"Where is he?!" Raven yelled.
Just like Roman promised, he showed them what it was like going against someone who was steps ahead. Taiyang was told to sit out while the other three had to practice. Summer had to admit it wasn't as easy as she thought. Roman would attack from all different angles without fail.
Taiyang watched in amusement as his girlfriend became angrier by the minute. She was never the patient type in battle. She had become so frustrated she started yelling at Qrow about his bad luck. He yelled at her back and it went on for five minutes before Roman came because he was tired of hearing them argue.
"You two can't stop fighting can you?" Roman asked and the twins became quiet, "Salem and the witch aren't gonna wait for your squabble to be over. They know what they want and they'll do whatever it takes. How can you fight them when you're mad at each other?"
"Why am I taking advice from someone who can barely fight?" Raven hissed.
"I can fight with my fists, make no mistake. I just can't use a sword or a scythe. If you want to find out put down your weapons if not be quiet."
Summer covered her mouth in shock. Even Taiyang looked surprised but Raven backed off, shutting her mouth. Roman was clearly relieved but it was true.
"You have to pretend it's like checkers. Always be steps ahead. Think about the situations that could happen beforehand. What if they get ahold of one of you? You can't charge in without thinking."
Raven glared at him making him squirm but she continued to stay quiet.
"How would you beat the witch?" he asked.
No one said anything. None of then had the slightest idea how they would beat someone who could walk around with a giant gaping hole in this body. Only Glynda, Summer and Raven had any clue to her power beyond her healing abilities. The guys had stayed behind to fight Grimm.
"Should we ask Headmaster Ozpin?" Summer asked and Qrow shrugged.
"I can call Glynda," Qrow suggested and Raven rolled her eyes.
"You just want an excuse to see her."
"I think it's a good idea. Honestly, I don't think he would know much himself... Only about Salem."
"I agree with Summer and Qrow. I think Glynda would be the one to ask about the blonde witch," Taiyang said making Raven give him a dirty look, "All of us can sit together and get as much information as we can. Then we make our way to Ozpin. What's the harm in asking."
"You don't think it would be better to remain ignorant of most of what's going on?" Raven asked.
"What do you mean?" Roman asked.
"What if we can't handle everything that is about to happen? Right now we stand no chance against her or this Salem woman."
"Just because you're scared doesn't make it right to ignore the situation," Roman snapped becoming annoyed.
The last person he expected to have no back bone was Raven.
"You don't get it do you?" she spat back, "I went through everything trying to prevent death and pain just for all of us to jump into it?!"
"If you can see the future so well, why don't you tell us what you see?!" Roman yelled, "This isn't about you, us or Beacon. It's about everyone and even if you run off staying safe, what good is it if we're all dead? What would that do for you?!"
Raven's eyes filled with angry tears, "I already lost my baby! I almost lost my brother, my boyfriend and my best friend! More than once! Knowing a slight possibility won't make a fucking difference!
Roman looked at Summer who looked upset and ashamed too but she stayed quiet with her eyes glued to the ground.
"Even if your baby had survived... You running away would have given him zero chance of a future Raven. Same for everyone else."
"Why do you care? You're a piece of trash off the street!"
"I am and I won't deny that, but I have Summer now. If shit goes to hell and we never see each other again then I can be OK as long as I know she's alive and well. I can die knowing I tried my best right now. Right now matters and tomorrow she may come hunting you down. They want Summer don't they?"
Raven looked over at her team leader who was tears already. No one dared to speak a word.
"They do."
"Well?"
Raven turned around and walked away.
X
X
Roman threw another rock into the water waiting for anyone to say something. Summer was staring off in the distance, Taiyang kept trying to call Raven and Qrow was on his scroll typing away. He felt rather annoyed with Summer and her team. He didn't and couldn't understand why no one had thought far enough ahead.
I'm over here shitting bricks and I don't even know how to fight. I'm in the middle of a bunch of powerful women and they're worse than powerful men... Angry women are scary.
"Hi everyone."
Everyone's head shot up to see Glynda walking into the small wooded area they were in. Raven was a few feet behind her with a stern look on her face.
"Raven! You're OK!" Taiyang yelled embracing her.
"I'm fine."
Raven locked eyes with Roman who swallowed hard. He knew he was going to get it now as she gently pushed her boyfriend to the side and headed for his direction. Even Qrow stood up just in case she decided to clock him in the face for upsetting her earlier. He was barely an inch taller than her but damn she was scary.
"I understand what you have said. I don't appreciate attitude."
"Neither do I."
Qrow smacked his forehead. Dense asshole!
Raven grinded her teeth and punched his arm really hard making him stumble backwards a little.
"I will hurt your face next time. Besides that... I am ready to listen."
Roman looked at Glynda who nodded.
X
They sat together in a circle.
"OK then... I know I never saw it but... Lily Spelltime had the ability to regenerate obviously. She... She's got a whole other level type of semblance. Some can level up their semblance through training, usage, near death experience or if they have a long enough life span.
"There are tales and rumors to her power but the truth is she has a long life span. She has figured out how to amplify her own abilities without any problems. There is one fall back to her semblance. Any major damage set up on her is said to shave years of her life as she would use her aura to regenerate. For us, it's the opposite."
"That... Is odd," Taiyang said.
"Every semblance has a drawback. I'm not sure how long she has but the key to beating her is multiple life threatening wounds. I don't mean taking an arm or leg. I mean like the wound Summer had inflicted on her. I'm sure Lily could heal it as fast as a minute or so... But it may be possible that it may take more off her life if she does it too fast. Maybe that's why she hadn't come back yet."
"What should we do?" Qrow asked.
"Anything and everything is possible with Lily. She has developed her skills beyond imagination... A single finger tap could poison you... Cause a heart attack or something. We can't separate as we attack her."
"How do we go for the kill?"
"To be honest... I think Summer is the only qualified to beat her."
Everyone looked at Summer who was already petrified.
"I know you don't wanna hear that but... You have no idea how powerful you really are. When I had touched you to readjust your aura... It was... Like being in the presence of a warm sunlight... It felt like safety and magic," Glynda said as her cheeks turned pink, "It's hard to describe the feeling."
"Great... We have someone who gives off a warm fuzzy feeling as our savior," Raven said sarcastically.
Summer blushed and Roman put an arm around her, "I believe in you."
"Thanks," she murmured.
"We have one thing to discuss."
Everyone turned towards Taiyang.
"What's that?" Glynda asked eyeing him.
"Who has killed someone?" he asked.
Everyone became dead silent. Raven raised her hand and so did Roman. Taiyang did also leaving Qrow, Summer and Glynda looking at each other. Of course Summer mortally (or so she thought) wounded Lily.
"We'll have to do eventually."
Raven had gulit over her face. She didn't want to have to do that again.
"I don't mind," Summer said.
"That's a big step, baby," Roman said running his fingers through her hair.
"I know but I'm willing to take that burden so no on else has too. I don't want to hear about it from any of you. If I have to do it alone I'll finish alone."
Everyone got quiet.
"I have something to say," Summer said.
"OK," Glynda said.
"If there's a chance she'll come back... Then I need to stay away from Beacon."
Raven, Qrow and Taiyang stared at their team leader. Glynda nodded in agreement.
"There would be too many people around. At least in downtown Vale it's more empty and if a fight erupted you could draw her away."
"I won't have you staying here alone!" Raven yelled.
"I agree," Roman said, "People here are straight up assholes."
"I think that's where you come in," Summer said, "You can ask people for information. You can take one of us with you."
"That's a great idea!" Taiyang said, "I'll go with you!"
Roman raised an eyebrow.
"We can hang! Besides I like investigating!"
Raven covered her face before snorting and busting out laughing.
"You guys can hit the town for a day or two before we decide if I should stay out of Beacon. I think it's best of we chose to have this stuff stay between us."
"Shouldn't we ask Ozpin?" Qrow asked.
Glynda shook her head, "He doesn't know much himself. If he knew about Salem he didn't provide any information. I knew more about Lily because of my family history."
"I don't agree."
Summer bit her lip. Of course Raven wouldn't be OK with her friends going out throwing themselves to death. To be honest Summer was her only friend. She had her brother and her boyfriend then her friend.
"What do you suggest then?" Summer demanded making Raven jump slightly, "If you have a better idea tell us."
Raven snapped her mouth shut.
"Alright then. Starting tomorrow you two do what we agreed for and we'll go on from there."
X
X
"At least the hole closed up."
Lily touched her stomach. There was no scar there though, just creamy white skin. She sighed and looked out the window staring in to the purple and black darkness. Only a little more time...
X
The next day Taiyang took off right after school to join up with Roman. Qrow headed off to be Glynda leaving Summer alone in the dorm room. She laid on her bed thinking about the stuff coming up. Christmas was so close in a few weeks.
There was no snow yet.
The door flew open almost coming of the hinge. The door knob embedded into the wall. Raven stomped in, red eyes flaming with pure rage. She pulled the door out the wall and slammed it shut. She had her red sword in her hand breathing heavily.
"What's wrong?" Summer asked standing up, alarmed.
Raven threw her sword into the wall and it through. A loud eek came from the hallway but Raven didn't care. She grabbed the collar of Summer's dress and lifted her off the ground. Summer's eyes widened in fear as Raven's face inches from hers.
"R-Raven-
"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" she screamed.
Summer wanted to shrink away in the corner. She had never seen her friend so angry.
"I-I-
"I didn't ask for you to do the stupid shit you've done! You don't get it do you?! I never ever wanted to have friends because all I needed was Qrow! Now I have to worry about your stupid ass! You think that's fair to me?!"
Summer was rendered speechless as tears filled Raven's blood red eyes. Angry tears streamed down her face as her lips quivered. All Summer could do was open her mouth but no sound came out. Raven threw her into the night stand knocking stuff onto the ground and the night stand cracked from Summer's weight.
Summer couldn't even stand up she was in such shock. Raven collapsed down to her knees sobbing into her hands. After a few minutes Raven calmed down and Summer crawled over to her. She never meant to hurt her friend that much.
"I joined Beacon to escape all the death. Fighting Grimm was nothing for me. Now... We are pitted against something beyond nightmares. I already know what Salem looks like..."
Summer stayed quiet.
"She scares me... Shes the creator of Grimm."
"H-how does she make them...?"
Raven looked at her friend with a terrified look on her face and whispered so low Summer almost didn't hear her.
"I don't want to say. It's so horrible."
X
X
Summer pulled off her dress and her bra, swallowed hard. It was a few hours after Raven's horrific meltdown and her back was hurting when she moved. Roman and Taiyang hadn't returned yet but they had assured her through several messages they were OK. Summer took a deep breath and turned around.
Summer gasped seeing the purple and black marks on her back. She wondered how the stand was still holding together from the looks of her back. She wasn't mad that she had thrown her or that she had directed her fear at Summer. Summer was worried about Raven's mental well being.
Raven had went through a lot in her life compared to her.
Summer pulled on her bra and tossed the dress in the laundry hamper. She went to her dresser, pulled on a pair of faded blue jeans when the door opened. Raven had returned and saw her friend's back. She was racked with guilt already and now she felt like absolute shit.
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
Summer turned around holding a Beacon shirt in her hands.
"I know Raven. I'm not mad."
"How can you not be mad at me?!" Raven cried out.
"This isn't easy for any of us."
"You're constantly making excuses for me. Why do you care do you act like hurting you is OK?"
"I know it's not but being mad about it won't get me anywhere. I do have something to say."
Raven fell silent.
"You got mad at Qrow for dumping me because I blindingly put myself in danger but now you're mad at me for the same thing. The difference between now and then is this time it isn't my fault. I am scared. I'm terrified of the whole thing but I have all of you by my side. That is all I need to make me walk forward."
"Summer..."
Summer walked towards her friend and hugged her tight.
"You're my best friend. I love you Raven and thank you for being there for me."
Raven hugged her back with her eyes watering again.
"I love you too... Can I fix your back?" she whispered.
"Yes."
Summer sat on Raven's bed and Raven sat behind her. Raven placed her hands on her back making Summer flinch.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"It's OK. You can order pizza to make up for it."
Raven laughed, "Anything for you."