Chapter 5: The Seed of Nightmares
Pyrrha pulled the controls of her Typhoon, barely evading the charging Destroyer class before filling its back with 36mm rounds, killing almost instantly before turning around and killing a group of charging Tank class, the vulnerable red strain being easily torn apart by the assault cannon fire gaining a bit of time to look for a way out.
And things weren't looking good, their flight had been separated from the rest of the battalion and surrounded, the communications were down, since the BETA destroyed the forward command post and as far as they knew, the rest of the frontline was in a similar position to them.
Simply put, their odds of survival were low.
Looking around she saw Jaune was down to using his Flugelbertes and blade edge armor to combat the aliens, Ruby was also using the integrated melee weaponry of her own Typhoon to reduce ammunition consumption while Weiss was in a similar situation to her.
They needed a way out.
"Jäger-7 this is Jäger-5 we need to retreat!" - shouts Pyrrha at Ruby
"This is Jäger-5, I know but where? The lasers are still active!" - shouts back Ruby
The lasers she had forgotten about the lasers. Capable of one-shotting any of their Typhoons and so close to being 100% accurate that evading a shot from them was more due to luck than actual skill.
"This is Jäger-11, I'd rather take the chance than staying here" - said Jaune butting into the conversation.
"I have to agree, lead, staying here is just going to make our position worse" - Weiss said, also getting into the conversation.
A few agonizing seconds passed for Pyrrha while Ruby made her decision and she had no doubt the others felt like her. Then Ruby finally spoke.
"Alright, Pyrrha, Jaune, you at front clear a path, Weiss and I are going to cover you, we're going towards the landing zone" - order Ruby - "Jäger Flight, NOE!"
The four Typhoon then jumped in action, flying as fast as they could while keeping themselves as close to the ground as they could, maneuvering around the Grapplers, Destroyers and Tanks strains, killing them to create opening or using them as cover when necessary, the sea of alien bodies seemingly without end.
As the four Typhoons continued their flight they soon got a visual of the landing zone and it wasn't looking good, the bombardment from the supporting fleet was obviously the only thing keeping the ground forces still on the fight, knowing they had no time to lose they resumed their flight.
This fight was far from over.
Team RWAN woke up as one once again, feeling sore and even more tired than when they went to sleep. Looking at each other once again awakening together felt odd for the four of them but a small part of their mind felt a camaraderie that had not been present before.
"Tired?" - asks Ruby to her team, still half covered by her blanket before yawning out of tiredness.
"Yes/Yeah" - answer the others in a similar situation with Jaune yawning too.
They were all still tired, not only physically but also mentally, neither of them wanted to get out of bed and go to classes, instead they all wanted to just fall asleep again, damn the consequences.
However neither Pyrrha's working ethics nor Weiss' pride would accept such a result and despite clearly wishing to stay in bed both got out of bed, both their partners looking at them with faces that both screamed "seriously?" and "traitors!".
"Come on you two we need to get ready for class" - says Weiss looking at Jaune who purposely evades her gaze.
"Do we have to?" - asks/whines Ruby
"Yes, we do" - responds Pyrrha, obviously tired
Surrendering to the fact their partners will not let them fall asleep again, both Jaune and Ruby finally get out of bed while Weiss goes and enters the bathroom.
"Do we have class with professor Port today?" - asks Jaune, using the wall to keep himself standing while hoping some respite would be found later in the day.
"No" - responded Ruby whining using pushing her head against the wall as a show of frustration.
The rest of the bathing and dressing time went on in silence. The breakfast was the complete opposite however, Yang's and Nora's unending combined energy keeping not only their teammates awake but also all of team RWAN too, it even made the latter four just how tired they were, helped by the concentrated coffee or tea the four ended up drinking (they were too tired to notice) but the next class was pure torture.
Dust class with professor Peach. It was not a particularly hard class but it could be not only complicated but also one that needed full attention to detail when it came to the practical classes.
Like the one that was coming.
As the dust purification class experiment continued Pyrrha couldn't help but start to feel frustrated at the class. It was irrational, it was completely unlike her but she, for once, didn't care, she had not slept well, the experiment was taking far longer than any of them wanted too and to make things worse, Team RBYN was being far too loud for her liking.
Even worse, Team CRDL was trying to sabotage them by trying to change their dust crystals and materials but sadly for them, Weiss was showing that her title of heiress of the Schnee was not only for show, not only by noticing the changes and correcting them but also by humiliating CRDL constantly correcting them whenever they did something wrong all why directing Ruby, Jaune and herself during the experiment.
Finally, the experiment was done, the result, a small fire dust crystal barely big enough to be used in an autocannon round, now was in the team's table ready to be tested.
"Finally!" - says, shooting her arms straight into the air before letting herself fall into her bench and yawning to her heart's content.
Pyrrha sees Weiss roll her eyes while looking at Ruby, her arms crossed. She looks as if she wants to say something at Ruby but instead she half sighs half yawns and sits on her own bench.
Pyrrha, barely keeps from yawning as she lets out a small sigh as she sees no conflict is going to start and sits on her own bench.
Jaune is the last remaining standing seemingly still looking at the dust crystal that laid resting on the table.
"Ah? shouldn't we clean this up?" - asks Jaune while signaling at the group of lab equipment. A number of beakers, test tubes, extractors, condensers, funnels and more remained in the table.
Ruby whined as a result while Weiss facepalmed in frustration, Pyrrha meanwhile couldn't help but feel frustrated again. But Team RWAN knew they had no option but to do it, so while Ruby went to get professor Peach to look over their result, the rest of them started cleaning the lab materials, special care being taken by Weiss to when dealing with the Dust residue.
Then as they were finishing cleaning, Ruby arrived with professor Peach, who took the crystal and started to observe it for some time before setting it down on the table again.
"I have to say, that the dust crystal seems to have been successfully purified, now we have to test it, please, follow me"
Professor Peach then guided Team RWAN to another room connected to the lab, it was white with a few red lines and what seemed to be a glass wall on one side. Signaling the team to stop the professor started explaining.
"This is the testing room for the laboratory, here we test the results of different experiments we do here in a controlled environment specially designed so any potential damage doesn't affect the rest of the school" - said the professor - "While I know that all of us have aura at the ready, please stay behind the protective cover and put on the ear protectors, its standard procedure"
The professor started to set the fire dust crystal in its place and check the equipment as the four students did as they had been ordered. Once they were all ready and the equipment checked up professor Peach started a countdown and when the countdown reached zero a sudden an explosion and small short lived (no more than a second) fire happened.
After the fire was gone, professor Peach went on to look at the readings.
"Well done you four, your crystal achieved slightly above average purity for the expected results of the experiment" - said the professor turning away from the computer and looking at Team RWAN - "here are your results, after you have made a copy, you're free to help your fellow student or to go"
Giving their thanks to the professor as she went out back to the lab, the team went on to get the copy of their results before getting out of the lab.
"How much time is until the next class?" - asks a tired Ruby as soon as they get out.
"15 minutes" - immediately responds Weiss
"So, to combat class it is" - says Ruby obviously still tired
"I really hope we don't have to fight this time" - comments Jaune, not only because he's tired but also because he secretly didn't want to fight.
"While I normally would not agree" - continued Pyrrha - "now I do"
Weiss meanwhile kept silent, seemingly deep in thought before speaking.
"Want to go and get something to keep us awake?"
"I would like to" - answered Pyrrha before her teammates, she really needed something to keep herself awake.
And as that they went to the cafeteria to get some energy drinks and some food before going to combat class.
Pyrrha couldn't know but she was sure Weiss was cursing her luck right now, her opponent, a brown-haired girl with a set of distinctive twin hair buns called Lilium Maki was more than holding her own against the heiress, her gun halberd, clawed gauntlet and aura projections more than able to keep up with Weiss glyphs and mobility.
It was a close fight and their auras showed it, both were in the yellow both due to using their semblances and the hits both had managed to achieve. Even now Weiss twirled as she deflected her opponents halberd aways before trying to use her glyphs to get right into the halberd's range only to fail as another rain of projection forced her to stop.
Momentarily taking her eyes off the fight Pyrrha saw both Jaune and Ruby watch the fight closely and almost completely in silence, she had only heard a few comments from them. Much louder were the faunus' teammates, who every now and then cheered her, well at least two of them.
Going back to watch the fight Pyrrha noticed both Weiss and the other girl in a standoff looking for an opening as both summoned their semblances intending to end the fight with the next move as both were very close to the red.
Then in a split second, both launched their attacks, Weiss closing the distance, rushing right against her opponent, propelled by her glyph, the shots from both her opponent's gun halberd and the aura projections missing entirely, the other girl instinctively trying to move her gauntlet into position to block while trying to evade but Pyrrha knew it was not going to be fast enough, Weiss was coming to fast for the short distance.
And then a sudden shot came out of the clawed gauntlet hitting Weiss directly, making her lose balance and making her miss her attack as her opponent barely evaded. Pyrrha couldn't help but feel surprised, the gauntlet had hidden weaponry!
Before Weiss could react her opponent blasted her with several more shots until the buzzer sounded signaling the end of the match.
"And that's the match!" - announced professor Goodwitch - "the winner is Lilium Maki!"
Before she continued the rest of the class reacted, both Ruby and Jaune sighed disappointed their teammate and partner respectively had lost, while many others booed, celebrated or simply commented on the result, finally Lilium's team reacted cheering on her, celebrating her and her victory, although one member however, went a bit to far in her celebration however.
"YEEEEEEES! ATLESIAN DOG, GET FU-!" - she shouted before the professor forcefully shut her up.
Pyrrha couldn't help but to look at her disappointed..
"Quiet please" - ordered the professor, everyone doing so extremely quickly.
Pyrrha now was looking at the professor concentrating on what she was going to say.
"Now, as you saw, both Miss Schnee and Miss Maki were evenly matched, the versatility of their semblances letting them both effectively react to their opponents. In environments like this, a single mistake can be all that stands between victory and defeat. It's also why Miss Maki's hidden weapons were so effective, by hiding them to the clitical moment she had a trump card to use when needed, now that is not to say that you should always hold off from using all your options, how to do said balancing act it's something that you will have to decide on your own."
With the explanation done, both Weiss and Lilium went to change and as soon they were done the professor Goodwitch let her semblance go from the student she was holding through all the exposition.
"... DIE A VIRGIN THEN!" - ended shouting the black haired faunus girl, now free to talk.
"Miss Magnolia Curtis, while I can see one getting excited at a teammate's victory, specially if its your partner, you took it too far" - said an obviously angry professor Goodwitch - "thankfully for you, you already had your fight so after class, you'll come with me for detention"
Pyrrha felt a small, miniscule amount of satisfaction at the back of her mind knowing the girl that insulted her teammate was getting punished.
"Now, for the final fight of today it will be Jaune Arc against Cardin Winchester!" - announced the professor, after giving punishment - "please both student go and gather your equipment for the match"
Pyrrha looked at Jaune who sighed as if he was a kicked puppy, Ruby tapped him in the shoulder as a sign of support.
"I'll be cheering for you" - Ruby said, giving him a small smile
"Me too" - added Pyrrha, yes it was not the image of a champion but Jaun was her teammate and she was more than happy to show her support.
Jaune tired as the rest of them, gave them a smile before responding - "thanks, I appreciated it"
And then he went.
"Do you think he has a chance?" - asks Ruby to Pyrrha
"He has, but he will need to be careful" - responds Pyrrha
Then Pyrrha noticed Weiss slowly coming closer to them before slumping into her seat, she looked both frustrated and also completely and utterly exhausted. As far Pyrrha could tell, the only reason the heiress was not falling asleep right now was because of a mix of pride and stubbornness.
"Weiss, are you ok?" - asked Ruby
"Yes, I'm ok, just thinking about the fight to get better" - responds Weiss, the bite normally present when only partially showing - "and which is the next fight?"
"It's Jaune against Cardin" - answered Ruby
"I see" - responds Weiss before thinking a bit - "let see what he can do then, he does have an eye for detail"
Pyrrha had to accept she was also very curious about what Jaune was truly capable off and much like her teammate just said, Jaune had an eye for discovering small but critical details like during their fight against the grimm back in the initiation.
"Any opinions from both of you about my duel?" - suddenly asks Weiss surprising both Pyrrha and Ruby, both of them had thought Weiss would remain silent until Jaune's fight began but it seems they were wrong.
Ruby seemed like she was trying to respond but was getting stuck on her words so Pyrrha decided to help her leader by responding first.
"You had the control of most of the fight choosing when and where to attack, however to turned out to be a little too predictable, you didn't use your glyphs to try to bind your opponent to a single position for example"
"Yeah! you also didn't use your glyphs to gain the height advantage!" - added Ruby sounding almost desperate to give some good analysis.
"I see" - responded Weiss
"You also lacked an attack strong enough to unbalance your opponent in a significant way for you to take complete control" - added Pyrrha again giving her final comment, seeing the heiress thinking about what both herself and Ruby had said to her.
After a few seconds of thinking Weiss responded with a simple "thank you both", any more conversation was cut as both Jaune and Cardin stepped into the arena as professor Goodwitch said the rules once again and put on the display of the aura levels of both.
After a countdown, the fight started.
The first thing that Pyrrha figured out about Jaune's fighting style was that he was cautious, way too cautious, he had let slip several openings that he would've been able to use. He was also very clumsy on his attacks, normally misjudging the range of his attacks or leaving him exposed to an easy counterattack.
And Cardin was taking advantage of that. His hits were wearing Jaune down and making him unable to effectively respond. Jaune was going to lose.
Pyrrha noticed even Ruby had realized that fact as her cheers have become more uncommon although not stopping. Weiss meanwhile watched the fight in silence like a hawk.
"Come on Jaune you can do it!" - shouted Ruby one again in support
"Keep your voice down" - immediately responded Weiss struggling not to shout, her frustrations biting at her
"But …" - tried to argue Ruby before Weiss put her index finger over her mouth to silence her
"He has already lost his fight" - responded Weiss, her voice cold as winter.
"How can you be so sure?" - Ruby argues as she tries to defend Jaune, frustrated at Weiss critiquing her friend and teammate.
"Can can't attack effectively enough" - responded Weiss bluntly - "he either doesn't notice the opening or if he does he flails while attacking, he has only the barest of ideas of what he can do but can't apply it"
As to prove her point, Jaune attacked Cardin, with the latter using his mace to swat Jaune's sword aside and putting Jaune in a position he would not be able to block the second swing which hit him directly throwing him unto the floor.
As the buzzer sounded to signal Jaune's defeat, professor Goodwitch called the match and a short explanation later and both Jaune and Cardin went back to change back to their uniforms, the former looking very dejected, Pyrrha hoped it was nothing to bad.
As Cardin and Jaune finally got back to their respective teams professor Goodwitch gave her final words and let them go.
As one, Team RWAN went out of the class unsure if to go to the cafeteria or to their room, but before they even had time to decide Team RBYN approaches and tells them to join them at lunch to which Team RWAN agrees despite wanting nothing more than rest before the professor Oobleck's class.
The two teams soon descended into a conversation about the last class although Team RBYN showed a bit of consideration and didn't make any comment about Weiss' and Jaune's fights, especially the latter.
The talk then changed to what the teams were planning for the weekend, Team RBYN was planning to go into vale to buy food ingredients for Ren and books for Blake while Nora and Blake just joined to give company.
Yang then asked Ruby how her team was going to which Ruby deflected with "good", Yang tried to push for more information but Pyrrha changed the topic of conversation once again.
Finally as lunch was done, Weiss gave the excuse that the team was going to study in their room to gain some privacy.
"Good idea Weiss" - said Ruby yawning as she and her team finally reached their room.
"Don't think about it" - responded the heiress directly.
"At least we will be able to rest a few hours" - commented Jaune as he opened the room's door and let everyone inside before closing the door.
"I'll set the alarm clock" - said Pyrrha - "we don't want to miss professor Oobleck's first class after all"
The other members of Team RWAN all gave their agreement before all dropped into their beds.
Ruby found herself walking in a forest deep in the mist, she didn't know where she was, she just knew where she wasn't and yet she was calm, walking aimlessly through the forest.
It felt peaceful.
"Hello?!" - suddenly someone shouts from within the mist far away as she can barely hear it - "anyone here?!"
Ruby turns her head towards the direction she heard the voice.
Then the voices are heard again.
Ruby, not wanting to leave anyone lost in the mist, starts racing in the direction of the voice before stopping as she barely evades diving face first into a body of water that suddenly appears by accident, said body of water still covered by the mist but being the only thing that is now a forest.
"Hello, are you still there?!" - shouts Ruby trying to see if the source of the strange voice is still there.
Several long second pass before some kind of answer is given
"Ye … Yeah?!" - says the voice again - "Is anyone there?!"
"Yes! I'm going!" - responds Ruby immediately before looking at the giant body of water in front of her. It looks like a lake, but completely black, seemingly nothing to help crossing it until there was a … rock?
Then Ruby finally noticed like rocks creating something of a pass through the massive lake-like body of water the mist covering said pass slightly less than the rest of the body of water
Deciding to risk it, Ruby follows the path of floating rocks, jumping from one towards another, making sure not to land on the water by accident.
Finally after what seemed like hours Ruby arrived at the other coastline which seemed identical to the one she had come from. Before Ruby could question herself another figure approached through the mist. Ruby barely could notice it until it came into plain view.
"Pyrrha!" - Ruby shouted as she went and hugged the champion who hugged back.
" Ruby!" - said Pyrrha happily smiling at the smaller huntress in training before continuing - " it's good to see you, were you the one shouting?"
"Well, I did respond to another voice before coming here" - responded Ruby - "I take you wasn't the one that shouted?"
"No" - said Pyrrha while shaking her head - "I didn't respond at all, just followed the voices"
"Then it must've been someone else" - answered Ruby
Before either the reaper or the champion could continue their conversation the sound of an explosion reached them … coming from within the mist over the body of water.
"It seems whoever they are, they found trouble" - said Pyrrha in a completely serious voice looking in the direction where the sound came from Miló and Akoúo̱ suddenly appearing on her hand from thin air.
"Yeah, let's go!" - said Ruby rushing through the coastline, Crescent Rose in her hands, trying to find a way to reach the source of the explosion, Pyrrha right behind her. Soon another explosion, now seemingly slightly closer, was heard.
As they ran the duo finally found another line of floating rocks and immediately jumped on them, cutting through the mist at immense speed. Then they found the source of the explosions, it was Jaune and Weiss fighting against what seemed to be like a giant eel with a horde of water walking spiders surrounding them.
Not waiting a second both Ruby and Pyrrha join the fray, the combined might of the now full team being enough to destroy the spider and force the giant grimm to retreat but before the four could rest they noticed several more giant eel-like grimm circling under them before an absolutely massive maw started to appear from under the circling grimm. Before any of them could react they heard an alarm.
Team RWAN woke up thanks to the alarm put on by Pyrrha, their hearts still racing and their faces full of panic, Jaune and Weiss even touched their backs as if searching for an injury but at the end nothing. It was just the four of them in their room in Beacon, on their respective beds, their gear beside their beds.
They were safe, it has just been a dream. And yet, they couldn't help but feel nervous still, as if things were not done yet.
"Ah? …" - started Jaune sounding shaken - "is everyone ok? you all look like you had a bad dream"
"You could say that" - responded Ruby, her voice sounding nervous and tentative - "did you too?"
"Yeah" - responded Jaune nodding
"Same for me" - added Pyrrha, with Weiss confirming she had bad dreams too. At least they all felt far more rested.
Small mercies.
Beyond further discussion, Pyrrha looked at her scroll and warned the rest of the team about the fact professor oobleck's classes were going to begin soon. Deciding to put the strange episode behind them at least for now, they took their things and went out of the room in the direction of the classroom.
Unknown to everybody, both Weiss and Jaune each had an almost microscopic and transparent vine shaped mark in their backs.