Unexpected Team Ups
As it turned out, the person who was to help them was Doctor Oobleck. According to him, it was strange that it was Merlot Industries tech that interrupted with the security network. Which meant that they should all go check where their headquarters building still stands, which meant...
"Mountain Glenn", Blake said as she and the others walked towards the city in the distance. The bullhead that came to pick them all up had thrown them all near the city. Because there was a chance that there was someone still at the main building, which would mean that if there is someone, they might run away at the sight of a bullhead. "Didn't think we would come here again," the cat faunus added as they neared the city limits.
"I don't think any of us did," Yang added in as she glared at Dragunov's knapsack. The team handed over the gold coins in a small pouch to be sent back to Beacon, and by extension, Oobleck. However, Dragunov refused to part with the huge ruby. Said he didn't trust the pilot. "Seriously, Drag, what's so special about that ruby?" the blonde asked, remembering how he looked downright murderous when they tried to insist on him leaving it to the pilot.
"That's not important right now," Dragunov said as he turned away from his Driver, "And for the record, it's a diamond, not a ruby."
That response earned a confused look from Weiss. "Uhh…Dragunov, diamonds are colorless, that gem is clearly a ruby," Weiss explained, hoping to correct whatever delusion the draconic Blade had.
"No, it's a diamond. A red one," Dragunov insisted, "Also, for your information, diamonds can appear in multiple colors when there are impurities mixed in the carbon that would eventually form a diamond." The way Dragunov explained that, sounded like he knew what he was talking about.
"Is that so?" Dahlia asked out of curiosity, "You seem awfully knowledgeable about this, did you study it or something?" Indeed, it was odd for the brute of a Blade to have knowledge outside of combat.
"You have your knowledge, I have mine," Dragunov said, looking like he almost lamented about something. He still hasn't told them about his specialty.
"That's not a-" "Weiss," Ruby interrupted the white-haired girl, "If Dragunov doesn't want to talk about it, let's not force him."
"But Ruby, it just doesn't-" "I'm sure he'll tell us when he's ready," Blake added, knowing what it's like to tell something you don't want to.
"Fine," Weiss conceded with a sigh.
"Thanks," Dragunov thanked with a small smile. Then his thoughts drifted back to the red diamond. Dragunov wasn't sure why, but something about that gem bothered him.
Still that could wait until after this mission.
Speaking of which, during this conversation the Drivers and Blades had reached the city area. And just then, they heard loud rumbling with the ground shaking too.
"That did not sound good," Yang commented, half expecting the damaged buildings to crash upon them or something.
"No, it didn't," Dragunov agreed, "Though it would take more than this to shake me."
Anyone that wasn't Yang or mute groaned at the stupid pun.
"THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME!" Weiss screeched, considering their situation. Still there was no need to shout.
"Uhh…We've got baddies!" Ruby suddenly shouted, and sure enough, creeps were popping out of the ground.
"Let's get them," Roze said readying his weapon alongside everyone else.
Surprisingly, they only got to kill one or two each, before they stopped coming. "Is anyone else thinking that this was far too easy?" Nox showed on his scroll as the gang moved on again.
"Maybe we got lucky?" Ruby suggested.
"No, Nox has a point," Blake interjected with a frown, "The Breach wasn't that long ago, shouldn't this place have more Grimm than this?"
"Perhaps we ended in a part where there aren't many Grimm," Dahlia suggested.
"Or maybe they ran away from here because of the tremor," Dragunov added in.
"What makes you think that?" Roze asked as he scanned the area for any possible ambush.
"Those bombs that Torchwick released might have made the ground around here unstable," the draconic Blade explained, "Or maybe something else has happened."
That thought gave some shivers, especially Ruby. If the whole place suddenly collapsed underground, there was no telling what might happen to them.
"I wish Talos was here," Dahlia sighed, earning questioning looks from others. "As an earth Blade he could tell us the state of the surrounding ground," the busty ice Blade answered to the unvoiced question.
"Any good earth Blade would suffice for that," Roze added in, before sighing, "But we don't have one, so no use talking about it."
With that the girls let out a sigh as they continued deeper into the ruined city while trying not to think about the possible collapse of the whole area.
"Oh look, of course the bridge is blocked," Weiss said with a sigh. Because sure enough, the bridge was blocked by fallen debris.
"I can clear that in two shakes of a-" "I wouldn't risk it," Roze interrupted, squinting his empty eyes at the wreckage. Which earned him an annoyed look from Dragunov. "It looks unstable to me, one wrong move and this whole thing could collapse on top of us," the white eyed reaper added.
"...If you see another way around, I'm all ears," Dragunov said, thinking that the wind Blade couldn't think of one.
"Well," Ruby spoke up as she checked the map of the city Oobleck had provided, "We could use that old waterway system to get inside." At the latter part, Ruby pointed to what used to be a waterway, but it had long since dried up.
"...Why couldn't things be easier just this once?" Weiss said with a sigh.
"Well, if it's the only way," Blake shrugged.
"Then water we waiting for," Yang punned with a wink, "Get it?... Guys?"
"...No." Three girls and two Blades said in varying tones.
"Let's just pour in already," Dragunov growled, not looking forward to this trip. Then everyone groaned. "...What?" the dragon looked confused.
"Pour in," Blake deadpanned.
"...Right," the draconic Blade grumbled, not bothering to bite back.
With that, the gang jumped into what used to be a waterway. and used that to get deeper into the city.
"For the record, I hate this," Dragunov complained as he looked at several large pipes nervously.
"Come on Drag, you're not afraid of a little water, are you?" Yang teased.
"Quiet you!" The amount of heat in the Blade's words made the blonde flinch, "I'll be powerless if this place floods."
"Well he is a fire Blade," Roze pointed out.
"Right, and they're weak against water," Weiss finished, now understanding where the Blade was coming from. Though that doesn't mean she can't feel smug satisfaction about his aversion. Not that Weiss was anymore happy about the possibility of no doubt filthy water flooding this waterway.
"We should be able to get in through that gate," Ruby then said as she pointed towards a closed metal gate. Well, it wasn't all the way closed, but the gap was too small for any of them.
Weiss moved in to give the gate a once over. "I don't see an opening mechanism here," the white-haired girl said with a scowl.
"We don't need one," Dragunov said as he wiggled his hands into the opening.
"That could work," Dahlia commented, understanding what the fire Blade was trying to do. And soon enough, Dragunov was trying to pull the gate open with sheer might. They could hear the metal straining, but it seemed to hold strong.
"rrrrrRRAAAAGGHHH!" Dragunov roared in frustration as the cracks in his body glowed with heat for an instant. "Im...possible." Were the final words that came out of Dragunov before he stumbled away from the gate. "What the hell is keeping this thing from moving?" the dragon growled before taking a few steps back. "Hey, Roze. Come here for a moment," Dragunov called for the reaper Blade.
"What are you doing?" Yang asked, feeling just a little smug that Dragunov couldn't solve something with his strength.
"Improvising," Dragunov said with a grin as he made a flame appear in his palm.
"Oh, I get it," Roze said before adding his wind into the flame. And then the two released their respective elemental power into the gate.
"Are they trying to melt the gate," Blake asked, wondering if this was enough.
"Looks that way, my lady." Nox showed on his scroll.
Soon enough, the elemental combo burned through the metal and came out at the other side.
"Check and mate, gate," Dragunov joked, actually earning small laughs or snorts. Although Yang laughed the hardest.
Then Dahlia also used her ice to rapidly cool the hole the two male Blades had made, just to ensure that their Drivers didn't get burns by accident.
"That was cool," Ruby said with stars in her eyes at the creative use of their abilities.
"This much is nothing," Dragunov said as he entered through the hole, "Imagine what my flames could do when I reach my full potential."
And that brought the girls an image of Burning Rage encompassing all of Beacon. Shaking their heads to rid the nightmarish image, the four Drivers and the rest of the Blades moved through.
Some time later, the four caught sight of the Merlot Industries' main building. Which meant that they now needed to give Oobleck a call.
"Ahh. Hello students, am I to assume that you're near the main building of Merlot Industries?"
"Yes, we are," Ruby spoke up, "It's just like the one in the picture."
"Excellent! From now on I suggest you all put your earpieces on." With those words, the girls each put on a small earpiece. This would allow Oobleck to direct them back from beacon. And of course, they also amplified the signal so that they won't have a repeat of Ruby being unable to call.
"Testing, testing," Ruby spoke into her earpiece.
"Ruby, you were supposed to push the button on it," Roze pointed out
"Oh, right sorry." Ruby said as she tried again, this time pushing one of two buttons. "Testing, testing."
"I can hear you, Ruby," Oobleck replied from his end, "Now, if all of you are set, you should now search the building. Just make sure you don't end up like the brilliant men and women who worked there."
"We'll be careful, professor," Blake replied on the earpiece on her human ear.
"Doctor." Was the instant correction, which made Blake look mildly embarrassed at her mistake.
"Let's just get this over with," Weiss spoke up, "The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we can apprehend whoever sabotaged the security nodes."
"Agreed," Dragunov commented.
With that the gang moved across what was either a large parking lot, or some kind of courtyard.
Suddenly, Roze stopped dead in his tracks. "You guys feel that?" The wind Blade asked the fellow Blades.
"Yeah, I do," Dahlia said as she prepared her bitball.
"What is it?" Ruby asked in worry.
"Ether." Nox showed on his scroll.
"Over there," Blake exclaimed as she pointed towards at several holes that opened up not too far away.
Then several large orange furred apes appeared out of it, looking around the new area in confusion.
"Gogols," Dahlia commented, identifying the Alrestian creatures.
"Are they strong," Yang asked eagerly.
"That depends on the species," Dragunov said as he prepared his talons, "In other words, not sure."
Soon enough, the gogols stared at the four huntresses and Blades, before snarling at them.
"They look angry," Ruby said as she prepared Crescent Rose. As if to prove her right, the gogols started charging at them.
"Guess we have to fight them," Roze commented as he pointed the gun at the beasts.
With that, the gang moved in. Ruby used her scythe to rapidly slash at the gogol she faced, but it looked like the beast was smart enough to stay out of reach. Until after one more miss, the gogol closed in, only for Ruby to vanish in a flurry of rose petals before the ape felt something at it's back.
"It's hide is tough," Ruby shouted out as she took some distance and switched to shooting.
The gogol roared and drummed its chest before charging at the little red reaper.
Meanwhile Weiss was surprised that Myrtenaster couldn't pierce through her opponents hide too deeply. "How is this thing so tough?" the white-haired girl asked as she took distance just in time to avoid her gogol's fist. The beast wasn't happy about being stabbed. But even less when it felt Dahlia's bitball digging into its side.
Blake used her semblance to distract the gogol she was facing, allowing her to slash at its back. Unfortunately, she was only able to make small gashes. Which only served to make the beast to turn towards the faunus with an angry roar. But then it roared in pain as Nox took his chance to stab it in the very back Blake had wounded moments ago.
And Yang…she was matching the largest of the gogols blow to blow. Until it was able to punch the blonde away from it. But thanks to her aura, Yang was able to take the hit. "Oh, now you've done it," Yang spoke up as her eyes turned red.
Meanwhile, Dragunov was locked in a power struggle with one gogol. The two having grabbed each other by their hands, trying to overpower the other. "Pretty good, but not good enough," Dragunov boasted before breaking the dead-lock and punching the gogol several times in the face, causing deep gashes with his talons. Before finishing it with a kick to the stomach.
Yang was ready to attack with a semblance fueled punch, when all of a sudden, the largest gogol she had been fighting picked a rock and threw it way past Yang. The blonde would've mocked the beast if she didn't hear something roaring behind her. Turning around, Yang saw an alpha beowolf reeling from the hit. And it wasn't alone. All around them, more Grimm were pouring from between the buildings around them.
"Guys! A huge horde of Grimm is here," Yang shouted, causing her team mates and all Blades to take a quick look at the beasts.
The largest gogol let out a mighty roar and drummed its chest, with its comrades joining it.
"What're they doing?" Weiss asked, keeping her guard up against both the large apes and the still approaching Grimm.
"They're trying to intimidate the Grimm," Dragunov said as he chose to prioritize Grimm, "But it's not working. Yang!" After the last shout, Dragunov moved to his Driver's side and handed over his talons. "Forget the gogols, we need to destroy that horde."
Yang nodded grimly as she accepted the Blade weapons and felt the power of Dragunov soon adding to her own. The other girls also switching to Blade weapons as well.
Despite the Blade weapons dealing significantly more damage than their own weapons, the problem here was the huge number of Grimm. It didn't make too much difference that a portion of the horde went after the gogols. Though it looked like the Alrestian beasts were doing pretty well against them. Whether it be smashing, strangling, stomping or all of the above at the same time, the large apes were able to hold their own. Which was proven when an ursa major bit down on the largest gogol, which was probably the leader, but the huge gogol grabbed the bear-like Grimm by its head and threw it upon a pack of beowolves. Then, before the large ursa could get back up, the leader gogol grabbed a large piece of debris and smashed it upon the monster's head repeatedly until there was no head to bash.
"Ruby, shoot the Grimm attacking the gogols," Dragunov shouted after briefly observing that the rest of the apes stayed in a protective formation around one more.
"What? But we're the ones in trouble here," Ruby retorted as she used Crescent Spinner on several beowolves.
"Just do it!" Dragunov roared before grabbing a boarbatusk by its tusks and throwing it at some of the Grimm attacking the gogols which earned the leader's attention briefly.
"Roze!" Ruby yelled before handing over the scythe.
"Petal Blast!" And Roze fired his special art upon an alpha beowolf that was trying to jump over the gogols defending the one behind them.
"Why are they protecting that guy," Weiss asked in indignation, before using Snowfall to scatter more Grimm, before adding a shot of fire dust from Myrtenaster for good measure.
"Because she's with a child," Dragunov responded as he threw a fireball at a large creep before it could get underground.
"That thing is a she!?" Weiss shouted in disbelief, "And it's with a child!?
"Yes, now just trust me and help them," Dragunov practically roared before turning towards another contingent of Grimm that decided to go for the gogols. Only for Yang to use Dragunov as a stepping stone to get above them before landing a shockwave by punching the ground, sending the monsters flying.
"Drag, you better know what you're doing," Yang said, not even bothering to hear an answer before going against more Grimm that were attacking the Alrestian beasts.
"Blake, you and Nox use hit and run tactics to go harrass them," Ruby quickly ordered, "Weiss, support them with Dahlia. Yang, you and Dragunov are with me and Roze!"
Blake nodded firmly, while Weiss gave a vocal acknowledgement. Soon enough the huntresses and their Blades were doing the best they could to help the gogols. As planned, Blake used hit and run strategy, prioritizing Grimm that were about to overwhelm any of the gogols. Weiss was using both Myrtenaster, and Dahlia's bitball to give support. Occasionally using Healing Circle to keep their aura's up. Meanwhile, Ruby and Yang moved in to support the leader gogol that had moved too far from its brethren. It seemed like the large ape understood that the huntresses were not enemies. But then it gave a series of noises that earned its brethren's attention.
"HEY!" Weiss, who had gotten close to one of the guard gogols, shouted as she was hoisted by one of them and placed behind the protective line. Dahlia soon being thrown in too. "What's the big idea, you brutes!?" Weiss screeched at them.
"Weiss," Dahlia sounded out, earning her Driver's attention, "Look, she's hurt."
The Schnee heiress took a look at the female and sure enough, there were deep wounds on its left arm and right leg. Which explained why the gogols stayed here instead of running away. The female isn't in a condition to run. "Could we use Healing Circle to heal her?" Weiss asked, wondering how this gogol got hurt in the first place.
"Yes, we could, but we must be quick," Dahlia said before looking over the wall of gogols who were pummeling any Grimm that came too close to them. Blake and Nox were doing their best, but it looked like there was no end to them in sight. Ruby and Yang must be struggling too. "I'm not sure our friends can hold out without us."
"Right," Weiss said as she quickly tried using the healing Art again. Soon enough, the wounds on the female's limbs began to close. Earning a confused look as she tested her previously wounded limbs. "Let's get back into the field," Weiss then said as she quickly made a glyph to jump over the gogol wall and used another Snowfall upon the enemies. Dahlia soon following by weaving through a gap large enough for her to get through.
With the leader and the two sisters. Despite practically mowing down anything in its path, the leader gogol still suffered significant wounds from lucky strikes from the stronger Grimm.
Then another ursa major joined the fray, ready to avenge the one this foreign beast killed earlier.
But Yang who was getting very annoyed decided that enough was enough. With a highly annoyed growl, Yang cocked both of her fists back while the claws of Dragunov's talons were glowing with heat. "Heat Blast!" Yang called out and punched the greater ursa with both fists actually blasting a gaping hole into the Grimm's torso, surprising her a little, though not as much as a surge of energy she felt. "What was that?" Yang found the time to wonder in her head.
"Looks like you've learned a new art, Yang," Dragunov commented with pride in his voice.
"Really? I just did what I thought was natural," Yang said as she looked at the claws that weren't glowing anymore.
"That's how it works sometimes," Dragunov commented. Though he had to stop to look at the leader gogol going on another rampage on the Grimm. It's wounds having healed. "Did Yang's attack heal him too?" Dragunov found the time to question.
"Yang that's so cool!" Ruby shouted with stars in her eyes.
"Take this, FROST QUEEN!" The gang heard Dahlia shouting, and sure enough she was on her frozen pedestal and firing icicles from her bitball upon the horde. Significantly reducing their numbers.
"I think Dahlia has the right idea," Roze spoke up as he looked upon the Grimm that were finally beginning to dwindle in numbers.
"So does Nox," Dragunov commented, pointing towards a section where a large number of Grimm were being mowed down by Swirling Shadow. This prompted the draconic Blade to smirk, "Yang, what do you say we end this with a very big Yang?"
The blonde Driver grinned, "Oh, yeah." And with that, she handed over the talons.
"Dragunov, wait!" Ruby cried out, but her cries fell on deaf ears as Dragunov already charged the fireball in his hands while his body glowed with heat.
"Burning RAGE!" And then he slammed it to the ground. Which was soon followed by a pillar of swirling flames devouring a significant portion of the Grimm.
With the number of the enemies dropping, the gogol leader barked a series of orders. A portion of the gogols separated from the others and charged the remaining Grimm.
"Round 'em up! As they say," Dragunov said as he handed the talons back to Yang with a savage grin. The said blonde mirroring the look, before charging in after recovering the talons.
"I thought that would've caused an earthquake or something," Ruby said with a sigh of relief.
"Ruby, focus! The Grimm aren't gone yet," Roze called out just before moving in to block a creep that tried to pounce on Ruby.
"Sorry," Ruby said before getting back in action.
Soon enough. The huntresses and the gogols had finished off the remaining Grimm. Which left one question, what happens next.
"What do we do now?" Blake wondered aloud, seeing that the gogols were now staring at them.
"Leave this to me," Dragunov said as he stepped forward. Making eye contact with the leader.
"What's he doing?" Weiss asked, having reluctantly lowered Myrtenaster by Dragunov's request. As had the others.
"I have no idea," Dahlia admitted as she too looked with baited breath about the battle of wills that was seemingly going on.
Soon enough, the lead gogol gave a series of barks, and the group of gogols moved away from them.
"They're leaving," Ruby said in awe, "How did you do that?" The question was of course, directed at Dragunov.
"I just made them realize that we have no intention of attacking them," the draconic Blade said as he gave a small grin, "Shame, I would've loved to see how strong the leader is."
"I guess this is better than fighting them," Roze admitted, as he watched the retreating gogol.
"We should get back to inspecting the building," Weiss then reminded everyone of their mission.
"Yeah, you're right," Ruby said as she pressed the button on her earpiece.
"Ahh. Hello again, students. Have you found anything yet?" Asked Oobleck's voice which was broadcasted on all earpieces.
"No, we had some…problems on our end. But it's alright now," Ruby explained as the team started walking towards the building.
"I see, what about the building, are you inspecting it yet?"
It was Weiss who picked up, "No, but we are planning to do that now."
"Very well. I suggest you all keep the line open from now on so you can relay anything you find immediately," Oobleck then spoke up.
"Will do, doc," Yang replied as she flicked a tiny switch at one part of the earpiece. The others following suit. "Whelp, let's get going," Yang then says and the gang pick up the pace towards the Merlot building.
Only to stop when another tremor hit.
"What the heck!?" Weiss exclaimed as they then heard the sound of straining metal alongside the cracking.
"I didn't do this right?" Dragunov quickly said as he took a wider stance to keep himself steady.
"If that was the case, the tremor would have started sooner." Nox showed on his scroll. But no one had the time to read it, because the main building collapsed on itself. Which in turn, caused the ground beneath their feet to shatter and open a pitfall for them.
"SON OF A BIIITCH!" Dragunov roared as they all fell.
"LANGUAGE!" Ruby found herself able to shout back as she too fell into the abyss alongside the others.
"Students! What's happening in there! Team RWBY, respond! RESPOND!" Oobleck shouted frantically through their earpieces.
AN: Now we see how Grimm react to Alrestian beasts.
To those of you wondering, yes the gogol are relatively smart. Remnant is a world of bloody evolution, but so is Alrest in it's own way. Although the monsters of Alrest aren't hell bent on destroying any of the civilized races. There are occasional skirmishes between them and the people, but the Alrestian beasts mostly stay away from cities.
