So, before we start this chapter, I'd like to warn you that the writings styles may change between characters. Before, it was me writing what I thought they'd act like. However now, Adam and Charlotte actually wrote their parts themselves (Thanks for that, by the way).
On another note, long time no see? Yeah, I've had a really bad case of writers block over the past… many months… It may occur again so ADAM, CHARLOTTE. WRITE THE NEXT PARTS OF WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU AND SEND THEM TO ME, THANKS!
Chapter 5: Black
-Adam's POV-
I dashed out onto the dance floor, my cane being dragged along beside me as I ran.
"Goldilocks…?" I murmured. My eyes following the mess of gold hair that bounced around the dance floor, fists flying and explosions flashing through the air.
The lilac hues suddenly cornered me. I was like a deer caught in the headlights.
It was like a storm coming towards me. Stuck in the crosshairs, I felt the words fly through my head.
'Mom, I'm gonna find you one way or another… '. Of course, I found it hard to believe she was out to find her mother, but hey, its anime.
"Great news! I have no idea who your mum is!" I yelled, leaning on my cane.
"Thanks for the help!" She replied sarcastically. I looked around at the chaos, then back at her.
"Wow. You destroyed those pansies. But… One thing you might want to know," I paused, wondering whether I should try to deliver the hard truth "Your mum is… kind of crazy" I muttered.
Before I could react, a fist slammed into my leg, narrowly missing my crotch.
"Ow!" I groaned, falling to my knees.
As she spun around, I fired my 'Distraction schtick', sending her sliding back a few feet.
"Close, but no cigar!" I taunted.
She aimed a kick at my shin, and I swung my cane down, catching her leg in its crook, and spinning it, knocking her to the ground.
"Alrighty," I unsheathed the blade in my cane, and spun it in my hand "Question, ma'am. Do you believe in destiny?"
She leapt up, hastily. Surprised, I slashed out, cutting off a strand of her hair.
"Oh… shhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiii…" I mumbled.
Her lilac eyes flashed to red. A punch connected with my face, the heat from the dust exploding around me, as I flew back, through the wall, and slammed into the street below.
"Ow!"
-Charlotte's POV-
My breath was torn from me, lungs grasping for air as I was hit backwards- the tips of my toes digging themselves into the ground in an attempt to keep me on my feet.
"Compose yourself, child!" Professor Goodwitch scolded from afar- the kinetic energy apparently hitting me back further than I first thought.
Knees shook as I pulled myself up, gravity against me in my battle to stand properly. Although asthma no longer existed in this world for me, searching for my breath was painfully (in the literal sense) difficult.
"Is that before or after I die from exhaustion? Because I probably have more of a chance of succeeding it when the latter has happened!"
Normally, I wouldn't be comfortable talking to a teacher in that way, even with my malfunctioning verbal filter for snarkiness. However, being stuck with Goodwitch for four months when training actually made me feel more confident with her. What I felt slightly nervous about, was the honey coloured hues peering at me from the side-lines of the arena we trained in.
A glance from the corner of my eye told me he was regarding me with a smirk.
"I'd prefer it without the attitude, Miss Holmes! "
The colour of a bright purple sauntered into my view, snapping me from my reverie.
Finally managing to pull myself up, my chest still heaving dramatically, I met her eyes.
"I… " My voice was taken from me, the berating creating a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I somehow maintained eye contact but was left without words.
"Come now, Glynda. Surely you can excuse a student that's worked herself hard the entire afternoon." My grey irises snapped to the charismatic source of the voice causing me to accidentally make eye contact with the headmaster.
My eyes lowered and I was sure that his gaze was now locked onto the professor that had been bullying me. A refused to make eye contact with anyone but the white lines marking the arena for a solid minute, listening intently to the chattering of the purple and green figures of Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch. When they finally raised to the two teachers, all I saw was an intense glare towards Ozpin being sent from Goodwitch and a soft stare from Ozpin being sent Goodwitch's way.
A sigh finally elicited from the former party, all eyes being turned upon me.
"Fine. But I expect double the effort tomorrow." And with that, exit stage left Glynda Goodwitch.
With a small smile on my lips I turned my gaze on the professor left in the arena with me.
Even with the favour Ozpin had done for me, I still felt uncomfortable being alone with the headmaster.
My lips pressed together tightly, eyes going once over the room before I actually spoke or made eye contact with the taller man in front of me.
"As much as I appreciate it, is double the effort really worth it?" I asked incredulously, a smile on my lips to show I was joking.
A chuckle elicited from the older man, his hand suddenly gesturing forward in an offer to walk me from the arena. I began at my pace and Ozpin followed beside me.
"Even if Glynda will not admit it, you're making good progress of your telekinesis." He spoke with his eye forward, only turning his soft hues upon me as he closed his sentence.
"Aw, thanks, "I replied in an obviously faux shy way. "I mean, I probably should have learnt to use it before but…well, it was never really...necessary in any situations I'd been in."
The figure draped in green nodded, understandably. "Well, perhaps one day we may live in a world where defence is not necessary."
I'd never really been a fan of conversation with a lot of emotion but the way Ozpin had spoken caused a spark of curiosity within me.
"What do you mean?" I asked pausing my stride when we reached the door, my reaction time apparently not as fast as Ozpin's as he held out his long arm to pull the door open for me.
I did that awkward take where I thought he would move first, standing at the side and patiently waiting as neither of us made any attempt to walk through the door before realizing he had the door propped open with one arm-politely awaiting my exit through the door.
As soon as I realized this, I hastily moved past the threshold to see groups of students together in groups making their way to their next classes.
My eyes turned back to the headmaster.
"Hunters and Huntresses' purposes are all different. Some are to change the world and others are more personnel. However, I do believe that along their way they will assist with that goal and one day, we will make a change for their better." He gave me the reply in the way a man preaching to a government not to start a war would.
"Or they could change it for the worse..." I murmured, supressing a chill at the thought of a terrible world.
The side of Ozpin's mouth crooked up into a knowing smile. "Well, we are without the knowledge of what will happen, unfortunately."
I took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.
"I do believe this is where we part ways- all this walking can't be good for your exhaustion. "
"Yeah, thanks for that save from Professor Goodwitch, by the way…uh, bye..."
I hastily began walking away, my teeth nibbling at my lip. God, I'm terrible at goodbyes.
-My POV-
I sat in silence, listening to my surroundings so as not to be surprised when Taurus (I could call him Adam now, but it's a habit) finally arrived from his meeting. As I waited, I thought about Blake's question, from earlier. Tagged, a word meaning you were held in a faunus slave encampment at some point in your life, however I had no recollection of ever being to one. I'd actually told Blake of this, however I don't think she believed me. She had held her tongue though and we'd gone to the briefing.
A train full of dust was to be running through the forest at some point, we were to raid it, simple as. Which was also why I'd asked Blake beforehand about whether she was going to stay in the White Fang for much longer. I knew what this job was. It was the one shown in the Black trailer, though some of the details are a little fuzzy after 7 years of not watching the show. All I could remember is that at the end Blake was going to cut all ties with the bull. I'd decided that I'd go too. So here we were, Blake sitting on a boulder, staring at the sky. And me sitting on the grass, trying to find a reason for my 'body lore' as I had dubbed it.
But I digress, looking up, I saw Blake staring off into the sky. A small snort of dry amusement escaped my nostrils before I turned back to staring at the forest. I had heard footsteps entering the clearing after all. After a few seconds of searching, my eyes locked onto the proud form of Adam Taurus, his weapon sheathed in his hands. I stood up, picking up the black cloak and sniper that lay beside me, and slipped my cloak my shoulders, pulling the hood up over my head in the process.
"Blake, Archie, it's time" he announced. He need not say any more words, all three of us knew our objective.
After a few seconds of silence Blake turned to face him, "Okay" she nodded, sliding off the rock and standing next to me.
The bull set off first, charging through the forest like a… well, like a bull on a rampage. I turned to Blake, put my hand on her shoulder and nodded. A small breath escaped her lips, before she followed after him, me following soon after.
We ran in silence, keeping our ears open in case of an unprecedented ambush. Gradually, the valley we were headed to came into sight as we approached our objective. There, lining the floor of the valley were the tracks the train we would be raiding was going to pass through here on. We waited, me in a tree, Blake and the bull standing at the top of the valley. I pulled up the scope of my rifle and watched the turn where the train would be coming from. After a minute, I saw it.
"It's coming" I told the two, and dropped down from the tree.
As the train rushed past, the bull gave us the signal and we jumped. Taurus first, then Blake, then me, as it was before. The wind whistled around us as we slid down towards the speeding train. All my attention was pulled onto the roof of the car nearest to me before I leapt of the hillside. For a brief second, I experienced weightlessness, before I came hurtling down towards the train car. I separated the firing mechanism from my sniper before shifting it into the katana, the blade of it sliding out the casing and the firing mechanism turning into a pistol in my hands. As I landed I slammed my blade into the roof to prevent myself from falling off. Looking up, I saw both the bull and Blake had done the same. I saw the two of them look back at me and I nodded, charging forward and taking point.
We leapt from car to car until we reached the one we wanted, I sliced off the lock quickly, before opening the trapdoor for the other two before dropping down after them. Immediately falling into the laser sensors that activated the robots in the room.
"Looks like we'll be doing this the hard way" the bull announced.
"Was there ever going to be any other way?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes and flipping the blade in my left hand into a reverse grip as the Robots around us activated, all of their faceplates dropping down to protect the inner workings. They quickly surrounded us in several different ready stances.
"Don't be so dramatic" Blake replied, keeping hold of her weapon, staying ready for when we they struck.
One of the robots in front of Taurus shifted its hands into its machine gun form, and pointed it at the bull.
"Intruder, identify yourself" it demanded.
Taurus' stance relaxed a small amount at realising these were the older models of the Atlesian Knight, before launching Wilt at the robot's face, knocking it back before grabbing the blade out of the air and slicing apart the offending machine. That was all I saw before I was engaged in my own 3v1 battle.
As they charged me, I leapt up into the air. Bringing my katana behind my back before releasing a few pistol shots at the nearest robot. It stumbled back a few steps and I took my chance. As I reached the ceiling, I twisted my body round so that my feet were touching the roof then kicked off, bringing the blade around and dismembering the first machine. Before the second and third could react, I had leapt backwards towards them, thrusting the blade in my hands towards the robot behind me and jammed it into its chest. Paying the damage no heed the second robot charged me, swinging its bladed arms at me in an attempt to land a hit on me. I dodged each attack, before leaping over its head at the third robot. Using the second robot's shoulders as a launching pad, I flipped over the third as well, landing behind it in a quiet 'thud'. Before either of them had reacted, I launched myself at the third robot's unprotected back, jamming my pistol between the separation where its head joined its body. Twelve pistol shots rang through the car, before I kicked the machine towards the last of Blake's attackers, knocking it over and crushing it beneath the weight of my own attacker. I jumped back to where the second robot was charging me, before grabbing the hilt of my weapon and ripping up through the chest and into the head, thoroughly ending its robotic life.
The other two ran out of the car, with me following. I merged my weapons together again, reforming the sniper rifle and crouching down at the back of the car, while the other two charged forwards at their enemies. Raising the barrel of my sniper, I set my sights on my furthest foe, held my breath to stead my aim. Then fired. I felt the stock resting in my shoulder kick back due to the recoil, however I paid it no heed, setting my sights onto another enemy as I slid the bolt back to load another round in. I repeated the process multiple times, trusting Blake and the bull to deal with any hostiles nearing them. It was over in less than half a minute, the final robot dropping to the floor. A .45 calibre round embedded in the tactical matrix located in it's head.
As we reached the door to the next car, I turned around to make sure we hadn't missed any. I felt something land on my foot. Looking down, I saw one of the robots, its legs sliced cleanly from the rest of its body in a cut so precise that, while it may be dying, it wasn't dead. I lined the barrel up against its head and fired, ending the 'Knight's mechanical life. Upon confirming none standing, I joined the other two in the car. Taurus and Blake had just moved up to a crate as I reached them.
"Perfect" Taurus muttered, "Move up to the next car" he ordered us, closing the crate behind him. I turned to him, about to ask a question when Blake beat me to it.
"What about the crew members?" she asked him. He turned to her and I could almost feel the incredulity from behind the mask.
"What about them?"
Before either me, or Blake could protest, all three of us heard clicking from the ceiling as a gigantic spider droid drops down before us.
"Move!" I tell the two, as I charge towards it, making several attempts to damage it before it swats me back towards the others with one of its blaster arms.
"Adam!" Blake pleaded as the robot charged its weapons, before sending a volley of plasma fire at the two.
Slowly, I stood up, spitting out a small amount of phlegm that had gotten lodged in my throat when I'd been knocked back. Looking around for my weapon, I noticed Blake and the bull striking the droid with everything they had, receiving little in results. As I fumbled around for my weapon, I saw Blake get swatted away by the monstrous machine much like I had. The bull noticed and attempted to protect her by going on the offensive, however much like us before him, he got knocked away as well. As the machine lifted its leg to crush Blake, I charged forward, intent on moving her out of the way. As the droid's leg reached its peak, I reached Blake, picking her up in a princess carry, before leaping back. The wind-flow was disturbed as the machine's leg blurred an inch in front of me. I set her down next to the door before turning back to the Droid. As I watched, all for of its cannons merged into one, charging one massive wave of plasma. Adam attempted to unsheathe his blade, however was too slow as the wave of pure energy connected with us and the wall behind us, completely eradicating it from existence as I shielded both me and Blake with my cloak.
Checking her for any injuries I noticed several small pieces of debris lodged in her side. I can only assume that this was from the wall that we had been launched through.
"Blake's wounded!" I called out to him. For a split second, he tensed before morphing back into the calm exterior that he usually held and looking back up to the wall we'd just been launched through. There, the droid we'd been fighting was clambering out of the, now admittedly, wrecked car.
"Buy me some time!" He shouted back to me a second later and I nodded, understanding what he wanted me to do. I charged the machine, now wielding my katana and pistol, and leapt onto its head. There, I attempted to slice through the thick plating, leaping back as it made an attempt to grab me. I slid down its back, firing rounds into its back in a feeble attempt to break through the plating. Diving under it, I lodged my katana into its underside, dragging my weapon through the machines weaker plating, and fired inside it. The droid shuddered a bit as I noticed its legs lock up. Feeling achieved, I leapt back to Taurus as the droid began charging its weapon. Unknown to him I had cast an illusion, one which made me look like I was tending to Blake's injury, shielding us from being noticed as I picked up Blake and ran to the next car.
When I turned back to face him, I saw his hair and the red on his jacket glowing. He must have absorbed the blast in his sword, by this time. When the droid was finally capable of using its legs again, it was already too late, for when it leapt at him, he struck. His blade literally displacing the air around him as he completely annihilated the droid. When he was done, he turned around and ran towards our car. Upon noticing me there with Blake in my arms, a solemn expression on my face, his step faltered a bit before he stopped completely. I closed my eyes and drew in a breath.
"She says goodbye" I told him, taking off my mask and pocketing it, my now golden eyes staring right into his mask from beneath my hood.
I placed Blake down on the car's bed, before grabbing Blake's weapon from her back. Carefully, so as not to hit myself, I raised it behind my head, before swinging down and decoupling the car. Taurus stood there the whole time, confusion plastered all over his face as he struggled to accept this information. As he realised what was happening was indeed real he reached out a hand, as if to grab the car, but by the time he had we were already far out of is reach. I placed Blake's weapon on her back, before picking her up and bringing her into the next car. Hopefully there would be some kind of First Aid kit somewhere within one of the many crates inside.
Goddamn this took me too long to write…
But anyway, yeah, as stated at the beginning, Adam and Charlotte wrote their parts, so sorry if you're confused about the switching writing styles half way between the chapter (Shoutout to them, btw; Adam being AdamWest17 on here and Charlotte being RoysMustang on AO3).
So yeah, Black trailer and Yellow trailer… Done!
I'm tempted to add in the red trailer, somehow, but I'm not exactly sure how, so until I write it (or not, depends) you'll have to wait and see.
But anyway, thanks for reading! Review, and stay legendary!
-=[MysteriousBiscuit]=-