A/N: Hiya people reader peoples! Sorry this chapter took so much longer than I expected it to...A lot happened recently... like I got accepted to college! :D (Yay me! Now I gotta learn for four more years! Y.Y) but besides all that craziness my long time girlfriend got sick and had to go to the hospital. I didn't want to leave her side for the first few days and even after she left I took care of her for quite a bit afterward but she's pretty awesome and told me to keep writing even though she was sick, she even gave me a few ideas for this chapter! So im sorry this was late but life happens you know? So last but not least I would like to thank all favorites, followers, and reviewers, you guys make all this worth it! So without further ado, la story~
"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
Do you know what it means to be a Hero?
About an hour had passed since they had departed from Beacon and most members of the team were resting. Ash had been asleep since they began so he hadn't felt the need to go back to sleep, he had noticed that Professor Port was still up and awake, looking out the ocean as if contemplating something.
"Is something the matter professor?" Ash asked suddenly.
The Professor was somewhat surprised at Ash's voice but shook it off internally, "I was just thinking about where we are going."
Ash seemed confused, "You never did specify what this place was Professor..."
The Professor sighed, "It was a project that should have ended but..." he trailed off looking down at ruins of what seemed to a be a city.
"But?" Ash said interested in this particular story.
Professor Port sighed and leaned against his seat, "An attempt to expand beyond Vales walls and overtake the island right off the peninsula. The idea was to create a city here and connect it to Vale, add a safer and quicker route to Atlas for trade among other things."
"And then the Grimm came..." Ash concluded.
"They were always here, they were waiting. The kept coming and coming and...it was a terrible tragedy. They overtook the walls and what you see below are the remnants of what used to be Vales newest and most prosperous venture in many years since the walls creation." Professor port continued to explain with a frown, "It's been many years and people still cling to a settlement on the far side of the coast, some suggested that we end any contact with this settlement as it takes up to much manpower and resources but Ozpin refuses to let this many people go."
"We can't just let hundreds of people die can we?" Ash said tightening his fist.
"That's is why we are here young man, but I fear that they may losing hope in that settlement."
"What makes you say that?" Ash asked.
"Grimm are attracted to negative emotion, anger, sadness, distress. These attacks have become much more frequent in recent months, the more hope they lose the more attacks will follow im afraid." He said causing the two settle into a somber silence, Ash stared down at the ruins of the city and felt himself fidget, he wasn't sure if he was nervous or scared.
Ash grew up in a area that many people would call a ghetto, poor area, or project. What he saw he didn't have a word for, the first thing that came to mind was, "Misery." He thought to himself as he stared at the settlement from above. Grey. Everything felt so lifeless. There seemed to be some semblance of settlement between the destroyed buildings and run down shops, a police force that stood on the corner of the barren streets. It was as if this place hadn't seen true life in years, "It probably hasn't..." Ash thought with a grimace, "This place is dying." He thought looking at the lifeless plants and general lack of vegetation. Ash was surprised to see the look of indifference on team CFVY although he summed it up to a large amount of exposure to places like this. They landed and were immediately greeted with a welcoming party, "Well I guess this still have some sort of police" Ash thought as they were escorted towards a large tent, as they walked by young children looked on with wide hopeful eyes, "They probably see hunters as heros around here..." Ash thought while waving to a young boy that looked about 3 years younger than him, he was small, maybe shorter than Ruby. Ash almost stopped himself on the way to the tent as did Velvet, looking at the boy she could have sworn he and Ash were siblings. He had short black hair with yellow tips and two ears on his head, "A faunus..." Ash thought as he examined the boy whose face was partially covered with dirt, the young boy seemed to see Ash staring at him more intently and a tail behind started curling as if he was nervous. Ash gave Velvet a look who nodded and proceeded with the group.
Ash bent next to the young boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, "What's your name kid?"
"Sabin Sparks! But most people just call me Spark." He said with toothy grin, Ash could see that he had small fangs growing in.
"Well my name is Ash and were gonna clear out the Grimm around here." Ash said trying to comfort the young boy as well as the others around him that could hear him speak. Spark frowned, "They did that last time...but they kept coming back...and this time they took the old agricultural center..."
Ash frowned, how were they supposed to stop a horde of Grimm and stop them from advancing, "Well don't worry. I think we may have found a solution this time." Ash lied although after seeing Spark's eyes light up he couldn't find in in himself to retract the statement or play it down.
"You're gonna save us?" Spark asked with bright yellow eyes.
Ash looked into his eyes and those around him that had heard him and grit his teeth before nodding, "Somehow someway well do it. I promise." Ash said before standing back up. Spark smiled for the first time and started running as if he was re-invigorated. Ash started to make his to the tent when he was stopped by a voice.
"You shouldn't walk around giving kids false hope you know." A angry voice said.
Ash turned around to see a girl with long silver hair and yellow eyes just like Spark's except hers were slit. She wore a long sleeved white dress shirt with black pants and brown boots that came up right before her knee. The lining of her shirt and collar were gold which matched the small shoulder guards she had on, matching the rapier she had at her side which had a golden wolf as a guard. Ash also noted she had a matching tail with Spark before she was in his face with a scowl.
"Hey are you listening?" She said shoving his shoulder.
Ash looked at her questionably, 4 months ago he probably would have shot back with a insult but time at Beacon and in particular Glynda made him compose himself and think before shooting off his mouth.
"It wasn't a lie." Ash answered calmly.
She glared angrily at Ash, "Yeah sure. All you hunters say things like that but this place is still a wasteland!"
"Well im not them." Ash said getting more confrontational.
"So what? You're special? You don't look any stronger than any hunter they've sent here before so tell me exactly how you're so different!" She said pushing Ash backward.
Ash grit his teeth and his eyes glowed a deep orange unconsciously, "Because I would rather die than let them win." Ash bit, his eyes peering into hers. The girl stood still for a moment before pulling Ash closer, "You better mean it." She said before releasing him and walking towards the tent.
Ash looked at her with wide eyes, "Where are you going?"
She turned back around and placed a hand on her hip, "The name is Stella Sparks. We'll be working together as of today, try not to slow me down okay?" She said turning her back. Ash stood still momentarily before sighing, a common occurrence as of late, "This is gonna be a long trip" He thought dropping his head before speeding up to catch up with Stella.
Team CFVY stood with Professor Port and a man that looked like a general, he squinted at both Ash and Stella, "I am glad that you two could join us."
"I apologize sir, I was the reason for our tardiness." Stella said bowing her head. Ash raised a brow, "I guess she's the type to take responsibility." He thought as the man nodded.
"Don't let it happen again, now that you are we can discuss strategy..." He said pulling out a marker and placing it down on the map.
"The Grimm have increased in activity, their numbers increase everyday." He said rubbing his head, "The problem with those Tremors."
"Tremors?" Ash asked, "We haven't learned about those in class yet." He said looking at his Professor.
"Have you ever seen a centipede? Twist that into a much larger form and add some of Grimm's physiology to it and that's what you get." The Professor said shaking his head, "They regenerate their bodies unless you specifically target their heads."
"Which causes trouble with a already short-handed staff. More often than not when a larger swarm comes together to take over an area we give it up and retreat further back." Stella said with crossed arms.
"But the worst part by far is their ability to work underneath the ground." The general said pulling up a projection of the beasts, "The only reason they haven't attacked this part of settlement is due to the underground being made of metal, old bunkers used as shelters in case of...disasters." He said vaguely.
"The wars." Fox said shaking his head, "No need to tip toe we all know the history."
"Quite." The general said, "The first thing we need all you to do is scout the perimeter and see where they are starting to gather so we can make a plan for defense."
"Again with defense..." Stella muttered underneath her breath.
"Do you have something to add Ms. Sparks?" The general said with a glare.
"Yeah I do. How do you expect us to stay on the defensive? Were running out of supplies, men, hell were almost out of land that we can walk!" She yelled.
"Enough! Look it may be hard for you to grasp but we just don't have the manpower to push back all these attacks from the Grimm! We've been over this before Stella!" He said slamming his hand onto the desk. The smack echoed throughout the room and the already dreary atmosphere was left in a pit of silence. I looked at Coco who shook her head and after a few more moments of silence the general sat down tiredly, "Im trying to keep this place alive Stella. Im doing all that I know how." He said shaking his head, "Please try to understand."
Ash looked on in sympathy, he could tell that the man was tired. He looked almost physically drained. Stella looked down at the ground dejectedly, "Yes sir, im sorry." She said quietly. The general let out a grunt before circling 3 positions on the map, "Send three teams to these areas and report back what you find, whatever comes we will hold." He said tiredly.
The group spilt up into 4 teams, Velvet went with Yatsuhashi, Fox went with Coco, and Ash went with Stella. After the argument in the tent Ash could tell that Stella was in no mood for conversation.
"I'll never understand your type." Stella said suddenly to him.
"Okay I was wrong then." He thought giving her a curious stare, "No idea what you mean about MY type." Ash said throwing his hands behind his head.
Stella rolled her eyes, "You really don't know your type?"
Ash snorted, "Please enlighten me."
Stella shook her head, "You're reckless."
"Oi why does everyone say that first?" Ash thought with sweat-drop.
"You're that kind of kid that probably made a lot of mistakes. You probably caused a lot of trouble for people that took care of you and you probably made a mistake too big one day." Stella said before Ash cut her off, "Two actually. One stupid one and one arrogant one." He said with a bitter smile, "In fact it was selfish, arrogant, and stupid. And now I live to make up for it, right?" Ash said shaking his head, "Yeah maybe im a bit like that. I have made many mistakes, so I decided to dedicate my life to making up for it, so what? Is that wrong?"
Stella looked at Ash with a slightly disgusted face, "How can such a half-ass reason save anyone?" She said coldly increasing her pace. Ash wanted to yell at her about what she had meant but she pushed him back as large centipede-like creature with white scale armor and black underbelly whipped around them. Stella had already thrust her rapier into it and after a bit of squirming it evaporated into a sickly black mist. She jumped back she was blindsided by another Tremor but it bath was cut off by an array of blades circling her, before she could respond Ash had grabbed one of the blades, a nodachi and sliced through the Grimms armor, making it dissolve.
"Don't drop your guard. There are more coming." Stella said pulling out her rapier and taking a offensive stance. Ash grunted and made his blades circle both of them defensively, "Where are they coming from?" He said looking in all direction, even the ground below them seemed unsafe. Stella body glowed a slight silver hue and she looked around, "There 10 right now and they're circling around us breaking up the ground."
Ash growled, "Then let's get off the ground floor." He said leaping to the trees above. instantly being followed by a Tremor, Ash wasn't perfect with his new style but spinning around a grabbing a blade from his protective barrier he sliced threw the first one. A second came and blocked his path towards the tree, grabbing stormflower and stabbing into its head before shooting through its skull. Stella had remained on the ground, another tremor suddenly shot up in front of her but it looked as if she was one step ahead, already pivoting backward and striking a clean hit on its head killing it instantly, she didn't stop as another shot for her lower body, Ash watched in awe as she reacted, time almost slowing. Dropping her rapier she brought her elbow down and raised her knee up, slamming both into the Grimm. Without missing a beat she grabbed her blade with the other hand and jammed the blade into its skull. Ash didn't have time to be amazed as three more surrounded him, he grunted and focused more, 3 blades that remained all pointed outward and shot towards each Grimm embedding them into the ground. As he turned his head he saw Stella finish off the last of her group and jamming her sword back into it's sheathe.
Ash was puzzled, "How did you react to their movements so quickly?"
Stella held out her hand and a small amount of static appeared to shoot closely around her palm, "My semblance is internal charge. I increase the static running through my body which increases all senses and physically capabilities but not without a lot of practice."
"What happens without practice?" Ash asked.
"You end up burnt from the inside out." She said with a completely serious face, Ash wanted to comment but the mood between them was already a bit cold. Continuing their trek the silence between the two became awkward, Ash tried not to look at her even though she was leading. The silence was bad enough but the awkward eye contact made him internally cringe, the silence continued like this for 10 minutes until they broke through the forest and to a cliff side.
Stella looked at Ash for a moment then downward the cliff, "I am sorry I insulted you earlier."
Ash didn't respond right away, gauging her tone, "Any reason for the sudden...evil eye?"
She flinched, "Look...I don't have anything against you. I really don't. But things here...Well they're worse than terrible...it's hopeless. This place doesn't live, it's dying. My parents died protecting my brother and I and they told me one thing. Live. That's my reason for fighting Ash, I want to protect this place, their memory, I want to live...and you just want to fix some mistakes? Im sorry but im not sure you know exactly what you want yet. This place needs a hero, someone who has answers. Not some guy looking for answers."
Ash didn't say anything, he had no right. So he stayed quiet until he looked down the cliff side and his mouth dropped, "T-that's...that's impossible." He said looking at a swarm or Tremors litter the ground below them like a colony of ants. Stella grimaced, "It really is bad this time...there are even more underground."
Ash looked at the swarm below and at then at Stella, gears turning in his head, "Hey can you see all of them below?"
Stella looked at Ash oddly but nodded, "Mostly yes, why?"
Ash gulped, "I have an idea."
Night fell as all three groups regrouped back at the settlement tent, there were much more people filling out the tent this time. Many soldiers handing in reports and scrolls, the general began marking the map whilst rubbing his head, "This is ridiculous..." He said looking through videos of the swarm, "It's like were sitting above an ant hill."
Ash looked at Stella who seemed nervous, he nodded and took a step forward, "Um...general?"
The generals eyes perked up, "Yes young man?"
Ash stiffened a bit as he felt the gazes of many upon him, "I..I think I have an idea."
The general seemed interested, or maybe it was amused, either way Ash was gonna run with it. Ash motioned to Stella and went over to the map highlighting a particular area, "The one thing we have over the Grimm is out intellect, the Grimm are so obsessed with destroying humans that most of them will jump at the chance of a open target right?"
The was a general agreement among everyone in the room so Ash continued, "Well scouts have determined that the main swarms are here, here, and here." Ash said circling three different areas, "Now since Stella can see the ones underneath ground that means we can account for Tremors if we can lead them into one singular location, here." Ash said circling the largest cliff side of the settlement, "If we can lead them all there then we can exterminate them all at once."
The general stroked his beard and let out a deep breath, "This is a interesting plan but how to plan on leading them to once spot, much less taking them out all at once."
"I can outrun them." Ash said confidently, "But to take them all out well need the cooperation of everyone."
The general looked at Ash and got eye to eye with him, "How old are you young man?"
Ash tried not flinch, "Fifteen sir."
"Willing to die at that age?" He challenged.
"Yes sir." Ash said with conviction.
The general took a step back and relented and took a deep breath, "Well I suppose this should work. Let me gather as much men as I can, we attack in two days so we can secure out victory."
Stella looked relieved but saw Ash and frowned, "Hero's die Ash. You know that right?" She remembered what she had told him after he explained the plan but he didn't budge, she just hoped that he wasn't in over his head.
Although the general said the were going to spend two days going over the plan it really only took the whole first day, the second day was mostly dedicated to festivities as seldom as they were. Ash wasn't sure what being a celebrity felt like but he had to imagine it was similar to how he was being treated by the people here. It seemed like everyone was pitching in together to make large meals, stories told by professor port by the fire, children were playing games, it wasn't over the top and it was very flashy but it was the most life he had seen in the settlement since they had arrived. Ash pondered all this alone, a bit away from where Professor Port was telling stories, wondering how they seemed more exciting out here in the field. He hardly noticed Stella plop next to him.
"This place is pretty lively." Ash commented quietly.
Stella placed her chin on her hands, "That's what hope does to people..."
Ash eyes turned to her, "You seem unhappy."
She shook her head, "Im scared."
Ash raised his brow, "Seems like your type."
She looked at him annoyed, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The cold type. A person that has experienced so much loss herself that she knows the value of things people take for granted. You can never get back the things you lost so you protect the things you have and the things that others hold dear. Traits involve scowling, overly aggressive on certain issues, and a nice butt." Ash finished jokingly before he felt a hard jab in his rib cage, Stella was slightly red but he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger, "Ah okay okay! Relax! See not fun when someone does it to you huh?" Ash said with a small pout.
Stella huffed trying to look a bit dignified, "Shut up. That's not like me at all idiot."
"Other common traits, tsundere..." he muttered before he felt a glare.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Nooooothing." Ash said with a grin.
Stella glared a few moments longer before sighing and shaking her head, "Whatever, yeah im scared, aren't you?"
Ash smiled cheekily, "Terrified!" he said a bit too happily.
She sweatdropped, "I think you have that backwards..."
Ash shook his head and looked at the crackling fire, "My older brother Trick told me to do that, said that having a opposite expression might change how I feel inside."
"Working?" she asked with an incredulous stare.
"Nope!" Ash said with snort, "But it still makes me laugh that he suggested it...maybe that was his real plan."
"Or he's irresponsible." She suggested.
"Probably more likely but hey, I still do it to this day, so maybe there was something to it!" Ash said throwing his hands up in the air before falling backward. Stella let out a uncharacteristic giggle at his antics and the two sat in silence for a few moments, she broke the silence first, "This. This feeling right now...everyone here. I would like to have this forever." Stella said looking around with soft eyes, "My parents would have liked to see it."
She felt a firm hand on her head, Ash had stood up with a different look in his eyes. She stared in silent awe, she couldn't explain it but there was something different about him. Ash looked at her and smiled, "Remember this. I promise that I will protect that feeling." Ash said ruffling her hair.
Stella blushed and shook her head out of his grip, "You have a girlfriend don't you Ash?"
Ash's calm aura dispersed in an instant and he started sputtering, "Er well- we- nothings official-I mean she kissed me? That wasn't a question she kissed me it's jus- uh-Well you need to talk about stuff like this-Don't look at me like that Fox! and shut up Coco!" Ash said throwing things at his teammates.
Stella shook her head and tried to rid herself of the blush on cheeks, "Of course you would, your type would after all." She complimented offhandedly, "To think I might like a guy like you. Ridiculous." She thought walking away.
"Get a good nights rest." Ash said forming a few blades in his hands.
"You too *hero*" She joked before taking her leave. Ash snorted before looking back at the around at the settlement, he shook his head and threw the sword into the fire, "I need to sleep." He thought sitting up and heading to his tent.
Nerves. A bundle of nerves and anxiety. Ash kept his eyes closed, taking deep breaths in and out trying to stop his body from shaking. Part of his training with Glynda involved keeping composure in stressful situations. She told him that practicing breathing and falling on old habits was the key to staying calm. Running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath he couldn't agree more at the moment.
"Relax...Relax...Relax...it'll work. This will work." he thought pacing back and forth from right above the cliff side, down below awaited the inevitable swarm. Red eyes peered up at him, taunting him, "Jump." They challenged. Velvet looked at Coco who nodded and walked next to Ash, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "You okay kid? You know you don't have to do this right?"
Ash shook his head, "No...I do. We have to do this." he said his legs shaking as the clock started to tick towards starting time.
"You're shaking." She said rubbing his shoulder. Ash forced a smile, "Shaking from excitement."
Coco knew he was lying but she knew he wouldn't quit either, "Okay. Well be right behind you. Go get em tiger." She said light pushing him forward. Ash shaking slowly stopped and he smiled, "Here goes nothing...Yatsuhashi?" Ash said looking to his much taller teammate, Yatsuhashi nodded and pulled out his large blade. Ash conjured his AT's before leaping forward onto the flat of the blade. Grinding his wheels he counted off, "3...2...1, Yatsuhashi!" Ash yelled as the wheels started blazing, Yatsuhashi spun around and swung forward with a mighty heave. Ash's eyes widened, he shot over 200 meters the open land and continued to descend downward. He could see the ground stirring, they saw prey and they were going in to intercept.
"Stella?" Ash said into his ear piece as started falling closer to the ground.
"10 are going to meet you at the ground, the others are far behind you're going to have to move as soon as you land." She said looking from the cliff side eyes glowing silver.
Ash looked at the ground and closed his eyes. Holding out his hands familiar circuit-like lines formed in his hand as magnhild was created. With a silent thanks to Nora, Ash started flipping forward as a tremor shot up from the ground attempting to bite into him. Slamming the large hammer into its head, click, boom. Ash's momentum continued to spin forward changing the hammer back into it's grenade launcher form he fired as many rounds at the oncoming black mass behind him. Skidding backward he changed magnhild into stormflower and skated off to the next destination.
"Stella direct me. Im trusting you right now." Ash said shooting blindly behind himself.
"On it. Turn right, several more coming from eight o clock. Slow down and make a hard turn into the forest, stay above ground it'll be harder for them to track your movements." She said from her high vantage point, "Once you get into the forest they should take the a farther route around and meet up with you."
Ash grunted in response before taking a sharp turn out of open land and into the forest. Grinding up a branch and jumping tree to tree, the action calmed down significantly, he only had to shoot at the occasional tremor that popped up from the ground.
"They're bad at aerial combat so they'll try to avoid you until you make it to the west side, how you holding up." Stella asked trying to look into the forest but the dense foliage made it hard to make out anything. Ash stopped on a branch and took a deep breath, "Im glad that my teacher makes me run miles upon miles everyday or this would be super tiring, is everyone in position?"
"Yeah the entire force is waiting for you. You can take a small break since everyones getting their sights ready but 5 minutes max." Stella said looking down at everyone adjusting to their positions, "Just how are you going to-"
"No time to talk, tell me where to go next." Ash said as he reached the edge of the forest.
Stella frowned, Ash hadn't explained the last part of the plan. All he said was, "Well it should work..."
"They're gonna flank you on the right, the left is coming in closer than you expected you're gonna have to circle around." Stella said peering at the converging groups.
"No time taking a short cut." Ash said flying out of the trees being met with two tremors on either side, twisting his torso to avoid both, one going underneath and one going overtop. Creating gambol shroud and ember cecilia Ash shot the blade as far out as he could, tugging himself forward, shooting ember cecilia to twist forward faster. It was like a wave of black, Ash narrowly escaped cutting through the two converging groups. The rocky terrain made it hard for him to navigate but seemed like the Grimm were having equal difficulty. Ash continued through the narrow path ducking and weaving through sharp attacks that tried to corner him to either side. Ash slammed a blade into a Tremors and flipped over it's corpse onto the wall and riding up it as he reached his destination.
"Ash this is it, how are you going to reach us?!" Stella yelled as Ash got closer and closer to the destination.
"Yatsuhashi do it!" Ash ignored riding along the wall before a he was cut off by Tremor exploding out of the wall in front of him, Ash growled, he lost his momentum. A few hundred feet ahead of the oncoming swarm was large dam Yatsuhashi pulled out his broadsword and held the handle with both hands, pointing the blade downward Time seemed stop as large crack split down the dam. The ground started shaking and the crack spread like a spider web across either side. Thirty weapons formed around Ash and he held his breath. Water shot out of the dam like a cannon, crushing down into the chasm.
"ASH!" Stella yelled jumping down form her vantage point and sliding down the hillside to join with the others but the plan had already been put into motion. Soldiers on either side of the cliffs began firing into the water indiscriminately. Coco had pulled out her mini gun and let loose, decimating the Tremors that had no place to go.
Ash blocked the brunt of the force with large shield of weapons but as the water continued pushing forward they gave way. Ash summoned anything he could swing, blocking oncoming bullets from hitting him. He could see Tremors being torn apart from the bullets unable to control their movements. With no other way to go Ash continued to fly backwards, the water continuously slamming into him. Yatsuhashi stared intently at the water diminishing from the dam, waiting for the moment it emptied. As the firing ceased and the water slowly drained out in mainland everyone waited patiently for the result. In the middle of the chasm Ash held onto to a replica of Yatsuhashi's blade, breathing out heavily, coughing and wheezing. Water dripped down from his face and onto the floor, his legs were firmly planted into the ground. Broken blades were littered around him, most of them smashed to pieces, others snapped in half. They didn't have time to gawk as a few grimm started jerking back to life, others crawling back out of ground and the sides of the wall. Several Tremors shifted on the floor lashing out at Ash like whips, he lazily threw himself up, throwing up the blade in the air, a blur behind him grabbed the blade and sliced through it in one quick motion. Another slammed down next to him, jamming their fist into the grimms skull. Another kicked the grimm straight across its face and sent it skidding across the floor. And one last one slammed a handbag right before his face was met with the jaws of a tremor.
Ash let a breath and grinned, "Thanks guys."
Coco placed her hand on his shoulder and smirked, "Good job kid. Let us clean up form here." She said with a small smile. Ash let out a tired grin leaning his weight on Yatsuhashi for support, his arms were shaking lightly. When team CFVY asked Ash about the plan it had sounded better in his head.
-The Day Before-
"Thats impossible." Fox said shaking his head.
"We can't let you do that." Velvet said with frown.
"I can't agree with your plan Ash." Yatsuhashi said crossing his arms.
"You had me until now. Lead the Tremors through the several paths and into one singular chasm, which happens to be where the dam is, but your plan once we break the dam is, 'im going to make a bunch of weapons and hope that the water doesn't crush me.' Do you realize how ridiculously stupid that sounds?" Coco said rubbing her forehead, "Have you even told Professor Port about this? The general?"
Ash had the decency to look sheepish, "It sounded better in my head..." he mumbled.
"How could that sound better? It's terrible! It's stupid! It could kill you! Let's say you could stop the force from crushing you whats next? Are you going to stop physics from pulling you backward? You gonna stop breathing oxygen? Grow gills? Did you seriously not think about how dropping a well of water on yourself would end badly?!" Coco all but yelled at her younger teammate.
Ash looked down, "Sorta-I mean no-I mean...look." Holding up his hand, pinky outstretched, "I pinky promise that it'll work. Trust me."
All four looked incredulously at Ash, Coco was going to refuse but as she raised her hand to slap the hand away she caught the look in Ash's eyes. Glowing orange orbs that seemed to burn with confidence. Coco clenched her fist momentarily before grabbing Ash by the scruff of his shirt.
"No promises. Say you will pull it off. I want to hear it." She demanded.
"I will do it." Ash said with confidence, Coco let out a long sigh before dropping him down and looking at Yatsuhashi, "Do it. When he gives you the signal break it down, well trust the rest to him." She commanded. Yatsuhashi still looked apprehensive, he didn't want to be the reason Ash died on his first mission but Coco seemed to trust him so he nodded.
"Well be right beside you once it drains out." Velvet comforted.
"I'll even bring you a towel so you can dry off." Fox joked ruffling Ash's hair.
Ash smiled, "Sounds like a plan."
-Present-
Ash had to stare in awe at how smoothly team CFVY operated even with all the grimm that laid leftover in the valley. He had only just gained his bearings again but he hadn't even felt the need to move as they set fended off grimm that got near. Yatsuhashi inhumane strength sent several Tremors flying, Fox skiillfully weaved around Yatsuhashi larger swings and sent all the grimm backward, circling around Velvet effortlessly coordinated with her teammates not even using her hands in combat yet, and Coco seemed as if she was leisurely strolling through the store, twisting and weaving around, using simple counter-attacks to end the grimm around her. The soldiers had all started to drop down to aid and assist. The grimmg tried tunneling underground to escape but team CFVY was having no loose ends, Fox jabbed several tremors sending a hard punch into its soft underbelly, its body expanded and exploded shooting out its spiky armor plating and jamming into several escaping grimm. Coco had pulled out her minigun and shot up the ground, tearing up the land. The Tremors couldn't outrun the bullets breaking apart as they tried to tunnel away. Everything was going exactly as planned.
Ash finally joined back into the fray and continued to cut and gun down grimm one by one, his new rotation style stopped him form having any blind spots. Constantly circling swords, guns, spears, etc. around himself and using each one in succession. Grabbing Adams blade he sliced through a grimm, with his other hand he grabbed Pyrrahs spear and slammed it into another, swinging around he shot 3 more with Ren's guns. The numbers of grimm were quickly thinning. Stella ripped her blade out from a Tremor before she looked around, "It's working...we stopped the assault." She thought in disbelief, "Just a little mo-" Her thought was cut short as the entire chasm seemed to shake. Stella's eyes shot open wide. The shaking was so sudden almost everyone stopped and looked around, the few remaining Tremors quickly dug underground as the shaking continued.
"N-no way." She thought gob-smacked, "That's impossible..." She thought, her body started shaking as she stared downward at the earth. The danger unseen by everyone but herself, "F-FALL BACK!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, "RETREAT!" She yelled as the ground continued shaking like and earthquake had begun. Ash spun around to see what was happening when the earth tore in two.
It was like and explosion. The ground erupted in a violent combination of earth and dust. A violent gust sent everyone flying back as the dust covered the entire battlefield. Ash turned around, gathering himself and saw looks of terror. Everyone was running the opposite direction of where he was facing, he blinked, slowly turning around his eyes widened, "Gigantic." He thought almost falling back on his butt. Team CFVY stared in silent panic, quickly sending back any and all troops in the chasm back to safer land. Ladders had already dropped and people had begun their retreat. Before Ash could register what was happening he felt the air begin to shift. The sky was blacked out from it sheer size. It was the size of the cliffs. There was no escape. Not from this. The grimm dwarfed any Tremor that he had seen up until now. It's legs the size of large trees, it's armor seemed thicker, it was a behemoth. The mighty grimm shifted as hundreds of its legs moved and twisted around as if it was loosening its muscles. As quickly as Ash had registered all of that the air shifted again. This time it wasn't loosening up.
"SHIT!" Ash yelled pushing back as hard as he could, narrowly avoiding his body being crushed. The sheer force behind the drop created a gale force shooting him back into the cliff-side, Ash groaned as the wind was knocked out of him, Sliding down the wall he shook his head, "Have to stop it!" He thought as it started charging forward to the retreating soldiers.
"Yatsuhashi dunk! As hard as you can!" Ash shouted forming his AT's and skating across the wall and kicking off above it's head. Twisting around and crunching his body up Ash braced himself. Yatsuhashi jumped skyward the flat of his blade stuck out, with a heave, he pushed Ash downward with all his strength. Ash could have sworn his bones cracked under the forced but he continued spinning downward like a bullet, forming magnhild and slamming into the large Tremor into the ground, a small crack appeared on its before raising upward suddenly throwing Ash upward. He had no time to react as it jerked its head down to slam into him, he was sent flying back, before he was caught by Fox, both barreled backward on the top of the cliff-side. As the soldiers continued retreating the behemoth began to ready its charge.
Ash and Fox both stiffened as they thought of a way to stall its attack, they didn't have to think long. Before it could charge a spray of bullets chipped away at its thick amor, tearing up and off its body. Coco ran across its side lighting up its body, Yatsuhashi slammed his blade into the giants mouth causing it to turn its head away from the easy prey. Velvet quickly helped all the troops escape with Stella, taking advantage of the small time that Coco and Yatsuhashi managed to buy them.
"You're gonna save us?"
Ash shook his head, he watched as everyone tried to desperately escape. Coco had just run out of ammo and the beast only had torn patches of cracked armor to show for it, Yatsuhashi was smacked backward, caught by Velvet who pulled him back, his head had slammed into the stone. Coco continued baiting the giant from attacking whilst running up the cliff-side.
"You shouldn't walk around giving kids false hope you know."
Ash clenched his fist as he saw Coco narrowly avoid a tail whip, slowly making her way back to her team which had started evacuating back to the settlement. Stella grit her teeth as she pulled another soldier up before turning and running.
"So what? You're special? You don't look any stronger than any hunter they've sent here before so tell me exactly how you're so different!"
Ash grit his teeth as everyone retreated away from the chasm, the monster grimm slamming its body into either side of the cliff-side trying to force them back down into its domain, "Im different." Ash said quietly.
Were running out of supplies, men, hell were almost out of land that we can walk!"
Soldiers ran past him, yelling, screaming, some injured, some just scared. But Ash found his feet walking forward. His eyes planted on the beast in the chasm. His hands clenched and his teeth grit.
"My parents would have liked to see it."
"I want to change." Ash said to himself undoing the bandages on his right arm.
"Ash you have the unique ability to create weapons over and over and over. Any weapon at your disposal, why stop at 6?"
"If they break ill make more." He said stepping out of trees and onto the cliff-side.
"You wonder how many you could make if you use it?"
"Im not afraid." He said to himself.
"Ash do you know why I brought you here?"
"This is why im here." He said dropping down into the chasm, sliding to stop right before two large red eyes.
"This. This feeling right now...everyone here. I would like to have this forever."
"For everyone." Ash said the bandages on his synthetic arm loosely hanging off.
"Hero's die Ash. You know that right?"
"Even if it kills me." Ash said his eyes glowing light orange, the lines on his arm glowing, static shooting off from it as if it were discharging. Ash gripped his arm and held it forward, the lines spread up his neck and around past his eye. As he charged all the energy that he could Ash couldn't shake one last voice in the back of his head. Familiar amber eyes and ebony black hair filled his vision. He felt warm. As if a hand was pressed against his cheek.
"Do you know what it means to be a hero?"
"I remember." He said as weapons started forming all around him, dust from his crystals, the area around him, dust from the chasm itself, "This is my final fail safe." Ash said glaring at the behemoth as hundreds of weapons started forming one by one, "This chasm was where dust was excavated." Ash said his arm discharging into the cliffs around both of them. The monster grimm roared in anger as the chasm started shaking, dust ripping apart and into weapons. Hundreds and hundreds of different weapons started filling the chasm, blades, spears, swords, guns, arrows, daggers. Ash grit his teeth and strained to control the power discharging in his arm. He didn't know how many weapons he was making and he didn't care, "More. Even more." he thought his arm barely staying together. Light shooting out from it and destroying everything around him.
The chasm echoed as a roar resonated through the sky. Stella turned and saw the light shooting off from the chasm and she stood frozen, "Ash?" She thought as she saw team CFVY rushing back to the chasm.
"What is he doing!" Velvet yelled in panic.
"I don't know, we have to go back!" Coco said with grit teeth, holding her side. Stella legs pulled themselves forward as she followed team CFVY, many soldiers and troops seemed stuck, looking at one another before they each nodded at one anything racing back to the chasm.
The beast raised up into the sky and looked down at Ash, challenging him. The two stood deadlocked as Ash continued forming more and more weapons, countless weapons began to form. Ash arm burned and cried as if telling him to stop but he pressed forward the markings on his body burning a light orange.
"This is everything." Ash growled, "Everything I have seen. Everything I am. My body is steel. Fire is my blood. My body is made of an infinite amount of weapons."
Ash was greeted by a thunderous screech as he took aim, "Can you keep up?" he challenged before it came crashing down at him.
Warm. Ash felt warm. Opening his eyes he looked around and was met with gentle amber eyes and a soft hand on his cheek.
"Cinder..." Ash said leaning into her palm. Cinder gently petted his hair and smiled softly, "Ash what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Ash seemed to ponder the question for a moment before smiling, "I wanna be a hero."
Cinder seemed amused, "Do you know what it means to be a hero?"
Ash put his hand to his chin curiously, "Well you have to be strong, and nice, and be really really cool!" He said enthusiastically. Cinder giggled and nodded gently rubbing his head and looking out the window to the far left, there was a desk near the window. A picture of what looked to be a much younger Cinder and a small bundle in her arms with black and orange hair in front of two larger people, a man and a woman. Their faces were cut off by the light and Cinder almost frowned as if remembering something.
"You're right...you have to be all those things but there is something more important than all of that." She said twirling his hair in her hand.
"More important than being cool?" Ash said almost in disbelief.
"A hero will go to the ends of the world just to protect one thing. No matter what. No matter how. They'll protect it. Always remember that. Okay?" She said with a happy smile. Ash pulled up from her hand and looked her straight in the eyes, "I promise! Pinky!" He said holding out his hand. Cinder was slightly taken back before she giggle and took his pinky with her own.
"I will always protect you Ash." She thought closing her eyes.
Ash blinked and looked up, all he could see was white. Familiar white. Familiar boring white. He couldn't move, everything ached all over. He couldn't even bring himself to lift his head to look around.
"Hello?" Ash said to air, "Hello!?" He yelled and the door creaked open slightly, familiar blonde hair filled his vision. Before Ash could speak he felt a a pair of hands prop him up so he could see the entire room. Looking around he saw Glynda and team CFVY outside his door with balloons and presents in hand.
Ash looked at them and then at Glynda and grinned toothily, "So im guessing im not dead then?" he asked. Velvet smiled and placed the flowers next to him, "No. You're not." She said although the happy atmosphere was cut short as an alarm went off, Glynda looked at team CFVY and motioned to the door.
"There's a lot to talk about, for now rest. Well talk when you wake up again." Glynda said walking towards Ash and laying him back down.
"But im not tir-." he complied as he felt a sharp pressure against his neck, Glynda quickly rushed out the door as she opened her scroll and scowled, team RWBY in the middle of town surrounded by grimm.
"A lot to talk about indeed." She grumbled before rushing out of the medical wing.