Beta read by: Crescent Sunrise

Recommended story: "Dilation" by Jefardi

~RR~

Ruby wakes up to see that little message waiting for her on her Scroll. Her head leaving the soft pillow she spent the previous night shifting around on trying to get comfortable. That's always the problem with sleeping in a new place after all. Unfortunately, it looked like they wouldn't be sleeping here again on their trip around with two more villages to get to before returning to Vale.

So it's a rested but weary Ruby Rose that stumbles into the shower in her room. That had been another thing to get used to. She had grown so accustomed to hearing the little sounds made by her resting teammates that sleeping alone in the quiet had felt more than a little strange.

Exiting her shower, the little reaper felt far more awake and ready to be seen by the public on her way to get breakfast. So getting dressed and grabbing her Scroll she finds herself a bit dismayed to see a missed call followed little string of messages that had cropped up while she was showering.

~Missed call from MZ

~MZ to RR - Well, good morning Ruby. Sorry if the call woke you up. I'm guessing it didn't.

~Me and the boys are packing up to head out soon. Doctor Oobleck wants to check out a few things before diving right in so today should be just more scouting to locate the entrance our friends are using and see if we can't find a back door.

~Wish us luck, I'm going to be out of contact until tonight. Need to keep a charge on my Scroll to monitor our Aura levels in the field. I look forward to seeing you soon Little Red.

Ruby sighs at the message and replies with a simple 'see you soon' before pocketing her Scroll and heading downstairs to the lobby of the small hotel where, thankfully, breakfast is waiting along with Blake and Weiss.

"Atonia and Yang still asleep?" She asks while pulling up a chair as she builds her plate with a few eggs, sausages and pancakes.

"Yang is awake, I heard her shower running on my way down. Atonia is outside talking to the drivers." Blake answers her eyes never leaving the book held up and open with one hand as the other moves food from plate to mouth with practiced ease.

"I hope we make as decent time today as we did yesterday. Our mission has been almost relaxing thus far, if not a bit uncomfortable." The heiress comments, sipping at what can only be coffee judging by the smell. Weiss is not a morning person and her choice of morning beverage reflects it as the black unsweetened fluid passes her lips.

"I wouldn't count on it. We got unusually lucky yesterday. Atonia mentioned that it was the first time she had ever made it to a village without having to deal with a single Grimm. We need to keep alert. We're halfway done and then we'll have the trip back to Vale." Ruby mentions as her sister bounces down the steps, all smiles and sunshine giving everyone a cheery smile.

"Good Morning~" The Blonde sings out before plopping herself in a chair and helping herself to the food. "Man, I hope we get to actually do something today. I get this is important but I thought we would actually be doing something besides sitting on top of moving trucks all day."

"Well you should be in luck then." The Huntress leading them states as she walks back into the building. If she were a Faunus she would be a bear. Nothing else would properly suit the large muscled woman. Where Yang was no slouch with thick, corded muscle running along her frame. Atonia was built with a body that screamed physical strength to anyone so much as glancing her way.

"The villagers reported a nest near the road leading between this and the next village. So we're going to make a stop on the way and clear it out. And by 'we', I mean you four." She says with a grin.

"You won't be participating? We had rather hoped that shadowing a Huntress we would get to see one in action." Weiss mentions as the rest of the team nods.

"And what would you learn doing that? Being a Huntress isn't just about slaying the monsters. While yes, we do that, a lot. You have to remember this is a job. One you're getting paid to do, and do correctly. This mission? This is job experience. You're out here with me to see what's what and learn how it's done. Something you won't learn by watching me do all the work." She explains before stretching out her arms slowly. "Besides, someone will have to hang back and protect the supplies. It will either be me, or two of you. Finish your food, decide, and get moving. I want to leave soon."

~MZ~

May was keeping watch as her team broke camp. Sleeping bags were pressed, folded, and pressed again before Oobleck placed them back into his bag. Hearing Brawnz whistle softly she climbed back down after shouldering her rifle.

"Nothing has noticed us. I spotted a few Nevermore nests but nothing big enough to really worry over. No Griffons or Death stalkers but I did notice a massive King Taijitu slithering around a few blocks away if the white head is anything to go by." May states nodding over her shoulder towards the streets visible behind her before going on.

"There are a number of Creep and Beowolf packs down there moving in and out of the buildings, some Ursai and the odd Boarbatusk here and there. Good chance we'll run into some Grimm once we hit ground level." She finishes, looking between Brawnz and Oobleck.

"What's the call Doc?" The team leader asks cracking his knuckles before putting on the spiked gloves he favors.

"We move slowly. We make our way to the end of the street and start looking for signs of our squatters. Be very careful. We need to spot them first if we want to have any hope of discovering what they're up to before reporting in. We have an advantage here, they still believe themselves to be undiscovered. Let us not waste the opportunity. Thus, no loud attacks on the Grimm, keep the fighting as quiet as possible." He orders getting nods all around. Nolan grimacing as he collapses his prod and attaches it to his belt while May triggers her axe blade.

"Looks like it's me and you on killing blows boss man." May comments with a wry grin to Brawnz as Roy is forced to put away his spinning buzz saws as well. The chakrams making far too much noise for their stealthy intentions if they want any hope of sneaking up on a group of militant Faunus.

Aside from the growls and howls made by Grimm, the group moved quietly. Moving from cover to cover with May pausing to use her scope to look around.

"I don't understand Doctor." She states at a low whisper a short distance away from where they noticed the smoking terrorist the night before. "There's no activity or signs of life inside any of the buildings." She mentions with narrowed eyes.

"What about the old train tunnel?" Nolan asks pointing a short distance away towards the low structure with stairs leading down nearby.

Oobleck's eyes widen and he lets out a low hiss. "Of course! We've been so foolish. We're not just looking for an underground criminal operation we're looking for an underground criminal operation!" He proclaims with a whispered shout putting emphasis on the second 'underground'.

"When the Grimm started to overrun the surface, the citizens had little choice but to seal off the city and retreat underground into the tunnels. This area is well known for its tunnels and deep caves! So it's only natural that after sealing off the surface the citizens trying to expand their living space underground in a last ditch effort to survive, might stumble upon a cave system large enough to house them. Of course, it would only be a matter of time before subterranean Grimm would find their new accommodations and overrun them once more, turning their last hope of survival into their final tomb with the tunnel to Vale still sealed." He states his voice going lower as his excitement at the discovery and realization is met once more by the sobering truth of Mountain Glenn.

"Still, those tunnels would make a prime location for our presumptive terrorists to plan and stage. We must find another way down to avoid detection. Come along." He states leading the group away.

~RR~

Ruby hops down and stretches as her team leaves their vehicles. The had been attacked no less than three times as the approached the nest and it was inconvenient enough that all four of them now found themselves rather eager to be rid of the Grimm hot spot and moving on.

Atonia had pulled out a map, given Ruby a compass and pointed in the direction the nest had been reported in before leaning against one of the rumbling vehicles. "Now hurry back, we don't have unlimited fuel and we have a job to do. Besides, the sooner you're done the sooner we can get back to Vale."

That had been the last thing Atonia told them and as they approached the field in question, Ruby had a bad feeling beginning to form in her gut. It is unknown the method by which Grimm propagate. They refused to do so in captivity, nor have they ever exhibited any form of mating ritual. What is known is that they nest. Taking control of burrows, caves, and all manner of dark places in the world before seeming to rise en masse to terrorize the people of Remnant. The only methods know to eliminate a nest is to exterminate the Grimm inhabiting it, and collapse the structure to keep it from being used again.

They left hours ago, and now back on the road, Atonia looks up. Her grip on the battle axe tightening as she hears the bushes around them rustle a growing pile of dissolving Grimm stacked up on the side of the road as she preps to add more to the growing tally. Only to relax as the four return from their bloody work. The three older team mates doing what they can to shield their team leader as her brow lifts. "Okay, what happened to her then?"

The questioning is asked in genuine curiosity as while Ruby's outfit was in absolute tatters the skin underneath seemed to be just fine and she wasn't showing any signs of Aura exhaustion. With a bashful look, Ruby starts to explain what happened to leave her in her current state.


Near the end of their battle Ruby noted Blake starting to flag as the Grimm just didn't stop coming, forcing Yang to move closer to her partner in an effort to ease some of the cat girls' burden. Seeing their attack formation crumbling was not a good sign and Ruby called for the two to drop back before turning to Weiss as she unfolds her scythe, letting the wicked curved edge lock into place behind her crouched form.

As soon as Blake and Yang move past her Ruby called out a single command. "White Lightning!" Before her partner forms a glyph under her feet speeding the already incredibly fast Ruby to speeds even greater as she activates her Semblance on top of the boost.

There isn't even a blur as Ruby takes off. She was simply there one moment, and gone the next as the slavering group of Grimm stop moving. It feels like time stands still as bright flashes erupt from the ranks of Grimm before Ruby slides across the ground behind them rolling and panting hard as she comes to a stop clearly exhausted and gasping for air. As the Grimm drop, cut into pieces and dissolving in a thick noxious cloud.

From her place on the ground Ruby realizes she's not moving for a short while before gathering her strength just to shout to her team so they can collapse the nest. She hears the ice form over the entrance, sealing it off. Yang's call for Blake to give her a boost and the sight of her sister leaping high into the air before slamming down on the hill like a meteor leaving a crater as the ground caves inward.

She listens to the sound of Gambol Shroud picking off stragglers as Weiss and Yang run over to check on her. "Heya guys." She says weakly as she waves at the pair of them. "I think we earned our pay."

'I wonder why Weiss is blushing like that, and why is Yang taking a picture with her Scroll? Why does it feel like everything got colder?' Ruby ponders.

"Wow Ruby, I know one girl who would love to see you right now." Yang mentions with a teasing grin as Ruby looks at her sister quizzically before looking down at her clothes. They're in tatters, thankfully, her cloak is fine but her skirt and corset has ripped and showing an indecent amount of skin.

It's Blake that seems to figure out what happened first. "I guess those clothes couldn't stand up to the wind shear. You have a second set, right?"

True she did, but still, it was going to be an embarrassing trip back to the trucks as she lets Yang pick up her exhausted form. Still everything turned out well enough.


"So let me get this straight, you used a new attack while in the field against a swarming group of Grimm? You do realize how stupid that was right?" Atonia asks as Ruby's head slumps before nodding weakly. "I would berate you more, but as I've mentioned we're in a hurry and I think you've realized the mistake you've made now. And to really hammer it home, I'm going to take a picture of this and send it to Glynda and explain to her why you ended up like this." She says grinning wickedly as the entire team pales immediately.

'At least we all made it out okay. So why do I still have a bad feeling?' Ruby ponders after getting away and changing her clothes.

~MZ~

It took them a few hours and quite a few Grimm before they found what they were looking for. A building marked for emergency evacuation, the arrow underneath pointing down. The group moves inside and down through the basement before encountering a sealed door. Thankfully, the manual controls still work for opening it from their side.

Inside is a staircase that leads down into darkness. Forcing them to use a light source provided by the Doctors thermos... cannon... flamethrower... bat? Similar to her experience with Zwei, May shoves the knowledge that somewhere in that thing is a fluid the Doctor drinks near constantly, preservation of sanity is important in tight spaces after all.

Eventually they reach a door, Brawnz opens it cautiously before closing it again and asking the Doctor to douse the fire. Once they are in darkness again he opens it completely and the five step out onto what can only be the roof of a tall building overlooking a massive cave, housing a small city.

"Well, this is definitely big enough to house the survivors. Looks like they attempted to rebuild after losing the surface." Nolan comments looking out before tapping May's shoulder and pointing out across the cave towards a line of tracks filled with people that look like ants from this distance. "Is that a train?" He asks while May pulls up her rifle to eye it through the scope.

"Preposterous. The route is sealed off, the train has nowhere to go. Why would they bother with it at all?" He questions and they all look to May who seems to be looking down the length of it.

"I'm seeing crates with a logo on the side and what looks like an entire flat bed with Paladins lined up on it. I don't know what they're planning, but they're definitely using the train for it. Need to get closer to figure out exactly what though, we're too far away for me to spot details with the low lighting in here." She mentions, passing Oobleck the scope so he can confirm for himself.

After getting the scope back they make their way closer. Always careful and quiet. Thankfully down here the White Fang seem to keep their patrols between the staging area and their own route to the surface.

'Which would be just fine if they were only worried about the Grimm. Honestly, did they just forget they spilled the area of this hideout at that rally Blake and Sun showed up at? Or is it more that they simply can't move locations?' May questions internally as the group works their way to the third floor of a building halfway between their entrance and the train. Here, she carefully approaches the window and looks out at them again vocalizing what she's seeing.

"Definitely White Fang. There's a lot of them here too, big operation. Heavy machinery, yup, those were Paladins. Ah hah, the shipping crates I mentioned? All marked with the SDC logo. What would they need that much Dust for?" She asks the doctor.

"I don't know Miss Zedong, we have been asking ourselves that since the thefts started. Can you see anything else?"

"Not really... Oh, wait I've got eyes on Torchwick. There's a girl next to him with, an umbrella? Looks like the girl Ruby described, she has some kind of illusionary Semblance." May goes on. Her rifle moving to take in more of the individuals.

"Everyone else seems pretty ordinary. Simple Dust rifles and pistols... Except that guy, he's got some kind of chainsaw sword. That looks... incredibly intimidating. He's also dressed a bit different, must be a higher rank." She comments before something catches her eye and she shifts to look at what two members of the White Fang are carrying into one of the full cars.

"Doctor. Look at the third car from the back end and tell me what you think that is." May asks passing over her scope once more.

The doctor holds it up and spots the large metallic device with its wires and screen. Honestly, there are very few things it could possibly be. The most obvious isn't exactly comforting, considering the amount of Dust they are surrounding it with.

"That, Miss Zedong, looks like a bomb." He replies handing the scope back. "And with that much Dust, a train, and bombs. It doesn't paint a pretty picture. Team, we need to disable that train."

Oobleck pulls out his Scroll to try and send a message back to Beacon but can't get through. When May tries to call Ruby and gets the same response a decision is made. "We can't go back to the surface now. Too much risk of being seen. And we have no idea how long we have until they are ready to leave. We are now on our own. The train will take priority, from there we can focus on subduing the criminals and calling for assistance. Remember, you are Huntsmen, protecting the innocent people of Remnant must always come first. Your lives a close second."

At this, the team stiffens looking at each other before nodding back and readying their weapons as determination solidifies on their features.

They made good progress overall, getting caught was of course, inevitable. Faunus are well known for frequently displaying effective night vision, and in the low lighting of the cave, it proved an insurmountable obstacle. It started with a shout drawing attention to their area followed by gunfire. Left with no other option they were forced to fight the short distance to the train as Torchwick and the smaller girl retreated towards the front of the train.

In rapid pursuit and taking more than a few shots to their Aura from behind, they barely manage to make it to the flat bed containing the Paladins before the train starts moving, forcing them to climb on or be left behind.

"Well, look on the bright side guys. At least we're not getting shot at anymore." Roy comments with a weak thumbs up before they hear a shout from behind them with White Fang members starting to move towards the front. Three members of the team have to restrain the urge to hit the fourth.

"That's not good." Doctor Oobleck comments only to blink as the last car detaches and them explodes opening a hole in the roof of the tunnel for Grimm to pour in. "That's very not good. Mr. Ni, I would like your assistance here keeping them away from the Paladins while your team heads forward. We must stop this train before it can reach Vale!" He shouts before heading towards the advancing Faunus with his weapon extended.

With a moment to look at each other, the team breaks apart leaving May, Roy, and Nolan to continue forward entering through the train cars.

The three were forced to pause for a moment to adjust to the lighting before spotting the short quiet girl that hung around Torchwick. The three approached cautiously as she bowed and gave a devilish smirk.

"I don't suppose you're just going to let us through are you?" May asks, her hands gripping her rifle tightly. Glaring even, as the girl looks beyond amused answering with a simple shake of her head. Bringing the rifle to her shoulder she takes aim. "You two run ahead. I'll keep her busy."

Those two share a look before sprinting forward. A pair of high impact rounds fired from the rifle behind them forces the odd silent girl to open her umbrella as they slip past and through the door behind.

The quiet girl lifts her brow still looking irritatingly amused as she twirls her umbrella and places it on her shoulder with taunting flair.

'Oh I'm going to enjoy taking that look off her face.' May thinks before her muscles tense, her fingers twitch, and her gun barks, spewing more Dust rounds with every pull of the trigger.

It was unreal. The image of the girl shattered and fragmented as if her bullets punched into a mirror… Only behind it there was nothing but empty train car. Lowering her rifle to her hip, May advances down the cabin carefully before feeling something tap her shoulder twice.

'How the hell?!'

With a quick flip her rifle spins in her hands as she turns, swinging the sharp axe blade behind her only to witness the quiet girl bending backwards under it. One of her legs shooting out to catch May in the gut.

May doubled over for a moment as she stumbled back and glared forward at the still grinning Neo. Her hands shifting along her rifle for a better grip as she straightened her back again slowly shifting her neck side to side letting the joints pop.

~RS~

Roy and Nolan push through, only to come face-to-face with the chainsaw sword guy May mentioned earlier. He shifts a bit before revving his weapon and letting it kick up sparks along the floor in front of him. "Just two whelps huh? I was hoping for a real fight." The man comments as the two look at each other.

"I'm beginning to see a pattern here." Roy jokes getting a roll of the eyes from Nolan. "Do you want this guy or Torchwick?" He asks as Nolan looks between his prod and the muscle bound Faunus.

"I'll take Torchwick. I don't want to see what that thing might do to my weapon." He comments before taking a sprinters pose and shooting forward once Roy's blades start spinning.

"Hey, you might want to pay attention!" Roy shouts drawing the large man's attention and forcing him to abort the swipe he took at the running Nolan to block the pair of spinning buzz saws that zip right back to their owner, who catches them in their wrist sockets with a flashy spin.

Roy grins next and thumbs his nose as the Faunus starts walking toward him in slow lumbering steps as Roy launches forward meeting the first swing with is spinning saws. The whirring weapons spitting thick sparks all around the combatants as they wear against each other for a moment before Roy feels himself being pushed back with the strength brought to bear by the large Faunus.

The force is broken when the large man pulls his blade back and swings it down in a massive overhead strike, forcing Roy to roll to the side and drop flat against the floor when the follow up is a quick horizontal slash.

When that is followed by the man plunging the blade straight down, Roy, the young trainee swears while barely getting out of the way before pushing himself up to his feet. Darting in close, his hands balled into fists to protect his fingers as he lunges and slashes with the spinning blades. Forcing his opponent to step back while continuing to nick at the man's Aura.

Roy takes a couple steps back before throwing the saw chakrams again and following after them. The blades are blocked but his first kick isn't, catching the shoulder of the arm currently holding the sword and forcing it away from his body.

His opponent left wide open, Roy can't help but shout in response. "Gotcha!" Only to hear it repeated back to him as the strong kick to the man's chest ends with his leg getting grabbed. The iron grip holds his limb tight as he is swung and thrown hard into the side of the train car.

~NP~

Nolan charges through into the next car, his cattle prod fully extended and he doesn't even break stride seeing a grinning Roman Torchwick waiting for him. He heads right for the criminal. "Oh come on! How many of you are there going to be?!" The frustrated hunter trainee shouts, dodging a Dust round from the cane before it's lifted to block a downward swing of his prod.

"Huh, you were not at all who I was expecting. You wouldn't happen to know a little girl in a red hood, would you?" The flamboyant criminal asks using both hands to hold back the pressure Nolan puts on his weapon.

The question gets him to blink before shaking his head. May filled them in, Ruby had run-ins with Torchwick before. And now was not the time to get distracted.

With a quick hop, Nolan sends a kick towards the bowler wearing thief's torso, only to miss as Roman is forced to jump backwards to avoid it. "Not nice kid. Why don't you just settle down and we can talk this over like adults." Roman offers, planting his cane tip down with a wicked smirk on his face.

Nolan glares daggers at the crook, lifting his prod in front of his body, the end sparking with electricity.

"No? Well, don't say I didn't warn you." Roman continues shifting sideways and lifting his cane in front of him like a sword.

~MZ~

The sniper sets her baleful gaze on the far too amused girl in front of her who seems content to stand and wait, wasting time instead of actually fighting.

"You don't talk much do you?" May asks as she takes slow careful steps forward trying to figure out how to get through the nubile girls guard.

The question seems to surprise the girl as she blinks for a moment, her brown and pink iris's switching places before switching back as she shakes her head in answer.

May doesn't ask anything else however as she swings her axe in a flat, horizontal slash, the girl easily ducks. When the parasol shoots forward though, May is no longer in front of her. Crazy eyes go wide before she rolls to the side as the axe blade is buried into the floor of the train.

May's Semblance isn't all that fantastic. No super strength or speed. No Glyphs or clones. No elemental control or teleportation. May's Semblance involves granting kinetic force to objects she is currently in contact with and determining direction. Letting her 'push' objects and herself around.

She had hoped the sudden shock of her movement would at least bother the mute girl. She hadn't expected the crazy-eyed and energetic grin that grew on her opponents face, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on edge.

The girl twirled her parasol and started advancing with laser like intensity, putting May immediately on edge. She swings before the girl can get too close, watching the girl dance back only to follow after the axe, chopping nothing but air as she approaches, getting increasingly irritated by the agile girl.

She had been ready for a lot. But not the girl grabbing her fancy weapon by the wrong end, hooking May's axe with the handle and pulling it aside before launching a picture perfect high kick straight into May's chin, throwing the sniper up and onto her back with a weak groan as her head spins.

~RS~

Picking himself up from the floor, Roy groans softly, his hand on his hips as he bends back letting his back pop. "That was rough. Hiding a little speed there big guy?" He jokes as he sets himself into a ready stance with the large man stomping towards him. His buzz saws hadn't come back yet, laying on the ground a short way away connected to his launching cuffs by thin, barely there, Aura laced threads.

Roy shifts as he takes a few steps back letting the strings go taut against his wrists before jerking them up with a wild grin, the blades zipping back along their tethers and cutting across the large man's Aura before reconnecting to their launchers and starting to spin again.

A feral growl of agitation comes from the large aggressive man as he stumbles from the blows before grabbing his sword in a two-handed grip and charging. His weapon low as he pulls it up from the ground, forcing Roy to block as sparks fly from the screeching metal weapons. The force lifting Roy from his feet and into the air where a vicious kick lands on the side of the large man's face, sending him stumbling to the side and down to one knee where he shakes himself and stands again.

"Oh just... Really? How much Aura do you even have?! Why can't you just stay down?!" Roy shouts, about to charge back into the fight when he realizes something. He pauses and grins before running away towards the door Nolan went through. The train was still moving, the job comes first.

~NP~

Nolan grunts as his lunge is diverted away. His brow furrows in irritation as he tries to turn with the deflection and land a kick, only to be blocked once more by that irritating cane. It was frustrating the skill with which Roman wielded his weapon of choice, a deflection and bludgeoning tool all at once. And any time it seemed Nolan had an opening he would shoot an explosive Dust round at the farm boys' feet forcing him to break away and try again.

All Nolan really wanted right now was to get past him but somehow, Roman seemed astoundingly aware of just where he was in relation to the door leading to the train controls and always kept himself between Nolan and the door.

At least he wasn't smiling anymore. As the fight went on, Roman grew increasingly annoyed and it showed. Not that it was a good thing. Less flash and flair, more short, controlled movements. Slapping away attacks. Not that he managed to avoid every movement, Nolan had landed a punch here, a kick there. Whittling the criminal's Aura down slowly.

Now if only he could land a hit with his prod. That would end it in a hurry.

"Listen kid, I'm going to give you one last chance to give up before I stop being nice. Killing you isn't something I have trouble doing, it's just more mess and I don't want your blood on my suit." Roman states with clear aggravation.

Nolan lashes out, whipping his crop and sliding it down Romans cane trying to get in some contact, even just the gloves on his hand. Anything he can use to end the fight. Only to be rebuffed again as the door opens behind him. Familiar buzzing reaches his ears and he dodges aside as a pair of blades rip through the air towards Torchwick, forcing the gangster to block or dodge and finally, leaving him open for Nolan's cattle prod.

It connects and a high voltage charge rips through the criminal, forcing him to drop his weapon as two burn marks score his nice suit. Nolan holds it long enough to ensure the man is unconscious before stopping and hurrying towards the engine room. Even while Roy turns back to meet his own charging opponent. No words are said, there's no time for them as neither knows just how long they have been moving for.

Entering the final room, Nolan grunts as bullets slam into his Aura from a boar-tusked Faunus grunt. With a loud yell, the farm boy runs forward, dodging the shots as much as he can before shocking the grunt ruthlessly and kicking away the gun. His eyes wide as he spots the end of the line less than a hundred yards down the track.

He looks around and grabs the emergency brake, pulling it hard as the loud screeching of old wheels echoes through the tunnel and the train starts to lose speed. The engine cutting off the moment the brakes were engaged.

With a sigh of relief the train comes to a stop less than forty yards from the wall before he turns around and heads back towards the room he left Roman and Roy in. Stopping as he spots Roy sitting on the still unconscious criminal panting roughly.

"You alright?" Nolan asks first as Roy uses a buzz saw to tear a long strip off the thief's coat in order to bind his arms behind his back. Wrists to elbows and tight enough to cut off circulation.

"Yeah I'm fine. When the train slowed down the big guy bailed, calling their mission a wash. Didn't even try to grab Torchwick. Guess they didn't get along all that well." Stallion offers in return before picking up Torchwick and his weapon, slinging the latter over his shoulder. "Let's go check on the others."

~MZ~

What sparring teaches is that Aura is an amazing thing. Blocking razor sharp blades and claws from leaving even the smallest cut. Blunt force however, can still send you flying but it will protect most of that too. What it can't stop is taking a blow to the chin in just the right spot to rattle your brain. You're still dizzy and disoriented after for a few moments… and it's not where you want to be in a fight.

'And yet that's where I am. Dropped by a lucky kick.' May thinks disjointedly as she weakly swings her axe trying to buy herself a moment to reorient herself and recover only to have her axe batted from her hand before a stiletto boot crashes down on her wrist.

Weapon out of reach and head still rattled so she can't use her Semblance to push the girl's foot off. It's a horrible second as the eyes glint with malicious glee drawing a long thin blade from her parasol. Neo watches Mays face as she slowly presses the blade into May's left leg reveling in the horror crossing the snipers face as she applies more and more force to drain the snipers Aura.

Considering their fight, it's only a moment before it gives out and May screams when the blade is slowly pushed into her flesh. The short girl over her quietly reveling in her pain as she twists her blade back and forth with every slow agonizing inch.

May loses track of how long it takes that twisting squirming blade to reach the other side of her leg, the blade casually scoring a notch in the bone as it moves past.

Sometime after the snipers voice has given out the blade is yanked free, her dizzy mind having come into frightening focus as she was tortured. But having the blade pulled free of the ugly shredded hole in her thigh is a moment of bliss followed by horrible fear when she noticed the annoyed look on Neo's face. Then she notices the train car has stopped rumbling beneath her.

That brings a smile to her lips, which only seems to enrage the short girl who delivers a sharp kick to her side. Before sitting on May's stomach and lifting her blade above her head.

May only needed a moment clear of the horrible twisting pain to focus and now, she had it and all the contact with her opponent she could want. Her smile doesn't drop as her Semblance activates and shoots the startled Neo up into the air.

With a half roll her hand grabs her axe and swings it hard at the girl suspended in air only to hit nothing as she vanishes in a flash of light leaving the blade to slam into the floor and twisting the damaged limb awkwardly getting a loud pained hiss from the sniper.

'A nap sounds good right now... That would be nice... Wait. Light headed and a big fucking leg wound… I'm bleeding out.' May grunts as she pushes her thoughts aside and starts cutting off the fabric on her pants letting the limb go unexposed below the ragged hole as she wraps the cloth around the limb and pulls it as tight as she can keeping as much blood as she can right where it belongs while trying not to pass out from the pain.

"May!"

Some idiot is shouting her name, can they not understand she's exhausted her Aura and wants to sleep? Who in the name of Oum would stop her from- oh. It's Nolan.

"Nice job stopping the train guys, is that Torchwick too? Think we'll get a pay bonus for stopping the train and catching him? We were just supposed to be a scouting team after all." May asks as she grabs her rifle and pulls the blade back into the stock before letting Nolan pick her up, carrying her back towards where they left Brawnz and the Doctor.

"They better, we stopped a massive terrorist attack. We'll be heroes!" Roy exclaims with a big smile as they get back out of the cars and into the tunnels. Many of the Paladins are missing, leaving only two on the flatbed and a lot of scorch marks, but neither Brawnz nor the Doctor look too bad at all. Despite the hard gazes they have looking back down the tunnel.

It only takes a moment to find out why as a heart stopping roar echoes through the tunnel. And a sea of black bodies with bloody red eyes and white faces barrel their way towards the five person group. "Team, that is very, very bad. The White Fang left when the train stopped and escaped with the large Faunas through a maintenance access and blew it up behind them. We are now trapped in this tunnel with Grimm bearing down on us and weakened from combat. Should we fall here, the Grimm will no doubt turn this tunnel into a nest and gradually wear at the barrier between here and Vale until they break through and invade. So I will ask one more time. Are you all ready to fight for your lives?"

The response isn't verbal. As Roy unceremoniously drops Torchwick and spins his buzz saws, Nolan setting May down next to the criminal as she leans herself against the leg of a downed paladin, checking her magazine before loading it back into her rifle with a loud snap. One by one they line up in front of May before Brawnz speaks up. "This mission better end in hazard pay."

Oobleck can only grin in response. "Agreed. And I have an idea."

AN:

~edit note - some people have pointed out that May would not be able to use her semblance with a depleted aura. I used to believe that too. Now however I disagree. As it was pointed out to me . Yes, people do need their aura unlocked to access their semblance. However as we see in the fall of Beacon. They dont need aura to use semblance. Adam stabs Blake. Straight up. Meaning no aura left to deflect it. Yet when he tries to finish off Yang Blake uses her semblance to get away with the brawler. If Semblance relied on having Aura left, Yang would be dead.

Hello everyone! So this was originally going to be out like... Thursday of last week. it was going to be split in half. but I didn't want to drop one cliff hanger just to deliver another in the very next chapter. so enjoy your sort of double chapter.

I've been pondering over the second half of this chapter from near the beginning of the story as CS can tell you. There were many ideas for just how good/bad the matchups could go ranging from a serious character death. Neo actually taking May's eye. to May pulling a win over Neo. It wasn't until I actually started writing it that I realized that similar to Yang, May doesn't really have a good skill set for matching against Neo. I think I struck a decent balance.

Also! for those that are interested and haven't seen it yet. We finished and posted chapter one of Jewels in the Rough! You can find a link on my profile. I hope it lives up to the long wait.

As always a special thanks to the reviewers that really help me to keep my interest in this story. CinderBurn, imoshen88, and kevindynamite.

Now for something special from me to you.

Omake by: Blacsparrow

Title: Copyright infringement

"Weiss! Weiss!" The ever excitable Ruby shouts, hurtling towards her partner at full tilt. The Heiress doesn't even get the chance to brace herself as tiny arms grab her waist and start tugging her towards a training room. "I just had the best idea ever!"

"Ruby stop! Unhand me and tell me what's going on!" Weiss shouts pushing the far too energetic girl away from her. "Speak clearly."

"Okay, okay, remember when you used that Glyph to speed up Blake so she could cut up all those missiles during that Paladin fight?" Ruby asks, visibly shaking with eager energy.

"Yeees, what about it?" Weiss asks cautiously.

"Well, if you did that to me and I used my Semblance on top, I would be insanely fast! Best team attack ever! We could call it the Crimson Comet!"

Weiss looks at Ruby blankly for a moment before sighing and rubbing her forehead. The idea had some merit though. "Ruby, no. We are not naming it 'The Crimson Comet' try again."

"Scarlet Speedster?"

Weiss sighs, rubbing her temples to hold back the growing headache. "No, what is with the alliteration?"

Ruby huffs her cheeks swelling with indignation "Hey alliteration is awesome! How about 'Whiz Wizard'?"

Weiss groans covering her face completely now as she sits in a convenient chair. "I swear these are getting worse."

"Does that mean we can use one of the first two?" Ruby asks with hope filled eyes.

"Absolutely not. We just have to keep going until we come up with something that doesn't sound ridiculous." comes the short reply.

"Fiiiine. How about the 'Monarch of Motion'?" Ruby offers waving her hand slowly through the air.

"Definitely getting worse." The white haired girl replies. Getting an irritated huff in reply.

"I don't suppose the 'Grand Vizier of Velocity' is going to be accepted either?" ruby offers weakly. Secretly her favorite name but also admittedly silly and unlikely to be used. The glare she gets in response it the only answer she needs. "Fine! You come up with a name if you're so good at everything!" Ruby replies with clear irritation.

Weiss blinks at being put on the spot and turns the idea over in her head. It doesn't take her more than ten seconds. "White Lightning. There, we're done. Can I go to lunch now?"

Ruby's eyes go wide and she pouts, grumbling darkly as she follows her partner to the cafeteria.

That's all for now ladies and gentlemen, I love you all and thank you for reading my story. I'll see you next time.