I sat next to Team RWBY as we awaited Pyrrha's preparation for her match. Team CRDL was stood in the middle of the arena, talking. I leaned back in my seat.

"Pyrrha's gonna win." Weiss shook her head.

"Four against one. Team CRDL has a huge advantage."

"Yeah, that's what Pyrrha wants you to think." She turned her head to me.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember her Semblance?"

"Yeah, Polarity."

"Well, the more enemies she fights, the less likely that they'll notice their weapons getting moved around." She thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"Clever." I nodded as Pyrrha walked out of the locker rooms and into the Arena, brandishing her weapons.

Team CRDL laid in pain around Pyrrha's feet as she stood out of her combat position. Goodwitch walked into the arena, Scroll in hand.

"And that's the match." Cardinal, who was on his hands and knees, keeled over. "Well done, Ms. Nikos. You should have no problem qualifying for the tournament."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Alright, now I know that's a tough act to follow, but we have time for one more sparring match. Any volunteers?" I would've raised my hand at an opportunity like that, but I was still recovering from my Depression. It had only been a week, and an injury in a sparring match is not what I needed. I looked around to find no others raising their hands. Goodwitch noticed as well and volunteered someone.

"Ms. Belladonna." Blake pulled her head up and closed her book quickly. I leaned forward to see that she had just woken up from sleep. She's always so quiet that I didn't notice. Now that I think about it, she's been tired like this for a while now. "You've been rather Docile for the past few classes. Why don't you-"

"I'll do it." I turned around to see one of the new kids from Haven raising his hands. He had Grey everything, including his hair. I've seen him a couple of times, but not often. Goodwitch got a look at him.

"Mercury, is it? Let's find you an opponent."

"Actually, I wanna fight her." He pointed at Pyrrha, who was standing in the Arena. I growled under my breath. He said it in a way that said that he was used to getting what he wanted. I spoke.

"How about you choose someone that didn't just have a match. What? Scared of an even fight?" Pyrrha raised a hand.

"No, it's fine. I'd be happy to oblige." She was looking at me when she said that. I stared back at her, but sat back down in my seat. Mercury smiled happily as he stepped down into the Arena. He positioned himself across from Pyrrha, and got into a battle stance. The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Mercury ran forward. Pyrrha stepped forward just as he took a kick, and blocked it with her shield, going for a swipe at the legs. She got him airborne, but just as he hits the ground, his spinning himself back to his feet. When he was back to his feet, he awaited Pyrrha's attack, which came quickly. He kicked at her first attack, parrying her sword, and kicked at her round about, to stop her weapon once again. He started going for sidekicks, that Pyrrha blocked with her shield easily. Finally, Pyrrha slammed forward with her shield, sending him back. His boots sent sparks as he slid to a stop. I could hear Ruby beside me, but I was too focused on the match to look.

"Hey, your friend's doing pretty good!" I watched as Mercury took the offense with a power kick that sent Pyrrha back. He was now utilizing much more advanced combat styles than he was before, spinning and yet staying balanced midair. Pyrrha backed up, and went into a defensive position just as Mercury sent a barrage of attacks on her shield. After a final power hit, it sent her weapon flying up. Mercury went for a kick on her undefended side, for her to block, not with her shield, but her arm. She grabbed her sword out of the air and defended a couple more attacks from Mercury, only to have the weapon flying behind her and stuck in the ground. There was silence for a moment before Mercury went for a high kick….. That missed. He was sent back from the momentum from the kick, not expecting no fighting force. He turned just in time for Pyrrha to charge him with her shield. He jumped up and vaulted off her shield, flying back and landing. Pyrrha ran forward to attack, but Mercury just turned to Goodwitch.

"I forfeit." I was shocked for a moment, Pyrrha running past him to a stop. She turned back to him, confused. I got over my moment of surprise and slammed my fist on the railing between me and the arena.

"What is that bullshit?! You forfeit?! You challenge an opponent at a disadvantage, and then you forfeit?! Are you really that low?!" The Grey-haired kid looked up at me, smirking.

"Why bother fighting? She's leagues better than me." My fists were trembling in rage.

"And yet you still had the audacity to challenge her!" I only got a smirk from Mercury, which only made more angry. I was about to yell again, but Goodwitch cut me off.

"In that case, Pyrrha Nikos is the victor of the match. Next time you may want to think a little harder before choosing an opponent." I could tell in her tone that she completely agreed with me. Mercury only raised a hand as he left the stadium.

"I'll be sure to do that." I stared at him angrily as the bell went off, some of the students leaving the Arena. I felt Yang hold my arm, pulling me towards the door.

"Come on, we've got to go." I nodded.

"Yeah, go ahead, I'll catch up." She turned my head to look at her. I looked at her for a moment before speaking again. "Just need to compose myself, I'll meet you outside." She nodded and walked out with the others. I stared down into the Arena, trying to soothe my anger.

"Mr. Milos, class ended moments ago. Is there a reason for your hesitance to leave?" I didn't need to look to know that it was Goodwitch standing behind me. I responded, not bothering to look.

"No, not really, is it a problem?"

"No, I guess not. May I ask how your Teammates are doing?" I turned to look at her.

"They are doing fine, why do you ask?" She watched me for a moment before responding.

"I was just surprised to find this little experiment of Ozpin's so Fruitfully."

"What do you mean?" She watched me for a moment.

"Ozpin has many cards in play at the moment, and I am confused at more than a few of his actions, but in the end, he somehow comes out on top." She turned around, shrugging off any questions I might have. "Though, it is not my business. I will see you another time, Mr. Milos. Goodbye." Without another word, she walked off. I stared in her direction for a moment before jogging out the door to catch up with the others. I caught them just in time to see Sun and Blake talking, I overheard Sun first.

"The Dance, this weekend. You wanna go or what?" Blake's answer was instantaneous.

"I don't have time for a stupid dance. I thought you, of all people, would get that." She walked off, leaving Sun, rejected. I walked over and stood beside him.

"Ouch, sorry about that, man." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I knew it would be long shot, but hey, you gotta try, right?" I put a hand on his shoulder as I watched Blake walk off.

"Yeah, don't get too down about it. She'll come around." I walked towards Team RWBY as they followed Blake.

"You what?!" Blake and Yang were sitting on one bed. Ruby and Weiss were sitting on the bed across from them. I was leaning against the bed frame of Ruby and Weiss's Bunk. Ruby spoke.

"We want you to go to the Dance." Blake crossed her arms.

"That's ridiculous." Yang spoke next.

"Blake, we're worried about you. This investigation is starting to mess with your head." Weiss started counting off things on her fingers.

"You can't sleep, you hardly eat, and to be honest, your grades are suffering." Blake rebuddled.

"You think I care about grades?! People's lives are at Stake!" Yang put her hand on Blake's raised arm.

"We know, and we are still trying to figure out what Torchwick is up too." Ruby spoke.

"Thanks to you and Sun, we know they're operating somewhere outside of South-East Vale." Weiss raised a hand.

"And the Schnee Company Records has singled out Vale for the Primary Target for Dust Robberies over the last few months." Yang spoke next.

"Don't forget about their missing military tech, too." Blake still had her arms crossed. Ruby hesitantly tried to reason with her.

"Blake, you won't be able to find anything if you can't even keep your eyes open." I spoke next.

"All we're asking is that you take it easy for one day." She flared her eyes at me.

"How are you one to talk?! You "Took it easy" for a whole month! You left us to go to that stupid Meadow every day!" I frowned painfully. She hit a pretty huge weak spot. I stared at her blankly as she realized what she said. She opened her mouth to speak, but I raised a hand, cutting her off.

"Just don't. Look, I realize that I just left for a long time, and I am truly sorry for that. I opted out of this entire operation the second that spark lit. I am sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it now, but try to work for the future, so how about I cut you a deal." She looked at me curiously.

"What?" I took a step forward.

"If you agree to go to the Dance, have fun, take the night off. Then I will spend the next weekend, the night of the Dance, working nonstop on finding Torchwick. I'll work for you and me, so that you don't have to. I mean, the girls all planned out the Dance anyway, so I know it'll be fun!" Blake looked at her team.

"What?" Yang happily bounced in her seat.

"Yeah! We're planning the whole event!" Blake shook her head, an annoyed expression on her face.

"Excuse me?" Weiss spoke.

"Team CFVY's away mission lasted longer than expected." Yang shrugged.

"So Weiss and I were asked to pick up where they left off. And we can make sure you have the perfect night." Weiss spoke again.

"And once it's all over, we can return to our search, rested and ready." I looked at her.

"What do you think, I'll skip the Dance, so you can go." There was a moment of silence between us before she responded.

"I think this is a colossal waste of time." She stood up and headed for the door. "I'll be in the library." Yang sighed as I sat down in Blake's spot. Weiss spoke.

"She can't keep going like this." I opened my mouth to speak, but a knock at the door stopped me. Weiss went to open it. Right as she opened the door, Guitar music filled the room. I sighed in embarrassment for Jaune as he strummed away.

"WEEEIIIIIIIISSSS!" The door closed in his face. Weiss frowned anrgily as Jaune knocked again.

"Ohh, come on. Open the door. I promise not to sing." Weiss rolled her eyes and opened the door. Jaune strummed on the guitar, regardless of what he said.

"I LIIIIEEED. Weiss Schnee. Will you accompany me. Too the DAAAAAAAANCE OOOOOOON. Sundaaaaaay." There was a second of Silence as we all stared at Jaune.

"Are you done?"

"Yes?" Weiss didn't skip a beat.

"No." She closed the door in his face once again. We all stared at her like she was crazy, she put her hands up, annoyed. "What?!" Yang pointed at her.

"And that is why people call you the Ice Queen." Weiss crossed her arms again.

"All my life, boys have only cared about the perks of my last name. Besides, I already have a date in mind." Ruby jumped up quickly, staring at Weiss, before quickly composing herself again. What was that? She quickly left behind any remembrance of her sudden surprise, and started to talk.

"Date or no Date, none of this will matter if we can't get Blake to go." I looked at her sadly. I placed a reassuring arm on her shoulder before moving towards the door, I needed to get some air.

Amber's POV

"Master, you must drink your water, keep your energy." The old man has been getting worse and worse in the past week. Every time I come back in here, he seems to have aged another 10 years, and is more and more unwilling to eat and drink. Right now, he is very weak, unable to even lift his head from his bed. He speaks, but only barely audible.

"Amber, my boy, you must learn to let go." I held onto his arm. Tears started to form in my eyes.

"I don't want to let go. I want you to stay here with me."

"My my, Amber, one mustn't be so selfish. My time is for the next life." I shook my head.

"Why can't you stay? Why?" My Master did not respond. My eyes were shut tight. I was trying not to let the tears escape my eyes, but it was to little effect. I finally opened my eyes, letting the tears go rolling down my face. The light in the room was gone, the candle sitting fireless on the bedside table. I stared at the unlit wax, knowing what it meant, but not wanting to believe it. I shook my head, crying for hours, it felt like, but it could have only been minutes. When the tears finally ceased their descent down my cheeks, I got a shady, dark picture of My Master lying in bed, peaceful, in his never ending sleep.