Exhaling softly, Kagami took a single step back as she let her right arm fall down to her side. A crimson red sliding down the blade towards the tip and dripping slowly onto the floor. Keeping her eyes shut, her brows furrowed as she clenched her jaw. The sound of her own heartbeat and breathing thumping inside her skull. She let out a rageful scream, gripping her sword with both hands as she drove the blade into the floor, crouching down behind it as it softly hummed. The force of the impact coinciding with a heavy thud that shook the ground next to her. Her arms shaking ever so slightly as she opened her eyes, glancing over at the now lifeless body laying next to her. Her fingers wrapping tighter around the handle of her weapon.
"Dad..." Jade spoke quietly, her voice trembling slightly as she slowly pushed herself up to stand straight. "Dad...?" She repeated, this time in a much higher pitched tone. She took several uneven breaths, her chest rising and falling with each as she felt her legs go numb. Her hands trembling as she held onto the survival knife in her right hand. "Dad!" She finally screamed, her voice cracking as her eyes began to water.
Hearing the young woman's cries, she breathed out. She slowly rose to her feet, her hands pulling back as her fingers slid off her weapon, leaving the sword lodged into the floor. She took a deep breath, keeping her head low as strands of her long green hair wrapped around her face. Gulping, she gently closed her eyes as her shoulders fell back and relaxed.
"Dad! Come on! Get up!" The bandit demanded, taking a single step forward as her knees buckled. "Get up... get up right now!" She raised her arms slightly before throwing them back, a few tears falling from her face. Seeing the small pool of blood slowly forming beneath Shinrin, she grinded her teeth and took a few steps back. "Please..." She softly whimpered, her vision blurring slightly. "Please get up... I promise... I promise I'll listen more... I'll do everything you say... just get up!" She screamed.
An eerie silence fell across them both, the air going stale as the sound of sirens slowly built itself back up from the outside followed by the howling wind. Jade's trembling soon faded to shaking. A rageful shaking as she gripped her knife to the point her veins showed on the back of her hand. "You... you..." She shook more, her eyes narrowing at the jadette standing in front of her. "Y-You fucking bastard!" She cried out, lunging forward as tears flew from her face and down onto the debris ridden floor below. The blade of her knife glimmering against the light.
Kagami glanced up at her for a moment, exhaling softly as her shoulders slouched forward. Her head lowering down between her shoulders as she closed her eyes. Her balled up fist slowly relaxing into outstretched hands. She shifted her head slightly as if she was looking away and let out a deep breath of air through her nose.
Letting out an angry cry of pure rage, the bandit chief's daughter raised her right arm over her left shoulder and with a shaky exhale, she swung it wide to her right. The blade whistling against the dead air. There was a very faint and quick blur of pink, followed by the green haired woman stumbling forward as her survival knife struck nothing. Regaining her balance, she quickly glanced around as she spotted a few strands of long green hair falling to the ground where her distant cousin once stood. Her eyebrow twitched as she snarled, her hands trembling once again as she looked over to the far back corner of the building.
There, Baren set Kagami on the floor and rested her back up against the corner of the room. She knelt down on one knee, glaring slightly at the young girl. "What is your problem?" She mumbled through gritted teeth, her sole hand resting on her right shoulder. Upon hearing no reply, she growled softly as her eyes narrowed. "Kagami." She snarled. "You cannot do this silent treatment again. You are not a thirteen year old child anymore. You cannot act like this."
The jadette simply glanced up at her, her brow furrowed as she stared at her mentor before the lifeless body off to the side. Her eyebrows scrunched up as her eyes closed and she lowered her head to the side. She exhaled, her shoulders dropping.
Groaning, she reached up, pinching the bridge of her nose as she softly shook her head. "I'm not going to be around every time you've had enough of everything and jump in and save your life. You..." She took a deep breath, calming herself before she reached up, her left hand pushing the green hair back behind her ear. The cut strands clearly visible for a moment before she let it fall back down. "We'll talk later. Or, I'll talk later.." She mumbled before closing her eyes with a heavy sigh from the voice coming from behind her.
"Hey!" Jade shouted, tears still swelling in her eyes as she gripped her survival knife extremely tight. "Mind your own damn business, you old fucking snake!" She spat out, her teeth clenched as she snarled at her.
Baren let out another sigh, rising to her feet as her right sleeve limply swung in the air. "I will not allow you to harm Kagami." She uttered under her breath, her eyebrows furrowing a bit as she saw some heavy resemblance between the two younger jadettes. "And secondly," She heavily exhaled, resting her hand on the handle of her ninjato. "Do. Not. Call. Me. Old." Her pink eyes narrowed coldly at her.
The bandit scoffed, snarling again as she twirled in knife into a reverse grip before flipping it into a hammer grip as she leaned forward. "Then I'll just kill both of you!" She lunged forward, the blade of her weapon whistling as it rushed through the air. "Starting with you, old hag!"
She let out a quick huff of air, waiting for the young woman to get closer before she drew her short sword. The sound of it unsheathing echoing in the night as her blade struck Jade's parrying perfectly as she deflected the strike. She spun around, round house kicking with her right foot as she shoved her away. "You're not even worth my time." She spun her blade, placing it back in its sheath with a very soft click. "Your mind is too clouded for you to even think."
The older jadette groaned, her back sliding across the debris ridden ground before she slowed to a stop. She laid there for a moment, taking a few deep breaths before sitting up with a snarl. Not even bothering to dust herself off, she let the broken pieces of building fall from her shoulders. "I'm thinking as clearly as can be..." She inhaled, letting out a deadly cry of rage as she bolted forward again. Her hands trembling.
Baren kept a neutral expression, staring at the young woman before her. She remained still, not even flinching as she watched her raise her survival knife up in the air to slash downward. There was a burst of impact as bandit struck her. The old warrior's clothes ruffling through the wind along with her hair. With her eyes shut, she raised her left hand, grabbing a hold of the sharpened blade resting between a gash in her leather jacket on her shoulder. The skin untouched as her opponent's hand and weapon began to shake.
She opened her eyes, glaring more so than before. She started to snarl once again, this time like a wild beast as she tightened the grip she held on the blade. The metal cracking. A fiery and pink aura soon overshadowing her body as her hair and clothing waved at its presence. She exhaled through her nose, nostrils flaring as she clenched her hand into a tight fist. The metal blade shattering into several pieces just like shattered glass. "Leave." She demanded.
Jade stared at her for a moment, eyes wide as she took several slow steps back. She swallowed heavily, every nerve in her body telling her to flee as her knees grew weak. She shakily inhaled, turning around on her heels as she stumbled and ran away. Only for a second did she glance back, gritting her teeth as she looked away.
As she watched her disappearing into the night, she turned around, heading back to Kagami. "Sheath." She held out her hand, her invincible pink aura fading away. The young girl glanced up, only to look back down as she took the leather sheath off her back and held it up. Not even raising her head. She sighed softly, taking it as she stepped over towards where her sword was. She let out a faint cry, kicking the sword into the air as she brought her left arm around, and in one swift movement, sheathed the blade and swung it across her back.
Walking back towards her, she knelt down in front of the jadette with a soft sigh. "Come on." She held out her hand. "You still have a very long path to go. The road to being a Huntress never ends." She softly smiled.
Kagami glanced up at her, her hand slowly reaching out to grab her mentor's. When she did, she quickly pulled herself closer, her arms wrapping around her as she buried her head into her right shoulder.
Baren lowered her head down, reaching up with her left hand as she gently rubbed the young girl's back. Feeling her start to shake, she held her tighter. "Everything's going to be okay. I know. You're a warrior. If we keep moving forward- always moving forward -we're untouchable." She exhaled softly and sighed. "I promise."
Far off, as her vision swirled and faded away, Thanaton did her best to remain conscious as spots began to dance around her very faint line of sight. The buildings no longer able to be seen. All she could see was the orange haired man that sent her into this state. And his devilishly cruel smirk as he crouched down next to her. She tried to growl at him, nothing escaping her mouth as she flashed her teeth. Her body trembling as she curled up as tight as she could, one eye shutting.
Cheng shook his head, resting his forearms resting on his thighs. "You know, we could have been friends. Really. Your destructive nature really could have came in handy in some tight pinches. But no..." He sighed, shaking his head more as he reached out, brushing her hair back. "It really is a shame. You could have been so much more than this street rat that you are with the brotherhood. But now you'll just die alone in the cold night like a nobody. Does anyone even love you?"
She tried to snarl, her body shaking at her attempts before she finally was forced to shut her other eye. His ratchet voice echoing far away from her mind. Was this it? Was this really how it was going to end for her? After everything? Hearing a thud, she slowly and halfway opened one of her eyes. Confusion washed over her as she saw Cheng on his knees, an arrow sticking out of his chest. As his arms shook, his eyes slowly widened as he fell forward, his body going limp. At that moment, a faint bit of oxygen breached Thanaton's lungs. Her eyes widening as she coughed and gasped. Her body trembling as she glanced up at the rooftops.
Exhaling sofly, Val had her left arm extended and holding her bow. Her right arm bent back as she had her eyes locked on the young purple haired woman. Letting her arms fall, she slid her bow across her back next to her quiver before jumping down onto the side of the building. Her hands and feet sliding down a fire escape ladder before she jumped onto the ground, her feet crushing the debris below.
Coughing as she came closer, Thanaton faintly smiled. Her head still pounding in utter agony and ten times worse than any headache she ever had. "What... happened... to not... fighting..." She barely managed out as she barely could breathe between words. Her lungs still burning like a raging fire.
Sighing, she knelt down beside the indented mark left on the road by the insane purplette. "What about not dying?" She asked, reaching out to grab her with shaky hands. "Valentine might not have cared, but I do." Her voice cracked a bit as she helped her to her feet. Her brows furrowing as her purple eyes started to close. "Hey... hey! Thanaton!" She shouted.
A little while later, Thanaton was sitting in the side of the road, her legs tucked into her chest and arms wrapped around them. Her hand holding an oxygen mask over her face as a few cars with flashing lights were parked to the side dealing with numerous things. "Don't... tell Nihilus about this, okay? He'll…kill me for almost dying."
Val shook her head, letting her lean up against her. "That's counterproductive, but I suppose it's a sibling thing. I'm sure you'd kill him too if he did something stupid and nearly died."
She rolled her eyes, sighing through the mask as it fogged up. "Hey, Val...?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah?" The pinkette glanced over.
"You said you cared about me... right?" Her voice went a little lower as her tone shifted to a softer one.
Smiling, Val nodded back to her. "Yes, I do."
Smiling ever so slightly, Thanaton leaned on her a little more as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Thanks..." She muttered quietly. "Thanks a lot."
In another part of Vale, as she was taking aim with her rifle, Cheyenne gritted her teeth as she fired a single shot before swinging her rifle across her back as she dodged out of the way of a diving Griffon. She heavily grunted as her body hit the ground, rolling a few times before she jumped to her feet with a quick exhale and she shot the beast. "Birds of a feather die together..." She grumbled softly, her ears still faintly ringing from her fight with Madder.
Seeing a few others diving towards her, she twirled her gun around, reloading it with Dust as she switched it to ice. She fired three quick shots, striking one of each darkened bird's wings. As it frosted over and turned to solid ice, they came crashing down onto the earth, their icy wing shattering on contact as they gave out fierceful cries. Tightening her jaw, she swapped modes again, changing her blast to power Dust as she shot each one again. This time, the black beast disappearing in a misty smoke.
Heavily exhaling, the Faunus glanced up only to give off an exhausted sigh. Another flock of Grimm heading straight towards her. Checking the Dust levels on her weapon, she switched the lever over, setting it to lightning. "Don't use too much of one... you'll run out." She quietly reminded herself while taking aim.
Shooting several more down as she took a few steps back, she swapped modes again. This time, she switched over to wind Dust, firing. The bursts of air disrupting their flying patterns. The Griffons' wings curling slightly as they fell to the ground, kicking up dirt as they crash landed.
Bringing her weapon up to change settings again, the Faunus heard a deadly screech from behind her. As she glanced back, one of the Grimm that separated itself from the group lunged towards her. Its back legs grabbing her legs as its front talons rose.
With wide eyes, Cheyenne held her weapon in both hands, blocking the front legs of the dark beast from piercing her chest. Eyes widening more, she jerked her head to the side, narrowly missing the beak of the bird. Watching the Griffon raises its head again, she tensed up at the sound of it giving off a battle cry before it jerked, the screech changing into a sound of pain.
Her brows furrowed, watching as a black steam slowly rose from its back. As the creature disappeared in a smoke, a set of dark brown knee high boots fell onto the ground with a sharp thud.
Standing up straight in a pair of white leggings, a soft and light colored brown skirt with white trimmings, a tight long sleeve brown shirt underneath a white button up blouse and two brown belts with pouches, Maya spun her duel tomahawks around. Catching them with a high grip, she slowly stepped closer to her sister. "The word of an attack spread all the way to home... I couldn't just let Vale fall twice without trying to help..." Her voice was low and still filled with hesitancy.
Blinking slowly, the Faunus stared at her human sister in almost pure disbelief. She was just a few moments from dying. Her entire life had already flashed before her eyes. Yet, she was sitting there. Breathing. "Maya..." She softly exhaled before standing up. She then began to smile before her eyes widened. Changing her weapon to red Dust, she fired off a blast that shot a Griffon down behind her.
Glancing behind her, she raised an eyebrow as the beast fell, disappearing into nothing but a black smoke. She then looked up, flipping her tomahawks around while counting the flying Grimm. "Need a hand? Or two, Cheyenne?"
"It would be much appreciated. But... only if you're sure." She swallowed a bit while reloading her weapon. "I know you wanted to keep yourself away from all the fighting and leave it all behind so you could relax with mom and dad."
"I might not want to, but I know I need to." She raised both her arms, taking a deep breath as she slid her right foot back.
Faintly smiling to herself, she gave a nod as she turned around to face the other direction. Her sister was growing up and putting the past behind her. And so was she. "Then let's get to it." She smiled more, taking aim.
Gripping her two tomahawks tight, Maya softly exhaled as air swarmed around her hands and in a burst of sudden power, the wind launching her into the air. Her body spinning as she drove the blades into the neck of one of the birds. It crying out as it began to smoke as she jumped off it and onto another.
On the ground, Cheyenne fired several rounds of lighting, disrupting the Grimms' flight pattern before changing modes again. Her ice Dust bullets freezing over the beasts' wings as they fell to the ground, shattering its wings before they were finished off with a blast of power Dust.
Both girls suddenly turned their heads to the side as a piercing squak from a bird echoed in the sky above. Flapping its wings as it shook its head and snapped its beak, an alpha Griffon towered above the others in both size and flight. Crying out with a heavy caw, it dove downward towards the two. Its wings and feathers howling against the wind.
Standing beside each other, the two sisters each gave a nod. As Maya ran forward and launched herself into the air, Cheyenne shot several rounds of green Dust. The boost of wind from the blasts sending her even higher into the air.
With arms outstretched and her light brown hair flowing against the wind, she gripped her tomahawks tight as a blast of ice struck them, encasing the blade as frost formed around the handle. Steam rolling off both of the weapons. As her momentum slowed, her body went still midair for a moment. She let out a soft exhale of air, closing her eyes. A second later they shot opened, narrowing upward.
The alpha Grimm's beak opening wide as it dove down towards her. Holding her weapons tight, Maya gave off a soft cry as she shoved one of her weapons into its mouth. The two of them now both hurtling towards the ground. As blast of fire struck the bird's wings and set the feathers ablaze, she swung herself around its head, letting go of the weapon that kept its mouth pried open. The ice freezing to the roof and bottom of its mouth. As it thrashed its head, she drove her second tomahawk into its neck, gritting her teeth as she struggled to pull it down through the layers of white armor plating.
Ice cased over the wound, sending the beast falling faster towards the ground as it threw its entire body around in a pain shriek. As Maya pushed herself away from it with a burst of wind above, Cheyenne swapped the setting on her rifle down Faunus slowed her breathing, narrowing her eyes as she aimed with ice Dust rounds ready to be fired. Moving her sight around to learn the Griffon's thrashing pattern for a few seconds, she quickly fired. Immediately changing the setting to purple as the shot flew through the air, it directly into the beast mouth. It jerked a bit, squawking as it tried to close its mouth to no avail. Doing the same but this time with gravity Dust, she quickly looked up at her sister. "Nail it!" She shouted, jumping back.
Eyeing the beast as it twisted and turned, Maya gritted her teeth while letting herself fall on top of the falling Grimm. Struggling to keep her balance, she crouched down while placing her weapon on her back. "Eat dirt, you freak." She exhaled, placing both hands up against its body She took a deep breath, pushing off with both her hands and feet with a very large burst of wind.
The alpha Griffon was suddenly sent straight into the ground. The impact causing a shockwave as its frozen insides shattered. The gravity Dust sending the shards outward in deadly spikes. As it went limp and began to smoke, she landed on the ground with a soft thud. Rolling forward, she snatched up her second tomahawk from the ground before standing up straight with a faint smile.
Smiling back, her Faunus sister tilted her head a bit. "How come you didn't use those in the tournament?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I don't need a weapon to..." She trailed off a bit, thinking of the nightmarish training she went through while growing up. The violence, death and misserary. Her small bit of sanity and compassion that outlasted it all could only have came from her better half. "I don't need a weapon to beat something I'm already stronger than."
"Then I think we need a rematch." Cheyenne narrowed her eyes a bit. "Because you fought me without them and I know I'm a strong and fierce fighter."
She rolled her eyes back at her before blinking. Maya then pulled her arm back before hurling it forward. The tomahawk being sent flying. The Faunus tensed as well, taking aim with her rifle set to power Dust as she shot a round forward. The blast and weapon barley missed each of the sisters' heads, going behind each as they both struck a regular sized Griffon. The dark creatures collapsing meters behind the two as they began to disappear into smoke.
The two halves of different worlds, the good and evil, the moon and the sun, the Faunus and human, the once coward and once fearless, distant and close range, were finally becoming whole. They were becoming one with each other and opening an endless array of new doors and discoveries about each other and themselves.
"This is the end of the line." Elsewhere in Vale, Sanguine raised her bladed weapon above the dark haired Faunus officer on her hands and knees. Her stoic face emotionless as ever as she wrapped her fingers tight around the hilt of her saber. She went to strike, only to freeze at the sound of a shotgun reloading. And then a second one.
"No one. Move." Two bandits demanded while cautiously approaching. A third and fourth stepping out of the shadows. A red dot appearing on Katie's chest along with the side of Keegan's head. The two with shotguns both aiming on either side of the blonde criminal. "Listen, and no one will get hurt." The bandit chuckled to himself with narrowed eyes.
Sanguine blinked very slowly, glancing around without moving her head. Backing away, she let her weapon fall loosely into a reverse grip as she raised her arms. "What is it you four want exactly?" She raised an eyebrow.
"You." A second hissed, clutching the rifle in her hand as the red dot shifted slightly against the Faunus' black hair. "And you're coming one way or another. So how about you drop your weapon, blondie?"
To that, Katie let out a snarky growl as she smirked. "You and what army?" She brushed her wet hair back, some strands sticking to her face as she gripped her wakizashi blade tight. The bandit targeting her tensing as the red dot shifted. The blonde girl kept her teeth bared, staring coldly back as she squared her shoulders.
"Katie!" Her mother snapped, glaring back at her with narrowed eyes. Both pairs of red eyes meeting for a moment before the crime boss smile, looking away as she dropped her weapon. "Did I not just tell you over confidence was the path to defeat?" Her saber made a soft clattering sound as it fell onto the ground.
"What?" She flashed a look of pure confusement towards her. "What do you mean?! We can take them!" She moved her right foot forward, gritting her teeth as the sounds of guns cocking echoed.
"No." Sanguine said plainly, glancing between the four bandits, each aiming and ready to fire. "No, I can't. At least, not like this." She mumbled the last part under her breath.
"But-" She started then was cut off.
"No buts!" She snapped back at her once again.
Katie let out a small huff of air, her shoulders slowly lowering as she glanced around. Slowly releasing the grip on her weapon, the blade fell to the ground. "Whatever..." She uttered, biting the inside of her mouth as she glanced away.
"There we go." A bandit with a shotgun smiled, motioning with it for her to move along. "Now lets get going. You two, don't try anything you'd regret." He snarled, walking ahead while keeping his weapon aimed.
Turning around calmly, Sanguine eyed her daughter with a completely neutral expression. "Go home. Now." She ordered, keeping her hands visible as she slowly walked away. The four bandits keeping a close eye while aiming as they followed suit.
Taking a few deep breaths, Keegan slowly rose to her feet as they disappeared. Her own heartbeat was burning and pounding away at the inside of her skull. There was no skill or strength that just determined if she was going to live. It was pure luck. She was only alive at this moment because of luck. And that was gnawing away at her insides. She swallowed heavily as she felt herself growing sick before inhaling deeply.
Katie had her jaw clenched, glaring off in the direction before snatching up her serrated blade and her mother's saber. She eyed the Faunus for a moment, not particularly wanting to have another round with her at the moment. Perhaps later, but definitely not right now. Rage and anger were boiling inside her. As well as a hint of disappointment. Her mother was the single smartest and most cunning and deceptive person in all of Vale. There was never a situation she couldn't get herself out of. Yet, she had given up so easily.
The young blonde quickly turned on her heels, bolting off in the opposite direction which the bandits had gone.
The canine officer's eyes went wide as she snapped herself out of the dazed state. She eyed her weapon before quickly looking in both directions. She had to make the choice between a successful arrest or saving someone's life. Gritting her teeth, she rushed over, snatching up her glock gun before taking off down the road. Her breathing heavy against her footsteps as she made her way in the direction of Sanguine.
"That's far enough." A bandit snapped, keeping his shotgun closely pressed up against the blonde crime boss' neck. The group of four leading her down into a field of grass taller than each of them. "The chief will be happy once we bring your head back to him. Literally." He hissed while shoving her forward.
"But first," The female bandit brought the back of her rifle around as Sanguine stumbled forward, bashing it straight into the woman's face.
She let out a soft sound as she exhaled, her head snapping to the side. She remained still for a moment, eyeing those around her before taking a deep breath as she closed her eyes. "You know, group torture is very primitive. Even for the likes of you."
"Shut up." One spat as he stepped forward. His knee raising up and smashing with her abdomen.
She opened one eye, gritting her teeth as she felt the air in her lungs being forced out. Dropping down to right knee, she coughed a bit before grunting as the back of a shotgun struck the back of her head. Her body hunching forward as she placed her hands on the ground with a groan. She took a deep breath, exhaling as a foot rammed into her left side. The impact sending her to the ground. She let out a low groan, her fingers digging into the ground below as she raised her head. Her blood red eyes glaring.
Smirking as he stood above her, one of them rested his shotgun over his shoulder. "Not so tough now, are you?"
"You've mistaken." She exhaled, slowly pushing herself up to her feet. "Do not be foolish enough to consider my surrender a defeat for myself and a victory for you. This fight is not yet over." She stared back at him, a calm and neutral expression washing over her face.
He heavily scoffed, snarling slightly as he brought his fist around. It colliding with her chest with a very heavy thud. She grunted, her face twisting slightly as she fell back onto the ground. "Maybe I'll bring you back in pieces along with your head." He spat at her before he tensed, his eyes darting over in the direction of a twig snapping.
Sanguine flashed him a half smile, wiping off her face. He growled, glancing at the woman with a rifle. "Go check it out. Kill whatever it is."
"Got it." She nodded, quickly stepping through the tall grass before disappearing.
"Now, where was I?" The bandit cracked his neck, stepping closer as he towered over the blonde. "It doesn't have to be torture, you know. I could make it way more fun. Well," He eyed her body up and down before smirking. "For us that is." His smirk grew before he flinched at the sound of a scream followed but the rounds of a rifle. The female bandit flying through the air and landing on the ground behind him. Her body going limp with a soft groan. "...shit." He uttered while turning and raising he weapon. "Step out here or I'll shoot!" He shouted.
Narrowing his eyes, the other bandit who held a rifle slowly stepped closer towards the tall grass. "Come out, come out..." He hummed before grunting as a round being shot echoed. He groaned, glancing at his right shoulder as ice began to incase it. Stumbling back, a pair of back boots collided with his face, sending him into the ground as a black blur jumped back into the grass.
"God damn!" The bandit towering over the crime boss shouted, stepping away as he fired round after round into the grass. Shells from his shotgun falling onto the ground. Watching the second bandit with a shotgun do the same, Sanguine smiled to herself, keeping herself on the ground as she slowly slid herself back into the depths of the tall grass to hide herself.
"Show yourself!" The first bandit shouted, pushing down some of the tall grass with the barrel of his gun as he stepped forward through it. The second following behind right on his tail.
Still catching her breath from running to catch up with them, Keegan had her glock firmly held with both hands. Glancing at both sides of her between the tall grass, she clenched her jaw tight while inhaling. Seeing movement, she rushed to the side while firing several rounds of Dust ice. Hearing a bandit cry out, she lunged forward. The back of her gun striking his head as he crumbled to the ground. The ice shattering around him.
She then blinked, her body moving to the side as a white shadow followed behind her. Narrowly missing a bullet, she closed her eyes while turning around on the balls of her feet.
Giving off a war cry, the last bandit charged at her through the hidden shadows of the field. Though as he did and seemingly snuck up behind the officer, she calmly reached around, exhaling as she flipped him over. Her white shadow disappearing as she opened her eyes, slamming him onto his back before striking his forehead. His head bouncing off the ground as he went still.
Panting, Keegan reloaded her weapon, holding it with both hands again before rushing back to where the group originally was. Stopping, her jaw tensed as her teeth flashed when she didn't see the blonde crime boss. "D-Damn it..." She cursed herself, eyes quickly darting around.
"You heroes are all the same." Sanguine's voice echoed in the night as the Faunus quickly looked around. "You always have to do the right thing. Though I suppose I should be grateful for that in this instance." She chuckled a bit as the officer tensed up, clutching her weapon tighter. "I guess I should say thank you. But instead, I'll just owe you a favor. Maybe two, officer. Only because I like you." She chuckled a little more, the sound of it slowly fading away until it was silent.
Breathing heavily, Keegan holstered her gun as her shoulders rose and fell. She glanced around one more time, her jaw still tightly clenched. Finally, she exhaled, letting herself relax as she eyed the two unconscious bandits before looking in the direction of the other two. Reaching behind, she pulled out a set of handcuffs with a sigh.
Elsewhere, Kris gripped her weapons tight enough to cause her knuckles to turn white as she stepped forward towards the demonic blonde with red eyes. "Throughout my whole life, I have never hated anyone more than I hated my mother. She was rude, careless, selfish and didn't care a single bit. Dad wasn't any better but at least he was bearable." She took a deep breath, still panting softly. "But you. You." Her jaw clenched as she flashed her teeth. "You top her ten fold." She hissed as she stood about Eri, glaring coldly. "I have NEVER met someone I have hated so much in my entire life. Yet, somehow, I still feel so incredibly sorry for you."
"Shut up..." The blonde hissed, rising to her feet only to collapse back down onto her knees with a grunt. "I'll slit your throat while you sleep..."
She sighed back, kicking her in the chest and sending her onto her back. "You think you're strong, mighty and powerful, that you can make me quake in fear in your presence, but you're wrong. I've seen real strength first hand and you have none of it. The gods put Kagami through hell and back, yet every time I look at her I see someone who fought through it all. You on the other hand," She raised her head while stepping forward, putting a foot on the blonde's chest to keep her still. "You gave up years ago."
Shaking in pure rage, Eri narrowed her blood red eyes while giving off a scream and jerking her arms around. "I'll kill you and everyone you love! Considering your friends and yourself dead!"
"No." The redhead shook her head. "I'm not. They're not. And you're never going to hurt anyone ever again." She spun her candy cane weapons around into a reverse grip, raising them as the blades pushed outward. "Never again." She brought them down as hard as she could with an exhale, the blades piercing the blonde's kneecaps and going straight through until the tip struck concrete.
Her eyes slowly went wide as she stared up at Kris. Her pupils dilating and trembling before she shut her eyes. She tossed her head to the side, crying out in a painful shriek.
She quickly jerked the blades out before leaning forward and doing the same to the woman's shoulders.
Another cry of agony escaping her lips.
Hearing sirens in the distance, Kris sighed while pulling her weapons out. Flicking the blood off, she retracted the blades and slid the canes away. "Never again." She repeated, crouching down next to a now crippled Eri who was screaming as she rolled her head around. She reached out, removing both the gauntlets before standing. "You will never hurt anyone ever again." She took a deep breath, seeing red and blue lights in the distance before running off.
Making her way to the edge of the water, the redhead stood on a dock overseeing the loading bay of Vale. She glanced down at the rippling water, staring at the reflection of the night sky and herself in it. She rolled her head back, looking up at the moon for a moment before closing her eyes. She nodded to herself, inhaling as her shoulders rose. She let out a warrior's cry, pulling her right arm back before heaving the the deadly pair of gauntlets over her shoulder. She waited, listening for the heavy plop and impact of something hitting water before she slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at her reflection once more in the water, pushing strands of hair behind her ear.
Near the edge of Forever Fall and Vale City, Elise struggled against a horde of oncoming Grimm. Bad enough her aura was depleted without a chance to regenerate which left her unable to use her semblance, but she was now also running out of Dust darts to use. "Kagami! Chey! Kris! Anyone!" She shouted into her scroll, tucking and rolling away from a Creep that shot out of the ground. "I need help!" Her jaw clenched as she jumped back, firing her last two darts into the creature of darkness. Ice incasing its body before electricity sparked around it and it fell onto the ground and went limp. Disappearing into a black mist.
Taking several deep breaths, she swung her rifle onto her back while pulling out her baton. She gave off a soft cry, bashing one of the monsters in the head before stumbling back. "Someone!" She quickly looked around, diving to the side as she narrowly missed one of the Creeps lunging at her. She closed her eyes for a moment, rolling to the side as a Grimm brought its claws around towards her. She gasped, feeling it brush across her bicep as she moved away. Jumping to her feet, she scattered away while glancing at her arm. The green hoodie once again protecting her from harm.
"What in Oum's name did the Monomane Clan make these things out of..." She trailed off in thought. Kagami's sword too. Both were so special compared to other things throughout Remnant. There had to be more f a story behind them but what could it even be. All the brunet knew about was that the indestructible fabric was passed down to a child as a right of passage from the parent. But what made it so unique? What more was there to learn?
Though it wasn't the moment, her mind did trail off to think for a moment. And it was quickly snapped back into reality as a Creep shot from the ground in front of her. Snarling, its tail shook back and forth. The young girl took a step back, eyes widening. "Shit!" She shouted, raising her baton as she went to strike the side of the Grimm's face. Though, when her weapon made contact, the beast was struck with a burst of power that sent it to the side. "Uh..." She blinked for a moment in utter confusion, glancing at her hands before looking over.
Kneeling down, Aero grinned back as she stood up straight. A Dust drawn bazooka over her shoulder. The temporary weapon fading away into nothing as she spun a paintbrush between her left fingers. She reached behind her with her right hand, pulling out her paint pallet. She pushed her glasses up with her left hand, her panda pennant swaying along with her light blue hair. "What?" She asked while seeing the young girls expression. "Were you expecting someone else?"
"N-No, I just, you..." Elise trailed off a little then sighed with a smile. "I'm just grateful you showed up when you did. How did you know I needed help?"
"I'm a Huntress." She chuckled while quickly drawing a lightning bolt out of yellow Dust and throwing it towards a group of Grimm. Each stuttering as sparks danced. "I was hired to help protect Vale from an incoming threat." She eyed her. "And I know you were talking into your scroll, but you were screaming for help and I couldn't just not answer the call." She winked.
"Where have you been? Did you ever meet up with mama? She and papa moved to Vale a little bit ago. Did you manage to catch them? What have you been doing?" The brunet quickly asked before ducking down underneath a Dust drawn bomb that exploded on contact with Grimm behind her.
"No, not yet. I've been a wee bit busy helping those around the city." She waved her hand a bit. "I also think my character got retconned just a little bit after learning more things about the universe we're currently in, which is also why I haven't shown up much. Also my team too. But it's fine. Or well, at least I think that's what happened. Or was that just a dream I had..." She shook her head, stepping up in front of the younger girl. "Now stand back." She eyed the Grimm.
"Uh..." Elise tilted her head at her. "Are you sure? You still seem like the hyperactive, absent minded person we met when you took us out to get hot chocolate. Do you still talk to yourself? You should probably get that looked into."
"You know I could have left you for dead." She glared back at her, blue hair swaying.
"Okay, okay." She gestured, stepping back. "Thank you for the help."
"Now if you don't mind," Aero stepped forward, adjusting her glasses before twirling her paintbrush around in her left hand. She charged forward at the oncoming onslaught, bashing her painting pallet against the creatures like a shield.
Elise stepped back, smiling to herself with ease as she watched the fully trained and experienced Huntress fight against the horde of creatures. One after another, the monsters began falling to the ground and disappearing in a black smoke. She gritted her teeth, clutching her baton as more Grimm came from the forest. Her aura was still so drained, she wouldn't be much help. But this was a heavily one sided fight even if the blue haired woman was doing well.
"Happy little trees!" A voice suddenly called out from the distance, making both of them blink and raise their heads. As Elise looked back, Aero kept her head forward while in a low crouch and smile.
"Haven't heard that in a while..." The Huntress smiled more before taking her paintbrush and dabbing it in wind Dust. Quickly drawing and upward spiral and kicking it, a miniature tornado picked up several Creep and sent them back into the forest. She took several steps back before dabbing putting purple Dust on her paintbrush. She got down onto one knee, quickly painting a small trampoline.
Backflipping away from and swipe from a claw, she ran her brush across the red on her pallet. Giving two swift strikes midair, two lines of burning red were left floating for a moment. The blue haired woman jumping to the side as the pitter-patter of grey behind her grew closer.
Running up with both ice pick axes in each hand, Eleanor gave off a soft cry as she slashed at the two floating red lines. The blades of her weapons igniting as she kept running forward. Launching herself upward, she landed on the makeshift trampoline made of gravity Dust. As she was sent flying into the air, she slammed the backs of her weapons together as pieces began to fold in and out. Taking the paracord on it, she attached it to the two tips of the blade.
Now with a flaming crossbow in hand, she took aim with a bolt. Firing one into the tournado, it lit up in flames as the cries of the Grimm echoed in the night. As she began to fall, she shot a few of the creature on the ground before pulling her weapon apart again. Tucking and rolling as she landed on the ground and went inside the eye of the tornado. Spinning in the opposite direction it was, it erupted in even more flames before the wind and fire disappeared, leaving her crouched down with her arms out. The Creeps that were stuck inside now nothing but a black smoke.
Rising to her feet, she swung her weapons around, striking down another before jumped back. The horde of Grimm having lost a majority of its numbers from the attack.
"Whoa... mama..." Elise blinked before slowly, taking a single step forward.
Glancing back, Eleanor gave a soft smile towards her daughter before looking at the Huntress approaching her. "You know, I never expected to see-" She was cut off.
The blue haired woman trembling as she wrapped her arms around her and held on tight. Her jaw quivering as she shut her eyes.
"Aero..." She blinked, eyeing her before giving a nod with a smile. She reached up, gently patting her back.
Slowly, she pulled back. Raising her hand she wiped underneath her glasses. "I have so much to tell you. I've been all over Remnant. I've met so many different kinds of people and tried so many amazing foods." She took a deep breath, twirling her paintbrush between her fingers. "But at the moment the city needs some help."
She nodded back, eyeing her daughter before looking at her friend. "I know." She twirled her weapons while readying herself.
"Hey, Eleanor?" Aero bit her lip, doing the same as she eyed her. "I miss you guys."
She eyed her back, smiling with a small scoff. "Me too, Aero. Me too."
Waking up, Nihilus groaned softly as he shifted around. He groaned more, reaching up to rub his head before slowly sitting up. Opening his eyes, he glanced around to find himself laying in a hospital bed. "What the... hell..." He trailed off before grunting as a purple blur attacked him in a hug.
"How dare you nearly die!" His sister shouted holding him tight. Though, she was never going to bring up how she nearly died.
"You hd her worried sick." Val muttered, sitting in a chair while leaning back. "The doctors said you have a concussion."
"Great..." He rolled his eyes then sighed with a groan as he pushed Thanaton off him. "Where... where are we? And where's Kagami and..." He groaned more, reaching up to rub his face.
"I'm assuming they all went back to my house." Keegan said, slowly walking into the room. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got hit with a truck." He eyed her before sighing as he laid back down.
Thanaton sighed back at him before sitting down on the bed beside him and eyeing the officers. "Thanks for paying for his admittance."
"It's nothing." She waved her hand. "Just, don't ever let me catch you three doing something you shouldn't."
"H-Huh?" The purple haired woman stutter.
Val quickly looked over with wide eyes. "You know..."
"Of course." The Faunus glanced around with a smile. "You're telling me someone can know so much about the underground and not be a part of it? Or, well at least was."
"You're not going to arrest us, are you?" Thanaton asked while slowly getting onto her feet.
"I have no need to." She shook her head. "I haven't seen you doing anything bad. And you did a lot more than help during the Battle of Vale. I'd prefer to keep you out and about and as allies. Now rest up, it's been a long night for everyone." She gave them all a nod, stepping out of the room as she began to walk down the hall.
"Scath!" Hearing her name, she stopped with a sigh and glanced around to see her boss. The slightly obesse man quickly walking up to her. He glared for a moment, arms crossed before he nodded and let them fall to his sides. "Good job out there today. Duane can rest at ease now with Tenebris behind bars. Sanguine doesn't seem to be trying to remove him anytime soon either."
She blinked, staring back before smiling faintly with a nod. "Thank you, sir."
He rolled his eyes, seeing her smile s he turned on his heels. "Don't start acting like we're friends now!"
"Wouldn't count on it!" She chuckled, turning as she continued her way out.
Making her way back home as the sun began to rise, Keegan took a deep breath as she unlocked the door. Exhaling, she pushed the door open. She then froze, blinking as she saw the young group of girls and her son along with four other people. "Why... did the number of people in my house double?" She asked, staring at Maya, Eleanor, Aero and Baren before looking over at team MACE. She then eyed Dino who was handing out bowls of ice cream.
So, let's take a quick refresher on how the days and months of the year work. It goes January 29th, January 30th, January 31st, February 1st... October 2nd. Yep. It goes like that. Wait, what do you mean there's February 2nd through October 1st? Pft, you're crazy, those don't exist. But in all seriousness, I apologize for any of you that still care to read this. An eight month hiatus was definitely not my plan. I greatly enjoy writing, despite all my grammar and spelling mistakes, it's just been... I don't even know what to call it. I mean, putting it plainly, depression really sucks. I have been writing MACE since I was seventeen and I just turned twenty-one a few days ago. I have no want to stop, it's just sometimes so incredibly hard to do things I like. Even playing video games is starting to feel like a chore. I know I said I was going to try to do better before, but this time I really am. Hopefully at least.
But also, yes, Classic MACE is getting heavily retconned if any of you care. Cherry is still dead and they all split up after the whole ordeal in Mistral, but I did have to change a few things after learning some new things. I don't know if I'll ever reupload the chapter where Aero explains her team, or another one that I need to fix, or if I'll just somehow bring it up again later on, but yes, there is changes. Just minor details. Nothing that would change their story.
Thank you guys for reading though. You'll like the chapter. after next I know I really do. I can't wait for it. You'll get to meet a very long gone and forgotten team. *winks*