F3: Welcome to chapter 25 of my RWBY story. Neo and Star had found out that Lionheart is planning something. What could they be up too now? RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth. Akane Shideo belongs to Decode9. Senka Linwood and Colby Castahno belong to MountainKing312. With that said Let's Get Started.
Volume 5-25: Preparations.
Training went on for another two hours so that the group could get used to each others battle style and adjust to how the other person fights and also finding weaknesses in the way they fight. With Ravens help everyone completely adjusted and were making improvments per Ravens suggestions.
Ruby however was slightly struggling to adjust to how the others fight. Her biggest problem is that why her weapon was made to fight opponents from both long and close range but she leaves herself open on her sides as she quickly found out when Nora struck her their making her drop her weapon.
Raven sighed at this "You're swinging too wide. You need to be wary of your own movements otherwise your opponent will see an opportunity to strike." Raven added as Ruby picked up her weapon.
"You need to be able to close that gap before they can attack it. Then pick the right moment to go on the offensive." Raven suggested as Ruby readied herself gripping Thorn Gear tight in its sword form.
"Let's go again." Raven said as Ruby stood across from Nora who was ready her weapon in its hammer form.
The two stared at each other but it was Ruby who made the first move charging at Nora before leaping into the air her sword raised in the air looking to strike Nora down. Waiting at the last second Nora dodged the strike and was ready to retaliate as she started to swing with her hammer. Ruby though had it matched using the momentum from the first swing to swing at the oncoming hammer swing from Nora as their weapons collided as they tried to push against each other for dominance.
Ruby pushed Nora off sending the teen backwards as Ruby switched to her scythe mode and then charged at Nora again twirling her scythe as she does. Nora was now on the defensive as she noticed just how much of a reach Ruby's weapon was ducking the first swing while Ruby pressed the attack.
Nora ducked and weaved as she waited for an opening to present itself but Ruby wasn't leaving her very much options to counterattack which didn't sit well with Nora. However she started to pick up on how Ruby was swinging her scythe and noticed that Ruby's right side is slightly slower than her left she just needed to time it just right so that she could roll out of the way and counter attack.
The next Ruby swung her weapon from the right side it gave Nora a small opportunity to roll out of the way of Rubys attacks. The teen noticed this as Nora got out of the way while Ruby adjusted switching back to sword form while Nora pounced swinging her hammer in a large arc while Ruby her large sword as a shield to managed to block the attack but only just as she was once again back on the defensive.
Now this time it was Nora's turn as she swung her hamer at Rubys weapons but it seemed to bounce off everytime though Nora was determined to get through Ruby's defenses.
Feeling the force behind Nora's strikes Ruby slightly backpedaled from the attacks feeling each one hitting their mark. This time the moment Nora went to swing her hammer Ruby sidestepped the swing making Nora lose her balance. Taking advantage of her unbalance opponent Ruby shift her weapon to its sycthe mode, hooked it around Nora's waist and then began to spin herself and Nora around. Ruby did a final spin before throwing Nora off her weapon making Nora land hard on the concrete.
"Not bad. Creative but not bad." Raven said watching the whole fight.
Ruby went over to check on Nora to make sure that she wasn't badly hurt.
"Um... you okay?" Ruby asked Nora who was very dizzy after what had happened.
"Yep... I'm good. Just as soon as the world stops spinning I'll be a okay." Nora said groggily before passing out on the spot.
"Guess I went a little overboard on that one." Ruby laughed nervously rubbing the back of her head.
"Still it wasn't bad. You used your opponents momentum against them. Especially with one having that much strength backing her up. Still you're going to need to improve on a couple other things before getting you into fighting form." Raven said.
Ruby collapsed her weapon before going to sit down a moment to rest herself from the training.
"You're getting better that much is for sure." Raven said complementing Ruby.
Even though Ruby was thankful for the complement she couldn't but feel like she was still hasn't improved.
"Hey auntie...how did you and mom meet?" Ruby asked changing the subject.
Raven gave her a warm smile as she sat down next to her putting her arm around Ruby.
"Well let me think. It was probably when I was about Yangs age. Me and my brother Qrow were invited to train at Beacon even though we came from bandits. We were all lined up for initiation just like you guys were during yours. Though during take off I wasn't able to correct myself." Raven said making Rubys eyes widen.
"Then what happened?" She asked.
"Well just before I hit the ground something grabbed me and brought me to the ground safely. When I looked up that's when I saw her. Summer Rose." Raven recalled.
"Was mom strong?" Ruby asked.
"Was she strong? She once took down a whole group of Ursa on her own. That was the time I truly saw how Summer fought. Quick, decisive, and brutal. That's how she fights. She is one of the strongest people I know to this very day." Raven said.
This made Ruby think a moment about just what her mother looked liked and knowing that they might be able to see each other again. This made Ruby get up from her seat and stand proudly.
"Alright. Then I'm just going to work just as hard as my mother. We'll be ready for when the White Fang comes." Ruby said.
Raven chuckled at this but just before she wanted to speak Cardin came running as he got the two's attention.
"Hey! Star and Neo have something they want to tell us that I think we might to know." Cardin said as they followed Cardin wondering what the two need to tell them.
They met up at the main floor where everyone had gathered with Star and Neo sitting on the couch.
"Alright that's everyone. So what is that you wanted to tell us?" Adam asked.
"Well we were walking back here after getting some ice cream when we saw the headmaster duck into an alley in town." Star added.
"Then we followed him to see what he might be up to and turns out our dear friend Lionheart is really working with the White Fang. And think he knows that Raven is the Spring Maiden as well." Neo signed Star translating caught everyone by surprise.
"How? Who else could've known about Raven?" Weiss asked.
"My sister Synin. She's the only other person that knows that I'm the Spring Maiden. What else did you hear?" Raven asked.
"Well he plans on capturing Yang here during the night and then force you to open the vault underneath the school where the relic is. Also said something about an artifact to open the way to it." Star mentioned.
"And while that's happening the White Fang invade and destroy the academy towers. Not bad of a plan. It would've gave him leverage and forced me to open the vault but now that we know what is going on we can provide a counter option. Something that I know they wouldn't see coming. I've also called Tai to have Mercury and Emerald at the ready for a battle." Raven said.
"Okay and what is this counter?" Velvet asked.
"Simple. We let him capture Yang." Raven said which sort stunned everyone.
"Um...that's not much of a counter. That's giving him what he wants." Weiss replied not sure that Ravens plan wasn't going to work.
"Actually not what you think. We've done this once before. With Neo's semblance she can turn into Yang and we simply trick Lionheart into thinking he actually captured Yang then we spring our trap on him." Raven replied.
"That's a lot of risk you know. What if he discovers that its not Yang he captured that would put Neo in danger." Jaune added.
"I'm inclined to agree." Star agreed with Jaune.
"For now we don't have many other plans. Neo are you on board for this?" Raven asked looking toward Neo.
Neo thought carefully and yes while she was highly skilled fighter and her semblance is very useful during a fight even it has it's limits when in a pinch but still Raven's plan does sound solid just like how they did it back at the girls academy. With much thinking Neo nodded in agreement to Raven's idea despite the risk.
"Alright. Now with that settled we can concentrate on other matters. Once Lionheart has 'Yang' he'll more than likely try and get me to open the vault and by that time I bet the White Fang wouldn't be far behind." Raven included.
"And that's when we'll be at our posts to make sure nothing bad happens to the towers. While you and a small group will go and confront Lionheart." Cardin said.
"That's pretty much the jest of it. I'm not going to guarantee that this plan will work so if things go wrong then we'll just have to play it by ear." Raven added.
"So for now we just go on about our day until tonight." May stated as Raven nodded.
"Yeah but try and not draw attention to yourselfs." Raven said as everyone separated to do their own thing. Though Yang was worried if this plan of her mom's was going to work at all.
=SPIR=
Hours past as the day slowly began turning into night as Summer and the other were starting to turn in for the night.
"Alright everyone let's get some rest for tomorrow. We're going to need our strength." Summer suggested.
However just as they were all about to turn in Killa's ears perked like she was hearing something coming toward them and it was coming at them fast that even got her pack growling in the same direction of where it was coming from.
"What is it boys? Grimm?" Killa asked her pack as they remained guarded ready to attack anything that comes at them.
Blake and Summer readied themselves while Ghira stood into of his wife ready to protect. Just then above them Blake heard the sounds of two crows cawing like they were trying to talk to them. They looked up at the cawing crows with wonder in their eyes.
"Crows? That's odd to see them out this far?" Ghira questioned.
However upon further inspection Blake noticed that they weren't crows but in fact they were ravens as she went through her memories to see if their was anyone that was in the Fang that had two ravens as pets although one of them seem to recognize Blake as it swooped down to meet her perching gently on her shoulder.
"What a minute? Muninn?" Blake questioned as the raven cawed at her before rubbing its face into hers.
"Then that other one must be Huginn." Killa said. Just then a loud sound came just in front of them as they saw that a spotted leopard appeared in front of them but it looked rather tired as it was breathing rather hard.
The two birds then landed in front of the leopard cocking their heads at the leopard.
"Okay... two birds and a leopard? What's going on here?" Summer asked.
However leopard then noticed Ghira and Kali as it lowered its head toward them like it was bowing at them.
This time it was Ghira noticed something about the leopard that was rather familiar almost just like his wife Kali.
"Randvi? Is that you dear child?" Ghira asked the leopard.
The leopard gave a small huff like it was answering him.
"Come inside then we can talk and probably find you some clothes to wear." Ghira said opening the tent allowing the leopard to gently walk inside with the ravens deciding to perch above the tent.
Almost immediately Randvi semblance was starting to wear off and began reverting back to her human form as Ghira decided to wait until the woman was decent while his wife got some clothes together for her to wear.
After ten minutes Ghira came inside and noticed Randvi now fully clothed allowing her leopards tail to freely sway.
"I apologies if I'm intruding but I had to warn someone immediately." Randvi said.
"Its alright dear. Now what is it that you came to tell us?" Kali asked.
"Aside from the White Fang is on the move." Blake added.
"I can tell you much more than that. They'll most likely be their tomorrow afternoon into the evening. They have very powerful people with them. Some of them are humans and some are faunus but all of them are very strong." Randvi started.
"What else is their?" Ghira asked.
"This one woman by the name of Coco Adel. She says that her group work for a queen by the name of Salem. I'm not sure but it's all bad new from what I've heard. They also have a Branwen with them someone by the name of Synin." Randvi stated.
"A Branwen. That could spell trouble even in itself." Blake said however Summer only clenched her fist.
"Yeah I know of that woman. Raven talked about her back at the academy during our first year. From what Raven told me she's not a pleasent woman to be around." Summer added.
"Neither is the company. Some snake woman named Euryale and the scorpion faunus Tyrian. Which is why I've tried sending letters out to anyone I can get a hold of. And from the looks of things I've got my letters out to you just in time." Randvi said.
"Yeah. The letter was really helpful." Blake thanked.
"Randvi, you said letters which means more than one. Who else got letters besides us?" Kali asked.
"Well my informant Sienna. I send her information about whats happening in the White Fang along with locations of supply chains to hopefully weaken them. The other letter... was to Adam Taurus." Randvi stated.
Just hearing his name triggered something in Killa as she extended her claws wrapping clawed hand around Randvi neck lifting her off the ground.
"You sent a letter to the one that killed me! How do we know you're giving him information about where to strike!?" Killa shouted as she squeezed.
"Killa! Put her down!" Kali ordered but Killa ignored her.
Randvi struggled to speak from the imense strength of the grimm hybrid in front of her but she was still able to wheeze out some words.
"Adam... traitor... Ilia..." She wheezed out struggling to breath.
"Killa! That's enough!" Ghira bellowed and this Killa dropped her back onto the ground as she hacked and cough trying to get air back into her lungs.
"Adam was declared traitor... since he hasn't returned to the Fang. Ilia is now in charge of it." Randvi stated quickly.
"Adam turning traitor. That's quite a bold claim." Summer said.
"If he has gone traitor then who knows what he might do. He could try to rejoin the Fang if he can find them. What else did you find out?" Blake asked.
"They'll arrive next afternoon. If we can get their before they do then we might have a chance of stopping them." Randvi said.
"Yes but for now you must rest. You've been through quite an ordeal already. The same for the rest of us." Kali said as they all decided to get some sleep for tomorrow. However Blake still could get out of her head that if Adam had gone traitor... could he be a valuable ally or if it's all a ploy for revenage. This is something that she still doesn't know yet.
=SPIR=
Everything was quiet and dark at the Haven academy dorms as everyone was asleep. Cardin, Jaune, Oscar and Colby shared a room since they didn't want to distrub the girls. Raven would've had her own room but she was sharing one with Velvet, Akane, and Senka just so she had some people with her.
Adam and Weiss shared a room together with Nora and Yang. Finally May, Ruby, and Pepper had a room together. The only one that didn't share a room with anyone was Neo which was sort of the whole point as she was disguised as Yang thanks to her semblance and Yang disguised as Neo as well.
All was certainly quiet all except for a certain lion faunus headmaster that was lurking about. He knew where his target was and had to make sure that he'd reach his target before anyone wakes up if his plan was going to work. Lionheart made his way toward the end of the dorm rooms and opened the door carefully. Inside was his target as seen by the yellow hair.
With his cloraform in hand in approached the bed with most carefulness. Once he was at the side of the bed he started applying the cloraform to Yangs mouth. Yangs eyes shot open as she struggled in his grasp but then the cloraform was starting to take effect and her struggles soon ceased as she fell limp. Then carefully lifting her up over his shoulder he quickly walked out of the room and out of the dorms.
It didn't take him long to get back to his main office as he sat Yang down behind his desk.
"Well now that's done." He said.
"Nicely done Leo." Coco's voice said next to him appearing out of the corner the squid like grimm next to her.
"Now with her Raven will have no choice but to open the vault and then once we have no further use for her Synin can do what she wants with her." Coco replied.
"You know they'll probably be looking for her in the morning. What do we do then?" Leo asked.
"The White Fang will be here by noon tomorrow. You are to contact Raven and tell her you might know the location of where her daughter is and that's when myself and my assicoates will come out with her in tow. This'll be like taking candy from a baby. Haven falls, we'll get the relic, and maybe if all goes well we'll even get the Spring Maiden powers. Killing three birds with one stone." Coco replied.
"Are you sure they won't suspect a thing?" He questioned.
"By the time they do it'll be too late. All we do now is wait." Coco chuckled as her plan was coming to fruition. She will not be detoured from her mission nor will she return to her queen empty handed like her lover Tyrian. All it took was time and patiences.
She looked toward the tentacle like grimm "Send for my associates and have them wait here. Tomorrow Haven shall fall for Queen Salem!" Coco ordered as the grimm did just that disappearing in a mist as the final hours ticked on.
F3: Well looks like things are finally reaching its peak. The Battle at Haven is at hand. Let me know in the comments of how you think this story is going and please don't forget to follow and/or favorite. With that said this is Fireuser3 and I'm Out.