The next day, the four girls of team MACE were resting in their casual clothes while in their room discussing how exactly to find Dion and his new band of criminals. There were barely any reports on the news about recent rainbow thieves, but all of them knew there was still something much darker lurking in the shadows. Something horrible was brewing. And despite not knowing how they planned to stop it, they were going to. No matter the cost.
Taking a deep breath, Kagami slowly reached up to rub her face. Exhaling, she pinched the bridge of her nose as both Kris and Elise began to bicker back and forth. Taking a moment to drown them out, she closed her eyes only to open them at the quiet and soft sound of something sliding against the floor. Glancing back, she raised an eyebrow at the sight of a folded up piece of paper going under their door. Tilting her head, she placed her hands on her knees and pushed herself.
Seeing her walking away, Cheyenne leaned back on the bed while eyeing her. "Kagami? What's wrong?"
Crouching down, she picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it. It was from a notebook, the fringes still attached to it. Written on it in very neat writing was an address followed by a time. At the end, the words you're welcome followed by a dash and your friend we're written in a dark blue. The address and time written in alternating colors of the rainbow.
Staring at it for a moment, she shook her head before quickly jumping to her feet. Reaching for the door, she swung it open and glanced down either end of the hallway. Seeing absolutely nothing, her shoulders slowly dropped down. Pulling back inside their room, she closed the door with a soft click while staring down at the piece of paper.
Ceasing their argument, Elise raised an eyebrow with a tilt of her head. "What's that?" She asked while crossing her arms.
"I'm... not sure." The jadette mumbled softly. "It's a time and place. Written in rainbow. From a friend apparently?"
"What?" Elise got up and stepped over and grabbed the paper before examining it.
"In rainbow?" Cheyenne glances around. "Do you think it's worth checking out?"
"Maybe..." The leader of team MACE trailed off. "We should be careful if we do. It could be a trap. Or someone is trying to tip us off while not bringing attention to themselves."
"Then we should start getting ready." The farm girl spoke up while handing the paper back. "We only have a few hours until we possibly meet that perverted freak again." She rolled her eyes.
"Or get ambushed because it's a trap." The small redhead softly chuckled before grunting as the deer Faunus shoved her backwards over the bed while rolling her eyes with a soft exhale.
That night, the group made their way to an old Dust warehouse in a dimly lit part of Mantle. Keeping to the shadows, they watched as several Atlas trucks filled with weapons and supplies. A few other trucks marked with the lien symbol. Stepping out of the building, the girls watched as a man in a white tuxedo with bandanas around his biceps rubbed the back of his head. A clearly annoyed and disappointed expression at the small amount of goods from the day's heists. He had the four of them to thank for that. Soon after, they watched as the purple haired criminal they met back in Vale walked out. Behind him, a white haired girl and a black haired girl. The two men began to talk as the two others kept back and quiet.
"And there's Dion." Elise whispered softly. "Surprised he's actually wearing clothes." She let out a small exhale while flashing her teeth.
"We should wait till all the others leave before we confront him." Kagami said with narrowed eyes. "We don't need to fight more than we have to."
"Agreed." Cheyenne nodded back.
As the broken moon rose overhead, Rey let out a heavy groan while leaning over a table with a detailed map of Mantle on it. Several buildings were circled along with small handwritten notes beside them. He reached up, slowly rubbing his chin. "This is bullshit... we're falling behind. And you expect me to believe four kids are to blame for this?" He glared back.
"That's what I've been hearing on the streets." Ebony was leaning back against a wall with her arms crossed. A dead tired look in her eyes. Beside her, Ivory was standing straight while looking around. "It's just what I picked up."
"Bullshit." He grumbled before sighing as a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Come on, relax." Dion chuckled a bit. "I'm sure everything will work out fine. Just relax."
"Don't tell me to relax!" He snapped. Blinking a few times, he shook his head before running his fingers through his rainbow hair. "Sorry... sorry. I'm just... trying to make a difference here."
"I know you are." He rubbed his shoulder a bit before pulling back. "I'm sure these four kids will back off soon. I mean, at least they aren't-"
Being cut off by the sound of crashing, team MACE landed on the floor with soft thuds. Each of the girls standing up. Cheyenne and Elise with their rifles over their shoulders in the back as Kris and Kagami held their weapons up in a defensive stance. "Miss us?" The redhead grinned.
Blinking, the purple haired man's eyes slowly widened. Taking a step back, his jaw clenched as he flashed his teeth. "Oh you're kidding me!"
"I think he really missed us." Elise chuckled softly while eyeing him. "Now, we're going to put an end to whatever shenanigans you're trying to pull here in Mantle. Just like we did in Val e. Your plans are as good as gone."
"HIS plans?" Rey blinked a little while stepping forward. "Excuse you!" His eyes narrowed.
Blinking, the girls glanced at each other. "Um," The farm girl blinked. "Who are you?"
"Who am I? Who am I?!" He picked up his cane, spinning it around as he began to hum. "What are you even saying? I'm the winner of the game you didn't even know you were playing!" Raising his left hand, he placed his thumb and middle finger against each other.
"Oh fuck me gently with a chainsaw..." Ebony slouched forward. "Not this again." She groaned heavily. Feeling herself being poked, her eyebrow twitched.
"You cursed again." Ivory spoke up quietly, not even paying attention to the newcomers.
Scoffing, the rainbow thief slowly inhaled. "No Good Deed by Stephen Schwartz." He began to grin before snapping his fingers. The sound softly echoing throughout the warehouse. Slowly lowering his arm, the faint sound of music began to rise from all around. And then, he began to sing in time with it.
"My father, he'd go on and on and on like 'blah blah blah blah blah'
My father, he'd go on and on and on like 'blah blah blah blah blah'
'Let your soul rise above'
'Let voices sing though they try to silence them'
'Let them know no bounds'
'Let your soul never break'
'And then someday we will rise above them'
Oh but he still died
Oh but he still died." He held out his hands, pacing forward with one foot exactly in front of the other. His shoulders were rolled back as he pushed out his chest proudly.
Raising an eyebrow, Kris glanced at her team before letting out a soft chuckle. Grinning, she held up her hand and began to move it like a mouth. She then began to mimic him in a squeaky tone.
"My father, he'd go on and on and on like 'blah blah blah blah blah'
My father, he'd go on and on and on like 'blah blah blah blah blah.'" She froze with a groan, blinking a few times in shere confusion as she glanced at her hands before looking towards Rey.
"What- Why am I singing?" She shouted in aggravation in time with the music around them.
"I don't even know what's happening!" With wide eyes, Elise followed up while taking a small step back.
As the music went on, everyone glanced at Kagami. The jadette flashed her teeth, thinking quietly to herself. The tune of the music trailing off a little before picking up again.
"Kagami! What do we-" Cheyenne called out, holding out her hand with wide eyes before being cut off by the rainbow thief.
"You have lost, don't try scheming
You're just one more victim that I can add
To my lengthy litany," He moved his fist against his chest, dragging out the last note. Closing his eyes, he inhaled sharply before letting out an exhale as he continued.
"And I will go unpunished
No revolution has gone unresented
No bold move goes unwanted
That's my own creed." He threw both his arms back before motioning towards his map of Mantle then back at the girls.
"His road of good actions led him where such roads always lead
But I will go unpunished." He took a deep breath, nodding to himself before looking back at the three other criminals.
"Dion!
Ivory, Ebony!" He motioned with his head as he began to push forward towards the four girls. His crew following behind him.
With wide eyes, Elise stepped back along with her team while eyeing her leader.
"Kagami... Kagami!" She rolled her shoulders back before blinking at the high note she hit and held onto with a few cracks in her voice.
Grinning, Rey chuckled softly before letting out a quiet sigh as he continued singing.
"One question though, still haunts
Too much, too much to mention
Was he really seeking good
Or just seeking attention?
Is that what his action were when
looked at with cold metal eyes?
If that's all his actions are
Maybe that's the reason why," He held the note, outstretching his arm towards the broken moon that shined through the warehouse window.
"Why I will go unpunished!" He brought his arm down before slowly glaring in their direction.
"All my helpful urges have been extinguished
And I will go unpunished
Sure, I mean well, well, compared to what he's done." Lowering his voice, he shook his head softly before letting his shoulders drop. Stepping back, he slid his feet next to each other while moving his hands behind his back.
"All right, enough, so be it, so be it, then
Let Atlas be agreed
He's foolish through and through since he can not succeed
But Mantle, saving you
I promise if I must, no good thing will I do again." He took a very deep breath, filling his lungs with air as he pushed his chest.
"Ever again
No good thing will I do again!" He put extra emphasis on each word before clenching his fist as he held onto the last note. Inhaling, he caught his breath before bowing forward and waving his hands outward. As he did, the music suddenly stopped. When it did, everyone's aura seemed to fizzle before fading away. Everyone except for Rey's.
As the rainbow thief stood up straight with a deep breath, his aura grew with the colors of jade, light brown, red, green, black, white and purple. He flashed his teeth, chuckling softly.
Blinking slowly with wide eyes, Cheyenne slowly glanced down at her hands before taking a few steps back. "Kagami..." She trailed off before swallowing heavily.
"Kagami!" Kris shouted, keeping her eyes narrowed while clutching her weapons.
"I um..." The jadette quickly looked around as she thought to herself. Closing her eyes for a moment, she slowly exhaled before opening them back up. Gripping her sword tight, she began to pull back while clenching her jaw. "Run."
"What?!" Elise asked in half a panic.
"I said run!" She called back before quickly sheathing her weapon.
Watching the four girls turn on their heels and run away, Rey heavily exhaled through his nose. He tossed his cane up, catching it in the middle before breaking out into a sprint after them. Gaining on them, he twirled his cane around before tossing it with a spin.
Glancing back, Kagami's eyes widened slightly. The cane moving between her legs and tripping her up. Tucking and rolling, she skidded to a stop before quickly looking up. As she did, her right wrist was grabbed as the bottom of the cane pressed against her chest.
"I'm going to be nice. Only once." The rainbow thief narrowed his eyes, pulling her up before pushing her back. "Mind your own damn business. Unless you want to lose your head." He let out a growl, pushing her back up against a wall. "I'd prefer not killing children, but I won't hesitate if you continue to interfere with my plans." Gripping her wrist tighter, he spun her around before tossing her through a window. As it shattered, he turned around and began to calmly walk back towards his crew.
"I still hate it when you do that." Ebony hissed with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.
He rolled his eyes back, scoffing ever so slightly. "You're just jealous you can't beat my singing." He began to chuckle before leaning forward on his cane. "It's a shame my aura boost will only last so long." He went to examine his hand before sighing. "A pity."
"For you maybe!" The raven haired girl snapped. Taking a deep breath, she let her arms fall to her sides. "I can't have any fun if you zap my aura away too..."
"I can't help the fact my semblance involves everyone." He shrugged. "Just be grateful no one hand to get their hands dirty."
"This time..." Dion mumbled. "They won't heed your warning and stop. I've met those brats before."
"Then they'll suffer the consequences." Rey took a deep breath before heading back to his map. "Now where was I..."
Back in their room at the inn, Kris was laying face first on the couch. Every now and then she'd let out small groans. Both Cheyenne and Elise were laying on each of the beds barely awake themselves. Kagami was sitting in the chair by the desk. Her head propped up by her hand.
"You should try to sleep..." The farm girl mumbled while eyeing the light shining through the curtain. "We've been up all night..."
"I know, I know. I'm just thinking." She sighed back before reaching up to rub her shoulder a little. "He just... completely shattered all our auras like nothing."
"We'll figure it out. But once we've rested." The deer Faunus softly waved her hand.
"Yeah... yeah." She nodded slowly before standing up with a yawn. "Alright. But-" She stopped herself, blinking a little from the knock on their door. Raising an eyebrow, she slowly stepped over. Baren wasn't supposed to be back for a while. Grabbing the doorknob, she slowly cracked it open before stumbling back as it was pushed open.
"Good. You're alive." A blue haired woman stepped inside while taking off her hat. "Now we can talk."
"Wait what?" The jadette blinked, looking back.
"Sorry about her. She's a bit eccentric." A blonde woman stepped inside with a small wave. "I like your hair!" She pointed out before quickly moving away.
Blinking several times, Kagami slowly let the door close with a soft click as her eyebrows rose. "Huh...?"