The midday sun shone down on the peaceful blue waters of southern Mistral sea as the large oceanic liner carved a path across the waves, its passengers strolling around the upper deck, some were splayed out across the numerous sunbeds, while others had taken a seat at one of the many patio tables, to enjoy some quiet time with a book or just some small talk with one another.
Yet another seemingly perfect day on their journey across the sea.
And it was, to all but one Blake Belladonna.
Her amber orbs stared out over the seemingly endless waves, her new attire consisted of dark black fitting pants, with thigh-high black boots with gold edgings around the top the left boot had a white belt wrapped twice around her thigh, with each boot bearing her emblem. Alongside that, she wore a long white coat with grey linings and a sleeveless black crop top with rectangular and diamond-shaped cutouts around the neckline. Gambol shroud was strapped to her upper back, held in place by two smaller magnetic strips.
Her gaze remained fixed on the edge of the horizon as if searching for something, a sign perhaps, something to tell her to turn around, to go back, to find her partner, her team, her friends so she could get down on her knees and beg for their forgiveness. Blake closed her eyes a shuddering breath leaving her, if there had ever been a chance of that happening she would have taken it a long time ago.
Sadly, that bridge had been burned the second she'd tried to face Adam alone, her gaze fell back towards the device clutched in her right hand. Alex's plumber badge, she brushed her thumb across the badges sleek metallic surface, just looking at it made her heart, ache.
Blakes gaze drifted back towards the ocean, after a moment of hesitation she held her arm out over the water her grip loosening around the badge, there hadn't been a body for her to morn, no one to say her goodbyes to as they were buried, the badge was the last thing she had of him the last reminder of their time spent together, the only thing she could use to give him some form of a meaningful send-off.
No...
At the last second, Blake's fingers clamped shut around the badge, she stepped back from the railing a shuddering breath leaving her, she glanced down at the badge her face reflected back at her by the red lens at its centre "I'm sorry." She whispered pulling the badge into her chest. It had been months since the fall of Beacon and she still couldn't bear the thought of getting rid of it, holding onto it this long shouldn't have been healthy, but every time she tried to part with it, some part of her was compelling her to hold onto it, to keep it safe for whatever reason.
Blake sighed tucking the badge away in her coat pocket as a well-dressed figure approached from her right, she could worry about her mental health later, she had company. A long sigh left her as she turned to face the new arrival "...What do you want?" She asked glaring at the ships ageing captain.
The man raised his hands up in mock surrender offering her a small smile "Just looking for some friendly conversation" His smile fell slightly as he got a closer look at the girl in front of him."And going by that look seems like you could use some company right about now." He added
Blake narrowed her eyes "What's that supposed to mean?" She asked
The ageing sailor sighed leaning against the railing as he spoke. "Well going by that whole display a few minutes ago, with whatever you got stashed away in your pocket-" Blake flinched lightly her hand hovering protectively over the pocket holding Alex's badge. "-its a little obvious you've got a lot going on in that head of yours right about now, call it concern or just an old man being nosey, but didn't feel right to leave you sitting there like you were."
Blake sighed letting her anger fade, she turned back to look out over the ocean. "Maybe it's better for some people to be alone." A sudden shriek from a pair of passing children drew an alarmed gasp from Blake. The cat Faunus spun on her heels and back peddle into the railing as the kids ran past, the silence was broken by an amused chuckle from the captain.
"Maybe" He began "Although, with that paranoia of your, a friendly face here or there might be just what you need." Blake grits her teeth and turned away from the old man.
"Who says I'm paranoid?" She demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
"No one, dear. No one." The captain relented turning his gaze back towards the glistening waves " Still, you definitely picked one of the nicer places to do it, the seas are awfully peaceful this time of year, it's definitely one of the better places to see them off." Blake stiffened slightly at the captain's words, glancing back over her shoulder, his eyes met her a sad smile forming on his features "Your not the first one I've seen doing it, but definitely one of the youngest. If you're looking for somewhere private to say your farewells, try deck two near the stern, got a nice view out over the water and not a lot of people around to interrupt."
"I..." Blake trailed off she wanted to say no, to argue that she was fine for whatever reason, but in all honesty, a quiet spot to think and maybe sort her head out while she was at it sounded amazing right about now. Blake nodded to the captain, offering him a small smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome dear." He replied, his job done the captain pushed off the railing and began making his way back down the deck. Stepping away from the railing Blake began making her way towards the stern of the ship and the quiet spot the captain had offered to her, unaware of the cloaked figure tailing her, his sea-blue eyes locked on the retreating form of the Cat Faunus.
/
As the front door clicked shut behind her, Yang tossed her keys into the small bowl sitting on the cabinet to her left as she made her way into the living room, the once-proud brawler of Team RWBY collapsed down onto the sofa, rolling her shoulder a satisfied sigh left her. When her dad had suggested she take on some work with Madame Mallari, she'd thought it would have been just a waste of time.
She glanced down to her stump recalling her first encounter and the conversation that followed with her fellow amputee, turns out Patch's resident medicine maker had some valuable insight for what she'd been going through after losing her arm, this was probably the fourth time she'd visited her this week, and a long time since Mallari had let her go.
She didn't know why she kept going back, it wasnt like there was much for her to do there beyond sitting around and drinking tea with an old lady, but she liked it. Maybe it was just the fact she had someone to talk to, someone that could understand what she was going through, what she had lost. Koan and dad tried their hardest to understand, but it never felt the same.
Yang glanced up towards the clock hanging on the wall, her dad would still be out for a little while and Koan... probably out on one of his 'patrols' around the island. The backlash from the fall of Beacon had been felt all over the world, with a steady rise of Grimm activity quick to follow, and with most of their resident huntsmen dealing with the Grimm around Vale, suddenly the quiet island she called home was seeing a lot more action then it had in decades.
But somehow, there were no attacks, no new dens forming on the island with some of the old ones seemingly wiped out by an unknown source, most had just chalked it up to the action of some random huntsmen, though she had a pretty good idea who was behind it. Picking up the TV remote Yang began flicking through the various channels, for something to help kill time.
...
"...with no end in sight. Try as they might, the local Huntsmen and Huntresses can't seem to get a hold of the situation a Beacon academy."
...
"...though the failsafes have supported wireless communication within the kingdom, the loss of the CCT tower continues to prevent contact with the outside world. Talks with Atlas officials about repairs have so far-
...
"Vale council voted this week to continue to ban any air traffic that does not have a direct correlation with evacuation. The council has made it clear that they feel-"
...
"Multiple rumours continue to circulate as to who was behind the attack at the Vytal festival tournament." Yang leaned forward slightly the story having caught her interest, the blond brawler setting the control down beside her as she listened. "While no one knows for sure, officials have confirmed that high ranking White Fang member Adam Taurus, was present for the attack. Any and all attempts to bring him into custody have been met with brutal force-"
Yang shut the TV off and tossed the remote down beside her as she slumped back against the couch a tired sigh leaving her, any segment of her prior good mood long gone. Of course, a story about that son of a bitch had to be on, right when she just started watching. It was as if the universe was trying to remind her of who had put her in this position, and what they had taken from her.
A pair of arms slinked down past her shoulders yanking her from her thoughts, Yang let out a chocked gasp as her body stiffened and her fist tightened, she was sure no one else was in the house when she got back. "Don't let it get to you." Her boyfriend's voice spoke up from behind her, the Blond brawler let out a relieved sigh.
Leaning her head back over the couch she looked up at Koan and smiled "Hey babe"
"Babe?" The blond shapeshifter asked as he tilted his head to the side and leaned in, Yang smiled knowing all to well where this was going, she turned her head to meet his advance and their lips met. "I think you've been watching too many of those sitcom re-runs." Koan whispered as they pulled away from one another.
Yang sniggered "Aww~ And here I thought you liked those." She whispered back playfully " Try not to sneak up on me next time and I might have something better"
"Sorry, I thought you heard me when I came in." Koan replied
His apology made Yang blink in confusion, had she really been that thrown off by some news story that she hadn't heard him come in. Catching the distressed look in her eye, the blond shapeshifter moved around the couch taking a seat on the cushion beside her. "You ok"
Yang was quiet for a few moments "Yeah...I'm fine." Yang replied
"Yang, you know if anything bothering you, you can talk to me." Koan said
"I know, I know." Yang rolled her eyes, from day one he'd always been such a worrier, her dad definitely appreciated that and so did she more than she cared to admit, but she was fine now, sure it had taken a little time to adjust to her disability, but she'd moved past that, she'd accepted it, something he didn't seem to get ."You don't have to worry so much, I'm fine." She stressed.
Koan watched Yang wearily, no matter how many times she said it he always had a hard time believing it, the hollow look he'd seen in her eyes on some of her off day's was more than enough proof of that. "If you say so." Koan relented, he wasn't about to push the subject. "So how was your trip to Madam Mallari... she's not still mad at me... is she?." He asked both out of his own curiosity and a desire to change the subject
Yang's lips twitched up ever so slightly, looking back on that fiasco she couldn't help but smile. "She asked you to make some tea and you ended up setting her kitchen on fire" Koan winced, yeah, that and the earful the usually kind and collected woman had given him afterwards definitely wasn't one of his finest moments in life, but seriously, how was he supposed to know drapes could be that flammable. "How do you think she feels?" Yang giggled slapping her hand against his chest.
Koan smiled back, there was the Yang he knew and loved "Yeah, Yeah, I get your point."
Their conversation was interrupted when the latch for the front door clicked open followed swiftly by the door itself, Tai-yang stepped through the doorway a pair of bags hanging from his left arm and a box under the other "Really, you didn't have to stop I could have handled it" He said holding the door open for his companion.
"I know you could have." A young woman spoke up, Yang and Koan watched as a familiar blond stepped past Tai-Yang, the elder dragon kicking the door closed behind them as she entered "But you looked like you could use the help." Lily replied adjusting her grip on the two boxes in her arms.
"True" Tai-yang replied setting his bags down beside him, as he turned his attention towards the two teens watching them from the couch "Hey Sweaty" He greeted Yang with a smile, his daughter and Koan nodding back wordlessly. Brushing off the pair of wide eyes fixed on the two of them, as evidence they'd been 'busy' when he walked in, his eyes swept over to Koan and his smile fell ever so slightly "Hey kid, how'd the patrol go, didn't think you'd be back for another hour".
Recovering from his shock Koan coughed into his fist before answering "It's been quiet lately, Mr. Xiao Long" Koan moved to help Tai-Yang with his bags, it had been almost eight months and Tai-Yang still wasn't so used to having his daughter's boyfriend- or just her having a boyfriend in general -staying with them. "But I'll be heading back out a little later this afternoon, there are a few spots I've been wanting to check out."
"Hmm" Tai-Yang hummed in response before passing the two smaller bags to the young man, glancing back over his shoulder he asked "Lily, do you mind setting that stuff down in the kitchen."
"Of course" Lily nodded and began moving towards the kitchen "We'll talk later." She whispered to Yang as she passed
The blond Brawler nodded along wordlessly as the Yellow Jungle Fury ranger disappeared into the kitchen. All the while her father began clearing away the few ornaments resting on the living room table "Your gonna love this." Tai-Yang said setting the box down in front of her, brushing a little grime off the Atlesion symbol adorning the lid, he stepped back to let Yang take in the sight of the box in front of her.
Instead, she stared up at him curiously, her eyes occasionally flicking towards the kitchen "Oh right" Tai realized after a moment, pointing his thumb back towards the kitchen he answered the only thought on his daughter's mind. "That's Lily, she moved into the Coopers old place a little up the road. We ran into each other on the way back from the post office."
"We've met!" Lily called out from the kitchen.
"Huh, small world." Tai called back before turning an expectant gaze back towards his daughter "So..."
Yang stared down at the box eyeing it strangely. "So... What is it?" She asked glancing towards Koan, the shapeshifter shrugged in response, he was just as in the dark about her father's surprise as she was.
Tai-Yang smiled down at his eldest daughter "Something for you, and you alone."
Yang lifted the lid from the box revealing a sleek cybernetic arm, it polished steel plates shining int he light. Yang looked over the prosthetic, wide-eyed while her father practically gushed over the piece of Atlas tech. Yang blinked, her eyes drooping ever so slightly, revealing she was more distressed by the sight of the prosthetic then pleased.
"State of the art, Atlas tech." Tai-Yang went on " You know I thought I was going to have to pull a few strings, call in a few favors, but you earned this one all on your own, kiddo" He expected her to gush, maybe smile, the second chance she needed to get back out there was staring her in the face, Yang turned away in disinterest
Tai-Yang's smile fell as silence enveloped the living room, that hadn't been the reaction he'd been hoping for. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly Tai-Yang was quick to pick up where he left off. "Before I could even talk to him, General Ironwood had one of his to scientists working on this, for you. He wanted me to tell you that you fought admirably. You should be proud of yourself."
Yang looked up at her dad and Koan's hopeful faces, she glanced back towards the Cybernetic limb.
"Well?" Her dad asked "Are you going to try it on?"
"I uhh..." Yang trailed off, turning her head away as their face fell in disappointment. "I'm not feeling too gre-"
"Ohh come on." Lilly called out in surprise from the kitchen doorway, drawing the eyes of the occupants of the room towards her. "That thing came from the most advanced kingdom on the planet, and you're seriously not even gonna test it out?" Lilly said as she stepped into the living room
"Hey, hey It's fine." Tai-Yang stepped in "We'll just try it again later when she feels up to it" While managing to maintain his calm demeanor, Tai-Yang's defensive tone was enough to make the yellow ranger pause.
Lilly sighed, she didn't mean to sound condescending, or like Yang had been acting ungrateful. "I didn't mean to overstep, or anything, it's just..." her gaze shifted back to Yang. When she'd decided to come for a visit, Lilly had expected to find the blond brawler biting at the bit, to get back out there and meet up with her younger sister on the road to Mistral. "It doesn't seem like you to let an opportunity like this pass you by." Then again the broken girl across from her, wasn't the same fiery Blond she'd met back at that mine... Not anymore at least.
Her piece said and her welcome into the Xiao-Long household seemingly worn out she moved towards the front door "I apologize for any trouble I've caused you." She said to the elder Dragon as she passed. Yang's eyes followed the yellow ranger as she went, pulling open the front door Lilly sent one final glance back in her direction.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Tai-Yang let out a small sigh scratching the back of his head awkwardly "Sorry about that kiddo." Tai-yang said, if he had known something like that was going to happen, he wouldn't have invited her in.
Yang paid him no mind; her gaze locked on the front door. Lilly was here, but, but why. After Alex... died, she'd thought Lilly had disappeared like Adam and the others, if so why was she here now, had she come looking for her... no, no, in her current state she wasn't much use to anyone anymore, she must have been here for Koan.
Had she come to recruit him, to take him to join the others on their journey to Mistral? Yang turned towards Koan, the blond shapeshifter stared back at her wordlessly, he looked just as surprised and confused as she was by the Yellow Rangers presence. But, if that was the case why come here, why not just confront him while he was out on one of his patrols?
Yang glanced down to her new prosthetic, it seemed like too much of a coincidence that she and her dad had just run into each other like that. Even after her dad let her inside, Lilly hadn't tried to pull Koan aside or even said a word to him barring a small nod when she first arrived. Instead, Lilly had gone directly to her, suggesting they talk once things had settled down. No doubt the conversation would have been more than just the two of them catching up... had Lilly come to find he-
"Hey" Tai-Yang rested his hand on his daughter's shoulder, dragging the Blond Brawler from her thoughts and back to reality. "You alright kiddo?" He asked
"Yeah... Yeah." She replied, brushing his hand off her shoulder Yang rose back to her feet ignoring the awkward expressions from her dad and Koan. "...I'm okay." Yang moved towards the stairs, she'd had enough surprises for one day, on the plus-side she still had a few more chores that needed doing around the house, that might be enough to let her process everything.
Pausing halfway up she looked back towards the two blonds below" And uhh, thanks." Without another word Yang continued on her way, she had a feeling she hadn't seen the last of the Yellow ranger.
/
Blake leaned forward over the railing staring out at the horizon, the afternoon sun, bathing the sky in a mix of violet and gold light. She'd have to remember to thank the captain for telling her about this spot the next time she saw him, only the occasional crew member or passengers on their way back to their cabins, had passed by, each far too engrossed in their own tasks to pay her any mind.
It gave her a rare moment on her journey where she could actually take a moment to relax and get her thoughts in order, she'd be on the boat for a few more days before finally reaching Menagerie, from there it would be a relatively short walk from the docks to the Manner and after that, seeing her parents again. Six years, it had been six years since she'd ran off with the White Fang, six years since their argument, six years since she'd seen them.
Blake swallowed thickly, after everything that's happened would they even want to see her?
"They could never hate you for following your beliefs, and fighting for what you thought was right." Alex's words echoed through the back of her mind, Blake leaned forward resting her chin on the railing and staring down into the ocean depths, she really hoped he was rig-.
The outline of a colossal creature moved beneath the water's surface, Blake's eyes widened she stepped back from the railing as the shadow passed beneath the ship, the vessel shuddered violently "What the?..." The ship shook again, Blake stumbled forward catching herself on the railing before she could fall. A large red frill broke the water's surface passing her by as it made its way towards the front of the ship... "Oh no." She whispered in horror as the situation dawned on her.
Seconds later an alarm blared snapping her out of her trance, without a second thought, Blake hopped onto the railing, grabbing the end of the balcony above she pushed off the railing and flipped onto the upper deck, rolling into a sprint she followed close behind the frill drawing Gambol shroud from her back as she went, a small crowd of civilians rushing past her in the opposite direction.
Arriving at the front of the ship the frill disappeared beneath the waves, Blake stood at the ready her eyes scanning the waves in search of the Grimm alongside the captain and his first mate on the balcony above. "By the gods..." The aged sailor muttered as the colossal serpent-like body of the creature of Grimm rose from beneath the waves and loomed over them.
Its body black as midnight, a series of scale-like bone plates running along its underbelly towards its tail alongside a series of jagged spines along its back, with two small arms extending from its midsections, its head encased in a large external skull. The creature of Grimm looked down on the vessel and its occupants unleashing an earsplitting roar.
"All hands to battle stations!" The captain called out
"Sir we've never fought a Grimm this big." His first mate replied.
Adjusting his cap the captain turned his gaze back towards the Grimm" We've never seen something this big." He said glaring up at the Sea Fei-long " But we'll give her a fight none the less." Blake was the first to spring into action, charging the Grimm she leapt across the deck and spring boarded off the railing leaping high into the air, summoning a clone of her self mid-flight, the clone spun her and threw her forward, giving herself the added upward momentum she needed to get herself and her weapon in range of the Grimm.
Shifting Gambol Shroud into its Kusarigama form she flung her weapon forward embedding it in the Grimm's neck. Blake swings herself behind the Grimm, pulling gambol shroud free as she twisted her body to face the Grimm, firing two shots into the Sea Fei-longs back when that failed to deal any visible damaged she switched targets taking aim at fleshy glowing red eyes peeking out from behind its external skull, firing four shots the first three bouncing harmlessly off its armored jaw and nose, the four struck just above its left eye.
The Grimm roared in anger, whipping its tail, back at the cat Faunus in retaliation. Blake twisted her body as she fell narrowly avoiding being hit by the Grimm's attack, landing back on the bows upper deck as the Grimm dove down towards them. Acting quickly the captain turned the ship's wheel to the right, the ship turned sharply narrowly avoiding the Grimm as it disappeared under the water, sending a series of waves across the water's surface that violently rocked the ship.
After managing to regain control of his ship the captain released the helm and sprinted out of the bridge trying to get eyes on aquatic Grimm, the Sea Fei-long resurface on the opposite side of the ship. Blake leapt up into the crow's nest taking aim at the Grimm as it arced over the ship and back into the water. Rising from the ocean by the stern of the ship the Sea Fei-long opened its gaping maw ready to bite down on the ship.
Pushing her aura into her legs Blake leapt from the crow's nest towards the Grimm, delivering two slashes to the Grimm's snout, cannon fire erupted from below the crew having finally activated ships defences, the Sea Fei-long whipped its head back screeching in agony as the ship fired a barrage into its underbelly. Blake cried out in shock as she was thrown from the Grimm's snout and back towards the ship below.
Blake cried out as her back struck the deck, bouncing off she skipped across the deck toward the opposite railing and the water below. Acting quickly, she stabbed her weapon into the deck, carving a long groove in the wood as she skidded to a halt, looking up at the Grimm towering over the ship she started getting back to her fea- pain shot through her upper back.
"Grhhhgh" Blake grunted, dropping back to one knee her hand darted to her shoulder, even with her aura up it looked like the fall had done more damage then she'd thought.
/
"Hold steady men." The captain grimaced as the Sea Fei-long remerged from beneath the waves for another pass at the ship, his grip on the console tightening. "It's not done with us yet." He served as the captain of this vessel for almost three decades, facing all manner of obstacles be it the creatures of Grimm or any of the dozen tropical storms mother nature decided to send his way.
He wasn't about to let some overgrown eel bring him or his ship down without a fight.
"Get the heavy cannon loaded" He called out.
/
Blake rose back to her feet her aura dampening the throbbing in her shoulder as she readied herself to rejoin the fight. Suddenly a section of the deck to her left split open, a platform rose from beneath the deck carrying what she could only assume was another one of the ships armaments,-hopefully, this time she'd be able to avoid being caught in its crosshairs- the heavy cannon unfolded to its full length and began rotating towards the Sea Fei-long.
Before the cannon had a chance to fire, the large frill running down its back began to split in two unfurling's itself into a pair of bat-like wings. The Grimm unleashed an ear-splitting roar as it took flight, its beating wings sending a wall of gale-force winds towards the ship, Blake crouched low driving her weapon into the deck once more so as not to be blown away.
The cannon opened fire, but the Grimm easily evaded the slow-moving projectile, its superior agility giving it the edge over the ship's defences. The Grimm flew high above the ship bearing down the vessel once more, it opened its gaping maw, lightning crackled within as it charged up its own attack. Blake grit her teeth as she brought gambol shroud to bare, she'd be able to dodge the attack, the ship on the other hand... she just had to hope it could take the hit.
A cloaked figure leapt down from the balcony above "Hey!" The cat Faunus cried out in shock and anger as an unexpected weight settled on her back, a pair of hands forced her head down as she was turned into a makeshift springboard, launching him high into the air, the cloak fell away in the wind revealing a familiar face from her past, Sun Wukong.
Blake's eyes widened at the sight of the blond-haired monkey Faunus "Sun!?" She yells, her tone a mix of shock and confusion
Calling on his semblance Sun summoned two energy clones beside him, landing on the Grimm's face the three put their plan of attack into action, the two clones seized the Sea Fei-longs by the whiskers, while Sun grabbed its upper lip "Not today pal!" Sun cried as he and his clones yanked the dragons head back causing the dragons' lightning blast to be fired harmlessly into the sky.
"What are you doing!?" Blake called out to him.
"Ahh, you know..." Sun replied from atop the enraged Grimm's snout, holding on for dear life as the dragon flew past the ship twirling and diving through the air in an attempt to shake off its unwanted rider "Just... uh, hanging out!" Sun called back, the dragon climbed higher and higher into the air, opening its mouth once more lightning crackled and arced across the dragons head.
Sun cried out as he was electrocuted, forcing him to let go and was sent plummeting down to the waves below.
Blake gasped, rushing forward she leapt onto the railing, flinging her weapon towards the crow's nest the cat Faunus leapt of the side of the ship, pulling the ribbon taught as she fell Blake swung up and around the crow's nest, slingshotting herself towards her falling friend. Snatching him out of the air as she passed Blake twisted her body midair aiming for a group of sea stacks rising out from beneath the waves.
Crashing down atop one of the stacks Blake skidded back on her heels, she and her cargo coming to a halt in the center of the rock. Her eyes snapped down to the young man in her arms, though any prior concern she had for the Monkey Faunus died at that moment, Sun stared back at her and playfully laid a hand over his chest "My hero" he said dramatically
Blake stared back at him incredulously, was he serious right now? "You're not supposed to be here!" Blake shot back
"Yeah?" Sun retorted "Well, it looks like you could use all the help you can get."
Blake groaned in annoyance, rolling her eyes before dropped Sun on his rear the Monkey Faunus groaning in obvious pain. "Just shut up and fight" Blake stepped over him and started making her way back towards the battle, the dragon had already turned its attention back towards the ship and by the looks of it the heavy cannon they'd deployed wasn't doing much to ward it off.
Sun rolled onto his side propping his head on his hand, he smirked "Yes Ma'am"
/
The dragon unleashed another beam of lightning at the ship, alarms blared on the bridge, the captain gripped the helm tightly as his vessel shook from the impact. "Starboard defences are offline" His first mate called out to him swiping through the diagnostics report displayed on her console.
The captain glanced back at his crew "We still got the heavy cannon?" He asked
"Aye" The helmsman replied from a separate console "But it's moving too fast! We can't land a hit!"
The captain paused in thought for a moment, the cannon was the best option they had to end this all they needed was a clear shot... his eyes trailed off towards Blake and Sun as the engaged the Sei Fei-long from the deck. "How about the engines" He called back to his first mate a plan forming in his mind.
She swiped through her console bringing up the layout for the engines, it looked like they'd took a few hits but were still going strong "Fully functional captain" she reported back.
"Well alright then" The captain muttered stepping back from the wheel "Helmsman take over."
"Aye captain" The young man replied rushing to take his place at the wheel, while he rushed out onto the balcony overlooking the two Faunus below, his first mate following close behind him "Huntsmen!" He called out to them, Blake and Sun turned to face him the latter perched on top of the heavy cannon " If you clip its wings and draw it out towards the bow, we can take it." he announced his plan to the two teens.
Sun and Blake glanced to one another; it was as good a plan as any... there was just one problem. Sun smiled down at Blake sheepishly "I mean, you're the one with the swords." He shrugged.
Blake stared back at him flatly, he had a point but that still did not stop her being annoyed at him for being out he and she doubted it was all just some coincidence. Blake gave him a small "ugh" and turned to face the dragon, kill the Grimm first, be angry at him later.
"It's now or never" Sun called out to her, shifting his weapon back into its compact form he charges the Grimm, activating his semblance he summoned three clones. The quartet leapt high into the air, the first clone acting as a springboard launched Blake high into the air, the second, acting as a steppingstone for the cat Faunus to renew her upward moment, the third reached out towards her as she approached. Blake snatched the clones outstretched arm, the clone spun and launched her towards Sun's grinning face, the monkey Faunus held his hand out ready to give Blake the final boost she needed, his smile fell as Blake twisted her body so she was coming at him feet first, Blake flipped up onto Suns back her boot forcing his head down as she leapt high into the sky.
Meeting the peak of her assent gravity took hold and she began to fall; Blake straightened her body into a more aerodynamic form as she dived down at the dragon. The creature of Grimm glared up at the huntress rocketing down towards her, its eyes narrowed, the dragon roared and firing off a stream of lightning towards her. One after another the beams of energy arced through the sky towards her, Blake spun and twisted her body through the air dodging the oncoming bolts of energy.
Closing in on her target she reached back drawing gambol shroud from her back, twisting her body as she passed Blake plunged her sword down and through the dragon's wing from there she let gravity do the work for her, the Grimm screeched in agony as the ebony black blade carved a path through the wings membrane, the Grimm's body tipped to the side and began plummeting out of the sky.
As for Blake, she had a new problem. Shifting her body back Blake managed to flip her body around, so her feet were facing the fast-approaching ground below, she widened her stance pushing the majority of her aura into her legs to lessen the effects of the impact. A mop of blond hair stared up at her from below, Sun smirked, bending his knees he held his arms out for her.
The impact causes a miniature shockwave shattering the ground beneath their feet and kicking up a cloud of dust and debris around them, as the dust settled Blake found herself held bridal style in Sun's arms the Monkey Faunus staring down at her expectantly "This is the part where you say it" He Said
"Ugh" Blake let out another groan, rolling her eyes in clear annoyance.
The Sea Fei-long crashed into the sea stack, the tower trembled and shook as it began to collapse in on itself, Blake rolled out of Sun's arms and leapt to the closest rock formation, Sun stumbled to the side as the tower began to topple to the side "Ok maybe later?" He called out to her as he jumped onto a neighbouring bolder.
Meanwhile, the ship sped alongside them, Blake and Sun giving the captain the perfect opportunity to get into position. Sun leapt from one sea stack to another following close behind Blake, the dragon- still airborne despite its crippled wings -was hot on their heels, smashing through one stone tower after another in its attempt to devour the two hunters.
Sun screamed in terror as the dragon crashed through his current platform its gaping maw opened wide ready to swallow him whole, Blake leapt down from her own bolder hooking gambol shroud into the rock as she swung herself down, snatching sun out if the path of the dragon and behind one of the bolder. Before they had the chance to scale the bolder and make their escape the Grim rounded on them curling its body around the Sea stack, lightning crackled within its gaping maw, sun and Blake could do little more than star up in horror as their immediate demise loomed over them.
Suddenly the ship rammed the dragon impaling it on the bowsprit, the dragon screeched in agony and turned to face its attacker finding itself staring down the barrel of the ships heavy cannon, lightning crackled across its form once as the Grimm charged one last desperate attack... it never got the chance to use it
"Fire" The captain cried, the heavy cannon opened fire, the high explosive shell struck the dragon in the neck detonating on contact obliterating the dragons upper half, the now headless dragons lower body slumped to the side its body hanging from the bowsprit. Cheers erupted across the ships as both passengers and crew celebrated their victory over the Grimm.
"Ha-ha!" Sun pumped his fist, he turned towards Blake holding his hand out towards the Cat Faunus "Up-top!" he said. Blake rounded on him her face twisted into a scowl before Sun had the chance to react, she lashed out a resounding slap echoing across their surroundings.
/
She winced as monkey boy stumbled back into the rock face a large red handprint spreading out across his cheek, she adjusted her rifle the crosshair shifted to the right settling on an all to familiar face twisted in anger as she laid into the poor blond. Blake Belladonna was many things throughout her life, an advocate of civil right, a renowned huntress, a hero... a loving wife and mother that went above and beyond for her little kitten, but get on her bad side and it wouldn't be long before you found out she had one hell of a mean streak to her.
It had taken everything she had not to interfere or even offer some fire support during the fight, but her instruction from Professor Paradox were more than clear, she had to let events play out as they were supposed to, at least until the time came for her to reveal herself. An alert flashed up in her helmets head-up display, drawing a sigh from her, her cloaking projector wouldn't last much longer, she had nine...ten minutes before it shut down to recharge.
Time to go, vaulting over the railing she slid down the angled side of the ship dropping down onto the deck below, pulling a small keycard from one of the compartments, she slipped inside the ship, most of the guest were still in their rooms most likely still reeling from the near-death experience, it made the journey to her cabin all the easier without the need for any unnecessary diversion, though she still kept her projector active she didn't want to run into any brave souls or crewmembers that ventured out before the all-clear was sounded.
Reaching her room, she swiped the keycard across the lock, it flashed green and she hurried inside, the projector sputtering out as the door closed behind her, revealing the armored girl underneath. She wore a black armored jumpsuit, her chest plate, grieves, bracers and helmet were a mix of sand, dark brown, pale green and beige,- though she could adjust that at will should the need arise-her helmet sported a thin black visor with a red telescopic optic taking up the left side of her helmet, while the lower portion sported a built-in respirator.
She sighed in relief, leaning her rifle against her desk before taking a seat on her bed, the room wasn't as luxurious as the ones on the upper deck but it had the essential a bed, wardrobe and bathroom alongside a small desk tucked away in the opposite corner with a small mirror hanging on the wall opposite her bed, her duffle bag sat on the desk beside her journal a series of notes and diagrams spread out across the pages.
Pulling off her helmet and setting it down by the foot of her bed, she looked up into the mirror. Dark jade green eyes stared back at her she brushed a hand through her shoulder-length dark brown hair her cat ears flicked and twitched in the open-air happy to be free from the confines of her helmet.
Tapping the centre of her belt the buckle flashed red twice and the nanobots in her suit got to work, the armor plates on her chest, shins and arms broke down into nothingness, leaving her in the skin-tight black suit underneath. She yawned sleep seemed like a good idea right about now, kicking off her combat boots, she lay back on the bed, if she had her dates right they'd be docking in Menagerie in the next couple of days, from what paradox had told her... or in this case "not told her", because apparently knowing of events to come could theoretically unravel all of space and time, who knew.
He'd already given her the gist of what to expect anyway so she hadn't thought to ask any further. But what she did know, was that once Blake set foot on Menagerie that's when things would really start to kick off.
To be continued