Chapter 6

(AN: Much of how aura, dust, and semblances work is left up to the viewer's imagination/interpretation so I'm just going to go ahead with my own version.)

Floating City of Atlas

Snow drizzled down onto them as they walked down the streets of Atlas. Explosions in the air rang out as the ever-timely response of the Atlesian military dealt with the recent Grimm attack on Mantle. The military boasted the most advanced technology on Remnant with new advancements being made every day. Or so they said, but credit was given where it was found. It was outright suicide for any Grimm who tried their luck.

Willow stopped outside the Schnee residence and motioned for her daughter to stop as well. "Weiss, let me speak with you for a moment. Your father has told me of your desire to attend Beacon. Your insistence is admirable but I have to ask why? Why not go somewhere close to home?" Weiss tentatively agreed to join her mother on a shopping trip. They had butlers and servants who were paid to do this stuff but she understood the underlying request.

"I just wanted a change of scenery. I have grown up in Atlas my whole life and thought it was time for something new. Yes, something new." Weiss panicked to come up with an answer without showing it on her face.

"I can't help but feel that there are other motives regarding your sudden departure from Atlas." Willow couldn't help but give her daughter a stern gaze. First, it was Winter and now it was her. They were running away and she wasn't so into her cups that she couldn't see why.

"What are you trying to say? Are you getting at something here? As I said, I've wanted to experience the other kingdoms, and going to Beacon is the start of this journey. It will prove valuable in helping me become the new head of the SDC." Weiss crossed her arms and looked away from her mother.

She couldn't help but allow a glare to appear on her face. "Don't play dumb with me, young lady. You may think me whatever you want but don't for a second think I'm stupid. You are giving up your position as heir of the SDC if you leave for Beacon. I'm sure Jacques didn't fail to mention that. You are just running away like your older sister."

Weiss stepped in shock at the accusation before all the feelings she repressed finally boiled over. "You...You! The audacity for you of all people to tell me this! Even if I was running away, what is it to you? You never checked up on any of us as any good mother should have. I hated Winter for leaving but I grew up. She saw this place for what it was and what it would do to her if she stayed. She escaped from the future that would see her turn into you!" Willow recoiled in shock as her prim and proper daughter finally cracked.

"You did the same thing Winter did but instead of leaving you ran away into your drunken dreams. Now you judge me for doing the same. Coward!" Weiss stomped past her towards the door.

"Wait, if you won't stay for me then do so for your brother! He needs you just like you needed Winter. I'm sorry for not being there for you Weiss, I'm proud of how far you've come. I should have been there during your highs and lows but please." Weiss only became further enraged at her mother.

"What about you? If you were sorry then you would fix things with him. I am not his mother or his babysitter. You're trying to use him as a chain to bind me here. I won't suffer a moment more here than I have to. And I won't allow dead weight to drag me down further. He is your son and your responsibility. Or maybe he'll become the child Father has always wanted. Whatever happens here, it matters not to me. I am leaving for Vale in a couple of weeks and nothing is going to stop me." Weiss ignored her mother's cries and went up to her room.

From one of the doorways, stood a white-haired boy who had been eavesdropping on the conversation. Whitley walked away from the door he was standing behind and turned back to his own room. A trail of wet marks on the floor was the only indicator of what he was feeling.

"Who needs them anyway? Winter, Weiss, and then there's poor little Whitley. Father is all I need. I will be the new heir of the SDC soon enough." Whitley's downcast and teary face hardened in determination.

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Shion

"I thought there was something familiar about her. She put up a good fight, barely a challenge, but she was injured and tired. I do remember her now though, I attended Beacon with her way back then. It seems she also found Ozpin's speeches and the kingdom life to be full of lies. I congratulate her on that, had I known who she was I would have spared her." Raven kneeled next to the dead woman and closed her eyes. The rest of her tribe arrived noisily after dealing with the remaining survivors in the other rooms.

"Boss, what about this blonde kid? Do you want us to off him too?" One of the bandits lifted his gun and held it to Jaune's head.

"Unfortunately we will have to, no survivors or witnesses. I can't have some vengeful brat chasing after us so let's end this here before it begins." Raven stood up and grabbed her sword's hilt.

Jaune glared. "You did it, but why? Is this really all you do? You run around destroying smaller settlements, for what? Are you in some sick and twisted competition with the Grimm?" The bandits and Raven bristled at the questions and the attack on their way of life.

"We survive, and we have just as much right as anyone. The Kingdoms hole themselves up behind their massive walls or technology but not all of us can be there. Not all of us want to be there. You haven't seen the stuff I have seen, so don't go running your mouth on the things you don't understand." Raven's patience had reached its limit, she would execute him herself. She drew her sword and prepared to end the last of the resistance.

"Don't worry about it boss, we'll deal with this nobody." One of the massive bandits carrying an equally as large machete, stepped up and raised his weapon. "I'm going to cut you down in one swoop, you should have just left when you had the chance. Now all you'll get is death!" He swung it down and cut through Jaune in one fell swing.

Everyone stared at the corpse but it didn't collapse to the floor. "What the hell?" The burly man attempted to push on his shoulder but only stumbled forward past him. A glint of light reflecting off a sword was the sole indicator that someone attacked. Raven's trained eyes caught a moving blur as the room was filled with more gore on top of the one she was responsible for.

Her sharp survival instincts saved her life as she moved back in time for a sword to appear suddenly. Raven screamed in pain and held her bleeding face with both hands. 'I didn't completely dodge the strike. A simple slash cut straight through my aura. A speed semblance!' The tip of the sword had managed to cut a deep gash diagonally across her face.

She valiantly drew upon her strengths and lifted her sword to block the next attack but was instead kicked in the stomach below her guard. She tried to regain her bearings and composure in mid-air but every wall she crashed through only further disoriented her. She finally came to a stop after blowing through the final wall of the town council and landing on the street in a heap. 'Am I going to die here? If I survive this, I promise I'll visit you once Yang. Even you Qrow.'

Raven couldn't see much because dried blood and debris had stuck to her face. Gasping for air, she managed to get back up and wipe her face clean with her sleeves. Blood continued to gush out at a worrying pace but it was the least of her problems. Through her shaky vision, she could see the panting silhouette of the monster who had brutally murdered some of the strongest among her tribe. The masked blonde was recovering and would soon be upon her.

"Come on, Come on." She could feel her aura recovering but it wouldn't be ready before the masked blonde recovered. He would be on her in seconds. Her aura needed minutes. '15 minutes is all I need.'

Raven began to manically laugh, finding the situation hilarious, a helpless boy whom she deemed a nobody had just turned the tables on her. "If I die here, it will be from fighting. I've come too far to let it end here of all places. You're just another obstacle I have to overcome. Do your worst." She pulled herself together and pointed her sword towards him. His form flickered before rushing forward at unbelievable speeds. Before she knew it, he appeared by her side in mid-swing.

Reacting with the reflexes of a seasoned warrior, she ducked and attempted to swipe his legs. Her attack only found air and she briefly wondered what his semblance was. 'Is this somehow an afterimage? How are my attacks going through him?' She jumped away and imbued her sword with fire dust. She looked around but the blonde had not moved a single muscle. "I will make you feel the same humiliation and pain you made the heroes of this village feel. Not only them but of all the victims who had the misfortune of running into your group of thieves and killers." He didn't attack but only stood there menacingly. In the pause, her mind began to calculate any possible escape routes or environmental objects she could use to her advantage. '14 minutes to live'

'He's taunting me. He wants me to begin the offense now. I can only stall now.' Raven ran forward at full speed hoping to catch him off guard but her sword once again only phased through him. After it passed his body, he caught her arm and struck her across the face. Again. And again. And again. Raven stumbled backward as far as she could. She was sure her face was unrecognizable if the bumps and blood she could feel on her face were real.

Her face was so bruised by the beatdown that she was beginning to see doubles. "What a powerful semblance. It goes without saying, you are the fastest huntsman in Remnant." 'I have to play for time. The only way I live is if my aura recovers in time.' "I can't compete with you right now, I would need my aura to make this a fair fight."

"Didn't do you much good when it was up. Did this village get a fair chance at a fight when you brought an army of Grimm and bandits to its front door?" A screech above them reminded both of the third faction within the village. The commotion had finally drawn the attention of the giant Nevermore stalking the skies. Raven knew the masked blonde would not be in any danger because his aura was still untouched and he could ignore the attack entirely. A Nevermore, even one of this size was still not much of a threat, she could instead use it to her advantage.

"I said I would deal with you later. Go away." Dangerously fast winds picked up that blew away the incoming bird into a faraway building. Raven took cover the second she felt the wind pick up by jumping through a broken window of a house. From there, she ran out through the streets as fast as her legs could take her while making sure to switch paths constantly. In the distance, she could hear the fighting off the remaining huntsmen and her bandits.

Jumping off a roof, she could hear the sounds of fighting growing closer and closer. 'I can use those idiots to buy myself time. The incoming Grimm and whatever is left of them should distract him.' In her analysis of the boy, she concluded that he must be not very experienced in any type of combat, be it Grimm or humans. He knew a few tricks but the bulk of his prowess came from his speed.

'10 minutes left.' The main street out of the village was coming up. As she turned a corner, a fist collided with her stomach causing her to double over in pain. "You doing alright? A breeze could blow you over right about now." She tried to uppercut his privates from her kneeling position but he caught her arm and threw her over his shoulder. She landed on her feet and decided to make true on her earlier promise.

The two ran at each other with swords drawn and exchanged blows. His sword, thankfully, wasn't phasing through her attacks. They both pushed one another throughout the village as they clashed in a flurry of blades. She knew it was a waste of her remaining strength but it was buying time. Any time she successfully overpowered his blade and less skilled swordsmanship, he would escape with speed or phasing. She was sure he was purposely holding back his speed to 'teach her a lesson.' His speed and aura aided his blows against her more skilled attacks.

He was beginning to slip up on his precise timing as he saw her form slouch in tiredness. As they once more clashed, she lowered the speed of her attacks. Just as she predicted, he slowed his down as well as to not end the fight early. It stung her pride but she would be dead without it. Waiting for the perfect opportunity, she watched for any openings in his phasing.

From what she had gathered, he could selectively phase any part of his body but only when they weren't fiercely clashing blades. She subtly kicked up rocks under the pretense of getting a good foothold but she noticed when they passed through him and when they didn't. He only became selectively intangible when he wasn't at risk of being overwhelmed. Otherwise, he risks splitting his focus between possible death and choosing what parts of his body become untouchable. So to compensate, he would instead phase his whole body by default. 'What kind of semblance is this? Are these the limits of his power or just inexperience?' Raven shuddered at the thought of what this boy could become if he was allowed to reach his full potential.

She readied her sword and chose to lead the fight this time. Trading blows back and forth, she panted in faux exhaustion. "Your swordsman skills still have a long way to go but I give you a five out of ten." He pushed back against the sword clash they were in. "I wasn't able to go to any of those fancy schools you went to. Not all of us had that sort of luxury. In some sense, I guess you could say I didn't have to rely on the kingdoms like you did." Raven chuckled at the jab. "True, but we're both very aware of the fact that your semblance is the only reason you haven't been cut into pieces."

Jaune grinned. "Just like we're both very aware that the only reason you aren't dead is because I'm holding back." Raven grinned and allowed herself a small moment of pleasure. It had been a long time since she last experienced the adrenaline of a life-or-death situation. She wasn't about to waste it cowering in fear. Only the occasional powerful Grimm sent against her could give her any worry.

She kicked up gravel again and noticed he was selectively phasing again. He got some confidence in her tired state. She purposefully allowed his blade past her guard and punched him in the chest with all her strength. His aura flashed in protection but he was still sent careening back into a house, causing it to collapse on top of him. "Don't tell me I just killed you with a single punch?" Raven didn't relax but also took the time to catch her breath. '6 minutes left'

The collapsed house exploded outwards and the masked blonde jumped out with an angry snarl on his face. "It was too much to hope. I didn't expect the house to fall on top of you, so don't blame me for that." He ran towards her and slapped the sword out of the way. Grabbing her by the throat, he slammed Raven into the ground and began to pummel her further into it.

Her face, stomach, and chest were savagely pummeled without pause or rest. 'I'm starting to black out. I won't be able to hold on much longer. I'm going to die if I don't do something.' Raven held her arms out in front of her but the strong blows still landed on her stomach and face.

The Nevermore silently swooped in through the street aiming to kill both of them in one go. Ironically, the damn bird saved her life as he stopped his merciless brutality and backed off. She rolled to the left and stabbed her sword into its side. The Nevermore shrieked in pain before it took back off towards the sky along with her. Raven expertly maneuvered her way onto the Grimm's back before looking down for the blonde menace. Looking down, there was no sign of him only the crater she'd been in.

Raven wasn't able to see his method of escape but entertained the idea of the Nevermore succeeding in its mission. 'No.' He was still alive down there looking for a way to either kill or ground the flying Grimm. The bird took notice of her presence and tried to bite her unsuccessfully. Raven smacked its face and grabbed the fur around its neck to control it. 'All I have to do is fly high enough or a far enough distance for my aura to recover safely.' Strong gales suddenly shook both parties in the sky and the Nevermore found itself losing control before spiraling towards the ground.

"No! Get up you good-for-nothing beast! I did not allow you to live only to die without my say, so live!" Raven pulled harder on its fur to try and steer it through the dangerous winds. The plan worked as both flew at street level without hitting the ground and gained enough wind to fly back up to safety. '4 minutes to live'

Looking back down revealed another empty street and no masked blonde. 'A little more and I'll be in the clear.' "You have the resilience of a cockroach, even after all those hits you are still pushing forward. I was sure you would have collapsed by now especially as you have no aura." Raven's blood went cold as she heard a familiar voice behind her. 'The winds from before, he used it to lower the bird enough for him to hop on. There is no other explanation for them. I should've known better, those seconds of street-level flight were more than enough.'

"It's the Branwen in me, we've always been tougher than the rest. This… this is nothing." She stomped on the Nevermore's head and the sudden angle change caused all of them to enter free fall. 'Let's see you phase through the ground. There should be no way you can ignore a death drop like this. Unless you plan on dropping into the planet's core or tanking the hit with your aura. Even if you somehow survive, you won't have a semblance to stop me from killing you.'

As the ground grew closer, Raven made sure to stay close to the bird to make a last-second escape. The Nevermore shook off the effects of the kick and flew back upwards along with her on its side. Observing the blonde, he only stood still before his feet and hands began to flicker. Very familiar gusts of wind began to form and soon he slowed his descent until finally dropping gently onto the ground. Raven prepared herself and clung to the Nevermore as her life depended on it. The gusts of wind knocked them out of the sky and both were sent rapidly spinning back down to the village.

Raven coughed painfully and looked down to notice that the Nevermore had protected her from the fall. The Grimm croaked angrily before trying to bite her again but part of its body was pinned under rubble. "How are you still alive you dumb bird? I won't kill you now seeing as that is the third time you save my life. Count yourself lucky and tell Salem I said hello." Looking around, she painfully got to her feet and stealthily moved through the destroyed houses. Debris dust lingered in the air before a gust of wind cleared her cover out of the way.

"What happened to fighting me till you died? What happened to your pride as a Branwen? Tougher than the rest, you said." The angry voice called out to her from outside the house she was in. He was right, she did say that, and yet here she was holed up trying to hide.

As she was about to answer, a whistling noise distracted her. Somehow, a working stove survived the crash along with a steaming pot of water. 'Could it be just like in Vale? A supply of fire dust feeding into every house through a pipe?.' "You're right. I wasn't being honest with you or myself when I said those words. Seeing as I have the chance to ask, what is your semblance? I know you can move fast but where do the rest come from? Do you have some sort of copy semblance?" If this was the case, then she might be dying regardless. '1 minute to live' They both began to circle each other waiting for the other to attack first.

"Why does it matter? It might have helped you before the fight began." Her eyes carefully investigated the cracked street looking for something. The wall behind the masked blonde exploded as the Nevermore launched a surprise attack. 'There!' She spotted what she'd been looking for and backed away, leaving him to deal with the Nevermore.

The bird screeched in anger before being blown away by blasts of wind again. "You're right, it's no longer relevant. Come at me, I'm going to end this with one swing of my sword." She was now in position, her aura was only seconds away from coming back.

"One swing? I told you I would make you feel pain and humiliation. I'm starting to think I didn't do good on my promise either. We were both being dishonest with one another. Here I come." He blurred forward and she readied her swing for a final confrontation. She could feel his smugness as her fire dust-imbued sword only met air on its way down. 'Just like I wanted.' Raven felt his punch aimed at her face collide against her aura shield instead. "I win."

An explosion consumed an entire sector of the village. The flying Nevermore tried to outpace the incoming flames rocketing upwards but could only make it so far up before being swallowed as well. A final screech of fury and the Nevermore dissolved along with everything else in the dust-fueled fire.

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Branwen Camp

"That was four times you saved me. I actually miss that stupid bird." Raven collapsed onto the floor as her portal immediately closed but not before a blast of flames seeped around her. The tents around her caught on fire causing her tribe to become alert at the sudden attack.

Out of one of the burning tents, came a young teenage girl who weaved her hands and used her jaw-dropping control over the elements to help put out the fires. Raven watched her go to work and noted the deep respect her tribe had for her. For some time Raven worried the girl was going to overthrow her but time made her realize how absurd the idea was.

The girl was soft and incapable of utilizing her powerful abilities to the fullest. Pacifist at heart but still willing to stand up for the weak. This was the only fault Raven found in the girl. The love she held for her adopted daughter was always more than her hatred at this apparent weakness. Until now.

Finally noticing the downed form of her 'mother', she ran to her in a hurry while shouting for a medic. "Raven, what happened? You said you were looking for supplies, did the Grimm attack you? Are the others okay?" The girl began to fire off questions much to Raven's mounting anger.

Raven motioned for her to stop. "I took care of it. I just need some rest, I don't need a healer. Help me to my tent, I'll explain everything later." The spring maiden helped her up to her feet and walked her into her private tent.

"What do I tell the others? Should I assemble a group to help the others?" She nervously played with her hair as she waited for a response.

"No. I will deal with that myself later. I want you to meet me later tonight in my tent. Alone. I… I have to talk to you about something." Raven wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Okay, I'll go tell the others to continue as usual and then I will wait for your call. Take it easy…Mother."

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Shion

"I'm telling you, Rick. There isn't a better spot to relax than this hot spring in Mantle. It's been a while since I've gone but is it not worth the wait." The larger bandit told his companion.

"Shut up! Did you feel that earlier? Felt like this whole darn village just got leveled." He looked around nervously for danger.

"Yeah, so what? It was just from the fighting. We're about to be freed soon and then we can go find that blonde brat. That's if Raven hasn't dealt with him yet. He might think himself a hotshot with his awakened semblance but he is no match for the strongest huntress in the world." Both of them began to laugh hysterically.

"Wait, do you hear that? I hear footsteps coming closer to us. I think it might be the others, Hey over here! Some kid tied us up and we can't move." The footsteps finally reveal a partially burned figure of a teenage boy with half of a mask hanging on to his smoking face.

"I… I don't think he's with us." His companion nodded in fear as the boy came closer and closer with a familiar sword in his hands.

"It's him! The blonde kid from earlier!" His partner looked up and down and recognized some similarities through the blackened gear as well.

"Have you come to let us go? We stayed right here just like you told us to. Even if someone came to free us, we would have told them to piss off." The sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the empty street, causing all of them to look towards the area it came from. They soon dismissed it as just another consequence of the explosion.

"Yeah, so how about it?" It was hard to make out any expression on his face but they could tell something was off.

"Yes, I have come to free you." They closed their eyes in fear and awaited their bindings to loosen. Instead, he stabbed his sword into the larger bandit's chest repeatedly until his screams of pain stopped.

"Wha..at? Please don't kill me. We told you everything we knew! I kept my end of the deal and you said you wouldn't kill us. I have a family waiting for me to come home." The only response he got was a sword in his chest.

"Why?" He slouched over and joined his comrade shortly after.

In a nearby building, a crying mother held her whimpering daughter's mouth to stop her loud cries as she slowly stepped away from the window and far from the broken snow globe on the ground.