RWBY: The Chronicles of Beacon Academy - Chapter 8: Lucky stars
So, I'm back after about a year. Sorry about that, old laptop became unusable and only just got a new one. Also was busy with exams and moving to college etc. I want to get back into writing this now but no promises... For now I'm aiming for a chapter a week. I'll probably do more but that's the expectation. Anyway, back to the story!
"So, are you two going to involve us in whatever it is that's going on or carry on leaving us behind? I thought we supposed to be a team?" Yang said accusingly.
Ruby and Weiss shared a look of unease before turning back to their team-mates.
"Look guys, we um-"
"No Weiss" Yang interrupted "no excuses and no lies, you either tell us what's happening so we can help you or you leave us out entirely but I do not want some half-assed attempt at convincing us its nothing to worry about"
by this time Ruby had climbed up onto her bunk and Weiss had sat down underneath. After a moment of hesitation and a shared glance of reluctance Weiss spoke up
"Fine. We'll tell you what's happening but know that we are under orders from Ozpin himself to keep this quiet so if you blab your mouths off to anyone it is Ruby and I that will get in trouble. Remember that." she said with extra annunciation on the 'will'
Suddenly the accusing looks on Yang and Blake's faces disappeared, giving way to a look of anticipation and slight unease.
"When was the last time either of you used your semblance?"
"A couple of weeks ago I guess" was Blake's answer. As for Yang, well she can't really use her semblance unless she's seriously pissed off or injured so Weiss assumed she hadn't used it recently.
"Blake try using your semblance now."
"Are you crazy? I'm not creating a clone in here Weiss the mess will take ages to clean up."
"Trust me Blake. Try using it."
Blake simply stared at Weiss, trying to figure out why she was saying this. Just as she was about to protest more Ruby finally piped up
"Blake, trust her, me and Weiss-"
"- Weiss and I Ruby"
The leader let out a little sigh before continuing
"Weiss and I will clean all the mess up, you two don't have to worry about a thing."
She looked at Yang before sighing and agreeing
"Okay, I guess." she got up, crossed to the middle of the room, and stood there. The look of confusion growing stronger on her face every second
"Blake?" Yang said
"Hang on a second, I'm having trouble focusing that's all." After another thirty seconds or so had passed with nothing happening Ruby piped up.
"Do you see the problem now?"
"What the hell is going on?" Yang asked, jumping down from her bunk to join Blake, who for the first time Yang could remember, looked scared.
"there's a new Grimm in the fray. Called a Dementyte apparently. It's a creature Beowolf-like in size, the only differences being it's slightly more versatile and, when it's in the vicinity people will find themselves unable to use their semblance. when fighting it, it will be able to use your semblance against you. As we speak Jaune is in the Emerald Forest hunting it."
"What? Jaune is in the Emerald Forest alone, in the dark, hunting Grimm? Ruby are you insane he can barely fight a creep!"
"Sis calm down! it was Ozpins choice. He said that if you can't beat a slightly more versatile Beowolf then there's no point in being here. And since Jaune is the only one who hasn't yet unlocked his semblance he was the most fitting choice. After all it cant use it if it doesn't know what it is."
"He is going to die out there, what happens if he runs into a deathstalker? Or a nevermore? We were only just able to defeat one of those bird bastards with the four of us working together!" By this time Blake had backed up and was sitting on her bunk, silent. Yang, on the other hand, was getting extremely worked up and both Ruby and Weiss knew they had to calm her down before anyone came to see what the commotion was all about. The two shared a look of concern before Weiss attempted to reason with her.
"Yang look, we know that this was not a good idea and we were reluctant to allow it but logically this option made the most sense. Any of us going out there would be at a severe disadvantage against this creature. One that would highly decrease our chances of beating it. As much as it pains me to say it, against this type of Grimm Jaune has the best chance. Plus he has defeated an Ursa by himself before. So maybe he deserves more credit than we're giving him. Ruby, Pyrrha and myself have already agreed to talk to Ozpin and organise a search party if he isn't back by morning. For now we just have to wait and have faith in him."
A thousand different thoughts were racing through Jaune's mind. Time seemed to be going in slow motion as he thought about his life. He was convinced this was it. He would die down here and likely never be found. He thought about his childhood, his family, the lies he told to get into a school he wasn't ready for. But out of everything in his mind the one recurring thought was Pyrrha. Her face, her voice, her laugh, her enthusiasm for everything. Her acceptance. She was the only one who accepted him for who he was, hell even his sisters always dressed him up and treated him like another girl but Pyrrha was different. She believed in him
"I can't let her down" he whispered to himself.
He dropped his shield just in time to see the creatures front paw coming towards his head. He quickly rolled underneath it and used the time it took for the creature to recover to run around to its side, put away his shield and use the spikes sticking out to climb onto it's back where he grabbed another spike, planted his feet firmly and refused to let go as the Grimm tossed and turned trying to get him off
"Keep trying you glorified rodeo bull!" The bucking continued for another few seconds before stopping.
"Given up huh?" he whispered as he raised his sword up, preparing to plunge it into the creatures back. But just as he was about to thrust it down the Grimm took off, sprinting back through the caves and bounding off the walls. It was all Jaune could do to hold on, he felt like his entire arm was going to ripped off. It was running so fast he couldn't even scream, his voice was nothing more than a coarse whisper and he could barely open his eyes due to how fast the air was rushing past him. it stopped running just as suddenly as it had started. The momentum launching Jaune forward and straight over the head of the grimm. He landed hard on the ground and rolled forward straight into something very solid. Ever so slightly dazed he stood up to see what he'd hit and was more than surprised to see a tree in front of him. He was back in the forest. realising he had more important things to think about he quickly spun round to be faced with the sight of a rather small cave opening, and no grimm.
"what the hell..." He'd never heard of a Grimm leaving it's prey before. They always fought until either you or it was dead. However he decided it would be best to just thank his lucky stars he was alive right now and go straight back to Beacon before any other surprises hit him. Thankfully he could see the lights from Vale's cross continental transit tower and headed straight towards it.
As he staggered back towards warmth, food, water and safety he tried to take note of his surroundings so he could tell Ozpin where this thing was. But he was tired, hurt and desperate to get back so none of it was really going in. He made it back to beacon without any more Grimm encounters and headed for Ozpin's office. As he walked he stopped, realised what the time was and figured headmasters probably slept too. So headed to his own dorm instead, hoping his team would be asleep and he could quietly crawl into bed without having to explain where he had been. He reached the door, took a deep breath and slowly creeped in to the wonderful sound of silence. His team was asleep. He quickly got changed, jumped into bed and fell asleep straight away. Not even giving himself enough time to dread the questions that would be coming his way the next day.