Death of Innocence Part 1 [closed]

Friday, Week 13

It was a crisp and cool late autumn afternoon when Myung Wen Tai arrived at Beacon Academy. Classes hadn't quite let out for the weekend yet, although a few students were milling around the campus. Either they had been released early, or they had released themselves. Grades be damned.

A few stuck to their own bussiness or conversations, but most could not tear their eyes from her. This wasn't surprising. With her punk inspired style and spiked hair, Myung was quite a sight, even without her arms and armor. Although she highly doubted any of them even noticed the Huntress far too old to be a student. No, like all the other Valish she had passed since arriving in the kingdom, all they could see was the 350lb tiger she rode.

The tiger was Myung's friend and partner, and one of two members of her family still alive, whom she had found as a newborn cub six years ago. Once the young tigress had been known as Yamapikaria, now she only answered to Pika-Meow-Meow, or simply Pika.

The academy's main gate, previously held partially open to allow the passage of students and visitors, slammed shut as she approached. "Well, that's new." Myung commented to Pika as a man roughly the same age as her own 29 years stepped forward.

"Can I help you ma'am?" The guard asked as he draped a large ax over his shoulder. His words and tone were easy going enough, but the way he stood and held his weapon announced his skill as if he was wearing a flashing neon sign. Skilled but, perhaps, not too bright. He would need to wait for the gate to reopen before he could engage the pair. Armed with Zidan, Myung wouldn't.

"Yeah, you can help me by opening the gate. I need to speak with one of your students." Myung replied brusquely.

The guard shook his head. "Not going to happen. If you would like, I can escort you to the main building. Provided you submit to disarmament and leave the beast he-" He was cut off mid-sentence as Pika roared in anger, and Myung's rifle snapped to position.

"Call her a beast again and you can better pray I kill you." Myung growled. "Pika here would rather eat you before she kills you."

Myung had to admit she was slightly impressed by this walking piece of kibble. If the guard was afraid he didn't show it, save for a single bead of sweat that ran down his jaw. "My apologies miss Pika, no insult was intended." He apologized with a bow towards the tigress. "However I still cannot allow you access without disarming you first."

By now crowds were starting to gather on either sides of the gate, all drawn by the spectacle of a woman riding a tiger. Sighing in defeat, Myung lowered her weapon. She could not afford for police to get involved. "Tell you what, you don't want me armed inside the gate, and I won't leave my weapons behind. Why don't you call Chiu Fong Wong here? If she doesn't want to see us we'll leave, but I have a message for her that must be delivered."

The guard's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was trying to read the words she hadn't spoken, before raising a small radio to his mouth. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but after a moment or two he lowered it and nodded. "The call is being made. Wait here." Although it was obvious he was ending the conversation, the guard made no effort to leave, nor did his gaze ever leave Myung or Pika as the Academy's PA system flared to life in the distance.
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Chiu Fong Wong was busy in her team's dorm, packing her bag for the weekly move to Viola's for the weekend. Although the couple had officially been engaged for a couple months now, it still felt odd for Chiu to think that one day soon her weekend home would be her actual home. At least until they moved away from Vale to start anew. Together as one.

The school's PA system crackled for a moment before a voice Chiu did not recognise echoed through. "Chiu Fong Wong to the main gate. You have a...visitor. Chiu Fong Wong to the main gate." That struck her as odd. Chiu didn't exactly have many friends, and the ones she did were all Beacon students with Viola as the sole exception, but the guards knew Viola. Knew of their relationship. They wouldn't have called her a visitor. Suspicious of what was to come, Chiu unpacked her weapons and slipped them on around her waist.

"You want some backup?" Ron asked from where he was lounging at his desk.

"Yeah... Not sure who this visitor could be. Thanks" Chiu answered gratefully as she slipped her back over her shoulder while Ron gathered his own gear.

The pair made their way quickly from the dorms to the entrance courtyard. As they neared the statue that was the area's primary feature, Chiu spotted a small crowd gathered near the gate. A few of the bodies were students, some she recognized as her friends, others her enemies, but most she didn't know. There were a dozen or so members of the school's guard squad at hand, all armed, and all staring at the woman on the other side of the gate. Or, if things were happening the way the usually did around Wen Tai, the tiger. That was unexpected.

Turning to Ron, Chiu smiled. "Come meet my cousin Myung, best Huntress in all of Mistral. At least that's what she says."

As the pair moved towards the closed gate a guard stepped in front of them. "It's okay." Chiu told him. "She's my cousin, she isn't a threat." When no one seemed compelled to believe her Chiu rolled her eyes and looked towards her cousin. "Myung tell them you aren't a threat."

"As you command Qíngfù." Myung Replied before turning to the guard she had first met. "I am no threat to you, or this school, provided you weren't involved."

"Well, that sounded convincing." Chiu chastised her cousin before stepped forward although the gate remained closed. She was only an arm's length away when Myung's words hit her. Qíngfù. Mistress. Myung only had one mistress, Chiu mother, who would remain so until death. Coming to a dead stop, Chiu locked eyes with Myung. Her eyes were puffy and blood shot, wetness collected in corners as the older woman held back her tears. Even Pika's panting sounded pain and mournful.

"What happened?" Chiu asked. Even though she knew she didn't want to hear it, she couldn't stop herself from asking.

"Bandit raid. They are gone Qíngfù." This was what Myung had come for. To tell Chiu she was now the head of their clan. Even though the young girl didn't, couldn't, understand what that truly meant.

"No..." This was impossible. 'They can't be dead. They were supposed to see me get married.' Chiu told herself. She was finally happy for the first time in a decade and now the fates had decreed that her parents had to die. Her hands clenching into fists, Chiu face twisted in one of pain and fury. "Recall every hunt, every patrol." She snarled. "We do not rest until these bandits are all feeding our crops."

Climbing from Pika's back Myung stepped towards the gate before reaching through to take the young girl she had found in the woods so many years ago by the hand. Damn whatever god and decided she had to be the one to tell this poor girl when the people she loved died. "Qíngfù. Chiu. You don't understand. They poisoned the water, or the ground, I don't know. When the bandits struck they killed everyone. Men, women, even..." Myung's voice caught in her throat as she saw, yet again, the two small bodies she had found next to their father. Her husband Cao. "Everyone's gone." She whispered. "Everyone."

With those few words Chiu's mind froze. Unable to think, she fell backwards and collapsed on the cold, hard, ground. Tears were pouring from her eyes as she opened her mouth and screamed.

Wanting to help the girl before them who had lost everything, yet not knowing how, the guard with the ax simply reached over and toggled the switch to open the gate.


OOC: And so begins the final tale of Chiu Fong Wong. There should be ample ways for everyone to jump in. Let's go one post each to establish the order and then roll from there.

Ron, having been close enough to hear every word, did not know the feeling of losing someone's family. He never had one as far as he could remember. This did not, however, stop him from understanding that Chiu would need him. He kneeled down and put his hand on Chiu's shoulder. He quickly put out any thoughts of saying that he was sorry. He knew that she wouldn't want that. Instead he said, "Whatever you need, I'm here for you. As your leader. But more importantly, as your friend."

The joy of no classes on Friday. Best thing to do with a freeform class schedule. Hunter drove up to the school on his Dust powered cycle, the Drifting Ronin, after a trip into Vale for supplies. No one knew about his monthly trips to the local regions to search for his missing girlfriend. He's been doing this for years now, and still no closer to finding Lin. Not even after four years of scouting.

As he pulled up around the curve, Hunter nearly forgot to stop turning as he suddenly saw a tiger in front of him, surrounded by students. Slamming the brakes, he lurched with the momentum, then looked. What in the Pit is going on? Gunning the engine a bit, the wheels slowly creep forward, allowing Hunter to get a closer look. The first thing he saw was someone who looked like the tiger's owner, who seemed to be talking. Parking the Ronin, Hunter jumps off and starts walking towards the group. Nearing them, he catches a few words from the tiger's owner.

"... don't understand. They poisoned the water, or the ground, I don't know. When the bandits struck they killed everyone. Men, women, even... Everyone's gone. Everyone." Hunter's felt a chill go down his back. A mass murder. No one spared. Another one, much like when his own farm was razed back then. But was the rider here on a recruitment drive? Or was she here for someone? The howl of sadness in the air answered his own question.

"Out of my way. Stand aside. Team Leader marching by." Hunter pushed his way through the crowd, trying to reach the one who screamed. Reaching the center, he sees Ron Rouge, kneeling down and comforting... Who? Hunter took a glance. At first, he didn't think it was her. Second time, he didn't want to know it was her. There was no denying it, however. The blue and black clothing was on her. The outfit that was coincidentally similar to his own was on her.

Hunter turned away from the crying Chiu, looking down and gritting his teeth. He lost his grandfather and his girlfriend to a cult, and understood her pain, but seeing someone like her cry struck him as immensely wrong.

Having ditched lessons (As is her usual thing) to spend a day in town, she had barely been through the gate when the scene took place. While initially ignoring the group around the tiger and matching a small "Tch." Noise, she stops when she hears about the killing. Turning back at the scream she instantly recognizes as Chiu. Moving past Hunter with a shove and staring down at one she would consider an enemy, she glares at Chiu as one hand rests on Lamentation, "So. Being weak over something like this, bitch? 'Boo hoo, my parents are dead now instead of in ten or twenty years', get over yourself. Listen and you may learn something about being strong, we may be enemies, but even they band together for short periods of time, so I offer you this as one of those events. With or without you I will remove the threat they pose to my interests, so you may as well accept my offer, though if you keep making stupid noises like that, I will add you to the list." Then turning to Myung, she wouldn't be phased by the Tiger in the slightest, instead smirking slightly, "I suppose my brother is not the only one crazy enough to ride a beast into battle, other than a horse."

Using the advantage of sitting on a horse, Aphelion towered above the rest of the group to look at the tiger, happy that he found yet another person who appreciates riding beasts above machines. Mesmerized by the tiger, he didn't come to his senses until Chiu began to cry, and as he looked at her, a memory flooded over him... Aoife's own cries of pain as her body healed itself, and various other times. He wanted to walk up there and comfort her but... another memory, this time of a certain conversation, stopped him. He was, in fact, in no position to say anything to Chiu.

Seeing Aoife pass by surprised him. Was she going to- Then Aoife spoke, and he sighed. No, of course she wasn't.

Jumping off of Equinox, Aphelion walked up to Chiu and stopped by Aoife, kneeling down to get level with the crying girl, "Hey now, there are people who you shouldn't let see you cry... You ought to focus more on rage rather than sorrow." he spoke from experience, having to hear about the death of his parents from another source, yet the anger of the time helped him deal with it, "If you want to go take revenge on them, you should embrace that. And if you're bringing my fireball, I'm coming along to make sure none of you end up too hurt." he attempted a weak, compassionate smile, though most likely failed miserably.

OOC: Until the rest of ADAM can post I'm going to continue this along without them. Keep the current post order for now.

IC: Chiu barely registered the various words of condolence from the ones she could almost think of as friends. They meant well enough with their words of comfort and support, but it wasn't what she wanted. What she needed. Strangely it was the one person she hated in this world more than anyone else that gave her what she needed. She needed these bastards to pay. To watch them beg for their lives before she crushed their throats beneath her heel. Raising her head she locked her eyes with Aoife's. "If you are with me on this, there is no mercy." She promised. "Everyone involved dies. Everyone they know dies. There will be nothing left when we are done with them. Even if we have to leave Mistral as nothing more than a smoking ruin."

"That may not be entirely necessary." Myung interjected with a poorly concealed scowl. She didn't like the way the pink haired girl had spoken to the princess, but there seemed to be something more to their relationship if aid was so readily offered and accepted. "Pika and I have already...seen to most of the hired thugs who murdered the family, now the only ones left are the financiers. The money. Which I've tracked here, to Vale."

"I don't know where they are exactly, but I do know that their thugs were primarily paid to eliminate the entire line of Wong. Which means you are still a target." She announced as she placed a hand on Chiu's shoulder. "I need to get you somewhere safe. A fortress would be best, but I'll take safe house if you know of one."

Instantly, Chiu thought of the building that had become her second home. The most secure building she could think of. "I think I know a place." She said with a cold, hard, smile that struck Myung as something completely alien. Turning to the others Chiu's smile softened slightly. "If you truly want to help with this, meet back here in 30 minutes."

Ron nodded and said, "Understood." He used his semblance to quickly sprint back to Team WRDG's dorm and started packing any supplies he had.

To take revenge is one thing, but to kill those responsible is another, Hunter thought. It's been about two and a half years since he took his first and only human kill, and after all that time, he still regrets it. Sure, he had disabled people before, but to him, that was another thing. Taking another person's life is not something he liked. But she lost so much more than he had...

Hunter turned around and finally spoke up. "If it's bandits you two are facing, you'll want me with you," he said. Before Myung or Chiu could say anything, he continued. "You're not the only ones who had someone they held close taken away. Trust me, you'll need all the help you can get. I've got enough for myself to survive a week alone already in my vehicle." Pressing a button on his arm tablet, the Drifting Ronin pulled up behind him and parked itself. Hunter leaned back and sat down.

"You seem to forget, killing is a speciality of mine." Stating rather passively, Aoife wears a slight smile at the thought of killing people before turning to Aphelion, glaring at him, "Before you ask. No she is not allowed to stay at my house, father is just as likely to kill her as a bandit is. And your fireball? Number one consider me only a fireball again then I will flay you alive. Second, you forget that you are taking MY name, not the other way around. Also, want me to... Acquire, Macha for us? She will be able to help us with both movement and combat. More than Equinox would, that is. Plus it allows you to fight Connla again, so everyone wins!" Already contemplating with the scroll in her hands, she just stares at Aphelion, awaiting an answer.

"Always so cold, despite your fiery nature, sometimes I wonder why I bother..." Aphelion shook his head and sighed, "Do as you wish Aoife, not like I can stop you, but I'm bringing Equinox regardless, lest something happens and I'd forget where he is..." he glanced at her teasingly, "But bringing Macha is not a bad idea, it'll probably make the enemies piss their pants... If only we could get that stinger you got from that Deathstalker on her collar, they'll probably cower and beg for mercy. But... if we CAN get Macha in 30 minutes, we definitely should... Equinox is always in riding condition, so I'm pretty much ready." he tousled her hair a bit, "Well, either way, we get to spill some blood, right?"

Climbing slowly to her feet Chiu looked around at the gathered students. All of whom she had met before, none she had particularly been kind to. Yet here they were, promising to stand beside her as she burned her soul away. It was strange. Despite being certain Aoife's boasts were just that, she could almost believe the pink haired pyro actually understood what Chiu wanted to do. Hell, she didn't even think she understood what she wanted to do. Aphelion was right, blood would be spilled, the only question was, how much? They had murdered men, women, and children. Would Chiu repay the favor? Could she? And if she did would Viola still love her?

The thoughts of Viola sent a sharp pain through Chiu's gut. She had never felt so empty without her raven haired fiance than she did right now. The sooner she was back home the better.

Turning to Aphelion, she pointed at the horse. "Is he going to be okay around Pika?" She asked. It would be good to have another mobile option, but she'd rather not have the equine around if it was always going to be afraid of the striped predator.

Turning to look at Marc as she grabs her scroll, she removes her ring and rolls it on her knuckles, a small flicker of flames passing over it as with the other she starts calling someone, "Aphy, is he bugging you? If so, I can sort that for you. Would be like a small warm up." As soon as the call goes through, her voice turns serious as she speaks into it, "You. One million Lien, any game you want from my collection. I get to use Macha for a short time while I go hunting." With that, the conversation goes on for a small while, before finally speaking up, "Right. Aphy you owe me for that. I am out of spending money for a month AND out of ten of my favourite games. PLUS I have to clean her armour, manually."

"As long as she doesn't try eating him, sure. We grew up with wild animals surrounding us daily, he got accustomed to it. Of course, if she does I might flip out and try to kill her, but I trust that doesn't happen... she seems tamed enough." he shot Chiu a reassuring smile before turning to Marc.

"As I said multiple times, I'm really sorry for what happened..." his tone was serious and sincere before he turned playful once more, "But you can't blame me for this one if you sign yourself up, mate."

Before he could add anything else, Aoife intervened, to which he chuckled, half-nervously but also from happiness, "Don't worry Kitty, he's my teammate. And it's true, I got him into some trouble in the past, so he has every ounce of right to say that to me. As for owing you..." he leaned up to her, "I'm at your service in many ways anyway, aren't I? And I'll help you clean her armour of course, wouldn't want you getting dirty, now would I..."

Ron having gotten his stuff in less than 5 minutes realized that he didn't have much. Looking at his bike he thinks, Chiu has a car, but I'm not sure if she knows how to drive or not. Plus she might ride that tiger. Looks like I have to ask Chiu how she'll be traveling. He leaves the room and uses his semblance to quickly get back to the front of the school. He notices that one of the not-twins that he met on his first day had joined the tight knit group. What was his name? Marc, I think. He walks back to the group silently.

Hunter opened the storage panels in his bike and did a quick inventory check.
☑ Sleeping bag
☑ Dried food
☑ Disinfectant
☑ Hand Sanitizer
☑ Twelve bottles of water
☑ Three mini-cans of "Energon" energy drinks
☑ Emergency power station for iLens and arm Scroll

The usual things he brought each month was there. Now, where they were going to hide in the city? He closed the panels and waited for the group to leave.