A/N: Plans are already set into motion. Patrick has no idea what awaits him when the Vytal Festival comes. He may be clever and fast but is he really ready for what is yet to come? Only time will tell.
Chapter 40: Grim! Grim!
Mashika is leading Team PASM through the woods, using her trident to cut down any vines on their way. It's been nearly a month since prom night has happened. The Vytal Festival is soon upon them. But before that happens, they must now do their final Huntsman Mission. One that'll take them to a very familiar area.
"It feels like just yesterday we were helping Anna and her people. And now we're on our way to visit them again." Marlene says.
"We are not visiting. We're on a mission." Patrick says.
"Patrick's right. I know you went on a mission with these people before, but we must remember we have a job to do." Mashika says.
Mashika guides her team through the woods until they eventually make it out. Once out, they immediately spotted a small village, most of it still under construction. They make their arrival in the village and Team PASM is greeted by the villagers. Everyone was excited to see the team that helped them escape from their situation.
Anna makes her way through the crowd. "Welcome. It's so good to see you once again."
Mashika approaches Anna, and offers her hand. "I am Instructor Mashika Kirei. I am in charge of Team PASM on this mission."
Anna accepts her hand and shakes it. "Of course. Follow me." Anna shows Mashika and Team PASM around town as she explains the situation to them. "As I'm sure your team knows, we moved our village here due to some overwhelming Grimm invasions. Ever since we came here, we've adapted. Lately, we've been receiving some Grimm attacks. Nothing we can't handle, we're already working on a defensive system to protect us from these attacks, but we Huntsman Protection to hold off the Grimm."
"That's where we come in." Patrick says.
"Indeed." Anna takes the team to the outer wall where the defense tower is being constructed. A male scientist is going over his clipboard thinking. "Dr. Viktor. How's the work going?"
"Lady Anna. Well, I still haven't been able to figure out the problem with the cannon's targeting system as well as the Dust Loading system. Dear me, I have a PhD in Atlesian Technology, yet Weapon Science still puzzles me." Dr. Viktor says.
"Not to worry, Doctor. I'm sure you'll figure it out." Anna says with confidence.
Marlene steps forward. "Perhaps I can be of assistance? I have a vast knowledge of weaponry tech." Marlene shakes Dr. Viktor's hand. "I'm Marlene Watts."
Dr. Viktor is surprised to hear her name. "Watts? As in Arthur Watts?"
"He's my father." Marlene says.
"Well then, it's a pleasure to be working with my old friend's daughter." Dr. Viktor says.
Marlene is left behind with Dr. Viktor as Mashika and Team PASM follow Anna to the center of the village. Anna explains to them about the types and amount of Grimm that have been attacking the village. They don't believe it's a treat compared to how things were in the previous village, which is why they decided to build a defense system around the village.
"It sounds like it could work, though I think you should still have a huntsman in the village." Mashika says. "That said, we'll protect the village until Marlene and Dr. Viktor get those towers working."
"Thank you." Anna says. "We have lookouts on the outskirts of the village to keep an eye out for the Grimm. But I should warn you-"
Suddenly, an alarm was going off with the sounds of a rapidly ringing bell and someone shouting: "GRIMM! GRIMM!" The alarming shouts of Grimm alert Mashika and Team PASM. They immediately spring into action. Anna warns them to wait and is about to say something but they're already gone before she can finish. On the outskirts of the village, there's a young boy who is pulling the rope and ringing the alarm bell shouting: "GRIMM! GRIMM!"
Mashika and Team PASM leap into action, positioned ready to fight, and sees...nothing. This leaves them confused. "Where's the Grimm?"
"There is no Grimm!" The kid says, then bursts into laughter. "You fell for it!"
The huntsman and Huntresses lower their weapons and look at the kid in disappointment and anger. Anna finally catches up only to see what is going on. She puts on a serious look as she approaches the kid. "Evan! I told you to stop pulling this prank! We have guests who are going to help us with our situation and we don't need them falling for your False Alarms."
"Aw, come on cuz. Can't you take a joke?" Evan just continued lying on the floor laughing. Allowing Anna and the team to leave.
Anna returns them to the village center, where she explains what happened. "I'm so sorry about Evan's...Prank."
"It certainly wasn't funny. Grimm attacks are nothing to joke about." Selena says.
"What a dishonor." Akira says in agreement.
"Has happened a lot?" Selena asks.
"Only for the past week." Anna says. "You see, my aunt and uncle brought Evan to the village. He's always been a troublemaker in the city and they thought working in the village here would help him. He can't do much of anything so I assigned him on the lookout ever since the attacks began. Next thing I knew, he started making these false alarms, thinking it's funny."
"Doesn't he realize how serious Grimm Attacks are?" Selena asks.
"I tried talking him out of it but he just won't stop. Everyone in the village has had it with him." Anna says. "I just don't know what to do."
"Kids will be kids. He'll grow out of it." Mashika says. Patrick just scoffs at Mashika's suggestion.
During their time in the village, Mashika, Patrick, Selena, and Akira are on the lookout for any Grimm Attacks. Once there are attacks they spring into action fighting them off to protect the village. Marlene doesn't help out the attacks for she focuses on helping out Dr. Viktor with the defense systems. By the night time, it was Evan's turn to be on lookout and he constantly plays his little False Alarm pranks. Team PASM comes into action to only find out it's nothing more than a prank.
It's been going on for days. By the fourth night, everyone is gathered by the fireplace and another Grimm Alarm goes off. Team PASM investigated the matter, only just carelessly knowing what this was going to be, and that is when they arrived. Another False Alarm with Evan laughing at them.
Patrick snapped as he grabbed Evan by the shirt and lifted him off his feet glaring at him with a burning stare in his eyes. "So help me you little pipsqueak, play another False Alarm on us again you're gonna wish you actually saw a Grimm!"
Selena and Akira grab Patrick and pull him back. "Patrick, just calm down. He's not worth it." Akira tells him.
The trio leaves Evan alone on his lookout duty. Evan sits down and thinks for a moment. "I'll admit, that Huntsman is scary. Maybe I should back off on the pranking again...But it's so funny. The looks on their face." Evan mimics the upsetting look everyone gives him then resumes laughing. "I don't see what they're getting so upset about. It's not like there's ever any Grimm Attacks happening at this hour."
Evan wanders around the area laughing until she bumps into something. Evan is about to protest against the being he hit until she looks and is stunned with fear. Standing right before him in a frightening 10-foot size is a Beowolf. Evan stutters as he tries to get his words out but only fearful gibbering is what escapes his mouth. The Beowolf just stands over the kid as if waiting for its prey to run.
"G-g-g-g. Ga-ga-ga! Ga! Gr-GRIMM!" Evan runs for the alarm bell and rings it like crazy. "HELP! GRIMM! GRIMM! THERE'S A GRIMM!"
Evan's alarm reaches the whole village, but no one responds to it. After a brief moment of distracted attention, everyone just returns to their normal routines. Team PASM, Anna, and Mashika are all at the fireplace, annoyed. "Honestly, doesn't that kid have anything better to do?" Patrick asks.
Anna sighs in disappointment. "I'm so sorry for Evan's behavior. I really did hope he would stop it with his pranking."
"I must admit even I'm falling annoyed by his childish behavior." Mashika says.
"Well, so much for 'Kids will be kids'." Patrick comments.
Evan is still going crazy with the alarm even though nobody is coming. Just then, the Beowolf leaps toward him and attacks. Evan managed to dodge on time, avoid getting even a scratch. Evan scarcely watches the Beowolf as the Grimm stands on all fours readying to pounce or chase. Evan realizes there's no way to run for the village, so he starts running away into the wild with the Beowolf chasing him.
Everyone in the village remains in their normal routines, even after Evan's alarm is past silenced. While everyone at the fireplace is talking, Akira's Fox Ear twitches. Akira looks behind her wondering what it is she is sensing. But after a few seconds of observation, she shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to her comrades.
Evan runs through the forest with the Beowolf chasing after him. The kid runs for his life, not even being bothered by all the vines and branches his body hits. Evan's breathing becomes heavier as he runs, his body growing tiresome but the adrenaline of fear in his veins doesn't stop him.
Going downhill, Evan trips and slides off the road, where he is able to move out of sight. In his quick recovery, Evan crawls into the hollow underneath a tree. The Beowolf arrives in the area. It comes to a halt as it sniffs around, trying to locate its prey. Evan does his best to silence the fearful noises he is making as the Beowolf is still in search for him.
The Beowolf softly growls, which frightens the child, and then after a moment it leaves searching elsewhere. Evan sighs in relief, but he doesn't relax for he is now lost and alone in a dark spooky forest.
The night passes and it's early morning. Patrick and Selena are already up before sunrise. They pass by Marlene and Dr. Viktor, who have fallen asleep in the middle of their work. Patrick just rolled his eyes and muttered: "Brainiacs." Selena and Patrick found Anna nervously pacing at the village center nervously. They have taken notice of her worried expression. "Anna, is everything all right?" Selena asks.
"I'm worried about Evan." Anna says. "After he pulled that alarm last night and nobody responded, he's been real quiet, and now I can't seem to find him anywhere."
"Sounds to me he's now pulling a hiding prank." Patrick says.
"No, Evan wouldn't pull a disappearing prank." Anna says.
Patrick crosses his arms and gives Anna a look. "Oh really? Did you think he wouldn't pull a false alarm prank?"
"Okay, you may have a point. But still." Anna says.
"Given the circumstances, Patrick, I think we should at least look around." Selena says. "And if it's really a prank, we'll deal with him."
Patrick lets out a disappointing sigh. "Fine."
As the village begins to look around for the missing child, Evan is still lost in the woods. Right now, the kid is soundlessly asleep in the place where he hid from the Beowolf. Evan awakens, he yawns tiresomely and stretches his arms and legs. Evan takes a look outside. The whole area is terrifying, he honestly does not want to leave but he still knows that just staying here and hiding will eventually kill him.
Slowly and carefully, Evan wanders around the forest. There are no signs of any Grimm other than distant howling and twig snapping, some of them are really from his own feet. What he doesn't realize is that the Grimm are watching him in the shadows, just waiting for the right time to pounce.
As Evan is wandering through the woods, voices echo in his head. Voices of his parents. His cousin Anna. The other villagers who hated him for his pranks. Even the moment Patrick had threatened him before the actual Grimm came. Guilt starts to fill Evan's mind. He should have listened to them. And how he's in a life-threatening situation that nobody is gonna rescue him from.
A loud stomp fills Evan's ears, and now he's paralyzed with fear. Evan slowly turns as he hears deep heavy growly breathing. He turns and screams as he sees the terrifying Beowolf. The Beowolf lets out a roar and swipes. Evan dodges the attack on time and starts running, with the Beowolf chasing after him. Evan runs for his life, and as they run, more and more Beowolves join in on the fray.
As Evan runs, he trips and starts rolling down a cliff. When Evan crashes to the bottom, he yells in agony as he grabs his left leg. Evan looks up to see all the Beowolves chasing after him. Evan tries running but immediately collapses when the pain in his leg overwhelms him. He then starts crawling but it was pointless. The Beowolves have him surrounded. One of them is in front of him, it snarls and it draws its claw back ready to strike. Evan braces himself for the death strike that is about to come.
Then...
The Beowolves claw collapses to the ground. Evan takes a peek and is surprised. The Grimm before him has fallen, dissolving. With A young Samurai Huntress on top of it, her sword impaled on the former Grimm. Akira stands straight and calm once the Grimm she had slain is completely dissolved. The boy is speechless as he watches his savior. One of the Beowolves leaps towards Akira. Just as he's about to warn her, Akira jabs her sword onto the Grimm backward, instantly defeating it.
All of the Beowolves force their attention on Akira as they attack. Akira fights the Grimm in all of her strength and speed, dodging their attacks and striking back whenever there's an opening. Up against three Beowolves at one, Akira loads Ice Dust into her sword and uses Fifth Sword Form: Frostbite.
One-by-one, the Grimm falls, and none of those that remain are having the common sense to run away.
Once all of the Beowolf are defeated, Akira calmly collects her surroundings, then sheathes her sword. Akira then turns her attention to Evan and kneels to his level. "You all right?" Evan doesn't say anything, the boy is still in shock from everything that's happened. Akira sees the cuts on the boy's body as well as how he has his hands on his leg. Akira summons an orb of Chi Energy in her hands. She holds the orb close to Evan and the energy starts healing his wounds. "It appears you were lucky I made it on time. A second later, you would have been a goner."
"Why..." Evan's voice sounds broken. "Why did...you come for me?"
"After your little alarm went off, we all thought it was another one of your pranks. After you went silent, I sensed something. At first, I thought it was nothing then after a long while of not hearing from you and your alarms, I went to investigate. You weren't at your post, and I'm certain you weren't at the village since it was left empty. I decided to look around the forest until I heard a horde of Grimm acting out." Akira ends her healing. "I can't do anything about your leg. Let's get you back to the village."
Everyone in the village searches everywhere, even calls out Evan's name. Past noon, Anna meets up with Patrick, Selena, and Mashika. Anna asks them if there have been any signs of Evan, but they all reported negative.
"I'm really worried. What if something bad happened to him?" Anna asks.
"Now I'm concerned as well. We've searched everywhere and haven't found Evan." Selena says.
Mashika has a realization. "Wait...You don't think that alarm he made was actually real, do you?"
Anna realizes that possibility too and looks horrified. "Oh dear. What have I done? Uncle and aunt are going to kill me."
"Let's not just into conclusions just yet." Selena then notices something, or someone, missing. "Wait, has anyone seen Akira?"
"I saw her meditating early last night. Other than that, I don't know." Patrick says. "Now, about the kid..."
Just then, there's an alarm going off. But nobody is shutting 'Grimm'. The team goes to investigate. When they arrive they see one of the villagers sounding the alarm, and point to what is emerging from the forest. It's too far away for anyone to tell then Patrick sues his Semblance to activate his Scope Vision.
"It's Akira...with the kid." Akira is walking towards them carrying Evan on her back. Everyone, especially Anna rushes to Akira.
"Evan!" Akira comes to a halt and sets Evan down, who is surprised by Anna when she hugs him. "Are you hurt? What happened? You had me worried sick."
"I understand your concerns, but you shouldn't overwhelm him." Akira says. "He was surrounded by the Grimm when I found him. I healed most of his wounds and his ankle's broken."
"You went into the woods alone searching for the kid?" Patrick asks, surprised. Mashika is both impressed and disappointed with Akira.
In the meantime, Marlene and Dr. Viktor are making the final adjustments with the defense cannons. "There, I think that should do it."
"Excellent. You really take after Arthur, young Watts." Dr. Viktor says. "Now all we need is a Grimm to test it out."
"I think I know someone who can help us out with that." Marlene says.
Marlene goes to Selena and asks for her assistance. After a while, Selena stands a long distance away from the village. Marlene is watching her with binoculars from the tower. Selena just stands in place, feeling nervous about this idea. But after a deep inhale, Selena activates her semblance, letting out her beautiful singing. No sooner as she started, a Beowolf starts walking in, charmed by her siren song. Selena starts walking towards the village and the Beowolf follows.
Marlene and Dr. Viktor observe from the tower of the action taking place, and Dr. Viktor seems impressed. "Wow, your friend is really something. I'm surprised she has the same semblance as Elizabeth Akimura."
Marlene laughs awkwardly and nervously. "Y-yeah. That's some coincidence."
Selena lures the Grimm closer and closer to the village. Once she reaches 60 yards to the village, the cannons activate, take aim at the Grimm, and then fire the Loaded Dust, destroying the Beowolf.
Once that's done, Selena rejoins Marlene and Dr. Viktor. "How was it?" Selena asks.
Marlene and Dr. Viktor look over their notes. "The experiment was a success, but it didn't go off 40 yards after the trigger range."
"Indeed. We'll have to double-check the system and correct the targeting range." Dr. Viktor says.
"Maybe we should also add a dual-dust shooter. Oh, and we should have it set where it shoots water dust and then lightning dust." Marlene says.
"Ah, I see what you mean. Spraying the Grimm with water will act as a conduit to amplify the electric power in the lightning dust. Might work well against the big ones like an Ursa and the Beringal since they take the most dust consumption." Dr. Viktor says.
Marlene and Dr. Viktor go on with their conversation, making Selena feel confused and left out. "Okay, I have absolutely no idea what those two are saying." Selena says.
When Marlene and Dr. Viktor make their final adjustments, the cannons are all set. Team PASM and Mashika remain at the village defending it. The incoming Grimm Invasions came at them and Team PASM stood their ground fighting them. The Defense Cannons also provided the support they need, which also shows that they are in working operation.
By the end of the day, the team says their goodbyes to Anna. Anna hopes that they will come to visit the village once again. Just before they depart, Akira kneels down to Evan, looking straight into his eyes with a stern look. "I hope you have learned your lesson."
Evan nods. "Believe me, I have Miss."
Akira gives him a smile. "Good." She pats Evan on the head. "Take care of the village, and stay out of trouble."
Evan blushes. "Y-yes Ma'am."
Team PASM makes their leave from the village. As they do, Evan just watches Akira walking away. To his sight, Akira looks very radiant, and the kid can't help but fall for her, and Anna has taken notice and is excited about it as well.
The young Evan is growing up.