Welcome back to another chapter and hopefully I have woken up and broke through the writer's block. I really need to stop getting distracted by- Oh hey look a squirrel… what was I going on about?
FYI: Any random name used in this chapter holds no meaning behind it. If your name happens to be one of these characters, it is a mere coincidence. Everyone has a beautiful name and personality. Please do not hurt me.
Chapter 5: A Small Prank and An Offer
Crayg was taking notes about the class when Yang poked him in the side.
"Hey, did you see all the looks that the guys gave you when you sat down next to me?" She asked with a grin to show. "They thought that you were seriously lucky and more than likely envied you for that."
"Yeah, but I am seriously lucky though." Crayg argued back quietly. "How many people can say that they got transported to another world and manage to find a new home and family before a week has passed?"
"Okay good point there." Yang whispered taking her notes down from what she needed. "I know that Ruby and her friends are going by the cliffs today, want to join in and possibly tease her?"
"Awe, I think that someone is worried that their little sister would manage to get a significant other before them." Crayg teased and watched Yang pout a little as her eyes turned red a little. "Okay teasing, teasing. I think that Ruby would marry her weapon if given the chance."
"Heh, I can actually see that." Yang said snickering a little bit and calmed down. "Well the offer still stands, so after school I'll lead you there and we can hang out with Ruby and her friends."
"Sounds good, but I think that we should pay more attention before dad call on us." Crayg suggested and Yang nodded in agreement.
Class continued on until Taiyang saw that it was time for the next class to begin. He announced the homework for everyone and expected for it to be done before the end of the week. As the class left Crayg looked at his schedule to find his next class with a bead of sweat running down the side of his head.
Combat and Sparring
He walked into the class to see no one that he recognizes and made sure that he was in the correct room. Eyes began to set on him since he was a new face that no had seen around before. He heard a deep voice behind him and turned around to find a short teacher.
"You must be the new student Taiyang talked about." The teacher claimed as Crayg nodded slowly. "Wonderful, you will be the first fight of the day. Would anyone care to volunteer?"
Heh, I bet he isn't all that tough." Crayg heard one student say quietly before raising his hand. "I would like to volunteer Mr. Hanover."
"Excellent, and try not to rough up the new student too much Riley." The teacher said before stepping to the side of the arena. "Would both combatants, please enter the arena at this time."
Crayg entered one side feeling a little nervous as he saw his opponent enter the other side with a confident smile on his face. Riley brought out his greatsword and swung it around with ease.
"Where is your weapon? Did you forget it?"Riley taunted and laughed a little.
"No, it broke on me and I'm building a new one." Crayg lied to seem that it wasn't his choice to go weaponless. "Besides, I don't need a weapon to defend myself. Close combat has always been my preference."
"Ooohhoohoooo, look at you trying to act all tough on me." Riley said in a mocking tone. "I'll make sure that you are shown your place noob."
"Let the match begin!" The teacher called loudly and presented the tournament style aura meter as Crayg remembered.
As Riley rushed forward and prepared to strike, Crayg set his bands to seventy percent dust usage. Riley swung his greatsword and his face turned into shock when Crayg caught it with his hand. His aura went down twenty percent from the blow and retaliated with a kick powerful enough to blow away half of Riley's aura and launched the teen off of the arena platform while still holding the weapon in his hand with ease. Eyes grew wide and mouths dropped when they saw this feat of strength.
"Okay looks like I'll have to bump it to eighty five and see how that works." Crayg whispered to himself and adjusted it to a normal ninety five percent dust usage.
"My word, Crayg that was quite unexpected and amazing, how did you do that?" the teacher asked with a wide grin on his face.
"Uhh, lucky kick I guess?" Crayg lied again not wanting to draw attention to his strength. "I think that others would like to spar now sir."
"Oh, you're right and Crayg, if you can dodge the attack, please do. We don't need anyone to lose a hand or arm because they think that their aura will always be there to shield them. Because it won't." Mr. Hanover said with a serious and grave tone. "How else did you get those scars Mr. Woods?"
"I will keep that in mind Mr. Hanover." Crayg said putting the sword down and stepped off the arena to walk over to Riley. "Are you okay?"
"Don't touch me. I can get up on my own." Riley said enraged and stood up and walked back up on the platform to grab his sword. He pointed towards Crayg before heading out. "This isn't over Crayg, you hear me?"
Crayg only frowned as he heard that. A potential friend was lost due to a simple match set up by the teacher. He couldn't find anyone but luck to blame. He went over to find a seat and watched others fight and analyze their movements and strategies. 'It is a lot like the tournaments in martial arts, but at the same time it's like a gladiator's match as well.'
He heard some students say nice fight and tried to get close with him and to try to be his friend. Normally, he would be grateful about this situation, but it just seems too surreal. As if they feared him more than wanting to be a friend. He watched the other matches take place in front of him. They took a lot longer compared to his fight, but he wasn't going to call them out for it. He just watched and studied their fighting styles and thought of ways to combat them individually.
Class ended and it was time for lunch. Even though he didn't know where to go, finding the cafeteria was easy when he followed the mass of people. Ruby and Yang met up with him and had an enjoyable lunch together. Both Ruby and Yang's friends met him and had no clue about what had happened in combat class yet. However it wasn't long until trouble found his way.
"Well, well, well, well. What do we have here?" Riley asked in a slightly threatening tone. "Looks like our new punching bag here managed to find friends, even with what happened in class today."
"What are you talking about Riley?" Yang asked less than pleased to see and hear his voice and Ruby frown at the sight of him as she knew about how he spread bad rumors about others.
"Oh nothing much, just the fact that Crayg here is a little bit too strong to be called safe around others." Riley said knowing from firsthand experience.
"Oh yeah, and what proof do you have?" Ruby challenged Riley, who just smiled and pulled up a video.
"Just this video I asked one of my friends to take of my match with him." He said with a crooked smile as he played the video. "So I figured that I would just have this on hand to warn others about how hard he hits."
"Wow Riley, I didn't think that you would be brave enough to record your own humiliating defeat." Yang said and saw that what she said took effect. His face changed to one of anger and clenched his fist. "How about you get on out of here before I do the same thing to you? And I think that we both know that I can send you through a wall."
Yang knew that this would help Crayg fit in with the others since she knew that she can back up what she stated and saw everyone who heard her be able to calm down and go back to what they were doing. Riley growled a little and went away, leaving everyone to eat in peace although the mood was a little bit toned down now.
"It's alright Crayg, Riley's just a jerk." Ruby said before returning to her lunch which consisted of fruit and a sandwich. "We can bake some cookies when I get home."
"Oh, do you have someplace to go?" Crayg asked with a smile even though he already knew what Ruby was going to be doing. "Going to go meet with friends after school?"
"Actually, yes, how did you know that I was going out to meet with friends?" Ruby asked curiously as she tilted her head to the side slightly. "Can you read minds?"
"No, I can't read minds, but I can make a guess." He said with a small smile before ruffling Ruby's hair up and laughed when she began to swat his hand away. "Alright I guess that's enough of me picking on you for now."
"For now, better make it forever or next time I might be using my sweetheart to knock your hands off." Ruby threatened playfully and laughed when all of their friends looked shocked at what came out of the little reaper.
"Oh wow, I can't wait for dad to hear this one." Yang said in a fit of laughter and patting Ruby on the shoulder. "That's one for the books, right Crayg?"
"I agree fully." Crayg said and went back to his lunch and enjoyed talking with others throughout the period.
After school was let out for the day Crayg met up with Yang at the front gate and saw Ruby leave with her friends to go somewhere. Crayg and Yang waited for a little before they began following them, but little did they know that someone who was holding a grudge saw this and devised a prank.
"I will have my revenge, just you wait." Riley said and thought about what he could do to get back at him.
Ruby and her friends just talked to each other as they walked over to a meeting area. Yang and Crayg followed them to find a small campfire pit at the bottom of a cliff with logs to use as seats. They watched them talk out and laugh at jokes and stories about school. Yang and Crayg were sneaking up behind Ruby and put their index fingers in front of their lips to signal silence from the others. Ruby saw the smiles on her friend's faces and where they were looking, but she was too late. Yang's hands swiftly clamped down on Ruby's sides and the next thing everyone heard was Ruby screaming her lungs off. Everyone except for Ruby began laughing very hard, some to the point where they began to wheeze and cough.
"It's not funny!" Ruby shouted as she pouted and crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks. Crayg placed his hands on her shoulders.
"You're right it's not funny, it's hilarious." He said and rubbed her shoulders a little. "Hey, still want to make those cookies when we get home?"
Ruby's expression softened into a smile of content. "Yes, that sounds nice. Yang, can you help out?"
"Of course Ruby, after all, I don't think that Crayg is the best in the kitchen." She answered and snickered when she saw Crayg narrow his eyes with a small smile on his face.
"Is that a challenge I hear?" He said as everyone finally calmed down. Yang grinned and butted heads with Crayg.
"You bet it is. Whoever makes the best cookies wins and loser takes care of Zwei's poop for a week." She said and held out her hand for a handshake to seal the deal. "What do you say Crayg, deal?"
"Deal," he said and shook hands with her sealing their fates. "Is Ruby our judge?"
"Who else could tell which one is better than someone who will eventually become a cookie?" Yang answered and teased her sister at the same time.
"Hey!" Ruby said pouting again and crossed her arms. "Just for that I might be in favor of Crayg because of that."
"That's fine we can have dad be a judge too to balance out your decision." Yang said and hugged Ruby from behind, picking her up off the ground. "But I know that you won't turn into a cookie, but rather the greatest Huntress that has been born."
"Hnnnn, fine I forgive you." Ruby replied after finally relaxing in the embrace. "Just make them good, okay?"
"You got it cookie queen." Crayg said before he looked up and saw the top of the cliff and what was going on up there. "Hey has that rock always been there?"
"Umm, no it hasn't. Why is there a rock standing so close to the edge there?" One of Ruby's friends had asked as everyone looked up. "We should probably move out of the way, in case it falls."
"Yeah, don't worry about the logs or the campfire pit. We can make another spot someplace else." Ruby said with a frown. "I wish that we could stay here to see the magic though."
"Well maybe we still can hang around here, but to be safe, you all should step aside and I will look into it." Crayg said before starting to climb up the cliff without any issues.
"Just be careful Crayg. We don't want you to hurt yourself." Ruby said moving out of the area and received a look from her friends. "What?"
"Aren't you worried that he's going to get himself hurt or worse, killed?" Another one of her friends asked concerned about what Crayg was doing.
"Nah, he's good." Yang said casually and looking relaxed. "He does something like this all the time. He'll be just fine."
Just as soon as she said that, Crayg had fallen off the cliff and planted himself into the ground shoulders deep. He gave a thumbs up to signal that he is fine. The girl who commented about his health earlier was now leering at Yang, who just laughed nervously.
"Dang, your aura took that blow pretty hard there Crayg. I would not recommend trying to get up there again. You could seriously hurt yourself if you try to get back up there again." The girl said shaking her head as Crayg was climbing again. "Or just risk breaking your neck again."
"It's fine, Shanna, he's taken a lot worse hits before and is crazy strong." Ruby said failing to make the situation a little less tense. "He is one tough guy to take down or hurt."
"Okay, what have you seen happen so far?" Ruby's friend asked, curious to know what he has been through.
"I do know that he has fought a pack of Beowolves without even having his aura yet, so that is how he has those scars on his arms." Ruby explained quickly not wanting to tell them how long ago it was. "Oh look he actually made it this time."
"Alright made it to the top after a little adjustment in the bands," Crayg said to himself as he pulled himself over the edge of the cliff. "Oooh, I like this sight that I see and everyone is tiny. Alright, enough wasting time let's move the rock out of the way."
Crayg picked up the rock and carefully moved it away from the edge before seeing a cave entrance and some claw marks. His smile faded away and caution quickly swept in as he stepped inside the cave and turned the bands to fifty percent strength. Just in case of meeting a Grimm inside the caves. He ventured inside after putting the rock down and saw glowing red eyes and immediately punched it and heard a sound that doesn't sound like a normal Grimm.
"OW! Jeez, I think you almost broke something there!" the voice cried out in pain as Crayg recognized the voice.
"Riley? What are you doing here? And sorry about the whole punching you thing, but it's very dark here." Crayg said worried that he hurt Riley before seeing more red eyes behind Riley. "Okay, how many others do you have in on this?"
"It was just me." Riley said slightly in fear, realizing that he does not have his sword on him. "We need to run now!"
"You don't have to tell me twice." Crayg shouted running out of the cave and quickly picked up the rock and threw it as hard as he could at the Grimm. The red eyes soon disappeared along with the sounds they made. A minute passed and no sounds were heard. "I think that we're safe now."
Riley sighed in relief and thought about what happened there just now. "Well, that's good. Do you think that we can get this entrance blocked off?"
"Easy, just find me a rock big enough to get it stuck inside." Crayg said with a small smile, but kept his eyes looking into the void of the cave. A few minutes later Riley came back.
"Yeah, there's one right around here, but it's stuck in the ground. I don't even think you can pull it out." Riley said as Crayg walked past him and head towards the rock.
"I can get it." He replied and unearthed the rock by its sides before walking over to the cave entrance and shoved it inside. "There we go. Now I can get back down with the others, go home, bake cookies, and do a lot of studying."
"Hey Crayg, I just wanted to thank you again for the help and that I'm sorry about what happened today." Riley said looking back at his actions and thought about how Crayg was nothing but kind to him. "I was a jerk and I probably don't deserve your forgiveness."
"Okay, you can stop there. I am someone who likes to see the glass half full, so you are forgiven and yes we can be friends." Crayg said with a smile before beginning to climb down the cliff. "Now come on, we got friends to tell the story of what happened."
They made their way down the cliff and were asked about what happened and why Riley was here as well. Crayg answered all of the questions with a smile before deciding to head home and noticed that Yang was gone and left for home. Ruby said that she wanted to talk with Riley before heading home herself. Crayg made his way home and saw a platinum blonde leave looking upset. Then saw a man leave with gray hair with a small smile on his face and looked at Crayg. His eyebrow rose before turning to leave with the woman. Crayg entered the house slowly and noticed that the man looked back at him.
"Hey, who was that?" Crayg asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, they were just asking around if any has seen people come through portals as of late." Yang explained causing Crayg to be concerned a little. "Don't worry about it, I said that I knew nothing and then told them that I had more important matters to attend to, like baking cookies. Although, I don't know why the headmaster of Beacon would be here."
"Ah," Crayg said now relieved. "Well, let's make cookies now. It has been a long day and I want to make some sweets before studying."
"Hey, what smells good in here, what's cooking?" Taiyang asked in a very good mood. "Oh, that can wait. I have big news for you Crayg. Ozpin is offering you a spot at Beacon."
… I only have myself to blame for a short chapter. But on the bright side Breath of the Wild is awesome. See you all until next time.