AN:And now the moment you have all been waiting for...
New Faces
Weiss was sitting in her large room in the Schnee Manor. Looking out the window in mild depression. The only thing that staved off that depression to an extent was Dahlia who was hugging her from behind. As expected, Weiss' father did not like the idea of a "filthy animal" as his daughter's Blade. The man tried to have her moved to the mines where Dahlia belonged, according to his words. Let's just say that Dahlia did not like that plan. So why didn't Jacques use force then? The truth is that he did, and it didn't exactly work out.
Currently, Weiss was wearing a short glittering dress with a color gradient of blue to light blue. A sweetheart neckline and a white tulle petticoat. A white ribbon is wrapped multiple times around her waist and over the outfit she wears a slightly sheer long-sleeved blue shrug fastened at the collar by a sapphire brooch that has three pendants dangling from it. The Schnee Crest was printed at the back of the shrug. She also wears blue wedge heels and sapphire earrings.
As of now, Dahlia was the only good thing in this place that Weiss can't bring herself to call home. Well, if you didn't count Klein.
"Pardon me miss Schnee," said the butler in question. A bit short and slightly overweight man with brown balding hair and a large moustache. "Your father wishes to speak with you immediately," Klein said respectfully.
"Thank you Klein," Weiss said with a small sigh as she lightly pulled Dahlia's arms off of her. "I take it father doesn't wish to see Dahlia," the Schnee heiress assumed.
"I would assume so," Klein replied with a sigh of his own. The response made Dahlia frown as she pictured turning that bastard into a popsicle.
"I can wait here." But Dahlia also knew that it won't help Weiss in any way.
"Thank you Dahlia," Weiss said before walking out of the room and started her trek towards her father's office.
"Miss Dahlia, would you like to help me with a little something to cheer up miss Schnee," Klein then asked the ice Blade with a small smile.
"I would love to," Dahlia said with a smile of her own.
"Good, this way please," Klein then said before walking ahead. Dahlia's claw-like heels clacking behind him shortly.
As Klein and Dahlia moved to their destination, Weiss was walking slowly to her father's office. The fact that Beacon took so much damage and her being separated from the only people she considers friends weigh heavily on her. At least Dahlia is still here. The heiress had heard how her father demanded Ironwood to change Dahlia's programming to make her easier to control, the general refused on the grounds that it can't be done due to Blades not being like droids. Something that her father seemed to not get through his thick skull. Only when the general said that Dahlia does what she was supposed to do, protect Weiss, did her father seem to grudgingly accept it. Though the man was still miffed that Dahlia wasn't more like...
"Good afternoon sister." Was the greeting that snapped Weiss out of her thoughts. In front of her was Whitley, her younger brother. Just like Weiss and Winter, Whitley has white hair and blue eyes. He wears a short-sleeved dress shirt with a black tie, with a blue vest over it. He also wears blue trousers and black dress shoes. The boy had a pleasant smile.
"Oh, hello Whitley," Weiss said, not very enthusiastic about seeing her brother, "You're in a cheery mood today." Also, the fact that he seemed happy was suspicious.
"Well it's nice to see you out of your room for a change. Especially without your pet," Whitley said pleasantly.
Weiss resisted a scowl at Dahlia being called a pet. "What do you want?" she asked instead, knowing that Whitley never talks to her unless he has something on his mind.
"I heard father shouting in his office at someone," Whitley then spoke up.
"Mother?" Weiss asked.
"No, she's already drinking at the gardens," Whitley said with tiniest of frowns, "I think it was a man." This information surprised Weiss a little. Only one man could take her father's shouting without having been thrown out already, Ironwood. "I just wanted to warn you. Heard he wanted to speak with you," Whitley added in.
"I'll be fine," Weiss said, trying to sound confident.
"I know you will," Whitley said, surprising her sister, "You're strong, like Winter."
And now alarm bells were ringing in her head, "You never liked Winter."
"True, but you can't deny her resolve," Whitley replied with a smile.
"…You seem different," Weiss said, crossing her arms in suspicion.
"And you have been gone," Whitley replied easily, "I never stopped growing after you left for Beacon. Anyway, good luck with father." With those words, Whitley walked out.
As much as Weiss appreciated the gesture, there was a tiny voice at the back of her head that told her to keep her guard up around Whitley. Still, now she felt a little more confident in dealing with her father as she continued walking past a family portrait. It was of Jacques, Willow and the three siblings when they were younger. Interestingly enough, only Jacques and Whitley were smiling in the portrait. Winter and Weiss looked unhappy and even their mother had a frown.
In Shion village, Rex had just helped one of the men in the village repairing their house. Pyra was working at the Inn's kitchen, apparently the people fell in love with her cooking. As for Roc, he was helping patrol the village. This idly made Rex wonder where Wulfric might be. The beastly Blade wasn't with them when he and the others arrived. "Where could he be," Rex idly wondered as he came down from the roof by ladders.
"Thanks for helping kid," the man said as he looked at the fine job the boy did.
"It was nothing, really," Rex said with a smile. He occasionally had to do some repairs on his house when he was still living on Azurda's back.
"Regardless, here's the payment," the man said as he gave a small amount of lien for the salvager.
"Thanks," Rex thanked as he accepted the lien before making his way to the inn where Pyra was working. Although he still couldn't help wondering why Wulfric hadn't found his way to him yet. Was he stuck somewhere? Was he…destroyed? Or was he just very far away? Considering how strong Wulfric is, probably the last one.
As Rex entered the Inn, he could immediately smell what had to be Pyra's cooking. And judging by the men, women and children scarfing it down, they were very happy with the Aegis' cooking.
"It seems we might get the money for the supplies we need faster than we thought," said Azurda from Rex's helmet discreetly. As far as the populace of the Shion was concerned, he was just an unusual pet. Which meant that he can't talk to anyone, and even with Rex he had to make sure that no one else would hear him. That, and when the children of the village saw him, they grabbed him and started hugging him. The poor Titan would never look at children the same way.
"Yeah, I guess," Rex said. He, Pyra and Roc had made a list of things they will need on a trip to Mistral. They weren't sure if their friends would even appear there, but it was their best bet for now. "Do you think Wulfric is in trouble?" Rex then asked the small Titan.
"…Rex, you do remember how people tend to react to him?" Azurda said, an incident at Fonsett village being the first to come to mind.
"Yeah, that's kinda what I'm worried about," Rex said remembering how everyone, except the blind old lady who Wulfric helped to her house, screamed when they thought he was a monster. "I mean, he looks scarier than he is," Rex then muttered as he walked to the kitchens where he saw Pyra helping the cooks in making the ordered foods.
"Ah, Rex! How did it go?" Pyra asked at the sight of her Driver.
"Got some more lien out of that job," Rex said as he looked at the Aegis who then busied herself with a stew on a stove. "You look busy," Rex then said as he felt like Pyra was the one doing more work, "Anything I can do to help?"
"No need Rex," Pyra said with a kind smile, "I can handle this easily."
"…If you say so," Rex then said as he moved outside for the moment, "I'll go and check on the supplies we need." Were the last words the salvager said before moving outside.
"Okay." Pyra called after him before going back to work. The Aegis then giggled at something.
"What is it?" One of the two other cooks asked out of curiosity.
"It's nothing," Pyra said simply before muttering under her breath, "Are you sure you aren't jealous?" Then the red-haired girl winced as she heard a shout in her head.
All the while the other two cooks looked at her briefly before brushing the behavior off as a quirk and focused on what they were doing.
Outside, Rex let out a small sigh as he went to a general store with the list that they had compiled. Being a salvager meant you had to exchange whatever you find in a designated trade post. And seeing as Rex's primary place of business had been Argentum Trade Guild for the longest time, he had some monetary sense. You don't do business with the Nopon who tend to be very good merchants without gaining some business sense yourself. Of course, there are exceptions among them. Such as Tora who would waste all their money on Tasty Sausages or Juicy Samods within a week. Which made the salvager briefly wonder where their Nopon inventor was. Then again, if Poppi was with him, then Tora should be fine.
As Rex went over the supplies in the store, counting the amount of lien they would need for them, another person entered the store.
"Hey there, Rex," Roc said as he walked towards his Driver.
"Hey, Roc. How did the patrol go," Rex asked as he took his eyes off of what he was doing.
"Nothing interesting to report," Roc said with an almost disappointed look, "But I still got the payment." With those words, the avian Blade gave a slightly larger amount of lien to Rex.
"Okay," Rex said as he started doing some mental math, "…With this, we almost got everything we need."
"Perfect," Roc said as he clapped his hands together, "The sooner we get our supplies, the sooner we can leave."
"You don't like it here?" Rex asked with a skeptical look.
"It's not that, I'm just worried about Garfront," Roc said, causing his Driver to look down a little.
"Yew and Zuo should have things covered until we get back," Rex said with a smile. After all, those two were Vandham's closest subordinates and knew how to run things.
"…I suppose I will trust the subordinates of my former Driver," Roc said, having been told a lot about the late leader of Garfront who was also his previous Driver.
Rex was about to open his mouth when an alarm went off. "What's going on?" Rex asked as the shopkeep paled.
"We're under attack! We need to get to the shelter quickly!" the shopkeep said before getting up and ran to do just that.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Running)
"Could it be Grimm?" Rex wondered aloud in worry as he ran outside with Roc following him.
"No, I'm not sensing any," said Azurda from Rex's helmet. The huntsmen had taken him and Roc on a patrol one day to see if there were any Grimm. There was a small pack of Beowolf that the Driver helped in dispatching of. But later on, Azurda told Rex that he could sense an endless desire for destruction from these creatures long before they got a visual on them. They theorized that it was because he was a Titan.
"So, then what is it," Rex asked aloud as he ran towards sounds of explosion and gunfire where the fight no doubt was at.
"I heard rumors about bandit tribes attacking villages lately," Roc said as he rose on his wings to get a look at the situation. "Yeah! Definitely bandits," Roc said as he dropped back down to run alongside his Driver.
"We have to help these villagers," Rex said as he started running faster.
Soon enough, Rex saw two of the huntsmen engaging a group of bandits.
"Roc!" Rex shouted to the avian Blade who immediately summoned his Dual Scythes before handing them over to Rex. Then as the link formed, Rex was ready to assist the huntsmen. "Hey!" Rex shouted, earning one bandit's attention, "Cyclone Smash!" Rex combined the two scythes into one before striking at the bandit, felling him instantly.
"You bastard!" Another bandit shouted as he charged with a machete. The unruly savage swung at Rex, but the Driver easily deflected the attack before slicing the bandit across the chest with the other Scythe.
Rex looked at the two corpses briefly with a frown before moving on. He will never learn to not feel for his enemies no matter how much he's told that it will get him killed one day.
"What's going on?" Rex asked one of the huntsmen who just finished off another bandit.
"A whole tribe of bandits," the huntsman said before shifting his sword into a rifle and started shooting any bandit that dared to come close. "Kid, we got this, you go and see that the villagers get to the shelter." The huntsman then ordered.
"You sure?" Rex asked, not wanting to leave these two.
"Do it!" The other one ordered as he used his own ranged weapon to fight.
Rex nodded with a determined look before running further into the village, engaging any bandits in his path.
Then as he was about to round a corner, he felt a sharp pain in his arm. "Ow!" Rex exclaimed as he looked to his arm which had a small cut despite nothing hitting him. Which means… "Pyra!" And now it became a desperate sprint to find the red headed Blade. But as it turned out, right as he turned around a corner, Rex saw Pyra fending off a small group of bandits. "Pyra!" Rex shouted out, running towards the bandits that were attacking the Aegis.
(Song end)
"Rex!" Pyra responded as she struck down another bandit before blocking an attack from one bandit wielding crescent shaped blades that had gun barrels. This also earned all the bandits' attention.
The female bandit that Pyra was now fending off grinned at the sight of Rex. "There's the Driver! Kill him!" the woman commanded the others who instantly charged the boy.
However, Rex dispatched them all with ease, weaving past them while Roc moved right behind him.
This made the female bandit's smile fall as she now glared at the boy. "Guess I'll kill you myself." the woman declared in anger, just before she had to avoid an attack from Pyra's Aegis Sword. "Tch. You will regret standing in our way," the woman said with gritted teeth as she fired a beam from the guns at Rex, but the attack was blocked when Roc formed a barrier.
"Roc, Pyra, switch!" Rex called out as he tossed the Dual Scythes to Roc who caught them, while Pyra threw the Aegis Sword to Rex who caught it easily before charging the bandit woman. "Double Spinning Edge!" Rex then spun around twice to hit the enemy with the sword releasing flames as he did.
This forced the woman to get back from the attack, taking aim at the boy, but Rex was already running towards her and slicing at her. The woman was able to keep up with her blocks but was still pressured. "How is this brat so good?" The woman thought desperately. Then Rex went for a low sweep, which the woman countered by jumping high before delivering an overhead strike on Rex. Or she would have, if Roc hadn't come in and kicked her in the face.
The woman fell to the ground, clutching her face as her nose was bleeding. This brat can't be this strong. Why was she being fought off so easily.
"Vernal, what are you doing," asked a female voice that sounded disappointed.
The woman, now apparently named Vernal looked behind her to see the masked woman in red along with several members of their tribe. "Raven?" Vernal said now having a worried look.
"Who are you?" Rex demanded from the woman apparently named Raven.
"…What does it matter to you?" Raven said in an angry tone, "This was supposed to be easy, but you weren't part of our plans." As she said this, the woman with a mane of black hair grabbed the sheath at her side as she pointed at the boy. "Kill him." With that command, the bandits charged at Rex.
Rex grit his teeth as he prepared the Aegis sword. "Pyra, are you ready?" Rex asked from the red headed Aegis.
Pyra nodded with a firm look, "Let's go Rex." With that, Rex charged at the bandits while Vernal crawled away from them.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Incoming)
"Roc! You get the masked one!" Rex shouted to the avian Blade who rose on his wings to get over the bandits to the one in the mask who had her hand on the handle of her sheathed weapon.
Raven swung her katana at the bird creature which responded by blocking the attack. From there, the bandit and the Blade clashed. Then Raven tried to stab at Roc, who dodged to the left before going for a strike. Except Raven twisted the katana to get a slice across Roc's chest, which was followed by a kick at the already closing wound. This pushed Roc back a little, before the bird glared at the bandit woman. "Not bad, for a mere cutthroat," Roc said with what sounded like a grin.
Raven prepared for another attack as Roc took a battle stance again. "Raven, look out on the right!" Vernal shouted quickly, making the masked woman turn just in time to block an attack from Rex.
Raven's eyes widened behind her mask before looking behind the Driver to see her tribesmen having been taken out. "How can you be so strong!? Who taught you how to fight!?" Raven demanded as she was in the middle of a power struggle with Rex who was able to hold her off, but not overpower her.
"Gramps taught me the basics," Rex said with a determined look, "And then Vandham taught me how to be a Driver!" At the last part, Rex was able to push Raven back, surprising the woman.
During this Vernal had tried to fight off Roc to keep him away from Raven, but the avian Blade proved to be a tricky opponent. "Come now. Should I stand still for a second so you could hit me," Roc asked mockingly.
"Shut up, freak!" Vernal shouted as she shot again, but instead of dodging, Roc used one Scythe to deflect the beam.
Roc spun around, wind surrounding him as he moved out of the way of the beam and approached Vernal with one scythe ready to strike her down. But Vernal was barely able to block the wind enhanced attacks.
Vernal was worried now. These things weren't supposed to be this strong. They should only have the power of an average huntsman at best.
"Vernal, duck!" Raven shouted out and Vernal did as told. and soon enough a spray of ice went over her and hit Roc who was encased in ice.
"Roc!" Rex shouted out, before glaring at Raven," What did you do to him!?"
"Got him out of the way," Raven responded coldly, "It was your fault for pretending to be a hero."
"What's wrong with wanting to help?" Rex shot back, preparing for an attack from both Raven and Vernal.
"How about because it's stupid," Vernal shot back as she walked towards Raven with a heated glare directed at the boy. "The weak die, the strong survive, those are the rules," Vernal said as if that was the absolute truth.
"So you dictate who lives and who dies?" Pyra asked with a glare of her own, "How is that fair?"
"It's this village's fault for thinking they can just live their lives without struggling," Raven said, "Naive brats like you who think otherwise are the first to die, because this world has no place for weaklings," Raven then said as she drew her weapon, "However…now that you've seen what I just did, I can't let you live." with those words, Raven prepared to attack Rex again.
(Song end)
"Raven! Vernal!" Shouted a bandit who was running towards them, "The Grimm are coming!"
Vernal's eyes widened at this, "Already!?"
"Are you sure?" Raven asked, not taking her eyes off of Rex and Pyra.
"The look outs sent the signal, they'll be in here very soon," the bandit said, clearly out of breath.
"…Vernal, send the signal, we're leaving," Raven told her subordinate.
"On it," Vernal replied as she holstered one of her weapons before taking out a flare gun and shot it into the sky.
"Now, take anyone you find, and leave," Raven then ordered.
"But what about you?" Vernal asked in what sounded like concerned tone.
"I need to kill this brat so he can't tell anyone about this," Raven said as her eyes glowed briefly under her mask, "I will follow as soon as I'm done."
Vernal responded with a nod before turning to the bandit that gave them the warning, "You heard our leader, let's get out of here before the Grimm overrun us!" With that, the two bandits left. Leaving their leader to face Rex and Pyra.
"It's nothing personal really," Raven said, before dashing at the Driver of the Aegis, "But I can't let you live."
Rex simply grit his teeth as he brought out the Aegis Sword to block the incoming attack. After the first strike, it became clear that up until now, Raven wasn't serious. Rex was still able to keep up just barely, but he couldn't find an opening to attack, and a few times, Pyra had to create a barrier to block the attacks.
"That Blade keeps interfering…So I must get her out of the way first," Raven thought as she went for a high jump before bringing her katana down on Rex with all her might.
The brunette salvager blocked the attack, but he was struggling against the force behind it. During this Raven sent a large wave of ice at Pyra who's eyes widened. But the red-haired Blade was still able to send a wave of fire to counter it.
Even as Raven was keeping Rex occupied, she was able to add more power into the ice attack, but Pyra just upped the heat in response. "Dammit!" Raven exclaimed, just as Rex was able to change the angle of their clashing weapons to make the black-haired bandit leader fall off before going for a counter attack.
Raven responded by freezing one of Rex's legs into the ground before getting away from the surprised boys now unsteady strike. After that, Raven sheathed her sword before closing in on still recovering Rex to grab his sword arm, twisting it in a way that made him drop the weapon before kicking him away. The boy cried out at the hard kick which was followed by Pyra's own cry of pain. This made Raven curious. And then the woman took note of where that Blade was clutching. The general area of where she kicked the boy. "Are these two connected somehow?" Raven wondered in her head before picking up the Aegis Sword, which had deactivated now that it wasn't in Rex's hands.
"An interesting weapon…perhaps after I have killed you I might try my luck in getting that Blade," Raven said with a small smirk, not that Rex could see it right now, "Of course, if you just hand her over now, I might even spare you."
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Counter attack)
"Don't joke around," Rex said as he got up while still clutching his chest and with a frozen leg, "I'm not handing Pyra over!" Speaking of the Aegis, she had moved in to melt the ice around her Driver's leg.
"You're treating that thing as if it were a person instead of just another weapon," Raven said in an exasperated tone, "Their kind are tools and nothing more. And you are just a dumb worthless brat who doesn't understand how the world truly works."
"Shut up," Pyra said almost inaudibly.
"What was that?" Raven asked, not hearing properly.
"I said, shut up!" Pyra shouted this time, getting up while glaring at Raven, "Who are you to tell how this world works? Who are you to attack this village just because you are 'strong'? And who are you to call Rex worthless!" After the last one, Pyra charged at Raven with her arm extended.
"Pyra! Wait!" Rex called out as he got back up.
But Pyra didn't stop as Raven shook her head. "Very well, I will destro-what?" Raven then questioned in surprise as the weapon glowed for a moment before disappearing. And then it re-appeared in Pyra's hand, before the Aegis herself glowed briefly before being replaced by Mythra. With a battlecry, Mythra swung the now different looking Aegis Sword at Raven who was able to block the attack, despite her surprise.
After blocking the first strike, Raven once again took out her sword to attack the new Blade, but Mythra backflipped away as she threw her weapon to Rex who caught it. Right before the blonde Aegis created a barrier to block what looked like a flying purple cut from Raven's sword that looked to be dark purple now. Soon after, Rex ran past Mythra to attack the bandit leader, who was now gritting her teeth. How can this brat match her so well?
"Rolling Smash!" Rex called out as he jumped in the air to bring a powerful overhead strike with the weapon glowing with light element.
Raven used the gravity dust sword to counter the attack. The Dust blade and the Aegis Sword clashed, creating sparks between them. Until the Dust Blade shattered and Raven took the hit. But her Aura took the brunt of the hit, which made the woman angry.
"Now, Mythra!" Rex called out as he threw the weapon to Mythra who was now charging as she grabbed her weapon.
Raven jumped away to gain distance, but was soon yanked back by something. Rex had shot the anchor in his left arm, which wrapped itself around one of Raven's legs and yanked on it. Which made the woman's eyes widen in surprise as Mythra was now upon her with her weapon covered in crackling light. In her panic, Raven created a small ice katana to counter whatever this Blade could throw at her.
"Lightning Buster!" Mythra called out as she unleashed a powerful strike at Raven who's created weapon blocked the first strike, before shattering from the second one. Then the third one struck the surprised woman down onto the ground. "And that's it for you," Mythra said with a scowl as she went to stab the woman onto the ground. But it wasn't meant to be as Raven rolled out of the way, before grabbing at the anchor on her leg and quickly untied it. Just in time to get away from Mythra's follow up attack.
Raven was furious now. This Blade was able to break through a sword created through Maiden power. How powerful is that thing? Before the black-haired woman could think about more thoughts on revenge, she saw something behind Rex that made her change her plans. She quickly drew her sword before creating a swirling red and black portal before running through it.
"Hey! Get back here!" Mythra shouted after the woman as she tried to give chase, but the portal closed.
Meanwhile Rex had reeled the anchor back as he stared at the portal where Raven escaped through.
"Rex! Behind us!" Azurda shouted from Rex's helmet, causing the boy to turn around to see a wolf-like Grimm pouncing on him.
"Aaack!" Rex cried out as he rolled out of the way, making the monster miss him. The beast then turned towards the salvager to attack again, only to be cut down by Mythra. "Gramps, did the Grimm arrive?" Rex asked as he looked to the way the monster came from, "Never mind." the Driver of the Aegis saw a small group of them charging at them.
"Rex, I'm sensing more of them…everywhere," Azurda then said as he peeked out of Rex's helmet before looking around nervously.
"This is bad," Rex said as he looked to Mythra, "Mythra, switch with Pyra and let her melt Roc." Indeed, the ice around the avian Blade had melted a little, but was still too thick for him to get out on his own.
Instead of replying, Mythra glowed with flaming light before being replaced by Pyra who instantly got to work on freeing her fellow Blade. Passing her weapon to Rex as she did.
Rex wasn't sure how many Grimm there were or even if any of the huntsmen are still out there, but he knew he can't just run away and leave the villagers to these monsters. Hopefully they all made it to the shelter.
(Song end)
With team JNPRR, Ruby was looking at the map with Roze trying to be helpful. Keyword, trying. "So…the next village is…we're lost," Ruby said, slumping a little.
"…I can't make heads or tails out of this map," Roze admitted with shame.
"We're not lost," Jaune said as he moved next to Ruby to help with reading the map, "The next town is Shion. My family used to visit there all the time."
"Right, don't you have like…four sisters," Ruby asked, trying to remember what Jaune said about his family.
"Seven," Jaune corrected with a sigh.
"You know that actually explains a lot," Nora said as she remembered a couple of incidents.
"Unfortunately true," Joana said with a hard look, having heard Jaune talk about his family. The knightess had a mental image of demonic girls bashing a broken, battered and teary eyed Jaune to the ground from the way her lord sometimes talks about them.
"What are you two talking about?" Jaune asked with a suspicious look. Joana gave her lord a sympathetic look while wishing to give those seven demons wearing a human skin a piece of her mind. Or just put them to the sword. Nora on the other hand just looked on innocently.
"So, what did you guys do there?" Ruby decided to ask.
"Oh, lots of stuff," Jaune said as he started pointing various points on the map, "Over there is a great hiking trail, and this is where we went fishing, and this is where we were camping. I got my own tent because I was special." That last one, Jaune said proudly. Before deflating a little, "And also so that my sisters would stop braiding my hair."
"Really?" Ruby asked now wondering how that was possible.
"Yeah, they kept doing pigtails,-" Joana's look hardened at hearing that "-but personally I'm more of a warrior's wolf tail kind of guy." Jaune said while running his hand through his short blonde hair.
"…Isn't that just a pony tail," Roze asked with a raised eyebrow. Ruby too had a weird look on her face.
"I stand by what I said," Jaune said, not giving an inch.
During this conversation, Otohime wasn't sure if she should feel amusement of the image she knew Joana had of Jaune's sisters or worried if they ever met them. Then the water Blade glanced at Ren whose family she didn't know, other than that he had no parents, "I wonder what kind of people they were."
"Guys, look!" Roze suddenly exclaimed as he looked to the distance. Everyone else looked too and they didn't like what they were seeing. Shion village was under attack or it was under attack. They couldn't tell yet. But they intended to find out.
After running around the village for a few moments, the gang hadn't found anyone alive yet. Only several corpses, some villagers, others were bandits and there were also two huntsmen among them.
"Did you find anyone?" Ruby asked as the two met up in what had to be the center. Joana looked around the bloodshed that happened.
"No," Jaune said sadly.
"Nothing," Ren said with a look of regret at them not getting here sooner. Perhaps they could have stopped all of this. Otohime wasn't much better.
"Electra and I didn't find anyone either," Nora said while holding Electra close. The little electric Blade looked like she wanted to cry.
"Kos-Mos says that there could be a shelter that the villagers could have fled to," Penny said as the Blade in question stepped forward.
"Assuming most of the corpses we saw belonged to bandits, there is a high probability of there being a shelter in the event this village was attacked," Kos-Mos explained with her usual monotone.
"Then we might find some survivors," Ruby said with hope in her voice.
"And why would you want that?" Asked a voice that caused everyone to turn towards the direction it came from. On one of the roofs stood a bird-like creature that had its arms crossed across his chest.
"A Core Crystal," Roze spoke up noticing the brooch on the chest that housed a Crystal in the shape of a wing, "He's a Blade."
"Someone has good eyes," the avian Blade said as he rose to his wings before floating down, "Now, I ask again. Why would you want to find survivors?"
"We want to make sure that they're okay," Ruby instantly said.
"Likely story," the birdman said as he dropped his arms to his side, "But how do I know you're not bandit stragglers?"
"Stragglers?" Joana questioned before the full weight of the phrase registered, "You mean that this was committed by bandits?"
"Did anyone survive?" Jaune asked in worry, "Please, I have to know!"
"…Most of the villagers survived, but they are currently in the shelter waiting for me to return from my scouting," Roc responded after a moment.
At that, everyone looked relieved. "Thank goodness," Nora said with a relieved look.
"Can you take us to them?" Ren then asked.
"Why?" the birdman asked with a look that said he was suspicious of them.
"We would like to provide any assistance we can," Otohime responded easily.
"Please," Ruby pleaded, "If there's anything we can do to help the villagers, we want to do it."
The birdlike Blade closed his eyes for a moment in thought before opening them again, "This way, please." And he started walking to one direction.
"I must ask you," Kos-Mos piped up, "On what basis do you believe our words? We could be trying to trick you."
"I didn't detect any falsehood in your voices," the bird Blade replied as he kept walking, "Are you coming or not?"
That was all the encouraging team JNPRR and their Blades needed before following the Blade.
After walking for a while, the group came across what looked like a large mound. In actuality, it was a well camouflaged bunker which was built so that the Grimm wouldn't be able to get in as they were the most likely things to attack.
As the five Blades and Drivers approached, three huntsmen went for their weapons, but didn't draw them. "Roc, who are these people?" one of the huntsmen asked.
"Some kids who wanted to help in whatever way they can," Roc replied easily.
"You sure they're not leftover bandits?" the other one asked, giving the group of kids a suspicious look.
"If I wasn't I wouldn't have brought them here," Roc replied easily, "I'd say let them help in whatever way they can. I'm going to check on my Driver." With that, Roc moved past the huntsmen and banged at the door three times before cawing. The bird was immediately allowed entry from the inside.
The huntsmen seemed to relax a little at Roc vouching for them. "Sorry about that, the villagers are still a little shaken and two of us got killed," the third huntsman said, sounding a little tired.
"How were the bandits able to accomplish that," Otohime couldn't help asking, "Surely their skills would be inferior to yours."
"The normal thugs were, but the leader has skills of an elite huntsman," the first one said with a sigh, "Even after Rex fought off their leader, the Grimm came in."
"Rex?" Electra asked.
"Roc's Driver," The second huntsman said as he motioned towards the door the bird entered.
"He must be really strong huntsman to do that," Jaune said, sounding impressed.
"Nah, he's a kid," the third one said, surprising the team and their Drivers, "Probably younger than any of you, minus that one." At the last part, the huntsman was pointing at Electra.
"...Is he a huntsman in training," Roze asked wondering if this boy was the Haven equivalent of Ruby.
"No, said he was taught to fight by his grandpa," the second huntsman spoke, then the guy went to the bunker before knocking on the door in a specific pattern. "If you kids wanna help inside, then go on in, the people could use some help once we move everyone back to their homes."
"We will sir," Penny said, giving a salute to the huntsmen who found her enthusiasm refreshing.
"Let's go in guys," Ruby said. And with that, they all went in when the huntsmen let them in.
The group had dispersed inside the bunker once they received information on what they could do to help.
However, Ruby wanted to see this boy who from the sound of things saved the village. So here she was, right outside the infirmary. About to walk inside when...
"Ow! Titan's foot!" A voice of a boy exclaimed from the inside, causing Roze to stiffen.
"Oh, don't be a baby," the sound of an annoyed woman said from inside, "You were covered in cuts and bruises when Brom and Auros found you, you should be lucky that you're even alive."
"I know, but it still hurts," the boy who was probably Rex replied as he winced. And it was at this moment that Ruby and Roze came inside to see the scene. A slightly older woman was in the middle of replacing bandages on a brown haired boy's arm. The said boy was sitting on a med bed with a red-haired girl with a bust that could easily rival Yang's.
Roze took more note of what was above the said bust, "Is that a Core Crystal? Strange color."
The doctor in the room, a slightly older woman looked to the newcomers with a raised eyebrow. "And who might you two be?" the doctor asked while eyeing them both up and down.
"Oh, I'm Ruby. Me and my friends were passing through the village and wondered if we could help," Ruby quickly explained while Rex and the red-haired Blade looked at them in curiosity.
"That so," the doctor said with a raised eyebrow, "Well, you can start by getting this blockhead to bed and stop him from reopening his wounds." That last part was directed at Rex with a knowing look.
"Hey!" Rex clearly didn't like it.
"Well you're the one who faced a Grimm horde alone after barely fighting off the leader of the bandits who took down two of your huntsmen. Without Aura no less," the doctor said with a scolding tone.
That last part surprised both Ruby and Roze. "You fought off bandits and Grimm without Aura," Ruby said in disbelief.
"Uhh…yeah," Rex said preparing for another tirade.
"That's so cool!" But he didn't get one, instead Ruby gushed at the boy before looking more serious, "But it was stupid for you not to have an unlocked Aura."
"Hey! These people helped me when I was passed out," Rex retorted, "Always help those who help you. That's Salvager Code number two."
"…Uhhh," Ruby sounded out unsurely, causing Rex to have a miffed look at the girl.
Roze decided to get back to business, "Say, we know your name is Rex, but who is she?"
At that mention, Ruby remembered that they weren't properly introduced. "Oh, right! Rex, I'm Ruby, and this is my Blade Roze," Ruby introduced herself and Roze.
"Nice to meet you Ruby," The red-haired girl finally spoke with a friendly smile, "My name is Pyra and as you might guess, this is my Driver Rex."
"Hello," Rex said a little awkwardly at the late introduction.
"Your introductions are cute and all, but I would like to ask you all to leave for now. And make sure Rex gets rest you two," the doctor said, interrupting their little moment.
With that, Rex got up slowly alongside Pyra and the two were off, followed by Ruby and Roze.
As the two walked to Rex's quarters, the reaper Blade took note of the bandages around Pyra, "Hey, Pyra. You're a Blade right?"
"Yes, I am. Why do you ask," Pyra asked feeling mild worry.
"Then why do you have bandages," Roze asked, causing the girl to flinch," If you are a Blade then shouldn't whatever wounds you might have had be healed by now?" That's not even counting the fact that the said bandages were roughly on the same spots Rex had.
"Umm…It's…complicated," Pyra said, clearly hesitant.
"We have time," Roze said, before getting elbowed by Ruby.
"Roze, if they don't want to talk about it then don't ask," Ruby said in a scolding tone, making her Blade shut up for the moment. Then the little red reaper gave the two an apologetic look, "Sorry about that, he can be a little insensitive sometimes." This declaration made Roze look down in shame.
"It's alright," Pyra said, feeling relieved. She and Rex were still worried about what might happen if the people of Remnant discovered she was the Aegis. Many people back in Alrest wanted the power of the Aegis for themselves. Mòrag being among them at one point, although the Special Inquisitor simply wanted to ensure that the tragedy of 500 years past doesn't repeat.
After that, the four people kept walking to wherever Rex was supposed to be resting at with a slightly awkward silence.
Back in the Schnee manor, Weiss listened in on her father ranting at someone.
"I'm not talking about the good of my company I'm talking about the entire Kingdom!" Weiss heard her father shout.
"That is a load of garbage and you know it." Argued the voice of Ironwood, as Weiss suspected.
As the girl opened the door silently, she was greeted to the said men sitting on couches yelling at each other. Well, more like one man shouting and the other one trying to have a civil conversation.
"Jacques. Will you please hear me out," Ironwood said, having a stubble now on his face.
And on the opposing seat was Jacques Schnee, Weiss' father. He had white slid back white hair, but a portrait at the back of the room reveals that it used to be black. Jacques also had white moustache and he was wearing a white business suit. "You are a trusted friend and ally of this family, James. But what you're suggesting is absurd," the Schnee patriarch said as he slammed his fist against the armrest.
"I'm afraid I must agree with my Driver," said a calm male voice from behind Jaques seat. There stood a man with medium length hair which was colored blue at the roots but white at the tips. The man had currently a friendly smile as he looked at the general with his startlingly blue eyes. His attire seemed to consist of a white dress shirt with a dark blue vest. He also had a white overcoat with long coat tails that reach his thighs. The upper back of the overcoat is dark blue just before his shoulders and there was a silvery circle inside of it. He also wore light blue pants and similar colored dress shoes. On the neck of the man was a cravat which had a silvery pin holding it. The said pin had a crescent shaped blue stone inlaid into it, which was actually a Core Crystal, identifying this man as a Blade. Yes, as much as Weiss hated it, this was her father's Blade. "I fear that this would tell the other Kingdoms that we are preparing for a war against them," the nameless Blade said with a small frown now.
This seemed to infuriate Ironwood, "It's a necessity."
"Is it?" the Blade asked almost sounding confrontational, "It sounds to me that you would execute your own shadow in suspicion of treason. But enough about this, I believe Master Schnee's daughter has arrived." At this the Blade turned a kind smile towards Weiss, but the heiress didn't trust it. She wasn't sure why, but this Blade felt…like she should watch out for him.
At this point, Ironwood got up from his seat. "Ah, miss Schnee. My apologies, I should have been gone by now." the apology was accompanied by a slight bow.
"It's alright," Weiss said unsurely as she was being scrutinized by her father.
At this, Ironwood turned back to Jacques, "We'll continue this at another time."
"Indeed." The Schnee patriarch sounded tired, "Klein can show you out."
"Don't worry, I know the way," Ironwood said before moving towards the door. As he grasped the handle, he turned towards Jacques one more time, "Until next time, Jacques." The general also gave the Blade a scowl which didn't seem to affect the Blade. "Miss Schnee," Ironwood then said, addressing Weiss with a sympathetic tone, "You will always have a home at Atlas Academy. We will be back in session soon enough."
"Thank you general," Weiss thanked, despite not having any intention to go to Atlas as of now. After that, Ironwood left. Leaving Weiss to look after the door for a moment.
"Did you forget your manners while you were away," Jacques asked Weiss who let out a breath before taking her almost rehearsed look.
"No father, I'm sorry," Weiss said, unable to even muster a fake smile.
"Can you believe that there are still people in the world who believe that Atlas was responsible for what happened to Beacon," Jacques asked as he walked towards his desk, his Blade following dutifully.
"Well, they weren't there," Weiss said half-truthfully. After all, as far as anyone outside of Atlas or Vale saw, it was Atlas who attacked Vale.
"And Ironwood isn't doing anything to prove them otherwise," the Blade said as he reached his place next to the seat at Jacques desk which the Driver of the Blade had taken.
"Thank you!" Jacques thanked the Blade loudly, "It's a miracle Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank." The Schnee patriarch sounded angry at the last part. "I suppose the council trusts him, for better or worse," Jacques then said in mild annoyance.
"I trust him," Weiss said simply, earning a small frown from Jacques' Blade.
"I would advise against it," the Blade spoke up.
"Once again, thank you," Jacques said sounding grateful for someone not trusting Ironwood, "Thanks to him, Atlas is forbidden from exporting Dust to other Kingdoms. A 'precautionary measure' he says, until we are certain that no one is going to declare war." The Schnee patriarch was clearly not happy about losing more profits than he already has. "How anyone could possibly find that sound logic is beyond me," Jacques added, which made Weiss look down a little. "Which is why the Schnee Dust Company will hold a charity concert in the coming weeks." This information surprised Weiss.
"That's wonderful news," Weiss said, sounding happy that her father would do something like that.
"Indeed," Jacques said with a pleased look, "And it would make a lot of people happy if you performed."
"Excuse me?" Now Weiss was frowning.
"Many forget that you were there. My own daughter, a Schnee fighting to defend a foreign Kingdom," Jacques spoke with slight embellishment. Which unknown to him made his Blade roll his eyes. "We need to show the people of Remnant, that we are on their side, and that the Schnee family is as strong as ever," Jacques said, clenching his fist for emphasis.
"…Are you asking if I would like to sing or telling me to," Weiss asked, dreading the answer a little.
"I think it would make many people happy," Jacques said with a low tone and narrowed eyes.
Weiss let out a sigh," I'll start practicing."
"That's my girl," Jacques said, clearly pleased at the answer. With that, Weiss left and Jacques was happy that the girl still knew her place.
"If I may Master Schnee," Jacques' Blade spoke up, "I'm not certain that miss Schnee can-" "Silence!" Jacques interrupted angrily, before recomposing himself, "Your deconstruction of Ironwood's lunacy was amusing. But beyond that, I don't like my property talking back to me."
"Of course," the Blade responded with his smile, while keeping his hands behind his back. One of which was clenched into a fist.
Outside, Jacques' office, Weiss was met with a pleasant surprise of Klein having brought coffee alongside Dahlia.
"Hot coffee, miss Schnee?" Klein had used his usual curt tone, "I always find that your father keeps his office dreadfully cold."
"Thank you, Klein," Weiss thanked as she took the cup and took a careful sip.
"You know what we think," Dahlia then said with a mischievous look, earning Weiss' attention.
Which was soon shifted at Klein using the now unoccupied tray to cover his head before lowering it to reveal his normally brown eyes having turned red. "We think it's to balance out all his hot air," Klein said in a mocking and slightly grumpy tone, before laughing a little alongside Dahlia.
"I'm surprised his face isn't always red from that," Dahlia added in with her melodious laughter.
"Klein! Dahlia!" Weiss whisper yelled, looking around for anyone that might have caught them in the act. But there wasn't anyone who could hear them, and Weiss herself couldn't deny that she was about to laugh too.
And then Klein sneezed, his eyes turning blue from that. "Pardon me," Klein said, now in a more high-pitched tone, before sneezing again. Earning more laughs out of Weiss and Dahlia. Then the butler's moustache wiggled as if it was responsible for the sneezes. Then the man's eyes turned yellow as he looked at Weiss laughing. "Ah! There's my happy little snowflake," Klein said with a more jovial tone than usual.
"You are just precious," Dahlia said with a smile to the butler, before giving Weiss a meaningful look, "He might even melt my ice if I ever decided to turn him into a popsicle." At the last part, Dahlia giggled, along with her Driver. Which was interrupted by the door closing. Causing the three to stiffen as Klein and Dahlia saw Jacques Blade staring at them with a friendly smile.
"It seems that I didn't have to move too far," the Blade said in a friendly tone to Weiss, "Pardon me, miss Schnee, but your father has ordered me to ensure that you are indeed practicing."
This made Weiss, who didn't want to face that man grit her teeth and clutch the mug harder in her grasp. "I will practice once I reach my room," Weiss said, trying to desperately keep her voice level.
"And it is admirable, but your father never specified if he wanted me to let him know," the Blade then said, earning a questioning look from all three.
"…How much did you hear of our conversation," Dahlia then asked with a frosty look directed at the Blade.
"What conversation?"
The question and the slightly wider smile threw the two humans and an ice Blade for a loop for an instant before they understood. Jacques' Blade had no intention of telling his Driver about them making fun of him.
"Thank you," Weiss said to the Blade with a real smile, "What is your name?"
"Your father doesn't allow me to have a name," the Blade said with a sad smile, "He believes it to be as meaningful as naming a random rock."
This earned an appalled look from Dahlia, "But surely you have your own name."
"I had, but master Schnee has forbidden me from ever uttering it," the Blade said before addressing Weiss again, "Now, I believe I should escort you to your room or anywhere you find most comfortable to practice at. When it suits you." the Blade smiled in amusement at the last part.
"I suppose. After I have finished my coffee," Weiss said, having her opinion of the Blade increase, just a little.
AN: First off, sorry if the fight against Raven wasn't what you thought it would be. A fully powered Spring Maiden against the Aegis. Sadly there are two things at play here. One, Raven underestimated Rex and Pyra/Mythra, for the bandit leader did not know about the Aegis anymore than the rest of the Remnant. Second Raven didn't want to use her full power to keep herself on the down low. As for why she ran away when the Grimm showed up, that's because she was hoping that Rex would get overwhelmed by the Grimm. But as you can tell from Rex getting bandaged, he survived.
Finally the elephant in the room, that is also Jaques' Blade. Yes, the man is a Driver, but he thinks that Blades are just property to be owned.