"We're going where." Caught deadpanned. Ozpin's smile was ever-so-serene.
"Vacuo. You will rendezvous with another team and bring them back with you to Beacon for the Tournament. Their team name is Team Advantage, or Team AVNJ, and they come from Shade. You are allowed to bring Michael along, AVNJ is bringing along a guest as well. Get packed, you leave now." Ozpin explained.
"What happens if we object?" Evan asked.
Ozpin quirked an eyebrow. "It's your first full mission as a team. Something tells me you won't turn this one down so easily, Mr. Jennings." Ozpin remarked.
After packing everything needed and throwing Nimby into a baby sling, Team CTNE set off on their first quest.
One day later…
They stood in the desert metropolis of Vacuo. These were ancient buildings, tall pagoda-like structures. The smell of spices and incense hung in the air. There were ornate silks and towers gilded with gemstones.
It was, in a word, exotic.
But this was not where the two teams would rendezvous, oh no.
According to Ozpin, they had to meet in the dunes of the Inshallah Desert.
The first problem immediately made itself evident.
They stood at the entrance of the city, on the sandstone roads. They wore headscarves and the native garb. "We have a giant tent but no caravan. I'm thinking - not sure about it - that we miiiiight have to do something about that." Noah snarked.
"We also don't have much food." he added. "That's because you only brought food for yourself and Nimby-" "Shut the fuck up, Caught."
So they began to walk down the winding road leading out of the city, into the fierce deserts of Inshallah.
It took 15 minutes of walking before they stopped.
They watched as a massive wooden caravan went by them. They glanced at each other with pragmatic looks.
There was silence.
Then Evan lunged.
It was anarchy.
As it turned out, this caravan belonged to one of the native Warboy tribes of the desert. By the looks of the insignia, it was owned by the Desert Spears.
And Team Citrine had just stolen their caravan. The permanently-borrowed caravan soared across the sandstone brick road as Team Citrine beat a hasty retreat.
Tim was at the front with Masquerade, cracking it in the air so that the desert-steeds would go faster. "WE GOTTA GO! TIM, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MAKE THOSE FUCKING HORSES RUN FOR THEIR LIVES! THESE BANDITS WANT OUR HEADS ON SPEARS!" Caught barked from the roof of the immense caravan. He was firing off golden lightning bolt after lightning bolt.
Noah was smiling next to him. "You wanna try it out? Now's as good a time as any!" he shouted excitedly.
Caught nodded.
Noah touched the set lightning bolt and it sparked blue. When Caught fired, it had a flaming blue trail. As if locked onto the targets, it hit Warboy after pursuing Warboy until it fizzled out.
Evan was smiling crazily. "WITNESS ME!" he bellowed, jumping from Warboy to Warboy and slashing the air with his Merciless Claws.
Noah was now sitting next to Tim. "This is Evan's moment. Almost feels like he's prepared for this, don't you think?" Noah remarked to Tim.
Tim's only reply was a nod as the caravan went onwards.
That night, they set up camp. Their tent was massive on the inside.
Evan and Noah were outside. "Hey. Hey. Tim, Caught, get outside. I wanna show you somethin'. Noah. We're gonna do the thing." Evan rambled.
With a sigh, Noah removed his baggy tunic and headscarf. He closed his eyes and suddenly he was aflame. Within a moment, Noahbrand stood in his place. He laid down on the sand. Again, Evan was smiling.
He dropped a steak on Noahbrand and it sizzled.
It took a moment for Caught and Tim to lose their shit. But when they did, they were outright belly-laughing.
They sang rock-and-roll songs until they fell asleep.
Caught looked out onto the ebony dunes. Why did Team AVNJ seem so familiar to him?
He thought of meeting them and felt hope spark somewhere deep in his mind.
No rest for the wicked, he supposed.
Author's Note: There will be one or two chapters a week. That I can guarantee. Get hyped, Team AVNJ is coming. Tell me what you think they'll be in the reviews. Always love me some of those. ;)