Trapped
Chapter 10: War
By Lightningstrxu
Ruby Rose was angry.
Dirge rattled his tail causing her vision to blur just enough to allow him to duck under the blade of Crescent Rose.
Ruby Rose was furious.
Another slash another miss, she growled in frustration.
"Hold still, damn it!" Ruby cried as she ran for him rose petals scattering in her wake, another rattle of his tail caused her to stumble and slam into a nearby wall.
Ruby Rose was blind.
"Come on now; you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn like that." Dirge chortled as he leveled his gun at the still reeling Ruby, only to be knocked aside with a punch to the side of his head from Yang.
"Watch where you're looking!" Yang said confidently as Dirge staggered back.
"Damn it." Dirge spat out a tooth as he rubbed his jaw. "You got a mean right hook Miss Xiao Long; I'm going to have so much fun with you." With a flick of his wrist, the revolver in his hand became a knife, and he began to amble towards Yang.
Yang's violet eyes narrowed, from everything she had been told about Dirge he was a coward, he incapacitated Ruby before she could fight back, took her hostage to control the others, and ran away the moment Qrow had shown up not wanting to face someone who could fight back. But now he was confident, unafraid of the two Huntresses before him.
Yang charged to meet him head-on, close quarters combat was her specialty after all, and he seemed to prefer long range, perhaps she could gain the upper hand.
She was very wrong.
Like the snake his feature represented he was able to weave past her punches, and landing a few slashes with his knife, his tail moved by her ear rattling furiously in an attempt to knock her off balance. Only through intense focus was she able to ignore the worst of it.
A shot rang out as Ruby fired into the melee, missing Dirge entirely and grazing Yang's hair.
Yang grit her teeth, there once was a time that she would have lost her cool when that happened. But she couldn't afford to do that now. Not when Ruby was doing a good enough job of losing her cool for the both of them.
"Hoo boy, are you two really supposed to be Huntresses?" Dirge chuckled as he took a step back his knife shifting back into a gun. "Cause you two sure as hell couldn't hit fish in a barrel."
Several thunderous booms sounded as Dirge fired at Yang. Yang managed to sidestep one, but the two other shots flew into her torso. Her aura took the blow and stopped any significant damage, but they did not stop the force of the impact. Yang staggered back falling to the ground.
The snake grinned as his eyes narrowed and he sauntered up to Yang.
"No, you don't!" Ruby roared as she charged at Dirge for another reckless assault.
Yang swore she could see the snake roll his eyes as he ducked under Ruby's slash. Her fists clenched in anger as she realized her mistake. Dirge was indeed a coward, but he showed them no fear. The two sisters' weren't worth being afraid of in his mind. Yang slowly got to her feet, eyes turning red and hair coming alight as she stood cracking her knuckles.
Yang would have to correct his mistake.
Dirge's tail wrapped around the shaft of Crescent Rose the result of another predictable rage-filled attempt at a strike by Ruby.
"Let go damn it!" Ruby pulled on her scythe held tightly by the snake's tail.
"I'm getting real tired of this Miss Rose." Dirge's tail rattled, and with the proximity to her ears, Ruby's vision blurred. "Don't worry Miss Rose just give up and go to sleep I promise I'll make it gentle."
That was when Dirge felt the surge of heat and flame as Yang glared at him a literal fire in her eyes. He was sure she had been knocked out; very few people could take a direct shot let alone two from Eastwood and come out unscathed. Well, it was no matter, he had Ruby's weapon incapacitated, and the blonde was a walking target.
Yang began her charge.
"Predicta…" Dirge began to say but was silenced as Yang's left fist plunged into his gut, Ember Celica discharging. The force of the blow causing Dirge's grip to weaken, he stumbled back. How had she done that, she had crossed the distance in a fraction of the time she had before. Sure she wasn't as fast as Miss Rose, but he knew when to expect it. "Why you!"
Yang came in close for another blow, slightly better prepared this time Dirge brought up his tail and it began to rattle. His eyes widened when Yang continued despite seeing a slight shake of her head, a sure sign his semblance had worked. Not only did she continue, but she also went straight to the source, both of her fists slamming into the rattle from either side.
Aura was the most powerful tool available to Hunters. It could keep you from taking severe wounds, but there were limits to what it could do. The force of Yang's fists colliding with both sides of the rattle caused it to dent and crack, silencing it once and for all. Taking advantage of his shock, Yang followed up with an uppercut to his chin that sent him flying.
Dirge slammed into the wall of a nearby building. He clumsily got to his feet. He gave his tail an experimental shake only to wince in pain.
"No more semblance for you pal." Yang smirked as she cracked her knuckles again. "So are you ready to give up? Please feel free to say no, I'd love to beat on you some more."
Ruby ran past Yang; scythe raised to attack.
"He's mine." Ruby growled.
"Ruby, wait!" Yang called worriedly
Dirge glared back at Yang; his gun leveled at her. He ignored Ruby entirely.
"You fucking cunt!" Dirge fired his gun, the resulting bang was deafening, Yang's vision swirled, and she struggled to stay on her feet.
Ruby had almost passed out as she fell to her knees sick to her stomach; the only reason she was still upright was due to using Crescent Rose for support.
Dirge fired again each shot echoing in Yang's head; she felt the bullets bite heavily into her shoulder and torso her aura weakening with every shot.
"Damn it," Yang muttered, and she could feel the power of her semblance coursing through her, after taking so many shots she felt like she could tear a building in half. That was if she could even focus long enough to throw a punch. Yang felt something wrap around her neck, and she was lifted off the ground. What little focus her eyes had she could see that Dirge had ensnared her with his tail.
"You stupid fucking whore!" Dirge growled, his voice as venomous as the viper he represented.
Yang brought her hands up to try and pry the tail off, but another blast from Dirge's revolver, this time going off right next to her ear caused her arms to go limp as she struggled to maintain consciousness.
"You didn't really think my semblance was limited to my tail." Dirge snarled. "Any sound will do, the louder, the better." Dirge pressed the gun to Yang's forehead. "It just takes a lot more effort to use a sound that loud. But you are so worth the effort."
"Just shoot already." Yang spat in his face. Dirge wiped his brow.
"You'd like that wouldn't ya." Dirge smirked. "But I ain't gonna kill you just yet; I'm gonna break you, right here, right now." Dirge glanced behind him to see Ruby still struggling from repeated exposure to his semblance. "While Miss Rose watches." Dirge grinned and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "And when I'm done with you, I'm going to move onto her. I'm going to love watching the innocence in those pretty little silver eyes shatter."
"You bastard!" Yang lashed out her hands wrapping feebly around Dirge's tail.
"Oh, I see you want it rough then." Dirge cackled and started to pull her closer, Yang's heels dug into the ground. Dirge could have lifted her effortlessly, but it was so much fun to watch them struggle.
Ruby staggered to her feet, eyes narrowing as she glared at Dirge.
"No." Ruby whispered.
Her aura flared around her, but Dirge paid her no mind. Ruby was no longer a threat in his eyes. Unfortunately, he was right, fast as she was she couldn't outmaneuver sound. But Yang needed her. Ruby focused every last ounce of aura into her legs, it was a risky decision, and it would leave her with nothing to protect the rest of her body.
"Faster than sound." Ruby whispered as her aura continued to gather in her legs, rose petals already falling from them. "Faster than sound, faster than sound." She repeated her mantra.
Ruby's legs tensed for a moment before she bounded forward, several sickening cracks were heard as Ruby launched herself forward faster than she ever had before. A loud booming shockwave was unleashed just as she reached Dirge, blinding all parties involved.
Yang felt the tail around her neck go slack, and she fell to the ground; scrambling to her feet she shook her head trying to clear her vision. The sight before her was horrifying.
Dirge lay on the ground in two very separate pieces, cleaved in half by Ruby's scythe.
"Ruby!" Yang looked around to see Ruby lying on the ground a fair distance away, carnage left in her wake as it looked as if she had skidded across the pavement to stop finally. Yang gasped as she walked up to Ruby.
Ruby was covered in bruises and scratches, but worst of all was her legs, they were spread out as if there were no bones in them, feet pointing one direction, knees pointing another. It was as if the bones in Ruby's legs had shattered.
"Are you okay?" Ruby whispered weakly.
Yang was more impressed that she was even awake.
"Yeah, I'm fine Ruby." Yang whispered back as she pulled out her scroll.
"Good." Ruby smiled as her body finally gave out.
Yang dialed the scroll sending out a distress signal. She looked down at Ruby afraid to even touch her in her fragile state. Tears welled in her eyes; they had done it. They saved the city, well their part at least, but at what cost.
Ruby's body was broken; Yang doubted she could ever fully recover.
Ruby had killed for her, which was something Yang had never thought possible. Would she be able to handle that news when she woke up? Either way, it didn't matter.
Their part in the war for Tempest was over.
#####
Jaune only just narrowly dodged the rapier slash aimed at his flank.
Weiss used this opening to attempt a strike at Russytt's exposed flank, but the owl faunus contorted his semi-mechanical body to not only dodge but also counter. Weiss jumped back only just avoiding receiving a matching scar over her right eye.
Russytt landed with an exaggerated twirl, and he leveled his rapier at Weiss while bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Come now Miss Schnee…" Russytt glanced over at Jaune. "And friend. I expected so much more out of you."
"Oh believe me Russytt I don't plan to disappoint." Weiss said with a scowl on her face.
Weiss pointed at the ground a sizeable yellow glyph appearing beneath both her and Jaune, the spinning hands of a clock appearing on its design empowering the couple.
"Oh time dilation a rather advanced trick Miss Schnee." The owl smirked. "You just might be worth my time after all."
"Sigil and Shield!" Jaune shouted.
Jaune and Weiss raced forward their speed enhanced by Weiss's glyph. They ran to Russytt's side hoping to pincer him.
Russytt turned to face Weiss readying his rapier to parry, but he felt his sword being pulled by a potent force. Swiveling his head to look behind him he saw Jaune approaching his shield leading the charge, upon it was black glyph.
Russytt's rapier was drawn ever closer to Jaune's gravity empowered shield.
Weiss flew in hoping to land a quick and hard strike, without his rapier Russytt would be unable to parry.
The tip of Russytt's rapier glanced of Jaune's shield leaving a scratch on its surface just as he brought his mechanical foot up, one of his talons knocking Myrtenaster aside. Russytt leaped away putting some distance between himself and his foes.
"Damn it!" Jaune swore.
"Any ideas Jaune?" Weiss looked at him.
"Still thinking Weiss."
"Well, well, well, you two are more formidable than I thought you to be." Russytt waved his rapier back and forth. "It seems you have quite a mastery over your glyphs Miss Schnee, and time dilation is a very advanced technique."
"If you're expecting me to thank you for complimenting me, I'm not."
Nor do I want your thanks, Miss Schnee." The owl laughed. "I am just impressed by your skill with your semblance, then again it was probably easy to learn since your glyphs are hereditary."
"What are you implying?"
"Well unlike the rest of the world who have to unlock and learn their semblance on their own." Russytt pointed his rapier at Weiss. "You however like everything else in your life had your semblance handed to you on a silver platter; you knew what to do with it from the very beginning."
"Are you saying just because my semblance is hereditary that I had it easier?" Weiss stamped her foot on the ground. "Do you have any idea how much I trained? How hard I had to work?"
"Yes, it must have been so difficult having the finest tutors money could buy and have access to an endless supply of dust to empower your glyphs." Russytt rolled his eyes.
"That's enough!" Jaune shouted pointing his sword at Russytt. "Belittle her one more time, and I will personally end you."
"Oh, and the valiant knight comes to defend his princess." Russytt's gaze fell on Jaune. "Mr. Arc isn't it? Jaune Arc if I remember correctly."
"Yes, I am." Jaune's eyes narrowed. "Why do you want to know?"
"Tell me Mr. Arc what is your semblance?"
"I don't know it; I haven't discovered it yet." Jaune shook his head.
"You haven't discovered it yet." Russytt nodded "Such is the nature of a semblance it is an ability that is wholly unique to you, a manifestation of your very soul, and yet the Schnee do not have this. Nicholas, Winter and now little Weiss all three of them have the same semblance. Now, why is this?"
"What does it matter?" Weiss grit her teeth becoming increasingly annoyed. "The Schnee semblance is hereditary, it is different, but there's nothing wrong with that."
"You would think that." The owl scoffed. "The only known hereditary semblance; just something else to make you special, like the precious little snowflake you are Weiss."
Russytt stretched his arms out to either side, gesturing grandly.
"But would you like to hear my thoughts on the subject? I spent a lot of time studying the intricacies of aura and semblance. I figured you would like to hear it before you perish?"
"Oh please do enlighten us." Weiss said with a roll of her eyes.
Jaune's griped Crocea Mors tightly.
"Just get to the point already!" Jaune growled, he was running out of patience for the verbose owl faunus.
"Aura is the manifestation of one's soul, and from aura, a semblance is born." Russytt began his rather informative lesson. "A semblance is a unique power, born from your soul. Its user shapes the semblance, or others say it's the other way around. But all this tells me one thing."
Russytt chuckled to himself, seemingly amused by what he was about to say.
"That the Schnee have no soul that is the only explanation." Russytt reveled in the look of disgust on Weiss's face.
"Enough of this!" Weiss formed a glyph behind her, and from it, the giant form of an armored knight stepped out. "Jaune!"
"Right." Jaune nodded and stepped over to Weiss's side, his shield raised to defend her while she commanded her summon.
Russytt gazed up at the armored giant a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Well isn't this just like a Schnee." The owl cackled. "I do something you don't like and you respond with force."
Russytt brandished his rapier the blade humming as it cut through the air.
"You're no better than your father Weiss." Russytt taunted.
"Shut up!" Weiss glared at Russytt as her summon swung its massive sword down on the faunus.
Russytt dodged to the side and then leaped backward away from his foes.
"Ah, the infamous Schnee summon glyph." Russytt cackled again. "Even when it comes to your gift wrapped semblance you still have others fight for you."
"Enough!" Weiss roared. "I will not allow you to continue and mock my family name." The Armored Knight bounded forward. "I am sorry for what my father did to you and your town." The summon leaped off another glyph bearing down on Russytt.
"Foolish girl!" A glyph appeared between Russytt and the knight blocking its strike.
"Weiss, why did you…" Jaune said confused.
"That wasn't me Jaune." Weiss took a deep breath as she called her summon back.
"Glyphs the Schnee family semblance, but by no means should you have thought it wholly unique to you."
The glyph before Russytt began to enlarge and spin rapidly.
"A semblance is the reflection of the soul Weiss." Russytt pointed at the glyph with his rapier. "One thing has consumed my life; the annihilation of the Schnee. I trained every day to master my limbs, to hone my skills. I wanted to prove I was better than the Schnee could ever hope to be."
The glyph stopped spinning, and low gasping howl could be heard coming from it.
"It's why I learned how to wield Sforzando." The rapier cut through the air with a dramatic flourish for emphasis. "It's why I believe my semblance manifested as glyphs. So that I could beat you at your own game, to prove that you are nothing before me."
The ghostly form of a skeletal horse strode out of the glyph its hooves clacking on the ground.
"No." Jaune whispered as his grip tightened on his sword. "He seriously fought one of those. I thought there was only one."
The horse neighed as a humanoid shape rose from the horses back it twitched before letting out an unearthly howl.
"I can do everything you can Weiss." Russytt's eyes narrowed as more glyphs formed around him. "And so much more."
The Nuckelavee's arms stretched out towards Weiss and Jaune, as the cawing of giant Nevermores began to fill the sky.
Weiss and Jaune instinctively moved closer to each other ready to defend each other.
An army of summoned Grimm was about to bear down on them, while a crazed madman cackled with glee.
Sorry about the delay everyone, a lot of real life things got in the way (Ultrasun and Mario Odyssey) I also put out another fic, Lancaster this time go check it out. We are fast approaching the end, my friends. I see maybe 3 to 5 chapters left. But I have started planning for my next big fic.
Disillusioned: Jaune makes his way to Haven academy to become a huntsman; there he becomes the leader of team JCME. He will have to earn the respect of his less than enthusiastic teammates. But it's rather surprising how a little kindness can change even the most stubborn minds. Jaune x Emerald
Also, I have the next trailer for my collab fic.
SLVR
Virulent Negativity
By Goma Lymekeine
Beta Lightningstrxu
Gray-Trailer
"Gray is hard and ever constant, pushed too far she's had enough"
A young child darted out of a bush and dashed through the woodlands. A panicked expression on his face, he sprinted feverously away. He looked back every so often, checking to see if it was still following.
When he did not see anything, he found the nearest bush and dove into it. He huffed and gasped, as he attempted to both catch his breath and calm his fear. He knew what being afraid meant. He knew what would happen if he continued to be afraid. He knew what was after him. He, sadly, also knew that more could follow. That more would follow. That thought panicked him more.
A loud howl pierced the silence.
Tears streamed down his face. He managed to catch his breath and sprinted out of the bush. The small child did not bother to look behind him anymore. He knew he had to make it back to his village.
Or else.
Another howl sharply cut through the air. Then a few more resonated out in an echoing fury. The child stopped cold, the vicious sound of the howls was enough to unnerve the poor child fully. That and the fact that he had run into the edge of a cliff.
The child's vibrant blue eyes went cloudy. He sat down at the edge of the cliff and stared off into the distance. He had hoped that he could lose himself in the beautiful view offered from this vantage point, that his fear would wash away from the sheer, stunning sight of a misty forest seen from above the mist.
But it was too late
Three small Beowolves emerged forth from the shadows of the forest. The poor child turned around to face his pursuers. They approached the child slowly, snarling and lowering their bodies, ready to strike. The Beowolf standing in the center of the pack leaped out towards the child. The boy braced himself.
Suddenly, a chain lashed forward and wrapped itself around the pouncing Grimm, which yanked the Grimm backward and into the other two. A short, young girl vaulted out of the woods behind the Grimm and stood in front of the boy.
She glanced at the boy. "You okay?" She said with a very concerned tone. She then changed her gaze to focus on the Grimm. A firey gaze. A gaze that has a purpose. The gaze of a protector.
The Grimm got back to their feet and leaped at the girl. She whipped her chain at one the Beowolves, which wrapped itself firmly around the small Grimm, and she flung it at one of the others. The two Grimm collided and were launched back into the woods. The third Grimm, however, managed to land at the girl's feet and swipe at her stomach. She twisted her body, and the fringe on the back of her shirt spun outward. She radiated with a Solid grey light, and the fabric became Ridged.
The Beowolf connected its claw with her now Ridged clothing. The Grimm recoiled in what would seem like pain. The girl took her chain, straightened it out, and her aura radiated once more. Her chain became less pliable and took more of a quarterstaff like form. She bashed the Grimm with her now Ridged weapon, defeating it in a single strike. She took a deep calming breath and watched the woods.
"Mi.. Miss Lith… I'm.. Sor… ssorr…" The boy attempted to apologize, but his tears and fear prevented him from articulating.
"Stay calm." The girl now identified as Lith said in a soothing tone. "You are safe now." The short-haired woman said reassuringly.
As if the Grimm could understand words, and also wanted to prove Lith wrong, they both burst forth from the woods and dashed at her. Lith surveyed the ground for a split second, and dragged her chain-staff on the ground in a circle around her. Grass and gravel spiraled upwards around Lith, who activated her semblance, hardening the debris that formed around her. Her chain became limp once more and she rotated, launching the Ridged debris at the two Grimm, which pierced their bodies. Both fell to the ground, specks of black drifting into the air as the Grimm disintegrated.
Lith wiped the dirt from her grey hair and forehead and glanced back at the boy.
"What were you doing out in the woods so early in the morning?" she questioned with an equal amount of concern and curiosity. "You know it can be dangerous."
"I… I know Miss Grey… but I.. I just…" the boy wiped the tears from his face using the sleeve from his hooded jacket and turned to face the precipice. "Just… look."
Lith looked out over the expanse to see the gorgeous view. The misty treetops amongst the rising sun's rays, paired with the glow from their village in the distance. It was indeed a sight to behold.
"I wanted to see the sunrise… from here.. but… I got lost, and then I saw a Grimm and got scared, and I ran, and… and…"
Lith set a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave a nod of understanding. "Just invite me next time, and we can watch the sunrise together" she told him. She grinned as he gave her an enthusiastic nod. "It's okay now, let's just go back." She said with a consoling smile.
"Okay!" the boy sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve. The two of them walked back to the village.
Lith and the Boy made it safely back to the village. A large woman ran over to the greet them
"Leif?! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" the woman asked in a concerned tone. "Thank you, Lith." She hugged the small boy.
"I'm just glad he is safe." Lith responded.
"Well, why don't you come over to our tent later today, I'll cook you a nice meal." The woman stood up, lifting her child with her. "After all, this isn't the first time you saved Leif, and I know it won't be the last." She glared at her son with a stern, parental stare.
"Sure." Lith smiled at the woman. "Sounds nice."
"Great!" The lady took her son and left towards their tent.
Lith sighed and wandered back to her living area. She entered her family's hut and took a deep breath. Suddenly, something caught her attention, and she wandered over to her table. She tilted her head as she stared at a sealed letter that sat on the table. Curious, she opened the letter.
"Congratulations Miss Grey, on your acceptance to the prestigious Beacon academy."
Lith sighed and stopped reading the letter. She looked it over again and smiled, then looked out her window to see some of the children of her village playing. Children that she had rescued from the Grimm a few times. She also saw their parents and some of the other villagers. People that she lived with grew up with and was trained to help protect.
Lith shook her head and stared at the letter again. With a sigh of resignation, the tossed the letter into the corner of her room and went to lay down on her bed.
She lay in her bed, relaxed, and stared at the pile of letters that existed in the corner of her room. There were several letters she received about her acceptance into Beacon. She turned her body to look away from them and fell asleep.
Well another trailer stay tuned for the next one
Green Trailer-Verde Galapagos
As always read and review.