KRWN Part 5

Captives Part 1
             It was KRWN’s first day of classes. A less than slim older man, Professor Port, was giving some kind of lecture that sounded more like an over-exaggerated retelling of one of his accomplishments while D.L. sat at the back of the lecture hall as close to the door as he could get and while all the other teams sat together and chatted amongst themselves when they could Team KRWN was scattered. Cerise was in the front row against a wall, Grun had found an empty seat off to one side in the second row and Stella was front and center. That’s how it was not just for that class, but all day even lunch. The members of Team KRWN didn’t seem to think anything of it, but the teachers took notice.

When the team was together, they were either bickering with one another or didn’t speak at all. On a personal level they were entirely non-compatible, but when they fought they complimented one another to the point all their scores in combat related classes were through the roof. Stella defended D.L. as he went all out against even the strongest of opponents not having to worry about his vulnerable openings. Grun would lure opponents in to be ensnared by Cerise’s whips only to fly out of the enemy’s striking range with his spade and then return to deliver the decisive blow. Again the teachers took notice.



Weeks passed this way, always fighting, either with each other or their enemies. Eventually this dilemma was brought to the attention of Ozpin, who in his infinite wisdom decided to have some fun with them. One day after classes had ended for the day, Ozpin caught D.L. in the halls.

“Oh, Mr. King.”

“D.L. was slightly surprised that the headmaster had taken the time to speak with him, “Uh, yeah?” Realizing to whom he was speaking D.L. hastily added a, “Sir.”

“I have a request for you and your Team.”

“What is it, Professor? Some kind of essay or a combat exercise?” D.L. asked.

“Not exactly,” The Professor grinned, “Just make sure you and your team come to this room before 5 o’clock this evening.” Ozpin finished up what he had to say and handed D.L. a piece of paper with directions.



D.L. and the rest of Team KRWN showed up in a part of the school they really didn’t know existed. The paper had them take so many turns and take such a convoluted route they weren’t sure where in the school they ended up. Ozpin was standing patiently by an open door with his cane and a mug of what must have been coffee. Upon their arrival he smiled and greeted them, “Ah, you have arrived. Good  evening. Shall we begin?” Ozpin then walked into the room beckoning them to follow and they did. “This is a very important assignment for the four of you,” he gestured towards a small table with four chairs, “Please, sit,” they did as they were told.

Ozpin walked to the door, turned to them and said, “Excuse me I’ll be just a moment,” before he left the room closing the door behind him. Then they heard a small click.

“What was that?” Cerise asked worriedly.

“Did he just lock us in here?” D.L. stood up and went to the door and tried the nob. “What the--- He did! We’re locked in.”

Then there was a voice from some unseen PA system. It was Goodwitch, “Hello, Team KRWN. It has been brought to the attention of the staff here at Beacon that the four of you are less than civil to one another. On the battlefield you are very exceptional, but being a team is more than fighting together. You must be a cohesive unit and you cannot achieve this without connecting on a personal level as well as a professional one. You will remain in this room until you have demonstrated you can.”

“Well that’s fantastic,” D.L. said sarcastically. He proceeded to strip his jacket and throw it on the floor in a corner. He lay down, put his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes, “Looks like we’ll be here till we graduate.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Do you think they’ll bring us food?” Grun wondered out loud, “I’m a little hungry.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Didn’t you already eat dinner?” Cerise asked him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Yeah,” Grun replied, “So?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Enough of this!” Stella screamed at them all, “I will not be held captive because of a slob, a chicken and this,” She paused and kicked D.L. in the ribs. “poor boy! So we’re going to get along!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Uuf,” D.L. gasped, “Y’know, I’m gonna let that one slide cause our teacher just imprisoned us, but watch it. And by the way, it doesn’t work that way. We aren’t going to get along just because you say so, little girl.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Stella just got louder, “Why do you insist upon calling me little when you know it bothers me so!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Because your reaction amuses me,” D.L. answered dryly then posed his own question, “Why in Remnant does it bother you so much? You’re small for a girl your age so what?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Stella’s tone suddenly turned cold, “Like you actually care.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Try me. It might even get me to stop.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“If you must know, it’s demeaning. It’s always been demeaning. Ever since I was a little girl my family, friends, and anyone my father ever did business with always went out of their way to make sure I knew how small I was. I was just the little girl who was there to look cute. It was like they all loved to show me how inadequate I was, I was small, I was helpless, I was nothing to them.” Stella had looked away from the rest of the team and quieted down. She had forgotten to whom she was speaking and when she realized where she was she blushed and got flustered, “SO THERE! Happy, now? I’m sure you’re just going to make fun of me some more.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“No,” D.L. said matter-of-factly, “I’m not.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Stella was surprised, “Wait. So, you’ll stop calling me little all the time?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“No,” D.L. said again, “but I will tell you this: Your size has nothing to do with your adequacy as a Huntress or a person. You actually make a decent Huntress, as a matter of fact you’ve saved my skin a few times but you still are a spoiled brat so you’re definitely not perfect. I will not stop calling you little, but know I am not judging you. I am merely making an observation,” and although he said these words rather harshly they were D.L.’s way of encouraging his partner. Stella blushed, but quickly tried to hide it not wanting D.L. to think she was happy with him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">An awkward silence then filled the small room. That is until a low rumble came from their goat faunus’ stomach. They all turned to look at Grun who responded, “What? I told you I was hungry. It’s been like two hours since I’ve eaten.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Here,” D.L. said as he rolled his eyes. He pulled an energy bar from his jacket pocket and threw it to Grun.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Thanks, D.L.” Grun caught the bar and ripped it open.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">D.L. said, “No problem, Billy Boy,” He dug around in his pocket and found another energy bar. “Anybody else hungry? I’ve got another.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Stella’s face contorted as she said, “Gross. I wouldn’t eat those things if it meant I would starve for a week.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“A ‘no’ would’ve sufficed.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Cerise mumbled something from her chair.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“What was that, Cerise? Speak up girl.” D.L. told her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Sorry. I just said that if nobody else wanted it I was a little hungry. I haven’t had any dinner yet.” Cerise answered just a bot louder than the mumble before.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Why didn’t you just say so? We’ve all eaten. All you had to do was ask.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Sorry.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“You don’t need to apologize, Cerise. It’s not like it’s your fault we’re stuck in here.” D.L. raised his voice and looked up and around the room as he finished his sentence.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Sor—I mean it’s just I didn’t want to be a bother.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“You aren’t a bother. You are a member of KRWN just like the rest of us. We are your friends here.” D.L. glared at Stella, “At least most of us.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“I know. I’m just used to being in the way.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Really?” D.L. asked skeptically, “You made it all the way to Beacon. That’s pretty amazing for someone who’s just in the way.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“My mother wouldn’t think so,” Cerise said in smaller, quieter voice than usual.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Your mother? She sound a bit nuts if she thinks Beacon isn’t an accomplishment.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“It’s just that she always wants me to be the best. Y’know I didn’t even want to be a Huntress. Don’t get me wrong. It’s is such a noble thing to do and protecting people is great and all but my mom is the one who enrolled me at combat school. I was never the best fighter. Did you guys even know that I’m a year behind? I’m 18 already. I’ve always just liked reading my books and studying normal things. I was always thinking of ways to get out of it even until recently, but my mom isn’t the kind of person you say no to. But then I met you guys and it’s nice being part of a team with people even one like us who bickers all the time. We all seem to disagree, but I don’t think any of us actually dislike the others.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">“Y’know, Cerise, I never thought of it that way. We do make a good team even with all the fighting.” D.L. agreed. He looked at the rest of KRWN then suddenly his face lit up, “Cerise, you just solved our problem. Or at least found a loophole.”

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">NEXT: KRWN Part 6