Chapter Five: The Challenge
Nobody ever did find a vial of Doom Stalker venom for Professor Ozpin. When the first years asked about it, the headmaster explained it was just a hoax. There was no such thing as a Doom Stalker as it was made up as a sort of practical joke. Some of the other teams had spent hours wandering the Emerald Forest looking for it, much to Ozpin's, and even Professor Goodwitch's, amusement. Team ZERO just turned in an eyeball of the Red Masque Nevermore as their proof and were checked out. He said little to them other than a congratulations and a small smile before sending them to their dorm to fully unpack and arrange the room. Tired and worn, the four teenagers flopped onto the floor, not even bothering with the beds just yet.
"Can't believe I used so much Dust on just a stupid bird", Ella said exhaustedly.
Zane stretched his arms as he replied,"Yeah well, I used all my cartridges for my swords too"
"I need to make some new arrows", Orion added.
"And I need more bullets. And I need to sharpen my blade", Rizu finished.
Zane sighed in annoyance, but knew that they had a lot to do. Even now, after their initiation, the team still had half of their Saturday left to do what they needed to do.
Zane sat up,"Okay. We all need to clean ourselves up, re-supply and eat. So how's this. We take the rest of the afternoon to go off on our own and do what we need. At around six, let's meet up in the cafeteria for dinner where we can talk about the dorm. Agreed?"
"Agreed"
With that, the team split up to do what they had to do. Luckily there were departments all over campus that had what they needed. Rizu headed over to the Ammo Depot and ordered up some rounds and speed loaders for his revolver. To pay her reached into his pocket and yanked out his Atlas Military Funds Card. Although he couldn't see it, he winces in disgust at having to use it, reluctantly paying for his provisions before heading off to the dorm to sharpen his blade. Zane and Ella on the other hand headed over to the Dust Station for refills on canisters and capsules. Ella thought maybe it would be a good idea to get to know her leader a bit.
"So...how do your blades work? I've never seen weapons like those before", she asked curiously.
"Hm? Oh little Umbra and Aurora here have a special kind of Dust cartridge embedded into the hilts. Whenever I sheathe them, the blades get charged with fire and electricity, so when I pull them out, the blades are ready for action. 'Course when I run out of Dust, these babies just become regular swords, but I can manage"
"Oh? That's interesting..."
"What about you? Not really taken to physical weapons?", the heir asked.
"No no. I've been able to fight adeptly with just pure Dust. I really just want to become stronger and learn all there is to know about Dust and the power that I can gain from it", she explained. Her voice was plain...oddly plain.
"Careful there princess. Ambitions are cool but don't get all wrapped up in a mad search for power. Trust me. My dad took his search for the secret to unlocking the ultimate weapon for his grave", Zane warned.
Ella was slightly disturbed by what he said, staying silent on their way to their destination. After filling all of her canisters, she waved to Zane and headed off to the library to check it out. Zane decided to go over to the cafeteria early to see if he can 'score with the ladies'. As she made her way to the academy's library, her jaw hit the floor as she practically felt all the knowledge hit her. The enormous chamber was filled to the roof and back with books, manuscripts, manuals etc. Ella squealed inside as she began to run to find the Dust sector, eager to get started. She began to pile up different books in her arms until she couldn't carry any more of them. When she finally thought she had found every advanced book on Dust, something she as a first year wasn't expected to understand, she saw something else. High up on a tall shelf was an exceptionally small book in comparison to the rest. It was bright red and bright gold letters were on the spine, reading out: "Dust Embedding". Seeing no ladder around, the girl started using the shelves to climb. As she got closer and closer, she grew more and more tired, her strength draining. She thought the book was in her reach, so close in fact she could almost taste it. As she reached her hand out as far as she could, her foot slipped and down to fell. With a small yelp, she closed her eyes and braced herself for the coming impact...only for it not to happen. As her eyes fluttered open, she saw that she had been caught by none other than Orion! He was smiling awkwardly, carrying her bridal style, causing her to blush a deep tomato red.
"O-Orion? Thanks...I guess I should thank you", she said sheepishly.
"Nah. It's alright Ella. That's what friends are for...r-right?", he muttered cautiously as he set her back on her feet.
"Friends..."
"Something wrong?"
"Well it's just odd y'know? I've never had friends really. Back at Haven I kinda just had my books and myself", she explained, her redwood eyes drawn to the floor.
"Oh...I see. Well you know I didn't have many friends growing up either. Just me and some old family friends' kids", he replied, equally as sad looking.
As the pair just sat against the shelves, Ella looked to the Faunus and asked,"Hey. When Zane was bullying you...you said you didn't come here because you wanted to. What did you mean?"
The Faunus grew deathly silent, just pulling his knees up to his chest like a fearful child anticipating a beating.
"S-Sorry. I guess that's none of my business", she muttered.
"N-No it's okay! I just...I've never opened up like this before so it's kinda new. Anyway...I grew up in Mistral. My dad Scorpio Maxima was a champion of the Vytal Tournament back when he was my age. He was the absolute best! He was so strong and so fast! When he grew up, he had committed a taboo: he fell in love with a Faunus. Her name is Artemis. When they were married, my father lost his credibility and reputation. When my mother got pregnant it was even worse. My father received death threats and my mother had been the victim of muggings while she was pregnant with me. When I was born, my mother died. I was born a week early because another beating had forced her into labor...", he trailed off, some tears forming.
"I-I'm so sorry...so technically you're only half Faunus?", she asked carefully.
"Yeah. But as much as I am bullied and put down, I'm proud of being a Faunus...so I identify myself as a full one and not a human. When I got old enough, my dad started training me to fight. The training was rigorous and hard, but I made it through. My father wanted me to be the best that I could to restore his honor and to uphold the name of Maxima. When I got older, I had found out that Faunus were still being ridiculed in the world and I became afraid to go here, yet my father was set on making me into a Huntsman...so here I am"
Ella's eyes were wide with disbelief. She couldn't believe that someone could be accepting of bullying and ridicule, yet work so hard. All of this to prove he was good enough for his father? To uphold a name?
"Tell me Orion...what exactly is it that you want to do?", she asked again.
"Well...I want to help the Faunus. I want to bring equality to Remnant amongst all its people. And maybe as a Huntsman, I'll have the resources to do just that. It's what mom would have wanted", he finished.
Ella smiled at her companion. His intentions were good, unlike many aspiring Huntsman and Huntresses. A lot of them were just in it for the glory. She put a hand on his knee, looking up at him.
"I bet your mom and even your dad are so proud of you. Hell you have caught me twice already and I haven't even known you for a week", she giggled a little at the memory of her tumbling onto him in the forest.
"Hehe yeah...say...why do you want to become a Huntress?",
That question hit her like a sack of doorknobs. She was always uneasy talking about her past, yet Orion seemed so comfortable. Maybe it's only fair, she thought. After all he did just share his life story.
"Well...you see-"
DING!
The ash-brunette sighed as she reached into her dress pocket to pull out her scroll, seeing a message from Zane to meet in the cafeteria. With a small groan, she stood up, sending him a quick reply.
"Was that Zane?", Orion asked.
"Yeah. He and Rizu are waiting for us. I guess I will have to come here later. I'll tell my story another time", she sighed, feeling all that would-be knowledge slip away, yet relieved at not having to share her past.
As the pair found their way to Zane and Rizu's table, they were shocked to see meals already set aside for them, with their companions already chowing down. Zane was monstrously munching on a sandwich, while Rizu was poking at his plate, trying to find a stray pea. Ella say next to Rizu with Orion sitting across from her, next to Zane.
"Where did you guys get all this food?", Ella asked as she took a fork and started twirling her pasta.
"Rizu bought it. This dude has got insane amounts of money. Almost like me!", Zane said proudly.
"How did you afford this?", Orion questioned.
Rizu sighed softly and reached into his wallet, pulling out his Atlas Military Funds card. The group gasped, unable to believe he had such a card. Zane looked up at his blind companion, looking more skeptical than curious. As if reading his thoughts, Ella spoke up.
"Does this card have something to do with your past? You never got to finish telling us", she said, looking intently at Rizu.
Although he was blind, he knew that his teammates eyes were piercing into him, silently demanding him to talk. The dark-clad boy sighed and set down his fork.
"After I left the ruins of my old home, I wandered around Atlas, eventually passing out like I said. When I came to, there was someone watching over me. A girl. Her name was Sirena. She had seen me fight before in the club and had apparently been squatting in an abandoned theater building. In order to stay in her place I had to teach her how to fight. When I had finished teaching her, she had matched my skill and sometimes overpowered me. About seven months after my fifteenth birthday, we were attacked again by the Atlas Military. They had branded me a fugitive from being a part of my adoptive fathers illegal activities"
Rizu started to shudder as he spoke, a seething anger emanating from him. The group could faintly hear the gyros in his mechanical arm whirring and tightening. With a deep breath, he continued.
"Sirena and I fought off those P.O.S. combat bots that Atlas sent at us. There were so many...and I could only do so much with one arm and being blind. When the fighting made it out into the street, we got separated. Sirena was still inside the building when Atlas started dropping Dust bombs. It wasn't too much destruction...but it was enough take down the building. My only home and friend was taken from me. So I gave up and was taken into custody. When I was in prison, I was visited by General Ironwood. He had seen footage of me fighting his 'soldiers' and decided to give me a choice. Use my skills to become a Huntsman or face life in prison. Obviously you know what I chose. They slapped this metallic abomination to my body and I honed my skills, channeling my hate."
It was then that Ella and the others understood. He hated the Atlas military. He hated the forces that took away everything from him. He just hated his arm, himself and everything that stood in his way. Zane spoke up.
"Well hey man, at least you don't have to hate stuff alone anymore. You have well...us to share your hate with. I mean we are a team so we might as well act like one. Sure we might have problems with each other and we might not get along all the time, but at least we can try to get through this", he finished.
"That was probably the most selfless thing you have ever said", Ella said dryly.
"Oh don't get me wrong. I'm still leagues better than all of you, but you guys are alright", he said snidely. That was the Zane they knew (even if only for a short time).
Suddenly, Orion started to chuckle softly, eventually growing into a hearty laugh. Ella began giggling along with him with Zane following suit. Rizu just chuckled softly with them, enjoying the moment they had. The moment of peace was not to last however, as they heard Professor Ozpin sound off on the loud speakers.
"Attention students. Tomorrow will be the first sparring day. Teams will be randomly matched up against each other in a friendly sparring match. Tomorrows match will consist of-...drum roll please Glynda?", the professor asked.
"I would prefer not to sir", Professor Goodwitch's voice could also be heard faintly from the speakers.
"...Team ARES vs Team ZERO"
A/N: Alright guys thanks a ton for sticking with me for this long! For those who sent me OC's thank you so much! I will work towards putting them in. See you all next time!