Chapter 4. Teaming up.
Things come into perspective when you are hurdling towards certain death. Things like, maybe prison isn't that bad. Or maybe it's the thought that one should carry a parachute on them at all times, just in case they find themselves hurdling towards certain death. Maybe a grappling hook at the very least. Ashton drew Silver Faust and aimed it, at what? He had no idea. Then it dawned on him.
Silver Faust fired pretty high caliber rounds, enough that they cause a considerable blast. Conventionally this doesn't help him, however it also fires special dust rounds, using burn dust, it's blast is akin to a rocket, the kickback is ridiculous. Part of the reason his father never let him use it. He fumbled through his pocket and drew several of the special rounds and loaded them into his revolver. The conventional rounds flew over his shoulder, he spun the cylinder back in place and opened fire.
He slowed down considerably but found himself spinning vertically. He fired again, same result. Now he had to time it right. He fired three more times, a tree branch was getting closer, he fired again, Silver Faust transformed into a long blade and he stabbed it into the side of the tree. He slammed face first into it and slowly his blade carved a long gouge down the side of the tree. He collapsed in a heap at the bottom.
"I hate this school." He muttered to nobody in particular.
He leaned against the tree, holstering Silver Faust and pondering his situation. He was in the forest with no supplies, whatever ammo he can stick in his jacket pockets and two dozen students. The first student he makes eye contact with is now his partner for four years, that might cause problems. What if he ends up with Cardin, or worse, Weiss. Who knows what would happen if he was condemned to either of those hells. It could actually be worse, it could be one of Cardin's goons. Nothing like not knowing if your partner will sell you out to someone he likes better, all while making those off key laughs.
There was always mystery girl, she had a way of showing up. Ashton had the feeling she liked him, at the same time she's a bit abusive, physically or otherwise. He can thank her for the whole Cardin incident earlier. There's always Lyra, a little self righteous for a thief. She would probably talk his ear off about how she thinks he's a jerk. There's always Billy. He's, uh, loyal? Yeah he's loyal, and friendly too. There was always the girl that wanted his pancakes, Nora or whatever. Or vomit boy. Or crater face.
"Hell. If I'm actually considering Vomit Boy or Crater Face then I'm screwed." He said with a smack to his head. "Who am I even talking to?"
He stood up and dusted himself off, he had an entire forest to navigate. It was probably filled with grimm, he's never seen a grimm before but he's been told they are the most horrible things imaginable. He frequently asks himself why he accepted Ozpin's deal, it seems so stupid. Regardless, he now needed to find a relic, whatever it may be. What if he made it to the relic and never encountered another student, maybe he can just do this alone.
Distant gunfire and shouts echoed across the forest, other students were already in combat. He had problems of his own, before him was a great bramble forest. No visibility, barely any maneuverability. It would be the perfect place to hide, so long as nothing is living in it. He raised Silver Faust and carefully stepped through the brambles, he could feel thorns piercing his pants. His leg snagged on a vine and he flipped face first into a muddy puddle. He pulled himself up and tried to wipe the mud off his coat. This is what he get's for dressing formal for a walk in the woods. He was about to continue navigating the bush when he heard voices coming from nearby. He could barely make out the shouting, it sounded like a group was passing by.
"How much further Cardin?" A voice said. Ashton lowered himself and tried to peak through the bush.
"Not much further, be on your guard though, I thought I saw Gray land in this area." Cardin said with a laugh. "It might be fun if we run into him or one of those friends of his."
"I think I saw one of them go down in this area, we might be in luck." One of the voices said, they started chuckling.
Easy there, Ashton thought to himself. Keep quiet and they'll pass. He waited a moment for them to move a good distance away and continued to creep through the bush. It seemed to go on for an enormous amount of time. He was just about at the end when he heard screaming. He ducked down and listened carefully, it was coming further back from where he just came from. He turned back where he was going, he could faintly make out what looked like ruins up ahead. He could keep going and make it to the relic. He hung his head.
"Why am I doing this." Ashton muttered to himself, he turned around and carefully crept back.
The culprit behind the scream and it's reason were a bit of a ways back, he found a familiar girl in a ragged dress backing away from Cardin and his group of thugs. She was waving around a pocket knife, tiny compared to the sizable weapons of Cardin's group. Ashton looked over his shoulder one last time, this accomplished nothing but the opportunity to get back at Cardin for earlier seemed palpable. He dived out of the bushes, drawing Silver Faust.
"Look who it is, how was the nap Gray?" Cardin asked, he raised his great mace.
"It was alright, figured I'll return the favor." Ashton replied, he fired Silver Faust. He had it loaded with a dust round.
The blast was surprisingly staggering, he stumbled back and watched as Cardin's group had flung backwards, Cardin ran at him mace drawn. Ashton transformed Silver Faust back into a blade a met him halfway. He swung the blade down low, Cardin intercepted it with his mace. A foot flew right past Ashton's head forcing him to roll. The mace came down again, Ashton rolled and swung upwards. The blade missed Cardin barely and a fist collided with Ashton's jaw. He staggered backwards and Cardin hit him square in the chest with an unexpected jump kick. Ashton rolled when he hit the ground and lunged, blade swinging down, Cardin caught it with his mace.
"Really now?" Cardin asked with a smug look on his face. "I thought you could take all four of us, you can barely take one."
"Well I thought I'd give you the gift of a straight fight, only way you have a chance of winning." Ashton retorted, he saw a sly grin flash across Cardin's face.
"Let me offer you a reward for your generosity." Cardin said headbutting him square in the nose. Ashton staggered back flinging pocket sand straight into Cardin's eyes. Cardin shouted and backed up. "You little..."
There was a loud roar, Ashton winced, turning his head to face the one interrupting their scuffle. Ashton had never seen a grimm before. At least not in person. He heard plenty of stories about them and had seen pictures in old books but he had never before been face to face with one. It was big and ugly, a bear with a skull-like face and plenty of spikes. Ashton turned back to find Cardin was long gone, his friends were practically dragging him. Ashton turned back to Lyra, who was practically frozen in fear.
"Lyra." Ashton said in an almost nasally voice. He was trying to keep the gushing blood down. "It might be time to run now."
"You alright?" She asked backing up. "You aren't looking too good."
"I'll be fine. I think." Ashton replied staring the beast straight in the eyes. It let out another roar and started charging. "Running time now!"
They set off full speed, sprinting through the forest. The sounds of trees cracking behind them was something of a motivator. Lyra shrieked, Ashton wasn't paying attention where he was going and found himself tumbling down a cliff, he could see Lyra tumbling further down. The river bed below didn't look comfortable. He hit the bottom hard, gazing up at the sky he could see the ursa looking down at him, he could hear Lyra coughing and gasping.
"Are we dead?" She asked. Ashton felt like he cracked a rib, laughing hurt. "If we're dead I have to say. One, that sucks. Two, why does it still hurt."
"I don't think we're dead. Also I agree this sucks." Ashton groaned. He rolled over, he wasn't exactly pleased with what he found himself looking at. Seven ursas just like the one before were sitting in the river bed staring at him. "Lyra, I think we have a problem."
"What are you... oh dear." She squeaked, she staggered back to the cliff and raised her knife. "Get up Ashton, you need to start running."
"I can't run, I can barely move." Ashton grunted. He tried to move but the pain was unbearable. "I think I cracked a rib."
"Alright, I have an idea." She said reaching into her pockets, she pulled out an old flute. She let out a sigh. "This is probably stupid but it just might work."
Ashton wanted to interject, ask what she was talking about but he just couldn't. Music interrupted the growling of beasts. He turned his head to see Lyra playing the old flute, however there was something strange about it. Almost entrancing. He felt like he was about to fall asleep. Judging from the slowing growls of the ursa, they were of the same mind. His eyes grew heavy until everything went dark.
Ashton awoke in his bedroom back in the Gray Manor. Beams of sunlight were shining through the half opened blinds. It felt like a lifetime since he was last here. He hopped out of his bed and hurried out to the main hall. The walls were lined with family portraits. He couldn't help but smile, the manor hasn't looked this good in almost a decade. With that thought he watched as it all began to wither. The wallpaper began to peel away, the floor became buried in dust and the windows started to crack. Howling wind was blowing against the blinds. On the biggest window overlooking the main hall were three bloody scratches. The manor caught fire and began to vanish under the billowing smoke.
Ashton woke up to annoyed grunting, his legs were dragging against the grass, occasionally and painfully banging against a rock. He looked up to see Lyra visibly struggling to drag him. He's amazed she got this far. She noticed he was awake and dropped him with a shriek. He hit his head pretty hard, he could almost see little nevermores flying around his head. There was a sharp slap and suddenly he was awake again.
"I'm really getting tired of dragging you!" She said with a heavy pant, she collapsed beside him. "You are so heavy."
"What happened, why aren't we dead?" Ashton asked, he tried to lift himself up again, the pain seemed to have subsided. They were nowhere near a riverbed, that was for sure.
"I didn't know if it would work, my mother's flute." She said holding it up, her eyes almost watered. "They told me stories of the things she could do with this thing, things I never thought possible."
"Are you sure it's the flute, that kind of talent doesn't come from a tool." Ashton said, he held opened his jacket and lifted his shirt, there was a large bruise on his chest. He pulled his shirt down again and tried to sit up. He winced all the way up to a sitting position.
"That's ridiculous, I couldn't possibly do anything like that." She said, stuffing the flute back in her pocket. She helped Ashton to his feet. Together they stumbled off into the forest. His weight shifted onto her shoulder and he felt her struggling. "You really are heavy."
"I take offense to that..." Ashton groaned. It was going to be a long journey.
They were entered a clearing, the distant gunfire had long since died down. They were barely across it when an echoing roar caught them by surprise. Barely having time to turn, a beowulf of incredible size was standing behind them. The beast's head reached the lower canopies of nearby pine trees. It's colors were all inverted, it's fur was all white, it's skull was solid black. More troubling was the fact it wasn't alone, an entire pack of smaller beowulves of the same color scheme watched silently from the bushes. The beast let out a fearsome howl, the rest of the beowulves charged. It did not.
"Well, I think this is high time for us to start running!" Ashton shouted, but as soon as he lifted one of his legs, he stumbled face first into the ground. "Plan B?"
Lyra raised her flute to her lips, she began to play it and the beowulves stopped charging, they started shaking their heads violently. The inverted beowulf let out an intimidating howl, Lyra squeaked, jumping a good seven feet into the air. The beowulves continued their charge. The beowulves were upon them when they were interrupted by a blood curdling scream, the wolves actually stopped to see where it was coming from.
The first beowulf to turn was hit first, the greatsword cleaved it clean in half. The rest of the beowulves charged their new found attacker, who swung his sword without mercy nor fear. Ashton had to squint to be sure, it was Billy with his family sword cleaving his way to victory. The massive beowulf stepped towards them on all fours, letting loose a horrifying howl. Billy pounded his chest and screamed right back at him. The beast was upon him in a single step and sent Billy flying into a nearby tree effortlessly, the beast turned to the others.
There was a flash of green, suddenly dark glyphs were covering the beasts entire body. Black bolts shot out from the trees exploding upon impact, sending the giant beast staggering. A massive spray of green gas erupted from the ground below it, which exploded into an emerald fireball shortly after. The beast flew into the air where it was met by a great harpoon of violet neon, colliding straight into it's eye. It let out a howl of pain as it hit the ground. It turned tail and ran, yelping all the way as it did.
"Holy sweet mother of..." Ashton began but as soon as he saw his savior his voice trailed off. His mysterious dark haired girl stepped from the shadows, she held her knife backwards, pointing the long ebony wood handle in the direction of her attacker.
"Thank you so much!" Lyra squealed, running towards her with her arms outstretched. She was met with a hand.
"Please don't touch me." The girl replied curtly, she holstered her knife. "I didn't do it for you."
"So you did it for me?" Ashton asked with his usual swagger. He tried to pull himself up, he ended up collapsing feebly to the ground.
"No I did it for him." She said unenthusiastically, as she pointed to Billy. Ashton looked completely confused, she seemed to catch that and explained. "I ran into him when I landed, we're partners now."
"Right, Billy you okay?" Ashton asked, Billy raised a thumbs up. His smile never faded from his face, that was a bit disturbing. At least Ashton thought so. Billy pulled himself to his feet.
"You okay Ashton?" Billy asked with a toothy grin.
"I can't really stand." Ashton shrugged. "I've been worse."
Without warning Billy scooped Ashton up and swung him over his shoulders. He tried to protest but at this point was to tired. He could hear the girls laughing at him, he tried to laugh too but felt a little head rushed. Billy led the way, the girls trailing behind them. Fortunately Ashton was facing them, however he felt a little naked considering he couldn't tell where they were going.
"So, mystery girl, you going to tell me your name?" Ashton asked, his voice fluctuated with each step as his lungs collided with Billy's shoulder. "Or shall I start guessing?"
"Oh by all means, guess away." She said with a slight smile, she must have been enjoying this.
"Alright, I can do this." Ashton whispered, he carefully looked into her eyes. "Jennifer, Arryn, Miranda, Kara, Lisa, Lindsay, Barbara, Midnight, Whisper, Freckles, am I getting close?"
"Not even a little." She replied with a half giggle. She looked like she was trying desperately not to laugh. "Do I seriously look like a Freckles?"
"Maybe in the right lighting." He replied with a shrug. She scowled.
"You know, if we are working together we can at least know your name." Lyra murmured, she sounded pretty annoyed. The dark haired girl turned her head and gave Lyra a once over with her eyes.
"Well alright, it seems fair enough." She said cautiously. There was something to her awkward movements as she said it, as if they were breaching whatever veil of security she had in anonymity. "My name is Morgana. Morgana Umber."
"Morgana, what a beautiful name." Ashton said with a sly grin, she turned her head immediately with a small scoff.
"Oh get a room already!" Lyra snapped, she stormed off ahead. Ashton physically couldn't see that direction so he turned back to Morgana. He could hear a loud squeal.
"Uh oh, we have a problem." Billy whispered. Ashton struggled to get a view, Billy swung him from his shoulder and held him upright. There was a massive beowulf, like the one from before but with the usual black fur and white skull. Behind it were plenty of other smaller beowulves just like it.
Ashton whipped out Silver Faust and aimed it carefully, Billy let go of him and he collapsed on the ground. Billy drew his greatsword, he could see both of the girls grab their weapons. The beasts charged. From out of nowhere a beowulf jumped Billy from the side, the rest were upon them before they could react. Ashton could only see running wolves everywhere he looked, the group was scattered before they could even fight back.
"Morgana!" Ashton shouted, he could barely hear her response. "Wait for my signal then throw every spell you got!"
"What's the signal?" She snapped back, he could barely hear her under all the growling.
"Lyra!" Ashton shouted. "You know what to do!"
"Alright!" She squeaked. He could hear the music playing, the wolves slowed to a stop. It would only last a few seconds."
"Morgana, now!" Ashton screamed. Black bolts shot in every direction. A great green fog was billowing around the massive wolf. "Billy, swing away!"
He could hear the blood curdling screams as Billy swung through the crowd swing his blade around in circles. Blood splattered everywhere as he spun, a beowulf was clinging to his back, gnawing on his shoulder. Ashton raised Silver Faust and shot a hole through the beast's head. He loaded Silver Faust with his burn dust rounds. Billy was easily mopping up the stunned beowulves but the big one was now charging. Billy didn't fare too well against the last one.
"Morgana, take out the big one!" Ashton cried. He could see Morgana swing her wand, the beast was covered in black glyphs. She shot black bolts at the beasts, detonating the glyphs. Ashton fired Silver Faust repeatedly into it's face, it staggered back. "Billy, now!"
Billy ran at it screaming his battle cry as he dove into the air, blade aimed down and stabbed the beast right through the heart. He pounded his chest as he did. Lyra stumbled towards the beast and kicked it in the face, just to be sure. Billy picked Ashton up and swung him over his shoulder again.
"How about we grab those relics before it get's dark, shall we?" Ashton asked, the others nodded in agreement and quickened the pace.
They arrived at an old stone temple, if you can call it that. It was a stone circle that once could offer shelter, now it was like a roofless gazebo. The circle had several half pillars, only a couple of them had anything on it. Chess pieces. Two white bishops.
"Well, it looks like somebody picked all the good ones." Ashton said with a shrug, scooping up a white bishop piece, Billy grabbed another. "Is that it?"
"We went all this way for chess pieces?" Morgana asked. "What kind of place is this?"
"I feel like sending an angry letter to Ozpin." Ashton groaned, his body was screaming at him at this point. "We almost died for two pieces of a chess set."
"We proved we could do this." Billy said enthusiastically. "We proved we could be heroes."
"We proved we can survive getting our asses kicked." Ashton interjected. "Heroes we are not."
"Come on, can't we go back now." Lyra asked. She tugged on her hood nervously watching the forest. "I've had enough of this forest to last a lifetime."
The main hall of beacon academy was packed with students. The groups were being divided into their teams. Ozpin one by one introduced the groups to the crowd. Finally they were called up, standing on stage, Ashton had a pair of crutches holding him up. He was told he would be fine, that nothing was broken at the very least.
"Ashton Gray, Lyra Tawny, Billy Boyd, Morgana Umber. Together you retrieved the White Bishop piece and survived the longest in the forest than any other group." Ozpin began, Ashton stifled a laugh, last to leave, at least they achieved something in that forest. "From now on you will be known as team ALBM, led by Ashton Gray."
The crowd cheered, Billy jumped excitedly, the girls both looked irritated. Apparently he wasn't too popular at the moment. Ashton and his group stepped off the stage. Once the rest of the groups were listed off, ending with CRDL, led by Cardin, JNPR, led by Vomit boy and RWBY, in which Weiss was apart of. They finally were allowed to head off to their team dorms. Glynda approached ALBM with a smile.
"Follow me please, I will show you to your dorms, personally." She said, the big grin on her face was starting to unsettle him. Ashton nodded and followed. She led them past the usual dorms all the way to the very far end. She opened a door and a thick layer of dust sprung free from the room. She pointed to the room, peering inside they could see the room they would share for the next four years. It was cramped, it was dusty, it had frighteningly big cobwebs. In short, it was more of an abandoned closet than a dorm room. "Welcome to Beacon, enjoy your stay."
Ashton waited until she had long since walked off before he asked. "Do you ever get the feeling she hates us?"
The rest of the group gave a weary shrug as they stumble inside. They spent the next hour trying to clean up as best they could. Morgana and Ashton were put on spider web duty as neither Lyra nor Billy would go near it. Eventually it looked alright, though it was stuffy and the only window was small and barred. It was almost like prison. Ashton figured Glynda put them here on purpose.
"So, Ashton. If you're are leader does this mean you're going to be less of a prick?" Lyra asked. Ashton collapsed onto his bed, a thick cloud of dust shot up into the air as he did. He let out a loud sigh.
"Please, call me Ash." Ashton replied. She frowned and slumped into another bed. Ashton stared up at the ceiling. He went from prison to leader of the most unpopular team of fighters in an unorthodox academy that seemed to be led by a madman. All in the expanse of two days. Funny how life works.
