Dark Rose
Chapter 11: Team Building
After tossing and turning all night, Jett woke from his restless night of sleep. Pushing himself into a sitting position, he stretched and yawned wearily. Ugh. Five more minutes, please. he thought. He fumbled for his Scroll on the nightstand next to him. Opening it, Jett opened his eyes a crack to check the time. 10:34am. Shoot. He cast his sheets off, and flew out of bed, racing for the bathroom. His Scroll rang in his hand. Jett opened it, and answered it. "Yeah, I know I'm late." he snapped, ending the call curtly. He stripped out of his clothes quickly, and hopped in the shower.
...
15 minutes later, Jett was running down the hallway, heading for the courtyard, and for the cliff where initiation was held. Twisting and winding, Jett made his way out into the central courtyard. The sun blinded him as he threw open the doors, and ran into the first person in front of him. "Owww. that hurt..." an feminine voice with an interesting lilt said. Jett looked up, and saw that he knocked a brown-haired faunus girl with rabbit ears. "Oh! I'm sorry, Ms...?" he said, offering her a hand. She looked at his hand for a minute, and grabbed it. "Velvet. Velvet Scarlatina.." she answered warily. "Jett Oswind. Pleasure to make your aquaintance." Jett responded cordially. She blushed slightly. She was tall, almost as tall as he was. Her silky brown hair reached down the middle of her back. Her brown hair framing a pretty face, with alabaster skin, and big brown eyes, looking back him. Two, brown bunny ears poked out the top of her head. One twitched, as she looked like she was listening. "Well, I would love to stay and chat, but my team is waiting for me." he said. "See ya!" He ran past the faunus girl, and in the direction of the forest, leaving her with a slightly confused look.
...
Jett doubled over, as he tried to catch his breath. He had ran non-stop to get to his destination on time. Well, on time is subjective, at this point. "Made it.." he breathed heavily. "Jett, come on!" a voice exclaimed from ahead. Jett looked up, and saw Eccon waving him over. Miranda stood off to the side, with her arms crossed tightly across her chest, giving the canopy of trees below them a nasty scowl. Matilda stood at the edge of the cliff, looking over the edge in silence. Jett walked up to the group, and greeted Eccon, and Miranda. "How's it going, Sleepy?" Eccon teased. Jett yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "Had a pretty good nap. Ran into another Faunus on the way here, too." Jett answered, cracking his knuckles. "A brown-haired Rabbit faunus, right?" Eccon asked with a smile. "Yeah. How'd you know?" "She took our pictures with her camera. Miranda nearly broke the thing." She grunted off to the side. "I don't like my picture being taken.." she said quietly.
"So, where's Goodwitch?" Jett asked, looking around. "Wasn't she supposed to meet us here?" Eccon shook his head. "She's busy repairing the courtyard, remember?" "Speaking of which," Miranda spoke up. "why are we even here? Jett and Yang destroyed the courtyard, not us." "That is precisely why she is here right now!" a quick-sounding voice said from behind. Jett turned around, and was met by a bored Yang, and a tall, wild-looking teacher. "Yeah, thanks Professor Oobleck..." she grumbled. "Doctor..." he snapped. "But I will be your liason for today's adventure into the Emerald Forrest!" Oh. My. Gods! Is he just stuck on fast forward? Jett thought, already annoyed with the way this teacher speaks. The man that Yang called 'Professor Oobleck' is sure a strange character. Moss green hair, swept back as if he was caught in a wind tunnel, bespecacled face, dress shirt tucked in on only one side with a bright yellow tie on, and a thermos he was drinking from that Jett could only guess was making him act this way.
"So, are you ready for your adventure children?" Oobleck asked excitedly. "According to my calculations, we are already 2 minutes behind schedule!" He zipped down the cliff face, and disappeared into the trees. Jett turned back to Yang, and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry you got roped into this, Yang." Jett apologised. She waved a hand at him. "Nah, it's fine. I DID put a crater in the middle of the courtyard. It's expected." she shrugged. "Just don't get in our way, Property Damage." Miranda said cooly, jumping off the cliff after the Professor. Yang scowled, and jumped after Miranda. Matilda looked back at Jett, givng him a worried look, and followed suit. Jett looked at Eccon, who gave a him a big smile. They bumped fists, and jumped over the cliff and into the forest below.
Jett touched down on the forest floor, and immediately pulled out Ebony & Ivory, expecting an attack of Grimm. None came. Jett lowered his guard, and found his teammates in the clearing ahead of him. He jogged up to join them. "So what are we looking for, Professor?" Jett asked Oobleck. "Doctor.." "Whatever. What are we trying to find?" Oobleck pushed his glasses higher up his nose, and took a sip of his thermos. "You are not always going to have the luxury of knowing what you face, children!" he explained, pointing a finger in the air. "However, the particular Grimm that you will be hunting already knows you're here! This beast is particularly ferocious, and not native to this region! Be on your guard." He took another sip from his thermos, and zipped past them up the cliff. Jett sighed. "Seriously, did someone put Dust in his drink, or something?" he asked exasperated. The rest of group just laughed. A strange roar sounded off in the distance. Jett's ears pricked up, and listened to what sounded like a fight between two beasts in the distance. He nodded, and turned back to his team. "Alright, here's how it's going down..." he started.
"Yang, you're going to be our auxilary. Whenever someone is in trouble, you get them out of it. Got it?" Jett explained, looking at the blonde berzerker. She smiled, and brought her fists together. "Matilda, you're with me. Eccon, you're with Miranda. Act as support for any Grimm trying to get the drop on her." Jett instructed. Eccon nodded pulling out his polearm. "Miranda, I want you to focus on all of the big creatures. Anything that might be a big risk, eliminate it." Miranda smirked, nodding. She adjusted her spikes on her gauntlets, making sure they were locked in place. Jett turned to his sister. "Matilda, I want you to follow my lead. We'll be finding a way through the Grimm, got it?" She gulped, but nodded hesitantly. "Alright, let's get this done. Miranda and Eccon, you grab right. Matilda, you and I will grab left. Yang, you go down the middle." Jett straightened up as another roar rent the sky. "Break!"
The team split into a team of three, and went in separate directions. Trying to sneak around the clearing into front of them. Jett moved aside the brush blocking his view, and that's when he saw it: a Beringel. A massive ape-like Grimm, with enormous muscles, and walks around on all fours. The Beringel was surrounded by a horde of Beowolves and Ursi, protecting the large Grimm from any interference. The Beringel looked like it was fighting with another, smaller Grimm that he couldn't see. Jett looked over to the other side of the clearing, and saw Miranda and Eccon getting into position to the right of the Beringel, just beyond the treeline. Jett looked over to the front of the clearing, and caught a glimpse of Yang hiding in a bush, looking uncomfortable while doing so. "Ready..." Jett said, while raising a hand to his mouth. "GO!" He whistled, and it cut across all the Grimm in front of them. His team jumped out from hiding, and rushed the enemy.
Right out of the gate, a young Beowolf jumped at Jett, only to get slashed down by one of his sister's swords. Matilda grabbed a purple Dust crystal from a pouch hidden on her waist, and broke it in half, forcing the ends into her swords. The blades lit up with purple energy, and Jett could hear the power singing inside the metal, begging to be let free. They got their wish: Matilda cleaved a path through the Beowolves throwing themselves at her. Jett transform Ivory into it's gun form, and let loose several rounds at trio Beowolves harassing his sister, garnering their attention. "Bring it, Fido." Jett growled, transforming the gun back. A Beowolf launched itself at Jett's side, trying to rake it's claws against his flesh. He delfected the blow, and decapitated the offending Grimm. Jett breathed heavy, as he looked over to see how the rest of the team was handling the fight.
Miranda continued to plow through Grimm after Grimm, turning every creature that came into her path, dust. Eccon watched her back, repelling Grimm that tried to attack her from behind. An Ursa threw Eccon to the side, and knocked his polearm out of his hands. "Mirand-" Jett started to shout, but noticed that Eccon's eyes were glowing yellow. His Aura flared around him, and he cast an open hand at the ground. Rapidly, vines formed, and reached up, stretching towards his palm. From the vines, he formed a spear out of ridgid tree bark. Eccon's face broke out in rage, and he hurled the spear at the Ursa that knocked him around. The spear stuck into the Grimm for a minute before breaking. Eccon continued to create and hurl spears at the creature. The Ursa, now having several wooden spears stick out it, roared at Eccon, unable to move. He gave the Grimm an evil look, and cast his hand at the offending Ursa. Vines and branches erupted from the ground, and wrapped around each one of the Grimm's limbs. "Suffer.." he whispered, closing his fist. The vines pulled the creature's limbs taut, and ripped them off in an incredible display of force. Eccon strode over to where his weapon lay on the ground, and picked it up, walking back over to the barely alive Ursa. He sliced off the Grimm's head in a quick motion, letting it dissolve into black powder.
Yang finally jumped into the fray, smashing an Ursa in the face with her right gauntlet. "Miranda!" she shouted, launching a particularly big Ursa at her. Miranda's face contorted into anger. She unlatched her claws letting them hang off the side. Red mist rolled off her wrists in waves, and she let loose a volley of lasers blasts, disintigrating the creature. Miranda threw her fists inwards, moving the spikes back into place as she latched them tight. Dashing forwards, she moved to Yang's side. "Ready to do this?" Yang asked excitedly. "Hmph." Miranda grunted while cracking a smile. The two berzerkers screamed, and jumped into the fray once more.
All out pandemonium shone in this little clearing. Jett and Matilda fighting off Beowolves and Ursa, Miranda and Yang laughing while mowing down Grimm, Eccon using a mixture of his polearm and wooden constructs he creates to fight off his horde of Grimm. Now, it's time to go after the big guy! Jett thought, turning his attention to the Beringel that had been rampaging until now. "Everyone! Converge!" Jett shouted, pointing at the Beringel. The rest of them, who had been fight their own battles, turned and ran towards the large Grimm with Jett, ignoring what they were doing. "Yang, Miranda, center! Eccon, Matilda, with me!" Jett ordered. Miranda nodded, and ran up the center with Yang, with the rest following Jett's lead. "Strike!" he exclaimed.
Using one of her swords, Matilda made the first move, slashing the Beringel in the leg as she sprinted past. "Night and Day!" Jett exclaimed, looking at Matilda. She nodded, understanding. Jett and Matilda sprinted at each other at full speed, passing underneath the Beringel, swords outstretched. At the last second, they jumped, and held an arm out to hook the other's, using their momentum to make a deadly spinning top with their bodies. Their swords sliced off the Beringel's feet, leaving stubs behind, bleeding black liquid onto the ground. The creature fell to it's side, and roared in pain. "Pain's Garden!" Jett shouted, looking at Miranda and Eccon. Eccon smiled, eyes flashing yellow.
Eccon sprinted forward towards the Beringel, polearm out to his right. Miranda unlatched her spikes, and loaded fire and ice Dust into her gauntlets. She dashed forward, closing the distance between her and the downed Beringel. Eccon's eyes light up, and he used his Semblance. Vines and roots erupted from the ground around them, and ensnaring the Grimm, covering it up to it's neck. The Beringel struggled against it's bonds, managing to get an arm free. Eccon tried with all his might to hold the creature, attempting to make more vines and roots come out of the ground.
Miranda threw her fists inwards, latching her spike back into place. She pressed a button in the palm of her glove, and her spikes on her gauntlets started to glow with white and red power. She cleared the distance between her and the creature in seconds, and began her assault on the Beringel's face, pummeling it into paste. The creature swung it's free arm at the bezerker. Miranda handsprung backwards, and dashied right back into melee range of the Beringel. In one motion, she used her spikes to cut through the foliage holding the creature in place, as well as making a deep cut in the Beringel's chest. The Grimm threw a right hook at Miranda while she was in range. Only having enough time to block, she put her gauntlets in front of her face, and took the blow, getting knocked backwards.
"Yang, Miranda! Finish this!" Jett exclaimed. Yang's eyes flashed red, and her hair glowed bright yellow. Using her gauntlets, she fired a round at the ground, propelling herself forward. Yang cocked an arm back, and struck the Beringel with an explosive shotgun round to the jaw, knocking the creature over. Yang backflipped, and dashed out of melee range before the creature could counter attack. Miranda walked up to Yang's side, and looked sideways at the blonde berzerker. Yang gave the gruff girl a competitve smile, which Miranda gave back. Activating both of their Semblances at once, a font of yellow and green energy erupted between them, and they dashed forward almost faster than anyone could see. The next second they were in front of the Beringel's face. Both cocked a fist back, a wild look on their faces, both glowing with their respective energies. "Yyyyyeaaaarraaaahh!" both exclaimed. Thrusting their fists forward in synch, the girls let out all their saved up power in a single punch, causing an explosion on the point of impact. The resulting explosion knocked everyone in the area away in a shockwave, giving off a blinding display of yellow and green light.
"Ugh, my aching..." Jett started, holding his head in his hand. He braced himself up with one arm, and looked at the area. It looked as though a bomb went off. The trees surrounding him were all blown back and charred. Jett looked back at the center of the explosion, and saw that the Beringel survived the attack! Miranda and Yang stood there, arms outstretched, panting heavily, Aura's completely drained. The Beringel roared, and started to regnerate it's lost feet. Within seconds, the Grimm was standing on it's two legs again. It roared, and thrust both of it's fists at the weakened girls. "Noooo!" Jett exclaimed, casting a hand out to them.
"Stop." A feminine voice said from behind. The voice had such a strong compulsion behind it, that Jett immediately followed it's command out of fear. A figure walked past him, and Matilda came into view, her swords put away. He caught a glimpse of her face as she passed, and her face was emotionless. A stony visage, with glowing steel eyes, and an emotionless gaze, which was locked on the Beringel. Jett looked up at the creature, and saw that the Grimm was in a similar state to him, as was everyone in the immediate area. Matilda's eyes focused on the Beringel, and glowed even brighter. Jett could feel the effect of whatever spell he was under getting weaker, but getting stronger on the Grimm. The next sentence Matilda spoke sent chills down Jett's spine: "Kill yourself." she ordered the Beringel. Jett watched as the creature's arms seemingly moved on their own accord, bringing it's hands up to it's throat. The Beringel gripped it's own throat, and started squeezing. "Harder." she ordered once again. It gripped harder, looking visibly distressed. "Harder." Tighter it's grip went. "Harder!" The Grimm squeezed down as hard as it could, and crushed it's neck, squeezing it's head off it shoulders, collapsing the rest of the body. Matilda closed her eyes, and hit the ground, knocked out.
"Matilda!" Jett exclaimed, rushing over to his sister's side. The Beringel dissolved into black dust in the background, and the remainder of the Grimm that they were fighting hightailed after they saw their Alpha fall by the girl. "Is she okay?" Miranda hobbled over, and started looking over her partner. "Yeah, I think she'll be fine. Just used up too much of her Aur-" Jett straightened up. "Wait, are you worried about Matilda?" Jett asked, raising an eyebrow. She gave him a dirty look. "Say anything, and I'll rip your tongue out." Yang, and Eccon walked up. "What happened?" Yang asked, holding her side in pain. Eccon gave Matilda a worried look, and looked to Jett for answers. Jett shook his head. "She just used too much Aura. She needs to rest." he answered. Yang bent down, and picked up the knocked-out Matilda, slinging her over her shoulder in a fireman's carry. "I got her." Yang stated. "You really should let me carry her, Yang." Jett said, worried. She shook her head. "Aura is already coming back, and healing my wounds. I'll be fine, J-Man." she said, giving Jett a wink. "Well, fine then. Let's get her back to Beacon, then." he said. The beaten and battered team turned to head for the cliffs. Jett looked back at the destroyed clearing behind him. They had fought a hard battle, but got out of it alive. I wonder what the future has in store for this team.. He thought, turning back around. I hope we can do better in the future..