(Alright brakes over, time for chapter 6)
...Sting Like You Got Shot
You know those dreams where you're falling and it ends when you go splat? I'm having flashbacks to those right now, and it's not very fun: not fun at all. I look down and see seas of green trees pass by quickly beneath me, think Axel think! What did Ozpin say? Make our own landing strategy? Let's get to work then!
I pull out Cerberus and come up with a horrible idea...this is going to sting some. "God help me now..." I press down on the handle, the FWOSH of the rockets start to propel me downwards. "THIS IS GOING TO HURT!" I say to no one closing my eyes and clenching my teeth down. And 10 seconds later I'm on the ground, SWEET BEAUTIFUL GROUND! I start laughing manically and whopping "YES! YES!" I chant, which is cut short by being pummeled by sticks and broken tree limbs. All of them hitting me right on the head, hurts a bit but is more of a dull thud than anything
After that barrage I shake my head back into focus, gotta find a partner. And just when I'm about to head out I can hear growls...beowolves, I can see up to five of them: black fur, white spikes protruding from their forelegs and along their backs, white claws, and a skull like head with red markings with glowing red eyes and sharp teeth. The five of them start to circle around me like I would be some easy prey, I can only smile at this and leap towards one. It leaps toward me as well, fangs bared and claws ready to strike me...I transform my weapon into a rocket launcher and press it up to the Grimm's stomach.
"Bye bye" I pull the trigger, and a blast is sent flying with the wolf-like Grimm towards the distance. Once I land a boom goes with it, good game Grimm...I transform the weapon back into a giant sword and rush towards one of the wolves. It tries slashes across my chest, thankfully a quick block prevents me from being gutted: I slice off the arm of it before a split down the middle kills the thing. I move on to the next one by impaling it and then throwing it's corpse at another of the beowolves. Two left, I get rid of the one that doesn't have a corpse being hurtled at it by knocking it to the ground: I hold it down with the weight of the blade on it's neck, one squeeze of the handle later it's head is off the body.
Last one: a jump into the air, the beowolf is hit by the other's body causing it to be knocked back a foot. As it stumbles to get up I land right in front of the Grimm and slice it in half at the waist. Axel- one, Grimm- nothing. Time to go find my partner, I teleport onto a solid enough tree branch and start to leap from tree to tree so I can minimize chances of Grimm ambushing me again. Ten minutes of it in I can hear roars and gunshots, alongside a voice
"Alright! Let's play a bit!" Sounds like a fun guy to be around, I head over to the spot the sound is coming from: there's two Ursi and one guy with black and white shotguns...Silas. He fires several shots from his guns into the Grimm on his left causing the thing to be knocked onto it's back, his shotguns then transform into two axes: black handles with a shining white blades. He rushes towards the Ursa's companion, it swings it's claws at Silas. However Silas ducks bellow the swipe and hooks the blades of his axes onto the bear-like Grimm's arm as he slides between it's legs. It causes the Ursa to be flipped onto it's back, before it has time to react Silas swings one of the axes down and decapitates it. He turns his attention back to the other Ursa now by walking over to it, the Grimm roars and Silas shoves the barrel of his gun into it's mouth. He then says one word
"Eat"
He pulls the trigger and blows off the top half of the bear-like Grimm's head. "He's good, he's pretty good" I say to myself smirking...he turns his head towards the general direction of me and starts looking around. "Who's there?" He asks, I shrug and teleport in front of him causing Silas to jump. "Hey Si" I say in a friendly tone "You scared the shit out of me Ax!" he barks at me (no pun intended) "Teleportation semblance?" He asks me to which I nod. "What about you? What's your semblance?" he turns away for a moment before looking back at me "I'd...rather not say it" he says nervously, must be something pretty bad...I nod "Well with that out of the way" I say extending out a hand grinning "Ready to be partners for the next four years?" I finish
He looks at me with a confident smirk and squeezes my hand: "You better believe it. Come on: let's get to where we need to go." the both of us then start to walk ahead, going to be a fine partnership.
Third person POV, Beacon Cliffside
Monitoring her tablet, Glynda Goodwitch adds two young men together side by side and moves their combined circle into a side screen marked: PARTNERED. "We now have our third partnership" she says looking to professor Ozpin who looks to his own tablet "Axel Lind, and Silas Silver." She says. "How well do you believe mister Lind will be ready for what's to come?" she asks the silver-haired man. "Give him time Glynda. He's not ready yet, but he will be: we already have Him to guide mister Lind along the path." upon speaking those words Ozpin looks back and nods
"Ah, you're here." He says, and a bald man with a black goatee steps forward to the headmaster and nods. "What do you think of him so far?" Ozpin asks the man, the man merely replies with a grunt "I cannot possibly see why you said that he is the one that I should teach: he's not ready...he's a foolish boy clouded by the thought of becoming a huntsman and the idea of finding his parents again. You do not honestly expect me to teach him how to combat the mind-shattering horrors that may come!" he tells Ozpin
"But I do. Everyone has potential for either great good" he says drifting off from his sentence "Or great evil...you and I both know the two sides of the coin" he says regretfully. The bald man looks down as though ashamed, he sighs and looks back to Ozpin "I...I will try and teach him the best I can, I'll try and make sure to let him do what he wants as well. He is still his own person" he says
Ozpin nods to this and looks back to the video screen of his tablet
Axel's POV
"Silas buddy?" I ask tiredly, he looks back at me with a blank expression "What?" he asks in near monotone. "I think we're lost man...I'm pretty sure we've past the same tree nine times." I add in with just as much emotion. "You want to take point? Be my guest" he says sighing, "Gladly" I walk in front of him and take the lead. We walk for more for twenty minutes before we can see two people: blonde hair and black hair with a bow, Yang and Blake. I can feel the fullness in my chest again seeing Yang...could it be love? Well...Yang is someone I've always cared about and saw as a great friend, but being in love with her is something that I didn't expect would happen. I nudge Silas who takes a look of curiosity at me "Wanna go follow those two so we don't have just each other?" he puts a finger to his chin and shrugs
"Alright, I'll go for it...don't expect me to try and stop you from doing this." He says looking at me, I nod "But before we do so. Can I ask a question?"
"You just did" he says bluntly with a sly grin on his face, "Don't play this game with me Si" I say sighing "What game?" He asks innocently with the grin on his face still there. "Will you answer it or not?" I ask growling at him. "Maybe, maybe not." Silas says shrugging "But can I ask you a question?" He asks me which I reply with a grin, "Answer my question and I'll do it"
"Alright, what-" "No no no, my question first Silas." I cut him off, he frowns and stares at me "You son of a bitch, you tricked me" I roll my eyes and shrug "Hey. Never said who does first, so I called dibs just now" he looks at me a bit flabbergasted "I- you ju-, FUCK! Fine" he sighs frustratedly "What's your question." He mutters
"You uh..." I start "Do you think I'd have a chance with Yang?" I ask him scratching the back of my neck nervously, he raises a quizzing eyebrow at me "Which one is Yang again?" he asks "Blonde girl, purple eyes, tan coat" I list off for him, I can see the gears turn in his head as he nods. "I'm sure you would go great with her" he says shrugging with a wolfish (again. No pun intended) grin, I look at him in surprise...is he joking? "Really man?" he closes his eyes nodding "Absolutely: you and Yang would be a good couple" I smile and silently sigh
"Thanks, and hey! You and Blake would be great together too!" I say patting his shoulder, he gives a sad smile and looks down, he whispers "Yeah...we would." He snaps back at me "So let's get going on over to the two eh?" I nod and turn back to see Yang and Blake still there. Me and Silas head on over to the two of them waving "HEY!" I yell out, it catches their attention with them turning and waving at the two of us. We end up face to face with one another
"What's going on guys?" Yang asks with her arms crossed "Oh nothing much, saw the two of you and figured we'd tag-along. If you don't mind that is" I say shrugging with a little smile on my face. "Sure, could always use more company" Yang says uncrossing her arms, Blake merely nods looking to Silas. "Perfect! Once we get to the temple and grab the artifacts, we can head right on back...and maybe along the way find Rubes" I add in, I tilt my head for a moment when I see something behind Yang: a smiling mouth filled with teeth.
"Something wrong Ax?" She asks with an eyebrow raised, I point behind her to the mouth. She turns around and upon seeing it flinches, "What...is that?" She asks about to poke it. "Oh the answer is quite astute" the mouth said...in a smooth, posh accent; it then reveals what it is to us by setting down.
It's a cat-like Grimm: it's size is twice that of a Corgi, white fur on it's body, a long and swishing tail swipes from side to side idly, it has glowing red eyes like all Grimm but with feline slits for pupils, it's...mask consists of black whiskers and bone at it's ears and nose, it's grin still wide to show spiky teeth. Blake and Silas point their weapons at it, seems Blake's weapon is a sub-machine gun from the looks of it
"Don't shoot me please!" The Grimm pleaded...that sounds a bit odd to me, "I wish no harm upon you or your party in any way, shape or form!" it says "What is...I don't even-" I sputter out confused by just what in all of the twenty flavors of shit is happening. "Shocked are you? Well that's assuring" it says sarcastically
"A Grimm that can speak? How?" Blake asks putting away her weapon along with Silas, the cat merely chuckles "Have you ever tried holding a conversation with another of my kind? Some Grimm are not mindlessly destructive creatures, some don't even bother hunting down humans because they have wizened in their age and realized they would surely be killed other wise." It says with a smile still on it's face, we were taken a back by it...this is something "Now then!: the reason I came to the four of you, is because you are among a peak interest to me. And I can see that you shall all be fun to watch" he says cheerfully floating up into the air and rolling on it's back
"Now I have a challenge for you: answer four of my riddles, one of each for you. And I shall be a companion of yours until you all unanimously wish for me to leave." It wants us to play a game? Well...what do I have to lose right?
"I'm in" I say grinning
"Count me in to" Yang says crossing her arms
"Sure" Blake says
"I'm down" Silas says shrugging
"Excellent!" the cat says enthusiastically with it's wry grin returning. "Now then: first, Yang Xiao Long...'Fe-"
"Hold on" Yang says holding up her hand to stop the Grimm mid-sentence "You know my name?" She asks inquisitively, the cat nods "I have knowledge of many things dear girl...many things" it says emphasizing the second to last word. "R-right...what's the riddle now?" she asks, "Very well, the riddle: 'Feed me and I live, but give me a drink and I die...what am I?'" It asks. Yang cups her chin in thought before she looks at it "Fire?" The Cat shakes it's head "Yes! That is the answer! Good work!"
"Moving on now: Blake Belladonna...'I can live only where there is light, but I die when the light shines on me.' What am I?" It asks, Blake immediately gives a quiet answer "A...shadow" the cat nods and turns it's attention to Silas "Silas Silver: 'We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies. We are not to be judged by our size.' What are we?" Silas nods with a stoic expression on his face "Words." He says simply "Perfect...and now for you, Axel Lind" God it feels weird to have my name be used by a Grimm "'You will always find me in the past. I can be created in the present. And the future can never taint me.' What am I?"
It takes me a good minute to think on it, but I think I have the answer to it "History." The cat chuckles and lands on the ground smiling "Well done, all four of you. I shall acompany you for now on...I am at your service, you may call me a pet, friend, aquaitence whatever you may like. Hope you enjoy it" the cat says with a theatrical bow
"Do you have a name?" I ask it, the Grimm looks over it's shoulder and sighs "Alas. I do not have a name, for I was never given one." It says sighing "How about we call you Cheshire?" I suggest it, the Grimm turns back to me and hums for a moment..."Yes. Cheshire shall suffice" The feline Grimm said with a smile, not like the wide ones showing it's fangs...but a kind one, not showing any teeth. "Soooooo, can we get going now?" Yang asks pulling her thumb back, we nod and start walking...floating in Cheshire's case. It takes sometime for us, but we make it:
The temple is...not so much a temple like a massive stone building, but more of a circle with some broken wall half-circling it. "Think this is it?" Yang asks looking at the four of us, Blake gives an unwilling look to her partner, Silas has a blank look on his face which he responds with a shrug, Cheshire gives a smile as per usual, and I nod at her. She turns back and heads down the hill, we follow her down into the circle where there are pedestals at the edges. We each head over to one of the pedestals to see what the relics are..."Chess pieces?" Blake asks bending over to look at one of the relics, I snap into focus and see the piece I'm looking at is a golden pawn "Odd choice of relics don't you think?" Silas drones in a monotone voice.
"Some of the pieces are missing," Yang says, I take a look around and sure enough: some pieces are missing, the black bishop pieces and golden queen pieces. "Guess we weren't the first one's here" she finishes. "Well, I guess we should pick one." Blake says.
"How about a cute little pony?" Yang pipes in, "Sure" Blake adds . I look back and see the two of them meet at the center of the circle with golden knight pieces in hand, "Hey," Yang says, "You guys going to pick something?" she asks. I look back at the pawn and take it...nothing happens, well there's that at least. I can see Silas pick his piece as well and with that the two of us meet up with the girls at the center, "Why'd you pick those?" Blake asks gesturing to the pieces in hand. Shit...gotta think up something
"The pawn is first piece a person playing chess uses." I say holding it up, "And get it to the end of the board it becomes either a queen, a knight, a rook or a bishop. All about reward over risk I say". Silas looks at me with squinted eyes, I look back at him with a glare...silently telling him: 'Just play along'. He nods "Always changing it up" Cheshire mutters under his breath, I look at him and he widens his eyes "What? Did I say something that may give away my age? You're hearing things!" I shake my head and look back to the three amigos of mine. "So what now?" I ask
"We head back to-" Yang started to say when she's cut off by a scream, we look toward the forest to see what made the scream "You guys hear that? Some girl's in trouble!" Yang says...oh God, that's no girl "Yang? That's...not a girl" I say looking at her shaking my head. She turns her head to me inquisitively, "What do you mean?" She asks. "I think it's-" "PYRRHAAAAA! H-E-E-E-E-E-ELP! THIS IS NOT THE ARTIFACT! IT'S NOT!" "Jaune..." Jaune, you never cease to amaze me so far. "Ah, Blake did you hear that?" Yang asks turning to her partner who seems to be looking up at the sky, "What should we do?"
I was going to add in an idea, but there's a faint but growing scream that comes from the sky. "HEADS UUUUUUUUUUUP!" don't you just love it when things go awry? I know I do...not.
(For those who'd be against Cheshire, remember that the Goliaths never actively attacked when introduced. They wised up in their age and realized that making a habit of attacking huntsmen would lead to their death, and when one noticed Oobleck and Ruby it just kept following the others. Besides: wanted to try it out)