A/N: Hello reader people readers and HOLY CRAP this was a long chapter in more ways than one! So this chapter will probably come out with another chapter (10) because chapter 10 is very short. Had I combined the two this would be my first 10k chapter (this is about 9k) but I digress. There were a lot of problems with this chapter, I had to do a lot of thinking of future scenes and I lost a bit of drive after finishing "Your Lie In April" th anime due to depression xD and the most scary thing of all my story file was corrupted and I had to dust off a bit of coding skills to get rid of shit and then re-upload it to a different word processor! So that was scary...Anyway this chapter (or chapters) took quite awhile so I hope you enjoy! Thank you to all readers, followers, and favs! You guys are my true inspiration to keep writing everyday! So without further ado la story~
"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
We All Fall Down
The six days passed in no time at all for the competitors of the tournament. Ash let out a small smile at the new clothes that Blue had bought specifically for today. She didn't like changing up his style too much, a plain white shirt with an orange symbol of a phoenix was stitched into the fabric. A regular black jacket with orange lining going down next to the zipper. But the real surprise was the back, orange wings seemingly constructed from blades were made on the back.
"She must have really taken some time to make this stuff..." He thought slipping the shirt on and throwing the jacket on over-top, zipping it up just below his t-shirts design, letting the collar out slightly. Ash rolled his arm across his chest as he pulled the jackets sleeves up to his forearms and wrapping his scarf carefully around his neck. It was slightly longer than before for more weapons but it still kept its orange and black checkerboard design that he loved so much.
Ash let out small chuckle as he tucked in his beige cargo's into his black boots, "No more orange pants. They're tacky and bright."~Trick.
A loud exhale was expelled from his chest as he gave himself a once over in the mirror, the clothes fit a well. Pulling on his signature glove and tightening his bandages he turned around and smirked, "Today's the day."
Ruby was shaking. But not for the reasons that most people would think. She wasn't nervous, she wasn't scared, she wasn't even fazed by 512 contestants entered in the tournament. Ruby was shaking with excitement.
"Ohmanohmanohman." She practically jumped up and down. Ruby dressed in her slayer outfit for the occasion, it was a long-sleeve, light gray shirt with black belted cuffs near the ends of the sleeves. Over top of the gray shirt is a black piece of clothing with two vertical lines of red stitching that resembles a cross between a corset and overalls. She also wore a red skirt with a large black-colored print of her rose emblem on the side of it, and the inside of her skirt was black. She still wears her black stockings and black-and-red boots. A few pieces of metal were arranged in an abstract shape are attached to her sleeve on her left shoulder. As usual, she wears a red cape with her outfit. This cape was short like the one she wears with her uniform, but with the scarf as part of the hood.
"Would you relax you dweeb?" Weiss said rubbing her eyes, "It's too early for you to freak out..."
Weiss's eyes shot open as a red blur slammed right next to her, two silver orbs pouted in her face, "But Weiiiiiiiissssssssss! Today's the day!"
Pyrrah looked over herself once in the mirror before letting out an exhausted breath, looking over her weapon in each form before putting it away again. She was sad. Pyrrah was by no means inconfident in her abilities but her sadness was rooted deeper in the larger scope of this tournament for her. Pyrrah Nikos, the prodigy. Blessed with incredible talents and opportunities; she is constantly surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. If she won this tournament it would be another step away. A long sigh was cut off by a firm hand on her shoulder.
Jaune gripped her tightly, "Well be right behind you every step."
Pyrrah smiled softly, she didn't know whether he could read her mind or if it was just a coincidental choice of words but she couldn't have needed them more than she did right now. Grabbing his hand she smiled, "Thank you Jaune-"
"TODAY IS THE DAY!" Nora yelled suddenly dropping in-between the two, "REN ITS PANCAKE TIME!"
Haden sat quietly. Her face was plain, cold, impassive. The room was practically blank, only white walls covered them. She tied her hair into a bun holding them in place with a few needles. A shuffle caught her attention, she turned and bowed her head, "Yes father?"
She couldn't see his face in the shadow of the room but his gruff voice echoed through the air, "You understand your mission?"
"Yes father. Eliminate Ruby Rose." She said with no emotion, her eyes sullen as if she hadn't felt anything at all.
"Good...Very good. Don't disappoint understand? There are much bigger things at stake than just some tournament." He said ominously. Haden slightly shifted in her seat and nodded numbly, trying to block out the memories of last night. Of them. Of him. All of it. The laughs, the smiles, the hugs, the friendships. Haden didn't flinch as the door to her room suddenly shut, her father gone.
She let out a bitter laugh as small hot tears fell down her face, "D-doctor? No...Sorry Ash...I'm a no good murderer..." She weeped quietly before wiping away her tears and looking at the clock, "Today is the day..."
Cinder, Emerald, Mercury, Adam, and Roman all stood at the top of the stadium the tournament was being held at. Cinder had her ever present smirk on her face as she overlooked the stadium, her eye burned a bright amber.
"You all understand the plan correct?" She said playing with the ring on her finger.
"I don't understand why were waiting so late into the tournament..." Roman said with a shrug.
"The more hunters and huntress that are exhausted from the competition the easier it'll be for us. Seems simple enough." Mercury said with a shrug.
"We're really worried about a bunch of kids interfering with our plan?" Roman replied dryly.
Adam shook his head, "Doesn't our plan entail 2 kids in the first place?"
Roman frowned, "I hardly consider that brat a child and I'm not quite sure we can call miss carrot top there a *child* either."
Emerald had both of her hands on her cheeks leaning over the balcony impatiently, "More importantly won't he be tired out by that time?"
Cinder shook her head, "You need not worry about his strength he has more than enough stored in that body. Just be ready when you hear the signal." She said her right eye surrounded by a small flame, "Today is the day you ascend little brother." She thought her smile slowly turning upward.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BOYS AND GIRLS! HUMAN AND FAUNUS! TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE ANNUAL VYTAL TOURNAMENT! OVER 500 COMPETITORS! WHO WILL STAND AS THE VICTOR THIS YEAR?!" An announcer yelled causing the entire stadium to yell out in excitement. Ash's eyes widened as he felt the floor shake from the applause. It was hard not to looked shocked, the entire stadium was packed, people fighting over seats and Atlesian knights pushing them back so no one would fall down the balconies. Every competitor stood patiently awaiting instructions as the large monitor suddenly flashed into two brackets, A and B.
"So to advance to finals I have to win 8 rounds..." Ash thought as names flashed in bracket A his being the first round, he snorted as his number came up, "Number one huh?" He thought, "Must be some sort of sign..."
"WOULD COMPETITORS NUMBER 1 AND 256 PLEASE STEP FORWARD?" The announcer commanded as he and another boy stepped forward, Ash noted he had two axes on his back which probably doubled as some sort of gun.
"Standard competition rules you two, your aura drops below the lethal threshold we stop the match. If either of you surrenders then we stop the match. If one of you loses consciousness then we stop match. Is that understood?" The referee said pulling the two together. Ash nodded only focusing on the person in front of him. They were both sent to the opposite side of the arena. Ash heard cheers for himself and whoever his opponent was, he didn't really know the guys name nor did he care, "Focus." He thought as the referee signaled to both of them.
"READY?" He said raising one arm, "FIGHT!" He yelled throwing his hand down.
Ash stood still and let his opponent come to him, keeping his face completely blank and not bothering to take up a stance. He almost smirked as his opponent stopped as if confused by his lack of movement, well lack of anything really. The crowd was confused as Ash kept his hands in his pockets, a bored look on his face as if he was waiting to take an English exam. His opponent shuffled back his weapons shifting into two barrel guns. Ash didn't make a move, the same casual stance staring directly at his combatant. Gun shots fired off and the crowd held their breath anxiously and whipped there eyes to Ash's to position. Only to see him standing completely still in the same position he was in before. Ash could see his foes shock as he stood standing no drop in aura or wounds of any kind. With an angry yell he fired again only to yield the same result over and over.
Ash smirked internally, his opponent had good aim, great even. But It was easy to tell where he was going to shoot him at. Ash had actually moved but it was only ever a few steps at a time, most people didn't notice he was 5 steps away from where he was originally standing. Ash knew that his dodging was grating at his enemies nerves as he got fed up with shooting and charged in recklessly.
"There we go." He thought sidestepping a furious swing with a axe and ducking under a follow up strike as well. Ash effortlessly dodged the strike. Although being effortless is a more of an art than a skill. People underestimate just how hard it is to appear effortless. You have to be precise, calm, and annoyingly condescending without saying so much as a word. Ash slightly turned his shoulders to dodge a vertical slice and slightly stepped back to avoid a horizontal one. Ash let his body move the way he remembered, his eyes glowed a slight orange as he almost glided around without being hit.
Trick sat in the stands with Blue and let an amused hum, "He's channeling me right now~ How annoying~" he said crossing his arms. Trick still remembered the first time he had taught Ash the *Art* of being effortless.
-Years ago-
Ash coughed on the ground as he fell to the floor again, sweating profusely as he glared at his surrogate older brother. Trick clapped his hands together to remove some dust before kicking Ash onto his back and placing his foot on his chest.
Ash gripped his foot and growled trying to nudge it off before lying still, "You win!"
Trick released the pressure and helped Ash up with a bemused smile, "You're trying too hard~"
"You're stronger than me!" Ash argued trying to push him away. Trick sighed before standing still with his hands in his pockets.
"Let me show you something Ash. Come try to punch me. I won't hit you back and I won't block either~" Trick said standing straight up, "I'll only use one step to dodge each punch so no complaining that Im faster than you~"
Ash grumbled before taking a stance, looking at Trick for any openings in his stance only to grit his teeth angrily, "It's all open." He thought angrily before charging quickly aiming for a quick jab at his chest only to catch air. Trick was hardly an inch away from his fist. Ash followed up up with a wide hook only to to catch air once again. Trick seemed to be even closer than before, only a centimeter away from Ash's reach. The process happened over...and over...and over...and-
"GOD DAMN IT TRICK!" Ash yelled twisting around for 360 kick only to feel a hand grip the top of his head. Ash groaned before dropping down onto the floor, "I don't get it." he grumbled. Trick placed his hand on Ash's head before chuckling a bit, he could feel the ten year old pouting under his grip.
"Why does it look so easy is what you're thinking right~" Trick said rubbing the younger boys hair. Ash grumbled something inaudible before nodding, "You seem so close..."
"You were obvious~" Trick explained, "The angrier you got the wider your strikes got. I was close because the closer I was the more frustrated you became, thus the more rushed you felt~"
"How?" Ash mumbled.
Trick let out a chuckle before taking the same lazy stance, "Relax, focus, and watch."
Ash got up and grumbled, "This sucks."
-Present-
Barely dodging the strike sent to his head Ash figured it was about time to finish this match. His opponent let out frustrated yell and charged headlong into him. Ash stood still as he awaited the attack, it was wild and reckless, a dual strike attempting to cut is body in an X pattern. Planting his foot into the ground he quickly shot his foot up vertically, planting his foot firmly into his foes gut. The two both stood still for a moment until Ash's saw his adversary's eyes roll into the back of his head. Dropping his foot down Ash turned around and walked away as he was declared the victor of the match. There was silence for a moment before a thunderous applause broke out among the crowd.
"One down." He thought walking through the tunnel with a small smirk on his face.
"Show off." Ruby said walking past him to the arena with a small smile. Ash grabbed her and planted a quick kiss on her lips before continuing his trek.
"Give em hell." He said with a quick wink before exiting the tunnel and sat with Pyrrah, Stella and Nora.
Ruby knew she was on the shorter side, standing at a miniscule five feet and two inches. But one could hardly not gape at the different in size glaring them in the face as she stood across from a 7 foot giant. Ruby could already hear the murmurs within the crowd, "Hey she's pretty small..."
"Er isn't he kinda big?"
"This doesn't seem that fair of a fight..."
"It's kinda cute how small she is..."
"Sucks she has to fight that dude so early."
Ruby closed her eyes and tuned out all the talk before the voice across from her gave its opinion. The giant let out a laugh and pointed to Ruby, "So tiny!" He yelled uproariously. Ruby's eyes closed and she gave a sweet smile in return...too sweet.
Ash, Pyrrah, Stella, and Nora all winced as her large opponent taunted her small size. Ash scratched the back of his head, "Well that ends this match, how quick you guys wanna say?"
"I give him 30 seconds." Stella said as the match was getting ready to begin.
"I think Ruby may keep it quicker to 25." Pyrrah argued.
"Hmmm she's not messing around I give him 20." Ash said with a shrug.
"She's gonna break his face!" Nora said pounding her fist into her hands.
All three looked at Nora and sweat-dropped, "N-nora that isn't a time..." Ash said sheepishly.
"Break his face!" She said with an excited grin.
The match began and Ruby simply stood still smiling as the giant man came charging at her. Ruby smiled slowly began widening as he got closer and closer.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH" He yelled swinging down his giant gauntlet covered fist causing dust to whip up all the stage. Everyone sat patiently waiting to see the result but rose petals floated in the air as the dust cleared up and Ruby smile was crazily wide. Ruby stood on top of the giant's gauntlet and her smile dropped swinging her leg forward for a bit of momentum and suddenly swung it backward. His eyes widened as she suddenly disappeared from sight until his head snapped down. The crowd let out a loud "AWWW" as Ruby axe kicked his head into the ground sending shock-wave throughout the stage his face a head deep into the ground.
"W-WINNER RUBY ROSE!" The announcer called as Ruby happily walked out.
Ash laughed as Ruby sat down next to him with a loud huff, a small pout on her lips and her arms crossed angrily.
"...Short fuse." Ash mumbled.
"Ash." Ruby warned with a small glare.
"I gotta hand it to you..." Ash grinned.
"Ash Fall." Ruby scowled.
"Cause you're probably too short to reach it." Ash said raising his arm to defend from a few halfhearted smacks.
"I'M NOT SHORT I'M CONCENTRATED AWESOME!" She yelled pounding her fists on her boyfriends head. Pyrrah giggled at the cute couple and a few other competitors looked at the two somewhat cautiously, two young competitors that could switch personalities on the fly and demolish opponents. The cycle kept going on like this the next few rounds, others coming in and out of the room, one by one slowly trickling down the 500 fighters. Ash noted by the third round he had been forced to use a weapon and fight a bit more seriously than before, the tournament was no joke and he couldn't afford to show off. Ruby came to the same conclusion herself, pulling crescent rose out after her 4th match in the tournament. The room began to get quieter and quieter, Ash started zoning out as he thought more on all the codes that Tuksen had left for him.
"It just doesn't make sense...Areas? Why tell me areas? Is there something I should be looking for? You gave me a ma-"
"Ring around the roses~"
Ash suddenly shook as a voice shot through his head, making him grasp at his head in confusion. Others looked at him oddly for the sudden action, Ash sat up and walked out to the lobby for some air before taking a few relaxing breaths. He tightened up as he felt a hand on his shoulder, "W-what?" He said jumping forward.
Ruby frowned as she let her hand down, "Are you okay?"
Ash had to force himself to bring his hand behind his teeth and grit out his teeth into a smile, "Y-yeah just kinda getting tense in that small room..." He lied although the alternative seemed impossible at the moment, "There's no way I'm gonna say I'm hearing voices in my-"
"Ring around the roses~"
"DAMN IT." He almost cringed at the pounding in his head as Ruby placed a worried hand on his cheek. Ash's body started relaxing ever so slightly, closing his eyes and leaning into her embrace. Ruby held him in a hug for a few moments before giving him a worried stare, "What's wrong?"
Ash bit his lip, "I...I-"
"PLEASE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" A man yelled with a team of people pushing a bed past them and towards the arena doors, Ash looked at Ruby cautiously, "Didn't Nora just..." He said with a sinking feeling in his gut, breaking out into a run after them Ruby right behind.
"Nora?! NORA!" Ren's voice yelled from down the hall with Pyrrah and Jaune next to the bed.
"Oh no..." Ash thought as he and Ruby sprinted down the hall.
"Just hang in there Nora it's gonna be alright." Ren said gripping her hand tightly, cuts littered her body from top to bottom. Ash's mouth widened, tournaments like this were supposed to regulated. Once a users aura dropped below the threshold then officials would intervene and stop the match. There shouldn't have been so much of a chance to inflict damage like this to a person.
"N-nora! You're gonna be okay!" Ruby said as her friend was wheeled away with a clearly distressed Ren whose calm persona was cracking into distress. Ruby had her mouth covered in shock as she watched a friend of hers be wheeled away covered in blood that soaked the sheets into a crimson red. Ash shook his head and grabbed Pyrrah, "W-what happened? Who did this? How did this happen!?"
Pyrrah tried responding but her voice seemed caught, "I-it was..I-"
"Haden." Jaune said looking at Ash.
"...W-what?" Ash said turning his head to Jaune his fist slowly clenching.
"S-she has this ability to cut through the protection of aura and...she...Nora...Nora didn't surrender and..." Jaune tried to explain but Ash could see it was difficult to recount the experience. A loud smash echoed through the hall. The walls shook ever so slightly, making the lights flicker on and off.
"Say no more Jaune..." Ash said with a deep glare, "I understand." He said clenching his fist tightly, "Ruby...you have a match with Stella next don't you?"
Ruby looked at Ash again with worry, "B-but Nora..." She protested.
"You let us handle that." Ash said sending looks to Pyrrah and Jaune in particular, "And you leave Haden to me."
Ruby nodded, "O-okay..." She said looking down, "I...Just be careful Ash. I don't know what's going on so please be careful." She asked before running out to the arena. It was eerily quiet as Jaune and Pyrrah felt an ominous aura from Ash the light orange was darkened and darker than they had seen before.
"Ring around the roses~"
Ash slammed his fist into the wall and shook his head, "Jaune."
Jaune almost jumped back from the sudden action, "Y-yeah?"
"Go with Ren to the hospital and look after Nora, I know I don't need to tell you but..." Ash said his eyes flickering from orange to amber and then back into a deep orange.
"R-right. What about Haden?" Jaune asked with a stern face, his hand was squeezed into a tight ball, shaking from anger. Ash looked at Jaunes fist and nodded, "Like I said just leave it to me." he said before looking at Pyrrah, "Pyrrah will you be okay?"
Pyrrah seemed visibly upset as well but more put together, she was a warrior after-all, "I'll be okay...I'm just worried about Nora right now..."
"We all are. But I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Even if I have to beat it out of her." Ash said with a growl as he walked into the waiting room. Pyrrah was going to follow suit until she felt a hand grab her, Jaune turned her around and waited until Ash was a bit out of reach and whispered quietly, "Does he seem a little off to you?" Jaune said pointing to Ash who stopped in the hallway to lean on the wall and grab his head before shaking it and continuing on his way.
"He does seem a tad...off." Pyrrah said with a frown, "We have to trust him."
Jaune looked begrudgingly agreed, "Okay...You be careful out there too I know you're super woman and everything but you're still just human and..um well you know you're...I uh I don't want to see what just happened ever again okay?"
Pyrrah had a very light blush on her face and smiled, "I will." she mumbled quietly before turning to leave. As she Jaune alone he groaned a pulled at his hair, "Smooth Jaune. Smooth. Super woman? Really?" He said banging his head against the wall, "Ugh..."
Ruby took the stage and winced as she saw a few blood stains that were left from the last fight, it was like a crime scene if you could call it that. You could tell there was a struggle from the residue, blood across the floor, craters littered the arena, "Probably Nora's hammer..." She grimaced as she stood across from Stella who had the same perturbed face having seen the match not too long ago. The entire arena's atmosphere had changed from excited and electric to that of dreary and dark. One had to feel sympathetic to the announcer who had to work the crowd back from such an incident.
"A-ALRIGHT EVERYONE LET'S GET READY FROM THE NEXT MATCH! WERE COMING IN ON THE 6th MATCH! RUBY ROSE VS STELLA SPARKS!"
The crowd was hardly as ecstatic as they were before but cheers erupted as they tried to move on from the last match. Although Ruby and Stella seemed to be focused on one thing and one thing only. Each other. Stella stared impassively at Ruby. Stella didn't dislike Ruby, she didn't dislike her at all. In fact had she would probably be very good friends with quirky girl if there wasn't one thing separating the two. Ash Fall.
Stella wasn't a child, she knew such animosity over one boy was childish and probably petty. But anyone that has ever met someone that changed their life would know, there's nothing petty about wanting that person. Ash was someone that showed everyone light, his light. Stella remembered watching the fireworks with everyone and while she was with Ruby she mumbled, "Everyone stares at the sun because it's too bright to ignore..."
Ruby didn't respond. She didn't need to. She understood exactly what Stella meant, "You're not the only one." was the simple message to her rival. The two stared at one another patiently awaiting the call. Their aura was building up as the announcer reiterated the rules to both of them having a rather...dangerous 5th round.
"Okay do you two understand? When I call it the match is over." He said looking at the two of them strictly.
The two both nodded but didn't even send a second look towards the man. The air was still between the both of them as his hand came down. If you blinked you would have missed it. The crowd was left speechless as Ruby disappeared in a burst of speed. Sparks flew as metal grinded against metal. Ruby skidded past Stella spinning Crescent Rose under her arm and pulling back her trigger, disappearing in a trail of roses.
Stella's body glowed a light silver hue, bits of electrical sparks appearing around her body everyone so often. Her eyes darted left to right, following what to most people was a blur. Stella blocked rapid strikes from left and right, Ruby circled all around her. Sparks flew from left to right. A sudden clash made everything stop, Stella shot back to avoid a strike that slammed into the ground in front of her. Ruby didn't give her a step pulling herself over Crescent Rose for a dropkick. Stella blocked and skidded backward, the force from the kick send a shock-wave through her body, her aura dropped by about 1/15 hardly a dent. Ruby quickly pulled Crescent Rose under her arm and fired her high impact rounds, speeding towards Stella again.
Stella quickly pulled into stance, Ruby was already in front of her getting ready to strike. It was like fire works. Pauses of silence then loud sparks that echoed throughout the arena. There a was a bathed silence across crowd. It was a vicious duel of speed versus reflex. Stella caught Ruby on her guard, stepping into her with ahead butt causing Ruby to recoil backward. 3 stabs shot towards her, tilting her head she narrowly avoided a strike across her cheek. A pain made her cringe as she felt a pain in her right side before she sustained anymore damage she quickly activated her semblance and dispersed in a flurry of roses.
Stella growled as she twisted around to barely guard a gun shot from far range, she cursed as he guard was broken. Ruby came back once again sending a slice across her midsection pushing her back once again. In the waiting room Pyrrah looked at the two anxiously, Stella bent backward to dodge a strike and flipped forward to dodge a spinning slice from Ruby. Another clash in blades up close caused Stella to push forward and send a slash across Rubys chest.
Crack. Snap. Clash. Clang. A vicious dance of wills. Their auras both dropped ever so slightly to the halfway point. After another equal exchange Ruby jumped backward to take a breath. Ruby emptied her ammo and refilled it with a new clip that had a cross on them. Stella looked at them and glared and her body started glowing a brighter silver, electricity barely contained on her skin as her hair raised from the bottom ever so slightly.
Ozpin, Glynda, and Ironwood all stared in awe at the next exchange. No ordinary person could even tell what was happening. Sparks appeared from every direction. Cracks suddenly appeared on the ground. Gunshots and clashes echoed through the sky. Until it all suddenly stopped.
"AGGGH" Stella screamed as she fell forward in, skidding to a stop and holding her chest. Rose petals fell down around her and she looked up to see a hand outstretched to her, her eyes darted to the screen. Her aura had dropped into the red. She closed her eyes and grit her teeth, generating so much internal charge backfired on her halfway through causing a relapse. She looked to Ruby's hand took it halfheartedly.
The crowd started roaring as the two both stood up in good shape, the last match forgotten. They both blushed at how loud it was getting, neither had noticed the silence from before. They bowed and waved and smiled but Stella felt a nudge from her side. As Ruby was waving to the crowd and holding up a peace sign she looked at Stella and gave a small smile, "I stare at the sun because it feels warm." She whispered before walking into the tunnel.
Stella stood alone as she watched Ruby walk away, she snorted quietly, "Of course it feels warm...it's the sun after all..." She grumbled walking.
In the waiting room everyone felt uneasy. Ash sat alone his fingers clasped together over the bottom half of his face. The air was thick and heavy from the aura he was projecting. It was dark and putrid. Pyrrah looked nervously at her friend from afar, he hadn't said a word since seeing Nora hurt and everyone now in now and then she could see him tense. Everyone let out a sigh of relief as the number was called out and Ash stood up and left.
"A pocket full of posies~"
Ash's eyes flashed amber and he slammed his fist into the wall before shaking his head clear of the voice. He couldn't understand what was wrong but he had not time to make a big deal about it. With a slightly irritated sigh he pushed off the wall and headed out to the arena, as he walked out he caught eyes with Haden and grit his teeth.
She attempted to stare blankly at him but guilt seemed to creep ever so slightly into her facade, Ash didn't flinch as stepped into arms length of her.
"Why?" Ash mumbled.
Haden flinched ever so slightly, "Why what?"
Ash's aura pulsed sending a chill down her spine, "I thought we were friends..." He mumbled his eyes flashing amber.
"I-is this really Ash?" Haden thought unconsciously taking a step back, "I..I don't have a choice..." She said quietly before walking to her side of the ring, "I'm sorry..." She said loud enough for only Ash to hear.
Ash gripped his head as his emotions seemed to be a hundred times stronger than usual, anger, sadness, confusion, it was all too much.
"KILL HER!"
"Focus."
"SHE'S A TRAITOR."
"She's your friend."
"ENOUGH!" Ash yelled a slick slice interrupting the silence. The referee and Haden looked at Ash in shock as drops of blood dripped down from his hand. Drip. Drip. Drip. Haden looked at his blood hit the ground as he let out a few calming breaths and opened his eyes, the original orange shining brightly like the sun. Ash raised his bloody and bandaged fist and pointed it at his friend with a different expression than before.
"Why...Why are you looking at me like that...Why!" She thought taking a step back shaking slightly, "Why do you look so sad?" She thought squeezing his hands into fists. Blood dripped quietly from his fingertips, the crowd sat quietly in anticipation. Ash's blank face slowly turned into a smirk.
"After I beat you up and have you explain yourself, you're gonna fix my hand and Nora up." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"W-what?" Haden sputtered.
"I don't understand. I'm angry. So I'm going to beat you up, you'll explain, and then I'm gonna forgive you." Ash said bluntly.
"Y-YOU IDIOT!" Haden yelled, "IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE!"
"Too late." Ash said looking to the referee, "Call it?"
The referee jumped in recognition, he had been too busy watching the two interact to even start the match, "O-Of course! Now are both combatants ready?" He said raising his arm. Ash nodded pulling a bit of his bandage of the cut he had over his hand with his teeth. Haden opened her mouth but nothing came out, slowly closing it she nodded as well.
"BEGIN!" He yelled.
Ash wasted no time using his Tracing to create his AT's and speed towards in trail of fire. Haden quickly stepped back to dodge an axe kick that tore up the ground in front of her. She spun around and punched a blade that tried to catch her back, Ash noted the were a slight spark as they connected to her fist. He squinted as he saw needles in-between her knuckles, the same ones used to heal his arm. As he realized this his eyes widened as four objects glinted into sight. Quickly forming a barrier of swords to block the needles Ash spun around his barrier to shoot Storm-flower until he felt his vision flip to the sky, he felt a tightening around his ankle, wire tightening around it. He quickly formed a blade to slice through it, flipping backward to dodge needs aimed at his head, he flinched as a sting shot across his face.
Small droplets of blood fell down dorm his face as a small cut appeared. Haden looked at Ash sadly before throwing more well aimed needles, wires attached to every single one. Ash grunted as he blocked them and dodged them, occasionally getting nicked, wincing as small cuts appeared all over his body. Projecting several more blades to tear away at all the wires around hid body Ash spun around quickly with Wilt and Blush in his arm. Wires dropped all around him but he quickly vaulted backward as several wires caught tension, he landed on his feet he felt four more stabbing sensations in his chest.
"D-damnit!" He yelled ripping the needles out of his chest before Haden pulled on them. Ash looked at the girl that looked like a puppet mast as she pulled and weaved the wire with one hand whilst throwing needles to keep him on his feet. As he landed in one open are and sliced away at 5 needles aimed at his head, legs, and arms. They fell to the floor with a small clatter, Ash looked at Haden with an exasperated expression.
"Anymore needles?" Ash asked dryly.
Haden didn't reply and tensed the wires around him, it was like a web of silver made from a spider. Ash looked around and himself and cringed as the wires tensed tightly, a quick test slash made him grit his teeth. He couldn't cut the strings that glowed a light green hue. With purse lips he projected Storm-flower and took aim at Haden, several shots emptied from the gun and Haden twisted her fingers ever so slightly and the wires sliced each bullet clean. Ash grunted and switched to Crescent Rose firing the penetration rounds yielding the same result.
"I can see why Nora couldn't beat her..." He thought letting the weapon disperse in his hand standing still in his small I *safe* area, "Not gonna throw anymore needles at me?" Ash taunted although it was more of a bluff.
Haden looked at him indifferently, "Anymore cuts and you'll start to lose blood fatally, with this you'll pass out and I'll win the match." She said frigidly.
Ash looked around small droplets of blood poured from his cuts and onto the floor, Ash sat down and pulled out a few extra bandages and began to wrap himself, his arms, face, and torso. Wiping the blood off the small cut on his cheek he looked at Haden and quickly threw a something at her.
"Did he really think that tactic would wo-" She thought before an explosion rocketed her to the side making her grip on the wires drop. Ash wasted no time trying to close the gap between the two of them. Haden growled and twisted her fist down, clenching her fist. The crowd gasped as blood splattered in the middle of the stage.
"URAH!" Ash yelled as he felt his arm slice open from multiple points, landing on his foot he quickly cork-screwed past the tight web of wires. Conjuring Crescent Rose he slammed it into the ground and pulled the trigger, shooting into the air he stared at Haden.
Haden bit her lip as she pulled out handful of needles, "Give up." She thought with trembling hands.
Ash conjured 30 blades, the monitor above showed his Aura bar decreasing slowly past a third. Grabbing hold of two blades Ash fell downward slicing at the projectiles Haden threw one by one, flipping down and slicing it all out of his way. Haden took a step back and threw even more, "Please give up." She thought tightening her wall of defense, her arm glowed green lighting up the wires.
Ash glowed a similar bright orange and conjured Crescent Rose, boom, boom, boom. Flipping downward like a bullet Ash sliced through each wire one by one. Hot tears filled Haden's face as she watch him tear through to her, "J-just STOP!" She screamed internally as he got within arms reach again, Clenching both fists she pulled downward, "PLEASE STOP!" She screamed.
The crowd stood up silently. Haden hands shook lightly, hot tears falling from her face. She opened her eyes as small droplets of blood fell on her face, her eyes widened as Ash stood in front of her, arm outstretched. Ash let out heavy breaths, small drips filling the deathly silence. Drip. Drip. Drip. He looked at Haden, his bar was still only halfway down yellow. Ash's circuit-like arms started glowing as he took a step forward, wincing as the wires tightening around his arm and leg.
Haden pulled her arms slightly across her body, "Stop...just stop...please stop..." She sobbed quietly as drops of blood echoed in her head.
"You understand your mission?"
Haden tightened the wires, "I can't...he'll...they'll..." She said quietly, "Don't make me kill you too..."
Ash looked at Haden and let out a bloody grin, "Then let me come over there-" He said taking one step forward with a growl.
"Don't disappoint understand?"
Haden took a step back and pulled tighter, "Please Ash please...you can't..."
Ash growled, "YEAH RIGHT!" He yelled taking two more steps forward wires cut into his skin and he winced as his bar dropped into orange, "Like I could ignore you now!" He growled quietly, "Not after a face like that..." He said pushing forward as cuts cut deeply into the tissue coating the wires in scarlet, "Not when you look so sad..."
"T-they'll come after you...they'll come after me..." She whispered.
Ash coughed up blood as he took one more step closer to her, "Then ill protect you."
"Y-you're an idiot!" She said exasperated, "W-why would you...I...I'm terrible...I hurt Nora...I betrayed all of you...I was gonna..." She choked out tears dripping from her cheeks, "I'm a..I'm a murderer." She whispered quietly until a soft pressure pressed against her head, Haden hands almost dropped. Ash stood in-front of her, his hand pressed firmly on her head, "You're not one thing. You're my friend, you're my doctor, you're a pervert, and you have a lot to explain after this is over okay?" Ash said with a smile. Haden's grip loosed and she dropped the wires before letting her head drop down. Soft sobs and apologies weeped quietly from the girl.
"Yeesh..." Ash said letting out a tired laugh, "All this trouble you're gonna fix me and Nora up real good after this." He grumbled looking to the referee who was staring slack-jawed. Haden didn't say anything but nodded into his chest, a small silence followed as Ash let her weep for bit longer until she looked up from his chest.
"I-im sorry...I...I wanna tell you all about it...I want to be something else..." She whispered quietly.
Ash nodded, "As soon as this is over we'll talk."
Haden nodded slowly before turning to the referee, "I-I uh forfeit..." She said with quick bow. The referee nodded slowly before turning to the crowd, "W-WINNER BY FORFEIT! ASH FALL!"
A confused hush went through the crowd before cheering erupted once more, Ash grinned before looking around the arena floor, "I sure lost a lot of blo-" He thought before it all went dark. Haden's eyes widened as she looked around the arena, blood littered the stage, she quickly began stitching the larger lacerations, "SOMEONE GET THE PARAMEDICS!" She yelled frantically closing the wounds before he lost more blood.
Ash laid dazed as he felt his body lifted onto a medical bed, "I feel so light..." He thought his eyes half lidded, he could see Haden viciously closing his wounds, "She looks worried...I was reckless I should have been more careful but..." he thought looking to Haden who had small tears forming in her eyes again.
"Come on stop bleeding..." She said quietly, "You can't take it back...you were gonna forgive me...you were gonna protect me...come on..." She whispered sewing his lower abdomen closed.
"Am I dying?" Ash hearing slow beeping start, "My hearts beating slower...Is this what dying feels like? I feel light..." He thought his head slumping to the right to see Glynda in the ambulance talking with one of the para-medics.
"What do you mean?" Glynda growled as she took hold of his hand gripping it tightly.
"He's lost too much blood Im not sure a transfusion would help at this point..." The paramedic said quietly looking at Ash's limp body.
"A pocket full of posies~"
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Everyone's eyes shot towards the heart monitor as the bpm jumped up to a steady rate. The paramedic looked at Ash's arm glowing and then back to Glynda with a perplexed stare, "I-er Well it seems like there's no harm in trying then..." He said putting a needle in Ash's arm and getting a small sample of blood.
"W-why does it all hurt so much?" Ash thought face scrunching up as the voice returned full force to his psyche, "What I-is this?!" He thought grimacing as he felt his wounds begin closing up one by one. Ash lost consciousness as one last stitch was sewed shut.
Glynda let out a deep breath as she watched Haden finish stitch up Ash up, a small glare on her face. Haden finished and wiped a bit of sweat off her brow and turned around, "I...I finished..." She muttered. Glynda looked at Haden quietly, "You will be under my custody until the end of festivities." She said in a monotone voice.
"Yes mam...I..." Haden seemed to struggling to find the correct words to say, "I...I would like to help heal Nora if possible..." She mumbled quietly. Glynda looked at Ash and took a deep breath and looked back at Haden before walking out the door, "She is this way." Glynda said suddenly making Haden's head perk up.
"Th-thank you!" She said quickly walking after her.
The two left the room together and headed down the hall, leaving Ash alone in his room to recover. Bandages covered his body as his heart monitor jumped up and down sporadically. The door creaked open slowly, quiet clicking echoed through the room. Cinder stood next to Ash's bed with a small smile on her face. She pulled a chair next to his bed and sat down next him, playing with his hair.
"You always had a flair for the dramatics..." She said quietly her eye flaming amber, "Whenever you get emotional you get irrational, making snap decisions that get you hurt." She said cupping his cheek, "You must be so troublesome for your cute little girlfriend Ash, you should apologize later you know."
Ash's heartbeat started evening out again as Cinder continued rubbing his head, "Will you hate me? No...You'll despise me. You'll loathe me." She said quietly, her tone much sadder than before, "I wish we had more time, there's so much to talk about...but alas...the time as has come." She said with sad face.
"Ring around the roses, a pocket full of posies, ashes ashes, we all fall down~" She sang quietly.
Awkward. Uncomfortable. Problematic. These were the only words that could describe Ren's current situation. Haden stood in bowed in front of him, apologizing for her actions and behaviors and was begging to help somehow. Ren wasn't an irrational person even when his emotions were running wild, he was always cool so to speak.
"Why?" Ren asked in a monotone voice, "I saw what you did to Ash, I don't understand your change of heart."
Haden bit her tongue, she knew she had no right to ask for forgiveness, she hadn't known Ren long but she knew that he loved Nora. Haden tried to find a way to explain herself but ended up standing in silence. Everyone's head turned as the sound of a knob turning caught their attention, a bandaged a beaten Ash walked out stretching his limbs, pulling his arm across his chest before sending a friendly wave, "Hey guys!" He said with a grin.
Ash had to catch himself as a body slammed into him, Haden leaning on his chest once again looking at his body and face, "H-how you're healed, I mean I closed the cuts but the blood transfusion should have take way longer than that!" She said grabbing his cheeks to see if he was real.
"Hwaden Thwat Hwurts..." He said as she pulled at his face, turning to Glynda he gave a thumbs up, "Ready for the next round!"
Glynda blinked before shaking her head at him, she refused to shocked, "I almost don't want to know how you have recovered so quick..." She mumbled before glaring at young boy in front of her and quickly slapping him across the face. Ash stood shocked before grabbing his stinging face, "OW! What was that fo-" He said before looking at her worried face.
"That was the most idiotic thing I have ever seen. You ran into traps, you recklessly used your abilities without thinking, you let your emotions run wild, you weren't nearly as offensive as you should have been!" She ranted at his performance. Ash let go of Haden and hugged the much taller women.
"Sorry..." He mumbled quietly as Glynda gripped his back tightly.
"No student of mine will act in such a manner again...understood?" She said holding him by the shoulders and looking him in the eyes.
Ash nodded, "I understand, don't worry my heads all clear now."
She nodded with a small smile, "Good...well I'll go get a doctor so they can give you a physical and dismiss you from the hospital." She said walking out of the room.
As she left the awkward silence came back as Haden, Ren, and Ash all stood alone listening to Nora's heart monitor. Ash sat down next to the bed and frowned before looking at Haden, "Have you healed her?" Ash asked.
Haden looked surprised before pointing to Ren and Ash nodded before slapping Ren on the back making him stumble forward slightly. Ren looked at Ash in confusion until he caught the look in his eyes, "He want's me to trust him...and by extension her..." He thought looking at Nora with a grimace. Ren sighed and looked at Haden and gave her stern glare, "If I see even one thing wrong I'll kill you myself."
"All I can do is ask for a chance." She responded with a bow, pulling out her needles to get to work.
Ash nudged Ren and smiled, mouthing a, "Thank you." to him silently.
Ren nodded before leaning back in his chair, watching Haden almost magically close wounds her arm glowing a bright green just like Ash's orange. Slowly he watched Nora's muscles relax and a look of relief spread across her face.
Ash stood up as the door opened, looking at Ren and Haden he smiled, "Well that's my cue, Haden well talk about this later you hear me?" He said with a pointed stare, "Keep your promise I'll keep mine."
Haden smiled, "Promise."
Glynda tapped her heel on the ground, "Ash they're going to disqualify you if you don't get back, Ruby is stalling her match right now to give you time to comeback."
Ash cursed and quickly exited the room with a wave leaving both Ren and Haden alone for the first time, Haden diligently working on Nora's wounds. Ren looked up from Nora and to her with a curious stare, "What changed your mind?"
Haden looked at Ren for a moment before looking back at Nora, "I didn't want to be one thing...I don't want to be alone anymore..."
"Wouldn't it been easier had you just never associated with us? Ren asked in confusion.
"Probably but..." Haden looked out the window, "Maybe I didn't want it to be easier...you know?" She said with a truly happy smile.
Ruby almost cursed as she walked off the arena, she had bought about 30 minutes but there was still no sign of Ash. She quickly rushed to the monitor in the waiting room, alone now with Pyrrah as they both watched Penny take the stage alone. Ruby looked down at her watch and shook impatiently, "Come Ash you only have 10 more minutes..."
The crowd began to get restless yelling in protest to move on to the next match after five minutes passed. Ironwood looked at Ozpin with a frown, "Is it really okay to keep waiting...you saw all that blood Oz..." James mumbled.
"He will be here shortly, he has five more minutes. If he isn't here by then I will announce Penny the winner myself, do we have an agreement?" Ozpin replied coolly, leaning back into his chair. Ironwood looked at Ozpin skeptically before leaning back into his own chair.
"5 minutes Ozpin..." He said looking at the clock tick down.
Ash tapped his foot impatiently as he sat in the bullhead, they had gotten the fastest mode of transportation possible but the five minutes it took to do his physical had him anxious. Looking at his scroll he started grinding his teeth, only 2 minutes were left and the stadium was only just barely in sight. Ash could feel the clock ticking down as they got closer and closer. Glynda called to the pilot to ask if they could any faster only to receive a negative.
Penny frowned as she watched the last minute start ticking down, the crowds yelling has almost gotten out of control as they began to countdown the 30 seconds.
"30, 29, 28, 27, 26 25!" They shouted.
Ironwood looked at Ozpin expectantly, "Ozpin?" He said looking at the clock past down twenty seconds, "Isn't it time to call it?"
Ozpin sat quietly as the clock passed 15 seconds and looked at Ironwood with a small smirk, "Well it sounds like he just made it." He said as propellers roared from the sky. The crowd yelled as Bullhead pulled overhead and a body came out from it.
"10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3!" They shouted as the body descended down from the sky. Ash activated his semblance and started glowing a deep orange, shooting down like a comet in the sky.
"2!" The stadium bellowed.
In a loud crash of fire and dust Ash landed as the clock hit one. Everyone waited anxiously as the dust cleared up. Penny looked excited as the air started to clear up, Ash stood up pulling off his bandages and giving the referee a sheepish smile, "Am I late?"
The ref looked at Ash and shook his head, "You kids get weirder every year..." He deadpanned before looking at Ozpin for the go ahead. Ozpin lifted his hand and the referee looked to crowd, "BEGINNING THE FINAL MATCH OF BRACKET A! ASH VERSUS PENNY!" He shouted letting sound erupt from the stadium.
Ash felt his hands shaking as the eruption of applause was released, looking at Penny with large smile. The referee raised his arm, "ARE YOU READY?!" He shouted.
"WE ALL FALL DOWN~"
Ash fell to his knee as his head was pounded with a loud voice, then his eyes widened ears as an ear splitting noise erupted through the city. Explosions tore through the every section of Vale, explosions of dust and destruction shattered the buildings. Ash looked to Ozpin and then back at Penny until a bright light erupted, "No." Ash said shakily, then the world turned to white.
Ash held his head as tight as he could, he couldn't hear anything but ringing, the bright light faded into a blurry mess of colors. Ash swung his head left to right, fire and ice and destruction was all he could see. Sitting up he looked at the stadium, there was nothing but a crater, there was smoke everywhere. The ringing in his ears subsided only to be replaced with screams and yelling.
"As...AS...ASH!" a voice called out. Ash turned around dazed his face bruised and burnt and he looked around in a confused daze.
"Ru...by?" Ash said looking around his eyes looked dilated as he looked around.
"Ash! are you okay?" Ruby yelled from the tunnel everyone in the stadium rushing for the exits. Ash turned his head but it held no expression, just a blank face, "R...Ruby?" He muttered before pain shot through his body, it was a burning, throbbing pain. He felt a hand press against his face.
"Do you want the pain to go away?"
Ash's vision began to focus as he looked in front of him, "C-Cinder?"
Cinder smiled before her eye started glowing, "Ring around the roses~"
Ash's eyes widened.
"A pocket full of posies~"
Amber filled his eyes.
"Ashes ashes~"
"Cinder?" He said in a monotone voice.
"We all fall down~" She finished letting go of his face and turning to the panicked crowd and smiling, "Now Ash sweetie, kill." She whispered.
Ash's body jerked for a moment before his blank face twisted into a smile, "Yes sister..." He said quietly raising his synthetic arm into the air. The world sounded as if it was exploding then thousands of blades filled the sky. Ruby's eyes widened as Ash clenched his fist closed. Blood curdling screams filled the sky.