Chapter 30
"Hey, mom. How's it going?" Ruby asked as she knelt down. The cool Autumn wind blew through the nearby trees. The smooth stone of the grave gave no answers. "You wouldn't believe the year I've had!"
"I made it to Beacon two years early! I'm on the same team as Yang too. My partner is the Weiss Schnee! Can you believe that! I never would have thought she wanted to be a Huntress. She's pretty awesome, even if she nags me a lot. Oh and Yang's partner is a guy named Adam! He's cool too, though he spends a lot of time brooding. He also kind of has an evil ex-girlfriend who hates Humanity. It's complicated."
Ruby pulled out a cloth and wiped down the grave. "We've done a lot this year. Most of it was fighting terrorists which was a surprise. I thought I was going to be fighting Grimm and nothing else! But our job is protecting people…" Ruby sighed. "I wish you were here. You'd know exactly how to help Blake. That's Adam's ex. He wants to get her to stop being all evil and everything but he's having some trouble."
Ruby put the cloth away and placed a small bouquet of roses next to the grave. "We'll figure it out though. But first, we're going to win the tournament! We've got a good chance!" She stood and stepped back as birds took flight from nearby. "I'll see you soon, mom. It was nice talking to you."
Ruby took a long look down at her mother's grave before leaving. She had a tournament to fight in.
The crowds roared as Professor Port and Doctor Oobleck announced the beginning of the Vytal Festival Tournament. The first round featured team CRDL against some team from Shade.
Adam was impressed at how far Cardin and his team had grown. At least individually. Their teamwork, however, was still abysmal. They barely managed to eke out a victory and only because the other team was just worse. They had no teamwork while CRDL had some, all of which excluded Cardin.
Cardin's changed. He stopped bullying others. I guess his team has turned on him. He wondered if he should step in. It might help stop any bullying, but it wouldn't fix the issue. Cardin needed to take action and fix it himself. It was his team after all.
RSTY cheered as the match came to a close. They may not like Cardin or his team, but they were still Beacon students.
The day went on, team after team battling it out. After a few hours, it finally came down to their turn against a team from Haven.
As they grabbed their weapons Yang tapped his arm. "Hey Adam, you figured out that big fire thing yet?"
"No. I've tried to, but I've not had any luck. I'm not sure what triggered it."
"Damn. Oh well. We'll still kick butt."
"That we will."
"Team RSTY of Beacon VS Team ABRN of Haven!" Port bellowed.
"Begin!" Oobleck shouted.
They exploded into action.
"Freezerburn!" Ruby yelled. Weiss and Yang acted immediately, Weiss stabbed her rapier into the ground, covering the floor in ice before Yang used a fire Dust shell to smash it apart and create a cloud of steam to obscure them. Ruby smiled. First match, when I call Freezerburn follow it up with White Bull. She thought as she moved to the side, setting up for their third move, Thorns.
While their opponents were trying to gain their bearings Weiss used the cover to create Glyphs, forming a line straight at ABRN and then circling around them. Adam leapt onto the white glyphs, sending him barrelling out of the steam. They weren't expecting the red and black beast that was Adam to crash into them.
He slashed as he passed by before landing on another glyph and shooting off to cut another of their number. Ruby slammed the blade of her scythe into the ground, took aim and let loose. Her bullets hit their marks, lowering their Auras just before Adam struck.
Within moments ABRN had taken plenty of damage. As the steam began to clear RSTY split up, separating and running into the Dust filled fields around them. ABRN gave chase.
Just as planned.
Reese Chloris opened fire with her strange gun-hoverboard. Adam spun Wilt almost lazily, blocking each round. The poor girl had chased after him, probably looking for revenge after the opening attack. He'd led her into a valley, with big rocky walls on either side. It was close to the edge of the arena. Cut off from her team she was going to be easily eliminated.
Reese seemed pretty calm, like she thought he was pinned down. She probably thinks that her team will arrive soon. Having faith in your team is good. But not trying to finish this isn't. Adam smirked and, with a speed she hadn't expected, he rushed her, still spinning his blade. The whirlwind of crimson hid his intent.
Reese pulled back to create distance. She turned her pistols back into a hoverboard and made to jump on it. As she did however Adam sheathed his sword and focused. Reese's eyes widened at the red glow, the distraction almost making her miss the landing. As she made to skate away Adam drew his blade, unleashing a wave of red and black energy that slammed into her.
Reese tumbled along the ground. Her board flew out of her reach. Adam stepped forward and picked her up by the jacket. He smirked.
Reese screamed in terror as he threw her out of the arena.
Arslan tried to be a good leader. She really did. But this team… there was something about this team RSTY that made them absolutely terrifying. None of her research had prepared her for this. The opening and that beast of a Faunus with the Schnee's glyphs followed by splitting up. And her team had just followed them!
Arslan growled as she saw RSTYs Faunus join up with their leader to crush Bolin. Despite his skill with the staff, he couldn't battle two skilled opponents like that. Nadir was busy fighting the Schnee, who continued to dodge or erect walls to block his gunfire.
Yang Xiao-Long came in again, having determined that she would defeat Arslan. The pair had similar fighting styles, both focused on their fists. Yang came in with a right hook that Arslan blocked with her own fist. Aura crackled as the pair's strength was put to the test.
They pulled back, each gaining distance. It pissed Arslan off. Yang could afford to take her time. Arslan couldn't. She charged the blonde. They traded blows back and forth. She distantly heard the buzzer signaling someone's Aura hitting the red but she couldn't hear who.
As Yang came in again Arslan whipped out her string, wrapping it around the blonde's leg and tripping her up. Arslan jumped at the chance, reading a fist to plunge into her face.
Only for a brick of ice to beam her in the head. Arslan stumbled back in surprise. It gave her a chance to see Bolin crumple to the floor under the combined strength of RSTYs redheads. Nadir had practically been frozen solid from the neck down. Weiss Schnee was currently on her way over, alongside Adam Taurus and Ruby Rose. All coming to kick her ass.
Well… I tried.
"That… was… amazing!" Ruby exclaimed happily as she led her team through Beacons Festival grounds. "We did so well! Nothing could stop us!"
"I am very pleased with how we performed. We did well." Weiss demurred.
"Pft. Do well? We kicked ass! Did you see the look on that girl's face as we teamed up on her? Priceless!" Yang grinned from ear to ear.
"Actually, I think some people are selling pictures of it." Adam said with a smirk.
"Where!?" Yang excitedly asked.
The first half of the day's fights were over and everyone was given a lunch break while they restocked and reset the various arenas. RSTY decided to get some noodles.
"Declined!?" Weiss looked absolutely horrified.
"Guess Papa Schnee isn't too happy." Adam grumbled.
"Did you guys need some help?" Pyrrha asked as JNPR arrived at the stall. Once she heard about Weiss' money troubles she easily paid for the meal. "It's nothing! I wasn't going to use it for anything anyway!"
The two teams shared a filling lunch together, talking and laughing together. Ruby could see that Weiss was still stressing over her card declining.
"... and then our careers will be over!" Nora cried out, stressing over losing as she face-planted onto the counter. Ren gave her a gentle pat on the back.
"So yeah. We're very ready." Jaune groaned out, his face a little pale.
Soon enough JNPR was called up by Port and Oobleck to their fight, which they were late for apparently. As they left Ruby turned to her partner, prepared to say something encouraging.
Adam was already patting her shoulder. "Don't worry Weiss. It just means your doing the right thing."
"Really?" Weiss asked. "It doesn't feel that way…"
"That's because you're losing something. But if your dad is desperate enough to cut you off from your funds, then you've done something right."
"Yeah!" Ruby said with a smile.
"Yea your dad doesn't seem the kinda guy to always do the right thing. I mean did he even send a message warning you?" Yang piled on.
Weiss shook her head. "No. He's been trying to call me but I didn't answer."
"So he takes away your money because you won't talk with him?" Yang asked.
"Evidently so." Weiss responded.
"Then screw him. If he's that desperate then he can wait. In the meantime, we should decide who goes into the doubles round." Yang continued.
Weiss took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. I think we should send a pair that can cover as many bases as possible."
"So you?" Adam deadpanned.
"Well I suppose I am quite versatile aren't I?" Weiss smiled.
"So all in favour of Weiss going forward?" Ruby asked. Everyone raised their hand. "It's unanimous! Weiss will go forward! I nominate myself as I'm her partner!"
Yang leaned forward with a smile. "True, but we need someone a little tougher. Weiss can cover speed. I think I'd be a much better choice!"
Weiss crossed her arms as Ruby pouted. "Then why not Adam? He's a strong frontline fighter but his Semblance, while similar, doesn't require him to directly take damage and he has more options on top of that."
"What?" Adam deadpanned again.
"I can see that working." Yang mused.
"Everyone in favour of Adam?" Ruby, Weiss and Yang raised their hands.
"You really want me watching your back, Weiss?"
"Why not? We are friends after all. Besides we want the best chance of winning and really, as long as it isn't against a certain cat you are the best amongst us. You have more training and experience after all. Not to mention your Semblance is strong."
"Fine." Adam sighed. "I see your point."
"Alright!" Ruby said happily as she jumped off her stool. "Let's go cheer on team JNPR! Tomorrow we win the doubles round!"
"Yeah!" The trio cheered behind her with varying levels of enthusiasm.
Team RSTY headed off towards the transports to Amity.
"Hmm." Ozpin hummed quietly to himself. His screens showed a replay of one of the day's fights, specifically JNPR Vs BRNZ.
A good fight. Jaune Arc had come a long way. Most would attribute it to being partners with the Invincible Girl but Ozpin knew better. Pyrrha had done much for the boy but he also had Adam helping him improve. He wouldn't let James in on that one, however. Better to not let him know anything that might make him more... agitated.
But the true extent of Adam's presence is to be found in Pyrrha. She has grown, even if only slightly. Something that wasn't likely to happen so soon without his input.
That was why he would not let James do anything to the boy. He had far too much to give to this generation of Huntsmen. It might even be enough to push back the Grimm, if only slightly.
Ozpin idly tapped the desk with his finger as the battle rewound to the start and played again. He took a long sip from his mug.
He had found his guardian.
A/N: Volume 3 starts off with a Yang! Or I guess a Ruby is more accurate? Poor ABRN. Destined to be stomped by the protagonists. I did skip around a little bit, mainly to not just sit around repeating canon exactly. That would feel kinda boring I think. Also poor Cardin. He's not doing so well these days. That's the life of a bully though. It tends to backfire eventually. He tried to stop bullying and now his relationship with his team sucks because they're still assholes. Anyway. Anyone else excited for Volume 8? It's not too far away now! Just under two weeks, I think. I can't wait.
I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time!