One More Chance

Chapter 8 - Opportunistic Battle

A/N: Very late, I know. But hey. At least I didn't give up on it like Chapter 7


It began in an instant.

Weiss dashed with Myrtenaster raised as Pyrrha held up her shield.

Stabbing even before it could be deflected, Weiss set up a number of glyphs around them at the same time, making Pyrrha narrow her eyes at her.

The glyphs provided an instance of speed and direction that most warriors didn't have, aiming at Pyrrha as best she could yet as fitting of the Myrmidon, every strike was blocked.

Weiss frowned at that, this was a lot like her spar against Arthur before, and although she knew that Pyrrha was much slower than Arthur, Pyrrha was still skilled enough in her own merit that she was able to deflect most of her attacks, which infuriated her slightly, but they wouldn't have had her spar against anyone had they known that she would be able to have an easy time against them.

Just as Bianca had taught her, Weiss formed glyphs above Pyrrha and pulled herself towards them to find better angles to attack.

But Pyrrha was still able to catch up, raising her shield above her in time to deflect her attacks with equal usage of shield and Semblance.

Weiss was getting tired, having used up enough Aura at this point, so she moved back and waited for Pyrrha to attack while she planned out her next move.

Pyrrha made her move and charged in, with Weiss just sidestepped to her left, slashing upwards with Myrtenaster. What Pyrrha didn't notice was how the blade was glowing red, sending flames towards her.

Her eyes went wide and she raised her shield up, gritting her teeth as it heated up and her Aura dip down slightly.

She could feel it, a shift in the air beside her and dashed backwards, narrowly avoiding a strike from Weiss, Myrtenaster's edge making contact with her arm.

Pyrrha narrowed her eyes. This was the first time in years since someone was able to strike at her with their blade even with her Semblance in years.

That meant only one thing to her.

This was a challenge.

And Pyrrha Nikos was not one to decline a challenge.

Pyrrha grinned and locked eyes with Weiss, who just narrowed her eyes at her.

Shifting Miló to its glaive form, she rushed forward with eyes focused on Weiss.

Once close enough in attacking range, Weiss suddenly jumped, but she was ready for it, placing her shield above her, feeling and hearing three strikes against her shield. She looked around her after a moment and narrowed her eyes as she didn't see Weiss anywhere. She blinked and dashed backward as suddenly Weiss dropped down to the ground her blade pointed downwards with a light blue hue.

Pyrrha frowned for a moment, before her eyes widened as she saw ice spread around from the point Weiss' rapier pierced the ground.

Jumping in time to avoid getting frozen to the ground turned her glaive into a javelin, the tip pointed to the ground and grabbing onto it as she landed, preventing her from slipping in the ice floor.

This was going to be a hard fight, Pyrrha thought, but only a smile appeared on her face.

This was the most fun she'd had in years.


Arthur had been watching the spar between Pyrrha and Weiss for a while now, and it seemed they still had a long way to go before any one of them wins. He knew who'd win in the end though, so he didn't really pay attention to the match as much.

He looked around the building and saw a bunch of people in the stands. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary, some people were just there watching an interesting fight happening between the Schnee Heiress and Mistral's own Champion.

He saw a familiar face in the stands though, and narrowed his eyes. His hands were behind him, so he pressed a button on his scroll.

He looked back at the arena and saw Weiss and Pyrrha still fighting, he looked towards Bianca and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Bianca looked at him, and he gestured with his eyes and she blinked, before nodding, looking back to Weiss and Pyrrha fighting.

Arthur removed his hand from her shoulder and walked away from the outside of the arena, looking at Winter in the eye, who was staring at him, before making a gesture with his hand as he was walking. Two fingers, index and middle, then a sweeping gesture with it, downwards as his hand was still pointed down to the ground.

Winter narrowed her eyes and nodded.

Arthur kept walking and entered the entrance to the arena, then he walked up the stairs towards the stands.

He expected this to happen, really, but at this point it was just a bother. Now he had to clean up the mess.

Arthur arrived at the stands and walked up the stairs, going to the seats near the top.

Near where his target was.

He wasn't looking at his target straight, but he did notice the man look at him for a moment. The man didn't move, but when he looked away and didn't move, Arthur realized who he was dealing with.

And he smiled at that.

When he stopped on the row where the man was on, he sat down beside his target, and sighed.

"You know, you really shouldn't have sent the signal out twice." Arthur muttered, and saw that the man froze.

The man tried to get up, but Arthur's hand was already on his shoulder. Arthur stared at the man dead in the eyes with a frown.

"Alef, you really shouldn't have done that. Now Ironwood's right behind you." Arthur muttered, and the man looked behind him to see the Atlas General standing there.

Ironwood had a frown on his face, before he sighed. "I suppose that makes it the fourth time this place has had a breach in security." He muttered, shaking his head. "Now I really want to talk to Mistral's council members…"


Bianca frowned as she saw the Aura meters of both Weiss and Pyrrha. This was going to be the last moments of the match, and it seemed the winner was set already.

That was probably why Arthur leaved in the first place. Other than the fact that he saw another White Fang spy out near the vicinity of her family. Or what should be her family.

At this point, she didn't know, her and Arthur's existence were already an anomaly at this point, so she could only guess that this wasn't their home timeline anymore.

Either that or there was something keeping them from just not existing altogether.

She didn't want to think on that though.

Bianca stepped forward and snapped her fingers, just as both Pyrrha and Weiss threw out their final attacks.

"And that's enough for today." Bianca smiled, holding both Pyrrha and Weiss up with her glyphs, and stopping their final attacks short from potentially breaking their Aura. "You're both down to 10%, and, if my eyes didn't fool me, you've both just ended up in a tie."

Pyrrha and Weiss both collapsed onto the floor, which, as they landed, suddenly turned into water as Bianca struck Alphenlocken's glowing red tip to the ground.

"Excellent job, Weiss." Bianca smiled, "You've done much better than anyone could have expected for you to, even tying Mistral's own tournament champion."

Weiss took a deep breath as she righted herself, before smiling and bowing to Bianca. "Thank you, Bianca. I wouldn't have been able to do it without your training."

"And you're right. As for you, Pyrrha." Bianca turned to Pyrrha who just blinked as she had just picked up her weapons. "Well done. I hope that you continue to improve as you learn more in Beacon Academy."

Pyrrha held her mouth open, surprised that Bianca had even talked to her, much less that she knew that she was going to Beacon. But then again, she supposed, it wasn't like it was a secret thing either.

So she just settled for a smile and nod to Bianca who seemed pleased with it.

"Now, since both of you have done a wonderful performance. Would you like to take a break?" Bianca asked, and chuckled as both Pyrrha and Weiss nodded, "Good, then we're headed to the nearest restaurant."


Arthur looked at the scroll placed on their nightstand as the numbers slowly blinked.

4:58 AM

Sometimes he just wanted things to end, sometimes he just wanted to give up, honestly.

He didn't really know. But… if one were to ask him if they actually had a chance of winning at that time—with all the tactical intelligence he apparently has—then he'd only answer them with one thing.

No.

There was no chance in hell they'd have won.

No matter how many things changed.

No matter what kind of things they do to stop Cinder before The Fall of Beacon.

No matter what kind of things they'd do to save Amber.

Nothing.

Just… nothing.

Especially not with the resources and influence that everyone within Salem's circle, the Darkseers, have.

4:59 AM

He just…

He didn't know.

Why did he keep trying again?

He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, then felt his companion beside him shift.

A smile appeared on his face, regardless of how fragile and vulnerable it was.

He smiled.

Right, of course.

Because of her.

It was always because of her, wasn't it?

Well, maybe not on the start, or the middle, or… whatever.

It wasn't until it began that he actually managed to see what he wanted to fight for.

He opened his eyes, and looked down at Bianca's sleeping face as she hugged his form.

He hummed for a moment, and chuckled when he saw her face shift into a smile.

He looked up to the scroll again.

5:00 AM

The alarm started.

Bianca grimaced and she hugged him tighter, burying her face into his chest.

"Five more minutes…" She muttered into his chest, sounding muffled.

"Bianca, we have to get up." Arthur said with a smile and she groaned hugging him even tighter.

"No…" Bianca mumbled, "You won't make me."

"Oh I will." He smiled. "Do you want to test that?"

"Arthur…" She started to dig her nails into his back. He continued smiling though.

"One…" Arthur smiled down at her,

"Grr…" She glared at him,

"Two…" He continued, wagging his brows momentarily.

"Urgh! Fine!" Bianca rolled her eyes and pushed him off the bed.

Arthur just laughed as he sat up, watching as she looked at the scroll on their nightstand and started to curse inappropriate expletives at it.

"You know that's not going to change anything right?" He pointed out and she directed her glare to him.

"I know but at least they'll know not to mess with me later on if we ever come back here." Bianca then looked back to the scroll, "You hear that? I know you're listening in, so if you want to keep your lives intact then don't put an alarm on us again."

Arthur didn't bother to correct her that he was the one who set the alarm.

Bianca knew that already after all.

Arthur stood up and looked around the room, stretching slightly. He yawned and looked back at Bianca who was silently watching him with a smile. He shook his head and chuckled.

He reached a hand out towards her and she smiled as she took it.

He slowly let out a breath, pulling her up.

"Come on." Arthur smiled, "Our flight's in an hour after all."

Bianca shook her head, "Always the punctual man."

Arthur shrugged, "I kind of have to be." She chuckled at that, "Come on, let's just get this over with."

He looked at the scroll one more time.

5:05 AM

How fitting.


"This is our last day in Remnant. What do you want me to say to this damned world, Weiss?"

"Thank you. That's all I want you to say Jaune. Just… thank you."

- Jaune Arc speaking with Weiss Schnee before their final mission.