"Fuck me!" said Cameron in rage as he lost a match of Halo. He dropped his controller onto his bed and sighed.
"Attention all students," said Professor Goodwitch over the Intercom. "As of today, the Academy Simulator will be opened for all students who wish to use its facilities. A list of time slots available will be sent out to you all via scroll messaging. That is all."
"Hmm," Cameron looked over to his sword. He stared a moment before looking at his blades on his arms. "Read my mind, ladies." He turned off the Xbox then grabbed Solaris and placed it on his back. He pocketed his scroll and walked out of his dorm.
"Hey, Cam," Ruby said as she coincidently left her room too along with Yang.
"Hey," he replied. "I take it you're heading for the simulator too."
"Figured we'd show off our awesomeness," Yang said.
"Yeah, get in line. I got dibs."
"What happened to ladies first?"
"That only applies to dating."
"Is that an offer?"
"What? No."
"Gee, buzzkill."
"Haven't you got enough boys running after you?"
"Well, another doesn't hurt."
"How do you deal with her?" Cameron asked, turning to Ruby.
"I ask myself that question every day," Ruby replied.
"Oh, don't act like you don't love me," Yang said before slapping Ruby's arm.
"Ow! Hey!"
"Oh, quit whining. That was barely a tap."
"I can see the sisterly love is just radiating from you both," Cameron said.
"Totally..." Ruby said, rubbing her arm
"Right...well, you two have fun killing each other. I'm gonna go kill holograms."
"You know, we could always go together," Yang said. "Kinda like a date."
"You won't change my mind by goading me, Yang."
"Eh, worth a shot."
"You mind if we watch then?" Ruby asked.
"So long as you don't bother me, I don't care."
"We make no promises," Yang said.
"At least you're honest about it." The three of them all headed to the simulator.
A little while later, cut to simulator…
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
A pack of Beowolves fell to the ground from all the shotgun shells they received. Sun panted a bit as he merged Riyu Bang and Jingu Bang into a Bo staff.
"Oh, I'm good!" he said as he walked away from the disappearing corpses. "How was that, losers?"
"Eh, could do better," said Neptune from the control booth.
"Was better than you, nerdface."
"Well, only by half a second," Sage stated.
"Still counts. I'm better."
"Dude, who's side are you on?" Neptune asked Sage.
"We're picking sides now?" Scarlet chimed in.
"I hate you guys."
"You know, this thing is pretty sweet," Sun said as he walked up to join his teammates. "For a makeup present, Atlas sure didn't skimp out on apologies."
"Hey, boys," Yang said as she, Ruby and Cam walked over to them. "You all playing nicely?"
"Nice enough," Sun said, turning toward them. "'Sup ladies. And the plus one."
"Hey, Sun," Ruby greeted.
"'Sup," Cameron said.
"Wait, where's Blake and Weiss?" Sun asked.
"They're busy doing Blake and Weiss things," Yang answered. "What, are we not good enough for you?"
"Well, Blake's Blake, and you're...Yang. No offense."
"Some taken."
"So you done with hogging the sim yet?" Cameron asked.
"You want it? Go for it. Try not to let my past skills intimidate you though.
"Well, if that last performance was the bare minimum, then I'll have no problem shattering your so-called 'skills'."
"Wow, modest much," said Sun.
"I'm sorry, who cleared all waves during the initial testing of the sim?"
"Beginner's luck. Besides, that was just Beowolves."
"And what about Wraithlyre?"
"He's got ya there," Scarlet said.
Sun looked at his teammates before turning back to Cameron. "Alright, glasses. I got 20 Lien saying you can't kill a hundred Grimm in 10 minutes."
"I got 50 saying I can do it hardcore mode."
"Oh, bullshit."
"If it's bullshit, then why are you backing out, buddy?"
"Ooooooohhhhh," SSN + RW said, intimidating Sun. He looked at the others quickly before chuckling lightly.
"You're on."
"I'll hold the money," said Neptune. Cameron and Sun handed their Lien over to him. Cameron walked onto the simulator, morphed his glasses and drew Solaris. Sun got to the control panel and set up his challenge.
"Okay, bro," said Sun over the intercom. "You're set so if you wanna back out, do so now."
"What's wrong? Afraid of losing?" Cameron joked. Sun shook his head and chuckled in response.
"You're crazy, dude."
"No. I'm just cursed."
"Whatever you say." Sun booted up the simulator and randomly chose a location; Emerald Forest. Trees and bushes quickly spawned, changing the empty room to a forest biome. "Try not to die."
"Try not to choke too hard when you lose."
3…2…1…BEGIN!
A dozen Beowolves appeared from nowhere and roared as they ran at the boy. Cameron ran back at them and sliced through the wolves as if they were nothing. More spawned only to be slain by the boy. Within about 2 and a half minutes, he had killed about 50. Human-sized Nevermores appeared next. The birds shot feather spears at the hooded fighter but he dodged the swiftly. He switched Solaris to rifle form and shot some of the birds down with ease. The remaining Nevermores encircled and swooped on him. Cameron slashed at them and killed off a total of 30 in 3 minutes Another wave of Grimm spawned, this time with Ursi. The bear Grimm pressed on with attacks, but with everyone attack came their quick demise. Cameron slayed another 18 Grimm in 3 minutes. With two remaining, he charged but the Grimm disappeared. Taking their place was a King Taijitu.
"He's doing well for time," Yang said.
"Yeah, he is," said Neptune. "He might actually pull it off."
"Hmm..." Sun huffed, getting a little nervous. Everyone watched as Cameron braced himself.
"Okay big, tall and ugly," Cameron said to himself. The snake Grimm hissed loudly at the child and slithered around him slowly. Cameron switched Solaris to twin sword and awaited the Taijitu's move. Seconds later, both heads charged at him. Cameron jumped up to dodge, sending the snake's heads into each other. He then attempted to slice off one of the heads but the snake quickly retreated. The white half charged in to bite the boy, but Cameron used Solaris to stop the fangs. He struggled to contend with the Taijitu's force. The black half snuck up behind him and went to headbutt him in the back. Cameron sensed it's presence and quickly jumped up again to dodge. He detached Solaris, switched to SMG form and took shots at both halves of the snake. The two heads lunged at him while he was airborne, but Cameron slid down its skin as if he were grinding. He switched back to rifle form and fired once more, managing to kill off the white half. As he slid towards the end of the black half, he switched back to sword form in preparation of his victory. The black head lunged again at the boy but was decapitated as Cameron countered it. Just as he thought he was done, one final enemy appeared. His final foe, a giant spider-creature known as the Darachnid, had spawned to face him.
"The hell?" Cameron said confused.
60 seconds remaining…
"Oh, you bitch..." Cameron muttered to himself. The Daracnid swung its arm at Cameron and knocked him back into a wall.
"Yeah, he's screwed," said Sun.
"Only because you cheated," Neptune remarked.
"Hey, he wanted hardcore. I gave him it. Feel free to hand my money over."
"Uh…dude?" said Scarlet said, pointing to the simulator. Sun turned to see Cameron glowing gold. The hooded boy got to his feet then grasped his sword with both hands and plunged Solaris into the ground. Suddenly, 4 glowing copies of him appeared and charged at the spider, exploding on impact.
"What!?" The Grimm gave out a shriek as the explosive clones affected its armor. Cameron then switched Solaris to gun mode and reloaded the Lady of Light with ice rounds. The boy then disappeared in a burst of blue petals. The petals circled the spider, firing ice rounds that began freezing the Grimm around on contact with its armor. Once the spider was completely frozen, Cameron reappeared and punched the ground using the power of Yang's semblance. The force of the punch launched the spider into the air.
15 seconds remaining
Cameron quickly augmented Solaris with ice dust then launched himself at the Darachnid and stabbed into it. With his sword impaled in the spider skull, the sword began freezing the Grimm's insides as fast as he could. After a few seconds, he threw the frozen spider off his sword and onto the ground, shattering the monster's legs. Finally, the boy came down in a spin and smashed the remaining body of the hologram into small ice shards
BUZZZZZZZZ!
Cameron panted a bit before he looked up. The timer showed he had 0.52 of a second remaining.
"Yes!" Cameron cheered as he raised his sword in victory.
"No!" Sun cried, gripping his har and rocking back into his chair.
"He did it!" Ruby cheered.
"Nice!" Yang said.
"How was that, monkey-boy?" Cameron called as he put the Lady of Light on his back and walked over to join them.
"You cheated!" Sun called out, pointed his finger accusingly. "You copied everyone's semblance."
"Now that would be true if you had set some limitations and last time I checked, you didn't set any rules. So, like it or not, I win." Cameron took the lien from Neptune's hands as he walked up to the control room.
"He's got you there," Sage said.
"Double or nothing?" Sun offered.
"No," Cameron deadpanned.
"Triple or in debt?"
"What?"
"Triple or in debt. You win, it's triple. You lose, you're paying me. It's a Vacuoian rule."
Cameron raised an eyebrow then looked at Neptune, Sage, and Scarlet. "Does he have a gambling problem?"
"Sorta," replied Neptune.
"No, I don't!" Sun snapped.
"He's good at poker so he thinks he's a bit of a hustler," said Sage
"Is it because he false shuffles?" Cam asked.
"Pfff, I don't need to false shuffle," Sun declared. "I'm just blessed with luck. Poker is my girl."
"What happened to Blake?"
"S-she's my other girl."
"Right. Well, if your so desperate to donate money to me, I'll happily take you in poker."
Bow Chicka Bow Wow
Cameron pulled out his scroll and looked at the message. He smiled faintly and pocketed the device. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, It would appear I have a call to take," the boy said as he walked off. "Catchya 'round, guys."
"Sucks to be you," Neptune taunted.
"Shut it, nerd," Sun snapped.
"Well, it's mama's turn," Yang said, cracking her knuckles. "Care to lose more money, banana breath?"
"That depends. What odds ya giving me?"
"Hmm...20 Lien for 30 Ursai in 3 mins?"
"I'll take that bet." As Sun and Yang prepared to bet, Ruby watched Cameron leave the simulator.
"Hmm..." she hummed to herself curiously.
Later that day, cut to Cameron…
"Can I help you?" asked the holographic attendant.
"Yeah, can you patch me through to Sanctum Academy?" asked Cameron.
"Certainly. I'll patch you through at Terminal 9."
"Thanks." Cameron walked over to the terminal and sat in front of it. Soon enough, the terminal activated.
"Sanctum Academy Cross Continental Transmit Centre, how can I help?" said the receptionist.
"Page for Magenta Woodes please?"
"Under a Mr?"
"Huynh, thanks."
"Not a problem. Please hold for a few minutes." The terminal went dark and after a few minutes, lit up again, revealing a blonde-haired Sanctum student. The girl had pink eyes and a jeweled headdress.
"Hey," said the girl. "Been a while, huh?"
"Hey, Mags," Cameron replied with a smile. "Good to see you again."
"So how's Beacon, Mr Hero?"
"Not bad all things considered."
"Well don't leave me hanging. Details."
"Don't worry, I'm getting there. I'm doing alright in classes so far. Made a few friends too. At least I think I did."
"And here you thought you were cursed."
"I guess it has its moments. I mean, I do get to spy on the Pyrrha Nikos."
"Whoa, whoa, hold up. You're in the same class as the invincible girl?"
"What, you jelly?"
"Oh my god, I am just picturing the fight scene between you two. You versed her yet?"
"Not yet. I'm sure it's inevitable though. What about you? How's life on your end?"
"Doing okay myself. Sanctum's pretty great. Professors are nice, the schoolwork is pretty easy. Though I don't think it's quite as up there as Beacon is. If all things go right though, I might be able to do a winter program for Haven. If I get that, I can probably get a transfer scholarship to Beacon and join you in second year."
"Really? That's awesome to hear."
"Yeah, don't celebrate too early though. I hear the positions are quite competitive."
"You'll be fine. You got the smarts, the skills, and the drive. If you can pull off a day one at Signal, you can get that position blindfolded."
"I guess so. Though I doubt there will a cocky birdbrain there for me to prove wrong."
"Who knows. Maybe that birdbrain will show up just annoy you."
"Honestly, I don't think it would surprise me if it did." The two laughed together a moment before a ringtone interrupted Magenta.
"Oh shoot. Sorry to cut this short. Got a group assignment to do."
"Don't let me slow ya down then. It was good talking to you again, Mags."
"Same. Hopefully, we can talk again soon. I wanna hear good things next time, alright?"
"I don't think school can be all that interesting but I'll try."
"I'm sure something will come up being mister big hero now."
"Yeah, maybe...Thanks, Magenta."
"For what?"
"For...being here for me."
"You know I always will be, Cam. I'm proud of you. And I know Hayls would be too."
"I'm trying, Maggie. I am."
"I know you are. Just promise me you won't stop."
"I promise."
"That's my hero. We'll talk again soon, okay?"
"Yeah. Catch you 'round, Mags."
"See ya later." The pair waved to each other as the call ended. Once the screen went dark, Cameron stopped waving and lowered his hand. He looked down at the table, thinking on his friend's words. As their talk danced around his mind, he smiled.
"Well, let's make something interesting happen," he whispered to himself as he got up and left.
Recommended Music: When Can I See You Again? – Owl City
AN: Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you're spending the day with that special someone you know and if not...HIGH FIVE BRO! TO BEING SINGLE! {High fives reader through screen}. So as you can guess, this was here mainly to show off the simulator. The gambling Sun quip was something I always envisioned ever since his first few actions. I know it's a tad OOC for him...but he could be a gambler. Also, should say now that Magenta and Cameron are just friends, not lovers (totally not setting up any ships...yet). Sorry for a short chapter in this one but tomorrow will have you asking a LOT of questions if you are really into this (for some mad reason), but just as an extra to sorta make up, here's a line from RvB describing me on Valentines Day.
ACTION!
"Hey, Church! Happy Valentine-" Caboose (or in this case me...)
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" Church (ANY girl I'd actually try and hit on...)
Edit: Spelling and grammar corrected. Also...wow. Looking a year back now...that's just sad.