Chapter 5
The Forest and the Player
In life, as in chess, forethought wins.
Charles Buxton
"Goddammit, where is he?" Yang angrier than she ever could be was looking for her brother Mikhail. "He was landing in this direction, shit!?" She cursed and looked around. Yang knew that she had to be careful. Because of Mikhail's Semblance he had an enhanced sense of smell, so she was walking against the wind, while trying to be silent as possible, but her temper caused her still to lose herself.
*Woosh*
Something scurried through the dense covert. She looked around her "Is anyone out there?" No answer "Helloooooooooooooo! I am getting bored here and if it's you Mike than come out or I will spank you!"
*Rustle*
"Ha?" She turned around "Is someone there?"
*Rustle*
"Ruby or Mike is that you?"
"Grrrrrr…" A beasty snarl rang out from the bushes.
"Nope!" Yang said, while popping the 'p' and jumped several meters back.
"RAARGH!" From the bushes jumped an Ursa out and lunged at Yang, who jumped to the left, she activated Ember Cecila and saw another Ursa coming from the other site.
"RAHG!" The Grimm jumped to her, which she avoided again by jumping to the site. The second Ursa joined its kinsman, which attacked with its clawed paw.
But Yang reacted faster; she jerked her fist back and sent the Ursa with a straight punch, plus a shot, flying back. The other Ursa reacted and started to attack to.
The blonde girl jumped forwards and with a left uppercut, strengthened by a shot, the Ursa was sent up to the air. She used the momentum, and pointed her gauntlets back and used the recoil of the shoots to deliver a powered kick into the stomach of the Ursa.
The bear-like beast was sent, just like his fellow Grimm, flying backwards and landed on its back.
"You guys wouldn't happen to see to have seen a boy with a white scarf and a girl in a red hood would you?" She asked the Grimm.
"RAAAAAA!" 2x
"Yikes, could just say no!? Sheesh."
The right Ursa stood on its hind leg and attacked Yang with a strike of its claws.
She evaded it by jumping back, when the Ursa attacked a second time, she made a back-hand spring to avoid it. When she was on her legs, she laughed at the Ursa.
"Ahahaha…Geez you two couldn't hit the broad side of a ba-" She stopped talking, when a single hair of her, fell slowly on the ground…..
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, her voice was full of wrath "You…." She opened her eyes and they became red.
"Uhg?" the two Ursa's looked, in confusion, at each other.
"You monster!" Yang screamed in wrath and *Baam* a little explosion engulfed her. With full speed, she stormed forwards while striking her fist back "Hyaaaaaaaaaaah!" She punched the Ursa directly in the head, and shortly she sent him flying with an uppercut. Then she crouched slightly, pointed her weapons backwards and used the recoil of the shoot, to enhance her speed. The Ursa was mauled with a combo of several punches and shots. With the last punch, the Grimm crushed backwards through the woods and died immediately.
Yang reloaded Ember Cecila and faced the other incoming Ursa "What you want some too." In rage over hair precious hair, she screamed at the Ursa, which stood on its legs and roared at her.
"RARGH!"
*Slash*
The Ursa stood suddenly still while looking perplexed. Shortly the beast fell forward and behind it, stood Blake, with her weapon, Gambel Shroud in its sickle form, which was stuck on the back of the creature.
*Slice* *Whoosh*
Yang, while panting, looked at Blake, who drew her weapon back with a black ribbon. She caught the weapon and sheathed it.
Blake smiled at Yang.
She responded with a shrug "I could have taken him."
"Sure." She replied in a cool and calm tone.
XXX
Emerald Forest, With Yang and Blake
"Man, where is Mikhail!?" Yang looked around while walking with Blake side and side "And where is Ruby?"
The raven-haired sighed "Yang, I already tried to find your brother," Yang stopped and gave Blake a strange look "He is the only one I know so….." She answered dryly; also she wanted to read his book….so…
Yang shrugged and the continued to walk and look around "Damn, this is so annoying, he can notice me, see me or smell me if I am close."
Blake blinked and glanced at her, she want to know about Mikhail's wings "Yang, may I ask you something?"
"Sure!"
"About your brother…his wings…."
"Ah, well it's his Semblance."
The eyes of the faunus-in-hiding widened "His Semblance, I thought he had enhanced senses…"
"Ah, well…" The blonde rubbed the back of her head "Mikhail's Semblance is called 'Dragon's Soul'."
"Wait, as dragons, those huge lizards with wings that could spit fire, those dragons in Michael Peyt's books?"
"Yup, Dragon's Souls is an enhancing transformation Semblance which is always slightly permanent active or passive active….."
'Transformation….permanent active….' Blake heard and read about such semblances. Both transformation and always active Semblances were extremely rare, but not unheard. But having one, which combines both features is unique.
"What does it do?"
"Many things, first when active, even at minimal level; it enhances his senses, vitality and his physic. It also changed his body slightly."
"How?"
"Did you notice his long canines?"
"Yes, I thought, when I saw him the first time, that he was a faunus."
"Yeah…" She laughed nervously while playing with her hair "Well he is practically a faunus because of his Semblance…."
"I beg your pardon?" The faunus raised an eyebrow, what does she mean?
"He has also night vision…"
Blake stopped walking; her eyes wide open in disbelief "What!?"
"Mikhail's Semblance makes him a….pseudo-faunus…"
Blake gasped, a human with the properties of a faunus. 'Pseudo-faunus…' She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts "But why is it called Dragon's Soul?"
"Well didn't you see his wings?"
Blake tapped her chin, and it come over her like a lighting. She faced Yang "He can transform parts of his body to those of a dragon."
"Bingo!" Yang pointed with both forefingers at her partner "Not only this,"
'There is more!?'
"He can transform his skin, into scales and his fingers and nails into claws." Those scales were extremely hard, like the claws. In combination with Aura, Mikhail was perfect for close-combat. And if they fell of or broke, they don't vanish…
Blake gasped 'Claws and scales!? And there is more?'
"He has also horns, and they look awesome, like pure gold with red tint to them, you know like his hair and they are so smooth." She gushed slightly…he made a necklace of them….her favourite…
The faunus didn't know how to react. It was…something she would have never thought. 'Mikhail….a pseudo-faunus…' An idea popped up in her head. A spark of relieve. Could she really trust Mikhail? Could she even probably…tell him about her past? But her thoughts were interrupted when she could notice, that Yang stared at her with worried eyes. "Is there something?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure…" Now she was worried. Did she notice something, maybe that she is a faunus? Or worse, did Mikhail break his promise? Her mind was full of thousand scenarios.
"Do you…." Blake tensed up "Have something against faunus?"
"Eh?" Thousands scenarios, but she didn't expected that …Mikhail didn't tell his sisters "Why do you ask?"
When Blake asked, Yang's eyes widened, she crossed her arms under her rack and looked away.
The raven-haired girl tilted her head and then it came over her.
'I love faunus.'
'I want peace between humanity and faunus.'
'I went to every peaceful protest and boycott with the old White Fang in Vale.'
'It can't be….' Blake gulped "Your brother was a victim of racism….."
Blake didn't even need an answer from Yang, when the blonde girl looked at her, with wide eyes. She rubbed her elbow and looked to the ground before her.
"Yeah…" She faced Blake "Because of his long canines, he was claimed to be a faunus or…our….'pet'…." Those words were hard to say for Yang. It wasn't easy for her and her family, and she couldn't even think how Mikhail felt. Racism in their island of Patch and Signal was almost nonexistent. But there were still black sheep. But it was much worse, when they were in Vale….or in Atlas…."When my brother becomes….emotional…his scales, horns and wings appear…you know…..and even his eyes…."
Blake clenched her fists, her knuckles became already white….She understood how it felt, the insults, the treatment and the racism. Every faunus knew it too well. But a human, bearing the racism from other humans, because he is like a faunus…this is a new level of atrociousness.
But then she remembered it, Mikhail's words, his wishes…..'Perhaps I could trust him….' She looked to Yang, who awaited her answer. She shook her head "Don't worry; on the contrary, I am a backer for the rights of the faunus."
Hearing her answer, caused Yang to lift a burden from her shoulders. She sighed and wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead "Good, sorry to charge you with such stuff, but since we are now stuck for four years, and I want to bring my brother in our team, I needed to ask."
"Comprehendible." Blake answered in understanding.
"But now I need to find and protect him."
Now her partner sighed "You know your brother is not a child anymore, he is a world-renowned fighter."
"I don't care!" Yang almost shouted, causing Blake to wince "I don't care, what others think of him, what others see him." She put a fist on her chest "For me, he is my little baby brother!"
Blake shook her head again and smiled. How much children say, that they are grown-up, for their parents they are still their little babies. For loving older siblings it wasn't different.
She continued to walk, while Yang followed her with her eyes "You know, Mikhail will notice us how much we try it will not be possible. Smelling, sound, it doesn't matter but I have an idea."
"Okay, spit it out Blakey."
The girl turned around and smiled mischievously, giving her cat-like appearance more impact "But what if he has no choice, but coming to us?"
Yang tilted her head.
"This is the plan, we go to the place, were the artifacts are staying, took one for us and then we are waiting for him. Even if he noticed us, he needs an artifact, he has no choice."
Yang grinned evilly "I like your way of thinking, Blakey." She nodded in a sage-like manner "This is a good plan, let's go!" She threw her fists into the air and both girls started to run.
But before…
"Blake?"
"Hm?"
"You're okay!"
XXX
*Rustle*
Mikhail stuck his head out from a bush, when he was sure, that Yang and Blake were gone.
He went out and shook leafs stuck on him off, then he sighed and shook his head in amusement "Love ya too, sis…" He turned to the left and began to run.
After some meters, he suddenly stopped, when a scent, that he knew too well, filled his nostrils. It was the iron and copper-like smell of blood. He drew Zero Rose and morphed her into the sniper-form. His shoulder slumped slightly down, his breathing became slower and his muscles became tenser. He sniffed the air 'Good, no Grimm.' He followed the scent and moved slowly and careful.
After some short time, he found the source of it.
"Please….help…." Mikhail found a boy, the same age as Yang, with long brown hair and green eyes, lying on the ground. His stomach was ripped open, and his guts were torn. The liver….too. "It…hurts…." Blood was everywhere. His wounds were too fatal, he will die.
'Beowolf. Probably, an older one or even an alpha. Lost his interest or noticed others…..'
"Pl…eas….e…."
Mikhail looked around and smelled for enemies, when he was really sure, he morphed his weapon to her sword form and stabbed it in the ground near him. He crouched and sat before the dying boy and carefully touched his face. "Shh, it's alright…." He spoke in a soothing voice to the boy. "I am here, you are not alone." He carefully raised his head and put it on his lap. "What is your name?"
"Ra…urhg….Ramez…"
He nodded and smiled "Everything will be fine, Ramez…." He caressed his cheeks and gently run his fingers to his long brown hair. "I am here…"
"Are…rugh…are you an angel?" He spit blood out of his mouth, but his breathing became steadier.
In response, Mikhail's eyes widened and his smile became gentler "Yes….I am an angel…"
Ramez smiled "Am….. I….urg…. dying?"
Mikhail nodded, while still gently touching his face "Unfortunately, yes, but don't worry. I am here, you are not alone…."
"Thank….you….." He spat more blood out "It hurts so much….please end it…gentle angel."
Mikhail nodded; he put his hands on Ramez eyes and closed them. "There, there, breath in and out…it will be over…"
The dying boy did it…..and then….
*CRACK*
It was quick and painless. Mikhail snapped his neck, but still caressed the face of Ramez. After some seconds, he raised the head and put it gently and carefully on the ground.
Mikhail was already used to it. He may be jaded with wars and killing, but not to the point of unnecessary pain and suffering. He also couldn't let negative feelings flowing to his mind. It would attract Grimm. Instead, he thought about the good thing he just did.
Ramez would have suffered more, if he hadn't ended his pain. He put him out of his misery, quick and painless as possible and he wasn't alone.
Mikhail noticed something in Ramez hand. He opened it, and saw a picture. He took and looked at it. 'A picture of him and his family…' He put it into his pocket; he would make sure to give it to the teachers after the end of the test. He can't bury Ramez or take him, it would slow him down….but at least the picture would be safe. After he put it into his pocket, he glanced down to Ramez.
"Goodbye, Ramez…" He grabbed Zero Rose, put it back on his waist and walked away.
XXX
With Glynda and Ozpin
*Sigh* Glynda sighed, when she saw what Mikhail did.
"Glynda," Ozpin called out, while still staring at the forest "At the end of this initiation, please recover the body of Mr. Iron I will personally contact and inform his family.
"Yes, sir…." She inserted the information with a slightly pained face. It doesn't happen very often, that someone died. But no matter what, it wasn't easy for her.
"Glynda, I know it is hard, but those children knew what would await them and why they are here…." He felt regret too and now a new death was on his pile of burden.
"I know Ozpin, but the poor boy….meeting an Alpha Beowolf…." They couldn't do something, his injuries were to fatal.
"Mmh," The man nodded and took a sip from his mug "Please include Mr. Rose's behavior in his grading…."
"Very well…" She tapped on the scroll and raised Mikhail's grade.
What Mikhail did was not wrong, it was an excellent choice. He gave a dying victim, in his last minutes, some warmth and security, while still being cautious for enemies. He even ended his pain and accepted the fact that he had to shoulder his death, too….'Summer….…...'
"That boy….is dangerous…." Glynda broke the thoughts of his former favorite student "Ozpin why did you accept him in Beacon?"
He sighed and turned around "Mr. Rose is a talented individual who excels foresight and makes quick decisions."
"I don't mean that, I am more worried what Qrow told us about him."
Ozpin quirked an eyebrow in amusement "This is probably the first time, that you support the opinion of that dusty old crow, Glynda. I am down right shocked, my dear."
She scoffed "Well, I don't particularly support 99 % of his thoughts, ideas and nonsense but I could not ignore the fact, that he calls his own nephew a danger to himself and others."
"Like I said, I will have everything under control."
Glynda rolled her eyes and adjusted her glasses "Ozpin, that boy is really dangerous. He has ties to Vale's underworld, also the way he moves, the way he reacts, behaves. He is practically a natural born killer, no a predator!"
"Then better, such natural talented beings are rare and it could benefit…."
"Ozpin, sir…."
"Because of the 'White Hood Incident', where the boy was shot in, he was in hospitalized for two weeks. His Aura and Semblance prevented heavy damages. After some time, he was trained by Raven and Qrow for almost 6 years. Her and Qrow's hellish training, made the boy to the warrior he is now. Glynda he was trained by both Branwen siblings, without mercy." Ozpin added
"I know….but…Yet what did Qrow think, bringing a child to such missions."
"Look at the bright side; he comes after his mother….uncle…and aunt/step-mother…."
Now her scowl hardened "I don't know how this could be seen positive, having a second Qrow or Raven, who has dubious contacts everywhere and hunts after every skirt he sees or smite everything in his way while having a questionable way of looking at the world." Mikhail was trained by Qrow in the art of scythe, and by Raven in the art of the sword. Last wasn't known to anyone, but Qrow and those two.
Between the body of his former life and his current one, were worlds. He needed help to adjust in his new one. The boy had the knowledge of his former life yet the weaker body of a human…..
He constructed his scythe, so that Zero Rose could also transform into a sword that resembled the weapon of the Intoner. Well, the sword form was much larger and broader, with a more modern touch through gears and technic. The sharp side of the blade was yellow-gold instead of black, with striations such as his uncle's weapon in its sword form. The sword almost looked like the Intoner's blade. He used the blueprints of his uncle's scythe and Crescent Rose's. Many nights were sleepless for him and his sister, when they created Zero Rose, but after one year of hard work it was done. The scythe looked like Ruby's one with a big touch of his uncle's. The head and the shaft were also more massive, making the weapon heavier. But he already had plans to change it….
Ozpin smiled "I would have thought that you would be happy to see your idol 'Michael Peyt'."
The woman twitched, her face became angry, because of embarrassment and anger "How…."
"My dear Glynda, I would have never thought that you read such intense and colorful lecture such as the Antiquity series…."
Glynda could nothing but stutter….while cursing a certain red-blonde haired boy.
XXX
With Qrow
"I don't know what you just did or currently doing kid…but right now I am proud of you…"
XXX
With Mikhail
"Okay…why do I feel like a woman wants to mess me up right now, but not in a good way…..and why do have a second feeling of another woman that ….ah whatever." He looked around a noticed that someone or something is staring at him. He looked around and saw a raven with red eyes, looking at him. He tilted his head and shrugged and started to run, not noticing, that the raven followed him.
XXX
Wit Ruby and Weiss
"I am just fine on my own!" Ruby half-yelled with an irritated voice, while crossing her arms.
Both partners didn't do well with their …teamwork, and now it went a little bit out of control
When the two girls encountered a pack of Beowolfs, they pretty much messed up, with Weiss fighting alone and Ruby going in her way, while almost causing a forest fire. When they could flee, both teenage girls started to argue.
"Well, congratulations on being the strongest child that could sneak your way into Beacon, bravo!"
Ruby gasped and scowled "Hey, my brother is younger and….."
"Your brother earned it!" She huffed and crossed her arms, while looking away "How could someone like you, be his sister, I don't really understand?"
The Rose twin was downright shocked.
"He is reliable, strong, talented and can hold his temper and here I am, stuck with the most annoying girl in this forest!" She turned around and walked away.
Meanwhile Ruby shook from anger and clenched her knuckles. She drew Crescent Rose "Aaaah! Gyuh!"
*Slash*
And cut through a tree, which fell on the ground. Ruby followed Weiss, with some distance. She didn't notice the large feather that floated menacingly to the ground…
XXX
With Blake and Yang
The human-faunus duo walked through the Emerald Forest until the saw a clearing with ruins on it.
"Think this it?" Yang asked her partner, who tilted her head and walked forwards.
When they walked down from the small hill, they could take a better look on the ruin. There were many sockets with different colored-figure placed on them.
Blake took a better look "Chess pieces?"
"Some of them are missing. Looks like we weren't the first ones here."
"Well, I guess we should pick one."
Yang smiled "How about a cute little pony?"
The cat-faunus could only smile in amusement "Sure."
"So let's wait for Mike and Rubes!"
"Well it's not like this place is very difficult to find."
XXX
With Pyrrha and Jaune
Both hunters-in-training entered a cave, which was thought to be the location of the artifacts.
It came also out; that Jaune didn't even knew what Aura was, meaning that he didn't even unlock it. Pyrrha as kind as she is, helped him to unlock it, so that he had at least some protection. Shortly they found a cave, and entered it, while ignoring the paintings on the wall that decorated the entry.
Honestly she wanted to continue and look after Mikhail, but after some search, they came to the result, that it took too much time.
But right now the more they walked through the dark tunnels, laminated by the torch Jaune made with his Boy Scout knowledge, the more she admitted that it was a terrible idea. Her instincts screamed to her, that this cave is dangerous and that they should go back.
"Jaune, I am not sure this is it."
"*Sigh*, Pyrrha I made the torch, could you at least give me that?" He bent his head to his partner and didn't notice where he walked. He tripped on a stone and dropped the torch in a puddle. And now it was pitch-black.
"Ow." He stood up and was frustrated because of his mistake.
A shiver ran down on Pyrrha's spine "Do you feel that?"
"You mean the soul-crashing defeat?"
"Ehm, no…it feels warm."
XXX
With Mikhail
Mikhail was lucky, a pack of Beowolfs, were running away from a fire walked directly in his arms.
The moment, the pack noticed him and attacked. Needless to say, that they didn't even stand a chance. He killed all the normal Beowolf and then faced the bigger pack leader.
*Baam* The pack leader was flying out the forest and landed on its back. Mikhail slowly emerged from the bushes and cracked his knuckles.
"RAAAA!" The beast stood up and lunged at him.
Mikhail smiled while being calm, he took a simple sidestep to the left. The creature landed before him on the ground and in a split second he stomped with his right foot on the right hind leg of the Beowolf.
*Crack*
"Awwwuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" The Grimm yowled in pain and fell on his belly. But it didn't end.
The scythe-wielder made a step behind while spinning, using the momentum and slight force to stomp again, but this time on the back of the beast.
This caused the beast to jerk his upper body up and Mikhail grabbed its snout with his left hand. He raised and clawed his hand, using his Semblance, and extended his gold and red claws. With it, he stabbed his entire hand through its neck. The beast was immediately dead and its body dissolved into black mist. A feral grin formed on his face, the satisfaction of overpowering his enemy and simply destroying a beast felt good. His dragon instincts didn't die out.
Mikhail smiled and cracked his neck. He looked around and two familiar scents lingered in the air "Pyrrha, Jaune…" He smelled around and noticed a cave. "You have to be kidding me, they went into that cave!?" Headaches, caused from the sheer stupid behavior from both of them, made him grip his head. Mikhail could smell that a big Grimm dwelled in that cave. Even without his enhances senses, he wouldn't enter it recklessly. The paintings around the cave entrances would be suffice enough to say that a Deathstalker was living in it.
"Hiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" A scream sounded out from the cave.
XXX
With Blake and Yang
"Blake did you hear that," Yang looked around "Some girl is in trouble.
But the raven-haired girl, didn't listen, instead as if her instincts told her, that something would appear from the sky.
"Blake did you hear that!?"
XXX
With Mikhail, Pyrrha and Jaune
Mikhail didn't hesitate and jumped back into the bushes, and from them, he had the first seats for the spectacle that would happen.
"Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, oooooowohooohohohohoho!"
'I never thought, that the most girlish scream I would have ever heard, would come from a boy, hell I was so old that I forgot my age!' Mikhail could barely keep himself from laughing.
Then he saw Pyrrha running out from the cave.
*BAAM*
'Son of a bitch!?' Mikhail cursed.
The cave literally exploded, when an old Deathstalker, a giant scorpion-like Grimm, broke out of it.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" The large beast roared in anger, while its pincers moved violently. And who was hanging on its golden and deadly sting, Jaune.
"Ahhhh! Why? Ahhh! Pyrrha!" Jaune cried in despair, while the beast hissed and made side steps from left to right.
Pyrrha, with Miló in its javelin form, turned around and could only look in panic at her partner. While she was a strong and world renowned fighter, Pyrrha hadn't really leadership skills.
"Pyrrha," Jaune cried out in panic while still holding on the sting of the creature "This is not the relic! It's not! Ahhhhhh! Please do something!"
"Jaune, whatever you do, don't let…."
But too late….
The Deathstalker jerked its tail back and sent Jaune flying across the forest.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Go…" The red-haired girl's eyes followed her shrieking and flying partner; she turned around, facing the big Grimm with a nervous smile.
'Aaaaand there he goes…If he survives that, I will give him a flying lesson…..'
"*HISSS!*"
She rubbed the back of her head and started to run, while the Deathstalker followed her.
After some seconds passed, Mikhail walked out of from his covers.
"…." He rubbed his eyes and sighed "Well, a Deathstalker is no problem for me. I can't become worse than it already is….
*Woosh*
Mikhail looked up to the sky.
Over him passed a Giant Nevermore and flew to the direction where the artifacts his sister and Blake were.
But the worst part was that Ruby and Weiss were on the Grimm.
"….." His eyes became dull and lost color, he grabbed his head in frustration 'DAMMIT, I SHOULDN'T HAVE JINX IT! Dozens of millenniums… AND I STILL DIDN'T LEARN IT!' He really wanted to cry right now, a Deathstalker no problem, a Giant Nevermore hell yeah, but both at the same time…."I should go….." He started to walk…"Why didn't my sheath come earlier!?….With it, Zero Rose would be finished and with Ruby's help I could already have a better weapon….."
XXX
With Blake and Yang
Blake still looked up to the sky, while Yang asked what they should do.
"Blake what should we do!?"
"Ahem, Yang?"
"What?" She turned around and saw, that Blake pointed with her forefinger up to the sky. The blonde brawler looked up and her eyes widened.
"Heads up!" Ruby was falling from the sky, while waving her arms around in panic.
Yang ran forward, spreading her arms out, so that she could catch her sister. But Lady Luck, as a bitch she was, looked away. Before Ruby fell in the save arms of her sister, Jaune came flying from the side, crashed into her and both teens flew right through the woods.
"Guhh…What was that!?" Ruby who was shaken from the crash could only see stars and Beowolfs. She shook her head, her dizziness started to wave off, and she looked around and saw that she landed on a tree branch.
"Ahem…" The hooded girl noticed Jaune, who was hanging upside down on another branch "Hey Ruby." He raised his hand to greet her.
"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake noted, slightly puzzled.
"I-.." Before Yang could speak up, both of them heard a Grimm cry, with the sound of crashing trees, from the other side.
"Gruuuuuuuh!" An Ursa walked out of the forest, on his hind legs, while desperately waving around with its paws."
*BOOM* "Yeehaw!" A pink explosion, behind it, followed by a cowgirl shout and the beast fell dead on the ground. Jumping down from it was Nora who had the time of her life. She stood up "Aww, its broken…" She jumped back on the Ursa's back "Ewww." She examined the dead beast; while an exhausted Ren appeared and finally catch to her up.
"Nora? Please *gasp* don't do that *gasp* ever again…." He pleaded to Nora while panting. As he looked back to her, the girl full of energy was gone. Instead, she was admiring the artifacts.
"Ooooooo…" Nora grabbed a chess figure and started to sing "I'm Queen of the castle!" She put the piece on her head "I'm Queen of the castle!"
"NORA!" Ren began to lose his patience and shouted out.
The hammer-wielding girl froze, laughed then saluted and let the chess piece fell on her hand. She walked happily back to her childhood friend "Coming Ren."
"Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?" Blake asked casually, while crossing her arms.
"I-…" And again, Yang was interrupted by a shriek and the sound of falling trees.
Both of them saw Pyrrha running away, while a Deathstalker followed her. The beast used its giant pinchers to mill every obstacle before him.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha saw her partner and called out to him.
"Pyrrha!?" The Arc called out in surprise.
"Wow!?" Ruby, who was on her legs again, saw the giant Grimm and jump down from the beach.
"Ruby!?" Again, Jaune called out in surprise.
When she landed on the ground, her sister Yang was surprised by it, yet also relieved to see her safe.
"Ruby?"
The older twin looked at her sister.
"Yang!" Both girls wanted to hug each other in joy but…
"Nora!" The hammer-wielding girl interrupted their happy moment, while jumping between them.
*Smack* The Deathstalker finally caught up to Pyrrha and hit her; she was sent flying and landed before the others.
"Did she just run all the way here with a Deathstalker on her tail?" Blake asked again, while still being calm, but Yang wasn't….
She literally exploded and her eyes became red "Grrrr, I can't take anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again!?" She panted, after finishing her yelling.
Ruby and Blake just looked up, while Nora just fidgeted around in excitement and Ren, who was out of breath, joined them. Pyrrha stood up, still a little bit shaky and stood beside Ruby.
"Um….Yang?" Ruby tapped her sister's shoulder and pointed to the sky.
Yang slumped her shoulders and everybody looked up.
They saw a Giant Nevermore flying above them and on one of its talon hanging was Weiss. She looked rather….distressed.
"How could you leave me!?" She yelled in desperation.
"I said 'jump'." Ruby shrugged.
"She's gonna fall." Blake spoke up, in her usual calm manner.
"She'll be fine." Ruby stated in an obvious tone and waved a hand.
"She's falling." Ren decided joined the conversation, and the group could see how Weiss was closing the gap between her and the ground…..
"Guys, shouldn't we do something!?" Pyrrha looked between everyone.
Meanwhile Jaune, who could finally get down from the branch, saw his chance to impress Weiss. He started to run and jump. But before he was close to Weiss, a golden glowing blur, accompanied with red, white, black and white flower petals snapped Weiss before his eyes.
"Ufgh!" Jaune fell and was now tasting the Emerald Forest earth "Urggggg…." He groaned from pain.
Before the group could react, a massive gale blow around and then they saw Mikhail standing before them, with Weiss in his arms, bridal style.
"Gotcha'!" He looked at Weiss and smiled, who was first flabbergasted by the sudden catch.
Then she glared a little bit and crossed her arms "Hmph, finally some help." The heiress looked away with a huff and closed eyes. After some seconds, she opened her eyes and looked back; she stared directly in Mikhail's heterochromatic eyes. He snorted a little, looking amused by her behavior.
She sighed; her lips curved a slight smile "Well at least I should thank you 'my hero'."
Mikhail snorted again "Of course, 'my princess'." Then he smiled radiantly at Weiss, whose eyes widened and her cheeks became a little bit red.
Somehow Weiss felt like a princess who was rescued from a knight in white armor, well he wore mostly white….from a dragon…..okay it was very ironic….Dragon's Soul….'Knock it off, Weiss…he is just an…..okay there nothing wrong with him and wow he smells good for a boy and those eyes….stop bad thoughts this is not the time!' She shook her head, while her cheeks became hotter.
"My nose!" The atmosphere was broken, when Jaune slowly stood up and held his nose with both hands.
Both Mikhail and Weiss looked at each other, blinked and shrugged. The younger Rose twin let her carefully down.
"Mik…." Before Pyrrha could spoke to him, his sisters came first.
"Mikhail!" Ruby ran to her brother and hugged him.
"Hey sis," He looked at Yang "…So what now?"
All of them looked to the two Grimm.
"Great! The gang's all here! Now we could die together!
"No….. I have plan," He turned around and faced the others "I know we are overpowered, that we should flee but the Nevermore will cut off our way so we have no choice but to fight them."
"Then what should we do?" Blake asked.
"First," He took a chess piece for himself "We will lure both Grimm to the canyon, we will split up. The first group will be Weiss, Blake and Yang. You girls will distract the Nevermore while we will kill the Deathstalker, got it?"
The gang looked at each other and Weiss spoke up "I hope your plan is good."
He smirked "Of course!"
XXX
"Oh nice to see the girls in action." Mikhail said with amusement in his voice, how well those three could make the Nevermore squirm "We should kill the Deathstalker." She turned around to face the others "Okay guys this is it. First Jaune and Pyrrah!" Jaune twitched and Pyrrha straightened up "You guys will pinch the Nevermore, use your shield, defensive behavior no needless attacks. Nora!" The girl grinned "Use the gap of the Grimms defense and when you can," He smiled "Break his legs!" The girl's eyes widened in joy and she saluted "Ren! You will give support, if you can sneak behind it; attack the place under its tail or the sting!" Ren nodded. I and Ruby will give you supporting fire when you get my signal get away from it!" Everyone nodded. Mikhail saw the beast that walking closer and activated his Semblance. His dragon wings appeared behind his back. He jerked them slightly back and then with fully force he waved them towards the Deathstalker. From his wings shot white scale towards the Grimm.
"Graaahhhhhhhhhh!" The scales pierced through its flesh and armor. The beast hissed in pain. Even though, the scales pierced the armor not completely, they stuck on it.
"Holy Crap!" Jaune shouted.
"Interesting, it that was similar to the Nevermore attack." Ren mumbled.
"It's not over." Pyrrha said.
Mikhail raised his hand opened his palm "Boom!" The moment he did, the scales that stuck on the Grimm exploded. Scale fragments flew everywhere, causing the armor to crack, the flesh to be pierced and slashed and some eyes of it were destroyed.
"Attack!" He shouted and Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha and Ren started to attack. Jaune and Pyrrha used their shields to cut the Grimm some of its air. Ren drew his blades SMGs and run around the beast shooting coordinated salves at it. Nora drew her grenade launcher and transformed it into a hammer.
"Mike what now?"
"We shot at the parts which are not armored.
"Got it!"
Yes, Dragon Bullets. Mikhail's Semblance was really mysterious for many people but not for him. Semblances are the manifestations of one's innate and personal powers, as an ability unique to each individual, with the effects varying greatly from user to user. The nature of one's Semblance is noted as representing an aspect of their character.
Mikhail's was simple…he had the body of a human but the primal soul of a dragon. The reason Mikhail had a large amount of Aura and such ability was simple. His soul was older than he himself.
It was not easy than because of his powerful soul he had, as a newborn, the Aura of two full grown men…2 hours after he was born his own Aura almost killed him. He hadn't much memories of that time. He was a newborn and the entire time tired and sleepy, but one day he opened his eyes and saw his family crying over him. After he closed his eyes again, he dreamed of Zero, when he woke up, he felt suddenly better.
One day, when he uses his Semblance and transform, he noticed something. Scales, talons and fangs that fell off, didn't disappear.
"Ruby are you ready?"
"Yeah!" Both of them aimed at the beast.
Nora jumped, using the recoil of her grenade hammer and smashed it on the head of the beast. The smaller cracks on its armor became bigger. But the Deathstalker, didn't gave up. It tried to stab Nora, but she evaded it, by shooting herself away. The stinger was stuck on the ground.
"Sis!"
"Got it!" Ruby nodded, shot the Grimm in the other eyes.
*Woosh* *Baam*.
"Haaaaaaaaaarrrrrshhhhhhhhhh!" The eye exploded. The Deathstalker hissed in pain, leaving more gaps to attack.
"Now guys get away!" He shouted and then aimed "I will attack the cracked parts; try to shoot at the belly.
"Okay!"
He pointed the scythe behind and shot, using the recoil and his wings to rush at the beast. He span several times, transformed his hand and mauled it with punches and slashes. Then Mikhail jumped up to the air and that was Ruby's cue to act.
The armor began to crack and fell off; Ruby aimed with her rifle and shot the sting off. It landed and stabbed the unprotected head; Mikhail pointed again the scythe behind him and through the flap with his wings, the recoil became stronger, he dashed forward and hammered the sting, with his transformed fists, deeper in the flesh of the Deathstalker.
Meanwhile the others could only look with disbelief what the twins are doing.
"Ha, good aiming skills, perfect synchronized shoots and wow they are really strong in a team." Ren said after analyzing.
"Wow, Ren we need scythes, then we could totally be as awesome like them…"
The raven-haired boy looked at Nora 'Nora and scythes…hell no….' He rubbed his eyes "Nora no…"
"But Ren!"
"No."
"Buh, spoilsport!" She pouted.
Meanwhile Ruby and Mikhail transformed their weapons in their scythe form and pointed the weapons behind them.
The beast was cut into three pieces an began to dissolve.
Both twins high-fived.
"Yeah, we did it Ruby!"
"Whoo!" The girl chirped in joy.
But they hadn't much to time to celebrate…the Nevermore was waiting.
XXX
"It's tougher than it looks like!" Blake, who slashed the Nevermore on the back with her sword and sheath, jumped down from it.
"Where are the others!?"
"What's the matter Princess, getting tired?" Yang smug-smiled at Weiss, who fumed in frustration.
"How many times should I say it to you dunce, I am an heiress, but seriously now where are the others!?"
The three saw, that the Giant Nevermore circled around and readied itself for a dive-attack.
"Not good it wants to ram us!"
"You don't say Miss Obvious?" Yang received an angry glare from the heiress.
"Well, if both of you are done argumenting, the others are coming back." Blake said, and the other two looked at the location where she was pointing.
"Okay girls," Yang grinned lets go before we land as red blot." The three began to run, before the Nevermore crushed into the ruins and completely destroyed them.
"Ruby, Mikhail!" The blonde brawler hugged her siblings in joy "You guys are alright?"
Both twins nodded.
Pyrrha spoke up "What about you guys?"
"The Nevermore is tenacious; no matter what we did that beast didn't even flinch."
"Weiss is right, what should we do?"
Mikhail looked around, everybody besides him, Pyrrha and Ruby, showed already signs of exhaustion 'Blake is right…I should do something.' Then he looked up to the Nevermore, which prepared for another attack.
"Mikhail, no!" Yang gripped his shoulders and scowled at him "You will not fight with it."
He smiled, and the others looked with wide eyes and slight shock at him. Only Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha didn't flinched.
Mikhail's eyes changed, his irises became slits, several veins popped up on his skin and his hands were covered in scales and claws. The most shocking part was Mikhail's teeth. They were sharp, like those of a Beowolf.
'He really looks…. like a faunus…' Blake thought.
*Flap* On his back appeared his wings "Sorry!" *Woosh*
"Mikhail!" Yang shouted and then felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Ruby's.
"Trust him."
"Ruby!"
"Yang, he can do it!"
"But!"
"Trust our brother!" Ruby nearly shouted.
The blonde scowled "Good… …." With worry she looked at her brother.
XXX
With Mikhail
"Okay you ugly piece of shit! Here I am!" Mikhail shouted and folded his wings slightly together; he pointed his scythe behind him and shot.
*Baam* *Baam*
The Grimm saw him and dived towards him.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The beast roared.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!" And Mikhail did the same.
But before the flying monsters clashed, Mikhail did a bold move. He unfolded his right wing and pointed his scythe to the left and shot. The recoil caused him to spin around and then *Slash* He cut the right foot of the Nevermore off. He span his body several times, while gaining some height and before the Grimm passed him, turned around and shot some scales on the back of the Grimm.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The beast shrieked in pain and tried to gain balance, by flying around.
Meanwhile the others had various reactions.
"Holy shit, did he just!" Jaune shouted.
"Yup." Ren answered while still admiring the acrobatic performance 'He must have trained very hard to do such things, or he is a natural talented flyer.'
"He can shoot scales!?" Weiss turned to the sisters who looked at.
"Yeah, but Mikhail never uses that attack on humans…." Ruby shrugged.
"They can be real painful.
The heiress shuddered.
'This is….how can he make such maneuvers? Is this like how dragon fights?' Blake asked her, she loved Michael Peyt's books. In every book, dragons were major character….her favorite one was the Lone Dragon….the partner of the Grand Songstress.
Pyrrha sighed 'He became stronger…'
Meanwhile Mikhail had the time of his life….but "Shit I am almost out of ammo!" He was flying through the sky and evaded the ram-attacks and feathers of the Nevermore. "But it doesn't matter!"
"Raaaaaaaaaaaa!" The Nevermore roared and shot another salve of feathers at him.
"As if you small fry!" He evaded the feathers in acrobatic masterpiece, by twirling around and evading left and right and flew directly at the beast.
The Nevermore, who was bigger, didn't expect that Mikhail would attack him directly and even evade his feather cascade. Mikhail jerked his claw back and with the full force of his attack he punched the Grimm with a right haymaker. Caused by the immense power of the punch, the Nevermore crashed into the cliff.
"Seriously how broken can that guy be!?" Jaune threw his arms when he saw what Mikhail just did.
Weiss continued "What Mikhail did was literally insane but, he evaded those feathers, which were directly fired at him in an immense speed and yet he held his pace." It was reckless, insane and the quickest way to land a powerful blow. Mikhail must have trained extremely hard to evade in such manner and his reaction time is insane.
The group continued to watch.
XXX
With Mikhail
'The wind…..incredible!' Mikhail flew sinuous lines and evaded the feathers that the Nevermore shot at him.
'The adrenaline…..so intoxicating!' The turned around and shot scales at the Nevermore and hit it, then letting them explode. It was starting to exhaust…But also Mikhail could feel the backlash of his Semblance
'The pain…so exhilarating!' He shot another salve of scales at the Grimm and slashed its eyes.
"RAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!" It cried in pain and this was Mikhail's cue to end this fight. He made a turn and flew directly to it. He increased his speed and could feel that a muscle on his back tore, but he ignored it. He came closer and closer, but before both man and beast crashed; he jerked his body up, clawed his talons and with full force slashed its entire back. He drew his weapon and flew higher, when he gained some distance and the Nevermore was under him, he dived down using the last ammo he had to enhance.
*Baam* *Baam* *Baam* *Baam* *Baam* *Baam* *Baam* *Stab*
He pierced the Grimm with Zero Rose in her sword form and with the entire force he pushed the Nevermore down.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Both the Grimm and Huntsman roar echoed through the entire Emerald Forest. The Beast was pushed down by Mikhail's immense power and started to burn from the inside by his Aura that flowed through his body.
Mikhail and the Grimm fell and fell, slowly closing the gap between them and the ground. But he could feel that his body gave slowly in.
His immense Life Force and Aura from his soul as a dragon gave him a big advantage, but still it didn't mean he could ignore pain, yhe Grimm couldn't defy his strength, it was also like exhausted. The Nevermore didn't even struggle anymore. Mikhail noticed this and with his remaining energy he flapped several times his wings time and then…
*CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSHHHHHHHHHHH* Both of them crashed on the ground.
XXX
With the others
No one of the group spoke; they didn't even believe what just happened."
"MIKHAIL!" Both his sisters shouted and ran toward the crater that both flying beast just created with their crash.
'Holy shit….this is, how….that guy just killed…..' Jaune's jaw met the ground…again…
'Whoa that guy isn't a reaper he is a dragon, he must be a dragon. Can he spit fire, he must be spitting fire!?' Nora's thoughts.
'I….I am speechless…He took a Giant Nevermore down…alone…..' The heiress' eyes were wide in disbelief.
'…' Blake couldn't even think about what just happened. Her eyes were glued to the crash point.
"NO!" Pyrrha screamed in worry and fear while she began to ran, too.
"Mikhail!" Ruby used her Semblance and arrived first at the crater! 'Oh please, please be alright!'
"Mike!" Yang began to look around the crater, when she couldn't see anything, the dust and dirt made it hard.
"Mikhail!" Pyrrha arrived and looked around "Where are you!?"
"Here…." The three girls snapped their head to the left and saw a tall figure emerging from the crater. His clothes were tattered, he had some bruises and he was full of dirt….
His sisters stormed to him and hugged the boy.
"Mikhail." Ruby hugged him very tight around his torso, while Yang put her arms around his neck.
"You dumb idiot!" She scolded him.
"Ugh…"
"You alright?"
"Yeah…Ruby, but not Zero Rose….."
The looked at his scythe; the weapon was not completely made from dragon materials, so some of them were damaged or broken.
"Ah don't worry she will be repaired."
He patted her head and noticed Pyrrha. He smiled at her and she did the same….The test was over….
XXX
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as…..Team CRDL (Cardinal)." Ozpin formed the first team. "Lead by Cardin Winchester." The audience clapped.
Then the next team came "Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as…..Team JNPR (Juniper)….Nora hugged Ren, who was slightly overburden by it. "Lead by Jaune Arc."
"Huh?" Jaune was flabbergasted by the sudden declaration by his new position "Lead by…me?"
"Congratulations, young man." Ozpin congratulated him and Pyrrha punched him friendly in his arm, which caused him to fall on the ground.
"Woha..ugf!" Laughter from the audience could be heard.
Pyrrha smiled wryly and saw that Mikhail, Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang waved, smiled and whistled at them. The younger twin had some patches on his face and armrest on his right side. He had a torn muscle and a dislocated shoulder. But she knew that her friend would heal quickly because of his huge amount of Aura and life force.
"And finally, would Ruby Rose, Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long come to the stage."
The four girls looked at each other and then at Mikhail who shrugged and then walked to the stage.
"The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY (Ruby)."
'Really…Team RWBY (Ruby)….well it's a nice coincidence or pun…' Mikhail's thoughts were interrupted when Ozpin called him out.
"May Mikhail Rose come to the stage?"
Everybody looked at him, wry smiled formed on his face, he made his way to the girls and Ozpin "Mikhail Rose you retrieved the white king piece and since the number of the students is unbalanced and with regard of your skills and your qualities in leadership, fighting and teamwork, you will be from this day forward, the leader of Team RWBY."
"Duh…what!?" Mikhail's eyes almost popped out.
"Congratulations young man." Ozpin congratulated him and the audience clapped, this is the first time in the history of Beacon, that a five-person team was created.
"I am so proud of you!" Yang hugged him and Ruby as well
"Yeah, good job little bro!"
'Well…I hoped to be the leader….but I guess he earned it.' Weiss gave a soft smile.
'I hope the leadership does not influence his promise with me….and I really want to read his book though.' Blake thought.
'I think…..this will be the end…for me….' Mikhail groaned and palmed his face.
When I wrote the battle scene with Mikhail and the Nevermore, I thought how Mikhail battled with Grabiel in Branch A and holy shit was he agile and strong, even though Gabriel was three-times bigger than he was.
Also I want you guys to help me, making my story a bit more well-known. I am looking for someone who would make this a 'READING STORY'
If one of you is interested pm me.
Here are also the results of the poll, I will still continue it.
1 Blake
2 Pyrrha
3 Neo
4 Winter
5 Velvet
6 Nora
7 Weiss
8 Cinder
9 Coco
10 Emerald