Team ALLY

Chapter 13: A Clash of Minds

We're sitting in sparring class and I'm called down to chose a partner. I go to choose Weiss so I can practice against someone who's more versatile when the girl with green hair stands up. "I challenge Aries." Goodwitch turns to me for confirmation and I just shrug. I wasn't expecting to train against her but I guess It'll be good to train against the unexpected. She comes down and Goodwitch starts the fight and She just stands there waiting. The scythe folds out into a pair of wings and I rocket skyward. I go to circle for a strafe run when she draws her weapons. They fold out into a pair of sickles and she launches one at my wing. I manage to maneuver out of the way but her second one wraps around my other wing. She jerks it and as soon as the chain tightens I lose control. The automated control doing its best to keep me airborne. I catch a glimpse of Lilac and she's making a folding gesture with her arms. I fold the blades in and it severs the chain. The jets manage to straighten me out and the wings fold back out. "Nice touch." I bank around and decide to try some new functionality. I remember Lilac telling me something about a flying crescent. The wings reverse and lock into twin scythe heads and the jets hit double power. "Holy mother of aah!" She manages to jump out of the way and steps on the back of my scythe sending me crashing into the ground. My wings retract and I do my best to roll out of it. "Well, That's gonna take some practice." She draws her remaining pistol and opens fire. The scythe opens into the AR and I fire back.

I try to create an illusion so I can maneuver around. My eyes shift but I instantly hit a wall. She's blocking me out somehow. I try and push through but she pushes me out completely. The mental blowback knocks me back. I charge forward and use a barrier to block her shots and get in close. I form twin swords and manage a few good blows. I try for another illusion while her guard is down and, again, she blocks me out. But this time I feel an odd energy wash over me. I see my mother and dad on the field. My swords fade away and I holster my scythe. Something deep in my mind is screaming that it isn't real but something inside me won't let me believe it wasn't real. I stumble forward and hold my arms out. I hear a pair of gunshots and see them fall to the ground. I look up and see her holding her gun up with a crooked grin. The anger wells up from deep within me. Something inside still calling out to me to wake up. The psychic energy surges from me and swirls all around me. I form a swirling vortex around her and forge a large sword and go to rush her when I feel that I can't move. I look down and see one of Weiss' glyphs. I go to stab the glyph when I'm surrounded by ice.

-~{(0)}~-

Weiss freezes Aries and Emerald drops to the ground. Glynda steps to the middle of the room. "We're going to go ahead and call it a day on sparring. Professor Peach will guide you to the library for a study hall." We follow the professor out into the hall. "Hey Lilac." Ruby says with a low tone.

"Hey Ruby."

"Sorry Weiss froze your boyfriend."

"It's fine." She looks at me questioningly. "Is something wrong?"

"No it's just. He's didn't seem himself."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah I'll be fine."

-~{(0)}~-

Me and Mercury follow the crowd until we find a place to wander off. We rendezvous with Cinder and discuss what I uncovered. "Well, what did you find?"

"He's strong, really strong, like Emerald here probably..." I punch Mercury in the arm to get him to shut up. "He's strong, and as far as his psychic capabilities he's only been growing."

"That matches the reports from the assault on the truck. Did you find any sort of nick in his armor?" Cinder asks.

"His mind. It's hard to get in but if he opens the gate to me I can make him believe whatever I want. It only takes a small trigger to whip him into a frenzy. Then he loses complete control."