There was a moment of silence before her words sunk in. Suddenly, Weiss' entire team spun around, along with their escort to stare at her.
"Oh come on! It was a joke!" The white-haired girl explained instantly.
"Not funny!" Blake hissed.
Contrary to her words, Yang was laughing. Behind her, Ruby was trying very hard to keep a straight face. The male Faunus was grinning too, though his female partner merely facepalmed and shook her head. The fact Weiss made a joke was a surprise, mainly to her team. She was usually serious and when she tried to joke, it never seemed like one. This was one of her few good attempts. Though, Yang was the one who mostly pondered why the Ice Queen of the team suddenly grew a sense of humor. It couldn't be Accelerator's influence. He had the emotional capacity of a wet piece of cardboard.
'Maybe she's just been in a good mood being in a relationship?' Yang pondered. 'I would think she would be nervous dealing with Faunus who we don't know if they support the White fang or not.'
This was best left to Blake though. Her partner knew more than she did and seemed to be staying close to Weiss while they were in town for that reason. Without knowing how to proceed, Yang figured she would keep an eye out and see what happens. Plus, teasing Weiss and Accelerator was going to be a ton of fun once she was sure they were past the trial phase of their relationship.
As much as the blonde liked to joke around, she would hate herself if she was the cause of their breakup.
"Even if we didn't find the mutated Grimm," The woman said, shaking her mane a bit to get some dirt out. "We cleared a decent size pack of Ursai. I call that a win."
"I don't like the fact it's still out there," Ruby mumbled. "What does it want?"
"Want?" The man asked. "Why would it want anything but destruction? It's a Grimm." The woman was listening closely, eyeing Ruby's reaction.
"Think of it like a Goliath," Weiss answered, noticing Ruby clamming up. They couldn't tell these people the truth yet. "It has some degree of intelligence, or it would have just attacked the city. Which would have made it easy to kill. It's out here and wandering around."
"Or it left." Yang half-joked.
"We should have seen some signs of a larger Ursa leaving," Blake reminded her. "Or the town guards would have noticed tracks. Actually…" As she said that, her brow furrowed. "That Ursai group we came across, there weren't any tracks letting us know they were there. Maybe if they came from the other direction, but we checked that way. There were no tracks except where they were waiting. It's almost like they stayed in one location while they hid their tracks."
"Let me get this straight," The man couldn't help laughing loudly as he looked at each of them. "You're saying the Grimm decided to set up a trap for us and are smart enough to camouflage their presence? Are drugs allowed in Beacon?"
"Hey!" Ruby cried out indignantly and Weiss looked scandalous.
"No, I checked," Yang assured him, and she shared a quick high five with the guy.
"You all can fight like professionals, but it's clear you're still children." The female scout shook her head. "There could be a lot of reasons why there aren't tracks, but I will take up your concerns with boss. Even if there is nothing suspicious about it, our people need to be aware that Grimm might be in the vicinity without warning signs."
"I suppose that's as good as I can expect without proof." Blake admitted.
"I still think the Grimm had to be looking for something," Ruby commented, her hands behind her head. "We know it's smart, it can talk, so it makes sense it wouldn't mindlessly get itself kill."
"Then shouldn't it have seen more if it's looking around?" Weiss asked.
"Because it's not here!"
All six of the scouting expedition froze as they heard the voice.
It was loud but also deep, raspy, and full of fury. The words washing over them were few but contained so much hate and rage, it almost burned. A loud crack alerted them to the source of the darkness. Spinning around, all of them raised their weapons as they heard another crack.
The next moment, a large white boned claw shattered a tree.
Literally shattered it with a single swipe of its paw.
The Grimm they had been looking for finally emerged. Easily twice the size of an Ursa, it towered above them. The white bone armor covered a good portion of its body, but where it should have spiked out, ice crystals seemed to have replaced them. Unmelting crystals that seemed to be tainted with black veins. Some of the veined fill ice also covered its back and forearms.
The air around the beast shimmered and frost appeared on the grass with each footstep. It was far away from the girls, and yet they could feel the air temperature drop heavily. Just like the Beowolf, this Ursa was corrupted by Wellen's magic.
"Wow, it can talk!" The male scout exclaimed.
"Not the time, idiot!" His female companion hissed.
"Get back!" Ruby ordered. "Cover us with your rifles, but it probably won't do much. It's powerful, but it can be beaten."
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Yang smacked her fist into her open hand. "Besides, it's still an Ursa. We know their weak points."
"Who decided that?"
They flinched at the sound of breaking bones that followed the Grimm's words.
The Ursa pushed up with its front legs until it stood up on its back two. The breaking sound grew louder, followed by the squelching of moving flesh.
"Think I'm going to be sick." Yang gagged.
The sounds may have trigged some distaste, but they could hardly look away. The creature was actually growing taller. The stubby Ursa legs broke in half to form a knee, then the upper and lower segments stretched out, adding a couple of feet to the Grimm's height. The torso was stretching too while getting slightly thinner widthwise.
Ruby also almost vomited seeing the organ and bones move under the skin.
The arms, like the legs, broke and stretched out into more humanoid appendages. Thinner, but much longer, and bulged with muscles. It would be a mistake to think it wasn't strong just because it lost the beefy bear arms. Those muscles were inhuman and the thick red veins pulsed before being covered by black fur. The shoulders widened and the head began to stretch out with a longer, more flexible neck. The mouth curved into a large grin.
Then it roared.
"It's so loud!" Blake yelled, almost being drowned out by the noise.
They had never seen a Grimm evolve like this. If it had been a Beowolf, this creature might have resembled a Werewolf in its current form. Because it evolved from an Ursa, a Werebear might be closer. Though, a Wereursa was probably the best bet right now. Naming was not a high priority. The ice crystals on the beast's back seemed to pulse under the sunlight, darkening the very light that hit it.
"You will not return." The Wereursa declared in its raspy voice. Of course, it sounded like it didn't use its words much. Grimm weren't supposed to talk!
"You just had to open your big mouth, Yang!" Weiss reprimanded furiously.
"It's too late for arguing!" Ruby ordered. "Just like at practice. Surround it and be prepared to cover each other."
Team RWBY moved as one toward the new Grimm, who didn't seem to find them very intimidating.
Touma flinched as the sound of explosions went off around him.
In particular, weapons resembling bunker clusters brought back memories he rather not remember. Being on the receiving end of those while sieging Buckingham Palace was not one of his favorite vacations. Cluster munition warheads released hundreds of explosive shells that rained down upon an area, setting off chains of explosions that wiped out everything in their path. If it wasn't for a lot more powerful friends and allies, Touma would never have survived.
The Grimm horde approaching the fortress did not have that luxury.
They watched the Grimm forces amass in numbers for easily two to three hours. Walls of Goliaths, countless Beowolves, and Ursai, even giant scorpion Deathstalkers along with two-headed King Taijitu joined the fray. General Taupe was not amused and never let his guard down because they were just standing around. His men prepared every moment, never wasting a second.
Touma was set up on the wall next to the General, along with Accelerator and Neo. Canons on either side of them were aimed and preparing to fire the moment the monsters got within range. Tension was palpable and could be cut with a knife. Troops with high-powered rifles were lining the wall too, wearing battle armor. Touma actually debated asking for some but decided against it. He wouldn't be used to moving with that weight and it would end up being a liability.
A Goliath, an extra-large one, stepped forward and let loose a powerful trumpeting noise.
The wave of darkness moved as one unit, like a wave of inky blackness trying to swallow everything up.
The countless canons began firing nonstop.
At first, Touma had to cover his ears, but the boy quickly got used to it. That didn't mean the noise still didn't make his head throb. When the chain of explosions from the cluster bombs went off, sending dust explosions to wipe out all the smaller Grimm, he unconsciously gripped his aching wrist. He was out of place in a warzone like this. What good is a normal high school boy with one weird hand when you have an army?
A hand tugged on his shoulder.
"I'm fine, Neo." The boy lied.
That response caused a finger to jab him in the side.
Neo was glaring at him, but the boy refused to look at her, keeping his eye on the battlefield. There wasn't much for either of them to do. The girl knew her limitations and her skillset. Assassinations, thefts, one-on-one, those were her forte. Not battlefields where it all came down to bombing entire swaths of land.
'Not even sure why I'm here.'
Her eyes fell on the reason she was here.
'I'm seriously doubting my choices right about now.'
The multicolored girl stepped back from the edge of the wall as the Grimm army grew closer. She was used to being in the center of Vale, behind the walls. When she left, the ones she faced were mostly smaller ones in packs with occasional larger beasts. Easy enough to handle. This was on another level. Being this close to the Grimm Wilds would of course see an exponential increase of Grimm. The number in front of them still seemed somewhat excessive.
General Taupe was in a similar mindset.
"Focus on the Goliaths!" He roared into his radio. "They are approaching the red zone."
The rain of dust bombs wiped out nearly all the smaller Grimm that rushed the fort, but Goliaths were heavily armored. Even if the explosions damaged them, it wasn't enough to take them down. Breaking down that wall was their goal and if the beasts succeeded, the other Grimm could follow and swarm the base. The moment they got past the walls, the troops would be slaughtered. They were that heavily outnumbered.
Larger cannons were aimed directly at the Goliaths for the very purpose of preventing such a thing.
Neo actually enjoyed watching entire chunks of the elephant Grimm explode off the body before the beast collapsed. Overkill was always such an enjoyment. It's why she took such delight in mocking her opponent before finishing them off. A simple stab in the neck was just too quick to be enjoyable.
"Incoming!"
The warning came through the radio as a couple of Goliaths drew close. Way too close for comfort. The larger canons were having trouble aiming downwards. Rifles began to fire, but the soldiers might as well have been shooting water guns at them. Bullets didn't even piece flesh, let alone damage them. Another Goliath fell, but one got too close and was approaching the wall.
Then the soldiers got a surprise.
The Goliath suddenly skidded to a stop, ignoring the weapons firing at it. The sudden change caused deep groves in the earth as the Grimm really didn't want to go any further. It was so unexpected, most of the soldiers could only stare with their mouths gaped. The beast was afraid of them and it didn't make sense.
Until the General looked at the wall in front of the Goliath.
"Seems like the boy was telling the truth."
Neo turned and saw Touma, who had snuck over there when she was distracted watching the bloodbath. Standing at the wall in front of the Grimm, the large creature did not want to get any closer. His invisible barrier that repelled Grimm was absolute. Neo knew about this long ago, ever since Roman brought him along on their little White Fang outing. Still, seeing a Grimm decide it rather sit there and take a canon to the face than approach the boy was something new.
The canons were adjusting to aim at the Goliath now that it was extremely close to the wall, but it would be a delay, allowing the Grimm further back to have a chance to close the gap. That's when the third member of Beacon's team decided to make a decision. Wind howled as Accelerator jumped off the wall and flew toward the Grimm. Cyclones appeared behind him like wings. The Grimm noticed him and tried to swipe at the albino with its trunk.
That ended about as well as any other Grimm attacking that boy.
First, a shriek of pain escaped the mouth of the Goliath as its trunk was torn from the body, causing black blood to gush out. Several of the soldiers on the wall grimaced at the noise. Second, Accelerator reached a hand out as an insane grin formed on his face. Third, the moment the albino touched the Grimm, it was sent flying back into another Goliath, like it had been shot out of an extra-large canon.
The soldiers that didn't see Accelerator take out the Nevermores earlier could only freeze in stunned silence.
Accelerator didn't care what others thought as he landed back on the wall, dispersing the cyclonic wings. Typically, he would have just charged the Grimm army, turning himself into a blender as he shredded through the garbage. There were two problems with that. Accelerator couldn't take them all fast enough when they spread out to stop them from reaching the fort by himself. The second was the weaponry being fired onto the Grimm would probably hit him.
Not that it would hurt him. He considered the impact of his reflection, which would cause some of the bombs to be repelled back to the soldiers. It had confused him at first why he was putting so much effort into protecting nameless people. He used to only care about a very small number of people. Remnant had changed him.
Accelerator still didn't decide if it was a good or bad way yet.
There was one thing he did consider positive. Even if he had to do some annoying things, meeting Weiss had been a highlight of his time here. A little bragging about their success seemed like a common thing to do here. Tell off the blonde bimbo about how they slaughtered a bunch of Grimm and impress the Snow Angel. Protecting people was something they all seemed to care about. He could understand that part, at least a little. Going out of their way for strangers was still somewhat foreign to him though.
Ignoring the stares from some of the soldiers, he walked back to the General. That man seemed okay and Accelerator hadn't glimpsed any darkness behind his gaze. That guy truly was there to protect Vale by making sure his fortress did not fall. It didn't look like it would any time soon. Most of the Goliaths were down and while some were still coming, they didn't seem smart enough to change strategies.
"Seems like they are still closer to mindless beasts than people." He muttered.
Someone else did not share this sentiment though.
'Something is off.'
Neo's brow furrowed as her stomach churned, warning her of something.
Years of living as a criminal made her aware of traps. Whether it was from rival gangs, police, or even people who just wanted her dead because of her association with Roman, a single mistake could end up costing her life. Yet, it wasn't a feeling of danger. From the looks of it, given another 20 minutes, all the Grimm would be killed. No, it was something…
…Familiar
Neo spun around and her gaze fell on the other side of the fortress.
'It can't be. Grimm aren't that intelligent.'
No wonder it felt so familiar to her. Roman loved using a strategy that resembled what was happening. He would make a huge fuss at the front of a target, like a jewelry store, and when the cops showed up chasing him, Neo would slip in the back and steal a bunch of money and gems. If you make a big enough scene, no one pays attention to what's happening behind them. The Grimm here were acting weird and based on what was happening with that magic guy from Touma's world, the monsters were acting differently.
No one noticed her stepping back and jumping down off the wall.
It's not like Neo was useful in her current location. She really didn't have a ranged weapon. Her style involved assassination and close combat. Neither of which was useful in a huge battle like this. So if she went to check out her suspicion, who was going to complain? There was a good chance nothing would happen if Grimm were just mindless beasts, but if there was something else?
'He better praise me for my selfless heroism.'
The fortress was built rather nicely. If she hopped along the roofs of the building, it was a pretty straight shot to the inner sanctum. They were level and flat, probably designed for the soldiers to retreat easier or use them as vantage points if the wall was breached. It only took extra time to get to the wall while on the ground because of all the traffic and narrow streets. Rooftops let the girl ignore them all.
'This is stupid. What do I expect to find?'
Even as the rational voice in her head continued to speak up, the multicolored girl did not stop. Her instincts always seemed to lead her well up to this point, so there was no reason not to follow them. There was a chance she was mistaken and if she was, there would be no problem. Nothing would be added staying on the wall and Neo got some exercise scouting behind them. If her instincts were right on the money, well, Touma and the General would owe her a lot.
Climbing up on the inner wall, she looked out.
'Huh, nothing. Was I wrong?'
From the wall, she couldn't see any signs of Grimm approaching from the opposite direction. There were also a few scattered guards on the far wall to prevent ambushes. It looked like her instincts were wrong this time. That happened occasionally, but the risk wasn't worth ignoring. Sighing to herself, Neo sat down, her legs kicking off the side of the inner wall.
'I wonder what Roman's up to?'
That guy was important to her, almost like a father. A good one who actually praised her for her accomplishments, not telling her to hide her true self. Being away from him was a little lonely, but she helped pass the time by annoying those bitches who keep trying to get her unlucky boy toy's attention. A smile graced her lips.
'We'll be here a couple of days and none of them are around…'
Right, when she began to plan her fun nightly activities, her body stiffened and she vanished in an illusion.
A movement caught her trained eye and she shrouded herself on pure reflex. Slowly and quietly, she moved along the wall until she identified the source of the movement. The air shimmered slightly, like heat reflected off a hot road. The thing was, it was only on one spot on the wall. Then, as Neo stared, the shimmering began to climb down the inner side of the wall, heading toward the ground. It was so unnatural, Neo had proof she hadn't made a mistake.
'I'm going to find out what that thing is.'
The tiny assassin leaped down after the shimmering air.
Feel free to leave a review, comment, suggestions, or ideas, I love reading them. If you have a question you wish to ask and would like a quick answer, feel free to message me directly. I try to respond to those within a day or two.
Wishez: Not much to say, except I'm truly the last one left. Please, we need more Beta's. I can't keep doing this on my own. SF88, UrsaMJR, Healthcare, and Ben are all gone. I need help.
Dark: There is no escape.
