Weiss Anastasia Valeria Schnee, Second Princess of the Kingdom of Atlas and Third in Line to the throne was currently in the middle of a mild panic attack as the young woman paced back and forth in the middle of an alley. The mask she had received from Blake was firmly attached to her face as she gripped the edges of her brown hooded cloak in an effort to conceal her identity.
"What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…?" Weiss thought aloud as sweat began pouring down her face at abnormal speeds. An idea suddenly came to her as the young woman suddenly stood up straighter than she was mere moments before, "I know! I'll do exactly what Winter would do in this situation."
Silence reigned in that narrow alleyway as Weiss took in a deep breath to try and get into character.
"Weiss," Weiss said, the woman trying her best to imitate her sister's voice, "Is this what you call coming up with a plan to break your friends out of prison?! At this rate, you'll never make it to Vale let alone be granted an audience with the King!"
Silence descended on the alleyway once more as Weiss clutched her head in frustration.
"Agh! That was not helpful in the least!" Weiss shouted as she stopped trying to imitate her sister. As she banged her head against the nearby wall in frustration, another idea formed itself inside the princess's head, "I got it! Maybe imitating Whitley will help!"
Putting her hands together, the young heiress to the throne of Atlas took a deeper breath than she did when she was preparing to imitate Winter.
"Oh, sister," Weiss said in her best impression of her younger brother, "How spectacularly you've failed. Not only are your friends on the literal chopping block but you're out here helpless to do anything to save them."
The young woman's words hung in the air for a few seconds before she slumped to the ground on all fours.
"...I don't know what I was trying to accomplish by imitating that gremlin of a brother…" Weiss said through pained sobs.
"Hey there!" someone said, "You look like you're in need of help."
"...Huh?" Weiss asked as she looked up to see a young woman sat on top of a wall looking down at her. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail dressed in a long-sleeved black shirt with a pair of long black pants. On her right shoulder was a simple steel pauldron while on both of her arms were a pair of matching arm guards and three throwing knives strapped to her side.
"I said, do you need help with something?" the woman asked once more as she hopped down from the wall and landed gracefully in front of Weiss, "Because you sure do seem like you need it."
"I'm fine, thank you very much." Weiss said, the woman standing up before brushing herself off, "As a matter of fact, I just solved my problem the moment you interrupted me."
"Is that so?" asked the mystery woman.
"Quite. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a plan to put into motion." Weiss said, turning around to leave the alleyway.
"Well, I sure do hope you're successful in trying to break Blake from out of prison." the mystery woman said as Weiss immediately halted in her tracks.
"B-Blake…? I mean, who? I don't know anybody by the name of… Burt, was it?" Weiss said without even turning around to face the woman.
"Oh, calm down. I'm a friend of Blake's." said the mystery woman, "And I was the one who suggested your party hire the Blind Rabbit's services."
"How do I know you're really her friend?" Weiss asked as she turned to face the woman, "She's not exactly the type to make friends, if you know what I mean."
"I know that fact all too well." the woman said as she offered Weiss her hand, "I'm Ilia, by the way."
After a few seconds of silent contemplation, Weiss finally grabbed the woman's hand.
"I'm Shionne." Weiss said.
"Shionne, huh? Nice name." Ilia said, "So, what's your plan for breaking the three of them out of prison?"
"Wha-? I thought you were the one with the plan!" Weiss shouted before Ilia let out a hearty laugh.
"I'm kidding. I was trying to lighten the mood." Ilia said as she raised her hands in surrender, "But you're right. I have a great plan to break those guys out of there."
[~]
"So, how do things look?" Pyrrha asked, the woman currently inspecting her swords as Ren laid down on the grass nearby while looking through a spyglass, "Bad? Good?"
"As things stand, our current situation is as you would expect it." Ren said as he observed the building a few hundred meters in front of them, "Calling it bad would be a massive understatement. Between "fucking terrible" to "goddamn awful", it would be more apt to say that we are fucked."
"It certainly must be if you're the one cursing up a storm." Pyrrha noted as she sheathed her swords.
"Hard not to." Ren said as he stood up from his position before joining his red-haired companion, "There are guards crawling all over the place and I'd bet my left liver that most - if not all - of them are versed on some type of magic."
"Well, if nothing else, it's a good thing they were taken here and not Black Storm prison." Pyrrha said as she started performing some last minute maintenance on her bow.
"To make matters worse, the Kingdom of Mistral have somehow figured out a way to control Grimm." Ren added as he started inspecting his own weapons.
"Huh… I guess all those rumors we've been hearing about lately have been true, after all." Pyrrha said as she and Ren shared a look of concern, "Makes you wonder what they're planning behind the scenes, doesn't it?"
"Indeed." Ren said, "But I suggest we postpone that problem for a later date."
"Agreed. Nothing's worse than going into a battle with distractions plaguing your mind." Pyrrha said with a nod.
"At least there's only one way in and one way out." Ren added.
"Only because the damn building is built into the side of a mountain." Pyrrha noted, earning a chuckle from a companion, "Add to the fact that the walls are reinforced with magic - from runes to curses to enchantments - certainly makes it seem like breaking into Numb Mountain an incredibly difficult - if not impossible - task."
"We've managed to beat the odds before." Ren said, "Remember that time in Atlas? With all those golems?"
"Don't remind me. I still have nightmares about that incident." Pyrrha said as the two of them shared a laugh.
"Well, regardless-" Ren started to say before the sound of a bush rustling nearby brought their discussion to a halt. The two of them immediately stood up, their senses on high alert for whoever or whatever that was currently approaching them.
"Whoa, easy there. I come in peace." came an unfamiliar voice from the forest around them as Pyrrha nocked her bow while Ren held his daggers tight.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Pyrrha asked as she and Ren scanned the area around them in an effort to find the person behind the voice.
"Well, for one thing, I know you're Pyrrha Nikos and the guy next to you is Lie Ren." At the mention of their names, the string on Pyrrha's bow tightened as the woman pulled it further.
"Not exactly alleviating our concerns right now." Ren noted as he held his weapons close.
"Okay, that's fair. But I also have someone here who claims to be familiar with the two of you." the voice said, "Does the name "Shionne" ring a bell in either of you?"
"Shionne?" Pyrrha asked as she loosened her hold on her bow, "From Ruby's party?"
"Yes, that's me. Hello." this time, it was a familiar voice that reached their ears before a head of white hair tied in a long braid popped out of a nearby bush, "Please don't loose that arrow at me."
"Not that it isn't a pleasure to see you again but…" Pyrrha said as she looked at Ren with an expression of uncertainty.
"This isn't exactly the place for a reunion." Ren said, finishing his companion's sentence.
"I agree." said the unfamiliar voice once more before another head - this time with brown hair tied into a ponytail - popped out from a different bush, "Which is why I kindly ask that the two of you lower your weapons so the four of us can have a peaceful discussion."
Looking at each other, Ren and Pyrrha agree to the newcomer's demands before lowering their respective weapons.
"Wonderful. I'm Ilia, by the way." the woman said as she and Shionne stepped out of the foliage, "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Ren said with a nod, "Now, how can we help you?"
"Actually, I believe we," Ilia said as she pointed at her and Shionne, "can help the two of you."
"Oh? How so?" Pyrrha asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We kind of overheard the two of you talking about breaking into Numb Mountain." Shionne said, "And we'd like to help."
"I suppose that explains why the rest of your party aren't here." Ren said, "Do you have a plan?"
"Us? I was hoping you guys would be the ones doing the planning." Ilia said, earning a tired sigh from Ren.
"Fair enough." Ren said as he gestured the two women to gather closer with a wave, "Before we get started, do either of you have any magical capabilities I should know about?"
[~]
"Dinner time, criminal scum!" a guard shouted, the man throwing a bowl of gruel into the cell they were in as its contents spilled all over the floor. Mocking laughter soon echoed the hallway as the guard walked away with an arrogant smirk, "Enjoy!"
"And who said hospitality was dead?" Jaune joked as he poked a finger into the gruel on the floor before popping it into his mouth, much to the disgust of Ruby and her party.
"Well, how's it taste?" Nora asked as she tried her best to put the gruel back into the bowl.
"Needs more salt, I think." Jaune said as he pulled his finger out of his mouth with a pop, "Either that or more spice."
"Eh, works for me." Nora said before using the spoon the guard had given them earlier to eat some of the gruel. The woman then offered the bowl to Jaune, "You want some?"
"I"m good, Nora, thanks." Jaune said with a chuckle.
"Eh, suit yourself." Nora said as she licked the bowl clean without a care in the world.
"Jaune, any idea when this rescue party of yours is going to show up?" Yang asked, "Because we've been here for three days already and besides Blake here, there's been nothing to do."
"I resent the way you're treating me like an object." Blake said from the side.
"That's not what you said last night." Yang shot back with a coy smile as Blake looked away with a red tint on her face.
"Jaune, seriously, you have to get me out of here before I lose it." Ruby said as the young woman tried desperately to bend the bars of her cell, "If I have to spend another night in this cell with those two, I swear someone is going to die!"
"Ruby, relax. Yang said it's been three days, right?" Jaune asked as Ruby nodded in reply, "And from the look of things, it's late in the evening which means our friends will be here any moment now."
As soon as the blonde uttered those words, the building they were in suddenly began to shake as the faint sounds of a battle from outside reached their ears.
"Oh, wow… They're actually here." Jaune said with a look of shock.
"I feel like just being near you is a health hazard, Jaune." Ruby said with a flat look. Before their discussion could get further, however, the door leading to their cell block burst open as a guard suddenly came flying through before landing in front of both their cells.
"You're sure this is the one, yes?" came the familiar voice of Lie Ren before a different guard - this time conscious - appeared in front of their cells.
"Y-yes, here they are." the guard said with fear in his eyes. A second later, Ren appeared in front of them followed by a woman whom Jaune did not recognize.
"Hey there, Ren." Jaune said with an easygoing wave of his hand, "What took you so long?"
"Keep that up and I might just leave you in here to rot, Jaune." Ren said as the two men shared a smile.
"Who's your friend?" Jaune asked as he stared at the unfamiliar woman beside Ren.
"Accomplice, actually. Ilia's her name and as for whose friend, that would be Blake's." Ren said before gesturing to the guard to hurry up and unlock their cells.
"Hey there, Blake." Ilia said as she peered into the cell opposite of theirs, "So, this is you and your party keeping your head down, huh?"
"Shut up, Ilia." Blake said as Ilia let out a small laugh.
"Never change, Blake." Ilia said with a chuckle, "Never change."
"Where's Pyrrha?" Jaune asked as he and Nora exited their cells, "I can't imagine she'll be alright out there even if she is one of the best warriors I've met."
"I wouldn't worry about that. Shionne's out there helping her right now and as it turns out, she's incredibly proficient in Water-" Before the man could finish his sentence, however, he was suddenly grabbed by the collar before being pushed against the bars of a nearby cell behind him.
"Shionne's out there?! And you're letting her fight?!" Yang shouted as the woman's face was mere inches from Ren's own.
"Yang, let him go." Jaune said as he gripped the blonde-haired woman by her wrist, "Now."
The two blondes glared at each other for a few seconds before Yang complied with his request.
"First of all," Ren said as he adjusted his clothing, "It was Shionne's idea to face the guards. And secondly, with Pyrrha by her side, I don't see either of them losing today."
"Oh, well… Thanks for your vote of confidence." Yang said, the woman cursing before making her way to the door, "Blake! Ruby! Blake's friend! Let's go!"
Sending a grateful nod, Blake and Ilia trailed after the blonde woman towards the outside of their prison cell.
"Yang, I can't help fight without my aaand… she's gone…" Ruby said, sighing before the woman turned to face Ren, "Ren, do you, by any chance, have an idea where I can get my weapons back?"
"As a matter of fact, I do not but I'm sure our good friend here can guide us." Ren said as he gestured towards the guard that had unlocked their cells, "Isn't that right, Bob?"
"M-my name's Jonathan, sir… B-but Bob is fine. I definitely look like a Bob." the man said.
"Hey, wait! What about us?" Coco shouted before the part of five could leave the area.
"Friends of yours?" Ren asked as he looked at Ruby.
"Of a sorts. We hired them for safe passage to Vale." Ruby said, "Her name's Coco. She's captain of the Blind Rabbit."
"I see." Ren said before making his way to Coco's cell, "Miss Coco, was it?"
"Captain, actually." the woman said as the two of them eyed each other.
"How odd. I don't see your ship around here." Ren said with a chuckle.
"You think you're real funny, don't you?" Coco shot back.
"In fact, I do but regardless, can you transport my party and I to Vale, as well?" Ren asked before quickly adding, "Free of charge, of course."
"Fine." Coco said, growling as she and Ren shook hands, "Now get us out of here, would you?!"
"Of course." Ren said before turning to the guard beside him, "Bob, if you would?"
[~]
"Earth Wall!" Pyrrha shouted with her palms on the groud before the ground before her rose up and blocked the attacks that were headed towards her. Taking cover, Pyrrha then took a moment to catch her breath as Shionne continued her own onslaught on the guards around them.
"Water Spears!" Shionne shouted, a wooden staff with an ornate blue jewel at its tip in her hands as spears made of water materialized in the air around her. Moments later, the spears then shot forward before impaling the guards in front of her, killing them.
"No incantations? How odd. The only ones who can do so are…" Pyrrha muttered to herself before realization dawned on her, "Those of Royal blood."
"Die, criminal-!" a guard shouted, the man running towards Pyrrha with his sword drawn only for the redhead to grant him an instant death with an arrow through the man's head.
"Not today, I'm afraid." Pyrrha quiped to herself before Shionne joined her for cover behind the Earth Wall she had erected moments prior.
"Hello again." Pyrrha said with a smile as she nocked another arrow before loosing it at a neargy Beowolf.
"It bothers me how calm you are during all this." Shionne said.
"To tell you the truth, I've been through much worse than this." Pyrrha said as she reached back to grab another arrow only to find nothing but air, "Damn it all. I'm all out of arrows. How are you doing?"
"Not well." Shionne said, "My mana reserves are high but even that is starting to run low. At this rate, we're going to be surrounded in no time."
"And it's likely they'll just kill us instead of throwing us into a prison cell." Pyrrha added as she put away her bow before unsheathing her sword, "That being said, I don't plan on dying today. You?"
"Neither do I." Shionne said as the two women shared a nod.
"Wonderful. Are you ready? I have enough mana for one more spell." Pyrrha said as she gripped her sword, "With my arrows all but gone, I'll only be able to fight with my sword."
"Understood." Weiss said as she held her staff tight, "I'll provide cover for you as best as I can."
"Oh Brothers of the earth, grant me strength to wield thy powers." Pyrrha chanted, the woman placing her placing her palms on the ground as she faced towards the direction of the prison, "Earth Spike!"
Not a moment later, giant spikes made of earth sprouted up from the ground and towards the prison.
"Now!" Pyrrha shouted as she left the safety of their cover with Shionne following closely behind. The two of them were prepared to face off against an overwhelming number of enemies only to find said enemies having been dealt with, either by her own spell or by a group of unexpected reinforcements.
"Hey there, ladies." said Yang Xiao-Long as she stepped over the body of an unconscious guard. Beside her, Blake and Ilia were busy taking care of the rest of the guards that weren't caught by Pyrrha's attack.
"Took you long enough." Shionne said with a huff as she dematerialized her staff while Pyrrha sheathed her sword.
"You're welcome, by the way." Yang shot back with a roll of her eyes.
"Where's Ruby?" Shionne asked.
"And Ren, Nora, and Jaune?" Pyrrha added, a look of concern on the redhead's face.
"Relax, they're probably still inside looking for their weapons." Yang said with a shrug, "I know Ruby probably is. I keep telling her she should practice without those weapons of hers but she just won't listen."
"Right, well… If everything out here is settled, I'll see you ladies later." Pyrrha said before she dashed into the prison in search of her party.
[~]
Dashing past the shelves of the prison's vaults, Jaune finally halted to a stop as the blonde found what he had been looking for. On a lone pedestal towards the back of the vault stood a dagger. Its sheath was the color of the darkest night imaginable.
Stepping forward, Jaune picked the dagger up before pulling it free to reveal a blade made of bone.
"Finally." Jaune uttered to himself as he sheathed the dagger.
"Jaune?" Ruby called out from behind him as the blonde jumped in surprise.
"Ruby!" Jaune said, turning around to face the woman before hiding the dagger from sight, "You found your weapons yet?"
"Yup. And Blake's daggers, too!" Ruby said as she held the weapons for him to see, "What about you?"
"Found it." Jaune said as he tapped Crocea Mors strapped to his side, "You ready to go?"
With a nod, the two of them left the vaults behind to join the rest of their companions outside the prison.
[Chapter END]
A/N: And that's a wrap on chapter seven. This was a bit of a fun chapter to write for me, tbh and I hope you guys like it, too.
Next chapter we'll see them (hopefully) set sail for real this time so stay tuned for that.
As always, faves, follows, and reviews are greatly appreciated.
NoXIV signing off