Chapter 21: Firecracker
Save for the occasional loud explosion in the distance, the alley was was dead silent.
(Y/N): Uh...
The three figures approached Y/N, none of them saying a word. Though, Y/N could feel their glares coming from behind the masks.
(Y/N): *sweats* ...Please tell me you guys are just cosplayers or something...
There was a momentary pause before one of the masked individuals chuckled.
Masked Mercury: Is this guy for real?
Masked Emerald: This must be a joke.
(Y/N): Hey... it's a decent question... Q_Q
The third masked figure remained silent, it's gaze locked on Y/N.
Y/N slowly began to step backward, keeping his eyes on the three people that suddenly appeared.
(Y/N): Well... I'll just be... going... now...
The masked people didn't move, much to Y/N surprise.
(Y/N): Well.... Bye!- Wha!?
Right as Y/N turned around, he found himself facing a brick wall.
(Y/N): Wait... how long was there a brick wall here?
Y/N could have sworn that this alleyway went all the way to the next street, but instead it ended here.
Y/N turned back around to the three people blocking his only exit.
(Y/N): Would it be possible to let me go?
Two of the masked figures glanced at the one in the center. Y/N stared at the masked figure in the middle, who he assumed to be the leader of this small group, with concern.
Another moment passed before their leader motioned for the other two to go forward.
With a chuckle the other two began to approach Y/N.
(Y/N): *sweats* ...Mercy?...
Masked Mercury: Not a chance.
The two figures dashed at Y/N at incredible speed, suddenly appearing on either side of him. A fraction of a second later, Y/N felt like he just got hit by a metal bat in the stomach. The first figure kicked Y/N toward their accomplice, who kicked kicked him back.
The third figure, who ordered the other two forward watched in growing disgust as Y/N was being tossed around like a rag doll.
After being thrown back toward the entrance to the ally, Y/N tried to flee. Strangely the third masked figure did nothing as Y/N ran by.
(Y/N): Oh come on! What did I even do to you gu-!?
Y/N skid to a halt when he found himself looking at one of the figures that was just wailing on him.
Y/N looked back and forth, confused on how they were able to get around him without him noticing.
(Y/N): Wait, what?
In response to the question, the third figure grabbed Y/N from behind and threw him back into the alley. Seconds later, Y/N was slammed further into the ground by his two attackers. While the other laughed at Y/N's pathetic state, the other stood above him and looked down.
Masked Mercury: This is pathetic...
Immediately after, he axe kicked Y/N deeper into the ground, causing the pavement around him to crack and crumble.
Masked Emerald: It's like we're kicking a puppy.
Masked Mercury: The puppy would've put up more of a fight than this weakling.
Masked Emerald: True.
The two figures continued to kick and strike at Y/N, laughing and mocking him as they did so. That is, until the third one raised their hand, resulting in the other two to come to an immediate stop.
Y/N glanced up to find the third figure glaring down at him. They didn't say anything, but Y/N could see what looked like flames coming from their eyes. The figure lifted their hand and suddenly fire encompassed it.
Y/N looked on at the figure standing above him, and didn't say a word, before the figure slammed that very fist directly onto his abdomen, causing an explosion of fire in the center of the alley.
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After the fire subsided the only people to walk out of the alley were the three figures that attacked Y/N. Using the rooftops, they created as much distance between them and Y/N as they could.
Mercury: That had to have been a joke. Why do we even need someone like him?
Emerald: I agree, why is there any interest in that loser?
Cinder wondered the same. She had no idea why such a person had any importance to them.
Mercury: With the way he was described I thought he'd put up more of a fight.
Emerald: Maybe "she" made a mista- *gasp*
Emerald's question was cut off by a deathly glare from Cinder. A frigid chill went down Emerald's and Mercury's spines as they bit their lips for speaking.
Emerald: S-sorry ma'am...
Mercury: M-my apologies...
Cinder: We still have work to do at Beacon and not a lot of time to do so.
Emerald: Yes ma'am.
Mercury: Yes ma'am.
Cinder: We must be ready for when the time comes.
Cinder turned her attention forward once more.
Cinder: Why him? What's so special about that worm? He shows no excellence in combat nor in strategy... So, why? Why!?
Cinder grit her teeth as the question bounced around her mind.
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Back in the alley, a small charred crater was all that was left. Blackened bricks and cement, covered the entire area where Y/N was attacked.
A man, who was just passing by, noticed the destroyed alley.
Man: W-what happened here!?
The man entered the destroyed alleyway and noticed a body in the center.
Man: My god!
The man rushed toward the body. Getting a closer look, he found out it was just a student.
Man: It's just a young man! What kind of sick monster attacks a student!?
The man fumbled for his Scroll.
Man: I need to call the police!
As the man grabbed his phone, Y/N got up.
(Y/N): Ah!
Man: Ah!
(Y/N): Aaaah!!!
Man: Q_Q AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
(Y/N): Q_Q AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Apart from being completely covered in soot, Y/N was entirely fine.
Man: It's a zombie!
(Y/N): A zombie?! Where!?
Man: You!
(Y/N): Me!? How can I be a zombie!?
Man: I-I-I-I found your dead body in the center of this alley!
Y/N looked around and then back to himself. Though torn and burnt, Y/N's school uniform was still mostly intact.
(Y/N): Wow, this is some really durable clothes...
Man: Y-y-y-you were dead!
Y/N looked at the man.
(Y/N): Do I look dead to you!?
Man: N-no... But...
(Y/N): Besides, everyone knows that zombies yell "Brains!" when they walk around.
Man: R-right... Then... what happened here?
(Y/N): Was playing with firecrackers...
The man stared at Y/N in disbelief.
Man: Firecracker did this?
(Y/N): They were big firecrackers, what do you want me to say?
Man: I kinda want to know the truth...
Y/N sat up and put a hand on the man's shoulder.
(Y/N): Let's think about this. Do you really want to know what went down here?
The man thought for a moment.
Man: Uh... I guess not.
(Y/N): Yeah, neither do I, and I was part of it. -_-
Man: O-okay... Do you need any help?
Y/N got back to his feet and dusted himself off.
(Y/N): No, I'm okay.
Man: You sure? You look like you were in the center of an explosion...
(Y/N): Yeah, just a little soot and ash. I just need to head home and shower.
Man: W-well, okay then...
As the man began to walk away, Y/N stopped him.
(Y/N): Actually, could you give me directions to the transit depot? I got myself turned around here.
Man: Uh... yeah. It's that way.
The man pointed in the direction of the depot.
(Y/N): Thanks. Well, I hope I didn't scare you too much.
Man: It's fine... I guess...
The man, still a little surprised at what just happened, walked away, leaving Y/N in the alley.
After he was sure the man was gone Y/N glanced back at the scorched alleyway.
(Y/N): -_- Interesting...
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A Few Hours Later
Beacon Academy
Y/N made the long walk back to the academy, still covered in soot and ash.
(Y/N): -_- I should stop visiting the city...
As Y/N walked passed, the doors to the common room opened up.
Pyrrha: Y/N! What happened to you!?
(Y/N): Oh, hey Pyrrha.
As Pyrrha said that, the rest of team JNPR came out and had the same surprised reaction as Pyrrha.
Jaune: What happened Y/N?
Nora: Looks like you were flying too close to the Sun there pal.
(Y/N): I went out to the city...
Pyrrha: That doesn't explain why-
(Y/N): ...with team RWBY.
There was a moment of silence as Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren, realized what Y/N said.
JNPR: Oh.
(Y/N): -_- Yeah... "Oh."...
Pyrrha: Are you going to be alright?
(Y/N): Yeah I'll be fine, I just need to shower.
Nora: You know, Y/N, I'm starting to see a pattern here.
Y/N sighed.
(Y/N): Yeah... me too... Has team RWBY come back yet?
Ren: Yeah, they just got back a little while ago. Are you going to go and see them?
(Y/N): Hell no. I just wanna go back to my room, shower, fall asleep, and forget this day ever happened...
Ren: That sounds about right.
Jaune: Well, uh... goodnight then.
(Y/N): Yeah, good night... -_-
Y/N waved goodbye and walked back to his room. As he passed their room, Y/N could hear Ruby and the others discussing what they had discovered.
Curiously, Y/N stopped and glanced at the door, contemplating something, before shaking his head and heading back to his room.
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Team RWBY Dorm Room
Yang: So, yeah... I didn't find anything out on my end. My contact didn't know a single thing about what that "Torchwick guy" was doing in the city or why he needed so much Dust.
Ruby: Who did you go to?
Yang grinned.
Yang: Remember those guys in those fancy suits back at that Dust shop?
Ruby: Uhhhh....
Weiss: You mean the guys that were robbing "Midnight Dust"?
Yang: Yeah! So, I went to their hideout to ask some questions!
Ruby looked at her sister with concern.
Ruby: Is the place still standing?
Yang: Of course it is! Who do you take me for?
Weiss: We take you for you! I'm surprised you left the place without blowing something up.
Yang: Well it is still standing! And I still didn't find anything out...
Ruby: Where's Y/N? Wasn't he with you?
Yang: Oh yeah, I dropped him off before I came running to help you guys with that giant robot.
Weiss: You did what!?
Ruby, Blake, and Weiss, looked at Yang like she was an idiot.
Yang: ...What?
Ruby: You left Y/N. Zero combat experience, Y/N. In the run down section of the city?
Yang: He's fine! We trained him, remember? Do you guys honestly think that there's anyone in the city that could hurt him worse than us?
Weiss sighed.
Weiss: I'm starting to see where Y/N is coming from when he said he didn't like training...
Yang: Don't be like that. He's fine! Look, I'll call him!
Yang grabbed her Scroll and called Y/N.
After a couple rings, Y/N picked up.
Yang: Y/N! Great! Tell everyone you're okay!
Yang held the phone out and put it on speaker.
(Y/N): (on phone) I want a restraining order.
There was a sweat drop that appeared on Ruby, Weiss, and Blake's, head.
Yang: See! He's fine!
Yang hit the button to hang up and put her Scroll back into her pocket.
Yang: So, what did you and Ruby find out Weiss?
Weiss: Well, I found out that the White Fang have been doing more than just robbing Dust stores.
Blake looked worried.
Blake: They have?
Weiss: Yes, there have been multiple robberies of Dust trains and freighters for the past couple months. Clearly, the White Fang are serious about this.
Ruby: What could they possibly need with that much Dust?
Blake: I don't know... and that's what worries me.
Ruby: Hm.
Weiss: What did you find out, Blake?
Blake: Well, as you guys are aware they aren't just stealing Dust, but military hardware as well. They also appear to be operating somewhere in the Southeast.
Yang slammed her fists together.
Yang: So, it's the Southeast then! Let's go!
Yang jumped to her feet, ready to go out again.
GROWL
Yang froze when her stomach began to rumble, ruining the moment.
Ruby: Maybe... we should eat first.
Yang: And then we'll go!
Weiss: Wrong.
Yang: Wrong?
Weiss: I don't know about any of you, but I'm tired. We just fought a giant robot through the city streets!
Yang: That's true.
Weiss: Besides. The "Southeast"!? That's it!? While it is a direction, that's still a very vague direction to go on. We're going to need more information than what we currently have.
Everyone else wanted to interject, but they all knew Weiss was right. They were tired and needed to rest.
Yang: Fine. I'm going to go and get something to eat!
Weiss: And I am going to shower.
As Weiss and Yang left, Ruby jumped up to join her sister.
Ruby: Hey! What up fo-
Ruby stopped mid-sentence when she felt Blake pull her arm.
Blake: (whisper) Ruby, we should talk.
Ruby: What's wrong, Blake?
After making sure they were alone, Blake sat down next to Ruby.
Blake: It's about Y/N...
Ruby: What about him?
Blake: I think the White Fang is looking for him.
Ruby: What!?
Blake took a deep breath.
Blake: Back at the White Fang rally, me and Sun found documents that showed that the White Fang were conducting an investigation on him.
Ruby had a worried look on her face.
Ruby: How bad is it?
Blake: I don't know...
Ruby: What?
Blake: Based on what the White Fang had already collected...
Blake hesitated.
Ruby: What have they collected?
Blake: Based on what they collected, Y/N didn't even exist before you ran into him back in Trist.
Ruby: He... "didn't exist"? How is that possible? He's only a year older than me. Of course he existed before then.
Blake: That's what confuses me. The White Fang's spy network can gather information on anyone. Even the faintest of rumors can't escape the White Fang's ears, and yet... The files they had on Y/N were nearly all blank or incomplete.
Ruby: Do you think it has something to do with his scars?
Blake: Maybe... but at this point, only Y/N could answer these questions.
Ruby: So, what should we do then? Should we go and ask him?
Blake: I... I don't know...
Ruby but a hand on Blake's shoulder.
Ruby: At least now we know that the White Fang are after him. This way we can protect him.
Blake smiled faintly.
Blake: Yeah...
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Later That Night
Y/N's Room
After getting cleaned up and finishing his homework, Y/N fell onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
(Y/N): ...Very interesting...
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Author:
Sorry, it's a bit late. I'm expecting to receive a new computer this week, so I was a bit slow to write this chapter. I also had Thanksgiving with my family.
Also, you guys seeing the newest episodes of RWBY volume 6? Pretty cool am I right?
In fact, watching some of the episodes made me re-think where I was going to go with this story and reaffirmed what I was already going to do.
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