Battle in the Vault: Beast vs Maiden
Haven Academy: A Few Minutes Earlier
'This definitely isn't right,' thought Drake as he and May laid in prone positions on the roof of a nearby building. They'd been asked by Qrow to hang back and watch out for any threats on the outside. A precaution which unfortunately proved necessary as the White Fang and a large man in a green coat showed up. 'I don't recognize the big guy heading for the door of the main building.'
"Start setting charges!" Ordered a commanding voice, one Drake knew all too well. Aiming his rifle at the direction of the voice, he spotted none other than Adam Taurus entering the courtyard, with a number of White Fang troops all coming out of the shadows or buildings they'd been hiding in.
"That's not good," Said Drake as he focused his aim on Taurus, "May, send the others a message, they've got to know what's happening out here."
"Already done," Said May as she hit send on her scroll before returning it to her pocket, "I've also got a shot on some of the guys with the explosives."
"And I've got my old boss," Said Drake as he leveled his crosshairs on Taurus's head, "We shoot at the same time-DING!" Drake and May's attention was drawn to a dagger which landed right below them.
" $#$, roll!" exclaimed Drake as a wolf Faunus appeared, wielding a black sword. The two snipers managed to roll opposite ways just in time as the black blade slashed through some of the roof tiles where they had just been.
"Hey there partner," Said Exo as he brandished his sword, "Sorry to interrupt, but I can't really have you shooting one of my bosses now can I."
"Exo," Said Drake as he switched his weapon to sword mode. He quickly shifted his attention to May. "Take out the other soldiers, I'll handle him."
"We'll see about that," Said Exo as he turned to swing at May. But Drake moved quickly, striking at his flank, forcing Exo to turn and block his blade.
"You never were good at listening unless it involved money," Said Drake as he and Exo locked blades, "I said I'd be the one to fight you."
"Well not like it matters," Said Exo as he pushed Drake back and broke their lock. "Both my bosses will see to it that you all die." This statement caught Drake's attention. 'So it's true,' he thought, 'This whole thing was a set up from the start. And if Adam and Exo are what we have to face out here, what in the world are the others facing inside?'
Vault of the Spring Maiden Elevator: Now
"Nervous girl?" Questioned Cinder as she, Raven and Vernal descended rapidly down a large, stone elevator, lit by an occasional blue ring of light. "You'll be the first maiden in, what, eighty years to open a vault. I'd think you'd feel honored."
"This power isn't an honor," Said Vernal, "It's just a burden. The only thing I care about is-."
"LOOK OUT!" Yelled Raven as they all looked up to see a large, blue 'x' shaped blast trailing mist descending on them. In an instant Cinder formed one of her swords, while Raven and Vernal drew their respective weapons. The power of two maidens flashed, cancelling the attack as it impacted against their weapons.
"I know that semblance," Said Cinder as she spotted the figure of Wayne Ursario, with his weapons bared and black mist clinging to his body, diving towards them. Reacting quickly, Cinder shot three fireballs upwards at their pursuer. But the huntsman in training reacted with incredible speed as he rolled to the side, his feet impacting against the walls of the elevator shaft. Without losing momentum, Wayne ran down the wall, the wind whipping his coat about as he circled downward, firing his Crescent Fangs as he did so.
Vernal and Cinder raised their hands, causing the bullets to bounce off of an unseen barrier as Cinder readied an attack of her own. As Wayne was coming back around, Cinder unleashed a rain of glass shards at him, which he avoided by jumping off the wall, joining his weapons into his blade staff as he went. His opponent tried following his movement, firing even more shards at him as he bounced off the opposite wall and shot straight towards the elevator, spinning his weapon to deflect any shards he couldn't dodge.
Cinder reacted by unleashing a large blast of flame which covered most of the area above her head. But Wayne was ready as he unleashed a blast of his own, allowing him to pass through the flames only slightly singed as he landed behind Cinder. As the current fall maiden swung around, Wayne shot forward, barreling into his opponent as they both went flying off the side of the elevator. They spun in the midair as they sailed over a large, golden gate and onto a massive stone platform which lit up with the symbol of Haven.
Spinning just right, Wayne managed to slam Cinder onto the ground as he used the momentum of their landing to leap off of her before she counterattacked. As he landed, Cinder came sliding to a halt, rolling back up to her feet as she did, a mixed look of amusement and annoyance on her face. "You're a persistent little pup," Said Cinder as she conjured another sword in her right hand, "But I suppose I have a little time to play with you."
"Hope you enjoy disembowelment!" remarked Wayne as he charged forward. Cinder was taken by surprise by his newfound speed and strength when her sword was nearly knocked out of her hand by his first couple of swings with his staff. But she recovered quickly, moving out of the way of a rather nasty vertical strike before countering with a few strikes of her own. Wayne managed to parry her first couple of attacks before spinning around and slashing low at Cinder's legs. But she moved away and countered with a few slashes at his head, one of which Wayne just barely managed to block as Cinder swung her leg up and kicked him in the side.
Strangely enough, the pain of the kick didn't faze him as he was sent skidding back on his feet. But as he was sent back, he released his new attack, scattering moonlight. Cinder was taken by surprise as the numerous small orbs impacted against her, blasting her away from Wayne as both fighters skidded to a halt several feet from each other. Cinder quickly reformed the dust which had been kicked up from sliding back to form numerous shards of heated earth which she sent flying at her opponent.
Wayne didn't hesitate as he charged and released a crescent blast which destroyed any of the shards which were coming right at him as he rushed at his enemy again.
The two other occupants of the elevator stepped off, taking a moment to look at the scenery. The room of the vault was like the inside of a massive cave, with a large stone platform covered with the glowing symbol of Haven. But the most eye catching thing about the vault was the massive tree at the end of the stone platform and the large door in the center of it. As they looked on, the tree was releasing glowing orange petals which were quickly incinerated by the conflict taking place.
"He wasn't this fast or strong last time," Said Vernal as she and Raven stepped off of the elevator, turning their attention back to the fight, "And his presence didn't feel this, blood thirsty."
"That's because he's let far more of his own darkness flood his being than before," Said Raven as she watched him continue to trade vicious blows with Cinder, "At this moment, the calm collected boy that was Wayne Ursario isn't the one in charge. But rather his own dark nature that's taken hold."
"What should we do then?" Asked Vernal, "Assist Cinder, grab the relic while she's distracted."
"I believe a third option would serve us better," Answered Raven with a slight smirk.
"And what would that be," Asked Vernal, fairly certain she already knew the answer.
"It would be difficult to retrieve the relic while they're fighting," Said Raven, "One or both of them could turn on us the moment we attempt it. Which would be something of an annoyance. So for now, let's watch the fun and make our move when the opportunity presents itself." Vernal considered this for a moment before nodding her head in agreement as she turned back towards the fight.
"Try this!" Exclaimed Cinder as she waved her hand, releasing a blast of flames at Wayne's legs. The aura shadow user reacted quickly as he jumped up, planting his blade staff in the ground as he swung around to avoid the flames. Cinder was caught by surprise as Wayne kicked on her left side, where her guard was weaker, knocking her sideways. The maiden hit the ground and rolled up, a flaming spear forming in her right hand.
As Wayne came in for another attack, Cinder jabbed her spear straight at his chest. He just barely reacted in time to block the attack with the center of his weapon, which was what Cinder had been hoping for. Tightening her grip, Cinder caused the end of the spear to detonate, breaking the staff apart. Jumping back and running to the side, Wayne quickly shifted his weapons to SMG form, loading lightning dust as he did so. While he circled, Cinder began launching flaming stones at him which exploded on impact.
Wayne continued circling around his opponent, zigzagging from left to right as he avoided the explosive projectiles and returned fire with his SMGs. Cinder raised her hand to block the shots, expecting them to be normal rounds. But when the rounds impacted against her mystical barrier, the resulting lightning flash forced her to cover her eye with her sleeve. This gave Wayne an opening to launch a blast with a swing of his leg.
Cinder fired a blast blindly, managing to nullify his first attack as she opened her eye again. The sight that greeted her was one of terror as she just barely managed to move her head out of the way of her opponent's sickle. She dodged a couple more strikes before Wayne jabbed the back end of his left weapon into her throat. Cinder gasped in pain as he used his advantage to spin and knock her feet out from under her before hitting her in the stomach with a blast of his semblance.
'Now this is going better than expected,' thought Wayne as Cinder slid to a stop on the ground several feet away. 'But we can't let up, not even for a minute.' With that thought, he rushed forward again, his bloodlust building in anticipation of the kill. But an opponent like Cinder was not bested so easily.
With a quick movement of her hand, Cinder shot out a lightning infused glass shard. Wayne barely had time to twist out of the way as the electrified shard tore a small hole through his coat. This killed his momentum as Cinder leapt up and charged at him, forming a new molten sword as she slashed at his head. Wayne deflected the strike to his head as well as a few follow ups, until he felt a hit on his leg.
He ignored the pain as he counterattacked, catching the movement of an electrified stone out of the corner of his eye as he struck back. Cinder moved back against his barrage of blows, but her face didn't show any real concern. Wayne quickly figured out the reason when another electrified stone struck across his arm, then another across his back. Cinder smiled wickedly then as she caught one of his blows before unleashing a burst of lightning, knocking him back several feet.
"I must admit," Said Cinder, "That technique is somewhat impressive." As she said this, several sharp stones formed and orbited around her, accompanied by crackling bolts of lightning. "But this is real power, something you will never obtain so long as you lower yourself to running with weaklings." Wayne growled angrily at this statement, a noise which sounded closer to an animal than an actual person. He then activated the lightning dust in his Crescent Fangs, causing electricity to spark around his blades as he readied his next attack.
"Such a waste," Commented Cinder. Wayne's response was unleashing four rings of energy which impacted against the orbiting stones around Cinder, destroying several of them as he rushed his opponent once again. The sound of clapping thunder echoed as they clashed, causing lightning to shoot out in all directions with every impact of their weapons. Cinder wasted no time in forming more electrified stones as she used them to strike Wayne at any vulnerable opening she could find.
But in his current enraged state, Wayne hardly noticed the pain of the stones cutting against him, even when they managed to slash into his skin. Cinder noted with some actual concern that black mist poured out of each new wound, healing her opponent as he pressed the attack, mixing in attacks with his wires and a blast of his semblance whenever the opportunity presented itself. At more than one point, Cinder managed to knock Wayne down, only for him to leap back up and press the attack again. 'Stay down!' She thought to herself as she hit his blind spots with more stones, 'Why aren't you dying yet you blasted beast?!'
Jumping back to give herself some room, Cinder sent several more stones at her foe. Wayne managed to block the majority of them as he closed the gap, but his left weapon was knocked out of his hand in the process. This did nothing to deter him, however, as he spun to avoid Cinder's blade and swung his left elbow at her blind left side. Despite getting her left arm up in time, Cinder still let out a small shriek of pain as the blow impacted. Wayne then used the opening to back kick her in the stomach, knocking her over.
As she rolled back up, Wayne brought his weapon down, aiming the blow at her face. Cinder raised her sword, blocking the blow, but had to use both hands to hold her blade as she struggled to keep Wayne's weapon from inching closer to her good eye. Wayne put all of his strength into pressing the blade ever closer to her face, intending to gouge out his enemy's remaining good eye. But Cinder had another trick up her sleeve as she managed to move to the side, dissolving her blade as Wayne's weapon slipped by just inches from her face.
Using his imbalance as an opening, Cinder slashed with her left hand, intending to strike Wayne's throat. In the split second he had to react, he managed to move his head out of the way of the attack. But the blow still landed on his shoulder as claws, not fingers or even nails, but claws sank in between his neck and left shoulder. Wayne grunted in pain as Cinder dug her claws in further, managing to force him almost to one knee as a molten dagger formed in her right hand.
Managing to raise his remaining weapon in time, Wayne blocked the blow. In a strange reversal of the situation from just a moment ago, he was now using two hands on his weapon to keep Cinder's dagger from reaching his eye. "I've already lost one eye," Said Cinder as she dug her claws in deeper while pushing harder on the blade, "I'll be damned if I let one of you bothersome cretins take another."
"Wanna bet," Wayne grunted as he shifted his position, feeling the blade cut into his mask as he reached out with his left hand. Cinder shrieked in pain as he jabbed his thumb in her eye before yanking her down by her hair. Then, Wayne wrapped his right arm around Cinder's left, keeping the claws in his shoulder as he used his remaining weapon to pin her right arm. And also leaving his left arm completely free as he began slamming his fist into the right side of his hated enemy's face.
"IS THIS IT?!" yelled Wayne as he continued to pound his enemies head into the ground. "All the pain, death, and destruction you caused for this power and a grunt like me can still bring you to this point!" Cinder obviously couldn't answer back as the cracks on the ground behind her head were made larger from each blow. 'This is it,' thought Wayne with an odd sadistic pleasure, 'I have enough energy for a few more large blasts. I'm gonna pound her aura into submission and blast that wretched head of hers to $ $$ing chunks!'
But he never got that far. "ENOUGH!" yelled Cinder as the dagger she'd been holding detonated and a large blast of flame shot out. Wayne felt her claws yank out of his shoulder as the blast sent him flying onto the ground several feet away. "YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME?! I WON'T DIE AT THE HAND OF SOME CHILD TURNED BEAST!"
With that statement, Cinder gathered an enormous mass of flame to her hands. Wayne gathered energy of his own as he got back to his feet, his movements greatly slowed now as several burn marks covered his clothes and skin. "DIE!" yelled Cinder as she shot a huge column of flame at him. The blast was coming too fast for him to dodge in his current condition, so he unleashed the blast of his semblance he managed to charge. The chamber shook again as the two attacks met.
When the dust settled, Cinder was able to see that Wayne had been slammed into the wall next to the entrance to the vault. 'His own attack kept him from being incinerated,' thought Cinder as she managed to regain her composure. As she was about to walk back over to where Raven and Vernal were, a laugh drew her attention. Looking back over, she saw Wayne's body twitch as he laughed again. 'You cannot be serious,' she thought.
'Oh that hurt. That really really really hurt,' Wayne thought to himself as he discovered that even slight movements caused some degree of pain. In spite of that, however, he still found himself laughing, and not just because some of the aura shadow was still radiating from his body. Reaching up to his face, he managed to remove the charred mask from his head, which broke into pieces when it hit the floor.
"And just what in the world could you possibly find funny about your predicament," Said Cinder as she put a hand on her hip.
"Isn't it obvious," Questioned Wayne as he pushed himself up to stand a little straighter. "I'm laughing at you, and your pitiful arrogance."
"I don't see how," Said Cinder, "It's clear you can't move properly right now, let alone fight. I, on the other hand, still have more than enough power to reduce you to ash."
"But you can't change what just happened," Said Wayne with a smirk. "That even with all that power, some huntsman in training using a forbidden technique managed to stand up to you. What's more, I even managed to do something I'll bet you thought would never happen again."
"Oh," Said Cinder as a frown crossed her face, "And just what would that be?"
"I saw fear in your eye," Said Wayne, "Even if it was for a fleeting moment you were afraid. Even maidens can die Cinder Fall, and for a few short moments, the thought entered your mind that you might be joining the last fall maiden." Cinder grit her teeth at that response, trying not to show her rage.
"Even if that statement were true," Said Cinder, conjuring a flame in her hand, "I'll have nothing at all to fear from you after this." 'You'd like to think so,' thought Wayne, the smirk never leaving his face as he discreetly gathered what little energy he had left. 'If I put everything I have remaining into one last scattering moonlight, I just might be able to bring the rocks from the ceiling down on us. Not really an ideal end, but it just might stop them.'
But then something happened that neither of them expected. Raven Branwen came rushing out of nowhere with her sword drawn, and stabbed it into Wayne's side. Surprise, then rage crossed the huntsman in training's face as Raven also managed to pin his right arm to the wall with her left hand. Wayne responded by clamping his free hand around her throat, the stored energy from his semblance burning against her skin.
"If I have to go through you to finish this, I will," Snarled Wayne as he gripped even tighter. Cinder watched for a minute as Raven seemed to struggle against his grip before she yanked her sword out of his side. The fight seemed to leave his eyes then as Wayne collapsed to the floor, his aura shadow diminishing to a few wisps from his body.
"I had this handled," Said Cinder as she stepped closer to the bandit leader.
"You were taking too long," Replied Raven as she wiped the blood off her sword and sheathed it. "I was under the impression that we were in something of a hurry."
"Oh yes, sorry, I was having a bit too much fun playing with the boy," Said Cinder as she walked over towards the vault where Vernal was standing.
"You mean you greatly underestimated him," Raven pointed out as she followed after Cinder, "And your arrogance almost cost you dearly."
"He surprised me was all," Said Cinder, "But if you hadn't interfered, I would've finished it."
"You would've let him bury us," Said Raven, "He was charging his semblance for one last attack. Where do you think he was going to aim it?"
"A futile effort," Said Cinder, "Though it would've been interesting to see someone try and bury two maidens. Which reminds me, we still have a door to open."
"After you," Said Raven as Cinder and her stepped onto the glowing platform.
"Are we ready then," asked Vernal from a few feet away. Raven gave a nod for her to proceed. Vernal nodded back as she proceeded to the vault door, which resembled sunflower petals overlaying each other. As Cinder watched her proceed, Raven discreetly reached to draw her weapon.
"I must admit," Said Cinder, looking back towards Raven. The bandit leader moved her hand away from her weapon, disguising it as a casual gesture. "You're different from all the stories I've heard. I've been told that you're strong and clever, as well as a good leader. But I think that new scar on your neck says the most of all."
"Oh," Said Raven as Vernal was about to touch the door, "And what would that be."
"That all of those stories, are wrong," Answered Cinder as she fired an ice blast behind her from her right hand. Raven cried for Vernal to look out, but wasn't fast enough as her body was quickly incased in ice. Vernal spun around, drawing her weapons from her back. But she was too slow as the arm of a Grimm shot out from what remained of Cinder's sleeve, which had been damaged in her fight with Wayne.
Vernal gasped in pain as she looked down to see the claws of a Grimm digging into her chest, dropping her weapons as she did so. "I was going to wait to do this until after you'd opened the vault," Said Cinder as she walked forward, the extended limb receding in length until she stood right in front of Vernal. "But that Ursario brat took a bit out of me, so I'll be taking what's mine now." With a wicked smile, Cinder shoved Vernal to the floor then, digging her claws even deeper into Vernal's stomach as she absorbed her aura. Vernal yelled in pain for about a minute until her struggling ceased along with her life.
"But rest assured, your power will be safe with one who's truly wort-wait a minute." An expression of shock formed on Cinder's face as she tried to make sense of what she was feeling. Or rather, what she wasn't feeling. "What's going on, why isn't there any power here?" The sound of shattering ice told her all she needed to know.
"Vernal never had it to begin with," Said Raven as she threw her helmet off, "Because the one who wields the spring maiden's power, is me!" Red flames shot out from the sides of her eyes then as spring stood ready to do battle with fall.
The sacred vault of the spring maiden is now the site of a bloody showdown between opposing maidens. As for the other Beacon students, they still got a struggle of their own back on the top level of Haven. Oh, and an apology for answering any questions late, the website was having some technical issues. And I moronically forgot I could check my own reviews without an email update first. So thank you all for your patience with my little goof ups and for your comments, reviews, and critiques. Stop by next time as Haven is flooded with even more surprise guests. 'Til next time.
