AN: I want to apologize to everyone that has been waiting since November for this chapter. I hit a writer's block from this chapter. I'll explain more at the end of the chapter. Please enjoy.
CHAPTER 5
"I Burn"
Her eyes were scanning the group. Her blood boiled with anger and hate. She held Zwei in one hand tight as she brought her other one up to pet her dog. Her dad and Uncle Qrow talked about this. How she wouldn't, no, shouldn't let herself lose control from seeing her blood mother. Nor should she let herself lose her temper when she saw the girl that was being trained and practically raised by her blood mother. This girl was apparently her new half sister. It ticked the blonde girl off as she brought a hand up to move one of her pigtails behind her back.
"Raven." Yang heard her uncle address the woman who looked like an older version of herself. Yang was growing more and more tense. She just wanted to run forward and punch the woman in the face. "I didn't expect you to bring a whole group with you." Qrow stated as he eyed them down. Yang took time to look over the others Raven, her blood mother, brought with her.
They were an odd assortment of people. Different colors, heights and three of them were even Faunus, the people born with animal traits. There was a pink haired one that looked calm, she had a lizard tail and her head was adorned with two black horns. A purple haired one with tentacles that had a steady look. A short white and blue haired girl that had a shark tail, she had a mischievous smile. A blonde wearing a brown hat that wore a shy expression. Then lastly a ginger haired woman that looked older than the other four, it was hard to get a read on her. She had a goofy grin but the way she carried herself felt dangerous.
"Well brother, seeing as I have to lead the tribe on my own." Her mothe- no this woman wasn't her mom. Raven spoke up and it made Yang want to shout. "I can't dedicate my time fully to training Cardinal here." Raven explained. Yang eyed the short girl with the mask and red eyes. It was hard to get a read on her. Her name was Cardinal apparently. "So, these five help train her when I cannot, and as such need to see this little match so we can work on her flaws later on."
Yang looked up to her dad and uncle. Her dad looked unusually tense. She didn't understand why, probably from seeing Raven move on. She gripped his hand but when she followed his eyes they were looking at this Cardinal girl. "Why? Perhaps dad is just trying to get a read on Raven's other daughter. Yeah, that made sense." was all she could think to herself to calm her young mind.
"Right right, can't be bothered to raise a kid properly. At least she has a proper name now." Qrow's voice wasn't fully a tease but wasn't fully full of malice either. What did Qrow mean by proper name?
"HEY!" a shout came from the short girl surprisingly enough. "M- My mom does a good job with me!" The girl sputtered out and Yang felt her own temper rise now. Especially when she saw Raven place a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Ya then why did she leave me!?" Yang shouted out before she even thought to stop. Her anger was building as she stared down the girl. Their eyes locked as Yang took in her appearance fully. Cardinal had black long hair that was wild, red eyes, a mask in the shape of a bird that covered the lower portion of her face. She wore some kind of red robe that had red feathers on it. There was a sash around the waist that was black. The girl had some kind of black cloth wrapped around her shins and calves with red rope that pulled it tight. Though oddly enough the girl didn't wear shoes. She looked like a mini Raven. It pissed Yang off.
"Alright alright…" Her dad finally spoke with a softer voice that Yang was accustomed to. "...Let's all just calm down. Qrow, knock it off. They're fine and welcome here. Raven, you know why you're here and you're always welcome here." Her dad spoke with a caring voice. "We're here for a spar-"
"A match. A spar implies we'll be stopping to point out flaws. This is a match that has stakes." Raven interrupted and it filled Yang with rage but her dad just put a hand on her shoulder.
"R- Right a match. Anyways you're always more than welcome in the future to come around a- and you can even bring your daughter." Tai finished. Though a scoff and snort came from Raven.
"Don't push your luck Tai. I'm not even supposed to be doing this yet and you know this." Raven's voice was filled with tension. This just got a sigh from Tai in response. A confused look from Yang.
"Yeah… I know. We'll talk later about it." Tai stated earning looks from Qrow and Yang.
"Alright?" Qrow voiced with confusion. "Shall we get this started then since the kiddos seem eager enough to beat the snot out of one another?"
"Very well. Cardinal, you know what to do. Choose wisely." Raven spoke looking towards the girl. Cardinal just nodded in response, turning towards the girls that were apparently her teachers.
[X]
Tai watched as Qrow took Zwei from Yang. Then Tai crouched to his blonde daughter and sighed and gave her a happy look. "I know you think this fight will be an easy win, Yang." His voice was stern as his eyes darted over to Cardinal. No, Ruby. He knew that was his other daughter. He closed his eyes remembering the note he found from Summer. He had to keep himself from crying when remembering that moment. "But remember my little sun dragon. Raven… she's a strong fighter. Stronger than both me and Qrow. So that Cardinal girl. She's probably learned quite a bit from Raven. So be ready."
"I knooow dad. But come on she's so short and wears a goofy mask. She can't be that great." Yang whined out and that just made Tai chuckle.
"Just be ready. This girl could have already fought Grimm for all we know. Raven is rough like that. So just expect anything." Tai didn't really think Raven would throw Ruby at Grimm yet, but he wouldn't have put it past her. "Go ahead and get out there. I'm sure the girl is itching to start."
"Yes dad." Yang rolled her eyes going out to the clearing. Qrow ruffled her hair as she ran past. Qrow walked with Tai over to the side with him.
Tai's eyes wandered watching Ruby talk to her apparent tutors. Each one of them seemed like good enough people. The only one he couldn't get a read on was the ginger woman. She seemed giddy and happy but he felt some kind of threatening intent. Like a tiger ready to pounce. He was so distracted that Tai didn't notice Raven approaching him.
"So, how long have you been training her?" Raven asked, pulling Tai out of his thoughts.
"Uh about four years off and on. Sometimes we'll go a month without training because of my duties at Signal. Qrow helps when he's not working for Ozpin." Tai explained then smiled at Raven. "It's good to see you Raven."
Qrow scoffed then looked at Raven. Tai sighed as he knew Qrow was gonna be an ass. "So, how long you been training Cardinal there? Should I be worried about my nieces losing an arm or something? Don't want her to be an emotionless killer like you Ray"
Raven smirked. "Since the girl was three. She's six so do with that knowledge what you will." She stated her eyes darted to the dog in Qrow's arms. "Cute dog." She snorted.
"Yang's, she needed something after losing Summer… and well Ruby." Tai sighed out. He wished he could've been a better dad for Yang back then. He noticed Raven's eyes soften up at his words but he didn't say anything.
"So, what does the girl use to fight?" Qrow asked his eyes glanced over to Ruby as she took two sickles from the pink haired lizard faunus. Both sliding into Ruby's sash. One next to a blue sword. Then she took a sai from the shark faunus. Tai quirked an eyebrow at that.
"She's very eager to learn as many weapons as possible. It's what made her want to train to begin with." Raven explained. "A daughter after my own heart." Her tone had a fondness to it that Tai hadn't heard for years and never expected to hear again. Tai stayed quiet as he watched Ruby walk over across from Yang. Ruby didn't draw a weapon yet and stanced up with her hands. Yang was making comments towards her but they couldn't be heard.
"The perfect weapon you mean." Qrow stated pulling his flask up to his lips. Raven scoffed.
"She's not a weapon. She just loves weapons." Raven spoke not taking offense to his words. Tai sighed as he just approached the center of the clearing between his two daughters.
"I'll referee this match unless there are any complaints." Tai spoke.
"None from me. One thing to note. Do not call the match unless Cardinal is unconscious. You can decide to step in if you feel the other combatant is unable to continue but Cardinal will fight till she can't physically move." Raven stated and that made Tai cringe.
"Are you ok with that Cardinal?" Tai asked with concern.
"Yes, this is standard." Her voice was oddly calm and equally eager.
"Yang, are you fine with that?"
"Pfft, easy." Yang's words came as she pumped her arm back and her gauntlets shifted back. A tube on the underside of them with a barrel right next to them.
"Are both sides ready?" Tai asked. Paused when Raven held a hand up.
"Nino, toss your weapon to Cardinal." Raven commanded which earned a puzzled look from everyone.
Soon a metal umbrella flew through the air caught by Ruby who had many weapons now on her. A six year old, armed with a sword, a steel umbrella, a singular sai and a pair of sickles. Honestly, Tai found it to be a ridiculous sight. Ruby just looked over the umbrella carefully.
"Okay? Alright erm Cardinal… Are you ready?" Tai asked.
"Hmm one second." The young girl spoke, pulling off two of her sickles and stabbed them into dirt, lightening her load. "Yes I'm ready." She took a stance with the steel umbrella following those words.
"Yang, are you ready?"
"Yup!" She gave thumbs up as she smirked her eyes falling onto the masked girl.
A sigh fell from Tai then with a loud booming voice. "BEGIN!"
[X]
Yang launched herself backwards, a loud bang sounding out from her gauntlets and a flare of fire launched out towards the girl in red. Yang was gaining distance away from the girl. Yang had a gun and this girl didn't. When the flare approached the girl the steel umbrella opened up blocking it. Cheers rang out from the onlookers from the girl's tutors.
"TSK." Yang scoffed. So the girl was gonna turtle up. The blonde girl scowl grew on her face before she smirked as she shot her gauntletts at the ground propelling herself into the sky. above the mask wearing girl. "EAT THIS!" Yang shouted out before launching two more flares at Cardinal. The short girl hefted the umbrella up above her which blocked the two flare blasts like they were rain drops.
"This isn't working." Yang thought to herself as her eyes glanced to her gauntlets. "Two shots left in one gauntlett. One shot left in the other." Yang had to be careful with her ammunition as she landed on the dirt with a roll. She still had a smirk on her face and propelled herself forward at the girl to rush her. "Fine, she wants to hide then I'll just rip away her shell!"
Yang jumped over the umbrella arm pulled back for the last shot she had ready to shoot her last shot when Cardinal dropped the umbrella grabbed her two sickles and they shot her backwards. Chains coming from the handles attached to the blades dug into the dirt. The shot from Yang's gauntlets slammed into the dirt breaking loose the sickle's blades. "DAMN IT!" Yang shouted out as the blades launched back into Cardinal's grips.
"Let's go! Wooo! I just taught her that like last month!"
Yang growled when she heard one of the instructors cheer out for Cardinal. Yang had to get space and reload her gauntle-
Her internal thoughts were cut off as a blade swung out at her. She had to jump back to avoid it only to then have a foot slam into her gut. She was launched across the field. Yang started getting up with more anger fueling her now. "TSK." Yang barely had enough time to block the next strike from her blades as her Aura took the brunt of the attack.
Yang was trying to get a read on this girl's movements but it was all over the place as the chains would be released giving the girl range as she flipped through the air slamming them at Yang. Yang had to block the relentless assault. Then she saw the opening and grabbed the chains of the blades and tugged on them pulling Cardinal at her which led to a fist connecting from Yang into the red dressed girl's chest. She was launched away leaving her sickles behind.
"Way to go firecracker!" Qrow shouted out. A smirk filling Yang's face. She watched Cardinal stand up in the dust cloud she formed in the dirt. The girl was unmoving as she stared Yang down. The red eyes staring into Yang's own lilac.
"Why is she not moving? Why is she just watching me?!" Yang should feel happy that she connected a hit in. So why was this girl not taking her seriously yet!? Yang's anger was starting to boil over and she could feel the fire of her Semblance burn over.
[X]
Ruby was. Enjoying this! This blonde girl's gauntlets were so cool! Her fighting style was so unique too. The way she propelled herself and the brutality of it! It excited Ruby. She couldn't help but feel eager as she stared down the blonde and watched her basically ignite on fire! This was so cool!
Ruby eyed Amatsu's sickles. They were too far away to use. That left Raw's sai and Moonshard. Ruby's shoulders slumped as she sighed pulling the sai out of her sash. She wanted to wait to use this.
[X]
"DID SHE JUST SIGH!?" Yang internally yelled as she watched the girl pull out the short blue sai. This angered Yang beyond belief. "HEY! Do you think you're better than me!? Just because that bitch raised you!?" Yang shouted out. Eyes going red as her anger flared. "Well you're not! I'm older than you! I can kick your ass no matter what weapon you use!"
Yang's eyes turned to the sickles and picked one up."A MATTER A FACT! FUCK THIS WEAPON" Then Yang snapped the chains connecting the blade to the grips of the sickle. Yang felt very satisfied with herself. That was until she felt a murderous intent radiating from somewhere. Yang's eyes darted over to the onlookers. None of them were radiating the hatred she felt. Then her eyes fell onto her opponent.
"Yo- you…" Cardinal was speaking up for the first time since before the fight. Yang felt satisfied. "... MONSTER!" Then the girl dashed in front of Yang in a split second. Yang felt a punch to her gut and spit. Yang felt herself then get tossed onto her back.
This was not what she expected.
[X]
Qrow did not expect to see that much anger from that small girl. All over a weapon too. Seeing Yang get overpowered like that was crazy to say the least too.
"Whooo boy."
"Ya I'll say. Blondie screwed up there."
"Eh she'll learn her lesson."
"Not upset for your weapon Amatsu?"
"Eh Little Bird will make her pay."
Qrow listened to the peanut gallery as they spoke up on the fight. He couldn't place a name to any of the voices and didn't care to see who was who. This Cardinal girl was good though. She was able to counter most of Yang's attacks and even put Yang on the back foot. To put it plain and simple this Cardinal was a monster.
A whimper and growl was heard coming from Qrow's arms as Zwei grew restless. "Easy there Zwei." He tried soothing the dog. Qrow kept his eyes still on Cardinal as her and Yang continued to trade blows and strikes. Raven's daughter striking with that short sai and grappling with her off hand. Yang on the other hand was connecting punches and kicks. Although something kept catching his eye on Yang's opponent.
"So hey Ray, is that girl's Aura just super durable?" Qrow couldn't help but ask as he hadn't seen it shimmer once.
"We wouldn't know." Was all his sister said. That earned a look from Qrow and Tai.
"Raven… she does have Aura, right?" Tai asked and Qrow let his eyes drift over to his twin.
"No."
Qrow's eyes widened as he bolted up to his feet. His hands loosened on Zwei. "Damn it Raven! What the hell is wrong with you!?" What Raven was doing was outlawed. Not that she would care. "If anyone finds out you're doing that you'll have Atlas and Vale coming down on you!"
"Do not act like I do not know what I'm doing brother. It is my discretion on how I raise my daughter. It is an old tradition for training Hunters, yes. However she has had no negative effects yet." Raven's eyes never left the fight while she spoke. Qrow's frustration grew more apparent until he heard a loud scream from the combat field.
"AAAAH!"
"Do you yield!?"
"NEVER BITCH!"
Qrow's eyes snapped to the scene of Cardinal standing over the back of Yang with her arm twisted against her back. In that short amount of time Cardinal had gotten Yang into a submission.
Qrow heard the satisfying hum from Raven as the match seemed to be coming to its end. Tai was about to step forward until the unexpected happened.
"OUCH! Damn it Zwei!" Qrow shouted releasing the dog as he rubbed the bite from the dog. The corgi, now rushing the girl.
"ZWEI!" Tai shouted out and started to run when Raven stood in front of him. "Move Raven."
"Just watch. Match isn't over." Raven spoke with a steady tone as they all watched the Corgi leap at Cardinal. All of them ready for the worst.
[X]
Ruby heard the growling from the sidelines first as she applied pressure onto the blonde's arm against her back. Then she heard the blonde man shout.
"ZWEI!"
The sounds of little feet were getting closer. She didn't have time to look at what she figured it was. Ruby stomped onto the blonde girl and then clicked a button on her sai as it extended out into its polearm mode. She stabbed the blade into the dirt and spun around the shaft and kicked at what she saw was a small dog flying out into the air at her. All of this happening in the span of ten seconds.
The dog was sent flying while Ruby pulled with the sai, now turned into a trident, and jumped through the air gaining a bit of distance from both the dog named Zwei and the blonde girl who scuffled up to her feet.
A staredown was now happening and there was an argument happening from the sidelines from her mom and this girl's father. Ruby smirked under her mask. She never has fought a dog before.
"WAWAWAWOOOOW! Let's goooo! Little Bird! YAAA!" Raw was exclaiming out. Ruby blushed. She knew Raw would be happy to see her imitate the shark girl and how she fought.
Ruby's eyes fell onto the blonde then the dog. The blonde girl was nursing her arm. "Am I disqualified?!" The blondie shouted out the question.
"No, the match continues with the dog." was all her mother said. The blonde man and her uncle Qrow made to argue but Ruby ignored it.
Ruby nodded then bolted forward towards the blonde girl. She was gonna have to fight quickly and play aggressively.
[X]
Yang was on the defensive again. She scoffed, this wasn't good. This brat was a lot better than Yang ever expected and her blood was boiling as she blocked multiple thrusts from the trident.
"WHY WHY WHY!?" Yang kept chastising herself. "I'm strong!? Why can't I beat this little midget!?"
Yang tried to throw a punch only to have it smacked away. Luckily Zwei was jumping at the girl. Only the dog got a mouthful of the shaft of the weapon with his bite. The masked girl then punched the dog's snout. A yelp came from Zwei and Yang saw red.
"BITCH!" Yang screamed out as fire burst around her. Her semblance went hot as she threw a punch at the girl. It connected with the masked girl's shoulder sending her flying. Yang wasn't done as she rushed the black haired girl. "DIE DIE DIE! I'M BETTER THAN YOU!"
Yang's skin was beginning to turn white, hair's tips frosting over and losing their blonde color, eyes going pure red no white or black. Negativity radiating off of Yang.
Something was happening deep inside of the blonde brawler.
AN:
I guess I should explain some things. I planned to take a break in December no matter what but during the process of writing this chapter I hit a road block. What do I mean? Well simply put… this chapter was… a lot longer than what you see here. Including what was wrote here in this chapter… about double and still not fully finished. There was just a pacing issue I couldn't fix. I don't know if it was because I kept trying to jam too much into one chapter and not letting scenes breathe or what. BUT I just wasn't happy with it.
December snuck up on me as I was trying to get this out beforehand but then it just wasn't feeling right. So I've largely not looked at this chapter until January as I was kind of feeling stressed out while reading it over. Nothing was clicking. I realized that the pacing for it was off. So. What do I do? Well I take where I think a good stopping point is and then look over everything and expand upon what I can and find grammar issues.
It's not perfect and sadly I don't think this is my best work this chapter. BUT I did want to get it out to those that have been waiting.
I'm gonna try and see about finishing Ruby's training arc before the summer but I'm kind of dragging myself into a few other projects.
This story.
Three of my own original story universe (A fantasy apocalypse. A cyberpunk apocalypse. And lastly my own original hi-fantasy universe). Two of which I've already been kicking ideas in my head around.
I then have a RWBY Soulmate fic idea of Ruby x Adam. but that's mostly crackfic and IDK if I want to make it my focus. Kind of like Atlas's Dragon on FFnet or Jaune's Holy Blade on Ao3 (yup each website has their own dedicated crackfic. Find my profile to read each).
Then there is a Resident Evil project I've been kicking around in my head for a while.
Then a batman fic I've been kicking around for a few years as well…
I've also been rolling the idea around of maybe writing up my own RWBY reboot but im just not sure.
Then lastly there is one last RWBY related project I've kind of forced myself into because I'm excited to write for it. I can't say what it is as I'm not the project lead for it but I am the writer for this as it's just a supplement to the main story.
So it's kind of a rough deal. I have to find a way to balance what to write. I think when it comes to Hunters: The Red Death it'll have to be a once a month kind of update. The other stuff getting updated whenever I can.
Perhaps I'll do a poll soon (posted on my reddit at u/ cawmekrazee or my twitter cawmekrazeeSFW ). If I do I'll try to give a detailed desc. And summary of each project that's not the last one and see what you're interested in the most.
Thanks for reading this and also for being patient on the chapter update. See you all in the next one.
~ Cawme