Chp. 19: Call to Action Pt. 1

Blake Belladonna and the masked White Fang member leap from tree to tree, Blake in pursuit of the other Faunus. Yang used Ember Celica to propel herself in the air, following Blake. Rebecca used her scythe to swing from the trees catching up. They all pause for a moment, gripping different trees. A noise above the spy makes her gasp and Sun appears, dropping down.

"Gotcha!" Sun shouted.

She leaps on, out of his path. Blake, Yang, and Rebecca pursue the spy while Sun lands on a branch. The spy emerges from the trees and onto a roof. She continues to run across the buildings with Blake, Yang, and Rebecca catching up right behind her. Sliding under some arching pipes, she finally turns and stops. Using her weapon, Lightning Lash in whip form, she slices the pipe, releasing steam to block the three girls. It doesn't work; Blake moves right under the pipes through the steam and Yand and Rebecca jump over the pipe. Yang punches the mask right off of the spy, revealing the spy.

She is a young woman and a chameleon Faunus. Her skin has somewhat darker spots on her arms, legs, stomach and face. Her brown hair is tied back in a ponytail that curls at the end like a chameleon's tail, and her eyes are a light gray with a faintly bluish tint. She wears a black, gray and dark gray sleeveless stealth suit with short legs that resembles a playsuit with black trim around the legs. The color divide is at the center of her thighs. The stealth suit's zipper is gold, and over it, she wears gray belt straps with gold buckles. She wears simple black boots with a cuff and a black glove on her right hand. This is Blake's old friend, Ilia Amitola.

"Ilia," Blake said as Ilia glared at her former crush.

Blake, Yang, and Rebecca noticed a scroll in Ilia's hand.

"Look, let's just talk this out like reasonable adults and maybe we can work something out," Rebecca said.

"You're in no position to talk, human," Ilia said.

Sun lands on the roof behind her, causing her to turn around. Ilia whip comes at him in an attack, which he falls back to avoid. Rebecca takes advantage of the distraction to kick the scroll out of the spy's hand. Ilia is surprised, avoids Rebecca's next attack, responds with a kick of her own and attempts to retrieve the scroll. Sun tackles her instead forcing her to release her grip on her scroll and it lands a few feet away.

"Get off!" Ilia yelled.

She headbutts Sun and tries to race Blake to the scroll. Instead, Yang punches her and Rebecca swings her scythe at her. Ilia flips away from the two human girls.

"Quick Blake! Get the scroll!" Rebecca shouted and Ilia tried to swing her whip at her and Yang.

Blake races to the scroll and grabs it. Ilia turns and aims Lightning Lash at Blake.

"Blake, look out!" Yang shouted.

"Give it to me," Ilia said.

"No," Blake replied.

Ilia's skin turns green and her hair and spots turn blue.

"You shouldn't have come back," she said with a saddened look.

She uses her weapon to create a rush of dust, engulfing the rooftop. When the dust cleared, Ilia was gone.

Yang, Sun, and Rebecca walk up to Blake. She looks down at Ilia's scroll in sadness as Yang puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. We can convince her she's on the wrong side," Yang said.

"Yeah, just like in the show," Sun said.

"Come on. We better get back," Rebecca said.

The four then start to walk back to the Belladonna household.


Feldspar, Vacuo

Meanwhile back at Feldspar, Team CFVY, Kelly and Kendra all walked inside the Caspians' sand shed. They all see Edward and Gus with their bags packed. and ready to go.

"Are you guys ready?" Kendra asked.

"Ready when you guys are," Edward answered.

"Okay, Velvet, Kendra, and I will escort you two out of here. The rest of us will loor Bertilak and Carmine away, then apprehend them," Coco said.

"Now you two find a place to hide until we say you can come out," Velvet said.

Edward nods as he climbs inside a barrel while Gus crawls under a bed. CFVY, Kelly, and Kendra all walked out and saw Carmine and Bertilak walking towards them.

"What's going on?" Carmine asked.

"The Caspians are gone," Velvet said, trying to sound surprised.

"What?!" Bertilak shouted.

"Bertilak! Keep it down! People are trying to sleep!" Carmine angrily whispered.

Carmine peeks through the entrance and couldn't find the two Caspians. She turns back to everyone.

"Yep. They aren't inside," Carmine said.

"Look Velvet, Kendra, and I will search the settlement, while the rest of you search the desert," Coco said.

"Don't tell me what to do," Bertilak said.

"Bertilak, just shut it and let's go," Carmine said.

Carmine and Bertilak turned and started to walk out of the settlement with Kelly, Fox, and Yatsuhashi following them. As soon as they were out of view, Velvet peeked into the entrance of the sand shed.

"You can come out now. They're gone," she said.

Edward and Gus came out of their hiding places and exited their temporary home.

"Let's go before they come back," Kendra said.

Coco, Velvet, Kendra, Edward, and Gus walked out of another entrance to the settlement and stayed quiet as possible.

Carmine and Bertilak walk through the desert with Kelly, Fox, and Yatsuhashi still following them, not far from Feldspar.

"Now?" Fox sent.

Yatsuhashi nods to Kelly and Fox and pulls out their weapons. Kelly points Hacker at the back of Carmine's head as Yatsuhashi points Fulcrum at Bertilak's back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Bertilak asked angrily.

"Wait... this is a set up, isn't it?" Carmine said.

"Bingo. And we all know that you two were hired by an organization known as the Crown to kidnap people with strong semblances," Kelly said.

Carmine and Bertilak slowly turned around with looks of shock.

"How did you know?" Bertilak growled.

"That's for us to know and for you to shut the fuck up," Kelly said.

Carmine glances behind Fox and Kelly and sees from afar Coco, Velvet, Kendra running away from Feldspar along the Caspians. She quickly pulls out her dual-sai and slashes at Fox and Kelly as they jumped out of the way. Bertilak drew his mace and extended his chain. Spikes popped out of the steel ball at the end of it. The handle also seemed to have a pistol grip. He swung it at Yatsuhashi, forcing him to back away.

"Bertilak, keep these three busy. I'll get the Caspians," Carmine said as she ran to get to them.

Bertilak swung his mace at the three Huntsmen in training as they jumped away from the attack.

"I'll go after Carmine! You two take care of him!" Kelly shouted as she ran after her.

Yatsuhashi swung his sword at Bertilak as he stepped out of the way. He swung his mace over his head, keeping Yatsuhashi away. As the two rushed at each other, Fox tapped the almost-invisible earbud in his ear to activate voice commands on his scroll in his belt.

"Ada, engage Cyrano mode!" Fox shouted. "Battle mode!"

"Activating battle mode," the Accessibility Dialog Assistant said in its female monotone voice, at its lowest volume.

Bertilak kicks Yatsuhashi to the ground and then turns to Fox who stood in place.

"Alright blind boy. Let's see if you can keep up with me," Bertilak growled.

"Kelly was right about you. You are a real bastard," Fox said with a smirk.

Bertilak charged at Fox and swung his mace at him. Fox stepped aside at the last second from his attack. Fox slashes at Bertilak with Sharp Retribution then kicks him in the chest, pushing him back. Bertilak fires a round at Fox, but he dodges and charges at him. Fox kicks Bertilak in the face, making him stubble. Yatsuhashi runs up and swings his great sword at the rogue Huntsman's feet, making him fall to the ground. Fox noticed it was getting hotter within every second. He figured Bertilak was getting more angry, triggering his semblance, Heat Generation. Fox and Yatsuhashi got into a stance as Bertilak stood up and rushed at them.

Meanwhile with the second group, Coco, Velvet, Kendra, and the Caspians all slowed down, believing that they should be far away from Bertilak and Carmine.

"What's that?" Velvet asked, pointing out in a direction.

Everyone looked at what Velvet was pointing at and saw a small sand storm coming towards them. Velvet looked closely and noticed Carmine who was using her semblance, Telekinesis.

"Carmine!" Velvet shouted.

Coco drews out Gianduja in its gatling gun form and starts to shoot at Carmine. Velvet reaches for her camera, Anesidora and creates a hard light copy of Coco's gatling gun. She then starts shooting at Carmine alongside her team leader. Kendra draws out Mercy Bringer and shoots at the rogue Huntress as well.

"Edward, get ready to use your semblance!" Coco shouted.

The three Huntresses in training continued shooting as Carmine drew closer.

"Now!" Coco shouted.

Edward closed his eyes and his forehead crinkled in concentration. The sand storm died away and Carmine was just several feet away from the group. She pulled out her dual-sai and rushed at them. Coco transforms her gatling gun back into her handbag and smacks Carmine in the side of the head. Kendra transformed her rifle into her poleaxe and swing overhead at Carmine who was quick to block. Carmine kicks her in the stomach and slashes at her. Velvet charges at Carmine with a hard-light copy of Jacob's weapon, God's Trust and slashes at her exactly how Jacob himself would attack due to her semblance, Photographic Memory. Carmine jumps away to avoid more attacks as Velvet's hard-light copy disappears. She suddenly gets shot at and turns to see Kelly shooting at her. Carmine rushes at Kelly as she quickly transforms her tommy gun into her double-bladed axe. She blocks and dodges her attacks then responds by swinging her axe at Carmine as she jumps away. Coco, Velvet, Kendra, and Kelly charge at Carmine who got into a stance.

Back with Fox and Yatsuhashi, they were both getting dizzy and exhausted from Bertilak's semblance.

"Come on! Give me your best shot!" Bertilak yelled.

Yatsuhashi thought about using his semblance, Memory Wipe. He hated using his semblance, but at this point, he and Fox were getting desperate.

"Fox, help me get up close to him," Yatsu sent.

"Got it," Fox sent.

Fox then charges at Bertilak and tries to slash at him but easily dodges every attack. Yatsuhashi rushes at Bertilak. Fox quickly steps out of the way as Yatsu tackles Bertilak. He places his hands on Bertilak's head.

"Forget," Yatsuhashi whispered, activating his semblance.

Bertilak closed his eyes and went unconscious. Fox then approaches Yatsuhashi.

"How much memory did you erase?" Fox asked.

"I made him forget as much as before we put our plan into action," Yatsu answered. "And I have another idea."

Bertilak then started to wake up.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Carmine planned to take the Caspians away for herself and leave you for dead," Yatsuhashi lied.

"WHAT?!" Bertilak yelled.

"Come on. she's this way," Yatsuhashi motioned.

Bertilak quickly got up as he and Fox followed Yatsuhashi towards Carmine's location.

Back with the first group, Kendra and Carmine locked their weapons and then Kelly swung her axe at Carmine, but she quickly dodged away. Coco swings her hand bag at Carmine but ducks away from the attack. She slashes at Coco, knocking her to the ground. She was about to impale her until Velvet whacked her weapon away with a hard-light copy of Gambol Shroud. She slashes at her while Carmine blocks her attacks. Kelly charges at Carmine with Hacker in buzzsaw form. Carmine was ready to block her attack with her dual-sai, only for Kelly to cut through the dual-sai, splitting it in two. Angered, Carmine then drove her sais into Kelly's thighs, as electricity flowed through her body as her aura flickered then fell into unconsciousness.

"Kelly!" Kendra called.

With a battle cry, Kendra rushes at Carmine madly swinging her poleaxe at her as she dodges her catches her axe with the prongs on her sais then twists and swings her poleaxe away from Kendra. Just as she was about to attack again, Carmine suddenly gets shot on the shoulder and turns to see Bertilak charging at her with Fox and Yatsuhashi behind him.

"Bertilak! What are you doing?!" Carmine yelled.

Bertilak swung his mace at Carmine, sending her flying then tumbling several feet away, depleting her aura and knocking her unconscious.

"Suck on that, you double crossing b-" Bertilak was cut off as Yatsuhashi hit him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious too.

"What's up with him?" Coco asked.

"We kind of followed the books a bit," Fox answered.

Kendra, Edward and Gus rushed up to Kelly as she was starting to wake up.

"That... stung," Kelly groaned.

"What's going on here?" a voice called.

Everyone turned to see Slate.

"It's a long story," Velvet said.


Oniyuri, Mistral

May 17, 2020

Meanwhile in Oniyuri, it was morning and Team JNPR, Ruby, Britney, Jacob, Robert, Alex, and Qrow all sat at a table and were eating their breakfast.

"I hope you guys will be okay," Ruby said.

"Relax, Ruby. We'll be fine," Robert said.

"Are you sure about that, Robert. Adam will be there and he's no push over," Jacob said.

"We'll be as careful as possible, Jacob. Will make sure we stay in one piece," Britney said.

Suddenly, an alarm went off all over the base and all the Japanese soldiers and Huntsmen were scrambling. Hayashi and Junichi approach the group.

"What's going on?" Qrow asked.

"A Grimm is coming this way," Hayashi said.

"And a pretty powerful one. So grab your weapons," Junichi said.

Everyone got up from their seats and grabbed their weapons then followed Hayashi and Junichi to the back entrance on the base. What they saw shocked them, especially Ren and Nora.

A mile away from them is a horse-like creature with an equine main body and a skinless humanoid creature that is fused with it. Its forelegs are shaped like claws and it has hooved hind legs that leave a characteristic hoofprint. The humanoid body has long curved horns on its head, a mouth that looks almost sewn shut, and two long elastic arms each with two clawed fingers. On the back of the human torso are bony spines along its spine and a variety of weapons from previous battles stuck in it. When walking on its equine legs, its attached humanoid portion hangs limply to one side, making its arms drag along the ground as it spasmodically twitches. This Grimm is known as the Nuckelavee.

Nora grabbed Ren's hand as both gripped each other's hand, knowing that they have to face off against this Grimm at some point.