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Learning Curve
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Proper teaching is recognized with ease.
You can know it without fail,
Because it awakens within you that sensation,
Which tells you this is something you have always known.
.
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"I know I have a rep for being my team's punching bag," Mercury started, "but this end of the deal feels rawer than usual."
"Heh heh, feeling intimidated, boy?"
"That's an understatement."
Temujin regarded the young man with a keen eye.
The two were alone, in the middle of the desert. The soft lapping of Vacuo's beach cascaded just a mile to the east. Nothing but gold sands and hot winds around to keep them company.
"Why me?"
"Reasons," Temujin shrugged. "Mostly due to the similarities of our style."
"Yeah, I don't see it."
"Enough talk! You must learn with your body!"
"Wait, what?! Is that all the—"
Before Mercury could raise anymore protests, he felt the atmosphere around him collapse. The space he inhabited started to close on him. He couldn't even fill the air in his lungs, as he inhaled desperately.
"Finished already? True to rumors, you are very quick," Temujin frowned. "—at dying."
Mercury instinctively activated his Semblance.
The winds collected at his heels, and then expelled his immediate proximity. But he could feel Temujin's enclosure pressing in once more. With no other option, he propelled himself back through the air, out of his opponent's territory.
"Running away, are we?"
"CRAZY OLD BAT!"
"I'm afraid you won't get very far."
Temujin dug her cane into the ground, and slashed it upwards. What started as a small whisk of the sand, became a miniature sandstorm in the from of a blade. Mercury could only kick a wave of compressed air to match.
The two forces collided. Equal was their strength, but when the resulting impact settled, Temujin reappeared at a closer range.
She used it as cover to close the distance?!
"Much to learn…" the elder shook her head.
Mercury noticed sand clogging the turbines in his prosthetic. The jets of his legs sputtered, before shutting down. Though, he landed on his feet, he was well within Temujin's zone of influence once more.
"You brats really lack some formal training, but that's alright."
The young man felt the sun beat down harder than he had ever felt it. It was like he was being roast alive. The sand underneath him mimicked the sting and burn of a million fire ants.
"We were all practically self-taught as well. That alone, might be the reason we are most suited to teaching you brats."
"S-top…!"
"Don't you worry. Myself and the others will cram a whole lifetime's worth of experience into your little bodies."
"I can't…breathe…!" he rasped dryly.
"We can't afford to waste any time. So, we'll go with the method your team is so very adept at," Temujin commentated with a wicked grin.
Mercury's conscience was now fading. He was clearly dying.
"I might be going too far, but it should be alright. Even if you experience some memory loss, the body always remembers!" the old woman said, like it was someone else's problem.
"Trial by fire really is the best way."
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X
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"This is a joke, right?" Emerald asked.
"Do I appear to be in a joking mood?" Minerva Calico returned the question.
The two stood within a landscape that was ever-changing. Their environment was continuously built, and then demolished with rapid course. Time and space obscured beyond recognition. Reality and imagination intertwined.
It was the Never Realm.
"You know, Temujin's plan to get rid of the Cuckoos is insane," Emerald said.
"Quite so."
"Even if we could possibly pull off what she's suggesting, don't you think this is the wrong way to go about it?"
"Possibly."
Emerald threw the Headmaster a narrow look.
"But you're going through with it, anyway."
"Temujin's judgment has rarely proven wrong. If she believes you are capable, then so shall I."
"That trick with the hallucinated dream was something I developed over a year! It's a bit more than just a leap going from that, to what she needs for Operation Gun Dog!"
"Then, we shall endeavor to make several leaps over the next few days. The foundation is already there, dear. We need only build on it."
The mint-haired girl could only stare back slack-jawed.
"I thought you were the level-headed one in Vacuo! How come you're buying into this plan?"
"Hm. It is my experience, some of the most troublesome students exhibit the most potential."
"I don't think anybody has as much potential as what you guys need."
"Maybe, so. But If anyone is capable of attaining such an impossible standard in a short amount of time, it will be you four."
For the first time Emerald could see, a fleeting expression of cat-like mischief traced the Headmaster's expression.
"There are no greater troublemakers than Team ENMY, after all."
"…Ah, fuck."
With one wave of her wand, Minerva caused their whole reality to slant ninety-degrees. The sudden change in incline practically threw Emerald off into freefall.
Emerald stretched her mind out into the Never Realm. Trying to right herself physically would only backfire. What used to be the floor, was now a full-on avalanche. She needed to rewrite reality like she did hallucinated dreams. In this world, they were similar concepts.
But the sensation of freefall just wouldn't go away. If she corrected the angle, she might die from the impact, or buried under all the debris.
Think fast, think fast, think-fast, thinkfast, thinkfastthinkfast!
She braced her body and crossed her legs. Emerald conjured her reality with desperate haste. A moment later, her body jack-knifed into the water below.
Once buoyancy negated her fall, Emerald made her way towards the surface. She avoided the giant, sinking boulders that followed her. For a brief moment, she enjoyed the feeling of cool water against her skin. But that relief ended instantly at seeing Minerva standing on the ocean's surface—or more accurately, the ocean's surface frozen over.
"You can do better."
Emerald felt the underwater prison seize her, as she became trapped in ice as well.
The gap in skill was too much. Their masteries over the Never Realm was apparent in the scales of their conjurations.
Just as Emerald was panicking to come up with a new counter to the threat, Minerva continued to brandish a teacher's bemused smile.
"Remember, dear—"
"There is no spoon."
.
X
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Yang barely strafed away from the fist that threatened to cave her nose into her skull. Safety was a word that did not exist in front of her opponent. The next attack was coming before the previous one even ended.
Nai bound after her, his large hands wrapped the back of her neck in a Muay Thai plum clinch. Using his momentum, he pulled his lead knee into her stomach—then, another and another.
Yang felt her abdomen pummeled into soft meat. Not only that, but she could feel venom coursing through her skin. Nai's Semblance was nastier than she expected.
She tried to break away, and for a brief moment, she succeeded. One of Nai's hands freed from the clinch. But what followed was the fighter using the space to deliver an enclosed elbow-strike.
The downward slash made Yang see stars. A deep cut opened just above her right eyebrow, painting red into half her vision.
This isn't a spar!
I need to use my Inheritance!
Yang's Aura surged. The crystalline crown signifying her newfound power took form around her head. Fire rushed out from her Ember Celica, as she aimed for a close-range uppercut.
But Nai already read the move. He deeply inhaled a moment before, and with a great huff, exhaled a thick cloud of poisonous gas. Yang's punch whiffed, and she rocketed out of the smog after.
*Cough! Cough!*
Yang hacked uncontrollably, before falling to her knees. The contents of her stomach emptied out onto the arena's grounds. Whether it was due to the poison, or the repeated knee strikes to her gut, or both, she did not know.
Was he holding back before?
Yang turned her single clear eye to see Nai, waiting patiently not a foot from her. Her iris was dyed a slight pink. A faint signature of Neo's Aura lingered there, granting her keener sight. But for all the good it did.
Their current fight was a far cry from when Nai attempted to capture her the other day.
He's fighting to kill...
I can't believe he's forcing me to use the powers of a Maiden.
"Is that all the strength you can muster?" Nai's voice rumbled down like rain.
"HELL NO!"
Yang pulled one foot under her, and kicked off with it. The blistering right hook missed, as Nai swung his body back. An immediate counter was incoming, when the Spring Maiden backpedaled out of the way.
The punch missed, but as the arm stopped short, the numerous chains wrapped around it gave way. The glove of metal links whipped about like barbed tentacles. Each lashed at Yang with the strength of countless limbs. The blue rings on Nai's skin glowed with a fervor, lending his Venomous Semblance to his whips.
Yang assembled the shambled remains of her consciousness. She remembered her discipline. Her gauntlets went up, blocking the onslaught imparted on her. Once she was used to the rhythm and the feel, she started to parry the attacks one after another.
Finally, the rain of blows let up, and she took a much needed breather.
Damn it…
Damn it…!
DAMN IT!
Yang didn't have to look to know. Nai was still standing just ahead of her. He stopped his attacks on purpose—watching, waiting, measuring.
She grit her teeth in frustration. At the corner of her eye, she watched the crackling veins in Nai's body shift like broken glass. Her Semblance showed her the flaws and strengths of her opponent's Life. But it meant nothing, if she couldn't actually capitalize on it.
With all the miraculous feats Yang was capable of, none were compatible with dealing with the threat that was Nai's simple strength. She could perform grand forces of nature that verged on being labeled catastrophes, powerful enough to level a city and countless Grimm. But the lone individual standing before her was a harsh awakening.
Nai didn't allow her any space to breathe. The second she tried to muster any sort of defense or offense, the man was already crushing it. He truly outclassed her in three simple ways—mind, body, and technique.
Nai exemplified something she had been gradually straying away from. The warrior was the very personification of a weapon.
No.
A fighter.
Yang winced down at her own fists with a bitterness.
Right.
Before I'm a Maiden, I'm a fighter too.
She forced her glare ahead to her opponent. Yang felt the unnecessary fall away like deadweight. Her stray thoughts, her preconceptions, all of it would only hinder her. She needed to return to her basics, her origins as a fighter.
What the future held, whatever complicated situation she was in,
Nothing else but victory should be sought beyond her fists.
And the fire in her heart stoked once more.
Rip away the shell and what's left?
The Soul?
"Come on!" Yang roared. "I'm not dead yet!"
She could have sworn she saw Nai's lip curl ever so slightly.
"Very, well. I will grant you the mercy of warriors."
Yang could already feel the venom eating away at her insides. In all honesty, Nai didn't have to attack. He could simply wait for her to collapse on her own.
But the Fist of Vacuo hurdled towards her. At the same time, Yang braced her gauntlets under her chin, making her own dash towards the center of the ring.
…
There was only a single exchange.
He's got a good straight-right.
Was all Yang could think of, before her body crumpled into the middle of the Gladiatorial Arena.
"Now, you will taste death," Nai muttered to the corpse in front of him.
"And, you will rise again."
.
X
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In a humble training room, the tip of Raven's katana dragged across its polished floor. A threatening ring played across the stone surface.
"Time to see those pearly whites."
Neo obediently put two fingers on the inside edges of her lips, and pushed them into an exaggerated smile.
"…You know which ones I mean. Are you forgetting I saw it the first time we met on that train?"
"…?"
"You wanna keep playing dumb? I'll kill you, brat."
"…"
"Your swordplay needs a lot of work and you're not using all the tools you have. After exchanging your Aura with Yang, that should have gotten stronger, too. It's not as dormant as it was before, right?"
Neo's empty grin turned into a bitter frown.
"Like I said, I know what I saw that day. There's no way you would've lived through it, if you didn't. So, I'll say it again. Show it to me," Raven commanded with a deadly tone.
Neo still made no moves to answer. She only continued to refuse meeting the swordswoman's eyes uncomfortably.
"Fine, have it your way. I'll pull it out of you, whether you're willing or not."
Raven coolly returned her sword to its sheath, while hovering her hand over the hilt. Her form dropped low into an Iaido-drawing stance. Her irises gleamed with the red of her Reaper's Semblance.
Neo was getting ready to pull her own weapon, when Raven's quick-draw cut just above her cheek. A move that could have easily severed her head, if the swordswoman didn't purposely aim elsewhere.
The sound of Raven returning her blade to its scabbard resounded with a piercing clink.
"That was a warning, you won't get a second. You're making a mistake if you think this is a spar."
Neo traced a trembling hand to the blood trickling down.
"Next one, I'm aiming to kill. Do your best now. I wouldn't want to explain to my little girl, why her newly-wedded bride was too weak."
Raven performed a flurry of blows that encompassed a range wider than the length of her blade. Neo parried what she could, but the sheer speed and accuracy of her opponent knocked her back with each step. She was blinking the color of her eyes, when Raven disappeared through a quickly-opened portal.
She's right.
I have to use it.
Raven appeared just to Neo's left, midway through another Iaido-draw. The swordswoman made a vicious, horizontal slash. The motion mimicked an artisan's practiced pen stroke. Less than a figure of a sword, it became the imitation of a paintbrush.
Neo brought her parasol up in time to block it. In her irises, glinted a pale silver.
"About time you got serious. But what happened to the evasiveness you're so specialized in?"
Neo could only glare back in frustration.
"Well, at least we're finally taking steps in the right direction. I hope you're ready, brat. I'm going to pound the training in you that took Summer years to learn."
Without waiting another moment, Raven dashed at Neo again. While the petite girl tried to predict her opponent's motions, something eerie played across her senses. Something abnormal-no, impossible unfolded before her enhanced vision.
Two arcs of Raven's katana split the air. One cut downward, while the other tore in its opposite. Rather than consecutive strikes, it appeared that two afterimages of Raven diverged at once. The result being, Neo's mirror clone being cut open by a narrow X.
"Your usual tricks have limits, Blake and Adam should have already shown you that."
The petite girl was still blinking her eyes repeatedly in disbelief. Her brain worked desperately to figure exactly what was the feat she just witnessed.
"You're wondering how I did that?" Raven lorded over the girl's confusion with a deadly smile.
…You attacked twice at the same time.
Not fast.
At the same time.
How?
"You and Yang aren't the only ones who've ever exchanged Auras, you know. I have my own gift from Summer."
The Never Realm?
"Sorry, but there's no point in explaining it. It's better to just experience it yourself. Don't worry, though. By the time I'm through with you, you should be able to do something similar."
Raven sunk into her stance once more.
"Try not to die, before then."
.
X
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In the dense vegetation of the Grimm's Black Oasis, Salem hummed a gentle tune to the sleeping creature above.
Connected between two great cliffs like a bridge, was a colossal cocoon. Its outer shell was crusted in the bone so closely associated with the Grimm, while the sinew holding it up was a viscous black. At the center of its mass, a dark-orange orb could be seen pulsating.
"Magic wand, make my monster grow~ "
Salem let out a small laugh at the end.
"Just kidding."
*Ahem* "Salem?"
The Witch turned around with a feigned smile of surprise.
"Bean. What can I do for you?"
Standing there with a slight uncomfortableness was Bean and his partner, Inna.
"Yes. Report update on army's status. Everyone is ready. Continuing to maintain standby on your orders."
"Good. I thank you for your exceptional work."
"…"
"…"
Salem smiled pleasantly, while slightly titling her head.
"Is there something on your mind, Bean?"
"I…" he paused. "We wonder the reason why our host delays making another siege attempt on Vacuo. Are we awaiting the birth of that Grimm?"
The three looked to the massive cocoon hanging from the sky.
"No," Salem answered. "She will awaken when the time is right. Have no worries, Bean. We will march on Vacuo very soon."
"And what time will that be?"
The Witch gave a sharp stare at him from the side. It made the boy gulp under the pressure.
"Wish to know estimated time for our attack," he resumed. "Optimum conditions, crucial—dictated by various war doctrines. Atlesian Fleet due to arrive. Attacking Vacuo before reinforcements arrive, ideal."
"Ah," Salem's expression softened with understanding. "You make a very capable general. Rest assured, our attack will commence before Atlas has chance to interfere. As to the exact moment of our battle, I cannot say for sure."
"…"
"Believe in the assignment entrusted to you. Command our forces when the time comes. That will be well enough. Leave it to me to set the stage of our victory."
"…"
Bean continued to stare down at his feet sheepishly.
"Is there another matter that bears discussion?" Salem asked.
"We're not used to bein' kept outta the loop like this," Inna answered for her partner. "We usually have at least a rough timeline to work with."
"I see. I can certainly empathize with your dissatisfaction. But it is times like these one must, 'keep one's cards close to the chest'. Even if the chances are unlikely, I'd like to keep my intentions from being discovered as sure as possible. Where is Raven, by the way?"
"She's…" Inna stopped herself.
"Oh, do not fret. I'm quite aware of her frequent visits home."
Both Inna and Bean froze stiff.
"She is allowed to assist Temujin as much as she likes, but she cannot stand against me. There are strict stipulations of such regarded in our contract."
More silence pervaded the other two, which caused Salem to relent just a little.
"Oh, to be young and restless. For you children, I know the initiative is something to be seized and acted upon at first sign. To make the first move is to assure certain victory." The Witch chuckled lightly. "Believe me, I have seized the first move since before any of you were born. This is planned patience, not idle waiting, my children. There is a purpose in all of it, predetermined ahead of time."
"So… you are aware of Vacuo's next course of action?"
"Oh, yes. In one form or another. Either they will continue to minimize the amount the Cuckoos sap away at their strength, or drastic measures will be taken."
"And, then?"
"We shall commence our siege," Salem answered simply. "Regardless of what Vacuo intends to do—"
"Heads, I win. Tails, they lose."
.
X
.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Are we dead?" Yang asked, breaking the silence between her teammates.
"The last thing I remember is Temujin killing me for the eightieth time," Mercury shrugged. "Dying and getting resuscitated so many times—maybe, I'm finally experiencing permanent brain damage."
"More or less the same on my end. Without the Maiden's inheritance, I would've been pushing daises after my second round with Nai."
As the two conversed in their dreamlike state, Emerald stayed silent. Her attention was taken away by their immediate surroundings.
They stood on the massive roots of what appeared to be an enormous tree. Its girth was too large to fathom, but at the same time, they were granted a certain insight. The Never Realm broadened their senses to an unnatural degree, and even gave them hints to where they currently resided.
"So, this is the Tree of Balance," Emerald muttered, while touching the tree's trunk.
She could feel the opposite elements at war. A violent flux of light and dark transmuted from the surface to her touch. It stirred something within her.
The girl then, remembered a distinct part of Temujin's memories.
My body and soul sunk into the deepest depths. I don't know what it was, but I swear, to this day—I grasped something at the core of our world. Some form of enlightenment, perhaps?
Emerald had to rip her hand away in order to stop herself from getting caught in the Tree's grasp. It was only then, she noticed little roots and branches twined around her body. They only receded when she mentally rejected their embrace.
Did they all experience this?
Emerald's thoughts went to Nai, Minerva, Raven, and finally, Temujin.
I wouldn't be surprised if the old lady made her Khans go through the same thing she did.
"This is totally a dream, right?" Yang asked the question that was on all their minds. "We won't remember, when we wake up?"
"I'm getting a headache," Mercury added.
"It probably has something to do with Vacuo."
"What, like this place isn't harsh enough, it's the place where dreams are shitty, too?"
"I mean, think about it. Besides the mines in Atlas, Vacuo has the highest concentration of Dust and Bane in all of Remnant. And let's not forget the Grimm are practically a different breed here."
"…I get it," Emerald muttered. "This place is probably really close to both the Never Realm and the Tree of Balance. But, why would—" she paused at a realization, and touched the base of the trunk again.
Memories flowed into her, ancient stories of times long forgotten. Enormous creatures waging endless battle against Fairies. And then, a meteor shower that laid waste to both armies.
"Fragments of the moon are embedded here. Vacuo used to be a base for Titan's army, before the Witch dropped Oberon's world on top of it. Ground zero."
Yang pressed her palm against the tree, as well. She viewed the same recollections Emerald was having.
In the whirling flux of the Cataclysm, a spark created between the frictions of two warring elements. From the ruin, an existence stepped out from the ashes. It had two feet and stood upright. Within it, shined a substance of boundless potential.
"The first soul was born in Vacuo," Yang said with a reverent tone. The moment carved an impression on her that would not fade upon waking.
Her eyes opened and widened at the sight unfolding around her. Threads of light coursed the "sky". An immeasurable energy flowed in the seams of their environment. Life attuned to what they always knew was inside.
"The birthplace of Aura…" she awed.
"For once, I can't find anything to complaint about," Emerald commented.
"Huh." Was the only thing Mercury managed to say.
"Oh, come on," Yang exasperated. "I know history usually puts you to sleep, but you're saying this is not just a little bit cool?"
"No, I'm wondering where Neo is."
"…"
"…"
Yang and Emerald glanced at each other.
""Huh.""
…
…
…
"WAAAHHHH~! YOU'RE SO CUTE!"
Neo, who currently resided on a different side of the Tree's roots, was being hugged tightly by a mysterious stranger.
"I can't believe I have another cute daughter~ !" the woman's voice rung excitedly. "Seriously! Raven could've gone easier with her teaching. But I can't blame her, I guess. Everything she learned was taught by Temujin and Athos. And they weren't the most gentlest of teachers either. You might have to just forgive her for that. Ehehe…"
If any other person had done such a thing on their first meeting, Neo would have stabbed them without hesitation. But being embraced so tightly with such transparent affection threw her off. There was an overwhelming calm to the strange woman, who was only slightly taller than Neo. She found the smell of the stranger's scent very mellowing. The pitch of her voice pleasant.
"…?"
"Who am I? Oh! Yeah, I guess I should've started with that," the woman released her with a soft cough of composure. "It's nice to finally meet you, Neo. I'm Summer Rose, Yang and Ruby's mother."
Neo's lips pursed with uncertainty.
"I'm not like Raven, I promise! I'm really happy for you and Yang! You're both really cute together!"
"…?!"
"Yeah! You have my approval! Yup! One hundred percent!"
Mommy!
Neo threw herself into Summer's embrace once more.
"There, there. Ahaha~ Awww, it's too bad you won't remember much after this. Just means I have to give you my blessings in person, when we finally meet."
"…?"
"But, enough of that," Summer separated Neo from herself, and moved back a few steps. "There isn't much time, so I'll give you your wedding present now."
Neo smiled excitedly.
With a sharp ring, a pair of blinding chakrams appeared from under the woman's cloak.
"Summer Rose's Super Special Training Session will now commence!"
Neo's expression immediately became distraught. Without any communication at all, her face could only read, "worst wedding present ever".
"Despite how I come off, I'm not actually a really gentle teacher either! Just so you know, in advance!"
"…?!"
Why are you so fired up about this?!
Summer ignored her, and her figure faded into the ether like a ghost.
Only a haughty voice rung from all around Neo.
"PREPARE YOURSELF! Convince me you're worthy of my daughter!"