Ruby sighed tilting her head back she stared up into the darkening skies above, another day, another long gruelling day of walking that- judging by the dark clouds rolling in above- would probably be followed by another night of camping out in the rain. The town they'd passed through a few days back had been a welcome reprieve from the harsh mistral whether something Pyrrha had mentioned was common this time of year.
But now it was time to get back at it, they'd been on the road for months now Haven had to be close, right... Right. "Havens a lot farther then I thought." She muttered
"Ruby" Ren spoke up pulling the younger girl out of her thoughts.
Pyrrha looked up from her map casting a small glance back towards their young leader as the two spoke "How long did you expect our journey to last?" Ren inquired a quizzical look in his eye. Pyrrha knew Ruby had lived a rather reserved life - much like her own- on Patch, with their time at Beacon most likely being the longest she'd stayed away from home, but surely she wasn't that, unaware of the world around them.
"I don't know!" Ruby "I grew up in a small area; I've never been this far away from home!"
"Right but...?" Pyrrha trailed off
"Maybe, uh... " Ruby muttered rubbing the back of her neck as she glanced off to the forrest around them "Two weeks."
o-Oh!" Pyrrha gasped trying her best to hide her surprise behind a shaky smile, while Nora gave an amused glance to her partner.
"Okay fine, maybe three!" She blurted out refusing to meet the invincible girl's eyes while Pyrrha struggled to contain the good-natured giggles that threatened to spill past her lips. "Or whatever" she added crossing her arms over her chest. It wasn't her fault she'd never been outside of Vale, sure her dad took missions outside the kingdom from time to time when they were younger, but they only ever lasted a few weeks...at... most.
"Hey, what's that?" she asked, squinting her eyes she could just make out what looked like rooftops poking through the trees further down the road. In response, Nora hopped up onto the wooden fence by the roadside to get a better view of what looked like the outer wall of a small town.
"This shouldn't be here." Pyrrha muttered looking back at the map, she quickly double-checked the route they'd been following from Higanbana "According to this the nearest town should be at least a week away from here" She said holding the map out to Ren, the green-clad ninja taking a corner in hand. "Is it possible we could have taken a wrong turn along the way?"
"Maybe." Ren replied much like Pyrrha he traced the route they'd be following so far, looking for any instance where they might have gone of track.
"Hey, guys." Nora called back to them. "Are those buildings...damaged?"
"We should hurry, there might still be survivors" Pyrrha shoved the map back into her pack as the four raced off down the cobblestone path towards the town. Pushing her aura into her legs Nora leapt over the outer wall and onto a support beam for one of the seemingly demolished buildings Magneild at the ready she peered out across the town below searching for any signs of life or the creatures of grim as her teammates dashed in through what once was the main gate their weapons at the ready.
Splitting up the team began to comb through the inner courtyard, shifting her weapon into its rifle form Pyrrha scanned over the surrounding buildings and alleyways as Ruby and Ren picked through a small pile of debris in search of any signs of life "Anything" Ruby called back to the others.
"Nothing over here?" Nora called back as she leapt down from her perch.
"No, nothing" Pyrrha added, lowering Milo she glanced around the courtyard in confusion, this didn't make any sense where is everyone.
"It's almost like... the town was abandoned." Ren muttered as the others moved further into the town Ruby lagged behind her eyes roaming over the demolished buildings around them her cape swaying in the wind behind. A sense of unease growing inside her the longer she stood there, she didn't know how to describe it, but something about this place, it just felt wrong.
"Hey, I think I found something!" Nora called out pulling Ruby back to reality, turning on her heels she hastily rushed over to Nora, Pyrrha and Ren who were busy examining the town signpost. Nora brushed aside a section of the ivy growing over the sign to the side revealing what it said.
"Oniyuri?" Nora asked, a pang of recollection flashing Pyrrhas eyes at the mention of the name "Never heard of it."
"I'm not surprised" Pyrrha replied drawing her teammate's eyes she and Ren sharing a small glance. "I first heard about it through my tournament career, even after the disaster there was still talk among some of the more influential families in Mistral about seeing the idea through, my grandfather certainly seemed to hope so."
Pyrrha sighed, she could still remember him going on and on to her mother and father about the project about how it would serve as a new start, a bright future for all of them, she'd been just a girl at the time and had more than once been enraptured by her grandfather stories of "the fifth kingdom" as he called it. "Years ago some of the richest and most powerful families in Mistral started to grow tired of how our kingdom was being run. In an effort to change that or at the very least escape it that they pooled their resources together to create this" She gestured to the ghost town around them.
"Oniyuri, a place with its own government and its own rules." Pyrrha shook her head sadly "As you can imagine it didn't take long for the idea to gain some headway, some of the most powerful and less fortunate of our citizens flocked towards the idea offering what support they could be it manpower or wealth, each with the hope of seeing the dream realised and that one day it might even grow to be its own kingdom." Pyrrha stared down at the sign. "Had it actually reached completion before it fell, I imagine it might have come to be known as Anima's Mountain Glenn."
"What happened?" Ruby asked
"The same thing that always happens" Ren spoke up brushing away some of the rubble that dotted the steps of the building in front of them revealing the series of claw marks carved into its surface.
"Grimm" Pyrrha replied
Ren clenched his fists "Not just any, one."
Ruby glanced between Nora and Pyrrha, the emerald spartan sharing in her leader's confusion all the while Nora's concerned gaze never once moved from her partner "One?" Ruby asked.
The four jumped as several birds burst from the treeline back down the road, fleeing over the village from some unseen threat. Pyrrha grip tightened around Milo as she watched them soar overhead, looking back down the way they'd come she felt a chill run up her spine.
"We should leave." Pyrrha said, a feeling of dread washing over her "Something isn't right about this place." Stepping away from the sign she began heading deeper into the ruin Nora following swiftly behind her, Ren lingered for a moment seemed lost in thought before he too followed. Once again Ruby was the last to leave her eyes lingered on the ruins around her, so similar and yet so different to the school they'd all left behind.
She hoped like them, at least some people here had managed to make it out
/
Weiss maintained her vacant smile as she nodded to the audience, as she descended from the stage. Many gave honest applause to her performance, though there were still some who sneered and began whispering thinly veiled insults in her general direction.
She paid them no mind and continued on through the ballroom. "A truly breathtaking performance, Miss Schnee" An elderly gentleman gushed as she passed.
"Incredible!" Another added. "I had wondered if I would ever have the chance to hear you sing again."
"Thank you, thank you." Weiss smiled for each of them intern, playing her role as the perfect and pampered doll everyone believed her to be to a T. As degrading as it might have been her father would be satisfied at the very least, more and more bodies began to crowd around her as the guest complimented and congratulated her on her performance.
One man, a reporter judging by the press tag around his neck even attempted to convince her to accept his offer of an interview. She had barely uttered a word in response when he swiftly pulled aside and escorted out of the BallRoom by a man dressed in a fine teal suite, that she immediately recognised as a member of security.
Her fathers doing no doubt, almost a year on and he still didn't trust her with the media unless they went through him first, some might have considered that his way of protecting her after she'd been through such a traumatic experience as the Fall of Beacon, she doubted any good parent would be hesitant to ask their child to relive such memories.
Jacques Schnee was no such man, her father, while still managing to maintain a conversation with a wealthy investor watched her from across the Ballroom. Weiss sent a respectful nod back towards him and though he didn't answer in kind, his focus shifted back towards his conversation with the investor.
'Just keep up the good daughter act a little longer' She told herself 'It's just for tonight.'
Weiss wasn't a fool, she knew this charity ball -if you could even call it that- served as more than just another one of her fathers PR schemes and going by how focussed he had been on her throughout the night she was almost certain she played a bigger role tonight then she'd originally believed. She could already assume her performing on stage was a way for him to prove how he'd gotten his way over hers once again.
But was her brother's antics that pushed her the most, in the past, her youngest sibling who often stayed by their father side during past events was now across the other side of Ballroom schmoozing with several women.
She wouldn't call it flirting, seeing as the group's members had to be in their mid-twenties and -thankfully- seemed to just be humouring him. Still, it was obvious he'd been making the rounds and being as visible as possible, both to the guests and the photographers her father had allowed to cover the event. She narrowed her eyes as Whitley paused in his exchange with the woman to speak with one of the journalists, the exchange lasted for longer then she'd expected and with seemingly no interference from security.
It was then she realised, something wasn't right.
Accepting a glass of champagne from one of the passing waiters she broke off to the right disappearing into the crowd and making her way towards the small art gallery that had been set up on the other side of the BallRoom. She needed time to think, to analyse, and she wouldn't get any of that if she was stuck by her father's side being shown off to one guest after another.
The fact her fathers gaze almost immediately snapped back to her as she went only added to her already growing suspicion. Breaking free from the crowd Weiss approached the divider between her and the numerous sculptures and paintings laid out before her. Taking a moment to calm her frazzled nerves, she glanced up at the largest of the artworks present, nestled between two sculptures was a portrait of Beacon.
Weiss's lips twitched up into a small smile, thoughts of better times coming to the forefront of her mind. That smile died as a figure stepped in view beside her, taking in a small breath through her nose Weiss prepared both herself and the series of responses she'd likely deliver following the partygoer's attempts at complimenting and or wooing her.
"It's an amazing pice" Small talk, not the worst ice breaker, most of the men who'd tried to court her in the past usually started off with a half-hearted compliments about her appearance to try and endear themselves. "Think it'll do well at the auction later tonight?." Still, it gave her the chance to lead the conversation and perhaps convince her would-be suiter to leave.
"Hopefully" Weiss replied keeping her eyes focussed on the painting, taking a sip fo her champaign she asked. "Are you considering buying one?"
The awkward laugh that followed, raised some confusion inside the Schnee heiress "Uhh well... let's just say they're a little too pricey for me." Weiss scowled, surely he must have been joking and a bad one at that. For the first time since their conversation began Weiss turned to face him, a look of scorn in her eyes.
Only to pause as she finally took in his appearance. Mistrilian and maybe a decade or so older than her, wearing a simple black dress suit with gold cufflinks and green lining, beneath which he wore a white dress shirt and dark green tie along with black dress pants and shoes, a small green necklace hanging around his neck accompanied by a pair of sleek glasses resting on the bridge of his nose as he stared down at the paintings.
Compared to the crowd of wealthy businessmen and celebrities around them he looked, out of place, to put it simply." I'm not trying to be rude or anything, the price is definitely worth it." He quickly assured her "It's just...Yeesh." He muttered eying the prices for the paintings wearily... that was a lot of zero's.
"Are you... okay." Weiss found herself asking.
"Uhh...Yeah, don't worry about me." He replied before downing his drink in one go. "Let's just say I'd be a little more comfortable back in my lab then... this." He said gesturing back to the party aimlessly.
'Lab' Weiss blinked, after a moment of silence she slowly offered her hand to the young man. "We haven't really been introduced yet, Weiss Schnee."
"Cameron Watanabe." Cam replied taking her hand in a gentle grip." And I know who you are, hard not to all thing considered and you know" He tilted his head back towards the portrait "You fought pretty hard back there and... I'm sorry about what happened to your friends."
Weiss's smiled sadly, an image of Yang missing her arm flashed through her mind. "Thank you." His words felt far more genuine then the flowers and offered condolences she'd received in droves following her return to Atlas. Relaxing her posture if only a little she asked "So, if you're not here for the ball, why are you here?"
He glanced to a few passing partygoers "Do you mind." Cam said Gesturing for her to come closer. "I could get in a lot of trouble if this gets out to the wrong people."
And she was somehow one of these 'Right people'. After a moment of silence, Weiss complied and shifted a little closer to Cameron and out of earshot of any passers-by "Software." Cam leaned back against one of the bronze pillars holding up the divider and looked out over the crowd. "Since the attack on Beacon General ironwoods requisitioned a complete overhaul of the Atlas Military and CCT's security network. The older Hardware getting revamped and most of the security code's being thrown out, rewritten or replaced entirely." he explained in a hushed tone.
Weiss quirked an eyebrow, computers weren't exactly her forte "And that's good?"
"It means once we're done we won't have to worry about a repeat of what happened back at Beacon." Cam replied and with his code that wasn't some empty promise.
Weiss expression darkened slightly as she recalled the moment communications across the kingdom had suddenly been severed, and the androids designed to protect the people and support her and her team against the Grimm turning against them. "There's talk of pushing this out to the other kingdoms once everything up and running here in Atlas, we might even be able to open up some form of long-ranged communications if were lucky."
"That's... that's incredible" Weiss gasped. If it were possible to reinstate long-range communications with the CCT not only would ti be a boon for the rest of the world as a whole but also present a chance for Atlas to finally be able to clear their name for Beacon. "And the Council are behind him on this?" If so why hadn't she heard anything on the news, surely they wouldn't dare let this opportunity pass them by.
"Yes and No." Cam said. Loose lips sink ships as they said. "Like I said this operation is supposed to be under the radar."
Weiss narrowed her eyes. "If it's confidential then why are you telling me?" She inquired suspicion clear in her eyes.
"The maintenance scheduled for the CCT will be public knowledge in the next few days, as for the rest... Alex trusted you." Cam replied turning to look her in the eyes his voice dropping into a whisper "Lilly vouched for him more than once, and he did the same for you and your team so I don't see much of a problem telling you." Had Weiss blinked she'd have missed it, for a moment Cam's face seemed to distort and glitch out of focus, in its place sat a green helmet with gold plating surround its sleek star-shaped visor.
"Your..." Weiss trailed off as Cam's face came back into view, her eyes shifted back to the crowd, darting around the ballroom and over every face present. "Does that mean, they're here?" She needed to know, this was her home if one of the Psycho Rangers were here if they came after her and her family, she needed to know, she needed to be ready.
"No not at the moment at least, so far they haven't popped back up in any of the major kingdoms since the fall of Beacon." And that worried him more than anything, barring Cassie and himself the rest of their team had gone underground, they were outnumbered and with so few allies left on this world, they had to play their hand carefully at least until more help could arrive."We've got eyes on your teammates as well, they're safe."
Weiss breathed a small sigh of relief, the last thing she needed right now was the thought of her teammates being in danger while she was stuck in Atlas. Although... Weiss's eyes flicked up to Cam, she might be able to change that. "Cameron." She addressed the young man "What I'm about to ask you may seem like a lot but, could you take me to my team."
"You want to leave?" Cam asked. "What about your family?" Sure Jaques had a reputation but it couldn't be that bad, right.
Weiss sighed "My father is up to something, he's always had me on a short leash even before I left for Beacon, but now something changed." She didn't know what it was but she didn't like it. "I can't set foot outside the manner or go about it as I used too and where I can go there's always someone there waiting for me, watching me, it's like he's waiting for me to do... something, I don't know for what, or the reasons behind it reasons, but whatever it is I want no part of it."
And then there'd been tonight, first, it was the reporters being shunned away or escorted out by security if they even tried to approach her, then there was Whitley breaking away from his usual place by fathers side to greet the guests and finally -if the look her father had given her earlier was anything to go by- his apparent commitment to keeping her at an arm's length at all times.
Cam furrowed his brow, a few of those could be chalked up to an overprotective parent looking out for their kid, but the more he listened to Weiss describe the blatant and likely very illegal house arrest her father had forced her under, the more he began to understand. "What about your mother?"
"...She's of no help" Weiss shook her head disappointment clear in her tone, mother spent most of her time drinking the days away in the gardens or locked away in her room as she slept off some ungodly hangover, only to rinse and repeat the following day. Weiss looked up at him pleadingly "Please, is there anything you can do?"
She watched Cam's face twist in thought "Is there anyone you trust here?" He asked her "Someone who you could depend on that your father can't influence." Weiss grew silent, the Schnee heiress mulling over the possibility. Winter came to mind but that idea was immediately discarded, her sister had taken steps to distance herself from the Family and likewise, their father made it abundantly clear she was no longer welcome.
The staff would be no use either, they could be influenced or bought far too easily, now that she thought about it her father had likely tasked a few of them with keeping tabs on her should she have stepped out of line, unsurprising really, they had no loyalty to her only the paycheck her father offered them, the only one she ever really interacted with daily was...
"Klien" Weiss whispered to herself.
"Who?" Cameron asked.
"Klien... he's one of our butlers, I've known him since I was a little girl." Weiss explained
"Would he help you, if you asked?" Cam inquired with a raised eyebrow. Weiss glanced off to the side in thought, if she asked, defiantly, but could she really do that to him, she'd be risking his entire career, not only at the manor but in Atlas itself. If he helped her run off and her father found out he'd gone behind his back, that he'd crossed him, he wouldn't hesitate to ruin him.
Seeing her hesitation Cam dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out one a scroll. "Take some time to think on it" He said, manoeuvring in front of Weiss and blocking their hands from the view of any watchful eyes, Cam flashed the scrolls compact form to her. Catching on almost immediately, Weiss offered her near-empty champaign flute to him. "Once you've had a chance to talk to him, call me and I might be able to arrange something." Slipping the scroll into her hand as he accepted her glass, Weiss hastily tucked the device away into the sleeve of her gown as Cam turned to deposit the glasses on a passing waiters tray.
A small smile stretched across her features "Thank you, Cameron."
"You can call me Cam." He nodded back to her before checking his watch, their conversation had definitely lasted a little longer than expected and the last thing he wanted was to cause her any more trouble with her father. "You should probably get back to your father before he sends someone to find you."
"I could..." Weiss trailed off as she spotted a few of the guest moving to the dancefloor and beginning to waltz. A stray thought coming to the forefront of her mind. "Would you care to dance Cam, I'm sure you'll be expected to do it at least once tonight, I know I certainly am."
Cam regarded her with some surprise. "No offence but, you sure you wouldn't rather dance with someone more your own age?"
"The only people my age you'll find here, are the son of my fathers most prominent business patterns, all of whom are conveniently single and of marrying age." Perhaps that was her fathers plan all along, have her married off to a 'lucky' young man he'd claim caught her fancy.
"I think I might be able to help with that." Cam offered his hand a knowing look in his eye. "Afterall I am sworn to safeguard those threatened by such insidious advances."
"Then you have my thanks, noble guardian." Weiss curtsied before taking his hand. "If it's not too much trouble would you mind scowling a little? I'm hoping you'll be able to scare off anyone who might come and ask me for a dance."
"I think I can handle that." He was starting to like this girl more by the minute, adopting a much sterner expression, his dark eyes narrowed into a small glare, the same one he'd given his so-called uncle days after he'd first joined Shane and the others as a ranger on the battlefield.
Weiss stifled a small giggle, intimidating, cold yet not too overly menacing, yes that would do just nicely. "Perfect." Stepping alongside the man almost twice her age, the crowd between them seemed to part ways; some were shocked by the sight of them together but also intimidated by the stern man by her side as they made their way to the dancefloor.
Maybe tonight wouldn't be all that bad after all.
/
It didn't take long for the members of RRVN to navigate their way through the ruins of Oniyuri, the thought of hunkering down for the night and waiting out the coming storm had passed through their minds, but while a defendable campsite the ruins were far from desirable, the similarities between it and Beacon in the days following its fall were all too grating on the mind, for some even more so.
Passing through the archway leading into the remains of what might have been a market place, the villages rear gate came into view and with it the road ahead to Mistral. 'Just a little longer' Ruby thought to herself as she strolled down the battered cobblestone path beside Pyrrha, the closer they got to the Kingdom the higher the chance the next village would have an airship and their troubles would be over.
Ren suddenly stopped, his back going ridged as a cold feeling washed over him. "Wait" he said gesturing for the others to stop Nora, Pyrrha and Ruby immediately drew their weapons eyes scanning the surrounding ruins. Closing his eyes Ren focussed his attention on this presence, wait... there was more than one, and they were closing in on them at an alarming rate.
Both were touched by darkness, but it was the leading member of their group that worried him, while he could easily identify both as a threat this one felt far darker in nature.
Like the Grimm this being was cold.
/
A crimson streak darted through the thick trees moving from one branch to the other as it closed in on the remains of OniYuri, a deranged cackle leaving the being inside as it leapt from the cliffs above and down onto the cobblestone path outside the village walls.
/
Unfeeling
/
Surging forward the streak crossed through the gate, darting to the right, it scaled the side of a ruined home before springboarding off the side and into the air towards the incomplete town hall, sliding across the tiled roof a large mass formed behind the streak, tearing through the upper building as it went.
/
Evil.
"Hahahahahahahahahh!" The deranged cackle was their only warning as the crimson streak leapt over the wall between them and the townhall, twisting into a spiral the streak smashed down into the village square, the resulting shockwave sending the four huntsmen in training skidding back on their heels and kicking up a large cloud of dust between them.
RRVN had little time to react as the serrated blade of a scythe slashed through the cloud, its owner a figure clad in a black cloak darted through the opening towards Ruby. Ren shoved his teammate aside, the scythe's blade clashing against storm flowers own in a shower of spark, its owner snarled beneath their hood.
Forcing the blade to the side Ren lashed out with his right leg an aura fueled kick aimed towards their attackers head, bending backwards at an unnatural angle their hooded attacker ducked under Ren's leg, twisting his body to the side the hooded figure pulled his Scythe free and swung it in an arc forcing both Ren and his teammate to jump back out of range with the weapon as it carved a path through the air in front of them.
Allowing the weight of his weapon to carry him, the hooded figure twirled back onto his feet and surged forward towards the Green clad Ninja, slashing forward he followed through flipping through the air into a second overhead strike before seamlessly transferring into a series of horizontal slashes. Ren ducked and weaved between the Scythes blade and parried what strikes he couldn't avoid to the best of his ability.
Planting the hilt of his Scyth into the ground the hooded figure double kicked Ren in the chest knocking the green-clad ninja several feet back. Using her teammate like a springboard their attacker launched himself back towards hi fellow Scythe wielder, Ruby rushed forward with her semblance Crescent rose meeting him halfway.
Deflecting her weapon off to the side he drove his elbow into the young girl's cheek sending her stumbling back with a pained grunt, twirling her scythe so Cresent Rose's barrel face downwards she fired launching herself into the air, shifting her weapon into its sniper form she fired three shots down on her attacker.
He smirked twirling his scythe in front of him he blocked the first two shots with ease, suddenly a black aura enveloped the Scythe blade halting it on its third twirl allowing Rubys final shot to strike him in the chest. Pyrrha launched her shield into her opponents back making him stumble forward, regaining his footing he quickly slashed back at the emerald spartan who danced between the blade of his scythe thrusting her blade into his chest a shower of sparks and a pained grunt accompanying the impact.
Pyrrha's eyes widened for a moment before hardening like steel and followed her initial blow with three consecutive slashed against her opponent's chest her semblance keeping her opponents Scythe at bay. Narrowing his eyes beneath his hood their attacker abandoned his weapon the Scythe dissipating into crimson particles. With speed matching Rubys own semblance he sidestepped Pyrrhas next blow and dropped low sweeping her legs out from under her, leaping into the air he drove the heel of his Crimson armoured books into her chest, Pyrrha hacked as she was sent skipping across the cobblestone path.
"Ragh!" Nora bellowed leaping down on their attacker from above, the hooded figure smirked. Several gunshots rang out through Oniyuri, Nora cried out in pain her aura flaring across her back and side as her body was peppered with bullets, sidestepping her as Nora crashed back down to Remnant the red-haired bomber skipped across the ground before rolling to a halt beside Ruby.
"Your late, I was beginning to think you'd given up the chase." The hooded figure addressed the new arrival, a pale man with gold eyes and a brown ponytail braided to resemble a scorpion's tail. He wore a white sleeveless jacket with leather belts strapped to it, along with white pants. His jacket is left open, exposing his heavily scarred chest. His arms are covered with purple bandages and leather vambraces. He also wears leather boots covering his entire shin with knee guards.
"And allow you to relish in the fun?" He hummed crossing his arms behind his back as he came to stand alongside him
Pulling herself to her feet Pyrrha shifted her weapon into its rifle form taking aim at the new arrival "Bandits" She surmised, it looked like they'd walked right into an ambush. "Whoever you are, we aren't looking for a fight." She called out to them "Let us be on our way and there will be no need for bloodshed."
The two shared a glance, the pale mans face twisting in amusement as the hooded figure rolled his eyes beneath his hood "My what poor memory you have my dear, or..." The paler man trailed off his manic gaze shifting to his companion "Perhaps you and your brethren simple aren't all that memorable." The hooded one scoffed at that.
"Tyrian, shut up." The now identified Tyrian put a hand over his heart an almost hurt expression passing over him as his companion continued " You know who we are, I'd be surprised if you've put your time at Beacon behind you so quickly." He said waving the blade of his Scythe towards the three members of JNPR before turning it towards Ruby "You most of all little Red, it been what, a year since mountain Glenn and while our time together was short." Locking eyes with her, he tapped his temple for emphasis "It was quite... eventful, wouldn't you agree." His eyes flared with Crimson arc energy, that spread from his eyes and passed over his body, revealing his true form.
"You..." Ruby's face paled slightly, tightening her grip on Crescent Rose she brought her weapon to bear. "What do you want? You've already won Beacon's gone and so is Alex, why are you here!" She demanded
"Ooh, this Rose has thorns." Tyrian added stepping forward, Ruby immediately took a step back causing the mad man to smirk. "You needn't fear my little rosebud, while my companion may want nothing more than to pluck the eyes from your skull." Much like himself, such a vile creature as this should not have been allowed near their glorious goddess without being... neutered, so to speak "You are in luck, for you see he and I are not here to deal harm but rather to whisk you away with us."
"Well, what makes you think we'd even let her go with you." Nora stepping in front of her friend protectively.
Tyrian and Psycho Crimson shared a glance "In that case, we'll take her."
Shifting her weapon back into its xiphos form, Pyrrha stepped up alongside her teammate Milo and Akouo at the ready. "You will not touch her." The emerald spartan growled.
"Hmm." The psycho ranger hummed "Alright then, let's play."
Ren raised storm flower and opened fire towards Pyrrha, his bullets ricocheting off her shield towards Tyrian and Psycho crimson. The psycho ranger stepped in front of his comrade and spun his scythe blocking the oncoming fire, smirking Tyrian leapt up springboarding off Psycho Crimsons shoulder and into the air extending his wrist-mounted blades as he descended on Ruby from above. Slashing her scythe up towards the mad man Tyrian parried Crescent rose off to the side and retaliated with a swift kick knocking Ruby aside.
/
Psycho Crimson darts forward tackling Nora away and through the crumbling wall of a nearby house. The red-haired bomber flips onto her feet, stomping down on a broken board she launches three pieces of rubble into the air in front of her, reeling back her hammer she bellows out a war cry and swung her hammer forward sending a storm of jagged rocks and splinters toward the Psycho ranger.
Thrusting his hand forward the Psycho ranger unleashed a bolt of green lighting disintegrating the impromptu attack and striking Nora in the chest, Nora couldn't help but cry out in pain as the lighting arched across her body. Strange as it might sound this lightning was far from the normal kind she was used to, she didn't know how to describe it lightning was lightning but this, this felt...wrong.
The usual rush of power spreading through her body was mirrored by a cold stabbing pain deep inside of her, clenching her eyes shut Nora pushed that feeling aside and channelled the energy into her muscles.
Nora's eyes snapped open the same green lighting arching around her pupils. "What!" The Psycho ranger cried out in shock as Nora leapt through the shattered building and struck down at the psycho ranger, her weapon clashed against Psycho Crimsons Scythe unleashing a small sonic boom.
"Impressive." He growled. Matching her strength with his own, the Pyscho ranger pushed back against her hammer. Lashing out with a swift kick to the shin Nora was forced down onto one knee, knocking Magnhild down the Psycho ranger slashed Nora across the face with the serrated spear tip attached to his weapon's hilt. Nora clenched her eyes shut the red-haired bomber narrowly avoided being blinded as the serrated blade carve a path down her face pink aura particles trailing in its wake.
Without missing a beat its owner side kicked Nora back into Pyrrha sending the so-called invincible girl skipping across the cobblestone path to the other side of the square. "But nowhere near enough to beat me."
Snapping his gaze back towards Ruby, he watched as Tyrian tore into her swatting her Sthyce down with his tail the scorpion Faunus delivered a right hook to her face and left elbow to her chest in quick succession causing her aura to shimmer. Psycho Crimson growled in frustration his eyes glowing a bright Crimson 'That should have been me down there' The urge to interfere welled up inside him and he took a step forward, his eagerness to join the brawl growing.
'No!' He crushed the jealousy and wrath down inside him, Salem had promised him his lump of flesh so long as the girl was brought to her, and while he would have enjoyed tearing her apart here and now, he couldn't afford to make the same mistakes that had cost his brethren their lives in the past.
So for now...
Psycho crimson batted Akouo aside with his Psycho Scythe, a black aura enveloping the shield as Pyrrha pulled her weapon back into her free hand, she and Nora charging the Psycho ranger head-on.
He'd settle for breaking her little friends.
/
Twirling Tyrian lashed out with his tail knocking Ruby several feet back through the air, not missing a beat Tyrian rushed forward closing in on Ruby and delivering a swift kick to her abdomen while she was still in the air shattering her aura and knocking her to the ground. Groaning Ruby rolled onto her side looking up at Tyrian with wide and fearful eyes as the psychopath raised his stinger his bright yellow eyes shifting to dark purple a murderous grin spreading across his lips.
"Ruby!" Pyrrha called out to her in horror she and Nora wrestled against Psycho Crimson Scythe, while Ren rolled pushed himself onto his hands and knees reaching out to her.
As Tyrian was about to strike the final blow, a black beam of light surged down from the sky and slammed into the Psychopath, Tyrian crying out in both surprise and fear as the beam knocked him back through the air.
"What!?" Kicking Nora aside Psycho Crimsons head snapped towards the new arrival. "Who dares such insolence?!"
Taking her chance Pyrrha pulled the Psycho Rangers weapon aside with her semblance, following up with two horizontal slashes to his chest Pyrrha shifted her weapon into its spear variant and thrust her weapon forward into the Psycho Ranger's chest staggering him. Ducking back Nora surged past her slamming her hammer into Psycho crimson gut, the Psycho ranger hacked as he was launched across the square and into one of the crumbling buildings.
Ruby for her part stared up at her saviour in awe, she recognised the suit almost immediately the same one Alex had used against Psycho Gold back during Beacons dance and whose owner had helped rescue Yang from the mine. The Mighty Morphing Black Ranger turned towards her, offering her a hand, one she graciously accepted.
"Take it easy, kid." MMBR said as he pulled her back to her feet.
"Ruby!" A voice called out to her, stepping back from her saviour Ruby turned to the source her silver eyes landing on the approaching form of her uncle Qrow a look of relief passing over him. Catching movement behind them Qrows blood-red eyes hardened like steel as he caught sight of that Faunas bastard who picking himself up off the ground.
Drawing Harbinger off his back he leapt forward standing beside Adam, who stepped in front of his niece protectively while summoning his Power Axe into his right hand.
Tyrian tilted his head to the side a satisfying crunch greeting his ears "My as I live and breath, Qrow Branwen and who is this I see beside you one of the elusive "Guardians of Life itself" hmmm." Tyrian bowed mockingly to the two. "Adam Park... my companion has told me quite a few tales about you, Black Ranger."
"Look buddy, I don't know who you think you are. But If you're with them." Qrow scowled gesturing up to Psycho Crimson as he pulled himself free from the rubble. "Then you and I are going to have a serious problem."
Looking back over his shoulder at Ruby. "No matter what you stay behind us, got it?" Adam whispered. Resting heavily on her weapon Ruby glanced between her uncle and the Power Ranger, before turning to look at her friends, Nora was busy tending to a recovering Ren while Pyrrha stood between them and the two Psychopaths as Crimson dropped down from the ruin back into the square beside Tyrian.
Looking back to the Black Ranger she nodded.
"Well friends, my name is Tyrian." He replied gesturing back to himself with one hand while the other swept towards Psycho Crimson "You already know my companion here."
"Not personally." Qrow responded eyeing the Psycho ranger with disdain.
"Understandable, given your history." Tyrian smirked mockingly, even within his Queen's domain the news of their allies achievements had reached their ears long before Cinder had deigned to inform them. An impressive feat to be certain, though had he been there he wouldn't have made the Yellow ones mistake and ensured Qrow Branwen's niece had never seen the light of day again.
What better way to break one of Ozpins most loyal and troublesome pawns than to take the things he held most dear. "Now then enough about the past" Tyrian cupped his hands together "You see my compatriot and I have been tasked by her grace with retrieving this young girl. And that is what we shall do." Placing a hand over his heart Tyrian stared up at the dark sky almost lovingly. "As you know, one does not upset the Queen."
"Queen" Ruby and Adam echoed, the latter glancing at his companion questioningly.
"Salem" Qrow cursed under his breath.
"Who?" Ruby asked once more.
Psycho Crimson tilted his head towards Tyrian "I think we've wasted enough time on pointless babble, don't you agree."
Qrow scowled. "Buddy, you took the words right out of m-" Psycho Crimson darted forward into a crimson streak before Qrow could finish, Adam disappeared into a beam of Black arc energy meeting the Psycho ranger halfway the two beams of light slammed into one another and arced off to the side smashing through a crumbling building and into one of the village side streets.
/
Breaking off from one another MMBR and Psycho Crimson landed a few feet apart. "I'm surprised to see you here Park." The Psychor ranger unleashed a series of slashes slashed his scythe towards the Mighty Morphing Black Ranger who ducked between the first few and parried the third off to the side into the wall to his left, the Scythe blade carving a deep groove into the stone. "I thought you and the others had scurried off back to your Earth's after what Fall did to Fissure"
"Not on your life" MMBR shot back knocking Psycho crimson Scythe down into the ground with the back of his power axe, the Black Ranger performed a swift double slash across the Psycho ranger's chest following up with a solid kick. Psychro Crimsom brought his weapon to bear blocking an overhead slash from Adam, his eyes glowed once more.
"Guhh!" Adam flinched as two energy beams struck him in the upper chest sending him skipping back across the cobblestone path.
"Heh, you're getting slow Black Ranger." Psycho Crimson mocked twirling his Scythe over his shoulder as MMBR pushed himself back onto his feet "What's the matter? Is the great Adam Park finally feeling his age!?"
Adam rolled his eyes under his helmet "Yeah, I'm old." he shot back, reaching down to his belt buckle he pulled his morpher free. Unlike the original Zack had passed on to him when he was younger, this morphers outer shell was dark gold with a black interior, red circuitry ran along the edge of the case surrounding the mastodon power coin housed at its centre.
"But I still have a few tricks left. It's Morphing Time!" Waving his arms in a circular arc Adam thrust his morpher out in front of him, a green shimmer passed over the Mastodon power coin inside replacing it with a bright yellow triangle with a dot just below each point at the centre was a metallic C emblem. "Desert Thunder Turbo power!"
Green arc energy spread down from the morpher passing over MMBR arms, the molecules of his suit breaking apart and reforming themselves as he underwent his transformation. His Bodysuit was now bright green with black linings and a yellow box with a black outline at the centre of his upper chest and below his collar with white bands around his biceps, his was primarily green with a black car grill themed visor.
"Impossible, that power was lost!" Psycho Crimson gasped.
"Maybe once." Green Turbo ranger muttered clenching his fist experimentally, he'd have to remember to thank Paradox further down the line, he was a real miracle worker. "But not anymore!" Thrusting his right arm out to the side green arc energy flowed down his arm and expanded out into his hand forming the outline of a weapon. " Turbo Thunder Cannon!" He called out as the two-handed blaster manifested in his free hand.
"Now, try this on for size, Fire!." he challenged unleashing a small barrage of green energy beams towards the Psycho Ranger. Psycho Crimson leapt back further down the street slashing his scythe in front of him he deflected them off to the side and into the surrounding buildings.
/
Ruby yelped and grabbed onto the roofing as her vantage point shuddered, the buildings to her right collapsing in on themselves. Glancing down at the mess she almost wanted to take jump down and help but quickly stopped herself. 'He can handle this.' She reaffirmed herself 'If what Alex said about the other rangers was true he's fought worse' Turning her attention back towards the battle below, shouldering crescent rose she took aim at the combatants.
Her uncle and Tyrian darted about the square below them exchanging one blow after enough with seemingly no result on both ends, Adam and Qrow had told her to stay back and she'd done that but that didn't mean she couldn't lend them a hand from the outside. Pulling back on the built she fired three shots from Crescent Rose and like before the Psychopath below danced between the oncoming fire and her uncle's sword before using his tail to springboard into the air and opens fire on her uncle from above.
Using the flat side of his sword as a shield Qrow deflects the oncoming fire off to the side before shifting his weapon into its magnum form and returned fire before leaping back out of range as Tyrian stabbed down into the ground where he once stood. Tyrians shot his tail out towards the black reaper and over his right shoulder, smirking Tyrian pulled his tail down coiling it around Qrows wrist before yanking it back and tearing Harbinger from his grip and flinging it into the wall.
Qrow winced, rolling his wrist he glared back up at the mad man who flipped back up onto his feet and stared back at him with a deranged smile. A shot whizzed past Tyrians head making the madman quirk his brow as he glanced back towards the culprit, Ruby fired three more shots in quick succession all of which Tyrian easily batted aside with his tail his disturbed grin growing wider by the second.
Clenching his fist Qrow shrugged and stepped forward delivering a haymaker to the cackling madman breaking him out of his state of glee and sending him stumbling back and gripping his nose in clear pain. Qrow stalked toward him following up his previous blow with another two jabs to the Psychopaths face before finally kicking Tyrian back.
Clambering up onto one knee the scorpion Faunus glared back at him vengefully, scoffing Qrow ignored the mad mans threatening gaze and casually walks over to retrieve his weapon. A frustrated Tyrian watched him the whole way, waiting until Qrow had finally turned his back before lunging towards the huntsmen, Qrow smirked and leapt on top of his weapon crouching down on the blade and pulled back on the handle his blade shifting into segmented pieces the recoil from the transformation tearing harbingers blade free and licking qrow into the air.
The Black Reaper snagged a loose roofbeam with one hand pulling it free from the roof and back on itself as he rose into the air leaving qrow balancing on top of it with one hand. Pushing aura into his legs Tyrian leapt into the air smashing through the beam and dropping Qrow back onto the crumbling roof, descending on him from above Tyrians wrist blade clashed against Harbinger in a shower of sparks. Breaking the clash Tyrian slashed forward with his wrist blades Qrow leapt over his attack and kicked him in the back, allowing the blow to carry him Tyrian dove through an opening in the roof using his tale Tyrian swung up on a beam launching himself back into the air where he opened fire on qrow once more the red-eyed huntsmen twirling Harbinger in front of him deflecting the oncoming fire off around him.
As the two moved across the rooftop exchanging one blow after enough row spotted a loose beam off to the right, pushing Tyrian back he darted to the side hopping over and skidding to a halt at the edge of the roof. As expected Tyrian wasn't far behind, the scorpion Faunus leapt across the rooftop landing on the damaged section in front of him causing the roof to cave in under him.
Though as he fell Tyrian lashes out with his tail catching Qrow by the ankle and pulling him down into the crumbling building with him.
Ruby gasped as her uncle was dragged with the Psychopath, at that moment she knew she couldn't sit by any longer, unfurling Cresent Rose she stepped onto the blade and rode her weapon down the side of the roof, as she reached the edge ruby squeezed the trigger the recoil from the shot launching her into the air and down towards street level as she approached the cobblestone path she fired her weapon once more halting her decent.
Activating her semblance Ruby disappeared into a cloud of rose petals that darted across the square towards the battle. Just as she reached the building the wall in front of her blew outward, her uncle bounced back across the cobblestone path with each impact his aura flickered and fluxed around him, planting harbingers blade into the ground Qrow flipped up onto the hill of his sword, the black reaper glared back at Tyrian, who's own aura flicked around him illuminating the outline of his body inside the darkened house.
The mad man shot forward ready to continue their dance of death. As the two begin to trade blows once more Ruby leapt between Tyrian and her uncle deflecting his wrist blades off to the side with Cresent Rose.
"Ruby don't!" Pyrrha called out to her in alarm, Ren blocking her way before she could intervene.
Tyrian looked at Ruby dumbfounded "Do you wish to be taken?" Then, by all means, he wasn't against the idea if anything it would make his task all the easier.
"No!" Ruby shot back locking eyes with the psychopath, yes she was scared, but she wouldn't let that get in the way of doing what was right. "But I won't stand by anymore while someone else gets hurt." Both Uncle and Niece rushed in and slashed at Tyrian simultaneously the scorpion Faunus parried their weapons aside and kicked Qrow away. Focussing his attention on Ruby he jabbed at the red-clad reaper with his tail before following up with an overhead slash that knocked Rubys weapon down, her guard broke Tyrian thrust his stinger forward, just one nic and it would all be over.
Qrow intercepted the stinger, blocking it with the flat side of Harbinger, breaking apart he slashed back at Tyrian their weapons clashing together in a shower of sparks. Qrow glanced back to his Niece "Ruby!" he growled pushing back against Tyrians wrist blades. "What did Adam tell you! Stay behind us!"
"This is my fight too!" Ruby shot back, circling around the duo Ruby slashed Crescent rose at his legs with the scorpion Faunus hopping over her blade before it could connect.
"No, it's not that. It's-" Before Qrow could finish an explosion rocked the village, the wall of one of the few still standing buildings across the square was blown apart, Psycho crimson sailed through the opening and into the air overhead a green hand axe with bronze lining across the handle and a gold hieroglyph on the side of the axe head lodged into his chest armor.
A green beam of light arched through the opening and into the air after him, twisting his body through the air the Psycho ranger swung his scythe towards the beam, the blade was parried off to the side a second green hand-axe quickly joining the first, their owner pressed their boots against the Psycho rangers abdomen and pushed off tearing their weapons-free and simultaneously kicking Psycho crimson down into the centre of the village square, a small crater forming underneath him accompanied by a series of spider web cracks spreading out through the ground around them, the impact shaking the village's foundations.
Planting her scythe into the ground Ruby managed to steady herself, her opponent, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky Tyrian stumbled back slightly allowing Qrow to gain the advantage over the Psychopath, pushing him down onto one knee Qrow added more pressure to the flat side of his sword and slowly edged the sheer size of his weapon slowly pushing Tyrians wrist blades apart, Harbingers own edging closer to his throat.
Tyrian then smirked up at the huntsmen dropping down on his knees Tyrian rolled backwards and kicked Qrow back into the crumbling building behind them. Ruby ducked down narrowly avoiding being slammed back into the wall with her uncle, though she was far from out of danger as she faces Tyrian once more.
The sudden impact from Qrows body shaking one of the roofs beams breaks away and falls towards the unsuspecting girl below. Qrow leapt back through the opening slicing the beam in half, both sides falling harmlessly to each side of Ruby. The red-clad reaper smiled up at her uncle in gratitude, twitling his head up Qrow returned the smile.
Although their moment was short-lived."Gah!?" The black Reaper gasped
Seizing the moment Tyrian struck, his stinger caring a thin line across the Black Reapers abdomen. The psychopath landing his first successful and quite possible the deciding blow of their battle...given time. Tyrian giggled maniacally revelling at the thought of what would soon become of Ozpins most trusted age-
A green handaxe flew between them, Tyrian eyes widened his features morphing from joy to alarm before the inevitable happened. The axe sliced through his tail severing Tyrians stinger and embedding itself into the ground between them. The scorpion Faunus reeled back in pure agony, a pain-filled cry leaving him as he stumbled back away from his target, falling onto his hands and knees Tyrian quickly scampered back onto his feet whirling to face his attacker
"You-!" A flying knee to the face, knocking him onto his back and skidding across the cobblestone path.
Zeo Ranger IV pointed the blade of his remaining hand axe at the Scorpion Faunus "Stay down." he growled. His bodysuit was primarily green with white boots and gloves with gold ornate bands, surrounding the ends of each. A series of gold Highroglyphs surrounded his collar that spread halfway down his chest in a diamond pattern white order lopping over his shoulders and back dividing the circuit-like Highroglyphs in two. His helmet like the majority of his suit was primarily green with a square black visor with gold linings around the edge.
Glancing back at Ruby and Qrow, Zeo Ranger IV asked "You alright?"
"Yeah." Qrow replied gripping his weapon
"Bastard..." Zeo Ranger fours gaze snapped back to Tyrian, the Psychopath stumbled onto his feet eyeing the Green Zeo ranger in disdain. "You Bastard!" He swayed slightly the pain and blood loss from his tail leaving him somewhat delirious. His troubles only got worse as Nora, Pyrrha and Ren rushed to Adams side blocking his path to Ruby and Qrow.
Tyrswayed once more taking a few awkward steps back away from the group, glancing past them and to the crater in the centre of the village Psycho crimson had managed to drag himself out of the crater, he quickly began to realise the odds were no longer in his favour a feeling of dread welling up inside you
He'd failed his goddess.
"She'll... she'll forgive you." He muttered slowly backing away from the group "She'll understand."
"N-No..." Pyrrha and Zeo Ranger IV turned to the source of the voice and broke off from Nora and Ren to Quickly cover their flank.
Dragging his scythe behind him Psycho Crimson stumbled towards the group his chest armor split open revealing a section of porcelain white ribs underneath, a spiderweb crack spreading across his helmets right eye socket while the left was completely shattered, a glowing Crimson flame danced across the blackened void within.
"Fight!" He growled bringing his Scythe to bear.
Glancing between his companion and the fighters between him and his prize, a silence fell over the group as Tyrian weighed his options once more the bloodless from his tail had already left him light-headed and his companion was in no shape to continue. Coming to a decision Tyrian turned and fled from this lost cause.
"No!" Psycho Crimson bellowed, outraged by his allies action. "Fight, you coward!" Taking a step forward, he immediately stumbled and fell to one knee bitting back a pained scream, his grip tightened around his scythe, tilting his head up he glared at the five huntsmen and lone Power Ranger in contempt. "I'll be back for her Park." The ground beneath Psycho Crimson rippled outwards as he slowly sunk beneath its surface.
A collective sigh left the members of Team RVNN as they slowly lowered their weapons, one more than the others. With the threat passed Qrow collapsed onto one knee clutching his injured side, panting heavily.
"Uncle Qrow/Qrow!" Ruby and Zeo Ranger IV called out to the huntsmen, transforming into a swarm of rose petals Ruby rushed to her uncle's side "Are you okay?" she asked kneeling down beside him, the silver-eyed girl eying his injury worryingly.
"I'll be fine. He just grazed me" Qrow pulled his shaking hand away from the injury staring down at his bloodied palm before pressing it back against the wound, it stung like you wouldn't know, but if he could keep the bleeding under control until his aura was back up to fulls strength, he'd be alright.
"No your not." Glancing up from his injury, Qrow and the members of RVNN turned their attention to the Green ranger. Zeo Ranger IV knelt beside the remnants of Tyrians tail eying the small cloud of vapour rising from the violet pool surrounding the head worryingly. Rubys eyes shifted from the stringer back to her uncle's injury a feeling of dread welling up inside her.
Tilting his head back towards Qrow a silent message was passed between the red eyes huntsmen and Green ranger, understanding dawning on him Qrow glanced back down at his injury, a hint of worry in his red eyes.
"...Shit"
'To be continued'