Author's Note: the Fight was a lot to write, hopefully I made my team good within reason. Also long chapter: Can't stop writing a lot.
The Heroes and The Queen
Revenge, Peace, Arrogance, and Survival
Chapter Three: Out of League
"So far, how do you like your stay in the kingdom?"
The interior of the car was somewhat cramp despite the spacious eight passenger seating arrangement; of course there was a group of soldiers and one extraordinary girl in it.
There was a pause as Ironwood caught a glimpse of the outside view of the world; the streets of Vale were occupied by some Atlesian knights patrolling in groups.
"Oh, its wonderful." A sweet voice responded. "It is such a robust and colorful city." Penny said warmly, musing at the thoughts.
She then paused as a frown swept her face.
"I just wish I was there during the breach yesterday. To see it senselessly be attacked like that, I felt it was my solemn duty protect the kingdom that took me in as a guest."
Penny stared into the palm of her hands momentarily.
"You will Penny, I assure you that you will. But for now myself and my men will do their part. Just for now, try be a girl who likes to focus on school. Speaking of which how do you like Beacon?" Ironwood said.
"I love it!" Penny's face brighten up with a wide smile. Then there was an interval of clarity as she drew back her smile into a cautious one.
"By no means do I belittle Prometheus but Beacon seems more lavish and pristine while keeping a modest appeal among the general populace." She then paused again as her green eyes dim.
Ironwood lowered his head while staring at her, trying to convey her feelings through her artificial eyes that showed something not man-made.
"However, I do feel a little…a lack of social conventions surrounding me, I wish I was with people I knew, friends like…" The image of a red-hooded girl pop into her memory.
Penny looked at Ironwood with the best pleading eyes she could muster.
"Friends like, Ruby Rose for example?" He said with a knowing smile.
Penny's body jolted with joy as she jumped causing the car to jump, veer, swerve and finally sink back down hugging the road again at last. She nodded with a sheepish smile as the soldiers around her groan and gasp; she uttered a small apology.
Ironwood closed his eyes intensely as he coughed.
"Ruby Rose is an amazing young woman whose been doing good lately; strong and able to command a situation at a moment's notice. If we had more people like her I know the world would be a better, safer place."
"And she is friendly and funny too."
Penny interjected with a bright smile before reeling it back in under Ironwood's gaze. The smiling soldiers glancing at her didn't help in making her feel the emotion called insecurity.
"She is my first friend." She said with a smaller smile.
Ironwood smiled. "She is one of the few people I have some trust in. Penny, maybe I could arrange-"
"Sir, we got an incoming call from Dr. Victor."
Penny's eyes lighten up as the conversation was interrupted by the operator's shout.
"Well, maybe your father can share some insight on this matter." Ironwood told Penny.
"Put him in the hologram would you?" He asked the operator.
"Roger!: he is joining now." The operator responded.
"Hello James," A holographic projection of an older, lanky man with a fixed, weary expression appeared next to Ironwood's seat.
The older man had receding light-brown hair with light stubble on his face. He wore a white lab-coat, brown slacks and a teal sweater-vest with green button-shirt underneath.
"Salu-um, greetings Father." Penny said politely with a small smile.
The tried man's expression change as the green behind his rimless glasses lighted up.
"Penny! Hello daughter, I didn't know the ol'General would be personally escorting you to Beacon."
He glanced at Ironwood who said nothing.
"After all the responsibility dropped on him."
"I'm always ready to make time for Penny, especially when its a matter of importance: like the Vytal Tournament." Ironwood responded.
"Yes, speaking of which," Dr. Victor looked at his daughter.
"Do you think you're ready to prove yourself for the tournament in the coming month Penny?"
"Don't worry father, I'm combat ready!" She saluted hitting one of the soldiers beside her.
"Oops, I'm sorry!" Penny apologized.
Ironwood and Dr. Victor glanced at each other.
"Father, may I request something? A permission?" She said hesitatingly.
"Hmm, that depends: what would you like Penny?" He gave her a sympathetic smile.
"I would like to see and spend time with Team RWBY and partially my friend Ruby Rose."
Dr. Victor closed his eyes and thought about it deeply before opening them with a smile.
"Of course Penny, a normal girl your age deserves to be with friends." He turn to the General. "James?"
"I trust Miss. Rose and her team to have Penny's happiness in mind. I will also have my men nearby to keep them safe."
Penny couldn't help but smile with an open mouth. "Sensational!" She joyfully raised both her fist in the air hitting both soldiers in the jaws.
"I'm sorry again. This car is much too cramped."
The vehicle made its stop in front of the airship landing docks.
"Well Penny, I hope you continue having a swell time at Beacon. Know that I only instill restrictions to keep you safe, General Ironwood only looks out for your best interest."
Ironwood and the rest of his men nodded while Dr. Victor continued.
"Although I'm still busy with work here at Atlas I promise to spend some quality father and daughter time together by the time the tournament ends."
"I cannot wait to show you my friends father, you would just love them! We could even have lunch together in order to bond and get to know them better." Penny smiled.
"Swell idea Penny." He agreed.
"Come along Penny. The airship is waiting; my men will escort you there." Ironwood opened the doors.
"Goodbye father! Goodbye Mr. Ironwood." She saluted making sure not to hit anybody on the way out.
"Goodbye daughter. Stay safe!" Dr. Victor said with a smile as she headed towards the airship with guards in tow.
Ironwood closed the doors with a solemn look.
"Ironwood, I trust you to keep her safe but not cage." The hologram of Dr. Victor looked at him gravely as it wavered and buzzed.
"She may be an android but she is my daughter and I love her like one. The only reason I trust your company of men is because you run it. I have known you and Dr. Carnelian for a very long time therefore I trust only you both with Penny's safety in heart."
Ironwood knew what he was getting at.
"I know Sheldon, I know. But after five years the trail has gone cold, even with my credentials every lead stops at a dead end. As if almost conveniently, as if to mock me."
He paused.
"Nothing on Athene or the project: it just ceased to exist nine years ago. Your former colleague, Dr. Evergreen is a ghost and the Director of the project gone as well."
"It's no wonder," Dr. Victor muttered to himself. "But I know some form must still exist." He said out loud.
There was silence.
"I can't believe its been five years already." He frowned.
"I'm sorry, for an old friend I should have been there." Said Ironwood regretfully.
"You were on a long mission James: you couldn't have know in hindsight." Dr. Victor change from an emphatic demeanor to an angered one. "Those bastards razed everything to the ground; all the material memories. All I have left is the ones in my head. They burn everything without any disregard...Just I like I did to them." He frowned.
"But if I was there a week earlier." Ironwood tried to take the blame, tired to share the responsibility.
"I know James, I know. But I still have not giving up on hope."
3
2
1
Match Start!
The stiff and intense air swirled between the two standing teams. All opponents eyed each other for potential rivals.
'Weiss, I know you have the tenacity for the fight but we have to stick together and balance our attacks.' Weiss recounted what Ruby told her in the lockers.
If it were any other match she would have wholeheartedly agreed with her partner and leader but this? No, this was different. This was a mockery, this was no young prodigy who eventually proved and earned her place, this was about a thief in her own company, illicit cur who out of nowhere made it to the top of her realm; equal to her father and sister when she herself had to prove herself to them still.
The Brier was just a thorn who does nothing with her commanding position, now she comes here as a CEO and a so called huntress just mocking the lifestyle and honorable profession that this Schnee has taken to reform the family name. The subterfuge of hers stops now.
Luvia focused her eyes on the recklessly charging Weiss who was ready to attack with full force ahead of her teammates. Ruby was dumbstruck with Weiss uncharacteristic mayhem; she shortly followed her into the unplanned attack calling out her name with a frustrated growl.
Luvia's burning green-eyes glared as she jerked Drachenfeuer and pointed it behind her, she readied herself and her aura as she pulled the trigger. There was click and a hiss as the small rocket left the launcher instantly making contact with the titled floor ground.
The explosion exhaust propelled Luvia towards the advancing Weiss while her partner Theresa followed fast with her halberd.
In the air, the dark chatelaine pulled her right leg in for a swinging kick attack. Weiss readied herself with a parry pulling Myrtenaster upwards blocking the first bladed-heel kick. Luvia was not done as she swirled for two more fast paced slash-kicks; each blow block by the responsive Weiss which only pushed her back slightly.
Backed into the defense Weiss tried to ready an attack only for Luvia to have swung her weapon back by the straps, retrieving a two short-barreled shotgun from the holster in her satchel and unloading to two shells into her; Weiss managed to block them both with her Aura.
She then was immediately stagnated again as a new foe attacked her with a halberd. Theresa came in with two weak slashes and arching back for a third stronger quick one for the overwhelmed heiress before the ax blade was stopped with the scythe blade blocking it.
"Had enough of getting your butt kicked, Weiss?" Ruby asked as both parties retrieved and gain space from each other.
"Make short work of them with Crescent Rose and the rest of the team and leave Luvia to me." Weiss clicked the dust revolver. "I'll make sure to give all of you the edge."
"Now your talking." Ruby smiled confidently.
Olga let the soles of her boots be as smooth as possible as she pointed North's wind away from her. The loud hum of the discharged shell rocketed her towards the blond eying her.
Blake made for a calculating counterattack at the fellow Faunus earning a surprise disappointment from her partner who was eager to enter the fray with a feisty fighter.
Trying for a double team with her shadow clones Blake made her way in front of the speeding Olga only to be parried with a broadsword. Blake's eyes narrowed as she met a jubilant if smug eyes of Jane.
"Nuh-uh. Let's us do battle." She said with a smile. "Or more accurately, let you and this me do battle."
Jane held Blake in place as they both pushed back; blade against blade. The team-leader let her left hand off the hilt while still pushing back just as easily, then with the glow of her finger tips of her free hand she stroked the two hilts of the sheath with her orange aura.
There was a winding sound as the short-swords popped out of the sheaths passing Blake making her distance herself from her opponent.
Olga jumped unchallenged with great height as she drove the blade ax down towards Yang who jumped back as Olga decimated the ground below her; in the brief exchange the faunas loaded another sabot into the bladed rail-gun.
The smiling Yang clocked her shot-gun fist ready to attack as Olga pointed at her with North's wind without resistance. The equally grinning wolf girl fired the burning speeding round at her. It was too powerful to be block by normal means and too late to be dodged. Yang gritted her teeth even with her aura and semblance a direct attack was going to drain her.
"Well this is going to hurt like a bi-" Weiss speed in front of her forming an angled glyph bouncing the screeching round off it and missing them both.
"Eh, I could have handled that, but thanks anyway." Yang chuckled.
"Glad I'm not the only arrogant one here." Weiss said sarcastically.
"What are you talk-"
Yang was interrupted again as her shoulders were directly slashed with short-swords.
Weiss was shock to see two identical apparition-like figures holding down the blades. There was a bluish glow to them with glowing eyes.
"Mind if I and myself join the party?" One of the clones spoke with the familiar voice of the bubbly leader Jane; They were both virtually identical to her. "I like to double team with clones too! Like your fellow teammate over there." She point at Blake.
Yang burned red as she let her semblance take the blows and converted them into energy.
"Wow, what a cheap-shot." Yang chuckled. "You, I like you and the ways you fight. Let's continue shall we." She pumped her fist together in a thunderous crackle.
"Oh, that's wonderful! But I prefer if the real me was here, one moment please!" Jane winked.
Blake's eyes blinked as she was seemingly fighting absolutely no one. She then turn to Yang and Weiss fighting with her opponent instead while she herself met with an attack from Olga.
One of the clones transition into the full body of Jane.
"Hallo!" Jane said with glee as she caught Yang and Weiss with a surprise.
"How did you?" Yang stammered surprised.
"Shocking development, isn't it?" Jane pointed her broadsword Arthur downward. "Well its about to get more shocking!" She activated the lighting dust on the blade with her aura and stab the ground unleashing a powerful burst of energy making both Weiss and Yang retrieve to a safer distance.
"Get it?!" Jane shouted at them playfully as the rest of team RWBY regrouped.
"I'm not going to lie; their kinda good." Ruby compliment; earning a glare from her partner.
"But we're still better." Weiss retorted to salvage pride.
"and they kinda make bad puns." Blake added to the tension with humor.
"Eh, I think it was good." Yang complement.
"Oh sure you like the enemies' puns but not mine." Weiss said miffed.
"Like I said before 'bad timing'." Yang sighed frustratingly
"You mean making puns while you're having a fit." Weiss continued on.
"Guys! Focus! We need a plan." Ruby shouted trying command her team and regain their composure.
Blake quickly gave her attention to Ruby while both Yang and Weiss continued to stare down their opponents with a grin and a glare respectively.
"Okay we fought them all: any strength or weaknesses that anybody wants to divulged here?" Ruby tried to bring up the fundamentals to strike up a plan.
Weiss and Yang were still busy think up of ways they would take them on. Blake rolled her eyes, being the only other current level-headed team-member she responded to Ruby.
"Their leader seems to have some kind of clone semblance that she uses in conjunction with her weapons but to what extend I don't know."
"Yeah I noticed that too and with the lighting broadsword I thought it was kind of cool." Ruby smiled before she shook it off. "Um really, anything else?"
"We know that she could teleport through them." Weiss added while she was still preoccupied with her own designs for victory.
"So that was how she did it." Blake said surprised. "Okay then, we still need to assessed it; She may be the big antagonist here."
"Yeah, I doubt Jane would be a leader without a reason, Right." Ruby pondered.
"I think we should have someone test her out again to learn the full extend of her semblance." Blake thought of a plan.
"To find any exploits." Ruby finished Blake's thought process. "That's a great idea, But who?"
"Yang." Weiss told her outright.
"Yang?" Ruby asked confused.
"Alright, I'll be the guinea-pig," The boastful Yang cracked her knuckles.
"Just call me the 'Experimenter'!" Yang said proudly.
They all stared at her.
"Yeah, not gonna lie, it sound it better in my head." She said comically crestfallen.
"Whatever, I just want to crush Brier."
Weiss flicked her rapier and sped to the arena while Yang took it as her cue to test their leader out.
"Weiss? Weiss!" Ruby stared in disbelief. "Not again." Blake and Ruby glanced at each other with a frustrated look.
"Blake can you take on Olga while I back up Weiss?" Ruby asked.
"Got it." She smirked.
"So what do you girls think?" Jane asked while she hummed to herself waiting for a response.
"Not bad, not bad," Olga flickered her wolf ear. "But Janey I know that ya a crowd all by ya-self but please tone it down a bit. I want to test myself too; its a group effort after all."
"Oops! my mistake." Jane smiled back apologetically. "I guess I sometimes pride myself as an one-man army that I forget about you guys; I am sorry!"
"Aww that's okay." They hugged briefly with a small muffled grunt from Jane who broke it off with an idea to tell.
"Should we do the plan then?" Jane asked her team knowingly.
"The plan? Okay understood." Olga nodded.
"Alright." Theresa smiled.
"The what?" Luvia gawked her head.
Olga face palmed.
"Of course the slacker forgot the plan: Its only one plan!"
"Luvia took a long nap that day." Theresa answered with a smaller, teasing smile.
"N-no, I was busy with p-paper work." Luvia fumbled.
"Its okay Luvia, I'll give you the rundown quickly." Jane skipped towards Luvia and whispered to her ear for a good minute.
"Got it?"
"K-kinda of." Luvia chewed her lip, not entirely convinced she got the idea glued together.
The lackluster commitment caused Olga to groan loudly while earning an equally loud giggle from Jane and a sympathy caress from the quiet Theresa.
Jane nudged her as she armed herself. "Its okay Luvia just follow our lead."
The two leaders determined for victory lead the charge.
Jane bounced and leaped with incredible power for girl her size but she was met with incredible resistance from Ruby who sped alone for an attack; or at least Jane thought.
Blake trounced with a swift feint attack which drew off Jane for a second long enough for Ruby to blast her with a barraged of bullets from her sniper-scythe.
They stung at the blue-hooded girl who manage to block with her sword all but a couple, in the moment of interval she threw her sword over Ruby arcing over her and using her semblance she generated a clone in the inanimate object and instantaneously replaced it and continued her assault to a new target.
Ruby tried for a follow up attack but she was met with a challenge from Theresa. The smaller girl was struggling with all her might to push off Ruby who met little challenge from it even while she was distracted from Weiss whose relentless pursuit of Luvia blotted the battlefield arena.
Jane trotted around the arena looking for her intended target as she was met with a shotgun blast that surprised her; knocking her down to her knees.
"Looking for challenger or precisely for me, pun-y girl." Yang smiled, with a glance of her eye, she saw the screen that indicating the stages of Aura from all the fighters, there she could see Jane has barely exhausted any aura while her teammates even Yang's own team were almost half-way there.
"Oh, Hallo! Why yes, I did intent to fight you; how astute." The vulnerable Jane still greeted happily as she tried to get up
"You have a lot of Aura don't you." Yang question her with a surprised expression.
"And so do you." She answered back.
Jane smiled slightly wickedly as she made her stand against the boastful Yang.
She drew her sword with one hand at her and with the other she animated her short-swords with her orange aura.
"Let see who runs their reservoir dry first?" Jane grinned.
"Go ahead; more power to me." Yang shared an equal grin.
Blake grimaced as the powerful crackling shot from the rail-gun pass through the ghostly image of her shadow clone.
She knew her own strengths and weakness, she was wily, imaginative and swift but this opponent however was tracking her down easily. It started as a slow pace like their first encounter but soon Olga was boxing her in with indirect attacks that smashed the ground making Blake take time to note every uneven surface.
Still she had to admire the thought process of her wolf Faunus opponent; like herself she must have lived somewhere outside the kingdom in order to fight well. But unlike Blake who took the route of fast, hit and run tactics with her clones this girl took it to the extreme level with full force, clever hunting tactics with her wolf heritage; she was a jack-of-all trades all by herself.
'All by herself.' Blake thought.
This girl seem to have the advantage with both long range and close range with that ax but one thing she noticed is that Olga was caught off guard every time Blake used her shadow clones with her attack.
But it was no use, her clones were intangible and could only serve as a minor distraction, not long enough for an opening as the wolf girl either block or jump backed in time to counter.
'That's it.'
Blake deduced that Olga was a formidable opponent in a duel but was at the very least she must be ineffective when attacked by two or more.
The cat Faunus looked for her partner; she needed help. She looked at the aura gauge, she had a fraction and a half left; one blow from either the ax or the rail-gun would knock her out of the match.
'They just had to pair me up with someone out of my league didn't they?' Blake huffed.
She finally spotted Yang in a stalemate with the other team's leader.
'Not gonna give up yet; I have to fallback and get Yang to back me up.'
"How unique!"
Jane and a gang of four clones slashed in a whirlwind of attacks at the slowly walking, unwavering Yang who was bright with flames and a smile.
"Your semblance is certainly something. Team RWBY sure does have a collection of distinctive warriors; I am experiencing so many styles of attacks, its a phenomenal display."
Jane charged up her broadsword's lighting attack and smashed into Yang's counter block with her left arm.
"Glad you're enjoying yourself uh? What was it again?" Asked with a half-smile and strained face.
"It's Jane Lazuli." She answered.
"Yang Xiao-Long." She smirked. "Its nice to meet another who likes the thrill of the battle; not many of us out there you know, we're just a rare breed!" Yang aim her right fist to the ground blowing it up scattering Jane and her clones away from H
The five blue-hooded girls stood opposing Yang with devil-may-care smiles.
"I suppose so; I guess you could say I was born for it. Nothing speaks to a true warrior like the notches of each battle fought. Its a wonderful bonding experience."
"Nice philosophy you got there, care to enlighten me more about your past, pun-y girl?"
The main Jane stood there with a blank face before a phase of sadness briefly showed, she then smiled with a childish wink. "Beat me and I'll will share you a tale."
Yang cocked Ember Celica.
"Alright girl, I promised I won't knock you out too senseless that you won't be able to tell me."
Jane readied herself, they all charged up for a barrage of attacks towards Yang. The blond glanced again the Aura gauge and saw that her opponent only lost a fraction of her aura. Meanwhile she herself was half-way done, but she was confident enough with all the kinetic energy driven into her by the blows was enough to knock Jane down with a single blow.
Yang smirked; but if she took on more blows she could take her on and the rest of the team. Two wins on one day? Gotta have it, she thought.
They all re-engaged their attacks; making Yang buzz with intense flames.
"Go ahead: just give me more." She laughed boastfully.
"So you asked so I shall deliver."
The main Jane retrieved Arthur into its scabbard. She arched back and readied her fist with an audible crack; Yang smiled amused.
Was this girl really confident in her physical prowess too? Yang thought as Jane gritted her teeth as she charged her fist and lunged to deliver the blow to Yang's stomach.
"So is this going to hurt or wha-"
Yang could only describe the pain from punch like the likes of getting hit by a truck. The blow gave her power, pain and propelling force as it sent her skidding backwards for a few yards.
"Ow." Yang squeaked.
No more games; this had to be squelched now. She pointed her fist towards the ground and propelled herself back to Jane. Yang growled a primal yell as she drove her fist to Jane's location. She looked around to see she targeted nothing but ground.
Jane went for an upward slash with her broadsword smashing into Yang's torso sending her spiraling in the air.
"With all that power it looks like it could hurt if you deliver a direct blow to me." Jane came up to her with a cheerful hum.
Yang lunged at her with a charge of her fist only to meet with the air. Jane was toying with her, another slash was cemented into Yang which ended with same result as before: Attack, clone, teleportation and a miss attack.
"Come on!" Yang yelled.
Jane giggled. "All that power, is just going to be wasted on the air. You see Yang: while I do like fighting I also have tactics to rely on too."
Yang repeated again and again with the same futile results.
"As well as a leader, I back up my team to win; speaking of which I am needed else where. Methinks so are you." She glanced Olga overwhelming Blake. "Let's see of you're the last one standing: then you could take all of us on." Jane saluted as she leaped and bounced towards Ruby and Theresa's fight.
Yang growled before she composed herself with a smirk; She will not allowed her energy to go to waste.
"I gotta give ya kudos fellow sister, you're the only one who can dodge my blows on both fronts other than Janey. Even if ya nary hit me with any blows so far ya might tire me out and get lucky with a sneak attack." Olga smirked.
With her keen eyes it was no surprise that she could see that Blake was a Faunus underneath that bow. Blake paid no mind other than a playful smirk of her own.
Blake was gunning at her with Gambol Shroud. Granted, they were putting her at bay, when that attack failed she would stop Olga at the halfway mark with a whip-slash, but every now and then Olga would jump and plant down North's wind and move in with a horizontal cut only to being countered with a deceitful clone.
"I've got to admit that I'm little overjoyed to be outmatch by a fellow Faunus who reached up the ranks to a prosperous level. That being said though," Blake glance briefly behind her.
"It doesn't matter what you are when you battle it out alone. So long as you have a team to back you up; human or otherwise." She smirked.
"That's my cue!" Yang yelled smashing the floor before Olga, causing her to jump back.
"Sup."
"Took you long enough." Blake playfully quipped.
"Whatever," Yang bit her bottom lip. "Lets just end this." She pump her fist with a flare.
Blake notice the slight animosity in her tone but paid no more attention as they both charged at Olga.
The wolf girl slashed at Blake only to be trounced by yet another clone. This time Yang came up to land the first successful blow to the stunned Olga. Once more Blake went in with a slash of her own making her opponent dodge it as intended in the cat girl's eyes as the blond delivered a crushing second hit across Olga's waist earning a yell from her.
The woodsman stood her ground with a series of weakening gasp.
"Not good; time for plan B." She said as Blake and Yang went for another attack.
Letting out one final gasp she arched her back and inhaled deeply while cupping her lips with her right hand. She then moved forward practically leaping as a powerful, icy wind funneled drove to Blake and Yang, freezing and whipping the floor as the wind fiercely made their way towards them making them retrieve giving Olga room as she stood back with a weak smile that seem a little artificial.
"Well, I got this Blake: go help Ruby or snow-queen or something." Yang slid her thumb across her devilish smile.
"What?" Blake gawked her head. "After what she just did right now?"
The floor near them was caked with ice and cracked beyond repair if wasn't for the fact that Goodwitch was here.
"Oh what? Is just ice. It's not like I haven't practice against Weiss to know how to deal with this. I'm fire: I burn like the sun in July. No ice is going to scare me, so go on." She flourish with flames around her, the show of force just demanded her to enjoy the battle by herself.
Blake said nothing as Yang jump into battle bullheaded.
She scanned the battlefield to see their leader meeting up to clash with hers.
The smallest girls of both teams struggled against each other; one more than the other.
Scythe vs. Halberd clanged and chipped one another as Ruby pushed down with a determined face while Theresa's was slight wavering as she tried to march forward under the reaper's power.
"I really like the design of Byrthen Knave. Up close it really is so cool, especially the gold spike at the top; its really a nice touch. The handle also really looks comfortable to swing in any direction and also the grip is well place for that stabbing motion," Ruby babbled on with her weapons appreciation.
Theresa broke away from the grinding blades and pulled her halberd back and drove it forward at Ruby who with a flick and a smile let Crescent Rose shoot and swing downward below the shaft of spike, hooking it with its curved blade and reeling it back in forward with another shot causing both weapons to dance on the palms of the hands of their owners before meeting again for another stalemate.
"Yeah like that." Ruby smirked.
"But maybe you should have a more of a driving force when you swing down or when you thrust. I mean, it's not like I'm a powerhouse myself, to make up for my weak strength I use my speed semblance to really give my swing that extra 'oomph'. You're kind of small but maybe you could push your body-weight down into it when you swing down or steady your hips when you slash across or stab."
'This girl has a long way to go; a girl with normal-knees heh. But with her initiative and Byrthen Knave she could really go far.'
"Thank you for your advice." Theresa said with a generous smile. "But strength presently comes with my friends."
"Hearts! Switch!" A cheerful voice called out.
"Right!"
Theresa answered back by pushing herself away from the confuse Ruby as another traded her place.
"Hallo again Ruby, it be a shame if this battle didn't have an epic battle between two proud leaders wouldn't?"
Jane parried Crescent Rose with an upswing from Arthur, swinging around blow by blow with each attack catching Ruby by surprise by the sheer power behind each hit in contrast to her teammate.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Ruby smiled.
Jane turn her attention to Theresa.
"Hearts, Big wolf needs back up."
"Got it." She replied as she ran to Olga's battle.
"Now then: I believe you were curious about my semblance weren't you?" The blue leader drape her hand across two hilts.
"Well duh, wouldn't be a good opponent if I didn't, Hehehe." Ruby smiled.
'she is a leader after all, she saw what we were up to.'
"But let see if you can match mine."
The red-hooded girl smash forward with all her might trouncing and temporary pushing Jane back, she then aim and fired a recoiling shot that carried her a few yards away from Jane. Readying another round she motion herself with a smirk and fired backwards, keeping the momentum going with her speed semblance the scythe shriek towards her opponent.
Jane stood still as she propelled the sword from one of her sheaths into the air and an another shooting past the speeding Ruby.
With her clone in place in the air she quickly teleported to it and aimed her broadsword downward charging the electric dust embedded on it. The descending blue hooded girl bombarded the path in front Ruby with an intense attack; Ruby kept her smirk with a quick shot of her Crescent Rose changed her direction and evaded the attack, she was in the clear or so she thought.
A second clone followed her to her destination path; gripping the sword for a powerful horizontal slash.
"Quit running Brier!"
Even with her haste turned on Weiss couldn't catch up to the rocketing Luvia who manage to dodge every one of her relentless attacks; all ice attacks failed to stop her fleeing seeing as Luvia seldom touched the ground.
"I knew you were a snake the moment I set my eyes on you. You did nothing to earn your position; nothing but a lazy, glutton and stupid-"
Luvia descended down and made a full stop at the edge the battered arena.
Weiss huffed as she readied herself for an attack while Luvia glared at her with fire intensity that threaten to roast the ice queen. In the square off she pulled a belt of grenades from she satchel and let it loosely dangle in her left hand.
"You don't know hell Schnee."
The dark chatelaine pulled the trigger from her rocket launcher for another assistant physical attack. The emanated force from the kick pushed and carried Weiss away to the center of the arena while the stream of flying grenades pursued them.
In the outcome both stared each other down
"So allow me to show you the power of it." She raised her right hand; her body was bathed in the purple glow of her aura.
Weiss looked up at the group of dust grenades threaten to arc safely over them due to the high velocity of their trajectory.
"You dealing with a Brier." Luvia said with a harsh whisper.
The harness's eyes for the duration of the fight were filled with anger now daunted as the dust grenades immediately fell to the ground like heavy stones before her. Only her quick wits allowed her to use her glyphs to propel herself way from the blast of flame-dust the pushed her back to her team's territory.
Behind the wall of green flames from the dust explosions, Weiss could still see Luvia coldly eying her as if to mock her in mind.
"Goodness big trouble!"
Olga jumped backwards trying to avoid the peppering of slugs exploding before her. Yang made full use of her energy on the poor Faunus girl as her fist rippled debris towards Olga with her megaton punch exploding the floor into a nice crater.
In the abysmal cloud of dust emerged Yang; eye glowing red, wicked smile and her fist pumping together ready to unleash pain like the likes never seen.
There was a chill down the wolf girl's spine as she saw the sight before her. She could barely steady North's wind at her dangerous opponent was making her way towards her. Then a ghost of a smile took her face as she glance at an ally heading for her.
Being cocky herself Olga retrieved her ax into its place on her back. Steadying her ground she settled her wide-brim hat dangling from the straps around neck and firmly secured it on her head. It was a show of confidence along with the crack of her knuckles as she sprinted towards Yang.
Yang chuckled at the boldness, hand-to-hand combat was going to be interested as the Faunus reeling in her bare knuckles with a determined or ill-fated grimace.
The blond boxer obliged with her own attack. Her smile turn into a confuse ajar expression as Olga bend down with a grin of her own as a chestnut-brown hair girl slid across her back catching the blond with a surprise entry.
In the stupor Yang was pelted with an uppercut from the spiked right fist of Theresa. The metal crunched against Yang's jaw which stunned her as the smaller girl went for a smaller ineffective jabs into her stomach if only to buy some excess time for her teammate.
Theresa then dodged as Olga came in screeching with her ax's broadside knocking the blond and carrying her back into RWBY's territory.
"Oh dear, two?"
Blake manage to get there in time to do away the clone which was surprising weaker than the real thing whom was now easily holding both her and Ruby down without a fuss.
"Let see if lighting can strike twice." Jane drove Blake and Ruby away to the far left side of the arena with a explosive ball of energy .
Both teams were occupying the opposite sides of arena once again like the start.
Jane came up to Olga with a cheerful skip.
"I know you said not to show off but,"
"Just go with it Janey, I had my fill; I am ready to have the last laugh." Olga gave her a thumbs up.
"Guys, we're doing miserable out there."
The incoherent dynamic of the team was infuriating to the young leader. After doing so well yesterday only to let it fall apart was beyond unacceptable to her. Blake gave her a tired look, she tried to do her best but the sudden disintegrated attitude of Yang and Weiss couldn't bring out anything to fight with.
At this point all of the girls were gasping. In the Aura gauge Ruby could see why; all of them had their aura close to being depleted. But in the bright side the other team were in the similar state, except one.
Jane slowly made her way towards them, alone and unopposed. She still had a least two fractions of her Aura left.
'Geez, she is a monster! I think even the toughest veteran would have a hard time going into battle with her.'
Ruby gathered any strength she had. Thinking quickly she realized something from her fights with her. The one drawback she notice is that Jane was regulated to close combat only. Her silver eyes tracked Jane as she made her move with her Aura.
'That's it!'
She saw an opportunity to disarm her. If it works Jane could be taking out, making the rest of her team easier work.
"If you guys aren't going to do anything then I will."
Ruby sped off into the fray, there was a last plea from Blake that the young reckless leader did not catch.
The blue-hooded girl motion her hand towards the hilt as it whirled the sword to fly off. They only made it a few inches away before Ruby slashed with her scythe, making a ringing metallic tone as they scattered away, skidding across the floor, landing behind her team inert.
Jane let out a surprised gasp as Ruby smiled. "Sorry Jane, but I win."
She aimed Crescent Rose to Jane's torso and fired a powerful shot. The blast sent Jane yelling and tumbling midair ensuring a sudden defeat. But there was something off to Ruby as she saw her opponent plummeting back down; their eyes met, she gave Ruby a wink and a smile.
Ruby then set her sights on the reason why.
Olga aimed North's wind at her with a hum, Luvia was on one knee with her eye on the reticule of Drachenfeuer, Theresa settled Byrthen Knave's bipod transforming into its mortar form, she aim the launcher which overlap on top of the halberd head.
'oh…kinda cool.'
Ruby froze in placed as they all fired at her in order.
"You dolt! whose the impulsive one now?"
Weiss and the rest of the team came up next to her and deflected the screeching rail-gun round off.
Ruby shook off her dazed and added ammunition to her weapon. "Okay! Team, Pollination! go!"
The revolver in Weiss's Myrtenaster clicked as she shot and empowered both Yang and Blake with haste, and with their enhanced calibration they fired bullets and slugs at the blanket of mortar rounds as it broke into pieces exploding them prematurely midair.
Weiss then created an ice glyph before Ruby who aimed and fired a barraged of ice which carried them into the five rockets freezing all of them in place.
In one final move the heiress made a glyph behind her partner, with a smile she jumped off it and propelled herself towards the encased rockets and with a mighty swing of Crescent Rose she batted the treat back towards the rival team-leader much to Jane's surprise and horror exploding her towards the ground seemingly defeated.
Ruby landed with an accomplished, wide smile on her face, she then turn around, ready to regroup only to face an utter realization; Team RWBY has been defeated.
Jane has spread her clones from the previous 'failed' attack; it was all planned. The clones have appeared from behind their lines.
Four apparition-like clones were aiming and beckoning their sharp swords at each of her team-member's vital areas.
Two clones held down the mentally destroyed Yang while each of the girls had the look of defeat etched into their faces, the only movement from them were the beads of sweats falling from their tired faces and the heavy breathing of their lungs.
Ruby's eyes widen as she wanted to shout to them but soon she felt the cold, steel of a broadsword wavering in a thin-line next to her neck.
"And that my friend, is what we call an overwhelming victory." Her ears rang with the hum of Jane's voice.
"Round over: Match win, Team JOLT."
The electronic voice called out, Goodwitch waved her hand as she entered the stage, it was an entertaining match but rather destructive for her taste as she started to fix the arena with her semblance. With a cough she got everyone's attention with an reiteration of what Jane said.
"Students, that's what we would call an overwhelming victory; one of the many other forms and conditions that a match may be called in a team battle."
Jane put away her broadsword moving pass the petrified Ruby, who she and her team were trying comprehend what just happen.
The clones disarm their hostile stance and threw back the swords that they were attached to towards Jane who caught them all into their sheaths.
She then turn to Ruby with a bright smile.
The silent red-hooded girl was suddenly given a big-bear hug by the blue-hooded girl.
"Thank you for being an amazing opponent Ruby!"
"Ah!" she gasp from the iron hug. "Y-your w-welcome!" The straining voice called out.
The hug finally ended before damage could be done to Ruby who was gasping and close to heaving.
"You were a worthy opponent, although I hope I wasn't too harsh on you."
Ruby composed herself with a weak smile. "Its okay, you earn your win. It just proves my team and myself still has a long way to go before we're the best, and just gives us an achievement to strive to."
Jane patted her back. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about it Ruby, I see potential in you, after all you are a prodigy. Now if you can excuse me I need to see my team to celebrate our victory."
"Yeah," Ruby said hesitantly.
Team RWBY was still in the mixer of shock and fatigued, Blake shook her head with a relieved look.
"Well, better to be beaten here than out somewhere out there where we wouldn't be so lucky." She tried to settle the team with the bright side in which Ruby agreed with a nod.
"We were beaten." Weiss said angrily.
"Yes, Weiss we were beaten." Ruby confirm to her with an annoyed tone.
Weiss could only look at her partner with a gawk expression as if she was speaking a foreign language.
"We were beaten." She added with emphasis. "By Brier!"
"It happens, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking that we're going to win every battle, we just have to pick ourselves back up and rethink our plans." Blake said.
"Yeah! It just gives us a milestone to reach to."
Ruby smile trying lessen the mood from her partner. "You know, a lesson in humility."
Weiss still looked at them like they were from another world, regressing her back into a pity being.
"I want a rematch!" She yelled.
"Hopeless." Blake sighed angry.
"I can't stand that someone like her, an inexperience twit was able to rise up the corporate ladder so unnaturally without ulterior motives. Someone that could take a hard earn position so easily while I'm working so hard to earn the stake rather than be given one in my family company."
"Weiss, get over it." Ruby said flat-out.
"Why-you-" Weiss growled.
"Shut it." Ruby interrupted her.
"You can't be fixated on someone else life. I'm sure there is a reason Luvia earn her position." Ruby paused as she thought about it.
"Besides, I don't think she happy about it either."
"Yay! We've won!"
Jane skipped with a merry hop towards the group. Olga came up to her and scooped her up with a powerful hug.
"Oh, Janey, I knew ya would lead us to victory!" Jane responded with a muffled yelp.
Meanwhile Luvia stood idly looking forlorn into the vacate distance. Theresa came up to her with a tug of Luvia's armored shoulder.
"Luvia, are you okay?" The small girl said tensely.
"I guess we qualify." She sighed.
Her eyes then tensed up as Weiss slowly approached with a slight glare, Ruby lagged behind her, glancing her briefly every so often making sure to keep the situation in check.
Luvia was mentally bracing herself by looking equally as crossed with a glare and folded arms, standing her ground. The girl would admit after the outcome of the battle was all done her fiery personal was slightly dampen by Weiss's naturally cold Aura.
They both finally stood against each other. To the surprise of the dark chatelaine the snow heiress calmly and firmly presented her hand to her.
"Good match, I guess shouldn't have expected anything less from you." Weiss forced a smile.
"You mean given my circumstances." Luvia interjected.
Weiss broke away from the handshake with a careful stare.
"Believe me Schnee, whether you're an entry level position or the CEO is almost impossible to know what really happens inside a company even if its your families, especially when outside interest take an investment in it." She said with an ominous tone.
Weiss bit her lip as she thought about it.
"Students," Goodwitch interrupted them with her booming voice.
"I like to remind all of you that due to the recent string of robberies and inflation of dust prices it is advice that you carefully manage and conserved your dust supplies properly, due to it being ration to the military and police you may not get a chance to resupply your stock by the time the tournament starts. Remember adaption is the key." She added.
All of the students started to looking around concern.
"As the heiress to the Schnee dust company I wouldn't worry, I made sure that everyone will have an adequate supplies very soon by yours truly." Weiss pulled out her scroll with a smug smile.
"Ren, do you still have it?"
Nora who was finally fit and able again sat next to her friend. Without any question or hesitation he pulled out a jar reddish substance from his bag.
After knowing her so long he didn't bother to ask why she would want to eat red sap after each battle so long if was kept away from Jaune; that pancake red-sap jelly incident that drove him away from pancakes and into the arms of lady waffle.
The war-hammer wielding girl chugged the jar with glee not even bothering with the spoon Ren tried to hand her.
Down below the alluring scent caught the attention of the wolf-faunas, her nose was menaced with a mad twitched which itself caught the attention of the observant Jane who commented on her strange behavior once again.
"That girl is eating forever forest sap! I didn't know people here had a need to eat that sweet stuff here." She took a long whiffed.
"Well, Forever Forest is near Beacon so I am not surprised that they would have have a plentiful supply here."
"So that would explain the huge red sap deposit I detected since entering here."
Olga chuckled at the sight of Nora wolfing down a second jar. "Man, then that girl must stock sap like a squirrel Faunus. No doubt about, with my good ear I could hear that she keeps more jars of it in her room." She flicked her wolf ear.
"In the dorms? If I am not mistaken, she is in Jaune's team." Jane said.
"Really?" Olga asked, "How do you know?" She turn to look at Jane only to find she was gone.
Olga whirled around trying to find her before the creek of the amphitheater door revealed Jane coming in wearing a mischievous smile on her sap covered face.
"Janey, what did ya do?" She asked in a lecturing tone towards her partner.
"Nothing~!" Jane teased.
"Really,"
Olga dabbed the sap off of Jane's cheeks and presented it to her.
"Did ya broke into Jaune's team's room and stole a jar from that girl, ya little thieve." Olga scowled.
"Don't worry, I wrote a thank you note and a I.O.U."
"The train is what?"
The heiress's voice was shaking a little, she cupped the phone close to her ear with her eyes wavering in pending fear and hope that she might had have misheard.
The voice in the other end a slightly older man's voice sighed in dreading to repeat himself again.
"I'm sorry miss Schnee, but what I said is true; the train that was schedule to head to Vale as your request has been stolen: the whole thing. The engineer and the crew of the SDC 194 made it out safely; an unusual kind gesture from the White Fang. Regardless those terrorist have absconded with not only the dust and cargo but the engine and boxcars as well."
Weiss was trembling more noticeably, both Ruby and Luvia started to gather around her causing the heiress to move around trying to make sense of what she just heard.
"What would they want with the train?" She asked harshly. "They never were this bold or elaborate before. Maybe a simple robbery here or there but not this!"
"I'm sorry Miss Schnee, I wouldn't know. Who really knows what goes on into the minds of those terrorist."
"Okay, so long as the crew is safe; we can thank the stars for that. Everything else is just material if crucial just material. Just keep me updated, I will deal with father, thank you."
After the call she just stood there absorbing it all in: what would father do to her.
The two other girls glance at each other before Ruby came up to her and tapped her shoulder to get her attention. Weiss slowly turn around with a devastating look on her face.
"Weiss, whats wrong?" Ruby asked sadly.
"I'm scared." She said with anguished in her voice.
"W-what? Why?" Ruby frown, grabbing a hold of her for a hug.
There was a pause.
"Y-you smell of putrid sweat, you dunce." While frowning Weiss slightly smiled.
"Well, you're well enough to ruin the mood." Ruby chuckled lightly. "Like I said before, whats wrong."
"The SDC train that I ordered has been stolen. I-I notice after the months long scheming of Torchwick and the White Fang that dust supplies were low and prices absurd for common folk. So I-" She stammered.
"Dust is an invaluable asset to the police, military and hunters." Luvia spoke up. "Very generous of you miss Schnee."
Weiss coldly looked at her.
"Perhaps you are different from your father. That train that you ordered was carrying sufficient enough supplies of dust in fact so much that it would have been given out very cheaply."
"How would you know?" She eyed her suspiciously, Luvia bit her lip in response.
"Like I said before; even when your on top, it is difficult to really know what goes down. But I have notice strange activities that have been involving both our companies, activities that has span several months."
"Like for example?" Weiss was showing anger.
"Will both teams, please desert the arena." Goodwitch voice echoed loud enough for all to hear.
Luvia scanned the students in the stands and then she leaned in to whisper, much to the discomfort of Weiss.
"We shall talk in a public setting."
"I still can't believe it." Yang growled.
"I guess, we expected to win all of our battles, we just had to be grateful that it was just a simulation."
"Just shut up Blake!" Yang spoke harshly.
The sudden outburst stunned Blake, she was use to her being loud and abrasive but not with hostile intentions behind them. She was silent and a loss of words as Yang stomped towards the stands to sulk by herself.
This wasn't like her, Blake thought.
She followed Yang and sat next to her without a word as she face her unfazed partner.
"Don't stop me Blake, I'm going in for another battle." Yang's eyes still glowed red.
"Go ahead, have your fill Yang, but only if we talk afterwards."
The blond said nothing as she awaited the next match announcement.
"Burp!"
All eyes of the audience of students turn to Nora unashamedly expelled her satisfaction. She dangled her legs off the bleacher while Ren faintly smiled at her antics.
"Whoa! Finally one hundred percent again." She sighed with content.
"You miss Team RWBY's battle in that state." He told her.
"Oh, I heard the explosions and felt the flames from here, been there, than that." She grinned.
Ren nodded, he wouldn't have accept any less of an answer. His eyes drew themselves to Jaune, the shock look on his face told him that he couldn't believe the results.
"Wow, I can't believe they lost." He uttered to himself.
Pyrrha next to him shook his head in disagreement. "They weren't in sync with their partners or more importantly as an unit. Only two of them were level headed, Ruby tried to pull them in but in the end their synergy was all over the place. The disarray; unfortunately sealed their fate."
"But what caused it?" Still frazzled even by the explanation. "I mean you saw them right? They showed up looking like they brought their A-game!"
"Yes, Jaune, 'their A-game' , but as individuals they only brought their own. Arrogance has a way of clouding once own judgment." She turn her sights at Yang who was fuming still.
"I just don't get it." Jaune whispered.
His partner gave him a worried look.
"Jaune Arc!"
The aforementioned boy stood up suddenly with a bashful look to his face. Goodwitch adjusted her glasses with a stare, she just finished the restoration of the arena, finally permitting another fight she clicked on her scroll.
"Now, I believe I have your full attention. As well I see you still have yet to qualify, I'm sure you don't want to leave your partner to go to the tournament alone or your team for that matter so lets find you an opponent."
"Right here!"
The voice of Yang bellowed and echoed throughout the amphitheater. Her fist held up high and an angry grimace that cause her partner to worry.
"Really? Another one? I don't accept contentious obsessions in the battlefield." Goodwitch glared.
"I don't mind." Jaune spoke up. "Yang is a friend of my mine, plus I been looking for someone to challenge to show what I can do."
Goodwitch sighed. "Very well, come on down."
Ozpin looked at his scroll, he tried to keep his resolve together, knowing the odds that were against him but also the victories he secured even if with the countless mistakes. He didn't need the fellow coffee enthusiast to needlessly remind him of what was in stake, Ironwood already went behind his back and complicated the situation further
"Headmaster I didn't mean to cast any doubt on the matter on hand but putting students, even just one into this? I can't say this isn't a reckless plan, even for you, not the very most well rounded idea in hindsight."
"Neither can I Bartholomew, can say for sure how will this play out in hindsight, that's why I'm glad that you caught on to Xiao-long's turmoil and offered to 'talk' to her." He settled the scroll down.
"We lessen Yang's affairs and broadcast it to recluse family. I know Qrow would hate it, hate me, but we need all the help we could get." Ozpin sighed. "We need a wildcard."
"As bait? That just seems wrong, so very, very wrong!" Oobleck pace back and fore, "But after what you just told me, its going be a necessary evil isn't?"
"We are surrounded, if what Qrow said was true. We needed Ironwood but he back-out." He turn his chair.
"But I have the rest of you; my old friends to keep me from taking this too far. In introspect I'm a bit worse than the general."
"So that's my duty then? To keep Yang's emotions in check and 'talk' to her, will then I gladly accept."
The scroll on the desk blared loudly.
"And none to soon." Ozpin stood up, "Oobleck get to the amphitheater now!"
Crocea Mors twirled in the air without owner, sharply planting itself in ground where it stayed embedded. An image of a fire endowed entity briefly reflected of the sword's reflective surface as she made her move.
In the aura gouge, Jaune's Aura was quickly and alarming depleting with every powerful blow that sounded.
The audience of students were shock at the display of brutality that they were witnessing. Both Blake and Pyrrha ran to the railings, followed by Ren and Nora.
"Jaune!" His partner yelled.
"Yang! Stop!" Blake was ready to jump down.
Jaune's hands started to bleed as he safeguarded himself behind his buckling shield, each hit from the flaming girl echoed with a distinctive wailing cry.
The red-eye girl was not herself anymore, she let something consume her, this Yang showed no remorse with each beat down. The floor scrape at Jaune's knees as he was pushed further and further, the fiber on his jeans broke away along with his skin.
The relentless motion of the assaulting berserker left twin trails of blood behind his shield.
Yang roared primal as she smashed into his defenses, causing him to cry out in a painful yell, trowing him far away with his shield skidding pass him.
The pain in his shambled body made his jaw shut tight. 'w-what is with her?'
He tried to stand up but it was no use, Yang made her way to defenseless boy with pure red in her eyes; there was no control over her killing intention. She went in for a crunching blow.
Jaune couldn't do nothing, his aura was in the red, his body numb, he closed his eyes trying to grit the unavoidable pain soon to come.
Then everything felt like it slowed down as a white glow of aura took a hold of him. A wobbling, humming noise was then heard, soon a cry of pain from Yang was heard.
"Call the match off!" He heard Prryha yell.
Opening his eyes he saw himself healthy again, he patted himself to make sure.
There he was, inside a crater impression that was a foot deep.
Jaune then looked up to see Yang standing in place with her fist shaking, Goodwitch was there holding the primal girl in place with her semblance.
Blake and the rest of Team JNPR have place themselves in between the two fighters.
"Jaune, are you okay?!" Pyrrha inadvertently caressed him not accounting for any pain he might have had, (he didn't). He didn't say nothing or add to the matter, he was trying wrap his mind around what just happen.
"Yang, what is wrong with you?!" Blake yelled at Yang with a mixer of anger and anguished.
Primal, red eyes shifted into civilized lilac as Yang stared into the distance.
"W-what?" She uttered and gasp raspingly, equally confused by the situation. There was a build up of panic as all eyes stared at her, hearing the prattle of shock and gossip of horror from them.
"Yang,"
Oobleck came up to her, breaking her out of the stupor.
"Professor Goodwitch, I will take the reins of this situation from here if you don't mind."
She took a good look at him and then at Yang and then back at the original with a look of horror in her face.
"Are you sure?"
"Indubitably Professor Goodwitch, Doctor's orders and Headmaster's too." He looked at her gravely.
"Well, go on, business as usual. We don't need the students to needlessly worry over this, although a bit morbid I think another match would take their minds off of this affair."
Goodwitch looked back at Yang, dazed with inner conflict while Blake looked increasing worried trying to talk with her.
Oobleck then turn his attention to them.
"Yang, please come with me, I believe some 'talking' is in order."
Yang said nothing as she left to the door with loss look on her face.
"Doctor Oobleck," Blake pleaded sadly.
"Blake, I will without a doubt deal with this now, don't worry for now, just do two things: Stay strong for your partner and two, call Ruby and tell her to meet me at my office; the sparing one at the west side, ask professor Port if you get lost."
Goodwitch frowned as she tried to defuse the situation with another if morbid match session.
Up in the bleachers, in the middle of the raucousness, the fashion enthusiast had a discomfort look behind her shades, coiling the necklace around the pinch of her fingers.
"Mirror eyes," She whispered with a grimace.
"Coco, is something wrong?" Her teammate Velvet asked.
She said nothing but adjust her shades in response.
Fox who sat next to her noticed the uneasy silence.
"Next match: Yatsuhashi vs. Colorado!" Goodwitch announced.
The very tall, silent member of the group stood up.
"Good-luck Yatsuhashi."
Velvet smiled at her partner, he bowed before he left.
"This town isn't big enough for the both of us, hombre."
Two oddly dressed individuals step into the view of Beacon courtyard. There was muffled laughs and some not so muffle ones as they left the airship.
"Dude, seriously?" Neptune dip his brown fedora in order to hide his blush.
"Oh come on! Why dress the part if you can't even say it." Sun waved his tail angry.
"Would you say that if Blake was here?" Neptune retorted.
The monkey Faunas tail skittishly straighten up upon hearing that name.
"She isn't here is she?" He whirled around nervously.
"Not much tumbleweeds under them jeans ey?" Neptune smile with a tease. "I mean, you would think wearing that in public would mean you would be a lot braver, 'ahem' Sheriff."
Although still had his jeans, he wore rattlesnake skin boots instead of his sneakers. His symbol of a silhouette of monkey dazzled over big oval belt buckle, he was clad with a black, leather vest over his plaid, light purple button shirt with white bandana under his chin. To top it off, he wore a wide-brim black hat.
"What? Cowboy detective! Just like the movies I saw when I was kid and that I sneaked into." Sun defended his attire.
"But no cool, long duster or something like that?" His partner raised his eyebrow.
"No! so I can have it mess with my tail?" Sun waved it. "Besides, I can't sport a coat like you can anyway."
Neptune grinned with a sparkle in his smile.
Along with his brown-fedora with a black-band he wore a trench coat and a sharp, pressed grey-suit with a red tie.
"You got moxie in the coat department kid, but so long as I'm in town the dames will praise that I'm number one." He unraveled a lollipop and popped it into his mouth.
"Now where," A voice mused out loud.
"oomph!" The voice cried.
Neptune felt something bump into his back.
Both boys turned around to see an orange-hair with confuse look on her face.
"I'm sorry, I was otherwise preoccupied," Penny apologized.
"Its okay doll face. Is a pretty little thing like you loss?" Neptune asked.
"Dude, are you flirting? Don't you have a thing for ice queen?" Sun said.
"Shoot! Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to, I've been trying to act cool for years it just comes naturally as much as I hate it. Don't tell Weiss!" Neptune pleaded to his friend.
"Wait, aren't you Sun Wukong, a friend of Blake?" Penny asked.
"Huh? Hey, you're that Penny girl who was with Ruby at the docks and the one who totally sent those White Fang creeps running." Sun clearly remembering that battle.
Penny nodded with a smile. "Why yes, I do seem to remember that particular battle some time ago. Speaking of which you wouldn't happen to know where team RWBY would be would you?"
"Can't say, we were going to the usual spots ourselves to see them, want to tag along?"
"Why yes, that would be wonderful." She nodded.
"Okay, cool, lets head out." Sun said as he and Neptune began to walk.
"But,"
They both turn around.
"May I ask? Is there an event going on?" Penny gawked and pointed at the two's clothes.
"Is it Halloween?"
Quiet sobbing resonated in the room of the infirmary.
Coco reflected on her thoughts as she sat on the chair far off in the corner of the room. If it wasn't for the dark-shades one could see the pain expression in her eyes.
Fox stood silently looking out the window in his own way of coping with what happen.
They said he would live, Coco and Fox shared the same thoughts. But after seeing Yang and Jaune's fight earlier only to be followed up by this scared them.
There was the same, sheer brutality in the fight and same malice behind those eyes. Unlike Yang, this opponent, she didn't show mercy or anything of the sorts.
"Yatsuhashi, p-please wake up." Velvet continued to sob on the bruise, broken and battered body of her partner.
The room belong to the ICU wing.
She sobbed once more, to see a close friend or something possibly more in that state was unbearable to see.
"Wake up," She pleaded.
Coco winced at the sad display, she then settled with anger at the one who did this to her teammate.
"Just who the hell is this monster, Colorado?"
Author's final Note: What is Athene? What will happen to Yang and what is Ozpin up to? What would Luvia tell Weiss? and who is this Colorado and how will this add to the story? Also don't ask why I had Neptune and Sun all dressed up; I just thought it would be funny. Anyway hopefully the fight was somewhat balance and portrayed right.
Review if you please.