Prepare For The Festival
It had been a couple days since team RWBY and their Blades thwarted Merlot's plans. They received quite a lot of compliments on stopping the mad scientist. When they went to Ozpin's office to give their report, the headmaster had a plate of cookies ready for them much to Ruby's delight. Unfortunately for Weiss, they didn't get any extra credit from this. After all, it would send a wrong message to other students.
As for the files from Alrest they gathered, Adenine took them for further analysis. Also, Dragunov was allowed to keep the red diamond and the book, seeing as the draconic Blade insisted on keeping them. But right now, most of the gang and their Blades were at the cafeteria having lunch.
"So, when me and Roze were able to make the robots back off, Dragunov unleashed his fiery wrath upon them all!" Ruby retold the story for the very interested looking team JNPR.
"Ruby," Roze butted in, "Dragunov's level 3 Special is called Burning Rage."
"I knew that!" Ruby protested with an embarrassed blush.
Roze shook his head as he kept eating a plateful of cookies he was sharing with Ruby.
While Ruby continued explaining her version of their adventure, Yang was rolling her food around with her fork. She and Dragunov hadn't really talked since the fire Blade started reading that strange book. Yang never thought she would see anyone more immersed in a book than Blake, but Dragunov has proven her wrong. He also refused to talk about what the book even was about.
"Yang, is there something wrong?" Blake asked, noting that the blonde wasn't the ray of sunshine she tends to be.
"Same old," Yang replied simply, which was basically her saying that it was Dragunov.
To which Blake shook her head a little, "Look, is it really that strange that he found an interesting book?"
"Who found an interesting book?" Pyrrha asked, pausing in listening Ruby's tale. It was still kind of funny that it was Ruby and not Nora telling a story at this point.
Weiss gave Yang a questioning look, to which the blonde nodded, giving her consent. "Dragunov found a book in Forever Fall which he is probably reading even now," The frosty heiress revealed earning several surprised looks. Also, it might be important to note that the draconic Blade was absent.
"Wait…you mean Dragunov? The hot-headed guy who can beat you up if you so much as look at him funny?" Jaune asked in mild disbelief.
"You're kidding," Nora added, not pegging the Blade as someone who likes reading.
"I was not aware that the beast can read." Joana added in, earning incredulous looks from most Blades and Drivers on the table.
"Nor was I," Otohime added with a thoughtful look, redirecting the said looks to her. "Why is everyone staring at me?" the water Blade looked around with uncomfortable look on her face.
It was Dahlia who decided to answer, "Did you seriously believe that Dragunov couldn't read?"
The Blades of light and water gave a non-committal shrug. "He does seem like he would lack that ability," Joana said, earning a mildly disappointed look from others.
"Pochi can read, and he's an animal Blade," Ruby pointed out. Indeed, last night Team RWBY found Pochi reading a bedtime story for Zwei. It was amazing how the animal Blade was somehow able to turn pages without opposeable thumbs.
"I fail to see your point," Otohime said, earning more incredulous looks. The seven humans and one faunus couldn't comprehend the fact that Otohime thought Dragunov being literate was more surprising than Pochi being literate.
"Wow," Nora said while turning to Electra to whisper, "She's weird."
"I heard that, beast," Otohime said with a stony expression.
This earned a light chuckle from others, except Ren who sighed again. The black-haired teen had been trying to get to the bottom of his Blade's dislike for Nora, but the water Blade only gave him a look of pity whenever he asked.
"I did try to ask Dragunov about that book, but he threatened to burn my lady's hair if I tried to peek." Nox in turn showed on his Scroll as he chewed on his food which he had put in his mouth when no one was looking.
"He what!?" Blake exclaimed, now having a feeling similar to Yang whenever her hair is threatened.
"A risk I cannot take." The dark Blade added, much to Blake's relief.
"Anyway," Pyrrha butted in, not wanting anymore of this topic, "Shouldn't we do some final preparations for the Vytal Festival tournament? I heard there will be some new rules this year."
"Will they be about Blades?" Jaune asked.
"A reasonable assumption," Weiss agreed, wondering what kind of rules will be implemented for Blades. Assuming they would be allowed onto the arena.
"Vytal Festival tournament is when Academies show off the strength of their upcoming protectors of the world, yes?" Joana asked for confirmation.
"Yes, it is," Jaune confirmed.
"You better not drag us down, Jaune," Talos said with a warning tone
"Talos!" Pyrrha exclaimed, worrying that he was hurting Jaune's feelings.
"Milord has become more than adequate enough to qualify," Joana butted in, fully believing her own words.
"You weren't around when he was still called 'Vomit Boy', "Yang chimed in, finding herself in a better mood now.
Which earned the blonde brawler a look from the blonde braided mecha-knightess, "I do not recall asking your opinion, peasant."
"Joana," Jaune mouthed with a pained look as Yang's ire was slowly rising.
And then Roze started laughing, which earned him looks from Weiss, Dahlia, and Ruby. "This whole conversation turned ridiculous," the rose reaper said, slowly infecting Ruby with his amusement.
With that, the lunch continued hectically.
Several hours later, we see Dragunov sitting on the floor in the RWBY Blade dorm. Reading Thauron's journal. He just finished the part that explained the red diamond they had found when a knock sounded on the door.
"It's open," The fire Blade called loudly. Which was the person's que to open the door, revealing it to be Yang.
"…Drag, do you have a moment?" Yang asked, sounding a little awkward.
The tone alone made the fire Blade look up at his Driver with a quirked eyebrow. "I'm not too busy," Dragunov replied, returning to the journal.
This earned a frown from Yang. "What's so interesting about that book," Yang thought in mild annoyance. But the blonde pushed it aside, she was here for a reason after all. "How did you beat that ice cream bitch?" Yang asked, bracing herself for being laughed at.
"What kind of question is that?" But she was not prepared for a genuinely curious question her Blade asked.
"I mean…I lost, but you won. How did you stop her from dodging your attacks," Yang clarified, finding more confidence.
At that moment, Dragunov shut the book before getting up off the floor. "I didn't for the first few seconds. But then I drew her attention to one fist, which gave me an opening to turn the fight to my terms," the fire Blade explained as he put the book down on a table.
"I thought you just overpowered everything in your sight with your rage," Yang said, remembering how brutal the draconic Blade is in a fight. The time he ripped a mutated Beowolf's jaw being the example that came to her mind.
"Rage can be a weapon if you know how to use it," Dragunov explained. But then he gave his Driver a meaningful look, "From what I've seen, you don't."
Yang did not like that, "How is me getting angry different from you?"
Instead of simply answering, Dragunov moved in front of Yang, before raising both palms. "Hit me."
"Huh?" Yang sounded out at the weird request, "Why?"
"Just humor me." Dragunov said simply with an infuriating smirk.
The look had the intended effect as Yang punched one palm. Except Dragunov moved it out of the way. "Hey!" Yang exclaimed as she tried again, only for the fire Blade to once again move the palm out of the way. "Hold still, dammit!" Yang growled as she tried the other palm, only to once again be denied the hit. But that wasn't all, Dragunov also caught Yang by her wrist with his other arm before pulling it hard enough to make the blonde fall flat on her stomach.
"See what I mean?" Dragunov asked, dropping the infuriating smirk.
"RRAAARRRGGH!" Yang roared as her rage manifested in golden flames in her hair and red eyes. Then she got back up and charged the Blade.
She didn't have Ember Celica right now, so there was no real danger... If Yang wasn't more than capable of dealing damage without them, that is. But Dragunov is a Blade and as such Yang can't deal any lasting damage. Still that doesn't mean the fire Blade likes taking punches that he can feel. Which was why he focused on blocking Yang's rage fueled fists before kicking her feet from under her and wrestling her to the ground. Dragunov had to admit, Yang was putting up more of a fight than the week he had been awakened. Still, all he had to do was put in significantly more effort. "Yang! Calm down now!" Dragunov shouted to the thrashing brawler in his grip. The fire Blade had managed to hook his arms beneath Yang's own before getting on his back and wrapping his legs over hers. Effectively locking her.
Yang shouted and struggled, but it was clear that Dragunov would not let go until she was calm again.
After what felt like an eternity, Dragunov finally opened his mouth, "Are you calm now?" Yang had stopped struggling and was now breathing heavily.
"...Yeah," the blonde said, even though she still felt like breaking the stony bastard's teeth.
"Good enough," Dragunov said before releasing his hold and Yang got off of him. Slumping on the floor with her back turned to the source of her ire.
"Yang…did I really piss you off that much? Or is something else going on here?" The fire Blade found it in himself to ask, because to his understanding, his Driver shouldn't have a fuse this short.
"…Nothing you would understand," Yang said quietly, but still audible enough for Dragunov to hear.
"…Okay." Was all Dragunov could say. Because unfortunately, while their relationship as a Driver and Blade had become better. He didn't really know Yang beyond what he had seen for himself.
Yang wasn't sure why, but letting Dragunov have the last word in felt like she was losing. So, she spat it out, "…Do you hate me?"
"What?" That question surprised Dragunov, "Where did that come from?"
Then Yang turned around with an angry look, "Where did that come from, you ask? You keep insulting me. If it's not how I do things, it's my intelligence! You say you accepted me as your Driver, but did you really?"
"You're supposed to give a witty retort," Dragunov shot back, "I thought that was our whole thing?"
"I don't call you a worthless dumb blondie," Yang shot back again, earning a more confused look from Dragunov.
"I never called you that," the fire Blade said, before remembering the closest thing to those words he used, "This is about what I said back at Merlot's lab isn't it?"
"Duh! What gave you the idea!?" Yang said while throwing her hands in the air in frustration.
Now the fire Blade was growling a bit, "What do you care about a petty insult like that?"
"Do you know how many times I have had to hear that!?" Yang finally blew up as she pointed at Dragunov accusingly, "When I started developing most of the guys back at Signal threw blonde jokes like they were facts! You sounded just like them when you called me a blonde joke!"
At this point Dragunov smacked his own face. "You took everything else with such stride that I thought nothing phased you," the fire Blade explained as he let out a sigh, "I'm sorry."
"...What?" Yang asked, thinking she misheard that.
"You heard me," Dragunov retorted heatedly, "Look if our partnership is going to work, we need to…Urgh…I'm not good at this whole heart-to-heart thing." Yang couldn't help herself, she let out a snicker. "What?"
"I just find it funny that you don't do emotions, considering how short fused you are," Yang said, finding herself grinning a little when Dragunov gave her an annoyed look.
"I'm trying here," the fire Blade retorted, but it was flimsy, "Besides, you don't have much room to talk."
The blonde Driver ignored the latter part of Dragunov's words as she gave her own reply. "I'm willing to try too, if you tell me what's so special about that giant ruby," Yang said as she pointed at the red gem that was on a table Dragunov had claimed for himself.
"It's not a ruby, it's a red diamond," Dragunov replied in annoyance, "And for the record…It's called Fire Dragunite." the mostly stone covered Blade sounded hesitant at the last part.
"Sheesh, ego much?" Yang said while rolling her eyes at Dragunov naming this after himself.
Which earned her a more annoyed look, "Hey! I made that thing!" Then Dragunov covered his mouth as he realized what he blurted out.
"You what?" Yang called out, before staring at the "Dragunite" and the Blade it was named after.
"Sorry, just my ego talking," Dragunov said, feeling his gut twist at making a lie of this kind.
Unfortunately, the lie did not stick, because the cogs started turning in Yang's head as she recalled a little something. "Oh. My. GOSH! You can make diamonds!" Yang exclaimed while pointing at the fire Blade accusingly, "That's where you got that pouchful from! You made them!" Then a very evil look graced her face, and Dragunov could swear her pupils turned into lien symbols.
"Don't get ideas," Dragunov said in a warning tone.
"Too late. Now you're gonna make me a rich girl. If you're actually sorry about what you said," Yang said with a sneaky grin. And she couldn't help fantasizing about rubbing this into Weiss' face.
"I refuse to be your wallet," Dragunov said with a growl.
"Oh come on!"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"I said no!"
"Not even if-"
"Yang, there is no plea, threat or offer you can make that could change my mind!"
As Dragunov and Yang had their new argument, Ozpin had his own with Ironwood in his office.
"Ozpin, I demand you hand over those files," Ironwood said with a hard look. The general had found out about the research notes that Adenine took to study.
"James, don't you think that weaving human cells into a Blade sounds a little strange," Ozpin said, having heard this part from Adenine herself.
"Yes, but it supposedly gives a Blade extra power. If we can somehow mass-produce this, then the Grimm will never be a threat again," Ironwood argued.
"And who knows what else would happen," Glynda argued back, "How do we even know that this research is even legitimate? And even if it was, is the process even usable with Remnant technology?" All valid points, because as of now, they had zero knowledge about Alrestian technology. Except now they at least knew that science is a thing there.
"Newt has been giving ideas about improving our weapons, which we have had a few successful tests of applying. Besides, I believe Adenine owes this, seeing as we allowed her to view some of our notes for Aura research," Ironwood retorted, still wondering how that aqua haired female Blade managed to talk him into allowing her to see if there had been research done into Aura. The woman had already devoured every book on the subject that Beacon had, and there are a LOT of those.
"James, I'm sure Adenine will share whatever she discovers when she's ready. But you must remember something, we don't truly know much about Blades," Ozpin then said before taking a sip from his mug of steaming hot cocoa, "Or more importantly, who sent them here and why? Or if this wasn't done by a person, why is it happening?"
"Ozpin, letting students have these Blades was your idea, last I heard," Ironwood retorted in frustration.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances," Ozpin shot back, before sighing, "Besides, I have had all students that have Blades to go on multiple check-ups to see if having one has had a negative effect. And so far, there have been none what so ever."
"Besides," Glynda butted in, "Adenine mentioned a part about the research notes that mentioned side effects. They could be physical or mental, considering how Blades seem to be living beings just as much as any human or faunus."
"They are also powerful weapons," Ironwood retorted, emphasizing the weapon part, "Weapons that we could use to keep our peoples safe."
"Is that what you think the students are?" Glynda challenged with a hard look.
Which in turn earned a furious look from the general. All the while Ozpin let out another sigh. "Here we go again," the headmaster thought as he braced himself for another verbal war with Glynda and James. At least Port had informed him about the initial draft about the new rules to the tournament being accepted, so that will prove to be interesting.
In Vale, Blake was walking around Vale with a disappointed look on her face. Tukson's shop was closed and she heard that the man had disappeared. However, one of the neighbors gave Blake a letter from Tukson. It reassured her that the shop keep was fine and in Vacuo by the time she would receive this letter.
But what worried her was that according to the letter, Adam had tried to have him killed. At least the Blade that was sent to kill the puma faunus, decided to let him go instead.
"My lady, we should focus on the tournament." Nox shoved his scroll in front of his Driver's face.
Which Blake shoved away with an annoyed look, "How can I focus when a man I consider a friend is on the run!?"
The dark ninja tilted his head at that, "Please forgive me, but are you not in hiding as well?"
"That's not the point, Nox," Blake said, now a little calmer, "It's just…what if the White Fang find him?"
Nox looked thoughtful on Blake's question before showing his scroll again, "Is Tukson a good fighter?"
"What?" Blake asked, caught off guard by the question.
"I am asking if Tukson can take care of himself in Vacuo." Nox clarified his question.
The faunus Driver thought on Nox's words before remembering a crucial fact and most likely reason Tukson fled to Vacuo, "The White Fang has the smallest presence in Vacuo, due to faunus being least discriminated there."
"So, there is no point in worrying?" Nox had a curious look to match his question.
"…I guess not," Blake said, now feeling less worried.
It must have shown on her face, because Nox had new text on his scroll, "Can we focus on the tournament now?"
"Nox, we agreed to do team exercises tomorrow," Blake reminded her slightly strangely eager Blade. The "we" being her team and the Blades that were present.
"There is no harm in honing individual skill either." The ninja pointed out while pointing his finger on "individual skill" for emphasis.
"Fine, we can do some light training once we get back to Beacon," Blake relented with a roll of her eyes, just as she passed another bookstore. Her eyes fell on a certain book she was planning to buy, which was also the primary reason for visiting Tukson's shop. Blake was inside the store faster than the ninja Blade could react, and that's saying something.
Nox was about to follow his Driver when a certain sign next to the door caught his eye, "No Animals Or Living Weapons." The dark one frowned at this under his mask. He had seen several signs like these. Apparently, some people did not like Blades any more than faunus, but so far no one has done anything drastic. Or none that he had heard of. Regardless, the dark Blade chose to wait for his Driver who would not be recognized as a faunus so long as her ears don't twitch. But then the dark Blade caught sight of a butcher's shop across the street. Glancing at Blake who was in a line bouncing in place with desperate need to read that book she wanted, Nox deemed that she would be fine for few seconds without him being at close proximity. With that thought in mind, the ninja Blade crossed the street, avoiding the few cars that were still moving at this time of day. The window showed a wide selection of quality meat, sausages, etc. But it was one item at the corner that made the dark ninja place his hands on the glass and press his cloth and eye patch covered face into the glass. His pupil taking on a new shape as the glass fogged over from his breathing at the sight of the heavenly looking treat in front of him.
And it was at this position that Blake later found him at. Calling out to her Blade several times, only to receive no reaction. Until finally, Blake glanced at what the dark one was staring at, while making the owner of the shop inside uncomfortable.
"I could buy some for you if you'd like," Blake told Nox who's head snapped into his Driver's direction.
"You could? Please…I am not worthy of being spent on." Nox showed on his scroll, though he looked to be in physical pain as he seemed to have trouble rolling out the last part.
This caused the black-haired huntress in training to shake her head in amusement. "Consider it a reward for your services," Blake said as she walked inside the store to buy the treat her Blade had been staring at so intently. Unfortunately, she regretted it a little bit. Because when she returned outside with the treat wrapped up, Nox was on his knees with his head on the ground while one hand was showing the contents of his scroll. Blake blushed heavily, because her Blade was singing praises of her to the heavens in his scroll. But the embarrassment was intensified as she heard several people talking as they passed the two. "Nox, get up," Blake hissed at her Blade who was continuously rolling out more text that worshipped the feline faunus to heavens and beyond. "You're embarrassing me," Blake almost growled as there was now a significantly long amount of Nox's scroll on the ground. But thankfully the dark one listened and stood up, rolling his scroll back in the process.
The feline faunus let out a sigh at her Blade's overly zealous praising of her like she was some kind of almighty benevolent goddess. "If you can act inconspicuous until Beacon, you can have this," Blake told Nox as she held the wrapped-up treat. The dark Blade nodded rapidly with his pupil in the shape of a diamond. "Good, now follow." With that command, Blake took the lead on their return trip to Beacon and Nox followed obediently. But that did not stop Blake from feeling both dirty and embarrassed at the same time, or help her resist the urge to look behind her to check that her Blade wasn't worshipping the ground she walked on. "I bet Ruby and Weiss never have to deal with something like this," Blake thought almost wishing she could trade Blades with the said team mates. But she knows that that's not possible so no use thinking about it.
With team JNPR, the gang had just finished doing some team exercises, with and without their Blades. It was interesting to see how Pyrrha and Talos had mastered the art of switching their weapons in nearly perfect tandem, or Ren and Otohime perfecting their use of their respective weapons. But the team did get a little worried when Electra called forth a giant lightning as an experiment that happened to hit Nora. It's not the orangette's physical health they were worried about, but her mental one. Nora laughing like a maniac while hysterically shouting something about "infinite power" made even Ren terrified of his long-time friend. Nora's little power trip was thankfully interrupted when Electra started crying about making Nora insane.
"…My proposition still stands," Otohime said while clutching her ether cannon.
"No!" Ren denied firmly. Euthanizing Nora was not an option as far as he was concerned for some reason.
"…The little one seems to have Nora under control," Talos added his own opinion as he shook his head at Nora and Electra hugging each other.
"…Sometimes I do wonder if lady Nora is…feeble minded," Joana added in, earning a disappointed look from Jaune.
"Come on guys, Nora isn't that bad," Jaune tried to reassure everyone. If only he could believe his own words, he might have even succeeded.
"Yes, Nora won't just go on a mad killing spree on-" Pyrrha covered her mouth as she noted everyone's looks on her, "…Sorry."
Otohime let out a sigh. She couldn't fathom why everyone is so insistent on having that creature around, and she probably never will. "The rabid beast aside, I believe we should also work on Electra's control over her powers," the aquatic lady said, keeping her real thoughts bottled up.
Pointing it out made the little Blade look down in shame. She still can't help zapping people by accident. The only one who it isn't harmful to is Nora, who only grows stronger from it. But not everyone is Nora. "…I wish I didn't have this power," Electra murmured with a light sob.
Which made Nora glare at the evil lady before patting her little girl's back, "It's okay Electra, you'll learn someday. And then we're gonna use it to zap the mean lady." That last part was accompanied by a savage grin at Otohime who responded with a glare that promised unspeakable pain in return.
"But Otohime isn't mean," Electra said in confusion. Which would have made the kimono clad beauty smirk evilly, if it wasn't beneath her.
"Well, the lady's not wrong. Electra does need to train to control her electricity," Talos butted in, before glancing at his own Driver, "Just as we should train your semblance."
"Wait, what?" Jaune sounded out in confusion, "But Pyrrha is already great with her semblance."
"That doesn't mean there's no room to improve," Talos countered easily, "I believe my Driver should have enough control with her semblance to overwhelm someone with it, if only for the sake of having the option to do so."
"Yes, but only as an option," Pyrrha reminded her Blade with a stern look.
"Naturally," Talos agreed and it was easy to imagine him smiling under that helmet of his, "The choice on its use will ultimately be yours, Pyrrha."
This made Nora pout, their Invincible Girl was already invincible, what would happen if she had even more power.
Jaune was once again reminded of how lucky he should feel for having someone like Pyrrha as a friend. His mood must have shown, because he soon felt Joana's hand on his shoulder.
"Lady Nikos may very well be the best fighter among you, but you must remember that strength is not everything," Joana spoke with a confident smile. Which clearly had the intended effect, seeing as Jaune stood just a little straighter now.
"So, are you ready, Talos?" Pyrrha then asked her Blade, secretly relishing the idea of tossing him around for stress relief.
"Yes, I am," the golem Blade replied, totally oblivious to his Driver's less than mature thoughts.
"I'll see you guys later," Pyrrha then said before walking off, with Talos following with his heavy footsteps.
Ren let out a small sigh, before turning towards Electra who had stopped hugging Nora, "…Electra, would you like to try some exercises that could help you control your power."
"Really!?" The little girl had a hopeful look on her face.
"Well, I'm not sure if it will work, but it could be," Ren clarified, unsure if the meditation sessions he planned would even work. But it was worth a shot.
"If it's Ren's idea, I'm sure it will work." And apparently, Nora agreed with the green clad gunner.
"…What should I do?" Electra asked with a determined look while looking up at Ren with those adorable bronze eyes of hers.
With that, Ren started teaching Electra how to meditate for starters.
Which left Jaune with nothing to do. Except, "Milord, I believe we could benefit from some practice with using my weapon." Joana seemed to think of something to do.
"Thanks Joana, but…I think I'd rather discover my semblance already," Jaune sighed, which earned a frown from the knightess.
"Milord, as Lady Nikos said, you cannot rush this. You shall discover your semblance in time, and it will be magnificent," Joana spoke with utmost confidence, which was beginning to infect Jaune a little.
Although there was that tiny question at the back of his head, "But what if…Just what if I never get a semblance. I mean, I can't imagine a professional huntsman without a semblance."
"Then you shall be the first to accomplish it," Joana replied like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Now, I believe discovering Arts is long overdue," the blonde braided mecha-knight spoke as she gently ushered Jaune to move.
"…I guess you're right," Jaune said, imagining himself doing some cool Art. The Blades of JNPR have gone over this with their Drivers, with Pyrrha and Nora already having discovered at least one. With those thoughts in mind, Jaune moved to another spot with his trusty Blade who he sometimes thought was too good for him.
AN: And there we go, sorry to disappoint those who expected the first episode of Vol. 3. But I felt that a transition chapter was necessary. RWBY was never clear on the passing of time for the most part. I always assumed Vol. 1 episodes happening days apart after the initiation. Which also makes me believe that Vol 2 and three are several weeks or even a month apart. A lot can happen during that time. Which is why I try to convey a similar experience here. I set up that something is being done. Skip a few days of the said thing being done, and show the results of that.
