Northern Road toward Vale

The Following Day

Following the map Emilio gave him, Y/N had started his journey to the Kingdom of Vale. 

After making camp last night and eating some of the supplies that was packed for him, Y/N had actually managed to have a good night's rest out in the wilderness. 

(Y/N): *yawn* This isn't too bad, I guess... It could be worse... At least I haven't run into anymore of those monsters...

Surprisingly, the warning Emilio gave to Y/N about Grimm hadn't come to fruition. Even so, there were other dangers Emilio warned Y/N about.

As Y/N continued along the dirt road he came across a group of 10 people talking along the road itself. The group had various packs and looked like they were travelers themselves. As Y/N got closer, he managed to hear one member yelling at another.

???: How is it possible for you to have lost the map!?

???: I-I'm sorry boss...

???: If we didn't have so much stuff to carry I would shoot you right now!

A man with long dirty brown hair was getting the berating of his life from a tan woman with short hair and a tattoo down her left arm.

Tan Woman: I can't believe someone as incompetent as you managed to get in our tribe!

Man: I-I-I'm sorry!

The man was on his knees now.

Tan Woman: Raven won't be happy that we're running late.

The name the woman said had an effect on the other members of the group, especially the man who was begging.

Man: W-wait! Vernal! We can turn this around! All we have to do is find another, right!?

Vernal: And where are we going to get another map in the middle of nowhere!?

As Vernal exclaimed this to no one, Y/N, who was close enough to hear them, stepped on a twig.

*snap*

As the snap was heard, all 10 bandits looked in unison at the direction the sound came from.

(Y/N): ._.

Vernal looked at the man and then at Y/N.

Vernal: Well, hello—

Before Vernal could even greet him, Y/N had already begun to run in the other direction.

Vernal: Shit! Get him!

On her signal, the bandits that were following her instantly gave chase to Y/N.

(Y/N): Q_Q

Y/N had begun to run back the way he came with the group of bandits chasing him.

Bandit: Get back here!

Bandit #2: You can't outrun us all!

Bandit #3: Hahaha! This isn't your lucky day!

One bandit closed the distance and attempted to tackle Y/N from behind, Y/N came to a sudden stop and deftly jumped over the bandit causing him to tumble on to the ground.

Bandit: Augh!!

A second bandit used a type of chain to try and capture Y/N, in response, Y/N ducked under it and then kept running, stepping over the bandit on the ground.

Bandit: Ow! Hey!

(Y/N): Sorry!

Instantly, the other nine bandits ran over their fallen ally.

Bandit: Gah! OW! Argh! Damni-!

As Y/N was looking back, two bandits came close enough to Y/N to try and hit him. Both bandits clenched their fists and began to swing at Y/N.

(Y/N): Eep!

Using the momentum on one bandit Y/N slipped to the side and guided the bandit's fist to hit the other.

Bandit #2: Gah! You little-

The second bandit tried to kick Y/N, but ended up kicking the other bandit as Y/N pushed him into the kick.

Bandit #3: Ow! Watch it!

Bandit #2: You watch it!

Taking this opportunity, Y/N shoved one bandit into the other causing them both to fall onto the ground. Seeing the rest of the bandits still giving chase, Y/N returned to running.

(Y/N): Oh crap! Oh crap! Oh crap!

Before Y/N could get too far away, Vernal jumped in the path in from of him, blocking his way. Y/N skid to a halt as the rest of the bandits surrounded him.

Vernal: Alright, kid. You gave a good chase, but this is over.

Vernal unholstered her weapon and aimed it at Y/N. Seeing the dagger-gun-hybrid in her hands Y/N instantly put his hands up.

(Y/N): Holy shit, that thing looks like it shoots swords!

(Y/N): I surrender!

Vernal was a little surprised by the sudden surrender, but decided to take it anyway.

Vernal: Hmph. Grab his bag.

On command, one bandit pulled Y/N's back pack off him.

Vernal: Find the map.

Bandit: Yes, ma'am!

The bandit opened the bag and began to dump out the contents onto the ground. The bag was filled with mostly supplies and a book titled "Survival Guide", but eventually, the map Emilio gave Y/N fell out.

Bandit: Got it.

Vernal: Good. Now, what am I going to do with you?

Vernal trained her weapon at Y/N's head, giving him a mocking smile as she contemplated how she should finish this.

(Y/N): Uh... Let me go?

A couple of the bandits began to laugh under their breaths.

Vernal: *chuckle* I don't think so...

Vernal began to walk around Y/N, her gun still aimed at his head.

Vernal: This just isn't your day is it?

(Y/N): *sigh* I guess not...

Vernal readied her weapon to fire but then a thought came to her head, and a smile came to her face.

Vernal: Actually, I have an idea.

Vernal looked at the man with the long dirty brown hair she was yelling at earlier.

Vernal: Get over here.

The man was shoved into the center of the circle and stood next to Y/N.

Vernal: Seeing as how this is whole thing is your fault I'm going to give you an opportunity to fix it.

Man: W-what?

Vernal looked at both Y/N and the man, and smirked.

Vernal: You two are going to fight until one is left standing.

Man: What!?

(Y/N): Q_Q

Vernal looked at Y/N.

Vernal: If you win, I'll let you go.

Vernal then turned to the man.

Vernal: You lose?

Vernal cocked her weapon.

Vernal: Well, we'll have one less idiot in the tribe.

The man swallowed hard, and looked at Y/N. Y/N looked him in the eyes.

(Y/N): .... damn...

Vernal smiled, and took a few steps back.

Vernal: Well? Fight!

With the rest of the bandits cheering the fight between Y/N and the man started.

Man: Nothing personal, kid.

The man took a swing at Y/N, and the fist landed directly on his face.

(Y/N): Ow. *sigh* -_-

The man threw Y/N to the ground and began to kick him. The bandits cheered with every kick that was delivered into Y/N, who grunted and groaned as each one connected.

After a dizzying amount of kicks Y/N stopped moving and remained still on the ground. Seeing this, the man looked at Vernal for a look of approval.

Vernal: Hm... I guess you aren't completely useless.

Man: Heh, It wasn't hard.

Vernal looked at the beaten body of Y/N.

Vernal: You beat up an unarmed kid, this doesn't mean you're a good fighter, it just means I don't kill you. Grab the map and let's go.

The bandits nodded and grabbed the map and supplies, one bandit grabbed the book that was in the bag. As they left, a few of the bandits kicked Y/N's still body.

As the group disappeared into the tree line, Vernal glanced back in the direction they left their latest victim.

_____

_____

After a little while passed, Y/N got up onto his feet and dusted himself off. Y/N sighed and looked at his now empty bag.

(Y/N): -_-

Y/N grabbed his bag and began his journey again.

(Y/N): *sigh* They could have at least left the book...

As Y/N thought about the book his stomach made a familiar growl.

(Y/N): Great...

Y/N foraged around the area and came across a bush of bright yellow berries.

(Y/N): .......What are the chances that these ones are bad too?.....

_____

_____

A Few Miles East

The bandits, now with a map, were finally able to begin their journey to their camp. One bandit in particular was reading a certain book.

Bandit #1: Hey, what are you reading?

The other bandit had his head in the "Survival Guide" book that they lifted from the kid they robbed not a few hours ago.

Bandit: #2: A "Survival Guide".

Bandit #1: Wait, is that the book that kid had?

Bandit #2: Huh? Yeah.

Bandit #1: ...Why?

Bandit #2: Why not?

The first bandit stared blankly at his comrade.

Bandit: #2: .....what?

Bandit #1: *sigh*

Bandit #2: There's no reason for me not to read this book, look here. Here's something I didn't know before.

The bandit opened the book to a picture of bright yellow berries.

Bandit: #1: ....So what?

Bandit #2: "The Yellow Jacket Berry: This berry, while not deadly, it is recommended that it not be ingested. This particular berry causes intense hallucinations and may reduce motor functions of any creature that eats it. The effect lasts for approximately 6 hours and the intensity of the hallucinations increase slowly as time progresses." Pretty interesting, right?

Bandit #1: ....Why are you in our tribe?

_____

_____

(Y/N): Uuuuugggggggghhhhhh...... I can taste the color noon.....

To Y/N, the world was upside-down and spinning. Sweating heavily, Y/N had a difficult time walking in a straight line... or just walking. Bumping into trees and rocks, Y/N stumbled around the forest trying desperately to stay on the path.

(Y/N): IIIIIII'm.......such......a......dumbass......What the fuck......are berries my kryptonite or........something?......

As Y/N stumbled about, a small shadow passed over head. Looking down, Y/N only saw shadow of a bird flying overhead.

(Y/N): Oh.....a bird...... this....place has birds.......

A few moments later the same shadow passed overhead again, this time slightly larger.

(Y/N): I guess........it.....sees prey......

This time the shadow approached Y/N and then stopped directly on him. The figure of the bird slowly grow larger and larger.

(Y/N): What's......this......bird?

Still in a mental high from the berries, Y/N looked at the shadow and slowly turned around to see an enormous jet black bird with a white face with familiar looking glowing red eyes.

(Y/N): Pffft.... that can't be rea-

With a loud *CAW*, the monstrous bird swiftly swooped Y/N up into the sky,

(Y/N): HOLY CRAP! IT'S REAL! IT'S REAL!

With adrenaline now pumping into him, Y/N regained some sense to his mind. Quickly thinking Y/N grabbed a single talon and bent it backward. The bird shook and then let Y/N go free falling down to the ground.

(Y/N): Not Agaaaaaain!

With a loud boom, Y/N slammed into the ground, shaking the forest around him. Standing back up, Y/N watched as the bird swung around in the sky and began to make another attack on him.

(Y/N): You messed with the wrong guy, bird.

With another resounding *CAW* the bird began it's rapid descent toward Y/N, this time head first for a bite. Y/N clenched his right hand into a fist and reeled it back.

BOOM

As the enormous bird finally closed the distance, Y/N's fist, at an incredible speed, slammed directly into the birds white skull head. The skull buckled and collapsed as Y/N fist punched clean through its head. As though watching a fast moving object slam into an immovable object, the large bird's body bent and cracked in ways it was not designed to. The eyes popped out of their sockets as the hardened skull collapsed inward.

With a quiet sonic boom the bird's now life less corpse was sent tumbling in the opposite direction of where it was going. The enormous carcass tumbled and slammed into trees and rocks and finally came to a halt fifty yards from where Y/N hit it. The body occasionally twitched but ultimately did not move.

(Y/N): Sufferin succotash..... Yeah, that what you-

As Y/N celebrated his easy victory the psychedelic effects of the berries came rushing back, this time more intense than before.

(Y/N): Ugggghhhh..... Oh man.

Y/N put hands on his knees as he tried to steady himself from the sudden rush of hallucinations. Colors started to shift and warp, causing Y/N to become nauseous. 

In his haze, Y/N looked up and saw something strange.

(Y/N): What the-?..... What is that?......

Hovering ominously between the monster's corpse and himself was a strange creature.

(Y/N): It looks like....

Y/N squinted as he tried to clear up his vision.

(Y/N): Like a floating jellyfish. Or a snow globe with tentacles...

Y/N rubbed his eyes to test if what he was seeing was really there. When he opened them, the strange creature was gone.

(Y/N): .....Huh, I guess it wasn't real after all....

Y/N dusted himself off and slowly walked back toward the path and on with his journey.

(Y/N): I need to.......stop.....eating weird berries in different dimensions......