Ch. 26 Forever Fall Forest

Alabast woke up and felt weird. He opened his eyes and saw his girls sleeping on him. He doesn't remember exactly how or when he fell asleep but in the end it doesn't matter. They had a fun night from what he could remember before his random spontaneous slumber.

He looks over to the chairs and sees Ren sleeping against the back of the chair and Nora laying across the arm rests. Like her head was hanging down to view the world upside-down. She looked like a pet that was bored of sleeping normally and found the comfiest-weirdest way to fall asleep.

He thought about what they would do today when he had a realization. They had a field trip on Wednesday. And they also had homework to do. Lots and lots of homework.

——————

Everyone eventually wakes up. They all decide to do their homework together to get it out of the way. If they do it all day with breaks throughout the day, they won't have to do any homework for a little over a week. Or that was their plan at least.

They get ready for the day ahead of them. Pyrrha and Weiss help Alabast and Ruby with their school work. But the others are relatively fine.

"Saph, why are you getting better grades than me and you aren't even getting help?" Alabast asks Yang who was flying through sheets of homework.

"Are you trying to say I'm a dumb blonde?" She puts her pencil down and turns to Alabast.

"That isn't what I'm saying. I'm saying I'm getting help from Pyrrha and Weiss and I'm still doing worse than you. Thus my question" Alabast knew Yang was smart, she just gets hurt a lot from jumping. Jumping to conclusions.

"Oh. In that case it's because Ruby's and my dad taught at Signal Academy, the Academy that we attended before Beacon" She seems pretty proud of her dad whenever she talks about him. "And our uncle taught there as well!" She proudly states just like she talked about her dad.

"Yeah! Our Uncle is one of the coolest huntsman!" Ruby chimes in.

"Wait, then why are you-" Alabast stops asking Ruby why she is struggling so much if she had two tutors teaching her. But then he remembers that she skipped two grades.

"Did you just reme-" Ruby looks at Alabast

"I am getting back to my work. Please leave your message at the beep" He proceeds to start writing down answers that he thinks are right. Port just checks for answers not for accuracy.

A minute later. "Where's the 'beep'?" Ruby asks, looking at Alabast's serious face. Technically it was his neutral face. The difference was his eyebrows and eyes.

"Ruby, that was Alabast's way of ending the conversation. There isn't going to be a beep" Weiss facepalms.

"Ooooohh~. That makes sense" And she gets back to her homework after nodding to herself. She would remember this for her to use in the future.

And so they work their brains to the bone. Even though the brain is inside the skull so that phrase doesn't apply, that's just a testament to how much they worked their brains.

Team ANVL goes back to their dorm and sleeps in their respective pairs after a rather long day. Team RWBY enjoys their upgraded bunk beds. They slept much better without having to worry about their bed falling apart. Even though they were solid before. Totally solid. Not like the bed used to double as a swing of sorts. Or the groans from the books and wooden bed frames stacked on top of each other.

——————

In class on Tuesday they are being taught about the history of Grimm. Why they needed to know that people of the past used to think Grimm were tortured animal spirits? Alabast has no clue.

They don't even talk about anything relevant to the current time period about Grimm, well there was one thing. The one thing that Professor Port said of importance was 'Grimm can live for an unknown amount of time. Some Grimm have been found that have survived for hundreds of years, and the older they are the stronger they are'.

But Alabast already knew that. So yay. He was able to waste a day and gets to go on a field trip the next.

Well, technically it wasn't a complete waste of a day. He had practiced his light powers throughout the class. He was working on bending the light. Not much progress was made but every little bit adds up. If he can figure out how to bend light that means he can make more complicated light constructs. And he might be able to go invisible in the future. He ignores the fact that it would probably drain his aura heavily, but focuses on eventually being able to do it indefinitely. Not increasing his aura reserves but his aura efficiency.

Anyway. He doesn't know if he has 1 or 2 semblances. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter does it. It's not like it will change anything.

He's been thinking of a new name for his semblance. He was thinking Yami-Hikari. Or Yakari for short. Yami meaning darkness and Hikari meaning light. At least Yakari isn't as much as a mouthful.

——————

After class they went and trained. And after training they finished some reading they were assigned. So much for no homework. The professor who assigned it was pleased with their nasty 'prank'.

They stayed outside and enjoyed the fresh air and cool breeze.

Alabast decided that he was getting too comfortable and too relaxed. He hadn't had a safe place and people who cared for him in 11 years so he ended up indulging himself too much, he even let Ayaka affect him and it doesn't help that Cardin was still trying things. It seems he really will need to beat them with a belt. Ayaka might actually like that though, so a different punishment would have to be given. Alabast wonders if Ayaka would even care about the type of punishment. She might enjoy anything that can be considered as such.

———The next day———

Alabast and Pyrrha woke up early. They went to watch the sunrise on the rooftop and watched it for barely a minute.

Pyrrha had held back long enough and kissed Alabast passionately. And Alabast wasn't gonna protest. She was mostly reserved, but sometimes she can't hold back. Only when it comes to Alabast that is.

Alabast sat on the edge of the rooftop with Pyrrha sitting on his lap facing him.

They weren't in a rush while they were making out. They were just slowly kissing each other. It was different from the last time. They weren't over taken by their emotions go the other, only enjoying the moment.

And nobody was there to disturb them.

It wasn't Alabast Noir the Black Wolf turned leader of team ANVL. And it wasn't Pyrrha Nikos the Invincible Girl a member team ANVL.

It was just a Faunus and a Human that loved each other. They had a half hour before they had to be back in the room. So they savored their time of the early morning.

After 10 minutes of kissing they decided to talk to each other.

Pyrrha turned around and sat between his legs with her own legs dangling off the roof with Alabast's next to hers.

They talked for twenty minutes. It was mostly Pyrrha talking about her life training and being told that she has to work harder because she was a girl. She went more in-depth about her past than she did when they were on the cliffside.

Alabast listened intently. Pyrrha knew that Alabast didn't want to talk about his past and she didn't mind. There could have been plenty of reasons why. She knew that there were far more emotional scars than the physical ones.

Pyrrha wanted Alabast to know more about her. Just like how she wanted to know more about him.

. Alabast would ask questions if she didn't explain parts well enough. And he would share brief experiences he had if they were similar. It was pleasant.

The time came for them to return and they walked back. When they got there the others were outside the dorm rooms. They were in their combat uniforms, and so were Alabast and Pyrrha. It was a bit chilly for Pyrrha on the roof so that's why she had Alabast be her personal heat source.

"Hey guys! Ready for the field trip?!" Ruby shouted and waved to them down the hall.

"Yes, and it seems like you already are as well" Pyrrha responded.

"Yep! Combat stuff all set in our lockers and ready to go!" Ruby strikes a weird pose.

"She's had more energy than usual this morning" Weiss groans. Alabast wonders if she used the whistle again.

He saw Blake's bow was lower than usual so probably.

Yang was smiling and had her arms crossed. "So where have you 2 been? Found a secret spot?"

"Something like that. Now let's get going. I don't want to be lectured about punctuality by Goodwitch again" Alabast was forced to listen to her lecturing him for 30 minutes when he was 5 minutes late one day. And that made him 20 minutes late to train with everyone else that day ironically. Goodwitch might have also lectured him on various other things as well.

They all went to the bullheads and got in. They left to the specified place. They weren't told what the objective is beforehand, but if they had their weapons it was kind of obvious what it would entail.

———One Bullhead Ride Later———

The bullhead landed just outside a mountainous area that has many cliffs and is covered by a forest of red-leafed trees, allowing the whole area to appear as a dust-red color, even with the grass. The grass is also the same dust-red color.

They exit the bullhead and admire the scenery of the surroundings. Alabast had done a mission in this forest a while back. He had to monitor the railway tracks that cut through the forest and cliffs.

It was not a fun time. But at least it was a solo mission so he didn't complain about the silence, aside from the Grimm he could constantly hear with his heightened hearing. The Grimm did not have a fond time when they got near him. They kinda liked his…. how to say…. negative emotions. Grimm just had a thing for being attracted to such emotions.

He had just received some bad news prior to his departure for the mission, courtesy of Adam. Alabast is taken out of his thoughts when...

"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so." Glynda is leading the students into the forest.

"We have a professor named 'Peach'? Since when?" Alabast asks the group quietly.

Weiss looks at him like he's stupid and tilts her head slightly to the side as she looks at him. "We've gone to professor Peach's class once a week Alabast"

Alabast thinks about it but it doesn't ring a bell. "We have?"

"I've seen you do the homework for the class!" Nora shoutswoth her usual excited tone of voice. The group gets some weird looks for a few seconds. But they are generally used to that by now, though that doesn't mean they like it.

"You don't have to make a scene. And I would remember a professors name if it was Peach. What homework was it?" Alabast looks at the people around them, more accurately the forest beyond the people.

"Professor Peach teaches herbology. I've helped you study for the test we took last week" Pyrrha puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe…..What does she look like?" Alabast puts his hands on his hips and scans the surroundings.

"She? Professor Peach is a he. And 'he's' a small plump guy with peach colored hair. You feeling ok Alabast?" Ruby walks in front of Alabast while she walks backwards to face him.

Alabast grabs Ruby before she trips over a root and sets her down facing forward. "Watch where you're walking Little Red" He throws her hood over the top of her head. "I would probably remember a small round man with peach hair if I saw him. Guess I'll pay attention in classes…..well, more so from now on" He shrugs his shoulders after the group gives him a weird look.

Alabast doesn't remember this 'Professor Peach'. But he does vaguely remember a herbology class. But now that he thinks about it, he only really remembers three teachers and Ozpin. Weird.

Blake, Ren and Yang look at eachother and shrug their shoulders.

Before the conversation can continue the group comes to a stop. Glynda turns around and holds up an empty jar with a lid on. "Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4 o'clock. Have fun!"

The teams scatter in every random direction.

"Why don't we do a joint-team-operation! Team RWBY and team ANVL join forces together!" Ruby exclaims in front of the group.

"Oooh! Yeah! Is it a super important mission!?"Nora asks as she jumps forward with a raised hand.

"Super duper important! The mission is to collect 8 full jars of red sap!" Ruby holds up 8 fingers out towards Nora.

"And not die or get injured in the process" Alabast says with not even a fraction of their energy. He walks next to Ruby and stands beside her. "Team ANVL, we will be working with team RWBY on this one. Let's cooperate" He crosses his arms across his chest and stands tall.

Alabast doesn't know exactly how to lead so it's just mimicking how he received orders more or less.

"That's the spirit fellow leader!" Ruby gives a thumbs up and a bright smile to him.

He returns a small smile to Ruby. He hands out one jar to each person. And they walk into the forest, with Ruby and Alabast leading the way.

Alabast saw Cardin stomp off into the woods with his team. Each of them holding a box and extra jars on top of the boxes. They didn't look too happy about something.

He also saw Ayaka as she waved at him but he ignored her. She left with her team and nothing happened after that.

After walking for a few minutes they stopped. Plenty of trees that look full and ready to tap and no other teams nearby.

Ruby and Alabast turn around to face the others. "Alright team…..'s! Let's collect that sap!" Ruby disappears in a storm of petals to the nearest tree.

Yang and Nora cheer the loudest. Pyrrha, Weiss and Blake cheer normally, Weiss a little less. And Ren doesn't at all.

They each go and collect some sap from different trees. Except for Ren and Nora, Nora isn't exactly good at delicate matters. She prefers the giant hammer hitting multiple nails at once approach, which isn't suited for this mission.

Everyone taps their tree and allows the sap to flow into their jar. But it flows differently for each person. It's because these trees are unique, specifically the sap inside the trees. You have to tap them properly or else you would take an hour to get a full jar if even.

Ren had the best time out of everyone. He fills his quickly and hands it to Nora who hands him her empty jar. Ren turns back to the tree and is about to tap it again but hears slurping sounds behind him. He turns back to Nora who is once again holding an empty jar, but this time it's sparkly clean. She rubs the back of her head and giggles innocently as she has red sap around her mouth. Ren just sighs and fills the jar in his hands.

Alabast is working on his own jar but is focusing on the surroundings. This sap is special because of its properties. And the Grimm are attracted to it for those very properties. Why the Grimm don't just break the trees to get the sap? Alabast doesn't know and doesn't bother to ask. Nobody else asks either.

He's surveying the surroundings and doesn't notice anything unusual. So he turns and sees everyone talking with their original partner from initiation. Except for Pyrrha who seems a little down, Alabast wonders why for about 1 second.

Alabast stops draining the sap and walks towards the others, specifically Pyrrha. It seems he walked farther away from the others than he originally thought.

As he gets near them he hears some grunts and then sees jars full of the red sap flying through the air at his friends.

He immediately uses his semblance and creates 7 tendrils from his hand. They whip out and grab the jars mid air just as they were about to hit their marks, his 7 companions.

Everyone turns towards the whooshing sound and sees Alabast standing there with his left hand outstretched. 7 tendrils of darkness extending from his palm. They see that 1 tendril is next to each of their bodies and holding a jar of sap.

Alabast retracts the tendrils and once they are 2 feet long he lets them dangle towards the ground. There is a 'klink' sound as the jars knocked into eachother. Alabast looks towards the direction they came flying at and sees team Cardinal. The others also look to where the jars came from and saw the idiots who threw them. They also realize that Alabast just saved them from getting hit by the jars.

But before they can thank him they see a bunch of wasps heading towards them from where team CRDL was. And they weren't regular wasps either, they were Rapier Wasps.

Much more aggressive and has a longer stinger than a regular wasps. They are also silver with a light blue instead of the yellow and black of regular wasps. They are attracted to sweet things, and it just so happens everybody has some red sap on their fingers, or around their mouths. Nora may have the most but others also tried tasting it.

As the swarm of Rapier Wasps drew closer Alabast half out his right hand towards them. From his palm a ball of darkness floats out.

It started as big as a ping pong ball. But the further from Alabast it got, the bigger it got. The Rapier wasps either couldn't or didn't avoid it. They flew into the ball as it continued to get bigger. At onto point it became mor oval shape to cover more area.

The Rapier wasps all went in, but none came out. The mass of Darkness stayed in the air for a couple seconds after no buzzing could be heard. Then Alabast closes his fist, the mass reacted by starting to rapidly shrink.

As it got smaller and smaller a crunching sound can be hear coming from within.

Alabast then opens his hand and lets it fall to his side. The darkness begins fading away to reveal a single mass of wasp crushed together. With the little remaining darkness around and inside the mass he forces it deeper into the into the red forest.

Alabast flares up at the team CRDL that we're watching with shocked faces. They had a large amount of insects and they got taken down in an instant.

Team Cardinal were frozen in place as they saw the wasps get tossed to the side to reveal Alabasts figure in the red forest between the trees. He was standing there with his hands at his side. Jars hanging from his left hand and they couldn't see his face. But they knew that it was not an expression they wanted to be on the receiving side.

Ruby and the others watched as Alabast took care of the Rapier Wasps and then stood in place. He wasn't moving after taking care of the wasps.

"Ashy?" Ruby stepped towards Alabast. He didn't move or respond to her. His tail is low and isn't moving at all. And his wolf ears are to the sides.

Alabast takes deep breaths.

"Thank you Alabast. Are you ok?" Pyrrha also begins walking towards him.

The others don't really know what to do. They don't want to crowd him but don't want to not help him. They group together, except for Pyrrha and Ruby who are slowly approaching Alabast.

Nobody knew what Alabast was doing or going to do. They just knew that he was not in a good mood.

"Alabast?" Ruby pulls on his left sleeve. Pyrrha stands beside her. They can't see his face through his hair.

Alabast turns his head to look at the duo. "I'm alright. You don't need to worry" and says. His expression is neutral. He turns back towards the hill with team Cardinal hasn't moved yet. He grabs Ruby's hand with his right hand and takes it off his sleeve and gives it a light squeeze before letting it go.

"Daddy's just gotta go take care of something really quick" His black Aura rolls off of him as he walks up the hill.