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Chapter 17: Food Fight!
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In a faraway palace, news of the events in Beacon had arrived at Salem's palace. The Dark Queen sat on her throne, one of her Seer Grimm beside her. The rest of her vassals sat at the table, though two were absent, Dr. Watts being one of them. When her agent in Vale finished her report, Salem waved away the small Grimm and rose from her seat. She began to pace around the table, a pensive look on her pale features.
"So, evidently there is not one new Conduit in Remnant," she began, "There are two."
No one showed any emotion in response to that. Augustine was the first to speak next.
"What are their abilities?" she asked.
"I instructed her to send a detailed report to your Scroll," Salem replied.
At that moment, Augustine's Scroll buzzed. She opened the file and skimmed it. Then she frowned.
"Eugene Sims," she said.
"You know him?" Salem asked.
Augustine nodded.
"He is an exceptionally powerful Conduit capable of manipulating Video energy. If I'm being honest, he's one of the most powerful Conduits I ever encountered in my work at the DUP," she explained.
"I see," Salem replied.
The Queen of Darkness sat in her chair at the head of the table.
"Tell me everything."
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At Beacon, Winter break was coming to a close, and classes were going to resume in only one day. Delsin woke up early that morning. It had become a habit. He got up and put on his workout clothes. He grabbed a water bottle, his Scroll, and his earbuds, then walked out of the room. When he got to the door of the dorm building, he stopped to double knot his shoes then put in his earbuds.
Morning runs had become another habit of his. No powers, no distractions, no worries. Just him and the road. It gave him time to think and organize his thoughts. You wouldn't think it to look at him, but being in this new world still got to him. The morning runs helped him deal with that.
It had also given him time to notice a few other small differences from his home-world. The air was different. Not in a super noticeable kind of way, it just felt like it was lighter somehow. Delsin figured that was what happened when there weren't decades worth of air pollution floating around.
The sun shone differently too. In the early morning sunrise, different colors would illuminate the sky than what he was used to. Particular shades of blue and purple he didn't see very often back home. The artist in him found it beautiful.
He was halfway through his lap around the courtyard listening to the dulcet sounds of Rise Against when he faintly heard someone behind him. Without stopping he looked over his shoulder to see a pair of bunny ears bouncing behind him. He slowed down a bit, just enough to allow her to catch up.
When she did, Delsin took out his earbuds.
"Morning Velvet," he said.
"Morning," she replied, a little out of breath.
The two of them ran side by side in silence. When they were a few minutes away from the dorms, Velvet stopped to catch her breath. Delsin turned back and ran up next to her. He placed a hand on her back.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, panting, "I just need a minute."
"Not much of a runner, are you?" he asked, a small smile on his face.
Velvet said nothing. Instead, she looked at him with a burning hatred. Delsin's smile widened.
"C'mon, there's a bench right over there," he said.
He wrapped her arm around his shoulder and helped her to the bench. They sat down and he dropped her arm.
"So, what brings you out here this fine morning?" Delsin asked.
After taking a moment to catch her breath, Velvet turned to him.
"No reason, just wanted to warm-up before classes started back," she said, still a little out of breath.
"Ok that makes sense," he replied, "Next time though? Don't start with a marathon around Beacon."
"Noted," she said with a smile.
After a couple minutes the pair resumed their run. Delsin made sure to set a slower pace than he was used to to make sure Velvet stayed alright. Neither of them said anything else on the way, a few expressive glances the extent of the remainder of their conversation.
When they reached the final stretch, Delsin turned to Velvet and flashed a devious grin. Then he took off as fast as his non-powered feet could carry him. Velvet gave him an exasperated look but smiled and rose to the challenge. She sprinted off after him.
O00000O00000O
"You cheated!" Velvet cried.
"Did not!" Delsin said, a guilty smile on his face.
"You said no powers!"
"I said no such thing!"
The two of them walked into the dorm complex.
"I had you beaten!" Velvet shouted.
"You thought," Delsin countered.
In lieu of a response, Velvet's face contorted in rage.
For all of one second anyway.
The two of them devolved into hysterical laughter.
"See you at breakfast?" Velvet asked.
"Yeah," Delsin said.
The two of them went their separate ways. Delsin quickly arrived at his room to find Eugene was already awake. The Video Conduit had apparently been trying out his new uniform. For whatever reason, he was ecstatic to have it, much to Delsin's dismay.
When Delsin opened the door, Eugene turned.
"Hey Delsin," he said, gesturing to his outfit, "What d'you think?"
Delsin sighed.
"I wanna say it looks good on you," he said, "But, I can't. It makes you look like a monkey. A really preppy monkey."
"Seriously?" Eugene asked nervously.
"Don't take it personally. Everybody looks stupid in one of those. That's why I hate wearing it."
Eugene gave him a dirty look.
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome," Delsin said wholeheartedly, "Now I need a shower."
That being said, Delsin went into the bathroom and closed the door. A few moments later, Eugene heard the water come on. He ignored it and went back to checking himself out in his uniform.
"I don't care what Delsin says, I think I look nice," he said softly to himself.
"Y'know," he heard a voice say beside him, "Talking to yourself is a hard habit to break."
Eugene turned to see Alex sitting up in his bed. The bird Faunus got up and walked next to him.
"And for what it's worth," Alex said, "You kinda do look like a preppy monkey."
Alex quickly left, a small bag in his hand. Eugene absentmindedly figured he was on his way to the group showers on the first floor. He liked taking his shower the minute he woke up so if theirs was occupied, he used that one. Eugene turned back to the mirror. Now that both of his teammates commented on his appearance, Eugene couldn't help but see their point.
"Dammit," he said, disappointed.
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An hour later, the three of them walked into the cafeteria. Alex was wearing his uniform and not giving a crap. Eugene had fallen back onto his old outfit of a hoodie and nondescript pants, his teammates comments about his uniform making him more than a little self-conscious. Delsin wore his sweats from his run, though freshly cleaned. Even now, he adamantly refused to wear his uniform if he didn't have to.
After getting their food they sat down, picking spots directly between Teams RWBY and JNPR.
"Whatcha doin?" Yang asked suddenly.
Delsin looked up in time to see her nudge Blake in the side.
"Nothing," Blake said, though a little too quickly, "Just going over notes from last semester."
A grape sailed over Eugene's shoulder and Yang caught it in her mouth.
"Lame," Yang said.
A second one flew past and Yang caught it again, just in time for Ruby to slam a comically oversized binder on the table.
"Sisters! Friends! Weiss!" she began, gesturing to add emphasis.
"Hey!" Weiss exclaimed.
"Four score and seven minutes ago, I had a dream," Ruby continued.
"This oughta be good," Yang said, catching another grape in her mouth.
"A dream that one day, the four of us would come together – as a team – and have the most fun anyone has ever had … ever!"
"Did you steal my binder?" Weiss asked.
"I am not a crook," Ruby countered.
"Yeah? Then why is it that all the cookies I leave in the kitchen with my name on them always vanish with traces of rose petals left behind?" Alex asked, an accusing smile on his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ruby replied, way too quickly.
"What are you talking about?" Blake asked.
"I'm talking about starting off our semester with a bang!" Ruby replied.
Yang chose that moment to interrupt with what was possibly the worst pun in the history of ever.
"I always kick my semesters off with a Yang," she said, "Eh? Eh? Am I right?"
Some very courageous soul who had overheard threw an apple at her, nailing her right in the face. Immediately following the ballistic apple, a quiet "boo" could be heard in the background. Everyone present shared the sentiment, but they knew better than to say it out loud.
Ruby cleared her throat.
"Look, guys, its been a good two weeks, and between more exchange students arriving and the tournament at the end of the year, our second semester's gonna be great! But, classes start back up tomorrow, which is why I've taken the time to schedule a series of wonderful events for us today!" Ruby explained.
"I don't know whether to be proud or scared of what you have in store," Weiss said.
Yang growled a bit and returned fire, lobbing her own apple right back. Alex dimly heard Ren shout something, his hearing dulled by a growing sense of impending doom.
"I don't know," Blake said, a small sigh following the words, "I think I might sit this one out."
"Sit out or not, I think that however we spend this last day, we should spend it as a team," Weiss replied.
As the heiress stood up, Alex's sense of dread grew, and immediately spread to his two teammates. When they heard Nora shout, "I got it!" and saw Yang frantically waving her arms, the three of them immediately got up to run for cover.
They managed to move about ten inches before disaster struck. A pie flew past them and crashed right into Weiss's face. Both tables went silent.
"Oh shit," Delsin said.
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Looking back, not even the people directly involved knew exactly what happened next. All they knew, was that approximately twenty seconds later, Nora was standing atop a hill of tables, shouting "I'm Queen of the castle! I'm Queen of the castle!"
Ruby planted her foot on the table in front of her and pointed at Team JNPR.
"Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful!" she shouted, crushing the milk carton in her hands, "It will be DELICIOUS!"
"Yeah!" her teammates cried.
On the side of the room at the only table that had managed to remain entirely untouched in all of that nonsense, Team CNDT sat. Well, Alex and Delsin sat. Eugene was busy hiding under the table.
"Will somebody please explain to me why we aren't running away," Eugene said, briefly popping up from his hiding spot.
"Because I haven't finished my breakfast yet," Alex said, his mouth full.
"And because this is gonna be awesome," Delsin said.
"That too."
"What, you scared Teen Angel?" Delsin asked, his trademark smirk on his face.
"Lil' bit."
Delsin grinned and looked back to the events unfolding.
"Off with their heads!" Nora shouted.
On cue, all of the members of Team JNPR began launching watermelons at their foes. Also on cue, Yang rushed forward and stuck her fists in a pair of turkeys, for whatever reason using them to emulate her Ember Celica. As the watermelons closed in, she turned them into a red mist. When she left an opening, Blake dashed in and filled it, using two baguettes to smash the next two watermelons into oblivion.
Yang kicked the last watermelon into pieces, then sent her two turkey gauntlets flying at Jaune and Pyrrha. Pyrrha quickly dodge-rolled out of the way, but Jaune stood his ground. As both of the flying fowl crashed into him, Jaune merely slid back a few feet. A cocky grin crossed his face. Yang gave him an approving nod.
Off to the side, Team CNDT was watching.
"Since when did turkeys work like gauntlets?" Delsin asked.
"Since Yang," Alex replied, taking a bite of his oatmeal.
"Seriously?" Delsin pressed.
Alex said nothing, but his lips turned up in a cheeky smile.
"And the fact that Blake used two bread-sticks to smash through watermelons?"
"Ok, those were stale," Alex explained, though his tone made it hard to tell if he was kidding or not.
"Suuure," Delsin said.
From his spot under the table, Eugene eyed the two of them like they'd lost her mind.
Back at the food fight, Yang pointed to Jaune's feet. Jaune fell for it, and only too late did he realize it was a trap. He hurriedly looked up, only for his face to collide with the apple Yang had sent careening towards his head. He fell on his ass with a pitiful moan.
Pyrrha quickly recovered from her prone position to cover Jaune, picking up a baguette-sword of her own. The only problem, the second she got into position, Blake was already on her. She began using her Shadow Clones right off the bat, but Pyrrha quickly managed to gain the upper hand.
Pushing past all of Blake's decoys, Pyrrha sent her flying backward. Then she grabbed a few more of the strangely hard bread-sticks and lobbed them at Yang like spears. Yang managed to break the first two, but the third one nailed her in the gut.
"That bread must have been sitting out for a long time," Delsin said.
"Hm?" Alex groaned quizzically.
"Well, it would've had to, since it's been embedded in the concrete floor!" Delsin shouted.
"C'mon Delsin, now you're just talking crazy," Alex replied flatly.
Delsin threw his hands up in the air, then looked at his partner.
"You know I hate it when you do that," Delsin said.
"I know," Alex said, a genuinely happy smile on his face.
As Yang fell, Ruby rode past her on a lunch tray, dodging more of Pyrrha's thrown weapons along the way. She even managed to use her tray to redirect one of the flying bread-sticks right back at Pyrrha, forcing her to dodge while ruby closed in.
When Pyrrha recovered, she raised her arms in front of her face just in time for Ruby to land on them. Then, the Rose Reaper used her position to kick Pyrrha back, sending her reeling back onto the floor. Ren and Nora dashed past their fallen comrade and kept on the attack.
Ren came first, but Ruby jumped up to reveal Weiss was standing right behind her. Armed with a bottle of ketchup, Weiss moved like Myrtenaster was in her hands and emptied the entire bottle onto the floor. Somehow. When his feet hit the floor, Ren slipped and slid on his back into a pile of overturned tables and foods, which then proceeded to explode outwards. Somehow.
Nora jumped and ran across a table as it flew through the air. Then she vaulted off its edge and grabbed onto a pole sticking out from the wall and broke it off. As she landed, she jammed the pole into one of the remaining watermelons, turning it into a makeshift hammer. She advanced, moving to smash her hammer into Weiss, but Ruby took the hit for her.
As Ruby went flying, Weiss spun around and picked up a swordfish, then surged forward with a glyph. Weiss jabbed the point of the swordfish right at Nora, propelling her backward.
"Oh come on! This is just getting ridiculous!" Delsin cried.
"Oh lord, what is it now?" Alex asked.
"How in the world! Ketchup doesn't come out of a bottle like that! Not even close!" Delsin shouted.
"Dude, calm down," Alex said.
"And why the hell is there a swordfish! It's not even a cooked swordfish, it's just a regular old swordfish!"
Alex raised his hand and opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it.
"Yeah, I've got nothing, that's just weird."
"Thank you!"
Nora rolled back into the fray and after a brief exchange of blows with Weiss overpowered her and sent her flying backward. She crashed into one of the columns at the front of the cafeteria, breaking it apart. When she fell, Ruby made a big show of anguish about it, acting like she was actually dead as the pillar fell to the ground.
Yang jumped over them both and ran back into the fray, reattaching her turkey gauntlets. Ren moved to engage, picking up a pair of leeks to use as his weapons. The two ran straight at each other and as they closed in, both of them readied attacks. Yang pulled back her fist and Ren brought back his leeks.
Then when they collided, Yang blocked Ren's blow with her feet. Yang's features lit up with her usual cocky grin. The two briefly exchanged blows, but Yang got the better of him in seconds, beating him down with little trouble. Then she launched him with an uppercut. In the air, Ren threw his leeks at her, and though he missed, he somehow got them both stuck in the concrete floor.
Yang jumped into the air and smiled, then smacked Ren down like he was made of lead. The second she landed, Nora was on her, advancing with her hammer. Yang managed to dodge her first strike, but when she tried to counterattack, Nora got her full on. The blow had so much force, it sent her crashing through the roof of the building.
By this point, the novelty of the situation was waning for Alex. It was fun to watch at first, but now it was getting boring. Plus, he was certain that given the noise they'd made one teacher, in particular, would be on her way here, one he did not want to be on the bad side of.
"Dude, you alright?" Delsin asked.
"I'm ok, but I think it's time to put an end to this," he said.
"For real?" Delsin asked cheerfully.
"Stay here please," Alex said, "I don't want to hit you on accident."
Alex stepped up onto the table. He didn't bother eating a crystal. He didn't really need one for this. The Bird Faunus raised his arms and telekinetically froze all of the food and soda can grenades people on both sides had thrown. A whine of disappointment went up from the still conscious members of both teams, but Alex ignored it all.
That is, until Nora hit him square in the face with a soda can.
The can exploded, much like the others she had thrown, dowsing Alex in grape soda from head to toe. For a second, Alex didn't even register what had happened. Then the second passed and he cracked his knuckles and his neck.
"Alright, that's it," he said, snapping a hand out in front of him, "You wanna play? Let's play!"
Nora actually looked a little scared for a moment and threw another soda can at him. While the can was flying, Nora blinked, and suddenly Alex wasn't there.
"Boo!" she heard him say on her left.
She turned and saw him, then swung wildly in shock, only to find it was a Shadow Clone.
"Nice try!" she heard behind her, and she spun around only to get slammed in the gut with her own watermelon hammer. He was careful not to hit her too hard, this was a game after all, but he did knock the wind out of her.
"Boop," Alex said as she fell.
Pyrrha's eyes widened and she slammed he palm to the concrete floor, spreading her magnetic control to all of the soda cans on the floor. Dimly he heard Delsin complain "Aluminum cans aren't even magnetic!"
Pyrrha sent the soda cans flying towards Alex. He dodged the first dozen or so, but he quickly learned that just as he was watching all of them, she was watching him. She began to direct the cans like a river, much like Alex himself would have. Alex smiled, what with imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. She threw the river right at him, but Alex dodged perfectly. After all, how hard was it really to dodge your own move?
Alex overtook her control on the river. Not by too much, he couldn't match her power no matter how hard he tried, but it was enough.
"Open wide!" he shouted, a manic smile on his face.
The cans flowed around him in a wide arc then crashed right it Pyrrha. When she took the first hit, her control faltered, and Alex took control the rest of the way. He directed the stream of cans upward, forming them into a cloud. Each and every can was pointing straight down, just over the prone but recovering forms of Team JNPR.
Alex smiled, and with a snap, he ripped every single can open, drowning all of Team JNPR in various colors of soda.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win a food fight," Alex said.
At that moment the cafeteria doors burst open, revealing one very pissed off Glynda Goodwitch. Alex felt a shiver go down his spine as she walked in and stared right at him. With a growl, Glynda flicked her riding crop and began returning the room to order.
As the last table bounced into place, Glynda turned to them and adjusted her glasses.
"Children, please, do not play with your food."
For a moment, the room was silent. Then everyone there but Glynda burst out laughing. They couldn't help it. Even though her glare was terrifying, Glynda's joke was just too funny. Glynda growled, but Ozpin placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Let it go," he said.
Glynda sighed.
"They're supposed to be the defenders of the world," she said.
"And they will be. But right now, they're still children," Ozpin replied, "So why not let them play the part?"
He began to walk away.
"After all, it isn't a role they'll have forever."
At that moment, Yang fell back into the room and crashed right through one of the tables. All of the laughter came to an abrupt halt.
Then Yang shot up and said, "I'm okay!" with a stupid grin on her face.
And the laughter began again.
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Back at Salem's palace, Augustine had just finished briefing Salem on Eugene and his abilities.
"I see," the dark witch said, "This is troubling but still inconsequential. One more piece on the board will not stand in our way."
Augustine nodded. Then the doors opened.
"Ah, Dr. Watts. How fares our guest?"
"I finished a second check of our containment system. No abnormalities to be found."
"I see. Keep checking," she said.
She turned to Bertrand.
"Go with him. Make sure he cannot use his abilities while the tests are being run."
"Yes milady," Bertrand replied.
"Good," Salem said, turning back to Dr. Watts, "And our other project?"
"The prototype has been constructed based on Mr. Bertrand's schematics," Watts said, "It will be charged and ready right on schedule."
He placed a steel case down on the table, then opened it and turned it to Salem.
As her dark eyes gazed upon the case's contents, Salem smiled.
"Wonderful."
CHAPTER END
Hey guys, happy new year! Hope you all have a wonderful 2018!
