A team too LARJ

by Johno 343

This is a story about a team of four students at Beacon Academy and their adventures. Life at beacon is about to get interesting. With RWBY and JNPR along for the ride, it's certainly isn't going to be normal. Their past, growth and trials will shape these characters to become great hunters/tresses. This is the story of team LARJ.

16. Chapter 15

Arc 3: Re-start, Chapter 15: Don't lose your way.

---

Roxford Village, Many hours after the fight with the Great One - Local Hospital

"I don't need that. Don't expect me to fight with your weapon. That is your burden alone."

Juge woke up with a startling gasp for air, quickly assessing his situation he found that he wasn't lying down on the hardened earth anymore. In fact it was far from it.

"What then?" Regaining feeling in his body he slowly moved his right arm and felt the softness of a bed. "Am I... in the Academy's infirmary?"

"No." His brows shrank before dilating again. After what he had been through, anyone would be on edge. He glanced at the voice that answered his question, sitting next to him was Aria Lexar, but instead of her bagging green hoodie and shorts she was dressed in a nurse uniform with her amber hair tied up in a bun. "You're back in Roxford village. The village's hospital."

"..." Juge stayed quite.

"This man and a couple of other Hunters and Huntresses came rushing in after the elder of the village had contacted the compounds around this area, he didn't expect so many of them to come rushing in." Aria smiled faintly "But most of them came too late... a bit too late."

"So..." Juge croaked. Aria only nodded, she showed the face of someone who's about to cry. "It's wasn't a dream... it was real."

"I wish it was a joke." Aria wiped the incoming tears from her eyes. "But at least the Grimm is gone... Roxford Village is free from it's shackles - and we have you guys to thank." She smiled.

"...I don't need thanks... we lost to something we never saw before, what I never thought existed." Juge clenched his hand tight. "I lost a comrade and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it!" Suddenly pain rushed over his body as he grunted and shook. Aria yelped before ushering him into a more comfortable position.

"Your body is exhausted! It's amazing that you are awake already." She tried to cheer him up. "But that doesn't mean you can move around, it'll be more than a day or maybe a week before you can fight again."

Juge clicked his tongue before using his hand to cover his eyes. "Is he still here?"

Aria tilted her head in confusion

"The man with two axes, that was... my father."

"Mr. Travis?" Aria spoke "That's your dad?"

"Indeed."

"He did drop you at the hospital and he stayed until the doctors said your weren't in critical condition." She spoke. "I wondered why some random hunter would do that, so this explains everything!"

Juge only gave a feeble nod before closing his eyes. "So...how are the others?"

"Lucy and Riza are still shaken... but it's more like Riza is angry at you for knocking her out and you trying to be the hero." She frowned. "In truth, she's been in lock down at the town hall with Ms. Megumi ever since you came back."

"I guess she never understood." Juge chuckled sadly. "I would be angry if someone did that to me too."

Aria only nodded before continuing "Lucy is with the other hunters that came here, she's been making friends with them."

"...What about Akashi?"

In an instant, Aria paled.

"Aria..." Juge clenched the white sheets tightly "What happened to him?"

Aria closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Akashi... he's showed no signs of waking up... and his vitals... are weak... the doctor couldn't say... even if he got better, his psyche might not be the same."

Juge looked down before clenching his teeth in pure anger. "Goddammit... what did..."

Aria saw that Juge was angry, so instead of talking, she shook her head and walked out of the room. "If you need anything, call me."

And with that, she closed the door.

---

(Insert music: Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1)

Many years ago...

"Red eyes, Red eyes, Red eyes!" A group of young boys crowed around a small girl with light blonde hair, she knelled over as she covered her eyes and face, trying to prevent anyone from seeing her cry.

"Freak!"

"My mommy said that red eyes are Grimm eyes, so she is a Grimm!" another boy yelled out.

"Let's beat her until she runs away! That'll teach her not to come here anymore!" The group started to close in on her... her whimpering and shivering was only spurring them on.

"Please... stop... I just wanna be friends!"

"Who would want to be friends with a freak like you?" The leader of the group raised his foot to stomp on the poor girl.

"Stop it." The leader was forcibly pulled back and fell on his butt. His friends looked at him and went towards him.

"Who the heck would-!?" The boy froze as he looked at the newcomer.

Standing in front of the girl was another girl with blue hair and blue eyes. She had a small summer dress that brought out her eyes, however... The look wasn't kind, it was fierce, the type that strikes fear into anyone.

"I-it's the Silent Demon, run!" The leader scrambled to his feet and ran away, his cronies followed after him, all of them screaming. The girl looked at them run before turning to the blonde haired girl that was still crying.

"...Are you okay?" She asked with an emotionless expression. "Can you stand?"

"..." The girl stiffly nodded her head before getting up. Still whimpering and crying, but she stood up. her skin was covered in marks, cuts and scratches. "You're... the silent demon."

"Yes."

"Why would you help me?"

"...Because the weak need protection, it's what my parents would say, it's what my Mother said." She explained. "Your name?"

"T-tahli... Tahli Heartbell." Tahli spoke with shyness.

"I'm Maryjane Hart, do you need to see the nurse?"

"Y-yes please." Tahli said and nodded. The blue haired girl took her hand and walked her towards the office.

---

It was then.

This moment would be the start of a long friendship that would last... until it was time to end.

---

Current time, Roxford village - Town hall roof:

As Aria said, both blondes were sitting on top of the town hall, looking at the sun setting. There wasn't going to be a massive fight, something to take their minds of things.

No, it was much too sad. The red sky.

Like her blood.

The fading white clouds.

Like its teeth.

The flowing wind.

The sound of rustling clothes being grinded.

Closing her eyes Tahli took something from a bag. It was a pack of cigarettes, taking one out she placed it in her mouth and pulled out her lighter. Riza on the other hand watched the sun set. The smell of smoke made her cringe before she took a quick glance at the older girl, she turned back to the sunset.

"You smoke?"

"Only after stressful mission... or after 'those times'." She huffed out as smoke escaped her lips. "If I ever see you smoke..."

"Never will." Riza replied quickly and emotionless.

"Good." She nodded as she took out the cigarette from her mouth. "How are you keeping up?"

"..." Riza gave no response. She didn't blame her, it was hard to see why no one would talk after... what happened.

"It was good that Travis Velmón, Warmachine and my team came in quickly." She said. "It would be bad of that Sin escaped from there."

"Yep."

After that it was nothing but silence for a few minutes. Then...

Riza spoke.

"What did you mean by 'we had to live'?" Riza turned towards her. "While you carried me and Lucy, you said we had to live."

"Yes."

"Why?" Riza burst out. "That thing killed your best friend! Didn't you have any anger in you to kill that thing?!"

"...You have no idea how angry I was, girl." Riza stepped back as she looked at Tahli's eyes, filled with anger and rage. "What you said now pisses me off further."

"Then why didn't you stay and fight?!"

"Because I though what was best for this team Riza!" Tahli yelled and the cig fell out of her mouth. "If you guys weren't there, I would have... I had no reason to live, my best friend died right before my eyes!" A tear was running down her face. "It's the damn life of a hunter Riza, you will never know what day will be your last!" She was practically using her voice. "I knew it, Maryjane knew it! So get it through your damn skull that you chose the life of the hunter! Sacrifices will be made and people dear to you will die at unexpected times!"

"..." Riza knew she was right. People die, it can be now or it can be in a year's time. No one knew when their time is up. Right now Tahli was trying to be strong, for them.

For her.

"I just didn't think it was this soon!" Tahli voice broke as she sank back. "My sister is dead!" she cried out. "Jane!"

"... I'm such an ass..." Riza mentally kicked herself, she watched her cry out, wanting no more of this Riza ran towards the girl and hugged her. Tahli made no attempt to push her away.

Riza clumsily stroked her hair and looked up into the orange sky.

"What a cruel world we live in... right mother?" The memories of her mother's smile were mixing with the still fresh images of Maryjane.

---

(Insert music :Kuroko No Basket 2: The Feeling of Not Losing)

Lucy Stripes wasn't the type to be saddened for long by anything, but this was a exemption. The girl had been staying around the other hunters when she woke up, she made no attempt to see her comrades.

"Lass." The dull blue eye looked up to see a well build man in red armor walking towards her, a large gun was strapped to his back while multiple grenades were attached to his waist. "Ar you feeling alright?" His eyes were green and his hair was brown, he looked similar to a certain whip user. His trimmed beard moved with his jawline forming a slight frown.

"I'm dandy Martin, thank you." Her voice wasn't hers there, it was ragged and strained. If anyone was to look at her face more carefully, the girl had tear stains on her face, her eyes were a little red. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect Maryjane…"

"Aye… you did all you could little one, that in itself was enough to satisfy me. Going against an abomination that we thought didn't exist is a feat that few freshmen can barely dream of. Even in their nightmares." Martin placed a hand on her shoulder, Lucy flinched before she buried her head in her knees. "Lucy, I know what your going through, it's something most of us experienced before. I've lost a few of my friends on the battlefield, I know how painful it is."

Lucy continued looking at the ground, Martin sighed before patting her head. "Sooner or later, you'll learn to cope with the truth: Your friends and comrades can fall in combat - sooner or later, the only thing to prevent that is… well… get smarter and stronger. The man in red armor stood up and walked away from her, leaving the young girl to her music and thoughts.

"Martin." The veteran hunter looked to his side, he left Lucy on the airship a while ago.

Walking towards him was a hunter, unlike Martin, he was wearing black all over. Black trench coat, black hat, black pants and black shades. The only thing that wasn't black was his hair.

It was White.

"Randy Felcon." Martin realized with surprise. "Dude, you said you couldn't make it to the rescue mission."

"Things changed after what I heard about our comrade." Randy looked down. "When I heard Maryjane was killed in battle, I just had to see it for my own eyes… after seeing what Travis Velmón brought back... there's not much doubt to be had." He spat and took off his glasses. His shinning red eyes shimmered with tears. "I still can't believe she's dead Martin, she was the damn captain of our team and head of the compound. She was the strongest of us."

"I know." Martin Hecate sighed as he gave his comrade a pat on the shoulder, Randy stiffened at the contact with his armor. "By the way, is the big-shot still around?"

"He is, but he isn't seeing anyone at the moment... too busy talking to someone inside the ship. I think his wife is in charge of the situation.

"Julia Velmón?!" Randy broke free from his grasp as he look at him in shock. "His wife is here!?"

"Yes, I can understand why your acting like that, but she is a good commander when it comes to situations like these." Motioning over towards the town he started walking. "Come on, I'm getting tired of standing around, let's go see Tahli."

"Yeah, right behind you Martin." Randy spoke as he shook his head. "We're not going to see her as well… right?"

"I'm bored after arriving here to do nothing."

"…dammit."

---

Near Roxford village, Bullhead air ship

(Insert Music: Kuroko No Basket 2: Hanamiya's Trap)

Travis sighed before he looked at the door in front of him "Well, better to get this over and done with once and for all." Shaking his head he opened the door quickly, the space behind was an interrogation room. There were two seats on both sides of the table in the middle, one seat was already filled.

"Well… to think you would be causing strife with the Velmón clan again… Atrobius Flinch."

Indeed, Atrobius Flinch was still alive. But he was in a much better condition now than he was a couple of hours before. Though there were a few bruises and cuts that were still open.

"Travis Velmón, I would like to meet on better condition… but I guess fate had other plans for us." His voice was sore, his wrists in handcuffs. "What do I owe the pleasure of meeting the former heir to the all important Velmón clan?"

"Can it Flinch." Growled Travis as he took a seat on the opposite side of the table. "Never in a million years would I have expected you to be working for some unknown town - a cultist town at that."

"Heheh… you are still as naive as you were 15 years ago Velmón." He whispered, but it was still enough for the man to here. "I was controlled by the late mayor of this cursed town, once I broke free from his control I simply payed him back in kind. I wish I could say the same for my comrades." He muttered.

"I see." Travis leaned back and crossed his arm. "How long did you know of the existence of this Cardinal Sin?"

"It was more like 'When did that monster start to control my mind', no?" Atrobius pondered "I would say that day we took on the mission. It was then my team's minds were controlled from then on. Honestly I don't remember most of the past… even most of my memory prior the incident is messed up. I can't remember my own family very well."

Travis studied him to see if was lying.

He wasn't.

"But the question I have for you Travis Velmón: How did you evade the sin's mind corrosion?" There was genuine interest in the man's hollow eyes.

"That's the good part. Our will power is a great deal different from yours. It's going to take more than some dust pumped Grimm to break my mind. Even Warmachine didn't feel it." He boasted confidently. In truth the Sin had been too weakened and distracted to show its full power. Still, the two of them withstood the weaker mind shattering effects with ease.

The bald headed man's eyes widened in shock.

"Warmachine!?" He gasped. "War incarnate: Warmachine!?" He coughed. "Why was he here!?"

"Consider yourself lucky you didn't face him. He was on his way to investigate the town, and you wouldn't be here if you and your team faced him. In fact, I doubt that this town would be standing by the time he'd been done with it." Travis shook his head with a sigh.

"Then it would have been just a matter of time before the Sin would have been killed." The man agreed.

"As much as I want to say that you were held against your will, you're coming back to Vale to be dealt with in the court there." Travis stood up "If you got that, then our talk is over."

"Wait." The older Velmón paused as he looked back at him. "There is something we need to discuss, we have much to talk about."

"Like?"

"While it may be a loose rumor, there is a possibility of the next Sin appearing near the coast of Vacuo."

Travis squinted his remaining eye before returning to his seat. "Speak now Flinch, if they're starting to move this world will change fast."

"Tell me something I don't know." The man barked out hoarsely. "Folklore that turns out to be true... what a pain."

"The public can't know about this, if this happened the already strained atmosphere in the kingdoms, especially with Ironwood's Military... They would turn to drastic measures." Travis swore.

"I've given my piece of information about that topic, now you listen to me Travis Velmón." The man leaned forwards with a almost evil smile. "They will come for your boy, 'they' will take what the Velmón treasure so much and as I wanted to do, they will kill Juge Velmón to obtain it."

A moment of silence wafted around them before Travis smirked at him and stood up "Then so be it. If Juge can't handle the burden, death will inadvertently come for him, but you're forgetting one or two important things about him."

The older man opened to door and walked out, but not before looking at him once more. "He has comrades - people that will pull through with him until he dies - that will stand by and help him shoulder those burdens that come with it." The eye-patch around his left eye was tightening as he turned back to the door.

"Secondly: He's my kid. If something happened to him, you can be assured that I'll show no mercy once I find out." Travis closed the door leaving the man to his thoughts.

"Heh... Interesting choice of words Velmón... Interesting thoughts."

---

Roxford Village hospital, Akashi's room

Juge looked over his comrade's sleeping form. While his own body was bandaged from the waist up and around the shoulder, Mayhiro's face was covered except for on eye and his mouth. His right arm was stained with blood, indicating that he was still bleeding, but at a slower rate. "It's funny, you backed me up, but you got damaged the most."

"S-s-shut up..." to his surprise Juge watched as Akashi visible eye opened, licking his lips to rid himself of the dry sensation "You don't look that good either Juge."

"Well, it's the expected outcome when fighting something like that Akashi." Juge gently seated himself next to Akashi's bed. "How do you feel?"

"Could be better, I'll tell you that." His lone eye was looking at the ceiling. "We got creamed badly... and we lost Maryjane."

"Don't remind me." Juge sat back. "Everything was going right..."

"Everything was right, until we met that monster, then it all fell apart. Way too huge!" Akashi spoke back.

"Aria said that you weren't going to wake up for a while."

"There's still adrenaline pumping through me, I can't sleep. It was more like I continued to fight in my dream, but it wouldn't stay down!" His mind clicked into gear. "Did we kill it? In the end?"

Juge shook his head in shame. "No, we didn't even make any more scratches on it. But my father and someone else had managed to kill it."

"Just shows how little we're capable of, huh?" Akashi closed his eyes. "If I only had a better handle of Eclipse."

"'Forage de l'os: Deuxième étape' ...I need to practice more before I can even attempt to use it. If I mastered it, we would have been in a better situation... I let everyone down, my inexperience killed Maryjane." His face contorted in pain. "I can't forgive myself."

"Hey..." Akashi looked to see Juge grabbing his knee caps and holding on to them tightly as he was trying to break them. It was then that Akashi saw something he thought Juge would never do.

Cry.

"Juge man, you can't be placing the blame all on yourself! I am to blame for her death as well!" Akashi tried to reason with him.

"You were the support, everyone knew you couldn't help much with Black Eclipse... I don't mean it in a bad way... I should have taken that into account and formulated a plan..."

"Didn't you see what that thing did to us?!" Akashi shouted. "We were helpless against it, even Tahli was frozen!"

"You don't understand!" Akashi saw him stand up and left him up by his own. "I can't afford to make mistakes. If we had been more careful Maryjane would still be here!" Juge's glare clashed with Akashi's eyes. Blue and brown. "I am a Velmón, Akashi Mayhiro. In order to honor my family - my predecessors - I need to become a hunter that equals them: Not for my personal interest, but for everyone who bears the name Velmón!" Releasing so much energy left him grunting in pain. "Someone who doesn't come from a hunter orientated family would have no idea about the burden I carry."

Akashi was silent as Juge fell back into his seat, his breath got heavy before looking at him. "I can't relax like you do... do whatever I want like you do. I have pride and honor to uphold, but now... seeing that I couldn't fend of a Grimm that was doing as it pleased..." Juge breathed out. "Makes me question my right to be a hunter."

Akashi felt pity for him, but at the same time anger.

(Insert music: Naruto Ultimate ninja storm 3: Light)

"I get your background you dumbass." Akashi gritted his teeth as he pushed his cover off and painfully sat himself upright. "But that does mean that you have to carry the burden all by yourself." He bit his tongue to force back the white hot pain rushing inside him. Juge watched in shock as Akashi stood up, his legs and feet were stained in blood, both old and new. The boy panted with each step.

"What is a team to you Juge?" The boy looked up and saw Akashi clenching his bloody fist as looked down on him with one eye. "What is the meaning of a team?"

"A group, consisting in 2 or more people, driven to a common goal." Juge spoke as he stood up and looked at Akashi.

"What else?"

"Not only do they have a common goal..." Juge knew what he was getting at. "Akashi I-"

"Finish what you started Juge. Answer the damn question." Akashi spoke quietly.

"...Members of that team learn how to help one another. Help other team members to grow and create a drive or environment that can allow others to reach their true potential beyond what a single person can do."

"It's not only that idiot." Akashi stiffly placed a hand on his shoulder "We have burdens - You, me, Riza and cap. You can't expect us to lay down and roll over when our comrades are in trouble, no matter the cost, we will see it right till the end." Akashi paused. "I can understand your position. It's similar to Weiss'. Heiress to a large Dust company or the heir to the secret clan, it's all the same. Sooner of later you will feel the pressure of the expectations crash down on you. That's why we have friends that are willing to help you carry the burden, don't ever forget that when you fail - we fail together."

"When I fall, we all fall." Juge said.

"When you cry, we all cry." Akashi said solemnly. "And right now, you and I have a right to feel bad for ourselves, but there are other people that need comforting as well, even more than us."

"Tahli... she lost her soul sister." Juge looked down. While he was not entirely convinced that what Akashi said was true, he in a sense was right. There were others that had lost Maryjane, not as a comrade but as a family-like figure. "Akashi I-"

"Once were fit and ready I'm going back to training. Once I'm confident, I'm coming to kick your ass." Akashi stood back and pointed at him. "You said I couldn't relate? That's where you're wrong."

He coughed and for a second it seemed like he's fall over, but then he just stood more firm.

"I swore on my pride as a Mayhiro, on my family that I would become the foundation that LARJ stands upon. I would become the best teammate for Lucy." He said with pride. "Not only that: I have my ancestors to catch up to, all fly by me right now. All of them."

"..." Juge couldn't help but smile. "Who knew my rival would be giving out free advice?"

"It's not advice, you knew these thing deep down anyway. I just helped you find your way back." He nodded "But what happens to us... only we know, don't we?" Akashi glared back.

"Heh... Like hell you get the best of me!" Juge nodded, now his eyes full of fire.

However, that moment on 'male bonding', had come and gone. Instantly the door swung open, nearly ripping of its hinges. The two hunters saw as Aria walked into the room accompanied by a much older woman.

Whatever this woman that walked in, had Juge shaking.

The black haired woman had her hair done in a neat braid that was behind her hair, keeping it in place. Her black eyes pierced both Juge and Akashi's souls, to the point that Akashi was sweating under the bandages. Her clothes in general where standard military uniform, a white cape that hung over her shoulder gave a strict aura around her. Her glasses reflected the light as she took them off and looked at both of them.

"H-here are the two you wanted m-ma'am." Aria shivered under the gaze of the woman. "It seem that A-akashi is awake too." She noted with a little surprise in her voice, which was instantly pushed away by distraught again.

"I can see that Ms. Lexar, could you excuse us?" She voiced with a cold tone. "I would like to talk to these two 'hunters'. Alone." Aria nodded with a scared bow before rushing out of the room, locking the door.

"Uhm... excuse me miss... but who-"

"Who gave you permission to talk to me?" Her black eyes fixed on Akashi ,who froze again in response.

"Well, I-"

"Correct: Nobody. Now stand in attention!" The two hunters (despite their pain) stood tall with their hands behind their back. "I will give you permission to speak when I deem it relevant, do I make myself clear Akashi Mayhiro?" She leaned in as stared him down.

"Yes Ma'am!" Akashi responded, he was down right scared.

"Yes Ma'am!" Juge answered back.

"..." The woman nodded and stood back.

"I am Julia Velmón, head commander, director of operation and COO of the Velmón clan. I am also Travis Velmón's lawful wife, and Juge Velmón's mother."

"M-mother!?" Akashi turned to Juge.

"STAND IN ATTENTION!" She bellowed "Don't make me repeat myself."

"Yes!"

(Insert music: NoNoNo - Humming Urban stereo)

Julia nodded before walking up and down looking at the two injured huntsmen. "Juge Velmón and Akashi Mayhiro. Both belonging to the recently formed team 'LARJ' of Beacon Academy, along with Riza Inari and your current Captain or leader Lucy Stripes." Her head turned towards them "Address me Properly if you wish for me to stop."

"Yes Ma'am." The boys spoke.

"Good." Seemingly out of nowhere Julia pulled out a small folder and opened its contents. "From what I can gather this mission was a simple mission that would easily take a newly formed team or one experienced hunter to complete in one day. A simple Search and Recover request."

She put her rounded glasses back on.

"However: Recent information reveals that something bigger was happening in the background and the mission was blown out of proportion." She paused for a moment before seeing the two stand there (still despite their pain) in attention without any signs of struggling.

"Let me be the first to say that what you took on is much more than any other team could handle. It is surprising that you managed so well to liberate the village and resolve the situation with such low casualties." She said with no hint of emotion. "However what happened afterwards is nothing short of idiocy…unfitting of a hunter"

Akashi's anger rose towards the woman, however an arm blocked his way, and the arm belonged to his friend, who had a stone face on.

"A Grimm that was capable of eating and using dust is highly lethal, it was foolish to engage it even with two experienced huntresses on your side. My question is: Why did you not retreat?"

"Ma'am, may I speak freely?" Juge spoke with a trained and formal voice. His mother nodded. "That Grimm was able to put a whole town under its control. It started with the mayor and he was nothing more than a puppet." Grasping his hand he looked directly into his mother's eyes. "When my team faced it, it was invading our mind, it was by Maryjane's actions that we were able to attack it at all. To answer your question: If we were to die and that Grimm had escaped that place, who knows what destruction would it able to cause. Especially with all local Grimm under its control as well."

"Affirmative. You chose to the life of the many over the life of your own comrades. Mayhiro, was this your resolve as well?"

"Yes Ma'am, what Juge said."

"I see." Julia looked at the folder once again. "I have already contacted your client and your headmaster. They've already dispatched a team from Beacon in order to retrieve you from your mission."

"Which we failed." Akashi muttered.

"No. You completed your mission, your task was to find the driver and recover the contents carried in the company's truck." Placing the folder on a nearby desk she crossed her arms. "The team of huntsmen stationed in the area will be clearing out the remaining Grimm that had spread out around Roxford village after the demise of the Cardinal Sin. You will head back to Beacon Academy first thing in the morning."

"Right." Julia watched as the boys shifted their eyes to the ground. "Ma'am, do I have permission to speak?"

"Proceed Mayhiro."

"Where are Riza and Lucy?" This got Juge's attention as well. "Are they alright?"

"Ms. Inari and Ms. Stripes are currently residing at the main lobby at the town square Inn. The townspeople are preparing a banquet for the death of the Sin and in honor of you that had saved them." Julia didn't seem to be agreeing with hat kind of behavior, but she kept the comment to herself.

Akashi scoffed at that. "First they were trying to kill us now they worship us."

"If you are able to walk, you will be coming with me. Along with Ms. Megumi and the rest of your team back towards the Town lobby, walking sticks and crutches will be provided to you of course." Julia nodded before heading out of the door after unlocking it. "Good day to you gentlemen."

As she closed the door in front of them of them, they both collapsed onto each other. Both were panting hard as they tried to feed oxygen back into their lungs.

"D-dude… that was your mom?" Akashi wheezed out. "She's scarier than Yang and Weiss combined!"

"Yes, that is mother for you. She's quite ruthless with others and even more so with father." Juge answered back. "I managed to disappoint her..."

"Sorry for speaking out of term, but from I would gather from here it's easier to disappoint her than to get her genuine praise." Using the bed as leverage the bow-user slowly stood up before extending a hand to Juge. "Come on, your mom wants us there now."

"No need to say it twice." The two nodded before the door opened again, this time it was Aria standing there with sticks and crutches in her arms.

"Y-you here don't want to keep the l-lady waiting… let's go…" Aria was more than spooked.

---

Beacon Academy, Clockwork tower - Ozpin's office.

(Insert Music: "Atonement" by Kazuma Jinnouchi)

The only sound that was resonating in the room was the sound of gears of the clock ticking by. Both the headmaster and the new owner of the general store sat in silence. Goodwitch were there, but she kept pacing back and forth, casting a look at the two.

"Ernst… it's not your fault."

"Da hell it isn't!" He rubbed his temple. "One of my best workers is dead and I nearly sent 6 hunters to their damn death!" He bowed his head in shame "The Cardinal Sins do exist."

"Right now the Velmóns are overlooking the damages, along with Tahli and Maryjane's team. You can be sure that anything remaining will be dealt with accordingly." He took a sip of coffee. "Team CFVY is preparing as we speak to head over to Roxford village in order to replace LARJ."

"That does take a bit off my mind." The old hunter spoke. "But my god... they lost a huntress down there, that's something that freshmen ain't supposed to experience so soon."

"Believe me, sooner or later they would have to go through the stages of loss. You and me both know that one day they would have to make a choice of life and death." Ozpin leaned towards him. "But we have more pressing matters to attend to sadly: The Sins."

"Yes of course, we'll discuss 'dis later." Valkin nodded. The headmaster of Beacon nodded before reaching towards his scroll as it illuminated. "Glynda, could you excuse us?"

The blonde huntress nodded as she entered the elevator. Ozpin looked down once more and pressed the green button on his scroll, instantly two holograms appeared on both sides of the table. One image belonged to the Current heir of the Velmón family and the other was James Ironwood, a Headmaster and General of Atlas.

"Gentlemen." Ozpin acknowledged them both. Valkin gave his word before James stepped forward.

"It's been too long Travis, Ozpin… Valkin." the general said with a smile "Although I will be visiting Beacon in a matter of time Ozpin."

"For the Vytal Festival, I am aware." The headmaster knew. "But this isn't a time to talk about that. Today I sent you an urgent mail about the finding of a Grimm that was meant to be nothing more than a myth. Today that delusion is all but gone. They are very much real."

"You don't have to go over it again, I am just as shocked as everyone here in the room is." The man in white spoke as he paced the table with his small holographic legs. "I've given orders to outposts around Atlas to keep a close eye on unusual activities, right now the military has its own problems to deal with that you needn't be worried about."

"But why now?" Valkin wondered. "Out of all the times, when peace is finally amongst us, why would they decide to act now?"

"It's been acting in the background all along. This might not be the first village that has been in its clutches. Only this time somebody managed to kill the creature." Travis crossed his arms. "It would have happened sooner or later, I just wish Warmachine would have been there earlier."

"War's disciple." Ironwood spoke with respect of the hunter. "Gentlemen, what do you suggest we do now, beyond my existing preparations?"

"For starters, with Ozpin's permission I would like to airlift the corpse of this Sin back to Vale. With extreme discretion of course." Travis looked at the headmaster of Beacon "Right now the team can't make a full analysis with the stuff we have here."

"Understood, I'll have Valkin and Glynda take care of this matter." Ozpin sipped his coffee.

"I'll keep the tight and quiet search of any Sins in Atlas going." James said. "I'll alert you if anything should come up."

Travis looked down before looking at Ozpin. "Secondly, this should not reach public ears."

"I know, news like this would easily throw humanity into chaos."

"And it's negative emotions that feed Grimm." The old hunter muttered.

"Secondly, team LARJ as well as Ms. Megumi are to undergo a psych test in order to see if they are capable of continuing to be hunters and huntresses or need some mental treatment." The one-eyed hunter spoke. "Reports from the village show that the Grimm was able to enter a person's mind and erode it, breaking them into puppets, as one of our captured individuals told me." He sighed. "Lastly I want to ask you on your opinion…"

"Travis?" All of them spoke as the brown haired man lowered his head, before looking around.

"With the Sins appearing around the world, I would like to form a special team that is solely made to combat the Sins."

---

Roxford Village - Town square

A fire was ablaze in the middle of the square as the townsfolk were dancing and cheering. They set fire to the mock figure of the Grimm. Many people were drunk and merry, some passed out and others had decided to get a bit frisky. They were partying away their loss and praising their saviors all alike while also celebrating their freedom.

However.

LARJ and Tahli had decided to look down the party by a nearby building, the two bandaged hunters had managed to sit down without too many wounds opening again, while Riza and Lucy watched the town part till they felt too down.

The mood among them wasn't friendly at all. A certain faunus was still mad at Juge and Akashi for knocking them out before they had a chance to protest. But the two hunters couldn't care less right now.

The time for talking about that was not needed. They had lost a true comrade and friend. Tahli still had shadows under her eyes, running a light make up as she pulled out another cigarette and lit it up. For some reason she always took on huff and then threw the freshly lit thing away. Whether it was for health reasons or just because she actually didn't like smoking was unclear.

"…To think that they would have the balls to throw a party when one of our own is dead." Riza glared at them as if she was trying to set them alight.

"It's doesn't concern them Riza." Juge said in a defeated tone. "What matters to them is that they're free from the Sin's control, peace will return to them."

"At the cost of Jane's life." Tahli said in a monotone voice. "Bastards, the lot of them." She didn't mean what she said, but showed no remorse either.

"That reminds me Tahli, did your friends come to see you?" Lucy said as she nibbled slowly on a pocky, the blonde huntress nodded.

"They did, but they caught me at a bad time when I was hugged by the little fuzzball here." Tahli smiled a little while pointing her thumb at Riza. "But they couldn't find the words to comfort me, they're just as cut up as me."

Meanwhile the young Mayhiro was looking at the shattered moon, he was too exhausted to speak.

"Yo Tahli!" The young woman responded as she saw Martin and Randy appear on the edge of the building. "We've got news for you and LARJ!"

"What is it?" Tahli spoke to them. "I would like to be alone with them for now… Sorry guys."

"Right… Anyways we got news that your guys need to head back to Vale in the morning for a psyche test. Julia and Travis Velmón had spoken to your headmaster about it. He needs you to be evaluated." Martin said.

"And me?"

"We as you teammates think you should go as well, after all…" Randy left the sentence hanging.

"I won't bother arguing, I'll go." She turned back to the large fire ahead of her. "I'll talk to you guys later."

"But-"

"Leave now." Her cold voice returned, her two comrades looked down and headed back to the party.

"A test, huh?" Riza said.

"My guess is that Ozpin wanted to see if we're still able to fight, despite what happened to us."

"It's useless." Tahli said "If you guys could fight with me, then you should still be able to-"

"Yeah. We fell like dominoes the first time we saw it, our minds froze, if it wasn't for you and Maryjane, then we would have been food or slaves for that thing." Akashi said, still looking at the moon. "I'm still shaking from just picturing that Grimm."

"But the matter is, that we're heading back to Vale now, back to Beacon where they expect to see us smiling from a completed mission." the young Velmón smiled sort of melancholic. "How I wish that was true."

"Well… we did in a sense complete the mission, it's just-"

"You guys, we all bit of more than we could chew." The sniper said and threw the cig into the bushes where it was glowing weakly.

None of them spoke for the rest of the night. The team was called down and given the town's thanks and the key to the village that night. Every single one had masks on, masks that hid their pain and sadness.

Many hours passed until the stroke of dawn came…

---

Next Morning, Roxford Village - Air Docks

Tahli, Randy and Martin along with Julia, Aria and LARJ stood in front of a landing pad as they watched a Bullhead come in view. Both parties were looking better than they were a couple of hours before.

"Mother… where exactly is father?" Juge asked Julia who in turn cast a quick glance at him.

"Your father had returned back to Vale along with the Grimm's corpse for further analysis of the body. We are trying to get a better understanding of it, so we can improve our combat ability in similar encounters. Next time there might not be someone with an appropriate semblance to counter the psychological effects."

"I see." Juge looked down. 'Did he even say anything about me?'

Akashi adjusted himself on his crutches before inhaling the cold air "..."

"Akashi are you okay?" Aria looked at him with worry, but Akashi flashed a smile at her.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me." His confident voice was gone, it was a more humbled and a worn out voice, that didn't suit him at all. "Thanks for your concern Aria."

"It's no problem." She smiled back to encourage him.

"Lucy." Riza spoke. "I know it's a lot to take in, but-"

"Riza… please... not now." Lucy pleaded. "I just want to leave this place." Her hair covered her eyes and she snuggled into her black sweater. Riza looked at her with sad eyes before looking away from her.

"The air-ship is here everyone." Julia announced as the large airship got bigger, the roars of the engine filled everyone's ears, their clothes fluttered with the wind as the ship touched down on the landing pad. The door opened to reveal another team inside.

"Who's that?" Riza tilted her head. Most of them looked new but one person stood out from the rest. "V-velvet!?"

As the engine died down the team inside stepped out, the bunny eared faunus known as Velvet walked towards LARJ with her team in tow. "Everyone!?" she stopped herself before assessing her friends wounds, her hands covering her mouth. "What happened?!"

"That is something you don't need to know, you're here to eliminate the remaining Grimm in this area. I'm your commanding superior for this mission, Julia Velmón." Juge's mother stepped in and looked at Velvet's team.

"Y-yes Ma'am!" Velvet comically saluted the middle-aged woman out of nervousness.

"Jeez… she's always the scared type." The teen walked next to LARJ and smirked, as she dipped her black glasses and eyed them before looking at the rest of LARJ. "…"

Her eyes were judging them from head to toe.

"Pathetic."

"Excuse me?" Riza eyed the girl. "What did you say?"

"I said you're path-" An orange glove covered her voice and she was dragged away by a brown skinned boy with dark read hair.

"You must forgive Coco, she tends to speak her mind a lot." A tall man in green spoke as he bowed to them. "We're from Beacon as well, team CFVY, second years. I'm Hatsuyashi." Hatsu spoke. "You are team LARJ, correct?"

"Yes." Riza spoke. The black haired man bowed again before looking at the rest of his team. "Whatever is troubling you, I'm sorry for what happened."

"None of it was your fault, so please don't go apologizing for it." The fox faunus said exhausted.

"I wish you a safe trip and good health." He smiled. "But seems that Velvet would like to speak to you." The man walked off towards his team as Velvet came running towards them again, but this time hugging both Lucy and Riza.

"I was worried when Ozpin asked to get ready to relive you of your mission!" Velvet said with her eye shimmering "I got scared of what happened to you guys!"

"Thanks Velvet." Riza smiled, Lucy reached out and stroked Velvet's ear for comfort.

"Velvet~" Lucy voice returned a bit.

"I didn't know you were a second year student, what gives?" Riza asked in confusion.

"You didn't ask?" She said with a shy smile.

"That's cool~" Lucy smiled.

"You are just going to accept that?" Riza frowned at her. "What about the Initiation then? Why were you there?" Riza crossed her arms.

"I...re...it..." Velvet whispered while her cheeks turned red.

"Come again?"

"I had to repeat it! I didn't attend it in my first year, because of sickness!" She yelped and hid her face. Riza stared at her.

"So when you said that your partner left you behind..."

"Coco wouldn't bother to repeat the test with me." Velvet pouted.

"Is it my fault that you caught the flu or something?" The sun-glasses wearing frank girl yelled from behind Hatsuyashi and the dark-skinned team member.

"...and the Survival Test?" Riza almost didn't want to hear about it.

"We skipped it last year..."

"All of you!?"

"We went shopping!" Coco yelled from her arm-locked position between the other two members.

"But on the Survival Test this year everyone else got sick..." Velvet sighed.

"Sounds like your student life is rough." As a fellow faunus Riza could relate to the disgusted glares, but not to that kind of unlucky streak.

"It is sometimes, but Coco helps me out a lot with work." She added with a smile. "Sorry that she called you pathetic, it seems that you stopped her from going to a fashion show."

"It's fine…" Riza said. That attitude did make her eye twitch a little though.

"Enough chatting, board the ship if you may." Julia glared at LARJ and Tahli.

"Right…see you soon guys!" Velvet hugged Riza and Lucy again before walking towards her team. Coco still gave them the death glare, but none of them bothered to get back at her.

"Tahli, go back to the compound and get some rest, we'll take it from here." Randy said to her. She nodded before muttering her goodbyes and entered the ship, with LARJ behind her. Juge however stayed and turned around to face his mother.

"Mother…"

"What is it Juge?"

"….Have I... disappointed you?" his voice was low.

"The answer to that is something you should know already." Like a stab to his heart her words made him flinch as he hung his head.

"Right, farewell mother."

"Farewell Juge." Without a wave of goodbye, she returned back towards the village. Juge's hair hung low as he nodded to himself and entered the ship. But a warm hand grabbed his attention, he didn't turn to see who it was.

"I've given my contact details to Akashi. I'll keep in contact whenever I can!" Aria said. "I want to help you guys get through this…" Her concern was earnest and almost cute.

"Thanks you Aria… until next time." And with that Juge entered the ship and the doors closed. The ship rose into the air as the sight of Roxford village faded from view, leaving the dead nightmare that claimed their friend behind.

…Many hours later…

---

One hour till Beacon Academy

(Insert Music: DJ Deckstream - Retrospect For Life)

Akashi was on the ships main lobby, lying down on a sofa as he stared at the ceiling, his mind still on replay as he sighed again. He didn't know Maryjane that well, but they fought and had a lot in common, he planned to defeat Maryjane when he got stronger, but that wasn't going to happen now.

"…" It was a similar feeling he had when he was expelled from Beacon, the feeling of being lost and having no idea what to do. What he spoke to Juge about was mainly on pure instinct, but now he had no idea what to do with himself. Grunting he got comfortable and closed his eyes. But the feeling of rest never came, in fact he was more alert and paranoid than he was with his sister.

Then again, this feeling was with the same for his comrades, even worse with Tahli.

For once in his life, his mind failed to provide the answer that could help him cope with this. All it did was make him cry, the feeling of being useless. He gritted his teeth and grasped his sofa like he was trying to break it.

'Well… looks like you finally came to terms with yourself.'

His eyes opened and looked around, no one was near him. Closing his eyes he regulated his breathing to calm himself.

'What, no response?'

"Who is that?" Akashi responded as he slowly sat up. Once again no one spoke back. Akashi mused in anger before slamming his head back into the sofa and closed his eyes. He was relived when the voice didn't speak again. His mind faded into the worlds of dreams.

'I guess, I'll reach him later on'

---

Riza knocked on the door of her captain for the millionth time. "Lucy… Please come out, you haven't had anything since dinner yesterday."

"Go away." Lucy spoke back with a shaky voice "I want to be alone."

"Lucy."

"Please." Lucy said as she sank down the door on the other side. "Riza… I want to be alone."

Gritting her teeth Riza slammed her fist on her door before walking off. Her face and ears were so low, that her hair was covering her face. The girl was also depressed, just like her teammates. But she was used to losing people, so she felt that she had to be strong.

"It's not the first time someone has died in front of my eyes." Her bluish green eyes were distant as she turned another corner.

Riza Inari was in fact a victim of a Grimm attack. Long ago when she was still very little. Her parents had taken her on one of their travels through the land and the carriage was going at a medium pace...

That memory made Riza sick to her stomach, so she shook it off.

And after the incident the rest of the relatives and the branch families... they all tried to get close to her to profit from it. Fighting each other over the fortune and the heritage.

'Mother is not dead!' She bit her lips while thinking of her mother's sleeping face. She was in a coma. With luck or heavenly guidance she survived the attack, but she never woke up. One day her life would fade... or so the rest of the family speculated.

She had to get away from it all, she couldn't bear to listen to their poisonous words, trying to persuade her to give the fortune to them. They only wanted to help her, take the burden off of her. Of course. She had enough of it. So she did the next best thing.

Leave the chaos and attend a hunter academy, where she could relieve her stress and punish the creatures that threw her into this farce in the first place.

It was then she had awoken a bloodlust for killing Grimm and even slowly torturing them, all with a sadistic grin of her face. The teachers had concerns that she would go out of control if this continued, but they kept her enrolled. Her grades were mediocre, but her fighting potential above average. And while her emotions were not always in check, her results in destroying Grimm were the real deal.

The young Inari saw her teammate Juge looking down on the forest as the shipped passed by it. She was still mad at both of the boys for doing what they did to her, but time passed and the anger simmered down.

"Hey." She spoke to him. The young Velmón flinched before looking at her.

"Oh. Hello Riza."

"How are you feeling?"

"Still sore… but better than yesterday. Akashi is worse off." He admitted, but his mind was somewhere else.

"Juge, what's the matter?" Riza tilted her head. "I know it's hard to take-"

"Have you ever let down your parents?" Juge asked suddenly as he turned towards Riza. His eye crossed with curiosity and sadness. "Have you ever done something that made you disappointed in yourself so badly that you can't look at your own reflection?"

"Why are you asking all of a sudden-"

"Please Riza… Just answer me."

Riza paused for a few seconds before turning towards the window. The city of Vale was a small outline that was getting closer. "Honestly no, I may have stumbled a few times here and there, but nothing that could upset my mother or made her think any different of me." She couldn't tell him what happened, or if he already knew, he at least didn't want to bring it up.

"Ever since I started training to become the next heir to the Velmón clan, I have tried countless times to see my mother smile and praise me for my work, but it is just fruitless effort time and time again." Juge clenched his wrapped hand in frustration. "My father gave me advice and encouragement… in his own way."

"That woman in gray… she was your mom right?"

"Yes."

"I see…" Her fox ears twitched in response "She couldn't possibly expect you to kill that Sin by yourself, right?"

"No… if my father needed help killing it, then she must think it was a miracle that I am still alive." Juge said. "But she expected that I'd rather get my comrades out of harms way than to combat that thing. That's why she was disappointed in me. I failed to protect my comrades… I failed to take the right course of action."

"But-"

"No Riza, I know Lucy is our captain, what I am saying is she had the right to decline or accept my choice. We were not ready to fight any of those Grimm. Our leader was wounded from the fight, we all had damage inflicted on us, yet we foolishly went ahead!" Juge's voice was getting louder.

"Juge."

"If we only had the common sense to leave it as is... if we heeded that mercenary's words. Maybe - just maybe - Maryjane would still be alive!"

"….." Riza looked at Juge, his face was covered in sweat.

"We were the reason-"

Riza did something that she thought she would never do to a friend.

She didn't slap him.

She punched him right in the face. The force was still weak, but enough to knock the Velmón down to his ass. He stared in shock as Riza held her fist outward and shook it to regain feeling into it. Her hair was a little wild looking. Juge placed his hand over his swelling left cheek.

"You think I don't know that you moron!?" Riza looked at him with anger and also guilt. It seemed like she was close to tears, but she wasn't past her limit just yet. "You think that when I saw Tahli cry, I couldn't help but to feel responsible for her death!?" She snapped again and she lifted him by his loose shirt. The young man flinched in pain, but Riza wouldn't let it go. "No matter how much I might have wanted to protest going with just us... We kept going. As we saw that Sin, we SHOULD have retreated, but then it was already too late!"

---

Unknown to both of them, a blonde huntress hid behind the corridor wall, eavesdropping on their argument, while a door slowly slid open.

---

"We could have avoided this! We could have waited for back-up!" It was Riza turn to yell as she shook Juge. "But thanks to our inexperience, stupidity and cockiness we lost a great huntress!" Juge was about to speak, but Riza punched him again, this time on the other cheek. "You will listen to what I have to say for once!"

"….."

"You want to know why you're feeling this!?" Riza barked the question. "You feel frustrated, anger, miserable... I know this feeling all too well. At least it wasn't someone dear that you lost Juge." Her grip loosened as she started gasping for air. "You still have family close to you, that care about you, even if they don't always show it."

Her tail was standing up rigid and bushy in anger.

"I don't have anyone to praise or scold me, it's been that way for some time now." Shoving him away she walked past him. "Even that one scolding given to you by your mother, that little disappointment... I wish that it was me in your place."

"All I'm saying is sometimes you have to look deeper into others words, sometimes they put on a mask, because they don't want others to know how they really feel." Riza took a deep breath and rubbed her face.

"We're hunters and huntresses, we all signed up for this, the only thing to do now is..." She shrugged. "Take what you've learned from this and improve yourself or stop altogether." Her long blonde hair swayed behind as she turned and left the young Velmón in a state of pure shock.

"We… signed up for it… death is expected, should we plan poorly." Juge admitted before slowly walking to his room with a puzzled expression. He completely ignored his swollen cheeks. "Even if it's very well planned, nothing can ever completely go according to plan…"

Juge was good at given advice, but it was his turn to given advice. This was the second time... just like what Akashi said yesterday.

Grow from this death and experience.

Or stop being a hunter and shame his family name.

---

….Many years ago...

---

Protelum Academy

(Insert music: Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No. 1)

Maryjane walked towards her next class with her books tucked under her arm, her piercing blue eyes were fixed straight in front of her, ignoring any students that whispered about her when she walked past them, she had no expression but a stoic one. Her next class was Biology, and it was with her best friend since childhood.

As the teen entered the room, the students inside turned silent looking at her, she in turn looked back and nodded at them before looking for a familiar blonde haired girl. It wasn't hard to find her, her dirt-blonde hair was long as always as she looked out the window, it was the usual thing to do.

However… something was off about her and Maryjane knew.

"Tahli." The blue wearing huntress called out to her with caution. In an instant the girl flinched hard, evident by her hair jumping back. She slowly turned to face her, but only showing a part of her face.

"Hey sugar…how ar-"

"What happened?" She was now standing next to her. "What happened to you?"

"Wha-what do you mean, I'm-"

"You're not showing your whole face." She stated "What happened to you? Did someone hurt you?" Her blues eyes were fired up and ready to take on the one who hurt her close friend.

"No…" Her voice started shake as she turned to fully face Maryjane.

It was now time for Maryjane to gasp.

Tahli had a bruise right on her left eye, it was swelling and it looked horrible. Wasting no time, the blue haired teen grabbed her by the hand and dragged her all the way to the rooftops, their usual hangout. Surprisingly Tahli had yet to resist, but for all Maryjane knew, Tahli needed her more than ever.

Spinning her around Maryjane placed her hand on her shoulders. "Tahli. Who did this to you?" her voice was calm but had a breath of 'I will kill this person the second you utter his or her name' in it.

"…." Tears were coming out of her eyes as she lowered her head and closed the space between them, using Maryjane's shoulders she sobbed quietly. The short-haired girl was rubbing her head softly. "P-p-papa… came home drunk… he started ranting about crazy things again... about 'The ancient Grimm and our Sins'. His friends laughed and called him a drunkard. He was made fun off… and he took his anger out on me."

Maryjane's blood boiled. She knew that Mr. Heartbell had problems with alcohol, but never once (according to her parents) was abusive to his only daughter. It started when he found out that his wife left him and their daughter for another man. A rich one at that. Since then he rebuild his resolve to keep Tahli happy, no matter the cost.

"I begged him to stop, but he was so angry and embarrassed... I could see it in his eyes." She cried. "I begged him... again and again to stop, but he didn't... later he left me alone in the house… I haven't seen him since."

"Shhh..." Maryjane rubbed her friend's back trying to calm her down. "I'm sure deep down he didn't mean it."

This only made Tahli cry more, clinging on to her like a lifeline that was fading. Seeing her cry made Mary angrier. Even though with a loving family and younger sisters and a brother, she didn't know the struggles of being an only child, having no one to talk to about problems, especially when your father is trying his best to support you. She could only comfort her, and because of that, she saw Tahli as another sister.

Minutes ticked by as her crying turned into small quivers and she laid her head on her chest, the blue haired girl just kept stroking her hair while watching the clouds go by.

"Miss. Heartbell? Miss. Hart?" The the girls looked up to see the headmaster of the school walking towards them with a saddened look on his face. "Please come with me, I have rather… disturbing news for you."

---

On that day the two had to grow closer to keep going.

---

(Insert music: Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0 OST - Champion's Robe)

Bullhead Airship - Main lobby

A small tap on her door made Lucy snap out from her depressed state, with shaky breath she looked at the door "Riza please-"

"It's not Fluffy Lucy." Her eyes widened as she recognized that voice. "I've got Tahli here, you mind opening the door?"

"I…"

"Honey muffin, I know you're hurting, we all are. Please just let us in." The voice of Megumi spoke behind the door. Lucy stood up for a moment before shuffling towards the door, she pressed a button as the door slid open. She flinched from the sunlight that hit her face so she shielded it with her hands.

"Thanks Lucy." Akashi smiled before moving slowly into the room "Pardon the intrusion…" Tahli moved in after him and looked around.

"How long have you been hiding in the darkness now sweetpea?" she asked quietly. Lucy only hung her head and gave no answer, all she needed was to move towards her bed and drape the blankets over her body, acting like some sort of ghost. The two hunters sighed before moving to her side.

"Come on cap, this is heavy on all of us, you can't be blamed for what happened to Maryjane." Akashi tried to speak to her.

"I was so close to touching her... to pull her out of there..." She whispered to her partner. "Tahli wouldn't be sad… I fail as a-"

"Don't you ever say you're a failure Missy." Tahli suddenly grabbed her and pulled her close to her. "You did all you could to help her, that alone makes me relieved. You tried to avenge her death… but sometimes it isn't possible, we weren't ready to face it."

"But-"

"Not buts." She whispered into her blanket covered ear "You are first years students, you rose above and beyond expectations. If you had left us before the shrine, I would have been disappointed in you guys, but you sticked with us, even when we told you to go. That alone makes me feel happy." She smiled as she gently lifted the cover over the girl "Lucy, you need to know that life isn't about the warrior slaying the beast every single time, sometimes sacrifices are made so that others can live on."

The water works of Tahli started working again, she looked down but still had a smile on her lips. "When... when she was entangled and was drawn into that thing's mouth, I saw her looking at all of you. Despite her being in danger… she was worried about you guys, she saw something in all of you that I couldn't see."

"Tahli?" Lucy and Akashi spoke in unison.

"I think I know now. Hope, courage and most importantly the will to never give up." She looked at the two students of Beacon. "When I was young, I was pushed around a lot. I didn't have enough confidence to stand on my own two feet, it was by pure chance that I met Maryjane, but it was my downfall that I would get my strength and will from her. Just seeing her stand up to all impossible odds and still come out on top. I admired her and wanted to be just like her."

"Then?" Akashi pieced it together. "You… never believed in your own strength… you secretly had relied on Mary who believed in you."

"It's sad… but that's how I got here. With her… my soul sister." She gripped her coat tightly. "How am I going to tell Mr. and Miss Hart? Emma and Mia… oh god… those two… and Leaf…" She rubbed her forehead with a pained expression. "How am I supposed to tell them that their daughter is dead...?"

"I'll come with you Tahli… I know it won't mean much to them… but I would like to give them my deepest apology. As much as you want to tell them it's your fault, we are actually all in it."

"This guilt won't leave us, we all had something we could do better." Lucy finally took off her sheet and looked at them both. The stared back in shock.

Lucy wasn't wearing her square contacts that gave her the general dull eyed look.

"Cap-" Akashi Muttered "Your eyes… they're-"

"Please Akky, don't talk about them." Lucy shook her head. "I'll tell you about them when I'm ready." She stood up and rubbed her eyes. "Ozzy made me team leader, what I say goes, as long as the team agrees with it." She turned to them with puffy eyes and wet tear marks on her face. "We'll go together and tell them, you don't have to be alone to tell them Tahli."

The veteran huntress facial expression changed from bafflement to relief. "Thanks hun, I would like to take you up on that offer."

Lucy felt her chest get warmer as she smile for the first time since the incident. "This pain won't go away, but we know what these sins are capable of, next time we'll be ready!"

"Yeah." Akashi smirked as he balled his hand into a fist. "I swear on my last breath that I will become better with Black Eclipse. I tried to rush getting good with it, but using Gravity was plain cheating!"

"Hehe…I though I was the only one thinking that." Tahli giggled through her loosening expression.

(Insert music: DJ Deckstream - Can You Let Me Know)

"Hey I thought I would be back up!" Akashi pouted. "I ended up using a mini-gun, I'm pretty sure my arms are useless for the moment."

"Hmm~" Tahli leaned over and punched him in the arm "Didn't you feel that?"

"Nope~" Akashi smiled before turning into a frown. "That's a bad thing right?"

"Yep~" the happy voice of Lucy returned to her. "Akky's arms have to be amputated~!"

"Don't say that, I don't want my arms ripped off of me!" He tried moving his arms. "I just knocked on the door before!" He gritted his teeth and tried to move them.

"This is not good~"

Both Lucy and Tahli started laughing as they watched Akashi attempt to move arms.

"As long as you never lose your way and keep moving forward... I don't need to be sad. It's not what she would want." Tahli nodded. "It's going to be a long journey for the both of us, isn't it?" She remembered Jane's last words. She asked her not to change who she was.

'Sorry Jane. I can't stay my weak self. But I will try to stay cheerful for you.'

"We all need to get better." Akashi agreed with her. "I've got someone in mind who can help me out with arrow shooting, but hand to hand combat is something I need advanced training in." He pondered. "Yang is a no go… I'd like to use my new skills rather than die in practice."

"You leave that to me muffin, just focus on getting your body healed up okay?" Tahli winked at him. "You don't want Aria coming after you."

"Wait... what did she do?"

"She suplexed Martin 16 times when he scared her with an old trophy of his... a still intact Beowulf head in formaldehyde." The dirt-blonde huntress shook her head. "Even Mary struggles with 12 suplexes at a continuous rate!"

Both Lucy and Akashi sweat dropped at that. "She really is a monster…"

However Lucy looked happy, far better then what she was like half an hour ago. "Akky let's get stronger!"

"That's my line Lucy!" Akashi grinned at her. "I'm going to be the best at Beacon!" Though he had his doubts if he could become stronger than Aria anytime soon.

"That's not possible Mayhiro." Akashi flinched at Juge's words, who was standing at the door "That title belongs to me."

"Good grief!" Tahli sighed. "You two have Maryjane's legacy to chase after, she was declared best huntress at our academy. I wonder who is the best at beacon right now?"

"I am!" Juge and Akashi said at the same time before looking at each other. Spark were flying as they butted heads, like two male stags going at it.

"You go home and learn to fire an oven before you use that weak flame technique again!"

"Care to repeat that Mr. 'I'm going to smash it!'? Looks like you got smashed instead!"

"WILL YOU TWO GIVE IT BREAK!?" A golden shimmering figure jumped into the air before roundhouse kicking both the boys into the floor. "Seriously, I give Juge a piece of my mind and the next second he goes butting heads with the airhead again!"

"Who are you calling an airhead!?"

"Riza~" Lucy rushed over and hugged her instantly, the girl stiffened and relaxed the next moment before wrapping her arms around Lucy too.

"Idiot, next time something happens, don't shut yourself in, we are all here to-" Riza looked down at Juge. He was holding up a familiar scroll with animal drawings on them.

"Bear the Burden." He said with a smile.

She kicked him.

---

(Insert music: Pier to Nowhere (dark, eerie ambient music) - Charlie Spring)

Somewhere in Vale, deep underground

"Goodness…" Glynda's voice shook in horror. The Sin's eyes seemed to be boring into her green ones, even though it was dead. It seemed it was trying to probe into her mind, she stepped back before feeling something hard yet soft behind her.

It wasn't like Glynda Goodwitch to scream in horror, but in this case it was very much an exception, so she at least yelped a little. Jumping out of her skin she readied her crop to fire at anyone or thing that made into contact with her.

"Settle down lass, it's just good old me." Valkin raised his hand in defense before she had the chance to blow him away. "Not a pretty sight I'll admit." He was talking about the Grimm of course. At least Glynda hoped he did.

"Don't you ever do that again!" She hissed with her crop pointed at him before walking a small distance away.

The underground base was 100 feet under the city of Vale. No one knew about it, except for a small selected group. It's usually used for last resort should there be ever a Grimm attack and humans are pushed back, sort of like a emergency shelter. It had plenty of air and was constantly ventilated to prevent any type of suffocation. It's enough to store over 10,000 humans.

However, it housed one Cardinal Sin's corpse now and that was taking up almost the whole floor.

The scientist and researchers had construction scaffolding around the beast as they dug into the skin to take part of it out, the severed head was only a few meters away from it, and for unknown reason, the vines started to go back to it's body as if they wanted to return to their master.

To prevent that, there was a thick steel wall placed between it, not to stop it, but to prolong it.

And right in front of the beast's head were none other than Valkin and Goodwitch, both stumped by the size and the pressure it was giving, despite being dead.

"So this is the corporal manifestation of the legends of the Sins." Valkin looked with surprise as he assessed the Grimm. "Hard to believe that it's right in front of my eyes."

"Yes." The glasses wearing professor was lost for words. "This... thing defies belief. Could six more of these even be stopped? It seems hopeless."

"Not necessarily Glynda." The two knew whose voice it was. Travis walked down from the Sin's head as he jumped in front of them, his lone eye looking at them both. "Without the information on how to deal with these abominations, it will be quite tough for mankind, however I would very much not like that to happen."

"Then what are you getting at?" Goodwitch asked with suspicion in her voice.

Travis looked away, taking a deep breath before looking back at her. "Ozpin and Ironwood have given both their approvals and clearance to form 'Z.E.P.H.Y.R', this team alone will be specialized in dealing and eradicating all Cardinal Sins, when they show up, word cannot get out that they exist."

(Change Music: Kuroko No Basket 2 [CD1] – [03] Hyuga and Kiyoshi)

"Tell me something I don't know, boy." Valkin spat out. "What I want to hear is what team you intend to force into such a suicidal mission?"

"Be assured that it will be the elites of the elites." Travis nodded in acknowledgment of Valkin's glare. "But bot the headmasters of Beacon and Atlas have decided to go a bit more… extreme with this than I'd hoped." He rubbed his neck and his face said 'What a pain.'

"Travis." Goodwitch took a step towards the former heir. "What are you talking about?"

"…Ozpin and Ironwood are currently selecting students from both schools to participate in an extremely vigorous training camp. Those who fail will continue their regular schooling, but those who show promise… will be under 'Z.E.P.H.Y.R.'s command and will be trained to run with the best hunters and huntresses of Remnant."

"Spirits..." Valkin looked like a old walrus flung out of the sea. "Travis are you-"

"No, but we need to have hunters that can combat these types of Grimm. There is currently nobody who knows how to deal with them. If this one could control everyone with just a fragment of its power, just think what it'll be like if it accumulated power from all over the world."

---

Far away from any civilization, a lone cottage standing upon a hill overlooks an endless forest of black and yellow leaves. Sitting next to that cottage was a young man in his early 30's. As he ate a steaming pot pie just near his window sill.

With spiky and shaggy black hair his brown eyes are fixed at the Nevermore that are flying back followed by a rather large Razertooth Grimm by a cliff looking down at the forest. Nodding to himself he finished his pie slice and stood up, dusting the crumbs off his nearly shredded yellow and white jacket and his black and yellow pants. Fishing something out of his pants he grabbed a crumpled envelope with the words ''Z.E.P.H.Y.R.' and a Falcon with its wings outstretched, holding lightning bolts in both feet, on it.

---

"Glynda, Valkin. We need to gather the world's best hunters and huntresses in order to keep the peace of this world." Travis walked away from them with his hands in his pockets.

"Then why do these kids need to be involved, they're still wet behind the ears damn it!" The old man shouted. "Why do they need to be dragged into such madness!?"

---

In Mistral's top Academy, a blonde haired woman looked at herself in the mirror; her lightning blue eyes are enough to make anyone bow before her. The golden armor that glittered in the sunlight reflection all over the room, but she payed no attention to it, as she brushed her golden hair. Her eyes slowly traveled towards a picture that was standing in the corner of her mirror, it too showed a woman in similar fashion and likeness to herself. Gently she took the photo and looked at it, before furrowing her eyebrow and turning the picture over.

"I swear... I will become better than her." She snarled before grabbing her sword and walking out of her room.

---

"Young huntresses and hunters are easier to shape. Old fools like us are not able to adapt to everything anymore. It's better to train them now before it's too late, we don't know when the next Sin will appear. A... source of mine told me the next one might appear in Vacuo."

"This is unacceptable!" Glynda retorted. "Since when did you think that children - mere kids- can take on one of these things!?" She pointed at the decapitated giant head.

"...LARJ." Travis said after a moment before looking back at her. "They survived." Seeing the expression change to 'go on' Travis smirked. "For any other team, they would end up like Ms. Hart did. It was through both stupid and courageous acts that they were able to make it out alive."

"And based on that alone..." Glynda spoke in a deathly tone. "You're planning to recruit children... you wouldn't..."

"Indeed, team LARJ was the first group to be considered for recruitment into 'Z.E.P.H.Y.R'." Travis avoided her eyes.

"Leave them alone, they already suffered enough." Goodwitch walked towards him. "You can have any team of trained hunters, but not them." She whispered with much hostility in her voice. "Leave our students out of this."

"Then take it up with your headmaster Goodwitch, he was the one to approve of this." Travis shook his head and walked away, as a scientist in the distance called him over. "Do what you have to do and go, it's nearly evening by the looks of it, they will be on their way back." His expression was solemn and it seemed like he was holding back another comment. Despite his carefree posture and way of talking he was still hard to read.

With nothing else to say, Travis Velmón left the two Beacon employees behind, the dead eyes of the Grimm still looking at them.

---

Bullhead ship, 890m above vale city airfield

"Riza, that hurts you know!" Akashi yelled. The fox faunus helped him put on some new clothes. Something to cover the extensive use of wrappings and patches all over his body. Surprisingly Riza had helped him without refusing, as Lucy was helping Juge get his gear ready, Tahli had walked off alone to get in contact with Maryjane's family. Before they headed off to the Academy Julia had told them to go to them first, they would break the news to her family.

"Be quiet, are you a man or a man-child!" The girl told off her comrade as she went on her tip toes to place the orange and black t-shirt on him. "Seriously, this is pissing me off, sit down at least!"

"I wouldn't be standing if my whole body wasn't on fire, fluffy!"

"Don't. Call. Me. Fluffy!" finally getting the shirt on him, Riza smacked him over the head, causing him to whine painfully and clutch his head. "Get your stuff ready and meet everyone as the bay, even with crutches you should still be able to walk with changing your weight and all that." With a quick glance she left the room, leaving the young and battered Mayhiro to himself.

'Finally that damn woman is out of our hair'

"Again with that voice.." The boy growled and he tapped his head a couple of times. "Seriously this isn't going to be pretty during our psyche." Grabbing his bag off his bed he hopped over to his crutches.

'I know right? Shame that it's only happening to you Akky.'

"Okay, this is enough" Akashi shouted as he exited his room for the final time "Who are you, and what do you want? This isn't my own thoughts!"

'Finally, the genius realizes it, a pleasure might I add.'

"Who are you?" He whispered.

'That's something I though you could help me out with. Who am I?'

"Huh?"

'You heard me, who am I? I just woke up and all I'm seeing is pure darkness, a few ray of light here and there, but that's all.'

"That would be my mind, but isn't it supposed to be pink and- wait! This isn't time for that!" Akashi muttered to himself as he kept moving along slowly. "That doesn't explain how you're not my consciousness!"

"Consciousness? What's that?"

"…." Akashi facepalmed himself " I don't have time for this!"

"Well? Aren't you going to introduce yourself? You're pretty rude for a guy."

"Guy?! Wait, aren't you?!"

'No! Can't you tell!? I'm a girl!'

The same voice that Akashi had was now a feminine voice.

'I'm not talking to you anymore, jerk!'

"…" Akashi kept silent while walking. All the way back to his team. "This is way too much." If he had a split personality now, couldn't it at least be male?

---

Bullhead, Launch hall

(Insert music: Half Life - by Trocadero)

All of LARJ and Tahli were stationed at the same place when they first went to their first mission, this time was to confront that family of someone who was missing from this scene.

"Everyone got their gear?" The blonde huntress addressed her younger comrades. LARJ nodded with little movement as the doors opened up on them, they were greeted by familiar and comforting sounds of people directing traffic and going about their everyday business. Everyone felt some of the weight lift from their shoulders, they were home.

But all of them wished it could been on better terms.

"We're all thinking the same~" Lucy turned to her team. "But we can't lose focus now. Mary's family needs to know. So hold back your tears for their sake too."

"It's only been a day, so it's not easy to get it together already... but there will be more time to grief after we are done here." Juge admitted. "Either way the leader is right, crying over something that's already done can't last forever. We will honor Maryjane's death from here on out and stay strong."

"Right." Akashi re-adjusted himself on his stilts. "So where to now?"

The group looked around as they saw everyone moving around them. Riza shook her head and started walking, the rest followed her towards the building.

"Riza~" Lucy walked beside her friend.

"Yes?"

"Please train with me?" Lucy looked at her with confidence in her eyes. "I don't want to feel useless if we ever go against something like that again."

"…You're not the only one who feels like that Lucy. I'd be happy to train with you. For real this time." The faunus nodded with a smile. Until now Lucy never took sparring seriously at all, so it was a good change. The two looked back at the hunters behind them. "What about you guys?"

"I'll be heading home, I need answers from my father. There's a technique I must master, and he's the only one that knows how to do it." Juge answered honestly. "I'll be leaving Beacon during the break."

"I see…" Lucy frowned but gave a smile. "Will you come back soon?"

"You have my word leader."

"Akky~"

"I want to improve my own style of hand to hand combat. Then I might have to ask someone how to use a bow correctly." Akashi pondered. "Pyrrha will be too busy with Jaune, I guess."

"What about Ms. Megumi?" Juge turned to the veteran huntress, who only smiled and shook her head.

"Sorry, sugar plum I would be happy to make you my pupil, but I don't think I can help you much with a bow. It's quite different from a rifle. Also I need to gather myself a little and rethink my life up to now." She crossed her arms. "You could consider this my mandatory vacation."

"You mean?" Lucy asked with sadness.

"Yes honey, after this I'll be hanging up my rifle for a while, I would like to think about my choices before anything else."

"That's understandable Ms. Megumi." Juge said. "We can't simply move on, but in your case... It must be even harder."

"Yes." Megumi spoke. The group continued walking towards an unknown welcome.

---

Many year ago, Hart Family household

Tahli sat in the guest room, looking at the ground for the past five hours, it was hard on her. It was hard on everyone.

Her father had committed suicide.

The blonde headed girl had no family left around her, the only place that felt like a second home was her best friend's house... where she was treated like a daughter.

A soft tap on the door brought her attention. "Hello dear… how are you feeling?"

"Ms. Hart…" Her voice broke as she lowered her head again. "Daddy... is…"

"Come here." Like any mother would, Lorinna Hart hugged the girl in order to comfort her. But she couldn't stop the pained voice coming from the younger girl. All that she could do was pat her back and hope that she would tire herself out.

---

The Hart siblings Maryjane, Mia, Emma and Leaf all had their heads pointed at the noise coming from upstairs.

"It's so sad… Poor Tahli dad…" Mia wiped a tear from her right eye. "Why on earth would he do such a thing?"

"We're all thinking the same thing Mi." Leaf spoke up "But I can't figure out the words nor the common sense to solve this one."

"What's going to happen to Tah-tah?" Emma spoke in a quite voice. "She's not even an adult yet." Even the usually cheerful sibling had a depressed face.

"…She is a part of the family. She always has been before you guys were even born. Mom and dad think of her like a daughter, it won't be a surprise if they decide to let her live here from now on." Maryjane took a scoop of mint ice cream. Coping with stress equaled stuffing herself with ice-cream most of the time.

"Really?!" Mia jumped up. "That would be wonderful!"

"…" Emma kept quiet and played with her blue teddy bear as she quietly put her hoodie back on.

"I would like to have Tahli as an older sister, that way I can beat her and prove I'm stronger now! And that makes me the strongest Hart as well then." Leaf smirked as he puffed out his chest, the sisters were rolling their eyes. Leaf had this strange obsession over beating Tahli in a fight, but until now with rather sad results.

..Later on that night...

Lorinna and Jacob Hart sat at the dinner table late at night, everyone else had gone to bed ready to start the new day. However there were important matters to discuss about a certain girl.

"You want to do what?" Jacob tilted his head

"Yes Jacob, I want adopt Tahli. You and I already now that she is as much a part of this family as all of our kids."

"I get were you are coming from honey…" Jacob sighed before giving a small smile. "Even if I disagreed, you would still find a way to get her to live here anyway, right?"

His wife only gave a sly grin. Jacob nodded. "Alright, we'll ask her and I'll set up the adoption papers… she doesn't need to be with her mother."

"…It was hard on her too. I can see why she left. But the fact that she cut all ties with her daughter too..." Lorinna frowned "Now that her father is dead… it's going to be a long recovery."

"Speaking of which, Tahli said she wanted to get rid of her last name. It would be too much for her to speak it out loud at this point."

"She doesn't want to be called Heartbell? And I suppose Hart would feel weird after she has used it for others so long." Ms. Hart tilted her head. "If that's her choice…Then she might want to have my maiden and Mary's middle name: Megumi."

"That sound like a plan." Jacob nodded.

---

Hart residence, Present - Front yard

LARJ and Tahli stood in front of the house that both huntresses used to live in while attending Academy. The psyche test was nothing more than questions and a few exercises. Everyone felt they passed easily. However the results would prove otherwise.

"So this is Mary's home~" Lucy talked small, the older blonde nodded stiffly.

"Randy and Martin already told the news per call, but I need to be here… for them." She admitted before taking a shaky breath. "Come on, they're expecting me, but they won't expect you."

No one said anything as they followed Megumi towards the door. She raised her hand, but then she paused... before knocking on the door twice.

Instantly to door opened to reveal a woman in her 40's wearing a cream colored turtle-neck sweater and jeans, her blue-green eyes were bloodshot. Evident with a rag she was holding, there must have been a lot of crying already. Her dark blue hair was long but contracted into a pipe like ponytail. Her eye widened before falling into softness.

"Oh darling…" Wrapping Tahli in a hug she sobbed into her shoulders, which made Tahli stiffen up a little before she hugged her back.

"Lorinna… I'm so sorry... I couldn't-"

"You did everything you could to save her, I just know it. A mother's instinct is never wrong about these things. You were with her in her final moments... that alone calms the pain in my chest already." She gave a teary smile.

However the blonde shook her head and stepped back. "Maryjane did everything in her power to stay alive, despite the efforts of me and my comrades… we still…" Tahli's eyes seemed lost. Her willpower from before was wavering in front of Maryjane's mother... the person she could call her own mother as well.

"Come on in… it's about to rain, all of you come in." Ms. Hart scanned over team LARJ before moving out of the way for Akashi and Juge, who nodded with a thanks as they entered followed by the girls. Soon after the thunder rumbled in the gray skies as the rain poured onto Vale.

---

(Insert: Set ambeant: Rolling Thunder and Rain Striking Window)

It was stuffed inside the living room, warmed by the crackling fire the large group was comfortably seated.

"Ouch!" Akashi moaned as he rubbed his back.

"Ghh! ...no matter." Juge whispered between his teeth silently trying to find a better seating position.

Well….almost everyone.

Team LARJ and Tahli were on the right hand side of the living room, while on the left the members of the Hart Family took position, expect for Jacob Hart.

As Lorinna sat on the couch arms rested, the rest looked at them with eyes asking what happened. Neither Tahli nor LARJ could meet their drilling gazes.

"This..." Riza mumbled.

"...is beyond..." Juge minded.

"...the tension I was..." Akashi muttered.

"...expecting~" Lucy closed her eyes.

The mother of Maryjane could feel her children's eyes boring into the team before them either with pity, sadness or anger. Coughing into her hand she gained everyone's attention. "Now... why don't we introduce ourselves first?"

The girl closest to her had turquoise hair and eyes, with a tinge of green in them, in a similar fashion to Kirk only more feminine, her hair was tied in twin-tails on the side of her head which were tied by two pink ribbons, like Lucy she had pink headphones hanging around her neck. Her clothes were a formal uniform with her tie loose around her neck. Her gray skirt was presentable, however it did not match the expression she was giving, her eyes were scanning LARJ and then a quick glance at the young Mayhiro, before looking at Juge.

"This is my youngest daughter, Mia Hart." She gave a smile, Mia quickly nodded before looking away. "She's really shy with new people."

The girl next to Mia was another girl with midnight blue hair, exactly the same as Maryjane's, her face was framed by two bangs that were tied at the end by a green bow, the rest of her hair fell towards her shoulders. Her eyes matched her hair, but unlike Mia her eyes were filled with hatred and disappointment.

She wore a frilly purple dress that showed a small amount of skin in various areas and wore white elbow length gloves.

"This is my second eldest daughter, Emma Hart, she's training to be a huntress for a long time now." Miss Hart spoke with pride to help lift the dampening mood.

Which didn't really help. Emma looked like she was ready to cry and at the same time kill the people in front of her, just like her mother and little sister, she too had been crying obviously. One could see that she was trying her hardest not to cry when her lower lip started shaking. So she was forcing herself not to cry by glaring at the strangers.

Lastly the man beside her had aqua blue hair. He was wearing a light blue jacket with orange highlights, it was the same color as his long track pants, but his expression was unlike anyone's, it was full of sympathy.

"I'm Leaf Hart, I wish we coulda met on different terms." He gave a small smile. Juge nodded as well.

"I wish so too."

"Why?" Emma burst out. "How come you got to live and my sister had to die for this team of nobodies!?"

"Emma-"

"No Tahli!" She shut her up. "I knew something was wrong, and it was true! My sister died trying to save this trash of a team!"

"Emma!" Tahli growled "I'm not going to let you bad mouth my friends while I'm here!"

"Is that so?" She stood up. "Once Mary had died you congenitally moved on to another group of people immediately." Her facial expression was painful.

"Let's get one thing straight here, they are not nobodies. They are an exceptional team of hunters and huntresses from Beacon and they took on something that nobody could believe would have ex-" The reddish eyes widened before looking away. "I've said too much already."

"What?" The dark blue Hart said in a menacing tone. "You mean these so called 'Cardinal Sins' which you managed to pollute my sister's mind with?"

"…"

"Answer me Tahli." Emma took a step towards her.

"Em, that's enough. I know you loved Mary more than anyone else, but you doing this is depressing for everyone." Leaf took Emma's wrist to stop her. "Knowing how badly wounded they are they must have been fighting until they used up their last drop of energy, honestly I can feel almost no aura coming from them, hence why they aren't healing fast."

'This guy knows his stuff.' Riza thought to herself. 'He doesn't even know us, yet he was able to analyze that just by a glance.' Maybe he was training to be a hunter as well?

"It just means they are weak!" Emma shot back. "Who put them up to this mission!?"

"The headmaster of Beacon Academy. Professor Ozpin." Lucy spoke up, her voice was focused and in tone. " My name is Lucy Stripes, the leader of the first years team known as LARJ." She took a deep breath before walking towards the angered teen. "I'm sorry - on behalf of LARJ - for you and your family's loss, we didn't have the power to deal with this mission appropriately."

"Charming." Emma said in a sarcastic tone. "You said Ozpin gave you this mission, I guess that old man is losing his mind."

"Emma!" Lorinna scolded her "That is unacceptable!"

"Whatever!" Shaking her head she stormed upstairs in a hurry. "I'm done here."

"Emma!" But the sound of a door slamming shut was the response she got, sighing to herself Miss. Hart shook her head and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry about that everyone, Emma looked up to Maryjane as a sister and Idol. Knowing that her older sister died really took a toll on her, she flew all the way back from Vacuo, Leaf too came from Mistral and Mia here was the first one to arrive back home from Atlas."

"Wait, you guys are all hunters/resses?" Akashi's ears perked up. " Emma of Vacuo, Leaf of Mistral, Mia of Atlas and… the late Maryjane of Vale."

"This guys gets it." Leaf chuckled "Different from our parents, we wanted to become warriors that can defeat Grimm to make this world a better place, where no one loses their loved ones." His smile turned downwards. "I guess these unexpected things can happen at anytime. MJ was the strongest of us. It just seemed like she would always walk ahead of us."

"I'm sorry… we couldn't save your sister." Juge apologized again. "But if you are wondering why we aren't sad-"

"She wouldn't want you to mop around, if she could see us, she would beat the living lights out of everyone and tell us to move on." Leaf winked at him. "Don't you agree?"

"She would, that's why we decided to get stronger to honor her life rather than regret her end." Juge stood up along with Lucy. "I'm not the type to go back on my word."

"That goes for me to. To find peace for faunus and humans too." Akashi stood up, ignoring the pain and stood with his team. "I'll… I'll prove that I'm worthy to become Beacon's best student!"

"Isn't there a best student already?" Riza smirked

"There probably is someone who already has claimed that title in Beacon, I guess all I have to do take the title away from him… or her." Akashi sighed. "It's isn't going to be easy."

"Who said it was? It would be boring if you could just obtain your goal like that." Riza punched him in the shoulder before standing next to Lucy. "We all have reasons to become stronger, Maryjane has given us the drive to do that."

"Oh man…" Leaf shook his head with satisfaction. "You're more pumped than my team! It'll be fun fighting you in the Vytal festival."

"You mean...?" Tahli spoke.

"Yep, everyone one of us is competing." Leaf smiled "You'll have your hands full if your facing any one of us, Mia here is a 'sleeping talent' type of huntress."

The quite girl made a breathless squeal and looked the other way, which everyone thought was cute.

"This year is going to be the best, plenty of rivals to fight and only one spot for the best!" Akashi grinned. "I want to start training now!"

"After your wounds have healed!" Riza punched him in the solar plexus. Making everyone laugh. Except for the unfortunate Mayhiro who's eyes turned white.

"Not... helping...!"

Lorinna sighed in relief as she watched her children gain their color back. The path to healing had start for all of them, they would move on and grow with every step. Even Emma would come to that conclusion someday.

"Come on then, I'm not letting you go with that heavy rain. I'll fix some dinner for all of you." She said as he put her reliable face on. "You guys are guests here, make yourself at home."

The group nodded as they continued talking about Maryjane and other various things, soon the atmosphere turned more comfy. Once dinner came Emma joined them again, but she kept to herself and Mia.

They all spent time with each other until they were too tired to speak or move.

After that they saved each others contacts to stay in touch.

---

The next day.

Tahli had decided to part ways with LARJ as they headed back to Beacon, the woman hugged the life out of all of them, promising to keep in contact with them every day, to which Riza rolled her eyes and told her to not overdo it. The woman decided to stay with the Harts until she was ready to pick up her rife and fight again. Leaf and Mia, happy with new found friends, waved after them as they headed back to Beacon via a cable train. They too wanted to keep in contact with LARJ.

---

(Insert Music: Calvin Harris - Outside [Audio] ft. Ellie Goulding)

Beacon Academy - Landing zone

"Well… we're home." Riza walked slowly towards the building in front of them. "What now?"

"We will train ourselves to the bone." Juge answered. "I got in contact with my family's butler last night. He has arranged an airship to take me home to train, mother and father will be expecting me." The Velmón nodded with his answer.

"Right now I won't get mad at you for that, but just you wait..." Riza looked at him. "Don't think you will leave me in the dust, when you get back you can expect a challenge from me!"

Her partner's eyes widened before returning to a confident look. "Sure, I'd like that Riza."

"You better remember it, otherwise you're in for a world of pain!"

Akashi wobbled behind his team, his eye fixed onto the ground.

'What about us? What are you going to do?'

"I'm going to my mom, she knows someone who can help me, apparently he was a great mentor for sis- wait I thought you weren't talking to me anymore?!"

'Changed my mind~'

"Is that so…" Akashi mused as he looked at his team. "I promised to be the foundation that LARJ stands on, so I won't be as easy to crack the next time they see me." He grinned. "A Mayhiro never goes back on his word!"

"I have no intention of going home anytime soon so... Lucy and I are going to stay here then." Riza smiled. "We are going to train until-"

"Granny is coming~" Lucy cut in. "I told Granny to train me, I asked if she'll train you too Riza~"

"What?" Riza tilted her head. "When did this happen!?"

"Last night~"

"So that mean were are all splitting up for the holidays." Breathing out Riza shook her head. "Who knew in one semester so much would happen in such little time."

"I hear you Fluffy." Akashi finally got the strength to catch up to them "I mean, a mission, the Sins and now this. If our life was a book this would probably be the time-skip?"

"You read books?" Juge questioned him. "All I've seen you do is slobber on them like a dog."

"I know, but I do like interesting book once in a while. I'm reading in my a book about Fairies and a Criminal Mastermind."

"That… does sound interesting."

"Oh really?"

"There are also trolls and dwarfs involved."

"You lost me."

"Wait…what about our friends?" Akashi suddenly jerked back.

"They will probably pull our arms until we tell them every bit of what happened." Riza pursed her lips. "Can't we keep this whole thing to ourselves?"

"But we should at least meet and say goodbye~" Lucy said.

"…Nah." Akashi shook his head. "I don't want Jasna and Weiss having a go at me."

"I second that. Yang would not let this die." Juge shivered.

"Blake too… not to mention Ms. Utage." Riza had her own share of prying friends.

"Wah~" Lucy laughed out loud before smiling. "Then we leave a note after we talked to Ozpin~?"

"Talk to the headmaster... why?"

"Because, Ms. Inari, I am right behind you." The 3 jumped away in surprise as they turned around seeing Ozpin in front of them. "Welcome back team LARJ." His small glasses were slightly lower as he gave them a amused look.

"It's good to be back~" Lucy sang. Ozpin nodded.

"I've notice that despite the loss of one of your comrades, you still seem to have hope in you. My only guess is that you found some resolve from it." Nodding to himself he took a sip of coffee. "It seem you wish to leave Beacon for the semester break, is that correct?"

"Yes headmaster." The team answered.

"Then… So be it. I will tell the others that you have done an exceptional job with the first mission. There is also the matter of another mission alongside a team of Mistral. Once all first years begin their missions, you might want to take the job. It would be delightful if you showed me your improvements soon."

The group nodded.

"On another note, Valkin would like to talk to you once you've returned and there is also the matter of your assignments for the holidays…"

"Aw man…" Akashi frowned.

"I will send you them by scroll, see that is completed and returned on the first day of the new semester, you will be reprimanded should you not hand them in."

The team's shoulders sagged as Ozpin chuckled. "Most teams are still in class, if would like to avoid them, now is the time to gather your things and be on your way, I will notify them of your 'situation'. Though I predict that they will not be happy with it, similar to the time Mr. Mayhiro disappeared." He raised a brow.

Team LARJ looked guilty, but they had made up their minds.

The headmaster turned around before looking at the sky "Do you remember when I said that it is up to you to take the first step?" He smiled. "What I saw before was wasted energy, but now I see a team with drive, motivation and strengthened bonds that can brave the darkest of despair." He looked at them. "Take care everyone, and good luck on your training."

The team watched Ozpin walked back to his clock tower, leaving them to themselves.

"Well… let's move on." Lucy smiled, her team following behind her.

---

The team quickly (despite a certain Mayhiro's protest) ran back to their dorms, getting their gear together and left a long letter to their friends, before moving back out with new clothes and gear. This time they were not vague about it. Hopefully the others would understand.

---

"Well… this is it… for now." Juge smiled as he saw a smaller red bullhead in the air. "Until next time guys."

"Hmm." Riza nodded "You owe me a match now!"

"Right, right!" Juge laughed as he watched the ship lower down the landing bay, stepping onto it he waved them goodbye. "I'll see you guys soon!"

"Take care!" The 3 shouted before seeing the red ship became nothing more then a red blimp.

"I'm making my way back to Okki village now, don't be surprised if you can't recognize me next time!" Akashi winked at them.

Before anything was said the sound of Beacon radio being online hit their ears.

"You are listening to Beacon radio everyone!" Holly Cruz' voice vibrated through the speakers. Akashi's eyes perked up. "Welcome to the first day of the semester break or for the layman: Holidays! There are bound to be people who have plans already, just make sure to stay safe for everyone!" She giggled lightly "As for me… I got my own share of fun ahead, but I'll return for the holiday broadcast as your favorite host, so keep an ear out for us!" Some whispering in the background was accompanied by laughter and then Holly's voice returned.

"Here is a new song from Vacuo. It's call Aura Storm by Celene." Holly sang. "It is the best song of the season, with a hint of old school music in it. This goes out for everyone about to leave and those who stay alike. Starting in: 3, 2, 1~"

The bell rang as numerous cries to the holiday started. "Even I heard that from here! Here it is people: Aura storm! Stay healthy and stay happy!"

(Insert music: Coda - Bloody Stream)

"That Holly has a hot voice~" Akashi smiled dreamily as he was punched in the chest, making him cry.

"Perv." Riza huffed before looking at everyone. "Take care everyone."

"Yeah!" Akashi smiled before pulling his bag up and heading to the forest, with his weapons and large bag in tow.

The girls nodded to each other and headed the other way.

Every member of LARJ was knocked down, but they got back up.

With their mind and heart driven again they will be back. Better then ever.

For it was told by Lucy:

"Go out LARJ, or go home."

"Huh?" Riza looked at her funnily.

"That's LARJ's Motto. I just thought of it now~" Lucy grinned, but Riza just rolled her eyes.

"It's cheesy... but I like it.'

---

~From the depths of Darkness
Awaken the 'Sins' beyond their time~

---

Vacuo, unknown location:

High in the Ice Mountains, a pillar of stone and ice crumbled down, revealing a large figure with icy spikes that could cut steel like butter. It's ice claw flexed before slashing another pillar of stone. White veins ran form its back towards its mouth before it expelled a cone of white light blasting multiple areas to ash. It's blood red eyes illuminated in the darkness of the place.

~Bring together the Heroes, of this era
with their ever-rising courage~

---

Unknown location:

Travis Velmón stood in front of a group of hunters and huntresses, looking at all of them, he nodded. "Welcome to Z.E.P.H.Y.R., most of you will be rejected, but should you pass... well you will be tasked in fending off the greatest threat to mankind, possible the first and last line of defense from extinction."

He scratched his head.

"If you like to back out now I won't blame you, there's a high change you will die."

No one moved.

"...excellent. You've passed the first test already. It's going to get harder form here, but follow me."

~The power you inherit is called aura
Now fight on with a smile~

---

Hart family residence

"Tahli, will you fight again?" Leaf asked the dirt-blonde huntress as she was cooking. "MJ wouldn't want you to stop."

"I'll take up my rifle again Leaf, but I need to go on some soul searching… I need to have my own reason to fight, not to just be with Mary."

"I understand." Leaf smiled "Welcome home Tahli."

"It's good to be home." She turned back and smiled "Where's Mia?"

….

Unknown location

"Where is it?" The girl panted as she searched in her box before seeing something shining. "There?" Carefully she took the shiny box and opened it, inside it contained a picture of a younger version of her with her father, next to them was another man, a girl with blonde hair, another with white hair and a young boy the same age with brown hair and a goofy grin on his face.

"It is him… it's him." Her cheek turned pick as she traced his face. "Akky….."

~Deceiving the darkness, avoid the moment
Using the blade, Cleanse the enemy off its deed
Carry out the will, develop the future~

---

Air-ship above Vale

"Master Velmón, might I ask why you wish to return home?" The white haired butler asked Juge with a polite voice.

"I need answers, I want to know something from my father, he's the only one I can talk to. If I can find my answer, my path will be clear and I can focus on becoming the heir that I am supposed to be."

"Surely that is not the true reason?"

"You know me too well Hecate." Juge smiled wryly. "I want to become strong, because there is someone I consider my friend and rival. He too wants to become the best. It's not just about the family honor anymore." Juge scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

Hecate smiled before steering past a smaller plane.

"The young master has become more like his father." He said quietly.

---

Beacon Academy – Dorm Rooms

A certain letter was crumbled, crushed, unfolded again and then incinerated.

"These guys don't learn, do they?" Yang said with a twitching eye.

"They left without saying goodbye again!" Ruby cried out.

"Hmph. I didn't expect anything from that buffoon, but even Inari... I mean Riza? It's bad influence, plain and simple." Weiss crossed her arms and pretended not to care.

"..." Blake re-read the letter before it was destroyed. One part was clearly aimed at her, and she could see Riza's hand-writing. She smiled. "Once you come back I will scold you for once."

"Kirk won't like this." Jaune sighed and rubbed his hurting arms. Nora had been using it as a punching back for her overflowing curiosity. She didn't get to read the letter and was expecting to hear all the stories from LARJ's mission.

"Aren't you sad too, Jaune?" Pyrrha gave him a calm smile.

"Oh yeah, Akashi knows how to make people mad. But he gave me his contact, so I can visit him." The blond hunter laughed.

"Determination." Ren mumbled as he played with the gift he received from Juge. He had nothing to say about this development, he just accepted their decision.

Either way LARJ could expect a very mixed reception once they returned for the second semester.

~Like an Aura Storm
Burning up LIKE an Aura STORM
Carved into the bloody lineage of destiny~

---

Beacon Academy - Entrance

"Akashi Mayhiro." The young Mayhiro sighed before looking to his side.

"Warmachine." The masked warrior was leaning to his side "Why are you here?"

"I'll escort you home, for Kagami's sake. Your eyes tell me that you desire power... I will teach you until your bones are creaking and you beg for it to end." His hood shook as he stepped forward. "Do you wish to train with me?"

"Yes."

"Then we have no time to waste." Nodding, Akashi followed the veteran hunter into the forest.

---

Beacon Academy – Campus

Kirk was drawing a picture of the Emerald Forest using a brush and paint. It was done quite professionally. Despite that he seemed a little unhappy. He had asked girls to model for him, but they all refused. Admittedly he hadn't asked them in the conventional way.

He sighed as he adjusted his shirt that was as tight as always.

"I told you already it was an accident, dear Jasna!" Suddenly Antonio's voice made the small boy look up. The well-dressed leader of AKJA was walking backwards, away from a furious Jasna.

"Like hell it was! This scarf is worth three times your life!"

"That's rather cruel..." Antonio said with a frown, but he managed to dodge the tomboy's fist all the same. The two were closing in dangerously fast and Kirk brought his picture to safety by taking it under his arm.

"The holidays are fair game again. Finally I can cut loose!" Empowered to a dangerous degree Jasna's eyes were spinning.

"I knew suppressing her instincts for so long would turn out badly..." Antonio looked at the retreating turquoise haired boy. He urged him to move on with a hand motion. Kirk nodded thankful and started to run... straight into Alexandra. The still wet paint covered her red top.

He gulped.

"..." Alexandra glared at him.

And then she picked up the painting and handed it back to him.

"I am sorry about the painting. You are not bad." Surprisingly she was not mad, but actually a little guilty. Kirk shook his head. Maybe this was a good time for a new start between them. The team exercises might have started to take effect.

And then Antonio was thrown into the black-haired girl. They rolled around and finally stopped in an awkward position. A kick with high-heels to Antonio's face separated them forcefully.

"I'm sorry Alex!" Jasna came running. "I didn't want to dirty you with Anto's body." She apologized and picked Alexandra up. Antonio's eyes were spinning. "Let's enjoy the holidays together like there is no tomorrow!" She cheered. "You can be our bag-boy pipsqueak." She said towards Kirk. He didn't dare refuse.

"Ouch... Have fun together." Anto stood up and rubbed his bruised chin.

"What are you saying? You are going to pay for the drinks!" Jasna laughed and pulled him over around the shoulder as well.

"Oh boy." He and Kirk were sweating... in anticipation of course.

~Floating and unbreakable, bonds of pride~
Stand together...!~

---

Lucy, Akashi, Riza and Juge had one thing in mind as they moved towards their destination.

"Wait for me everyone, I'll get stronger. Just you watch!"

A Team too LARJ Volume 1: End

---

So there it is: the Ending of 'A Team Too LARJ' Volume 1, but don't be alarmed, Volume 2 is in the works, but we're going to have a bit more time to develop the plot in me and my brother's version.

You can be assured that a lot more fighting will be included in Volume 2 and new OC's coming in hot! On that side note, before we head towards that: we're going to be dropping some short chapters (1000- 2000 words) featuring New Characters coming to Volume 2, be sure to read them!

For my side, should i include the training segment before Volume 2 or reveal what they learned and developed during the main plot?

Anyways: Thanks for reading this chapter! Dropping a Review, Favorite or Follow goes a long way!

Till next time!

Johno 343 and Bugdevil!