Team ALLY

Chapter 4: Rocky Beginnings

I wake up the next morning and we decide to unpack. I only take a few seconds so I decide to kick back and read. Leo taps my shoulder and I look up. "When are we do into our first class?"

"9:00" his eyes go wide. "Dude it's 15 till!" I jump up from my spot and pull my scythe to myself and attach it to the harness. It folds out into the wings and he opens the window. Leo uses his semblance to blast away and I jump out and activate the jets. I manage to make it inside and go to fold up the wings but fail the landing. I go tumbling down the hall and smack into a far wall. The others come running down the hall. Lilac runs over to help me up while the others run into the room. We end up being 1 minute late. I sit down with my team and I feel someone's eyes digging into my skull. I peek over and Yema is glaring at me. "Some leader."

"What?"

"You made us late! You should have kept a closer eye on the clock. We wouldn't be late."

"Honest mistake, could have been worse. Could have been better, but that's just life."

"Not a mistake, a foolish error by an immature moron. Honestly you're not ready to be a leader. You're a disgrace."

"Yema, cool it!" Leo says sternly.

"You walk around talking about the honor behind your name but no one's even heard of the Paladins since the king died. That name was the only reason you got to be a leader."

"You think you can do better? A leader builds up their team. A leader doesn't tear them down."

"Please, I have more natural skill and ability then you will ever have, Plus more training, farmboy."

"Yema, that's enough." Leo growls. Ms. Goodwitch finishes discussing sparring rules and asks for volunteers. I rocket to my feet. "I challenge Yema Wasby!" we go to the lockers and change into our combat gear. We walk back out and I sit cross legged on the stage. I manage to calm my mind and I stand back up just in time for Ms. Goodwitch to say go. She draws her sword and charges. I open my eyes, which had turn bright yellow.

-~{(0})~-

I swing my sword but he disappears in a black smoke. I turn around to see a dozen Aries floating to the ground. "What?"

"Oh you didn't know? My abilities aren't limited to barriers and telekinesis. I'm able to manipulate your brainwaves and make you see what I want you to see. A true master of illusions.

-~{(0})~-

She starts forming black barbs and fires them in all directions. I manage to dip and dodge each one but one nails my wing Suddenly she's able to track my every move. "You can stop hiding behind your illusions.That barb is linked to my aura which allows me to track it. " She continues to fire off barbs and I lift the illusions and form a shield out of barriers. I fly up and divebomb. The guns pop out of my wings and I do a quick strafe run. I go back up and suddenly feel a weight on my back. I feel a hand grab the mount and then I'm flipped and heading to the ground. I manage to pull up enough that I slide across the ground instead of crashing into it. She jumps off and I manage to get to my feet. I see her charging again and manage to remove my scythe from my back and fold it back into a scythe. I blocked her strike and her blade slides down the handle next to the root of the blade. I spin the handle with enough force that it disarms her and throw it into a wall. I She runs for the sword and I go to put her into another illusion when I see another memory flash. I quickly shake it out of my head and attempt to put her into an illusion. She pulls the sword out of the wall and I start barreling down on her. She turns around and is shocked to see me so close and something about her face triggers another flash. My mother looking in fear back at us. She ends up dodging and I smack into a wall. I fold the scythe into the Ar and take aim. Before I can let off a shot she's pinned my jacket to the wall with a couple barbs. She rips the weapon from my hand and tosses it aside and puts the point of the sword to my chest. "I win." I bow my head and she removes the barbs. I pull my weapon to me and walk away. After class Leo catches up to me. "Hey man what happened? You blanked out."

"It's nothing. Lapse in concentration. Takes a lot of focus to use my semblance."

"Doesn't take much to avoid running into a wall."

"Leo I'm fine." I put my hood up and walk away.

I walk out to the fountain and just look into the water. These memory flashes are becoming more frequent. I hear soft footsteps behind me and I turn around. "You're missing lunch. So I brought you an orange." I take it and use barriers to cut the peel and remove it with telekinesis. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"You don't sound okay. Is this about Yema?"

"No, It's...personal."

"Hey we're a team now. You can trust me."

"No offense, but this is something I don't even talk about with Leo."

"Does it have to do with why you were screaming the other day?"

"Yeah. Look, don't concern yourself with me. The world has more problems than some random guy."

"You may be some random guy. But to Leo, you're his brother. And you're my partner. You can trust us with anything." I finish the orange and put the peels in my pocket. "Thanks for the orange." I start walking away but I turn around and face her. "When I'm ready to talk about it, you'll be one of the first people I tell. I promise." She gives a small smile and I walk off.

I'm walking back to the room when I catch Yema in the hall in front of the dorm. "Hey Aries."

"Hey Yema, would you mind if I went into the room? I'd like to rest a minute before our next class."

"Look, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I was irritated about being late and I took it out on you."

"I'm used to it. I got the whole "Immature" line all the way to beacon. People see me and I'm younger than most students. I can only imagine what that Ruby Rose is going through. She's younger than me."

"Yet you've both seen so much." I drop the joking attitude. "When, when you tried to create an illusion, I saw something. We were in a field. There was a man in a coat like yours and a woman lying dead at the feet of someone with a scorpion tail. That's why you lapsed, isn't it?"

"His name was Tyrian. My parents took him in. He lived in a village near the edge of the property. He was a troubled orphan than nobody wanted to take in. My parents treated him like family."

"What happened?"

"That's all I remember. And all I care to talk about." I brush past her into the room. I toss the peels into the can by my desk and plop down on my bed.