Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 32 - Black Sheep
"Jaune!" Lavender cheered, rushing forward to wrap her arms about his shoulders. A head shorter than him, her cheek pressed against his neck, and her breath washed over his skin. "It's so good to see you!"
"L-Lavender…?" His mind still wasn't working straight, let alone coming up with the right words. Questions surged through his mind, but only one had the presence to pass his lips. "What are you doing here!?"
"I'm here for you, dummy!" She laughed and stepped back, but clasped both his hands in hers. "You ran away and scared everyone, even if they wouldn't admit it. Everyone is scattered over Remnant, but we still knew, and you should have heard Sapphire - she wanted to storm Vale herself to reclaim you. That is if Mom didn't do it first."
His face paled as he imagined that, and the resultant nightmare it would have caused.
"And you?" he asked. "Is that what you're here for, to drag me away?"
"Drag you?" Lavender pushed him away slightly and looked him up and down. "Is that what you imagined? I seem to remember it was you who dragged me around, normally when you'd found a book you wanted to tell me about."
"W-When we were kids," he said, flushing slightly.
"I still remember it. You treated me like a doll or a teddy bear, always holding me close." She held up a hand and laughed into it. "And you used to read me your stories before bed time."
"I remember," he said, thinking back on those times. She'd been his youngest sister, the only one until Amber was born, and he'd kind of claimed Lavender as his own. She'd never complained about it, of course. She was always indulgent like that, but he liked to think she'd enjoyed it as well.
Either way, I've always been physically stronger than her, even if she's better with a sword. If she tried to actively remove me from here, I could transform and overpower her. She couldn't force him home… at least not against his will.
"I don't want to go home, Lavender. I'm sorry."
"I know."
His eyes widened. "You… know…?"
"How could I not? You chose this path in the first place, and if there's anything that makes you stand aside from the others, it's your stubbornness." She giggled and danced away from him. "I think you got that from Mom, you know? You may look like Dad, but she's the one who's held a grudge for untold millennia, and now you have that same belligerence. Either way, I knew you wouldn't want to come back if you'd already come here."
"Then why are you here?"
"Didn't I already answer that? It's to see you. You're my favourite brother in the world."
He wrapped his arms around her again when she stepped into his reach, and he felt her arms – and tentacles – wrap about him, too. Lavender had always been the cutest, maybe because she was the only one younger than him that wasn't an absolute terror. Either way, while everyone had grown up in their own different ways, Lavender had always been his little sister.
"Don't be a moron…" Remy groused. "You're her only brother, so obviously her favourite."
"Don't ruin the mood, Remy."
"And you shouldn't let your guard down."
What was he on about? It wasn't like she was going to attack him. In fact, she let him go once he pushed back, releasing her tentacles easily. "I get why you're here in Vale," he said, "but why are you here at a White Fang rally, and with Torchwick of all people?"
"I'm right here you know," said man complained.
"And I'm still wondering why," Jaune growled with a little flash of red to his eyes. It made the man step back in fear. "Don't you have a horde of terrorists to impress?"
"Jaune, be nice," Lavender whispered, tapping his arm. She stepped past him and towards the criminal, who backed away in abject horror. His back hit a wall, and the way her tentacles waved in the air made it seem like he'd try to break through it anyway. Lavender, however, bowed her head. "I'm really sorry for him, Mister Torchwick, sir. My big brother is just a little upset because of everything that's happened. He doesn't mean anything by it."
"E-Eh…?" Roman froze, sweat still running down his brow, but now that imminent death appeared to be off the menu, he wasn't quite so afraid. Wary, of course – but less terrified. "O-Oh, uh, yeah, no problem. No problem at all."
"Mister Roman here has helped me out a little," she said, turning to Jaune once more. "He's provided me a room at Cinder's request, and he's been a perfect gentleman." She smiled back at the criminal. "I really am thankful, sir. It must have been awkward, and I know Cinder doesn't ever give people any warning." She bowed low. "I apologise, and hope I have not troubled you too much."
Roman peeled himself off the wall, coughing into his fist as he regained his confidence. "Not at all, uh… Miss Lavender. You've been great."
"You can just call me Lavender." She smiled and tilted her head. "Oh, but we've distracted you from your speech to those faunus outside, haven't we?"
"Oh crap…" Roman glanced back the way he'd come. "Yeah, I'd best go handle those animals before they start to butt heads. I swear there's not a brain between the lot of them."
"That's why Cinder trusted you with this, Mister Roman. After all, if someone has to do their thinking for them, who better for the job?"
"Heh, true." He puffed up a little. "Will you two be okay here?"
"We'll be fine, Mister Roman. Thank you again for everything." Lavender smiled and watched as the taller man left the room, rushing back to his rally. Once he was gone, and the door was closed, she turned back to Jaune, the simpering smile absent from her face. "I question Cinder's taste in men already."
"I know, right?" Jaune sighed. "She could do so much better."
"He's an absolute-" Lavender paused. "Wait, you agree? You're normally so defensive about humans."
"Yeah, normal people…" He crossed his arms and looked away. "It's only Cinder's feelings that stopped me from killing him the first time he got me in trouble."
"The first…?" Remy teased. "I seem to remember the first time had you make a fool of yourself fighting off a huntress and the silver-eyed midget."
"Second," he amended, cheeks red. "Don't ask."
Lavender didn't. In fact, it looked like she hadn't heard him at all. Her eyes were too wide. "Her… feelings…?" She looked back the way Roman had gone. "You're telling me Cinder has feelings for him?"
"Not sure how else I can put it. She said he's the only one who can provide for her needs."
"Oh my…"
"And he said she'd be lost without him, that Cinder needed him more than anything else."
"Goodness… that's surprising."
"I know. He's not good enough for her!"
"Not that," Lavender said, shaking her head. "I can't believe Cinder actually has feelings."
Jaune's face was flat. "Lav…"
"A-Ah, not that I mean any disrespect of course... Ha ha." She looked around desperately for inspiration, and then slammed a fist into the palm of her hand. "Oh, you wanted to know why I'm helping him. It's because Cinder asked me to. She seemed rather desperate, and I, being the person I am, decided that I ought to offer my aid. Isn't that wonderful of me?"
"That's great!" He blinked. "Well, not the helping him part, but you getting on with Cinder, I mean. I thought you two hated one another."
"Y-You did? Whatever gave you that idea? Why, we're beloved sisters – even if she isn't a real sister and just a pretender."
"Well, I'm glad you're getting on now."
"Please don't be an idiot, Jaune. Those two have never clicked."
"Don't be a sour tentacle, Remy. You always see the worst in people."
"And you always see the best! Those two have butted heads since the day Lavender could walk and talk. There's no way they're helping one another… not without Cinder giving up something of value."
Bah, Remy was as suspicious as ever, but his sister wouldn't lie to him. She was his little baby sister and even now stood with both hands linked behind her back and an adorable smile on her face. Her eyes looked up into his lovingly.
"C-Can't you see the smirk on her face!?"
"She's happy to see me."
"Her tentacles are wagging!"
"Very happy, then…"
"I still don't think you should get involved in something like this, Lavender. I know you're helping Cinder out, and I appreciate that, but it's dangerous."
"Oh?" A tentacle came up under her chin, almost like she was thinking. "I never knew you were so big on caution, big brother. Are you worried that big, nasty, Mister Hentacle will get hold of me?" Her eyes flashed to his, suddenly a little more serious. "That would certainly be a shock, wouldn't it?"
"Erk… I… I guess I deserve that one. In my defence, I didn't mean to be seen like that."
"I know, but you need to be more careful before you can start lecturing me about it, Mister!" She wagged her tentacle before his nose, and laughed at his embarrassment. "Either way, I don't really intend to get involved in any of her plans, or this White Fang business. I certainly don't intend to run around town transformed like this, either. We're surrounded by enemies as it is without either of us making it worse."
"They're not our enemies, Lavender."
She raised an eyebrow. "They'd kill us both without a second thought."
"Okay, so we're their enemies," Jaune admitted with an awkward cough. "But that doesn't mean it has to be the same in reverse."
"That's… a nice sentiment." The look on her face said she wasn't quite so sure about that. "Either way, I hope you won't be upset with me if I react less than peacefully to anyone who tries to kill me. If someone wants to hurt me or my family, then they are my enemies."
"Mine too, but this is different." Jaune sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This was all distracting him from what was really important. "I'm here with my team and friends tonight, and I don't want them getting in trouble."
"Friends…?" Lavender's expression was blank for a moment, but she recovered quickly. Her eyes flicked to the side before they came back to his. "I see. You've made friends. That's… good. I should meet them."
"No!"
She looked offended. "Why not?"
"Because right now, you are Hentacle, and I'm captured. Pus, you're waving your Grimm parts around."
"Oh right," she giggled. "Later then, when I'm in human form?"
He had a feeling he was going to regret this, but at the same time he knew he'd regret leaving Lavender to force an introduction herself even more. And she would. She'd totally go behind back to meet them if he said no. "Okay fine, but on my terms, okay?"
"I trust you, big brother. You always know what's best, and you've always been good to your baby sister."
Jaune puffed out his chest, both pleased and a little embarrassed at the honest praise. It felt nice to have someone who trusted you like that, and even more so to know it was your own sister.
"Oh please, don't be naïve… she's worse than Cinder!"
Jaune ignored him.
"It sounds like your friends are important to you. I can't wait to meet them. Still, for now it might be best if you got out of here before people started to worry about you." She paused, and then quickly hugged him once more. "It really is good to see you again. Meet up with me soon, okay?"
"Sure thing, Lav. I'll-"
His words were interrupted by a huge explosion, one that rocked the entire warehouse and sent dust falling down from the ceiling. Lavender fell against him, knocked off her feet, and several tentacles gripped him for balance.
"Was that you?" he asked.
"Me? How could I have-?" She pushed off him and shook her head. "No, I don't know what's going on." She fished out a scroll and dialled a number quickly. "Mister Torchwick, what is happening?"
"It's the Atlas military!" Roman shouted, his voice coming easily over the device and to their ears. "They've found us and are moving in! Get the hell out of here!"
Atlas?
Winter!
But how had she found out about the White Fang, and what would happen to his friends still hidden among them? Jaune turned back to find them but was snared by a tentacle. "Let me go, I have to get to my team!"
"Don't be foolish, big brother. You'll be killed."
"Not if I transform," he whispered, eyes flashing red.
"No! You'll be killed by Atlas, then – and what of your friends? I very much doubt they know the truth." Lavender watched him look away, watched his eyes fade to blue. "Good. Be reasonable. I'm sure they'll be escaping as best they can, but we need to do the same."
"But…"
"No buts." She dragged him to the side of the room, a wall of solid sheet metal. "If they find you back here, they'll assume the worst, and if they see me, they might not wait before opening fire. We both need to escape, and you can reconvene with them later." Lavender reached out a hand to touch the metal wall. Her eyes narrowed, and two tentacles shot forth, piercing through it. She used them like hands, gripping the sheet metal and peeling it aside. With a horrific screech, it gave way. She stepped out of it, dragging him along behind. "Once we're clear, I can turn back into human form and we can look for your friends. So long as the military see us coming from outside their cordon, there should be no suspicion."
"You'll help me look for them?"
"Of course. What kind of sister would I be if I did not?"
"Thanks, Lav. I-" He broke off as something swirled into life behind his sister. Thick red, crimson, almost, like a whirlpool in the air. His mouth fell open, and it was that alone which alerted her to the danger.
Right as a crimson sword lunged for her throat.
/-/
That bloody bastard.
She was going to kill him.
She was going to take his tentacles, bend him over, and then shove them up his own ass!
Emerald cursed under her breath as the huge ship above her opened fire. Oh, and those bastards could get lost as well! How they'd found out about this, she had no idea, but they'd arrived mere minutes after she had – and that was suspicious enough in her mind. Did they follow me here? No, of course not. What reason would Winter Schnee have to be watching someone like me?
It didn't matter. She had to find Jaune and get him out of here, preferably before Cinder got back to Beacon and realised he was missing. And then… and then she would make him suffer for lying to her, that surprisingly manipulative bastard!
Also, Mercury would never find out how she'd been tricked by Jaune Arc of all people.
Never!
An explosion nearby had her ducking into a space between a disused construction crane and a digger. As the white ship passed by, she watched the White Fang pour from the warehouse, some returning fire, but the majority trying to flee in a panic. Those fools weren't doing anything to stop the Schnee bitch. Couldn't they at least distract her for a few minutes?
Shaking her head, Emerald scanned the crowds for any familiar faces, or more likely, the distinctive hair colours. She saw one to the side, thankfully not inside the warehouse or the crowd, but between the warehouse and another. The less annoying Schnee bitch's white hair flapped in the wind.
More than that, the girl had seen her, too, and was waving her over.
"Where's Jaune?" Emerald asked once she reached her. She had to raise her voice to be heard over the noise of battle.
"What are you even doing here?" Weiss replied.
Damn it, there wasn't any time for this.
"I'm here looking out for that idiot," she answered honestly. "He told me he wasn't going to do this, and then he goes and does it anyway. Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?"
Weiss scowled and gestured to the airship above, and the explosions around them. "Funnily enough, I think I do!" She sighed and ducked deeper into the ally, Emerald on her heels. "Whatever, it hardly matters now. Jaune fell inside and was captured by Torchwick."
Of course he bloody did… what had she expected? Well, at least he'd technically be safe since Roman couldn't kill him. Emerald let out a breath of relief.
"We're going to go in and get him out."
Oh no… oh, hell no. If they went in, she knew damn well what that idiot would do when he found out. He'd rush in straight after them and get himself injured or arrested. That would quickly get back to Cinder, who would no doubt hunt her even if she fled all the way to Vacuo. She'd then die a horrendous and fiery death while her ex-mistress peeled the flesh from her bones.
Basically, a bad day…
"No, no, no, there's another option."
"Is there?" Weiss asked. "I won't leave my partner behind, and I'm not afraid to fight if necessary. Retreat is not an option."
God damn these idealistic and moral idiots. Emerald bit down on the insult and ran through some options in her head. She could cast an illusion on the girl to make her think Jaune was here, but that wouldn't work in the long run, and would reveal her Semblance early. There was also only the Schnee here, and no doubt the others would keep looking for him. She couldn't cast illusions on so many people, and not when they were so spread out.
What believable excuse could she give to drag these idiots away from here? She couldn't let them get arrested by Winter Schnee and Atlas when they might find the truth out about Jaune.
"There's something else we can do…"
"Then tell me what it is!"
I'm trying, Emerald thought. Just give me a second to `think` of the alternative plan, and I'll come up with it. Damn it. Okay, think. Jaune is probably safe inside or finding his own way out. Torchwick would know better than to harm him, and he could just transform if he needed to. It's fine if he escapes as Hentacle, since he can transform back later. I just need these two teams out of action. Ugh, if only I could get to that idiot and get him out. That would give them a chance to escape… wait, that's it!
"My teammate," Emerald gasped, right at the moment where Weiss was about to give up and run into the fray herself. "My teammate can get him out in one piece, and she can do it without being seen at all!"
"Mercury?"
"No, Neo." Emerald grabbed her scroll and sent a quick message to the girl, one filled with urgency and just enough begging. There was no telling what this would cost her, but a favour was a favour, and she needed this. "Neo can get in there without any trouble, and she can rescue him, too. Her Semblance lets her cross short distances almost instantly."
"Teleportation?"
"Uh, well…" Emerald tried to think of a better way to explain it, but the exercise was rendered useless by the sound of shattering glass. Neo appeared beside the two of them with a shit-eating grin on her face.
Emerald's eyes narrowed.
That was far too quick. How did she read my message and get all the way from Beacon to here so soon? There's something off here…
Not that there was any time for that.
"Neo, I need you to get in there, fine Jaune, and get him out," she instructed. While she relayed the orders, Emerald tapped a finger against her scroll, indicating that the true message would be sent by text instead. After all, she didn't need Neo to save Jaune at all, only to look like she was, or to find and transport him back to them so that they could leave safely. "Get him out of there, and then meet back with us, okay?"
"Wait, are you sure she can do this?"
Neo laughed silently and nodded. Her eyes contained far too much confidence to doubt, or maybe it was just mirth at the thought of any of this stopping her. Either way, she vanished with a shatter of glass a moment later.
"There," Emerald said. "He'll be fine, but we won't be if we don't get out of here. We need to get your teams out of the area before Atlas kills them by mistake. Where are they?"
Weiss pointed to the warehouse.
"Oh, come on… give me a break!"
She was supposed to be the villain here. Why was she stuck helping these goody-two-shoes idiots?
His tentacles were going straight up his ass!
/-/
"It's time to go," Blake hissed, grabbing Nora by the back of her collar and dragging her to the side. "We need to get out of here before Atlas catches us."
"What about Torchwick?" Yang asked.
"We'll deal with him if we see him, but right now, we should be focused on our own survival. Atlas isn't afraid to act first and ask questions later, and I imagine Weiss' sister is much the same. They could very well open fire on this place, and right now we're all wearing White Fang masks."
It only took a second for them to understand, and Yang's face paled.
"Blake is right," Ren said. "We leave now."
"What about Jaune?"
"We find him as well, of course. Come on, if we go the same route Torchwick went, we'll-" Ren's words were cut off as the man in question came barrelling back out of the corridor. His eyes were wide, and he had one hand holding his hat down. Blake moved for her weapon, but Ren caught her wrist. "Wait," he said. "We need to find Jaune, not stop Torchwick. Let him go."
It was a hard decision to make. Blake's mind raged against it, but she felt an immediate rush of guilt a second later, followed by disgust. Was she really going to risk a friend's safety in order to get her revenge – Yang's boyfriend, no less?
No, she wasn't. She bit down on her frustration, even as she felt ashamed that it required that much effort at all. With a sigh, she released her weapon.
"You're right…" Blake nodded to Ren, grateful for his intervention. There would be times in the future to make Torchwick pay for his crimes, and maybe Atlas would handle that for her now. The most important thing was escaping, and not leaving Jaune in Hentacle's hands.
Or, well, Hentacle's tentacles.
Torchwick ignored most of the panicking White Fang, other than to throw out some line about fighting for what they believed in. It rang as hollow as him, and did little to inspire anyone as he clambered into the huge robot and closed the cockpit. Lights flared to life and it began to move a few seconds later.
"Now's our chance," Yang said, rushing past the bipedal robot's foot. "Come on. Ruby will be crushed if anything happens to him!"
"Ruby will, or you will?" Ren whispered.
Yang didn't hear it, though Blake did and let out an amused snort. It was quickly quashed as an explosion rocked the warehouse once more. Was Atlas opening fire on them? No, that seemed unlikely, not to mention dangerous. It was likely the force from the ship's engines rocking the flimsy and dilapidated building.
The huge Paladin rearing up from within it hardly helped. Torchwick paid no attention to the girders his huge frame tore through, or for the White Fang that scurried around below. There was a loud crack and dust rained from the ceiling.
"He's going to bring the entire building down if he's not careful!" someone yelled.
Blake had a sinking suspicion Torchwick didn't care, and as he moved towards the huge, and very firmly closed, doors to the warehouse, and raised a canon – she saw her worst fears realised. "Get down!" she cried, more a warning to her own team than anything else, but most of the White Fang around her instinctively followed her orders.
The noise was deafening. It was the shot first, followed by the impact, and then a sound of twisting metal giving way to high energy. It all happened in less than a tenth of a second, but her ears continued to ring after it, and her vision swam. Above her, she heard a groan from the ceiling.
"Get out!" one of the White Fang grunts screamed. "The entire place is coming down!"
"Down, down, down!"
"Gods protect us!"
Blake looked up, her eyes growing wider. There was a twisted piece of metal falling straight towards them. She cursed and scrambled to het feet, drew Gambol Shroud and prepared to somehow knock it aside. Maybe if she used the ribbon as a lever to-
A hammer struck it first. The head caught it in the middle, and followed with an explosion of dust that sent the girder flying against a back wall, where it crashed to the ground.
"Got it!" Nora yelled. "Whew, that was close."
Well, that's one way to solve it I suppose… Blake coughed and put her far smaller weapon away. She'd never really felt self-conscious about her weapon before, but well…
"Did the Gods save us?" one of the White Fang recruits whispered.
"No," another replied. "A Goddess!"
Nora blinked owlishly at the kneeling crowd before her. "Eh!?"
"No time," Blake scowled, catching her partner's arm and dragging her away despite the loud protests of those left behind. "And don't let this go to your head either!"
"Let what go to my head? Are you jealous?"
"Of course not! We need to find Jaune and save him before this somehow gets worse."
"Uh Blake...?" Yang called. "I uh… think you jinxed it."
Through the hole that had been made by Torchwick, the huge airship could still be seen, and although it had yet to open fire, there were smaller Bullheads shuttling troops down out of it. Worse however, was the figure falling from it.
Wait… that was too big to be a human.
A second Paladin crashed down to the ground opposite Torchwick's.
"This isn't good," she whispered. "We need to-" she broke off as she tugged, but was jerked back. "Nora!?"
"I-I-Is that another mech?" the ginger girl whimpered.
"Yes, but as long as we get out of here quickly, we won't have to deal with it." Blake pulled again and got nowhere for it. With a sigh, she turned and crossed her arms. "Nora. No!"
"B-But a mech fight!"
"We need to find Jaune."
"He'll be okay."
"Nora…" Yang warned.
"But… but a mech fight!"
Ren narrowed his eyes. "Nora…"
Nora looked to the impending fight once more, and as the two robots faced off, a tear dripped from her eye and ran down her cheek.
"We can watch it on the news tomorrow, Nora."
"It won't be the same," she whispered, turning away. "Fine… let's save Jaune. But he owes me at least a million pancakes for this! Can't believe I'm going to miss an actual mech fight. This is so unfair."
And I can't believe you're thinking of leaving him behind to watch two stupid robots fight.
"W-Wait," one of the White Fang members said. He was an actual White Fang officer, and in full uniform. "Are you looking for the prisoner who fell through the roof earlier?"
"Yes," Blake said. "He's… he's…"
"A potential leak we have to chase down," Ren came to her rescue. "Being the most combat ready, we felt we'd be best suited to this. We can't let him escape since he knows about our plans."
"Not sure how much use that'll be, but I see your point." The man turned to one of his fellows and nodded. "Anyway, I doubt it'll be much of a problem. He's taken care of."
Blake's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Well, my friend here saw Hentacle drag him out the back exit. Not sure what he wants the kid for, but I don't expect anyone will ever see him again."
Yang gasped.
"Which way did they go?" Blake demanded, grabbing the man's vest. "Tell us!"
"W-What? I don't take orders from new recruits!"
"No, no, like this." Nora pried her fingers apart and took hold of the man. She shook him violently. "Which way did they go?"
"They went south, oh mighty and brave one."
"See?" Nora said, smiling. "It's all in the wrist." She dropped the man at her feet and stepped past him. "You should all run while you have the chance. Well, that or get arrested. Come on, guys. The sooner we catch up with them, the sooner I can get back to watch Robo-Torchwick versus Mecha-Schnee."
"Nora, we're not watching that!" Ren sighed, chasing after her.
"That's what you think~"
/-/
Her brother's widening eyes was the only warning she received, but harsh training from Uncle Hazel kicked in immediately. She turned on the spot, drawing her thin sword with one hand and bringing it up in time to parry a crimson blade that seemed to come from nothingness. The steel slid down her own, scraping a line across her cheek as a hand, shoulders, and eventually a face appeared from the strange miasma.
The first thing she noticed were eyes as red as her own.
But it was no Arc sister. Tall and deadly, with long, black hair and a terrifying smile – the woman appeared from the portal and pushed Lavender back.
"Who are you?"
"Interesting," the woman said. She paused and looked Lavender up and down, before she rolled her eyes. "Of course he'd miss the obvious details, although it seems he was correct on one account." Those red eyes trailed to Jaune meaningfully, though her vision was quickly obscured when Lavender dragged him behind her back. Instead, the woman looked to her waving tentacles and smirked. "You're aptly named, at least…"
"You cannot have him." Lavender said. "I shall not allow it!"
"Release him, Grimm."
"No."
"So, you are after him." The woman stepped to the side, weapon ready. Lavender turned to keep her in sight. "What is it Salem wants with him? What draws you to him?"
She couldn't answer that, not when it would mean revealing Jaune's secret to this new threat. Lavender glanced back to him, but he seemed as shocked as she, and definitely didn't recognise this person. Well, that was good. At least she wouldn't be killing one of her brother's little friends. Winding her tentacle tighter about Jaune, she covered his mouth to prevent him from saying anything that might doom him.
I'm sorry, brother. Just bear with me for a moment and I'll have you to safety. Once I've dealt with this weirdo, that is. She took a step back, falling into a stance with her sword held against her shoulder, pointed to the dark-haired woman.
"So, you know who I am, or at least a little. You should know you cannot defeat me, human. Leave and I shall not follow."
"And allow you to take the boy?" The woman smiled. "I think not."
Lavender huffed. The woman wouldn't have a choice. She was the sixth daughter of Salem, and also of Nicholas Arc. She would not be bested by someone like this… not when her dear brother's life was on the line. Her tentacles flickered behind her, two holding Jaune, and the other two free. One swerved left, the other right.
As the woman's sword moved to defend, Lavender struck from the centre.
You've nowhere to dodge and no escape. I have you!
The woman chuckled and stepped back. Something swirled into life behind her – and a second later, she was gone.
What? How?
"MPHHH!"
Jaune's cry was muffled, but it had her turning her head nonetheless. It was just in time to see a red streak cut behind her – and for her to scream in agony as her limbs were severed. She fell forwards, one hand clutched to her back as two of her tentacles squirmed and flopped on the floor.
The woman had cut her… had hurt her. Tears stung at her eyes as blood oozed down her back, but it was nothing compared to the fear she felt inside.
She'd lost hold of Jaune, and now the crazy bitch stood between them!
"Give him back!" she screamed.
"That's quite the focus. Very well, if you wish to have him, you will need to take him from me." The dark-haired woman raised her blade and held it before her. "In this world, the strong succeed and the weak perish. Show me which one you are."
"Rargh!" Lavender rushed in, eyes blazing. She had to save him, had to get him out. Her blade crashed down, the momentum augmented by her monstrous strength. There was no way the woman could hope to block it. "Back off. He's mine!"
The red blade caught hers on the side, not blocking but parrying the strike aside. Her sword hit the ground, but one of her tentacles surged in instead, aimed for the woman's throat. She blocked it with one hand, but scowled when the limb wrapped about it, drawing taut and immobilising her.
"Now!" Lavender howled, lunging forwards.
Agony shot through her as the tentacle was severed. But how… how, when the woman's weapon and arm were locked down? Lavender looked down in shock, seeing her own sword had done it. She'd cut through a swirling black portal – one whose other end had appeared beside her limb. She'd cut off her own tentacle.
"ARGHHH!"
"MPHHH!"
Through agonised eyes, Lavender watched as Jaune struggled to his feet. He looked to her and stepped forward. She knew that expression. He was about to transform to try and help her, but that would only place him in danger.
No, winning this fight wasn't necessary. Only escape.
The woman narrowed her eyes and cut off another slice of her wounded tentacle as it rushed for her face, but she was left unprepared as blood spurted out and into her vision. Had she remained still, she might have been cut down – but the woman threw herself back the instant she was blinded.
Lavender ignored her entirely, rushing forward to catch Jaune's wait on her shoulder. Breath exploded from him and he bent double over her back. Pushing up, she fled, his body bouncing up and down behind her.
"That woman," she hissed. "By Salem's name, who is she? She's strong!"
"Mfll!" Jaune's mouth was still full of tentacle.
"Relax. I'll be fine so long as it's just my tentacles. They'll regrow."
"MRBBL!"
Lavender caught the warning in time to roll to the side, accidentally crushing Jaune beneath her a little. There wasn't any time for apologies however, as a boot caught her in the chin and launched her away. She crashed into and threw a weakened metal wall. As she dragged herself back out, it was just in time to see the woman reach down and grasp her brother by the back of his collar.
He looked terrified.
"I'll deal with you later," the woman said. She threw him backwards, but he didn't hit the wall, or the floor. A swirling portal appeared behind him and he vanished into it. The thing winked out of existence a moment later. "There, now that he's out of the way, we can-oof!"
Lavender's fist buried itself in the woman's stomach, her body having travelled the distance between them in less than a second. Her eyes burned, her irises glowing like hot coals. The fury that rushed through her was hotter than fire. "Where did you take him?" she snarled. "Why did you interfere?"
The woman gritted her teeth against the pain, but an attempt to bring her sword down ended with Lavender catching the blade in the palm of her hand. Blood dribbled down her fingers, but her immense aura ensured it could not break through.
"He's out of your reach, Hentacle."
"He won't remain that way. You won't keep us apart."
"Oh? There's a personal reason involved?"
"Enough talk! Give Jaune back to me or I'll make you regret it!"
"I do not answer to Grimm!" The woman clicked something on her scabbard, and an explosion of dust caught Lavender in the stomach, knocking her back and away. The black-haired woman used that moment to hop back and rub her stomach. "Your strength is immense. Hm, I'll admit that this is interesting. You may call me Raven."
"I don't care for your name!" Lavender said, lunging for the woman.
"Tch, perhaps your mother should have taught you some manners," Raven said, catching the blade and locking it before her. Their faces were scant inches apart. "Then again, you are just a mindless Grimm. Even if you can speak and act like a human, you'll never be one."
"A mindless Grimm, huh?" Lavender backed away, laughing softly. She could feel her rage bubbling beneath the surface, something she normally sought to keep bottled away. Oh, her Uncle Hazel would be upset if he could see her now. Still, he'd understand. Her brother was in danger. "The blood of the Grimm runs through my veins, the blood of all Grimm, the blood of the Queen of the Grimm."
Her smile became twisted, her eyes somehow even redder. Something snapped inside of her, something raw and primal. With a long hiss, she brought her sword up and gripped the blade with one hand.
"If you want mindlessness, however… that can be supplied."
She tore the blade out of her hand – tearing through flesh and muscle, and spilling blood across the floor.
Raven's eyes narrowed. "And what was that supposed to accomplish?"
Lavender's shoulders shook as she panted for breath. She was exhausted, but still managed a small smile filled with blood-stained teeth. With a sigh, she reached deep inside of herself.
"Elena… could you be a dear and help me?"
Something within her stirred.
"Of course, Lavender." the tiny parasite whispered. "It's what I'm here for, my sweet."
The blood she'd spilt bubbled and oozed. It was all across the floor before her, but also behind Raven and along the route she'd run, all of it having sloshed from her wounded tentacles, and now the cut in her palm. There was a lot of it.
Enough of it…
It pooled together, moved and slithered across the floor to form solid masses that reached up into the air. Raven saw it immediately, and stepped back, eyes wary. It only took a few seconds, during which Lavender smiled at the caution she now saw.
"You asked for this, Raven," she growled. "You had plenty of opportunities to retreat and leave us alone. I… I do not wish to do this, but I shall. Nothing can be allowed to stand in my way."
"Summoning Grimm within the city…" Raven looked at them, and turned to face the closest. "Do you believe this will go unnoticed?"
"I think it will be enough," Lavender said, standing tall behind her small army of Grimm. She held a hand out towards the woman who had stolen her brother. "KILL HER!"
More of a plot pusher than one rich in ze comedy, but hey ho, the plot needed a shove. The resolution next week, as well as the fall out. There was originally a bit more lore in this chapter as to Salem's family and Lavender, but CF correctly suggested I take that out and let people either figure it out for themselves, or infer it from the information and hints given here.
I agreed, since it's always better to show rather than tell. As such, yes, there are hidden aspects to Lavender, and they should mostly be things you can work out if you look at it. If not, then don't worry. You'll see them in time.
Again, she's a side character, like all of my OC's. They exist to serve plot purposes only.
Next Chapter: 31st August
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur