Chapter 12: United Losers
I'm back from the dead, but once again I must apologize for the long wait. To much garbage got in my way leaving me no time to write. I can only hope this usually long chapter makes for it in a small way. Enjoy.
"Drake you look terrible." Said Ruby in a concerned and worried tone. She isn't lying either, Drake's eyes look like a dead fishes with huge bags under his eyes, his voice seems tired and ragged, even his performance in training seemed to be lacking.
"It's nothing Ruby just haven't been sleeping well." Replied the masked Hunter.
Drake ever since his mysterious black out and nightmare, he's' been avoiding sleeping in fear another ghost from his past might haunt his dreams.
"Don't lie to us Drake." Says Pyrrha is surprisingly angry voice. Recovering from his surprise Drake ask, "What's wrong Pyrrha?" Asked the concerned masked Hunter. Looking absolutely livid Pyrrha yells, "No, this is about you not us, now tell us what's wrong immediately!" As she bangs her fist against the table with a loud CLANG. This silenced the table and caused everyone to stare at Pyrrha in disbelief, it was startling to see the strongest and calmest among them to blurt out in anger.
Realizing her outburst Pyrrha says, "I'm sorry Drake I didn't mean to yell at you like that."
"It's fine Pyrrha, but what's got you so upset?" Questions the masked Hunter. Pyrrha's response is pointing to the other end of the cafeteria.
Drake see's Jaune sitting at a table with Cardin and his team, Cardin and his goons just sit there and laugh as Jaune gives them sheets of paper.
"Jaune has been hanging around team CRDL for days letting them push him around and whenever we question him about it he doesn't say anything." Finishes Pyrrha gesturing to Ren and Nora.
"So he hasn't even told his team members about how he cheated his way in." Thought Drake.
"Drake he's been acting like this ever since you talked to him on the roof, what happened what did he say? Please tell me we have a right to know as his teammates." Pleads Pyrrha.
"How do you know I talked to Jaune on the roof?" Questions the masked Hunter suspicious of how Pyrrha got this information. "After Cardin and Jaune stayed after class I wanted to talk to him, but you grabbed him first and I saw you two go to the roof, I tried to talk to Jaune afterwards in our dorm, but he refused to talk about it." Says Pyrrha.
"I can't tell you what me and Jaune talked about here, meet me later and will talk about it, as to why he's Cardin's lap dog I honestly have only speculation." Says the masked Hunter as he gets up and leaves the table heading towards his next class.
"What do you think Jaune and Drake talked about if he can't just come out and say it?" Says Weiss is a suspicious tone. "No idea, but it must have been important if he's so secretive about it." Points out Ruby. With that the group departed going to their respective classes.
At five P.M after classes were over Pyrrha stood in front of Drakes dorm and began knocking. Opening the door the masked Hunter said, "Come in Pyrrha, have a seat."
As polite as the act was Pyrrha decided it was better to stand, the dorm is a complete mess. Clothes littered the floor, serval dishes with half-eaten food are on the desks, and for some reason there's a lock on the closet.
Drake sitting on his bed said, "Pyrrha before I tell you anything I need you to promise me you will tell no one else about this conversation."
Pyrrha looking Drake straight in his eyes says, "I promise, what did you and Jaune talk about?" Heaving a sigh Drake begins talking. "Jaune told me he doesn't deserve to be in Beacon, he got in by submitting fake transcripts, he has no formal training or combat experience. In other words he's nothing more than an idiot flailing a sword he doesn't even know how to use." Said the masked Hunter in an irritated tone.
"Jaune is not an idiot Drake he's our friend that needs our help before he gets hurt." Replied Pyrrha slightly angered by Drake's insult of her leader.
"Pyrrha everyone here has had some form of experienced Jaune cannot possibly catch up with anyone before he's eaten by a Grimm." Said the masked Hunter in a more angered tone.
"Then what do you want us to do leave Jaune to the wolves?" Questioned Pyrrha growing angrier with the masked Hunter.
"Yes, Jaune told me the only reason he's even here is because he has some kind of hero complex, because his ancestors were great warriors. It's rendered him a reckless idiot stupid enough to fling him into an academy where he is forced to fight deadly man-eating monsters he has absolutely no hope of defeating." Said Drake as he gave his cold judgment on Jaune.
Pyrrha looking extremely angered said in a calm but infuriated tone, "If you truly feel like that why haven't you told Ozpin and have him kicked out?"
"Easy if I do that Jaune will simply try again in one of the other academies or become a freelancer, at least here I can keep an eye on him and hopefully one day I can convince him to give up on his pointless endeavor." Said the masked Hunter in a serious tone.
Pyrrha was clearly reaching a breaking point she grabbed Drakes collar and forced him to get within an inch of her face and told him in her calm but terrifying fury, "If you won't help Jaune I will and I will not let you destroy his dream."
Drake couldn't help but laugh at that, "Hahahaha do you honestly think the second Jaune told me that I turned into his own personal villain hell bent to destroy him. No, I offered to help him, train him myself so he could actually have a chance to survive. Know what he did? He said, 'If I can't do this on my own what can I do?' "He really is a worthless idiot isn't he? So go to him, offer to help and get rejected, but when he breaks his neck I won't mourn or feel sorry for the bastard." Said the masked Hunter looking Pyrrha dead in her eyes.
Letting go of Drake's collar Pyrrha exists the dorm slamming the door as she leaves. Drake fixed his attire and decided to go to the training room and blow off some steam he didn't need this crap.
Beacon displays its power by not just having excellent fighters for students, but also its equipment. The training room is a true marvel of technology that no one in Drake's dimension or world or whatever the hell it was could ever dream of.
Located in its own section away from the main campus, the training room is roughly double the size of a gymnasium designed to resemble that of a roofed coliseum. In the middle of the room is a panel that allows students to decide whatever form of training they desire. An obstacle course, equipment for every form of excursive possible and robotic soldier's students can battle with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the students' preference.
"Let's see what level six is like." Said Drake as he selected level six out of ten combat droids. The panel descended into the floor and at the far end of the coliseum its gate opened revealing Drakes opponent.
It was a small squad of three pure white robotic soldiers. They have large knight chess pieces for heads, wearing Templar armor and all of them are wielding swords with shields.
"Only cowards use shields." Said Drake as he pushed the switch on his cane, changing it into its whip form. The knights charged forward, Drake meet them head on charging as well.
The leading knight swings its sword at Drakes head, Drake ducks the attack and wraps his whip around the knights' feet and tugs, causing it to fall on the floor with a loud crash. The two other knights' approach Drake from his sides and attempt to bash him over his head with their shields, Drake uses his free hand and activates his Hunter Bone and uses its power to shift on to the toppled knight that's desperately trying to untangle its leg. Realizing Drake is now on top of it, the knight attempts to stab him with its sword, but just as it lifts its arm Drake upholsters his pistol and unleashes three bullets into the knights' head deactivating it.
Quickly untangling his whip from the defeated knight legs as the other two knights approach him. Once again Drake hit's the button on his cane, returning it to its sword from. The two knights attack simultaneously attempting to take advantage of their numbers. But Drake is an expert of dealing with multiple opponents.
Drake dukes, side steps, and rolls out of the way till he sees his opportunity. Drake sees his chance as a knight raises its sword to strike; he shoots its hand causing the knight to drop its sword. The other knight engages Drake hoping to buy time for its comrade to recover. Drake parries the knight's sword strike with his own, forcing the knight to raise its shield to try and defend itself. With a smirk Drake once more changes his canes into its whip form and wraps it around the knights shield arm and with a tug rips of its arm. Defenseless, Drake finishes the knight with a quick shot to the head.
The remaining knight having finally recovered its sword charges Drake for one final assault. The knight goes for a low sweep of its blade. Drake flips over the knight's head wrapping his whip around its neck and with a hard tug the fight is over as the final knight's decapitated body hits the floor.
"Not bad, though I should go for a higher difficult next time." Said the masked Hunter as he prepared to exit the coliseum, but stops at the sight of Ruby Rose who is sitting on the coliseum benches.
Upon being spotted Ruby uses her semblance to get down to the coliseum battleground, right in front of Drake. "Hello Ruby were you watching me the whole time?" Asked the masked Hunter,
"No I was looking for you and heard you were training here so I came over here, but you were fighting the robots so I decided it I should let you finish before talking to you." Said the crimson reaper in her usual cheerful manor.
"What do you want to talk about Ruby?" Asked the masked Hunter, "I talked to Jaune today about the whole were the leaders of a team and we really don't want to mess this up thing and I wanted to know if the advice I gave him was any good and well it's a bit embarrassing asking my team for their opinion on this." Said he crimson reaper in an awkward and ridiculously fast tone of voice,
"What did you tell Jaune exactly?" Asked the masked Hunter, he be lying if he said he wasn't curious as to what shred of wisdom the youngest among them said to the most idiotic man he ever meet.
"I told Jaune were both leaders, we can't afford to make mistakes and to do that we need to trust our teammates and do what we think is right." Said the crimson reaper in an encouraging tone.
"Good advice, but I don't think it will go through Jaune's thick skull." Said the masked Hunter. After that Drake and Ruby just stood there in awkward silence for a few very uncomfortable moments.
"Soo eh, excited about the trip tomorrow?" Asked the crimson reaper,
"Yes, I heard that forever falls is beautiful, it'll be a nice change of scenery from my usual endeavors." Said Drake eager to break the silence.
Looking slightly confused Ruby asks, "What do you mean you said your village was nice last time we talked about it?"
"My village was pleasant, but my travels that lead me to Beacon forced me to go through some rather unpleasant areas." Said the masked Hunter,
"Oh, sounds cool can you tell me about them?" Asked Ruby with childlike curiosity,
"I'll tell you all my stories when you're older Ruby." Said Drake as he began walking towards the exist.
With a pout Ruby said, "You sound just like my uncle." "Sounds like an interesting fellow." Said Drake as the two left the coliseum.
The next day at Forever Falls
"Why must I be so unlucky?" Said Drake cursing his luck, he had been searching for the better part of an hour looking for a tree that produced the damn Red Sap. On the positive said it did give Drake the chance to appreciate the trees unique color.
Drake couldn't help but give a sad chuckle at the fact he found the trees so beautiful. "You think after everything I'd be sick of the color red." Said the masked Hunter.
"RUN FOR IT!" Yelled an unknown voice from the west. Not wasting anytime Drake ran to the screams location finding himself in a small clearing and saw a terrible situation.
Cardin was on the floor bleeding from a wound on his left side, putting his hand over the wound in a feeble attempted to lessen the flow of blood. Drake got to Cardin and kneeled next to the poor bastard,
"Cardin what happened, where's the rest of your team?" Questioned the masked Hunter in a slightly panicked voice. Struggling Cardin began to speak,
"Tried to get payback on that bitch Blake and the rest of Jaune's team, got Jaune and my team to get the Red Sap, use it for my plan, but before we could pull it off, ahh!" Yelled Cardin as more and more blood began flowing from his wound.
"Shit it's worse than I thought, don't have any choice." Said the masked Hunter as he pulled out one of his few remaining blood vials.
"Cardin listen carefully, move your hand from your wound I can heal it." Said the masked Hunter in a calm but assertive voice. Cardin didn't dare argue in this situation he could feel his consciousness wavering, he obeyed and moved his hand, showing Drake the wound. It was a massive cut roughly half a foot in length and the massive blood flow made it clear it was a deep wound. Wasting no time Drake jammed the blood vial into the wound.
"AHHHH!" Cardin yelled in agony,
"I know, it always hurts when you insert it directly to the wound, but this will speed up the healing process." Said Drake in a sympathetic tone. In a few seconds Cardin's wound closed and the pain began to fade. Still a bit woozy Drake grabbed Cardin's hand and helped him to his feet.
"What was that stuff?" Said Cardin in a tone of disbelief as he examined where his wound once was.
"We don't have time for that Cardin what happened?" Said Drake in an urgent tone, "Like I was saying before we could pull of my plan Jaune deiced to grow a back bone. Told us he wouldn't do it and to not mess with his friends or teammates. Naturally I tried to beat him into submission when we heard a rustling from some bushes. It-it -it was a Fiend Grimm." Said Cardin quivering in fear at the memory.
"Damn it all." Said Drake in frustration.
Professor Port taught them about the Fiend in class. While not the strongest or well-armored Grim it was infamous for its malicious tactics. It would attack groups and single out the weakest individual, restrict their movements with the substance it spewed from its mouth and drag the poor souls to its lair. Trapped, the Fiend would use its claws to slowly torture its victims via lacerations, after hours of soul sundering pain the victim would die of blood loss. Some scientist debate the Fiend does this to draw out as much negative emotion as possible from its victim as a survival tactic, others believe it captures its prey to lure other humans and the laceration are simply a means to prevent escape, the more humanitarian scientist believe it simply a merciless monster that enjoys human suffering.
"Cardin what happened when the Fiend showed up?" Questioned the masked Hunter.
Still quivering a little Cardin continued the story, "When they saw the Fiend my teammates booked it leaving me and Jaune behind. I'm no coward I charged it, it dodged my attacks and gave me that wound, it looked like it was going to finfish me off when…" Cardin stopped speaking for a moment looking at the floor with a look of shame,
"But that idiot despite everything I did, despite the fact he has no training, despite the fact he knew he couldn't win he protected me. He got wrapped up in that things spit and got dragged off, I was left to die from my wound till you showed up." Finished Cardin,
Drake noticed Cardin's hands were curled up into fists, his eyes fixed to the floor, his expression giving away what he was feeling. Frustration, the frustration that only comes when you think that you're strong, that maybe you're not helpless anymore and you may not win every fight, but you'll make your opponent sorry he or she messed with you. But now after being completely defeated by a foe he couldn't even scratch Cardin now feels that everything he did to get up to this point was meaningless he might as well quit now. It's a feeling Drake knows all too well.
Drake reaches out his hand and places it firmly on Cardin's shoulder, Cardin doesn't try to move away or force Drake's hand off, and he looks Drake in the eyes.
"Cardin I know what you're thinking, despite everything I'm still weak, I'm still a loser, there's no point in trying if no matter how hard I work I can still be defeated so easily."
Cardin's eye's widen in shock indicating Drake was completely right. "How did you know?" Cardin asks in surprise,
"Believe me Cardin my losses heavily out way my victories, for a time in my life it seemed no matter how many people I beat there was another enemy ten times stronger than I could ever hope to be. The frustration of felling like that could reduce even the most veteran Hunter to tears, but Cardin we can't give up, because if we do will never forgive our self's, will curse seeing our own faces knowing we quit, that we choose the easy route and no one not even an ass like you deserves to feel like that." Finished Drake,
Cardin expression changed his face no longer displayed the shame and frustration it did mere moments ago, it showed the determination and pride of a man who wants to do what's right.
Cardin walked over and picked up his mace, which lay on the ground and said "Follow me I'll show you were the freak went."
"You don't have to come, just give me the general direction and I should be able to track it." Said Drake,
"Like I'll sit this one out I got a score to settle, besides I don't want to owe that blonde moron any favors, so stop wasting time and follow me." Said Cardin as he began to run into the forest.
"Maybe you aren't that bad after all Cardin, still an ass though." Drake said as he followed his unlikely ally.
After tracking the Fiend through disturbances in the bushes, footprints and scratches on several trees they found the entrance to the Fiends lair. It was a cave opening that's illuminated by the daylight.
Not wasting time the duo walked in and began exploring. Upon entering Cardin gaged and said, "What's that smell?"
"Dried blood, lots of it if the smell's this potent, the Fiend must be pretty experienced if its killed this many people." Said Drake,
"That doesn't make me feel better jack ass." Complained Cardin,
"Stop whining and look for Jaune." Said Drake,
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Roared a voice of pain from the deeper of the caves. As if the Devil himself was on their tails the duo sprint without hesitation into the deeper part of the cave. Upon reaching the end of the cave Drake and Cardin found Jaune. He was plastered against the wall by cocoon made out of a tar-like substance. His face bleeding from several lacerations, while not as severe as Cardin's it was clear the cuts weren't meant to kill. They're several jagged disturbances in the cuts as if some inserted something into the wounds and violently tore them out.
Upon realizing the duo Jaune yelled not in joy, but terror. "Guys run it's a trap!"
His eyes widening with the sudden revelation Drake yelled, "Cardin scatter now!" Both Hunters rolled away just in time as a large black figure descended from the celling onto the spot they were standing on, smoke from the impact hiding the Grimm's appearance.
"Your mine you bastard!" Cardin yelled as he lifted his mace, the weapons tip glowing with power as its owner prepared to charge the Fiend.
"Cardin stop, you can't use your maces explosion or the cave will cave-in, free Jaune I'll hold it of!" Yelled Drake as he told his unlikely ally the plan. While looking like he wanted to argue Cardin holds in his protest and heads for Jaune.
The Fiend recovered from its failed surprise attack and stood erect to face Drake, the smoke cleared it showed its true form.
The Fiend stands about seven feet tall with a humanoid body. Its feet covered in white armor resembling a wolfs hind legs. Its arms are massive roughly three feat long with its hands covered in white armor forming claws, with each blade roughly a foot long. But the worst part is its mask; it resembles a full-face masquerade mask, with glowing red eyes and a twisted open smile for a mouth leaking out a black liquid.
The Fiend thrusts its claw forward to try and stab Drake in his chest, Drake backs up to avoid the attach and upholsters his gun and fires directly at the Fiends head. The Fiend doesn't even doge the bullet it uses its claws to effortlessly deflect the attack.
Unfazed Drake swings at the Fiend with his cane in blade form, the Fiend parries his attack with his claws, recovering from the recoil Drake continues his flurry of sword swings. Despite the power and speed of his attacks the Fiend parries them all, Drake to exhausted from sleep deprivation can't push his body any further, the two opponents are stuck in a deadlock.
"I'll keep it like this until Cardin can free Jaune and then-." Drake's thoughts come to an abrupt halt when the Fiend parries his latest attack and with newfound speed attempts a slash at Drake's stomach. Realizing he has no other choice Drake steps back to avoid the fatal blow. Drake holds in a scream of pain as the tip of the Fiends claws cut the skin surrounding his stomach.
"Shit if I was just an inch fatter my guts would be on the floor right now. No, that's no important this thing is intelligent. It purposely lead me to believe we were equals in strength and power so I would be caught of guard when it unleashed its true power and go for the kill." Thought Drake trying to think how he could defeat this troublesome opponent.
The Fiend continues its assault, now using its true speed, Drake is left on the defensive unable to parry or riposte the Fiends lighting-fast attacks.
The Fiend tired of playing cat and mouse leaps at Drake in the fashion of a wolf attacking its prey. Drake roles out of the way to avoid the attack, but before he could get back on his feet the Fiend spews liquid from its mouth trapping his left leg.
"Damn, I'm finished." Is all Drake can say the Fiend runs forward preparing to slice Drake into a hundred pieces. The Fiend attempts to impale Drake right through his chest.
But before the blow can connect, a shield with a useless extra function blocks the attack.
Both Drake and the Fiend are so shocked to see Jaune blocking the attack with his shield, Cardin is able to use this opportunity to smack the Fiend on the side of its head sending the Grimm flying to the other side of the cave, slamming into the wall.
"Cardin, Jaune!?" Is all the masked Hunter can say at this split-second rescue,
"Not like we could just abandon you." Says Jaune as he uses his sword to free Drake's leg,
"Yeah, couldn't let you hog all the fun to yourself." Says Cardin with a huge grin on his face, no doubt pleased he was able to return the favor for his earlier wound.
The celebration is cut short as the Fiend gets up and charges the trio.
Almost as if the three had known each other for years they move in formation. Jaune and Cardin charge into the Fiend using their respective weapons to hold it at bay, while Drake circles around.
The Fiend uses its last trick and turns its head in an almost 180 degree fashion and spews liquid from its mouth.
Drake no intending to fall for the same trick twice doges the disgusting attack, changes his cane to whip form and slashes the Fiend directly in the face, the Fiend flinches in pain allowing Cardin to bash it directly in the chest causing it to fall over, with a war cry Jaune plunges his sword into the toppled Grimms chest. With one finale twitch the Fiend evaporates into black specks.
With sweat still running down his face Jaune says, "We actually did it."
Scoffing at Jaune's comment Cardin says, "Of course we did it you had me."
"That's enough you two let's head back to the others they probably already sent a search party for us." Says Drake as he heads for the cave's entrance with Jaune and Cardin in tow.
Making their way back the trio walk in awkward silence, without the thrill and terror of hunting rallying them the three Hunters realize they all have a bone to pick with one another.
Surprisingly Cardin is the first to speak, "Jaune, thanks for the help back their when the Fiend first showed up."
Getting over the shock of Cardin saying thanks to him Jaune says, "Don't mention it, but Cardin we need to talk-." Jaune is interrupted by Cardin holding up his hand signaling he wants to speak.
"Don't waste your breathe, as much as it makes me want to puke you've earned my respect, me and my team won't mess with you, our your friends, our teammates and don't worry I won't blab about 'that'."
Jaune gave a small smile and the trio continued walking. But something caught Drake's eye,
"Jaune I've just noticed but what happen to your wounds, when we found you, you were covered in cuts?" Questioned Drake,
looking slightly embarrassed Jaune says, "When Cardin was getting me down I watched you fight the Fiend, I got so mad at myself for not being able to do anything, it was just like in the Emerald Forest. Then all of a sudden I thought to myself, 'No matter what I'm going to protect Drake.' Then a warm feeling began to spread across my entire body, my entire body started glowing white with my aura. I broke out of the goo, my wounds healing by themselves and rushed to protect you." Finished Jaune with a slight blush on his cheeks,
"Thanks Jaune I appreciate it." Says Drake grateful for Jaune's timely rescue. Jaune looked like he wanted to say more, but he stayed quiet.
Eventually the trio found the class, where upon arrival Glynda demanded to know what had happen. The trio told the class the entire story about the Fiend, receiving furious glares from Glynda the entire time.
"So in summary Mr. Richard and Mr. Winchester rescued Mr. Arc from an extremely dangerous Grimm by themselves instead of reporting back and getting the classes assistance. Normally I would give you all months' worth of detention and report all of you to headmaster Ozpin." Said Glynda, at these words all three men paled to the point all their faces resembled milk.
"But considering the circumstances I understand you did what you believed was right, and at the end of the day you all returned safely. So I'll say good job, but never do this again." Said Glynda in a firm tone,
before Drake could even give a sigh of relief team RWBY and JNPR descended upon him. Weiss scold him for his reckless actions, Blake and Ren stayed quiet in silent judging, Ruby, Nora and Yang wanted the details of how they managed to kill the Fiend and Pyrrha wanted to know if Jaune was okay.
After Drake answered all their questions and received his scolding the class packed up and began heading back to Beacon. Making way to the Bullheads Jaune tapped Drake on the shoulder to get his attention,
"Drake can we talk in private again, but this time in a different location the roofs not that safe." Said Jaune looking awkward as he talked, no doubt remembering his outburst the last time he and Drake talked in private. Agreeing to meet up at the statue near the entrance of Beacon at night, the two Hunters board separate Bullheads and head home.
Midnight at Beacons entrance
Jaune had finally arrived at the statue; Drake had been waiting for the past five minutes.
"Alright Jaune, talk I'm all ears." Says the masked Hunter. Looking like it's taking all of his nerve Jaune begins talking,
"I just want to apologize for last time, I acted like an idiot. I rejected your help, I pushed away my teammates and ended up Cardin's lackey. None of that would have happened if I wasn't so stubborn and accepted your help. But that's over, with Ruby's and your help I realize I have a long way to go and I'm never going to get their alone. I'm going to rely on my friends and my own strength and become someone my team can call a leader." Say's Jaune, his voice filled with determination.
With a small smirk Drake says, "About time you realized that you moron, looks like I was wrong about you. So when do you want to schedule the first training session, will work on your terrible sword swings. Said Drake as began planning training in his head.
"Oh, actually Drake if you don't mind I already have a tutor in mind." Said Jaune as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, avoiding eye contact.
"Is that so, who is it Jaune?" Questions Drake, curious as to whom Jaune wants to train with.
"Pyrrha, she afford to train me last night and I told here I'll think about, at first I told here that to just leave me alone, but now I'm definitely going to take here offer." Said the blonde knight.
"Then I wish you luck Jaune and if you ever need my help you know were my dorm is." With that the two Hunters head back to there respected dorms.
Hope you guy's enjoyed this chapter it ended up way longer than originally planned. Like always if you feel like it comment and leave reviews. Hope you have a good day,
Sincerely Lazerhat9002