Soooo sorry that this took so long! School has really gotten in the way (dammit high school nobody likes you) so that's why I haven't updated in forever. I'd like to mention that I believe what got me inspired to finish this chapter was because 1) a recent review (love u whoever you are -heart-) and 2) Monty Oum, the creator of RWBY, died Sunday, February 1st and since he was such a hard working, talented man that knew no such thing as wasting time, I wanted to do what he would do and work hard and long to get things done. So basically, this story might get faster and more consistent updates because of him, but we'll see because I have school and school just fucking sucks :'p
Anyways, on a better note, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I'm actually fairly proud of it :'D
EDIT: I accidentally overwrote what I wrote today with the file that I backed up from where I stopped yesterday when I was backing up today's earlier work, so I had to remove the chapter for editing. Sorry about that! However, it is now back up! (obviously tbh) Now you can enjoy haaa X'D
11:36 AM – Indoor Battlefields
"The battle between S-Class Apprentice Cilan Griffith and B-Class Apprentice Burgundy Myers will now get underway," The referee announced boldly, his voice fading out into the outside world. He raised his hands in the air. Everything seemed to be slowly down in Burgundy's point of view. Everything moment, every movement, everything was vital to her goal. It seemed like the referee was talking forever to begin the match... Or was it just her?
"One-on-One Connoisseur Battle, Begin!" He intensely swiped his hands down as his words signaled that the battle was underway. She redirected her gaze from the referee to her opponent. Him.
Burgundy carefully watched, her gazed locked, as Cilan kept his gaze forward while he reached his hand under his belt. He pulled out one of his several Pokeballs and raised it in the air with one hand behind his back.
"My premium brand and I will surely present everyone with a battle that will introduce a stunning, elegant, new flavor," Cilan spoke with confidence in a booming, yet proper voice. He pressed the small button on the Pokeball to fully enlarge it. His slender fingers held it tightly in his hand, grasping the round object. He looked straight into Burgundy's lilac eyes and faced her spot on.
"Pansage, come on out!" He elegantly tossed his Pokeball in air and it popped open to reveal that common stream of blue light flowing out of it. Out on the battlefield in front of him, his faithful Pokemon appeared and he caught the Pokeball back into his hand.
All eyes were on Burgundy now. It was her turn to send out a Pokemon.
She took a deep breathe, the palms of her hands sticking to her Pokeball.
"My Pokemon and I will be expected to override your plain tastes with the true essence of a Pokemon's saveur!" She announced half as Cilan had. "Scoutland, my chéri, come out and shine se il vous plaît!" She threw up her own Pokeball into the air and the same events took place, except out came a large dog-like Pokemon instead of a green monkey. It let out a bark that echoed, letting everyone know its arrival.
"The lady may take the first move," Cilan slightly bowed to her, that same smile plastered on his face. She didn't realize she was staring at him and everyone was staring at her, when everything seemed quiet. Flustered, she readied herself for the battle. The battle that was finally here.
She waved his actions and words away with the whip of her hand slicing through the air. "Scoutland, start with the appetizer, tackle!" She watched as her Pokemon barked and barreled towards her rival's Pokemon. The ground shook a bit as it dashed, getting ready to attack.
With the simple wave of the finger and a smile, eyes closed, Cilan called out a command.
"Pansage, dodge,"
She watched as the green monkey jumped up into the air at the right time. It pounced on Scoutland's head, causing it to jar her Pokemon, and it jumped back into the air. Her Pokemon, taking a while to recover, couldn't find the monkey anywhere.
"Now, Bullet Seed!" Cilan boomed to his partner. Her eyes widened as she watched Pansage, turn back around to her Pokemon and get ready to attack.
She clenched her fist and drew a deep breathe. "Scoutland, dodge it!" She competed with his voice.
Scoutland finally caught sight of Pansage, and its attack, in its peripheral and was barely able to get out of the way. However, the blow of the attack on the ground, caught Scoutland off guard and it stubbled a bit.
"Now!" His voice boomed in her ears and echoed in her mind. "Use Bite!" She eyed her opponent's Pokemon's moves and, at the right time, called out to her own Pokemon.
"Scoutland, counterattack with Thunder Fang, now!" She roared in hopes that her words reached its ears in time. Her fists were clenched and her gaze narrowed and focused on the battlefield, about ready to go out there and fight with Scoutland.
The Bite and the Thunder Fang collided, causing a show of electricity to appear at the mouths of the Pokemon. A semi-small explosion occurred and Pansage went flying and Scoutland only took a little recoil. The monkey skidded onto the ground at her feet and a smirk rose upon her face.
"Now's your chance!" She echoed again as she kept a keen eye on the monkey. "Scoutland, Tackle then use Ice Fang!" She felt she was witnessing the match rather than participating in it, her hands sweaty. Her confidence grew as Pansage remained down and Cilan had yet to call an attack. She saw victory in the distance. She could do this!
With Scoutland feet within attacking Pansage, she saw Cilan calmly point his finger out towards the direction of her side of the battlefield. She felt a lump rise in her throat and she felt her heart sink.
"Pansage, Bullet Seed!" He called out his order just as Scoutland was within range of the monkey's body. She clenched her fists tighter and tighter, not letting go just yet.
When Scoutland's eyes were level with Pansage's, the green monkey spewed a mouthful of powerful seeds right into the dog's face. It let out a tremendous howl at the pain and at being thrown back in the direction of Cilan. A loud thud sounded when it hit the ground and a gasp escaped her mouth without her consent.
"Scoutland!" She shouted out to the battlefield, waiting for the cloud of dust to clear. "Get up!" What she saw on Cilan's face when he was visible to her made her regret herself.
The green haired teen snapped his fingers and proudly stood straight. "Now, Pansage, Rock Tomb!" He commanded. She didn't even noticed that it had even fully recovered.
Just as Pansage was starting to attack, the cloud dissipated and she could see her Scoutland just starting to stand up. The giant rock formed by the hands of the opponent's Pokemon came hurling at it.
"Scoutland, counterattack with Ice Fang!" She wasn't sure how thing would go, but she wasn't going to give up now. Not yet!
Her Scoutland bravely dashed out towards the incoming bolder and readied its attack. As the two met in the middle of the field, a loud crack sounded. She could see people in the crowd eager and surprised at the sight.
It had caught the Rock Tomb just barely in its mouth. The ice quickly spread throughout the rock and, when Scoutland bit down, the frozen rock shattered into shards. She could see Poltiere, slightly amused, but that wasn't good enough for her. Through the sparkling shards cascading down onto the battlefield, she could see that Cilan's emerald eyes were slightly widened as he beheld the display before him.
"Ice Fang, once more!" She boomed, finally able to stay at rest and her hands drying up. Her Scoutland charged at Pansage, who was just as surprised as everyone else. Cilan wasn't calling out any moves as her Pokemon drew nearer and nearer to his.
When the Ice Fang bit into Pansage, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She watched as the ice spread from Pansage's arm, down its leg and up its neck. Only one half of its body was frozen when it managed to jump out of Scoutland's grasp.
"How is he going to use moves like Rock Tomb and Solar Beam now?" She thought to herself, trying to resist a smirk, but couldn't. Poltiere gazed deeply at her, arms crossed across his chest.
She swiped her hand through the air. "Finish it off with Fire Fang!" She commanded, for the first time ever. It felt great to say those words and have them escape her mouth.
Scoutland dashed towards Pansage, readying its attack, the final blow, but then...
"Pansage, Grass Whistle!"
As Pansage plucked a piece from its mini tree atop its head, she was froze solid, unable to think, let alone stop her Pokemon. When the grass made contact with its mouth, a sweet, elegant song sounded throughout the battlefield and the whole outdoor area. As the song went on, her Scoutland began to slow down. Sweat dripped down her chin, not from the warmth of the outside but the heat arising from the moment.
If she could have even hoped for the better, her hopes were crushed as Scoutland flopped to the ground, dozing off. A gentle purr of drowsiness arose from it and nothing more from that moment on.
Just as she had done moments back, Cilan swung his hand out to his Pansage. "Now, my partner!" he boomed and then raised his hands up to the sky. "Use the power of the sun to melt the ice and use Solar Beam!" He was smiling, just like those times and times before this very day.
All she could do was watch in horror as the ice from Scoutland's Ice Fang, melted away into the ground and Pansage raise its paws up to the sun. They shimmered as they captured light and, when enough had been collected, a ball had perfectly formed. It forced its paws outwards and a bright stream of blinding light shot across the battlefield, piercing through Scoutland's sleeping body.
Her Pokemon let out a howl of mixed shock and pain and, as it fell and the light dissipated, her heart dropped completely at the sound of the final thump. As the cloud of battlefield dust cleared, the conclusion was shown. There lied Scoutland, passed out and...
"Scoutland is no longer able to battle! Pansage is the winner! Which means the victor is Cilan, the A-Class Connoisseur!"
Cheers roared from the crowd, but they weren't for her. She had lost to him. Again.
She inhaled hard, tightly clenching her shaking fists. She let out a heavy sigh and let her hands relax. She walked over to her poor Scoutland, defeated and on the ground. Bending down, she patted its head gently and with a warm touch.
"You did très bien, my dear Scoutland," She murmured, looking into its marble eyes. "Don't you worry your sweet head..." She returned it to its Pokeball with a red light and it was gone from her sight. She saw Cilan walking over, Pansage in arms, and she let out another deep sigh. She stood up, trying her best to keep a straight back.
Poltiere stepped forward to them. "Please proceed with your evaluations of each other and their Pokemon, if you will..." He gently spoke, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Cilan drew it a soft breathe, a smile on his face. He stoked his chin as he thought. "I must say, I was rather pleased with my opponent and her skills," He began to evaluate her and talk her ears off. "I expected to be teaching and showing off my partners wonderful tastes and flavor, but Miss Myers definitely took the spotlight from me. However, despite there being a wonderful bond between her and her Scoutland that no hesitation was shown between them, I see where work needs to be done. Her and her Scoutland were able to impress me like I've never have been before, the way she intercepted my Pansage's Rock Tomb with Ice Fang that made that wonderful show of light and ice. That's what told me that they were more than just a typical Connaisseuse and Premium Brand. I was overcome by the sensation of the bond between those two at that time that I was almost able to call out my next move. Extravagant! Beautiful! Awe inspiring! Everything that occurred before me made me want to improve to the relationship level of those two, if not more. Miss Myers and her Scoutland are a match made in heaven!" He took a deep and long bow to signal to Poltiere that he was finishing and he stepped back a bit.
Burgundy was almost too overcome by a flurry of emotions that she could barely think and speak. "C... Cilan and his Pansage were an honor to battle," She tightly grinned, clenching her fists. "I have to admit that seeing the partnership between the two to the point where he could call out an attack at the very last minute and have his plan work was simply wonderful. There are no other Pansage out there like Cilan's," She had to stop while she was behind before she went into an explosion of the emotions shaking inside her.
Poltiere nodded and turned to Cilan and then back to her. "Very well done," He complimented them, very please. "You two showed the difference between a C-Class and an A-Class very well and refined,"
"Excus-?!"
"Thank you very much sir," Cilan replied, giving a small bow and a smile. He looked at Burgundy and smiled right as Poltiere was turning his head to her. She straightened herself back up and bowed as well, biting her tongue.
The bell atop the Main Building sounded and people started to shuffle back inside.
"You are all dismissed for the rest of the day," Poltiere boomed to everyone. "Please report to the Ballroom in proper attire by 8:00 PM tonight," He walked away from her and Cilan as a group of girls dashed over. Their descent around Cilan forced her to step back and roll her eyes as squeals arose from them.
"You were so amazing, Cilan!"
"Battle me next! Pleeease?!"
"Can I have your autograph?!"
"You are just sooo handsome, Cilan!"
Burgundy left out a heaved sigh. "Like he even cares for them..." She thought to herself, a slight flush coming to her cheeks. She started to walk away, trying her best to not seem upset.
Cilan caught sight of her and turned his head to her. "Burgundy, wait!" But he was surrounded completely by fangirls and he was soon swarmed. His words never reached her ears.
As she walked towards the door to inside, a group of girls, obviously preps, walked past her. They whispered and snickered, gazing at her while they did, and laughed when she glared their way. She stopped in her tracks and they kept walking forward, even glancing back at her.
"Why did I even come back here..." She mumbled, kicking at the ground with her shoe.
"Burgundy!"
She turned to where the voice was coming from and came running was Denise. She stopped in front of Burgundy, a smile on her face.
"You did absolutely amazing out there!" The ginger girl squeaked, a shine in her eyes. "You gotta teach me how you were able to think so fast and with all that tension because..." The girl sighed and giggled, scratching the back of her head. "Because that's is kinda my weak point in my skills..."
Burgundy gave a half smile to her and looked back at the ground. "Thank you," She silently spoke, the girls squeals still sounding in the background. She didn't know what to say—or what to do now.
Denise grew level and gave a small smile. She placed her hand on Burgundy's shoulder and the lilac haired girl looked up. "A loss is a loss," She told her. "Besides, it's not like you didn't put forth effort at all. Just take this loss as an experience and don't let yourself get too ruffled by it. You did do great out there, I assure you. Don't worry about it," When Burgundy gave a smile that used more muscles than usual, the freckled girl smiled back. She then patted her back.
"Now let's get going! We gotta get ready for tonight!"
Yeah. Tonight...
That night in the PCA Ballroom...
The two girls entered the ballroom, side by side, both dressed in their PCA regulated dress gowns. They were a deep, romantic, navy blue that cascaded from most female students' hips in the most elegant way possible. However, they had to pin their Connoisseur's badge onto the right breast to gain entry.
Denise tapped Burgundy's shoulder and she turned to her, her lavender curls bouncing as her head moved. "Let's go get some food!" She excitedly whispered, getting almost a little too excited. She slightly dragged her roommate to the table where the food was set for everyone and a line of people were on both sides. They both take plates from a butler, who was always standing at the end of line.
Waiting, Burgundy scanned the room. It was hard to tell who was who with all the navy blue gowns and suits, but hair was a distinguishing feature for some. For example...
Her eyes subconsciously locked on the light green hair that stood up upon a young male's head. He sat at a table with two other teens, one with blue, wavy hair and another with flame-like red hair. They talked amognst themselves, eating some and then sipping their wine. The difference in personality between the three of them was too astonishing to believe that they were triplets, despite them looking fairly similar, minus the hair and eyes.
Her eyes locked on the one that specifically had light green hair that stood up like grass on his head. She watched as he peacefully ate his meal and talked, the smile on his face... the smile on his face...
Denise's shoulder collided with Burgundy's side, causing her to jump and whip her head towards her. "Where are you at, daydreamer?" She giggled, amused at her roommate's shocked response. She smiled at her and then turned back to her own thing. As for Burgundy...
She took another glance at the green haired connoisseur and, to her complete and utter shock, his bright emerald eyes stared back at her. A light blush formed in his cheeks and he turned his head back to his brothers, but her face turned beet red.
"Whatcha' looking at, Burgs?" Denise asked and looked in the direction where she was looking once before. A smirk rises onto her face and she turns her head back to Burgundy. "I see what you're looking at... What are you thinking?" She giggled as her roommate's face just turned redder than before.
"N-N... Nothing, mon ami!" Burgundy quickly and nervously brushed away Denise's mockery. She gulped, hoping she wasn't making a scene with her hands waving her plate around. The fangirls from before approached Cilan's table and that was the last she saw of him while she got food, sat down, and ate in silence.
As soon as the eating was all done, most of the tables were cleared and the ballroom floor was opened. Apprentices got into their groups of friends, typically by class if they don't have any close relatives or friends of other classes that were attending. Light drinking still occurred, but they mostly danced, some with good friends and some with lovers. Burgundy and Denise, on the other hand, stood to the side of the room and sipped on their wine left over from dinner.
Across the room, Cilan was accompanied by just his two brothers, talking together and sipping wine once more. Yet again, girls rushed over to them and asked for their hands in a dance on the floor.
"Thanks, but I'll have to pass, Ladies," Cress politely declined, looking into their eyes with apology. "Maybe next time,"
"And I'll have to pass as well," Cilan added. "I'm afraid today's battle was too intense to forget," He chuckled and, despite being rejected, the girls cooed him.
Chili, with a smirk, put his hand on for one particular girl. "I'll dance with you, young lady," He accepted, smiling with confidence. As the girl squealed and the two went onto the dance floor, hand in hand, Cress and Cilan sighed.
"Doesn't he know doing that is like feeding the monkeys at the Pokemon Ranch?" Cress questioned with a sigh to his brother. He shook his head in a displeased matter and Cilan just chuckled.
Cress takes a small sip of his wine and turns his head to his brother.
"Your battle today with Burgundy was pretty intense, don't you think?" he started asking his brother, looking at the side of Cilan's head. "She has really improved her battling style since the last time any of us have seen her battle. I must say, I was very shocked by the change," His green haired brother seemed to be aimlessly searching the crowd, but never finding who he was looking for.
Cilan gave a nod, still skimming his eyes throughout the crowd. "Yes, it was," he replied and took a sip of his wine. "I couldn't believe some of the techniques she used. Even though she lost, I'm fairly sure she was proud of her improvement, I hope,"
The two brothers were silent, sipping their wine.
"I feel bad for causing her to be mad at me in such a way as she is," Cilan continued talking, now squinting at random figures in the crowd. "I know I must have done something wrong that has affect her in such a way, but I don't know what. Maybe me just existing is what tips her off..."
Cress gave a half smile and put his hand on Cilan's shoulder, causing him to turn his head. "No, it's just the type of person, you know," He replied, taking another sip of his wine. "Sure, you might have touched a fragile part of her by accident, but this situation between you and her is mostly just her. Don't get yourself too tangled in that sour mess that she surrounds herself in,"
Cilan sighed heavily and turned back to the crowd, resuming his scanning for nothing. "But why? Why would she be mad at me, out of all the people?" He asked another unusual question for him.
"She did become a Pokemon Connaisseuse because of you," Cress pointed out, literally pointing to him with the finger that was once around his wine glass. "Perhaps she saw something in her loss to you and what you said to her that ignited her passion to destroy you. It's not like she's just doing it because you're an easy target or whatever she may think. It's you who she's after,"
The green haired connoisseur just shrugged and sighed. "You're not wrong there," he replied, gazing away into space. "But why is she putting herself through all these trials and tribulations for me? It's not like she's the only one of my challengers that have shown spite and anger towards me after I defeated them. Maybe there's something..."
Cress patted his back and he oddly turned his head to him with meekness. "Don't overlook it too much," He soothed him, rubbing his hands into his brother's backbones. "I'd say you talk to her through a go on the ballroom floor," He gave him a sly smile.
A light blush spread across Cilan's cheeks and he turned his head away once more. "She would be furious with me if I did," He countered, his face warming. "I'd rather not make her cause a scene on the second day of the first semester ball," He pealed and replaced his fingers several times around his glass.
"You never know if you don't try," Cress added, gazing slightly up at his brother and then gazing back down. "But I am not forcing you to do so. It's all up to you..." He took a step back from him and smiled.
Cilan took a deep breathe and looked at his brother. "You're right," he declared, back straight. "It's not like I know her very well to know that she'd certainly bite my head off. I'll give it a go. Thanks Cress," He gave his brother a grin and a wave.
Cress responded to the gestures with a nod and a wave as well. "No problem," he replied, smiling. "You're welcome. Anytime you need anything, just ask," And Cilan was off into the crowd.
He swam through the crowd of coupled dancers, stepping to the beat of the classical music being played by the live musicians. He walked and dodged people at the same time, trying to look for the lilac haired girl. It wasn't till he was at the center of the ballroom floor that he saw her at the side of the room, standing with that perky, ginger girl from yesterday's breakfast. He made his way over right away, dodging more people while he was at it.
When Burgundy caught sight of him coming their way, she let out a prolonged groan of disgust. Denise turned to her, befuddled.
"What is it, Burgs?" She asked her roommate. She then turned to see Cilan's full figure emerging from the crowd of people. She smiled as she looked at the tall gentleman, from his feet to his head. Burgundy readjusted her stance to a less offended look.
"What does this diable vert want now?!" She thought to herself, trying to keep her lips from drooping into a frown and her eyebrows from furrowing.
Before even a single insult, a single spat could escape her mouth, Cilan gave a small bow and held out his hand to her.
"May I have a dance with the lady?"
She couldn't decide if she should accept to just make his time out on the floor the most miserable or take his hand and snap his wrist. She wanted to do both, but what kept her from doing anything at all was the mixed furry of emotions trapped inside of her, just like this morning. She couldn't consentrate. She couldn't think of ways to reject him. She's couldn't...
Not knowing what came over her, without a word, she took his hand, accepting his offer. She didn't even take the chance to break his wrist because the gentle touch of his free hand on her waist. It caught her off guard. He swept her onto the ballroom floor, her tight, purple curls flowing through the wind.
She struggled to keep up with his skilled dance moves. She never got past the basics of ballroom dancing, so she attempted to keep up with him with what she did know, but just ended up stumbling and almost stepping on his foot on several occasions. His touch was so gentle. The way he held her hand and her side almost felt unearthly. It was like he was there, yet he was too careful to be.
His face was unsettling close to hers. She could feel and hear his gentle breathing. The scent from his short, light green hair that she got a whiff of spread the smell of nature and flowers throughout her nostrils. She felt at peace.
This could be it. This could be where she finally is able to figure herself, and Cilan, out. She could be finally free. She could...
She came to her senses all of a sudden, the sound of the musicians resurfacing into the atmosphere of reality around her. She felt the touch of his soft, yet yucky hands of a young man touching her. She whipped her hand from his and pushed him away from her and into another couple.
"Non, jamais!" Burgundy spat, waving her clenched fists up and down and around in the air. "Je vais jamais vous laisser dans ma tête! Tous vous me voulez est de me voir tomber! Et je ne vais pas laisser cela se produire! Jamais! Vous êtes un monsieur mauvais et faux!" She started stomping her feet, but the heels she was required to wear prevented her. If she didn't mind making herself look even worse to the rest of the room, that is.
Cilan's eyes were round and wide, staring right at her. Her French was spit fired so fast, so quickly into his ears that he was almost unable to translate it before she spoke again.
"Pardonnez-moi, mais...!" He started to counter.
"Non!" She intercepted his plead. "Laissez! Allez-vous en! Evadez-vous de moi, salaud!" She stomped her foot once more, causing her to slip a little on the heel. Even more red faced, she whipped around and was off, storming back towards her roommate.
"Burgs, what's wrong?!" Denise asked, bewildered. She was suddenly grabbed the arm by the angry eggplant, the grip almost crushing.
"Nous partons," She hissed, pulling her. "Maintenant," She tugged her friend towards the exit of the ballroom, unwillingly.
Moments after the large doors slammed behind her, the musicians resumed and the whispering that had surfaced the crowd soon dissipated. Everything and everyone returned to normal.
Except for Cilan. Except for them.
