Albus FF - Chapter 5
This is the biggest chapter so that that I've written, mainly because I decided to cover so much. As stated before, this chapter will be over all of what happens to Team Coral during Volume 2 of the show. I just wanted to get through it so I could get to Volume 3. I'm excited for the next two chapters because I can finally get to another part of Albus's background that I've been holding back for the right time, which I have dropped a couple hints to in this chapter. I hope that what will be revealed won't make anyone back away from the story, since I think I handle it in a pretty good way, in my opinion.
Team Coral was just walking into the locker room to put away their weapons after some team training. All of them were covered in sweat. When they got to their lockers, Carmine spoke up, "Good session guys! Now that we have our team attacks down, we just need to perfect them."
"I don't think we should have any problem qualifying for the tournament," stated Russ. "And we just have one more week of classes until the dance."
"And then a mission with an actual huntsmen," Albus said excited. "I can't wait."
"So, Russ," Laz smirked. "How did asking out Yang go?"
"Yeah, she said no," he began. "She told me she had to greet everyone who came so she was going alone."
Carmine slapped his shoulder, "Tough luck, man. But there is still some students coming in from the other kingdoms. Maybe you could ask one of them?"
"Yeah, I guess," Russ replied. "What about you guys?"
"I'm going with a girl from Vacuo named Basali," Carmine boasted.
"I was just gonna go to hang out," Albus shrugged.
Laz looked down, hiding her face behind her hair, "Nobody asked me so, I don't know."
"There's still a week left," Carmine reassured her. "Plenty of time for someone to ask you."
The first year students were sitting in Professor Peach's classroom. On the blackboard was the word, 'Gravity' and in the center was a dark purple dust powder. Laz had her full attention on what the professor was saying. "This is gravity Dust," the professor explained. "It is one of the more uncommon types of Dust used today. Depending on how much you use, being in a certain radius of the center of the explosion will make you weightless for a short time."
Carmine lightly elbowed Laz, "We need to get some of that." Laz immediately shushed him.
Professor Peach continued, eyeing the wolf faunus, "The most common use of this variety of Dust is in bullets, which tend to pack a much bigger punch, force-wise, than any other form. Now, if you turn to page-"
"Laz, we need to get some of that gravity Dust," Carmine said as they walked out of class. "Tonight, we'll hit up all of the Dust shops that are still open and get you some. Just think of what you could do with it!"
"C'mon," she said embarrassingly. "It's not a big deal guys. We don't even know if it will do anything with my semblance."
"We could get some anyway," interjected Albus. "How freaked out would someone be if they just started floating? It would be great in the tournament."
"Then it's decided," stated Carmine. "We'll go after our next class."
Glynda Goodwitch was in the center of Beacon's indoor combat arena. She had a tablet in her arm as she started the class. "Now students, I know this is your last class before the dance this weekend, but I do not want any of you thinking you don't have to do anything this period." She looked at Albus. "Mr. Turnbull, I assume you'll want to start us off as you always do. Do you have an opponent in mind?"
"No, ma'am." He said, standing up.
"Well then, we'll see who gets the privilege to fight you today." She tapped on her tablet, causing the big screen behind her to scroll through the names of everyone in the class. When it stopped, Weiss's portrait came up. "Ms. Schnee, would you please come down."
"Do you have to do this every class?" Weiss asked Albus as she entered the ring.
"I don't see why not," he replied.
"Begin," Glynda said, backing up.
Weiss lunged with Myrtenaster. Albus parried it away and kicked her back. He smirked at her while she spun her rapier's Dust chamber. A glyph appeared in front of her, causing an ice crystal to appear and fly at Albus. He barely managed to dodge it and readied an arrow. He quickly fired it and ran after it in an arc to the left.
Weiss dodged the arrow, but couldn't react in time to Albus's follow through. Albus held Brightshot, readying for Weiss's next attack. She pointed Myrtenaster at him, making six glyphs appear around him. She jumped to one, then bounced off Albus going to another. She hit him three times before he went into Limbo. He jumped back, coming out of Limbo. He started walking at her when she summoned a glyph behind her and used it to jump at Albus.
They traded blow after blow, both their auras falling with each hit. This went on for another minute when a buzzer went off and Glynda walked up, "And that concludes the match. Weiss Schnee is the winner." On the big screen, Weiss was shown to have 19 percent aura while Albus had 14. "Maybe next time, you shouldn't hesitate to press your attack, Mr. Turnbull." the professor reprimanded him. "Does anyone else want to challenge someone?"
The door to Team Coral's room burst open as they returned from their outing to Vale. Carmine was holding two arrows with dark purple heads. "Man, I can't believe we only had enough money to get Dust for two arrows." their leader griped. "We'll have to be careful with how we use these."
"Let's just save them for the tournament," suggested Russ. "You and Albus could each have one."
"Sounds good to me," stated the latter. "Hey, Laz. Can I talk to you in the hall?"
She nodded and followed him out of the room. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Albus put his arm behind his head. "Has anyone asked you to the dance yet?"
She looked down a little. "No," she softly spoke.
"Well, why don't we go together?" he asked. "Since we're both going alone, why not?"
She looked up at him. "Thanks," she said to him smiling.
Albus and Laz were walking arm in arm into the dance hall. Albus was wearing an all black suit with a blue bow tie. He had also styled his hair a bit, slicking it up. Laz had on a green flowing dress and had curled her normally straight blue hair. As they walked into the building, Yang greeted them, "Wow, you two look great."
They walked further into the hall and saw Carmine sitting in between Russ and a brown haired girl. "Hey guys," he said, standing up. "This is Basali. Basali, this is the rest of my team, Albus and Laz."
She raised her hand, "Hello!"
"So, where's your team?" Albus questioned her.
"Oh, I'm only here because Carmine asked me," Basali stated. "They weren't really interested in this."
Laz sat down next to her, "Who is on your team?"
"I'm the leader of team Burgundy," she said. "My partner is Gaia and the other two are brothers named Ray and Nadir. We're here for the tournament."
"Well, good luck to you guys." As Albus said that, the music changed to a new song. The white haired boy turned to Laz. "Shall we dance?" She nodded and stood up.
As Carmine was watching the two depart, he saw Yang dancing with Blake Belladonna. Yang then left her to allow a monkey faunus step in. "Russ, you should go ask Yang to dance," he said. "Quick!"
Russ shot up and made his way to Yang. Both of them then went to the dance floor for the duration of the current song. Team Coral had a great time for the rest of the night, especially when Jaune Arc showed up wearing a dress.
Team Coral was gathered with all of the other first year teams in the auditorium. Ozpin and Glynda were at center stage like at the start of the year. "Quiet." Glynda tried hushing the crowd, "Quiet please. Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin."
The headmaster began, "Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four kingdoms of Remnant. On this day nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself.
"We fought for countless reasons," he continued, "one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self expression, and as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither would the generations to come. And it was a trend that has held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity, through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort, which is why today when the rest of the world celebrates peace, huntsmen and huntresses will work to uphold it.
"As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional huntsmen or huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best." The crowd erupted in applause as Ozpin finished his speech.
Carmine led his team to the list of available missions. He pointed to one listing, "How about this wall repair mission? There's bound to be Grimm and with us being so close to the wall, it shouldn't be too dangerous." The rest of his team agreed with him, so they took it.
Their mission said that they had to leave ASAP, so they headed outside to look for their huntress. When they arrived at their rendezvous point, they noticed Professor Peach waiting for them. "Let's get a move on Coral!" she shouted. "We need to be out to the southwest part of the wall as soon as possible! They are waiting for us!" They quickened their pace to catch up with their professor.
When they had boarded their airship out, Carmine looked to Peach. "So professor, what's our mission exactly?" he asked.
"We are tasked with protecting a construction crew as they make routine maintenance on Vale's southwest wall," she began. "There will most certainly be Grimm, but we will have support from guards on the wall. First, we must scout the area they will be working to make sure it's clear of Grimm, then once we establish the perimeter we will maintain it. Be on alert at all times."
The five of them landed outside of Vale's wall in front of one of the gates leading into the city. As the airship lifted off again, the taller women turned to her students, "Split up however you want to, two and two, and fan out. Yell if you encounter any Grimm." Albus and Russ made their way east while Carmine and Laz went west. After fifteen minutes, both groups made their way back to the gate, not meeting any opposition. Peach pulled out her scroll and a dozen or so people in yellow vests came out of the gate.
She turned to the four huntsmen in training, "I've linked your scrolls to mine and the guards on the wall. The second you see any Grimm, let us know, then dispatch them. Now, begin your patrols."
After a long day of protecting the construction crew, Team Coral and Professor Peach headed into the city to rest. A few Grimm had shown up. A small pack of beowolves, a few creeps, and a pair of ursa, which were quickly taken down by the combined efforts of the five of them and the guards on the wall.
"Good job today," Peach congratulated the four students. "Now you better get some rest because we will be starting again bright and early." They went into the guard barracks beside the wall to sleep. After they woke up, the team were getting their weapons ready when a siren started going off. They quickly ran to find Professor Peach, who was just putting her scroll away
"What's happening?" Russ frantically asked the huntress.
"I just got done talking to Professor Ozpin, and he told me that there has been a breach in the wall east of here," she told the four of them. "Be assured, he has sent enough people to contain the situation."
"Are you sure we shouldn't go help?" questioned Carmine.
"Our job is not done here," she asserted to their leader. "A few more days, and the wall repair will be done. Our mission is to protect not only the crew, but also the people of Vale. If this doesn't get done, the whole city will be in jeopardy."
The four members of Team Coral were walking back to Beacon as they departed from their airship. They stopped in the courtyard to sit for a minute. "That was a great first mission," stated Carmine.
"Now all that's left to worry about is the Vytal Tournament," Laz said to the team.
"I can't wait," Albus said as he rubbed his hands together.
And as a last author's note, I wanted to clarify Team CRAL's semblances just a bit.
Albus can go into a dimension that is alongside our normal one. While in Limbo, he can see everything in the normal dimension, but he can only interact with himself and anything he brings with him. He is still visible in the real world, but anything that would hit him would just go through him. Staying in Limbo is like straining a muscle to Albus, and the longest he's been able to was one minute.
Russ can store weapons in a sub-space pocket at will. He currently has a sniper rifle and a spear linked to him. He can't just put as many weapons he wants in it. He has to be familiar with the weapon and meditate with it for a few hours to be able to store it, so he can't just pull an enemy's weapon away from them and put them away.
Laz can manipulate the gravity holding her to Remnant, either making herself heavier or lighter. When launched during the initiation, she was able to control her descent and landed rather easily. She can't yet control how gravity affects others, though.
Carmine can speed up his reaction time about four times faster than normal. He can't hold it for very long either, only for about a second at a time. After he does this he gets pretty winded, so he only uses it when he needs to.