Halo, it's time for the next chapter. Enjoy the reading.
Neo didn't have time to finish off the team LLMM, she looked at her Scroll to get a better look at the message Roman sent her.
"These girls are tougher than I thought! The Paladin won't last long!
Neo, help me!
Hurry!"
Neo immediately jumped on one of the transport planes, which had some White Fang soldiers on it but she immediately darted between them to the pilot.
- What is that…? – Neo held her Scroll in front of the pilot indicating where Roman was. - Is Torchwick in trouble? - Neo nodded angrily and made circles with her hands to indicate that they should hurry. - Okay! – The pilot immediately started the plane and they took off. - Say and don't sign!
Neo just rolled her eyes at the pilot's comment and nervously looked at her Scroll on which the mark indicating Roman's position was getting closer to her. They flew over the lower quarter and headed for a freeway. The signal was getting closer and under the freeway she managed to spot the giant Paladin that Roman was piloting but it was missing both arms and had a lot of dents and damage. It was nothing like the amazing machine she stole last week.
The 4 girls he fought with she got to know them from the academy. They were team RWBY who were considered the best team in Beacon.
Blake just threw Yang who was holding on to the end of the black tape tied to her weapon against the Paladin's cockpit. Before the robot fell to pieces and among the smoking wreckage she saw Roman falling to the ground but he still managed to get up and dust himself off.
Yang fired a fiery projectile from her wrist strap, straight at Roman. Neo didn't think, she just jumped out of the plane, straight in front of Roman, opened Hush, her parasol which served as a very strong but light shield, then used it to block Yang's shot.
Neo sighed and smiled confidently as she realized that Roman was fine and had saved him at the last minute. She rested her parasol on her shoulder and waited for the order.
- Ladies, - Roman didn't lose his confidence, Neo couldn't figure out if he trusted her so much that she would get here or if he had some other secret plan just in case she didn't. - Ice Queen.
- Hey! - Weiss snapped angrily.
- It's always a pleasure to have fun with you. – He put two fingers on his forehead and winked at team RWBY. - Neo, if you would…
Neo just like against the team LLMM, leaned forward and extended her left hand to the side, creating an invisible wall and two illusion copies of herself and Roman. While Team RWBY concentrated on the replicas, the two of them were able to quickly glide to the plane that had already landed which was just waiting to pick them up.
By the time Yang smashed the two illusions, which like the glass had shattered into pieces, they were already in the air and far away.
- Wow, - Roman sat down on one of the seats with relief. – it was a little closer for my liking. - He looked at Neo with a smile who confidently smirked back at him with her hands on her hips. - Why are you smirking? - He was joking. - I had everything under control. - Neo just put one hand in front of her mouth and giggled silently then threw herself into his arms and hugged him. - I'm glad you arrived on time, Neo. - Roman returned the hug, stroked her waist with one hand while the other ran into the pink part of her hair, then smelled it to smell her wonderful chocolate and strawberry scent. She had a very good and calming effect on him and then he kissed her lips as well. - I love you.
Neo just kept smirking but didn't say anything, she just buried her head in Roman's chest and rubbed it with her head.
- You're not going to say it, are you? – Roman just laughed and Neo just playfully shook her head. – One day. – Although Roman wasn't at all bothered by Neo's muteness, he was curious about her voice. He had told her many times that he loved her but Neo had only communicated it to him by signs or messages, never with her own voice. - I can wait.
They hugged and snuggled to each other for quite a while as they flew before finally willing to part from each other's embrace. Roman looked out the window and saw the whole town of Vale lit up at night by the lights of the apartments and street lamps and the colorful lights of the Vytal festivals turning the city into a glittering jewel the city at night.
- This will be all ours, Neo. - Neo also looked out the window, put her hands on the glass, knelt on her seat and stared at the lights of the city at night. - If this job will be succeeded we'll be in control of this city and we can do whatever we want. - Neo turned back to him and smile at him but her smile wore off a bit and she started signing.
- C'mon, it's not your fault that you got sick and your current task is also very important. – Neo pursed her lips angrily and then signed again. - I don't like them either but Cinder's the boss and we have to put up with her kids. - Neo signed again. - It's true, I'm not locked in with them all day but she mainly makes me work the most. - Roman understood Neo's sign language quite well. - It's easier to loot weapons and equipment, especially since Atlas led its army here. Those conceited snobs think they know everything and their arrogance will cause their downfall. - Neo broke into an evil smile again. - It's good that you can help again, even if only at the weekends but now I have to take you back to the academy.
Neo hated the school, it reminded her of Lady Branwin's institution again but Roman and Cinder had a joint plan to infiltrate Beacon with Cinder's team and participate in the Vytal festival as Ella Stracciat. She would have preferred to participate in robberies with Roman and the White Fang.
Roman would have preferred to have Neo by his side all the time, as he did today since she had saved his life but now the plan was the most important thing. The essence of which was to get as many people as possible to power and equipment to the southeast outside the city.
They both knew what they had to do and what their reward would be if they succeeded.
Fortunately, all the teams returned to Beacon the next day and were able to continue their studies, except for Lance, who ended up in the infirmary due to his injury, so he had to miss the combat train which the rest of his team did participate in.
- The match is over. – Professor Goodwitch stopped the practice fight between Pyrrha Nikos and the entire CRDN team. Pyrrha beat a team of boys without even straining.
- She… got… lucky. - These were Cardin's last words before he collapsed.
- Excellent, Ms Nikos. - Goodwitch rarely doles out praise but Pyrrha's was different. She impressed her with her performance. - I don't think the tournament would cause a problem.
- Thank you, Professor.
- Okay, - Goodwitch looked at her Scroll. - we still have time for a match. Any volunteer? – She looked through the students sitting in the stands but no one came forward. - Ms. Belladonna, - The faunus girl raised her head immediately upon hearing her name. - you missed quite a lot from the past few hours. What if... - Suddenly, someone else applied.
- I will! - It was Mercury.
- Mercury, right? - Goodwitch adjusted her glasses. - Great, - She began tapping on her Scroll. - let's find you an opponent.
- Actually, - Mercury spoke up. - I want to fight her. – He pointed at Pyrrha which surprised everyone, since Pyrrha had just fought.
- With me?!
- I'm afraid, - Goodwitch didn't think it was a good idea. – Ms. Nikos just finished a match. I suggest you choose another partner.
- No! - Pyrrha snapped. - OK! - She turned back to Mercury. - I'll happily fight you.
Walking slowly, Mercury joined Pyrrha in the arena, not flustered just slowly sizing up Pyrrha who took a fighting stance. Many people in the audience were excited to see what the new boy could do.
Mercury raised his fists, indicating that he was fighting with his bare hands. He attacked first, kicking with his leg but Pyrrha blocked him with her shield then tried to cut him with her sword but Mercury bounced off the floor, spun sideways in the air and fell to the ground. Quickly, accompanied by a back somersault, he jumped up and then did another backflip, gaining enough distance from Pyrrha.
This time it was Pyrrha's turn to attack but Mercury parried with two kicks, she parried one with her shield and the other with her sword but the boy continued with kicks and Pyrrha kept parrying them all. Finally, Mercury made a mistake and Pyrrha parried with her shield pushed him, but he managed to stay on his feet.
Mercury nodded and grimaced, "Not too bad."
He launched another attack, bouncing off the floor and above, launching a powerful heel kick at Pyrrha, which she parried, again but Mercury didn't give up and tried to break through her defense with a kick attack again but this time Pyrrha was forced to retreat and jump back. Mercury didn't give up, he jumped in the air in front of Pyrrha and threw three quick kicks at her, which she blocked again with her shield and when he hit the ground, he threw a powerful fourth kick into her shield but Pyrrha didn't even move. He knocked the sword out of his hand with a fifth kick and launched the next kick straight at her head but Pyrrha blocked it with her arms.
Both of them spun at the same time, Pyrrha then took her sword again and blocked Mercury's kick just in time but with a side kick, the sword slipped out of her hand again and pierced into the floor. Mercury with a confident smile was about to kick her in the head again but Pyrrha raised her hand and Mercury's leg was deflected by some supernatural force at a barely perceptible angle as a result Pyrrha was able to dodge it and Mercury losing his balance, staggered backwards and dropped to one knee.
He thought about it and realized something. He turned to see that Pyrrha was the one attacking now with her shield pointed forward but Mercury quickly jumped into the air and placed both feet on Pyrrha's shield and bounced off her with a blast of air that was attached to the metal strap on his shoe and hit the ground with a few spins.
Pyrrha attacked again but Mercury…
- I give up!
This surprised everyone, even Pyrrha who could barely stop.
- You don't even... want to try? - Pyrrha turned to the boy in surprise.
- What's the point? - Mercury just spread his arms. - You are a famous champion. You're way above us.
- In that case, - Goodwitch announced. – Pyrrha Nikos is the winner of the match. Again. - Mercury smiled at his teammates, Emerald and Neo that his plan had worked. - I suggest, you should think before you choose an opponent next time. - Goodwitch looked at Mercury with contempt.
- You can be sure of that.
Everyone in the stands was in awe of Pyrrha's performance.
- Huh, Pyrrha is the one you shouldn't piss off. - Lynda laughed. - If she had been with us yesterday that little girl with his umbrella would have surely regretted it.
- It was a parasol but I see what you mean. - Corrected by Mike. - Pyrrha is the strongest.
- Do you think Lance could beat her? – Lynda tried to compare her team captain and the strongest member of the JNPR team. - He's pretty tough!
- Physical strength doesn't necessarily dominate. – Mandy joined the conversation. – You saw that she beat Cardin and his team, even though I'm sure that Cardin is physically stronger than her.
- But at least Lance has more brain. – Lynda was still uncertain how a Pyrrha-Lance match would end.
- And remember, - After the bell Goodwitch had a few more things to announce. – the prom will be next weekend and you go on your first real mission on Monday and I won't accept any excuses.
The students left the classroom, most of them headed for their rooms but the team LLMM headed for the infirmary but as they passed the CMEE team, Lynda smelled something strange.
She started sniffing in the direction of the team and followed them.
- Um... can we help you with something? - Emerald was the first to notice the faunus girl before both Mercury and Neo turned to her.
- Oh, sorry for following you but - She looked at Neo. - haven't we met somewhere already? - Neo raised an eyebrow, remembering Lynda last time when she fought her and the team LLMM. Now that she's wearing his disguise, she can't recognize her but her scent still lingers and she remembers her as a faunus. - What's your name?
- Her name is Ella Stracciat. - Emerald answered. - What do you want from her?
- Your smell. – Neo was a little scared that this girl would bring blow her cover. - I smelled it somewhere but I don't know where.
- She hasn't seen you yet. – Mercury shrugged while Neo also started typing something on her Scroll.
"I've never seen you before, but I'm wearing a common perfume and maybe you can smell it."
- Maybe. - Lynda didn't mean her perfume but thought it wiser not to reveal it. - Why don't you talk? Do you have any disabilities? - Neo clenched one of her hands and wished she had finished her in the warehouse.
- Hey, that's not nice! – Before Neo did something stupid, Emerald quickly stood between them. - She doesn't tease you because you're a faunus, you shouldn't tease her because she's mute!
- Oh, - Lynda realized that what she had just said was very disrespectful. - sorry! I didn't mean to offend you. I was just curious.
- Curiosity kills the dog. - Mercury said it ominously.
- I think I better go. – Lynda had already turned the corner and was about to head towards the infirmary but she found herself face to face with one of her teammates. - Mandy? What are you doing here? Where is Mike?
- He went ahead to the infirmary to see Lance, I came back to find you. - They continued their journey together. - Why did you break away from us?
- Well... from the team CMEE, that silent little girl... - She thought and scratched the base of her ear. - she has such a stupid name.
- Ella Stracciat? What's up with her?
- You don't recognize her scent? - Mandy noticed that. - I swear, - Lynda put her hands on both temples, she was straining her brain so much. - I felt it somewhere but I couldn't tell where to put it! – Mandy listened to her teammate's words with wide eyes.
- I... I don't know her at all.
- Sure?! I usually remember almost every smell but this one has completely slipped my mind.
- Let's leave it at that, let's go and see Lance instead.
- Fine.
With that, the two faunus girls headed towards the infirmary and when they opened the door to Lance's room but something terrible was revealed to them.
Lance was still asleep in his bed but Mike was sitting next to him, staring intently at his Scroll but one hand was in his pants, clutching his penis.
- Are you serious?! - Lynda snapped angrily at the sight.
- Are you just being stupid now? - Mandy wasn't thrilled either.
- What's the matter with you? - Mike looked at the two faunus girls in a confused way.
- A wounded Hunter is lying in bed and a fat guy is sitting next to him while watching porn! What do you think the matter is?! – Mike's gaze shifted back and forth between the erotic film and the angry gaze of his teammates.
- What a coincidence, this movie also starts like that. Later, two hot faunus nurses come in and take care of the two guys well. – Lynda just grabbed the Scroll from Mike's hand and turned it off.
- I say, - Mandy said. – let's forget what just happened.
- What happened? - Lance woke up to the noise. He was wearing a white robe and his chest covered with bandages in underneath.
- It's just that Mike being an idiot. - Lynda put down the Scroll.
- Anyway, we came to visit. – Mike changed the subject. - How do you feel?
- Just a scratch. - Lance tried to look tough but it was clear he was still in pain.
- Your chest pierced with a blade. - Mandy scolded him a little. - You don't have to be tough.
- The next time I see that umbrella girl... - Lynda started grumbling.
- Parasol! - Corrected by Mike.
- SHUT UP!
- Lynda, sit! - Lance said as Lynda calmed down and sat on the edge of the bed. – So, what did I miss?
- Pyrrha single-handedly smashed the team CRDN! - Mike spoke immediately.
- And that new guy, Mercury. - Lynda joined. - And we're thinking about who would win between you and Pyrrha.
- I don't know if I could beat Pyrrha, - Lance hoped he wouldn't end up in a ring with the red-haired girl. – she's a very strong girl. She also won a championship in Mistral.
- And she became the advertising face of Pumpkin Pete cereal! My mother always bought me that! - Mike remembered that.
- Ugh, that cereal is so gross! - Lynda didn't want to think about cereal.
- It's not my favorite either. – The team LLMM agreed on Pumpkin Pete, except for Mike.
- Maybe we should talk about something else. - Lance suggested.
- Good, - Lynda remembered what happened after class. - a member of the team CMEE, Ella. Isn't she familiar to you?
- That little one with black hair? - Mike remembered her.
- Not really for me. - Lance shrugged. - Why? Is she for you?
- It's just her scent but I just don't know where to put it.
- I didn't feel anything about her. Mandy wasn't happy that Lynda brought up the subject again in front of the boys.
- Maybe you only smell her perfume which someone else used? - Mike guessed.
- Mike, I can fucking tell the difference between perfume and a person's scent and I didn't smell that girl's perfume!
- Seriously? - Mike was completely surprised.
- Yes. Every person has a unique scent and I have smelled that girl somewhere.
- And if you did? - Mandy just shrugged but she looked pretty upset. - She's talking about nothing but Ella's scent! What if you smelled it?! It doesn't change anything! – The team was shocked at Mandy's outburst.
- Nothing, it just annoys me that I don't know where to put it.
- Okay, another topic! - Mike quickly put an end to the bickering between the two faunus.
- Who is going to the ball with whom? - Lance asked the question.
- I don't even know if I'm going. - Mandy replied.
- What do you mean that you don't come?! - Lynda snapped. – There will be music, dancing and good food!
- I hate parties.
- My mom allowed it, - Mike was excited. - but she told me to shave my back before it. This will be the first party I attend!
- Have you never been to a party before?! - Lynda and Lance were both shocked by this.
- Well, the kindergarten once held a birthday party for one of the boys but my mom said I couldn't take part in it but she didn't forbid me to observe the events from a distance from a window.
- If it makes you feel better, - Mandy said. - I haven't been to a party either.
- WHAT?! - Lynda could hardly believe she just heard. - Then we'll make up for it next weekend! Mandy, you come to the party and there are no excuses!
- I even have to buy a suit because my mother didn't pack. – Mike applied.
- I'll do the same.
The LLMM team spent the rest of the day happily.
Elsewhere in another dorm room the mood was much more ominous where the mood wasn't one of gaiety but the excitement of hatching diabolical plans. The team CMEE, Cinder, who was the team captain was looking at a scroll on a list of the school's students. Mercury was just lying on the floor reading a comic book, Emerald was busy with her Scroll and Neo, who had turned off his disguise and his black hair in two pigtails had changed back to its original pink and brown.
- Next one, Pyrrha Nikos. – Cinder reached the end of the list whose techniques and Semblance she studied thoroughly. - The invincible girl.
- Tough and smart, - Mercury lowered his comic. – but I wouldn't call her invincible.
- You speak? - Cinder cut in.
- Her Semblance is polarity, - Emerald explained. - but you can't tell just by looking.
- As soon as she focused her power on my shoes, - Mercury remembered. - she could move it as she wanted. However, she uses it sparingly so that no one notices it.
- This is how she makes everyone believe that she is untouchable. - Emerald figured it out. - She doesn't show off very much so that her opponents don't realize how much of a disadvantage they have against her.
- Hm, - Cinder found that a little familiar. - people think she's destined to do something great but she took the control of her own destiny in her hand. - She smiled. - It's interesting. - She turned to Emerald. - Add to list.
- I think you, - Mercury looked first at Cinder and then at Neo. – and you could defeat her. - Neo just smiled evilly but Cinder just rolled her eyes.
- This is not about defeating the enemy, - She continued sternly. – it's about taking and using the power that she has! And by the time we will do the same.
- I hate to wait! - Mercury just sat back in boredom.
- Don't worry Mercury, - Cinder didn't look upset at all. – we have a really fun weekend ahead of us. And one more person is missing from the list. - Lance was next on the list. - The Red Knight, Lance.
- Captain of the team LLMM. - Emerald also sought him out. Neo stood up and started typing on her Scroll.
"I have fought him before and defeated him. Although he seemed to hold back."
- C'mon, Neo, do I really have to repeat myself? - Cinder turned to the shorter girl. - We must use their power. What's his Semblance?
"He didn't use it against me."
- How come he didn't use it? - Emerald was a bit confused. - If I remember correctly, you said you cornered him and his team? Why didn't he use his Semblance?
- Maybe because it would have been dangerous. - Cinder guessed. - We need to find out what power he has before the weekend.
- That will be difficult. - Mercury shrugged. - I asked around, but no one knows.
- And thanks to Neo, - Emerald looked at the silent girl with contempt who returned the stinging look. – he's too injured to give a show. - Neo just crossed her arms and looked away.
- It's not nice to just blame Neo. - Cinder wasn't angry. - We can find another way to find out.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. All 4 plotters immediately turned their heads towards the door, Cinder and Emerald put away their Scrolls and Neo put her disguise back on. Cinder motioned for Emerald to open the door.
- Yes? - She obeyed and a faunus girl with black hair, fox ears and a tail standing in the doorway looking only at her with her green eyes.
- Is Cinder here? - Mandy spoke up.
- What do you want from her? - Emerald asked suspiciously.
- To warn. I know who you are. - She took out a white cloth with the crest of the White Fang on it. - I am a member of the White Fang.
- Let her in. - A female voice was heard from the room. Emerald let the fox faunus in.
- So, - Cinder eyed the faunus girl. – did the White Fang sent a spy to Beacon too?
- Yes, - She answered but she directed her eyes towards Neo. – just like Torchwick. Neopolitan. - Neo's eyes widened and she switched off her cover.
- Why did you come?
- To warn you that one of my teammates has started to suspect Neo.
- How come? - Mercury was interested.
- Yesterday you fought me and my team in that warehouse. We faunus recognize people by smell and Lynda remembers your smell, although she doesn't know that it is exactly yours but I'm afraid that she will remember it in time.
- And what do you mean by that? - Cinder knew what she was up to but she wanted to hear it from her.
- Lynda... - Mandy clenched her fists as if she had absolutely no stomach for what she wanted to say. – is a threat to our plan and must be deal with her.
- I suppose you have a plan?
- Yes.
Mandy started down a dark path. She didn't think it would be so difficult to turn against her teammates. She knew that the time would come for this too but she simply didn't count on the guilt. She felt terrible and knew she wouldn't be forgiven.
She didn't want forgiveness, she wanted revenge.
Thank you for reading. Please sign it to follow and as favourite and don't forget to write reviews.