As she drained the last few drops from the water bottle, Yang crushed it lightly in her hand and tossed it into the wastebasket.
Behind her, Pyrrha took a few deep breaths, stretching. "You seem motivated today, Yang. Did something happen?"
She smiled slightly. "I guess so, yeah. Just...realized some stuff. Think I've been focusing on the wrong things, you know?" Pyrrha looked at her curiously and she simply laughed. "I don't really want to get into my whole perspective on life, Pyrrha."
"You don't have to say anything, Yang. I was just curious. You're a little different than yesterday." And recently, went unsaid.
"Yeah. I'm feeling...pretty good, actually. Blake's back, obviously, so that's a big part of it." She stretched, feeling her spine pop slightly, then smirked. "So, now that we're all warmed up...want to go a couple rounds?"
The redhead smiled. "Of course, Yang. I'm surprised it took you this long to ask."
As their Scrolls came out and they fiddled with the settings, the door opened and a dark-haired form strolled in. Yang blinked at the sight of her partner, Shroud and Veil in one hand. "Uh...hey, Blake. Didn't know you were up yet."
"Yeah, I've been...used to waking up early, lately." Her partner smiled at her, eyes flicking to their Scrolls and then to the sparring screens. "...I was going to test out my new weapons. I'd thought about asking you for a hand, Yang, but-"
"No, no, that sounds great! Uh, but I kinda...well, Pyrrha and I have been doing this for a little while, and-"
"-I don't mind if you want to postpone, Yang. Or even cancel. Really, it's not a big deal." Pyrrha's smile was patient (then again, she does have Nora on her team).
"I...uh, what if we just all went at once?" Yang was surprised as the words came out of her mouth. But at the same time...it would work, wouldn't it?
The other two glanced at each other thoughtfully. "Like...a free-for-all round? I don't think I've ever played by those rules, before." Pyrrha tapped her chin. "That...would introduce a couple new dimensions to the fight, actually...I'd be interested. If you are, Blake."
The Faunus nodded firmly. "Yeah. Actually, that should be fine. So, rules?"
As she pulled out her own Scroll and started matching their settings, Yang couldn't help but smile.
They formed up in a loose triangle, each of them glancing warily at the others. Slowly, Blake raised the sheathed blade, gripping the hilt firmly in one hand. Yang tensed, ready to charge at the signal her draw would provide...and instead found herself blinking and nearly stumbling.
As the crimson blade cleared its sheath, inky black vapors poured from the spine of the sword. They drifted lazily through the air above the blade for a few seconds before vanishing into thin air. As Blake stared at it curiously, she weaved the blade back and forth before her and left a dark trail in the wake of the sword.
"Huh," Blake said eloquently.
"I take it that's...not an intended feature?" Pyrrha glanced between the two of them curious, weapons held loosely (but firmly, Yang knew) in her hands.
"Honestly? We weren't sure. The forging process didn't really include a manual. You good over there, partner?"
Her voice seemed to snap Blake out of whatever trance she'd found herself in, and she raised up the blade and the sheath, each pointing at one of her opponents. "Yeah. I'm ready whenever."
"Well, then. In that case." Yang glanced at Pyrrha, and for a moment there was understanding there.
Then the two of them turned and, as one, rushed towards the Faunus.
For her part, Blake smiled and nodded. Then, the shadow underneath her rose up slightly and she pushed off of it, rocketing towards Yang's own face like a bullet. Blade met gauntlet as she parried, only for the sheath to follow up. She danced, weaving her weight from one foot to another as she deflected, following her partner's lead. The blade and the sheath weaved around her as she and Blake guided them together, never quite catching her Aura but never giving her an opening to attack.
She smirked, and Blake smirked back.
Then she heard the faint click behind her and instantly ducked as a gunshot rang through the air, Pyrrha's spear propelling itself through the space she'd occupied a moment ago. Blake parried it aside as Yang lashed out with a kick, pushing the redhead back as it impacted the shield, feeling Blake's hand on her back as the Faunus flipped over her. She rolled, spinning to her feet a moment later and watching Blake and Pyrrha trading blows. She stepped forward just as Blake hooked the tip of her sheath under Pyrrha's shield, tugging it out of position as the blade scored a small hit to the redhead's ribs. Milo came down to deliver a pommel strike and Blake slid backwards in that odd way, skating along her shadow like it was ice. For just a moment, Pyrrha was overextended.
Well, if she was going to present an opening like that.
Yang pounced forward, landing on all fours in front of Pyrrha and hooking one fist upwards. The shield, naturally, moved to parry.
So, at the last moment she opened her hand and placed her palm against it, hooking her fingers around the edge and lifting herself to her feet.
Her eyes met Pyrrha's, and the redhead blinked in surprise as Yang continued to pull her off balance. Then, she simply released the shield and Yang tossed it blindly behind her, hearing Blake knock it aside rather than seeing it.
Milo came down as Pyrrha went on the offensive, looking to unbalance her, so she gave ground and weaved with the blows. Then she twirled, using the momentum of her body to push the blade out of position and lashing out in a kick to Pyrrha's chest, coming to rest facing the other combatant behind her.
Once again, she danced with her partner, neither of them gaining ground. Then, she saw Blake's eyes narrow slightly, and Shroud (or is that Veil?) swept horizontally before her face. She leaned back, letting the tip pass by her nose, but the wispy darkness in its wake blinded her for a moment. The sheath-blade that swept through the smokescreen and sliced across her jaw, therefore, was a small surprise.
She let the blow spin her, dropping low and sweeping a leg under Blake. When the Faunus flipped over it, she pushed herself backwards in a small leap to gain ground and give her a moment to catch her bearings. Blake moved to re-engage –
– and a bronze shield bounced off of her side, ricocheting directly for Yang. She barely brought up Ember Celica to block and the impact still shook her arms. Then, the shield returned to Pyrrha's arm just in time for her to close into combat with Blake once again. This time, Yang charged in behind her partner, one fist raised in defense while the other hooked around for a side-strike.
She saw Blake inhale deeply, and the sheath swiped her punch away from connecting. She probed Blake's defenses from one side as Pyrrha worked the other, and for a moment Blake held off both. Shroud and Veil blurred, knocking aside Ember Celica, Milo, and Akouo all. But nothing could hold against that combined force forever, and finally Blake's attention shifted a bit too far.
Yang's punch burned with the energy from her Semblance as it cracked into Blake's ribs, sending her bouncing off of Pyrrha's shield. She spun, and for just a moment the sheath leveled in Yang's direction.
She heard the gunshot just as the bullet snapped her forehead backwards, leaving her blinking in confusion for an instant. Oh, fuck, I forgot it had a gun mode...I deserved that. She took a step backwards, centering herself as she breathed deeply. The others seemed to be taking a moment as well, each eyeing the others with wariness.
Yet...Yang was grinning from ear to ear, Pyrrha was smiling warmly, and even Blake was wearing that little mysterious smile of hers.
Hell yeah. This is what I'm talking about!
Without saying a word, the three of them closed into battle once more.
In the evening, Blake sat with her legs crossed. The Frozen Flame draped across her knees as she idly ran her fingers along its spines. In truth, though, her mind was far away.
Obsidian?
Yes.
She licked her lips. I was wondering something. As she took the time to collect her thoughts, Obsidian simply waited. You said...you told me my new Semblance was like the Frozen Flame. How much so?
There are things your soul can do that the Flame cannot. However, your soul acts as a conduit in the same fashion as the Flame. Our connection is part of you, carved into the origin of your soul.
So. Is...there any benefit to my carrying the Flame?
For a few seconds, there was silence.
It increases the flow of my power to the area.
She nodded, and continued to sit and think. Her thoughts spiraled, no matter what arguments she ran through in her head. It was...difficult to convince herself. You have Neopolitan working on something, don't you.
She will search for the Maiden of Spring in Mistral.
I thought so. It makes sense. The stakes...are a lot higher than I thought they were. She frowned, her brows furrowing slightly. If Cinder is working for the Grimm, we really do need everything we can get. Her fingers traced along the Flame absently. Do you think Neopolitan will betray us like she did Cinder?
Neopolitan will always pursue the path that brings the most benefits. For herself, and for Roman Torchwick.
So as long as that's us, we have nothing to worry about. And if that changes...hm.
It was some time before she put the Flame away.
Some characteristics of Shroud and Veil have been revealed!
Void Breath - When drawn and in contact with Blake's Black Hand, Shroud constantly respires a thin black mist. This mist counts as a shadow for the purposes of Blake's magic but dissipates relatively quickly, only suitable for quick attacks or maneuvers. When the blade and sheath are combined and wielded as one weapon, the sheath provides permanence to the mist. Blake can slowly pull them from the sheath to replenish her shadows, or wield them in a large attack when the blade is drawn again.
From Darkness - As long as Shroud and Veil remain on Blake's person, she can see in even perfect darkness, and her vision pierces her shadows even when they are opaque.